Category: CHURCH

Earth Day is an annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 in the United States and on either April 22 or the day the spring equinox occurs throughout the rest of the world.

 Read the Bible. 

God created earth and named it.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
God gave dominion over it.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
God flooded it because of man’s evilness.
Genesis 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
God promised not to flood it again.
Genesis 7:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
But earth and heaven will be destroyed, because of man’s sin.
2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
God will give us a new heaven and earth.
2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

When we know these things WHY does man think he can control the climate?

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What do you know about the Cross? The Cross that the Lord died upon.
It’s interesting that it was made of wood AND that God chose NOT to save it …
What did it look like> A “T” or “t” or “X” or “I” .The word Cross only appears in the New Testament.
28 times. 17 times in the Gospels and 11 times in the epistles.
Jesus mentioned the cross 6 times BUT not to His cross.
Matthew 10:38, 16:24, Mark 8:34, 10:21, Luke 9:23, 14:27 As a burden.
The cross has been immortalized in song: “The Old Rugged Cross”.

What was THIS Cross?
To the Mob … it was an instrument of punishment and death. One of the cruelest forms of execution devised by man. It wasn’t around very long, used by the Romans. Yet 1000 years before the Psalmist wrote Psalm 22.
To the Jew … His cross was a curse! On the way to Calvary, the Lord stumbles and Simon the Cyrene was compelled to take up the cross.
Why compelled? Matthew 27:32
Simon was a Jew, on a pilgrimage to the Holy City, Jerusalem.
He knew Hebrew Law,
Deuteronomy 21:23, And the cross was a tree.
YES, to the mob, an instrument of death, to the Jew a curse.
But to God, it was an altar. Since the days of Adam, innocent blood has been shed to cover the sins of man. Now, the final sacrifice was to be given to forgive the sins of man.
The Lamb of God would offer His blood for the Sin of all.
1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 9:28, 10:12,14

To the mob, an instrument of death, to the Jew a curse, to God an altar.

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Acts 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Easter, Latin Pascha, Greek Pascha, principal festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier.
Acts 12:4 SHOULD NOT contain the word EASTER since the earliest recorded observation was in the 2nd century.
Despite its significance as a Christian holy day, many of the traditions and symbols that play a key role in Easter observances actually have roots in pagan celebrations—particularly the pagan goddess Eostre—and in the Jewish holiday of Passover. Easter is also associated with the Jewish holiday of Passover, as well as the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, as described in the Old Testament. These links are clearly seen in the Last Supper, which occurred the night before Jesus’ arrest and the sufferings Jesus endured following his arrest. The Last Supper was essentially a Passover feast.

Easter is not a federal holiday.

⇛ continue reading Easter (2) Part 2

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There are over 1500 National Days, Weeks and Months in the USA.
Many of them are laughable.
Just get on the internet and search National “…. “ to find them.
Here are just three of them:

August 11th, National Sons and daughters Day. First celebrated in 1944.

Fourth Sunday in July, National Parents Day.  First celebrated in 1994.

First Sunday after Labor Day in September, National Grandparents Day an official holiday in 1988.

These are really not necessary. God has already given us instructions on how we should treat our Children (Sons and Daughters), our Parents, and our Grandparents. There are too many verses to list them here. But start with the 5th commandment. Read Ephesians 6 for starters. Psalm and Proverbs also contain many great verses of instruction. We don’t need our government to tell us how to honor our family members.

Oh Yes, Happy National Day …

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QUESTION? What have you done with Christ since you heard about Him?

Luke 2:8-38
4 groups or types of people in the above text.
All of them had the knowledge that a Christ/Messiah child had been born.
Simeon (vs 25) Anna (vs 38)
Yes, they all knew, but what did they do with their knowledge?
Matthew 2:1-3 Introduces 2 groups or types:
Herod the King and Jerusalem.
Herod was troubled. The puppet Jewish King of Rome.
A tyrant … he was his own god. Nobody would dethrone him!
(many are like him today…they are their own god.)
Jerusalem was troubled. Religion was a way of life. Don’t rock the boat.
Go to temple every Sabbath, Make all the proper sacrifices and offerings.
Be good, God, if he still existed would reward them.
Remember, they hadn’t heard from God for over 400 years.
(Does this sound like anybody you know?).
Matthew 2:4 Introduces a third type. Chief Priests and Scribes … The Religious!
They knew the Scriptures. To be born of a virgin, in Bethlehem.
BUT WHO SAYS IT’S HAPPENED?
(Religious leaders today have the Scripture! Christ Jesus died, was buried and rose again, returned to Heaven and is coming again!). BUT WHEN?
Sure, He’s coming but not in our life time … 2 Peter 3:3-7
Matthew 2:1 The forth group or type … The Wise.
The wise are prepared … remember the parable of the ten virgins
Matthew 25:1-13
The (Magi) Wise men (Probably Jews) came from the east and had knowledge of the Scripture, Seeking the Messiah, the King of the Jews.
Matthew 2:2 They had a sign, ‘seen His star’ they knew something special had occurred. (we Have signs around us today)
They searched, inquired, trying to find Him.
Matthew 2:11 Finally, after a long search they found Him.
They searched, They found, They fell down and worshipped, They gave gifts…
Matthew 2:12 They continued to obey!

