The Ballestero Blog

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.

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!

“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 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.

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

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.

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.”

The Veterans Of That Other War

I am proud to be an American. My body still gets that special chill at the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. I stand when it is played. I also place my hand over my heart. I have no problem with the Pledge of Allegiance and saying “under God”.

I highly honor all who have served our great country. I owe you a great debt. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Howard Davis - Navy

Eric Marxer - Marines

My father-in-law, Bishop Howard H. Davis served in the Navy in WWII. My brother-in-law, Eric Marxer served in the Marines. I am proud of them and their service. I continue to enjoy freedoms because of them and others like them. I thank them especially today.

When I see a military person in the mall, airport or restaurant, I always thank them for serving our country. I even thank policemen for serving and protect our community. Their responses are always heartfelt.

If then, I take the time to thank the men and women, who serve my community and my country, why stop there? Why not thank those today who have given their years serving the Lord.

I thank every minister of the Gospel. But, I also wish to thank the faithful saints of God for remaining faithful in your service to the Lord. You have faithfully served Him through trials, sickness, compromise, rejection, rumors, and turmoil at church, on the job and at home. You have served Him when you’ve had to stand all by yourself. You have lived the life.

You have served without being honored or recognized. You have been faithful and fought the good fight of faith. Someday you will hear, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

Today, I salute you and thank you for your service to the Lord.

The Old Oregon Trail, And The Apostle John

No, the Apostle John never travelled the Oregon Trail. Yet, there is a common thread here and a simple truth worth sharing, found in their stories.

Ezra Meeker

Ezra Meeker

In the early 1920’s Ezra Meeker, the world-famous wagon train master, walked into my grandfather’s Oregon City Art Studio. My mother’s father, Turner Hubble Gleason, had been commissioned to paint the portrait of one of the most prominent citizens of the state of Oregon. A copy of his portrait remains in our family to this day.

By now, Mr. Meeker was a very old man. His beard was full and long and his hair white. His steps were still steady. His life had been filled with more adventure than most men could ever dream about. He had seen his life’s dreams come true.

“Before his death in 1928, just a few days shy of his 98th birthday, Ezra Meeker had not only walked the Oregon Trail several times, he’d ridden along it in an automobile and aboard a train, and flown over it in an airplane: he’d come a long way, and for many his story symbolized the opportunities that had been available on the frontier.” - http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/frontier/local/case8.html

He had met with Indians. He had become friends with Indian Chiefs and had even driven his ox team to Washington to meet with President Teddy Roosevelt and several congressmen. The President had even walked out of the White House to see Ezra Meeker’s ox team and to talk of his future plans for him.

As the last Wagon Master to lead a train over the Oregon Trail, Mr. Meeker had been called on to verify the trail for the building of a new federal highway.

Unscrupulous men for years had side-tracked the unsuspecting traveler on the trail with their bogus signs. Signs with arrows proclaiming such things as “Custer’s Last Stand.”

In reality, the side trails took the weary and naïve off the true trail. To their dismay, they found that this was just a trading post or curio shop.

There was much confusion for the unsuspecting traveller. Something had to be done to straighten out the true Oregon Trail.

The President commissioned Ezra Meeker to guide surveyors, engineers and project managers to show them the original trail… The Old Oregon Trail.

Regardless of what the current signs said, Meeker ignored them and fully trusted his memory of the trail. He had spent a lifetime climbing every mountain and crossing every river. He knew the trail. That’s why they had chosen him.

Oregon Trail pioneer Ezra Meeker erected this boulder near Pacific Springs on Wyoming's South Pass in 1906.

Meeker, would say things like:

• “We crossed the river right here.
• “We went up the mountain on this side.
• “Over there is where we made camp.
• “Right here is the trail, ignore what that sign over there says.”

He then would remark the trail with his own signs that said. “Old Oregon Trail”

Because of Ezra Meeker’s life experience with the trail, the United States government trusted only him to lay the trail out right.

When the final stake was driven, they began construction of the famous east-west highway. Today, they call it, U.S. Highway 30. It remains as true as possible to the original trail.

__________________________________________________

The Apostle John

Mr. John Phillips in his commentary on the Gospel of John, starts his preface with something similar to this…

Matthew, Mark, and Luke were all dead. Peter, the Prince of Apostles had died too.  John was the first, and now the last Apostle. He alone of all the Apostles remained alive.

