Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Wings

Hi...

Still hard with a broken right wrist so I'll write big, haha! I spoke the other sunday about mounting up with wings as eagles. I tried to point out that it was not "..mounting up on eagles.."! They can't fly with you on their back!

It doesn't say that we are scooped up by eagles, but that WE are to do the "mounting up" on our spiritual wings just as eagles do. They don't constanly flap their wings and struggle to stay in the air but they glide off mountain tops or out of their aerie (nest), and catch the air currents. If they need to go higher, they just find a thermal and ride it up by circling within the thermal (hot air updraft).

God wants us to stop "flapping and struggling" to stay in the spiritual "air" and learn the "currents" and "thermals" 0f His spirit. Above every storm there is a cloudless sky! The sun is bright and the view is beautiful. I know of many people who have been in such terrible storms and did not know how to "read the wind" to rise above it.

Jesus knew how, and He said to us all, "Come unto me all you who are laboring and are under a heavy load. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me because I am meek and humble and I know the currents!" (My addition).

To hear this message live, go to www.touchedbyhislove.org and click on "media" and look for Dec 14th message.

jack

Friday, December 19, 2008

More on tiffany

I am still struggling with this broken wrst/arm so I will keep this short. I will pick up better after Christmas!

Here is an update on Tiffany I got from LA yesterday:

Hi bro..Yesterday revealed two things, small improvement in that Tiffany's nerves when subjected to electric shock displayed movement in the legs. That would indicate that the legs are alive and not destroyed. The second thing we saw was the obvious disappointment in Tiffany at how far she has to go on this journey. At one point she said, "just think what I was doing a week ago". She has been flat on her back a week today and the pain seems to be increasing as the pain meds are decreased. She is miserable in the bed because she can change positions very little. The care in the hospital is very good and attentive. Tiff is surrounded every day with many friends here who are from all over the world. 80% of those living in Dubai are from other countries. They, along with her company, have flooded her with gifts and flowers. Teresa spent the night with her last night and I'm having breakfast and getting ready to go to the hospital. She has a very nice room. The insurance company balked at first and said they wouldn't pay and the owner of her company, a very powerful man, called and said, "if you ever want to do business in Dubai, take care of this young woman". We now have a suite with leather coaches and two t.v.s. I am struggling with trying to navigate the normal frustrations of trying to do the daily tasks in a foreign culture. For example I spent all day yesterday just getting money from her atm and picking up her car from the shop. God sent me two angels, after he let me sweat and steam. One was an Indian who volunteered to take me to the bank. He stayed with me, helped me buy a prepaid phone card for my local phone and brought me home again...no charge!

The next angel was a Taxi driver from Peking. We spent a couple of hours together trying to find her Jeep. He took me everywhere and waited patiently as I sorted out each challenge. Yes, I gave him a good tip! There's a summary of our present situation. We love all of you and sense and see the effects of your prayers daily. I have traveled all over the world preaching for 30 years but things are different when you are trying to wrestle for the life and health of your child. Thus, much of my frustration. I'm not handling it very well but I am pressing toward the mark. One thing you can pray for, in addition to her healing is the right place for her long term rehab. Her company insurance will not pay for rehab in the USA. At first we were told possibly England or maybe France. Now thay are saying possibly India! That's a little scary to me. We can't afford to walk away from here insurance and bring her home so we are investigating every possible option. Please cover this in prayer. Bless all of you, Teresa and I truly pray that you and your family will have a joy-filled Christmas. We were excited that our son Shane will be joining us here for a Middle Eastern Christmas!

Much Love and Appreciation!
L.A. And Teresa

Monday, December 15, 2008

LA's daughtger

I haven't been really able to type with this broken wrist, but I will get better next week. I am so slow I get tired of waiting for myself to get the typing done..

I did want to tell you all that L.A.'s daughter Tiffany, who lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (sp ?) fell from her second floor balcony last week and messed her spine up. I will paste the laatest news at the end of this... PLEASE pray for her. LA & Teresa immediately flew over there and are having to stay for an extended time through surgery, some rehab, etc. Long way from Georgia!!!

Here is the latest! Remember it is Arab time...

