Blessed

I just had a Wow! moment.
While at Bob Evans, a disabled man walked by me on his way back to his seat. I saw him stop my waitress, who clearly knew him well, and speak to her. He's about 4'6", walks with a special cane, and cannot lift his head off his chest. I really don't know if it is acceptable to pity someone in his and similar conditions, but that's what I feel in my gut when I see them.
Then this happens!
The waitress comes to me and says, "Larry wants to buy your meal."
How do you respond to that!?
I barely stuttered out, "That's not necessary, but tell him thanks." (he had already sat down facing away from me)
She gave me my ticket and left.
I sat there wondering if I should personally thank him for the offer, or if that would offend him since I rejected it.
I then overhead him ask the same of his own waitress and heard him say, "The one with the beard."
She looked back at me as I tried to act ignorant of what was going on. She never approached, so when I finished I walked on by him and went to pay.
I'm sure you know what comes next. The cashier and her manager said it had already been paid. A giant lump grew instantly in my throat.
I walked over, took a knee beside his table, thanked him, and said, "God Bless you, Larry."
While Tammy would love for me to say my epic beard won me a free meal, that wasn't it. You see when he had passed my table I had just raised my head from praying and saw that he had stopped, barely in my peripheral, while I thanked God for my breakfast. He wanted to bless me because I asked blessings over my meal. That didn't hit me until I was walking back to the hotel. I hope no one saw my eyes swelling up.
Hebrews 13:1-2 Let brotherly love continue.  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Larry might feel I was his angel today, but in reality he was mine. One who was way more deserving of being blessed chose to bless me. That is not unlike Christ.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I don't deserve anything but hell, but Larry chose to bless me with a meal, and even better Christ chose to bless me with eternal life. Not just me, but for all who believe.
Do me a favor, say a prayer for Larry in Bowling Green, Ohio today.

Sick of the P.C. garbage

Patterson Hood is a politically correct moron. He never liked southern rock until he discovered he could make money off it. He does not speak for the sector of Alabama we both once called home.
He is not a scholar. He is ignorant of history.
As several others are doing, he's choosing to be a pathetic sympathizer to the ignorant masses rather than educate them to the truth.
It's really a shame that a Detroit born southern rocker, Kid Rock, understands more about the flag than an actual southern born man with a legendary father.
I was never taught that slaves were not mistreated. Having all of my schooling in an Alabama classroom, I was actually taught the exact opposite. I was taught how Wallace opposed integration, then flip-flopped when the political winds changed. All of this while a rebel flag flew on the state Capitol, not just on a war monument.
I was also taught that our state battle cry was "Dare We Defend Our Rights!" That same phrase echoes in nearly every thing I do. I exercise my rights, at times, simply because a right not exercised is a right lost.
You cannot forcibly dictate that any of my actions, speech, or expressions are for any motive other than what I insist. I have never hated any person because of their race. I am equally kind, and at times equally angered at people of all races.
I'm sick and tired of people who are too lazy to educate people about their own heritage. It may be easier to just furl the flag you don't like and move on, but you do so at the expense of history.
Did people that hate blacks fight under the battle flag? Yes, but they also fought under the Stars and Stripes on the opposite side of the field. It was American flags that flew from horses, wagons, and barges as American Indians were herded across the wilderness leaving so many dead in their wake. Yet we would not accept an Indian walking on our flag.
Well, I don't accept you walking on the flag of my southern ancestors.
I hope Mr Hood will remember, a REAL southern man don't need him around, anyhow!

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/07/09/magazine/the-souths-heritage-is-so-much-more-than-a-flag.html?referrer&_r=0

Judge not?

What did Jesus say that he came for? "To seek and to save that which was lost" Luke 19:10
2 Peter 3:9 declares, "... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, so in light of the above verses, what is Jesus's main focus in the first five verses of Matthew chapter 7?
It's definitely not that if I'm guilty of a certain sin, I'm forbidden from telling others it's wrong. The standard is always God's standard, not mine or that of anyone else proclaiming God's Truth.
The focus of those five verses is for me to make sure I examine myself, to be certain that I'm not as guilty as the other guy. If I am, the two verses, and countless others, declare that God would rather have me get right, than avoid the subject.
That principle is illustrated in verse 5 where God says to remove the beam from my eye so that I can see better to help my brother remove his mote.
God's Word is never about condemnation. We are already condemned. His desire for us is reconciliation with Him. He's always talking about us getting right.

