A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven.
You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in."
"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth three points!"
"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."
"Terrific!" says St.Peter. "That's certainly worth a point."
"One point!?!!"
"I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."
"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," he says.
"Two points!?!! "Exasperated, the man cries.
"At this rate the only way I'll get into heaven is by the grace of God."
"Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!"
We often try to fix problems with WD-40 and duct tape. God did it with nails.
01.28.06
NO CROSSES ON FEDERAL PROPERTY???
Did you see in the news that the ACLU doesn't want any crosses on Federal property?
Crosses on Federal Property?
Well, duh......... (Scroll Down)
Let them try and remove these!
11.21.05
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
11.19.05
ONE SIN, TEENAGER!
"A single cigarette can affect heart function" was the heading of a medical report on ABCNEWS.com. The heart's key pumping chamber experiences an abrupt change with the smoking of just one cigarette. Dr. R.G. Lee had a famous sermon on "One Sin" from the text of James 2:10 that tells us if a man keeps "the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." One drink has led to the slavery of drunkeness; one sexual indescretion, to a lifetime of lust; one lie, to a tangled web of deceit; one theft, to years in prison. Many a student has been led astray by just one faulty professor.
Many a sinner remains lost because he listened to the foul advice of just one unsaved preacher who proclaims "another gospel" (Galatians 1:6). Many a teen has landed in the fiery pit of the same Hell that they so carelessly and flippantly thought was just a swear word to make them sound "tough" each time they uttered it.
Christian teen, it takes only one missed opportunity to witness to a friend or loved one to seal their eternity in the place where "the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched". One is also the number of times required for you to distract an one unsaved person in Sunday School. It may be one outspoken word, one action, one look that diverts their focus from the Word of God to your selfishness. You then become the one, and maybe the only one to face God with the blood of that sinner on your hands.
They say that one is a lonely number, but in the context of this devotion, it can turn out to be a very BIG number. One sin, teenager! Be careful of the number 1!!!
October 25, 2005
(Preached in Teen Sunday School Class 10.23/05)
Christ For Me
I. Christ the Purpose of Life
“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21)
A. Allowed Paul to do three things:
1. To Rest in God's Security (1:1-12) “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (1:6)
2. To Rejoice in great Suffering (1:13-20)
“My bonds in Christ…” (1:13)
3. To Remain in glad Service (1:21-30)
II. Christ the Pattern For Life
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (2:5)
A. What the Son Did What the Father Did
Left Heaven's Glory ---> He exalted His Son
Made self of no reputation ---> A name above all other names
Made in the likeness of men
He took on the form of a servant
He humbled himself
He became obedient unto death
He died on a cursed cross ---> Made Christ universally acknowledged as Lord of all
III. Christ the Prize of Life
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14)
A. What Paul Gained by Accepting Jesus Christ
1. He gained a new knowledge (3:7,8)
2. He gained a new righteousness (3:9)
3. He gained a new power (3:10)
4. He gained a new goal (3:11-17)
5. He gained a new hope (3:20,21)
IV. Christ the Power of Life
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (4:13)
A. This Power can unify
B. This Power can magnify
C. This Power can fortify
D. This Power can exemplify
E. This Power can satisfy
F. This Power can justify
G. This Power can ratify
H. This Power can sanctify
I. This Power can multiply
J. This Power can glorify
October 18, 2005
The Devil's Beatitudes
Whew...talk about the hot seat!!! This one will make you stop and shudder!
If the devil were to write his beatitudes, they would probably go something
like this:
1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend
an hour once a week with their fellow Christians -- they are my best
workers.
2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.
3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church -- they are my missionaries.
4. Blessed are the trouble makers -- they shall be called my children.
5. Blessed are the complainers -- I'm all ears to them.
6. Blessed are those who are bored with the preacher's mannerisms and mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons.
7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church -- for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
8. Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.
9. Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit.
10. Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God's work-- for they are among my best helpers.
11. Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister -- for he shall be with me forever.
12. Blessed are you who, when you read this think it is about other peopleand not yourself -- I've got you too!
HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
I. Sufficient For Salvation
A. Old Testament “Rollover” Blood Sacrifice
1.) Provided a covering until Jesus came
2.) Had to be repeated yearly
B. Justice and Mercy Were at Odds
1.) Justice required a sacrifice (Ps 89:14)
2.) Mercy begs compassion for misery (119:24)
C. Justice and Mercy Met at Calvary & Kissed(85:10)
II. Sufficient For Our Sin Problem
A. Abounding Grace (Romans 5:20)
B. Purging, cleansing, restoring Grace (Psalm 51:5-12)
III. Sufficient For Our Suffering (2 Cor. 12:7-11)
A. Paul's “thorn in the flesh”
IV. Sufficient For Our Sorrow
Duty and the Performance of God's Will (Colossians 3:1-25)
- Time
- Talent
- Treasure
- Testimony
- Temple
I. In Relation to the son of God (Col. 3:1-4)
- Seek Him
- Love Him
- Honor Him
II. In Relation to the Word of God (Col. 3:16)
III. In Relation to the Work of God (Col. 3:17)
- Do it inWord
- Do it in Deed
- Do it in Gratitude (Psalm 68:19)
IV. In Relation to the Peace of God (3:15)
- Yield to it
- Follow it
- Fulfill it
V. In Relation to Our Talks With God (Col. 4:2-4)
VI. In Relation to our Testimony for God (Col. 4:5-6)
Seven Marks of a Highly Contageous Christian
ACTS 16
Historical Context and Background
- Saul’s (name was changed to Paul) conversion in Acts 9
- Paul’s 1st Missionary Journey in Acts 13-14
- Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15:1-29
- Paul begins his 2nd Missionary Journey in Acts 15:36
- Paul’s 1st visit to Philippi in Acts 16:12
MARK #1: Paul PARTNERED with others. SENSITIVE to the Spirit. (Acts 16:6-7) SUBMISSIVE to the Spirit. (Acts 16:10)
- Paul with the church (Acts 15:22)
- Paul with Barnabas (Acts 13-15)
- Paul with Silas (Acts 16)
- Paul with Timothy (Acts 16:3)
MARK #2: Paul was
MARK #3: Paul was
MARK #4: Paul RECOGNIZED God at work. (Acts 16:14) MARK #5: Paul DISCERNED what was COUNTERFEIT. (Acts 16:16,18)
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
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What are these people thinking?
At what point do we say, enough is enough???
