We all know what a GPS is, that small electronic device that tells you exactly where you are and how to get where you want to go. With it, you can never get lost. Isn't technology wonderful?
Do you ever wish you had a GPS that could help you plan and direct your future? Something that could help you arrive at your ultimate destination, while avoiding the worst of today's spiritual pitfalls? Guess what? You do!
Jesus is our GPS!
By listening to, and following Him, we will arrive at His side in heaven, there to stay eternally. By ignoring Him or turning away from Him, we will arrive at some other destination (and there is, after all, only one other destination).
To use your GPS, you must;
1) turn it on
2) pay attention, &
3) follow its directions.
To get to heaven, you must;
1) recognize that you are a sinner, & will NEVER
.....get to heaven on your own (admit)
2) know that God paid this awesome price for
.....you. Incredible? yes! (believe)
3) tell others, they need to know it works, too!
.....(confess)
God wants us in heaven!
Jesus tells us how to get there!
Do you want to go to heaven?
Turn on your GPS!
See you all in Paradise!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Nobody
Young people today really have it tough. Morals, politics, public policies, family life and social values have all gone downhill drastically in the last hundred years. The prince of lies has had thousands of years to perfect his techniques, and it shows in every aspect of our daily lives.
Satan knows the future of Christ's church depends on our conveying God's message to, and through, our young people.
What does God's word say?
"...and who should be coming down the road but the Treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple, and was now returning in his chariot, reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the chariot." Philip ran over and heard what he was reading and asked, "Do you understand it?" "Of course not!" the man replied. "How can I when there is no one to instruct me?"" Acts 8:27-31 (TLB)
Without our aid, care, concern, love and instruction, young people today will hear only Satan's message, and never begin to understand God's.
Who is there to instruct them?
Nobody but us!
Mr Mike
Satan knows the future of Christ's church depends on our conveying God's message to, and through, our young people.
What does God's word say?
"...and who should be coming down the road but the Treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple, and was now returning in his chariot, reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the chariot." Philip ran over and heard what he was reading and asked, "Do you understand it?" "Of course not!" the man replied. "How can I when there is no one to instruct me?"" Acts 8:27-31 (TLB)
Without our aid, care, concern, love and instruction, young people today will hear only Satan's message, and never begin to understand God's.
Who is there to instruct them?
Nobody but us!
Mr Mike
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Ladies' Nite
OK guys, its ladies' nite (so to speak), read on at the peril of your previous convictions...
Women have all recognized that men are different (some are a lot more different than others). Why, you wonder? Lets examine the differences, and the reasons for them...
In general, men are bigger, stronger, more interested in contact sports, hunting, war movies, violent video games, boxing, wrestling... do you see a theme here? We are very aware that men mature over a longer time than do women, why is that? Then, too, most men are not so great at conversation or shopping, is there something that ties these all together?
Within any society, men's and women's jobs differ, especially so in reproduction. Since the female is blessed by God with the ability to bear children, her mate MUST be her defender! Imagine, if you will, a family traveling. Mrs Caveman is 7 or 8 months pregnant, carrying her 1 year-old on her right hip, and the family's belongings (some animal skins and a sharp stick) on her back, when a cougar jumps in to attack. Mr Caveman leaps in with his spear and club, parries off the attacking big cat, then kills it.
Too untimely, you say? Alright...
Mr and Mrs Smith are leaving the civic function and dinner. It is fairly late at night. She, in order to present a good image, is wearing her best clothes and jewels. Suddenly a doped-up psycho leaps out from behind a van, intent on assaulting her and stealing her jewels. Mr Smith leaps to her defense, using his barely-remembered high-school boxing training to save her.
In both cases, the man must be single-minded enough to see the desired end result as a path-line through all possibilities, otherwise his mate suffers the consequences. Women are generally much better at keeping track of multiple tasks, but, to be a good defender, men must be able to single-task to the near total exclusion of any distractions. Men pay a fairly hefty price for this concentration enhancement. During pregnancy, the mother's body actually attacks the unborn male baby's brain, destroying many of the cross-linkages that allow the multi-tasking process to work. In other words, a male is made to be a primarily single-tasking expert. There are other costs, as well. Males are usually much less verbose, which makes it harder for him to express his feelings to you. He will assume you understand that his coming home at night shows you just how much he cares. You worry why he doesn't express his love for you very much? To himself, he thinks; "Hey, I told her I loved her just last month! Tonight I had seconds of her stew, how could she not know?"
Some of what the bible says appears to put women down, as regards men. For example, these verses are often misinterpreted...
Eph 5:22-24 "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." (kjv)
Col 3:18-19 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." (kjv)
Many men (and women) choose to read a near-slavery into these verses, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Women are told to submit to husbands and to God the same way! It does not say you are enslaved. It does say, "...as it is fit in the Lord." In other words, as it is right by God. So, why would it say that "the husband is the head of the wife?" Think back to the single-tasking caveman above, as he jumped to her defense, he shouted to his wife, "RUN!" Should she not run, she could easily be killed by the cougar, along with her baby and unborn child. The husband is the defender of the family, and leads it, much as a general is the leader of the army, & for much the same reason, survival! Note that the husband is told to not be bitter against his wife, but to love her.
