The Railroad runs in the middle of the street in Morehead City, NC.  On my way east one morning I saw these machines.  They reminded me of tools from the 50’s.

Big, impressive, hard working, just like the men that run them.  Unfortunately, I was running late, so decided to take pictures on my way back.

Big mistake, sun in my face, guys done for the day… job done… some of these vehicles were moving right along as I tried to get pictures . 

So, I apologize, that I did not catch the majesty of man’s creation.   We need to open our eyes and recognize Gods Creation.   Much, more impressive . 

Wisdom from Will Rogers: Also sent to me from my brother-in-law

Wednesday, November 16, 2016  

Will Rogers was not a liberal PC person, but his common sense continues to be humorous, unlike PC Liberals.

“Never Squat With Your Spurs On!”  – Will Rogers

(Will Rogers, who died in a 1935 plane crash in Alaska with bush pilot, Wiley Post, was one of the greatest political country/cowboy sages this country has ever known.)

Some of his sayings:

1.  Never slap a man who’s chewing tobacco.

2.  Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.

3.  There are two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither works.

4.  Never miss a good chance to shut up.

5.  Always drink upstream from the herd. 

6.  If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

7.  The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back into your pocket.

8.  There are three kinds of men:  

          The ones that learn by reading.

          The few who learn by observation.

          The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.

9.  Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

10.  If you’re riding’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it’s still there.

11.  Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier’n than puttin’ it back in.

12.  After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring.  He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him.

The moral:  When you’re full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

ABOUT GROWING OLDER …;

First ~ Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.  

Second ~ The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Third ~ Some people try to turn back their odometers.  Not me.  I want people to know ‘why’ I look this way.  I’ve traveled a long way, and some of the roads weren’t paved.

Fourth ~ When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth, think of algebra; 

Fifth ~ You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

Sixth ~ I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.  

Seventh ~ One of the many things no one tells you about ageing is that its such a nice change from being young.

Eight ~ One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.

Ninth ~  Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable and relaxed.

Tenth ~ Long ago, when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft.  Today it’s called golf.

And, finally ~ If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you’re old.

My brother-in-law sent this to me. Don’t know if true, but a touching story.

Subject: Military Song-Taps

 Near the bottom, as you scroll down, are the words. The first stanza frequently comes to mind at sundown…

I never knew … DID YOU? 

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps was played; this brings out a new meaning of it.

Here is something Every American should know. Until I read this, I didn’t know, but I checked it out and it’s true:

We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, ‘Taps…’ It’s the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. 

But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Elli was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. l

During the night, Captain Elli heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment..

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out.. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.

The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.

The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.

But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. 

The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth’s uniform.

This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as ‘Taps’ used at military funerals was born.

The words are: 

Day is done. 
Gone the sun. 
From the lakes 
From the hills. 
From the sky. 
All is well. 
Safely rest. 
God is nigh. 

Fading light. 
Dims the sight. 
And a star. 
Gems the sky. 
Gleaming bright. 
From afar. 
Drawing nigh. 
Falls the night. 

Thanks and praise. 
For our days. 
Neath the sun 
Neath the stars. 
Neath the sky 
As we go. 
This we know. 
God is nigh 

I too have felt the chills while listening to ‘Taps’ but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn’t even know there was more than one verse . I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn’t know if you had either so I thought I’d pass it along.

I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.

Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country. 

Also Remember Those Who Have Served And Returned; and for those presently serving in the Armed Forces. 

Please send this on for our soldiers … please don’t break it.

I didn’t!

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28)

A lot of us were almost persuaded by the news, that Hillary couldn’t lose, she would become President.

We are constantly under the influence of media, pictures, sound, TV, radio, opinions of pastors, friends, families, commercials, where to eat, what to buy, what to drive, think, believe.

So many trying to persuade us to their way of thinking. (Matthew 27:20 Barnabas)

First instance of persuasion. (1 Kings 22)

“Who will persuade Ahab?”  (A lying spirit)

There are several truths, personal truths of which, you cannot persuade me to leave.

Yamaha makes the toughest piano, it keeps a tune even with temperature changes and different hands playing.

Toyota is the toughest and longest running car I have ever owned. This Honda may come in second.

I am saved, safe and secure in the love, and covered by the blood of the Lamb.

These things I know. Can I persuade others to know and believe also?

