Let's see.
Suppose I was a group who wanted to wipe out another group.
Suppose further that I did not have the wherewithall to wipe out that group.
Suppose even further that I knew that if I could get the world press to side with me, I'd be able to convince my enemy to stop shooting at me long enough for me to shoot at him and maybe wipe him out.
How could I do that? Hmmmm.
Oh! I know.
I'll take a building, empty it of its regular occupants (my cohorts), hold a special gathering of women and children in the building, move some offensive weapons right up next to the building and "invite" my enemy to blow up the offensive weapons.
Then when the enemy, not knowing that I replaced my comrades with women and children, blows up the building, I can spend hours parading the dead women and children in front of cameras to show how merciless the enemy is.
If some of the dead women and children don't look pathetic enough, I can pick up some dust from the debris and powder them up real good so that world sympathy for our plight is increased.
They won't notice if I use the same bodies for hours on end just re-arranged and re-powdered from time to time.
Joe, you are crazy.
There is nobody in the civilized world who would even think of such a thing, let alone carry it out.
Oh yeah?
That's exactly what Hizbalah (also called Hezbalah) did.
Need evidence? Check out this link.
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2006/07/milking-it.html
In my humble, but correct, opinion, Hizbalah (also called Hezbalah) is lower than low.
When Hizbalah (also called Hezbalah), bodies are recovered, it would not be inappropriate to smear them with rotted pig intestines before putting them six feet under. In fact, that would be a much kinder act than they deserve.
Is that unkind?
You betcha.
Is it unChristian?
Probably so.
Then, after the fact, I will repent.
My real hope is that someone will show this post to some Hizbalah (also called Hezbalah) member so he/she can come after me.
Come on, you miserable immitation human.
Come on, you cowardly piece of pig droppings.
Come get me.
I Double-dog-dare you.
Here. I'll even give you the coordinates.
Set your rockets to land at 33.53 degrees North and 35.31 degrees East.
Enjoy!
Monday, July 31, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Jesus Is
Following my posts on Job, I have felt constrained to once again share with you why I am so adament that we focus on Jesus, instead of philosophies, theosophies, history, and so forth.
My position is best expressed in a song by father/son team, Aaron/Jeffrey.
The song gives expression to the fact that Jesus is the subject of every book of the Bible.
I have often said (and seem to be saying again) that the only way to properly interpret a passage of Scripture is to get it into, not its immediate context, but its context relative to the whole Bible.
If you do that, you will understand it correctly. If you do not, there is no possible way to get it right.
The Bible is God's revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption.
From Genesis to the Revelation, that is what it is about.
That's why Jesus must be in every book of the Bible
So:
HE IS (as sung by Aaron/Jeffrey
In Genesis, He's the breath of Life
In Exodus, the passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our high priest
Numbers, the fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Moses' voice
In Joshua, He is salvation's choice
Judges, Law giver
In Ruth, the kinsman redeemer
First and Second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He's sovereign
Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, He's the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song
In Proverbs, wisdom's cry Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream
He is, He is, He is
In Isaiah, He's Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He's the call from sin
In Daniel, the stranger in the fire
In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He's the Spirits power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He's the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He's the great missionary
In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, He is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our fountain
In Malachi, He is the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings
He is, He is, He is
In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He's the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servants heart
In Colossians, He's the Godhead trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He's our mediator and our faithful Pastor
In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, he is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
He is, He is, He is
The prince of peace
The Son of man
The Lamb of God
The great I am
He's the alpha and omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ Lord and when time is no more
He is, He is
"He Is." What does that mean?
It means that Jesus is the I AM who addressed Moses.
He is the I AM who spoke to the woman at the well.
He is the I AM who cured the blind man.
Jesus is the in all, of all, by all and through all of all of Scripture.
The point is: Jesus.
My position is best expressed in a song by father/son team, Aaron/Jeffrey.
The song gives expression to the fact that Jesus is the subject of every book of the Bible.
I have often said (and seem to be saying again) that the only way to properly interpret a passage of Scripture is to get it into, not its immediate context, but its context relative to the whole Bible.
If you do that, you will understand it correctly. If you do not, there is no possible way to get it right.
The Bible is God's revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption.
From Genesis to the Revelation, that is what it is about.
That's why Jesus must be in every book of the Bible
So:
HE IS (as sung by Aaron/Jeffrey
In Genesis, He's the breath of Life
In Exodus, the passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our high priest
Numbers, the fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Moses' voice
In Joshua, He is salvation's choice
Judges, Law giver
In Ruth, the kinsman redeemer
First and Second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He's sovereign
Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, He's the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song
In Proverbs, wisdom's cry Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream
He is, He is, He is
In Isaiah, He's Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He's the call from sin
In Daniel, the stranger in the fire
In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He's the Spirits power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He's the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He's the great missionary
In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, He is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our fountain
In Malachi, He is the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings
He is, He is, He is
In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He's the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servants heart
In Colossians, He's the Godhead trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He's our mediator and our faithful Pastor
In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, he is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
He is, He is, He is
The prince of peace
The Son of man
The Lamb of God
The great I am
He's the alpha and omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ Lord and when time is no more
He is, He is
"He Is." What does that mean?
It means that Jesus is the I AM who addressed Moses.
He is the I AM who spoke to the woman at the well.
He is the I AM who cured the blind man.
Jesus is the in all, of all, by all and through all of all of Scripture.
The point is: Jesus.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
More Jobean Thoughts
As my previous post indicated, Job is one of my favorite books.
Let's take just one more look (for now) at Job.
What the book of Job is not:
1) Job is not about patience. Job was not a patient man and wished he could die.
2) Job is not about the pain and suffering of life.
3) Job is not about healing.
4) Job is not about dinasaurs. The conection between the "leviathon" and dinasaurs is fabricated. It might be, but that is speculation, not factual.
5) Job is not about religion. Job's friends were religious, and God did not like what they had to say.
Some interesting things about Job:
1) Job proves that there are lies in the Bible. (Yikes...did he say that?) Job's friends used truths about God to lie about the cause of Job's condition. So by containing lies (the lies of Job's friends), the Bible is true, it reveals the lies of others.
2) Job's friends thought they knew God. They did not.
3) Never quote anything said by Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad or Elihu as though it were a proper application of Scripture to a situation. You'll be misusing Scripture.
4) Job teaches that evil comes from satan and salvation comes from God.
5) Job is, in the end, about Jesus, our Redeemer that ever liveth.
Let's take just one more look (for now) at Job.
What the book of Job is not:
1) Job is not about patience. Job was not a patient man and wished he could die.
2) Job is not about the pain and suffering of life.
3) Job is not about healing.
4) Job is not about dinasaurs. The conection between the "leviathon" and dinasaurs is fabricated. It might be, but that is speculation, not factual.
5) Job is not about religion. Job's friends were religious, and God did not like what they had to say.
Some interesting things about Job:
1) Job proves that there are lies in the Bible. (Yikes...did he say that?) Job's friends used truths about God to lie about the cause of Job's condition. So by containing lies (the lies of Job's friends), the Bible is true, it reveals the lies of others.
2) Job's friends thought they knew God. They did not.
3) Never quote anything said by Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad or Elihu as though it were a proper application of Scripture to a situation. You'll be misusing Scripture.
4) Job teaches that evil comes from satan and salvation comes from God.
5) Job is, in the end, about Jesus, our Redeemer that ever liveth.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Joe On Job
Next to Esther and The Psalms, Job is my favorite book of the Bible.
