THINGS HAVE CHANGED

Oh how things have changed!

Healings and miracles were the norm for the apostles. This got them in trouble. They did not have a license to heal. They did not even use the approved medicines. Then to add insult to injury - they did it for free.

But the authorities made and interesting observation about these apostles.

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." -Acts 4:13 (NIV)

They saw two elements: a. They were uneducated. b. They had been with Jesus.

Today we are "schooled". And today we send sick people to the doctor to die at his hands.

But God also use "schooled" or "learned" people in the same way as Peter and John. Consider the apostle Paul. Education is not the missing element.

What was the cause of change?

Makes a person wonder what the missing element is!!!!!!!

DISCOURAGEMENT THERAPY

Discouraged?

I knew a man who was always happy and up beat. Dick was an inspiration just to be around. He was a successful business man and pastor. In fact, even on his death bed he was winning people to Christ.

One night he told us his secrete. [This was before he died. Just thought I would let you know.] When he was discouraged, he would get in his car ( To be alone.) and go for a ride. Then he would begin to praise the Lord.

Try it. It works. Your discouragement will leave.

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THE HOLY BIBLE

Go to the link below for a free

download of the

Updated King James Version.

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NEW BEGINNINGS

"The Christian life is a life of new beginnings." said the old Divine. [An expression

that was used for famous preachers of the past.]

That offended me. No I thought. That implies we mess up, fail, fall short or sin and

have to start again. I have given myself totally to the Lord and it is from here until

death us do part.

I have lived a Christian life for more than fifty years since then. (Not necessarily an

an exemplary one.) And I can assure you that, "The Christian life is a life of new

beginnings."

One of the sisters is taking a break from blogging and it got me to thinking. Isn't

this the way the Lord made things.?

Nature it's self is that way.

God gives us a new day every twenty four hours. Some one was kind enough to

point out how "evening and morning" were the first day. The day starts with rest.

Praise God.

A new week starts every seven days - with a day of rest.

There is a new moon every month.

A new year starts with a winter of rest.

And the Israelites were to give the land a rest every seven years.

Life wears us down to where we need a new start. And the new start, starts with a

rest in the Lord.

"Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you

rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and

humble in spirit; and you will find rest."

-Matthew 10:28,29 (GNV)

Have you ever had a new beginning????

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Would you like a free download of

THE HOLY BIBLE

Go to the link below for a free

download of the

Updated King James Version.

www.oocities.org/updatedkjv

GOTTA QUESTION FOR YOU PREACHER

I'm just a simple old man. Some things are hard for me to understand. Please explain something to me real simple like.

My understanding is that preachers preach because they want to take the Gospel to a lost and dying world. Now that is a very noble thing to do. May God bless you for doing it.

But what I do not understand is how gathering a group of Christians (Already "saved" people.) around you and preaching to them is taking the Gospel to a lost and dying world. Then doing it again and again and again adinfinitum.

Any clarification you can offer me on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanking you in advance.
An old man.

WANTING THE HONOR

The company I worked for was bought by a new owner and we moved into different facilities. I do not know why, but I was anxious to see the new business cards.

No, I was not going to have any. My position did not require business cards, but most of my coworkers did.

The day the new cards came I grabbed one of my manager's cards. At first glance of the new card something went all over me. Like a chill, a premonition or a scare.

It was obvious. The pride of the new owner overshadowed everything else. Clearly the business would fail. Why?

The Scriptures say, "Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall." - Proverbs 16:18 (GNB)

The business started with a bang. Perhaps it would be better to say a big splash. And as you already guessed, a few years latter ended with an unpretentious end.

God hates pride and arrogance. See Proverbs 8:13 and other Scriptures.

The Scriptures teach us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." - James 4:6,10 (GNB)

If we want to be lifted up, exalted, honored, praised, we have to humble ourselves before God. He will lift us up in his own time and way.

The loftiest position a human can attain on earth, is flat on their face in humble submission to God our creator.