bLOGOS: The GhostWriter

John 18:36-37

36        Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37        Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

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I use to have a poem supporting one political presidential candidate but I have deleted it.

I was about to pay $10 and get a magnetic bumper sticker supporting one candidate but I have thought twice about that idea.

I was seriously thinking about contributing the max to one of the presidential campaigns but I have stopped lobbying Kim with that idea.

I was thinking about going door to door with fliers but cancel that idea.

Has my opinion changed?  Nope.

Has my vote changed?  Nope.

I still believe that one candidate is vastly superior to another candidate.

I still believe in voting.

I still believe in community involvement and engagement with our society.

God has not called us to be hermits.

So what has changed Brother Tony?

God's people have changed and God's Spirit is dealing with me.

I am observing many people getting carried away in the moment.

I am concerned.

I don't want to add to a delusion that is sweeping the nation.

One candidate is OBVIOUSLY BETTER than the other but...he ain't Jesus.  He didn't die for my sins.  He didn't get up from the grave for me and he didn't fill my heart and mind with his spirit.  One candidate will get my vote but only God will get my GLORY!!!

So please family...go vote!!!!

Please family....vote for CHANGE because our country needs it!!!

As Disciples of Christ though, this is not our focus. 

Jesus spent very little to absolutely no time involved in Roman or Jewish politics.

This is not how Jesus chose to change the world.

Jesus is my model.

Jesus changed and changes the world thru spirituality. 

My Pastors pastor once said, "If you preach to a man's heart then you don't have to worry about a man's wallet."

When we as Disciples of Christ change the hearts, minds and spirits of our communities then that is CHANGE that I can believe in!!!!

Political change will only provide incremental improvement.  Political change is necessary.

Politicians reflect what is inside the hearts and minds of the people.

When the hearts of the people are dirty then politicians will be dirty.

This is why it is fool hardy to trust politicians to change your life.

Do you want to change the world?

Then dig into your bible.

Do you want to change the world?

Then spiritually get on your knees and pray.(not necessarily physically)

Do you want to change the world?

Then develop stronger bonds of unity with other Disciples Of Christ.

Do you want to change the world?

Then share the truth of Christ in your life with someone in your circle.

2 Sam 12:1-13

1          And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2          The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3          But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

4          And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5          And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6          And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7          And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8          And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9          Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10        Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11        Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12        For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13        And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

(KJV)

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One of the keys to an abundant life is how you respond to your TRUTH TELLERS.  We all have truth tellers in our lives.  Some of us respond differently to those truth tellers though.  Your response to the truth tellers determines your fate.

David was king.  Nathan was a prophet.  Nathan spoke truth to power.  Nathan was used by the Lord to expose David's sin.  David could have cut his head off.  David didn't, David repented in recognition of his sin.  David was considered a man after God's own heart.  David responded wisely to his truth teller.

Who is your TRUTH TELLER?

How do you respond to your TRUTH TELLER?

Let me give you a true story.

Around two to three years ago, the Hill Ministry grew to triple it's current size.  I preached the truth and challenged people to turn away from sin.  Over night...sadly....the Hill shrunk by 90%.  While I didn't call out anyone personally, while I didn't embarrass anyone or doing anything "crazy",  people still ran from the TRUTH.

Do you know what happened after that?

Most of the people who left the Hill....while running away from the truth.....ran directly into personal destruction.

How you deal with the TRUTH TELLERS in your life will determine your fate.

Matt 13:1-2

1          The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2          And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Mark 4:1

1          And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

Luke 5:3

3          And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

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Why did Jesus preach to the multitudes from a boat?

Because using water as a natural amplifier, Jesus was repositioning himself so that he could be heard.

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

Is someone not hearing you today?

Then maybe you need to reposition yourself so that you can be heard.

The miracle isn't in the speaking....it's in the hearing.

Romans 10:17 (Whole Chapter)

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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"It's not about what you need to say,

it's about what they need to hear."

- Dr. Drout

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As a younger minister, I didn't mean to but my public speaking was focused on me.  God would give me a message, I would deliver the message and then I would almost collapse with relief.  I would think, "good I got it off my chest...now it's on them to get it".

Many preachers think and say that.  Occasionally I still say, "It's my job to preach, it's your job to learn."  There is some truth to the statement but it does not express the full responsibilities of people who are growing in God's love.

When you are growing in LOVE, God's LOVE, it's your responsibility to ensure that not only is the Word preached but that the Word is HEARD.

It's not just your responsibility to teach your kids, it's your responsibility to ensure that your children learn.

If you really believe that you have the truth and the audience needs the truth then you have to do what you need to do in order for them to hear.

All your teaching and preaching is in vain if they do not hear you.

Why do I wear a suit when dealing with religious folk....because I want them to hear me.  I love them.

Why do I speak street vernacular when dealing with 18-25 year olds...because I want them to hear me.  I love them.

