Blogging for God

Catching Wild Pigs

2009-03-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

The following story was forwarded via our local branch of West Virginians for Life, Inc. It illustrates the words of Edmund Burke,

“People never give up their liberties but under some delusion.”

Catching Wild Pigs
A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in
the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed
one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and
stretching as if his back hurt.

The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told
him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting
communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his
country's government and install a new communist government.

In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a
strange question. He asked, ' Do you know how to catch wild pigs? '

The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punchline. The
young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a
suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs
find it and begin to come every day to eat the free corn. When they are
used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place
where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they
begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence.
They get used to that and start to eat again.. You continue until you
have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in The last side. The
pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to
eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.

Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and
around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to
eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten
how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their
captivity.

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees
happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward socialism
and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as
supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies,
dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine,
drugs, etc.. While we continually lose our freedoms -- just a little at
a time.

If you want to see what you can do to start breaking down the fences that have herded millions of women to kill their babies see the post below.

Fighting FOCA

2009-03-05T07:21:00.001-08:00

Have you ever noticed in a group of kids when one kid says “I’m not allowed” the other kids accept that. It’s okay. He has an excuse. His parents won’t let him. And it’s a comfort to the kid that his excuse is accepted by his peers. Maybe they even wish they had parents who care enough to say, “You’re not allowed.”

These thoughts came to me while contemplating a story emailed to me by our local Pro-Life chapter that ended with a quote from Thomas Jefferson, “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have."

The Freedom of Choice Act, aka FOCA, is soon to come before Congress. The FOCA seems to be telling us, “It’s okay – Go kill your babies. It’s allowed.”

The big government Jefferson warned us against is giving people what they want – permission to be promiscuous and not own up to the consequences.

Or as Pastor puts it: We – yes, us Christians - have allowed “blood sacrifice on the altar of selfishness.”

Pastor frequently quotes wise men like Jefferson. Related to our fight against FOCA is this battle cry from the American Revolutionary War: “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.”

Edmund Burke, an 18th century politician from Ireland known as the “father of conservatism” said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

By allowing Roe v. Wade to pass in 1973 with hardly a peep from the pews across America, our parents and grandparents let the federal government totally reverse God’s sixth commandment to: Thou shalt kill.

Female vessels of clay are allowed to tell the potter what is to be – or rather what is not to be. As Isaiah 29:16 states:

Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, "He did not make me"? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

So if this talk is stirring you to stand up for God’s cause, sign up at Fight FOCA and join the more than 685,000 warriors who have heard the battle cry.

But do not just sign a petition. Read about what is happening at Americans United for Life. Call your congressmen and congresswomen. Show up at their doorsteps or at their place of work – your capitol.

Let us bravely ask them, "How do you stand on the FOCA - Freedom of Choice Act? Do you realize this act of man makes every allowance for murdering babies whom God may have intended for good?"

"It does not require a majority to prevail, rather an irrate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in peoples minds." Sam Adams

Are you angry enough yet?

"Jerusalem Watchman" - A man good enough for the job

2008-12-31T10:38:00.000-08:00

To be “in the know” of what is happening in the Middle East, biblically speaking, I know of no better source than Jerusalem Watchman.

The “Jerusalem Watchman” is Stan Goodenough, a Christian Zionist originally from South Africa. He is a journalist and speaker who has lived in Israel for more than 15 years.

Once on his website, http://stangoodenough.com, you will see a handsome man who is taller and even more attractive in person, with his compelling message and slightly South African accent. (Sorry ladies, he is already with his soul mate and at last count, four children).

Since time is so crucial I recommend first going to the following posts:

A new ‘land-for-peace proposal’ - by Michelle Nevada, Nov. 22 for some biblical background.

Then skip ahead to the post of Dec. 26 – “The shameless abandonment of Gilad Shaliat” to read Stan’s calm while outraged commentary.

The material is so weighty that you will need to take a break – while emailing everyone you know with http://stangoodenough.com. Or they can just do a search for "Jerusalem Watchman” and his site will come up.

In the name of the Messiah, Jesus
Please, pray for Israel.

Visitor Extraordinaire

2008-11-25T17:34:00.000-08:00

I have been remiss in posting to this site. It has been nearly four months! Shame on me!

