The Testimony of Henry Hodges- "the World's Oldest Teen-ager"

It all started back in 1962- I went to the First Baptist Church at Lawtey [FL] to see a girl. It was the only place I could go to see her (or at her house). I didn't care anything about that "watered down" preaching. My daddy was a Hardshell Baptist- I thought I was alright because of that. Anyway, I went to see a girl, that's all. I didn't know anything about Romans 10:17 and I'd never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel before.





Anyway, I was there to be with a girl. The power of the Word Tommy Howe was preaching wasn't watered down! I started following with him as he read from THE BOOK! The Word got to bothering me, I just couldn't get away from it. The next two months I fought the greatest battle I've ever fought, and I've fought some big battles in my time.

The Hodges were a very tough family. We were noted for fighting, drinking, etc. ... just a rough bunch. I was kind of like Jacob when he wrestled with the LORD--- maybe all night. My fight lasted about eight weeks and it was very one-sided. I would get knocked down but thank goodness I'd always get up. I could see I was losing every round but I would not give up. I never dreamed I was up against the World Champion who had never lost a fight. I had much, much to learn about a lot of things. No inner peace, no sleep, couldn't think or concentrate on my work and nothing seemed to go right... at my wits end... the Savior came in.

I threw in the towel and surrendered to Him. I told Him that night in the back room of our old unceiled run-down house I'd do whatever he wanted me to do and I'd go wherever He needed me to go. Did I lose the fight? Not really--- I gained HEAVEN! Maybe the Lord likes fighters- someone that'll stand in the gap and take up the hedge.

It's been a good ride the last 48 years. It just keeps getting better and better, almost more than a person can stand in this mortal body. The next day after I came to the Lord things seemed so different. The grass, the trees looked greener, the air smelled fresher. It was almost like I was in another world and really- I was (the real world)!

I started thing about my future in Christ. What would He want me to do? Did I need to clean up my life? Was I to live for Him? So many things came to mind, so I went immediately to the Book. It seemed I couldn't put the Book down.

I believe I came to Christ late in the week... I could not hardly wait for the invitation Sunday morning. Of course I stood before the church and everyone came down and shook my hand. One thing stood out to me. I was called "Brother Henry" now and not just "Mr. Henry."

Note from Rick Jackson, Henry's Pastor: Brother Henry shared with me his testimony just as you have read it here. He had written it down on some old Sunday School lessons and I asked him if I could blog it. He graciously conceded. Henry is the type man every pastor needs in his church. He is a prayer warrior, a soul-winner, a student of the Book and a Christian gentleman. I am honored to call him my brother and my friend. He is also a poet. Readers of this blog know I preached a series not to long ago on "I Think I'll Just Go On Anyway". Henry was inspired to write a poem during that series, given here for your blessing:

I MUST GO ON ANYWAY

by Henry

Sometimes I am on the mountain high

Then comes troubles where I lie.

But I must go on anyway.

Tomorrow will start a brand new day

Some will stop along the way

But I think I'll go on anyway.

People may scoff at what I say

But I think I'll go on anyway.

You can stop or you can stay

But I must go on any way.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK!

You better get convictions about what God's will is for your life. I tell you something, you go out into the ministry- you're going to have some Alexander the coppersmiths. You are going to have some of those people who cause you much harm in the ministry. They'll be some that set out to destroy your ministry. They'll be some that set out to cause you grief. Listen, I have pastored now for about 15 years and I could name you people after people that honestly, I believe, Satan sent into my path. You better make sure you know what you are called to do. If I could have quit I would've. If I could have walked away I would've. If I could have done something else I would have but listen, I know, more than I know that my name is Phil Martin, that God called me to do what I'm doing. -Pastor Phil Martin, TTU Chapel, 4/13/1994

---------------------------------------------------------------

You can't outlive Him [Jesus] and you sure can't live without Him.


The Pharisees couldn't stand Him but they found they couldn't stop Him.


Herod couldn't kill Him, Death couldn't handle Him,and the grave couldn't hold Him!


He cannot change for the better because He's already perfect, He cannot change for the worse because that's just not His will.

Dr. Clayton Schumpert, TTU Chapel, 4/20/1994

THE HALL OF FAITH [5]

HEBREWS 11:27 ... HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE

Pastor Rick Jackson

Before we go further into the Hall let us pause and think. What made these individuals great? Why, their faith. Really? Suppose they had had faith in Thor, would they still have been great? I say thee "Nay, nay." So perhaps we should rephrase the question, Who made these people great? It was Him Who is invisible. It was taking Him at His Word and putting faith in Him and His Word and saying, "I'll live by Faith not by sight!" How do you live the life you should live? Listen to His Word, and do three simple things:

I. TRUST THE INVISIBLE KING RATHER THAN THE VISIBLE KING [Heb. 11:27]

Moses did. Aaron did. Daniel did. David did. Solomon did. Paul did.

1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1. Paul knew the Invisible King would win the Duration contest.

