Starke Reality

THE STORM

2012-01-29T11:57:00.000-05:00

MATTHEW 14:22-34

Adapted from Evangelist Fred Brown by Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE SAVIOUR

1. Jesus Sent Them [v. 22]

Did He know there would be a storm? Yes. Then why did He send them into it? God tests His people. He does not tempt them but He tests them. We find out two things in testing- (1) our weakness (2) His power.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Jesus sent them into the storm but where did He go? Up on the mountain. What did He do there?

2. Jesus Prayed for Them [v. 23]

Why?

3. Jesus Saw Them [v. 24, Mark 6:47-48]

And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them...

Does God know everything that would befall us in life when I get saved? Every heartbreak, every tear, every sorrow?
What did He do? He ascended up on high.
What's He doing? Praying.
For who? Us.
No storm can overthrow you while He prays for you and you are NEVER out of His sight!

II. THE STORM

1. Their Position [v. 24a]

"In the midst" It is 7 miles across and they are smack in the middle after all their toil. They are the furthest they have been from land all night.

2. Their Predicament [v. 24b-25a]

They were tired, troubled and in the darkest part of the night- right before dawn.

3. Their Perception [v. 25b-27]

Somewhat confused weren't they? Think about it-
what was troubling them? The sea.
What did Jesus come to them on? The sea.
He came to them on their trouble. If they didn't have any trouble they would not have seen Him. Our troubles give us the opportunity to see God.

III. THE SAINT

1. He Tried [v. 28]

Peter did what no one else even thought of. Can you imagine Thomas' reaction- "You'll never make it. Sit down and quit making a fool of yourself"

2. He Cried [v. 29-30]

We do Peter a disservice by picturing him neck deep in the water. The Bible clearly says "Beginning to sink". He felt it and he responded. He was very aware of beginning to sink. How do we know when you are beginning to sink? We are beginning to sink when we don't pray every day. When we don't open this blessed Book every day. When we don't witness when the Lord gives us opportunity. When we don't give to His work.

By the way- what kind of prayer is a good prayer?
When it's the right length? -some people pray around the world when it's time to eat. "Much speaking"
When it has the right content? - what should Peter have added? what could he have left out?
When it comes from the heart? - you probably won't find a more sincere prayer than Pete's

3. He Relied [v. 28, 30, 31-33]

You'll never know what you can do with the Lord/for the Lord until you try. Peter is the only man to ever walk on water. Don't you imagine the other disciples wondered for the rest of their lives if they could have done it? Don't you imagine they wish they had taken that opportunity? We can do anything the Lord tells us to do- step out on faith and do it!

Question of the Week: Can people live more than 120 years?

2012-01-28T12:29:00.002-05:00

Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesis

	answersingenesis.org newsletter archives contact us January 28, 2012
	a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

In this issue . . .

Q&A: Can people live more than 120 years?
Video On Demand: Flood Geology, Part 2 (Sidebar)
Ken's Blog (Sidebar)
News to Note Quick Look
Answers ... with Ken Ham
After Eden
Network with Us!

Q: Can people live more than 120 years?

A: In Genesis 6:3 the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
This passage seems to indicate that a human being will not be able to live beyond 120 years of age, yet Psalm 90:10 seems to limit the time span to 80 years. So how long can we really live?
In the context of Genesis 6:3, Moses wrote about the tremendous evil in the world during the time of Noah. He highlighted the sinfulness of the people in very strong terms (Genesis 6:5–8).
Because of their depravity, God destroyed every human being and even the animals. In this context, we can see that Genesis 6:3 does not deal with the length of time a human will live. Rather, it indicates the longsuffering nature of God in the midst of His wrath. He was allowing even the most evil people of Noah's time 120 years before he would judge them with a global flood.

Continue reading what Scripture says about the time before the flood and human lifespans.

News to Note Quick Look

Dino babies: Visions of dinosaur domesticity danced across headlines after a report of the "oldest known dinosaurian nesting site" got imaginations churning. "The imprint of those baby feet, made 190 million years ago" in South Africa's Golden Gate National Park are revealing dinosaur "child-rearing practices," suggesting the Massospondylus "was a caring and doting parent." Read more.

Basic black: At least one feather from the extinct bird Archaeopteryx was apparently black. But more than that: this supposedly 150–million-year-old fossil feather is a very modern black. Surprised researchers found the minute microscopic structure of the feather "identical to that of modern bird plumage." Read more.

Also:

Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program

After Eden

Network with Us!


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This Week . . .

Feedback: Is It a Sign? (Jan 27)
Prosecution—Extent of the Flood (Jan 26)
ARJ: Four Years and Counting (Jan 25)
Contradictions: Longevity or Countdown? (Jan 24)
Prayer Requests and Praises, January 2012 (Jan 24)
A Different View of Natural Selection (Jan 23)

Video On Demand

Flood Geology, Part 2
Watch Video

Ken's Blog

Previous entries

Prayer Requests

Visit our prayer site to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs.

Resources

Social Issues Pocket Guide - eBook

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Global Warming: A Scientific and Biblical Expose of Climate Change (DVD)

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Surrendered Now

2012-01-27T18:41:00.001-05:00

Isaiah 2:5 "O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD."

Have you ever thought about what Heaven will be like? I think about a real place with real people that we know. In addition, I think of all the things we will have and will not have in Heaven. For example, there are streets of gold (as opposed to asphalt) and mansions (as opposed to my house), but there is no pain, death, worry, or disappointment. Of course, there is no sin! Heaven will be an amazing place!

Heaven will be amazing because of Who is there and what is not there. The bottom line is, God will win. There is coming a "last day," and we are living in the "last days." There are many things that will take place, and there are scores of chapters in the Bible that deal with "end times" and Heaven. However, in the midst of the Old Testament, Isaiah gives us an invitation in the present. God will win, so why not live surrendered now?

As wonderful as Heaven will be, you don't have to wait until you are dead to have fellowship with God. We need God to teach us and guide us. We need God to judge us and correct us. The good news is, we can have it right now!

However, you will not surrender to God's leadership in your life if you are full of other things. The children of Israel were being filled by other people and other things (verses 6-8). The truth is, there is coming a day when "every knee should bow . . . every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11) That day is coming, so you might as well surrender to Him right now!You don't have to wait until Heaven to walk in in the light of the Lord!

"... come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD."

Prayer Requests:

1. Services tonight in Gilbert, AZ and Ocala, FL

2. Ranch evangelists preaching this weekend in Delray Beach, FL; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Land O' Lakes, FL; and White House, TN

Want more First Light? View past devotionals here

Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN |

Corrie Ten Boom

2012-01-26T19:00:00.001-05:00

by Rebekah Jackson Clark

The last thing I wanted to share today was some things that touched me from a recent book I read. For Christmas, my parents gave me a copy of The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. I'd read it as a kid, but I wanted to read it again, since I thought I'd get more out of it now that I'm older. The Hiding Place is the story of Corrie ten Boom and her family who helped hide Jews during World War II. They were eventually discovered and sent to concentration camps. They endured many hardships and some of them died. After she got out, Ms. ten Boom spent many years traveling, ministering, speaking, and writing about what God taught her doing those years.

The first thing that really struck me was how Corrie's father didn't answer a question she had. Here's what happened.

"So the line had stuck in my head. 'Sex,' I was pretty sure, meant whether you were a boy or a girl, and 'sin' made Tante Jans [one of her aunts] very angry, but what the two together meant I could not imagine. And so, seated next to Father in the train compartment, I suddenly asked, 'Father, what is sexsin?'

He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the racks over our heads, and set it on the floor.

'Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?' he said.

I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning.

'It's too heavy,' I said.

'Yes,' he said. 'And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you.'

And I was satisfied. More than satisfied--wonderfully at peace. There were answers to this and all my hard questions--for now I was content to leave them in my Father's keeping."

Not only is that a straightforward and illustrative way to explain to your children that they can't understand everything right now and that some knowledge isn't appropriate for them, but it's also a great spiritual truth. There are some things we just can't understand right now (for example: Why did that tragedy happen to us? or Why don't we have something that "everyone else" seems to have?), but when we're a little stronger spiritually, He'll reveal what we need to know.

There's another time, where Corrie is frightened after seeing a dead body for the first time. Her father gives her a wonderful piece of advice.

"But that night as he [her father] stepped through the door I burst into tears. 'I need you!' I sobbed. 'You can't die! You can't!'

Beside me on the bed Nollie [one of her sisters] sat up. 'We went to see Mrs. Hoog,' she explained. 'Corrie didn't eat her supper or anything.'

Father sat down on the edge of the narrow bed. 'Corrie,' he began gently, 'when you and I go to Amsterdam--when do I give you your ticket?'

I sniffed a few times, considering this.

'Why, just before we get on the train.'

'Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need--just in time.' "

That just touched me to the core. Whenever I start worrying about something, particularly something that's in my head, not on the horizon, I'm trying to get ahead of God. He will certainly give me the strength I need, but not until I need it.

A few years later, one of her aunts is dying, and the whole family is trying to comfort her. At that time, this aunt (who was always worried about death and very occupied with her "good works") realizes a wonderful spiritual truth.

" 'My dear sister-in-law,' Father began gently, 'there is a joyous journey which each of God's children sooner or later sets out on. And, Jans, some must go to their Father empty-handed, but you will run to Him with hands full!'

'All your clubs...,' Tante Anna ventured.

'Your writings...,' Mama added.

'The funds you've raised...,' said Betsie.

'Your talks...,' I began.

'But our well-meant words were useless. In front of us the proud face crumpled; Tante Jans put her hands over her eyes and began to cry. 'Empty, empty!' she choked at last through her tears. 'How can we bring anything to God? What does He care for our little tricks and trinkets?'

And then as we listened in disbelief she lowered her hands and with tears still coursing down her face whispered, 'Dear Jesus, I thank You that we must come with empty hands. I thank You that You have done all--all--on the Cross, and that all we need in life or death is to be sure of this.' "

What a beautiful prayer! Even now, it touches me again. We can bring nothing to God, for He gave everything to us. Anything that we do is only an expression of gratefulness carried out in obedience to His commands.

During the beginning of the war, Corrie and her sister Betsie were praying, when Corrie experienced a vision of their family being taken somewhere that they didn't want to go. Corrie wondered if she was imagining things or if it was a vision of the future. Here is Betsie's reply.

