Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jun 22nd, 2013 She’s Just A Kid – The Saturday Morning Post By Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading – Psalms 32 – 35 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – 2 Peter 1 – 3; Psalms 106 – 110; Proverbs 22)

Scripture Memorization for June – Verses Supporting an Unlimited Atonement

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Micah 6:8

Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell – “Everyday Legacy“

Read the  “0622 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Proverbs 22:15 says:

“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”

Good morning. I read something at the beginning of the week. It was an article about a 16 year-old girl who was sentenced to death and is being released now that she is 43. She pleaded guilty to the murder of a 78 year-old Bible Studies teacher. She was 15 when she sat on the old woman, and slashed her 33 times with a butcher knife. She did this while three of her friends looked on (the youngest was 14).

She was sentenced to death, and became the youngest convict on death row. Protest sprung up across America, and even Europe, against the death penalty. The Indiana Supreme Court moved the minimum age for the death penalty from 10 years-old up to 16 years-old. This young girl was then sentenced to spend the next 60 years in prison. But you need to see how the article ends…

Linley E. Pearson, who was Indiana’s attorney general when [the girl] appealed to the state Supreme Court, said research now shows that the human brain doesn’t fully mature until age 24. “So kids can do a lot of things they wouldn’t do if they were an adult,” Pearson said. [The girl’s] sentence was reduced due to her behavior in prison, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. She will remain on parole for a few years…

So who is to blame for the murder of the 78 year-old Bible teacher? Was it the girl? She was old enough to know right from wrong. She chose to do wrong. Were the parents to blame? Proverbs 22:6 tells us to, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

I don’t know what her up-bringing was like. Maybe her dad only cared about making babies, and didn’t love his wife as Christ loved the church? Was it something she learned in school? Maybe in evolution class? Did her teachers tell her how she came from a slug that crawled out of the sea, and that she was superior and stronger than a 78 year-old lady. Did they teach her that she would be doing the world a favor by killing the old woman? It did not work for Hitler, and his socialistic, superior that any other, Aryan race either. Maybe it was the government who took God’s Word out of the schools. How do the students learn right from wrong, if they are being taught to do their own thing? How can a country that is built on the Word of God function without the Word of God? It can’t. That is why we are in the mess we are in today: children killing children, drive-by shootings, home invasions all because we refuse to listen to God’s Word. Israel turned their backs on God, and started chasing after false gods, and for a while they were without a country: scattered. America has turned it’s back on God, and we are paying the price. Our freedoms are being flushed down the sewer. Soon the country that was built on God’s Word will be no more because we chased after false gods. What are our false gods? Worship of self, money, things. False gods like Allah, Buddha, Harri Krishnah, and the devil. We need to give God His proper place: Number One in our lives. 2Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but being under the rod of God’s correction is not a good place to be for our nation.

Peace. (Exodus 20:1-17)

Jun 1st, 2013 Daddy – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading –  Nehemiah 8 – 10 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – 1 Corinthians 13 – 16; Psalms 1 – 5; Proverbs 1)

Scripture Memorization for June – Verses Supporting an Unlimited Atonement

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Joshua 1:8

Read a great article by Pastor Cary Schmidt – “The Power of Biblical Affirmation“

Read the “0601 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read a previous post from today’s reading – “We Will Not Forsake the House of Our God“

Good morning, and happy first day anniversary to Roni and Mike. They tied the knot last night in a beautiful ceremony. It was good to hear Roni sing again, as she sang a love song to Mike. Cheyenne (Roni’s daughter) looked very pretty in her gown. There was one thing I noticed about Cheyenne, as she walked into the sanctuary, she was nervously chewing her bottom lip. A thought came into my mind: I wonder if she understands that this is a new life for her too: that she is getting a new daddy?

Memories started flooding my brain. I remembered when I got back together with Camille. Then I remembered Melissa asking her, “Can I call him daddy yet?”

I had to grab onto the sound booth to steady myself, as I felt the tears swell up in my eyes. I thought about our wedding in the office of the mayor of Brick Township. I believe it was Mayor Kinievy (I’m not sure of the spelling). Camille was crying. She held my hand tightly, as we swung them nervously back and forth, while listening to the Mayor speak. We said our “I do’s”, and it was done. When I married Camille, I was agreeing to take Melissa too, as my own daughter. …To love and to cherish, till… I remembered before Melissa got the arthritis. I raced her from the parking lot, to the entrance of Monmouth Mall. She fell and skinned her knee. We were looking in a few stores, when we realized that Melissa wasn’t with us. PANIC! We ran back to the last store we were in, and there she was, sitting on the floor, with a security guard putting a bandage on her scraped knee.

