Archive for the ‘God's House’ Category
We Sold Our Name And Our Recipe
We Sold Our Name And Our Recipe
My beautiful wife, Marcia and I sat in a famous 100-year-old restaurant tonight. This local icon in Marshall, Michigan is where I officially proposed to my beloved 45 years ago. Once again we looked around the room hoping to walk down ‘sentimental lane’. Everything pretty much looked the same. That brought a sigh of relief to our memories. We smiled as we gazed at the table where we had sat that night in 1965.
I might add that the Win Schuler’s Restaurant we were at received the Gold Plate Award in 1971 from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association, the greatest distinction the industry has to offer.
In 1960 the old English inn’s owner was inducted into the American Restaurant Hall of Fame.
Their cheese and hard crackers are served at every table before the drink order is taken. Marcia and I munched and made small talk while we glanced at the menu.
The table beside us held two retired couples. They were complaining among themselves that the cheese spread didn’t taste the same as it did when they had come there years ago.
“That’s true,” the teenage waiter said. “It’s a different recipe.”
“A different recipe?” the old man repeated in disbelief. “Why in the world would you change? Your recipe was wonderful. We came just because of that.”
“We had to change,” the waiter continued. “Sold our recipe to Craft Foods. We also sold our name too. We no longer can use the name ‘Win’ Schuler. If you see that name in the store, it belongs to Craft Foods. We made up a new recipe using different ingredients, and now we only use the name Schuler.
“Personally,” he said, “I’ve never tasted the old cheese spread. I’ve only tasted this one and I happen to like it.”
“Well, I’ve tasted the old, and it was better than this the old guy said as he shook his white hair. Hmm, sold your recipe and your name! Why would you sell a recipe that’s worked for a hundred years? God have mercy!”
That happened today.
Let me tell you what else is happening today.
Some preachers, some churches and some fellowships have sold their name and their recipe hoping to get a crowd. All of this is done in the name of ‘Revival.’
They sold their recipe for worship, for holiness, and for doctrine. They’ve also sold their name, Apostolic Pentecostal. The greatest loss was when they sold the Name of Jesus in Baptism.
A generation is living today that never tasted the old time Apostolic recipe. They have only tasted this new one that is not like the original. Old timers can tell you, that it does not taste the same. It’s not.
History repeats itself.
In the book of Ezra, it was the same problem. Solomon’s Temple had been destroyed and a new one was built in its place. The young people had never seen the 1st Temple. They rejoiced.
The Elders had seen the 1st and the 2nd. They wept because it wasn’t the same anymore.
Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
Ezra 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
Ezra 3:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Whatever road you may walk down, Gentle Reader, purpose in your heart to never sell your Name or your Recipe.
Don’t Let Your Sacrifice Become Your Downfall
Don’t Let Your Sacrifice Become Your Downfall
William Stanford loved working at the church. Everyday he stopped by there on his way home from the factory. It seemed like there were always little things that he could fix or clean.
- He repaired cracked window panes.
- He pulled weeds in the flowerbed.
- He replaced burnt out light bulbs.
- He mowed the grass.
- He picked up trash around the property.
- He raked the fallen leaves.
- He kept the baptismal tank clean and full.
- He stacked all the songbooks on their shelf.
Bro. Bill did all of this without pay. He held no official job at the church. It felt rewarding to him to know that whatever he did, it was for God. This was God’s house. No one ever asked him to fix anything. He just did it on his own. He looked around for things to do, and when he found a need, he was quick to respond.
His wife and family understood. They knew that he would always be late coming home from work. If he wasn’t at work or at home… he could be found at the church.
One year Bill decided not to go on his yearly family vacation to Fort Lauderdale for their boat trip like they used to do, instead he took the money and bought shingles for the church roof and spent his two weeks vacation time re-roofing the church by himself.
No one had asked him or even hinted. He just saw a need and did what he thought should be done. Sacrifice was never an issue for Bill Stanford. He had done this for years.
One Sunday the pastor announced a church business meeting. A trustee had died and the vacant position needed to be filled.
To William Stanford’s surprise, his name never came up at the business meeting for consideration. Another brother in the church was chosen and with a great majority, was ratified.