2. Paul knew the Invisible King would win the Divine contest.

3. Paul knew the Invisible King would win the Dignity contest.

II. TRUST THE INVISIBLE CREATOR RATHER THAN THE VISIBLE CREATION [Heb. 11:3]

1. Paul knew God Created by His Word [Heb. 11:3]

2. Paul knew God Created by His Power [Romans 1:20]

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

3. Paul knew God Created by His Person [Colossians 1:12-16]

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

III. TRUST THE ETERNAL NOT THE TEMPORAL [II Cor. 4-5]

1. Paul knew Glory outlasts Affliction [4:13-18]

2. Paul knew the Heavenly Body outlasts the Earthly Body [5:1-8]

3. Paul knew that Heavenly Treasure outlasts Earthly Treasure [5:9-12]

It all comes back to Jesus doesn't it? As Brother Greg would say, "GGtG" "Give Glory to God"

He Knows My Way

 

Job 23:10  "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."   He Knows My Way   There are times when we do not know God's ways. Like Job, maybe you don't "perceive," "see," or understand (verses 8-9). Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt like asking, "Where is God?"   This verse is a great encouragement because it gives us certainty and confidence when life seems uncertain and scary. The Bible says, "But he knoweth the way that I take." I may not understand God's ways, but God always knows mine.   God's way is the best way.  And that is the way you would choose if you could choose. God is the One "in the know." If you want to know the best way, trust Him because He knows. And the truth is, even if you knew the way, you would have no power to change it! Take heart in the truth that God "knoweth the way that I take."   Like Job, you can have a clear conscience to say, "Put me to the test." God knows your way, and if you trust Him for it, you will "come forth as gold." God's steps are always right. You may not know God's ways, but you can know God's way and that His steps are right.     Camp Quotes: "God is merciful to you because He wants to be." -Evangelist Richard Coyle   Missed a First Light devotional? Check out the First Light archives on our website: billriceranch.org

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

Playing hurt

Playing Hurt
"So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded."
(Ezekiel 24:18)

Ezekiel was a priest, one who was carried away captive when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem. His ministry was to the Jews who had been carried way captive into Babylon. He was a well-respected priest and prophet.

However, tragedy strikes. Ezekiel's life is completely changed and his home emptied and wrecked within twelve hours. In the morning he is out proclaiming the Word of God which has been laid upon his heart. A terrific message declaring the hour of Jerusalem's judgment. He had likely gone out with a heavy heart to deliver his message; and his wife, feeling what it meant to him, must have accompanied him to the door and had spoken such words of comfort and encouragement as even a strong prophet needs.

Often in the Lord's ministry, the strain of which no man knows save he who is in it, the home serves as a shelter from the storm and a harbor from the tempest. Now, the burden of his message delivered, he turns to his home again and to her who is the desire of his eyes, his homemaker, his helpmeet and comrade; and that happens which makes it home no longer. There it is compressed into a single tine, a tragedy of sorrow. "I spake to the people in the morning, and at even my wife died,"

The word of the Lord came to him
perhaps on his way to or from his prophesying: "Son of man, behold I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke." Suddenly his wife is going to be snatched from him. And God did it, the God whom he had faithfully served, to whose truth he had borne constant witness. There was no accident about it; it was an act of God.

It is clear that even in Old Testament times God did not shield His chosen servants from the sorrows and sufferings that were the common lot of mankind. Christianity is not an insurance society against loss, sickness, or death. The promise even of old time was not, "Thou shall be kept from fire and flood," but "when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee."

Here is a man preaching in the morning, and the message of God to him is not, "Because thou hast faithfully delivered My word, sorrow and death shall not come near thee," but, "Behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes."

Notice what tells Ezekiel, Jehovah's faithful messenger and representative (17). Robbed of his dearest earthly comfort, deprived and stricken, the man is bidden to sigh in silence and to make no open show of sorrow.

Ezekiel does not question God; the people do that he has preached to (19). May I offer to you a explanation of the prophet's own sorrow and loss. The first is that it might be demonstrated before the eyes of those about him how a man of faith - a representative of God - can bear sorrow. Not how he can escape it, but how, with what fortitude and courage, with what calmness and strength, he can bear it, and also what God Himself can be to such a man in such a time. Ezekiel was a witness (24).

I suggest to you that this may be God's way of demonstrating the value of faith and religion, not that a man thereby can escape and save his own skin, but that he can endure and triumph over the things that break other men, that make them bitter, cynical, and rebellious.
Anybody can be impatient and rebellious. It requires no genius of any sort to be skeptical. The wonderful thing is when Ezekiel does, "I did in the morning as I was commanded." His faith could not be conquered even by sorrow.

He was to be a "sign" to the people. That is, for one thing, when their sorrows come upon them they will do as he had done.

I do not doubt that God leads some men into deep experiences for the sake of others. It is a costly process, that of being qualified to be a comforter of the broken-hearted and an encourager to others.

I have dealt so far with only the purposes of trouble. Now let us observe how this man behaved in the midst of his trial. Notice what happens the very morning after the shock had fallen. "I did ........as I was commanded." That is, he went on with his prophetic ministry. He did not sit hopelessly brooding. He obeyed the imperative call of duty. The blow had fallen, life could never be the same. again, but life had to go on; there was work to he done and, there were people to live for and to minister to. So he hid his broken heart, and with such courage as he could muster went to work amid the sorrows.

