Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:00 AM
Ever Growing
By Tom Smith, Wooddale Church of Christ
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. 

If we say we have grown in our love for our mate, what are we truly saying? 

When we grow in love we usually grow to be more like the person we love. When we get to know the person we eventually marry we spend time with them. People don't just meet someone and instantly say, "Let's go get married". When a couple becomes engaged to be married, usually there is a deep commitment to communication. The agenda is to get to know each other even more and frankly during the engagement the desire to spend time together is generally quite intense.

When we date during the engagement period and at other times, often couples sit across from each other. While looking at someone's face we can see the body language of the person. It also shows commitment on our part. 

But what does it mean to grow in Grace and Knowledge of our Lord? 

We can probably understand what it means to grow in knowledge but growing in Grace? 

Grace is defined as: Favor Kindness Friendship (Gen 6:8; 18:3; 19: 19; 2Tim 1:9 ); God's forgiving mercy (Rom.11:6; Eph 2:5) The Gospel as distinguished from the Law (John 1:17; Rom 6: 14; I Peter 5: 12); Christian virtue (II Corinthians 8:7; II Peter 8:7; 3:18).

We are to "put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph.4:22-24). Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13).

We are to become more like Christ. 
To do this we have to know Christ. 
To know Him we have to spend time with Him. 

When we spend time with the Lord in prayer we are spending quality time with Him and we are seeking that face to face relationship. 
When we spend time in His word, the bible, we are digging to learn more about Him and seeking to get to know him. 
When we meditate on Him and what we have learned about Him we are visualizing mentally and forming the reality in our heart and mind of our relationship with Him. 

As we pray, study and mediate on what we have read we grow in our grace and knowledge of Him. We are changed by truth and if adversity or temptation has brought us to our knees or to the word then we can say we are transformed by truth, and the renewing of our minds (Rom.12:2).

As we become more like HIM we will show forth more of His love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, balance, and self-control. 

HE is the source. 
He is our strength and our hope. 

Growing in Grace and Knowledge come as a team. 

The more we learn about HIM the more like HIM we will become. 
When we put on Jesus Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27) we begin an awesome journey to grow in ways we've never known before. 

To become more like Him.
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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:00 AM
Focused On The Man part 2

 taken from Wooddale Church of Christ
As I was saying yesterday, One of the major complaints of non-believers is that Christians are hypocrites. Those who don't even know the great stories of the Bible, can tell you in great detail the stories of Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, and the preacher down the street who ran off with his secretary. It is one of the most common objections of an unbeliever, that he would be a Christian
The key point to understand is that you must keep focused on THE man, and not A man. 

Christ was the only one who did it perfect. 

My personal philosophy is to take the spiritual wisdom from other men of God, but never idolize them, never expect them to be more than the man of flesh and blood they are, but realize that God has touched them and given them something that can benefit my spiritual life. 

I have always called it my spiritual filter. 

I have had a unique opportunity to see an incredible number of God's choicest servants of our day. The list is a who's who of spiritual giants. However, no matter who the person was, I always do two things. I always line up what they said with the Word of God. That is test number one. I don't care who it is. If it is not in line with the Word of God, it is not something I want. Second, I always look at the man of God as an instrument God was using. I never expected them to be supernatural, or anything other than a vessel God was using to bring spiritual truths into my life. 

The only person I ever idolized, or tried to pattern my life after was the life of Christ. 

I have always taken what I can form men of God, and tried to use that to help me in my quest to be more like Christ each and every day.

Today's word is an important reminder to never get so focused on a man of flesh and blood, that you let it get in the way of your walk with Christ. 

God has placed men of God in our lives to help teach us, show us the truths of His Word. However, no matter how close to the Lord they may be, the only one we should ever try to pattern our lives after is Jesus Christ, because He is the only one who lived this life without sin. He is our example and the one each one of us should strive to be like. 

Take time today to pray for those God has placed in spiritual leadership over you. 

Pray for those that God brings into your life to share the truths of His Word and to help you grow spiritually. 

But never lose sight that they are mere mortals. 
Men of flesh and blood like you. 
Never let your eyes focus so much on a man, that you lose sight of THE man. 

After all, no man could die for your sins. 
It was THE man who loved you so much, that He willingly bled and died so that you might have everlasting life. 

Keep your eyes focused on HIM.
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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:00 AM
When I Say “I am a Christian…”
Author Unknown

When I say... “I am a Christian,” I’m not shouting, “I am saved.” 
I’m whispering “I was lost,” that’s why I chose this way.

