Contracts


Unless a person agrees to a contract independently, there is no contract.  In the world this is referred to as strongarming.

The Gospel is offered as a contract between the individual and the living God.  He will not bully anyone into accepting the contract of the Gospel. 

The tactics of wicked men are not used by the Holy Lord of life.  If you want to live for eternity you must agree to the Lord’s terms willingly. 

To hope in your own righteousness will only result in your creation of a new contract offer.  But will your contract please God?  Does the sacrifice of the Son of God get included in your offer?  If not, you have nothing to offer.

By His Grace

News Flash!


You’ve heard what the world calls news.  Have you heard what God calls news?

1 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy )

3 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” (2 Peter 3)

By His Grace

The cost of righteousness


On the news this morning they said that they would no longer be able to help against bullying.  Funding for the program has been cut off.  Now the children of that school district will be at the mercy of the young children who love evil.

Are you kidding me?  Money is the source of righteous behavior?  We need money to restrain the evil children among us?  But isn’t this what they are saying?  I am astounded at the blindness of America!

What cost is there to speak of what is true, boldly, defiantly, and timely?  What cost is there to refuse service to parents who will not control their children?  In fact we could save money if we went after righteous training properly.

But man considers himself God if he has money to spend.  Take away his money and he is helpless to do what is right!  This is what they are saying!  (I yelled)

The cost of righteous behavior is nothing more than humility.  But punishments are taken away from evil doers .  Psychology is used instead of God’s Holy Word.  And proudly, man stands and says, “I have achieved godhood!  I rule over all people.  By my discretion they live or die.  For I am the keeper of the cookie jar!”

Take away your money and you are a pathetic lump of flesh.  For you trust in the riches of this world, and give no glory to the Righteous One.

But what sickens me more than your pathetic strength, is how the people agree that you are right.  Those who sin, those who teach sin, and those who say Amen to the sinful teachers, will receive the same reward; both in this life and the age to come!

I would urge America to wake up.  You sleep a sleep toward death.  By your own willful ignorance you raise an enemy in your own house.  And you will reap the crop you have planted.

How I wish it were different.  It was not this way when I was young.  But “wish” is the proper word.  For you have made your choice and you will not turn.

So be it!  Even now the judgment of God builds against such things of man.  The wise will perceive.  The proud will spit in the face of the Holy Righteous God, even on the very day when they are judged.

Avert your eyes


A man wakes one morning to go and give thanks to God for his quickness of mind.  With all he is capable of, the man realizes that everything he has comes from God.  But even in this realization he is caught.  How do you know you have quickness of mind?

Everything among men is comparison.  I don’t know of one man who can speak without it.  To assess one’s mind and find we have a quick mind, is to compare ourselves with those of lesser quickness.  The man even assesses what he has had to make that judgement.  Perhaps it would be better to simply thank God for the moment of clarity he has allowed you to have.

Our words reflect our attitude.  Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  And I am right to consider this entire article foolish if I think I understand it.  I am attempting to pull in some of the folly that causes so much chaos around us.

When we assess ourselves to have something that others do not, we judge God’s giving.  He has given the living and the dead.  He has given us poisonous plants as well as health giving plants.  He has given places to men that they may live there.  One who lives in the tropic will not do well in the Arctic.  But the place he lives is no less of value.  And men are not to be judged by where they live; whether by mind or by geography.

Where then do we have any right to compare ourselves to others?  Where will bullying find itself before the sovereign God?  Where will the judgment of our brother fall?  How will misguided assessments help us before the Lord and our brother?

Consider the trinkets of man which separate us according to our perceived betterment.  The rich man has, so he thinks himself better.  The poor man enhances his ingenuity, so he thinks himself better.  We say one is mentally retarded.  By that assessment we think we are better.  God has given separation by his wisdom.  Do not consider yourself able to counsel the Most High God.

I will confess that even writing this article I am using comparison between men.  Assessing the situation may not be sinful.  And refraining  from judgement maybe a very fine line.  But the line broadens considerably at some point.  When we recognize the difference let us back away.

Give thanks for what you have.  Practice only that.  If you consider someone else has a need, strive to make sure it is an actual need.  To do otherwise is to place judgement on your brother.

I know this article is difficult.  It seems I have put puzzle pieces together in the wrong place.  But the wisdom of God is greater than man.  And to his understanding we struggle to rise.  Ask the sovereign God by Jesus his Son and he will give you wisdom in these things.

Turn your eyes as you walk by a house at night.  Do not look in their window.  What business is it of yours what another man has or does?  If you must talk with them, go and give them honor by knocking on the door.

In the same way, do not judge another by what you have.  Accept him like he is.  Accept yourself like you are.  Revere God in all your thoughts.  By this you will do well.

I have written this as best I am able.  The Lord has said much better with fewer words.  But this is my house in the night of this world.  I have displayed this in my window.  I know that others look as they walk by.  Knock on my door and ask me and I will try to explain.

What I have written is true.  Perhaps some who read this can do a much better job than I.  But I have done what I am able.  And I thank God for His mercy.

May the God who gives all, also give understanding in these things.

By His Grace