F4S: May 2009

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Intercession Or Depression Session With Maybe Some Compression?


Constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. —Acts 12:5

Do you remember back in the day during the Days of Unleavened Bread when Pete was thrown in the slammer? Sure you do! Now go check out what he was in for. What harm did he do?

Did you know that you and I could also one day (perhaps sooner than you or I think..) be arrested for doing the right thing in Jesus Christ? Man, are you ready for that? Listen, there are a lot of strange so called Christians out there doing the wrong thing and crying persecution when they get in trouble. But we just always need to make sure that it's for obeying God's Word and not for presumption or folly when we witness for Christ! I'm not saying all will find themselves behind bars, but all need to be ready for that and go to bat for those who are.

It was cool how Pete's Christian buds went to bat for him spiritually ..in his time of need. That's how the body is suppose to act. We don't fight in the flesh, but we pray for each other.

Yup, they hit there knees in intercession. I'm not sure if they all called it intercession back then but that's was what it was.

And this type of prayer made all the difference in the world for Pete when he found himself behind those cold bars of injustice (see Acts 12, nkjv).

"There's a beautiful garden of fellowship sweet, where our prayers plant the seeds of reward; and if there we will frequently make our retreat,
We shall gather rich store from the Lord!"
—Bosch

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matt. 11:12).

Will you pray for your family members? Go for your PHD (your.. pray hard daily!). It's about an intercessory priestly duty as you stand in there for the other person's benefit. Every Christian is called to this just like they are called to witness for Christ! The Spirit will help us. Yes, it's offering up yourself first as a living sacrifice to God.. and then it's the start of a noble rescue effort!


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Stuff I Like In The South And American Idol

Kurt really likes his wife a whole lot | north texas lake sailing n wave-running | roxy the intensely wild hound dog that no one else will have | mountain-biking | road trips with flip flops on to austin or to east texas | the coop, a fitness center | the byron nelson classic | nascar at the tex motor speedway | disc golf with friends | uncle julio’s tex-mex | sushi n sashimi at kenichi, oishi, steel or nobu | raspberry sweet tea | many great bible teaching christian churches with warmhearted southerners in em | live righteous electronica and alternative bands that have something to say | non-weird but fitting worship music and celebration at church with family | college student buds | american airlines center during spring time evenings | bodark n live oak trees | telling my story of hope face to face to kids etc.. (yea, I like all this stuff but not particularly in this order, cuz I reall love fellowshiping with Christ the most by a long shot)!


Congrats to Kris Allen for winning on American Idol this time around! Yeah; way to go! The Bible says, “Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom” (Eccl. 9:10). My wife, Liney, and I actually caught a little of it, but we always like talent shows with young people.


I don't know if you saw Kris sing. But this is pretty cool because I was told that Kris is a real Christian. Thank you for listening America and for helping him; for rooting for him! 

Lets all pray for Kris too as our country continues to say congratulations to him ...so that he can fully take advantage of this wonderful opportunity not for self so much but to please and glorify Christ ..when others might not want to do that because the big bucks and all the fame become so important with this type of platform.

I don't know how the people who win in such events can even handle all the pressures etc--I can't even imagine that kind of thing.

And in a day when idols are so prevalent (..for real, not so much like the carved figures of Old Testament times), but we do need to pray that Kris will be so blessed and that he will use this time with his fans uncompromisingly ..yes, with his amazing talent to simply point Americans and others back to the Bible and to Christ who gave him this beautiful gift. He has worked so hard and has obviously spent a lot of time developing this gift. Sure wish I could sing like him. America, way to go! You got it right with Kris this time!
 

Perhaps, like me, you are a one-talent kind of person and feel a bit discouraged to even try and use your skill for eternal purposes. Please pray about that thoroughly until you feel motivated or not feel so motivated (sometimes the motivation comes after we start. But go for it and do what you can for Him) .
  

Do you personally know (not just about..) the One who Kris knows, loves and serves--Jesus Christ? You can!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

'Cuz Of Us



It's never ever God's fault when things go bad for us down here ..even if you or a friend have been victimized in something down here and you were innocent in all that. Hey, I am so SO sorry if that has happened to you! Jesus wept. Let's not blame Him. God is LOVE, is LIGHT, is LONGSUFFERING.. and in Him there is no darkness AT ALL!

All the pain, the shame, the blame here--it's cuz we've all basically missed the bus (..so to speak. See Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12). Yup, it's cuz of us.. but why fuss n cuss? Let's trust.

