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Comment by russ allen on April 16, 2009 at 7:47am

Good morning! Seeds of doubt are permeating society today. The cross becomes outdated and the meaning is missed. Doing good in order to be accepted by God is being preached and even scripture is used to back it up. What these heretics miss is that the salvation through the cross causes good to be done. We get better with a relationship with God not work to get better so we can approach God. That is what the cross is all about. Anything but the sacrifice of Jesus as payment for our sins would lead back to the law as the judgement and that is impossible for us to do. Look, no one has all the answers to all the questions therefore points that separate or split hairs are interesting to discuss but not points to dismiss all of our faith. Whether you kneel or bow, wave or salute matters not one iota but your relationship with Jesus and his sacrifice for you is where we must stand. Jesus speaking below;

John 14:1-7
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
NIV

Now where we are with Jesus the Christ;

Col 2:9-15
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
NIV

The cross is it. The cross is where all our sins went. The choice is left up to each of us, yes or no of the gift of salvation through Jesus and that is fair, equitable and just.

Remember Matt Madsen family, his grandpa passed... Remember Art Clay as he has his shoulder replaced today...

Heavenly Father,
Lord thank you for your grace shown on us. Lord we ask for your Word come to mind when we hear heresy. Lord protect our minds from lies that kill. Lord we lift up those on each of our heart today. Bless and hold them. Lord I ask for safe passage for my daughter and grand kids as they come for a visit. Lord, bless and protect Josh and Nikki in their upcoming nuptials, in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:07 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 15, 2009 at 7:51am

10-4 bob

Comment by russ allen on April 15, 2009 at 7:50am

Good morning! How are we faithing this Wednesday? Middle of the week and deep thoughts and pondering thus far. I'm reminded of God's sovereignty and promises in the Word. A Mercy Me song keeps playing in my head, "Finally Home". Sometimes the things we see and read about in the world makes us shake our heads and anticipate finally being home with the Lord. God's handy work on this ol' orb is amazing and wondrous as is his promises. We often struggle with some of the promises because of our human mind limitations. Give and you get more? Turn the other cheek? Where's that line? Is there a line? These are just a couple of things we all ponder sometimes. Right now I say, "blow those pirates clean out of the water", but is that attitude in line with scripture? We could go over and over things like that but at the end of the day we must follow what God tells us in scripture. Do we understand how? Not always. Do we follow easily? Gee whiz, it's hard to adhere to the concepts written down when everything in the physical tells us otherwise. Look at these and think about them;

Eph 4:17-19
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
NIV

1 Peter 4:3-6
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
NIV

Ps 94:8-11
Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who implanted the ear not hear?Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish?Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man;he knows that they are futile. NIV

Jer 13:10
These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt--completely useless!
NIV

Zech 8:16-17
These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the LORD.
NIV

Do you see these things? Did reading these scriptures bring to mind feelings and thoughts you have? Yep, me too. We all need God or we end up barbarians which always throughout history destroyed themselves. Think about this.
Remember Donna,Tonya and Katie Fulfer. Remember Larry House, remember Stephanie

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for scripture that keeps us grounded and teaches us remembrance of your truths. Lord, forgive us in our failures for we don't intend to drop the ball, we're just clumsy. Thank you Jesus for caring so much that even knuckleheads like us can find peace and hope. Bless our endeavours in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:11 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 14, 2009 at 7:11am

Good morning! How are we faithing? The imagery in the Bible is so interesting. We know when ink was put to parchment and the culture of those times. For example, animal herds were a way of life and big business, especially sheep. They got wool, meat, hides and unblemished ones for sacrifices to God. Sheep are followers. Sheep are gentile and scared easily. My job takes me to places where I get the chance to watch critters and it is interesting. Cows are pretty much dumb but affectionate, horses are skittish but playful, pigs are well, pigs and yet seem intelligent. Sheep are curious and extremely social. Sheep move together. As I watched the herd move about I tried to imagine being in a hillside tending them and fending off predators, keeping them together with the help of my trusty dog. One of these sheep was over by the fence and I imagined having to chase that one down the hill side to keep him safe in the herd. This imagery that so many verses in the Word uses started to come alive and make more sense. Look at these;

Isa 53:6
All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
NAS

1 Peter 2:25
For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
NAS

Matt 18:12-14
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
NIV

John 10:11-13
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
NIV

1 Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
NIV

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
KJV

These are but a few that use that kind of imagery. Turn to your Bible and search out these references and look for more to see what Jesus is telling us. Look at how God loves us. The sheep know the shepherd's voice, know him on site, will come eventually when called or in enough danger...sound familiar?

