Category: Facebook

Many years ago, I had something very unsettling happen. We were coming home from a speaking engagement, and we stopped off at a local Walmart to pick up an almost forgotten birthday gift. We hurried into the store, and I immediately felt someone’s eyes on me. It took me a few minutes to look around, and when I did, I recognized one of my old Bible students, a middle age woman, standing at the end of an aisle at the very back of the store. Our eyes didn’t meet, and I was not certain that it was her that was watching me.

She had been one of my toughest students. She wanted to know the things of God, but she wanted them to fit in her life, rather than changing her life to fit them, if you know what I mean. She was strong willed and authoritative. When we baptized her, her whole family came with her, and over the months, eight other family members received Christ. If Mom embraced Christ, then by God, the whole family would!

She had raised a good family, but she had her troubles. One night we received a call from her that one of her daughters-in-law had shot off her leg in search for an easy prescription for drugs. We hurried to her family’s side, and made feeble attempts to understand the dark sides of addiction and offer compassionate advice when asked how to deal with the terrible things resulting from the selfish act. Quite frankly, none of us could figure out the words to speak to help fix the terrible pain and shame.

We watched as this woman started to spiral downward, and it was like we couldn’t quite reach her. Now with the added responsibility of grandchildren to watch, as well as being the only person in the family that was strong enough to even try to deal with the one-legged, drug seeking, pathetic and attention seeking girl, she was growing tired. Soon the girl started sucking her mother-in-law down the dark road of evil things by placing herself in situations then demanding Mom to come rescue her.

Every week at her family Bible studies we would encourage her to back away from her problems, and to focus on her own walk with Jesus Christ. She was getting so caught up in the drama of darkness that she was losing sight of Him and starting to stumble in her faith. As her days grew darker, she grew darker, and eventually the Bible studies ceased, as she held tightly to the darkened lifestyle at the expense of her Christian walk.

It happens. Life is tough, and being a Christian doesn’t guarantee perfection; but then again, neither does it guarantee a faithful walk in tough times. As a teacher of the Word of God, I hoped that I had taught her enough to enable her to search for His Word and Will in her life when she finally realized her need to lean on Him.

It had been two years since I had seen her, and there she was at the end of the aisle in Walmart. My heart was still tender for her, in spite of the awkward remembrance of ridicule and rejection for the things of God that she had left in my path at our last meeting. I braced myself, and walked toward her. She ignored me.

Now I am lousy when it comes to social things. I didn’t know what to do. So, I said “Hi”.

She turned to me, and let out one of the loudest sobs I have ever heard. She grabbed me in a tight embrace, and wouldn’t let go. Her tears were streaming down her face, and she was truly moved to see me once again. Her emotions were over the top and public, and she quaked with excitement. For almost a half hour, she cried and cried and cried, and hung on to me as tightly as she could. I couldn’t move, and I could barely breathe, and it was impossible to move to a more private location. My family formed a protective barrier around us, as the woman’s tears kept on coming.

I was shaken. I had no idea that this woman would even remember me with any degree of fondness. I quickly searched my mind to the circumstances of her leaving, and wondered if I had neglected one of Christ’s sheep at the expense of my rigid requirements toward His walk. As she sobbed, I wondered that if my teachings meant something so powerful to her, that maybe I could encourage her return to His Walk, and finally reject the things of darkness.

Then she spoke…

She talked about the darkest of things, and her involvement with them. She was speaking the EXACT same words she spoke two years earlier, with her commitment to save the dark one before she focused on learning the things of God. She spoke of one tragedy after another, as the darkened world she chose to dwell started closing in around her.

It could have been two years ago, but the darkness in her soul was increased times ten. It was very apparent that she continued to hold on to the things of the wicked world, and reject the light of Jesus Christ, in both her words and her ways until time was perfect and in her control.

