" MESSAGE TO THE LAODICEA "

This weeks message is vital for all of us to comprehend. So do yourself a favor and take two minutes to read and understand. I for one believe that we are in the End Times. Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities, known for its banking industry, manufacturer of wool, and a medical school that produced eye salve. But the city had always had a problem with its water supply. Hold on a moment, at one time an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from the hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool - only lukewarm. The church had become as bland as the tepid water that came into the city. Lukewarm water makes one disgusting drink. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn't have a stand for anything; indifference had led to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself. There is nothing more disgusting than a half-hearted, in-name-only Christian who is self-sufficient. Don't settle for following God halfway. Allow Jesus Christ to fire up your faith and get you into the action. God would discipline this lukewarm church unless it turned from its indifference toward him. God's purpose in discipline is not to punish but to bring people back to him. I would like for you to ask yourself are you lukewarm in your devotion to God? God may discipline you to help you out of your caring attitude, but he uses only loving discipline. You can avoid God's discipline by drawing near to him again through Confession, Service, Worship, and Studying His Word. Just as the spark of Love CAN be rekindled in marriage, so the Holy Spirit can reignite our Zeal for God when we allow him to work in our hearts. Are You still in the Fight? Until Next Time... Jim,

" MY COURAGE COMES FROM ABOVE "

This week we are revisiting " Courage " and Courage is Persevering in spite of Fear. Some of the most Courageous men and women have prevailed in spite of Weakness, Sickness, and Persecution. I'm of the mindset that we are to face new situations and surroundings with courage. God told Jacob to leave his comfort zone, his home, and travel to a strange and faraway land. But reassured him by promising to go with him and take care of him. When new situations or surroundings frighten you, recognize that experiencing fear is normal. To be paralyzed by fear, however, is an indication that you question God's ability to take care of you. God can give you the strength you need for any situation. And don't be startled by the way he helps you. Only after you begin to obey God, you will find the Courage to move ahead. Now I believe that Courage can be misinterpreted as cowardice. The means that we use to accomplish a goal are just as important as the goal we are trying to accomplish. I'm reminded of how David spared Saul's life. David's goal was to become King, now David's men continued to urge David to kill Saul when he gets the chance. David's refusal was not an example of cowardice but of Courage - the Courage to stand against the group and do what he knew was right. Don't compromise your moral standards by giving in to group pressure or taking the easy way out. It takes Courage and Strength to Stand Firm in your convictions and to confront wrongdoing in the face of opposition. When you believe something is wrong, do not let yourself be talked out of your position. Firmly attack the wrong and uphold the right. Until Next Time... Jim,

" HELL IS A REAL PLACE "

Yes, Hell is an honest to goodness place. Please open your mind to what I'm about to share. Jesus tells about the Rich Man and the Beggar. Now I have to wonder if you truly recognize why Jesus told this story. In this accounting two men lived two life styles one man obviously was very rich. The Pharisees considered wealth to be proof of a person's righteousness. Jesus startled them with this story where a second man who was a diseased beggar is rewarded and the rich man is punished. Now the rich man did not go to hell because of his wealth but because he was selfish refusing to feed Lazarus, to take him in, or even care for him. This rich man was hardhearted in spite of his great blessings. The amount of money we have is not as important as the way we use it. What is your attitude toward your money and possessions? Do you hoard them selfishly, or do you use them to help others? Now the other man Lazarus which who should not be mistaken for Jesus' good friend in which Jesus raised from the dead in John 11. The Bible says " The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom, and the rich man also died and was buried. Now while in Hades this rich man lifted up his eyes, being in agony, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in anguish in the flame. Now the rich man thought that his five brothers would surely believe a message who had been raised from the dead. But Jesus said that if they did not believe Moses and the Prophets, who spoke constantly of the duty to care for the poor, not even a resurrection would convince them. Notice the irony in Jesus' statement; on his way to Jerusalem to die, he was fully aware that even when he had risen from the dead, most of the religious leaders would not accept him. They were set in their ways, and neither scripture nor God's son himself would shake them loose. Until Next Time... Jim,

" MARRIAGE (I DO) "

