A good friend sent this to me.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. God bless this Marine!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0fQd858cRc&feature=player_embedded
God loves you - and God bless America!
Debbie
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Donkey
Since the symbol of the democratic party is a donkey....I think it's okay to use an old euphemism I've heard many times.
"If the donkey kicks me once it's his fault.....if the donkey kicks me twice it's my fault."
What that means is that it's often easy to be surprised by the actions of others. It's understandable to be naive and fooled by a crook - once. It's understandable to be naive and fooled by a fast talking salesman - once. But....if you are smart and you continue to let people take advantage of you....then it's no longer the crooks fault - it's your fault.
Once we have the information we need to make an informed decision....it's smart to use that information and avoid being robbed, hit, hurt, taken advantage of.....you get the idea. We can use information we have learned in the past to prevent the disaster in the future. To ignore the information means we are on the fast track to being hurt - again.
Over the past few days the news has touted the possibility that Mr. Obama is moving to the center and will be a hard person to beat in the 2012 elections. I couldn't believe I heard anyone say that! Are Americans really that dumb? Surely not.
The man promised to be centrist before he was elected the first time. He lied! He couldn't wait to get into office and prove his radical left agenda. We've been suffering every since. He's lied to us about so many things and proved to be inept and on a radical left race to socialism.
Why would you believe him ever again? Why would some people look at a one time speech and believe that he is going to do anything better the second time?
But Debbie....aren't we supposed to be kind and compassionate? People can change you know? Shouldn't we give him a chance?
Sure....give the drug addict a chance to get clean - but don't ask him to be a guard at the local pharmacy.
Give the alcoholic a chance to change - but don't ask him to be a fill in bartender when yours is sick.
Give an abusing spouse the chance to change but don't live with them and subject your 10 year old to another beating. Wait until the change has been proven and documented and you know that it's for real!
Our country's future is too important to trust this man...again. I'm counting the days and hoping that our luck will last and God will show us mercy until we can get him out of office. If he's elected for a second term, there's no hope for this country. You will see another massive move to socialism that we may not be able to survive and surely won't recover from.
So....my suggestion....do your homework. Look at his pre-election speeches. Hear what he said and then look at what he actually did or didn't do. Make the connections. Things like the fact that gas is going up and instead of letting companies in the gulf with safe rigs begin drilling again - he is stalling. Why? Watch Glen Beck and try to put all the pieces together. Gather your information and don't let that donkey kick you again!
God loves you,
Debbie
What that means is that it's often easy to be surprised by the actions of others. It's understandable to be naive and fooled by a crook - once. It's understandable to be naive and fooled by a fast talking salesman - once. But....if you are smart and you continue to let people take advantage of you....then it's no longer the crooks fault - it's your fault.
Once we have the information we need to make an informed decision....it's smart to use that information and avoid being robbed, hit, hurt, taken advantage of.....you get the idea. We can use information we have learned in the past to prevent the disaster in the future. To ignore the information means we are on the fast track to being hurt - again.
Over the past few days the news has touted the possibility that Mr. Obama is moving to the center and will be a hard person to beat in the 2012 elections. I couldn't believe I heard anyone say that! Are Americans really that dumb? Surely not.
The man promised to be centrist before he was elected the first time. He lied! He couldn't wait to get into office and prove his radical left agenda. We've been suffering every since. He's lied to us about so many things and proved to be inept and on a radical left race to socialism.
Why would you believe him ever again? Why would some people look at a one time speech and believe that he is going to do anything better the second time?
But Debbie....aren't we supposed to be kind and compassionate? People can change you know? Shouldn't we give him a chance?
Sure....give the drug addict a chance to get clean - but don't ask him to be a guard at the local pharmacy.
Give the alcoholic a chance to change - but don't ask him to be a fill in bartender when yours is sick.
Give an abusing spouse the chance to change but don't live with them and subject your 10 year old to another beating. Wait until the change has been proven and documented and you know that it's for real!
Our country's future is too important to trust this man...again. I'm counting the days and hoping that our luck will last and God will show us mercy until we can get him out of office. If he's elected for a second term, there's no hope for this country. You will see another massive move to socialism that we may not be able to survive and surely won't recover from.
