tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10952896394188442122024-03-12T20:00:52.023-04:00A Life of Good NewsTommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.comBlogger321125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-35787195883254899402015-09-06T21:32:00.001-04:002015-09-06T21:32:31.809-04:00Why I’m Siding with Kim Davis<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null"><i>And ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="null"><i>John 8:32<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsVYIXl6CW12SJ174m8bSKUP_EzRCBTEbyGR6D4CYMWhgSHsIZqkk88Dvg66TPpoig4G94rhGCDgujTQxVpqYwrGD1vIf4838_GKaElM-EZyZP3qEIJh5lDLyzS7X-8rZ-jYvvMEPNUTb/s1600/Kim+Davis_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsVYIXl6CW12SJ174m8bSKUP_EzRCBTEbyGR6D4CYMWhgSHsIZqkk88Dvg66TPpoig4G94rhGCDgujTQxVpqYwrGD1vIf4838_GKaElM-EZyZP3qEIJh5lDLyzS7X-8rZ-jYvvMEPNUTb/s200/Kim+Davis_1.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="null">As I’m sure you all know by now, Rowan
county clerk Kim Davis was arrested last week for refusing to issue marriage
licenses to homosexual couples in the state of Kentucky. Not only was she
arrested, but she was denied bail and sentenced to remain in jail until she
agrees to issue licenses to same-sex couples by </span>US District Judge David
Bunning who stated that he had “no alternative” because simply fining her would
never change her mind. Mrs. Davis, of course, sited her deeply held religious
beliefs as grounds for not issuing the licenses. Some, including so-called
“conservative” presidential hopefuls Carly Fiorina, Donald Trump, John Kasich,
and Lindsey Graham, have made the claim that her personal beliefs do not put
her above the law and that she should have simply resigned if she did not wish
to participate; however, I believe that there is a much greater issue at hand
here. This is not simply about religious freedom, but about an out of control
progressive government who’s looking for a way to further their own lawless
agenda.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ordinarily, I would agree that she should have simply
resigned, as I have never been a believer in fighting one’s employer in the
name of religious freedom. If my employer refuses to work with me, I have no
desire to work for them. However, since Kim Davis is an elected official, I
believe this case is a little bit different than it would be in the case of an
average employee working in, say, a department store. Not only was Mrs. Davis
elected by people who no doubt were full aware of her firmly held belief in God’s
definition of marriage, but it is also highly likely that the majority of the
people affected by her decisions as county clerk share her same belief, as it
is common knowledge that most Americans still believe in traditional marriage. And
since she is an elected official, she would also have to go through the
impeachment process in order to be relieved of her job rather than simply being
fired, which is another point entirely in and of itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think it is important to note Judge David Bunning’s
statement that simply fining Mrs. Davis would not be enough to change her mind,
because it proves that his motive to sentencing her to jail goes far beyond
simply making sure that justice has been served. If the goal was just to ensure
that homosexual “marriage” licenses were issued in Rowan County, Kentucky, all
that would need to be done would be to impeach Mrs. Davis and replace her with
someone else who would issue the licenses; however, this judge had something more
in mind when he made his decision. He didn’t want just anyone to issue the
licenses. No. He wanted Kim Davis herself to issue the licenses. And if he
couldn’t make her do it by instating heavy fines, he thought that maybe he
could make her sweat it out in jail. Not only would that teach Mrs. Davis a
lesson, but it would also send a message to all those who disagree with the
progressive left that says, “You may not have to agree with us privately, but
we will force you to conform to our beliefs publically.” This is not about Kim
Davis’s refusal to issue “marriage” licenses, but it’s all about proving a
point that no one goes against the liberal left and gets away with it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lastly, in reality, Kim Davis has broken no law because
homosexual marriage is still not legal <i>anywhere</i>
within the United States of America. You see, the Supreme Court, in spite of
what our liberal-minded president would like to believe, does not have the
authority to pass a law on anything. That is not what they are there for. The
Supreme Court can say whether or not they believe a certain law in question is
constitutional, but they have never possessed the power to write or enact any
such law. That, in and of itself, is unconstitutional. In order for a certain
idea to become a law, it must first go through the president and congress,
which the idea of homosexual “marriage” has still yet to do; therefore making
any and all homosexual “marriage” licenses issued in any state since the SCOTUS
decision absolutely worthless. And no one can break a law that never existed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Again, this is not about one woman’s religious beliefs, but
about a progressive presidential administration that is spinning out of
control. Until congresses passes a written law that says that homosexual “marriage”
is now legal in all fifty states, I believe it is the duty of county clerks
everywhere, regardless of what their religious convictions may be, to refuse to
issue “marriage” licenses to homosexual couples because they are still nothing
more than a worthless piece of paper. This is about judicial tyranny, folks. It’s
about one branch of the government thinking it is superior to all others. If
they can get away with homosexual “marriage,” what will they try to get away
with next?</div>
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You don’t have to be a Christian today to agree with what I’ve
said here. However, if you have not yet acknowledged Jesus Christ as the Lord
of your life, I’d like to encourage you to come to do so before it is eternally
too late for you. If you will turn from all sin and trust Christ alone to save
you, He will save you today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-76429714711274848422015-07-13T17:55:00.000-04:002015-07-13T17:55:24.090-04:00What It Really Means to Be Condemning<div class="MsoNormal">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span class="null">Do you remember the story of Jonah? I do. I remember
learning about Jonah and the really large water-dwelling creature (whether it
was a fish or a whale is beside the point) when I was no more than four or five
years old in Sunday school. I remember learning about Jonah running from God,
being swallowed by the fish, and then later being spat out to go and do what
God had originally told him to do. However, I don’t remember being given the
in-depth reasoning for why Jonah made the decisions that he made. Perhaps it
was because a four-year-old isn’t capable of grasping the concept of being
angry at the mercy and forgiveness of God. But whatever the reason, it is a
story that is most certainly important for us to discuss today, especially in
light of what is being taught in many a modern church in today’s world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">In the culture we live in today, it is
becoming more and more difficult to call sin sin without being labeled as “condemning”
and “judgmental,” and it has become evident to me that many within the church
even have become greatly confused as to what these terms really mean. If we
look at Scripture close enough, I think we’ll find that to call others to
repentance and faith in Jesus Christ is far from condemning. Therefore let’s
look back at the life of Jonah to see what a truly condemning spirit looks
like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">We find in the book of Jonah that God
called Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach a message of repentance.
However, instead of going to Nineveh as God had commanded him to do, Jonah fled
to Tarshish because he knew that, if he went to Nineveh and preached
repentance, the people there would repent and turn to God and find mercy and
forgiveness. The problem was Jonah was angry with the people of Nineveh and
didn’t want to see them repent and be forgiven. No. Jonah wanted nothing more
than to see the people of Nineveh eradicated from the face of the earth
forever. This, my friends, is a spirit of condemnation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">Indeed, many people will say to you, “What
right do you have to condemn me”? However, in response, you can say, “I can’t
condemn you anymore than you already are.” John 3:18 says, “</span><span class="woj">He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe
is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God.</span>” If the person you’re talking to does not know
Jesus Christ as the Lord of their life, you don’t have to condemn them because
they’re condemned already. All you have to do is convince them of their sinfulness
and then lead them to repentance and faith in Jesus. It’s as simple as that.</div>
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Perhaps you’re here today, and you’ve never
acknowledged Jesus as the Lord of your life. If that’s you, let me invite you
to come do so before it is eternally too late for you. If you die in your sin,
you will spent eternity in Hell separated from God forever; however, if you
will turn from all sin and trust Christ alone to save you, He will save you
today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-29970545481349344922015-07-11T18:07:00.001-04:002015-07-11T18:07:53.956-04:00My Thoughts on the Confederate Flag Issue<div class="MsoNormal">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span class="null">Okay. It’s time. I’ve made a few comments on
facebook recently about this issue, but I thought I’d go into a little bit more
depth here and try to explain my feelings on this issue. First of all, let me start
out by asking you a question? Is it possible for one to be against the flag and
yet, at the same time, feel that it should not be removed from the State House
grounds? My answer is yes, I think it is possible to be both against the flag
and against the decision to remove it, all at the same time. Please allow me to
explain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">When discussing whether or not to remove
the flag, you must understand that the flag is no longer flying on top the State
House as it once was years ago. Up until yesterday morning, the flag could be
seen flying above the Confederate Memorial on State House grounds, and it is my
understanding that, although the flag has been removed, the memorial itself
will remain in place. This is just something that, for the life of me, I cannot
understand. If the Confederate flag is considered offensive to a multitude of
people, wouldn’t you think that the Confederate Memorial that the flag was
flying over would be considered just as offensive by the same people? That
being said, what good is it going to do to remove one and leave the other? If
they are indeed equally offensive, as I believe they should be, remove them
both or leave them both. It is pointless to take one without the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">On the same note, if we are going to remove
the Confederate flag from the SC State House grounds due to its “racist”
history, we’re going to have to remove a whole lot more than the flag. For
example, our US capital is named after George Washington who, at the time of
his death, had 316 slaves living at Mount Vernon. Of the fifty-six men who
signed the Declaration of Independence, forty-one owned slaves. Are we going to
erase all their names from history too, or perhaps boycott the Declaration of
Independence itself? Despite how we feel about the Confederate flag, I think
the only sensible way to look at it is as a part of American history. If you
don’t like the past that it represents, you can still look at it as reminder of
the present that exists in spite of that past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">Lastly and most importantly, I believe we
need to think long and hard about the message that the removal of the
Confederate flag at this particular time is sending to our children and those
around us. This flag was not removed as a result of a change of heart among the
people of South Carolina. No. It was removed because some crazed lunatic who
just happened to post a picture of himself holding the Confederate flag took
the lives of nine innocent black Americans in the state of South Carolina. As a
result, the suggestion was made to remove the Confederate flag from the State
House grounds, and it was done. But did removing the flag bring those nine
people back from the dead? No. Will the absence of that flag prevent another
black-hearted murderer from committing the same act? The answer again is no. In
fact, I personally believe the removal of the Confederate flag from the SC
State House grounds will only help to fuel another attack, because anyone
thinking of committing such a crime will now see that they will not be the only
one blamed for whatever crime they are planning to commit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">If you hear nothing else I say today, hear
this. Ronald Reagan once said, “</span>We must reject the idea that every time
a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to
restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his
actions.” I don’t care who you are, how you were raised, or what you have been
through in your lifetime. If you commit a crime of any sort, it is no one’s
fault but your own. The Confederate flag did not take the lives of nine
innocent people who had gathered to worship at Emanuel AME Church in
Charleston, SC. No. A cold-blooded murderer did that. It is time to start putting
the blame where it really belongs and stop exploiting the killing of innocent
people to further your political agenda.</div>
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If you do not know Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life
today, I invite you to come to do so before it is eternally too late for you.
