I am writing this right now both out of disgust and anger at those around me that so easily throw away everything our forefathers fought and died for, for the sake of what is poorly portrayed as security. Many individuals do not realize that their cry of Patriotism is as twisted as their concepts of Christianity.
The same people that claim to be Patriots, are the same people that say, Oh!, I don't mind if they take our rights away as long as I am protected from the big bad terrorist in the world.
Wake up, people, you have handed a centralized government the right to rule over you as Kings rather than elected officials that are supposed to be for the people and by the people. You have elected to have nothing more than Communism- Totalitarism in it's purest forms, and then dare call "us" who object "non-Patriots".
Get real, get some common sense and get an education in the history of this country and the reasons it came into existence anyway. Most people will not be able to quote to you even one Amendment of the Bill of Rights. These rights have been so eroded away that the average Joe in America thinks to allow anyone the right to erode these rights away and those that are for all these crazy laws they keep passing that imprison your freedoms, is somehow a Patriot and it makes them patriotic to go with the status quo..
Where is your mind? Your brain that God gave you to think with must be buried in the sand.
So, for the sake of recall, I am reprinting the Bill of Rights below in hope that some may re-examine their thinking that has been so perversely distorted by the Communist who have taken over in Washington, that they may see the truth and realize, "that what was, is no more".
The average American and especially those of both the Republican and Democratic parties have been blinded to the truth.
If anyone can show me, where these rights have not been subverted, twisted, and totally destroyed especially in the last 30 years, I would like to hear it or read about it. There is a place to comment at the end of everything I write, but as usual most do not, because they really don't know what to say, to truth. How do you answer, the statements so I often write about that are of the truth? Most can't answer because they don't really know or they are apathetic. That's how we got in the condition we are now, is because of the silence of those who knew the truth but feared to speak out about the many subjects I write about. Whether it be the condition of the organizational church, or fasle doctrines and practices of the church, or politics or foreign policy, most prefer to be apathetic, thus many people avoid reading even what I write about. It might blow a brain vessel if they tried to think for themselves once, instead of just acepting everything they are told to beleive. It's easier to be lazy and apathetic about truth then to make a stand for something.
I use to have a friend say, "if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything". That is the state of the average American. They have fallen for anything.
Here is the "what was, but no longer is".
THE TRUE PATRIOTS- PATRIOT ACT - The Bill of Rights.
-------------------------------------------------------
THE BILL OF RIGHTS
Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution;
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States; all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution, namely:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Note the highlighted areas- these are gone forever, because you have allowed lying polticians and money hungry greed mongers, war mongers and others to lie their way into your pocketbook and into your homes and into your privacy. For what- the same lies that every ruler since the beginning of time has done so- so that you might be safe from all these dangers is the same lies they all used to gain power over others in whatever kingdom in history.
Is it appropriate for us who live under the burden of income taxes and more taxes, and more oppression to send out others to die for the elitist agenda? I say not!
If you can't see what has happened to this country with the slow but definite takeover of Communist elitist, then you truly have been blinded by their rhetoric, and lies they tell. Wake up for God's sake before they are at your door.
We are to pray for peace, so that we can live in peace and propagate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, thousands are fooled by false prophets, false teachers, and false Christ, to pray for war, and hatred, and power over others. Hagee, the preacher and his group being some of the worst liars and war mongers there are!
God forgive us, we are a lost nation and have become as Israel- idolaters and adulterers with the gods of paganism as the center of our worship. Sacrificing our children to the god Molech. We like the nation of Israel have so far twisted the rights of people and God into something that no man can recognize the difference between their religion and Christianity. We have become as fools.
We must ask what happened to this country, what happened to the Gospel of Peace?
Perhaps you have forgotten the words of Jesus, "those who live by the sword shall die by the sword". Our time is not far from us, when all the hatred we have dispelled toward all other nations for the sake of a lost Anti-Christ nation (the illegal nation of Israel) will soon bite us in our proverbial butts.
