Proverbs 3:11-12

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

When a sinner is saved and justified by God’s grace, he is adopted into the family of God. He becomes a son of God and is led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14). God’s love is set upon him and He will express this love through discipline and reproof (Hebrews 12:6). This is similar to the discipline that an earthly father will dispense to a son in whom he delights. This proverb exhorts God’s children to not despise His discipline or grow weary of His reproof. The Lord disciplines those he loves. While this will sometimes be unpleasant and possibly painful, the purpose of discipline is not punishment but rather training in righteousness. It could come in the form of a heightened conviction of sin along with regret and guilt or, in more extreme sin, it could come in the form of a restraining injury. Being exposed and embarrassed, as well as church discipline, could also be the result of such discipline. Whatever form it takes, it is meant to restrain and get the attention of God’s children before their sin grows into more severe and damaging consequences.

Therefore, believers should not despise or grow weary of this discipline and, in fact, should be thankful because God only disciplines those he loves. Those whom God does not love with the same enduring love of his adopted children, he gives up to pursue their lusts and impurities (Romans 1:24). These lusts of the flesh may provide pleasure for a season, but the wages of sin is death and the end result is not only spiritual ruin but also temporal ruin from the ravages of sin. Sin may be wrapped in pleasure, but it provides its own punishment. Many ruined lives languish in prison as a result of sin and unrighteousness.

Praise God that those who accept His discipline will also finish the race and gain the prize just like football players that accept the discipline required to be a successful winning team.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

In the photo above, my brother in Christ is enjoying the festivities at our church picnic. He is viewing the picnic through the lens of sunshades that protect his eyes from too much ultra-violet radiation. In one lens you can see a reflection of my wife and me taking the photo, and in the other lens you can see the catering trailer that cooked the catfish along with people standing and talking.

In a like manner, my brother in Christ also views the world through the lens of God’s revelation. In short, he has a Christian world-view to guide him as he journeys through his life. He does not lean on his own understanding but trusts in the wisdom of this world-view to aid him in navigating through the many temptations and dangers that are a part of living in a world that is dominated by the prince of the air. In this proverb, God promises that He will make straight paths for all who acknowledge Him by trusting in Biblical revelation. By God’s grace redeemed sinners are empowered through faith to find these straight paths and walk in them.

Praise God that, through the work of the Holy Spirit, He changes the hearts of those he redeems and enables them to willingly walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Christians can rejoice in knowing that the desires of Spirit will reap straight paths and life while the desires of the flesh will reap crooked paths that lead to death.

Happy Memorial Day

Let Us Remember...........
It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who hasgiven us freedom of religion. It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble. It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.

Proverbs 1:10

Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

Many Christian ministries have cruises where their supporters can come together for fellowship and Bible study along with enjoying a scenic vacation. However, even in this setting the lure of sin is close at hand in the form of gambling as the photo above shows. With the advancements that our society has in transportation, recreation, and information technology, the availability and diversity of the enticements Christians receive from sinners pose an ever-present danger. Many of the desires of the flesh mentioned in Scripture are readily available in our culture and some can be gratified with a few clicks of a computer mouse. Sinful and unrighteous activities have increased and become more accepted in the last few decades and access has become much easier. Gambling, pornography, drugs, prostitution, perversions, homosexuality, promiscuity and gang activity have become widespread in America and the enticements start early in the lives of young people and even children. These enticements come regularly as young people are encouraged to conform to the ways of the world through advertising and peer pressure. It is not a matter of if children will be enticed but rather of when and how often.