At the end of my last post I mentioned two visitors from Jerusalem. These two men have made a huge impact on their brief tour in the United States this July to drive home to Americans the message of Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you. And I will curse them who curse you.”

This verse refers not only to Abraham - known as Abram at the time - but his descendants, the Jewish people and their promised land, Israel.

One of the men is Don Cobble. Pastor and his family have known Donnie since they lived and ministered in Latvia, the formerly Communist Baltic country. Donnie ministers in Israel part of the year. In October he went to Jerusalem with his new wife, Pastor and others from our church, and thousands of foreigners - Jew and Gentile - to celebrate the Feast of the Tabernacles.

Donnie is the senior pastor of Kaleo Christian Center in Woburn, MA near Boston. He has taught at our church several times over the years. A flamboyant speaker, he comes with warnings to expect the unexpected.

Donnie doesn’t mind telling people how he spent over $60,000 in defending his biblically-ordained mandate to discipline his son with “the rod.” Actually he used the leather end of a belt over the boy’s clothes on the place God deems best - the most cushioned part of the human body. Donnie won his case in the Supreme Court of Massachusetts in 1999.

I brought that up only to show that Don Cobble is a man of conviction and is willing to stand on the teachings of the Bible. He teaches the Bible and its prophecies with conviction as well.

The most dramatic thing he said while he was teaching at our church about a year ago got us all thinking about the threat of Islam as a force trying to take dominion over the world.

We know that won’t happen, but Christian - and Jew - beware, because we are already seeing the signs and may be here to see much more. We need to be strong and knowledgeable in order to fight this enemy. We must be ready to give our lives.

Donnie made the shocking statement, to let us know that terrorists are really very devout Muslims following their founder Mohammed who in fact had his enemies beheaded. See Did Mohammed Practice Beheading?

Donnie said (you see I have been approaching this carefully) “If Jesus beheaded people, I would be out there beheading people too!” That’s the kind of preacher he is. That is the kind of person our Pastor does not hesitate to bring to our church. Our church is the kind of people who can take this kind of message and run with it. That is what I am doing here.

I have not been able to get onto http://www/doncobble.org. But if you “Google” Don Cobble you will get info about his court case, his teachings, and references from his friend, the other visitor to our church in July, Stan Goodenough.

I cannot say enough good about Stan, and he says everything so much better on his site called Jerusalem Watchman. I urge you to go there and be prepared to be enlightened.

Christians among Muslims

2008-08-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Prayer saw our church revival through six services and beyond.
Prayer for six weeks at two gatherings every Friday night preceded this revival.
Prayer continued through our team’s trip to Middle Eastern nation - to which country and for which purpose I cannot tell. (Enough people will be persecuted and martyred without my help.) Emails to and from there have to be in code.

It is the country where Christianity began, where many cities mentioned in the New Testament exist, some with modern day names; where little isles of Christians now meet under close scrutiny amidst a sea of Muslims.

One of our team there had an awful scare - the thing anyone would fear the most while traveling in a foreign, hostile country - not having a valid passport! Our brother’s passport - the most valuable item, more precious than gold, his ticket home to wife and child - was apparently ruined. It went through the wash - some forty minutes of soaking in a rudimentary washing contraption.

The pass port swelled to ten times its original thickness . Could it still be identifiable? Acceptable to the next official demanding its presentation?

But prayers and fasting were going on thousands of miles away, and our brother had been in spiritual prayer himself. He was tuned-in for the voice of God.

God told him to put the passport in his journal and sleep on it. He did so on his belly arising with the imprint of the notebook on his stomach.

Lo and behold - his passport unrecognizable as the swollen mass upon which he had lain. It was as good as need be to pass through all the inspections thereafter. God’s will be done. God’s name be praised ! !

What’s happening in your church? ? I have yet to tell you of our two visitors from Jerusalem.

Azusa Revisited

2008-08-02T03:03:00.000-07:00

This blog has not been active for nearly two months! I apologize to my regular readers and those who signed up on Posts (Atom) - at the bottom of this blog - to receive notices of each new post.
I have been overwhelmed by happenings at our church and waiting for God’s direction.

