The Challenger

Usain Bolt is the worlds fastest man in the 100m dash at 9.69 seconds setting a new World Record. Beating out Richard Thompson (9.89), Walter Dix(9.91), Churandy Martina(9.93), Asafa Powell(9.95), Michael Frater(9.97), Marc Burns(10.01), and Darvis Patton(10.03).

Churandy set a national record for Netherlands Antille. While Thompson, Dix, and Frater set personal best records. Commentators say that if Bolt would of pushed himself through the line he would of smashed the record. Instead Bolt did a show boat finish coasting out the final few feet holding out his arms and beating his chest as he broke the tape. Some say he could of easily beat a 9.6 second run time.

Either way this guy is fast, very fast. If he was to maintain peak performance he would be hard pressed to find anyone that could beat him. The worlds second fastest came in at 9.89 and that .2 is like a mile at the speeds they are running. For a person in competitive sports they need someone to challenge them. They need a rival to square off against. But what if there is no challenger and they have only themselves to face?

For anyone the toughest challenger we face isn't our best friend, our coworker, our family. It's ourselves. Usain Bolt probably now realizes that after he read the morning paper. Now he's older and more worn down from the stress of his running. Chances are pretty good he'll never be able to beat or even match his old record. Had he continued to push, his record would remain untouchable for decades. But like Usain we go every day limiting ourselves to substandard task or mess it all up by showboating to draw a little attention to ourselves.

If we push hard, let no obstacles stand in our way, seek nothing but the satisfaction for a job well done, God will bless us.

This applies to many aspects of a Christians life. We feel the need to talk to someone yet we put a dampener on our self and don't do it. Kindness given to someone in need isn't given because we don't want to get embarrassed. Greed tells us not to help the homeless man who is starving out on the street because I want to super size my meal. Prejudice makes us look away from people of different color with out knowing the strength they hold in Christ. Envy makes us shy away from someone with a nicer house or car because we think we're not good enough to talk to them. And the shame of our sins keeps us stuck in dispare when there is a hand right there reaching out to us.

These are all limitation WE place on OURSELVES. Overcome these limitations by letting Christ be your coach and letting him break the bonds that tie us down. Confess it to God. "God I'm weak and I can't stand against these challenges by myself. I turn it over to you Jesus and I turn over my sins to you. I've been a liar, blasphemer, I've cheated and stole. I know you paid my fine for my sins and I accept that. With your help I will stay away from these sins. I only do so my life will bring honor and glory to you."

There is something you must understand though. A true Christian does not come to God seeking happiness and joy, money or fame. A true Christan seeks nothing but gives everything to God. You will be blessed, good things will happen. It's when you give it to Christ that you will be able to overcome your problems and with that the joy will be sweeter than when you didn't deserve it. The happiness will be everlasting when it wasn't warranted. Yes there will be challenges and it's something you should be seeking out to better yourself and to give glory to God and Jesus Christ. But now you have the Father to lead you on to victory.

If you need assistance please don't hesitate to contact me through the forums on miraclereports.org

God Bless

Rebuilding God's wall

I've been going through some trials with the way several churches are giving up their faith in order to make their church more attractive to people. I was taking a shower this morning before visiting another new church and was thinking about where I should settle my family. Out of the blue Nehemiah popped in my head. I've probably read the book of Nehemiah ten times and it's only now that I am understanding how it applies in what's going on in my life today.

From the book of Nehemiah (minor edits)

I (Nehemiah) questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:
"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'

"They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."

I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart."
I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
The king said to me, "What is it you want?"Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it."

Jerusalem laid in ruin and it's unfaithful people had been scattered into exile by God. Nehemiah went before his king with faith in God and asked for permission to rebuild the ruined city.

During this time many challenges came against Nehemiah and his men. Plots were made to murder and plans set in motion to destroy but they couldn't stand against God. In one hand the people carried a sword and in the other they carried supplies. Families worked together both sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. All working together for God with the help of God.

52 days later the wall was all complete with gates and doors. This put a great fear into all those set against Israel. But the job wasn't done yet. Israel renewed their covenant with God and rededicated their lives to him. I would love to stop here.

But as it goes again and again they all fall away. Nehemiah had left for a short time to return to his king and when he returned he found many had already fallen back into old ways. But the good Nehemiah wasn't going to have any of this and rapidly and strongly set them back into place.

I may be getting more out of this that you are. My understanding is there are going to be people coming against you when you try to rebuild God's wall (wall being a metaphor). When you try to put things back into order and make them the way they should be there is going to be opposition. Perhaps some of the opposistion is personal doubts in youself. Maintain faith in God. Pray and give him glory. If you sin, confess it to him and continue on the path because what your doing for God will happen. Long as God's fire is burning in you there is motivation. So break out your hammers and shovels! There's work to be done!

This guy don't have a chance of pushing God's wall down

Perhaps the most touching part of this book is chapter 9 where Israelites called out to God and confessed their sins.