Another way of saying that is: Job is my favorite book of the Bible next to Esther and The Psalms.
Come to think of it, Job is the ONLY book of the Bible next to Esther and The Psalms.
OK, so that was fun.
Before I get into Job, let me get into this. It's a little complex, so try to follow.
We are saved by God's Word. (Don't panic...stay with me!)
Genesis 1:3 tells us, "And God said, 'Let there be light' and there was light."
How did the light come to be? God spoke it by His Word.
John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Logos and the Logos was with God and the Logos was God."
(I know, your Bible use the word, "Word" where I used Logos. Logos is the Greek for "Word.")
John 1:3 says, "All things were made by Him..."
By this we know that God and Jesus are the same, and that Jesus spoke the world into existance.
Since God saves us through the shed blood of Jesus and His resurrection, and since Jesus is the Word (Logos), then we are saved by the Word of God and His resurrection. Jesus is the Word of God.
So, when God tells us that we are made perfect by Jesus, He is saying that He makes us perfect by His Word.
Job 1:1 tells us that Job was perfect.
So how did he get that way? By not ever doing anything wrong? By being righteous in his own power?
No!
Job was perfect because God said he was perfect.
In other words, he was made perfect by the Word of God.
Same way you and I are made perfect.
Satan, who wanted to be God, challenged God concerning Job, and God said, "Go ahead. Put him to the test. He will pass the test because he is made perfect by My Word, not by his actions." (Paraphrased and deduced)
So Satan goes after Job with illness, skin problems and loss of family.
But joy of joy, Job has a few friends who come to comfort him in his adversity.
First out of the box is Eliphaz.
Eliphaz is like many Christians. He has "I" trouble.
4:16 I could not tell...(and) I heard a... 5:3 I myself... 5:8 ...I, I would appeal...
We Christians tend to point out the faults of our fellow Christians with the "I don't think you should..." or "I don't think you should have..." or "'I' believe this about...."
Then came Bildad.
Bildad was a "you"er.
"Job you did this." "You did that." "If you hadn't done these things God would not have done this to you."
Of course, we have an insight Bildad did not have. We know it was not God who did these things to Job, it was Satan.
But like so many of us, Bildad accused Job in the name of God.
We need to stop doing that.
So next we have Zophar.
Zophar was a consumate legalist.
This causes that. Here's a rule, there's a rule, everywhere a rule-rule.
You broke the rules, Job! That's why you're in such a sorry state!
Sounds like some Christians I know.
Do you know any like that?
Most people think Job had three friends.
They forget the young know-it-all, Elihu.
He was angry at Job, because he perceived that Job was trying to justify himself. He was "offended" for God.
I know Christians who major on being offended on God's behalf.
Guess they don't realize that God is quite capable of being offended on His own behalf. They think He needs their help.
He doesn't.
In the end, Job gets back more than he had had, and God expressed His displeasure with Eliphaz and his friends.
See, Job is a book about: the tension between God and Satan; the tendency of us all to use our religiosity to justify ourselves and cut down others and the way God faithfully accomplishes His salvation apart from the effort of men.
Php 2:3-5 "Do nothing our of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves...Your attitude whould be the same as that of Christ Jesus"
Job's "friends" could have used that lesson.
Another way of saying that is: Job is my favorite book of the Bible next to Esther and The Psalms.
Come to think of it, Job is the ONLY book of the Bible next to Esther and The Psalms.
OK, so that was fun.
Before I get into Job, let me get into this. It's a little complex, so try to follow.
We are saved by God's Word. (Don't panic...stay with me!)
Genesis 1:3 tells us, "And God said, 'Let there be light' and there was light."
How did the light come to be? God spoke it by His Word.
John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Logos and the Logos was with God and the Logos was God."
(I know, your Bible use the word, "Word" where I used Logos. Logos is the Greek for "Word.")
John 1:3 says, "All things were made by Him..."
By this we know that God and Jesus are the same, and that Jesus spoke the world into existance.
Since God saves us through the shed blood of Jesus and His resurrection, and since Jesus is the Word (Logos), then we are saved by the Word of God and His resurrection. Jesus is the Word of God.
So, when God tells us that we are made perfect by Jesus, He is saying that He makes us perfect by His Word.
Job 1:1 tells us that Job was perfect.
So how did he get that way? By not ever doing anything wrong? By being righteous in his own power?
No!
Job was perfect because God said he was perfect.
In other words, he was made perfect by the Word of God.
Same way you and I are made perfect.
Satan, who wanted to be God, challenged God concerning Job, and God said, "Go ahead. Put him to the test. He will pass the test because he is made perfect by My Word, not by his actions." (Paraphrased and deduced)
So Satan goes after Job with illness, skin problems and loss of family.
But joy of joy, Job has a few friends who come to comfort him in his adversity.
First out of the box is Eliphaz.
Eliphaz is like many Christians. He has "I" trouble.
4:16 I could not tell...(and) I heard a... 5:3 I myself... 5:8 ...I, I would appeal...
We Christians tend to point out the faults of our fellow Christians with the "I don't think you should..." or "I don't think you should have..." or "'I' believe this about...."
Then came Bildad.
Bildad was a "you"er.
"Job you did this." "You did that." "If you hadn't done these things God would not have done this to you."
Of course, we have an insight Bildad did not have. We know it was not God who did these things to Job, it was Satan.
But like so many of us, Bildad accused Job in the name of God.
We need to stop doing that.
So next we have Zophar.
Zophar was a consumate legalist.
This causes that. Here's a rule, there's a rule, everywhere a rule-rule.
You broke the rules, Job! That's why you're in such a sorry state!
Sounds like some Christians I know.
Do you know any like that?
Most people think Job had three friends.
They forget the young know-it-all, Elihu.
He was angry at Job, because he perceived that Job was trying to justify himself. He was "offended" for God.
I know Christians who major on being offended on God's behalf.
Guess they don't realize that God is quite capable of being offended on His own behalf. They think He needs their help.
He doesn't.
In the end, Job gets back more than he had had, and God expressed His displeasure with Eliphaz and his friends.
See, Job is a book about: the tension between God and Satan; the tendency of us all to use our religiosity to justify ourselves and cut down others and the way God faithfully accomplishes His salvation apart from the effort of men.
Php 2:3-5 "Do nothing our of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves...Your attitude whould be the same as that of Christ Jesus"
Job's "friends" could have used that lesson.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
SUNDAY PRAISE
O Lord, we lift up our hearts, our hands and our selves in praise to you today. We praise you for your might, your love, your mercy, your righteousness, your grace and the great salvation you provide for us in Christ.
Immortal, Invisible
Words: Walter Chalmers Smith
Music: Welsh melody
To hear the melody click on the link.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/i/iigowise.htm
1Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.
2Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
3To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish - but naught changeth Thee.
4Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render; O help us to see'
Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!
Immortal, Invisible
Words: Walter Chalmers Smith
Music: Welsh melody
To hear the melody click on the link.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/i/iigowise.htm
1Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.
2Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
3To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish - but naught changeth Thee.
4Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render; O help us to see'
Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!
Saturday, July 22, 2006
How Did We Get Here?
In May of 1948, Israel became a Jewish State.
Almost immediately, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia declared war on Israel.
In April of 1949 an armistice was agreed to between the Arab states and Israel.
That's interesting, because in all of the news reports, talk shows and newspaper accounts I have read, these are the events that define Israel.
