Defining Prayer

I 've been invited to teach on prayer by my home church. We have also talked about leading prayer for the church, so I started thinking about prayer and wanted to share my thoughts with you.

A friend of mine who pastors in Missouri, defined prayer like this:
"Prayer is more than saying prayers. It is more than a religious exercize or duty. It is communication with the Father. It is joining forces with him to carry out his will in the earth. It is entering into vital contact with the Father at his throne to fellowship with him or to get something changed in your life or another's. Learning how to pray consists of learning how to enter the Father's presence to visit or transact business."
Isn't that great and simple and clear?
It's nice to have a working definition of what you want to do, but after that, you have to start praying. You will never learn to pray just by reading about it.
If you love God, talk to him like you talk to a friend, and yet with the respect you owe him. Don't put on a religious voice, just talk.
Are you thankful for anything? Tell him.
Do you need help, or strength, or grace to change a habit? Confess your weakness and ask your father for help.
Does your family or friend have a need that they can't fix alone? Ask him to help them by meeting that need.
Understand that the cross purchased more that a place in heaven when you die. John 1.12 declares, "But to everyone who receives him, he gives them the power to become a child of God..." You have a place in heaven because you are his child ... now, and you are important to him. The Lord says, in Jeremiah 33.3, "Call out to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you don't know."
If you are new to this, I can tell you, you are starting on the greatest adventure. You are being invited to share in the rescue of the people on this planet that Jesus died to save. Read Ezekiel 22:30, 31 and join with him and with us as intercessory prayer partners that learn from Jesus to pray and change the destiny of nations!

"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land (the people) so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none."

He's still looking today. Will you learn and join the team?

Talk to me by the "Comments" button below.

Hold to God's Unchanging Hand

This post is titled after a song I grew up hearing my mother and my Grandmother (on her side) sing to themselves either as they worked or in times of prayer. To get a full effect, read each verse and then follow it with the chorus:

Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God's unchanging hand!

Chorus:
Hold to God's unchanging hand
Hold to God's unchanging hand
Build your hope on things eternal
Hold to God's unchanging hand.

Trust in Him who will not leave you,
Whatsoever years may bring;
If by earthly friends forsaken,
Still more closely to Him cling!

Covet not this world's vain riches,
That so rapidly decay;
Seek to gain the heav'nly treasures,
They will never pass away!

When your journey is completed,
If to God you have been true;
Fair and bright the home in glory,
Your enraptured soul will view!

"I heard Mama and Papa sing this as they went about their work from as far back as I can remember. It means so much to me." Betty Strickland, commenting on the this song.

I called my mom today and asked her to send me the words to the song, "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand." As I was meditating on it, I thought of yet another old song, with words that compliment the one above.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus love and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus name.

Chorus:
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.

I hope you will let its timeless message break through to your soul and spirit today. The core message of the Bible, is that Jesus Himself has stood between us and the destruction that we, through our sins, deserved. That He, himself, took our place in God's judgement of sin and gave us a share in His eternal place of favor with God. And that, finally, the only requirements for receiving this immeasurable gift of forgiveness of sins and redemption for both now and forever, are for you to believe this great news and to vocally identify yourself with him, by making him the king of your life. What that means is that you pray to God and say something to this effect:

Almighty God,
I come to you with nothing in my hand to pay you what I owe you.
You are God, the Creator of everything in the material world.
What can I bring to you that you don't already have?
Only one thing. I bring you my right to choose.
I believe that Jesus lived a righteous life.
I believe that Jesus died for my sins, a just person dying for an unjust person.
I believe that what he did on the cross satisfied my debt to you, owed because of my personal sins.
From here on, I identify myself with Jesus as my Lord and Commander. Everything I can learn about him and what he wants me to do, I will make it my business to learn it and do it.
I know I will need your help and I ask you for it now.
I Make Jesus my Lord, Now and Forever!
Amen.

So, what are you waiting for?
Do it now!
Welcome to the Family!


Questions? Click on Comments below and follow the instructions.

Since Leaving Manila and What I am doing now!

Thank you so much for your time and the answers you gave me. I will be praying for everyone mentioned. I am grateful to know about you and your family's ministry activities. Would love to get email addresses of any of these folks that wouldn't mind corresponding with me. I will be praying for you and with you in the days ahead and would love to hear from you concerning national issues and church issues.

Are you aware of any VCF or Every Nation outreach to Muslims? If so, would it be possible for me to correspond with the people leading those efforts? If not, would anyone there be interested in talking about the need to have one?

I am asking you so many questions, that you may be sorry you contacted me. Ha! I'm not sorry! I'm thrilled and ready to pray in earnest for your continued blessing and success.

I live in West Columbia, TX, and I drive 60 miles to work and 60 miles home every day. It's a wonderful extra two hours a day for prayer, worship and fellowship with Jesus. I am working with the Dow Chemical Company in Texas City, Texas. It is a suburb of Houston, and is the last spot on the mainland before the highway crosses Galveston Bay going to Galveston Island. I am an OSHA compliance Technician. That means I help keep Dow's work practices in maintenance and construction in compliance with US Federal Requirements for Environmental, Health, and Safety laws. I work as an inspector of work practices and conditions, and I get invited out to do motivational speeches to large projects, business groups/associations and businesses who are trying to improve their safety performance.
Every company in the US is required to track the work related injuries that happen in the course of each year and report it to the government. Insurance companies use these rates to set your company's insurance bill, etc. One other aspect of my business life that has crossed over with my ministry, is that I have pastored many, many people in the corporate community and related contractor communities, who do not have a church or minister of their own. I have married them and buried their children. As a result, some of these have given their lives to Christ and are planted/flourishing in productive local churches.