You can read it here.

"Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong...

Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the warnings you gave them. Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways....

"We will not neglect the house of our God."

Can't see the fires for all the daisies

In today's Church we have closed the door to grace and taken the spirit away from the Holy Ghost. We have diluted the word of God so much that conviction isn't felt beyond the stain glass doors.We don't we want to offend anyone nor do we like to see people hurt. So we take the sting out of words and feed people happiness on a spoon paid for by the blood of Christ. We don't want to see them hunger so we feed them watered down dribble to keep them content, like a well fed baby. Just enough to make them think they are okay but not enough to upset their personal lives.

This reminds me of an article I read about newborns being given sugar water which used to be a old wives practice and somewhat still used today. Research has shown that this isn't a good practice at all and can cause serious problems such as water intoxication and blocking nutrient absorption. Magnified even more in a newborn if the practice is abused. This is the same thing with the church. If we continue to feed God's sheep sugar water we are not doing them any good but only condemning them to a life of hollow hopes, empty labors and eternity in Hell.

All around us people in our church are living and dying in a world of sin. They try to fit into society by feeding on fleshly desires and sharing fleshly desires. Lying, cheating, stealing, adulterers being blasphemous and shameful to their family in a fallen world. Yet we look to God to provide our needs to heal our sick and pay our bills when we can't even pray over dinner as a family. Our sons are off playing at a friends house who do nothing good but encourage rebellion. Our precious daughters worry about their weight and rather starve than face her friends as school tomorrow with a little baby fat on her thighs and yet she's only 11.

We are falling away from Christ as a church, as a family, as individuals.

Wake UP!

We have got to stop painting Christ in pastel colors surrounded by daisies. If we are not truly Christian by the righteous judgement of Christ we will bear the wrath of an angry God! Woe to those who have to face the wrath of the lamb. Christ alone took all the wrath for the sins we repented of. A wrath that will still fall upon all who are ashamed of and deny Christ.

Understand we must give Jesus Christ the Glory He so richly deserves. Christ alone deserves all our praise, all our devotion, all our works. When the day comes when we have to face God everything we have ever done is going to be laid out and examined. It will not be negotiable or debatable. There will be no lawyers to defend you. Jesus Christ says..

Matthew 7:21-23 (New International Version)

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The late Pastor Paris Reidhead said it best and we must have this same drive.

“Lord Jesus, I’m going to obey you and love you and serve you and do what you want me to do, as long as I live even if I go to Hell at the end of the road,... simply because you are worthy to be loved and obeyed and served, and I’m not trying to make a deal with you.”

We must learn to follow Christ giving everything to God but expecting nothing.

My sons are on this trip to where if you ask them to do something they want something in return. They loose so much when they propose this transaction than if they would have just done what I told them to do. Do not look to God to make a wager! You have already received your reward through the precious grace of Christ. Life everlasting. But the reward is only good as long as you are repenting daily because we all sin daily. Turn away from sin and have faith in Jesus Christ. Do not be ashamed to be a light in the darkness. Be bold and turn over the tables and spill out the sugar water. Burn bright for Christ.

As Paul said..I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Modern Microwave Church

Recently the media went big with news that say microwave popcorn increases the risk of certain cancers. Hit Google up and search out Microwave Popcorn cancer. I mean, it was so easy to make, take the plastic wrapper off, toss it in the microwave and hit the popcorn button. Convenient! Now we find out people have been dying with cancer from this so-called "healthy" snack. Yea that stinks. This study has been going on for nearly 10 years too. So they knew something was amiss along time before the general public knew. When was the last time you took an ounce of good old peanut oil put it in a deep sauce pan with a few old school corn kernels and let her pop away? It really puts that microwave junk in the gutter for flavor and texture and it's so much cheaper. This is leading somewhere.

Recently in my old church the pastor "preached" a message that was, in my opinion, rather confusing and very disorganized. It was like watching a 6 year old trying to juggle watermelons. So he tries to save it by bringing it together with a "touching" video he found on Internet. A few people were moved by this video and a few people got up and left.

Welcome to the Microwave Church

Easy, convenient, quick, and umm...healthy?

Those who were moved were enticed by the microwave church and I pray God opens your eyes to what I am going to say.

The microwave church is the "modern church" with all the bells and whistles. Bam! Preaching from the hip. Got to have the new music and throw it at the congregation like rice at wedding. So let's all sit back and watch the birds kill over as their stomachs explode. Got to have the latest books for group study and there's no need to bring your Bible because we'll have everything on the wide screen hi-def projector. Yea we had to move the Holy Cross over to the side for the screen but that's okay since it's for the best. Oh, if you don't know the words to the songs they will also be displayed on the projectors for you to lip sync to since you don't know the music.

I find that projectors work best in low light conditions and I'm going to say it...you can put that projector where the sun don't shine.

