F4S: August 2013

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Cool. Just embedded this quote from my: facebook.com/KurtWvs


"People can’t really change God or His truth. They can sure try to if they want, but if they get smart and become willing to simply humble themselves, to trust Him, and to repent of their wrong-doin's then His truth can sure change them. He loves to forgive us." Kurt W. von Schleicher  facebook.com/shareJesus

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Tonight ..about 10 minutes ago.. a teenager asked me this...

"Could you help me? Please answer this question: For you, what is the meaning of "grave fear"? I really need your help. THANK YOU." 

My response? This is what I said (and I believe that you could add some fitting Bible verses to mine below if you want to): Thank you Jill (not her real name) for this good question. It's dealing with something very important for young people around the world. "Grave fear" ..is a horrible thing to experience. It's experienced when an individual has inordinate anxiety build up inside, or when an all-out-deep-fear attaches to their mind about getting put into a dusty, lonely, cold grave space before they are ready ..and often times this is because they feel false or valid guilty inside and they are not sure what to do about it, or where they will go in eternity. 

Many hate guilt and say ignore it today, but true guilt is actually a blessing. It's kind of like that red light flashing on your dashboard in the car that says stop, address an inportant issue, pull over and get some oil fast before you blow up your expensive engine. And yet the grave is where we all are headed if the Rapture doesn't happen first (and it actually could, for there is not one Bible prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before that event takes place). The statistics on people going into the dirt thus far are pretty astounding when you think about it..One out of every one have gone there postmortem. #itsgoodtogetreadyearly

When an individual get's right with their Maker (through turning and trusting him in a born-again experience called regeneration..) they not only experience the peace of God inside, they also enjoy peace with God on a daily basis..not only abundant life in the Son, but eternal life (JOY starting at that juncture) with the Son.  www.knowGod.org

Personally, I was about nine years old when I constantly experienced grave fear - had nightmares often. I had been raised in a stiff, cold, Orthodox church with a spiritually dead pastor (spiritually) who pushed humanism and other weirdness  but never taught simply from the Bible (even though the people expected that) and I didn't have any assurance of salvation inside at all. Just a big question mark. I thought I might split hell wide open if I were to die and I had some young surfer friends who actually prematurely died and didn't return to my school. But then I was told, and I repented and asked and met the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Sounds religious, but He ain't that way at all. Check out in context what His word says about this topic. 

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Ps. 23:4
 
"The fear of the Lord (that's basically a healthy reverential awe of Him) is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death." Pro. 14:27
 
"Hezekiah king of Judah (had grave fear) and all Judah ..did he not fear the Lord and seek the Lord's favor? And the Lord relented concerning the doom which He had pronounced against them." Jer. 26:19
 
"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb. 2:14-15
 
But even if we are about to be killed for our faith in Christ, God can give us grace so strong so we don't have any grave fear.. cuz we know life here is short and we have Him who conquered "grave fear" as He prayed through in the garden, and even conquered death and the grave itself - Jesus Christ. Now where is your sting O death? 
 
"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw [some] of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Rev. 2:10  facebook.com/shareJesus

Monday, August 19, 2013

Have ya failed to wait, and anxiously ran out ahead of the Lord who kinda likes to lead rather than follow..and then missed Him and His blessing? Guess what.. He gives beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning, and peace for despair.

When we fail to trust, we can trust that we'll fail. When we fail to wait, we will always wish we did. 

Doesn't want you lagging behind, or dashing out ahead cuz the Lord doesn't want you to miss out on what He as planned for you. You so many do. But does God say to His immmmpatient, anxious, antsy kids who've failed to wait and then really blown it (I've been there before).. "Hey, that's it Barney. You like screwed up bad and now you are going to be haunted by that bad decision for the rest of your days, loser. I ain't hangin' with you no more."


Naww. He's different than that. There are often consequences for sinning..seen and sometimes unseen, but Jesus with His gracious providence meets us where we are at in our extremities, in our dry ugly deserts wastelands, in our perplexing horric problems we or others cause.. if we'll let Him. History is His story. We might fail at times, and we do, but God's love never fails.

