...that's a commandment not a courtesy

We have to look at ourselves from time to time in the light of day and see who and what we really are becoming as modern day Christians. 

I have been feeling of late that the time has come to make some real changes in my life  and not just the easy ones we all would like to see happen that make our lives better. 

When the mirror sends back an image that isn't favorable we have the tendency to overlook the bad parts and concentrate on the better parts.

However, I haven't even been seeing any good parts lately. Sad.

I have always 'joined the fight' with enthusiasm and vigor but I find both waning a bit. Neither being enthused nor invigorated brings me to one conclusion. It's time for a change. 

I need to get down on my knees and concentrate on what God would have me do and not think about or do anything else until that comes about.

Tonight I stood in front of my church and unloaded on them in a big way. I don't know how they all took it but I had to say some pretty hard things, including some things about apathy and selfishness that probably sounded a little self serving or even egotistic, but it needed to be said.

Our lack of service and commitment has shown up in ways that puts us more in the light of being a social club than a ministry. Again, sad.

I know this post will be more of the same but I truly feel the need to speak up at this point and take more of a stand for my belief.

God intended us to be salt and light. Our words should reflect His temperament and desires rather than our own petty failings. We need to be conduit, streaming the good news of the Gospel of Jesus  Christ to anyone and everyone that will listen at any given moment.

What has become of the strident servants we once were? I include myself in that question.

We have to get back to the business of reaching out to the lost or they will die before they have the chance to repent and be saved. That's a commandment not a courtesy; our service to the King.

....those that have eyes to see

I somehow bruised my right eye. It seems to have happened while I slept; self inflicted. So much for being graceful.
A number of years ago, I hit myself in the same eye while working at a refinery in Cyril, Oklahoma as an Electrician's helper. I nearly lost the eye, but God spared me, healing me completely.
The pain was severe then and significant now, but not nearly as bad. It reminded me of the original event and I then thought of the dozens of other incidents I have experienced that could have cost me a limb or a finger or some other important part.  All of those fights and wrecks and accidents loom large in my memory.
We probably have no idea how many times the Lord has 'saved our bacon' from devastating circumstances. Any number of scenarios come to mind when I take a little time to consider some of the possibilities. My over active imagination brings up some pretty crazy ideas. How about you?
We are so blessed. The Bible speaks about how the evil one is 'roaming about' in search of ways to 'do us in', but then our 'protection' goes into effect and overcomes the attack. Isn't that the coolest? I think so.
Now, when do we make the move to that next level? When do we begin to take back some of the territory the evil one has so often 'stolen' from us? We have that power you know. Jesus said, "you will do greater things....", because He went to be with Father and sent The Holy Spirit to 'teach us all things'.
I like that. I like the sound of having authority over evil and actually using it for good. Too many use their power to do evil, selfish things. We should be bigger than that.
And we  can be.

The past few days have absolutely flown by. How does one keep up in all this speed and spin?

I watch the news but it keeps circling like a revolving hotel entrance. It's as though I can see thru to the other side; the destination, but then things keep returning to the starting point and beginning again.
Like Yogi Berra says, "It's Déjà vu all over again".
Back in the day I would have sworn I was high on some drug, but this is a 'different high', if you will. It's not just with the news.

I keep 'seeing' things. By that I mean, before now, there were events going on all around me that would have had little or no impact on my thinking mind. It was about things that seemingly didn't matter one way or another and I would just 'pass on by' not knowing something important had happened. I would look back and marvel at my ignorance.
But now these 'things' register and I recognize them as significant events. Events that relate to the information that has been 'stored' in my memory. I now understand. Not like a child understands a lesson at school. It's an understanding that stems from a great strength.
Now what I have written here might sound like an idiot penned it, but I'm trying to make a specific point.
The Bible talks about The Holy Spirit. "The Holy Spirit will teach you all things....", and I know that's paraphrasing, but isn't that a pretty good explanation for knowing about something before it occurs and not realizing you know until it happens? This isn't the mystical arts or magic. It's a real setting for many Christians. Knowledge is a gift and God liberally gives gifts to His children.

I'm certainly not trying to 'teach' here. That isn't my calling. I'm trying to share an interesting observation that only recently has developed. Many times in the past I felt 'numb' for lack of a better term when it came to what was going on around me. Now I tend to sense the atmosphere around me and notice more of what is going on. There is a keenness, if you will in the air and it's refreshing as well as intriguing.

"Soon and very soon"....

What has happened? The media is awash with story after story of how badly the president is handling affairs and making decisions. 

How easy to see the 'twist' they apply to all of his efforts. Nothing goes unchallenged. How sad. He's doing what he said he would do and that will be better for the nation... all the nation. The depraved have shouted and stamped and wailed, but it won't hold water. God will prevail and most won't like it. 

I was reading in John. The words of Jesus make it plain what the liberals are after. They want more liberty to become more and more depraved and corrupt. We have to stand for what is right and for what God tells us to apply to our lives. Be strong my friends, stay the course. We will win in the end, but it means fighting tooth and nail for every step and every victory. That will make us stronger as well. We have to exercise our spiritual muscles or we will atrophy and die. Our job is simple. Look to the Lord, the Author and Finisher of our faith. We only have to trust and believe and see His handiwork come to pass.These are glorious days.... the end is soon and very soon.... Watch... be strong.... have faith and see the salvation of the Lord!

