Return from Backsliding
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up. (Job 22:23)
Eliphaz, in this utterance, spoke a great truth, which is the summary of many an inspired Scripture. Reader, has sin pulled you down? Have you become like a ruin? Has the hand of the Lord gone out against you so that in estate you are impoverished and in spirit you are broken down? Was it your own folly which brought upon you all this dilapidation? Then the first thing to be done is to return to the Lord. With deep repentance and sincere faith find your way back from your backsliding. It is your duty, for you have turned away from Him whom you professed to serve. It is your wisdom, for you cannot strive against Him and prosper. It is your immediate necessity, for what He has done is nothing compared to what He may do in the way of chastisement, since He is Almighty to punish.
See what a promise invites you! You shall be "built up." None but the Almighty can set up the fallen pillars and restore the tottering walls of your condition; but He can and He will do it if you return to Him. Do not delay. Your crushed mind may quite fail you if you go on to rebel; but hearty confession will ease you, and humble faith will console you. Do this, and all will be well
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Rules of livin' in Rural Indiana
THE RULES OF RURAL INDIANA ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Listen up City Slickers !
1. Pull your droopy pants up. You look like an idiot.
2. Turn your cap right, your head isn't crooked.
3. Let's get this straight; it's called a "dirt road." I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you're going to get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way.
4. They are cattle. They're live steaks. That's why they smell funny to you. But they smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? Rt. 70 goes east and west, I-65 goes north and south. Pick one.
5. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $150,000 corn pickers and hay balers that are driven only 3 weeks a year.
6. So every person in southern Indiana waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.
7. If that cell phone rings while an 8-point buck and 3 does are coming in, we WILL shoot it out of your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time.
8. Yeah, we eat tater & gravy, beans & cornbread. You really want sushi & caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop.
9. The "Opener" refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November.
10. We open doors for women. That is applied to all women, regardless of age.
11. No, there's no "vegetarian special" on the menu. Order steak. Or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham & turkey.
12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup. Oh, yeah.... We don't care what you folks in Cincinnati call that stuff you eat... IT AIN'T REAL CHILI!!
13. You bring "coke" into my house, it better be brown, wet and served over ice.
14. You bring "Mary Jane" into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair.
15. College and High School Football is as important here as the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch.
16. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards -- it spooks the fish.
17. Colleges? We have them all over. We have State Universities , Community Colleges, and Vo-techs. They come outta there with an education plus a love for God and country, and they still wave at everybody when they come for the holidays.
18. We have a whole ton of folks in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. So don't mess with us. If you do, you will get whipped by the best.
19. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump crap ain't music, anyway. We don't want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers. Refer back to #1. 20. 4 inches isn't a blizzard - it's a flurry. Drive like you got some sense in it, and DON'T take all our bread, milk, and bleach from the grocery stores. This ain't Alaska , worst case you may have to live a whole day without croissants. The pickups with snow blades will have you out the next day
Listen up City Slickers !
1. Pull your droopy pants up. You look like an idiot.
2. Turn your cap right, your head isn't crooked.
3. Let's get this straight; it's called a "dirt road." I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you're going to get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way.
4. They are cattle. They're live steaks. That's why they smell funny to you. But they smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? Rt. 70 goes east and west, I-65 goes north and south. Pick one.
5. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $150,000 corn pickers and hay balers that are driven only 3 weeks a year.
6. So every person in southern Indiana waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.
7. If that cell phone rings while an 8-point buck and 3 does are coming in, we WILL shoot it out of your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time.
8. Yeah, we eat tater & gravy, beans & cornbread. You really want sushi & caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop.
9. The "Opener" refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November.
10. We open doors for women. That is applied to all women, regardless of age.
11. No, there's no "vegetarian special" on the menu. Order steak. Or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham & turkey.
12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup. Oh, yeah.... We don't care what you folks in Cincinnati call that stuff you eat... IT AIN'T REAL CHILI!!
13. You bring "coke" into my house, it better be brown, wet and served over ice.
14. You bring "Mary Jane" into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair.
15. College and High School Football is as important here as the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch.
16. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards -- it spooks the fish.
17. Colleges? We have them all over. We have State Universities , Community Colleges, and Vo-techs. They come outta there with an education plus a love for God and country, and they still wave at everybody when they come for the holidays.
18. We have a whole ton of folks in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. So don't mess with us. If you do, you will get whipped by the best.
19. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump crap ain't music, anyway. We don't want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers. Refer back to #1. 20. 4 inches isn't a blizzard - it's a flurry. Drive like you got some sense in it, and DON'T take all our bread, milk, and bleach from the grocery stores. This ain't Alaska , worst case you may have to live a whole day without croissants. The pickups with snow blades will have you out the next day
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Not carrying the tune
One of the Pastors use this anectdote quite a few times in his sermons. It is by Mark Twain
Mark Twain's wife was not enamored of her husband's cruder domestic compositions. One morning, having cut himself while shaving, Twain cursed to high heaven and beyond.
When the barrage finally stopped, Twain's wife, endeavoring to shame him into an apology, repeated as many of her husband's profanities as she could recall.
