Bah humbug!

Gentle Reader,
Here is something to give you pause for thought.
Merry Christmas,
Love,
Denis

Bum Deal At Christmas?
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Once in a while at Christmas-time I catch myself complaining- about little things, inconveniences, mainly. "I don't need this now," I mutter, and wonder, "Why does this have to happen to me? Is God mad at me?" Then my thoughts turn to Mary and Joseph. Face it. Their story doesn't center on sugar cookies and egg nog.

Joseph was off work for weeks because the government made him travel to a distant town to fill out some stupid registration papers.
You can bet the Nazareth biddies hounded Mary about her pregnancy. Have you ever been called "slut"?
Can you imagine taking a four-day donkey ride to Bethlehem at full term? Of course, if Mary didn't want to ride, she could always walk ... or waddle.
Think about a camping trip with winter winds whistling through your tent. Or do you have a tent?
How about being in labor in a dirty cattle barn? One whiff was all Mary needed.
And then, in the middle of the night after a grueling labor, there's a herdsman banging on the door
Why, of all things, did God let His own Son to be born under those conditions?
Was God mad at Mary and Joseph? Of course not.
Maybe God allowed the stable so we could see His glory backlit amidst life's humbling experiences.
Life does have its downside, its reversals, its annoyances. And where is God when we despair? He was with Mary and Joseph every moment, working out His plan, just as He is with you and me right now. I guess Christmas reminds us look to beyond our aggravations. God is doing something. You know, if we'll lift our eyes above Bethlehem's hovels for a moment, we might even catch a glimpse of the Christmas star.

Christmas "W"

As you know our Savior Jesus Christ loves little children! So
today
I will share with you a message that was sent to me last year by
one of our subscribers. I know that you will enjoy it as much as I
do.
It is titled...... .

The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful
experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive
card
writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet
still, I
found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family
moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an
exciting
season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for
his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him
I'd be
working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining
moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress
rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to
attend
that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas
seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes
early,
found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I
saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I
waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied
by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group,
one
by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the
holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun,
commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes
and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas
Love," I was slightly taken aback by it's bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in
fuzzy
mittens, red sweaters, and bright snow caps upon their heads. Those
in
the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to
spell
out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for
Christmas,"
a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on
and
on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the
complete
message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed
her;
a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside
down -
totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st
through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she
had
no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding
her "W".

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter
continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it
together. A
hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant,
we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the
holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a
purpose
for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the
message
read loud and clear: "CHRISTWAS LOVE" And, I believe, He still is.
Amen.

What if there were no Christmas?

...Christmas?
Dear Gentle Reader,
I have been thinking recently (yes, I do think once in a while, not
all the time but just enough, to keep certain people guessing) !
What if all the people who try and remove prayer in school and those
who hate the words Merry Christmas, and want to think that we evolved
from the slime of the earth and hate... Christians, Because "Christians
are, as my Grandfather use to say ‘If someone hates you it’s because
you’re a reproach to their conscience or a challenge to their ego’"
What is they had their way?
Well, there would be no ACLU to fight for there would be no
Christians to stand up and say "Abortion is wrong, or we want prayer in schools,
or murder is against the Golden rule... Wait a minute I should start at
the beginning shouldn’t I?
Well, if those who want to kick God out of their world. Then there
would have been no Israel to rescue from slavery (you know Moses, the Red
Sea, forty years would have been taken off the Calender (the wandering
in the wilderness). In Fact there would have been no nation of Israel
at all! No Nation to save. Rome would have ruled the world (which means
you would have had to learn Latin). If the were no Jews then Hitler
would have conquered the world and (you would have to learn German) There
would have been no Pearl Harbor because America would not exist! No
Christmas?

No thanksgiving, (what would we give thanks for ? Slime?) No Toys, No
Children to buy for (Remember the Pro-choice platform? My body my
choice! (Really?)
The winter would be darker, no morality, everybody would live anyway
they wanted Murder, crime, violence, hatred, maleficent evil
everywhere..... No goodness, no kindness, no compassion no recognition of beauty,
no art, no music to stir the soul (Oh, that’s right no soul) just
brutish animalistic creatures feeding off the weaker ... until nothing!

Aren’t you glad Gentle reader, that we can celebrate Christmas each
year? That Mary wasn’t pro-choice, that there is a God who loves us and
that whatever race, color or creed you may be wherever you may live
whatever your situation. There is a still small voice that speaks so loud
that that says "You are not alone"! No matter who ever they are that
can scream at the top of the lungs "Be Bright"!" or Bah Humbug"
But I hear the Almighty Creator of the universe whispering gently "I
love you".
And you know what Gentle Reader, I love you too!
Denis




Dr Denis
http://studiesinscripture.bravehost.com
http://drcallahan.bravemusings.com
http://parsontoperson.blogspot.com

Memo from Jesus

Subject: The Birthday of Jesus

A Letter From Jesus Christ, concerning His birthday celebration

Dear children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that
folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybeyou've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be
most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call
the day. If you want to celebrate My birth just, GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on.
If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow
a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees.
You can & may remember Me anytime you see any tree.
Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you & what each of our tasks were. If you have forgot that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to
the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.


2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have
to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.


3. Instead of writing George complaining about the
wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts
you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.


5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.


6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every day.


7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there.
Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that
day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.


8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes My love & Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.


9. Here's a good one. There are individuals & whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree,
but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food & a few gifts & give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me & they will make the delivery for you.


10. Finally if you want to make a statement about
your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.


P.S. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me & do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of
all the rest. Check out the list above & get to work; time is short.
I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember,
I LOVE YOU.

OOPS!!!

OOPS!!!!
I recently found out that a story I posted was copyrighted by Matt Tullos I did not know that this was a copyrighted story that I used until it was brought to my attention by Darlene Tullos My deepest and sincerest apologies to Matt and his wife for any discomfort that this oversight may have caused.

Jesus was here

Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..."
"You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.
The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I'll cut your heart open, "he continued, "to see how much damage has been done..."
"But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in it.”
The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll plan what to do next."
"But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."
The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."
"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there."
The surgeon left. The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery,"...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure.

Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:," here he paused, "death within one year." He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud. "Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"
The Lord answered and said, The boy, My lamb, was not meant for your flock, and
will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow."
The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why?"
The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, shall return to My flock, for he has done his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb."
The surgeon wept. The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"
"Yes," said the surgeon.
"What did you find?" asked the boy.
"I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.

The Latest craze...

Dear Gentle Reader,

The latest sport craze sweeping the internet is called “Christian Bashing” the aim of the game is to provide the readers of your blog with all types of reasons why “CHRISTIANS should be feared and hated rather than understood (sound rather like what happened in Germany during the second world war doesn’t it. Back then when the people called ....let see oh yes, Jews were being rounded up and slaughtered by the millions there were so few countries including the United States that stood up and said that’s not only wrong but it’s is a crime against humanity! Then they began on the Polish people and then Catholics and so on and so on.
The point is the rules against humanity is always pick and ridicule someone who cannot or will not defend themselves. The example closest to home here is a group called the KKK or the Klue Klux Klan.

