01/01/202: Love without Question

Posted on Jan 19, 2020 in General |

“LOVE WITHOUT QUESTION” 

In the parable known as The Good Samaritan Jesus paints a picture of what it means to love truly love without question. The Samaritan didn’t only see the need, but he chose to do something! 

 

Luke 10:33-34  

33 “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.

34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”

 

The story compares the Samaritan’s actions to a Priest and a Levite, who chose to do nothing. It’s interesting that these two people were “religious” people who claimed to love God, yet they avoided the messy, hard situation. 

 

How many of us do this in life? We love, help or serve when it’s easy, we are good people who love God but seem to go neutral when we are called upon to love without. 

 

The danger for most of us is not that we’ll become bad people who don’t care about things that matter; the danger is that we’ll become good people who don’t do anything that matters!

 

Within us all is a person who desires to love. God’s Spirit is pulling and inviting us to become more of that person every day.

 

Someone once said “Honesty with our compassion is brutality” isn’t is amazing how Spirit never guilt’s, shames, or bullies us to become loving.

 

We all know many times in the bible Jesus commanded us to love one another.

John 13:34-35 

34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

 

2 Chapters later he says again…

John 15:12 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

In our world hatred and anger seem to be around every corner. We find those things in politics, racism, families, and even churches. 

But Jesus said that the greatest command is to love God and love your neighbor—most of us can get with that, but he also calls us to love our enemies! What does that even mean; is that truly even possible?

 

In 1956 Martin Luther King Jr. was speaking at a rally when around 9pm a boy interrupted him and shouted that King’s house had been firebombed by the Klu Klux Klan. King ran out of the rally and found his house still on fire! The police and fire department were there, along with a large angry mob of citizens from Montgomery, Alabama there to support King. They surrounded the house with rifles, baseball bats, and other weapons ready to retaliate. The people were looking to get an eye for an eye! 

 

King stepped onto the porch of his home and said these words, “I want you to love your enemies. Be good to them, love them, and let them know that you love them. We must meet hate with love. What we are doing is right, what we are doing is just, and God is with us. Go home with love in our hearts, with faith, and with God in front, we cannot lose.” As he spoke these words the angry mob, put down their guns and baseball bats and spontaneously broke into singing Amazing Grace. They sang, they cried, and they peacefully went back to their homes. 

 

When we return hate with hate it will never end well, but when we turn the other cheek…even to our enemies…that’s when change is on the way! MLK brought change to the world by seeing things as Jesus saw them.

 

The kind of love Jesus calls us to is not always easy, but it is always right! Those who choose to love God, our neighbors, and our enemies with unwavering ove will be the ones who change the world! 

 

How do we even start ~ Remember whatever you focus on the longest becomes the strongest so start with a new positive thought…

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”

 

Psalm 19:14 

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”

 

Let me close with this…

 

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 

1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.

 

Here’s where the challenge begins…

 

4 LOVE suffers long, and is kind; LOVE does not envy; LOVE does not parade itself, is not puffed up,

5 LOVE does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;

6 LOVE does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 LOVE bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

 

The scriptures on love go on and on and on and we can compare ourselves to the good Samaritan or even the priest or the Levite but the truth is the only one we should be comparing ourselves to is Jesus.

 

And focusing every day on we each can be more and more a reflection of His perfect example.


12/15/2019: HOLE vs WHOLE

Posted on Jan 19, 2020 in General |

HOLE in SELF Vs WHOLE SELF
 
 SAM (not his real name), is a man, I met some years ago while teaching Sunday school in the church that I was attending at that time. I was a newborn in the Faith of Christ and a new member to that particular church. Even as a new child in Christ I knew enough to teach a men’s Sunday school class. Sam came in to the class room and sat down, he and I were the only two in the room and I began to teach him. As we started Sam interrupted me and said that I needed to go slow and attempt to teach in a VIDEO type format?
 
