WHY I DON'T LIKE CHRISTMAS

Approaching my seventieth Christmas, I've developed
a distaste for this time of the year, for a number of
reasons.
"Holiday music" is begun to be played much too soon,
as our intercom music began the day before Thanks-
giving! Too much!
People hustle and bustle to get to the places they
"need to shop at", disregarding others on the road,
in the aisles, in checkout lines, etc.
Way too much money is spent on things that the
gift receivers don't really need or want. Why don't
givers give more thought to what they're doing?
Christmas isn't Christmas anymore, at least to
a large extent, as we hear "the experts" say that
we should say "Happy holidays!", or "Season's
greetings!", or some other secular saying.
Many send cards to those that they don't talk
to or see throughout the year, almost as if it
was a social obligation or an expectation.
Children are wrongfully spoiled into expecting
toys and things that they don't really need or
want, just so the giver can feel good about
what they've done.
Why do companies and employees who aren't
"in love with Jesus" take a day or days off of
their normal schedule in a ruse to "celebrate"
what they don't really care about?
And......what does "drinking" (alcohol) have to
do with the Savior's birthday party?
ARE YOU GETTING MY DRIFT?
WHERE IS THE REAL SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS?
Do you go to church? Do you go to church only
at Christmas? Why? God is NOT impressed! You
can't truly believe that you love JESUS if you
pay Him homage only each December!
I WOULD LOVE TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS
AS WE USED TO - MORE SIMPLY, WITH FEWER
PRESENTS, WITH FAMILY ALL AROUND, AND
WITH A REAL FEELING OF GOD'S NEARNESS!!
The secularism of our society has gone too far
in removing the symbols, sincerity, and signi-
ficance of Christmas and true Christianity!
I wish I could love Christmas again.
I wish I could enjoy Christmas again.
I wish we would celebrate Christmas again,
as it was meant to be celebrated.
I wish there was a true spirit of LOVE and a
sense of holiness and awe about the ways we
spend this "HOLY-DAY"!
WE SHOULD BE GIVING GIFTS TO JESUS ON
HIS BIRTHDAY - GIFTS OF OUR HEARTS, OUR
SOULS, OURSELVES - THAT'S WHAT HE TRULY
WANTS AND DESERVES.
How about if you and I start to put the real
meaning into our celebrating again? Are you
with me? Less tinsel, fewer lights, not so many
decorations, smaller trees, no parties - JUST
TURNING OUR ATTENTION TO THE CHRISTCHILD!

Make room in your heart for Jesus! Celebrate Him!

P.S. Here's a suggestion to help make your Christmas
more meaningful: If you could be any character in
the story of the first Christmas, who would you be,
and why?

Discerning Spiritual Things

Have you wished that you could understand the Bible
better? Do the sermons of your minister or the lessons
of your teacher usually make "sense" to you? When
you read the Scriptures, do they "jump out" to you
with new meaning and understanding that you may
perhaps have missed during previous readings?
Spiritual subjects and themes are only truly "gotten"
by those who are spiritually-minded, those who
"walk in the (Holy) Spirit", as God's Word states.
Perhaps a clearer explanation of our subject for
today is had by reading 1st Corinthians, chapter 2.
Only 16 verses long, this passage describes how
God, through the Holy Spirit, causes us to know
what the Bible is intending to say to us, as well
as what God is doing in the world today.
In my last blog about the spiritual battle for
America we were reminded of the invisible
war (and sometimes not so invisible) that is being
fought for our nation and its citizens, as well as
our appointment to shine the light of the Gospel
to the rest of the world.
We cannot face life, its struggles, nor our date with
destiny without a solid spiritual foundation, one
that is regularly (daily) reinforced by bolstering our
inner strength and determination.
As you read the Bible, and as you see and hear of
the events that are happening in your life, those
of your family and friends, and the rest of the
globe, you can accept reality because you have
been allowing the Spirit of God to instruct you
in things spiritual.
IT'S NOT A MAGICAL FORMULA.
IT'S NOT A PANDORA'S BOX.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY.
But if you will request the assistance of the
Holy Spirit as you study and pray, you will
be enlightened beyond your imagination and
human potential, finding yourself living in
a world of understanding and insight beyond
human capability.
There is a deeper, richer, more intimate knowledge
of the things of the Spirit available to you! It's
not always the "black and white" that you read
in the Scriptures - there's so much more that
God wants to share just with you!
GOD WANTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU!
God wants to give you discernment.
God wants you to hear, see, and know things that
no man can even hope to teach you. Only His
Spirit can take you into that special world of
knowledge and insight reserved for those special
few who will dare to enter that gateway.
Seek spiritual understanding.
Seek spiritual truths.
Seek spiritual wisdom.
Seek spiritual discernment.
When you read your Bible, read it slowly,
reread it as many times as necessary to get
as full of an understanding as possible. Ask
yourself (and God) what it is that He wants
you to get from that verse or passage. And
don't forget to thank Him for "letting you in
on those special truths" that He shows you.
A world of spectacular experiences awaits you,
friend, if you will place yourself into candidacy
for the wonders that God has in store for you.
I'm praying for you.

The Battle For America Is A Spiritual Battle!!

Psalms chapter 33, verse 12 says it quite
succinctly - "Blessed is the nation whose God is
the Lord."
All rhetoric, discussions, debates, accusations, and
arguments aside, the conflict that is being waged
in the homes, council and boardrooms, capitols and
national government assemblies are not about how
to move our country forward, but how to inflict as
much damage and influence on America's religious
character and American's eternal souls!!
While politicians and pundits battle with words
over who is "right" and who is "wrong", and which
political side or party has the answers to our future
and our happiness, UNDERLYING ALL OF THE
DEBATES IS A BATTLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL
CHARACTER OF OUR LAND!!
Infiltrated by people of other cultures and religions,
our "open door" policy regarding immigration has
brought a hodgepodge of beliefisms and lifestyles
that THREATENS THE GODLY NATURE OF OUR
FOUNDERS AND THE INTENT OF THEIR ACTIONS
WORDS, AND DOCUMENTS!!
We are a spiritual nation! We have a collective soul!
We are godly people! We have a Christian and Judeo
tradition! We love citizens of other cultures and
nations! MOST OF ALL, WE LOVE GOD, THE
CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF OUR WORLD!!
It's time for people of faith to pray as they've never
prayed before! It's time for men, women, and teens
especially to "grab hold of the horns of the altar" and
beseech Father God for mercy and intervention!!
There are those who desire and are diligently striving
to ruin our spiritual foundations! They desire the
demise of Christians and Jews! We are "anathema"
to them! We are interfering with their plans to
rule and control! We are lepers to them, and they
want us "out of the way"!
The people and forces that are trying and wanting
to "change" our great United States of America
ARE OUR SPIRITUAL ENEMIES! Not our
cultural or political foes, but our spiritual opponents!
They want their "religion" or "form of godliness"
to supplant that which we have from God and
which we have enjoyed and prospered by for
over two hundred and thirty-three years!
WE MUST NOT LET THEM SUCCEED!
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, you may think
what you want about my blogs and columns and
ramblings, but be sure of this one thing, OUR
WORSHIP AND SERVICE TO OUR GOD IS IN
DANGER OF BEING HORRIBLY DECIMATED
AND DESTROYED!
We must kneel down, look up, and speak out (those
who are called to do so), in hopes of saving our
beloved America from disaster and annihilation!
THIS IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE, AND MUST BE
WAGED AND WON BY SPIRITUAL WARRIORS!!
Will you enlist? God, and America is counting on
you to "stand in the gap" and "be counted"!

With Wings Like.......Seagulls?!

I'm sure that you've read it many times, and
may have even sung the chorus as it's been put
to music, but Isaiah chapter 40, verse 31 has
a bit of a different meaning or twist to me than
the prophet wrote or intended. Let me explain:
Many years ago, when I was pastoring my second
parish, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I was
experiencing some difficulty in the church, and
with my ministry, causing me to question God's
will as to my calling, and as to my current post.
We had gone to visit family in northern Illinois,
just outside of Chicago, where there is a state
park, namely the Illinois Beach State Park, in
Zion, Illinois. The park hosts a Holiday Inn, miles
of hiking trails, a camping area, a wildlife sanctuary,
and, of course, a beach along the western shore
of Lake Michigan. On a clear day, you can see
the city of Chicago's outline against the sky.
This was a favorite retreat of mine when I
needed to spend some alone time with my God
and my inner self.
On this particular day, with the problems of my
ministry weighing heavy on my heart, I excused
myself from the family and went to my "secret"
place. It was a cool, very cloudy day, with the
usual wind blowing in off of the lake, so I had
bundled up against the elements, determined to
seek a direction or approach to the situation.
Finding an old piece of seawall, I sat down and
began to pray, meditate, and sing, an unlikely
scenario, considering the weather, but the
conditions around me were miniscule compared
to the storm brewing within me.
While sitting there, I looked around, up and down
the shoreline, and realized that my only company
were some seagulls that soared and dived into the
wind and the lake before me. No doubt they were
searching for food, going about their normal
business, but I was intrigued and entertained by
them, a bit of a diversion, I thought, from my
intention of resolving my issues.
Numerous songs and choruses flooded my mind
and voice that day, until I finally came to the
one based on our text. Having seemed unaffected
by anything around them for probably an hour
of so since I had invaded their territory, a
strange happening occurred that gave me the
peace and assurance that I was seeking.
As I was crooning the words, "They that wait
upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they
shall mount up with wings like......", suddenly,
and without any noticeable provocation, the
entire flock of hundreds of seagulls left the
sandy beach and soared as one into the grey
sky in front of me!! Eagles? No, no, not any
more, not after that precious moment! I have
a respect and reverence for eagles, but from
that day on, when I think about this verse or
sing it, it's "seagulls" that I think of and sing about,
as I believe God had an angel swoop down and
caused those birds to minister to my troubled
heart.
The problems were not problems anymore, as
I left that place encouraged and uplifted, ready
to face whatever the future held, strengthened
by hundreds of God's "little" creatures who played
a "BIG" part in restoring my spirit and resolve.

