Well the TV series "The Bible" continues to be a favorite for my son, (a HS senior). And it's become a family time thing, as we are watching the show together as a family and . . . . we are talking !! (the Good Lord works in mysterious ways !!) PTL ;-) And once again, there was another scene that touched me. I mentioned, in another blog, that the Abraham & Isaac scene touched me and this one with Jesus and Peter did too. Peter was in the boat fishing or the lack there of, as he had not caught anything, then Jesus came. As our Lord was walking toward Peter near the shore line, he stopped and picked up a rock and kinda looked at it and he saw Peter. Being a bible student that I am and seeing the symbolism, I smiled and chuckled with in myself. "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!!" And upon this Rock, this man's statement, Christ said I will build my Church. Peter would become that foundational leader of the disciples and spiritual leader on the day of Pentecost. He was a rock in his following Christ, in his faith in Jesus and in his future to become a great leader for the first century Christians and us. Was Peter perfect, of course not, he was human, he had up and down moments, but he was learning from the Master. OJT, on the job training, for himself and for us. Jesus was really teaching them on what to do for He would not always be with them. Three years of training for the Twelve disciples and Peter would be the leader of this band of men.
So in the scene, Jesus picks up a rock and seem to say I need a rock and then we see Peter. And I thought this was a good thing and I smiled. Now, are there some inaccurate things in the series, I think so, but I like what the show is doing with my family. We are talking together and learning together. I understand it's become the top TV show and of course, the secular world still does not recognize it, but we are not surprised about this.
But dear friend, God may be talking to you and leading you to a belief in Christ. If so, trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, call on Him today, right now, now is the time of salvation, call on Him while He is near. While He is in your mind, in your heart and on your TV set?
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Feeding the birds
The Ministry of Feeding the Birds
After I resigned from my first church, I became emotionally and mentally down. The devil always attacks when we are down. Then I remembered one of my Bible college professors. Dr. R.C. Henry. a cheerful happy man, Evangelist, Pastor, Bible teacher and prayer warrior. He had many stories about revivals that he had preached and the churches where he had been pastor. A statement that he had said was ringing in my head. He said that he likes to help the Lord feed the birds in his backyard. I would drive by his house and he had a very clean yard and a very pretty garden in his back yard. We called it Hengry's Gardens, and He did too. :-) Anyway, He helped the Lord to feed the birds. You know, there is the scriptures in the New Testament about the Lord's care for the fowls of the air. And Dr. Henry took this scriptures literally. He said with joy in his heart and a smile on his face, I am helping the Lord feed the birds. Well, that rung in my heart and mind. It was a cold winter day with a little snow on the back porch. Being a little down, I thought to myself, I can feel the birds, I can help the Lord to feed the birds. So I took some bread crumbs, maybe some cornbread and threw it on the back porch. I walked away thinking that there would be an immediate result and then I came back minutes later, there to find some little birds pecking at the bread. my knees weaken and a tear came to me eye. And it seems I thought within myself, hearing the Lord say I am not done with you, you can still feed the bird for me. (PTL)
I believe that the good Lord works at many times and in many ways. And this was one of them. I know that the Lord is powerful enough to feed the birds without me. But I think He does want to use us and work through us. Perhaps He is speaking to you. If so, hear ye Him. And call on Him while He is near. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart.
Maybe the Lord wants you to feed the birds or maybe He just wants to use you for service. Become a child of God and then seek to find how he would like you to serve him.
God bless you,
RevDanSam
Prov. 3:5-6
After I resigned from my first church, I became emotionally and mentally down. The devil always attacks when we are down. Then I remembered one of my Bible college professors. Dr. R.C. Henry. a cheerful happy man, Evangelist, Pastor, Bible teacher and prayer warrior. He had many stories about revivals that he had preached and the churches where he had been pastor. A statement that he had said was ringing in my head. He said that he likes to help the Lord feed the birds in his backyard. I would drive by his house and he had a very clean yard and a very pretty garden in his back yard. We called it Hengry's Gardens, and He did too. :-) Anyway, He helped the Lord to feed the birds. You know, there is the scriptures in the New Testament about the Lord's care for the fowls of the air. And Dr. Henry took this scriptures literally. He said with joy in his heart and a smile on his face, I am helping the Lord feed the birds. Well, that rung in my heart and mind. It was a cold winter day with a little snow on the back porch. Being a little down, I thought to myself, I can feel the birds, I can help the Lord to feed the birds. So I took some bread crumbs, maybe some cornbread and threw it on the back porch. I walked away thinking that there would be an immediate result and then I came back minutes later, there to find some little birds pecking at the bread. my knees weaken and a tear came to me eye. And it seems I thought within myself, hearing the Lord say I am not done with you, you can still feed the bird for me. (PTL)
I believe that the good Lord works at many times and in many ways. And this was one of them. I know that the Lord is powerful enough to feed the birds without me. But I think He does want to use us and work through us. Perhaps He is speaking to you. If so, hear ye Him. And call on Him while He is near. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart.
