[HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!The "Original " ValentineFor God so Loved the Worldthat He GaveHis onlyBegottenSonthat whosoeverbelieveth in HimShould not perishbut have everlasting life.Love In Christ,Tom]

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

The "Original " Valentine

For God so Loved the World
that He Gave
His only
Begotten
Son
that  whosoever
believeth in Him
Should not perish
but have everlasting life.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[REAL KNEE SLAPPER!]

   -  Thanks for those laughs Brothers!

I have a real old one that has been updated. I think I can honestly state it is a REAL KNEE SLAPPER!
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This is an old one but updated and great!

GREEN SNAKES ARE OK?  READ ON...

Green garden grass snakes can be dangerous, Yes, grass snakes, not rattlesnakes.

A couple in Sweetwater, Texas had a lot of potted plants, and during a recent cold spell, the wife was bringing a lot of them indoors to protect them from a possible freeze.  It turned out that a little green garden grass snake was hidden in one of the plants and when it had warmed up, it slithered out
and the wife saw it go under the sofa.  She let out a very loud scream.

The husband who was taking a shower ran out into the living room naked to see what the problem was.  She told him there was a snake under the sofa.

He got down on the floor on his hands and knees to look for it.

About that time the family dog came and cold-nosed him on the leg. He thought the snake had bitten him and he fainted.  His wife thought he had a heart attack, so she called an ambulance.  The attendants rushed in and loaded him on the stretcher and started carrying him out.

About that time the snake came out from under the sofa and the Emergency Medical Technician saw it and dropped his end of the stretcher. That's when the man broke his leg and why he is in the hospital.

The wife still had the problem of the snake in the house, so she called on a neighbor man.  He volunteered to capture the snake.  He armed himself with a rolled-up newspaper and began poking under the couch.

Soon he decided it was gone and told the woman, who sat down on the sofa in relief.  But in relaxing, her hand dangled in between the cushions, where she felt the snake wriggling around.  She screamed and fainted, the snake rushed back under the sofa, and the neighbor man, seeing her laying there
passed out tried to use CPR to revive her.

The neighbor's wife, who had just returned from shopping at the grocery store, saw her husband's mouth on the woman's mouth and slammed her husband in the back of the head with a bag of canned goods, knocking him out and cutting his scalp to a point where it needed stitches.  An ambulance was again called and it was determined that the injury required hospitalization.

The noise woke the woman from her dead faint and she saw her neighbor lying on the floor with his wife bending over him, so she assumed he had been bitten by the snake.  She went to the kitchen, brought back a small bottle of whiskey, and began pouring it down the man's throat.

By now the police had arrived.  They saw the unconscious man, smelled the whiskey, and assumed that a drunken fight had occurred.  They were about to arrest them all, when the two women tried to explain how it all happened over a little green snake.  They called an ambulance, which took away the
neighbor and his sobbing wife.

Just then the little snake crawled out from under the couch.  One of the policemen drew his gun and fired at it.  He missed the snake and hit the leg of the end table that was on one side of the sofa.  The table fell over and the lamp on it shattered and as the bulb broke, it started a fire in the drapes.

The other policeman tried to beat out the flames and fell through the window into the yard on top of the family dog, who startled, jumped up and raced out into the street, where an oncoming car swerved to avoid it and smashed into the parked police car and set it on fire.  Meanwhile the burning drapes
had spread to the walls and the entire house was blazing.

Neighbors had called the fire department and the arriving fire-truck had started raising his ladder as they were halfway down the street.  The rising ladder tore out the overhead wires and put out the electricity and disconnected the telephones in a ten-square city block area.

Time passed.  Both men were discharged from the hospital, the house was re-built, the police acquired a new car, and all was right with their world.

About a year later they were watching TV and the weatherman announced a cold snap for that night.  The husband asked his wife if she thought they should bring in their plants for the night.  She shot him.[b/]    
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My 80 year old aunt in Galveston, Texas sent that to me. It was funny in the old version, but it's even better now.

[HE IS]

To name just a few others, HE IS:

HE IS

Now THAT says it ALL, Brother Tom!

Oklahoma Howdy to JudgeNot,

   Brother, that's really just a start. I think that one could easily find a 100 or more Names and Titles for Christ, much more if I used some of the Jewish names for Christ. Many of the Jewish names are quite pretty and have beautiful meanings. I do a tiny bit of language studies from time to time, but I'm terribly slow. I bet one of our Jewish friends on the board could give us many beautiful names, many we've never heard.

Love In Christ,
Tom

THANKS TIGERLILY!

