Obrighterdays

                                         Criminalizing our rights

I get so up set at times watching TV. I see our free rights being flushed away. In California the Supreme Court said it was ok for same sex marriage, even though the people said no. Where are their rights? The state of Maine the same thing the people voted no, yet the governor over turned it. Again, where are their rights?  The homosexuality is going strong and if any one speaks against it they are wrong .Where are our rights to speak the truth. In a town in the north the folks are given a fine if their front door is found unlocked; the town police say it’s to keep crime down. We set back, and say crime is bad now days, they are right to do that. NO! They are not. I say if I find someone in my home that is not invited they better start running.  We have the right to live they way we want. The government does not have the right to criminalizing our rights as people of the United States. I remember back when I was a kid they made it a law to wear a helmet when riding on a motorcycle. It was a big deal and many people rose up against and fought it, and the law was changed. We have a voice and can change the laws by doing what the big businesses are doing. Look at the seatbelt law the insurance companies made that happen. Yes seatbelts do help. Even thought we are told one side of the statistics. We who are called of God follow Gods law.  It says in the word: Rom 13

3:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

KJV
 we have rights under any law to live the way we choose. We also have the right to vote them out of office that don’t listen to us. That is a God given right. Its time we stood up against those who don’t listen to us and get them out of office. When a hand full of people can change the way we live and they live like the devil its time for them to go. They can’t even rule there own home like God says to. Its time they were sent packing. We Christians in the United States still have rights although there are being taken away little by little  laws are being put in place to tie our hands little by little folks in places across the USA are put in jail for preaching the word on the streets against homosexuality. Yet, they can have parades down streets dressed in hideous clothing and that is ok? Church WAKE UP. Go to the streets and highways started reaching to the Lost at any cost. We are called to do so in Matt 24- Mark 16. We are commanded to go. What do you think would happen if some Christian would go to your favorite bar and start reading the Bible instead of buying a drink? Or we stood out side and waited for them to come out so we could speak to them about God? Time is short yes it’s been said a lot. Hmm, Could it be true? Yes. it is. It just upsets me to see our rights being stomped on like this.

                                                                                        In His love, Jim

The Lord Jesus seen all that was being done and call them on it. Folks, its time we did the same. It time we stood up against the foes of our time. Let’s take a look at the Body of Christ today. There are millionaire preachers on television begging for money and the very watches they are wearing could feed hundreds of people for years.

 I can understand what Jesus was saying when he said this:

 Matt 23:25

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

KJV

Its time we open our eyes to see the evil they (the TV preachers) are doing to the Body of Christ. Good Christians are sending their tithes to them and lots more of their hard earned money, yet they are not doing what the Father commanded them to do, and that is sin. Books are being written on how to get stuff from God, books on how to get more faith and power this is aka the “how to books”. When all one has to do is open the BIBLE and read it for themselves. Christians spend a lot of money on how-to books when they could do what the Father has laid out for them in the Bible. It’s all there for them that read. Wake up you lazy bunch of so called Christian and do something about what is going on now. Jesus also said in   Matt 23:16

Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

KJV

They are always asking for more money and never seem to get enough.

Matt 23:17-19

17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

KJV Matt 23:20-21

20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

KJV

Jesus our Lord knew the answer he just wanted us to see the truth. He came against the so called church and those that were in it, in my life time I have seen the evil in the body and it sickens me. Man has stuck his nose in what the father has laid out for us and we think we’re better than God the Father. We can look all the way back to Adam and Eve to understand what I’m saying.  I will end by saying stop sending the TV preacher your tithes and give it to the local church  that is were it belongs, and give your offering to the needy not the TV preacher they don’t need it. It is so simple to give of your time and to give of your love. In Luke 6 he tells how Just read it the bible………….God Bless, Jim

This has been a long time coming. Thank you son for doing this for me. I love idel of doing this. love you dad.