We had a revival - a true reVIVEal a few short weeks ago.
The visiting evangelist, who shall remain nameless and faceless to protect his entry to every tribe and nation and tongue,
compared this capsule of time and place to the Azusa Street phenonoma of the last turn of the century.
That was just a few years from just a certain spot.
This - this move of God - is happening from all little spots in the world on the earth.
People saying “We are a light. We shine from here” - but it will reach all over the globe.

On the second night the preacher’s beautiful, vibrant wife proclaimed - “Prayers are going up from all around the earth. Prayers rising to the heavens, collecting like vapor, like clouds. Clouds of praise that will brim over in rain - the latter rain that whole earth has been waiting and groaning for.” It was awakening. . .enlightening. . . .

Is your church one of the little spots of light reaching around the world?

Please share your church news - the good news - here.

Children of the World

2008-06-06T04:58:00.000-07:00

I knew I had to go see The Children of the World Choir when I saw they were performing at the First Baptist Church in the next little town called Paden City (not to be confused with Peyton Place, although they sound alike).

The flyer I saw, then of course chose to write up as a Coming Event in the newspaper where I work, said the group consisted of 15 children from Uganda, India and the Philippines, most of whom were orphaned by AIDS.

As anticipated, the children were all truly beautiful. They sang and danced their hearts and souls out and let the spirit flow. The children sang all the songs in rhythmically articulated English and spoke scriptures posted on the video screen behind them.

One of the songs that they sang I had not heard before. The lyrics included:

I put my hope in You,
I will never be afraid.
I put my hope in You,
I will never be ashamed.

When the battle rages
I will not be phased.
I will put my faith, hope and trust in You.

It made me think about what these precious ones have been through and what rescuers the people of World Help Ministries are. They bring the love of Jesus to these children.

In the free book they distributed is the statement “Most children of AIDS suffer from every one of these adverse conditions” which, according to the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare cause children to be emotionally stunted:

* Abandonment - left to fend for themselves for a long period of time.
* Inadequate supervision or being left alone.
* Involved in activities that are harmful.
* Inadequate medical and dental care.
* Inadequate education.
* Inadequate nutrition.
* Inadequate shelter

The children of AIDS - 90 percent of whom live in Africa - have gone through all of the above. And yet the children I saw singing and praising God were joyful.

The staff and volunteers of World Help - very much as the people of The Sparrow’s Nest - take these children under their wings, feed, clothe and love them; and teach them about Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

They know they sleep in the arms of God - I know, because they sang about it.

Let each of us Children of God do something to help our littlest siblings.
Elizabeth

Yoga for Christians

2008-05-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

In the introduction for “Yoga for Christians” Susan Bordenkircher wrote, “This book is another step toward helping Christians understand that God is using yoga as one of many creative approaches to get outside the chaos of this world and move into the rhythm of God’s Spirit. In turn, I pray that it leads readers on a path to developing an intimate, real relationship with Him. Because no matter what the world tells us, that is what is ultimately about: finding God, hearing His voice, and illuminating the world with the love of Jesus.” (p. xi).

I’ve been taking yoga class for 5-6 weeks now, wondering why I keep coming back for more, although some of the postures, called “asanas” were challenging - uncomfortable and downright painful at times. Within the first few pages of Bordenkircher’s book, I realized that I am, as she is, experiencing the psychological and spiritual benefits of yoga.

Bordenkircher wrote, “. . .The quiet stillness that I was learning was creating a heightened attitude of worship and alert listening to deepen my relationship with my Savior. My contentment allowed me to experience God’s joy in the midst of any circumstances, and my increased focus enabled me to get my mind off myself and onto something - Someone - so much bigger.”

Yoga began in India, thousands of years ago. Hindus and other Eastern religions adapted yoga. recognizing the spiritual as well as physical benefits. But that is no reason for Christians to not tap into God’s design for our bodies. We are so “wonderfully and fearfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

I am intrigued by the names of the asanas. The ancient people were inspired by the works of God in developing the postures. I like to think of The Mountain pose - used to align and stabilize the body - as The Rock, so I can think on Jesus.

As Bordenkircher explained, the early yoga teachers “imitated the way some animals moved and found that the movements created strength, power, and agility.” Hence the names like, cobra camel, cat, downward-facing dog (a dreaded challenge for me) and even human animal poses like Child’s Pose and Happy Baby.