I am writing several books right now, and progress on this has been slow, because of the requirements of my job and ministry. More on that later.

My ministry license is maintained with a group called "The Fellowship" out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area and we found a great Spirit-filled church in the Brazoria, Texas area, that is impacting the whole region. Beth and I have been there for 6 years. Before that, I pastored an Assembly of God church in Freeport, Texas. In the years, I traveled to preach in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Congo, England, Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico and others. My job is keeping me closer to home these days, and I guess that is ok, cause many Muslims are moving to America. They are here in great numbers in Houston and the surrounding communities, and we are researching ways to build bridges of relationship to them.

American Churches have basically ignored them and I am praying, writing, and organizing prayer efforts to change that. At least they ignored them until 9/11. Now, the church people are struggling with feelings of anger and fear toward them, just like the general population. That is not right, but it is how things are now. Politically, the US is divided between wanting to fight the radicals who have declared war on us (Republicans) and ignore them and hope they go away (Democrats). The business people want to sell stuff to them and the Christians want to ignore them. With God's help, we won't stay that way. I am not a peacenik that says we can ignore the unlawful activities of rogues in and out of the United States. But as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I am under a mandate to bless and pray for those who hate me, curse me, and say all manner of evil against me falsely, because of Jesus. I am not given the right to hate, or to ignore "the lost" of any group. I feel like the Muslims are a great frontier of evangelism, a new "treasure hid in a field," and that it would be worth selling out to claim a portion of this great treasure. 1.4 billion people claim to be Muslim... and a lot of them will come to Jesus if they are given a chance.

Thanks again, Emil, for making my day and letting me know how you are doing. I bless you and your wife and kids. I speak God's blessings on your business interests(I would like to more about what you do, also!). I bless your church and the churches associated with it. I am thrilled that you and many others who we are friends with, were wise enough to "jump" when Christian Life made the turn that they did. I could not have stayed for those changes.

With love and blessings,

Phil and Beth

What has happened in the Philippines since we left!

Phil,
I have commented on your letter in italics:
Emil,
Yes I do remember you. Thanks for the reminder.
Yes, my wife Beth and I worked for KCM and lived in the Avalon
apartments not too far from you and the Castillejo family.
I am so proud to hear from you and to know you are going on with God.
Do
you see any of our other friends? Like the ones you mentioned? I know
about Welson and stay in touch with Tecson. What about Chris and Joe
and
their families... Are they well? Do you keep up with them?
- Yes, Joe Fabregas is doing very well, serving God and lives in Malaysia. He attends our Every Nation Church in Malaysia. He is a businessman and has plans of moving to the U.S., Married w/kids
- Julius Fabregas is a pastor in Victory Christian Fellowship. He also heads a VCF ministry (TALENTS IN CHRIST)to actors and people in performing arts and media. He is married with kids
- Joe and Julius have been in VCF even before me and my wife joined the church.
- Chris Castillejo is based in the U.S. in Ventura California. He has been in the U.S. for more than 15 years. I know that he is active in his local church(I’m not sure if that is Jubillee Christian Fellowship). Chriss is still single
- I am in regular contact with these guys
How is Diane
Castillejo? What about Chris and Diane's Mother and Father?
Dian and her husband attend the church of Paul Chase south of Manila. I think that the parents of Chris also attend the same church.
Ricky and I
have seen each other here in the US several times over the years. How
is
he doing?
I haven’t seen Ricky for some time, but I get to talk to him every now and then. He is married.
When did you leave Christian Life?
Did you know Bobby Rebullida(I am not sure of the spelling) from
Christian Life? I will never forget how God used him in Bacolod, to
minister to a priest who had seen a vision of a man carrying a burgundy
Bible... It became a flourishing fellowship related to Christian Life
at
that time.
We left Christian Life when the church was turning to become Orthodox or Episcopalian Catholic. I don’t know the term, but they shifted into a denomination that is supposed to be a cross between catholic and Greek orthodox. We left when they started having liturgical masses once a month.
Bobby Rebulida (and a lot of others) left the church. Bobby started his own Christian church in Makati.
I have friends named Benny and Carmelita Langouan. They have started a
church in La Trinidad (close to Baguio) in connection with Paul Chase
and his ministries. Benny was his worship director for many years. Is
this the VCF fellowship you are a part of? I mean the same
organization...?
-I am not sure.
I would love to know about Jovie Galaraga, who was with the Foursquare
Denomination. I don't think you would know him, but he was a great man
of God with a good and honest heart. I had heard that he was publishing
some ministry magazines.
Yes, I know pastor Jovie Galaraga. In fact, he and his family have joined VCF 7 years ago. I think pastor Jovie works with us full time, I’m not sure if this is in VCF or in Every Nation .
Do you hear or see much of Eddie Villanueva? Does he and the churches
he
directed still stand in the truth?
I know that Eddie Villanueva’s church JIL (Jesus is Lord) is still going strong and are doing okay. We have close relations with JIL as a church.
Wow, Emil! Thank you for this contact. Stay in touch and let us be
prayer partners to anything you are doing that is an assignment from
God. I am working in a large chemical company that has branches in
Philippines, China, and all over the world. I manage industrial safety
for the construction and maintenance of the plants they build. I speak
to hundreds of people each week, to motivate them to pay attention to
safety as they try to achieve production goals. God has blessed this
job
and I am doing well and growing both financially and in spiritual
influence... And it pays for all the areas of ministry that I am still
involved with.
That is so true, we are all ministers. Some are called to the 5 fold ministry, and some are called to minister in different areas of society.
God Bless You, your Wife and your Children.
We are your friends and partners,
And willing servants of Jesus Christ!
Ps. I am full of questions because I love all you guys and am so glad
to
hear good news about your life and family!
Phil and Beth Strickland
What church and what company are you connected with?
God bless you guys
Emil & Crickette Abello

Emil,
Yes I do. Thanks for the reminder.

