Rich Maffeo

Catholic convert, author and blogger.

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Last Notes

2024-08-06 18:19:39

This comment by CS Lewis ought to be memorized and lived by everyone who’s become a child of God through their faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for their individual sins:
“I think that if God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal (a higher court) than Him.”
Said a different way, how dare we sit in the corner nursing our guilty conscience when the faithful, and utterly trustworthy God has said to the penitent: I forgive you?

2024-07-16 19:22:12

Call me old-fashioned. I just do not understand how ANY person with a correct moral compass can remain in a political party where those in that party – even at the highest levels of that party – call for the MURDER of their political opponent.
The pre-meditated, first-degree MURDER of their opponent.
I mean – really? You align yourself with such unvarnished evil? Really? What kind of a person are you?

2024-07-15 16:27:18

Lessons from Noah
Noah endured God's SILENCE for nearly 100 years. Let me repeat this for emphasis: Noah endured all of it after hearing from God ONLY ONCE. But once was all he needed. God had not only promised to destroy humanity with a flood, but God ALSO promised to establish a covenant with him.
One time. One promise. And nothing more for decades. Is there any application to you and me today?
You can read the rest of this message on my blog:
https:// inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/07/more-lessons-from-noah.html

2024-07-07 17:25:11

Just a thought that I think about a lot:
We must be very careful to not make the Bible say what it doesn't say in order to justify our lifestyle -- or our theology.
Instead, we must ensure that we let the Bible say what it says -- and then adjust our lifestyle and theology to match.

2024-06-11 22:48:40

How old were you on your last birthday?
If you gave a number that counts only the years since you were born, you answered my question incorrectly.
Biologically, you are nine months (give or take a few days or weeks) – you are nine months OLDER than your age on your birthday because your life BEGAN at your conception and NOT when you were born.
Think about that the next time the subject of abortion comes up. Abortion takes away the LIFE of a boy or girl before they even have a chance to celebrate the day of their birth.

2024-05-26 21:56:39

Memorial Day and the Cross
As I reflected last week on this upcoming Memorial Day holiday, I realized Memorial Day is also a very good day to remember another casualty of another war – a war which was the worst ever fought in history since Genesis chapter one. And the loss of this particular life resulted in a cost incomparable to the cost of any conflict since the Garden of Eden.
You can read the rest of this message on my blog:
https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/05/memorial-day-freedom.html

2024-04-14 22:19:58

The Ascension – Part Two
This is part two of my two-part message drawn from the ascension of the Lord Jesus as Luke records in Acts chapter one. As was true with part one, this message also has some significant implications for our lives in Christ. You can read the entire text on my blog:
https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/04/lessons-from-ascension-part-two.html
By the way, the list of Christian ministries I mention toward the end of this text is available from me on request.

2024-04-08 15:55:18

The message I preached yesterday:
The Ascension, Part One
Last week we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. It would be yet another 40 days before He ascended to His heavenly throne, and over the next week or so I will focus our attention on that event. I will do so because the Lord’s ascension holds significant implications for Christians – AND for non-Christians. You can read the full message on my blog:
https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/04/lessons-from-ascension-part-one.html

2024-04-04 02:48:36

Amazon Prime movie: I Believe.
A good movie with a GREAT gospel message.

2024-03-31 16:31:03

This is a perfect message to Christians for this day:
https://www.complicitclergy.com/2024/03/31/on-easter-sunday-jesus-weeps-for-our-nation/

2024-03-24 21:54:24

Palm Sunday 2024
The Veil is Torn
[Don’t Sew it Back Together]
I want us to focus this afternoon on the miraculous event that occurred when Jesus took His last breath. You’ll find that event recorded in each of the synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And if you’re not careful as you read the account of the Lord’s final moments, you can miss it because it is mentioned so briefly.
Here is Mark’s account, “And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Mark 15:37-38)
You can read the rest of this message on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/03/palm-sunday-veil.html

2024-03-19 01:18:38

I preached this message at the 55+ community yesterday. I hope it encourages you:
--------
“It is finished.” According to St John, those were the Lord’s last words. But those words beg the question, don’t they? Exactly WHAT did Jesus finish when He bowed His head and died?
You can read the rest of my message on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/03/fifth-sunday-of-lent-it-is-finished.html

2024-03-18 15:13:22

I read this text today in John 5. Jesus is speaking:
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life . . . 44 How can you believe, when you receive honor from one another and you do not seek the honor that is from the one and only God? (John 5:39-40, 44)
I focused on verse 44: “How can you believe, when you receive honor from one another and you do not seek the honor that is from the one and only God?”
And the application became clear: Whose kingdom do I want? Whose approval do I want? My answers will explain what I do and why I do it.

2024-03-13 01:38:25

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan issued this statement on the eve of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan: “Blessings and graces to our Islamic brothNew York Cardinal Timothy Dolan issued this statement on the eve of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan: “Blessings and graces to our Islamic brothers and sisters, because their holy season of Ramadan begins today! They’re a good example to us on our Lenten journey.”
Think I am making that up? There are plenty of internet links to his nauseating ‘blessing.’ Search Cardinal Dolan and Ramadan.
Either Dolan does NOT believe Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONLY ONLY door to eternal life, or he does not care to win the souls of M us li ms to Christ.
In either case, he is just one more example of a growing list of Catholic hierarchy tripping over themselves to see who can betray Jesus Christ the most.
This wolf in clerical garb is yet another reason my wife and I have left the Catholic church as it slides faster and faster into utter demonic-driven apostasy. ers and sisters, because their holy season of Ramadan begins today! They’re a good example to us on our Lenten journey.”
Think I am making that up? There are plenty of internet links to his nauseating ‘blessing.’ Search Cardinal Dolan and Ramadan.
Either Dolan does NOT believe Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONLY ONLY door to eternal life, or he does not care to win the souls of M us li ms to Christ.
In either case, he is just one more example of a growing list of Catholic hierarchy tripping over themselves to see who can betray Jesus Christ the most.
This wolf in clerical garb is yet another reason my wife and I have left the Catholic church as it slides faster and faster into utter demonic-driven apostasy.

2024-03-12 03:18:56

I just finished the fifth chapter of the prophet Amos – and I realized why so many people do not like to read the Old Testament. It’s because of passages like this one that some clergy tell their people to ‘unhitch’ themselves from the Old Testament, that they need to pay attention only to the New Testament. But listen to this prophet of God and see if you cannot make application to 2024:
Amos 5:18-24 – “Alas, you who are longing for the day of the LORD, for what purpose will the day of the LORD be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 19 As when a man flees from a lion and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him. 0 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it?”
21 “I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 “Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. 23 “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. 24 “But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Surely, it is little wonder why people don’t like to read ALL of God's eternal and thoroughly binding word.

2024-03-11 02:58:01

Nancy and I saw "Cabrini' yesterday in the local theater. Based on a true story dating to the late 19th century. Very good movie.
But more importantly, it is eye-opening to the SAME kind of poverty and evil that goes on even today, March 10, 2024, from the halls of 'religion' to the halls of politics and to the willful blindness on the streets of 'every town' USA.
And we (Nancy and I) need to do more for the hopeless and needy all around us.

2024-03-10 21:14:58

Fourth Sunday of Lent 2024
Behold, Your Son;
Into Your hands I Commit My Spirit
Today is the fourth Sunday of the season in the Church calendar called ‘Lent.’ Today we turn our attention to two more of His last words. The first is: “Woman, behold your son” – and to John, Jesus said, “Behold, your mother.” The second word we look at today is, “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit.’
You can read the rest of this message on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/03/fourth-sunday-of-lent-behold-your-son.html

2024-02-25 17:57:49

As I read again through the 22nd chapter of 1 Kings I stopped at this passage:
Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. The LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ The LORD said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.’ Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you.” (1 Kings 22:19-23)
I suggest you read the entire chapter for context, but let me now make this important point of application to 2024:
Micaiah the prophet of God saw the scene in heaven where a ‘spirit’ – (probably Satan - compare Job chapters 1 and 2) said he would be a deceiving voice in the mouth of Ahab’s false prophets. The whole purpose of the deception was to destroy Ahab and his idolatrous army.
The deception worked. But here is the application:
As ‘churches’ in America go increasingly ‘woke’ – we had BETTER believe that God is permitting a deceiving spirit to enter those churches. Why? To separate the true followers of Christ – the True sheep – from those who simply attend church but live their lives according to their own opinions.
And we also had BETTER be fluent with God's inerrant and eternal word between the covers of the Bible, otherwise Christians also run the serious risk of being deceived – and destroyed – as was Ahab.

