Category: Preacher

By definition, bling means, “denoting expensive, ostentatious clothing and jewelry, or the style or materialistic attitudes associated with them.” Ok, I am the first to say how beautiful Christmas decorations can be but I am not naïve enough to think these decorations are the reason for the season. By now, with all of the politics and battles for ideological victories, can we all admit that this season would not be considered much of a Holiday without Christ. In my opinion, it should remain Marry or Happy Christmas not Happy holiday to be PC. Let’s all take a chill pill on this and let’s truly celebrate the reason for the season. For some that do not want to believe, no need to read any further.

Prophets who spoke long ago, in the name of the Lord, are examples of patient resolve and steadfastness. May we remain steady in our resolve as well. Like the farmer who plant seeds, water and fertilize the soil around the seeds who go on faith that the effort into the preparation will yield a harvest of good fruit and vegetables. So too should we have the patience to wait strengthening our resolve for the coming of the Lord. May the Prince of Peace who first came as a little baby so many years ago, with a promise of eternal life return in time with the ultimate resolution to the senselessness of this world.

John the Baptist was used as a messenger to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. Though he was great in our eyes as mere humans, may we be reminded that the least in the KOH is greater than he. May we humble ourselves before the mighty thrown.

Just who do you think you are? Do you think you are better than another person? Perhaps we all need to take a chill pill on blowing our own trumpet and remind ourselves that we are just a moment away from dust. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. In Matthew, John was looking for that person that he thought he knew. He sent his followers to find Jesus and ask him “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Just who did he think he was? John came dressed in Camel hair and eating locust and honey. Did he expect Jesus to be like him? Or did he expect Jesus to be dressed in refined clothing as found in a royal palace? Jesus responded by telling his followers as if John was standing in front of him. “What did you go out to see?” May this message be a warning to us all that we should remain patient as advised in James and do not get ahead of ourselves in thinking who we should expect and who we are. In this season of Joy and Peace, may we truly anticipate with patience the miracle to come. Listen my brief message below if you have time and patience.

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As we celebrate this Advent season where we have parties, enjoy families and friends, may we also welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed us. He became a servant of all whether Jew or Gentile. Scripture was written long ago for all our instruction to have hope through endurance and encouragement. May we be filled with joy and peace in faith so that we overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some of my readers may think I am too far into His message of hope but at the risk of alienating some, I encourage you to read on about fruit inspection.

John the Baptist, baptized many to change their hearts and lives. He came dressed very strange in camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. Would we have judged him for his appearance in today’s world? Most likely! Can we look beyond the façade into a person’s heart? Do they produce fruit that shows a change in heart and life? May we inspect the fruit that indeed shows a change in heart so that we can live a life together without judgement?Endurance, encouragement and fruit inspection. Say what? In Romans, Paul advised us to let the scripture do its magic. It is instruction so that we have hope through endurance.

Let’s consider exercising for a moment. If we live in a passive world without movement of any kind, we will have no need for muscle and our internal bodily functions will rapidly decrease leading to an early life expectancy. However, if you live in an active world with plenty of movement and exercise regularly and if we are not ravaged by disease, our muscles and internal organs will keep our body strong for a long time. It does take effort and perhaps a little pain. Without pain there is no gain. I see the need to exercise our bodies similar to our need to exercise our brains. The Scriptures are available for instruction but no book will help us if we do not endure to reading. Hope through endurance of continued exercise of our body and brain will only strengthen ourselves to meet the future with a renewed since of energy. Let us pray for those challenged by a diseased body and claim the victory through His healing Grace.

Do not know for sure how long John stayed in the wilderness? I imagine the endurance strengthen him for his mission. The mission was to enlighten a people to the changes coming. He recognized the phonies that came to impress their constituency. The Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized but was not willing to change. He was a fruit inspector so to speak to call them out for their hypocrisies. May we open our eyes, minds and hearts to change but may we also check the fruit on the tree that it bears good fruit.

Listen to my brief audio message below if you have time and have a very Merry Christmas.

