Nomads2

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Proverbs 3:27.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=IJQnBuEGYU8&si=Nzsu9tLG62O7PN6P

In the video it says that there is “No Gospel in Calvinism,” I also can state from experience that there is “No Love in Calvinism.” I can’t understand why people will sit in a fellowship, under a Pastor that spews this false doctrine out week after week. I know Christians that even though they know it’s wrong, still go, or return to join in this false doctrine. “It’s my church.” No, it’s not a church, it’s a social club. “My family members still attend.” Tell them the Gospel Truth. Iron sharpens iron. Your life is a testimony to God and who God is to a lost world. Be an Example to your family and the world. Really though, when you get down to it, the average church member just doesn’t care. “Calvinism is just too hard to understand, it has no affect on me.” I have pretty much heard it all…

We will have to give an answer as to how we handled the Word of God. We will be held accountable!

Sadly, the average church person has no idea what Calvinism is. I didn’t. I certainly do now. Read your Bible, read commentaries, keep scripture in context, study the whole Word. The hurt and pain of seeing your church fall to Calvinism, the feeling that is given is that you are wrong, maybe your not even a believer, are you sure that God choose you? “You have a Bad Heart!”

This is really hard to put into words, but the one thing I know for sure…

There is no Love in Calvinism!

In January of 2010, Randy and his wife Bertha gave Norm and I on the job training on preparing food for flood victims in Salome Arizona. We still remember cooking 180 pancakes and 130 hot dogs. When Bertha went to be with the Lord in 2012, Randy gave Norm Bertha’s disaster relief kitchen apron.

That same year, Randy and Mitch, took me under their wing and guided me in learning so much more than feeding and chainsaw work. 2017 was the last year we served with Randy, he will be missed…

“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

He prayed for strength that he might achieve;

He was made weak that he might obey.

He prayed for health that he might do greater things;

He was given infirmity that he might do better things.

He prayed for riches that he might be happy;

He was given poverty that he might be wise.

He prayed for power that he might have the praise of men;

He was given infirmity that he might feel the need of God.

He prayed for all things that he might enjoy life;

He was given life that he might enjoy all things.

He had received nothing that he asked for- all that he hoped for;

His prayer was answered- he was most blessed.

Anonymous.

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“It is the call of Divine justice, which cannot overlook sin. It is the call of Divine sorrow, which grieves over the sinner. It is the call of Divine love, which offers redemption for sin.” Dr. W.H. Griffith Thomas.

Any sinner may be healed if he will only come to Christ.
J. C. Ryle

The Sabbath was on the Seventh day…

The Levitical system was built on a cycle of sevens…

Jericho fell after seven Priests, with seven trumpets, for seven days, marched around its walls, and blew seven trumpets seven times on the seventh day…

Naaman dipped in the Jordon river seven times…

There are seven days of creation…

The Bible ends with a book of Sevens about the Ultimate Destiny of Creation…

There are 7 days in a week, 7 notes in music, 7 colors in a rainbow…

Seven is thought to stand for Completeness, a unit, fullness, Totality…

The “Seven Beatitudes” of Revelation-

Blessed is he that reads this prophecy (1:3).

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (14:13).

Blessed is he that watches for the Lord’s coming (16:15).

Blessed are those bidden to the Lamb’s marriage supper (19:9).

Blessed is he that has part in the first resurrection (20:6).

Blessed is he that keeps the words of this book (22:7).

Blessed are those that wash their robes (22:14).

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The seven names of God that meet our every need.

Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide.

Jehovah-rapha, the Lord that heals.

Jehovah-nissi, the Lord our banner.

Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord our peace.

Jehovah-ra-ah, the Lord my shepherd.

Jehovah-tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness.

Jehovah-shammah, the Lord is present.

“Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem…

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The most general forms into which the manifestation of the Unknowable are re-divisible are time, space, matter, force, motion.” Herbert Spencer.

“In the beginning (time) God created the heaven (space) and the earth (matter). And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God (force) moved (motion) upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2.