If you will turn from all sin and trust Christ alone to save you, He will save
you today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-45680587757474358762015-06-21T01:24:00.001-04:002015-06-21T01:24:20.884-04:00The Greatest Man I Never Knew<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="null">First of all, I would like to start this
post by wishing all the fathers out there a Happy Father’s Day. If I remember
correctly, it has been three years since the last time I wrote anything about
my own father. My father and I didn’t have the best relationship growing up.
And when he died unexpectedly in 2002, I began trying my best to forget that he
ever even existed. All that changed, however, several years ago when I realized
that the unforgiveness I was harboring in my heart against him was doing more
harm to me than it ever would do to him. A couple years ago, I explained my
feelings about my father in a letter to a good friend, and I would like to
share part of that with you here today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">Speaking of my
father, I spent the first eight years after his death trying to erase all
memories of him from my mind. The truth is I hated my father for choosing his
selfish, sinful lifestyle over our family. He didn’t actually walk out on us,
although he did; my mother kicked him out. I’ve told very few people this, but
my father had a drug problem. He took his own life the same way his musical
hero, Elvis, took his. He and the rest of the family kept it well hidden, but
it was there. I knew he didn’t have a valid driver’s license, but I never
really questioned why. It wasn’t until after his death that the truth began to
come out. It was then that I started to put two and two together and begin to
truly understand the reason behind some of the things that had happened when I
was younger, like why he never could keep a steady job, the real reason he
didn’t have a driver’s license, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">It wasn’t until about
two years ago that I realized that what I was doing was very wrong. God commands
us to forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 says, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” A very wise
person once said, “Forgiveness is for the forgiver.” He was dead. Me holding a
grudge wasn’t doing one blessed thing to him, but it was eating me alive. So I
chose to forgive and bear my grudge no longer. Since then, my thoughts toward
him have changed completely. Now, instead of being glad he was no longer a part
of my life, I wish he still was. And I often wonder what it could’ve been. You
know, if he had gotten help, if they hadn’t got a divorce. Would he still be
here? Would I be writing about his successes rather than his failures?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">Reba McEntire sings a
song called “The Greatest Man I Never Knew.” (No, I am not a Reba fan. I just
know the song exists. I much more prefer songs like “My Mother’s Faith.”)
Nobody knew my father like my grandmother. She was his biggest fan, even though
I know the life he chose for himself broke her heart. To hear her tell it, he
hung the moon. And she’s told me on several occasions, “I know you know the
bad, but there was a lot of good.” That’s why I like to think that my father
was the greatest man I never knew. It’s also why I pray that I will live my
life in such a way that my children will get to see the man that God always
intended me to be, instead of the other way around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">Although my father professed to know Jesus
Christ as Lord, I still lack assurance of his salvation. The fruit simply wasn’t
there. If you yourself are a father and you are here reading this today, I beg
you not to let your children be able to say the same of you one day. In fact,
that is the only reason I have chosen to share my story with you here today.
Please, if you have yet to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life,
please do so before it is eternally too late for you. If you will simply turn
from all sin and trust Christ alone to save you, he will save you today and
keep you saved <i>forever.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="293" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/srzYsSdqMFw?rel=0" width="520"></iframe>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-22162005139184678502015-06-15T16:00:00.000-04:002015-06-15T16:00:21.298-04:00Where My Future-Wife Can’t Be Found<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>The unmarried woman cares about the things
of the Lord,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>that she may be holy both in body and in
spirit.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i>1 Corinthians 7:34<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text">I recently described several reasons why I
have chosen not to follow the typical modern-American dating process. However,
in giving you that list, I am afraid I left out the most important reason of
all. That reason being that the type of lady I wish to marry cannot be found on
the dating scene. If she’s looking for me, I’m certainly not looking for her. I
have no desire whatsoever to marry a woman who feels that she has to have a man
in order for her life to be complete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text">A few years ago, I made out a list of
things to look for in a future wife. These are all things that I can see from a
safe distance without becoming romantically involved, such as whether or not
she dresses modestly and how she treats others around her. However, the entire
list can be summed up in this: she spends every minute of every day serving God
and serving others, seeking every day to know Him better than she did the day
before. A woman like that has no time for the dating scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text">You see, the type of woman I’m looking for
can’t be found at the singles’ bar or on any of the online dating sites. No.
You won’t find her knocking about downtown on a Saturday night, either. Where
you will find her is with her family serving up her famous fried chicken and
macaroni pie. You’ll find her on the neighbors’ doorstep delivering a freshly
baked cake to welcome them to the neighborhood. You’ll find her driving the
elderly neighbor lady to the grocery store every Friday morning. You’ll find
her weeding her grandmother’s flowerbeds. You’ll find her playing with her
nieces and nephews in the backyard. You’ll find her at the church every time
the door is open. You’ll find her by her bed on her face before the Lord.
That’s where you’ll find the kind of woman I’m looking for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text">The Bible tells us that Isaac met Rebecca
while she was going about her daily chores watering the camels. The servant
that was sent to find her knew that she was the one because she offered to
water his camels as well. She had no idea that doing so would land her a
husband. Being from the south, I certainly hope that my first encounter with my
future-wife will involve some sort of comfort food, but it better not be on the
other end of a fish hook. A woman who’s looking won’t find me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDStBDzQXuxvXWUQ63TkVwqi37-gZvQnKvpMFVU8nVMhLFUi9T6oDDP7LF_Kb_RJdGyfay0-M0fHMVrtPn7FzRH_0uDvmFERwBqsSKaVs2dQnQThbvMJUEzj-pOr6FEF10i_DELcEmtCQ/s1600/Aunt+Bea_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDStBDzQXuxvXWUQ63TkVwqi37-gZvQnKvpMFVU8nVMhLFUi9T6oDDP7LF_Kb_RJdGyfay0-M0fHMVrtPn7FzRH_0uDvmFERwBqsSKaVs2dQnQThbvMJUEzj-pOr6FEF10i_DELcEmtCQ/s200/Aunt+Bea_5.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="text">To me, the most attractive thing about any
woman is her willingness to serve God and others. When I think of the kind of
woman I hope to marry someday, images of Aunt Bea come to mind. You know, that
woman who’s always busy but always has room for one more at her dining room
table. Truth be told, I don’t date because I don’t have time for a woman who
has time to go on a date. I do, however, have time for a woman who’s secretly
looking for a battle partner who will join her on her daily mission to reach
this world for Christ. Now, that I have time for.</span></div>
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<span class="null"><o:p></o:p></span>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-44654894663426372152015-06-11T12:49:00.000-04:002015-06-11T12:49:00.460-04:00Will You (Not) Go Out With Me?: Five Reasons I Don't Date<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFydopO4CNRsgFEJFBzUCb72f3A29EbTIAiKUL3XbWWJBRyldkGxwRVAFl-z5APISVH7HaA7JuF-uvTwLQcrKhqn2jbiaESB7TE69FRB4lt3j37S1-6LiIgh3VEpcQg8gyLXdWY09lgzMc/s1600/Will+You+%2528Not%2529+Go+Out+With+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFydopO4CNRsgFEJFBzUCb72f3A29EbTIAiKUL3XbWWJBRyldkGxwRVAFl-z5APISVH7HaA7JuF-uvTwLQcrKhqn2jbiaESB7TE69FRB4lt3j37S1-6LiIgh3VEpcQg8gyLXdWY09lgzMc/s200/Will+You+%2528Not%2529+Go+Out+With+Me.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyone who knows me personally, knows that I have not been
on an actual “date” in a very long time. When people question why or try to set
me up with someone, as various people will do from time to time, I usually just
give them the short, condensed answer of “I just don’t date.” However, after
years of cultivating my mindset on the matter and earnestly searching the
Scriptures to see what God has to say about it, I have decided that it’s time
to let you in on my reasoning for throwing dating out the window. Before I do
so, though, I would like to assure you that I do not, in any way, believe that
choosing the modern-American dating concept is a sin. I do, however, believe
that it can prove to be quite dangerous if not treated with extreme caution.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>Training for Marriage<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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In the soon to be released Christian film <i>Old Fashioned</i>, the main character makes
a comment at some point in the movie, saying, “Dating doesn’t train us to be
good husbands and wives. It trains us to be skilled in the superficial.” I
believe he was right. Dating does not teach us to exemplify the love described
in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. It doesn’t teach us to be patient or kind. It doesn’t
teach us not to boast or envy. Dating doesn’t teach us not to be rude or think
only of ourselves. It doesn’t teach us to control our anger or freely forgive
without end. It doesn’t teach us not to delight in evil, but usually does the
exact opposite. Dating doesn’t teach us to protect, to trust, to hope, or to
persevere. No. The modern-American dating concept teaches us none of these
things. Instead, all dating teaches us is what mistakes not to make when
picking up the next date.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>All Icing, No Cake<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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When I think about dating, I picture a man dangling a thick,
juicy steak in front of a wild, hungry lion and daring it not to take a bite.
It’s the same as putting a cake in front of a two year old and telling him that
he can stick his finger in the icing but he has to wait a couple more years
before he can eat the whole thing. Dating is all icing and no cake. It gives a
taste of sweetness without offering the real thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Over the years, I’ve come to refer to dating as “counterfeit
marriage.” That is because dating requires us to do all the same things married
people do but before we’re actually married. Dating requires you to claim
something as yours without significant proof of ownership. You can stake your
claim on a piece of land. You can even set up a house on it and call it yours;
however, without a title to the property, that claim won’t fly in a court of
law. Dating relationships are strictly superficial, and come nowhere near being
the real thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>Premature Emotional Involvement<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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Perhaps the very first issue I saw with dating years ago was
the fact that dating requires two people to become emotionally involved before
they ever have the chance to fully evaluate the situation. Romance is blinding.
Sometimes it’s hard to see past the moonlight and roses, and the truth often
gets overlooked. As a result, people often get married only to realize that
they didn’t marry the person they thought they were marrying. Too often, people
base their decision to get married on the butterflies in their stomach instead
of using their God-given ability to rationally think things through. The
modern-American dating concept only makes it that much harder not to think with
such a mindset.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>Needless Baggage<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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Dating also requires us to store up years of needless
baggage, and then somehow expects us to forget all about it when we finally tie
the knot. If you’re like me, however, you find that hard to do. The way I see
it, if those relationships aren’t going to mean anything to you once you
eventually get married to someone else, why waste your time on them now? I
don’t know about you, but I don’t want to marry someone who’s been passed
around like a Gatorade bottle in a football huddle. Likewise, I don’t want my
future wife to have to marry a used husband, either.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember reading a story in the book <u>I Kissed Dating
Goodbye</u> about a young lady who had a dream about her wedding day. It was
more like a nightmare, really. She and her soon to be husband were standing at
the marriage altar when various other women started walking forward, one at a
time, and standing by her fiancé’s side. When she asked who these women were,
he responded (my paraphrase), “These are all the women I gave a piece of my
heart to.” I can imagine her standing there thinking, “What is there left for
me”? That is what dating does.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>Forming a Divorce Mindset<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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Lastly, dating sets us up for a divorce mindset. It requires
us to enter into each new relationship with an end in sight, thinking, “Well,
if it doesn’t work out, there’s always other fish in the sea.” Unfortunately,
this mindset often carries over into marriage, as well. Dating doesn’t prepare
us to enter into marriage with an attitude of unconditional, sacrificial love.