One more time, she told us that she had no time to focus on the Word of God, because the darkness of Satan needed tending. Oh, she wanted to feel our Christian love and peace to the point of public display, but to walk the narrow path of faith was ridiculous to her, and rejected once again, as she began to pummel me with her words of shocking depravity.

I turned away as I had done two years ago; but, this time with a confidence that was lacking the first. It’s not about me, and it’s not about my Christian love.

It’s about Christ.

If you cannot reject the darkness and embrace the light of Jesus Christ, then you are taking up too much of His time.

2 Timothy 3:1-7
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7 av)

Bob wrote me, critical of the churches, then turned the tables on me, and chastised me for being against self-confidence, self-credit, and self-pride. Here is my answer:

You are right: Many Christian churches of today are filled with corruptions and hypocrisies and are becoming exactly the institutions that the Word of God warns us about in Scripture prophecy.

You are also very right that we abhor the focus of self, and instead favor the focus on our walk with Jesus Christ, and our works for God. Popular movements of today encourage self-focus and improvement, and in fact, we have seen many people improve their lot in life by participating in evaluating themselves, and changing the things that are causing them to not grow.

But that has nothing to do with the walk that Jesus Christ as expressed in his Word of God. Churches have become so dirtied by focusing on making money and conducting self-improvement projects for their congregations. They may well be entertaining and
profitable for their church, but they are NOT worshiping God.

On a personal note:

The more closely I focus on the things of God, the more self- confident I become. This self-confidence is not a sin, but a declaration of faith. While I may well mess things up bad on my own, I am confident that if I let the Holy Spirit lead me, everything works out perfectly.

Is it me that is preparing my mind, body and soul with study and prayer to God to give Him access? Yes! And I am very proud of the efforts I have made, and strive every day to do better.

While I may well mess things up bad on my own, I am confident that if I let the Holy Spirit lead me, everything works out perfectly.

Is it me that is doing the works of God? No! The Holy Spirit is. Thus, my self-confidence is not conviction in my rightness, but rather in the surety of the Holy Spirit’s righteousness.

When He is moving things, and I’m not getting in the way, I am confident that the things God wills for me to accomplish will succeed.

I have a faithful self-confidence that all things are possible with God, and can be moved with the Holy Spirit, and if He chooses, through me as His tool. My self-confidence (or maybe better said “my confidence in the moving of the Holy Spirit”) in this comes as a result of faith in the righteousness and perfectness of the Spirit of God.

Does God look upon me as a sinner because I am proud that I strive every day to become a better tool for Him, than I did before? No! He wants everyone of His People to strive to their highest spiritual places, so more of His Works can be accomplished.

If I could not experience the feeling of pride, then I would have no measure or motivation to move to the next higher level. It is not a sin, but rather a desirable condition if God is given His due.

The Word of God is not perverted! The things some people have done with the Bible is. It is imperative in these days that Christians with strong faith and conviction opens the Bible up and studies to learn the things of God, rather than sitting around like stupid beasts and be led by the nose by false teachers.

One day, on the New Earth, there will be a great need of leaders who are able to translate the Word and Will of God to bring justice and truth to lives who have been tricked in this lifetime.

GOD DOES NOT WANT WIMPS!

And that is the challenge for every Christian, trying to grow spiritually in these confusing times. You must pick your teacher well.

If you go to the churches that teach self-improvement, then you will be deluded into learning things that do not concern God at all. If you are taught the things of God, through His Word, your life will begin to conform to His Way, and He Will begin to use you.

And brothers and sisters, if you don’t experience an immense pride from being chosen by Him, then you are insulting His love for you!

That’s the way I see it, and that’s the way I teach it.

The invisible God revealed!

“And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].”
(John 1:16-18 av)

The plans for our salvation established!

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:9-10 av)

Reconciled us to God, and gave us the possibility of righteousness!

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21 av)

Gave us the true example of a perfect spiritual and natural life!

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24 av)

Brought Christ as our High Priest to make reconciliation for our sins!

