Pens would not work at zero gravity

Sometimes it is the simple solutions that work best; the problem is that we
often reject them just because they seem too simple to work. Some folks
reason, that if it is that simple it can't possibly be right.

A friend sent me a list of simple rules to live by recently, here is one:
"To avoid cutting yourself when cutting vegetables, simply get someone else
to hold them while you cut." Now I ask you, what could be a more simple
solution than that?

I also read that when NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they
found out that the pens would not work at zero gravity (ink will not flow
down to the writing surface). Solution 1: To solve this problem, it took
them one decade and $12 million. They developed a pen that worked at zero
gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface including
crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees
C. Solution 2: And what did the Russians do...?? They used a pencil.

We live in a messed up world in lots of ways, quite often value systems are
very questionable. Probably each of us has an idea of what a perfect world
would be like. I know that this will vary with each individual, but
basically everyone wants to have a peaceful world in which to live. For most
it contains the idea of it being a world free from evil, no relationship
problems, no fear, etc. The solution is simple and it hasn't ever changed.

In Genesis God saw (in advance) mankind's tendency to mess things up and
seek after the wrong things and he laid down one simple rule. The rule was,
"Don't". And today men ask, "Don't what"? God's response is, "Don't do what
I told you not do to!" And man's response is, "Oh that, I don't think that
really matters!" God might rely, "Do you want me to come down there again?
Remember what happened to Adam and Eve when I did."

If we could just get mankind to understand that the perfect world is a
possibility, if we will just do what God says. If we could do that, things
really would change for the good. You can argue about what is or is not
acceptable to God, but there is only one way to get it right. Go to the
source, God's Word. The problem is that many can't seem to shake off the
vice like grip of the world that has hold on them. Jesus offered a prayer to
the Father for his followers in John 17:14-17. These followers had a similar
problem; notice what he said, "I have given them Your word. And the world
hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong
to the world. I'm not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep
them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than
I do. Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your word, which is truth."
Another translation says, "Thy word is truth!"

Like I said earlier, it is the simple solutions that most often work and are
most often rejected by folks. If your world is troubled, then why not give
God's way a chance. Stop doing what your friend, family, co-workers and
Hollywood say is the right way to live. It's easy to see that their lives
don't have peace. Why not begin to listen to the one who gave you life, the
one with the words of truth. Where do you find it you might ask, why not
look to your Bible for the answers.

Russ Lawson

Change

We live in a world where (almost) everyone wants change. We want to see new
things, do new things, move to a new house, change jobs, learn new things,
experience new thrills, challenge ourselves to do things we have never done
before. Desiring change is not a bad thing, at least in regards to most
things.

One of the more familiar quotes we see from time to time is: "If you always
do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." (Doug
Caufmann). There is truth to that statement. If you keep doing things the
same way, you are not going to have change. Our society seems to think that
the lack of change is a bad thing, but is that always true? Now, I'm no just
being an "old foggy," who doesn't believe in change. I love change in my
life and expect it in our world. My wife and I have lived in 7 states as
well in Kenya, East Africa. We love to experience new things and different
people. We embrace change in our lives for the most part.

However (you knew there would be a disclaimer didn't you), I cannot and will
not embrace change to God's church or God's Word. I've been disappointed in
churches and church leaders throughout our land who want to try and make
changes to God's church. They go to extremes to try and make "church" more
palatable to our young folks who desire change. And, if they don't get the
change they want, they go somewhere they can find it. It's really not
surprising, we were warned about it a couple of thousand years ago when the
Apostle Paul wrote a young preacher, Timothy. Notice what he said, "For the
time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to
suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy_4:3)

Here is what we see happen so often. People who do not have a lot of
knowledge of God's word start to desire change. They want more services that
are more entertaining, something that makes them feel good. They approach
the leadership and demand change in the church. The leadership either caves
in to their request or they threaten to leave.

At some point we must realized that, yes, there are some things that we can
change, but there are some things that we dare not change. Why? Because God
gave us directions as to how things must be in His Word. He was not
mistaken, he did not communicate unclearly, he was not just kidding when he
told us what he wanted us to do. God doesn't think or act as we do as
humans.