Listen, people don't have the last word in your life, believer. No, the Lord does. He's large and incharge ..and you remember what He basically said to Mistress Hagar, I am going to bless your offspring anyways. And God did exactly that. He blessed Ishmael, that donkey of a man

Remember how Jeremiah during a dark time got really low? Perhaps you've been there before. So what'd he say then? He prayed, "My strength and my hope have perished from the Lord" (v.18).

And Jeremiah pondered the unchanging love of God who never ever, ever fails..even a little. Jeremiah expressed / penned, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I hope in Him!'" (Lam. 3:22-24).

"O Love that wilt not let me go I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be." —Matheson

Have you been depressed or hopeless or dispairing before? Perhaps you've heard someone say that they'll love you forever, and then they flake like Jake.. they go like a Dweeb and fail to keep their promise to you. So sorry! Well God ain't like that at all. His love remains strong, constant, unconditional, steadfast, very trustworthy (cuz He always is that way), and sure. Sure! "He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you" (Deut. 31:6). God's selfless agape love is a love that many keep looking for but never find, but we can trust. He won't let you down with a frown. When we know Him...really know Christ as He is.. we have such JOY inside that we wanna go tell someone about Him cuz we want them to experience that as well.  kurtwvs.tumblr.com

Sunday, August 18, 2013

You have what you tolerate. Simple as that.

"King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon." Man, what an ugly thing it was! But the people had it there because they had no backbone and tolerated it. 

And many today lack teaching in God's Scriptures, lack courage, and lack convictions. Any dead fish can float downstream with the flow.  

You have today what you've tolerated.  Yes you do, and you'll have tomorrow what you now tolerate. 

Think about that for a minute. Do you tolerate your children disrespectfully smarting off to their teachers, to delegated authorities, or to older people? Are they allowed to cuss you out in private or in public? Parents that allow this have a lot of cussing and disrespect. 

Do you tolerate lust, presumption, envy, prayerlessness, hubris, procrastination, ungrateful entitlement-attitudes, criminals illegally creeping across your boarders with drugs, the worship of perverse and lawless-leaders, spiritual compromise, lukewarm or carnal living, or unfruitfullness, or sloppy work?

"Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." G.K. Chesterton

"The true man of God is heartsick, grieved at the worldliness of the Church, grieved at the toleration of sin in the Church, grieved at the prayerlessness in the Church. He is disturbed that the corporate prayer of the Church no longer pulls down the strongholds of the devil."Leonard Ravenhill

"It's unpopular to take a strong stand on anything (these days) except tolerance." John Piper

I personally would never say that AIDS is God's punishment for homosexuals as many so called Christians have done. He loves them just as much as He loves any of us sinners. Besides, I am not God to know everything that He thinks or does regarding the wrong choices we each have made, but it and other diseases are indeed here on earth because of man's sin, pride, perversion and faulty view of God. The were zero sicknesses in the Garden of Eden. We've all blown it in different ways and our society gone astray has come to tolerate way too much. Yeah, we sow the wind and then reap the whirlwind and often blame God who has lovingly taught us and even warned us. 

The Good News is that we have a holy Savior who forgives, who heals, who restores, and who patiently waits for thickheaded suborn rebels like me. What a relief to turn to Jesus! And there are so many Bible promises for those who believe. Do you have a two way meaningful relationship with Him today? Perhaps you need to returned to Him?

"As a follower of Jesus, you will be healed. Period. It's only a matter of time." ~ John Mark Comer  

This week 70 Christian churches were burned to the ground in Egypt and how many mainstream media networks covered it? None, but what if they were Islamic Mosques or gay bathhouses? You know all would have. I'm glad that Fox News and Drudge covered those deeds. It's funny..or rather pitiful how our U.S. leader really hates and has spoken out against both outlets. 

From time to time there have been those with the right character who have stood up against the evil in spite of the wrong desires of the crowd.. against the foolish kind of tolerances of their day. 