He was approximately 90 years old. Banished on the Island of Patmos, he began to write to his children in the Lord. He wrote as if he was the last defender of the New Testament doctrine.

Already the church was beginning to drift. They were deviating from the old paths in doctrine and in separation from the world, among other things. Grievous wolves had entered the flock.

His Epistles were the last known attempt to set the record straight. He had traveled the Trail of Truth from the very start. He wasn’t about to let anyone pervert this glorious message.

He drove down verbal markers and stakes, fearlessly proclaiming the message. It was the message that Jesus had given to the Disciples. The only message the Apostles ever preached.

John was prepared to die. But before dying, he was making sure that generations to come would know the Truth. As he made each point and drove it home, he would say: “This is…” He left no room for error.

 “This Is Our Message”

• He Began His Gospel and Epistles Saying, This Is The Most Important Revelation.
• That There Is Only One God. His name Is Jesus!

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

He then went on to proclaim in his epistles to the churches, the true Message.

1.) “This is the Promise.”

1John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

2.) “This is the Message.”

1John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

3.) “This is His Commandment.”

1John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

4.) “This is the spirit of the Antichrist.”

1John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

5.) “This is the Love of God.”

1John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

6.) “This is the Victory.”

1John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

7.) “This is He.”

1John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

8.) “This is the Witness of God.”

1John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

9.) “This is the Record.”

1John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

8.) “This is the Confidence.”

1John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

9.) “This is the True God.”

1John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

10.) “This is Love.”

2John 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

11.) “This is a Deceiver and an Antichrist.”

2John 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

_____________________________________

If you ever plan to drive to the state of Oregon and arrive there safely, one of the men you can thank is Ezra Meeker. He did everything he could to make sure that generations to come would follow the “Old Oregon Trail.”

If you ever plan to go to heaven and see Him who is God manifested in the flesh, one of the men you can thank, is the Apostle John. He did everything he could to keep the New Testament Church following “The Apostolic Message.”

Obey Acts 2:38

All He Ever Wanted, Was Someone To Love Him

Proverbs 30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

Proverbs 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

He had it all.

Actually, He had everything.

Well, He had everything, except one thing.

He had no one to love Him.

He had Angels who praised Him continuously.

He had Angels who did His bidding without question.

But He had no one to love Him.

He had no one to dote on Him.

He had received honor before.

He had received praise before.

But He had never been loved before.

He had never seen love demonstrated.

He had never seen love displayed.

He had never seen love expressed or shown.

He had never seen romance before.

He understood things like physics, gravity, light, sound, space travel and how to make something out of nothing.

He understood emotions like rebellion, pride and obedience.

He just wanted to know more about this thing called love.

He had always heard over 10,000 Hallelujahs at any given moment of every day.

He heard multitudes cry “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty” every day.

What He’d never heard was some one say, “I love you!”

He knew the journey to finding love would be long.

He had seen twinkles in stars before, but never in an eye.

His plan already included man, Calvary and the Church.

He was prepared to do whatever it took to get a bride.

He wanted to find someone to love Him.

He spoke and the heavens and the earth came into existence.

By His own words, the sun, moon and stars were created and flung perfectly into space.

By His own voice, light was created, flowers and trees sprung up.

He said the words, and fish, birds and animals appeared.

He looked it all over and said. “That’s good.”

Then He stopped talking.

Adam And Eve

He knelt down on the ground and with His hands he began to form someone He could love. He called the man, Adam. The woman, was named Eve.

He loved them. He visited every day. They walked and talked together every day without distraction.

He watched Adam and Eve smile at one another. He saw how Adam responded to Eve’s touch and Eve to Adam’s.

He watched them hold hands and kiss.

He liked what He saw. He saw the twinkle in Adams eye. He saw romance in its purest form.

He tried to imagine a mere mortal loving Him.

His mind raced ahead thousands of years. He thought of Himself and the Church. He pondered about His bride-to-be. “So… this is what it’s going to be like to be in love!”

He’d never been in love before. He saw Adam and Eve enjoying each other’s company. He told Himself, “That’s the kind of love I want. That’s the kind of romance I want.”

He so enjoyed being with Adam and Eve, that He turned His attention from the sounds of “Hallelujah” and “Holy-Holy” for a few hours everyday just to come and see them.