The talk-show hosts, even the conservative ones, can't seem to get back farther than that. I have listened to Michael Medved, Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, Levin, and others, and they all (except the wildman, Savage)stumble and stammer when justifying the state of Israel because they can't get the real history through their heads.
Fact is, it was in 1450 B.C. that Israel became a nation.
For over 3,000 years, Jewish people have lived continuously in the land.
Although Muslims controlled the land for 452 years (from 637 - 1099), Jewish people lived there, too.
In 1099, the Crusaders confiscated the land. Muslims joined Jews (imagine that!) to oppose the Crusdaers. From 1291 - 1917 the land was once again Muslims gained control of the land.
The Jewish people became the main inhabitants in Jerusalem by 1880, as they had been in both Safed and Tiberias.
In 1917, the British captured the Holy Land from the Muslim Ottoman Turks.
Add this to the Biblical claim of the land for Israel, and it becomes clear why the land should be, is and must be occupied by Jewish people.
Here's the thing: when you examine Scripture in the light of what actually happened, you discover that it is exceedingly accurate, historically, and can be trusted, both in its presentation of history and in its prophecy.
No other book can make this claim. None. That's right...none.
Hizballah (also known as Hezballah), has continually inflicted terror on Israel with homicide bombers (suiciders only kill themselves...these are homiciders), mortar fire and rocket fire.
Even after being told that the terror would cease if they would just leave the land and give up land, which they did, the terror did not stop.
And so here we are today.
God tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
I think we should.
Almost immediately, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia declared war on Israel.
In April of 1949 an armistice was agreed to between the Arab states and Israel.
That's interesting, because in all of the news reports, talk shows and newspaper accounts I have read, these are the events that define Israel.
The talk-show hosts, even the conservative ones, can't seem to get back farther than that. I have listened to Michael Medved, Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, Levin, and others, and they all (except the wildman, Savage)stumble and stammer when justifying the state of Israel because they can't get the real history through their heads.
Fact is, it was in 1450 B.C. that Israel became a nation.
For over 3,000 years, Jewish people have lived continuously in the land.
Although Muslims controlled the land for 452 years (from 637 - 1099), Jewish people lived there, too.
In 1099, the Crusaders confiscated the land. Muslims joined Jews (imagine that!) to oppose the Crusdaers. From 1291 - 1917 the land was once again Muslims gained control of the land.
The Jewish people became the main inhabitants in Jerusalem by 1880, as they had been in both Safed and Tiberias.
In 1917, the British captured the Holy Land from the Muslim Ottoman Turks.
Add this to the Biblical claim of the land for Israel, and it becomes clear why the land should be, is and must be occupied by Jewish people.
Here's the thing: when you examine Scripture in the light of what actually happened, you discover that it is exceedingly accurate, historically, and can be trusted, both in its presentation of history and in its prophecy.
No other book can make this claim. None. That's right...none.
Hizballah (also known as Hezballah), has continually inflicted terror on Israel with homicide bombers (suiciders only kill themselves...these are homiciders), mortar fire and rocket fire.
Even after being told that the terror would cease if they would just leave the land and give up land, which they did, the terror did not stop.
And so here we are today.
God tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
I think we should.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Have I Blogged This Before?
YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN!
I'm the life of the party...
even if it lasts until 8 p.m.
I'm very good at opening childproofcaps ...
with a hammer.
I'm usually interested in going home
before I get to where I am going.
I'm awake many hours
before my body allows me to get up.
I'm smiling all the time
because I can't hear a thing you're saying.
I'm very good at telling stories;
over and over and over and over...
I'm aware that other people's grandchildren
are not nearly as cute as mine.
I'm so cared for ---
long term care, eye care, private care, dental care.
I'm not really grouchy ...
I just don't like traffic, waiting, crowds, lawyers, loud music, unruly kids, Jenny Craig and Toyota commercials, barking dogs, politicians and a few other things I can't seem to remember right now.
I'm sure everything I can't find is in a safe secure place ...
somewhere.
I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and
that's just my left leg.
I'm having trouble remembering simple words like....
...
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I'm sure they are making adults much younger these days ...
and when did they let kids become policemen?
I'm wondering, if you're only as old as you feel,
how could I be alive at 150?
And, how can my kids
be older than I feel sometimes?
I'm a walking storeroom of facts ...
I've just lost the key to the storeroom door.
Yes, I'm a SENIOR CITIZEN ...
and I think I am having the time of my life!
Now if I could only remember whether I've blogged this before,
I wouldn't blog it again!
Have I already blogged this???????
If so, I'll try not to do it again (for a while.)
I'm the life of the party...
even if it lasts until 8 p.m.
I'm very good at opening childproofcaps ...
with a hammer.
I'm usually interested in going home
before I get to where I am going.
I'm awake many hours
before my body allows me to get up.
I'm smiling all the time
because I can't hear a thing you're saying.
I'm very good at telling stories;
over and over and over and over...
I'm aware that other people's grandchildren
are not nearly as cute as mine.
I'm so cared for ---
long term care, eye care, private care, dental care.
I'm not really grouchy ...
I just don't like traffic, waiting, crowds, lawyers, loud music, unruly kids, Jenny Craig and Toyota commercials, barking dogs, politicians and a few other things I can't seem to remember right now.
I'm sure everything I can't find is in a safe secure place ...
somewhere.
I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and
that's just my left leg.
I'm having trouble remembering simple words like....
...
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I'm sure they are making adults much younger these days ...
and when did they let kids become policemen?
I'm wondering, if you're only as old as you feel,
how could I be alive at 150?
And, how can my kids
be older than I feel sometimes?
I'm a walking storeroom of facts ...
I've just lost the key to the storeroom door.
Yes, I'm a SENIOR CITIZEN ...
and I think I am having the time of my life!
Now if I could only remember whether I've blogged this before,
I wouldn't blog it again!
Have I already blogged this???????
If so, I'll try not to do it again (for a while.)
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Weightier Matters
I was sitting at home trying to recuperate from the digging out of my tooth-rot and its replacement with a temporary plastic thingy.
I am hungry, because I have been unable to eat.
So I picked up a box of Post Grape-nuts Flakes and began to read.
I quote:
"1 Choose 2 meals a day and replace each with a serving of our favorite Post Healthy classics cereal, 1/2 cup fat free milk and 1/2 cup fruit."
It's a plan called "Post Eat 2 Lose 10 Plan."
The premise is that you eat two meals of Post Healthy Classics and lose 10 pounds.
So I ate 6 meals of Post Healthy Classics today.
I should be down by 30 pounds tonight.
I am hungry, because I have been unable to eat.
So I picked up a box of Post Grape-nuts Flakes and began to read.
I quote:
"1 Choose 2 meals a day and replace each with a serving of our favorite Post Healthy classics cereal, 1/2 cup fat free milk and 1/2 cup fruit."
It's a plan called "Post Eat 2 Lose 10 Plan."
The premise is that you eat two meals of Post Healthy Classics and lose 10 pounds.
So I ate 6 meals of Post Healthy Classics today.
I should be down by 30 pounds tonight.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
How to Become A Millionaire
Last night I was eating some ground beef which I bought at my favorite store, Wal-Mart.
Suddenly I bit down on a piece of bone imbedded in the meat and heard a loud crack.
Yep. I broke a tooth.
Busted!
So today I spent the entire afternoon at the dentist being shot, drilled, filled, and crowned.
My mouth is sore and I am as grumpy as a bear who missed hibernation.
Grrr!
But I lost a lot of weight....in my pocketbook.
Suddenly I bit down on a piece of bone imbedded in the meat and heard a loud crack.
