Throwing Electronic Eggs And Cyber Tomatoes
Throwing Rotten Electronic Eggs And Cyber Tomatoes
Some of us have lived long enough to remember moments of light persecution to some of our churches in America. I’m not talking about the level of persecution the early church experienced during the days of the apostles. I’m referring to basic hatred and expressions of animosity against the church seen in our lifetime. Maybe some of it was even done in ignorance, but some of it was not.
I have been in services where rotten eggs and tomatoes were thrown at the church building and cars. Brother Hoy Holcomb in Christ Temple Church in South Bend, Indiana got hit on the head with a big rock thrown through the window by neighborhood teens that hated Pentecost. It was bad and very bloody.
I preached a tent revival in Hemphill, Texas in 1964 and sinners came during the night and sprayed acid all over the canvas so that there was nothing but shreds of canvas hanging from the ropes. They had thrown tomatoes and eggs on the cars during the service as well.
Most all of us have heard stories of what Pentecostal pioneers went through in the last century. An encouraging note is that the work of Jesus Christ has always continued to thrive and grow under such persecution.
There are not too many current reports of attacks on the church anymore. Oh, occasionally some sinner kids spin their tires in the parking lots or do some other acts of stupidity. But by-in-large, Pentecostal worship is becoming more and more accepted by the outside world.
Nevertheless eggs and tomatoes are still being thrown. The ones thrown today are mostly “electronic eggs and cyber tomatoes,” as my friend Pastor Jerry Rowley Jr. says.
The people throwing them are not members of another denomination. The throwers are mainly Pentecostal backsliders and holiness rejecters. They throw them because they are mad. They evidently feel a need to trash truth so they can feel justified for leaving it.
They don’t want the Bible telling them how to live or dress, and they sure don’t want a man of God to preach or write anything that touches any area of their life.
They’ve refused to submit to the Word of God. They’ve refused to submit to the man of God. And many of the women have refused to submit to their own husbands.
These evidently are some of the silly women that got ‘led away captive’ that the Bible talks about in 2 Tim. 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
The electronic egg and cyber tomato throwers are the same people who once talked in tongues and dressed godly but have now been turned over to a reprobate mind. They no longer believe the Holy Ghost is necessary and they dress like they’ve never been inside of an Apostolic church in their life. They now throw cyber tomatoes at anyone who still lives what the Book requires.
They once were numbered with the holiness crowd, now they make mockery of all those that still walk holy and humbly before God. It’s unbelievable! They feel no shame, and they cannot blush.
These little modern-day Jezebel’s with painted faces get on their Facebook pages and rail on anyone else that calls their hand. They don’t have it in themselves to say anything to your face when they see you in person. They are only brave when the get in front of their computer screens at home.
They wish to appear to others as a spiritual giant of some kind. They are very sure they know more than their former pastor. They seem to think they know more about Bible interpretation than anyone else. Their comments make everyone think that they alone are right and everyone in the church they’ve left is wrong and unenlightened.
That’s when their true spirit surfaces. How dare any one tell them they are wrong! They reject anyone who calls a spade a spade. How dare a preacher say black is black, and white is white. How dare he say something is actually wrong. He is being mean when he calls sin a sin. He is harsh if he enforces a standard.
These cyber tomato throwers write about good movies they went to see. They try to give presents of jewelry to the folks still in church. They show off their bathing suits and slacks. They dye their hair purple and act like everyone else has a problem. They can’t cry and worship like they once did because it would smear their makeup.
They are proud of their new tattoos and want you to see them. They are not ashamed. They are proud of their deliverance from bondage, as they call it. The guys can’t wait to show off their new facial hair.
They make jabs at holiness every chance they get. If a young lady dresses godly, they call her a grandma.
One prayerful and modest dressing young woman I know was referred to as “Virgin Mary” because she didn’t wish to be included in their carnal activities.
I am tired of listening to their justifications. I don’t wish to debate with a deluded mind. The Bible says for me not to even eat with them and I won’t.
I can’t tell you that I have ever seen anyone go charismatic and come back repentant or get restored. I am not saying it can’t happen, I am saying I haven’t seen it. No wonder the Bible says, after the second admonition… reject.
Do you know who comments on these rotten egg thrower’s posts and then helps toss electronic eggs? Other backsliders. They won’t call themselves backsliders because they attend a church.
It’s a compromising church with a backslidden pastor that lets them live like they want and dress just like the world. They have a hireling for a pastor and they love it like that. But in their mind, it’s a church.
Their Facebook pages wouldn’t look any different if they were members of a Methodist or Presbyterian Church. What a sham and reproach! The sad thing is, they still feel saved. God has turned them over to a reprobate mind.
They are not content to just go away. They are not content to avoid holiness preachers in the mall. They are not content to be classified as truth rejecters. They have to turn around and throw their rotten cyber tomatoes at those that are still living a life separated unto Him. It helps them feel justified in doing what they are doing. It really makes them feel good.
