Developing a Relationship


I was just watching a circus act of a man and eight horses. He rode two of them in the roman style of riding, standing on their backs. Then the other horses came out and performed together with him. What struck me is that he had a strong relationship with the horses. Horses are curious animals. They don’t trust very easily. And they can sense fear in any person who rides them. If you want the horses to obey your commands, you have to connect with them. Otherwise the horse is uneasy and may not obey your command. It was obvious that this man had spent many hours with these horses training them. It was also obvious that he cared a great deal for these horses and they knew it. What he had done was to develop a relationship with them. It is the same for our pets. We put a lot of time into their care and feeding. Our pets respond with affection and obedience. Then tell me, why is man so short-sighted in their relationship with God? If it takes time and effort to develop a relationship, why aren’t there more with God? Our parents put in time and effort to see that we were taken care of. They even sacrifice things for themselves to give to us. Just to see that we had what we needed to grow up. The same is true with God. He sacrificed for us that we might be able to grow up and live the life He always wanted for us. I’ll ask the question again. Why is man so short-sighted in their relationship with God? Take time and develop a relationship with God before it is too late.

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The Strength of the Community


Today, 1/3 of all monies spent in America, goes to entitlements, social security, Medicare or welfare. Though they have value, our system is being over burdened with debt. The sentiment behind these systems were honorable. The people who started these programs wanted to help people who hit hard times, but not to support them for their entire life. When people immigrated to this country, there was no guarantee that money was available to anyone who didn’t work. There was only hope that people would help you get started in life. What the people had was a community of like-minded people. And based on the strength of that community, it prospered or failed. Abraham Lincoln left his Kentucky to move to little town in Illinois that came into existence a year before. He lived there doing any kind of work he could find. Abraham lived there for 10 years, then he moved to Springfield, Ill., to study to be a lawyer. That little town went out of existence a year after he left. This same story has been played out in every community across this land. Where people help each other to make a living to raise their family and become part of a community. The key is that everyone does their part to build the community. Working together building a life to be proud. Then you have a community of people to be proud of. The work ethic is part of this nation’s history and heritage. When it is taken away, what you get is nothing. This is why the message of this president rings true in every heart. It is the strength of the community that will make this nation great again.

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Destiny


What would you give for the chance to obtain your dreams? Would you leave your native home, cross an ocean, to a place that doesn’t speak your language? Would you up root your family, not knowing whether or not you could survive? Then getting there, meant that you had to work for slave wages to provide for your family. Then working in unsafe conditions that actually killed many people. All this just to be able to live a life free for tyranny. And calling this place the promised land. What would you do to reach this land? Would you stowaway on ships, swim rivers, go through deserts to reach this promised land? Always being afraid that you would be caught and deported or killed. When you got to the promised land, people hated you because they came before you. They didn’t want you to take their jobs or positions. Trying to learn a foreign language than would someday become your native tongue. But knowing in your heart that this was the right thing to do. Would you take that chance to live a life you always dreamed of? This land is a country of immigrants. They came from every nation in the world. Wanting what was promised, that they could be free and raise their family with dignity. My family immigrated to this country 400 years ago. They weren’t wealthy or politically important. But made their way through struggles and wars. They came from every circumstance and situation in the world. Only to speak one language, American.

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Pro-Active


In every generation, there is the catch-word of the day. It is an effort to identify that generation as an individual. Some catch-words have been less than intelligent, while others are brilliant. It is like leisure suits, bell-bottom pants and platform shoes. Of which I never wore one of them. I did have long hair and a beard. All of this was an effort to figure out who we were. I know who I wanted to be, but it didn’t always work out that way. I really didn’t figure out who I was or what I really wanted out of life until God got a hold of my life. God took me to school and taught me about life. I saw what I could do and what I was doing. On my own, I really didn’t live up to my potential. I fell short of most things because I didn’t believe that I could do it. As God taught me, I began to see what options were available to me. As they say the sky was the limit. As God took me through my paces, I began to work in the kingdom of God. I have seen so many miracles. It never gets old or boring. I found that what God says in the bible is true and for me to accomplish. Anything that God says in the bible isn’t unreasonable for me to accomplish. It is about faith, believing and trusting that God is real and for me. You know what is sad, is that we should be a super race of people. Where we live our lives like Adam did in the Garden of Eden. Not like the disgraced and defeated people we have become. I have become Pro-Active in the kingdom of God and affect the world around me. Just think if we all did that, there would be no sickness, disease, poverty or lack of anything.

