Until I Found You

I searched for love in the strangest places.

The bars, the clubs and sensual spaces.

I traveled all roads where the compass led.

Highways and alleys, all I found was dread.

Until I found you all the fields were gray.

Trees had no leaves and flowers decayed.

The sun never rose to a bright blissful day.

The streams were mirky as the miry clay.

Grey clouds covered the blue pastel sky.

The moon, and stars hidden from my eye.

Roads full of pot holes trails were a ditch.

The music of the singers, no feeling or pitch.

But until I found you all this would remain.

No peace for my soul no rest from my pain.

Life was a struggle I did my best to go on.

But until I found you there wasn't a song.

When I found you my heart was relieved.

For the first time in life I began to breath.

I could now smell the roses, the air so clean.

Roads paved in gold like nothing I’d seen.

The sky had now turned to the prettiest blue.

I looked up toward heaven, and I saw you.

There by the Father you stood at His right.

In all your great glory dressed in pure white.

But until I found Jesus my life was a mess.

I would’ve never known love, love at its best.

But now that I know Him I rest all assured.

My sins are forgiven, my love is secured.

The words I just wrote are exactly how I felt before and after I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. (January 7th, 1970)  For me it is impossible to express the profound love I found in Him, all I can do is try.

1 Corinthians 13 was the first message I preached.   

“1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13

The Preacher Man

Where have all the preachers gone?

All those that sang Christ’s song.

So hard to find these days.

Who with conviction, sang God’ praise. 

Once their voices sang aloud.

As they sang to a attentive crowd.

Now the song is soft and sweet.

No power to bring folks to their feet.

Like the howl of the wolf they sang

Preached against sin in Jesus name.

Not afraid of what the people said.

Preached with power, saving the dead.

Lord bring them back to the pulpit please.

That we can hear their powerful pleas.

With voices shouting far and grand.

Alters filled by those taking a stand.

We look around today and our hearts are filled with tears.  Not only at how low our society has become but I’m so sad to say, even the church.  We wonder how we could have gotten in the place we are.  So much hate and discord in the world.  People are rebellious on every front.  Families are divided.  Sin is accepted as the norm and we let it go as if it is alright.  We like to blame everyone one else, but where the blame belongs. Oh I understand what I’m saying will certainly not be excepted by most of those that read this but I am compelled to say it anyway.

The church has turned from a once powerhouse for Christ to a watered down trickle.  A trickle that only moves  a few.  We have become very complacent.  We have left the Holy Ghost out of our preaching thinking what we have to say is more important than depending on Him.  We have forgotten how to live by faith! Our churches are led by well meaning pastors full of education but not of the Spirit.  They do well in their sermons on how to lead a peaceful life and cope with the world but forget the lost, Jesus told us to go out after.  We have fallen to the philosophy of, “If we build, they will come”.  I hate to say it but if we aren’t careful we will be sitting on our hands when Jesus comes for us.

We’ve turned our churches into preforming centers where the emphasis is put on a booming, worldly musical production instead of the preaching of the Word.  We offer the world nothing more than they already have.  We have replaced the pulpit with a stool, which in itself shows the weakness we have.  No need for the alters anymore.  Many don’t even know what they were for.  No need for an invitation, why would anyone come when they have just heard a sweet nothing message.  

Preaching is no longer preaching. If you want to hear real preaching you have to search the internet to find someone worthy to listen to.  It used to be when you heard your preacher preach it made the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  We heard him preach against sin and not generalize it. He was in more fear of what God thought of his message than a board of deacons or elders.  I once heard a great preacher say, “If you haven’t made someone mad, you haven’t preached”.  Now our intention shouldn’t be to make people mad but to show them their faults that they may repent.  We are to preach to convict the conscience of men not to tickle their ears. You can’t sneak in the back door.  The preacher should be bold.

How do we expect folks in the pews to be able to take their stand if we don’t bring the message of God to them.  We have done well in giving them education.  Their minds are full of wonderful things.  We send them to seminars to improve their marriages.  We support many things in our communities and yet we leave out the very thing Christ has called us to do.  Be witnesses to a lost and dying world.  If we can equip the church to survive a marriage and serve others why can’t we equip them to win souls?   Oh but we sure don’t want a visitation day anymore. Sad, so sad.  

As I conclude my thought and bring myself back to where I started.  I would have to say the reason the world is in such a bad shape, as it is is because the preacher is no longer preaching with conviction.  The church has conformed to the world instead of Christ!  While I have said all these awful things about the church and the preacher, I would also like to lift up to the Lord those wonderful preachers that still sing the song God has put in their hearts.  Preach on, preach loud, preach with all your might, all of what the Spirit brings to your hearts….

Just the Truth

When my children were growing up I decided if a place, movie or a TV show wasn't appropriate for my children, it wasn't appropriate for me either! I continue to this day to do the same!

Last night I witnessed a debate that was certainly not appropriate to watch! It was like watching a 'Jerry Springer' show or so I've been told. I went to bed with a sour taste in my mouth, disgusted by what I saw and heard!

Filthy innuendos, participants out of control and an audience doing the same. Today all the news can talk about is what a great debate it was. This is just sickening!

I know I'm not going to gain friends and will lose some by what I'm going to say but I must! I'm ashamed of those that claim to be Bible believing Christians that condone the conduct we have seen even standing up for the ones that act so despicable. Worst then that the so called Christian leaders that are backing up this kind of trash. I don't care how big your college, university or church is you will answer to the Lord for your conduct even to a higher degree then the others you are leading astray!