Remember Layla Fulfer...remember Fire Chief Larry House...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all your blessings. Thank you for the inspiration for your Word to be written down for we would be barbarians without it. Lord thank you that you love each of us and care what goes on. Lord we lift those mentioned, heal and comfort them! in Jesus name we pray, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:32 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 13, 2009 at 7:29am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Good weekend for me, lots of good conversation and fellowship, learning, praising, working and reading. I am still and will always be baffled at how some people treat others. I'm reading a book my friend loaned me about "Schindlerjuden". It's the book with all the history and interviews of the people represented in the movie, Schindler's List. I wont go into all the atrocities that took place but suffice to say the horror is indescribable. Think of the kids under 5 or so that grew up in this era. These things were normal for them. How long did it take for them to realize these things are not normal? Mind boggling to say the least. We as followers of the Christ, Jesus, must remember to seek his will and his wisdom so we do not repeat such things. The Word teaches us how to be humble yet strong. It teaches us to use mercy and justice. It teaches us to obey our leaders but not blindly. We are to grow in the Lord and not be swayed by every thing that comes along. As we grow in the Lord we also become an image of God. Not by finger pointing but by love. Recognizing that we are worth something to God and so is every one else is a way for us to not pick at others but to pray for them. They have their journey as we have ours. Their walk is just easy and just as hard as ours. Encouraging them on whenever we can is paramount to showing God's love. Look at this;

Eph 4:14-16
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
NAS

Do you see that? That person that drives you nuts or you don't understand has a purpose somewhere and that purpose may not be you. Your purpose may drive others nuts but it may or may not be for them. Grow in the Lord and listen to his teachings. Your dealings with life are yours and there is someone who can learn from you, likewise we can learn from others. The gifts the Holy Spirit equips us with are for the body of Christ as well as for our own edification. You think about that.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for friends that help us see things we sometimes can't grasp. Lord help us be good witnesses to others so they ask for you through us. Lord we ask for protection from the evil around us. Lord protect the children from calamity. We ask these things in your holy name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:52 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 10, 2009 at 7:20am

Good morning! It's Good Friday. The importance of this week and especially this Sunday coming up cannot be missed. This is the weekend we should really think on all the things that happened around 2000 years ago. Our salvation, our justification all revolves around this weekend. As you go about whatever you do, remember what Jesus sacrificed for you. Our entire belief system rests on resurrection Sunday. The crucifixion is when he bore all our iniquities but his overcoming death, getting up and walking out of the grave, that's where we hang our hat. He overcame death and gives it freely to us. Look, we can argue till the crows fly home on specific details surrounding all the events but to what conclusion? It all points to his overcoming death and making a way for us to approach God clean. I am not a great scholar but I know the difference Jesus has made in my life and that is all I need for assurance of the truth the scriptures hold. How about you? Think on this point. Yes life may suck right now but ultimately, what counts?

1 Cor 15:44-49
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
NIV

2 Cor 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
NIV

1 John 3:2-3
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
NIV

See that? Just like the second Adam, born of spirit, Jesus, we become spiritually alive through him. We change. Our countenance changes. We are reborn out of dust to glory in him. By this sacrifice by the Son of God, we are whole again like the first Adam was before the fall. Pray for one another and ask our Lord to heal your hearts. This life will pass but we get to spend forever with him. We get to go where there is no tears or sorrow. Jesus laid it all down so we don't have to. Man o man that's love!

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all that you have done for us. Lord, help us realize in our hearts that you gave all for us. Lord help us when we feel all is lost and not worth it. Lord help us see beyond the now and have peace because we know this journey is just the start. Lord, thank you for your sacrifice and we honor you this weekend, in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:51 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 9, 2009 at 7:30am

Good morning! Wow is this week, this month flying by! Guess that happens with age.
We've talked off and on about words and how they can be both helpful and hurtful. Sometimes shutting up is just as important as speaking. The wisdom needed to pick which one is the key. We find this wisdom in the scriptures. I personally like to imagine myself in the scenes I read about in the scriptures, not as the main characters but someone who was there witnessing it all. Can you imagine the scene when Jesus drove out the merchants fron the synagog? How about when he was before Pilot being accused and he shut up! How about being beat and then carrying that top half of the cross down the street while being spit on? What would I say? It's kinda like a story I heard about a man helping a bar owner whose wife died. The church busy body saw his truck in front of the bar, assumed he was inside getting hammered, confronted him and he just walked away. She's on the phone talking smack that evening about what she saw. Then the man just parked his truck in front of her house that night and walked home! Think about that! Wise and a point made. Things are not what they may seem so we ought not speak with only half the info! Look at these scriptures about our savior Jesus, especially this week;

Isa 53:7-11
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living, For the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.
NAS