As a shared in the last newsletter my house had been broken into. And I talked to the father of one of the kids who broke into my home. As we talked I learn more about that child and learned about the father. But how he raised his children and listen to the way he talked about them. And I thought back to the way I raise my children and how the lord showed me how to raise my children. And proverbs 23:13 it’s not to withhold discipline, from a child. My wife and I (Terry) had to learn the correct way to discipline. I can brag about my children now my children have a great work ethics. Every one of them feels it is better to work. Given employer a day’s work for a day’s pay, that is what I have always told them. I believe that some scriptures from proverbs that will I hope open some eyes to the way we should raise our children the way God has intended it to be. We should stop trying to Legislate morality in the world and start teaching morality in the home. The foundation of all of God’s words start in the home. We as parents need to stop counting on Teachers coaches Sunday school teachers the pastor of the church as parents start pastor own homes. Now understand something right off the bat I believe in going to church I believe in being involved in the local parish or church it is important that we fellowship is important that we have somebody to go to war were having problems in scriptural it’s important that you have other parents to talk to the share to pray with the cry on their shoulders were left one another up would be a family. Men should take the rightful place as head of the home. The scriptures say in the first Corinthians chapter seven that a man or woman leave their parents (, paraphrasing right now) two Cleve one another, now what is that saying, it’s saying they leave the home to be married. I believe that were responsible for our children until they start their own home. I have some controversial views on things Some people don’t like them some people of all some people like to make fun of me but nonetheless I know what is God will reveal your mind to expose your heart. Like I said earlier Here are some scriptures and proverbs read them study them learn them.

I hope this helps, bless you that read this.

And his holy name Jesus Christ lord savior of all.

Jim

Prov 20:11

11 Even a child is known by his acts, whether [or not] what he does is pure and right.

AMP

Prov 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. [Eph 6:4; 2 Tim 3:15.]

AMP

Prov 22:15

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child , but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

AMP

Prov 23:13

13 Withhold not discipline from the child ; for if you strike and punish him with the [reedlike] rod, he will not die.

AMP

Prov 23:24

24 The father of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) shall greatly rejoice, and he who becomes the father of a wise child shall have joy in him.

AMP

Prov 29:15

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left undisciplined brings his mother to shame.

AMP

Prov 20:11

11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

KJV

Prov 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

KJV

Prov 22:15

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child ; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

KJV

Prov 23:13

13 Withhold not correction from the child : for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

KJV

Prov 23:24

24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

KJV

Prov 29:15

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

KJV

Here is a song that is very dear to my heart. So when you read the words read this part again

 The hour I first believ’d! C.S.Lewis wrote when he first believed, he said Iwas on my way to the Zoo when I got there I believed. When did you first believe? I remember the hour and day, can you? John Newton does he wrote this amazing song tells us about the very moment.

Amazing Grace”

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­i­ver, 1779)

One morning while I was watching the news they reported a city in Maine was going to vote on whether or not to give birth control pills to middle school aged young girls without telling their parents. Friends this is the same state that once wanted to abolish the right of a clergyman to marry. They wanted to rule only a state official to have the power to marry.  

Now we as parents have been given the responsibility by God to Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6  

 Prov 17: 6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

 Prov 20: 7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

 Prov 31: 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Eph 6: 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

 Eph 6: 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

When you read these scriptures do you see anything that tells us to sign over our parental rights to none believing people? How is it we do it every day of our lives. We read books after books on how to raise our children. If they have “Dr.” in front or a “PhD” behind their name we race after their folly like a dog returns to his vomit. Did not our Lord tell us in the gospels we will know them by their fruits?  Well, the fruits I see are mass ramped shootings and murders on campuses all across the country, more rapes and death amongst young people than ever before, campus police and metal detectors are standard modes of operation in the school systems today.  If you get caught fighting as a high school student you are automatically taken to jail and your parents have to come bail you out and go before a judge of the courts, and pay a fine. Isn’t it ironic the only time parents are asked to participate is when money is exchanged?  They pass condoms out like candy. I don’t know about you but that’s like saying skim to a dog.

Brothers and sisters, fellow believers I believe it’s time we take the public’s school systems back over.  Because the school board did rule in favor of the distribution of birth control pills to our middle school aged children. They already can abort and murder our unborn grandchildren without our knowledge what’s next?

 Met a woman and she was pride of the fate she was going to school to be a marriage consoler, now this woman has been married multiple times. Some of the people that teach our children live a different life not one of severing the lord. Yet we hand over our little ones gladly. Now I know what the Lord told us. When it comes to my children I want to sever the Lord.  Fellow believers look at who is watching over your blessing from the Lord.

Blessing Jim

Ex 13:3

3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

KJV

Heb 11:1

11:1 now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

KJV

FAITH

Heb 11:1, “the substance of things hoped for (i.e., it substantiates God’s promises, the fulfillment of which we hope, it makes them present realities), the evidence (elengchos, the ‘convincing proof’ or ‘demonstration’) of things not seen.” Faith accepts the truths revealed on the testimony of God (not merely on their intrinsic reasonableness),

James 2:14

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?

