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Comment by russ allen on November 19, 2010 at 7:01am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I find odd things interesting. For example, what did Jesus look like? That really isn't important but I've heard arguments over such nonsense. I have an old old painting hanging on my living room wall that is an iconic image of him. I know he doesn't look like this painting but Grammy had one just like it in her living room and it makes me remember and all who enter my house recognise that Jesus is the center of this home. Was he white or black when he was on earth? Neither I think. The Word said that Joeseph and Mary took him and hid in Egypt for a season. Well a pasty whit blue eyed family couldn't very well hide in Egypt unnoticed. Nor could a dark black family go unnoticed. The Word also tells us he wasn't very handsome or desirable. So basically he blended with Egyptian commoners, wasn't Brad Pittish, didn't stand out in a crowd. But the point is why does this argument even exist? Why do arguments over things such as this grow and divide? Because it removes focus off Jesus as messiah and onto tangible things of no consequence thus rendering a witness ineffective. Satan knows this and uses these futile arguments to make us look self important and foolish. Curiosity is fine but do not let these things block your path to the peace Jesus gives or to the message of salvation.

Matthew 2:13-14
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt , and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."
NAS

1 Corinthians 3:19-20
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless."
NAS

Read Isaiah 53.....

Remember Irene McKinney...Mary Beth...Phyllis Scaggs...Anna Benton...Mike...Gardner

Heavenly Father,
Lord Father we bless you and praise you. Thank you for minds that ponder your wonderfulness. Help us keep a healthy curiosity about things and let not foolishness hide truth. Help us realize the importance of being a reflection of you. Lord we lift those mentioned today. Grant their needs be met. Help them see truth and have confidence in the path you have set before them. In Jesus name we pray, amen


Posted by russ allen at 6:58 AM

Comment by wampa on November 18, 2010 at 8:40am

Amen Pastor siempre llevo mi Dog tag con el Joshua 1:9

Comment by russ allen on November 18, 2010 at 7:44am

amen Louise! although pain meds are not necessarily a bad thing either.....

Comment by russ allen on November 18, 2010 at 7:43am

Good morning! How are we faithing? It is curious to watch the monetarily wealthy on the news and around this world. All of a sudden others that watch them listen intently to their words and ideas. People think because they are wealthy that what they say or do is important enough to warrant emulation. They think because of the power that comes with riches that they must be right in what they say. Where does this come from? Famous people are the correct because they are famous? Wealthy people are right because they are wealthy? Why do we care what a wealthy heiress wears? Why do we care what a successful businessman thinks about a social issue? Where did these things ever become relevant to each other? Why would the opinion of a person who honed their craft to success be more important or have more weight in an area that is not where their success is? Baffling sometimes. Perceptions and views when viewed from the world get all twisted. The only truth that remains constant is the Word of God. The Word of God is the only thing that saves us from ourselves. Our salvation by Jesus the Christ enters us into forever with a grace that overcomes all this junk. The Word teaches us how to live and to not be taken in by all that junk. Think any of this is new? Read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and see the profound words and ideas. They didn't even have phones or shoes as we know it but the same things were going on. People were looking to riches and pleasures thinking that was where it was at! How wrong they were and how wrong they are today. We sometimes are a dense lot, we repeat again and again. Lord help us.

Psalms 49:10-13
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish
This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
KJV

Psalms 49:10
For he sees that even wise men die;
The stupid and the senseless alike perish,
And leave their wealth to others.
NAS

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19
Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.
NAS

These are thoughts for us to think about today. Where are your desires? What do you concentrate on? Are you chasing the wind only to be gone tomorrow? Temporary pleasure and self gratitude running your life? Step back and think, "is this folly? Am I seeking what others have thinking It would be better if?"