Yes, my wife Beth and I worked for KCM and lived in the Avalon apartments not too far from you and the Castillejo family.

I am so proud to hear from you and to know you are going on with God. Do you see any of our other friends? Like the ones you mentioned? I know about Welson and stay in touch with Tecson. What about Chris and Joe and their families... Are they well? Do you keep up with them? How is Diane Castillejo? What about Chris and Diane's Mother and Father? Ricky and I have seen each other here in the US several times over the years. How is he doing?

When did you leave Christian Life?

Did you know Bobby Rebullida(I am not sure of the spelling) from Christian Life? I will never forget how God used him in Bacolod, to minister to a priest who had seen a vision of a man carrying a burgundy Bible... It became a flourishing fellowship related to Christian Life at that time.

I have friends named Benny and Carmelita Langouan. They have started a church in La Trinidad (close to Baguio) in connection with Paul Chase and his ministries. Benny was his worship director for many years. Is this the VCF fellowship you are a part of? I mean the same organization...?

I would love to know about Jovie Galaraga, who was with the Foursquare Denomination. I don't think you would know him, but he was a great man of God with a good and honest heart. I had heard that he was publishing some ministry magazines.

Do you hear or see much of Eddie Villanueva? Does he and the churches he directed still stand in the truth? His church was running 8,000 when I preached there. I've heard 50, 000 now.

Wow, Emil! Thank you for this contact. Stay in touch. I am working in a large chemical company that has branches in Philippines, China, and all over the world. I manage industrial safety for the construction and maintenance of the plants they build. I speak to hundreds of people each week, to motivate them to pay attention to safety as they try to achieve production goals. God has blessed this job and I am doing well and growing both financially and in spiritual influence... And it pays for all the areas of ministry that I am still involved with.

God Bless You, your Wife and your Children.

Phil,

This is Emil Abello from Manila. Do you still
remember me. Tecson Chua said that he was in
contact
with you. How are you? What have you been up to.
Are you still in full time ministry.
Emil


Emil,
Thanks for contacting me.
It has been almost 25 years since I was there.
Could you help me out with some details of how I
know you?
I would appreciate it, if you don't mind.

Where did we meet?
What were you doing at that time?
What fellowship/church were you connected to?

Who are some of our other mutual friends?
Are you still in contact with any more of them or
only with Tecson Chua?

Sometime ago I was in Aruba, just off the northern
coast of Venezuela,
and I met a Filipino brother working there who was a
member of JIL,
Brother Eddie Villanueva's church.

What are you doing now, Emil?
I hope that you are continuing to serve the Lord?
When we came to Manila, Beth and I had been married
for only 3 years...
Now we have just passed our 29th anniversary.
I am 50 years old and I weigh a lot mote than I did
back then.
My two daughters are grown, and beautiful like their
mother.
They are both serving God in strong churches in the
Houston, Texas area.
The eldest of the two is married to a good man and
has given me two
handsome grandsons.
The younger of the two is called into missions and
is preparing herself
to be able to pay her own way and travel the world
as a minister and
servant of Christ.

I am preaching and teaching in my home church, which
is in a fast
growing coastal area, southwest of Houston. I get
invited out to hold
special meetings for youth and missions all over
this region.
I am more in love with Jesus than ever before.
He himself is the greatest gift and promise that
heaven has ever had to
offer.

Finally , in recent months, I have been involved in
Ministry to Muslims.
I am building a prayer network to encourage
believers everywhere to not
be influenced by the media to hate Muslims, but to
love them and give
them justice and for those who hate us... To bless
those who hate you
and pray for those who persecute you and who think
that they are doing
God a favor if they kill you. Pray, and then do
individual acts of
kindness for the ones you meet.

Please refresh and renew my memory and stay in
contact with me. It is a
great pleasure for me to hear from you. God bless
you, your family and
any effort you are making in His Name!

Your friend in Christ,

Phil Strickland

Overcoming Depression and Grief

Just a quick note to remind you...
When you are feeling like nothing is working like it should;
And the prayers you prayed to change them
Didn't feel particularly anointed;
It is time to begin to talk!
Not to others, but to your own soul.
Ask your soul, "What is your problem?"
Tell your soul to quiet down and listen!
" I serve the God of Abraham!"

What does that mean?
The God who led Abraham and kept his promise to Abraham,
Even though there was no book to read or map to follow.
"I serve the God of Isaac."
God kept his promise to Isaac,
Even though he Isaac was not as bold and forceful as his father had been.
"I serve the God of Jacob."
He kept his word to Jacob...
Even though he couldn't because,
Jacob was not the firstborn son.
Jacob was not his father's favorite.
Jacob was not as strong as strong as the brother who was.
Jacob was a weasel and a cheat.
And somehow, by letting Jacob be the victim
Of the same kind of schemes he pulled on others,
God changed Jacob from a schemer to a Man of Trust
And a praying man who prevails over his circumstances,
And a Prince with God, named Israel!
Wow!
Now, memorize this passage from Hebrews 13.7,8.
"Never forget the leaders,
Who first spoke to you the Word of God.
Remember how they lived and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is always the same (to you, as he was to them)
Yesterday, today, and for ever."

Then, remind your own soul of all the times
That things seemed dire, dark and,
That you felt completely alone.
And you prayed then and God came through.
Walk through it all again in your mind,
And quietly give thanks.

Thank you, Lord!
Thank you for what you did.
Thank you for bringing me through.
Thank you for breaking the sin habits
That used to seem would never be broken.
Wow. Wow. Amazing!
I worship you for who that situation in my life revealed you to be.