KJV

Ex 13:9

[And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand] This direction, repeated and enlarged Ex 13:16, gave rise to phylacteries or tepillin, and this is one of the passages which the Jews write upon them to the present day. The manner in which the Jews understood and kept these commands may appear in their practice. They wrote the following four portions of the law upon slips of parchment or vellum: “Sanctify unto me the first-born,” see Ex 13:2-10. “And it shall be, when the Lord shall bring thee into the land,” see Ex 13:11-16. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord” see Deut 6:4-9. “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently,” see Deut 11:13-21. These four portions, making in all 30 verses, written as mentioned above, and covered with leather, they tied to the forehead and to the hand or arm.

FAITH

Heb 11:1, “the substance of things hoped for (i.e., it substantiates God’s promises, the fulfillment of which we hope, it makes them present realities), the evidence (elengchos, the ‘convincing proof’ or ‘demonstration’) of things not seen.” Faith accepts the truths revealed on the testimony of God (not merely on their intrinsic reasonableness), that testimony being to us given in Holy Scripture. Where sight is, there faith ceases (John 20:29; 1 Peter 1:8). We are justified (i.e. counted just before God) judicially by God (Rom 8:33), meritoriously by Christ (Isa 53:11; Rom 5:19), mediately or instrumentally by faith (Rom 5:1), evidentially by works. Loving trust. James 2:14-26, “though a man say he hath faith, and have not works, can (such a) faith save him?” the emphasis is on “say,” it will be a mere saying, and can no more save the soul than saying to a “naked and destitute brother, be warmed and filled” would warm and fill him. “Yea, a man (holding right views) may say, Thou hast faith and I have works, show (exhibit to) me (if thou canst, but it is impossible) thy (alleged) faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” Abraham believed, and was justified before God on the ground of believing (Gen 15:6). Forty years afterward, when God did” tempt,” i.e. put him to the test, his justification was demonstrated before the world by his offering Isaac (Gen 22). “As the body apart from (chooris) the spirit is dead, so faith without the works (which ought to evidence it) is dead also.” We might have expected faith to answer to the spirit, works to the body. As James reverses this, he must mean by “faith” here the FORM of faith, by “works” the working reality. Living faith does not derive its life from works, as the body does from its animating spirit. But faith, apart from the spirit of faith, which is LOVE (whose evidence is works), is dead, as the body is dead without the spirit; thus James exactly agrees with Paul, 1 Cor 13:2, “though I have all faith … and have not charity (love), I am nothing.”

In its barest primary form, faith is simply crediting or accepting God’s testimony (1 John 5:9-13). Not to credit it is to make God a “liar”! a consequence which unbelievers may well start back from. The necessary consequence of crediting God’s testimony (pisteuoo Theoo) is believing in (pisteuoo eis ton huion, i.e. trusting in) the Son of God; for He, and salvation in Him alone, form the grand subject of God’s testimony. The Holy Spirit alone enables any man to accept God’s testimony and accept Jesus Christ, as his divine Savior, and so to “have the witness in himself” (1 Cor 12:3). Faith is receptive of God’s gratuitous gift of eternal life in Christ. Faith is also an obedience to God’s command to believe (1 John 3:23); from whence it is called the “obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5; 16:26; Acts 6:7), the highest obedience, without which works seemingly good are disobediences to God (Heb 11:6). Faith justifies not by its own merit, but by the merit of Him in whom we believe (Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6). Faith makes the interchange, whereby our sin is imputed to Him and His righteousness is imputed to us (2 Cor 5:19,21; Jer 23:6; 1 Cor 1:30). “Such are we in the sight of God the Father, as is the very Son of God Himself” (Hooker) (2 Peter 1:1; Rom 3:22; 4:6; 10:4; Isa 42:21; 45:21,24-25).

 )

When we read in Psalms 51 David is crying out to God because Father sent the Prophet Nathan. Nathan Pointed out the sin David had committed in the eyes of God.

I’m reminded of this because of what I’ve seen on television the last few days, and how Christians feel about pointing out sin in their brother’s lives. I have used the excuse that I’m not called to be a pastor so I don’t get involved in people’s lives. Although the Father has been dealing with me in this area, showing me as a servant or minister I need to be involved in people’s lives in other words be more of a people person. So why am I bring all this up I see that we have to be involved with people and stick our nose in their lives and love them.

