Some critters for Kit and Lucy

I know Lucy likes Otters, Kit likes Monkeys. So I found a few cuties!

The Visitor from the Past!

Posted by lamarzulli on March 31, 2009

Robert Birdwell finds himself suddenly transported from 1860 to the present day, 2009! He is amazed at what he sees around him, cars, planes, television, radio, the computer and all the complexities and conveniences that abound in the modern age.

He is also dumbfounded at other spectacles. He finds it hard to believe the overt display of sexual content everywhere, from billboards, to television ads, like Victoria Secret. He is speechless as he watches his first MTV video where men and half naked women gyrate in time with the thumping music as the singer raps in rhyme, using language that he finds deplorable. He learns that abortion has killed 50 million babies in their mothers wombs and that with all of our medical advances we can now, kill the babies in the ninth month of pregnancy. He discovers that almost 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce and that there is an epidemic drug problem that is ruining the lives of millions. He witnesses his first gay parade, as men kiss other men, openly. He learns of gang violence and witnesses the brutal drive by shooting of a teenage girl who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is told that this type of crime is common in all of our cities.

He hears from our sitting president that we have to pump another trillion dollars into the economy to bail it out. He wonders where all this money is going to come from and is perplexed at the role that government has taken. It is a far cry from what he remembers.

He goes to his first movie and is amazed at the larger than life scenes that flash before his eyes. To his astonishment there is a scene in the movie that shows two people having intercourse. He is shocked and disturbed by this and leaving his seat exits the theater. He picks up a news paper and sees that the wandering Jew, has finally come home again and the nation of Israel is a reality. He learns about people who blow themselves up killing hundreds of innocent bystanders, he is told that they are the suicide bombers and are part of daily life in the Middle East. He is terrified when he is told about the atomic bomb. He learns of it’s destruction and how we now have the ability to destroy ourselves hundreds of times over. He is given a tour of the Internet and realizes that all the knowledge of preceding centuries can be found there. He marvels at how our culture can have so much and yet in some ways behave no better than wild animals. He is shocked to learn that it is against the law to say a prayer in our schools, to mention God in the classroom, and that reading from Bible is forbidden in most schools. He discovers that people are immersed in the occult, as they consult mediums to find out what will happen in the future. That horoscopes, eastern mysticism, gurus and spirit guides are popular. He goes to a mega-church and hears how he can become wealthy and prosperous. Overwhelmed by what he has experienced he has only one wish…. to leave this nightmarish place and return home….

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: prophecy, sign of the times, tine travel, UFO, UFO's | 7 Comm

Following atheist trend, Britons seek 'de-baptism'

Britain’s ‘National Secular Society’ Inspires Internet ‘De-Baptism’ Craze

More than 100,000 Britons have recently downloaded "certificates of de-baptism" from the Internet to renounce their Christian faith.

The initiative launched by a group called the National Secular Society (NSS) follows atheist campaigns here and elsewhere, including a London bus poster which triggered protests by proclaiming "There's probably no God."

"We now produce a certificate on parchment and we have sold 1,500 units at three pounds (4.35 dollars, 3.20 euros) a pop," said NSS president Terry Sanderson, 58.

John Hunt, a 58-year-old from London and one of the first to try to be "de-baptised," held that he was too young to make any decision when he was christened at five months old.

The male nurse said he approached the Church of England to ask it to remove his name. "They said they had sought legal advice and that I should place an announcement in the London Gazette," said Hunt, referring to one of the official journals of record of the British government.

So that's what he did -- his notice of renouncement was published in the Gazette in May 2008 and other Britons have followed suit.

Michael Evans, 66, branded baptising children as "a form of child abuse" -- and said that when he complained to the church where he was christened he was told to contact the European Court of Human Rights.

The Church of England said its official position was not to amend its records. "Renouncing baptism is a matter between the individual and God," a Church spokesman told AFP.

"We are not a 'membership' church, and do not keep a running total of the number of baptised people in the Church of England, and such totals do not feature in the statistics that we regularly publish," he added.

De-baptism organisers say the initiative is a response to what they see as increasing stridency from churches -- the latest last week when Pope Benedict XVI stirred global controversy on a trip to AIDS-ravaged Africa by saying condom use could further spread of the disease.

"The Catholic Church is so politically active at the moment that I think that is where the hostility is coming from," said Sanderson. "In Catholic countries there is a very strong feeling of wanting to punish the church by leaving it."

In Britain, where government figures say nearly 72 percent of the population list themselves as Christian, Sanderson feels this "hostility" is fueling the de-baptism movement.

Theologian Paul Murray at Durham University disagrees. "That is not my experience," he said, but concedes that change is in the air.

"We are in an interesting climate where Catholicism and other belief systems have moved into the public, pluralist arena, alongside secularists," he said.

De-baptism movements have already sprung up in other countries.

In Spain, the high court ruled in favor of a man from Valencia, Manuel Blat, saying that under data protection laws he could have the record of his baptism erased, according to a report in the International Herald Tribune.

Similarly, the Italian Union of Rationalists and Agnostics (UAAR) won a legal battle over the right to file for de-baptism in 2002, according to media reports. The group's website carries a "de-baptism" form to facilitate matters.

According to UAAR secretary Raffaele Carcano, more than 60,000 of these forms have been downloaded in the past four years and continue to be downloaded at a rate of about 2,000 per month. Another 1,000 were downloaded in one day when the group held its first national de-baptism day last October 25.

Elsewhere, an Argentinian secularist movement is running a "Collective Apostasy" campaign, using the slogan "Not in my name" (No en mi nombre).

Sanderson hopes rulings in other European countries will pave the way for legal action in Britain, since European Union directives require a level of parity among member states' legislation.

"That would be a good precedent for us to say to the British Information Commissioner: Come on, what's your excuse?" said Sanderson.

The bus-side posters that hit London in January sported the message: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

The scheme was in response to pro-Christian adverts on buses directing passers-by to a website warning those who did not accept Jesus would suffer for eternity in hell.

Comedy writer Ariane Sherine, mastermind of the British bus campaign that saw a copycat version in Barcelona and other cities, said she backs the "de-baptism" movement but insisted the two initiatives were separate.

Sanderson meanwhile remains resolute. "The fact that people are willing to pay for the parchments shows how seriously they are taking them," he said.