What prompts this hatred of a group, Gentle reader? Well it’s tends to be complicated but the root cause is ignorance. For example ignorance is what causes people to make remarks and take actions that would hurt someone they do not even know. We have the example of a group that want to remove prayer from schools (and they did) Why? Ignorance! Then we have a group who wanted to remove The words “one nation under God” from the pledge of allegiance why because it is dictating (so they think) religion to everyone. And then the U.S. military Chaplains can not offer prayers in the name of Jesus Christ! But the group that worships Satan and witchcraft can be recognized (I know there is a difference , but I’m on a roll) Don’t try to correct that last remark I have dear friends that are witches leave them alone.

Folks it is not polite to make fun of someone because of race color or creed, we have laws protecting the right of everyone to practice their faith (or lack of it) but by bashing a group whether they are Muslim or Jewish or Christian or to demean a person because of their faith or race is just wrong! Plane wrong! If you know of someone who does that speak to them remind them that God died for all mankind and He doesn’t play favorites (I wouldn’t have had a chance at forgiveness if He had)
Killing is just wrong Gentle Reader, but some kill with the mouth and it is just as effective. Lets stop blaming others and work together for peace in this generation while we can before some ignorant bumptious buffoon blows us all up to kingdom come (sorry if I used a religious expression).

Remember God Loves you and so do I,
Denis

Grace

WHAT GRACE IS


Never let the devil deceive you into supposing that God planned sin as "a
gracious means to a glorious end," for then salvation from sin would be simple
justice, not grace. No, you cannot legitimately charge God with your sin. It is
to the guilty, the undeserving, far and wide, that God offers "the forgiveness
of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

There are two significant phrases in Eph. 2 which shed clear light upon the
character, the nature, of grace. They are found in Verses 2 and 3, which speak
of the unsaved as "children [Gr., huiois, full-grown sons] of disobedience"
and "children [Gr., tekna, born ones] of wrath."

Meditate for a moment on these phrases: "Children of disobedience" and
"children of wrath." It is against this dark, black background of deserved wrath,
that we read further:

"BUT GOD, who is RICH IN MERCY, for His GREAT LOVE wherewith He loved us,
"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [given us life] together with
Christ (BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED), "And hath raised us up together and made us
sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: "That in the ages to come He
might show THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH
CHRIST JESUS" (Eph. 2:4-7).

Somehow it takes a load off one’s heart and mind to come to the end of his
rope, as it were, and admit that he is a sinner, deserving God’s wrath. How
sweet to the ears of such is the wonderful message of redemption by grace, through
the finished work of Christ at Calvary. We were all the "children [full-grown
sons] of disobedience": and therefore "by nature the children [born ones] of
wrath": "But God!" When hope seemed gone, He intervened and now offers
salvation to all by grace, through faith.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).





Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which
from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things
by Jesus Christ



At times all of us experience fear.
But don't allow fear to keep
you from being used by God.
He has kept you thus far; trust Him
for the rest of the way.

How Much Does Prayer Weigh?

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food. John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store.

Visualizing the family needs, she said: 'Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can."

John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocerman that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocerman said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?

Louise replied "Yes sir"

"O.K." he said, put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed. The eyes of the grocerman and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.

The grocerman staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it." The customer smiled and the grocerman started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocerman stood there in utter disgust.

Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer which said: "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."

The grocerman gave her the groceries that he had gathered and placed on the scales and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to John as he said, "It was worth every penny of it."

It was sometime later that John Longhouse discovered the scales were broken; therefore, only God knows how much a prayer weighs.

Calling God

TO THOSE CALLED TO BE SAINTS:

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our
Cell phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we used it to receive messages from the 'text'?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it as we trav eled?

What if we used it in case of an emergency?



What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?

This is something to make you go...hmmm...where is my Bible?



In Christ alone,

My Understanding

Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving God,
I pray to you that you abundantly Bless my family and me. I know that you recognize, that a family is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother, husband and wife, but all Who believe and trust in you.
I thank you in advance for your blessings. Father, deliver the person reading this right now and those who will read it in the near future from debt and debt burdens. Release your Godly wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that You have given me Father, for I know how wonderful and mighty You are and how if we just obey You and walk in Your word and have the faith of a Mustard seed that You will pour out blessings. I thank You now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come Because I know You are not done with me yet.

And thank you for the pictures that I can share and the witnesses who have gone before who can point the way home to you!

Is that a cannon in your pocket or are you just glad to see me" Mae West use to say Or at least words to that effect.

I watched a television program the other night and a comment was made that makes me wonder why Christians don't get along with other Christians? There are a lot of reasons , I mean if you ever had to share a room with a brother (younger or older or a sister who would quite willingly hog the toilet (you Americans say bathroom) you'd know what I am talking about.

A Protestant preacher once ask my father "Do you believe the Bible" to which my father( a convert to the Roman Catholic Church) "who you think had it for the first 300 years?" [meaning the Catholic church] Catholic by the way comes from the Greek meaning universal.

But I digress the person on the program made a statement that went like this:

"the faith of the church was not base on the Bible, the Bible was based on the faith of the Church; a church that looked annoyingly Catholic"

Sometimes a quote sounds so good but does that make it true?

If you were to believe that statement then all of us Protestants could just wrap ourselves up in the Roman Catholic Church (go to sleep and give up the Bible as they'll tell you what to believe and what the Bible teaches) Now before all of my Catholic Brethren go to the Pope and tell them I've been a bad boy. I want you to know that I am not an anti Catholic bigot

Sometimes I wish names like Catholic weren’t associated with certain churches. Since Catholic means Universal we all in a sense belong to the Universal [Catholic church] That's the one that Jesus Christ founded the one the Apostle Paul wrote about when he wrote.

" And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. ....There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

I really wanted to start as church and call it the Church of Jesus Christ of later day saints but that name was already taken!

Now then, back to this idea that "which came first the chicken or the egg?"

My Catholic brethren want to claim for themselves the soul privilege of having the word of God [you my call it the Bible, gentle Reader, if that fact that the bible just could be the Word of God (you mean to tell me the the Bible is a letter from God Denis?) B.I.B.L.E. [Basic instructions before leaving earth]

Wow did I get off the subject or what? Lets jump back on. "STUDY to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15

How are you going to study if you don't have a book? And what book did the 1st century Christians have well before the New testament was written down all we had was [fan fair please] the Hebrew writings (which we call the Old testament) Oops! I guess the dear Catholic brethren forgot about that! So can we go further back than before there was time to find the writings of the Bible

We could look as Genesis Chapter 1 where we read " Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." And we run right smack into the "Big Bang " (some call it a theory, I call it creation!) {evolution is a theory, but if the scientific community wants to call it fact let them I mean how would it look to see 1000's of people standing on street corners holding up little signs that read "Have theory will work for food"}

Oh my where has the time gone and I haven't really got started on my subject "Have gun will travel"!