So....my suggestion....do your homework. Look at his pre-election speeches. Hear what he said and then look at what he actually did or didn't do. Make the connections. Things like the fact that gas is going up and instead of letting companies in the gulf with safe rigs begin drilling again - he is stalling. Why? Watch Glen Beck and try to put all the pieces together. Gather your information and don't let that donkey kick you again!
God loves you,
Debbie
Thursday, January 20, 2011
#1 Love me...Obey my commandments
A true Christian will know who Jesus is and will work to obey his commandments.
Jesus had gathered all his disciples together for the last supper. If there was ever a time to give them cliff notes, this was it. Read John Chapter 13 and 14 and you'll see that the disciples just didn't understand all that was going on. They acted like small children wanting to be near him, sensing there was a problem, not knowing what to do etc... And then Jesus did a great and noble thing. He washed their feet. He talked quietly and slowly. He was not angry or ill at ease. These were the men he had chosen to carry on his work and now it was time to simply be friends. He knew that Judas had already betrayed him and yet...he was kind with him as well.
Chapter 14 starts out with a wonderful command.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
Now that we know the whole story it's easy to read that passage and know that Jesus is talking about Heaven. But listen to his last statement. Verse 4 "You know the way to the place where I am going."
Here's comes the children.....Even though they had listened and followed for three years....In the next verse Thomas says..."Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus probably wanted to give a big sigh at this point and say, "What? What do you mean you don't know the way? Haven't you been listening!"
Instead in verse 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Please pull out your Bible and read these two chapters, they are wonderful sweet urgings of Jesus. For today and our point today however, let's concentrate on the following verses. Consider this a cliff note straight from Jesus.
In John 14:15 Jesus said:
"If you love me, you will obey what I command.
How can you do that if you haven't studied enough to know what his command is? And notice he didn't say, "Do what the priests have told you." NO, he said do what I command. In other words, get it for yourself!
In John 14: 21-24 Jesus went on to say:
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Okay Friends....now you have it from the horses mouth. We can all close up shop and go home. That's your salvation in a nut shell.
If you say that you love God (Jesus) you will obey his command. If you don't obey then you don't love and you can't call yourself a Christian.
Period. End of statement. Everybody out of the pool!
Do you conveniently avoid certain scriptures? - You are not a Christian.
Do you twist the scriptures you don't like? - You are not a Christian.
Do you avoid church and learning about Jesus? Maybe it's just too boring. Sorry, You are not a Christian.
Do you work and study and cross reference - hoping, pushing and looking for a way to make the scriptures support the wrong you want to do? - You are not a Christian.
We must take the Bible as a whole, understand the writers, the life of Christ, the overall meaning, the cross references, the implied and the unimplied.
We must be doubly and 500% sure that we know who Jesus was and is - what his commandments are and that we are doing everything possible to obey those commandments.
A true Christian will love the study of the Bible because he "wants" and craves knowing who Jesus is and what His commandments are. A true Christian will not care if he's missing out on some fun or something he wants to do. All he will care about is that he loves Jesus and that he is obeying his commands.
Can you say that you know and obey the commandments of Jesus?
God loves you,
Debbie
Jesus had gathered all his disciples together for the last supper. If there was ever a time to give them cliff notes, this was it. Read John Chapter 13 and 14 and you'll see that the disciples just didn't understand all that was going on. They acted like small children wanting to be near him, sensing there was a problem, not knowing what to do etc... And then Jesus did a great and noble thing. He washed their feet. He talked quietly and slowly. He was not angry or ill at ease. These were the men he had chosen to carry on his work and now it was time to simply be friends. He knew that Judas had already betrayed him and yet...he was kind with him as well.
Chapter 14 starts out with a wonderful command.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
Now that we know the whole story it's easy to read that passage and know that Jesus is talking about Heaven. But listen to his last statement. Verse 4 "You know the way to the place where I am going."
Here's comes the children.....Even though they had listened and followed for three years....In the next verse Thomas says..."Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus probably wanted to give a big sigh at this point and say, "What? What do you mean you don't know the way? Haven't you been listening!"