Yep. I broke a tooth.
Busted!
So today I spent the entire afternoon at the dentist being shot, drilled, filled, and crowned.
My mouth is sore and I am as grumpy as a bear who missed hibernation.
Grrr!
But I lost a lot of weight....in my pocketbook.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Sunday Praise on Monday
Words:Folliot S. Pierpoint
Music: Conrad Kocher
http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/b/fbeautye.htm
For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For Thy Church, that evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the martyrs’ crown of light,
For Thy prophets’ eagle eye,
For Thy bold confessors’ might,
For the lips of infancy.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For Thy virgins’ robes of snow,
For Thy maiden mother mild,
For Thyself, with hearts aglow,
Jesu, Victim undefiled.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For each perfect gift of Thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Music: Conrad Kocher
http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/b/fbeautye.htm
For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For Thy Church, that evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the martyrs’ crown of light,
For Thy prophets’ eagle eye,
For Thy bold confessors’ might,
For the lips of infancy.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For Thy virgins’ robes of snow,
For Thy maiden mother mild,
For Thyself, with hearts aglow,
Jesu, Victim undefiled.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For each perfect gift of Thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
WHO'S THE BAD GUY?
This was Wednesday, July 12, 2006:
A self-confident Hizballah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel and denied that Israeli troops had penetrated deep into Lebanese territory on Wednesday after his group abducted two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border attack.
Hizballah unleashed a barrage of rocket and mortar fire at Israeli communities along the northern border on Wednesday morning. Three Israeli soldiers were killed and two captured when Hizballah terrorists attacked two armored patrol vehicles on the Israeli side of the Lebanese border with explosives and gunfire.
Four hundred rockets were fired at the northern part of Israel.
Have you heard one reference to that today?
No.
What you heard was that Lebanon retaliated against the "horrible" attacks by Israel on them.
Why were the attacks by Israel horrible, but the attacks by Lebanon on relatively quiet Israeli cities not horrible?
Suppose you were in Chicago and a group of people in Canada launched 400 rockets into Chicago? Would you expect our nation to respond, or would you expect us to just say, "Well, let's not snap to judgement. Maybe there were mitigating circumstances and we should ask them to please stop?"
This is EXACTLY what the press and the international community are asking Israel to do.
Remember, Jews were "invited" to leave Lebanon with the promise that if they did there would be no more attacks on Israel. They left. There were more attacks (400) on Israel.
As politely as they possibly can, Israel should tell the Lebanese to vacate Lebanon within 48 hours because their country is about to be totally flattened.
Israel is surrounded by countries that either want them blown off of the map, or refuse to recognize them as a ligitimate country.
They have a right to protect themselves and they must.
Remember, on October 23, 1983, Hizballah killed 240 of our Marines in Beruit, where they had been invited. One of them was my friend.
They are not nice people.
They are not civilized people.
They are barbaric people.
They are proud of it.
I believe it was Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah himself who declared, "We love death more than Israel loves life."
What an uplifting assertation!
The "world community" thinks Israel should back off. So does the Pope.
Why don't they think Hizballah should back off?
I think Hizballah should back off.
But I know they will not, because they have demonstrated that they will not.
Therefore they must be removed from the picture.
If the "world community" does not understand that, too bad.
So sorry.
Bye!
A self-confident Hizballah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel and denied that Israeli troops had penetrated deep into Lebanese territory on Wednesday after his group abducted two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border attack.
Hizballah unleashed a barrage of rocket and mortar fire at Israeli communities along the northern border on Wednesday morning. Three Israeli soldiers were killed and two captured when Hizballah terrorists attacked two armored patrol vehicles on the Israeli side of the Lebanese border with explosives and gunfire.
Four hundred rockets were fired at the northern part of Israel.
Have you heard one reference to that today?
No.
What you heard was that Lebanon retaliated against the "horrible" attacks by Israel on them.
Why were the attacks by Israel horrible, but the attacks by Lebanon on relatively quiet Israeli cities not horrible?
Suppose you were in Chicago and a group of people in Canada launched 400 rockets into Chicago? Would you expect our nation to respond, or would you expect us to just say, "Well, let's not snap to judgement. Maybe there were mitigating circumstances and we should ask them to please stop?"
This is EXACTLY what the press and the international community are asking Israel to do.
Remember, Jews were "invited" to leave Lebanon with the promise that if they did there would be no more attacks on Israel. They left. There were more attacks (400) on Israel.
As politely as they possibly can, Israel should tell the Lebanese to vacate Lebanon within 48 hours because their country is about to be totally flattened.
Israel is surrounded by countries that either want them blown off of the map, or refuse to recognize them as a ligitimate country.
They have a right to protect themselves and they must.
Remember, on October 23, 1983, Hizballah killed 240 of our Marines in Beruit, where they had been invited. One of them was my friend.
They are not nice people.
They are not civilized people.
They are barbaric people.
They are proud of it.
I believe it was Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah himself who declared, "We love death more than Israel loves life."
What an uplifting assertation!
The "world community" thinks Israel should back off. So does the Pope.
Why don't they think Hizballah should back off?
I think Hizballah should back off.
But I know they will not, because they have demonstrated that they will not.
Therefore they must be removed from the picture.
If the "world community" does not understand that, too bad.
So sorry.
Bye!
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Puppy Size
This is one of the neatest stories I've ever heard. It has been around a while, but I haven't seen it in a long time.
My sweet wife, Bonnie, sent it to me, as she does so often.
You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end (you'll want to share this one with your loved ones and special friends)!
"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.
"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.
"Puppy size!" replied the mother.
"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for.
""I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said in frustration
Just then Danielle came walking into the office.
"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom.
"No, not this time,"Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"
The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said.
Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.
Over the next few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her.They both felt she was being too particular.
"It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration."We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning.
By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.
Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.
Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look.
One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely.
This time she took a little longer.
"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!"
"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said.
"No not size ---- the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said."Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.
"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.
Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh.
I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.
They are the sighs of God.
Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear.
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
My sweet wife, Bonnie, sent it to me, as she does so often.
You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end (you'll want to share this one with your loved ones and special friends)!
"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.
"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.
"Puppy size!" replied the mother.
"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for.
""I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said in frustration
Just then Danielle came walking into the office.
"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom.
"No, not this time,"Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"
The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said.
Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.
Over the next few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her.They both felt she was being too particular.
"It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration."We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning.
By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.
Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.
Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look.
One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely.
This time she took a little longer.
"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!"
"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said.
"No not size ---- the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said."Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.
"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.
Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh.
I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.
They are the sighs of God.
Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear.
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
Monday, July 10, 2006
Blah, Blah, Blah
Have you ever done a word search on words connected with "preaching?"
The word "preach" is used 44 times in the New Testament. They are:
Repentance - 1
Deliverance - 1
Year of the Lord - 1
Word of Faith - 1
Christ Crucified - 1
Circumcision - 1
Kingdom of Heaven - 2
Any Other Gospel - 2
The Word - 2
Kingdom of God - 3
Jesus Christ - 6
General References to preaching - 9
The Gospel - 14
Personally, I am struck by how they occur.
