From my friend, Jon Clayton, over at Laboring in The Lord...

Well, Kent Shaffer is out with his Top 200 Church Blogs. This year he expanded the list. It is a good list.

My problem is that this blog did not make the list! Neither did my friends Okie Preacher and Ken Mickel. Now what is with that!

Well, maybe next year…

You can read Jon's blog @ http://laboringinthelord.com

I thought it was very funny!

What is the shortest verse in the Bible? John 11:35

And, what do you think it means? According to Chuck Smith, Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa:

"Now, there are those who suppose that Jesus wept, they say, because His friend Lazarus was dead. That's ridiculous. Why would He weep because Lazarus was dead? He knew that He was going to raise him from the dead in a few minutes. Don't you remember that Jesus said to His disciples down there at the Jordan River, "I must go to wake him out of his sleep"? And He said, "This is happened that the Son of God may be glorified, and I go that I may awake him out of his sleep." And then He said, "He's dead. I'm going to raise him from the dead." So, those commentators who say that Jesus was weeping because His friend was dead haven't really read the whole text. He was weeping when He saw the pain and the sorrow of humanity, when He saw the pain that His friends Mary and Martha were experiencing as a result of death. And He wept for their grief. Jesus is moved by our infirmities; we have such a great High Priest, who is touched by our weaknesses. He sees us in our frailties. He sees us in our griefs. And He's touched by our feelings of grief and sorrow, by our weaknesses. He's just a loving and compassionate Lord, and One who is moved by our own sorrow and grief. And so, He wept for them."

"Whenever a Church keeps back Christ crucified, or puts anything whatsoever in that foremost place which Christ crucified should always have, from that moment a Church ceases to be useful. Without Christ crucified in her pulpits, a Church is little better than a dead carcass, a well without water, a barren fig-tree, a sleeping watchman, a silent trumpet, a dumb witness, an ambassador without terms of peace, a messenger without tidings, a lighthouse without fire, a stumbling-block to weak believers, a comfort to unbelievers, a hot-bed for formalism, a joy to the devil, and an offense to God."

J. C. Ryle

I found this on the Net and I am sad to say I am not the author...

A preacher and a bus driver met their demise
They arrived at Heaven's gate side by side
Heaven was beautiful they waited to see
Where God would place them for eternity

God took the preacher to a valley nearby
Showed him a cottage with a gate so white
There were soft rolling hills all around

A stream running made peaceful sounds.

God said "Preacher, this is your home
Peace and beauty you have for your own
All these flowers will brighten your days
For a job well done, for keeping the faith

Then to the bus driver, God said with care,
"The stately mansion on the hill up there
With waterfall and flowers so bright
You'll forever enjoy, both days and night"

The preacher said "God, I don't understand
A stately mansion to such a common man,
And I only get a cottage in the valley below
I'm not ungrateful; I would just like to know"

God said "Yes, you've been faithful, it's true
You've served me well all your life through
But when you were preaching, my children slept
While he was driving, they prayed and wept."

So, I was thinking, what a wonderful Saviour we have. He loves us so. Especially, since He came to Earth and we nailed Him to a cross. And on that Cross He said, “Father, forgive them…” just like He told us to do to our enemies.

I’d much rather hate my enemies, plot their destruction and laugh at their calamities. If you are honest, you feel the same way too. It’s all part of that old nature thing Paul spoke about (Romans 6:6). He tells us that our old nature died with Christ so we are account our old nature as dead. Okay. Sometimes, okay? Maybe after I get a little self satisfaction? Nope. Dumb old Paul. Uh, oh. Paul was speaking by the Holy Spirit? This is what God wants? Okay, but sometimes (okay, most of the time) I still don’t want to do it.

Jesus commands us to love our enemies in order to demonstrate to them that we really are children of God (Matthew 5:44). So when I don’t, it doesn’t mean I’m not His child. What it means is I am acting like a selfish, spoiled brat. Ouch!

Jesus commands us to love our enemies, just like He has. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son…” (Romans 5:10). You mean, we were His enemies and He loved us? Yep. That’s what God says in His word.

The problem is, that even if I wanted to, I can’t. I don’t have the power to do so. He knows that. That’s why He has given us His power, the Power of the Holy Spirit. You see, the fruit of the Spirit, the proof of His working in our lives, is…Love (Galatians 5:22-23). So, if I am unwilling to love my enemies, I’m not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in my life? Now your getting it Randall. Maybe I should ask the Holy Spirit to work in my life? Better yet, maybe I'd better let Him...

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I Peter 5:7

Here Peter encourages us to cast our care upon Jesus. The first word "care", is not a throwing, but "a definiate act of the will in commiting to Him our worries." The second word "cares" means, "concerned with our welfare."

There are many things to be concerned with in the world today. But there is nothing that the Christian should be worried about. Has God not saved you? Has Jesus not promised to be with you forever? Has He not promised to return and to take you to His Father's House? When I find myself worring, it is the Holy Spirit that reminds me of these things. And when I commit to Him my worries, I have peace once again.

God has taken the responsibility of taking care of us. So, why worry?

"So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

A simple message today: If you don't read and study your Bible, you will be deceived. Is this harsh? Yes. But so is the fate of those who are deceived. Much of what is popular reading today in Christianity is false. And if you don't know the truth, you may end up believing a lie.

"...be sure your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23).

The time for confession and repentence is today. It is foolishness to think that one can hide their sin from God.

He stands ready to forgive today, even now.

Japan

The events of the last few days in Japan are indeed overwhelming. What do we do? What can one person do? These are the questions we all struggle with.