Instead in verse 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Please pull out your Bible and read these two chapters, they are wonderful sweet urgings of Jesus. For today and our point today however, let's concentrate on the following verses. Consider this a cliff note straight from Jesus.
In John 14:15 Jesus said:
"If you love me, you will obey what I command.
How can you do that if you haven't studied enough to know what his command is? And notice he didn't say, "Do what the priests have told you." NO, he said do what I command. In other words, get it for yourself!
In John 14: 21-24 Jesus went on to say:
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Okay Friends....now you have it from the horses mouth. We can all close up shop and go home. That's your salvation in a nut shell.
If you say that you love God (Jesus) you will obey his command. If you don't obey then you don't love and you can't call yourself a Christian.
Period. End of statement. Everybody out of the pool!
Do you conveniently avoid certain scriptures? - You are not a Christian.
Do you twist the scriptures you don't like? - You are not a Christian.
Do you avoid church and learning about Jesus? Maybe it's just too boring. Sorry, You are not a Christian.
Do you work and study and cross reference - hoping, pushing and looking for a way to make the scriptures support the wrong you want to do? - You are not a Christian.
We must take the Bible as a whole, understand the writers, the life of Christ, the overall meaning, the cross references, the implied and the unimplied.
We must be doubly and 500% sure that we know who Jesus was and is - what his commandments are and that we are doing everything possible to obey those commandments.
A true Christian will love the study of the Bible because he "wants" and craves knowing who Jesus is and what His commandments are. A true Christian will not care if he's missing out on some fun or something he wants to do. All he will care about is that he loves Jesus and that he is obeying his commands.
Can you say that you know and obey the commandments of Jesus?
God loves you,
Debbie
What should a Christian look like?
Over the next few months I'll be posting to a category called "The Christian".
This category isn't about the outward "looks" of a Christian. This category is about the whole man/woman. The thoughts, beliefs, actions, motives, desires, looks and reputation of the Christian.
The definition of the word Christian is....
1. A person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ, or in the religion based on the teaching of Jesus.
used as a adj. it means.....
1. of Jesus Christ or his teachings
2. of or professing the religion based on these teachings
3. having the qualities demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, as love, kindness, humility, etc..
4. of or representing Christians or Christianity
5. humane, decent, etc...
But....the word that most Christians use to define their label is...."Christ - like"
Have you ever met a person who claims to be a Christian and yet...hasn't studied enough about Christ to know what that would look like? A lot of churches have stopped having Sunday school. Now instead of a deeper walk through the Bible and a systematic way to teach our children about the Bible, we have discussion groups in homes. Most of the time the emphasis is on visiting and eating rather than on real Bible study. The result - people who claim to be Christians but have no idea what that really means.
I even had one immature person say...."Just give me a list and I'll do what's on it." While that type of reduction of the Christian faith won't produce a true Christian - perhaps it will lead all of us into a deeper discussion of what's currently missing in our faith.
I hope you will join me here for "short" discussions about the traits and values of "The Christian"
#1 Love me - Obey my commandments
God loves you,
Debbie
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| Find link in Right sidebar |
The definition of the word Christian is....
1. A person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ, or in the religion based on the teaching of Jesus.
used as a adj. it means.....
1. of Jesus Christ or his teachings
2. of or professing the religion based on these teachings
3. having the qualities demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, as love, kindness, humility, etc..
4. of or representing Christians or Christianity
5. humane, decent, etc...
But....the word that most Christians use to define their label is...."Christ - like"
Have you ever met a person who claims to be a Christian and yet...hasn't studied enough about Christ to know what that would look like? A lot of churches have stopped having Sunday school. Now instead of a deeper walk through the Bible and a systematic way to teach our children about the Bible, we have discussion groups in homes. Most of the time the emphasis is on visiting and eating rather than on real Bible study. The result - people who claim to be Christians but have no idea what that really means.
I even had one immature person say...."Just give me a list and I'll do what's on it." While that type of reduction of the Christian faith won't produce a true Christian - perhaps it will lead all of us into a deeper discussion of what's currently missing in our faith.
I hope you will join me here for "short" discussions about the traits and values of "The Christian"
#1 Love me - Obey my commandments
God loves you,
Debbie
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Bible in American History.....