            I was dumbfounded in this as I had never heard of such a thing before. So, I asked him what he meant and he said I was to teach in words that drew living messages. When I asked Sam about this he simply told  me that he suffered from dyslexia. I asked Sam what that was and he said that when he reads a book or something the words are all jumbled up and hard to understand, and so the only way he can grasp what I was teaching was to make it seem real. Needless to say I was taught something new that morning.
 
            Sam went on to tell me that he grew up as a “gay” man and during his life span as a child and young man he was abused and despised due to his choices and disabilities. Sam said that he spent much of his life seeking and searching for answers to his troubles, and that he looked everywhere he could but never received and answers. Then one day Sam felt the need to leave his home area and venture out into new lands seeking answers. He said he felt as though there was someplace he needed to be and set out to find that place.
 
I asked Sam if he felt like there might be a hole in his soul and he said Yes, and that is what made him leave his home. Sam felt as though his lifestyle as a “gay” man was wrong but could not grasp why he felt that way. I asked Sam how much of the Bible he knew or understood and he said very little. So I took him to the Word of God to explain where he had been and where he was at that time. I began with “UNDERSTAND SAM” the Bible says:
 

ROMANS 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered Into the world, and death through sin, and so Death spread to all men, because all sinned – 13 for until the Law sin was in the world; but Sin is not imputed where there is no Law.

           
I told Sam that mankind in the beginning only had one Law from God and that was, “DO NOT EAT FROM THIS ONE TREE!”
However, Adam and the woman did just what God said not to do. Thus sin entered into the world. Since that time sin runs rampant in life and man lives in that sin. So, Sam, what is sin after all? It is the act of disobedience to the Word (instruction) of God. We are all born of woman, into a world of sin, and thus we are sinners by the mere fact of sin is in the world. So, what must one do since they are sinners? The answer to this is found in Romans 10.
 

ROMANS 10:8 – 10

8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” – that is, The word of Faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, And believe in your heart that God raised Him from The dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in Righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, Resulting in salvation.
 
            After having taken Sam down the Roman road he felt the need to say the sinners prayer, and so we did. Sam surrendered his life to the Lord that morning in that Sunday School class. It was then that he informed me that he felt the HOLE in his soul become satisfied and filled. Sam said he now knows that God had brought him here for the time such as this one to redeem him from that life he had so long lived, and that he could feel free at last.
 
MATTHEW 9:22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “DAUGHTER, TAKE COURAGE; YOUR FAITH HATH MADE YOU WHOLE.” And at once the woman was made WHOLE.
 
            Sam began to understand at that time the difference between saved and made WHOLE. The HOLE in his soul had been filled and he was no longer having to search for something to fill it because it was filled and he was made WHOLE.
 
            There is more to this story of Sam and our Sunday school class, but I will write about that later because Sam brought insight into what he believed during his time as a youth and young man, and with his permission I will share that later on. In the mean time, if you feel that there may be a HOLE IN YOUR SOUL, read on:
 
PRAY THIS PRAYER
 
Heavenly Father, I feel that my life is not complete, And that I need something to fill the hole in my heart and soul, that I might be made WHOLE and know what You have in store for me. Guide me in my pathway, That I might not detour from You and Your Truth. Redeem me O Lord and I will be redeemed, save me And I will be saved, Love me Lord and I will know Love. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ the Only Begotten Son of the Living Loving God.
 
AMEN!

12/01/2019: THE SECOND DEATH

Posted on Aug 4, 2019 in General |

THE SECOND DEATH              
 
What are you talking about Pastor Larry, what is this second death all about? Can you provide Biblical verses covering this thought? YES, YES I CAN.   Revelations 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the `second death’.              
 
There is a concept of a second death in scriptures, and we have all been warned about this very thing, but have we been listening? God is monitoring  churches and what they are doing, teaching, preaching, and accomplishing. He is keeping track of reality in the church world. Those who follow Him, and those who pretend to be in tune with Him. I have often said that in the Old Testament we read that God was highly upset with the priests of those days because how they did the things they did, and how they used and abused their positions and God’s people. Man was God ever upset.              
 