We tend to forget what we are told in Numbers 23:19, that: "God is not
human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his
mind." God has given us clear directions regarding what is necessary for our
salvation. He it clear on what is morally and ethically acceptable. He is
clear about marriage and sexual relationships. He is clear about the worship
that is acceptable to him. These things are not given to change just because
or society has decided that they want them to change.

What about those who demand change to what God has already put into place?
Psalm 55:19 speaks of: "God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not
change, he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.
You see, it all boils down to having a "fear" for God and His Word. (Hebrew
lit. "respect or fear to displease him").

Let me encourage you to be careful as to what you change rather than one day
standing before God and being brought to your knees in shame, (humbled).

Russ Lawson

The books of first and second kings

Introduction to the book of First Kings:

www.abiblecommentary.com/introductiontothebookoffirstkings.pptx

 

Introduction to the book of Second Kings:

 

www.abiblecommentary.com/introductiontothebookofsecondkings.pptx

 

 

 

How to have world peace

World Peace

 

    Could you imagine what went through the minds of the scientists who developed the initial atomic bomb once they saw the damage it inflicted? According to the numbers cited by Richard Rhodes in The Making of the Atomic Bomb, 100,000 were killed in Hiroshima and 70,000 were killed in Nagasaki.

 

    One scientist, Edward Teller, believed strongly that world government would be needed to bring world peace, in light of the "Super." He said, "World government is our only hope for survival. ...I believe that we should cease to be infatuated with the menace of this fabulous monster, Russia. Our present necessary task of opposing Russia should not cause us to forget that in the long run we cannot win by working against something. We must work for something. We must work for World Government" (cited by Rhodes, 766). He made that statement back in 1948.

 

    Well, we've not had another world war but the United Nations has certainly not kept peace in the world. Author Gil Elliot, in Twentieth Century Book of the Dead, did some research and estimated that man-made deaths in the twentieth century came to about 100 million. Yet, his book was written in 1972! The Vietnam war was not quite finished and several wars, genocides, and other atrocities have been committed since then. The United Nations has not brought world peace.

 

    There is no - I repeat "NO" - political solution that will bring about world peace. There is also no military solution to world peace. The world's problem is not politics nor is it who has the most toys. The world's problem is spiritual. There is only one Man and one group who can bring about world peace.

 

    Jesus is the Man and you and I are the group - the Church.

 

    Isaiah prophesied the coming of Christ: "It shall come to pass in the latter days 

that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 

to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (2:1-3).  

 

    Jesus came - He came and established His kingdom. The angels announced that peace was now available on earth: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:10-14).

 

    When every man submits to Christ, then peace will rule in his heart and then there will be peace among men. Isaiah goes on to say about the rule of Christ in man's heart: "He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (2:4).

 

    If we would have world peace, the Ambassadors of Christ need to preach reconciliation through Christ. That's the only way we'll have world peace. Support your missionaries! They are saving souls and, thereby, bringing peace into the world.

 

--Paul Holland

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me

DO YOU HAVE ROOM FOR JESUS?

You may have heard the story about Wally. Wally was big for his age --
seven years old. Everyone wondered what role the teacher would give him in
the annual Christmas play. Especially considering the fact that he was also
a slow learner. Perhaps he could pull the curtain. To everyone's surprise
the teacher gave Wally the role of the innkeeper. The boy of course was
delighted. After all, all he had to learn was one line: "There is no room
in the inn." He had that down in no time.

Then came the night for the program. The parents took their places.
Every seat in the auditorium was filled. The children entered singing "Oh
come all ye faithful." The lights dimmed. A hush moved over the audience.
The curtain opened on Scene One. Mary and Joseph entered the stage and
walked up to the inn. "Please sir, my wife is not well. Could we have a
room for the night?"

Wally was ready for his line. He had rehearsed it all night. He
began, "There is..." and he hesitated. He started over again, "There is..."
and again his mind went completely blank. Everyone was embarrassed for him,
but poor Wally just didn't know what to do. Joseph thought he would
improvise and started walking away toward the stable on stage left. Seeing
him walking away, Wally called out in desperation: "Look, there's plenty of
room at my house, just come on home with me."