Prolific Christian writer Max Lucado said of “Yoga for Christians,” “I’ve done enough ‘downward dogs’ to believe in the physical benefits of yoga. Now we have a chance to improve the soul and the body. May this project stretch us all.”

I’ll be writing more soon about breathing the Holy Spirit into your yoga sessions. In the meantime, I recommend buying "Yoga for Christians." It comes with a one-hour DVD of a Christ-centered yoga session with Bordenkircher.
In Christ,
Elizabeth

Let's travel to Riga, Latvia

2008-05-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

Some may wonder - why would we need to spread the gospel in Europe? Aren't they all Christian - Protestant or Catholic - over there? Why would we need to rescue orphans from the streets?
These photos depict Riga's historic sites: the interior of St. Patrick's, which was bombed by Russia and restored; the lady on the top of the Freedom Monument reminded me of our Statue of Liberty; the round brick building once stored Russian armaments. Yet darkness still exists. Read on and learn what is happening.

Latvia's: 2008 or 1941?
By Micah Halpern

MicahHalpern.com | Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Riga is the capital city of Latvia. Located on the Baltic Sea, Latvia, a scenically beautiful country to behold, is one of the former Soviet states. Riga is a city rich in culture in history and even in human and natural resources.
On Sunday, in Riga, three thousand Latvians came out to join a parade. It was a parade to honor those Latvians who belonged to and fought in and defended the honor of a notorious SS Unit known as the Latvian Legion.
Three thousand people came out and joined that parade. Did I make myself clear? Three thousand Latvians flocked to the city of Riga to participate in a pro-Nazi rally.
It happened this Sunday - in the year 2008, in a European capital.
As Americans, we think that most people think the way we do. We think that not to think the way we do is bad, or wrong, thinking. We think that our understanding of right versus wrong is universal. We think that the reason others do not think the way we think is because they have not heard the power of our argument, that they would be convinced if they had As Westerners, we think that our belief system is the correct system, the most evolved system, the most popular system. In actuality, we are deluding ourselves. Our view of the world is insular, it is short sighted and it is narrow-minded.
Look no further than Riga, March 2008.
Latvia, along with the rest of the USSR, was invaded by the Germans in 1941. Then, as now, Riga was the capital of Latvia. According to a census taken in 1935 there were 43,672 Jews living in Riga. After the war there were 150 Jews, survivors from Riga.
Most of Riga's Jews were murdered in a place called Rumbla, a "killing fields" located only seven miles outside the city. There, on two separate days, first on November 30th and then on December 8th, 1941 the Nazis - with the help of the local Latvians, mowed down 25,000 Jews.
The Jewish Ghetto in Riga, like most Jewish ghettos created during World War II, was situated in the most densely populated area of the Jewish community. In Riga that area was called Maskava. In Riga, like in every other city under their control, in order for the Nazi massacre of the Jews to succeed the Germans needed local assistance. The assistance that the Latvian community of Riga gave to Nazi Command came in the form of the Latvian Legion, proud members of the German SS.
We now know, the proof is in the numbers, that local Latvians today, are still proud of their members of the Latvian Legion.
Was there a counter demonstration? There was - and we should be thankful that there was, but their well intended shouts of "disgrace" and "Hitler is Dead" and their few numbers pale in comparison to the pomp and glory of the Pro Nazi parade.
The lessons of the mass murder of the Jews at the hands of Nazis have not sunken in very well in Europe - even in those places where the lessons are most needed. Mass murder is still celebrated. Local mass murderers are encouraged to strut their stuff in style.
The most important lesson we can draw from the citizenry of Riga is not to be deceived. Realize that the values and issues that we hold dear are unique to us. We can try to influence others to adopt our values, we can even bribe them to behave in ways that we deem appropriate, but in their hearts seldom do they truly adopt our values and our sense of right and wrong.
We are who we are because we think that what the Nazis did was wrong. Some of the world still does not agree.

Micah D. Halpern is a columnist and a social and political commentator.
Read his latest book THUGS.
http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1595550739
He maintains The Micah Report http://www.micahhalpern.com

Back to Idols

2008-05-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

(Pre-requisite for reading this is to read post of April 22, 2008)

Can our modern-day idols really do anything for us? Anything that that amounts to anything good?