Then we see in the New Testament how Jesus Christ (Emmanuel; {God with us}) became angry with the priest’s of that time. Do we think they will ever get the message and get it right? Pray so, for the sake of humanity.              
 
Second death, we know that the first death is physical, when we leave this body we dwell in and go wherever we are bound for. For a Christ follower the first death should be to self, and what we desire. The death to sin, to bondage, to traditions and so on, the death that brings freedom to the soul. After the initial death to sin and self there is the all too familiar death of the flesh. This death we should be seeking after and be rejoicing when a Brother or a Sister reaches that point in their life because we know where they have gone to.  
 
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord – 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight – 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather To be absent from the body and to be at home With the Lord.              
 
Now, what about those without? Without Christ and His teachings? For those who have not heard the Gospel of Truth, those who live without Christ and the Bible knowledge have laws that they are to live by. If they break those laws they are to be judged by them, and face whatever is deemed appropriate by the ruling authorities. It is their law after all. For those who know not God nor Jesus Christ, they will be spared from the ungodly sentence of death and hell, for they do not know. Those who have heard, and have rejected, there is the final judgement they laugh at and scorn.              
 
Now, there is a second death, for sinners and anyone that makes the conscious decision to reject the gospel and Christ, and that death is imminent. According to the Bible, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give answer as to why we lived the way we lived, and the way we chose to go. God will ask us the toughest question He can; “What have you done with what I have given you?” And dependent on your life and answers He will say one of two statements; either “Go far from me you sinner, or go forth into My Kingdom you Child of the King.”              
 
Revelations 20 covers more of the second death, as you will read here:   Revelations 20 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part In the First Resurrection; over these the Second death has no power, but they will be Priests of God and of Christ and will reign With Him for a thousand years.   10 And the devil who deceived them was Thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, Where the beast and the false prophet are Also; and they will be tormented day and night Forever and ever.   14 And death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of fire.
 
This is the SECOND DEATH. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written In the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.    
 
PRAY THIS PRAYER  
 
Dear Lord, I am a wretched person, I am in need of a Savior, one who holds my future in the Hollow of His hand. The One who gave Of himself on my behalf. I have read this Post and I want to make certain that my Destination is the ETERNAL LIFE that Jesus Spoke of and not the second death that has Been written about here. Grant me the Answer that I might find peace while here On this plain.
 
I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ AMEN  

11/15/2019: LIFE CHALLENGES LOVE!?

Posted on Aug 4, 2019 in General |

LIFE CHALLENGES LOVE!?            
 
Life is something we all must do, if we fail to live it we are done, literally and figuratively. What constitutes life? The act of breathing, heart pumping blood throughout the body and so on. Life exists all around us and many times we are not prepared for what life brings us. Life can be wonderful and terrible, it can be filling or emptying, sweet or sour; however life can be whatever we choose to make it. For me, I choose to make life a memorable event and it all begins with my mornings onset. When we enter into our bed for the night in my Prayers with my wife I add, “Lord, if we make it through the night and it is Your will that we rise in the morning let Your song of Praise be in our lips and a dance of praise in our feet.”            
 
When the morning comes I give Thanks to God the Father of all LIVING THINGS and the GIVER OF LIFE! I know from whence cometh my breath and my strength, I know who holds my hand in the dark, who walks beside me, who knows what lies ahead of my path because He paved my path for me. I am not a perfect test tube Christ follower, I struggle daily in my walk, sometimes I find myself struggling to get up because of my flesh; but I know who stands beside me and has His hand held out to help me rise to the occasion.            
 
But, enough of me, let’s get back to the subject at hand. LIFE CHALLENGES LOVE! What could bring this topic about? I mentioned how sometimes I struggle getting back up after I stumble and fall, well that comes from making mistakes, or losing a fight with an enemy of mine, whatever it was or is at the time. I am sure that you have heard the old adage: “If the world gives you a lemon, make lemonade.” I say when that happens make lemon cakes, or cookies, or whatever lemon you want to make and party with it. Life can not destroy anything you set your heart and mind to accomplish. Only You can do that.            
 