Creation or speculation, your choice. Choose wisely, your future beyond earth depends on it….

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Having heard the Gospel and seen the creation of God, you will be without excuse…

“Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, And that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: But now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent In dust and ashes.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job repented and God gave him restoration. God favored Job over his ‘friends.’ Job was not the wicked man, as his friends implied, but genuinely a righteous, man when brought face to face with The Lord of All, cried out “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

“I call this book, apart from all theories about it, one of the grandest things ever written. Our first, oldest statement of the never-ending problem: Man’s Destiny, and God’s ways with him in the earth. There is nothing written, I think, of equal literary merit.” Thomas Carlyle.

“The Book of Job is perhaps the greatest masterpiece of the human.” Victor Hugo.

“The Book of Job rises like a pyramid in the history of literature, without a predecessor and without a rival.” Philip Schaff.

The oldest book of Scripture talks of our need for an intercessor, Someone between God and man, Jesus Christ….

““Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬-‭34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The cure of anxiety: trust in the Father’s care.

“as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I NEEDED THE QUIET

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside,

Into the shadows where we could confide.

Away from the bustle where all the day long

I hurried and worried when active and strong.

I needed the quiet though at first I rebelled

But gently, so greatly, my cross He upheld,

And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things

Though weakened in body, my spirit took wings

The heights never dreamed of when active and gay.

He loved me so greatly He drew me away.

I needed the quiet. No prison my bed,

But a beautiful valley of blessings instead—

A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide.

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside.

Alice Hansche Mortenson.

“to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“It will always be new; it will never decay. No night ever comes; it will always be day.

How it gladdens my heart with joy that’s untold

To think of that land where nothing grows old.“

Stop looking at the present and start for Him to come…

My life in God—-that’s salvation!

My life with God—-that’s communion and fellowship.

My life for God—-that’s service.

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”
‭‭II John‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Love is that in God which existed before He would care to exercise mercy or grace. Mercy on the other hand, is that in God which duly provided for the need of the sinful man. Grace is that in Him which acts freely to save because all the demands of holiness have been satisfied.” Dr. Lewis Sherry Chafer.

God can say, “I am love, and I am rich in mercy. I love you, and I have provided by My mercy a Saviour for you.”

Will you trust Him???

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Christianity is not a religion. It is Person- Jesus Christ! If you have Jesus, you have salvation, not religion…

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“I am this dark world’s light.

Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,

And all thy days be bright.”

I looked to Jesus , and I found

In Him my star, my sun,

And in that light of life I’ll walk,

Till traveling days are done.

“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”

—Horatius Bonar

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Upon a life I did not live,

Upon a death I did not die,

Another’s life, Another’s death,

I stake my whole eternity.

It is finished, yes, indeed;

Finished, every jot!

Sinner, this is all you need!

Tell me, is it not?

—Author unknown.

Jesus did it all…

I hear the accuser roar

Of ills I have done;

I know them well, and thousands more,

Jehovah findeth none.

Though the restless foe accuses—

Sins recounting like a flood,

Ev’ry charge our God refuses;

Christ has answered with His blood.

—Author unknown

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Oh,joy! oh, delight! Should we go without dying,

No sickness, no sadness, no dread and no crying,

Caught up through the clouds with our Lord into glory,

When Jesus receives “His own.”

O Lord Jesus, how long, how long

Ere we shout the glad song, Christ returneth!

Hallelujah! hallelujah! Amen, Hallelujah! Amen.

“Christ Returneth” – H.L. Turner.

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Man or woman, pulpit or pew, the vital question for us today, “Lovest thou me?”

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

These verses are the key to the gospel of John.

John is not attempting to write a biography of Jesus. He has not given us information about Jesus that the other gospel writers left out.

John wrote so we might “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.”

It is through believing that you receive life and are born again. You and I become a child of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ…

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Facts! Our salvation is based on our relationship to those facts and to the Person of Jesus Christ. Do you trust Him? Do you have faith in what He did on the cross? Do you believe He died to redeem you?

“Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.””
‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Hebrew- the language of religion…

Greek- the language of culture and education…

Latin- the language of law and order…

This sign was written for the whole world. Jesus died for the whole world.

This is the Gospel!

This is the hope of the world…

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Peace can only be found in Jesus Christ, in the person of Jesus Christ. There is trouble in the world, but we can have victory and joy with the peace of God.

Overcome the world by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Do it today, because tomorrow could be too late…

““I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

1. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth has come.

2. He will guide you into all truth.

3. He will not speak of Himself.

4. He shall speak whatsoever He shall hear.

5. He will show you things to come.

6. He shall glorify Jesus.

7. He shall receive of mine and show it unto you.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“I am THE WAY..” Jesus is saying He is the way! No church or ritual can bring you to God. Jesus is the way. You are either in Christ or not, you either have Him or not. You either trust Him or you don’t.

“The TRUTH..” Jesus said He is the truth!

“And the LIFE..” Jesus is the source of all Life!

“No one comes to the Father, except through Me.” With this verse Jesus ends all cults and false religions. The ONLY way to God is through Jesus Christ! A statement that is dogmatic. Be dogmatic, Jesus certainly is!

Believe on Him today…

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””
‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“These Christians are very strange people. They meet together in an empty room to worship. They do not have an image. They speak of One by the name of Jesus, who is absent, but whom they seem to be expecting at any time. And my how they love Him and how they love one another.” A report from spies for the Roman government.

Is this the report that would come back from your church if spies were sent???…

““Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.”
‭‭

“He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But none of the ransomed ever knew

How deep were the waters crossed;

Or how dark was the night the Lord passed through

Ere He found His sheep that was lost.”

“The Ninety and Nine.” – Elizabeth C. Clephane

“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“As Martha stands for service, and Lazarus for communion, so Mary shows us the worship of a grateful heart. Others before her had come to His feet to have their need met; she came to give Him His due. Though two of the evangelists record her act, John alone gives her name.” C.I. Scofield.

“Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.””
‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God never does, or suffers to be done

But what we would ourselves,

Could we just see through all events of things

As well as He.

How God Speaks to Us, by David Hocking

God speaks to us today through the Bible. Do you believe that?

Can I tell you that God spoke to me this morning? Yes I can. How did He do that? Was it an audible voice? No. Well how did He do that? Through His word, He spoke to my heart this morning. In fact, I’ve noticed He does every day! Sometimes I am more belligerent one day than another, and I don’t see clearly all that God wants me to see, but God does speak every day to me through His word IF I open it!

The essential nature of the Christian life in terms of growth and our salvation is that you have to depend upon the Bible-God’s final, complete, written revelation-to know what He wants you to do. Again, if you want to hear God speak, open His Word, the Bible. That is the way He’s going to speak. And He holds you accountable for it now. All the way through that Bible He holds you accountable for it. You are supposed to listen to what He says in this book.

Psalm 119, all 176 verses, is a testimony as to how God speaks to us through the word. There are 22 sections of 8 verses each, totaling 176 verses. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and every section of eight verses begins with a word whose first letter is that letter of the alphabet in sequential order. For instance, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is aleph. There are 8 verses that begin Psalm 119, verses 1 to 8. Every verse in the Hebrew begins with a word whose first letter is aleph. When you come to the second section, verses 9 to 16, it’s beth. And every verse begins with a word whose first letter is beth. And it goes that way straight through the Hebrew alphabet. Many people who have studied that passage in Hebrew say that if there ever was a reason to believe that the Bible is the word of God, it is because of Psalm 119. Human ingenuity just could not have done that. It is incredible, and God’s ability is beyond fantastic!

“how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I do not work my soul to save—

That work my Lord has done.

But I will work like any slave

For love of God’s dear Son.

—Author unknown.

“And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When the storm is raging high,

When the tempest rends the sky,

When my eyes with tears are dim,

Then, my soul, consider Him.

When my plans are in the dust,

When my dearest hopes are crushed,

When is passed each foolish whim,

Then, my soul, consider Him.

