Walking With God Part 3

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Walking With God Part 3

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:
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Walking With God: Part 2

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Walking With God: Part 2

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:
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SCRIPTURE: 9b Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Genesis 6:9b-12 22 Noah did ... all that God commanded him. Genesis 6:22 1 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. Genesis 8:1 1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Genesis 9:1
28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died. Genesis 9:28-29

OBSERVATION: Noah had such favor in God's eyes that he was chosen to re-father the human race.

APPLICATION: Like Enoch, Noah walked with God. Unlike Enoch, Noah died. But not until practically every one else on earth had been destroyed in the Great Flood.

Noah was favored by God, because he was a just and righteous man. Different versions of the Bible call him "blameless," or "perfect in his generation." Certainly not sinless, but maybe as close as a human could be? Though God didn't spare Noah from the taste of death as he did Enoch, God did spare Noah from tasting the death he dealt out to the world's population with the great flood. Noah and his family were chosen to survive the flood and to rebuild the human race. While everyone he had ever known was killed, Noah lived in the safety of his ark.

Imagine being told to build a large vessel so that you and your family could live while everyone else died. Unfathomable! But not for Noah. While you or I might think it a joke or a prank and brush it off, Noah got to business. Noah did as he was told. Would you? Would I? Or would we die, too, and the whole human race with us.

For 350 years after the flood Noah lived, repopulating the earth through his descendents. Then he died. Enoch never died; God took him. Noah lived while everyone else died, and lived on for centuries before he died.

How am I even worthy to walk on the same planet as such great men as Enoch and Noah? Do I walk with God like they did? I like to think I try, but do I really?

PRAYER: God, I know that I can never compare to such great men as Enoch and Noah. I'm not worthy of the gift You've given me in Your Son. I'm not worthy of Your grace. As a sinful being, the only thing I am worthy of is death.

But through Your merciful grace, You've made me worthy. You've made me great. You've washed away my sin. You paid a debt I could never repay. But You gave it freely, and made me free.

But do I share with others how awesome You are? Do I serve as the hands and feet of Christ in a way that would make you proud? Help me to do so, Lord. Show me Your will. And give me the strength to obey.

Joe

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Walking With God

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Walking With God

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:
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SCRIPTURE: 21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:21-24

OBSERVATION: Enoch never died. He lived a life totally pleasing to God. Enoch walked with God. Then God took him. Plain and simple, God took Enoch.

APPLICATION: One of my favorite Christian tunes is "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe. I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side. I hear it and think of my mother, who walked with God for as long as I know. Then God took her. But not like He took Enoch. My mother suffered with cancer the last year of her life, knowing the battle she was fighting long before any diagnosis was made. Then God took her from us. My mother passed away seven long years ago next month. God took her.

God took Enoch. But Enoch never suffered. Enoch never died. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. Boom, right off the face of the earth; no more Enoch. Because he lived a Godly life. He was a Godly man. He walked with God. He knew -- he knows -- what it's like, he doesn't have to imagine. For Enoch is with God today, still walking.

Can you imagine what that would be like? Theories differ on how soon after death God takes His people home. Some believe it happens right away. I know that's what I want to believe; that mom was with us one moment and with God the next. Others believe that God's people will sleep until the Second Coming of His Son. We'll know, someday. Until then, we can only try to imagine.

But Enoch, he doesn't have to imagine. Because he walked with God, because he trusted and obeyed God, because he pleased God, God took him. Incredible! Hebrews 11:5-6 reveals that 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Because Enoch sought God he walked with God. Because he walked with God he received the ultimate reward: eternity with God. With no delay. Enoch was not found because God took him. Oh to be considered by God as such a faithful servant as Enoch! I can scarcely imagine!

PRAYER: Father, I want to be Your faithful servant. While human doubt tells me that I could never be taken as Enoch was, my faith tells me that You can do whatever You wish. I want to please You, Father, even if my faithfulness pales in comparison to that of Enoch. In any case, Lord, I know that I will be with you again some day. Until then, I will just have to imagine.

Send me your thoughts.

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SOAP: Behavior of Christians [Updated]

SCRIPTURE: 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 2 Peter 2:21

OBSERVATION: Is it okay for the saved to be depraved? In a word: NO!

APPLICATION: Christians are judged, often. It is to be expected. Those who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ can expect to be ridiculed and, in some cases and countries, tortured or even killed for no reason other than their faith. Christians are also expected to live up to a certain standard. And when they fail to live up to that standard -- or worse, when they attempt to appear to live up to that standard while all the time knowing inside that it's a facade -- God help them.