If another person brings you devastating news, how do you handle it? Life! If the doctor says it looks really bad, what will your reaction be? Life! If you are fired form your job, what do you do then? Life!  Is life worth living for you? Can you handle life? More importantly can you Love after life comes upon you? After the devastating news, the doctors statement, the loss of your job, can you still live life with Love in your heart?
 
1 CORINTHIANS 13 4 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; Love does not brag, and i9s not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek It’s own, it is not provoked, does not take into Account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but Rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes All things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.                    
 
Love NEVER FAILS! I know that I cut off the rest of verse 8, and the reason I did was the rest of it is all about LIFE! Life produces prophecies, tongues and knowledge, but Love my friend is where it is. I know that life can be scary at times and maybe we can’t see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, but life is always going to be life, and it will always be scary, but we are encouraged to not be fearful of life, but to live it and welcome it knowing that it will come, no matter what we think, do, or say life will come. However, there is one more scripture I would like to leave you with: 1 JOHN 4:18 & 19  There is no fear in Love; but perfect Love Casts out fear, because fear involves Punishment, and the one who fears is Not perfected in Love. 19 We Love, because He first Loved us.  
 
PRAY THIS PRAYER Lord, I need Thee every hour of every day, I even go as far as admitting I need Thee Every second, every breath, I am not Strong enough to make it on my own; Life can overpower me at times, and it Seems like there is no way out of the Troubles I find myself into. So, Lord Help me to bear the Love You have For me and the rest of Your Creation That I might overcome life. Guide my steps, my mouth, my all in all For Your Greater Glory I Pray In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ The Only Begotten Son of God. AMEN  

11/01/2019: YOU KNOW!

Posted on Aug 4, 2019 in General |

YOU KNOW!                  
 
HAS the Lord  ever asked you any question, or maybe confronted you about something that seemed almost impossible or maybe is impossible to accomplish? Were you ever challenged to do the improbable, at least what in your mind was not reachable? If He has, what was your reply to Him? Lord, I can’t do that; or, Lord, I don’t know if that is possible. Did you NOT take action, or were you hesitant in acting out?            
 
I know that there have been a few times where I was hesitant or maybe an unwilling servant, and believe you me I heard about it, and even repented of it. One of the tasks I was given took place on a Wednesday night during church service, I was on the door (which was my normal position at that time) and in the middle of the Pastor’s message I received a message to go and lay hands on a precious woman of God who was in the congregation that night. She was battling cancer that had covered nearly her whole body, and yet in all of her struggles she was in church that night. And wouldn’t you know it, she was sitting on the other end of the church building.            
 
I was standing there listening to the message when the word came to me to go to her and Pray for her healing. WEEEEELLLLL, Lord, surely You can’t expect me to disrupt the message to do that would You? Needless to say, I did not move from my post. I simply did not think it was from the Lord. After the service was over I returned to my job that night, and when I went into the break room to eat my supper I sat down and took a big bite of my sandwich, and I could not swallow. It seemed like my tongue was tied up in knots.            
 
It was then that I heard the distinct voice of the Lord, and He asked me why I did not do what He bade me to do. Picture this now, I with a mouth full of food and a twisted tongue attempting to answer the Almighty God! My thoughts immediately returned to what had happened earlier that evening. I thought Lord, I didn’t think it was You, and so because I was not attuned to Your Voice I was fearful to accomplish the task You called for. Then the Lord spoke to me and He said, “I was calling on you to touch her and through your prayer I was going to heal her of her infirmities. I fell down on my knees that night, yet still with the food in my mouth and I cried out to God to FORGIVE ME AND GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE.              
 
This morning I opened my Bible to read and Pray before church today, and the text that I opened up to was  Ezekiel 37. EZEKIEL 37:1-3 1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me Out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the Middle of the valley; and it was full of dry bones. 2 And He caused me to pass among them round about, And behold, there were very many on the surface Of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, Thou knowest.”            
 
