Christmas is different for everyone; each looking at the true meaning and then changing it to meet their specific needs. But Christmas really doesn't change; it is the individuals who change from day to day, month to month, and year to year. There is a truth that never changes; the true meaning of Christmas. In Luke 2, the New Testament offers the sacred account of the birth of Jesus Christ.
"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about the child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told."
So this year, instead of running around, fighting all the traffic...stop and consider the true meaning of Christmas and share it with someone you love.
Our country was once the greatest country on this planet...the question at hand is...WHAT AND HOW DID IT CHANGE? If you can answer that question then it is time to make the change together and take back what has been lost.
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that now one may buy or sell except on who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of man: His number is 666 (Revelation 13:16-18).
We live is a world were technology seems to be increasing expeditiously; reflecting a time when we are controlled by the same technology we once controlled. We go to the movies and see such worldly ideas of having Terminators that go around killing mankind and/or Big Brother Governments that watch our every move...believing that it will never truly come about. or never get to that! But the future is here and Satan will use every means he can to control the masses. I am certainly not anti-technology; for the information has been posted based on today's technology, but certainly one needs to view technology based on Scripture to determine what is right or wrong. I leave that up to you to determine.
Just so you don't think I am going off the deep-end and reading too much into this...I leave you with this: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). Any government can make statements that are believable, "for the good of mankind," but the question at hand is -- for who's good is it really? We are living in a time (2008-2012) where the government is Big Brother; forcing new and better ways to live, but is it truly better or the start of something that will turn on us later. Chips, in plants for security, sound like a great concept; you don't have to carry money, but in light of Revelation 13...it should make you stop and wonder before running off to the local store to receive! What starts small (sin) normally takes over big time. Satan has that ability to turn good to bad in a heart beat!
We're helping the blind to see. To date, we have touched the lives of nearly 30,000 people with both eye procedures and evaluations.
We're making a lasting impact.
In the recent months we taught seven surgeons and two nurses in Togo how to use innovative medical techniques to treat cataracts and other vision issues in West Africa. Because of their training, they will be able to serve hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of people who live in this region for years to come.
We're caring for the forgotten poor. On the vision team alone, over 50 volunteers, mainly professionals, are bringing care and compassion to Mercy Ships' patients. From the initial eye screening appointments held weekly throughout Togo, to guiding the patients on the ship for surgery, to the Celebration of Sight ceremonies where patients often engage in African dancing and song, our patients feel the love they deserve. Mercy's on its way,
In the middle of a successful crusade in Samaria, Philip was called to go south into desert country. He left the city for the country, the crowds for one person, Samaritans for an African. But this was no “wild goose chase.” It never is with God. The call came from an angel and guidance came from the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:26,29).
The man Philip was to meet was an Ethiopia who worked under Candace, the queen mother. He was secretary of the treasury, and he was spiritually thirsty. In fact, he traveled 800 miles to Jerusalem to get some answers for his seeking heart. He left Jerusalem with a copy of the scroll of Isaiah. Miraculously, these two connected on the Gaza road—the eunuch in his royal chariot and Philip, perhaps, on a camel.
As Philip approached the chariot, he heard the Ethiopian reading Isaiah. Philip asked a great question, which is the key to the story: “Do you understand what you are reading?” (8:30). And the man’s response was, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (v.31). Seekers need a guide. The Greek word for guide, hodegos, is interesting. When Peter appealed to the believers in Jerusalem to replace Judas, he identified Judas as the one who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. He guided with a kiss and a torch that illuminated the face of Jesus. But Philip was a different kind of hodegos for the eunuch as he used Isaiah to light up the face of Jesus and said, “Believe!”
Philip evangelized the Ethiopian from Isaiah 53. And the rest of the story is one of belief, baptism, and rejoicing. The eunuch returned to his homeland with his spiritual thirst quenched as he drank of the water of life (John 7:37-38).
What I want to suggest from this story is -- how many times have you felt that what you are doing is just a wast of time. If Philip thought that, what would have become of this encounter with the Ethiopian? Certainly it would have been a missed chance to share the gospel, but more than that, it would have not allow Philip to be blessed by the encounter. We all need to take time for others; allowing us to be blessed by thinking of others before ourselves. No trip will ever be a "wild goose chase" if God is involved. Think about it -- the next time you feel that your time is being wasted!