Bill was crestfallen. After all the hard labor, day after day, and week after week… this was the thanks he got! His labor was not appreciated.
- Bill quit church.
- Bill really quit church.
- Bill turned his back on church.
- Bill never came back to church.
He let his sacrifice become his downfall. He let what he did for God turn into nothing if others didn’t appreciate and honor it too.
†††
Joyce Watkins heard the pastor mention the need for 20 new tables and 160 folding chairs for the fellowship hall. She approached the pastor after service and asked him how much it would cost. When he told her, she pulled out her checkbook and wrote him a check for that amount.
The pastor was very thankful and the new tables and chairs were delivered almost immediately.
The next week, Joyce left for her vacation and was gone for three weeks. When she came back home and went to church. What she saw angered her.
In attempting to clean the fellowship hall, someone had stacked the new tables and chairs in a manner that Joyce did not approve. She told several people how unhappy she was that her tables had been treated that way.
- Joyce quit church.
- Joyce really quit church.
- Joyce turned her back on church.
- Joyce never came back to church.
Joyce also made a cardinal mistake in living for God. She let her sacrifice become her downfall. She couldn’t grasp the idea that those tables and chairs were no longer hers. They now belonged to God.
†††
To my gentle reader, I thank you for what you are doing for God. Your sacrifice should always be just for God. If we wait for men to appreciate our sacrifice for God, it may quickly turn into our downfall. May we learn from Bill and Joyce.
Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
A Second Class Saint In A First Class Church
A Second Class Saint In A First Class Church
He looked up at the most beautiful structure his eyes had ever seen. Of all places in town, he liked this place the best. It was considered by all to be absolutely magnificent. Thousands workers were hired just to build this section of the edifice.
Looking slowly up at the giant pillars, he saw that they were formed into cloisters. They were 50 cubits high. He’d heard that the weight of each pillar was so great that it took 20 men to move it into place.
They each were so large that if three men stood together with outstretched arms, they would barely be able reach around them and touch fingers.
This one cloister of pillars by itself is 100 feet longer the world famous Cologne Cathedral.
There were a total of nine of these colossal entrances. But this one outshone them all. It was the best one.
This one entrance had an arch that was 24ft wide and 45ft high. It was decorated with lilies formed out of brass from Greece. It was an absolute work of art. It was fashioned like a border highlighting the whole top of arch. It shimmered and dazzled in the bright sunlight. It’s beauty made each passerby look on with awe.
The entrance originally was named “Nicanor” after the Alexandrian Jew who built the arch. Recently a grave plaque was discovered bearing the Greek inscription: “The bones of Nicanor the Alexandrian, who made the doors.”
Its other name was “Corinthian,” because of the costly material of which it was constructed— Corinthian brass.
However spectacular this was, it still wasn’t the building. It was just the entrance to the building. The building itself was so beautiful that people had even been known to faint just looking at its beauty. But he had never gotten that close before.
Josephus gives many interesting particulars about this gate, which, he tells us, “Greatly excelled in workmanship and value above all the others. They all were plated with gold and silver, but this one was plated more richly and thickly. It was larger than the other gates too. It was 50 cubits in height, the others were 40.” Its massiveness and magnificence, therefore, earned for it the name Beautiful.
The name stuck. They called it Beautiful. It became known as the gate called Beautiful. It was just one of the entrances into the great Temple.
The beggar sat there just looking at this amazing entrance. He had never been inside. He had no idea what the Temple was like on the inside. He could only imagine. His physical handicap, his lameness, kept him out. Because of this, he was considered a second-class citizen. He even thought of himself as such.
No one seemed to know his name. He was not able to work. Begging was his only option. Everyone referred to him as… the beggar that sits by the gate Beautiful.
He lived in survival mode. He had long ago given up dreams of being called a success in life, let alone ever being a rich man. He was content to be a beggar. He was content to let others support him and allow him to maintain this level of existence. He’d accepted his lot in life. He was content to be miserable. He never believed he could ever be any different. He was just a beggar. A beggar that just happened to be sitting by the most beautiful Temple entrance in Jerusalem.
He was a Jew like everyone else. He just didn’t get to enjoy the same level of relationship with Jehovah everyone else did. He considered himself a second-class member of a first-class Temple.
But one day that changed!
Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Acts 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
Acts 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
Acts 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Acts 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Acts 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Acts 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God
Although this story happened about 2,000 years ago, it still continues to happen throughout many Apostolic churches today on a spiritual level.
It is not unusual to notice 2nd class saints in 1st class churches.
Some are easy to spot because they don’t worship or get involved in their church. They always hold back. Something in the past handicapped them and prevented them from enjoying what others enjoy freely every day. They never “enter” into His inner courts. Something keeps them on the outside of everything wonderful. They are content to stay there.
Even in the best of churches, there can be second-class saints.
- Some don’t Worship.
- Some have a problem with Holy living.
- Some aren’t Faithful in attendance.
- Some are lovers of Pleasure MORE than lovers of God.
- Some don’t Obey.
- Some don’t Submit.
- Some don’t Forgive.
- Some don’t give God His tenth.
- Some don’t Witness.
- Some are Proud.
- Some don’t have a Teachable spirit.
- Some are still Babes in Christ.
- Some are filled with Unbelief.
- Some live in Fear.
- Some are Bitter
- Some have no Desire.
All of them COULD enjoy church on a higher level. All of them could even be a blessing to the church family.
There’s no doubt, they are attending a 1st class church. (Surely no one would CHOOSE to be a 2nd class saint and sit in a 1st class church!)
In the Bible story, the men of God invited the lame man to ‘look on us.’
Get your eyes off of every thing else. Look afresh at your Pastor and listen anew to his preaching. Then, do like the lame man did… ‘take his hand.’ You will never change without preaching. You will never be delivered on your own. You can’t even be saved without a pastor. Give your heart to God, and then give your hand to the preacher.
When we join hands with God’s man and “expect to receive something from him,” then we can expect to receive a miracle and a transformation in our life. It will happen.
Even your friends and family won’t recognize you. You’ll act differently. The next time they see you, you will be where you’ve never gone before. You will have entered into the inner courts.
Like the beggar who had never walked or jumped in his whole life, you will praise God and worship Him like you never have before. Your joy will be full for the first time in your life.
We all need to get the revelation that we don’t HAVE to be a 2nd class saint in a 1st class church. We don’t have to sit on the outside while others enter in. There is hope for all. You CAN go to places in God where you have never gone before.
You can be a 1st class Christian in a 1st class Church!
The Obed-Edom Interview
Several years ago, I heard one of the most amazing sermons I will ever hear in my life. It was Bro. Kenneth Bow’s sermon about Obed-Edom. It was anointed and unforgettable. His love for research and attention to historical facts makes this outstanding.
Please go to his blog and find the link or go to http://www.savecom.org/orderform.htm and get it for yourself. It will change your life.
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The Obed-Edom Interview
TBB: Welcome Obed-Edom, to The Ballestero Blog. I’m so glad you agreed to grant me a short interview today. I’m very honored to have you here. I know that you are a very busy man.
OE: I am pleased to be here. Thank you for the opportunity.
TBB: For the record, you are of the tribe of Levi, and of the family of Korhite. You’re also from Gath-Rimmon if I remember. That makes you a Gittite?
OE: That’s true.
TBB: And let’s see here…you and your wife have 8 sons?
OE: That we do, counting my sons and grandsons, there are 62 men in my family. It’s never quiet at my house.
TBB: Whew. I can imagine. Tell me, what’s a day like in the life of Obed-Edom?
OE: Well, the first thing every morning after daybreak, I get a report from my Gate Security Office concerning the activities of the past night. I report then to the King. At 9 am I go to Prayers every morning, then later in the day I have either choir practice or orchestra practice. I check on the Storehouse during the day also.
TBB: The Gate Security Office. That’s right, you are in charge of keeping the gates of the city of Jerusalem secure. Let’s talk about that first. So then, is Captain Obed-Edom your official title?
OE: (Nodding modestly) Don’t call me captain. My guards do that out of respect. My friends just call me by my name.
TBB: How many men do you command as the Keeper of the Gate?
OE: Right now, about 1,000. My sons and grandsons included. I might add that we also are in charge of the storehouse as well.
TBB: Wow. The King must really trust you to commission you to this post.
OE: We’ve been friends for quite a while now. I’m honored to do everything I can for My God, my King and for Israel.