What Did "The Father" Experience?

Scripture is replete with accounts of fathers who
agonized over the losses or pending losses of their
sons. Adam's son, Abel, was killed by his brother.
Abraham was a heartbeat away from plunging a
knife into his son, Isaac. Jacob was told by eleven
of his sons that his son, Joseph, was lost forever.
The father of the Prodigal had his heart broken by
his son's insistence on leaving home and spreading
his wild oats.
As terrifying and agonizing as these and other
such events were, the classic example of a father's
emotional distress and suffering is that which God,
the Father, experienced during Jesus's life and trials.
While we place a lot of emphasis on the discomforts
that the Saviour endured from birth to death,
and rightly so, I'm inclined to believe that we
rarely think about what our Father in Heaven felt.
Try to imagine, if you can, what angst the heart of
our Father God experienced from His Son's being
born in a stable, through to His unimaginable death!
DOES GOD "HURT"? We read in Holy writ that
God "sorrows", "repents", and "grieves", so why
ought we not to believe that the environs of Heaven
shook with agony as Jesus's torments occurred?
Sought to be killed shortly after His human birth;
rejected by scholars, the religious, governors and
kings; and deserted by some of His disciples, Jesus
knew heartaches, all shared from above by His and
our Father.
Not for a moment could I ever believe that His
Father revelled in the Son's emotional or physical
sufferings. From Judas's betrayal, to the arrest in
the garden, to the crowd's calls for Him to be crucified,
the pains and pangs of our sins surely affected both
the Architect and the Builder of our SALVATION!!
Stripped, scourged with the "cat-o-nine tails", a
makeshift crown of thorns piercing His head and
temple - all of these were repugnant in the eyes and
ears of Jesus' Father who was watching from above!
HOW HE MUST HAVE HURT FOR HIS SON!
Watching Jesus carry the crosspiece of the instrument
of His death; seeing the soldiers offer Him sour wine
and gall; hearing the sounds of the hammers as they
strike the nails into Jesus' wrists and ankles; witnessing
the piercing of His Son's side - you and I could not be
so brave - only the Author of our redemption could
force Himself to be party to such tragedy - brought
about because of our waywardness.
WHAT EMOTIONS COULD THE FATHER HAVE
POSSIBLY EXPERIENCED?
Sorrow - that sin brought the Son to earth and caused
Him such suffering.
Pain - that He probably felt, too, as Jesus writhed in
His flesh.
Remorse - for Satan's rebellion, deceit, and sin that
passed on to all of mankind.
Anger - at those who acted out the final moments in
our stead - we all are responsible for what
took place that day!
Exultation - that the sacrificial price for our sins was
paid, and sin's power and penalty were
available for removal from "whosoever will".
Relief - that Jesus had to suffer no more.
Joy - that every man, woman, and child who accepted
the Son would be "adopted" into God's eternal/
Heavenly family.
Celebration - for Jesus returning to His rightful place
at the Father's right hand.
CAN YOU IMAGINE ENDURING SUCH AN ORDEAL
AS THE FATHER DID?
IT WAS ALL FOR YOU AND ME! Glory to God!

Passing Along A Godly Heritage!

In our last reading, I encouraged you to develop a
documentation of your experiences with God, to
bless your own heart, and to serve as reminders of
God's faithfulness to you over the years.
Today, let's carry the theme a bit further - for
the sake of your children, your grandchildren, your
great-grandchildren, and any other generations to
come, should Jesus delay His return.
Psalm 145 is a great passage to read, and I encourage
you to do so now, before going on in this treatise.
In particular, verse 4 states "One generation shall
praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your
mighty acts." WOW!
Think about the implications of doing such a thing!
Think about the ramifications of writing and listing
the blessings of God, answers to prayer, miracles,
not the least of which was your conversion! It's one
thing to "preach" to your kids and other family
members, it's quite another to recite and write the
numerous positive events that God has inserted into
your years of life!
How did you become saved/a Christian? What events
or circumstances led up to your decision to accept
the Saviour and make Him Lord of your life? Who
played significant parts in your coming to terms with
His invitation and offer to you?
How many financial miracles have you received?
How many times has God healed your body? Your
mind? Your relationship(s)? Your marriage? Your
emotions?
How has God used you to be a blessing to others?
Take the time to sit and remember - many exciting
and glorious happenstances have occurred to you
and for you - SHOULDN'T YOUR OFFSPRING
KNOW WHAT ALL GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU?!
The Bible, both Old Testament and New, gives
encouragement to you to "pass the faith along",
as the song goes. Timothy was greatly influenced
by HIS GRANDMOTHER'S FAITH!!
The stories are endless, what all you have encountered,
and need to be shared with those loved ones who
come after you. Generations to come may be blessed
by your story of God's love and care for you!
Ready to write? Good.
Remember, don't just write, tell your children and
their children about the goodness of God - only time
and eternity will tell what impact your testimony
will have on their eternal souls!

What's In Your Heart? Express It For God's Sake, And For Your Sake!

Have you ever wanted to express the feelings
and thoughts that are deep inside you, yet kept
suppressing them for reasons unknown? Hear
what the Psalmist says in Psalm 45, verse 1:
"My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer."
(New King James Version)
What are some of the things that you've wanted
to say, either to God or others, but just didn't,
maybe because you were shy, timid, felt unskilled,
or just didn't know how to put into words those
special thoughts that you felt?
You don't need to be highly educated, or be a
Bible scholar, or be an ordained minister or
priest or teacher, all you need is to have a heart
for God, and an appreciation for all He's done!
My Mother didn't finish high school, yet she
penned some beautiful verses and writings,
some of which we offspring read at her home-
going service.
Have you ever tried it? Would you? Will you?
PLEASE! Make it a private journal if you want,
just put down a few of the innermost feelings and
prayers of worship or intercession that are a
part of your spirituality and your walk with God.
My favorite hymn is "In The Garden", which talks
about how my Saviour and I walk in closeness in
the garden of togetherness, and the "joy we share
............none other has ever known." You don't need
to share your writings with others unless God leads
you to do so. Turn back the pages from time to
time to remind yourself of what you've written,
and let it return you to that intimacy you and your
Lord shared and share!!
Our text Psalm is a tribute to the Messiah and to
His Bride (the church, which we are), and goes on
to say, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your
Kingdom........".
YOU COULD WRITE PRAISES LIKE THIS!
Oh, maybe you can't write like a psalmist, or
a prophet, or Solomon, or an apostle, but all
that you need do is express yourself in whatever
words or language is meaningful to you!
Try it! You may surprise yourself! And you
just might find yourself enriched in your worship
and in your closeness with your Creator!
You may discover yourself composing a 21st-
century Psalm or hymn! How special would that be!
I'd be eager to know and read some of what you
create, as it would probably serve to inspire me
and any others who may read it!
PRAY about it! I'm praying for you.

Count Your Blessings - Part II

Well, how did you do? Have you had time
to recall your parents, grandparents, and
your "growing-up-years"? Have you stopped
to appreciate your brothers and sisters, along
with your children?
How many other things were you able to add
to our previous list? Here are some more of
mine:
I'm thankful for the people who read and
commented on my newspaper writings and
blog writings over the last two years.
I'm thankful for the computer and the
invention of the internet (thanks, Al!).
I'm thankful for columnists and commentators
in major market papers and on honest-
thinking TV programs that fight to keep America
free and great!
I'm thankful for the men and women of our
Armed Forces, both at home and abroad, who
are standing for and fighting for our freedoms
and values, despite what we see and hear from
some of our country's leaders!
It's a blessing that we still have "freedom of
speech", "freedom to dissent", "freedom of
expression", and "freedom of the press", along
with the "freedom of assembly". GOD HELP
US IF WE EVER LOSE THESE FREEDOMS!
I'm thankful for Social Security, may it ever be
available, as without it bringing up my most
recent offspring would have been troublesome!
I'm thankful for Medicare, much of which I've
paid for over my 50-plus years of working, and
which I now can rely on for assistance with my
health issues.
I'm thankful for freedom of thought and expression,
and the ability to think, create, imagine, and
entertain some of my "followers", whoever they be.
I'm thankful for friends, which I consider you to
be, as you have enriched my life by just knowing
you, even if it's only been through this medium
or e-mails. You've added to my happiness!
WE ARE BLESSED! Count your blessings, please!
A thankful heart is a merry heart, and nothing
is healthier than a heart that is at ease and at peace.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

Have You Counted Your Blessings Lately?