“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17 av)

Brought One who could destroy the works of the devil!

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:8-9 av)

The small babe born in the manager was not a gentle Jesus for the world to make merry!

He was our King, our Savior and our Priest, and his arrival gave us life filled with righteousness and possibilities!

We were given hope and faith and love; our eyes were opened to distinguish the profane from the holy, the wicked from the saintly, the carnal from the spiritual. Our ears were cleaned to hear the Word of God, spoken clearly and distinctly to our minds, hearts and soul.

We were given the opportunity of being born again, cleaned from the sins of man through baptism, and resurrected to our glorious destiny through the sacrifice of God’s only begotten son.

The LORD God’s Son, was born into life, to give life, to me and you and all other faithful followers of Jesus Christ!

As you experience the fellowship and gifting of the season of merry making, remember the joy and peace of our Lord’s birth, in the manger of miracles, in the tiny town of Bethlehem, that established the foundation of our Kingdom and our future forever!

God’s peace to those who celebrate our Christ’s birth, and walk in His Way.

I was shaken from life-events a couple months ago. I was discouraged, depressed, and a little bit angry. So, we went for a drive to talk together and try to resolve the troubles that were attacking us from afar. As always, when we talk, we include prayer and sharing of God’s heart, as it develops; these drives help so much.

But this time, it didn’t. I felt so unworthy, so inept, at doing the works for God. I felt I had let Him down in not achieving the successes I was certain He willed me to accomplish. Though my surety of faith and righteousness was NEVER in doubt, my value to the Kingdom of God was shaken. I felt low and lost in my worth to God.

I rounded a corner, doing 61 in a 55, and a State Trooper rounded the corner in the other lane. I watched nervously in my rearview mirror, and immediately saw him whip around and come after me. I pulled over to the side of the road before he even caught up to me.

The place we found ourselves was in the middle of the most beautiful field of wheat and sunflowers. The sun was shining through the clouds, and its rays were penetrating in every direction. An old barn, partially collapsing, was amid the most picturesque and peaceful scene I have ever experienced.

I exhaled a very stressful breath. We rolled our windows down, and breathed the warm air as it blew through our car. I felt my entire being relaxed, and tears of joy formed softly in my eyes.

The cop approached my car. He had a smile on his face. A VERY BIG SMILE. I didn’t even know cops could smile. As he got closer, I was able to see his eyes.

Oh, my good Lord, I saw Him! Christ was in His eyes fully, and the Holy Spirit rushed through us together. Time stood still. He said nothing, we said nothing, and all three of us basked in the movement of the Lord and His Holy Spirit. I felt my soul leap as high as it has ever leaped before, and I heard the voice of Christ inside my mind, deep in my heart, and throughout every cell of my being.

“You are precious to me.”

That was all Christ said. And it was the most needed words I have ever received from Him since my salvation. Oh! Lord! Thank you!

Later (time was unknown), the scene of the supernatural event was over. The cop, with that big smile on his face, cautioned me to slow down, and returned to his police vehicle. We didn’t say anything about our Lord’s visit, but all three of us knew what had happened.

The next week was a terrible week in my life, and many bad people and tough events happened. And every night, I went to bed and thought about those words my Jesus had spoken to me. To hear those words from my beloved Savior was all I needed to stand upon, to recover and spiritually restore my being. Thanks be to God. He had provided me with a way to survive in troubled times, that would be with me forevermore.

Life returned to normal. One day, I thought it would be cool to see my Jesus again, so I turned down that lonely road with intentions of speeding. My precious partner started laughing and ordered me to quit plotting a way to see Jesus again because the next time I see a cop, it will be just a cop. I reluctantly, but wisely, slowed down and kept the peace as I turned around and began life’s journey forward.

You are being watched by the world at all times.

Anybody who uses the Internet surely must accept the fact that everything they do is known by someone. It is a choice that each person makes to go into the “world” via the connection of the Internet, and many dangers are lurking to snatch the person and claim him as it’s prize.

