The Ballestero Blog

Do You Own A Copy Of The Jefferson Bible?

Mr. Thomas Jefferson is rightly honored as one of the most brilliant minds in American history. He is remembered for many achievements in his public life and in his service to our nation.

1. He served as Governor of Virginia.
2. U.S. Minister to France.
3. Secretary of State under President George Washington.
4. Vice President in the administration of John Adams.
5. President of The United States from 1801-1809.

His tombstone makes no mention of those accomplishments. It says rather, that he was the “author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia.”

What a man. What a mind. Yet, with all of his understanding, somehow Mr. Jefferson could not actually believe anything about the supernatural, or stories of miracles, as found in the Bible.

He loved the principles of life as taught by Jesus Christ. He approved of almost all of the Lord’s teachings. What he could not accept was anything supernatural. So, he did what he thought best. He made his own bible.

He calmly sat down with two exact Bibles, and began to cut out the parts that he liked. He would then paste all of the verses he liked into a scrapbook. Now, there would be nothing in his new bible that would make him uncomfortable.

Beliefnet Blog: Separating The ‘Diamonds’ From The ‘Dunghill’

“Done with his official work for the day, Thomas Jefferson sat in the new presidential mansion in Washington in 1804, and opened his Bible — not to pray, but to cut. He scoured the text for Jesus’ greatest teachings, sliced out his favorite portions and glued them into an empty volume. He called it “The Philosophy of Jesus.” In 1819, he started over and created a new version called “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth,” often referred to now as The Jefferson Bible. In Jefferson’s version, Jesus was not divine.”

The virgin birth – gone.
Christ’s bodily resurrection – gone.
The miracles of the loaves, walking on water, raising Lazarus – none of them made Jefferson’s book.

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Faith-Tools/The-Founding-Faith-Archive/Separating-Diamonds-From-The-Dunghill.aspx

The bad news is that the story doesn’t end there. Although Thomas Jefferson did that 200 years ago, almost everyone is doing it now. It happens in personal lives, homes, churches and denominations. Folks are only taking from the Bible, the parts they like best and they are leaving the rest on the table.

Even some Apostolic Pentecostals have problems in this area. Listen to the audience when the preacher preaches next time. Do they say amen or do they remain quiet? To the preacher, it would be easy to judge the silence of the congregation as non-acceptance. Maybe it is.

The Preacher Can Expect A Good Response If He Preaches On:

1. Love
2. Mercy/Forgiveness
3. Faith/Miracles/Healing
4. Blessings/Prosperity
5. Winning Souls
6. Baptism In Jesus Name
7. Receiving The Holy Ghost
8. One God

However:

• What happens if the same man preaches on Worldliness?
• What happens if he preaches against the ungodly influence of Hollywood?
• How loud is the sound of amen, when the pastor reads Bible passages about women Cutting their Hair?
• If he reads scriptures about not Loving the World, does the crowd get silent?
• Maybe, it’s when he reads the part about women not Wearing Men’s Apparel?
• Does the crowd grow silent when scriptures warning about Ornamentation are read?
• What about the subject of Tithes? Can they still say amen?
• How about when the preacher reads verses about Modest Apparel?
• What if he just reads verses about Doctrine, is anyone bored yet?

Let’s Talk Some More:

• What does the crowd do when the man of God reads verses on Forgiving One Another and Bitterness?
• Does is tense up when he reads about Gossip and Backbiters and Hatred?
• What do they do when he finds a verse about Jealousy and Envy?
• How about the verses on Submission and Pastoral Authority?
• What about when he reads verses on Loving your Neighbor as yourself, while preaching against Racism? What is the response then?
• What about the audience’s response when the pastor reads verses on Fornication and Adultery?
• What is the reaction when the pastor reads verses about Rebellion?
• How about the ones on Unity?
• When he reads verses about being Faithful to God’s House, what is the reaction of the crowd?
• Do they get uncomfortable when he reads the one about, “not setting any wicked thing before my eyes?’ How does that go over?

Pentecostals have openly talked about having their ‘candy sticks.’ As a rule, that’s a good thing. The downside is that some have taken only their candy sticks, and thrown most of the rest away. It’s kind of like swallowing a camel and straining a gnat.