" 'I don't know,' she said softly. 'But if God has shown us bad times ahead, it's enough for me that He knows about them. That's why He sometimes shows us things, you know--to tell us that this too is in His hands.' "

Several months later, Corrie and Betsie were drinking tea and talking to wait out a bombing that had woken them. When they got back to their bedrooms, Corrie found a large piece of shrapnel on her pillow. Corrie was wondering what might have happened if she hadn't heard Betsie in the kitchen and gone to be with her. Betsie answered her.

"There are no 'if's' in God's world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety--O Corrie, let us pray that we may always know it.' "

A true and very wise statement. Painful things may happen to you even when you're in God's will, but there is still no safer place to be.

The last part that touched me comes from the very end of the book. Corrie endured a lot of pain and suffering in the concentration camps. After she got out, she traveled around the world sharing how the love of God can heal hurting people. Her faith was put to the test when one of her former captors came up to her after a lecture. She did not want to shake his hand, but was able to with God's help.

"And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself."

That is something that I forget often. Even though God has given us many commands, He does not expect us to complete them on our own. He will give us the strength we need to do His will.

These are just a sampling of the encouragements and lessons that I found in this book. I encourage you to read it yourself, as I'm sure that it would touch your heart as well.

SNAPSHOTS AT CALVARY

2012-01-25T19:09:00.000-05:00

LUKE 23:26-43

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION

1. The Cyrenian’s Burden [v. 26]

2. The Follower’s Sorrow [v. 27]

3. The Saviour’s Warning [v. 28-31]

II. THE CRUCIFIXION

1. The Scripture’s Fulfillment [v. 32-33, Isaiah 53:9]

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

2. The Saviour’s Prayer [v. 34]

3. The Sinners’ Arrogance [v. 35-39]

III. THE REASON

1. The Sinner’s Confession [v. 40-41a]

2. The Sinner’s Profession [v. 41b-42]

3. The Sinner’s Possession [v. 43]

Happy Birthday Mama!

2012-01-25T17:26:00.001-05:00

Mom's with the Lord and though I miss her greatly I am glad she is where she is for her sake. I know I will see her again for I have the same Saviour that she has.

Full of the Joy of the Lord

2012-01-24T18:39:00.000-05:00

by Sumner Wemp

"These things write we (I) unto you that your joy might be full." John 1:4. A little dab of joy won't do you. A bucket of the wrong fun may slay you. Sumner, why have you written so much? That your joy might be full. The fullness of joy will transform you.

I sincerely believe God wants YOU, YES ,YOU to be "full of the joy of the Lord," not the fun of the flesh. God said, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10. Then God tops it off by saying, "let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross." WOW, this is one of the most powerful statements of the Bible. Jesus "endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him" Hebrews 12:2. You dear Christian can endure anything too by "setting your affections on things above" that lasts for eternity. Now doesn't that make sense? God doesn't want us to run around with a mournful morbid look on our face. There should be a sweet solemn look as we take of the Lord's supper and meditate on the Son of the Living God suffering and dying for our sins. Doesn't that make good sense?

That's one reason we ought to be in the house of God every time the doors are opened. That is one reason the Word of God ought to be opened every day to listen to God. That's one reason we ought to have a little talk with Jesus and tell Him all about our troubles, rather than tell our troubles to those we work with or our neighbors. Dear people, I am so thrilled and honored to have you getting and reading what I pray about, write and delight in having you read what I write. You and I ought to listen to God and do what He says for just a few more years.

Please soak this in. "Why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say". I LOVE YOU. I want you to have pleasures in abundance down here and treasures for eternity up there. I am dead serious about that.

When I was a pastor a couple moved into our neighborhood. As always I want to be the first one to welcome them and get the gospel to them. They welcomed me into their home and so glad I visited them. I planted the gospel with them. They told me they had two other brothers who were going to move in close by in a couple of weeks. I had our people trained to call me when they saw someone move in and they did. In the next few weeks all three moved in and I planted the gospel with them. Then I had the joy of leading all three couples to Christ. They told me their mother lived not far away and she too was not saved and they were going to get her over and wanted me to come and lead her to Christ. She was in her nineties. A week later they called me and said our mother is here. I went over right away. She was quit feeble. Gently I gave her the gospel. It was amazing how she understood all I told her. Finally I felt sure she understood how to be saved. She prayed with me to accept Christ. She looked up and with her feeble voice, oh so gently began to sing, and clapped her hands "Just as I am, without one plea I have come, I have come." About then Heaven came down and all eight of us burst into tears of rejoicing. That is the greatest joy in all the world and I live for it.

Why and How

2012-01-23T17:10:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 1:11 "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats."

Have you ever forgotten something and run back into the room to grab it, only to completely forget what you were getting? You can make great strides but forget why! Israel was doing exactly that when Isaiah chapter 1 begins. They were doing great things but had forgotten why.

God's people were doing several good things: sacrificing, coming into the courts of God, bringing offerings, and assembling together for religious reasons. God said, "I am full of the burnt offerings . . . I delight not. . . ." He called their good works vain, abomination, iniquity, and trouble. He even said, "When ye make many prayers, I will not hear. . . ." That is pretty strong! In short, the Israelites were doing all kinds of good things without remembering why they were to do them.

Knowing how to do something is important. A man who knows how will always have a place. But a man who knows why and how is much better! I have found that most of my sermon titles begin with "how." For example, "How to Pray", "How to Read Your Bible", "How to Be a Better Husband". In fact, there is a whole host of books on "how to" do just about anything!

Ironically, as Christians, we don't struggle with "how to"; we struggle with "why." We know what to do and how to do it, but we forget why we are to do it in the first place! Be wise enough to remember why you are doing the good things you do. Nothing you do forGod will please Him when you don't have a heart for God. Don't forget why!

Prayer Requests:

- Service Wednesday night in Gilbert, AZ

Want more First Light? View past devotionals here

Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128

THE TRIALS

2012-01-23T06:57:00.000-05:00

LUKE 22:63-23:25

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE TRIAL OF RELIGION

Religions are human-made whilst Bible Christianity is Divine in origin.

1. Violence without Cause [22:63-65]
2. Blindness without Excuse [22:66-71]
3. Dishonesty without Question [23:1-2]

II. THE TRIAL OF GOVERNMENT [Rm. 13:1-4, Luke 23:3-25]

The 2-fold duty of government is to praise the good and punish the evil.

1. Political Expediency
2. Failure to Protect the Innocent
3. Failure to Punish the Evil

III. THE TRIAL OF JESUS

Most trials concern what has been done but Jesus was put on trial for who He was. Note the only questions Jesus was asked in His various trials.

1. Art Thou the Christ? [22:67-69]
2. Art Thou the Son of God? [22:70]
3. Art Thou the King of the Jews? [23:3]

BUNCHES OF TIMES

2012-01-22T11:06:00.000-05:00

JOHN 13:1-11

Pastor Rick Jackson

While visiting in Tn. Some years ago I asked a man who rarely attended church, “Have you ever trusted Christ, have you ever been saved?” He said, “Yeh, I been saved bunches of times!” You’d think he’d got it right one of those times.
A few years later I heard about a Sunday School teacher, soul-winning lady who worked at a Christian school getting saved again for the third time. In the same meeting another lady made her fourth profession of faith. I had heard her second or third testimony on tape and it sure sounded like they understood that time.
Is this practice of making a new profession of salvation over and over right or wrong? What can be done about it? We will seek to clear up some misconceptions by rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

I. THE CARELESSNESS OF A WRONG EMPHASIS

1. Feelings over Facts & Faith [Ps. 51:1-12] Feel married during an argument?

2. Assuming Sin is Proof they are Lost when they are Backslidden [I Jn. 1:6-10]

3. Continuing as Before their Profession [Eph 4:17ff] Baptism? Restitution? Changing?

II. THE CONFUSION OF WRONG EDUCATION

1. The Teaching that Salvation can be Lost [I Pt. 1:3-5]

2. The Teaching that Saints can’t commit some Sins [II Pet. 2:7-9]

3. The Teaching of Self-appointed Fruit Judges

“I know you can’t judge but you can examine their fruit and know…” In other words, “You can’t judge but you can judge” [Mt. 7:1 Rice note, v. 15-20=false teachers, v. 21-23=God has to judge concerning salvation. We can judge actions or teachings by the Bible but cannot see the heart]

III. THE CORRECTION OF RIGHTLY DIVIDING [II Tm. 2:15]

1. We are Encouraged to be Sure “We” are Saved [II Cor. 13:5]

Did I trust Christ? Who do I doubt? – only 2 possibilities.

2. We are Discouraged from Judging Others Salvation except as it differs from the Gospel

[I Sam. 16:7, Mt. 7:1, Rm. 1:16]

3. We are Encouraged as Christians to confess & forsake sin to keep fellowship open while realizing the relationship cannot be broken [I Jn. 1:9, Jn. 6:37-40, 13:1-11]

Question of the Week: Was Augustine an old-earth creationist?

2012-01-21T11:37:00.001-05:00

Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesis

	answersingenesis.org \| newsletter archives \| contact us January 21, 2012
	a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

In this issue . . .

Q&A: Was Augustine an old-earth creationist?
Video On Demand: Flood Geology, Part 1 (Sidebar)
Ken's Blog (Sidebar)
News to Note Quick Look
Answers ... with Ken Ham
After Eden
Network with Us!

Q: Was Augustine an old-earth creationist?

A: Many old-earth proponents in the church today try to use the Christian theologian Augustine (AD 354–430) as a support for their belief in millions of years. However, there are several problems with this view.
To begin with, during the years AD 389-417, Augustine wrote three commentaries on Genesis and discussed the early chapters of Genesis in The City of God. His thinking changed in some ways in the process, and his writings are confusing, even somewhat contradictory, at points. Over the years he fluctuated between allegorical interpretations and literal views. But there is plenty of evidence that Augustine wasn't an old-earther. Rather, he believed that God created everything in an instant and that He described it for us as being completed in six normal days for the sake of our understanding.
Furthermore, Augustine believed the genealogies given in Genesis to be literal chronologies and that the pre-Flood patriarchs lived to be around 900 years. He also stated, "Unbelievers are also deceived by false documents which ascribe to history many thousand years, although we can calculate from Sacred Scripture that not 6,000 years have passed since the creation of man."

Continue reading to see from his own writings what Augustine really did—and did not—believe about creation.

News to Note Quick Look

Green dragon's new advocate: Eugenie Scott, director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), is expanding NCSE's "mandate" to include the way "global warming" is taught in the classroom. Read more.

"Tatooines" and three little planets: The mission of NASA's Kepler space telescope is to "find terrestrial [nearly Earth-sized] planets . . . especially those in the habitable zone of their stars where liquid water and possibly life might exist." Read more.

