January 2008 Archives

                   COMMANDS AND GRACE

   It is unfortunate that some religious teachers

      have placed the grace of God on the one

  side, and the commands of God over against

     it, thus making them antagonistic , and have

  taught that if a man obeys God's conditions of

     salvation he is not depending on the grace

  of God, and , that if he depends on God's grace

      the keeping of God's commands is

  of no matter of consequence. But the person

    not blinded by false theories sees in all of God's

  commands His grace or favor for man. God has

     shown man how to live; he has taught him

  the true philosophy of life. It is easy therefore,

     to see that man's hightst good and hapiness

  lies along the pathway of obedience to God.

"It is comforting to know that God has

 given us grace through faith (obedient faith)

that assures us of our salvation."--Byrl Brockman

                       ARGUMENTS OR OBEDIENCE

       Simplicity is the secret of seeing things clearly.

           A saint does not think clearly until  a

      long time passes, but a saint ought to see clearly

           without difficulty. You cannot think through

      spiritual confusion to make things clear; to make

           things clear, you must obey. In intellectual

      matters you can think things out,  but in

           spiritual matters you only think yourself into

      further wandering thoughts and more confusion.

           If there is something in your life upon which

      God has put His pressure, then obey Him in that

           matter. Bring all your "arguments... every

      thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"

           regarding the matter, and everything will

      become as clear as daylight to you. (2 Corinthians

          10;5). Your reasoning capacity will come later,

      but reasoning is not how we see. We see like

           children, and when we try to be wise we see

     nothing (see Matthew 11:25.).

•      -Even the smallest thing that we allow in our
• lives that is not under the control of the Holy
•       Spirit is completely sufficient to account
• for spiritual confusion, and spending  all of our
•       time thinking about it will still never make
• it clear. Spiritual confusion can only be conquered
•       through obedience. As soon as we obey, we 
• have discernment. This is humilating, because 
•      when are confused we know that the reason
• lies in the state of our mind. But when our natural
•      power of sight is devoted and submitted in
• obedience to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the very
•      power by which we perceive God's will, and
• our entire life is kept in simplicity."
• "It was never meant by God for Christianity to be complex."
•                                 (Byrl B. Brockman)

 .     

• s     
•  

                       PLAY IN A MUD PUDDLE

      God never said,"Cleaniness is next to Godliness".

   In fact you won't find that often repeated proverb

   anywhere in the Bible. Cleanliness may be hygienic

   and the social norm, but sometime it's

   good to go all out and and get right down dirty.

   If you have doubt, make a play date with a mud puddle.

     All you need is a steady rainstorm and a good, old

   fashioned dirt.  Then, invite some small children,

   spontaneous teenagers, or adventurous  adults to

   join the fun. When it comes to casting off convention

   and rediscovering a bit of childlike joy, the more the

   merrier. Once you've gethered the "dirty dozen"

   together (give or take five or ten) simply plop yourself

   in the middle of the biggest puddle you can find and

   invite your guest to do the same. Make mud pies.

   Give mud facials. Roll, shimmy, and scoot. Let the mud

   sllip through your fingers and squish between your

   toes. Giggles and groans are sure to follow.

   After you're thoroughly soaked and soiled, make

   the trek back home. Have a pile of old towels

   waiting for you at the door. If it's warm enough, you

   might hose off before going into the shower. (For    \

   some people, cleaning up may be more fun than

   getting dirty). After putting your clothes into the

   washer, invite your guests to get together and enjoy

   snacks and chat. No doubt the conversation will

   an interesting one after such a unique experience.

   There's nothing wrong with making a mess now and

   then--or even looking like one. And since it is unlikely

   that there will be any mud in heaven, you'll want sure

   be sure to frolic in the puddles here on earth while

   you have a chance. Then you may be less hesitant

   to take the next opportunity that could leave you hot,

   sweaty,dirty or dishveled. Who knows? That opportunity

   maybe the one that God has been anxiously waiting to

   bring your way.

                          A TIME TO LAUGH

    There was a time when grandpa used some short

      speeches to great effect. Evolution was beginning

      to affect the church---some for it  and others against it.

      A meeting of preachers was called in a distant

     (l00 miles) to consider the topic. Grandpa was invited

     to attend and speak. He was last on the program.

  Mounting the platform in his country way, he

    addressed them: "Fellow preachers, it is getting late,

    very late.much has been said, maybe too much. I

   don't know of anything I can say that will add to it.

   I am going to walk out of here, walk down the

   street and get a hotel room. Now there's not but 

  one question for the rest of you to decide;

  "Are you going to get a room or a tree?"

                        LIVE UP TO YOUR NAME

        "Your name is more than what you're known by. It is

           your calling card. You may like the way it rolls

          off your tongue   or wish your parents had been a

          little more, or less, creative in selecting your  

          personal name. Whatever your name happens to be,

          it has meaning.  Probably more than one, if you

          look at derivations of it used around the

          world.

      To live up to the name you've been given, it is helpful

        to know what it means. Search the internet or books

        of baby names to discover the history and significance

        of your given name. Write down what seems to apply

        to you.  Look it over.  Think about it.  Pray over it.

       Then, ask God what you should do with what you

       have learned. For example, if your name is Victor,

       pray for the wisdom and strength you need to live

       more "victoriously." If your name is Katherine, ask

      God to show you what areas of you'er life need to

      change so that you can truly be a "pureone."

  In bibical times, prople's names were an intregal part

      of who they were. That's why sometimes God

     changed them, as shown in the Bible. Once people

     turned to Him, the direction of their lives, and the

     essence of who they were, came more into line with

     who God created them to be. Hence, Abram,

     (which means, "exalted father"" became Abraham 

     (meaning "father of many".)

     God has a special name picked out just for you.

       It may be the one you go by now, or it may not be

       revealed until you meet your father face to face in

       heaven., Eirher way, you can begin to live out

      your "true" name  now by staying close to God,

      talking to Him in prayer, learning more about Him

      through the Bible, and reaching out in love to others

      so that his charater has a chance to mature in 

      you."