The Devotional – A Look at the Book #638

Meditate on this!

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; John 17:20-28 If you have believed in Jesus, then He has prayed specifically for YOU. Read the context and find the oneness, the glory, the love and His desire for you in time and eternity.

Thoughts about Life

Yesterday morning I was making a purchase in a local bakery. I like the aromas of fresh baked pastry, don’t you? As I was waiting for the order to be completed a mom brought her to young boys in for their weekly morning treat. Immediately their young faces were plastered to the glass case and with eyes wide open they scanned every cookie, tart and chocolate éclair. Mom stood behind watching and I said; “these are precious memory moments for your children, as I see my grandfather and me in your boys; and she nodded. My heart found its way back to a five year boy, when most Sunday morning he would be with his grandfather, walking to the German bakery in our neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky. Chocolate and cherry kuchen was the standard order for my poppy and we would hurry home for some of the best Sunday mornings of a young child’s life. The young girl with her children allowed the boys to pick whatever they wanted and it seemed that the oldest boy (at least I thought so) looked to me for approval on his selection. I gave a little nod and he smiled, the smaller boy said that he wanted the chocolate, chocolate and by interpretation from his mom, it was the much larger chocolate muffin with chocolate frosting which he and his mom would share. Maybe it is because I am aged, but there are no greater moments in time, then to see people enjoying family life and oh yes; I missed my grandfather that morning. At the time I think he was younger than I am today. What a hoot!

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 11-15 – How does a person charm a snake, most of us will run in the other direction and have you noticed; we do the same thing if we see a babbler coming in our direction. Babblers are different then the wise man and I am sure that you have noticed this as well. The wise measures his words with grace, he also uses his words to comfort, too give purpose and too open or close off communication when the topics become worthless. However the babbler is a keen fence straddle, he knows how to make sounds that sway the hearer and poison the moment. Proverbs 4:14-19

Verses 16-20 – There is nothing new under the sun, but it does seem that humanity as a whole has missed the boat on this. We tend to think that because we have the “android” the “I-pod” and the “pea-pod” that being under the sun is different for us. Absolutely; not so! Our governors and leaders curse the land they control by coming in late and feasting long, using assets that belong to the land. A people at work in large numbers will be a blessing to a governor; but many out of work are his curse. Proverbs 14:28  

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #637

Meditate on this!

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:7-11 Knowing God by His Love.

Thoughts about Life

We will be getting back to the Ukrainian trip, I am just waiting for a few incoming details about the trip before I continue. I was thinking about a statement I read by the Evangelical Center of Buffalo, NY; a Russian/Ukrainian Ministry. “We have come this far by faith” The ministry is celebrating 100 years of serving the LORD. There are several of these ministries in the United States and around the world. The nearest ministry to us here in Connecticut is the Russian/Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Union (RUEBU) located in Ashford, CT. The ministry houses retired pastors, teachers and other professionals of Russian and Ukrainian nationality. They also house other elderly people based on availability and they host churches that would like to have retreats, conferences and camps. Also they have a full service cafeteria, bungalows and barrack type housing for weekend groups. When I worked in Ashford I met Steve and Sally who at the time were the assistant directors. We had opportunity through them to use the facility on several occasions. The Baptist Union as it is commonly known reminds me of the Christian Servicemen Centers that minister to the military around the world. It is in ministries like these that my faith found anchorage. Yes; we have come this far by faith, but I know that faith will not stop at the doorstep of death. The transition from life to death and life again will be; “I know my Redeemer lives for I shall see Him as He is.” Job 19:23-29; Hebrews 6:11-12 and Hebrews 9:27-28.

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 8-10 – Here the king of Israel gives us an insight to his work ethics… he is not afraid to get his hands dirty. In a nearby town there is a government training center to teach people how to labor. Now I know that the center is more than just teaching men and women how to dig holes and fill it again, but at first I would joke about the center in that way. The training center is actually teaching folks how to cleanup after a terrorist attack and other natural emergencies that we face daily.