As Christians, we would be wise to avoid the Internet altogether. I had no intention of ever being placed on the Internet, and all of the teachers and students avoided the Internet fervently. We had no knowledge of it’s operation, nor had we much desire to learn about it. All things changed in October 2003, however, when the LORD God moved us to place His studies on the Internet, to feed the hungry Christians who were not being fed His Word.

When we entered into this Internet, we did so knowing that every bit of every word that we wrote, every site that we visited, every person that we talked to, would be recorded by somebody, somewhere, and used in an attempt to control us at some time. We knew that we might possibly be putting ourselves in harms way, as we entered a world we had no knowledge of, to accomplish the tasks that the LORD God Willed.

As all faithful Christians have done in the past, and all faithful Christians will do in the future, the danger is irrelevant when the LORD God Wills. We accepted our task with joyful hearts and pure motives, and tried to stay true to ourselves in this foreign environment.

We need to be aware that everything they do or say on the Internet is known by someone. It may well be that one day each of you will be called to assume a prominent position or fulfill a spiritual works for the LORD God in support of His Will in these End Days. As a result of this position you may be in now, or may be placed in the future, it is imperative that you watch everything closely in this world, and guard yourselves appropriately.

I am hopeful that each of our Christian Facebook friends will respond immediately to any request by the LORD God, and I am also believe that each would be devastated to have their credibility and integrity destroyed before they even began their Works. The enemy is watching, and we must be careful.

I once learned of an organization called All Research, Inc. Some of the things they do to benefit law enforcement, FBI, and other paying customers are listed on their website, such as…

“Our abilities include:- Identifying websites owners with bogus registration information- Tracing anonymous e-mail- Monitoring a person’s activity on message boards- looking for software cracks posted online- Locating piracy trading sites- Security testing networks- Consulting on privacy issues.”

They further go on to explain how they gather opinions held by people on the Internet:

“We have developed a solution to this classic problem that revolves around NOT asking people their opinions. Instead, we gather peoples opinions, comments and actions “IN THE WILD”. This is done by identifying appropriate message boards, discussion groups, and e-mail communities germane to the topic. People’s real posts and conversations are quietly gathered for a predefined period of time.”

That was over TWENTY years ago on the Internet. Since then, we are constantly monitored by satellites, spies, scurrilous scammers, and criminals looking for a weakness that can be exploited. Prominent businesses, powerful governments and law enforcement agencies, are all around this Internet World doing the same things.

The Internet is monitored by so many, and recordings made of so much, that everybody that enters into it, is going to be categorized according to their activity. When you figure in the Pentagon, the CIA, and the US Government concerns, you must be certain that everything that you do is known here. Then add the foreign governments into the equation, and there is nothing unknown about your activities.

Now what does that mean? Do we run scared and paranoid, and avoid going out into this world? Boy, if you can, you would be wise to avoid it. But if you are like thousands of other Christians that are placed out here on a daily basis, you must recognize that you are no different than the missionaries that go into dangerous countries and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of persecution and martyrdom. You must make a tremendous and supernatural effort that all things you do upholds your righteousness through His sacrifice and shines the Light of Jesus Christ among men at all times.

You’re going to mess up; .you’re human! Pray before you go on this Internet, participate in places where trusted Christians gather, never go out into this world alone. Practice safe missionary practices, accept the dangers, but avoid the traps, and constantly strive to do God’s Will regardless.

“I pledge allegiance to our Lamb, with all our strength, with all I am” is our song of courage as we go forth in these tumultuous times. We are in this together!

Please God, be with us all!

All of my children grew up well, left home, established their own lives, and got busy.

I never see most of them anymore.

When I do see them, it is usually with a crisis in their lives. When they are away, I am confident that they are happy and pleased with their station, and will use the excuse of business with their work and lives to avoid visits.

