What will you do during your dash? Billy Dean reminds us that we are only here for a little while.

Mike Linch at North Star Church in Kennesaw, GA spoke to the graduating seniors there on Sunday May, 19th. He said something very intriguing. He talked to them about what they would do during the dash, or how they would spend their dash.

Everyone has a dash. Walk through a cemetery and you will see the dash that belongs to others. My dad’s dash looks like this: 1911 – 2001.

For most inhabitants of planet Earth, the dash is complete, but if you are reading this, you are still working on your dash.

We never know, however, when time will run out and our dash will be complete.

Pastor Linch impressed upon the graduating seniors that choices they make now will determine how they fill in this period that eventually will be marked with a dash. The choice they make concerning Jesus Christ will be a tremendous factor in how this period of time is filled.

This morning I read 2 Chronicles 16:9. 

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…2 Chronicles 16:9

Personally, I need a LORD who will “show Himself strong” on my behalf. I am unable to handle the overwhelming problems that life presents today. As sheep need a shepherd, I, too, need a Shepherd.

Jesus said:

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:14-15

If we would have our dash to be truly meaningful, according to the word of God, we must do two things. First we must take up our cross and secondly, we must follow Jesus Christ.

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Matthew 10:36

Have you put on the coat He offers you?

Max Lucado is one of the most prolific and moving writers of our time. In his book, He Chose the Nails, Lucado tells how God came down from heaven and exchanged His coat for ours. He took off his coat of righteousness and put on our coat of sin and degradation. He offers us His coat and puts on ours. While dressed in our sin, he walked the Via Dolorosa all the way to Calvary. He accepted the shame, the suffering, the disgrace, pain, the agony, and finally death so that we could wear His coat and be dressed correctly for the banquet to which we are invited.

Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed [are] those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:9

We won’t be allowed at the banquet without proper clothing.

But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 22:11-13

If you don’t know Jesus; do not know who He is, the Aramaic translation of the Bible might be interesting for you to read. I like how it tells us plainly what Jesus said about Himself:

John 10: 7 But again Yeshua said to them, “Timeless truth I speak to you; I AM THE LIVING GOD, The Gate of the flock.” 8“And all who had come were thieves and robbers, but the flock did not hear them.” 9“I AM THE LIVING GOD, The Gate; if anyone will enter by me, he shall live and shall go in and out and shall find the pasture.” 10“But a thief does not come except to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have whatever is abundant.”

11“I AM THE LIVING GOD, The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his flock.”

Previously, in Chapter 9, we have the story of Jesus healing the blind man and the Jewish leaders were angry because Christ had healed on the Sabbath. After this event, Jesus again reveals his deity by allowing the man to worship Him.

Christ and The Pharisees

35 And Yeshua heard that they had cast him out, and he found him and said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36He who had been healed answered and said, “Who is He, my lord, that I may trust in him?” 37Yeshua said to him, “You have seen him, and he is The One who is speaking with you.” 38But he said, “I believe, my Lord”, and falling down, he worshiped him. 39 And Yeshua said, “For the judgment of this world I have come, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 40And those of the Pharisees who had been with him heard these things and they said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41Yeshua said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin, but now you say, ‘We see.’ Because of this, your sin stands.”

If you have not read, He Chose the Nails, I  hope you will do so. Only God can forgive sin and put us in right standing with Him. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and a member of the Godhead. We owe Him our love, our allegiance, and our lives.

Related articles

• Yeshua Speaks Sharp Words to the Proud Religious Law-Keepers (rocksolidministry.wordpress.com)
• The Last Time Yeshua Goes into Jerusalem (rocksolidministry.wordpress.com)
• Our Identity is in Yeshua ( Spring 2013 Messianic Conference in Ukraine ) (barryboucher.typepad.com)

Jesus, God With Us

Jesus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Philippians 2:5-11  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,  being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross!9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

Although Jesus is and was, God, because He humbled Himself and came to earth as a man, God the Father exalted Him to the highest place. The name Jesus is above every name.