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1

"My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." James 3:1

We might get what we want, but miss what we need!

I really haven’t come to a conclusion who I will be voting for in the upcoming election but I will say the one I pick will be one that most represents Christian values and shows them openly.

I don’t care if he or she is the toughest or the one all my friends are voting for.  I want the one that loves the Lord more than one just claiming to be.  Listen, talk is still cheap! I want to see the evidence!  Many times I get upset watching those that claim to be believers not only embracing those that don’t portray a good Christian character but  cutting down the ones that do.  This is ungodly!

I understand we live in the day when many don’t even understand what a real Christian is.  I also understand there are many that claim to be “evangelical” but really aren’t.  This is a title I now longer want to be associated with. It is watered down and a weak representation of my Savior!  We have become a mixed multitude and left our first love! 

What is really sad, some of our pastors and fundamental school leaders have disregarded standing with believers and choose rather the ones that do not express real Christian values.  No matter what your excuse, God will be the judge!  

Have we become like the Israel of old, wanting a king?  Are we so full of our own wisdom that we think we can handle it better than God?  We need to quite thinking on our own and trust God!  Let Him handle it.  If He can make a donkey talk, He can pick for Himself the right man for the job! He always has!  He doesn’t need our interference, He needs the assurance we will live like He told us and vote for the one running that best represents His values and not our own!

“This is so the living will know that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men. He gives it to anyone He wants and sets the lowliest of men over it.”  Daniel 4:17

A Matter of the Heart

"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." 1 Peter 3:12

There is a false assumption that GOD hears all prayers. The fact is He only hears the prayer of the righteous and those that come with a repentant heart seeking His righteousness. It is impossible to talk to the LORD without a righteous heart!

The eyes of the LORD are upon me.
And He hears every prayer I pray.
I’m sad if He doesn’t see and hear me.
That means that I’ve gone astray!

How is your prayer life?

Witnessing

I was asked about my conversion and how to witness to a Jehovah's Witness. (The Short Version) smile emoticon

Robert, when I was a boy up until I was saved in Alaska I considered myself a Jehovah’s Witness. When living at home as a boy I was a part of their Theocratic Ministry School, giving readings from their New World Translation. Some will say, including my siblings that I was never baptized therefore I was not a true Witness. My mother who is gone was very involved and so are my younger brother and sister. Thank God after 40 years of praying for my mother she told me she put her trust in Jesus for her salvation.

I’m trying to condense this best as I can so I’ll just briefly say what happened to me. Years ago when the movie, The Ten Commandments came out my mother took me to see it. I believe this is the first time the Lord began to deal with me. As I watched my mother was pointing out all the mistakes but what I saw would help me make the best decision I would ever make. I saw Moses having a real relationship with God and in my little heart I wanted the same thing. I don’t know why I was the only one of my five brothers and sisters she took but I’m thankful it was me.

The next event that made me think about things was when I went to a church service at Fairchild AFB where my step-father was stationed. The Chaplain was a black Baptist preacher that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up! I suppose this is the reason I appreciate strong preaching to this day.

After being discourage from going into the military I went into the Air Force at seventeen. During this time I met the second most important person in my life. Sgt. David Pettis was my Training NCO at Glasgow AFB. He was also a Freewill Baptist preacher. He knew I was searching and began to tell me for the first time in my life the true story of the saving grace of JESUS. He explained to me that it wasn’t “religion” I was looking for but rather a personal relationship with the Lord! I mean just the Lord and me! This is the second time relationship came to my mind.

Seven years came and gone before I would have that relationship but after many things in between on January 7th, 1970 at Clear AFS, Alaska, I asked Christ for forgiveness and totally depended on Him for my salvation. When I got off my knees my life was completely changed.

The greatest way you can witness to a Jehovah’s Witness is the same way you would anyone. Give them the gospel! Speak from your heart of what Christ has done for you. Stay on the offence and not the defense. Get them off their planned argument and keep on yours. There are many verses you can use to get at them but they have answers, even though wrong and they will stick to them. These poor people need the Lord not an argument. Let them see the Lord that lives in you. Allow the Holy Spirit to use you and He will!

God bless you Robert!
Delle 1 Cor. 3:9

A Christian Stand

While I understand by writing the following that I will be misunderstood and possibly considered weak in my stand for Christ, I’m compelled to write anyway.

In the last few days Kim Davis has been compared to Daniel, Shadrach Meshach and Abednego and other great Saints that have stood for their conviction!  While I am always proud of a person with conviction, the process of showing it is a narrow road.

Many of our respected leaders have elevated Kim Davis to this stature!  There is no comparison for her to these wonderful Saints of God!  Some including one of my first picks for president, Mike Huckabee have used this to further their own agenda and for this I am greatly saddened.    

Sometimes we get caught up in things without giving it a lot of thought.  In Kim Davis’ situation we see her as a Christian under attack and we flock around her, just as we should if she is taking the proper stand.  Sometimes we have difficulty rightly dividing what would be the proper stand to take.

As for me I would have much more respect for her if she would have stood for Christ by saying, she would rather give up her eighty thousand dollar a year job than comply with something she felt was against her Christian faith.  Don’t you suppose God would honor her faith?  Sure He would!  This is a real Christian stand!