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Ecclesiastes 12:11 Here’s another installment of the quotes and sayings I’ve collected over the years. Read, ponder and be blessed! > The truth needs no apology so don’t give it one. > You miss 100 per cent of the shots you never take. – Wayne Gretzky > He who dies with the most stuff is still dead. > God is consistent but never predictable. > ...rote, rut, rot, the three terrible r’s of mere traditionalism. – A. T. Robertson > It isn’t so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted. > If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. – African proverb > Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you aren’t willing to move your feet. > Four things you can’t recover: The stone ... after it’s thrown. The word ... after it’s said. The occasion ... after it’s missed. The time ... after it’s gone. > God will never love you more than He does right now. ><> Jeff

John 17:12-19 This world, the domain of the devil, maintains a system whereby it works to perpetuate itself through an emphasis on all that’s human. Clinics and hospitals are beehives of activity for the healing of the body and extending life. Government programs abound which help feed, house and clothe the populace to provide a better life. Public schools provide secular education designed to support the existing society: the word of God is not taught, and increasingly prayer and even references to God are being forbidden. Through the media (TV, the web, social media, etc) the world pushes to remove all moral constraints with its continual offering of violence, provocative sexual images, and “alternative” lifestyles. Heroes are people who get revenge by their own incredible intelligence and physical prowess. Godly people are seen as weak, out of touch, and irrelevant. The message clearly presented is this: This world is all that matters! In this milieu stands the church, the community of believers. In our text, we observe that Christians have been sanctified (set apart) from all that is the world (vv 18-19). The church is visible proof that there is another way to live based upon different values and goals. The church affirms that humans are spirit beings who are destined for yet another world, one which holds the promise of peace, rest and great reward. The church stands against the evils of this world for the church has another message: “Jesus Christ is all that matters!” It is no wonder, then, that this world hates those who are of another world (v 14), and the evil one lurks about with full intention of destroying those who are of God (v 15). The church stands directly in the path of a self-serving world with a Word which will bring an end to all that the world stands for. The church is clearly counter culture. It is the roadblock on the world’s highway to self-destruction. Sad to say that so many are going around the roadblock without pausing even to ask why it is there. The world sees the church as its arch enemy not realizing at all that it truly is its best friend. ><> Jeff

Hebrews 2:14-18 When we consider the fact that it was God who became flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, we can easily be drawn into believing that He had little trouble in living a sinless life. After all, God is God, right? And nothing is too hard for God, right? The trouble with such a view is that Jesus wasn’t only God, but He was fully man, the Son of Man. The author of Hebrews says “...He had to be made like His brethren in all things...” Jesus was not a machine (a divine droid, if you will) which could override the physical demands of the body, ignore its emotional stirrings, and simply disregard the temptations of the flesh. He was fully man and had to be in order to stand as our Redeemer and High Priest before God. Observe these things from Jesus’ life, keeping in mind that He lived without a single transgression. Early in His ministry, Jesus became angry with those whose heart was hard and did not approve of His healing on the Sabbath (Mark 3:5). How easy it would have been to fly into a rage and strike down a couple of them. On another occasion, He became upset because His disciples could not cast out a certain evil spirit. He called their generation “unbelieving” and expressed exasperation: “How long shall I put up with you?” (Mark 9:19). During the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus wept over the city because of her inability to see what was happening at the moment and what was going to happen to her later (Luke 19:41-44). Then there was the cross. In Gethsemane, Jesus agonized over what was about to happen, His sweat becoming “like drops of blood” (Luke 22:40-44). The gravity of the hour, the impending ordeal, the knowledge of what was at stake - all this and more bore heavily on Jesus. No wonder He asked for that cup to be removed from Him. There was the betrayal, the mockings, the excruciating pain of the scourging and the cross. Jesus experienced all of these and more like any other human being. Yet, He did not sin. God in the flesh. Fully man. Perfect self-control. Absolute obedience. Faithfulness embodied. Overcoming sin. True love. Praise our Lord! ><> Jeff

Psalm 145 God is deserving of praise, and it is a good thing for the children of men to praise the Lord. Such do the scriptures teach. What, though, is the source of praise, the reason behind it? Is the praise of God something which we turn on and off like we do a CD or APP with hymns on it? When worshipers come together as God’s people, do they enter some kind of “worship zone” in which they begin to think about the Almighty and are moved to praise Him? What are the dynamics of God-honoring praise? Basically, two things are a must for appropriate praise for God. The first resides with the person of God. As one reads through Psalm 145, this first element of praise rises majestically from the text - the praiseworthiness of God! The glorious splendor and greatness of God are evident. His wondrous deeds done among mankind are well known. His character as a gracious and merciful Sovereign who maintains steadfast love toward His children is readily seen. His care for His creation and those in special circumstances of need are also well known. This is a God deserving of praise. The second element needed for this praise is the worshiper who has observed all of these things about God and even meditated on them (v 5). He is overwhelmed by the greatness of God. He is so moved by God’s majestic splendor that praise flows from his heart on a daily basis (v 2)! He sees the works of God in creation and knows those revealed in scripture. And He sees the hand of God moving in his own life and in those around him. He must even praise God “forever and ever.” When the church assembles, the true worshipers are not waiting for some song to stir their hearts, or for some word of prayer to move them, or some thought of the preacher to excite them. They are already moved by the greatness and majesty of God for He has blessed them all week, and they have seen Him at work in the lives of others. They are more than ready to join with their brothers and sisters in the assembly to give praise to their God.