Also:

Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program

After Eden

Network with Us!


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Ark Encounter	Ark Encounter
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This Week . . .

Kepler's Mission: To Boldly Seek Out Where Life Could Have Evolved (Jan 20)
The Enns Justifies the Means? (Jan 19)
Augustine on the Days of Creation (Jan 18)
Contradictions: Mother Knows Best (Jan 17)
Death and Steve Jobs (Jan 16)
Opportunities to Shine (Jan 15)

Video On Demand

Flood Geology, Part 1
Watch Video

Ken's Blog

Previous entries

Prayer Requests

Visit our prayer site to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs.

Resources

Deadly Disclosures (novel) - eBook

Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions - eBook

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What Goes Around . . .

2012-01-20T19:02:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 11:5-6 "The righteousness of the upright shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness."

I visited a home several years ago in which there were boxes everywhere, stacked floor to ceiling. It was a sight to behold! At some point, the dear folks who lived there started collecting things which in time owned them.

Sometimes we do the same thing with trouble. We buy trouble that we could get for free. That is not smart! Proverbs 11 reminds us that what you own today may own you tomorrow. If you buy wickedness, you are going to own it; and at some point, it will own you. "The wicked shall fall by his own wickedness . . . transgressors shall be taken in their ownnaughtiness."

In contrast, verse 17 says, "The merciful man doeth good to his own soul. . . ." Do you want mercy in your life? If you give it, you will get it! That truth works in the positive and the negative. What you own today will own you tomorrow. Will it be wickedness, naughtiness, and cruelty, or will it be mercy?

If you look for trouble today, you will find it every time. Proverbs 11 is full of examples of the truth that what you own will own you. Which sounds better, being owned by evil and wickedness, or being owned by God's mercy and grace? As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. Will you spend your day buying trouble or buying goodness?

Prayer Requests:

- Ranch evangelists preaching this weekend in North Port, FL; Clermont, FL; Ripley, TN; Gilbert, AZ; and Ocala, FL

Want more First Light? View past devotionals here

Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128

Altar Building

2012-01-19T19:04:00.000-05:00

Altar Building

January 20, 2012

"And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him." (Genesis 12:7)

This is the first reference to Abraham building an altar in Scripture. Building an altar and making sacrifice to God denotes total dependence and reliance on Him. It implies saying no to self and yes to God--in effect presenting one's self in submission to God as a sinner, trusting Him for gracious handling of one's sin, and discounting one's value apart from His work. Building altars became a habit with godly Abraham, the "Friend of God" (James 2:23), and he practiced it many times during his life (see also Genesis 12:8; 13:4, 18).

We can surmise that at an early age, Abraham's son, Isaac, was taught this same practice. It doesn't seem that Isaac misunderstood or debated the situation, even when he himself was identified as the sacrifice to be slaughtered (Genesis 22:9). He fully trusted and worshiped the same God, and evidently agreed with Abraham's obedient act. Later, Isaac, himself, practiced altar-building at least once on his own (26:25).

Compare Abraham and his family to Lot and his family. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that Lot built an altar and recognized God as worthy of worship. No doubt as a direct result, Lot's wife, sons, and daughters totally rejected these ideas, preferring the sinful practices and mentality of Sodom. Lot was a true believer (2 Peter 2:7-8), but his lifestyle and lack of "altar-building" rubbed off on his family, to the detriment of himself and the people of God ever since.

Here is the question: Do we want to be Christians who ignore proper worship and total submission to God and have families who do likewise? We don't build physical altars today, but we do need daily times of family prayer. JDM

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WHICH ROAD ARE YOU ON?

2012-01-18T19:19:00.000-05:00

LUKE 22

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE ROAD TO RUIN

1. Failure to Heed God’s Word [v. 31-34]
2. Failure to Have God’s Help [v. 40, 45-46]
3. Failure to Huddle with God’s People [v. 54-60]

II. THE ROAD TO RESTORATION

1. Recognize God’s Sovereignty [v. 60-61a]
2. Remember God’s Word [v. 61b]
3. Repent God’s Way [v. 62, 2 Corinthians 7:10]

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

III. THE ROAD TO RICHNESS [John 10:10]

1. Die to Self – Humility [v. 31-34]
2. Die to Self – Prayer [v. 40-41]
3. Die to Self – Submission [v. 42]

A "Divine Appointment" at 2am!

2012-01-17T19:09:00.000-05:00

By Sumner Wemp

After being out of town for the weekend preaching, I was going like mad to make it home to teach my first class Monday morning at Liberty. At two in the morning I came to a service station and a little store out in the middle of nowhere. I pulled in and got out of the car for a little break and stretching. I went in and got a coke. I did as I always do when I paid the man; I gave him a gospel tract. He said, "Oh, I have seen these before." "Terrific", I said and asked,"Do you know for sure you are going to heaven." "That is what my wife keeps talking to me about." Good for her. I am sure she does not want to be in heaven and you in hell." You should have seen his face. Then I asked, "If you died right now, would you be in heaven with her." His answer was fabulous. "I never thought about it like that." By now I knew God had made me stop just to see this man get saved. I said to the man, "I have learned as I hope you have, that God does not want her in heaven and you in hell." His face turned as white as a sheet.

God sent me here to tell you He loves you and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus to suffer and die for your sins and mine. He paid the eternal punishment for all you and I both have done wrong, all of our sins for "the wages of sin is death" and Jesus paid the debt in full, rose again and was seen alive by hundreds of people. He sent me here tonight to tell you if you will believe Him that Jesus really did pay for your sins too and receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior too, He will save you as He has your wife and you two will live together here and in heaven, instead of her in heaven and you in hell." It was beautiful the way God opened his eyes and he gladly said "Yes" and we prayed together and he believed Jesus suffered and died for his sins to and God saved him. I was overwhelmed. Bill then asked, would I wait a few more minutes, "I want to call my wife and tell her I got saved tonight." He called his wife at 2 in the morning. He told her about me coming and he had just accepted Christ as his Savior. She asked to talk to me. She was bawling her eyes out and said, "Sir, thank you for talking to my husband and for him accepting Christ. I have been praying someone would come through and lead him to Christ." By now I was bawling with exceeding great joy at what God had done. That is what life is really all about with us as Christians.

Dear Christian, "God said the harvest is plenteous." Someone told you how to be saved and you are going to heaven instead of hell. In obedience to God, you must get the gospel to someone so they go to heaven instead of hell just as you are because someone obeyed God and gave you the gospel. Makes sense? Please do.

PRESSURE

2012-01-16T05:04:00.001-05:00

LUKE 22:31-53

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE CONFLICT [v. 31-32]

1. Satan’s Desire [v. 31]

2. Saint’s Defense [v. 32a, John 17:14-20, Heb. 7:25]

3. Saviour’s Desire [v. 32b]

II. THE CONFUSION [v. 33-38]

1. The Pride [v. 33]

2. The Prophecy [v. 34]

3. The Plan [v. 35-38]

III. THE DARKNESS [v. 39-53]

1. The Prayer [v. 39-42]

2. The Answer [v. 43, John 11:42, Heb. 5:7]

3. The Betrayal [v. 44-53]

PREPARATION

2012-01-15T16:52:00.001-05:00

LUKE 22:1-30

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE PREPARATION TO DO EVIL [v. 1-6]

1. Influenced by the World [v. 1-2]

2. Influenced by the Devil [v. 3]

3. Influenced by the Flesh [v. 4-6]

II. THE PREPARATION TO DO RIGHT [v. 7-13]

1. Redeem the Time [v. 7-8]

2. Regard the Place [v. 9-12]

3. Respect the Word [v. 8, 13]

III. THE PREPARATION TO BE RIGHT [v. 14-30]

1. Accept the Sacrifice [v. 14-20]

2. Acknowledge the Sinful Nature [v. 21-23]

3. Affirm the Service [v. 24-30, Rm. 12:1-2]

Question of the Week: Who is the Angel of the LORD?

2012-01-14T11:19:00.001-05:00

Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesis

	answersingenesis.org \| newsletter archives \| contact us January 14, 2012
	a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

In this issue . . .

Q&A: Who is the Angel of the LORD?
Video On Demand: Why Won't They Listen? Part 4 (Sidebar)
Ken's Blog (Sidebar)
News to Note Quick Look
Answers ... with Ken Ham
After Eden
Network with Us!

Q: Who is the Angel of the LORD?

A: Christians generally agree that many Old Testament passages that mention "the Angel of the Lord" are appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ (Christ before He came in the flesh). Here are some of the characteristics of this "Angel" as given in the various passages:

The "Angel" is referred to with masculine pronouns (Genesis 16:13; Judges 6:21).
He is identified as God (Judges 6:11, 14; Zechariah 12:8).
He performed miracles (Judges 6:21; 13:20).
Gideon and Manoah thought they would die because they saw the "Angel" face to face (Judges 6:22; 13:22).
The "Angel" accurately foretold future events (Judges 13:3).
His name is "wonderful" (Judges 13:18; cf., Isaiah 9:6).
He destroyed 185,000 soldiers of the Assyrian army in one night (2 Kings 19:35).

While angels have occasionally performed some of these actions, such as miracles and prophecy, there are clear examples when "the Angel of the Lord" cannot be viewed as a normal angel. He is occasionally identified as God, accepted worship, and at least two people who saw Him thought they would die for seeing Him face to face. These same attributes and activities are clearly attributed to God elsewhere in Scripture.

Continue reading to learn more about this topic and how angels are described in Scripture.

News to Note Quick Look

The story of us: The History Channel's new 12-hour mini-series, "Mankind the Story of All of Us," will debut later this year. The project's executive producer, Jane Root, says it will be a "real action-adventure" program starting with the big bang and tracing "the development of humans on a planet where the vast majority of species go extinct." Read more.

Cold edits: Puerto Rican neurophysiologists puzzling over how polar organisms "evolved structural changes to compensate for their thermal environment" have been surprised and delighted to discover the secret of the Antarctic octopus and its Arctic cousins. Read more.

Also:

Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program

After Eden

Network with Us!


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This Week . . .

Feedback: Theophanies in the Old Testament (Jan 13)
Defense—Poor Reasoning (Jan 12)
Death by Design (Jan 11)
Contradictions: Did Jesus Go Up or Down the Mountain? (Jan 10)
It's a Sign! (Jan 9)
The Answers All Around Us (Jan 8)

Video On Demand

Why Won't They Listen? Part 4
Watch Video

Ken's Blog

Previous entries

Prayer Requests

Visit our prayer site to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs.