Well Gentle Reader, you just have to come back tomorrow To find out if we really have a Big Bang, or if there really is just one Bible or Is the Bible really the Word of God? Or is there a God? or will you end up being a monkeys uncle

Until that time just remember what Doc always says....

You are appreciated, you are valued, you are loved by God and me.

Dennis

What do you believe?

Atheists



The struggle that comes from the Atheists in America as they resent public expressions of faith in God, since the attack on the World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 that stirred a groundswell of remarks in government circles about God, and the sudden expression of patriotism and "God bless America" statements by so many citizens of America.



We have for so many years bowed to their feelings of antagonism against any public expression of our faith, but now that the Attack has come and Christians are freely expressing their faith, the hate toward God is coming out in force.



I say to the Atheists, that as they have for so long felt compelled to demand that we as Christians must quietly show great tolerance and respect for their expressions of their religious belief that there is no God, so now I ask them to show the same quiet tolerance for our right to express our religious belief that there is a God.



To the Atheist, Now also is a good time to suggest that you might reconsider your position of belief. Reexamine the evidence, and reconsider the risk pertaining to the end result.



Just looking at it from a gambler's standpoint, it makes sense to consider the subject worthy of careful evaluation.



For instance, If you are right and there is no God, then the risk for myself is minimal.

Ø My life has been a very good life full of Love in my heart, Peace in my spirit, Joy in my soul, Contentment in my station in life, Loving relationship in my family life, Praise toward God, Hope for a bright future eternal life experience, and Confidence that it is all worth while, both in the good life experiences and the bad life experiences, knowing that God has said that "All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Ø If I die and there is no God, then the only thing that I loose is life itself, and I will be nonexistent and will be aware of nothing at all, since I will be dead and that is the end of the matter.



On the other hand, if you are wrong and I am right, and there really is a God Who has revealed Himself to mankind throughout the ages giving evidence after evidence of His existence, revealing His will for mankind, and expressing His intentions toward us for the present and for all eternity, and showing us the eternal destiny He has established.

Ø Then there is certainly a just cause for me to call your attention to the fact that it is certainly wise to consider the evidence, and the risk toward the destiny of your eternal soul.

Ø Your position is precarious at best, and I can understand why you are troubled by the Christians reference to God since you don't know Him.



What evidence do you have that has convinced you beyond the shadow of a doubt that there is no God? You need to be absolutely certain, because the cost is too great to risk being wrong.



There is a Heaven to gain in hope, and a Hell to shun in fear. In His great love for you, God has revealed the truth of the matter to all of mankind in creation and it is recorded in His Word the Bible.



God not only told us the truth of the matter, but He also provided the answer for our problem in our lack of knowledge and unbelief. He has solved the dilemma in which we find ourselves in this life which includes the penalty for our sins. He Himself has made it possible to do what is impossible for any of us to do, and that is the undoing of our errors and sins. That answer is provided to us in the person of Jesus Christ Who died and provided the blood that God uses to cover our sins and to impute His righteousness to the record of our lives. That gives us hope and confidence to stand before Him on the Day of Judgment that will precede the time of Peace on Earth and the Glorious Eternity in His presence.



The advantages of being a Christian are too compelling to ignore and well worth looking into. Then you too may find peace of mind and peace with the world around you. Then others expression of their beliefs will not be troubling to you because you will understand where it comes from and where it is taking them in the end. You will also see the need to share your faith with others so they may also find the same good life and confident peace of spirit no matter what comes their way. It is nice to have fellowship in the community with others of like precious faith.






The struggle that comes from the Atheists in America as they resent public expressions of faith in God, since the attack on the World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 that stirred a groundswell of remarks in government circles about God, and the sudden expression of patriotism and "God bless America" statements by so many citizens of America.



We have for so many years bowed to their feelings of antagonism against any public expression of our faith, but now that the Attack has come and Christians are freely expressing their faith, the hate toward God is coming out in force.



I say to the Atheists, that as they have for so long felt compelled to demand that we as Christians must quietly show great tolerance and respect for their expressions of their religious belief that there is no God, so now I ask them to show the same quiet tolerance for our right to express our religious belief that there is a God.



To the Atheist, Now also is a good time to suggest that you might reconsider your position of belief. Reexamine the evidence, and reconsider the risk pertaining to the end result.



Just looking at it from a gambler's standpoint, it makes sense to consider the subject worthy of careful evaluation.



For instance, If you are right and there is no God, then the risk for myself is minimal.

My life has been a very good life full of Love in my heart, Peace in my spirit, Joy in my soul, Contentment in my station in life, Loving relationship in my family life, Praise toward God, Hope for a bright future eternal life experience, and Confidence that it is all worth while, both in the good life experiences and the bad life experiences, knowing that God has said that "All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Ø If I die and there is no God, then the only thing that I loose is life itself, and I will be nonexistent and will be aware of nothing at all, since I will be dead and that is the end of the matter.



On the other hand, if you are wrong and I am right, and there really is a God Who has revealed Himself to mankind throughout the ages giving evidence after evidence of His existence, revealing His will for mankind, and expressing His intentions toward us for the present and for all eternity, and showing us the eternal destiny He has established.

Ø Then there is certainly a just cause for me to call your attention to the fact that it is certainly wise to consider the evidence, and the risk toward the destiny of your eternal soul.

Ø Your position is precarious at best, and I can understand why you are troubled by the Christians reference to God since you don't know Him.



What evidence do you have that has convinced you beyond the shadow of a doubt that there is no God? You need to be absolutely certain, because the cost is too great to risk being wrong.



There is a Heaven to gain in hope, and a Hell to shun in fear. In His great love for you, God has revealed the truth of the matter to all of mankind in creation and it is recorded in His Word the Bible.



God not only told us the truth of the matter, but He also provided the answer for our problem in our lack of knowledge and unbelief. He has solved the dilemma in which we find ourselves in this life which includes the penalty for our sins. He Himself has made it possible to do what is impossible for any of us to do, and that is the undoing of our errors and sins. That answer is provided to us in the person of Jesus Christ Who died and provided the blood that God uses to cover our sins and to impute His righteousness to the record of our lives. That gives us hope and confidence to stand before Him on the Day of Judgment that will precede the time of Peace on Earth and the Glorious Eternity in His presence.



The advantages of being a Christian are too compelling to ignore and well worth looking into. Then you too may find peace of mind and peace with the world around you. Then others expression of their beliefs will not be troubling to you because you will understand where it comes from and where it is taking them in the end. You will also see the need to share your faith with others so they may also find the same good life and confident peace of spirit no matter what comes their way. It is nice to have fellowship in the community with others of like precious faith.

You have mail

"War is not 'the best way of settling differences; it is the only way of preventing their being settled for you." "The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people." - - IL
What Kind of mail do you get? Here is a sample of just a few of the hundreds of e mails I get and what your up against . It doesn't make any difference to some who you are but what you are! We pray for all people of the world, male, female, rich and poor, gay or straight Christian or non-Christian. God doesn't play favorites He loves each of you and wants you to be happy and rest in Him. If you have a better answer that Peace and the Prince of Peace let me know.