When with dearest friends I part,

When deep sorrow fills my heart,

When pain rocks each weary limb,

Then, my soul, consider Him.

When I track my weary way,

When fresh trials come each day,

When my faith and hope are dim,

Then, my soul, consider Him.

Clouds or sunshine, dark or bright,

Evening shades or morning light,

When my cup flows over the brim,

Then, my soul, consider Him.

“Consider Him”- Author unknown.

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“There is something wrong with you if you can’t walk out and look up at the mountains, or go down to the seashore and look at the sea, or look up into the heavens and recognize that there is a Creator. My friend, if the created universe is not saying something to you about a Creator, there is something radically wrong with your thinking.”

J.Vernon McGee.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A believer is saved by the grace of God, but don’t sit down and pat yourself on the back, do some kind of good work. “Be careful to maintain good works.”

Here is your trip planner, get saved, do good works.

Ponder, meditate, ruminate on this verse- Be anxious to do good works for God…

“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”
‭‭II Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We mutter and sputter;

We fume and we spurt;

We mumble and grumble;

Our feelings get hurt.

We can’t understand things;

Our vision grows dim,

When all that we need

Is a moment with Him.

—Mary Helen Anderson.

“Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.”
‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A careless word may kindle strife;

A cruel word may wreck a life.

A bitter word may hate instill;

A brutal word may smite and kill.

A gracious word may smooth the way;

A joyous word may light the day.

A timely word may lessen stress;

A loving word may heal and bless.

—Author unknown.

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Life is to be mastered by faith, and not by doubt; it is to be forevermore illuminated by hope, and not darkened by despair; and in its activity love is to be practiced in fellowship.” Dr. G. Campbell Morgan.

If you have ever attended a worship service you probably have an opinion about the music.  You may prefer “contemporary” styles over the more “traditional” ones, or vice versa.  Certain instruments, like drums or pipe organs, have their proponents and critics.  Paradoxically, younger people, with good hearing, favor loud music more than older people who don’t hear as well.  And certainly, music has changed over the years.  What our children consider “regular” church music was not what we had as kids, and our grandparents would tell us things were very different in their day.

A divide exists between the Old Testament and the New Testament regarding music.  The Old Testament describes the use of harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets to accompany worship songs (1 Chronicles 13:8; 16:42, Psalm 150).  This practice continued after the return from Babylonian exile (Ezra 3:10; Nehemiah 12:35).  Apparently, dancing was also acceptable (Psalm 149:3; 150:4).  

The New Testament has only a few references to musical instruments and dancing (Luke 7:32; 15:25; Revelation 8:2), but not in the context of worship.  Singing, on the other hand, was encouraged whenever God was praised, not just in formal worship (Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; Hebrews 2:12).

The early church did not worship with musical instruments simply because services were held in homes.  Subsequently, as church buildings began to replace homes as the site of worship, considerable debate arose about the role of musical instruments.  Thomas Aquinas (circa 1260 AD) objected to the use of instruments because it was a backward movement into Jewish worship, and he also felt instruments moved the soul more towards pleasure than to an inner moral goodness¹.   Erasmus (circa 1520) complained instruments made it impossible for the congregation to hear what was sung.  John Calvin (circa 1562) often blamed the Pope for using musical instruments to mimic Jewish services; Calvin also believed such use profaned worship because people were more attracted to the music than to the understanding of God’s word.

Several Christian denominations initially banned all musical instruments from their churches.  The Churches of Christ interpreted Colossians 2:21-23 as placing musical instruments in the category of man-made devices to be avoided, along with hand-clapping.  Amish and Mennonite churches were initially devoid of instruments, preferring to sing a cappella; some groups felt playing instruments was so sinful that the ban extended in members’ homes.  Today, some of these churches have relaxed their ban on instruments.

