Newsletter 179 February 6, 2010
Bob Mills
I remember a time when I was a young child, it must have been my birthday as my aunts and uncles were in our home, and that happened only on very rare occasions, such as our birthdays. My mother was the only one in her family of six siblings who had any children at all, and in ours there were only two surviving brothers. Our minister had preached a sermon in which he set that day as the day the Lord would return. One aunt and uncle, who had not heard that sermon, had very different opinions. Of course, that was not the day. Neither were the days that have been set over the years by various zealous church leaders. I recall one congregation in Johannesburg, South Africa in which many members sold their belongings and gathered in their worship center almost constantly so they would be together and ready when He came. I don’t know why they sold everything. They certainly could not carry cash with them. None of these were right. Not even the angels know. (Matthew 24:36)
But, we can, and do, know that he is coming again. We know, because He has promised to return, and He keeps His promises. Matthew takes two whole chapters to record many of Christ’s parables on the subject. Hopefully, you will read them.
Matthew 24:34-39 King James Version
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 10:23, Matthew 16:28, Matthew 23:36)
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 5:18; Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33)
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Mark 13:32, Acts 1:7)
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 16:27, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 30:39, Genesis 6:5, Genesis t:6-23)
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, (Matthew 22:10, Genesis 7:7)
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 16:27, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 24:30, Matthew 24:37)
Some of these parables bear witness of the undeniable truth of the whole in that they were fulfilled, even in the life time of the hearers (Matthew 24:34), when Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple worship came to an abrupt end in the year 70 AD. You can be certain that when that happened, the Christians looked for the rest also to be soon. They missed the clear fact, that we are always to live in readiness. All that we see, all the material world we know, will be gone, to be replaced with something infinitely better and eternal.
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man,” (Matthew 24:36). Life continued as it always had. (Matthew 24:38)
However, it is just as certain to come even as the flood did come in the day of Noah. It came without warning and took away everyone and everything not in the safety of the ark. (Matthew 24:39).
__________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
FEBRUARY
7th. Sunday – Job 37, 38, Matthew 25:24-46, Psalm 18:37-42
8th. Monday – Job 39, 40, Matthew 26:1-30, Psalm 18:43-50
9th. Tuesday – Job 41, 42, Matthew 26:31-56, Proverbs 4:10-19
10th. Wednesday - Exodus 1, 2, 3, Matthew 26:57-78, Psalm 19:1-6
11th. Thursday – Exodus 4, 5, Matthew 27:1-31. Psalm 19:7-14
12th. Friday – Exodus 6, 7, 8, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 20
13th. Saturday – Exodus 9, 10, Matthew 28, Proverbs 4:20-27
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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“…. Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Matthew 24:7-8
Detective tests…
Three blondes were all applying for the last available position on the Texas Highway Patrol.
The detective conducting the interview looked at the three of them and said, "So y'all want to be cops, huh?"
The blondes all nodded.
The detective got up, opened a file drawer and pulled out a folder. Sitting back down, he opened it and pulled out a picture, and said, "To be a detective, you have to be able to detect. You must be able to notice things such as distinguishing features and oddities, such as scars and so forth." So saying, he stuck the photo in the face of the first blonde and withdrew it after about two seconds.
"Now," he said, "did you notice any distinguishing features about this man ?"
The blonde immediately said, "Yes, I did. He has only one eye!"
The detective shook his head and said, "Of course he has only one eye in this picture! It's a profile of his face! You're dismissed!"
The first blonde hung her head and walked out of the office.
The detective then turned to the second blonde, stuck the photo in her face for two seconds, pulled it back and said, "What about you? Notice anything unusual or outstanding about this man?"
"Yes! He only has one ear!"
The detective put his head in his hands and exclaimed, "Didn't you hear what I just told the other lady? This is a profile of the man's face! Of course you can only see one ear!! You're excused too!"
The second blonde sheepishly walked out of the office.
The detective turned his attention to the third and last blonde and said, "This is probably a waste of time, but..." He flashed the photo in her face for a couple of seconds and withdrew it, saying, "All right, did you notice anything distinguishing or unusual about this man?"
The blonde said, "I sure did. This man wears contact lenses."
The detective frowned, took another look at the picture and began looking at some of the papers in the folder.
He looked up at the blonde with a puzzled _expression and said, "You're absolutely right! His bio says he wears contacts! How in the world could you tell that by looking at his picture?"
The blonde rolled her eyes and said, "Well, Helloooo! With only one eye and one ear, he certainly can't wear glasses.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
INDEX TO DATE
INDEX
SCRIPTURE BLOG TITLE NUMBER
_____________________________________________________________________
GENESIS
GENESIS 1:1-2 IN THE BEGINNING GOD 75
ISAIAH
ISAIAH 57:1-2 WHY DO THE GOOD DIE YOUNG? 60
NAHUM
NAHUM 1:2-7 WHY ARE WE READING NAHUM? 108
PSALMS
PSALM 106:1-3 THANKSGIVING 168
MATTHEW
MATTHEW 1:18-25 OUR SAVIOR IS BORN 118
MATTHEW 1:18-25 AND IT CAME TO BE 121
MATTHEW 2:1-11 THE CHRISTMAS STORY 172
MATTHEW 3:16-17 THE LIVING PARABLES, UNTIL HE COMES 81
MATTHEW 4:15-17 WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 122
MATTHEW 4:24-27 ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU 88
MATTHEW 6:9-13 LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY 96
MATTHEW 7:7-12 HERE ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR HOUSE? 76
MATTHEW 7:13-16 THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE 78
MATTHEW 7:21-27 BUILD YOUR LIFE ON A FIRM FOUNDATION 175
MATTHEW 9:11-13 HE CAME TO SAVE SINNERS 91
MATTHEW 10:16-22 DON’T EXPECT HONEY AND ROSES 176
MATTHEW 13:24-30 THE GOOD AND THE BAD SEED 177
MATTHEW 13:24-30, 36-43 THE PARABLE OF THE TARES 124
MATTHEW 16:13-19 WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM? 101
MATTHEW 16:26-27 ARE YOU A WINNER OR A LOSER? 126
MATTHEW 17:1-13 THE TRANSFIGURATION 178
MATTHEW 19:16-23 WHAT GOOD THING SHALL I DO? 125
MATTHEW 19:16- WHAT DOES “CHRISTIAN WORKS” MEAN?