• All some want to see in their Bible, are verses on Love.
• Others may only be in search of New Birth scriptures in their Bible.
• Then there are those that are only interested in Holiness subjects
• A few hang up on themes like: Faith, Healing, Miracles, Worship, Prophecy, Divorce, Pastoral Authority, and Prayer, to name a few.

Why not just take it all? Let no one be guilty of only taking the part of the Bible they like, and leaving the rest for others. I am convinced that the Jefferson Bible is alive and well in most Jesus Name Pentecostal churches today.

We easily break fellowship with those who have not cut out the same portions of the Bible that we have.

I submit to every gentle reader, that many are crippling their walk with God because they refuse to take the entire Bible. Do not treat God’s Word like a buffet line, and only choose what you like. Choose it all.

Do You Own A Copy Of The Jefferson Bible?

Awaiting The Tide

The little boat couldn’t move. It sat still in the shallow water. The tide was out. The captain of the little ship was not alarmed.

• He did not fall to his knees in despair.
• He did not cry about his plight.
• There was nothing much he could do right now for his little boat.
• He did not ask for help.
• What could anyone else do to help him?
• He did not feel defeated.
• He did not feel like a failure as a captain.
• He didn’t even think in those terms.
• It was all just another day in the life of a sailor.
• All he had to do was look around him and recognize what was happening.
• The tide was out.

Because the tide was out, the world hadn’t stopped. This was only a temporary setback. This may even be a good time to see if something needed to be repaired or adjusted on the boat. It may also be a good time to just enjoy his family and friends. Downtime for a sailor, isn’t forever.

The tide will come back in. The little boat will happily sail again. It’s just a matter of time. Time and tide happens to every sailor.

Can You Pass The Hurt Test?

Dave sat on the bar stool, drinking with some buddies from work. His head was feeling a little light. He drank enough beers to loosen up his tongue, and he began to talk. “If it wasn’t for me, they wouldn’t have a decent church building.

“I mowed the grass every week without ever being paid. I replaced all the broken window panes with money out of my own pocket. I never asked to be reimbursed. I hauled off all the trash, free of charge. I was the self-appointed janitor and maintenance man of the church. I did it for years, willingly and without pay.

“Every evening I would stop by the church when I got off work to see if I needed to fix anything. I’ve kept the church building repaired and I’ve kept it clean for years. No one has ever paid me a dime to do anything. Why, even last summer, instead of taking my family on a vacation, I used the money to buy shingles and I roofed the church by myself. I paid for every dime of it too!

“Then two weeks ago, they had a business meeting. They needed to choose another Trustee. My name never even came up. After all I’ve done, no one seemed to appreciate it enough to mention my name.

“What’s a man got to do to get recognized or be a Trustee over there? It must be politics or something. That’s why I’ve quit going to that church.”

Dave backslid because he couldn’t pass the Hurt Test!

Lynn wrote the Pastor a check to purchase 20 beautiful white folding tables and 160 matching folding chairs for the church fellowship hall.

It brought Lynn much joy to be able to buy these. God had blessed her and she wanted to give something back. The pastor had recognized her gift from the pulpit and the congregation clapped their approval. Lynn smiled.

The tables and chairs were ordered and everyone at the church was excited. These were well made and expensive.

Just before they arrived, Lynn had to be out-of-town for three weeks. When she returned and stopped by the church, she didn’t like where the tables and chairs had been stacked. She especially didn’t like how they had been stacked. Her gift to the church was being treated with carelessness, she thought.

These tables and chairs were not cheap, and if the people of this church didn’t appreciate her sacrifice enough to treat it any better than this, then she just could go to another church.

Lynn moved on because she couldn’t pass the Hurt Test!

The Hurt Test, Part 1 – Insults

The Syrophenician woman stood in front of Jesus. She was breaking custom and protocol and she knew it. The Jews had nothing to do with the likes of her. But she had an emergency. Her daughter had an unclean spirit. Her desperation drove her to see this Jesus everyone talked about.