Shalom Dennis -
We greet you in the wonderful Name of our Messiah, Lord & King - Jesus. May we all join together in the greatest service of all, that to our Master, the Great Lover of our souls. Our prayer is to come along side our brothers and sisters in the Family of God that all may increase in His wisdom, discernment, courage and protection - that we may all stand strong in these last days and be able to give to everyone an answer for the Hope that lies within us.

We are certain the Holy One is getting HIS PEOPLE ready for His soon return. What a glorious day that will be. Meantime, we must be diligent about our work for the harvest is spoiling before us as the labourers are so few.

We'd very much like to hear more from you and encourage you to be gentle to all, to teach in patience and humility correcting those who are in opposition; that God perhaps will grant repentance to those who are lost so they may know the truth and come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil before the Day of Judgment. [see 2 Timothy 2. 24 - 26]

Love, In Messiah's Service -
Rabbi Del & Rifkah

FATHER,
I COME BEFORE YOU ASKING PRAYERS FOR ALL IN NEED LORD .BLESS
THESE WHO ARE WEARY IN SPIRIT WHO HAVE CRIED OUT TO YOU FOR BREAKTHRU
AND MOVEMENT IN THEIR LIVES. I REBUKE THE ENEMY IN JESUS NAME I ASK THAT
STRONGHOLDS BE BROKEN AND BLESSINGS POUR OUT FROM THE HEAVENS ABOVE. I
PRAY THIS INTO EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. BLESS THESE WHO SUFFER AND WAIT UPON
YOU LORD GIVE THEM STRENGTH AND COMFORT KNOWING YOU ARE IN CONTROL
TRUSTING AND HAVING FAITH IN YOUR WORD AND ABILITY TO CHANGE
ANYTHING. WE KNOW YOU ARE A MERCIFUL GOD WHO HEARS OUR CRIES AND SEES
ALL THAT IS HIDDEN .I ASK THAT YOU SEARCH OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND
BRING CONVICTION TO US SO WE MIGHT BE LED BY YOU TO DO YOUR WILL NOT
THE WILL OF OUR FLESH .LET US GIVE ALL TO YOU SHOW US HOW SO WE MIGHT
RECEIVE YOUR BLESSINGS IN FAITH .THANK YOU LORD JESUS WE KNOW YOU ARE
THERE WE KNOW YOU WILL BRING ANSWERS AND WE STAND IN FAITH KNOWING YOU
NEVER FAIL US OR FORSAKE US AMEN
MITZI

Laying Down Your Life


We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to
please ourselves. (Romans 15:1) At one time or another you probably heard the
phrase “Laying down your life.” What does it mean to you? But Jesus laid down His
life. He did if for all people of all types. And He did that on the cross.
Jesus also wants us to do the same for everyone else. He is asking us to show
our love, not by dying for others, but living for them. Confusing? It means the
same thing as living for God. Pray for them. Love them. It may mean to give up
your popularity and “coolness” and your time with prayer for them. So, you
lay down your life for God and others. But are you really living through God?
Do you read the Word of God? Do you pray? Are you praying for others and not
only yourself? Do you do this on a schedule everyday? Do you go into the Word
when you are in need or in trouble to see what God said about it? It is all in
there. When you lay down your life, you commit to being a slave to God; living
to please God instead of yourself. You allow God to take over your life. Be
with God and commit to him, then you are saved in Christ Jesus. If you want to
commit to God and stop playing around with fake prayer and just “putting on
your best Sunday outfit” then pray with me: Father, in Jesus name, I see that you
laid down your life for me so that I can lay mine down for you. Jesus, I
commit to you and everyone else, that I give my time, my love, and myself to you.
Lord, you are a part of me; I will preach your Word and spend time with you.
Lord, I lay down my life for you. Amen. When your words came I ate them, they
were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name. (Jeremiah 15:16) This
means that God heard you now. It is only up to you to take that step and be
in Jesus and help those in need.

FOR JUST BEING HERE

by C. R. Stam


When you sigh for heaven, remember:

“…Christ…loved the Church, and gave Himself for it…That He might present it
to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph.5:25,26).

Too readily we forget that Christ loves us infinitely more than we love Him;
that He paid the penalty for our sins on cruel Calvary and shed His life’s
blood that one day He might have us for Himself to share His glory with Him
forever.

Surely, then, He would rather have us at His side in heaven than here in this
scene of sin and sorrow, and sickness and death. We should bear this in mind
when we long that we might leave this world and go to be with Him.

But there is more: The Saviour, who was exiled from this earth, and is, even
now, rejected by men, has not yet rejected them. Rather, He has left us here
as His ambassadors on hostile territory, to plead with his enemies, praying
them “in His stead” to be reconciled to God, assuring them that He has done all
that is necessary to effect a reconciliation (IICor.5: 20,21).

And this is His attitude toward mankind now, though the prophetic Scriptures
declare so emphatically that man’s rejection of Christ was to be — and will
be — visited with the severest judgment (Psa.2:4-9; Acts 2:16-20).

But not yet! Though man had declared war on Christ (Acts 4:26,27), He did not
yet make a counter-declaration, but interrupted the prophetic program to save
Saul of Tarsus, the leader of the rebellion and sent him forth to usher in
the present “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph.3:1-3).

This is why, in His love and compassion, He leaves us here still to plead
with His enemies: “Be ye reconciled to God”. And what about His special love for
us? Entirely apart from rewards earned by service or suffering for Him, God
will richly reward us (II Cor.4:17) just for being here as “ambassadors for
Christ”.

Can you understand these things?

Grace is God's Salvation for the Sinner, Supply for the Saint.

Grace is God's Loving-Kindness for the Loveless, the Loathsome and the Lost

As Messiah Christ is related to Israel

As Head He is related to the Church, which is His body!

Do not confuse the bride (Israel) with the bridegroom (Christ the Head)

You are a member of the body of Christ Not the bride!


In Romans the believer is dead and risen with Christ

In Ephesians he is seated in the heavenlies in Christ



In Acts 19:10 we read And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." BUT in 2 Tim. 1:15 we read "This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes." Why was that?

"Prison"

Make your "prison" experience profitable.
Sometimes you may find yourself in a situation that is very limiting to you.

It may seem like prison.
At that point you have to choose to make your "prison" experience profitable

The Apostle Paul didn't whine or moan--instead God used him to write many
books of the New Testament from a prison cell.
Even in limited circumstances, Paul kept on preaching the Gospel-even if he
had to write it as a letter from a prison cell.
Prison didn't keep Paul from his calling in Christ Jesus-- Neither can
"prison" keep you from your calling.
Don't look at your prison-Instead, look at the calling on your life and do
what God has placed in your hand to do toward that calling where you are
at--so that you can say with Paul-
"None of these things move me." Acts 20.24

Things to see, things to do!