When I say... “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak of this with pride. 
I’m confessing that I stumble and need Him as my Guide.

When I say... “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be strong. 
I’m professing that I am weak and need strength to carry on.

When I say... “I am a Christian,” I’m not bragging of success. 
I’m admitting I have failed and can never pay the debt.

When I say... “I am a Christian,” I still feel heartache and pain. 
I have my share of troubles. That’s why I seek His name.

When I say... “I am a Christian,” I don’t claim to perfect be. 
My flaws are far too many but God sees the worth in me.

When I say... “I am a Christian,” It’s not to stand and judge. 
It’s to pray that you will know Him and be loved as I am loved.


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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:30 AM
Can GOD Count On You?

 by Tom Smith
(taken from Wooddale Church of Christ)

I wanted to share this Article By Ron Daly with you.

Do you love God? 
How much? 
Are you willing to be fully committed to him in every way? 

Is there anything you would not do for God (Mark 12:29-30)? 

We live in a world that is constantly at war, at war with sin (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). 

Whose side are you on?

Can God count on you to increase your knowledge of his word so you can defend it against false teachers and their disciples? 

"You must continue growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). 

God wants us to go beyond a state of spiritual infancy and advance to maturity (Hebrews 5:11-14). 

We do this when we pray, study, and apply the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). 

Will you resolve to study the Scriptures on a daily basis?
Can God count on you to defend the truth against every foe? 

Too many people will defend the gospel if someone they do not like is perverting it. But, if one of their friends perverts God's word, they tend to be very tolerant, or they will make excuses for them. 

When truth is at stake, we should have no friends except God. 

Do you find yourself wetting a finger and sticking it in the air to see which way the wind is blowing before you take a stand on a controversial issue? 

The Bible says stand (Ephesians 6:13-14; Jude 3)!

Can God count on you to take an active role in the work and worship of the local congregation? 

God has not placed the responsibility for building up the local congregation on the shoulders of only one person. The evangelist's role is to preach the word (2 Timothy 4:1-5); the elders oversee (Acts 20:17, 28-32); the deacons serve (Acts 6:1-6), and everybody is to work! 

As the old timers used to say, "Don't no one monkey run no show." 
In short, everybody's got to work if we are going to grow.

Can God count on you to be uncompromising in the fight against sin, shame, and immorality? 

When people in the work place laugh at homosexuality, unscriptural multiple marriages, the use of alcohol and drugs among the nation's youth, teen pregnancy out of wedlock, do you go with the flow or do you plead God's case (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:9-21)? 

If God can count on you, prove it!
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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•10:00 AM
Condemned by Ignorance
Devotional for Sunday June 3, 2012
"God will like it because I like it" is the claim that many make. 

Many assume that our Heavenly Father will accept whatever they do in life simply because it pleases them. 

Note what Ephesians 4:17-18 says about this type of mindset:
"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart."

The majority of people will be separated from God through eternity because of their own ignorance.

People fail to understand that God expects complete obedience to His will. 

We cannot decide for ourselves what is acceptable to God and what isn't. 

Because people do not search the scriptures for themselves (Acts 17:11) they leave themselves open to being deceived by false teachers:
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

Just as in the secular world, God tells us that "ignorance of the law is no excuse." We will all be judged by the word of God (John 12:48) and that word will continue till the day of judgment (Revelation 20:12).

In order to be ready for the return of Christ, study the Bible often, read it daily and do what it says. 

Do not let ignorance of the word of God keep you from entering heaven.
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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•8:00 AM
Assurance
By: J. Raymond Pecoraro, Wooddale Church of Christ

God makes a promise. 
Faith believes it. 
Hope anticipates it. 
Patience awaits it. 

No truer words were ever spoken by man! 

God’s children do not know what the future holds, but they know the One who holds the future, & in whose hands reposes all power in heaven & in earth: “He is able to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Phil. 3:21). 

What a joy & a privilege it is to have the Creator pilot the Christian’s life. 

We can stand on the solid Rock of our salvation without fear or wanting knowing that He will never forsake or leave us destitute!

Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor & are heavy laden, & I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, & learn of Me; for I am meek & lowly in heart: & ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, & My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). 

What a comfort knowing that our Saviour is in control of our universe! 

What a comfort & assurance knowing that nothing will come up today or tomorrow that the Lord cannot handle. 

