OASIS THE CHURCH OUTSIDE THE WALLS

2012-01-01T07:23:00.000-05:00

New Year Resolutions

There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year’s resolutions are: to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions:

(1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom ( James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make;

(2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you;

(3) Rely on God’s strength to help you;

(4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you;

(5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further;

(6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Resolve to be closer with God.

LOVE GIVER

2011-07-18T06:36:00.012-04:00

Have you ever bought a gift for someone that you really did not know? Maybe a Christmas party, or a church party, maybe your child’s friend birthday party. Did you love them? I doubt it...possibility you did not even know them. The gift represented nothing other than giving it. So you gave a gift with no love.

Have you ever Loved someone so much that you were willing to give anything and everything? Even your life.. That is truly giving. Giving to the point it hurts. That is being a LOVE GIVER.

The real question is when you give to God, do you really love Him or even know Him?

Is your giving just like the person you do not know? or is it that type of love giving that you are willing to do anything and everything?

Love is patient,

love is kind;

love is not jealous or boastful;

it is not arrogant or rude.

Love does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 13:4-8

To Give does not mean you Love..To Love means you are willing to Give everything...

For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

Forgiveness = Freedom

2011-05-03T05:55:00.003-04:00

Forgiveness....

is letting go of the hope that the past can be change..

Is forgiveness a conscious choice, a physical act involving the will, or is it a feeling, an emotional state of being? The Bible offers insight and answers to these and many more common questions about forgiveness.

I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive.

The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us:

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that the forgiveness will be complete.

I believe God honors our commitment to obey Him and our desire to please Him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in His time. We must continue to forgive, by faith, until the work of forgiveness is done in our hearts.

The best reason to forgive is because Jesus commanded us to forgive. We learn from Scripture, if we don't forgive, neither will we be forgiven:

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

We forgive out of obedience to the Lord. It is a choice, a decision we make. However, as we do this "forgiving," we discover the command is in place for our own good, and we receive the reward of our forgiveness—FREEDOM.

Time Heals all Wounds

2011-04-11T06:29:00.002-04:00

Have you ever broken a glass and it shattered and scattered across the kitchen floor? All you could do was sweep it up and throw it away. You would remind your self not to go barefoot any time too soon as tiny pieces of glass sometimes linger around in places you could not see.

Can you relate this scenario to a broken heart that feels like it literally fell out on the floor and shattered into a million pieces? You probably felt as if you would never mend. The hurt is just too deep, too painful.

We think of the saying: “Time heals all wounds,” but at the moment of the shattering, you don't believe it. You want to look for brighter days and look beyond the horizon, but you look out of a soul that sees only gray days before you, you know those days that are hazy gray with absolutely no color. There may even be a fine mist of rain and no clouds in sight. You can’t hear the birds singing because your mind is clouded.

Your broken heart can be from a relationship gone wrong, someone you loved has gone to be with the Lord, your child has gone astray, or perhaps your family may have moved away. In any event, you do not feel like you can go another moment, let alone another day. You ask yourself am I depressed, oppressed, or just one big mess?

Only God can mend your brokenness. He is the Potter and that is His specialty, molding and making us during those trials and tears. We need to remain on the Potter’s wheel to be restored, but often we run to other places, things, or faces. It is wonderful to get support from a godly friend or even prayer with your Pastor, but this should be in addition to, not a substitute for that time alone with the Lord. After all, it is He that created your heart and in your soul is where your mind, will and emotions live.

Only Jesus can mend a broken heart, so don’t delay if you find yourself in need of repair.

But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2

“Fight The Good Fight”

2010-10-17T21:07:00.003-04:00

Many forget the fact that being a Christian is a struggle, a real fight. Many “Christians” portray an attitude that since they have been faithful for a time, they will now rest on their laurels and wait for God to “take them home.” Sadly, such people are deceiving themselves. This will not happen. The apostle Paul told Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (I Tim. 6:12). While we want to enjoy times of peace and calm, let us not forget that the life of a Christian is one of fighting and turmoil against Satan (II Cor. 10:4-5). Since this is true, let us look to the Bible and find what will help us “fight the good fight of faith.”