A few fun pictures

Hey guys, Lucy here. I wanted to share a few pictures of my new kitchen and Daphne. These flowers are from my yard, I love the bleeding heart, I'm not sure what the purple flower is though. The one picture of Daphne with all the pillows on top of her, it was so funny she crawled up in there like she was in a cave, she hung out in that little cave all day. She nearly scared me to death I didn't know she was in there and I turned around and there was her little face.

Happy Spring! Love Lucy!

I had to share!

hey all, please congratulate Dink,(otherwise known as "Mr. Kitty) he will be featured on the blog "Holy Cuteness" sometime next week. He is currently sipping a salmon smoothie in his dressing room and he couldn't be bothered but I will keep everyone updated. Now for a great story!

THIS JUST IN: Hero Parrot Saves Choking Girl!


According to Yahoo News, the parrot pictured at the left saved the 'tocks of a choking girl by squawking: "Mama Baby! Mama Baby!" and flapping his wings until the babysitter returned to the room and gave the girl The Heimlich.

Awesome!

According to the report: "This undated image from video released by CBS4Denver, shows Willie, a Quaker parrot in Denver, Colo., whose cries of alarm alerted his owner when a little girl choked on her breakfast. Willie has been has been given the local Red Cross chapter's Animal Lifesaver Award."

Under His Wings by Charles Spurgeon

When there was a fire many years ago in the little town of Delft, in Holland, it occurred in a house upon the top of which a stork’s nest had been built. Now, the storks are very affectionate to their young, and it was observed that as the flames went up, the storks tried first of all to carry off their young, but when that could not be done, both parents kept flapping their nests with their wings, as though to cool the young ones, and when the flames drew nearer, both parents set themselves down over the top of the nest and there died with their young ones. Can it he possible that our God could have less affection for his own children than these poor birds had for the offspring of their nest? Impossible! He will cover us with his feathers, and under his wings will we trust; his truth shall be our shield and buckler.

More pretty flowers

Sorry guys, just bored and playing around with my camera. The view from my porch is so pretty, these flowers look so hot pink in the rain I had to take a few pics.

Pride

Proverbs 13:10

(10) By pride comes nothing but strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.



Only through pride does contention last. We primarily see the effects of pride because pride is frequently difficult to detect. God has shown in His Word how to detect it: by looking at the fruits. How do we know false prophets? By their fruits, by what they produce.

A quarrel that could be easily settled if both parties were humble continues indefinitely when parties are arrogant. Why? Because pride plows the way for contempt for the others opinion. Pride inflames passion and wounds feelings. Because of competitiveness, also an aspect of pride, a person feels he has to fight back. And so the argument goes back and forth.

If we are ever involved in a quarrel that seemingly will not end, we should be well-advised from God's Word that the problem is pride. It is somewhere in the picture in one or both who are participating in the conflict. The quarrel will never end until one person makes up his mind to stop it by refusing to argue back, suppressing the feeling that they have to win.

One of the greatest spiritual advances that I ever made in my life was when it suddenly dawned on me one day that I did not have to win. God is on His throne, and because He loves me and the other person, God will make available to both of us what the right decision is. If we ask patiently, persevering without anger, and if we continue to meditate and search and counsel with Him, the answer will come. So, arguments stop

A few cute things for a rainy day.

The lesson of the prodigal

The Bible says, “When he [the prodigal] was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).



I believe the prodigal came home because of his history with his father. This young man knew his father’s character—and apparently he had received great love from him. He must have known that if he returned, he wouldn’t be upbraided or condemned for his sins.



Notice how the prodigal’s father received him in his pitiful condition. The young man was intent on offering a heartfelt confession to his dad. Yet when he faced his father, he didn’t get a chance to fully confess. His father interrupted him by running up to him and embracing him.



The young man was only able to blurt out the beginning of his speech, saying, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son” (v. 21). But his father didn’t wait for him to finish. To him, the young man’s sin had already been settled. The father’s only response was to issue an order to his servants: “Put a robe on my son and rings on his fingers. Prepare a feast, because we’re going to celebrate. Everyone rejoice—my son is home.” He knew his son’s heart. He knew he had fully repented.



Sin wasn’t the issue to this father. The only issue in his mind was love. He wanted his boy to know he was accepted even before he could utter a confession. And that is the point God wants to make to us all: His love is greater than all of our sins. “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

Happy Birthday Lucy!!!!

God gave a gift to the world when you were born—
a person who loves, who cares,
who sees a person’s need and fills it,
who encourages and lifts people up,
who spends energy on others
rather than herself,
someone who touches each life she enters,
and makes a difference in the world,
because ripples of kindness flow outward
as each person you have touched, touches others.
Your birthday deserves to be a special day
because you are a special treasure
for all that you’ve done.
May the love you have shown to others
return to you, multiplied.
I wish you the happiest of birthdays,
and many, many more,
so that others have time to appreciate you
as much as I do.

I love you and thank God every day for you. Have a wonderful day!!

"B"
And just to show you dogs are not stupid...here's more birthday fun!

Cats or Dogs?

Now this is one of my all time favorite shows, and the snotty cat on the couch with the Dog is named "Captain Cuddlepuss". I call my Cat that from time to time when he is not being naughty. Here you go Mr. Kitty, enjoy! (oh watch for the fleas, I love the fleas!)

The Glory of the Lord

I got to take my first walk in the park today since I have been sick. I am amazed that God cares for us in so many ways, even in the beauty of nature surrounding us.

Isaiah 35:1-2
1The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

Spring is here!

The trees are just beginning to bud but I took a few pics today, one of the pink flowers on my hedges for kit. And kitty sitting in the window looking at the birds in the hedges. Oh and the Chemtrails over my neighbor's house. lol Hope everyone had great weather and a great weekend. I know Lucy and FOM removed wall paper (yuck).

Deborah Drapper

This is a BBC Documentary about Deborah Drapper, 13 years old and her life as a servant of God. Please check out her blog and leave her a note of encouragement if you can. Deb's blog:http://deborahdrapper.com/

What is prayer?

Prayer is doxology, praise, thanksgiving, confession, supplication and intercession to God. “When I prayed I was new,” wrote a great theologian of Christian antiquity, “but when I stopped praying I became old.” Prayer is the way to renewal and spiritual life. Prayer is aliveness to God. Prayer is strength, refreshment, and joy. Through the grace of God and our disciplined efforts prayer lifts us up from our isolation to a conscious, loving communion with God in which everything is experienced in a new light. Prayer becomes a personal dialogue with God, a spiritual breathing of the soul, a foretaste of the bliss of God’s kingdom. As we pray deeply within our hearts we grow in prayer. By the grace of God we suddenly catch a glimpse of the miracle of the presence of the Holy Spirit working within us. At first it is only a spark but later it becomes a flame freeing and energizing our whole being. To experience the fire of God’s holy love, to give it space within us to do its cleansing and healing work as a breath of the Holy Spirit, and to use it as light and power for daily living — such are the goals as well as the fruits of true prayer.

