" UNBELIEVERS "

Good Morning to you welcome and come on in, and sit awhile. This week my Lord and Savior impressed upon me to share with you on the subject of " UNBELIEVERS. " So buckle in and let's get started. Open up your hearts and your minds as this is important. Why God's plan is hidden to the unbelievers. The Holy Spirit comforts and guides us who know and Love him as our Lord and Personal Savior. Knowing the wonderful and eternal future that awaits us gives us hope and courage to press on in this life, to endure hardship, and to avoid giving in to temptation. This world is not all there is. The best is yet to come. Now the Bible refers to the " Depths Of God " and this refers to God's unfathomable nature and his wonderful plan, Jesus' death and resurrection -and to the promise of salvation, revealed only to those who believe that what God says is true. Those who believe in Christ's death and resurrection and put their faith in him will know all they need to know to be saved. Now, this knowledge, however can't be grasped by even the wisest people unless they accept God's message. All who reject God's message are foolish, no matter how wise the world thinks they are. Jesus didn't ask God to take believers out of the world but instead to use them in the world. Because Jesus sends us into the world, we should not try to escape from the world, nor should we avoid all relationship with Non-Christians. We are called to be SALT and LIGHT (Matthew 5:13-16), and we are to do the work that God sent us to do. Eternal Punishment takes place in Hell ( The Lake Of Fire, or Gehenna), the place of punishment after death for all those who refuse to repent. Now, in the Bible, these words are used in connection with Eternal Punishment. (1) Sheol, or "The Grave," is used in the Old Testament to mean the place of the dead, generally thought to be under the earth. (see Job 24:19; Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 38:10). (2) Hades is the Greek word for the underworld, the realm of the dead. It is the word used in the New Testament for Sheol. (see Matthew 16:18;20:13-14). (3) Gehenna, or Hell, was named after the valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem where children were sacrificed by fire to pagan gods (see 2 Kings 28:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3). This is the place of Eternal Fire ( Matthew 5:22; 10:28; Mark 9:43; Luke 12:5; James 3:6; Rev 19:20) prepared for the devil, his angels, and all those who do not believe in God (25:46; Revelation 20:9-10). This is the final and eternal state of the wicked after the resurrection and the Last Judgment. When Jesus warns against unbelief, he is trying to save us from agonizing punishment. Until Next Time... Jim,

" FELLOWSHIP "

Welcome Aboard, This is the day that our Lord has made and therefore I will not complain rain nor shine.I am a blessed man as I fellowship with a very special group of men. Men who know and understand the Word Of God and I am grateful for their Christian-Like Warrior Faith. Their prowess is unmatched in my book. John wrote about us having fellowship with other believers. There are three principles behind True Christian Fellowship. First our fellowship is grounded in the testimony of God's Word. Without this underlying strength, togetherness is impossible. second, it is mutual, depending on the unity of believers. Third, it is renewed daily through the Holy Spirit. True fellowship combines social and spiritual interaction, and it is made possible only through a living relationship with Christ. To neglect Christian meetings is to give up the encouragement and help of other Christians. We gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another in the Lord. As we get closer to the "DAY" when Christ will return, we will face many spiritual struggles,and even times of persecution. Anti-Christian forces will grow in strength. Difficulties should never be excuses for missing church services. Rather, as difficulties arise, we should make an even greater effort to be faithful in our attendance. Now hows your relationship with your Heavenly Father? I was just sharing with someone this past weekend about our God and how he is always by our side. The thought of two humans covered with vegetation attempting to hide from the all-seeing, all-knowing God is humorous to me(Adam & Eve). How could they be so silly as to think they could actually hide from the Lord? Yet we do the same, acting as though God doesn't know what we're doing. Have the courage to share all you do and think with him. And don't try to hide, it can't be done. Honesty strengthens your relationship with God. God desires fellowship with us and Jesus opens the way, so why are we afraid of having companionship with Him? LAST POINT: Have you ever longed to see a friend with whom you share fond memories? All Christians are part of God's family and thus share equally in the Transforming Power of his Love. Do you feel a deep love for Fellow Christians, friends and strangers alike? Let Christ's love motivate you to love other Christians and to express that love in your actions toward them. " IF ONE FALLS DOWN, HIS FRIEND CAN HELP HIM UP. BUT PITY THE MAN WHO FALLS AND HAS NO ONE TO HELP HIM UP! " (Ecclesiastes 4:10) Until Next Time... Jim,

" REWARD(S) "