Our jobs, I suppose, do some good - we provide for our families. But then, are we not putting family before God if all what we mostly think about is making a living?

(Folks, this line of thought is surprising me too. It is not coming from my own wisdom.)

Ephesians 4:28 says “Let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.” You see, the purpose of work is to give.

God’s written Word is our guide. We need to read it - not go by what we think it says.

Back to idols - God sounds a lot like a lawyer in Isaiah 41:21-22:

“Present you case,” says the Lord
“Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.
“Let them [idols] bring forth and show us what will happen;
Let them show the former things, what they were,
That we may consider them
And know the latter end of them;
Or declare to us things to come.

Let’s stop there and consider what God is saying.

He is saying that idols - man-made things and ideas - cannot come close to giving us the insight and wisdom that the living Word of God can.

They cannot tell us why things happened in the past and what the outcome will be. They cannot tell what is to come as the Spirit of truth can:

“He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak to you of his own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." John 16:13

Idols cannot prophesy. (Maybe, "prophe-lie" as Pastor is fond of saying.)

These age-old thoughts certainly sound contrary to some new-age philosophies. such as the "The Power of Now." I have not read any of Tolle Eckhart so I am admittedly pre-judging.

Just beware, reader, that one man’s packaged deal does not become your idol.

Beware that one woman - such as Oprah, first with "The Secret" and now with "A New Earth" - does not replace God, or even coexist with Him, as your source of wisdom, worthy of your praise and worship.

Remember, God said, “For I the Lord your God am a jealous God.”
Is God jealous of Oprah?! (More about God’s jealousy another time.)

Continuing with Isaiah speaking and writing for God, He challenges idols:

Show the things to come hereafter
That we may know you are gods
Yes do good or do evil, [Do something, anything!]
That we may be dismayed and see it together*
Indeed you are nothing,
He who chooses you is an abomination.
Isaiah 41:23-24
* - That makes us stare, amazed. (The Living Bible)

Sorry, Oprah, but God is pretty clear about not wanting to share the stage.

These things need to be said, people. It's not all about: Be nice to your neighbor. Let's put the First Commandment first.

Click on "# comments" below to give your input,good, bad or ugly.

Yours truly,
Elizabeth

We are like grasshoppers

2008-04-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

To begin where I left off - I left off a part of a verse in my last post. After Isaiah 40:22a “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,” comes Isaiah 40:22b: “And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.”

That’s us folks. We’re inhabitants of the earth. We’re like grasshoppers, tiny and insignificant compared to His Greatness. He is the Giant sitting on the curve of the planet, able to crush us. We’re at His mercy.

It’s a good thing God’s mercy is not like our mercy.

The Greek word for mercy, eleos (Strong’s Concordance #1656) means not only "an outward demonstration of pity," but also “a sympathy that expresses itself in helping a person in need instead of remaining completely passive” (note in Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible, p. 2083).

He wants to help us. That is what the gospel is all about. His whole plan is to rescue us. He wants to gather us as chicks under his wings, as sheep in his fold.

In our own strength we’re as insects - striving to survive, then dying.

His plan is and always has been to rescue us, free us from ourselves, our bondages, our captivity by the things of our Egypt, our world.

And to enter into His rest, His land of milk and honey. To take us back to Eden.

Wow - that’s not where I intended to go at all. Back to the topic of grasshoppers and/or God’s plan next time.

From little ‘ol me,
Elizabeth

Who's Your Idol?

2008-04-22T04:19:00.000-07:00

When God said “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” He meant it. “You may worship no other god than me,” says The Living Bible.

In the next verse, Exodus 20:4 God tells us: “You shall not make for yourselves a carved image. . .you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.“ (NKJV).

But haven’t we done that, spiritually speaking? We may not have carved an image out of wood and covered it in gold (as in Isaiah 40 :19) - but we have our idols - we try to serve two masters. It doesn’t work. (See Luke 16:13.)

So what is a modern-day idol? It can be anything that dictates our moves, around which we plan our days, but most of all that dwells in our minds. It can be a person, a job, an activity, a drug, a thing, a TV personality - even a family member, a friend.

Are you more interested in who’s going to be the next “American Idol” or who God wants you to talk to today?

What are you looking forward to? The next episode of ”Lost”? Your next payday?

