What Does It Take to Build FIre in Your Gizzard?

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed.”  (Rev. 20:1-3).

Now, I ask you, does that not kindle the flame that is already burning deep within your soul?  Can you even begin to imagine what John is writing here?  Did you ever take a few moments to visualize what the New Heaven and New Earth will be like without Satan and his minions to harass you?

Jesus said, “There will be no more tears, I will wipe them all away and there will be no reason for tears in the New Jerusalem.  For there will be no more death, no more mourning or crying, or pain, the first things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4-5).

Is that not “out of sight?” Notice verse 3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.”

John went on to write:  “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Rev. 21:22-23).

So, do you feel a wee bit like David did when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem?  “And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod” (2 Sam. 6:14).   I am not too sure the linen ephod would go over in this macho day and age but I sense there is growing desire in the hearts of many to dance before the Lord.  How about you?  O ‘\common’ – it only hurts for a little while.

Blessings,

Gramps

P.S.  Since I heard those words, “Kermit, you have cancer”, the Word has become even a greater source of my strength.  I have been tracing the word “power” through the Word and it has been a time of strengthening and reassuring as the battle against the tumor that is within is waged.    

Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:5 wrote: “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves but our adequacy was from God”.  I turned immediately to one of my very special verses, Colossians 1:11-12 “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness:  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (able) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light”.

God Said, "Careful' That Person May Be An Angel!

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb. 13:2).

Hey Gang:  Did you ever meet a person that according to your standards seemed particularly weird?  We had such a person in our high school.  I mean Happy Harry was really far out – that is, according to my way of thinking.  He wore weird clothes, striped shirts with checkered pants. 

He certainly was not a member of the better dressed club and you would hear him coming, long before you could see him, he was a constant whistler.  Happy Harry, to the ‘in-group’, was just plain weird!

If you wanted to be part of the ‘in-club’ of Altoona High School, you could have nothing to do with the likes of Happy Harry.  He was the object of ridicule and jokes and names  that were never spoken by the more civilized kids that were in the ‘in-group’.    

And then one day the airways of Altoona High School were abuzz with the tragic news that one of the in group had drowned.  It seems there was an all-night party at one of the houses on ‘knob hill’ where the booze flowed freely.  It was also reported that she drowned in the shallow end of the pool but was so drunk she could not gain her balance and slipped below the water. No one noticed, and it was hours later that one of the participants in the orgy gained enough sense to recognize what tragic event had happened that night.  

As I was on my way to class the next morning, I noticed something that made a lasting impression on my brain.  There, in the hallway, were all of the elite ‘knob hill in-group club’ with heads bowed and, in the middle was one Happy Harry ministering to them.  His words were kind, even though they ridiculed him, soft and filled with compassion.   

I learned that day that you do not have to have to carry a soap box around with you, nor carry a sixteen-pound Bible or be in a constant attitude of prayer.  Harry lived his testimony every moment and- even though he did no preaching – we knew there was something very special about Happy Harry, who had something deep in his soul that at that moment every Knob-Hill-kid wanted with all their heart.

Did you know that very few days go by that someone - that you cross paths with - needs a Happy Harry in their life.   Jesus said, “Go” be a blessing to someone today!”

Sooo, my friends, that is why Jesus said, “Go, go, go into all the world and be a “Beacon Light:” to a hurting, and very dark world. (Gramps Rendition).  Let your guard down and be a Happy Harry and whistle through this day, for you have something very special that all need to see and hear – You have a Lord who said, “Come unto me and I will………”

Blessings,

Gramps

Importance, What Is?

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Cor. 9:6-8).

Hey Gang:  Paul goes on, “As it is written, “He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God” (2 Cor. 9:9-11).

I am a die-hard Steeler fan.  Growing up in Altoona, Pennsylvania required that I be a die-hard Steeler fan.  It is part of our DNA.  Although I have lost much of my fan enthusiasm with professional sports, I  was channel surfing one day and happened to come across an interview with Tom Brady pertaining the news article that he has been successful in football because his wife, who happens to be a witch, places hexes on his opposition.

He went on to tell the world that she was a “good witch”.  Be advised, Tom, there are no good witches.  You are successful because you are a very talented football player on a very good football team.    But also, be advised you are a role model in the eyes of mega multitudes of little people and even big people.  In essence you are a seed planter.

