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Archive for November 2011

Free Ebook – The Godhead – By W.R. Starr

Many years ago, my father-in-law, Pastor William Richard Starr preached a masterful Bible Study in Grand Ledge, MI. The Church was then pastored by his brother-in-law, Bro. Doug Stephens.

I believe Bro. Starr’s sister, Sis. Gloria Stephens transcribed the lesson and published it in the Michigan District news. She was also the editor.

I have taken the liberty to make it available as an ebook. How do you copyright the Word of God? This is free, for His glory. Enjoy.

1. For PDF, click the link below.

The Godhead A Bible Study

2. For Epub (iPad), click the link below:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O2UPQH0A

If you need assistance adding the epub ebook into iTunes, follow this tutorial. (Just drag and drop into “Books.”)

http://convert-dvd-ipad.com/dvdipad/add-ebooks-ipad-itunes/

3. For (Mobi) Kindle, click the link below:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5WC5H0CN

Written by Martyn Ballestero

November 30, 2011 at 3:55 pm

Posted in Free Ebook

Sally’s Magic Car

with one comment

Sally’s Magic Car

Sally has a new Car, and she couldn’t be happier, but first she had to leave everything sort out before she took her first trip, and this includes all the formalities, first she took care of all the paperwork from the dealer to the payment methods, and just in case you don’t know with complete auto loans they have a great service for loaning for a used or a new car like this one, and they are on the top auto lenders on tumblr. Another important thing is the insurance to be prepared for any type of accident. So after she let everything ready she finally drove her new car down the city’s eight-lane interstate loop. She didn’t know that the car she been given for her birthday had magical powers of sorts. She was totally unprepared for what happened next.

The loud muffler on an old van, which had Harley Davidson stickers, roared raucously beside her in the next lane. It was then she realized that her new car was making the same racket as the motorcycle guy’s van. Sally was shocked! Besides that, her radio began to blare some kind of wild music with horrible lyrics.

In the other lane she saw an older sedan that had been in a fender bender. The car evidently had never been to a body shop for collision repair. Rust spots showed near the wrinkled wheel wells and on the hood. It also had a dented door panel.

When Sally looked back into her lane, she noticed that the beautiful sheen of wax on her car’s hood was gone. Dents, rust and wrinkled metal covered her car. Her dents looked like the ones on the car beside her.

A pretty new car was in front of her, driving a little slower than her. She soon caught up to it and then felt change come over her again. This time, the engine ran smooth, the muffler noise was gone, and the fenders had no more dents. The paint on her car looked perfect. Her radio began to play soothing gospel music. Peace filled her car.

Before long she exited the highway with her fellow drivers and stopped at the red light. The sound of a rod knocking in the engine of the car behind her caught her ear. That’s when she heard her car’s engine making noise too. The Engine Warning light came on in her instrument panel. Her car was becoming everything that the cars around her had become. Sally was beginning to get scared.

She was also totally unprepared for what happened next. Her light turned green and she entered the intersection. She almost hit some drunk driver who ran the red light (should have learned the possible consequences from Legal Aed). Fortunately, he swerved just in time and turned recklessly into the lane beside her. Sally’s car began to weave all over the road just like the drunk driver was doing. She could not control her car.

She began to swerve from lane to lane. Cars honked at her. She couldn’t seem to help herself. What was going on? What was happening to her? Her car was doing what the other cars around her were doing. What if they wrecked? What if someone got killed?

She carefully pulled into the church parking lot and made her way into the sanctuary. When her pastor preached that night, it all became clear.

He talked about how friends, and those we hang out, with influence our lives. He said it wouldn’t be very long before we start acting like the friends we hang out with every day.

The preacher said that a companion of fools would be destroyed. He also said the Apostle Paul warned us that bad company ruins good character and changes behavior. “Bad friends, will destroy us,” he said, “so we need to think about those we are spending our major time with.”

The preacher concluded with a thought about the friendship of Jonathan and David. He said that Jonathan was seventeen years older than David, and that as long a Jonathan was alive, David never messed up. It was only after Jonathan was dead, that David sinned. Then he looked at the audience and said, “Good friends won’t let you get in trouble with God.”