Our tendency is to brood over our sorrows and our hurts and to withdraw from the work of the Lord. There are going to be times when God is going to allow you to be hurt, but He is not going to excuse you from being obedient to His commands just because you are hurt.

You have to keep on keeping on when you are hurting. You may sorrow but not as those which have no hope.

We must not allow our hurts to keep us forsaking God's will.

I am to keep on coming to church even when I am hurt. I am to keep on praying and keep on witnessing even when I feel like nursing my own wounds. There are people everywhere, genuine children of God, born or the Spirit, washed in the blood, heaven bound, but they are no longer serving They have been wounded in the battle and now they sit on the sidelines or they sit in a pew and have become critical and cynical because somewhere they got hurt and they refused to do as they were commanded when they were hurt.

I. We are to do as we are commanded when our crutches are gone

It is so easy for us to become dependent upon people. Friends can become crutches for us to lean on. However, when they die or move on, what am I to do. DO AS I WAS COMMANDED.

God gives us friends, but don't allow them to take the place of God.

When human crutches are gone, I must do as I was commanded.

II. We are to do as we are commanded when our companions are gone.

The "desire of his eyes" was taken. Ezekiel loved her dearly. When people misunderstood him, she was there.

When people talked about hm, she was there for him. Now, she is gone. There was a time when he lived apart from her, but now it is hard to conceive life without her. No one now to share his thoughts with. No one to serve God with. What will the mornings be like? Who will be there to meet him when he comes home?

When human companions are gone, I must do as I was commanded.

III. We are to do as we are commanded when our cheer is gone.

It is a wonderful thing to serve God when the blessings are trolling in, and you are filled with joy. It is easy to serve God when things are great and everybody loves you. However, it is a different story when things are not so good.

However, I must still serve God even when my joy is gone. There will some times when you feel like it just not worth it. Disappointments have set in, and the burden is overwhelming What am I to do......do as I was commanded.

Ronnie Lott while playing for the San Francisco 49ers made a tackle in a 1985 game against the visiting Dallas Cowboys. On the play, Lott got his left little finger stuck between a helmet and a shoulder pad, slicing open the finger.

It was split down the middle,' said Lott's college teammate Dennis Thurman, who played for the Cowboys at the time.

What Lott did after mangling his finger is amazing. Lott missed the remainder of the game, the final one of the regular season. He then had the finger temporarily repaired so he would be able to play in the NFC Wild Card game against the New York Giants the following week. Eventually, doctors amputated the tip of the finger.

"The doctors thought it would be better for me to do that since I was going to continue to play," said Lott, who would play nine more years.

He says losing the finger was not that big of a deal. This is a tremendous story about courage, determination, grit and how important football was to Ronnie.

Lott also ignored a hairline fracture of his right shin to stay in a 1986 game at Green Bay, leading the 49ers to a victory with two interceptions. And in a 1990 'Monday Night Football' game he played on two severely strained knees to help save a 7-3 win over the Giants.

Lott said of playing hurt. 'It is the ultimate compliment to pay to your teammates, to play hurt. On the other hand, looking back, was that a good decision? All in all, yes. I don't have any regrets."

Some times I think this is what the Christian life is all about. We are often called to preach, pray, teach, and all with wounded hearts.

IV. We are to do as we are commanded when our commendations are gone.

If you serve God long enough, the accolades will not come as often. Instead of being commended you will be criticized.

If you serve God long enough, somebody is going to disappoint you. Somebody is going to do something that will knock you feet out from under you.

People quit serving God not because of what somebody else does to them, but because of they way they handled what somebody else did to them.

Thank God for those who have gone through unbelievable hurts, horrible disappointments but are still serving God.

What am I to do when I am treated unfairly, just do as I was commanded.

Don't resign (give up) or become resigned (give in), but rather re-sign (get on). Our love for Christ is not seen when we are leading people to Christ, but it is seen when the "desire of our eyes" is dream of a lifetime, our hopes are dashed to pieces, and yet we serve God while we are hurt.

Conclusion:
When thing go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road your are trudging seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won, had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

"In the evening my wife died and in the morning, I did as I was commanded."

Sincerely yours
Securely His,
Pastor Jimmy Chapman
Victory Baptist Church
Washington, Georgia 30673

www.victorybaptistwashington.org

.

__,_._,___

Our God Invented it all

Sumner Wemps Spiritual Encouragement & Motivation unsubscribe   change email   view archive