2024-02-24 17:26:46

- reply

@npub1hll…l58y I blocked you because I will no longer abide animus toward my Protestant brothers and sisters.
In recent days, I have removed myself from two Facebook groups. I did so because each group seems to have a pervasive dismissive (even animus) attitude toward those who are not of their particular church.
The first group I left is Catholic. Many members of that group have nothing but contempt for non-Catholics, even if they are Christians.
And many in the second group, a Lutheran group, (I am not Lutheran myself) are equally dismissive toward non-Lutherans.
Sheesh! I often wonder if those in these groups (and many others like them) will still be brandishing their particular doctrines when we all share the same prison cells during the soon-coming persecution of ALL Christians – regardless of our labels.
Anyway, I left those groups because, frankly, I do not have time or energy to expend any longer on backbiting and fratricide. I mean, if we were talking about non-CHRISTIANS such as LDS Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, that would be certainly worth evangelical discussion.
But it is STUNNING to me that many of the posts placed in the Lutheran group toward non-Lutheran Christians could EASILY have been written – virtually WORD for WORD – by Catholics toward non-Catholic Christians.
That reality really opened my eyes.
In a few short months, I will be 74 years old. I do not know how much time I have left to do what God has called me to do. But of this I AM certain:
God has not called me to judge another man’s servant. To his own master, he will stand or fall, and he will stand because the Lord is able to make him stand (see Romans 14).
In the remaining time that God gives me, I want to do nothing but preach Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and coming soon for a holy church – a church that is busy about the work of the kingdom. And that work is NOT trying to convert other Christians to their particular group. The work of the kingdom is winning the LOST to Christ.

2024-02-24 17:23:21

- reply

@npub1hll…l58y If you are serious about what you wrote here, they you are in grave error and will be most tragically terrified at your Judgment.

2024-02-24 17:21:27

Whoa! This is good:
-------
"It almost always happens that interior sentiments of pride precede the commission of grievous sins. Peter was not aware of his own weakness. He preferred himself before others; he trusted in himself as though he were incapable of sinning, boasting that no temptation would separate him from Jesus. He would not even believe the assurance of his Divine Master, that he would deny him thrice.
Deceived by this vain confidence in his own strength, he neglects to pray, and to have recourse to God; and God, in His justice, permits him to fall, in punishment of his pride.
There is nothing more dangerous than to confide in our own strength, and trust to feelings of fervor. We are full of malice, and capable of committing the most enormous crimes, unless God supports us.”
—Fr. Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, The School Of Jesus Crucified, p. 85-86

2024-02-19 18:31:26

Why Have You Forsaken Me?
The ‘Last Words’ of people who die is a subject of interest to many people who actually document those words of the dying. Some – believe it or not – some people are actually flippant as they near the last breath. For example, it’s reported that comedian W.C. Fields, when asked why he was reading the Bible on his deathbed, responded: “I’m looking for loopholes.”
You can read the rest of my message here:
https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/02/lenten-message-forsaken.html

2024-02-19 00:48:01

continued from above:
Again, I am reminded of examples of this abuse of religious authority found in Scripture. For example, the priests of Peter’s day warned him and the rest of the apostles to shut their mouths about Jesus and get back in line. And what did Peter and the others tell them?
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)
My counsel to that young Catholic Facebook friend – and to everyone else held captive by words and warnings by their priests or pastors to keep silent in the face of evil – do as the apostles did: Ignore them.
They are, as St Paul warned, merely children of Satan in clerical garb. (See 2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
My counsel – do not let these guys silence you when you speak truth. You are answerable to Jesus, and to Jesus alone.

2024-02-19 00:47:43

I received a private message prayer request today from a faithful Catholic friend on Facebook. The request made me very angry for her sake. Apparently, some priest on Facebook blocked her from his page and accused her of being in ‘mortal sin’ because she ‘bashed the pope.’
Clearly, it does not matter to this priest that the pope is worthy of far more than just a verbal bashing. According to the Bible – a.k.a. God's inviolable word – this current pope should be not only stripped of his clerical garb, but he should be excommunicated for MULTIPLE examples of blasphemy against Christ and His Church. I could cite sufficient Biblical texts to support that statement, but you probably already know them.
But that’s not what the Catholic church does – excommunicate their popes, regardless of their crimes against Christ. They just endure evil when it comes from Peter’s Seat.
What this priest said to my Catholic Facebook friend reminds me of what the very religious clergy said to the person Jesus had healed of blindness. You’ll find that story in the ninth chapter of John’s gospel.
When the healed blind man told them Jesus was not a sinner, as they’d accused the Lord, the clergy said to the man: “You were born entirely in your sins, and are YOU teaching us?” And then they cast him out of the synagogue.
I’ve met priests like that. They seem to think that just because they’ve gone to seminary and they’ve had hands laid on them by some bishop, that they are now somehow better than, smarter than, more worthy than the poor laity in the pews who know nothing.
I fear that this poor woman has succumbed to the superstition – and that is what it is, superstition – that this priest, simply by virtue of his priesthood, has the right to accuse her mortal sin because she said what EVERY Catholic clergy and laity should be saying about this pope. This sycophant priest simply wants her to shut up and get back in line.
(see reply for continuation)

2024-02-18 03:25:17

- reply

@npub1can…nnu2 I will not dignify your comment with an answer.

2024-02-18 03:24:30

Speaking of 'shocking America' with photos of children killed by guns -- how about we shock America with photos of aborted babies.
But no, moral cowards like this guy would never go for that kind of truth.
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2024/02/17/john-mellencamp-demands-media-shock-americans-out-of-their-stupor-and-publish-photos-of-children-killed-in-shootings/

2024-02-17 19:07:20

Nancy and I attended a funeral Mass yesterday. It was the first time we’d been in a Catholic Church since we left Catholicism after Pope Francis – for all practical purposes – declared the priests can/should bless homosexual/lesbian unions.
As I sat in the sanctuary, I wondered what Catholic parents are going to tell their children when, during the Mass, their priest calls forward a lesbian/gay ‘couple’ and blesses their ongoing sin.
Does NO ONE in the Church understand where this evil is headed? Does NO ONE understand where the ripple effects of this demonic action will take their CHILDREN?
Adults might be able to turn a blind eye to it all – but your children (and grandchildren) will NOT be able to do so.

2024-02-15 20:38:12

“If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” . . . . These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.” (Colossians 2:20-21, 23)
I’ve decided to do something different for Lent. Instead of giving up something – which has (for me) never proven to be of much spiritual value – I’m going to do something different.
During the 40 days of Lent, I’m going to add a chapter from the Psalms to my regular morning and evening Bible reading. I’m doing that because, as I said, giving something up for Lent has never proved to draw me closer to my Lord. But I do not doubt for a moment that reading an extra chapter of His holy word each day will be a useless exercise.
And what about you? I’m curious – if you observe the season of Lent (and, by the way, I think it’s a WONDERFUL way to journey toward Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday –I’m not sure why more churches don’t observe Lent) – so what is your plan as part of your Lenten observance? Others might be interested to know. It will perhaps give them ideas for themselves.

2024-02-11 23:00:06

So, I got to reading the tag attached to the heater cord of the appliance we recently bought. Carefully read number three.
So, NOW what do we do?
https://media.rcsocial.net/media_attachments/files/111/915/093/403/157/372/original/5743417b1f2ee716.jpg

2024-02-10 04:18:16

“And now, the end is near, And so I face the final curtain. My friend, I'll say it clear, I'll state my case, of which I'm certain. I've lived a life that's full, I traveled each and every highway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way.”
Many of you recognize these lyrics which became the signature song of Frank Sinatra.
I thought once again of that song as I read this verse in Acts 14 – it’s part of what Paul told the crowd at Lystra: “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:16-17)
I stopped a while at “He permitted all the nations to go their own ways.”
The older I grow and the more I see and experience, I can think of nothing more tragic, more miserable, more HOPELESS than for God to let people go their own way.
Read the last five chapters of Judges if you doubt that to be true. Or the last dozen or so verses of the first chapter of Romans.
And so, I want to say it as plainly and as clearly – and as urgently – as I know how to say it: We do NOT want God to let us go our own way. We so much need Him to lead us in His paths of righteousness, to make us lie down in green pastures and lead us beside still waters. If He lets us go our own way, we will NEVER know what it is like to have our souls restored.
And so, I hope it will not take YOU as long as it has taken some to finally realize Sinatra had it so terribly, terribly wrong.

2024-02-04 22:16:28

My text for today comes from Isaiah 45:22 through which the Lord God, creator of heaven and earth says: “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.”
I want us to see at least four important elements in this short verse. First, What God tells us to do. Next, Why He tells us to do it. Third, To whom is this text addressed. And finally, the reason He can assure those who do as He tells us.
You can read the entire message on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/02/all-ends-of-earth.html

2024-02-03 17:25:05

- reply

CORRECTION TO THIS POST:
------Suicide is NOW the leading cause of death among 13-14 year olds.