The Sufferings of His Broken Heart

Go with me for a moment to witness what was perhaps the foggiest night in history. The scene is very simple; you'll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night.


Now, look into the picture. Look closely through the shadowy foliage. See that person? See that solitary figure? What's he doing? Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth. Eyes wide with a stupor of fear. Hair matted with salty sweat. Is that blood on his forehead?


That's Jesus. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.


Maybe you've seen the classic portrait of Christ in the garden. Kneeling beside a big rock. Snow-white robe. Hands peacefully folded in prayer. A look of serenity on his face. Halo over his head. A spotlight from heaven illuminating his golden-brown hair.


Now, I'm no artist, but I can tell you one thing. The man who painted that picture didn't use the gospel of Mark as a pattern. When Mark wrote about that painful night, he used phrases like these: " Horror and dismay came over him." "My heart is ready to break with grief." "He went a little forward and threw himself on the ground."


Does this look like the picture of a saintly Jesus resting in the palm of God? Hardly. Mark used black paint to describe this scene. We see an agonizing, straining, and struggling Jesus. We see a "man of sorrows." (Isaiah 53:3 NASB) We see a man struggling with fear, wrestling with commitments, and yearning for relief.


We see Jesus in the fog of a broken heart.


The writer of Hebrews would later pen, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death." (Hebrews 5:7 NIV)


My, what a portrait! Jesus is in pain. Jesus is on the stage of fear. Jesus is cloaked, not in sainthood, but in humanity.


The next time the fog finds you, you might do well to remember Jesus in the garden. The next time you think that no one understands, reread the fourteenth chapter of Mark. The next time your self-pity convinces you that no one cares, pay a visit to Gethsemane. And the next time you wonder if God really perceives the pain that prevails on this dusty planet, listen to him pleading among the twisted trees.


The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you'll ever get to God. Watch closely. It could very well be that the hand that extends itself to lead you out of the fog is a pierced one.

by Max Lucado

What is the recession for?

By John Piper.

Education and Relation: Truth and Love

John Piper

Think with me for a moment about education and relationships. Some of you care deeply that education not ignore or marginalize relationships of love. They are essential in real, lasting, life-changing education. Amen.

So I turn to the Bible. I find in place of the words, "education" and "relationship," the words, "truth" and "love." So what does the Bible say about how truth and love relate to each other? There are at least four ways of talking about this relationship.

1. Truth aims at love.

"The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5). Note: instruction is not the goal, love is. Instruction is the means. It is subordinate. Truth serves love. Education serves relationships - mainly the relationship between us and God, but also between Christian and Christian, and between us and unbelievers. The "goal" of all our education is love.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider one another how to stir up to love and good deeds, . . . encouraging one another" (Hebrews 10:23-25, literal translation). The aim of our "considering one another" and "encouraging one another" is that we stir up love. We mingle insight into "the confession of our hope" with insight into "each other," and the effect is stirring each other to love. The truth of doctrine and truth of people-watching unite to aim at love.

2. Love aims at truth.

"Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:6). Love is glad when truth is spoken. Therefore love aims at truth. It supports truth.

"Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you" (2 Corinthians 2:4). Here is an example of how love aims at truth. Paul is filled with love and it compels him to write a letter that was hard, and caused sorrow in him and in the Corinthians. But it needed to be said. So love said it. Love speaks the truth personally and doctrinally.

3. Love shapes how to speak the truth.

"Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:15). There is an unloving way to speak the truth. That kind of truth-speaking we should repudiate. But there is a way to speak the truth in love, and that we should seek. It is not always a soft way to speak, or Jesus would have to be accused of lack of love in dealing with some folks in the Gospels.

But it does ask about what is the most helpful thing to say when everything is considered. Sometimes what would have been a hard word to one group is a needed act of love to another group, and not a wrong to the group addressed. But in general, love shapes truth into words and ways that are patient and gentle (2 Timothy 2:24-25).

4. Truth shapes how to show love.

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:2). It is not always obvious which acts are loving. So John tells us some truth will help us know if our acts are loving.

One truth test for our love is whether we are keeping the commandments of God toward people. In other words, love cannot be cut loose from the truth of God's will. Truth shapes how to show love.

Let us pray that God will cause his love and truth to abound and mingle in us in all these ways for the glory of his truth-filled love and love-filled truth.

Pastor John

THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN by: GEORGE WHITEFIELD - 1714-1770

"Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," Acts 26:28

THE CHAPTER, OUT OF which the text is taken, contains an admirable account which the great St. Paul gave of his wonderful conversion from Judaism to Christianity, when he was called to make his defense before Festus a Gentile governor, and king Agrippa. Our blessed Lord had long since foretold, that when the Son of man should be lifted up, "his disciples should be brought before kings and rulers, for his name's sake, for a testimony unto them." And very good was the design of infinite wisdom in thus ordaining it; for Christianity being, from the beginning, a doctrine of the Cross, the princes and rulers of the earth thought themselves too high to be instructed by such mean teachers, or too happy to be disturbed b such unwelcome truths; and therefore would have always continued strangers to Jesus Christ, and him crucified, had not the apostles, by being arraigned before them, gained opportunities of preaching to them "Jesus and the resurrection." St. Paul knew full well that this was the main reason, why his blessed Master permitted his enemies at this time to arraign him at a public bar; and therefore, in compliance with the divine will, thinks it not sufficient, barely to make his defense, but endeavors at the same time to convert his judges. And this he did with such demonstration of the spirit, and of power, that Festus, unwilling to be convinced by the strongest evidence, cries out with a loud voice, "Paul, much earning doth make thee mad." To which the brave apostle (like a true follower of the holy Jesus) meekly replies, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness." But in all probability, seeing king Agrippa more affected with his discourse, and observing in him an inclination to know the truth, he applies himself more particularly to him. "The king knoweth of these things; before whom also I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him." And then, that if possible he might complete his wished-for conversion, he with an inimitable strain of oratory, addresses himself still more closely, "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest them." At which the passions of the king began to work so strongly, that he was obliged in open court, to own himself affected by the prisoner's preaching, and ingenuously to cry out, "Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."

