Archive for the ‘Personal Growth’ Category
I Hate Wheelbarrows
I Hate Wheelbarrows
Oh, I guess there are some good things that could be said about them. But that still doesn’t change my mind. I hate wheelbarrows. I hate them for any number of reasons, some of which I will tell you.
First, I hate wheelbarrows because they’re too much work. Entirely too much effort has to be expended to make them go.
Second, I hate wheelbarrows because they are prone to become “lopsided” easily which demands additional effort to correct. They get off balance too easily.
Third, I hate wheelbarrows because they all have to be pushed. They won’t do one thing by themselves. They’ll never budge unless made to. They’ll never go forward unless someone wears their self out pushing them. Then, just as soon as the pusher stops, the wheelbarrow stops too.
Some folks are like wheelbarrows. They’ll carry the load, but you have to push them. They only respond to pressure. And even them, you’ve got to watch them in case they get lopsided.
They have to be pushed to worship God.
They have to be pushed to find the prayer room.
They have to be pushed to live right.
They have to be pushed to dress right.
They have to be pushed to witness.
They have to be pushed to testify.
They have to be pushed to trust God.
They have to be pushed to forgive.
They have to be pushed to be faithful.
They have to be pushed to give.
They have to be pushed to read the Bible.
They have to be pushed to make progress at all.
They have to be pushed in everything.
I hate wheelbarrow Christianity.
I hate what you’ve done to yourselves.
I hate what you’re doing to others.
I hate what you’re doing to you’re church.
I hate what you’re doing to the ministry.
I hate the fact that your spirit is contagious.
I hate the fact that your children may be just like you.
I hate the fact that you can’t ‘have church’ without the preacher pushing you.
I hate the fact you don’t love God enough to progress on your own.
Do you know what we need? I’ll tell you. We simply need a good old-fashioned case of the “I want to.”
I want to have church.
I want to live for God.
I want to have liberty.
I want to have to victory.
I want to worship.
I want to pray.
I want to live holy.
I want to have revival.
I want to be a blessing.
I want to be faithful.
I want to give.
I want to obey the Word of God.
I hate wheelbarrows! I wonder what God thinks about them. I wonder what you think about them. I hope you hate them too. Hate them enough that you refuse to be one. Hate them enough that you will refuse to wait until you are pushed before making progress in God.
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.
“It’s OK To Struggle, Let Us Struggle…”
“It’s OK To Struggle, Let Us Struggle…”
I sat the phone down slowly. My eyes were still brimming with tears. What I had just heard was heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time.
I had been talking on the phone to my oldest son Anthony and his beautiful new bride Kim. She was the former Kimberly Elrod of Piqua, OH. Her father Richard Elrod pastored there. Anthony and Kim had just gotten off their honeymoon just a few days prior.
My son had been asked to be the Youth Pastor in Jackson, MS at Bro. Tommy Craft’s church. The church had secured housing for them. It was a nice apartment that was furnished with a stove and a washer and dryer.
I knew that their small U-Haul truck did not contain much more than a bed, and a dinning room set she had purchased at a yard sale. Not much else besides personal articles and clothing. They were just starting out in life. Both had graduated from JCM only a few weeks earlier.
It dawned on me that there was no mention about a refrigerator in the house, I asked them about it on the phone. When they told me they didn’t have one, I felt desperate for them.
I had saved up about $350.00, so I volunteered to help out. I said to them, “Look, I have some money put back, and I will send you $350.00 to buy one. You still have the U-Haul, and maybe you can find a used one in the Classifieds and use the truck to haul it.”
That’s when the sweet feminine voice of my new daughter in law piped up. She said, “No dad, don’t do that. We’re OK. Let us struggle. It’s OK to struggle!”
Emotion overwhelmed me. I cried silently. I had already fallen in love with her beauty and her talents. But I was unprepared for how beautiful her heart was. I immediately fell hopelessly in love with her sweet spirit and would then have freely given her half of my kingdom… if I’d had one.
“Well, you call me if you need me and I’ll be glad to do what I can to help!” I added.
(I couldn’t believe that there was still people like this in the world.) She was serious. She didn’t want me to intervene. They would make it, she said. Somehow they did.
The struggles in life of those you love is not easy to watch. You would love to bail everyone out of whatever mess they are in. Even when you know you can’t, you still want to.
