Saturday Night Musings

A world audience is anxiously waiting for history to be made when the New England Patriots Professional Football team goes for an unprecedented record of 19 wins in the 2007 NFL season by winning Super Bowl XLII, Sunday, February 3, 2008. Should these Patriots triumph over those Giants, they will be awarded Vince Lombardi’s prestigious sterling silver life size football trophy which will be on display for all the world to see. It will be an unparalleled and unequalled accomplishment—a Masterpiece to say the least. 

Let me, for a moment, remind you of many masterpieces which my Heavenly Father has on display. The creation of the world in just six 24 hour literal days; nothing like it has ever been accomplished. The Jewish nation that numbers as the sand on the sea shores—God started this with just one man. The world knows no document that compares to the Ten Commandments, or has ever see a building like the Jerusalem Temple, or will ever see an unbelievable forth coming city that lies 1500 miles square like the New Jerusalem.  

His one masterpiece that towers above all others shows the exceeding riches of His grace is His glorious church. “Every church is a reflection of it’s pastor”. His church that has been saved by grace reflects His kindness through Christ Jesus to billions of people just like you and me. God knows how to plant a church that is the mega church of all mega churches combined. The cost of this church has been purchased by the blood of His only begotten Son. This work has been under construction for 2,000 years and when finished, she will stand having no spot, totally unblemished, and without wrinkle throughout the ages to come. The Masterpiece! 

The materials of this Masterpiece are those who have been dead in trespasses and sins. Those who were “dead men walking” dancing to the tune of a different drummer, who have been blinded by the prince of the air and led by the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. Those who were driven by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life—wicked children of wrath whose mannerism pictures their father, the devil. It is a picture of the valley of dry bones which God has made alive, quickened together with Christ, raised up together with him and now who sits together with him in heavenly places. These who were once spiritually dead are now spared from the eternal second death. 

The master of this Masterpiece is God who is rich in mercy and great in love. He alone has placed us into the body of Christ as it has pleased Him. By His grace we have been linked to His Son having a resurrected life and living in Him, we are both now and forever saved. There will not be any gapping holes in this masterpiece when we crown Him King of Kings on His day. His grace and faith are why we are saved. 

The mission of this Masterpiece is that we walk before Him in good works. The forces of hell can not stop the activity and the aggression of the church. We alone have been called to carry the good news to a dying world. Our mission is to present a clear message of the sufferings of Christ as a sacrifice violently slain before the foundation of this world. We are to walk across the street or around the world telling others that Jesus is alive and wants to save them. When we can no longer walk, then we must give to others so they can walk to the ends of the earth calling out the bride and completing this…Masterpiece! 

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“I have a dream today” ! (Martin Luther King) That one day little unborn babies will have the right to live. A day after reporting his four young children (from 3 years old to just a few months) were missing, a shrimp fisherman broke down and confessed that he threw them off an 80-foot-high bridge to their deaths. (Lam Loung, Bayou Labatre, Ala. AP) Mother Teresa once said: “The worst of all crimes is that of a mother killing her own children”.

Thirty five years ago January 20, 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States of America handed down its worst rendering on human life—making it legal to abort (murder—killing the baby in a mother’s womb) the unborn. Since then, some 45 million American babies have lost their unalienable right to life, their liberty, and their pursuit of happiness. The shedding of their blood “cries from the ground”, it has not gone un-noticed. One day their blood will be required of those who choose to end the life of another. Abortion—America’s  greatest sin!

How do we treat our kids? About 1.5 million of them we kill each year by way of abortion. 73% of mothers who are permitted to abort their babies do so under the legality of the law say they have flashbacks of the abortion experience. 96% of mothers say they by choice took the life of a human being, their baby. Only 1% of all abortions happen because of the threat to the mother’s life. 2% of abortions occur because of rape or incest. 4% of abortions happen because of the health of the baby. An astounding 93% of all abortions happen because of social reasons. Before midnight tonight, on Saturday, January 19th, some 4,000 babies will be slaughtered in America. Another 4,000 will be targeted tomorrow!

The tide is turning to the right of this atrocity. America has elected a pro-life president, George Bush, who does have respect for human life—the life of the unborn. We are very close to our Supreme Court giving a mandate to overturn Roe v Wade. In this 2008 presidential season, marked the man who will stand up for those who can not at this time stand for themselves—the little babies who must be carried in a fleshly garment. Most agree today, when they see the features of a baby in the womb, they favor laws protecting the unborn. We have some of the greatest voices in the world crying from this wilderness and shouting their convictions from the housetops to repent of this sin and save our kids.

“Thou Shalt Not Kill”,  is a law of God being broken in a world today.

What on earth can be done? Get settled on Biblical, bed-rocked convictions that life begins at conception—where else can it begin?  Do not cave in to any other concept on the matter. Pray for your leaders that all people, including those who have not yet been born, that they may have a quiet and peaceable life. Vote for pro-life leaders for office and vote the pro-choice people out of office. Love and forgive (Father forgive them for they know not what they do) those who are guilty of having and performing abortions. Teach and enforce the law: Thou Shalt Not Kill…little infant, innocent babies, not now not ever!

