The New Greater Life

God has cleared the air! He went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. We are no longer living under a low-flying black cloud.

He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, He personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to get it right once and for all. The law code, weekend as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.

The law always ended up being used as a band aid on sin instead of the deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn’t deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embraced what the Spirit is doing in us.

Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them--- living and breathing God!  Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God.

But if God Himself has taken up residence in your life, you could hardly be thinking more of yourself than of Him. Anyone, of coarse, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, won’t know what I am talking about. But for you who welcomed Him, in whom  He dwells---even though you still experience all the limitations of sin---you experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, that the alive and present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, He will do the same thing He did in Jesus; bringing you alive to Himself.  When God lives and breathes in you, you are delivered from the dead life. We don’t owe the old life one red cent.

The life with God is an adventure, is  full of anticipation, and childlike. “What’s next, Papa?” In Him, we know who we really are and we know who He really is!

Let It Go

Once we know that nothing we have ever done can get God to reject us because of what we are, we feel free to forgive ourselves for whatever we have done. And each time we forgive ourselves we pull ourselves out of yesterday's failure and begin to hope for today's blessings. Remember if Jesus has forgiven you------then why haven't you forgiven you?????


Some of you have a tough time with the Holidays. You may be alone, distanced from families for one reason or another. You think back to Christmas past and the memories sting, because those days are gone. But, you are not alone. He is with you. He really is-----talk to Him. He will bring you comfort.

Rabbit Trails Can Be Deceiving!

Today, I came to the realization that I had been chasing rabbit trails. I have been doing everything but what God has called me to do.

First, I enrolled in college with the idea of learning all the aspects of website development. This endeavor took up so much of my time that I had none left to devote to the study of the Word. In addition I was brain-dead from the effort.

Next, upon completion of the first semester, I signed up for a full load for the next semester. Upon taking a closely scrutinized inventory of my priorities, it became quite clear that I had put God on the shelf in the pursuit of worldly endeavors. 

Furthermore, I then withdrew from all my courses. No, I didn’t retreat from my rabbit trail, I began studying at home. I still wasn’t fulfilling my calling and I was getting just as brain-dead as I had while attending college.

Today, while ministering to a dear person’s needs, I realized that helping another was much more important then building websites and the pursuit of materialistic accumulation. There is nothing like the Holy Spirit using a person to minister to a dear soul who is truly in need. Nothing comes close to being led by God and doing the work that He has equipped us for.

It is very important that you understand that it is Jesus who has the power.  He is the head of the Church; we are the body of the Church.  Jesus sits at God’s right hand and God looks at the matter positionally that we sit at the right hand of Jesus. Upon His ascendancy to be with the Father; His work is to be done by the body of Christ which is the Church. He gives believers the authority to use His power for the benefit of the body-the Church.

I can tell you one thing for certain is serving the Lord. It is true serenity and peace; no amount of material goods can ever come close to the love of Jesus. God bless you and watch out for those rabbit trails. 

Wow, That Was Scary!

I was at church this morning. We had a breakfast for the benefit of a missionary team we are sending to Haiti and I was talking to one of our leaders concerning jobs, health care, and Obama. The guy says to me that you know he is a Muslim don't you. I said that I heard certain accusations but in researching them found no evidence of convincing proportions.

I asked him how he knew this to be true. He remarked as if it was not in doubt that Obama had said while on the campaign that he had visited all 57 states. He said there are 57 Muslim states and that proves he is a Muslim.

It didn't prove it to me. In fact in rechecking various sources on the Net it seems to be the general consensus that the contrary is true. This is verified by the best investigators in the world. The news organizations. They leave no stoned unturned.

Now to the scary part, this guy is a leader in my church. He plays a part in the decision process. I liked him then and I like him still. However, my trust in his judgement has taken a major hit.

I am not at all sure how I feel about the job that Obama has done. However, the job is gigantic. So he needs the time to fix where George Bush just plain gave up. However, on the other hand, if the health care deal is any indication, it seems like he has had hollow victories at best. Hopefully, I am wrong.

It's about jobs. Wall street and Main street are two different streets. We need to get money flowing again. These banks are nuts the way that they are hoarding the money for the benefit of the ownership.

One final note, that what certain members of the legislature have done in regard to holding the health care reform hostage is absolutely morally corrupt. Mary Laundrau for one and the guy from Oklahoma as another. They are a disgrace.

The verdict is still out on Obama, it is just to early to tell. The American people are in no mood for nonsense. They want results, if he doesn't get them, then he will be out in four. If he does, he will do eight.

Ready For the Big Time

Very few individuals jump into the big time, though most would prefer doing just that. As soon as we walk across that stage and get our diploma, we think we are ready for the big time. Our slick resume makes us look like a combination of Joan of Arc, Winston Churchill, Donald Trump, and Mother Theresa.

But that is not God's way. He prepares His servants most often through extended periods of waiting, designed to hone skills and break self centered wills, to shape character and give depth. While He works we must be patient, for we are being made ready.

Should We Stone Tiger or Are You Perfect?

Tiger Woods has really got himself in a jam. He get’s caught in a messy scandal involving another woman, he od’s on pain killers, he won’t talk to the police. He is lying through his teeth about not playing in his own tournament.

But you know what? Who are we to judge. Let him who has not sinned cast the first stone. Is that you to throw the rock. I think not. We need to pray for Tiger and his family and not judge. 

Sure his behavior looks bad. Trust will have to be regained. Hopefully he will deal with his life controlling issues as we deal with our own. I am going to give the guy a chance as I would like from those who understand that I deal with issues as well.

You Can't Over Exaggerate God

To magnify something you make it look larger, increasing it out of proportion. To magnify ourselves, our activities, our job, our goods is dangerous ground to walk on. But when we magnify God; we are on safe ground. We simply cannot say too much about God’s goodness, grace, or love. The most exaggerated things we say about God will still be far below what is actually the case. You can’t outdo God in anything righteous.

I Don't Want To Be A Burden

Maybe you don't want to trouble God with your hurts, you have already asked Him for so much and you think that you are taking up to much of His time.

He's got wars, famines, hurricanes, sickness, and violence to handle all over the world every day. He won't have time for me. Wrong. Why don't you let Him be the judge to that.

