Psalms 118:24

This is the day this is the day/ that the Lord hath made that the Lord hath made/  I will rejoice I will rejoice/ and be glad in it and be glad in it/ For this is the day that the Lord hath made/ I will rejoice and be glad in it/ This is the day this is the day that the Lord hath made....

God is good all the time. Everybody Happi-ee?

Today is a good friends birthday a huge shout out to Tanya M. Thank you for all you do in this world and the spiritual. Could never say enough about this wonderful woman of God and pray everyone has the opportunity to have prayer warriors and prophetess' in their lives as well.

John 14:27

It has been a busy and  hectic last few days. I have ridden a roller coaster of emotions, from the highs of victory and joy to the lows of defeat and despair. I imagine the entrenched solider suffering the same mental and emotional struggles in the midst of battle. One step forward, two back; two forward, one back. In the heat of the moment you elate in a minor victory only to turn and face another, even stronger, enemy who stripes from you the joy of that previous overcoming. In this place time is not counted by the passing of the sun but by the high and low points of your struggle. When you triumph you cower in fear trying to clutch that triumph to your chest knowing that they are coming to cast you down again. You are called a mighty man but don;t feel like much of anything. The spirit of Gideon is upon you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was quoted as saying "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." When I read this quote today I got indignant. I understand RWE was a humanist who believed in the singular power of man to be the end all of consciousness but to know a man who spent so much time observing nature around him and he still couldn't grasp the knowledge that there was more to life than his own. Who can bring themselves to peace? Who has the power to deliver themselves from the pit of despair? I hear some say "Well it is a matter of the will." But it is not for all good things come from above.

"Peace I leave with you my peace, my peace I give unto you; not as as the world (man/ man's will) giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, Neither let it be afraid."

This verse is my consummate companion throughout the rest of this trial. I will read it daily and rest in the peace He gives. There are moments when we must recognize that we don;t have the power. That the only answer is to trust in the Lord with all our mind and heart, even when it seems hopeless.
God Bless.

Matthew 15:13-14

 KJV: 1Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind."
 Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is an abomination"
and Leviticus 20:13 "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them hath committed a an abomination"
My question is to the churches that advocate this lifestyle by acceptance; If the God you believe in says these people are unrighteous and they can't inherit His kingdom and they are living in sin, How can they lead others from sin and to the inheritance of the kingdom of God (Salvation)?
I believe this is a clear case of the blind leading the blind and both shall wander into destruction.
Matthew 15:13-14 "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be uprooted...They be blind leaders of the blind....both shall fall into the ditch"
I do not hate any person. I hate the devil as I am sure you all do and I hate the spirits that catch people and will take them to hell, as I am sure you all do. There is a freedom and salvation from sin through the name that is the only name given for salvation, Jesus. Homosexuality and all forms of sexual sin is not a disease or mental ailment it is sin that is controlled by a spirit as all sin is and, just like all of us who have sinned and come short of the glory of God, there is a redeemer for the sin and sinner. Jesus.
God Bless

Romans 3:18

Joshua P Ladd/...          well I wouldn’t list Eros in the list of love

Joshua P Ladd/...          Eros is a matter of biology not love

Joshua P Ladd/...          now do you have to be romantic to maintain love? yes

Tristan M Gray/...         in marriage, it’s the unity of souls as well

Tristan M Gray/...         its just fornication outside of marriage

Joshua P Ladd/...          but as a sub category not an initial category of love

Tristan M Gray/...         I just learned it in counseling

Joshua P Ladd/...          so I would place probably: Agape and philio as prime catergories

Joshua P Ladd/...          then sub categorize Eros under marriage

Joshua P Ladd/...          it is a desire of the physical man to have Eros in order to maintain marital bliss

Joshua P Ladd/...          so more of a biological sub category in my opinion

Joshua P Ladd/...          so not "love" directly lol otherwise all Eros would be considered love and many have physically been romantic and used Eros to satisfy themselves but not been in love

Joshua P Ladd/...          where as you couldn’t separate love and agape or love and philio

Tristan M Gray/...         the 3 main reasons for failing Christian marriages are sex, money, and backsliding, that’s what I heard

Joshua P Ladd/...          all related to selfishness

Tristan M Gray/...         and surprisingly sex was top of the list

Tristan M Gray/...         true

Joshua P Ladd/...          none directly related to love it’s when you get your eyes of true love (God) and get your focus on the self that a relationship disintegrates

Tristan M Gray/...         definitely

Tristan M Gray/...         got to have God first, but has to have a balance as far as time for sure

Joshua P Ladd/...          So you would ask. "Why then are their relationships in the world that last as long as they do or forever even though both would acknowledge they don’t believe in God etc.?" Well you would have to look at the individuals in these cases. I think the first thing to do is acknowledge that these relationships are becoming far less common as the world makes a marked turn towards social selfishness. However the reason these relationships work out I believe if you were to study them would be the simple fact that these relationships are mutually beneficial to the selfish necessities of the individuals. Each member of the couple gives to the other what they need selfishly. SO would you categorize this as "Love" no I wouldn’t look at a company and say they work so well because they love each other or they have so much business because they love their customers no I think it is a basis of Selfish give and take as long as you are supplying the needs physically of your counterpart you are in a mutually benefiting relationship that has no necessity to end

Joshua P Ladd/...          the world would call this love but if that mutual relationship sends both parties to hell in the end because it supported the physical selfishness of the party to never have a necessity of God or prompt the drive to seek God and heaven then that relationship is not love it is selfish. What have you gained if you gain the whole world (or find the one that satisfies your flesh) but lose your soul??

Joshua P Ladd/...          Roms 8:13 for if we live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. This doesn’t negate the necessity of Eros in marriage but it does help us understand that if our first focus isn’t on true love “For God is love” then we are doomed either in this life or the next. Our whole focus in love shouldn’t be on the Eros but on pushing each other to a closer relationship with the Lover of our souls.

Joshua P Ladd/...          I would make the same relation with parental love. The honor of being a parent satisfies an under lying part of humanity but if we aren't as believers of heaven and hell doing all we can to get our children into heaven, perhaps that includes going to church and displaying the life of a Christian even when we don’t feel like it or consider ourselves backsliders, can we say those parents are in "love" with their child? Yes all parents make mistakes and all humans are responsible ultimately for their own salvation but a parent who believes in the after life has a big question to ask. Do I love my child or do I just have them to gratify my own selfish needs?

Joshua P Ladd/...          Being a parent, husband, wife, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, friend, etc. has eternal         implications and we all share the burden of either succumbing to our selfishness or living in love with those people we have

John 1:3

Creation. The word sparks controversy across the spectrum of society from politics and education to science and even religion. The great struggle between the belief that life was created as opposed to the theory of an evolving universe has become a hot button issue in all walks of life.

The Higgs Boson (God Particle)

In the Beginning there was nothing. Then for some reason , postualtions of several theories exsist including particle or matter collisions, energy acceleration, etc., a stellar explosion occured creating enough energy to bring into being masses and shoving those masses apart to seed and populate the universe. Yes the theory of the Big Bang is alot more technical than this simple explanation but in general this is the concept of the beginning of the universe by those who accept the theory of evolution.

But there are many conundrums that arise when one tries to study deeper into this theory. One of the largest issues physics had to answer was the exsistence of mass in the particle universe. In 1964 three physists, including one Peter Higgs, presented seperate papers that presented theories as to how after the big bang the particles were drawn together in a cohesive manner that allowed the formulation of mass giving all matter the ability to evolve into greater and greater mass until we have now adays the life supportive properties of cohesive atoms. Higgs called the neccesity of this mechanism "an essential feature" to support the theory under consideration.

From his presentation of this mechanism there quickly developed a theory of the "Higgs Boson" or the particle that drew together the neccesary parts of an atom and gave them mass (cohession). This particle was considered the "God Particle" because it gave science the ability to explain the inconsistencies in theoretical physics i.e. the missing cohessive force for atoms.  "This field is analogous to a pool of molasses that "sticks" to the otherwise massless fundamental particles that travel through the field, converting them into particles with mass that form (for example) the components of atoms." (Wikipedia.com "Higgs Boson") 40 years after his proposal of the God Particle, however, this particle remains the one elementary or neccesary particle in the standard model that has not been seen yet.