Getting hitched, yes I know that we have visited " Marriage " in the past. But this we're going to make a quick visit. " What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." Marriage, wedlock from God's perspective, a covenant between a man and a woman that binds them together for life. God performed the very first marriage in Eden, and Jesus sanctioned marriage by being present at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. In Jewish law and culture, there were two stages in marriage: 1- Betrothal (q.v.) and 2- The ceremony of the husband taking the bride to his home. " Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage should be kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." Let your marriage grow strong by protecting your relationship from too many outside pressures and distractions - especially in the beginning. And don't expect or demand so much from newlyweds that they have inadequate time or energy to establish their marriage. LAST POINT: (1 Corinthians 7:15-16) Now I believe that this verse is misused by some as a loophole to get out of marriage. But Paul's statements were given to encourage the Christian spouse to try to get along with the unbeliever and make the marriage work. If, however, the unbelieving spouse insisted on leaving, Paul said to let him or her go. The only alternative would be for the Christian to deny his or her faith to preserve the marriage, and that would be worse than dissolving the marriage. Paul's chief purpose in writing this was to urge the married couples to seek unity, not separation. Until N

" WHAT'S YOUR REPUTATION LIKE?

REPUTATION: Overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general (2) place in public esteem or regard. A reputation can be developed through consistency. I'm reminded of Ruth, her life exhibited admirable qualities: She was Hard Working, Loving, Kind, Faithful, and Brave. Now, these qualities gained for her a good reputation, but only because she displayed them Consistently in all areas of her life. Wherever Ruth went or whatever she did, her character remained the same. Your reputation is formed by the people who watch you at work, in town, at home, in church. A good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you believe in - no matter what group of people or surroundings you are in. I'm also of the mindset that a good reputation comes through serving God. Now, take Abraham for example, when he was in a foreign land looking for a place to bury his wife. Strangers offered to help him because he was " A Mighty Prince," and They Respected Him. Although Abraham had not established roots in the area, his reputation was above reproach. Those who invest their time and money in serving God often earn a pleasant return on their investment - a good reputation and the respect of others, Until Next Time... Jim,

" WAITING PATIENTLY TAKES WORK "

As a parent, grandparent and great grandparent I get to say this. It is natural for children to trust their parents, even though parents sometimes fail to keep their promises. Our heavenly father, however, never makes promises he won't keep. Nevertheless, his plan may take more time than we expect. Rather than acting like impatient children as we wait for God's will to unfold, we should place our confidence in God's goodness and wisdom. In his kindness, God holds back his judgment, giving people time to repent. it is easy to mistake God's patience for approval of the wrong way we are living. Self-evaluation is difficult, and it is even more difficult to expose our conduct to God and let him tell us where we need to change. But as Christians, we must pray constantly that God will point out our sins, so that he can heal them. Unfortunately, we are more likely to be amazed at God's patience with others than humbled at his patience with us. LAST POINT: I can't say it enough, God is waiting for us to turn to him. (Luke 15:20) " So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." Now, in this accounting, the father watched and waited much like, our loving creator. God's love is constant and patient and welcoming. He will search for us and give us opportunities to respond, but he will not force us to come to him. God waits patiently for us to come to our senses. Until Next Time... Jim,

" KNOW YOUR ENEMIES "

Are you aware that seventy-two Psalms, almost half the book speaks about enemies? Now enemies are those who oppose not only us but also God's way of living. I'm of the mind, or viewpoint that temptations such as money, success, prestige, and even lust as our enemies. And our greatest enemy is Satan. David asked God to keep his enemies from overcoming him because they opposed what God stood for. If his enemies succeeded, David feared that many would think that living for God was futile. David did not question his own faith, he knew that God would triumph. But he didn't want his enemies success to be an obstacle to the faith of others. Now, what are your thoughts, can a Christian dislike their enemies? In 1John 2:9-11 is not talking about disliking a disagreeable Christian brother or sister. From my life experience, there are always people in whom we will not like as well as another. John's word focus on the attitude that causes us to ignore or despise others, to treat them as irritants competitors, or enemies. Christian love is not a feeling but a choice. We can choose to be concerned with peoples' well-being and treat them with respect, whether or not we feel affection toward them. If we choose to love others, God will help us express our love. Until Next Time... Jim,