We all know that you can speak but do you care enough to change your approach...so that they can HEAR?

Hill Ministry Family:

Praise the Lord!!!

A few weeks ago, I had put a prayer request out regarding the Owens Family.  I don't believe that I went into details but the family matriarch was diagnosed with brain tumors.  The situation was dire.  Below is a testimony giving witness to the Spirit of Jesus Christ actively involved in our lives nurturing our faith as we walk this Earth.

Agape,

t

PS Keep Praying!

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 Tony,   The Lord is great and worthy to be praised!  I took my mom for her first oncology visit with the radiology specialist. She had taken another MRI the week before, and this was the follow-up visit.  It was obvious that he found this case interesting, considering her age and the location of the main tumor.  If you recall, she had one relative large one at the back of her neck (cerebellum) and several multiple, smaller ones on the right frontal lobe.  He reported that the smaller ones were NO LONGER EVIDENT, except for  one very faint, barely discernble one, and the larger one had not grown at all in the 6 weeks since the previous MRI.  He even went back to get the earlier reports to compare to this last one.  God is truly an awesome God!   I thank you and all others who shared with my family in prayer for my mother.    Take care,   Ms O

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Matt 18:19-20
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
(KJV)

Former Governor, minister and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee made this statement somewhere near the White House and Capital during a rally of Christians:

"Revolution and/or Revival can not begin in the building behind me until true change begins within the temple inside me."

Disclaimer:  This is not saying that I agree with this guy on anything.  This one statement was cool though.

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Luke 17:21

21        Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

(KJV)

QUOTE:

My potential is Gods gift to me.  What I do with that potential is my gift to God.                                                                                      -Unknown

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Luke 19:12-26

12        He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13        And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

14        But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

15        And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

16        Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

17        And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

18        And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

19        And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

20        And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

21        For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

22        And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

23        Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

24        And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

25        (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

26        For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

(KJV)

Do any of you watch "Run's House" on tv?

For those that do...did you know that Rev. Run  and Justine his wife are under the tutelage of the Bishop E. Bernard Jordan?

Did you know that Bishop E. Bernard Jordan believes that He is God?

He stated this in his book, "The Laws Of Thinking".

Did you know that Bishop E. Bernard Jordan hopes to teach all of his followers that they are "gods" too?

Did you know that Bishop E. Bernard Jordan lifts Reverend Ike up as a mentor or role model?

Did you know that Bishop E. Bernard Jordan wants to lift up 300 prophets called "neophytes"?

Did you know that Rev. Run and Bishop Jordan's church hopes to "liberate and literally shake the nations of the earth!"

Did you know that the Bishop Jordan does not believe in sin?

Be careful regarding that harmless show that you are watching.

II Th 3:15

15        Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

(KJV)

1Thes 3:11-13

11        Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

12        And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

13        To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

(KJV)

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Our weakest point in the body of Christ today is how we correct one another. 

Either we don't do it because we are scared that our friends and family won't love us anymore.

OR

We also wait until we can't handle it anymore and then SLAM the one we love with viciousness and cruelty. 

The WAY OF CHRIST is a narrow road.  We should correct the ones we love with peacefulness, calmness, steadfastness and consistency.  We shouldn't belittle people.  We shouldn't make people feel awful about their actions.  In fact, we should let them know that "we too" have made that error or a similar one at one time in our lives.

Let me give you an example:

Once upon a time, long, long ago, I made one too many jokes in the workplace.  This Christian sister corrected me very loudly and abruptly in front of everyone.  (Disclaimer:  The joke wasn't' racial or sexual.  It still was not up to the standard of Jesus the Christ.)

 I felt like I could crawl under the door jam.  She was actually correct about my joke....but her correction was much more out of order then the actual joke itself.  Love was not her motivation or platform for correction.  This sister had a prideful superior attitude and she wanted "to put a minister in check".

When someone is wrong...we should pull them aside and correct them in love disciple to disciple.  Once they ignore that private warning, then you should talk to them with two or three other Disciples.  Once they ignore that...take them to the Church!!!

Matt 18:15-17

15        Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16        But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17        And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

(KJV)

Why God can't stand Bourgeoisie People!!!!!!!!!!

Where the Class System came from.

God can be angry at an entire group of people.  Example the Creatians.

Titus 1:12-13

12        One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13        This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

(KJV)

In the old days, after Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, the land was plenteous and the people were few.  Still there was hard work to be done.

Gen 3:17-19

17        And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

18        Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

19        In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

There arose some men who worked hard and were blessed with many children and family members to till the land and shepherd the crops.  These men began being known as "Lords".  The head of the family was the "Lord".

Gen 32:4-5

4          And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

5          And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

There were some families that did not prosper due to famine or disease.  In a time where your family bonds meant safety, security and access to food and shelter, this was a death knell when your family did not prosper.  When this would happen, you and your family could become a "servant" to another family and you would now have to follow another Lord.  So there developed two classes of people:  The Lords and their families and the servants or slaves.