Our God Invented it all From the writings of Sumner Wemp Aug 10, 2009 Our God invented it all!   President Ronald Reagan was once challenged by a college student who said it was impossible for Reagan's generation to understand his."You grew up in a different world," the student said. "Today we have television, computers, jet planes, space travel, nuclear energy..."Taking advantage of a pause in the student's litany, Reagan said. "You are right. We didn't have those things when we were young, We invented them."   Scientists say Some scientists scoff at and ridicule Christians saying, "You don't have all the facts nor understand space, the planetary and solar systems and nuclear energy..." We need to interrupt and say, "No, we don't know all of that but our God invented it." "In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth." Gen. 1:1. Some say, "But you take it all by blind faith."   A study of creation and evolution. In 1956, I made a detailed and thorough study of creation and evolution. Do you know what I found? There were over 20 major theories of creation and evolution. One said, "There was a microscopic glob of transparent jelly floating on the water and it evolved into life and finally man." I wanted to ask, "Where did the glob of jelly come from?" Where did the water it was floating on come from?" "Where did the energy and dust come from that caused the "big bang?" It takes more "blind faith" to believe in the theories of creation and evolution than to believe an intelligent and very wise Person, God, created the world and man with all of his intricate parts. Doesn't that make sense?   Man on the moon When man went to the moon, he had many ideas and beliefs about the moon. Later I read an article by a scientist, wish I still had it, in which he named a number of things they believed, "from their scientific studies about the moon" and expected to find true. He than told of five major things, they found were not true but some the very exact opposite! Remember they have many "theories" with absolute no proof which are taught as facts in our schools.   O dear people, believe God. Believe the Bible. It makes a lot more sense than all the theories of man. He loves you and His Son suffered and dies for your sins, rose again and wants to be the Savior of every person. Is He yours? Receive Him now. All because of Calvary, sumner   Prayer:  Father, help your children to believe You and not finite man with a lot of "blind faith" in unproven ideas and theories. In Jesus name.   Please take the time to visit our East-West Ministries Web site.

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EXODUS 39

EXODUS 39

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE HIGH PRIEST'S GARMENTS [v. 1-26, 30-31]

1. The Ephod [v. 1-7]

2. The Breastplate [v. 8-21]

3. The Robe [v. 22-26]

4. The Crown [v. 30-31]

II. THE PRIESTLY GARMENTS [v. 27-29]

1. The Coats [v. 27]

2. The Linen Garments [v. 28]

3. The Girdle [v. 29]

III. THE PREPARATION COMPLETED [v. 32-43]

1. The Work Finished [v. 32]

2. The Work Gathered [v. 33-41]

3. The Workers Blessed [v. 42-43, Matthew 25:23]

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

PAIN plus PRAISE equals POWER

1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

Pastor Rick Jackson

It is easy to see in these verses that God does NOT promise the Christian life will be painless. There is an indication of how painful situations may come and then there is instruction as to how we are supposed to respond in those painful situations. He tells us how to respond to those causing the pain, but more importantly how to respond to Him during those painful seasons of life that we will have. The Bible indicates that if we respond the right way to painful situations God will use His Power on our behalf for His glory! It may not be the way we want, or we expect, but it will be to His glory and ultimately for our good [Rm. 8:28].

Now to see this in a practical, historical setting turn to ACTS 16:16-34. Paul was no philosopher who wrote of things he would never experience- Paul was a divinely inspired writer of Holy Writ who treasured the Scriptures for the strength they gave him to live the life the Lord gave him to live. Note first of all:

I. THE PROXIMITY OF PAIN [v. 16-25]

I Th. 5:14-15 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

1. Live for Jesus [v. 16-18]

2. Expect Persecution [v. 19-24]

II Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

3. Prepare your Mind [v. 25]

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he[Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

II. THE RESPONSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS [v. 25]

I TH. 5:15-22 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1. They Prayed [v. 25a] Like Daniel, Jonah, David, the early church

2. They Praised [v. 25b]

Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
2 Samuel 12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

3. They Proclaimed [v. 26-32]

III. THE POWER OF GOD [v. 26-34]

I TH. 5:23-24 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

1. The Place was Shaken [v. 26a]

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

2. The Doors were Opened [v. 26b]

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
1 Corinthians 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
2 Corinthians 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

3. Lives were Changed [v. 26c-34]

QUESTION OF THE WEEK! - Is the Bible Complete?

Q: Is the Bible incomplete?

I’ve read all the articles on your web-site regarding the Apocryphal Gospels, but I need some more insight. The Catholics believe our Bible is incomplete. I understand that 1 Maccabee 9:27 says there were no prophets, but so does Psalm 74:9. If God’s Word expands further than my Bible I need to know.
—B.B., U.S.

A: Thank you for contacting Answers in Genesis. As you surely know, the Roman Catholics have the same New Testament as Protestants. The issue is solely over the Old Testament books. Even then, the list given by the Roman church is different than that given by Orthodox churches, whose division with Rome occurred far earlier than later Protestant reformers.

When 1 Maccabees 9:27 says “prophets ceased to exist among them” at that time, that eliminates the book itself—as well as the second book, also by Maccabees—as Scripture. One may too quickly assume the same thing must be the case with Psalm 74; however, the styles of both are immensely different.

Continue reading as Bodie Hodge answers the question of the Old Testament Apocrypha in Feedback: Is the Bible Incomplete?

News to Note Quick Look

We are the champions: “Mammals are special,” declares the leader of a new study on animal success rates. Just what does he mean? Read more.

On the Origin of Man’s Best Friend: If the idea behind item #1 (above) is correct, perhaps the domestic dog would be the biggest “winner” of all. Read more.

Also: the secret of Jeholopterus ninchengensis; Bird Brains VII; looks like a creationist, sounds like a creationist . . . ; and don’t miss . . . . Read more.

