Starke Reality

Friday, January 18, 2013

Is Your Flashlight Ready?

Bill Rice Ranch - First Light Devotionals

I John 1:5 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

7.5 million people were left without power in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Without power, the first noticeable thing missing was light. Unless you were impacted by the super storm, you probably didn't think twice about others without power because you yourself had lights and electricity. The truth is, there are millions upon millions of people without God's Light. Oftentimes we think as much about that fact as we do about the aftermath of Sandy.

The Bible says that "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Our fellowship with God is characterized as "walking in the light." I John 1:7 says, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. . . ." A person without light cannot see, perceive, or go in the right direction. They are literally "in the dark."

A flashlight without batteries doesn't do you any good when the power goes out. Your house has no power, the flashlight has no power, and you have no power! People without Jesus Christ have no power, no light, and no direction.

The way you show the Light is to "walk in the light." Much like a flashlight gives light in a dark room, does your life show that "God is light"? The message those in darkness need to hear has been entrusted to those of us who have the Light. Make sure your "batteries" are charged and you are ready to show the Light to a world in darkness.

Prayer Requests:

- Ranch evangelists preaching this weekend in Mansfield, OH; Clermont, FL; and Goodyear, AZ

Read more devotionals, listen to sermon audio, and read thought-provoking articles on our website!

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

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Teaching Stones


	January 2013 Teaching Stones "Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it." (Habakkuk 2:19) How foolish are those who worship idols--objects of wood and stone with no life in them, not even when they are adorned in silver and gold. Can inanimate objects come to life and even become teachers? A child knows better. But not college professors! All over the land, these proud purveyors of "science falsely so called" are indoctrinating young minds with the absurd belief that inorganic substances can somehow first become simple living substances and then eventually organize themselves all the way up to being people. They would not, of course, suggest that sticks and stones could suddenly become human (neither did the ancient idolaters, for that matter). They just believe that time--lots of it--can magically develop people out of much simpler substances than even these ancient philosophers ever imagined. "In the beginning, hydrogen" is their arrogant notion. But God will not be mocked in this way forever. Life can only come from life--ultimately from the living God! The wooden idol of the pagan is every bit as scientific as the evolutionary models of the modern intellectual; neither one can create life. "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: . . . They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them" (Psalm 115:4-5, 8). Only God can create life, and He can even cause stones to teach. "Speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: . . . Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?" (Job 12:8-9). HMM

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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

DANIEL 12

Pastor Rick Jackson

10:1 tells of yet another vision that God gave Daniel. Chapter 10 is a preface to the actual vision, chapter 11 is the vision, and chapter 12 is a practical application of the vision. Chapter 10 gives us another look behind the scenes.

I. THE FUTURE IS SURE [v. 1-3]

1. Israel has a Sure Future [v. 1]

2. The Saved have a Sure Future [v. 2-3]

3. The Lost have a Sure Future [v. 2]

II. THE FUTURE IS KNOWN [v. 4-7]

1. It is Not Completely Known to Men [v. 4]

2. It is Not Completely Known to Angels [v. 5-6]

3. It is Completely Known to the Lord Jesus Christ [v. 7]

III. THE FUTURE IS BECKONING [v. 8-13]

1. Ignorance is Not an Excuse for Inaction [v. 8-9]

2. Opportunities Abound to Prepare [v. 10]

3. The Lord’s Will Will Be Done [v. 11-13]

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

I knew you would come back for me

From: sumner@sumnerwemp.com

Earl Willer tells the story of two men who grew up best friends; they did everything together. They even went to high school and college together. After college they joined the Marines. By unique circumstances they were sent to Germany together where they fought side by side in one of history's worse wars.

One sweltering day during a fierce battle, amid heavy gunfire, bombing, and close-quarters combat, they were given the command to retreat. As the men were running back, Jim noticed that Phillip had not returned. Panic gripped his heart. Jim knew if Phillip was not back in another minute or two, then he wouldn't make it Jim begged his commanding officer to let him go after his friend, but the officer forbade the request, saying it would be suicide. Risking his own life, Jim disobeyed and went after Phillip. His heart pounding he ran into the gunfire calling out for his friend. A short time later his platoon saw him hobbling across the field carrying a limp body in his arms. Jim's commanding officer upbraided him, shouting that it was a foolish waste of time and an outrageous risk. Your friend is dead, he added, and there is nothing you could do."No sir, you are wrong," Jim replied. "I got there just in time. Before he died, his last words were 'I knew you would come.'"