She crumbled and fell at His feet when she came near. With great urgency she begged Him to heal her daughter.

Jesus looked down upon the woman and said, “It is not proper to give the children’s portion to dogs.”

On other days, if a Jew talked to her like that, she might have had a little something to say back. Today was different. Her daughter’s very life was at stake. There was no one else to turn to. She refused to get upset. She chose not to be offended for being called a dog.

She simply said, “Of a truth Lord, but even the dogs get crumbs that fall from the children’s table.”

Jesus marveled at her and instructed her to go home, telling her that her request had been answered. She went home and found her miracle waiting for her there.

The Syrophenician woman easily passed the Hurt Test. She chose not to be offended because of insults!

The Hurt Test, Part 2 – Rejection

King David was a man after God’s own heart. As the King in Israel, he could build anything he wanted. When David told God that he was planning to build Him a house to worship in, God said, “No.”

God told David that he was a bloody man and that building Him a house of worship wouldn’t be appropriate. The Lord said, “I want your son Solomon to build it for me. Solomon hadn’t even thought of building a Temple. He had exhibited neither burden nor passion to do so up to that point. The desire had originally been only David’s.

Rather than pout or get offended because God had rejected his offer, David helped his son, by supplying him with most of the materials needed to build the Temple. If he couldn’t build the Temple, then he was going to help someone else build it.

David easily passed The Hurt Test. He chose not to be offended by God’s rejection of his service, and His choosing another’s.

Extra Credit Test Questions

• If someone else is asked to sing a special. Can you still worship with them and help them sing?
• If someone else is asked to preach. Can you still say amen and help them preach?
• If someone else is asked to lead. Can you joyfully follow?

The Hurt Test, Part 3 – Loss

Job had everything any man could want. He had a relationship with God. He had a wife and wonderful children. He owned vast herds of cattle, camels and sheep. He was no doubt the wealthiest man in the world.

Then the dark day of disaster dawned upon him. In a matter of hours, he lost his children, his herds and all of his wealth.

The second attack upon him was his health. Boils covered his body. He scratched them with shards of broken pottery.

His friends were sure that he had sinned and this was the judgment of God. His wife suggested he curse God and die.

Job told his wife that she was talking like one of the foolish women. He said that if God lets me die, I am going to die trusting Him. I am going to keep on living for Him like I always have.

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Job passed The Hurt Test. He chose not to be offended at God because he had lost everything. In the end, God blessed him with double wealth and more children!

Extra Credit Test Questions

• When you lost your job, house, or car, did you also lose your praise too?
• When you were voted out of office or removed from a leadership role, did you show a bad attitude?

The Hurt Test – The Apostle Paul’s Summary

2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

2 Corinthians 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

2 Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

2 Corinthians 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Even with a permanent “thorn in his side,” Paul passed The Hurt Test! He ignored his problems and encouraged everyone around him to “Rejoice evermore.” He said it again in the same breath, “Rejoice!” He even had Silas rejoice with him in prison and the Lord delivered them and all the prisoners, too.

Getting Help Passing The Hurt Test

Jesus stood and read from Isaiah 61 in the Synagogue. He sat down, looked at them all and said, “This day is the scripture fulfilled in your hearing.”

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Isaiah 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Besides bringing salvation and healing, the other ministry of our Lord is to heal all hurts and bind up the broken-hearted. He can help you pass The Hurt Test.

*Notice:  All Students Failing To Pass The Hurt Test Will Be Required To Retake The Exam.

*Remember, The Teacher Will Remain Silent During The Testing!

Just Imagine…

Just imagine a thoughtless and demanding husband that is married to a wife who caters to his every need. Imagine him sitting relaxed in his little command center, his Lazy-Boy, while he bellows out orders.

• “Hey Pearl, bring me a Diet Coke.”
• “Get me the newspaper.”
• “Did you call Bob like I asked you?”
• “Get the phone will you, I’m busy.”
• “How much longer do I have to wait for supper?”
• “Since you’re up, get my slippers.”

Just imagine a man that constantly makes demands like that on his wife. If she complied willingly and without comment, he’s a most fortunate man.