This lack of evidence has thrown the physics world into a troubling quandry because the lack of the Higgs Boson would create a voisd once again for an explanation of many theories of evolution and throw, once again, a shadow of uncertainty, atleast in the minds of those that accept this theory as truth, over the Big Bang model of evolution.

A convening of minds have brought, the heads of todays three top physics labs, together in Geneva for a press confrence on the this matter and others. And current trials at these labs have prompted these heads to make the statement that they will definitively, within, 12 months establish whether the Higgs Boson is a reality or false theory. The reason for this belief is because if this particle exsists it has to be visible on a certain feild of sight that their current tools have the ability to measure so if it is not on that feild of measurment it does not meet the requirements for it to exsist and hence is not real.

Peir Oddone, head of the KEK lab in Japan went on to make the statement that:
"Whatever happens, the Standard Model(of the Big Bang) does not just fall off the table," said Oddone. If there were no Higgs, then another mechanism producing the same effect -- without which life would have been unthinkable

John 1:1. In the beginning was teh Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning wiht God. 3. All things were made by Him: and without Him was not anything made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.__10. He [the Word and Light] was IN the world, and the world was made by Him [the Word and Light, who was in the world, who was God in the beginning]__14. and the Word [God] was amde flesh [Jesus], and dwelt among us [humanity]...the only begotten of the Father [the man Jesus].

For physists and Science the fate of their faith rest upon the constant  theories presented of unknown, unseen, unliving variables. A fountain of untested iknowledge that continually brings to surface the revelation that there is somethign more than what they can see. For Christians that unseen force that creates and holds together the very exsistence of the universe is God; "No man hath seen God at anytime". Unseeable but fully knowable. Paul preached on mars hill once proclaiming the unseen God they worshipped had come to them In a fleshly temple, beared by the witness of Jesus Christ, the final Adam, or man, that died for their sins. The same message still resounds across the universe.

Science YHWH is that unknown cohessive particle that holds all together that is in all and through all. Unseen but fully knowable by the witness of your saviour Jesus Christ who bore in him the fullnes of the Godhead who was innocent of all sin but bore your sins to die that you may live. God is alive through those that believe on Jesus and call to His name and do as he directed repent and be baptized int eh name of your salvation Jesus who is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, your Kinsman (brother) redeemer (saviour). That message is still relevant it simply looks for a voice to echo through. The bold will stand for Chruist and proclaim His message of salvation.

You can keep running from the belief or be to scared to admit that there is intelligent life in the universe that takes an on going interest in humanity so much so that it continues to interact on a parellel interconnected level or you can realize that in the finitude of the universe there is a presence of the infinite and the WORD was the mechanism by which all things were made and nothing was made that was not made by it.

God Bless.

Today we sailed on.

Today we sailed on.
The only way to understand this post buy Tuesday night's CD "Sail On" from the Rock Church. The more you listen to it the more it will change your life. Truly a monument in the Spirit.

Matthew 28:19

Like the song "Amazing Grace" this poem has left an indelible mark on my spirit and echoes the chorus of all those who go out in the world to save lost souls and mission the field. It has changed my life and outlook on faith in soul-winning.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations," Mt 28:19

The Cross in the Wilderness
                      Mrs. Felicia Hemans 1845

Silent and mournful sat an Indian chief,
  In the red sunset, by a grassy tomb;
His eyes, that might not weep, were dark with grief,
  And his arms folded in majestic gloom;
And his bow lay unstrung, beneath the mound
Which sanctified the glorious waste around

For a pale cross above its greensward rose,
  Telling the cedars and the pines that there
Man's heart and hope had struggled with his woes,
  And lifted from the dust the voice of prayer.
Now all was hushed-and eve's last splendor shone
With a rich sadness on the attesting stone.

There came a lonely traveller o'er the wild,
  And he, too, paused in reverence at that grave,
Asking the tale of it's memorial, piled
  Between the forests and the lake's bright wave;
Till, as a wind might stir a withered oak,
On the deep dream of age his accents broke.

And the gray chieftain, slowly rising, said-
  "I listened for the words, which, years ago,
Passed o'er these waters.  Though the voice is fled
  Which made them as a singing fountain's flow,
Yet, when I sit in their long faded track,
Sometimes the forest's murmur gives them back.

"Askest thou of him who's house is lone beneath?
  I was an eagle in my youthful pride
When o'er the seas he came, with summer's breath,
  To dwell amidst us, on the lake's green side.
Many the times of flowers have been since then-
Many, but bringing naught like him again!

"Not with the hunter's bow and spear he came,
  O'er the blue hills to chase the flying roe;
Not the dark glory of the woods to tame,
  Laying the cedars, like the corn stalks low;
But to spread tidings of all holy things,
Gladdening our souls, as with the morning's wings.

"Doth not yon cypress whisper how we met,
  I and my brethren that from earth have gone,
Under it's boughs to hear his voice, which yet
  Seems through their gloom to send a silvery tone?
He told of One the grave's dark bond's who broke
And our heart's burned with in us as he spoke.

"He told of far and sunny lands, which lie
  Beyond the dust wherein our fathers dwell:
Bright must they be! For there are none that die,
  And none that weep, and none that say 'Farewell!'
He came to guide us thither; but away
The Happy called him, and he might not stay.

"We saw him slowly fade-athirst, perchance,
  For the fresh waters of that lovely clime;
Yet was there still a sunbeam in his glance,
  And on his gleaming hair, no touch of time-
Therefore we hoped: but now the lake looks dim,
For the green summer comes-and finds not him!

"We gathered round him in the dewy hour
  Of one still mourn, beneath his chosen tree;
From his clear voice, at first, the words of power
  Came low, like moanings of a distant sea;
But swelled and shook the wilderness ere long,
As if the spirit of the breeze were strong.

"And then once more they trembled on his tongue,
  And his white eyelids fluttered, and his head
Fell back, and the mist upon his forehead hung-
  Knowest thou not how we pass to join the dead?
It is enough! He sank upon my breast-
Our friend that loved us, he was gone to rest!

"We buried him where he was wont to pray,
  By the calm lake, e'en here, at eventide;
We reared this cross in token where he lay,
  For on the cross, he said, his Lord had died!
Now hath he surely reached, o'er mount and wave,
That flowery land whose green turf hides no grave.

"But I am sad! I mourn the clear light taken
  Back from my people, o'er whose place it shone,
The pathway to the better shore forsaken,
  And the true words forgotten, save by one
Who hears them faintly sounding from the past,
Mingled with death-songs in each fitful blast."

Then spoke the wandered forth with kindling eye:
  "Son of the wilderness, despair thou not,
Thou the bright hour may seem to thee gone by,
  And the cloud settled o'er thy nations lot!
Heaven darkly works-yet, where the seed hath been
There shall the fruitage, glowing yet, be seen.

-----------

"Deem not the words of light that here were spoken,
  But as a lovely song, to leave no trace:
Yet shall the gloom which wraps thy lovely hills be broken,
  And the full dayspring rise upon thy race!
And the fading mists the better path disclose,
And the wide desert blossom as the rose."

So by the cross they parted, in the wild
  Each fraught with musings for life's after day,
Memories to visit one, the forest's child,
  By many a blue stream in it's lonely way;
And upon one, midst busy throngs to press
Deep thoughts and sad, yet full of holiness.

Matthew 6:13

Yesterday was a good day then, all of a sudden, at the end of the day the enemy tried to slip some jealousy and doubt into my life. It’s funny because this is what he always tries to throw at me. The enemy understands our weaknesses. If we tend to have a problem with Lust he will do all in his ability to setup a situation to trap you in lustful sin and then guilt you out of the church. If you have an issue with trust he will setup a situation to test your trust then put bitterness in your heart to lead you out of the church. Let’s not lie, the enemy is good at what he does. It’s not a coincidence that you seem to always be in the cross hairs of whatever you already struggle over. It’s because he knows what it takes to get you down. But it’s not the getting down that kills you everyone gets down now and then.