How often do you count your blessings? Regularly? Now and then? Often? Daily? Whenever
you're reminded to do so? How often do you think you should count the many gifts that God
has given you? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm! Probably every day, hey?
Take time with me to recall and list some of the people, events, and things that we should be
consistently thankful for, including those of years past, as well as what you're enjoying today.
For me, I'm thankful for my PARENTS. I trust that you had good, godly parents who gave you
life and reared you. My dad was a hard working, caring man, who died at the age of 33, while I
was still just 11, the oldest of four. I remember him bringing home my first mitt and baseball,
taking me to Pirate games and on Lake Erie fishing trips, and setting up a volleyball net in our
driveway for the neighborhood kids to play. Of course, there are many other invaluable
recollections of him, but I'm especially thankful for the way he loved my Mom, and for their
dutiful persistence in taking us to the Canonsburg Methodist Church.
My mother, also now deceased, had no marketable skills for employment after Dad's passing,
so she went to work cleaning houses five and six days a week, just to keep the four of us fed,
and to keep us together, despite numerous offers to take one or more of us in to raise. Her
obvious love for God and faith in Him was a prime factor in my subsequent salvation.
Both sets of GRANDPARENTS contributed to my happiness, with vacations at the Richeys home in Majorsville, and living for a while with the O'Donnells. I learned by being around them, and
by watching their characters and personalities. Their obvious love for each other and for me
continues to bless me to this day.
Not to belabor the point, but my siblings were/are a blessing as well. Patty, who died at
the age of 21 by drowning in the Ohio River at Wheeling, was full of life and love. Peggy,
next in line, has been a devoted mother and grandmother to her ever-growing clan. Fred,
my cross-country truck driving brother, has been a constant reason to pray daily, though he
is a safe rig operator. I continue to remind him of God's invitation and patience and love.
I remember with fondness many of my teachers, from Mrs. Call in first grade at Muse School,
to Mr. Youngman and Mr. Gaughn at Triadelphia Jr. High, to Miss Sherrick and Mr. Porter
at Triadelphia High School in Wheeling. They've all blessed me with their diligence. Going
off to Bible College, Mr. Robertson, James Morris, and Walter Buettler all have had a very
positive impact on me. Thank God for them all.
Do you have TEACHERS that you remember and should thank God for?
After leaving what is now Valley Forge Christian College, I spent about 13 years pastoring
three special churches in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Each congregation taught
me how to grow in God. I'm especially thankful for the prayer warriors in each parish, as they
kept me "on the firing line" for Jesus!
God has blessed me with three wonderful children and three great grandsons! Each of my
two sons and my daughter has brought me joy, pride, and thankfulness, in addition to the
various challenges we faced and conquered together! The grandsons, Bryce, Garrett, and
Nolan, are a joy beyond comparison, and bless me every time we chat together.
Today, I'm blessed beyond measure. My wife, Cindy, our home, my work, the columns and
blogs that I've been privileged to write, and so much more "blesses my socks off" daily! I'm
grateful for the strength and health to keep working. I thank God for our church, where the
young Pastor and his wife labor fervently for the Lord! I'm glad for my friends, including you
who is reading this posting. You've brought happiness and meaning to the word "friendship"!
MOST OF ALL, I'm blessed to be counted as "one of His", belonging to God through His Son,
Jesus Christ, as one who is "born again", or saved, or converted, or transformed by the
Holy Spirit and the Word of God (the Bible) into a "new creation". Does that make me any
better than others? No. It just makes me a candidate for eternity in Heaven, and I fully
expect to be there - maybe soon!? You, too? I pray so.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!! Working? Count your blessings. Loved? Count your blessings. Healthy? Count your blessings. Befriended? Count your blessings. Saved? Count your
blessings.
Add to "our" list those things that you can think of. I'm sure there are many others that
are particular to your life and experiences. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!!

How Friendships Matter In Our Pursuit of Holiness

In the Richey "unauthorized" version of the
dictionary, the word "blessed" means "to be
happy", "to be content", "to be satisfied", "to
be fulfilled", "to be favored by God"!!
WANT TO BE BLESSED?
Here are some hints or suggestions to becoming
all of the above-mentioned, and possibly more:
Psalm 1 begins "Blessed is the man (person) who
walks NOT in the counsel of the UNGODLY....".
(Capitals mine, but necessary to make the points.)
If you want to be happy, feel favored by God, and
live in His blessing, you must be careful who your
associates or friends are!
Just as the Bible teaches that the saved person is
not to be united with the unsaved, we must choose
our business partners, friends, and even our
church carefully. Being around sinful people who
are negative, condemnatory, selfish, and gossip-
mongers has a tendency to involve you in the
same type of attitudes and behaviors!!
THAT SAME VERSE GOES ON TO SAY.....
"nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the
seat of the scornful.....".
WE ARE KNOWN BY THE COMPANY WE KEEP!!
Fellow-traveler, Sister-pilgrim, Brother-Christian,
you need to surround yourself with moral, right-
thinking individuals who will uplift Jesus Christ,
and who will help to keep your spirit and attitude
lifted high!!
AVOID MEAN PEOPLE! AVOID TALEBEARERS!
AVOID GOSSIPS! AVOID THOSE WHO SEEK
REVENGE! AVOID NON-CHRISTIANS WHO MAY
ONLY BRING YOU DOWN!!
If you're at all concerned or interested in having your
life and testimony count for souls and for eternity,
you must be known for keeping quality company!
I'm not saying not to speak to or have any inter-
action with non-believers, for it's virtually impossible
to do so totally, but we don't have to involve our-
selves in relationships that bring us down instead
of lifting us up!
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GODLY FRIENDS!
ASSOCIATE WITH BELIEVERS! TALK AND
INTERACT DAILY WITH FELLOW CHRISTIANS!
MAKE YOUR SPEECH POSITIVE AND BUILDING
UP! HONOR GOD WITH YOUR AFFILIATIONS!!
Yes, indeed, we want to witness to the lost souls
around us, and we want our lives to speak of the
grace and love of God, but we must know when and
where to draw the line, and the Holy Spirit will
let us know - we must simply rely on Him to do so!!
THIS WILL NOT ALWAYS BE EASY, to break
off friendships or relationships that are defeating
God's purpose, but if you PRAY and ask God how
to handle each person and each situation, He will
give you just the right attitude and words to let
people know why you cannot continue to be in
an improper (unholy) alliance with them. Be kind,
be gentle, be sincere, and most of all BE LOVING,
and let them know just why you must withdraw
from them a space and time - TO PURSUE GOD'S
WILL IN YOUR LIFE, AND TO HOPE THAT
THEY WILL HONOR THAT AND SEEK THE
SAME FOR THEIR LIVES!!
Again, this is not easy, but I'M PRAYING FOR YOU!!

Remember That Children's Song?

"Be careful little eyes, what you see,........etc."
Remember? The little ditty went on to say,
"Be careful little lips what you say!".
Guess what? It's just not a children's song, it's
one that even we adults should pay heed to!
Are you careful with your words so as not to
betray your thoughts and feelings? Jesus said,
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaks". What is He saying?
He's saying that the words and attitudes that
we portray with our mouths tell others, and God,
what is inside of us!!
THINK ABOUT IT! Seriously, take a couple of
minutes NOW, and THINK ABOUT IT!
What are some of the words that you use that
may displease your Lord, and may even make
others wonder about your commitment to Jesus?
DO YOU SWEAR?
DO YOU CURSE OR "CUSS"?
DO YOU USE GOD'S NAME(S) "IN VAIN"?
DO YOU USE "IDLE WORDS"? Matthew 12:36.
Take a minute or two and read the whole passage
in Matthew, Chapter 12, verses 33 thru 37.
NOW, are there words that you should pray and
ask God to help you to omit from your vocabulary
and use?
Words, like "da**", "he**", "sh**", "fu**", "G D"?
Well? Yes, I'm not perfect either, for at times
"darn" or "heck" will slip from my lips, and I try
not to use even them. It's a battle at times,
especially when the situation is frustrating or
extremely difficult, to suppress stronger language,
but I ask God to quickly remove them from my
mind and to forgive me for even thinking them!
Are you getting my drift? As Christians, we are
to represent our Saviour and Lord with our
entire being, not just with our Sunday-morning-
going-to-church-dressup-appearance, but with
OUR EVERY DAY REPRESENTATION OF HIM!!
I'm not saying it's easy, especially if you've been
living a life and lifestyle that includes improper
language for a long time......but God can help
you to "clean it up"!! PRAY RIGHT NOW AND
ASK HIM TO TAKE THOSE WRONG WORDS
OUT OF YOUR CONSCIOUS THOUGHTS!!
Ask Him to cleanse your mind! Ask Him to
give you better, more positive, more uplifting
words to speak! Ask Him to help you to become
a more fitting ambassador for Jesus Christ!!
Remember - SOULS ARE HANGING IN THE
BALANCE - and you and I are at least partially
responsible for their eternal destiny!!
"Be careful, little lips.........."
I'M PRAYING FOR YOU (AND ME), BILL.