2024-02-03 17:18:05

As I sit here preparing for my next Bible study in Psalm 23 -- specifically the valley of the shadow of death -- I found this IMPORTANT information.
1. Suicide is not the leading cause of death among 13-14 year-olds.
2. On the other end of the spectrum, as of fall 2022, adults over age 65 accounted for almost 17% of all suicides in the U.S., despite making up just 12% of the population.
This article link is important:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/suicide-in-older-adults

2024-01-31 16:55:04

- reply

If I were to enter hospice today and die tomorrow, I know that I also will enter my eternal home to be forever with my Father, my Savior, and the Holy Spirit, who has been my guide all of my life. I know that to be true because, as I said, I know God is honest. And He has promised me, and all those who love his Son, eternal life immediately upon our death.
Immediately upon our death.
I could cite the applicable Scriptures, but I suspect many of you already know of promises such as Philippians 1:21-24 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-8.
And so, Reader – what about you? Surely, you’ve known people who have died, but have you given much thought to your OWN eventual death? It was Solomon who wisely said, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:2)
Reader, what about you? Have you taken your inevitable death to heart? Have you taken your ‘impending death’ to heart – impending because you don’t know what will happen tomorrow. A car accident, a fall, a stroke . . .. Anything could happen to any of us at any time. Our lives are held together with mere breaths.
So, what about you? Are you confident that you could say to God on that day: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course that You gave me. I have kept the faith”?
I hope so. But if not, then perhaps this short note can be a wakeup call for you. As the Lord God said through Isaiah the prophet: “Turn to me and be saved, all the end of the Earth. I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22)
And if you don’t quite know how to ‘turn to God’ – confession, repentance, and a turning away from your sins is a good start.

2024-01-31 16:54:41

A friend of mine, a good brother in Christ, told me yesterday over the phone that he’s going into home hospice later today (Wednesday). After years of treatments for his cancer, he told me he’s just tired of the fight. He’s tired of seeing the emotional drain on his wife. He just plain tired.
In the past, I’ve heard that same word from others being killed by that demonic disease.
He told me he’s not afraid of death. In some ways he’s looking forward to it. He knows he’s going to meet his savior and be welcomed into His eternal kingdom where he will live forever without pain while he awaits his beloved wife and children and grandchildren to meet him there.
This morning, as I was thinking about my friend – my brother – I found myself asking myself: “How would I respond if I were the one going into hospice today?”
I thought about that for a short while – actually only a few moments – before I answered my own question.
I’m not afraid of death either. I don’t want to leave my wife or my children, but I am not afraid of death. Why is that? Because I have every trust and confidence that God is honest. There is not a sliver of doubt in my mind that God has never, will never, can never lie to me. And so, when He said, “I am the resurrection and the life he believes in Me will live, even if he dies; And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die” – Yes, I believe that.
I remember Dan. He was one of the first Christians I’d ever known to die. When I stood by his hospital bed and asked him what it feels like to know he is dying, he told me what I have never forgotten. He looked at me, placed his hand on the bedrail on top of mine, and quoted 2 Timothy 4: “From life to life. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. And now there is a crown of righteousness awaiting me.”
(continued in reply)

2024-01-29 16:37:17

During the Lord’s wilderness temptation, St Luke tells us Satan “led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.” (Luke 4:5)
I don’t understand how that happened. My finite mind cannot conceive of the supernatural unveiling of all the future kingdoms that were yet to come. I do not understand how that works – but I don’t have to understand how that works. I only need to know that it happened in the realm of the supernatural.
But here’s something to think about:
Did you ever wonder why Jesus stayed on that cross when He could have simply turned His eyes toward the Father, and 12 legions of angels would have swooped to His rescue? (See Matthew 26:53)
Perhaps – and this is simply my unprovable speculation – perhaps while our Savior was hanging on that cross, the Father showed His Son in a moment of time not the future kingdoms of the world, but the Father showed the Son . . . MY face.
And YOUR face.
And the faces of every man and woman, boy and girl yet be born – and each of whom would be doomed to an eternal lake of fire if Jesus called for those 12 legions of angels.
Yes, perhaps Jesus stayed on that cross because in that moment of time He saw your face, and mine – and the faces of everyone else who, as yet unborn, would desperately need His self-sacrificial love.
Think of that the next time you look in the mirror.

2024-01-26 17:29:33

Several days ago, I got REALLY stressed about a situation in our household. I spent HOURS trying unsuccessfully to fix it. But God eventually did fix it.
The next day, as I ruminated about my reaction, a prayer formed in my mind. I printed it out and will tape it to the flyleaf of my Bible. I hope the prayer will encourage you in your own stressful situations:
“Father, I need this fixed. At least, ‘I’ think it needs to be fixed. So, if it is Your will and plan that this problem be fixed, please fix it for me – or show me by your Holy Spirit what ‘I’ need to do to get it fixed.
Regardless of what You do in this situation, I leave it now in your hands because I do NOT want to take it back into mine. And I thank you, Lord, for giving me another opportunity to TRUST you and to listen for Your voice.”

2024-01-25 22:17:46

Now here is something else remarkable to consider:
In his epistle to the church at Philippi, St Paul wrote: “[T]hat I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.” (Philippians 3:10)
“That I may know Him . . ..”
The interesting thing about that text is that he wrote it AFTER he wrote the book of Romans – considered by many commentators as the most comprehensive and systematic treatise on Christian faith ever written.
In fact, Paul wrote those words to the Philippians after he also wrote his two letters to the church at Corinth, and his letters to the Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians – all infinitely valuable to the Christian faith.
Of course, context is important – and I encourage everyone to find that context in the third chapter of Philippians – but here is the point: If the great apostle Paul – even after he’d written Romans and the rest I mentioned – if Paul recognized he STILL needed to know his Savior, then what should I think about my own relationship with Jesus?
And what should you think about yours?
Do we think we know Jesus as well as we can or should know Him? Are we satisfied that our knowledge of Scripture and of orthodox Biblical doctrine is at its apex? That there is not more room for growth in Christ and in faith?
If St Paul yearned at the gut-level to know Jesus better, then I think it is wise and fitting that we also seek God for a similar gut-level yearning.
Don’t you?

2024-01-24 04:11:54

Well, here is something to ponder long over -John 17:23. Jesus is praying to the Father. I encourage you to read the entire 17th chapter for context. But here is what always strikes me when I read it:
"I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."
"That you loved THEM, even as You have loved Me."
Ponder this: Christian, the Father loves YOU just as much as He loves Jesus.
Just as much as He loves Jesus.
Ponder that a while.

2024-01-23 03:34:17

Three weeks ago, as we entered 2024, I brought a message from the 20th chapter of the Book of Acts, specifically verses 17-24. The text gives us St Luke’s account of Paul’s message to the Ephesian clergy.
I want to conclude this series today by looking today at only three more aspects of God's grace: His grace to spare us from the wrath He will inflict on all humanity at the Judgment Seat of Christ; His grace that results in the reconciliation of ourselves with His utter holiness; and finally, He grace that has moved Him to prepare for us an eternal dwelling.
You can read the entire message on my blog:
https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/01/bring-it-into-2024-part-three.html

2024-01-19 15:55:03

Including all the other blasphemous things this guy has done in the past few years, when in the history of the Church has a pope EVER called for globalization of economies and nations -- and NOT under Christ as King.
I am surprised he did not also include 'religion' in his appeal for globalization. But give him time.
So, when in history has a pope clamored for such a thing? Uhhh, the answer is, 'Never." And THAT is yet one more 'sign' that we truly are in the last moments of the last hour before Jesus returns.
Christian-- read your Bibles and get ready for the persecution Jesus and the writers of Scripture all warned of.
Non-Christian -- read your Bibles and get ready for the persecution Jesus and the writers of Scripture all warned of.
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2024/01/18/pope-francis-calls-on-wef-to-promote-far-sighted-globalization/

2024-01-18 17:22:36

I published this several years ago. The thought is still current:
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My First Thought
When I finally leave this body and stand in the presence of my Father's glory; When He reaches from His throne and draws me to His lap, and I then understand what I could not understand in life: The enormity of His incomprehensible power, the limitlessness of His reign over every fiber of eternity, that no creature in heaven or on earth can open what he shuts or close what He opens . . . that the totality of creation throughout countless galaxies bow at His presence . . .
I think my first thought – when I realize where I am and in whose arms I rest – my first thought will not be shrouded in sorrow for my many sins, for things I did or did not do in life.
I think I will be most sorry that I didn’t trust Him more when I had so many chances to do so.

2024-01-17 01:50:09

- reply

@npub1f76…lzff You may have misunderstood me. I am not advocating for a Saturday Sabbath. I am advocating for 'A' day of rest, whatever day that might be for the individual. I also cited St Paul's comment about keeping one day above another.

2024-01-17 01:48:14

The Song of Solomon has been believed by many theologians throughout the Church age to be a picture of the love between Christ and his Bride (the Church). As I recently read through chapter five of the poem, my thoughts focused on verses six through the end of the chapter. I hope you will read the entire section. I can only copy here a few of the verses for the sake of space.
The ‘onlookers’ ask the Bride: “What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved?”
She answers: “My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates and black as a raven. His eyes are like doves beside streams of water . . . .” Her poetic description continues to the end of the fifth chapter.
But now look at the first verse of chapter six. After the Bride’s loving description, the ‘onlookers’ respond: “Where has your beloved gone . . . That we may seek him with you?” (Song 6:1)
I think there’s an important evangelistic point in these texts, and that point is this: Although we have never seen our Savior face-to-face, we STILL can describe our Beloved, can’t we?
Of course, we can.
Mercy. Love. Forgiveness. Patience. Kindness. Gentleness. Faithfulness.
And when we live as if He is all those things to US – then don’t you think our ‘onlookers’ – at least, some of them – that they might say to us: “Where is your Beloved, that we may seek Him with you’?
Sure, they will. And isn’t that what evangelism is all about? Telling others about our Beloved.