TBB: How long have you known King David?
OE: A long time. Remember when the King was transporting the Ark to the Tabernacle and there was a problem and Uzzah touched the Ark and he died because the Lord smote him?
TBB: Yes.
OE: I know it was the Lord that my house was close by, but it didn’t hurt that out of all the houses in the area, the King chose mine as the place to put the Ark. Our friendship, no doubt, helped make that choice easier. It may have made a few of my neighbors a little jealous though.
TBB: I’m sure. How long was the Ark in your home?
OE: About 3 months.
TBB: What was it like to have the Ark in your home?
OE: It was THE biggest Blessings of my life. When I say my home was Blessed, I mean Blessed with a capital B. My finances were blessed, my herds multiplied from that time on. Our health mysteriously improved over night. Everything I touched seemed to turn to gold. It’s never stopped.
TBB: How wonderful. You’re the only man in Israel that has had that honor.
OE: I know. I am thrilled that my house was home for the Ark of God, even for a brief time.
TBB: What was it like after the Ark was moved from your house to where it is now?
OE: I don’t know. I couldn’t bear the thoughts of staying in that house without the Ark in it. So I moved too.
TBB: You moved?
OE: Yes I did. After our home was blessed like it had been because of the Ark., my wife and I decided that wherever the Ark was, that’s where we wanted to be. So we moved here and bought a house just to be close by. Here, I can look in the direction of where the Ark sits and know I am close to His presence. There’s nothing like being in the presence of Jehovah. I wish everyone could have experienced that.
TBB: I do too. That’s amazing. You mentioned about choir practice and orchestra earlier. That’s because you are the worship leader?
OE: Actually Asaph is the Chief Musician and there are 68 others that do what I do. I’m just honored to be part of the worship. We all take turns. You might laugh at me, but after my experience with the Ark, I volunteer for every opening that Asaph has. I’m willing to be a singer or a musician. Sometimes I get the job, sometimes I don’t, but they can count on my name being on the list. I do my best to stay involved.
TBB: You have one of Israel’s greatest hero’s in your lineage. Samuel, the Prophet and Judge, is one of your ancestors!
OE: That’s true!
TBB: He’d sure be proud of you if he was alive today.
OE: That’s kind, thank you. I hope he would.
TBB: It’s common knowledge that King David is proud of you too and wrote Psalm 24 in your honor. That’s a very high honor.
OE: Yes it is. It is the highest of honors the King can bestow me. It is worth more to me than great riches. I am greatly honored by that and yet humbled as well.
TBB: Can you remember any of that Psalm offhand?
OE: I sure can:
“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
“For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
“He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
“This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
“Lift up your head, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
TBB: That’s a beautiful Psalm. Every family has a skeleton in the closet or some dark family secret. I know you’re probably wishing I wouldn’t bring up yours, because I imagine it’s uncomfortable for you.
OE: No, actually I’m glad you did. It’s really Okay; I want to talk about it. I believe that event was what reshaped the future of our whole family.
TBB: We’re talking about Korah, your ancestor and what happened to him, Is that correct?
OE: Yes.
TBB: In respect of where you are now and the high stations your family now holds, how did you tell your sons about your family’s dark days?
OE: Well Korah, as you know, was a very prominent leader in our tribe when Israel was in the wilderness. He was quite influential as well. I just hate it that he let pride and ambition get in his heart and got crossed up with Moses and Aaron. He was wrong. His thinking led him into rebellion. His actions invited the wrath of Jehovah.
TBB: I remember the Rabbi reading about the ground opening up and swallowing the rebellious men, and fire coming out of heaven. Then there was that plague that came because some sympathizers accused Moses of getting the people of God killed. 14,000 of them died in that plague. When I first heard the story, I thought the sons on Korah perished along with their father.
OE: Those living a home did, but not all. Some of Korah’s sons were married and living in their own homes when judgment fell. They loved their father, but they did not join him in his rebellion. Our family has handed down the story that when they saw they’re lives were spared; they fell on their faces and prayed. From that time on, all the sons of Korah have been extremely careful about our attitude concerning the House of God and the man of God. We have all been very respectful of our leader and submit ourselves to him. We refuse to let God have a problem with us again. We are thankful God doesn’t hold the sins for our father’s against us. I stress the importance of the fear of God and respect for God’s man to my sons lest history should repeat itself.