We are to fear God, not men.
We are to seek God and not land.
We are to love others, not ourselves.
Fear is the driving force to get you to hand over your God given rights to TRUE Freedom. Using fear of the sword or fear of a foreign sword, you have deliverd up to them who wish to rule over you, the power to do so, and so we are in the condition we find ourselves now, and in the worsening condition we will soon find ourselves in.
Repent now! See the truth and wake up to the truth. Let their be a nation of people, that cry out - "no more, we aren't listening to the lies anymore, restore to us, what our forefathers died for, and restore to us what our Lord gave us, the right to individual freedom, to worship, to speak, to publish, to pursue life, liberty and happiness with responsibility". Restore to us our rights to privacy, to be secure in our belongings, secure in our very life by a government that is for the people, and by the people and not for itself. A life lived in moral responsibility to the love of Christ who compels us to love all men.
Bye, Bye American Pie- was a truly prophetic song.
The Bill of Rights - Where Did They Go?
We gave them up to those that would power over us and rule us, and take all that we and our families have worked for. We have handed them the things that the early leaders of this nation fought to release us from when England and King George ruled us. We turned around and spat in their faces and put in place a new King George and a oppressive rule.
God help America, the poor of this nation, the believer in the true and living Christ, the oppressed, and those that know and see the truth and wish to speak it. It's not too popular to say these things anymore, matter of fact to stand for the Bill of Rights and Freedom - has somehow become UNPATRIOTIC??
We call black - white, right- wrong, and oppression- freedom.
Welcome to the land of the FREE DUMB.
You have been dumbed down by political lies and church lies to the point you don't even realize it. The Bible said in the last days, that we will be blinded to the truth, and decieved. It is here and it has happened. It is too late to crawl out of the grave hole they forced you to dig yourself, there is only a short time before they will lay you in it. We have turned from truths to lies, to only be made to believe the lie is the truth. Washington leaders and many church leaders have used the same sort of semantical exercises Bill Clinton played on the American people and every cult known to mankind has used since the days of early Christianity.
The twisting of the real meaning of words. What you call freedom, our forefathers would call oppression, what you call Christianity, the Apostles would call Heresy. There is always time for repentance and change.
"My people perish for their lack of knowledge".
That is where the Bill of Rights have gone.
It perished because of the lack of knowledge!
We have no one to blame but ourselves, for we must always remember, a government is only as good as it's people, and is only good when it is run by all good people for the benefit of all people.
Dr. J.
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Showing posts with label spirit of truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spirit of truth. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Saturday, August 4, 2007
To Know The Lord Jesus Christ
I want to borrow from a Spurgeon Devotion to begin this article.
“The people that do know their God shall be strong.”
- Daniel 11:32
Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to “have an unction from the Holy One,” and it is the Spirit’s peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love, as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we love him, we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know, at least, in some degree. If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much; but the more we know him, the more we shall love him. Knowledge also strengthens hope. How can we hope for a thing if we do not know of its existence? Hope may be the telescope, but till we receive instruction, our ignorance stands in the front of the glass, and we can see nothing whatever; knowledge removes the interposing object, and when we look through the bright optic glass we discern the glory to be revealed, and anticipate it with joyous confidence. Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience. How shall we have patience unless we know something of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the good which is to come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us? Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the “knowledge” of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is not enough for us to say I heard about Him in Church or Sunday School or through a friend or family member. It is not enough for us to just casually listen to sermons or teachings whether live, on tape, CD, television or our radios.
It is not enough to have a thousand scriptures memorized, ten thousand doctrines scrutinized, or a hundred million biblical education degrees. It is not enough.
Knowledge of the Lord comes by being in constant union with Him. It comes in having a relationship with Him and more than just once or twice a week as we go off to church or Sunday School.
Do you make the time to spend with Him everyday? Is He the center of your every thought on Him about Him. Probably not, neither is mine.
Yet, scripture admonishes to think on heavenly things.