2024-01-16 19:59:24

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2024/01/more-confusion-about-same-sex-blessings
With all the attempts at analyses, or clarifications and explanations swirling around the latest statement dripping with evil by the current Pope - I notice (sadly) that no one seems to be addressing the proverbial elephant in the room.
What is that elephant? Pope Francis seems to be vying for the title of either the Antichrist or the False Prophet. Revelation 13 gives some clues as to what those satanic spawns will do in the end days. And, of course, since the Church is set up to (unconsciously) mimic the Law of the Medes and Persians (see Daniel 6) -- no one with any clout in the Church can do more than wring their hands.
Can any Biblically knowledgeable Christian imagine Sts Peter or Paul or John or James letting this guy in the Vatican get away with the evil he is spreading through the 1.2 BILLIONs of Catholics?
I AM SO GLAD that God brought Nancy and me out from among them. I am glad we are no longer part of a Church clearly moving into apostasy. We can only pray that God will defend His Church from satanic angels of light in clerical garb (see 2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
St Michael the Archangel – defend us in this grievous battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

2024-01-14 15:57:12

Herod executed James, the brother of John. You might remember Jesus called the two brothers, ‘Sons of Thunder.’ Herod then imprisoned Peter, intending to murder him after the Feast of Unleavened Bread. You’ll find the story in Acts 12.
But – and here is where it gets curious – God sent an angel to rescue Peter from Herod’s intent. When he escaped, he made his way to Mark’s house to let them know he was now free.
So, what is so curious?
I wonder how John, James’ brother, felt about it all. Did he lie awake at night asking himself – and maybe also asking God – why He rescued Peter, but not his own brother?
Of course, we don’t know what coursed through John’s mind – but we DO know this: After his brother’s murder, John not only remained faithful to Christ, but he also went on to write the Gospel of John, the three Epistles of John, and The Revelation.
There is, I think, an important lesson in all this – God spares some, but not others. Why? We cannot ever really know on this side of eternity. But I suspect the Lord would like it if all His children trusted Him – as John clearly trusted Him – despite the questions, and the unknowns, and the good reasons for mourning.

2024-01-13 16:57:11

CS Lewis said it pretty well. But I like God's version better. I reread His version again this morning. The context is Peter’s vision of the sheet descending from heaven – the sheet filled with all kinds of non-kosher animals, reptiles, and birds – all of which God had declared through Moses to be unclean and not to be eaten by Jews.
As Peter watches this vision unfold, “A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” (Acts 10:13-15)
It was the last sentence that captured my attention this morning: “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” Said another way could be, I suppose: “Whatever sins God has cleansed, no long consider unclean and unforgiven.”
Lewis said it this way: “If God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it’s like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.”
Lewis’ is good. But I really like God's better. And so, the point:
Christian – have you confessed and repented of your sins? If so, then don’t let yourself call God a liar when He tells you you’re now clean; When He tells you you’re now forgiven.

2024-01-12 17:36:32

Are you a Magic Slate or an Etch-A-Sketch Christian when you think of your confessed sins? https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/01/magic-slate-or-etch-sketch.html

2024-01-12 16:23:35

Many of you know from my posts that I minister each week in a memory care center. The residents who live there are in varying stages of dementia. Some seem as cognizant of their surroundings as you or I are aware. Others, not so much.
But every individual man and woman living in places such as those still NEEDS to hear of God's love for them. Every one of them needs to be reminded again and again that God has not forgotten them nor forsaken them.
I meet with the residents for about 30 minutes. I read a scripture or two, play a couple of hymns, and help them make application of the scriptures and the lyrics to their current lives.
Christian, there are dozens of memory care centers within a 10-mile radius of where YOU live. And if you love Jesus, if you are concerned for the souls of men and women, and if you have even a marginal knowledge of Scripture, then YOU ARE EMINENTLY QUALIFIED to do what I do at these places.
God can use YOU to reach those who are not being reached with the message of Christ’s ongoing love for them. God can use YOU to remind them He has not forgotten them. Will you go?
I keep outlines of everything I teach during those sessions, and I will happily make them available to anyone who asks.
Private message me if you’d like to talk further.

2024-01-09 19:55:33

Many of us can easily quote Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Yes, God's grace – His unwarranted favor and forgiveness and compassion and love and mercy – all those things are His GIFT wrapped up in the gospel of His grace. But until we really understand within the warp and woof of our spirits and souls the very depth and breadth of what His grace has done for you and me PERSONALLY – how can we hope to really appreciate what John 3:16 is all about?

2024-01-07 22:24:34

- reply

@npub1xhl…7t6q You are free to imagine all you want. But Jesus and all the writers of the NT proclaimed only one road to salvation -- obedient faith in Jesus Christ. And they put a 'period' after that statement with their martydoms

2024-01-07 22:22:33

Bring the Message into 2024
Part One
Because we’ve just entered a new year, the year 2024, my text today is from Acts 20:24. I thought that verse – at least the reference – would be easy to remember and for each of us to review from time to time.
You can read my entire message here: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2024/01/bring-it-into-2024-part-one.html

2024-01-07 03:49:10

C.T. Studd wrote this nearly 100 years ago. It still speaks today:
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past/Only what’s done for Christ will last/Only one life, yes only one/Soon will its fleeting hours be done/Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet/And stand before His Judgement sea./Only one life, ’twill soon be past/Only what’s done for Christ will last./Only one life, the still small voice/Gently pleads for a better choice/Bidding me selfish aims to leave/And to God’s holy will to cleave/Only one life, ’twill soon be past/Only what’s done for Christ will last”.
So, Christian, with distractions abounding on every hand, and with so many boats available to bring us to our own Tarshish -- how should we pray that our lives count for Christ while we have life?

2024-01-06 16:04:01

Peter denied Jesus three times with his mouth. But there are other ways by which we can deny Him. For example: “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” (Titus 1:16)
People are watching us. They are listening to us.
And so is God.
All of which is very good reason to be very careful what we say and how we live.

2024-01-01 03:56:28

2023 was a pretty stressful year for me. Not ‘big’ stuff; Just a lot of small, niggling stuff that quite unconsciously began piling up. It led to health issues and ultimately resulted in my having to pull back on some ministries in the community.
After the stress all came to a proverbial head, I got to thinking about REALLY keeping the Sabbath. I mean, God DID set it up for us to pull back from the normal day to day stuff that often DOES pile up and can overwhelm.
So, about six or eight months ago, I began holding Saturday as kind of ‘sacrosanct.’ And I have so much enjoyed doing so. I find myself looking forward to the Sabbath now.
Yes, I know many people cannot observe Saturday as their Sabbath Day. Listen, I used to be a registered nurse at the bedside – often on weekends. But the NT scriptures seem to ‘allow’ (not sure if that is the correct word, but you get the point) – I think the NT allows other days during the week when we just ‘CHILL’ for the day, spending time with family and even extra time with Jesus and His word (see Romans 14:5-6).
My point: I hope you don’t wait until your body and your mental status tell you that you need to pull back a little. God made the Sabbath for Man. He knew we need it.

2024-01-01 03:29:00

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@npub1xhl…7t6q We can like to imagine all we want . . . but I think it much wiser to trust the Scriptures. To do otherwise simply means we trust our own thoughts more than God's. I am unwilling to go there.

2024-01-01 03:27:20

Sermon December 31, 2023
A Christmas Acronym – Part Two
Last week’s Christmas message centered around the word, “Christmas’ which I used as an acronym. As I peeled apart the first five letters of that word and began my message with the letter ‘C’ to remind us of how God cherishes us. The letter ‘H’ stood for the question, “How could God love a sinner such as I – and you – that He did what He did by becoming flesh and dying that torturous death. The ‘R’ represented ‘reconciliation.’ Because of our sins God and all humanity were at irreconcilable enmity with each other. But in Jesus the Christ, God reconciled us to Himself when He placed our sins onto His Son.
With the next letter, ‘I’ I spoke about God's Invitation to all who want to receive from Him forgiveness and the total remission of our sins – even the worst of our sins. And finally, last week, the letter ‘S’ stood for the word ‘Seek’ as in ‘Seek Him while He may be found – not only during Christmastime, but throughout the year and throughout our lives.
Which brings us now to today’s message. I’ll start now with the ‘T’ of Christmas. ‘T’ represents the word ‘Take’ – as in ‘Take the message of the manger and the cross into 2024.”
You can read the full message on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-christmas-acronym-part-two.html

2023-12-31 16:24:29

Wherever a person lives on this globe, tomorrow will start the new year, 2024. But what is truly tragic is that most people on the globe do not realize that the fully correct way to write the date is to write it ‘A.D. 2024.’
The A.D. stands for ‘anno domini’ – a Latin phrase meaning, ‘(The) Year of the Lord.’ In other words, tomorrow is 2,024 years since Jesus was born.
2024 years ago, Almighty God, the Creator of the universe -- YOUR creator and mine -- 2024 years ago God stepped out of eternity and into time. He stepped out of eternity to be conceived in the virgin womb of teenage Jewish girl.
Why did he do that? He tells us again and again throughout His holy word we call the Bible. He did it to save humanity from the ravages of sin – both the earthly and the eternal ravages of sin.
And it does not matter whether a person is a Jew, or Gentile, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, agnostic, Muslim – it does not matter because beginning tomorrow every document, legal or otherwise, every document that will be signed in the next 365 days will be dated in FORCED acknowledgment of the day God stepped became human.
Every document. Every check. Every contract. Every letter. Every piece of money printed or coined this year. Wherever we find a date we will find the world has been FORCED by God Himself to acknowledge that the Creator stepped into time and space in the form of a baby named Jesus.
Jesus. Who as a man substituted Himself to bear the full wrath of God because of OUR sins. He then died on that cross and was buried – and then rose again on the third day, because death could not hold God. And all who belong to God through Jesus will also rise from the dead to eternal life.
And this is God's unalterable promise to all humanity who believe what God did for them: Total forgiveness of sins, new life and new hope to those who come to Him by obedient faith in Christ in this year, A.D. 2024.