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Heart to Heart #7


I am continuing this blog to Christians. It took years for God to cleanse my heart of all the worldly things. But I had to be willing to allow Him to clean my heart. It hurt sometimes more than I wanted. But I knew that once God had finished, I would be clean and be able to see clearly. I didn’t like the process, but I like the results. Now I will tell you a truth, the process is on-going. Why would God have to continually cleanse my heart? Because I am an imperfect man. I will be perfect when I cross over into heaven. But until that time, I have to let God find things in my heart. There is an interesting thing that God said about us. He said that when Jesus returns we will see Him. Because we will be like Him. That is an interesting question. Who is like Jesus? How many of you can say for certain that you are like Jesus? Because if you aren’t, you will not see Jesus when He returns. It is a scary thing, saying that you will be raptured out of the earth and you can’t see Jesus. It means that you aren’t going anywhere. Just because you walked up to the altar and asked Jesus to forgive you, doesn’t mean you have a place in heaven. Jesus said those that endure until the end of their life will be saved. Christianity isn’t about church or any organization or your participation in any outreach. You can’t give money to get into heaven. You can’t sneak in or come by any other door. It is by Jesus only that you can enter into heaven. So, the question is, do you know Jesus and Him crucified? Christianity is about knowing God and Jesus. And having faith and trust in them both. And walking from here to heaven on God’s path. There is no other way. I hope and pray you are still with me and will enter into the kingdom of God.  God bless and keep you.

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Heart to Heart #6


I am continuing this discussion with Christians. You know what breaks my heart. This is the 6th day I have written on this topic and there are people who have gone into eternity thinking I was wrong. I have never given anyone my opinion. Every topic I discussed was straight out of the bible. God said, to combat heresy, you tell the truth, not your opinion. So, where is your life headed? Are you assured of life after this existence on earth? The bible says that we have a witness in our heart, that tells us we are children of God. Of course, the witness is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said He would send a teacher that would show us who we are and where to go. Again, that teacher is the Holy Spirit. Now if the teacher lives in your heart, why isn’t your life reflecting the life of God? Long ago, God showed me that all the great men and women of God were just ordinary Christians. Jesus commanded us to go into the world and do the works of God. He said that we would do more than He did on this earth, because He sits in heaven next to God. Jesus sits next to God ever interceding for us. With the Holy Spirit in us teaching and leading, we should set the world on fire with the gospel. And yet all I see is that Christianity is waning. Churches are on the decline. The Church has become a business and God is left out. So, where is the life of God? Why doesn’t your life reflect God to this lost and dying world? I tell you what, you can stand before God and tell Him why you didn’t accomplish His plan in your life. That is a dangerous place to be. There is nothing on this earth as dangerous or risky than to stand before God and explain why you failed. Remember what Jesus said, I never knew you. I’ll continue tomorrow if we are all here and God allows.

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Heart to Heart #5


I am continuing this discussion to Christians. I have ended each blog with the saying that I will continue tomorrow. Now I ask you how many tomorrows to you have left? Our lives are compared to the wind that is here now and gone tomorrow. We aren’t guaranteed tomorrow. All that God gives us is now, today is the day. So how do you live today? Is it the way the God wants for us? Or are you living for yourself? It is a sad way to live, because when your life is through, it is just you. Then where will you be? No one in this world has the power to do anything? You can’t change a thing in your life. Only with the power of God, can anything in your life change. And I can hear people say that I have accomplished many things. There are going to be people who lived in the church and did many things like, visiting the sick, given to the poor and even prophesying. And when they reach the judgement of God, Jesus is going to say depart from Me for I never knew you. It isn’t the church or any denomination that will get you to heaven. It is the knowledge, faith and trust in Jesus that open the gates of heaven for you. The saddest thing on this earth is that only a few people will ever make it into heaven. And it is by their own choice that it will happen. God doesn’t condemn people. It is by the choice that people make. You have to choose to go to hell. God’s heart is that everyone would go to heaven. As a Christian, where do you stand in God’s plan? Are you willing to be in the presence of God and allow God to fulfill His purpose in our lives? I will continue this discussion tomorrow, if you are with us.