But ever since they have been adults, I have had to struggle with them becoming adults. While they behaved really good under our authority, when they left home, most did not do so well, as they struggled to declare their right to adulthood.

A couple say things like this:

“I don’t respect you. You need to change your views and become more worldly. Your religious views are not part of the ‘woke’ culture today, and it turns people away from you.”

“You never wanted to raise me. It was fine when we were children. But the minute we left home, you stopped paying attention to us.”

The way they perceive things is totally different from the truth of God that I know. So what does a parent do?

Cry, because words hurt.

Buck up, because there is not enough time in the day to cry.

Examine perspectives, and recognize your children are idiots when their mouths flap uncontrollably.

Confirm that you are walking the path of Christ. That the Holy Spirit moves through you and surges in heights far-surpassing the natural life thrills of worldliness.

Keep the peace, and try not to dwell on other’s opinions. Most of my children’s views will change as they reach maturity, God willing.

If they don’t, sigh.

All any Christian parent can do is to walk a solid walk with Christ. Plant those seeds of faith when they are young, and pray mightily that they get watered through the grace of God as they grow up.

I remind myself that life is not over until the last breath is taken. A couple of my kids who have me worried today, have promise to be some of the strongest Christians I have raised; some of them, NOT so much.

However, you can only raise them with the knowledge and walk with Christ. As for their adulthood, God has got to have this, because I surely don’t.

The Lord did not raise me to be a lovey dovey Christian. He made me tough, not soft. I don’t talk well, and my looks and personality don’t fit real nicely with most Christian normals. HOWEVER, the Holy Spirit moves through me and rushes my writing and study talents that He gave me, and I shine brightly with the Light of the Lord when He is using me for His purposes!

Thank God for His miracle! I fit in this little niche, this little place where believers can read my writings and grow and do wonderful works of the Lord!!!

It is not a traditional place. It is not an authoritative position. It is not a pre-defined job.

I have to figure it out one experience at a time, as God moves. No one can tell me how to get my writings to folks. I’ve tried writing books, teaching detailed classes, teaching real students, and connecting through churches. Though most were satisfactory, the movement of God was not fully received.

That is why I am trying this Facebook approach. That is why I keep asking you questions of whether my writings are reaching the places they need to reach so your works for the Lord can be magnified and bring glory to our Father in Heaven.

Honestly, I think I am touching more people through Facebook than through any other method I have tried in the past. Becker Professional Theology Academy has successfully trained some students, but the large majority usually are unable to continue classes due to internet problems or lack of computers. So my Facebook experiment seems to be developing into a works for God that might give you hard-working, mature Christians some context that can help support your great works for God.

That is my hope and my prayers. I will be occasionally asking you if it is all working well; your feedback is the only way I can judge Facebook effectiveness.

Looking forward to the journey together.

Almost every living soul has moments of Kairos – instances where a person is so dramatically overwhelmed with life events that time stands still and is no longer relevant. When the things of common, normal life cease, and a person’s focus is directed on one defining, specific, notable and special moment that has deep significance to him, as life itself is put on hold, and the drama of kairos unfolds.

Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the “right or opportune moment.” It is used to define a specific time that exists in between regular time (“Chronos”); a moment of undetermined period of time in which something unique and special happens. It is a watershed moment that affects every aspect, forever more, of the person’s life, and is measured with the nature of time that is defined by quality rather than quantity. It’s the experience of time that occurs between the clicking seconds and moving hands; time stand stills as life unfolds and takes eternal significance. When our loved ones die, it happens. When we are faced with a truth that is so horrific that our normal minds can hardly grasp, it happens. When we are faced with a life change beyond our control, when our souls are overwhelmed with sadness and lostness, when change abruptly comes to us unawares, the time of kairos transcends the defined time of man.