Sally began to think about her friends and how they talked and dressed. She knew the things they constantly talked about were not good for her spiritually. She realized that, little by little, she had begun to dress like them and was now doing the things they did. She knew in her heart she had changed for the worse because of their influence.

If friends made that big a difference, she had to change her friends, among other things, if she wanted to be saved.

Sally went up to the altar to pray. If she was going to have the right kind of friends in her life, she knew where she needed to start. The Lord had to be the first, and the most important one of all.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

November 25, 2011 at 9:30 am

Posted in Christian Living, Friends

Tagged with Friends

I’m Thankful

with 4 comments

Written by Martyn Ballestero

November 24, 2011 at 1:31 am

Posted in Thankfulness

Tagged with Thankfulness

Esse Quam Videri

with one comment

Esse Quam Videri

This year, Thanksgiving time finds us with family in Raleigh, North Carolina. My wife and I are trying to catch up on hugs from seven of our grandchildren, that live here.

No words can describe how complete a grandpa’s or grandma’s heart feels when they hold one of their precious little one in their arms. Besides, I love North Carolina, the country, the people and the food.

I toured downtown and went by the state capital building today. I loved what I saw. I was surprised when I walked out of “The Pit” BBQ Restaurant and saw the state motto inscribed on their window. Esse Quam Videri. It means, “To be, rather than to seem.”

The founding fathers of North Carolina, evidently, were impressed with men and women who were the real deal. They respected those that talked the talk and walked the walk, those that either put up or shut up.

When the world looks at the church, they also can easily spot those that seem to be, as opposed to them that really are! If it is that evident to the world, then we surely are not fooling God. Pastors and the church family can readily spot these religious actors as well.

Paul and James both wrote Epistles to local churches dealing with this subject, as well. It tells me that these same kinds of folks have been hanging around our churches for 2,000 years. Some things never change. They seem to be godly. They seem to be Christians. They seem to be living for God, but they are just acting.

Galatians 2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

In the above two verses, they that “seemed” contributed nothing of value to anyone. Their religion was in vain.

May our walk with God be one that is genuine and filled with the Spirit.

Esse Quam Videri.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

November 24, 2011 at 12:14 am

Posted in Christian Living, Holy Ghost

You’ll Never Be Happy, Until God’s Happy With You!

with 3 comments

You’ll Never Be Happy, Until God’s Happy With You!

Almost everyone has laughed and nodded in agreement at the old adage: “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” Evidently, we humans can put two and two together and all arrive at that conclusion pretty quick.

Why then can’t we see that if God is not happy with us, we have absolutely no chance of being happy in this life?

Esau never valued his birthright. The covenant relationship with God that he could have inherited from his father, wasn’t worth more than a bowl of beans to him. The writer of Hebrews called Esau a “profane person.”

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words claims one of the definitions for “profane” is “common.” In other words, Esau treated the birthright as commonplace, or as if it was nothing special. Imagine God’s displeasure when He saw how little Esau valued a Divine relationship.

Yes, Esau tried to fix everything with God, later. But the Lord would have nothing to do with him. When Esau sought for a place of repentance, God never let him repent. When he cried tears of regret and sorrow for his actions, God still rejected him. God wasn’t happy, so Esau died an unhappy man.

Remember this Scripture?

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Look at that verse again!

Great peace! When God is happy with you, He’ll give you not just peace, but Great peace. Without peace, there will never be lasting happiness in your life.

How is Great peace achieved? It comes when we fall in love with the law. It comes when we fall in love with His Word, His ways, and His precepts.

It boils down to this… If you fall in love with His Word, (His law), He gets happy. He gets happy enough to give you Great peace in your life. When you get Great peace in your life, you’ll be HAPPY!

You’ll Never Be Happy, Until God’s Happy With You!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

November 23, 2011 at 12:10 am

Posted in Christian Living, Obedience, Peace

Tagged with Loving God's Word, Peace

Preaching Is

“I’m Going To Live So God Can Use Me”

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“I’m Going To Live So God Can Use Me”

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/recorded-live-in-memphis-tn/id207324815

Thinking today as I drive home about an old chorus I have of Bishop G.E. Patterson “Singing The Old-Time Way”. One of my favorites of his two album series of choruses is, “I’m Going To Live So God Can Use Me.”