TBB: An amazing story. Your life lessons to your sons are extremely powerful as well. You mentioned the sons of Korah. Word on the street is that when King David fled from Absalom and went into hiding, the sons of Korah went with him to protect him. Do you know anything about that?
OE: I’ve heard that too.
TBB: There are a number of Psalms that are written just for your family to sing. That’s a very special honor. Since that includes you, maybe you could share your thoughts on a few of them or at least tell us about them.
OE: Thank you, it would be my pleasure. Well, the first one that comes to mind is the one that starts out… “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
That’s from Psalms 42. I love that one. That’s how I feel. I cry sometimes when we sing Psalms 43 and it gets to the part where it says: “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
When I sing those words, the memory of my family’s dark past comes to mind. Then I see that God has blessed me more than anyone. I just can’t keep quiet about it.
TBB: That’s beautiful.
OE: Psalm 46 starts out with: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
I need to sing that song some days. Then there are other days we feel like dancing while we’re singing. See if you remember this one from Psalm 47. “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”
I really love that one. The last one I’m going to talk about is one I can’t just quote. Would you mind if I sing a few lines?
TBB: Please do. I would love it.
OE: If you know what’s happened to my family, then maybe you can understand why I love to sing Psalms 84.
TBB: Sing it.
OE: “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
“My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
“Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.”
TBB: Thank you for that. You have a beautiful voice.
OE: Every time I sing that last line, I am reminded how blessed I am to be close to the House of God. I thank Him everyday.
TBB: I’m about out of time. What word of wisdom or advice can you give me before you go?
OE: I’ve been honored to be here. Thank you for giving me a chance to speak about my passion. As far as imparting any wisdom to you, I can’t do much better than this. This one is from the 88th Psalm, which is another one written just for the sons of Korah to sing.
“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
“For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.”
We must walk in truth, fear God, praise Him with all of our hearts, and then God will find a way to deliver us and to bless us. That about sums it up for me.
TBB: That it does. It sums it up for me too. Thank you for coming and God bless you.
There’s Only Two Biblical Pastoring Styles Mentioned!
There’s Only Two Biblical Examples Of Pastoring Styles Mentioned!
Ezra – He sat down and pulled his hair. It took him 25 years to get his goals accomplished.
- Ezra 9:3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
Nehemiah – He pulled their hair and got his goal accomplished in 52 days.
- Nehemiah 13:25 I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name and said:
(I ain’t saying nothing else!)
Why I Dress Up For My Wife!
I’m getting ready to go to the airport in a few minutes. I am wearing dress slacks, a sport coat, a dress shirt and a tie. The occasion? I’m going to see my wife in Indianapolis tonight. I ALWAYS dress up when I come home to my wife! Why? I would hope that the fact that I took extra time to dress up, tells her I think she is someone worth dressing up for. I want her to think, to know, and to feel that I consider her the most important person in this world. I will always dress up for her. I try to show her, that I think she’s very special! I might add that my efforts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
So what’s my point?
My point is that we are living in a very casual society. My travels have taken me to churches wear adults and young people wear clothes that not even a golf course would permit. Flip flops, tee shirts, curlers in the hair, and clothes that no one bothered to iron or maybe even wash, are seen in too many churches. What’s the deal? Why are Pentecostal churches looking like “Nothing special is going on here.”
There Is A Curse In Being Casual About The Things Of God:
1. CASUAL IN ATTITUDE
UZZAH:
- Touch Ark to steady it and God killed him. He was too familiar and too comfortable.
- Casual Attitude brings Familiarity
ESAU:
- Heb 12:16 Profane = to treat as commonplace.
- Later he sought for God carefully with tears but never found help.
- Casual brings Unconcern
- Next is Contempt (He traded birthright for something to eat)
- (Heb 12:17 KJV) For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
- He got careful too late.
ATTITUDE
- Gum chewers – almost never respond, and never receive.
- Demonstrates an attitude of a spectator at an event.
- A watcher.
DRESS
- Carelessness about attire tells God you don’t think coming to His House is important
- Some are very careless about modesty
- Many are careless about adorning themselves with jewelry like Israel did when it backslid.