God has put a lot of extra time into making your husband, your defender. Trust God to know what He is doing. Recognize that your man will not be as good as you at some tasks. It doesn't mean he has stopped loving you, he may just need a little jog to his memory, every so often. Remember when you first met how you leaned lightly against him as you waited in line at the movies? How you touched his hand as he drove? How you stared into his eyes at dinner? These are some of the most profound declarations of love you ever made to him, and they are completely non-verbal. You were speaking "his language."
Remember, also, he asked you to marry him. He didn't ask that air-headed twit who jiggled so much when she walked that both her brain cells rattled. Sometimes, your guy just needs to be reminded of your love, and his.
A woman's role is difficult enough. Often, she is Christ's representative to her children, as well as her husband. Keep God in the middle of your marriage. Don't let the world shake your confidence. God gave you a tough job, because He knew you were tough enough. Prove Him right!
See you soon, in paradise!
Mr Mike
Women have all recognized that men are different (some are a lot more different than others). Why, you wonder? Lets examine the differences, and the reasons for them...
In general, men are bigger, stronger, more interested in contact sports, hunting, war movies, violent video games, boxing, wrestling... do you see a theme here? We are very aware that men mature over a longer time than do women, why is that? Then, too, most men are not so great at conversation or shopping, is there something that ties these all together?
Within any society, men's and women's jobs differ, especially so in reproduction. Since the female is blessed by God with the ability to bear children, her mate MUST be her defender! Imagine, if you will, a family traveling. Mrs Caveman is 7 or 8 months pregnant, carrying her 1 year-old on her right hip, and the family's belongings (some animal skins and a sharp stick) on her back, when a cougar jumps in to attack. Mr Caveman leaps in with his spear and club, parries off the attacking big cat, then kills it.
Too untimely, you say? Alright...
Mr and Mrs Smith are leaving the civic function and dinner. It is fairly late at night. She, in order to present a good image, is wearing her best clothes and jewels. Suddenly a doped-up psycho leaps out from behind a van, intent on assaulting her and stealing her jewels. Mr Smith leaps to her defense, using his barely-remembered high-school boxing training to save her.
In both cases, the man must be single-minded enough to see the desired end result as a path-line through all possibilities, otherwise his mate suffers the consequences. Women are generally much better at keeping track of multiple tasks, but, to be a good defender, men must be able to single-task to the near total exclusion of any distractions. Men pay a fairly hefty price for this concentration enhancement. During pregnancy, the mother's body actually attacks the unborn male baby's brain, destroying many of the cross-linkages that allow the multi-tasking process to work. In other words, a male is made to be a primarily single-tasking expert. There are other costs, as well. Males are usually much less verbose, which makes it harder for him to express his feelings to you. He will assume you understand that his coming home at night shows you just how much he cares. You worry why he doesn't express his love for you very much? To himself, he thinks; "Hey, I told her I loved her just last month! Tonight I had seconds of her stew, how could she not know?"
Some of what the bible says appears to put women down, as regards men. For example, these verses are often misinterpreted...
Eph 5:22-24 "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." (kjv)
Col 3:18-19 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." (kjv)
Many men (and women) choose to read a near-slavery into these verses, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Women are told to submit to husbands and to God the same way! It does not say you are enslaved. It does say, "...as it is fit in the Lord." In other words, as it is right by God. So, why would it say that "the husband is the head of the wife?" Think back to the single-tasking caveman above, as he jumped to her defense, he shouted to his wife, "RUN!" Should she not run, she could easily be killed by the cougar, along with her baby and unborn child. The husband is the defender of the family, and leads it, much as a general is the leader of the army, & for much the same reason, survival! Note that the husband is told to not be bitter against his wife, but to love her.
God has put a lot of extra time into making your husband, your defender. Trust God to know what He is doing. Recognize that your man will not be as good as you at some tasks. It doesn't mean he has stopped loving you, he may just need a little jog to his memory, every so often. Remember when you first met how you leaned lightly against him as you waited in line at the movies? How you touched his hand as he drove? How you stared into his eyes at dinner? These are some of the most profound declarations of love you ever made to him, and they are completely non-verbal. You were speaking "his language."
Remember, also, he asked you to marry him. He didn't ask that air-headed twit who jiggled so much when she walked that both her brain cells rattled. Sometimes, your guy just needs to be reminded of your love, and his.
A woman's role is difficult enough. Often, she is Christ's representative to her children, as well as her husband. Keep God in the middle of your marriage. Don't let the world shake your confidence. God gave you a tough job, because He knew you were tough enough. Prove Him right!
See you soon, in paradise!
Mr Mike
Monday, November 10, 2008
Love your wife!