It appears to me that some people just like to lie. They get a kick out of looking you square in the face and telling you something they know isn't true but try to use to "force" you to their way of thinking.
In the South we have several sayings about people who lie to prove a point.
"His tongue is long enough to cut his throat." "He can talk up a tow sack." (To fill a sack with foolish talk or nonsense.) "Crooked as a worm on a hook." "Like a Bug arguing with a chicken."
"He has a tongue for Tolling." (To lure, lead on, entice with lies.) "Rather tell a lie on credit than the truth for cash." (Prefers to lie.)
And my personal favorite....."Put grease in yer pan, yer fish is burning." (You are incorrect, lying, tell the truth!)
Lately....that's all I can think about as I post the columns from American Minute I started posting these because I thought they would be a wonderful topic of conversation around the evening supper table. Yet the more I post, the more I am aware that progressives have been viciously lying to us. I recently heard one leftist commentator say that it had been over 50 years since the government promoted Biblical study. Here's a few choice Southern sayings for that guy....
"His head is full of stump water." (Dumb) "He'd hold a fish under water to drown it." (Stupid, dumb)
I don't like calling people stupid or dumb....yet what else do you call someone that expects you to believe such a silly obvious lie??
I enjoyed the following post by American Minute. Amazing that I was busy living my life and never heard about this.
A Joint Resolution of the 97th U.S. Congress proclaimed "A Year of the Bible."
It was signed by Democrat Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil, Republican President of the Senate Strom Thurmond and President Ronald Reagan, who stated OCTOBER 4, 1982:
"Now, therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, in recognition of the contributions and influence of the Bible on our Republic and our people, do hereby proclaim 1983 the Year of the Bible in the United States.
I encourage all citizens, each in his or her own way, to reexamine and rediscover its priceless and timeless message."
Similarly, on January 25, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote the prologue of a special Gideons' edition of the New Testament & Book of Psalms distributed to millions of World War II soldiers:
"As Commander-in-Chief, I take pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States. Throughout the centuries men of many faiths and diverse origins have found in the Sacred Book words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration."
FDR continued:
"It is a fountain of strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the human soul."
All I have left to say is that anyone that believes this is no longer a Christian Nation --- "They are doing a heap of stirring but making no biscuits!" (A lot of talking with no results)
God loves you,
Debbie
In the South we have several sayings about people who lie to prove a point.
"His tongue is long enough to cut his throat." "He can talk up a tow sack." (To fill a sack with foolish talk or nonsense.) "Crooked as a worm on a hook." "Like a Bug arguing with a chicken."
"He has a tongue for Tolling." (To lure, lead on, entice with lies.) "Rather tell a lie on credit than the truth for cash." (Prefers to lie.)
And my personal favorite....."Put grease in yer pan, yer fish is burning." (You are incorrect, lying, tell the truth!)
"His head is full of stump water." (Dumb) "He'd hold a fish under water to drown it." (Stupid, dumb)
I don't like calling people stupid or dumb....yet what else do you call someone that expects you to believe such a silly obvious lie??
I enjoyed the following post by American Minute. Amazing that I was busy living my life and never heard about this.
A Joint Resolution of the 97th U.S. Congress proclaimed "A Year of the Bible."
It was signed by Democrat Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil, Republican President of the Senate Strom Thurmond and President Ronald Reagan, who stated OCTOBER 4, 1982:
"Now, therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, in recognition of the contributions and influence of the Bible on our Republic and our people, do hereby proclaim 1983 the Year of the Bible in the United States.
I encourage all citizens, each in his or her own way, to reexamine and rediscover its priceless and timeless message."
Similarly, on January 25, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote the prologue of a special Gideons' edition of the New Testament & Book of Psalms distributed to millions of World War II soldiers:
"As Commander-in-Chief, I take pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States. Throughout the centuries men of many faiths and diverse origins have found in the Sacred Book words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration."
FDR continued:
"It is a fountain of strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the human soul."
All I have left to say is that anyone that believes this is no longer a Christian Nation --- "They are doing a heap of stirring but making no biscuits!" (A lot of talking with no results)
God loves you,
Debbie
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Pastor's Corner
Can you be saved inwardly and not look like it on the outside?