Resources

Answers Magazine Subscription: United States

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In Every Message?

2012-01-13T12:17:00.001-05:00

Mary, a very godly lady in our church led Pat to Christ. Pat got a big dose of salvation and went all out for the Lord. Pat's husband, Bill, wanted nothing to do with God or the church. I went to their home and had real liberty giving him the gospel. He did not respond at all. Every Sunday, Pat got everyone she could to pray for Bill to get saved. Bill went out of town one Saturday and came back home after dark. The next morning as usual she asked Bill to go to Sunday School with her.

He said, "I thought I would."

She was shocked. He came with her and she was so excited. She introduced him to everyone she could. After Sunday School she asked him to stay for church.

He said, "I thought I would".

Again she could not believe her ears. I preached, and as always gave the gospel, how the Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins, paid the debt for our sins in full, was buried, rose again and was seen by hundreds of people. Then as usual, I gave an invitation for people to receive the Lord Jesus and be saved. James moved out of his seat and came forward to me. I asked if he was ready to accept Christ.

He said, "I already have."

"Tell me about it," I asked.

He told this story. On his way home last night he came to what was called, dead man's curve. There was a very sharp curve in the road with three crosses where people were killed. He said it scared him so much he stopped and accepted Christ right then. I motioned Pat to come up and stand by him as I told the whole congregation the story. It really went over like a house fire. James' life was transformed and he later taught a Sunday School class. I learned a long time ago to always give the gospel in every message. Then I also gave an invitation for people to receive Christ and to confess Christ publically. I prayed for souls and preached for souls to be saved.

[I once was "accused" of preaching too much gospel. - Rick]

Fountain of Life

2012-01-12T16:30:00.001-05:00

Fountain of Life

"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." (Proverbs 14:27)

This beautiful phrase, "fountain of life," is used several times in the Old Testament, serving as a metaphor to illuminate a number of important aspects of spiritual faith and experience. Our text stresses "the fear of the Lord" as providing deliverance from death to life, picturing this new life as flowing from a heavenly spring.

A very similar verse is Proverbs 13:14: "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Thus, the fear of the Lord is somehow tantamount to "the law of the wise." Those who are wise will fear the Lord, and thus receive living water from "the fountain of life."

King David penned the wonderful truth of Psalm 36:9: "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." "God is light" (1 John 1:5), so "the fountain of life" becomes the source also of all true light, whether physical or spiritual. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).

The same word translated "fountain" is rendered as "well" in Proverbs 10:11: "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked." Thus, when a believer has received life from the divine fountain, his testimony becomes a fountain of life to others.

The Lord Himself is the fountain of life in Jeremiah's prophecy, but the supposed people of God have refused to drink. "For my people . . . have forsaken me the fountain of living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13; 17:13).

Nevertheless, this fountain is still there for all who will come. The very last promise in the Bible has to do with this great fountain. That fountain yields "a pure river of water of life, . . . proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. . . . And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:1, 17). HMM

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3 WELL KNOWN SECRETS ABOUT PRAYER

2012-01-11T19:16:00.000-05:00

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. PRAYER IS HARD WORK [Col. 4:2-3, 12]

1. A Work of Co-operation [II Cor. 1:9-11]

2. A Work of Concentration [Lk. 11:1 shows it can be taught and thus learned]

3. A Work of Patience [Dan. 10:1-14]

II. PRAYER IS HEART WORK

1. God's Heart Encourages Our Hearts [II Sam. 7:27]

2. Sin Impedes the Process, Righteousness Propels It [Ps. 66:18, James 4:16b]

3. The Heart can be Trained [Ps. 37:4, Rm. 10:1]

III. PRAYER IS HEARD WORK

1. We Can Have God's Merciful Attention [Ps. 66:16-20]

2. We Can Have God's Gracious Attention [Ps. 34:15, I Peter 3:12]

3. We Can Have God's Great Answers [Jer. 33:3, Eph.3:20]

Seek peace, and pursue it [Sumner Wemp's Spiritual Encouragement & Motivation]

2012-01-11T16:23:00.001-05:00

From: sumner@sumnerwemp.com

"Seek peace, and pursue it." Go after it with a passion. It really is that important. There is turmoil everywhere today. In my 89 years I have never seen the lack of peace as it is today. There is turmoil and terror permeating the world. The tragedy is the world says "peace when there is no peace" Jeremiah 6:14. What tears me up is the lost, unsaved individuals talk about peace and do not have an ounce of peace with God. It all begins with God.

God gives the peace which passes all understanding and misunderstanding as well. Oh how sweet it is. I went through the sudden death of my Mother and Father. It was my great joy of leading each of them to Christ very late in life. They ran from God. Dad accepted Christ just months before the dear Lord called him home. Then because Dad had so many unsaved friends, I insisted on preaching his funeral. What a thrill it was. Close to forty, mostly men, accepted Christ at his funeral. I just now got covered with goose bumps thinking about it. To me I say, what a way to live as a Christian and pass on to glory and meet Jesus. My dear wife went through 2 years in and out of the hospital and was finally sent home and went to heaven that very night. My daughter slept with her that night, woke me up early the next morning and said, "Dad, Mom is not breathing." I went in and sure enough she was not. I kissed her on the forehead and it was the sweetest kiss in the world. Shortly a dear friend called and I told him she was now in heaven. He graciously tried to comfort me and said, "Well she is walking on streets of gold." My reply was, "Oh no, she just saw Jesus." Well glory, that is what heaven is really all about. "When he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see Him as He is" 1 John 3:2.

"Great peace have they that love Thy law (the Bible) and nothing shall offend them" Psalm 119:165. "I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" Job 23:12. You and I MUST feed on the Word of God every day. Read three chapters ever day, beginning in the Gospel of John, and keep going through the Bible. Let's do it, shall we? I have learned we all stub our toe and miss a day. So you too are human, get up and start again.

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WHICH SIDE OF THE FENCE?

2012-01-10T16:05:00.000-05:00

If you ever wondered which side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!

If a Conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a Liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a Conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a Liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a Conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
If a Liberal is down-and-out, he wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a Conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
If a Liberal doesn't like a talk show host, he demands they be shut down.

If a Conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
If a Liberal is a non-believer, he wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

If a Conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it.
If a Liberal decides he needs health care, he wants the rest of us to pay for it.

If a Conservative reads this, he'll share it so his friends can have a good laugh.
If a Liberal will reads this, he'll delete it because he's "offended".

[This was emailed to me by a relative. Though I edited it slightly it does seem to make some excellent points. I do not know the author. - Rick]

It's All About Him

2012-01-09T16:25:00.000-05:00

Psalm 139:17 "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!"

We often judge our greatness, to some extent, by the things we have done and the places we have been. You can sound pretty impressive until you find out how little you have actually accomplished! I feel like I am quite a traveler, but I can feel insignificant when meeting someone who has traveled around the world. In a similar way, Psalm 139 highlights God's greatness and our insignificance.

It sounds like a cliché, but it is true: God knows everything. He searches, knows, and understands everything about everybody. No one knows you like God knows you. He knows your quirks and idiosyncrasies that make you "you." God doesn't know you on a superficial level; He is acquainted with all your ways!

God not only knows everything, but He also goes everywhere. He has been everywhere you are going. "Thou art there." Any place you have ever been or considered going to, God has already been there and is able to guide you and guard you.

When you see how great God is, what He knows, and where He goes, it makes the truth that God cares about you all that more amazing! Verse 17 says, "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" God's omniscience and omnipresence are related to you. It is amazing that God's greatness is framed in the context of a personal relationship with His creation. No one else in the world can do that!

Psalm 139 reminds us that God is gracious to think about us, and we are wise to think about Him. In the grand scheme of things, life is not all about you; it is all about Him. He knows you, understands you, and cares about you. May that change how we approach this day. After all, it's all about Him!

Prayer Requests:

1. BRR New York City Evangelistic Outreach this week

2. Service tonight in Cordova, TN

Want more First Light? View past devotionals here

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HEBREWS SALAD

2012-01-08T16:35:00.002-05:00

HEBREWS 6:1

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. DON'T STAGNATE

Salvation is not just the end of the old life, it is the beginning of the new life. We should not be satisfied with just being saved, as wonderful as that is. God has more in mind for us. Otherwise the Saviour might just as well take us Home immediately after our trusting Him.

1. Let Us Study [Heb. 6:1-3, II Tm. 3:15]

2. Let Us Submit [Heb. 10:22, James 4:4-10]

3. Let Us Stand [Heb. 10:23, Eph. 6:10-18]

II. DON'T BE SELFISH

1. Let Us Consider Others [Heb. 10:24-25, Phil. 2:1-5]

2. Let Us Consider Self [Heb. 12:1]

3. Let Us Consider God [Heb. 12:28-29, Col. 3:17]

III. DON'T STOP [Heb. 13:1-12]

1. Let Us Live for Him [Heb. 13:13]

2. Let Us Look for Him [Heb. 13:14, 12:2-4]

3. Let Us Love Him [Heb. 13:15-16, John 14:15, 21]

Question of the Week: Is God in your equation?

2012-01-07T20:29:00.001-05:00

Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesis

	answersingenesis.org \| newsletter archives \| contact us January 7, 2012
	a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

In this issue . . .

Q&A: Is God in your equation?
Video On Demand: Always Ready Clip (Sidebar)
Ken's Blog (Sidebar)
News to Note Quick Look
Answers ... with Ken Ham
After Eden
Network with Us!
Job Opportunities at Answers in Genesis (Sidebar)

Q: Is God in your equation?

A: Throughout history, mathematics has offered glimpses of infinity that point man's attention to God. However, humans in their rebellious state do not want even a glimpse of God because they suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).
In ancient Greece, Pythagoras chose to worship the infinity of numbers instead of God. He was especially enamored with natural numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.), which can be described as lengths of sides on right triangles. Plato continued this fascination with the properties of natural numbers. He saw clear contrasts between the imperfect, physical world around us and the perfect, abstract world of ideas.
Yet Pythagoras and Plato both stumbled over the limits of their god. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, they recognized that when a = 1 and b = 1, then c (the square root of 2) isn't a natural number and can't even be written as a fraction (a ratio of two natural numbers). Natural numbers aren't the ultimate truth. This mystified and angered them, but did not change their minds about numbers.

Continue reading to find out more about how the study of mathematics clearly leads to its Creator.