"You have the words, my dear," Twain nonchalantly replied, "but I'm afraid you'll never master the tune
I think this is what describes me and my christian life. as much as I try to rattle in christianity. It doesn't work. It just doesn't seem to fit me.
I just so feel like a shizophrenic Christian. It is up and down up and down. never an even keel.The truth isI wonder "Can I ever truly change from what I came from?"
I know God's grace can change me, but if it can change every aspect of a person's life.Why must we look at someone's family when we consider marriage? Why does that play in consideration? What does that mean?
In Institute Preacher talked of marriage. He taught that we should look at the person's family. Because we emulate our family. If that is the case, then there was never any hope for me to change. There was never any chance of me meeting a good Christian man, thus me marrying a nonChristian that was good should be acceptable.
I am not trying to make excuses. I am just wondering were God's grace fit in to this rationale. You can't compare apples to oranges. You can't compare the saved with the unsaved and say they are the same. The difference is God's grace right?
maybe I can't carry the tune of Christianityvery well, but I also can't carry that of a nonChristian life either.
Mark Twain's wife was not enamored of her husband's cruder domestic compositions. One morning, having cut himself while shaving, Twain cursed to high heaven and beyond.
When the barrage finally stopped, Twain's wife, endeavoring to shame him into an apology, repeated as many of her husband's profanities as she could recall.
"You have the words, my dear," Twain nonchalantly replied, "but I'm afraid you'll never master the tune
I think this is what describes me and my christian life. as much as I try to rattle in christianity. It doesn't work. It just doesn't seem to fit me.
I just so feel like a shizophrenic Christian. It is up and down up and down. never an even keel.The truth isI wonder "Can I ever truly change from what I came from?"
I know God's grace can change me, but if it can change every aspect of a person's life.Why must we look at someone's family when we consider marriage? Why does that play in consideration? What does that mean?
In Institute Preacher talked of marriage. He taught that we should look at the person's family. Because we emulate our family. If that is the case, then there was never any hope for me to change. There was never any chance of me meeting a good Christian man, thus me marrying a nonChristian that was good should be acceptable.
I am not trying to make excuses. I am just wondering were God's grace fit in to this rationale. You can't compare apples to oranges. You can't compare the saved with the unsaved and say they are the same. The difference is God's grace right?
maybe I can't carry the tune of Christianityvery well, but I also can't carry that of a nonChristian life either.
How can any woman not love the Lord
How can a woman not love the Lord?
* He is a gentleman,
* He is confident
* He is a provider and protector
* He is rich and powerful
* He owns everything, there is nothing He wouldn't do for me
* He perfects all things concerning me
* He anticipates my wants and needs
* Every day He tells me and shows me how much He loves me
* I don't have to perform in order to earn His love
* He keeps all of his promises
* No one can influence His opinion of me
* He is the ultimate intimate partner
* He can't "disown" me because I am a part of Him
* He prepares a table before ME
* He covers me and doesn't expose me
* He wrote his loving words down so that I'll never forget how He feels about me!
NOW THAT'S LOVE!!!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Trusting in God
Today's Sunday School lesson and sermon both touched on Obedience and Trust. That was very interesting how that panned out. I was thinking this afternoon about it. You know I think it is easier to trust God when you don't know the outcome or if it is beyond your control, then to trust God in something you can do yourself.
I trusted in the Lord this week my eye examine would go well. It did. As of now I have pretty healthy eyes. I do need 2 more exams, but I am only considered a glaucoma suspect. It means i am at a slightly higher risk of getting it then the average joe.
But for me to trust in the Lord in my daily nonchalant way of living, that is wher i have difficulty.
I have to trust in the Lord for my families actions and spiritual condition, because I can't control that. But to trust in the Lord for my own spiritual heart is where the greatest difficulty comes.
I trusted in the Lord this week my eye examine would go well. It did. As of now I have pretty healthy eyes. I do need 2 more exams, but I am only considered a glaucoma suspect. It means i am at a slightly higher risk of getting it then the average joe.
But for me to trust in the Lord in my daily nonchalant way of living, that is wher i have difficulty.
I have to trust in the Lord for my families actions and spiritual condition, because I can't control that. But to trust in the Lord for my own spiritual heart is where the greatest difficulty comes.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Sermons, this is hard
This Sunday Sermons was brutal. Seriously, it was. I was so frustrated this morning before church I was literally cussing under my breath. Really the vulgar things I was saying was horrible. I picked up cussing in the Navy. I was grouchy and also complaing about something stupid. I was careful this time. I made sure I didn't cuss in front of my daughter. Something I am usually guilty of. I feel bad about it, but I get so worked up and angry the disgrace spews from my mouth often before I can catch it. This verse ran through my mind
Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Sometimes I just wander if I am even a Christian. There is so much wickedness in my heart mind and spirit that I can't even imagine the Holy spirit living in such a dirty space.
Something was pointed out tonight in the preaching
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
God knoweth what I am sowing, he is no fool.
I have on my kitchen on the chalkboard a saying I just put up. "You will always be what you have been, if you keep doing what you have done". In other words if you don't change, then you won't change.