MATTHEW 24:32-40 WATCH FOR SIGNS, HE IS COMING AGAIN 56
MATTHEW 24:34-39 NOT EVEN THE ANGELS KNOW 179
MATTHEW 24:35-44 DON’T INVITE DISASTER 95
MATTHEW 25:31-46 WHERE IS YOUR ROAD LEADING? 127
MATTHEW 28:20 MARCHING ORDERS 61
MARK
MARK 3:22-30 ONE SIN AN NOT BE FORGIVEN! 128
MARK 4:26-34 PARABLES ON HIS KINGDOM SEED 181
MARK 7:14-23 SIN ARISES FROM WITHIN THE HEART 129
MARK 8:34-38 THE COST OF BEING A CHRISTIAN 130
MARK 9:33-41 WHO SHALL BE THE GREATEST? 182
MARK 10:23-31 NEVER WISH FOR WEALTH! 131
MARK 10:23-31 WEALTH, SACRAFICE AND REWARDS 183
MARK 10:35-45 WHO IS GOING TO BE PRIME MINISTER? 132
MARK 14:27-31 LIKEWISE ALSO SAID THEY ALL 184
MARK 16:15-17 HIS LAST TWO COMMANDS 133
LUKE
LUKE 2:1-20 THE CHRISTMAS ACCOUNT 119
LUKE 2:1-20 + THE CHRISTMAS STORY 173
LUKE 3:1-13 HOW JESUS HANDLED TEMPTATION
LUKE 6:27-36 RULES OF KINGDOM LIFE 134
LUKE 9:23-27 THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP 136
LUKE 9:57-62 A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE
LUKE 12:22-34 TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE 137
LUKE 14:15-24 YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED 189
LUKE 16:19-31 WHY DID GOD MAKE HELL? 74
LUKE 18:1-8 DON’T STOP PRAYING 138
LUKE 24:1-12 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION 190
JOHN
JOHN 1:1-3 WEIGH THE CONSEQUENCES 80
JOHN 1:1-13 THE PRICELESS BUT FREE GIFT - LIGHT 191
JOHN 3:1-10 YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN 139
JOHN 3:16-21 THE LOVE OF GOD 140
JOHN 3:17-21 YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 58
JOHN 3:17-21 THE SEED OF FAITH DID NOT GROW 69
JOHN 4:27-42 THE WOMAN AT THR WELL 192
JOHN 6:31-51 I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE 193
JOHN 10:1-10 I AM THE DOOR 194
JOHN 14:1-7 OUR PERMANENT HOME 67
JOHN 15:1-11 THE PARABLE OF THE VINE 195
JOHN 16:2-15 SAVED, ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD! 142
JOHN 17::20-26 THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE 114
JOHN 20:1-10 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST 196
ACTS
ACTS 2:5-18 TO EVERY LANGUAGE ON EARTH 197
ACTS 2:37-42 WHY THESE, LORD? 105
ACTS 4:5-12 SALVATION ONLY THROUGH CHRIST JESUS143
ACTS 8:26-39 HOW CAN I EXCEPT SOME MAN GUIDE ME? 106
ACTS 9:17-22 THE CONVERSION OF A TERRORIST 144
ACTS 10:34-43 WHO WAS CORNELIUS,WHY IS HE IMPORTANT? 198
ACTS 10:34-48 ARE THERE A FAVORED PEOPLE? 145
ACTS 17:10-15 A GOOD EXAMPLE 199
ACTS 17:11-12 A MIXED RECEPTION 146
ACTS 18:24-19:1-5 THE MISSING FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT 200
ROMANS
ROMANS 1:16-21 I AM NOT ASHAMED 147
ROMANS 1:25-32 WORTHY OF THE DEATH SENTENCE
ROMANS 2:1-12 DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS 201
ROMANS 3:21-26 ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT 148
ROMANS 3:23-25 THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS 92
ROMANS 3:23-24 GRACE 83
ROMANS 5:6-14 CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY 149
ROMANS 6:11-12 THE RIGHT ORDER 87
ROMANS 6:15-23 THE WAGWES OF SIN IS DEATH 52
ROMANS 8:1-8 THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD 150
ROMANS 8:28-30 A PERFECT FIT FOR THE JOB AHEAD 90
ROMANS 12:3-15 YOUR TALENTS AND GODLINESS 151
1 CORINTHIANS
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25 NOT MANY WISE AFTER THE FLESH 57
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25 THE WORD, THE POWER OF GOD 152
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-21 NOT WISE AT ALL 115
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-27 THIS FOOLISH WORLD NEEDS CHRIST 79
1 CORINTHIASN 6:15-20 NEVER ALONE! 85
1 CORINTHIANS 10:15-22 THE MAN GOD CALLS WISE 153
1 CORINTHIANS 11:17-26 THE MEMORIAL COMMUNION SERVICE 154
1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-10 BE MY VALENTINE 180
1 CORINTHIANS 13:13 PUPPY LOVE 64
2 CORINTHIANS
2 CORINTHIANS 4:14 & 16-18 WHAT YOU SEE IS TEMPORARY 117
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-21 THANKS TO GOD, YOU CAN START OVER 157
GLATIANS
GALATIANS 1:3-9 ANOTHER GOSPEL? 59
GALATIANS 1:6-10 NO OTHER GOSPEL 112
GALATIANS 1:6-10 LOST FROM THE FAITH 158
GALATIANS 1:31 EVERYTHING GOD MAKES IS VERY GOOD 54
GALATIANS 5:15-21 A WISE MAN WALKS CAREFULLY 160
GALATIANS 6:6-10 YOU ARE A TEACHER…….. 98
GALATIANS 6:7-10 WHAT ARE YOU SOWING BROTHER? 62
EPHESIANS
EPHESIANS 4:11-16 ONE SPIRIT - DIFFERENT GIFTS 159
EPHESIANS 6:10-18 THE STRONG IN THE LORD 51
PHILIPPIANS
PHILIPPIANS 3:11-21 SET YOUR GOALS HIGH 120
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-13 HOW WE OUGHT TO BE LIVING 103
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 THINK ON THESE THINGS 162
COLOSSIANS
COLOSSIANS 1:16-17 ONE ANT TO ANOTHER 93
COLOSSIANS 3:16-17 THE HEARTBEAT OF IT ALL 84
COLOSSIANS 4:1-5 HOW WE OUGHT TO PRAY 163
1 TIMOTHY
1 TIMOTHY 4:1-8 RECEIVE WITH THANKS 104
1 TIMOTHY 4:1-11 IN THE LATTER TIMES 100
2 TIMOTHY
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 WHY SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE? 86
2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17 WHY WE READ THE BIBLE 71
2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17 WHY READ THE BIBLE 82
2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5 SPREAD THE WORD 156
HEBREWS
HEBREWS 4:12 THE WORD, THE SWORD OF LIFE 63
HEBREWS 4:12-16 THE AMAZING SWORD OF FAITH 165
HEBREWS 9:2-7 ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE PATTERN 66
HEBREWS 10:23-27 THE LAW OF MOSES,
