I am kind of conflicted of what to write about today...on the one hand I wanted to ask the question of Bill Maher why are you just so darn upset with (or mad) at God? With his documentary Religulous being released which according to everything I can read about it isn't really a documentary that is anti-God per se but more like anti-organized religion...well, I've listened to Mr. Maher prior to all this Religulous movie hitting the theaters and I've heard all his previous thoughts concerning God and such and what he may be saying now or however his studio PR department wants to craft his projection of what he may be trying to get across or maybe trying to say with his documentary skills just don't jive or line up if you will, or to say he has this belief that he's being witty and funny about a subject that he really doesn't have any outward knowledge about and by all appearences has contempt for i.e., God. Now let me be upfront about this, I am not nor have I ever been a Bill Maher fan (not even a little bit) even before he called our nation's troops cowardly; the truth is is that I guess I'm just not all that "hip to and/or all that sophisticated enough" to grasp his brand of so-called comedy or humor. Having said all that let me just make this one point if you will. I too am not a huge fan of religion in the sense that I believe that all Baptists, or Methodists, and/or all Catholics (and for the sake of not trying to leave anyone else's center of persuasion out out of the mix or the you name it denomination etc..) will go to Heaven and everyone else won't because they're not...I hold to the belief that my personal faith in Christ Jesus, Him being my Lord and Savior by my accepting that I couldn't or never would be able to save myself by merely doing good works; by my Accepting-Believing upon-and Confessing Jesus as my King, my Lord, and my Savior makes me a Christian. And with God's promise made in John 3:16  King James Version "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." primarily, and note there are other biblical verses to back this up I am now a born again Christian with the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead that now lives within me and when this fleshly body ceases (I die) my soul will be in the presence of the Lord before my body hits the floor. What I am saying is this; Religulous may be everything that it claims to be, I'll never know because I am not going to ever watch it. Not because it may cause me to "question" my belief's in God...in fact I  have to give credit when credit's due, the truth is is that I have become even more entrenched in my belief and thoughts concerning my faith in and upon Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior and so for that Mr. Maher...thanks. No, I won't watch it because in my heart I just know that I know that I shouldn't ever go to Goliath to find out how I should or shouldn't form my thoughts concerning my beliefs towards my God.

And on the other hand I wanted to write about how at times I can be almost like a blade of grass, meaning sometimes just the tiniest tribulation comes my way and I want to fold over and just give up exhibiting such little resolve and faith. You know it is comforting to me to know that God knows who and what He crafted (meaning mankind in general) when He formed us out dust.  The wonderment of it all is is that God is God and I'm not. He knew me before He laid the foundation of this earth and universe. He knows my thoughts, He knows my past and my future and Praise God He knows me now as His child.  Anyone who thinks that at the instant they become a Christian that every question that has plagued them is suddenly going to be answered is going to be very disappointed.  The answer I instantly got (and since I only have myself to judge this on I'll have to go on with what I got) was that the moment I asked Jesus to come into my heart I knew that I wasn't going to die and go to Hell and that I had eternal salvation from that very second. Everything else I have had to read and study about and then pray about and then read and study about and then pray some more about. I don't get everything at first read, and I don't get every answer to every question I ask God at the very second I ask Him. I am told to wait upon the Lord but I grew up and am still growing up in a world where I can get my desire to have instant answers etc just by flipping on my computer and researching a little bit. I can go over to the micro wave oven and heat me up something to eat in minutes and I can make a pot a coffee in 3 minutes with the Bunn coffee maker my son and his bride bought me for fathers day present this year...so this "waiting on the Lord" is at times kind of hard and a tough thing for me to do. When I pray for someone's healing I want to be like the Apostles Peter and John who while going into the synagogue prayed for a lame man to walk and instantly that man got up with new ankles and feet and strength in his legs and indeed walked. He was healed-instantly! Praise God that's what I want to see happen when I pray for someone. I want to see blind eyes opened and deaf ears opened. I want to see and be a part of the signs and wonders. I want to see people come to the Lord in droves repenting and getting to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior like I am beginning to know Him.  And yet and then I get a little under the weather and my mankind spirit wants to cry out "why Lord why!" Oh woe is me...blah, blah, blah...my Father God is the great healer and I know in my heart of hearts He hears my prayers of me wanting not to be sick, but my flesh conflicts my Spirit.  I want to be like that tree planted by the living water and cry out I shall not be moved!  My sickness will not persuade me to doubt my Lord's ableness to heal me.

So, anyway that's what I wanted to write about today, so I guess I wrote about both. My friends in Christ, you Keep Growing In  His Word. Ultimately it is true and that is Jesus is the answer, even if you don't have the question to ask Him at that particular moment.  Love you all. Until the next time. Later.

