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November Journal Archived

Thursday, 2 Nov:  Hello everyone!  Let me first apologize for being away for some time.  Several things have kept me from making entries, but I have not quit reading my Bible.  Let me tell you what the last week has been like for me and then I will get to God's Word for us today.  On Monday morning, I hopped on a helicopter and flew about an hour north of here to another base to deliver some stuff.  Let me tell you, I was a little nervous, but I knew God was watching after me and was already ahead of me.  The scenery as we headed north was simply beautiful.  There were trees and grass everywhere.  I even saw some real life shepherds herding their sheep.  It actually became a spiritual journey after I saw that.  After a night there, I flew back and saw the scenes one more time.  That was Tuesday.  Prior to my arrival back at home base, someone brought it to my attention that my ID card had expired.  Oh, my!  So, Wednesday, I got up early to be in line before the office opened.  I sat there for 5 1/2 hours, reading a new book I received, before everyone was informed that the network system was down and more than likely would not be up again that day.  So, I was a little frustrated heading back to work.  The day seemed to go fairly quickly, but by the time 10 came around, I was so tired, I went to bed knowing I had to get up early and do it all over again.  So, this morning, I got up even earlier.  I was the fifth one in line and got my ID card and was out of there by 1030.  So, only a 2 hour wait this time.  So, now you are up to date and I just got back from band practice in preparation for Sunday service.  We had a few new guitarist tonight and we sure do sound better with these guys.  I am now ready to share a little from God's Word.  Before I forget, I added a few pictures of the boys and a prayer request.  check them out, if you haven't already.

In 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Paul is in prison awaiting death, but he says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."  The strongest witness you can ever give of your faith in Christ is to live a life of contentment in front of children, family, friends and the world.  Everyone should see that it is obvious that you, at all times and in all situations, truly believe you are in God's hands.  Society, however, bombards us with advertisements trying to convince us that we are not content, but their product will fix "all that ails ya".  An unsatisfied heart lends itself to the cycle of disappointment.  So, how do we live a satisfied life?  1) We have to learn to be content.  Unfortunately, we were not born with that state of mind.  When Paul was talking to the church at Philippi, he said this very thing in verses 11-13 of chapter 4.  In every situation, we have to remember that God is in control and He will give us whatever we need.  After relying on God a few times, you will learn to be content with what He gives you or does for you.  2) We have to have a thankful heart.  Look at Job 1:21, "He said, 'I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die.  The Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away.  Praise the name of the Lord!'"  This account by Job is not meant to frustrate or condemn you.  It is a fact that we can't take it with us.  We should approach God with thanksgiving for what He has done for us.  Because without Him, we could do nothing.  Make it a point to thank God today.  3)  We have to have a right understanding about success and money.  God gave us money to meet all of our needs and some of our wants, to support the ministries of the church and to invest in people.  Here is a scripture to prove that.  Proverbs 11:25, "The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."  Be content with what you have, but never with what you are.  Don't get caught up in the sin of comparison by looking at others and saying, "God, you have not been fair with me.  I deserve more.  You owe me something!"  In everything we do, including managing success and money, we should glorify God.  4)  We have to be using our spiritual gifts.  When we attempt to accomplish ministry or duties outside of the authority and gifts God has given us, we create unhealthy stress.  Use the spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  If these gifts somehow become dormant, our lives could very well be controlled by fear, be void of power and lacking discipline.  I encourage you to examine your life to ensure the spiritual gifts given to you by God are at work.  When you use them as God intended, there is no way you can live unsatisfied.  Mick Jagger sang, "I can't get no satisfaction" and although that is bad English, he was right.  Satisfaction comes in trusting God with you whole life and not through your own efforts.  I am extremely grateful for the ability to minister to all of you.  It is late, I'm tired and I want to thank God for the restful sleep that is coming real soon...Until next time...Todd out. 

Friday, 3 Nov:  Wow, what a wonderful day!  I slept well last night.  I woke up to a chill in the air.  There were bright white puffy clouds in the sky all day.  Not threatening in the least, and it didn't get all that hot either.  I think it's maybe a preview for things to come.  I know everyone here welcomes the cooler temperatures.  I am in 2 Timothy 1 tonight.  We see here that Paul is beginning to pass the torch to Timothy and encourages him to continue on in the faith.  This letter is really for everyone who is tempted to quit.  We know that Paul had plenty of reasons to quit, but never did.  He is writing this letter from "death row" though, and it is a reminder that "it is always too soon to quit!"  As he is passing the torch to the next generation, he says, "Don't ever give up", do this instead.  1) Remember your spiritual heritage.  In verse 3-5, he mentions his forefathers, Timothy's grandmother and mother.  Because of his heritage, he has maintained a thankful heart, a clear conscience and a prayer filled life.  This was the kind of example Timothy needed.  We all have a family tree with a spiritual history.  If it's good, we attempt to duplicate it.  But if it's bad, we attempt to avoid living the same way.  Paul knew Timothy's family tree and reminds him of them.  Are you establishing a spiritual heritage for your children to emulate?  2)  Rekindle your spiritual gift.  In verses 6-7, Paul is essentially saying to put into practice the spiritual gifts of power and of love and of a sound mind.  God has given each believer certain abilities according to His plan, not by what we've done or earned.  Notice fear is not one of them.  Fear doesn't come from the Lord, but from the enemy.  God has equipped us with power to call the enemy out and defeat him.  The gift of love to overlook the weaknesses of those around us and treat them as Christ has treated us.  The gift of a sound mind, or self-control, to know how to act when the enemy tempts us.  Are you currently using your spiritual gifts so your children can see?  3)  Refuse to be intimidated.  I am sure there have been times in your life when you may have been ashamed of our faith.  Don't get all worked up by people who question what you are doing and saying or threaten you in any way.  Paul is absolutely convinced, as we should be, that the One he preaches and will die for is real.  Christ is alive.  He's here.  We're on our way to meet him.  No matter what people do (laugh, mock, ridicule, deny or doubt the power of the Gospel) your faith should be unshakeable!  We stay strong, we will be rewarded in the end.  Are you proclaiming your faith in Christ to others in front of your children?  4) Recommit yourself to the truth of the Gospel message.  We are to hold it, guard it and then proclaim it!  We do not have the right to change any of it or sugar coat it or water it down.  This creates doubt on major doctrine.  For example, some denominational groups are not sure Jesus "is" the only way to Heaven, support homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle and approve of abortion on demand.  Folks, we need need to "Keep" and "guard" the sacredness of the Word of God.  Do your children see you reading and living God's Word?  5) Refresh yourself in the encouragement of others.  Remember, though, along the way, there will be those who turn against you when the fire gets hot, so to speak.    But, there are still others that will be drawn to you.  Paul had a man travel to Rome and search for Paul until he found him just to encourage him.  God will send people to you throughout your life to encourage you.  You will also be used on occasion to be an encouragement to someone else.  When someone does come to you, accept it for what it is and don't ruin their opportunity to be blessed.  Do your children see you needing help and accepting encouragement from others?  There are plenty of the "next generation" watching learning from us.  One day, we will have to "pass the torch" to them.  Will they encouraged or discouraged by what we've done?  The battle raging today between good and evil is too important to ever quit.  You've only been defeated if you are down and do not get up.  Let the glory of the Lord rise within you and be a light to the world!  Until next time...Todd out.