The bible describes Satan as a roaring lion going to a fro in the world seeking whom he may devour. Ladies and gentleman this isn’t just your placid zoo type lion who is satisfied with setting around in the sun all day and being feed the left over’s.  He is out there, using his voice as a weapon, searching out your destruction! I can just see him now a half starved ragged and mangy beast. One that looks near starved but his looks just belie the muscles that are beneath. Don’t take your enemy for granted he knows what he is doing. He has been doing it for eons. Skulking around the edges, watching the faithful saints of God, to see when and where he can pounce and if no situation presents itself trust me he knows how to lead you into a trap with that secret weapon of his, “Temptation”. It reminds me of the CS Lewis story “A Boy and His Horse”. In one part the hero and his Horse are fleeing from what sounds like two mighty lions flanking them on each side and corralling them towards an unknown destination. This is how your enemy is He knows how to use his voice and his tools to corral you into falling, that is why it is so important to remember the second to the last stanza of the Lord’s Prayer. “Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.”

 This is a two fold request. “Lord, lead us not into temptation. We need you too watch us and make sure we don’t get corralled into a situation that we can’t handle. But if and when the temptation comes “Lord, I’m praying deliver me from evil (or the evil one)”. For it will come saints. Believe that! I can’t stress hard enough the enemy knows what he is doing. Think about it. You think he just got up one day challenged God and got cast out of heaven taking all those angels with him? No way that isn’t how it happened. He was sulking around in heaven too. He was walking around the edges hiding his intents from the heavenly host (or so he thought, but God knows all) and planting seeds of doubt and deceit in the hearts of the angels and heavenly bodies that he could. He might have passed by an angel preparing to lift praises to God. This was an angel he knew. This is an angel that he had brought up in the worshipful host. This is an angel that had sat beneath him in the choir, learning and being lead by him. He whispers “You don’t have to do it that way. I know God said it needs to be done that way but let me show you a

BETTER WAY

.” 

Hey saint there is no better way than God’s! Don’t you forget that. God has set His plans in motion and the devil is doing what he can to throw those heavenly plans out of alignment but you listen to God, brother. You remember He called you for just such a time as this sister. And He set you both up where you are to do His will not to let the enemy change your heart against Him. I’m telling you BE WARY of the enemies coming. You ask, “But how do I be war?” Pray saints pray!! Read the word! It’s all in the relationship! He said “My sheep know my voice.” You have to know His voice. You have to listen for it in those still sweet moments. Your going to have to strive for it in those beating storms and you’re going to have to have faith in His plans when it seems like things are going to come to an end and you think there may be a better way to get out of the storm.

When Jesus wanted to go across the sea to the other side He got the apostles together and they all got out to sea and what did Jesus do? He went to sleep! He knew where He was going. He had set a plan already. He was going to the other side and Bless God the apostles were going with Him. So when that storm arose He didn’t have to wake up, He knew where he was going already. The thing to watch is the reaction of the apostles. Had Jesus told them the plan? Had he told them who He was? Didn’t they know who they were with? Yes, Yes and a definitive YES! But what did they do when the waves got too big and they thought they were going to die? They stopped trusting the plan. They ran to the master shook Him awake and said “WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!” And when they lost faith in the plan and woke Jesus up He was faithful to calm the storm, but then rebuked them. “Where is your faith?” You see they started watching the storm the enemy had brought against them and forgot that He had already told them the plan. They were going to the other side! They fell to the temptation of doubting the word of the Lord.
            Now they didn’t forget they had the Messiah with them, like you or I. But what happens when we go through a particularly rough storm in life? We look to heaven and go “God Stop it! I’m gonna die!” We didn’t forget where He was or who he was but you forgot He has a plan. Hey, buckle down saint you forgot that God said we’re going to the other side! He promised you your going to make it, so stop worrying about it. Yeah there are storms and there are temptations but God said we’re going to the other side, Hallelujah! There is power in the plan. There is an overcoming power in just knowing that we have a set course, an action plan, already set in motion and that is: We’re going to the other side! Hold on to that promise when the temptation hits you like a big wave and you feel like you can’t stand. Hold on to it when the storm come raging in and knocks you down altogether. The Bible says the righteous man falls down but gets up again, Amen. We’re going to make it! You’re going to make it!

The bible says resist the devil and he will flee, but it also says to flee temptation. We have to remember the devil and temptation are two different things. The devil is a beast that uses temptation, like his voice, as a tool to get you were he wants you. He takes time to develop a plan of attack. He finds out your weakness’, devises different moments and situations that will best trip you up, then he kicks his scheme into gear and heads at you with all he’s got. That plan he sets in motion is temptation. I’ve heard it called many things most commonly a “stumbling block”. The devil isn’t the stumbling block. It’s temptation that is the stumbling block. It’s not a stumbling hill or stumbling rock or something else natural, it’s a block. It’s something that has been prepared and ready for one purpose and one use and that is to trip you up and get you down to where the enemy can get at your throat for that kill.

He isn’t nice don’t you ever get lazy in this Christian race thinking that he isn’t waiting for that moment and planning for his temptation to trip you up. He is hot on your heels saint get to runnin’! And don’t you stop runnin’ till you get beyond those beautiful pearly gates. I’ve heard it said many times that it aint the fastest that wins this race but the steadiest and I know that the steady will make it but bless God I’m getting on the balls of my feet and barrelin’ down the runway better watch out slow saint of God cause I don’t only wanna get to heaven but I wanna get as far away from that hungry lion and his temptations as I can!

“But if you live that extreme for God you’ll burn out brother Ladd!” Did you forget that we have a plan? I told you we’re gonna make it bless God and that’s what I meant. I ain’t burnin’ out cause the more I sacrifice and let go of this world the more Jesus gives me in the Spirit to finish this race. The more I burn for Jesus the brighter I get brother! This ain’t no regular fire, saints, This is the HOLY GHOST fire and it’s shut up in my bones. It takes what you feed it and gives you more to burn and that much more in excess. He wants you runnin’, not lollygaggin’, along the way.

 The scariest moments in my spiritual life came from when I was just moseyin along the Christian path takin my own sweet time. The closest calls I’ve had with losing the race were those moments when I figured I could just slow down and relax for awhile. “Oh I did outreach yesterday I ain’t gotta go today, someone else will.” “Oh I went to the altar and prayed with new saints last week I ain’t gotta go this week.” “Oh God knows I prayed yesterday for an hour I only gotta do a half hour today cause I need to call this friend of mine.” Hey young man, hey young lady, get your head in the game!! This isn’t a relaxin’ game folks, this is life or death-winner take all-get out and get gone-marathon were runnin’! There is no burnin’ out in the Spirit. There’s those that lose sight of the plan and start losing their grip but bless God if you put your feet on that track and your mind on the plan and your eyes on the prize you better be prepared not only to get to that finish line but to get to it with all haste!

Well I have another victory report to put in my pocket. Yes, I felt dull and lifeless last night and I felt the temptation to get angry and bitter this morning and I even had a lingering sense of drab and defeatism after prayer but as I was out and about doing the work of the Lord (runnin’ the race) He put a song in my head and it just kept playin and playin till I was singing it right out loud so people could hear me and I was filled with so much over whelming Joy it carried me right through the day and let me know that I was still in the boat. The waves were still there, but I was on the course of infinite possibilities and set sail for that Holy Shore on the other side with the Master right there besides me. So I’ve got no need to fear and I got over my temptation to fall so that ugly ole lion could catch me and the Holy Ghost gave me an extra shot of His Spirit so I could pick up my feet and put on the speed baby! Where goin’ to the other side! Hallelujah!

2 Chronicles 7:14

Revival! The word alone holds the imagination captive. REVIVAL! It is like the sounding of a war trumpet that echos across ancient valleys and bounds over celestial mountains. REVIVAL! REVIVAL! It is the sounding of a million voices in the desert that herald the victorious return of the King of Kings! I love the word revival! Beyond the Name of names it is one of the few words that can send chills through my body, a shiver of excitement. I love revival!

Revival by definition is to revive or bring back to life a group or interest in an idea. You hear it applied to movements to reinvigorate interest in an art period or musical style but the word revival is most synonymous with the reviving of religion or a renewing in the interest of the things of God.  It is an unprecedented period of time in which the kyrological (the God moment) intersects the chronological (Man's understanding of the progression of time). Throughout history the Spirit of God has worked in the field of revival beginning long before the Christian church.

The precedent of revival was established in the first three verses of Genesis. "In the beginning God created...And the earth was without form and void: and darkness was upon the face...and the Spirit of God moved...and God said..." This introduction to the word of God and all of creation gives us the initial state prior to revival and the necessary actions of God to ensure revival.