Planned Parenthood’s Statement – A Perfect Example of Life in Up-side-down Land

Abortion ‘rights’ & Roe vs Wade had nothing to do with what happened in Gosnell’s abortion clinic. If you don’t believe this, just ask Planned Parenthood. Here is what they had to say:

 “The jury has punished Kermit Gosnell for his appalling crimes. This verdict will ensure that no woman is victimized by Kermit Gosnell ever again.

“This case has made clear that we must have and enforce laws that protect access to safe and legal abortion, and we must reject misguided laws that would limit women’s options and force them to seek treatment from criminals like Kermit Gosnell.”

–Eric Ferrero, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Vice President for Communications

If you thought we already had those laws, perhaps this statement makes you feel a little weird. You may even feel as if you are walking around in up-side-down land. This is how you are supposed to feel.

You see, in up-side-down land you live as if what is true isn’t really true at all and everything is opposite of what it really is. You figure out how to feel and what to say as you go along and nothing makes a lot of sense. This is because the people who want to go on killing babies in the mother’s womb do not want to think about reality. They prefer to believe that these women had to go to Gosnell because their right to abortion was limited rather than admit abortion in every state in the U.S. is legal. Talk of back-room abortion is how they gained the right to kill the babies in the first place. If women are still dying and babies are actually being born alive when abortion is legal, the argument for legalizing abortion is out the window. They might have to acknowledge that killing the pre-born not only takes the life of the infant, it risks the life of the mother when it is legal. They might even conclude that this isn’t what they should be doing for a living.

Another sign we are in up-side-down land was the none mention of the other victim of Gosnell’s crimes. Planned Parenthood never mentioned the persons who were murdered. Kermit Gosnell is convicted of three counts of first degree murder and there is no mention of the person’s murdered. It would be awkward for an organization like “Planned” Parenthood to decide what to call this “person” when their actual ‘plan’ involves NOT becoming a parent and NOT ACKNOWLEDGING that a person exist. It is much more convenient to step into up-side-down land. 

Related articles

• Planned Parenthood Forget to Mention the Babies (independentsentinel.com)
• Evil: Planned Parenthood, NARAL use Gosnell verdict to demonize pro-lifers, justify abortion (twitchy.com)
• The Lethal Compassion of Modern Liberalism (commentarymagazine.com)
• Planned Parenthood Forgot to Mention the Babies (independentsentinel.com)
• READ: Planned Parenthood Releases Statement on Gosnell Verdict (foxnewsinsider.com)
• Kermit Gosnell found guilty in abortion trial: a victory for human rights that will shame many (blogs.telegraph.co.uk)
• Colorado Decriminalizes Gosnell Abortion Methods – No Rights For Unborns (dcxposed.com)
• Planned Parenthood Knew About Gosnell Clinic’s Conditions – And Did Nothing (pjmedia.com)

Hebrews Chapter One –

Hebrews is one of my favorite books in the Bible.

There is tremendous truth found throughout the book, however, the first chapter, alone, contains a wealth of information.

The first four verses make up one long sentence with four indisputable facts about Jesus Christ.

We learn that Christ Jesus:

• Is the visible manifestation of God.

• Was present at and involved in the act of creation.

• Is the One who upholds all of Creation.

• Is not an angel, as some cults claim.

In verse five we learn that as a member of the Godhead, He has a special relationship with the Father.  The cult known as ‘Jehovah’s Witness’ have confused many because they have misunderstood or misused the term ‘begotten son’ in this verse. Here is an explanation made by one Greek scholar:

The term “begotten” is an English translation of a Greek word. 

The phrase “only begotten” translates the Greek word monogenes…. As such, we have to look at the original meaning of the Greek word, (and) not transfer English meanings into the text.