Now, remember and worship His Name.
He told Moses, "I Am."
Tell them "I Am" sent me.
Because, if that is who He was,
That is Who He still Am (Is)!

Now go do what you must today.
Praising God each step of the way.
Knowing he will see you through;
So live your faith in all you do.

Praise... the... Lord!

Stand For, Fight For, and Pray for Harmony

Last night, I was teaching a good sized group of Texas Christian people about the power and spiritual desirablilty of being in one accord. Or you could say, being in unity, or harmony.
Jesus thought it was so important for believers to BE BEING in unity, or in accord, that he said in Matt. 5 to stop all spiritual activity if you remember while you are doing it that your brother or sister in Christ has any grudge against you, no matter how small you see it.
You know what we American Christian's do? We say, "If you have a problem with me, that is your problem, not mine."
You had better get back in the Word of God, since you WILL give account of such thoughts and actions to the Lord.
Besides that, wouldn't you rather grow by obeying? Or grow even more, to be right and know you are right, and accept being wronged, for conscience' sake? This is an acceptable sacrifice of love in the eyes of God, who did that for you. If he had not, there would be no salvation.
As Jesus put it in Matthew 18. 19, 20 if two or three agree, I am the source of that agreement and your desires are on the right track.
Here is a desire on the right track. What if we all began to 'agree' that we Americans can be found in Jesus' description of the Laodicean Church described in Revelation 3. Then we might 'agree' that we want what he said they should want, for him to give us spiritual gold, refined in the fire; white clothes to cover our shameful nakedness (like our childish grudges and attitudes), and salve to put on our eyes, so that we can really see.
Every choice we make to relax and not take things so seriously at this point, has major consequences for our churches, our children our future and our country.
I call us all to remember the words of the hymn, "Rise Up O Men of God."
Rise up o men of God,
Have done with lesser things,
Give heart and soul and mind and strength,
To serve the King of kings!

And from the Lord of the Rings...
"Hold your ground-hold your ground! Sons of Gondor-of Rohan, mybrothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.
The day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bands of fellowship-but it is not this day!
An hour of wolves and shattered shields,
when the Age of Man comes crashing down-but it is not this day!

This day we fight!

By all that you hold dear in this good earth,
I bid you stand, men of the West! "
Men, Women, Young, and Not so Young!

All of us, we can humble ourselves more than ever and stand together no matter what. On top of that we can stir ourselves to action now, so that we are found ready when the times come that try men's souls.

Cara Called Bubbling Over with Joy. Wow!

My 20 year old daughter, Cara Beth, called me today and said that as she waited at Starbucks Coffee Shop to go to church, a young man struck up a conversation with her about God. He explained to her that the Bible was not any more inspired than his own opinion. That every person has to make his own way to God.
She told him that that doesn't make any sense whatsoever, and that his reasoning was circular and defeated itself.
If your opinion is as good as anybody else's, then at least the opinions in the Bible are good. If they are not, than neither is yours.
Further, it stands to reason that there would be a protocol to approach God, since there is a protocol to approach any other person of importance... Kings, presidents, or even the mayor of a small city.
The Bible gives the protocols and since I've used them, I have experienced tremendous personal experiences with God.

The protocols for approaching God successfully include understanding what you are through sin; where your present choices are taking you; and what you can do to alter that destiny. Here are the protocols.

• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ( The Bible: Romans 3:23, 24)
• For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our lord. (The Bible: Romans 6:23)
• We are proclaiming: That if you will confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (The Bible: Romans 10:9, 10)
  That, she told this man, is the proper protocol for approach to the Lord God King of the Universe.

Now we pray that the Holy Spirit of God will supernaturally follow up on all who hear those words or who reads them here, convincing them of their sins that seperate them from God and cause everyone to need a savior; of the reality that God sent Jesus for everyman and woman on the planet, as a way of escape God's righteous wrath against sin and those who do it; and that by giving himself to die in our place, he took responsibility for creating humanity even though he knew what some would chose; that the Spirit would reveal the judgment that will fall on those who reject Christ's free gift of eternal Life.
Cara was pumped up and full of life from her encounter.
If you have never accepted his free gift, I recommend Jesus to you.
I'm a satisfied user...
Later!

Some Flowers Have Fangs

A friend sent me a picture this morning, of a rattlesnake ready to strike, hidden among some beautiful wild flowers. It inspred the following poem:


Some Flowers Have Fangs

Watch your step,
And how you drive,
Life has dangers,
You must survive.

When you walk,
Must stay alert;
Avoid the things,
You know can hurt.

When you're driving,
Other people strange;
Among the flowers,
Watch for fangs.

All that glitters,
Is not gold;
Don’t believe,
All you are told.

Things look so good,
When seen from far;
Don't sell your soul,
To chase that star.

Guard your family,
Kids and wife;
Bless your husband,
Drop the strife.

What God has said,
You can trust;
To learn his Word,
Is life's great "must".

Watch your step,
And where you dive;
The traps of life,
You can survive.

Some things glitter.
But they're not gold
Don't "buy in"
To all you're sold.

If slick man's tale,
Predicts great things;
Among the flowers;
Watch for fangs!

As you may remember, I was just a few hundred yards away from this explosion in the BP plant next door to Dow-Texas City. As a point of reference, both plants look right across the bay to Galveston Island.
Our firemen responded to this emergency and came back haunted by what they saw.
It makes me sick to hear the leaders of BP stress how they disagree with the findings of the industry study group that came to these conclusions. 15 Working men and women died needlessly and many in BP had been warning of this possibility, and they were ignored. 200 others seriously injured, and only to increase profits. In London, by London, for London. It is going on in other places all the time and their lawyers are telling them to deny, deny, deny!
Shut up, and change the way you do business. Read the report below...