The Names Of Jesus

"What's in a name?" someone has asked. Well,
depending on the subject matter, there can be a
little or a lot. Some parents assign particular
names to their children because of the traditional
meaning of those names.
In the case of our Lord Jesus, his many names or
titles each carries special meaning to those who
are His. There are times in each of our lives when
a particular name of our Saviour can be comforting
and strengthening and/or reassuring.
Some of those names are: Prince of Peace; Counselor;
Light of the World; The Bread of Life; the Messiah;
A Friend Who Sticks Closer Than a Brother; King;
Kinsman-Redeemer; Master; Rabbi; and Teacher.
Do any of these have special value or meaning to you?
Has there been a time in your life when thinking
about one of His names and its speaking of His
character or personality or ministry has been of
great help or value to you at that juncture?
There are many more names and titles of our
Lord Jesus, such as: The Christ; The Promised One;
The Rock (of our Salvation); The Good Shepherd;
Son of Man; Son of God; Healer; Baptiser; Bright
Morning Star; Seed of David; Emmanuel; Christ
the Lord.
WHEW! When we think about it, He is really our
"all in all" as the hymn writer penned! What or
"who" is Jesus to you? What is He right now in
your present circumstance? What do you need
Him to be? HE IS! HE WILL BE!
Finally, and this is not a comprehensive listing,
here are some more of His names that hopefully
have blessed you, or will in the days to come before
His return: Lord of the Sabbath; Bridegroom;
Deliverer; The Word; the Lamb of God; Second
Person of the Trinity; the "I AM"; Alpha and Omega;
The True Shepherd; The Way, The Truth, and
The Life; and last but surely not least - Our Soon-
Returning/Coming King!!
REREAD SLOWLY AND BE BLESSED! No doubt
you can add other of our Saviour's names and titles to
the list, but my intention is to get you started in
thinking what all He is to you!
LOVE HIM! PRAISE HIM! WORSHIP HIM!
SERVE HIM! After all He's done for you, how can
you do less than give Him your all, and live in
His presence and knowledge daily!!
Yours and His for eternity, Bill

Somebody's Praying For You!!

One of the most gratifying and rewarding thoughts
that a Christian can have is the realization that
another person or people are actually praying to
God the Father FOR YOU!
While my recent blogs have been an effort to involve
you in the ministry of prayer, especially intercessory
prayer, it is important and necessary that you and I
know that OTHER CHRISTIANS ARE MENTIONING
YOUR NAME IN PRAYER!!
Think about it!
Meditate upon it!
Someone, probably a number of your friends and
fellow-travelers, is talking to God about you and your
needs! How does that make you feel? For me, it is
both humbling and comforting, even strengthening
to think about it!
Many of my family members and friends are saved,
love God, know Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and
are involved in the welfare and lives of others. That
means they pray for me! AWESOME! Sorry to use
the vernacular, but it really is "awesome"!
Feeling sad? Someone is praying for you. Depressed?
Someone is praying for you. Lonely? Someone is
praying for you. Ill? Someone is praying for you.
Hurt? Someone is praying for you. Disappointed?
Someone is praying for you.
SOMEONE IS PRAYING FOR YOU!!
Are you a Christian worker in the "fields of the Lord"?
Someone is praying for you. Sunday School teacher,
missionary, pastor, or one who ministers with
music, someone is praying for you. About to start
a new project for the Gospel's sake? Someone is
praying for you. A street preacher or one who is
a witness/soul-winner? Someone is praying for you.
Often YOUR NAME is mentioned, sometimes you'll be
included in a group that the Holy Spirit brings to
the prayer-warrior's consciousness, but in any case,
YOU ARE BROUGHT BEFORE THE THRONE DAILY!
You're not alone. You're not forgotten. You're part
of an army of believers who share their thoughts and
prayers with each other! We have confidence that
"you're going to make it"!! YOU ARE LOVED, not
only by the Heavenly Father and His Son, but by
"the Church", the "fellowship of Believers", your
"prayer army", those who care deeply about you
and for you!!
HAVE FAITH, CHILD OF GOD - WE'RE ALL IN
THIS TOGETHER, AND TOGETHER WE WILL
MAKE IT TO HEAVEN AND GOD'S ETERNAL
PRESENCE!!

Who Should I Pray For?

In Sunday's blog about "Steps To Spiritual Growth",
I mentioned the importance of spending time EVERY
DAY in prayer, and I recommended a 15-minute
time slot as a starter. I also suggested that we use
that time to PRAY FOR OTHERS!!
Friend, it is vitally important that we do so, as it
is not only a scriptural admonition, but it will move
us into a deeper personal relationship and
involvement with those for whom we are praying!!
AND, it will help to take our minds, however tem-
porarily, off of our own situation and struggles!
THAT'S IMPORTANT!
It's a good idea, too, to expand our intercession,
as God's Kingdom has so many citizens and
participants in the Gospel work, that we need to
become PARTNERS with them, even if it's only
through the avenue of prayer!!
PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR include:
l. Your Pastor and his family.
2. Your church family, even those you
may know only slightly.
3. The community that you live in,
especially your neighbors.
4. Our country, which is the "hope of
God" to reach the world for Jesus!
5. Your family, both immediate and
extended, to become SAVED!
6. The leaders of our nation, from
local boards of education, to town
boards, county government, state
legislators, and nationally the Congress
and the administration.
7. THE LOST!! Nothing and no one is
closer to the heartbeat of God than those
who haven't said "Yes!" to Jesus yet!!
8. Our missionaries. Many singles and
families have surrendered the comforts
of "being at home" to sacrificially reach
out to shine the light for lost peoples!
9. Media teachers and preachers - who
knows how many are "hearing" the
Truth, and need to "listen" to Jesus' call!
10. Educators - a new friend just emailed
me about his socialist/marxist education in
the local sytem and at a state college - PRAY
FOR OUR CHRISTIAN TEACHERS TO MAKE
UP FOR THOSE WHO ARE MISLEADING
OUR YOUTH!!
11. Those who are writing (blogging?) in
an effort to build up the Church Of
Jesus Christ before HIS RETURN!!
Can you think of others? Probably can. Maybe it's a
good idea to include one or two (or more) of these
each day, rotating the order in which you "remember
them before the throne"!? I KNOW THAT EVERY
ONE OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED WILL BE
'ETERNALLY GRATEFUL' FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!
You'll find out when you get to Heaven just how
important your prayers were!!
P.S. - DON'T FEEL GUILTY if you find yourself
spending more than 15 minutes each time you go
before the Father.
Yours for eternity, Bill.

Important Steps To Increased Spiritual Growth

In this day of great stress and struggle, we who
are God's need to be strongly established in our
spirituality. In my last blog I tried to encourage
you to read and memorize as much of the Bible
as you can in an effort to fortify you with the
"words of life" that could sustain you in times of
spiritual challenges.
THERE'S MORE! That's just the beginning, but
an important part of what you need to do to be
not only victorious in your own situations, but to
be a "spiritual practitioner" when others, both
Christian and unsaved, need "someone to lean on".
HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:
l. Read the Bible, preferably the New
Testament, aloud. There's something
powerful about hearing the Scripture
and reading it together - it captures
your undivided attention! It helps to
shut out the noisy world around you, and
will also captivate your thoughts!
2. Secure a set of CDs or tapes with
someone reading for you, especially
if you have trouble reading. (This is
also a great gift for elderly or blind
or illiterate persons!
3. Try to set aside a short (15 minute?)
period to pray for the needs of those
you know. A regular time of day will
be best, if your schedule permits.
4. Listen to "good" Christian/Gospel
music often during your day. We have
Direct TV, which has spiritual music
over the Sirius/XM channels - great
to listen to while doing housework or
resting, or just listening for an uplift!
5. Limit the number of teachers and
preachers that you watch or listen to.
Your mind can only contain so much
input at one time, and you'll lose or
"waste" much of what you hear if it
is just a part of too much listening,
no matter how "good" it is.
6. Talk on the phone or in person with
those who are also "pilgrims" on this
path to Heaven! Try to cut down or
out the "idle talk" that God warns us
about. Use your conversations with the
unsaved as witnessing efforts, at least
try to create a hunger and thirst for
righteousness. Eliminate gossip.
7. READ good Christian books! Don't be in
a hurry to complete them, just a chapter
or two a day, especially if they're about
doctrine or Biblical principles. TEST
yourself at the end of each chapter!
If the book is helpful, consider rereading
it for continued affirmation!
8. TEST yourself, too, after reading a
portion of the Bible. Ask things like
who is speaking, what is the subject,
how does this passage apply to me,
and what action should I take. Here,
too, spending a number of sessions on
one verse or passage may well contribute
to your understanding and growth!
9. Find a church home where the Bible
is taught and preached and read. Take
your Bible or New Testament with you
to follow along, make marginal notes, and
to verify what is being taught.
10. Get a personal Bible study course that
you can work on in your own time and
at your own pace. Your Bible bookstore
or Pastor or Christian friend can make
a recommendation. Your friend may
even want to join you in study!
TIME IS GETTING SHORT! You and I must
do all that we can to get ourselves and others
ready for ETERNITY and HEAVEN!!
As much as the temptation may be to get more
involved in politics, world affairs, our nation's
woes, the healthcare dilemma and other temporal
matters, IT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAT
WE BE "HEAVENLY-MINDED" and prepared for
the life to come with our Saviour, Jesus Christ!!!