OR THE GRACE OF CHRIST? 166
HEBREWS 12:1 1,2,3, YOU ARE DEAD! 55
HEBREWS 12:1-2 THE RACE OF FAITH 167
JAMES
JAMES 1:12-15 WHERE TEMPTATIONS CAME FROM 77
JAMES 1:12-13 TEMPTATION, HOW SHALL I ESCAPE? 53
JAMES 1:26-27 PUR RELIGION DEFINED 110
JAMES 3:13-18 TWO KINDS OF WISDOM 113
JAMES 4:1-6 WHEN GOD SAYS, NO! 94
JAMES 4:13-16 DO IT NOW! 109
1 PETER
1 PETER 2:4-13 CHRIST, THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 107
1 PETER 3:13-22 BE HAPPY WHEN YOU SUFFER 116
1 PETER 4:7-11 THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND 72
1 PETER 4:12-19 WHY CHRISTIANS SUFFER TRIALS 73
1 JOHN
1 JOHN 1:5-2:2 FELLOWSHIP IN THE FAMILY OF GOD
1 JOHN 1:9-11 HOW TO SPOT A FALSE TEACHER 102
1 JOHN 2:1-6 KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS 68
1 JOHN 3:1-9 CHILDREN OF GOD, LOVE ONE ANOTHER
1 JOHN 3:22 ASK AND YE SHALL HAVE 70
1 JOHN 4:1-6 GOD GAVE YOU A MIND, USE IT! 164
REVELATON
REVELATION 1:1-8 UNDERSTANDING THE FUTURE 169
REVELATION 3:14-22 IS THIS TODAY’S CHURCH? 99
REVELATION 5:5-10 THE SCROLL, OPENED BY CHRIST JESUS 170
REVELATION 13:7-9 THE SIGN OF THE BEAST 172
REVELATION 20:11-15 THE GRAND CLIMAX OF ALL TIME 174
REVELATION 21:1-4 DRESSED FOR THE WEDDING FEAST 97
SCRIPTURE BLOG TITLE NUMBER
_____________________________________________________________________
GENESIS
GENESIS 1:1-2 IN THE BEGINNING GOD 75
ISAIAH
ISAIAH 57:1-2 WHY DO THE GOOD DIE YOUNG? 60
NAHUM
NAHUM 1:2-7 WHY ARE WE READING NAHUM? 108
PSALMS
PSALM 106:1-3 THANKSGIVING 168
MATTHEW
MATTHEW 1:18-25 OUR SAVIOR IS BORN 118
MATTHEW 1:18-25 AND IT CAME TO BE 121
MATTHEW 2:1-11 THE CHRISTMAS STORY 172
MATTHEW 3:16-17 THE LIVING PARABLES, UNTIL HE COMES 81
MATTHEW 4:15-17 WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 122
MATTHEW 4:24-27 ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU 88
MATTHEW 6:9-13 LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY 96
MATTHEW 7:7-12 HERE ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR HOUSE? 76
MATTHEW 7:13-16 THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE 78
MATTHEW 7:21-27 BUILD YOUR LIFE ON A FIRM FOUNDATION 175
MATTHEW 9:11-13 HE CAME TO SAVE SINNERS 91
MATTHEW 10:16-22 DON’T EXPECT HONEY AND ROSES 176
MATTHEW 13:24-30 THE GOOD AND THE BAD SEED 177
MATTHEW 13:24-30, 36-43 THE PARABLE OF THE TARES 124
MATTHEW 16:13-19 WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM? 101
MATTHEW 16:26-27 ARE YOU A WINNER OR A LOSER? 126
MATTHEW 17:1-13 THE TRANSFIGURATION 178
MATTHEW 19:16-23 WHAT GOOD THING SHALL I DO? 125
MATTHEW 19:16- WHAT DOES “CHRISTIAN WORKS” MEAN?
MATTHEW 24:32-40 WATCH FOR SIGNS, HE IS COMING AGAIN 56
MATTHEW 24:34-39 NOT EVEN THE ANGELS KNOW 179
MATTHEW 24:35-44 DON’T INVITE DISASTER 95
MATTHEW 25:31-46 WHERE IS YOUR ROAD LEADING? 127
MATTHEW 28:20 MARCHING ORDERS 61
MARK
MARK 3:22-30 ONE SIN AN NOT BE FORGIVEN! 128
MARK 4:26-34 PARABLES ON HIS KINGDOM SEED 181
MARK 7:14-23 SIN ARISES FROM WITHIN THE HEART 129
MARK 8:34-38 THE COST OF BEING A CHRISTIAN 130
MARK 9:33-41 WHO SHALL BE THE GREATEST? 182
MARK 10:23-31 NEVER WISH FOR WEALTH! 131
MARK 10:23-31 WEALTH, SACRAFICE AND REWARDS 183
MARK 10:35-45 WHO IS GOING TO BE PRIME MINISTER? 132
MARK 14:27-31 LIKEWISE ALSO SAID THEY ALL 184
MARK 16:15-17 HIS LAST TWO COMMANDS 133
LUKE
LUKE 2:1-20 THE CHRISTMAS ACCOUNT 119
LUKE 2:1-20 + THE CHRISTMAS STORY 173
LUKE 3:1-13 HOW JESUS HANDLED TEMPTATION
LUKE 6:27-36 RULES OF KINGDOM LIFE 134
LUKE 9:23-27 THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP 136
LUKE 9:57-62 A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE
LUKE 12:22-34 TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE 137
LUKE 14:15-24 YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED 189
LUKE 16:19-31 WHY DID GOD MAKE HELL? 74
LUKE 18:1-8 DON’T STOP PRAYING 138
LUKE 24:1-12 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION 190
JOHN
JOHN 1:1-3 WEIGH THE CONSEQUENCES 80
JOHN 1:1-13 THE PRICELESS BUT FREE GIFT - LIGHT 191
JOHN 3:1-10 YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN 139
JOHN 3:16-21 THE LOVE OF GOD 140
JOHN 3:17-21 YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 58
JOHN 3:17-21 THE SEED OF FAITH DID NOT GROW 69
JOHN 4:27-42 THE WOMAN AT THR WELL 192
JOHN 6:31-51 I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE 193
JOHN 10:1-10 I AM THE DOOR 194
JOHN 14:1-7 OUR PERMANENT HOME 67
JOHN 15:1-11 THE PARABLE OF THE VINE 195
JOHN 16:2-15 SAVED, ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD! 142
JOHN 17::20-26 THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE 114
JOHN 20:1-10 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST 196
ACTS
ACTS 2:5-18 TO EVERY LANGUAGE ON EARTH 197
ACTS 2:37-42 WHY THESE, LORD? 105
ACTS 4:5-12 SALVATION ONLY THROUGH CHRIST JESUS143
ACTS 8:26-39 HOW CAN I EXCEPT SOME MAN GUIDE ME? 106
ACTS 9:17-22 THE CONVERSION OF A TERRORIST 144
ACTS 10:34-43 WHO WAS CORNELIUS,WHY IS HE IMPORTANT? 198
ACTS 10:34-48 ARE THERE A FAVORED PEOPLE? 145
ACTS 17:10-15 A GOOD EXAMPLE 199
ACTS 17:11-12 A MIXED RECEPTION 146
ACTS 18:24-19:1-5 THE MISSING FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT 200
ROMANS
ROMANS 1:16-21 I AM NOT ASHAMED 147
ROMANS 1:25-32 WORTHY OF THE DEATH SENTENCE
ROMANS 2:1-12 DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS 201
ROMANS 3:21-26 ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT 148
ROMANS 3:23-25 THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS 92
ROMANS 3:23-24 GRACE 83