Colossians Chapter Three advocates that our entire knowledge and life be centered in things that matter.
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ , who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
How difficult this is for us, we are surrounded by every thing earthly. We move about and talk about everything earthly. Don't we realize what Jesus said to them then, John 3:12
12 If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.
Don't we realize that there is only one that can bring us the knowledge we need for all that life is? There is only one that can tell us of heavenly things. Only one that has been there and is there. How can we trust other men so easily with trying to tell us about heavenly things, yet not trust Him who has been there and resides there - Jesus Christ our Lord.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to turn us into somekind of freak show, running about doing some kind of wild works of bringing lightening out of the sky, playing healer, super apostle or none of that.
He is called the Comforter, the Counselor, the guide into all truth. Jesus only holds the truth for us, yet we give Him very little of our time or true devotion. Oh, we will get dressed up, take an hour from our week and go off and get all emotional, and kneel and pray at church when the right things are said that might speak of our own predictament.
Do we realize that He yearns to be with His people in their heart of hearts everyday and in everyway.?
Jesus didn't come to just give us another religion, another way to work our selves into heaven. Jesus came to give us life, and that life is in Him and Him alone.
It is easy in a world that is so hurried to be sucessful at whatever you do.
Jesus didnt find success in the way of the world. He powered under instead of looking for ways to power over others.
This is so in contradiction to the world's definition of success and often the church organizationally attempts the same thing. Thus, we have Mega Churches and Super Churches, and Bikers Churches and Cowboy Churches all trying and vying for the same thing to be more successful then the rest.
To have that one program no one else offers, that one group of people attending service perhaps that no one wants to know, that one group of people so we have someone to identify with.
What happened to us just identifying with Jesus and Him alone?
Why is it we aren't satisified to gain the knowledge of Him through relationship as opposed to running to and fro learning here and learning there and never coming to the truth.
We run because we run with itching ears hoping to hear what we want to hear, as opposed to truth, and the Holy Spirit being our teacher.
We look for the Dr. Feel Good, something that will placate our flesh, when all along right beside us if we know Him lies all the the answers to our problems, our predictaments and our sorrows. The answer he gives doesn't placate the flesh, matter of fact let's look at what that answer admonishes out of us further in Colossians Three verse Five
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: secual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, whih is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you one lived. Bu tnow you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken of your old self with it's practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of it's Creator."
Yes, we need knowledge, but we can never gain the knowledge He has for us about heavnely things by any other means, then to talk to the "One Man" who knows about heavenly things, He who came down from there, who has returned to there, and resides there, but yet has come to us in his resurrected self to abide in us as truth. To lead us, and guide us, into the very things our broken hearts seek and that is to know something higher, and wider, and more fantastic then any of these things on earth could ever provide. He is our knowledge and our Wisdon if we but turn to Him.
This turning to Him involves all that we just read. Notice God calls those things true about us that we don't hear. He says, "You use to walk in these ways", then He goes on to say," since you have taken of your old self and it's practices, and HAVE put on the new self". Notice God sees us as He sees us complete in Christ, he speaks in past tense. He doesnt see us as we ourselves so often do. The reason we don't is we are listening to the lies of the enemy as he whispers in our ears - "you aren't any good, you are just a lousy sinner, you are worthless." We have the enemies knowledge his words, so not knowing any escape, we listen, we act accordingly, never payng heed to the Word of God. For one we spend very little time in it ourselves. If we would but meditate on passages like the one above, there would be a transformation take place. What is true on the inside will start revealing itself on the outside. Church is indoors- in our hearts where the High Priest speaks, then the Temple outside our bodies will reflect that glory.
We need to answer the enemy in this manner, Yes, your right Satan I was ( past tense) all the things you say I am now, but No!, I am a new creation in Christ now (present tense) and all of that has been put to death with Him at the cross ( past tenses) and the only knowledge I have now, is His. I am starting this very day from this point on to think on heavenly things and since He lives for me, and is my life, anything you say about me is a lie, or no consequene, for I am dead, and my life is hidden in Christ with God. When you speak your accusations, you speak them to Him who has defeated you. Christ the Victor- who as it says in Colossians defeated you and your powers.