If we group similar references together we get several categories:
1) Year of the Lord, Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven (6)
2) The Word, Word of Faith, (3)
3) Repentance, deliverance and Circumscision (3)
4) General references to preaching (9)
5) The person of Jesus Christ (6);
6) The Gospel, Christ Crucified and Any other Gospel [a reference that we should stick to the gospel] (17)
Notice what is NOT mentioned by the New Testament when it references preaching:
1) Politics
2) Abortion
3) Homosexuality
4) Divorce
5) History
6) Psychology
7) Sociology
8) Fornication
9) Extra-marital sex
Nor are we admonished to preach about
1) Finances and riches
2) Healing
3) The nature of faith
4) Lots of other good things
See, here's the thing. It is not that we should not tell people about sin. Nor are we to ignore sin.
What the New Testament teaches is that the subject of our preaching should focus on Jesus and the good news that He came, lived, died and rose for the sole purpose of making it possible for "whosoever" to enter and be a part of the Kingdom of God.
We must be certain that if we preach against abortion, for instance, we MUST include the gospel as the solution to abortion.
To preach some theosophical dissertation and then "tack on" the gospel at the end (or not) is absolutely contrary to what the New Testament teaches about preaching.
It may be homiletically correct, but it is preachetically wrong.
"But wait!" you say, "Then we will not have many topics to preach about!"
RIGHT!!!
We have only one message: Sin separates us from God; all of us have sinned; there is no hope for excaping the death penalty of sin in our own power; Jesus completed all that is necessary to pay said penalty and whoever trusts in His finished work at Calvary receive His forgiveness and His gift of eternal life.
There are many methods of applying this message, but this is our only message.
Any other message is just, "Blah, Blah, Blah!"
If it is boring to you, I feel sorry for you. You don't realize what it means.
As the song says, "I love to tell the story...for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest...and when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song, 'twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long."
For those of you who want to read the afore mentioned scripture references, I have included them below.
Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mt 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mr 1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Mr 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
Mr 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Lu 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Lu 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Lu 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Lu 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Lu 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Ac 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Ac 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Ac 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Ac 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Ac 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Ac 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Ac 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Ro 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Ro 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Ro 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1Co 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
2Co 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
Ga 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Ga 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Ga 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Ga 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Ga 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Php 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Php 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Re 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Preach the gospel, and nothing but the gospel, and watch people come to Christ! Try it, you'll like it!
The word "preach" is used 44 times in the New Testament. They are:
Repentance - 1
Deliverance - 1
Year of the Lord - 1
Word of Faith - 1
Christ Crucified - 1
Circumcision - 1
Kingdom of Heaven - 2
Any Other Gospel - 2
The Word - 2
Kingdom of God - 3
Jesus Christ - 6
General References to preaching - 9
The Gospel - 14
Personally, I am struck by how they occur.
If we group similar references together we get several categories:
1) Year of the Lord, Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven (6)
2) The Word, Word of Faith, (3)
3) Repentance, deliverance and Circumscision (3)
4) General references to preaching (9)
5) The person of Jesus Christ (6);
6) The Gospel, Christ Crucified and Any other Gospel [a reference that we should stick to the gospel] (17)
Notice what is NOT mentioned by the New Testament when it references preaching:
1) Politics
2) Abortion
3) Homosexuality
4) Divorce
5) History
6) Psychology
7) Sociology
8) Fornication
9) Extra-marital sex
Nor are we admonished to preach about
1) Finances and riches
2) Healing
3) The nature of faith
4) Lots of other good things
See, here's the thing. It is not that we should not tell people about sin. Nor are we to ignore sin.
What the New Testament teaches is that the subject of our preaching should focus on Jesus and the good news that He came, lived, died and rose for the sole purpose of making it possible for "whosoever" to enter and be a part of the Kingdom of God.
We must be certain that if we preach against abortion, for instance, we MUST include the gospel as the solution to abortion.
To preach some theosophical dissertation and then "tack on" the gospel at the end (or not) is absolutely contrary to what the New Testament teaches about preaching.
It may be homiletically correct, but it is preachetically wrong.
"But wait!" you say, "Then we will not have many topics to preach about!"
RIGHT!!!
We have only one message: Sin separates us from God; all of us have sinned; there is no hope for excaping the death penalty of sin in our own power; Jesus completed all that is necessary to pay said penalty and whoever trusts in His finished work at Calvary receive His forgiveness and His gift of eternal life.
There are many methods of applying this message, but this is our only message.
Any other message is just, "Blah, Blah, Blah!"
If it is boring to you, I feel sorry for you. You don't realize what it means.
As the song says, "I love to tell the story...for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest...and when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song, 'twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long."
For those of you who want to read the afore mentioned scripture references, I have included them below.
Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mt 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mr 1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Mr 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
Mr 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Lu 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Lu 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Lu 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Lu 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Lu 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Ac 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Ac 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Ac 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Ac 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Ac 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Ac 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Ac 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Ro 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Ro 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Ro 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1Co 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
2Co 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
Ga 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Ga 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Ga 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Ga 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Ga 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Php 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Php 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Re 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Preach the gospel, and nothing but the gospel, and watch people come to Christ! Try it, you'll like it!
Sunday, July 09, 2006
SUNDAY PRAISE - WONDERFUL PEACE
Father, thank you for the peace that passes all understanding, your peace imputed to us by our Savior, in His blessed name we pray.
Wonderful Peace
by W.D. Cornell and W. G. Cooper
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/o/wonpeac1.htm
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
Wonderful Peace
by W.D. Cornell and W. G. Cooper
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/o/wonpeac1.htm
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
Friday, July 07, 2006
Seven-Seven-0 Six
Do you remember how the press made a big deal out of the date, 06-06-06? They hinted that some radicals believed that this would be the day the world ended.
If it did end, I missed it again.
Well, exactly one year from today it will be a perfect day, 07-07-07.
Whether or not that is right, it has to be better than today.
I left for work at 5:15 AM.
At 5:30 Am I became aware that I had a flat right rear tire.
If I changed it myself, given my heart condition, I would probably die. If I didn't die, my doctor would kill me.
Since I hve been a member of AAA for 48 years, I figured, "Call AAA roadside service. They'll take care of it!"
So at 5:33 AM I called on my simi-trusty cell phone.
"I have a flat tire and cannot change it myself due to health issues," I explained. "My spare is one of those donuts and needs air."
"Someone will be there within the hour, " said the AAA voice.
"Within the hour? Why so long?" I wanted to know.
"Some one will be there. Are you safely off of the road?"
"Yes, I am"
"Thank you for calling AAA."
"You're welcom....she was already gone.
At 5:55 AM my simi-trusty cell phone sang and buzzed. Since I carry it in my left shirt pocket, I really thought that this was the big one coming on. But it was just the phone.
"Thees is Rrron weeth rodeside serveece. Wear arrre you loCAted?"
"I am located on Daniels Parkway, between State Road 82 and Gateway Boulevard on the North side of the road."
"HoKaye, Ahlll be rrrrright thear. How farrrr ees dat frum Daveeess Boolevarrrd?"
"Do you mean Davis Boulevard in Naples?" I asked.
"Yessss"
"I'm forty-five minutes from there, east of I-75 and west of State Road 82."
At 6:45 he tooled past me in the far away lane going the wrong way.
Simi-trusty cell phone.
"Aeem at State Rrrrode 82. Wheech way do Iye turrrn?"
"You've gone too far. Do a U-turn and head west. I have my hood up and my flashers going."
"HoKay. Iye be rrrrite ther."
He finally made it.
Letting him do his job, I got out of the way and just stood over on the side walk.
"Sirrr. Youwer lug nutzare stripp-ed"
"No, my lug nuts are not stripp-ed," I said. "Those are the fake polished nuts used to remove the wheel cover. They just pop off."
"HoKaye, sirrr."
Time passes.