ROMANS 5:6-14 CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY 149
ROMANS 6:11-12 THE RIGHT ORDER 87
ROMANS 6:15-23 THE WAGWES OF SIN IS DEATH 52
ROMANS 8:1-8 THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD 150
ROMANS 8:28-30 A PERFECT FIT FOR THE JOB AHEAD 90
ROMANS 12:3-15 YOUR TALENTS AND GODLINESS 151
1 CORINTHIANS
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25 NOT MANY WISE AFTER THE FLESH 57
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25 THE WORD, THE POWER OF GOD 152
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-21 NOT WISE AT ALL 115
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-27 THIS FOOLISH WORLD NEEDS CHRIST 79
1 CORINTHIASN 6:15-20 NEVER ALONE! 85
1 CORINTHIANS 10:15-22 THE MAN GOD CALLS WISE 153
1 CORINTHIANS 11:17-26 THE MEMORIAL COMMUNION SERVICE 154
1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-10 BE MY VALENTINE 180
1 CORINTHIANS 13:13 PUPPY LOVE 64
2 CORINTHIANS
2 CORINTHIANS 4:14 & 16-18 WHAT YOU SEE IS TEMPORARY 117
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-21 THANKS TO GOD, YOU CAN START OVER 157
GLATIANS
GALATIANS 1:3-9 ANOTHER GOSPEL? 59
GALATIANS 1:6-10 NO OTHER GOSPEL 112
GALATIANS 1:6-10 LOST FROM THE FAITH 158
GALATIANS 1:31 EVERYTHING GOD MAKES IS VERY GOOD 54
GALATIANS 5:15-21 A WISE MAN WALKS CAREFULLY 160
GALATIANS 6:6-10 YOU ARE A TEACHER…….. 98
GALATIANS 6:7-10 WHAT ARE YOU SOWING BROTHER? 62
EPHESIANS
EPHESIANS 4:11-16 ONE SPIRIT - DIFFERENT GIFTS 159
EPHESIANS 6:10-18 THE STRONG IN THE LORD 51
PHILIPPIANS
PHILIPPIANS 3:11-21 SET YOUR GOALS HIGH 120
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-13 HOW WE OUGHT TO BE LIVING 103
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 THINK ON THESE THINGS 162
COLOSSIANS
COLOSSIANS 1:16-17 ONE ANT TO ANOTHER 93
COLOSSIANS 3:16-17 THE HEARTBEAT OF IT ALL 84
COLOSSIANS 4:1-5 HOW WE OUGHT TO PRAY 163
1 TIMOTHY
1 TIMOTHY 4:1-8 RECEIVE WITH THANKS 104
1 TIMOTHY 4:1-11 IN THE LATTER TIMES 100
2 TIMOTHY
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 WHY SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE? 86
2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17 WHY WE READ THE BIBLE 71
2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17 WHY READ THE BIBLE 82
2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5 SPREAD THE WORD 156
HEBREWS
HEBREWS 4:12 THE WORD, THE SWORD OF LIFE 63
HEBREWS 4:12-16 THE AMAZING SWORD OF FAITH 165
HEBREWS 9:2-7 ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE PATTERN 66
HEBREWS 10:23-27 THE LAW OF MOSES,
OR THE GRACE OF CHRIST? 166
HEBREWS 12:1 1,2,3, YOU ARE DEAD! 55
HEBREWS 12:1-2 THE RACE OF FAITH 167
JAMES
JAMES 1:12-15 WHERE TEMPTATIONS CAME FROM 77
JAMES 1:12-13 TEMPTATION, HOW SHALL I ESCAPE? 53
JAMES 1:26-27 PUR RELIGION DEFINED 110
JAMES 3:13-18 TWO KINDS OF WISDOM 113
JAMES 4:1-6 WHEN GOD SAYS, NO! 94
JAMES 4:13-16 DO IT NOW! 109
1 PETER
1 PETER 2:4-13 CHRIST, THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 107
1 PETER 3:13-22 BE HAPPY WHEN YOU SUFFER 116
1 PETER 4:7-11 THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND 72
1 PETER 4:12-19 WHY CHRISTIANS SUFFER TRIALS 73
1 JOHN
1 JOHN 1:5-2:2 FELLOWSHIP IN THE FAMILY OF GOD
1 JOHN 1:9-11 HOW TO SPOT A FALSE TEACHER 102
1 JOHN 2:1-6 KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS 68
1 JOHN 3:1-9 CHILDREN OF GOD, LOVE ONE ANOTHER
1 JOHN 3:22 ASK AND YE SHALL HAVE 70
1 JOHN 4:1-6 GOD GAVE YOU A MIND, USE IT! 164
REVELATON
REVELATION 1:1-8 UNDERSTANDING THE FUTURE 169
REVELATION 3:14-22 IS THIS TODAY’S CHURCH? 99
REVELATION 5:5-10 THE SCROLL, OPENED BY CHRIST JESUS 170
REVELATION 13:7-9 THE SIGN OF THE BEAST 172
REVELATION 20:11-15 THE GRAND CLIMAX OF ALL TIME 174
REVELATION 21:1-4 DRESSED FOR THE WEDDING FEAST 97
Friday, January 29, 2010
THE TRANSFIGURATION
Newsletter 178 January 31, 2010
Bob Mills
THE INNER CIRCLE
I don’t think there is any significance to the fact that they were all fishermen by trade, but Peter, James and John were often with Jesus when the other nine were not. James and John were brothers, but Andrew was the brother Peter and he was not part of this inner circle. These three were given and experience and information that Jesus told them not to share with the others until after the resurrection. This is the first of three things that stand out about this scripture. (Matthew 26:37, Mark 5:37, Mark 13:3)
MOSES, ELIJAH, JESUS
The second is the transfiguration itself and that Moses and Elijah returned and were talking with Jesus. Their faces shone “as the sun.” We have read of this before when Moses went up to the mountain and talked with God. After that occasion his face shone so brightly that the people were frightened and he wore a veil. This is the same light that Paul had been blinded for a time by and was an indication of the presence of God the Father. Here, Moses represented the Law, and Elijah the Prophets. Those two sources lead us to the Christ. (Luke 9:31)
GOD’S ENDORSEMENT
The third is the voice of God saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.” God had spoken those same words, when John baptized Jesus. (Matthew 3:17) The inner circle, were being prepared ahead of time to use the Law and the Prophets to reveal the Divinity of Christ, God’s Son, and to preach His plan for the salvation of mankind. God was saying, “Listen to Him.” The Law and the Prophets were being fulfilled, now Christ’s message is what counts.