Wear your best to church
- Dress up for God
- He hates casual!!
God said to Moses, “Take off your shoes,” you are on Holy ground. God wanted Moses to be respectful in His presence.
2. CASUAL IN OBEDIENCE
- Casual in Giving: Tithe/Offerings
- Sacrifice: God got tired of Israel bring him 2nd rate lambs. He wanted the best. No Blemish.
- Don’t be Casual in what you give God or Do for God
CAIN:
- Offered what he felt was OK to God. It was good enough for him; it should be good enough for God.
SAUL:
- Casual in obedience
- Destroyed as he saw fit. Used his own judgment. Didn’t obey the prophet and let Agag live.
3. CASUAL IN WORSHIP
- Pharisees – whited sepulchers, worship with lips, but heart is far from me
- Half Hearted worship too common in Pentecost
4. CASUAL IN FAITHFULNESS
- Why did he have to say, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together if they weren’t casual about their attendance?
- (Heb 10:25 KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
5. CASUAL IN COMMITTMENT
AMAZIAH:
- Did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a perfect heart as did his father David
AHAB
- (1 Ki 16:31 KJV) And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
- (1 Ki 16:33 KJV) And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
- Your Casualness will cause you to provoke God.
- Fools make a mock at sin.
- Are you Casual with God? You’ll be casual with sin
YOUR CASUAL LIFESTYLE ANGERS GOD
- Churches without conviction (are they casual?)
- A Casual ministry brought Strange Fire
- Some silly preachers wearing shorts and tank tops in public.
- Even preaching in them.
- God is NOT pleased.
REPENTANCE IS THE KEY
- (2 Cor 7:11 KJV) For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
- Yea what carefulness it wrought in you.
- Only Repentance removes the casual attitude
You Are 20% Of Your Father, 80% Of Your Mother
You Are 20% Of Your Father, 80% Of Your Mother
Some years ago, the magazine Western Horseman had an article that caught my eye. It was written about a test done at the School of Veterinarian Medicine in New England.
Their research proved that a colt was 80% of it’s mother, and 20% of it’s father. The Doctor that wrote the article said that if the sire (father) was Secretariat, the famous racehorse, and the mare (mother) was a plow horse, the colt would be 80% plow horse and 20% racehorse.
Secretariat
Dapple Gray Percheron Plow Horse
On a spiritual level, we have the world’s greatest Father. He’s our heavenly Father. The church is our mother.
Gal. 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
That means to me, that although we have a wonderful Father, what we become is 80% determined by the church/mother that raised us.
Have you ever heard a preacher ask, “Where are you from? What church are you out of? Who’s your pastor?” Without even knowing you, the questioner can determine much about you just by knowing who your mother is.
I am dismayed at clueless and shallow people who put their job first. God forbid that they should ever have to transfer, but too often if they do, the job is top priority and then after they move they look for a church. Too often, just any church will do for then as long as it has the magic words or letters on the sign.
If an awesome mother has raised you, I pray you never have to leave home. Good moms are very hard to find. Not just any mother will do.
Life is about much more than money. Let your mother know how much you love her, then stick close and do what she says. Make her proud.
Going Rogue
Going Rogue
New York Times
An Elephant Crackup?
By CHARLES SIEBERT
Published: October 8, 2006
Since the early 1990’s, for example, young male elephants in Pilanesberg National Park and the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve in South Africa have been killing rhinoceroses; this abnormal behavior, according to a 2001 study in the journal Pachyderm, has been reported in ‘‘a number of reserves’’ in the region. In July of last year, officials in Pilanesberg shot three young male elephants who were responsible for the killings of 63 rhinos, as well as attacks on people in safari vehicles. In Addo Elephant National Park, also in South Africa, up to 90 percent of male elephant deaths are now attributable to other male elephants, compared with a rate of 6 percent in more stable elephant communities.
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NewScientist
Orphan elephants go on the rampage
- 20 July 1996 by Eddie Koch
- Magazine issue 2039
Johannesburg
LIKE children, young elephants need discipline if they are to grow up as responsible members of society. Wildlife biologists say that orphan bull elephants in South Africa’s Pilanesberg Game Reserve have turned delinquent because they have never been taken in hand by their elders.
