Oklahoma Howdy to Corpus,

I echo the thoughts of LMarsh and JudgeNot. This is more evidence that we may be seeing a preview of the end times. It is sickening when a young person putting out this much effort is failed for having morals.

This is truly a sick world, and it is getting sicker by the minute. I'm wondering if the abortion mills around the world have exceeded the total losses in WWII yet. I bet they have.

KEEP LOOKING UP!

Love In Christ,
Tom

...over in the men's room... they don't like women in there....


I think they secretly love us, it`s the always being one step behind us that makes them cross  

   We definitely love you. You would be ahead, but you're going the wrong direction.

Hoekstra Devotion - March 28

Intimacy of Relationship in Christ:

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  (Eph_2:13)

We have begun to see that the new covenant of grace is a covenant of relationship. The simple phrase "in Christ" indicates the extent of the intimacy that is available by grace. "In Christ" is where we live spiritually. It is also how we live. As sure as a fish is in the ocean and lives on the resources of the ocean, we are "in Christ" and live on the resources of Christ. As sure as a unborn child is in the mother and lives on the life of the mother, we are "in Christ" and live on the life of Christ.

We who believe in Jesus are not only "brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph_2:13), we are joined to Him in a "united closeness," like a body is to its head. "He is the head of the body, the church" (Col_1:18). We can relate to the Lord Jesus more closely than the members of our physical body relate to our physical head. We can look to Jesus for direction and coordination. We can depend upon Him for planning, guiding, and timing in our entire lives. We can anticipate that He will monitor, maintain, and adjust our situations.

This union of intimacy is also like a vine and its branches. "I am the vine, you are the branches" (Joh_15:5). We can look to Christ for our very life source. We don't have to produce a life on our own. We can concentrate on abiding (depending) on Him. He makes our lives fruitful and effective.

The intimate relationship the Lord wants to develop with us is also likened to the joining of a husband and a wife. "You also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, even to Him who was raised from the dead" (Rom_7:4). We can count upon Jesus to love us faithfully and sacrificially. We can rest in His constant companionship, never leaving us for any reason throughout our pilgrimage here on earth.

What blessings are ours for time and eternity "in Christ."   Joined intimately to Christ, nothing can separate us from the love and kindness that He has for us: "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. . . that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Rom_8:38-39 and Eph_2:7).

Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed by the intimacy that is available to me, now that I am united to You. Lord, I want to depend upon You as my Vine, follow You as my head, and love You as my bridegroom. Lord, please continue to reveal to me the implications of being joined to You for all time and eternity, in Your holy name I pray, Amen.

Hoekstra Devotion - March 27

The New Covenant of Grace: A Covenant of Relationship:

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace . . . But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  (Eph_1:7; Eph_2:13)

The ultimate blessing of the new covenant of grace is that it allows people to develop an intimate relationship with the true and living God. We began our personal history greatly separated from God: "you who once were far off." How could we ever comprehend the "vast relational distance" that our sins brought between us and the Lord? We could not relate to God. We could not talk to Him or enjoy His presence. We were "without Christ . . having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph_2:12). Therefore, we were "alienated from the life of God" (Eph_4:18). Then, "according to the riches of His grace," we found "forgiveness of sins," as Jesus shed His blood unto death to pay the redemption price. "In Him we have redemption through His blood."

Now, the entire picture is drastically changed. "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." We are no longer alienated from God. "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Eph_2:19). We are now members of God's family. We are His beloved children. "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Gal_4:6). By the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we cry out intimately to the Lord God as our "Heavenly Papa!" "You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom_8:15-16). As we cry out "Abba," the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, gives us a deep internal, spiritual confirmation that we truly are God's children.

Our heavenly Father wants to build a close relationship with us, His children. He wants us to know His love. "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Rom_5:5). Also, God wants us to respond in love to Him. "

We love Him because He first loved us" (1Jo_4:19). He wants us to call upon Him, that He might respond to us. "Call to Me, and I will answer you" (Jeremiah 33:3). He wants us to empty our heart unto Him. "Pour out your heart before Him" (Psa_62:. By God's grace, the way for intimacy is now open to us.

Dear Abba, Father, I thank You for washing away my sins. I praise You for bringing me close to You. I desire to grow in intimacy with You. Help me to see Your love  more clearly, that I might respond in stronger love to You. Remind me to cry out to You consistently and to pour out my heart honestly, all by the blood of Christ, Amen.

Hoekstra Devotion - March 26

The Resurrection: Reality, Not Dead Religion:

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.  (Act_4:1-2)

The resurrection of Christ is the difference between a dead religion and a personal relationship. Living by resurrection power is the difference between earthly striving and heavenly reality. These differences can be seen in the contrast between the religious authorities of Israel and the disciples of Jesus.