I remembered the arthritis, which would eventually cause her to have both hips, both knees replaced, five or six cervical vertebrae fused, and her head attached with wires and screws. Her wrist was humped like a camel’s back. Two rods were inserted in her wrist to make it straight again.

I remembered the one-month stay Melissa had at the Children’s Seashore Hospital in Atlantic City. It was there we met Debbie, a little girl with Spinal Bifida. She would later become part of the youth group at The Christian Bible Church. Thinking of Debbie made me think about the two ladies, with child, in our church. What if their child is born with arthritis or Spinal Bifida? The Bible says in the end times that people will be without natural affection. Will they still care for, and love their defective children? I’m sure that these two ladies would. God would not trust them with such a precious cargo if they would not.

She went home to Heaven on Thursday morning, February 16, 2012, 1:15am. This is something I would have a hard time forgetting. God blessed us with Melissa for 36 years. Parents: love your kids. You don’t know how long they will be with you. Make some memories with your children. You may have to thank God one day for those memories.

I hope that this blog will help someone. Things happen in our lives, but God gives us gifts to help others. I hope this will edify. 1Corinthians 14:26 says, “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

Peace. (Revelation 21:5)

May 25th, 2013 A Prayer From Psalm 119 – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading –  2 Chronicles 32 – 33 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – Romans 1 – 4; Psalm 119; Proverbs 25)

Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Matthew 6:33

Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell– “Launch Out“

Read the “0525 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Good morning. Did you ever have trouble praying? I mean in not knowing just what to pray for. David wrote in Psalm 119:1-8, (ALEPH.), “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”

King David was a man of prayer who loved God’s Word. Here are some gleanings from Psalm 119 that you may want to ask for before reading God’s Word…

1] BETH. Verse 11. Ask for help in memorizing Scripture.

2] GIMEL. Verse 18. Ask for an understanding of the Scripture.

3] DALETH. Verses 25,28, and 32. Ask to be strengthened from the Scriptures.

4] HE. Verses 33 and 34. Ask for help in keeping God’s Word.

5] VAU. Verses 41-48. Praise God for what He has already shown you from His Word.

6] ZAIN. Verses 49 and 50. Ask for hope and comfort from the Scripture.

7] CHETH. Verses 58 and 59. Ask for His mercy and forgiveness when you are convicted from the Scripture.

8] TETH. Verses 66, 68, and 71. Ask God to teach you from His Word.

9]JOD. Verse 80. Ask God to help you stand on His Word.

10] CAPH. Verse 82. Ask for comfort in affliction.

11] LAMED. Verses 89-91. Thank God for His Word.

12] MEM. Verses 97 and 98. Ask God to give you wisdom from His Word.

13] NUN. Verse 105. Ask for guidance from the Scriptures.

14] SAMECH. Verses 113-120. Ask God to keep you from worldly influences.

15] AIN. Verses 121 and 122. Ask the LORD to give you something to protect you from your enemies.

16] PE. Verses 133-135. Ask God to teach you from His Word.

17] TZADDI. Verses 138-140. Thank God for His Word.

18] KOPH. Verses 145-149. Plead with God to hear your prayer according to His Word.

19] RESH. Verses 153 and 154. Ask for deliverance from your afflictions according His Word.

20] SCHIN. Verse 164. Thank God again, and praise Him, for what He has done, and will do according to the Scripture.

21] TAU. Praise GOD with your body (verses 171-172), mind (verses 173-174), and soul (verse 175) because of what God has done through His Holy Word.

Peace. (Proverbs 15:8)

May 18th, 2013 Thank You – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading – 2 Chronicles 6 – 8 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – Acts 7 – 9; Psalms 86 – 90; Proverbs 18)

Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 119:105

Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell– “Launch Out“

Read the “0518 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read previous posts from this morning’s passage – “Forgive”  & “The Fire Came Down From Heaven“

“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:12-15)

I had just finished doing some work around the house, and sat down outside on the deck to take a break. I got notified a few days before this, that my work was out of work so I was out of work. I had submitted a claim to Unemployment, and was considering a plan of action in my hunt for another job. So, I’m sitting there, and my eye catches a squirrel coming over to the deck. He made his way to the top of the railing, about 7 feet away from me, and started to eat an acorn. Did you know that squirrels have fairly large claws? I could see his clearly as I watched him devour the last bit of nut. Then he stared at me with his black beady eyes. Oh great! He’s going to jump and dig his claws into my leg, bite me, and then I’ll have to go to the hospital and get rabies shots. The squirrel started to scamper across the railing, stopping every yard or so to check on me: eying up his target. He didn’t jump on me, but made his way to the end of the railing where we have this large river rock with a hollow in it. It was almost like a bowl. And the squirrel started drinking the rainwater out of it. The more I thought about what just happened, the more I rejoiced in my heart. The Lord led this squirrel to a hidden acorn to eat. The Lord supplied the rain the night before, filling the hollow, and giving the squirrel water to drink. He will supply all my needs also. When the right job comes along, it will come from God, and in His timing.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.” (Psalm 103).