So what does monogenes mean? According to the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BAGD, 3rd Edition), monogenes has two primary definitions. The first definition is “pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship.” This is the meaning attached to its use in Hebrews 11:17 when the writer refers to Isaac as Abraham’s “only begotten son.” Abraham had more than one son, but Isaac was the only son he had by Sarah and the only son of the covenant. Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/only-begotten-son.html#ixzz2SorGbUtr

The author goes on to explain that the meaning in Greek doesn’t include our meaning of “produced or created”. Christ has a unique relationship with God the Father. Other scriptures teach that Christ is the visible manifestation of the invisible God and that He is a member of the Godhead. We know that God, in the beginning said, “Let us make man in our image…” While the concept of three in one is too difficult for our finite minds, we know that this is what Christ taught and the Bible teaches.

I and My Father are One. John 10:30

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:7

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? John 14:9

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58

In Hebrews, chapter one, verse six tells us that the angels are told to worship Jesus Christ.

In verse eight, the writer refers to the Son being referred to as God, by the Father.

Verse nine tells us of His character, that He loves righteousness.

Verses 10-14 deal with the power that Christ has as well as making it completely certain that Jesus Christ can never be mistakenly thought of as an angel.

Hebrews 1:1God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 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, 4having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5  For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”?And again: “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”? 6But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” 7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.” 8But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.9You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” 10And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; 12Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.” 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Related articles

• A Plea for Christians to Read and Study Hebrews (nathanielrmartin.wordpress.com)
• His Name Is Jesus (focusedandfree.com)
• The Crucified Lord (wrob77.wordpress.com)
• In the name of “Jesus”? (adask.wordpress.com)

 

Mother of Sean Smith, Benghazi victim, says, “I need answers.”

Mother of Sean Smith, Benghazi victim, is looking for answers. So are many Americans.

The House Oversight Committee is  holding a hearing today, May 8, 2013. Will this administration continue to cover-up the truth or will there be answers for these families?

Imagine if a Republican President tried to cover up something as deadly and mismanaged as the attack on Benghazi. Do you think the media would cooperate the way they have done with the Obama administration?

Eric Holder, please know that ‘civil rights’ are the personal rights of individual citizens.

The words ‘civil rights’ indicates that these are rights that apply to citizens of a nation. Even legal immigrants are not guaranteed ‘civil rights’. These are reserved for citizens.

Listen to Eric Holder, former Attorney General of the United States, talk about immigration and citizenship in the U.S.

Doesn’t Holder know that as a nation we have always welcomed immigrants and made a pathway for legal immigrants to obtain civil rights or citizenship? Does he understand that some who come illegally come to harm us rather than to help us and that is why we set a standard for citizenship?

Americans must begin to think clearly and be able to discern truth from error and propaganda from reality if we are going to be able to remain a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people. Political rhetoric is being used as propaganda and clothed in emotional  terms that have always stirred the American people to action by this administration. Everything is political in the Obama administration and there is no sense of decency or fairness when it comes to those currently in office.

Think about what Holder said and listen to the applause. He has a following who agree with him. I, however, think that we should consider the use of the term, immigration status. The use of the term indicates that there is more than one way to become an immigrate to this country. Until the Obama administration it was pretty clear that a person could enter the country one of two ways, legally or illegally. Legal immigrants automatically came with certain privileges not enjoyed by those who entered illegally because they came into the country complying with our laws and identifying themselves. They also came accepting our “pathway to citizenship” that has been established for all who sincerely want to be citizens of this great nation.

Obama changed the terminology from “illegal” to “undocumented”. Most Americans caught on quickly that “undocumented” meant literally, “illegal”, so now it has been changed again to “unauthorized”.

If this is confusing to you, you might once again consider the term ‘civil’ rights.  Clear thinking is essential if we are to remain a free nation. Who is guaranteed civil rights under our constitution? – (citizens) Who is guaranteed a pathway to citizenship? – (those who come here seeking citizenship) If we decide as a nation to offer a pathway to any other group we as a nation are being generous and kind, but it should not be described as their “civil right!”

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