Gen 37:27-28

27        Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28        Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

As the land grew more populous, there grew border disputes between Lords.

Gen 13:1-9

CHAPTER 13

1          And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

2          And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

3          And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;

4          Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5          And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6          And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

7          And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

8          And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

9          Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Many of the Lords gathered together and elected a person to protect them from other Lords.  This person was called a King.  Once the King was selected, his oldest son would customarily take his place.

1 Sam 8:1-7

1          And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2          Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

3          And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

4          Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5          And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6          But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

7          And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

A fourth class of people is developed to control the ignorant peasants.  Peasants began to overpopulate the Lords and Kings.  These people were the religious priests and prophets.  Due to ignorance the peasants were very superstitious, The Kings and Lords used this to dominate them.

Example of overpopulation of slaves

Exod 1:1-10

1          Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.

2          Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3          Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4          Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

5          And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

6          And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

7          And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

8          Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

9          And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

10        Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

Examples of religious people falsely preaching for filthy lucre.

Num 22:4-12

4          And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

5          He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

6          Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

7          And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

8          And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

9          And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

10        And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

11        Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

12        And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

So now we have Kings, Lords, religious and slaves.  A fourth class of people begin to develop called the merchant class or the artisans:

Gen 4:22

22        And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

Exod 31:1-5

1          And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2          See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

3          And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

4          To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

5          And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

IKing 7:13-14

13        And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.

14        He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.

In France the artisans and merchants are called the bourgeoisie.

The bourgeoisie rose from the peasant or slave class.  In the 19^th Century due to the Industrial Revolution, they bourgeoisie rose to power in various places throughout the Earth.  (see secular definitions and references for bourgeoisie)

Bourgeoisie is a classification used in analyzing human societies to describe a social class of people who are in the upper or merchant class, whose status or power comes from employment, education, and wealth as opposed to aristocratic origin. Petite bourgeoisie (also petty bourgeoisie) is used to describe the class below the bourgeoisie but above the proletariat (usually independent operators with a small number of employees). Urban haute bourgeois[2] was coined by Whit Stillman to describe American upper-class WASPs, who have been seen capturing more and more social and economic capital. [3]

Education                    Knowledge

Wealth                         Money

Employment                Works

During the 19^th Century, the Bourgeoisie gain power and take over most of the world due to the Industrialization.

The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in Britain. The changes subsequently spread throughout Europe and North America and eventually the world, a process that continues as industrialisation. The onset of the Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point in human society; almost every aspect of daily life was eventually influenced in some way. In the later part of the 1700s there occured a transition in parts of Great Britain's previously manual-labour-based economy towards machine-based manufacturing. It started with the mechanisation of the textile industries, the development of iron-making techniques and the increased use of refined coal. Trade expansion was enabled by the introduction of canals, improved roads and railways. The introduction of steam power (fuelled primarily by coal) and powered machinery (mainly in textile manufacturing) underpinned the dramatic increases in production capacity.[2] The development of all-metal machine tools in the first two decades of the 19th century facilitated the manufacture of more production machines for manufacturing in other industries. The effects spread throughout Western Europe and North America during the 19th century, eventually affecting most of the world. The impact of this change on society was enormous.[3]

The bourgeois were affected by this:

1 Tim 6:10

10        For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Success can bring an attitudinal change to the Bourgeois, check out a similar attitude displayed by a Babylonian King.

Dan 4:30-37

30        The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31        While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

32        And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33        The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

34        And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35        And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36        At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37        Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

This evil attitude will bring about destruction in the last days:

Rev 18:23-24

23        And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

24        And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

When the Lord blesses you...what is the right attitude to have?  Joseph an Old Testament type of Christ, rose to power from the slave class but still never developed a Bourgeois attitude.  He had every right to look down at his famine plagued brothers but he didn't. 

Make sure that you keep a Christ like attitude which is the same as Josephs.

Don't become Bourgeois!!!

Gen 45:1-28

1          Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

2          And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

3          And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

4          And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

5          Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

6          For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

7          And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8          So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

9          Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

10        And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

11        And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

12        And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.

13        And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.

14        And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

15        Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

16        And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

17        And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

18        And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

19        Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

20        Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.

21        And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.

22        To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

23        And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.

24        So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.

25        And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,

26        And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.

27        And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

28        And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

The TRUTH about tithing and giving.

God told Moses to have the nation of Israel pay a tithe.  A tithe is 10 percent of the income.  This tithe was part of the LAW.

Lev 27:30-32

30        And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.

If this tithe is not paid then it would be a curse to the children of Israel.

Mal 3:8-9

8          Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9          Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

(KJV)

According to the Law the tithe was given to the Hebrew Priest, the Levite.