P.S. Feel free to email me at heyrichey@yahoo.com
with questions or help with your spiritual walk. It
would be my pleasure to try to help, with God's help.

These Words Shall Be In Your Heart

Do you READ the Bible? Have you read the Bible
through? Do you KNOW the Bible? How many
verses of Scripture can you quote by memory?
Do you know if someone is misquoting or mis-
interpreting the Bible?
In Deuteronomy's version of the presentation
of the Ten Commandments, God follows up the
event by saying how important it is to keep His
statutes and commandments, and to teach them
diligently to others, especially our children.
Read chapter six, verses 1 through 9 for background
of my message to you today.
God instructs us to speak of His words in our
daily conversations, whether sitting in our homes,
walking through town, lying down, and arising!
He suggests having them on our hands, and before
our eyes, even to writing them on our doorposts
and gates!!
God's WORDS are LIFE! They are POWER! They
are CONVICTING! They TEACH how to live! They
keep the enemies of our souls at bay! They will
draw us closer into His PRESENCE when we speak
them or read them!!
His words are HEALTH! His words are STRENGTH!
They are DEFENSIVE! They are WEAPONS! The
verses of the Bible can be HEALING! PEACE!
Spoken, God's words can put your enemies to flight!
They can call ANGELS to your rescue! Scripture
is a means of putting you into HIS PRESENCE!!
How many verses or passages of Holy Scripture do
you know? A few? A dozen or two? Hundreds?
WE CANNOT KNOW TOO MANY! Perhaps it
would be a good idea to begin a Bible verse memory
plan for yourself! A verse a week? One of Jesus'
sayings? A New Testament passage on living the
Spirit-filled Christian life? A rebuke of our common
enemy - Satan? A reminder of God's promises to
protect and provide?
How about "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!".
Or......"I will never leave you or forsake you.".
Then....."He who hears my word and believes in Him
who sent Me has everlasting life."
Of course there are so many more that can help you,
strengthen you, and enable you to live the life and to
be the witness that God wants you to be. Please,
for your souls sake, and for the sake of those around
you, KNOW AND SPEAK THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE!
God said in Isaiah chapter 55, verse 11, that His word
"that goes forth from My mouth, it shall not return
void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it
shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
As you and I speak the Bible, things will happen!
Souls will be touched for Jesus! Our ears will hear
our tongues saying those powerful truths and our
hearts will be joyfully encouraged! The enemy will
be halted in his evil intentions for us! We will be
able to overcome by the words of our testimony,
as the Christians of the early church did!
GOD HONORS AND EMPOWERS THE SPEAKING
OF HIS WORDS, and we would do well to cooperate
with Him in his divine plan for mankind by quoting
the "words of life" every opportunity we get!

Are You Looking To "Change" Churches?

Christian friend, are you happy with the church
that you've been attending? If so, what is it that
keeps you going there? If not, why do you want
to consider leaving and looking for a place of
worship more suiting to your liking?
IF YOU'RE HAPPY where you're worshipping,
you should be thankful to God for the blessing
of being in a good church! You like the people
that you attend with. You like the pastor's
preaching and teaching styles and content.
You like the songs and hymns that are sung
together. You enjoy the special music that
graces the services, including the musicians
and their instrumental talents. You're in
touch with other members of the congregation
throughout the week - whether to share prayer
needs, or to just "check in" on each other in
a friendly and caring manner. The church is
alive and active, and growing or showing the
potential for growth. There is a positive,
upbeat atmosphere before, during, and after
the services, classes and activities - throughout
the daily life of the members, including the
leadership. You "feel" yourself growing in
things spiritual, especially in your knowledge
of the Word of God, the Bible.
GIVE THANKS DAILY!! God has you where
He wants you, and where you ought to be!
Sadly, though, there are some who are not
content where they have been attending.
I say "attending", because their worship has
been diminished by their uncomfortableness
due to a variety of influences: (1) the Pastor
doesn't preach like they'd like him/her to;
(2) the Pastor doesn't talk to them as long
as they think he should; (3) people in the
church give them "funny looks"; (4) they're
sure others "talk about them"; (5) after a
lot of years, they've never been elected or
appointed to a position of leadership or
power; (6) their ideas and suggestions are
rarely considered; (7) no one calls or comes
to visit; (8) they weren't included or invited
to a non-church get-together ; (9) they disagree
with how the money is being spent; (10) there
are too many sermons on tithing, giving,
missions, evangelizing, etc.
SO FRIEND, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? Or
should I ask "Who's the problem?" What have
you done to make changes for the better? Have
you prayed fervently for the church and Pastor?
Do you willingly take a back seat but still attend
and participate and give for functions and
activities? Do you tithe? Do you support missions?
Are you "friendly"? Have you invited others,
including the Pastor and his family to your house
for dinner, or to take them out to eat? Are you
loving? Do you gossip about the church and its
other members, instead of praying for them?
Is it possible that the new church that you may
find will have some of the same weaknesses and
faults? Might it be because you brought some
of them with you?
PRAY, SERIOUSLY PRAY, before thinking that
you should move to another place of worship!
Is it the church that needs changed, or is it YOU?
Yes, there are situations where things are not
being done properly and situations are not being
handled in godly/spiritual manners, and they may
not ever change - and God may, indeed, want to
move you to a church where your Christian life
is enhanced and your spirituality is fostered.
BUT BE SURE IT IS GOD LEADING YOU before
you make the wrong move. Maybe He wants
you to stay where you are now, and help to
affect the positive changes your current place
of worship needs!?!
"Changing churches" may not mean to alter
the geographic location of your Sunday service,
it may simply mean staying and helping to
make the "changes" that God wants here and
now, where you are "planted" for Him!

Which Church Is "Right" For You?

Are you looking for a church? Depending on the
reason, there are many things to consider when
deciding to pick your pew in a worship center.
Are you a new Christian, or someone who wants
to become a Christian and needs a church to
help you learn and grow in your Christ-life?
For beginners (which we all were at one time),
here are some hints as to what to look for in a
church home: (1) is it friendly? (2) is it a loving
congregation? (3) did they make you feel welcome
your first visit? (4) did the Pastor take extra time
to get to know you and make you feel special?
(5) do they have a "new converts" class or a
study series, such as one of the Navigator's set,
to help you develop as a new believer? (6) are
there childcare, children's and teenage classes
and activities, depending on your family structure?
(7) did they provide a means for you to leave
you personal information for a followup call or
visit? (8) were you able to follow the order of
service and participate, though with some
unfamiliarity? (9) was information provided
to help you know what that church believed?
(10) would you invite family and friends to
attend there?
Of course there are other factors to consider,
but these are some of the main items to take
into view. AFTER ALL, YOUR SPIRITUAL
CONDITION AND GROWTH ARE OF THE
UTMOST IMPORTANCE, and should be, not
only to you, but to those to whom you entrust
your development as a new member of the
"Family of God" and a follower of our
Lord, Jesus Christ!
P.S. - A key to the spiritual personality of
the church you visit should be the place that
the Bible, God's Word played in the service,
and in the lives of the congregation.