I'm telling you the truth. People don't even need a Bible at church so why should they have one at home? It's all reprinted on copy machines and displayed on cloth hung from the walls. Read your bible they say but not everyone has a projector at home. Come to the altar to pray for your soul they plead. They are off to the sides since it wasn't convenient having them in front of the pulpit.

The church ends up being a country club of self righteous people starving for truth but can't find it because they have been lead astray by the microwave atmosphere. Soon they all start to leave to find something new and filling. That fullness lies with the Father in the basic strengths of Christianity we have so long forgotten. We trim our services down to let out the same time as applebees opens. We don't hold sunday night services and we don't cater to anyone over 30. But if you're a teenager beg mom and dad for some offering money because we'll need it. Just tell them their not invited unless they want to help struggle with hyperactive microwaved kids.

3000 years ago my Lord and Saviour suffered on a cross and he was wrapped in cloth and laid in a grave and 3 days later rose again. 3000 years ago disciples facing death and persecution wrote down the gospels on papyrus paper and it survived being transcribed over and over again against all tyrants and uncountable odds to this very day. And now our church devalues it to the point it's only a short lived image on the wall where the cross used to hang.

Read what Jesus Christ said and see if I am wrong.

Matthew 23

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "

Mark my word - Your church is going to fall into dust if you continue to abandon the word of God and push aside the Holy for a modern microwave church.

Speaking of touching videos - here's one my brother sent me that was chain mailed to him. Oddly enough it fits exactly what I said.

Stones for God

Luke Chapter 9 verse 57

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him (Jesus), "I will follow you wherever you go."

Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

He said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

It pains me to see people paid to do things in the service of God when right here we are told "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Of course the pastor needs to be paid. The pastors family must be clothed, sheltered, fed, and given money to further the works of God. Money has to be spent on materials to further education. There are times when something is beyond a persons financial ability and they need help with giving their services to God. For example, a Sunday school teacher is financially burdened weekly and can't afford juice drinks and small snacks and projects for her toddlers.

But understand, Jesus chased the money dealers and vendors out of the church because of their money making schemes. In this very day there are churches paying people to play the piano. Yes the piano that little Cindy has been practicing for years. While God has poured out blessings on many of his children with the gift of playing the piano and none of them will adore him with it.

We pay businesses to come fix leaky faucets and mow lawns. We pay people to run a vacuum around the pews. We pay people to wash windows and take out the trash. All from the money we put into the offering plate.

Who dare sell their soul to the devil in order to serve God?

Wake up, because it's being done every single day in nearly every single church.

Why would I mention all this and that Bible passage?

Because people need to understand if you can't put the greed of this world behind you to serve, then you can't serve God the Father. You ask to be paid for your service when Christ's very precious blood poured from his wounds to cleans your soul. He paid for your sins to set you free from the iron grip of death and eternal damnation. And you want what?

So you pay your tithes. Yet you have so much more to give and you know you owe it and you know you can never repay it. Because Jesus Christ gave it freely to you - for you and all you have to do it accept it and repent. Priceless Love.

Every single person on the face of this planet should be singing for joy for the love the Father has shown.

Every gifted person who can play an instrument should be playing a song for Christ.

Every single person that can cook should be preparing loaves for the thousands who serve him.

Every single person that has love for children should be showing the compassion and understand Christ did and teach them of our Saviour.

Everyone has something they can give with great joy back to God.

Everyone everywhere should thank God for his righteousness, compassion, grace, mercy, love, patience, peace, justice, his understanding, and even his wrath against his enemies.

Acknowledge and understand his awesome power and strength and that he created Heaven and Earth.

Yet here we are...

offering stones to God.

Wake up. It's a honor and a blessing to serve God. To bruse knees from pulling weeds and not from carrying the cross. To sweat nothing more than water and not blood from flesh torn. To get a scrape from trimming a rose bush and not a crown of thorns. To cry tears from a smashed thumb and not from the pain of mankinds bitter hatred.

So put away those stones and offer yourself for once and be that light unto others.

Fate of a dead man

You've seen it on the news recently. Late Term Abortion Doctor Dr. George Tiller took up offering while his wife sang hymns in the church choir. George passed the plate to a man who instead of pulling out money pulled a gun and took George's life.

Sad, some of you may say. A loving father and husband his family says. A welcomed guest in Heaven they both say. Read what his friends and family say about Dr. Tiller:

His son, Maury, said the manner of his father's death resulted in an unimaginable outpouring of love and support for the family.

But he added: "I struggle with the manner he was welcomed into heaven."

"Dear God, get heaven ready, because Mr. Enthusiasm is coming," said Larry Borcherding, of Overland Park, who first met Tiller a half-century ago when both were students at the University of Kansas. "Heaven will never be the same. It will be a better, better place with George in it.".

The slaying of the 67-year-old doctor is "an unspeakable tragedy," his widow, four children and 10 grandchildren said in statement. "This is particularly heart-wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace."

Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline said in a written statement. "We join in lifting prayer that God's grace and presence rest with Dr. Tiller's family and friends."

Jesus said “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God “

The fact is...