I’m going to live so God can use me, anywhere Lord any time.

I’m going to walk so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time

I’m going to walk so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.

I’m going to talk so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

November 16, 2011 at 9:35 am

Posted in Christian Living

The Silly Man Who Sold His Beard

with 3 comments

The Silly Man Who Sold His Beard

As a child in the 1950’s I read a Gypsy Folk Tale that never left the back of my mind. Today I recall the story in light of the subject of Pastoral Leadership and the people working in the church and on staff.

It is possible to be overly demanding to the good help that God has placed under us. Unreasonable demands are too often made that have nothing to do with God or Church.

That may have caused some to withdraw from laity leadership. They felt they had no life or time of their own. There’s a lesson to be learned here.

In my old age, I still fret that I may have made unnecessary demands on others. I never wanted to be a Lord over God’s Heritage.

Maybe that is why some in our churches no longer lead, they just sit back.

Thank God for thoughtful and nourishing Pastors who encourage growth in their future leaders.

The Silly Man Who Sold His Beard

By: Swedish Gypsy Storyteller, Johan Dimitir Taikon (1879-1950)

Also known by his Romani Name, Milos.

Once there were two merchants who were good friends. One was smart, and one

was silly; the smart one was clean shaven, like a young boy, and the other

had a long, thick beard. Take my word for it, it was a very handsome beard I was what the cool kids these days call a beard bro.

One day they were sitting together, talking of this and that. Said one, who

had no beard, “Little brother, would you like to sell me your beard?”

The one with the beard answered, “Why not, if you’ll pay me good price.”

“I’ll give you whatever you ask for that fine beard of yours.”

“I’ll let you name the price, good friend. I know you’ll be fair,” said the

one with the beard.

“Fine. I’ll give you a good sum, but on one condition. I want the beard to

keep on growing on your face, but I will take care of it – how it is to

grow, how it is to be combed, what perfume is to be put in it, and how it

should be cut. Everything will have to be done as I like it. You won’t have

the right to say anything about it. That beard will be all mine. If anyone

says to you, ‘What a beautiful beard!’ you’ll have to answer quickly,

‘Sorry, my good man, it’s not my beard, it belongs to so-and-so.’ That’s

what you’ll have to say.”

The man with the beard had no objection to that.

“Sure, friend,” he said. “You can keep looking after my beard, I mean your

beard. It will be cheaper for me!”

So they wrote out a contract, and the merchant who was clean-shaven paid a

good sum to the other.

Mishtò! Fine and dandy. From that day on, the clean-shaven was very

particular about taking care of the beard he had bought on his friend’s

face, and he stopped at nothing to show it. Whenever he felt like it or

thought of it, which was many a time during the day, he came to tend to the

beard his merchant friend had on his chin. It made no difference to him

whether his friend had company or whether he was asleep. And sometimes he

wasn’t too gentle about the beard, either. He’d pull it and tug it.

Sometimes he’d cut it to a point, sometimes in squares or zigzags. One day

he’d smear sweet-scented oil over it, and the next he’d pour on it heaven

knows what.

If the poor sufferer complained, it was like talking to the wind. His crying

a wailing just struck a stone wall.

“Listen, friend; listen, you there! Are you out of your mind? You’re acting

like a mad man. Leave my beard in peace.”

“Well, here is something,” the one who had bought the beard cried.

“Grumbling and kicking! Maybe you’d like to break your contract! You’ll get

into trouble if you do. The law is on my side. Just keep calm. That beard

belongs to me, and I have a right to do with it as I wish.”

And then he went at that beard hammer and nails. He tugged it and pulled it

till the poor merchant screamed to heaven.

So time went by while the other one who had brought the beard kept tearing

and teasing the beard of the one who had it on his chin. In the end, the

poor sufferer couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Little brother, good friend, I want to buy back my beard. For the love of

our good god, let me have my beard again. You are making my life worse then

if I lived with the devil.”