We have a job. Our calling, our election, is to persuade people of the truth, the love of the Gospel.

God is not far away, impossible to know, to commune with, He is not just a wrathful, vengeful, unforgiving… scary God

Does that mean God is Love, that we can do as we please and He will accept us?

NO, NO, a thousand times NO. His love, forgiveness, mercy is true and available to whosoever will walk with Him.

This is the only requirement, a change of heart, direction, and intentions.

The trick is to realize, people already know the truth, they have the need, the longing for a Savior. (Acts 26:26)

We have all received a measure of Faith, the Faith to believe. Will we activate it? Allow it to blossom and grow?

The second trick is to understand what we are fully persuaded of?

Salvation, absolutely… we are persuaded.
Healing, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.
Raising the dead, that’s a mile too far.

The Lord used to do these things, when the Apostles were alive, when those who knew and were touched personally by Jesus, walked the land.

How do you explain Paul? One born out of time. (1 Corinthians 15:9)

He met and walks with Jesus, as we do. John 14’s promises are ours, we must, reach out, open and believe.

To persuade we must be persuaded.

Romans 8:37-39
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We need to be honest, don’t be afraid to not know why or how GOD heals, saves, comforts and loves.

Our Job is to share, pray, teach, to use our powers of persuasion. It is the Holy Spirits job to reel them in.

We need to be willing to plant, water and harvest.

We need to know what we know… Woman at well, the Legion, didn’t know anything, but what had happened to them.

Be ready and willing to shake the dust off your feet.

I leave you with scripture, it speaks louder and clearer than I.

Luke 16:31
“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Acts 21:14
“And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.”

Hebrews 6:9
“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.”

Galatians 1:10
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

I long to be the Servant of Christ. Amen

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: “A well regulated Piano, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and play music, shall not be infringed.”

Thank God, music and pianos are now safe from Hip Hop and Rapp… 

With a real man in the Oval Office, we may once again hear Jazz, Classical and Classic Rock once again.

The Ship of State is now on a true coarse.

Thank You, Jesus!!!

Another great word from Bill Hitchcock  and Refining Truth.

Www.refiningtruth.com 

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Fear and timidity. We all have experienced it. Some live in a constant state of it. Realize that this condition is not of God. But before we move forward with expanding and expounding upon the verse, let’s first break it down into its barebones components.

“Spirit”. Spirit from the Greek word, “pneuma”. Strong’s Lexicon defines pneuma as, the “vital principal by which the body is animated”. The “simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter”. The “disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul”

“Fear”. Fear, from the Greek word “deilia” meaning timid, fearful.

“But of power”. Power, from the word the Greek word, “dynamis” meaning moral power, strength and excellence of soul.

“And of love”. Love, from the Greek word, “agape”. This is love rooted in God and made manifest towards our fellow man.

“Of a sound mind”. A phrase derived from the Greek word, “sophronismos” meaning self-control, composure, sobriety.

So let’s look at 2 Timothy 1:7 again now that we know what the words used in the King James Version really mean.

God has not endowed or furnished us with the governing essence of fear and timidity. God gave us moral strength and character. He also gave us the greatest power and ability of all, love. We have the capacity to love God with all of our heart, mind, body and soul and to love our fellow man as our self. God also gave us the ability of composure. The ability to self-govern and self-regulate. We can control ourselves so as to maintain our spirit of power, rectitude and love.

So how do we become timid, fearful, lose control over our self and our situation. How do we become stressed out and feel like the world is spinning out of control? How do we lose our love for God and our neighbor?

It is important to keep in mind that we are talking about the spirit. Notice in Paul’s letter to Timothy that he says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear”. We are Holy Ghost (Spirit) filled! The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith and temperance. (Galatians 5:22-23) not fear and timidity!

But if we do not walk in the Spirit then we will fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16). The flesh is the residence, the power, control and influence of the most vile of spirits, the devil.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:17).

If you find yourself fearful, timid with the feeling of being powerless then you might want to check what spirit you are filled with. The devil is a liar and father of all lies. He will fool you into believing the worst.