No situation, whether big or small, is out of the realm of the Father’s control! 

The apostle Paul said that “he knew in whom he believeth.” (II Tim. 1:12). 

Paul didn’t fear the present or the future because his trust, confidence, & faith assured him that God was in charge!

The phrase, “Able to save to the uttermost,” does not refer to the depths of sin from which Christ has lifted us, but rather to the extremity of time to which Christ can carry us. There is, of course, no limit either way, but this verse has to do only with the “completion” of our salvation. It tells us that temptation, trials, tests, & victories, until He presents us faultless before the throne at the end of life! (Hebrews 7:25).

John the Revelator tells us, “Be thou faithful unto death & we shall receive the Crown of Life.” (Rev. 2:10). 

God promises us the victory through Christ if we remain steadfast & unmovable. (Matthew 10:22; I Cor. 15:58; I Cor. 16:13).

“God Manifested in His Works” (Romans 1:20):

Is there a God? Yon rising sun
In answer meet replies,
Writes it in flame upon the earth,
Proclaims it round the skies.
Is there a God? Hark! From on high
His thunder shakes the poles;
I hear His voice in every wind,
In every wave that rolls.
Is there a God? With sacred fear
I upward turn my eyes;
“There is,” each glitt’ing lamp of Light ---
If such conviction to my mind His works aloud impart,
Oh, let the wisdom of His word
Inscribe them on my heart. (Selected).
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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:17 AM
A Marionette
by J. Raymond Pecoraro, Wooddale Church of Christ

 According to Wikipedia a “marionette” is a “puppet controlled from above using wires or strings.” A marionette’s puppeteer is called a “manipular.” Therefore a marionette is only able to do what the manipular allows it to do. A pull on a string or wire here or there the puppeteer can get the puppet to do almost anything. 

 While it may be entertaining to all of us, it isn’t entertaining for humans to fall into such a predicament. 

 In my preaching experience I hear people say this is exactly how they feel. They are pulled in every direction and they just go with the pull from their manipular.

 God didn’t intend for any of us who are made in His awesome image (Gen. 1:26, 27) to be manipulated in such a way. 

 We were all given a mind which is much higher than those of all other creatures that He created! 

 Make no mistake about this! 

 If He wanted us to be controlled from below, He would have come up with the idea of creating “marionettes.” 

 I tell people who feel this way to check all around them to see if they see or feel any strings or wires attached to them. And to their surprise, they cannot see nor feel any type of attachment. 

 (Yes, even Satan is a manipular).
God, Himself, doesn’t control us in such a way. 
He established rules for a peaceful life & not just a mere existence. 
Provided we are willing to become obedient to the One who knows us best. 

 But God didn’t attach strings to us, otherwise we would be mindless robots. 

 Having said this, I would like to call your attention to the fact that “decisions determine direction.” 

 Joshua of old said, “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river; or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me & my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). Direction will determine our final destiny. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate & broad is the way that leads to destruction, & there are many who go in that way. Because narrow is the gate & difficult is the way which leads to life, & there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13, 14). 

 While God allows us to make choices, we must make the right one in order to avoid the terrible consequences of the wrong one! 

 There is a heaven to gain & a hell to shun!
Here are some examples of how people are “marionettes.” 

They allow the world & the things in to guide them away from serving the Lord:

1. A certain rich man allowed a material manipular to pull him in a direction away from God. (Luke 12:17-20). He was called a “FOOL” by the Lord.
2. King Nebuchadnezzar allowed power to cloud his mind. (Dan. 4:30-37). He was made to graze like the cattle in the field.
3. Felix trembled because he didn’t want to relinquish control to the Lord. (Acts 24:25). He thought he knew better on how to pilot his life. (Most people have the same mind-set today).
4. Then there was King Agrippa (Acts 26:28), the prodigal son (Luke 15), & on & on the list goes!


The apostle Paul said, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth (interest) … I please all men, not seeking mine own.” (I Cor. 10:24-33; cp. Phil. 2:4). 

We must all submit, willingly to God’s righteousness. (Rom. 10:3). 
This will then become a winning situation for everyone. 

Please don’t allow public opinion rule you or pull you in directions you really don’t want or need to go. 

We will all stand on judgment day before a just God either with the Lord or we stand alone! 