What about all the folks that love to connect with these egg throwers? At General Conferences, some get real buddy-buddy with them. They wine and dine them. Some even connect with them on Facebook and send sweet messages back and forth. Their Inbox stays busy. But they are not the same people they were years ago.
You are not going to change them. They just might change you. Go ahead, laugh with them, chit-chat and watch as they continue to throw electronic eggs and cyber tomatoes at the good guys. You are setting your self up to be one of them if you are not careful. That spirit will get off on you if you keep hanging around them. Run, don’t walk. Get away from them. They are tools of Satan. You will be to, if you are not careful.
I’m afraid for some the final chapter of ‘throwing’ has not yet begun. If God’s Word is still true, He is going to do some throwing Himself in ‘that’ day when He throws some into a lake a fire.
2Pet. 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2Pet. 2:10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2Pet. 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
2Pet. 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2Pet. 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2Pet. 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
2Pet. 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pet. 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
2Pet. 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
Remember this when the electronic rotten eggs and the cyber tomatoes start flying. They haven’t rejected us as saints or as preachers, they have rejected Him. The horrible truth will be declared in the Judgment when they finally realize God has rejected them.
The Message Has Never Changed. It’s Still… Holiness Or Hell.
Making Melody In Your Heart
Making Melody In Your Heart
Eph. 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
This verse is among the Paul’s final words to the church family in Ephesus. It is cloistered sweetly amid his fatherly farewell.
Paul, in a later epistle admonishes the saints of Philippi to rejoice aloud unto the Lord all the days of our life.
Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord I: and again I say, Rejoice.
Paul promoted vocal worship in the house of God. But while writing to the good folks in Ephesus, he shows a side of himself, which is most revealing. Paul evidently made a melody in his heart even in his darkest moments.
In those few words, he wrote of the importance of singing on the inside. He encouraged all of us to have a song in our heart, and if there was no song, then to make a song. Make a melody in your heart.
This encouragement came from a man who had been through the worst events that hell could manufacture. But he didn’t stop singing. When he couldn’t sing on the outside, he was doing it on the inside.
- We knew him as a Missionary.
- We love him as a writer.
- We read about him as a preacher.
- But Paul the singer?
- Who knew?
Paul Kept Humming A Song.
2Cor. 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Cor. 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Paul Still Kept On Humming.
2Cor. 11:23… in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
2Cor. 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
2Cor. 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
2Cor. 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
2Cor. 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
2Cor. 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Paul Never Stopped Humming.
No matter what he had been through, he never allowed his circumstances to shut down his inner praise machine.
The story of Paul and Silas perfectly shows how quick Paul was to make melody in his heart unto the Lord. In spite of his pain, he sang.
Even though he had been beaten, his melody maker was still working. Even though he was falsely accused and imprisoned he had a melody going on in his heart.
- It was that melody that caused the earth to shake.
- It was that melody that caused all of the prisoner’s chains to come off.
- It was that melody that opened the prison’s doors for them.
- It’s unimaginable what can come out of having a melody in your heart.
My precious and godly parents sang a song many years ago written by Ira Stanphill. It’s words still echo inside my heart.
You Can have A Song In Your Heart In The Night
Ira Stanphill
1. You can have a melody down in your heart
When it’s aching, almost breaking
Even though the sorrow makes the teardrop start
You can have a melody down in your heart.
CHORUS
You can have a song in your heart in the night,
After every trial, after every mile
Anyone can sing when the sun’s shining bright
But you need a song in your heart at night.
2. Do not let your worries drive your song away,
Though tomorrow brings its sorrow
Just remember after night time comes the day
Do not let your worries drive your song away.
3. Soon the night will pass and morning bring the day
I am longing for its dawning
Until then we’ll labour here and watch and pray
Soon the night will pass and morning bring the day.
Good For Nothing
Good For Nothing
The Master Chef added a bit more salt. He took his special spoon and tasted the sauce. It still didn’t taste right. He’d never had to put that much salt into this recipe before. What was wrong? He added another teaspoon of salt, and still he couldn’t taste it.
In frustration, the chef took a pinch of salt and touched his lips and his tongue. Nothing, but a grainy feeling, no salt taste! He took the container of salt and threw it into the trash. Then he reached into his pantry and found some more salt to finish his sauce.
Is this the story of a cook having a bad day in the kitchen? No, not really. It’s actually worse than that. It’s a story that comes close to home. It comes real close to home.
Matt. 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
As Holy Ghost filled people we are directly told right here that we are the salt of the earth. Our lives are to have a heavenly flavor that influences every thing we touch and everyone we come in contact with. The world becomes flavored and blessed just by our presence. That’s why God placed us where He did.
- Jacob’s presence greatly blessed Laban financially.
- Joseph’s presence in Egypt got them through the famine.
- Daniel’s presence in Babylon was God’s voice to a heathen world.
Imagine God using you to influence a person or even a group of people. As long as there is enough Holy Ghost difference in your life, you will be effective. God chose the effectiveness of you changed life to be a witness and a testimony to a lost world. People notice the difference the Holy Ghost makes in a life.
