The TWO Halloweens

I had a realization today about Halloween.  Like Christmas, there are two ways to look at Halloween.  The traditional way with demons, devils, skeletons, ghost and death.  Then, the secular Halloween where you may enjoy the fall colors, candies and costumes. (Meaning bible characters and comic super heroes)

At first, I really struggled at this one, as Halloween is about demons, ghosts and wicked characters, not at exactly a Christian thing, but the bible does mention as such. Hmm . . .

I have to admit, we enjoy the Halloween colors. Orange, tan and black as well as many others that was suggested by Google image.  It has the fall colors and many us like that part of the season.  

 Next we like the candy and our children love the candies.  I saw last year, where kids are now using pillow cases for a“Trick or Treat”  bag. Well, we had the big brown grocery bag, now some have the plastic grocery bag and others have a designated / modified bag.  Hmm… oh my, has time changed.

Then there are the costumes, as children and adults like it.  Children like to dress up as their Super Hero, fictional character and Bible character, BUT wait!! Some adults do too. Hmm . . .

Well, as I am reasoning with myself here, I see what’s so doable about Halloween.  (That is, the generic secular Halloween with the COLORS, the CANDIES and the COSTUMES.  

But my friend, the bible says “Come now, let reason together”  Isaiah 1:18

“Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.

What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus, His blood that was shed on the cross, His sacrifice, is for you and for me.  And for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Call on Him today.

Enjoy the Halloween,  but call on Him and live for Him.

God Bless you, have a great day, a very great day!!

Rev. Dan

His Disciple

“Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after an experience with you becomes your trademark”

I saw this on a salesman's email and it spoke to me as a servant of the Lord.  

We, who are bible preachers, teachers and workers of the Lord could learn from this statement.  Jesus said "to Let them know that you are "His Disciple" 

There are many ways to do this, first, after your salvation experience and make a public profession that Christ has come into your heart and then be baptized, fully emerged in the water, buried with in baptism, raise to walk in newness of life.  It identifies you with Him to the world.  (Obviously I am Christian baptist)

(Church of Christ & Salvation by baptism, we can debate this later, for now, let's be labors together)

Then show the world that you are a praying person and a bible studying person. Jesus said don't be as the pretender or hypocrite, drawing attention to yourself but rather humbly exhaust Him.  Let your light so shine that the world may see.   That men may see your good works.

Bible study can be seen in your manner of life. As many see you doing what the bible says to do. Going to church, helping the poor and the sick.  Fellowship with other Christians. You are letting the world know who you are based on the word of God.  Many will not understand your wisdom, but many will see / notice where you stand and that YOU are one of His disciples.


God bless you friend, I hope this is informative and spiritually educational.

Rev. Dan

(ps. there's really not a debate, for we are saved by grace through faith)  PTL !!

The Gospel landmark

The Gospel, Landmark it

I enjoy Word studies. I enjoy studying words and looking up their definitions.  So it was today with the word “LANDMARK”

Here’s the suggested definition from Google, when it typed in on the on the computer:

noun: landmark; plural noun: landmarks

1.    1. an object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance, especially one that enables someone to establish their location.

2. an event, discovery, or change marking an important stage or turning point in something.

 Anyway I like what I saw and God spoke to my heart and mind. PTL!!

 

First, an object or feature . . . That is easily seen and recognized from a distance . . .   we as Christians need make the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ a “landmark” for those who are afar off.  The Gospel, we need to landmark it” So that lost souls can find it on their journey of life.  A landmark will be pointing them to God.  The promise is in the bible. God said my word will not return void.  Jesus said the seed is the word.  So as we plant it and landmark it many will see it and have the opportunity to be saved, become a Christian.

The Second part of the definition is good too. “an event, discovery or change . . . turning point in something”  WOW, and what does the gospel do?? What power does it have??  But to change and is a turning point. The gospel brings change and for the good. See Mark 5 and Luke 8, the man was changed and in his right mind.

The Apostle of Paul said the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation, and I believe that and I have seen that.  Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For “everyone” the Jew, which could mean those with religion and the Greek, those is some knowledge.

So “the Gospel” we need to landmark it so that it can be seen and recognized, then be a discovery, change or turning point.

 

 

Dear friend, are you at a turning point in your life, does there need to be a change??  Have you discover this, has God brought it to you mind. If so, call on the name of the Lord Jesus, for whosoever shall on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Trust in the Lord, repent from your sin, Believe in Him.

May God Bless you,

Rev Dan

PS. "The Gospel " learn it, landmark it, love it, live it

#Godisgood

 

 

 

Salt and Light Christian

The Salt and light Christian

Matthew 5:12-16

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The salt and light Christian two things with two functions and two lessons.  I have  heard this used in a prayer.  Asking God to  help us to be salt and light,  which, I think is a good thing. So, let us consider these thing two things today and draw some spiritual applications for our lives.

Salt is a preservative. In the old days, before refrigerators, salt was used to preserve meat in the old smoke house.  This allowed one to "keep" the meat for many days.   As Christians we need to be salt to keep and preserve God's words, ways and wisdom.

Also salt is flavor.  Flavor enhances food.  We should enhance lives by adding love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness and meekness.

And then, salt cleanses. It can cleanse wounds.  And they are a lot of wounded souls our that need healing. (watch out, it may burn) but it's part of the process. And the one with the wound may lash out at you, but be patient, longsuffering and pray for the God' grace.

Light, let your light show shine that men may see your good works.  Light is suppose to be seen.  Light can be for security as we have security light that guards things.   Light sheds light, literally reveals those things in the dark.  Our light should reveal the goodness for the Lord. Many cannot see the goodness of the Lord these days and we need to show it to lost and dying world for the Lord.  And similar to salt, light is used to clean and cleanse as it our allows you see bad spots.  This too, can be uncomfortable to others but we have to let our light so shine!!