George Tiller is in Hell.

All the love in the world this man gave and received from his family couldn't save him.

All the friends he gained couldn't keep the devil at bay.

The money he put in the offering plate couldn't buy him grace or forgiveness.

Serving in church only served to condemn him.

Blasphemer and hypocrite, a man who clearly defied God.

Self labeled Christan, stamped murderer.

He took the very living breath of God, tore it piece by piece from the womb and threw in into the garbage along with his soul. What God did he fashion that would make him think this was okay?

If you do evil all the good things count for nothing. Priest that molest children and doctors that abort babies both will feel the wrath of a Just and Mighty God.

Everyone needs to understand, Nothing can get you into heaven unless you truly repent of evil ways and whole heartedly accept Jesus Christ as your savior. Love and honor God. Love and honor each other.

Dr. Tiller did not understand this and now he is paying for his sins.

You're still here, alive in this moment. The choice is yours. Love God and live with him in peace and grace or refuse him and love the world. Just know, if you choose the world, when you die what governs the world will govern your eternal soul. What that opponent of God chooses to do is not God's choice.

A Girl It Is!

Lydia Nicole Hayes 

22.5" Long 7lbs 6oz.

Grace

This week has been an extreme of emotions. I returned home Monday after being deployed for 4 months to the Middle East. I met my wife, who is due today to deliver our baby, and my Mom and Dad at the airport. We've had a pretty good time this week with my younger brother coming to visit us while we waiting on my daughter to be born. All was good, that was until my mom received a call from my older brother. My mom came into the kitchen, very shaken, distressed and crying.

My brothers ex-wife had committed suicide.

She left behind her son, who is in my brothers custody, and a baby boy she had from a later relationship.

We all knew she was under attack, trapped in a spiritual battlefield. She was incredibly beautiful and very smart with a loving husband but somehow drugs and alcohol found it's way into her life. Even at the cost of loosing her husband and son she couldn't escape the bonds of addiction.

Prayer after prayer was prayed.

Honestly I don't know how to take this. Suicide and thou shall not kill.

I remember visiting my brother and her when they moved back to the USA from Germany. She was a great cook and always had something baking in the oven or cooking on the stove. A beautiful infant boy with sandy blond hair and a stupid little dog. Not long later my brother left the military and moved to Memphis where they bought a brand new home. She got a job as a dental assistant and my brother worked for a large company. I don't know where it started but like with me it started small. Jealousy and envy. Distrust and suspicion. What lies beneath the enticing veal of sin? Very hard, incredibly hard feelings to deal with in a marriage.

Blind we all stood while thieves took her from right in front of us.

Satan has no love for my family. He had always worked hard against my parents, my brothers, and me. When my older brother understood he was called to preach a Satanist came up against him and threated his life. My brother was protected by his decision to follow God. When I was at my event horizon Jesus Christ pulled me from the very edge and saved me from death and here I am today because of my decision to follow God and help others. Satan couldn't have us so he attacked where he could and found ground in her to try and hurt us. 

We all know a strong demon had control over her and pushed her into depression and addiction. She left and couldn't listen to anyones plea because he had made her deaf and hard. I prayed for God to bind these spirits, it was all I could do. To allow her to make her choice but the body was slave to the world. Freedom was but a whisper that she couldn't hear. Death coaxed her and fooled her, freedom was falsified to her.

Death isn't the Victor here. Oh no, not here.

Christ alone defeated death and He now holds the keys to death and hell. He is the judge, not me and not you. 

Did she go to hell? 

I don't believe this because I know Jesus Christ holds those very keys. She suffered horribly at the hands of Satan and it's one of Jesus's greatest qualities to pick up those who suffer and to give them grace beyond our understanding. He is her father and in this moment he knows her heart.

God Bless Melissa, Show her grace and the love she so deeply needs now that she is in your hands. Amen.

The Great Intercession

Can you imagine the conversation between God and the Son standing on the shores of heaven on the day he created man? Looking forward into time, before the first breathe had been drawn into human lungs, knowing what was going to happen.

I can see that it was very quiet, very somber moment when God had come to his decision. Seeing how mankind turned away from their own creator. Violence, greed, jealousy, full of lust and hate. God was grieving. He gave Adam life only to see them fall away. There Noah stood with his family as God closed the doors of the massive ship. One man and One God. The heavy door slammed shut with a resounding echo ending the first era of man. The slate wiped clean. “Only one man worthy.” God said as the flood waters poured from the heavens.

Generations would be born and generations would pass away from the seed of Noah. God the father would hand down commandments in effort to help guide his people on how to live. “Love each other. Honor each other. Love and Honor me.” What more or what less did the 10 commandments say? Again the people turned away because they worshiped the stone the words were written on and not the one who made them. The rocks would sing out instead.
They lusted for the created but they did not love the Creator. They worried more about keeping each other under the law than keeping the law. They couldn't understand that the law wasn't for the righteous to follow but to show them where they sinned. God gave the law to Moses and no sooner had the dust settled from their tents when the people turned away. Furious and filled with anger God was going to burn them all into ash when Moses interceded and saved the fallen nation of Israel.