He had no competition in the love department on earth. Maybe they would fall in love with Him.

Then came the heart-wrenching day when the evil serpent beguiled Eve. Sin, the enemy of the Most Holy One entered the picture. Paradise was no more.

Pain, sorrow, shame and regret now entered the picture. The hope of Adam and Eve continuing their relationship with Him was over. Sin did it’s best to destroy that relationship.

They chose to listen to the voice of His enemy rather than listen to His voice.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

Enoch

Seven generations later, a man was born by the name of Enoch. He heard his father and grandfather talk about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He heard the stories about God walking with them in the cool of the day.

Enoch began to imagine what it would be like to have God for a friend. That seemed to be all he could think about.

He inquired often of his family, asking them many questions, hoping to hear more stories about those precious days. He even got to talk to Adam himself and listened intently. He dreamed of having a similar experience with God.

One day Enoch started calling on the Lord as he walked. He began talking to God as if He was beside him.  The Lord did appear beside him and they began walking together and talking together every day.

Enoch was perfect in God’s eyes. His love thrilled the Lord. This was true love. Here was someone who chose to love Him, who took time out of their day and focused only on Him.

They walked and talked together every day for years. Then one day while they were walking, the sun started going down.

The Lord noticed it too. He also knew it was a long way back to Enoch’s house. So He said, “Enoch, it’s closer to my house, than it is to yours. Why don’t you come on home with me?” Enoch said,  “Yes.”

“And Enoch was not, for the Lord took him.”

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

Israel

He looked the world over and His eyes fell upon her. He could really love her. Her father was a Hittite and her mother was an Amorite. But He didn’t hold that against her.

He stood there looking at her, watching her. She was beautiful to Him.

She had no family, no one to look after her. There was no one else that loved her.

She was unwanted and unloved by every one else in the world.  She was considered second class and discarded by those who knew her.

• She wasn’t beautiful, but He loved her.
• She wasn’t rich, but He loved her.
• She wasn’t mighty, but He loved her.
• She wasn’t even faithful, but He loved her.

He, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the First and the Last, The Lord God Almighty tried vainly to woo her. He did every thing He could to show her He could supply her every need.

He was the richest Man in the world and of all the people in the world; He chose her, the poorest of all. He alone could make her prosper. She wasn’t impressed for long.

He showed her things about Himself that no one else had ever known. He gave her some names she could call Him by that would reveal His protecting love for her.

• Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will Provide.
• Jehovah Rapha – The Lord our Healer.
• Jehovah Nissi – The Lord our Banner
• Jehovah Shalom – The Lord our Peace
• Jehovah Raah – The Lord our Shepherd
• Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness
• Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is Present

When she got sick, He made sure she got well. When she was hungry, He provided food for her and took care of her every need.

He loved her, and yet she wasn’t happy with Him. Her heart easily turned aside. She often looked at others the way He wished she would look at Him. It grieved Him continually.

While still on their honeymoon, problems arose. They hadn’t been gone from Egypt a month and things turned ugly. Before He could even get her to the Promised Land and the home He had given her, she showed her unhappiness.

He talked with Moses about His plans for her and gave him detailed instructions.

But before Moses could talk to her she started looking at someone else. She began to dress to please them. She brazenly displayed her disdain for His wishes.

• She murmured.
• She complained.
• She rebelled.
• She flaunted herself in front of others.
• She became brazen.
• She couldn’t even blush.

It broke His heart. Yet He fought for her when everyone tried to kill her. He supplied her every need. He cared for her more than she cared for Him.

He still loved her. He sent her letters, but she ignored them. Even after she got settled in her new home, she started looking for other lovers.

She played the harlot and was unfaithful to Him. She only dressed to please Him if she was in the mood. She often saw others that attracted her and she dressed and displayed herself in a way to please them. She longed for their affections, not His.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

Hosea

No one seemed to care how He felt. He had no one to share His pain and problems with.

In His Divine Heartache, He looked upon His prophet, Hosea. Hosea was unmarried.

He told Hosea to marry a woman who stood on the street corners at night. “Just go pick a prostitute, anyone will do.”

He wanted someone to feel like He felt, every day.

He wanted to see again how mere mortals handled rejection from those they loved.

Hosea found such a girl. Her name was Gomer. Everyone in town knew Hosea. They were shocked at his choice of a wife. In their minds she was trash.