There is no question that if we wish to please God we must be humble. Jesus taught that only by being as humble as a child can we hope for a home in Heaven (Matt. 18:3-4). How humble are we?

Prayer is desperately needed if we wish to fight the good fight of faith. Jesus taught men the importance of prayer in Luke 18:1-8. He taught that, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Lk. 18:1). We must talk to God regularly if we hope to have the strength to fight against Satan.

If we are going to fight the good fight of faith, we need to be devoted to the cause of Christ! The word devotion means, “a strong attachment to apply time or oneself completely to some purpose or cause” (Webster’s). The apostle Paul stands out as a great example of devotion. Please read his words in II Corinthians 12:15. He wrote, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” His devotion toward Christ and other Christians was amazing.

When we don’t read and study our Bible, we will fail in the fight of faith. Paul teaches, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,” and “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (Eph. 3:4; II Tim. 2:15). Reading the Bible provides spiritual food for our soul. We can understand that if a soldier won’t eat, he will die. Likewise, when a soldier of the cross does not “eat” the spiritual bread and drink the water of life, he will die spiritually (Jn. 4:10; 6:35, 48). If we do not read and study God’s word daily, we have our priorities in the wrong place!

Wouldn’t it be great to know what defeats Satan? Wouldn’t it be great to know what we can do to keep Satan from running our lives? We can know, and in fact, it has been revealed what we can do. James says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (Jas. 4:7-8). Obeying these things is key to defeating Satan.

Let us not to give up in this fight. There are too many Soldiers of the Cross falling due to Satan’s “fiery darts” (Eph. 6:16). “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9). Let us never forget to “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (I Tim. 6:12).

Face of God

2010-10-01T04:34:00.002-04:00

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10

Bill hates his job as grocery store check-out clerk. Not only is it a job he does not want, but you should see the people, he says. They are nasty! I hate this job! I just ring the groceries and bag them, don't even speak to the people unless they speak first!

Rebecca tries to tell Bill, a Christian, that each person going through the line is a child of God. They have their personal problems and pains to deal with, giving Bill an opportunity to demonstrate the love of God to them.

“Yes, they act goofy. They may even be rude,” Rebecca says. “But you are in a position to change their day, to make it better, to show God's love.”

Bill wants nothing to do with what Rebecca tells him, claiming she “doesn’t know what he has to put up with.”

Maybe not. But Rebecca knows that attitude affects how we work. Bill’s bitterness is ruining him as much as it is hurting his customers

Rebecca also knows we are responsible for how we behave, not for how others behave.

If Bill sees God's face in each of his customer’s faces, maybe he will see them as God's children, worthy of respect. And maybe then he can tolerate his job!

The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled

and the pride of men brought low;

the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

Isaiah 2:11

All too many of us are stuck in thankless jobs. Perhaps we need to hear Rebecca’s message, too.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to see beyond the everyday tasks and jobs to the people who work with us. We are all made in God’s image, and therefore must be treated with the respect of God. Help us see that THIS is our real job. Amen.

Leaving the Light On

2010-09-27T09:59:00.003-04:00

Did you know that there is a blueprint for heaven in the Bible? That’s right! We serve such a wonderful, loving God that he not only provides directions about how to get to heaven, he also left a painstaking description of it so that we will recognize it when we arrive.

Interestingly, while there are over 400 references to heaven in the Bible, only a handful of those verses tell us anything about it. In fact, we have to wait until the last book – Revelation – before we get any real description about this magnificent city where Jesus said he was going to “prepare a place” for us.

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

Here’s the Apostle John’s description:

“It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates…The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass…The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.” (Revelation 21:11-21)

So heaven is a cube that stretches 1,500 miles in all directions. It’s hard to imagine, but if New Jerusalem were located in the United States, it would extend from the northernmost tip of Maine to the southernmost point of Florida, and would reach from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Colorado River.