He cared enough about you that He gave His own Son for our sins. You can be rest assured that He wants to hear from you. He wants your burdens so He can work supernaturally. Don't carry them yourselves.

You Have Him

When Jesus left the earth, He gave us the Comforter, the very presence of God. When the Holy Spirit fills you, it is as if Jesus Himself takes the helm of your life and navigates the course. And please trust me, He can do it much better then we can with our sense knowledge.

When you elect the guidance system called the Holy Spirit, your life moves in the right direction. You are filled with a powerful sense of being deeply loved, since everything about Jesus is about love. You know you have enormous worth as a human being. God made you to have fellowship with you.

Still Tight But Better

THE FEDERAL RESERVE released its quarterly Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices. On balance, the number of banks reporting tighter lending standards and weaker demand both declined relative to July's survey. While these trends are encouraging, both measures remain elevated relative to historical levels, suggesting loan growth will remain challenging into 2010.

The number of respondents citing capital concerns as a reason for restricting credit continues to decline (19% in October versus 37% in July and 34% in April), likely reflective of recent equity raises, while the number of banks reporting increased.

It looks like we are slowly inching our way back up the mountain. Praise God and hang in there. I see so many vacant store fronts and hear of massive layoffs. Certainly hope for better things for people everywhere.

Luxury Homes Shrinking In Size in U.S.

For the first time in four decades in the luxury-home business, executives at John Wieland builders are thinking the unthinkable: Maybe houses in the South don't really need a fireplace.

They're also wondering whether new homes require 4,700 square feet of living space. Or private theaters with 100-inch screens. Or super-size-me foyers.

"You have to keep taking things out until you hit a critical point where people reject your product," said Jeff Kingsfield, senior vice president of sales at Smyrna-based John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods.As they draw up blueprints for the house of the post-recession future, builders are struggling to distinguish among what home buyers need, what they want and what they can live without -- Jacuzzi by Jacuzzi, butler's pantry by butler's pantry.

It's an experiment brought on by necessity. Two years ago, closely held Wieland was building 1,800 houses a year in posh subdivisions in Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas, selling for an average of $650,000 apiece. Today, the company is closing on just 600 homes annually, according to Wieland. It has slashed staff to 330 employees from 1,100.

The American housing market continues to drag, with the Mortgage Bankers Association reporting Thursday that applications for home-purchase loans have hit a nine-year low, plunging a seasonally adjusted 11.7% in the week ending Nov. 6 from the previous week. U.S. sales of newly built homes have fallen sharply as well, from 1.3 million in 2005 to 485,000 last year. The latest Census Bureau data suggest that this year's sales will be even lower. Just 294,000 new homes sold through the first nine months of this year.

Guantanamo Detainees to be Tried in New York? Good or Bad?

Self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be sent to New York to face trial in a civilian federal court, an Obama administration official said Friday.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder plans to announce the decision later in the morning. The fate of Canadian Omar Khadr, the only westerner left in Guantanamo, may also figure in the announcement. Mr. Khadr currently faces trial by military tribunal. In a separate, Canadian case, to be argued today before the Supreme Court in Ottawa, the government is fighting a lower court ruling ordering it to try and repatriate Mr. Khadr.

Mr. Holder's decision is expected later this morning.

Without confirming details of the decision, President Barack Obama said it was a legal and national security matter. “I am absolutely convinced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be subjected to the most exacting demands of justice,” Mr. Obama said at a joint news conference in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

Bringing such notorious suspects to U.S. soil to face trial is a key step in Mr. Obama's plan to close the terror suspect detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mr. Obama initially planned to close the detention centre by Jan. 22, but the administration is no longer expected to meet that deadline.

It is also a major legal and political test of Mr. Obama's overall approach to terrorism. If the case suffers legal setbacks, the administration will face second-guessing from those who never wanted it in a civilian courtroom. And if lawmakers get upset about notorious terrorists being brought to their home regions, they may fight back against other parts of Mr. Obama's agenda.

Let's all pray that justice is served.

CNN Is Feeling Better Now

Lou Dobbs who was not afraid to say what he thought or felt,  and many times made the boys club at CNN very nervous with such questions as where was Obama really born, or the illegal immigration issue.

Lou started with CNN in 1980 as a business anchor and quickly became the top revenue producer for the network. He certainly has been compensated well and no longer is able to stomach the weak knee CNN. "Let's call like we see it."

Hope they replace him with a man who has the same character and courage. But probably not. Bye Lou.

The Two Kinds of Knowledge---Which Is Right?

There are two kinds of knowledge. The knowledge that is learned in schools comes to us through the five senses. It is safe to say that there is no knowledge of subjects like english, chemistry, biology, or math that didn't come to us through the senses of seeing-tasting-hearing-smelling and feeling.

Our bodies have really been the laboratory in which the research in which the research work has steadily gone on through the ages.

That knowledge is limited. It can't find the human spirit.

It can't discover how the mind functions in the brain.

It can not find God, nor discover the origin of matter, life, force or Creation.

All it can discover is things that it can see, hear, taste, smell, andfeel. It is called sense knowledge.
There is another kind of knowledge that has come to us through the Revelation called the Bible. This is Revelation Knowledge. It brings us in contact with the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

It explains the Why of Creation, the Reason for Man, the Nature of Man, and the ultimate Goal of Man. It deals with things that the senses can not discover or know without assistance from Revelation Knowledge. And the sad but true fact is that sense knowledge has gained supremacy in the Church.

The Church is a Spiritual Body to be governed through the spirit instead of through the senses. When Chruch knowledge gained power in the Church, and the root of the Church became the theological school, the Church ceased to be a spiritual body and simply became a body of men governed by sense knowledge.

Sense knowledge which cannot understand spiritual things will deny miracles, will deny answers to prayers, and will deny the deity of Jesus, discrediting his Atonement, Resurrection, and Miracles. Change your course oh precious Church.

Sense knowledge  will deny the miraculous cause they can not explain it or understand it. Sense knowledge has sent forth men called philosophers, searching after reality.

It is a fact that the man who knows Jesus will not turn to philosophy. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus is the answer to true philosophy. Amen

Is Obama Doing the Job You Expected

Is the president living up to your expectations? Is he everything you hoped he would be?

For me, he has been more of the same; making big promises, talking change and fresh new approaches, and failing to complete the tasks he promised during the campaign.