!.  Nothing can be revived unless it is first created by God. A necessity, albeit probably an obvious one to you and I, is to be created by God. The fulfillment of this versus is easy "All things were made by Him and without Him was not any thing made that that was made." (Jhn 1:3) It is not just enough to be made by Him but there is a necessity to have a belief that He made us. That is the importance of this first point the belief in the Creator.

2. Nothing that God has created is, initially, without form/void or with darkness upon it. It has been conjecture, and I agree, that it was the fall of Satan when he was cast from heaven to earth that the world God had created was thrown into this state of chaos. This is a mirror of what happens to a life that is without God. We were initially created for the purpose of companionship and a reflection of the order of God on earth but when we enter into sin we are thrown into a chaotic life.
 Genesis 3:8 indicates to us that God was known to walk through the garden looking for man to spend time with him. In Genesis 17:1 God commands Abraham to "Walk before [Him]" In Leviticus 26:12 God says He will "walk among you" (His people) and in John 14:18 Jesus says to His believers "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." All of these indicate a desire of God to return man, His creation, to our initial state of companionship and image. It is only because of the introduction of sin in our world (life) from Adam and Eve's disobedience that we are no longer in the perfect state of being as God had created us. So we see from the begininng that a state of corruption is the second point on our path of revival.

3. Now we get to the exciting part of this study. The third point is a necessity of God's Spirit to move. This indicates more than is first visible to the reader. First God recognizes the state of His creation, next He is desirous to correct it's disorder and finally He moves to change it. It's important first to revisit (quickly) who that Spirit is because some would say this was one of three in a being but (Real quick):
John 4:24 "God is a Spirit..." + Lev.  11:45 "Be holy, for I am holy " = Holy Spirit
John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" + John 14:26 "But the comforter, Which is the Holy Ghost...send in my name" = name of the Holy Spirit, Jesus
So the Spirit moves to change us back to who we were initially meant to be, the sons and daughters of God. but it is not enough for just the Spirit to move there is also always accompanied with the moving Spirit of God the word of life.

4. This brings us to our forth and final point. In revival God moves and Speaks. We see this represented here in the beginning we see this also in Ezekiel's revival of the dry bones (which was a type of revival for all of the nation of Israel) when he  "prophesied as I was commanded...there was a noise...Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind...and the breath came into them" (Ezk 37) and also seen in the upper room on the day of Pentecost "suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house...and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit) and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance" (Acts 2)

In all of these examples of revival we see a commonality of Spirit movement (Referred to as the "wind" in the last Ezk and Acts) and the word (referred to as "noise" in Ezk and "tongues" in Acts) The foundation of the Church started in Acts chapter 2 with a fiery Revival and that is the way revival will always continue!

The question is "How do we move God to see our plight and revive us?" This is answered directly in 2Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land." This verse holds the keys to enacting revival in your city, state, country and world.

WE are responsible for the state of revival in our world. It is only God who can revive but it is His people that call upon Him to remember us and heal us. Study out this scripture and learn and act upon it's principles for revival and you will see a vast change in the world around you as the Spirit moves and speaks life into those you interact with.

God Bless and REVIVAL! REVIVAL!

2 Timothy 2:15

Ugh I am a horrible person lol sorry this is so late!

The Infallible and Authentic Word of God

     In the book of Leviticus the scripture records "These are the statues and judgments and laws, which the Lord made between him and the children of Israel... by the HAND of Moses." (26:36) This verse indicates a two fold revelation on the authenticity and reliability of the Word. First, that the originating source of the words recorded were directly from God to Moses and second, that "by the HAND of Moses" they was recorded or a written word. While the oral tradition of storytelling plays a large role in the transmission of most scripture throughout the history of Israel, the Urtext, which is a term for the main written text that began the work, was indeed a written word and inspired directly from God. The Urtext that Moses had recorded is lost to history along with all the following "autographs", another term this time indicating the original work of a copied text, that were recorded by the patriarchs of the Jewish and Christian faiths. The reason for these losses can be attributed to a number of situations.
    The Israelites were lead out of captivity by Moses, who, as we have established, during this period of wandering went on to record the Urtext, and it may be presumed that, having been the son of Pharaoh for a time, Moses had been familiar with the Egyptian's practices concerning scribes and the written word. For writing the Egyptians had developed the medium of papyrus, an early form of paper consisting of beaten and pressed pulp from water reeds. While this early form of paper made recording written words easier and far more accessible then say clay tablets it also came with its downfalls. Papyrus was easily destroyed and with the elements and persecution of the Hebraic people that associated their forty year journey, it is not hard to imagine that the Urtext was lost from one form of consumption or another.
    We must also take into account the ritualistic way in which sophers, a Jewish guild made up of scribes, recorded copies of texts. The original text written were considered "Holy Word" and so important to them that when a ms began to wear with age or use they would studiously rerecord the contents of that original work. Once that copy had been completed a group of word counters, another Jewish guild called the Masoretes, would go through the entire work and count each word to ensure there was no numerical fallacy in the copies. If a Masorete counted less words then were contained in the original text that copy would be burned and the scribe would begin again. If the ms was verified as being a complete copy, Masoretic text, the scribe would then take the original text and bury it in an unmarked grave so that no one could reuse it. To the Israelite society the contents (words of God) recorded on the papyrus were more important than the physical copy and so much diligence was paid to the correct recopying of those words. Through 40 years of traveling in the desert and hundreds of years of war and turmoil in their country we can assume there are thousands of texts that have been buried and in the process of time turned back into dirt therefore inaccessible to us in original form.
    The use of papyrus continued throughout the centuries and the original works of the New Testament (NT) were also recorded on this ancient form of parchment. We have already established the fallibility of papyrus as an explanation to the lack of earlier autographs and may ascribe this explanation to the autographs of the patriarchs of the Church as well. But we must also take into account the persecution of the early church when considering the NT autographs. Any documents that might have survived through the ages and come to use were almost religiously hunted out by the enemies of the church and vehemently destroyed.
    At one time, the Roman emperor, Diocletian, declared a personal war against Christianity. He established a place in the middle of a city for burning the Holy Bible and inscribed above it "Extinct is the name of Christians". It is recorded that a pile of ashes set below this inscription and we can presume that many of the citizens of Rome took as readily to the destruction of the Holy Word, turning over captured articles to soldiers to be consumed by the Diocletian fires. While we look back on horror at this act of atrocity it is with righteous pride that history accounts not more than 22 years had passed when Constantine came into power. Being a convert to Christianity set a commission that a copy of the Holy Scriptures be made available to him. To the surprise of all an abundance of copies were readily at hand, these had been hidden by devout members of the Church and officially compiled into a Biblical form. The indestructibility of the Word of God blooms even through the ashes!
    We must consider the possibility that the original mss of Matthew, Peter, Paul and the others were destroyed in the Diocletian ousting. We may however presume also that perhaps one or two autographs had made it through this mass consumption.  But the persecution of the Word didn't end with the Roman empire.
    The enemy had also infiltrated the halls of the "Church" in the form of the Catholic Councils and Popes who proclaimed numerous times throughout history a moratorium on the Bible. Beginning with Council of Toulouse in 1229 and continuing through Papal decree by Pope Leo in 1897 the Bible could only be reasoned and interpreted by the clergy and all those with personal copies of the Bible were outlaws. they were required to turn over their copies immediately or personally destroy them by fire. That is over 568 years in which Bibles were destroyed by faithful saints who had been told that only heretics had personal copies and therefore had their place in Hell with Lucifer. Considering the history of God's Word and it's enemies the reliability of the Bible we have now versus the original texts or autographs is often brought into question.
    The earliest copy scholars had of the Word was found dating back to A.D. 1000, far removed from the original works. Due to it's late production theologians and biblical scholars admitted that there could have been numerous errors made from one scribe to the next as it came 1000 years down throughout history. But in the 1900's a herdsman stumbled across a cave in which was stored , in remarkable condition, numerous antiquarian scrolls. The first of these scrolls to come to the attention of the biblical community in 1947 was determined to be a copy of the Book of Isaiah dating back to approximately 200 B.C.. Excitement at this discovery coursed through the world and a group of translators where put to work immediately in an attempt to not only preserve the historical discovery but also shed light on the fallacies that were contained in the modern Bible they had. This Bible is the same Bible you have in your hand today and to the surprise of many, and I'm sure the chagrin of a few, it was discovered that the two copies contained only three differences on record and those three fallacies were simple spelling differences. How awesome is the infallibility of the Word of God that even after 1200 documented years of written transmission and thousands of years of oral accounts, the Word remains complete and true.
    On hand at this time we have over 24,000 ancient mss that have been discovered and preserved of the New Testament. The bible, even in ancient times, had been rigorously translated into many languages. In Greek alone we have over 5,000 copies of the NT in one form or another. These copies serve as a continuing witness to the strength of the authenticity of the Word of God. While secular historical works, such as Homer's "The Iliad", which has only 643 ancient mss, and Livy's "History of Rome", which has even less references, boasting a mere 20 partial copies, enjoy the safe scholarly stamp of authenticity, the Bible with all of this evidence to support Christian and Jewish claims of infallibility, remains, in the eyes of scholars, unauthenticated.
    The contents of the Bible have proven time and again they will remain, "the word of the Lord endureth forever" (1Pt 1:25), the only viable truth in the Universe. They have been tried against destruction, against fallibility by prophecy(about 3,300 verses of prophecy have been fulfilled "Dake annt ref. Bible Pg 241 notes on 2tim"), against the possibility of an un-seamless narrative through 40 authors distant in time and space authoring 66 books, against even that great leveler, time and in each instance has come out unscathed and more true than ever. As a member of a democracy I have seen the Word removed from halls that it had helped establish and be attacked by lives it had given freedom to. The joy of personally learning that our great country was founded on the shoulders of men who believed in this Christian message is assuring to the testament of the infallibility of His Word. We have an apostolic mandate to "preach the gospel to every creature." (Mk 16:15)and must then "study to show ourselves approved...rightly dividing the word.. " (2tim 2:15) This is the importance for establishing the infallibility and authenticity of the Word of God.