But that’s only the measurement at the first level. The Bible says that the City is as high as it is wide. Think about it. The former Sears Tower in Chicago stands a quarter of a mile tall. However, it pales in comparison to heaven which is 1,500 miles high.

The jasper walls surrounding the first level are 1½ mile high. That is higher than any church steeple anywhere in the world. And all of its twelve gates are made of solid pearl.

Heaven contains 3⅓ billion cubic miles. Did you know that if half of heaven were taken up by it’s golden streets, there would still be enough room for nine quadrillion rooms 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high!

There are a couple of other interesting points about heaven that are brought out in Revelation 21. The city has no need of sun or moon, since the glory of God and the light of the Lamb are present. And the gates never close because its inhabitants have nothing to fear. In fact, no evil can enter through its gates. Instead, only those whose names are entered in the Lamb’s Book of Life have a ticket to heaven. (Revelation 21:23,25,27)

Frankly, God doesn’t spend a lot of time describing heaven because what it looks like is just not as important as how to get there. That’s why Jesus said,

“You know the way to the place where I am going…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:4,6)

I’m grateful that heaven is not a Motel Six, but I sure am glad that God left “The Light” on so we can all find it.

Fiery Furnace of Faith

2010-09-16T07:39:00.005-04:00

Coming to Christ is a full time commitment. So many have given everything for their believe in Jesus Christ. Some their possessions, others have been martyr for their love of Jesus Christ.

If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. -- 1 Timothy 6:12

Men in the Bible that showed their Faithfulness to the Lord.

The king called to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to come out, so these three men of great faith stepped out of the fire.

David was very faithful. He wasn’t a big man but he loved God and he was able to accomplish great things because of his faith in God

Joseph was able to forgive his brothers for selling him into slavery. He was very faithful and he had a good heart.

Job was faithful and he remained faithful even when great suffering was put upon him. He followed God in everything that he did.

Moses was faithful to God, at first he didn’t believe in himself, but God always believed in him.

Noah represents persecution and a faithful servant. He was told to build an ark because a flood was coming. He was told to witness to people and let them know that the flood would destroy all. People thought that he was delusional.

Abraham was a very faithful man of God. The father of many nations.

Isaac represents faith and obedience. God tested Isaac and Abraham by telling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

Enoch was very faithful and he was a just man. God recognized Enoch’s good qualities and took Enoch to heaven. Because of this, Enoch was able to avoid death.

Daniel facing many difficult circumstances and remaining faithful.

Elijah he was faithful to the Lord, he used these powers to teach the people about the works of God.

Our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. Daniel 3:17

Faith is a living and unshakable confidence. a belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake. -- Martin Luther

Facing the World with Jesus

2010-09-09T10:17:00.003-04:00

We have those things in life, that cause us to go...”Why me?”

Jesus promises us, "...in this world, you will have tribulation." You will face many rejections, roadblocks, and even land mines in your life. Sometimes God puts these challenges there to teach you, to test you, or even to redirect you. Learn to view these tragedies as opportunities to make yourself stronger and to uncover greater opportunities.“

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

When going thru these tribulations, talk to your Father. As Christians we should be in prayer daily, good or bad days. Know that God has it all planned out for you and He wants you to grow closer to Him in all that you go thru in this Life.

“The proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 1:7

True LIGHT is Jesus

2010-08-23T07:18:00.003-04:00

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

God loves the world. He sent his Son to die to redeem the world. But, the world does not love God. The world, its processes and powers, rejected his Son. Since we have become Christians, we are no longer part of the world opposed to God and his work. We should not be surprised when the world does not accept us. We should not be shocked when the world opposes and hates us. Jesus longs to protect us, but he does ask us to live in the place of risk; he calls us to join him in helping redeem people caught by the processes and powers of this current world. We are called to live on the boundary of darkness and light; we are to shine our light to help those trapped in darkness find their way to the One True Light, Jesus. As we do this, we know that Jesus is our advocate at the Father's side, asking that we be kept safe from the evil one.