I can well imagine how it was for Ezekiel in those days to hear a voice come out of the four winds telling him to do what to him seemed impossible. However, he did what the voice said to do, but prior to that he was asked if the dry bones could live, and what was Ezekiel’s answer? “YOU KNOW LORD! Ezekiel never argued with the voice, he never second guessed the voice, he simply did what he was told to do.            
 
Since the time I did not do what THE VOICE told me to do I have asked for another chance to do what the voice tells me to do. I began praying for people everywhere I go, no matter the audience, the out come or any hagglers that may be around, I know that the Lord is watching and guiding and where there is sorrow, hurt, sickness or whatever, there is THE LORD, and healing is in His hands and heart.            
 
How about you, do you recognize the voice of God, do you answer to Him when He calls? Is there any delays when asked to do something? Listen, pay attention to the Holy Spirit, know the voice of God. Remember His word, “My sheep know my voice and they follow me.”
 
PRAY THIS PRAYER 
 
LORD, I know that I have not been 100% faithful to Your calling to me I know that I need to be attentive To Your voice, the voice of the Holy Spirit so I ask that You help Me to KNOW YOUR VOICE, and to Help me to fulfill the calling  on my Life. It is only thorough You that I live and have my being.
 
And so I ask You for all of this In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ I Pray AMEN 

10/15/2019: WHAT DID YOU SAY????

Posted on Aug 4, 2019 in General |

WHAT DID YOU SAY????                
 
What really amazes me is the mindset or the mentality of man kind. How they can take something very simple and profound and turn it all around and miss quote or misuse it. Take for example Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil”. WHAT? You mean we have been saying it all wrong all these years? YES! Just because someone else said it doesn’t make it right. It seems that over the centuries mankind has decided to make language their own and distort even the easiest meanings. I am reminded of what the Bible says about how we will be held accountable for all WE SAY, THINK, AND DO.              
 
Have you ever heard someone say, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me?” Have they gotten that wrong or what? Sad to announce but we have lost many children due to words that came from other children, children who have not been taught to respect others, to not attack people, to watch their words and deeds. Children who run amok and have no real parenting to look upon. Children who have no guidance to speak of, and in need of someone who can reach them with Jesus Christ.               I am reminded of the Sunday school song that little children sing:  
 
OH BE CAREFUL LITTLE ONE OF YOUR WORDS,
OH BE CAREFUL LITTLE ONE OF YOUR WORDS.
FOR THE FATHER UP ABOVE IS LOOKING DOWN IN LOVE
SO BE CAREFUL LITTLE ONE WHAT YOU SAY.              
 
Have you ever been picked on, lied on, called ugly names, compared to another person, maybe a brother or sister, or whomever? Did it weigh on you? Did it hurt your feelings? Are you guilty of doing it? I know when I was a child I used to pick on people that were different then myself, blind, crippled, deaf, or whatever. I learned that they were not disabled, but I was. I failed to understand that they were CHALLENGED and not crippled. I was crippled by my ignorance and had to learn to be compassionate to all peoples, no matter what I see or think, all people are God’s Creation and only He knows their situation.              
 
I have a few acronyms that I like to use on Facebook and sometimes in emails. My favorite ones are as follows:                           M.W.Y.S.  =  Mean What You Say                        
S.W.Y.M.  = Say What You Mean                        
W.O.M     =  Words Of Mouth                        
W.W.Y.S.H.O.  = Will What You Say Hurt Others                        
W.W.Y.S.H.Y.  =  Would What You Say Hurt You                        
D.Y.U.S.W.Y.T.  = Do You Use Salt When You Talk                        
W.W.J.S.I.H.W.N.  = What Would Jesus Say If He Were Near              
 
So, what was it that you said? Was it good, was it encouraging? Was it sweet and acceptable or was it bitter and nasty? One thing I want you to remember: If you take a piece of paper and write on it all the nasty things you can say about others, take that paper when you are through, tear it up into real tiny pieces, go out in the wind and throw it to the winds. After two days go back out and retrieve all the pieces that you had torn. WHAT???? You say you CAN’T get them all back???? WOW think about that. So it is with your words that you speak. So be careful little saint what you speak, for the Father up above is looking down (and listening) in Love.  
 
