Heart vs Hope

Psalms 16:9 NASB  Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely [in "hope" KJV].

Acts 2:26 NASB  'THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;

Psalms 31:24 NASB  Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.

Proverbs 13:12 NASB  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Jeremiah 18:12 NASB  "But they will say, 'It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'


Knowledge is in the head; it has to do with what we see and hear.

Faith is in the heart. It makes us act and do things which are contrary to what we see, hear, and know in our head.

This study started with Proverbs 13:12.

If you "hope" for something and it doesn't come true, that will get to your heart- this is the origin of doubt.

We "hope" for things, but this is affected by our thinking (head).

The first 2 verses deal with the head (thinking) or "flesh". The "flesh" and "hope" are directly related here.

Also in the first 2 verses we see how the "flesh" benefits directly from the condition of the heart (faith, believing); if your heart (faith) is good, then the flesh (head, mind, body) are good too!


Heart - Faith - Believing


Hope - Head - Thinking - Flesh - Body

There are a lot of sick people today; many of them are Christians.

They "hope" that God will heal them. That's not enough. There is no healing in hope.

You hope with your head; it is a thought.

Jesus said,
Luke 12:25 NASB  "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?


Can you worry or think about it, and add time to your life?


No.


So, why hope (think or worry) about a sickness or disease? It won't make you any better.

You have to believe; you have to have faith (heart) in God.

Hebrews 11:6 NASB  And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Mark 11:23-24 NASB  "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.  24  "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

You have to believe that you receive and THEN you receive it.

Thomas wanted to see the holes, then he would believe that Jesus was alive.

He had to see it before he would believe it.

We want to be healed, then we'll believe it happened.

It doesn't work that way. Just look around; there is proof everywhere.

If you are going to think about something, ponder God's Word. Read it, study it, memorize it, and ponder it. Dwell on it it the Presence of God. If you don't understand it, ask God: He'll explain it. If you don't understand the answer or think that God didn't give you one, He is probably preparing you so you will understand when He does give you one.

James 1:5-7 NASB  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  6  But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  7  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,


 - -

DO NOT FEAR...

Sunday evening was particularly disturbing. I went early to pray, but the presence of God was not there, or at least, it was not an environment for productive prayer.

I sat, longing for the presence of God for a nice prayer/conversation, but it seemed as if God was afar off.

Then, someone started throwing candy at me. Mind you, I'm knelt down, head down, eyes closed, and obviously trying to pray (this was the before service "prayer time").

With this, I arose and went outside. On the way out, someone asked how I was doing. My reply was "Just fine".

 I just lied! I was NOT fine... I couldn't pray, and somebody 30 years older than me was throwing candy at me while I was trying!

While outside, I prayed. I asked God to forgive me for lying.

When I went back in, I returned to where my wife was still praying. The person that had thrown the candy leaned across my wife, and apologized for the interruption. I said that was okay. He said- at least I got the candy.

So now, I lied AGAIN and my wife was interrupted while praying...

I could have left and gone home at this point!

At the end of the service, I was glad I stuck around. The pastor said he had asked God for a vision for the church. God's response was that it was going to be a hospital.

 I needed to hear that and know it.

Then, the devil showed himself again, teasing and taunting me. It wasn't an old man throwing candy, it was a little girl trying to get an angry reaction from me... "I just wanted to see what you would do..."

God said, "Do NOT Fear..."

I was wondering WHY I was there...

1 Peter 3:14 NASB  But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

Isaiah 41:10-13  'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'  11  "Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.  12  "You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.  13  "For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'

Isaiah 51:12-16  "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass,  13  That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?  14  "The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking.  15  "For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the LORD of hosts is His name).  16  "I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'"

Jeremiah 1:8-10  "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD.  9  Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.  10  "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant."

Ezekiel 3:9-11  "Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house."  10  Moreover, He said to me, "Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely.  11  "Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'"

I will not be afraid.

I am blessed.

Psalms 37:8-10 NASB  Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.  9  For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.  10  Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

Yep!

 - -

Navel, Hands, and Knees

I heard "health to your navel" and "hands hanging down and feeble knees"

 - - - - -

"health to your navel"

Proverbs 3:5 NASB  Trust in the LORD with all your heart...

Proverbs 3:8 NASB  It will be healing to your body (health to thy navel KJV) And refreshment to your bones.

- - - - -

"hands hanging down and feeble knees"

Ezekiel 7:3-4  'Now the end is upon you, and I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways and bring all your abominations upon you.  4  'For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the LORD!'

Ezekiel 7:8-11  'Now I will shortly pour out My wrath on you and spend My anger against you; judge you according to your ways and bring on you all your abominations.  9  'My eye will show no pity nor will I spare. I will repay you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst; then you will know that I, the LORD, do the smiting.  10  'Behold, the day! Behold, it is coming! Your doom has gone forth; the rod has budded, arrogance has blossomed.  11  'Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness. None of them shall remain, none of their people, none of their wealth, nor anything eminent among them.

Ezekiel 7:15-17  'The sword is outside and the plague and the famine are within. He who is in the field will die by the sword; famine and the plague will also consume those in the city.  16  'Even when their survivors escape, they will be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, each over his own iniquity.  17  'All hands will hang limp and all knees will become like water.

Ezekiel 21:3  and say to the land of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD, "Behold, I am against you; and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.

Ezekiel 21:6-7  "As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight.  7  "And when they say to you, 'Why do you groan?' you shall say, 'Because of the news that is coming; and every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes and it will happen,' declares the Lord GOD."