Dating prepares us to stick around only until the other person violates our
trust, and then it’s time to move on. But folks, that’s not how God designed
marriage to work. God designed marriage to be an ever-present reminder of
Christ’s relationship with the church, and He’s certainly in it for the long
haul.<o:p></o:p></div>
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No. I’m done with dating and superficiality. I’m perfectly
fine with waiting until God says I can enjoy the real thing. What I’ve laid out
for you here today is certainly not an exhaustive list, but it should at least
give you a good idea as to why I’ve said a quick, polite “no thank you” to
dating for going on six years now. I’ve come to believe that romance is meant
for marriage alone, and I plan to keep it that way. No, it doesn’t mean I’m
lonely because I’m “alone.” It just means I’m waiting for the right one to
spend all of my time with. Others have settled and bear the scars. Don’t do the
same.<o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p></o:p>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-29660273372530310112015-06-04T01:53:00.000-04:002015-06-04T01:53:19.338-04:00The Enemy Meant It for Evil, but God Meant It for Good<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null"><i>But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null"><i>in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Genesis 50:20</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrx8VOrZF7uGoil0Af7c_VDZZePNNN7dGFSG1UCkzLMaW37U5GPK3ttmfGhubnCEyfAmVUXUiY2YnYGsCALox6ULH7nkCGt9IwYz_TH89ShxG-tpa6vDKfxaW7s1Re4pcV0KOQJnFFpXA/s1600/megyn-duggars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrx8VOrZF7uGoil0Af7c_VDZZePNNN7dGFSG1UCkzLMaW37U5GPK3ttmfGhubnCEyfAmVUXUiY2YnYGsCALox6ULH7nkCGt9IwYz_TH89ShxG-tpa6vDKfxaW7s1Re4pcV0KOQJnFFpXA/s1600/megyn-duggars.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="null"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="null">Did you watch Megyn Kelly’s interview with
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar last night? It really answered a lot of questions
for me and made me realize that, if I admired them before, I admire them ten
times more now. There are still things I disagree with them on, but that doesn’t
make the way they have chosen to handle this situation any less commendable. They
were humble. They were honest. They were even thankful to Megyn Kelly for
sharing their story. I saw no anger. I saw no hatefulness. All I saw was two
people who are resting in the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of their Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">I liked when Jim Bob said (my paraphrase), “No,
we didn’t really want this to come out. But now that it has, maybe those who
have done something similar can look at what Josh has been through and realize
that, if God could forgive him and give him a new life, He can do the same for
them too.” I tell you what’s the truth, they’re handling it a lot better than I
probably would. They have had so many people say so many horrible things about
them in the last few weeks, and they have nothing but grace and forgiveness for
those people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="null">As I was listening to their story, I couldn’t
help but think of the verse in Genesis 50 that says, “</span><span class="text">But
as for you, you meant evil against me; <i>but</i> God meant it for good, in
order to bring it about as <i>it is</i> this day, to save many people alive.” I
tell you I think God’s going to do just that as long as they will continue to
surrender their lives to Him. The enemy meant to destroy them, but God means to
draw them closer to Him. The enemy meant to turn people away from the Duggars
and away from God, but God wants to use the Duggars to show His mercy,
forgiveness, and grace. God is still in the forgiving business, and I believe
He wants to use the Duggar family to declare that to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text">Maybe you can’t find it in your heart to
forgive Josh Duggar for what he did over a decade ago, but do you not know that
Jesus said, “</span><span class="woj">I say to you that whoever looks at a woman
to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”(Matthew
5:28)? We are also told in 1 John 3:15 that “</span><span class="text">whoever
hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life
abiding in him”. The Bible makes it clear that God judges us not only according
to our actions but according to the contents of our hearts. So I ask you, how
is your heart today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span class="text">Josh Duggar confessed his sins to his
parents and to God and sought godly counsel and forgiveness. You see, there is
not one sin that Jesus didn’t die for. Adrian Rogers used to say, “There is no
one so good he need not be saved, and there is no one so bad he cannot be
saved.” The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:9 that “if we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us <i>our</i> sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” Do you know that forgiveness firsthand today? If you will
simply repent of your sins and trust Christ alone to save you, He will save you
today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-55727973875834186382015-01-15T19:41:00.004-05:002015-01-15T19:41:53.726-05:00Miss Stacie<div class="MsoNormal">
My second year of college, my friend and I carpooled
together just about every day. Our classes got out at the same time, so she
would ride with me and we would usually meet her father somewhere in town for
lunch. One of our favorite places to go back then was Wendy’s. And at the
particular Wendy’s we went to, there was one particular cashier that you couldn’t
help but love. She was an older black lady with short gray hair. She was short
in stature, but had a rather large personality. It didn’t take me long to
realize that most people, at least her regular customers, called her by her
first name, and she seemed to know most of theirs, as well. My friend always
went to Wendy’s because she liked the food, but Miss Stacie quickly became my reason.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We hadn’t been going there long when I began to notice that
Miss Stacie had memorized my order. I am a rather boring person who tends to
order the same thing every time, so it didn’t take her long to start greeting
me with, “You want your nuggets and a potato”? But a year later, I transferred to
a different school and I wasn’t able to go to Miss Stacie’s Wendy’s near as
often. However, the next time I went in about six months later, I discovered
that it didn’t matter how long it had been since the last time I was there.
Miss Stacie still remembered anyway. When I walked through that door and up to
her counter, she said, “Where you been? You want your nuggets and a potato…and…sweet
tea”? And to this day, she still remembers, no matter how long it’s been.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One time, while I was eating my lunch, a customer walked in
that Miss Stacie had not seen in years. The second she saw him, she began to
scream as though the building were on fire and then proceeded to jump up and
down as though she herself were on fire. She then flung open the door, run
around the corner, and gave him the kind of hug you might give someone if you
knew that that was going to be their last day on planet earth. She then just
kept repeating, “I can’t believe it’s you. I can’t believe it’s you. I can’t
believe it’s you. I haven’t seen you in years. I can’t believe it’s you.” When
is the last time a cashier has greeted you that way?</div>
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It’s been nearly a year since I’ve seen Miss Stacie, and I
hope to be able to make it back sometime soon. Miss Stacie is the kind of
person that makes the world go ‘round. She takes pride in what she does, and it
isn’t hard to notice. But most of all she finds joy in putting a smile on
customers’ faces. She seems to forget that she’s a cashier in a popular
fast-food restaurant chain, and it’s almost like you’re a guest in her own
kitchen. If only more people took on her attitude, this world would be a much
better place.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-38971843829612543282015-01-12T17:23:00.001-05:002015-01-12T18:38:50.313-05:00The Foolishness of the Message<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>For after that in the wisdom of God the
world by wisdom knew not God,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i>it pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 Corinthians 1:21</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof1Slb_whx7t8eMSMhj5v5wCZUg76przMcHWC5vMgGAG4bEYLP3-WM_w-PPZsKuBkmHL8prOEs5l_Hd-xGDemEYAsEjtGL7Y_mK79sWmGr9sP_IOpZcnbzcgRZC9yGBb6nORPjciduZzl/s1600/The+Foolishness+of+the+Message.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof1Slb_whx7t8eMSMhj5v5wCZUg76przMcHWC5vMgGAG4bEYLP3-WM_w-PPZsKuBkmHL8prOEs5l_Hd-xGDemEYAsEjtGL7Y_mK79sWmGr9sP_IOpZcnbzcgRZC9yGBb6nORPjciduZzl/s1600/The+Foolishness+of+the+Message.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a>Last week, Perry Noble issued <a href="https://perrynoble.com/blog/a-letter-to-the-church-i-love" target="_blank">an apology on his blog</a> for the
message that he so tragically botched during his Christmas Eve service a few
weeks ago. Sadly, in his apology, he did yet again what he does so well, which
is to twist Scripture to no end. In an attempt to justify his errors, he used 1
Corinthians 1:21 to point out that, though his message was flawed, over 200
people still made professions of faith that night. However, in order for that
verse to mean what Perry Noble so badly wants it to mean, he would have had to
have taken it out of context. Therefore let’s take the time to look at the
entire passage to see what Paul really meant by what he wrote in 1 Corinthians
1:21.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">18</span> For the preaching
of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it
is the power of God.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">19</span> For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the
understanding of the prudent.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">20</span> Where is the wise?
where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made
foolish the wisdom of this world?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">21</span> For after that in
the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">22</span> For the Jews
require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">23</span> But we preach
Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness;<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">24</span> But unto them which
are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of
God.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">25 </span>Because the
foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than
men.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">26 </span>For ye see your
calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty,
not many noble, are called:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">27 </span>But God hath chosen
the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the
weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">28 </span>And base things of
the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things
which are not, to bring to nought things that are:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">29 </span>That no flesh
should glory in his presence.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">30 </span>But of him are ye
in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">31 </span>That, according as
it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes, the best way to interpret Scripture is with
Scripture. If Perry Noble had done that, he would have needed to look no
further than a few verses up at 1 Corinthians 1:18 to see that “the preaching
of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it
is the power of God.” This is what Paul was referring to in verse 21. He was by
no means implying that, though his own message was flawed, many were still
saved as a result. No. He was simply referring to the fact that the message of
the cross is oftentimes perceived as foolishness to those who do not know God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the song says, God picked such a strange way to save the
world. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the
wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27). It makes no sense that the King of the
universe would become flesh and take on the form of a helpless little baby in a
manger. It makes no sense that Almighty God would leave His throne above to
live poor as a Job’s turkey on earth. It makes no sense that “<span class="text">while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). It makes no sense that
Jesus Christ would exchange His righteousness for my sin. It makes no sense.
The Gospel makes no sense, and it wasn’t meant to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">Much of what we read in the Bible does not
make sense, folks. However, that being true, “the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us” (John 1:14). He knew joy, and He knew pain. He knew laughter, and He
knew sorrow. He knew what it was to rejoice, and He knew what it was to weep.
He was rejected and despised by the very ones He came to save. Yet He endured
all of this that we might know Him. This is the true miracle of the Gospel.