What does God say to His kids who really love Him and hate sin..those who have inner convictions from Him? "But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.'" (Isa. 43:1-2 nkjv).

And what came about just because loyal Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to tolerate destructive sin? Well check it out. King Nebuchadnezzar said, "Therefore, I make this decree: 'If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!' Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon." (Dan. 3:29-30).

In a world that advocates foolish kinds of tolerance every single day of the week, it's time we re-look at Daniel 3 and take a stand.. "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you..." (16-18). facebook.com/shareJesus

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Me thinks it's time for the 94% of Americans who believe in God, and the 84% of Americans who believe that Jesus is God to unify and call out to Him.

Yeah, purhaps prayer requests number one n number two for the Church need to be..  1.)  For spiritual awakening among the lost here and, 2.)  For authentic revival among those who ain't but used to be. You know for the believers in America today so we can actually be what we be called to be, and so the others can see Christ in us. Think about it. And I want to encourage you in this effort. There really is no better investment of our time and the need is so great. Some people might say it is the Lord who is point at those leaders here, but it really is not the Lord who is pointing His finger at our American Supreme Court, or at our White House, or at our Capitol per se. Don't get me wrong, I'm not excusing those who work in these places. Perhaps you get feeling as frustrated as I do over some of the worse decisions of history that have been made by many of these people in representing us as a Nation.

But if you are a Christian, God is actually looking at you and at me to humble ourselves, to pray, and to earnestly seek God's face. After that, He expects us to take the right action. And what's that all about? Here is what some of that is about...  

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel" ~ Jesus

 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." ~ Jesus, (Matthew 28:19–20)

"Sodom's sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out, as you have seen." ~ (Ezekiel 16:49–50)

"If God doesn't punish America, He'll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah." ~ Ruth Graham

Are you an almost Christian, a lukewarm Christian, a nominal Christian, or a red-hot Christian..as God would have you? Hey, aren't those the same sins that too many in our Nation have committed as well? What about our treatment of teachers, parents, and the authority of God's word—just think of our nation and the sense of entitlement. And what do you think the Lord will do about this if His Church doesn't pray in faith and obey? Do you think He'll just wink at it or turn a blind eye to it forever. Naww. Church, like never before it's time for us to get on our knees, wait on Him, and pray for this wayward Land. Need some more encouragement in this direction? facebook.com/shareJesus

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Got a little free time to do a whole lotta good? Want a soul-winning prayer assignment?

I just had the joy of talking with Candy, Jjukiey, Rohan and approximately 43 others from Asia and India about the basics of prayer. I pray that these new believers will grow through the Word and praying in Him (in Christ). Even invited them to enter names of their lost friends in the prayer cloud (why not?) and to pray for the upcoming Harvest America outreach. 

You've already heard about this perhaps.. but for 23 years my former SoCal pastor,@GregLaurie, has been diligent in the field, and has been invited to cities all over the world to share the #GoodNews of Christ.

And building on that foundation of obedience n love, HarvestAmerica.com has actually amplified the Jesus Message that he's been loyally putting out.. to be heard all over this nation again. You know about this right?..and you plan to take part in your US area right..I mean if you are stateside on Sept 28 and 29th or have a good web-connection. Please say "Yes Lord, will do" (a full-on yes to Him with prayers attached). If you haven't heard.. Harvest America is literally hundreds of #churches humbly banding together to proclaim the one #Gospel live, simultaneously, in host locations nationwide. 


Exciting to the max!  God-honoring too.  A great opportunity for us all! 

And of all the different ways that we believers can practically prepare for this, by far the most vital is in prayer to God. Please pray for the whole HA team. It may seem kinda like a small thing—but #prayer is so powerful, because of the One we pray to in faith—God.. is mighty to save anyone who humbly calls upon Him! Will you join in? 


"Prayer does not change the purpose of God.  But prayer does change the action of God." ~ Chuck Smith Sr. 