Time is elusive to mere mortal man. We have measured it since ancient time with the sun and the seasons, and as our minds developed so did our timepieces. It was only in the twentieth century, when the thoughts of brilliant minds speculated that our timepieces were not as reliable as the sun that we circle. Albert Einstein thought it possible for time travel, and others thought with him to a place in space where his hypothesis might be proven true. Scientists measured the atomic clock of an airplane traveling around the world with one set firmly upon the ground, and found a loss of time in the airplane. Soon, exacting mathematic calculations were perfected for the measurements in space as the speed of light was correlated with time, and the movement of both more deeply understood.

We know that if an astronaut flew 2 1/2 years at the speed of sound into space, then turned his spaceship around, and flew back to earth in another 2 1/2 years, then five years would have been lived by the astronaut. But, when he exited his spaceship, 31 years would have passed on earth, and he would have traveled to his past. Time travel is not an imagination, but a relevant and possible truth, that is now in the forefront of scientific exploration than ever before.

The LORD God is omniscient and knows all things, a truth that all believers in Him are certain. The Calvinist would argue that it makes no difference in human freedom, because there is no choice in the end, since He knows all and chooses life to occur according to His Will only. The Scientist might declare the success of evolution to define life in the time of man. The Atheist might conclude that life is to be lived now, with no consideration of time be given.

What if our newest understandings of time were applied to the ways of our LORD God. What if the aspect of kairos was the movement of God Himself, as the defining moments in life are without the restriction of time? What if His Will is moved and offered to those in the time of kairos, and the decisions to accept His way forever joined to Him through time eternal? What if it was Him that stopped time for our souls, to allow us to face the horrific, confusing, difficult, trying, emotional, life-changing events to give us an opportunity to reflect, analyze and respond with clear mind and intent?

The Word of God speaks of times of kairos.

In the defining moment for the world, when time surely must have paused and the most life-changing event of the Gospel began…

“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15)

Time was fulfilled, and for a moment, the time of Kairos was at hand. Life hushed and time stood still as the Son of God began his ministry that would lead to the fulfillment of His Father’s Will.

In fact, we are warned by our Savior in how to respond when the time of Kairos comes upon our spiritual recognition at the beginning of End Times.

“And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end [is] not by and by.” (Luke 21:8-9)

We’re promised times of Kairos when we need refreshing from the terrible times that involve our natural lives and our separation from God seem so far from Him…

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19)

The mystery of time is able to be explored, understood and known through the deep study of His Word. The Kairos word is used 81 times (καιρός – Greek #2789, Strong’s #2540) in the New Testament Bible, and in each instance, we realize through our studies that it is a time stopping event, a significant and special adjustment of time, made by the LORD God Himself to move His Will at the beat of His Timepiece.

The LORD God is all-knowing and His Nature of Omniscience possible because time does not contain, control, nor move Him. He is the God of Time, and moves it according to His Will.

Sometimes my job as Teacher gives me more wiggle room than that of a Preacher.

Preachers have to toe the line to the congregations that employ them. They are expected to say the things that are usually said within that Church, and to avoid the unfamiliar homilies from other places. Visiting the sick in the hospital is usually one of the top tasks expected of all preachers, and how well they comfort the sick, the dying and the mourners defines not only how popular they are among their Congregation, but also how long they will keep their job.

My boss is Jesus Christ. As long as I’m telling it the way His Word expresses, I’m okay. I don’t have to leave feel good messages, or words of comfort, or even be nice if the situation and my King does not demand it.

The good news is most of the time I am nice, especially to the sick, the dying and the mourners. Today, however, I am not going to be. Heathens, Wicked, Righteous, Saints, People of the World, People of the Kingdom, People of the Law, People of Servitude…It is assured that everyone is going to suffer in this life and everyone is going to die!

The LORD God has willed that death come to sin. Since all people have sin, and the power of sin does not lose it’s hold over a person until death (or Baptism of Christ), you can be very certain that death will come to every person alive, regardless of how “nice” and “perfect” they are.