Jesus performed many wonderful miracles, but the greatest of all is the saving of
those who will turn from their sin and trust in Christ alone to save them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It makes no sense for God to go to such a
great length to save those who rejected and despised Him, but that’s exactly
what He did. It may be a foolish message, but it is a saving message for those
who will believe. If you do not know Jesus Christ as Lord of your life today,
it is my prayer that you would come to do so before it is eternally too late
for you. If you will turn from all sin and trust Jesus alone to save you, He
will save you today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-20643604965768477852015-01-10T23:41:00.000-05:002015-01-10T23:41:40.395-05:00False Conversion: Learning from the Queen of the West (Repost from 8/2/11)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIBlOUocB6VvudJY8dvnToHiGq674muJjJiB78Xp2kgQRQpPdWiU0hmoZfOYFq51wuLiiZGS_bAZthoWe5amTsl_wybR38qFNy8rk0QFfFR7auKb9A0KAjZMqPDgZM74I7THvTm5_CpRU/s1600/Dale+Evans_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIBlOUocB6VvudJY8dvnToHiGq674muJjJiB78Xp2kgQRQpPdWiU0hmoZfOYFq51wuLiiZGS_bAZthoWe5amTsl_wybR38qFNy8rk0QFfFR7auKb9A0KAjZMqPDgZM74I7THvTm5_CpRU/s200/Dale+Evans_6.jpg" width="160" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately,
I am afraid that most people my age do not even know who Dale Evans
was. However, she was one of my childhood heroes, and I still consider
her to be one of my heroes today. I did not know much about Dale when I
was growing up. However, I was reintroduced to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
about four months ago, and that is when I read Dale’s salvation story
for the first time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I like
Dale’s salvation story because it is very similar to my own. Dale
accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was only ten years old.
However, she would be the first to tell you that she did not make Him
Lord of her life. And as she would say, “There is a </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">big fat difference</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> there.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrlkLsDEqjD4cZUJ59dEZLG49rHqC3w1mXp2vtmWjZeeCKt3lm4_b5Z7SbyEW-vzpctiUs_yGwtdYWN0g9ai5H_mA4D4lmfKEheYuEYgZHgWFylQoagBd2EtF5m5Z7qTEhyQWKfFvGOnZ/s1600/Roy+and+Dale+and+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrlkLsDEqjD4cZUJ59dEZLG49rHqC3w1mXp2vtmWjZeeCKt3lm4_b5Z7SbyEW-vzpctiUs_yGwtdYWN0g9ai5H_mA4D4lmfKEheYuEYgZHgWFylQoagBd2EtF5m5Z7qTEhyQWKfFvGOnZ/s200/Roy+and+Dale+and+Family.jpg" width="125" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shortly
after Dale married Roy when she was thirty-five, she attended a church
service with </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">her son, Tom. That was when Tom told her that Roy’s
children deserved to grow up in a Christian home and she needed to give
her life to Christ. It was upon her son’s plea that Dale did indeed give
her life completely over to Christ that day. And as she would have
said, her life was “radically changed” and “the burden of sin was rolled
away.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many of you
reading this today may think that you will go to Heaven when you die
just because you say that you believe in Jesus Christ. But as Adrian
Rogers used to say, “If He is not your Lord, He is not your Savior.”
Luke 13:5 says, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N_shZqCMJUqkdFYrsKgBf0wljpAC0fSkx3wg_LB64sq_anIeZzky9CAWD-s85UTWaS8QZIY8b37dvPkHYRkPdFIwVK7G7ZoZ4axFwVm1kGhw30yKUE13OGew2wxQaC8Dx7TjzepoZmmf/s1600/Roy+and+Dale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N_shZqCMJUqkdFYrsKgBf0wljpAC0fSkx3wg_LB64sq_anIeZzky9CAWD-s85UTWaS8QZIY8b37dvPkHYRkPdFIwVK7G7ZoZ4axFwVm1kGhw30yKUE13OGew2wxQaC8Dx7TjzepoZmmf/s200/Roy+and+Dale.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Oftentimes I will ask the readers of this blog to “acknowledge Jesus Christ
as Lord.” What do I mean by that? By acknowledging Jesus as Lord of your
life, you are giving Him complete control over every aspect of your
life. By acknowledging Jesus as Lord, you are saying, “What You say do, I
will do. What You say say, I will say. Where You say go, I will go.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you have
not yet acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, I am asking you
to please do so today. Turn completely from all sin and acknowledge
Jesus Christ as Lord. If you do that, He will save you </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">today</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and keep you saved </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">forever</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-78731120744009975692015-01-09T00:02:00.001-05:002015-01-09T00:02:14.096-05:00Pass the Salt<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the
salt have lost his savour,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>wherewith shall it be salted? It is
thenceforth good for nothing,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>but to be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Matthew 5:13<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-oseDadYr81fzyhxm2S_2poMIjEaOvuLA5A69QCpQAmq-I-w0eG0i3zsZwXO_6KI9BskY61H69T16JuYlZjeoIndKH6T9eu4-5gpMcl04hKJbq0MBSjD_fs9h6Y79RNgFT_E8o9FX-HM/s1600/Pass+the+Salt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-oseDadYr81fzyhxm2S_2poMIjEaOvuLA5A69QCpQAmq-I-w0eG0i3zsZwXO_6KI9BskY61H69T16JuYlZjeoIndKH6T9eu4-5gpMcl04hKJbq0MBSjD_fs9h6Y79RNgFT_E8o9FX-HM/s1600/Pass+the+Salt.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a>John R. W. Stott once said, “We should not ask, ‘What is
wrong with the world,’ for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather, we
should ask, ‘What has happened to the salt and light.’” This is a question I
have been asking myself for years.<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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<w:wrap type="square">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape> The Bible commands us as children of the King to be salt and light
to a lost and dying world. But is that what we’re doing? Are we living lives
that convict? Are we living lives that preserve? Are we living lives that
expose that which has been hidden in darkness? Or has our salt lost its savor
and our light lost its brightness?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you live in upstate SC, you are no doubt aware of the current
controversy surrounding local megachurch NewSpring and its pastor, Perry Noble.
For years, I have had my reservations about the so-called “church” for one
reason. I haven’t heard very many messages preached by Perry Noble, so that
couldn’t be it. I have only observed its rock concert-like worship style once,
so that really couldn’t be it, either. No. My main concern with NewSpring has
always been a lack of evidence of true change in the lives of its members. Jesus
said in Matthew 7:16-18, “<span class="text">Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?</span> Even so every good
tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring
forth good fruit.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">What the Lord was saying in that particular
passage of Scripture is that we can make educated observations about someone’s
salvation by the way they choose to live their lives. If they are clearly
walking in the truth, growing in the Word, loving what He loves and hating what
He hates, we can safely say that they most likely are in a right relationship
with the Lord. However, if they clearly are not regularly feeding on the Word
of God and if they aren’t living their lives according to the plan He has laid
out for them in His Word, we have serious reason to doubt their salvation. This
is exactly why I have serious doubts about the legitimacy of the thousands of
conversions that have supposedly taken place at NewSpring over the past fifteen
years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">You may say, “Well, how can you say these
things”? </span><span class="uficommentbody">When you sit in a restaurant and
hear the lady behind you tell her friend that she attends NewSpring because she
can be open about the fact that she and her boyfriend are living together
before marriage and not have people judge her, you wise up. It doesn’t take too
many times of hearing the people in front of you in class who you know attend
NewSpring discussing the raunchiest shows on television for you to know that
something just isn’t right. And when someone else you know attends NewSpring
comes in on Monday and brags about how she got drunk with her friends over the
weekend, you tend to question things.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="uficommentbody">On James Duncan’s blog, <i>Pajama Pages</i>, one commenter wrote, “This
is really the crux of the issue with NewSpring. There is a lot of good
marketing that gets people there, but there is not a lot [of] sound teaching
that gets believers to ‘grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.’
I’ve come across many who have been baptized by NewSpring and regularly
[attend]: open lesbian couples, cohabitating couples, and the like. They go
there because they know they won’t be ‘judged’ there.” But if Perry Noble is
really preaching the life-changing, earth-shattering truth of God’s Word, how
can this be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="uficommentbody">John 3:19 tells us, “</span><span class="text">And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.</span>”
Darkness dwells with darkness, and light with light. The two simply do not mix.
When light enters a room full of darkness, all darkness leaves immediately;
however, when darkness enters a room full of darkness, there is simply more
darkness. The fact is there are only two possible things that can happen when
someone who does not know the Lord listens to the preaching of His Word: either
they will be convicted, embrace the conviction and seek to learn more about the
Lord Jesus, eventually giving their heart and life to him, or they will be
convicted and run from the conviction. Those living in disobedience to the Word
of God don’t usually attend Bible believing churches for very long. The fact
that NewSpring is filled with members who live in blatant disobedience to God’s
Word suggests that the entire truth of the Bible may indeed not be being preached
there, for darkness doesn’t dwell with light.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">The title of this blog post is “Pass the
Salt.” The Bible commands us to be the salt of the earth. Have you ever gotten
salt in an open wound? It didn’t feel too good, did it? In fact, it burns
something awful. Salt is a good healer, but in fighting the infection it brings
serious pain. That is the effect the Word of God ought to have on a person who
is living outside of God’s will for their life. People will either embrace the
conviction and get right with God, or they will turn and run as fast they can
in the opposite direction. Not too many will sit and listen week after week,
year after year with no change of heart. If they do, it’s because the salt has
lost its power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">May we all live salty lives, encouraging
others to get right with the Lord, and may “your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew
5:16). This is what Adrian Rogers meant when he used to say, “Witness always,
using words when necessary.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you know the Lord today? Have you
embraced His calling to surrender your entire life to Him? If not, it is my
prayer that you would come to do so before it is eternally too late for you. If
you will turn from all sin and trust Christ alone to save you, He will save you
today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-38271423274320230562015-01-05T02:47:00.001-05:002015-01-05T02:47:38.795-05:00A Warning to My Generation<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>but inwardly they are ravening wolves.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Matthew 7:15<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAdNePVN2p4XZaOVYu21DQAbypsZqgePukka93vrpoIh2bJAL8LzPUsPq7nA6iqQyelraw5s14TKnFbr2BjnGekjNwDdWqNT_QAZbdyOKxJIH2CK-L0Ijt4ArKJC9FUFBITO5BL4HdKxR/s1600/A+Warning+for+My+Generation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAdNePVN2p4XZaOVYu21DQAbypsZqgePukka93vrpoIh2bJAL8LzPUsPq7nA6iqQyelraw5s14TKnFbr2BjnGekjNwDdWqNT_QAZbdyOKxJIH2CK-L0Ijt4ArKJC9FUFBITO5BL4HdKxR/s1600/A+Warning+for+My+Generation.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a>A couple days ago, Tony Miano shared an article on facebook
written by a local college professor about a particular sermon recently
delivered by the pastor of a local megachurch. The article is entitled <a href="http://www.pajamapages.com/noble-rescinds-the-ten-commandments-for-2015/" target="_blank">“NobleRescinds the Ten Commandments for 2015.”</a> Perhaps you have already read it yourself
or have at least heard of it. If you have not yet read it, I suggest you do so
before continuing with the rest of this blog post. After reading this gentlemen’s
article, I immediately wanted to write a blog post of my own warning other
people of my generation to stay away from such teaching while throwing in my own
personal touch. So here goes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I don’t know if the writer of the aforementioned article has
ever personally attended Perry Noble’s so-called “church,” but I unfortunately
can tell you that I have. It was exactly one week before I would start my
freshman year of college, and since my home church had cancelled services for
that night a couple of my friends suggested that I join them at NewSpring. I
had always been cautious of this local fast-growing megachurch that was
notorious for loud music and casual dress; however, since my church wasn’t
having services that particular night, I decided that it wouldn’t hurt to
satisfy my curiosity just that one time. <i>Big
mistake</i>, or so I felt at the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once I had arrived at the church and parked my car in the
already overflowing parking lot, it didn’t take me long to realize that
something was terribly wrong. As I was waiting on my friends to arrive, I stood
by my car and keenly observed the people passing by on their way into the
building, trying not to be too obvious, of course. As I was doing so, I noticed
something that was missing. That something was Bibles. I must have seen dozens
of people walk through that parking lot before my friends got there, yet I didn’t
see one person carrying a Bible. When I questioned my friend about it later, he
said something to the effect of, “Oh, it’s okay. We don’t need them. He always
puts it up on the screen anyway.” Screen or no screen, I had always been taught
that you never attend church without your Bible in tow. In fact, I don’t
remember many services growing up in my small Southern Baptist church that the
preacher didn’t start his message by saying, “Now turn in your Bibles to…,” and
the congregation would then stand as the preacher read the passage aloud. I was
taught to treasure the Bible because it is God’s holy, infallible word, and
treasuring the Bible meant taking it to church with me. It just didn’t make
sense to do otherwise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As if the missing Bibles wasn’t enough, I noticed something
else alarming when I finally made it inside the building. I could hear music
playing from what sounded like overhead speakers, but I didn’t recognize the
words. After listening carefully for a while, I turned to my friend and said, “Is
that a secular song they’re playing”? He nodded that it was, but then added
that they only played it before the actual service began, as if that somehow
made it alright. At that point, something told me that I should turn around and
walk right back out the door from which I had just came; however, I very
politely told the little voice to “shut up” and continued to find a place to
sit (another huge mistake!).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Upon finally finding three empty seats all together, my
friends and I sat down to find what seemed to be some sort of blow-up device
placed at each seat. As we explored further, we realized that they were neon
orange blow-up sticks, and each person had been given two to bang together
during the rock concert-like “worship” service. How such behavior could ever be
considered worship, I will probably never know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was really too distracted by what I had already witnessed
before the so-called pastor started to preach to pay too much attention to what
he was saying, but what I can remember is him using three or four curse words
along with taking the name of the Lord in vain at least once (no wonder he felt
the need to change that commandment around).It seems like he may have also
thrown in a story at some point about scaring an office worker with a plastic
bag. What I’m sure he didn’t do is preach the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the end of the service, Perry Noble did give an alter
call, leading his audience in what is commonly known as “the sinner’s prayer.”