It depends on if you are talking about physical appearance or the impression you leave with your character or rhetoric. While we are instructed to be "modest" in attire....specifics on our looks really isn't a focus of the Bible. I do think that there are many styles that don't reflect the values of the Christian Faith and probably should be avoided....but appearance is NOT as important as what we say, what we do and the motive of our heart.
I remember a man that attended a Wednesday evening Bible study. He was so dirty and smelly it was hard to sit next to him. His beard was straggly and brushed against a filthy shirt. His hair was greasy and looked as if it hadn't been combed in months. His fingernails were filled with dirt. He sat with his arms folded and frowned as he watched my Dad teach. Later that week he asked Dad to come pray with him about Salvation. No one at church said anything about his appearance. No one asked him to change. My Dad didn't ask him to change....but change he did. When he returned for Sunday morning (with wife and baby in tow) everyone was scrubbed and clean. It was hard to tell he was the same man. It didn't stop there. He continued to grow and within just two years he became a deacon in the church and a well respected man.
When you become a Christian....you will change.
This question makes me think of the idea of Baptism. It's an outward sign of an inward confession. If your life doesn’t show that God is within you… is He?
The day I moved in the old parsonage the church started building a new one across the street. Frank was the best carpenter around, so I saw a lot of him every day. He just showed up with his tools and started working. He laughed a lot and had so much fun that everyone was happy to have him around.
He always had interesting tales to tell about his life working in the coal mines of West Virginia. I learned about “tommy-knockers,” a strange knocking sound that the miners believed was a warning about an impending cave-in. He dug coal by hand in veins so small he had to lie on his stomach and push the coal behind him. All this took place hundreds of feet below ground in the damp, dark world of the coal miner.
No, he wasn’t perfect any more than I was. We came through town one day from a fishing trip and he had to stop at a gift shop. He hurriedly bought his wife a birthday card and we drove to his house.
I waited while he went inside to give his wife the card.
“Frank Nantz, what do you mean by such a thing,” I heard her say in a loud angry voice. There was more talking and then she came out to the car. She showed me the card. It read: “Happy birthday to my brother.”
Frank apologized over and over again, and finally she simmered down. He grinned sheepishly, and said: “I’m sorry Maggie, I messed up again.” Then she smiled and said, “Well, all right, I guess you were in a hurry.”
She finally laughed about it with us. How could you stay mad at a man filled with such humility, love and kindness?
He lived in a small little “doll house” down the street from the church and although he had worked hard all his life he got by on Social Security and a small pension. He attended every service at the church and there was absolutely nothing he wouldn’t do for the Lord or for those in need.
I loved him and considered him one of the best Christians I had ever known. One day I saw him coming up to the sidewalk in front of the parsonage.
“Brother Crocker” I’ve got something for you,” he said. He had something held high in each hand.
“My wife knows you like butterscotch and lemon pies, and so she baked one of each for you. I guess we will soon have a fat preacher.” We laughed, sat down and talked for a while. Every Friday he would come to the parsonage with two pies. I never told anyone, but I enjoyed his visits as much as the delicious pies.
One day I asked him how he became a Christian and the story he told me was beyond belief.
“ I grew up poor in West Virginia in a coal mining town. We were so poor my daddy would catch rattlesnakes, pull their fangs out with a pair of old pliers, and give them to me and my sister to play with.”
He talked about the grinding poverty and the many days he spent in the mines digging coal by hand. Often, at the end of the week he would get a paycheck with a black snake across the front of it. He explained what that meant.
“Well, we had some really hard times back then. We ate the squirrels I killed and the fish I caught by hand in the river. But we still had to get things from the company store. Those items went on the books, and at the end of the week if we still owed the store we got a paycheck with that long black line on it telling us that we were overdrawn at the company store.”
“Frank said: “Like everyone else I drank to forget all the misery and soon was a terrible drunk. When we moved up here I got a job at the RCA plant making television picture tubes. I made good money but couldn’t break the habit of smoking and getting drunk on week ends.”
He went on to tell me what a terrible drunkard he was and how he abused his family. Maggie and the children begged him to go to church with them on Sunday Morning. Instead he chose to sit under a willow tree in the front yard. “I was so sorry I would curse and throw whiskey bottles at my wife as she took the children to church on Sunday morning. The really sad thing for me is that my boys followed in my footsteps. Now they won’t even talk about going to church or changing their ways.”
