and Colossians 3:1 says 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

We are told to seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Psalm 16 says at God’s right hand are pleasures forevermore.
So the word to me this morning was “Look to Christ for pleasure and not to the fleeting things of this world.”
Christ Himself was speaking to the Father in Psalm 16. He loves and delights in His Father. And the pleasures of God are mediated to me through Christ. This is beautiful.
What an encouragement to not sin. we sin because we are seeking pleasure and are not satisfied with Christ. He is where everlasting pleasure is.
I say this to you believers who read this in an attempt to say with the psalmist “3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!”

And to those who do not know Christ I say to you “
8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Look to Christ, for satisfaction and everlasting pleasure and joy.

This morning the Lord “remembered my frame, that I am but dust” and in His good pleasure showed me His steadfast love. I hope this encourages you to seek Him.

Psalm 139:3  -  “You (God) scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.”

Last night was interesting.  While dreaming, Kelly pulled the tubes out, and we were very alarmed; however, she still made progress.  They replaced the tubes with a soft mask.  Her numbers dropped during the ordeal but have since increased.  The machine are still showing 50% for the oxygen intake, her sat# is 95, and the PEEP has been reduced to 7.0 (continuing to move in the right direction – see previous updates).  We are awaiting the doctors’ morning assessment.  Please pray for Kelly’s anxiety, as she wants family with her, but we cannot always be there during exams and other procedures.  She also wakes not knowing where she is and panics until she remembers she has been hospitalized.  Pray for the family because we have been up since 2:30 am as we were alerted to the crisis.  God’s word remains a tremendous comfort, as we read to one another throughout the night/morning.

Matthew 11

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

EZEKIEL 16

1Again the word of the LORD came to me: 2^(A) “Son of man,^(B) make known to Jerusalem her abominations, 3and say, Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an^(C) Amorite and your mother a^(D) Hittite. 4And as for your birth,^(E) on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. 5No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you,^(F) but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred,^(G) on the day that you were born.

 6“And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing^(H) in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ 7^(I) I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall^(J) and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet^(K) you were naked and bare.

 8“When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and^(L) I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you^(M) and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD,^(N) and you became mine. 9Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and^(O) anointed you with oil. 10^(P) I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.^[a] 11^(Q) And I adorned you with ornaments and^(R) put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. 12And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. 13Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth.^(S) You ate fine flour and honey and oil.^(T) You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. 14And^(U) your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD.

 15^(V) “But you trusted in your beauty^(W) and played the whore^[b] because of your renown^(X) and lavished your whorings^[c] on any passerby; your beauty^[d] became his. 16You took some of your garments and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore. The like has never been, nor ever shall be.^[e] 17You also took^(Y) your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and^(Z) made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore. 18And you took your embroidered garments to cover them,^(AA) and set my oil and my incense before them. 19^(AB) Also my bread that I gave you—^(AC) I fed you with fine flour and oil and honey—you set before them for^(AD) a pleasing aroma; and so it was, declares the Lord GOD. 20^(AE) And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and^(AF) these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter 21that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? 22And in all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember^(AG) the days of your youth,^(AH) when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your blood.

 23“And after all your wickedness (woe, woe to you! declares the Lord GOD), 24you built yourself^(AI) a vaulted chamber and made yourself a lofty place in every square. 25At the head of every street^(AJ) you built your lofty place and made^(AK) your beauty an abomination,^(AL) offering yourself^[f] to any passerby and multiplying your whoring. 26^(AM) You also played the whore^(AN) with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors,^(AO) multiplying your whoring,^(AP) to provoke me to anger. 27Behold, therefore, I stretched out my hand against you^(AQ) and diminished your allotted portion^(AR) and delivered you to the greed of your enemies,^(AS) the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior. 28^(AT) You played the whore also^(AU) with the Assyrians, because you were not satisfied; yes, you played the whore with them, and still you were not satisfied. 29You multiplied your whoring also with the trading land^(AV) of Chaldea, and even with this you were not satisfied.

 30“How sick is your heart,^[g] declares the Lord GOD, because you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen prostitute, 31building your vaulted chamber at the head of every street, and making your lofty place in every square. Yet you were not like a prostitute,^(AW) because you scorned payment. 32Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband! 33Men give gifts to all prostitutes,^(AX) but you gave your gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from every side with your whorings. 34So you were different from other women in your whorings. No one solicited you to play the whore, and^(AY) you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; therefore you were different.