1 Peter 2:23-25
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
NIV

Wow. Jesus did that for you and me. Prophecy before hand and witnessed later and yet if you were on the outside without all the facts, what would it have looked like? How would you have interpreted all those things? Would you speak about these things without all the facts? Think about this.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the sacrifice of your son for us. Lord, help us be quick to see and slow to speak. Help us realize when we need to open our mouths. Lord help us look beyond the immediate and see the big picture. Comfort us in this walk we walk and assure us of your grace so we may live peacefully and honestly.We lift each other up to you. in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:51 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 8, 2009 at 7:23am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I get e-mails and have conversations with people who feel they don't deserve salvation and feel they shouldn't be forgiven because they have done some awful stuff. I tell them they are right. Don't run off on me! Although those statements may be true, God loves us and forgives us anyways. Jesus was the sacrifice for us so we don't have to pay for our own sins. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that WHO EVER believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." john 3:16. This time of year the focus at Easter is to be on this one fact. God didn't have to do this, but he did. God could have wiped us all out but he didn't. Why? Because of that statement. He loved us all. I watched Law and Order SVU last night and all I could think of was the criminals heart, the officers pertinacity for retribution and wondering where their belief system lies. I know it's TV but what lies beneath the characters persona was noteworthy because I meet people just like them every day and I suppose you do too. Looking at the heart is what God does because we are so far from perfect we would never live up to the exact letter of God's law. We harbor things, we get bitter, we plot payback, we say we forgive but "wont forget". All of those things are not what we should do but alas, we do them. Our only hope lies in Jesus the Christ for by no other way will we see God. That is what the cross is about. That is what we should think on when that moment of clarity comes while we are doing those previously mentioned things. By the cross are we redeemed. Man, humbling when we think about that.

Peter 2:1-6
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:
"Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed."
NAS

2 Peter 1:20-21
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. NIV

2 Tim 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NIV

Isa 28:16
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,a tested stone,a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
NIV

I know this is rehashed material but we must be diligent in our recollection of the truth and be ready to convey our believes because the world sucks out there and many are in deep and looking for relief. We know it is in Jesus and not anything in the world. Think on this as you go through your days...
Remember Don Pease and Nicole Major...remember Brandies tumor that the docs go in and find nothing...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for standing by us even when we don't deserve it. Lord we ask for a touch from the masters hand today. Reveal yourself and bring to mind your word. Lord thank you for the peace you give that passes all understanding. Lord thank you for the joy in our hearts that comforts us. in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:51 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 7, 2009 at 7:30am

Good morning! How are we faithing? We say things flippantly sometimes and don't realize or stop to think what power is in our words. Things said jesting can be taken incorrectly and animosities can grow. Things said with love and respect can be heard incorrectly by the tone spoken in. Word jokes are funny to me yet some get offended. What line when razzing should we not cross? I've heard funny things said and watched reactions and saw hurt on faces. This is a wake up call for us to be careful how we jest. Laughter is a wonderful thing and is necessary for health but laughter over someones mistakes must be temperate at least until the receivers state is realized. Sometimes it is best to console now and laugh later. A story that was told recently was of a foreman on a horse farm who knew honored guests were coming to visit and he told the hands to clean the water buckets in the stalls and refill them. He ran an errand and upon his return saw 12 beautifully cleaned buckets outside in the sun. When he asked what was going on the hands replied," we're letting them dry". Now that is hilarious but at the time that foreman who was rushing to prepare was not amused although now he tells the story with humor. We must be sensitive to the feelings of others when we jest because as little a thing it could be, it may be huge to the victim right then. Our words carry weight and our Father in heaven teaches us so.

Eccl 10:12-14
Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness- and the fool multiplies words.
NIV

Prov 15:23
A man finds joy in giving an apt reply--and how good is a timely word!
NIV

Prov 25:11
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
NIV

Ps 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
NIV

Matt 12:36-37
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
NIV

2 Tim 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NIV

Heb 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
NIV

All this to keep reminding us to be careful of what we speak and how we speak. I love a good joke but am not real fond of ridicule, how about you?

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for our minds that can decipher things. Thank you for your humor in our lives. Lord help us enjoy humor without hurting anyone. Help us recognise someone who is hurt by it. Lord we want to please you and to be upright but alas, we stumble and sometimes fall as you know. Pick us up and help us be humble and quick to see truth. Lord protect the kids, in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:43 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 6, 2009 at 7:16am

Good morning! How are we faithing? We men are concerned for our wives in such a way as we can't even explain. We worry about their safety, their emotional state, their view of us as husbands. I got on my wife last night, probably in an incorrect manner, about being aware of her surroundings. As a husband I am concerned for her because there are some bad people out there. I worry when she walks with her head down, distracted, when she walks to her car. I worry about her being bothered by someone who has bad intentions. We husbands want our brides safe and always secure. Of course I know that there is no guarantee of anything in this life but it's my job to care for her. When I get on her, the intention is to alert her to these types of things. Tick her off and she will remember, of course women remember every word we utter and sometimes that bites us years down the road, but never the less we want them as secure as possible. Look at these and see how men think and how we feel about our brides, and guys, if you don't feel this way, we need to talk.

Eccl 9:9-10
Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun- all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
NIV

1 Cor 7:33-34
But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world-how he can please his wife- and his interests are divided.
NIV

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
NIV

Song 4:77
All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
NIV

Song of Solomon is a great book to read.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your blessings in our lives and thank you for wisdom to live upright. Lord we ask our spouses be kept safe from the world. We ask that you bind us tight withe love for them like you have for us. Lord open the eyes of your servants to the dangers we face and protect us with wisdom and courage. Lord we lift those who are hurting and feeling sorrow. Mend the broken hearts, in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:31 AM

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