Hebrews 12:1-2  Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:5-6  and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;  6  FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."

Hebrews 12:11-13  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.  12  Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,  13  and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

 - -

Go To...

"Go to those to whom you are sent!"

That was the emphatic phrase that was on my lips as I awoke this morning.

And He said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. "But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."
Luke 4:24-27 NASB

How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"
Romans 10:15 NASB

So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."
John 20:21-23 NASB

John 17

John 17:18 NASB  "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

 - -

Today was a reiteration of this

Unforgiveness, Sickness, Communion, Healing...

"it is important for me to get into God's presence and be quiet."

Today's point was-

"I need to learn how to get into God's presence"...

--

Twighlight Zone

Wow! Just came out of the craziest week!

I posted on FaceBook:

"So,

will the writer of this Twilight Zone episode that I seem to be living in please step forward...


can I have my life back now?"

That had to be one of the craziest weeks I've had in about 7 years.

The bad news, I was going to lay it ALL down and walk away. My faith, my calling, my ministry...

I was looking for a place to live, trying to find a divorce attorney, and I was walking away from my faith and calling.

?!?!?!?!

"For God's gifts and His call can never be withdrawn." Romans 11:29 NLT

That's a verse to remember...

I saw a piece of paper. On it I had written something that God showed me in church. It said:

"Jonah,


how can they hear except one be sent,


and, lest I become a castaway."

With everything else that was going on, and me dropping everything, a brick to the face would have been gentler!

We all know the story of Jonah. God told him to go to Nineveh. Instead, he jumped a ship and headed the opposite direction. God prepared a big fish, and Jonah spent 3 days in the fish's stomach.

The second part is Romans 10:14-15. Yep, I'm called, but I haven't been "sent" yet.

The last part is 1 Corinthians 9:27; you can preach to others and end up disqualified yourself.

Jonah was sent, but he disobeyed; he paid a price.

For someone to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, someone has to preach it.

Take heed! You can preach and turn right around and lose your own salvation!

Work out my salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12); got it.

That note scared me pretty bad.

I didn't want to die, then have God bring me back just to get the point across.

That was the turning point right there. I did what I had to, to get things back on track and make things right.

What a week!

But it ain't over yet...

--

Will He Find Faith and Skeletons in the Sand

On Wednesday night (9/14) God said, "will He find faith on the earth?"

That comes from Luke 18:8-

"...However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8b NASB

Then I saw the wind blowing the sand. As it blew it started to uncover something. Then as if a pencil was drawing it, things were being added to what was being exposed in the sand.

As it came into focus, what the wind was uncovering was a skeleton. The skeleton was human and it was face down.

That had me a little perplexed at first. Lately, the understanding has immediately followed what I was shown, but that was not the case here.

Slowly, news kept coming in about the church I used to attend, and my wife and I kept bumping into people we knew from there. This started that very night with news about that church's pastor and his continuing decline in health.

We both kept bumping into people, then Saturday, someone came into the shop. As I walked to the back I was reminded of the skeleton in the sand.

The past was being brought up! That was the skeleton in the sand!

But, will Jesus find faith on the earth when He returns?

I thought I was done with that whole situation and there was nothing more I could do for any of those people...

I guess I'll see...

--

Unforgiveness, Sickness, Communion, Healing...

The days started with this-

I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him.  Psalms 62:1 NLT

 - - - - -

In church I saw-

blood on the door posts of the church...

This was important because "something" was coming...

and, I heard-

"I fell as if dead in His presence..."

 - - - - -

In reference to Psalm 62:1, the guest speaker brought this verse-

"Listen in silence before Me, you lands beyond the sea. Bring your strongest arguments. Come now and speak. The court is ready for your case. Isaiah 41:1 NLT

So, it is important for me to get into God's presence and be quiet.

Falling as if I were dead refers to Revelation 1:17-

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if I were dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. (NLT)

I am at the verge of break through. God is telling me to get in His presence and let Him minister. I don't know if this is going to be a powerful revelation of just a visitation like I've never had before; either way, sounds good to me!

Now, the blood on the door posts...

I had unforgiveness in my life. I had said the words, but I had not forgiven them in my heart. I didn't know what to do.

It was getting bad. My "spiritual" condition had manifested itself in my body. I was sick. My head was pounding, my nose was running, and the pain was excruciating. I knew if I could get to the altar at church and pray, I'd be alright.

Well, the service had almost come to an end. Then one of the elder sisters spoke up and said, "Somebody has unforgiveness."

OH!!!

I almost left without dealing with it!

I went to her husband and told him I had unforgiveness, and asked if both of them would pray with me.

Monday morning I awoke in possession of not only the healing, but an understanding of what I had done. That was James 5.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 NLT

Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:14 NLT

God knew my heart. He called me out, I confessed my faults to my elder brother an sister, and they prayed for me.

The blood on the door posts of the church...

Like I said, God knew my heart. Communion was scheduled for the evening service. Communion, passover, blood on the door posts...

Communion, the broken body of Christ. When He was beaten, despised, and rejected, He looked on those who did it, and asked the Father to forgive them! That was it! The love of Christ! THAT is forgiveness!

I didn't fully understand what had happened Sunday until I awoke Monday morning. Then, it hit me like a brick to the forehead.

I confessed my faults, elders prayed, I found forgiveness for others through communion and Jesus Christ, I was healed of my sickness, and now God wants me to get in His presence...