"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:13-17

Grant me courage and compassion, dear Father, as I live in the place of danger and grace -- that place of redemption where light penetrates the darkness and lost men and women are rescued from the decay and tyranny of the world and its dark prince. Keep my heart on the light and my strength renewed when I face the powers of darkness and the hate this world might offer. Please, dear Father, guard my heart from cynicism and hate, so that I can be one of your many tools of redemption. In Jesus' name. Amen.

It's not religion, it's a relationship with Jesus!

2010-08-20T07:16:00.004-04:00

Some people may say they have had religion shoved down their throats, and that is not right. This is the very thing God did not intend to do when he sent is only Son into the world. Man makes mistakes and adds more to God's plan than God intended, thats why things like this happens.

The Bible says in John 3:15-17 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." It was not his intent to shove anything down anyones throat. "John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. "

In John chapter 4, Jesus, God's son speaks to the Samaritan woman at the well. Christ tells her in John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. " You see Christ offered this to her freely.

To have such a promise as this to know where you will be for eternity is THE WAY to have eternal happiness. To know that you have someone there for you at all times, when you are sad or lonely, Jesus is the way to find Hope in life. God is there for us at all times, whenever we need him.

Are you not worshiping and serving God in your relationship?

Christ Followers Wanted: No Experience Needed!

2010-08-19T07:27:00.007-04:00

Perhaps you are going through a season right now where it seems a bit difficult to trust Jesus for very much. If that’s the case, rest assured the devil is loving it! That’s not a putdown, okay?

Christians who delight in constantly believing God to “do the impossible” for the primary purpose of glorifying Him are the ones the devil hates the most.

Then John gave this testimony:

"I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him." John 1:32

The key to being trusted with faith, and more of it, is for the primary purpose of bringing glorifying to our Lord Jesus Christ. Lose sight of that, and one’s faith can diminish very quickly. The Holy Spirit bubbles with joy when we refuse to let fear and doubt and unbelief have the final say in matters, but press on to continue to believe Jesus Christ no matter how painful it can get at times.

When a person reads Matthew, Mark, Luke or John with an open mind, the one thing we clearly see about Jesus: He was constantly encouraged His disciples to keep stretching their faith – keep exercising great faith. Jesus knew how delighted His heavenly Father was when they believed Him to accomplish seemingly impossible feats, and He also knew the opposition they would face after Jesus resurrected and went back to heaven to be with the Father.

Be someone much more brave than a mere physical follower for Jesus. Rescue as many lost souls as you can that are sinking into the sea of eternal suffering. Trust God to give you a way to share with others that God desires above all else to become intimate friends with us. Jesus will supply all the faith to believe Him for the courage you need to accomplish each mission … if you don’t focus on your fears, but rather, focus on the huge smile beaming from the faces of Jesus, the Father, the Holy Spirit, the angels in heaven, and all the redeemed souls.

That person you are willing to confront might end up being one more redeemed soul in heaven … one day smiling down at you as WELL if he or she gets there before you do.

“Heavenly Father … I ask in Jesus name that you help me become a more brave and courageous spiritual Christ Follower from this moment forward. And I’m going to trust You that You WILL! Amen!”

Do I Really Have To Go To Church?

2010-08-06T07:14:00.010-04:00

Every Sunday many people go to church while others are sleeping or engaged in other weekend activities. Since our weekends are limited, should we spend part of it in church?