Salt has to be salty to be effective. If salt tastes the same as the food it’s put into, there will be no change. The same is true in your life. If you are just like the world, where’s the saltiness? Where is the difference?
- You dress like the world.
- You look like the world.
- You get the same things done at the beauty shop as the world does.
- You sing all the world’s songs.
- You know all the world’s ‘in’ phrases.
- You talk like the world.
- You know all the world’s movie stars.
- You go to the movies with the world.
- You go to the games with the world.
- You go to the wine shelf and buy alcohol like the world.
- You get upset and say the same words the world says.
- You commit adultery and fornication like the world.
- You tell others off like the world does.
- You wear immodest clothes like the world.
- Your pictures on Facebook look just like the worlds.
- Your interests on Facebook are the same as the worlds.
- You wear jewelry like the world.
- You wear makeup like the world.
- You wear clothes that show some of your breast like the world does.
- You wear form-fitting apparel that leaves nothing to the imagination like the world does.
- You were your tight dresses above you knees like the world does.
- You lay out in the yard in a bathing suit like the world.
- You talk in a suggestive manner to the opposite sex like the world does.
- You women put on some form of pants like the world to go to the gym and work out.
- You men wear shorts like the world to play ball and work out.
- You talk all the sports talk like the world.
- You know all the sports statistics like the world.
- The world feels comfortable enough around you to tell you their jokes.
- The world feels safe around you and calls you one of the guys.
Too many have forgotten that although we are in the world, we are not to be of the world.
The bad news is, you have lost your saltiness. The bad news gets worse, there is no way you can be re-salted. Your testimony is history. It’s gone. It’s over. After you have done all that, how do you go about starting over and getting re-salted? I can’t help you, and even though I feel I am a preacher of mercy, the words of Jesus on the subject don’t seem to give a lot of hope.
According the Matt 5:13, The Master Chef is left with only one option when He finds that the salt is no longer salty. Salt that is no longer salty, is good for nothing.
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Addendum:
In response to personal queries concerning my intent:
It is not my wish to tell any backslider or a prodigal that they are ‘good for nothing’. Jesus readily reached for the wayward, as evidenced by the stories of the prodigal, the lost sheep, and the good Samaritan, etc. We willingly reach for them as well we should.
The point here is that while some claim to be in church, they still do all that the world does. Their testimony is not good anymore.They’ve lost their salt.
The folks we call Backsliders know they need to repent. Compromisers don’t and won’t.
Surviving Your Nightmare
Surviving Your Nightmare
Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. Worse than that, events happen that knock your feet out from under you. The pain is like a nightmare that won’t stop. Thank God we have the Holy Ghost, a church, a pastor, a Bible, family and friends to help us through. Job didn’t.
What happened in the book of Job is hard for human minds to fathom. The book starts out with a special meeting. The sons of God came before the Lord. Satan came also.
The Lord asked Satan where he’d been and what he’d been doing, then the next question He asked was, “What do you think about my servant Job?
Unbeknown to Job, he was God’s favorite person in the whole world. Being God’s favorite has the greatest of benefits. God loved him so much He put a hedge around him.
Satan was sure that Job only served God for the financial blessings. God gave Satan permission to find out for sure.
Satan’s First Day Of Trying To Destroy Job.
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Satan took Job’s most prized possessions in one day.
- His Beloved Children
- His Herds
- His Wealth
- All Gone in One Day
Satan’s Second Day Of Trying To Destroy Job.
Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
Job 2:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
Job 2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
Job 2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
Satan Attacked Job physically. He couldn’t make him curse God by destroying his possessions and his family. He was still reeling from the loss of his children and his financial empire. But Satan wasn’t done. His second attack on Job was physically and emotionally. Physically with the boils, and emotionally with critical ‘friends.’
- Boils
- Critical And Fault Finding Friends
By this time, Job is feeling pain in every part of his body and soul. His own wife pushes him to reject God. She has had it with living for God. Job was not a weak man and would not budge.
He kept trusting God and said, Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
Job vowed to maintain his ways. He promised God he would keep on doing what he’s always been doing… serving the Lord.
In the end, God blessed Job with double what he had before, yes and double the number of children too.
There may be days in your walk with God that you feel what you are going through is an attack from Satan. You may be very well right.
I can only imagine how devastating it is to feel the cold icy hands of Satan trying to destroy you in your labor for the Lord. I am sure it is very easy to focus on the pain he has inflicted upon your life. Pain comes in many forms, such as the loss of finances, the loss of health, the loss of friendships, and the loss of life. It is a very personal nightmare to watch him tear down everything you have built.
On top of all the pain that Satan brings, he will talk trash to your mind as well. He will tell you that you are, “Out of the will of God. God hates you. You have sinned in the past and this is God’s judgment upon you. You are not qualified to be in the work of the Lord. Get out now.”
He will push you to resign whatever office or position you have in the Kingdom of God. He will tell you to withdraw and lick your wounds. He will tell you that you are not loved or appreciated either.