And to think, I get to go to heaven too!

Thank you Jesus!

--

Behind The Curtain

Tonight the curtain was opened. This is the curtain that separates the physical from the spiritual realm.

As the curtain rolled to either side I was looking across a vast darkness. This darkness had a form; it was a multitude of people or beings. These beings were in such a great mass that they were shoulder to shoulder, but i could just barely make out their heads.

I was looking out across them, just a sea of blackness.

Then a stone slab started to protrude out and over them.

This was to show me that darkness (evil) was not coming, it was already here!  It just has not yet been revealed.

The stone slab was a table being set before me in the presence of my enemies.

I need to keep going!

Jesus gave His life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.  Galatians 1:4 NLT

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.  2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT

You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  Ephesians 2:2 NLT

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:12 NLT


You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.  Psalms 23:5 NASB

But we must keep going in the direction that we are now headed.  Philippians 3:16 CEV

and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come--and they did, as you well know.  1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 NLT

Gathering: But Not For The Better! by Chip Brogden

I was sent a link to this on FaceBook

http://theschoolofchrist.org/articles/gathering-but-not-for-the-better.html

Enjoy!

--

Gathering: But Not For The Better!

by Chip Brogden

“Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that you come together not for the better, but for the worse” (I Corinthians 11:17).

Jesus made it clear that “where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Just two or three!

I thank and praise God that Jesus did not say, “Where two or three THOUSAND are gathered together, there I am.” He did not say, “Where two or three HUNDRED are gathered together, there I am.” And He did not say, “Where two or three DOZEN are gathered together, there I am.”

Jesus also did not say where the two or three had to be gathered together. He did not specify a church building or a living room meeting. And He did not say how many times a week they had to be gathered, or if the gatherings had to be structured or unstructured, open or closed, inside or outside.

By establishing His Presence in the midst of a group so small as two or three, Jesus repudiates our fascination with large numbers. Anyone can gather a crowd if you tell them what they want to hear. May I say that a large group has no more of the presence of Jesus than a small group. The numbers are irrelevant. Either Jesus is in the midst, or He is not. If Jesus is not in the midst of us then having a large group of people will not compensate for Him not being there.

I would rather sit on the living room floor with three people and have Jesus in the midst than sit in a service with three thousand people where Jesus is nowhere to be found.

Of course, Jesus can sometimes be found in large groups of people, but as my wife says, He tends to get lost in the crowd.

WHAT ABOUT ASSEMBLING TOGETHER?

Concerning our assembling together, the author of the letter to the Hebrews says:

“Forsaking not the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

Praise the Lord for the simplicity of this Scripture. Once again, we are not told WHERE to assemble (the local church). We are not told WHEN to assemble (Sunday morning). We are not told HOW OFTEN to assemble (three services a week, prayer on Tuesday, youth group on Thursday). Taking this verse by itself, it simply tells us to make the most of every opportunity we have for encouraging one another face-to-face. Yet it gives no direction about where, when, or how many times a week this is to take place.

As a pastor, I misused this verse all the time. I did it in ignorance, but the message I consistently sent out was, “You need to attend more, pray more, give more, and do more than what you’re doing. You need to be submitted to me so you can have a spiritual covering. You need to be accountable to a local body of believers. And if you don’t come to church every time the doors are open and if you don’t participate in every program we have available for you then you are forsaking the assembling of yourselves together!”

Is that really what this verse means? When you read the verses preceding this one [Hebrews 10:24] it becomes apparent that the Spirit of God is not trying to get us to be more faithful to attend church services. In fact, when this was written, Christians did not have “church services” (or church buildings, for that matter).

So what does it mean? If you read the entire chapter (better yet, the entire letter), you find that we are being encouraged to draw near to God without fear, by a “new and living way”, through Jesus Christ our High Priest, Who has already assembled us together as the house of God in order to lead us into the Holy of Holies. [Hebrews 10:19-22]

Based on what we know about the Lord’s Ekklesia, we could just as easily say, “Don’t forsake the house of living stones that Jesus is assembling together, because there’s no other way to draw near to God!” [1Peter 2:5] But people usually find what they expect to see, not what is really there. So we nullify the Word of God with our tradition, missing the blessing and turning it into a burden.

IN THIS I PRAISE YOU NOT

Jesus said if HE is lifted up then HE will draw all men to HIMSELF. Instead, we lift up religion and draw all men into an institution.

Are we suggesting that Christians should never go to church or have fellowship with others? Of course not. But we ask, can fellowship only occur in the context of a church meeting? Once we realize that our fellowship is supposed to be based on a relationship with Jesus, not a relationship with “church”, we will discover that there are more opportunities for fellowship OUTSIDE the local church building than there are INSIDE.

That is because Christ-based fellowship lasts as long as you are abiding in Jesus, while church-based fellowship only lasts as long as you are attending that church. When you go to their services and support their agenda then they love you. Once you leave, and they realize you are not coming back, they want nothing more to do with you. The reality is simply this: their fellowship with you is church-based, ministry-based, man-based, or money-based, but it is not Christ-based.

The true character of a church, fellowship, or ministry is not judged by how they receive you when you join, or how they treat you when you are there, but rather, how they send you when you go, and how they relate to you after you have left.

Many churches, gatherings, meetings, ministries and fellowships do more harm than good. They should be shut down because Jesus does not have the preeminence there. Thus, they serve no Kingdom purpose. I am convinced that most churches exist only to give the pastor someplace to preach on Sunday. The meetings continue but no fruit is produced. They are dead branches still clinging to the vine that need to be hacked off to make way for new growth.