Sunday, 5 Nov:  Hey all you back home!  You will have to forgive me one more time for missing a day.  By the time I got finished with a few things last night, I wasn't feeling very well and just needed to lay down.  I slept real good and woke up this morning refreshed.  And was I ever happy about that.  Even though today was Sunday, work did not stop.  I was actually busy all day.  We are getting busy now, and sometimes it takes a while to finish something once I start it.  Anyway, church was wonderful tonight.  We messed up on the beginning of one song, but recovered nicely and everyone seemed to enjoy the Holy Spirit.  Even in the midst of everything going on around us, it is so comforting to know we can get together and just praise God, even if it's just for a little while.  Please continue to pray for all of us.  There are people that need Jesus...they just don't know it yet.  Well, that was just on my heart.  Anyway, time to get into God's Word.  It's time to learn the reality of God's promises to us.  2 Timothy 2:8-13 begins with Paul saying, "Remember Jesus Christ..."  This is a statement of activity--not just once, but a continual action.  Paul then goes on to offer 4 distinct promises to provide encouragement and assurance to Timothy, his followers, and even us today.  PROMISE #1--God will turn DEATH INTO LIFE.  Verse 11 says, "If we died with Him, we will also live with Him..."  Notice the past tense, a specific action in the past that has already taken place.  When we admit we are sinners, and accept Jesus as our savior, we are identifying with His death.  When He died, I was right there on the cross with Him.  But, because of that, we have life--eternal life.  Because Jesus dies for us, (and through Him, we died) we have eternal life and death no longer has any power over us.  So, the promise is that even though death may seem to be just around the corner, God will turn it into life for all who have identified with Christ.  PROMISE #2--God will turn OBSTACLES INTO ADVANTAGES.  Verse 12 says, "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him."  At that time, Christians were being rooted out and condemned.  Soon, they would be made to make public sacrifice to the Roman gods or get thrown in prison or worse; death.  It would be tempting to give in to save their lives, right?  We, today, tend to want to be accepted, liked and to blend in with the crowd.  Don't compromise your principles thinking it's necessary to survive in the world.  People are going to misunderstand you, abuse you and call you all sorts of names.  Stand firm and remain faithful, stay true to God no matter what.  God will turn the obstacles of today into the advantages of tomorrow--eternal joy and blessings.  PROMISE #3--God will turn DENIAL INTO LOSS.  "If we deny Him, He also will deny us."  This one is not one we like to talk about and God would rather talk about something else.  But since He gave us a choice, not choosing Him will result in some consequences.  If people have been told about the gospel and make the choice to reject Christ, when they are standing before God on Judgment Day, they will be rejected, too.  It's just that simple.  Not much more needs to be said about that.  Choose wisely...  PROMISE #4--God will turn DOUBT INTO ASSURANCE.  Folks, God faithfulness is eternal and part of His unchanging character.  He knows our heart and our desires.  He sees past the hurt, pain, sorrow and questions.  His response is love and peace, answering our questions and easing our doubts--gently bring us back to Him.  You know, it is not strange or abnormal to question or have doubts at times.  Paul wanted to remind Timothy that tough times would come and he would question his faith and his ministry.  Let me remind you that times of questioning and doubt will creep into your life.  But no matter what, God will remain faithful and will not give up on us.  So when life is uncertain, rely on what you know to be true...God's Promises!  I would be remiss if I failed to mention some of the material in this entry was gathered from a message by Mark Thornton.  Until next time...Todd out.

Monday, 6 Nov:  Be encouraged...this is the day that the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.  I trust everyone had a great Monday.  Okay, I know some of you may not have had the most wonderful day in the world, but you can rejoice anyhow as long as Jesus is Lord of your life and your name is written in the Book of Life.  Last night in service, Chaps talked about what will happen in the highest court on Earth--God's Courtroom.  The text of his message was Revelation 20:11-15.  You can take time to read it or just read on here.  Now listen to this.  Everyone wants their day in court to tell their side of the story.  Well, one day, maybe sooner than we all think, that day will happen for ALL--Saint and Sinner.  Which group will you be in?  Now, imagine, everyone is gathered in Heaven just sort of milling around, and a LOUD voice is heard, "Court is now in session!"  Everything goes silent...the trials are about to begin.  The Great White throne is visible, but only for a moment, because God the Father sits on the throne and no one can stand his magnificent light, "from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away" (11).  Then, in walks Christ and sits next to the Father.  You can see the marks of the cross still visible in His body.  In a very long line are the Saints of God and everyone else , "...the dead (lost souls), small and great (everyone of them)..." (12)  Remember, there is no place to hide that God doesn't see you.  There are several books in front of the throne, but the most important one is the Book of Life.  Everyone will file in front, by themselves, and the books will be checked to see which books their name is in.  The other books contain each person's entire life, what they did, what they didn't do, what they said, what they didn't say, basically a biography of every minute of your life.  Get this...everyone's name will be in one of the other books.  Then the Book of Life is checked.  If your name is in this book, Jesus stands up and welcomes you into eternity with Him.  If you name is not in this book, Jesus stays seated and your directed to another area to wait.  Once everyone there passes in front of the throne, every grave on earth will give up it's dead, and Death and Hell are delivered up to be judged.  The procession is repeated and finally you end up with two groups of people.  And then we get to the sentence.  Verses 14-15, "Then Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."  That's it, that's the end of evil and the end for those who rejected Christ.  There is no appeal process, no second chances, no do-overs.  God's sentence is FINAL!  See folks, those that are in Christ will hear God say, "Well done..."  The others will hear, one by one, Depart from me, I never knew you!!!!!!!!  So, I rephrase my question from earlier.  Which group do you want to be in?  I believe this short message is for people currently in both groups.  Those whose name is not in the Book of Life yet, need to make sure it gets written in their now...don't wait, it may be too late later.  You don't need to be somewhere special to make that happen.  It's real easy...Tell God that you know you are a sinner, and you know that Jesus shed his blood on the cross to forgive you of those sins.  Then just ask Jesus to come into your heart and your life and save you.  Then tell somebody what you just did!  Now for those believers out there, let's hope you don't recognize anyone in the other line.  Don't be the Mother whose Daughter says, "Why didn't you tell me more?".  Or the Father whose Son says, "Why didn't you tell me more about Jesus and less about sports? Or the neighbor that says, "You NEVER mentioned Jesus to me!!!!"  I will leave you with these four things...1) Everybody will be judged for their sins if they don't accept Christ.  2) Recognize that Hell is literal and eternal and that judgment is coming.  3) If we ignore it now, the lost will pay later.  4)  The laborers are few and the harvest is great.  We have a tremendous job to do...NOW!  Until next time...Todd out.

Tuesday, 7 Nov:  Happy Election Day!  I trust everyone got to the polls today and let your voices be heard.  I received my absentee ballot last week and sent it in.  These are tenuous times for America and we, as Christians need to speak loudly and not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have been watching as much coverage as I am able to stand, quite frankly.  Some of the initiatives being voted on in some states is scary, at best.  We would see our society take a huge step away from God should some of those measures pass or get voted down, depending on what they are.  But, I have good news...well God's Word has good news.  In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul is once again encouraging Timothy and us.  He says that all of scripture is given by inspiration of God (NKJV), or breathed by God (ESV).  He goes on to list 4 functions of the Word.  If we understand what God is saying here, we and all who believe it, can experience tremendous spiritual growth.  It is my hope tonight that everyone will grasp these and run with them.  We know that all scripture is breathed by God and is useful for:  Teaching, Rebuking, Correcting and Training.  TEACHING-showing us what is right.  How do we know what is right?  God tells us and He is perfect...enough said.  We may have our own wisdom about how to raise our children, keep our marriage strong, or which career is best, but we may not always have the right answer.  God has all the right answers and he has given them up for us to copy.  Ask yourself, "Do I believe that because it is what the Bible teaches or because that how I have been taught all my life?"  God's Word must always be the final authority.  REBUKING-showing us what is wrong.  We all know you can't fix a problem if you don't know what the problem is or that it even exists.  But as we rely on God's word, it will show us and convict us when we are doing things we are not supposed to be doing.  It also tells us when we aren't doing things we should be doing.  God's wants only the best for us, so He has told us, through His Word, what is wrong.  If you are ever in doubt as to whether something is right or wrong, remember God's Word must always be the final authority.  CORRECTING-showing us how to get it right.  After we have been taught and rebuked for doing something foolish, God corrects us.  In the Greek the word correction literally means " to straighten something up again".  So, in correcting us, God is taking our wayward lives and putting them straight again.  Remember that Hebrews 12 tells us that God corrects those Who belong to Him (or those He loves).  Sometimes we have to learn the hard way, but remember, God's Word must always be the final authority.  TRAINING-showing us how to stay right.  When we instruct our kids, we are building a foundation and setting standards.  We are "training up a child in the way he should go".  God's Word does the same thing for us.  We are started as baby Christians, but through various circumstances and situations, hopefully we have become adult Christians.  Some people, when they get to a certain point, are simply content with their ticket to Heaven and have no plans for receiving more training, except for what they get on Sunday.  God's Word tells us we should keep growing, and, after all, God's Word IS the final authority.  Verse 17 says, "Through the Word, we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." (MSG)  Be ready for whatever happens tomorrow and in the coming days and weeks.  If you know Christ, you have nothing to fear!!!!  Please take a minute and drop me an email and let me know if these little mini-messages are helpful.  Thank you and God bless you and God Bless America!  Until next time...Todd out.