http://yellowhammernews.com/faithandculture/judge-not-rick-bubba-set-the-record-straight-on-what-the-bible-actually-said/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

Fear

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

Fearing, or attempting to devalue, the fear of the Lord is not only foolish, but absolute sin. Fear does not preclude love, nor does love preclude fear.
We look at fear, anger and jealousy as negative attributes because in our imperfect flesh we don't manage them as well as we could. But just as God coming into our lives makes all thing new, His presence also affects these attributes.
To may people these days seek to change God's Word by removing these attributes and always presenting them in a negative light through some perversion of the Gospel and Grace. God addresses "changers" in Proverbs, also:
Proverbs 24:21-22 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
They say we shouldn't be motivated by fear, yet God says without fear, we can possess no true knowledge, wisdom, or confidence. God says fear prolongs our days. God says the fear of the Lord tendeth to life, itself.
They say God is not angry. God says:
Romans 1:16-18 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Follow these connected verses. The Gospel is first given a stated purpose, salvation. Next verse begins with "For," tying it to the orevious verse. Salvation is wrought by God's righteousness, not ours. Then the next verse also ties in with with "For." There we see the WRATH (anger) of God being against man's sin. Almost seems out of place until you see the connection. God wants us to know that we are accepted into His fold on His merit, but He also wants us to know that he abhors sin and his anger is kindled unto them that not only sin, but those who do so while holding the truth. The word translated "hold" in verse 18 is elsewhere translated as possessing. That's a definite nod to the saved.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Don't fear fear.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Psalms 139:14 KJV

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

A friend is pregnant and said she feels a bug coming on. She is a good mommy and has chosen to stay Rx free.
That made me think of this verse. I don't think it's a coincidence that God made maternity just long enough for the baby, in his mother's protection, to experience nearly every seasonal change.
We know our immune system is programmable, otherwise we'd be wasting time with a lot of early childhood shots. So there in protection of the womb, mommy's immune system starts training Jr how to deal with the climate long before mommy gets to bundle him up for the 5 second walk to the car.
I'm not going into a rant against medicine and immunizations, they've both, along with better food preparation and preservation, contributed to longer life. But have you ever wondered why young children were ever able to survive being born and raised in harsh climates prior to all the medical discoveries?
Perhaps it's because we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a marvelous God.

Happy Veterans Day

"I, Ralph Harold Fiscus, Jr, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

It matters not the reason why one takes this oath. The noble call of patriotism, a ticket away from home, college money, a "job", travel, or just a childhood dream, all mean the same. Your enlistment presents your life as a blank check, payable on any battlefield your country needs you on.
No soldier loves war, but all soldiers are willing to fight one with the hope that it's the last one.
Say a prayer today for the men and women still fighting and standing for our freedoms.
I offer a heartfelt Thank You to all my brothers and sisters in arms, past and present. It was truly an honor to serve with you.
Thank You to the greatest country on earth for affording me the opportunity to serve. I am who I am today because of hard-nosed NCOs who wouldn't allow me to give up, and if I failed, taught me to adapt and overcome.
And Thank You to every person who takes the time to thank us for our service, a period of our lives where we believe we gained more than we gave.
Happy Armistice Day!
Happy Veterans Day!

All about Me

You wanna know why we have more suicides and mass shootings? Because we are a selfie driven society that has been fed the lie that it's all about "I".

Matthew 22:36-40 KJV

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.    This is the first and great commandment.    And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.    On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

We have no problem sharing our assumed "beauty" with the world through endless selfies, promoting our own selves like we're running for office, but we place service to others on a lower level. How about doing something solely for the benefit of others? What's wrong with serving?
Notice that directly below loving God, Jesus places the command to love our neighbors. That's everyone, not just those nearby. He says "as thyself." He uses that because as he says elsewhere "No man hateth himself." He knew that no command needed to be given for us to love ourselves. The Bible tells us to esteem others better than ourselves. It's not about YOU, it's about THEM.
Just a short time ago we all asked how Robin Williams could make so many people happy, yet be so depressed. It seemed that he thought only of us, his fans, and neglected himself. No, it's the exact opposite. Sure, he made us laugh, he even did things for others at great personal cost, but his substance abuse and final exit reveal that his care of himself won out over his care for others. He left at his own hand, not caring what it meant to his wife, his kids, or his fans. That's selfish.
So we live in a self-help world where money is made hand over fist telling us how to love ourselves. That's why Mrs Charlatan Osteen was able to get a resounding amen from the crowd after saying we shouldn't be serving and worshipping for God, but for ourselves. That's the kind of heresy that makes money in our "all about me" society.
Do something for others today. Not because they can't do it themselves, but because your Creator says it's the very next greatest thing to loving God.