Subject: Update on Tiffany
It is Monday at 3:30 p.m. as I write this. It has been a pretty hard this morning. After a 6 1/2 hour surgical proceedure yesterday, there are questions about the extent of the damage from the spinal injury. It has definitely affected her legs and feet and possibly bowel and bladder function. I only share that for prayer. Tiff had a difficult morning with it all. I think reality of the situation is setting in and the long recovery process that appears to involve extended rehab. The surgeon showed us xrays of the before and after views. He put in large screws and plates to expand the crushed area in the spine. This will, as he said, allow the healing to occur. He would not give me a time frame on the hospital stay except to say, for some time. He did tell me that his goal was to get her up and sitting. Then, he said, there is not adequate rehab here in the UAE. That raises a lot of questions. Does that mean our taking her back to the US? Insurance coverage? Many things are in question. However, we will trust the Lord and take it one step at a time. It appears that we will be here for some time and will learn more as healing occurs and we can learn the extend of the damage.
Thank you for your love and concern.
Blessings,
LAJ

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Wrist break

Well, we were working at the church this week, doing some needed repairs and remodeling as well as the Christmas decorations. Everything is so beautiful (except for the stuff we haven't done yet). Thanks to the wonderful people who pitched in to get it done

We are putting a new playground in on the east side of the church, half for the nursery age and the other half for the 3-6 year olds. It is just outside the fellowship hall and the nursery so that we can watch them play and look after them.

In the process of all these projects, I managed to fall under the portico and break my wrist. It had to be my right wrist too! I will have to make short work of this blog due to the difficulty typing. I will write before Christmas but I just wanted to tell everyone Merry Christmas and bless your aproaching year. Make it the best ever!

jack

Monday, December 1, 2008

It's coming!

Well, Christmas is coming and I am concerned (once again), that even the believers will commercialize it! It is not, I repeat, NOT a time for wish lists nor for thinking about what all you are going to get for Christmas, it is all about what you have already gotten!
I realize that December 25th is not neccessarily Jesus's birthday, but for the life of me I can't find anyone that knows when it is!!! So... realizing that the first thanksgiving wasn't on thursday, and there is no specific day of the month when Jesus arose from the tomb, and other such unknowns exist, I will be, (a)- grateful on whatever day, (b)- celebrate His tomb exit, and (c)- His birthday on whatever day my brothers and sisters in Him are doing it! It's a "family thing"!
We have better things to do than argue about this. Let's be one in the Spirit and be grateful that we have such a marvellous thing to celebrate and to be grateful for! And don't write me your contrary opinions about this, I'm set in my ways! However, if you want to be right, then agree with me!! (lol)
Teach your children that it is a time for giving and receiving! If you have plenty, share with the less fortunate. If you give to the poor, you are lending to the Lord! (Prov 19:17 and He pays good interest!) "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his position shall be exalted with honour." (Psalms 112:9)
I will give some things to my grandkids for Christmas because I love them, but I do this all year long! Just a note, we have a few families we get every year from the Red Cross that have a specific need and the church buys the stuff but we let families (with kids in tow), take them to the people who need them. Try it! You and your kids need it!
jack

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Gratitude...

I wonder why they didn't name this holiday "Gratitude Day"?

I think maybe the word "thanksgiving" is more generic and can be recognized as a holiday quicker than a more precise, action demanding, and descriptive word like "gratitude". We have heard the word thanksgiving for so many generations that we automatically identify it with things such as:
1- Turkey and yams and cranberry sauce;
2- The eve of the biggest buying day of the year;
3- Sliced turkey sandwiches for days;
4- Turkey salad sandwiches; and then,
5- Going on a diet!

I realize that the Bible says to give thanks... but that is just an outward expression of an inner attitude of gratitude! Thanksgiving comes from the lips and maybe the actions, but gratitude is a 'gut' thing. It is a way of being, thinking, feeling, and speaking and doing! I am eternally grateful for the Cross of Christ and for His command to me to love my own cross! Now if I really love my cross I will embrace it and what it means for me, what it demands from me, and what it will do for me. i will have splinters in my lips from kissing both crosses.

I am also grateful for the hard decisions that were made by our leaders through the years concerning taking the fight to the enemy as a nation. I Am grateful for the men and boys and women who gave their lives for this country (the American people), and all of the oppresed countries around the globe. Some of the decisions were probably bad ones, but they were meant well! God forgive the ones who made the bad ones. I do!