T

Absence of exercise makes us unhealthy. Absence of food, water and air will hasten our demise. Absence of light leaves us in darkness. You get the picture. As a little bit of light can lead to awesome pictures of life to cherish whereas as too much darkness makes the picture uneventful. Absence of heat leaves us cold. From google, the definition of absolute zero temperature is the lowest temperature that is theoretically possible at which motion of particles that constitutes heat would be minimal. It is zero on the Kelvin scale, -273.15 degree Celsius or -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit. In other words, the absence of motion to generate heat yields extreme cold. I believe that we can apply these simple scientific facts to provide the definition of absolute evil in the world as existing when there is the absence of our Creator. Since our Creator who is represented by light, leads me to believe that the absence of light yields evil represented by darkness. Some may say that if God is around us then why does evil exist? I believe that when we ignore the presence or even the very existence of God, we are surrounding ourselves with evil and evil affects us all. When there is extreme cold outside all of us are affected. Some may refuse to except that fact and freeze to death or even some may be innocent victims of the cold. Likewise, when there is extreme evil outside all of us are affected. Some who refuse to except that evil exist pay the ultimate price or even some may be innocent victims of the evil around us. How do we protect ourselves from the extreme cold? We put on layers of clothes to protect us or we surround ourselves with moving particles the generate heat. In other words, we condition the air to move heat to keep us comfortable. How do we protect ourselves from the extreme evil? We put on layers of spiritual clothing to protect us and we surround ourselves with other people to condition the environment to make us feel warm inside and loved. Will there still be innocent victims of the extreme cold and extreme evil? Unfortunately, the answer is yes because evil still exist, darkness still exists, coldness still exists so all we can do is mitigate the dangers by increasing the presence of the Creator of life. Read Colossians 1 about how He rescued us from the control of darkness and set us free. It is never too late to help others stuck in total darkness or out in the cold to bring them to a warmer place where they can receive the ultimate reward. Also, read Luke 23 about even on His final day as a human like us one more soul was brought along with Him to eternity. We have a common goal to make every day count and bring others to the warm light of the Son. My audio below is worth the listen if you can spare a few minutes. During this time of Thanksgiving, let us truly give thanks to the Creator of all things for without Him, we would only be motionless particles with no past, present or future.

T    

If we become so emerged in the frenzy of news, we might very well miss the precious a gift from God called life. Did we miss November 11th? Do we know the significance? I hope we all took the time to honor a veteran. It is worth the reader to learn a little more about this day and how brave men and women have paid the ultimate price to maintain our freedom. In the USA this day is called “Veteran’s Day”. In Australia and New Zealand this day is “Anzac Day”, In the UK, it is called “Armistice Day” or “Poppy Day”. Poppies are flowers given out in remembrance of this day all over the world. Did we stop to remember a veteran this day or shed a tear or two in remembrance of a loved one lost to keep us free? I hope we can get our act together and unite now as a proud nation and stop the blame game.

Paul advises us in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 not to be discouraged in doing what is right. I believe that is very timely advise today. The pendulum swings it seems right or left and the extremists tend to step out of the shadows to protest their cause. I wonder just how many of those protesting now actually exercised the right to vote. Did you know that voting is mandatory in Australia? The USA is full of people that seem to complain but never actually vote. That is a shame! We are a free nation based on a democracy that allows opinions but not criminal acts to enforce their opinion on someone else. This holds true for the right or the left of the political arena. Paul also advised in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 to stay away from people who do not have a disciplined life. He also advised that if anyone does not want to work, should not eat in 3:10. Wow, that sounds a bit harsh! Not really. This country was founded on work and some paid a very high price for their efforts. Some reaped a high reward. Let freedom ring but let only the people who support freedom ring the bell. Don’t be discouraged in doing what is right. I will also add make sure you are being led by Devine guidance not the news media. “Jesus said, “Watch out that you aren’t deceived.” (Luke 21:8) Listen if you have time to my audio below the quote from Martin Kornfeld.

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Wow! Did we just witness the most historical presidential election of all time? I am writing this message on the day after a total upset to what most of the PC believed. Boy were they deceived! It is interesting to note that many Christians around this country were holding prayer vigilance throughout the day lifting up the presidential election for God’s blessing on the winner. Perhaps, many were disappointed in the results or perhaps they may be second guessing their power of prayer. In any event, we have a new president. Was he your chose? Maybe not but it was clearly the chose of the electoral majority which represents the will of the American people. May we now put our differences aside and pray in unison for our new leader that he will be guided by the Holy Spirit to lead according to God’s will. My message last Sunday was “Watch out for deception”. I encourage you to read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 especially verse 3 but be warned not to fall into a gender specific frame of mine. Were we deceived by one party to choose a PC course of action or were we led to choose change to restore our moral values? This will be an ongoing debate for many months or perhaps years to come but I believe God will ultimately prevail. If we truly prayed for the right leader then let’s embrace him and encourage him as this is our peaceful way of democracy in this country to govern. I thank God that I live in a free country. It may not seem fair but I am thankful that we are still a nation under God. In my audio message below, I spoke about how Paul was stern to warn the Thessalonians not to be deceived by false rumors from the news media of the times. That advise is still valid in today’s world. It seems the news is designed to get our attention to create ratings for the news network. Is that what we have come to in our civilized world today? I hope not. Our modern bible was constructed over 1600 years and 40 writers based on historical knowledge cross checked with verbal first account of events and put into a text structure that has proven the test of time. Other books or documents try to compete but in my opinion their is not much competition. However, our human nature tends to believe as Paul discovered on what they may hear at the moment. Paul said do not let anyone deceive you in any way. I think that is good advise in today’s world as well.

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