The problem however is not always fixed if you do. When you look at nature it’s a clearer, although harsher picture.
Remember your journey to the farm when you were a kid? One of the highlights was watching baby
chicks hatch. The 6 hour procedure is excruciating to observe. You see their little head hanging out. The look wet, helpless and tired. The heat lamp is keeping them warm. The shell is cracked. They’re exhausted and have to stop and rest for long periods which makes you want to help them.
If you try to help the baby chick, at best it may live 2 days. More than likely it will die sooner. I hate to say how I know that. The success of the chick’s survival is not the help, but the struggle.
Just because we are struggling in life, doesn’t mean God hates us, that we are out of His will or that our support system of loved ones has let us down.
Struggle is necessary to survival. (You’re still here aren’t you? Then don’t give up or give in.) It’s OK to struggle. The Father knows where you’re at. He’s watching. You’re going to make it!
God’s Algebra Test
God’s Algebra Test
I went to 26 schools growing up. It is still very evident that my education lacks much in the way of continuity. Daddy was an Evangelist for 25 years and a Pastor for 25 as well. Quite often he had to stop in his travels and rent a house so us kids could go to school. I got a late start. I turned 7 in Kindergarten. Somehow I was able to get out of the 12th grade mid-term at 17.
Arithmetic was a very easy subject for me and I always aced a Basic Math test. In 1958 we moved from Yakima, Washington to southern California. My Yakima Math teacher recommended me for Algebra. I got a late start and missed the basics. I somehow couldn’t wrap my mind around the concept of things like X and Y. I had no problem with numbers. But in my mind, letters had no place in a Math test. I saw that I was in trouble and couldn’t seemingly catch up, so I transferred out of Algebra class into Radio and Electronics Shop.
At about 40 years of age I said to myself, “Algebra is the only thing in life you’ve let beat you. Don’t let it.” So I went to the bookstore and bought an Algebra Textbook and a Workbook. I worked my way through and completed the exercises and tests. I cannot say that I’ve ever used Algebra in everyday life since, and that was 26 years ago.
But I have used it in preaching!
In preaching?
Absolutely!
The Algebra book has helped me preach many times.
What would ‘frost my cake’ sometimes during my 30 years of pastoring was when some dear soul would request that the church pray that they would be able to find the will of God for their life.
Yet these same people would somehow seem to be clueless about the will of God for their lives that was written down in black and white. They enjoyed the attention they received by making their mystical prayer request.
I couldn’t believe that some folks would actually ignore the will of God as written in His Word and yet attempt to seek the ‘unknown’ and the ‘as of yet, unrevealed’ will of God.
That’s when the Algebra lessons came in handy. I preached some Algebra lessons in a sermon or two.
One of the first things a student discovers in Algebra, (to put it in basic terminology) is that to find the ‘unknown,’ we have to use the ‘known.’
In other words, if we are serious about finding the illusive and unknown will of God for our lives, how can we be taken serious if we blatantly ignore the will of God that is written in His word?
Some don’t want to be faithful to church, so they ignore Heb 10:25 and still say they are seeking the will of God.
- Heb. 10:25 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.
Some don’t want to pay tithes, so they ignore Mal 3:10 and still say they are seeking the will of God.
- Mal. 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Some have a problem with holiness, so they ignore Rom 12:1 and still say they are seeking the will of God.
- Rom. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Some won’t submit to their pastor or obey what he preaches, so they ignore Heb 13:17 and still say they are seeking the will of God.
- Heb. 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Some won’t forgive and seem to want to hold grudges, so they ignore Mark 6:14-15 and still say they are seeking the will of God.
- Matt. 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
- Matt. 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
I guess you get the picture by now. It’s not really a joke or meant to be taken lightly.
- James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Keep on praying and seeking the will of God in your life. Just don’t ignore the will of God as it is written in His Word.
Maybe, just maybe, if you are obedient and faithful in what you have been taught, then God may show you more. Don’t expect more if your obedience is less.
Oh, by the way… If you really want to know what the will of God is for your life, go ask your pastor. Don’t you TELL him, let him TELL you.
- That’s what all the God fearing Kings did in the Old Testament.
- That’s what you should do too.
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!