"Sirrr, my czhak won wurk. Can I borrrrrow yurez?"
"HoKaye...I mean, OK."
More time.
It is now 7:40 AM.
"Do you have air for the spare?" I ask, only half hopefully.
"O yesss!" He hit the tank next to him with the lug wrench. It sounded very hollow.
Hsssss! Hsssss! Hssss! Hsss! Hss!
"Oh, oh, Sirrrr. My airrr tank, she eeez no wurking."
"So, what do we do now?"
"Eye go get some. You wayte rrrright her."
"Where could I go?"
"Sirrrr?"
"Never mind. I'll be here."
Time. Time. More time.
He roars by in the wrong direction.
Simi-trusty cell phone.
"Iye meesed mye turrrrn. Bud aye'll be bach."
Johann, I suppose.
"Sirrr. Mye tank, she weeel not feeel."
"Tell you what," I say, "I'll drive slowly to the Hess station and fill it myself."
'HoKay, Sirrrr. You hav a gooood daye!"
I got to work at 8:40 AM, two hours and forty minutes late.
I can hardly wait until 07-07-07.
If it did end, I missed it again.
Well, exactly one year from today it will be a perfect day, 07-07-07.
Whether or not that is right, it has to be better than today.
I left for work at 5:15 AM.
At 5:30 Am I became aware that I had a flat right rear tire.
If I changed it myself, given my heart condition, I would probably die. If I didn't die, my doctor would kill me.
Since I hve been a member of AAA for 48 years, I figured, "Call AAA roadside service. They'll take care of it!"
So at 5:33 AM I called on my simi-trusty cell phone.
"I have a flat tire and cannot change it myself due to health issues," I explained. "My spare is one of those donuts and needs air."
"Someone will be there within the hour, " said the AAA voice.
"Within the hour? Why so long?" I wanted to know.
"Some one will be there. Are you safely off of the road?"
"Yes, I am"
"Thank you for calling AAA."
"You're welcom....she was already gone.
At 5:55 AM my simi-trusty cell phone sang and buzzed. Since I carry it in my left shirt pocket, I really thought that this was the big one coming on. But it was just the phone.
"Thees is Rrron weeth rodeside serveece. Wear arrre you loCAted?"
"I am located on Daniels Parkway, between State Road 82 and Gateway Boulevard on the North side of the road."
"HoKaye, Ahlll be rrrrright thear. How farrrr ees dat frum Daveeess Boolevarrrd?"
"Do you mean Davis Boulevard in Naples?" I asked.
"Yessss"
"I'm forty-five minutes from there, east of I-75 and west of State Road 82."
At 6:45 he tooled past me in the far away lane going the wrong way.
Simi-trusty cell phone.
"Aeem at State Rrrrode 82. Wheech way do Iye turrrn?"
"You've gone too far. Do a U-turn and head west. I have my hood up and my flashers going."
"HoKay. Iye be rrrrite ther."
He finally made it.
Letting him do his job, I got out of the way and just stood over on the side walk.
"Sirrr. Youwer lug nutzare stripp-ed"
"No, my lug nuts are not stripp-ed," I said. "Those are the fake polished nuts used to remove the wheel cover. They just pop off."
"HoKaye, sirrr."
Time passes.
"Sirrr, my czhak won wurk. Can I borrrrrow yurez?"
"HoKaye...I mean, OK."
More time.
It is now 7:40 AM.
"Do you have air for the spare?" I ask, only half hopefully.
"O yesss!" He hit the tank next to him with the lug wrench. It sounded very hollow.
Hsssss! Hsssss! Hssss! Hsss! Hss!
"Oh, oh, Sirrrr. My airrr tank, she eeez no wurking."
"So, what do we do now?"
"Eye go get some. You wayte rrrright her."
"Where could I go?"
"Sirrrr?"
"Never mind. I'll be here."
Time. Time. More time.
He roars by in the wrong direction.
Simi-trusty cell phone.
"Iye meesed mye turrrrn. Bud aye'll be bach."
Johann, I suppose.
"Sirrr. Mye tank, she weeel not feeel."
"Tell you what," I say, "I'll drive slowly to the Hess station and fill it myself."
'HoKay, Sirrrr. You hav a gooood daye!"
I got to work at 8:40 AM, two hours and forty minutes late.
I can hardly wait until 07-07-07.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
From time to time my sweet wife, Bonnie, sends me things to include in my blog. (When I say sends me things, I mean all the way from her computer in the bedroom to my computer in the spare room-office.)
I've seen this one before, but it brought a chuckle to my life, I hope it does to yours, too.
I've seen this one before, but it brought a chuckle to my life, I hope it does to yours, too.
RED SKELTON'S RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT MARRIAGE
1. Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant,
have alittle beverage, good food and companionship.
She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays.
2. We also sleep in separate beds.
Hers is in California and mine is in Texas.
3. I take my wife everywhere.....
but she keeps finding her way back.
4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary.
"Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said.
So I suggested the kitchen.
5. We always hold hands.
If I let go, she shops.
6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker.
She said "There are too many gadgets and no placeto sit down!" ..
So I bought her an electric chair.
7. My wife told me the car wasn't running well because there was water in the carburetor.
I asked where the car was;
she told me "In the lake."
8. She got a mud pack and looked great for two days.
Then the mud fell off.
9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling "Am I too late for the garbage?" ....
The driver said "No, jump in!"
10. Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.
11. I married Miss Right.
I just didn't know her first name was Always.
12. I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months.
I don't like to interrupt her.
13. The last fight was my fault though.
My wife asked "What's on the TV?"
I said "Dust!"
Can't you just hear him say all of these?.........Those were the good old days, when humor didn't have to start with a four letter word........just clean and simple fun.
Have a Christ Filled Day!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
America's Independence
You've seen it here before, but because it is one of my favorite patriotic/Christian songs by one of my favorite artists, you get to see it again.
It is, I think, appropriate.
America Again lyrics
Artist - Carman
Album - R.I.O.T.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, First Chief Justice John Jay. Names synonomous with the spirit of our country, founding fathers of the U.S.A.
Over 200 years ago they shook off the chains of tyrany from Great Britain, by divine call. Citing 27 biblical violations, they wrote the Declaration of Independence, with liberty, and justice, for all.
But something happened since Jefferson called the Bible the cornerstone for American liberty, then put it in our schools as a light. Or since 'Give me liberty or give me death!' Patrick Henry said, our country was founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We eliminated God from the equation of American life, thus eleminating the reason this Nation first began.
From beyond the grave I hear the voices of our founding fathers plead, you need God in America, again.
Of the 55 men who formed the Constitution, 52 were active members of their church. Founding fathers like Noah Webster, who wrote the first dictionary, could literally quote the Bible, chapter and verse.
James Madison said, 'We've staked our future on our ability to follow the 10 Commandments, with all our heart.' These men believed you couldn't even call yourself an American, if you subvert the Word of God.
In his farewell address, Washington said, 'You can't have national morality apart from Religious principal,' and it's true. Cause right now we have nearly a hundred and fifty thousand kids carrying guns to these warzones we call public schools.
In the 40s and 50s student problems were chewing gum and talking, in the 90s, rape and murder are the trend.
The only way this nation can even hope to last this decade, is put God in America, again!
Chorus:
The only hope, for America, is Jesus.
The only hope, for our country, is Him.
If we repent, of our ways, stand firm and say,
'We need God in America, again.