Prayer Requests

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Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program

The church—an endangered species?
Day—when is a day a day?
“Gay” marriage—what would Jesus say?
Much ado ... about Ida!
I believe Genesis—because Jesus did!

After Eden

This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.

God is in Control

 

Job 1:20-21 "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."   God is in Control   Aren't you glad that you are not in charge of life? Sometimes it is tempting to think that if you were in charge of everything, your life would be perfectly arranged. The truth is, there would not be less stress-there would be more! Can you imagine being in charge of your life?! The book of Job is a testament to the fact that God is the One in control. In chapter 1, three bear witness that God is in control. As Satan came to God, he said in verse 9, "Doth Job fear God for nought?" In other words, would you serve God for nothing? That is a good question by a bad Devil.   In verse 10, Satan said that God had made "an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side." God has placed a hedge around you, and God must allow anything to come over your hedge.   The first witness is the Devil-Satan himself believed God was in control. He said, "But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." Satan knew that God was in control.   In verse 12 God gave Satan the O.K. God knew about it and was in control. The Devil acknowledged it, God acknowledged it, and Job acknowledged it in verse 21: "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."   Three bear witness in Job chapter 1 that God is in control: Satan, God, and Job. What should we take from this passage this morning? Well, there is a battle every day that we do not see. Even though we do not see it, we can be comforted and encouraged that God is in control. God is in control. The Devil is a witness, God is a witness, and Job is a witness-are you?     Camp Quotes: "Life is your opportunity to prepare to meet God." -Evangelist John Goetsch    Missed a First Light devotional? Check out the First Light archives on our website: billriceranch.org

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK!

Do you realize preachers and Sunday School teachers what a serious thing it is to teach and preach the Word of God? You are dealing with people's hearts. And this is a matter of life or death, and the wrong word, or the word said in the wrong way, or something said that shouldn't have been said could do damage to somebody's heart. - Warren Wiersbe [HPBC, 4/5/1994]

The purpose of Bible study is not a big head but a burning heart [Lk. 24:32]. - Wiersbe

I Had my gall bladder taken out. I am an Israelite in whom there is no bile. -Wiersbe [4/4/1994]

I heard about a young preacher who prayed for a big church and a beautiful wife but he ended up with a beautiful church and a big wife. [laughter]... Some of you were nodding. - Wiersbe

Here's what Spiros [Zodhiates] told me, he said, "Tom, God never predestinates a man's choices. But the consequences are predestinated." - Tom Mahairas [HPBC, 4/6/1994]

THE HALL OF FAITH [4]

HEBREWS 11:23-27

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. IT SHOULD BE A FAMILY-LIFE THING [v. 23]

1. The Cooperation of a Family's Faith [Psalm 84:11]

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

2. The Courage of a Family's Faith

3. The Consequences of a Family's Faith

II. IT SHOULD BE A LIFE-CHANGING THING [v. 24-26]

1. The Refusal of Faith [v. 24]

You cannot say "Yes" to God without saying "No" to the world, the flesh, or the Devil!

2. The Choosing of Faith [v. 25]

Faith choices are rarely easy choices but they are always wise choices.

3. The Respect of Faith [v.26]

Faith respects the true lasting value of people, places, and things.

III. IT SHOULD BE A LIFE-DEFINING THING [v. 27]

1. Faith defined His Past - he rejected it! [By faith he forsook Egypt]

2. Faith defined His Present - he faced it! [not fearing the wrath of the king:]

3. Faith defined His Future - he lived it! [for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.]

Sunday Morning's Message

A word of explanation..

Normally I blog Sunday morning's message on... well, Sunday morning. This past weekend, late Saturday afternoon I had already finished Sunday night's message but had yet to finish Sunday morning's. This is not a position we preachers like to find ourselves in (even Spurgeon had this problem occasionally according to a recent biography I read). After midnight I finished! Then I had a strong indication that I should not preach the message I had just labored over for many hours, at least, I should not preach it, later that morning.

So there I sat- tired, frustrated, confused. I asked the Lord to guide me. I pulled out notebooks of older sermons I had preached. Someone once said, "If a sermon is not worth preaching twice it wasn't worth preaching once." Nevertheless, I try to not repeat sermons very often, and if I do, I try to make sure they are over 10 years old and then I generally revamp them. Hopefully I have grown in the past 10 years and have a little more insight.

I found two messages, revamped one and laid the other aside "just in case". Sunday morning came and I had no idea which way I was going. The adult Sunday School teacher and I shared with each other that we both had problems with our morning messages. It seemed the ol' devil was working overtime. I told him "I have 3 messages ready and I don't have a clue which one I'm going to preach." He said, "Preacher, I'll pray for you." I needed that and still do.If you don't know what to pray for sometimes, pray for Brother Rick, he is always in need of prayer.

After Sunday School and deep into the morning service I still had no clue as to which of the 3 messages I was supposed to preach (if any of those) and I finally decided to preach what I thought would be a message of encouragement to all of us. It was the unrevamped message pulled after midnight. I preached it from an outline first preached at this same church on April 14, 1999. The only other time I had preached this particular message was at Camp Blanding to a group of Officer's Candidates (those guys needed encouraging) on June 2, 2002. The outline of the message I preached, with no editing, in its simplicity, in its innocency, is as follows:

DON'T

There are often times we feel like quitting. What's the use? Godliness is laughed at and the ungodly prosper (or stay in office). But let me say, "Don't!" Don't give up the ship! Don't throw in the towel.

