Under Sealed Orders

"You are leaving port under sealed orders and in a troubled period. You cannot know whither you are going or what you are to do. But why not take the Pilot on board who knows the nature of your sealed orders from the outset, and who will shape your entire voyage accordingly? He knows the shoals and the sand banks, the rocks and the reefs, He will steer you safely into that celestial harbor where your anchor will be cast for eternity. Let His almighty nail-pierced hands hold the wheel, and you will be safe."

--Peter Marshall (1902-1949)

Another lawsuit on the Arizona immigration issue

We have resident Obama with his appointees continuing to do their best to destroy the law of the land. The Washington Post has a story on the injustice department which has said that Arizona community colleges discriminated against NON-CITIZENS by requiring they fill out documents to prove their eligibility to work.

"After filling out a federal form attesting to his immigration status and producing a driver's license and Social Security card, he was told to complete another form with more immigration-related information. That form required other documents and his green card. When he couldn't present his green card, the suit said, the college would not process his paperwork and would not let him work."

Well duh... that's how it's supposed to work. You need to prove it with the PROPER identification. Then comes the nonsense.

The government is asking a judge within the Justice Department unit to order the Maricopa colleges to pay a civil penalty of $1,100 for each of the 247 non-U.S.-citizen job applicants it says were required to produce the additional documents.

Common sense and rule of law is dead. I'm not really surprised since Obama didn't have to prove he was eligible and and his co-conspirators continue to censor those who see the truth. Liberalism, socialism, communism or whatever you want to call it is a one way street for everything; don't oppose them and you will be fine.

We need a revolution in this country that involves the hearts and minds of people being changed by God or this nation will be doomed just like all the rest in the past.

Importance of Prayer

"A revival of real praying would produce a spiritual revolution."
-- E.M. Bounds

"How often God visited the Jewish Church with judgments because they would not repent and be revived at the call of His prophets! How often have we seen Churches, and even whole denominations, cursed with a curse, because they would not wake up and seek the Lord, and pray: 'Wilt Thou not revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?'"
-- Charles Finney

"The one thing we learn from history is that we don't learn from history."
-- Leonard Ravenhill

"Every Minister ought to know that if the prayer meetings are neglected, all his labors are in vain."
-- Charles Finney.

Sea of Sacrifice

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend.

With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak, "A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life... to which boy he would throw the other end of the line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' he threw the line to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us." With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me. You see... I was the son's friend."

The Pit

"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." (Psalms 40:1-2)

A woman fell into a pit and couldn't get herself out...

A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you, down there."

An objective person came along and said, "It's logical that someone would fall down there."

A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into a pit."

A news reporter wanted the exclusive story on her pit.

An IRS man asked if she was paying taxes on the pit.

A self-pitying man said "You haven't seen anything until you've seen my pit!"

An optimist said, "Things could be worse."

A pessimist said, "Things will get worse!"

Jesus, seeing the woman, took her by the hand and lifted her out of the pit.

The Church of Make Believe

By Jim Mathes

I have met so many people, I have met them by the score.
And if I keep on living, I’ll meet a million more.
Their souls are tired and weary of what they thought would make them strong,
It’s left them broken hearted, though they try to sing along.
They all are true believers and not easy to deceive
And they’ve heard the Spirit saying, “Leave the church of make-believe.”

This church it speaks of Jesus and they freely use His Name
While they crucify each other and put the Lord to open shame.
But the church they think they’re part of is one they can’t perceive
It’s built on the blood of Jesus and not a place of make-believe.

This church of make-believe is rooted firmly in the sand
Its character is of the world, its ideas, all from man.
It boasts of size and numbers and programs for everyone
Its leaders touch the glory for what they think they’ve done.
The Spirit of the Living God would free them if He could,
But those who think they serve Him are bound by human good.

This church it runs on formulas of so called faith and power
It’s got itself believing it will triumph in this hour.
It hopes to rule the nations before the Lord it sees
But those who know the Word of God don’t buy this make-believe.

This church has plans and busy-ness which keep men on the run
Days and hours are all consumed with getting so much done.
Seminars and conferences and endless meetings do abound,
But years of this can drain your soul and put you in the ground.
The longings of the Savior’s heart toward those for whom he grieves
Are drowned by all the clamor in the church of make-believe.

This church can be like Martha who lived so ill at ease
Trying like the raging tide to make her Master pleased.
But there are those like Mary who in stillness did receive
The best that Jesus offered men and shunned such make-believe.

This church it loves position and like the Pharisees of old,
It lives by much tradition which leaves men dead and cold.
It has a hierarchy spawned of men and not from God
A system of religion that to Jesus must seem odd.
He told them you’re all brethren and this is what you’ll be
And if men teach you otherwise it’s simply make-believe.

Now there is a church of Jesus and it’s like a planted seed
It’s not another system, a doctrine or a creed.
It’s a living organism in which all who do believe,
Live with one another in this shared reality.

There is a church of Jesus throughout earth’s history
That’s recognized in every age by pure simplicity.
It’s trademark is devotion to the Master who is Lord,
Who is held in honor, is worshipped and adored.
And if we love and serve him, you know He will be pleased
To keep us free forever from the church of make-believe!