'Verse 2: Abe Lincoln said, 'The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation, will be the philosophy of government in the next.' So when you eleminate the Word of God from the classroom and politics, you eleminate the nation that Word protects.
America is now number one in teen pregnancy and violent crime, number one in illiteracy, drug use, and divorce. Everyday a new holocaust of 5,000 unborn die, while pornography floods our streets like open sewers.
America's dead and dying hand is on the threshold of the Church, while the spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah vex us all. When it gets to the point when people would rather come out of the closet than clean it, it's the sign the Judgement of God is gonna fall.
If there's ever been a time to rise up Church it's now, and as the blood-bought saints of the living God proclaim. That it's time to sound the alarm from the Church House, to the White House and say, 'We want God, in America, again!' We need God in America, God in America again.
I believe it's time America to stand up and proclaim, that 'One Nation Under God' is our demand! And send this evil lifestyle back to Satan where it came from, and let the Word of God revive our dying land!
For Jesus Christ is coming back again in all His glory, and every eye shall see Him on that day. That's why a new annointing of God's power's comin on us, to boldly tell the World 'You must be saved!'
Because astrology won't save you, your horoscope won't save you, the Bible says these things are all a farce. If you're born again you don't need to look to the stars for your answers, cause you can look to the very One who made those stars.
History tells us time and time again, to live like there's no God makes you a fool. If you wanna see kids live right, stop handing out condoms, and start handing out the Word of God in schools!
(Chorus)
The only hope, for America, is Jesus.
The only hope, for our country, is Him.
If we repent, of our ways, stand firm and say,
'We need God in America, again.
We need God, in America
We need God in America
We need God, in America again!
Wherever you live, It is my guess that you need Him there, too.
It is, I think, appropriate.
America Again lyrics
Artist - Carman
Album - R.I.O.T.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, First Chief Justice John Jay. Names synonomous with the spirit of our country, founding fathers of the U.S.A.
Over 200 years ago they shook off the chains of tyrany from Great Britain, by divine call. Citing 27 biblical violations, they wrote the Declaration of Independence, with liberty, and justice, for all.
But something happened since Jefferson called the Bible the cornerstone for American liberty, then put it in our schools as a light. Or since 'Give me liberty or give me death!' Patrick Henry said, our country was founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We eliminated God from the equation of American life, thus eleminating the reason this Nation first began.
From beyond the grave I hear the voices of our founding fathers plead, you need God in America, again.
Of the 55 men who formed the Constitution, 52 were active members of their church. Founding fathers like Noah Webster, who wrote the first dictionary, could literally quote the Bible, chapter and verse.
James Madison said, 'We've staked our future on our ability to follow the 10 Commandments, with all our heart.' These men believed you couldn't even call yourself an American, if you subvert the Word of God.
In his farewell address, Washington said, 'You can't have national morality apart from Religious principal,' and it's true. Cause right now we have nearly a hundred and fifty thousand kids carrying guns to these warzones we call public schools.
In the 40s and 50s student problems were chewing gum and talking, in the 90s, rape and murder are the trend.
The only way this nation can even hope to last this decade, is put God in America, again!
Chorus:
The only hope, for America, is Jesus.
The only hope, for our country, is Him.
If we repent, of our ways, stand firm and say,
'We need God in America, again.
'Verse 2: Abe Lincoln said, 'The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation, will be the philosophy of government in the next.' So when you eleminate the Word of God from the classroom and politics, you eleminate the nation that Word protects.
America is now number one in teen pregnancy and violent crime, number one in illiteracy, drug use, and divorce. Everyday a new holocaust of 5,000 unborn die, while pornography floods our streets like open sewers.
America's dead and dying hand is on the threshold of the Church, while the spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah vex us all. When it gets to the point when people would rather come out of the closet than clean it, it's the sign the Judgement of God is gonna fall.
If there's ever been a time to rise up Church it's now, and as the blood-bought saints of the living God proclaim. That it's time to sound the alarm from the Church House, to the White House and say, 'We want God, in America, again!' We need God in America, God in America again.
I believe it's time America to stand up and proclaim, that 'One Nation Under God' is our demand! And send this evil lifestyle back to Satan where it came from, and let the Word of God revive our dying land!
For Jesus Christ is coming back again in all His glory, and every eye shall see Him on that day. That's why a new annointing of God's power's comin on us, to boldly tell the World 'You must be saved!'
Because astrology won't save you, your horoscope won't save you, the Bible says these things are all a farce. If you're born again you don't need to look to the stars for your answers, cause you can look to the very One who made those stars.
History tells us time and time again, to live like there's no God makes you a fool. If you wanna see kids live right, stop handing out condoms, and start handing out the Word of God in schools!
(Chorus)
The only hope, for America, is Jesus.
The only hope, for our country, is Him.
If we repent, of our ways, stand firm and say,
'We need God in America, again.
We need God, in America
We need God in America
We need God, in America again!
Wherever you live, It is my guess that you need Him there, too.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
SUNDAY PRAISE FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
An eerie silence fell across the early morning darkness and the young Baltimore attorney breathed a sigh of relief. It was after 1 A.M. on the morning of September 14, 1814 and it was the first time in more than 18 hours that things had been quiet.
Since 7 A.M. of the previous day more than 1,800 bombs, cannonballs, and rockets had lit the sky and shattered the peaceful harbor. From the deck of his sloop behind the enemy fleet a young Baltimore attorney breathed a sigh of relief. "Did you see it still there?" he asked his friend Dr. Beanes.
Dr. Beanes knew what Francis Key was referring to.
Both men had strained their eyes through the darkness of night for the last several hours to glimpse the American flag that flew from Fort McHenry.
During daylight it was hard to miss, even at this distance. The flag was 30' high and 40' feet wide. But as darkness had fallen, the only time the flag could be seen was during those seconds when it was momentarily lit by bombs the enemy hurled at the small fort.
As long as the two men and their third companion Colonel John Skinner could see the flag flying, they knew there was still hope that their Nation had survived.
Now the bombardment had stopped and there were no flashes to light the sky and reveal that flag still waving proudly. Perhaps, in fact, that flag no longer waved. Maybe the reason for the silence was the unthinkable fact that Fort McHenry had fallen to the British, its defenders dead, and Baltimore vulnerable to the same fate that had already befallen our Nation's Capitol.
The stillness dragged on for hours. Despite the fact that Mr. Key had not slept in close to 36 hours, the present quiet afforded no respite.
With his companions he strained his eyes towards the fort, willing them to pierce the darkness and find the red, white and blue banner still waving proudly over Fort McHenry. He prayed for the rays of dawn to pierce the sky and reveal the sight that would signal the survival of his countrymen, perhaps indeed of his Country itself.
Slowly the hours dragged on. Then, at 4 A.M. as daylight seemed near, the fusillade of deadly rockets began anew. In a sense it was a welcome sound. Mr. Key knew that as long as the battle still raged, Americans still survived and resisted at Fort McHenry.
The three hour lull had simply afforded the British ground troops opportunity to position themselves for one final, crushing assault. Now and then a brief flicker of light from an exploding rocket would reveal what Mr. Key thought might be that huge flag still flying proudly over Fort McHenry.
Maybe he even caught himself anticipating, even hoping for, another brilliant flash of light from the enemy rockets. Then he stopped himself, realizing that the same explosions that lit the skies to reveal the flag and allay his fears, simultaneously rained death on the men who fought to keep that flag flying.
So intense was the final bombardment that the early morning dawn was filled with smoke and the odor of burnt gunpowder. So thick was the curtain of smoke, that by 8 A.M. even the morning sunshine could not reveal whether or not the flag still waved.