I'll use an example. My wife used to be quite the fan of Clay Aiken, from his American Idol days right up until he "came out" in People magazine. Then, for her (and, I imagine, many of Clay's fans), things changed. Not because he came out (though I think that for some that might have been reason enough). My wife found herself questioning why she should support someone who so heavily portrayed himself as a Christian, even denying being gay when asked about it, only later to come out as a deceiver.

Clay Aiken deceived his fans by saying he wasn't gay. Does this make him a bad person? Maybe not. But while deceiving his throng of fans, he talked about his faith and how he was such a devout Christian. So tell me, if you're reading this and you aren't a follower of Christ, and the only person you had to judge Christians by was Clay Aiken, what would you think now? That they're liars? That they're "gay?" That it's okay for them to call themselves Christ-like while ignoring his very teachings and living their lives the way that they want? And if Christians are supposed to be "Christ-like," what does that say of Christ (and, by extension, God Himself)?

That, I believe, is what Peter was saying. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. Why? Because through actions like those of Clay Aiken, actions which totally contradicted his words, they portray their God and their Saviour as phonies. Wow! They might be better off if they had just chosen eternal damnation to begin with.

PRAYER: Father, as a believer and a follower of Your Son, help me to present myself in a way that brings glory to You at all times. Help me to resist the things that might tarnish the Name of Your Son, so that I might not mislead or give Your Word a bad name.

SOAP: Man's Course In Life

SCRIPTURE: "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." -- Jeremiah 10:23
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OBSERVATION: What we do in this life is not for us to determine.
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APPLICATION: The past three months or so at work have been chaos. There were times when I was ready to tender an immediate resignation -- times when I would have done so if the situation was right. I've spoken with two prospetive employers during this, as I seriously consider a change. But not once have I actually felt that the decision was mine to make. We had a family prayer before one interview. A simple prayer, really: "Lord, if this be Your will, make it so. We put our faith in You." The Lord has always provided for us, and I have no reason to think He would stop now. My life is His. The path I walk is His path.
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PRAYER: Thank You, Father, for Your reliable provision and guidance. As always, I place my faith fully in You. Show me the way.
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SOAP: Finding new Strength

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE

30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 [NLT]

OBSERVATION
I find new strength when I put my trust in the Lord.

APPLICATION
The past three months have been hectic at work. My Area Director lost his job when a Senior Vice President visited some stores and wasn't happy with the store conditions. Then a Divisional Vice President came into town and started cracking the whip to get things in shape. He followed that up by sending in a "floating" Area Director, who acts like he has something to prove.

Last week, this floating Area Director decided to start issuing disciplinary write ups to all of the Store Managers -- me included. Now one would expect me to complain and defend myself by saying the write up wasn't warranted, but it's like this: they had to go through four different reasons to write me up before they could find one that would stick, and even then it was bogus. An example? I was written up for a sales measurement when I am number two in the Area!

Today, this Area Director came into the store, made a whirlwind trip around the building, praised many of the things he saw, pointed out several more that he would like us to work on, then asked for the signed copy of my write up. No problem -- I mentioned that it was odd being written up for something I was number two in, then signed it and handed it over.

Shortly after he left to go to the airport, I had lunch and read through Isaiah chapters 40-42 and stumbled upon this verse: 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 [NLT] It just seemed to hit home for me. Times can be tough sometimes, and many (and I've seen quite of few) will try to bear the burden on their own. Tuesday, I had an interview for a new position with a new company, and I called the family to pray together before I left. Our prayer was simple: "Father, if this is Your will, make it so. We put our faith in You." And then reading this passage today, I was reminded that those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. A truer thing has rarely been stated.

PRAYER
Yes, Father, I put my faith in You, to guide us through this hectic, trying time in my career; to bring us out the other side happier and more capable to serve You. Have Your own way, Lord.

Your comments?

Joe

AJA Press

SOAP

Just spent some time with Isaiah and BAM! I was hit by Isaiah 40:30-31 just at the right time. I'll journal about it tonight.

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SOAP: Dealing With Doubt

SCRIPTURE: John 1:29-35 [NLT]; Mark 6:17-20 [NLT]; Matthew 11:2-3 [NLT]; Matthew 11:11 [NLT]; Matthew 11:4-5 [NLT]; Matthew 11:6 [NLT] {link}

OBSERVATION: Even John the Baptist had doubts.

APPLICATION: Dealing with doubt can be quite difficult. Life itself is full of trials and hardship, and even for the most devout followers of Christ, it can be difficult.