If James were the one doing the interview I believe he would have said to you: “The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity, the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell”. (James 3:6).   I pray Tom Brady and his bride will come in contact with a Paul or Peter, or a mighty witness of God and opens their hearts to the Lord.  They could be mighty witnesses for Jesus and reap a harvest that has eternal value.

Last spring we were in Florida for a couple weeks.  While there we re-visited a tourist-trap called “Old Town”.  Been there many times before but since our last visit it has gone through a major- what is termed- “upgrading”.  If you ever want to see what the world looked like in the days of Noah, it is a very good place to visit.  I sensed as we walked through the town that it was filled with people who did not have a clue what is happening in our world and how very close to eternity they are. 

Jesus’ words seemed to be in bold letters:  “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many, because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matt. 24:11-13).

Well, my friends, I have done a little rambling this morning.  I pray you will forgive me and that God will fill your heart and mind with His message that one and all will have the strength to endure to the end.

Blessings,

Gramps

Is the World Facing A No-Israel World? (Continued)

“I will also plant them on their land and they will not again be rooted out from their land, says the Lord” (Amos 9:15).   “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols” (Ezek. 36:24-25). 

Hey Gang, Getting back to some of the neat things that God allowed me to be part of. Our intention was a quick stop, say hello, and continue our trek to Florida.  That was our intent, not God’s.  

   

Palestinian children (Israel’s ‘Peace Partners) are taught through formal and informal education to see a world in which the State of “Palestine” replaces all of Israel.

A children’s quiz broadcast this week on Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority television shows how thoroughly Palestinian children have absorbed this message

.Children on the TV program routinely identified every Israeli city and landmark as part of the State of “Palestine.” Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat are described as Palestinian ports, the Sea of Galilee is said to be a Palestinian Lake, and the area of the Palestinian State is said to be 27,000 square kilometers.  In fact, the total area of Gaza and the West Bank totals only 6,200 square kilometers. So the only way to come up with the larger measurement is to include undisputed Israeli territory in the calculation.  The “State of Palestine” is said to border Lebanon and the Red Sea; in fact, these are Israel’s borders.

In an unsettling reminder of the 2007 Hamas children’s TV program that used a Mickey Mouse character to preach hatred and world Islamic domination, the child host of this week’s PATV (Fatah) program is sitting in front of a photo of Mickey Mouse.  The world view of these Palestinian children is a direct result of their formal education, which teaches them to envision a world without Israel

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We are often incredulous when we hear or read testimony from those who helped Hitler rise to power claiming, “We didn’t think he’d really do it”.  How could they have doubted.  How many times had he promised…screamed that he would rid Europe of the “vile” Jews?

He made many such religious speeches to masses of hysterical crowds, weeping and gesturing their devotion.  Germany was a ‘Christian’ nation.  How did he captivate so many Christian leaders to follow him and abandon all that they knew in their hearts was right and true?

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, has been traveling, speaking and trying to wake up a sleeping western world. “It’s 1938 all over again but Iran is now Germany.  And Iran is racing to arm itself with atomic weapons.” He keeps repeating the warning over and over, hoping it will sink in. 

  

Zechariah 12:3 is very clear: “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples”.   My friends this is no longer a prophesy but a reality.   Israel is totally surround by enemies whose compulsion is to annihilate them. 

 

Time to be filled with anxiety?  NO!  Jesus said, “When all these prophesies come into view, look up, for your redemption draws near”.  (Luke 21:28).  Are you looking up this morning?

Blessings,

Gramps 

PS  FYI From Google -  The Philistines were an Aegean people - more closely related to the Greeks and with no connection ethnically, linguisticly or historically with Arabia - who conquered in the 12th Century BCE the Mediterranean coastal plain that is now Israel and Gaza.

Under the Ottoman Empire (1517-1917), the term Palestine was used as a general term to describe the land south of Syria; it was not an official designation. In fact, many Ottomans and Arabs who lived in Palestine during this time period referred to the area as Southern Syria and not as Palestine.

After World War I, the name Palestine was applied to the territory that was placed under British Mandate; this area included not only present-day Israel but also present-day Jordan.

Is the World Facing a A No-Israel World?

“I will also plant them on their land and they will not again be rooted out from their land, says the Lord” (Amos 9:15).   “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols” (Ezek. 36:24-25). 

Hey Gang, I have been blessed in my life to do some really neat things.  In my high school years I was considered on the bottom rung of the “most least likely to succeed at anything club” but coming from a musical family it was almost dictated that I would choose an instrument and get with the program.  After getting nothing but squeaks out of a clarinet, I decided (much to the chagrin of my Mom and Dad) that drums was my instrument. 

