Hands on the Scales

Television can be a great tool for education. With over 1000 channels, people are constantly amused and amazed. With offerings from drama to comedy, one medium has proven to be a perennial favorite year-in; year-out. The animal channel! Animals filmed in the wild hold a unique fascination that cannot be explained. And of all the animals that fascinate us, there is none that command our undivided attention more than reptiles; specifically snakes.

Why? Maybe it goes back to the very beginning. In the Garden of Eden, where everything was perfect; the beautiful flowers, the blooming trees, it must have been overwhelming. Can you imagine the sight of all those colors, the fragrances, the luscious fruit on the branches; and all of it created for Adam and Eve's enjoyment? What could possibly go wrong?

The Biblical story of perfection is interrupted by a visitor to the Garden. Scripture records in Genesis that the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God made. Perhaps Eve did not realize animals could not speak. It didn't matter, Eve was not alarmed. After the serpent deceived Eve and God heard the entire story, judgment fell on Adam and Eve, the serpent, and the whole creation!

As a result, the beautiful and crafty serpents' very form and movements were altered. He would now crawl on his belly and eat dust, as a sign of humiliation. As we read the first recorded story of snake handling, we see God handling the situation with poetic justice! We should remember that animals are wild for a reason! Beware all reptiles.

“…pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.”

Numbers 21:7

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Apply Pressure … Slowly

Pressure comes in many forms; anger, fear, apathy, pain, loss, disconnection, change and a multitude of other issues. These factors change who we are. Things that happen to us on the outside affect us on the inside, sometimes scarring for life. We cannot analyze every minute of our life to fix things. We are constantly trying to internalize information, data, and experiences to adept. We don’t have to go aimlessly or mindlessly through life’s events without choices and decision-making processes. We can learn from our mistakes; just “don’t go there” and “don’t do that” anymore. Control your will-power. Make no mistake about it, mistakes are forgiven. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."  John 8:11 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remember your sins no more”. Isaiah 43:25  Jesus didn't condemn the woman accused of adultery, but neither did he ignore or condone her sin.  He told her to leave her life of sin.  Jesus stands ready to forgive any sin, but confession and repentance mean a change of heart. With God's help we can accept Christ's forgiveness and reject sin.

Everyone the world over understands pressure. From money lenders squeezing the helpless with high interest to the haves dangling life’s essentials over the have-nots. It’s not pretty, but in some bizarre twisted tortured way, people have found a way to survive, even thrive. If there wasn’t any pressure, those lumps of coal would never turn into diamonds. Without pressure, some people wouldn’t know what they could and couldn’t do in life. Those who become quadriplegics, those who lose their sight, those who lose a child, those who lose everything to a fire, those who get Alzheimer’s disease, and countless others who suffer in the extreme, discover the grace of God in ways others can only wish for.

God’s grace is free to everyone, but the pain that life distributes unevenly, allows some people an opportunity to obtain an extra helping. If you want the abundant grace that these people are clothed in, all you have to do is pray that God will send a blue ribbon calamity to you personally. What - you’d like the abundant merciful grace without the pain and heartache? Anyone can obtain this abundant grace but please be mindful that this grace is not cheap. The Old Testament didn’t display very much grace. Why you ask? The Gospel of John tells us, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)

The Old Testament Law was a stern taskmaster. It was not kind and generous and forgiving -  it was harsh and the penalty for crossing the wrong line could prove deadly. Civilization was slowly moving towards extinction before Christ came. The pressure people felt from the religious rules and constrictions was turning people away from God. Instead of seeing God’s mercy, many were only seeing and remembering God’s stern side. When Jesus came he dialed down the pressure people were under and told them what God was really like and lived out the example daily. Becoming a “Christ-like” person pushed the Law into the background where it was soon replaced. A dispensation of grace eased the pressure. Thank God, He did it.

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Natural Disasters 101

Is there any shortage of natural disasters that you are aware of in this life?

Can you remember the disasters that have crashed violently thru your life? Disasters are the stock and trade of Satan, and in case you haven’t noticed, he is expert in his trade-craft. He seems to be refining his skills as the years inch forward. Have you noticed the so-called natural disasters are getting larger, more frequent, and more severe? Could they get worse?

Jesus said, “He (God) causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) If it starts to rain and you forgot your umbrella, is it God’s fault you get soaking wet?