Which words, taken with the context, afford us a lively representation of the different reception, which the doctrine of Christ's ministers, who come in the power and spirit of St. Paul, meets with now-a-days in the minds of men. For notwithstanding they, like this great apostle, "speak forth the words of truth and soberness;" and with such energy and power, that all their adversaries cannot justly gainsay or resist; yet, too many, with the noble Festus before-mentioned, being like him, either too proud to be taught, or too sensual, too careless, or too worldly-minded to live up to the doctrine, in order to excuse themselves, cry out, that "much learning, much study, or, what is more unaccountable, much piety, hath made them mad." And though, blessed be God! All do not thus disbelieve our report; yet amongst those who gladly receive the word, and confess that we speak the words of truth and soberness, there are so few, who arrive at any higher degree of piety than that of Agrippa, or are any farther persuaded than to be almost Christians, that I cannot but think it highly necessary to warn my dear hearers of the danger of such a state. And therefore, from the words of the text, shall endeavor to show these three things:

FIRST, What is meant by an almost-Christian.

SECONDLY, What are the chief reasons, why so many are no more than almost Christians.

THIRDLY, I shall consider the ineffectualness, danger, absurdity, and uneasiness which attends those who are but almost Christians; and then conclude with a general exhortation, to set all upon striving not only be almost, but altogether Christians.

1. And, FIRST, I am to consider what is meant by an almost Christians.





An almost Christian, if we consider him in respect to his duty to God, is one that halts between two opinions; that wavers between Christ and the world; that would reconcile God and Mammon, light and darkness, Christ and Belial. It is true, he has an inclination to religion, but then he is very cautious how he goes too far in it: his false heart is always crying out, Spare thyself, do thyself no harm. He prays indeed, that "God's will may be done on earth, as it is in heaven." But notwithstanding, he is very partial in his obedience, and fondly hopes that God will not be extreme to mark every thing that he willfully does amiss; though an inspired apostle has told him, that "he who offends in one point is guilty of all." But chiefly, he is one that depends much on outward ordinances, and on that account looks upon himself as righteous, and despises others; though at the same time he is as great a stranger to the divine life as any other person whatsoever. In short, he is fond of the form, but never experiences the power of godliness in his heart. He goes on year after year, attending on the means of grace, but then, like Pharaoh's lean kine [cow?], he is never the better, but rather the worse for them.

If you consider him in respect to his neighbor, he is one that is strictly just to all; but then this does not proceed from any love to God or regard to man, but only through a principle of self-love: because he knows dishonesty will spoil his reputation, and consequently hinder his thriving in the world.

He is one that depends much upon being negatively good, and contents himself with the consciousness of having done no one any harm; though he reads in the gospel, that "the unprofitable servant was cast into outer darkness," and the barren fig-tree was cursed and dried up from the roots, not for bearing bad, but no fruit.

He is no enemy to charitable contributions in public, if not too frequently recommended: but then he is unacquainted with the kind offices of visiting the sick and imprisoned, clothing the naked, and relieving the hungry in a private manner. He thinks that these things belong only to the clergy, though his own false heart tells him, that nothing but pride keeps him from exercising these acts of humility; and that Jesus Christ, in the 25th chapter of St. Matthew, condemns persons to everlasting punishment, not merely for being fornicators, drunkards, or extortioners, but for neglecting these charitable offices, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, he shall set the sheep on his right-hand, and the goats on his left. And then shall he say unto them on his left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also say, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or a-thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have not done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it not unto me: and these shall go away into everlasting punishment unto me: and these shall go away into everlasting punishment." I thought proper to give you this whole passage of scripture at large, because our Savior lays such a particular stress upon it; and yet it is so little regarded, that were we to judge by the practice of Christians, one should be tempted to think there were no such verses in the Bible.

But to proceed in the character of an ALMOST CHRISTIAN: If we consider him in respect of himself; as we said he was strictly honest to his neighbor, so he is likewise strictly sober in himself: but then both his honesty and sobriety proceed from the same principle of a false self-love. It is true, he runs not into the same excess of riot with other men; but then it is not out of obedience to the laws of God, but either because his constitution will not away with intemperance; or rather because he is cautious of forfeiting his reputation, or unfitting himself for temporal business. But though he is so prudent as to avoid intemperance and excess, for the reasons before-mentioned; yet he always goes to the extremity of what is lawful. It is true, he is no drunkard; but then he has no CHRISTIAN SELF-DENIAL. He cannot think our Savior to be so austere a Master, as to deny us to indulge ourselves in some particulars: and so by this means he is destitute of a sense of true religion, as much as if he lived in debauchery, or any other crime whatever. As to settling his principles as well as practice, he is guided more by the world, than by the word of God: for his part, he cannot think the way to heaven so narrow as some would make it; and therefore considers not so much what scripture requires, as what such and such a good man does, or what will best suit his own corrupt inclinations. Upon this account, he is not only very cautious himself, but likewise very careful of young converts, whose faces are set heavenward; and therefore is always acting the devil's part, and bidding them spare themselves, though they are doing no more than what the scripture strictly requires them to do: The consequence of which is, that "he suffers not himself to enter into the kingdom of God, and those that are entering in he hinders."