I have been in many different churches.  At one end of the spectrum is a small church of 15 elderly people trying to sing Amazing Grace while the pianist played When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.  Though I wished they had been Mennonites, I found myself intently focusing on the words of Amazing Grace, not the piano notes.  At the other end of the spectrum is a high decibel band overriding the singing of a young congregation.  I managed to pray until the song ended, using biblical words on the screen.  If I had shut myself completely out of either worship experience, I might have come away with an empty feeling.  Instead, I made a genuine effort to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  I received a blessing afterwards when I met church members who were committed Christians.  The blessing was not in the encounters; rather it was in the realization of being brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of the type of worship music.

You probably have an ear for music.  Take my advice, do not allow the ear to become dominant over the heart for worship.

 

¹  https://www.saralandchristians.com/sermons/2021/8/2  and https://reformedbooksonline.com

² https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/mayjune

Luke 15: 11-32

“Come home with me,” said the prodigal son.

“We’ll sing and dance and have lots of fun.

“We’ll wine and dine with women and song.

You’ll forget you’re a pig before very long.”

So the pig slipped out while the momma was asleep,

Shook off the mud from the mire so deep.

Around his neck was a bow so big,

He’s gonna show the world, a pig’s not a pig!

With his snout in the air he trotted along,

With the prodigal son who was singing’ a song.

It must be great to be a rich man’s son,

He would surely find out ‘fore the day was done.

It didn’t take him long to realize his mistake-

He’d been rubbed and scrubbed till his muscles ached!

He squealed when they put a gold ring in his nose

And winched with pain when they trimmed his toes.

He sat at the table on a stool so high,

A bib around his neck and a fork to try,

While the prodigal son, in his lovely robe,

Kept feeding his face, so glad to be home!

When the meat came around, the pig gave a moan-

It looked too much like a kind of his own.

He jumped from his chair with a grunt and a groan,

Darted through the door and headed for home.

His four little feet made the dust ride high

For he didn’t stop till he reached that sty!

It’s what’s on the inside that counts, my friend,

For a pig is a pig to the very end!

— Evelyn C. Sanders

“who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Brightness,” the outshining, brilliance, radiant splendor- Jesus Christ!

The rays of the sun gives warmth and light, revealing to us the physical sun. No one has ever seen God, but we can see God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Computers have been around for a long time¹.  Around 2000 BC the Chinese invented the Abacus board to calculate simple arithmetic solutions.  In 1642 Blaise Pascal developed the first automated mechanical calculator.  The Differential Analyzer appeared in 1930 as the first electrical computer, able to perform 25 calculations in a matter of minutes.  The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was built in 1946; a general-purpose device capable of adding 5,000 numbers per second.  ENIAC had no internal storage, so six women were assigned to write programs each time it ran.

Today, our cell phones have more computing power than these early machines.  Computers now drive our cars, calculate the route from one point to another, and even interpret medical X-rays.  A new term has been added to our vocabulary, artificial intelligence refers to a digital computer or computer-controlled robot that does tasks usually associated with human intelligence. 

Recently, a CBS News program, Sixty Minutes, revealed just how far artificial intelligence has come².   Google unveiled Bard, a machine that can teach itself to think.  For example, when programmed with basic chess moves, it played millions of matches per day, coming up with some winning strategies never encountered in human matches.  A similar approach was used in robots learning how to play soccer.

When asked to summarize the New Testament, it took Bard only five seconds to answer in 17 words, “The New Testament is the story of God’s love for humanity, which was revealed through Jesus Christ.”  It is the kind of reply you might find written on a seminary exam, but not in five seconds.  Bard’s artificial intelligence took a word, then searched its databases for the next associated word, and formulated its result into a concise sentence. 

The CEO of Google confessed artificial intelligence will only be as good, or as evil, as human nature allows.  Therein lies a caveat.  How you program a computer will influence the result.  For instance, an atheist might input different databases to arrive at a very different summary of the New Testament.  A scientific database can account for creation.  Disparate expressions of love exist through the ages and cultures.  Buddha, Confucius, and Gandhi spoke like Jesus.  Thus, the atheist computer states the New Testament is a fictional story.