It is indeed late (later than it's ever been before and Jesus will return soon), but it ain't too late for you ..cuz He paid the rate. Respond to Him today! He can meet you where you at the point of your need.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Whatcha Gotta Make Happen To Be Accepted!

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:14, nkjv

You don't need to make "acceptance" happen at all. Jesus already did all that for you. The Father hates sin, but He totally accepts you and can make you new! You don't need to strive, connive, or jive at all. Listen, God totally understands you, He gets it aboutcha! He knows how weak we are, and how much we each need Him.

Man, our uber-awesome gracious God has such a great memory too and He clearly recalls every little detail of how He skillfully made every individual ..and how he fashioned people in general, from the very dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7). You were in His mind long before you were in your parent's minds. You're not a mistake and unwanted. He has an eternal purpose for your life.

I just love how it is with Him.. don't you?

God is strong, but so gentle and will never expect more from any of us than what the Holy Spirit is able to do in and through each one of us for God's glory. We simply obey Him and the blessings typically start to flow for more than one person (we want the Blesser more than His blessings!). Yup, if we simply allow the Spirit the freedom to work as we tell others about Christ.

Does that make you feel secure and at peace inside to know that the Creator of the universe knows you and all your needs? Hey, how do you spell relief? The Bible Lord—the true Vine—knows you and I very well and how fruitless our lives will be if we try to go-it solo, independent from Him. We can do nothing good at all apart from Him, not even suck in our next breath of air!

It's sad that most people don't see this and many take this for granted. Jesus wants all sinners to come to Him just as they are, but willing to repent, believe and change.. willing to allow Him to bring about all the changes inside of them.

In Christ we don't have to prove ourselves at all to God, but turn and come to be changed--it's by grace through faith.

Eternal acceptance and life were made possible for you by Christ's eternal love ..as was displayed at Calvary!

Christians are indeed dust ..with of course H2o (..some 80% of our bodies are water), but we are also infused with the very breath of God. That's how we can joyously be controlled by God the Spirit for our very brief fishing venture down here! So cheer up, He accepts you.

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Thursday, May 14, 2009

Ever watch the news and get questions?

Maybe you feel like you hate the news media. Dunno. Do you ever watch what is happening and it makes you feel like getting on your knees? It should. I've got about ten minutes here, but when I watch the news I start having lots of questions. How 'bout you? Yes, the more I watch it, the more disgusted I tend to feel inside and the more questions start forming in my head ..everytime. They say it's good to know what is going on around you, but how much do we need to know? I basically like to limit my time with even the fairest of all news channels. Hey, politics is not my passion and my opinions are maybe worth as much as the next guy’s but…

 

* In our U.S. two party system, don’t we need to simply replace one of the lame parties (or better yet, both) ..you know what I mean, with both sides—R and D—becoming more and more whacked as the years continue roll by (they’ve both unfortunately moved so far in the wrong direction ..farther than where the average citizen really is)? Personally I was raised in the home of Republicans, but I don’t feel any affection for either label at this point. Do you? Why (think about it)? Got a question for the R-side: Would copying the Left’s so called slobbering-hero-idolatry really be the best route for the GOP’s future salvation, or would it just be their sure path towards their permanent ruin?

 

* First they came for Cheerios. Next, I'm hearing about a tax-hike on a lot of dumb things. They are actually wanting to tax your soda now to pay for the so-called Obamacare. Q: What about the promise that there will be no raised taxes for Americans making under $250K per year?

* When will the hate abate? The former Vice President, Dick Cheney, has been called insane lately by many cruel drive-by-media people (what's new.. it happened just like with Sarah Palin, Limbaugh, and Miss California. Today's leaders and their followers actually laugh and say they wish these people were dead, and so many just love to rip apart people of influence that they really fear. Q: Is it right to hate any human.. Obama or Rush?), but our top political leader "O," who is thought to be far from insane (and I certainly would never call him that, 'cause he ain't) wanted for some time to release all those detainee photos, but he ends up doing what the former VP knew was best from the get go. The ex-VP spoke out against this for quite some time only to get beat up by the press and liberal loons. So after looking at the final results in this instance, who would be the smarter one from the start? I really don't know why that type of destructive thing should take so long to figure out. But now that O is on the same side as W on the detainee pix, will Code Pink and the ACLU scream "War Criminal!" at him too?

 

* How come there is so much stinkin’ corruption in Washington still and what can tax payers do about it that actually brings a viable and lasting change? In God we trust, so wouldn’t prayer to Him in Jesus Name be the best place to start?

 

* Do you agree with the First Lady and feel that we each should get “personal assistants" for our respective work? Why not? Q: Is there stimulus monies for our assistants?

