You Are In It For The Long Haul

Lutheran Church
Mewaeken, Liberia

“So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul” (Hebrews 3:12-14 The Message).

You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian. And on the other hand, going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. But if you are a Christian, God has provided a wonderful support network through the local church. We need other believers around us to help keep us on track.
Besides the great potluck dinners and ice cream socials, church can offer small group studies and a place for you to fulfill your role in the body of Christ. At the very least, it’s a place to come and get your spirit fed each week. If we’re in this for the long haul, we need believing friends to see us through. Friendship takes effort so plan to find a church, make some friends in the Lord, and find ways to serve Him.
To keep from getting tripped up on sin, make sure you’re praying every day. Try to get some Bible study in, every day if you can, as often as you can. The word never wears out. God speaks to us through it constantly. His Word has a way of eliminating those nasty doubts and unbelief that can trip us. It strengthens our faith. He gave you the Manual to show you how to live and serve Him. With God, the Bible, and church, you’re sure to hang in for the long haul and we’ll all be united in Heaven. The miracle is that He gave us each other for the long haul!

This is an excerpt from a forty-day devotional, “The Miracle of You.” Click here to order.

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You Share in the Heavenly Calling

Church of
Slykkishol, Iceland

“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV).

We who share in the heavenly calling are to fix our thoughts on Jesus. Later in Hebrews we are reminded to fix our eyes and Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. For this reason we must fix our eyes on Jesus and run the race marked out for us.
No sitting on the sidelines! No one need sit on the bench. Everyone is in the game to play and to win. Jesus has assigned us to get in there with the rest of the team. Remember, we don’t do anything by ourselves. Jesus is always with us, but in addition, He surrounds us with other believers with the same goal—winning souls for the Kingdom!
And what higher calling could we have? Just the honor to be invited to participate in the salvation of another lost human being is overwhelming enough. Even more than that, working side by side with Jesus and the Holy Spirit in any endeavor takes my breath away.
Sometimes I get so excited about being involved that I forget the mission. It’s like I feel Jesus and the Holy Spirit by my side and just feeling them so near me quickens my heart. I am suddenly enveloped in their presence. That’s when I have to cry out, “More of you, Jesus and less of me.” My prayer is that He will get my attention off myself and onto His mission. And the miracle is that you share in that Heavenly calling!

This is an excerpt from a forty-day devotional, “The Miracle of You.” Click here to order.

Click here to check out my website!

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Love At First Sight

Alma Temple

February 14th, Valentine’s Day, I am honored to speak at the evening service at Alma Temple. My presentation is titled “Love At First Sight.” The service begins at 6:00 pm. Beginning at 6:30 pm the message will be on live radio broadcast on KPOF, AM910 and audio streaming via the internet.

We would love to have you join us. Alma Temple is located at 1340 Sherman Street, half a block from the state capitol building, Denver, Colorado.

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You Are Light!

Seaside Church
Santa Rose, Florida

“You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, The Message).
We should be celebrating every day! Jesus provides freedom far beyond what we could ever dream. When I first accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I didn’t have a clue as to what I was getting into. I smile here. I only knew that I wanted Jesus in my life. I had no idea that He would make my life better, more interesting and more exciting than I could have imagined.
Even after my salvation I lay dormant for years, not using all the opportunities He laid before me. I never felt worthy to serve as the light He intended me to be. I allowed the evil one to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. There’s nothing you can do for Jesus; He doesn’t need you. You would put Him to shame, so just stay back and keep your mouth shut. Oh, you see someone hurting? You don’t need to help, just pray. Yes, even the devil will tell you to pray if it keeps you from being a light.
We have hope and a future. We know God’s plan for the future and it will happen. We are Light. Light reveals. Each one of us is called to reveal Him in our own special way. People can see Him in our lives, let’s share Him. The miracle is that He chose us to do this.

This is an excerpt from a forty-day devotional, “The Miracle of You.” Click here to order.

Click here to check out my website!

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Hanging Site of “Black Jack” Ketchum

It’s a story you could take right out of a western novel, yet the entire tale is true. Thomas Edward Ketchum, alias Black Jack, was born on a Halloween night in 1863 in San Saba county, Texas. It seems he was around twenty-seven years old when he left Texas and went to work in New Mexico as a cowboy. It is speculated that he left Texas as a result of some criminal activity. In 1892 he was falsely accused of robbing the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway with large payroll on board.

He frequented the ranch of Herb Bassett, near Brown’s Park, Colorado. Bassett was the father of Josie Bassett and Ann Bassett, girlfriends to members of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch gang. These women were considered outlaws as much as their famous boyfriends. Black Jack’s gang included Ben Kilpatrick, formerly one of Butch Cassidy’s gang and Bronco Will Walters. Later he joined the Hole in the Wall Gang. At first it seemed his crimes were limited to robbery, but in 1895 Black was accused of murdering his neighbor in Texas. The list of crimes and associates goes on forever.

Even more interesting than the account of his life, is the record of his hanging in 1901. Men with no experience in such executions botched the hanging and Black Jack was decapitated. There are two Black Jack sites to visit in Clayton. The hanging site and the grave site are easily accessible from main street.

If you like history and mystery, click here for more of his adventures.

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