Unfortunately, rain will continue to be a problem. In case you are looking for something additional to worry about, Matthew chapter 24 mentions a few other natural calamities due to arrive on the doorstep. Wars, nations will become enemies, famines will increase, earthquakes will be scattered, and that’s only a few items mentioned. Did the writer forget to mention solar flares, water shortages, volcanoes, melting polar caps, trade winds shifting their course, sinkholes, tsunamies, cyclones, hurricanes, pandemics, nuclear meltdowns, wildfires, and a hundred other boils on nature waiting to fester.    

The end times are rapidly approaching. You can’t be prepared for every twist of nature, or every twist of world politics, but you better be aware and know that the twists and turns the evil one, Satan, will place in your path to distract you from keeping your Creator first in your life. After you die you won’t have to give an account to the evil one.

Jesus gives a grim and accurate turn of events to come in Matthew 24. Perhaps some of the most disturbing warnings and predictions are the fact that false prophets and false Christ’s will appear and will deceive many. They will perform great signs and miracles that will make nature seem tame. Maybe, it’s time to start reading your Bible again for the first time.

You might want to read like your life depended on it – because it will!

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Calling to Unlock a Mystery

Are you easily amazed? Yes, no, maybe, sorta, kinda, naah. What’s it take for you to say Wow, that’s incredible! Does the birth of a baby rank high? Does the latest movie with epic cosmic special effects make you yawn? Are you becoming less and less impressed with the extraordinary and demanding the super-duper high-octane gee-whizzy spectaculoris? Has great news become merely interesting? Are you becoming immune to the super deluxe and impatiently waiting for “the voila”? Has your mental acuity been dulled by the sensation that bigger is better?

Let me ask you. Is a secret the same as a mystery? No. A secret is generally something at least one already knows (and will likely divulge it). On the other hand, a mystery is something or someone you can’t explain. What do you consider a mystery, or, a mysterious secret? Sherlock Holmes, DNA, UFO’s, political minds, what? There were some mysteries revealed in the New Testament, for example:

Ephesians 6:19 “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains”.

Mark 4:11 “The secret to the kingdom of God has been given to you”.

Colossians 2:7 “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches to complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”.

1Corinthians 2:7 “No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began”. (This secret mysterious wisdom was his offer of salvation to all people)

The Bible records an event that has never happened before and will never happen again. You may have heard the story when you were a kid but never allowed your left and right brain hemispheres to fully measure its impact.

Our journey begins in the Old Testament when Joshua follows in Moses’ footsteps. God had given the Israelites the Promised Land and Joshua was instructed to “deliver the goods”. Joshua was personally assigned the task of cleansing the land of idol-worshipping denizens. Some neighboring armies tricked Joshua into moving his entire army to Gibeon, but not God. He used the occasion to help Joshua achieve His ultimate goal.

After an overnight march, Joshua and his soldiers surprised and routed their enemies in an early morning attack at Gibeon. The enemy scattered and Joshua chased them in a lethal pursuit. About noon there were still enemy soldiers to deal with and Joshua didn’t want daylight to end before the job was done! He prayed a bold, amazing, audacious prayer, “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” And it did! For the better part of a day, the sun halted in the middle of the sky, refusing to budge on its normal course westward. Or maybe the earth stopped turning, making it appear that the sun had come to a halt. However you want to explain it, Joshua got several more hours of daylight to accomplish his task. God gave his servant, a diamond in the rough, the time he requested – to shine! :

The Lord has many things secret, and kept secret, but he has revealed to us, in the mysteries in his word, those that he wants us to have. Perhaps, instead of saying “I’ve got a secret” like the old TV program show hosted by Gary Moore, we should be proclaiming the mysteries that God has shown us, particularly the mystery of the Gospel.

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Deadly Hollow Points

Being a policeman is not easy. It never has been. Being a public servant is underrated. There’s the initial training, the apprenticeship with an experienced officer, and finally being a sentinel on your own. There’s no need to mention the danger, the long hours, the meager pay or the fact that the public doesn’t like being policed. Their training covers everything from handling domestic disputes to lawbreakers to hardened criminals. The job is unpleasant enough without the indignity of a court system that often works against their best efforts. It shouldn’t be mentioned that the man driving or walking the beat has to walk carefully between politics and the community expectations.