I couldn’t believe the story he told me about the man he use to be. There was no way I could picture this lovable old friend as that kind of man.
“What changed you Frank,” I asked him.
“I had a bad sickness and wound up in the hospital,” he said, “and they didn’t expect me to live. I was awake early one morning and suddenly I saw something that could have only been a vision. I saw a beautiful river and standing on the other side was Jesus. I was worn out, tired and sick and begged the Lord to let me come over there with him.”
“No Frank,” he said. “You are not fit to come over here. You’ve never been born again. It’s not too late. You could turn your life over to me. It’s up to you.”
“Then he disappeared,” Frank said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “I knew what I had to do and as soon as my wife came to see me I took her hand and begged her to forgive me for all the things I had done to her. I didn’t know what else to do and I pleaded with her to pray for me to be saved.”
“I was born again, like Jesus taught in the bible,” He said. “It took months for me to apologize to people I had hurt, to mend the fences, take back the things I had stolen, and get things right in my life. All the old troubles and bad feelings just disappeared,” Frank told me.
“What about all the bad habits Frank? Were they hard to quit? Was it a struggle to change your life,” I asked?
“Not a bit”, he said, “In fact it was as easy as pie. I’ve never wanted another drink, I quit smoking, cursing, and my bad temper disappeared. It was like a miracle. God changed me because he knew I couldn’t do it myself. Over night my attitudes changed. I couldn’t wait to get to church and I lovef everything about being a Christian. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I asked the Lord to take over my life and make me the person I should have been. Not a day from that time to this have I ever failed to pray, read my bible and look for ways to serve the Lord.”
When I resigned as Pastor of the church, he came to see me. “I’m really going to miss you,” he said. “If we don’t see each other again, I’ll see you in the Morning.” I knew what he meant.
Frank never worried about whether or not he was saved....he changed and he knew he was!
God loves you,
Debbie, Ken and Dr. Ken
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| Debbie Jansen Author, speaker, minister |
It depends on if you are talking about physical appearance or the impression you leave with your character or rhetoric. While we are instructed to be "modest" in attire....specifics on our looks really isn't a focus of the Bible. I do think that there are many styles that don't reflect the values of the Christian Faith and probably should be avoided....but appearance is NOT as important as what we say, what we do and the motive of our heart.
Having said that, If you are truly saved - your life will change. You will talk and act differently. You will feel uncomfortable around anything that doesn't reflect Christ. Your purpose and the direction of your life will change. You will be different.
When you become a Christian....you will change.
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| Ken Jansen Music Pastor Crossroads Community |
This question makes me think of the idea of Baptism. It's an outward sign of an inward confession. If your life doesn’t show that God is within you… is He?
When I asked Dr. Crocker to answer this question he sent me a long story. I tried to edit it for space but couldn't. It's just too good. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!
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| Dr. Ken Crocker Pastor, Missionary, author |
Let me tell you a true story about Frank Nantz. Years ago I was his pastor. I was 28 years old and Frank was close to 70. He was tall and lanky, with big hands and had lost a front tooth. He couldn’t hide it because he smiled all the time.
He was the most lovable, kind hearted and generous man I ever knew. He was a deacon in the church, and loved everybody. I called him “Uncle Frank” like everyone else.
He always had interesting tales to tell about his life working in the coal mines of West Virginia. I learned about “tommy-knockers,” a strange knocking sound that the miners believed was a warning about an impending cave-in. He dug coal by hand in veins so small he had to lie on his stomach and push the coal behind him. All this took place hundreds of feet below ground in the damp, dark world of the coal miner.
No, he wasn’t perfect any more than I was. We came through town one day from a fishing trip and he had to stop at a gift shop. He hurriedly bought his wife a birthday card and we drove to his house.
I waited while he went inside to give his wife the card.
“Frank Nantz, what do you mean by such a thing,” I heard her say in a loud angry voice. There was more talking and then she came out to the car. She showed me the card. It read: “Happy birthday to my brother.”