The latter isn’t best!
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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•10:34 AM

Hurtful Words, Spoken
By M.S.Lowndes, Wooddale Church of Christ

The human tongue can do so much damage. It can ruin friendships, cause misunderstandings and put a wall between brothers and sisters. We have all been guilty of saying hurtful things. We must be ever mindful that what we say can damage and cause divisions - and therefore not to speak critically. A lot of what we say is probably best left unsaid.

We have also been hurt by hurtful words - some more than others. In many cases the damage is so deep that it takes a long time to heal, and in some cases people never heal. But we know that if we belong to Jesus, He can heal us as we surrender it to Him. Nothing is impossible for Him to heal - if we allow Him to. There are so many Adults carrying around hurts from childhood 'verbal abuse'. We need to deal with these things. The hurt gets buried deep, but God has a way of bringing it to the surface. It's painful, but needful to truly be healed and set free from the affects of negative, hateful words.

The saying 'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me', is not true, and in-fact it's quite the opposite. Bones can heal a whole lot faster than words spoken over us. If you are struggling with the pain of having negative, abusive and hurtful words spoken over you, will you give it over to God today? Let Him heal you and place His love in your heart toward those who have hurt you. Forgive them and let it go. I know often it can come back echoing in our minds - but refuse to listen. One helpful thing I've been realizing lately, is to find out from the word of God what God thinks of me. Meditate on Scriptures about God's love for us, that we are Sons and Daughters of the most high God (Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 8:14-17), Kings and Priests (1 Peter 2:9-10), and so on. Ask God to show you and direct you to scriptures like these. Meditate and memorize them until you believe it - and not doubt your importance and significance to God. Because you are important to God. You are His precious child - the 'Apple of His eye'. (Zechariah 2:8). Believe it!

Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. - Psalm 141:3

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We Know!
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:59 AM

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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•12:47 PM
 

Is Jesus Christ A Liar?
by J. Raymond Pecoraro

Jesus Christ is a liar according to statements made by the self-appointed spokesperson for the Supreme God in heaven! 

It never ceases to amaze me the arrogance people have concerning these things. 

It is arrogance to speak for God when “God tells us His ways aren’t our ways, & His thoughts aren’t our thoughts.” (Jeremiah 55:8, 9). 

When people reject the “Inspiration of the Bible which contains the Will & Mind of God, this is what results! (II Timothy 3:16, 17). 

Mankind becomes his own god! 

Make no mistake about this, my friends. 

I am appalled at statements made by Oprah Winfrey and several of her cohorts who claim to know what is morally right and/or wrong. 

We know sometime in the past that this woman wrote her own set of moral codes because she doesn’t believe in the Holy Bible. We also know that when people write such, it is because they are living immorally and they must change their way of living or write their own set of codes in order to make justification! Some would rather write their own ticket to heaven than to repent and change. 

Jesus Christ said that “heaven and earth would pass away, but His word would last forever.” (Matthew 24:35). 

All the writing and rewriting will in no ways change God’s Words! 
We will all still be held accountable for what it teaches.

On one of Oprah’s recent airings on OWN network, she had several panelists and they were discussing various subjects, one of which was homosexuality. At least two of her five “religious” leaders of varying denominations made this appalling statement, “Being gay is certainly a gift from God, go out and enjoy yourself.” The other three panelists didn’t dispute this statement. Many in the audience applauded. When one courageous woman in the audience gave Scriptural teaching on this subject, she was booed and her voice was drowned out. 

This is what our society has now embraced … sin is ok! 
Go out and enjoy it!

This woman has her own agenda. 

She is heavily promoting a book called, “Conversations with God.” 

Friends, this book is devastating to say the least. 
Parents, grandparents, teachers, and churches please beware. 
We cannot let this slip through without objection. 

The other book she is pushing is called, “Conversations with God for Teens.” 

These books were written by Neale D. Walsh. 

Many schools are distributing this book to our children & grandchildren through the Scholastic Book Club! These books have been on the “Best Sellers” list for many weeks now. The titles seem harmless, but so does a sleeping snake. These books are venomous to our children and our society.

The author has the unmitigated gall to answer questions for God by using His voice. His answers go contrary to the Holy Spirit’s teaching. They are diametrically opposed to each other. 

I know Jesus isn’t a liar but all men are! 

Here are some answers this heretic gives to questions asked by young people:
1. A teenage girl asks the question, “Why am I a lesbian?” The answer he gives is, “You were born that way due to genetics.”
2. Another girl asks, “I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I am living in sin. Should I marry him” The book answers (in the voice of God), “Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong.”
3. Another person asks a question concerning God’s forgiveness of sin. His reply, “I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell people. The rule is “judge not lest ye be judged.” 