Wednesday, 8 Nov:  Well, today was very eventful...not too much here, but back home.  Most of you will probably have seen the news, so I won't go into it.  Just know that God is still in control and nothing's gonna happen that the Lord and you together can't handle!  It is getting really cold here at night and into the morning.  I had to turn the heat on in my room last night.  It was great sleeping, though.  Not too cold...not too hot.  I am going to stay in 2 Timothy tonight.  The focus will be verses 16-18.  Most of us are constantly looking around for things to make our life a little better.  We are in desperate need of finding things that work.  Then, when we think we have found it, we ask "Does it really work?"  How about our Christian life?  Can it make our life better?  Does Christianity really work?  The answer should be a resounding YES!  Paul, of all people, is a testament to that fact.  Now, remember, Paul is in prison, charged with insurrection against the Roman Empire and has already spent a total of 4 years in prison.  So, he writes these words to Timothy, and in them reveal a little about the way Christianity works and makes a difference in our lives. I. GOD GIVES US GRACE TO FACE THE DISAPPOINTMENTS OF LIFE.  In verse 16 Paul says, "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me.  May it not be held against them."  Do you sense a little disappointment?  Paul then goes on to list several friends that easily could have refuted the charges against him.  But for whatever reason, they were absent.  Look again at what he says, "May it not be held against them."  He learned that from Jesus and it is for us today.  When people disappoint us, we are to pray for them and God gives us grace to face all the disappointments of life.  That's the way it works.  II. GOD GIVES US STRENGTH TO FACE THE TRIALS OF LIFE.  Verse 17 says, "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it."  All your friends may desert you, but the Lord will be right there with you.  It is important to realize that the Lord didn't save Paul from the trials.  When we become Christians, life does not suddenly become a bed of roses and everything is wonderful.  Daniel was thrown into the den, but God was with him and he survived.  The three got thrown into the fire, but Jesus showed up and they were delivered.  David had to go through the valley of the shadow of death, but God was with him the whole time.  Folks, Christians are going to get cancer, have car accidents, lose jobs and experience heartache--no immunity.  God gives us strength to face the trials of life.  That's the way it works.  III. THE LORD GIVES UP HOPE FOR THE END OF LIFE.  Verse 18 says, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory for ever and ever.  Amen."   The hope we have for our future is not a pipe dream.  It is grounded in the birth, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus!  Listen to verse 6, "I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  We have to know that we know that we are bound for our mansions in glory one day!  The promise of eternal life is given to us in a familiar verse to us all, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life!" (John 3:16)  That's the way it works. So does Christianity work?  Well, if you believe that through Jesus, God gives grace to face disappointment, strength to face trials and hope for the end of life, you must answer YES!!!!  Everyone needs to know Christianity works.  It's up to us Christians to tell them...get busy.  Until next time...Todd out.

Thursday, 9 Nov:  Well, I can't say much about today.  It was a typical day in the life of someone who doesn't have enough work to do to stay busy all day.  So, I used my "free" time today to explore my options for taking some more college courses, but with a different outlook for the future.  Most of you know that at one point in my life, I felt called into the ministry.  Well, it was me calling myself, I am pretty sure.  But, I am being led this day to get my Bachelors in Religion.  More to follow on that...I am waiting for a response from the university.  Something good did happen today...band practice.  You know, I look forward to Thursday and Sunday.  And tonight's practice lived up to my expectations.  We are gelling as a group and some wonderful sounds are coming from the stage.  We all know that our gifts and talents are just on loan from God and we feel that we are using them properly.  We were contemplating a hymn to share, but with a sort rock beat.  Someone suggested "When We All Get To Heaven".  After some discussion, we decided to wait a little longer for that one.  But it got me thinking about heaven.  What will heaven be like?  Besides what Mercy Me sings about, Revelation 21 gives us a glimpse of what it will be like.  It's going to be "out of this world".  It's a paradise and future home, for those of who believe in Christ.  Heaven will be... 1) PHYSICALLY AWESOME IN SIZE.  "The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide.  He (angel) measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length and as wide and high as it is long". (v. 16) 12,000 stadia is roughly 1500 square miles!  That is roughly 1/2 the size of the United States.  This is in the sky, folks.  God is the builder (Heb 11:10 & 2 Cor 5:1).  There is enough room there for all of the redeemed of God.  Each one will have his/her own mansion.  Will you be there in the City of God?  2) A PLACE OF NO MORES.  God will wipe away all our tears.  No more death.  No more pain.  No more night.  Only God can guarantee and deliver a promise like that.  Just imagine your arthritis pain gone, your stiff neck fixed and no more migraines.  The sun and the Son will shine all the time.  Maybe the best no more of all is no more relationship problems...everyone will have a perfect personality!  To experience this place, you have to believe in Christ!  Are you ready for the place of "no mores"?  3)  A PLACE OF HOLINESS.  "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those who names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (v. 27)  Heaven will be full of holiness and purity, for the victory over evil has been won!  There will be no bribes, money scams or corruption of any kind for this is a place reserved for special people, chosen people, holy people.  On that day, whenever it is, will you be blameless before by because you have accepted Christ as your Savior?  4)  BEAUTIFUL BEYOND DESCRIPTION.  "It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." (v.11)  The streets will also be made of gold so clear, you will able to see through it into the wild blue yonder (that's for my Air Force buddies).  There will jewels and crystals everywhere, and the gates will be a single pearl.  There will be river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God right down the middle of the golden streets.  Imagine the most perfect weather day here on earth and it will be even better than that.  No ice, snow, heat or humidity!   And finally, 5) A TIME OF INTIMACY WITH GOD.  "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'"  Have you ever experienced really being in God's presence?  D. L. Moody said, "We talk about heaven being so far away.  It is within speaking distance to those who belong there."  Get ready, saints, for being as close to God as you have ever been, and being there forever, without end. Amen.  It's nice to read about heaven and imagine what it's going to be like.  But, if you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior there is "no room in the inn".  We were created to worship God, and I can't wait to be able to do it "all day long".   Until next time...Todd out.

Friday, 10 Nov:  Well, what can I say to you all except "Happy Veterans Day"!  I know for most, if not all of you, today was a holiday.  Of course, over here there are no holidays in the sense of the word.  Today was sort of busy.  I had plenty of errands to run that took almost 3 hours out of my day.  I was just thinking about what I have been sharing with you guys.  I have talked alot about being a Christian, and that if you're not, you need to be.  But, I haven't given you anything to go on to get that done.  I know that is important, because some people don't think they are worthy or some other reason is keeping them from salvation through Jesus Christ.  So, I searched the scriptures, along with some help from the internet, and found a passage that seems to me to be the simplest way of explaining the truth about "getting saved".  There are plenty of scriptures you can go to and explain it to someone that is lost, but Romans 10:13 contains four of the most impressive truths we can imagine.  I ask you, could the gospel be any more simple to understand?  "For, whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."  So, who is whosoever?  Everyone in humanity, without exception, can know the love of God.  Whosoever is a scriptural word of immense importance.  I am whosoever-You are whosoever-Anyone is whosoever.  God is no respecter of persons.  He created everyone and loves everyone and has offered everyone the opportunity for an intimate relationship with Him forever and ever.  If you are "whosoever" raise your hand.  Everyone's hand should be up!  Don't let anyone tell you, "There's no way God can love me."  Let them know they are whosoever and God can and does love them!  What does it mean to "call"?  When you call somebody you want to get their attention.  In this particular passage it denotes "crying out".  When a baby is born, the first thing he/she does is cry.  That child is calling out to the world and saying, "Hey, here I am, I need a little help."  We are not taught to cry, it just happens.  I believe that everyone has the capability to cry or cry out.  It is not baptism or the Lord's Supper or church membership; it's as simple as crying out to God in repentance and faith.  The enemy has tried to complicate the simplest of actions by attempting to add more to it.  No ritual needed...just come to God, like a crying child in need of saving.  It is really pretty simple.  The only name that salvation is found in is Jesus Christ.  It is an exclusive and essential name.  There may be many ways to come to Christ, but only one way to salvation in Him.  Because in Him is the remission of sins, the removal of penalty, power and pollution of sin that was accomplished when he was crucified and rose from the grave.  The name of the Lord is Jesus!  It doesn't say might be saved, or can be saved, or hope to be saved.  It says SHALL be saved!  It happens the instant you call on the name of the Lord.  Remember, God cannot lie, so He is staking His character on His Word.  Now, some will say that we presume too much to declare that we know we are saved.  I say that it would be totally against God's word to doubt our salvation.  Here's more proof, Jesus said, "I give them real and eternal life.  They are protected from the Destroyer for good.  No one can steal them from out of my hand.  The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief." (John 10:28-29)  Our security is not in a place, but a person.  In a person who did not, can not, and will not lie.  So, what will you do with these four profound, yet simple truths about salvation?  My pray is that you would share them with all the "whosoevers" in your life.  I am grateful to the one who shared it with me!  God Bless!!!!  Until next time...Todd out.