Num 18:21

21        And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

(KJV)

In addition to 10% to the Levitical Priest, giving was encouraged to the poor.  This giving was in addition to tithe.

Deut 15:11

11        For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

(KJV)

Matt 6:2-4

2          Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3          But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4          That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

(KJV)

Jesus Christ came in the flesh.

John 3:16-18

16        For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17        For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18        He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(KJV)

Jesus Christ did not destroy or abolish the law but he did fulfill.  Jesus Christ completed the meaning and the function of the law.  The life, the death and resurrection of Jesus was the completion of the law.  Remember the tithe was part of that law.

Matt 5:17

17        Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

(KJV)

Since Jesus fulfilled the Law, the principle of giving remained but the process or the implementation has changed.

Heb 7:12

12        For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

(KJV)

Gal 5:18

18        But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

(KJV)

Shortly after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God came and filled those who sincerely believed in Jesus Christ.  Even today, when people hear the Gospel, repent from sin and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit enters them and lives within.

Eph 1:13

13        In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

(KJV)

This Holy Spirit does not control you but will be a guide if you let it.  If you listen to the Spirit of God, it will lead you into an abundant life, a faithful life and a life of sacrifice, purpose and meaning.

Rom 8:14

14        For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

(KJV)

Now that the Law has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, instead of a dogmatic legalistic 10% to a earthly priest, you should now give as the Spirit of the Lord leads you.

2 Cor 9:6-7

6          But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7          Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

(KJV)

Who should you give to?

You should give to whom the Lord leads you to.

Who might that be.

There are two groups of people that scripturally are supported, when you give to these people, you are giving to Jesus the Christ.

1^st group: 

The physically poor, hungry, the imprisoned...the broken hearted.

Matt 25:31-45

31        When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32        And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33        And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34        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:

35        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:

36        Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37        Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38        When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39        Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40        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.

41        Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42        For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43        I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44        Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45        Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

(KJV)

2^nd group:

Those who bless you with spiritual things like teaching you the Word of God.

Gal 6:6-10

6          Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

7          Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8          For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9          And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

10        As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

(KJV)

1 Cor 9:11

11        If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

(KJV)

Note:  In Galatians 6:6 the word "communicate" is the word "koinoneo" in the original Greek.  This word means also encourage or distribute.  It does not mean just financial "encouragement" but "coin' is one way to do that.

In the New Testament of His Spirit, how much should we give?

His Word will help us to discern how much to give:

Heb 4:12

12        For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(KJV)

Here are some scriptural guides to assist in figuring out how much to give:

1^st guide:

Under the Law that could not save you, Gods people gave 10%.  How much should we give under Christ and the Spirit? 

Lev 27:30-32

30        And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.

2^nd guide:

God doesn't want a fraction, He wants all of you.

Rom 12:1-2

CHAPTER 12

1          I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2          And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(KJV)

3^rd guide:

God doesn't want you to be in debt to other people on Earth.

Rom 13:8

8          Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

(KJV)

On a closing note:

If you give, let the Love of Christ be your guide.  Don't let fear, superstition and the traditions of prosperity preachers motivate you.  If you give...GIVE BECAUSE HE DIED FOR YOUR SINS.

Gal 3:1-5

CHAPTER 3

1          O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2          This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3          Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4          Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5          He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

(KJV)

Follow up questions from last week:

Brother Tony, what does it mean by "nature itself teach you, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  Where in nature does it say that?"

Rom 1:20

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

1 Cor 11:14

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

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In many species of animals, one of two things happen:

a.) the male "grooms" the female in exchange for sex

b.) Or the female grooms herself seeking attention from the male.

This is what Paul meant in Romans 1:20 and I Cor 11:14.  Even in nature, you can see the principles of God.

This is where we get the phrase, "the Bridegroom" meaning the male wedding partner.

The Greek Word for "long hair" is komao which means tresses or stylized hair.  So Paul wasn't talking about the length of hair per say but the style.  Paul was really speaking out against what we call today "metro sexual" activity. 

In the Corinthian Church gender lines were blurred.  Homosexual activity and orgies were rampant.  Men grooming themselves like females could become problematic.  Paul was reiterating the principle of Deuteronomy 22:5.  In short, men should dress and groom like men and women should dress and groom like women.

Even today, women spend more time as a whole "grooming" their hair.

Even today, I know a couple of men that shampoo, plait and take the plaits out of their wife's hair as a pre-mating ritual.

In Ephesians, God says that the male and female relationship is a great mystery which serves as an allegory of God's Love for the Church.  In the Old Testament, the hair is an allegory for the fruits of the Spirit.  Our spiritual bridegroom today is plaiting our hair with peace.  Our bridegroom in heaven is trimming our split ends of hatred and pride.  Our bridegroom shampoo's our dirty hair with this reddish watery stuff that comes from the cross.  Our bridegroom dries our hair with the warm heat of His Spirit.  We are groomed to be fruitful and multiply!!!