• 
  Subject: Houston Chronicle Report on BP
  
  March 21, 2007, 7:37AMBP lesson on cost-cutting and safety came hard
  By LOREN STEFFYCopyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
  They died for 25 percent. That's how much BP hoped to save through budget cuts in 1999 and again in 2004 at its Texas City refinery, according to a report released Tuesday.
  More than a decade of cutbacks in maintenance and training culminated on March 23, 2005, with a tanker-size load of liquid hydrocarbons spewing forth from an aging vent stack.
  The liquid ignited in less than two minutes and the ensuing fireball turned a temporary office trailer into a deathtrap.
  Fifteen workers died, scores more were injured. BP, which bought the refinery's former owner, Amoco, in 1999, has spent some $1.5 billion cleaning up the mess. That's more than 45 times what it saved in its first round of cuts, according to the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's report.
  "Cost-cutting in the 1990s by Amoco and then BP left the Texas City refinery vulnerable to a catastrophe," the report said, adding that BP demanded cuts even though equipment was in disrepair.
  The CSB report confirms what was long suspected but never stated. Even the independent investigation led by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III danced around the issue, finding no evidence that BP consciously impaired safety with budget cuts.
  With the CSB report, the dancing is done.
  Companies like to argue that cost-cutting doesn't compromise safety. Mergers, like BP's acquisition of Amoco, often require cost-cutting to make them economically viable.
  Out-saving its rivals
  The CSB report reveals the hidden cost of such savings. It shows how cost-cutting can trump safety, and how it can erode the diligence that keeps people alive in dangerous places like refineries.
  In its drive to save money, BP skimped on hardware at the refinery, relying more on front-line employees, even as it reduced their number, their training and their oversight, the report found.
  BP's strategy was to cut costs more rapidly than its competitors, essentially boosting profits by out-saving rivals. It reduced staff, outsourced jobs and even trimmed budgets for programs like fire drills, the report found.
  Between 1998 and 2004, Amoco and then BP halved the budget for its training department and slashed the number of employees to eight from 20, the report said. It replaced the trainers with computer courses.
  In a tour of the refinery in January, former plant manager Colin Maclean told me BP is no longer using computer courses.
  In 2002, an internal study identified a critical need to increase maintenance spending at the refinery. That same year, BP executives in London demanded curbs on expenses, and the vice president of refining said the division's finances were in "crisis mode," according to the report.
  So BP managers said safety was important even as they curtailed new training classes. At the same time, they decided to delay replacing the antiquated blow-down drums, one of which was at the center of the 2005 explosion.
  What's worse, BP itself was aware that it was cutting corners.
  "BP audits, reviews and correspondence show that budget cutting and inadequate spending had impacted process safety at the Texas City refinery," the report said.
  BP, though, never bothered to review the safety impact of its cost cuts, which the report notes is essential at an aging facility like Texas City that had a history of budget cuts that had led to "mechanical integrity problems."
  'Strong disagreement'
  BP issued a statement noting that it accepted responsibility for the accident, that it apologized to the victims and their families and that it took steps to address deficiencies that spawned the disaster.
  BP said it would consider the recommendations of the CSB, even though it has "strong disagreement with some of the content of the CSB report, particularly many of the findings and conclusions."
  The CSB's report, though, targets not just the shortcomings at BP, but the larger attitudes that pervade the industry. Speaking in San Antonio on Monday, CSB Chairwoman Carolyn Merritt said she wanted other refiners to learn from BP's tragedy.
  But will they? Or will the industry continue to hide behind the familiar bromides: refineries are dangerous, accidents happen, workers are aware of the perils.
  The dead and injured in Texas City deserve better. Their suffering should be worth something more than 25 percent to the bottom line.

Hi, folks. I'm back. Sorry to be out so long. May have lost everyone, it has been so long. I have been buried with a new assignment and I will be talking about it as time goes by. Herschel, how are you doing? How's your mom?
Eric, I heard you were having an amazing response and show in Fla... that is great news. I have some great ideas and input on the upcoming project... ie. let's plan a monthlong event as apposed to trying to sign people up for a lifetime commitment. Of course, lifers are welcome. God will have to call them and sustain them.
What about the Stricklands, the Walters, the Threshers, the Steckers? Linda Wilson, how are you.
I have the 2 smartest, cutest grandkids in the world. I am holding their picture up to the screen. Can you see them? I know I'm right. No question about it!!!
Question...
Since we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works, why does Jesus seem to think he has the right to tell us what to do and when?

Ah, Yes! The Real Hillary Shines Through!

In an excellent review of the in-fighting between the "presidential hopefuls" of the Democrats, Donald Lambro (townhall.com 3/1/07) points to Hillary's severe attack against Obama as a reminder of just who these people (the Clintons) really are. This last week, even the traitorous New York Times said that her lashing out sends a message beyond what she intended it to send.

But I think there are far more telling and sinister indicators than this one.

In a warning that went out from her campaign manager, Mrs. Clinton warned all the Democrat fund raisers and workers who may be tempted to support Obama or one of the other Dem candidates, that "We will remember those who were for us and those who were against us," when we become President of the United States.

Have you heard that phrase before? Of course you have. President Bush said that in refering to nations who would or would not stand with us against terrorists who blew down the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. They were/are real enemies. But the only place Mrs. Clinton can think to use that phrase is in a poorly veiled threat against fellow Americans who may prefer another candidate in her own party over her. Can you hear the hiss?

How will you remember, Mrs. Clinton?

Will you keep a list?

Could that be called "an 'enemies' list?"

If you promise to remember, and you keep a list, doesn't that put you in some nefarious company?

