Freedom of religion and freedom of speech threatened in America!
OK, I admit it, hearing the story below upset me. How far can our world go
in trying to suppress our Christian rights to freedom of religion? Why am I
upset let me share what is happening in our country.
Dateline Tennessee:
Kendra Turner says a teacher at Dyer County High School in Tennessee has
banned her and her classmates from using Church speech in the classroom.
A 17-year-old was suspended from school after telling a fellow student
'bless you' after they sneezed.
But she didn't think it was that big of a deal when a fellow student
sneezed, and she used the common expression.
Turner said, that the teacher said, "We're not going to have godly speaking
in my class, and that's when I said we have a constitutional right." The
teacher said "Kendra was being disruptive," is demanding her constitutional
rights.
Kendra says she doesn't want any trouble for the teacher, but wants it known
that 'it's alright to defend God'. 'It's our constitutional right because we
have a freedom of religion and freedom of speech."
In all honesty to me it seems that it is the teacher and principle, perhaps
the school board who needs suspended. Kendra is right! The constitution does
guarantee us the right of free speech and the freedom of religion. How has
the educational system (in some places) gone so horribly wrong as to think
that they can overthrow the constitution? It's time that "we the people"
stand up and be counted. Elections are coming, officials can be voted out or
in by us. The root of the problem is that many say, "Yes, someone should do
something. just not me!" Do you realize that only a small percentage of
those who have the right to vote actually do vote? Then those who don't take
the time to make their voice heard where it will count, complain about the
lack of change.
You may think that all of the letters you write and calls you make to those
in power over you and your children make no difference and they may not. But
when you give up the fight in your small corner of the world, who is going
to take it up? You matter! Your voice is important! Be the burn under the
saddle, be the flea that continues to bite and irritate talk with your
friends and when the time comes get out of your easy chair and out from in
front of the television and vote your conscious. The simple truth is that no
one can do it for you.
Russ Lawson
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Let us vote and allow the majority to rule
YOU AND ME GOD, AGAINST THE WORLD
Have you ever felt like the whole world is against you? Some times it feels
that way doesn't it. Even if you are right and know you are right, the world
often is really not interested in what is right, they only want what they
want anyway.
This little story kind of puts things in perspective.
A preacher had been having trouble with his congregation. It seemed they
could agree upon nothing, and controversy filled the air until meeting on
Sunday itself, became an area of conflict, and unhappiness filled the
church. The leaders of the congregation organized a meeting of 10 elders and
the preacher. They met in the conference room, sitting about a magnificent
mahogany table. One by one the issues were dealt with and on each issue it
became more and more apparent that the preacher was a lonely voice in the
wilderness.
The leader of the meeting said, "Come, Preacher, enough of this. Let us vote
and allow the majority to rule." He passed out the slips of paper, and each
man made his mark. The slips were collected and the president said, "You may
examine them, Preacher. It is 11 to one against you. We have the majority."
Whereupon the preacher rose to his feet, "So", he said, "You now think
because of the vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, I stand here,
and he raised his arms impressively, and call upon our Holy God to give us a
sign that I am right and you are wrong."
Suddenly, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of
lightning that struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was
filled with smoke and the elders were hurled to the floor.
But the preacher was untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his
face.
Slowly, the speaker for the elders lifted himself above what was left of the
table. His hair was singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, and his
clothing was in disarray. He said, "All right, 11 to two. We still have the
majority."
I'm reminded of the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:15-18 writing
about a man named Alexander. He wrote to Timothy: "You too should be on your
guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first
defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be
held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so
that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles
might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will
rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly
kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Paul said, he stood all alone for the truth of God's word, but he also
understood that "the Lord stood" at his side. I can promise you (from
experience) that at times, if you stand for truth, for purity, for
righteousness, at times it will seem that you stand all alone. Never forget
that God is with you always.
Russ Lawson
Have you ever felt like the whole world is against you? Some times it feels
that way doesn't it. Even if you are right and know you are right, the world
often is really not interested in what is right, they only want what they
want anyway.
This little story kind of puts things in perspective.
A preacher had been having trouble with his congregation. It seemed they
could agree upon nothing, and controversy filled the air until meeting on
Sunday itself, became an area of conflict, and unhappiness filled the
church. The leaders of the congregation organized a meeting of 10 elders and
the preacher. They met in the conference room, sitting about a magnificent
mahogany table. One by one the issues were dealt with and on each issue it
became more and more apparent that the preacher was a lonely voice in the
wilderness.