Ecclesiastes 12:11 Here’s another installment from the quotes and sayings I’ve collected over the years. Learn and enjoy! > Love is lovely when it’s easy, but it’s truer when it’s hard. > The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. – Elie Wiesel > Everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself. – Leo Tolstoy > Life is a series of choices which reveal what you really want. > “One who talks a lot may hear nothing.” – Old saying of the Native American Abenaki tribe of northeastern U.S. > Time is what keeps everything from happening at once. > When you have nothing important or interesting to say, don’t let anyone persuade you to say it. > In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity. – Richard Baxter > None of us can do what all of us can do. ...Jesus works in community. – Max Lucado > Experience is a hard teacher. It gives the test first and then the lesson. ><> Jeff

Proverbs 15:23 We’ve all heard this adage: “Engage brain before opening mouth.” We all know that it’s true, and we’ve all been embarrassed more than once for failing to do that! Here are some actual incidents of this taken from real life. I didn’t make these up. Actress, model - “Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life.” Miss America contestant, 1994 - Question: “If you could live forever, would you and why?” Answer: “I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever; that is why I would not live forever.” University of Kentucky basketball player - “I’ve never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body.” Then mayor of Washington, D.C. - “Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.” Former Vice President - “It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water ... doing it.” Former Vice President - “I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix.” NFL quarterback & analyst - “The word “genius” isn’t applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” Australian Cabinet Minister - “Traditionally, most of Australia’s imports come from overseas.” Wow. No comment necessary. Engage your brain. ><>Jeff

Luke 24:13-35 Have you ever “packed it in”? Your were convinced that there was no good reason to continue with something so you just picked up the pieces and left. We might be referring to a fishing trip when they weren’t biting and the weather turned sour, so you just packed everything up and went home. Maybe we’re talking about a business you started, but it just never got off of the ground. Everything you tried just sort of fizzled, so you finally “packed it in.” Sometimes this happens with faith in God. A person starts out trusting the Lord, and things are going along pretty well. Then some big problem comes along or tragedy strikes. Things don’t improve. They might get worse. There seems to be no relief or hope in sight. Trust in God wanes. His promises seem empty. After a while, this individual just “packs it in.” They see no reason to continue believing in this God who has disappointed them so much. This is what happened with the two disciples who had “packed it in” and were leaving Jerusalem. (Please read our text.) They had been convinced that Jesus was the one to “redeem Israel,” and when the chief priests delivered Him up to Pilate, and He was crucified, this was too much for them. They had “packed it in” and left town. Now what we don’t ever want to do is give up on God. If we truly believe His promises to us, “packing it in” is not an option. If we believe He loves us; if we believe that He rules over all the earth and spirit world; if we believe that with Him all things are possible, then we will never give up trusting in our God. Things in life can get very dark at times. Circumstances can be very grim and near to unbearable, but don’t give up on God. He is always working, and He is right there with you in the middle of your trouble. And just when you think that it’s time to “pack it in,” He will send a blessing which you never saw coming! Just ask those two who were on the road to Emmaus whose eyes were opened, and that flame ignited in their hearts again. Such are the ways of God.

Mark1 5:6-15 To some extent or another, all of the gospel writers include this in their account of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. His custom had been to release for the Jews during the feast of the Passover one prisoner whom he had been holding. This was to demonstrate his good faith toward them and thereby help keep them pacified. When Jesus was brought before Pilate, the chief priests stirred up the crowd against Him. When Pilate asked whom they wanted released, they shouted for Barabbas. (We are told he had committed murder in an insurrection and was a robber by trade.) Pilate knew that Jesus had done nothing worthy of death, but after much insistent shouting by the crowd, he gave in to their will and released Barabbas. The crowd chose Barabbas over Jesus. They chose a murderer over a Man who had given life to many. They chose a man of the world over a Man of God. They chose a robber over a Man who had freely given of Himself. They chose the person that others had told them to choose rather than the Person which their own common sense, rational thinking, and conscience should have guided them to choose. As Christians, we are all challenged on a regular basis to make similar choices. It’s called temptation in all its subtle forms. Do I choose to smile or wear my normal grumpy look? Do I choose “St Mattress by the Springs” on Sunday morning or the assembly of the saints? Do I choose to go to “that” website or shut it down? Do I choose to offer my help or look the other way? Do I choose to reply with loud, harsh words or with something calm and measured? Do I choose wisdom or foolishness? Do I choose the evil or the good? Do I choose Jesus or ???