2023-12-29 17:05:37

Are you estranged from your son or daughter? Some of you are. Perhaps you haven’t spoken to them for many, many years, and the last time you talked they made it clear that they wanted nothing to do with you.
But here is an important question to think about: If it became necessary, would you TODAY die for your estranged child? Your life for theirs. What would you choose?
If you’d choose to give your life for your child who wants nothing to do with you, then you know a little bit of God‘s sacrificial love, because when YOU were lost in sin, when YOU had told Him either in words or by your actions that you wanted nothing to do with Him, Jesus – Jehovah God in the flesh – Jesus died for you.
THAT is how much He loved you when you were alienated from Him. And that is how much He STILL loves you. As it is written: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
But on the other hand, if you would NOT substitute yourself for your estranged son or daughter, then it is very possible you do not really understand God’s love for you. It is very possible you do not really understand His utter passion for you, that even when you wanted nothing to do with Him – He took on human flesh and substituted Himself on that cross for you.
Oh, please! Holy Spirit! Cause us all – cause us ALL – to imitate God's love.

2023-12-28 03:55:55

If you are a Christian – whether in the pew or the pulpit – you ought to remember that Jesus was crucified because He did NOT preach a pluralism of religious ideas. He did not teach that all roads lead to heaven. He taught – and demanded – repentance of sin and a turning away from sinful lifestyles.
If you are a Christian -- whether in the pew or the pulpit – you ought to also remember that the apostles of the Lord Jesus all – except John – they all suffered bloody martyrdom because they would not preach a pluralism of religious ideas. The did not teach “all roads lead to heaven.” They also taught – and demanded – repentance of sin and a turning away from sinful lifestyles.
If we who call ourselves Christians in 2024 teach anything different than Jesus and the apostles, then we have very, very good reason to fear our eternal destiny.

2023-12-27 23:10:44

I minster each Wednesday in a dementia center. The residents are in various stages of memory loss. Today, as we approach 2024, I brought a 'message' (with Scripture and hymns) after asking this question: What would you like to do better in 2024 for Jesus?
My message and the hymns then revolved around this answer: Trust Him Better. Obey Him Better. Serve Him Better.
And after all the discussion -- mostly one-sided -- I told them what I have known now for only a short time: It is only through the supernatural help of the Holy Spirit that any of us can do any of what we want to do about our relationship with Jesus in 2024.
We, in and of our own will cannot come even close to trusting Him, obeying Him, serving Him as all true followers of Christ wish.
So, I taught them a simple prayer, one that I pray almost daily: "Lord, change my heart."

2023-12-27 02:27:10

Here’s something I just thought of this evening while walking our two dogs (I do most of my thinking during our walks). If our pastor does not make us go, ‘Ouch’ once in a while, then either one of the four possibilities are operating:
1. The pastor is picking and choosing what to preach so he doesn’t offend anyone, or . . .
2. The pastor is not preaching the full message of God, (which is often the result of number one), or . . .
3. We are not paying attention to what he is saying, or . . .
4. We think we have a perpetual halo around our heads.
I don’t think number four is likely.

2023-12-26 19:53:47

A little late, but I hope you are encouraged by my Christmas message I preached at the 55+ community on Christmas Eve:
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Fourth Sunday of Advent 2023
A Christmas Acronym – Part One
My text today for the fourth Sunday of Advent, and for this the day before we celebrate the birth of our Lord – my text comes from Luke’s gospel:
“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11)
You can read the rest of this message on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-christmas-acronym.html

2023-12-24 03:50:41

Each December 25, Christians celebrate the time when God became flesh. The technical term is wrapped in the word, ‘incarnation.’ And this is a good time to consider a question (below). But first some backstory:
Some time ago I led a weekly Bible study regularly visited by a middle-aged woman. After about a year of near-weekly attendance, she engaged me in a discussion of a book she was in the process of reading. It was written by a Buddhist whom she’d met on several occasions. She called him a ‘holy man’ and suggested I also read the book.
I told her in as plain language as I could, God does not – God cannot – consider any Buddhist, or Muslim, or Hindu, or any non-Christian ‘holy.’ Such an idea is as far removed from Biblical teaching as darkness is from light.
Sadly, she never returned to my Bible studies.
And now, my question. I ask it because that woman is not the only church-attender who is of the opinion that one does not have to follow Jesus to be holy. Or go to heaven after death.
The question: Do you believe God considers any person of non-Christian faith to be ‘holy’?
If you think yes, please support your opinion with Scripture. If you think not, please do likewise. And if you wish to include your church affiliation, I’d be curious to know that, too. Consider this a quick and non-scientific survey during the season we celebrate the incarnation.

2023-12-18 16:50:48

I am renouncing my association with the Catholic Church.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pope-oks-blessings-for-same-sex-couples-if-the-rituals-don-t-resemble-marriage/ar-AA1lGkZO
I have suspected for quite some time that this pope is either the antichrist or the false prophet spoken of in Revelation 13. If I am wrong about who he is, then most assuredly Satan is using him as a forerunner of either.
Yes, the Catholic church has had evil popes in the past. But this, for me, is not the past. This is NOW. I am therefore now PUBLICLY stating that I am no longer associating myself with the Roman Catholic Church.
I am PUBLICLY announcing that I am today following the Lord’s commandment in Revelation 18 (“Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues) (Revelation 18:4).
I am coming today out of her and separating myself.

2023-12-17 22:14:45

- reply

@npub1ftj…4fen
Certainly. ANYTHING I post online anywhere, feel free to repost. Thanks!

2023-12-17 22:13:32

My message on this the third Sunday of Advent:
Christmas did not begin with the birth of Jesus. Long before the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and fertilized her ova, and long before Mary laid her newborn baby in that manger, surrounded by the pungent odors of animal urine and feces – even long before these things, Christmas had already begun. Indeed, even before ‘God created the heavens and the earth,’ Christmas was already in the mind of God – as was Calvary.
You can read the full text on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-message-of-manger.html

2023-12-12 16:16:46

I just finished reading this text in Luke’s gospel a few minutes ago. Please take a minute to read it yourself:
“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.
Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’
And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’
But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)
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I put the Bible down and thought a moment: “If this doesn’t put a measure of fear into our hearts about eternity and our final Judgment, then we should be very worried that our hearts are hard – hard to the point of our eternal disaster.”

2023-12-10 23:52:49

On this second Sunday of Advent, I want to move our focus from the romanticized, sentimental Christmas scenes depicted on cards and pretty blinking lights adorning homes. Those sanitized scenes are for children. But adults need to remember the more complete picture of the Christmas story. Adults know – or we ought to know, as St Paul wrote, that the Lord Jesus Christ, “though He was rich, yet for [our] sake He became poor, so that [we] through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
You can read this entire text on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2023/12/who-do-you-say.html

2023-12-09 17:59:10

One of the most faith-destroying songs I have ever heard sung in churches is “Lonesome Valley.” Sadly, many of you probably know the lyrics that go like this: “You’ve got to walk this lonesome valley, you gotta walk it by yourself.”
Walk it by yourself? Really? The pastors and music directors who lead their congregations in that damnable song openly display their utter failure to shepherd the flock of God.
Christian! I urge you to never let those faithless words cross your lips. Solomon said it a long time ago: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21)
Anyway, when I minister next week at a local dementia care center, I plan to play this song instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFPV4AU1ywk .
I’ll then lead them in a Q & A related not only to the central message of that song, but also the Scriptures which promise the Christian: YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE. I offer the song and the questions to you for your own encouragement today.
1. The apostle Paul suffered many dangers and sustained many injuries as he served Christ Jesus. But listen to what he wrote to the Christians at Philippi: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) HOW do you think Paul could continue to serve Jesus despite the many of life’s storms he endured?
2. EVERYONE walks through storms of life. How would God like us to walk through those storms? (Remember the song lyrics?)
3. What and WHO has God given us so that we CAN walk through life’s storms with our heads held high? (i.e. Faith, and the Holy Spirit who lives in us).
4. The lyrics of this song tell us though our dreams are tossed and blown around, we can still walk on with hope in our heart. How can we have hope even in the middle of sadness and loss in this life?
5. Jesus promised us we will never walk through life alone. Do you believe Jesus is always with you? Why do you believe that?
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Good questions for each of us to consider throughout the year.