Soon, very soon, when He returns, what is not so obvious to you now Mr. Accuser, will be very obvious, because I will be like Him. Then you and everyone that wants to point a finger at me, will realize I am just as He is and will appear so, for the whole world to see.
Even now Mr. Accuser, I am resolved to get knowledge from this point on, to grow in His grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. My thoughts for now on will be on heavenly things and not the things of this earth. For I am going to make it my every breathing goal in life, not to know anything -but Him.
Relationship is what we need, with Him and one another. We don't need more religion the world is dying for religion right now. Almost every war going on is over religion whether it be those that call them self Christian or Muslim, or Buddahist or whatever. Religion drives the throngs of warriors to bring death. Jesus is here to bring us life, if we will but learn of Him, who is the Prince of Peace.
To Know the Lord Jesus Christ,
That is my prayer for me, for you, and for this world, this day
Dr. J.
“The people that do know their God shall be strong.”
- Daniel 11:32
Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to “have an unction from the Holy One,” and it is the Spirit’s peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love, as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we love him, we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know, at least, in some degree. If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much; but the more we know him, the more we shall love him. Knowledge also strengthens hope. How can we hope for a thing if we do not know of its existence? Hope may be the telescope, but till we receive instruction, our ignorance stands in the front of the glass, and we can see nothing whatever; knowledge removes the interposing object, and when we look through the bright optic glass we discern the glory to be revealed, and anticipate it with joyous confidence. Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience. How shall we have patience unless we know something of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the good which is to come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us? Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the “knowledge” of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is not enough for us to say I heard about Him in Church or Sunday School or through a friend or family member. It is not enough for us to just casually listen to sermons or teachings whether live, on tape, CD, television or our radios.
It is not enough to have a thousand scriptures memorized, ten thousand doctrines scrutinized, or a hundred million biblical education degrees. It is not enough.
Knowledge of the Lord comes by being in constant union with Him. It comes in having a relationship with Him and more than just once or twice a week as we go off to church or Sunday School.
Do you make the time to spend with Him everyday? Is He the center of your every thought on Him about Him. Probably not, neither is mine.
Yet, scripture admonishes to think on heavenly things.
Colossians Chapter Three advocates that our entire knowledge and life be centered in things that matter.
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ , who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
How difficult this is for us, we are surrounded by every thing earthly. We move about and talk about everything earthly. Don't we realize what Jesus said to them then, John 3:12
12 If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.
Don't we realize that there is only one that can bring us the knowledge we need for all that life is? There is only one that can tell us of heavenly things. Only one that has been there and is there. How can we trust other men so easily with trying to tell us about heavenly things, yet not trust Him who has been there and resides there - Jesus Christ our Lord.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to turn us into somekind of freak show, running about doing some kind of wild works of bringing lightening out of the sky, playing healer, super apostle or none of that.
He is called the Comforter, the Counselor, the guide into all truth. Jesus only holds the truth for us, yet we give Him very little of our time or true devotion. Oh, we will get dressed up, take an hour from our week and go off and get all emotional, and kneel and pray at church when the right things are said that might speak of our own predictament.
Do we realize that He yearns to be with His people in their heart of hearts everyday and in everyway.?
Jesus didn't come to just give us another religion, another way to work our selves into heaven. Jesus came to give us life, and that life is in Him and Him alone.
It is easy in a world that is so hurried to be sucessful at whatever you do.
Jesus didnt find success in the way of the world. He powered under instead of looking for ways to power over others.
This is so in contradiction to the world's definition of success and often the church organizationally attempts the same thing. Thus, we have Mega Churches and Super Churches, and Bikers Churches and Cowboy Churches all trying and vying for the same thing to be more successful then the rest.