Paul told the Corinthians that when they came together it was not for the better, but for the worse. To be sure, they gathered together. They were faithful to assemble. But their gathering together was not a testimony to their faith, it was a testimony to their division. Actually, they were not assembling together at all, they were assembling separately. “Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you!”

The apostle says it would be better for them to stay home than to gather together for the worse, have division, teach heresies, despise the church of God, bring shame to one another, eat and drink damnation to themselves, and come together “unto condemnation” (see I Corinthians 11:17-34).

This is strong language. When was the last time you heard a message on that? What pastor is willing to stand up and say, “There will be no more services until we can learn how to come together for the better, and not for the worse.” Not many!

IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD’S DAY

Brothers and sisters, do not be deceived or troubled. If we are one with the Head then we are one with the Body, even if we are not physically gathered together; and if we are NOT one with the Head then we are NOT one with the Body, even if we ARE physically gathered together. How can that be? Because Jesus is building His Church, and it is a spiritual house, not a physical house.

This principle is clearly demonstrated in the life of John the apostle. Exiled to the Isle of Patmos because of the testimony of Jesus, he was physically isolated from other believers and had no face-to-face contact with any of the churches. He had no “covering”, no “accountability”, no “authority” no “local body of believers”, no “fellowship”. He seemed to be cast off into a corner, forgotten.

But John says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.” He maintained connectivity to the Head and to the Body of Christ by way of a spirit-and-truth worship walk. This connectivity is spiritual, not physical, not social, not geographical. Because of this, John received a clear vision and a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ. As a side benefit, John knew the exact spiritual condition of the seven churches of Asia, even though he was not assembled together with them.

It is better to be alone and be in the Spirit than to assemble together and be in the flesh, going through the motions of Churchianity, gathering for the worse, and not for the better. Jesus said,

“Isaiah was correct when he prophesied about you hypocrites, saying, ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouths, and they honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me, and they worship Me in vain, for they teach as doctrines the commandments of men’” (Matthew 15:7-9).

Friends, there is a more excellent way! The Father is actively seeking and recruiting for Himself people who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus is setting them free from vain worship and traditions of men, and He is gathering them together into a spiritual house of living stones. The Holy Spirit is leading them into an ever deepening, ever increasing relationship with Christ. With them, every day is “The Lord’s Day”!

While everything not established on Christ is being shaken, those who are being reduced to Christ are receiving a kingdom that cannot be moved. It is a wonderful time to be alive and to see God’s Purpose being fulfilled! Why would we be content with anything less? He has given us new wine and new wineskins. Let us seek the preeminence of Christ in all things, and when Jesus does gather us together in simplicity, He will be in the midst, and our gatherings will be for the better, and not for the worse. Amen.

What If...

So,

what if,

what if this scripture right here -

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."  Matthew 7:20-23 KJV


What if those, the "many" were 98%?


That would mean that only 2% make it.  2%!

So, if you have 100 people in your church, only 2 would make it (and you might NOT be one of them!)!



What if nobody knew this but you?

What would you do?

What if you tried to tell people, but they wouldn't listen?

What would you do?

--

Vacation, Easy Come Easy Go

From my FaceBook page

Oh!

So I'm at the shop today.

2 of the owners walk in with a friend of theirs.

Their friend asks about getting his gun collection appraised.

I explained the right and wrong way of doing this appraisal for his insurance company.

Then I find out that he is from out of town.

He says I'll have to come to Myrtle Beach to appraise them.

MY VACATION!!!

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then,

one of the owners says,"He can email you the info right?"

Then his buddy agrees.

For just a few seconds, I had a vacation coming; then it vanished.

Unbelievable!

Just as quick as the opportunity came, it left twice as fast!

Well, since I got dumped on today, somebody else can clean the toilet...

Or, better yet, somebody can email me a picture of the bathroom... and I'll do that by email too! 

Ya, that's it!


Hey, wait a minute. 

They pay people to clean the toilets at Disneyland, don't they? 

I'm getting a vacation one way or the other!

--

The Finger of God

"the Finger of God"...

that's what I heard.

I asked someone if that meant anything to them, but it didn't.

I looked it up when I got home.

"But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Luke 11:20 NASB

So, if the "finger of God" is present when the kingdom of God is present...

Then there's this verse-

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.  Exodus 8:19 NASB


This ties in with what God was showing me about the staff

In Exodus chapter 8, God is using Moses and Aaron to show miracles to Pharaoh to convince him to let the Israelites go. When Aaron smacks his staff on the ground, the dust turns into gnats (possibly mosquitoes). Pharaoh's magicians could NOT duplicate this. They testified that "this is the finger of God".

There is a time coming, coming soon.

God wants to set His people free.

There will be great signs, wonder, and miracles.

When we see these miracles, we need to understand that they are by the finger of God...

that means the kingdom of God has come to us!

Study while there is time...

there will be a test...

--

The Line, God's Standard

This morning, when I closed my eyes, I saw a line.

This "line" was God's standard.

This is the "standard" that we all have to live up to.

This is the "line" that we will be judged by.

I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away.  Isaiah 28:17 NLT

Then He showed me another vision. I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight. And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" I answered, "A plumb line." And the Lord replied, "I will test My people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins.  Amos 7:7-8 NLT

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world.)  Zechariah 4:10 NLT

Impenetrable Wall

This morning I could see a wall. The wall could not be breached. It appeared to be cinder block, white or gray in color and infinitely high.