CHRIST THE MESSIAH
Peter had wanted to build shelters for Moses and Elijah, but, no, their work was completed, now it is Jesus we are to hear and follow.
Matthew 17:1-13 KJV
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36, 2 Peter 1:17,18, Matthew 26:37, Mark 5:37, Mark 13:3)
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (Mark 9:5, Luke 9:11)
5 While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, 2 Peter 1:17, Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 12:18)
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. (Matthew 14:27)
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. (Matthew 17:9-13, Mark 9:9-11m Matthew 8:4, Matthew 8:20, Matthew 17:12, Matthew 17:27, Matthew 16:21)
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? (Malachi 4:5, Matthew 11:14. Matthew 16:14)
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. (Matthew 8:20, Matthew 17:9, Matthew 17:22)
13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke unto them of John the Baptist.
__________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
JANUARY
31st. Sunday – Job 19, 20, Matthew 22:1-22, Psalm 17:13-15
FEBRUARY
1st. Monday – Job 21, 22, Matthew 22:23-46, Proverbs 3:21-35
2nd. Tuesday – Job 23, 24, 25, Matthew 23:1-22, Psalm 18:1-6
3rd. Wednesday - Job 26, 27, 28, 29, Matthew 23:23-39, Psalm 18:7-15:
4th. Thursday – Job 30, 31, Matthew 24:1-25, Psalm 18:16-24
5th. Friday – Job 32, 33, Matthew 24:26-51, Proverbs 4:1-9
6th. Saturday – Job 34, 35, 36, Matthew 25:1-23, Psalm 18:25-36
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 627 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to any email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com/
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com/
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com/
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com/
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com/
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com/
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“…. strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Matthew 7:14
____________
Say What?
Bubba goes to the revival and listens to the preacher. After a while, the preacher asks anyone with needs to come forward and be prayed over. Bubba gets in line.
When it's his turn the preacher says, "Bubba, what you want me to pray about?"
Bubba says, "Preacher, I need you to pray for my hearing."
So the preacher puts one finger in Bubba's ear and the other hand on top of his head and prays a while.
After a few minutes, he removes his hands and says, "Bubba, how's your hearing now?"
Bubba says, "I don't know preacher, it's not until next Wednesday in Dallas.
_______________
Bob Mills
THE INNER CIRCLE
I don’t think there is any significance to the fact that they were all fishermen by trade, but Peter, James and John were often with Jesus when the other nine were not. James and John were brothers, but Andrew was the brother Peter and he was not part of this inner circle. These three were given and experience and information that Jesus told them not to share with the others until after the resurrection. This is the first of three things that stand out about this scripture. (Matthew 26:37, Mark 5:37, Mark 13:3)
MOSES, ELIJAH, JESUS
The second is the transfiguration itself and that Moses and Elijah returned and were talking with Jesus. Their faces shone “as the sun.” We have read of this before when Moses went up to the mountain and talked with God. After that occasion his face shone so brightly that the people were frightened and he wore a veil. This is the same light that Paul had been blinded for a time by and was an indication of the presence of God the Father. Here, Moses represented the Law, and Elijah the Prophets. Those two sources lead us to the Christ. (Luke 9:31)
GOD’S ENDORSEMENT
The third is the voice of God saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.” God had spoken those same words, when John baptized Jesus. (Matthew 3:17) The inner circle, were being prepared ahead of time to use the Law and the Prophets to reveal the Divinity of Christ, God’s Son, and to preach His plan for the salvation of mankind. God was saying, “Listen to Him.” The Law and the Prophets were being fulfilled, now Christ’s message is what counts.
CHRIST THE MESSIAH
Peter had wanted to build shelters for Moses and Elijah, but, no, their work was completed, now it is Jesus we are to hear and follow.
Matthew 17:1-13 KJV
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36, 2 Peter 1:17,18, Matthew 26:37, Mark 5:37, Mark 13:3)
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (Mark 9:5, Luke 9:11)
5 While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, 2 Peter 1:17, Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 12:18)
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. (Matthew 14:27)
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. (Matthew 17:9-13, Mark 9:9-11m Matthew 8:4, Matthew 8:20, Matthew 17:12, Matthew 17:27, Matthew 16:21)
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? (Malachi 4:5, Matthew 11:14. Matthew 16:14)
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. (Matthew 8:20, Matthew 17:9, Matthew 17:22)
13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke unto them of John the Baptist.
__________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
JANUARY
31st. Sunday – Job 19, 20, Matthew 22:1-22, Psalm 17:13-15
FEBRUARY
1st. Monday – Job 21, 22, Matthew 22:23-46, Proverbs 3:21-35
2nd. Tuesday – Job 23, 24, 25, Matthew 23:1-22, Psalm 18:1-6
3rd. Wednesday - Job 26, 27, 28, 29, Matthew 23:23-39, Psalm 18:7-15:
4th. Thursday – Job 30, 31, Matthew 24:1-25, Psalm 18:16-24
5th. Friday – Job 32, 33, Matthew 24:26-51, Proverbs 4:1-9
6th. Saturday – Job 34, 35, 36, Matthew 25:1-23, Psalm 18:25-36
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 627 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to any email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com/
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com/
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com/
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com/
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com/
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com/
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“…. strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Matthew 7:14
____________
Say What?
Bubba goes to the revival and listens to the preacher. After a while, the preacher asks anyone with needs to come forward and be prayed over. Bubba gets in line.
When it's his turn the preacher says, "Bubba, what you want me to pray about?"
Bubba says, "Preacher, I need you to pray for my hearing."
So the preacher puts one finger in Bubba's ear and the other hand on top of his head and prays a while.
After a few minutes, he removes his hands and says, "Bubba, how's your hearing now?"
Bubba says, "I don't know preacher, it's not until next Wednesday in Dallas.
_______________
Sunday, January 24, 2010
DON'T EXPECT HONEY AND ROSES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES WITH BOB
Newsletter 176 V January 17, 2010
TRACTS STUDIES BOOKLETS STUMBLES AFRICA BOOKS SCRIPTURES EMAIL
The world wood it’s heroes with sweetness and flowers. Miss America gets praise, a giant spray of roses, a tiara, and financial awards. The talented, successful, sportsman may be offered a ridiculously high salary, but if he fails to produce, he will be fired and dropped like a hot brick. That is the way of the world. It is the way Satan works. Offer tremendous rewards, with meaningless promises. Remember, Satan is a liar who lures and holds prisoner his victims with meaningless promises. In a recent awards television show, one of the recipients made a point to deny God and that He had anything to do with it. Ignorantly denying God, she was giving credit to Satan, I wonder how soon she will find herself dropped. Perhaps not. Remember how Satan tempted Jesus, our lord, who created this world, with the promise that if he, Jesus, would just bow in worship of him, he, would give it all to him. It was a meaningless promise with nothing to gain, and all to lose, and Jesus’ response was, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matthew 4: 10)
The new Christian is as helpless as a little lamb before a wolf. Even a mature sheep has no defense on his own. The sheep needs a shepherd with a weapon. As Satan departed from Jesus, he in turn, has no answer to the wise use of scripture.