It Always Happens At Church Time
It Always Happens At Church Time
Why do the worst things happen about church time? It keeps some folks from coming, makes others have to leave and disrupts the service. it’s no accident. Read these references and see a pattern.
Israel was required to have a morning and evening sacrifice. That was their custom.
- Num. 28:3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.
- Num. 28:4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
From Scripture we know that the ordinary services of the sanctuary consisted of the morning and evening sacrifices. According to general agreement, the morning sacrifice was brought at the “third hour,” corresponding to our 9am. This may explain how on the day of Pentecost such a multitude could so readily “come together,” Seeing it was the third hour, they would all be in the temple.
- The Morning Sacrifice was about 9:00am
- Josephus puts the evening sacrifice down at the ninth hour or 3pm.
Elijah stopped the pagan worship on Mt. Carmel at the time of evening sacrifice.
- 1Kings 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
- 1Kings 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
- 1Kings 18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
Goliath came to threaten, challenge and intimidate the people of God, every morning and evening.
- 1Sam. 17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
- Goliath came at church time.
- He knew he was being disruptive.
- The Israelites were trying to have church.
- He kept on intimidating them.
- The devil trying to hinder a church service is nothing new.
- It’s an age-old tactic. Every service has it’s own battle.
- Don’t be intimidated, or lose heart.
- Goliath will come, but we’re not ignorant of his methods.
- Keep on singing.
- Keep on praying.
- Keep on shouting.
- Keep on preaching.
- Be encouraged.
- The same God the helped David will help you get the victory!
- Yes Goliath may come, but he will be defeated.
In Jesus Name!
The Progression Of Sin
The Progression Of Sin
We can’t talk about Holiness without talking about sin. Holiness desires to live a life separate from sin.
- Appearance doesn’t matter? Some act like it doesn’t. They’re wrong.
- They say they’re “Enlightened?
- We had an Old fashioned Pentecostal term for them… they’re Backslid!
- Leprosy is a Type of Sin
Watch the progression of sin in these 4 example of Leprosy in Leviticus 13, 14.
- These all brought their concerns to the priest.
- Today we wait for the preacher to say something.
- We figure, if he doesn’t say anything, we must be all right.
- They seemed to know, without being told, that something was wrong.
- The good news is they wanted it fixed.
1. SKIN
Leviticus 13:1-9 (KJV)
2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
- Makeup
- Eye shadow
- Eye liner
- Blush
- Cover girl
- Tattoos
What what ever happened to Shamefacedness? It’s far to common to see makeup around Pentecostal Churches.
2. HAIR
Leviticus 13:20-25 (KJV)
20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.
Leviticus 13:30-33 (KJV)
30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.
31 And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:
32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;
- Hair Styles
- Cut hair on girls
- Long hair boys
3. GARMENT (Clothes)
Leviticus 13:47-59 (KJV)
47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;
48 Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;
- Immodest
- Slits that should never be
- When you try the skirt on and ¾ of your leg comes through the slit, aren’t there alarms that go off in your head or your heart?
- (Who are you dressing like that for?
- Sleeves – sleeveless and cap sleeves are too common. (I’m old school.)
- I know I can be saved dressing like I do, why gamble?
- Tight clothes
- Revealing and sheer clothes
- Israel couldn’t Blush.
- God, don’t let us lose our ability to blush!
4. House
Leviticus 14:34-45 (KJV)
34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession;
35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house:
What’s in your house that God might consider Leprosy?
- TV?
- All kinds of Videos?
- Improper Music?
- Empty the house – Repent
- Scrape the walls – Heart searching
- Replace Stones and Morter – pray through to a renewal is always in order!
There’s no stopping place for sin. It gets everywhere. The Bible illustrated sin starting in the Skin, showing up in the Hair, displaying itself in how we Dress and then getting in our Home.
Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
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When a Husband Offends His Wife
When a Husband Offends His Wife
by
Dr. Gary Smalley
When a husband recognizes that he has offended his wife in any of these ways, he needs to clear it up in order to restore the relationship. Why not ask your wife to check these that are true of you.