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your wisdom in the Word. Thank you for peace inside that we can't even explain. Reveal to us if we are focused wrongly. Help us work and live honorably so we leave a legacy and not wealth that gets squandered. Help us reach our potential. Use us. Teach us to use wealth for your kingdom and not ours. in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:37 AM

Comment by Louise Thornton on November 17, 2010 at 7:39am

Good morning Russ. When you talk about how you handle pain, I live in pain without pain medications. If it wasn't for Christ I don't think I would make it through life. Allot of people alway wonder how I handle the disabilities I have and I don't see is as a disability I see it as a challenge. The way I see it God wouldn't let me go through this unless there was something I have to learn or teach others how to handle the challenges.

Comment by russ allen on November 17, 2010 at 7:21am

Good morning! How are we faithing? You are encountering things that flat hurt. You are encountering physical, mental and emotional pain. Where is your comfort? I'm not speaking of the easy chair with ice tea and the game on or sitting on a bank with a pole in your hand but rather that inner peace that is present even when hurt is so vivid. We all are presented with different things on earth and different personalities deal accordingly but the thing that is the same no matter who or where you are is the love Jesus has for you and I. His arms are the only true love and comfort there is. Logically speaking all one has to do is look around to see people fail people. Our source for love is from the creator and if we don't know this love, well, I'm sorry for you. Coffee is good but without taste buds it's pretty much useless. Guitar playing is good but without fingers it's useless. Cars are cool but without roads they are useless. Love of self and things of this world without knowing the love of God will fail and is useless. Ponder this, that love for your child that you can't even explain is but a glimpse of the love God has for you that he would sacrifice his kid so you can come to him. We believe unto righteousness and we are raised to God through and with Jesus. With that in hand we then approach these pains on this dirty ol orb with refreshed sense of purpose. With a fresh view of the importance of holding on tightly to the things of God. With a compassion equipped soul that hurts but is not alone.


Colossians 3:1-4

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
NAS

Ephesians 2:4-9
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
NAS

remember the William Allen family....remember our leaders and our military...

Heavenly Father,
We are hurting and don't know how to ease the pain Lord. Let us know you have us in your arms and that you understand. We lift those in despair and are thinking of cashing in. Let them know you are right there and all is not futile. Let them know you love them and have a plan for their life. Let them know they are loved. Help them realize the selfishness of that act. Lord we honor you and lift your name up because we realize the size of the gift you have given in your son. Help us raise up and walk holy and righteous to honor you and to shine bright for those in need...in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:15 AM

Comment by russ allen on November 16, 2010 at 7:27am

Good morning! How are we faithing? It has been an interesting last few days. I have enjoyed them, laughed, cried, prayed, met up with old friends and made some new ones. Realizing God does indeed have everything under control, even though I don't understand why or how things transpire is how peace remains in the face of all things. I may not like or understand but I know because I can look back over my years to see how things worked out and that God's plan is infinite and mine is finite. He's sees way down the road while we live and learn in the present. Trusting completely that our Lord is right here when we feel like we are alone in the universe is sometimes very hard. We ought to remind ourselves in those times and seek out God's peace and grace all the while hurting, healing and all the other things we endure because he never fails...ever. I know it's difficult and guys, down right insurmountable but whatever we go through ain't the first or the last time this has happened. That is no solace but it is the truth so as we endure, learn, take each day we have to remind our self and remember to seek God's face. Pray, offer blessings and ask for peace. We cannot endure in total solice because, well, we would go nuts and that is not a place to be. As you face each day, take the time to raise up and pray to the Father asking for strength for the day and don't fret about tomorrow...tomorrow has enough to worry about so let tomorrow carry that load.

Matthew 6:30-34

"But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow ; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
NAS

Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow ,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
NAS

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
NAS

Hebrews 13:5-6
Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," so that we confidently say,
"The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What shall man do to me?"
NAS

remember the William Allen family for the loss of their son...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and grace that sustains us. Lord we ask for your comforting touch for those who are hurting so badly. Touch them and hold them. Lord we do want your wisdom but fail to see at times. Open the eyes of our hearts so we may see truth and love in it's purest. We lift the Allen family up at this sad time. Lord, hold them and protect them all from the enemy. Lord we lift Chris Bell to you and we rebuke the enemy that is harassing him. Open his eyes Lord. We also ask for traveling mercies for those on the road this week, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:24 AM