What about health care?
What about adding jobs instead of losing them?
What about Irag, Iran, and Afghanistan?
What about the huge debt we Americans have just undertaken?
What about the rampant greed of corporate America?
What about our huge debt to China?
What about our support for Israel?
What about us God fearing Americans having to pay for abortions of the deceived?

No question the president has more challenges since Truman. I pray that he is up to the task and am reserving judgement for a bit.

The End Could Be Near!

It can be very humiliating  to admit we are powerless, especially if we are powerful in the world. We may be powerful in some areas of our lives but out of control in other areas and on the sure road to destruction.
If we deny we are powerless, we may loose everything including our lives and families. Everything we have worked for.

The experiences of a man named Naaman illustrates how this is true (2 Kings 5:1-15). He was powerful and a leader in politics, a man of wealth, position and power. He also had leprosy which promised to bring about the loss of everything he valued. Lepers were made outcasts from their families and society. Ultimately they faced a slow painful death.

Naaman heard that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal him. He found the prophet and was told that in order to be healed he needed to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times. He went away outraged that his power did him so little good. In the end, however he did heed the instructions and admitted he was powerless. He recovered completely.

Our life controlling issue could be everybit as dangerous as Naaman's. It slowly separates from our families and leads toward the destruction of everything dear to us. The answer is to let go and let Jesus. Admit that we are powerless on our own and get the supernatural healing that only He can provide.

I Hurt, Do You?

It's impossible to go through life without experiencing hurt, especially in the invisible world of our thoughts and emotions. We all respond differently to these hurts. Some of us try to avoid the pain by turning to harmful behaviors or addictive substances-----hoping to numb the pain. Others try to distance ourselves by throwing ourselves into causes; hoping to stay busy enough to silence the painful memories.

The first step is to admit that we are powerless over our dependancies and that our lives have become unmanageable. Honestly, that life just sucks in it's present form.

For many of memories of childhood are memories of the terrors associated with being powerless. If we were raised in families that were out of control, the thought of being powerless might be extremely threatening.

But Jesus tells us the first step into the Kingdom of God is to become like a little child and this involves being powerless. He said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." Mark 10:15

In any society, children are dependent members, the most dependent. They have no power. They are reliant on the love, care, and nurturing of others. They must trust their lives to someone who is more powerful than they. We must trust our lives to Jesus Christ.

This is an honest appraisal and the first step in eliminating the hurts of the past and getting faith for the future. Admit you need Jesus in your life and you are already on your way to recovery.

The United States is Here

Billy Graham said this prayer and boy did he hit the nail on the head.

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.  We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.  We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare..  We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.  We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.  We have abused power and called it politics.. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.  We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.  We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.  Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!' 

Hey, Buy My Book and I Will Send You the DVD Free

First of all there ain't no free lunch. The books must not be selling very well if you got to throw in the DVD's.


How would we like to hear that kind of hawking going on at our regular church every Sunday. "Sow your seed and get your miracle," according to Richard Roberts and the off track prosperity crew. "God has got a mansion for everyone of you." Yeah, but it ain't here, it's in heaven. Why would we need a mansion anyway? And really what have we done to earn it? I know, I know; God operates on Grace but He wants us to get it. GET IT!!!


I say this and would say it on national TV, watch out for the money scams of the TV preachers and watch out for the false teaching that accompanies most of their preaching. 


Not all are bad, just most. There are some like James and Betty Robison who are doing great work. This is not an endorsement. The way to decide whether you support a ministry is to pray on it and see what God says. 


Why does Copeland need armed guards around his elaborate Eagle Mountain compound? Why would any church need armed guards? To keep the sinners out? Isn't that who Jesus preached to.


Why did these guys have such a problem complying with Senator Grassley's request on finances. My church's books are always open. No transparency, no trust. Why should they be any different?

Mega Political Mis Feats

Mayor Bloomberg of New York spent $100,000,000 to get reelected to a third term which he lobbied the council to even allow from the traditional two terms. It was said that it worked out to $170 a vote, that's a pretty price to pay for a vote. What makes me wonder is why some guy would pay a $100,000,000 for a job that it would appear would no way return anything close to that. It really makes me wonder what is going on? It makes me think there is something funny -----something we don't know about. Who knows?

If you know please let me know.

Then Candy Crowley talked about Obama and his campaign promises versus his accomplishments as we get ready to reach the one year mark. The consensus so far is that he has not lived up to any of his promises from televising the health care reform, to having lobbyists on staff, to Gitmo closing, and on and on. Granted it's a little early, but people think he's spending his political capital at a rapid pace and not necessarily in what the public deems in their best interest. Time will tell---unfortunately it takes time whether the end result be good or bad.

My thought is let's just have a king and do away with these nutso elections. The politicians just tell you what you want to hear anyway and then they do what they want and don't care what it cost us. I am tired of the lies and I don't mean just the presidential boys and girls but all through the political system. Changing it a little bit will yield no benefits.

The Perfect Weight Loss System

In today's times, so many people suffer from obesity. We are the number one most out of shape country in the world. Our youth are suffering a diabetes onslaught which is usually reserved for adults. It's not only a threat to our security but putting a severe strain on our healthcare system. Heart attacks at younger ages are becoming more prevalent as well. It affects our life quality.

In the old days, when I was a kid, we played outside or had duties to perform around the homestead. We were always active and weight was not much of an issue. Kids who were obese were the minority, not the majority as they are today.  Now kids are stuck at their computer games or the TV and eating junk food and doing absolutely nothing physical. It's a serious problem.

What's the answer? The answer is the same as it is for any other life controlling issue. Jesus Christ. If you are tempted to stop reading; then you really don't want to put a halt to out of control eating and weight gain.

The answer lies in who is in charge; your flesh or God. When we become saved, we get God through the Holy Spirit who comes and dwells in us. But we remain in charge and really don't possess any power to defeat life controlling issues. We start reading the Word and begin to obey God, but we are still running the show.

As we grow (in some cases in can happen instantaneously), we seek more of Him. As our heart turns to Him in it's fullest capacity, we have another step available to us. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is ours and all we need to do is ask for it with all our hearts. We get saved, we get God. We get baptized in the Holy Spirit and God gets us. Or instead of us leading the way and making all the plans; we become led by the Holy Spirit who knows everything about us.