Thank You, Lord, for everything that You have given us.

Peace. (Psalm 69:30).

May 11th, 2013 He That Winneth Souls Is Wise – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 13 – 15 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – John 13 – 14; Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)

Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 48:1 & 2

Read a great article by Pastor Pastor Paul Chappell – “How to Choose an Accountibility Partner“

Read the “0511 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read a previous post from this passage – “God’s Will, God’s Way“

Good morning. Proverbs 11:30 tells us that,

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

Why are these two statements in the Bible? They go together hand in hand. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. According to Isaiah 64:6, our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. The only one who was ever righteous, is the Lord Jesus Christ. When we got saved, God gave us the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. We, those who are saved are the righteous. Not of our own righteousness, but Christ’s. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life: the righteous will tell others about the salvation they received through the Lord Jesus Christ: giving life to others: bearing fruit. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

And Jesus commands us to go out into the world and preach the Gospel: he that winneth souls is wise…

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” [They have a choice!] (Mark 16:15-16)

“Then opened he [Jesus] their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:45-49)

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21)

Jesus gave us the power to go. Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

We need to go! We must go! God made it easy for a person to get saved. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:13-17)

Do it. He that winneth souls is wise. Do it for Jesus. Do it because you love the Lord, and want to obey His command. Do it to keep people from joining the devil in Hell. Do it for yourself: Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

The whole problem is the doctrine of predestination which is found in Romans chapter 8. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:26-31)

I believe in predestination. But I had to choose. And here is what Hyper-Calvinists do not understand: because God is all-knowing, He knew that I would receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, and He sent people throughout my life to tell me about Jesus. But I still had to choose.

Let me ask my Hyper-Calvinist friends out there in cyberspace, how do you know if someone is predestined to go to Heaven unless you ask them: tell them about Jesus: give them a chance to choose? And let me ask you, Christian, how are your feet: are they beautiful, or are they ugly and stink? He that winneth souls is wise.

Peace! (Romans 10:13-15)

Apr 27th, 2013 It’s A Gift – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Passage –2 Kings 4 – 6 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 9 – 10;  Proverbs 27; Psalms 131 – 135

Scripture Memorization for March – John 1:1 – 18

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Matthew 6:33

Read a great article by Pastor Cary Schmidt – “10 Stretching Experiences of a New Pastor“

Read the “0427 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read a previous post from this passage  -”God Will Take Care of You“

Congratulations! You have won a FREE trip to Bermuda! Wow, a free cruise? A gift for me? Well not exactly. First you need to drive to King-Of-Prussia, PA to pick up your tickets. Then you need to spend several hours with a high pressure salesman as he explains that the product produced by the company who is giving you the FREE trip is something you just can’t live without. The price for this product that you can’t live without (even though the world has done without it for 6000 years) is more than you can afford. But it is cheaper than your FREE (?) cruise to Bermuda. So you sign the contract, get your tickets, and your off to Bermuda… next week, after you drive to Florida, where the ship is leaving from. And to top everything off, your ship sails right through the Bermuda Triangle, you disappear forever, and you never get to see Bermuda, or enjoy whatever it is you signed the contract to buy.

Nothing is free, it always costs somebody something. Well we still live in a free country. Then how come I have to pay taxes? You have freedom of speech. Then why is it considered a hate crime when I quote God as saying homosexuality is an abomination? Even the freedom that we have was not free. Others died for those freedoms that are being tossed aside by the Liberal-Nazi-Commi-Socialist government we have in office. Nothing is free. Except…

In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus is about to send His disciples to the people of Israel. “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:5-8)

Jesus told them they received the power to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils freely. They should use this power freely to help others.

In 2Kings 5, we have the story of Naaman the leper. God used Elisha the prophet to heal Naaman of his leprosy. Naaman tried to give gold, silver, and clothing to Elisha to say thank you. Elisha would not accept these. Freely he received, so freely he gave. So Naaman started on his journey back to Syria. But Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, did not understand. Gehazi ran after Naaman, and lied to get two talents of silver, and two changes of garments. After Gehazi received the items and returned home…

“But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.” (2Kings 5:25-27)

God’s gift of salvation is the only thing that is truly free to us, yet millions refuse to believe this. Ephesians 2:8-9 tell us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Salvation is a free gift: you cannot work for it, you cannot buy it. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Salvation: God gave it; Jesus paid for it, and now offers it freely to you.