How do we approach our relationship with Christ? Certainly all of us need to address; but what we come up with and how it is perceived will determine how affective we are in sharing the Gospel. Think about it; especially when it is time to open your mouth.
Although, it may seem like simple advice; using common sense has been taken over by those who believe they know better.Like most, they are under the illusion that if they keep on doing what they are doing, things will change. They won't! Doing the same thing and expecting things to be different is the definition of insanity. If you are not getting the results you want, it is because you are not taking the proper actions. Stop doing what you are doing and do something else, anything else!
When life isn't going your way, the first thing you should look at is your contributions within the situation. We need to stop and ask ourselves what are we doing presently that contributes. To many, it may seem like you are the victim, but the truth is there are very few innocent victims. Most of us, when given the opportunity, can figure out what part we are playing in creating what we don't want in our lives. More than likely we are doing something or allowing something to happen that isn't serving us. Stop! Give yourself the opportunity to take a few steps back from the situation and access what is really going on. If you can't do this on your own, seek help from a professional or trusted friend. Often, others can see what isn't working in our lives and what the cause is better than we can. Once you figure out what you need to do differently, do it. Knowing what to change and not changing it doesn't help; you just continue down the same path without a solution. Awareness is the first step. The next step is -- take action.
Christ never wanted us to dig this hole to begin with. We did it without Him and against Him. It all started with Genesis 3:4 "The the serpent said to the women, "You will not surely die. for god knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." We dig our hole then and we are still digging it deeper each day. Only Jesus Christ can offer a means of stopping our efforts and filling in our holes...but we have to allow Him. He started filling in our hole and continues to do so.
Over the past few weeks I have been posting things pertaining to our present fix as a nation. We dug this hole ourselves; allowing those in control to continue to rule over us. We first need to fix our own hole before we attempt to fix the holes of others. It starts with us; any action to climb out and fill in the hole we find ourselves must start within us. Remember that when we look at the situation and want to place our trust in others to help fill our hole.
It is interesting that points made express an attitude; one that we now are living with everyday based on who is running the government. When you consider the approach to interacting with Islam, you must consider what it stands for and how it operates. There is a difference as to approach.
Obama, then, found himself in a place where he seems most comfortable, splitting the difference on a tough issue and presenting it as the course of reasoned judgment rather than of dogmatic ideology. Where Bush saw black and white, Obama sees gray. Where Bush favored swagger, Obama is searching for a more supple blend of force and intellect. Where Bush saw Islamic extremism as an existential threat equivalent to Nazism or Communism, Obama contends that that view warps the situation out of proportion and plays into terrorists’ hands by elevating their stature and allowing them — even without attacking again — to alter the nature of American society.
How should we hand the concept of terrorism? Certainly, in every situation there are two sides, but to detail with such a culture, you must should strength; anything else will show your weakness and that is a bad place to be. Presently, we have removed all our strength and those who would attack this country know that we will not do anything to stop them. Whether Obama or Bush is correct, only history will prove out where America will be in the future.
2 Timothy 4:3,4–”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Just so you think that I offer this because of a concern for our government, our nation, and our relationships with other nations who don't have the same history...Kerby's Point of View, written by Kerby Anderson.
"More profanity is on the way due in large part to the ruling of three judges in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. They were to rule on the narrow issue of what has come to be called 'fleeting expletives.' Instead, the panel chose to rule broadly against any FCC rule against broadcast indecency. Here is the argument: 'The observation that people will always find a way to subvert censorship laws may expose a certain futility in the FCC's crusade against indecent speech.' Notice the words. The FCC rules against broadcast indecency are called 'censorship laws.' The attempt to set a standard of decency is called a 'crusade.' The judges' choice of words shows their bias against decency and their willingness to allow more profanity on our nation's airwaves..."
Christ has the answer to every situation, but so often we would rather look to ourselves as to how to address societies problems. Our problems didn't start with the election of Obama, but it may end there! Our prayer is - Lord come quickly to retrieve your children, from the mess we are in.
We can be assured that no matter how far we walk away from Him, He will always love us and desire to bring us back to Him. But there will come a point when too far is too far(Romans 1:18-32).Hopefully we haven't got there yet!
"...the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth."
The United States has certainly changed in just 234 years. we have gone from a nation, founded on the principles of God, to one being forced to expect Allah. How did this happen? It is based on statements like this...