Somebody started running toward the wall. They ran like they were going to break through it, or die trying.

As soon as they got to the wall, God's hand came down and raised the wall off the ground.

The runner shot right under it.

As the runner realized that he had gone under the wall, he came to a sliding stop.

This area beyond the wall was vast, without borders, and dark. The scene was illuminated from above. There was nothing there but vast, limitless blackness.

The runner looked around, then started running again.

I thought this was something for the church I was visiting, which it was, but is was really for me-

I was the runner!

--

To Denominate or Not To Denominate, That IS The Question

It has been bugging me for a while; I wanted to join this church we have been attending...

BUT,

God never gave me the go-ahead.

Everything seems so good, but something was up. There had to be a reason, a solid reason why we couldn't join, and, most importantly, there had to be scriptures to back up and explain everything.

Then one morning a couple "joined" the church. During the member acceptance thing (speech), the pastor was reading out of a book. There was something said to the gist of do you promise to uphold the blah, blah, blah of the "general assembly".

What? What was that?

Something kind of clicked inside letting me know this is why God had not released me to join this church.

I went on to research everything I could find on the denomination.

There was nothing out of line.

Everything was in order. Everything was in line with scriptures.

I could NOT find a single thing wrong with anything anywhere.

Okay, so what now?

I started searching out the scriptures to see if I could get an answer.

There was something about that promise to the general assembly.

I started with looking at "vows" in the Bible. I looked at every verse, but nothing clicked.

I next looked into "oaths" in the Bible; nothing there either.

I pondered and prayed, but nothing came forth.

I talked with some of my friends that are in deliverance ministries and they laughed. The general thinking by deliverance ministers is that you CAN'T join any church. I have explained that I have a wife that has a call of God to work with children; she feels we need to be a part of a church to do that. My kids would like the comradery of going to a church with a good youth group. My son has gone as far as to tell me specifically that he does not want to be the son of a preacher nor does he want to go from church to church (nothing like a little PRESSURE, huh?!). I explain this and people say, "hmm... I'll pray for you".

Then, something clicked last night. What do you do with an oath?

You "SWEAR".

"Swear", that's it!

I started looking that up...

"'Or if a person thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil--in any matter one might carelessly swear about--even though he is unaware of it, in any case when he learns of it he will be guilty.  Leviticus 5:4 NIV84


This is in reference to unintentional sin.

???

Unintentional? How about "presumptuous"?

Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.  Psalms 19:13 NASB


Or,

Don't let me do wrong on purpose, Lord, or let sin have control over my life. Then I will be innocent, and not guilty of some terrible fault.  Psalms 19:13 CEV

So it is boiling down to a sin that will control me, whether unintentionally committed or presumptuously.

Obviously, God does not want anybody to commit any sin whatsoever, whether on purpose or otherwise.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  Hebrews 12:1 NASB

There is no obvious sin that I can see, but it seems there is some hidden snare that God is trying to keep me from.

Faith. If it ain't in faith, it is sin.

My friends, above all else, don't take an oath. You must not swear by heaven or by earth or by anything else. "Yes" or "No" is all you need to say. If you say anything more, you will be condemned.  James 5:12 CEV

But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; Matthew 5:34 NIV84

--

Staff Smiting the Earth

This morning I saw something hitting the ground. It was round. As it hit the ground there was a circle of dust that rose up. The view that I had was from way, high up. The place that it was striking was where I would have been standing, but I was not in view.

It was a "staff as it smote the earth".

"You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs."  Exodus 4:17 NASB

'Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood.  Exodus 7:17 NASB

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.'" They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats through all the land of Egypt. Exodus 8:16-17 NASB


Webster's 1828 Dictionary:

Staff
STAFF, n. plu. [G., a bar, a rod. The primary sense is to thrust, to shoot. See Stab.]

1. A stick carried in the hand for support or defense by a person walking; hence, a support; that which props or upholds. Bread is the proverbially called the staff of life.

2. A stick or club used as a weapon.

3. A long piece of wood; a stick; the long handle of an instrument; a pole or stick, used for many purposes.

5. An ensign of authority; a badge of office; as a constables staff.

8. In military affairs, an establishment of officers in various departments, attached to an army. The staff includes officers not of the line, as adjutants, quarter-masters, chaplain, surgeon, &c. The staff is the medium of communication from the commander in chief to every department of an army.

This is interesting...

--

Ezekiel's Wheel

I was listening to a good sermon before church this morning. The man said,
"You can spend too much time trying to figure it out, and you'll miss the miracle."

Hmm, for a guy like me that likes details, that a very good point!

Back to lasts week's church services for just a moment.

In the morning service, I had my eyes closed and I could see a vertical sheet of water, actually two of them; one on either side. The water was not still, it was glistening and rippling in all directions. Then, one of the ladies took off shouting and praising God as she walked all over the auditorium.

During the evening service, I could see a bed of hot coals. There was a stick or a torch that was beating the coals and causing them to throw sparks every where and flame upward. Then the pastor really had him a time. He was crying and had a very difficult time closing the service.

That was last week.

This morning was interesting. I was looking for a miracle, but didn't want to get lost in the details on the way there.

I saw something, but it is hard to describe.

Have you ever seen a lake or pond that was perfectly still? The reflection is a perfect image of what it is reflecting. Now throw a rock in it. The ripples move through the whole image.