Matthew 24:35

 Thank you for your patience the posting was completed earlier than expected, thank you Jesus :-)

     I would have to say learning about the resiliency of the Word of God throughout history has had the most personal impact this week. Not just the fact that it has withstood the test of time, for there are many transcripts that have travelled through the ages to us, albeit none so pure and untainted, but that against intense opposition it not only continued but flourished. 

            The antics of biblical enemies such as Diocletian, the early Catholic Church and even modern day atheist, while horrendous, have not diminished the influence of the Bible on society but brought to light the power and saving words contained in it. Bible burning has run the gamut of despots in history most notably and relevant to our time would be the Muslim attack on Christianity and the Bible.

            In Gaza there is a small community of Christian believers who stand between the Islamic community and Jewish community as they struggle for proprietorship of the East Bank. In 2007 it was reported to the Jerusalem Post “Muslim gunmen used rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) to blow through the doors of the church and school, before burning Bibles and destroying every cross they could get their hands on.” This is just one dismal instance which highlights a much wider antagonism towards the Word of God.

But praise the Lord that “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom 5:20) and while in parts of the world the Word is trampled it is working great wonders for His glory in all places. That there is a Christian community in Gaza alone stands as a testament of the power of the Word to bring life in the most treacherous environments.

            In 1949 Moa Zedong took the reins of China’s power and outlawed all Christian religions. Prior to his charge there had only been approximately one million Christians and many presumed, that through years of bloody oppression, that small group of believers had declined. In 2007 a trusted Chinese pollster group, Horizon, Ltd., performed an unbiased poll of a segment of the population and their results indicated that, even after the years of torture, terrorism and deaths, there were now approximately 34.5 million believing Christians in the country. That’s an increase of 33.5 million souls delivered by the resilient Word of God! And that number has only grown substantially in preceding years with the decline in government opposition. This is a modern day echo of the early churches persecution at the hands of Rome and like Rome it was not the Word that lost power but the enemies of its eternal Truth.

            It is a joy to see the power of God’s words written or living to deliver the lost and bound and destroy the powers of evil around the world. Many times I have heard the Holy Bible referred to as a “Living Word”. This concept has been exemplified in my own life through salvation in believing on the Word and the personal growth that has flourished in the light of the great Testaments. But having a predisposition to view things in a sociological spectrum I have been blessed this week to learn further about the personal impact the Word of God has on not only individual lives but its influence and growth through whole communities and societies in the face of Satan and the spirit of the anti-christ.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Mat 24:35)

Matthew 6:34

Numerous times the disciples asked Jesus to explain what he had said in a parable or while he was preaching. With the power of hind sight and the revelations preached to us we often shake our heads at them and think "But it's so obvious why couldn't they see what he was talking about?" Then we come across a verse like this.

"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

Excuse me Jesus? What was that you said? Could you explain that because I got lost after sufficient.

The kingdom of God is like a man, given charge over the masters land, who had also been given a plough horse. His horse was the pride of his life he spent day and night caring for the horse and tending to it's every need. The horse in turn provided a tool with which the farmer could till his ground, tow his harvest to market and turn his mill for grinding meal. To the farmer the horse was his very livelihood and he took all precaution to ensure that horse had the ability to work his daily chores. One day a little lad from the town running past the farmers field called to the man and recited to him the story of a horse thief that was terrorizing the countryside.

So frightened was the old man in the thought that one day the thief would come also for his horse that he raced back to the horse and chained him in the barn. Day and night the man stood guard watching the hills for a sign that the thief was coming for his horse. The time of planting came and went and still he kept his horse locked away from the light of day. In the time of harvest and market he was still at guard not daring to place his horse in sight of the thief should he pass by his farm.

When the old farmer heard the thief had been captured by the master he was relieved that his horse had escaped the possibility of capture and loosing the doors to the barn He brought out his horse much thinner and haggard then when he had placed him in. The horse no longer had the strength to turn the mill for feed and the man had no grain to grind for feed even if the horse had the strength.

When the master came to collect the harvest and feed the man was charged to provide He was surprised to find the old man standing empty handed. When he asked the man "What of the strength of the horse I had given you to work the land until I returned?"

The old man retold the story of the thief and his concern for the loss of the horse. The master seeing the wickedness of the man that he did not trust in the protection afforded by the master became angry that all he had given the man had gone to waste in his fretting over the future and to the man said.

"Was not the thief always among you? Yet you choose to believe the report of the child rather than my promise of protection. In your fear of the future you have squandered and wasted the land I had given and for that I will take back my land and give it to one who proved himself through the harvest and turn you out to the wilderness. "

"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." We are always compassed about with those that would take and destroy what he has given us. We might even loss some to the thief but we should not live in fear of what the future may or may not hold. Whether the thief comes or not we have a job to work the fields (revival) and use the tools God gave us for His increase. It is enough to live for the day and let God handle our future in this world. Don't worry about what we must store up here on earth because one day He will return and it will be to late to retrieve the stuff we stored up to do the work because the time of the harvest has come and gone.

This is the same as Jesus' parable of the servants given talents but the one hid his for fear of the Lord's wrath if he lost it. The difference is this man feared the world around him and his provision for the future rather than the masters wrath. We are responsible for his work. Take out that old equipment he gave you to work (prayer, bible reading, bible studies, witnessing, outreach, altar work, singing, etc.) and put it to work now not tomorrow for we are not promised tomorrow just today! God will provide we will work.

God Bless. And may God increase your harvest everyday. I love you all.

Dueteronomy 22:5

IN an unorthodox move I have copied and posted a news story today. I do so because I wish each of you to realize the role that idols play in the world today. There is no room for parents to "accept" their childrens taste for music and musicians as a phase. These people are here to influnce your children to abandon God and follow satan.

God established a distinction between a man and a women not only biologically but in attire and manner as well. It is the work of fallen spirits to confuse and blend that distinction so that the children no longer accept the heiarchy of the kingdom. Please read this story and if you are a parent I urge you to purge your home of these unGodly influnences. If you are struggling with a pull towards fashions and attitudes that blend your sex with the opposite sex I urge you to seek the will of God through prayer, fasting and your ministry.

God Bless everyone. I am troubled and in prayer for this generation today join me please.

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God"

Latest trend in hip-hop: Women's clothes

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest fashion trend in hip-hop has its male stars raiding the women's clothing department for inspiration.