Whether that death takes place in the natural way of the ceasing of life with a burial in the grave until resurrected on Judgment Day, or within the Baptismal Waters of Jesus Christ and resurrected immediately upon bodily death of the Kingdom of Heaven…EVERYONE DIES!

Before death, you can also be assured that suffering will happen to each of us! Our worst sufferings may happen when we are young and developing, or middle age and struggling, or old age and remembering! It doesn’t matter when because it is gonna come! It doesn’t matter whether you are destined for great things, whether you are faithful and righteous, whether you are “good people” or whether you are wicked, it is going to happen!

Sometimes the LORD God chooses the course of troubles that come to people, and sometimes He turns His back and allows troubles to come. Sometimes He leads people into hard times to harden them into Righteous responders, and sometimes he leads people into soft places so they can recover.

If you read His Holy Word of God, then you can understand His Ways. If you do not have a relationship with Him, you will never understand His Spirit, His Nature nor His Will.

If you have chosen to live a life of the world, bereft of the LORD GOD’s Things, then do not come to me seeking compassion for your sickness and approaching death unless you want to learn of Him and the salvation of Jesus Christ through faith of His Resurrection and promised redemption of your sins.

I don’t care whether you are angry at God for letting your perfect and good life be tainted with a little struggle and a little sadness. I know that many live their lives in a perfect and good way, come from “good stock” and firmly believe that their goodness will prevent them from having bad things come to them. Bullpucky!

And then when death comes and the “good” worldly person becomes the “saint” in legend, and people speak of the deceased being in Heaven, an angel at peace, I usually hold my tongue, when I think of the times that dead person rejected Jesus Christ, mocked the Holy Spirit, and cursed God.

The Truth is this: the LORD God gives every living person a chance to come toward Him at some point in life. If those opportunities are rejected, then so be it. If you are of the world, and proud that you can be a “good” person without God, that is fine with me; embrace your choice and go to your grave with pride that you lived the life and chose the death you wanted. Don’t come to me at the end and be angry at God and asking why.

If you reject Him and His Things in your worldly and good life, then He will not be helping you to understand the things happening to you in your suffering and death! Just in defining your life as “good” and your rewards “deserving” separates you from all of us past sinners who absolutely need the salvation of Jesus Christ and His promised redemption to squeeze into Heaven, and one day help establish the New Earth.

Imperfect and sinful people are offered a choice to live an eternal life guided by God, and overcome death through their faith in Jesus Christ. Worldly people choose their life of perfection and goodness that one day leads to them rotting in their graves until they are resurrected at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

If you are old enough, and wise enough to make the choice of your way of life, then make it, and quit whining to me about the loneliness and pain that will come to you on your deathbed if you choose to go your own way with the world and without God.

To my knowledge, the straw Christian was given three different tasks by the LORD God to do.

All three tasks required him to go outside himself, and face possible persecution and troubles. The resulting fruits from his effort would clearly have brought others close to Him.

Each time the straw Christian considered the consequences of his efforts, weighed the promised pain vs. the reward it would bring him personally, he decided against it.

He is well pleased with himself, however, that he had a friendly conversation with another Christian the other day, and is confident of being used by the LORD God real soon.

Another Christian that is dear to my heart has struggled for the last five years. He has faced more than his share of pain, and has struggled to maintain his walk with Christ. He is homeless, and without family.

Today he did a work in the name of Jesus Christ. It was a simple act, but a potent one, and he did it knowing that he would possibly face rejection or even persecution. That did not stop him. He had to do something for righteousness sake, because that is the way he is walking.

He is well on his way of having his works for the LORD God measured in gold and silver when the day of reckoning is at hand.

The straw Christian has everything, and is well thought of by the worldly and the religious.

The gold Christian has lost everything, but is still walking with Christ.

In the end, I’m so glad that my Jesus is going to weigh things fairly, and the just rewards given to each.

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 (KJV 1900)
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.