Thus lives the almost Christian: not that I can say, I have fully described him to you; but from these outlines and sketches of his character, if your consciences have done their proper office, and made a particular application of what has been said to your own hearts, I cannot but fear that some of you may observe some features in his picture, odious as it is, to near resembling your own; and therefore I cannot but hope, that you will join with the apostle in the words immediately following the text, and wish yourselves "to be not only almost, but altogether Christians."
2. I proceed to the second general thing proposed; to consider the reasons why so many are no more than almost Christians.
1. And the first reason I shall mention is, because so many set out with false notions of religion; though they live in a Christian country, yet they know not what Christianity is. This perhaps may be esteemed a hard saying, but experience sadly evinces the truth of it; for some place religion in being of this or that communion; more in morality; most in a round of duties, and a model of performances; and few, very few acknowledge it to be, what it really is, a thorough inward change of nature, a divine life, a vital participation of Jesus Christ, an union of the soul with God; which the apostle expresses by saying, "He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit." Hence it happens, that so many, even of the most knowing professors, when you come to converse with them concerning the essence, the life, the soul of religion, I mean our new birth in Jesus Christ, confess themselves quite ignorant of the matter, and cry out with Nicodemus, "How can this thing be?" And no wonder then, that so many are only almost Christians, when so many know not what Christianity is: no marvel, that so many take up with the form, when they are quite strangers to the power of godliness; or content themselves with the shadow, when they know so little about the substance of it. And this is one cause why so many are almost, and so few are altogether Christians.
2. A second reason that may be assigned why so many are no more than almost Christians, is a servile fear of man: multitudes there are and have been, who, though awakened to a sense of the divine life, and have tasted and felt the powers of the world to come; yet out of a base sinful fear of being counted singular, or contemned by men, have suffered all those good impressions to wear off. It is true, they have some esteem for Jesus Christ; but then, like Nicodemus, they would come to him only by night: they are willing to serve him; but then they would do it secretly, for fear of the Jews: they have a mind to see Jesus, but then they cannot come to him because of the press, and for fear of being laughed at, and ridiculed by those with whom they used to sit at meat. But well did our Savior prophesy of such persons, "How can ye love me, who receive honor one of another?" Alas! have they never read, that "the friendship of this world is enmity with God;" and that our Lord himself has threatened, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me or of my words, in this wicked and adulterous generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father and of his holy angels?" No wonder that so many are no more than almost Christians, since so many "love the praise of men more than the honor which cometh of God."
3. A third reason why so many are no more than almost Christians, is a reigning love of money. This was the pitiable case of that forward young man in the gospel, who came running to our blessed Lord, and kneeling before him, inquired "what he must do to inherit eternal life;" to whom our blessed Master replied, "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal:" To which the young man replied, "All these have I kept from my youth." But when our Lord proceeded to tell him, "Yet lackest thou one thing; Go sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor; he was grieved at that saying, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions!" Poor youth! He had a good mind to be a Christian, and to inherit eternal life, but thought it too dear, if it could be purchased at no less an expense than of his estate! And thus many, both young and old, now-a-days, come running to worship our blessed Lord in public, and kneel before him in private, and inquire at his gospel, what they must do to inherit eternal life: but when they find they must renounce the self-enjoyment of riches, and forsake all in affection to follow him, they cry, "The Lord pardon us in this thing! We pray thee, have us excused."





But is heaven so small a trifle in men's esteem, as not to be worth a little gilded earth? Is eternal life so mean a purchase, as not to deserve the temporary renunciation of a few transitory riches? Surely it is. But however inconsistent such a behavior may be, this inordinate love of money is too evidently the common and fatal cause, why so many are no more than almost Christians.
4. Nor is the love of pleasure a less uncommon, or a less fatal cause why so many are no more than almost Christians. Thousands and ten thousands there are, who despise riches, and would willingly be true disciples of Jesus Christ, if parting with their money would make them so; but when they are told that our blessed Lord has said, "Whosoever will come after him must deny himself;" like the pitiable young man before-mentioned, "they go away sorrowful"" for they have too great a love for sensual pleasures. They will perhaps send for the ministers of Christ, as Herod did for John, and hear them gladly: but touch them in their Herodias, tell them they must part with such or such a darling pleasure; and with wicked Ahab they cry out, "Hast thou found us, O our enemy?" Tell them of the necessity of mortification and self-denial, and it is as difficult for them to hear, as if you was to bid them "cut off a right-hand, or pluck out a right-eye." They cannot think our blessed Lord requires so much at their hands, though an inspired apostle has commanded us to "mortify our members which are upon earth." And who himself, even after he had converted thousands, and was very near arrived to the end of his race, yet professed that it was his daily practice to "keep under his body, and bring it into subjection, lest after he had preached to others, he himself should be a cast-away!" But some men would be wiser than this great apostle, and chalk out to us what they falsely imagine an easier way to happiness. They would flatter us, we may go to heaven without offering violence to our sensual appetites; and enter into the strait gate without striving against our carnal inclinations. And this is another reason why so many are only almost, and not altogether Christians.
5. The fifth and last reason I shall assign why so many are only almost Christians, is a fickleness and instability of temper.





It has been, no doubt, a misfortune that many a minister and sincere Christian has met with, to weep and wail over numbers of promising converts, who seemingly began in the Spirit, but after a while fell away, and basely ended in the flesh; and this not for want of right notions in religion, nor out of a servile fear of man, nor from the love of money, or of sensual pleasure, but through an instability and fickleness of temper. They looked upon religion merely for novelty, as something which pleased them for a while; but after their curiosity was satisfied, they laid it aside again: like the young man that came to see Jesus with a linen cloth about his naked body, they have followed him for a season, but when temptations came to take hold on them, for want of a little more resolution, they have been stripped of all their good intentions, and fled away naked. They at first, like a tree planted by the water-side, grew up and flourished for a while; but having no root in themselves, no inward principle of holiness and piety, like Jonah's gourd, they were soon dried up and withered. Their good intentions are too like the violent motions of the animal spirits of a body newly beheaded, which, though impetuous, are not lasting. In short, they set out well in their journey to heaven, but finding the way either narrower or longer than they expected, through an unsteadiness of temper, they have made an eternal halt, and so "returned like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the more!"

But I tremble to pronounce the fate of such unstable professors, who having put their hands to the plough, for want of a little more resolution, shamefully look back. How shall I repeat to them that dreadful threatening, "If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him:" And again, "It is impossible (that is, exceeding difficult at least) for those that have been once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and the powers of the world to come, if they should fall away, to be renewed again unto repentance." But notwithstanding the gospel is so severe against apostates, yet many that begun well, through a fickleness of temper, (O that none of us here present may ever be such) have been by this means of the number of those that turn back unto perdition. And this is the fifth, and the last reason I shall give, why so many are only almost, and not altogether Christians.
3. Proceed we now to the general thing proposed, namely, to consider the folly of being no more than an almost Christian.
1. And the FIRST proof I shall give of the folly of such a proceeding is, that it is ineffectual to salvation. It is true, such men are almost good; but almost to hit the mark, is really to miss it. God requires us "to love him with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our strength." He loves us too well to admit any rival; because, so far as our hearts are empty of God, so far must they be unhappy. The devil, indeed, like the false mother that came before Solomon, would have our hearts divided, as she would have had the child; but God, like the true mother, will have all or none. "My Son, give me thy heart," thy whole heart, is the general call to all: and if this be not done, we never can expect the divine mercy.