News to Note Quick Look

Shark hybrids: Amazed scientists in Australia have discovered 57 hybrid black-tip sharks off Australia's east coast. Confirmed by genetic markers, the 57 specimens are hybrids of two species of black-tip sharks that normally inhabit waters of different temperatures. Read more.

Tiptoes and trunks: The death and dissection of a circus elephant in Dundee, Scotland, three centuries ago began an ongoing debate about how many toes an elephant has. What was thought initially to be a sixth toe later was deemed to be only cartilage, but recent investigation at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has found the "false toe" is a bone after all. Read more.

Also:

Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program

After Eden

Network with Us!


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This Week . . .

Honored Again: AiG Website Wins Major Award (Jan 6)
Defense—"Biblical" Arguments (Jan 5)
Answers Magazine Biblical Authority Series: Loose Hinges (Jan 4)
Contradictions: First Impressions (Jan 3)
InSite, January 2012 (Jan 2)
Winter Answers magazine sneak peek: Taking God Out of the Equation (Jan 1)

Video On Demand

Always Ready Clip
Watch Video

Ken's Blog

Previous entries

Prayer Requests

Visit our prayer site to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs.

Resources

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This information kindly provided by:

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Daily Devotional for January 6, 2012

2012-01-06T20:34:00.002-05:00

Psalm 131:1 "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me."

I'm So Busy!

In our modern society, we are so caught up in being busy that we often "bite off more than we can chew." Everyone is so busy these days! It is almost a badge of honor to be busy, regardless of what you are accomplishing or what consequences may come. That is why I love Psalm 131. It gives perspective to people who do more than they can or should.

Have you ever stopped to think about all of the things that we can do more quickly than people could do a century ago? Instead of having more time, we now can do more which leaves us less time! When microwaves and modern conveniences came out, people believed that we could actually have more free time to spend with family. Instead of washing kids, clothes, and dishes, we can microwave a frozen dinner, eat it on the go, and stay out later. I'm not against modern conveniences, microwaves, or fast food, but these examples remind us of how busy we've become.

Haughtiness, or pride, is a terrible thing in the life of a believer. Pride is thinking more of yourself than you should. More specifically, pride can be thinking more of your abilities than is actually true. In other words, you think that you can accomplish more than you can. How much can you accomplish on your own? The Lord Jesus said, "For without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)

It is not virtuous to be lazy and never attempting anything great. It's not better to do less! The point is, biting off more than you can chew is a form of pride. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; humility is not thinking of yourself at all. Make the Lord your Source and follow Psalm 131:3, which says, "Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever."

What is it that you are trying today that is bigger than you? Don't live one second trying to accomplish things on your own! Instead, live in the calmness and quiet confidence (verse 2) that come with submission to God. Don't get so busy that you lose the proper perspective!

Prayer Requests:

1. BRR New York City Outreach next week (January 9-13)

2. Services this weekend in Cordova, TN

Want more First Light? View past devotionals here

Bill Rice Ranch 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road Murfreesboro TN 37128

The Hitchhiker Story

2012-01-05T08:29:00.000-05:00

Let me tell you some of the amazing things God did and what He will do for you and through you if you will just obey Him and try to let Him. One day I was driving down the St. Augustine highway just outside of Jacksonville, Florida, my home town at the time. A military man was hitchhiking. I was only going two more blocks and I did what I have done so many times. I blew my horn to get his attention then I held a tract over the roof of my car and let it go just as I got next to the service man. It landed right at his feet and I prayed “Save him Lord” as I had done so very many times.

A couple of months later I attended a Navigators meeting, the only one I ever attended, with a friend of mine. They had a military fellow give his testimony. He told about hitch hiking and a fellow came by, honked and then threw some trash out his window and kept going. He said, “I cussed him out and said to myself, if you can’t give me a ride, don’t throw your trash at me.” God made him read the tract and he prayed the prayer to receive the Lord Jesus as his Savior and then told how his life was changed.

Right then I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Can you imagine what those 400 people would have done if we had told them the rest of the story? Afterward I went up to him and we confirmed it was the tract I had thrown out. We hugged and wept together at WHAT GOD HAD DONE through that one tract. Of course, there is a ‘no littering’ law now and you cannot through tracts out on the street." I love it when God lets us hear the end of a story like that.

Sumner Wemp

Quotes of the Week

2012-01-04T11:10:00.002-05:00

Newspapermen from London went to see firsthand the marvelous happenings of the great Welsh revival at the turn-of-the-century. On their arrival in Wales one of them asked a policeman where the Welsh revival was. Drawing himself to his full height he laid his hand over his heart and proudly proclaimed: “Gentlemen, the Welsh revival is inside this uniform!” He had caught the holy fire.

Nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God. Just as in the case of a converted sinner, the first step is a deep repentance, a breaking down of heart, a getting down into the dust before God, with deep humility, and a forsaking of sin. - Charles G. Finney

Go home, lock yourself in your room, kneel down in the middle of your floor. Draw a chalk mark all around yourself and ask God to start the revival inside that chalk mark. When He has answered your prayer, the revival will be on. - Evangelist Gypsy Smith

I can give a prescription that will bring a revival to any church or community or any city on earth.
First, let a few Christians (they need not be many) get thoroughly right with God themselves. This is the prime essential. If this is not done, the rest that I am to say will come to nothing.
Second, let them bind themselves together in a prayer group to pray for a revival until God opens the heavens and comes down.
Third, let them put themselves at the disposal of God for Him to use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ. That is all!
This is sure to bring a revival to any church or community. I have given this prescription around the world. It has been taken by many churches and many communities, and in no instance has it ever failed; and it cannot fail! - R.A. Torrey

We ought to see the face of God every morning before we see the face of man. - D.L. Moody

What is your ambition in life today? Is it to get rich? Is it to make a name for yourself? Is it even to do some wonderful thing for God? Listen to me, beloved. The highest desire that can possess any human heart is a longing to see God. - Moody

Feeling better has become more important to us than finding God. – J. Vernon McGee

If we yearned after God even as much as a cow yearns for her calf, we would be the worshipping and effective believers God wants us to be. If we longed for God as a bride looks forward to the return of her husband, we would be a far greater force for God than we are now. - A. W. Tozer

Waiting Eyes

2012-01-03T09:22:00.000-05:00

Psalm 123:1 "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens."

You can tell a lot by who gets the eyes in any given situation. For instance, if you are in a group of people, many times one person will command the attention of the whole group when he speaks. Everyone in the group defers to the person speaking; and in a sense, everyone suspends what they are doing or saying to hear what one person has to say. Do you know what I am talking about?

I've found that my dog, Breck, regardless of what else is going on or who else is speaking, will listen to my voice. Through much training, Breck knows that when I speak, she had better give me her eyes! I think about my dog when I read Psalm 123. The psalmist says, "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto their masters . . . so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us." A servant looks to his master's hand for pretty much everything! Do you look to the Lord?

We should look to God in dependence for our needs and His direction in our lives. As Psalm 123 says, your eyes should "wait upon the Lord." My dog has eyes that wait on me. Ask any cowboy about the eyes of his cowpony, and he will tell you a useful horse has eyes that wait on the guy in the saddle.

Today, if life seems out of focus, it may be that you are looking to the wrong person. When you have a need, to whom do you look? Maybe you are looking too low! Look up to your Master. Strive to have "waiting eyes" that look to the Lord in every aspect and moment of your day.

Prayer Requests:

- BRR New York City Outreach next week (January 9-13)

Want more First Light? View past devotionals here

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A.S.A.P.

2012-01-02T06:49:00.000-05:00

There's a work to do, deadlines to meet, you've got no time to spare-
But as you hurry and scurry, Always Say A Prayer.

In the midst of family chaos, "quality time" is rare,
Do your best; let God do the rest: Always Say A Prayer.

It may seem like your worries are more than you bear,
Slow down and take a breather - Always Say A Prayer.

God knows how stressful life is; He wants to ease our cares,
and He'll respond A.S.A.P. - Always Say A Prayer.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

THE SMART WAY

2012-01-01T15:37:00.000-05:00

PSALM 119:97-104

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE PATH

1. Love the Word of God [v. 97, 103-104]

2. Meditate on the Word of God [v. 97, 99]

3. Keep the Word [v. 100-101]

II. THE PERSON

1. God Has Given His Word

2. God Teaches Through His Word [v. 102]

3. God Gives Understanding of and by His Word [v. 104]

III. THE POWER

1. It Will Make You Wiser than your Enemies [v. 98]

2. It Will Make You More Intelligent than your Teachers [v. 99]

3. It Will Make You More Perceptive than the Ancient [v. 100]

Question of the Week: Does science show us what happened in the past?

2011-12-31T11:25:00.001-05:00

Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesis

	answersingenesis.org \| newsletter archives \| contact us December 31, 2011
	a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

In this issue . . .

Q&A: Does science show us what happened in the past?
Video On Demand: Why Won't They Listen? Part 3 (Sidebar)
Ken's Blog (Sidebar)
News to Note: Year in Review
Last Chance to Give in 2011
Answers ... with Ken Ham
After Eden
Network with Us!
Job Opportunities at Answers in Genesis (Sidebar)

Q: Does science show us what happened in the past?

A: In our three-article series on radiometric dating, we discuss in depth the assumptions that scientists must make. For example, it has to be assumed that all the daughter isotopes found in rocks today have been derived by radioactive decay of the parent isotopes. It also has to be assumed that the rate of decay of the parent isotopes in the past has occurred constantly at the same rates measured today. There is absolutely no way any scientist can know whether these two assumptions are correct, because the evidence only exists today in the present, and we can't go back to test the past millions of years and check that the rates of radioactive decay were the same then as they are now.
Thus science is not the "window to the past"! This notion is based on a complete misunderstanding of the nature of evidence. What we observe and measure today exists in the present. We can repeat our observations tomorrow, but we can't go back to last week to repeat them. The only way we know our observations were the same last week as they are today is if we have an eyewitness testimony from someone who made the same observations last week.
In the Bible, we have the eyewitness testimony of someone who has been present throughout all of history and who has told us what happened. And what we read in the Bible is confirmed by the observations we make in the world around us.

Continue reading as Dr. Andrew Snelling addresses questions about radiometric dating, biblical creationism, and the true nature of science.

News to Note: Year in Review

Here at the end of 2011, we review highlights from the News to Note year. We have marveled at the wonders of God's Creation and shaken our heads when God's wondrous works have been attributed to time and chance and death—the agents of evolution. We hope you enjoy this illustrated perspective on the news.