2023-12-07 16:44:10

THIS IS WHY Satan works so tirelessly to discourage and distract us from reading, studying, and reflecting on God's word. Be aware of his purpose -- to hurt you, to enfeeble you, to destroy you.
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Luke 6:47-49 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
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Please, be aware of his purpose.

2023-12-05 16:48:53

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It was also Saint Paul who warned (2 Thessalonians 2) of the supernatural spirit of delusion that God Himself would send on all who persisted in their arrogance and who refused to see truth. That delusion would ensure that they would no longer be able to see Truth. And we in the 21st century ought to consider that a very, very sober warning from the Holy Spirit to all of us – regardless of our church affiliation.
If God's word does not capture and hold our attention on what He has said throughout its pages from Genesis through Revelation, then we WILL – we WILL -- succumb to the devil’s seductions.
The remedy for each of us? It really is a quite simple remedy:
Fix our eyes on Jesus – and not on a church. Fix our eyes on Jesus as He is revealed in the Scriptures, and not on how the culture paints Him. Time is rapidly slipping away. Satan has been unleashed on the planet – perhaps especially in the churches. (Revelation 12:12)
And we all should pay close attention to St Peter’s warning: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

2023-12-05 16:48:39

An insanity – I think that word accurately describes it – a supernatural, blind insanity has invaded and is permeating the Church, regardless of its label, whether Catholic or Protestant.
I really am distressed about it. And because of it, I must say what I am about to say, even though I know I will probably offend some of you. But I just cannot be silent. To defend what is happening in the churches – whether Catholic or Protestant – and to defend what is happening among church clergy – whatever their status or rank – to defend the blasphemous evil that slithers throughout the churches, regardless of their name – to defend such evil is nothing less than pagan superstition.
And in light of the blinding evidence to the contrary, to insist that any church is the ‘true’ church becomes laughable were it not so open to ridicule.
Saint Paul tells us in his letter to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 10:1-12) that the things written in the Old Testament about the various deadly invasions and bloody exiles He inflicted on His chosen nation of Israel – their history ought to open the eyes of everyone in the pew and in the pulpit today. Listen! God is not One to be mocked. And He is not partial to ANY church – Catholic or Protestant.
If it’s been a while since you’ve read Jesus’ warnings to each of the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, you might take a few minutes to refamiliarize yourself with those warnings. You’ll quickly see that what God REQUIRES of every church and of every Christian is holiness.
HOLINESS.
(continued in reply below)

2023-12-04 18:39:49

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continued from above:
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We need to learn to hold Jesus in our arms – not the baby Jesus, but the crucified Jesus. We need to see ourselves on Golgotha’s hill. We need to see in our mind’s eye His bruised and bloodied body – bruised and broken in OUR place, as OUR substitute. As the prophet promised some 700 years before Jesus was born: (Isaiah 53:5) “But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.”
We need to see ourselves cradling his lifeless head as we kneel with Mother Mary, the apostle John, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, and the others. There, in our lap, we must see our dead Lord because He IS -- HE IS – our salvation.
Jesus’ first Advent brought humanity of the past AND of the present the means of salvation, the means of receiving the eternal remission of sins, the means of being completely, conclusively, and irrefutably cleansed of even the stain of those sins we’ve brought to Him in confession.
As St Paul reminded the Christians at Galatia: “It was for FREEDOM that Christ set us free.” (Galatians 5:1). And that freedom includes freedom from guilt and from fear of God's wrath against the penitent sinner.
Simeon said, “My eyes” have seen His salvation. So, my brothers and sisters: Have YOUR eyes seen your salvation? Listen to it again: The first Advent is God's message to YOU and me: He LOVES you. And He has totally, utterly and forever CLEANSED you of your confessed sins.
Now – live for Him who died for you.

2023-12-04 18:39:29

“For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples.” (Luke 2:30)
Simeon spoke these words of prayer to the Father as he held the baby Jesus in his arms. And it is to those words I want to draw our attention for just a few minutes as you read this because Simeon’s words have DIRECT application to you and me in 2023.
“My eyes have seen Your salvation.”
During this first week of Advent, I want to say it again as clearly as I know how: God is not mad at you.
Whoever you are, whatever you have done, and how often you’ve done it – God is not looking for ways to pay you back for your confessed sins. He has covered ALL of them – with His own precious and eternal blood. The idea that God still plans to take us to the proverbial woodshed is absolutely foreign to God's immutable words of promise delivered to us by His prophets and apostles from Genesis through Revelation.
God WILL NOT EVER punish us in the very least for ANY of our confessed sins. Indeed, the Holy Trinity brought about the first Advent of the Christ so God could and would treat our confessed sins as if they were never committed. That’s what the Greek word for the ‘remission of sins’ means.
Let me give you an example: I’ve never committed first degree murder. Never. So, it is unthinkable that any human court would punish me for something I never did. But to an infinitely greater degree, God's ‘court’ – being so much greater in purity and righteousness – why should anyone think the Great Judge would punish someone for a sin which He Himself considers having never been committed?
Some joke among themselves about Catholic guilt, or Baptist guilt, or whatever guilt. But such things are nothing to joke about. Such ‘joking’ does nothing less than drag a dark shadow across our lives as we wait for God’s judgment to fall on us. So, when Simeon said to God: “My eyes have seen your salvation” – there’s a principle here I don’t want any of us to miss. And that principle is this:

2023-12-01 21:58:21

After responding to a social media post about strokes, I thought to send this PSA to this group.
Actually, there are TWO kinds of strokes. The one that results in the FACIAL DROOP, SLURRED SPEECH, and ARM WEAKNESS is called an 'ischemic' stroke -- meaning blood supply has been cut off from a portion of the brain. Some 90% of all strokes are ischemic strokes. (See this link: https://www.webmd.com/stroke/signs-of-stroke )
The second type of stroke is called a hemorrhagic stroke -- meaning a blood vessel in the brain has burst and is filling the cranial cavity with blood -- resulting in increased pressure on the brain tissue. THE CLASSIC SYMPTOM of a hemorrhagic stroke is the person SUDDENLY complains of "the worst headache I have ever had in my life." (See this link: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23969-hemorrhagic-stroke )
Because I knew the signs of a 'bleeding' stroke, I was able to get my wife to the emergency department. My rapid action to call 911 and (absolutely beyond question, God's miraculous intervention that evening) literally saved her life.
So, the point -- know the signs of either an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and call 911 immediately.
Remember: Time=Brain Tissue destruction.

2023-12-01 16:35:33

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continued from above:
“For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink . . . 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. . . . 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
Look again at that last verse: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”
Christian! It can happen to us . . . to me and to you. And that is why I so often pray day after day, “Lord, keep me walking in holiness. Chasten me. Encourage me. Discipline me. Humble me. Do everything and anything necessary to keep my eyes focused on Christ and walking by His side.”
Satan has been unleashed IN THE CHURCH. The prophesied apostasies that would occur in the last days of earth’s history are metastasizing throughout an ever-increasing number of church bodies.
Christian! Be on the alert. Our adversary, the devil, is prowling about, seeking to devour you and me and those we love. But resist him, firm in your faith and rooted in deep humility before our God. (See 1 Peter 5:8-9)
It can happen to any of us if we are not paying attention.

2023-12-01 16:35:07

After I posted a note about the latest anti-Christ conduct of Pope Francis (regarding Cardinal Burke), a friend asked, “How did we get to such a place?”
He asked a good question. How did we get to this place?
As it turns out, I just finished reading Joshua and am in the middle of Judges. Most students of the Bible know the accounts recorded in Judges run alongside those in the book of Joshua. That’s important to know because both books taken together offer us some important insights into our sin-nature and its effect on human behavior.
Over the years, as I’ve read those two books, I’ve often asked myself a similar question to my friend’s: “How did Israel – God's CHOSEN nation – how did they get to where they got? Having experienced the glorious miracles of the Exodus and then the DAILY miracles while they wandered 40 years in the wilderness – how did they get to the place we find them as recorded in Judges? How is it that God's Chosen so quickly ended up doing “what was right in their own eyes”?
Jeremiah tells us why: “Because the heart of Man is deceitful above all else and is desperately wicked.” (see Jeremiah 17:9)
But before we go pointing fingers at ancient Israel or at the current Pope, let me quickly add this: Every faithful man and woman of God MUST learn an important lesson from it all. And THIS is the lesson: It can happen to us.
Take a quick look at God's warning through the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12:
continued below in reply

2023-11-28 20:26:52

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I can only surmise that they fear because they’ve been incorrectly taught according to the dogmas of their church or the false ideas of their family traditions that no one can be sure of their eternal destiny until they die. They fear because they trust the very fallible and demonstrably erroneous doctrines of men instead of the perfectly infallible doctrines of Scripture.
Whatever our age or health, Madeline Le’Engle’s grandfather’s plaintive cry should haunt all of us: “Who will go with me when I die?”
And so, the question for you: Jesus Christ alone holds the key to eternal life. No other Name has been given by God to humanity through which and whom we must be saved. No one else in all creation can go with you to the Father when you die. And so, the question: Have you offered God your faithful obedience through Christ? Have you followed the Lord Jesus in baptism? Do you routinely confess to Him your daily sins and turn from them each time you fail?
If you answered yes, then the haunting words of Madeline’s grandfather need never, ever be yours. If you answered yes, then you have absolutely no reason to doubt that the Good Shepherd will go with you when you die.
And for that immutable promise of God Himself, oh! We give great thanks.