Satan plays dirty. He is not a gentleman. He will kick you when you are down. He did it to Job, and Job didn’t even have the Holy Ghost.
I am not sure that Job even knew he was God’s favorite man in the whole world. I don’t think that he even knew God had his picture hanging on heaven’s wall. Job didn’t know he was heaven most prized earthly possession. All Job knew about was the pain. He hurt so bad, that pain was all he could see.
To those of us today who feel the harshness of Satan’s handiwork in our lives, I wish to remind you of these things:
- Don’t believe Satan’s Lies.
- God does not hate you. In fact He loves you dearly.
- If pain and problems mean you are out of the will of God, then the Apostle Paul never was in the will of God.
- Job was God’s favorite and he still went through this and God brought him out victorious.
- God’s loves you. You enjoy a better relationship with Him than just being on in His list of Favorites, You are His Child.
- He will bring you out victorious, just like He did Job.
- God knows what you are going through. He has not forgotten where you are.
- He will bring you out
- He will give you back all that the enemy has taken from you… and more!
You Are God’s Favorite Child, In Spite Of What Satan Does.
God Has A Hedge Built All Around You.
It’s God Who Is In Control Of Your Situation.
Be Faithful Like Job, And He Will Bring You Through Your Nightmare.
You Will Survive, In Jesus Name!
Preaching To The Right-Ear
Preaching To The Right-Ear
The right-ear advantage has come to light in recent tests done in Europe. Dr. Luca Tommasi and Daniele Marzoli from the University “Gabriele d’Annunzio” in Chieti, Italy had a young woman ask random strangers in a disco for a cigarette in a 2009 experiment. The clubbers were almost twice as likely to hand over a cigarette if the request was made in the right ear whether they were male or a female.
They demonstrated that the right ear shows dominance in responding to verbal stimuli. The brain’s left hemisphere has superiority for processing verbal information. The way the human body is configured; the right ear is connected to the left-brain, so when you talk to people they process it different from when they read or get information from online websites or advertising that business do with marketing companies as WordTree online.
When trying to listen to someone speak in a noisy situation it is common to turn your head to present one ear closer to the person speaking.
The left-brain reasons and responds more often to requests. If you want to get something done, talk to people in their right ear. That’s known as the ‘right ear’ advantage.
- Apologies are received better in the right ear than the left ear.
- Requests to perform tasks around the house are received better in the right ear.
- People are more helpful when you speak into their right ear.
- Selling to the right ear is more productive than the left. If more than two are dining, the sales person should sit to the right of the decision-maker.
Left brain language dominance, which is responsible for producing the right ear advantage, is present in about 90% of people.
If a wives and husbands make their requests into their spouse’s right ear, scientists believe they will have a much better chance of getting what the want. The same is true for parents and teachers talking to children.
That then brings me to the subject of preaching. I know the Bible says ‘he that hath an ear let him hear’ seven different times.
Do you suppose we should find a way to preach to the congregation’s right ear? You know, like placing powerful P.A. Speakers on the right side of the auditorium so their right ear can hear?
We have a lot of preaching going on today and not many people seem to be changing. Do you suppose some folks have been listening at church with the left ear? Maybe that’s the problem. They might change if we can preach to their right ear, because the left isn’t listening!
References:
1. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623090705.htm
2. http://www.spring.org.uk/2009/06/persuasion-the-right-ear-advantage.php
4. http://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog/articles/right-side-selling.htm
5. http://the-gist.org/2011/03/talk-to-the-right-because-the-left-isn%E2%80%99t-listening/
Are We Mistaken About The ‘Separation From The World’ Concept?
Are We Mistaken About The ‘Separation From The World’ Concept?
That’s a strange sounding question from a holiness minded preacher! Hear me out.
The intriguing story of Abraham’s journey with God begins with his being called out and away from his homeland. His walk of faith is carefully chronicled for our spiritual guidance and strength. He staggered not at the promises of God and we honor him as the father of the faithful, and rightly so.
Today, it seems we wish to identify with Abraham only up to a certain point. The present day generation does not wish to leave the world behind to follow Jesus. We desire to live the same as always, and yet claim to be different.
The idea of coming out of the world and away from the old life of sin is found throughout the Word of God. It’s nothing new.
- Israel came out of Egypt.
- Elisha left father and mother to follow Elijah.
- Ruth left her people and her gods to follow Naomi.
- New Testament disciples heard Jesus speak the words Follow Me and they did just that.
These and other stories serve as types and illustrations for Holy Ghost believers. These examples aid us in our desire to leave the world behind and follow Jesus.
The saints of old sang choruses like, “I’m Leaving All To Follow Jesus.” Sadly, today many do not wish to give up much to follow Jesus. They sang:
I’m leaving all to follow Jesus,
I am turning from this world away.
Oh, I still rely upon His promise,
And all I have is His today.
Some of the old saints had to walk away from their families. Some had to leave their jobs. Jesus said unless you love me on this level, you are not worthy to be my disciple.