We have done more of the will of God in our short existence than any nation ever has. We haved sent more missionaries, more bibles, more help to build church buildings in third world countries than any other nation. We have removed open prayer and bible readings from our own school classrooms and the Ten Commandments from many public places, but you know what? God hears silent prayers (so teach your kids thay can pray in school). I have heard that as long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in Schools!! Open Bible reading is gone for now but not private study of the Scriptures to etch them in our minds and our kids minds!

This would all be fruitless; from the wars, the deaths, the prayers, to the Bible studies, if it were not for the Lord of our battles, our dead, and our living. Without this reality there would be no one to hear and answer prayers, and the bible would be just another book. I AM "Grateful " in our year of our Lord, 2008! "Except the Lord keep the house, the watchman waketh in vain. Except the Lord build a house they labor in vain that build it!"

But He is there... he is listening... He loves us and I for one am SO GRATEFUL!

And i am grateful for you! JACK

Thursday, November 20, 2008

..from house to house....

Hold on and lets take a ride with paul and the disciples...
First the disciples: In Acts 20:20 it says,"And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,"
There is something supernatural in a relationship that gathers us "from house to house". Paul told the followers that he didn't keep back one single thing that would benefit them, or equip them in their ministry. He was wanting to reproduce himsef (in a sense) in them. Not a clone, just a reproduction as far as ministry goes. He said that he taught them these things in two locations: Publicly and from house to house. The "public" teaching speaks of his example to them in his actions and words as he ministered to the people who were in need. Teaching by demonstration and action!

There was also another method he used which is the more common. He academically taught them. He used the Scriptures and historicity of their race to give them a deeper understanding of why he did what he did. By having an understanding of these things, they would acquire a desire to follow his lead in actions. This 'method' is still used a lot, but the 'atmosphere' of Paul's teaching lends itself to a more realistic grasp of the more effective impact a person could have on the people he/she is attempting to reach with this Truth. The "house-to-house" atmosphere made them realize that this is not a 'sterile' nor 'static' word we have. This word is living, powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword and it pierces and discerns!

Something about the "house-to-house" that brings the word to life. It suddenly becomes personal and isn't some ethereal, aloof, unreachable concept that makes us above other people because we are special just because we have now understood the theology of it! God's Word is a personal, approachable, understandable, house-to-house reality which is available to set anyone free or to instruct anyone in following the Lord!


Again in Acts 2:46-47 "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

I want to talk a little about breaking bread from house to house. We need to understand that this isn't just their own homes! They are also eating in the homes of their unsaved friends in order to closer identify personally, and to demonstrate the absence of aloofness by facilitating much sharing and many questions. The are also eating in the homes of saved followers to bring this Gospel to life by demonstrating it in the flesh and teaching them to do the same!

My personal "second pulpit" is whatever table in whichever restaurant or cafe' or coffee shop I am in. One "house" I break bread in is Dino's Pizza and Sub Shop. It is "church" to me when I can encourage someone I see there. My breakfast pulpit is in the Gazebo. I have another on my patio in back of my hoouse. Of course there are no real pulpits there like you would see in church, but there is a spiritual pulpit from which a spiritual word flows!

They were in one accord in the temple! They had singleness of heart! They praised God together! They ate with sinners! This unusual demonstration gave them favor with all the people who observed it, and because of this, God added to the church as people accepted Christ. There is no more powerful witness tool than your very own life and the way you interact with, love, and treat, other people!

Shellie and I met L.A. and Teresa Joiner and Larry and Elaine Millinder to break bread in Tallahassee tonight. It wasn't just the loaf we broke, but our personal "loaf" as we shared and loved and laughed and "became one" as we did so! How beautiful the Body of Christ! Try it!

later... jack

Monday, November 17, 2008

Futile goals..

We live in a society that has placed value on the valuless! It has enamored the ugly and lured us with the unattractive and trapped us with a deadly snare called, "I've got to have one of those!" I recently wrote a poem to this situation and I named it "An Ode To A City Dump". I put it in my church bulletin and some people told me that I should put it in the blog, so here it is. Its not as shallow as it seems. Read carefully!