Everyday of my life for at least the last 10 years I have wanted to do more and more for God and yet and still at times I have made my life count in a manner that could be considered less than what it should or could have been or become. Ultimately some of what I have been doing truly hasn't been done primarily for God's Glory but for my own. And that's not a good thing.  I have been slowly but surely coming to the conclusion/s that even with all my studying and reading etc..concerning that of my Savior (Jesus' life) and such that I have been doing (which honestly is precious little compared to some folk who literally spend hours upon hours in the Word), who I thought that I might become and/or evolve into I'm not going to become that person. Period.  God knew me before the foundation of this universe was even cast or laid out. He knows exactly who and what I am, and unfortunately (and I say that not in a disparaging manner) The Truth is is that He (God) is God and I am not and He knows me and what I will become.  My soul cries out daily to my Heavenly Father make me into this or make me into that...but,here's the real deal on this too; He's already made me into what He wanted me to become, I am exactly fashioned and created in His image.  I have professed Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I have confessed aloud that I am a sinner who could not save myself and that I needed Jesus Christ as my Lord, as my King, as my Savior. I have believed upon and in Jesus as the (as my own) risen Savior who was crucified on a cross and 3 days later He arose from the grave thus conquering death and becoming the blood sacrifice for all my sins; past-present-and future.  I have Accepted, Believed, and I have Confessed Jesus as my Lord and King. I am now a child of the King. I now have that same spirit within me that Father God released upon Jesus when He poured it out upon Jesus bringing (thus giving us) eternal victory to the sinner (which I was) when Jesus conquered death and sin and was brought back to life from the dead. Praise God! Does God love me or does God love you too? I say without any hesitation. Yes He does! "Jesus loves me this I know for the bible tells me so" you see, it's just that easy and just that simple to comprehend and accept His message to us.  But, you just said that you've done things that were less than stellar or less than what they should have been...yeah, I know but that doesn't mean that God stops loving me and then kicks me to the curb and tells me Hey you're on your own now kid, it don't work that way. Each and everyday that I am allowed to go do the work of the Kingdom on this earth that's one more day I have to get better at doing exactly that doing the work of the Kingdom.  I am going to fail and stumble and screw up at times. Somedays my motives aren't going to be everything that they're supposed to be but Praise God we are allowed to ask for and then receive His forgiveness.  Here's a point to remember: When you ask for His forgiveness He will give it to you, now receive His forgiveness and then move on with your life. Don't dwell on it and constantly keep asking HIm for His forgiveness over and over and over again on that one particular point. The first time you asked with an ernest heart He gave it to you. The bible says that God forgives you and then He forgets about it. The simple truth is is that your sins are as far away from Him as is the east is from the west.  He doesn't chew on them if you will waiting for you to mess up again in order to slam you into the dust. There is only one sin that is unforgivable and that's blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and that doesn't mean if you mess up and say something against the Holy Spirit. I did some research and I think that this answer from www.christiananswers.net is probably the best summation of what I would say also concerning the subject of blasphemy. "The Pharisees had long observed the sinless Jesus Christ. They observed him doing undeniable and powerful miracles that were, at the very least, clear evidence of power supplied by God. These impressive miracles were freely given in pure kindness and love to release people from obvious suffering and the oppression of horrible evil.However, the Pharisees had so firmly set their hearts against accepting Jesus as the Messiah that they rejected the obvious truth before them and perversely twisted it to influence the crowds. They publicly credited the most ultimately evil being in the universe with these precious, godly miracles. In other words, they called the precious and holy Spirit of God, the unclean spirit of Satan. In effect, they charged Jesus Christ with sorcery; one who is in league with Satan. These charges are not only appalling and extremely serious, but clearly absurd."

My life really isn't my life any longer, it's God's. It was God's before I became a Christian, but I believe that it is more so now that I am a Christian. God knows that my frame is that of dust and that I am like the grass of the field literally here today and gone in just a little while.  If your life as you now know it hasn't changed not one iota from what it used to be prior to becoming a Christian...then you need to have a talk with God.  You can't be what you used to be or practice what you used to practice prior to inviting Jesus into your life and say it's ok. It's not ok.  If you continually practiced adultery, and/or you lied just to lie or you continually get high on whatever you can huff, inhale, and/or snort and you say I'm a Christian, you're not. In Christ we become new creatures of Praise and Worship unto God the Father. Let's for example say that you are in a relationship with somebody you love a lot but you are continually finding phone numbers and little love notes in that persons pockets and their not your phone numbers and/or notes that you've written to them or visa versa. (Got the picture?)  Now, you say to this person I thought you said that you loved me but I keep seeing evidence to the contrary. And they keep telling you No, no I love you...but you continually keep finding that not to be true. Well, if you're not living in a relationship with God that's truthful and honest like saying I love you God but all the while you're living a life that's just this side of Hell how can you say that you're a child of God. The truth is, is that you're not.  You can't serve 2 masters. You can't live for and like the devil and then claim all the benefits of the Kingdom of God.