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25

I love what Billy Graham says: "Being in church no more makes you a Christian than being in a garage makes you a car." So, the answer is, "No," you do not have to go to church to be a Christian, but attending church serves a purpose to help us to grow in our faith:

(1) It is an Expression of our Love for God
(2) It builds up our Spiritual Strength
(3) It brings a special visitation of the Lord's Presence (4) It provides fellowship with other Christians (5) It is an act of obedience to God (6) It provides accountability to spiritual leadership

Yes, you can worship God out on the lake, or on the golf course. But doing so only takes from the creation of God. We miss out on the encouragement of others and we miss out on being encouraged. While you do not have to be in church to be a Christian, it is certainly the place where you are needed and where the committed Christian wants to be.

Go to Church to get closer with GOD and HIs people!!!

Scars of LIFE

2010-08-01T11:34:00.006-04:00

"How much can you know about yourself if you've never been in a fight? I don't wanna die without any scars..." - Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club

Most people agree that a fight that's one-sided isn't really a fight. That's just a beating. That's a bully taking advantage of someone weaker than he or she is. A real fight is back and forth; you trade blows.

The keeping of one's faith is similar. If you want to be a Christian or even remotely God-conscious, this life will fight you for it. The world tries to take your joy and your peace with every unwanted circumstance, every unexpected tragedy, and every unforeseen pitfall.

So what do you do? You can curl up in the fetal position, block your face and just take it. Truthfully, there are times when that's the only thing you can do. Some hardships are simply tests of endurance.

You can help the enemy by inflicting wounds on yourself. That's when you just agree with every negative thought that comes in: "I'm not good enough, not smart enough, etc." Your opponent doesn't have to do anything then. You will beat yourself up.

Then there's the third option: you can fight. You fight by remembering God's promise that no weapon formed against you will succeed at taking you down (Isaiah 54:17). You hide His words in your heart and wear them out on your sleeve. You stand up against the lies that seek to sink your ship.

And it's going to be rough. You'll get wounded. You'll get dazed. The enemy doesn't fight fair, and he's very aware of your weak points. Don't think for a moment that he won't sucker punch you right where it hurts.

It's difficult to imagine emerging from any fight without scars. Even Jesus has scars. He showed them to the disciples after His resurrection (see Luke 24:39). In fact, His scars were proof that He had died and came back to life. I think our scars bare the same resemblance. They are the evidence that we are overcomers. They qualify us to speak to those in pain and say, "I've been there."

So, keep your head up. You'll lose a few battles, but remember that you've already won the war as a believer.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. -- I Timothy 6:12

"Born Again" Newsboy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvwhLUfxbrw

"Information Please"

2010-07-28T07:29:00.009-04:00

A story about a Young Boy

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood.. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear.

"Information, please" I said into the
mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

"Information."

"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough
now that I had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.

"No,"
I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."

"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.

I said I could.

"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice..

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything.. I asked her for
help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math.

She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called,

Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne , always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."

Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."

"Information," said in the now familiar voice. "How do I spell fix?"

I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend very much.
"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me..

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle . I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.

"Information."

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying,

"Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."

I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any
idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your call meant to me.

I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

"Please do", she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle . A different voice answered,

"Information."
I asked for Sally.

"Are you a friend?" she said.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this,"She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."

Before I could hang up, she said, "

Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?" "

Yes." I answered.

"Well, Sally left a message for you.

She wrote it down in case you called.

Let me read it to you."

The note said,

"Tell him there are other worlds to sing in.

He'll know what I mean."

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others..

Whose life have you touched today?

Lifting you on eagle's wings.

May you find the joy and peace you long for.

Life is a journey... NOT a Destination.

Immune to Jesus

2010-07-16T07:51:00.008-04:00

CDC (Center for Disease Control) states:

Antibiotic immunity is the ability of bacteria or other microbes to resist the effects of an antibiotic. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in some way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents designed to cure or prevent infections. The bacteria survive and continue to multiply causing more harm.

In laymen terms mean all the medications that the Doctors can gives us will not do any good and the bacteria in our body will grow. This could be fatal!!!