Satan just loves this! 
This is false teaching to its very core!

If God’s people are not appalled by all of this, then I beg of you to stop and take a moment to feel your pulse … you may not be breathing. Our children are under attack by so called “influential people in the media arena. May we all heed the words of God in I Peter 5:8, “Be sober and vigilant … because your adversary, the devil, roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” 

We owe this generation our sincere effort and protection from such godless people!

Our awesome God & Heavenly Father, we pray that this nation yield & kneel before you in genuine repentance. Father, please renew our fervor against those who willingly sow dishonor against you. Keep our children, young people, and grandchildren in your loving protective hands. We need thee more now than ever. This is perhaps the worst kind of terrorism. We know how much You love the children. In Jesus name, Amen!
 
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Judgment Day Excuses that Won't Work
Author: Brandi With An I
•1:00 PM
We can imagine that on "the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6), there will be many excuses. 

Let's consider some.

"But, Lord, what about all of the good that I have done?" - - -

This sounds like Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works?" 

But what will Jesus say?

"I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23).

What was their shortcoming? They failed to do the Father's will (Matthew 7:21). The Lord wants us to be "zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14), but all the good works in the world cannot cover sin.

"But, Lord, I was just doing what other folks were doing." - - -

Christ taught that this course of action leads to destruction: "Enter ye in at the strait [narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13). 

Remember, something is not right in God's sight just because a lot of people are doing it.

"But, Lord, I was always so busy with work and everything that I didn't have time for church." - - -

A more truthful statement is that one does not make time. Jesus warned: "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word" (Mark 4:19)

"Lord, I am sorry for the way that I lived. If I had a chance to do it again, I would do better." - - -

None gets a second chance. 

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). 

Our life on earth is a one-shot deal (Titus 2:12)

Let us all be certain that we are prepared for that day, so we won't need any excuses.

--- Roger Campbell, Cleveland, Tennessee
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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:30 AM
Preaching on Hell
[ taken from Wooddale Church of Christ ]

by Hugh Fulford 
Guest Columnist for Forthright Magazine
 This past Sunday evening I heard a moving sermon on "The Horrors of Hell."

We don't hear sermons on hell much anymore these days.

One preacher among us used to preach a powerful sermon titled, "What Is Hell Like?" In his autobiography a few years ago, he confessed that he had not preached the sermon in 25 years and no longer believed what he had previously preached about hell.

Jesus talked a lot about hell.

In fact, he said more about hell than anyone else in all the New Testament. Just before he ascended back to heaven, he commissioned his apostles to "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16, KJV).

Some folks wonder about the fate of the pious un-immersed.
What about the fate of the pious unbeliever?

Might as well wonder about the fate of the latter as the fate of the former.

Jesus made both belief and baptism (immersion) essential to salvation.

I sometimes wonder if some folks believe anybody is going to be lost.

Old brother T. W. Caskey, one of the great advocates of the restoration plea (the plea to return to faithful New Testament teaching and practice), said if nobody is going to be damned, "you may as well convert hell into a calf pasture and be done with it."

My son, Brett, recently observed that people believe everything on the Internet and question everything about the Bible.
He went on to say, "It should be the other way around."
Well said, son.

According to Christ, we all are going to face his word on the Day of Judgment. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him, the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

Back to the sermon I heard on hell.

The preacher, Don Blackwell of North Charleston, SC, in talking about the rich man's capacity in torment to remember the situation of his five brothers back on earth (Luke 16:19-31), made the observation: "If live men knew what dead men know, the whole world would be Christian."

I don't doubt that for a moment.

I mentioned above a preacher who used to preach on hell but no longer does, at least, not in the way he used to.

Some would say he has "evolved" to a more "mature" understanding of the subject.

"Evolved" is a popular way today for saying that a person no longer believes what he once believed.

Another word comes to my mind.

When a person abandons biblical truth, he has not "evolved"; he has "devolved"!
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Thought of the Day - "Focus on Things Above"
Author: Brandi With An I
•12:45 PM
"I know I have another building not made with hands..."

 
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2 
 
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Thought of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•10:52 AM
II Peter 3:8-10 -> "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare."

