LET'S BE HONEST!

LET’S BE HONEST

You have heard the expression “Honesty is the best policy.”  No one questions that, although, as we have discussed in times past, it appears throughout the Holy Scriptures that God honors those who lie as an act of faith.  e.g.: The Israelis midwives, Rehab when hiding the two spies, the wife who hid David’s two spies while being chased by Absalom, and the prophets in whom God put a lying spirit so Ahab would go to his death.  God ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts.  There are some things we’ll never quite understand — oh, I’m not saying we can’t find explanations, we can — this side of Heaven.

With that said, let’s talk about the lie.  This week I sent you an email that said, according to NBC News, all Americans will receive a microchip by 2017.  The article/pcmdgazette report was false.  My apology!  (I should have “fact” it out.)  With that said, here are the facts as I see them. This was one of my replies on Facebook:

Guys, my apology for not checking this out BEFORE sending it your way.  With that said, please read my REPLY to Adam Starr and Wendy Sylvester.  Both people I regard very highly.  My reply to Adam is not relational to a ‘theological’ issue, my response to Wendy is: 1) As to the “chip" we all have one -- it's our SS#.  Did you know Rob Schenck is not allowed into the White House.  His SS# was flaged by the Clinton administration because Rob met the President face to face and called him out on abortion. 2) As to the pre-rapture tribulation ‘theory’ -- it came from a tongues prophesy of approximately 150 ago, and IMO, and that of ALL Bible Scholars BEFORE the prophesy was given, has no Biblical veracity.  We, praise the LORD, will NOT face His wrath [… we will tribulation — it is what has purified and propelled the Church to greatness throughout history].  Well, it’s off to my QT with the LORD. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE DAY -- pray The FIVE SENSES prayer and the HOLY SPIRIT prayer -- it will alter you day in a GOOD way. Blessings and honor to the One who was, is and is to come!  [*added]

Here’s another area I’d like to see some honesty.  I would like President Obama to call (not send a form letter) the six families who lost their sons seeking to rescue Bergdaul and tell them he is sorry for their loss and proud of them, and their sons, for being willing to lay down their lives for another wearing — not a R or D — but an American flag.  And please, Mr President, don’t tell us that those who worked side-by-side with Bergdaul and said he’s a deserter (for whatever the reason) right wing Republicans.  They are simply, like all of us, US Citizens who love our country.  

BTW:  This is a great analogy for those who say they would not be able to lay down their lives if push came to shove during the Great Tribulation — it’s too scary.  If a soldier can go to war for his country knowing that he/she could lose his/her life … and be proud of it, how much more the Christian.  As the angel said to Joshua, and to so many others throughout the Bible, “Be strong and courageous!  Do not fear!”  

In Jesus,

PB

Loyalty is a man's best friend.  Joshua 1:5

PS - Photo from Maleficent.  My date night with our daughter, Noelle, last night @ 9:50 pm, June 8.  When you have 2 boys, 1 foster child, 2 cats, a dog and a pig … Oh! and a husband … it’s about the only time to set a father-daughter date.  LOL!  

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.

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 21^st 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)

GOD'S NOT DEAD - REVIEW

Many of you have asked me if I like the movie "God's Not Dead."  Here's my review:

I enjoyed this film.  I especially favored the issues addressed (unequally yoked, being shunned for being a Christian, dementia, creation, etc.).  What bothered me, as in most Christian films, is the UNREALISTIC picture painted by the producers.  

It seemed to me that every character, which is ‘developed’ becomes a Christian, including the atheist professor who professes Christ in his last breath.  I am not denying this could happen?  It's just I've been by the bedside of people who have heard the gospel for decades, and they refused to believe through their last breath.  (This may be true of someone you know, too.)  

Also, the scene in the classroom where the freshman induces the professor to lose his cool -- like a courtroom drama on TV -- and confess, out loud, to the entire student body that he hates God for taking everything from him.  Come on!   Really!  I could go on -- far too many hokey things like these permeate Christian movies.   And, should I mention the car not starting over, and over and over again.  Call AAA!  That's my gripe.   

Again, I would recommend this film for the issues it raises and the answers it gives.  As a Christian it's encouraging.  I just wish Christian filmmakers would paint a more true-to-life picture.  

My favorite Christian movie of all time is “Chariots of Fire.”  It’s true to life and glorifies Christ without being hokey.  That my review.