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No Sparrow Left Behind

zoo-bird-punk-style

Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” (Matthew 10:29)

And He also said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God?  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore:  ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6,7)

What we have here looks like a kind of biblical-times “sparrow coupon day”.

A farthing was the lowest valued coin that was consistently minted by the Romans. It was equal to about 1/4 of a penny at the time the King James Bible was printed. So, today you could figure we might get 5 sparrows for about 2 cents. Unless you want to factor in inflation and shipping. Unless you buy $35.00 worth of them on Amazon.com and get free shipping? But then you would probably get about 8,750 of them for 35 bucks.

But what are you going to do with all of them? What do you do with even 5 of them? Eat dinner or start a zoo, I suppose.

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A Prophetic Sign for Our Generation

sun-rays-silvercreek

Our church has just finished a 3-part series on the Old Testament book of Jonah. And I just taught an adult Sunday school class on the last part of the book. Surprisingly, for such a short book, there is a lot of stuff you can get into.

While reading the biblical account of Jonah and studying other commentaries about it, I was struck by a very basic truth. That Jonah was an historical account to be believed by all Christians. It isn’t an allegory or parable or fairy tale.

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In Memory of Scout

scout

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”  (Romans 8; 18 – 23)

This morning we lost one of our cats. Just as I was getting ready for work, my wife called me to come outside. A car had been going too fast and hit our cat, Scout, trying to cross the street. He died within moments after stumbling back into our yard.

We had Scout for about a year or two. He was born in our garage during the summer. We didn’t even know that he and his other 4 siblings were alive for about 3 weeks after the fact. Misty, the mother, had hidden them way down under a big wooden work bench at the back of the garage. It was only after going into the garage one day to find something that I saw this little fuzz ball staring up at me from behind a pile of junk. And then, one by one, all the others began peering out at me from all different areas!

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Chocolate in Heaven

smokeys-kittens-couch

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (I Timothy 6:12)

The only way this world makes sense is because of eternity. Because God is using everything we go through down here to prepare us for everlasting life with Him in Heaven.

Whatever we have lacked here, we will have in Heaven. Whatever we need to make us happy we will experience there. I am hoping to see all those I have loved in Heaven. Family, friends and so many others that I have prayed for during my life.

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Take Up Your Cross

hill-and-telephone-poles

I am crucified with Christ . . . (Galatians 2:20)

Many wonder what Jesus meant when He said, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) There are countless sermons out there on this topic. And most have nothing to do with the truth of the matter. When we hear a sermon about the cross of Christ, we should be lifted up high above the clouds. But most who hear these words walk away loaded down with heavier burdens than when they first sat down in the pew.

First of all, crucifixion is not a self-inflicted act. We do not crucify ourselves. It is a form of execution of the most brutal and final sort. It is applied by officers of the law upon criminals condemned under the law. Specifically under Roman Law during the time of Christ.

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Not of This World: A Higher Call

Sparkler Writing

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)

Those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior walk in two worlds. They walk in the world which we see and in that world which we don’t see. One is physical; the other is spiritual. One is temporal; the other is eternal.

This world and that world operate on entirely different principles. On entirely different laws. As we are bound in this world by physical laws like gravity, the spiritual world is also governed by laws.

When believers attempt to walk according to “the rudiments of the world“, (Colossians 2:20) they are trying to apply natural laws and techniques to spiritual work. This is why so much that we see in our churches often seems powerless and hollow. It is why we are often left with the feeling that we are not truly touching something living, but dead.

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The Beginning of Knowledge

Old Cardinal Staring

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: (Proverbs 1:7)

A wise man once said, “There is not enough time in one’s life to make all the same mistakes that other men have made.” How true. We have a limited amount of time. Why waste it?

Nor is there time enough to read all the books that knowledgeable men have written in the past. If a man were to give his life entirely to the indepth study of a book a week, he would scarcely make a dent in all the vast libraries of the world. Perhaps he would only be able to finish a few shelves in a single library.

And that is a problem.

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A Sound in the Firestorm

Sunset Red Bands

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?       (I Corinthians 14:8)

Dennis Prager, a radio talk-show host, has often said, “I prefer clarity to agreement.” I get this. In many ways I agree with him. I am tired of people that cannot honestly and clearly tell you what they believe. You expect that from politicians; not from pastors and teachers.

But when discussing biblical truths, agreement is critical. Especially on doctrinal matters. A worst-case scenario is when individuals are purposefully vague regarding truth. They use creatively soft and nuanced teaching that draws the crowds and fills churches. They especially appeal to the young by conforming to the world in every possible way and re-working, re-thinking and re-wording the Word of God.

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The Mind of Christ

Seneca Lake Smooth

We are told to “Pray without ceasing.” And to cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Thessalonians 5:17; I Peter 5: 7)

So, I have discovered, over the years, the great benefit of giving my problems to the Lord. Even the little ones. This is a work in progress. I am learning every day of things I try to handle myself which need to be in His hands rather than my own.

And sometimes, the pain and confusion of life becomes too much to express in words. We groan within ourselves feeling as if we are “hedged in” or unable to break through God’s silence toward us relating to some issue. This can go on for months, years and even decades.

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