Someday, we'll be together in Heaven and I'm certain that we'll be rejoicing and saying pretty much the same thing. Jesus, I knew you would come back for me. -Sumner Wemp

[The Lord Jesus came for Brother Wemp just a few weeks ago. Glory!]

Monday, January 14, 2013

Things We Know


	January 2013 Things We Know "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Peter 5:4) In these days of relativism, situational ethics, and changing mores, it does a Christian good to note the many things in Scripture we can know, things we can count on, things that do not change. Following is a sampling of such truths, with little comment, intended to encourage the reader to extend the list, perhaps as an ongoing project. We can know that Christ is God: "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). We can know that we are saved: "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47). We can know we are His dear children: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God" (1 John 3:2). We can know His protection: "And they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28). We can know He answers prayer: "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John 14:14). We can know He will help us through temptation: "In that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). We can know how we should act: "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done" (John 13:15). We can know He desires us to speak on His behalf: "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). We can know that He will come again: "I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3). We can know of our eternal rewards, as in today's verse: "An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). JDM

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Sunday, January 13, 2013

WHEN IT POURS… HE REIGNS!

2 SAMUEL 16:1-17:14 Pastor Rick Jackson

I. WATCH THE ‘TUDE [16:1-4]

1. The Need for Caution [v. 1-2]

2. The Need for Verification [v. 3, Deuteronomy 19:15]

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

3. The Need for Discernment [v. 4, Prov. 18:8, 13]

II. KEEP THE FAITH [16:5-14]

1. The Shadow of Saul [v. 5-8, Ps. 23:4]

2. The Peace of Providence [v. 9-10, Rm. 8:12:9]

3. The Power of Perspective [v. 11-14, Rm. 8:28]

III. TRUST IN THE LORD [16:15-17:14]

1. Plan Your Work [16:15-19]

2. Choose Your Time [16:20-23]

3. Work Your Plan [17:1-14]

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Question of the Week: Should Christians take care of the earth?

Answers Weekly - Answers in Genesis

	answersingenesis.org \| newsletter archives \| contact us January 12, 2013
	a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

In this issue . . .

Q&A: Should Christians take care of the earth?
Video: Image of God or Planet of the Apes?
Get Equipped: Global Warming Pack
Blog Highlights
News to Note Quick Look
After Eden
Answers ... with Ken Ham

Q: Should Christians take care of the earth?

A: A guest columnist in Scientific American magazine recently wrote the following:

AiG's biblical literalists, on the other hand, hold that we are God's favorites. We live at the universe's center on a planet God made and maintains for us to use. Earth's resources are here for us to exploit. God protects us and promised he would not destroy Earth again until the end of days. In that scenario, we have little reason to safeguard our existence.

Many secularists claim that Christians don't bother to take care of the earth. However, the Bible makes clear that man is to care for the earth in Genesis 1:26–28, when God told Adam and Eve to "have dominion" over it. The Bible talks about times and seasons for harvesting and planting (Ecclesiastes 3:2), implying that we must do so responsibly. We are even told in Proverbs 12:10 to treat animals well.
It is true that 2 Peter 3 is a prophecy of how God will destroy the heavens and the earth by fire one day. But in the meantime, Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum teach that man has a responsibility to care for and have dominion over the earth.
Read our full response to this secular column, which was titled "A Science Teacher Draws the Line at Creation."

Get Equipped

Global Warming Pack
Government leaders and media elite would have us believe that man is the cause of global warming, but what's the truth? This balanced approach to a very "hot" topic will equip you with the information necessary to honor the Creator—without worshiping the creation.

News to Note Quick Look

The New Litmus Test: Pastor who once preached against homosexual behavior no longer to pray at president's Inauguration.
Mars meteorite: Evidence of water in Martian meteorite suggests a wet past for the Red Planet.
Punching evolutionn: The human hand had to evolve for both fighting and finesse, say evolutionary researchers.
Environmentally-driven evolution: Environmentally driven changes in diet said to have driven evolution of humans
"the Pill": Semantics matter: what does "the pill" do?