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Disclaimer:  For those of you just reading this devotional, this is not the focus of my ministry or even Paul's.  We believe in eternal and internal issues.  Sometimes though, these eternal and internal issues grow out of the soul and into carnality.

Praise the Lord Family!

I bring you good news!!

The Hill Ministry was able to purchase and deliver the Volvo to the family that I had mentioned earlier.  The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ moved in many of you to pledge, the Holy Spirit moved within a genuine Pastor to help us with the vehicle, the Lord gave Kim and I the time on Saturday to go and get it and most importantly, the Lord moved within the heart of the recipient.  The brother was genuinely touched and appreciative to Jesus Christ and the true spiritual Church of Jesus Christ.

I thank you!

I had asked several of you to hold your money until the car was delivered.  I believe that we are ready now!

For those that want to contribute the old fashioned way, here is the address:

 Mars Hill Ministry

PO BOX 358

Ruther Glen, VA 22546

For those that are comfortable with online banking and purchases, we have included a link above.

The Hill Ministry does not believe in credit card debt.  If you made a pledge to help, please wait until you can "debit" it with cash or mail it in.  We wish to follow the Scripture, "Owe no man anything but LOVE".

LOVE,

Tony and The Hill

Prelude:

Praise the Lord family, I received some GREAT Questions, so instead of the same devotional as usual, I have a question and answer devotional.  Below you will find the questions, the scriptures and then the answers.

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Scripture:

1 Cor 10:23-29

23        All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

24        Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

25        Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

26        For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

27        If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

28        But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

29        Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

1 Cor 11:1-16

CHAPTER 11

1          Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2          Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

3          But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

4          Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

5          But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

6          For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

7          For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

8          For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

9          Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

10        For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

11        Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

12        For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

13        Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

14        Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

15        But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

16        But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

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Explanation:

Question #1

What does it mean when the food is offered to idols?

In Paul's day, the Greeks were pagans.  They worshipped a variety of Gods(pantheon).  They would sacrifice animals on altars.  After the ritual of sacrificing the meat, they would sell the meat in the markets.

Some Christians who had turned away from paganism and were starting their new life in Christ were offended by the meat being offered at meals.  They believed that if the meat had been offered to idols that it should be thrown away.  Other Christians felt that meat was meat and that as long as they didn't believe in paganism anymore that they should eat the meat.  This became an issue of contention in the early Corinthian Church.

The important word for everyone to keep in mind is "conscience".  Not just your conscience, but the conscience of those around you.  If you are going to offend those around you, then even if you are FREE in Christ to partake in certain activities,  you should restrain yourself for the good of your fellow brother or sister in Christ.

Let me give you an example.  Even when I was in the world, alcohol was never a problem for me.  Alcohol is not a sin either.  Drunkenness is the sin.  I am free to drink a beer or a wine cooler.  I would never and have never drunken alcohol while in Christ though(other than communion).  Why?  There are two reasons:  1.)  Alcohol is a problem in America, we culturally don't know how to take just one drink.  I don't want to contribute to that.  2.)  While I am free to drink one drink, most people are ignorant of my freedom.  If anyone saw a Pastor drinking alcohol, they would say, "owwhhhhhhh look at Pastor Tony".   So like the meat sacrificed to idols, I abstain from drinking not because of God but because I love my brother.

If this doesn't make sense then please email me at marshillministry©aol.com

Question #2

In verse one, it says keep the traditions just as I delivered to you.  What traditions is it speaking of.  I thought traditions were not good overall.  I know it has to be good to some extent if God says keep them just not sure what he's speaking of here.

God does not have a problem with traditions.  Jesus Christ had a problem with the traditions of men.  Sometimes men establish traditions that do not align with the precepts or principles of God. 

Let me give you some good and bad examples:

BAD TRADITION

The Baptist Religion(some) often time has a tradition when Pastors die.  When Baptist Pastors(some) die or pass away, the Baptist Religion(some) drapes a black tarp over their doors and over the Pastors Chair.  That tradition testifies against Christ overcoming the grave.  We who are mature in Christ, should not be scared or overcome with the concept of death.   Death for the disciples of Christ is a victory...so why would we drape everything in black?  That tradition of men does not align with the Word or it's principles.

GOOD TRADITION

The ordination ceremony is a good tradition.  It demonstrates how God has called people for certain missions.  It gives a congregation an opportunity to have faith in the calling of the minister.  In the Bible, the "ordination" of Paul and Barnabas was much simpler.  Still, the current ordinations that I have seen highlight the universal principle of being "called out".

Remember what we teach at the Hill, it is the principle that matters.   When you have a tradition or routine the question to ask yourself is this;  "Is my tradition backed up in the Word of God or the principles of God?"