To have that one program no one else offers, that one group of people attending service perhaps that no one wants to know, that one group of people so we have someone to identify with.
What happened to us just identifying with Jesus and Him alone?
Why is it we aren't satisified to gain the knowledge of Him through relationship as opposed to running to and fro learning here and learning there and never coming to the truth.
We run because we run with itching ears hoping to hear what we want to hear, as opposed to truth, and the Holy Spirit being our teacher.
We look for the Dr. Feel Good, something that will placate our flesh, when all along right beside us if we know Him lies all the the answers to our problems, our predictaments and our sorrows. The answer he gives doesn't placate the flesh, matter of fact let's look at what that answer admonishes out of us further in Colossians Three verse Five
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: secual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, whih is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you one lived. Bu tnow you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken of your old self with it's practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of it's Creator."
Yes, we need knowledge, but we can never gain the knowledge He has for us about heavnely things by any other means, then to talk to the "One Man" who knows about heavenly things, He who came down from there, who has returned to there, and resides there, but yet has come to us in his resurrected self to abide in us as truth. To lead us, and guide us, into the very things our broken hearts seek and that is to know something higher, and wider, and more fantastic then any of these things on earth could ever provide. He is our knowledge and our Wisdon if we but turn to Him.
This turning to Him involves all that we just read. Notice God calls those things true about us that we don't hear. He says, "You use to walk in these ways", then He goes on to say," since you have taken of your old self and it's practices, and HAVE put on the new self". Notice God sees us as He sees us complete in Christ, he speaks in past tense. He doesnt see us as we ourselves so often do. The reason we don't is we are listening to the lies of the enemy as he whispers in our ears - "you aren't any good, you are just a lousy sinner, you are worthless." We have the enemies knowledge his words, so not knowing any escape, we listen, we act accordingly, never payng heed to the Word of God. For one we spend very little time in it ourselves. If we would but meditate on passages like the one above, there would be a transformation take place. What is true on the inside will start revealing itself on the outside. Church is indoors- in our hearts where the High Priest speaks, then the Temple outside our bodies will reflect that glory.
We need to answer the enemy in this manner, Yes, your right Satan I was ( past tense) all the things you say I am now, but No!, I am a new creation in Christ now (present tense) and all of that has been put to death with Him at the cross ( past tenses) and the only knowledge I have now, is His. I am starting this very day from this point on to think on heavenly things and since He lives for me, and is my life, anything you say about me is a lie, or no consequene, for I am dead, and my life is hidden in Christ with God. When you speak your accusations, you speak them to Him who has defeated you. Christ the Victor- who as it says in Colossians defeated you and your powers.
Soon, very soon, when He returns, what is not so obvious to you now Mr. Accuser, will be very obvious, because I will be like Him. Then you and everyone that wants to point a finger at me, will realize I am just as He is and will appear so, for the whole world to see.
Even now Mr. Accuser, I am resolved to get knowledge from this point on, to grow in His grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. My thoughts for now on will be on heavenly things and not the things of this earth. For I am going to make it my every breathing goal in life, not to know anything -but Him.
Relationship is what we need, with Him and one another. We don't need more religion the world is dying for religion right now. Almost every war going on is over religion whether it be those that call them self Christian or Muslim, or Buddahist or whatever. Religion drives the throngs of warriors to bring death. Jesus is here to bring us life, if we will but learn of Him, who is the Prince of Peace.
To Know the Lord Jesus Christ,
That is my prayer for me, for you, and for this world, this day
Dr. J.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The Case of the Broken Dentures
What should we say brethern about love? Shall we be Christians only by name and association or by word and deed?
Today started out as any other day, I went to work for the morning, then came home at noon, made myself a sandwich, and then in the midst of enjoying it, I heard a cracking sound.
The sound was awful and the feeling after it was worse. I have dentures, and sure enough the top right side begin to droop, which meant only one thing, my dentures had broke in half.