Saturday, 11 Nov:  Happy Saturday!  I had a pretty good day.  The weather here is simply beautiful during the day.  The sky is so blue (Carolina Blue), it just reminds me that God is here.  It's not hard to imagine that many, many years ago, this area was as green as you could get.  There are still trees scattered around, but it is mostly sand and dust now.  Well, enough about that.  Everyone knows that teamwork is important, especially in an environment like we are in now.  Paul concludes his letter to Titus with some practical teaching about teamwork.  Because we are selfish by nature, and tend not to always think the best of others, we need the help of God in order to function as the family of God!  Titus 3:12-15 says, "When I send Artemus to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.  Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.  And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they not be unfruitful.  All who are with me greet you.  Greet those who love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all.  Amen." (NKJV)  1)  Don't go it alone.  Paul wanted to make sure Titus could see him, so he sent some men to take over his tasks.  See, if Titus would have tried to do it alone, he could not have gone to see Paul.  Additionally, Paul was no lone ranger, either.  He mentions over 100 people by name in his letters letting us know that he is a team player.  Fast forward...the church was created to be a community of interdependent people and we need faithful friends to help us grow.  Romans 12:5 states:  "So in Christ, we who are many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."  In other words, I need you and you need me.  Don't be a "lone ranger".  2) Give to the goers.  Paul told them to do everything they could to help send out the 2 men, we assume are missionaries, and make sure they have everything the need.  We are not to wait to give but to do so generously and quickly so as not to waste time.  We should not only give them stuff, but love and prayers, too.  Read 3 John 5-8.  Basically, if we, Christians, don't give to the those going out, they will go out with nothing.  We can't rely on "the world" to give them anything.  They are part of the team...see they are taken care of.  3) Do what is good.  If you will notice, this is the sixth time just in this letter that Paul urges believers to do good works.  You may be wondering why he mentions it so many times.  Well, by nature we don't automatically do good things.  Sometimes we are lazy, but more often we are consumed by what we are doing.  Therefore, we need to be reminded to do good works, not only to help our team, but to let others see that Christians are devoted to doing unto others....you know the rest.  Get involved, even if you are not sure it what God wants you to be doing.  Do something and He will make it clear if that what He wants or not.  4) Greet everyone.  Paul craved to be connected with fellow Christians.  He wanted Titus and those around him to know that everyone with him was also with them.  Notice, he specifically mentions those who love us in faith.  You know, there are many in the faith that are silent sufferers.  That's why it is vitally important to greet everyone.  Many cultures greet others with a kiss on both cheeks...be careful about kissing people you don't know, by you can greet them and let them see your love of God shine through.  Look for ways to connect with them, because Christians should never be cool or aloof from one another...remember, we need each other!  Finally, 5) Grant grace to others.  Paul closes this letter, as he does in all 12 of his letters, with the gift of grace.  If you notice, he never tires of teaching, especially about grace, for he knows without God's grace, he would just be another lost sinner.  We, too, have experienced the abundant grace of God and should share it with any and everyone we come into contact with.  Hebrews, 2 Peter and Revelation also end giving out God's grace.  So, you and I are teammates in the gospel and can build our team bigger and stronger by following these principles.  Don't go it alone.  Give to the goers.  Do what is good.  Greet everyone.  Grant grace to other.  Do you feel trapped, in the dark and the walls are caving in on you?  The only way out is trough leaning on God and on others.  Be blessed...Until next time...Todd out.

Sunday, 12 Nov:  Happy Sunday!  Well, today was a slow day at work, but once it was time for church, it was game on!  In warm-ups, I could just feel the Holy Spirit in the building.  The music just flowed like we had been playing together for years.  The congregation joined in nicely and it was pretty powerful.  Chap said he was preaching the Table of Contents.  It was really a good message.  To get an idea of what it was about, go to www.earthangelshoneyahoogroups.com/feb/he.html and read the words to the song "He Is" by Aaron Jeffrey and I think you will get the idea.  Bur before service started, we had prayer time and one of the members said that the Enemy was all over him this past week.  I think we have all been there.  I know he has been on my heels plenty since I became active again in the ministry of music.  So, I went to the web and looked for messages pertaining to that.  I found one that I am going to pick out parts to share with you.  The sermon title is "Dodging the Devil's Devices" by Jamie Wright.  Psalm 38:12 says, "Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and plan deception all the day long.  Psalm 141:9 says, "Keep me out of the traps they have set for me, out of the snares of those who do evil.  Those two verses sum up for us the picture of what is happening to us and what our response should be.  God has shared with us, throughout His word, how to avoid Satan's snares.  First, DON'T STRAY!  Hebrews 2:1 says, "It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off." (MSG)  We have been given the instruction book for life.  Don't try to keep on the straight and narrow on your own.  Don't stray from God's Word.  Have enough courage and faith in God to say NO to anyone, even believers, that try to lead you astray.  Trust in God's Word as the final authority for everything you do.  Second, DON'T STRUT!  Proverbs 16:1 says, "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."  God has given each one of us talents that He wants us to use for His glory.  Don't give the Enemy a chance to sneak in by flaunting that talent.  James 4:10 says, "Humble yourselves and He will lift you up."  I know that seems contrary to what the world teaches...well, that's the idea.  We can't act like the world and expect to be free of the Enemy's attacks.  Third, DON'T STOOP.  The Enemy is just laying in wait for you to compromise what you believe.  When someone throws something at you that you know is contrary to God's Word, don't duck...stand there, for greater is He that is you than he that is in the world.  Don't stoop to Satan's level.  Do things that are pleasing to God and give Him first place in your life and forget not all His promises.  "Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21.  Finally, DON'T STOP.  Jesus said, "But he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 10:22.  When we accept Christ, we are off to a great start, but some let the trials of life bring them down and they come to a complete stop in their Christian life.  That's exactly what the Enemy wants us to do.  Keep working for God and keep telling people about God, no matter what!  The Enemy will try to attract, distract, and attack, but continue to walk with God and in everything that you do.  Remember, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."  Romans 8:37   I know that this is going to help somebody, for none are exempt from the tricks of the Enemy.  Thank God for his teachings and for His sacrifice of Jesus for us...Until next time...Todd out. 