We read nothing about Jesus being tempted before his baptism and the beginning of his ministry for the whole time of his ministries, Satan was never very far away. His betrayer, Judas, was among his own apostles, and the priests, were watching his every move. Even Peter stumbled, and Thomas doubted.
The same is true of all Christians. There are “thorns in the flesh” in every congregation, perhaps well meaning, but misguided individuals. For every genuinely Christian thing that we do, Satan has a counterfeit, a counterfeit Bible, counterfeit churches, a twisted cross, a false gospel, greedy, misdirected evangelists. As time passes, these things qill grow worse, for Satan and his demons know that their time is drawing ever nearer.
But Christians need not be helpless. Jesus said, “I came to bring a sword.” Why, because his followers need to make use of it, the Bible, to respond to Satan. He showed us how, and Satan left him for the time.
Matthew 10:16-22 (King James Version)
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Luke 10:3, Genesis 3:1, Matthew 24:25, Romans 16:19, Hosea 7:11)
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; (Matthew 5:22, Matthew 23:34, Mark 13:9, Luke 12:11, Acts 5:40, Acts 22:19, Acts 26:11)
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. (Matthew 10:19-22, Mark 13:11-13, Luke 21:12-17, Matthew 6:25, Luke 12:11-12)
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. (Luke 12:12, Acts 4:8, Acts 13:9, 2 Corinthians 13:3)
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. (Matthew 10:35-36, Mark 13:12, Micah 7:6)
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:9, Luke 21:17, John 15:18, Matthew 24:13, ark 13:13)
Be assured, Christians may lose the battle at times, but the Holy Spirit is with them, and they have been assured to the end.
__________
READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
JANUARY
17th. Sunday – Genesis 34, 35, Matthew 13:1-23, Psalm 10:1-11
18th. Monday – Genesis 36, 37, Matthew 13:24-43, Psalm 10:12-18
19th. Tuesday – Genesis 38, 39, 40, Matthew 13:44-58, Psalm 11
20th. Wednesday - Genesis 41, Matthew 14:1-21, Proverbs 2:12-22
21st. Thursday – Genesis 42, 43, Matthew 14:22-36, Psalm 12
22nd. Friday – Genesis 44, 45, Matthew 15:1-20, Psalm 13
23rd. Saturday – Genesis 46, 47, Matthew 15:21-39, Psalm 14
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 626 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to any email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29, 30
_______________
It Happened Like This...
The following are actual statements found on insurance forms where car drivers attempted to summarize the details of an accident in the fewest words:
Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don't have.
The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intentions.
I thought my windows were down but I found out it was up when I put my head through it.
I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way.
A truck backed through my windshield into my wife's face.
A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.
The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.
I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.
In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.
SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES WITH BOB
Newsletter 176 V January 17, 2010
TRACTS STUDIES BOOKLETS STUMBLES AFRICA BOOKS SCRIPTURES EMAIL
The world wood it’s heroes with sweetness and flowers. Miss America gets praise, a giant spray of roses, a tiara, and financial awards. The talented, successful, sportsman may be offered a ridiculously high salary, but if he fails to produce, he will be fired and dropped like a hot brick. That is the way of the world. It is the way Satan works. Offer tremendous rewards, with meaningless promises. Remember, Satan is a liar who lures and holds prisoner his victims with meaningless promises. In a recent awards television show, one of the recipients made a point to deny God and that He had anything to do with it. Ignorantly denying God, she was giving credit to Satan, I wonder how soon she will find herself dropped. Perhaps not. Remember how Satan tempted Jesus, our lord, who created this world, with the promise that if he, Jesus, would just bow in worship of him, he, would give it all to him. It was a meaningless promise with nothing to gain, and all to lose, and Jesus’ response was, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matthew 4: 10)
The new Christian is as helpless as a little lamb before a wolf. Even a mature sheep has no defense on his own. The sheep needs a shepherd with a weapon. As Satan departed from Jesus, he in turn, has no answer to the wise use of scripture.
We read nothing about Jesus being tempted before his baptism and the beginning of his ministry for the whole time of his ministries, Satan was never very far away. His betrayer, Judas, was among his own apostles, and the priests, were watching his every move. Even Peter stumbled, and Thomas doubted.
The same is true of all Christians. There are “thorns in the flesh” in every congregation, perhaps well meaning, but misguided individuals. For every genuinely Christian thing that we do, Satan has a counterfeit, a counterfeit Bible, counterfeit churches, a twisted cross, a false gospel, greedy, misdirected evangelists. As time passes, these things qill grow worse, for Satan and his demons know that their time is drawing ever nearer.
But Christians need not be helpless. Jesus said, “I came to bring a sword.” Why, because his followers need to make use of it, the Bible, to respond to Satan. He showed us how, and Satan left him for the time.
Matthew 10:16-22 (King James Version)
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Luke 10:3, Genesis 3:1, Matthew 24:25, Romans 16:19, Hosea 7:11)
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; (Matthew 5:22, Matthew 23:34, Mark 13:9, Luke 12:11, Acts 5:40, Acts 22:19, Acts 26:11)
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. (Matthew 10:19-22, Mark 13:11-13, Luke 21:12-17, Matthew 6:25, Luke 12:11-12)
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. (Luke 12:12, Acts 4:8, Acts 13:9, 2 Corinthians 13:3)
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. (Matthew 10:35-36, Mark 13:12, Micah 7:6)
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:9, Luke 21:17, John 15:18, Matthew 24:13, ark 13:13)
Be assured, Christians may lose the battle at times, but the Holy Spirit is with them, and they have been assured to the end.
__________
READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
JANUARY
17th. Sunday – Genesis 34, 35, Matthew 13:1-23, Psalm 10:1-11
18th. Monday – Genesis 36, 37, Matthew 13:24-43, Psalm 10:12-18
19th. Tuesday – Genesis 38, 39, 40, Matthew 13:44-58, Psalm 11
20th. Wednesday - Genesis 41, Matthew 14:1-21, Proverbs 2:12-22
21st. Thursday – Genesis 42, 43, Matthew 14:22-36, Psalm 12
22nd. Friday – Genesis 44, 45, Matthew 15:1-20, Psalm 13
23rd. Saturday – Genesis 46, 47, Matthew 15:21-39, Psalm 14
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 626 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to any email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29, 30
_______________
It Happened Like This...
The following are actual statements found on insurance forms where car drivers attempted to summarize the details of an accident in the fewest words:
Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don't have.
The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intentions.
I thought my windows were down but I found out it was up when I put my head through it.
I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way.
A truck backed through my windshield into my wife's face.
A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.
The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.
I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.
In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.