What is so incredibly hard to understand about a spiritual God? God didn't want what he created worshiped! Not even a idol to represent God is acceptable to him. If you pray to a cross and hold on it for protection you created a idol from the cross. We are given strength through faith and we believe by faith in God. When a person kisses the feet of a statue they made a idol. The children of Israel couldn't understand this. You can understand, it's not the cross that is holy, it's not the church that is holy, it's not the water that is holy, it's not the wine or bread that is holy.

Only Jesus Christ and Father God are Holy!

But the people were more worried about pleasing and impressing each other than listening and praising God. Are the doves white and the lamb perfect? Is the gold Jewish or Roman? Too much time preparing the dinner and not enough time preparing the soul. Darkness surrounded those who tried to light the world with lamps that held no oil.
Jesus Christ stood there with his father, again on the shores of heaven, knowing, on the day he created man.

God was going to wipe everyone out one last time. You know it was there. God was so upset with man. No man was worthy. Time and time again he reached down feeding the hungry, healing the sick, provided warmth to the cold, and drink to the parched. Pulled his people from Egypt and gave them his Holy land. A covenant failed. No one was worthy. It was there in that moment that the knowing became.

Father! What people refuse to see!

In a whisper...

“I will.”

Perhaps those are the two most important words ever spoken in all the universe.
The greatest intercession ever made. Even before Adam drew in his first breath.
God the Father, Jesus Christ his Son, knowing everything, still found you worthy.

Waking Easter

Easter Sunday I woke up early to pay my respects to Jesus for what occurred that day some 1,971 years ago. I picked up my Bible and read the judgment, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ in Matthew and Mark. For a moment think about what's going on here. See what's going on here.

 

Jesus Christ has been removed from the cross and put into the freshly cut tomb given to him by the disciple Joseph. A large stone was rolled in front of the tomb and a sealed placed on it by the Romans. The priest who had Christ crucified placed 2 guards at the tomb out of fear that someone would take his body and claim he had risen.

 

Christ died on a Friday afternoon and was placed in the tomb before the Sabbath which was Saturday. That next day, Sunday, his family was able to return to the tomb to take proper care of his body. I can imagine it was a sobering morning, very quite, little said, little eaten. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James both knew this would be the last time they would be able to touch or see Jesus. They gathered perfumes, oils, and cloth to clean his beaten body. They gathered their things and placed them in a basket and opened the door to walk outside. Today was a particularly beautiful day but they didn't see this because they had other things on their heart today. They walked together through the city streets holding each others hand knowing they would have to look upon a man they deeply loved beaten, bruised, cut. They would have to clean his blood from wounds inflicted by those who didn't know him. They would wipe the spit and dirt that had dried and still stuck to his face. They would clean him and wrap him one final time.

 

As they walked towards the tomb their heads would have hung low. Their eyes fixed on the ground only a few small steps ahead of them. They walked down the path and to the potters field. Mary and Mary Magdalene came around the turn and seen the two soldiers laying on the ground as if they just fell over. "Are they dead?" one would ask the other. "I don't know." she would reply. The stone in front of the tomb had been roll back and they seal torn. Inside a brilliant shimmering light was spilling onto the walls. Like a mother protecting their child they rushed forward to protect their Jesus. But there sitting on the stone where Jesus was to be laying was a man in white that glowed like lightening. "I know who you are looking for. But Jesus is not here.He has risen!"

 

Both of the women would of fell on their knees now knowing with no doubts who Jesus was. "Go back to the others and tell them Jesus waits for them in Galilee and it's there they will see him." So they ran knowing. KNOWING. Jesus is the son, the living son of God.

 

There they were 1,968 years ago, not knowing and believing. It wasn't until he died and defeated death did they know. Doubt was destroyed and faith reigned. Here we are now with the word of God complete and knowing exact what Jesus is and what he wants from us. It isn't a basket with perfumes and oil that he wants from us. It's our friends and family. Our neighbors, the sick, the outcast, the proud, and the scorned. Jesus didn't suffer, die, and defeat the undefeated one for the saved but for the sinners. 

Now You Know. 

I Confess It

I believe with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul in God the Creator, the loving Father, the Intelligent Designer, the Warrior, my God my Savior. He is all knowing, all loving, all caring, all things to me. In everything I see his hands. He is strength beyond strength, Love beyond love, hope beyond hope, light were no darkness can hide, Truth a lie can not deny. He is my everything. I see him and hear his voice in all languages and all sounds in all sights in all of my senses. God is very real I can't deny it. Jesus Christ is God's Son. Sent from heaven to save mankind from their own self destruction. I can see him with my heart. I can feel him with my hands. I know he is real and more evident than the air I breath.

