The Distant Disciple

Peter was a distant disciple.

He followed from afar.

Just a few moments before, he
had declared himself ready to
follow Jesus all the way to
death.

Just hollow words.

Before the break of day, he
found himself denying Jesus
three times.

Don't get too involved Peter,
you might get hurt.

Don't get too loyal Peter,
you might get branded.

Don't get too concerned Peter,
you might get crucified.

We need more people like this.
People who don't muddy the water,
who know how to keep religion in
it's place.

People who reek with mediocrity.
People who know how to keep their
distance.

Distant Disciples.

America has made the transition
from a Christian nation to just
a nation of citizens because of
people like this.

What we need is a place of
repentance like the one Peter
found.

Wake Up, America! Repent before
it is too late!

Peter wept bitterly.

He went from a distant disciple
to a dynamic disciple in one
prayer meeting.

He ignited the early church on
the Day of Pentecost with his
Holy Ghost message and thousands
were baptized.

If it can happen for him it can
happen for anyone.

Won't you wake up today? Won't you
make the transition today?

Hey, just to let you know. Sin
always requires you to give up
more than God does!

God Gave

God gave up heaven and came to earth
so that we could give up earth and go to heaven.

God gave up spirituality to take on humanity
so that we could give up humanity to take on spirituality.

God gave up life to take on death
so we might give up death and take on life.

God gave up holiness to take on sin
so we could give up sin and take on holiness.

God went to hell and took the keys
so we could take the keys and go to heaven.

There is no God like our God!

Humility

Envy, jealousy, and pride are
marks of carnality.

Humility is the mark of
spirituality.

Humility and carnality cannot
co-exist.

When we reach the place that we
are willing to see the abatement
of our kingdom for the advancement
of God's, we have experienced true
humility.

John the Baptist declared such when
he said, "He must increase, I must
decrease."

Only when we lose do we win in the
Kingdom of God.

God helps the humble and resists the
proud.

We should approach God as the publican,
with head bowed low, not feeling as if
we are worthy of anything.

We can do nothing without God. We may
plant, we may water, but only God can
give the increase.

Of what value is planting or watering
without an increase?

In these last days, let us strive to
be humble and spiritual.

Greed's Penalty

The penalty of greed is the destruction of your
family. When you go down, you don't go down alone.

Achan thought that taking a few pieces of silver
and a garment was harmless. Not only did he die,
but his family and animals died also.

What a shame.

Greed destroys you and everyone you are connected
with.

It is like a cancer that eats away at the soul.
Greed consumes you until you are blind to the
consequences of your actions.

There is always another rung on greed's ladder.
Those who lust after silver can never be satisfied
by silver.

Ironically, that which the greedy would give anything
to have, we gain for free as a gift from God.

In God's economy you lose in order to gain. Give
in order to receive.

If only the world could understand.......

Greed and Success

Greed and Success

Greed is never satisfied. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons
of Eli, were destroyed by greed.

The reason greed is never satisfied is that human satisfaction
is not based on having but being. After all, we are human
beings!


If you derive your satisfaction and feelings of success from
your possessions, then you will never have enough possessions
to feel successful.

You will always be able to find someone who has more stuff than
you do.

Maybe that's why Paul warned against "...comparing ourselves
among ourselves." My measurement of success is not determined
by my brother's achievements.

My success is determined by how far I have come from where I
started.

Maybe we would have many more happy saints and pastors if we
would stop looking into our neighbors backyard and desiring
what they have.

Maybe we need to stop trying to measure our success by theirs.

I have learned to be content in the state I am in.

Now, that's success!

The Fountain Gate

In Old Jerusalem there was a Fountain Gate.

So named because of its proximity to an artesian well
within the city walls.

We need a fountain in our lives. Jesus declared that
for the thirsty there could be rivers of water within
the soul.

The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that Israel in his day
had traded a reservoir for a broken cistern.

A cistern does not have it's own supply. It is left
to catch water from wherever it can.

We need a fountain with a trusted, pure, source not
a cistern of questionable source.

Too many today are using a cistern to fill their
lives with worldly junk. If you fill your self
with polluted water, you will have a diseased
soul.

Why settle for a cistern when you can have a
fountain?

Losing Weight

Losing weight...some shudder at the very mention
of these dreaded words.

Recently I have endeavored to change my lifestyle.
In the process, I have lost 19 pounds.

I can tell you that it's not easy. No more Dr. Peppers,
doughnuts, or double cheeseburgers.

I have come to the conclusion that it's easier to
maintain weight than to lose weight.

Moderate, haphazard exercise is all that is required.
Maybe eating less or drinking more water than coke.

But it's not as hard as losing weight.

Losing weight requires consistent, aggressive exercise.

Losing weight requires more than eating less. It
requires eating right. It requires commitment.
Lifestyle change.

Funny thing...the Bible talks about losing weight.

Lay aside every weight...so that you can properly
run the race.

How about you? Are you just maintaining or are you
losing weight?

Oh, it's much easier just to maintain. Low commitment,
little effort, small change.

One problem. I don't think you can finish the race
that way.

You see to lose weight requires great commitment, great
effort, and great change.

It even requires dedication that goes above and beyond the
ordinary.

Do you have what it takes?