The leader of the meeting said, "Come, Preacher, enough of this. Let us vote
and allow the majority to rule." He passed out the slips of paper, and each
man made his mark. The slips were collected and the president said, "You may
examine them, Preacher. It is 11 to one against you. We have the majority."
Whereupon the preacher rose to his feet, "So", he said, "You now think
because of the vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, I stand here,
and he raised his arms impressively, and call upon our Holy God to give us a
sign that I am right and you are wrong."
Suddenly, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of
lightning that struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was
filled with smoke and the elders were hurled to the floor.
But the preacher was untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his
face.
Slowly, the speaker for the elders lifted himself above what was left of the
table. His hair was singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, and his
clothing was in disarray. He said, "All right, 11 to two. We still have the
majority."
I'm reminded of the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:15-18 writing
about a man named Alexander. He wrote to Timothy: "You too should be on your
guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first
defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be
held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so
that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles
might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will
rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly
kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Paul said, he stood all alone for the truth of God's word, but he also
understood that "the Lord stood" at his side. I can promise you (from
experience) that at times, if you stand for truth, for purity, for
righteousness, at times it will seem that you stand all alone. Never forget
that God is with you always.
Russ Lawson
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Isaiah 42
IT'S TIME TO MAKE A CHOICE
Technology, isn't it great all of the things we can do now with our
"electronic devices"? I have just recently been dragged reluctantly into the
world of "Texting". I hardly ever use it, I prefer to speak to someone on my
phone, but I understand that it is the preferred choice of communication for
millions of people. I'm just not sold on it yet. A good friend recently had
a questionable experience with her text messages.
She was trying to communicate with her hairdresser about having her hair
colored. The hairdresser sent this message regarding her choices: "Do you
want to stay blind or go with another shade?" Of course the hairdresser
meant to say "blond" instead of "blind," but it got me to thinking about
making choices.
There are so many in our world who choose to stay blind when they have a
chance to see. Of course I am speaking about being spiritually blind. Many
of us scratch our heads in confusion as we try to understand why so many
people refuse to accept the love of God into there lives. They struggle
blindly in the world looking for a peace that cannot be found there, yet
this is not a new problem. It goes back to the beginning of creation. It
seems that people have always looked anywhere they could, except to God for
what is missing in their lives. Yes, even Jesus had to deal with this. When
talking to his disciples about their lack of understanding he said, "Do you
have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you
remember? (Mark 8:18).
Maybe it's time that we understand that it is time to make some serious
choices in our lives. Our choices are more important that whether or not to
be blond this month or not. Our choices are whether or not to serve God or
not. And don't try to avoid the issue, because it is truly your choice and
it has eternal consequences.
Isaiah 42:6a-7 tells us about God being: " a light for the Gentiles, to open
eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the
dungeon those who sit in darkness". That's what the coming of Christ did,
but he doesn't force anyone to accept his offer, it's truly your choice.
Russ Lawson
Technology, isn't it great all of the things we can do now with our
"electronic devices"? I have just recently been dragged reluctantly into the
world of "Texting". I hardly ever use it, I prefer to speak to someone on my
phone, but I understand that it is the preferred choice of communication for
millions of people. I'm just not sold on it yet. A good friend recently had
a questionable experience with her text messages.
She was trying to communicate with her hairdresser about having her hair
colored. The hairdresser sent this message regarding her choices: "Do you
want to stay blind or go with another shade?" Of course the hairdresser
meant to say "blond" instead of "blind," but it got me to thinking about
making choices.
There are so many in our world who choose to stay blind when they have a
chance to see. Of course I am speaking about being spiritually blind. Many
of us scratch our heads in confusion as we try to understand why so many
people refuse to accept the love of God into there lives. They struggle
blindly in the world looking for a peace that cannot be found there, yet
this is not a new problem. It goes back to the beginning of creation. It
seems that people have always looked anywhere they could, except to God for
what is missing in their lives. Yes, even Jesus had to deal with this. When
talking to his disciples about their lack of understanding he said, "Do you
have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you
remember? (Mark 8:18).
Maybe it's time that we understand that it is time to make some serious
choices in our lives. Our choices are more important that whether or not to
be blond this month or not. Our choices are whether or not to serve God or
not. And don't try to avoid the issue, because it is truly your choice and
it has eternal consequences.
Isaiah 42:6a-7 tells us about God being: " a light for the Gentiles, to open
eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the
dungeon those who sit in darkness". That's what the coming of Christ did,
but he doesn't force anyone to accept his offer, it's truly your choice.