Maybe the Lord wants you to feed the birds or maybe He just wants to use you for service. Become a child of God and then seek to find how he would like you to serve him.
God bless you,
RevDanSam
Prov. 3:5-6
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Bible TV show
My son has taken a genuine interest in the History Channel
program “The Bible”. He watches it to learn
and ask many questions. It really agrees
with Him being a techno kid and being raised in a Christian home. He is a son and grandson of preachers and I
feel that thinks this is a way to learn the bible, in an audio and video kind-of
way. (just like many today) I wasn’t too thrilled about the
show, because when Hollywood puts their twist to a bible story, they really
MESS it up!! Although, after watching
this show, it gives me a little more appreciation for the Charleston Heston’s
movie “The Ten Commandments” especially in Moses’s role at the Red SeaJ. But we, Mom and the boy, watched History
Channel show as a family. (The wife
thought it’s like many preacher’s sermons, being much to long) ;-) On the second day of the show, My son wanted to know has the show made it to
David and the giant?? Well, it’s
good to sit with him and watch TV with dialog. (we actually talked) ;-)
While I use to be a skeptic, this time I watched with an
open mind. And one scene really got to
me. The Abraham and Isaac sacrifice
scene. Seeing the potential emotions of Abraham and
he following by faith made me tear up and put a lump in my throat. Especially when Abraham lifted his knife with
the intentions of slaying Isaac, but before he could, God called his name, and
provided a little white lamb. Thinking
back it makes me want to shout!! And the
film makers added in the calling of Abraham’s name and the provided lamb to
sacrifice. In my mind and heart I could
only think about our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, John the Baptist identified
Jesus as the Lamb John 1;29, truly as God provided a lamb in Genesis and with
Abraham, God provided Himself a lamb for us. And it was His son, Jesus, a
sacrifice to take away the sins of the whole world for you and for me.
I think this TV program opens a way for many preachers to preach and
teach these stories while there is knowledge of them. It could lead many to God
and to Christ for salvation. It’s
already given our family good family time and I do rejoice and will rejoice.
Dear friend, God moves at different times and in different
ways, please be sensitive to His call. Now is a time call on the Lord and trust
in Him will all your heart. Then He
shall direct your path.
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Running the race
Hebrews 12:1 - let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Well, after Blogging about our walk and our stand, I feel led to blog about our run or literally running the race. As I write this, I realize, the Apostle Paul or the writer of Hebrews, especially this section, chapter 12, the writer is an observer of the athletic runner. What great lessons and spiritual lessons that we can learn from being an observer of people, places and things. Perhaps, He noticed the runner training for the Olympics. One place he saw their striving hard in the practice and said you know, the Christan believer needs to strive as hard as the runner does in living the christian life. Practice leads to performance.
But here, in Hebrews 12, he first talked about the weight that can hinder the runner. The runner needs to be slim and trim. Don't let the weight cling and encumber you. To weight you down and cause our race to be a hard task. Our past and present weights can hinder our future or reaching the goal.
Then He talks about the w-a-i-t, the wait or the patience. It's an interesting thing. There's a farmers patience, which when He plants, he gives it time to grow, a cook's patience, which mixes the ingredents, and gives it time to cook and a needed runners patience. The runner does not need to burn out quickly, but rather he needs to endure. What a great lesson for us all. So many flare up a fire but then burn out quickly never to be seen again. A steady pace is needed in the run.