• Just imagine what she might feel like if he never thanked her for serving him.
• Imagine too what she would think of him if all he ever did was make more demands and never took time to talk to her or say sweet words of affection to her.
• Imagine what future the relationship would have if the man said, I don’t really have time to talk to you, I just need you to do what I asked you to do.

Some wives might be content to be in a relationship like that, but I have never met them yet. A loving relationship is not a one-way street.

Then There Is The Flip Side Of That Problem.

Imagine a demanding wife that is married to husband who she expects to cater to her every need.

• Her Honey-Do-List never ends.
• Her requests are only for her benefit.
• She nags him if she doesn’t get what she wants, when she wants it.
• She feels like he doesn’t love her unless he is always giving to her and doing things for her.
• His needs are not even on her radar screen.
• She has no time to just talk to him.
• He can’t remember when she last said, “I love you.”
• Her world is only focused on her own happiness.

What A Mess! I Can’t Imagine Living Like That!

I don’t know who would ever want to enter into any kind of relationship such as this. How could their life’s story have a happy ending? What future do they have? It’s a world without love!

Yet That Is Exactly The Spiritual Relationship Many Of Us Have With The Lord.

• The only time we talk to Him is to make more demands.
• Our prayers are only to ask for more.
• We ask for healing.
• We ask for finances.
• We ask for housing, transportation and employment.
• We ask for blessings for ourselves.
• And yes… We are invited to ask. But…
• We never just take the time to say,  “Thank You Jesus.”
• We are too busy to just stop and ‘chit-chat’ with Him.
• We find ourselves so busy asking for more favors that we almost never stop to say, “Have I told You today Jesus, that I love You?”

What’s The Chances Of Our ‘Relationship’ With God Lasting Very Long?

• Actually, I am afraid it sounds one-sided.
• It doesn’t sound like much of a relationship.
• If it were a marriage, it might soon go on the rocks.

So, Where Is Our Walk With God Headed?

Just Imagine…

Just Imagine a husband been separated from his wife and writing over five dozen letters to her. Imagine the wife taking the unopened letters from the mailman and stacking them on the coffee table for all to see. Just imagine her never reading the letters from her husband. Imagine her thinking, “How precious of him to write, but reading his letters is boring to me.”

Imagine the two of them talking on the phone from time to time and him realizing by the things she says and doesn’t say, that she has not been reading any of his letters. Now what?

Absurd as it may sound, it happens everywhere, everyday. We have letters and epistles written to us. Although cherished by us all, The Holy Bible remains unread, and untouched. It is placed on the coffee table for others to see. But many of us will die, never reading what He wrote just to us. Now what?

Just imagine what our life would be like if we told the Lord several times a day that we loved Him, and not just asked for something every time we prayed.

Just imagine what our life would be like if we read the letters He wrote to us and got to know Him better.

Just imagine knowing Him in His fullness.

Just Imagine!

What Do You Focus On When You Look At People?

What Do You See When You Look At Circumstances?

Do You Always Seem To Find The Bad And Ignore The Good?

(ESV) Philippians 4:8-9

8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

9. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Our Performance Interview Of 2011

Employees of many companies are given performance interviews on a scheduled basis. Some of the questions asked by the interviewer, are similar to some of those found at www.jobinterviewquestions.org.

Performance Interview Questions

• Tell me about your last position and what you did.
• Tell me about the last time you made a mistake and how you corrected it.
• If you don’t leave your current job, what will happen there? How far can you advance?
• Of all the work you have done, where have you been most successful?
• I see you were unemployed for a period of time. Tell me about it.
• Give me an example of when you’ve demonstrated your customer service skills.
• How do you define continuous improvement? What is the last new procedure you integrated into your job?
• What makes you stand out among your peers?
• What have you done to reduce your department’s operational costs or to save time?
• What would your current supervisors say makes you most valuable to them?
• If I asked your boss to evaluate your performance, what would he or she say?
• Have you held positions similar to this one? If so, tell me about them.
• What is the most important thing you learned at a previous job?
• What did/do you enjoy most/least about your last/present job?
• If there were two things you could have changed about that job, what would they be?
• How did your job change while you held it?
• What qualifications do you have that make you successful in this field?
• What have you learned from previous jobs?
• Describe a typical day at work.
• How have your previous positions prepared you for this one?
• What parts of your job do you consider most important?
• What job tasks do you feel most successful doing?
• What special skills or knowledge have you gained to help in this job?
• Describe an important project you worked on.
• Define excellent customer service.
• You have a lot of experience. Why would you want this job?
• What do you consider your greatest strength?
• What is your most significant professional accomplishment?
• What was the last job related book you read?
• What was your favorite job? Why?