I removed them and there they lay in my hand two separate pieces of my smile. Broken in two by a pickle.Now with my lips sucked back in to the lack of teeth support, the pickle truly made an expression sour!
Well, I go back to work in the evening, doing door to door canvassing for appointments, and my work entails meeting the public, so I was in an emergency.
I had paid over $2,000 back in 2002 to have my poor few rotten teeth that werre left pulled and dentures made so I could smile at others for once without embarrassment. My tooth loss was genetic over many years..
Now I looked at the pieces, thinking, $1,000 plus $1,000 equals $2,000. I had purchased dentures through some of the money my first wife left in life insurance when she passed away.
My predicament was magnified, from being told that it could cost me as much as $250.00 for a repair. I had no choice, I needed a repair, but what was I too do, I had less than $70.00 in my wallet.
I was talking to a friend of mine at the time who knew the girl that does the denture work for my dentist. He immediately called her to see if she could help me out, but she couldnt because of her moral obligation to her employer, she couldnt fix them, as she would have to use his lab anyway.
Well, that made common sense to me when he called me back and explained. I didnt know the situation.
So, I went to the Dentist, as he was someone I knew fairly well, as he was a member of the First "Big Temple" Church in Athens, - and I think he serves on the Deacon staff as well. We have met various places in town, stood by one another in line to see the movie "The Passion", and he knows my new wife and children very well, as knowing me personally as a Christian brother. My friend that I was talking to on the phone suggested that perhaps he would work out things with me for payment and to just ask him. I really had no other choice at the time but to think of asking him for his help. So, I went directly to his office and he was just opening up, from lunch time. I met him at the door. So, in the predicament, I was in, I told him my problem and I asked how much it was going to cost for the repair, he looked it up in his handy dandy computer and told me, $132.00.
Now, here I am with two broken pieces of dentures that I paid cash for initially and it was he who had received the cash, and so I asked, "can I pay you half now, and the other half on Friday"?.
Well he dodged the question, "with do you have insurance"?, To which my answer was "no", "this is why I am asking if I can't pay you half now, and the other half this Friday"?
He dodged it, saying well we don't make any arrangements for paying and then referred me to his receptionist and he darted off for the back of his office. Well of course, she is trained to tell me the same thing, and instead offers me a form to fill out for a credit card. To which I tell her, I don't deal with credit cards, I own none personally and don't want any. I am a man of my word, when circumstances allow me to be. To me the idea overall filling out a credit card application is just removing the debt that I would have owed him - Christian brother to Christian brother, to someone else other than myself to him, with a penalty attached called interest.
You must realize this is a second marriage and we have from the beginning because of our differences in view of finances, and money, and previous individuals debts kept our incomes, our living expenses, all separate.
This is decision we made for good reasons of our own.
We had separate lives before we came together financially so why not keep it that way, at least until each one of us had our debts before marriage paid off.
Well, there was no solution, I wasn't going to get my dentures fixed unless I found all the cash for immediate payment, then and there. I needed my teeth by tommorrow, so I called my wife, and said, I need your help.
Now she owns and uses credit cards, I would rather not. I hate them and the whole system involved with them.
I hated every moment of it, here I was in desperate need, trying to avoid credit cards, borrowing, to simply get this man I have known for 5 years to accept the word of one Christian man to another Christian man, for payment.
Half now and the other in 3 days.
Now, here is my statement, if Christianity is mere membership on a roll, mere reflection of going to the Temple, mere importance in the Temple, then what we have is pure Phariseeism! Undoubtedly so!
Let me remind all my dear brothers of something that God has done in my life, he made it real, whereever and whenever I have or have had to give, whether it be time, or money, or something else that I may have, when I see a need I can meet, I'm going to meet it. Most often it cost me something, time I could use elsewhere for profit, money I could use elsewhere for myself, skills I could earn money at. This is what God has taught me giving is all about.
Besides what 10% to a rich man is- nothing, is usually bread and water for the poor man. Thus the lesson Jesus was teaching about true giving in the pointing out the widows mite.