He's the one who gave the birds the beauty of flight. He is the one who told the clouds to rain down on the fields. Who put the color in the flowers but God? Life can not come from dust and water. Only through the divine breath of God can creation exist. He put the stars in the heaven and set them all in motion. God is so obvious don't run from what is so clearly in front of you.

Things that don't work

What is it with the things we keep around that don't work or get used? When I was growing up I bought a bunch of fishing lures. One of those lures worked really well and I would catch a lot of fish on it. I had other lures that looked really fancy and cost a pretty penny but I couldn't catch anything on them. I tried using worms of all shapes and sizes, stink baits, chicken liver, corn. All sorts of things but it was always this one lure that caught all the fish. But still I kept all the worthless lures thinking they might come in useful one day. Then the day came that I had to move and I gave them all away. Many never catching a single tiny fish.

A few years later I was getting back into archery and I bought a couple really nice bows and all the extras. I was living in Oklahoma at the time and was planning on doing some deer hunting up north. I got orders to Hawaii and my bows never got the chance to bag me a deer. A few years later I was moved to England and I had a fire that burned up everything I had in my garage. I wasted a lot of money on things that never worked or got used as I expected. So today I was walking to the base community center to get on the internet and I got to thinking about all this stuff that I put a lot of work into buying and lost.

So anyways I was thinking....

If you had a car that only ran 10% of the time would you keep it?
If you had a lawn mower that only worked when it was cold what good would it do you in the summer heat?
If you had a lazy employee that only works 2 hours and got paid 8 hours would you keep him on?

Now for a different perspective-
What good are we to God if we don't work as he wants?
What good are we if we only "play" Christian on Sundays?
What good are we if we go our entire life and in our final moments decide to accept him?

I never want to go another day not serving God in every way I can.

God has put great value in you. So much that his own son died to protect us and pay for our sins. Shouldn't we give everything we are to repay him? Shouldn't we live everyday for the one who gave us life?

Christians respond please.

He's in a Whisper

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Where are you looking for God?

Standing in the fire

Think for a moment. When you stand aside from God you put yourself out of his sight. You make that choice for yourself because God gave us the free will to choose.

Your child looks up to you and if you love them and they love you, they will look to you for guidance. But when you made that choice, to live without God, you also bring your child with you out of God's sight. This is because your child will follow in your footprints. Your child will follow you into the darkness as long as you hold their hand and tell them it's alright. You tell your child, "Stand here Sweetheart, I'm going to let your hand go now. Ignore what the monsters look like, they will be your friends like they are mine." Before you argue age of accountiblity, you already know children are smarter to the world than they was a generation ago. They are heald accountable by God when they know wrong from right. Be it 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.

A man throws his child off a bridge into a river a hundred feet below. A mother drowns her kids one by one in the bathtub. Another shoots their children while they sleep and then kill themselves. We see these shocking stories happening everyday around the world. We can't possibly imagine this. It's beyond our worst and most hated nightmares. You know you would do anything and give anything to protect your child. I know I would take the worst the world could possibly offer to protect my kids.

Yet here you stand willingly putting your child into the hands of the one that hates you the most.

Do you really want to chance that?

You have the obligation to give your child the very best of everything you possibly can. Even if you choose not to believe in God, you have to give your child a chance to believe.

Thank God for the parents that give their children this choice even if they choose to stand in the fire.

Harlequin Novels - The Ultimate Romance Story

It was a funny thing the other day. I was sitting in a coffee shop sponsored by the chapel here on base. They have all sorts of books and a nice lounge area to sit down and read while enjoying a free cup of joe. I figured this might be a descent place to meet some other Christians in the military while keeping an informal atmosphere. After some time I noticed none of the people sitting down in here were reading Christian books at all. Actually, all the guys were reading Tom Clancy type books and all the gals were reading novels with men and women embraced in some field off in lala land. They like to read these books looking for happiness and romance. Perhaps trying to fill a void in their lives that they can't seem to find in reality.

So allow me to put before you the Ultimate Romance Book. Filled with life changing story that has damsels in distress, self sacrifice, love, and a man dying for an unloving world. It's readily available now at nearly every local book store. It's called the Bible.

I want you to truly understand the importance and love expressed in this book.

Luke 12:6
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

God even knows when even a tiny sparrow falls to the ground and he shows concern. To God, our value is so much more that he sent his very own son to save us. Would it be even remotely possible to send your son or daughter to suffer for another persons fate? Jesus Christ willingly bore all the pain and suffered for all the sins of this entire world that people carry with them every single day. He took that sin and paid the price of righteous justice that our perfect God requires. We can willingly accept that payment or choose to refused it. God gave us that free will to choose.

Understand- Jesus already paid for the sin. You do not have to be apart from God. You don't have to be lonely or afraid anymore. The check and been signed, sealed, and delivered! All you have to do is hold your hand out and hands opened wide. Are you ready? He is.

i just had then sent to me by a good friend and I added it here for you all.