Richard Nixon comes to mind; and Evita Peron. (You know, "Don't cry for me, Ar-can-saw-ya! the truth is, I never loved you," Evita.

Just for the record, some of us saw this side of Hillary long ago, and said to ourselves, "Thank God, she has no real authority beyond fame and popularity with the political left. It limits who she can hurt."

Well, well, well! If she becomes president, all bets are off.

It's in her dna. She will hurt people for real, including the Dems on her promised "list."

That is one promise you can count on her keeping.

Later.

Why Islam is Advancing in America and Around the World

This is not an attempt to give a scholarly treatment of the questions we Christians ask about Islam's worldwide advance. This is an opinion based on having travelled in Muslim areas of the world and observing its advance in America.

Islam is on the move because they have "the Eye of the Tiger." They are hungry. Hungry for victory. Hungry for glory for their God and their Faith.
Hunger is a great motivator. It drives a man to work who otherwise would not work. It causes men and women to be willing to sacrifice, scrape together resources, and move to new areas in order to achieve the goals for which they hunger.
They hunger for and crave vindication for their faith, and they lay themselves, their money and their children, on the line to achieve the goals in which they have been taught to believe.
AND THEY FAST IN UNISON. When they do that, they release tremendous spiritual power. It does not matter what/who the source of that spiritual power is. Their rich people fast. Their poor fast. The young and very old participate in the fast, and it sends shockwaves of spiritual power and influence and credibility throughout the earth, and gives spiritual life and energy to their causes, their evangelism efforts, and their discipling. Even when that discipling is in Wahabbism, a radical Islamic sect and doctrine that is being taught in many of their AMERICAN mosques. Al Quaeda is an offspring of the Wahabbist doctrine.

No system, or religion has ever elevated as many people and brought blessing to as large a number of people, as the worship, obedience and discipline of Jesus Christ. Islam hasn't.

Judaism didn't. It birthed Christianity and we owe them gratitude for our existence and for the foundation that they laid of the worship of God and of the Law and the Prophets upon which we base our faith.
We are not better, higher, smarter, or more loved by God than them.
We make mistakes, and we have our charletons who claim our banner and don't really practice it.
But America's system of thinking, our conviction that everyman is accountable for his own success or failure, and our willingness to let a man choose his own way AND either enjoy the consequences of his choices or suffer them, have brought tremendous blessing to more people than any other system in recorded history.

But we are in big trouble.
We have become victims of our own success. Many of us have come to value security more than freedom. Both as a nation and as followers of Jesus Christ, we have become soft because life is not as hard as it was even 30 years ago. We have lost our hunger and our thirst for victory, for sacrifice, and for the glory of our God, our nation and our cities.
We don't want victory, we want ease.
We don't want compassion, we want insurance against any kind of sacrifice and loss.
Our country, our churches, and our families are divided.
There is no national leader to stand up and say, "I am calling this nation to fasting and prayer for the success of our national and spiritual goals."
No one stands up and says "I will lead the charge in fasting and prayer. I don't have to fast, but I long for justice and compassion and for 'what is right' to prevail over wrong! So, I will be fasting and asking the help and guidance of almighty God, knowing that if He doesn't intervene, we don't have a chance at either national or personal success. Won't you join me in my quest?"

We have lost our "blessing," which was the source of our success in the past.
We think it was our education. It was not.
We think it was our superior philosophy, but the philosophies that did succeed, came from the teachings of Christ.
What "Blessing," you may ask?
Why, the "Blessing" that was promised by Jesus to those :

• who were poor in spirit, not haughty in spirit;
• who mourn(weep and fast) over the toll on humanity of crime, disease, disasters and unjust courts and governments;
• who were humble and meek, not the two-legged sharks;
• who hunger and thirst for justice, not those who glory in greed and injustice;
• who were merciful to their neighbors and family, not turning their back on those who are in need or suing them over minor or imaginary offences in a lust for unearned wealth ;
• who are pure in their motives, not having manipulative alterior motives;
• who are working for peace, not using the disadvantage of others to constantly stir up discord;
• who are making a stand in behalf of those who are being persecuted for doing and desiring what is right and just and fair.

THAT BLESSING is the blessing we have lost as a nation, and as a church. Jesus has the power and authority to bless those who pursue these desires, from any nation or background. The Scriptures say, in Colossians 1:15-17,

• "He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him were all things created: things in heaven and on earth, visible or invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

If our nation no longer seeks his help or his blessing, don't be surprised when our systems of government, of transportation, of financial operation, and education, begin to fall apart. What? What's that you say? They are already? Maybe we should humble ourselves, repent for our national condition and our personal sins, and begin to ask, seek and knock for a return to the place of His blessing. In the meantime, Islam offers an alternative "order" or system and many Americans are looking to them/it in spite of the authoritarianism.
Certainly there are those who see this and are praying and fasting and hungering and thirsting for an intervention by God.

A few folks are longing for a revival of the spiritual life of the nation that will once again birth social and political justice and equity. But for the most part, we have lost the hunger, the drive, that causes us to risk and if necessary, give our all, to see it achieved.

Our founding fathers, with all their human faults and failures, had the "eye of the tiger." They had a driving hunger for true political freedom and justice that would be equal under the law for rich or poor. They wanted it so badly, they declared their indepencence from Great Britain and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in their attempt to achieve it.

I am by no means a national leader, but I am going to humble myself to God. I'm going ask God to forgive us and send spiritual renewal to more than just a few churches. I know that without His help and blessing, our hope as a nation and our dreams for helping the poor, are lost.

Won't you join me?

Later.