"Let Your Light So Shine"

As a part of his "Sermon on the mount" discourse,
and immediately following the Beatitudes, (get it-
be-attitudes?) Jesus gives encouragement amidst
warning to his followers/disciples about our
witnesses and testimonies to the unbelievers around
us.
He said that we can expect to be misunderstood,
(to put it mildly), repudiated, rebuked, and even
have physical harm inflicted FOR HIS SAKE!
This is a hard saying, and one that we wish were
not reality, yes? But know, Christian friend,
that the more you stand for the Saviour, and for
truth, and the Gospel the more you can expect
to be unappreciated, demonized, and attacked
both verbally and physically.
But He did say, "BLESSED ARE YOU"! In other
words, you can be happy and rejoice when your
life and words and deeds that honor your Lord
are rejected! BLESSED! Happy! Honored!
It is an honor to be disliked and even hated for
standing up for the TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL!
Are you being reviled? Persecuted (for right-
eousness sake)? Are you "salt"? Salt is a
seasoning and a preserver - your status as salt
means that you are adding to the zest of the
lives of those to whom you are witnessing,
whether by example or words! AND....you
are helping to preserve their souls for eternity!
Some have misunderstood my writing of a
"patriotic" blog, which is linked to this blog,
hopefully an "inspirational" one. A dear Sister
in Christ inferred that we should concentrate on
the "positive" more than the negative. She's
right. But some of us, including most or all of
the conservative bloggers, writers, and commenta-
tors, are Christians, as evidenced by the oft-spoken
and obvious-to-the-hearing-ear of whoever is
truly listening.
REMEMBER, JESUS SPOKE TO BOTH THE
RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL establishments
when He was here in the flesh!! Can we who are
called to do so do any less than oppose sin, evil,
and unrighteousness in whatever arena we see it?
No.
Each one of us is called to be "salt" and "light" in
the lifestyle to which we have been called. Be sure
that those around you KNOW THAT YOU ARE HIS!!
Don't mind rejection - they're rejecting Jesus! Don't
worry about being misunderstood - the Holy Spirit
will take your words and ease them into your
listeners' hearts! Don't fear persecution - we who
are in love with "the lover of our souls" will reap
a "Well done, good and faithful servant!" when we
stand before Him at the judgment seat.

P.S. The scripture text for this blog is Matthew,
chapter 5, verses 1 through 16.

P.S.S. - If you're not being challenged or opposed
in your witness by family members, neighbors,
coworkers, or the community in which you live,
PLEASE go to God in prayer and ask Him what
you need to do differently to enhance your witness
and honor Him.

THE LORD is my Shepherd.......

You've no doubt spoken it silently to yourself,
read it in the Bible or hymnals, sang it, and
know it by rote, BUT DO YOU REALIZE WHAT
YOU ARE SAYING/CLAIMING?
Of course, this is the beginning statement of the
23rd Psalm, or the "Shepherd's Psalm" as it is
known.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
Repeat that line a couple of times and meditate
upon it. What are you hearing from it? Who is
your shepherd? What is a shepherd? What does
the shepherd provide for his flock? STOP and
think about the answers to these questions before
going on.
"The Lord is my shepherd". "The Lord is my...".
"The Lord is.......". "The Lord......". Following me?
WHO is your shepherd? Your parents? Spouse?
Teacher? The government? A spiritual advisor?
WHO?
THE LORD!!! None other than the God of the
universe, the Creator, the Upholder of all that is,
the Sustainer, He who holds the earth in the palm
of his hands!! HE is your shepherd!
Is He capable of taking care of you? Is He in any
way limited? Does He know who you are and
where you live? Did He not form you in His own
image and likeness? Is He not a very personal
and personable God? He knows your every
inclining, need, trait, want, and thought!!
HE IS YOUR SHEPHERD!
What does a shepherd provide for his sheep?
Shelter. Food. A place of rest. Assurance of
his presence. Protection. Individual and
personal care. It's said that a shepherd knows
every member of his flock and can identify each
one by name. HOW MUCH MORE DOES GOD
KNOW YOU AND ME!!
And..................He knows what each one of us needs!
Do you "want"? What? If we are truly HIS, we
must "learn to be content" with what He provides
for us. A sheep or lamb that leaves the fold takes
the risk of "getting lost" or of losing their life to
a predator!
Another scriptural principle is that of accepting
our lot in life: called in poverty? Seek not to be
rich; called in riches? Seek not to be poor; called
as a slave? Seek not to be free; called as a freeman?
Seek not to be enslaved.
IN OTHER WORDS - God has you where He wants
you, and if He desires something else, a better job,
more income, better health, close friends, peace of
mind, success by whatever measure, HE CAN SEE
TO IT THAT YOU GET IT!
I'm not saying that you should wallow in abject
want, but if you will just praise Him for himself,
be an obedient flockmember, and live for Him
in your present situation, one of two things will
occur: You'll be a LOUD witness of His sustaining
power in your station in life; or He will see fit to
trust you to be put into a different position for
HIS GLORY!
Say it with me, "The LORD is my shepherd, I
SHALL NOT WANT" Trust Him, friend. Keep
yourself in the fold and be obedient - He alone
knows what a glorious future is in store for you!!

Lessons From Isaiah's Vision

Please take the time to read Isaiah, chapter six,
verses 1 through 13 before going any further in
this blog. Thank you. Isaiah is in the Old Testament,
shortly after Psalms, the first of the Major Prophets.
Isaiah's encounter with our Holy God in a vision,
was one that changed his life dramatically. Such
experiences are not limited to the Old Testament,
nor to the prophets, nor to the Bible, but have
occurred since then, and are happening today.
The lessons to be learned from this Isaiah event
are numerous: God is HOLY!; He is attended in
Heaven by beings whose visages are symbolic and
meaningful; Heaven is a place unlike any place we
can ever begin to imagine; encountering God gives
you a sense of your own unholiness and unworthi-
ness; a holy, God-sent anointing is available for
those who will accept His call upon their lives.
We have come a long way from the disciples of
Jesus's examples, that of shrugging off the cares
and involvements with this life and this world,
and that of dedicating ourselves to a life that
speaks loudly and consistently and continually
of the Holy nature of God and his people!
LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH! So
says a song of recent years, and it is high time
that we returned to the pattern that is laid out
for us in the Holy Scriptures:
Fear and reverence God - He is HOLY!
He desires and deserves our worship!
We ought to live worthy of Heaven!
Constanly remind yourself of your roots - SIN!
Have regular encounters with your God!
You are called to holiness as God's ambassador!
I fear that if Jesus was to return to Earth today in
disguise that HE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE HIS CHURCH!
Are we honoring Him with our hearts and worship as
well as our lips? Are we in awe of God and His Son
when we sing and pray? Does your in-church
attitude continue when you go to a restaurant, or
to the grocery store, or to work, or home?
FRIEND, MY PRAYER FOR YOU AND ME is
that we remind ourselves, or allow God to remind
us of His NATURE AND CHARACTER, so that we
can truly be THE PEOPLE OF GOD!
Mind your manners. Watch your attitudes. Be
slow to speak angrily or hatefully. Don't join in
idle talk or gossip. SMILE! Don't be negative.
BE POSITIVE - it will attract more people to
Jesus! Pray daily - regularly. Be mindful of
God throughout your day - it will help you to
stop doing the wrong thing, and encourage
you to do the RIGHT thing. Be the person that
God wants you to be - the person that Jesus
died for you to become! Speak of God and His
Son often - you never know who might be ready
to accept Him as Saviour!!
LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH!
I'm convinced that if the people of God start
living as we ought, many of the problems that
we are facing in our government and society will
be affected. Let's try it! What do you have to lose?
What do you have to gain? HEAVEN! Really.

The Reality Of Our Mortality - Death Comes Surely, And Sometimes Quickly

Recent events have served to make me more
mindful of the brevity of life and how quickly
we can find ourselves exiting this world.
A friend who collects for a local newspaper at
the store where I work died in his shower just
a few days ago. He was 61. Three ladies were
making copies of a picture of their sister for
her funeral mass. This woman was a regular
where I worked, and we spoke often. She was 46.
My Father died of a heart attack in a Pittsburgh
hospital at the age of 33. I was only ll. My sister, Pat,
drowned in the Ohio River at the age of 21. My
niece, Penny, succumbed to leukemia at age 9.
Just last evening were returning home from a
delightful dinner and visit with some of our
family, when an ambulance came racing and
screaming past us just before we got to our
home. Just before arriving at our street, the
area was filled with emergency vehicles and
their lights, as a pizza delivery vehicle had
struck and killed one of our elderly neighbors
who was returning home from playing bingo.
Her body was in the middle of the street, covered
with a sheet, while police were taping off the area
and piecing the scenario together.
HOW QUICKLY LIFE IS ENDED! And often,
suddenly, as well. We had exchanged smiles and
"Hello!" with this lady often. SHE'S GONE!
And then, imagine our horror to come home, turn
on the television, and find out that a deranged
gunman had fired dozens of shots into a crowded
workout room, killing and injuring many, as well
as taking his own life - just miles from our home!
ARE YOU READY TO DEPART THIS LIFE?
As a Christian, it's "a no-brainer", for sure.
Except that - do you have a will? Do you have
"a living will"? Is your funeral planned as to
hymns, Scriptures, poems, minister, and
burial place? Is there anyone with whom you
need to make peace - a family member, friend,
coworker, neighbor?
Our life "is as a vapor", as God's Word says, and
we need to be conscious of and prepared for the
limited time we have and suddenness with which
we could be gone!
LIFE IS SHORT - ETERNITY IS CERTAIN!
Are you ready to leave? What legacy will you
have? Through which door will you enter to
recieve your "reward"? Heaven's, to hear
Jesus say, "Well done!", or Hell, to hear Him
say, "I never 'knew' you!"?
GET YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER NOW -
TIME MAY BE SHORT!!

YOU ARE A "BRANCH" OF JESUS CHRIST!!

