It is interesting how many movies have been made about the end of the world. Over the past 10 to 15 years, there has been a steady flow of movies and TV specials about the how the world will end. You would think that they know something we don’t. Personally, I believe that they see the handwriting on the wall. In the 1^st century, the Christians believed that the end of the world was in their lifetime. They were preparing for the end by sitting on the rooftops. Those Christians suffered many things that we haven’t. They were persecuted by the Roman Empire to the point, they thought that they would become extinct. The Apostle Paul had to write to them and tell that the end wasn’t now, but they were to prepare as if it was. One thing that the first church did have was conviction. There was no doubt in their minds that Christ was real and for them. Even though the Roman Empire was trying to kill them off as fast as them could find them. What was interesting, the Christian church in the 1^st century didn’t have a bible to read. Having a portable readable bible didn’t happen for another 1500 years. In the past 500 years, the bible has become the most sold book in history. Most families have 2 or 3 bibles in their home and there is more unbelief in Christ than ever. I guess what is needed is persecution like in the 1^st century. Then there would be no doubt that Christ is real, alive and for us. Guess what, it is coming.

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I was talking to a friend about health insurance. Her husband’s company didn’t send the renewal paperwork in time. Then when they sent it, it wasn’t the right paperwork they needed. This year if you don’t have health insurance, you will pay a fine on your income tax form. Of which, the deadline is coming up shortly. I told my friend our President and Congress are in no man’s land, trying to find their way home. if you don’t know the reference, it refers to the middle of a battle, where no one can survive for long. It is funny, I have been working in no man’s land for a long time. I go in to rescue people caught in the middle of the battle. Sometimes it is very hard to do. I get tired in the middle of the battle. But I know that every person rescued is a soul saved out of hell. It isn’t always fun, but it is interesting. As a soldier for Christ, I do my duty and have for 40 years. The battle doesn’t always go like you want it to. But I know of the final victory for God. I look forward to that when I will walk the streets of gold. Until then, I will carry on in my duty toward God and mankind.

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People always try to obtain peace through the use of things. People use drugs, alcohol and money to obtain peace. I have seen people contort their bodies to reach peace. Some people climb mountains. Some people isolate themselves to find it. In 1983, Congress declared The Year of the Bible in the United States. They took a Gallup Poll to find out what was the most important things in people’s lives. The results were as astonishing as Congress passing a bill to declare The Year of the Bible. People said what they wanted most in their lives was Love, Joy and Peace. These are the first 3 gifts of the Holy Spirit. You see you can never obtain peace through the things of the world. The only way you can obtain peace is through a relationship with God. You have got to understand that having chaos in your life isn’t the lack of peace. People look at me in the middle of turmoil and think I’m crazy but I’m not going crazy. I laugh a lot also. Because I understand the scripture that says, the peace of God that passes all understanding, will keep your mind and your heart.

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On a sad note, it seems that people want to blame everyone else for their troubles. It is because my dad or my mom or my brother or sister. This is the best excuse or the worst one yet, the devil made me do it. Excuses are everywhere. Why be accountable when you can blame somebody else? I don’t need to take charge of my life when someone else is making me choose wrong things. It seems ludicrous. But this is the order of the day. How did a people come so far away from the truth? Life has never been fair. What you want to accomplish takes patience and work and setbacks. Nothing is ever perfect all the time. There will be trials in your life. But you don’t have to create trouble for yourself when there is enough to go around. A friend was injured in Iraq. His back was fractured in IED explosion. At first he couldn’t walk, then with treatment a miracle happening and he could walk with assistance. He was fussing and fretting over not walking. He had told me before that God had called him into the ministry. I told him that God didn’t need his legs for the ministry. God wanted him to go into the ministry. That was the real question, whether or not he would answer the call. No more excuses for him, he had to choose. He choose God. He went to bible school and guess what happened? He was healed and walks today, because he had to walk through to get to the other side. It is the same for all of us. We have to choose what we are going to do in this life. There are no excuses. And you can’t blame somebody else for your choices. As the bible says, in Psalms 23, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil for You, God, are with me. It is popular to fall into escapism, but it is not profitable for you in this life or in the one to come.

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I have quick mind. I learn very fast, but sometimes applying the knowledge seems to get caught in translation. I seem to be able to apply the knowledge if I talk it out. I remember things from years ago. I can remember a face or a name and have difficulty putting them together. I’ll look at someone and asked if I know you. It is strange how that works. So when I learn a skill I have to put it into practice or lose the ability. Many times I have had to do it over and over again. But I learn the skill. I have had to do the same with the things of God. He gave me 3 basic skills to begin with. They are Faith, Word of Knowledge and Discerning of Spirits. These gifts work by themselves on a hap-hazard way. I had to practice using these skills to develop them in my life. The first time I used a hammer, I hit my thumb. God had me to start with small things, like a headache. Then I could progress to larger things like moving a mountain. It took time and patience to develop these gifts. Eventually God let me use all 9 of them. That was interesting. One day I shook a man’s hand and God showed me his entire life in flash. I’ve seen people healed, delivered and people saved. It took time and dedication. God showed how to use them and they worked in my life. As I tell people I am not unusual. I might be peculiar, but that comes with being a Christian. The only way that these gifts work is if you become a child of God. Then to follow Him. The bible says, Matt.11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (KJV)