I am not boasting as to get credit for good works, or to say look at me Lord, this ability to be unselfish is not within my flesh, it is something that God provides through His indwelling Spirit, if we are his.
I want to remind all those in an occupation or trade, that here is where the rubber meets the road, because we have something often times others are in need of that we can provide. It goes so much further than a 10% tithe that you think you are giving to God each Sunday when you drop it in a plate, knowing the church has a non-profit tax declaration and it is returnable in part on your tax form as a tax deduction, it is so much more, than getting recognition for your "godly efforts" to support the church building fund and the church salaries and very little if any going to the poor, the widow or the orphan. The book of James states if you want to be religious, this is true religion.
It is the first creed of the early church - remember the poor. Somewhere in all this Western ideal of Christianity and materialism, the love of others has been lost to works righteousness that only goes to the building and the organization and recognizable pat on the back for your philanthropy.
I am not writing this because I want anything from the dentist, I have already paid him for it.
What I pray to do here, is to reprove and correct all of us, when we forget to "remember the poor" and there is a lot more to it, then just some tithe in a plate or church bucket, or once in awhile project where everyone will see you and your good works and think highly of you, as you blow your trumpet in the marketplace.
It is in times just like this scenario " The Case of the Broken Dentures" when the love of God can be brought forth to our brethern and it becomes real because it may cost us something.
So, I pray for the Dentist, but I also reprove him for a reason. He needs to reevaluate what a relationship in Christ, really means. It is much more than what you can get ,and much more about what you can give.
I remind all those who say they know Christ-
I John 3:10 - 4:1
".
Today started out as any other day, I went to work for the morning, then came home at noon, made myself a sandwich, and then in the midst of enjoying it, I heard a cracking sound.
The sound was awful and the feeling after it was worse. I have dentures, and sure enough the top right side begin to droop, which meant only one thing, my dentures had broke in half.
I removed them and there they lay in my hand two separate pieces of my smile. Broken in two by a pickle.Now with my lips sucked back in to the lack of teeth support, the pickle truly made an expression sour!
Well, I go back to work in the evening, doing door to door canvassing for appointments, and my work entails meeting the public, so I was in an emergency.
I had paid over $2,000 back in 2002 to have my poor few rotten teeth that werre left pulled and dentures made so I could smile at others for once without embarrassment. My tooth loss was genetic over many years..
Now I looked at the pieces, thinking, $1,000 plus $1,000 equals $2,000. I had purchased dentures through some of the money my first wife left in life insurance when she passed away.
My predicament was magnified, from being told that it could cost me as much as $250.00 for a repair. I had no choice, I needed a repair, but what was I too do, I had less than $70.00 in my wallet.
I was talking to a friend of mine at the time who knew the girl that does the denture work for my dentist. He immediately called her to see if she could help me out, but she couldnt because of her moral obligation to her employer, she couldnt fix them, as she would have to use his lab anyway.
Well, that made common sense to me when he called me back and explained. I didnt know the situation.
So, I went to the Dentist, as he was someone I knew fairly well, as he was a member of the First "Big Temple" Church in Athens, - and I think he serves on the Deacon staff as well. We have met various places in town, stood by one another in line to see the movie "The Passion", and he knows my new wife and children very well, as knowing me personally as a Christian brother. My friend that I was talking to on the phone suggested that perhaps he would work out things with me for payment and to just ask him. I really had no other choice at the time but to think of asking him for his help. So, I went directly to his office and he was just opening up, from lunch time. I met him at the door. So, in the predicament, I was in, I told him my problem and I asked how much it was going to cost for the repair, he looked it up in his handy dandy computer and told me, $132.00.
Now, here I am with two broken pieces of dentures that I paid cash for initially and it was he who had received the cash, and so I asked, "can I pay you half now, and the other half on Friday"?.
Well he dodged the question, "with do you have insurance"?, To which my answer was "no", "this is why I am asking if I can't pay you half now, and the other half this Friday"?