 35“Therefore, O prostitute, hear the word of the LORD: 36Thus says the Lord GOD, Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your whorings with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols,^(AZ) and because of the blood of your children that you gave to them, 37therefore, behold,^(BA) I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved and^(BB) all those you hated.^(BC) I will gather them against you from every side^(BD) and will uncover your nakedness to them, that^(BE) they may see all your nakedness. 38^(BF) And I will judge you^(BG) as women who commit adultery and^(BH) shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. 39And I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your^(BI) vaulted chamber and break down^(BJ) your lofty places.^(BK) They shall strip you of your clothes and take^(BL) your beautiful jewels and leave you^(BM) naked and bare. 40^(BN) They shall bring up a crowd against you,^(BO) and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords. 41^(BP) And they shall^(BQ) burn your houses and^(BR) execute judgments upon you in the sight of many women.^(BS) I will make you stop playing the whore, and^(BT) you shall also give payment no more. 42^(BU) So will I satisfy my wrath on you, and my jealousy shall depart from you. I will be calm and will no more be angry. 43Because you have not remembered^(BV) the days of your youth, but have enraged me with all these things, therefore, behold,^(BW) I have returned your deeds upon your head, declares the Lord GOD. Have you not^(BX) committed lewdness in addition to all your abominations?

 44“Behold, everyone^(BY) who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ 45You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and her children; and you are the sister of^(BZ) your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children.^(CA) Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. 46And^(CB) your elder sister is Samaria, who lived with her daughters to the north of you; and^(CC) your younger sister, who lived to the south of you, is Sodom with her daughters. 47^(CD) Not only did you walk in their ways and do according to their abominations; within a very little time^(CE) you were more corrupt than they in all your ways. 48^(CF) As I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister^(CG) Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. 49Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride,^(CH) excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. 50They were haughty and^(CI) did an abomination before me. So^(CJ) I removed them, when I saw it. 51^(CK) Samaria has not committed half your sins. You have committed more abominations than they, and^(CL) have made your sisters appear righteous by all the abominations that you have committed. 52^(CM) Bear your disgrace, you also, for you have intervened on behalf of your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. So be ashamed, you also, and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

I had to tell all of you that you have to check out Lecrae’s new cd. Its called “Rebel”. It is absolutely awesome. The whole thing is filled with truth and the music itself is amazing. Most christian rap is corny if your not a christian.(and some even if you are) But I think this one is so cool I am giving it away at work. I am telling you, you have to check it out.

You can purchase it here at www.amazon.com/Rebel-Lecrae/dp/B001BO93VA

The American people as a whole are OBLIVIOUS and IGNORANT. They refuse to educate themselves on the issues and refuse to study the Scriptures with regard to electing a President. This makes them completely foolish. We have more tools at our fingertips to find out the facts but instead they cast a vote based on whatever their wicked hearts desire. Most people said they voted based on the economy and those same people are utterly clueless when it comes to the economy. They do not even know what is currently going on with it. It is disgusting what I have seen the past couple of months.

AGAIN THE SAME WOULD APPLY IF MCCAIN WAS ELECTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am for neither of them.

Just a side note: If you voted for Obama because he is black you are as dumb as they come.

(If you are a woman please skip this next paragraph)

Whatever man-parts the candidates used to have, have obviously been cut off and given to the American people and the people now control every word that comes out of their mouths. Take the housing crisis for example. When asked if it was, at all, the american peoples fault they both replied “no, it is the predator lenders fault” to which I reply “QUIT BEING A FAIRY”!!!!!!  What a cowardly response from both of them. I emphatically say IT IS THE PEOPLES FAULT. Now that includes the lenders but if you made the decision to buy a home you could not afford then yes it is your fault.

Our country is in a horrific state and I am glad I will be leaving it.

I am open for any comments and realize that most people will not agree.

I also realize that I have not given Scriptural support for my views. If you want them just ask. I did not because sadly for most it would not have mattered.

So the question was is it ok for christians to pick up arms in defense of themselves with regards to persecution specifically for their faith.

My answer is an emphatic no! I have two reasons for my answer.

1. The New Testament.  The constant NT witness is that Christians should ENDURE suffering just like Christ did.

Matt 12:19-20

19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

1 Cor. 4:12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

2 Cor. 1:6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer

2 Tim 4:5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1Peter 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God

Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 13:13 13Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear^(W) the reproach he endured

hebrews 10:32-34 32But recall the former days when, after^(AX) you were enlightened, you endured^(AY) a hard struggle with sufferings, 33sometimes being^(AZ) publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34For^(BA) you had compassion on those in prison, and^(BB) you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had^(BC) a better possession and an abiding one.