However, like my fellow blogger mentioned, he never gave a biblical explanation
as to why they needed to be saved or what they were being saved from. He simply
asked for a show of hands as to how many had prayed the prayer and asked that
all who did come to the front at close of service. Funny, we never read in the
Bible where Jesus took for granted that His listeners knew what it meant to be
a sinner in need of a Savior. That is why He always was careful to explain it
in a way which those He was speaking to could thoroughly understand, just like
he did with the rich young ruler.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Coming from a traditional Southern Baptist church, it is
oftentimes hard to get people to understand that my problem with NewSpring goes
much deeper than it simply not being my style. No. My problem with NewSpring
has always been with the fruit produced, or the lack thereof. Matthew 7:16-17
says, “<span class="text">Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?</span> Even so every good tree bringeth
forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” If the
life-changing truth of God’s Word were indeed being preached at NewSpring,
would it not make sense for the majority of the congregation to bear good
fruit, to be walking in the truth, to love what God loves and hate what God
hates? You would think.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="text">I remember a couple years ago I was sitting
in a college biology class when I overheard the conversation of a group of
people who I had just heard mention a Bible study that they had attended at
NewSpring. The conversation to which I am referring, however, was not about the
Bible study. Instead, they were talking about the popular vulgar, animated
television sitcom <i>Family Guy</i>. I
remember sitting there thinking to myself, “Who engages in discussion of God’s
Word one minute and watches a show that curses Him the next”? If you are a
child of God, the very things that break His heart ought to break yours, as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text">Perhaps the one instance that stands out to
me the most is a conversation that I once overheard while sitting alone in a
local Japanese restaurant. Sitting in the booth behind me was two ladies who I
could not help but hear discussing NewSpring. From what I heard, it sounded
like the two may not have known each other for very long. The one was telling
the other about the man whom she was currently living with although they were
not married. She then proceeded to explain that that was the precise reason
they attended NewSpring. She said, “We can tell people without having them
judge us.” Of course, I’m not surprised, being that according to Perry Noble,
God’s command to “flee fornication” in 1 Corinthians 6:18 is more of a
suggestion than anything. I can’t imagine what “promise” Perry Noble could
possibly twist out of that, since God already promises us that “every sin that
a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth
against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). How much plainer could you get than
that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text">To tell you the truth, NewSpring scares me
because of one verse. That verse is Proverbs 14:12 which says, “There is a way
which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.</span>”
I fear because Perry Noble teaches that it is possible to follow God without
adhering to His teachings. But if that were so, why then did Jesus say in John
14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (see also Exodus 20:6, Deuteronomy
5:10, 7:9, 11:1, 11:22, 19:9, 30:16, Joshua 22:5, Nehemiah 1:5, Daniel 9:4,
John 14:21, 15:10, and 1 John 5:2-3; all seem to show the concept of loving God
and keeping His commandments going hand-in-hand—to separate the two is
impossible)?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="text">Hebrews 9:27 does indeed say, “It is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment</span>.” And I am
here to tell you today that God is not going to let you into Heaven simply
because you said yes to His existence, but He is going to judge you based on
whether or not you said yes to His teachings and loved Him enough to take Him
at His Word. Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out
devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Some translations have that word “iniquity” as “lawlessness.” In other words,
those who profess to know the Lord yet fail to keep His commandments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="text">Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not telling you
that you can go to Heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments. Well, you could, but
you can’t keep them—nobody can. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God</span>,” and Romans 3:12 says, “There is none
that doeth good, no, not one.” The fact that you can’t keep them is
proof that you need God’s saving grace. That’s why Jesus had to die on the
cross. He knew that we could never be good enough on our own, so He traded His life
for ours. Then He rose triumphantly from the grave on the third day, defeating sin
and death once for all. First Thessalonians 1:10 calls Him “Jesus who delivers
us from the wrath to come.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="text">I’ve never been one to ask people to
believe <i>in</i> Jesus. No. I simply ask
that you <i>believe</i> Him, that you take
Him at His word, that you believe with every fiber of your being that every
word He says is true. Adrian Rogers once said, “The biggest fool is not the one
who says there is no God. The biggest fool is the one who says there is a God
and then doesn’t live like it.” That is exactly what Perry Noble wants you to
do. He wants you to say that you believe in God, but then to live as if He
doesn’t even exist. He’s asking you to be what some may call the “Christian
atheist.” However, if you ever meet Him and realize the significance of what
Jesus did for you on the cross, to do what Perry Noble is suggesting will be
impossible for you; because once you give your life to Him, you’ll never be the
same. He’ll give you a new heart with new desires and enable you to do His will
for your life which He has laid out so beautifully for you in His Word. And I
promise you upon the authority of God’s Word that you will never be sorry that
you trusted Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Maybe you are here today and you are realizing for the first
time that you need Him in your life. If you have never acknowledged Jesus as
Lord of your life, it is my prayer that you would come to do so today before it
is eternally too late for you. There’s only one way to Heaven, and that’s the
blood of Jesus. Claim it today. Turn from all sin and trust Jesus alone to save
you. If you do that, He will save you today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
<o:p></o:p>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-38962268463639685622014-11-12T05:00:00.000-05:002014-11-12T05:00:05.748-05:00This Is Sad<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>And the </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i> God said, “It is not good that man should be
alone;<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i>I will make him a helper comparable to him.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i>Genesis 2:18<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="text">I saw the below article on facebook last
night, and my heart broke as I read it. I have come to believe as a result of
numerous things such as this article that people of today’s world have lost
sight of what marriage truly is. At some point in time, we stopped reminding
our children that marriage was created and designed by God for a specific
purpose; and because of that, the truth that inspired this article exists
today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text">If there is one topic that I have written
about more than any other, it has been this topic of marriage. That is because
I feel very strongly that our children’s future and the future of this country
depends upon what we choose to believe about marriage and family. Marriage is
so important that the first relationship that ever existed between two human
beings was the relationship between Adam and Eve, the first marriage. When God
first created marriage, He didn’t just create a bunch of different women and
tell Adam to pick the one that he liked the best. No. He caused Adam to fall
into a deep sleep, He took one of His ribs, used that rib to form Eve, and then
said, “This is your wife.” I don’t think we often enough realize the
significance of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaBB3DEer9AHx0-cmtkK0GyINs1e8zPpiSlrliZ9BpuZUk3Gw0YrSomTKKoNH62F4yHD40uctIIUsl4TwJDLbrc4ZnBgA5GTOxWdBw3hyphenhyphenrRZtZCgkW_gRLPaWElP1b-ZLmIMBCukoD5BY/s1600/Herbert+and+Zelmyra+Fisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaBB3DEer9AHx0-cmtkK0GyINs1e8zPpiSlrliZ9BpuZUk3Gw0YrSomTKKoNH62F4yHD40uctIIUsl4TwJDLbrc4ZnBgA5GTOxWdBw3hyphenhyphenrRZtZCgkW_gRLPaWElP1b-ZLmIMBCukoD5BY/s200/Herbert+and+Zelmyra+Fisher.jpg" width="196" /></a><span class="text">Over the years, I have become convinced
that marriage is not a decision that we enter into. Marriage is a calling
brought to us by God. Whether we choose to answer that calling, is up to us.