Mark 7:8

8          For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

II Th 3:6

6          Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

If this doesn't make sense then please email me at marshillministry©aol.com

Question #3

Going further it says a woman with her head uncovered dishonors her head.  And if a woman is not covered let her be shorn.  In short are we suppose to cover our heads like muslims?

Couple of things to remember regarding this text:

-Paul's audience, Paul was speaking to an immature Corinthian Church dealing with many pagan traditions and carnality.

-The Corinthians had a specific gender related custom regarding hairstyles and hats.  This custom was common place throughout the region.

- That custom reiterated a universal biblical principle;  Christ is the head of man, man is the head of the family

-We should never deal with any scripture in a vacuum.  We understand Scriptures by the Scriptures.  In Paul's general epistles to the Ephesians and the Romans, the commandment of "covering" is not reiterated.

I believe that we would all be well served by focusing on the PRINCIPLE of what Paul was saying rather than the Corinthian custom.  I have seen women who have the Jezebel Spirit but they wear the funny little hat on their head.  My wife doesn't wear a physical cover but she honors me as the head of our family.  Her covering is spiritual and can be seen thru her fruits.  Remember that carnal people focus on clothing and physical things but spiritual people focus on the eternal and internal principles.

If this doesn't make sense then please email me at marshillministry©aol.com

Ps 51:5

5          Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

(KJV)

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Disclaimer:  I am exposing sin in my past in order to help you.  Don't hurt yourself by judging me and missing the point.

The Hill Ministry Devotional section now called, "TheGhostWriterBlog" began "in sin".

That's right, I said it, this devotional began "in sin".

In 1998 while working as a contractor for the ___ _____ on a government server I sent out my first devotional message.  The zeal for sending devotionals was half inspired by God and was also half inspired by the fact that I didn't want to be on that job.  In the early days, the Hill Ministry Devotional was typed during office hours while I was being paid by Babylon.  There where several times during the work day that other people were inconvenienced while I was typing devotionals.  There were times where work was "dropped" while I was sending out inspiration.

Thousands of people have been touched through the years but it started off the wrong way.

In the 2003 and/or 2004 time period, the Lord began to expose this sin to me.  Three things happened:

- There was a sister where I was working at who was a "Christian", she was the office joke. She would walk and talk really s-l-o-w all day long until 330. Then she would ZOOM out of the workplace. She worked for 30 years and retired as a GS5 in the DC area. Everyone loved her but everybody knew that she was LAZY and TRIFLING. The Lord used that sister to make me look at myself.

- I read a boring book by this brother named Dennis Bakke called the "Joy of Work". While the book was a very slow and a dry read, it exposed a biblical truth that I had been ignoring out of convenience. That book pointed out that we spend so much time on a job that we should be working to the GLORY OF GOD.

- A really hard working sister from The Hill began working in the same place. When ever I would get lazy on the job the Lord would send her into my office to ask for spiritual counsel. Her presence alone used to always tell me without her saying anything, "Tony you have to be a better example, GET TO WORKING".

Nowadays, the devotional is NEVER sent on Babylonian time.  Nowadays I stay up at night or wake up in the morning to get the devotional out.  When I first started typing the devotional at night, I thought, "Tony this will never work, where will you get the energy?"  We have had our own webpage or some variant for four years.  I haven't used a gubment server for YEARS!

Why do I share this with you?

UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE:  Good things can have bad beginnings.

Inspired by the Holy Ghost, David wrote, "shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me".

I hate to break the news but while little babies are a BIG BLESSING....we as human beings don't get babies by thinking divine thoughts.  This is especially true on the male side of things.

Where we start, THANK GOD, is not where we end.

Think about that before you tell a young person:

"God ain't in that...YOU AIN"T NEVER GONNA BE BLESSED!"

"How you supposed to blessed startin off like that?"

We are broken pitiful humans in need of Grace.  God meets us while we are "a long way off".  God works with us where we are at.  God loves us that much.  If God didn't work with MESSES like me, then all of humanity would have perished at Noah's Flood.

I still am not "the gold standard" on my job.  I am pressing though.

Don't get depressed by your humble beginnings.  You need to keep pressing towards your PERFECT ending...which is Jesus Christ saying, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

John 15:22

22        If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

(KJV)

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Once upon a time I gave my word to someone on my job.  I told them that I would drive five hours to train them.  Once upon a time, that same person almost begged me to come and train him on a database that I am familiar with.  Once upon a time, I got tied up during the day and had to drive all night to keep my word.  Once upon a time, I got in to the training location at 330 in the morning.  Once upon a time, I taught the class all day and tried my best to help the people who requested my expertise.

ONCE UPON A TIME, the person that I did this for....DID NOT PAY ATTENTION IN THE CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sad fact is that this same person did not realize that I am the one who will inspect him a year from now.

I don't share this to complain.  I share this to make a spiritual point.

Do you appreciate and understand what God did to give you the Word?

God gave you the Word in the Garden of Eden.  If you had listened, the Word would have kept you in that special place.