What I saw was sort of like that, but it was on a vertical plain, kind of like a shock wave moving through everything around me in the church. This was 3D.

The ripples were moving through everything.

I told God I didn't understand what I was seeing, but I didn't want to get wrapped up in details and miss the "miracle".

Then it changed. This is even harder to describe. It was like rings inside of rings, the way the shock waves or ripples were moving and distorting everything on a vertical axis.

Then it hit me- rings inside of rings! Ezekiel's wheel! WOW!!!

I was trying to find the specific references in Ezekiel and discovered that what I saw today and last Sunday is related.

And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. Ezekiel 1:12-13 (NASB)

Spirit, coals, torches?

Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings, for each of the four of them. Ezekiel 1:15 (NASB)

Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. Ezekiel 1:19-20 (NASB)

Wheels, spirits?

Ezekiel 10:15 says these "living beings" are cherubim.

Cherubim?

Above these 4 cherubim, is the throne of God, (Ezekiel 1:22-28).

Also called the "Glory of God", (Ezekiel 10:18-19).

So, coals of fire and torches last Sunday, the "wheels" today, visible evidences of God moving amongst His people...

Dare I say that the Glory of God was present?

Wow!

I guess we don't have to wish, hope, or pray that we will, some day, see the "glory of God" in church...

IT'S HAPPENING EVERY SUNDAY!!!

WOW!!!

--

Metal Core Country???

Here in Greeneville, TN we have an interesting mix.

Of course, there are a lot of people that like country.

This is why I have attended gospel singings in the area; not for the music myself necessarily, but because I know it will draw a crowd. I just want to see people saved.

Then, there's the crowd that likes heavier music (like myself). Most of us are quite content to listen in the privacy of our own homes whether tv, internet, or what-have-you.

I think I discovered a blend of the two genres, sort of.

Tell me what you think via my Space or Face Book.

--

Deteriorate - Demon Hunter

Love this song. Found the lyrics at http://www.christianrocklyrics.com/

If you have a mySpace account you can give it a listen.

Artist:	Demon Hunter
Album:	The Triptych
Song:	Deteriorate

Time has had its way with me
My broken, tired hands can't build a thing
The wires that have held me still
Embedded now in flesh, define my will
The idle of my days has won
The empty I have fed has made me numb
Despite what you will find in me
The failures of my past still swell beneath

(Pre-chorus:)
I need a heart that carries on through the pain
When the walls start collapsing again
Give me a soul that never ceases to follow
Despite the infection within

(Chorus:)
Our careless feet leaving trails
Never minding the fragile dirt that we all end in

This is where I find my fall
The cares that held me life don't work at all
And every step away from here
Is closer to the plague I hold so dear

Awaiting my end
Breathing in the day that finds me new
Redemption begins
Bleeding out the flaws in place of you

(Chorus)

-- 

Easter, Revisited

It all started with some comments on "Easter":

Easter, Really???

Easter, Really?! part 2

Easter, Really?! part 3 

Easter, Really?! part 4

Easter, Really?! part 5

Now I've been upstaged in a most, EXTREME way:

 

 

I just don't know what to say now...

-- 

 

 

 

 

 

Independence Day Reflection

Independence Day

The day that we won freedom from our British oppressors. We became the United States of America.

Many fought and died that day. They died for a dream; they died for a cause.

God blessed us with the victory so we could have our own country, our own government, one nation, under God...

Freedom.

Freedom is a precious thing, a gift, a gift from God.

A long time ago, God raised up a man to free His people. That man was Moses; the people were the Israelites.

God just wanted the people to follow Him. He promised to take care of them and feed them every day.

God was visible to them in the form of a cloud during the day and a column of fire at night.

All they had to do was follow God and He would take of them...

but they didn't make it. They angered God with their fussing, bellyaching, and threatenings.

They never made it.

We have freedom. We have the same deal - follow God and He will take care of us.

So how are we doing with it, 235 years later?

The so-called "right wing" is politically obsessed,

but where is their god?

Everybody is depressed;

where is their freedom?

People are hard pressed to darken the door of a "church" once a week,

only to just sit there, and, somehow, that is "serving God".

People fuss, bellyache, and threaten.

Is God happy with us?

Are we going to make it?

--

Dear Soldier

As I sit here, looking at these images,
images of soldiers, soldiers in strange places,
fighting strange people, far from home,
fighting for me, I stare in disbelief.

Dear soldier, you don't know me.

Why would you fight for me?

Why would you fight for my freedom?

Why would you fight for my safety?

You don't know me.

Do I deserve your dedication, your loyalty?

Do I deserve you?

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for these brave souls!

Father, I thank You for every soldier!

I don't know their names, but You do.

They don't know me, but You do.

Father, watch over them. Blaze a trail before them. Every place that the soul of their boots treads upon, give it to them as a possession, just like You did for Joshua, in Jesus' Name.

Heavenly Father, give them strength, give them health, safety and wisdom, in Jesus' Name.

Father, give them the VICTORY, no matter what the cause, no matter what oposes them.

Cause their enemies to flee before them in all direction,

or,

give them a clear sight picture and good trigger control, in Jesus' Name!

Father, when they sleep, send Your mighty warrior angels to watch-guard over them, in Jesus' Name.

Father, I want to see every single soldier in Your Heaven. They are always willing to pay the price, and Jesus already paid the price for them.

Father, won't You save them?

Father, whatever it takes, please make sure that they are saved, every one.

I don't know them, but You do.