Then quiet returned. Mr. Key watched as the British ships began to withdraw. Had the fort, badly weakened by the enemy naval bombardment, finally fallen to the British ground troops?
His sloop alone in the bay, Francis Scott Key looked fearfully towards the shoreline. A breeze began to move across the water's surface and the smoke of battle began to shift ever so slightly to reveal patches of blue sky.
And then, in the distant blue there appeared new colors....red and white....brief glimpses of the two-feet wide stripes of the Star Spangled Banner. Then a star appeared in the daytime sky, then another....then fifteen stars in the daytime.
What a welcomed site they were. Mr. Key's heart swelled with hope, and pride in the men who had so valiantly fought through the night to keep that flag flying. Reaching into his pocket he withdrew an envelope and began to write his thoughts:
The Star Spangled Banner (Our National Anthem)
Francis Scott Key and John Stafford Smith
O SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT
WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT’S LAST GLEEMING.
WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERELOUS FIGHT
O’RE THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALENTLY STREAMING
AND THE ROCKET’S RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR
GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE
O SAY DOES THAT STAR SPANGLE BANNER YET WAVE
O’RE THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.
O THUS BE IT EVER WHEN FREE MEN SHALL STAND
BETWEEN THEIR LOVED HOMES AND THE WAR'S DESOLATION;
BLEST WITH VICT'RY AND PEACE, MAY THE HEAV'N-RESCUED LAND
PRAISE THE POW'R THT HATH MADE AND PRESERVED US A NATION
THEN CONQUER WE MUST, WHEN OUR CAUSE IT IS JUST
AND THIS BE OUR MOTTO: "IN GOD IS OUR TRUST!"
AND THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER IN TRIUMPH SHALL WAVE
O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.
AND STILL WE CAN SEE AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY
THERE’S A DREAM IN OUR LAND LIKE FLAME THAT KEEPS BURNING.
AND THE LANTERN OF HOPE FROM THE HARBOR STILL SHINES
THOSE WHO SEEK FREEDOM’S DREAM TO ITS LIGHT ARE STILL TURNING
NOW WE LOOK TO THE SKIES AND WE LIFT UP OUR EYES
FOR WE KNOW WITH THE DAWN WE WILL SEE OUR FLAG RISE
AND THIS IS OUR STAR-SPANGLED BANNER UNFURLED
AS A SIGN TO THE FREE AND A HOPE TO THE WORLD.
O SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLE BANNER YET WAVE
O’ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.
II Chronicles 7:19
Since 7 A.M. of the previous day more than 1,800 bombs, cannonballs, and rockets had lit the sky and shattered the peaceful harbor. From the deck of his sloop behind the enemy fleet a young Baltimore attorney breathed a sigh of relief. "Did you see it still there?" he asked his friend Dr. Beanes.
Dr. Beanes knew what Francis Key was referring to.
Both men had strained their eyes through the darkness of night for the last several hours to glimpse the American flag that flew from Fort McHenry.
During daylight it was hard to miss, even at this distance. The flag was 30' high and 40' feet wide. But as darkness had fallen, the only time the flag could be seen was during those seconds when it was momentarily lit by bombs the enemy hurled at the small fort.
As long as the two men and their third companion Colonel John Skinner could see the flag flying, they knew there was still hope that their Nation had survived.
Now the bombardment had stopped and there were no flashes to light the sky and reveal that flag still waving proudly. Perhaps, in fact, that flag no longer waved. Maybe the reason for the silence was the unthinkable fact that Fort McHenry had fallen to the British, its defenders dead, and Baltimore vulnerable to the same fate that had already befallen our Nation's Capitol.
The stillness dragged on for hours. Despite the fact that Mr. Key had not slept in close to 36 hours, the present quiet afforded no respite.
With his companions he strained his eyes towards the fort, willing them to pierce the darkness and find the red, white and blue banner still waving proudly over Fort McHenry. He prayed for the rays of dawn to pierce the sky and reveal the sight that would signal the survival of his countrymen, perhaps indeed of his Country itself.
Slowly the hours dragged on. Then, at 4 A.M. as daylight seemed near, the fusillade of deadly rockets began anew. In a sense it was a welcome sound. Mr. Key knew that as long as the battle still raged, Americans still survived and resisted at Fort McHenry.
The three hour lull had simply afforded the British ground troops opportunity to position themselves for one final, crushing assault. Now and then a brief flicker of light from an exploding rocket would reveal what Mr. Key thought might be that huge flag still flying proudly over Fort McHenry.
Maybe he even caught himself anticipating, even hoping for, another brilliant flash of light from the enemy rockets. Then he stopped himself, realizing that the same explosions that lit the skies to reveal the flag and allay his fears, simultaneously rained death on the men who fought to keep that flag flying.
So intense was the final bombardment that the early morning dawn was filled with smoke and the odor of burnt gunpowder. So thick was the curtain of smoke, that by 8 A.M. even the morning sunshine could not reveal whether or not the flag still waved.
Then quiet returned. Mr. Key watched as the British ships began to withdraw. Had the fort, badly weakened by the enemy naval bombardment, finally fallen to the British ground troops?
His sloop alone in the bay, Francis Scott Key looked fearfully towards the shoreline. A breeze began to move across the water's surface and the smoke of battle began to shift ever so slightly to reveal patches of blue sky.
And then, in the distant blue there appeared new colors....red and white....brief glimpses of the two-feet wide stripes of the Star Spangled Banner. Then a star appeared in the daytime sky, then another....then fifteen stars in the daytime.
What a welcomed site they were. Mr. Key's heart swelled with hope, and pride in the men who had so valiantly fought through the night to keep that flag flying. Reaching into his pocket he withdrew an envelope and began to write his thoughts:
The Star Spangled Banner (Our National Anthem)
Francis Scott Key and John Stafford Smith
O SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT
WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT’S LAST GLEEMING.
WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERELOUS FIGHT
O’RE THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALENTLY STREAMING
AND THE ROCKET’S RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR
GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE
O SAY DOES THAT STAR SPANGLE BANNER YET WAVE
O’RE THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.
O THUS BE IT EVER WHEN FREE MEN SHALL STAND
BETWEEN THEIR LOVED HOMES AND THE WAR'S DESOLATION;
BLEST WITH VICT'RY AND PEACE, MAY THE HEAV'N-RESCUED LAND
PRAISE THE POW'R THT HATH MADE AND PRESERVED US A NATION
THEN CONQUER WE MUST, WHEN OUR CAUSE IT IS JUST
AND THIS BE OUR MOTTO: "IN GOD IS OUR TRUST!"
AND THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER IN TRIUMPH SHALL WAVE
O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.
AND STILL WE CAN SEE AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY
THERE’S A DREAM IN OUR LAND LIKE FLAME THAT KEEPS BURNING.
AND THE LANTERN OF HOPE FROM THE HARBOR STILL SHINES
THOSE WHO SEEK FREEDOM’S DREAM TO ITS LIGHT ARE STILL TURNING
NOW WE LOOK TO THE SKIES AND WE LIFT UP OUR EYES
FOR WE KNOW WITH THE DAWN WE WILL SEE OUR FLAG RISE
AND THIS IS OUR STAR-SPANGLED BANNER UNFURLED
AS A SIGN TO THE FREE AND A HOPE TO THE WORLD.
O SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLE BANNER YET WAVE
O’ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.
II Chronicles 7:19
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