"Preach the Word,

Oftimes the heavy tempests round me blow,
And o'er my soul the waves and billows go.
But when the storms beat loudest, and I cry
Aloud for help, the Master standeth by,
And whispers to my soul, "Lo, it is I."
Above the tempest wild I hear Him say,
"Beyond the darkness lies the perfect day;
In every path of thine, I lead the way."
As I transposed names from my monthly list to my prayer journal. I couldn't help but notice that this month how many of my family and friends had a trying month to begin this year.

Please lift up my brother's mother-in-law, Keta, who lost her husband this month and the rest of the family.

Please lift up the names of my lifelong friends, Dorothy and her children and grandchild they lost their husband/dad/grandpa, Mike, this month.

Please lift up my dear sweet friends Rande & Mishel, and their children and grandchildren who are going through a devastating trail in their life right now.

Please pray for Jamie's family as he was just laid-off.

As I have often said to people who have asked my opinion on Global Warming. This is not a "good steward of Creation" stand this is at heart a religious belief. Others have noted the same. Particularly telling are the names given to those who object to the "consensus" scientists who believe in global warming have allegedly reached.

"The critics, when not dismissed as 'contrarians,' are often referred to as 'skeptics.' A skeptic is someone who true believers do not want to invite to a séance. They have also been called "dissidents," bringing to mind the internal opponents of the Cold War Soviet Union. Lately the term "deniers" and "climate criminals" have become more common as the political nastiness has grown. (Christopher Essex and Ross McKitrick, Taken by Storm - The Troubled Science, Policy, and Politics of Global Warming, Toronto: Key Porter, 2002, revised edition 2007, p. 317).

To remove your disbelief, a key component when being 'proselytized' into belief in Global Warming. Supporters use the analogy of a house burning down and proper preparations taken to protect one's assets. As these authors noted.

"The reasoning is that being a skeptic about the prospect of one's house burning down does not stop us from buying fire insurance. But if this was a case of buying insurance, the Kyoto Insurance company would be up on charges for fraud. You would be buying a policy for which it is unclear precisely what is being insured, for which the premiums cost more than the putative damages, and which does not pay any compensation in the event the damages occur. Would you be willing to buy such a policy for your home or auto? If so, please contact the authors. (Christopher Essex and Ross McKitrick, Taken by Storm - The Troubled Science, Policy, and Politics of Global Warming, Toronto: Key Porter, 2002, revised edition 2007, p. 318).

Being a good steward is important for all generations. God didn't create the world for mankind to abuse but we are not to let it 'master' mankind, either. Let us "be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." God bless you, my friends!

The story of Rahab and her redemption is a great picture of salvation. Her story, found in Joshua 2, gives us the gospel in a striking visual.

Please know that no matter how educated, cultured, genteel, and moral any of us are, we live our lives on the level of the flesh. Our desires are mostly toward pleasing or satisfying the flesh. That is how Rahab, the harlot, made her livelihood. She lived very much in the flesh - literally.

To her house some messengers came. They brought a message of judgment and doom. Oh, she was offered grace but not before she was confronted with doom.

Hearing the message of judgment and destruction to come Rahab faced a decision. She could turn in the spies and earn the gratitude of men or she could hide the spies in return for deliverance. Rahab staked her future on the words of God's messengers.
Now is when Rahab's house becomes a gospel message. She was offered salvation from certain death, but a sign was needed.

1. Since salvation is based upon sacrifice, the cord (the sign) had to be scarlet, the color of blood.
2. She hung it out her "window". The Hebrew word is challon. It comes from the root word meaning "a perforation", "something pierced". The verb of this word means "to pierce through". The adjective refers to a mortal wound. And as a noun it means window.
3. The word line (Joshua 2:18) is the Hebrew word for "hope" or "expectation" (tikvah).

Rahab was a picture of salvation. Her hope, her expectation, was placed in a scarlet cord that flowed out of a pierced place.

When I tell my congregation that we should find Christ on every page of Scripture I'm not exaggerating. My desire is that you share this picture with a fellow believer and recommit to being a "spy" on a mission with a message about impending judgment and gracious salvation.

Peter’s Confrontational Approach – he was direct, bold, and to the point. (Acts 2:14-39, 3:12-26, 4:5-12)

Paul’s Intellectual Approach – he could be confrontational, but he was a well-educated man who could reason from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 17:16-34)

The Blind Man’s Testimonial Approach – he didn’t know theology, but he could say, “One thing I know: I once was blind but now I see.” (John 9:1-34)

The Samaritan Woman’s Invitational Approach – leaving her water jug at the well, the woman went into her village and invited her friends to come and hear the man “who told me everything I ever did.” (John 4:4-42)

Matthew’s Interpersonal Approach – he put on a big banquet for his tax-collecting buddies in an effort to expose them to Jesus. He invited them into his home and used his friendship for evangelism. (Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32)

Dorcas’ Service Approach – she witnessed by serving others in Jesus name, making clothes for the needy and helping the poor. (Acts 9:36)


Some people say that they prefer one or the other of these approaches according to their personality but the truth is that as Spirit-indwelled believers we should discern which approach to use in a particular situation and use all of them at one time or another.

I just finished reading Bill Wiese's book "23 Minutes In Hell" and finished watching the DVD "The Finger of God." These came about from discussion with a member of my church regarding the supposed miracles of today as to whetehr they are fact or fiction. I am not opposed to or embarrased to say that miracles happen every day though I would add a caveat that they never happen in anyway contrary to the Bible?

Dictionary.com states the following definition for a word search of miracles - "An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God." So does that mean that gold dust just appearing on people while in a worship service is of God because it cannot be explained? I believe the Bible teaches very clearly that all miracles pointed towards God, showing His power and glory. I understand the miraculous physical helaings of Jesus, even the parting of the Red Sea to save God's people but how does gold dust point to God's glory and power? Or how does the sudden appearance of gold fillings/caps on people teeth point towards God? Just because something is unexplainable by man's terms doesn't neccessarily mean it is of God. The devil has been afforded a certain power and freedom (albeit limited) only because God withholds judgement due Satan to allow mankind a chance to escape the same judgement due the devil and his fallen angels. So as the great imitator, the great liar, it should not surprise us to see supposed 'miracles' and 'workings of mystery' as a tool of the devil to draw mankind from God. The greatest measurement for a miracle from God is who takes/gets the credit for the miracles. A good question to ask regarding modern day miracles: is it something that clearly shows forth the gospel message of the Bible and leads mankind to a clear salvation through Jesus' death on the cross? If not, reject it!

Regarding Bill Wieses 'adventures to hell' I believe that the Bible very clearly rejects this type of supposed supernatual trip. If a saved man/woman can travel to hell or an unsaved man/woman can travel to heaven in some spiritual or physical manifestation then God is a liar and the Bible cannot be trusted. Very clearly the Bible is the closest glimpse we see of heaven particularly as John records his visions in the book of Revelations but apart from the Word of God, mankind enters into a dangerous and blatant heresy with these false visions and notions of dream state or near-death experiences. God has clearly provided all the details & proof we need in His Word about how heaven/hell looks and who will enter into them. The Bible would not/cannot contradict itself or it is not the Word of God. Mr. Wiese is leading people down a dangerous path of apostasy all for a seemingly good reason. Read teh story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 and clearly we see that Abraham said that if the Holy Spirit inspired Scriptures cannot be believed then neither does one need to rise from the dead. Though Mr. Wiese doesn't say he died he clearly falls into this catergory of one trying to add something to the Bible that causes a contradiction.

Here's another opinion on this same subject.

May God keep you in His Word to wisely challenge the devil's lies with the truth.