That was beautiful.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Bep 20 days? Bibical standards are 40 !

   I'll plead guilty and take the 40 days if you will put me in a portion of the cell-block that I don't have to hear or see Hillary.    That would be cruel and unusual punishment.

Tom

Oklahoma Howdyt to Ambassador4Christ & The Crusader,

Thanks Brothers! I also enjoy your posts every day.

Each post adds to the list of things I want to do more Bible study on. The list is getting pretty large, but I'm having fun trying to keep up.

Love In Christ,
Tom

AMEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

I have a temple in my heart, and it belongs to HIM. The exterior of the temple is very simple and made of clay, but HE will change it some day to something beautiful and incorruptible. As plain and small as it is, HE will keep the temple.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to TigerLily,

It's great to see you back. We have never stopped praying for you. Dr. BlackEyedPeas highly recommends several posts per day on Christians Unite as physical therapy for fingers, hands, and wrists.     I got my PHD in an Oklahoma cow pasture.

Love In Christ,
Tom

AMEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

There is more evidence of this beautiful fact. A poor analogy might involve the courts of man. The Holy Bible being the Word of God would be recognized as evidence that is able to stand alone in proving the fact. There is a host of witnesses in the Sacred Pages.

Thanks Brother Ollie and Sister Reba for more beautiful portions of Scripture that testify of His Holy Word.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[THE ALPHA AND OMEGATHE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITHTHE BREAD OF LIFETHE CHIEF SHEPHERDTHE DELIVEREREMMANUELTHE FIRST AND THE LASTGOD BLESSED FOREVERTHE GREAT HIGH PRIESTTHE HEAD OF THE CHURCHI AMJEHOVAHTHE KING OF KINGSTHE LIGHT OF THE WORLDLORD GOD ALMIGHTYTHE PRINCE OF PEACETHE REDEEMERTHE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFETHE LORD OF ALLTHE LORD OF GLORYTHE ROCKTHE TRUE GODTHE TRUE LIGHTTHE TRUE VINETHE TRUTHTHE WAYTHE WORDTHE WORD OF GODTHE WORD OF LIFE]

AMEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

All of the names of Almighty God are of majesty and glory.

To name just a few others, HE IS:

THE ALPHA AND OMEGA
THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH
THE BREAD OF LIFE
THE CHIEF SHEPHERD
THE DELIVERER
EMMANUEL
THE FIRST AND THE LAST
GOD BLESSED FOREVER
THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST
THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
I AM
JEHOVAH
THE KING OF KINGS
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
THE PRINCE OF PEACE
THE REDEEMER
THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
THE LORD OF ALL
THE LORD OF GLORY
THE ROCK
THE TRUE GOD
THE TRUE LIGHT
THE TRUE VINE
THE TRUTH
THE WAY
THE WORD
THE WORD OF GOD
THE WORD OF LIFE

As just a sample.

Love In Christ,
Tom

In the present dispensation there is only one true Church, which is called the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22, 23; 3:1-6) separate and distinct from the prophesied, earthly king­dom of Christ. The historical manifestation of the Body of Christ began with the Apostle Paul before he wrote his first epistle (I Thes. 2:14-16 cf. ; Phil. 1:5, 6 cf. Acts 16; I Cor. 12:13, 27 cf. Acts 18).

Your friend and brother

The Crusader
<))><

Oklahoma Howdy to The Crusader,

AMEN BROTHER!

This seems to be a very difficult topic for some to understand for whatever reason. This is a CHURCH not built with human hands, and IT IS ETERNAL with CHRIST AS THE HEAD. There isn't any brick or mortar, pews, and there certainly isn't any of man's denominational tags and labels. It doesn't have a tax status, it isn't a corporation, it isn't an organization, and it answers to no man. The members who are still physically alive go to brick and mortar buildings called churches (with a little "c"). "churches" are in many ways accountable to men, but THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST is accountable ONLY TO GOD. The brick and mortar churches of man, regardless of size or splendor, are ugly as mud fences and NOTHING in comparison to THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

There is grief, crime, corruption, sorrow, and lies in man's brick and mortar churches, hopefully along with a healthy dose of truth, worhip of Almighty God, and joy for those who belong to Christ. There is nothing but glory, truth, peace, joy, comfort, and worship in the CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

I can't understand why many people have no clue what THE REAL CHURCH, THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST is. There is NO real church made with brick and mortar, and GOD could care less how big it is, how fancy it is, how many people go there, and certainly not any of man's names they might put over the door.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Biblical Fact #1 - The Holy Bible is the WORD OF GOD.