Well today I want you to see 2 things that is 1st the beauty of the Irish sunrise, yesterday if you remember I had a picture of an Irish sunset and now the opposite today. "It's always blackest just before the dawn" me mither use to say [Conas ta tu?] (How are you? in Irish)
We are well underway in the "Last of the Great moves" (at least for me I used to move myself when I would change Pastorates (I'd rent a truck and my step-father who worked for the U.S. Government and was in charge of all types of things {see my memory is going, what's next my ability to taste coffee?} (parish the thought!!!)
We would pack things so tightly that one time one of the kids got blocked in the truck and we had to feed them through a straw for thee days until we unloaded the truck! (That's a joke dear Reader, don't send me all those letters from the S. P. C. C. !)

The other thing that I want you to see is a warning Lets turn in our Companion Bibles to the Little Book of Jude! Only one chapter 25 lines (or verses) and the they warning to Believers (Christians) non Christians won't read this so this is just between you and me Gentle Reader, Shhhh! Jude tells us he was the brother of James--who was more widely known as bishop of Jerusalem and "brother of the Lord" (that is, either cousin, or stepbrother, being son of Joseph by a former marriage; for ancient traditions universally agree that Mary, Jesus' mother, continued perpetually a virgin). Jude therefore calls himself modestly "brother of James."
He is writing to those who are preserved in Jesus Christ--"kept." Translate not "in," but as Greek, "FOR Jesus Christ." "Kept continually by God the Father for Jesus Christ," against the day of His coming. The reason why he felt it necessary "to write with exhortation," he states in the 4th verse "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then Jude gives us 3 examples of what has already started with the community of believing Christians the first example is that of men (I think both men and women) who were joined together with the fledgling churches)
His first example is that of those who came out of Egypt (but were destroyed by God in the desert (Verse 5) Why? simply because "Light can have no fellowship with darkness" Turn on a light and the dark cannot stay like the bugs that come out at night but turn on the light and they scurry away.

The 2nd example that Jude gives us is that of the "And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; although we are not certain it could be that he is referring to the angels that were talked about in Genesis 6 (interesting study) it seems that Jude is talking about Sodom and Gomorrah and all that entailed.
And close on the heels of that statement is that of Jude's reference to perhaps the apocryphal book of Enoch or Josephus, or "The Assumption of Moses," ( "Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Verse 9)
He goes on gto point out that these types of people are within the churches of the time in which he wrote and so Gentle Reader, they would be even today within your fellowships. So a warning is in order, When you hear a preacher or anyone talk about The Bible don't let the dust of that old book remain undusted get it out check it out for yourself! Don't let some self styled person tell you what to believe! You check them out! Why even the Apostle Paul was subject to the close watchfulness of believers.
But these are easy to spot he equates and compares their conduct with the wickedness of three of the worst Old Testament apostates: Cain, Balaam, and Korah. The reason for the selection of these three was also probably that of their sins being similar to the sins of the wicked Gnostics. Like Cain, they were innovators with a fierce hatred of any who rejected their ideas. Like Balaam, they were greedy, covetous, and willing to do any dishonorable thing whatever for the sake of money. Like Korah, they rebelled against God's appointed authorities, the sacred apostles, prophets and teachers of the new covenant, just as Korah had rebelled against Moses.( they come into your fellowship and to to wreck your sweet fellowship, They wish to divide one against another. Why do we have believer against another (Perhaps one is not a "real " believer!) Perhaps one is an apostate [apostasy= the abandonment of a former loyalty]
Does that mean then Gentle Reader that we should not have compassion on those who set themselves against themselves. No! not at all but when you are reaching out to an apostate Be careful that you are not taken in with them!

Pray for all the lost, strayed and stolen people in the world. For they have been stolen by Satan.
As they use to say on "Hill Street blues "Lets be careful out there!"
Denis

Pain and the Silence of God

Where is God? When I hurt?

God whispers in our pleasure. 

Speaks in our conscience

Shouts in our pain!

Gentle Reader,

Where is God when we hurt? Why did God allow this to happen ? I'm a good person why would God do this to me? Down through the years all types of people have ask that question about their situation or others.

Remember the Kennedy Assassination?

or the murder of Martin Luther King Jr.?

 Or more recently the Bombing of the Twin towers on September 11th?

or perhaps a loved one dies an agonizing death or a lingering death?

Where is the Goodness of God? People ask!  

It's not that so much as it is the Silence of God that hurts!

If God would just show Himself and explain then I would still my cries and sobs of hurt and bitterness!

"Where was God in those days?" asked Pope Benedict XVI as he stood in Auschwitz last week. "Why was he silent? How could he permit this endless slaughter, this triumph of evil?" 

It is the inevitable question in Auschwitz, that vast factory of death where the Nazis tortured, starved, shot, and gassed to death as many as a million and a half innocent human beings, most of them Jews. "In a place like this, words fail," Benedict said. "In the end, there can be only a dread silence, a silence which itself is a heartfelt cry to God: Why, Lord, did you remain silent?"

A SILENT Heaven! Yes, but it is not the silence of callous indifference or helpless weakness; it is the silence of a great sabbatic rest, the silence of a peace which is absolute and profound -a silence which is the public pledge and proof that the way is open for the guiltiest of mankind to draw near to God. When faith murmurs, and unbelief revolts, and men challenge the Supreme to break that silence and declare Himself, how little do they realize what the challenge means! It means the withdrawal of the amnesty; it means the end of the reign of grace; it means the closing of the day of mercy and the dawning of the day of wrath.

If God is silent now it is because Heaven has come down to earth, the climax of Divine revelation has been reached, there is no reserve of mercy yet to be unfolded. He has spoken His last word of love and grace, and when next He breaks the silence it will be to let loose the judgments which shall yet engulf a world that has rejected Christ For "our God shall come and shall not keep silence."'
A silent Heaven is a part of the mystery of God; but Holy Writ declares that a day is fixed in the Divine chronology when "the mystery of God shall be finished." And when that day breaks, the heavenly host shall again be heard, proclaiming that "The sovereignty of the world is become our Lord's and His Christ's, and He shall reign for ever and ever

It is GRACE (God's Riches At Christ's Expense) now Gentle Reader, But I am afraid that  it will not always be so.

It is time to make your peace with the God of The Word! the Bible. The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob  The God of Peter and Paul My God and yours. (acknowledge it now or later but acknowledge it you will.

 For those who might still doubt think on this .In the Koran it speaks of Jesus, Mary and God, but the Bible does not speak of Mohammad.

 If this seems harsh then understand that I don't want to pass into eternity not knowing that you will be safe. I love all of you,  Gentle Readers, just as you are warts and all.

Denis 

"A sea of tears for you Gentle Reader, a sea of tears from God to you"

ABC's of life

ABC's of life

And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15.

There seems to be three choices left to people in regards to the matter of spiritual education. This applies whether it be the education of children or adults.

1. Let the secular world do it. This is the most popular choice with the unsaved. The indifferent like it because it relieves them of responsibility. Many prefer the worldly influence to prevail in their family so they may enjoy the praise of man. But the end results are as tragic as rank atheism.

2. Let some church do it, whether faithful to the Scriptures or not. Church membership is a social asset and acceptable these days, but the truth suffers here. The denominational framework which men have devised has always held down the truth. Instead of folks being made wise unto salvation they are brainwashed along the lines called historical Christianity.