Persons may play the hypocrite; but God at the great day will strike them dead, (as he did Ananias and Sapphira by the mouth of his servant Peter) for pretending to offer him all their hearts, when they keep back from him the greatest part. They may perhaps impose upon their fellow-creatures for a while; but he that enabled Elijah to cry out, "Come in thou wife of Jeroboam," when she came disguised to inquire about he sick son, will also discover them through their most artful dissimulations; and if their hearts are not wholly with him, appoint them their portion with hypocrites and unbelievers.
2. But, SECONDLY, What renders an half-way-piety more inexcusable is, that it is not only insufficient to our own salvation, but also very prejudicial to that of others.





An almost Christian is one of the most hurtful creatures in the world; he is a wolf in sheep's clothing: he is one of those false prophets, our blessed Lord bids us beware of in his sermon on the mount, who would persuade men, that the way to heaven is broader than it really is; and thereby, as it was observed before, "enter not into the kingdom of God themselves, and those that are entering in they hinder." These, these are the men that turn the world into a luke-warm Laodicean spirit; that hang out false lights, and so shipwreck unthinking benighted souls in their voyage to the haven of eternity. These are they who are greater enemies to the cross of Christ, than infidels themselves: for of an unbeliever every one will be aware; but an almost Christian, through his subtle hypocrisy, draws away many after him; and therefore must expect to receive the greater damnation.
3. But, THIRDLY, As it is most prejudicial to ourselves and hurtful to others, so it is the greatest instance of ingratitude we can express towards our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. For did he come down from heaven, and shed his precious blood, to purchase these hearts of ours, and shall we only give him half of them? O how can we say we love him, when our hearts are not wholly with him? How can we call him our Savior, when we will not endeavor sincerely to approve ourselves to him, and so let him see the travail of his soul, and be satisfied!





Had any of us purchased a slave at a most expensive rate, and who was before involved in the utmost miseries and torments, and so must have continued for ever, had we shut up our bowels of compassion from him; and was this slave afterwards to grow rebellious, or deny giving us but half his service; how, how should we exclaim against his base ingratitude! And yet this base ungrateful slave thou art, O man, who acknowledgest thyself to be redeemed from infinite unavoidable misery and punishment by the death of Jesus Christ, and yet wilt not give thyself wholly to him. But shall we deal with God our Maker in a manner we would not be dealt with by a man like ourselves? God forbid! No. Suffer me, therefore,

To add a word or two of exhortation to you, to excite you to be not only almost, but altogether Christians. O let us scorn all base and treacherous treatment of our King and Savior, of our God and Creator. Let us not take some pains all our lives to go to haven, and yet plunge ourselves into hell as last. Let us give to God our whole hearts, and no longer halt between two opinions: if the world be God, let us serve that; if pleasure be a God, let us serve that; but if the Lord he be God, let us, O let us serve him alone. Alas! why, why should we stand out any longer? Why should we be so in love with slavery, as not wholly to renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil, which, like so many spiritual chains, bind down our souls, and hinder them from flying up to God. Alas! what are we afraid of? Is not God able to reward our entire obedience? If he is, as the almost Christian's lame way of serving him, seems to grant, why then will we not serve him entirely? For the same reason we do so much, why do we not do more? Or do you think that being only half religious will make you happy, but that going farther, will render you miserable and uneasy? Alas! this, my brethren, is delusion all over: for what is it but this half piety, this wavering between God and the world, that makes so many, that are seemingly well disposed, such utter strangers to the comforts of religion? They choose just so much of religion as will disturb them in their lusts, and follow their lusts so far as to deprive themselves of the comforts of religion. Whereas on the contrary, would they sincerely leave all in affection, and give their hearts wholly to God, they would then (and they cannot till then) experience the unspeakable pleasure of having a mind at unity with itself, and enjoy such a peace of God, which even in this life passes all understanding, and which they were entire strangers to before. It is true, it we will devote ourselves entirely to God, we must meet with contempt; but then it is because contempt is necessary to heal our pride. We must renounce some sensual pleasures, but then it is because those unfit us for spiritual ones, which are infinitely better. We must renounce the love of the world; but then it is that we may be filled with the love of God: and when that has once enlarged our hearts, we shall, like Jacob when he served for his beloved Rachel, think nothing too difficult to undergo, no hardships too tedious to endure, because of the love we shall then have for our dear Redeemer. Thus easy, thus delightful will be the ways of God even in this life: but when once we throw off these bodies, and our souls are filled with all the fullness of God, O! what heart can conceive, what tongue can express, with what unspeakable joy and consolation shall we then look back on our past sincere and hearty services. Think you then, my dear hearers, we shall repent we had done too much; or rather think you not, we shall be ashamed that we did no more; and blush we were so backward to give up all to God; when he intended hereafter to give us himself?

Let me therefore, to conclude, exhort you, my brethren, to have always before you the unspeakable happiness of enjoying God. And think withal, that every degree of holiness you neglect, every act of piety you omit, is a jewel taken out of your crown, a degree of blessedness lost in the vision of God. O! do but always think and act thus, and you will no longer be laboring to compound matters between God and the world; but, on the contrary, be daily endeavoring to give up yourselves more and more unto him; you will be always watching, always praying, always aspiring after farther degrees of purity and love, and consequently always preparing yourselves for a fuller sight and enjoyment of that God, in whose presence there is fullness of joy, and at whose right-hand there are pleasures for ever more.

Amen! Amen!

Archived by Robert L. Cobb
-Administrator, News For Christians Dot Com

Dislike of Dogma

From Challies.com

Thanks reformed! I love this website.



It has been a bit of a theme in my life lately—the timeliness and relevance of words spoken or words written many years ago. Such is this case with this quote from the pen of J.C. Ryle, who wrote about the dislike of dogma that was so powerfully present in his day and age. Here is what Ryle had to say, words that could as easily be written about our day:

[Dislike of dogma] is an epidemic which is just now doing great harm, and specially among young people…. It produces what I must venture to call…a “jelly-fish” Christianity in the land: that is, a Christianity without bone, or muscle, or power. A jelly-fish…is a pretty and graceful object when it floats in the sea, contracting and expanding like a little, delicate, transparent umbrella. Yet the same jelly-fish, when cast on the shore, is a mere helpless lump, without capacity for movement, self-defense, or self-preservation. Alas! It is a vivid type of much of the religion of this day, of which the leading principle is, “No dogma, no distinct tenets, no positive doctrine.” We have hundreds of “jelly-fish” clergymen, who seem not to have a single bone in their body of divinity. They have not definite opinions; they belong to no school or party; they are so afraid of “extreme views” that they have no views at all. We have thousands of “jelly-fish” sermons preached every year, sermons without an edge, or a point, or a corner, smooth as billiard balls, awakening no sinner, and edifying no saint. We have Legions of “jelly-fish” young men annually turned out from our Universities, armed with a few scraps of second-hand philosophy, who think it a mark of cleverness and intellect to have no decided opinions about anything in religion, and to be utterly unable to make up their minds as to what is Christian truth. They live apparently in a state of suspense, like Mohamet’s fabled coffin, hanging between heaven and earth…and last, and worst of all, we have myriads of “jelly-fish” worshippers-respectable Church-going people, who have no distinct and definite views about any point in theology. They cannot discern things that differ, any more than color-blind people can distinguish colors. They think everybody is right and nobody wrong, everything is true and nothing is false, all sermons are good and none are bad, every clergyman is sound and no clergyman is unsound. They are “tossed to and fro, like children, by every wind of doctrine”; often carried away by any new excitement and sensational movement; ever ready for new things, because they have no firm grasp on the old; and utterly unable to “render a reason of the hope that is in them.” …Never was it so important for laymen to hold systematic views of truth, and for ordained ministers to “enunciate dogma” very clearly and distinctly in their teaching.

Deliver Us from the Evil One

by Max Lucado


The next-to-last phrase in the Lord's prayer is a petition for protection from Satan: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."


Is such a prayer necessary? Would God ever lead us into temptation? James 1:13 says, "When people are tempted they should not say, 'God is tempting me.' Evil cannot tempt God, and God himself does not tempt anyone." If God does not tempt us, then why pray, "Lead us not into temptation"? These words trouble the most sophisticated theologian.


But they don't trouble a child. And this is a prayer for the child-like heart. This is a prayer for those who look upon God as their Abba. This is a prayer for those who have already talked to their Father about provision for today ("Give us our daily bread.") and pardon for yesterday ("Forgive us our debts."). Now the child needs assurance about protection for tomorrow.


The phrase is best understood with a simple illustration. Imagine a father and son walking down an icy street. The father cautions the boy to be careful, but the boy is too excited to slow down. He hits the first patch of ice. Up go the feet and down plops the bottom. Dad comes along and helps him to his feet. The boy apologizes for disregarding the warning and then, tightly holding his father's big hand, he asks, "Keep me from the slippery spots. Don't let me fall again."


The Father is so willing to comply. "The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand" (Ps. 37:23--24 TLB). Such is the heart of this petition. It's a tender request of a child to a father. The last few slips have taught us--the walk is too treacherous to make alone. So we place our small hand in his large one and say, "Please, Abba, keep me from evil."


Great House of GodFrom
The Great House of God

The Life of a Sparrow..PLEASE READ

Sunday, March 8, 2009
This is from Tony Miano's blog "The Lawman Chronicles"


Last night was a chilly March evening, at least by southern California standards. Michelle and I made our way to our Saturday evening fishing pond in Burbank. There, we were eventually joined by the Sandoval Family and their team from Calvary Chapel Rialto; Judy, Steven, and Jackie (from my church); Dru, Anita, and Pastor Mike. As always, the fellowship with the brethren was sweet.

We distributed hundreds of gospel tracts. The new Obama Million Dollar Bill was very popular, as expected. I enjoyed a good conversation with a couple of 16-year-old boys: Jeffrey and Cel. Dru and I open-air preached to small crowds and the occasional passer-by who stopped for a moment to listen, and at least one "drive-by" heckler who stamped his comments by giving me a one-finger salute.

As Michelle and I approached our usual fishing spot, we noticed two large boxes stacked in the middle of the courtyard. And atop the boxes was a large plastic drink cup--the kind you would fill with soda at a gas station convenience store. An inscription was written on the top box which indicated the owner's hope that someone would place their spare change inside the plastic cup.

Sitting on the bench adjacent to the boxes was a very heavy-set man. His full head of black hair and equally-thick and dark goatee stood in sharp contrast to his dusty camouflage jacket. His clothes were dirty and torn.

Leaning against the bench were two crutches. And parked near the bench was a shopping cart containing a couple of plastic bags. On the ground behind the bench, against the wall of the book store, was a very thin, black blanket.

Shortly after we arrived, the man struggled to his feet, walked to the blanket, and laid down on the cold, hard ground. Although he closed his eyes as if to rest, pain was continually etched on his face.

Michelle and I handed out tracts and greeted our friends as they arrived. While I was glad to be there and while the mission at hand was clear to me, I was completely distracted. I could not stop glancing at the man. I could not stop thinking about his plight. I could not stop speculating what set of circumstances, self-induced or imposed upon him, brought this fellow human being to such a desperate state.

I could not stop seeing my dad. His hair. His goatee. His height and weight. The look on his face as he tried to sleep on his side--desperate to find peace where there was no peace. You see: like this man, my dad spent a short season of his life living on the streets--living in his car. Homeless.

I continued to hand out tracts while a war of emotion raged inside me. Guilt. Shame. Anger. Remorse. Deep sorrow. Reflections of a very dark time in my relationship with my earthly father. At times I had to check myself, reminding myself that the man was not my dad. I could not stop thinking about or looking at him, although I didn't try very hard.

The man could not get comfortable. I watched as the man slowly lumbered to his knees, wincing with every movement. Slower still he got to his feet. He staggered under the weight of his own body and the infirmities that crippled him.

I decided to try to meet at least one of the man's pressing, physical needs--not in an effort to make up for things I did not do for my dad. This was not penance. Rather, the decision was born (I hope) as a result of spiritual growth in my life since that not-soon-to-be-forgotten season when I failed as a son.

While it is not necessary to elaborate, and while sharing what I did for this stranger certainly runs the risk of causing friend and foe alike to draw the conclusion that I am looking for a pat on the back; to not share would undermine the beauty of what happened after the gesture--a gesture for which I take no credit and will accept no praise. It was a small gesture that resulted in a God-exalting moment to which I played no part whatsoever. To God and God alone be the praise and glory.

I placed a bag containing a meal and a large soda on the bench. I motioned to the man and said, "This is for you."

He thanked me. For a moment it seemed that the pained look on his face was replaced with a stunned smile.

I quickly walked away from the bench with the hope that no one saw what I did. When I looked at Michelle she smiled at me--the kind of smile dads cherish from their daughters.

He sat down next to the bag of food and stared at it for several moments. And then he prayed. His eyes were shut so tight that they looked like clenched fists. It was as if he was desperately clinging to something or Someone. Was he being religious or spiritual? Or was he truly, at that precious moment, in communion with his Creator--with his Lord and Savior?