He knows what is good for us, what is bad for us. He doesn't condemn us, He gently leads. He knows when we are eating for emotional reasons instead of eating for fuel. Eating for fuel is the only legitimate reason to eat. Otherwise it's gluttony.

The reality is that He is gently leading us to become more Christ like. Believe me, Jesus wasn't fat. He didn't over eat. He was totally led by the father. He never sinned, but He was tempted and He knows what we go through.

Put your life and your eating in His hands and the problem will be solved like you never imagined. Weight will just fall off and health will be yours. You will be able to control your food intake and quality by His leading. You will desire to be more active.

Do you think God wants us fat, do you think God wants us healthy? Do you think God knows what He is doing? You bet He does.

Diets are of this world. They are by design geared to fail.

This is the supernatural power of God going to work in your life through the Holy Spirit. Now which one sounds more powerful? God or South Beach?

Have you ever eaten something and you weren't even hungry? And then suffered a tremendous surge of guilt. That's not God, that's our fleshly bad habits. Go with God and win. Blessings.

Generosity

In these times, it would be wise to remind yourself of God's promises regarding generosity. God promises that if you sow bountifully, you will harvest the same. You don't have to give money, especially those of you who are going through rough times. You can give of your time, give away things you don't need, help people who are in need. Give your time and of yourself with a happy heart.

For those of you who have plenty of money, you can pick up the slack and help out those in need with money to food pantries, to charity, and your time. Jesus said, "If you don't help someone in need it's as though you are doing it to me. And if you do help someone in need, it's also as if you are doing it to me."

I have never known anyone who went wrong because he was to generous. Have you? Start giving today. Read Proverbs 22:9

He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

Jobs Aren't Coming Back

The recession has played into the hands of corporate America. First, it allowed them to weed out employees that they would not have been able to disenfranchise without a lot of public out cry. Second, it has given them the opportunity to make big money because they are all lean and mean.

The banks have cut jobs, the manufacturing sector has cut jobs. Everybody has cut jobs and the unions can't say a thing. What are they going to do strike? The unions have been busted whether they know it or not. And it's not going to change.

So how many of the seven million jobs that have been eliminated are coming back? I don't know. I am sure though that it's going to be much less than everyone thinks. Corporate America is lean and mean and plans to stay that way.

Ford cut 53,000 jobs and closed 12 plants. Catepillar cut 35,000 jobs and feels good about their chances for great financial prosperity. They will only add jobs if they find it impossible not to. Share holders are loving it.

Who is going to pay for all those displaced workers. You and I, of course. After all we can't have an extra seven million not working. You talk about an opportunity for civil unrest. This is it.

China is going to gain a bigger foothold then it ever dreamed possible. As if we didn't owe them enough already, what is it----north of three trillion dollars.

I hate writing these words but I felt led to speak my thoughts. For you that believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He will take care of you. Why, because He promises to meet your needs. Just do your part and trust Him. Who else can you trust? The government, corporate America-----oh please.

God bless all of you. Start thinking about getting retrained in industries that are actually looking for good solid well qualified people. Do your research. The medical field will be gobbling people left and right. IT will be adding jobs.

Just believe.

Sarah Palin To Be Interviewed By New Age Queen

Sarah Palin will appear on Oprah to talk about new book. This ought to be something.

Hope Sarah speaks truthfully about faith and family values.

Oprah, the many ways to God queen, is the world's new age queen and is really anti Christian as she goes against the Gospel.

A lot of people are going to decide what they think about her on how she answers, or if the question of God even comes up. Sarah is a Assemblies of God member and Oprah of course is the world's largest proponet of the many way theory.

Hopefully book sales won't cause a wimp out. Very crucial for Palin to call it like it is.

In a sharp policy shift, the Obama administration told federal attorneys not to prosecute patients who use marijuana for medical reasons or dispensaries in states where it has been legalized. Dispensaries are nothing more than legalized pot dealers who have there reputations to protect. The prime for primo.

These places are where you get the really good stuff.

In California, everyone can walk around high all day and the world's problem will have melted into euphoria. I heard the pilot's union has requested the same rights. And the surgeons have expressed an interest to cut down stress.

Sounds like the answer, just get high and your problems will go away. Poooof.

"I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me."

Financial Crisis

In all appearances, it seems as though the market is steady and moving in an upward trend. In most sectors there is improvement, and in some cases; you would never know that there was a depression. Many people are about half way back to pre depression levels. Pull backs are slight.

Oil is at $80 per barrel and many think a bit high.

However, the bottom line is we keep losing jobs. But, if you think that bothers corporate America, better think again. Unions have all been busted for the most part. Corporate America is happy to have trimmed it's work force, better bottom line for the share holders. Do they care about the worker? You figure. More workers, less profits.

So things look good from Wall Street, but not Main Street. However, there are some indications and even some small amount of hiring going on even though we are still negative in that area.

Do I believe what I hear on TV, no. Do I pay attention to mortgage rates, no. Why, my God meets all my needs. Simple as that. I pay little attention to what is going on in the world. "Man does not eat by bread alone, but by every Word out of the mouth of God. Amen.

Radical Islam

First, this post is not referring to peace loving Islamic peoples-----but to radical Islamic factions. The radical Islamic movement is dedicated to the destruction of Christianity and Christians. Not just in faraway places, but here in this country and worldwide.

Muslim country representatives at the United Nations are plotting to destroy Christianity. They won't win.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference comprised of 57 Muslim nations has intensified it's efforts, vigorously pushing the UN to vote on a cleverly worded tolerance resolution which would criminalize the proclamation of the Gospel. It's a bold faced double standard.

When a government allows Christians to be tortured, burned alive, as Pakistan has done----and when the UN considers criminalizing your faith------it's about your faith. It is about you.

Please write your congressman to put pressure on the UN through his (her) channels not to allow this thinly veiled attack on Christians everywhere.

Drug Companies Overcharge Americans

CNBC just had the CEO of Pfizer on and asked him why we pay more in this country then others for medications.

His answer was full of double talk and skirting the issue. He never answered the question other than it was better to take a pill than go to the hospital. Whoopy.