In Genesis chapter 3 verse 1 we learn that the devil is “more subtil (shrewd, crafty, sly) than any beast of the field”. In John 10:10 we learn that the devil’s job is to, “steal and to kill and to destroy”

But always remember the following two things.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15)

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Realize that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Open your eyes to God. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

It really is a simple matter of realization. Don’t panic and get caught up in the moment. That’s what the devil wants you to do. That’s short term thinking. And remember, when it comes to you, the devil is doing everything in his power to make your existence miserable and short term

Think like God thinks, from everlasting to everlasting. Look through the problem of the day unto the love, comfort and joy of perpetuity. Set that course and sail through the storm, don’t do as the devil wishes and anchor up in it.

Gods people: Stiffnecked, Rebellious or ? – http://wp.me/p4qqra-JO

And older post revisited 

When I was brand new in the Lord, someone gave me a Charles Capps pamphlet “In Him”.  I remember it being all the scriptures that told who we were In Him.  I used that booklet to memorize those scriptures, it really helped me to grow in the Lord.

And few years ago I realized I no longer remembered all those verses, and picked up a new, “In Him”, pamphlet . 

I didn’t recognize the verses, realized it was now in NIV, and just left it alone.  I am not a KJV, only guy, but that is the version I think, pray and sing scriptures from.

If I have a problem understanding a verse I will usually check out the Amplified or Expanded Versions, for clarification .   Rarely NIV, RSV, PHILLIPS or any of the others.

That’s okay, times change I left it there.  (Never have rememorized those scriptures ) .  My loss.

A few months ago, a number of our church members were sick.  I went looking for a Charles Capps booklet, “God’s Creative Power for Healing”.

I brought them to the sick folks asked them to pray the scriptures and trusted in the Lord. 

 They are all still elderly, 60 to 80 years old but so am I .   What can you do?

In examination of this booklet ,  I was saddened to find, prayers with addresses of scriptures and not the scriptures themselves . 

To my mind, this change reduced the value of this product by about 95%.  We are no longer teaching scriptures or even scriptural prayers.  Just prayers…  not even remotely connected to the scriptures listed.

A Simple Disappointment.  A once excellent tool, made useless by progress.

I will be checking back to see if maybe  the originals are still available . 

​This is a reblog I found on FB.  He calls his blog, “My Blog”.  I know not who he is, but I wish I thought and wrote as clear and concisely as he.

I believe we must move in this direction if we want a relevant, caring, growing body.

__________________________________

The church MUST change and change now!

The church has chosen to follow the world. The Anabaptist did it in the 1700’s when they copied and adopted as their form of church government the prototype government set up by the 13 Colonies.

Today we have chosen to copy the world again. How?

“Worship” has turned into entertainment as we have copied Madonna.

We now have targeted audiences like major incorporations. This is not biblical and guarantees that we will exclude more than include

We are stuck in our dead traditions. I see the church of the future meeting on many days of the week other than Sunday.

I see the church of the future getting rid of buildings and things that puts huge financial stress on the clergy and members and thus creates mandated giving. Mandated giving brings people under the law and drives people from church.

The church must get out of being an incorporation and begin to be a living organism. Many type A personalities get a bigger kick out of organization than God moving by His Spirit.

If being tax exempt is keeping us from being the church we are going to have to leave that and pay our taxes

We are going to have to quite being so falsely sanctimonious. Trump cussed and said vulgar things. O my, O my whatever will we do? Truth is many church goers cuss most every day, in their minds if not out loud.

We are going to have to take the law off of people and teach people real NT Christianity of living in the Spirit.

Being forced to pray at 6:00 am or fast the month of January has to stop. Its law if God has not told you to do it

Quite judging people who cannot handle the religious burdens we lay on their shoulders. Quit saying they are uncommitted, lazy, or not devoted to Jesus. We have put burdens on people that Jesus died to take off of people.

We must get back to church being about Jesus. Not ministry. Not growth. Not crowd size. If our churches are not about Jesus, why are we even a church?

Church must be about Jesus. Not prayer. Not faith. Not community. Not doing good. Not the poor. Not children’s church. Not youth ministry. All of these have become false gods within the church.

We have one of the most biblically illiterate generations of believers in modern history.

We must get away from the Joel Osteen message. Many of u that love Joel’s ministry, if truth be known, you know it is shallow. You are trying desperately to get the same results in numbers that he has. You are not going to get it.