“Ode To A City Dump”
by: Jack Hollis

I passed a place the other day,
Where dreams were buried in the clay
The things that men just had to own
Were now entombed, and weeds have grown

I passed a place the other day
Where dreams were buried in the clay
Money was spent, lust satisfied
Those dreams have now forever died

Buried in a tomb of fill
Sealed from seeping from this hill
Corruption is the product known
Corruption is the seed that’s sown

All that work, all that labor
To have it better than your neighbor
All in vain, all conceited
Labored much, but now defeated

But rain will soak the tomb of fill
And filth will issue from the hill
Trash on trash exposed to nations
And proof will show of man’s frustrations

And rain will come from Heaven’s gate
Raining peace to all who wait
Looking up toward God’s portal
Changed from mortal to immortal

I passed a place the other day,
Where dreams were buried in the clay
The things that men just had to own
Were now entombed, and weeds have grown

Jack Hollis 12-3-2007

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Looking for a Moses!

After the last blog, I got a note from Greg lancaster and to quote him directly, "Good word! I agree. When I first started teaching people to hear God ,I was shocked that many didn't want to. They just wanted to go to Moses. I still hold fast to helpimg fulfill the the plan of God "My sheep know My voice.... To this I strive!"



This "going to Moses" thing is so real. But I have to admit that many men of God have become "pulpiteers" and are convinced that is the way to grow a church! Well, it is if you are looking for numbers not maturity. I personally want both in the people at Christian Center and all of the AMI churches!



Not only that but pastors must watch for the trap set by the enemy that catches them and creates the thought pattern that unless the people are somehow 'bound' to them personally their position is not secure! Any pastoral office that is not secure in the preaching of Truth, innocence dying for guilt, the necessity of us dying daily for the Lord, and separation from the influence of the world, will never be secure for any length of time anyway!



If my personality is required for keeping a flock in the "pen", I really have something to worry about! On the other hand, we can't run rough-shod over the feelings and emotions and love of the "sheep" either! God says that the sheep of His pasture are men, people! He wants them fed spiritually just as a shepherd feeds his flock....



I felt you agreeing with that so I will go farther and tell you that a shepherd never hand-feeds his flock, except for the weak or injured ones which can't do it themselves! Even that is for a season to develop them and strengthen them so thay can feed themselves. His job is to lead them to "green pastures" where they can rest in security, not weeds of tradition and flesh-pleasing doctrines of material prosperity and other such things. The "green pastures" represent a living habitatiion or 'house', quality food from the Word, good doctrines. Doctrines like I mentioned in the previous paragraph. Any shepherd worth his salt will remember he is merely a shepherd, not a rancher! The "sheep" are not his!



The still waters represent the fearless relationship with the shepherd that creates a place of security. They are not afraid to "let their guard down" and drink when he is watching over the flock. He helps to rebuild their "soul" (not spirit), this is who we are in the world. He leads (not drives) his sheep in a track of righteousness... I could go on but I think you get the point.



Pastors (shepherds) need to be hearing God for the flock on a REGULAR basis and giving the m a word that is relevant for where they are, not simply a study of the Bible. We need to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches, not what we learned from some book that we have paraphrased to make it our message! Spiritual plagiarism is a real problem when it takes the place of accepting responsibility for the office!

I guess that's enough for today...
jack

Monday, November 10, 2008

Deception at the top...

I do not believe there is a better way for the enemy to deceive a nation than to deceive its SPIRITUAL LEADERS!

He destroys their vision (sight), and they wander like blind men!

He weakens and corrupts the Word of God through traditions and lies until it has ceased to have any effect on the leader.

Without the veracity of God's Word there is nothing to guide and direct the leader. He winds up moving in his own sphere of wisdom and knowledge and experience! Every decision is based on changing principles and ideals and there is absolutely no continuity to his leadership and life! Leaders MUST go beyond what man can possibly know and find direction in an ongoing relationship with the Almighty! He knows all and wants us to tap into His knowledge. Paul said that "..we have the mind of Christ"! (1 Cor 2:16b) and John also told us, "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 John 2:20) and again in v- 27 "..But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:"

I personally believe that all I need to teach my people is (1)- They need to understand the necessity of hearing God. (2)- They need to be able to hear God! (3)- Do what He says and not let anyone deter them! (Read 1 kings 13:7-32). If the efforts of God's ministers today were focused on these things I have no doubt that our people would learn to walk with the Lord in far more powerful way! This BROADENS THE BASE of Christian ministry!