John the Baptist was one of the most devout Christians to ever live. The cousin of Jesus Christ, he came before Christ to announce his arrival into the world, to prepare the way of the Lord. Though he didn't know who the Lord was until he saw Him, he was prepared to make the announcement when the time came.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the One I was talking about when I said, 'A Man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for He existed long before me.' 31 I did not recognize Him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that He might be revealed to Israel."
32 Then John testified, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon Him. 33 I didn’t know He was the One, but when God sent me to baptize with water, He told me, 'The One on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that He is the Chosen One of God. John 1:29-35 [NLT]

Full of faith and without a moment's hesitation, John the Baptist proclaimed the Son of God.

Herod was king at the time, and he trusted and respected John. He knew that John was a good and holy man, but when Herodias -- Herod's sister-in-law / niece / wife (yes, really) -- wanted John arrested, Herod obliged her.

17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip's wife, but Herod had married her. 18 John had been telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife." 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod's approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. Mark 6:17-20 [NLT]

Herod had John the Baptist arrested and thrown into the deepest and darkest of his dungeons, where Herodias would hopefully be pleased, but John would still be safe, regardless of his lack of freedom.

John, at this time, was going through the greatest trial of his life. He had done the work of the Lord, going before Jesus and preparing the way for Him, Baptizing in water in the name of God, and proclaiming the Messiah when Jesus arrived. John even Baptized Jesus Christ. Why, then, would God do such a thing as to have him thrown into prison by Herod? Had John been wrong? John began to doubt.

2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?" Matthew 11:2-3 [NLT]

"Are you the Lord? Are You out there, God?" In his moment of doubt, John called out for God.

What do we do in our times of hardship? Do we pray, "God, get me through this. Just get me out of this, and make everything okay." Are we so centered on ourselves that we can think of nothing else? Or do we pray, "God, I can get through this. If this is Your will, I can do it. Just tell me why, Lord. Why? I just want to understand why I'm going through this." As if God owes us any kind of explanation. It is not our place to understand His ways, but maybe we ask Him anyway. Or do we find ourselves wallowing in doubt, as John did, and say, "God, why have You abandoned me? Are You there?"

John sent his followers to Jesus with that very question, because he had his doubts. Maybe he was wrong when he proclaimed Christ as the Messiah. Maybe this was his punishment. So his followers went to Christ and asked Him, "Are you really the Messiah?"

4 Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor." Matthew 11:4-5 [NLT]

Did God answer John's request the way he expected? Did He say, "Yes, I am the Messiah?" Did He explain to John why he was suffering such hardship? Of course not, because it was not John's place to understand the ways of the Lord.

But Jesus did answer John's request, just as God always answers our prayers. Jesus, through John's followers, told John the Baptist to do three things.

Look Back: Jesus says, "Look at all that I have done for you. Have I not always been faithful to you?"

11 "I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist..." Matthew 11:11 [NLT]

"There is no one greater than John the Baptist," Jesus said. This was no punishment for making a mistake.

Look Around: Jesus says, "Look all around you and you tell me if I am the Son of God."

4 Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor." Matthew 11:4-5 [NLT]

"Have you every known anyone who could do such things? Surely I am the Messiah."

Look Ahead: Jesus says, "Look to the future, for today is just a fleeting moment in time."

6 "And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of Me.'" Matthew 11:6 [NLT]

"Do not lose faith," Jesus says. "For those who remain faithful will be blessed."

The month of July and this first week of August has been a trying time for me at work, with frequent visits from Vice Presidents in the company and the termination of my own supervisor. Many long days and longer weeks. Through it all, the Lord has been faithful. He has given me the stamina to push through the hardship and succeed. He has been with me -- very near to me, in fact -- and He continues to show me the way. I started this trying time with the first prayer I mentioned above, "God, help me to get through this." Though I also prayed for my now unemployed former supervisor, my thoughts were very much on myself and my family. But thankfully, I never turned to the second or third prayers, "God tell me why," and "Are You really there?" My prayers progressed to things like, "Please, God, be near, and help me through this. Use me as an example of Your grace," and then, "Thank You, Lord, for being so near to me through this."

That's not to say that I've never had doubts in my life. We all have doubts at some point or other. And God knows that we will. He doesn't tell us that we will be punished for our doubts. Quite the opposite, in fact, He tells us that He "blesses those who do not turn away." It's a wonderful, frightening, humbling experience to feel God so near. I don't deserve it, but am so thankful for it, and so thankful that I didn't turn to doubt.

Look back. Look around. Look ahead. How do you deal with doubt?