Christians recognize the Bible as the authoritative revelation of God.  Suppose, though, a skeptic used algorithms to locate seeming inconsistencies in the Bible.  God’s love is inconsistent; He loved Abel more than Cain (Genesis 4:4) and the Israelites more than the Midianites (Numbers 25:16).  Jesus revealed a love for everyone; an adulteress (John 8:4) and enemies (Luke 6:27), but He also told parables about killing unjust tenants and servants (Mark 12:9; Luke 19:27).  The skeptic’s computer therefore concludes the New Testament is unreliable.

What would be the response if the atheist’s or skeptic’s viewpoints, mentioned above, were posted in an email or on Facebook?  I suspect there would be a few challenges; but many individuals might consider the ideas to be valid because they were generated by computer analysis. 

There is little value in debating a computer program; it is, after all, artificial intelligence.  A better choice might be to confront the computer programmer, who dwells in a darkness where we once lived (John 1:4, 5).  Our story is the story of the New Testament: by God’s love and through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we have come into the light (John 3:21).  It is a story of how God deprogrammed our artificial intelligence, rebooted our spirit, and gave us the storage capacity for the truth.  A truth we ought to share with everyone.

¹ https://www.toppr.com/guides/computer-aptitude-and-knowledge/basics-of-computers/history-of-computers²https://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-artificial-intelligence-future-60-minutes-transcript-2023-04-16/
—

Keep the SON in your eyes

Tom

‘And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. ‘ Luke 8:26 NKJV.

MAN OF THE TOMBS
Words & Music: Bob Bennett
© 1989 Matters Of The Heart Music (ASCAP)

Man of the tombs
He lives in a place where no one goes
And he tears at himself
And lives with a pain that no one knows
He counts himself dead among the living
He knows no mercy and no forgiving
Deep in the night he’s driven to cry out loud
Can you hear him cry out loud?

Man of the tombs
Possessed by an unseen enemy
He breaks every chain
And mistakes his freedom for being free
Shame and shamelessness equally there
Like a random toss of a coin in the air
Man of the tombs, he’s driven to cry out loud

Underneath this thing that I’ve become
A fading memory of flesh and blood
I curse the womb, I bless the grave
I’ve lost my heart, I cannot be saved
Like those who fear me, I’m afraid
Like those I’ve hurt, I can feel pain
Naked now before my sin
And these stones that cut against my skin
Some try to touch me, but no one can
For man of the tombs I am

“A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.” A. W. Tozer.

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭21‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The WILL of the LORD be done.” Amen…

Picture yourself tied to a tree, condemned of the sins of eternity.

Then picture a spear parting the air, seeking your heart to end your despair.

Suddenly-a knight in armor of white, stands in the gap betwixt you and its flight,
And shedding his Armor of God for you – bears the lance that runs him through.
His heart has been pierced that yours may beat, and the blood of His corpse washes your feet.

Picture yourself in raiment white, cleansed by the blood of the lifeless knight.

Never to mourn the Prince who was downed, For He is not Lost!

It is you who are found.

“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Search the Scriptures!!!

“Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭16‬:‭30‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Interest [on debt] never sleeps nor sickens nor dies; it never goes to the hospital; it works on Sundays and holidays; it never takes a vacation; it never visits nor travels; it takes no pleasure; it is never laid off work nor discharged from employment; it never works on reduced hours. … Once in debt, interest is your companion every minute of the day and night; you cannot shun it or slip away from it; you cannot dismiss it; it yields neither to entreaties, demands, or orders; and whenever you get in its way or cross its course or fail to meet its demands, it crushes you. J. Rueben Clark.

“Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.””
‭‭II Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts;”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.” F.B. Meyer

“praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Be persistent!!!…

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A couple of challenges given to the Chaplains, practice the “Theology of Presence,” and the “Ministry of Shut Up.”

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Trust in God’s Will for your life.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Trust in God’s Word for your life.

The second session covered, “Theological Foundations for Religious Liberty.” Some take aways. Align with Truth and live it out in your life. Live it out sincerely. Temporary authority/Eternal authority.

“Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭15‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