My wife buys an HMR from Canada for 1/10th the cost of what it cost in the U.S. and to think that George Bush wanted us to be forbidden from going to Canada to secure affordable medications. George, George, shame on you.

There needs to be a drug czar who will initiate a complete investigation into the drug companies and their pricing structures. Limits need to be set, it's not about the bottom line and roi for stock holders. It is about us and fairness.

Thirty Zyprexa cost $607 in central Wisconsin. That's absurd, Zyprexa has been available for a long time and the development cost have long been recouped.

The rip off has got to stop. These completely immoral practices are breaking us.

The Greatest Warrior

The Bible never pictures Jesus as a plastic super hero. It says that our Savior was badgered by temptation just like the rest of us. He went toe to toe with Satan. Straight on.

Just before Jesus launched His public ministry of miracle working and preaching, the Spirit of God commanded Him to go into the desert for a period of intense testing. Jesus went without food for forty days and nights; fasting and praying only.

Jesus was hungry by the end of this time-----like anyone would be. This is when Satan pounced. He threw three temptations at Him; concrete opportunities to go against His Father's will. They weren't just passing thoughts but brutal attempts to get Him to do evil, each custom designed to drag Jesus into evil.

Each one to entice Jesus to get a good thing by doing a bad thing.

• satisfying His hunger without God's specific permission
• gaining followers by misusing His power
• seizing control of the world apart from winning salvation through the cross

Jesus wilderness testing not only illustrates how temptation targets us at times and targets us when we are most vulnerable, but it demonstrates how to fight back. Jesus didn't call on any resource not available to every believer. He fought Satan's lying enticements with specific truths from God's Word. With God's Word guarding His mind, heart and body; Jesus was invincible. He simply relied on God's ultra powerful Word.

I would like to say that I have defeated every temptation; that would be a bold faced lie. I have given in more times than I care to admit. However, being in the Word has helped me recognize the deceit of the evil one and to be able to overcome his rotten control of me at my weak points. I still need to get stronger in the Word, for I am powerless on my own. The more Word, the stronger the resistance.

If you are mired in sin, turn to the Word with all you possess.

Are You Tired of Being Good

Every act you commit, the Bible says, is like putting seed in the ground. You don't see the results right away, but in time a plant sprouts. If you sow corn, in a few months, you get corn. If you drop apple seeds on the ground, next year or even this, you will sprout a small apple tree.

You should never be surprised by what grows up, because you can count on getting back what you put in the ground. Corn seed makes corn. Thistle seed produce thistles.

Each deed you ever do, the Bible says, is like putting a seed in the ground. And God won't be taken lightly. He ensures that what you plant is what you reap. If you do evil, you will harvest rotten fruit. If you do good, you will gather everlasting life. This doesn't mean you earn eternity in heaven for doing good. It means you enjoy heaven's awesome quality of life right now, knowing God deeply and having life abundantly. To have eternity in heaven, the only way is through the Son, Jesus Christ.

Don't get weary of doing good. Follow God's commands, believe me you will fail enough to stay humble. You don't see a harvest the day after you sow a seed. It takes time. You reap in due season. Stay strong in the Lord and help everybody----because the good you do is like doing it to Jesus, and so is the bad. Blessings.

Be honest, take constant moral inventories about your deeds concerning fellow man whether he be of faith or not. Don't deceive yourselves.

The Real Battle

Your real enemy in this real-life daily battle are not the flesh and blood people who try to lure you from your faith, whether friends who want to pull you into sin or strangers who lure you with books and music, tv, web sites, philosophies, and off world views.

Your real enemies are evil spiritual entities. You actually fight against powers, principalities. You actually fight against the rulers of darkness.

To win this battle, you need spiritual weapons from God that will allow you to stand against the master of deceit. God outfits you with what you need------the Armor of God. The Word of God contains in Ephesians 6 the whole armor of God. Take a look. It may save your life from eternal suffering in this world and the next.

Who Is In Charge----Christ and the Husband

You can't help but find instructions on how to do male-female relationships on every page of scripture. Every point you learn about living and loving as God intends naturally applies to how you get along with the opposite sex., whether that is someone you are just getting to know or your married partner.

Ephesians 5:22-33 gives instructions aimed specifically at Christian husbands and wives. Many people have trouble with statements like "wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Many Bible experts (if there is such a thing) says that we should mutually submit to one another, serving with the same attitude Jesus constantly displayed.

However, others say there is another kind of submission going on here. They point out that the word submission has military origins. Though it doesn't refer to forced submission. It does mean voluntary submission to an appointed authority. It's the same word used for Christians submitting to government figures and youth submitting to elders. Women as God intended are to voluntarily put themselves under the authority of their husbands.

While that might sound like a tough job for wives, the bulk of the passage actually focuses on the duties of the husband, requiring men to love their wives "just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her."

Any husband who makes a case that the Bible requires His wife's submission to him must accept an even bigger job. He must submit to Christ's complete authority and devote himself to loving his wife with the same kind of sacrificial love that drove the Lord to the cross.

1. Husbands are also to protect their wives physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, and give her all the security she needs to do her job.
2. Husbands will answer to God for the kind of job they did as a husband and father.

So the wives submit so her husband can do his job. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. Each is necessary so that the other can function as God intended.

Those TV News Programs----Gloom and Doom

I was just watching the news on CNN, it's now 9:24 on Saturday morning. I was looking for one positive story, something uplifting, something not about evil. But what that hour brought was:

• Administration's reviewing policy on Pakistan and Afghanistan
• American soldiers dyeing because time taking on review
• Announcing a special on Jonestown and Jim Jones
• Floods in Arkansas
• Attack on military check point
• Sunami hits American Samoa
• The economy

After that much negative information, I wondered did nothing good happen in the world? Did not God do a healing miracle yesterday? Or did He take the day off. Did nobody help anybody yesterday or last night? Didn't anything good happen at all.

This country's news sources live on negative situations or conditions. They are planting seeds of discourse. No wonder people in this country to a large degree have such a fearful and negative outlook. You become what you take in your mind, you become what you buy into.

Wouldn't it be a pleasant departure if the news organizations reported good things, or if just half of what they reported was good? People are actually helping each other, and God is actually healing and saving people. We live in a still free society.