PRAYER: Thank You, Father, for being with me and guiding me through this difficult time in the workplace. For being so near and so faithful. For humbling me. For giving me the wisdom to turn to You instead of turning to doubt. Use me, Lord, and my experience, that others might come to know such nearness to You.

Your comments?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

AJA Press

SOAP: God Speaks

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

ABOUT SOAP

Scripture: Isaiah 47:10-11

Observation: Humble yourself. Your wisdom and knowledge, your arrogance, create a false sense of security. Quit riding the wave and buckle down. Get to work.

Application: My former boss was a fourteen-year veteran with our company. When I started, he worked for me. He was quite a corporate politician and rose through the ranks quite suddenly in the past three years. He had connections. He felt confident and sure of himself. He was a maverick who got away with doing things his way and bucking company methods. He had those to whom he would "delegate" tasks in order to make his job easier and make him seem more efficient. I was one of those.

I was good at my job, followed policy, achieved results. Until I started working for him. I took on some of his responsibility and felt important, valued. In return, he left me alone to do my own thing.

Doing our own things didn't pay off. It was good for a while, feeling honored and valued, almost beyond accountability. That all ended abruptly two days ago when my boss was fired for not achieving the results expected of him. Fourteen years: over. A wife, kids, and a child support obligation; house payment and other bills. He is in my prayers now.

Last night, as I do every night, I asked God to speak to me and blindly opened the Word. To Isaiah 47. I read. God spoke.

You felt secure in your wickedness. "No one sees me," you said. But your wisdom and knowledge have led you astray, and you said, "I am the only one, and there is no other."

So disaster will overtake you, and you won't be able to charm it away. Calamity will fall upon you, and you won't be able to buy your way out. A catastrophe will strike you suddenly, one for which you are not prepared.

He told me to quit riding down easy street; to quit doing things my own way; to quit feeling honored and important. He told me to get to work. He said He'll tell me when His plans for me change. He rocked my world, and humbled me, and woke me up all at once. He blessed me, and today I feel at great peace.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for answering prayer, for opening my eyes, for showing me the light! I have heard, and I will obey.

Your comments?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

AJA Press

A One World Currency?

Many End Times scholars believe that a World Currency will be adopted in the Last Days.

He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. Revelation 13:16-17

The belief stems from the fact that the Antichrist will rise above other world leaders to assume leadership of a unified government. In his thirst for the ultimate power that got Satan ejected from Heaven, the Bible teaches us that the Antichrist will implement a payment system (the mark of the beast) that will require everyone to use the same currency to buy or sell. Whether that currency will be a physical currency -- as Russian President Medvedev recently presented a potential example of -- or a digital currency of some type is yet to be seen. From the Future World Currency proponents:

We are presenting the peoples of nations, governments, institutions, intellectuals, ordinary people, pragmatists and idealists, scholars and, above all, young people - the real protagonists of the future - with a simple, ingenuous yet determined long-term vision for building an ideal bridge with tomorrow and interpreting a dream to transform into reality. [emphasis added]

Of course, especially young people, as they are the most susceptible in our society to this type of manipulation. I have always felt that the Euro is possibly an early precursor of some type of one world currency. I can honestly say that I don't feel any better about a currency proposed by the Russian government. Especially when Medvedev's puppet-government is actually under control of the Vladimir Putin (whom my wife says is the Antichrist).

The silver-lining to this cloud? Every Biblical prophesy come true is one step closer to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

What are your thoughts?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

AJA Press

SOAP: Changing Kings

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

ABOUT SOAP

God appointed Samuel as Judge over Israel, just as he had Moses. When Samuel was old, his sons were tapped to replace him as Judges over Israel. But the people of Israel were unhappy with Samuel's sons. Samuel's sons weren't like Samuel. Israel was also jealous of other nations, and wanted to have a king like their neighbors. They asked Samuel for a king. Samuel consulted with God. At God's direction, Samuel told Israel what they could expect from a king. But the people of Israel still wanted a change. They still wanted a king.

11 He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 1 Samuel 8:11-15 [MSG]

Israel received their king in Saul.

13 Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God -- good! 15 But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers. 16 "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes! 17 Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call upon the LORD to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the LORD when you asked for a king." 18 Then Samuel called upon the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the LORD and of Samuel. 19 The people all said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king." 20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away." 1 Samuel 12:13-25 [MSG]

And with Saul, Israel received a warning: to stay true on the path of obedience to Him, or the Hand of God would be against them. But with change comes more change. As a king, Saul went on to displease the Lord, and was removed from his throne by God.

When Israel chose to change kings -- from the Lord of all to the man Saul -- Israel suffered.