Comment by russ allen on November 11, 2010 at 6:39am

Good morning! How are faithing? I am not a doom and gloom type of guy. I look at things as good unless shown otherwise. Optimistic by nature. Even when junk goes on I still am joyful, may not be happy right then but bounce right back to the joy inside. I also lately have had this heavy feeling, load, burden or whatever you call it, that people better get ready for the approaching storm. My heart breaks when I hear of suicides. My heart breaks and I am angered at murders. I hear of kids being shaken, beaten, ignored and it just bewilders me. At the same time as all this I see Jesus holding, loving, feeding us and all we have to do is ask. I see people grasping at thin air while Jesus is standing right next to them with his hand out and they look right by and fall. The news, our government, business are chasing after the wind and are spiraling out of control. We have got to reach out to everyone we can whenever an opportunity arises. We as believers have to remember we were once lost and bewildered therefore we must place our hand in theirs to lift them up. We need to meet the needs where they are. We need to stop finger pointing and assist and educate. These roaming people who do not know God will not and cannot act, speak or love like Jesus until they meet him so instead of pointing flaws out, lets introduce Jesus and his love and wisdom will reveal those things as they grow in our Lord. People, there's a whole bunch of unknowing people that are going to hell and were concerned with their language? Their dress? Their cleanliness? We as believers better step up and out on this faith to those "dregs" or we are gonna have a whole lot to answer our Father for. I'm just saying...

2 Corinthians 5:20-21
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
NAS

Philippians 2:1-4
If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
NAS

1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion
NAS

remember the lost...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the cross. Lead us to the cross. Help us remember why and for who the cross happened. Lord we lift those up who are seeking. Reveal yourself. Help us have your eyes and ears. Help us feed the lost with manna that fills completely. Lord we beg for mercy on those who are lost and give us courage and wisdom to speak your truths wherever we are. Thank you for grace even for me. in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:36 AM

Comment by russ allen on November 10, 2010 at 7:06am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Do you have moments of clarity where you see truth and not lies of the world? Do do you have times that what you see is contrary to what you are being told? Do you seek God's eyes and not the worlds? We meet people on the street who are aggressive, manipulative, angry and we take on the same characteristics in response. Sometimes those people need a smile and a nickel. Sometimes a look in the eye and compassionate words cool situations completely. Someone who does not seek Gods face or doesn't know how or even that they need to will come at you and toss you off your comfort stance. We as believers must equip ourselves to handle these times. It ain't easy but as soon as we recognise that the threat isn't necessarily personal we need to respond with compassion of Jesus or they may miss Jesus and we don't plant a seed or have any hope of ever seeing growth. Presenting Jesus' love to the supposed unlovable is not about you or me but about God. We are incapable of compassion on someone who disgusts us therefore we must put on Jesus. Knowing our state before grace came will bring to mind where others are. If they know not Jesus and God's ways, they ain't gonna act in kind. They are gonna act where they are. Remember that as you encounter bitterness, anger, despair, greed, ruthlessness, lust and many other demeanor that are contrary to compassion and grace.

Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
NAS

Psalms 103:7-12
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
He will not always strive with us;
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
NAS

Psalms 25:4-7
Make me know Thy ways, O LORD;
Teach me Thy paths.
Lead me in Thy truth and teach me,
For Thou art the God of my salvation;
For Thee I wait all the day.
Remember, O LORD, Thy compassion and Thy lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Thy lovingkindness remember Thou me,
For Thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
NAS

Remember Kevin Doyle...remember Julie Phairs family...remember Jennies Dad Tim

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and compassion that saves wretches like me. Lord we want to be ready and able to show your love whenever and forever. Lord, open the eyes of our hearts so we see into others hearts. We want to present you so they come to the source of all things and not be fooled by copies that are inferior and lead to destruction. Give visions and knowledge that will motivate us when we want to quit. We ask for healings for those mentioned in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:00 A

Comment by Old Fireguy on November 9, 2010 at 11:17am

Russ, you are a pillar, a rock, steadfast and true. Thanks!

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