But alas! We have, for many reasons, taken on ourselves the task of hearing the Lord for our people. Mostly unintentional, but nonetheless counter-productive to their personal directives from Him. I said "mostly" because it is sad to say but many ministers today desire to bring people under their control and into a needful relationship with them. They get their identity that way. Trust me, we only need to preach and teach the things that enhance their abilities to walk their own walk with the Master.

I don't think this is threatening to the role of Apsotle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor or Teacher! I believe it sets forth the truth about their role as laid out in Ephesians 4:10-16! We are to equip saints to do the work of the ministry. They do not need to be "clones" of us, God forbid that! Each person can reach someone that few others can reach and if they become like us or Billy Graham they can no longer reach that one!

Enough for today...

jack

It's gonna be alright...

Bro. Ken Sumrall, my spiritual papa, spoke for me this weekend and he spoke on the same Scripture I did the week before. According to him, he did it the way I should have! (haha). I agree, he did a great job reminding us again of the reality that we have noting to fear but fear itself. (FDR)

We are in the Kingdom of God and I am sure that the Kingdom is okay. I believe that in the middle of a storm if you are in a safe building, you will be safe as well. We can't fly, but if we are in a vehicle (airplane, baloon, etc.), designed to defeat gravity, we will be safe, but if we try to fly by jumping out of the vehicle... well, you know the rest! And by the way, there are no parachutes for escaping our position in Christ!

If all this is true, and I know it is, we are in the safest economy, safest superpower, and the safest Kingdom there is and everything will be alright! I'm not talking about America, even though I believe God will continue to bless her again, I am talking about the one and only Kingdom Of God!

He will never have a "great depression" nor be defeated at war in His Kingdom! Stay "indoors" like they did in Egypt and you will be okay! By the way... I wonder if those Israelites sat around and chewed their nails and paced the floor wondering what was going to happen... I think so! But not us! We have so much more than they had to bolster our faith in His provision, deliverance, and our safety that we have no right to fear nor fuss!

jack

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Do this in hard times... In the Valley of Baca!

This is what you do in hard times... You may not be in one today and maybe never! But if you are, here is your answer and feel free to share it with others!

"How wonderful are thy tents oh Lord of Hosts! My soul longs and even faints to be in your courts and my heart and my flesh cry out for the Living God. Sure, the sparrow found a family and the swift bird a nest for herself where she may lay her young. And it is your altar oh Lord of Hosts, my King and my God! (what safer place than the place of death to the Lord?) Blessed are they that are part of your family, they will be repeatedly bragging on you! Also the man whose strength is in his relationship with you is blessed. In his heart are the ways (turnpike, causeway, and staircase to extreme happiness) for them who, when they pass through the valley of Baca (weeping), turn this bad experience into an opportunity to learn! He is blessed with spiritual prosperity as your holy 'rain' fills the empty places in his life. These men move from resource to resource, ever learning and never fading in the power of the Lord! They will be graced into His presence for His glory!"

That is my version of Psalm 84:1-7 It is a true comfort for those of us who pass thru these "Valleys of BACA" or weeping... the difficult times! When we cite truth about who the Lord is in, our lives, Our hearts, and on our minds, we agree with Him and His Word about our situation instead of agreeing with the enemy, or even our best friends or pastors!

He and He alone is capable of turning our "Valleys of Baca" into a place of learning, infilling, faith, endurance, blessing and strength for whatever comes! Memorize it and quote it to yourself, the devil, and the Lord! He is mighty to save!

jack

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Change.

You know, I have learned in my life that change isn't always good! Changing a dirty diaper is good and changing the water filter in the kitchen sink is good, BUT CHANGE NEEDS TO BE EXPOUNDED ON AND CLARIFIED OR IT NEEDS TO BE SCRAPPED!

Now change from Glory to Glory is good. Remember, it isn't change from misery to Glory , it is Glory to Glory! Recently I heard of a minister who told one of his people that to be "a work in progress", meant that they were living in defeat... I don't agree! If we are not individually "works in progress", we are not being changed from Glory to Glory and there is no future for us in the spirit! If you do not need change, then you have obviously arrived!