You, and I, fellow sojourner and Christian, have
a rare and special privilege of being a part of the
life that flows into us and through us from our
Saviour, Jesus Christ!
My favorite passage of Scripture is John 15, where
Jesus declares himself to be "the true Vine", his
Father (God) the "vinedresser", and we are the
"branches".
Do you understand the full impact and scope of
those terms or that principle?
Fundamentally, when we become Christians via
our "rebirth" or our salvation experience, we
immediately are attached to, plugged into, or
engrafted into Jesus! Another term easier to
understand might be "adoption".
What this means is that we who were once a
part of another plant or vine, were accepted
into the "true Vine", and all that He is and has
is now ours!
As with any "life", it is necessary to maintain our
status and attachment, so that the needed
"nutrients" can be received by us. All that Jesus
is possessor of, His love, joy, peace, understanding,
faith, patience, etc., basically the "fruit of the Spirit"
as detailed in Galatians, chapter 5, verses 22 and
23, we now have, and will continue to have as
long as we stay "in Him"!
How do we stay in Him? Not by osmosis. Not by
relying on an experience or experiences of years
gone by. Not by simply owning a Bible. Not even
by attending church, however frequently or
infrequently. Not even by being a church member!
We stay in Jesus Christ by fellowshiping with Him
in worship and meditation. We stay in Jesus by
reading the Biblical accounts of his WORDS, deeds,
and instructions. We stay in Jesus by REGULAR
prayer! (If you'll recall, even God's Son spent
numerous hours on various occasions praying to
his Father!) If He needed to pray, how much
moreso do you and I!!
And if we're doing the things that we need to do
to remain alive in "the Vine", we will find our
lives and testimonies being positive examples
to family, neighbors, and friends, without any
stress or distress worrying about being His
witness!
LIVING CLOSE TO JESUS will make life so
easy to live as a Christian and a "branch", as
we will not give a second thought about what
others may say about us or do to us. When
they reject your message, they're not rejecting
you, they're rejecting JESUS CHRIST, who wants
so dearly to be their Saviour, too! He even
suffered, bled, and died for them, to prove
how much He really loves them!
Make your days count, friend. Make time to
get to know your Lord Jesus better! Spend
time in the Gospel accounts! Ask yourself
"What would Jesus do?" when a situation arises.
LET HIS LIFE FLOW THROUGH YOU!

What Will Heaven Be Like?

What is the most exotic vacation or place on
the globe that you have ever visited? Close your
eyes and revisit the beauty and grandeur of that
location for a few moments. If you've never been
to a place of great beauty or wonder of Nature,
recall some of the photographs that you've seen in
magazines, such as LIFE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC,
or even your AAA or travel publications.
Wouldn't you like to live there all the time? Forever?
For eternity? Aside from any work that you may
remembr as a part of that trip, or any unpleasant
weather that may have occurred, picture the glory
and splendor of the best times you spent or
imagined at that "paradise"!
WHAT DO YOU THINK HEAVEN WILL BE LIKE?
If we take the word pictures that are given to us
in the Bible, Heaven will be just that - Heavenly!
Streets of gold, gates of pearl, pure water flowing
by the most gorgeous trees ever! The daytime
will never cease, as the Glory of God will lighten
the entire place! Night will be a thing of the past!
Music and praises to God the Father, Jesus Christ
the Son, and the Holy Spirit will continue unabated!
In addition to the beauty, there will be no sickness,
sorrow, pain, arguments, or fighting! No government
bodies to suppress or dominate the spirit or lives
of the citizens! No wars! No cancers! No loss of
limbs! No mental disorders! No death! No graves
or tombstones! Only life abundant!
WILL HEAVEN BE BORING?
Not in the least! Those who will be there will have
plenty to do: praising and thanking God for His
gift of SALVATION; praising and thanking Jesus for
providing ETERNAL LIFE; enjoying the handiwork
or God throughout the entirety of CREATION;
"catching up" on the intriguing aspects of the lives
of the SAINTS, both Old and New Testaments'
personalities; hearing the ANGELS tell of all that
they were privileged to witness throughout the
ages, including EARTH'S small part in the great
plan of the universe; and gladly performing our
Heavenly Father's bidding, which we can only
imagine for now!
Will we "manage" other planets and beings?
Will we "fly" from star to star and beyond?
Will we play a part in "other creations" such as
our own Earth's? No sci-fi, here, please, but we
are limited only by our finite human minds and
imaginations as to what Eternity in Heaven will
be like.
I know one thing - I EXPECT TO BE THERE,
THANKS TO JESUS' SACRIFICE, AND I PRAY
THAT I'LL SEE YOU THERE!!

Who Knows That You're A Christian?

First of all, it is necessary that YOU know that
you're a Christian! Agreed? HOW do you know
that you're a member of God's family? Were
you "born" a Christian? NO. Our parents'
spirituality or church membership or standing
in the community does not make us a true
"child of God". Someone has said, "God has no
grandchildren.".
Did you become a Christian by going to Sunday
School or taking catechism or confirmation classes?
NO. A car doesn't become a tractor by hanging
around the barn.
Was your baptism, first holy communion, or
church membership the means of your becoming
a Christian? NO. Simple rites, no matter how
important or necessary they may be, do not,
indeed CANNOT make a person a Christian.
ONLY by realizing that one is born a sinner, with
the nature and tendency to sin, and that one
can not free himself from that enslavement, thus
confessing, repenting, and accepting God's Son,
Jesus Christ, can you become a Christian!!
What are the evidences that you are a Christian?
Does your family know of your spirituality? Do
your friends? What about your neighbors? Your
boss or coworkers? HOW? What do you DO or
NOT DO that tells them that you're a changed
person, a "new creation" as the Bible puts it?
Do you listen to or tell "off-color" jokes?
Do you criticize or gossip about others?
Do you swear? Do you use God's name wrong-
fully? Do you attend church? Do you carry
your Bible? Do you get offended when others
use God's or Jesus' names wrongfully? Are
you a charitable person? Do you show love in
tangible ways when another person or family
is in dire straits or has a pressing need? How?
Are you a "positive" or "negative" person?
Do you speak lovingly and glowingly about
your Saviour, your church and church family,
your own family, and others in general? Do you
get upset when things in the news are reported
as going against right and decency? DO YOU
PRAY? How often? When? Only when you're
in a bad situation yourself? Do you tell others
that you're praying for them? Do you say,
"God bless you!"? Do you send cards and
letters of encouragement and sign them with
a spiritual blessing or thought? Do you make
phone calls to lift other peoples' spirits? Do
you support missions, give regularly to your
church, tithe, help local foodbanks or thrift
stores? Have you invited anyone to church
or a Bible study, or to accept Jesus lately?
WHO KNOWS THAT YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN,
AND HOW WOULD THEY KNOW?
With our world in the sad state that it is in
right now, and with morality and ethics rapidly
going downhill, it is so important that you and
I, the people of God, take our stand, and live
our lives as befitting true believers in Jesus!
LIVE AS IF ETERNITY MATTERS - IT DOES!

THE PEACE OF GOD

"The peace of God which is beyond all (of this
world's) understanding will guard (keep, protect)
your hearts and minds.............." Philippians,
chapter 4, verse 7.
Life is not a bed of roses, to put it mildly, not
even for the child of God. Christians have not
been promised an easy road, but we have been
given the graces and gifts necessary to endure
life's problems and challenges.
There are numerous aids available to us to help
us to overcome - the Scriptures, songs and
hymns, psalms, worship, meditation, prayer,
fellowship with fellow-pilgrims, God's promises,
and for me, at this time - God's PEACE!
Jesus promised that He came to give us PEACE!
When speaking with His disciples in John,
chapter 14, He said, "Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give to you..."
He's not talking about a refusal to accept our
circumstances, or a denial of reality, what He's
giving you and me is a calmness even in the
midst of trials and problems!
My recent bouts with physical challenges have
been met with a surprising lack of panic - I've
actually had a PEACE beyond myself - one
that could only come from my Heavenly Father!
Facing uncertain surgery and treatments, I'd
experience nervousness and a lack of faith in
times past, but at this stage of life I'm having
an uncharacteristic (for me) PEACE! P.T.L.!
Friend, are you going through a tough time?
Has life dealt you a "bad hand" or a test that
you fear may be beyond your ability to cope
with? Good! NOW GOD CAN PROVE
HIMSELF BY SHOWING HIMSELF WITH
THE CALMING ASSURANCE THAT HE IS
IN CONTROL, AND THAT YOU ARE IN HIS
HANDS!! Talk about PEACE!
Place yourself into "the Potter's hands", and
let Him mold you and shape you into the
image of His Son! Accept His PEACE! Be
at ease, knowing that "He doeth all things
well"!!
Remember, it is not in this world that we
aim to succeed and "feel at home", but in
the promises of our eternal home, Heaven,
that we seek, where "all will be PEACE"!

Are You Ready For "The Tribulation"?