Just click here  ...and add any names of specific individuals that you will pray for. Why? Well, so they will come to know the Lord as you now do..in a personal meaningful way. Then take a bit of time to pray for others in the cloud there, that they too would experience the life-changing power of the Gospel. Q. Can you think of a better use of your weekend time? You and your walk mean a lot.. and this too really means a lot to God! #Start #PrayWithoutCeasing #GoTell

Do You Have An Anchor Of Hope That Keeps You From Drifting?

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." —Paul, Hebrews 6:19

You know how our personal biblical faith can really be put to the test at times. Especially when the economy is likes it's been in the last several years. 

But our faith is best demonstrated before others during the deepest trials, temptations, and testings of this life ..as Christ remains ever near and more than able to get us through it all. It makes you wonder how so many around us are doing without any real hope. The truth is that many simply are not making it, and that should gives us a sense of urgency to act and help them. 

We have been blessed to enjoy fellowship with Christ, to glorify Him, and to be a blessing for them. 

"We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll; fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love." —Owens

"In order to realize the worth of the anchor, one needs to feel the strong stress of the storm." ~ Anon.

Do you feel stressed? Have things seemed out of control in your life? 

We see only four references to anchor in the King James Bible, but three of these are in the book of Acts referring to the physical anchors of ships. When strong winds (physical or spiritual) blow, like they did in my locale last night with 60 mile an hour winds whistling by, we believers can rest and remain steadfast cuz we've been blessed with a really strong Anchor who digs in firm and holds us safe.

How? Well, the hope of our salvation is anchored in the sure promise of God, and in the finished work of Christ's cross. Our unity is to be formed around the Bible Jesus and His Essentials instead of around a denomination, around works, or around some so called minister, but our hope rests on His Bible promise of salvation. 

This salvation that we enjoy is very secure because God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18-19). He never has even one time. Jesus Christ paid to redeem us when He once died between those two thieves, when He rose again outta that dirt hole, and then ascended up into heaven.... so our hope is now a firm connecting line by faith to this unmovable Rock. Jesus is true and told us about what would happen. 

It's Christ's boundless agape love that holds us tight. He is faithful and really cares for us. In fact His love does more than that, it literally compels us and motivates us to pass His Gospel along to those who have been looking for real love. Therefore, let's go do what Jesus commissioned us to do today.  facebook.com/shareJesus

Friday, August 9, 2013

Children, let's invest in them well.. with the Word of God. Christ has never let one child down before, nor turned any of them away.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Q, Is your wayward son or daughter old yet..are they older right now? Are you still praying in faith for them?  Do. In fact, be comforted, be strong in the grace of Christ...be real strong, be stable... be growing, and be spiritually mature. 

Listen, that Bible verse above doesn't promise that your children won't ever go away from God, His precepts, His church, His way of living, nor does the Bible say that all kids that do go away or backslide spiritually will return to Christ. This above is a clear promise for born again believers to claim in real faith. It's for believing parents who have invested in them with God's word well. Please let the Holy Spirit guide you parents. No excuses..nope..none.


Some of the practical Bible training we are to lend is not about us just giving them ..the kids.. right head-knowledge to have, but it's more about what we parents can and need to add with that teaching, it's about how we are to live, what attitudes to display, and what we are to do is .."show and tell": Yes, live it and then teach it.. with, earnest prayer to the Father in Jesus' Name, with encouragement, understanding, honesty everywhere.. with Christ-like relations socially and even at work well displayed ..and everywhere caring for people. It's with discipline, with focused involvement, with regular truth-study, with pure affection at home, with listening well, with giving.. I mean in different ways, in wisely leading the open, with grace and truth kinda balance, with keeping your promises..even to your own hurt sometimes when necessary

