"So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown."-George Bennard
Did the Lord ever send the snow to Catonsville Maryland! 27 inches of heavy wet snow; and am I ever sore from shoveling and digging. But it's a good sore. And I have been blessed with some fine neighbors, who really, really help clear the over two foot of snow on our cars, and sidewalks, and parking places.
Three of our pine tress in the side yard fell over from the heavy snow, with one that still stood. I may have to cut these 3 trees down, unless there's a way to have them be restored. Perhaps I can tie them up, I don't know.
Well, time to watch the Super Bowl. My prediction: Colts 37 Saints 34.
Rich Mullins died in a car accident a few years ago. I miss him. Yet, he left us his music. I wish there were more artists like him in our day. He wasn't stuck in the cookie-cutter CCM pop-culture. Be encouraged as you listen to Rich sing one of very early songs of his very short career.
"And the New Jerusalem won't be as easy to build As I hoped it would be As I hoped it would be easy to build But the New Jerusalem won't be so easy to build There's many bellies to fill and many hearts to free Got to set them free
But I see a people who've learned to walk in faith With mercy in their hearts And glory on their faces And I can see the people And I pray it won't be long Until Your kingdom comes"
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
"..you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
I had all of Cat Stevens LP's. The famous ones that is. He was one of those artists whose talent filled his songs and music, I thought. But, he had to go and get goofy, and turn Moslem. Oh well, maybe this is a long way around for him to come to Christ. I hope so.
"Well you roll on roads over fresh green grass. For your lorry loads pumping petrol gas. And you make them long, and you make them tough. But they just go on and on, and it seems that you can't get off.
Oh, I know we've come a long way, We're changing day to day, But tell me, where do the children play?
Well you've cracked the sky, scrapers fill the air. But will you keep on building higher 'til there's no more room up there? Will you make us laugh, will you make us cry? Will you tell us when to live, will you tell us when to die?"
"For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." -Jesus our Lord and Savior
" I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." -Paul the Apostle
"These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever." -Jude, the Lord's brother
" “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits." -Our Lord Jesus Christ " I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them." Paul, from Dr. Luke's Epistle
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." -Peter the Apostle, and ex-longshoreman
This woman, and her husband Todd, need to seriously repent, and come into the light. I pray they do.
"For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things." -St. Paul again
"...the restoration of biblical preaching has always been the leading factor in any revival of genuine Christianity. That is to say, every great revival in the church has been ushered in by a return to expository preaching.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, preacher of Westminster Chapel London, stated, "The most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching; and as it is the greatest and the most urgent need in the Church, it is the greatest need in the world also." If the doctor's diagnosis is correct, and this writer believes it is, then a return to true preaching--biblical preaching, expository preaching--is the greatest need in this critical hour. If a reformation is to come to the church, it must begin in the pulpit.
In his day, the prophet Amos warned of an approaching famine, a deadly drought that would cover the land. But not an absence of mere food and water, for this scarcity would be far more fatal. It would be a famine of hearing God's Word (Amos 8:11).Surely, the church today finds itself in such similar days of shortage. Tragically, exposition is being replaced with entertainment, doctrine with drama, theology with theatrics, and preaching with performances. What is so desperately needed today is for pastors to return to their highest calling - the divine summons to "preach the word" (2 Tim. 4:1-2). ...
Charles Spurgeon said, "I would rather speak five words out of this book than 50,000 words of the philosophers. If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God. If we want conversions, we must put more of God's Word into our sermons." This remains the crying need of our hour.
May a new generation of strong men step forward and speak up, and may they do so loud and clear. As the pulpit goes so goes the Church." -Steve J. Lawson, From an article in January's Tabletalk Magazine.
I can't see the Body of Christ being revived with a hunger for Christ's Word, and a thirst for His Holy Spirit, really, I see just the opposite to be honest, an even greater disregard for the truth, and Bible. God can surely do it though. He can overrule my skepticism, and how I would love to see the Church have good preachers in every pulpit all across America. Wouldn't that be something if the truth, the whole truth that is, of God's Holy Writ was being preached with humble love, and bold compassion! Let it be dear Lord Jesus. Amen.