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Heart to Heart #4


I am continuing this blog series to Christians. I know that some people will not understand what I am writing, but please just listen. As Jesus began to teach the disciples how to be believers, He taught them to pray and ask God to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. Everyone knows the prayer as the Lord’s Prayer. It is an example of how to pray, but it is also an example of how we are to live on this earth. For myself, I have focused on one part of that prayer as a ministry. It is the part that says, Thy will be done on this earth as it is in heaven. To accomplish that part in my life, I have had to live in the presence of God. I not only live there, but studied the bible until it became real and practiced in my life. When God had Moses to deliver the children of Israel and bring them to Mount Sinai, God had a plan for Israel. After Moses prepared the people to meet God, everyone gathered at the mountain. When God descended on Mount Sinai, the earth shook, the trumpets of God sounded and fire broke out on the mount. The people of God saw this heavenly power displayed and became afraid. They turned to Moses and said, you go talk to God and we will listen to you. They gave up the chance to be kings and priests to God. God wants everyone to be able to come to Him and talk to Him directly. And it is happening all over again. Unfortunately, it happens far too often. God wants His children to live in His presence all the time.  It is a choice that you have to make. God will not force you to do anything. Now the devil will force you. I will continue this discussion tomorrow.

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Heart to Heart #3


I’m continuing a series about what I see in the kingdom of heaven. Please just bear with me and just listen. I have watched churches come and go. I started with the Lord in a revival that lasted almost 5 years. The church was 1500 strong. So many people came to that church were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. In that time period, almost every church in town was filled to capacity. It was phenomenal. It had an elementary school, as well as bible college. God was doing so many miracles, it was hard to keep up with it all. Then the pastors got into an argument and split the church. They each went there way and God left. The revival ended as fast as it had started. Today that church has about 25 people in it. It was 40 years ago, a generation. Christianity isn’t about a church or denomination. It is about your relationship with God. Yes, God wants us to fellowship together to provide support for each other. But Christianity is about your ongoing faith and belief in God. Where we trust and believe that God is going to bring us from here to heaven. I have never looked to a man to follow. I only look to God and His direction. I respect Pastors and Teacher for the work in the kingdom they do. But it is you and God alone. With that belief, you will be able to overcome the world and see the kingdom of God come to this earth. I’ll will continue this discussion tomorrow.

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Heart to Heart #2


Today I am continuing a message to Christians. This message has been heavy on my heart for a long time. Please just bear with me and just listen. Whenever God is going to do something, He always starts at His house first. We as Christians aren’t immune to the troubles of this world. Wherever we live, we will face the same troubles. I was flooded out in August of last year. As God says, it rains on the just and the unjust. So, we have to bear the extra burden of this world as well as the battle against darkness. God doesn’t force us to continue on in the kingdom of heaven. I have seen many a Christians get to a place and just sit down. It was because they didn’t want to bear the burden anymore. I know how hard it is to be on the front lines for any length of time. It can cost you everything. When Elijah ran for his life, because Jezebel was going to kill him. Elijah complained to God that he was the only believer left. God corrected him and said that there were more than 7000 believers who had not bowed to the devil. The assault by the enemy has been formidable. He isn’t strong enough to overthrow God’s kingdom. But what he does is to attack strays and weaker Christians. He wants to stop them from being Christians. If he can get them to sit down and stop praying and sharing the gospel, he wins somewhat. And the Christian’s life goes into chaos. I’ll continue this tomorrow.

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