Is your paycheck your idol? The answer to all your problems? It often does not even pay the bills - in which case - they are what occupies your mind.

God said,
“They will say, ‘Arise and save us’
But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves.
Let them arise,
If they can save you in time of trouble” (Jeremiah 2: 27-28)

So many times God warns us against idols. He says we are harlots when we stray from him and flaunt our attention elsewhere. (See Jeremiah 2:20 - Go ahead, read the whole chapter.)

I am in hope that readers will realize that the Old Testament is as alive and relevant as the New Testament to us in these times. Maybe more so. It supports the age-old story, the good news, the gospel. God never changes. He still wants to rescue us from our slavery.

"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth"
(Isaiah 40:21-22a)

It has been said that Isaiah 40 -55 contain the real gospel. I will be reading and studying and sharing those chapters here.

Let God reign in your heart today,
Elizabeth

Here I am. . .

2008-04-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

{I apologize for not getting to that “powerful message from one of my pastor‘s recordings” as I said I would “next time” on April 9th. It turns out that relaying his words requires some thought and leads me to studies of my own - Now I have too much to write and have to assimilate it first.}

I saw a song on video a short time ago when I was at the Z-launch in Houston in February. It’s a song we often sing in the church I attend. The music and lyrics are very moving:

Here I am to bow worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You’re my God

You’re altogether lovely,
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me.

I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sins upon that cross

The last two lines are repeated in a different emphasis, until the words
get you.

I was amazed when on the video, during the repetition of the last two lines
the following words (or ones like them) flashed on the video:
LUST
GREED
ARROGANCE
GLUTTONY
POVERTY - When that word came up I was stunned – POVERTY, a sin??
I thought. It was as if I were “whacked up-side the head” (as they say in
West Virginia) by the Holy Spirit.
Later I realized that the list above are not necessarily sins, but
strongholds. Or bondages. We are enslaved by such things. They can be
our idols. (God had a lot to say about idols – about His people deserting
Him. I’ll write more about that another time)
I had realized that I had a “poverty mentality” – that I was thinking more of
my needs, all those bills to be paid, than almost anything else. Try as I
would to have Jesus be my first thought at any given time, I had to fight the
battle in my mind.

I am reminded now of one of the scriptures (in red letters) that began bringing me back to God -

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that
They may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

I am on a personal campaign in the War against Poverty. Would anyone care to join me?

Feel free to leave comments for this and/or earlier posts, next to the time stamp below.

In Christ,
Elizabeth

But first, a Sidebar. . .

2008-04-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

I met a great group of God’s people the other night. How can I say so definitively that they are people of God? Because they were doing the work of God.

As my pastor said recently, “God may ask you to lay hands on someone and heal them, or he may ask you to build a hospital.” These folks are building churches along with the kingdom of our Father.

They are a group of Baptists from South Carolina, from Rocky Knoll Baptist Church in the city of Walhalla - I like saying that name. Eight vehicles full of people from age 2 to 75 came to help build Friendly Baptist Church - that’s the name of the town too - Friendly, W.Va., on the waters of the Ohio River.

These folks brought their gifts: skills, money, materials, craftsmanship, and their hearts. The children gave up their spring break; the adults, their time off paid work. They put God’s work first.

They walked the streets of Friendly and Sistersville and were not ashamed to talk about Christ. They spread seeds; we are meant to water and spread seeds too.

These folks inspired me. I need to listen more. I need to be quiet to hear the still, small voice of God that is telling me what to do for Him in small and great ways every day.

That is living for God, dying to self. Not what we give up or stop doing - but what we do to carry out gospel - the good news that Christ told us to spread. As Samuel said, “to obey is better than sacrifice” (I Samuel 15:22).

Be a blessing to someone today,
E.T.
P.S. The website for Rocky Knoll Baptist Church was under construction today, but try visiting it soon.

My Credentials

2008-04-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

This is Riga, the beautiful capital of Latvia. More pix and expressions to come. . .

