Tag Archives: teaching

Inexpensive Poverty

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It affects us all; the infection of want.  And a world of commerce which lowers the prices of goods aids in its own decline.

The rich get richer, while the poor become more greedy.  Empty houses fill up with shining objects.  Thus lives are lit on fire with trouble.  Thus invisible greed takes shapes we can hold. 

Financial ruin brings poverty back home.  But this time poverty lives in a house filled with shining objects, and greedy eyes.  But it is not just shining objects which bring poverty.  Moral decay is worse.

A society that does not divide between righteousness and sin, is bound to bring eternal poverty.  The lust for women is set on fire by inexpensive clothing, jewelry, perfumes, and makeup.  The lust for the man who has a nice car, clothing, house, and purchased social position, sets ablaze the wayward wife’s desire.  And all of this a godless society promotes with abandon.

The children learn early that divorce is an option.  No longer are they taught to work out their troubles.  Mommy and daddy prove that righteousness can be attained through the back door.  The children are taught to bind quitting with their vows.  The word “vow” becomes diluted and worthless.  The once stable world spins out of control.

The wicked man never wonders why he does what he does.  The greedy man simply reaches for “more” to massage his aching conscience.  But time moves by and the cost increases.  Time goes by, and the expense of poverty increases exponentially.

The life span of a man does not give him the luxury of finding righteousness by mistake.  As if we stumble over a stack of 100 dollar bills as we walk down the street.  The odds of finding righteousness by happenstance are billions to one.

Blessed is the man who is concerned by his wickedness.  Blessed is the man who wakes in the night for fear of what he has done.  Blessed is the one who allows himself to feel burning and consuming regret.  Blessed is the man who panics for the sake of his wrongdoing.  This one has the potential of learning to do what is right.

Blessed are those who have never tasted wantonness.  Those beautiful souls who have patiently endured with what they have.  Blessed is the one who considers greed a sin, and keeps his hands to himself.

The proverb still rings true:  every man will reap what he has sown.  But a godless world teaches that this is a lie.

By His Grace

Testimony, Forgotten

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There you are, my long lost friend!  I thought perhaps you’d gone.  Your Father has shown in the noonday light, so too his beautiful Son.

But you’ve hidden yourself, as if embarrassed.  A speck in the great sea of men.  Through darkness I looked and could not find, your shining example within.

But here through my windows I see you arise.  And a hope springs afresh with great joy.  Teach me by doing, and lighten my path.  Let me see His great works, o’holy envoy.

By His Grace

Truancy

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Society is less when a child refuses to go to school.  What he may have become is stunted by rebellion.  There may be extenuating circumstances, but there is loss just the same.

A man is commissioned to go and find such children.  It is his sworn duty to send them on their way, back to where they belong.

He discharges his duties according to the rules of all men.  It is not his duty to consider the reasons why child is not where he belongs.

Thus it is with those who proclaim the Gospel.  Men are not where they belong, and must be sent back.  It is our rightful duty to proclaim.  And so we discharge with faithfulness and boldness.

We are sent by the Great Teacher.  To turn back, or to be timid in our duties, is treason.  And so we continue despite the grumbling of the truant children of God.

Heaven is less by their truancy.  What they may have become, what good they could do, and what joy they may own as true citizens, is squandered in their rebellion.  There may be extenuating circumstances, but there is loss nonetheless.

Turn yourselves in.  Go and confess your responsibility for the loss you have caused.  Then be prepared to sit and learn.  It is your rightful duty to do so.

There is a law from the Holy One.  Those who disregarded will pay a serious price.

There is a desire from God, written in the very blood of His Holy Son.  He desires to include all men in eternity.  But those who remain steadfast in their rebellion, will most assuredly be cut off.

I speak these things to send you back.  My duty is accomplished.  From here the duty is yours.  Discontinue your truancy before the Most High God or die.

It Matters Greatly

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When one stumbles openly he does not stumble alone.  A sin is done in the presence of many, ( small or great) and the great clamor arises.  A spiritual noise is heard.  A frothing of the water comes to be.  Many who were watching stumble also.  Our foolish example has caused the fall of many.

It is wise to watch ourselves for the sake of many.  Some believe it is their choice to obey or disobey.  In one sense they are correct.  But every unholy disobedience that is done in public is sure to cause many others to stumble.

One may say this is not new, this is well known.  If that is true then why do so many cause such an uproar?   Why is there such turmoil in the family of God?  Every man is not his own keeper.

Love does no injury to his neighbor.  Love considers his brother’s welfare as primary over his own.  Selfish behavior does not care.  Selfish behavior does not even consider.  And so it is necessary to speak of these things.

This is not an attack against anyone.  I mean only to waken understanding.  The age we live in is full to overflowing with wicked behavior.  Many Christians have adopted such teachings as their own; as they have received the teaching, so they do.

Consider those who once made the good confession.  (No names or actions are necessary here.)  You saw them stumble.  You felt the sorrow in your soul.  And if it did not cause you difficulty, you knew well, it did not land so softly on others.

The obvious admonition is to watch ourselves.  What we say matters.  Where people can find us matters.  What they see us doing matters.  What music we listen to matters.  What we let our eyes see matters.  As a man is, so he teaches.

Eyes in the Night

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I rose before dawn, as is the habit the Lord has taught me.  My little dog lingered with me while I dressed.  I asked her, “Do you wanna go out?”  Her excitement answered in a mute yell.  Down stairs we went.

Now, it’s not my habit to turn on the porch light when I let her out.  But darkness seemed really dark this morning.  And it’s not my habit to go out and stand on the porch when she ventures to the grass.  But I did both this morning.

We stood there in the silence of 4am.  But a soft “huff” broke the silence.  I thought it was a deer, sounding her alarm.  Then it came again.  “That’s not a deer.”  It was too short and lacked the same thrust of larger lungs.  As I listened, four glowing eyes came racing across the tiny road and were headed down the drive way right toward my little dog.

It was the fox!  And not just one, there were two!  With their razor-sharp teeth and trained violence of a hungry warrior, they intended to consume my dog.  She wouldn’t stand a chance.

Without a thought, I flew up my arms to out stretched position and gave a loud “huff” (somewhat like a growl).  I no longer saw the eyes.  They had turned faster than I could blink.  I heard that familiar scream they make.  Both of them screaming in fear as they turned like lightning and ran away.

No fear attended my dog.  Only a slight startle at their screaming retreat.  She came up to me and just sat waiting to go back in.  She was done.

No fear attended my mind or heart.  The Lord had given me immediate wisdom, strength and peace.  He had waken me for this display.  He had wakened my dog’s desire to go out.  She doesn’t always want to go with me on those early morning excursions.

He had brought us to the place of confrontation.  The foxes were ready and hungry enough to challenge the presence of a man.  My little dog was ignorant of their bloody intent, enough to remain still.  He caused me to know exactly what to do and at what moment to do it.  Then He dressed me with understanding as I peacefully sat to consume my first cup of coffee.

There is a hungry bunch of foxes who prowl throughout the world.  As He has protected me and my dog this morning, He protects all His children all night and day long.  HE  IS FAITHFUL.

Praise came from me as understanding came from Him.  Fearlessness is the outcome of such teachings.  But it is not the fearlessness of a warrior.  It is that lack of fear a child has when daddy is walking with him.

Praise God for Jesus, His Righteous Christ!  Let all creation praise the One who has overcome.  God alone is good and true.  His Holy Living Word is fully dependable, true, faultless in righteousness, full of mercy and love.  The Living Word is the very meaning of “Grace”.  May His Holy will be done forever.  Amen!

The cost of righteousness

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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.