We do really have in the media a anti God does anything policy, it's also in the schools, and in the government, and in industry, and worst of all in the medical community. Some people actually believer that God is in our imagination and really doesn't do anything. He just sits up there and watches and makes notes. Wonder what God thinks about that?

Let's start with a national good news day and limit the negative to only impending doom and warnings to protect our citizens if a tornado is coming.

We need to get off this bad news kick.

To Hell with Christmas

I woke up this morning and thoughts of dear old Santa Claus, aka Chris Cringle, came to mind. Movies such as Miracle on Thirty Fourth Street and others are played every year during the Christmas season. Songs about a "White Christmas" and "Blue Christmas" are called Christmas music. Hogwash!!!!

It's all about money. Retailers do the majority of their business during the period from the day after Thanksgiving to into January. Now they want to distance themselves from the Christmas Holidays to Happy Holidays and make sure any reference to Christ is thoroughly removed. Then the Muslims can share in the festivities, so can the Jews, the Budhist, and even the Scientologists.

Well folks, Christmas is the ceremonial celebration of Jesus Christs' birth, my Lord and and Savior. Point blank. We do not do Christmas in our home in the traditional sense, we do it in the true sense, the honoring of Christ. Anything else is nothing but an abomination to the Lord. Jesus went to the cross for our sins and our sicknesses. He bore every sin known to man and every sickness that will ever exist. Plus He was beaten to worse than humanly possible to endure for our healings.

When He rose from the tomb, He was unrecognizable as a human. He walked right passed His own mother and she failed to recognize Him. This is not a fairy tale, this real, this is big time.

So, Ok, give your kids a few gifts; but also make sure that your whole family pays honor to Jesus for taking the heat for our sins------and what terrible heat it was. Not one of us has the guts to even think about doing it.

If you have raised your kids correctly, you have already taught them as to the real Christmas and educated them on Christian living and worshiping God through His Son, Jesus Christ. If you haven't done that, you simply haven't raised them correctly. I am only addressing people of the Christian faith, other religions are going to have their own issues to deal with.

So folks, it's time to take an inventory of where we stand on the matter of the real Christmas, and the real Christ. If your child, who can make a conscious decision, was to (and God forbid) die today, where would your child spend eternity? If you do know, you have done your job. If you don't know, you haven't. Either way, you are responsible.

Don't get my started on the Easter bunny!

We Are Descendants of Apes----According to .......

National Geographic had a reporter on Fox News this morning who claimed that scientists in Ethiopia found a remains of an ape who is a million years older than Lily who I guess was oldest until the new guy hit the block.

The claim is this, this ape is more like a human in his characteristics; giving the false idea that we once again evolved instead of being created by God. I certainly don't trust any of the news organizations whether it be Fox, CNN, or the rest. The use all kinds of absurd tactics to make sure that we are properly brainwashed into not believing in God.

Now National Geographic, that is a horse of a different color. That was a magazine from my youth and still looks pretty much the same. Has great photography and sometimes interesting stories. However, if they are preaching evolution; I am done other than to blog about them and their folly. Actually though I don't read them cause I am to busy.

I wonder how anyone can be so stupid not to believe that this complex world (sun, stars,) all revolve around the earth and for the benefit of the earth; and that God made them all that way cause He built us a place to live cause He wanted to have fellowship with us; so He made us in His likeness.

Worldly man believes our future lays in our intelligence, in our education. Why man can't even reproduce blood, or better said that man cannot duplicate blood. Blood has unknown entities that are beyond our scope of ability to make.

And if we are so smart, how come we are in such a big mess:

• global recession
• two not one strains of serious flu
• children gone completely astray
• moral decadence in society, tv, movies, magazines, and radio
• complete revelation of corporate greed at expense of public
• and on and on and on

You know if we abstained from reading, tv, movies, magazines, radio, and the internet for one year and during that year, we read only one book, the Bible. Would we be better? Certainly we would. Our whole society and values would be changed. However, I fear we are to dependant on external entertainment and could never accomplish that wonderful journey.

To Big To Handle.

In this world of financial crisis we experience many things:

• job loss
• family stress
• uncertainty
• health issues
• alcohol abuse
• drug abuse
• marriage failures
• foreclosure
• anxiety and depression

It all seems overwhelming and that there is nothing we can do about it. But that is wrong, dead wrong. We can have:

• peace
• joy
• love
• good health
• financial health
• emotional health

One might think this sounds absolutely ridiculous. And by the world's standards it is for sure.

But by God's standards, they are to be expected. His ways are not our ways and His words are not are words. We have not cause we ask not. He is just waiting for the next opportunity to meet our needs, but if we don't ask, we don't get. One other thing, we must believe that we will receive; in other words put total trust in Him.

Lay your burdens at His feet for they are too complex for you to handle. And frankly, you don't have the answers. When your burdens get heavy and start to way you done, you can't sleep at night, you are stressed and worried. Worry is the opposite of faith. Who are going to believe, Him or the world.

Remember a fool is someone who thinks they are intelligent. A bigger fool is someone who thinks they can handle everything.

Packers and Vikes to Settle the Score---Go Brett

Big interest brewing in the Packers and Vikings game. Many people are mad at Brett for playing for the Vikes. And then many love Brett for all the great joy he gave while at Green Bay.

Although, I am a Packer fan; I feel the Packer top brass really treated him quite underhanded. Brett probably made a few mistakes as well. But the guys was our hero and won so many games for Green Bay---he deserved better.

The Packers did the same thing to Big Mike Holmgren. They could have given him what he wanted; they did that for the next guy who took his place. This general manager for the Pack has to go. He doesn't fit what the Packers stand for.

On this night, next Monday, I will be rooting for Brett.

It is What You Bring to the Table

The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, and than successes. And what other people say or do.

It is more important than appearance, skill, or intelligence. It will make or break you, a company, a church, a family.

The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day the attitude we will embrace for that day. We can't change our past. We can't change the fact that people will have their own attitude---good or bad. We can't change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on what we have and that is our attitude. I am convinced that is life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. We are in charge of our attitudes----it will be what you make it.

But Whose Going to Pay the Bills?

But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The Bible says that My God shall supply all your needs. It doesn't say the Government of the U.S. will supply them. It doesn't say that your boss, or your business will supply them. It says My God will do it. So if someone lets you down it really doesn't matter. God never lets you down.