Plan of Salvation:

1. Saved by grace through faith and not works:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (New International Version)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

2. Believe:

John 6:29

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

Acts 16:31

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned

3. Repent:

Luke 13:3-5

I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Acts 17:30

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

4. Confess Jesus Christ The LORD:

Matthew 10:32-33

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Romans 10:9-10

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

When everything changes

Look at the time on my watch. I took this photo on August 16, 2008. At 1:55pm CST. That was a Saturday. Little did I know that with in the next 12 hours a pivotal moment in my life was going to happen.
I know there was a reason God wanted me to take a photo of my watch on this day. It was a moment that would only happen once in my life, making a choice at a fork in the roadway of destiny.

In the next 14 hours I fought, with God at my side, against all things out to destroy my marriage. I had built a wall of sin that had divided our lives. Distrust. Dishonesty. Disloyalty. No matter what I said, no matter what I did, this wasn't a wall that I could climb over, crawl under, or push through. I called God for his help and it was then I realized that it wasn't a fight that I could win. God told me I had to surrender my weakness to him and he would take care of the rest. 10 hour after the time this photo was taken I turned my life over to Jesus and the pain of my sins were no more.

Over the next 4 hours I knelt next to my wife holding her hand while I prayed for my marriage to be saved. I know God was there because the weight of my sin was no more. I could feel a new purpose in my life. It was if God was pulling me through a very real fire that couldn't touch me. It was there that I was standing in the hands of a living God.

At 6 am my wife woke up and I broke open my soul to her revealing the very core of my heart. I humbled myself to her and laid every bit of my being on the line for one the final time. God stood there with us and healed our pain and suffering in the blink of an eye.

Thank you God.

What if...

Ok Guys and Gals.

A few questions for you all. In my last blog reply I mentioned I'd start a simple discussion question. lets his these one at a time.

What if you did believe in God, how would your life change?

Standing in the Hands of a Living God

Stop for another moment and look at the things you try to hide from your family and friends. Those magazines you have stashed in your closet. The video and pictures you have hidden on your computer. To God it's no secret. He's better than CIA at detecting what's really going on in your heart.

Hebrews 10:31 (New American Standard Bible)

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Can you imagine for a moment that if your heart stopped and you fell dead this very second, what you might face on the other side? What sins you try to hide from God. What doubt you have in his existence. What hate, envy, lust you harbor. How many times you have put God in last place? What do you think you can hide from your creator? Everything will be stripped away in the blink of an eye.

Some of you think God doesn't exist but are you really just afraid to acknowledge that there is a higher power you could be held accountable to? What is so horribly wrong and so severely binding with believing?

I'm sorry I don't have a lot to say here today. But just ponder for today what it's going to be like, to fall into that hands of the living God.

Evolutionary Divide Theory

Animals are ruled by the laws of nature and experience evolutionary changes through the guidance of natural selection and adaption. This is what Darwin came to understand in his Theory of Evolution. I can accept that based on a number of details contained with in the Bible.

On the other hand modern man does not fall into this category because he was created in the likeness of God. A God who does not change.

Let's look at the scriptures below: Green needs to be paid special attention to. Blue is God talking.

Genesis 1:11-13 (New International Version)

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

Genesis 1:20-23

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

Genesis 1:24-25

And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

God had established the rules by which everything was to be played out. Plants on dry land, plants in the oceans. Birds, fish, and animals both sea and land. Then God created man.

Genesis 1:26-27

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

There we can see a big difference "according to their kinds" and "in his own image" that difference shows a divide in the design of animal and man. This scripture also uses man in a plural form sense when the scripture reads "and let them rule..." which tells me multiple humans are existing.

Now simply speaking time is only relevant to the place you are standing and how you measure it. According to Einstein it was. His theory of time slowing down or speeding up is based on the amount of gravity and several other things that are present in his General Theory of Relativity. God was there before the creation, so time was based on his "God clock" not the Earth's 24 hour day that we use. So anyone that lays claim that the Earth was created 6000 Earth years ago is pretty much wrong, even in the eyes of the Bible. Read this:

Psalm 90:4

For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8 (New International Version)

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

God is not bound by time like we are. If you look at this link below it show evidence of humanoid creatures that date back before the Bible indicates. The God Clock solves this problem of carbon dating.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/o.html

I'm not sure if Moses was trying to do some back dating or fine tuning because the eraser wasn't invented yet but we see some additional information being added here in Genesis Chapter 2.

Genesis 2:4

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-

Genesis 1:26-27 talk about the creation of man as a species. Then we have the creation of Adam in Genesis 2:7. But why? My guess would be this creation was special.

Genesis 2:7

The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being

"the man" and "his nostrils" implies one man was made. A single person, a special person. But just previously we seen in Genesis 1:26-28 man was already formed. Again we're on God time so understand the Bible shows man already existed in form when Adam was specially created. I wasn't there 5000 years ago when the Bible was being written and later assembled. But to me, if Genesis reads in chronological order, it shows that the human race already existed when the perfect Adam was created. Cain, who is Adam's son, after he kills his brother says...

