Monday, May 26, 2014

LIFE'S TRUE HEROES


Life is filled with heroes.  Every profession — righteous or unrigheous — in life has its heroes.  Consider the following:

To the  
1)       American historian – it’s George Washington
2)         WWII Vet – it’s General MacArthur
3)         Inventor – it’s Benjamin Franklin
4)         Medical profession – it’s Jonas Salk 
5)         Civil Rights movement – Martin Luther King, Jr  
6)         (Those who say) “I was born this way” – it’s Lady Gaga
7)         Porn industry – it’s Marilyn Chambers
8)         Art – it’s Michelangelo
9)         Painting – it’s the Mona Lisa
10)    Musically cultured – it’s Beethoven
11)    Automobile – it’s Henry Ford
12)    Missionary – it’s William Carey
13)    Preacher – it’s C. H. Spurgeon
14)    Israeli Politics – Golda Meir
15)    Horse racing  Secretariat
16)    Farmer – it’s Cesar Chavez
17)    Home run – Babe Ruth 
18)    Catholic – it’s Pope Paul 11
19)    Evangelical – it’s Billy Graham
To God, the true heroes in life are those who Share Christ, Connect with People and Serve Others.  Their testimony remains true with the Bible as their final authority for life, faith and the practice thereof, even at the cost of their own lives.  They are honored by the lamb of God in Rev 6:9.  

Today, however, we REMEMBER the men and women who have given their lives for our freedoms as American citizens, their families and those who presently serve and say THANK YOU!  You are loved.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

I KEPT LOOKING ... BUT


Yahoo is my search engine.  Typical I follow the 10 trending stories.  Today I looked for National Day of Prayer and couldn’t find it.  I read that Oprah was interested in buying the Clippers, Ellen Page came out, when the White House hates your tweet and X men hero in disguise just to name a few.  No National Day of Prayer. 

Do we weep for America as we watch God pushed out of the public arena and our culture?  Did you attend a prayer service today?  Are you planning on attending a prayer service tonight?  If not, have you taken a few minutes to pray for our country?  We can all do that can we not?

This week our study in Revelation looks at the Church in Laodicea (Rev 3:14-18).  BTW: The Church of Laodicea is 1900 to the Return of Christ; it is us, the 21st Century Christian.  This church thought they had it all, but God said they were disillusioned and in actuality had nothing.  Hence the sermon title: “Time for an Eye Exam.”  However, there is something very encouraging about this text.   God said he was ABOUT to spit them out of His mouth.  Which means He had not yet done so and was giving them time to repent.  Meditate on this!  Is this you?  Is this me?  Is this America?  ‘About’ … God is waiting.  Let’s not delay.


REVIVE US AGAIN -- NAT'L DAY OF PRAYER (2014)

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, MAY 1, 2014
RiverWinds Community Center
West Deptford Ministerium

PREFACE:
I’m reading selected verses from 2 Chronicles 34.  This is the setting: Judah has forsaken Jehovah and prostituted itself before foreign gods living a lifestyle contrary to God’s word and commands.  Josiah, at the age of 26, repairs the temple and calls Judah to worship the LORD.  While repairing the temple, the Book of the Law is found.

2 Chronicles 34:1-33 (NKJV)
14  … Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses. 15  … Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan … [and]  16  … Shaphan carried the book to the king, 18   And … read it [to] the king. 19  …  when the king heard the words of the Law, … he tore his clothes. 20  … saying,
21  "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah … for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book."  
[And the LORD said to Josiah]27  because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD.
32  And [Josiah] made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33  Thus … the children of Israel … diligently serve[d] the LORD their God … all [the days of Josiah].

PRAYER (LET US PRAY):
LORD, today, from all four corners of this great land (N, E, S & W), believers are beseeching You for mercy.  We ask that, as in the days of Josiah, You would hear our prayer, forgive our sin and heal our land.  LORD, revive Your Church. 

I’m reminded of the words of the hymn writer William MacKay, “Revive us again, fill each heart with Thy love; May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.  Hallelujah!  Thine the glory, Hallelujah! Amen; Hallelujah! Thine the glory; Revive us again.”  Let it be Lord Jesus! 

We Your people are beat down on so many sides.  Sin surrounds us on every front – computer screens, TV, radio, media, education, and liberal postures within the Church – give us courage in this hour of trial to be strong and courageous.  Let our lives and words be infectious, making a difference in the culture in which we live … bringing people to You.  Revive us O Lord.  Yes, LORD, send revival!

In Jesus name we pray,
Amen!


Nat’l Day of Prayer, West Deptford Ministerium, May 1, 2014, RiverWinds, NJ (Theme: Revival)