God often uses man as the means , but God himself is the Source. All other sources are instruments only and will never be anything else. God will always be the source.

Jesus looks on a need in a positive way. To Him a need exists to be met. God shall supply all your need. The word need is strong, it is emphatic. It means it will be done. The moment your need faces you, God's shall supply promise goes into effect.

You give God your best as He says in Luke 6:38; then ask Him for His best. When done with a sincere heart, God moves.

If The Shoe Fits Wear It

Smith Wigglesworth was one of the great men of God during the modern era. In fact, in my opinion he was the greatest man of God. He died in 1947 at the age of 87, yet his memory lives on and books about him are still in print. I think I have every one of them, at least 13, but I keep handing them out because they are so powerful and helpful to those in need. From time to time I will be talking directly about Wigglesworth, the man, the ministry, and the miracles.

Oral Roberts said that he and his fellow evangelists owe Wiggleswortha debt beyond calculation. Wigglesworth was an outstanding man of faith who taught and inspired people world wide. The impact of his ministry swept over this nation, and we are still feeling it today.

Wigglesworth was once asked if he spent long seasons in prayer. He said that he didn't often pray more than a half hour at a time, but then said that he rarely went more than a half hour without praying. Prayer was his life. It is what he liked best of all and the true secret of his great power.

Ok, to the first Wigglesworth story. I know that many of you aren't going to believe it, your problem. It is true.

Wigglesworth was staying in the home of a curate of the Church of England. He and the curate were sitting together talking after supper. No doubt the subject of their conversation was that the poor fellow had no legs. Artificial limbs were crude in those days.

Wigglesworth said to the man quite suddenly (which he often did when ministering), "Go and get a pair of new shoes in the morning."

The poor fellow thought it was some kind of joke. However, after they had retired to their respective rooms for the night, God told the curate, "Do as My servant hath said," God was identifying Himself withWigglesworth.

The next morning the curate went to the shoe shop and waited for it to open. When it did, a man came up to the curate and asked if he could help him. The curate said, "Yes would you get me a pair of shoes, please?"

"Yes sir, size and color?" The curate hesitated and the shoe store man said, "Sorry sir, we can't help you."

The curate said, "It's all right, young man. But I do want a pair of shoes, size 8, color black."

The man went to get the shoes. A few minutes later he returned and handed them to the man. The curate put one stump into a shoe and instantly a foot and leg were formed. Then the same thing happened with the other leg. He walked out of that store with not only a new pair of shoes but a new pair of legs.

Wigglesworth was not surprised. He had expected this result. He often made remarks like this: "As far as God is concerned, there is no difference between forming a limb and healing a broken bone."

The point is this: Wigglesworth did not pray for the man; he told him what to do and the man did it.

Wigglesworth was a man of extraordinary faith; because of his almost continuous prayer and fellowship with God, reading of the Word (the only book he ever read), he absolutely possessed no unbelief, trusted God to the very fullest. I don't believe any greater faith existed in modern times.

We rarely hear of miracles like this because our churches typically don't teach about healing; and they don't personally possess this kind of faith or fellowship with God. These answers to prayer are available from God; all we have to do is believe.

This story is taken from the book Smith Wigglesworth----The Secret of His Power

Which One Are You---Take the Inventory

People live in one of two houses; the content house or the house of discontent.

• the contented person looks beyond circumstances
• the discontented person looks at circumstances and sees no way
• the contented person understands the purpose for which they were born
• the discontented person looks at others' success and is filled with disdain
• the contented person has placed his values on things that will last forever
• the discontented person puts his values on things that soon will past
• the contented person counts his blessings
• this discontented person counts other's blessings and thinks he has no fun
• the contented person has peace
• the discontented always in a frenzy
• the contented person exudes love
• the discontented possess anger
• the contented person foregives
• the discontented holds a grudge and looks to get even

We all have the choice between the two, it's ours to determine which way were going to be. In all honesty, from time to time, we may tend towards the negative, but realize it, and go the opposite direction. Jesus would always represent the positive aspects above, and when we become saved we start to be changed into his image.

Smith Wigglesworth-----One of God's Greats

Smith Wigglesworth was one of the great men of God during the modern era. In fact, in my opinion he was the greatest man of God. He died in 1947 at the age of 87, yet his memory lives on and books about him are still in print. I think I have every one of them, at least 13, but I keep handing them out because they are so powerful and helpful to those in need. From time to time I will be talking directly about Wigglesworth, the man, the ministry, and the miracles.

Oral Roberts said that he and his fellow evangelists owe Wigglesworth a debt beyond calculation. Wigglesworth was an outstanding man of faith who taught and inspired people world wide. The impact of his ministry swept over this nation, and we are still feeling it today.

Wigglesworth was once asked if he spent long seasons in prayer. He said that he didn't often pray more than a half hour at a time, but then said that he rarely went more than a half hour without praying. Prayer was his life. It is what he liked best of all and the true secret of his great power.

Ok, to the first Wigglesworth story. I know that many of you aren't going to believe it, your problem. It is true.

Wigglesworth was staying in the home of a curate of the Church of England. He and the curate were sitting together talking after supper. No doubt the subject of their conversation was that the poor fellow had no legs. Artificial limbs were crude in those days.

Wigglesworth said to the man quite suddenly (which he often did when ministering), "Go and get a pair of new shoes in the morning."

The poor fellow thought it was some kind of joke. However, after they had retired to their respective rooms for the night, God told the curate, "Do as My servant hath said," God was identifying Himself with Wigglesworth.

The next morning the curate went to the shoe shop and waited for it to open. When it did, a man came up to the curate and asked if he could help him. The curate said, "Yes would you get me a pair of shoes, please?"

"Yes sir, size and color?" The curate hesitated and the shoe store man said, "Sorry sir, we can't help you."

The curate said, "It's all right, young man. But I do want a pair of shoes, size 8, color black."

The man went to get the shoes. A few minutes later he returned and handed them to the man. The curate put one stump into a shoe and instantly a foot and leg were formed. Then the same thing happened with the other leg. He walked out of that store with not only a new pair of shoes but a new pair of legs.

Wigglesworth was not surprised. He had expected this result. He often made remarks like this: "As far as God is concerned, there is no difference between forming a limb and healing a broken bone."

