Christmas is a beautiful season. The wonder of a birth that was truly a miracle. Jesus the Son of God came down to earth to live a perfect life as an example for us, and then to give us his life on a dirty old cross after being nearly beaten to death. All of that just for you and me. To give us the free gift of salvation from hell.
We have the choice. Jesus doesn’t force himself on anyone. Continue reading
When I agreed to be part of the mission team to the Olanchito region of Honduras, I didn’t realize that I would be the lone Gamecock fan in a sea of orange. There were thirty three nursing students and their instructor from Clemson on the team that assembled at the airport in Atlanta. For many of them it was their first trip out of the U.S.A. and a glimpse at what most of the world is like outside the United States and a couple of other countries.
After arriving in San Pedro Sula we boarded a rented bus for the five hour ride to Olanchita. We were met there by the beautiful people of Pastor Victor Gomez’s church family. They had a meal prepared for us that we enjoyed under the stars with just enough light to see how to eat. Then we headed to the Beverly Hotel for a few hours sleep before breakfast at 6 AM. The old hotel looks like one from an old western movie with the balcony all around. Continue reading
Judges chapter 13 thru 16
A member of the Hebrew clan of Dan, was married to a woman who had been told that she could not bear children. An angel appeared to her and told her that she would have a son who would deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. She was given instructions on; how to eat and drink while she was pregnant. She was told not to cut the boys hair, because he would receive super human strength from his hair. She told her husband about the angel’s message. Then Monoah, her husband, prayed that the angel be sent back to tell them how to raise this boy who would soon be born. Continue reading
The main difference in all the religions of the world is how they answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” The Bible our work book for life is very clear on who Jesus is. In fact Jesus told his disciples many times that He was the Son of God. John 14:16 tells us Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the father except through me.”
Jesus is a man who achieved great things. This is what the Mormons teach.
The Jehovah’s Witness teach that Jesus is a created being, but not the almighty God. Continue reading
A rock, as a place of safety or refuge, is mentioned over fifteen times in the Bible. When Moses went up on Mt. Sinai to get the Ten Commandments from God he asked God to let him see ‘God’s glory’. (Copy Exodus 33:18-23)
Jesus told a parable about a wise person and a foolish person building their houses. The house built on the rock was secure.
Later in Mark 15:46, a big hollowed out rock became Jesus 3 day tomb.
A preacher in England, back in the 1700’s was taking a walk through the countryside when a violent storm came up suddenly. The preacher’s only chance was to take shelter under a large rock formation. Continue reading
Romans 8:28 “and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God…”
In the great depression of 1837, a wealthy New York lawyer lost most of his fortune. The family had to sell their property in the city and move to their summer home on Constitution Island up the Hudson River. The little house was right across the river from the United States Military Academy. The two Warner daughters wrote short stories, songs and books to help the family finances. Anna Warner and Susan also taught Bible classes at West Point and to the children of the instructors at the academy. Anna sometimes used a pen name, Amy Lothrop.
Anna wrote hymns that we still sing, such as “We Would See Jesus”. Some other hymn titles were O Little Child, Lie Still and Sleep, One more Day’s Work for Jesus, and The World Looks Very Beautiful.
But the little song that would last through the years is one we learned from our mothers and early in Sunday school; “Jesus Loves Me”.
In 1943 John F. Kennedy’s PT 109 was sunk. Two natives from the Solomon Islands picked up Kennedy and the others from the boat. As they traveled to safety the two natives began to sing a song they had learned from missionaries. Before long the crew of PT-109 and the two natives were singing Jesus Loves Me.
Jesus TE Ama, Jesus Salva
The Warner’s home, in memory of Anna’s work on the campus, is now maintained by the Academy Constitution Island Association.
In 1915, at age 87, Anna passed away. She is buried in the West Point Cemetery. The second verse of We Would See Jesus is on her tombstone.
James 5:20
In the early 1800’s a family of nine boys and three girls moved along the Indian Territory between Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. The Dalton family finally settled in Coffeyville, Kansas. The boys worked at neighboring farms to help with the family expenses. Later three of the boys became U.S. Deputy Marshals. After the oldest brother was killed by a group of outlaws, the younger boys began to rob banks and trains all across the Midwest.
They became bolder and greedier. They decided to rob the two banks in their home town of Coffeyville. Because of their brashness, the word got out about the plans for the robbery. Continue reading
VOLUNTEER’S IN MEDICAL MISSIONS TRIP TO NICARAGUA AUGUST 2011
Our team of thirteen gathered at the Atlanta Airport for our mission trip to Somoto, Nicaragua. One other member was already in Managua. Trevor Achenbach met us as we landed, the runway in Managua is about the same length as the one in Rock Hill, and they only have one runway. In the past we had arrived at night and spent the night in Managua. This flight got us into Nicaragua about noon, so we had time to travel by bus on to Somoto. The four hour ride, along with a stop for a chicken dinner, got us into the Pan American Hotel about six PM. It was beginning to get dark as the day lengths stay about the same year round because we were nearer the equator. Continue reading
Acts 10: 34-38
One of the hardest things for us to do is to treat everyone the same. At times we find ourselves in a group of people who seem better dressed, better educated or better something. But just as often we find ourselves surrounded by people we thing are a notch beneath us. Neither of these is an attitude a Christian should have. God created everyone in His image even though we don’t all look and act alike.
Peter was going about the country telling anyone who would listen about his friend Jesus who had gone back to Heaven some sixty years in his past. He cured a crippled man in Lydda. Then two men in Joppa came to tell Peter that their friend Dorcas had died. He prayed that God would show His mercy and then told her to rise, and she did.
Further up the coast at Caesarea a Roman officer had a visit from and angel, who told him to send for Peter. The angel told Cornelius that Peter would explain the plan of salvation. While two Roman soldiers were traveling the distance up to Joppa, Peter was having a vision. In the vision Peter was told to eat animals and birds that had been against the Jewish laws. Now God was saying they were o.k. This was an illustration to Peter that Jesus had come for the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
Immediately after the vision the two soldiers sent by Cornelius were at the door. When Peter walked into that room full of people who were not Jews, but wanted to know about God, he walked into a new life. No longer did he just tell Jewish people that Jesus came to save us from our sins, but now he spoke to everyone with the gospel message.
We can tell those around us, and show them by our lives, that Jesus loves us all.
When comedians start out with a statement about mother-in-laws, it usually isn’t a good one. But in the story of Ruth from the Old Testament, we see a Godly lady who showed the love of God to everyone around her. Ruth was drawn to her because of her strong faith even in much tragedy. Because Ruth was drawn to her Naomi was able to show Ruth the God that gave her the strength.
Elemeleck, Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Killon packed up their belongings and moved about sixty miles around the end of the Dead Sea to the country of Moab. All three men died in the next year. Widows were mistreated. After a while Naomi heard that the famine was over in Israel and decided to head home. Naomi told her two daughters-in-laws to go back to their parents, so that they might find a new husband. They both objected, but Orpah went back home. Ruth on the other hand clung to Naomi.
When they made it back to Bethlehem the whole town came to welcome Naomi home. She put Ruth in a field belonging to a rich relative of Eleleck to gleam for barley after it was harvested. Boaz ended up marrying Ruth and putting her in the lineage of Jesus. The son born to Boaz and Ruth was named Obed. He was King David’s grand father.
Naomi stayed faithful to God through many tragedies. Her character led Ruth to become a believer. A good example for us all.