While it's true that the Lord does not want anyone to perish, He also gives us free will. We can choose to achieve the great salvation, live for Him and make Heaven our home OR we can choose to do things our way, live for self, and spend eternity with the devil and his angels.

The choice is yours. . .

- B.
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Thought of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•12:05 PM
Luke 13:6-9

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
 
“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Fruit trees are planted for a purpose - if you plant a seed, over time, you expect to see a tree and then some fruit. In the same respect, if nothing happens it should be cut down because it's of no use to you.

Same applies to us.

We were placed in God's kingdom for a purpose: to bring glory and honor to Him, live our lives as examples so others can see Christ in us, be there for our fellow man, and help bring souls to Christ. All of these are examples of "bearing fruit." 

If we don't do anything and are just taking up space, don't you know we are liable to get cut down as well?

"Cutting down" doesn't always mean death, either. It could also mean that God could turn us over to a reprobate mind; have us thinking what we're doing is okay and acceptable and we're believing a lie.

If we don't want to get chopped down by the owner of the vineyard (God) we need to start bearing fruit. 

He'll only grant us so much grace and then you know what's next.

Think about it,
B.
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•10:59 AM
Does praying for someone negate their exercise of free will?


Topic(s): Prayer
 Todd Clippard

Yours is a very difficult question. All men do indeed possess free moral agency. But I'm not sure how praying for an individual would supplant or interfere in the exercise thereof. For example, when I pray, I pray for what is best for an individual. At the same time I pray for God's will to be done in all things. I think it best to pray that an individual will act in accordance with God's will, instead of praying for a specific course of action.

So long as we pray for what is best for an individual, and pray for understanding and the courage to accept God's will, I believe we ought to pray for others. In 1 Timothy 2:1-5, we are commanded to pray for our leaders that we might live quiet and peaceable lives. I don't think this is an attempt to usurp their free moral agency, any more than praying for myself is an attempt to have God intervene without my personal exercise of free moral agency.

Part of the difficulty is not knowing HOW God works in the lives of men. I believe prayer changes things, and I believe God works in the lives of men. However, it is difficult, if not impossible, for me to immediately point to any specific event and say, "This is the providence of God." An older, wiser, preacher-friend of mine once told me, "Always wait at least 15 years before crediting God with anything." What he meant was that sometimes we give God credit for things that end up hurting us in the long run, when our own poor decisions are the cause of the difficulty.

[ SOURCE ]
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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•8:15 AM
Life is a one-time Shot
By: Tom Smith,
Wooddale Church of Christ


James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

So often, we get bogged down in the day to day activities of life, we lose sight of not only its' brevity, but the fact life is a one-time shot. 

I hate to break the bad news to those who buy into the complete stupidity of reincarnation, but we were created in the image of God for this one and only journey called life. 

When it is over, we will have an eternal home, either with our creator, if we come to know His Son Jesus Christ by faith, or eternally separated from our Creator if we reject Christ. 

The point I want to drive home today is that this is it. 
This is our life. 
This is not a dress rehearsal, there are no do-overs, we need to make the most of this time God has given us.

It is human nature not to think much about death, our own mortality. 

We tend to dwell on it more as we get older, since it becomes more of a reality. 

As we go through life, we see our grandparents die, our parents, other family members, friends, and those we know pass away. At those times, we are reminded that we too will one day die, though we try not to think about it very long. 

In addition to being reminded at times how brief life is, we often pause at different points to see where we are in life, look back to where we have been, and look ahead to where we want to go. 

Again, as we get older, we become aware that this time on earth, this life, really does pass quickly. 

It is at these times of reflection when it becomes apparent how much of our life we squander and don't take advantage of. 

Remember this: today is a day like none other, and when it is gone, it is never coming back.
 
Take the time needed to reflect on your life today. 

Take the time to see where you are at, and where you want to go. 

Look at those things in your life each day that are positive, and those that are negative. 

The fact is, life is short. 
Only God knows when our time here is over. 
We have no control over that. 

What we DO have control over is how we use each day. 

I don't care where you live, what ethnic background you are, what your social or financial status is, the one thing all of us have in common is 24 hours. 
Nobody gets a second more or a second less. 
How we use that 24 hours becomes the key decisions we must make each day. 

God has a perfect plan and purpose for your life. 

Allowing that plan and purpose to unfold each day is the challenge we all face. 

Life is a one time shot. 
We won't get another chance. 
Make the most of each and every day God gives you. 
It is your life, the only one you will get, so make the most of it.
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