The important question -- not only at this time of year but all year
round -- is, "Do we have room in our lives for Jesus?" Our lives are so
busy -- with things that are good and things that are not so good. By the
time we've filled our lives with time at work, time with the family, going
to football games and the children's recitals, shopping, watching television
and the latest movie, our lives are so very crowded. I don't know anybody
who has "spare time" on their hands. The cry I hear from all around me is,
"I wish I had a few more hours every day to get done when I need (or want)
to get done."

Looking back, we may find ourselves thinking that if the innkeeper had
known that Mary was about to give birth to the Savior of the world, he would
have made room. But I'm not so sure. The reason I question that is because
I see what happens when we are faced with a question similar to one that was
asked of the innkeeper. Jesus wants to know of us, "Do you have room in
your life for me?" And I see how often in our busy, hectic lives -- even
though we know who Jesus is -- we allow other things to crowd Him out.

Will we open our hearts to Jesus, or will we allow the busy-ness of
life to crowd Jesus out? The answer we WANT to give is easy to come up
with; the answer we give by the way we live is sometimes disturbing. May we
have a heart that desires to speak with the tenderness of Wally's heart when
he said, ""Look, there's plenty of room at my house, just come on home with
me."

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and
opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
(Rev. 3:20)

Alan Smith

Free semons outlines on Revelation 20

1. The Judge (v.11).

2. The Judged (v.12-13).

3. The Judgment (v.12-13).

 

CHRISTMAS - BAH HUMBUG (some say)

When thinking about our recent Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S. and the
upcoming Christmas season which is celebrated world wide. The old Bing
Crosby song popped into my mind and I thought how much that applies to the
lives of so many. Some folks really have a problem getting into the 'Holiday
Spirit,' many to the extent of saying "Bah Humbug" as Mr. Scrooge did. The
song I was thinking of is from the movie "Holiday Inn," which is a great old
movie and I recommend highly! Anyway, Bing is sitting at a table full of all
of the holiday trimmings and is really down and depressed because his
girlfriend has left him for another man (and career). He sits there feeling
sorry for himself and singing the song, "I've go nothing to be thankful
for." Of course he is reminded that he does have other options and. well
you'll have to watch the movie to see how it ends.

Sadly, this is not an unusual problem in our world; it may be even more
prevalent in our present financial climate and job market. We have so many
people in our world who have lost their jobs, lost their homes and who are
struggling to just put food on the table or pay for fuel for heat. Then our
advertising world floods or airways, newspapers and magazines with words and
pictures which portray what should be the perfect holiday. Everyone should
be well fed, in comfortable homes, surrounded by friends and family, be
smiling, with no problems in their lives, a Norman Rockwell painting come to
life.

We tend to look at that image and say, that's not my life. I'm barely
scrapping by; I've got nothing to be thankful for!

It is my belief that it's not so much a matter of what you have, but how you
count the blessings you do have. You may be having a tough time, but in
almost every situation, if you will stop and look around you, you will find
someone else who has more difficulties. I think that at some point, everyone
should go and set in the emergency waiting room at a hospital in a major
city. I've had occasions to do this on more than one occasion and it opens
your eyes to what real tragedy and loss is.

I could give you a list of things for which you could be thankful, but I
don't think I really need to do that. You are wise enough to understand
those things yourself. The problem is that we don't stop and count our
blessings nearly as often as we should. I would suggest that you stop and do
that right now. I do want to share with you that for which I am most
thankful. I am thankful for you! You are a blessing for my life as one of
God's children and because of that I have everything to be thankful for!
Relationships are the most important thing in the world. If I loose all that
I have in the physical world I hope to hold you in my heart and be held by
you.

Let me end this with the words of the Apostle Paul from Philippians 1:2-6,
where he writes, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers
for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who
began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus." (NIV)

The key phrase is, "I thank my God every time I remember you." Do you really
have nothing to be thankful for?

Russ Lawson