Why did this happen to the people of Japan?
There are currently some of the most heartless and inhuman people I have ever heard of crediting the earthquake to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Absolutely foolish and cruel! Events of this kind happen to the good and the bad, the just and the unjust. Who you are and what you do often have little significance. Someone will bring up Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of the judgment of God upon nations He is not pleased with. Be careful; someone once said that if God doesn’t judge America, He owes Sodom and Gomorrah and apology.

Why did God allow this to happen?
We are the cause of these events. When we participated in Adam’s rebellion against God in the Garden we set forth the course of action that sin against God ultimately brings. Some will say, “I wasn’t there. Why am I guilty?”All have sinned against God. Just read your Bible to see if it isn’t so.

Consider the words of Jesus, Luke 13:1-5 (KJV):
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Really, the question isn’t why this happened to the people of Japan? The question is, according to Jesus, your condition before God? Instead of questioning this event, we should consider our own hearts. Have we repented, as Jesus said? If something of this sort happens to us, what will be our outcome?

I had the privilege of visiting Japan on a business trip in 2009. The people I met with and visited with were, beyond a doubt, the most polite and pleasant people it has ever been my pleasure to meet (and I have been all over the world).

What do we do?
We can and should pray. We can support Churches and Organizations that are mobilizing to help the people of Japan. What can one person do? One person can make a dramatic difference in the lives of others, if we will seek to help.

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:9-10

Paul here is not talking about Christian service. Serving Jesus (Sunday School teacher, greeter, mowing the church lawn, witnessing, pastor, etc.) is a privilege.

What Paul is talking about is works to improve our position with God. There is nothing you can do to improve your position with God. You position before God is in Christ. You can’t do better than that. You can’t make God love you more than He already does. His love is prefect and is demonstrated in the Cross.

For me, when I realized this a few years ago, it was as if a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. Perhaps today you are carrying that weight? All you need to is to set it at Jesus feet and enter into His rest. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

1 Thessalonians 5:18: "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Notice that God wants us to give thanks "in" everything, not "for" everything. There is a difference. He is telling us, that no matter what our circumstance or situation, we are to give Him thanks. "In everything give thanks..."

As Chuck Smith once said,"In order to give thanks in everything I must know 3 things:

1. God Loves me.
2. God is wiser than me.
3. God is in control.

If I know these three things, I can give thanks in everything."

“When joy and prayer are married their first born child is gratitude.” (Spurgeon)

So, what about you? Do you give God thanks in everything? I confess that there are times I question my circumstances; until I remember these three things.

For a Good Friend...

Fits of Depression

“Fits of depression come over most of us,” Charles Spurgeon once told his students. “The strong are not always vigorous, the joyous are not always happy.” Spurgeon himself was living proof, for he often suffered agonizing periods of depression. One of the worst occurred when he was only 22 years old. His congregation had outgrown its building, so Spurgeon arranged to rent Royal Surrey Garden’s Music Hall, London’s most commodious and beautiful building, for Sunday night services. Surrey Hall usually accommodated secular concerts, carnivals, and circuses. Using it as a place of worship was unheard of in its day, and the news spread through London like lightning.

On Sunday morning, October 19, 1856, Spurgeon preached at New Park Street Chapel, saying: “I may be called to stand where the thunderclouds brew, where the lightnings play, and tempestuous winds are howling on the mountain top. Well, then, amidst dangers he will inspire me with courage; amidst toils he will make me strong; we shall be gathered together tonight where an unprecedented mass of people will assemble, perhaps from idle curiosity, to hear God’s Word; see what God can do, just when a cloud is falling on the head of him whom God has raised up to preach to you. … ”

That evening 12,000 people streamed into Surrey Hall and an additional 10,000 overflowed into the surrounding gardens. The services started, but as Spurgeon rose to pray, someone shouted “Fire! Fire! The galleries are giving way!” There was no fire, but the crowd bolted in panic, and in the resulting stampede seven people were trampled to death. Twenty-eight more were hospitalized.

The young preacher, reeling in shock, was literally carried from the pulpit to a friend’s house where he remained in seclusion for weeks. He wept by day and suffered terrifying dreams at night. He later said, “My thoughts were all a case of knives, cutting my heart to pieces.” At last, while meditating on Philippians 2:10, the Lord’s Word began to restore his soul.

It was this disaster, horrible as it was, that vaulted Charles Spurgeon to overnight fame as a preacher all the world wanted to hear.

Morgan, R. J. 2000, c1997. On this day: 365 amazing and inspiring stories about saints, martyrs & heroes (electronic ed.). Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville

"Whoever would be filled and indwelt by the Spirit should first judge his life for any hidden iniquities; he should courageously expel from his heart everything which is out of accord with the character of God as revealed by the Holy Scriptures." A. W. Tozer

"God's Spirit wants to use you and me to bring the love of God to others. He wants His Spirit to flow like a torrent of living water out of our lives and into the lives of those who have yet to quench their thirst at the fountain of God." Chuck Smith

"Every time we say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we mean that we believe there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it." J. B. Phillips

"How long shall we trust in man’s programming to accomplish the work of His Spirit in men’s souls?“ Jim Elliott, 1949

"I have gone through my Bible time and time again checking this subject and I make this statement without the slightest fear of successful contradiction that there is not one single passage in the Old Testament or the New Testament where the filling with the Holy Spirit is spoken of, where it is not connected with testimony for service." R. A. Torrey

"I am persuaded that I shall obtain the highest amount of present happiness, I shall do most for God’s glory and the good of man, and I shall have the fullest reward in eternity, but maintaining a conscience always washed in Christ’s blood, by being filled with the Holy Spirit at all times, and by attaining the most entire likeness to Christ in mind, will, and heart, that it is possible for a redeemed sinner to attain to in this world." Robert Murray M’Cheyne