Not only is it a calling, but marriage is a journey of faith. It is two people
coming together to serve the Lord together in a way that they never could apart
from each other. When two people get married, they are coming together to
fulfill a purpose, to complete a mission. As Zelmyra Fisher once said, “</span>Remember
marriage is not a contest—never keep a score. God has put the two of you
together on the same team to win.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I don’t date and I certainly won’t get married because
someone hits me with an ultimatum, because that’s not what marriage is all
about. If I do indeed get married one of these days, it will be because God
brings one very special lady into my life and says, “Marry her. I have work for
the two of you to do.” That’s because here is the ultimatum: marriage is not
about you. It’s not about not being alone for the rest of your life. It’s about
glorifying God. It’s about having an ever-present reminder that God loved this
sin-cursed world so much that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
(Romans 5:8). That’s what marriage is all about.</div>
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Do you know that love today? Have you acknowledged Jesus
Christ as the Lord of your life? If you have not, I pray that you would do so
before it’s eternally too late for you. If you will turn from all sin and trust
Christ alone to save you, He will save you today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/more-americans-putting-off-marriage-until-ultimatu,37405/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=LinkPreview:1:Default" target="_blank">"More Americans Putting Off Marriage Until Ultimatum"</a></div>
<o:p></o:p>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-27187783626449787552014-10-29T23:45:00.000-04:002014-10-29T23:45:03.266-04:00Why I Hate Big Businesses<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>And remember the words of the Lord Jesus,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i>that He said, </i></span><span class="woj"><i>‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i>Acts 20:35<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>As I stated in my last post, around this time last year, I decided to
take a year off from school. It was also at that time that I changed my major.
You see, I started out in business management, but I soon realized that all the
business classes are designed to do is to teach you how to take other people’s
money; and that’s not what I want to do in life. I would still like to be a
part of the business world, but just in a different way. I want to be in the
business of supporting my local community; not in the business of making money.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISxTcoHZGjQdA2gxg4oZzW3t69V04bVf4fSW0x7qrOePdNvRa5oUd8G2jMlHevJfReoQve6awQQe9nut3c_LID77o4ncfeeM4Uo5jAB_59ieaI9Yagdi1QA7mrBTrphBNEUZKYFWvxct7/s1600/Bert+Miller.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISxTcoHZGjQdA2gxg4oZzW3t69V04bVf4fSW0x7qrOePdNvRa5oUd8G2jMlHevJfReoQve6awQQe9nut3c_LID77o4ncfeeM4Uo5jAB_59ieaI9Yagdi1QA7mrBTrphBNEUZKYFWvxct7/s1600/Bert+Miller.png" height="150" width="200" /></a>The other night, I watched one of my favorite episodes of <i>The Andy Griffith Show</i>. The episode is
titled “The Merchant of Mayberry” and features Bert Miller, a traveling
salesman. Bert is what my mother would call “a good ol’ soul” who really was no
salesman at all, yet the people of Mayberry loved him. I say Bert wasn’t a true
salesman because people actually had to talk him into selling them his
merchandise instead of the other way around. My favorite quote from the episode
is, “You don’t need all six of them. Why don’t you just take three of them and
a tube of glue”? Looking out for the customer, that’s what it’s really about.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Even though I worked for a popular grocery store chain for
nearly three years, I really don’t like chain stores and actually try to avoid
them as much as possible. I much prefer small businesses that are unique to the
local community. First of all, they bring something to that community that no
other place in the world has. Secondly, they support the local people. It’s
just like the song says, “sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your
name.” It feels good to walk in and have a familiar face call you by your first
name and ask about your family because they know all of them by name, as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Big businesses cause us to lose our sense of community,
whereas small, locally owned businesses help us to find it again. I will
forever be a firm believer in small businesses because that’s where this
country began. If you are a business owner, don’t be afraid to remain small. It
takes guts to do that. It takes greed to branch out. Quit trying to grow your
business and start trying to grow your community and impact the lives of the
local people around you.</div>
<o:p></o:p>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-6877121900210048252014-10-26T23:26:00.000-04:002014-10-26T23:26:20.768-04:00Why Did You Get Up This Morning?<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>And remember the words of the Lord Jesus,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>that He said, </i></span><span class="woj"><i>‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Acts 20:35<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Nearly one year ago, I made a life-changing decision to take
some time off from school to pursue a fulltime career. Nearly a year later,
while I don’t regret my decision, it has taught me some very important things.
Not only did I realize that the company I felt sure I was put on this earth to
work for wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be, but I also realized that I
have no desire whatsoever to be a part of the modern business world. In fact, I
have become convinced that “the great game of business,” as one college
professor put, is not something that should ever be played by those who know
the Lord and the teachings of His Word.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We are told in 1 Timothy 6:10 that<span class="text"> “the
love of money is a root of all <i>kinds of</i> evil, for which some have
strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with
many sorrows.” It wasn’t long after I took on my current job that I realized
the real reason that the company exists. It exists to make its owners a lot of
money. Yes, I am fully aware that we all need money to survive, but money
shouldn’t be our reason for living. The people I work for get up every day to
make money. Friends, I want a better reason for waking up than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">The Bible doesn’t say that money is the
root of all evil; it says that the <i>love</i>
of money is the root of all evil. It isn’t wrong to have money. It isn’t wrong
to have a whole lot of money. However, it is wrong to love money so much that
it becomes your sole purpose for living. Therefore, if you are a business owner
and the only reason your business exists is to provide you with an income, you’re
in trouble. I realize we all need a stable income, but should that really be
the only reason we go to work every day? Think about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">I think that, if we were to analyze the
mission statements of every business in operation in this country today, we
would be shocked at how many really shouldn’t be in business at all. You see,
if you cannot say that what you do is making a positive impact on your local
community, I don’t believe you should be in business. Even more to the point,
if your main goal is not to serve the local community around you to the point
that you would do what you do for free, you definitely should not be in
business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">I don’t know about you, but I have much
higher goals in life than making money. I want to wake up every morning knowing
that what I am about to do is going to make a difference in the lives of the
people in the local community around me. I want to wake up knowing that I am
going to a job that is good, honorable, and worthwhile. Adrian Rogers said it
well when he said, “</span>If you really want to know how wealthy you are, add
up the things in your life that money can't buy and death cannot take away.”
Money can’t buy a person’s way into Heaven, but your life can lead them there;
and that’s certainly something that death can never take away. So I ask you,
what was your reason for getting up this morning?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-86224285186779241782014-06-26T05:00:00.000-04:002014-06-26T05:00:01.224-04:00No Girlfriend for Me Please<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>how he may please the Lord.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>1 Corinthians 7:32<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has become commonplace in this day and time that we live
in to think that, if someone is single, there must be something wrong with
them. For some reason we have gotten the idea that, for someone to live a life
of singleness as an unmarried person, that person must be unhappy and feel
desperately lonely. Therefore we have grown accustomed to giving ourselves away
in meaningless, superficial, and short-lived relationships that often end very
tragically simply for the sake of not being “alone.” That is the only purpose
that I can see behind the boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, and it is not at
all biblical. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches us that marriage is a
sacred union ordained by God. Marriage is so much more than a cure for
loneliness and depression; it is a calling by God for a man and a woman to come
together as a team to serve Him in a way that they never could apart from one
another.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Genesis 2:8 says, “<span class="text">And the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> God said, ‘<i>It is</i> not good that man should be alone; I will
make him a helper comparable to him.’” Notice here that God made one specific
woman for Adam—He didn’t just make a whole bunch of women and say, “Go pick.” No.
God knew exactly what Adam needed, so He made him Eve. This tells me that
marriage is a calling. Billy Graham once said of his wife, “Ruth was my life
partner, and we were called by God as a team.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">People often wonder why it is that I don’t
date. Well, I’ll tell you why. When I get married, I don’t want to marry
someone who’s been passed around from man to man like a Gatorade bottle in
football huddle, and I don’t want my future wife to be married to a used
husband. There are certain things, certain words, and certain places that I
choose to reserve only for the one that I will someday marry, if marriage is
indeed in God’s plan for me. I don’t give just any woman jewelry. I don’t buy
just any woman flowers. I don’t call just any woman “honey” or “dear.” I don’t
treat just any woman to romantic candlelight dinners. No. Those are all things
that I plan only to do with my wife.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">On my wedding day, I want to be able to
kiss my bride and have her know that her lips are the only lips that my lips
have ever touched. I want to be able to walk hand-in-hand with my wife in the
moonlight and have her know that her hand is the only hand that my hand has
ever held. I want to be able to tell my wife that I love her and have her know
that I really mean it because I haven’t said it to a half dozen others before
her. I want my wife to have the assurance that I will always be there because I
haven’t had a dozen other relationships that I left because they stopped being
convenient for me. In short, I want my wife to know without a doubt that she
has always and will always be the only one for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">Marriage is no joke, folks. Marriage is not
a game. It’s not something that we play until it stops being fun and then quit.
No. Marriage is serious business. Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Marriage
was created by God to be an ever-present picture of His endless, boundless,
unconditional, sacrificial love for us. Therefore I choose not to play the
field but to wait instead for the one God has for me. If a wife is indeed in
God’s plan for my life, He will cause our paths to cross, we will get to know
each other in a nonromantic way, and then, in God’s time, we will come together
in marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">I have come to believe that dating toys
with people’s emotions, rendering them incapable of making intelligent
decisions. Therefore I choose not to date, for dating is superficial. Girlfriends
come and go, but a wife stays for a lifetime. So the next time someone asks you
if I have a girlfriend, you can tell them that I don’t want one because I’m
waiting for the real deal.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-47960733579390448412014-03-08T05:00:00.000-05:002014-03-08T05:00:08.459-05:00A New Meaning to ‘Till Death Do Us Part’<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrKb0_Vh3HUrgsGbsI_uRnAg8CM-Ig5VYn8BSRcWHFxHC5d20sQIREl4ElJ6uH0E2PARYW4rRx3g_Au9yTxow-pjJp5itcqTcTlUN1RmXAVzc8UPdWxwN-ACiSZIaVVdcGNRRnw2RFUdC/s1600/Billie+&+Peggy+Harris_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrKb0_Vh3HUrgsGbsI_uRnAg8CM-Ig5VYn8BSRcWHFxHC5d20sQIREl4ElJ6uH0E2PARYW4rRx3g_Au9yTxow-pjJp5itcqTcTlUN1RmXAVzc8UPdWxwN-ACiSZIaVVdcGNRRnw2RFUdC/s1600/Billie+&+Peggy+Harris_2.jpg" height="135" width="200" /></a>Today, I want to share a story with you that a friend
recently shared on facebook. This
story that I am referring to is not a story about a heroic US soldier dying for
his country, nor is it a story about a grieving widow searching for
explanations about her husband’s death. These things are part of the story,
yes; but they are by no means the whole story. No. This is a story of love,
loyalty, and faithfulness to the nth degree. The beautiful love story of Billie
and Peggy Harris brings new meaning to the phrase “till death do us part.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Peggy
Harris received the news that her husband had been “missing in action” during
World War II, she was still a very young woman. No one in this world would have
blamed her if she had chosen to pursue marriage to another man. After all, she
was still young, and most would claim that she had the right to know love and
happiness and to have a family of her own. However, instead of pursuing that
worldly dream, Peggy Harris chose to hold out hope that her husband, 1<sup>st</sup>
Lt. Billie D. Harris, may
still be alive. So for over sixty years, Peggy searched for answers, for the
truth about what really happened to the love of her life all those years ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, Peggy
says simply, “Billie was married to me all of his life, and I choose to be
married to him all of my life.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tommy/Documents/A%20Life%20of%20Good%20News.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> What love! What
faithfulness! That, my friends, is what marriage is all about. If marriage was
simply the answer to loneliness, I suspect Peggy would have remarried years
ago. No. When Peggy Harris stood at the marriage altar and vowed “till death do
us part,” she really meant it. So please join me as I say thank you to Mrs.