Matthew 25:34-40 KJV

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:    For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:    Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.    Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?    When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?    Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?    And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Convictions

1 Corinthians 6:12 KJV

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

If I were perfect, I'd have no need for Christ. Thankfully I do have Christ.
Because I have Christ, there are some things that are not profitable or expedient in the Holy Spirit's quest to conform me to the image of Christ.
That fact puts many of my friends in two categories:
1) Some find my convictions and preferences silly, antiquated, and unnecessary. Those people tend to, by word or deed, attempt to persuade me to ease up and let some things go.
2) Others see unprofitable things still in my life and, out of concern for my family and I, will bring those concerns to me. Yes, it happens. I wish I could say I always heeded their counsel, but I remind you of my opening statement, "If I were perfect, I'd have no need for Christ." But as a certainty, I count these people as my only true friends.

Church is full of imperfect saints. Our commission is sharing the Gospel, but the purpose of our fellowship with each other is edification.

Vain Service

Matthew 7:22-23 KJV

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?    And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Notice that the claim of prophesying, casting out devils, and many wonderful works is not disputed. Because of that, I have no reason to believe that these people didn't actually perform those acts, in the name of Christ. But He said he NEVER knew them.

Never let your service fool you into believing that you stand where you ought to be with God.
We obtain salvation through belief in Christ. If these folks could have the faith to confront devils, but not even actually believe in Christ, then you better believe that YOUR service will not hide your disobedience in other areas. It's not a shell game with God. If your response to rebuke is a prideful pointing out of what "you" do for Christ, you've missed the whole point.

1 Samuel 15:22-23 KJV

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord , he hath also rejected thee from being king.

In a way, service can often be obedience, but in its truest form it is a sacrifice of our time, efforts, and ability. It is NOT to be neglected, but it is also not to stand alone. It will not cover sin in our lives.

I Stand With Cliven Bundy

Those who oppose Nevada Rancher Cliven Bundy because he is breaking the law, opposing court orders, might want to consider the implications had the men in this picture simply "obeyed the law," stopped their protest, and went home, complying with every whim of their government.

The rights of free citizens are at jeopardy when the government can claim ownership to land within the sovereign boundaries of a State, leave that land to just waste away, then charge a fee for ranchers to just graze their cattle on unused land. That land belongs to the State, not the federal government.
In the 60's men saw segregation as normal because if hadn't even been 100 years since blacks were considered property. As a nation we still had some maturing to do on the issue.

With the Cliven Bundy issue it is just the opposite. 200 years ago no one in this nation would stand for our centralized government seizing State lands. Nobody ever deeded that land to DC, they just took it. But over the years as we slowly began accepting DC control into every aspect of our lives, we have lost freedoms inch by inch, yard by yard, mile by mile, farm by farm, and ranch by ranch.
Even my own initial opinion was slanted due to my strict law and order views. But when I discovered the deeper aspects of this case, I realized the I AM CLIVEN BUNDY. We are ALL Cliven Bundy. Does he have a personal struggle with DC? YES! But he also realizes that his struggle is a much bigger issue of citizen rights.

The black men in this pic are breaking the law. The law says they are not really men, not granted the same rights as the white guys in the pic. All across the country they broke laws. On buses, bridges, courthouse lawns, and university property, they broke laws and many were arrested, beaten, and jailed. But eventually thei actions led to change. So much change that in modern society, just 50 years later, one would never dare posting a whites only sign on any business. 

This is the kind of change that needs to come of the Bundy Ranch crisis. While he might lose his battle, and might even be killed by the jack booted thugs and snipers, his actions and the actions of others need to lead to a world where in some short time from now, we will no longer even fathom the idea of DC claiming ownership to state, city, or even personal property.

It starts now. Mr Bundy has opened a door that we all MUST enter. Not doing so just makes you a slave, and not a man.