Rogue elephants have become a serious problem in Pilanesberg, a small wildlife reserve about 250 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg. Earlier this month, a young bull charged a group of tourists on a photo-safari. The next day the same elephant attacked and killed a professional hunter who had been sent to shoot it. These are not isolated incidents. Two years ago another tourist was attacked, chased out of his battered car, and trampled to death in the reserve.
Humans are not the only victims: in the past three years, 19 white rhinoceroses have been gored to death by elephants in Pilanesberg.
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Nearly ten years ago, I heard a Dr. James Dobson commercial on the car radio. He said that his favorite animal was a dog. His second favorite was an elephant.
He said that he was alarmed at the rogue behavior recently displayed in young bull elephants. They seemed to delight in pushing over the white rhinos and even goring them to death. They had even been known to kill one another.
In over 100 years of record keeping in Africa, there had never been recorded incidents of such antisocial behavior.
Mr. Dobson said authorities were very disturbed. After much analysis, they determined the cause.
A number of years ago, attempts were made by the Park Managers to thin the herd population. In so doing, they killed off most of the old males. It is the nature of the old males to keep decorum in the herd. Old males will punish younger males that display bad behavior. It is even common for an old male to banish a younger male from the others for a while until they learn better.
Park officials found that if they brought in an old male into a herd with young wild bulls, they old bull restored calmness to the herd almost immediately.
At this point, Mr. Dobson began to talk about the importance of a father in the home and his influence on his sons. He made a powerful point. I am not sure how his 2-minute “Father’s Day” radio commercial ended, because my minded wandered off to another level before he finished.
Many of us have lived long enough to see rogue behavior among those that are ‘in church’. When I see saints or preachers go wacko, say stupid things, or do stupid things, I become spiritually frightened.
It is endangerment at an alarming level. We expect attacks from others outside the herd, but not from the inside.
I even remember asking about a certain young preacher one time, because his conduct and doctrine caused all my warning lights to blink. I enquired, “Who’s his pastor?” Normally, a pastor would have corrected the problem. But this person recognized no one as his pastor.
Preacher or Saint, every one of us has made it this far because we were willing to hear instruction in righteousness. Always receive it willingly and humbly.
If you have a man of God in your life that will guide the flock in the fear and admonition of the Lord, there is safety in your world.
Behavior unbecoming the people of God cannot be ignored. Doctrines that lead the church back to the world cannot be tolerated. The goring and killing of others with slander and defamation has no place in the Kingdom.
The trashing of standards and the discard of convictions is a sad day. It has God’s full attention. It should have ours as well.
I pray you have a pastor that is willing to TAKE the oversight. To speak up and say, “It’s Not Happening Here!”
May your pastor not be a hireling, but a ‘Father in Israel’. May he bring peace to your corner of the world.
What we need are some more ‘old-time’ Pentecostal pastors that will preach what needs to be preached and are not afraid.
May you always thank God for your pastor, even if the one he corrects is you.
Pray for your man of God!
There’s No Hope For You!
There’s No Hope For You!
The preacher said, “Don’t ever sin after you have received the Holy Ghost, because the Bible says if you do, ‘there remaineth no more sacrifice for you.’ There’s no more hope for you, if you backslide. You can’t pray back through. You can’t be saved. You’re going to hell!
“Don’t ever say one thing you shouldn’t say, don’t ever do one thing you shouldn’t do, or go one place you shouldn’t go, or think on things you shouldn’t be thinking about! If you do, there is no hope for you” That’s what the guest preacher said at the Friday night Fellowship Meeting in the little country church in Indiana.
We were stunned. All twelve local pastors on the platform sat frozen, wondering what would be said next.
The preacher was sincere. He was preaching with tears running down his face. He had driven 400 miles to preach in this service. Most of us had never even heard of him before.
I looked at the second row. Six young couples from our church listened intently. Knowing some of their personal struggles and natures, I knew they couldn’t make it till Sunday morning without saying something they shouldn’t say, doing something they shouldn’t do, going somewhere they shouldn’t go, or thinking on something they shouldn’t be thinking about. They weren’t bad young couples at all. They were just human.