The Holy Bible is the Word of God. All of the writers were used by God as HIS organs in communicating HIS will to men. The title, "The Word", is one of majesty and power belonging to Jesus Christ, THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE LIVING WATER, OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, ALMIGHTY GOD. THE WORD IS ALIVE!
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Exodus 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Exodus 25:21  And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
Exodus 25:22  And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

2 Timothy 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Revelation 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Revelation 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Jeremiah 30:2  Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.

Psalms 40:7  Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

Revelation 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Isaiah 34:16  Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

2 Peter  1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2 Peter  1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Peter  1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Isaiah 40:8  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hebrews 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Revelation 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Romans 3:2  Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Acts 7:38  This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

Hebrews 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

1 Peter 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke 12:11  And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luke 12:12  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Psalms 33:6  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Psalms 147:15  He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

Hebrews 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

1 Peter 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Matthew 21:42  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

John 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Romans 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
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Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

I feel led to post a series of studies on Bible Facts. They take a considerable amount of time, but I enjoy studying the Bible. I plan to make my commentary very short and let the Scriptures speak for themselves. I will post short portions of Scripture, but the real value comes when you study them in context with other portions of Scripture.

Please feel free to make any comments you wish, but please know that I do not feel led to argue or debate at all. In fact, I refuse to. In stead, I will spend my time in Bible Study for the next post.

Love In Christ,
Tom  

AMEN BROTHERS!

The confusion is in the minds of men, not in the WORD OF GOD. There are no contradictions in the WORD OF GOD.

There are several areas of concern that must be addressed before a person can understand a portion of Scripture. These are the most common that cause the most confusion:

Does the portion of Scripture address truths before the crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross or after the crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross?

Does the portion of Scripture pertain to the Law, or does it pertain to the Gospel of God's Grace?

Does the portion of Scripture directly address only the Jews, or does it address the Jews and the Gentiles?

Does the portion of Scripture pertain to Salvation, or does it pertain to growing and maturing in Christ? In the same vein, does it apply to salvation, or does it pertain to a testimony before men, instructions for Christian living, or exhortations that a Christian could follow and have more fullness of Joy in HIM.

Does the portion of Scripture pertain to prophecy of things yet to come in the future, or have the events already taken place? In this same vein, does the portion of Scripture even address this age, or does it address the ages to come.

Rightly dividing the Word of Truth would be an excellent Bible study topic that everyone would benefit from.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Hoekstra Devotion - February 11

More on Grace and Spiritual Fruit:

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  (Joh_15:4-5)

Although these verses do not mention grace, they are a classic biblical explanation of grace bringing forth fruit in lives. The language depicts an actual vineyard, where fruit grows on branches that are properly related to a vine. Then, this physical reality is applied figuratively to spiritual fruit developing in our lives, if we are relating correctly to Jesus.

In this teaching, our Lord reminds us that literal branches are not able to produce fruit themselves. "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself." We are spiritual branches, so we will not be able to produce fruit either. "Neither can you, unless you abide in Me." In fact, our potential for manufacturing genuine spiritual fruit is zero. "Without Me you can do nothing." The best we could ever hope to produce would be religious, wax fruit. Such would come from our fleshly attempts to appear godly or effective. People may be fooled by this, but God never will be. Furthermore, people cannot be edified by partaking of such, and God cannot be glorified.

True fruit results from the ongoing development of life. Life is only innate to vines, not branches. For a grape to develop on any grape branch, the life of the vine must flow into, and work within, the branch. So it is with us. "I am the vine, you are the branches." This distinction is vital. We must never forget the difference, if we desire to bear fruit. The life we need for fruitfulness is in Him, not in us.

How do we avail ourselves of that life which is essential for fruit? "Abide in Me, and I in you." We are to look to Jesus for life, counting on Him to live in and through us. Then, His life, working in us, brings forth Christlike fruit. How do we know if we are abiding? If we are willing to depend upon Jesus for spiritual fruit as a grape branch relies upon its vine for grapes, then we are truly abiding in Christ. Such dependency brings valid expectation for great measures of Christlikeness to be developing in and through our lives. "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit."

This is clearly grace at work, as seen in the relational realities of humility and faith. Humility is operating as we acknowledge"without Me you can do nothing."  Faith is exercised as we believe" that He who abides in Me . . . bears much fruit."

Lord Jesus, my true vine, I humbly agree with You that I cannot produce spiritual fruit on my own. I admit that apart from You at work in me, I could never manifest any genuine godliness. So, with great expectation I look to You to provide the life I need for much fruitfulness, Amen.