PRAY THIS PRAYER  
 
Lord, I need to learn how to watch my words, how to Guard my tongue and keep my mouth from speaking Foul things, help me to make right decisions and not hurt Others through my words. I want not to hurt or offend Any others,  but to encourage them and show them The way of the Cross.
 
I ask for this in the Name of Christ Jesus AMEN!       

10/01/2019: JOHN 8:36

Posted on Aug 4, 2019 in General |

JOHN 8:36 IF THEREFORE THE SON SHALL MAKE YOU FREE, YOU SHALL BE FREE INDEED.              
 
WOW! Free Indeed! Would that that be true, in todays world. Is it really true? Can one be truly free? What could have been meant by this statement? Was it just free from Tyranny, from sicknesses, free from labors; what could have been the real message here? No matter how long we live on this expanse we still have those things that continue to hold us down. We have bosses who say we have to do whatever it is we have to do to get a pay check, or maybe we have financiers who dictate to us what they want or expect from our duty. Why it could even be in the church, those who seek control over what is to be done.              
 
Regardless of the scenario, we are always subjected to someone telling us what we can or can not do. If you are married, there is a spouse, if you are a parent, there are children and Grand Parents; if you are a child you have parents and other relatives who are responsible for your well being. Banks, Doctors, Lenders, Teachers, Preachers, the list is extensive and in depth.              
 
There are people who look for the preacher or the pope to set them free, or to make their life more better. However, the scripture says “WHOM THE SON MAKES FREE!” Not men, not flesh and bones, but the Spirit of the Living God, and it is Him and Him alone who can set men free. Free from the fear of death and suffering. Free from dictatorship, from corrupt leaders and governments, free from the expectations of others, free to live the life that God Ordained for YOU TO LIVE!  
 
JOHN 8:31 & 32 8:31 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews Who had believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, Then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth Shall make you free.”              
 
Now, I know that the Bible says “The SON will make you free, and here the scripture says “knowing the truth and the truth will set you free.” So, what is it Pastor Pinky, The Son or the Truth? Well, I am glad you asked that pertinent question: the answer is YES! The Son and the Truth, you see:
 
JOHN 14:6 6 Jesus said to him, “I AM the WAY, And the TRUTH, and the LIFE; No one comes to the Father, But through Me.”              
 
We each have been given a special gift, a gift that we have to use every moment of our lives; even when we don’t think about that gift we still use it; that is the gift of CHOICE. Did you know that if you decide to not make a choice, you made a choice? Every moment of our days we make choices and much of the time we are not aware of it because it is a natural thing. Just imagine how life would be if we actually paid attention to our choices we make.              
 
There is only one choice we have to make that we are free to make. That choice is DO WE ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST or not? The CHOICE is entirely up to us to make, and we better make sure we make the RIGHT ONE!  
 
PRAY THIS PRAYER  
 
LORD, at this time I CHOOSE YOU to be my Lord and Savior, help me to make right choices on my daily decision making, help me to see the results of the choices that I make. Guide my thoughts and keep Me on the right path that I Might Glorify You in all my Doings.
 
I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ AMEN!   

09/15/2019: WHAT’S NORMAL?

Posted on Aug 4, 2019 in General |

WHAT’S NORMAL?
 