I am reminded that as I was on social media one day and I tweeted a message to call on the Lord that day and that salt hit a lost man's wound and he was uncomfortable with my message.  Or, the light of my message so shined on this lost man and it revealed something missing in his life and he lashed out at me. It was much like waking up somebody from sleep with the light.

In any event, we must be salt and we must be light in our Christian lives.

 

But if you are not saved, you must be born again to become a child of God. So call on Him today, accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, call on Him and He will save you.

God Bless you,

Rev. Dan

The Rebuttal

The Rebuttal

Well, there is no doubt that I am a “media preacher” as I use the given “media” to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ also God’s words and ways.  I have in the past used the media of radio and now I am using “social media”, Facebook , Twitter and this blog.  Well, I just had my first rebuttal on social media with Twitter.  It was very mild, as I got a comment for wishing everybody a Happy Columbus Day and to call on God today.  I was told “Thank you for showing the world your casual racism and religious fanaticism.  Well, looking on the bright side this, I saw a couple of good things.

#1  the world saw my comment / message.  I think that’s a good thing.  That’s a motivational factor and it fulfills the great commission. See Mark 16:15   #2  I am showing the world that I am a religious fan.  The actual word was fanaticism, but I am a Jesus Fan, and that’s ok.   I’m for God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the three in one.  ( Some are sports fans, some exercise fans, ... well you see where I am going . . . . )

The third point “casual racism” is so illogical, I guess, I do not know enough of the world’s wisdom to understand this one, unless it had to do something with Columbus being the first white man to discover America or that it’s just inferred that all religious  people have  “casual racism”  Hmm…

Anyway, two out three is not bad and it’s was kindly on the good side.  Recognizing the promotion of my message to the entire world and being a Jesus fan, isn’t too bad.  But the racism is a little much.  ???

The bible says to endure hardness as a good solider of the Lord and I still say it was very mild.  Unfortunately, this may happen more often and be very harder in these latter days that we live in. We as believers need to pray for the needed grace of God in our lives. For God will help you and God will help us.

Yes, God will help you, but YOU need to call on Him today. Be saved by grace and then you will become a child of God.  For by grace are you saved and not of yourself, it is the gift of God!!

God bless you, God loves you, Amen!!

RevDan

The Fountain of the Father

The Fountain of the Father

A true story, I was going to work one morning in my F150 pickup truck.  As usual, I dropped off my son at his work and started to my place of employment.  It was that kind of morning were I needed some inspiration.  A couple of days earlier, I had a gospel quartet CD in the radio, as I like to do that on Wednesday, ( I guess it’s an old habit from years ago) where Wednesday night was church night, mid-week service and prayer meeting.  But I had my son to put in the gospel CD that day.  The gospel quartet sung this song “The Fountain of the Father” and there by myself in my Ford pickup truck, God spoke to my Heart and mind.

One the great themes of the bible or lesson that is taught, is if one is thirsty, he can have a drink of water.  It’s full and free.  It’s very satisfying when you are in need of water or thirsty.  God provided water from the rock in the Old Testament in Exodus and Jesus had water from the well in John 4 and promised “a well of water springing up unto eternal life” 

But the Fountain of the Father is there today and still flowing spiritually.  Although, as it’s very interesting, it has been said the water from the rock is still flowing today in Israel and the same well is still producing water. Perhaps, its God way of sending the literal and physical message to the world and for ages to come.

In the bible, moving water is a spiritual type of the Holy Spirit and still water is a spiritual type of the word of God (scriptures).  And yet you need both for salvation service of the Lord.  As you read or hear the word of God, then the spirit of God moves on you.  If you are lost, in need of salvation of the Lord or as you read scriptures and the spirit moves you to serve for God.  You will need both.

 

So come to this fountain, the Fountain of the Heavenly Father.  The Spirit says come and the bride of Christ, which are the believers in Christ says “come” come to the fountain which is full and free, PTL!!

Let the waters of the Fountain fill your life and make you whole!!

God Bless you friend,

RevDanSam

 

 

Web to deceive

Web to deceive

The other morning as I was entering my F150 pickup truck to go to work, I noticed a Spider had built a web on my door up to the mirror.  The sun light hit the web and I could really see the pattern of web.  And then God spoke heart and mind.

 

I thought of the poem, “Oh, what a wicked web we weave to deceive” but also I thought of the reason for the web, it’s to catch other insects for the spider.  For an insect may fly in the web even walk or jump into the web and become capture then fall victim to the spider.  And so it is with the world, the flesh and the devil.  So many times they will lay out their web and wayward victims will get caught in their web and become trapped.  I noticed, in this case the spider was in the middle of the web waiting for its prey.

So friend, here is where you need God in your life. The bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths) 

 

Also I mention the light showed actually revealed the web and we need God’s light to show us the way. God’s light can shed light on your path, peace and need spiritual provision.  When the light shined on the web I could see its beauty and deception. My friend you need God’s light in your heart, home and life.  Turn ye unto God and he will turn unto you.

 

For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For with the heart man believes and with our mouth confession is made, marvel not, ye must be born again.  And you can through the Lord Jesus Christ.

II Tim. 2:26 says, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive ^[i]by him to do his will.

So be careful in your walk and talk, use God’s light to help you being deceived and doubtful. One of the biggest traps is Deception and doubt. Ask God to lead you and guide you. That’s what He said that He would do in your life. 

God Bless you friend,

RevDanSam