The Good News is this: Whomsoever that believes upon the Name of Jesus will not perish but will have eternal Life in Christ Jesus. If you believe upon Him as your Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit will direct and guide your footsteps toward Him.  Well, that's it for now. Keep Growing In His Word. Until the next time we talk. Take care. Later.     

Proverbs Chapter 3 verses 3 through 10: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding. Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from what is sinful. It will be healing to your body and medicine to your bones. Honor the Lord with your riches, and with the first of all you grow. Then your store-houses will be filled with many good things and your barrels will flow over with new wine."

You know I read the national news via the newspapers and also I watch the Fox News Network to see what's happening in the world, and to be quite frank with you if it wasn't for the fact that I have put my trust in and believe upon the Truth/s and the Words and the deeds of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I would be like a lot of folks out there in the world, terrified. There are times I have to admit that I catch myself all caught up in the hysteria of the moment e.g. hearing about this huge company that is defaulting and/or that huge company that is going asunder; not by any outside forces, but chiefly by their own greed and carelessness to grasp the reality of their own actions. But, I quickly get over those moments because it doesn't pay your mind or your body and/or your soul to have them. The big game right now of the "experts" is to begin blaming everyone other than those responsible; those who got their company in to the mess that they got their companies into.  And of course with the political climate as it is right now both political parties are blaming each other for this present mess. The truth is, is that it always comes down to just a few folks in that or any organization/business who have that love of money embedded on their own hearts and just enough power to make sure that they get more of it and those who should have said something said nothing and let it happen. Unfortunately, many many people suffer because of these people's greed and lust for money. There are CEO's who think that they will walk away from their messes and failures without having to pay a price for their their greed, but they are wrong and are only fooling themselves, Here's a reality check: God will not be mocked, you will reap what you sow. Period. There aren't enough Bentley's or Rolex's or anything else made on this earth to soothe a guilty mind or cover the actions of someone who deliberately set out to do evil for the purpose of doing evil. 

I tried playing world manager and it darn near killed me trying to play it.  I used to worry about a lot of things that I had no business worrying about. You know a long time ago you would have thought that by the way I talked about political and/or financial scenarios that I had this "great insight" and understanding of it all. Well, I did but at the same time as like now there wasn't a darn thing I could do about it i.e.,that particular situation or any other situation, only then I didn't realize that I couldn't change one jot or tittle of the proceedings that were playing out in front of me.  I leaned on my own understanding of the situation which was shaky at best. Well, I can say that there is one thing if there isn't anything else to say about the benefits of growing older and that is the gain of wisdom. Rule # 1. 1 Chronicles 22:12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding. and Rule # 2. Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.  Once you grasp the reality that there is precious little that you can do in your own strength and understanding the happier person you will become.  I once heard Pastor John Hagee say "quit worrying about everything that you can't change and simply relax." So, ask yourself with an honest sense of sobriety is what you are saying about the times being heard by anyone, and are those who do hear you giving it any credence? The answer is probably not. 

The government is not our source, neither is any political party or is anyone else other than God Himself. He may use the government and/or a person as an instrument to supply a need but when it all boils down to the quick they still aren't or weren't the source but only the instrument of supply.  God is my Source. Period. I can't trust that that "someone" be it the government or a business or a whatever will supply my daily needs. God said He would and He doesn't lie. My best advise to you would to be to change the channel after you've heard the news once and not let it continue to bombard you over and over and over again with it's negativity. I'm not saying be ignorant of your surroundings but don't let your surroundings control your life.  There's a great site that gives out I think terrific advice on how to get out from under the crush of debt and that is www.xanga.com/pennyannpoundwise she has recipes and such and practical ideas on how to change what you can actually change in your world.  Now, if you don't know Jesus as your own Lord and Savior I would tell you that this should be your number one priority at this very moment. (special thanks to www.allaboutGod.com )

Salvation Prayer - The Simple Steps:
1. Acknowledge in your heart that Jesus is Lord.

2. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

3. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and was raised three days later.

4. Repent of your sins and get baptized in the name of Jesus.

"God, I recognize that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. I need You in my life; I want You in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of Your Son Jesus Christ in giving His life for me on the cross at Calvary, and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my Savior. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow You all the days of my life. Those days are in Your hands. I ask this in Jesus' precious and holy name. Amen."

Once you make this change FIRST in  your life everything else will fall into place for you.  Stop letting what's going on around you scare you and/or worry you thus paralyzing you and shutting down your life. A former President once said "You have nothing to fear but fear itself" Solomon said it better I think and that was quit leaning on your own understanding, Trust God! I once heard a very wise man say something about this subject. I will paraphrase: >>>>> . <<<<<<  you see that dot inbetween the arrows? Ok that's your understanding, everything around it is God's understanding. So why are you clinging to that tiny little itty bitty understanding of yours when you have ALL of God's understanding to hold on to? Think about it. And while you're doing that remember that God Loves YOU! Keep Growing In His Word. Until we talk again. Later.