After awhile

I looked at the blog and realized it's been forever since I posted 'anything'. Not that anything I have to say has any relevance, but I do have an opinion. The craziness that constitutes our current world situation gives me ample fodder for my blogging, but I hesitate to go all out. That would be a little over the top, wouldn't you agree?
 Having a view that is somewhat restricted by location and access doesn't give me the best insight on 'now topics'  but I do try to stay ahead of the curve on information. Having said that, I have little confidence in the Media given their alliances and bias and so where does one go to get the latest and best Intel? Good question.
Have you been watching the news? Compare that to the book of Revelation. See any similarities? I do; and plenty. The Word also elaborates in many other places about 'the end times' and what will come down as they approach, even putting them in order of occurrence. Are you seeing what I'm seeing here?
The answers are pretty evident once you put all of these 'facts' together and spread them out on 'the table' for a good look.

How long....

I often ask the question, "How long....?" Yes, how long before dinner is ready..... how long before it's my turn at the take out window.... how long do I have to listen to that awful music? Yes, the 'how longs' had a place in my life that I was more or less unaware of until I caught myself saying it over and over in one day.
Isn't that a social issue? I wonder. I am more inclined to put it in the spiritual column for reference.
We look at things in many different ways but the "same things" are always going to be the "same things".

Merriam-Webster defines same as:

simple definition of same

·    : not different

·    : exactly like someone or something else

·    : not changed : exactly like an earlier version, event, etc.

full definition of same

1.  1a :  resembling in every relevant respect

2.  b :  conforming in every respect —used with as

3.  2a :  being one without addition, change, or discontinuance :  identical

4.  b :  being the one under discussion or already referred to

5.  3:  corresponding so closely as to be indistinguishable

6.  4:  equal in size, shape, value, or importance —usually used with the or a demonstrative (as that, those) in all senses

iI'm inclined to agree with the set definitions. So why do we keep doing the 'same things' and expecting a different result? 

I I am ashamed of myself. I should have learned this lesson a long time ago and I would be so much  farther along, but alas, I am ignorant still.

Now.... how does one break free of this 'sameness'? One might think a considerable amount of drugs would reverse the process and 'enlighten me'. But no, I've already tried that path and it stinks.

All I did was wonder around in an ego crazed stupor; all the while thinking I was smarter. Not the case.

OKay, how about "Human Enlightenment Courses". That didn't work either. They only gave me a headache... far too much introspective for my taste; not to mention cost. Really smart people think up these courses just so they can retire in Florida ...or Venice. Not the way either.

Finally out of desperation I turned to an old book on the shelf. Though tattered and worn, I found it to be very new and awe inspiring. Yes, the very simple application of reading gave me far more than the most expensive drug or man made method. I gained reason and understanding and peace and comfort and I even lost weight. How funny.

You're wondering ? Be at ease. It was the Bible, of course. It was there all along. All I had to do was pick it up and open it.... no matter where, there were answers. There were methods to cure, reasons to be successful, avenues I never dreamed possible and yet... It was there in black and white for all to see and appreciate. Believe me I do. My appreciation has grown a thousand fold since beginning to read this book on a regular basis. The words come alive on the page and take me places I never dreamed possible. The words soothe and console, rebuke and reprove, turn me upside down and rightside up at the same time and I come away with a deeper 'knowing' of life than I could have ever imagined. 

As I got to the end I found a familair statement being expressed outloud in a sacred gathering.... "How long....?"

Deception abounds

I am taking out time from my normal positive remarks to warn everyone about a very deceptive business practice being done by a company called Force Factor. I had responded to an email about a month ago regarding a supposed 'muscle building' product designed to build stamina and endurance. Since I work outside in the heat in the summer, I thought it might be worth investigating. I have suffered the loss of Potassium from being in the hot sun for many years and this product promised many positive results. The offer was for a " free sample"; all I had to pay was a small 'processing' fee of under $5.

I paid the asking price with my debit card and thought the matter was settled. I would await the arrival of the sample, try it out and hopefully begin the 'body building process' as described by the advertisement. The sample never came. The days turned into weeks and about two months passed. I checked my bank account a few days ago and to my dismay, Force Factor had taken $64.98 out of my account. I had read the advertisement, I thought, but somewhere in the "fine print" there was an something that gave them the idea they could just take an amount at a certain time if I didn't decline it in some way.

You can imagine how I felt. I was livid. I began looking up the company, which by the way wasn't easy. All I had was a code on my bank account specifying the amount taken and little else. After a bit of effort I discovered that Force Factor was indeed the culprit. I went to the internet and found a contact number to call. This is where things began to get even more infuriating and frustrating. The Force Factor answering system is a never ending sales pitch that does not allow the caller to get to a live operator. The message goes on and on often repeating the message over and over again.

I waited for almost 25 minutes with the phone on speaker as I tried to continue my work while waiting to talk to someone. That never happened. I finally hung up. my next approach was a little more successful in that I did get a response from some unknown person on the Force Factor Facebook page. I typed in my angry feelings for being deceived and a answer came in the next day asking for my last name and zip code; promising to help me. That was the end of that. Even after responding to their request, Force Factor did not reply with any information or resolution to the problem.

BE AWARE AND BE WARNED... Force Factor is very likely using deceptive business practices to take your money without your permission. It almost cost me $64.98. Thank God for Chase Bank They immediately returned the money to my account after a 5 minute phone call.

I will continue to inform everyone I know about this unscrupulous company and I can only hope that each one of you would repost comment this on your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. We have to stand up against such dishonest business practices. If someone has a real product, they certainly do not have to DECEIVE THE PUBLIC by hidden charges that come out of your bank accounts unannounced.