Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God . . . (Psalms 147:7).
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, and when he had given thenks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body" (Luke 22:17-20).
And all the angels stood around the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen" (Revelation 7:11-12).
Who were the Pilgrims? During this Thanksgiving holiday, one would do well to "google" "Who were the Pilgrims?" and find out--it is my research for what follows.
They were called protestants, puritans, seperatists, and interestingly enough, Calvinists, but William Bradford, signer of the Mayflower Compact and second governor of the Plymouth Colony, called them "The Lord's free people." Bradford went on to say that they joined themselves in the "fellowship of the gospel, to walk in all His ways made known, or to be made known to them." Bradford also said that " They knew they were pilgrims, and looked not so much on those things, but lifted their eyes to the heavens, their dearest country."
The Pilgrims left England and settled in Holland because there they found religious freedom, but they also found a worldliness that was infecting their children. So it was decided that they would sell their possessions to finance a voyage to the new world where they could religious freedom and raise their families within the culture of faith. Even with the sale of their possessions, the Pilgrims could not finance the voyage to the New World, so they found investors to help finance their venture. The investors insisted on a communal arrangement where each family drew equally from a common store. The Pilgrims resisted, insisting on the Biblical principal, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." It was not until the third year after their arrival, after two years of failure of the communal arrangement, that the Pilgrims reaped a bountiful harvest. Each family was assigned a plot of their own and each family prospered. It also must be noted that were it not for the Divine provision of the Native Americans, the Pilgrims might not have made it to the third year.
No matter how much privation, hardship and death that the Pilgrims suffered, they believed that it was the hand of Divine Providence that brought them to America and they were thankful for freedom! Freedom that was dearly paid for by our forefathers should not be easily squandered by their sons. We who have enjoyed the blessings of liberty are squandering it in ingratitude.
The Pilgrims understood that this world was not their home, that they were just passing through to a better country where the builder and maker is God. Thank God, our best days are yet ahead!
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
GOD HAS QUESTIONS FOR YOU
Nearly everyone I know has questions for God--I have a few myself. But did you know that God has some questions for you? Perhaps if we took some time to answer God's questions we would have a better understanding of God.
1. Where are you? (Genesis 3:9). The context of this question is Adam and Eve hiding from God. In our shameless secular age, very few stop to consider where truly they are and what it means to be where they are. Are you nothing but an accident living in a purposeless universe that spontaneously generated out of nothing, or, do you live in a purposeful universe for a purpose? Is there a God to whom you are accountable? Where are you in your relationship with him?
2. Where is . . . your brother? (Genesis 4:9). The context of this question is when Cain killed his brother, Abel. Most of the suffering in the world is caused by jealousy and hate, and the simple neglect of our brothers and sisters because we have better things to do with our time and money. God holds each of us responsible to help our fellow man. I belive that it is a prominent teaching of the Bible that a person has never served God if he has not served his fellow man.
3. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? (Isaiah 55:2). Much of the stress and strife in this life is self-imposed. We strive after the things that do not really matter. We strive for the dessert and neglect the nourishing food that gives life and peace. How foolish is it to disregard what is essential for life to labor and sweat for empty nutrition? When we do that we become spiritual diabetics.
4. But who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:15). Jesus asked his disciples who he was, and he askes you the same question. How will you answer? In this age of multiculturalism, as in Jesus' time, many answers will be given. God, through the prophet Elijah, asked this question: How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him (I Kings 18:21). Salvation depends on how you answer these questions. A young male nurse asked me why I was a Christian. Because of the circumstances I could only give the short answer, but here it is, "Jesus Christ has risen from the dead." He alone has power over death.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
1. Where are you? (Genesis 3:9). The context of this question is Adam and Eve hiding from God. In our shameless secular age, very few stop to consider where truly they are and what it means to be where they are. Are you nothing but an accident living in a purposeless universe that spontaneously generated out of nothing, or, do you live in a purposeful universe for a purpose? Is there a God to whom you are accountable? Where are you in your relationship with him?
2. Where is . . . your brother? (Genesis 4:9). The context of this question is when Cain killed his brother, Abel. Most of the suffering in the world is caused by jealousy and hate, and the simple neglect of our brothers and sisters because we have better things to do with our time and money. God holds each of us responsible to help our fellow man. I belive that it is a prominent teaching of the Bible that a person has never served God if he has not served his fellow man.
3. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? (Isaiah 55:2). Much of the stress and strife in this life is self-imposed. We strive after the things that do not really matter. We strive for the dessert and neglect the nourishing food that gives life and peace. How foolish is it to disregard what is essential for life to labor and sweat for empty nutrition? When we do that we become spiritual diabetics.
4. But who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:15). Jesus asked his disciples who he was, and he askes you the same question. How will you answer? In this age of multiculturalism, as in Jesus' time, many answers will be given. God, through the prophet Elijah, asked this question: How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him (I Kings 18:21). Salvation depends on how you answer these questions. A young male nurse asked me why I was a Christian. Because of the circumstances I could only give the short answer, but here it is, "Jesus Christ has risen from the dead." He alone has power over death.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Thursday, November 12, 2009
THE PRESENT HOLOCAUST
For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy Works! Thou knowest me right well; my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them (Psalms 139:13-16 RSV).
For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? (Matthew 16:25-26a).
Since the Jewish holocaust, when Hitler exterminated six million Jews, the civilized world vowed it would never happen again. So how is it that we can be blind to the present holocaust of the unborn in America? In several cities the number of abortions exceeds the number of live births. The frightening logic of the "intellectual elites" is that abortion is never wrong because the unborn baby is completely dependent on the mother and therefore not a person. They believe that personhood does not arrive until the baby is three years old. There is not any mother with an ounce of compassion who believes her unborn to pre-three-year-old child is not a person! That logic would contend that old king Herod was not such a bad guy after all. His killing of the two-year-old boys was just a post-birth abortion.
The argument that a person is a non-person served the slavers, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao well. It allowed each of these leaders to exterminate millions upon millions of people and it allows abortionists to exterminate three babies perminute without a pang of conscience. This is all done in the name of "quality of life." Babies are being killed for such trivial reasons as "It will come during a planned vacation," or "It is the wrong gender." When the baby is referred to as an "it," then the baby is depersonified. DO NOT REFER THE BABY AS AN "IT!!!"
In ancient times babies were sacrificed to idols. As the influence of Christianity fades, babies are again sacrificed to the idols of convenience, personal peace, prosperity, pleasure and fornication. Ancient Christians saved the unwanted babies. Modern Christians can at least speak up for them during the present holocaust! Make your voice and your vote count!! Our politicians need to know that innocent life is not negotiable.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? (Matthew 16:25-26a).
Since the Jewish holocaust, when Hitler exterminated six million Jews, the civilized world vowed it would never happen again. So how is it that we can be blind to the present holocaust of the unborn in America? In several cities the number of abortions exceeds the number of live births. The frightening logic of the "intellectual elites" is that abortion is never wrong because the unborn baby is completely dependent on the mother and therefore not a person. They believe that personhood does not arrive until the baby is three years old. There is not any mother with an ounce of compassion who believes her unborn to pre-three-year-old child is not a person! That logic would contend that old king Herod was not such a bad guy after all. His killing of the two-year-old boys was just a post-birth abortion.
The argument that a person is a non-person served the slavers, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao well. It allowed each of these leaders to exterminate millions upon millions of people and it allows abortionists to exterminate three babies perminute without a pang of conscience. This is all done in the name of "quality of life." Babies are being killed for such trivial reasons as "It will come during a planned vacation," or "It is the wrong gender." When the baby is referred to as an "it," then the baby is depersonified. DO NOT REFER THE BABY AS AN "IT!!!"
In ancient times babies were sacrificed to idols. As the influence of Christianity fades, babies are again sacrificed to the idols of convenience, personal peace, prosperity, pleasure and fornication. Ancient Christians saved the unwanted babies. Modern Christians can at least speak up for them during the present holocaust! Make your voice and your vote count!! Our politicians need to know that innocent life is not negotiable.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Thursday, November 05, 2009
SEVENTEEN SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES FOR LIFE
The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid (Hebrews 13:6).
