Here's something interesting...try to start a Christian club in a public school...I know that is somewhat off-topic, but I think that would start even more controversy than any other club would...am I right???

   You're right. After all, somebody might see a Holy Bible or hear a prayer. It would cause a horrible stir, even though there is a lengthy history of using public buildings for church services.

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to moira3,

I think that most of what you are seeing here is sarcastic wit between friends.

I'm Scotch Irish Cherokee short ugly Christian American Okie. I couldn't find a club for us, so I'll settle with my Brothers and Sisters in Christ and be done with it.  

Love in Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Tamara,

There are many things I'll never forget that I don't enjoy talking about (i.e. the dying, dead, maimed, the children, and worse). Some people's lives appear to explode and torn to shreds before your very eyes. God's Word is many times the only medicine that will help. For many officers, God's Word is a frequent and powerful tool.

In Christ,
Tom

If we accept the "LIGHT", the "LIGHT" lives in us and should shine through us to a dark and dying world.

I am sorry but it is impossible for a baby to "accept" the light.
Other than that I liked where you were going.

Psalms 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

One of my favorite verses.

Oklahoma Howdy to Left Coast,

Brother, I'm not sure that I understand what you mean. By the way, that is also one of my favorite Scriptures.

It's been a long time since I've studied specific issues about the Salvation of babies. Many things changed at the CROSS WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS. It is true that a baby is born with a sin nature, but the baby has not committed sin nor could be accountable for sin. I've always been taught that if a baby dies, the baby belongs to Jesus and goes directly to Jesus. I know that I remember THE CROSS AND ACCOUNTABILITY being the two key issues with babies in death.

I'll be happy to get more specific information for you if you want me to. I'm going to be pretty busy with 2 grandsons, both babies, over the next day or two. The oldest one is just starting to talk. Unless there is something in the Bible I don't know about, both babies belong to Jesus if anything happens to them.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

I've already said it, but I'll say it again, WELCOME BACK AMBASSADOR4CHRIST, WE MISSED YOU!

I give thanks that he was gone for only a short time. Ambassador4Christ started posting Two Minutes With The Bible here, and it was a real blessing to many. I loved it and subscribed.

I posted it in his absence, but our Brother is back. Start looking for new issues of Two Minutes With the Bible where they used to be, RIGHT HERE, posted by Ambassador4Christ. I'd like to say thanks one more time for sharing such a beautiful and Biblical devotion with us each day.

In Christ,
Tom
 

   

Southern University Psychology:
 
At a southern university, students in the psychology program were attending their first class on emotional extremes.

"Just to establish some parameters," said the professor to the student from Arkansas, "what is the opposite of joy?"

"Sadness," said the student.

"And the opposite of depression?" he asked of the young lady from Oklahoma.

"Elation," she said.

"And you sir," he said to the young man from Texas, "what about the opposite of woe?"

The Texan replied, "Sir, I believe that would be 'giddy up' ".
 
 

OK, now I fully expect to be paid back from a Texan.

 

       Good ones!

For Tibby,

Sleepwalking Nun:
 
What do you call a sleepwalking nun?

....

A Roamin' Catholic.

 

 

Titus 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

This is a beautiful portion of Scripture. Many illustrations and comparisons could be made here, but I want to mention only one, "LIGHT".

The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation is a "LIGHT" to a dark and dying world. The children of darkness and despair are invited to the "LIGHT" and offered a new life and inheritance as an adopted child of God.

If we accept the "LIGHT", the "LIGHT" lives in us and should shine through us to a dark and dying world. The "LIGHT" is a testimony through us and we are charged to avoid the things of darkness so as to burn brightly as children of the "LIGHT". This is difficult and we can't do it alone, but there is help from the Holy Spirit, the armour of "LIGHT", and HIS HOLY WORD on this journey.

Our hope is "LIGHT" as glory is "LIGHT", and we look for the glorious appearing of the "LIGHT", the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Mr. 5020,

Thanks for the link to the article. I think that all pro-choicers should read this article and others. It is sickening how some folks think about the gift of life from Almighty God. That life is given by God and that life belongs to God.

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Ambassador4Christ,

AMEN!

Thank you Brother. That is a beautiful site.

In Christ,
Tom

Hoekstra Devotion - October 4

More on Contrasting Results for Self-Exaltation and Humility

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" . . . everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.  (Luk_18:13-14)

Our present meditation continues Jesus' parable that warns against self-righteousness and encourages lowliness of mind. In this teaching, the Lord declares contrasting results for self-exaltation and humility. "Everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." The contrasting examples in the parable are the prayers of a vainglorious religious leader and a contrite publican.

The Pharisee's prayer was addressed to himself and was filled with glorying about himself. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men . . . I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess' " (Luk_18:11-12). In stark contrast to this arrogant, feigned prayer, the tax collector would not so much as lift his countenance toward heaven. Instead, he pounded his guilt-ridden chest, humbly pleading for mercy. "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner'!" His attitude was like David, who knew he could not withstand the righteous judgment of God. "Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous" (Psa_143:2).

These two men (who both appeared to be praying to God) faced drastically differing results. "I tell you, this man [the humble publican] went down to his house justified rather than the other [the self-righteous religious leader]" (Luk_18:14). The self-exalting Pharisee was abased. He was dishonored before God and confirmed in his guilty, unrepentant state. "Everyone who exalts himself will be abased." The humble tax collector was exalted. Through humble dependence, he was raised up to the blessed realm of justification. "To him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" (Rom_4:5). He was declared not guilty, forgiven, righteous in God's sight. "He who humbles himself will be exalted."