The word church in the Bible means, called out. That’s what we are supposed to be, called out! We are called out of the world. All that are a part of God’s church are called out.
Most of my generation grew up hearing preachers and old saints quote scriptures like:
2Cor. 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you
Rev. 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Why is it we don’t hear verses like these quoted anymore? Evidently it’s just not comfortable to the ears of those who feel they are living in an age of spiritual enlightenment.
There is a lesson to be learned here from Israel. When they wandered in the wilderness, they never seemed to stop complaining.
- They complained about the leadership.
- (They still do that today.)
- They complained about the food.
- (That’s common today too.)
- They complained so much that God sent fiery serpents among them.
Yet I fail to find where they ever complained about what God gave them as dress codes or dietary restrictions. Actually, they seemed to revel in their lifestyle. They never complained about their ‘holiness’ standards. They lived a much more conservative lifestyle than the world around them.
Today, holiness is the first thing worldly-minded saints complain about. It makes one wonder if we even know God as well as Israel did in the wilderness? Why are so many turned off by the word holiness? Whatever happened to “be ye holy even as I am holy”? We sing popular choruses about God’s holiness and often our life and dress don’t match the words we sing.
We tell our selves that we are separated from the world. We pride ourselves in not doing things the world does. Yet while we brag about our separation, we seem to be getting more and more distant from Him in the process.
How is this happening? What’s going on here? Why is it that Pentecostals who have been baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost, do not wish to live holy? They want the Holy Spirit, but don’t want the holy living.
There was a day when modesty was accepted and expected in the church as well as the world. We call it holiness today; our grandmothers called it common decency back then. That’s how far we’ve gone down hill.
God is constant. He never changes. The world, on the other hand, is on a fast slippery slope going away from God.
For as long as I can remember, we have used the world to gauge our holiness lifestyle and standards. Therein, I’m afraid, may be part of the problem. We judge our spiritual condition by looking at the world, and then looking at our distance from the world. We think that by not doing what the world is presently doing we are justified.
It is very unsettling to see church folk doing today with good conscience what sinners looked down upon years ago. What has happened is that while we’ve attempted to keep the world at arms length, we’ve gotten our eyes off of Jesus and have unwittingly distanced ourselves from Him. The world is sliding down a slippery slope. I pray we don’t follow.
The World drifting away from God
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The Church drifting away from God but separated from the World
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The Church separated unto God
What would happen to us as the body of Christ if we like Paul separated ourselves unto Him rather than separate ourselves from the world? What if we turned our eyes upon Jesus and only looked at Him. What if we determined within ourselves to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified?
Are we hung up on the concept of separation from the world only? If we are, I am afraid we will continue to drift farther and farther away from Him. Let us all stand with the Apostle Paul and choose to be separated unto God regardless of what the world does!
God is going to have a church that loves holiness. I plan to be part of it. Will you join me?
Rom. 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Her Name’s “Marcia June”
Her Name’s “Marcia June”
By Martyn Ballestero
She always wraps us up,
In the comfort of her home.
With smiles that hold our soul,
And won’t let it feel alone.
Nothing ever can compare
To her plates of comfort food.
Every heart and tummy knows,
With her cooking, it was wooed.
We are drawn into her den
Of coziness and rest.
There she warms our hearts with words,
It’s good living at it’s best.
Her couch and Queen Anne chairs
Soothe her guest’s attention spans.
Pretty pillows great and small,
Compliment the old Afghans
The fireplace is her love,
It’s warmed her heart the most.
There she likes to entertain,
She loves to be the host.
With calm and peaceful ways
She serves and pampers us.
Ever giving of herself
Without the muss or fuss.
She holds court upon her porch,
Where she reigns with cups of tea.
Making memories for life,
With folks like you and me.
Her husband beams with pride
Knowing she is just the best.
All her children quickly say,
Because of her, they’re blest.
Her front door stands open wide,
So friends can just drop by,
Just to get their daily dose.
That she’s loved, is not a lie.
Little children laugh and play
Glad to be at home with her.
With her gentle and calm voice,
She’s the one who they prefer.
All that know her love her dear.
(She can sing the sweetest tune.)
It’s with joy I tell you now,
Her name’s Marcia June!
The Night I Almost Won The Lottery
The Night I Almost Won The Lottery
The winning numbers for the Hoosier Lottery were being announced. The lady reported each number as it was randomly drawn. “15, 6, 21, 18, 7” then she paused as the Powerball number came up… “3,” she finally said.
That’s when I woke up. It was five o’clock on a Saturday morning. I’d never played the lottery before, let alone dreamed about the lottery. This was kind of weird.
I had prayed about a money situation in out church the night before. It was true; we sure would breathe easier if we had a few more nickels in the church piggy bank.
But why had I dreamt about the lottery? That wasn’t an option, surely. Was God using His foreknowledge to give me the winning numbers for Saturday’s Lottery? Was God trying to help me win the $110 million?