God sent his Word thru Moses and the Prophets.  If you had listened, the nation of Israel would have been the Christ to a dying world.

God sent his Word thru his Son...and we crucified Him with our sins.

God sent his Apostles and they were all martyred but one.

God sent his disciples that were fed to the lions.

God sent his reformers like Martin Luther to free us from religion and tradition and get us back into the Word.

God sent people like Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglas who had little white children read them the Word so that they themselves would know the truth.

God sent people like your Grandma...who attended bible study after bible study after bible study...just to share a little Word with you.

God sent PASTORS after his own heart, to teach and feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Do you REALLY understand all that God did to get you the Word?

Please don't tell him that "nobody told me the truth?"

Please don't tell him that you are too tired to study both day and night.

Please don't tell him that the King James English is too hard.

Please don't make excuses to God because frankly...you don't understand all that He sacrificed to get you The Word!!!!

Disclaimer:  I don't have time research "the voice of the martyrs" or where the video came from.  From my research though, while those specific cases can not be verified, it does happen.

Matt 12:46-50

46        While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47        Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48        But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49        And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50        For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

(KJV)

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Wow!

Talking about confirmation!

I preached on the scripture above, basically covering that your true family are those who share your VALUES in Christ.  Those who are in the WORD.  Those who put Christ first place in life.  When you understand that, expectations are clear and feelings don't get hurt.

Then today, the Lord confirmed the message.(even more then it had already been confirmed.)

I went to a retirement ceremony where a co-worker, Christian, overall great role model to young ladies was celebrating twenty years of service to the Marine Corps.  Guess what she said, "I want to thank my mom.  Many of you don't know this but I was adopted.  This woman adopted me when I was two months old.  She is the only mom that I ever knew.  She is my mom, she has consistently been there for me.  She is still there for me.  We don't share the same blood, but she is MY MOM."

Wow!!!! 

Is your family defined by religious affiliations, shared genetics and shared last names or is your family defined by shared values, shared beliefs and shared love?

What is your TRUE FAMILY?

Dental plaque is biofilm (usually colorless) that builds up on the teeth. If not removed regularly, it can lead to dental cavities (caries) or periodontal problems (such as gingivitis).

The microorganisms that form the biofilm are almost entirely bacteria (mainly streptococcus mutans and anaerobes), with the composition varying by location in the mouth. Examples of such anaerobes include fusobacterium and Actinobacteria.

The microorganisms present in dental plaque are all naturally present in the oral cavity, and are normally harmless. However, failure to remove plaque by regular tooth brushing means that they are allowed to build up in a thick layer. Those microorganisms nearest the tooth surface convert to anaerobic respiration; it is in this state that they start to produce acids which consequently lead to demineralization of the adjacent tooth surface, and dental caries. Saliva is also unable to penetrate the build-up of plaque and thus cannot act to neutralize the acid produced by the bacteria and remineralize the tooth surface.

Plaque build up can also become mineralized and form calculus (tartar).

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Plaque is just like religion and tradition.  It lies at the core of the structure eating away at that same structure.  You know the worst thing about plaque?  Plaque begins to look just like the toothe after awhile.

Mark 7:13
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
(KJV)

There is an answer for religious plaque though.

Flouride or Listerine is just like the Holy Spirit.  The Living Water that flows and goes everywhere, even places that you cant see.

John 7:38
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(KJV)

Your toothebrush is like the Word of God, best used morning, noon and night!!!!!

Ps 1:2
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
(KJV)

In the Spirit....what is your breathe like?

John 20:22
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
(KJV)

Don't forget....to brush your tongue!!!!

Prov 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
(KJV)

Matt 11:18-19

18        For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19        The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Matt 5:10-11

10        Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11        Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

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Once upon a time I was working in a religious organization.  In that religious organization there was an older woman who was very controlling.  She wasn't in a leadership role, she just was very busy.

This older woman wanted me to do things her way.  We were both committed to helping a certain type of person who was in distress.  Because I didn't help the people the way that she wanted me to help them...guess what?  I became the enemy.

She couldn't attack me on anything scriptural or truthful so she began to make stuff up.  This sister was connected to several other sisters at this particular religious organization.  Over night, I was mislabeled as an administrative "flake".  Over time, it became obvious who this sister had been talking to.  People who I didn't even regularly work with began changing their smiles, hugs and conversation toward me.  This all happened because I didn't allow myself to be controlled by this sister. 

Why do I share this?

What is the moral to this story?

Your brand is important but sometimes there is nothing you can do about it but pray.  As my mentor use to say, "Just make sure that they are lying on you!  Make sure that it ain't true!!!"

Keep in mind, the world's most perfect person was lied on and called a drunk, a glutton and a blasphemer!!!

When you are doing the right thing, some people will just get jealous!