Monday, 13 Nov:  Another Monday down, several more to go.  Actually, my Monday consists of recouping from watching football well into the night on Sunday.  I was in mourning today due to the Saints demise at the hands of the Steelers.  But, we are back home in the dome next week and I hope for better results.  If you have every asked someone for a favor, raise your hand.  Okay, I see plenty of hands.  Now, how many times have you asked someone for a favor and cringed inside foreseeing the day when you would have to return the favor?  Okay, I see plenty of hands again.  We don't like being in another person's debt.  But, sometimes we can't avoid asking for help and Paul, the Apostle, used his wisdom to craft his request to Philemon, and I believe if we follow his example, we can ask favors with the expectation that they will respond in a positive way.  Many of you may have never read the 25 verse book of the letter from Paul to Philemon, but there are several lessons contained therein.  But certain groups of verse lend themselves to educate us on how to ask for a favor.  1) Greet the person as a friend. (vv. 1-3) With friends, you normally have fond memories of past experiences in which that person will be uplifted hearing about them.  It's always good, in any conversation, to accentuate the positive, as the commercial says.  Introduce a common bond that you share and put them at ease.  Be Friendly!  2) Find some way to compliment the person.  (vv. 4-7)  Preparation is the key to this, as with anything.  Your prayers should consist of asking God to bless that person and prepare their heart for your request.  Make sure your heart in the right place, too.  Then, do everything you can to sustain their self-esteem.  We, humans, love flattery, if done in the right frame of mind.  Be Complimentary!  3) Respectfully make your request known.  (vv. 8-17)  Obviously, your intent is not to inconvenience the person, but if you have come this far, you really need help.  You should verbalize your respect for that person and make sure it's the truth.  Here is where the rubber meets the road.  Ask the question clearly and concisely.  If your are prayed up and you have laid the groundwork properly, it should be very hard for them not to help you out.  Be Respectful!  4) What's in it for them?  (vv. 18-21)You need to be thankful for them and show it.  People like to feel important and it verifies their most positive image of themselves.  Let them know that they are truly a friend, and you are willing to return the favor whenever the need arises.  You can expect to be asked, and if you truly appreciate them, you will surely help them out at some point.  Be Available!  5) Keep it personal. (vv. 22-25)  Paul acknowledged mutual friends of theirs.  If possible, say something nice about that friend or friends and ask if they think any of those people may be able to help next time you need.  Do you best to leave a good impression, wish them the grace of Jesus Christ, just as Paul did in all of his letter.  Be Loving!  Philemon was a believer, but the person you ask for help may not be.  This example is a great way to plant the seed of God's love into someone's life.  Try it.  Don't be overly dramatic, just be yourself.  May God bless each and every one of you.  Until next time...Todd out.

Tuesday, 14 Nov:  Today was just another day.  I ran a few errands and answered a few emails, but then I read my scripture for today.  I am so excited about it, I can't type fast enough.  Sunday, we sang "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord...I want to see You."  Have you seen Jesus lately?  One one occasion, certain Greeks approached one the disciples and said, "Sir, We would see Jesus."   Verse 9 of Hebrews chapter 2 starts off with, "But we see Jesus...".  There is some debate on who the author of Hebrews is, but his response is what makes up the remainder of the chapter; how we should Jesus.  We have no photos of Him, but these verses give us a great word picture that describes who the man Jesus really is.  In verse 10, we see JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR.  He is described as the captain or author or pioneer of our salvation.  Jesus is able to restore us to the place of glory and honor that God created us for.  Salvation is made complete through His suffering.  He tasted death for everyone.  He has saved us from eternal damnation through the shedding of His blood on the cross.  Take away the blood and the cross of Jesus and you have no gospel, no salvation and no hope.  In verses 11-13, we see JESUS AS OUR SANCTIFIER.  Jesus is the one who sanctifies, or makes us holy.  Believers are the one's being sanctified.  We are "set apart" for the service of God.  We are now children of the Father.  In a very real way, you and I, as believers, have a very special relationship with the Almighty God, because of what Jesus did.  Tell yourself, "I am a child of the King!"  In verses 14-15, we see JESUS AS OUR DELIVERER.  Because of His atoning sacrifice on the cross, we share in His accomplishments.  The defeat of the Devil was completed at His resurrection.  He broke the hold Satan had over us, therefore, we are no longer slaves to sin.  We have also been delivered from death and the fear of it.  Death lost it's sting when Jesus died and was resurrected.  Death is not just a doorway that we pass through into the very presence of God.  We are bound for glory.  Praise the Lord!  In verses 16-18, we see JESUS AS OUR HIGH PRIEST. As our "merciful and faithful high priest", Jesus' primary role is to propitiate sin.  He doesn't just cover our sins, he actually takes them away from us.  The earthly High Priest use to take blood, once a year, to the Holy Place to make atonement for sins. But Jesus has entered the heavenly Holy Place just once with His own blood.  As our High Priest, He also aids believers in their struggles against temptation.  He definitely understands about being tempted and he runs to us in times of need.  The believers who received this letter, like us, needed to hear that Jesus had suffered as we all do.  Let's never forget his response to temptation; God's Word.  If you are a believer at this time, you should be thanking God for His son, Jesus and who He is and what He did for you.  If you are not a believer, but want to know and see this man we call Jesus, He is standing at the door of your heart and knocking.  All you have to do is invite Him in!  He wants to come in and have a relationship with you.  Don't let another day go by without inviting Him into your heart and life.  Let me know what happens...Until next time...Todd out.    

Thursday, 16 Nov:  Hello everyone.  Please accept my apologies for not writing yesterday.  It was a fairly long day and I was trying to finish up a project, but I did not achieve success until nearly 3 in the morning.  I think, needless to say, it was indeed a long day and I had to get to bed or be no good to anyone today.  I had band practice tonight and I needed to be on top of my game.  We are succeeding in introducing one new song a week.  Sunday we are doing Barlow Girls' "No One Like You".  I pray the congregation will be open to it.  So, there a discussion today about joy.  Christians understand what joy is all about and where we get ours from.  Those without Christ seem to confuse joy with happiness.  We know that they are totally different ideas.  Happiness is based on things that are "happening" to you.  If things are going good and people are treating you good, then you are happy.  The opposite is also true and you end up being unhappy.  Joy, on the other hand, is a profound, compelling quality of life that transcends the events and disasters which affect God's people.  The Hebrew word for joy means to leap or spin around with pleasure.  I found joy today among all the things that were happening.  Now, I do understand that there are things in life that appear to take our joy away, but there are ways we can regain it rather quickly.  So, here are 3 Joy Busters.  1) Unsatisfied Expectations.  We set goals for ourselves every day.  We want children that obey, a great marriage, a bigger house, and nicer car and a better job.  But we can't have everything, right?  Wanting more is not always possible and not always in God's plan for us. Our reaction to that breeds discontent and therefore rob us of our joy.  2) Unresolved Conflict.  When we allow conflicts between ourselves and others to go on and on, our joy seems to evaporate.  This ongoing conflict creates a spirit of anger that clouds the eyes of our heart and hinders our view of God.  Hebrews reminds us to make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy.  We, as human beings, also tend to hold grudges.  If we have something against another person, do you think you can even glimpse joy in that situation.  3) Unconfessed Sin.  This buster is perhaps responsible for chasing more joy out of lives than any other.  Sin drives joy far away.  For all have sinned is what the Bible says.  Therefore, all of us need to confess those sins and be forgiven.  Unconfessed sin festers like a sore on the soul and actually puts a wall up that will not allow joy to enter in.  Unconfessed sin creates guilty feelings.  Guilt can gut your joy faster than anything else mentioned here.  Now that we are aware of the Joy Busters, there is great news left to share.  As easily as you lost it, your joy can be restored.  Here are some Joy Builders.  1) Recognize God Is Joyful.  Remember, God is not a taskmaster, but our Father who loves us very much.  God delights in you and breaks out in song when He thinks about you!  If you have little or no joy in your life, you don't know or you have forgotten about the joy of the Lord. Joy is one of His character qualities and God never changes!  2) Rehearse God's attributes in worship.  We know that God delights in us and finds great joy in His creation.  When we celebrates who and what He is to us, we allow our joy to flow back to Him.  Psalm 66:1-4: "Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious! Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.  All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.'"  No matter what, worship God in spirit and in truth, for HE IS JOY!  3) Reaffirm you commitment to others.  If you are not in fellowship with other believers, you joy will leak out.  Here's the real deal.  As you connect with others and they connect with you, joy will overflow.  Remember, we need each other.  You are seriously jeopardizing your joy if you are not a regular attender of church or you go, but don't interact with anyone.   Do not forsake the assembling of the brethren and miss a chance to get and share joy! 4) Release your problems to the Lord.  One of the greatest things about joy is that it can be experienced in the midst of intense sorrow and loss.  Remember Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison, but they didn't despair.  We are told they were praying and singing hymns to God.  They gave their problem to God and their joy was restored.  Give them all to Jesus and He will turn your sorrow into joy!  5) Remain close to Jesus.  John 15:10-11: "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this to that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."   Remember also, Jesus says that apart from Him, we can bear no fruit.  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  No Jesus...No Joy.  Know Jesus...Know Joy.  It is that simple.  I certainly hope this short "message" helps someone who is missing a little of their joy today.  Avoid the Joy Busters and embrace the Joy Builders. This entry was adapted, in part, from a sermon by Brian Bill.  Thank God for people that see things with a lot more clarity that I do.  Until next time...Todd out.