THE GRAND CLIMAX OF ALL TIME
Newsletter 174 January 3, 2010
Revelation 20:11-15 (King James Version)
ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
THE HOLY CITY
Revelation 21:1-4
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:22-27
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
JANUARY
10th. Sunday – Genesis 21, 22, 23, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 7:10-17
11th. Monday – Genesis 24, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 8
12th. Tuesday – Genesis 25, 26, Matthew 10:1-23, Proverbs 1:20-33
13th. Wednesday - Genesis 27, 28, Matthew 10:24-42, Psalm 9:1-6
14th. Thursday – Genesis 29, 30, Matthew 11, Psalm 9:7-12
15th. Friday – Genesis 31, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 9:13-20
16th. Saturday – Genesis 32, 33, Matthew 12:22-50, Proverbs 2:1-11
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 624 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to any email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Revelation 22:14
_______________
My Goodness, Grandma...
An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle.
She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her voice, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!"
The four men didn't wait for a second invitation.
They got out and ran like mad.
The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition.
She tried and tried, and then it dawned on her why.
A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down. She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station.
The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing.
He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun. No charges were filed.
If you're going to have a Senior Moment, make it a memorable one!
Revelation 20:11-15 (King James Version)
ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
THE HOLY CITY
Revelation 21:1-4
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:22-27
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
JANUARY
10th. Sunday – Genesis 21, 22, 23, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 7:10-17
11th. Monday – Genesis 24, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 8
12th. Tuesday – Genesis 25, 26, Matthew 10:1-23, Proverbs 1:20-33
13th. Wednesday - Genesis 27, 28, Matthew 10:24-42, Psalm 9:1-6
14th. Thursday – Genesis 29, 30, Matthew 11, Psalm 9:7-12
15th. Friday – Genesis 31, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 9:13-20
16th. Saturday – Genesis 32, 33, Matthew 12:22-50, Proverbs 2:1-11
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 624 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to any email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Revelation 22:14
_______________
My Goodness, Grandma...
An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle.
She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her voice, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!"
The four men didn't wait for a second invitation.
They got out and ran like mad.
The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition.
She tried and tried, and then it dawned on her why.
A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down. She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station.
The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing.
He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun. No charges were filed.
If you're going to have a Senior Moment, make it a memorable one!
Friday, January 22, 2010
THE GOOD AND THE BAD SEED
It is an obvious fact that there are misinformed individuals who believe that they can live a “good life” and attain heaven without a formal relationship with the Lord’s church. They have never repented of their old way of life, have not confessed the divinity of Christ before others, nor have they been obedient to the Lord in Christian baptism. So, they blend with the saints in the activities of the church and from all outward appearances, are Christians. Jesus, in this parable, and his half brother James in his book, both call our attention to the fact that that this is not an acceptable relationship. God looks at the heart, not the outward appearances. At “harvest time” they will be separated from the true. Yes, there are hypocrites in every congregation of the church flock, and they are not easy to see in this life. They are intermingled with the true and faithful, but Jesus tells us how to deal with them without uprooting the true and faithful in the process.
Matthew 13:24-30
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field (Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:45, Matthew 13:47, Matthew 18:23, Matthew 21:1, Matthew 22:2, Matthew 13:1, Mark 4:26-30, Luke 13:18, Luke 12:20)
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 3:12)
Matthew 13:36-40
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. (Matthew 13:1, Matthew 15:15)
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (Matthew 8:20)
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (Matthew 8:12, John 8:44, Acts 13:10, 1 John 3:qo, Matthew 5:37)
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (Matthew 12:32, Matthew 13:22, Matthew 13:40, Matthew 12:49, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 28:20, 1 Corinthians 10:11, Hebrews 9:26)
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. (Matthew 12:32, Matthew 13:22, Matthew 13:39, Matthew 13:40, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 28:20, 1 Corinthians 10:11, Hebrews 9:26)
The tares in this parable probably refer to darnel, a weed which can hardly be distinguished from wheat until harvest time when it remains green and will have a different seed head from wheat. At that time, it is easy to separate the two.
Many have been quick to point out that there are hypocrites in the church. That is true, but it is God’s problem, not ours. The purpose of the church is to save souls so it is up to us to, set an example, to teach, and to lead them to salvation in the Lord. Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38,39, Acts 8:36-38)
__________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
JANUARY
24th. Sunday – Genesis 48, 49, 50, Matthew 16, Proverbs 3:1-10
25th. Monday – Job 1, 2, 3, Matthew 17, Psalm 15
26th. Tuesday – Job 4, 5, 6, Matthew 18, Psalm 16:1-6
27th. Wednesday - Job 7, 8, 9, Matthew 19, Psalm 16:7-11
28th. Thursday – Job 10, 11, 12, Matthew 20, Proverbs 3:11-20
29th. Friday – Job 13, 14, 15, Matthew 21:1-22, Psalm 17:1-5
30th. Saturday – Job 16, 17, 18, Matthew 21:23-46 Psalm 17:6-12
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 627 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to any email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.”
Matthew 13:57
_______________
One Dead Duck...
A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. She laid her pet on the table. The vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's heart. "I'm so sorry; your pet duck has passed away."
The distressed owner wailed "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. The duck is dead," the vet replied.
"How can you be so sure," she protested. "I mean, you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few moments later with a black Labrador retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom.
He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog and took it out and returned a few moments later with a beautiful cat. The cat jumped up on the table and also sniffed the bird from its beak to its tail and back again.
The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly, jumped down and strolled out of the room. The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."
Then the vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys, and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "150!" she cried. "150 just to tell me my duck is dead?"
The vet shrugged. "I'm sorry. If you'd taken my word for it, the bill would have been twenty dollars. But, what with the Lab Report and the CAT scan, it all adds up.
Friday, January 8, 2010
BUILD YOUR LIFE ON A FIRM FOUNDATION
Newsletter 175 January 10,2010
Both parables deal with life and upon what foundation we build. Good works, done for the wrong motive, will earn nothing more than, perhaps the honor of our fellow men. They mean nothing unless we are first, good servants of our Lord. That is why Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-3) were punished with death when they lied to the apostles, to the church, and to the Lord by keeping a portion of the money from the sale of some of their property and then claiming that they had given all. Selling the land and giving the money to the Lord was not wrong, but doing it for the purpose of honor, was. Barnabas had given out of a pure heart, but they had not. Not all good deeds are rewarded. God knows the reason for them, and will reward accordingly, but salvation is not a reward. It is only by God’s grace through the death of his Son, to whom we become bond servants that we have been bought from servitude to Satan, who uses us, to service to God who loves us. This requires us to serve because we love Him. It can’t be bought, for we really have nothing that is all our own with which to buy. Some things are really not for sale.
Matthew 7:21-27 King James Version
(Luke 6:46)
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (James 1:22-25, James 2:26, Luke 6:46)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 25:11, Luke 13:25, Matthew 10:15)
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Psalm 6:6, Matthew 25:41, Luke 13:27)
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock (Matthew 7:24, Luke 6:47-49, Matthew 16:18, James 1:22-25)
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it
What is the difference between “rock” and “sand”? Both are composed of the same basic material. Like “good works,” God expects a Christian to do them, but for the right reason. The words he used makes this obvious. The rock is the solid underlying rock or perhaps a massive outcropping slab of stone. Massive structures extend deep down to reach for such a foundation.