3. Let the Scriptures do it. This is God's choice for us. The Word contains both the message and methods needed. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim 3:16,17.

Someone once said that "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." The education a child receives at a mother's knee is retained for life. It is noteworthy then, that the mother and grandmother of Timothy were commended for their faithfulness to God in educating Timothy in the Scriptures. 2 Tim 1:5.

There is an awesome responsibility involved in parenthood. Children eventually become parents. They naturally look back to their own childhood for precept and example as a guide in raising their own children. If God and the Scriptures are honored properly, then there is that indispensable wisdom, which comes only from God, as the resource to draw from.

The unsaved, by comparison, cannot be anything but rank amateurs in parenthood. And it is just short of the miraculous when someone is saved out of an unsaved home background. Where the love of God and family unity is unknown, sin and darkness prevail and human tragedy abounds in warped and twisted lives.





Dennis

dennisocallaghan@msn.com
http://www.studiesinscripture.bravehost.com
http://drcallahan.bravejournal.com/

America's Christian Spirit

You can hijack our jet planes, and take innocent lives through disregard;
You can leave our buildings burning, and think you hold the final card;
But we Americans will rise above you, and bury our dead;
But the final time is coming, and your history will be read;

You haven't taken away our pride or our willingness to fight;
You just stalled us for a little while, and Kinda dimmed our sight;
But when the dust, smoke, and tears have cleared, we'll rise above the fall;
The ones who are against us will hear our Nation's call;

Our God and Lord are mightier, which was founded on this land;
It's not just our people of this country who will strike with a forceful
hand;
The Lord will ride upon the winds and lead us to strike defense;
For taking innocent victims, your reasons make no sense;

The ignorance of your reasoning, makes our God hear our cries;
Rejoice in our tribulations, and you'll soon hear our replies;
May God have mercy on you, and show you light from dark;
May God have mercy on you, when Americans hit the mark...

We can keep our Nation bold, brave and strong through our
Prayers and knowledge and trust for our God and loving Saviour.


This was written in dedication to those
Who have suffered because of the tragedy,
And for all Americans in this free land.
A call for Justice, not for Revenge.....

Free isn't anymore

Gentle Reader,
What is all the fuss about? Have you never read the "real content of the argument about church and state? Read it now then take back what was stolen from you!

Mr. President

To messers Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem & approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful & zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more & more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state. [Congress thus inhibited from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorised only to execute their acts, I have refrained from presenting even occasional performances of devotion presented indeed legally where an Executive is the legal head of a national church, but subject here, as religious exercises only to the voluntary regulations and discipline of each respective sect.] Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

(signed) Thomas Jefferson
Jan.1.1802.
Contrary to popular opinion, the term “separation of church and state” is found nowhere in the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, or any other founding document of this nation. Yet for decades, some organizations and individuals have spread the myth that the words “separation of church and state” are found in the U.S. Constitution. Because of this misinformation, the ACLU and its allies have used this phrase to persuade public officials to silence religious expression.

Reflections of a Pastor

A Pastor is

One who speaks to your spirit

Listens to your heart

And understands what words can never say 

 

Dear Gentle Reader,

 For so many of you I have walked with you, felt your pain, known your hurts, your joy your sadness your tears and shared in your prayers. But Gentle Reader Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect? 

At one time there was a theory that the Chaos theory attempts to explain the fact that complex and unpredictable results can and will occur in systems that are sensitive to their initial conditions. A common example of this is known as the Butterfly Effect. It states that, in theory, the flutter of a butterfly's wings in China could, in fact, actually effect weather patterns in New York City, thousands of miles away. In other words, it is possible that a very small occurrence can produce unpredictable and sometimes drastic results by triggering a series of increasingly significant events

 

News Bulletin: NEWS NEWS  NEWS  Gentle Reader, You are part of that Butterfly effect. And I would like you to know how much your prayers mean to one another and to me!

 

"The child whispered, 'God speak to me'

And a meadow lark sang.

The child did not hear.

 

So the child yelled 'God speak to me!'

And the thunder rolled across the sky

But the child did not listen.

 

The child looked around and said,

'God let me see you' and a star shone brightly

But the child did not notice.

 

And the child shouted,

"God show me a miracle!'

And a life was born but the child did not know.

 

So the child cried out in despair,

'Touch me God, and let me know you are here!'

Whereupon God reached down

And touched the child.

 

But the child brushed the butterfly away

And walked away unknowingly

 

Gentle Reader, You flapped your wings and God spoke through you and...who knows how many lives were changed for the Glory of God!

 I am so prould of each of you Gentle Readers, who come to share with me and each other who pray for one another each day whose prayers reach the highest of peaks far beyond what man can aspire to the very throne roome of God. Who in His infinite love bends to hear and answer the weakest voice. 

   I love each and every one of you, more that words will ever say.

Denis

Oh Lord, make thyself to me

A living bright Reality

More present to faith vision keen

Than any earthly object seen;

More dear more intimately nigh

Than e'an the dearest earthly tie

 

 To present truth may I respond

With all my heart and mind

The ever reach to truth beyond

And further treasures find

A little letter

Mommy and Daddy
Please don't be so sad,
I miss you so much, too.

It's beautiful here where I am,
But I worry a lot about you.

I sleep with angels watching me,
there's only love up here.
I'm never lonely of afraid
'cause God's so very near.

I walk with angels every day,
They're very kind and sweet.

Don't worry, Mom and Dad,
They hold my hand when
We cross a golden street.
I never cry or hurt myself,
I see rainbows every day.

I play and laugh and sing a lot,
And I hear you both when you pray.

Please Mommy and Daddy,
Don't be mad at God,
You see, he loves me, too.
And even though you're not with me,
I'm really still with you.

Author Unknown
This poem was posted on Infanlos by
Stephanie Wright
Columbus, GA
It was given to her by
A co-worker of her husband.

The Spiderweb

God and the Spiderweb

During World War II, a US Marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire, he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one."

Just then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.

"Hah" he thought, "what I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor."

As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on.

Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered it for quite a while.

"Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man, "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways.

As the great leader, Nehemiah, reminded the people of Israel when they faced the task of rebuilding Jerusalem, "In God we will have success!" [Nehemiah 2:20]

Remember: Whatever is happening in your life, with God, a mere spider's web can become a brick wall of protection. Trust and believe that He is with you always. Just ask for his help and you will see His great power and love for you.