But I’d have to buy a lottery ticket first. I couldn’t do that. No, God doesn’t work like that. I knew that, but then, why did I dream this dream? What was the purpose? It was so real it had awakened me.
The numbers were very clear and vivid in my brain; 15, 6, 21,18, 7 and the Powerball number was 3, I couldn’t forget that. I couldn’t get them out of my mind. So I wrote them all down on a piece of paper sitting on my nightstand and went back to sleep.
At 8am, still not sure why, I put the piece of paper with the numbers in my wallet and left for the Memorial Hospital. I had a full day of hospital visits and other calls to make. I was gone most of the day.
I sat at the breakfast table the next morning eating a Danish and drinking coffee while I scanned the front page of the South Bend Tribune’s Sunday Edition. At the bottom of the front page, the winning numbers of Saturday’s lottery were printed in bold letters.
The Winning Hoosier Lottery Numbers!! I sat my coffee cup down and reached for my wallet. I held my breath as I unfolded the paper. A sinking feeling came over me. I hadn’t bought a Lottery ticket. I hadn’t had time to even think about the Lottery. I’d been busy all day. Even if these numbers matched, I still wouldn’t win because I didn’t buy a ticket. Now what was God going to do? He tried to help.
I laid the newspaper flat on the table where I could see the numbers and laid the unfolded piece of paper beside it so I could verify the matching numbers.
Then I begin to grin. A smile crept across my face by the time I got to the second number. I was laughing out loud when I finished reading all the numbers. When I read the Powerball number my shoulders were shaking with laughter. I actually wiped a tear of laughter from one eye.
Not one number matched. Nothing! Nada! Zero! Zilch! Zip! I couldn’t wait to tell the church Sunday morning about my crazy dream.
For as long as any of us can remember, there are some that believe in every dream they have. It is as though they are so spiritual, that all their dreams are prophecies from God.
Face it. There are some important dreams that come from God. Those we should never ignore. But not every dream we dream is from God. Some times we have dreams that come from Pizza Hut or Taco Bell.
A good rule of thumb about dreams is not to get up and say, “God gave me a dream.” Rather, just tell a dream as a dream. Just because we had a dream doesn’t mean it came from God. Actually most of our dreams do not come from God.
Am I preaching against dreams? No, don’t be foolish. But I am sincere in warning all of us that every dream we get is not from God, especially if the dream attempts to lead us away from Him.
Lesson I have learned: If I have a dream… and I can see it’s not from God, I just tell it as a dream. Then I laugh at myself if it’s funny.
My Heroes Can’t Fly
My Heroes Can’t Fly
In the seventh grade I heard about a baseball player named Mickey Mantle during gym class. Although I knew nothing about sports, I became impressed with stories of his ability from listening to the guys in my class talk. My family never got into sports, so I had no sports heroes, although Mickey Mantle came the closest in 1957.
I was a voracious reader. I read whole sections of books in the school libraries. I went to 26 schools growing up, so I had a great supply. Early on, I developed a taste for history. I read of Kings, knights, inventors, discoverers, countrymen and statesmen. I was amazed by their abilities, but they never made it to the hero department of my heart.
Then I found an interest in early American history. I loved reading about explorers and trailblazers. Indian stories especially held me captive. I also found great delight in reading cowboy stories. I especially liked Bro. Louis L’Amour.
They put me in a college literature class when I was in then 10th grade. I was pushed to read the classics and was delighted by what I’d read. All of those authors and poets enlightened me with their pens, but there weren’t any of them I could call my ‘hero’.
I never read comic books as a kid, so the efforts of Marvel’s Comic Books to create heroes that could fly, scale tall buildings and have X-Ray vision were lost on me. Oh sure, I heard about Superman, Spiderman and the like. But they weren’t my heroes either.
My father was the man who stood out the most in my life. To this day I quote him. Actually, every sermon I preach I do my best to include something my “dad use to say.” He was a prince among preachers. A pulpiteer, yes, but an anointed pulpiteer. He surrounded himself with quality men. Each one capable of preaching in anybody’s conference. Yes, my Dad is still my Hero. There are some others that are too. Most of my heroes were preachers, and they still are.
That brings me to my present day heroes. (I am considered by most to be an old man by now, but I still have heroes.) You might be caught off guard when I honestly tell you that my heroes today are heroes that can’t fly like superman.
My baby sister, Nila and her husband Eric Marxer are my heroes!
They will probably be mortified just to see their names in print. They would NEVER consider themselves in that class at all. Nevertheless, I’ve put them on my heart’s pedestal, and I won’t take them down.
Let me tell you why. I don’t wish to give out too much information, nor bore you with a few of the facts.
The things people overcome in life determine the achievement of their hero status. Heroes are familiar with fighting battles.
Eric Marxer: Let me tell you a little bit about him.
- He was born into a single parent home.
- The oldest of two boys
- Never knew anything about his father, not even his name.
- Was treated harshly by his male relatives and made to work harder on their farms than a child should.