However, this proverb gives the wise solution to this problem when it warns do not consent. Don’t participate in unrighteous and ungodly activities. Don’t experiment with behaviors and activities that can and do ruin lives. Sin is its own punishment. These very temptations that appear to offer pleasure and happiness often bring misery and destruction. To pay for a short season of pleasure with a lifetime of regret and misery is not a good trade. Therefore, heed this parable and do not consent to the enticements that can ruin your life. The Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2 said: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Yes, we can't

Barack Obama said the following yesterday………

“We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK,"

Hmmm, we must seek the approval of other countries and if they don’t say O.K., we will have to give up our SUVs, go hungry, and give government power over our thermostats. I believe Kerry called this lunacy meeting the global test. Evidently in these people’s eyes we should submit to a coercive global government and reduce our prosperity to the world average to be kind and fair. Can you imagine the world-view one must have to make such a statement. Actually I can. It sounds like a statement that would come directly from a sermon by Obama's pastor, Jermiah Wright.

No, Mr. Obama! The solution is to bring freedom and capitalism to the rest of the world so they can raise their prosperity. Destroying the American economic system is not the answer. The danger of believing the manipulated global warming hysteria is displayed here for all to see.

WAKE UP AMERICA…………
Let us not leave Sanitytown to follow these loons to Kooksville. Marxism does not work!

Green guilt my foot!

U.S. Today reported in a survey that the percentage of people suffering from "green guilt" has risen from 20% to 22% in the last year. It is incredible that so many people can be manipulated by activists and the agenda based media. Here it is May 17 and I have my heat on in the southern part of Mississippi. This has been the coolest spring I can remember since at least the seventies when they were warning of the coming ice age. Yet not only have 22% of the American people bought into this hogwash, they actually feel guilty about their carbon footprint. As a proud member of the 78% let me say that I have no guilt for my carbon footprint. When I see Al Gore and the other celebrities reduce their carbon footprint to my level, I will still not feel guilty for the global warming hysteria farce, but I will promise to moderate the total disdain and contempt that I now view these people. I have a suggestion for the 22% that feel guilty! Turn off you air conditioners and show us some action instead of wringing your hands and just talking the talk. Walk the walk. However, don’t expect me to be walking with you on your journey to Kooksville.

I Know Whom I Have Believed

2 Timothy 1:12 I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

The flag in the photo above was torn and tangled by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but the lighthouse is still standing guard in Biloxi, Mississippi. An image of this old lighthouse is shown on the latest Mississippi car tags as a symbol of endurance and trustworthiness. In a like manner the verse above and the hymn below point to the trustworthiness of our triune God. Paul, in the verse above, expresses full confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ and Christ’s power to guard what has been entrusted to him by divine revelation.

In the beautiful hymn below the author, Daniel Whittle, lists many things that he does not know about the workings of God’s amazing grace. He is puzzled as to why God made his wondrous grace known and how his saving faith was sealed in his heart. He doesn’t understand how his faith produced peace in his heart, or how the Spirit moves convicting us of sin. He admits that he does not know what good or ill awaits him in this temporary life, and that he doesn’t know when Christ will return. BUT, he does know whom he believed and is persuaded that He is able to deliver the promises of the gospel good news. Brethren, praise God that we can rest in the promises of God for our eternal future.

I Know Whom I Have Believed
Words by: Daniel W. Whittle

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

How Great Thou Art

Job 38:25 “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt,

God in chapter 38 of Job outlines His incredible awesome acts of creation. In the hymn below, some of these acts are also outlined. When these awesome acts are considered, a human being can only stand in wonder and amazement. How great thou art is a natural reaction to all that God has created and sustains. When you then meditate on the fact that God sent his son to planet earth to die on the cross of Calvary as an atonement for the sins of all who place their faith and trust in him, then adoration, praise, and worship are the proper responses to such a great salvation. If our sin debt is so great that Jesus must die in order for us to be reconciled to God, then what an insult it is to Him for anyone to assert that human self-effort or allegiance to false gods of human imagination will also be acceptable to God for our salvation.

Brethren do not be fooled by the spirit of the age into thinking that there is any other way to eternal life other than through grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Be secure in peace and comfort if you are resting in Christ alone to take you home on that great day when he returns, and we who are found in Him will be able to sing, “How Great Thou Art.”

How Great Thou Art
Words by: Carl Gustav Boberg

O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!