Please parents, value the people and the "things of God" much more than mere temporal things and helpful widgets, and more than too many hours at the office. Man, the Prodigal Son remembered the strong an balanced goodness, the tender love and beneficent grace of his masculine...not his feminine...dad. Yup! Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong. So then, love Christ 100% ..more than all others, and love Him without compromise. And then love their mom even more than you love those kids, men. 
Prioritize all your relationships loving the kids as you should, not as the world says to do. Hey, go see that crazy lost rebelling younger son in the pig's mud hole ..in Luke 15.. who finally got some good ideas, then repents inside, and then returns to his senses and to his father with the right words. Remember that the father in that passage did not run to that son over and over again, or even run too early like some wimpy uber-emotional, chic-ified, begging enabler sorta dad. But he did run to him at just the right time, and the he, the father, forgave him from the heart. And then the father received this formerly erroring offspring (you know, that idiotic-acting hurtful party animal son who earlier thought he was so entitled to get more from dad). The acted undignified by running (men in the culture just didn't do that) and you know he ran all out at just the right time to hug and kiss and welcome him home. He also had some new rags for him (probably smelled rank-pork-horrific) - he gave him a robe, a ring, and some nice kicks (shoes). We've all (including dads) committed sins of the flesh and of the spirit, so there's really no room for self-righteousness or maintaining "a sophisticated or dignified look" at all. But fathers really want to be givers to their sons when their heart and spirit is right, when they have become teachable by God. Therefore, parent, do keep praying for your kids. Don't stop. Fight the good fight of faith, because if you don't Satan and his buds will fight for them..and probably already has been. If your kids..if he or she..is still sucking air today, there is reason for hope and it's too early to cease believing.
"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12 

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:7

"The family should be a closely knit group. The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life's basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honored; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed."  ~ Billy Graham

Q.  Do you still pray for open doors, for angels to perhaps visit em, for witnessing believers to visit, for teachable moments, and for divine appointments, so that you or another can train as Christ did. Do you offer to take em with you on errands, so that you might be able to teach your family members about the Lord? Ask God to show you the right time, the right approach, and the exact way to do this from His Word. Jesus exampled this well. So pray for the right timing, words, and tone like He used.  
Parents, don't let yourself get disheartened at all. Just continue to be real with JOY in fellowship with your first-love, or.. start to become real. Kids can smell a fake a mile off. You can't change the past and if you've blown it, believer, no condo (zero condemnation for you). Just do your best today. Do it again tomorrow, just like your loving heavenly Father does with His children. 
A child needs to see godly authority very balanced and consistantly displayed. Yes with both love and discipline in there, with grace and truth, with humble godly deeds and God's own words too. God showed us His balance connected with Authority when He sent Jesus here. Kids need to be warmly hugged and unhugged. You know what I mean. The hug clearly teach him or her to know that he or she is accepted, loved, and very valuable. God values them and you. The unhug if you will, lets him or her know that they are viable and have some duties before them. If you're always shoving your child away, too busy...hey stop it. They might cling to you for more love with insecurity..or might end up walking away forever bitter at you. God doesn't do that with you does He? No, but He will take time for you and will listen carefully. If you're always holding your child tight and closer, they might cling to you out of fear of what's out there..or just get really bored with all that mushy kinda stuff. Don't be merely religious, be normal in Jesus Christ instead. facebook.com/shareJesus

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Self, listen up. You ain't wise enough to impact other people's lives all on your own.

Kurt, I said to myself, Kurt I said.. How can you like.. go to Him in prayer asking for wisdom if you already have all the answers? Please never think or feel like you have all the wisdom, Mr. Self, cuz you really don't. Don't be wise in your own eyes.  

"He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool; avoid him. He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student; teach him. He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep; wake him. He who knows and knows that he knows is a wise man; follow him." ~ Sanskr

(Last line: Might be so. Should read: He who knows some n is ready to ditch His world's kinda wisdom, and knows there's a lot of real wisdom that God knows that he doesn't yet know ..is a wise man; follow Him.)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."  James 1:5

Obtaining wisdom from God by faith..and I mean wisdom that's apart from worldly wisdom..along with humble transparency, careful listening, good questions to build relationship, with honesty in explaining what you've experienced in light of the Gospel and whole panoply of the Scriptures—these are needed when you witness to someone about Christ's saving love and finished work.

Best move yet...get to know Him who is the Source of all wisdom in a personal kinda way, that wisdom that works to help people around the entire globe - Jesus Christ. Ask Him. The Bible says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." Proverbs  11:30  facebook.com/shareJesus