Lord God, I deserve to be abased for the times I have exalted myself in Your sight. I want to take my stand with this repentant tax collector. I want to humble myself before You, pleading Your mercy. I hope in You to lift me up to new realms of obedience, godly growth, and service, through Christ Jesus, my Lord, Amen.

FRIDAY OCT 3, 2003 - NOTHING BUT A NOTHING

"Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" (1 Peter 3:15).

Many sincere believers are apt to put up an insincere front in order to "protect the Gospel." so as not to "let the Lord down."  But He will increase, if we but decrease.  There is nothing like being nothing!

"It is true that there is the hunger to be devoted, and to be like the Lord Jesus, long before one's acts and manner corroborate the hunger, and make it a fact; but the more the hungers which grace has generated  in your heart are given a place, the sooner will they become experiential facts; and the more the Lord Jesus has His throne within you, the more you will 'rejoice in Him and have no confidence in the flesh' " (Philippians 3:3).

" 'I know so little of the Lord Jesus,' one may say, and this may be true; but every grace that is in Him is in every saint, though not developed.  If I am a babe in Christ, where there is true lowliness of heart, I display God, as a babe manifesting Him; but if, as a babe, I am attempting to manifest Him as a man, there will be frustration and failure.

"My wisdom will be, not to set myself up above that which I really am. If walking in true lowliness and manifesting that measure of the Lord Jesus in which we have grown, there will be certain progress." ----W.K.

"Perhaps there is nothing so hard as not to appear anything but what you are. If you do so to your advantage, you will be some day found out, but if to your disadvantage, there is no doubt that He who searcheth the heart and trieth the reins will one day vindicate you."

"I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11).

MILES J. STANFORD

2 Tim 2:15  Study to show thyself approved unto God, a  workman  that needeth  not  to  be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"FOR OF HIM, AND THROUGH HIM, AND TO HIM, ARE ALL THINGS:  TO WHOM BE GLORY FOR EVER AMEN."

Web Site:
Grace And The Truth
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Email:
GraceNtheTruth Email Ministry
and
The Grace Prayer Group
GraceNTheTruth@aol.com

Please forward this to a friend or family member. Click the email link above and request a subscription to the "Daily Inspirational". We will be happy to add you to our email list.

Oklahoma Howdy to Whitehorse and Bronzesnake,

Whitehorse, I will be praying for your friend daily. I'll also be praying for you that God gives you guidance and patience in leading your friend to Christ.

Bronzesnake, I will continue to pray for you Brother and for your doctors that God gives them guidance in providing the best medical treatment for you.

Love in Christ,
Tom

Subject: Two Minutes With The Bible - Oct 4

THE DAY OF ITCHING EARS

For the professing Church the day of theological con-
troversy has passed. Ecumenism is now the word on every
tongue. Church leaders appear to have become convinced
that the stifling confusion in the Church can be overcome
only by all of us getting together, minimizing our differ-
ences and emphasizing those doctrines on which we all
agree. As a result some of the most important doctrines of
Scripture are neither denied nor affirmed; they are ignored.
But little matter, for the objective now is not to be true to
the written Word of God, but to see to it that the Church is
"strong" and commands the world’s respect.

Ecumenism, sad to say, has made significant inroads
among evangelical believers too. All too seldom do men of
God stand up to defend by the Scriptures the truths they
believe and proclaim. Theological debate has given place to
the dialogue, in which two individuals or groups sit down
together to discuss their differences and see if there is not
some basis for agreement. This appears generous and objec-
tive but too often convictions are compromised and the
truth watered down by such undertakings, with the result
that the Spirit’s power is sacrificed for numerical strength.
No man of God can speak in the power of the Spirit when
he places anything before the Word and Will of God. Nor
can the Church ever be truly united and strong unless she
puts God’s Word and Will first and takes her place in the
world as Christ’s embassy on alien territory (See II Cor.
5:20).

Written by Pastor Stam

Subscribe at:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
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P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

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Telephone:   262-255-4750

[not to be saved]

This is exactly the point, the person that is saved, will produce good works for God, but not to be saved; but becuase that person is saved

Ya think? What have we been argueing about?

Oklahoma Howdy to Brother Tibby,

This question has been discussed throughout the ages, sometimes bitterly and sometimes from a Biblical perspective that tends to build up the participants.

One such discussion from a Biblical perspective involved justification before men as opposed to justification before Almighty God. This discussion can lead to the walk of the believer and the testimony of the believer, both being important topics. Paul and James both addressed this and other issues.

The argument on the far end of the spectrum involves Paul or James, one or the other having to be wrong. Throughout the ages, the argument went so far as to say that the writings of one or the other needed to be removed from the Holy Bible. Some went so far as to say one had to be a heretic. These arguments were usually bitter and usually involved a legalist claiming Paul to be a heretic. If you think about it, there are a large number of people throughout the ages who have never accepted the Gospel of the Grace of God, nor have they accepted Jesus Christ as being the Son of God.

The reality is that Paul and James DO NOT conflict or contradict each other. They mesh perfectly within the Gospel of the Grace of God.

In Christ,
Tom