 

First lady Michelle Obama called her "current life" in the White House "a very blessed situation, because I have what most families don't have—tons of support all around, not just my mother, but staff and administration. I have a chief of staff and a personal assistant, and everyone needs that." She feels that "Everyone should have a chief of staff and a set of personal assistants," Obama said with a chuckle as she talked about this before a crowd of business executives meeting during a "Corporate Voices for Working Families" conference at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington (Personally, I'm glad that she and her husband are blessed, and I pray they both use those blessings to help the people).*

 

I ran into a young lady here in Dallas recently who told me that she has put all her trust in our new President--she even said she waited to buy a new car until after he was firmly in office. Q: Is it wise at all for any of us to rest our hopes in any charming politician, in big government, in small government, in a certain party, in a church, in a denomination, in a spiritual group or in any mere human leader of any type ...other than in the very God who made you? A: No. 

The authoritative changeless Word of God says... 

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Ps. 118:8-9).

 

“But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’" (Ps. 31:14).

 

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness” (Ps. 37:3).

 

“Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him” (Ps. 2:12).

 

* Q: Isn’t it high time, no matter your personal stance on any of the issues, that we each get serious about praying for our leaders and for a spiritual awakening in this land? No political leader or party can fix or pay for the damage that has been done. Of course I don’t want you to stop there after we pray, but “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jam. 5:16).

 

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:2-4, emphasis mine).

 

* See Washington Post  

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Walkin’ In The Light—All Right!

C.H. Spurgeon wrote, “There must be light!” And you remember Who first wanted light and literally spoke it into shining (See Gen. 1:3).

There is light available for all today. God is no respector of persons in that respect.

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Do you believe this about Him or do you think He has some darkness in Him--that He is really out to get people? How much light have you seen and received from God?

Adam and Eve saw the light of God’s beautiful creation ..which pointed back to the more beautiful One—the Lord. Others later on in history also saw light, but sadly opted not to draw close to the Lord of light. The Bible declares, “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, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:20-22).

I would personally say that the order in His creation does speak of His magnificent intelligence and majestic glory! You, of course, remember how the Pharisees back in Jesus’ day had the light of the Law. What do you mean Kurt, light springing up from God’s law? Yup, and what did most of them do with it? Nothin’ real good.

The Bible says God’s law is light, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman” (Prov. 6:23-24).

And then there is the light of conscience that we can respond to. Yes, the Bible speaks of “..Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel” (Rom. 2:15).
 

What’s exciting is this: if we each properly respond to light, then our gracious God will give more light and we can walk in his light with peace. Today we have the light of life in Jesus Christ! Have you responded to Him by repentance and faith to start enjoying a loving fellowship with God? Man, you can—you were totally designed this! Have you really heard the Gospel before?

Have you said “Yes” or “No” or “Maybe to later” to this Bible Jesus (which stands as a “No”)?

Listen, to sin against revealed light is worse than to sin in complete ignorance, for to whom much is given will much be required. So how much do you know about the death, burial and physical resurrection of Christ—how much have you heard regarding the truth of the Gospel? How obedient are you to that light?

 

Do you currently have a lukewarm, worldly, selfish or divided heart.. or is Jesus Christ your Lord? One day there will be varying degrees of punishment in Hell, (most people won't talk about that..) but we really want no one to go there to experience any amount of punishment. God is not mean, unfair or mad at you. He is loving and just—he is pure light! The price for your sins and mine has already been generously paid in full by Christ who is literally God. That's why we continue to inform and warn people.. and do all that we can to point people to God's one and only sinless Solution, Jesus Christ!

 

Do you have ears to hear the truth.. 

do you receive God's light gladly? If so, then to you God will give more light. 

Man, that is so important too, for we will all be held accountable for what we've heard, understand, know and have obediently done in His Name or according to our own willfulness.

But Kurt, what about the Pigmy in New Guinea and salvation—will the Pigmy be judged.. you might ask? Jesus addressed this in Luke 12:48, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripesFor unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”


Yup, he who has the law, will be judged by the law, he who has not the law will be judged without the law. When you and I run into something like this that we do not know for sure about, we simply need to fall back on what we do know—God is just, totally fair in the long run. I am so thankful for the light of creation, the light of the law, the light of conscience and the wonderful light of Christ. I can testify that when I have responded to light, I have indeed received more. God delights in giving us more light! Take some time and prayerfully meditate upon this following passage in it’s context and you will be changed!

"..if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more" 

~Jesus, Luke 12:45-48, kjv