I KINGS 19:1-4

It is true that there is...

-

I. MUCH WRONG [v. 14] Elijah noted...

1. Forsaking God's Word

2. Fearing God's Worship (why is Bible Christianity not welcome?!?)

3. Fighting God's Workers

Regardless of much wrong (or maybe even because of it) there is...

-

II. MUCH TO DO [v. 15-17] Opportunities, there is...

1. God's Will to Perform [v.15a]

2. God's Word to Proclaim [v. 15b-16]

3. God's Work to Participate in [v. 17]

And then of course, though we many not always see it, there is...

-

III. MUCH RIGHT [18:39-41, and beyond Calvary, the Church Age...]

Fruit Bearing Still Produces:

1) Converts [Pr. 11:30]

2. Character [Gal. 5:22ff]

Christians getting right and yielding to God

3. Conduct [Rm. 6:22, Heb. 12:11, Mt. 5:13-16]

Christians doing right and influencing others to do so also

-

Give up the ship? John Paul Jones said, "I have not yet begun to fight."

Questions to ask your Senators and Representative about ObamaCare

Please help us get this information into the hands of as many people as possible by forwarding it to your entire e-mail list of family and friends.   Questions to ask your Senators and Representative about ObamaCare   August 3, 2009     My friend Gary Bauer has proposed some questions for you to ask your Senators and Representative about ObamaCare. I'm asking all AFA supporters to get a group together and go to your Senators and Representative offices and ask these questions. Most Senators and Representatives have Townhall meetings in their district during their August break. Get the schedule and attend the meetings. Urge others to do the same. Have different groups at different locations to ask these questions to make sure the Congressman is consistent.   Here are Gary's recommendations. Yesterday, President Obama conceded that there probably won't be a vote on healthcare reform until "the end of September or the middle of October." That means you have August to attend town hall meetings with your representative and senators, stop by their congressional offices, write letters to the editor and educate your friends and family members about the dangers of socialized medicine. To help you in that effort, we've produced a short list of key concerns and questions, which are copied below. Please share this report with like-minded folks and those who may be undecided and willing to listen. Thank you for everything you do to defend our shared values in your community!   1. ABORTION Pro-choice groups, like NARAL and Planned Parenthood, are demanding that abortion be covered in any healthcare reform bill. In a recent interview with Politico, Laurie Rubiner, vice president for public policy and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, defends this demand by saying, "the alternative would be slashing benefits for millions of women who currently have [private] coverage for abortions..." In addition, key administration officials refuse to rule out abortion coverage. When asked on Fox News Sunday whether taxpayer money would go to pay for abortions, White House Budget Director Peter Orszag replied, "I am not prepared to say explicitly that right now. It's obviously a controversial issue, and it's one of the questions that is playing out in this debate." Pro-life senators on the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee forced a roll call vote on the issue when Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) attempted to add an amendment to the healthcare bill that would, in her words, "include women's health clinics that provide comprehensive services...deemed medically necessary or appropriate." She admitted that such "health clinics" would include Planned Parenthood. The pro-life amendment to prohibit funding of abortion lost 11-to-12. Question for your Congressmen: Will you oppose any healthcare reform bill that uses my tax dollars to pay for abortions?   2. EUTHANASIA In a recent New York Post column, Betsy McCaughey, a former lieutenant governor of New York and health care expert, wrote: "One troubling provision of the House bill compels seniors to submit to a counseling session every five years (and more often if they become sick or go into a nursing home) about alternatives for end-of-life care (House bill, p. 425-430). The sessions cover highly sensitive matters such as whether to receive antibiotics and 'the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration.' This mandate invites abuse, and seniors could easily be pushed to refuse care." Question for your Congressmen: Will you oppose any healthcare reform bill that in any way promotes euthanasia?   3. COST The United States faces a debt crisis. According to many analysts, including Senator Judd Gregg (who is so respected by President Obama that he offered Gregg the post of Secretary of Commerce), the Obama budget will give us $11 trillion of debt at the end of five years and $17 trillion of debt at the end of ten years. (Source: PolitiFact.com) Question for your Congressmen: Why is Congress and the president pushing through a healthcare bill that would cost another trillion dollars over the next ten years? Shouldn't we concentrate on getting the debt under control first?   4. RATIONING CARE According to a July 15th report by The Hill, "The House bill would be paid for by roughly $500 billion in Medicare and Medicaid cuts..." These "cuts" would come as millions of Americans are retiring. Logic suggests that if we are "cutting" hundreds of billions of dollars healthcare would have to be limited or rationed in someway to accommodate more people. And seniors would be most affected by Medicare cuts. In addition, advisors to President Obama, such as Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, have suggested that healthcare should be rationed to certain individuals. Dr. Emanuel once wrote that "services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens...should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia." (Source: http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/Where_Civic_Republicanism_and_Deliberative_Democracy_Meet.pdf) Question for your Congressmen: How can government promise to do more with less? Will you oppose any healthcare reform bill that in any way limits my access to healthcare or medicines recommended by my doctor?   