2. My second reason is that my calling is largely related to the last verse I quoted. God has called me to go and become a sharer in the sufferings of His saints in the middle east. I believe I am looking at this through a lense that none of you are right now because of my calling. While I realize it is easier said than done I am going to teach them the Scriptures and to remind them that they are to endure suffering with joy that they and I might gain Christ.

Finally a word about the Old Testament. There are some significant differences between the Old and New covenants.(I am not denying their continuity also)

In the Old it was said “an eye for an eye” in the new it is “turn the other cheek”

In the Old it was sacrifice a lamb in the new it is your body which is a living sacrifice.(think of the implications of that)

So, yes God told Israel to slaughter certain peoples but in the new we are to lay down our lives for the Gospel.

I again would love your comments

I love you all

God has been unbelievably gracious to me. Not that this is not normal but He has granted me a greater awareness of it this week. He has reminded me that I cannot do anything without Him and has granted me a fresh dependence upon His Spirit working in and through me  to accomplish what He wills. I am excited and trust that this work will continue.

I have been asked to write about what it looks like to walk around “poor in spirit”. I am no expert but this is what I believe after reading Scripture and praying. Being poor in spirit means that you realize that you are utterly hopless without Christ and that you would deny Him if He did not sustain you every second of every day. Nothing good dwells in you except the Spirit of Christ. It is realizing who you are and having your dependence be wholly on God.

Last but not least I have a question for everyone. I am not looking for a fight and have been dwelling on this for two days now. I want your comments and I will comment in a few days.

I read an article that talked about how the christians in a town in Iraq have decided that they will take up arms and defend themselves against persecution. 

Is this okay? Please give me your thoughts. I also would ask that you not give me your personal opinion. I would like responses that are well thought out with Scripture. Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing from everyone.

1. I went camping this past weekend and had a blast, even though setting up a tent is not very much fun. Swan in a lake and got sunburned but not too bad.

2. Have had a ton of fun with my wife both on the trip and since. Baby, I love you so much!!!!

3. Psalm 84:11 says “For the LORD God is a sun and shield;the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withholdfrom those who walk uprightly.” I have been dwelling on this Scripture for a couple of days and God has really strengthened me through it because if I get cancer then God has withheld no good thing from me which means that what would have been bad for me is not getting cancer.

4. Have learned a lot about the life of George Mueller and it is exciting.

5. On a more serious note. I read a blog today from a man who says that he has found a correct interpretation of the Beatitudes through some book that changes his view. He says that the passage is saying that people are blessed in spite of the fact that they are poor in spirit. (Which is exactly what the text says) (I hope you detected the sarcasm) Here are some excerpts from his blog.

” In other words, people are blessed not because they are “poor in spirit” or sad, etc. but in spite of their current condition of brokenness, etc.!”

“I LOVE this! It means that I don’t have to try to be “poor in spirit” any longer”

Speaking of the Beatitudes the author writes.

“They do not indicate conditions that are especially pleasing to God or good for human beings”

“No one is actually told that they are better off for being poor, for mourning, for being persecuted, and so on, or that the conditions listed are recommended ways to well-being before God or man. “

Now before I move forward let me say that I did not disagree with all that was said but everything was worded in a very misleading way.

Before I stop I want to say the Beatitudes do indicate positions that are especially pleasing to God. I understand them this way based upon the whole of Scripture and not simply reading one passage out of context.

Listen to Isaiah 66:2 “All these things my hand has made,and so all these things came to be,declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look:he who is humble and contrite in spiritand trembles at my word.”

God does require you to be “poor in spirit” which is the Greek equivalent of “contrite in spirit”

The Beatitudes are a description of the Christian Life!

“Blessed are^(E) the poor in spirit, for^(F) theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  4“Blessed are^(G) those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

 5“Blessed are the^(H) meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

 6“Blessed are those who hunger and^(I) thirst^(J) for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

 7“Blessed are^(K) the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

 8“Blessed are^(L) the pure in heart, for^(M) they shall see God.

 9“Blessed are^(N) the peacemakers, for^(O) they shall be called^(P) sons^[a] of God.

 10^(Q) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for^(R) theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 11^(S) “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely^(T) on my account. 12^(U) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for^(V) so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Don’t tell me that this is not a description of Jesus who is our example. Can you find me one place in Scripture where Jesus laughed. Nope.

I know that Jesus was joyful but joy often is expressed with tears and not laughter or smiles. We should be walking around “poor in spirit” because that is what Jesus did.

This hopefully will serve as a simple encouragement to be a bold witness for Christ. By the way, just in case I am giving the wrong impression, this does not represent the great majority of muslims out there. In fact, most muslims are pretty nominal just like most “christians”. Anyway I encourage you to witness to the muslims that you encounter without fear and with boldness.