As 2011 comes to a close, so does another year of living for the Lord. If He was to ask us about our performance in His Kingdom this year, how would we do? Could we answer His questions easily? Would our heads have to drop after the Lord asked us a direct question? Here is a list of possible questions He might ask:

The Lord’s 2011 Performance Interview Questions

• What if He asked about the Spirit and Attitude we manifested this year?
• What if the Lord asked us about our obedience, or our Submission?
• If the question of Soul-Winning came up, how would we score?
• If questions about our involvement in Worship were asked, what would the answer be?
• What would happen if the Lord asked us about our Prayer Life in 2011?
• Would the answer be favorable to you if there were questions about paying your Tithes and giving in Offerings?
• Faithfulness in church attendance is sure to be asked. How would you do on that one?
• Surely, a question about any unwillingness to Forgive, will be asked.
• Would He as about the display of the Lusts of our Flesh?
• Would Jealousy or Envy be mentioned?
• A lack of Brotherly Love, or not Preferring One Another, will not sit well with Him.
• What if the Lord asked us about our lack of Sacrifice in service, or in giving?
• Would any questions about our involvement in Gossip put us in a bad light?
• What if the subject of Tale Bearing came up?
• If we were asked about Criticizing our Pastor, what would the answer be?
• Surely the Lord will act questions about our showing any signs of Loving Pleasure More Than The Things Of God.
• What is He asked us about our Love of the World?
• Do you think He might ask us why we had a problem with Holiness?
• Would there be any questions about Loving Our Neighbor?
• What if He asked us, if we Love Him With All Of Our Heart, Our Soul, And Our Might, And Our Strength?

I pray that you do well in your Interview with the Lord. (He already knows the answers, before He asks.) If you’ll pardon me, for a while, I think I’ll have a talk with Him right now. I need to, before He talks with me later!

There is however, coming a Day when we shall all stand before Him, as we are judged. That Interview will be both an Entrance Interview for some, and an Exit Interview for others!

Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

(May your Performance Interview of 2011 end with Joy, and not with Grief!)

Join me in pledging to do better and do more for Him in 2012!

Some Assembly Required

The most dreaded words found on any gift are, Some Assembly Required! To the experienced among us, that phrase means that it will be a while before the present can be enjoyed.

I am one of those males who at times, has been dumb enough to just look at the picture on the box and think it can be assembled without reading the instructions. The joke was on me. As a last resort, I humbly picked up the instructions.

Regretfully, I can still remember one occasion, that I not only had to stop and read the instructions. I had to undo a step or two, to make the gift look like the picture.

Some Assembly Required is not warning enough. The really bad news is when the instructions are ignored, or not properly followed. The gift then, will never look like the picture.

The Apostle Peter wrote the instructions and explained that there was Some Assembly Required in becoming like the picture. He explained it this way; first, start with your Faith. Then, add Virtue.

After Virtue has been attached, connect the Knowledge module. Then add Temperance. Patience is next, then attach Patience, Godliness, and Brotherly Kindness. Finally, add Charity to create a godly life; just like the picture in the Book.

2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2 Peter 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2 Peter 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

The Holy Ghost is a Gift from God. Some Assembly Required!

What Is Class?

My father-in-law, Rev. William R. Starr was blessed with five beautiful daughters. He had no sons. He wrote a note to his girls which they have always cherished. He was indeed a wise man. He passed his wisdom on to his daughters.

Pardon me, while I invade family privacy and make public his advice to his children.

Sally’s Magic Car

Sally 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. 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. 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.

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.