The world has desperately tried to turn the body of Jesus Christ into a mere humanitarian organization. Many have fallen for this trap. We are not a humanitarian organization. We are the Kingdom of God and we are not here to just pass out bread. We are here to make the kingdoms of this world, the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.

Discipleship must return with believers being taught the tenets of the faith instead of being entertained on Sunday mornings. Feeling good has taken the place of knowing what you believe and why.

Life must replace ministry! Jesus came to give life and life more abundantly. He did not come to give ministry and ministry more abundantly.

Life, love, joy, peace, caring, helping, sharing, must replace the Christian religion.

Confronting evil must be a part of our future. We just saw what almost happened by keeping silent. When you have a huge incorporation that demands thousand or millions of dollars to maintain it cramps your preaching of truth.

Movement of the past are over! Quit imitating what is dead! Biblical faith is real and always will be but the Faith Movement is a carcass.

The prophetic has been the pathetic. Holding prophets and prophetess accountable for their “words” must become normal.

The “generational’ theology error must stop! All people are just alike no matter the age, gender, race, socioeconomic standing, education, etc. We have the same sins, sicknesses, dreams, failures, worries, fears, wants, and desires.

The church is the master segregationist institution on the earth. Shameful. We need each other and can learn and benefit from each other.

Segregation is how the church approaches people – children segregated from parents. Teens segregated from old people. Marrieds segregated from singles. Bass fishermen segregated from bowlers. Women segregated from men. Men segregated from women. Rich segregated from the poor. White collars segregated from blue collar. Employer segregated from employees.

Yes we approach ministry with a segregation spirit. This must stop. 

Truth be told it is an indictment that we can’t or haven’t taught all Christians how to love one another and get along with one another. We haven’t taught that we are all equal.

My pastor in Bible College, a great apostle and man of God, said to me in the 1970’s, “Bob, you are twenty years ahead of your time.”

We can’t wait 20 years to enact the above changes

A new Hillary Clinton is waiting in the wings for 2020, 2024, etc. What the church does now will cause her to be defeated or win.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l934p4okaho4r94/praiseinaminorkey.url%20.mp4?dl=0

More old praise tunes.  Hope you enjoy.

Jehovah Jirah, The Trees of the Field. (Isaiah 55:12), Jesus is my Lord, my Master my Savior;  Glory, to the Lord.

My Obsession:  theunfetteredpreacher – http://wp.me/p4qqra-1WH

A reblog of my desire

I read a post from, 

“FaithBible Ministriesblog.com”  

What is your spiritual gift?

The question was ” What is in your hand?”

That is a great question for all who are seeking their place in the Kingdom.  

As a guy who loves to preach, who also plays piano… I am often given the job of playing while others who cannot play, preach.

They may not preach well, but that is where they desire to be.  The question is should they ? 

The test for me is:

~  Is there power in our words?

    *  are souls saved?

    *  are the sick healed?

    *  are there signs and wonders following ? 

Unfortunately, for most of our Churches, the answer is no.

Now, a Preacher may tell a good story, he might even motivate you to action.  

He may entertain, cause you to laugh or cry.  The test is this.

Jesus said:  “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

A lot of Denominations, claim these verses were added, they do not belong.  So I guess we throw out this one also.  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

They say it doesn’t apply, because  they believe but, signs and wonders aren’t following them.

Why not ? 

I used to blame the lack of signs and wonders in my life on the sin, that so easily besets me.

As I studied, I began to understand, Pauls sin, didn’t disqualify him from having signs following .   

So the problem is in the quality of our belief .   What exactly, what do we believe ? 

Salvation , certainly.   

Miracles,  God doesn’t do that anymore . .. 

 Really, tell me where it states that in the Word?

Oh, you think the Bible is that which is perfect?  NO, IT IS NOT.

When Jesus returns is that, which is perfect, will be here.  

Until that time, we need to reach up on the shelf , open the box of Gifts of the Spirit and ask the Holy Spirit for the Gift of Faith, the Gift of Working of Miracles ,  or the Gifts of Healing. 

If you are afraid of Tongues and Interpretation, seek the other Gifts.  Do not throw them all out because you don’t understand some . 

Seek the Holy Spirit ,  the Helper, Comforter,  the Teacher, the Leader to all Truth . 

Read the Word, be instant in season and out, have an answer, have faith… believe , pray and receive . 

Look behind you…  do you see them?

Your Will…  Amen