I walked to Michelle and told her to look at the man--not to see what I had done for him (she had already figured that out), but rather to see what the man was doing at that moment. "Honey, look. He's thanking God for the food."

I held my daughter and watched. I was torn between feeling like I was intruding on the moment while, at the same time, completely captivated by what I saw. Part of me felt that to take my eyes off the man in prayer would be to avert my eyes from a glimpse, of the glory of God.

I had to look. I had to stare. I was in awe of God.

The sun now fully-set behind concrete and steel gave way to the night. The teens on the team interrupted my thoughts of the man with their gleeful question. "Tony, are you ready for us to be your rent-a-crowd?"

I love these kids who are not my own. They remind me that in Christ there is hope for their generation. It was time to preach.

I attest that my open-air was far from eloquent. The Law and the Gospel was clear, but I felt I was less than articulate. I found my attention and preaching repeatedly drawn to the homeless man still sitting on the bench. I preach for an audience of One--my Lord and my God. I preach to whoever will listen, hoping to connect with at least one person in the crowd. But I could not shake the feeling that my begging and pleading, my admonition and exhortation, were for one man--the homeless man on the bench.

When I stepped down from the box, I walked over to him. "So, what did you think of what you heard?"

"Oh, that was beautiful, sir." His eyes glistening with tears.

Did he misunderstand my question? Did he think I was looking for praise? Did he feel some sort of obligation to compliment me because earlier I had done something for him? Or was the preaching of the Law and the Gospel truly beautiful to him? Was this a brother in Christ?

His name was Efrain.

"Sir, when you brought me the food I thanked God for it and I asked God to bless the hands of the man who brought me the food, and his family." Efrain was weeping, now.

"In July, it will be eleven years that I've been on the street. My wife divorced me and took my five children. I haven't seen them since. My life fell apart. I started drinking. It got so bad that even if I was hungry, I would ask people for quarters so I could buy alcohol. But the Lord took that away from me."

"How long have you been sober?"

"Seven years."

"So, would you consider yourself to be a Christian?"

"Oh, yes sir. In 2005, I wandered into the Church on the Way. I was in bad shape. My hair was a mess. My beard was really long. I was dirty. After I heard the pastor's message, I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior."

"Did you repent of your sins?"

"Oh, yes sir. Just like you said when you were preaching; I am saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus. No good works can save me."

Efrain continued. "Why did he save me?" Efrain asked, both with wonder and rhetorically because he knew the answer. "He saved me and he loves me because even a man like me is of more value than a sparrow."

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. ~ Matthew 10 29-31

"Efrain, I have to ask. Why have you been on the streets for so long?"

Efrain shared with me his myriad medical problems. He opened his medicine cabinet (a plastic grocery bag) and showed me a wide variety of prescription medication, for everything from diabetes to swollen feet to kidney stones. He once was a truck driver; but alcohol destroyed both his career and his health. As far as I could tell by the evidence thus far laid before me, Efrain was a redeemed child of God who, sadly, continued to suffer the consequences of past sins.

Somewhere along Efrain's shelterless odyssey, a woman he described as an angel gave him a car with insurance to serve as his home. He spends so much time in the county hospital because of his various ailments that work has been impossible to find.

"Sir..."

"Tony."

"Mr. Tony, do you know what someone once said to me?" Efrain had stopped crying for a while, but now the tears began to flow again. "I once asked a lady for a quarter. Do you know what she said? She said, 'A child of God would not have to ask for money. God's children don't need anything!'

My blood started to boil. What the woman told Efrain sounded like it came from someone who held to the doctrine of demons known as the "Word of Faith" movement or the "Health, Wealth, and Prosperity" false gospel.

Sobbing now, Efrain said, "I began to question my salvation. Maybe she was right. Maybe the way I live means I'm not a Christian."

"Efrain, what that woman told you was a lie. It was a lie from the pit of hell!"

He slowly lifted his head and looked me in the eye. "Thank you. Thank you for saying that.

"I know God is with me. I know I'm going to heaven. This may sound strange, but I like the number 33. Every time I see the number 33 it reminds me of Jesus; because He was 33 years old when He went to the cross. Every time I see that number, it reminds me that God is with me and it reminds me of what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross."

Efrain and I spent several more minutes in fellowship. I encouraged him to go to Calvary Bible Church, which was close by, in the morning. He told me that David (one of my Burbank fishing buddies who attends Calvary) had already invited him to the church a couple of weeks ago and even offered to pick him up and take him.

"So, why haven't you gone? It's a good church and God wants you in fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ."

Efrain reached down and grabbed his torn pant leg. "Look at me. I can't go to church looking like this."

"Yes you can. If Calvary Bible is a Bible-believing church (and it is) then not only would they welcome you as you are, but they would give you the best seat in the church. If the only reason you have not accepted David's offer to come to his church is the way you look, then you need to repent. You need to repent of the sin of pride. Don't let sinful pride get in the way of receiving blessings from the Lord, through His people."

I hope he goes. I don't think he would be the only one blessed.

Altogether, Efrain and I spent about an hour talking before we shook hands and said good-bye.

"You are of more value than many sparrows." That's what the Word of God says.

Do I know with certainty that Efrain is born again? No. But I believe that last night the Lord graciously and lovingly allowed me a glimpse of the life of a sparrow--a sparrow who has been kept safe for many years, in His loving, gracious, holy, and protective hands.

The same gracious Lord convicted me last night of many sins--sins like discontentment, grumbling, coveting, and fear. I confessed my sins before God and begged for His help to repent and forsake my sin. The fight continues.

Having been in the midst of such a God-ordained encounter, it is very difficult to step back and reflect--to place myself on the outside looking in. As I've repeatedly made the effort to do so since last night, I cannot help but to believe in my heart that, at present, Efrain enjoys a more intimate relationship with Christ than I do. I cannot help but to believe that he knows Christ and trusts Christ and loves Christ more than I do.

I do not share this self-evaluation with a covetous spirit (at least I hope not). Yes, I want more of what it appears Efrain has (even if he doesn't fully realize that he has it)--not with jealousy toward Efrain, but with a longing for Christ.

Since Efrain has talked to my friend David in the past, I am relatively certain that I did not entertain an angel unawares last night. But of this I am certain. I was allowed to look into the life of a sparrow. And yes, more than a sparrow. A child of the Most High.

Oh my Lord and my God, thank you.