The disciples were proclaiming to the people the wondrous message of the risen Lord Jesus. "They taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." Such a message infuriated the religious leaders. "The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed." Today, many religious leaders reflect a similar response. In the popular religious world, universalism and skepticism prevail. Each religion is viewed as one more road leading to God. Anything miraculous is unacceptable, as human reasoning reigns supreme. In many religious circles, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either an object of scoffing or an area of hypocritical compromise.

The Sadducees of old were like this. They would talk about the resurrection, even asking Jesus questions that seemed to affirm that God could raise people from the dead. "Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her" (Mat_22:28). This question followed their scenario in which seven brothers would become the husband of the same woman, through seven death and marriage sequences. What a mockery this question represented. First, it was given in hypocrisy. "The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him" (Mat_22:23). Second, they were unaware of what the scriptures said about such a heavenly matter. "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage" (Mat_22:30). Jesus explained that these religious rationalists made two great errors in their approach. "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God" (Mat_22:29).

We who have been born again by faith in the risen Lord Jesus can err in a similar fashion in our day by day living. We can talk about the resurrection of Jesus, but behave as though it were not an actual reality for Christian living. We can be mistaken, "not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God."

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your patience when I profess belief in the resurrection, but live by my inadequate human resources. Help me to understand what the scriptures say about living daily in the power of the resurrection of Christ, Amen.

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WERE DO YOU FIND THE PICTURES THAT YOU PUT UP FUNNY FACES AND RELIGOUSE ONES , I WANT A PICTURE FOR ME TO.

Oklahoma Howdy to BUTCHA,

I get a lot of them in emails from friends, family, and through my web site. However, I did a Google search one day for "Animated Smilies", and the first site I went to had hundreds of them.

If you want Christian Graphics, it would depend on what you want. I have about 5 pages of Bible Verse graphics on my web site, and you are welcome to freely use any and all.

http://www.sirinet.net/~blkidps/bibleart.html

For a huge assortment of Christian graphics, I recommend the following Google searches:  "Christian Clipart" and "Christian Smilies".

I haven't been to the sites that Reba recommended, so you might want to go there first.

Love In Christ,
Tom

     

Thanks Brother! - I needed those laughs.

My post was to JudgeNot, not you.

This:

Ebia,

Now it's accurate, including the spelling of Constitution. I tried to ignore the bad grammar.

was to JudgeNot.  I don't thinks so.

Besides, I have better funny faces than you do.

Wow.

Ebster,

Now you are quoting from two different posts. The one you quoted from even had JudgeNot's name in it. You must work harder on being precise. And, YES!, my funny faces are much better.

Ebia -
If this were really true, you wouldn't have felt the need to respond to my post.  

My post was to JudgeNot, not you. Besides, I have better funny faces than you do.

The way Americans seem to regard those who originally wrote your Constitution as though they were divinely inspired is incomprehensible to the rest of the world non-Christians and those who are ignorant of America's founding, what America was for 200 years, and what the majority want it to be again.

Ebia,

Now it's accurate, including the spelling of Constitution. I tried to ignore the bad grammar.

Ebia:
You might try to sound like you mean that.

LOL, Ebia!
If this forum had sound I'm certain you would hear the sincerity in my voice.    

Oklahoma Howdy to JudgeNot,

   Brother, you must remember that morals, God, and the Holy Bible are foreign subjects to some folks. I'm glad to hear about your lengthy study of the founding of America. I have done the same, and I'm convinced the founding fathers would start another revolution if they saw what happened to their dream.

Judge, after lengthy thought for the last 30 seconds, I've decided that I could care less what people from other countries think about what Christians want or don't want in America. I would take it one step further and say that I could care less what the children of darkness want for America. Christians are still the majority here, and we will vote however we wish.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Hi, BEP. Just checking in to see how things are going for Mrs. BEP and you with this situation.

I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner.

Love In Christ,
Whitehorse

Hello Whitehorse,

My wife is back to work and doing great. In fact, she is beginning to enjoy eating eating again. Before the surgery, she had eliminated 3/4 of the foods she liked.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

Brothers and Sisters, CAUGHT UP TOGETHER in the sky, forever to be with our LORD AND SAVIOUR.

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ebia -
The bible tells us that God knew us before we were  even concieved - do you regard preventing conception as murder?

Twin_Trip_Mommy
All life from conception to natural death belong to Him the creator of life and no one has a right to take that life.

Ebia -
I take it you only eat minerals then?

Ebia,

You know that you don't have a Biblical stance on abortion. Everyone else knows it also. Your sidebar questions on such a serious topic are really petty. If you wish to use the Bible on the issue of abortion, abortion is wrong. You know it, and everyone else knows it. I never cease to be amazed how some folks claiming to be Christians try to make intellectual nonsense more important than the Holy Bible.