5. MORE BURDENS ON SMALL BUSINESSES Despite a 9.5% (and rising) unemployment rate, the healthcare bill in the House imposes a new 8% payroll tax on small businesses with payrolls of $400,000 or more that don't provide health insurance for their employees. This is in addition to the current 15% payroll tax. What this means is that any employer with a payroll of $400,000 dollars or higher will have to pay at least 25% above the salary just to hire someone. Common sense tells you that any struggling small business will likely lay off workers to avoid this additional tax. On the other hand, if the tax is cheaper than the cost of health insurance, larger businesses may opt to cancel their health insurance, forcing employees into the government's "public option," and simply pay the 8% fine. (Source: Wall Street Journal, July 15, 2009) Question for your Congressmen: Why are you imposing additional mandates and taxes on small businesses, which create the overwhelming majority of new jobs, in the middle of a severe recession?   6. QUALITY CARE American healthcare is better than that in European countries with socialized medicine. The German breast cancer mortality rate is 52% higher than in the United States. Prostate cancer mortality is 604% higher in the United Kingdom and 457% higher in Norway than in the United States. Canadian healthcare lags behind the United States too. Canadian patients wait twice as long to see a specialist for hip surgery or cancer than we do in the United States. Most Americans say they are satisfied with the U.S. health care system, but more than 70% of Germans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Britons say that their systems need "fundamental change" or "complete rebuilding." (Source: National Center for Policy Analysis.) In an editorial on July 26th, the Washington Post criticized President Obama for not "leveling about the consequences of change" when it comes to healthcare costs versus quality. Here's what the Post wrote: "The Congressional Budget Office estimates that new technology accounts for about half the increase in health-care costs over the past several decades. This, for the most part, is a good thing. Adjusted for inflation, health-care spending per person is six times what it was 40 years ago. But no one today would settle for 1960s-style medicine." Question for your Congressmen: Why are you trying to force us in the direction of more government involvement in healthcare when everywhere government-run healthcare has been tried, quality declines and care is rationed?   7. THE PEOPLE ARE BEING IGNORED According to a recent poll, just 23% of voters believe healthcare reform legislation will lower costs, while 53% believe it will lead to more expensive care. By a margin of 50% to 23%, voters believe that "reform" legislation will make the quality of care decline. And while voters believe they will get worse care at higher costs, 78% also believe that healthcare reform will result in middle class tax hikes. In addition, a recent Fox News poll found that 91% of those surveyed have health insurance, 84% said that the quality of their health insurance was either excellent or good and 83% said the quality of health care they receive from their private insurance is either good or excellent. And only 12% of those surveyed said reforming health care was the most important issue Congress should be working on right now. (Source: Rasmussen Reports, July 28, 2009 and Fox News poll July 23, 2009.) Question for your Congressmen: Why are you and the White House rushing this bill through Congress and ignoring the concerns of the American people?   8. LOSS OF FREEDOM The healthcare reform legislation under consideration in the House will eventually force all Americans into a government-approved plan. After a five-year grace period, every new insurance policy will have to comply with government mandates, and any policy changes – "altering co-pays, deductibles, or even switching coverage for this or that drug" – invalidates your previous coverage and forces you to choose a government "qualified" plan. In addition, the House plan mandates coverage for every individual. If you are self-employed or choose not buy insurance for whatever reason, the bill imposes a "healthcare tax" of 2.5% of your income. (Source: CNNMoney.com, July 24, 2009 and Bloomberg.com, July 15, 2009) Question for your Congressmen: Why do you believe bureaucrats can make better decisions than me about what kind of health insurance I should have? And will you guarantee that any healthcare reform bill passed by Congress will always allow me to choose my own doctor?   9. RACIAL PREFERENCES Do you care about the race of a doctor who is getting ready to operate on you? Of course not. Most Americans want their doctor to be the best professional available regardless of race or ethnic background. But congressional liberals have a different idea. On page 909 of the House bill, grants to medical schools will be awarded "to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following...training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds." (Source: Investors Business Daily, July 27, 2009) Question for your Congressmen: Why are you throwing affirmative action/racial set asides into a healthcare reform bill?   10. PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS President Obama has repeatedly said that "no insurance company will be allowed to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition." That sounds wonderful until you apply common sense, which is in short supply in Washington. What if we made a law that allowed you to buy car insurance after you got into an accident and that required the insurance company to pay for the damage? Wouldn't many people just wait for an accident before buying insurance? Why wouldn't many Americans wait until they were sick to buy health insurance? Question for your Congressmen: Isn't it clear that this provision would drive up the cost of health insurance for everyone?  Sincerely, Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman American Family Association

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The Power of God

 