Our great American nation has chosen a new "king," of sorts -- in the election of our new president. In just over 100 days into his administration, we have seen an alarming rate of change that we, as Israel did, will likely suffer with for years and decades to come. Taxpayer funded stem-cell research. Taxpayer funded international abortion assistance. The nationalization of two-thirds of the American auto industry and the entire banking industry. And what next?

Now, more than ever, is the time for us to turn back to the One True King. For only by obeying and serving God can we have any hope for the future.

The history of liberty is the history of resistance. The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it. When we resist the concentration of power, we are resisting the powers of death. Concentration of power precedes the destruction of human liberties. -- Woodrow Wilson

Your comments?

Joe

AJA Press | #TCOT
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SOAP: How Great Is Our God!

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE
5:6-8 Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

18-19 Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right.

6:3-5 That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.

12-14 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.

22-23 But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. Romans 5-6 (excerpts) [MSG]

OBSERVATION
Christ's gift of Salvation, when we least deserve it.

APPLICATION
Adam condemned us to death. Literally. By partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (or, in the vernacular, eating the apple), Adam condemned us to death for eternity. But some two thousand years ago, One Man came along to reverse Adam's act. One Man came along to save us from the evil that had plagued us since the very first man. To save us from the evil that continues to plague us even now. To save us from sin.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, stepped up in our defense when we didn't even deserve to be defended. When we were guilty of sin, He came forward when we deserved nothing short of eternal condemnation and paid the price for our evil ways, so that we don't have to. To us, He gave the ultimate gift by paying the ultimate price. And all that we have to do is accept that glorious gift.

But so much more than just accepting this glorious, undeserved gift, we should then live the kind of life that God would have us live. We should never again give sin the time of day. We should resist the temptation to return to those sinful ways that Our Lord saved us from. But we are human, aren't we, and incapable of never sinning. That's right, as much as we might hope to live right, we just aren't capable of completely eliminating sin from our lives. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We aren't capable of deserving the wonderful grace of God.

But our God is merciful, and willing to forgive us, just for the asking. Oh, what a wonderful God we serve!


Direct video link.



PRAYER
Father, I know that I'm not worthy of Your wonderful grace. And that I have let You down more times than I could possibly count. But I also know that You are merciful, and gracious, and that Your love is never ending. Thank You, Father, for the wonderful gift of salvation!

Joe

SOAP: Strong In The Faith

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE
12-13 The day God gave the Amorites up to Israel, Joshua spoke to God, with all Israel listening: "Stop, Sun, over Gibeon; Halt, Moon, over Aijalon Valley." And Sun stopped, Moon stood stock still Until he defeated his enemies. 13-14 (You can find this written in the Book of Jashar.) The sun stopped in its tracks in mid sky; just sat there all day. There's never been a day like that before or since—God took orders from a human voice! Truly, God fought for Israel. JOSHUA 10:12-14

OBSERVATION
Faith can indeed move mountains -- and so much more.

APPLICATION
Joshua of Nun had faith -- so much faith that he was chosen to replace Moses to lead Israel into the promised land. To think of the fact that God would not allow Moses into the city, but Joshua was chosen, is staggering. Such a great man of faith.

Jesus spoke of the power of faith the size of a mustard seed, and how even such a little amount of true faith can move mountains. Joshua had that faith. Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stop, and they obeyed. They obeyed! Which means that God obeyed Joshua, since the sun and moon certainly can't act of their own accord. God took the direction from Joshua to stop the sun and moon until Israel defeated her enemies! Can you imagine? Joshua had such faith in God that he could tell the sun and moon to stop and knew that God would comply. That is faith!

It is said that Thomas Nelson CEO Michael Hyatt [] wanted so badly to be a best-selling author himself that he wrote on a piece of paper "I am a best-selling author," and put his faith in God to do the rest.

How is your faith?

PRAYER
Father, do I have the kind of faith that Joshua had? Do I have the faith of Michael Hyatt? Do I have the faith that would move a mountain, or stop the sun and moon, or help me to become a best-seller? I want to have that kind of faith, Lord. I believe. I want to be strong in the faith.

Your comments?