Genesis 4:14

"Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."

He feared others might kill him because other humans had already been on the land.

Genesis 4:17

Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch

Again, I'm no expert but to read the Bible with the understanding of God's clock and Genesis being in chronological order. We can say Cain's wife was already on planet Earth.

With this understanding that there was TWO lines of humans, One created with a divine purpose and another already living under the laws of nature.

My theory is, God wanted to create another human race one that had direct contact with their creator. Because the first humans were not doing well with the guidance of nature. I imagine God seen a greater potential in humans so he created Adam. Otherwise they were basically just another animal in the great circle of life. (Que the lion king music.) Not long after the creation of second humans God destroyed the entire world in the great flood. To wipe the humans and early creations away who failed to come to God through Adam and Eve. The creations who knew God personally.

This leaves lots of open questions on God's will and power. I've got theories on those that fit into this scenario. More to come, but not in this post.

GOD FIRE, Do you have it?

(This is a continuation of the previous post)
I was sitting in church and during the sermon this popped in my head. I had to poke the wife to give me a pen to write this down. It makes sense to me, I just hope it makes sense to you.

GOD FIRE, Do you have it?


GOD
First-preceding all others in time, order, or importance.

Intercession-Prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another; the act of interceding.

Requires-to demand as necessary or essential : have a compelling need for.
Effort-conscious exertion of power; hard work; a serious attempt.

We have to put God FIRST in our lives. We have to get past, go around, get over, put aside, ignore, rebuke, anything little or big that puts God in any other place that first. That means if we have bills that are stretching every penny to the limits we can't spend day and night worrying about this. If giving an offering conflicts with the funds on new stereo system then you best give your offering before putting down money on the stereo. You should keep your mind clear to were every moment you can praise God for what he has given you. If you can't do that right this second then you need to check yourself.

Next we have to be willing to go out and make an intercession with friends, family, and strangers. WITNESS to those people that need Christ. It's not something up to debate. Jesus told us to go unto all the world and spread his word. It was his commandment.

Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Marcos 16:15
Y les dijo: "Vayan por todo el mundo y prediquen el evangelio a toda criatura.

God requires us to make a purpose driven effort to spread the Word of Jesus. It is essential for the lost to hear it so they may be saved. We save them from Hell by spreading Jesus's perfect love. Let them know God doesn't want them to go to hell. Nor does He want them to be slaves to his will. There is freedom in Christ and it may be only by demonstration in you that they may find it.

And we must do this with serious effort. It's something we have to be willing to do at any moment of the day. Share when you are in line at McDonald's or sitting down eating lunch at work. You can be sharing God's word from under your welding helmet like my mother did. I found 2 doorways opened to me yesterday with coworkers You have to make an effort to do this all the time. If anything gets it the way you better fix why God isn't first.

Now ask yourself...

GOD FIRE, Do you have it?

How hot are you?

So I was thinking about how many churches are on fire for God. People show up Sunday morning and have a quite well organized service. They don't want to upset anyone or really bring anyone new in. They sing a few songs and pass around the offering plate. Then let out at 12:00 sharp because they have a roast in the oven. Might as well attend a PTA meeting.




Then you have some churches that are really big but try to cater to everyone they can because there is strength in numbers. They preach good heart warming sermons to keep the numbers up because heating bill won't pay themselves. They have huge and impressive buildings the tower over the streets below. But then, the numbers are so great nobody knows anyone unless they happen to live in the same neighborhood or work at the same place.





Some Churches are on the brink. One single person could speak up with a "Praise the lord!" and the place could burst into a wonderful melody of glorious praise for a short time. They are close to being exactly what the church needs to be but can't quite grasp the plan God put before them. Sort of lost most of the time, wandering looking for the right path.





Then you have the less common Church that radiate the heart of God. You can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in these places. You almost want to fall on your knees or jump with delight here. Almost everyone sings. Almost everyone prays. The youth are on fire inside the church but tend to be someone else outside and everyone else leaves God at the door.




These rare churches are packed with fire billowing out the door. God can not be contained here. He's spoken of with reverence and praise. The youth are on fire the congregation never want to leave. They work constantly to reach out to the lost. It's not about the building or saving face. They have found that true purpose of the church is not to be contained with in the walls but to be out searching for the lost. So easy to obtain because this is what God wants!

Jeremiah 23:29

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Jeremías 23:29

¿No es mi palabra como un fuego,dice Jehová, y como un martillo que quebranta la piedra?

Check yourselves. If you don't feel the power of God in your life every waking and sleeping moment you need to core focus. We all as Christians should be showing the fire in our souls openly to everyone on the face of this planet. We should be overjoyed at Church.

God give me the boldness and strength to show my fire to everyone! Amen. I know it's hard and I am fighting my own limitations that I place on myself. And for those who know me in person, know this time is now. I have promised to push forward for Jesus Christ. God is first.