What follows is a list of strategies that I have tried to implement in my life. I think they will bless anyone who makes use of them too:
1. Read the Bible, study it, and pray every day.
2. Exercise (physical training) every day except for Sunday.
3. Plan your day. Do not allow fear to determine the course of your life.
4. Be happy!
5. Understand your weaknesses--do not allow them to define you.
6. In every problem ask the question, "What does God want me to learn from this?" then be ready to listen to His Word, His people and life experience. God intends for us to be life-long learners!
7. Have an attitude of gratitude!!!
8. Memorize God's Word.
9. Be positive in actions, dress and speech!
10. Always do a little more than is required--"What more can I do for you, Mrs. Steele?"
11. Refuse to use the words "impossible" and "can't."
12. Learn to live with criticism.
13. Refuse to drive a BMW--bitch, moan and whine! This includes "self-talk"!
14. Be willing to start over.
15. Smile a lot!
16. Remember, people are not the problem--satan and his minions are.
17. Show agape, loving others with the love of Christ.
My tendency is to look at life through "dark glasses" so these are the basic strategies I try to use to help correct my vision. They will work for you too.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
What follows is a list of strategies that I have tried to implement in my life. I think they will bless anyone who makes use of them too:
1. Read the Bible, study it, and pray every day.
2. Exercise (physical training) every day except for Sunday.
3. Plan your day. Do not allow fear to determine the course of your life.
4. Be happy!
5. Understand your weaknesses--do not allow them to define you.
6. In every problem ask the question, "What does God want me to learn from this?" then be ready to listen to His Word, His people and life experience. God intends for us to be life-long learners!
7. Have an attitude of gratitude!!!
8. Memorize God's Word.
9. Be positive in actions, dress and speech!
10. Always do a little more than is required--"What more can I do for you, Mrs. Steele?"
11. Refuse to use the words "impossible" and "can't."
12. Learn to live with criticism.
13. Refuse to drive a BMW--bitch, moan and whine! This includes "self-talk"!
14. Be willing to start over.
15. Smile a lot!
16. Remember, people are not the problem--satan and his minions are.
17. Show agape, loving others with the love of Christ.
My tendency is to look at life through "dark glasses" so these are the basic strategies I try to use to help correct my vision. They will work for you too.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
ALTRUISM OR AGAPE?
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12,13).
But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Most authorities define altruism as a consideration of other people without any thought of self as a principle of conduct. Altruism is a modern secular humanist concept, which attempts to describe selflessness as an evolved trait rather than a spiritual one. It is the secular version of the Christian concept of agape love, agape being the Greek word from which the word love is translated in the cited texts. Being created in the image of God, one of the characteristics of man is that he has the capability to be truly selfless and self-sacrificing, and once in a while, he actually displays it.
Denying the creation, the biological evolutionist combs the earth for animals that display altruism in their social life. If man is to be explained in evolutionary terms, his behavior has to be explained as well. But how does self-sacrificing behavior evolve? Wouldn't those organisms with the self-sacrificing trait extinguish themselves? What benefit is there in being self-sacrificing? Evolutionists cannot explain altruism.
Altruism is the reduction of agape into nothing but an evolved trait--it is cold and sterile. True agape is God's love, and when a human being expresses it, it is high praise to God who made him in his own image. The expression of agape is what makes us fully human and it is to be the dominant characteristic of God's children.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Most authorities define altruism as a consideration of other people without any thought of self as a principle of conduct. Altruism is a modern secular humanist concept, which attempts to describe selflessness as an evolved trait rather than a spiritual one. It is the secular version of the Christian concept of agape love, agape being the Greek word from which the word love is translated in the cited texts. Being created in the image of God, one of the characteristics of man is that he has the capability to be truly selfless and self-sacrificing, and once in a while, he actually displays it.
Denying the creation, the biological evolutionist combs the earth for animals that display altruism in their social life. If man is to be explained in evolutionary terms, his behavior has to be explained as well. But how does self-sacrificing behavior evolve? Wouldn't those organisms with the self-sacrificing trait extinguish themselves? What benefit is there in being self-sacrificing? Evolutionists cannot explain altruism.
Altruism is the reduction of agape into nothing but an evolved trait--it is cold and sterile. True agape is God's love, and when a human being expresses it, it is high praise to God who made him in his own image. The expression of agape is what makes us fully human and it is to be the dominant characteristic of God's children.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
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