They don't know me, and they don't have to. But, they need to know You.

They need to know Your Son Jesus as Lord and Saviour. They need to commit themselves to You, just like they selflessly commit themselves to my safety.

Father, please save every one.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen 

--

FaceBook Spankin, The Legacy

Hmm,


"Friend Requests and Messages Blocked for 4 Days

"To prevent you from contacting people against their wishes, your friend requests and your ability to send messages to strangers have been blocked for 4 days.

"Friend requests are more likely to be accepted when you send them to people you already know, such as classmates, friends, family and coworkers.

"If you use Facebook to communicate with strangers, they have the option to report that they don't know you or to mark the communication as spam. If this happens repeatedly, you could be viewed as violating Facebook's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities.

"If more of your friend requests are later marked as spam or reported for being sent to strangers, this block could be extended. To prevent this, you can cancel your pending friend requests.

"After this 4-day block has been lifted, please only send friend requests to people you believe will accept your requests.

"I understand that this block could be extended if I ignore this warning."

Well, here we go again.

Yesterday, I said, "I haven't slacked off. I'm still sending friend requests every day."


Oh, well.

The first time was 2 days. This time it's 4.

Go to my FaceBook page (you have to be logged in to FaceBook)

http://www.facebook.com/duane.hatter

and send me a friend request, I'll approve you.

FaceBook Jail, AGAIN!

--

Follow-up on FaceBook Spankin'

I had previously posted Facebook Spankin'

I'm amazed how many people have clicked thru and seen that. I'm far from being a viral web sensation, but that's a lot of page hits for me!

What I find most interesting is that FaceBook has lightened up and allowed me to send more friend requests than before.

???

That doesn't make sense. They told me that they were putting me in a 2 day timeout where I couldn't send friend requests. The next step was going to be worse, up to the termination of my account (or something like that).

I haven't slacked off. I'm still sending friend requests every day.

Were they bluffing (automated message), or do they just not want any negative press? I would assume they have better things to do than watch somebody like me, but...
It's not like I'm a heavy hitter in the blogosphere or anything.

I'm thankful anyway.

I'm not trying to hurt, bother, or spam anybody. Quite the opposite, I want people to live and live more abundantly.

I want people free!

Whether it's Twitter, Facebook, or anything else, all I do is post scriptures.

"I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." John 5:24 (NLT)

Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life." John 6:68 (NLT)

Does not My word burn like fire?" says the LORD. "Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29 (NLT)

"It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow." 1 Corinthians 3:7 (NLT)

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the One to whom we are accountable." Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)

"Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved." John 5:34 (NLT)

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God." John 3:3 (NLT)

So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'  John 3:7 (NLT)

If you can't handle The Word, you can't handle life.

My intent is not to make you feel better;

I want God to make you better.

--

Good Church Service Tonight

Wow, what a night in church.

It started with some good praise and worship.
Then, I ended up praying through the whole service.

I did that before, praying through a whole service.
This time it was better, much better.
Just like before, I got to wear Elijah's mantel.

That strong anointing was there too.

I had that anointing Friday also. God gave me a message, but I didn't get to preach it. I went to church, but didn't get to deliver the message. I'm not complaining, just observing.

Everything is getting really intense and it keeps increasing. I feel like I'm going to burst at the seams!
It's like I've got the gas pedal pushed to the floor, but the brake is on. I just want to dump the clutch, smoke the tires and roll!

But it's got to be God's timing, not mine alone.

I do have some stuff to follow up on tomorrow:

The morning service provided me with a brochure on becoming a "chaplain".  That's cool!
That's something God told me to check into again.
But, this would have me affiliated with the "Church of God". I'm not big on denominations or denominational affiliations.
I've only just recently become aware of "religious" demons. I don't want to have them cleared out of the way just to make room for spirits of "denominational pride".
I'm not going to be careful, but I will go into this prayerful.

The evening service reminded me of the nursing homes. The pastor said he worked the nursing homes for 10 years before he got this church. He said the pay is bad (try $0), but it is a wide open field.
Wide open? Cool!
I want to see people saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost.
God agrees with me on this.
I want to see devils cast out and people healed in Jesus' name.
That's what God called me to do.
I want to deliver God's message of "hope".
It's His message.

Nursing homes, here I come in Jesus' Name!

I'm still wondering about the jail. I'm called to Greeneville, but God is going to have to make a way.
I've got a way into the Morristown jail, but that's not where God called me to work. I've got a real burden for that place though. People are getting saved, and that makes me rejoice; but there is great resistance too. There are too many involved that bring that watered down synthetic Christianity. I can't work with people like that or be allied with them. I'll keep praying for those that have the Real Thing and for the conversion of those that don't. ;)

I'm on the TN "Volunteer" list with the prisons. We don't have any of those in Greene County...

Can you break a spiritual tooth by the proverbial "chomping at the bit"?

Maybe I need to work on my patience.

I know God loves me.
I love Him.
I know what He has called me to.
He is faithful. He will do what He said.

--

I Can't...

I Can't -  

by Duane Hatter

I can't stand by and watch,
I can't stand by and watch anymore.

Not while the innocent are trampled,
not while the children are mutilated.

The harmless are afraid,
and love is depressed.

I won't stand by and watch,
I can't stand by and watch.

Let my hands be the healing hands of God!
But not me, only for You.

Let my voice be the voice of God that drives out demons!
But not me, Lord; only for You.

I won't stand by and watch,
I refuse to stand by and watch.