Ephesians 5:15-17 While I was cleaning out some old files, I ran across this article which I wrote a good while back. Although it was not dated, I am sure it was from the 1990's. Little has changed; in fact, things have probably gotten worse! I saw a strange sight the other morning while I was on my exercise walk. Well, maybe it isn’t such a strange sight these days, but it struck a chord in my mind. A lady stopped her car at a stop sign. A young girl in the passenger seat was busily eating. She wasn’t eating a snack food; she had a spoon and was eating something out of a bowl. Since this was around 8:00am, I assume it was her breakfast. The thought came home to me: “Is this what life has become?” Every segment of society screams for your time. At work, the boss always wants a little bit more of your day. Volunteers are always needed to help with children’s organizations. Phone solicitors call you at home, even on Sundays now. Sale papers tell you to “Hurry” or you’ll miss out–“Limited Quantities.” We have so much packed into our days that we don’t have time for what truly counts: our families and our Savior. Wherein lies the fault for this great demand on our time? Well, you can slice it twenty ways, but the fault is ours. We have bought society’s pitch that REAL LIVING is when you and your kids are involved in EVERYTHING, and that a person can’t possibly be happy or fulfilled (or normal?) by STAYING HOME and ENJOYING YOUR FAMILY or HELPING SOMEONE ELSE. Cut those cords! Say “NO!” “...do not be conformed to this world...” - Romans 12:2. I’ve read that the basic meaning of this phrase is not to be pressed into a mold like the world. Doesn’t that just irk you a little that Satan is trying to squeeze you into another little figure he can put on his shelf? Are you eating breakfast in the car? ><>Jeff

Matthew 25:35 Visiting a church on Sunday morning where we are “strangers” isn’t something which we relish doing. We don’t know anybody, and we’re unfamiliar with the surroundings. To some extent we don’t know what to expect. It’s a strange feeling which I’m sure you’ve experienced. But for various reasons (and there’s always a reason), people choose to “visit” a church where they are strangers. Jesus teaches us about care for the stranger. “...I was a stranger and you welcomed me” or “you invited me in.” When you were a “stranger” somewhere, what things were done for you which relieved your anxieties and helped you feel welcome? Did you ever visit anywhere that you didn’t really feel welcome? Let’s consider some things which we should do to truly help visitors feel welcome in our midst. > Greet visitors with a smile. This should be done not just by the “greeters” at the door or the preacher or the elders. Everybody should be keenly interested in greeting visitors. > Help them find a seat; even invite them to sit with you! > Learn their names. Take an interest in them and why they came our way. They have come to be with us for a reason. > As necessary, tell them the location of the classrooms, restrooms and the lift. > Ask if they are familiar at all with our worship. Explain what will be happening. Answer their questions. > Tell them about the Bibles, the DVDs and literature which are available if they have an interest. > Encourage them to be sure and get a bulletin which will contain the information about our media outreach. In short, we should do whatever we can to welcome visitors and help them feel at home. Our aim should be that when they leave they would not feel they were strangers any more and would feel very comfortable in returning. ><> Jeff

Ecclesiastes 12:11 Today, we present more quotes and sayings from my collection. May these be a source of inspiration and insight for you. > Confession without repentance is just bragging. > Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. > The gospel message doesn’t end with the cross precisely because the cross was not the end of Jesus. – Jim McGuiggan > Coincidences are simply situations in which God chooses to remain anonymous. > Do we look for excuses to stay away or reasons to get involved? > A lot of what I thought was my personality was just sin. – Andree Seu > If you follow Jesus, you will never get lost. > How you view things can profoundly affect what you see. – Paul Bauer > There’s something wrong if you’re always right. If Christ is not raised, nothing matters. – Jaroslav Pelikan ><> Jeff

Galatians 5:17-24 In the last two years, I’ve made more trips to doctor’s offices and hospitals than I have all my years prior. While sitting in waiting rooms, I usually observe the other people who also have come to be examined, treated, tested, etc. Some look as if nothing is wrong (perhaps there isn’t), while others are hobbling, coughing, wincing in pain, breathing with difficulty, etc. It is marvelous how the Lord has made our bodies to let us know when something is wrong. Even though we rarely consider it from this perspective, God has also made our soul (spirit, heart) to function the same way. Considering our text, we would observe first that if we are involved in deeds of the flesh, something is wrong. Our soul is “sin sick.” When you are having impure thoughts, something is wrong. When you are screaming obscenities at someone, something is wrong. When you are constantly arguing with your spouse, something is wrong. When every little disagreement sets off a loud torrent of yelling something is wrong. When you are “green” with envy over another’s blessing, something is wrong. It means the flesh is in control of your actions. On the other hand, when we are not exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, something is wrong. We are not being led by the Spirit of God. Our soul is “sin sick.” When we are not showing love in our lives but selfishness, something is wrong. When we do not have the joy of the Lord but a continual dismal outlook, something is wrong. When we are not at peace but constantly on edge, something is wrong. When we are impatient and snap at anything and everybody, or when we are being unkind and hurting others, something is wrong. When we are being unfaithful and not keeping our word to God and to others, something is wrong. When you have lost your self-control and something or someone else is controlling you, something is wrong. When we detect that something is wrong, we need to come to the Great Physician for healing. If you delay, it could be fatal. ><> Jeff