Russ Lawson
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Prayer - asking, seeking, knocking
Asking God
I was going through some old files today and ran across the following
saying, "Never is there a knock at Heaven's gate, that it is not heard in
Hell and the devil rushes out to silence it." That saying has a lot of
meaning if you stop and think about it for a moment. When is the last time
you "knocked at heaven's gate?" What am I talking about? When is the last
time you talked with God? When is the last time you spent time praying and
communing with the ruler of the universe? If you want to have a relationship
with God and have the power of heaven on your side, then you have to spend
some time "knocking on heaven's gate" in prayer.
Understand this, the more you pray, the more Satan is going to fight against
you. When things don't seem to go the way you want, it doesn't mean
necessarily that God has refused you, but perhaps that Satan is just working
harder to stop you from seeing the answer. I have a friend (George) who one
time told me, "If you are having problems you must be doing something right,
otherwise Satan wouldn't bother you. he doesn't care about those he already
has." Peter says it well in 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone
to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that
your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of
sufferings."
So keep these things in mind and continue to "knock," maybe even bang on
heaven's gate. God hears us and will listen to us if we take time to keep
our lives in tune with him. John 9:31, "We know that God does not listen to
sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will".
My prayer for you is that you will continue to "knock on heaven's gate,"
often, repeatedly, again and again trusting that our Father will hear you
and grant your requests.
Russ Lawson
I was going through some old files today and ran across the following
saying, "Never is there a knock at Heaven's gate, that it is not heard in
Hell and the devil rushes out to silence it." That saying has a lot of
meaning if you stop and think about it for a moment. When is the last time
you "knocked at heaven's gate?" What am I talking about? When is the last
time you talked with God? When is the last time you spent time praying and
communing with the ruler of the universe? If you want to have a relationship
with God and have the power of heaven on your side, then you have to spend
some time "knocking on heaven's gate" in prayer.
Understand this, the more you pray, the more Satan is going to fight against
you. When things don't seem to go the way you want, it doesn't mean
necessarily that God has refused you, but perhaps that Satan is just working
harder to stop you from seeing the answer. I have a friend (George) who one
time told me, "If you are having problems you must be doing something right,
otherwise Satan wouldn't bother you. he doesn't care about those he already
has." Peter says it well in 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone
to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that
your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of
sufferings."
So keep these things in mind and continue to "knock," maybe even bang on
heaven's gate. God hears us and will listen to us if we take time to keep
our lives in tune with him. John 9:31, "We know that God does not listen to
sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will".
My prayer for you is that you will continue to "knock on heaven's gate,"
often, repeatedly, again and again trusting that our Father will hear you
and grant your requests.
Russ Lawson
Monday, July 21, 2014
The free mp3 sermon podcast
is now part of http://www.meetup.com/members/157573182/ (this is an interesting web site, but it does seem to require users to PAY to create a group). If you could find a "free" option for meetup, please post it here. Thanks!
Sunday, July 20, 2014
The "difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
Grenada or Granada?
Grenada or Granada? Does the difference really matter? It does if you're
trying to reach one instead of the other!
A Maryland man is suing British Airways after the airline flew him to
Grenada rather than his intended destination, Granada. While the spelling
difference may be slight, the geography isn't. Grenada is a country located
in the Caribbean Sea; Granada is a city in the country of Spain.
The passenger first noticed a problem when the electronic flight monitor
showed his flight from London to Spain heading west over the Atlantic toward
the Americas. He asked a flight attendant, "Why are we headed west to go to
Spain?" he said.
"His response was: 'Spain?' We're going to West Indies,'" the passenger
reported.
It was a booking mistake off by one letter but spanning nearly 4,000
miles.....
A U.S. judge noted that the situation reflects the wisdom of Mark Twain's
comment that the "difference between the right word and the almost right
word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." *
Consider TWO ways and TWO destinations:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is
the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who
find it." - Matt 7:13-14
The WIDE gate and easy way is the way of sin that leads to destruction.
The NARROW gate and difficult way is the way that leads to eternal life.
Our sins condemn us, but God loves us so much that He gave His Son to die on
the cross for our sins so that we might receive salvation and the gift of
eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). Jesus "opened the way" to heaven
through His atoning sacrifice. Actually, Jesus IS the Way! "I am the way
and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -
John 14:6
God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Those who
continue to seek to follow the "difficult and narrow way" are assured that
they will continually be cleansed by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7).