- He was never shown love and affection like most children.
- Had a thirst for knowledge and went to college.
- Played football for his State University.
- After graduation he joined the Marines.
- He rose quickly in rank.
- A fellow Marine named Paul Blotto won him to the Lord, which further alienated him from his Lutheran family.
- While still in the Marines, he married my sister Nila.
Wedding of Eric & Nila Marxer
- He felt his call into the ministry, and is a wonderful minister of the Gospel.
- Soon after his discharge from the military, he became self-employed.
- He started his own company and sold (and repaired) copiers and office equipment.
- His ability to read schematics later landed him a job working in the aircraft industry.
- His military aircraft training and understanding plus his teaching ability soon found him flying around the world teaching others how to repair the electronics of commercial aircraft.
- Most commercial planes have a repair manual that is at least 12 chapters in length. Each chapter is a minimum of 2,000 pages. Every chapter is written by an engineer.
- Eric is the only non-engineer known to be given his own chapter to write.
- Each chapter is graded and tested for accuracy.
- Eric’s chapters have had the highest rating of them all… 99.99% accuracy.
- His was so good, that the President of Boeing Aircraft flew down to Southern California just to take him out to lunch and say thanks.
- Eric has amazing recall of what he has read.
- He is an amazing teacher in church and out.
- He rises by about 4:00 am and is soon out the door to go to work, hoping to beat most of the SoCal traffic.
- His youngest child, Erica, graduates with her second degree in a couple of days.
- His two sons have already graduated.
- Eric has had a problem with high blood pressure that no doctor has been able to keep under control in over 25 years.
- He also has major problems with sugar diabetes.
- He has spent more days in the hospital than he wants to remember.
- A year or so ago, due to complications, he went into kidney failure.
- Eric was then put on dialysis.
- With Peritoneal dialysis. (A port is inserted in the stomach cavity.) This dialysis can be performed at home. Even while you sleep.
- All was well, but then the procedure ruptured, sending him into emergency surgery.
- Hemodialysis was the next option. (A port was inserted in the jugular vein for dialysis and stayed there until the rupture in the stomach cavity healed.)
- This required him going to the hospital three or more times a week spending five-hour sessions each time.
- In the meantime, Eric went through procedures and operations to prepare him for a kidney transplant.
- (In the Los Angeles area, the average waiting list time for a kidney transplant is 8 years.) Many have died on a waiting list that long.
- After the rupture healed, he was put on the Peritoneal dialysis again.
- It ruptured after a few weeks.
- Back then to the Hemodialysis.
- As of today, we’re back on the Peritoneal again.
- I don’t know how much Eric makes where he works, but it is not what he is worth, I’m sure.
- It’s probably a modest amount by some Los Angles area standards.
- The insurance co-pay keeps eating away at his paycheck several times a week. It’s more than you would believe.
- Times are not easy for Eric.
- Money, strength and time have become precious commodities.
- He knows he needs a miracle to survive.
- He knows he needs a miracle to get another kidney.
- He knows he just needs a miracle.
- But no one ever sees him complain.
- His body often is so wracked with pain he can hardly stand up straight.
- Eric hasn’t lived a normal, pain-free life for years.
- He has the kindest and best spirit of any man you ever want to meet.
- With all his amazing gifts, he never promotes himself and seems to be content to let others have the limelight.
- He’s a man of many talents and he keeps a sweet spirit through his painful trial, but he still can’t fly.
Nila Marxer – Just look at the load she carries.
- As busy wives and mothers go, Nila works about the hardest.
- Most women would struggle to keep up with Nila or walk in her shoes for a day.
- She gets up early with her husband to assist in getting him off to work; hours before the sun come up.
Nila Marxer
- She helps care for Eric, who although very independent in caring for himself, sometimes is too weak to get out of bed.
- Our 89-year-old Mother, Content Ballestero lives in their remodeled garage. A bedroom, bathroom and sitting make up her apartment.
- Nila is the Care Giver for Mom.
- Mother has dementia. Her short-term memory is gone.
- Mother can no longer carry on a normal conversation.
- All of Mother’s personal needs and grooming fall Nila’s responsibility.
- Mother constantly wants to take her hair down, or run her fingers or even a comb through her hair.
- If left alone Mom may do it for an hour or two. The hard combing makes her hair come out and it’s already too thin.
- Nila may comb Mother’s hair for church, then go dress herself, come back in 15 minutes and find that Mom has taken her hair down again. Then she has to comb Mom’s hair one more time for church, making her late.
- The short-term memory is so bad that Nila will have to answer the same questions dozens of times a day. Questions like: What day is it? Is there church tonight? What’s going on?
- At Mom’s 89th birthday, April the 10th of this year, she didn’t know any of her children’s names.
- Mom didn’t even know her own name.
Mom And Nila
- When she saw me sitting in the room, she asked Nila, “Who’s that man?”
- Nila has to help Mom in and out of her sitting chair many times a day.