 1 John 5:17

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

KJV

You see at one point we are all pastors to somebody we pastor our children or walking down the street we become their shepherd for a moment in time. You see in times past we’ve ignored speaking out to help others it’s got to stop we need to act on that push from God. In the scriptures it says that God will put us as stumbling blocks to people.

(Eze 3:17)  Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word of my mouth, and give them warning from me.

(Eze 3:18)  When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

(Eze 3:19)  Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

(Eze 3:20)  Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

(Eze 3:21)  Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

I see it’s time we get involved in our brothers lives.  Start loving one another, God loved us, In Revelations, Jesus says he is standing at the door of our heart knocking and all we have to do is open it.  Is that not getting involved in our lives? God wants to be involved in every aspect of our daily lives.  May The God of Glory bless your lives. Jim O

Gen 28:11  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

Deu 14:22  Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

                        Tithing

Mathematically it is a tenth. “…and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee” (Gen_28:11).

Scripturally it is a law. “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase” (Deu_14:22).

Morally it is a debt. “…Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings” (Mal_3:8).

Economically it is an investment. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Mat_6:20). “Give, and it shall be given unto you” (Luk_6:38).

Spiritually it is a blessing. “I will open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal_3:10).

Giving to God

Years ago it was the custom for the people to bring their gifts to the front of the church. A well-known preacher was making an appeal to the people to give for a good cause. Many came to present their offerings of love. Among them was a little crippled girl who hobbled along at the end of the line. Pulling a ring from her finger, she placed it on the table and made her way back up the aisle.

After the service an usher was sent to bring her to the preacher’s study. The preacher said, “My dear, I saw what you did. It was beautiful. But the response of the people has been so generous that we have enough to take care of the need. We don’t feel right about keeping your treasured ring, so we have decided to give it back to you.”

To his surprise the little girl vigorously shook her head in refusal. “You don’t understand,” she said. “I didn’t give my ring to you, I gave it to God!” Lovely.

“Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2Co_9:7).

A Better Kind of Indian Giver

An Indian one day asked Bishop Whipple to give him two one-dollar bills for a two-dollar note. When asked why, the Indian replied, “One dollar for me to give to Jesus, and one dollar for my wife to give.” The Bishop asked him if it was all the money he had. He said, “Yes.” The Bishop was about to tell him it was too much, when an Indian clergyman who was standing by whispered, “It might be too much for a white man to give, but not too much for an Indian who has this year heard for the first time of the love of Jesus.”

Three Kicks in Every Dollar

William Allen White, a famous newspaper editor in Emporia, Kansas, once gave a 50 acre tract of land to the city for a park. At the dedication, he made the strange statement that there are “Three kicks in every dollar.” He explained, “One kick is when you make it-and how I love to make a dollar! One is when you save it-and I have the Yankee lust for saving. The third kick is when you give it away-and the biggest kick of all is the last one.”

It seems Mr. White discovered on his own what Jesus taught 20 centuries earlier: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Act_20:35). Do you believe that? Want a big kick? Make a lot of money! Want an even bigger kick? Give your money to a worthy cause.

There is a “kick” in seeing needy people helped. There is a “kick” in seeing your money carry the good news everywhere. There is a “kick” in seeing your church touch the spiritual needs of the unsaved.

You, too, can get three “kicks” out of every dollar.

Church Is Cheaper

A woman took her two small boys and a daughter to see Peter Pan at the matinee one Saturday afternoon. The tickets were two dollars and fifty cents each. The young daughter watched as the mother pushed ten one dollar bills under the window and received four tickets.

The next day the same mother and daughter were at church. When the collection was taken the child saw her mother open her purse, take out a quarter, and put it in the plate as it passed them.

The little girl looked up at her mother and in a clear stage whisper which everyone around could hear said, “Mother, church is a lot cheaper than a movie, isn’t it?”

A Tithing Testimony

Many years ago a lad of 16 was obliged to leave home because his father was too poor to support him any longer. So he trudged away with all worldly possessions in a bundle dangling from his hand, resolving as he journeyed to set up in business as a soapmaker in New York.

When the country boy arrived in the big city, he found it hard to get work. Remembering the last words of his mother and also the godly advice given him by the captain of a canal boat, the youth dedicated his life to God, determining to return to his Maker an honest tithe of every dollar he earned.

