Monday, July 28, 2014

SELF-DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF SIN


Radio personality Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is horrible, yet it offers insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin.

"First the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood & allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood & another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood."

"Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. When the wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent & discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more & more vigorously."

"So great becomes his craving for blood that the wolf does not notice the razor- sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue, nor does he recognize the instant at which his unquenchable thirst is being satisfied by his own warm blood. His appetite just craves more - until the dawn finds him dead in the snow."

It is a fearful thing that people can be "consumed by their own lusts." - Chris T Zwingelberg.

Js 1:14 says: "But we are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires."

Gal 5:16 says: "So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves."

Saturday, July 26, 2014

AN ATHEIST AND A CHRISTIAN FARMER


Two men owned farms side by side. One was a bitter atheist,
the other a devout Christian.

Constantly annoyed at the Christian for his trust in God, the atheist said to him one winter, "Let’s plant our crops as usual this spring, each the same number of acres. You pray to your God and I’ll curse him. Then come October, let’s just see who has the bigger crop."

When October came, the atheist was delighted because his crop was large.
"See, you fool," he taunted. "What do you have to say for your god now?"

"My God," replied the other farmer "doesn’t settle all his accounts in October." (googleusercontent.com).

"The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy" (Psa 145:8).

"He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust" (Mat 5:45).

"But everyone who rejects me and my teachings will be judged on the last day by what I have said." - Jesus (Jn 12:48).
  

Monday, July 14, 2014

THE RICHEST MAN IN THE VALLEY


A rich landowner named Carl often rode around his vast estate so he could congratulate himself on his great wealth. One day, while riding around his estate on his favorite horse, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer. Hans was sitting under a tree when Carl rode by.

Hans said, "I was just thanking God for my food." Carl protested, "If that is all I had to eat, I wouldn't feel like giving thanks."

Hans replied, "God has given me everything I need, and I am thankful for it."

The old farmer added, "It is strange you should come by today because I had a dream last night. In my dream a voice told me, 'The richest man in the valley will die tonight.' I don't know what it means, but I thought I ought to tell you."

Carl snorted, "Dreams are nonsense," and galloped away, but he could not forget Hans' words: "The richest man in the valley will die tonight."

He was obviously the richest man in the valley, so he invited his doctor to his house that evening. Carl told the doctor what Hans had said. After a thorough examination, the doctor told the wealthy landowner, "Carl, you are as strong and healthy as a horse. There is no way you are going to die tonight." Nevertheless, for assurance, the doctor stayed with Carl, and they played cards through the night.

The doctor left the next morning and Carl apologized for becoming so upset over the old man's dream.

At about nine o'clock, a messenger arrived at Carl's door. "What is it?" Carl demanded.
The messenger explained, "It's about old Hans. He died last night in his sleep." - (biblicalfoodlaws.com)

Jas 2:5 (GW) says: “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn't God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?”

1Ti 6:17 (CEV) says: “Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life.”

Friday, July 11, 2014

STUART HAMBLIN


Stuart Hamblin was a popular singer, songwriter, actor and radio personality from the 1930s through the 1950s.

Billy Graham came to Los Angeles in 1949 for what became an historic evangelistic crusade arranged by Youth for Christ. Graham's appearance on Hamblin’s radio show was arranged as part of the publicity for the crusade.

Although Hamblin was known for his hard living and drinking, he warmly welcomed Graham as a guest. It was at that interview that Graham extended an invitation to Hamblin to attend the crusade and he accepted. Hamblin later contacted Graham at his hotel and asked to talk. The result was that he "surrendered his life to Christ." Hamblin’s became the first publicized conversion from the 1949 crusade and contributed to the decision to extend the event, which lasted for 8 weeks.

It was on a street in Hollywood that Hamblin later ran into actor John Wayne, who asked him about the rumor around town that he'd changed his ways. Hamblin told Wayne that it was no secret what God had done for him and that he could do it for Wayne too. Wayne said it sounded like a song and suggested he write one. The result was one of Hamblin’s best known tunes; It Is No Secret What God Can Do (sung by Jim Reeves too). It was a crossover song that is regarded as the first to have been #1 in the gospel, country, and pop categories. (truthorfiction.com)

2Ti 2:21 (ESV) says: “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

DO WHATEVER JESUS TELLS YOU!


There was a man who had a dream. He heard God speaking to him. "Press hard against the large rock". He did not understand this until the morning. He looked out from his hut and saw a huge rock that had rolled down the hillside.

He began to push and push, but he could not move the rock. Throughout the day he had several attempts, but he could not move it. Convinced that God had spoken to him, he made a mission of this task and for weeks he spent some hours every day but he could not budge the rock.

A traveler came by and asked him what he was doing. "God told me to move this rock" he replied. The traveler laughed and said, "You must be mistaken. You will never move a rock that large". Still the man continued his attempts to move the rock without success.

Another traveler came by some weeks later and asked what he was doing."God told me to move this rock" he replied. The traveler scorned him and said, "Your God is stupid to ask such a thing. It is impossible. Give up".

That night the man turned to God in his prayer. "Lord, I have done what you asked, but the task is impossible and it seems you have made fun of me. The travelers have mocked me for believing that I could move the rock as you asked me to do".

Then God spoke gently to him "My son. Look at your strong arms and legs; look at the rippling muscles in your back; look at the tanned hardness of your skin. Look at your increased strength. Look what has happened to you. You are a different man! I asked you to press against the rock and this you have done. I never told you to move it!"

Everything God asks us to do is for our own good. Even if at the time we do not see it. (2jesus.com)

Joh 2:5 (CEV) says: Mary then said to the servants, "Do whatever Jesus tells you to do."

“If it were in the will of God, I’d plant an oak tree today, even if Christ were coming tomorrow.” - Martin Luther.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

CONTENTMENT


A story is told of a king who was suffering from a mysterious malady & was advised that he would be cured if the shirt of a contented man was brought for him to wear. After a long search, they found a man who was really happy, but he did not even possess a shirt.

Then Jesus told them, “Be careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person’s life doesn’t consist of the amount of possessions he has.” (Lk 13:15).

"The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right."

Paul said: "... I have learned to be content in any circumstance." (Phil 4:11).

Thursday, July 3, 2014

COHABITATION


One woman wrote: I wish I could tell every young adult that you truly will reap what you sow. Cohabitation (live-in relationship) may seem wonderful initially, but eventually it creates more problems than you can imagine.

I lived with my boyfriend for two years before we got married. I knew I was breaking my parents’ hearts, as well as my Heavenly Father’s heart! My boyfriend was not a Christian, but I figured I could change him if we moved in together.

The “this-is-yours, that-is-mine” mentality that enabled us to “successfully” live together completely unraveled once we got married. We had become too separate and too selfish, making it nearly impossible to become “one flesh.” The honeymoon was over before the wedding day ever arrived. - Josh McDowell’s book: ‘Right from Wrong.’

“Cohabitation is a near occasion of sin, gives scandal to others, provides a cover for fornication and involves the couple living as if married when they are not. We can't assume couples placed in such tempting circumstances would stay chaste.

You don't need to live with someone to know whether they get on your nerves or not, that is as far as I am concerned a weak excuse used by people who want to enjoy the married lifestyle without making the commitment and sacrifices of actually been married.

And once they are enjoying the married lifestyle without actually getting married, they very often quickly come to the conclusion that there is no need to actually ever get married.” (Forum on Cohabitation).

Heb 13:4 says: “Let marriage be held every way in honor, and the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers will God judge.”