When the Romans controlled the areas around the Mediterranean, soldiers performed many of the tasks of the modern day policeman. They carried weapons, and were often called upon to enforce this or that ordinance. A judge or magistrate would settle matters legally, but there was often a call for a physical presence to calm any uprising or disturbances. Soldiers away from home for extended periods of time might occasionally use excessive force to get the job done. When Jesus was arrested and taken to Pilate for questioning, it was soldiers that did the apprehending and the escorting.

The men guarding Jesus mocked and beat him. They blindfolded Jesus and demanded, Prophesy! Who hit you? (Luke 22) When they brought Jesus before Pilate, the crowd began to accuse him, they fired deadly hollow points directly at Jesus.

We have found this man subverting our nation.

• He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar.
• He claims to be Christ, a King.
• He stirs up there people all over Judea by his teaching.
• They claimed Jesus was inciting the people to rebellion.

Shot after shot rang out but failed to pierce the mantel of Truth.

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A Diamond Out of The Rough ?

Please don’t get ‘A Diamond Out of The Rough’ confused with “A Diamond in The Rough”.  Huh?!  ‘A Diamond in The Rough meaning is someone (or something) that has hidden exceptional characteristics and/or future potential, but currently lacks the final touches that would make them (or it) truly stand out from the crowd. The phrase is metaphorical and relates to the fact that naturally occurring diamonds are quite ordinary at first glance, and that their beauty and value as jewels is only realized through the cutting and polishing process.  This is known as a jewel (diamond) found in a diamond mine.  We want to talk about someone who is of much greater value than even the “Hope” diamond.    

The Old Testament was one rough place to be living in – up to your neck!  Times were hard, people were hard, lives got broken, life was perilous. Isaac and his wife Rebekah had twin boys, and named them Jacob and Esau. The descendants of Esau, the Edomites, were in constant conflict with Israel, the descendants of Jacob. The Edomites rejected Moses’ request to pass through their land. They opposed King Saul, they fought against King David, and they hated King Solomon, and Jehoshaphat and Jehoram. For eight centuries they settled in Mount Seir, a mountainous region south of the Dead Sea. Their capital was Sela. If you’re a world traveler, you know the modern name of Sela is Petra. “The rose red city of Petra”. The only way to access Petra is through a narrow canyon with walls that are from 200 to 250 feet high. Some of the surrounding cliffs are 2000 feet high. The city of Sela was almost impregnable. The Nabataeans finally forced the Edomites to move to Idumea in southern Palestine. Herod the Great was an Edomite.

Some of the major battles against Jerusalem involved the Edomites. There were four major invasions of Jerusalem in O.T. times: (1) by Shishak, King of Egypt in 926; (2) by the Philistines and Arabians from 848-842; (3) by King Joash of Israel in 790; (4) by Babylon from 606-586.

The nation of Israel has had trouble with the nation of Edom from day one. The crimes of Edom are detailed in the Bible: (1) Edom stood and watched while Jerusalem was invaded; (2) Edom rejoiced when the people of Judah were taken captive by the Babylonians; (3) Edom participated in the sacking of Jerusalem; (4) and finally, Edom helped set up roadblocks to prevent the escape of the Jewish people!

Whatever happened to the once mighty Edomites? After all they did to torment the nation of Israel, what do you think happened to them? Edom’s punishment is not in the future, it has already given an accounting. There are no survivors today of the once mighty Edomites. See Isaiah 34:5-17.

Is the diamond Edom? Oh no! It is Obadiah, who records the fall of Edom!

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Full Coverage 24/7

Spreading the Gospel to the whole world today-is it possible? Tomorrow? Imagine all the obstacles to overcome. There are language barriers, cultural barriers, financial barriers, geographical barriers and ideological barriers. There has to be effective communications, a receptive audience, the proper dialect, political correctness, financial considerations and calculated time.