Joe

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SOAP: Grace, Mercy, and Justice

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE
1-3 Moses climbed from the Plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah facing Jericho. God showed him all the land from Gilead to Dan, all Naphtali, Ephraim, and Manasseh; all Judah reaching to the Mediterranean Sea; the Negev and the plains which encircle Jericho, City of Palms, as far south as Zoar. 4 Then and there God said to him, "This is the land I promised to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with the words 'I will give it to your descendants.' I've let you see it with your own eyes. There it is. But you're not going to go in." 5-6 Moses died there in the land of Moab, Moses the servant of God, just as God said. God buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor. No one knows his burial site to this very day. 7-8 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight was sharp; he still walked with a spring in his step. The People of Israel wept for Moses in the Plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end. 9 Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. The People of Israel listened obediently to him and did the same as when God had commanded Moses. 10-12 No prophet has risen since in Israel like Moses, whom God knew face-to-face. Never since has there been anything like the signs and miracle-wonders that God sent him to do in Egypt, to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land—nothing to compare with that all-powerful hand of his and all the great and terrible things Moses did as every eye in Israel watched. Deuteronomy 34 [MSG]

OBSERVATION
God's justice and grace know no limits.

APPLICATION
He was arguably the most Godly man in the history of Creation. Born of a pauper and raised by a princess, Moses was used by God to confront Pharoah when all of Israel was held slave to the Egyptians. God did many great and wondrous things through Moses. Moses -- a soft-spoken, ill-prepared stutterer -- was used by God to lead His chosen people out of Egypt into the Promised Land. He was chosen by God to present His Ten Commandments to the people. He was appointed by God to preside as judge over Israel, solving disputes and ensuring that the order was kept. God knew Moses face to face. God appeared to Moses in many forms -- as a cloud over the Tent of Meeting, as the famed Burning Bush -- He even allowed Moses to see Him pass by, though Moses was not permitted to look upon the face of God as the sight would have killed him. But Moses, like many of us, was not a perfect man, and the country he led was imperfect as well. As Israel repeatedly rebelled against God, even Moses at one point questioned God. It was a moment of lost faith that cost Moses his chance to enter the Promised Land. Through Moses, God led Israel to the Promised Land, but he denied Moses the privelege of actually entering the city. God took Moses to a high hill and allowed him to look into the Promised Land -- to see what he was missing. An act of justice? Or grace? I say both. God took Moses to the very gates of the Promised Land, but refused to let him enter, paying the price for his moment of lost faith. Justice, certainly. But at the same time, God had the grace to allow Moses a peek at the great city, to see that His chosen people had actually reached the land of their inheritance. He showed Moses high on that hill that He was a God of His Word, and that Israel would receive her Promised Land. Unmatchable grace. Then Moses died and was buried by God.

PRAYER
Father, You have always shown grace and mercy greater than I deserve, just as you did for Moses. I can't imagine how a sinner like I can be worthy of the kind of love and grace You once showed to one so great as Moses. Thank You, Lord, for not making me earn your grace.

Your comments?

Joe

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SOAP: Trust In The Spirit

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE
15-17"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you! 18-20 "I will not leave you orphaned. I'm coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you're going to see me because I am alive and you're about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I'm in my Father, and you're in me, and I'm in you." John 14:15-20 [MSG]

OBSERVATION
We show our love for Christ by doing what He has told us to do.

APPLICATION
We cannot make it alone in this world. Christ knew that. He came into this world to pay the price that we are unworthy to pay, and when He returned to His Father, He knew that things would get more difficult for those who choose to follow Him. Jesus left us His Friend to help us when times become difficult. The Holy Spirit -- literally the breath of God -- is with us today, to guide us in doing what He has asked of us.

PRAYER
Father, I want to ask You to help me to be worthy of the wonderful gift You have given. But why? I'm incapable of being worthy of Your love. Incapable of being worthy of the precious gift of Salvation that I have received only by Your mercy and grace. Therefore, Lord, Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for Your gift. Help me, Lord, to share the news of Your wondrous gift with others, that they, too, might receive what they can never be worthy of.

MORE NOTES FROM TODAY'S SERMON AT E91

• Trust in the Spirit.
• 5-7 At the time God made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground — God hadn't yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs) — God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive — a living soul! Genesis 2:5-7 [MSG]
• 3 Jesus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to — to God's kingdom." 4 "How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?" 5-6 Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation — the 'wind-hovering-over-the-water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life — it's not possible to enter God's kingdom. When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch — the Spirit — and becomes a living spirit. 7-8 "So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be 'born from above' — out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That's the way it is with everyone 'born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God." John 3:3-8 [MSG]
• The Holy Spirit is literally the Breath of God. How much do we really know about the Spirt?
• 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:25-27 [NIV]
• Ezekiel 37 [NIV] {not quoted here}
• What is at stake if we don't learn to connect and live by the Spirit? Life.
• How much of my life really needs the power of the Spirit?
• With faith there is always some degree of question. If there wasn't, it wouldn't be faith, it would be knowledge.
• We want God to be a noun, but He insists on being a verb: action, presence, Spirit.
• Fruit of the Spirit

Your comments?