I have always felt that drums, which led to playing in dance bands and the high school band and orchestra, kept me somewhat interested in staying in school. The music classes also provided decent grades that provided the basis of my grade point average and allowed me to graduate.

But getting down to the more important things that God allowed me to be a part of, one might think the development of the Village was the very apex of my life.  Now don’t get me wrong, I often wondered why God choose me to be His legs in this project and I sense His answer to that question is “You were available and willing”.  Perhaps He also knew that I had no experiences that would allow me to pull this off without total dependence on Him.

I have learned, over my lifetime, that if a thought came into my head I should accept it as a mandate from God and get with it.   In essence, I have always felt that God knew how to shut doors and, if I believed a thought was a call from Him for action and it was not His will, He would shut the door.

I have met a barn full of folks throughout my lifetime that I felt were a heap more talented, and smarter than I who were operating on the principle of waiting until God confirmed that thought that God planted in their head.  Throughout our years as Super Eagle we had many come and ask how we did it because they wanted to do the same.  I do not recall any who pulled it off.

I believe- the reason for most of those who put thoughts planted by God in their head into the back closet- was they saw the magnificent campus God provided for us --and that is where they wanted to start.   However,when they heard the stories of agony and pain in the early development years and the more sophisticated problems of running a major business, the luster of being a Super Eagle soon began to fade.

Well, that is a side road that I did not intend to go down.  Getting back to the neat things God allowed me to experience in my lifetime, I would place our involvement with Israel as a close second.  After hanging up our spurs in the child care industry we set out in a fifth wheel with the intention of seeing the entire United States.  But on leg one we were diverted to see some old friends, and that changes our plans.  

That old friend was called to be the president of an organization called The Ebenezer Fund or Operation Exodus.  Its mission was one track- seeking Jews throughout the world and helping them make Aliyah (return to the land of their heritage).  At that time the main focus was on a recently opened door for the olim to make Aliyah from Russia.

Well folks, this is taking much longer than I anticipated so will cut it off here and continue at a later date.  The question was do we stay and or do go on with our plans to see the states as vagabond’s.   I suspect you already know the answer. BUT tune in next time anyway and learn the next chapter in the experiences of our lives that clearly rang our bell.

Blessings

Gramps

What Price?

“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20).  How does that compute in your spirit this day?

Hey Gang:  Being crucified with Christ tends to have about the same appeal in today’s world as getting a “root canal” or “walking on hands and knees through fire”.  Yet, John the Baptist made it very clear that growth comes when we become less and Christ becomes more in our lives.

What areas of your life can you hear the hammer and chisel working, chipping away at those tough un-surrendered areas that tend to be continual stumbling blocks that thwart growth? 

 

Paul provided solid counsel in this area when he wrote: “Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good – crucified.  Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads, or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our life” (Gal. 5:24-25. The Message).

Being crucified with Christ has no meaning until we understand what Paul was talking about.  Ruth Calkin in her book “Tell Me Again, Lord, I Forget” wrote: “At first, Lord, I asked you to take sides with me”.   With the Psalmist he prayed, ‘The Lord is for me…maintain my rights, O Lord.” But with all my pleading I lay drenched in darkness, until in utter confusion I cried, ’Don’t take sides, Lord, just take over:  and suddenly the sun began to shine”.

One day Martin Luther answered a knock at his door.  “Does Dr. Martin Luther live here?” the man asked. “No, Luther answered, “He died, Christ lives here now.”  To be ‘Crucified” simply means to slide out from behind the wheel and allow Jesus to drive.

So, my young friends , who is doing the driving in your life.  What life have you chosen?  Be advised, if you have chosen the ‘crucified life for Christ,’ you will hear the sound of hammers and chisels forming you into the Image of His Son Jesus.

Blessings,

Gramps

A Lesson From Happy Harry

“But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he had

compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them, and he put him on his own beast, and bought him to an inn and took care of him” (Luke 10:33_34). 

Hey Gang:  I introduced you to Happy Harry some time ago.  He was a very special person in my life.  Why? Because he taught me there are far greater things more important than being in the “in club.”   I have been amazed, though the past nearly seventy years since I last saw Happy Harry, that my memory of him is so very clear. 

When the question is asked, “Who made the greatest impact on you in your walk with the Lord?” My answer has always been my Grandma, my mother and God’s gift to me in His giving me the bride-of-my-youth and, I would also add, Happy Harry.

