Category: Uncategorized (Page 23 of 114)

I bit on something hard in a sandwich Thursday. There was a loud “crack” like my tooth had broken. Went to the dentist yesterday morning, thankful that they could see me so soon.

It was definitely cracked—completely split in two. It was a difficult extraction that did not end quickly. The dentist couldn’t pull it out no matter how much he jerked and twisted. I prayed fervently as he fought with that tooth.

Finally, he resorted to using an impact tool, then a drill or high-speed cutter, and then a surgical knife. It is now sewn with dissolvable stitches. I was shaking when he was finished.

I thought—I willingly laid on a stretch-chair, let some man I barely know stick needles in my gum, then wrestle, pull, jerk, and cut one of my teeth out, and paid $$$ for the experience. It was all because I knew from a past incident that a cracked tooth can become septic and the pain is way off the scale. All that to say that I recognized a lesson in that experience. Continue reading

“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” — Jeremiah 1:8-9

With all the different concepts of God and doctrines interpreting the meaning of His word, one Has to be very cautious to avoid getting into a religious brouhaha. The temptation is not to say too much, not to make it too clear, find a diplomatic way to avoid stepping on someone’s beliefs, and so forth.

But what about Christ? Are we supposed to be following Him. Is He our example? He did not concern Himself with the possibility of someone being offended by what He said. It did not help Him up the religious ladder of success, and He didn’t want that low goal anyway.

He was followed by many as long as He healed and fed them. But they turned and walked away as the moment He said something that offended Him. He wasn’t a crowd pleaser anyway.

In the end they couldn’t wait to torture and kill Him. Their rage knew no bounds. He might have pacified them had He paid a bit of honor to them when they came to hear Him teach. Instead, He insulted and rebuked them. He wasn’t one to pander and seek favor from dignitaries.

So what are we doing today. Are we studying God’s word and speaking and/or writing what it reveals to us?

Friends, the World System is coming apart like a rotten sock. Christianity is in the great and final apostasy. Soon there will not be an opportunity left to speak truth and warn people about the Tribulation and Parousia. The edge of the Dark Storm has reached us.

It is time to speak truth no matter who it offends. If you turn someone from deception to truth, that will be reward enough. If they curse and reject you, it is not more than what they did to Christ.

The Lord Christ Jesus declared with four “with all’s” that the first and great commandment is, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30

I have talked to many people that confessed they have never reached that degree of commitment. I frequently wonder if I have attained it. It certainly doesn’t feel as if I have reached it. The question is, why did God put such a commandment in His word if we could not obey it? Furthermore, if we cannot obey it, does that mean we should not be concerned about falling short of success?

I do not believe that degree of commitment is unattainable, but that it requires us to submit daily to God’s will. I was counseling a young man that had committed serious sins and was suffering the consequences. I informed him that he needed to be fully surrendered to God. He replied that he thought he had done that long ago. And yet sin greatly prevailed.

For some strange reason, many Christians believe that full surrender to God is a one-time commitment. However, we wake up each morning with new challenges to our efforts to live godly. Christ said that we must take up our cross daily and follow Him. (Luke 9:23) If we are being overcome by evil, how can we claim our long ago surrender is still effective? Continue reading