Billie D Harris for showing the world what true, sacrificial love is all about.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">If you don’t know the
Lord Jesus Christ as Lord of your life today, it is my earnest prayer that you
would come to do so before it is eternally too late for you. If you will simply
turn from all sin and trust Jesus alone to save you, He will save you today and
keep you saved <i>forever</i>. You will
never be sorry that you chose to place your faith and trust in Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="292" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dQLXrmAjD38?rel=0" width="519"></iframe>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Tommy/Documents/A%20Life%20of%20Good%20News.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQLXrmAjD38</div>
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
</div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-70690772308513601322014-02-18T05:00:00.000-05:002014-02-18T05:00:02.751-05:00Marriage: A Journey of Faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-huMImuG7GucxYOEYyZvMoj1sSl5rdulbAbUHKKkKjm17KgXsWDoZMj7pzzFetM5Fgsrvkf49BNFQ1-eILPMwzNg-s2E9d5-IeHnYAPk6_2lSVqq57JfWj6MOqNjMwB1fPOi_03Y9TQmF/s1600/Only+One.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-huMImuG7GucxYOEYyZvMoj1sSl5rdulbAbUHKKkKjm17KgXsWDoZMj7pzzFetM5Fgsrvkf49BNFQ1-eILPMwzNg-s2E9d5-IeHnYAPk6_2lSVqq57JfWj6MOqNjMwB1fPOi_03Y9TQmF/s1600/Only+One.jpg" height="198" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Joshua 24:15</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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my guess is that you probably would like to be at some point in the future. If
that is you, my goal in writing this blog post today is to challenge your
reasoning for wanting to get married. If you want to get married simply because
you don’t like the idea of spending the rest of your life alone, my friend,
marriage is not the answer to loneliness. No. Marriage is first and foremost a
journey of faith—two people coming together to serve God together in a way that
they never could apart from one another.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the beginning, when God created the first marriage, He
said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a <i>helper</i> comparable to him” (Genesis 2:8,
emphasis added). Notice there that God said that he would make for Adam a <i>helper</i>; He didn’t say lover. Most people
today fall in love over moonlight and roses and think, “Oh, we’ll get married,
and everything will be just hunky-dory.” However, once they get married, they
find out that everything isn’t hunk-dory at all. That’s because that’s not how
marriage works, folks. Marriage is when a man and a woman come together with
the purpose of serving God and each other every day for as long as they both
shall live.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having said all that, you may be thinking, “Well, how do
they do that”? First of all, they do it by illustrating the love of Christ for
His church, the husband representing Christ and the wife representing the
church. Ephesians 5:25 says, “<span class="text">Husbands, love your wives, just
as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her</span>.” Likewise, Ephesians
5:22 says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” That’s what
marriage is. It is a reminder to the world of how much God loves His people and
how we are to honor Him as our Heavenly Father. It is for this reason alone
that God hates divorce.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">Secondly, God calls husbands and wives to
train up the next generation. Not only did God tell Adam and Eve to “be
fruitful and multiply</span>,” but He instructs us in Proverbs 22:6 to “train
up a child in the way he should go, [that] when he is old he will not
depart from it.” This is why I will always believe that becoming a parent is so
much more than a biological process. Simply put, parenthood is a calling. When
God gives you a child, He expects you to bring up that child in His Word. If
you don’t do that, you have failed as a parent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENygeLKLdhHPeIHPfBCk4vZSh0GRYbyc8JScSl53AVwR9RJFo3Ay-09gY0OIRj5obZshDlrxVaDs63h82aUnXuHNs6Rcb8QYwk6mMTFUAe6bx3F7upTaB2thUJBgAKX0OChZ3R2aJ8ZS1/s1600/Adrian+%2526+Joyce+Rogers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENygeLKLdhHPeIHPfBCk4vZSh0GRYbyc8JScSl53AVwR9RJFo3Ay-09gY0OIRj5obZshDlrxVaDs63h82aUnXuHNs6Rcb8QYwk6mMTFUAe6bx3F7upTaB2thUJBgAKX0OChZ3R2aJ8ZS1/s1600/Adrian+%2526+Joyce+Rogers.jpg" height="200" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrian & Joyce Rogers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">Lastly, when God brings a man and woman
together in marriage, He creates a ministry. Those two people are to minister
to one another, growing closer to each other as they grow closer to the Lord.
They are to pray together, study God’s word together, and serve others
together. If you are married, you ought to be thinking of ways that you as a
couple can reach this world for Christ. I will never forget hearing Adrian
Rogers tell how he and his wife, Joyce, got down on their knees together on
their wedding night and committed their marriage to the Lord. When God brings
two people together in marriage, He brings them together for a purpose. It is
up to you to find out what that purpose is and start working to fulfill it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe you are here today, and nothing I
have said makes sense to you because you have never acknowledged Jesus Christ
as Lord of your life. If that is you, it is my earnest prayer that you will
give your heart and your life to Him before it is eternally too late for you.
Simply turn from all sin and trust Christ alone to save you. If you will do
that, He will save you today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="389" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/B9pXyIgXgwg?rel=0" width="519"></iframe>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-12369189296670136922014-02-15T05:00:00.000-05:002014-02-15T05:00:03.804-05:00A Family After God’s Own Heart<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>And when He had removed him, He raised up
for them David as king,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i>to whom also He gave testimony and said,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="oblique"><i>‘I have found David</i></span><span class="text"><i> the son of Jesse,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="oblique"><i>a man after My</i></span><span class="text"><i> own
</i></span><span class="oblique"><i>heart,</i></span><span class="text"><i> who will do all My will.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i>Acts 13:22<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>Today being the day after Valentine’s Day, I really wanted to write
something concerning love, marriage, and family; however, as hard as I tried, I
just couldn’t seem to find the words to say. Therefore I thought that I would
post the below video of Jim Bob and Michele Duggar sharing their life-story. If
you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ve no doubt heard me say many times
that marriage is first and foremost a journey of faith—two people coming
together to serve God together in a way that they never could apart from one
another. I’ve not encountered a couple yet who illustrates that concept and
lives it better than Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When it comes to marriage, there are two points in this
video that really caught my attention. The first one is that Michelle realized
that it was God’s will for her to marry a man who had a personal relationship
with Jesus Christ and who talked about Him in such a way that revealed his
overwhelming love for Him. Secondly, Jim Bob realized that it is God’s will for
the husband to be the spiritual leader of the home. If you are thinking about
marrying a person whose very presence does not cause you to hunger and thirst
for the Lord Jesus and His Word, I can promise you on the authority of the Word
of God that it is not God’s will for you to marry that person as they are.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When it comes to parenting, there is one major point that I
got out of this video. That one point is that parenthood is a special calling;
not something that just happens out of the blue. The Bible makes it plain that
every child is formed by the hands of God with a very specific plan and purpose
to fulfill. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;
and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained
thee a prophet unto the nations.” As God has a plan for all children, He also
has a plan for all parents to “<span class="text">train up a child in the way he
should go: [that] when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text">When it comes to life, the one thing I took
away from this video is to “cast thy burden upon the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text">, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to
be moved” (Psalm 55:22). Michelle suggested that we let the joy of the Lord be
our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and I couldn’t agree more. Philippians 4:4 says
to “rejoice in the Lord always.” God has blessed each and every one of us
beyond measure. Even in our darkest moments, we can still praise His name,
knowing that He will see us through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Please take the time to watch this video. I
get something new out of it every time I watch it. I’ll even let you in on a
little secret—I’ve often said that I want to marry Michelle Duggar’s much
younger twin. When you watch this video, I believe you’ll see why. The Duggars
truly are a family after God’s own heart. I know you’re going to be blessed by
their testimony.<br />
<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="292" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aALClWoKk3s?rel=0" width="519"></iframe>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-37492623222474639172014-02-13T05:00:00.000-05:002014-02-13T05:00:02.857-05:00Animal Crackers Were in Her Soup<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FGX6kkrm19b8NA4Hrf65bRl9G-tAZznAJS1xty_Fn-En3uyI-Dcn762i3MWk0pG3o2rWgiS664ks8on5OfRww2yUgSFGKaOGxVAoKJvp4hg3KKpOUl_-tY_IdZ8DB2VpuJcGJqiBVS15/s1600/Shirley+Temple+Black.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FGX6kkrm19b8NA4Hrf65bRl9G-tAZznAJS1xty_Fn-En3uyI-Dcn762i3MWk0pG3o2rWgiS664ks8on5OfRww2yUgSFGKaOGxVAoKJvp4hg3KKpOUl_-tY_IdZ8DB2VpuJcGJqiBVS15/s1600/Shirley+Temple+Black.JPG" height="200" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shirley Temple-Black<br />
1928-2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To this day, I remember very well the scene with a young Shirley
Temple bouncing around a dining room full of kids, singing, “Animal crackers in
my soup. Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop.” You see, my grandmother loved
Shirley Temple and, on more than one occasion, forced me and my cousins to
watch her films; although I can’t say that we ever really minded watching them.
Today, in fact, I’m rather glad I can say that I’ve seen a Shirley Temple film
or two, even though I can only remember one scene from one movie. Shirley
Temple-Black is an American legend, and rightly so.<o:p></o:p><br />
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It has been said by former child actor Darryl Hickman that “Shirley’s
gift to show business, to the United States, and to the movie-going public was
a revelation of the creativity and the sense of joy and fun of childhood that
is in each of us.” He then added, “I don’t think any child ever did that better
than Shirley Temple.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt was even noted for
saying, “As long as we have Shirley Temple, we’ll be alright.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shirley Temple, with her famous curls, brought hope to American
movie-goers during the Great Depression. She later went on to serve her country
as United States Ambassador to Ghana, Chief of Protocol of the United States,
and, in 1989, she became the twenty-seventh United States Ambassador to
Czechoslovakia. For over eighty years, Shirley Temple-Black served her country
well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE-9XMLruKRoKW0SD-R2UhGowwfL3TeoA0HF4hsTrMrtO20Hity1XsgVZHpGBVxuT4x9TNEhnxvsGRdO-nPILd-2RGYiI1-aIbZPwulVA1xNmRhOALC7jQaZI63P7UyvsOBXSQZA-xgLC/s1600/Shirley+Temple_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE-9XMLruKRoKW0SD-R2UhGowwfL3TeoA0HF4hsTrMrtO20Hity1XsgVZHpGBVxuT4x9TNEhnxvsGRdO-nPILd-2RGYiI1-aIbZPwulVA1xNmRhOALC7jQaZI63P7UyvsOBXSQZA-xgLC/s1600/Shirley+Temple_2.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a>Sadly, the lady once known as “America’s little darling” is
no longer with us. Shirley Temple-Black passed away Monday night at the age of
eighty-five. She is one of those very few Hollywood celebrities that we can say
spent her life well, leaving this world with no known scandal attached to her
name. As her mother often encouraged her to do, Shirley Temple truly sparkled.