Lil Wayne jumped around in skinny women's pants during his performance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye West wore a multiprint shirt designed for women at the Coachella music festival. Kid Cudi has been seen in a plaid skirt, Snoop Dogg often wears jewelry designed for women, and Pharrell Williams is a fan of the Hermes-made Birkin bag, the ultra-expensive purse favored by Hollywood's top actresses.
Elena Kiam, the owner and creative director of the jewelry brand Lia Sophia, says initially she was surprised to see her women's line embraced by some of rap's top acts like 50 Cent, P. Diddy and Snoop Dogg, who has worn her pieces in music videos and on magazine covers.
"When we were designing these really beautiful, sparkly necklaces, we thought more for top editors, maybe a celebrity movie star. We really weren't thinking about hip-hop," said Kiam, who also said Beyoncé, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus have worn her designs.
"There was a rapper wearing the same piece as a soccer mom from Ohio," she added.
Celebrity stylist June Ambrose says those multiplatinum musicians can pull it off because their personas stretch beyond the hip-hop culture. Of Lil Wayne's much-talked about decision to sport a pair of boxer-revealing, black-and-white leopard print pants during the VMAs, she acknowledges his attire was "eccentric, but you know, he's a rock star and pulls it off extremely well.
"Fashion should be as unisex as it is right now. It's probably the most unisex we've seen it.," she said.
West, hip-hop's ultimate metrosexual who will debut his own fashion collection in Paris next week, wore a flowing, long-sleeved women's shirt designed by French-based fashion house Celine earlier this year at Coachella. Though there were some who poked fun at his clothing choice, Ambrose saw nothing wrong with it.
"I think it's acceptable if you're not wearing a pair of heels with it and you're not wearing lipstick and neither of these guys did that," said Ambrose, who has styled Jay-Z, Diddy and Will Smith. "They treat fashion like it is art."
It's not just rappers — Russell Brand and rockers like Steven Tyler and Pete Wentz have worn women's clothes in the past; Janet Jackson says the famous black sparkly jacket Michael Jackson wore during his legendary "Motown 25" performance was from his mother's closet. And of course, androgyny has long been intertwined with pop, from David Bowie to Freddie Mercury to Prince (known for his trademark heels).
Bieber, the 17-year-old pop phenomenon, admits he has rocked women's jeans because of their suitable fit.
"I think I've worn women's jeans before because they fit me better," he told The Associated Press at a recent fashion event. "I just think that whatever works, works."
"It wasn't like it looked like a woman's sweater," continued Bieber, referring to women's shirt worn by West. "It was just a regular sweater that just happened to be a woman's."
But hip-hop culture — often defined as much by its masculinity as much as its music — always seemed to be different. It's hard to imagine Eminem raging on stage in a breezy women's top; rapper DMX once clowned Jay-Z for wearing sandals on the beach, deeming it unmanly. Hip-hop's style in recent years has ranged from oversized sports jerseys to sweats to baggy, sagging pants and plain, oversized white T-shirts. Lately though, hip-hop stars are likely to sport clothes that are made to fit, and sometimes, tightly, like rock and indie hipsters.
"(Lil Wayne and West are) small enough to pull it off and that's really what it's about," Ambrose said. "I don't think Jay-Z could pull that off. He doesn't have the body type for it. But these two guys are pretty petite and they're able to pull those things off because (the clothes) come in a size that they can wear."
Brea "BStar" Stinson, who has styled Usher, Bieber and Jaden and Willow Smith, says while women's clothes can fit better on some men, at times they can be too fit.
"I thought those pants were great (and) that print is totally in right now, but I didn't think that they were appropriate for (Lil Wayne)," Stinson said. "The fit was wrong (and) I think there's only a limited amount of stretch a man is allowed in his pants, and they were just really, really small."
Whether Lil Wayne will be sporting more women's clothes is unclear. Still, this latest trend in hip-hop isn't a new one, says Ambrose. She remembers seeing similar happenings in the 1980s with rappers like Grandmaster Flash, Kool Moe Dee and the Ultramagnetic MCs. Hip-hop was key in making diamond earrings popular for men in both ears. And Andre 3000 from OutKast was known for pushing the envelope with his style.

"Those guys were wearing leather pants, blouses. If you go back and look at the eccentricity, it's really just come full circle," she said of the past generations of rappers. "Back in the late '80s and early '90s, guys were wearing bright-colored jeans, skin tights, like leggings, and high boots."

Ambrose — who will launch her own VH1 reality show "Styled By June" in February — feels that fashion and hip-hop go hand-and-hand when it comes to self-expression.

"I think one thing about hip-hop is that it's always been uncensored and unedited in that way, and I think that if you take a lyric and you put it to a look, then it really makes sense," she said. "(Rappers) say what they want to say and they say it in their way, so why shouldn't the fashion have the same emotion and the same voice and the same freedom?"

___

AP writer Nicole Evatt contributed to this report.

Psalms 51:12-13

At the end of this week I will celebrate the first year of my restoration! I am full of joy and sober minded, recalling the past and all the things God has delivered me from. It is a joy and an honour to know Him and know that there is an answer to all of life's questions.

I lived for 25 years but I have been truly alive for 1 full year! Each day has been a new experience it has not always been easy but it has been the greatest year of my life learning to fall more in love with Jesus on each new day. My heart and soul are lifted in praise and my vision is set on the future. David said "Restore unto me the JOY of thy salvation" (vs 12) and no truer words were ever spoken. Joy is the best way to describe this life now. My worst day now is better then my best day then. I have a freedom in Christ that is indescribable "uphold me with thy free spirit." (vs 12)

But God hasn't restored me just to be free but to help free others and introduce them to the joy and freedom of His salvation and Spirit. David went on in verse 3 to say "Then will i teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Perhaps this will resonate with some of you today but I am truly speaking to myself.

God I will take the Joy and Freedom of this restitution to teach and convert the sinner! I will not withhold the talents you have provided like the foolish servant but will let the light of the Spirit shine through me so all those I come in contact with will feel the restorative joy of your Spirit and the saving power of your Name.

I love you Jesus, thank you for this year and I look forward to a lifetime by your side my love.

John 14

Roads play an important part in the history of the world. The Romans are known for establishing roads that conversed their entire kingdom and allowed them to quickly move from one place to another gaining military and economical advantage. Billions of dollars are spent each year on maintaining the roads in America and around the world to keep each country a viable force in the fast paced world of commerce. Anyone who has ever read the western genre for any amount of time is most likely familiar with the phrase "The road less travelled." This struck me yesterday on my way to church. Let me paint you a picture.

It was early night, the sun had retreated and dusk settled in for her fifteen hours. The night was silent, only an occasional owl could be heard across the expanse of country side. Mother's had diligently tucked their children in and fathers had completed the obligatory bedtime story. I drove a straight road that night headed towards a rendezvous with destiny. It was one of those moments when one could really hear themselves think and that little voice was doing a mighty bit of yappin'.

The headlights on my truck did little to break the eriee blank canvas of night giving me only a 10 or 15 foot lead. At the corner of Waterman and Sheldon I made a right and drove on just another brush stroke on that dark canvas. The road seemed to stretch on before me like a concrete ribbon with no end. In my monotony I glanced across the acres that separated my current position from the destination of my travels, 8520 Bradshaw road.

Lights illuminating the church building gave it an angelic glow filling up the empty space that must have stood there for thousands of years before it was built. Like a  beacon of hope to a weary traveller I was comforted by this sight, but my heart longed for my trip to be over at that moment. I reached for the four wheeler button in my old ford and thought about how easy it would be to rip through the farmers fields and cut my travel time in half if I just left that road. Before acting on my impulse I took a moment more to look across the divide and what had previously been invisible to me in those fields came to light.

Miles of metal fencing, meticulously lined,  stretched along the circumference of those fields. A deep gouge rutted out by a meandering stream ran down the middle and imposing trees cut down years ago had left stumps and turned up ground. The way was not as easy as it had initially seemed. What had been a good idea previously now was a daunting task that I knew I could not come out of in one piece. So I set back and while it took me a little longer I got to my place of rest, joyful for my safe passage.

Life is a lot like that trip I took last night. Jesus said "Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find." (Mat 7:14) and "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (Jhn 14:6)

Many times on the long road of life we start to get weary. We see the end across the miles and think if I could just skip all this it's right there. It looks so easy to just cut a corner here and there but in the murky darkness we miss the impediments and dangers that scatter the valley. We may think that we have the equipment to do a little off-roading but even with the limited tools we may think we have we could never make it to the other side of the field. We would be broken battered and left bogged down in the mire of this world with no way out.