Come on in,and welcome,this week we will be tackling the subject of " REWARD(S). I believe that each and every one of us are open to being rewarded for our accomplishments in life. So let's strap in and see just what the Word Of God's point of view on Rewards is. Now, those of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Personal Savior are promised a reward. While we sometimes experience immediate and material rewards for our obedience to God, this is not always the case. If so, we would be tempted to boast about our achievements and do good only for what we get. Jesus said that if we look for rewards now, we will lose them later. Our heavenly rewards will be the most accurate reflection of what we have done on earth, and they will be far greater than we can imagine. Jesus turned the world's values upside down. Consider the most powerful or well-known people in our world - how many got where they are by being humble, self- effacing, and gentle? Not Many! But in the life to come, the last will be first - If they got in last place by choosing to follow Jesus. Don't forfeit eternal rewards for temporary benefits. Be willing to make sacrifices now for greater rewards later. Be willing to accept human disapproval, while knowing that you have God's approval. In the Word Of God, Paul emphasizes the spiritual rewards for those who give generously to God's work. We should not expect to become wealthy through giving. Those who receive your gifts will be helped, will Praise God, and will Pray for You. As you bless others, you will be blessed. Recognition and reward are great motivators that have two dimensions: (1) The Temporal Dimension. Living by God's standards may result in acclaim here on earth. (2) The eternal dimension. Permanent Recognition and Reward will be given in the next life. Don't be discouraged if you feel your faith in God going unrewarded here on earth. The best rewards are not in this life but in the life to come. Until Next Time... Jim,

" THE ART OF HONORING ANOTHER "

Good Morning to you, and I wish to thank you for stopping by. The Springtime of the year is my most favorite as everything is waking up from a long sleep. Now we have another chance to give God the Glory and all the Honor he deserves. Life is breaking forth according to His plan. This week we will be looking at " HONOR ". My dictionary describes Honor in this manner: To regard or treat with honor; a good name; outward respect or a person of superior standing. Now the Bible says " The wise will inherit honor, but fools display dishonor " (Prov. 3:35). Personal honor comes from honoring God, we should praise the Father for all that he has done for us and through us. I have come in contact with some who assumed that their own greatness and charisma have been instrumental in their life's conquest. we should be grateful to God for our success and not think that we did it in our own power. We are told to honor our Parents in the Ten Commandments. This is the first commandment with a promise attached. Now you may need to know exactly what it means to " Honor " your parents. In some degree it means speaking well of them and politely to them. It also means acting in a way that shows them courtesy and respect (but not to obey if this means disobedience to God). OK this part is really important, follow their teaching as well as their example of putting God first. Parents have a special place in God's sight even those who find it difficult to get along with their parents are still commanded to honor them. We are required to honor the Lord. He says " FOR THOSE WHO HONOR ME I WILL HONOR." I confess that I have many men friends who respect this old man. People often find it easy to dismiss the opinions of the elderly and avoid taking time to visit with them. These days it's easy to stay in contact with another through the newest forms of communications. But the fact that God commanded the ISRAELITES to honor the elderly shows how seriously we take the responsibility of respecting those older than we. Their Wisdom gained from experience can save us from many pit falls. When we give honor we will in turn receive honor. Until Next Time... Jim,

" ABUSE/ ABUSIVE "

Good Morning To You, I'm so pleased that Spring has sprung, the grass, tree's and shrubs are all coming alive.The birds are singing and I've already seen Squirrels, Rabbits, and even two coyotes and the Deers I see almost daily Grazing in both my front and back yard. Nothing get's past my Lord, he's thought of everything in nature,etc. This weeks message is on the subject of " Abuse " and it's one well worth sinking our teeth into today. The way that I feel is once we know the truth about the Word Of God we are responsible as well as accountable for our actions. " ABUSE": Can be coarse and insulting speech, while Jesus was hanging on the cross, there were some who dared to hurl abuse at him. Now there are some who have and still others who will hurl insults right up to the time of their death. Abuse is a corrupt practice, and many do this without even a second thought, words can hurt very deeply. Men marriage is to be a Holy union, a living symbol,a precious relationship that needs tender, self-sacrificing care. Husbands we are to love our wives and our wives are to be subject to her husband. Now, the question is how should a man love his wife? (1) He should be willing to sacrifice everything for her. (2) He should make her well-being of primary importance. (3) He should care for her as he cares for his own body. No Wife needs to fear submitting to a man who treats her in this way. When Peter calls Women the " Weaker " partners, he does not imply moral or intellectual inferiority, but he is recognizing women's physical limitations. Now the women in this day, if unprotected by a man, were vulnerable to attack, abuse, and financial disaster. Women's lives may be easier today, but women are still vulnerable to criminal attack and family abuse. In spite of increased opportunities in the work place, most women still earn considerably less than most men, and the vast majority of the nations' poor are single Mothers and their Children. A man who honors his wife as a member of the weaker sex will protect, respect, help, and STAY with her. He will not expect her to work full-time outside the home and full-time at home; he will lighten her load wherever he can. He will be sensitive to her needs, and he will relate to her with courtesy, consideration, insight, and tact. LAST POINT: " Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you " (1 Peter 5:7). Carrying your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life. It takes humility, however,to recognize that God cares, to admit your need, and to let others in God's family help you. Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God's concern. But when we turn to God in repentance, he will bear the weight even of those struggles. Letting God have your anxieties calls for action, not passivity. Don't submit to circumstances, but to the Lord who controls circumstances. Remember Verbal and Physical ABUSE have a long lasting sting. Until Next Time... Jim,