These thoughts scare me, even more now since my daughter is a teenager and some of her my fruits are sprouting in her.
I am such a wicked person. I know that. But the changing is where i have trouble. I know God's grace will help me, but even remembering to ask God for grace and mercy in weakness, I often forget.
I hate that sermon because it opened my eyes to many things. Things I didn't want to see, but things I needed too
Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Sometimes I just wander if I am even a Christian. There is so much wickedness in my heart mind and spirit that I can't even imagine the Holy spirit living in such a dirty space.
Something was pointed out tonight in the preaching
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
God knoweth what I am sowing, he is no fool.
I have on my kitchen on the chalkboard a saying I just put up. "You will always be what you have been, if you keep doing what you have done". In other words if you don't change, then you won't change.
These thoughts scare me, even more now since my daughter is a teenager and some of her my fruits are sprouting in her.
I am such a wicked person. I know that. But the changing is where i have trouble. I know God's grace will help me, but even remembering to ask God for grace and mercy in weakness, I often forget.
I hate that sermon because it opened my eyes to many things. Things I didn't want to see, but things I needed too
I am not a fan
I have a confession to make. I am not a fan of baseball. This could be a great offense to many, especially since I work in a very Baseball town. I often at times get asked if I am a south sider (White Sox Fan) or a North sider (Chicago Cubs fan). I just simply say I am a Hoosier (I live in Indiana). Now a true baseball fanatic, I dare call them a fanatic, and Chicago has several. Will not settle for this answer. They press on. They want to know which team I rootful. I simply say I am not a baseball fan. That usually settles it. It isn't tactless. It isn't demeaning. It doesn't put down baseball. it simply means I am not a fan of it.
I don't have to go into an indepth rationale why I choose not to indulge in baseball. I don't explain the waste of money of paying a player Millions of dollars to play a game. The idol worship of men. The use of steroids have really brought down the integrity of the game. The costly tickets and how booze is promoted at a so called family event. The discussion doesn't have get that far. Why? Because just saying you're not a fan of something, usually resolves itself in a tactful manner, even to mundane things of life. No argument or explaination needed. Futhermore, neither is an apology, for not liking Baseball.
Now the other day actually a few weeks ago, I mentioned on a forum I am was not a fan of homeschooling. That is all I said. Since I did that I have been told I was offensive. I wasn't right with God, I am bitter, and hateful. I don't know my Bible and such. At no time was I demeaning, insulted, put down homeschooling. I simple said "I am not a fan of homeschooling, sorry homeschoolers, I am not. end of sentence no further discussion, Nada, Zip that is all. An apology was demanded because I was offensive when I said I am not a fan of homeschooling. however, when I say I am not a fan of baseball, that was perfectly acceptable by the same person. Well I refuse to apologize, I wasn't offensive by anyway. I just stated that I wasn't a fan, left it at that. I didn't go into detail, critisized or austercize the education behind homeschooling. I just said I wasn't a fan of it.
The more I see homeschoolers reaction to any slight possible argument against, the more I am prone to believe homeschooling is an occult. The idol is the children. The stronghold is the lack of faith of our Godly leaders and the dependence is on self. I'm not going to make a blanket statement about all homeschoolers are this way. That obvisouly isn't true. Sometimes there is a direct need of homeschooling, such as the mission field. But many times their isn't such as in the United States.
Anyway, I am not a fan of Baseball nor am I of homeschooling and I refuse to apologize for either
I don't have to go into an indepth rationale why I choose not to indulge in baseball. I don't explain the waste of money of paying a player Millions of dollars to play a game. The idol worship of men. The use of steroids have really brought down the integrity of the game. The costly tickets and how booze is promoted at a so called family event. The discussion doesn't have get that far. Why? Because just saying you're not a fan of something, usually resolves itself in a tactful manner, even to mundane things of life. No argument or explaination needed. Futhermore, neither is an apology, for not liking Baseball.
Now the other day actually a few weeks ago, I mentioned on a forum I am was not a fan of homeschooling. That is all I said. Since I did that I have been told I was offensive. I wasn't right with God, I am bitter, and hateful. I don't know my Bible and such. At no time was I demeaning, insulted, put down homeschooling. I simple said "I am not a fan of homeschooling, sorry homeschoolers, I am not. end of sentence no further discussion, Nada, Zip that is all. An apology was demanded because I was offensive when I said I am not a fan of homeschooling. however, when I say I am not a fan of baseball, that was perfectly acceptable by the same person. Well I refuse to apologize, I wasn't offensive by anyway. I just stated that I wasn't a fan, left it at that. I didn't go into detail, critisized or austercize the education behind homeschooling. I just said I wasn't a fan of it.
The more I see homeschoolers reaction to any slight possible argument against, the more I am prone to believe homeschooling is an occult. The idol is the children. The stronghold is the lack of faith of our Godly leaders and the dependence is on self. I'm not going to make a blanket statement about all homeschoolers are this way. That obvisouly isn't true. Sometimes there is a direct need of homeschooling, such as the mission field. But many times their isn't such as in the United States.
Anyway, I am not a fan of Baseball nor am I of homeschooling and I refuse to apologize for either
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