I Corinthians 1:18  "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."     The Power of God     What do think you need before you will be ready? In ministry, perhaps at your church or at your place of work, what would it take for you to feel prepared? I don't know what your answer is, but the verse this morning gives us what we will need to be ready-"the preaching of the cross." The Gospel is the power of God.     What does that mean for us? You can trust the Gospel to do what it does. Trust it for what you lack and what you need to be effective in helping people. No matter your vocation, people will have needs, and-all things being equal-they will come to you for help. What is the source of your power?     The Gospel is the power of God, so do not trust your intelligence or cunning ability. Verse 19 tells us that our intelligence and our wisdom is not "legal tender" with God. It is not your ability to dispute, either. (verse 20) You will not always have the answer for every question someone may ask. But the encouraging fact is that you don't need every answer-rely on what God has said. Trust the Gospel to do what it can do.     A witness simply tells what he knows. As a witness to a crime or a traffic accident, a person just tells what he knows. In the same way, God has asked you to be a witness-tell what you know. And when you tell what you know, use the authority-the power of God.     One spring I was preaching revival meetings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In the Sunday morning message, I referenced verses from Hebrews that clearly and repeatedly point to Christ as the "one way" and the "one sacrifice." A man visiting from the area caught me after the service. He was interested in the verses I had referenced in the message. His opposition to what I said (or really, what the Bible clearly said) was stemming from the fact that many people have different interpretations.     Now it may be true that people dispute what the Bible says, but God meant what He said, and He had a purpose for saying it. I took the man to four or five passages, and they all clearly and plainly answered the question. It was right there in the Bible, and there was no way around it! Trust the Gospel to do what it can do because it is the power of God.     Look at what folks said of John the Baptist in John 10:41: "And many resorted unto him [Jesus], and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true."  John never did any "hocus pocus" or any miracles, but "all things [he] spake of this man were true." Can those you help today say the same? You have all the power you need because of Christ. The preached cross of Christ is the power of God, and you can trust it today.     Camp Quotes: "Christ is preparing a place. Don't you think we ought to be preparing for that place?" -Evangelist John Goetsch    Missed a First Light devotional? Check out the First Light archives on our website: billriceranch.org

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

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE

EXODUS 37-38

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. CONSTRUCTION OF THE INDOOR "FURNITURE" [37:1-29]

1. The Ark & the Mercy Seat [37:1-9]

2. The Table of Showbread [37:10-16]

3. The Candlestick & Utensils [37:17-24]

4. The Altar of Incense & Oil [37:25-29]

II. CONSTRUCTION OF THE OUTER ITEMS [38:1-20]

1. The Altar of Burnt offering [38:1-7]

2. The Laver of Brass [38:8]

3. The Three Walls [38:9-17]

4. The Gate [38:18-20]

III. THE GREAT TALLY [38:21-31]

1. The Dedication of the Workers [38:21-23] -man works because God has worked (Eph. 2:8-10)

2. The Ton of Gold [38:24] - picture of Deity

3. Four Tons of Silver [38:25-28] picturing Redemption

4. Three Tons of Brass [38:29-31] picturing Judgement

QUESTION OF THE WEEK! - Are you logical?‏

Q: Are you logical?

A: Whenever I hear people debating some issue (abortion, gun control, origins, religion, politics, etc.), I often spot a number of mistakes in their arguments. Mistakes in reasoning are called “logical fallacies,” and they abound in origins debates. I have often thought it would be fun to carry a little buzzer that I could push when someone makes a fundamental mistake in reasoning. Of course, that would be impolite. However, we should all become familiar with logical fallacies so that our mental buzzer goes off whenever we hear a mistake in reasoning.

Logic (the study of correct and incorrect reasoning) has become a lost skill in our culture. And that is a shame. It is a very valuable tool, particularly for the Christian who wants to defend his or her faith better. Evolutionists often commit logical fallacies, and it is important that creationists learn to identify and refute such faulty reasoning. Sadly, I often see creationists committing logical fallacies as well. There is hardly anything more embarrassing than someone who advocates your position, but does so using bad reasoning!

Logic involves the use of arguments. When some people think of “arguments,” they think of an emotionally heated exchange—a “yelling match.” But that is not what is meant here. An argument is a chain of statements (called “propositions”) in which the truth of one is asserted on the basis of the other(s). Biblically, we are supposed to argue in this way; we are to provide a reasoned defense (an argument) for the Christian faith (1 Peter 3:15) with gentleness and respect. An argument takes certain information as accepted (this is called a “premise”), and then proceeds to demonstrate that another claim must also be true (called the “conclusion”).

Read on as Answers in Genesis astrophysicist and apologist Dr. Jason Lisle continues exploring logic and debate in the Introduction of our new Logical Fallacies article series.

News to Note Quick Look

Drowning out plausibility: The first animals didn’t evolve in the ocean, claims a controversial new study. Instead, the study suggests the earliest animals called a saltwater lake home. Read more.

Evolution “ahead of schedule”: Fossil specimens discovered in Russia 15 years ago have finally landed in the news—for reasons including the fact that they were millions of years “ahead of schedule.” Read more.

Also: at least they tried, more than eye candy, visit the Creation Museum Temple, and don’t miss . . . . Read more.

Prayer Requests

View the current prayer requests to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs. Thank you!

Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program

Water on Mars—evidence of life?
Australian opal—made by bugs!
Creationists—are all going to heaven?
“Old” ideas—they’re not outdated!
Coke bottle—a lesson from the sky!
After Eden

This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.