Last Chance to Give in 2011

Every gift, no matter how small, can make a big difference.
Please consider donating to AiG and Ark Encounter today.

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After Eden

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This Week . . .

Feedback: Radiometric Dating and Proof (Dec 30)
Prosecution—Biblical Age for the Earth (Dec 29)
Genome-Wide DNA Alignment Similarity (Identity) for 40,000 Chimpanzee DNA Sequences Queried against the Human Genome is 86–89% (Dec 28)
Contradictions: Act Like a Child (Dec 27)
Letter from Ken, December 2011 (Dec 26)
Celebrating Christ's Birth (Dec 25)

Video On Demand

Why Won't They Listen? Part 3
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Ken's Blog

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Quotes of the Week

2011-12-30T06:28:00.001-05:00

Without the assistance of the Holy Spirit trying to solve problems is like rubbing Ben-Gay on a broken leg. - Tony Evans

How unspeakable are our obligations to the grace of God. - John Newton

When Satan talks to us about God, he lies. When he talks to God about us, he tells the truth. - Warren W. Wiersbe

Christianity is a battle to the gates of glory. - Alexander White

The greater the man, the dearer price he pays for a short season of sinful pleasure. - F.B. Meyer

When the possessor of Heaven and earth brought you into being and placed you in this world, He placed you here not as owner but as a steward. - John Wesley

There is no pit so deep but He is not deeper still. - Corrie Ten Boom

I have learned to hold everything loosely. That way it doesn't hurt when God takes them from me. - Corrie Ten Boom

The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not to argue about it or to spend time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick alongside it. - D.L. Moody

Getting Older

2011-12-29T12:53:00.001-05:00

The Time of Old Age

December 29, 2011

"Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." (Psalm 71:18)

One tends to grow resentful against the limitations and increasing infirmities associated with aging, even complaining to God and others about growing old--at least until one considers the alternative! We need to remember that, as long as the Lord preserves our lives, He has some ministry for us to perform for "this generation" and "to every one that is to come."

The Scriptures abound with promises of blessing in old age, so growing old should be an occasion for rejoicing and deepened commitment to whatever the Lord enables one to do. "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: . . . Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age" (Psalm 92:12-14). But if there develops a tendency to grow spiritually cold with age, the admonition of Paul is appropriate. "Aged men |should| be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, . . . teachers of good things" (Titus 2:2-3).

Thus the heartfelt prayer of the psalmist in our text is still appropriate today, for all who will, sooner than they think, enter the time of old age. Note also the following prayer: "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth" (Psalm 71:9). That God will answer such a prayer, offered in faith and sincerity, was affirmed by David when he said: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25). The time of old age can be a time of happy harvest, if we have sowed the seeds of good fruit. HMM

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THE WITNESS

2011-12-28T20:10:00.001-05:00

ACTS 1:8, 5:17-18

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE CONSISTENT WITNESS

1. Must Have a Consistent Message [v. 17-20, Rm. 1:16]

2. Must Have a Consistent Method [v. 18-21, 25] “Speak”
Lifestyle evangelism is only valid as the life backs up the lips

3. Must Have a Consistent Ministry [Mt. 28:18-20 no quitters in this group, no retirement from the will of God]

II. THE COURAGEOUS WITNESS

1. Has a Courage made of Conviction [v. 19-20, 29] God Had Spoken!

2. Has a Courage Rooted in Consecration [v. 29]

3. Has a Courage Based on Cooperation [v. 32]

III. THE CHRIST CENTERED WITNESS

1. Has a Message of Death [v. 30, 28]

2. Has a Message of Life [v. 31, Rm. 4:25]

3. Has a Message of Opportunity [v. 31-33]

Lovingkindness and Tender Mercy

2011-12-27T13:59:00.000-05:00

Lovingkindness and Tender Mercy

"Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old." (Psalm 25:6)

These beautiful words, "tender mercies" and "lovingkindness," may sound somewhat old-fashioned in today's sophisticated jargon, but the divine attributes they represent have been "ever of old" and will continue to characterize our tender and merciful, kind and loving God of all grace forever. Dropping them from our conversation (even in most newer translations of the Bible) is a sad loss that, to some degree, has impoverished our speech and, perhaps, our souls.

Note some of the rich scriptural testimonies associated with them: "|The Lord| redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (Psalm 103:4). "Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me" (Psalm 40:11). "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions" (Psalm 51:1). "Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good; turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies" (Psalm 69:16).

Other than Proverbs 12:10 ("the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel"), all the occurrences of these two terms, either alone or together, are applied by the translators only to the Lord, never to men (the Hebrew words are rendered by other words in the King James when applied to people). This is beautifully appropriate, for our gracious God is uniquely the God of love and mercy. In spite of the fact that none of us deserve His lovingkindness or tender mercy, "the LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works" (Psalm 145:8-9). HMM

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WHY THE MAN FROM HEAVEN CAME TO EARTH

2011-12-26T11:53:00.000-05:00

JOHN 3:11-18

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. JESUS CAME TO REVEAL THE FATHER [Jn. 14:7-12, 10:30]

1. God’s Love [Jn. 3:16]

2. God’s Interest [1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you]

Ps. 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

3. God’s Purpose [I Tm. 2:3-4]

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

II. JESUS CAME TO REVEAL HEAVEN [Jn. 14:1-3]

1. Where Saints Live Forever [Jn. 10:28]

2. Where Saints Understand [I Cor. 13:12]

3. Where Saints Dwell Joyfully [Rev. 21:4]

III. JESUS CAME TO REDEEM MANKIND

1. He Knew the Condition of Man [Lk. 19:10]

2. He Knew the Cost of Redemption [Galatians 3:13]

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

3. He Knew the Call of Salvation [Rom. 10:9-13]

WONDERFUL JESUS

2011-12-25T11:30:00.002-05:00

ISAIAH 9:6

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. WONDERFUL BIRTH

1. Foretold by the Prophets [Gen. 3:15, Is. 7:14, Jer. 31:22, Micah 5:2]

2. Announced by Angels [Mt. 1:20ff, Lk. 1:11ff, 1:26ff, 2:8ff]

3. Orchestrated by God Almighty [Lk. 1:32-37]

“It was wonderful that at such a time and in such a country such a people could produce Jesus.” – Billy Sunday

II. WONDERFUL CHARACTER

1. Wonderful in His Sinlessness – think of the only charges His enemies could come up with:

-claimed God as His Father
-received sinners
-did good on the Sabbath

2. Wonderful in His Unselfishness – He did miracles to help others, never for Himself [Mt. 20:28]

3. Wonderful in His Example [1 Peter 2:21]

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Churches, hospitals, missions, organizations (Salvation Army), etc
It is wonderful that the greatest figure in history came from such obscurity and became the most famous.

III. WONDERFUL INVITATIONS

1. Come Now [Isaiah 1:18]

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

2. Come All [Matthew 11:28]

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

3. Come to Jesus [John 7:37]

In the last day, that, great day of the feast, Jesus, stood and cried, saying, If, any man thirst, let, him come unto me, and, drink. .

Question of the Week- Was Jesus Born in December?

2011-12-24T13:00:00.003-05:00

It is amazing the amount of people, even Christians, who doubt Jesus was born in December. The problem is they are merely repeating a mantra they have heard from others- and the others didn't do their homework! Check out some facts in this blog from years gone by.

ANSWERING THE CHRISTMAS CRITICS (1)
ROMANS 14:1-12

Rick Jackson

There was an interesting letter on the editorial page of the Bradford County Telegraph last year (12-1-05). A lady, whom to my knowledge I do not know, wrote,

The following is "Just My Opinion" but I would like to know - "What do you think, are you willing to change?"

My answer is “no”. I am not willing to change because of someone’s opinion. I am willing to conform to the Word of God. Romans 3:4

What is wrong with Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus on his "real" birthday? Why don't Christians just let the world have their "Happy Holidays" their "Santa Clauses," their lighted trees and all the other traditions" that go with Dec. 25? Guys, believe it or not, this is not the day Jesus was born and I can tell you exactly when it was.

It will take a major portion of this sermon to discount this statement But let’s see how her opinion continued.

It was Tishri 15 (that is a Jewish feast day, their New Year or Rosh Hashanah). Jesus fulfilled every one of the Jewish Feast Days. On the exact days those feast happened, in the time of Jesus, those feast were fulfilled. The only feast left to fulfill is the Feast of Trumpets, and that is the Rapture.

There is not one hint in the Scriptures that Jesus was born on Rosh Hashanah. There would have been a lot of Jewish rituals going on during that time and none is indicated by either Luke or Matthew. Matthew’s silence is deafening since his purpose was to present Christ as the King of the Jews and this would certainly have bolstered that claim.

Now, do you understand why the Shepherds were out watching their sheep by night? It was not cold weather in September.

Dr. Mark Cambron, respected Bible scholar had heard this unsubstantiated claim that it is too cold for the sheep in December. We must remember Israel is not North Dakota or even Ohio. Dr. Cambron was at the shepherds’ field in Bethlehem one Christmas eve and noticed there were shepherds present. He asked them, “Why are sheep here and not in folds. Isn’t it too cold?” They replied, “This is when the grass grows best, so we graze here!” Then he noticed the grass was indeed thick and over knee high. Hearsay destroyed by eyewitnesses!

If Christians go to the "real" birth of Jesus and celebrate it, then all those people who are fighting over not having "their" symbols displayed, or the ACLU fighting to eliminate every thing religious, would perhaps stop. No other religion will be allowed to put up their symbol on our special day.It doesn't belong to them, it belongs to the Christians.

That’s a rather naïve view isn’t it? II Th. 1:4, II Tm. 3:11-12

See, right now, they are telling us that Dec. 25 does not belong to Christians, it belongs to those who worship Santa Clause. And you know what? They are right. Separating the two times of the year, would also help teach your child the truth about Jesus, especially if you are a Christian.

I never had a problem teaching my kids the truth about Jesus or Santa. Dt. 6:4-7, Eph. 6:4

See, here is the Christians problem (as I see it). We have put our Lord and Saviors birth right up there with "pagan" beliefs.

Actually Satan constantly tries to get people to believe his lie rather than God’s truth. Jn. 8:44

Does God approve of this? Does God back us in our efforts to keep Jesus as our symbol for this paganism day of worship?

Does she really believe we shouldn’t worship Jesus on any day someone else has set aside for paganism? I worship Jesus on Dec. 25th, July 4th, October 31st and every other day of the year!
Jn. 4:24, Rm. 14:5

Now, if you want to support Santa Clause and all that goes with it, I see no problem with that, but just remember - this is not the birth of Jesus. Don't let the attributes of Santa Clause become the same as Jesus' attributes.