• She had dirtied herself.
• She had lowered herself.
• She had ruined her name.
• She would destroy their marriage.
• Of all the girls, why pick her?

The romance burned brightly and then quickly faded. The Lord watched how their love life went.

He watched Gomer sweeten his coffee with her kisses and then walk out the door disappearing for long periods of time.

Then came the babies. Their very names carried not only a prophecy to Israel, but also a wake up call to Hosea about his two-timing wife.

• Jezreel, “God will disperse”
• Lo-ruhamah, “Not pitied, or No Mercy”
• Lo-ammi, “Not my people”

Hosea could tell by the names he named his children that he was not their father.

Gomer eventually got so involved in her wild lifestyle that she was overpowered and put into slavery by one of her lovers. She later was placed on an auction block and sold like a farm animal.

Hosea got word that his wife was being sold. He knew what she was and what she had done. But he loved her in spite of it all.

Anyone can tell by what he paid for her, that he gave all the money he had and emptied out his meager panty besides. He gave his all to buy her back. He paid fifteen pieces of silver, and 1½ homers of barley.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

The Lord watched as Hosea gave all he had to buy his unfaithful wife back.

He turned his attention again to Israel. She wasn’t on an auction block. She wasn’t held against her will. She was happy to be unfaithful.

So He wrote her a bill of divorcement and He didn’t talk to her for 400 years.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

Calvary

One day, He finally stepped into His closet and clothed Himself in a robe of flesh. He was born in Bethlehem to a young virgin.

He chose not to arrive in splendor, so He came to earth in obscurity. He came as God manifested in the flesh. He walked almost unnoticed around her.

He didn’t make Himself handsome so that she would love Him for His good looks. He wanted her to love Him for who He was, not what He looked like.

But He came unto His own and His own received Him not. They didn’t believe Him.

He wept.

His love was everlasting. Her love was fickle.

She tried to find fault with Him. She only followed Him for what He could give them.

He wanted to talk.

She was too busy, too preoccupied.

He said to her, “You say you love Me, but you say that only with your lips. It’s just words. Your heart is far from Me. You don’t love Me with your heart.”

He saw her as she really was. A slave. She was in bondage and held fast by her own sins.

He knew He was the only One that could redeem her.

He willing offered Himself on Calvary for Her. He willingly gave His all to buy her back. He gave His blood to wash away her sins and He arose on the third day to give her hope of a new life.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

The Church

Over 2,000 years have come and gone. He’s ready now to take His bride to a home He has prepared just for her.

He wanted someone who would love Him enough to heed all of His Word. After all, if she really loved Him, she would keep His commandments. Not pick and choose which ones she liked. He was in love, why wasn’t she?

Yet He sees her still looking at the world. Some times she tries harder to please her other lovers than she does Him.

• She has started complaining again if she thinks He’s asking her to dress a certain way just for Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him. She says, “He doesn’t care how I dress. He doesn’t look on the outside. He only looks on the inside, on the heart.”
• But when He looked in her heart, He saw nothing there that looked like love to Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• She dreads talking to Him on a daily basis. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• She doesn’t think about Him during the course of the day. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• Yet she talks freely to everyone else but Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• All she seems to want is a sugar daddy. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• She has to be begged to visit at His house. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• He blesses her with money and yet she is not faithful in her tithe to Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• He sends blessings her way and loads her down daily with benefits. She soon forgets. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• He sends healing to her every situation. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• He calms her storms of life. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• She has all the songs memorized and sings them without feeling. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• She hears His Word preached and chooses which parts she likes and doesn’t like. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• He says He’s coming to get her and she’s not even looking out the window for Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
• He says He is coming to get and to take her to heaven with Him; and she is not even making herself ready. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.

He knew it would happen this way.

A long time ago He said that she would love pleasure more than she loved Him.

He said that her love would wax cold.

He said she would leave her 1^st love.

And He was right.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

You

Do you love Him? I mean, do you really love Him? Do you love Him with all of your heart? He wants to know.

He wants to know if you love another. Do you?

He wants to know if your heart belongs only to Him or not. Does it?

He’s looking for a bride that will love Him with all of her heart, her soul her mind, and her strength.

Could that person be you? He’s looking your way right now. He wants it to be you.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

The Shortest Sermon I Ever Preached

No one believes I have ever preached a real short sermon, but I have. Well, once anyway. I am sorry you were not there. We sure got out early!