So a good king with a strong government will establish the guidelines for survival. Digging holes, splitting wood and keeping tools in good repair will keep injuries to a minimum and it will bring success to each task because wisdom is involved. However; too much government over these details of life is not good. This is just good common sense for most of the folks my age have grown up with these abilities since our fathers and grandfathers have taught us.

I am convinced that there would be no need of Homeland Security (now I am not talking about the military; we need a strong military) but this: If fathers would be fathers and mothers would be mothers to their children there would not be abortion clinics or pro-life care net centers. There would not be schools where each child is searched for concealed weapons, there would not be on an epidemic scale legal and illegal drug abuse. God, family, discipline and integrity: the cornerstones of life have been rounded off to a liberal interpretation that is much like the proverbial snowball gathering speed, size and strength. The crash is imminent and you just may be there to see and feel the crash.

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #636

Papa “J” May Say

Some of the most professional people I’ve met are volunteers, they ask for nothing; but give much! Therefore these folks do not need much; yet a Thank You would be nice!

Thoughts about Life

I thought we should take a break from this trip this morning since I am preparing to leave the house soon. We have a development in one of our towns that is catching a lot of light. It seems that a local police department is being discredited by some cultural activists that the police department has singled these folks out and harass them; however if you watch this unfold as the media tells it, I simply wonder who is doing the harassing? The group of people who in many cases do not speak good English, who travel in unregistered vehicles and do not have a driver’s license feel that they are targeted or singled out wrongly by the officers. Even the political officials are being attacked for their comments. I wonder… if I said I was going home to have a hamburger for supper; would some Texan send me 500 hamburgers in sort of an in your face reaction to prove that I was harassing him for my impromptu remark. What are we doing with all of this nonsense? As Americans, we are in a life or death battle for freedom, not with our soldiers who are made to fight wars against what we term as terrorism; or evil; but there is another more fierce war that cost the American more than his or her tax dollars, but our very homeland.

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 5-7 – Dead flies in the perfume, folly in mans heart instead of sound wisdom, foolish gestures on every street corner and a government that is failing too man the post. Words spoken these days are in hast and without proper content, therefore there is no healing message in the land or community. These errors surface in the messages of the rulers, but it is by far the fault of the citizen, since we the citizen have become like the sluggard or the slothful found in Proverbs 6:9; 12:24; 12:27; 13:4; 19:24; 24:30 and 26:16.

If you have been to the Capital city you will see much history, all of which is laced in the Living Word of God. Verses of scripture on the buildings and statues, Statesmen of the past with testimonies of faith in God and valor above and beyond the calls of duty and honor, but today this dignity takes a back seat, our national heritage is viewed as ERROR while the real ERROR proceeds from the mouth of current leadership. Yes there is nothing new under the sun, but this does not mean that the sun should go down on this nation and when the sun comes up on the morrow that the moral of the story should be any different than the promises of our forefathers.

If we do not return to the grassroots of this nation, you can count on seeing the rich sitting in lowly places while the servants ride horses on the streets outside Churchill Downs. Like horses belong in places where horses belong; simply meaning that… servants have a place of belonging too!

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #635

Papa “J” May Say

Psalm 128:1 states this: Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. This would not be a blessing of the moment or of the hour. It is the result of living in the abundant life, promised by Jesus Christ. John 14:12-18

Thoughts about Life

The teen was very quiet and did not want to talk, but eventually I said. “Why did you change seats”? He explained that his elder wanted to talk with the man that was seated next to me and that he was sitting next to the elder for most of the trip. “I see!” but in by mind I was thinking that my friend was either under conviction or just got tired of talking with me. Our last meal before landing came. “I watched the teen as he apparently did not care about the blessing of the rabbis. He began tearing open his packages. I could not contain myself, “I see that you are going to eat that sandwich and I notice that rabbi So-so is not someone is of your faith, my friend of earlier would not eat that”. The boy looked stunned; then at me and the sandwich, he was apparently hungry. I thought that maybe it was a blessing in disguise that he was forced to set away from the group so I said. Hey, so who’s watching… go ahead eat it and give me the wrapper. If anyone says anything, we will just tell them that I ate it”. He smiled and in three bites the first half of the sandwich was gone, he gave me the crackers which were blessed by the same guy, but he ate the rest of his meal. Other than this I did not have much conversation with the youngster and he seemed content with that. The plane landed, but I do know that the Jewish group was bound for Russia and we did not see them again.