Which is it? Does she have a problem with it or does she not? I personally have a problem with it. Is. 42:8, I Cor. 2:8, Ps. 24

Separating of the two times, will put a stop to this.

No. It won’t. Why would it?

The Jewish celebration on or near Dec. 25, called Hanukkah (celebration of lights) has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. Now, I know this is not pagan; this is a true event for them, the Jews. But it is still not Christmas.

Celebrating God’s light is closer to Christmas than Rosh Hashanah. Jn. 1:1-5, 9-12, 8:12, 9:5

Here is my second problem I see with the Christian community. They are not willing to make any changes, even if it is making a change for the "truth."

Her truth or God’s truth? She hasn’t proved anything. “My problem” “Christian community” Who’s that?

They would rather sit right where they are and let the ACLU and all the other religions of the world dictate to us, about the birth of our Savior; and send money to organizations to fight to keep Dec. 25 for Jesus.

I haven’t sent anyone any money. But if I did it would be to preserve our right to celebrate Christmas in a Christ honoring fashion.

If this world's system eventually gets to the point where there is no "Merry Christmas" and it all becomes "Happy Holidays," guys, don't panic, just remember: It isn't the birth of Jesus any way. Just my opinion.

The last three words are the truest thing she has said in her whole letter. The rest reminds me of the Texas longhorn… a point here and a point there and a lot of bull in-between So can we pinpoint Christmas to December at least. Let’s see.

Bible fact # 1 In I Chr. 24:1-19 David organized the priests for the Temple. There were 24 orders for the 12 months, two orders per month (v. 18-19). Note in the fourth month, the latter part of the month is the order of Abijah (v. 10).

Bible fact # 2 In Ex. 12:2, 13:4 God says the month Nisan is the first month of the Jewish calendar. Nisan falls in our Mar. /Apr. which puts the order of Abijah in our July.

Bible Fact # 3 Zechariah was serving in July. (Lk. 1:5-7) Not yet 50 but advanced in years (people age differently, in US pioneer days the average lifespan was 35). Luke 1:8-23. He went home in August and John the Baptist was conceived in August or September (1:24). Her first month would be Sept. or Oct. Her 6th month would be Feb.-March. (1:26-36 Mary conceived in Elisabeth’s 6th month so her first month would be March-April. Count it out. April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., December.

Late December is when the shepherds are out in their fields to watch their sheep by night. The night the angels came. Luke 2:8-15. The night, Christ was born. I for one am not going to let the Devil steal my Christmas.

1. Worship in Spirit and truth Jn. 4:24

2. Be fully persuaded in your own mind. Rm. 14:5-6

3. Whatever ye do, do it unto the Lord Col. 3:17-25

ROM. 14:5

Rick Jackson

Last week we saw in the Bible that Jesus WAS born in late December, maybe even Dec. 25th! This week we look at a few other criticisms of Christmas. Had they put as much work into studying the matter out as they do criticizing they would know the answers themselves. It seems the only exercise they get is jumping to conclusions. Let’s examine some of their complaints and answer them with more Christmas facts!

I. THEY SAY "CHRISTMAS TREES ARE OF PAGAN ORIGIN" [Jer. 10:1-4]

1. Jeremiah is not talking about Christmas trees [Jer. 10:5-15] He is referring to wooden idols, carved by men, overlaid with gold, etc.

2. Christmas trees are actually Christian.

John R. Rice recounts the origin of the Christmas tree.

In the 8th century a missionary named Boniface went to Germany to preach Christ. The Germanic tribes worshipped the oak tree as a symbol of deity. Boniface told them it was a poor symbol for God since it sheds its leaves and appears dead in winter. He told them the tree that should remind them of God was the evergreen. Always green and thriving.

Christmas trees became popular in England primarily through the influence of the German-born, Prince Albert, husband of England’s Queen Victoria. In America the trees were introduced by German immigrants in Pennsylvania.

3. The tree reminds me of Calvary [Gal. 6:14, I Pt. 2:24]

4. The light on top reminds me of Jesus. [Jn. 8:12, 9:5, I Jn. 1:5]

5. The other lights remind me of Jesus’ word [Mt. 5:14]

II. Critics say giving gifts has become too commercialized.

It can be but need not be. [II Cor. 9:15, Jn. 3:16, Rm. 6:23, 12:6, Acts 3:6 ]

What are we doing to aid the critics? What are we doing to silence them?

The Babe in Bethlehem

2011-12-24T12:50:00.001-05:00

The Babe in Bethlehem

December 24, 2011

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

This is a very remarkable prophecy, explicitly predicting that the future King of Israel would be born in the little village of Bethlehem some 700 years before He finally came. Then, to assure its fulfillment, the great Emperor Augustus had to decree a comprehensive census, compelling Joseph to take Mary with him to Bethlehem for her child to be born.

That the prophecy involves an actual birth is clear, not only from the phrase "come forth," but also from the succeeding verse which warns that God will "give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth" (v. 3). The preceding verse had also predicted that "they shall smite |this coming ruler| the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek" (v. 1), speaking of His initial rejection and execution.

But that is not all. The prophecy not only foresees His birth in Bethlehem, His repudiation by His own people, and His eventual installation as King over all Israel (not merely Judah), but also that this same remarkable person was none other than God Himself! His "goings forth" had been "from everlasting." That is, He is eternally proceeding forth from His Father. He did not become God's Son when He was born in Bethlehem; He has been coming forth eternally.

There is still another truth implied in the remarkable Hebrew word for "goings forth." It is also used for such things as the flowing of water from a fountain or the radiations from the sun. Thus, the never-ending flowing forth of power from God through the Son is nothing less than the sustaining energy for the whole creation, as He is "upholding all things by the word of his power" (Hebrews 1:3). And this was the Babe in Bethlehem! HMM

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Answers Weekly: What's so scary about a Portuguese man-of-war?

2011-12-24T12:46:00.001-05:00

Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesis

	answersingenesis.org \| newsletter archives \| contact us December 24, 2011
	a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

In this issue . . .

Q&A: What's so scary about a Portuguese man-of-war?
Video On Demand: Why Won't They Listen? Part 2 (Sidebar)
Ken's Blog (Sidebar)
News to Note Quick Look
Answers ... with Ken Ham
After Eden
Network with Us!
Job Opportunities at Answers in Genesis (Sidebar)

Q: What's so scary about a Portuguese man-of-war?

A: For most U.S. citizens, the word colony invokes images of early America. The Mayflower, our first Thanksgiving, the Revolutionary War. Bonnets and muskets, and living off of the land. But there's another image the word conjures up, at least to biologists—an image of a creature that is mysterious, dangerous, and astounding: the Portuguese man-of-war.
Whatever you do, don't call them jellyfish. That name is a misnomer. They are not "true" jellyfish. And though they can be found off the coast of Portugal, they are most commonly found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. They also can be found in the northern Atlantic Gulf Stream. Wherever the ocean is warm, chances are you'll find them.
The name man-of-war is also misleading. They certainly aren't men, and they don't go to war. In fact, they aren't even individual animals! A Portuguese man-of-war is actually a floating colony.

Continue reading to learn more about these incredible creatures in a special sneak-preview article from Answers magazine.

News to Note Quick Look

"Jurassic lark": Flying Monsters 3D, featuring British naturalist Sir David Attenborough, just became the first 3D movie to win a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award. The film will air on Christmas day on the UK's Sky1 television as well as in IMAX theaters around the country. Sir David sets out to solve "one of the greatest mysteries in paleontology: how and why did pterosaurs fly? How did creatures the size of giraffes defy gravity and soar through prehistoric skies?" Read more.

Starbursts: The Silver Dollar Galaxy in the constellation Sculptor provided a very photogenic target for testing the European Space Agency's VLT Survey Telescope (VST). VST is the largest telescope in the world to rely on visible light for its observations. The detailed images of bright blue clumps in the spiral galaxy are purportedly "stellar nurseries where hot young stars have just ignited." Read more.

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Prayer Requests and Praises, December 2011 (Dec 19)
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Evicting the Sacred by Ravi Zacharias

2011-12-23T09:24:00.001-05:00

Default Theme - R

Dear Friend,

To repress worship is to repress the irrepressible.

Everyone is a worshipper. Every person has his or her God: The only difference is that some can defend what they believe with sound reasons while others do so in a vacuum. Not only individuals but nations have their gods.

I am an Indian, born and raised in India. Before I moved to the West I readily accepted the fact that during Hindu festivals the nation would be celebrating the occasion. This was understood, even though technically India is a secular democracy. But there is an underlying worldview behind the culture. Whether it was Ganesh puja or Diwali, India celebrates its festivals based in a Hindu worldview.

I am not a Hindu but I respect the Hindu's right to express the foundational ideas of the nation. The same applies to a Buddhist nation or to an Islamic nation. I am neither a Buddhist nor a Muslim. But I respect the right of those in these countries to express their faith during their festivals and am not offended by them.

I am a Christian. When I came to America decades ago, I was thrilled to see Christmas celebrated and the reason for the season so obvious: the birth of Jesus Christ. Did I assume that every American was thus a Christian? Certainly not. But I expected the charitable heart of even the dissenter to allow that which has been practiced in this country historically and traditionally to continue. But alas, it is not so. In Thailand and Indonesia Christmas carols are sung in shopping centers and Christmas trees adorn airports. But in America the anti-Christian bias of silly advertisements like Bloomingdales' "Merry, Happy, Love, Peace" reflect ideas firmly planted in midair and proclaim no reason for the season.

Who is offended by a public celebration of Christmas? The anti-Christian secularist who lives under the illusion that values are cradled in a vacuum. Peace and love for what? What do these terms really mean? Are they self-evident? Not by any means.

America may not be a Christian nation per se, but only the Judeo-Christian worldview could have framed such a nation's ideas and values: "All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." No other religion or secular assumption can affirm such a statement except the Judeo-Christian worldview. But today that very worldview on which our systems of government and law are based is expelled from the marketplace.

Democracies that are unhinged from all sacred moorings ultimately sink under the brute weight of conflicting egos. Freedom is destroyed not just by its retraction, but more often by its abuse.

Is it not odd that whenever it has power, liberalism is anything but liberal, both in the area of religion and politics? We now have something called "spirituality" because people don't like the word "religion." What does spirituality mean? It means you may believe anything you wish to believe but regarding ultimate things, "No absolutes, please." The relativism and spirituality with which our society lives have one thing in common: they are both sophisticated ways of self-worship.