In fact, over the length of your life and ministry, you are probably doing something wrong if folks don't lie on you and make stuff up.

Here is a quick guide of how to deal with this kinda nonsense:

1. Ask yourself this question:

"Lord, is any of this true?"

2.  Thank the Lord for the trial whether it's true or not.

3.   Unless someone directly asks you about it, don't address it.  It's not worthy.

4.  Pray for them.

5.  If it's true or has an element of truth, thank the Lord again and correct the behavior.

6.  If it's not true, thank the Lord for the opportunity to show the fruit of love, patience and longsuffering.

7.  Remember in time, you can either prove or disprove the gossip.  As Jesus said, "Wisdom is justified by all her children."

Main Entry:

²brand

Function:

transitive verb

Date:

15th century

1 : to mark with a brand 2 : to mark with disapproval : stigmatize <he was branded a coward> 3 : to impress indelibly <brand the lesson on his mind>

- brand·er noun

Main Entry: in·del·i·ble 

Pronunciation: \in-ˈde-lə-bəl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English indelyble, from Medieval Latin indelibilis, alteration of Latin indelebilis, from in- + delçre to delete

Date: 15th century

1 a: that cannot be removed, washed away, or erased b: making marks that cannot easily be removed <an indelible pencil>

2 a: lasting <indelible memories> b: unforgettable, memorable <an indelible performance>

- in·del·i·bil·i·ty  \(ˌ)in-ˌde-lə-ˈbi-lə-tç\ noun

• - indelibly \in-ˈde-lə-blç\ adverb

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Gen 32:24-28

24        And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

25        And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

26        And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

27        And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

28        And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

(KJV)

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Last Sonday, the Lord led me to speak about "branding".  The Lord led me to ask you, "What is your brand, what are you known for?"

For those of us, like myself who are known in some places for negative stuff...I bring good news!!!

God can change your brand!!!

Our God is a God of the Resurrection!!!

Our Lord Jesus makes all things new!!!

In the Scripture above, God changed the brand of this dude named Jacob by changing his name and mindset.  Jacob used to be a scared little sissy and God changed him into a forefather of a nation.  His name would become Israel, a name known even today throughout the world!!!

In the human definition above, the word brand means, "to impress indelibly".  The word indelible means, "mark that cannot be removed or washed away".

I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS!!!

OUR INDELIBLE BRANDS ARE INSIGNIFICANT WHEN WE REALIZE WE SERVE AN INCREDIBLE GOD!!

For eternity, there is no brand of sin that the blood of Christ can't wash away.

During this dispensation of time, there is no brand that the Word of God, patience and longsuffering can't undue and recreate.

Don't ever give up!!

Especially if Jesus is your name brand!!!

1Thes 5:22

22        Abstain from all appearance of evil.

(KJV)

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Let's expose a "Christian" myth:

"It doesn't matter what people think about you."

It does matter.

What people think about you affects your ability to help them and more importantly your ability to share truth with them.

If you love people enough, you care what they think about you.

I care what everyone on this devotional list thinks about me.

I don't care for sake of my reputation.

Like I told the Saturday Class, Kim and I are natural born hermits, in our flesh....we don't give a flip what you think about us.  Like two kids in a sandlot, we can play by ourselves.

In the Spirit though, I care what you think about me, not for my sake....but for yours.

I work on my reputation....not because I want people to say...."oohhh look how Holy Tony is".

I care about my reputation because I don't want you to reject the TRUTH that the Lord shares thru me in sermons and in these devotionals.

I ask you today, WHAT IS YOUR BRAND?

Is your brand like Volvo...solid, steady and dependable?

Is your brand like Enron...known for deceit.

Your brand is important because it affects your ability to reach and teach others.

A religious person guards their brand for egotistic purposes.

A Spirit led person cares about their brand because of who they represent.

This gentlemen used to be John McCain's chief economic adviser until he made the statement below:

Right now our planet is dependent upon non-renewable energy.  Gasoline, coal, natural gas, diesel, and other commodities derived from fossil fuels are non-renewable

Different types of Renewable energy are:
 
Solar power is the energy derived directly from the Sun. It is the most abundant source of energy on Earth. It is captured by photovoltaic cells, or by using sunlight to heat water. The Sun will continue to shine for about 5 billion years.

Wind power is derived from uneven heating of the Earth's surface from the Sun and the warm core. Most modern wind power is generated in the form of electricity by converting the rotation of turbine blades into electrical current by means of an electrical generator. In windmills (a much older technology) wind energy is used to turn mechanical machinery to do physical work, like crushing grain or pumping water.

Hydropower, energy derived from the movement of water in rivers and oceans (or other energy differentials), can likewise be used to generate electricity using turbines, or can be used mechanically to do useful work. It is a very common resource.

Geothermal power directly harnesses the natural flow of heat from the ground. The available energy from natural decay of radioactive eleme