This can be us in Church. We build an immunity to Jesus Christ, the Word and the Spirit. We where injected maybe early in life with the right medicine, life was good and all seemed right. We continue to Church and kept getting small dosage of this medicine...but we allow the bacteria of the world to grow. Our immunity system starts to fail and the first problem we face our body want to shut down.

[ Jesus Calms the Storm ]

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Matthew 8:23

How not to be immune to Jesus Christ.

Seek Him Daily.

Do not take Him for granted.

When getting injected with His Word, mediate on it.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. John 17:15-16

I surrender my life into the hands of God, knowing He has predestined for me His best. I will count the cost and by God's grace I will pay the price to become the best that I am capable of becoming. I will hold to my course and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I will finish strong...Amen...

Truth Will Free You

2010-07-01T07:40:00.008-04:00

The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to consider our freedom—as Americans and as Christians.

Our national freedom is precious, but our freedom in Christ is of infinite worth.

Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."

John 8:31-32 MSG

The saving truth that Jesus speaks of in John 8:32 brings ultimate freedom—freedom from sin and death and the devil; freedom from a life of futility and an eternity of wrath. It is freedom from the tyranny of hate and bitterness and cruelty. It is the freedom to love God and neighbor.

The passage always brings to mind a young boy named, George Washington...”Father, I cannot tell a lie, I cut the cherry tree down.” George Washington as a man show great moral character and a true believer of the Gospel.

Even as Christians we can fall prey to the temptation to trust in other things for our freedom from the tyranny of sin: status, money, good works, associations, etc. But the true disciple finds freedom in Christ and Christ alone.

What are You trusting in today?

"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favors." George Washington

Walk By Faith

2010-06-26T07:53:00.019-04:00

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.
-- Helen Kelle

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

By faith... we understand that the universe was formed at God's command...

By faith... Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.

By faith... he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings and by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith... Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith... Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.

By faith... Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

By faith... he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country;

By faith... Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because heconsidered him faithful who had made the promise.

By faith... Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.

By faith... Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith... Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith... Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

By faith... Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

By faith... Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

By faith... he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

By faith... he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith... the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith... the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

By faith... the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Faith is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.

Greatest Father of All

2010-06-18T20:28:00.014-04:00

Don't you see that children are God's best gift?

the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?

Like a warrior's fistful of arrows

are the children of a vigorous youth.

Oh, how blessed are you parents,

with your quivers full of children!

Your enemies don't stand a chance against you;

you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

Psalm 127: 4-5 Msg

Most kids are quite proud of their dads and listen carefully to what we say. So for Father's Day, let's look at some of the things us dads say - or don't say - to our kids.

The most frequent things dads say:

Because I said so.

Who said life was fair?

You'll understand when you're older.

The lawn isn't going to mow itself.

If your friends all jumped off a bridge, would you jump, too?

Do you think I'm talking just to hear my own voice?

And the top things most dads never say:

Gee, I must be lost. I think I'll pull into that gas station and ask for directions.

Now that you're thirteen, I think you are old enough to start dating.

Rather than going to a ball game, what do you say, we just go to the mall?

Why did you go out and get yourself a job? I make plenty of money for you to spend.

Yes, of course I want you to make a big deal out of Father's Day, and please give me a new tie.

And the greatest thing a Dad can say:

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.

I love your Mother.

I Love YOU.

I am proud of YOU.

May all of us fathers seek to be like the Greatest Father of all - Jesus's Dad.

Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

A True Friend

2010-06-16T08:36:00.003-04:00

A real friend is one of life's greatest blessings. In this day of temporary relationships, true friendship is rare. How can you find and develop lasting friendships? Proverbs gives us some guidance:

“A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”.- Proverbs 18:24

To have a friend, be a friend. Go out of your way to show that you are interested in their lives.

To cement a friendship, be loyal. Demonstrate your willingness to love them unconditionally, even when your friend is not lovable. Be supportive even when your friend is not popular.

To experience lasting friendship, be an encourager. A true friend is someone who tells the truth, but always with your best interests at heart.