Finding the Power to Change

Have you and your mate (or your parents, or your children) ever fought over something and one or the other of you said, “This is how this always goes. I should have known how you would respond.” And truth be known, they were right, even though you didn’t admit it to them. When that thought comes, has it ever been followed with the thought, “Well, that’s just the way I am. Like it or lump it. Accept me or leave. That is the way I am wired?” Have you ever thought that when the reference was not another person, such as your mom or dad, or you children, etc? Have you ever thought that about God, and about what you thought he expected of you? To love and to give; to lead and forgive; to pray and bless those who have wronged you?
Have you ever thought, “Well, God, I wish things were different and that I was a more ___________ (fill in the blank yourself) person. But I am not, and I am just going to have to accept it. And so are you!” At this point is where the explanation often comes, “This is the day/age of Grace.”
What people often mean when they say that is that Grace is when God doesn’t look at what we have done, and judge us according to what we deserve. Actually, that is partially true. He does allow anyone and everyone access to His Presence through prayer. And that is an aspect of grace. But grace is not an excuse or a coverup for sin or weakness. It is power to change. It is the power and strength and personality of Jesus Christ transmitted/transfused by his beating heart into our immediate weaknesses, changing us from one who had continually failed on certain points, to a person graced with the ability to say no to sin and yes to God’s requirements. Read Romans 6 concerning the effect the cross can have on us. Then read 2 Corinthians 12: 9-14. It defines grace as the power of Christ and the strength of Christ. He has enough power to change you and help your relationships with God and people.
The Blood of Jesus can cleanse you from ANY sin and deliver you from ANY weakness. The Blood of Jesus can cleanse and free your offended conscience even when you are still feeling torn, and weak and guilty before God. His blood, which was shed in an act of substitution and guilt-payment, gives you ACCESS to God if you will only believe it and accept it.
Think of it. Open access for common people. Free access for poor people. There are many, many, wealthy people who are paupers, spiritually. Either way, it is the man or woman, boy or girl that knows/recognizes their poverty in spiritual things that Jesus accepts and helps.
Don’t you remember the Beatitudes? Listen to them from the New Living Translation:
• God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
• God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
• God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
• God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
• God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
• God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
• God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
• God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. (Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in Heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.)

Oh, Man! You are not stuck in your past, in your sins, in your personality, or in your family-inherited weaknesses and tendencies.
The Blood of Jesus will cleanse anyone who recognizes their weaknesses as sin and confesses them to Jesus in prayer. You can do that right where you are. God can hear you anywhere, and turn your place into his place, in an instant.

The Blood of Jesus has the power to change you from what you are by birth, to all that He planned for you to be, before this earth even existed.

There is an old song that we used to sing in church when I was growing up called “Power in the Blood.” Even if you know the words, read through them slowly and let the hope they bring penetrate your heart. We have “know-it-all” Christians who are failing to honor Christ in their lives and ministries, because they supposedly already know all of this… The song goes like this:

• Would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s power in the blood! Would you, over evil, the victory win? There’s wonderful power in the blood!
• Would you be free from your passion and pride? There’s power in the blood. Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide. There’s wonderful power in the blood.
• Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow? There’s power in the blood. Sin’s stains are lost in its life-giving flow. There’s wonderful power in the blood!
• Would you do service for Jesus your King? There’s power in the blood. Would you live daily, His praises to sing? There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Chorus:
• There is power, power, wonder-working power, in the blood, of the lamb. There is power, power, wonder working power, in the precious blood of the Lamb.

There is hope for you!
There is power, for the preacher who can’t clear his mind of sinful thoughts… And, for the prisoner, who has never before tried to be pure. Come to Jesus, right where you are, right now. Tell him what you are facing. Ask him to deliver you from temptation and the control of the Evil One. He has already paid the price for your sins. He is waiting for you to ask and then wait quietly in his presence for his answer. You will be shocked!!!!!!!!!!
Later.

Using Updated English Translations to Study the Bible

The Full Life Study Bible, edited by Don Stamps and Published by Zonervan Publishing Co. has been a great aid to me in my personal devotions and in studying for messages and Bible lessons. Don was a missionary to Brazil for the Assemblies of God denomination.
In China,it has become known as the Fire Bible, because of the picture of fire on the cover. It has been a great help to native pastors around the world because of the extensive notes and references and subject studies that are very true to the scriptures.

It is a great help to anyone who wants a better or clearer understanding of God's word. And remember, it's not deep that we are seeking. It's clear that we seek. However, if you see clearly, you can see deep, too.

Remember, "to study" is to set the table properly with foods that match the needs of those who are going to eat. Prayerful and worshipful "meditation" of the truths studied, in order to internalize, digest, and begin to practice those truths is the eating of the meal. A good explanation of the word "meditate" is "to chew" or "to stew on." The Full Life Study Bible is a great help in this process, as are many others, I.E. the Life Application Bible.

There is not an English Translation that I believe is THE translation, because I don't believe English is THE language that God favors over all other languages.
A group in our corner of God's great vinyard has received a special revelation that the King James Version is the ONLY true version of the Bible and that anyone who uses any other version is reserving for themselves a special corner of hell."After all, if the King James Version was good enough for the Apostles, it is good enough for me." ( I don't know if they say that, but what they do say is about the equivalent of that.)

This is an embarrassing ignorance and arrogance.
Have you ever seen the movie "Popeye" where Robin Williams plays the cartoon sailor and Shelley Duvall plays Olive Oyl, his sweetheart. It is hilarious when you see the town of New Haven, at the beginning of the show and the townspeople walk around singing,"Sweet New Haven, God must love you..." because they think it the most beautiful town on the planet. Their problem is the same as those above. They have never been anywhere to know there are people all over the world that God loves and that many do not speak English, the King's or anyone else's.