Do you remember the Question?
What have you done with Christ since you heard about Him?

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Christmas is coming and most of us have special plans.
Relatives are coming or we are going to visit them.
Diner plans, shopping plans, what to get for who, plans …
Plans are good, but they must not be short ranged. We must also plan for the future .. what about next year, or 2, 3 or ever 5 five years from now? …..
Consider Joseph:
Joseph had plans … pledged to a young virgin .. marriage … raise a family …train his sons in carpentry … await the coming of the Messiah. Matthew 1:18-20. Yes, he was a just man, righteous, (right with God) walking according to the Laws and Commandments, trusting in the coming of the Messiah, offering in faith the required sacrifices Leviticus 4:27-35. Things were going good for Joseph.
A beautiful young virgin was soon to be his wife and a life of obedience to God….
BUT then a monkey wrench … How did Joseph know about Mary’s Problem? How did he discover her secret? Luke 1:26,39,56, 2:1-5 SHE WAS WITH CHILD! Did she tell him? Perhaps a friend? Or maybe he just noticed! Plans change. ..What should he do? He considered God’s Word! (WE should always consider God’s Word). What to do … PUBLIC EXAMPLE Leviticus 20:10 – PRIVATELY Deuteronomy 24:1
BUT God had extraordinary Plans! Joseph no doubt knew Isaiah 7:14, 9:6.
He just didn’t know about his part in them. Something to remember as we travel life’s road, living for God: God only expects obedience!

God had a special way to communicate His plans to Joseph…
Through a dream an angel reminded Joseph of the prophecy Matthew 1:20-23. Joseph obeys Matthew 1:24.
Notice three things about Joseph… A just man… In the Linage of David… Obedient to God

Today, God speaks to us …
Thru His Word, Matthew 1:21-23
Thru circumstances, Matthew 1:18
Thru our feelings Matthew 1:24

AS we make plans, always remember God has plans for us.

⇛ see Mary’s Problem

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Have you ever had a serious problem? What did you do?
Worry about it or take it to God?
Mary was a young Jewish woman, a virgin who was espoused to a Jewish man named Joseph. Her future looked bright with a wedding on the horizon.
Then she was faced with a problem.
Read Luke 1:26-33
Yes, Mary faced a problem …
vs 28 An Angel’s Greeting …
vs 29 Mary considers what he wants …
vs 31 She is to bare a son …
vs 34 Can’t be, impossible, not married …
vs 37 With God, nothing is impossible …
vs 38 Mary’s response …
Notice what she didn’t do …
She didn’t worry what people would say …
She didn’t worry what her parents would say …
She wasn’t even worried about what Joseph would say …
God called, she responded … in faith!

But what about all the details?
God called … she responded, trusting God.
With God nothing is impossible.

⇛ see Joseph’s Plan

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Fathers Day, in the United States, holiday (third Sunday in June) to honour fathers. Sonora Smart Dodd, whose father, a Civil War veteran, raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. The first Fathers Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd’s father.
In 1924 U.S. Pres. Calvin Coolidge gave his support to the observance, and in 1966 Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation that recognized the day. It became a national holiday in 1972, when Pres. Richard Nixon signed legislation designating the third Sunday of June as Fathers Day.

There are over 850 references to Father in the Scripture and over 810 to Fathers.
Many are to God the Father.
Needless to say, all of them will not be looked at now.
However, Genesis has 3 important ones worth knowing:
A man should establish his own family.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
They lived in Tents and herded cattle.
Genesis 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
They established music.
Genesis 4:21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
Paul reaffirms Genesis 2:24.
Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
And then gives this advice:
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Most of all, be a father, not a friend. Friendly, but your children need the authority of a father.

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