There is much talk these days about the soon
return of Jesus Christ. Of course, people,
especially evangelists, pastors, and Bible scholars
have been predicting the event for centuries,
as early as the New Testament church.
BUT, the apostasy in the church world and
the very loud and visible decline of society
as a whole, in every corner of the globe, has
given new rise to talk and warnings about
the "Rapture" event and Jesus' return.
In the last few years there have been some
who have put forward a new "take" on the
Bible's warnings of "the last days", mainly
that "the Church" will go into the first part
(first half?) of the Tribulation period. I
strongly disagree, based on my decades of
reading and studying Scripture, and my
awareness of the character of God!
HOWEVER, it's very possible, and in fact
likely, that many who say they're Christians,
who may even attend church services, and
who are "good people" will still be around
after the "catching away" of those who are
saved and living for God and His Son!
The Bible says that God will not put His
"elect" through unnecessary trials and tests,
as they have proven Him and lived for Him
for their normal lifespan, or a portion of it.
At His ascension, Jesus promised His followers
that "I will come again and receive you unto
myself". This is known in Christian circles as
"the blessed hope", referring to His coming
back for "the faithful".
ARE YOU IN THAT NUMBER? AM I?
The Tribulation Period, as foretold in God's
Word, will be a 7-year span of time in which
evil will prevail, "all hell will break loose", and
the opportunity to become a Christian will be
severely restricted, as the Holy Spirit, who is
quite present in the world today, will be taken
out, and very few will probably sieze the
opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their
Saviour. Many will curse God, blaming Him for
their dilemma, when all along they refused to
accept the truth, even with the Gospel message
readily available as it is now.
WILL YOU BE HERE FOR THE TRIBULATION?
Will you be strong enough to resist evil and the
madness that will surely be around you if you're
unfortunate enough to still be here on earth?
DON'T TAKE CHANCES! IT COULD HAPPEN
SOON! Give your heart and life to Jesus today,
and you won't have to worry about the future,
either here, or in eternity!!

Who Is Jesus Christ To You?

There have been many influential persons throughout
history, the Pharaohs, Caesars, Popes, generals such
as Pompei, Alexander, etc. Great thinkers such as
Plato, Socrates, Freud, Machiavelli, Mao, and others
have made us contemplate our existence and its
meaning.
But the main character of the centuries, the one who
is indeed the central figure of mankind's history, a
great thinker and a great leader and so much more,
is Jesus Christ!
More volumes have been dedicated to Him and His
words than any other person, man or woman, who
ever lived! His followers are more numerous than
Krishna's, Buddha's, Mohammed's or any other
religious founder/leader!
By God's design and plan, Jesus Christ entered our
sphere of living to live, teach, and exhibit the very
heart of His Father, and our Father, if we have
accepted the offer of forgiveness, salvation,
justification, and imputed righteousness that can
only come from THE Son of God, Jesus!
JESUS CHRIST IS THE CENTRAL FIGURE IN
ALL OF MANKIND'S EXISTENCE! EVERYTHING
THAT HAPPENED BEFORE HIM AND EVERY-
THING THAT HAS HAPPENED AFTER HIM
CENTERS AROUND HIM!
What is He to you?
Is He the father of your church? Is He the "holy
man" who "went about doing good"? Is He a
myth or fairy tale? Can you, do you believe that
He actually came from Heaven on a Divine
mission to prove God's reality and love for you
and me? Or is He just another historical figure
who began a religion, on a level with all of the
other prophets and religion authors?
Can you, do you dare to take a chance that He
is the PLAN of God for your life, and that to
reject Him is "eternal suicide"?
As someone has said, "Jesus is either all that
He claimed to be, or He is the biggest liar that
ever lived." Do you dare to investigate His
claims and teachings? Do you dare to read the
New Testament Gospels account of His life
and words? Do you dare risk your eternal
destiny by refusing to consider Him as the
Messiah, the Promised One, your Saviour?
And if He is all that we've read, heard about,
and believed, are we living accordingly? Do
we honor Him with our thoughts, speech,
actions, attitudes, or does our lifestyle betray
our profession? IF JESUS CHRIST IS THE
LORD OF YOUR LIFE, LIVE AS IF HE IS
THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE!!
There is no more important issue or decision
that you and I will make during this life than
the one to accept or reject the claims of the
One who was sent from God!
Josh McDowell set out to disprove Christianity
as the theme of his college thesis. What he
discovered after hundreds of hours of intense
research is that Jesus Christ is all that He said
He was (and is), and after his dedicated effort
to debunk Him and Christianity, Josh became
a stalwart of the faith, and one of the leading
apologists of our time.
So, my friend, I ask you, "Who is Jesus Christ
to you?" Is He God? Is He your Saviour?
Is He your returning King? Is He Lord of
your life?
Or..............is He just another person in
history, with no other significance other than
that He lived, spoke, and "wowed" the crowds?
ETERNITY IS IN THE BALANCE!
Either accept Him and live for Him, or deny
Him and "take your chances"! YOU LOSE!
I pray that you'll recognize Jesus as your
only hope for eternity, and that you will begin
to live the Christ-life TODAY!!!

A Christian's "Secret" In These Trying Times!

For most of my life I've been intrigued by the
verse that encourages us to "wait on the Lord".
My dictionary says that "wait" can mean "to
be in readiness or expectation"; "to serve the
needs of or be in attendance upon"; "to remain
inactive or stay in one spot until something
anticipated occurs".
If you're a Christian, you can probably recite
Isaiah chapter 40, verse 31 by heart: "...those
who WAIT on the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they
shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and
not faint."
One scribe wrote "These are the times that try
men's souls.". This statement couldn't be more
true than it is today. These are troublesome times,
what with the "hot spots" politically and militarily
on the globe; economic problems mounting daily;
joblessness straining our welfare system as well
as people's emotional states; and a government
that seems to be rapidly whirlpooling into an
abyss of socialism that will disrupt our entire
society and system of rule as we've known it.
TRYING TIMES, to say the least, but those of
us who know the Lord can remain calm and
faith-filled, as we know "a secret" - namely the
strength that comes from waiting on God!!
Remembering that we were formed in His image,
we know that God has a need and desire to be
noticed, wanted, loved, and needed, just as you
and I do! His heart longs for our attention. He
craves being alone with you and me!
Years ago in Escanaba, Michigan (in the U.P.), I
had the privilege of hearing David Wilkerson,
founder of Teen Challenge, speak about "Our
Lonely God!". My heart and spirit had been
experiencing that same truth for some time, and
I readily embraced David's words. God "has a
need" for you to spend time with Him! God waits
for you to step aside from your busyness, and spend
valuable quiet minutes or hours in His presence!
He longs for companionship with YOU!!
As and when we will take precious moments from
our hectic schedules to "wait" upon the Lord, we
will find ourselves blanketed with His loving presence,
and His holiness, igniting even further our desire
"to be like Jesus", as the song goes.
You don't have to "wait for" God, you just have to
"wait upon" Him! Shower Him with your praises,
love, worship and thanksgiving! Have an "affair"
with your Creator/Saviour! He knows what you
need as far as petitons and requests, but what He
and you need first and foremost is to draw closer
to each other!!
Make, develop, and cherish that "secret place" and
time when you regularly shut out the world and
enter into that special encounter with Him! Put
off asking for this and that until later, if indeed
they will matter later, and build upon that eternal
friendship that you and your God will be enjoying
FOR ETERNITY! Get to know Him intimately now!
Heaven will be all the sweeter!
And..............you'll find the wherewithal within you
to "face uncertain days" while still in this sphere.

AIMING HIGH!

Good day, friend! My prayer is that you
are experiencing one of the best days of
your life, during one of the best times of
your life!
For a Christian, these are excitng days
and times.
The purpose of this blog is to encourage
you in your spiritual quest. I chose the
title "UPLIFT", because I hope to lift your
spirit(s) with my (His) words, I hope to
lift the person and name of Jesus higher,
and we who are His expect to be lifted
higher (bodily), maybe very soon!
While my main intention is to focus on
the words and teachings of the Saviour,
I will entertain the prospect of addressing
your questions or issues about anything
Biblical or spiritual. No, I don't pretend to
have or know all the answers, but I do
know "someone" who does! (Not Cindy,
though she does have great spiritual insight.)
Tumultous times are upon us. Politically,
spiritually, economically, governmentally,
and physically, people are struggling for
survival, hope, and peace. A major religion
offers these commodities through suffering,
self-sacrifice, and even suicide! What kind
of "god" would expect that from his followers?
What kind of "god" asks his adherents to take
their own lives and the lives of others?
Surely not the God of Judaism and Christianity!
While we have not been promised an idyllic
life or lifestyle, we have been guaranteed the
grace, strength, and love to endure the
vicissitudes of life, as we develop into the
"image" of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our calling,
our mission, is to show His love to everyone,
which offers forgiveness for our sins, divine
assistance for daily living, and the promise of
spending eternity with Him!
SO WHAT DO YOU SAY - ARE YOU READY
TO HAVE A SPIRITUAL "UPLIFT"?

P.S. - Those of you who pray, please pray that
I will have "the mind of Christ" as I
compose these blogs. Thanks.

P.S.S. - My email is heyrichey@yahoo.com.