We have been to the Holy Land of Israel on several times.  Each trip was a magnificent learning experience. On most trips our focus was on loving Israel and getting our hands dirty in fulfilling the Word where it says, “Gentiles will bring the children and home help to rebuild the walls.” Each trip had its life’s edifying experiences. 

But on two of the trips we were truly blessed to have a wonderful Bible-Scholar Teacher and one who had made many trips to the ‘apple of God’s eye’ as our leader.  These trips were very special because, although we had a set itinerary, with only twelve in our group and traveling in a van, we moved much faster than the large bus tour groups that spent much of their day providing for the basic needs of their many travelers.  It allowed us to go where we pleased and made many more stops each day.

  

On one of these trips, we shared Sunday devotions at the trail head of the place most agree was the pathway that Jesus refered to in His story of the Good Samaritan.  It is a common pathway, although not as much traveled as in past times when there was much better relationships between neighbors.  It is interesting to note, that the path is still plagued with bandits and thieves. 

As I reread the story of the Good Samaritan the thing that seemed to stick out was “he happened by”.  I love the story of the events that transpired after the crucifixion where each of the gospel writers made the point that “the women were there”.  No big deal, right?  But when we are in the midst of a wilderness experience, is it not comforting to

have a brother or sister in Christ that has walked that same wilderness experience take us by the hand.

The Lord has blessed me with the ability to be an encourager of children who have made bad choices and their world looks very dark.  We had a saying in the juvenile hall, we could tell how tough a kid was by how many hours he cried at night. 

Thursday nights were always a very crucial time for the kids who were awaiting their pick-up to take them to the facility where they would “pull their time”.  At that moment, there was no hardness, no shells, just emptiness of mind, soul and heart.   

As I went room to room and sat on the edge of each bed, perhaps for the first time in their broken lives, they were truly truthful with themselves and even a few knew they had failed all. Even God

Those Thursday night built a raging fire in my gut to either do something about these kids that believe they have no hope or become a plumber’s helper.  God looked down and said, “You will make a lousy plumbers help so why don’t you be my legs and let’s build an oasis that will salvage thousands of these floundering kids.”

Sooo, my young friends, It doesn’t take some great college degree or high position in life to be a Good Samaritan like Happy Harry, it only takes your willingness to “be obedient.”.

Blessings,

Gramps

Question? Can You Be?

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.  Nor stand in the path of sinner, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalms 1:1-2).

Hey Gang:  Time to put your thinking hats on.  Time to lay your cellphone down and do some serious thinking.  The Question:  - Was David different? He certainly had some deep flaws in his behaviors.   Did God not say, “He was a man after God’s heart”?  Why did God say that?  Can you or I be a “person” after God’s own heart? Was that changed when Jesus said, “I must go so that I can send a comforter that will be with you always”?

Was he different from you or me?  I think not.  So, how did he become so special in God’s eyes?  As I was thinking about this question, the Scripture of today came to mind, especially the last part: “And in His law he meditates (meaning deep thinking) day and night.” 

Now, let’s lay some foundation for deep thinking or meditating.  As a boy he was a shepherd.  When you are out in the wilderness with a flock of sheep, there is not much that can distract you.  In other words, he had somewhat of an advantage over you and me.  No cell phones, television, automobiles, and a thousand distractions with new ones coming, by the hour. 

In Psalm 8:4 we find David asking the question, “What is man that You take thought of him”.  Would you agree that is a pretty deep subject?  It would be worthy of your time to read Psalm 8 every day until it penetrates deep into your soul.

The point:  One can tell from his Psalms that David was a deep meditator.   Now for another question to ponder, when was the last time you really, I mean really, meditated on God’s Word?  When was the last time you cried out, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The Moon, and the stars, which You have ordained.” 

In Psalm 57 we find David in a cave hiding from Saul, who was bent on killing him and in the midst of his trial he cried out to God “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You.  And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by” (vs, 1-2). 

Soooo, my young friends, let me close with another question?  Do you want to know God better? Then do as David did, put the sheep to bed and get alone with Him and His Word and look into the heavens and see the magnificent display of God’s glory and majesty in the thousands of stars.  Keep in mind He knows each one by name and I have wonderful news for you, He knows every hair on your head and He wants to have a chat with you, but, He wants your undivided attention.  Was David special, yes, I believe he was, but not any more special than you.

Blessings, 

Gramps 

PS When you are meditating, be sure your mind is not empty, but focused on things of God!