Joe

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SOAP: Forgiveness

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

ABOUT SOAP

After trying several churches in Indianapolis, and finally choosing one, then trying that church's Saturday evening service and being a little disappointed, we finally headed back to the Sunday morning service today, and I felt that the timing was not accidental. The church is in the midst of a series called 1277 Days, exploring the last 3-1/2 years of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. Today's message was on forgiveness, and I wanted to share my notes from the service.

• Our greatest need right now is forgiveness.
• Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:1-12 [NIV]
• For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 [NIV]
• Jesus didn't come as God to condemn us, but rather to release us from our debt (forgiveness).
• Jesus didn't just take away the circumstance of sin, he took away the heart of sin and gave us a new heart.
• Jesus set us free from sin so that we don't have to go back to our lives of sin.
• Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-35 [NIV]
• We must offer forgiveness without limit, just as God has done for us through His Son.
• Release the debt. Forgive it and forget it.
• Sometimes we forget what God has forgiven us of -- the depth of His forgiveness.
• We bear the weight of not forgiving those who wrong us. Forgiving others lets us move on and free ourselves as well as those we have forgiven.
• Unforgiveness is a mountain that we cannot overcome. By forgiving others as God forgives us, we -- like Him -- can move those mountains.

I found the message to be quite moving, as we often find it difficult to actually release others who have wronged us by offering them sincere forgiveness. Is there someone you should forgive today?

Your comments? 


Joe

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Communion

26 During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples: Take, eat. This is my body. 27 Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them: Drink this, all of you. 28 This is my blood, God's new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins. 29 "I'll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I'll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father." Matthew 26:26-29 [MSG]

When I moved my family from Terre Haute to Indianapolis thirteen months ago, we embarked on a lengthy church hunt, visiting different churches every weekend, hoping to find one where we felt welcome, at home, where we felt God was calling us to return. Week after week we found ourselves disappointed, with the sermon some weeks, with the music other weeks, even with the offerings for children's worship at times -- and each and every week, we were disappointed with Communion.

In Matthew 26, Christ instructed His disciples to remember Him through Communion (a term not used by Christ, but later used by Christians to label the practice): the breaking and eating of bread and drinking of the cup. Just as Christ instructed us to follow Him in Baptism by immersion, He instructed us in the proper way to remember Him in Communion. Christ did not tell us to practice sprinkle Baptism, and He did not tell us to practice Communion by dipping bread into the cup. We follow His instructions for Baptism to the letter. Why, then, did every church we visited insist on dipping Communion bread into the cup?

We finally found a church on the northwest corner of Indianapolis where we felt comfortable, where we felt welcome, where the kids enjoyed their worship time and we felt they spent it learning and worshipping. We finally found a church that observed Communion in the manner Christ instructed. It has been "our" church ever since.

A month ago, our church started a Saturday night service -- in an attempt to accomodate a growing congregation (5000 most weekends) and to reach out to those who don't (or can't) attend on Sundays. We attended the first Saturday evening service and loved it. We felt that God had blessed us -- everything about the service was just what we had been looking for all along.

We missed the second week due to obligations at my work, and returned on week three to find that everything had changed. The worship music -- while still played by the same band -- had become somehow countrified. Worse yet, when it came time for Communion, we were instructed to break a piece of bread off the loaf and dip into the cup. Why? We both felt very out of place during the service, and later agreed to try Saturday night one more time.

We did just that last evening, and were pleased to see that the music was much more to our liking. Don't misread me, I understand that going to church is not an entertainment event. I don't expect the worship band to cater to us. I understand that we go for worship and praise, but it's much easier to worship through song when you know the songs and enjoy the style of music.

What we weren't pleased with was Communion. As we entered the sanctuary and saw Communion implements designed for the dipping of bread, we were both disappointed. We both chose not to partake of Communion -- not out of protest or purpose.

This is my issue with it: the dipping of bread into the cup is not Biblical. No matter which book of the Gospel you read, or which translation, you won't find a passage where Christ instructed us to dip the bread into the cup.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all described Communion as drinking from the cup. Only John even mentions dipping the bread, but not in reference to Communion. John speaks of Jesus dipping a crust of bread into the cup and saying "The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I've dipped it" will be the one to betray Me. So dipping the bread was not an act of Communion, but instead Christ's way of identifying the one who would betray him.