(Based on a biblical story about king David when he was running from King Saul in the Book of Kings I.)

a battle over Bibles

It's a battle over Bibles behind bars
June 18, 2006


Usually, judges throw the book at prisoners. This time a federal judge is taking the Book away from prisoners in Iowa.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pratt has joined with Americans United for Separation of Church and State and ordered a halt to a Bible-based prison program.
Pratt ruled against the InnerChange program run by Prison Fellowship at the Newton, Iowa, prison, on grounds that, heaven forbid, the prisoners might read the Bible and convert to the Christian faith.
Judge Pratt has ordered the state to dismantle the program and is demanding that Prison Fellowship return the $1.5 million it has been paid to help finance the effort.
Pratt should not have the last word.
Prison Fellowship will appeal the ruling and eventually the case should make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In Prison Fellowship's favor will be evidence that prisoners are not forced into the program. Prison Fellowship has attempted to use government money for the administrative side of its program, not to buy Bibles.
If the court rules in favor of the position of Americans United, plenty of other nonprofit groups will be in big trouble. Any nonprofit group with any hint of religious faith could find itself under threat of losing federal aid. The ruling would rip apart the juvenile justice system, which depends heavily on faith-based groups to help offenders.
As this case works its way through the courts, judges may want to pay attention to history that Judge Pratt ignored. The authors of the First Amendment prayed together and quoted from the Scriptures. Congress approved federal aid to faith-based missions to Indian tribes in the early years of the nation. The Northwest Ordinance, adopted by Congress at the time of the First Amendment, declared that religion, morality and knowledge were necessary for good government.
Groups like Americans United have campaigned to cleanse the public square of the Bible and Christian faith, and sometimes they find judges to go along with their crusade. Yet the First Amendment says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The idea was to avoid the establishment of a government church, such as the Church of England.
The attempt to use the courts to drive religious faith out of the public sphere has been a practical disaster. The Ten Commandments are accepted on statehouse grounds in Texas under one Supreme Court ruling, but not inside Kentucky courthouses under another top court ruling. Public officials can hardly quote a Bible verse in public without getting a legal opinion first.
In Iowa, Pratt's ruling suggests he is a power-grabbing federal judge with too much idle time on his hands. His Monday-morning quarterbacking of prison officials suggests he ought to get off the bench and run a prison himself. But his ruling is part of a larger problem of judicial activism, with judges interfering with the other two branches of government when no real constitutional issues are at stake.
Behind this ruling is a political attack on President Bush's attempt to open the door to faith-based approaches to social services. Judge Pratt and Americans United ought to look for a different tool to score political points against the president's efforts. The victims in this lawsuit are the prisoners who could lose the help offered by Prison Fellowship or other groups in order to return to society and avoid more crime.

God's idea

1. God wants spiritual fruit,
not religious nuts.

2. Dear God, I have a problem,
it's Me.

3. Growing old is inevitable
growing UP is optional.

4. There is no key to happiness.
The door is always open.

5. Silence is often misinterpreted
but never misquoted.

6. Do the math
count your blessings.

7. Faith is the ability to not panic.

8. Laugh every day,
it's like inner jogging.

9. If you worry, you didn't pray.
If you pray, don't worry.

10. As a child of God,
prayer is kind of like
calling home everyday.

11. Blessed are the flexible
for they shall not be
bent out of shape.

12. The most important things in your house
are the people.

13 When we get tangled up in our problems, be still.
God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15 He who dies with the most toys is still dead.




Now! No more excuses!
God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren't the message,
you are just the messenger.
And one more thing
Share this with a friend or two
In the Circle of God's love,
God's waiting to use your full potential.



Have a great day!!!
The SON is shining and he can certainly use you!

An open letter

Brethren,
God has called me to do 2 things to teach [sola scriptura] and preach [verse by verse] and to do that I need to do 2 things study and pray. I also like to bring others into a relationship with our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. I spend my ministry with not only the adults but the forgotten members of the fellowship {Pastors Pals ages toddler to 12 years} [And seniors too!] We have a time of fellowship before we feed the "big people" ! I also spend time with the teens (after all their next in line for your place in the pew).

In other words beloved of God, according to 2 Tim 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." is my Fathers' guidance to me. I have no doubt that you will find the man you want. as for me I am just One beggar showing another beggar where to find bread.

I have been looking to a place to share what God has been gracious to teach me. Much has been through the study of His most Holy Word. Much has been through the experiences of life's lessons. Perhaps you might want to consider choosing a person such as I to become your Shepherd . I am not currently in the Pastorate although I shepherd 7000+ men, women, boys and girls through an internet column called Dr Denis journal http://drcallahan.bravejournal.com A daily devotional consisting of Christian humor, stories, and teaching the Grace of God through life principals.

I'm not interested in what salary you could pay only that I obey God in the direction that He has appointed me. My only restriction for your church if indeed you are looking for a principal (Pastor) is that I be allow to teach and preach The "Word". I have not been aware that God has instituted a retirement program. With such experience you would have no need to "break in " a younger man. If you would need a doctrinal statement you need look no further that your closest Holy Bible as I believe the "whole Council" of God. I am enclosing a sample of my teaching for your review.
In His matchless name,


Dr Dennis Callahan

Clay balls

 

There are two freedoms - the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought.  ~Charles Kingsley 

Gentle Reader,

  
A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone.
 
Excited the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure.
 
He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he just threw it away.
 
It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person by God.
 
There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
 
May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay.
 
May we see the people in our world as God sees them. (end of story.)
 
Jesus came in a meek and lowly form so it shouldn’t surprise us that most of His treasures are hidden in obscurity, out of sight to the proud. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
 
Man’s Marks of Glory
 
Through being brain-washed by the systems of this world that are set as enemies to the kingdom of God, we are seduced to look for clay vessels that have recognizable marks on them – marks that easily identify them as experts in areas of life in which we seek advice – experts in health care, finances, beauty, wisdom, defense, how to be more popular, etc. There are certain professions, races, ethnic groups, parties, organizations, positions, etc. that we have been programmed t o believe that if we can connected with them somehow, if we can rub shoulders with this in some way, if we learn their system that some of that glory will rub off on us. Of course there is usually a cost attached. And ultimately, their glory turns out to be but fool’s gold. But then we’ve been suckers for that lie ever since the first time it was spoken in the garden. 
 
I have found in my Christian walk that those who have been most helpful to me have been those who I would not have expected to be so – they didn’t fit into the mold of what the “world system” considered good sources for information about how to gain more wealth, wisdom and popularity. My wife and I have a ministry that requires finances to run it. Most of the finances that have kept us going these many years have come from people who are not wealthy. As a matter of fact, we have received very little from very wealthy individuals. Statistics show that the lower income population gives a much larger portion of their income than do the wealthy. One would think that since the wealthy have much more disposable income than the poor that their giving percentage would be much higher than those in the low income bracket -- but that is not normally the case. (Jesus’ ministry was supported by the women in King Herod’s court, not King Herod himself.)
 
God seems to hide His spiritual gifts in unattractive bodies (from Hollywood’s standards). I have been most blessed spiritually from stinky hitch-hikers I picked up on roadsides. From the outside they looked like vagabonds, the scum of the earth -- dangerous. And some may be. But most of the time, after speaking with them, I found many of them to be very humble, fearless saints going about God’s business all around the country without a dime in their pockets. They were full of the provisions of God, spiritually lacking nothing. They were a great blessing to me. I know they wouldn’t trade places with the richest, most famous or most powerful people on earth. They had the peace that passes understanding, the unspeakable joy and the love that never fails in their hearts. The glitter of fortune and fame holds no place in their hearts. They are friends of the King of Glory.
 