1. Ignoring her.
2. Not valuing her opinions
3. Showing more attention to other people than her.
4. Not listening to her or not understanding what she feels is important.
5. Closing her out by not talking or listening to her (the silent treatment).
6. Being easily distracted when she is trying to talk.
7. Not scheduling special time to be with her.
8. Not being open to talk about things you do not understand.
9. Not being open to talk about things she does not understand.
10. Not giving her a chance to voice her opinion on decisions that affect the whole family.
11. Disciplining her by being silent or angry.
12. Making jokes about her life.
13. Making sarcastic statements about her.
14. Insulting her in front of others.
15. Coming back with quick retorts.
16. Giving harsh admonitions.
17. Using careless words before you think through how they will affect her.
18. Nagging her in harshness.
19. Rebuking her before giving her a chance to explain a situation.
20. Raising your voice at her.
21. Making critical comments with no logical basis
22. Swearing or using foul language in her presence.
23. Correcting her in public.
24. Being tactless when pointing out her weaknesses or blind spots.
25. Reminding her angrily that you warned her not to do something.
26. Having a disgusted or judgmental attitude.
27. Pressuring her when she is already feeling low or offended.
28. Lecturing her when she needs to be comforted, encouraged or treated gently.
29. Breaking promises without any explanation or without being asked to be released from the promise.
30.Telling her how wonderful other women are and comparing her to other women.
31. Holding resentment about something she did and tried to make right.
32. Being disrespectful to her family and relatives
33. Coercing her into an argument.
34. Correcting or punishing her in anger for something for which she is not guilty.
35. Not praising her for something she did well even if she did it for you.
36. Treating her like a little child.
37. Being rude to her or to other people in public, like restaurant personnel or clerks.
38. Being unaware of her needs
39. Being ungrateful.
40. Not trusting her.
41. Not approving of what she does or how she does it.
42. Not being interested in her own personal growth.
43. Being inconsistent or having double standards (doing things you won’t allow her to do.)
44. Not giving her advice when she really needs it and asks for it.
45. Not telling her you love her.
46. Having prideful and arrogant attitudes in general.
47. Not giving daily encouragement.
48. Failing to include her in a conversation when you are with other people.
49. Failing to spend quality time with her when you’re at a party.
50. “Talking her down” – continuing to discuss or argue a point just to prove you’re right.
51. Ignoring her around the house as if she weren’t a member of the family.
52. Not taking time to listen to what she believes is important as soon as you come home from work.
53. Ignoring her at social gatherings.
54. Not attending church as a family.
55. Failure to express honestly what you think her innermost feelings are.
56. Showing more excitement for work or other activities than her.
57. Being impolite at mealtime.
58. Having sloppy manners around the house and in front of others.
59. Not inviting her out on romantic dates from time to time (just the two of you).
60. Not helping her with the children just before mealtime or during times of extra stress.
61. Not volunteering to help her with the dishes occasionally, or with cleaning the house.
62. Making her feel stupid when she shares an idea about your work or decisions that need to be made.
63. Making her feel unworthy for desiring certain furniture or insurance or other material needs for herself and the family.
64. Not being consistent with the children; not taking an interest in playing with them or spending quality and quantity time with them.
65. Not showing public affection for her, like holding her hand or putting your arm around her. (You seem to be embarrassed to be with her.)