Holy Spirit is constantly forming Christ in us. Paul said in Galatians 4:19 "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you!" I feel the same way about the people God has placed me over for ministry. I am longingand yearning to see Christ formed in so many of them! Now they aren't neccesarily bad people, as a matter of fact they are wonderful folks! But we cannot ever become content with ourselves. It is not good to be critical of your self nor to carry introspection to an extreme, but we just need to listen to, and obey, the Holy Spirit when He corrects or direct us in or lives!

I told the church today that we should ask for guidance from the Lord and His Spirit before making major decisions such as marriage, changing employment, or even building a house! God's people often got in trouble for not inquiring of Him first! He has told us that if we would acknowledge Him in all our ways, He would direct our paths! Seek Him and you will find Him, ask and it shall be given, knock and it will be opened unto you!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Shaking hands with God!

Covenant is a thing of the past with most people. In the world I grew up in I heard men repeatedly say to each other about other men, "His word is his bond!" Sometimes they were talking about themselves and would say, "My word is my bond!" It was an age of trust. If men shook hands on anything, that sealed the deal! As a small boy I can remember seeing men shake on something and it facinated me. It was so real to me that it made me want people to say that about me, "his word is his bond", and I still do!

The "bond" referred to a security that was put up by one or both of the men making it more profitable to keep your word than to renege on it. Bonds are still used today in real estate deals (escrow), and even car deals! Non-refundable down payments. It is a real shame that men have to be "bribed" to keep their word but it is true about many men. I love to brag on the few people I can say about them that "If he/she said it, that's the way he/she is convinced it really is!" Now I can't always say "..that is the way it is" because someone else may have been dishonest with them. so I am glad to say they are convinced that is it. It brags on their honesty even if their source isn't honest.

This "word being bond" proved that a person's word was more valuable than money or things. In those days a man would not chance losing the veracity of his word over a dishonest deal or backing out on a promise.

True covenant says, "I will keep this agreement at the cost of death if necessary." Now God made covenant several times with man. With Noah the "seal", or proof of a man's involvement in the covenant was the rainbow, with Abraham it was the visible circumcision of the foreskin, with the New Testament believer it is the invisible circumcision of the heart! Now it gets serious and it involves the life of the person rather than a forced involuntary removal of the foreskin of a child (8 days old), who cannot make the decision himself, in order to fulfill a religious ritual. Anyone can do that, but it takes reality to LIVE it!

No matter how righteous or wicked you were under the Abrahamic covenant, it was no problem to bare the circumcision, but in Christ if you are required to show your 'mark', the heart... you have to say, "Look at my life!" WHOA!!

Water baptism is a part of this 'heart seal' as we are symbolically buried with Him and rise from the watery "grave" to do away with the old man and begin to demonstrate the heart circumcision through the life of this new man we have become! Abraham walked in the promises of God for a long time but at 99 years old he entered the bond of the covenant. What would happen if we understood the full ramification of our 'shaking hands" with God in baptism and the new birth. Our promise to be His representatives in full power in the earth!

Jesus in the flesh! Without seeming to be wierd or a religious nut, I want to agree with the great apostle Paul and remind you that you have ALREADY entered into covenant, shook hands with God, and circumcised the foreskin of your heart (male and female), and taken the mark of citizenship in His Kingdom.

We have a lot to do, don't we?

jack

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

My political message...

I sent this to several people on my e-mail list but some asked me to put it here on the blog, sooo here it is!

I don’t send political stuff but I thought this was appropriate to send.. I am to blame for everything in it!

“I’M Jack Hollis and I approve this message!!”

Jesus is Lord and His Kingdom will prevail, nevertheless His people should desire a “David” over a “Saul”. Neither was perfect but one was chosen to be predecessor. Now don’t write me something I already know, about how Jesus set us free and how you depend on Him… I know more about that than most people I know do! I still don’t want the wrong man in office for the sake of the unbeliever.

Scripture says that God proved to Nebuchadnezzar that “God rules in the kingdom of MEN and appoints over it whomsoever He wills!” (Dan 5:21) and in another place He said, “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.” (Dan 4:17)

Often the people pick a man by voting and I think God says, “OK. If that’s what you want!” Then HE appoints them so that they are accountable to Him not us! I don’t think that it always is the man or woman God wants, but they are ALWAYS appointed by Him because they are over HIS family, so He makes them accountable to HIM!!!

I am secure no matter what the economy does because my Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills (and the hills)!!

I am secure no matter who rules the Nation from the oval office, because while I am secondly an American and a patriot, I am FIRST and Fully a Christian and a loyal subject in God’s Kingdom.