"Many people will walk in and out of you life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."

Relationships in real life involve different levels of friendships, and that's okay. But humans are designed by God for lasting relationships. Often our isolationist society offers only vague, empty relationships. God wants us to have friends here on earth. Most of all, He wants us to be friends with Him!

Do you need a friend? God wants to be your true friend. Are you longing for companionship? God is always with you.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."

Hebrews 13:5

Who do you know who needs a true friend today? God wants you to befriend others. He calls us to be His hands and feet in a world starving for true friendship.

If I should Die Before I Wake

2010-06-11T08:55:00.021-04:00

HAVE YOU PRAYED THIS PRAYER?

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake,

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take.

Wow...I can remember this prayer as little child. It was cool just praying with mom and her teaching me this. But in the quiet of the night, right before going to sleep I would think on this prayer. “If I should DIE before I wake” .. That was a fearful thought to go to sleep with.

It seems when we get older we don’t pray this anymore. Maybe we think this is just a child’s prayer.

The lyrics to a song Dustin Evans sings...A powerful tribute to the men and women of the United Stated Armed Forces fighting for our freedoms overseas.

If I Die Before You Wake, I Pray The World Will Take
a Good Look At What God's Given Us
that We Could Only Understand,

Everything Is In His Hands
all We Need Is A Little Faith And Trust
I Want You To Know It Ain't Too High A Price To Pay
if I Die Before You Wake.

Tell Everybody That I Miss Them
and I Can't Wait To Get Back Home
but Until Then I'll Serve My Country
and Be Proud To Wear This Uniform

What if?

What if you did Die before you Wake?

Do you know that the Lord would take your soul?

It is too scary to think that we would

be separate from God.

So what do we need to do?

We need to be like children.

The children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'?

Matthew 21:15b-16

If I Die Before You Wake is a song sung by Dustin Evans

Ask, Seek, Knock

2010-06-09T08:16:00.008-04:00

Sounds like a TV show....maybe a game show. If you ask the right question and seek for the clues, you have the opportunity to knock on door Number #1.

Well you know I am not talking about a TV show, but finding God. Maybe you are searching for Him in your life and you think He is hiding or even running from you.

I can tell you He is not. God is available for everyone that seeks Him...All you have to do is....Ask, Seek, Knock.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

The problem is many do not ask, seek or knock.

If you wanted to see a long time friend or family member that you had not seen in many years, and walked up to their front door, but never knocked.

How would they ever know that you where there?

God knows when you seek Him, but he does want you to knock. The door will open and he will receive you with all your baggage and dust on your feet.

Is it time for you to knock?

TOXIC

2010-06-05T07:04:00.003-04:00

tox·ic

containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation, toxic waste, a toxic radioactive gas, an insecticide highly toxic to birds; exhibiting symptoms of infectionor toxicosis , the patient became toxic two days later; extremely harsh, malicious, or harmful...

Toxic is a serious word. Most of the world is watching the major oil spill in the Gulf Coast. That is TOXIC. But their are other types of toxic situations in life.

The one I refer to is TOXIC people.

Some are on a self destructive mode and if you are too close you might be taken down with them. Toxic people want to infect others and cause harm. Some Toxic people do not make themselves known to you. They sit quietly, waiting for the right time to cause problems. They want to be Toxic and usually feel justified in what they are doing.

Just like the Gulf Coast, Toxic people affect more than one area. Spread their vile toxicity to others.

The cure for Toxic People is Jesus Christ.

If anyone has ever dealt with Toxic people, He has. From the so called religious people, to one of his own, and finally to the crowd wanting His death. Jesus talked to His Father about Toxic people.

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." Luke 23:34

Jesus Christ asked for forgiveness for all these people. The ones that betrayed Him, the ones that mocked Him, the ones that Crucified Him.

So in the Big Scheme of Life,

when you deal with Toxic people,

Forgive them,

He did for you!