OUT OF THE BOX

  “BEHOLD, YOU ARE THERE.” Psalm 139:8 In our spiritual growth we need to walk in faithful obedience to the Lord in the full range of experiences, from “pit” to “peak” and everywhere in between. We grow in spirit and depth as we walk with Jesus through desert places as well as “green pastures,” and as we persevere in faith on stormy seas and in the “deep” as well as the peaceful walk by “still water,” The Psalmist speaks of remembering the Lord from the Jordon valley as well as from the heights of Hermon. He experienced the Lord’s lovingkindness in the daytime and His song in the night. Near or far, high or low, there is no extremity that can separate us from God’s love and care. Twilla Paris wrote and sang a wonderful song that was popular in 1984. The song tells of the Christian who is amazing and successful in God’s work and in his personal life. The song goes on to say, “They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down. They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around.

 A friend of mine was having to make a tough decision in an area where there appeared to be some tension between practical wisdom and what the Spirit of the Lord was leading him to do. Below is an email exchange of our conversation. The unusual nature of the topic may spur some of you to comment.  My friend's email Billy, I wanted to shoot a quick note your way with an update letting you know that I'm about to take a major leap of faith and leave my current job with no other job lined up to step into. I know many people would consider this to be CRAZY, especially with the current state of the economy, but, at the risk of sounding like a spiritual nut, I truly feel as though it's the direction God is moving me in. I've been praying for wisdom/clarity of thought in what steps to take next, and I'd be much appreciative for your prayers as well. This is the first time in my life I've stepped away from something without having something else in place to move into...i

There are many areas where Satan is working in our nation today. Christians usually recognize what is blatantly evil, but they are often naïve, blind, and susceptible to the enemy’s areas of subtle nuances where he craftily sows deceptions to lead a person or a people astray. I am discussing here just a few areas where we see his deceptive activity. His work is insidious. It appears harmless until it is too late to avoid the damage. It works as a snare hidden from view awaiting its chance to entrap. Below is a short list of “the serpent’s” subtle and insidious work. These items will be obvious to those who follow Jesus and believe the Bible to be the word of God. However, the world along with professing Christians who question scripture will not recognize the danger in some of these practices and cultural trends. Here is a list of areas where the devil comes as an angel of light to deceive. YOGA Yoga is the new religion of Hollywood. It seems every other commercial shows someone on a y

THE CAT AND THE RAT FACING THE BATTLE The Cat at the Door When I was just a kid we had a yard cat that should have been out hunting mice, but instead, was always sitting at the screen door meowing and whining plaintively, “begging” for someone to let him in the house. “Meow, meow, meow!” he cried. Translated into English this means, “Let me in. Feed me, pet me, help me, comfort me, make me happy. I want to go inside where it is comfortable and safe. I don’t want to face the world outside.” My Dad hated for a cat to sit at the door begging like that. So he pushed the door open, and shoved the startled cat out onto the carport. As he walked past he said, “When I get back, I am going to haul you off to the shopping center.” He fully intended to get rid of the cat. The Fight About an hour later, I heard a commotion beside the corn barn at the edge of our back yard. I turned my head in time to see about 15 or 20 squawking chickens flapping their wings, jumping in the air, and scurrying in e