IS there such an ideal or a fact of what is normal? I feel like we have forgotten what the Norm was. I recently had a conversation with a relative who asked me how I feel about homosexuality and if I think they are sinning and wrong in their life choices. Well, I don’t think our relative was quite ready for my answer. I referred to two different writings for my answer. First of all I referred to God’s Written Word and what it says about the topic at hand. Then I went to a book that someone gave me to read titled, “God why was I born Gay?”  What, Pastor Larry, you read a book with that title? Are you NUTZ or what? No I am not out of my mind, allow me to explain:  
 
ROMANS 3:9 – 18 9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin. 10 as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” 13 THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECIEVING, THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS; 14 WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS; 15 THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, 17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN. 18 THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” {The International Inductive Study Bible}              
 
So, what is normal? Is it normal for us to wear clothing, to do as we please with out fear of consequence? For those born of man and woman it is natural to feel different, ie: a boy thinks he is a girl, and vice-versa. We see people who have spent thousands of dollars if not millions to have their bodies transformed in some kind of animal and tell others that it is NORMAL! Is it normal?              
 
For eons of time we have been indoctrinated into believing in the Darwinian THEORY of Evolution, (which by the way has never been proven). So, to some normal takes on a different and complete questionable meaning. What is the meaning of Normal anyway? According to Webster Normal is: [conforming with an accepted standard; natural; the usual state.]                
 
Again, here we see what Normal is, and in this nation along with a few others, there are people who wish to change the definition of normal to meet their ideas and plans. The desire to do this is so strong that it is now on pedestals in the US governments around the nation. Soon, unless the church stands up, preaches up, teaches up and rallies up the meaning will be altered.              
 
Those who are outside of the NORM are working over time to shut down churches, prayer/Bible Study groups and so on, anything having to do with the Lord Jesus Christ is under scrutiny and attack. We call an older generation “THE SILENT GENERATION” not because they never made a noise, but because they never made a noise about Madeline Murry O’Hare and her attack on the Bible and Prayer in school. Are we to remain silent while what we believe is attacked or are we to Preach and Teach Christ until our FINAL BREATH?              
 
So, my Brothers and Sisters, what is normal to you? Are we to remain TOLERANT, or are we to speak God’s un-filtered Truths?  
 
PRAY THIS PRAYER  
 
Lord, I need You right now in my life, I need to know That You are here with me and that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing to bring You Glory through My life. Take my hand Precious Lord Lead me home. I need Your Forgiveness and Cleansing in my Mind, My heart, and my soul that only You can do.  
 
I Thank You Father for my Salvation In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ AMEN!  

09/01/2019: I BECAME!

Posted on Aug 4, 2019 in General |

I BECAME!              
 
I was wondering how it was back during the Apostle Paul’s days. I imagine it was pretty tough for him to reach out to the Jews and the Greeks, not to mention the Romans with the Gospel of Christ. I mean, we think we have it hard when we try to share Jesus with those around us; our Family, Friends, co-workers and so on. People on the street have their answers as to how to make it in to heaven and how to succeed. I have pondered over the idea of approaching a young person who has been making money by the thousands of dollars just by passing on drugs to children on school grounds. Imagine what would go through their minds when you tell them that Jesus Christ is the best way, and they find out that churches want to take as much money from them as they can. Or how about a street person who lives and sleeps in alleys or door perches, trying to stay warm in the winter? Could I go to them with my clean jeans and tee-shirt, my super warm jacket? NO!!!!! What did Paul do?  
 
1 CORINTHIANS 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all Means save some.              
 
Which one of us have made the great effort to go out into this world, sacrifice all we have for the Gospel? I mean, who among us have gone out to the homeless as homeless ones. What great move have we made to win souls to the Kingdom, to see some, or as Paul said, all to Christ? Oh Pastor Larry, God wouldn’t expect me to leave my home and go out on the streets as a homeless person and live with them the way they live, God knows what I am able to do, and how far I will go. SHAMEON US!              
 
Saul, was for all practical understandings, a married man and he went about chasing down Followers of Christ and persecuting them, even unto the death. Then after he had his “in the hood” conversion to Christ he became a different man entirely. It was no longer about convicting them of heresy, but convincing them of Gospel. Paul knew that in order to reach the unsaved populace he had to endure hardship as a follower of Christ Jesus. He knew that in order to reach the lost he needed to think like them, understand like them, and live similar to them. He spent the rest of his days ministering to the people in a loving manner, as he would have wanted them to approach him.  
 