The Lie of Lack
 
This world is under a big lie that there are not enough resources to go around – that only the strong will survive and that they have a right to take more than their share through force and deceit. Darwin’s theory of evolution, that the strongest in a species survive, has added fuel to the belief that those who are strongest or more cunning SHOULD be on top – that those who are physically or intellectually inferior should go by the wayside. Some societies in the past (and in the present) have actually instituted programs to get rid of the “inferior” in their society. While Christ’s teachings still hold a place in the hearts of millions of Americans, the teaching of the survival of the fittest has permeated much of the American mindset, and in my opinion, to its detriment.
 
Moral relativism has captured most of those who wield great power in America. To them, it is not wrong to deceive those less intelligent and manipulate or forcefully take their share. But this kind of leadership will always bring destruction, not peace. This kind of mind is never secure. They never have enough. And that is why there is not enough! If everyone was under God’s authority and obeyed it, there would be no lack of anything. This world has in it all that is necessary for everyone to live comfortably. But those full of worldly wisdom, locked up in fear and greed -- kill, steal, lie, manipulate and destroy others through clever schemes often of international proportions to get what does not rightfully belong to them. They create wars and disturbances in economic systems which ultimately attract more wealth to themselves. And where does this wealth come from? Usually the poor, but now they are even shrinking the middle income class. Of course they do this quite legally. Since they control the legislative, judicial, executive and military branches of government, they can invent and pass codes, laws and moral values that justify their evil ways. Should some of their cohorts accidentally get caught by the legal system, through high-priced lawyers, they rarely go to jail and within a few years some president will come along and pardon them. They even form, with their billions of dollars, denominations of Christianity whose gospel is watered down enough to conform to their corrupt standards and devious ways. In their scheme, a poor man who robs a bank with a gun deserves long term imprisonment, but a banker, investment broker or some other kind of capitalist who steals millions by robbing the poor through carefully devised schemes is considered someone to emulate -- to hold in high esteem.
 
The Kingdom of Heaven is Hidden
 
The kingdom of heaven is hidden in plain old clay balls. Don’t be fooled by those covered with glitz, shiny tinsel that melts which the heat is applied. Look for those who do not try to promote themselves using the wisdom of this world. Look for those who are led by His Spirit. Look for those who seek the glory which is from above, not below.
 
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’” (1 Cor. 1:26-31)
 
When we see others with the eyes of Jesus (who is supposed to live inside of us, right?), then even our enemies take on a brand new look. After Jacob had his wrestling match with someone in the middle of the night at Peniel (face of God), he saw his life-long enemy, Esau, and perfectly humbled himself before him by bowing seven times. Then, in perfect humility, Jacob, the former conniver who had been humbled by God and was then named Israel (prince with El or ruled by El) said to Esau, “I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.” (Gen. 33:10)  (If the state of Israel and those who support her would but learn this lesson, Israel would be at peace instantly.) Oh, if we would but humble ourselves, be delivered from fear, pride, and unbelief – from the curse of believing we lack anything -- what wondrous things we would behold all around us! I believe the very kingdom of heaven would appear right before our eyes even as Elisha saw. (2 Kings 6:17)
 
In the book of John, some Greeks desired to “see Jesus.” (John 12:21) The next time you meet someone, whether friend, stranger or enemy, ask Jesus (who lives inside of you if you are a Christian), “Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see You in that person.” He just might appear and bring all that He is and has and give you exactly what you need at that moment. Or you might see into that person’s heart and see a need God wants you to fulfill in that clay ball. Remember, if you’ve given a cold cup of water to a little one, you’ve done it unto Jesus.
 
It is possible to look past the sins, hurts and pains of the worst of sinners; it is possible to look past the deceit, lying and corruption of those who presently manipulate and rob the poor lawfully but deceitfully – it is possible to see past all that and focus on the finished work of the cross for each and every human being that ever walked this planet – and to see the finished work of the cross and from it, provide a need for that lost soul that Jesus died for. The love of Christ in a plain old ball of clay can reach up to the highest in society and down to the lowest and bring forth the resurrection life of Jesus Christ. They have eyes to see true glory – the glory which Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, seeks to bestow upon humanity, even as Adam, the first man, the first clay ball was clothed with God’s glory before he exchanged it for the covering (glory) of beasts.
 
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (John 17:20-24)
 
May more of the world see the glory God has chosen to hide in plain clay balls.

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. (AFPN) -- U.S. Air Force Honor Guardsmen lead the caisson carrying the remains of Col. Wilfred B. Crutchfield and Lt. Col. Ivan E. O'Dell to their gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery. The remains were laid to rest with full military honors here, Dec. 7. The Airmen died in a plane crash in 1968 but their remains were not discovered until October 2004. (U.S. Air Force photo by Thomas Dennis)

Who speaks of liberty while the human mind is in chains?  ~Francis Wright, 1828

Dennis  

                    God bless the U. S. A.

 

The End Game

 

...or are you a betting man?

The final stage of a chess game after most of the pieces have been removed from the board.

Gentle Reader,

 "I was in the spirit on the the Lords day" so begins the most misunderstood book of the Bible, 'The Book of Revelation' You ever read your horoscope or pick up and call  Miss Cleo? Every body wants to know what going to happen next (I am no different)!

Now understand I would be lying to you if I were to tell you I know the future, having said that we do know a few things, I mean I know that I'm going to stop typing and take a sip of coffee and in a minute or so I will stop and go wake Duffy up (our Sun Conure) .

Here I go!  Well I'm back! Now where was I? Oh yes The Lord's Day! Here in America that means Sunday for most. A day of Rest a day when some go out a play a round of golf or rent a movie or go to grandma's house for fried chicken (finger licken good)! For a few of you it means getting the kids ready screaming at your teen "IF YOU DON'T hurry  up we're going to be late for church!" Mom's running around like a chicken with it's head cut off and dad strolls out to the car gets in and starts backing out of the driveway while yelling at mom who's still in the house rounding up the twins, looking for that lost shoe (look in the ice box mom)!

 Now dad is still backing the car up but he's added honking the horn as an added incentive to mom who's sole objective was to go to church for an hour or so (for some peace and quiet) but who has giving up that thought in favor of killing dad and telling God he died!) 

 The Lord's day (piece and quite, no Gentle you read it right) what it really means in the words of the Bible refers to the parousiva Parousia (par-oo-see'-ah);  meaning (the coming, arrival, )advent the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God  When does this take place?  No one knows for sure but it's like the last call in an Irish pub when the proprietor  Calls out "Time gentlemen Time" 

Which means "Drink up, and go home, have you no home to go to?" 

 So Gentle Reader, when I look at the finial chapter I'm sure  that America is not there!

Quite a shock for our American friends.  They think that they'll be around for the finial showdown But quite honestly Miss Cleo, Your not there. So let me ask you a question. "What church are you staying away from? and what are your chances of getting out of this word alive?

 Well Gentle Reader, you still have time to go to church of your choice unless of course you’re a gambler. 

 Remember, Gentle Reader   today may be the first day of the rest of your life And also don't forget God has called you and me  to be a great Saint don't miss the opportunity

Dennis  "Your either in Christ and He's in you or not!