The common definition of “religion” as belief in a divine or superhuman power to be obeyed and worshiped, or the expression of such a belief, is not expansive enough to deal with the breadth of religious experiences and spiritual endeavors in contemporary America. Today religion is increasingly likely to be defined as any system of belief or practices resembling, suggestive of, or likened to a religious system; or perhaps even simply “any object of conscientious regard.” Religion has become whatever a person declares to be the object of regard or pursuit. Some commentators on American religion are offering a slightly different formulation of this same phenomenon. The last twenty-five years, they suggest, have witnessed a growing number of Americans who completely reject the word “religious” and in its place use the word “spiritual.” Often they choose to live apart from established religious institutions, “indifferent to organized religion or even hostile to it.” These individuals see the cosmos as pulsing with spiritual energies which can be tapped through various spiritual disciplines. These newer expressions of individual and vernacular forms of spirituality are part of the story behind Harold Bloom’s judgment that “Western nation is as religion-soaked as ours.” Only a very fluid definition of religion can do justice to the multitude of different “religions” and forms of spirituality that exist in contemporary America.
LET US NEVER FORGET WHERE WE CAME FROM; FOR ONLY BY REALIZING THAT FACT CAN WE TRULY LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND WHAT GOD HAS ASKED US TO DO! GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE NO MATTER WHO IS DIRECTING TRAFFIC IN WASHINGTON, DC. LET US STAND WITH THOSE WHO HAVE DIED FOR THIS NATION AND NEVER, EVER TURN OUR BACKS ON OUR RIGHT TO FOLLOW HIM!
A great evil is arising; it is threatening to destroy all that is godly around the world. There is a clamoring noise of violent discord flooding our streets that once where peaceful; where children grew up without fear based on a stable family life.
Like a sickness within the roots of a tree, societies have become rotten from the inside out.When winds blow, they come crashing down into piles of rubble. Why – because they have been rooted in dry dirt, having no life refreshing source to sustain them in times of distress. In great disorder there comes great chaos and corruption; resulting in worldly sufferings.
Where is the wisdom and strength that will turn back the flood of darkness, to release the light of righteousness, peace, and joy to our generation?Where is the leadership and governance to turn the world from death unto life? Where are the great kings to transform the hearts of mankind and bring real life to our spirits?Where is the kingdom of God when we really need it?
The kingdom of God is in the KING Christ Jesus; the only governance that save and can transform. JESUS, THE ONE WHO DWELLS IN HIS TEMPLE ON EARTH AND IS ALSO SEATED AT THE THRONE OF HEAVEN, CAN DESTROY EVIL AND PLANT HEAVEN IN ITS PLACE BY POURING HIMSELF OUT IN A THUNDEROUS TRUMP OF ROARING FIRE OF LOVE AND JUSTICE IN HIS PEOPLE. THE TRUMPETS ARE BLOWING – BUT ARE WE LISTENING?
The fire of the glory of God is at hand. The presence of the Lord is within and without. Nothing is hidden from Him, and all things are to be put under His feet. No flesh can stand in this day of the Lord (Mal 3:2). Activate, come alive, look into the Spirit, and do not look back. You shall be as a mighty army and do exploits beyond any human ability (Isa 52:1-3) (Rom 13:10-14). The power and presence of the beauties of holiness are upon you in this day. Do not miss His personal visitation; prepare now the time is short and urgent (Luke 19:41-44).
We need to remember -- Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning(Psa 30:5).“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Keep on pursuing love. It never fails and His kingdom never ends(Luke 12:32).
Seven hundred years before Jesus walked the earth, a prophet Micah wrote words given to him by God; words that toll us what God expected from His children as they worked out the life of service.
Micah 6:8 "He has showed you, O men, what is good. And what doe the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
God loves us so much that He gave His Son so we may be restored to Him and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16). When we begin to understand the fullness of His love and place our complete trust in Him for the forgiveness of sin, it's natural to ask: "What do You now require of me Lord?" But as we search the Scriptures, we find no additional "requirements" for our Christian walk, which are not summed up in the words of Micah.
As we live by Faith, we must "act justly" by doing what is fair and right; "Anyone who does not do what is right is not a Child of God" (1 John 3:10). This means we live with integrity and "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 13:31).