So, when his first dollar came in, the young man sacredly dedicated ten cents of it to the Lord. This he continued to do. And the dollars rolled in! Soon this young man became partner in a soap business; and when his partner died a few years later, he became sole owner of the concern.

The prosperous businessman now instructed his bookkeeper to open an account with the Lord and to credit to it one tenth of all his income. The business grew miraculously. The honest proprietor now dedicated two-tenths of his earnings; and then three-tenths, four-tenths; and finally, five-tenths. It seemed as if his sales increased in exact proportion to his generosity, so that soon his brand of soap became a household word throughout the world.

The late William Colgate was this man whom God so singly prospered in return for his faithfulness to his Maker.

HeavenNotices a Penny

It was Christmas time, and the bell tinkled. Many people had passed by the Salvation Army kettle on the busy corner.

Then a small boy-six perhaps-looked into the kettle and asked, “Mister, what is that money for?” The tall man ringing the bell leaned over and quietly replied, “It is for girls and boys like you. But they are children that need food and clothing and toys for Christmas. The money will buy those things. Do you see?”

The tiny lad with face aglow plunged his hand deep into his pocket. Then, reenacting the Miracle of Christmas, he placed his gift-a penny-in the kettle with the rest.

“Only a penny?” you say. But it was a gift straight from a little boy’s heart. If it did not go unnoticed on the busy street corner, surely it did not go unnoticed in heaven.

More Than a Tithe

On his tenth birthday, a sensitive boy received 10 shiny silver dollars from a thoughtful uncle. The child was very appreciative. He immediately sat down on the floor and spread the coins before him. Then he began to plan how to use the money. He set aside the first dollar saying, “This one is for Jesus.” He then went on to decide what to do with the second, and so on until he came to the last dollar. “This one is for Jesus,” he said. The boy’s mother interrupted, “But I thought you gave the first dollar to Jesus.” “I did,” the boy replied. “The first one really belongs to Him, but this one is a gift to Him from me.”

Willing to Give All I Don’t Have

A new convert declared his determination to give all that he had for the Master. He said, “Pastor, if I had fifty pigs, I’d give twenty-five of them to the Lord.” “That’s very nice,” said the pastor. “If you had thirty would you give fifteen to the Lord?” “Of course I would,” said the new Christian. “If you had ten would you give five of them?” asked the pastor again. “You know I would,” he answered. Then the pastor said, “If you had two, would you give one to the Lord?” “Now Pastor, don’t ask me that. You know I have only two pigs.”

  As a minster of Jesus Christ, I can see the way the Church is headed, what I have seen is heart breaking. In this year 2007, we have seen evangelists on TV begging for money, yet they live like rock stars having many homes that range in the millions, although they have tax free monies, they continue to beg for more to feed the poor. Who do they serve God or money? 

Jesus said In Matthew 24:4&5:

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

 We have all seen their lies, yet we still run to throw our hard earned money at these salivating false prophets every time they say give it to me.

I have been a Christian for 28 years and in those years I have seen the hypocrisy and greed in the television evangelist. Marjoe Gunther an evangelist in the early ‘60s filmed a auto biography about himself as a child evangelist up to the day he quit preaching hypocrisy.  That film with its honesty and mind numbing truth shows the corruption in the love of money. Nowhere in the scriptures has Jesus or God the father told us to seek riches. It does however say in the Bible, God’s written word, not lay up silver or gold, but to lay up riches in Heaven were rust cannot touch it.

In the last 20 years those of us who have been watching the news have seen the downfall of mega churches as they crumble over either the love of money or lust.

In Matthew 24 Jesus talks about the last days there will be perilous times and the hearts of many will wax cold.  Are we not seeing that today in the New Age movement, the Muslim, and gay rights movements?  It’s legal to murder our unborn children.  Are we not living in the last days as it says in revelations’ that God would that you be either be cold or hot but because we are lukewarm he will spew us out of his mouth? 

It’s time that we as Christians fall on our faces before God and repent of our sins of wicked ways and complacency.

 Let’s do something in the year 2008, and remember what it is that the Lord would have you do. Repent of laziness, being lukewarm, and cowardice.  Let’s remember our soldiers, their families and the civilians in Iraq. Pray for all of them.  Also, remember Revival fires Ministries in your prayers.

Thank you, May God bless you and your family richly in 2008,

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Jim