And then he talks about the way, which is the actual race. It's the path that is before you. Run the race that is set, placed, before you. Not looking else where but the way or path that YOU are in. It's personal, it's yours, the christian father or mother, husband or wife, son or daughter, the Christan worker for the Lord. Run the race that is before you.
But dear friend, we must stand then walk, walk before we run, be saved and born again to be on His team. The call of salvation is before service and it's before the race. Call on the name of the Lord and be saved. He that believes hath life. He that believes shall not perish. Believe in your heart, trust in Him today.
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
Well, after Blogging about our walk and our stand, I feel led to blog about our run or literally running the race. As I write this, I realize, the Apostle Paul or the writer of Hebrews, especially this section, chapter 12, the writer is an observer of the athletic runner. What great lessons and spiritual lessons that we can learn from being an observer of people, places and things. Perhaps, He noticed the runner training for the Olympics. One place he saw their striving hard in the practice and said you know, the Christan believer needs to strive as hard as the runner does in living the christian life. Practice leads to performance.
But here, in Hebrews 12, he first talked about the weight that can hinder the runner. The runner needs to be slim and trim. Don't let the weight cling and encumber you. To weight you down and cause our race to be a hard task. Our past and present weights can hinder our future or reaching the goal.
Then He talks about the w-a-i-t, the wait or the patience. It's an interesting thing. There's a farmers patience, which when He plants, he gives it time to grow, a cook's patience, which mixes the ingredents, and gives it time to cook and a needed runners patience. The runner does not need to burn out quickly, but rather he needs to endure. What a great lesson for us all. So many flare up a fire but then burn out quickly never to be seen again. A steady pace is needed in the run.
And then he talks about the way, which is the actual race. It's the path that is before you. Run the race that is set, placed, before you. Not looking else where but the way or path that YOU are in. It's personal, it's yours, the christian father or mother, husband or wife, son or daughter, the Christan worker for the Lord. Run the race that is before you.
But dear friend, we must stand then walk, walk before we run, be saved and born again to be on His team. The call of salvation is before service and it's before the race. Call on the name of the Lord and be saved. He that believes hath life. He that believes shall not perish. Believe in your heart, trust in Him today.
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Our stand with Him
While it’s still fresh on my mind, I wish to blog about our stand. I discovered this thought while writing about our walk. (see the blessing of the walk blog) But before we can walk we have to stand and then move toward our designated direction. Some can start walking from the sitting position, eventually you have to become up right in a near standing position and then you walk. The runner in a race will almost kneel at the start of his race only to become up right while in the run and increases speed toward the goal. (and by-the-way kneeling in prayer is a good place to always start, but that’s another blog some day J). But, we must STAND first and then make that step. But how do you stand with the Lord?? How is your standing with Him?? For our stand will dictate our walk and literally the direction we go with Him. The bible says in the New Testament in Ephesians therefore stand for Him. The Apostle Paul had seen the gear and the armor of the soldiers and knew about the helmet, the breastplate and shield. But he said we should STAND and literally hold your ground. And our stand needs to be on a firm foundation and that is the rock, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope is built on nothing less, the Jesus’ blood and His righteousness!! Truly, all other ground is sinking sand.
But dear friend, there are many things in life, but the first thing is salvation with the Lord. You must be saved and you must be born again. As earth dwellers and creations of God, but we must call on the name of the Lord for salvation. This is for our justification and our redemption. John 5:24 says “24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Matthew 6 tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
So first stand then walk, first be saved then serve Him.
God bless you friend,
RevDanSam
Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Blessing of the Walk
The walk that we have is either our physical walk on this earth or our spiritual walk with our Lord. After being in the hospital and having gout in my feet, I have learned the blessing of the walk. It's a necessary part of your life. It is very easy to take-for-granted. Some has a fast walk, some have a slow walk, some have a normal walk, but it's different for many based on age. Children have an energy walk, parents have a steady walk and older people have an enduring walk.
It has come to my attention the blessing of the walk. That natural thing that we all do. Where we stand up and then step into the direction that we need to go. But when you are unable to WALK, you or perhaps myself, see walking in a different light. When you see so many doing it so easy and you are unable to do that easy task or that even a necessary task to function, it makes me think what a blessing that it really is and I do not want to take it for granted.