2023-11-28 20:26:40

Some time ago, I read a poignant tale by American fiction writer, Madeline Le’Engle (d. 2007). The story was about her grandfather. He’d always been a strong, vibrant, robust man – until the dementia demon sank its talons into his memory and slowly reduced the nearly 100-year-old to a shadow of what he once was. As her grandfather lay dying, he gripped her mother’s hand and asked, almost as a child might ask, “Who will go with me when I die?”
Those words haunt me whenever I think of them. There he was, a once powerful, ‘in-charge’ guy who had become like a small, frightened child. I know nothing of his position with Christ. I do not know if he ever humbled himself before the cross of Jesus. But if he had, Oh! What comfort someone could have given the frightened child inside the man.
Of course, men and women caught in the grip of dementia are not the only ones who lie on deathbeds, fearful that no one will go with them when they die. I know many healthy people who fear such a thing. And they have good reason to fear because they live lives without so much as a passing thought about eternity – nor do they care a smidgen that obedient faith in Jesus Christ is God's absolute and unyielding requirement for eternal life.
But, and perhaps even more troubling to me, are those I know who, although they live in faithful obedience to Christ, they STILL fear the grave.
Why is that, when God has so clearly promised to accompany them step by step through the valley of the shadow of death? Why do they fear when God has repeatedly told them such things as: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me HAS eternal life. He does not come into judgment but HAS PASSED from death to life.” (1 John 5:24, emphasis mine). Or this promise through St John the Apostle: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, THAT YOU MAY KNOW that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13, emphasis mine)
Continued in reply below:

2023-11-27 00:45:06

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Continued finally from above:
Calvary’s cross where Jesus died, and the empty tomb prove that you can trust Him when He tells you He loves you. You can trust Him when He tells you He will never reject you. You can trust Him when He tells you He will wipe clean – perfectly clean – every single sin you’ve ever done – regardless of the depth of those sins – if you confess and repent of them.
Please, won’t you now tell Him you’re sorry? Won’t you now tell Him, “Father, I come. Father, I come”?
You do not need to remain fatherless. But more than that: God Himself does not want you to remain fatherless.

2023-11-27 00:44:49

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Continued from above:
He it is who created me. He it is who physically formed me in my mother’s womb. And He it is who never rejected me, even for a moment – although there were oh-so-many-times I rejected Him and had given Him every reason to walk away from me.
So, to you who are fatherless, please, listen to me for a few more moments.
I have often found great solace in knowing about my heavenly Father’s utter faithfulness to His immutable promise – His promise to never turn anyone away who comes to Him for adoption into His family.
And perhaps it is now, as I grow older and closer to the day when my eyes will finally see Him, perhaps it is that knowledge of His faithfulness to me, and of His deep love for me, that the lingering void I’ve lived with all these years is finally fully dissipating and being replaced with the warmth of His Presence.
Please, if you have read this far, please hear me say it again, because this message is not just about me. It’s all about you.
If you’re a fatherless man or woman, I so much want for you to know and to trust the unchangeable promise of God who WANTS to be your Father. He so very much wants to receive you into His ever-dependable embrace, for He vows to never reject anyone who comes to Him.
Read that again: He will never reject anyone who comes to Him.
Please, I hope so much that you will accept what I say here, not only because my words are rooted in my half-century of experience with my heavenly Father, but also because what I say here is rooted in the utterly unfailing trustworthiness of the Scriptures.
continued once more in reply below:

2023-11-27 00:44:14

“Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” (Psalm 27:10)
If you are fatherless because your father abandoned you – then this message is for you. If you’ve known and still live with your father’s rejection – or, as in my case, the rejection of more than one father – then this message is for you.
My first abandoned me when I was four. The second adopted me when I was twelve, although to this day I don’t know why he did that. I can’t remember him ever saying a kind word to me or taking me around the shoulders and hugging me. He lived with us but was absent from us.
So, if you’re fatherless, then you know – as I know – the lingering sadness that floats through crevices of your memory, sadness caused by the rejection of the man in your life whom you wish so much had been in your life.
But this note is not so much about the heartache of rejection as it is about what can be deeply comforting for those who choose to receive that comfort.
I discovered that comfort more than 50 years ago. I was 22, and although I never experienced love from my earthly fathers, I discovered I was loved – deeply and passionately and fully loved – by the One who wanted to be my heavenly Father.
(Continued in reply below)

2023-11-25 22:15:21

As I'm laying around trying to recover from my respiratory infection, I thought I'd use the time to prepare for the Bible study I lead at a 55+ community. You can find the snippet of the study on my blog with application questions:
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https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2023/11/psalm-2-bible-study-snippet.html

2023-11-23 16:51:22

My Thanksgiving Prayer
On this Thanksgiving Day, 2023, I thank you, Lord, for saving my soul.You could have left me alone on that very wide and broad road where so many – so very many others – of my friends, even some family have walked, and still walk, toward destruction.
But you rescued me. Without my even knowing it at the time, you pulled me from that wide and comfortable road and placed me on this narrow one that leads to an incomprehensibly glorious and forever reality. Surely, the writer said it truly, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, all that God has prepared for those’ whom you have called.
Lord – thank you for calling me. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you, Lord, for making me whole.I was so, so broken. Incomplete. Lost. Lonely. Hiding behind a façade of smiles and good nature jesting. But hiding, nonetheless, all of my hurts.
Thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for making me whole. Thank you, Lord, for giving to me your incomprehensible salvation so rich, and so free.
Free to me. Unimaginably costly to you.Thank you, my Lord, my God, my Savior, my Friend.

2023-11-23 16:26:21

On this Thanksgiving Day, such beautiful lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MIN8OjO9M

2023-11-22 01:43:25

To say only old women, children, and dimwits believe in God is simply disingenuous at best, and pure lies at worse. Surely, such naysayers are unaware that from 1901 to 2000, Christians won a total of 72% of all the Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, 65% in Physics, and 62% in Medicine. I suspect nothing has changed in such statistics in this century.
The Bible has survived the contemptuous scorn of such world-renowned anti-God philosophers as Voltaire, Sartre, and Nietzsche. It has withstood the onslaught of the world’s worst political despots from Nero to Hitler to Stalin to Mao Zedong. It remains an immovable mountain of granite while the bones of atheistic scientific geniuses such as J. Robert Oppenheimer, Carl Sagan, Ivan Pavlov, and Linus Pauling slowly turn to dust.
No, the reason people reject God and the Bible is NOT at all on academic grounds. They always, at the heart, reject Him and it on moral grounds. Always.

2023-11-21 19:58:01

I suppose many young people consider me an old man. And that’s okay. I am old. But I like to think that with my age has come a modicum of wisdom. And it is because of what I have learned over the years that I write this note.
I’ve had a very successful work career. Very successful and rewarding. And I hope you believe me when I tell you I didn’t get to where I got by being ignorant of how the ‘world’ works. Yet, I will quickly add that I also know I didn’t advance in my career by not knowing – and DOING – what GOD wanted me to know and to do in my working ‘world.’
So, during this week of Thanksgiving, let me offer a bit of unsolicited advice to some of you now working your way upward in your particular career. I offer it as a voice born of decades of experience. I hope you will take my words in the spirit of caution and concern in which they are intended:
BEWARE! If you are willing to compromise your ethics – even if the activity in which you are engaged is legal – if you are willing to compromise your ethics, you should know it is a very, very small step from that place of ethical compromise to being willing to compromise what is illegal. And if you think your employer will come to your aid if you get caught, then you don’t know where the term, “Being thrown under the bus” has its origins.
Please. The money, the prestige, the power – you will on that day realize too late that you were played for a fool. And this warning from your Creator should catch your attention: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)
It may be years. It may even be decades. But in the end, all of what you gained along the way will taste like ashes in your mouth after a house fire.

2023-11-19 18:35:32

I've never thought of it this way before, but when the Lord Jesus returns to finally set up His kingdom, there will be shouts of joy and cries of anguish as EVERY knee bows and EVERY tongue confesses that Jesus is, and always has been, Lord.
Please. Think long about that inevitable event.
Will yours be a shout of joy? Or a cry of anguish?

2023-11-18 17:31:28

continued from above:
Raymond’s death has affected me more than the death of any other church-going friend I’ve ever lost to the grave. As I said, I know my own heart. And I often hear the words of the church hymn seeping through my thoughts: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love.” And perhaps I’m understanding a bit more why David prayed as he did:
“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51)
I know I need the Holy Spirit to do whatever He needs to do to conform me so much better into the image of Christ, to keep me humble before the One who did what He did on that torturous, splintered, bloody cross.
I am learning to FEAR – yes, fear – that I could ever live in such a way that someone correctly say after my death that I had a ‘dark’ side.
Yes, Lord – create in me a clean heart.