I was still pastoring in South Bend, Indiana at the time. I walked to the pulpit on a Sunday night, and everyone stood while I made my pre-sermon announcements.

We all read together from the book of Psalms:

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

While the congregation still stood, I said, “Don’t say anything or do anything this week that would make Jesus unhappy with you.”

I paused for about 10 seconds while that sunk in. I then said, ‘You are dismissed.”

The Scripture reading, my whole sermon, and the dismissal took no more than 30 seconds. They were shocked. Happy to get out early, but still shocked. Nevertheless the people never forgot what scripture I read and what I had asked of them. That was, after all, the whole point.

When they retold the event to others, they would be asked, “What did he preach?” Then they would have to quote the verse in Psalms and repeat my admonition. That was the purpose of my 30 second sermon.

My advice is still the same to my readers today. Don’t say anything or do anything this week that would make Jesus unhappy with you!

Be Careful And Be Blessed.

Professional Wine Connoisseurs Are In Your Church!

They’re a snobbish lot. Some, if not most, may consider themselves a marked cut above the general population.

After all, their sensory gifts are able to determine the “great” from the “mundane” or even from the “good.”

Some are so good, that just by tasting they can tell you the name of the wine and the year it was bottled.

They also run in very elite circles and hobnob with the movers and shakers in town. Good wines cost a lot of money. So it they aren’t blessed with the green stuff, they hang out with those that are.

From time to time in the upper-crust circles, wine tastings are hosted. Often, it is even a black tie event.

The Sniff

The connoisseurs know their stuff. They all know that judging the color is the first step in tasting wine.

There are five basic steps in tasting wine I am told: These are sometimes known as the “Five S” steps: see, swirl, sniff, sip, savor.

The Sip

Then comes the scoring of the wine.

1. The appearance of the wine,

2. The nose or smell,

3. The palate or taste, and

4. Overall.

After watching the wine tasters swirl the wine in the goblet, sniff the bouquet, sip it and then hold it momentarily in their mouth… they spit it out. That’s right.

The Spit

There are even websites that boast that they can teach you how to spit wine like a pro.

Expectoration may have been the last thing some would have expected. But the connoisseur, the professional wine taster, chooses not to swallow. He is not here to drink. He has come to judge.

I suppose that in the secular world their logic makes sense. The problem is, that the same thing is being done in God’s House.

Who would have thought it? Of all the places wine tasters could have met, most of them seem to meet in our churches.

“What are they doing in our churches?”

“Why, they are wine tasting of course!”

“During the service?”

“Sure!”

“During the preaching?”

“Why, that’s when they do it the most!”

They sit there listening.

They can’t afford to get inebriated like others around them.

They look at the color as they swish it around in their glass.

They sniff at the thought process of the sermon.

They take a sip of it and hold it in their mouth.

They are so gifted; they can identify in their mind the very vineyard it came from and the year it was bottled.

• Umm… that was “Worship 1977.”
• I think that was “Holiness 1962.”
• That was “Doctrine AD 34.”
• “New Birth, Day of Pentecost!”

Oh yes. They know it when they hear it.

Then they spit it out.

They hear the Word, but they refuse to apply it to themselves. They feel they are superior in doctrine, and quite possible in intelligence, to almost every one in the church. Including the pastor.

They’ve heard it all before. They know it all forwards and backwards. But if you think they are going to swallow what they hear in church today, “you got another think a coming.”

They’ve been spitting it out for years! They will keep spitting it out too, until they die. To change and start swallowing would draw too much attention. They would lose their place in the church as a ‘deep’ saint of God. they would also lose face.

Actually they are not deep at all. Anyone can spit. That doesn’t require a gift or ability. They are not connoisseurs of the preached Word of God. They are only critics.

The reason they spit it out is because they are truth rejecters. (While I am on the subject, it seems like God mentioned spewing some folks out of His mouth too.)

The greatest danger you can do to yourself is to hear the Word and not apply it to your own life. Receive it and prosper. Receive it and live. Reject it and die.

They didn’t spit it out when Peter preached to them on the Day of Pentecost!

 Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The only way to grow in God is to be a doer and not just a hearer.

James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

So…     What are you going to do the next time you hear preaching?

Spit it out, or receive it?