1 CORINTHIANS 9:19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, That I might win the more.              
 
The more I ponder over this message the more I am reminded of Dave Wilkerson and the story of how he won the soul of one of the hardest and meanest gang members New York City had ever known, “Nicky Cruze”. How Dave left his Family behind on the farm in Pennsylvania and went to New York to face Nicky on the streets, in his club house and wherever he could meet him. How Dave was challenged by one of the gang members who told Dave to give him his shoes, Dave did; and it was in the winter in NY. Dave kept confronting Nicky, then one day Nicky threatened Dave and said, “ If you don’t stop telling me that Jesus loves me I will cut you into a thousand pieces.” To which Dave’s reply was: “ And all of those pieces will cry out God Loves You Nicky!!”  
 
1 CORINTHIANS 9:26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box  in such a way, as not beating the air.              
 
In other words, Paul is saying that he does all that he does with purpose, he sets a goal to meet, he knows what he is going to do. He is not just a bunch of hot air, but filled with the “Air of Life”, and his words are not his own, but sent from Heaven above. Paul knew his audience, he knew the one who sent him, he knew the voice of the Spirit when it spoke to him. Do we?               If all we are is content to sit in a building and listen to other people talk about the Bible and what Jesus and God did, what great use are we to the Kingdom? Jesus and Paul spent very little time in the Tabernacle, or Sanctuary, they spent most of their time in the streets, homes and wilderness, reaching the hearts of the people where they lived, where their hearts were. I wonder, is it past time for the CHURCH OF GOD to get up from their comfortable pews, or chairs and do what God has called them to do? Go out into the streets and the fields and bring them in. Show them what life lived for Christ is like. Show them the JOY OF THE LORD in us.              
 
It is not enough to just tell them, but it is much greater to show them, by living it. Quit pronouncing defeat and start living VICTORY; cease speaking ailments and begin telling HEALINGS. Share the LOVE OF GOD to all you see! Stop hating, and ensuing hatred, but seek the healing powers of Love for one another.  
 
PRAY THIS PRAYER  
Lord, help me to become more like You, To see the good in others, to share the Love You have for us. Guide my footsteps On the path of Your plan. Help me to curb My tongue, show me how to guard my mind, How to protect my heart. Teach me the ways That Paul walked, that I too might walk in Like manner.
I ask this in the Name of JESUS CHRIST AMEN!  

08/15/2019: WHAT WILL YOU SUFFER FOR?

Posted on Aug 4, 2019 in General |

WHAT WILL YOU SUFFER FOR?              
 
There are many prisoners serving time in the prisons of this world claiming that they are innocent of all charges. We have seen recently several that have been released from confinement due to further studies of each case proving that they were in fact innocent. Was it because of shoddy police work, false witnesses, or some other reason; we may never know for certain, but if we do wrong we must stand before a panel of our peers and be judged by them. If we disobey laws that have been set before us should we not be punished for the wrongs we did?      
 
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if God should will it so, That you suffer for doing right rather Than for doing wrong.               
 
Every decision we make in life has either a reward or a consequence before it, whatever choice we make we will be held accountable for that choice. You say, “I would rather not choose!” You have already made a choice. I have often been asked what is the age that we are to be held accountable? It is my belief and understanding that it is the AGE that we know right from wrong. If we are taught to not steal, and we steal, should we not suffer some kind of retribution for the crime? If we kill some one are we not accountable for that death?  
 
1 Peter 3:13 And who is there to harm you If you prove zealous for what Is good?              
 
I have to ask myself often if I am truly zealous for what is good. Do I stand out among the world as different, you know, like A MAN CALLED NORMAN! Do I stray, or more like RUN AWAY, from doing what is wrong all the time, or do I happen to seem like all the rest of society? What does it really mean to be zealous for good? I think the best example of this would be Saul of Tarsus, and his conversion to Paul the Apostle. 

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