Guys, do you have trouble understanding your wives?
No, this isn't a trick question!
Most husbands do find it difficult to comprehend a woman's point-of-view. It isn't a defect in either's thinking, rather just the way thought processes differ by gender.
(Ladies, this is aimed at the men, so you may find it overly obvious. If so, print out a copy, and leave it on his breakfast plate.)
Look, bud, your wife is NOT the same as you. God made her different for a reason! She completes you in a way nothing else can. She makes you stronger, as well.
Think not? What happens inside you if some total jerk comes up to you both on the street, and tries to accost her? See what I mean?
With God and your wife in your marriage, you can do almost anything.
But, what happens?
Sometimes she says things that make no sense to you at all, or asks questions that you KNOW she already knows the answers to, or wants your attention when you'd rather be doing something else...
In the back of your mind maybe you are noticing she isn't quite the teenager you fell in love with. When do you suppose that happened? Possibly during the years she cared for you, kept up your home, had your kids, AND balanced all this with working a job as well, just to help make ends meet.
In Eph 5:28-31 we read; "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." (kjv)
Awesome, isn't it? (There is real power in the King James)
You know, guys, she is very aware that she is a little older. Our society reinforces her fears that you will no longer appreciate her as much as you did once. Television constantly depicts younger women as being more attractive, and yes, even more desirable. It isn't fair to her. She needs to be reminded of your continuing love, & of your devotion to her. Don't let complacency destroy your relationship! She needs your love and attention to be the strength you need when your job stinks, when major problems arise, and especially when you feel you are carrying the world on your shoulders.
Call her up unexpectedly when you're at work, remind her that you love her, and were just missing her and thinking of her. Ask her out on a date (sure, I know you're married, but that doesn't mean she has stopped being exciting, does it?). Do little things for her, unexpectedly. Stop by Wal-Mart on the way home and buy her a single rose. Get her some ear-rings, just because it is NOT her birthday. Tell her they looked lonesome without her. Propose marriage to her AGAIN! She needs to know your love for her is real, and constant. No other woman has ever given you what she has, right? Be sure she knows it! Remember how much she means to you, and has meant to you. Hey, she married you and not pimple-faced Ziggie Pflugelmeister from college, right?
Keep your marriage strong. Keep God centered in it. Keep your wife loved and content, and always reminded of your devotion. She will continue to be there to reinforce you, love you, and care for your kids. When disaster strikes, you will be each other's strength. It is what God intended, what more can you ask?
Walk with God.
Mr Mike
No, this isn't a trick question!
Most husbands do find it difficult to comprehend a woman's point-of-view. It isn't a defect in either's thinking, rather just the way thought processes differ by gender.
(Ladies, this is aimed at the men, so you may find it overly obvious. If so, print out a copy, and leave it on his breakfast plate.)
Look, bud, your wife is NOT the same as you. God made her different for a reason! She completes you in a way nothing else can. She makes you stronger, as well.
Think not? What happens inside you if some total jerk comes up to you both on the street, and tries to accost her? See what I mean?
With God and your wife in your marriage, you can do almost anything.
But, what happens?
Sometimes she says things that make no sense to you at all, or asks questions that you KNOW she already knows the answers to, or wants your attention when you'd rather be doing something else...
In the back of your mind maybe you are noticing she isn't quite the teenager you fell in love with. When do you suppose that happened? Possibly during the years she cared for you, kept up your home, had your kids, AND balanced all this with working a job as well, just to help make ends meet.
In Eph 5:28-31 we read; "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." (kjv)
Awesome, isn't it? (There is real power in the King James)
You know, guys, she is very aware that she is a little older. Our society reinforces her fears that you will no longer appreciate her as much as you did once. Television constantly depicts younger women as being more attractive, and yes, even more desirable. It isn't fair to her. She needs to be reminded of your continuing love, & of your devotion to her. Don't let complacency destroy your relationship! She needs your love and attention to be the strength you need when your job stinks, when major problems arise, and especially when you feel you are carrying the world on your shoulders.
Call her up unexpectedly when you're at work, remind her that you love her, and were just missing her and thinking of her. Ask her out on a date (sure, I know you're married, but that doesn't mean she has stopped being exciting, does it?). Do little things for her, unexpectedly. Stop by Wal-Mart on the way home and buy her a single rose. Get her some ear-rings, just because it is NOT her birthday. Tell her they looked lonesome without her. Propose marriage to her AGAIN! She needs to know your love for her is real, and constant. No other woman has ever given you what she has, right? Be sure she knows it! Remember how much she means to you, and has meant to you. Hey, she married you and not pimple-faced Ziggie Pflugelmeister from college, right?
Keep your marriage strong. Keep God centered in it. Keep your wife loved and content, and always reminded of your devotion. She will continue to be there to reinforce you, love you, and care for your kids. When disaster strikes, you will be each other's strength. It is what God intended, what more can you ask?
Walk with God.
Mr Mike
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