It is not accidental that even as Christian values have been jettisoned, the world is economically and morally on the verge of bankruptcy. Oh, but Jesus' name still surfaces in the West. Maybe more often than any other name. Why? Because profanity still reigns. Oh yes, and God still figures in our philosophy: even when "Mother Earth" quakes and thousands die, we still blame "Father God." The banishment of Christmas may be the anti-theists' great longing. But they still want the gifts of Christmas—love, joy, peace and reason. Malcolm Muggeridge once opined that we have educated ourselves into imbecility.

What are we celebrating at Christmas? What is the message of Christmas? It is the birth of the One who promised peace, joy and love. Try as we will, we cannot realize such values without acknowledging the point of reference for these absolutes: the very person of God and his gift to us of a changed heart and will. That message needs to be heard around our world that is reeling with problems and rife with hate. For we have proven we are not fit to be God.

G.K. Chesterton was right: "The problem with Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it has been found difficult and left untried."

Some years ago, I walked into the Forbidden City in Beijing. It was a cold and grey January. I paused as I saw deep inside its walls a shop with the banner still fluttering, "Merry Christmas." That which was happily displayed in the Forbidden City is now all but forbidden in our cities. A Chinese professor once remarked to me, "You Christians need to thank God for Communism, because we left the souls of our people empty, making room for the gospel."

Maybe someday we will thank the rabid secularists as well, when Merry Christmas will no longer be forbidden in our cities. Exhausted and disappointed in self-worship, we may turn to God again and hear his story afresh.

Ravi explores these issues in greater depth in his forthcoming book, Why Jesus? available January 25, 2012.

God bless you dear friends.

If you have questions or comments, email info@rzim.org.

Sorrow According to God

2011-12-23T09:19:00.001-05:00

Sorrow According to God

December 23, 2011

"And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:31-32)

In one of the most important passages in the New Testament regarding repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-11), Paul uses essentially the same phrase three times to express what he means by repentance: He rejoices that the Corinthian believers were made "sorry after a godly manner" (v. 9), calls it a "godly sorrow" (v. 10), claiming that they "sorrowed after a godly sort" (v. 11). This phrase could literally be translated "sorrow according to God," which leads to repentance. Such sorrow is contrasted to the "sorrow of the world |that| worketh death" (v. 10), which is a mere regret of consequences or remorse of conscience, which does not yield repentance, but only despair and possibly suicide. "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation" (v. 10).

Just as godly sorrow leads to repentance, so should the blessings of God. "Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4). God desires repentance on the part of the sinning one and is free to use whatever vehicle He chooses to bring it about.

True repentance involves a recognition of sin as a crime against God and a violation of His holy nature. Our recognition of this fact brings godly sorrow which leads inevitably to a change of mindset toward the sin and a confession of it as sin (1 John 1:9), and this brings forgiveness from God.

Christ taught that this "sorrow according to God" brings great joy elsewhere in the universe: "Likewise, I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:10). JDM

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BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

2011-12-21T19:11:00.000-05:00

MATTHEW 2:1-16

Pastor Rick Jackson

As far as being in time for the first Christmas the wise men were about 2 years late. But that didn’t let it stop them and it shouldn’t stop you. You can, like them, be a wise man by being better late than never. How?

I. Study the Scriptures [2:1, Daniel 9:25]

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

II. Give Time to your Soul’s Welfare [2:2, Lk. 12:16-21 the rich fool]

III. Follow the Light that God Gives You [2:2]

IV. Seek More Light [2:2, 7-9]

V. Rejoice in God’s Leading [2:10]

VI. Recognize & Receive Christ [2:11]

Gold for the King who must be served, Frankincense for God Who deserves prayer & praise, Myrrh for the Saviour who pays for sin with His own life, Worship of God in the flesh.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

VII. Obey God Rather than Man [2:8, 12, 16]

Saul of Tarsus came late but he came. Here’s what he said in I Cor. 15:1-10;

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Quotes of the Week

2011-12-21T09:49:00.002-05:00

Envy digs the mud that jealousy throws at success. - Norris Belcher

There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round-- as a good time: a kind forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good; and I say, God bless it! - Fred, nephew of Ebenezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

At this time of the rolling year I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me! - Jacob Marley, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me that I may sponge away the writing on this stone!
...I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future! The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh Jacob Marley! Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob, on my knees! - Ebenezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Time who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, as good a man, as the old city knew, or nay other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. ...He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as tiny Tim, observed, God Bless Us, Every One! - A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Justified--by Faith or Works?

2011-12-20T20:39:00.001-05:00

Justified--by Faith or Works?

December 20, 2011

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16)

Some have argued that James contradicts Paul at this point, since James emphasized that both Abraham and Rahab, among others, were justified by works (James 2:21, 25). In fact, this seeming conflict between Paul and James has often been cited as one of the "contradictions" of the Bible.

There is no contradiction, however. Neither Abraham nor Rahab could have been justified by the "works of the law," and James never said they were. Abraham lived before God even gave the law to Moses, and Rahab lived in a pagan culture which knew nothing about it. Furthermore, James himself knew that no one could really be saved by the law, for he said that "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).

Actually, both Abraham and Rahab were "justified"--which means "seen as righteous"--by faith in God and His provision of salvation (note James 2:23; Hebrews 11:31). The righteousness of Christ, who did keep perfectly the law of God, is imputed to believers by faith (Romans 4:3-5). God sees him or her as "in Christ," and so they are justified (recognized as righteous) solely through faith.

However, other men cannot see our faith, and therefore we must be justified in the sight of men by our works. True saving faith inevitably will manifest itself in works of righteousness. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: . . . For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8, 10). HMM

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BACK TO THE FUTURE

2011-12-19T07:05:00.000-05:00

LUKE 21

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE WIDOW’S MITES [v. 1-4]

II. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE [v. 5-6]

III. THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES [v. 7-24]

1. The Course for the Saved [v. 7-19]

2. The Catalyst for the Course [v. 20-23]

3. The Course for the Nation [v. 24-]

IV. THE TRIBULATION & THE TOUCHDOWN COMING OF CHRIST [v. 25-38]

1. The Tribulation in Brief [v. 25-28]

2. The Timeframe is Brief [v. 29-33]

3. The Time to Serve is Brief [v. 34-3

THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH

2011-12-18T14:34:00.005-05:00

LUKE 1:26-38

Pastor Rick Jackson

The virgin birth of Christ is no myth. Nor is it an unnecessary event concocted to make a simple story spectacular. No, the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is an absolute unequivocal necessity. There are at least 6 reasons this is true.

I. Christ was Virgin Born so He would NOT have a Sin Nature [Ps. 51:5, Lk. 1:35]

Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

II. Christ was Virgin Born so He would be Human as well as Divine in His Nature [Phil. 2:5-8]

III. Christ was Virgin Born so He would Fulfill Scripture [Mt. 1:18-23, Is. 7:14]

IV. Christ was Virgin Born so He could Serve as Mediator [I Tm. 2:5]

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

V. Christ was Virgin Born so He could make an Adequate Payment for Sin [I Jn. 2:1-2]

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

VI. Christ was Virgin Born so He could Face Temptations as Other Men [Heb. 2:18, 4:15]

Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them
that are tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

The Beginning of Wisdom

2011-12-17T19:55:00.001-05:00

The Beginning of Wisdom

December 17, 2011

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psalm 111:10)

This age has rightly been called the "age of information." With multitudes of books and periodicals in every field of study and practice, with billions of dollars devoted to all kinds of research, and now even the "information superhighway" of the Internet. It seems everyone and every organization is posting information of some sort on its own website and email. The world is almost drowning in information.

"But where shall wisdom be found and where is the place of understanding?" (Job 28:12). Job's urgent question can never be answered "online," but only in an ancient book. "Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding" (Job 28:28).

This spiritual truism is found often in that Book. King Solomon, to whom God had granted special wisdom (1 Kings 3:11-12), penned divinely inspired words when he wrote: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge," and then "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).

If anything is missing in our information age, it is surely the fear of God, at least among most people--even most religious people. But, as our text says: "A good understanding have all they that do his commandments."

From our New Testament perspective, we now know that "in |Christ| are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment" (1 John 3:23). Herein is true knowledge and understanding and wisdom. HMM

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Question of the Week: From one flesh or two?

2011-12-17T16:56:00.001-05:00

Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesis

	answersingenesis.org \| newsletter archives \| contact us December 17, 2011
	a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

In this issue . . .

Q&A: From one flesh or two?
Video On Demand: Why Won't They Listen? Part 1 (Sidebar)
Ken's Blog (Sidebar)
News to Note Quick Look
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Answers ... with Ken Ham
After Eden
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Q: From one flesh or two?

A: Ever since the time of Darwin, many church leaders and academics have attempted various ways to harmonize Genesis with "millions of years" and Darwin's ideas of common descent. A new proposal by Bill Dembski (who teaches at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) claims that Adam and Eve came from "human-like beings" who lived outside the Garden of Eden.
You could test Dembski's claims against several scriptural teachings. But just one—the biblical teaching of "one flesh"—is more than sufficient to show how his position undermines key biblical doctrines, including marriage, the church, and ultimately the authority of God's Word in the Old and New Testaments.
If one takes Genesis 2:21–23 as literal history, then God made Adam first (from dust), and then put the man to sleep, and from his side (a rib) made the first woman. Adam said that this woman was "flesh of my flesh." They were one flesh.

Continue reading to see how Dembski's proposal clearly contradicts the plain reading of Scripture—including the teaching of Jesus about marriage.

News to Note Quick Look

Lungfish lope along: Lungfish—lobe-finned air-breathing fish—are considered by evolutionists to be the closest living relatives of the ancestral creatures they think evolved to bring vertebrate life to land. Read more.

Goldilocks planet: NASA's extrasolar planet-hunter, the $600 million Kepler space telescope, has "confirmed the discovery of its first alien world in its host star's habitable zone." Read more.

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Old Earth Creationism on Trial: Preface (Dec 15)
What Makes Us Human, and Why It Is Not the Brain: A Creationist Defense of the Soul (Dec 14)
Contradictions: Did Jesus Contradict Himself by Calling People Fools? (Dec 13)
Beam Me Up! (Dec 12)
Winter Answers magazine sneak peek: From One Flesh—Or Two? (Dec 11)

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THE STORM

Question of the Week: Can people live more than 120 years?

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