Dipping the bread into the cup is not a Biblical way to remember Christ through Communion, just as sprinkling water is not a Biblical way to follow Christ in Baptism. Why, then, do so many Christian churches choose this method of "Communion?" To me, if it is not Biblical, then why do it? Why practice something that Christ didn't teach in lieu of following His instructions literally?

My wife and I did not -- and will not -- observe Communion through the dipping of bread. Maybe this is God's way of telling us that the Saturday evening service was not what He had planned for us. Maybe He's telling us that we should return to the Sunday morning service, or possibly continue searching for a new church home. Unfortunately, God doesn't often write His message on a wall for us to read as we drive down the street. He often leaves it to us to interpret what He is trying to tell us.

Next Sunday, we will be returning to the same church, but not on Saturday evening. The dipping of bread might be fine for the other 443 people in attendance on Saturday night, but not for us. We will return to Sunday morning, and hopefully feel the same calling we felt several months ago when we first attended a Sunday morning service at this church. Neither one of us wants to start searching for a church home again.

Don't believe that the quotes above are the same in every translation? Click them, then feel free to select a different translation at BibleGateway, and you'll see that they all tell the same tale of Communion.

Your comments?

Joe

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Lost Potential

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE
15 The king of Egypt had a talk with the two Hebrew midwives; one was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. 16 He said, “When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the sex of the baby. If it’s a boy, kill him; if it’s a girl, let her live.” 17 But the midwives had far too much respect for God and didn’t do what the king of Egypt ordered; they let the boy babies live. 18 The king of Egypt called in the midwives. “Why didn’t you obey my orders? You’ve let those babies live!” 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; they’re vigorous. Before the midwife can get there, they’ve already had the baby.” 20 God was pleased with the midwives. The people continued to increase in number—a very strong people. 21 And because the midwives honored God, God gave them families of their own. EXODUS 1:15-21 [MSG]

OBSERVATION
We will never know the potential the world has lost through abortion.

APPLICATION
The king of Egypt ordered the murder of every male child born to the Israelites. He ordered the midwives who were to actually aid in the delivery of the children to abort all males.

But the midwives feared God. They recognized the fact that it would be wrong to murder these babies, and they defied the king's orders, telling him that the Hebrew women instead were delivering before the midwives could arrive and intervene.

God was pleased with the midwives. He rewarded them by giving them families of their own, something extremely out of the norm for midwives.

Moses was born at this time, and his birth was a closely guarded secret. He was set adrift on the Nile and discovered by one of the king's wives. Moses was taken in as if he were the king's own son, and in life became one of the greatest men of God to live.

What if the midwives had complied? What if they had obeyed the king's orders, aborting every male birth at the time of delivery? What if Moses had been killed at birth? Where would Israel -- the world, really -- be without all if the things God accomplished through Moses?

It is no wonder why God was pleased with the midwives. By refusing the abortion order, they delivered a man of great potential to the world.

Might we as a society consider the lost potential today every time a baby is aborted? Oh what we could be missing! Exodus 1:15-21

PRAYER
Father, it is a travesty to allow the waste of human life, the waste of lost potential, that results every time an innocent, unborn baby is aborted. So many great things that could have been accomplished by these poor children may never be realized. So many poor, innocent ones with never a chance at life. It is not my place to know or understand how You use this for Your purpose, Lord, but I trust that You do.

Your comments?

Joe

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Strength Under Adversity

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:

FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP

SCRIPTURE
63 Jesus kept silent. Then the Chief Priest said, “I command you by the authority of the living God to say if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64 Jesus was curt: “You yourself said it. And that’s not all. Soon you’ll see it for yourself: The Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One, Arriving on the clouds of heaven.” MATTHEW 26:63-64 [MSG]

OBSERVATION
Under terrible conditions, the Savior never faltered.

APPLICATION
Jesus, when faced down by Caiaphas and his cronies, stood firm. Of course He stood firm, He's the Creator of the universe. When asked to condemn Himself by saying He is the Son of God, He chose instead to say, "You said it, I didn't."

Denied three times by Peter, betrayed by Judas Iscariot, and about to be condemned to death, Christ was a shining example of how we, too, should stand up for our faith.

Our world has become one in which it's easy to say what we believe, but becoming increasingly hard to live it without being subjected to ridicule and, in some cases, faced with some type of disciplinary action for speaking openly of our faith.

If I were to be pressed in a life and death position to affirm my faith, could I be so bold as my Savior was before Caiaphas? I want to believe that, with God's strength, I could.

PRAYER
Father, thank You for sending Your Son to do what no one else could ever have done.

Your comments?

Joe

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