Friday, 17 Nov:  Hello everyone.  I trust you all are having or have had a joy filled day. A few things happen to me today that were most definitely Joy Builders.  I tried to avoid some the Joy Busters and succeeded rather nicely.  It's hard to get down, no matter where you are and what you are doing, when you go outside and see nothing but blue sky.  It is a wonderful to know that one day, we will see that sky up close and personal in the presence of our Lord!  Somehow we got to talking about the Bible today.  I can't exactly recall how, but it happened nonetheless.  Now, remember, we are forbidden from talking too much about religion outside of the chapel.  Someone said that the Bible was nothing but a book written by someone who interpreted something from someone who interpreted it from someone else and so on and so forth.  Maybe somewhere down the line there was some interpretation, but we are told that all the writers were inspired by God to write what they did.  Now, for those that have faith, that is enough.  But for those outside the faith, that is not enough.  So, how do we explain that the Bible is true?  Here are just a few things to say and do to persuade them that the Bible can be trusted as TRUTH.  Then, we pray that the next step will be a genuine belief in Christ and then a personal relationship with Him.  Here ya go.  One thing to point out is how SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE the Bible is.  This is a major hang-up for some people, especially those that want hard evidence.  Long before scientists admitted the earth was indeed round, Isaiah 40:22 said that, "God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers."  Job 26:7 reveals that the earth is suspended over an empty space, not upon pillars, or people or animals as other cultures believe.  Can you count the stars in the sky?  Scientists, at one point said there were only 1,056 stars in the universe.  They was later recanted, but not until the 1600's.  Jeremiah 33:22 says that God will "make the descendants of David as countless as the stars in the sky."  There are many others, but I think you get the idea.  Another thing is to point out how HISTORICALLY RELIABLE the Bible is.  Some people just don't believe the stories are real, but just made up to teach people lessons.  Archaeologists and scholars have made many discoveries used as evidence to the prove the Bible to be true.  Recently in the Middle East some 15,000 tablets were found and after translation mentioned Sodom and Gomorrah as thriving cities of trade.  In 2002, a British Bible Scholar claimed to have found the ruins of the city and identified it because it was covered with sulfur balls indicating the city has been destroyed by fire.  Genesis 19:24 says that God destroyed the city of Sodom and Gomorrah by raining down sulfur from heaven.  Archaeologists have also positively identified the city of Jericho.  The city was excavated and confirmed that the walls had fallen just as the Bible said they did. Many scientists have gone back and have concluded that something unusual happen to those walls.  There are so many more finds, but this is good start.  Another thing is to point out that FULFILLED PROPHECIES are found in the Bible.  We know that mortal man cannot predict the future, but God did it accurately.  Yoda said, "Even a Jedi cannot predict the future."  Look at the first half of Daniel.  God gave him visions of exactly what was to happen with Kings and nations...check the history books...prophecy fulfilled.  There are 330 prophecies in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah and Jesus fulfilled everyone.  Such detail was evident, including his city of birth, how he would be treated, that his bones would be ripped out of joint.  Psalm 22 predicted that his hands and feet would be pierced and people would gamble for his clothing.  Isaiah 7:14 predicted He would be born of a virgin.  The odds of one person even fulfilling 8 of the prophecies is 1 in 1000000000000000000.  But He didn't fulfill just 8, but 330. 2 Peter 1:21 says, "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.  The predictions in the Bible could not have been mere guesswork.  Before you end the conversation, ENCOURAGE THEM TO READ IT!  Most people who poke fun at it have never really read the Bible. That's like a movie critic saying a move stinks without ever watching the movie.  Find some clever ways to get them to get into God's Word.  If you have to, read it to them.  There are stories galore of people who have picked up a Bible in a hotel room (courtesy of The Gideons) and discovered the love and grace of God.  Revelation 1:3 says, "Happy is the person who reads the words of God and happy are those who hear it and let it penetrate their hearts."  The Bible is still relevant today.  Hebrews 4:8 says, "For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.  It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Ronald Reagan once said, "Within the covers of one single book, the Bible, are all the answers to all the problems that face us today--if only we would read and believe."  I could not have said it better myself.  Now you have ammunition, if you will, to attack those who question you about the truthfulness of the Bible.  Now, go out and share the love of God with the world.  Until next time...Todd out. 

Sunday, 19 Nov:  Happy Sunday to all of you.  Well, it may not be so happy if you are a Saints fan.  There's always next week, right? Referring back to a previous entry, I could let that game be a Joy Buster, but I would rather remember that God is still in control and that is a Joy Builder.  Worship service tonight was magnificent!  The musicians gelled nicely and the congregation was extremely receptive.  Our regular Chaplain was back and he rocked the house with the Word.  I want to echo some of what he shared tonight with you in hopes that you will get at least a glimpse of what we felt listening to him.  Romans 12:1-2 was the text for tonight.  I am going to give it to you in the New Living Translation.  "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will find acceptable.  This is truly the way to worship him.  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and prefect."  The focus is on the way to worship God.  Now, when most people think of worship, they think of music.  That is a form of worship, but Paul gives us four "goals", if you will, of a worshipper who honors God.  In musical worship we clap our hands, but to help you remember the goals, we spell it with a K.  So you get K.L.A.P.  K-Keep God's mercy in view at all times.  Paul didn't just ask them, he begged or implored them.  Very strong request, in other words.  God's mercy includes His goodness and His greatness.  You know He has every right to carry out judgment upon us for disregarding His ways.  Instead, he chose to sacrifice His son to bring us back to him.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  That's God's mercy.  Keep it in view.  L-Live you life holy and pleasing to God.  Our allegiance belongs to God and our thoughts, words and actions show that we belong to Him.  Holy means set apart and pleasing means having God's approval.  This is for every day of the week, not just on Sunday.  We should not use our bodies to do anything that would displease God.  Let others see you living for God.  If Christ is in your heart, He will determine for you what is acceptable and pleasing to God.  A-Align your mind with the mind of God.  Hear this-our behaviors are determined by the beliefs we hold in our minds, and our beliefs are shaped by repeated exposure.  We should not be surprised that people coming from communist countries have a difficult time believing in God; they are taught repeatedly that there is no God.  We should not be surprised that marriages are ending in divorce or the number of unwed mothers continues to rise; just look at the media glorifying premarital or extramarital sex.  Folks, those are just a few examples of why we need to renew our mind--daily.  Just like those examples, repeated exposure to God's truth in His word can replace all the garbage that society tries to put in our minds.  P-Prove God's goodness in your life.  Our lives, as Christians, ought to point to God's will that is good, acceptable and perfect.  When we complain and criticize all the time, we certainly don't prove God's goodness.  That kind of lifestyle does not celebrate God's mercy on us.  Someone said, "The most hopeless people in the world are wealthy people without Jesus.  They have wealth, but no peace of mind.  Poor people at least hope that if they gain wealth, they can also gain peace."  The world runs after prestige, power and possessions to find peace of mind.  God's will for us is peace with Him through Jesus Christ to get peace of mind.  So, you all now have the answer when anyone asks you, "How do you worship God?"  Your answer, "I KLAP.  I keep God's mercy in view at all time.  I live my life holy and pleasing to God.  I align my mind with the mind of God. I prove God's goodness in my life."  They'll say, "Say what?"  You'll say, "Just watch my life from Monday to Sunday!"  Worshipping God is so much more than music.  Until next time...Todd out.  