I once lived in a house that was built on, not in, such an outcropping. It appeared to be very solid, but deep beneath, there were old abandoned and sealed up gold mines. Late one night, there was a rock-fall in one of those tunnels, and it sounded like an explosion inside the house. The next morning I examined the lowest floor where I found a crack from the floor to the ceiling. Near by, I also have seen huge cracks in the walls of beautiful houses which have been built on shifting sand. The building codes of that city are now very strict!
The Christian has the best life-foundation, ever available, Jesus Christ, God’s Son. There are no hidden flaws, there is strength, and stability, no matter what Satan may hurl at us. Serve him with a pure heart.
__________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
(This directory is reprinted intentionally to place us back in the proper place.)
JANUARY
10th. Sunday – Genesis 21, 22, 23, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 7:10-17
11th. Monday – Genesis 24, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 8
12th. Tuesday – Genesis 25, 26, Matthew 10:1-23, Proverbs 1:20-33
13th. Wednesday - Genesis 27, 28, Matthew 10:24-42, Psalm 9:1-6
14th. Thursday – Genesis 29, 30, Matthew 11, Psalm 9:7-12
15th. Friday – Genesis 31, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 9:13-20
16th. Saturday – Genesis 32, 33, Matthew 12:22-50, Proverbs 2:1-11
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 625 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to any email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”
Matthew 7:13
_______________
Car Trouble...
A Rabbi, a Monk, and a lawyer are riding down the road when their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
Spotting a farmhouse they walk over and tell the farmer they need a place to stay the night while they wait for a tow.
"I've got room in the house for two of you but someones gonna have to sleep in the barn." says the farmer.
The Rabbi says, "I've no problem with that, I'll go." He leaves.
Five minutes later theres a knock on the door. The farmer opens the door and the Rabbi is there.
He says, "Sir there is a pig in that barn; in my religion pigs are unclean, I cannot sleep under the same roof with a pig."
The Monk speaks up and says, "I have no problem with pigs I'll go sleep in the barn." He leaves.
Five minutes later theres a knock on the door. The farmer opens the door and the Monk is there.
"Sir there is a cow in that barn; in my religion cows are sacred, I cannot sleep under the same roof with a cow.
The lawyer responds, "I'll go sleep in the barn, I've got no religion." He leaves.
Five minutes later theres a knock on the door. The farmer opens the door and the pig and the cow are standing there.
_____________
Phyllis’ first missionary novel has been published, You can order a copy now. Go to or and search for (Feet of Clay – P J Mills) This is the first volume of a series based in Guatemala, Central America. If this one pays the cost, she has 5 more volumes waiting in line. Her book “The Call to Africa” is also still available from Amazon.com. “Some of God’s Children” Any of these may be ordered from Phyllis herself.
Both parables deal with life and upon what foundation we build. Good works, done for the wrong motive, will earn nothing more than, perhaps the honor of our fellow men. They mean nothing unless we are first, good servants of our Lord. That is why Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-3) were punished with death when they lied to the apostles, to the church, and to the Lord by keeping a portion of the money from the sale of some of their property and then claiming that they had given all. Selling the land and giving the money to the Lord was not wrong, but doing it for the purpose of honor, was. Barnabas had given out of a pure heart, but they had not. Not all good deeds are rewarded. God knows the reason for them, and will reward accordingly, but salvation is not a reward. It is only by God’s grace through the death of his Son, to whom we become bond servants that we have been bought from servitude to Satan, who uses us, to service to God who loves us. This requires us to serve because we love Him. It can’t be bought, for we really have nothing that is all our own with which to buy. Some things are really not for sale.
Matthew 7:21-27 King James Version
(Luke 6:46)
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (James 1:22-25, James 2:26, Luke 6:46)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 25:11, Luke 13:25, Matthew 10:15)
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Psalm 6:6, Matthew 25:41, Luke 13:27)
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock (Matthew 7:24, Luke 6:47-49, Matthew 16:18, James 1:22-25)
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it
What is the difference between “rock” and “sand”? Both are composed of the same basic material. Like “good works,” God expects a Christian to do them, but for the right reason. The words he used makes this obvious. The rock is the solid underlying rock or perhaps a massive outcropping slab of stone. Massive structures extend deep down to reach for such a foundation.
I once lived in a house that was built on, not in, such an outcropping. It appeared to be very solid, but deep beneath, there were old abandoned and sealed up gold mines. Late one night, there was a rock-fall in one of those tunnels, and it sounded like an explosion inside the house. The next morning I examined the lowest floor where I found a crack from the floor to the ceiling. Near by, I also have seen huge cracks in the walls of beautiful houses which have been built on shifting sand. The building codes of that city are now very strict!
The Christian has the best life-foundation, ever available, Jesus Christ, God’s Son. There are no hidden flaws, there is strength, and stability, no matter what Satan may hurl at us. Serve him with a pure heart.
__________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
(This directory is reprinted intentionally to place us back in the proper place.)
JANUARY
10th. Sunday – Genesis 21, 22, 23, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 7:10-17
11th. Monday – Genesis 24, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 8
12th. Tuesday – Genesis 25, 26, Matthew 10:1-23, Proverbs 1:20-33
13th. Wednesday - Genesis 27, 28, Matthew 10:24-42, Psalm 9:1-6
14th. Thursday – Genesis 29, 30, Matthew 11, Psalm 9:7-12
15th. Friday – Genesis 31, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 9:13-20
16th. Saturday – Genesis 32, 33, Matthew 12:22-50, Proverbs 2:1-11
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 625 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to any email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”
Matthew 7:13
_______________
Car Trouble...
A Rabbi, a Monk, and a lawyer are riding down the road when their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
Spotting a farmhouse they walk over and tell the farmer they need a place to stay the night while they wait for a tow.
"I've got room in the house for two of you but someones gonna have to sleep in the barn." says the farmer.
The Rabbi says, "I've no problem with that, I'll go." He leaves.
Five minutes later theres a knock on the door. The farmer opens the door and the Rabbi is there.
He says, "Sir there is a pig in that barn; in my religion pigs are unclean, I cannot sleep under the same roof with a pig."
The Monk speaks up and says, "I have no problem with pigs I'll go sleep in the barn." He leaves.
Five minutes later theres a knock on the door. The farmer opens the door and the Monk is there.
"Sir there is a cow in that barn; in my religion cows are sacred, I cannot sleep under the same roof with a cow.
The lawyer responds, "I'll go sleep in the barn, I've got no religion." He leaves.
Five minutes later theres a knock on the door. The farmer opens the door and the pig and the cow are standing there.
_____________
Phyllis’ first missionary novel has been published, You can order a copy now. Go to
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