It is for that reason that I plan on sharing Shirley’s movies with my children,
and I pray you will do the same.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="389" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/c1LI8lZALPM?rel=0" width="519"></iframe>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-21539801009713478132014-02-12T05:00:00.000-05:002014-02-12T05:00:06.267-05:00He Will Meet You Where You Are<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>John 1:14<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipD6XPg-YYf5Ht8KRURiZgiWuznn3pgdYMiqIVkNvF3LWaHc0rXrFnBAbnGyCkkaI3NqKuFSxNT9BK-Os06P886cZCEnj0jmLJ-hS8GyP1RIfkr0sgF1MAtfrx8HD60Z8z_oG2vhMiNOFP/s1600/Where+You+Are.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipD6XPg-YYf5Ht8KRURiZgiWuznn3pgdYMiqIVkNvF3LWaHc0rXrFnBAbnGyCkkaI3NqKuFSxNT9BK-Os06P886cZCEnj0jmLJ-hS8GyP1RIfkr0sgF1MAtfrx8HD60Z8z_oG2vhMiNOFP/s1600/Where+You+Are.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>Have you ever put any thought into the fact that the King of Glory
came to earth to trade streets of gold for roads of dirt and gravel? Have you
ever put any thought into the fact that the God of the universe would trade
eternal bliss for hunger, for thirst, for sorrow, for pain, for suffering, for
temptation, etc.? The Bible says that Jesus was fully God and fully man. He
didn’t allow Himself to be exempt from the struggle that we all face here
below. And I can only ask myself “Why”?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hebrews 4:15 says, “<span class="text">For we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.</span>” That verse says it
all, really. God is not some distant ruler who seeks to be appeased by
outlandish rituals. He knew that our sin kept us from coming to Him, so He came
to us, wrapped in flesh. He became one of us that we might become like Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text">He walked and He talked among men. He knew
them personally. He knew them intimately. He was known as a friend of sinners
(Luke 7:34). He touched the untouchable and loved the unlovable. He sought out
the despised and rejected. He came “that they might have life,” He said, “and
that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text">The woman at the well found that, when we
are unwilling to search for Him, His is willing to search for us. My friend, no
matter where you are in life, Jesus wants to meet you where are. You don’t have
to get cleaned up. You don’t have to build an altar. All you have to do is
acknowledge His presence right where you are, and He will meet you there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Do you know the Lord today? I mean, do you
know Him personally? If not, He gave His life that you may do so. Only through
the shed blood of Jesus can we know Him. If you will turn from all sin and
trust Jesus alone to save you, He will save you today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>. Thank God He is a personal
Savior!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-52511346361422483642014-01-30T05:00:00.000-05:002014-01-30T05:00:01.897-05:00You’re Not Alone<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Confess your faults one to another,</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>and pray one for another, that ye
may be healed.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>James 5:16<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday night, as I was walking to my car with a coworker,
I mentioned in passing that I like to listen to podcasts from Love Worth
Finding Ministries. Little did I know that it would lead to a somewhat lengthy
discussion about our faith and how we live our lives because of it. I knew that
this guy was a Christian, but I had no idea that our belief systems were so
similar. I’ve met other people who share my same convictions about many things,
but they all live so far away. Yet here was a guy who not only works in the
same store as I do but he also works in the same department as I do. It was
very encouraging to say the least.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The next night, as I was walking out with the same coworker
(this time, also with his girlfriend), he asked me if I would mind praying with
them. Of course, I said I would. After he prayed, he told us some things that
God had put on his heart during the day. My mind doesn’t work like some people’s
do. I’ve always been better at kind of sitting back and letting everything soak
in first. So it wasn’t until I got in my car and had begun the trip home that I
began to realize, “Wow! I struggle with the same things.” And then God began to
reveal to me specific situations and circumstances were I had failed Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was that night that I realized that not only are there
others out there who share our same convictions, but there are others who share
our same struggles. We are not alone on this journey, my friends. We are all in
this thing together as the body of Christ. God has put us on this earth
together to encourage one another and to pray for one another as we strive to
live for Him. So when you feel like you’re all alone, take comfort in the fact
that there is someone somewhere who shares your same convictions and struggles,
and they’re most likely closer than you think. You’re not alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re reading this today and you’ve never acknowledged
Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, I’m here to tell you that you’re not
alone in that, either. I was once where you’re standing right now. I had to
make a decision—was I going to choose Christ and to walk in His way, or was I
going to choose the way of the world? I can honestly tell you that I made the
right decision. I’ve never once been sorry that I chose Him. He took a life
that was broken and wrecked by sin, and He made it whole. Oh, how He wants to
do the same for you! Will turn from all sin today and trust Jesus alone to save
you? If you will do that, He will save you today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.<br />
<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="389" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-3iuPezrshI?rel=0" width="519"></iframe>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-92114027218356169032014-01-29T05:00:00.000-05:002014-01-29T05:00:01.539-05:00Thankful God’s Not Like Me<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Being confident of this very thing, </i><i>that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day
of Jesus Christ.</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Philippians 1:6<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever started something that you never finished? I
have—lots of times. I’m notorious for starting one thing, getting distracted by
another thing, and never finishing either one. It’s kind of like a vicious
cycle that never ends. However, aren’t you thankful that God’s not like that?!
The Bible tells us in Philippians 1:6 that God <b><i>always</i></b> finishes what He’s
started, and there’s no exceptions to that rule.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back in the summer, I wrote a post that I titled <a href="http://lifeofgoodnews.blogspot.com/2013/06/though-i-do-not-see.html" target="_blank">“Though I Do Not See”</a> in which I explained the importance of trusting that God still has
a plan for our lives even though we may not be able to see it at the time. At
the time I wrote that, I was going through a real low point in my life. It
seemed as though everything was spinning out of control around me, and I often
questioned the Lord about it. If He had a plan for me, I couldn’t see what it
was. But that doesn’t matter to God. You see, Adrian Rogers used to say that “faith
is like a roll of film—it develops best in the dark.” God uses the dark times
to strengthen our faith the most because, if we can learn to trust Him in the
dark hours, we should have no problem trusting Him when the sun is shining
bright.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was that June night, in a hotel room by myself, that I
made the decision to trust that God really did have a plan for my life and that
He really was working all things together for my good (Romans 8:28). I couldn’t
see it then, but God saw; and that was good enough for me. But let me tell you,
that wasn’t the end of the struggle. A few months later, God allowed some
things to happen in my life that I would have never planned myself. In fact, I
cried out to Him, “What are you doing, Lord?! I don’t understand. It’s not
supposed to happen this way.” But if everything happened the way we thought it
should, there’d be no need for faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just as everything I had ever hoped and planned for in life
seemed to crumble before me, God sent a very special person into my life to
reveal that He had something even better in store for me. Now, I’m at a place
in my life that I never dreamed would be possible. God is so good! I may not
finish everything I start, but I’m so glad He does. And the amazing part about
it is He’s not finished yet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Do you know the Lord? Have you come face to face with the
fact that you are indeed a sinner in desperate need of Savior? If not, I plead
with you to do so before it is eternally too late for you. Turn from all sin
and trust Jesus alone to save you. If you will do that, He will save you today
and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-28107990089791899852014-01-21T05:00:00.000-05:002014-01-21T05:00:00.727-05:00To Erase a Wrinkle<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>If it is found in the way of righteousness.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Proverbs 16:31</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<w:wrap type="square">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>It seems as though every time I turn on the television there is some
advertisement trying to sell some product that promises to reduce the signs of
aging, and it sells, too. People in our culture today are obsessed with looking
younger than they really are, so they go to great lengths to dye their hair and
slather cream all over their faces at night to hopefully wake up with fewer
wrinkles than they had the day before. However, if they would only take a look
at Proverbs 16:31 they might could save themselves some time and money.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Proverbs 16:31 tells us that “the silver-haired head is a
crown of glory.” You might be thinking, “What does that mean”? Well, it means
that every gray hair that you try to cover up is a jewel meant for a crown. Every
wrinkle that appears on your face is a timeline. And put together, those
wrinkles and those gray hairs form one incredible story. One hair may tell of
the time you spent down on your knees for weeks pleading with the Lord to bring
that prodigal child back home. One wrinkle may tell of the years you spend
selflessly caring for an aging parent. That age spot may tell of all the times
you spent out on the streets desperately reaching out to the lost.<o:p></o:p></div>
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God’s Word plainly tells us that, if they are “found in the
way of righteousness,” signs of aging are nothing to be ashamed of. You see,
all those wrinkles and gray hairs tell your life story. They tell of all the
roads you’ve walked down and all the decisions you’ve made, the prayers that
you’ve prayed. So you can wear that crown proudly, knowing that you’ve earned
it. On the other hand, if those gray hairs and wrinkles were not found in the
way of righteousness, you probably do want to cover them up because they tell
of your sinful past and all of the wrong decisions that you’ve made along the
way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Friend, have your gray hairs been found in the way of
righteousness? Do you know the Lord? I mean, do you really know Him? Have you
been to the cross? Has His blood washed you clean? If not, you can be made
whole today. If you will simply turn from all sin and trust Christ alone to
save you, He will save you today and keep you saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
<o:p></o:p>Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1095289639418844212.post-75947711242091939592014-01-14T00:38:00.000-05:002014-01-14T00:55:58.234-05:00Trusting Now, Trusted Then<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.</i><br />
<i>Believest
thou this?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>John 11:26<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Have you ever had anyone tell you that, if you can’t give
them a time and date for when you got saved, you aren’t really saved? I have. But
let me tell you, my friend, that statement couldn’t be further from the truth
because there is no biblical evidence to back it up. If you don’t believe me,
let me prove it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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First, we must have a deep understanding of what it means to
believe in Christ. When Jesus said that “whosoever liveth and believeth in me
shall never die [have eternal life],” He was talking about more than a simple
intellectual belief. Matthew 6:24 says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me.” That, my friend, is what it means to truly believe in Christ, to
trust Him so much that you leave everything you have behind to follow Him, even
to the point of death.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So I ask you, are you trusting Jesus and Him alone to take
you to Heaven when you die? Have you acknowledged Him as Lord of your life?
Have you given Him complete control of everything you have and do? If so, you
don’t have to worry if you can’t give someone a time and date for when you were
saved. If you are trusting Jesus now, that is all that matters.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maybe you’re reading this today and you have never placed
your trust in Jesus at any time. If that is you, I am here to tell you that
today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). If you will turn from all
sin and trust Jesus alone to save you, He will save you today and keep you
saved <i>forever</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Tommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10543094165175649834noreply@blogger.com0