Peace! (John 10:7-18)

Apr 20th, 2013 And That’s The Way It Is – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Passage – 1 Kings 10 – 11 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 11 – 12;  Proverbs 20; Psalms 96 – 100

Scripture Memorization for March – John 1:1 – 18

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 119:105

Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell – “A Checklist that Matters“

Read the “0420 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Good morning. That title is the closing line used by Walter Cronkite on his CBS news show. I couldn’t help thinking of that while watching the capture of suspected Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev. The one reporting said that the older brother was in hell, and that the younger brother would be joining him there. Terrorists get the death penalty. Maybe, instead of taking away our rights to bare arms, and limit the rounds in our defense rifles, the government should make jail an unpleasant experience instead of a vacation. And if you take someone’s life, you forfeit your own.

And that’s the way it is. Unless someone reaches that kid with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He should have read…

Proverbs 19:19 – “A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.”

A man of great wrath WILL suffer punishment. A man of great wrath will continue to be a man of great wrath. And, if a man of great wrath could be delivered, you would have to deliver him over and over again. Jesus tells us to love our enemies. But this 19 year-old has never heard that. He believes a lie. He should have read…

Proverbs 20:17 – “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.”

The only cure for a man of great wrath is either death, or the Lord Jesus Christ. God tells us to make ourselves living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), not dead ones. God also tells us that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2Corinthians 5:17). Only God can change a person, and the man of great wrath is passed away: gone. You see, God loves the man of great wrath, just as He loves every sinner. We are all sinners (Romans 3:10 & 23). And, because God knew that being sinners we could not save ourselves, He put on flesh, became a man, and died on a cross to pay the price for our sins (John 1:1-14; Romans 5:8-11, 6:23). The only thing we can do is ask Him to save us (Romans 10:13).

Peace! (Exodus 20:3)

Apr 6th, 2013 What Is The Real Hate Crime? – The Saturday Morning Post By Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Passage – 1 Samuel 25 – 27 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 11 – 12; Proverbs 6; Psalm 26 – 30

Scripture Memorization for March – John 1:1 – 18

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Joshua 1:8

Read the “0406 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Good morning. There are many preachers in jail today because of our freedom of speech is becoming a myth, and it is considered breaking the law to tell the truth. If you Google it, the one who comes up most is a street preacher in the United Kingdom. He told a passerby that he thought homosexuality was a sin. The last time I looked, it was (and still is). What would you do in the same situation? What does the Bible say?

Twice in Ezekiel, God says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (vs 20 & 4).

Ezekiel 33:1-8 tell us, “Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, when I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

If I call a politician a liar who is just trying to keep his job, and not serving those who elected him; is that a hate crime? If I tell them they are going to spend all eternity in Hell; is that a hate crime? Jesus said, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev 21:8).

When those in power started pushing evolution as a fact to be taught in schools, while God’s truth was removed; when those in power gave their blessing to abort babies; when those in power think more about being politically correct instead of correct, they stopped serving the people. So I ask you, which is the real hate crime? Telling others about sin and how Jesus died for their sins; or not saying anything, and allowing them to go to Hell? The way the world is going, if Jesus delays His return, you may have to decide.

God’s Word is clear: Jesus died for the sins of the world: He shed His precious blood: He paid sin’s wage for us. We need to share this with others no matter what the consequences. The only sin that will not be forgiven is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. Just like you and me, others need to decide to reject or receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

Peace. (1Corinthians 11:24).

Mar 30th, 2013 The Sun’s Coming Up In The Morning – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Passage – 1 Samuel 4 – 7 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Revelation 13 – 15; Proverbs 30; Psalms 146 – 150

Scripture Memorization for March – 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 20

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 121

Read previous posts from this passage – “A Good Luck Charm”; and “Get It Out“

Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell  – “When You Can Borrow A Tomb, Steps to the Resurrection, Part 6“

Read the “0330 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Good morning! One of my favorite hymns is ‘The Sun’s Coming Up’ by Dee Gaskin. Every time I read Revelation chapter 21 and 22, I think about this hymn and what Heaven is like.

“And the sun’s coming up in the morning. Every tear will be gone from my eye…”

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

One day God will make all things new. We will get to talk with Him face to face. All the pain, the suffering, the wrongs done to us will pass away with all the other former things. No more death. No more sorrow. No more pain. And no more crying: God will wipe away all the tears from our eyes.

“And the sun’s coming up in the morning. Every tear will be gone from my eye; This old clay’s gonna give way to glory, And like an eagle, I’ll take to the sky.”

One day we will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye, as this old clay gives way to glory. Paul explains in 1Corinthians 15…

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1Corinthians 15:50-58)

But what I love the most about this passage in Revelation is the end of verse 5, where God tells John, “Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

“And the sun’s coming up in the morning. Every tear will be gone from my eye; This old clay’s gonna give way to glory, And like an eagle, I’ll take to the sky.”

Peace. (Revelation 22:20)