The point is this: Wigglesworth did not pray for the man; he told him what to do and the man did it.

Wigglesworth was a man of extraordinary faith; because of his almost continuous prayer and fellowship with God, reading of the Word (the only book he ever read), he absolutely possessed no unbelief, trusted God to the very fullest. I don't believe any greater faith existed in modern times.

We rarely hear of miracles like this because our churches typically don't teach about healing; and they don't personally possess this kind of faith or fellowship with God. These answers to prayer are available from God; all we have to do is believe.

This story is taken from the book Smith Wigglesworth----The Secret of His Power

The Christian Church In America Has Failed!

You know many pastors especially denominational pastors are more concerned with not rocking the boat and cruising in until retirement. They teach a nicely prepared, friendly message; one that doesn't provoke any deep thought, self examination, or action. It's what they are comfortable with, not what the Holy Spirit wants them to say.

Churches are often measured by the size of their congregation, the larger the better. The quality of their devotion to the Word is often overlooked cause most people don't want to change anything about their life and don't want their parade rained on. So don't irritate anyone.

I recently attended a church who had a decent size congregation. However, the pastor was not lead by God, but by himself. Instead of calling the sick to come forward for healing, they served coffee. The pastor's voice always stayed in a nicely practiced monotone. There was no fire, no conviction, just a pleasant message and home you went. Oh, by the way, say "Hi" to the people around you as you are leaving.

This church was so dead in spirit no one would ever feel the need to examine themselves, make a moral inventory, change the way they treat people, or study the Word. The Holy Spirit plain and simple was excluded. Christ is the head of the church, not the pastor. And when He left to be with the Father, He sent the Comforter who is to lead the church through the pastor. The gifts of the Spirit should be evident, not absent.

If you are in a church like that you need to consider leaving as it is backsliding and you are as well right along with it. Who do you want to please; people or Jesus. You won't please Jesus by being in a church who is deaf to the leading of the Spirit. Remember, "by their ignorance, they perish."

Many times it's the smaller, non denominational churches that are hot for God. Who count on Him totally and Spirit led. God loves everyone the same, saint or sinner, but He especially delights in those who totally depend on Him. Do you? Does your church?

Recently a survey of evangelicals, 85% said they experienced nothing of God last year. Are you one of those?

Four percent of today's youth it is reported have God centered lives. Whose fault is that? It is the fault of their parents; and it is the fault of the churches.

It seems that the biggest single issue in church is money. It might not get the time that the actual sermon gets, but over a years time, it is the biggest single topic. What a shame.

Love My Enemies---Are You Nuts?

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you great only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Jesus not only taught this message but lived it. He experienced misunderstanding, ingratitude, and rejection. But, He was never bitter, discouraged, or overcome. To Him every obstacle was an opportunity:

• brokenhearted--a opportunity to comfort
• disease--an opportunity to heal
• hatred--an opportunity to love
• temptation--an opportunity to overcome
• sin--an opportunity to forgive

His uncommon responses to the problems He faced caused those around Him to ask "What manner of man is this?"

How do we react when criticized? Some people find fault as their primary natural response. Whether criticism is just or unjust, a person shows his true mettle by how he or she responds. It would help us to realize that there are times when we make errors and display shortcomings. In our relationship with God, we don't need justice, we need mercy.

In our relationship with others we should be quick to give mercy and slow to demand justice. However, the opposite is more the rule than the exception. This is true in many churches as well.

When treated in an unChristian manner or tempted to react in such. We need to realize that:

• everyone is fighting a hard battle with all the uncertainties in the world
• reacting in a positive, reassuring manner will produce better results
• there is no better way to represent Christ than with Christian reactions

So we need to not react to those situations that get to us, but do as Jesus would do---love, forgive, heal, and comfort.

Take Up the What???

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

Luke 9:23

"Take up his cross..........................." A good everyday explanation of the cross is giving. The cross is something you do. Every time you give, a little bit of you dies. You die to self. A little bit of the part of you that wants to run your own life...........the part that wants to leave God out and not include others........dies. Every time you give of yourself...........love, energy, talents, time, or money........a big part of you comes alive. After the cross comes the joy of the Resurrection.

"Follow me......." The miracle of conversion take place in an instant---in that moment in time you become a Christian. But it takes a lifetime to become a follower; a disciple, of Jesus. A disciple of the Lord learns of Jesus and follows Him, day in and day out. Every day is a new day in the now. You measure your life by Christ's life. You are like an iceberg in that about 1/7th of you is above the surface. Underneath the surface, hidden from view is the real you, your personality, your deep longings, your likes and dislikes-----your secret sins.

At conversion, most of you is still submerged. But as you meet conflicts, needs, and problems you emerge and grow in your Christian life. Christ can give you the miracle of a changed heart. For that miracle you must pick your cross and follow Him.

Ever Feel Empty

The Roman overlords levied taxes but they sold a tax franchise to different people. A man could agree to pay Rome so much money and then he would levy taxes in his district to collect the money. He could keep what he would collect over what he owed Rome. Tax collectors took advantage of the people and made big money.

A man named Zacchaeus was a tax collector who took advantage of people by overcharging the people for their taxes. But he found that no matter how much he got, he felt empty inside; he had an awful restlessness. No peace.

Only Jesus can fill that emptiness in a man's life. "For Jesus was to pass that way." Christ always passes your way. He comes to you at the point of your need.

Jesus looked up and said, "Zacchaeus (Jesus called him by name). We are living in the computer age and sometimes we feel so isolated from one another; we think nobody cares, nobody thinks of us as a person.

But Jesus identified Zacchaeus as a person with a name. I think everybody hears Christ call him by name at some time. You feel God is very intimate with you, very near.

Zacchaeus said, "Lord, behold I will give half my goods to the poor and if I have taken anything from any man by false methods I will restore him fourfold............When you truly meet Christ, He shakes you up. This Man turns you around and you take on the characteristics of Christ himself.

All at once, Zacchaeus saw the kind of man he had been. He said, "I am going to start giving and restoring and loving. I have been trying to take a man before he took me.

He had found the Source for his life and the joy of giving. He found that more important then getting, it was giving. Jesus said to him, "This day is salvation come to this house."

Wouldn't this country be something if that was the rule rather than the exception?