- After sitting only a few moments in her chair she will struggle to get back up. Not remembering that she has just sat down.
- Nila is a first class cook. The girl knows how to bake. She always seems to have something cooking or baking.
- She has learned how to manage and make do.
- To help supplement the family income and try to fight against rising costs of the needs of her children, her husband and her mom, Nila takes in sewing.
- There is no finer seamstress than Nila.
- Bridal Shops have sent her clients that want a custom gown (no pattern) and Nila will design it in grand style. She has sewn for weddings for years.
- Still needing more money because of medical needs, tuition, mortgage, food, and other needs, Nila works an outside job when she can, and if she can find someone to watch Mom for a few hours that day.
- Nila doesn’t know what it’s like to walk around Wal-Mart by herself or go shopping at a leisurely pace. She has no personal time. She gives herself completely to others.
- Her personal batteries seem to have no visible way to be recharged.
- It even has fallen her lot to do the plumbing repairs and other home maintenance.
- She had to handle the home mortgage refinancing recently.
- Nila is on rotation to play the piano at her church.
- She has even written Musicals and Easter plays for the church.
- Nila is the last one to go to bed at night. Making sure that her loved ones are taken care of.
- In all of her labors of love, Nila tries to smile. She is so patient with our Mom.
- She is very attentive to her husband and her children.
- She doesn’t complain, even when it seems like she sure has a right to.
- Nila has performed amazingly under stress and duress. She is highly gifted and can do anything, but she can’t fly.
No, Neither Eric Marxer Nor His Beautiful Wife Nila Can Fly. But Someday They Will!
My Heroes: Nila & Eric Marxer
Oops, You Just Asked The Wrong Person!
Oops, You Just Asked The Wrong Person!
Case #1
“Hey Larry, it’s me again, Dave. I hate to call you a second time in two hours, but you gave such good advice the first time and I need help again! This a real emergency this time, (but don’t tell anybody I called!)
I’m calling you again because that fishing hole you told me about was awesome! We’d nearly caught our limit after only fishing about 40 minutes. So I know I can trust you to give good advice. You wouldn’t steer me wrong.
“But while we were pulling them in, I got this call from the Chief ordering the Bomb Squad to handle a ‘situation” at the High School. Since I am the squad leader on the team, it’s my job to defuse the bomb they found in the principal’s office.
“I need you to give me some advice. What I need to know is do I cut the red wire or the blue? It’s very important. If I cut the wrong wire, it will blow up. The timer says I have 2 minutes and 14 seconds left.
“I’m embarrassed to ask anyone in the Department. They would fire me for not knowing.
“I know I can trust you. OK, red, or blue? A lot of lives are depending on this!”
Case #2
“Tom, I’m in Surgery right now. And I’ve run into an issue here. We’ve been in OR for 3 hours already and I’ve got patient with a tumor behind their left eye. I think it might be malignant. It’s attached itself to the back of the eyeball.
“You’re my brother-in-law and my best friend. A lot is on the line here. I don’t want the patient to lose their sight. I sure don’t want to be sued for malpractice, am well aware of Xarelto lawsuit news.
“Do you know offhand, should I try to remove the tumor, or just leave it and opt for radiation?
“Also… the horizontal limb of the intraparietal sulcus begins from the junction of the lower and connects with the middle third of the postventral sulcus and curves backward parallel to the longitudinal fissure, midway between it and the parietal eminence. Do you know if that is normal?
Some nurses and a couple of doctors are watching here. I got to do something quick. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”
Case #3
“Betty, I’m glad you came. I’m trying to make chicken and sausage gumbo for supper, and I need help making the roux. I’ve somehow lost my mother’s recipe and no one else seems to know.
“Also, I would like to make a Crème Brule for desert. Can you help me?”
“I’m sorry ma’am,” says a little voice, “I’m just selling Girl Scout Cookies door to door. Besides, I’m only eight years old and mama doesn’t let me cook yet.
“Would you like to buy some cookies? They’re really good!”
†††
As ridiculous as cases 1-3 seem, they are actually too common among some church members. What is sad, is that we know better, yet we do it anyway.
There seems to be a mindset that rejects asking the pastor’s advice. Instead, in a quest for answers and solutions about things that have direct bearing on our soul’s future, we turn from the Godly advice of our man of God and ask our carnal friends. Even worse, we ask our sinner friends.
Oh, they were our best friends for a long time in the world. As a friend, they always gave good practical advice. So we feel safe asking them about spiritual things even though the friend is not in church.
Have good people forgotten that in the Bible, even Kings, well especially the God-fearing Kings, asked the Prophets for advice.
No Prophet ever went to battle with a sword that I recall offhand. Yet King after King asked the man of God for his advice about going to war. He wanted the man of God to pray and find God’s will.
The King felt safer including God in his plans. We should too.
God has a problem when His people ask sinners and other carnal people for advice, especially if it includes spiritual things. After all, we are no longer our own, but His. We are bought with a price.
The Scriptures still means what they say.
Psa. 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa. 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
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 