Let these eyes be filled with Your Compassion, OH Lord!
but not me, Lord; only for You.

Let this heart beat in rhythm with Your Son!
but not for me, Lord; only for You.

Not my will, oh Lord; Your will be done.
I can't stand by and watch...

 - -

Apostles, Prophets, and Revelations, Oh My!

I was a little bummed because I just haven't seen the power of God in church.

I think my post on "church pizza" was spot on.

Then, I got to working on a few pages on my website yesterday. There were some links that needed to go, some new ones to be added, but then there were a few links in particular that I hadn't even fully investigated myself.

The one in particular led to a page titled "Are There Modern Day Apostles and New Testament Prophets Today? by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D."

When you get done reading my post here, you need to click through on that link and read that article.

Apostles and prophets? 

Prophecy, now I've been giving that a lot of thought lately. Back in May when things started happening, I noticed the prophecy. God was laying things on my heart and mind so I spoke them. But then, those things started happening. That caught me by surprise and was quite humbling. For some reason I thought prophecy was a strange thing for ME to do, after all, God called me to be a "missionary" and to cast out devils.

It goes back to revelation. God will reveal Himself and His plans to those who seek diligently after Him.

Why should we think that the occurrences of John and Paul were so unique?

John was just a young man when he started out. He didn't know anything, but he really loved Jesus.

Paul was a devout and zealous murderer; a christian killer to be exact.

Why were they so special?

God CHOSE them.

Has God chosen you? If you have any doubts, do a New Testament search for the word "chosen".

God reveals Himself... God's Kingdom has Power... apostles and prophets...

So, last night, I was just bummed. I didn't even want to go to church (Oops! Did I type that out loud?). My wife wanted to go so I "went with her".

We got there, and they didn't have a song leader so they commissioned my wife. It appeared they didn't have a speaker so I was asked (and I almost didn't go!).

As it turned out, they did have a speaker. Interestingly enough though, the scriptures I would have given if I spoke, were covered by somebody else via testimony; I made note of that.

As the speaker brought his teaching on "offenses" (interesting, considering the past month's events!), something he said grabbed me. He had something specific he was going to give me. At the end, he asked me to come up, and he prayed a specific (God-led) blessing over me. I gladly received that!

After the service I got to talking to the fellow that testified. It took a little while, but I realized he WAS A PROPHET!

OH MY!

He didn't go by a specific title of "Prophet So-And-So", but he was the real deal.

At the end of our long conversation he said, "We'll have to go to the hospital together."

What?! I have been thinking all week about the guy who was SUPPOSED TO GO to the hospital with me to minister, but never did (that was last year).

So here's this guy, didn't know him before this conversation, and, OH MY!

So where's the power? He's got it.

So where are the prophets? He is one.

So who has God revealed Himself to lately? He can tell you and so could the speaker.

So when are you going to release me to go minister in the hospital, God? Very soon.

I think the last thing he said got to me even more - when God calls you to do something, He just rolls it out and IT'S DONE!

Oh, ya.  

"for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  Philippians 2:13 "NASB)

It's God's work. He's doing it. He will see it through.

What a night...

--

God Club

I'm still a little bummed (in Jesus Name).

Church prospecting, well, we're not just supposed to preach the Word; God's POWER should be displayed too.

Where Is the Power?

Not like a club meeting, but really seeing God's power. I crave it, and I know I'm not alone!

Then, there's this-

"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."  Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)


Have you ever thought about that verse?

Have you ever sharpened a pocket knife or watched it done?

Dragging the blade across a stone... little pieces are scraped and ground off... I mean, OUCH!

Imagine yourself for a minute, being dragged across a course stone; little pieces of you being ground off...

Do you get this?

OUCH!

But it is for our good, right?

To be complete, and needing nothing... James 1:2-4

--

Facebook Spankin'

Uh boy!  Give me a break!

Facebook, Facebook, FACEBOOK!

I sent too many friend requests and somebody complained.

Now, I'm locked down for 2 days, in FaceBook Jail, and can't submit any friend requests.

I think in the state of New York, and maybe Illinois that would classify as defamation and/or degradation of character. Some hack attorney, a corrupt judge and I'd land half a million dollars! Maybe I could change it to

Face-Duane!!!

Anyway...

I'm laughing on the inside. There's a big smile on my face as I type this. I'm only just slightly perturbed.

We could have some fun though. Everybody that reads this pass this on to your friends. Tell them to click on my FaceBook page and send me a friend request.
http://www.facebook.com/duane.hatter
It will probably hiccup, but follow through with the error report. We could flood FaceBook with a million requests...
Demand that they release Duane Hatter from FaceBook friend request jail!
It will become a web trend.
If we hit this hard enough, they'll even talk about it on the evening news-

"A Greeneville TN man was wrongfully jailed for submitting too many friend requests on FaceBook. Police patrols have been increased for fear of riots and looting.  Mark Zuckerberg was unavailable for comment."

What is FaceBook? Is it not a book-of-faces? I mean, everybody in your friend list, do you know them?
I mean, do you really know them?
Do you really, really know them?

Come on, I've got 261 "friends"... do they really know me?

Of course not! That's my point.

I'm not "spamming" anyone. I'm not trying to link people to an offshore pharmacy website,
I'm not trying to get them to an online casino,
I not even trying to get anybody to check out a male or female, young or old, straight or otherwise, single or multicolored dating/sire/escort service website.

I'm not selling anything....

It's late. We'll pick this up tomorrow...

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