The only way to the end of this journey safely is to stay the course. set your eyes on the prize and make it to the end. The only road to travel in the journey of life is Jesus Christ all other ways lead to destruction. From the statement above in John 4 Jesus is speaking with His disciples and says "If ye had known me, ye should have known the Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." In His most open talk with them about the life to come and the way to salvation Christ emphasis' He is the Father and One and The end is the Father's (Jesus' as we have established) House (Heaven) there are many mansions (places for dwelling) in it. 

In my opinion the strongest Bible Study verses are in John 4 try to study that chapter and teach someone about how to get back on the road to life today! God Bless. 

Psalms 97

Our God is an awesome God! I was thinking about the recent calamities throughout the world a bit ago and wondering at the terrible natural disasters that have been tearing it apart. Often we react only to the events that have a human impact (Just a few examples include the Joplin tornado, the Japanese tsunami and the Haiti earthquake) while the bulk of occurrences may go unnoticed or at least only given a cursory foot note in history. Why? Because we put no significance on issues that don't disrupt humanity. I say disrupt rather than death toll because even those that have no significant mortality rate (the Virginia earthquake, for example) will still be news worthy simply because it disrupts the day to day lives of a large portion of our human community.

But if we took a moment and considered the sum total of all natural events that have an impact on the world around us we would be surprised at the results. The world seems to be tearing itself apart at the seams! But when i think of all these things I am not frightened but humbled before our awesome God.

In philosophy class the teacher asked a question one day, "If God is a God of love then how can He allow these evil natural disasters to take place?". While there may be many answers to this question I would like to address just two that are actually just one approached from two directions.

First we must look at the history of creation and man. Before man God created all the earth and set it in motion to work in the ways that it was intended. When God creates something it is set to function in a way that benefits that creation. "Disasters" are a way to revive and reinvigorate nature. Think of a predator and how they work to keep overpopulation down among the animal kingdom by design disasters have the same effect on the planet around them.

With this in mind we must Remember that when God created man He placed him in the Garden of Eden. (Gen 2:8, 2:15) This was a separate place set aside for the habitation of man. In it God made provision for the delicate life of man to be protected and provided for. When man intentionally disobeyed He took his own life into his hands, rejecting the protection God had afforded him from conception to deal with the Good and Bad around him as he saw fit. That is a by product of the knowledge of good and evil you must then not only deal with the good but also the evil in life. So man on the face of the earth was never the intention for us. Natural disasters are intended to maintain the balance of earth and by man's own choice we set ourselves in the path of those events by acting in sin and therefore being where we never were intended to be.

The natural world also reacts to it's Creator in a mysterious way. We all have a master whether we choose to acknowledge Him or not. All of creation declares His glory (Psalms 19:1) and even the world would praise him if there were none to voice his praise (Lk 19:40). The earth is subject to it's creator and at the drawing of Him the earth trembles! I have been wrapping my mind around that concept for a few weeks now. That even the world trembles in the presence of God.

My favorite Psalms is 97. "the Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice" (vs 1) What an awesome God all of the earth is swooned in His presence. "the earth saw and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." (vs 4,5) So when the earth rejoices with tremblings and shaking's it makes my heart rejoice, not for the disruption of humanity, but that the earth is letting me know "We are in the presence of the Creator. GOD IS HERE!"

Again we must point out, man is in the path of destruction often because of the choice our forefathers made and the line of sin but the presence of Man doesn't trump the presence of earth's creator it will continue to worship God in the only manner it can!

So we see that man, not God, by his evil works (disobedience, sin) has placed himself in the path of the workings of the earth one day God will remedy this state of man. That day is at His return and the establishment of His kingdom which heralds in an age where no tear will be shed!

God Bless have a wonderful day and rejoice in the presence of the most high God that surrounds you!

[Clarifying Sumation: I don't believe Natural disasters are God's judgement on individuals or communal sins but a result of man's intial sin i.e. Adam and Eve's decision to disobey, which cast us out of the Garden of Eden and into the natural convulsions of the Earth.]

1 John 4:8

"He that loveth not Knoweth not God; for God is love."

Well, I guess I would be the last person to give relationship advice. And if we were talking about human relationships I would be the first to direct you to one of the many great people I know that have developed a "successful" physical relationship. Today, however, I have been thinking about the most rewarding relationship that anyone could have with another individual, that's the relationship we have with Jesus.

The reason I use terms like relationship and individual when I refer to our connection with God is because God is a living being. He isn't a stone or wood statue. He isn't an aloof personage that holds himself separate from us. But he is a living, loving, Christ who desires a relationship on such a personal level that He not only created us but came to earth and gave His life and said I won't leave you alone I will come again and dwell with and in you! Jesus is alive.

He hears, speaks, feels, knows, sees, calls, draws, hurts, loves. The first thing we forget when we begin to walk away is, God is love. Love is not the twisted concept that this television generation has defined it to be, that is lust. Love is God and so every "love" relationship we have should, at it's core, have and draw us to Jesus. That for me is the way I test all human relationships: Does this person draw me closer to God or try to create situations in which I am drawn away or sin? To cause someone to sin is to effectively cause that person to die. How can that be called love? You can't believe in God and Heaven and hell and draw someone towards hell and say you love them.

But God is life and that more abundantly. Even just thinking about Him and writing this I am overcome with a feeling of unexplainable love. Oh, How I love my Jesus. I want more of Him everyday. I want to walk with Him and talk with him and know Him on a personal level that I have never known anyone. Bishop Wilson says it best "I fell in love with God so many years ago and each day He gets better!" There is no diminish in God's love. As we saw earlier man's love grows cold but God's love, true love, grows stronger and more beautiful each day.

For me the joy of prayer and fasting is the same as being able to talk to and commune (Eat, spend time with) the one I love with my whole heart. It's not a chore to get up and pray or push through hunger in a fast, because our mind isn't on the physical when we truly connect with Him. It is on the Spirit. Those that worship God do so in spirit and truth.

So the words of one of my favorite songs continue to ring true today. Falling in love with Jesus/ falling in love with Jesus/ Falling in love with Jesus is the best thing I've ever, ever done/ In His arms I feel protected/ In His arms never disconnected/ In His arms I feel protected/ There's no place I'd rather, rather be...

I'm falling more in love with Jesus everyday and the joy is everyone can too! Share some real love today. God Bless.

Genisis 12:2-3

New job, new car, new clothes, new house, new this and new that You just rollin' all new today baby. I feel the spirit of the most reverend Sam Emory gettin' a hold of me this morning! In a day when millions are starving, more millions are homeless and even more millions are malnourished and in need we have been blessed. Even in this financial "crisis" we are more prosperous than any generation preceding. Any way you cut it God has shown the Church favor.

With enemies surrounding us we are still blessed. Like the song of David God has set us a table of rejoicing in the midst of our enemies. But what is all this blessing for? Is it just to make us fat and happy. Is it to satisfy the insatiable desire of our flesh by spoiling us?

Imagine if you will your in your local grocery store. Picture row upon row of food and goodies and treats all there for you and those with you to take and enjoy how you wish. Around the corner comes a well dressed young lady and toddling beside her is her little boy. This little boy is dressed very fine like his mother his little curls meticulously shaped and presented. He bulges at the seams of his clothes and chocolate is smeared around his mouth. He stomps up and down the aisles demanding whatever he wants. But he never requests the healthy food or the good blessings he just demands the junk food that makes him feel good.

Would any of you applaud this mother as a good mother? She provides for her son, keeps him well dressed and presumably they live in a nice and safe neighborhood. He attends the finest elementary in the area and will never know want in his life besides that which he creates through his lusts. By all accounts she is doing what a provider should do. But we all know intrinsically there is something more to being a good parent. We force our children to eat their veggies and don't give them every treat they demand like this woman does. Because we know that a growing child needs more than just the gratification of his desires They need moulding and shaping to create a productive member of society.

The same concept applies int the Spirit and the kingdom.  God says to Abraham "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee," That's the first point here; God made us and God has given the blessing (Job, car, home, finances) "and make thy name great and THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING." Why are you going to make us God, Why are you going to bless us? So we can be a blessing. "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curse thee: and in thee SHALL ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED."