66. Not sharing your life with her, like your ideas or your feelings (e.g. what’s going on at work).
67. Not being the spiritual leader of your home.
68. Demanding that she submit to you.
69. Demanding that she be involved with you sexually when you are not in harmony.
70. Being unwilling to admit you’re wrong.
71. Resisting whenever she shares on of your blind spots.
72. Being too busy with work and activities.
73. Not showing compassion and understanding for her and the children when there is a real need.
74. Not planning for the future, making her vary insecure.
75. Being stingy with money, making her feel like she is being paid a salary – and not much at all.
76. Wanting to do things to embarrass her sexually.
77. Reading sexual magazines in front of her or the children.
78. Forcing her to make many of the decisions regarding the checkbook and bills.
79. Forcing her to handle bill collectors and overdue bills.
80. Not letting her lean on your gentleness and strength from time to time.
81. Not allowing her to fail – always feeling like you have to lecture her.
82. Refusing to let her be a woman.
83. Criticizing her womanly characteristics or sensitivity as being weak.
84. Spending too much money and getting the family too far into debt.
85. Not having a sense of humor and not joking about things together.
86. Not telling her how important she is to you.
87. Not sending her love letters from time to time.
88. Forgetting special dates like anniversaries or birthdays.
89. Not defending her when someone else is complaining or tearing her down.
90. Not putting your arm around her and hugging her when she’s in need of comfort.
91. Not bragging to other people about her.
92. Being dishonest
93. Discouraging her for trying to better herself either through education or physical fitness.
94. Continuing distasteful habits.
95. Not treating her as if “Handle With Care” was stamped on her forehead.
96. Ignoring her relatives and the people that are important to her.
97. Taking her for granted, assuming that ‘a woman’s work is never done” around the house.
98. Not including her in the future plans until the very last minute.
99. Never doing little unexpected things for her.
100. Not treating her like an intellectual equal.
101. Looking at her as a weaker individual in general.
102. Being preoccupied with your own goals and needs making her feel like she and the children do not count.
103. Threatening never to let her do something again because she made a mistake in the past.
104. Criticizing her behind her back. (This is really painful for her to hear about your criticisms from someone else.
105. Blaming her for the things in your relationship that are clearly your failure.
106. Not being aware of her physical limitations, treating her like a man by roughhousing with her or making her carry heaving objects.
107. Losing patience or getting angry with her when she can’t keep up with your schedule or physical stamina.
108. Acting like you’re a martyr if you go along with her opinions.
109. Sulking when she challenges your comments.
110. Joining too many organizations which exclude her and the children.
111. Failing to repair items around the house.
112. Watching too much TV or playing video games and therefore neglecting her and the children.
113. Demanding that she sit and listen to your point of view when she needs to be taking care of the children’s needs.
114. Insisting on lecturing her in order to convey what you believe are important things.
115. Humiliating her with words and actions, saying things like, “I can’t stand living in a pig pen.”
116. Not taking time to prepare her for enjoy sexual intimacy.
117. Spending money extravagantly without helping those less fortunate.
118. Avoiding family activities that the children enjoy.
119. Taking vacations that are primarily for your pleasure, like fishing or hunting while preventing her from shopping or doing things she enjoys.
120. Not letting her get away from the children just to be with friends, go shopping for special items, or have a trip away with her friends.
121. Being unwilling to join her in things she enjoys like shopping, going out for coffee and desert at a restaurant.
122. Not understanding the boring chores a housewife does: like picking up clothes and toys all day long, wiping runny noses, putting on and taking off muddy work boots and jackets, washing and ironing, etc. etc.
“Well, Let’s Suppose You Starve To Death And Die Down There.”
“Well, let’s suppose you starve to death and die down there.
If you do, I will build you a monument bigger that George Washington’s
The ugly, Salmon colored 1955 Ford pushed it’s way southward into the cool October breeze. The clutch slipped a little and the 6 cylinder engine wasn’t making happy noises. That was normal for it though. This was only my third day as a full-time evangelist.
Now, it really is kind of funny that I would have considered myself full-time, because I did not have any revivals scheduled, or any invitations. I did not have an exact destination either. I was driving not knowing literally where I was going. I was having an “Abraham” type moment.
Several weeks prior, I had sat in our living room talking with my parents. My Father, Carl Ballestero pastored Christ Temple Apostolic Church in South Bend, IN. He had given me permission to go “on the evangelist field” and I was thrilled with the open door.
Mother asked, when I had thought about leaving? I was sure I would be ready to go in two weeks.
“Where are you going?” she had asked.
“Louisiana!” I had responded, not knowing really why.
“Do you have any revivals scheduled?” she pushed.
I shook my head no.
“And I won’t ask for one either.” I said.
“Then how are you going to get a revival?”
“The same God that helped you and Daddy when you evangelized, will help me too.” There, I had said what I felt. It had just felt good to say that. I could only hope He would.
The year was 1963. I had just quit my job making $1.25 an hour. I had only saved $85.00. That took several weeks for me. But I was confident I could last a while on that. Dad had offered me the use of a gas credit card. I turned him down. He got very serious and said, “Here is one we don’t use. It’s a DX card. Whatever you charge, you’ll have one month to pay for it.” I took it because I saw he really thought I should.
I was 19 and had only preached one revival. It had been a one-week Youth Revival in a Buchanan, MI, a neighboring church.
I had been invited to preach Youth Services occasionally at other churches since I was 16.
Dad and Mom had prayed for me as I was preparing to go, we all had hugged necks and kissed and then I left. Momma cried.