If they did do something they shouldn’t have, I knew they devil would tell them there is no hope for you, so why bother to go back to church.
Something had to be said. Waiting till Sunday to say it, would be too late if they didn’t come back. Damage control was needed now.
I felt the need to respond. Leaning over to the pastor, I said, “Elder, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take this service when he’s done with it.”
“I wish you would, the older pastor said, “I’m a backslider myself.”
We all stood reverently while our guest finished his sermon. He was crying. A number of the people in the audience cried too. We knew we were all so guilty that maybe none of us would be saved, if his doctrine was right.
When the preacher finished, I stepped to the pulpit and asked every one to raise their hands and pray.
I thanked the brother for coming. I have strong convictions against those that are harsh in the pulpit. But I felt I was fighting for souls.
I said, “This man has preached to us tonight from his heart. He has preached with a burden and a passion. He has preached with great sincerity. The only problem is, our good brother is sincerely wrong.
“Evidently, he doesn’t believe in a Great High Priest, who daily maketh intercession for us.
The Bible is trying to explain to us that if we sin, Jesus is not going to go back to Calvary to die for us again. He died once, and for all.
There is no license to sin, there are no indulgences you can buy, there is no hall pass you can get to do wrong.
“But the Bible does say, ‘If we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous”
“What is an Advocate? It’s a defense attorney! Why would He provide us with a defense attorney, if there’s no hope for us?
“Who daily maketh intercession for us…
“Why would He make intercession for us if there is no hope?”
The church roared with thanksgiving and praise to God for His mercy and His forgiveness. Some wept with relief.
So should you!
I don’t care what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or how long you’ve been gone. Like the Prodigal, you’re still His child. When He sees you headed home, He’ll run to meet you too.
Thank God for His Forgiveness!
I prefer writing “Bible” to bible, “God” to god, and “Jesus” to jesus!
I prefer writing “Bible” to bible, “God” to god, and “Jesus” to jesus!
In today’s world of fast communication with blogs, forums and social networks, it’s easy to become a little careless when quickly writing about God and church.
The good Lord knows that none of us are perfect nor do we have the right to go around admonishing others.
Forgive me then for treading where normal people would may not. (My friends have never called me normal.)
It does seem from this old man’s point of view, that my generation has gone from carefulness to carelessness in a number of areas.
Remember the stories we all heard about the Scribes copying Scriptures? Remember Bible teachers saying the scribes were fearful to even spell out the name of Jehovah? I am told they wrote the abbreviation Jah instead.
When they came to that word, they would stop, get a new “pen” (Some say they even changed their garments as well) and then write the name, Jah (Jehovah)
Even comments on Wikipedia show the additional carefulness of men in the Old Testament:
“Laws of writing divine names:
- “According to Jewish tradition, the sacredness of the divine names must be recognized by the professional scribe who writes the Scriptures, or the chapters for the tefillin and the mezuzah. Before transcribing any of the divine names he prepares mentally to sanctify them. Once he begins a name he does not stop until it is finished, and he must not be interrupted while writing it, even to greet a king. If an error is made in writing it, it may not be erased, but a line must be drawn round it to show that it is canceled, and the whole page must be put in a genizah (burial place for scripture) and a new page begun.
- “According to Jewish tradition, the number of divine names that require the scribe’s special care is seven: El, Elohim, Adonai, YHWH, Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh, Shaddai, and Tzevaot.”
We all understand that was in Israel, and that was a long time ago. I’m sure I’m “old school,” but I prefer writing “Bible” to bible, “God” to god, and “Jesus” to jesus!
In your opinion, I may have OCD, or I may be sticking my long nose where it don’t belong. I may be a picky old English major who likes proper nouns with caps. Or, I may be making an appeal for carefulness. You decide.
I was raised to take my hat off when I came into the Church Sanctuary because it was God’s House. I am grateful for a Dad and Pastor who taught me respect by example.
I was reminded to be careful concerning the things of God and His church. I had my early articles edited by my Pastor/Father. He changed all my god’s into God’s, and my jesus into Jesus. I also had my he changed to He and my him changed to Him.
Write like you want, because I’m not the Capitalization Sheriff.
But this is how I choose to write concerning things worthy of the highest honor.
Thank you for reading.
God Bless You.
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 