I will pray for whoever gets elected. I will pray for the nation! I pray daily for the Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth just as it is in heaven!

I will continue to pray for my children and my grandchildren not to have to face some of the hardships I had to face and my parents had to face as well as many from other nations have had to! We are very spoiled in America!!

Some of you are trying to be so spiritual and you forget what it is to be an intercessor. As the Scripture says in Jer 29:7, “And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”

Let me close by saying that I have never preached “threshold” preaching. (You know, where you get people on the edge of their seat looking for what is about to happen, good or bad.) However, let me tell you that it would be very advisable for you to live as though you were going to be here for a long time and you need to make a difference… but I would also suggest that you be ready for things never seen before (perhaps the end), and to be used of God for the Kingdom! This generation and the next may learn to experience what it means to have to stand up to persecution and hate with glory and power!

Jesus is wonderful!
Father is so good!
Ruwach (Spirit) is thrilling!

Jesus has no physical Body here except you and me. Do you really believe?? Did He really die for you? Is there really a Kingdom of Heaven or is it just church? Is there really a hell? Do you really love Him?

Would you be martyred for Him? Men and women die on foreign fields daily for freedom and loyalty to their country. Are you that committed to Christ? As my boy scout motto said, “Be Prepared”!

More later!

jack

Monday, October 27, 2008

Puttin' Mercury on my list...

Hi... I am starting a regular study on this site soon. I will keep on with the 'folksy' stuff even after I start the study!

I have heard that girl on the Mercury commercial say, "You've just gotta' put Mercury on your list." until it has become a joke at home. I tell Shellie tht I have put Mercury on my list every day!

I've been thinking tonight that if a pretty girl, chosen for the part, can fill my head with a slogan that almost (I said almost) can make me want to go look at a Mercury, surely we need to keep on repeating the truths from God's Word until people begin to say to themselves, "maybe I ought to put Jesus on my list"! Now I don't mean we should be a nuisance, but after all Peter said, "I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me."

Peter felt that he should consantly remind people concerning what was important! He realized that after he died, they might let all this slip from their priority list. He wanted the ministry he had with them to continue "automatically" in them and to be propagated to others uninterrupted by his demise!

If you knew where they were giving away free food, and you had someone who was hungry, You would keep teling them where it was and encouraging them to "put that place on their list"! Tell me... is Jesus really on your list? Near the top?

Keep on telling your friends and co-workers and family that they've just gott'a put Jesus on their list!

Love you... jack

Friday, October 24, 2008

Who is responsible?

Every head of every nation on the face of the earth is appointed to their post by the Lord. That leader is appointed by Him so that he will always be accountable and answerable to the Lord! People foolishly believe that if they voted a man or woman into office, or if he/she obtained it by force, that person would be answerable to the voter, or at best autonomous! Not so!!

After obtaining the office in whatever method, THEN the lord supernaturally does the appointing so that He would remain in charge. I find comfort in knowing that since the Lord appointed that leader (even if I voted him in), the Lord could "take him out" at will and could also force his hand on behalf of His people! Should we be the unfortunate recipient of a "mistake" for a president, God will appoint him/her and will rule in our nation.

One way God chastens His people is through giving them horrible leaders. We must pray and vote and tell the Lord we trust Him above our government or our human leaders. Only He knows the heart and the future of everyone running for office. Only He knows what they will do after being elected. Let's trust HIM!

Even though this is true, we MUST still vote from our information according to what we want in a leader. By the way, when you get e-mails spreading fear about the Supreme Court appointments, remember that "The Supreme Court" isn't!!!

Be responsible! jack

Peace and confidence in difficult times!

Good Morning;
Just a note to help build some peace and confidence in these times!

I sent a letter out to most of you who are on my e-mail list about the election and the economy and anything else that tries to ruin our peace and confidence in God! I hope you got it, if not, let me know and I will send you another one.I also wanted to remind you that history bears out the truth concerning dedications whether they be children, jobs, home, marriages, finances or life!

If you truly dedicate something to the Lord it becomes accursed to anyone else who touches it. When His own is touched He is not pleased! It may be YOUR home, etc. but it is HIS more! Like Paul, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I commit unto Him against that day!”

Give it all to Him… jack
Labels: Peace