I am here to serve God, the great I AM. So I do not want to focus on me other than as a vessel, a carrier of God’s Word.
I am the clay; He is the potter. I am yielding, being molded into whatever shape God has in mind.
I’ve twisted away, to be sure. But always return to be centered. My spirit knows what makes my world go ‘round. For He is the Creator, I the clay…

I have many notebooks, pads, and pieces of paper full of notes written at church and from my own meditations over the past thirty some years. There are possibly hundreds of cassette tapes in various cubby holes in my house and car - recordings of the teachings of the services I missed, or wanted to listen to again, or wanted someone else to hear. That’s after taking many tapes back to church to be recycled. I’ve been taught by men and women of God for more than thirty years - but not as I have been taught in the past three years.

The man who heads up our church has brought men and women from around the world to our little town in West Virginia. He has been around the world himself, and God has plans for him to teach in 50 more countries.

He is a scholar who is always telling us to read and study the Bible for ourselves. He has many Bibles of various sizes and colors, of different translations. And he reads them; studies them. He reads books of other great men of God - St. Augustine, Lester Summerall, Smith Wigglesworth, John Lake, and many others. His pasttime is reading & studying. His vocation commands him to read and study - and listen.

He didn’t choose his vocation - he was chosen. He hungers and thirsts for God’s word; then he shares it with us, and I’d like to share it with you.

Until next time, when I'll share a powerful message from one of my pastor's recordings. . .
Elizabeth

My "credentials"

2008-04-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

I am here to serve God, the great I AM. So I do not want to focus on me other than as a vessel, a carrier of God’s Word. I am the clay; He is the potter. I am yielding, being molded into whatever shape God has in mind.
I’ve twisted away, to be sure. But always return to be centered. My spirit knows what makes my world go ‘round. For He is the Creator, I the clay…

I have many notebooks, pads, and pieces of paper full of notes written at church and from my own meditations over the past thirty some years. There are probably a hundred or more cassette tapes in various cubby holes in my house and car - recordings of the teachings of the services I missed or wanted to listen to again, or wanted someone else to hear. That’s after taking many tapes back to church to be recycled. I’ve been taught by men and women of God for more than thirty years - but not as I have been taught in the past three years.
The man who heads up our church has brought men and women from around the world to our little town in West Virginia. He has been around the world himself and God has plans for him to teach in at least 50 more countries.
He is a scholar who is always telling us to read and study the Bible for ourselves. He has many Bibles of various sizes and colors, of different translations. And he reads them; studies them. He reads books of other great men of God - St. Augustine, Lester Summerall, Smith Wigglesworth, John Lake. His pasttime is reading & studying. His vocation commands him to read and study and listen. He didn’t choose his vocation - he was chosen. He hungers and thirsts for God’s word, then he shares it with us, and I’d like to share it with you.
Until next time,
God be with you
Elizabeth

Here's a picture of Riga, the beautiful capital of Latvia. I have much to share about that chere

"Media Revolution"

2008-03-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

I will tell you about my spiritual background and about the good teaching I have been absorbing for years some other time But first I need to explain the tipping point that is compelling me to go forth with public writing.
My first post will be from a source I just happened across (I love when God does that), from a book entitled "Media Revolution." It was written by Brian Fisher, who is the president and CEO of Coral Ridge Ministries. You have probably heard of Dr. James Kennedy with his "Truths that Transform" television and radio programs. I'm not a follower of Kennedy, but happened to catch Fisher giving some statistics and facts on the show.
Fisher reported on a survey taken of the top guys in the media. I don't know for sure, but I think he was talking about television personnel mostly. Here are the facts:
Forty-five percent of people in the media are professed atheists or agnostic,
a sharp contrast to only nine percent of the general public.
An amazing 89 percent of the media never attend church, in contrast to 25 percent of the general public.
Can you believe that only six percent of the folks behind all the stuff on TV say that they attend church weekly? I can. That's far less than the general public at 42 percent.
It is a sad fact that 94 percent of media people say they think that abortion on demand should remain legal. Generally 51 percent would say the same. That is sad too. God help us.
But it is up to us. (That will be backed with scripture the next time I post.) For now, I'd like to quote from Coral Ridge Ministries about "Media Revolution:

"Technology has opened up the world of media influence in a historically pivotal way. The democratization of media now gives anyone who desires the opportunity to share truth with those captivated by lies and deception. The time of secular media domination has ended."
I desire the opportunity to share the truth. For those who have ears to hear. . .
Until next time,
Elizabeth