Now I sat watching the road while my heart kept sinking lower and lower. I had used Dad’s DX card for gas. The last two nights I had slept in my car and washed up in the truck stops. It had been easy to blow $5.00 on Dr. Peppers, Moon Pies and Frito’s. They had been my main food source for two days.
The muffler and tailpipe had fallen off at Eldorado, AR. By the time I pulled into Leesville, LA, my alternator and generator had quit, the distributor cap was cracked and the carburetor needed a kit installed. I could not go on.
The service station guy said he would install used parts for me if I got them. I went to the junkyard and bought what I needed. The parts and the labor came to $75.00.
I now had a grand total of $5.00 to my name and I was over a 1,000 miles from home.
A nearby Bank caught my eye. I walked inside and laid my last bill down. “I would like $4.00 in quarters and the rest in nickels and dimes.” I told the teller. With my handful of change, I went to the closest phone booth.
Too proud to ask for help or call collect, I was determined to pay for this call. “Please deposit $3.50,” the operator’s voice instructed me. I did, counting carefully under my breath.
When my Father answered, words hurriedly rolled from my lips. “Daddy, I don’t want you to know where I’m at because I don’t want you to send me any money. I just have a question for you.
I told him of my mechanical misfortunes and that as of right now, I only had $1.50, I didn’t know what I was going to do about supper, where I was going to sleep tonight, or how I was going to get a revival.
“All I want to know is what do you do now?” that was my question.
My ears heard laughter. I listened in disbelief. I couldn’t see any humor in the situation.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t see much humor here Daddy,” was about all I could manage to say.
“Well, let’s suppose you starve to death and die down there. If you do, I will build you a monument bigger that George Washington’s,” was his reply.
Then he laughed some more.
Still held in a serious mood, I could not see anything funny in our conversation.
“Why would you build me a monument bigger than George Washington’s if I starve to death and die,” I wanted to know.
“The reason I’ll build you a monument bigger than George Washington’s if you starve to death and die, will be because you will have been the first man God ever let down.” he said.
“Oh Daddy! Thank You!! I love and I’m so sorry to have called and bothered you! Good bye!” And with that, I hurriedly hung up the phone.
I knelt on the floor in that old phone booth. It was located on the south side of town beside highway US-171 that runs southward towards Lake Charles.
“Lord, if you’ll forgive me for doubting you, I’ll not do that any more.” I said the words with tears running down my cheeks.
To this day I can smell the pine from the logging trucks and hear their engines in my ears as one after another they vibrated my phone booth during my prayer.
When I walked out, I was shocked to run into a familiar face. Pastor Cranford from Sulphur, LA. He had attended my Dad’s Open Bible Conference in March.
“What are you doing here?” he wanted to know.
“I’m starting out evangelizing,” was all I could say.
“Have you had supper?” was his next question.
“No sir.”
“Do you like Cajun Seafood?”
I didn’t know if I did or not because I had never had any Cajun Cooking before. But my hunger pushed me to say, “Oh, Yes sir!”
“Mama’s got a big pot of gumbo on, come home with me.” He invited.
While I ate, what just happened to be, one of the best meals of my life, Bro. Cranford asked if I could preach at the Youth Service that night.
There was no need to check my Calendar. I knew it was empty. I preached that night and He gave me an offering of $14.50. (I didn’t know for sure if there was that much money left in the world.)
After church he called Bro. A.L. O’Brien in Starks. Bro. O’Brien invited me to come to his church. I preached to the youth before church every night before their revival service. The church was in a revival with C.R. Free. I lived in the O’Brien’s home for almost 9 weeks of that revival.
Bro. O’Brien told me that there was a little place down the road called Lunita. A Bro. Kirkland was the pastor and he wanted me to come. I preached 9 nights there, and 16 backsliders prayed through.
Bro. C.W. Shew sent a message to Bro. O’Brien inviting me to come to Ft. Worth, TX. for a revival.
In all, I was gone 9 months before I returned home. Then it was just long enough to trade cars and go back to the next revival.
This year marks my 50th year of preaching. In that time I have been blessed to have preached over 900 revivals or series of services, besides conferences, camps and anniversaries.
The first thing God had to teach me, was actually the first thing he had to teach Israel when then came out of Egypt.
To Trust Him!
My Father taught me one of the most important lessons of my life. Thanks Dad!
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 