2023-11-18 17:30:33

Raymond knew the Bible pretty well. Over the last few years, we enjoyed many hours on the phone sharing with each other what God was teaching us about our walk with Christ. During those times we also prayed for our families, for our nation, and for the Church.
I very much enjoyed spending time with Raymond around God's word.
But when he recently died and I spoke with his widow, I learned there was a darker side to Raymond; A consistent, daily darker side to the man I thought was a man of God.In the 50 years I’ve walked with the Lord, I’ve lost many Christian friends to the grave. And in each case, I was confident they were rejoicing around God's throne. But it’s different with Raymond. I don’t have such confidence. And that troubles me very, very much. Yes, I’m troubled for Raymond. But I am also troubled for myself.
How can it be that a person knows the Bible as well as Raymond knew it, and who can talk knowledgeably about the principles of scripture – of righteousness, of holiness – how can it be a person can know all these things and yet not practice them?
Raymond’s death has given me great reason to reflect on my own walk with Christ.
I know that in my flesh there is no good thing. And at times the words of St. Paul haunt me: “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)
If the apostle Paul – of all people – that Paul should fear that after preaching to others, he would find himself rejected by God – if Paul had such a fear, who am ‘I’ to be so presumptuous that I cannot become as my friend Raymond was?
Continued in replies below

2023-11-14 21:15:59

As I continue my study through Psalm 1 in preparation for the Bible study I lead at a 55+ community, I came across this quote as it relates to verse 2: "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he MEDITATES day and night."
Here is what I found in my research: --------
"There’s great significance in the word reflection. Reflecting on Scripture implies a contemplative process, one of thoughtful and careful deliberation…. This is not about skimming through a Bible passage or devotional in a mechanical way. This is a powerful experience of personal meditation that catalyzes spiritual growth, starting at the very beginning of the spiritual journey."
Another WONDERFUL method of meditation is an ancient practice known as lectio divina. Here is a link that describes that practice: https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/253799/1-What-is-Lectio-Divina.pdf
Anyway, one of the purposes of reading (or studying) Scripture is to grow in our faith AND in our love for the Savior. I hope those in my Bible study are doing that -- and I hope you who read things such as this post are also doing that. As with ANYTHING worth doing, meditation on God's word takes time. Growth is not a sprint. It is a marathon. But we have to get ourselves off the starting line.

2023-11-12 22:02:23

So Rich and Free
Last week I spoke about the three things that are impossible for anyone who wants to walk with Jesus: It is impossible to fail in such a relationship. It is impossible to be or remain lost. It is impossible to be unproductive in our service to Him.
These things are impossible because our supernatural and utterly sovereign God ensures such things are impossible for any and each of His children who, through their faith in Him, have been adopted into His eternal and Holy Family.
Which now brings us to our text for today as it relates to last week’s message. Here is John 16:27 “The Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed I came from God.” (John 16:27)
The Almighty, Holy, immutable Creator of the universe and all things in it – this Creator LOVES you. He knows your name. He knows where you live. He knows the thoughts you think and the sins you’ve committed.
And He loves you nonetheless.
You can read the rest of this message on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2023/11/so-rich-and-free.html

2023-11-09 01:39:42

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continued from above:
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Each time I look at the photo I regret so much not having recognized her heartbreak. But I was a man on a mission. I needed to get her close to me. She was no longer safe to live by herself.
A year or so before she died in her apartment in Georgia, she began offering me odds and ends from her new place. Maybe she had a feeling her months were now numbered, and she wanted – she NEEDED – to give me something tangible of herself, things that were totally insignificant to me, but to her held special meaning.
She offered me a stovetop coffee percolator. What did I need with a percolator? We own a Keurig. I politely refused. Another time she told me to take her old blanket. I declined. We have more blankets in our house than we know what to do with. Another time, “Here, take these sheets.” But what did I need with more sheets?
And now she’s gone.
If you still have your parents – or parent – be glad. It will seem only a few moments and they will be gone. So, please, for their sake – AND for yours – don’t be so much a person ‘on a mission’ to get things done that you miss the subtle heartbreak of your mom or dad as a lifetime of memories – a LIFETIME of memories – slowly come to an end for them.
Take the coffee pot. And the bed sheets. And the dishes. Those baubles may be unimportant to you, but to your mom or dad they represent their desperate need to give you something of their lives – and their memories.
I wish someone had told me these things years ago, before she died.

2023-11-09 01:39:12

I posted this three or four years ago. I still miss her. I know I will always miss her until I see her around the Throne of God. But I thought to post this again because, well, because the message is so appropriate as our parents (if they are still with us) continue to age. I hope this post will encourage those of you who still can take the coffee pot, to do so.
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I took this picture in the summer of 2015. I’d flown down to Florida to move Mom from her two-bedroom condo to a studio apartment in a 55+ community near my wife and me in Georgia. In this photo, Mom is watching the movers pack what little of her life’s possessions she’d be able to take to her new place.
When I took the photo, I was oblivious to what SHOULD have been clear. She’s hurting. Her heart is bleeding as she helplessly watches strangers wrap and pack and stack what are much more than furniture and dishes and towels and pictures. She is watching her memories, her dreams, her hopes – her life slip from her fingers.
(Continued below)
https://media.rcsocial.net/media_attachments/files/111/377/799/039/582/464/original/0d7cff86d7e304e0.jpg

2023-11-05 22:30:21

It is Impossible
I talked today about three things which are impossible for the humble Christian. First, it is impossible to fail in our relationship with God. Second, it is impossible to be lost if we want to be found. And third, it is impossible to be unfruitful in our service to Christ if we want to be fruitful.
You can read the entire message on my blog:
https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2023/10/it-is-impossible.html

2023-11-04 22:31:49

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"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be” (John 14:1-3).
Forever is a good place to be if we’re on the right side of the door.
Are you on the right side of the door? If you’re not sure, then you now know how to be sure.
Please. Be sure.

2023-11-04 22:31:32

As our home Bible study wound to a close, a young mother ran out to her car for a package she’d forgotten. She left her two-year-old daughter with half a dozen adults and children in the living room. But when Berea saw her mother leave, her face froze with panic. and she raced as fast as her little legs could carry her, vainly stretching for the doorknob. Her screams were laden with terror, as if she believed Mommy would never return.
One of the other women lifted Berea into her arms and tried to comfort her. But it was no use. The toddler wanted no one but Mommy. And mommy was gone.
A few moments later her mother returned, took Berea into her arms, rubbed her back and spoke softly into her ear. In moments, Berea quieted down. Mommy had returned. All was well.
The next morning as I spent time with the Lord in prayer, my thoughts drifted back to that pitiable image of Berea screaming for her mother. And this thought spread through my meditation: “What will it be like for those who rejected Christ all their lives and then find themselves at the Judgment on the other side of death's door – knowing with horrifying certainty – Father has left and is never coming back for them?”
Never coming back.
I cannot imagine the unending and inconsolable grief of those who know they will remain on the other side of the door.
Forever.
The good news, of course, is it doesn’t have to be that way for anyone. I will repeat that for emphasis: The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way for anyone because everyone who comes to Jesus in prayer, confessing and repenting of their sins, everyone who obeys His commandments, they – and only they – can have absolute certainty about Christ’s promises of not only utter forgiveness of their sins but ALSO that He is returning for them.
He IS returning for THEM.
Listen to Jesus’ promise:

2023-10-30 15:49:44

Please share with others if you wish:
I read this text a few minutes ago: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
With the indisputable devotion of Halloween to things of Darkness – to skeletons and witches and goblins and death – I cannot fathom why Christian parents let their children participate in the day devoted to death.
Yeah, yeah, I know the TRUE history of All Hallow’s Eve and All Saints Day. But that history, and the knowledge of that history has, for all practical purposes, has been swallowed up by Satan and his children – and when I say his ‘children’ I do not mean demons. I mean humans who wittingly or unwittingly spread his evil among us – even in the Church.
Is it because ‘all their friends’ are chasing after candy that parents turn a blind eye to the Darkness that has nearly obliterated the Light of the Gospel in our culture?
Is it because they don’t want to offend their CHILDREN that they capitulate to our culture of Darkness?
Christian parents – Jesus is WARNING you. The Thief is working in our culture to destroy your children, to mislead your children, to soften them to the occult.
You have a choice to protect your children – or let them follow their friends into Darkness.

2023-10-29 21:03:37

But those are the wrong questions. For the one who believes God loves them – as He most obviously demonstrated on a hill called Calvary where He gave His Son to die an agonizing death so you and I could live forever with God – for the one who believes in that kind of God, the question should be for me and for you, whatever is our present suffering – the question should be, “How can I glorify God in my blindness? Or in my paralysis? Or in my cancer? Or in my chronic and debilitating pain? Or my . . . ?”
That the works of God might be displayed through [me].
Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, who learned obedience through the things which YOU suffered, pray for us as our High Priest that we will exalt You in our bodies, whether by life or by death. (See Hebrews 5:8; Hebrews 7:23-25).
Amen.