“Don’t talk foolishly. I am very happy with my beard on your face. It’s a

nice beard; it’s thick and glossy. Look at how strong the roots of the hair

are,” he said as he began to pull it. “I want to keep it. Maybe later on we’ll see what can be done.”

And so he kept on taking care of the beard in his own way and as he felt

like it. In the end it was too much for the bearded merchant.

“I want to buy my beard back!” he cried. “Little brother, I want my beard.

You are driving me crazy. Give it back to me and I’ll pay you any price.”

“Hot much do you offer?”

“I’ll give you twice as much as you paid me.”

“Twice as much for this fine, thick, glossy beard! Just feel it,” and he

took a hold of it. “You’ll have to go higher, brother.”

“Ow! Let go! Name any price. I’ll give you whatever you ask.”

“That’s talking! Give me four times as much as I give you, and you’ll pay

just right for you beard – and your foolishness!”

So the bearded merchant paid the other. And then he quickly went to the

Barber and had his beard shaved off.”

Written by Martyn Ballestero

November 15, 2011 at 3:08 pm

Posted in Christian Living, Leadership

Tagged with Leadership

Did God Let You Down?

with 13 comments

Did God Let You Down?

God let you down? So, you’ve decided not go back to church because you are disappointed in Him?

First of all, I am very sorry for the pain you’ve had to live through. I’m sure I haven’t lived through the disappointment and pain you have. You certainly have my prayers.

It makes me nervous though and it kind of frightens me, to hear people make comments made about having their faith shaken. What do they mean, shaken? Shaken, as in not believing in God anymore?

I am not so certain that I am comfortable using that phrase or term. If you do, that’s your business.

I know of people that no longer go to church because a loved one died despite much fasting and prayer.
Their disappointment because of unanswered prayers brought disillusionment to their soul.
Why? How could this happen?
How can there be a God?
How could God let this happen?
They backslid because their ‘faith’ was shaken.
They quit church because they got mad at God.

The bottom line is that WHATEVER He does, or allows to happen, He’s is STILL a good God! He didn’t let you down. You are most surely saddened by the loss of your loved one. But God has never let anyone down, especially you.

I am not a Bible scholar. I really don’t have all of life’s answers. But I am a fellow traveller in this Christian Journey with you and I would like to share some precious truths about the Lord. Please indulge me.

Abraham – The Father Of The Faithful

Even though he earned and was given the highest title of faith among believers, “The Father Of The Faithful,” he died without ever receiving the promise.

Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

He staggered not.
He didn’t waver or doubt.
He never faltered.

Yet he never got to see what he had hoped to see. Did that mean God didn’t love Abraham? Did that mean God let him down? You be the judge.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

We all have lived long enough to see the faith of friends tested because of unanswered prayers. Does unanswered prayer mean that God doesn’t love them? Did God let them down? Absolutely not!

Somehow we have it in our minds that Jesus must heal everyone, because He is a healer. Can He heal everyone? Sure. Does He? No.

Remember The Man At The Pool Of Bethesda?

John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

John 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Get the picture? Scores of people lay around the pool waiting for the waters to be troubled by an angel so they can get their miracle. Jesus enters unannounced and seeks out just one man, heals him, and then leaves.

It is almost equivalent to Jesus walking into a hospital, healing one man and then leaving. How did He choose him? Why him? What about all the other sick folks? Did they get healed too? The Bible makes no mention if they did.

The Other Side Of Faith – Hebrews 11

In our minds, everyone who has faith gets healed and or delivered. Actually, according to these verses, that is not so.

Did they have faith? Absolutely. Did they die without being healed or delivered? Sadly, (from man’s point of view.) yes.

For thirty-four verses in this chapter the beloved patriarchs are honored and heralded as role models. They were people of faith.

Then the writer of Hebrews takes a deeper look at the faithful and shows that not everyone that believed got their name mentioned. Not everyone had a glorious testimony of healing or deliverance. Not everyone got to live to a ripe old age. Some endured unspeakable pain and discomfort. Some were mistreated and abused. Some lived in dire circumstances.

Yet they all died in faith holding fast to their confidence that God was still God and still in charge.

Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Hebrews 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

Hebrews 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

There is no fairy tale ending here that our flesh can see, but the last chapter has not been written for them or us. That chapter will be glorious.

Paul The Apostle To The Gentiles.

Even with Paul’s miraculous ministry and gifts of healing, he was not able to see everyone he prayed for get well. Trophimus remained sick even though he had been prayed for. Paul even had a thorn in his own flesh that God chose not to remove.

2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

When reality sets in, we see that, we can’t make God heal us or someone else. We can only pray. But if our prayers are not answered, we should never put our soul in jeopardy by making rash statement about God. Nor should we ever withdraw ourselves from His house.

Job Never Made Stupid Statements About God During His Trial.

Even though Job went through the horrible nightmare of losing his beloved children, all his wealth and then his health. He never let that sway him from his confidence in God. He never blamed the Lord foolishly.

Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Remember this. Job was God’s favorite person in the whole world. He even bragged on him to Lucifer, twice. Yet Job endured the greatest losses any man could endure.

Did God hate him? No.
Had God rejected him? No.
Was God punishing him? No.
Was Job’s life still in God’s hands? Yes.
Was God mindful of where Job “was at”? Yes.

The Devil Might Try To Tell You That:

God hates you,
This is God’s punishment,
You have sinned, that’s why you are sick.
God couldn’t love you, letting you go through all of this.

God has never let any of us down. I fear that the enemy of your soul would attempt to paint that picture for you. But it is just not true.

No matter how difficult your days may be. Remember, “Deuteronomy 33:25 … and as thy days, so shall thy strength be”. God will give you enough strength to make it through the day.

My Dad, Carl Ballestero

I stood in the Ontario Mills Mall in Ontario, CA with my Dad on my arm. Alzheimer’s had ravished his health and his mind. He was hanging on to me for support as we took a short walk down a hall. Dad was in his last year of that horrible disease. He tottered slowly beside me.

I observed a man who appeared to be 10 years older than my Father’s 74. The older man was wearing a muscle shirt, a speedo, and was smoking a big cigar. He had a young 30 something dishwater blond honey on his arm. He also was cussing a blue streak.

I got mad. I got upset enough that I talked out loud to God. I said, “God, how come you are letting that old buzzard live with good health? He hates you. He is using your name in vain.

“If my Father had that old man’s strength, just think what a blessing he could still be to the work of God.

“You let my Dad, who loves You get sick and that old buzzard that hates You, enjoy good health. It’s not fair.”

I knew I was out of line immediately. I knew I would have to repent. I also knew better than to question God. I was pastor. I knew better. Yet the son in me was trying to defend my dying Father.

That’s when the Lord reminded me of John Chapter 21.

Simon Peter Versus John The Beloved

Here’s The Heart Of The Matter.

John 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

John 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

How could a miserable death glorify God? Jesus prepares Peter, telling him that his future would not be pretty. He then concluded with two words. “Follow Me.”

Knowing that Peter would not be thrilled, Jesus announced His only request. He was saying to Peter, “No matter what happens in the future, just be faithful to Me.”

Peter couldn’t deal with his bad news. He turned and looked at John. He asked, “What about John?”

Peter began comparing his situation with his friend. It didn’t seem fair that he got a bad deal and John didn’t.

Jesus said, “If I let him live 2,000 years, what is that to you? All I am asking of you is to be faithful to Me.

John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

John 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

John 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

No matter what happens in this life, just keep being faithful.

Dear Reader

Now, go back to church. That’s where you need to be. Turn your heartache over to Him and put it all on the altar. Nothing ever gets worked out when you stay away from His presence. You won’t solve any of your problems staying home. He loves you. Let Him comfort you.

I remember the last song I ever saw my father touched by before he died. Bro. Charles Adkins was singing an old song. Daddy came out of the Alzheimer fog long enough for tears to run down his cheek. I saw that as I stood beside him. I cried too. Bro. Adkins sang:

“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”

By Ira Forest Stamphill

I don’t know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day.

I don’t borrow from it’s sunshine,

For it’s skies may turn to gray.

I don’t worry o’er the future,

For I know what Jesus said,

And today I’ll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,

I don’t seem to understand;