2 Corinthians 1:8-10

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.

Hebrews 10:31: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

I don't like to talk about Hell. The thought of someone spending eternity there saddens my heart.

I read a blog today about a man who held his grandfathers hand as he lay dying. Several times over the years he tried to share the Gospel with his grandfather, but he refused. Now all he could do was watch him die.

It was a stark contrast to my life. I had the privilege of leading my grandfather and grandmother, as well as my mother in law to Christ. My father in law was saved shortly before his death. I miss them. But my heart is comforted knowing that I shall see them again.

Even if you have been rejected before, please gently share Jesus with your loved ones. The difference between Heaven and Hell is an eternity.

1 Thessalonians 5:25: "Brethren, pray for us."

In closing his letter to those at Thessalonica, Paul asks for prayer for himself and those ministering with him.

How often do you pray for your Pastor? If I could be so bold as to speak for your Pastor, I would say that he would like you to pray for him everyday; and even as often as you think of him.You cannot begin to imagine the spiritual battles he faces. The enemy of our faith seeks to destroy him daily.

Pray for your Pastor and his family. Add him to your prayer list and pray for him daily. Let him know that you are praying for him and his family, for it will be a great comfort to him.

From A. W. Tozer:

If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of leader. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. …Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting.

Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other. But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath.

“…and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.” Luke 18:31

God called Jesus Christ to what seemed absolute disaster. His life was an absolute failure from every standpoint except God’s. But what seemed to be failure from man’s standpoint was a triumph from God’s standpoint, because God’s purpose is never the same as man’s purpose.

My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers

The reason why men do not look to the Church today is that she has destroyed her own influence by compromise.

G. Campbell Morgan

Has life become so filled with efforts to cover every financial contingency, to realize one's full earthly potential, and finally to retire comfortably, that without realizing it we are finding our hope in this world rather than in God?

Dave Hunt

Much of what passes for Christianity is the brief bright effort of the severed branch to bring forth its fruit in its season. But the deep laws of life are against it. Preoccupation with appearances and a corresponding neglect of the out-of-sight root of the true spiritual life are prophetic signs which go unheeded. Immediate “results” are all that matter, quick proofs of present success without a thought of next week or next year. Religious pragmatism is running wild among the orthodox. Truth is whatever works. If it gets results it is good. There is but one test for the religious leader: success. Everything is forgiven him except failure.

A. W. Tozer

Oden Fong on Prop 8

I borrowed this from my friend Bill Walden over at http://www.pastorbillwalden.com/ who (no doubt) borrowed it from Oden Fong:

"Maybe we should render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things which are Gods. Marriage between a man and a woman is God’s proclamation. God doesn’t recognize marriage outside of what He had decreed, just as Caesar doesn’t recognize God. The carnal mind cannot discern spiritual things.

If Caesar decides to have same-sex marriages, we may grieve but have no say in the matter. Our votes do not count when you have people in power who say that the proposition you voted for was illegal to begin with.

They have already decided that homosexuality is something people are born to be and therefore it is normal. If you feel something strongly with great conviction, it’s normal! Even if the biological plumbing doesn’t fit.

These same minds believe that we are a cosmic accident; from the Big Bang to many smaller bangs. Our existence is purely accidental and there is no Designer.

I predict that same-sex marriages will become commonplace in the world’s civilizations because man has fallen so far from God that morality will become more and more perverse until morality no longer exists for the majority of humanity.

It’s in the prophecies. Perhaps, we should, rather than trying to fight what is already going to happen (politically), we should fight to rise above the darkness ourselves and stay close to the Lord.

The church is filled with carnality. Why should anyone listen to the Body of Christ if the Body is carnal? Most secular people believe that they are at least as moral as the Christian they know.

Jesus and the apostles, including Paul did not fight directly against secular perversion, but proclaimed the kingdom of God in contrast. They did not try to overthrow the idol worshipping culture with it’s temple prostitutes. They extended God’s pardon of salvation through Jesus Christ to all who would accept it.

Behold Noah and his family, how they escaped while the rest of the world was washed away. Judgment is in the hands of the Almighty! Those who scoff at God will find themselves at the wrong end of His judgment. It’s so sad. It’s heartbreaking that mankind has chosen (once again) this path leading to his own destruction."

Isaiah 55:6-7

"Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon."

It is hard to believe that there will ever be a time when one will seek the Lord and yet not find Him. But that time is coming. There is coming a time of trouble upon this world that it has never experienced nor ever will again. A time where God will once again focus His attention exclusively upon Israel. During that time men will seek the Lord but not find Him.

However, the prophet here encourages us to seek the Lord while He may be found. You may not know Him, or you may of drifted away from Him. You may of done something so evil that you feel He would never forgive you. But Isaiah tells us that "He will abundantly pardon."

He desires to hear from you. He desires to forgive you. He wants to abundantly pardon you. Its up to you.

Isaiah 40:28-31

"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."