Don’t underestimate the warnings Jesus warned us about. In Matthew 24 He warned us about war and rumors of war. Famines, earthquakes, Christians being persecuted and killed, false prophets deceiving many, false Christ’s, lawlessness, and evil. In the end times the Lord says you will see an increase in frequency and intensity of disasters and deaths. On the Mount of Olives, the disciples asked Jesus for the sign of His coming and of the end of the age. Jesus’ first response was “Watch out that no one deceives you” Matthew 24:4. Problem is: When we look for signs we become susceptible to being deceived. The only sure way to keep from being deceived is to focus on Christ and His words. Don’t look for special signs and commentaries on The End Days…Look to Christ.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, somewhere in the world; someone is hearing the gospel. The earth has seen full coverage for some time now. There’s television, cable, radio, cell phones, I-pods, blackberries, PDA’s, 3G, 4G, Gee Whiz, newspapers, books, magazines, songs, word of mouth, movies, evangelists and missionaries all over the world are working to get ‘The Word’ out to beat the deadline. What deadline you ask? Simple; once critical mass is reached, Matthew 24:14 affirms “Then the end will come.” And when is that you ask?

The end

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Unequaled Power

  

It wasn’t fair and balanced. Nobody accused Jesus but the tension was thick. The whole story is in the Gospel of John chapter nine. A blind man had just been healed and his sight was restored one-hundred-percent! A man who had been born blind! This had never happened before in the history of the world. And the entire episode took place on a Sabbath Day! The religious leaders could have people “stoned to death” for working on a Sabbath Day.

The religious Pharisees asked the man born blind exactly what happen. The man told them exactly what happened and how it happened. The Pharisees weighed in on what Jesus did saying, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” The ‘enlightened ones’ were divided among themselves.

It just wasn’t fair and balanced. Jesus healed a blind man on the Sabbath without asking the Pharisees permission or approval! The Pharisees were distrusted and looked on with suspicion by the common people, while Jesus was gaining in popularity and reputation. The Pharisees had the power to excommunicate this blind man and his parents from worship and fellowship from the synagogue. All Jesus could offer the poor blind beggar was his sight, a renewed life and eternity with his Creator. Where was the balance?  Where was the fairness?

Something the Pharisees said was a real head-scratcher; they said, “We know this man is a sinner.” The healed blind man gave the best answer in return (probably ever). He said to the Pharisees, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” The Pharisees brought the man in to be questioned a second time. After a few condescending questions, the man realized they weren’t amazed, they were angered. He asked them, “Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” Guess what they did: they hurled insults at him and said, “How dare you lecture us!” The man refused to be coerced away from the plain fact he had been cured. Stick with the balanced Truth.

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Attention All Airheads R Ya List'n?

ATTENTION: ALL “AIRHEAD” CANDY CONFECTIONERS; THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU.

The definition of an airhead implies that there’s nothing upstairs but air in a subjects head.  More direct; nothing between the ears. Airheads are usually described as silly, unintelligible people.  Not with me?  Alright, here are a few descriptors Webster’s gives: scatterbrained, ditzy, dim-wit, goofy, lacking, dumb, and stupid. The type of airhead we have just pointed out is not to be confused with a military “Airhead” which symbolizes an area of hostile or enemy controlled territory secured by paratroopers or special air assault military forces.          

If you’re not an airhead, you have nothing to fear but fear it; and taxes.

If you’re thinking, “Do I know an airhead?” the answer is deficertainley.

If you’re thinking, “Am I an airhead?” please don’t panic, help’s available.

If you’re an airhead, please come take a seat down front and listen carefully.

Maybe we’d better define a little clearer what an airhead is and why they are so valuable.  An airhead is someone who has the appearance of being entirely normal but buried inside their deepest feelings and innermost thoughts are tons of baggage filled with “nothing”! They live for the moment, give no thought for tomorrow and worry if there will be TV and shopping in heaven. If these people are barely the equivalent of fruit flies, why are they so valuable?  That’s simple! Because God created them and God loves them and God wants them saved. It’s entertaining to watch their shallow simple lives, but God will hold others accountable to help those lost get found. You and I may be held accountable for not educating and helping these “airheads” find heaven. We strongly urge you to dust off your airhead detector, get out there, and start scanning.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

While Jesus was traveling through the region of Galilee, some concerned citizens confronted him about their concerns. Apparently some of Pilate’s soldiers had killed some of their fellow citizens while they were offering a sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem. This caused their blood to be mixed with the blood of the sacrifice. They were worried about the way they died. In so many words Jesus told them, it didn’t matter if they were “religious” or “airheads”. Jesus said, “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13) Jesus then told them AGAIN, “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13) The Gospel of John 3:16 tells us how ‘not to perish’.

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