Frank apologized over and over again, and finally she simmered down. He grinned sheepishly, and said: “I’m sorry Maggie, I messed up again.” Then she smiled and said, “Well, all right, I guess you were in a hurry.”
She finally laughed about it with us. How could you stay mad at a man filled with such humility, love and kindness?
He lived in a small little “doll house” down the street from the church and although he had worked hard all his life he got by on Social Security and a small pension. He attended every service at the church and there was absolutely nothing he wouldn’t do for the Lord or for those in need.
I loved him and considered him one of the best Christians I had ever known. One day I saw him coming up to the sidewalk in front of the parsonage.
“Brother Crocker” I’ve got something for you,” he said. He had something held high in each hand.
“My wife knows you like butterscotch and lemon pies, and so she baked one of each for you. I guess we will soon have a fat preacher.” We laughed, sat down and talked for a while. Every Friday he would come to the parsonage with two pies. I never told anyone, but I enjoyed his visits as much as the delicious pies.
One day I asked him how he became a Christian and the story he told me was beyond belief.
“ I grew up poor in West Virginia in a coal mining town. We were so poor my daddy would catch rattlesnakes, pull their fangs out with a pair of old pliers, and give them to me and my sister to play with.”
He talked about the grinding poverty and the many days he spent in the mines digging coal by hand. Often, at the end of the week he would get a paycheck with a black snake across the front of it. He explained what that meant.
“Well, we had some really hard times back then. We ate the squirrels I killed and the fish I caught by hand in the river. But we still had to get things from the company store. Those items went on the books, and at the end of the week if we still owed the store we got a paycheck with that long black line on it telling us that we were overdrawn at the company store.”
“Frank said: “Like everyone else I drank to forget all the misery and soon was a terrible drunk. When we moved up here I got a job at the RCA plant making television picture tubes. I made good money but couldn’t break the habit of smoking and getting drunk on week ends.”
He went on to tell me what a terrible drunkard he was and how he abused his family. Maggie and the children begged him to go to church with them on Sunday Morning. Instead he chose to sit under a willow tree in the front yard. “I was so sorry I would curse and throw whiskey bottles at my wife as she took the children to church on Sunday morning. The really sad thing for me is that my boys followed in my footsteps. Now they won’t even talk about going to church or changing their ways.”
I couldn’t believe the story he told me about the man he use to be. There was no way I could picture this lovable old friend as that kind of man.
“What changed you Frank,” I asked him.
“I had a bad sickness and wound up in the hospital,” he said, “and they didn’t expect me to live. I was awake early one morning and suddenly I saw something that could have only been a vision. I saw a beautiful river and standing on the other side was Jesus. I was worn out, tired and sick and begged the Lord to let me come over there with him.”
“No Frank,” he said. “You are not fit to come over here. You’ve never been born again. It’s not too late. You could turn your life over to me. It’s up to you.”
“Then he disappeared,” Frank said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “I knew what I had to do and as soon as my wife came to see me I took her hand and begged her to forgive me for all the things I had done to her. I didn’t know what else to do and I pleaded with her to pray for me to be saved.”
“I was born again, like Jesus taught in the bible,” He said. “It took months for me to apologize to people I had hurt, to mend the fences, take back the things I had stolen, and get things right in my life. All the old troubles and bad feelings just disappeared,” Frank told me.
“What about all the bad habits Frank? Were they hard to quit? Was it a struggle to change your life,” I asked?
“Not a bit”, he said, “In fact it was as easy as pie. I’ve never wanted another drink, I quit smoking, cursing, and my bad temper disappeared. It was like a miracle. God changed me because he knew I couldn’t do it myself. Over night my attitudes changed. I couldn’t wait to get to church and I lovef everything about being a Christian. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I asked the Lord to take over my life and make me the person I should have been. Not a day from that time to this have I ever failed to pray, read my bible and look for ways to serve the Lord.”
When I resigned as Pastor of the church, he came to see me. “I’m really going to miss you,” he said. “If we don’t see each other again, I’ll see you in the Morning.” I knew what he meant.
Frank never worried about whether or not he was saved....he changed and he knew he was!
God loves you,
Debbie, Ken and Dr. Ken
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God loves you,
Debbie
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