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Years ago, I was attending church in Lafayette, La. There was a young man who was a quadriplegic. He could only get around in a wheel chair pushed by someone else. A young woman was helping him with his parents. I was invited to his house by the young women. She wanted me to meet him. He could not speak with his voice, but had developed a system with a pointer on his head to point to letters or words on a board. It was arduous and painstaking to carry on a conversation. But he enjoyed talking to people. We talked for about an hour. It was interesting because there was nothing wrong with his mind only his body. We talked about many things, especially things of the Lord. The last thing he said to me, was what bothered him the most. He said it was the constant drooling that he couldn’t control. I began to cry, because I saw my sin. He couldn’t use his body and nothing could stop me from using mine. Yet I would complain. He couldn’t speak, but I complained when I had to talk to people. He couldn’t walk and I would get tired walking around. I was very much ashamed. He loved life and showed me the truth spirit of Christ in him. And it still affects me today. God is calling people today, where you are and what you are. Turn to Him when He calls and let Him come in. And the weight you carry will be lifted off by God.

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The shame of it all, shame faced, shame on you, bringing shame to your family, shame and dishonor, clothed with shame are some sayings about being ashamed. My wife has always been concerned about being embarrassed. For some reason she thinks that she will be made to look foolish. But embarrassment is a natural part of living. It is there to teach us and instruct us on how to live. It is a natural reaction with physic logical responses. No one likes it when your face turns red and people see that you have made a mistake. But it is necessary. Now shame on the other hand, is a natural response also that will keep us from dying. Everyone is born with shame. It is part of the inner workings of our heart. It is a safeguard for our heart. And yet people do their best to get rid of it as fast as they can. It all has to do with the fall of Adam and Eve. When they sinned against God, they were ashamed of what they did and tried to hide from God. Of course they couldn’t. For the first time in their lives they were ashamed before God. And that curse has stuck ever since. It is important that we have this working in our lives. It does help to keep us out of trouble with God. So when someone says, the shame of it all, you know it is true.  Revelations 16:15 “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”

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In 1983, the United States Congress passed an historic bill. And how it got through Congress was also historic. This historic bill was sponsored by a congressman who was dying of cancer and he wanted to do something significant. He took his bill and posted on the wall of congress. Anyone who wanted to sign it could. There was no debate, no filibuster or no arm twisting. It just passed through Congress. This historic bill was The Year of the Bible. The first time since the time of Christ has a nation declare a Year for God. You wouldn’t believe what happen to this nation. The Gross Nation Product was higher than the pass 20 years. Prosperity came back to this country. Christianity became popular. Churches filled up. People were excited about being an American. Imagine trying to get that bill through this congress. It would take a miracle. Gallup Poll took a survey of the American people. They asked what are the three most important things in your life. The American people responded with a usual answer. It was a strange as the bill itself. The American people said that what was most important in their lives was love, joy and peace. If you don’t know these are the first three gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is what God gives to His children. It is what we need to live in this world. It is also what we did to show that God is alive and well. Joy especially in these times. Joy is that constant knowing that all is well in the world. That God is in control of everything. As God says, the Joy of the Lord is my strength. So rejoice and be glad for this is the day the Lord has given to us.

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My wife and I lost our home to the flood in Louisiana in August of last year. we packed away everything we could save. I have been living with my oldest son and my wife with the older woman she is caring for. We would get together when she was off work. But for 6 months we have been living out of a suitcase. We put in a purchase agreement on a house last year. And guess what, we will sign the paperwork today. When we emptied the house, we lived in for 35 years, it was a major disaster in our lives. I felt so alone. I could hardly stand it. All the things we had accumulated over our life together was destroyed. It’s funny, the things that we could save were great grandmother’s dresser, my grandmother’s hutch and my mother’s secretary desk. They were made of solid wood and built to last for a very long time. We are going to move in this weekend. And all the feelings that I felt when we lost the house are being dreaded up again. What I want to do is just sit on my new porch and pray. It may seem that I am impervious to pain, but it is not true. I am made of flesh and blood and a heart that feels everything. I am sitting here writing this story and crying, partly because of the pain, but mostly for joy. And those who think God is dead, you are sadly mistaken. He is real and alive and has answered my prayers. God has always said, test me and see if I will answer your prayers. Muster your courage and ask Him for your need.

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Yesterday we celebrated a traditional festival known to all Catholic countries and regions as carnival or Mardi Gras. People came out from everywhere to watch a parade of costumed dressed people ride a decorated float throwing to the crowd multicolored beads. It actually was about a dozen parades over the past few days. People were camped out all along the parade route. They were camping with RV’s, tailgating and generally having a good time. After it was all over, my wife and I were driving home from my brother’s house and commenting on the amount of trash thrown on the streets. I was saying that the city workers were going to be busy all night cleaning. A young woman from Oregon working here was talking about how she enjoyed the family camaraderie of the entire area. I told her it was the French culture of hospitality. That culture that made our area of the state unique and a community. It is what drew people from everywhere to live in our state. The sense of community that binds people together in good times and bad. Today starts the season of Lent, 40 days of prayer and fasting in the Catholic church. It is to prepare us for Easter or celebration of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even those people who aren’t Catholic celebrate this occasion because they are part of the family, the body of Christ. And there is nothing more important than family in the church and in our French community.

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