God didn't call us out to make a little "clique". To be just "us four and no more" (B. NJ Wilson) He called us to reach out,. Have you ever noticed that the Spirit is poured out. Poured out of heaven, poured out of the upper room, poured out upon all flesh. We can't live like hermits building up blessing and storing it up on this earth where rust and moth corrupts. We must invest in the Kingdom that has NO corruption.

God never intended for us to horde up all the blessings to appease our fat little souls but to be a blessing to and an example of the fatherhood of God. It is to our fault if we build up the walls of the church to be inclusive only to those we pick and choose fit our desires. God does the picking sometimes we may not see the necessity like little children to have those "types" in the church but God loves them just as much as you or I.

This is why so often the bible and Jesus speaks of being a good steward. A steward doesn't own the things he has. He is a manager that controls the things he is given to benefit the owner. We should live our life and use our blessings, monetary and talent, to support and build up the kingdom. I am not going to codemn anyone but I will simply ask. Is it ok that we drive around in ten thousand dollar cars and live in multi hundred thousand homes and work wonderful jobs but the church goes uncared for? The equipment to save the lost is lacking, the outreach tools can't be bought and the buses sit idly by because we can't afford gas or tune ups?

We have an apostolic mandate to realize that everything we have is not ours but the Lord's. He has given so that we might build on the kingdom not on our luxuries. God feed the Israelites in the desert he watered them from a rock so our provision is not the case here. God will provide for  our families and us because He loves us but if we withhold HIS blessings from blessing the world with His message because we have the "American" mentality that "this is mine. I worked for it. I got to the top by my own hard work. I... I.... I...." God will take the blessings He gives and give to the next group to see what they will do with it.

"The best sacrifice hurts." -Mark Morgan So next service give that offering give that tithing with the mentality that "This is already yours God, Thank you for letting me mange it for you today" and if more is asked of you give that too and watch Him open the windows of heaven and bless you!

For more teaching on this read "In Bonds of Love" by Nathaniel J Wilson and get the CD from Alabama Revival Conference Cody Marks.

Mark 11:23 "A childs story"

The Mountain and the Mustard Seed- a child's story

Once upon a time, in a field far far away, there lived a really big Mountain.
This Mountain was the biggest mountain in the whole world.
He was so tall that he blocked all the Sun from shining on any of the trees in his field.
Mountain was so loud when he laughed that he woke up all the little baby rabbits in the field.
And He was so wide that it took a whole week to walk around him!
Mountain was proud that he was so big and he would bully all the other people in the field.
One day the little trees in the field asked Mountain if he could move to the side, just a little bit, so they could get some sun and grow big and strong like Mountain.
Well mountain stood up even taller so they got less Sun then ever and this made the little trees really sad.
When Mountain saw how sad the little trees were he laughed and laughed.
Momma Rabbit asked Mountain if he could be just a little bit quieter because she had just put all the baby bunnies in bed.
But Mountain laughed even louder and woke all the little bunnies up.
This made the bunnies cry and Momma Rabbit sad.
Mountain was very happy that he could be mean and no one could stop him because he was so much bigger than them.
One day little Mustard Seed was going to Sunday School.
Mustard Seed was late so he was running  as fast as he could and he ran right into big Mountain. (Ouch)
Mustard Seed looked up and up and up until he could see Mountain.
"Wow he is really big." Mustard Seed thought to himself.
"Excuse me" Mustard Seed said as loud as he could. "Mr. Mountain could you move to the side just a little so I can get to Sunday School on time?"
Mountain laughed when he saw Mustard Seed because he had never seen someone so small.
"I will not move little Mustard Seed because I am bigger than you and I am a bully.  You will have to go all the way around me."
Mustard Seed would miss Sunday School if he went all the way around Mountain but he didn't get sad because he remembered what Jesus said about mean mountains.
Jesus said "If you have faith and ask a mountain to move then it has to move."
So Mustard Seed closed his eyes and prayed to Jesus that this mean mountain would move so he could go to Sunday School.
When he opened his eyes the ground started shaking!
It shook and it shook, until that big mean Mountain came tumbling down and was even smaller than the little Mustard Seed.
Mustard Seed smiled and picked up little mountain and took him to Sunday School with him.

The End

Remember that all it takes is trusting God and He can do all things for you. Read Mark 11:23-26 With your little Mustard Seeds and teach them how to pray the prayers of Faith.

God Bless everyone, have a great day and happy Monday!

Matthew 24: 9-14

Hate and love. These are the forces at work in our world since the entrance of sin. If "God is love" (1 jn 4:8) Then the opposite of God is hate. A man once asked Jesus what is the greatest commandment and He responded "love the Lord your God with all thy heart...and the second is like the first...Love thy neighbor as yourself. " (Mat 22:36-39) The drastic contrast between the end time man versus the ideal man is vivid in His description of earthly relationships found in verses 9-12.

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you...ye shall be hated of ALL nations for my name's sake [Jesus name]" (vs. 9) I recall reading a story not many months ago in the news of a killing in the Philippines. A group of young Christians had been beheaded in the middle of the night by Muslim terrorists. What a gruesome tale and only a couple decades ago this would be unimaginable but we have seen a rapid escalation in violence, world wide, against those that teach, preach or believe in Jesus. I don't think we have gotten to the hour indicated in this part of Christ's prophecy but it is undeniable that we are rapidly heading for a day when those who bear and uphold the name of Jesus will be hated of all nations and given up to be killed.

Verse 10 indicates a group of people that will be offended by one another, shall betray one another and ultimately would come to hate one another. and this leads into verse 11 in which many false prophets will arise and deceive many. Now I may be taking a little liberty in interpreting these two scriptures but it seems to me in the context of their placement and the odd wording that this isn't speaking of the world in general. I feel these scriptures are indicating that in this time of great distress among the name sake there will be many that will turn one against another. those they formerly trusted will betray and be offended by them. and this will open the gates for false prophets to step into the body and lead many astray by adding salt to the wounds and causing even greater separation among the believers.

We must learn to forgive and love don't fall easily into the temptation of offense that escalates quickly to betrayal and hate and false doctrine. Hey, I'll be the first to admit, sometimes it's easy to be offended by church folks. But I know that I have just as much if not more wrong in me it is by the grace of God that you and I are forgiven. We need to extend that grace to those around us in the body as well. God is a God of love, if there is a man/woman in your life that is causing you to believe things about your brothers and sisters that increases separation from the body, stop listening to that false prophet! We shouldn't entertain our offenses/bitterness till they get large enough to consume our love.

"And because iniquity (immoral or grossly unfair behavior) shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold." (vs. 12)

It would be easy to box up this versus with others and say "yes man's love has always been getting colder" but in this age we need to recognize the effects of man's loss of love on towards the other. Columbine and Virginia Tech, Andrea Yates and most recently Carson City, Nevada. These weren't acts of violence with a purpose or an agenda, they were men and woman who had lost their love for fellow man and in turn did horrible things. Again, decades earlier a tragedy perpetrated as these were would have been nearly unimaginable. But today we hear almost every month a new story of unexpected seemingly random violence and acts of hate between people. We are in a world where love is departing from the hearts of man paving the way for the most wicked "hater"  of all, the Anti-Christ.

But through it all Jesus didn't end it there. Thank God there is a word of hope in this tragic day that those who endure (push on) [in love {God}] "Shall be saved". Not might be saved but shall be saved! and He goes on to say that the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Christ/Repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost) will be preached in ALL nations before the end. Remember where sin doth abound grace doth much more abound.

It is easy as we have seen through out this chapter to get caught up in the hopeless despair and depression associated with recognizing the dire situation man is in, but we have a Hope! His name is Jesus. He is coming again! He is coming to save and deliver and reunite with those He has called out! Don't wait for this terrible day to get worse find your hope now, be rescued from this wicked world now!

When Peter told the people about the day of the Lord and described to them the horrible things to come they cried out "WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE SAVED!!" and He responded "Repent and be baptized EVERYONE OF YOU in the Name of Jesus Christ and you will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost" What is that gift? It is the Spirit of God and the promise of being saved from that day of wrath. It is the promise that you will live with the Lamb that died for you Forever in Joy, peace and happiness. "And this promise is to you and your children and to all them that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
Can you hear Him calling? That's us Peter was talking about in Acts chapter 2! We will be saved!

God bless, Go out and save someone from death hell and the grave today. There is no greater miracle than the miracle of salvation when a dead soul is brought back to life in Christ to live forever your brother or sister. Amen.