"The most important thing for a human being is to arrive at the proper
eternal destination. If we don't get this destination right, nothing else
matters." - J. Randall Matheny
God said of Israel, "If only they were wise and would understand this and
discern what their end will be!" - Deuteronomy 32:29. We also need to
identify the road upon which we are traveling and consider its destination.
Grenada or Granada? The wrong destination can spoil a vacation. But even
more importantly, it can have eternal implications.
David A. Sargent
* Information gleaned from "Man Sues Airline After Landing in Grenada Rather
Than Granada" by Hasani Gittens of www.nbcnews.com and "Grenada or Granada,
or Does It Matter?" by J. Randal Matheny in Forthright Magazine (7/14/14) at
http://forthright.net/.
Grenada or Granada? Does the difference really matter? It does if you're
trying to reach one instead of the other!
A Maryland man is suing British Airways after the airline flew him to
Grenada rather than his intended destination, Granada. While the spelling
difference may be slight, the geography isn't. Grenada is a country located
in the Caribbean Sea; Granada is a city in the country of Spain.
The passenger first noticed a problem when the electronic flight monitor
showed his flight from London to Spain heading west over the Atlantic toward
the Americas. He asked a flight attendant, "Why are we headed west to go to
Spain?" he said.
"His response was: 'Spain?' We're going to West Indies,'" the passenger
reported.
It was a booking mistake off by one letter but spanning nearly 4,000
miles.....
A U.S. judge noted that the situation reflects the wisdom of Mark Twain's
comment that the "difference between the right word and the almost right
word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." *
Consider TWO ways and TWO destinations:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is
the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who
find it." - Matt 7:13-14
The WIDE gate and easy way is the way of sin that leads to destruction.
The NARROW gate and difficult way is the way that leads to eternal life.
Our sins condemn us, but God loves us so much that He gave His Son to die on
the cross for our sins so that we might receive salvation and the gift of
eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). Jesus "opened the way" to heaven
through His atoning sacrifice. Actually, Jesus IS the Way! "I am the way
and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -
John 14:6
God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Those who
continue to seek to follow the "difficult and narrow way" are assured that
they will continually be cleansed by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7).
"The most important thing for a human being is to arrive at the proper
eternal destination. If we don't get this destination right, nothing else
matters." - J. Randall Matheny
God said of Israel, "If only they were wise and would understand this and
discern what their end will be!" - Deuteronomy 32:29. We also need to
identify the road upon which we are traveling and consider its destination.
Grenada or Granada? The wrong destination can spoil a vacation. But even
more importantly, it can have eternal implications.
David A. Sargent
* Information gleaned from "Man Sues Airline After Landing in Grenada Rather
Than Granada" by Hasani Gittens of www.nbcnews.com and "Grenada or Granada,
or Does It Matter?" by J. Randal Matheny in Forthright Magazine (7/14/14) at
http://forthright.net/.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
The church at Thessalonica
Thessalonica
1) Have we ever wondered approximately how many miles the apostle Paul travelled for the sake of Jesus?
2) He travelled about ___________ for the gospel.
a) In Acts 16 we find Paul and Silas being jailed for preaching the gospel.
b) Philippi was the city where these men had been beaten and confined.
3) Acts 17:1 says Paul and Silas traveled to some additional places and then came to Thessalonica.
a) Paul was an inspired man; God guided him in his preaching and teaching.
b) In spite of being an inspired apostle who could work miracles, 3 Sabbath days were used.
c) Thessalonica gives us an example to try to teach others little by little – continue to persist.
d) Verse 4 in this chapter – READ
e) Verse 3 of Acts 17 – READ
f) Paul went on the offensive. He "opened and alleged. He went to the people and affirmed some things."
g) Verse 5 of Acts 17 – READ
h) The message of the gospel angered some people.
4) The only way a Christian can avoid non-Christians is by staying silent about God and the Bible.
5) If we love the Lord, this is something we cannot do.
6) Verse 6 tells us Christians like Paul had "turned the world upside down."
7) Thessalonica should be a name we associate with dedication.
a) If being a Christian means reasoning with people who are rebellious to the truth, so be it.
b) If serving Christ means extra wear and tear on our physical bodies, OK!
c) If following Jesus means enduring false charges (verse 7), we will not relent.
d) If our choice is stand up or sit down for Christ, we must stand up.
e) If we are called on to speak up about the Lord or shut up, speak the truth in love.
8) The current state of affairs in America is conducive to silencing Christians and destroying their faith.
9) Thessalonica is a place that reminds us to offer all we have been entrusted with to Jesus Christ.
10) Is this how we are trying to live our lives?
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