So it is with our spiritual walk with the Lord. It's really easy, prayer, bible study and fellowship with believers. But that leads to living a separated life and doing a service for Him. Our walk will determine, what we do, where we go and how we do it. It will determine our relationship with God, with people and with our self. And when the three are in line we can attack life and live for Him.
The bible says Noah walked with God, also Abraham and Moses, David and Daniel. The Lord Jesus walked with God also Peter, John and Paul. They took an easy natural task and made it their meaning of life. WOW! Is their a lesson there FOR US to learn? It's really the blessing of the walk.
I do want to walk with the Lord. And I want to just take a walk in a park. Both seem very hard for me right now, but in either case, I know the Good Lord will help me !! Turn ye unto God and He will turn unto you !! Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. In ALL thy ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.
But dear friend, you must be born again, this day salvation needs to come to your house. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
As for as our walk, the song "Trust & Obey" says, when we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory it sheds on our way. Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but trust and obey.
God bless friend, thank you for your time,
RevDanSam
It has come to my attention the blessing of the walk. That natural thing that we all do. Where we stand up and then step into the direction that we need to go. But when you are unable to WALK, you or perhaps myself, see walking in a different light. When you see so many doing it so easy and you are unable to do that easy task or that even a necessary task to function, it makes me think what a blessing that it really is and I do not want to take it for granted.
So it is with our spiritual walk with the Lord. It's really easy, prayer, bible study and fellowship with believers. But that leads to living a separated life and doing a service for Him. Our walk will determine, what we do, where we go and how we do it. It will determine our relationship with God, with people and with our self. And when the three are in line we can attack life and live for Him.
The bible says Noah walked with God, also Abraham and Moses, David and Daniel. The Lord Jesus walked with God also Peter, John and Paul. They took an easy natural task and made it their meaning of life. WOW! Is their a lesson there FOR US to learn? It's really the blessing of the walk.
I do want to walk with the Lord. And I want to just take a walk in a park. Both seem very hard for me right now, but in either case, I know the Good Lord will help me !! Turn ye unto God and He will turn unto you !! Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. In ALL thy ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.
But dear friend, you must be born again, this day salvation needs to come to your house. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
As for as our walk, the song "Trust & Obey" says, when we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory it sheds on our way. Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but trust and obey.
God bless friend, thank you for your time,
RevDanSam
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Waiting and Watching
My son and I are Rail Fans and my wife has caught on too. Many times you can find us waiting at a designated spot by the railroad tracks waiting to take a picture of trains. Mainly a steam trains and some diesels trains too. Norhfolk Southern, CSX , Union Pacific or BNSF we like them all. While waiting for the train to come by is what made me think about writing this blog. The first thing you learn to do listen for the train whistle. Then you know the train is near and you need to get your camera gear ready. Some of the times you hear a false sound. A car horn or a big truck horn which lets you down because you know it’s not the real thing. Many times false prophet will make a false sound concern the coming of Christ or even the end of the world. They will give a designated time and place then say the Lord will return. In my years of ministry I have seen this from time to time, but we just continue on because of our love for the Lord. To help us in our rail fanning, we decided to buy a radio scanner so that we can hear the conversation of the engineer or hear the maintenance check from a rail unit indicating no defects. Usually a unit will be at a certain mile maker and it will sound a defect if there is a problem such as a bad wheel or ball barren. And this helps us to get ready, meaning setting up our cameras or getting to our designated place to take a picture of the coming train. Spiritually, I think sometimes we need to turn on a spiritual radios and raise our in antennas try to hear from signals heaven. For God is telling us to get ready and go to our designated place then get ready to hear from Him. What is He trying to talk to you about??
Many get the call for service confused with the call of salvation. The Lord always calls you before He uses you. See Noah, Abraham and Moses in the Old Testament then Peter and Paul in the New testament of the bible. Really, the Lord’s more interested in making you a son than using you as a servant. He wants to establish a relationship with you first, and then He can use you. And it’s during that time that He separates the men form the boys. Besides it’s your relationship with Him that will get you through the rough and restless times.
WOW, how did I get from rail fanning to hearing and waiting on Him?? Well, they are much the same in a certain way. With trains and the Lord we have to be watching, waiting and hearing.
Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
First call on Him today and then He will use you.
God Bless you Friend,
RevDanSam
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