God requires that we show His love and mercy through offering compassion and forgiveness to other; "judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful" (James 2:13). It also means we live with a continual thankfulness for God's mercy toward us. And understanding of God's merciful forgiveness of our sins should compel us to forgive and show mercy to others. Without God's mercy, we would all be lost.
The final requirement is for us to "walk humbly" with our God. The word humble means to place a low value on "self." This is not a very popular concept in our "me-first-generation," which seems to reward the individual who is prideful and confident in his own ability. We are trained to achieve, acquire, and rise higher than we believe possible; but God calls us to submit and walk with Christ continually exalted above all else in our life; "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).
True humility is required for proper worship and thankfulness before God. We did nothing to deserve eternal live and yet we have received. We are made worthy and given value without having done anything to earn our Salvation. This heavenly gift ought to produce a never ending stream of praise from our heart and cause us to focus less on ourselves and more on the needs of others.
All we have and all we are has been given to us by a loving God who created the Universe and accepted us into His Kingdom through Faith in His Son. Let's glorify Him with every step we take; and with each step of Faith, let's remember to act justly, love mercifully, and walk humility.
By Steve Troxel God's Daily Word God's Daily Word [closerwalk@gdwm.org]
May 29, 2010 I had the unique opportunity to perform a wedding. This was my first! I wanted to share the following in hopes you receive a blessing. We need to think about what we are passing onto our children. Is it a set of values that are God honoring? Certainly in this family, it was!
The Blessing-- One of the most powerful aspects of the blessing of the Lord is how it is passed to the next generation.God has made specific promises concerning the blessing of the Lord, and how it will pass down to our children. As we teach and guide our children in the ways of the Lord, the blessing of the Lord will become a powerful reality in their lives. We must prepare our children to walk in the blessing of the Lord.
On a recent trip across United States, an Airline Captain experienced something special. He writes:
My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for human remains.) "Are they military?" I asked. 'Yes', she said. 'Is there an escort?' I asked. 'Yes, I already assigned him a seat'. "Would you please tell him to come to the flight-deck. You can board him early," I said.
A short while later a young army sergeant entered the flight-deck. He was the image of perfection, dressed as most soldiers would be with his rank. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier. As with most escorts, they talk about the fallen as if they are still alive and with us.
‘My soldier is on his way back to Virginia,’ he said.
He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.
I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the flight deck to find his seat.
We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin. I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia.
The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her.
Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.
Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:
'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home. Captain, most of us in flight control are veterans! Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.'
I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'
Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.
'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'
I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'
We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.
When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.
Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.
I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA.
Prayer: 'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen..'
Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night." So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job. Then congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instructions?" So they created a planning department and hired two people; one person to write the instructions and one to do time studies. Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control Department and hired two people; one to do the study and one to write the report. Then congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So they created the following positions: a time keeper and a payroll officer, and then hired two people. Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative section and hired three people; an Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal Secretary. Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $18,000.00 over budge. We must cutback overall cost." So they laid off the night watchman. Sounds allot like what is now being done with HEALTHCARE!
Movies, books, and television programs excite our imagination when they present stories about hunting for treasure. The pirates of old amassed great forunes in gold, silver, and jewels. Some of those riches are still hidden to this day.
But there are treasures far more valuable than anything you can find in a buried treasure chest or a sunken pirate ship. Those treasures are found in the Bible. We call them the Promises of God, and their value is beyond measure!
Like so many Americans, we need to get back to the faith of the Bible. We need to read and study it. Doing so will help open our eyes to the great Truths of God. One of those great truths is that God has promised to give us Eternal Life. Many believe, that eternal life is some future goal, but that goal can be lived right here and now! He will answer our prayers, if we are truly seeking His will for our lives.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be openen to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it woll be opened."
Christians can pray with confidence knowing that they have a great High Priest that will intercede on their behalf. God is love, and He is the greatees giver (James 1:17). He even wants to give us the earth as an inheritance (Matthew 5:5). Eventually, God plans to give us a even greater gift. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son (Revelation 21:7).
We have just here our President, who presented his agenda for 2010 and beyond. Agendas can certainly be developed, but if they are not centered in God's will; they, like all others, will fail. It is time to put your trust in the One who can make a difference.
I am a father of four and a grandfather of eight. We where married in 1970. Have two degrees: Civil Engineering (CEBS)from Temple University, Phila. PA and Masters of Biblical Studies (MABS) from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Enjoy painting (landscape oils).