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 3-4 – Have you ever played the fool? I know I have and if you are not willing to lie to yourself you will say; “yes” as well. This does not mean that you are a fool; it just means that you know how to be one. The one who practices foolishness is one who shows everyone he meets that he is a fool. The scripture clearly states that the fool says in his own heart that there is no God and Psalm 14:1 goes on to say that these folks are corrupt, doing abominable works and experience nothing good. The verse in Psalms actually establishes the perquisites for being a fool. One: no fear of God; Two: Everything done by them is corrupt; Three: They are an abomination to everyone around them; and Four: They are not capable of doing any good, so everything done by them is classified as EVIL.

Fools are found in all walks of life; they rule over nations, over cities and towns. They are found in the market place, on the street corners and even in the gutters. This does not mean that all of our rulers and governors, or professionals are fools, It simply means as you well know that a fool can be found anywhere you place your foot. The fact is, that the state flags with the snake and the words… &ldquoon’t tread on me” are tracked heavily these days with the footprints of fools. Solomon says: “don’t give up the ship, stand your ground and that healing is available. Be like Nehemiah who rebuilt the Jerusalem wall with a weapon in one hand a hammer in the other and a prayer in his heart.

We need and army of Nehemiah types! Why? Because the fool’s cry of there is no God is getting louder and louder in this land of the free. Many are following the fool’s damaging footsteps on our soil, on our flag and our future. The liberal sounds of the times sound good and as we have heard many times. If it sounds too good to be true, then it is too good to be true.

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #634

Papa “J” May Say

A short term missions trip could be seen as a vacation with a purpose and maybe it is for some. However; the LORD Jesus in the back drop of Eternity, did not take a vacation in coming to earth. Need we say more? John 10:10

Thoughts about Life

I admit that the thought of writing out a need or request and placing that request in some religious book or commentary seemed to me a bit off the mark. I determined to zero in on my friends religious efforts and began asking him how he might like to have a better and more personal relationship with God. His answers were in line with his theology; God is the Creator and controller of time and He has no personal relationship with people. Bad things happen to good people simply because God is not concerned with any one individual’s health or trauma. So I asked him; “who then extended the life of Hezekiah’s by fifteen years when he became sick” and what about Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son who suffered trauma at a young age. (2 Kings 20 and 2 Samuel 4) The references supplied here but not on the plane. My friend did not have an answer, so he excused himself and became involved with a conversation with some of his people. Also it was time for more prayer and more bobbing and weaving. When this prayer session was over my friend did not return but sent a younger (teen) to sit in his seat next to me. We are only three hours from Kiev at this point.

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 1-2 – Literally Solomon says that “flies of death” putrefy the perfumer’s ointment and this reminds me of the freshness of the air we breathe. The purified air on a submarine is healthier than the fresh air when the sub is surfaced and the hatches are open. The fresh air will even have a foul odor to the sub sailor who has been breathing purified air for a long period of time. Likewise; when righteous people behave with foolishness, their honor and integrity becomes an open target for the flies of death and an odious stench will develop.

Being right handed or left handed is not the issue here, but integrity is. That is, if you are right handed and try to toss a ball with your left hand you will be less effective in sending the ball to the intended destination. So it is with honor and integrity; we know what is right and what is wrong. Never let your weak hand know what your dominate hand is doing and you will not be foolish in your dealings with mankind, or God. Matthew 6:1-4 the deeds of the Spirit and the flesh are evident too the world around us.