Tuesday, 21 Nov:  Good day to you all!  Today was a pretty good day.  I have been struggling, though, with exactly what to put down today.  God has granted me a wonderful opportunity to continue my education at Liberty University with online classes.  Looks like I will be pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies (Religion and Business).  Without going into it too much today, I will just tell you that the decision to go forward with this was not so easy, for several reasons.  But God finally told me, “Go For It” and that’s just what I did.  I have applied and am just waiting for the letter of acceptance so I can get started.  As I said, I was struggling with what to share the word decision kept coming up in my mind.  Okay God, what about decisions?  We all have to make them.  Some are small and some are large.  But no matter the size or scope of the decision, there are a few questions we can ask before making it.  Colossians 3:1-17 lends itself to asking the right questions.  1) How will my decision affect eternity?  God lets us know that good decisions are made with eternity in mind.  We know that we are supposed to store up treasures for ourselves in Heaven, not on earth.  My decision to pursue my degree from Liberty certainly has eternal implications.  Once degreed, I could easily get a job doing God’s business (religion) in corporate America (business).  2) How would God feel about this decision?  When we realize that God is concerned with the details of life, it changes who we are and what we do.  We know that God has emotions and if we choose correctly, he is pleased, if not, He is disappointed.  Blatant disregard for God when making a decision could set you up for discipline, as well.  I firmly believe God is pleased with my decision to pursue my degree at Liberty.  3) How does my past affect my decision?  Just keep in mind that your past can be a help or a hindrance to good decision making.  Things like personal experience, watching others, prejudice, previous failures and painful memories all constitute past stuff that could affect your decision.  Not all of those are good or bad, but some could go either way.  In my case, a bad experience in my past was motivation, not a hindrance, to me pursuing the degree at Liberty.  4) How will my decision affect others?  Family, friends, co-workers and even innocent bystanders may be affected by your decision.  We are not programmed to hurt others, but in a moment of indecision and the pressure to make a decision, we don’t think and tend to make the wrong decision.  We forget the Golden Rule.  It is important to stop and think about what will happen to those around you because of the choice you will make.  Pursuing my degree will take up some time, but not at the expense of my God and my family.  That is a wise decision.  5) What does the Bible say?  We must understand that God created us and gave us the owners manual for life.  God’s Word is active and living and we should not forsake getting advice from Our Father.  Did anyone ever ask their earthly father for advice?  Same goes for God...He has already given us advice, through His Word.  I looked up what I should do, and God wants me to be educated and to spread His message of hope and love wherever I am.  A degree in religion and business will definitely allow me to do that.  6)  Does my decision glorify God?  Our main function in life is to glorify God and anything short of that is a waste of material, time and talent.  Paul says here in word and deed.  That about encompassed every minute of every day, 24/7/365.  Doing nothing with what He has given you will cause you trouble on Judgment Day.  How could my decision to pursue a degree in religion and business not glorify God?  He is the reason I am doing it!  Now, these questions are in no particular order, but all are necessary.  I know it’s a lot to remember, but you can bet you bottom dollar that asking these questions before making a decision, even a small one, will make a huge difference in your life.  So, off you go, on your way to making GOOD GODLY decisions.  Try it with your next decision and let me know if it works.  It certainly did for me!  Until next time...Todd out.  

Wednesday, 22 Nov:  As everyone was busy today, busier than usual, I read an article on the internet that talked about some of the promises that politicians made on the campaign trail.  The question out there is will they be able to keep those promises.  It is going to be an interesting 2 years for the citizens of the good ole U S A.  It's amazing how God works, though, because one my scriptures today was Hebrews 8.  Jesus has come and gone (to and from earth anyway), and He has left us with the New Covenant.  Remember the Old Covenant (Old Testament), was a conditional one.  God promised to bless Israel IF Israel would love and obey Him.  But the New Covenant (New Testament) introduced an unconditional one.  Here in Hebrews, we learn the reasons why the Covenant of Christ is called a superior covenant that offers a much better promise.  It's an INNER COVENANT.  The Old Covenant was a set of laws written on stone.  The New Covenant, Jesus says, is written in our minds and on our hearts.  These laws are not a laundry list that you can hardly remember.  You see, God wants more than outward obedience, so He focuses on the inner man.  The Holy Spirit is on the inside leading you into truth, guiding your steps and changing you from the inside out.  It's a RELATIONAL COVENANT.  In the Old Covenant, God was present, but only a select few, by comparison, could have an intimate relationship with Him.  But now, whosoever calls on the name of the Lord can have a very intimate relationship with God.  He has adopted us and we are the Children of the King! He feels the same way towards us that an earthly father feels about his own children.  Listen to what 1 John 3:1 says about that:  "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!"  It's no longer about religion, but about relationship.  It's an INCLUSIVE COVENANT.  Under the Old Covenant, the Jewish people would go to the Rabbi constantly to get his interpretation of the Law.  The Rabbi was the expert, after all.  Some Christians walk around today still looking to the "experts" (Priests and Pastors), but God does not want a "know it all" class for everyone to follow.  God wants us ALL to know and understand Him.  There is no longer the need for a human mediator, we can go straight to God, as his children, with confidence.  Notice what Peter says in 1 Peter 2:9-"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."  Is this passage an image of you?  If not, accept Christ today, don't delay.  Lastly, it's an ETERNAL COVENANT.  The Old Covenant was never meant to last forever.  The Jewish people continually failed to live up to their end of the bargain and God allowed them to suffer the curses that were His part of the bargain.  How much different are we than the Israelites?  Not very much in the natural, but thanks to Christ, Gods says, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:12)  That's what makes it eternal.  If it depended on our obedience, it would never last, but thankfully, it depends of God's unconditional love and forgiveness.  GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES!  Go an live the New Covenant through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Once I recover from Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow, I have a great message on a few things Christians can be thankful for.  Until next time...Todd out.   

Thursday, 23 Nov:  Happy Thanksgiving!!!  I trust everyone had a wonderful day with family and friends.  I miss my family a whole bunch, but we had a great chat on the phone.  Angi and I keep in touch via email and a phone call here and there.  One thing I am thankful for is email and free phone calls, that’s for sure.  J  I could give you a long list of things I am thankful for today and I am sure, with the exception of some names, your list would be similar to mine.  God is at the top of the list and should be for all believers.  But one of the temptations for long time Christians is the danger of getting accustomed to God’s blessings, to take them for granted, and forget to thank Him.  I pray that none of my readers have failed to give God thanks, daily, for his who He is and what He has done.  Now, here are a few things that regardless of who you are, you and I should be thankful to God for, always.  BE THANKFUL TO GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS.  Psalms 25:8 tells us, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will he teach sinners in the way.”  Psalms 135:3 says, “Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good.  Sing praises unto His name, for it is pleasant.”  God is powerful, yes, but He cares for us infinitely and displays his goodness toward us every day.  “God is good all the time and all the time God is good.”  This somewhat cheesy phrase from a song is about as truthful you can get.  Psalms 34:8-“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusts in Him!”  BE THANKFUL TO GOD FOR HIS LOVE.  1 John 4:8, “He that loves not knows not God, for God is love.”  We learn about God’s love from his other attributes, for instance, God is eternal-his love can have no end; God is infinite-his love has no limit.  You get the idea.  God really really loves us.  Robert F. Capon said, “The only way God’s love makes sense is when it is seen as personal.  He doesn’t start your stalled car for you; but he comes and sits with you in the snow bank.”  John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son...”  BE THANKFUL TO GOD FOR HIS SON.  2 Corinthians 9:15 says, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”  There are no words, which can sufficiently express, nor any language that can convey an adequate description of the value of the gift of God’s Son, and of the eternal riches, which we benefit for it.  God could have wiped out ALL of creation, but His plan came to be, when He gave, to a lost and dying world, His only Son.  For all of Jesus’ suffering, on our behalf, we must never forget to thank God for His Son!  Romans 5:8 says, “But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  BE THANKFUL TO GOD FOR HIS ABIDING PRESENCE.  1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which gives US the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Think back to the Footprints In The Sand poem, which, by the way, I have hanging in my room.  We are not left alone to fend for ourselves, but God is always with us and we are assured of victory!  I love Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God.  I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”  Finally in Hebrews, we are told, “…I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”  Wherever you are, God is there and wherever you are going, God is already there!  BE THANKFUL TO GOD FOR HIS FAMILY.  God’s family is the church. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Left to oneself, one could easily slide away from ‘the faith once given,’ into a phantom called ‘my religion.’”  We should never take for granted what the Family of God can accomplish for the whole body, as well as for the individual.  Remember the old hymn, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God.  I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!  Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, for I’m a part of the family, the Family of God.  Psalm 122:1 says, “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’”  You need the Family and the Family needs you!  So what are you thankful for today?  Hopefully, I have aroused something in your spirit.  God Bless you all and again, Happy Thanksgiving!  Until next time...Todd out.   