“I have a dream today”! For mothers who long to see their babies grow up. 

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I weighted in at 98 pounds as freshman going out for High School football. The shoulder pads went well beyond the turn of my shoulders and the football pants went well below my knees. They gave me a helmet so big that I could almost spin it on my head! It was not a pretty picture. John Bill Deeds and Gorden Dickess had a hey day laughing at this fella trying to play with the big boys—who later by the way became my greatest encouragement for the game. I grew into that gear and played on the grid iron for 4 years, but I have never forgotten being laughed at in those early days.  

“And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.  And they laughed him to scorn” Mark 6:39. 

Jairus’ little 12 year daughter was brought back from the dead by the gentle hand and the whispering words of Jesus—what a great story in the Bible. Little girl, rise! The Bible says immediately, she awoke and walked…and they were beside themselves with great wonder. Some saw her as being dead, but Jesus saw her as one just taking a nap. It was no problem for the one to take the hand of a little dead girl and to tell her to rise any more than it was for the one who created light in the midst of darkness as if he turned on a switch.   

Make a note of it—the laughter of men separated them from the room where Jesus turned broken hearts over the loss of a child into joy that was unspeakable. There is a time to laugh indeed, but to laugh at the Savior of men in the midst of shattered hearts is not the time or the place. It seems to me that the heart of man has not changed—the crowd that will cheer you on will be the crowd that will jeer you down. Jesus was not scripted by the course of men nor did he commit himself to men, for he knew what was in men. He looked beyond man’s scorn and continued in the volume of the book that was written about him. 

Note too—the laughter of men did not break stride with Jesus or alter His intent. If their deception could have stopped Him there, they would have been able to stop Him in His hour at the cross. In His steps He is saying to crowd, “Get behind me Satan” and from His lips He is saying: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”! 

Another note—the laughter of men was silenced immediately by the living results. They were astonished with great astonishment. This 12 year old little girl got off of her death bed and walked. Who can argue with success? Jesus said not a word to those unbelievers who laugh Him to scorn.  

And one more note while I’m at it—the laughter of men was shouted from the house tops as to who they were.  From the heart of man proceeds…sarcasm, ridicule, and contempt. Those who are ankle deep in theology will die faster because of having no root in good ground. Wickedness is bound in the heart of men—who can know the depths of it! 

So, go ahead and laugh Him to scorn and you will never see the power of God working in your life. One who went in with Jesus was Peter. Later on, it would be Peter who would say to a dead corpse: Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, she sat up (Acts 9:36-43). If you are of the crowd who laughs at him, you will never see those who are dead being born again. If you can laugh at him, you will never learn from him!  

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   At this time of year, sometimes it’s nice to pull aside from all of that and remember that what really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ:; I hope you and your family have a magnificent Christmas season. God bless you and Merry Christmas”. (Mike Huckabee, December, 2007 AP) This TV spot was run during the Christmas Season 2007. In the background there was a portion of a white book shelf behind Mr. Huckabee which resembled a moving cross. When the national liberal press saw this, they went ballistic and became so offended that a political candidate would dare to mention the name of Christ during an election time of the year.

“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me”, Matthew 11:6. My translation:  How blessed is that person who will never stumble in his faith because of who I am. As you and I embrace this new year, there will be many people who will cross our path who will be indifferent to us. Words will be said to us in a rude manner, and things will happen to upset our day. Mark it down, many will stumble and many will be offended during 2008. With Christ being part of our life—there will be more unpleasant times. 

The Lord Jesus Christ is controversial. He will either be loved the most or will be hated the most. Who He was, what He said and what He did, provoked violence even in the religious camp by those who wore the spiritual garbs. The church crowd was so offended at His gracious words, for His healing on the sabbath day, and His power to forgive sin. They said: Who is this? Is this not Joseph’s son? When confronted with Him, they laughed at Him with scorn; they tried to trap Him in His words and even sought how they might destroy Him. Even his own disciples stumbled and fled from this man as He walked the chartered path to the cross.  

Jesus in God Emmanuel. He came to take up His permanent residence with us. He has promised to never leave or forsake us. He becomes the eternal indwelling occupant in our lives at the moment of conversion by faith in His finished work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. He hears every word we say and every word said to us. He observes every time we witness to others about His so great salvation…and every time we fail to witness about Him. We stagger in disbelief as to His promises by failing to remember the feeding of the five thousand. When we catch a boat load of fish by obeying His word, we fall on our faces in the crevasses of the ship and say, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man”. 

Offended with me because of my presence with you! Does His presence make too much of a crowd for you and the company you hang out with? Do you stumble being uncomfortable having Him by your side when in the presence of unbelievers? I hope not. 

Offended with me because of my words to you?  Many stumbled at His words and walked no more with him, when he said unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. Try this verse: “Great peace have they that love thy law and…nothing shall offend them” Psalm 119:165 

Offended with me because of my grace to others? When you feel like others should be stoned and He forgives them—do you rejoice or fume at His compassion? Love Him, learn from Him, and labor with him during 2008 and you will not be offended because of Him.  

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