He dodged it, saying well we don't make any arrangements for paying and then referred me to his receptionist and he darted off for the back of his office. Well of course, she is trained to tell me the same thing, and instead offers me a form to fill out for a credit card. To which I tell her, I don't deal with credit cards, I own none personally and don't want any. I am a man of my word, when circumstances allow me to be. To me the idea overall filling out a credit card application is just removing the debt that I would have owed him - Christian brother to Christian brother, to someone else other than myself to him, with a penalty attached called interest.
You must realize this is a second marriage and we have from the beginning because of our differences in view of finances, and money, and previous individuals debts kept our incomes, our living expenses, all separate.
This is decision we made for good reasons of our own.
We had separate lives before we came together financially so why not keep it that way, at least until each one of us had our debts before marriage paid off.
Well, there was no solution, I wasn't going to get my dentures fixed unless I found all the cash for immediate payment, then and there. I needed my teeth by tommorrow, so I called my wife, and said, I need your help.
Now she owns and uses credit cards, I would rather not. I hate them and the whole system involved with them.
I hated every moment of it, here I was in desperate need, trying to avoid credit cards, borrowing, to simply get this man I have known for 5 years to accept the word of one Christian man to another Christian man, for payment.
Half now and the other in 3 days.
Now, here is my statement, if Christianity is mere membership on a roll, mere reflection of going to the Temple, mere importance in the Temple, then what we have is pure Phariseeism! Undoubtedly so!
Let me remind all my dear brothers of something that God has done in my life, he made it real, whereever and whenever I have or have had to give, whether it be time, or money, or something else that I may have, when I see a need I can meet, I'm going to meet it. Most often it cost me something, time I could use elsewhere for profit, money I could use elsewhere for myself, skills I could earn money at. This is what God has taught me giving is all about.
Besides what 10% to a rich man is- nothing, is usually bread and water for the poor man. Thus the lesson Jesus was teaching about true giving in the pointing out the widows mite.
I am not boasting as to get credit for good works, or to say look at me Lord, this ability to be unselfish is not within my flesh, it is something that God provides through His indwelling Spirit, if we are his.
I want to remind all those in an occupation or trade, that here is where the rubber meets the road, because we have something often times others are in need of that we can provide. It goes so much further than a 10% tithe that you think you are giving to God each Sunday when you drop it in a plate, knowing the church has a non-profit tax declaration and it is returnable in part on your tax form as a tax deduction, it is so much more, than getting recognition for your "godly efforts" to support the church building fund and the church salaries and very little if any going to the poor, the widow or the orphan. The book of James states if you want to be religious, this is true religion.
It is the first creed of the early church - remember the poor. Somewhere in all this Western ideal of Christianity and materialism, the love of others has been lost to works righteousness that only goes to the building and the organization and recognizable pat on the back for your philanthropy.
I am not writing this because I want anything from the dentist, I have already paid him for it.
What I pray to do here, is to reprove and correct all of us, when we forget to "remember the poor" and there is a lot more to it, then just some tithe in a plate or church bucket, or once in awhile project where everyone will see you and your good works and think highly of you, as you blow your trumpet in the marketplace.
It is in times just like this scenario " The Case of the Broken Dentures" when the love of God can be brought forth to our brethern and it becomes real because it may cost us something.
So, I pray for the Dentist, but I also reprove him for a reason. He needs to reevaluate what a relationship in Christ, really means. It is much more than what you can get ,and much more about what you can give.
I remind all those who say they know Christ-
I John 3:10 - 4:1
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?
My Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth. Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him: because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
I remind myself and others this:
Remember, when you come into the Kingdom, Jesus just might say, "where were you when I asked for help with my dentures". What will you answer? When did I see you Lord, needing Denture repairs? Car repairs, computer help, a ride to the grocery store, a little help repairing a neighbors home, or giving the food and water so desperately needed. What will our answer be?
Dr. J
".
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