Saturday, 25 Nov:  Greetings on this glorious day!  It is indeed a great day to be in the Lord!  Today was hectic for everyone.  Some last minute taskers showed up this morning and we were kickin' mostly all day.  Fortunately, today is over for most, but tomorrow is a new day.  Praise God!  Well, let's get into the Word.  Romans 9:11-28 was the focus today.  Basically, it's all about The Blood of Christ!  We sing songs about the wonder working power of the blood and the blood will never lose it's power, but it has been my experience that the only time we talk about it is during Communion.  I say again, just my opinion.  Leviticus 17:11 says, "For the life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life."  That's how important the blood is.  The blood running through our bodies performs 7 functions.  You can get them from any biology book.  Briefly the blood: transports metabolic wastes from each cell to organ to excrete them; transports oxygen from the lungs to the cells; transports nutrients from the digestive system to each cell; transports hormones from endocrine glands to target tissues; helps maintain fluid balance; helps distribute metabolic heat to maintain normal body temperature; defends the body against invading microorganisms (white cells).  These are the function of the blood in our bodies that keeps us alive.  If we lose too much blood, we will lose life.  Now, the Blood of the Lamb also functions in 7 ways to give us life and to help us maintain our spiritual life.  1) The Blood of the Lamb transports the waste from our spiritual cells and then takes it out of our soul and spirit.   As it flows through our spiritual veins, it collects all of the bad stuff and gets rid of it.  "Morality may keep you out of jail, but it takes the blood of Christ to keep you out of Hell." (Spurgeon)  When we accept Christ, we are new creatures and the old is gone.  2) The Blood of the Lamb transports oxygen-the breath of life-into the spiritual cells of His children.  God formed the physical man, but it wasn't until He breathed into him that he became a living being.  It's God's breath in the blood that brings life.  We are never truly alive until we receive the breath of life from God that only flows through the Blood of the Lamb.  3) The Blood of the Lamb transports nutrients (spiritual food) to the cells that give us life.  In John 6:35, Jesus said, "I am the bread of life, he who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."  It's only through the blood that we gain food to go on and sustain life spiritually and it comes from Jesus' words.  Without food and water, we will die...without the blood carrying it, we will get the same result.  4) The Blood of the Lamb transports hormones to the spiritual body.  Hormone is taken from a Greek word that means "to excite".  Why do we get excited about Jesus?  Because of His blood, targeted tissues are stimulated and make us that way.  A change occurs in us that makes us excited about living-it will bring great joy to your life!  5) The Blood of the Lamb maintains balance in our spiritual body.  Ephesians 1:17, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."  Balance is vitally important in everything we do.  It's all about equilibrium; equality in amount; stability, harmonious proportions.  6) The Blood of the Lamb helps to distributes heat to keep our spiritual body at normal temperature.  Even in the midst of life's storms, we receive warmth and comfort knowing that the Blood of the Lamb is flowing through us.  II Corinthians 1:3,4, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."  7) The Blood of the Lamb is what defends us against invading enemies of the spiritual body.  We have the Armor of God because of the Blood of the Lamb.  Without the shedding of Christ' blood, we would be totally vulnerable to the wiles of the Devil.  But the enemy knows who has the Blood of the Lamb flowing through their veins and he knows that the blood will "never lose it's power".  The only way the enemy can get through is if you let him.  You, Believer, have already won the VICTORY!  It may not be the most glorious of messages, but we must never forget that without the shedding of blood, there would be no remission of sin.  Because of the Blood of the Lamb, WE HAVE LIFE!!!!!  Please don't forget to thank God for allowing His Son to shed his blood for us.  Until next time...Todd out.

Wednesday, 29 Nov:  Well, needless to say, it has been a trying several days.  I have just not felt like I was in the right frame of mind to even attempt an entry.  It wouldn't be fair to all of you.  So, Sunday was a great day.  Not much happened in the office.  Then it was time for church.  I have not experienced quite what we had in worship service since I have been leading worship.  The Holy Spirit showed up big time.  The congregation seemed to be into praise and worship more than ever.  There was plenty of clapping, even after the songs were done.  It really did my heart good.  I am already very honored just to be a part of the group, not mention leading.  Anyway, we ended with "My Redeemer Lives" and I could have sworn there was little bit of dancing.  Yes, I don't think it was my imagination.  The band really rocked and the folks there definitely got wind of the spirit of Christ living today and still being in the miracle business.  So, after that, I came back to the office just in time to catch the end of the first quarter of the Saints masterpiece against the Falcons.  That did my heart good, too.  We (Saints) are now 7 & 4 and are in the hunt, not only for the playoffs, but for home field.  You won't hear too many people talking like that, because it is a rarity in New Orleans, but I believe we have the team to do it this year.  Stay tuned...

Monday, we had a visitor here from our headquarters.  Most of the day was transporting him to various places around the base.  He spoke to us about what a difference the Navy presence is making here saving the lives of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.  The activities for the day ended around 2200 (10 at night).  I was pretty tired and had to be up early the next day to make sure he got to his flight to get back to HQ.  So, Tuesday comes around and I have a few taskers I need to take care of.  By the time supper was done, I was yawning so much, from being up all day, I called it a night.  I rested very well last night and was ready to tackle today.

It was a typical day here in the office.  A few things had to be done and now I am ready to share about a subject that is near and dear to my heart...PRAISE.  Psalm is 150 deals with this very thing.  I did a little of surfing the web and found a brilliant message by Johnny Carver, some of which appears below, and it is exactly what I was thinking about as I read David's "Crescendo of Praise".  Now,  I believe everyone would agree if we could have talked to King David, it would not have taken long to find out that he loved and praised the Lord.  It is my prayer that when people talk to us, it is not long until they know that we love and praise the Lord.  Praise literally means to bestow approval upon, to honor, worship, to glorify.  To take it a step further, the Hebrew word is "Yadah" which means to stretch out the hands, to worship with extended hands.  Yeah, in praising our God and Lord, we are to demonstrate how we feel about Him.  Our lifted hands also show our surrender of everything to Him.  So, WHY SHOULD WE PRAISE THE LORD?  Because God is worthy to be praised!  As our praises go up, the blessings come down-praise is the password, if you will, to the Blessings of God!  We also know that God inhabits the praises of His people.  Our praise of the Father is really faith in action, for if we didn't believe God, we would have no reason to praise.  It also helps us to take our minds away from situations and circumstances and focus our eyes on our Mighty God who causes all things to work together for our good and His Glory!  Next, we see THE POWER OF PRAISE!  There is power in the praise that tends to draw people to the one being praised!  People can be changed forever by the power of praise.  Congregational praise will cause souls to be swept into the Kingdom of God and miracles will happen.  Personal praise can lift you out of any "funk" you may find yourself caught up in.  The enemy knows the power of praise, therefore he will attempt to keep you from doing it.  Believe me when I tell you that praise of the Father will drive the enemy away time and time again!  We, as Christians have the power of praise whenever we need it--feel the power, within yourself or at a church service near you.  And finally, WHEN DO WE PRAISE THE LORD?  There are really only two times (1) When you FEEL like and (2) When you DON'T FEEL like it!  Think about it, you either want to or you don't want to.  Surely, Paul and Silas didn't feel like praising God when they were in that dark dungeon.  Their backs were bleeding, their hands and feet were in stocks and they were surrounded by vile, sinful men.  But we know from Acts 16:35 that "Paul and Silas prayed and sand praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."  But even more important was the God heard them and shook the prison doors open and their bands fell off!  Most of time our tongue is the source of our troubles.  God has a cure, and that is to use it in praising the Lord.  It is NEVER the wrong time to praise our Lord for what He has done, what He is doing and what he will do!  David said in Psalm 34:1, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth." I absolutely love to PRAISE the Lord!  If you have trouble with praise, find a radio station that plays uplifting Christian music or something to jump start, if you will, your praise.  My prayer tonight is that I have helped to stir within each one of you a spirit of praise.  Until next time...Todd out.

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