I just happened to notice that, what is in all likelihood, the two most famous sermons ever preached on American soil are posted on the web-site www.newsforchristians.com. Do yourself a favor—set aside some time and read both of these messages. They will be a blessing. You may access this site by going to the “USEFUL LINKS” on our home page. Drop me a line and let me know what you think. If you have some additional time you might research the role that Jonathan Edwards played in the Great Awakening that took place in America. We need another such revival today!
TOO HIGH A COST
Dale Carnegie tells of a visit to Yellowstone Park in earlier days when tourists could watch the rangers feed the grizzly bears. One night the ranger brought garbage to attract the huge creatures, which, it is said, can whip any animal in the West except perhaps the buffalo and the Kodiak bear. But Carnegie noticed that while eating, the bears would growl and send other little animals scurrying, but they would allow one little creature to eat with them-the skunk! Though it was obvious that the grizzlies resented the skunk for its brazen impudence and would have loved to have their revenge, they didn’t. And you can guess why. The cost of getting even was just too high!(copied) We live in corrupt world and it’s easy to get obsessed with try to fix all the problems. Sadly, we end up expending all our time and energy fighting against things that are not of primary importance. As believers we have received a commission to make disciples around the world—that takes every bit of time and strength we have. Don’t get sidetracked with things of lesser importance. Remember–a bulldog can whip a skunk anytime, but it’s just not worth the effort! THINK ABOUT IT. (HDS)
PARENTS SAY “NO HELP NEEDED”
If you will pardon the illustration, there is an old bar-room song that says, “No help needed. I can handle this job all by myself.” That is the attitude most parents take today when it comes to raising their children. According to a just-released study by Life Way Research, most parents say they are trying to improve their parenting skills but few look to the Bible and only 15% look to the church as a source of guidance for parenting. The vast majority of parents (96%) agree that they consistently try to be better parents but more than 60% ignore parenting seminars and over half don’t read religious books on parenting. Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research offers his insight: “Parents claim they are trying hard to be better parents but they are not welcoming outside guidance or advice…Christians are routinely neglecting biblical guidance and encouragement in their parenting today, relying instead on their own personal experience.” Is it any wonder that families are in such a mess today?All families have problems, but this is inviting disaster! God’s Word is the perfect guide book for parents and if it is ignored the outcome won’t be good. Every parent is obligated to raise their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”(Ephesians 6:4). You can’t do that without the guidance of the Bible. Think about it!
DICTIONARY REDEFINES MARRIAGE
Where have I been? I didn’t know until now. I just read an article entitled,”Dictionary Redefines ‘Marriage’ to Include Same-Sex Couples”. What really shocked me is that this happened in 2003. Here’s part of the article:
Dictionary Redefines ‘Marriage’ to Include Same-Sex Couples
One major dictionary company has defined marriage in broader terms than the U.S. government. Merriam-Webster tacked on a secondary definition that counts unions between same-sex couples as “marriage.”
Thu, Mar. 19, 2009 Posted: 07:27 PM EDT
One major dictionary company has defined marriage in broader terms than the U.S. government.
Similar to the definition of marriage under federal law, Merriam-Webster states marriage as “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.” Every state in the nation recognizes marriage on similar terms except for Connecticut and Massachusetts.
But the dictionary runs askew from legal recognition of marriage by the federal government and almost all the states by tacking on a secondary definition that counts unions between same-sex couples as “marriage.”
Merriam-Webster added the secondary meaning for marriage in 2003, even before gay marriage was legalized anywhere in the country. Whereas the company’s dictionary editions prior to 2003 stated no mention of same-sex marriage, the latest version now defines marriage also as “the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage.”
The change went unnoticed until WorldNetDaily recently reported on a YouTube video calling attention to the marriage “redefinition.”
Isn’t that amazing! For years people, some preachers included, have been re-naming sin, to soften the impact, but this is a new low. Now you can’t even trust the dictionary to give you a proper definition of a word. That’s why we must examine everything in the light of God’s Word. It alone is an infallible guide. This new definition might make some folks feel more comfortable in their sin, but they are still condemned in the sight of God. If that is your case, you better think about it! The solution for your sin is not defining it away, but the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all sin. THINK ABOUT IT!
LEARNING TO LEAN
I don’t know why I read the article, but I did. It had to do with learning to ski, and that’s the last thing on my mind. Any activity that involves snow is on my “Never to do” list. But something about this article caught my attention, and it made a good point. Here it is, in part:
“One of the hardest lessons any novice skier has to learn is that he must lean away from the hill and not into it. His natural inclination is to stay as close to the slope as possible, because it feels safer and more secure. But only when he leans out can he begin to move and to control his own movements, rather than being controlled by the slope.”
As I read that article I couldn’t help but think of one of the first Christian songs I learned-“Leaning On The Everlasting Arms”. The writer of that grand old song tells us that leaning on Jesus will keep us “Safe and secure from all alarms”. He is exactly right!
As we go through this troubled world, we often find ourselves on slippery slopes that frighten us. Our tendency is to lean the wrong direction. What we need to do is to lean upon the Lord-lean upon Christ and away from the world. That’s the only way we can traverse the slippery slopes and reach our spiritual goals. That’s the only way we can avoid a fall.
Another song is entitled “Learning to Lean”. That makes an important point. We must learn to lean upon Jesus. Sadly, that’s not something we do by nature. Many of us had to experience many falls before we finally learned to lean upon the Lord. The truth is that we are always learning. Just about the time we think we’ve learned our lesson, we find ourselves on another slippery slope, often a steeper slope, that threatens our security, and we have to be reminded to lean in the right direction. Remember, we are under control and able to reach our goal only as we lean upon the Lord. He never lets us down! You can trust Him regardless of what frightening experience you are going through. Jesus never fails. To stay upright, lean on Jesus. Think about it!
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