The King James Bible is fine, good, a blessing, and if you want to read from it for whatever reason, I'm sure it's fine with God. I know it is fine with me. I suppose I would use it if I knew I was going to speak in a church that used it all the time. This is not a religious point or my preference that I am addressing. I feel that it will lessen your evangelistic effectiveness and your effectiveness in discipling a new generation of young believers in the Body of Christ. I know that it throws unnecessary roadblocks in the path of seekers of Christ and forces teachers to spend time explaining the hearers OWN language to them when the language that they use every day can carry the same thoughts to the hearers if it is employed. And I hate it when you inconvenience the spiritual babes to accomodate the supposedly "spiritually mature." That is wrong, as a principle. Jesus said, "Children are to be given a priority consideration. If you cause one of my little ones to stumble, it would be better for you if a milstone were to be hung around your neck and you were to be dropped into the deepest part of the sea." Now, I don't know about you, but to me it seems that if that would be BETTER, I don't want any part of what he has in mind for those who cause his little ones to stumble. Do you think that he is only referring to the physically young and not the spiritual babes?

By the way, I still thoroughly enjoy the King James Translation of many passages. My heart finds comfort in many of the Psalms and the translations of the Gospels, because I grew up hearing them from my mother and dad and my many teachers.
But I would no more use the King James for general reading in a meeting than I would try to teach the Bible in English without an interpreter, in China.
Outsiders DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
Young people CANNOT stay with you.
And I want them to understand God's thoughts.
If I feel I must use a passage from the King James, I take time to explain it (if necessary,) but it is a rare thing for me to do these days.

All of that to say, I use (and recommend)the New International Version for public meetings and especially for international teaching and speaking. I recommend the Full Life Study Bible in the New International Version.

I also use Peterson's Translation, known as "the Message."

Most recently, I have used the New Living Translation. The people I teach have enjoyed it, also. It is a very clear translation and it is simple enough for children and as Peterson puts it in 1 Peter 5:5, for "just plain people."

I feed on God's Word to grow myself and I study and meditate in His truths to be strong in the face of pressure:

1. From the world,

2. From my body's desires for comfort and pleasure, and

3. From attacks from the the devil.

From the overflow of my personal relationship with God, I share God's Word, rightly divided and personally practiced, with the people that God sends to me.
Later.

The Angel in Mid-Air Shouted, "Give God Glory!"

Do you know what that means?
It was used on TV last night, by two very popular and powerful men. One was white and the other was black. I don't know the white man's name, but he is the team owner of the new world champions of American Football, the Indianapolis Colts. The black man was Tony Dungy. He is their head coach and a great man.

Many of you know what it means and practice it to a greater extent than I do.
But I am attempting to catch up!
I am not going to delve into the dictionary here.
I want to talk from the other way - really, the main way - which we learn what words mean. By hearing them used in context.

And one of the few places you hear the term "Give God Glory," is in a biblical or church setting. In that setting, it means that God deserves the ultimate credit, because he gave us the raw materials and the wisdom to use them. It means that I would be lying (by NOT telling the whole story) if I let you congratulate me and I did not give credit to other people and to God for what on the surface appears to be MY accomplishment.

As I have been reading "the Revelation" book in the Bible, I have seen this phrase in various forms throughout. It has reminded me of my past promises to be thankful to God for His help and blessings, and to be thankful to people who have helped me:

• get where I am and
• have what I have and
• know what I know.

In Revelation 14: 6, 7, (NIV) John wrote,

• "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth - to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said in a loud voice, Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of His judgement has come. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.

It seems that God is going to give people a last chance to escape judgement if they will just acknowledge Him in a small way, as the creator.

You don't have to be a Bible Scholar.
Or a preacher.
Open up your eyes and look at the creation around you and have the sense of a child.

If there is a creation, there must be a _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (Seven letters, rhymes with "theater")

Think, Think, Think.

Have you ever seen an atom? I haven't. Most of us haven't. Yet you will take the word of a professor of science, who works at the state university and who is as sleazy and untrustworthy in character and you will take him at his word that he looked into a microscope and found that atoms are one of the building blocks of all matter.

If I were to point to the beautiful globe that sits next to my dad's pool table, and tell you that no one had anything to do with creating that globe, that it just formed itself that way, with its abalone and mother-of-pearl nations, and its polished brass mounting, and the names of the countries painted on them, if I said that, you would call me insane.

And if I said I gathered up the raw materials of that "work of art" and threw them off of a tall, downtown building, and when I took the elevator down to the street, and shazaam!... here sat this globe! If I were to tell you that, you would not even answer me, because it is so preposterous.

But then you push a much more preposterous theory. That the universe just dropped itself into a state of order that is googols more complex than my dad's globe... and you mock me for my ignorance?

"But," they say, "All the scientists agree on this."
Really?
Does that make it so?

Not so long ago, all the popular scientists used to agree that black people were inferior, too. Meanwhile, good and godly and wise black men and women just kept building, and inventing, and discovering and founding businesses. Men like Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and more recently, Martin Luther King, Jr.
• (And before you bring up anything about him that has been used to discredit him, remember the threats that were made against his life. He didn't make that up, did he! Remember how he stood against his own supporters who wanted to strike back with violence against those who were violent against them and he refused. Remember the jail time for sitting at the lunch counter and how that he didn't curse them, or hate them. My God, that is living more like Jesus than most of us do with long lives not cut short by a bullet!)

I could add my personal friend, George Redman, to that list. He was a chemical plant operator and is now the lead safety tech for his plant. This man knows his business. I count on him when I or the people I work with have to venture into the process areas of his responsibility.

What about my friend and Christian brother, Lloyd Geters, who knows more about electricity and especially how to apply its principles to industrial uses, than I ever will. He knows how to build it, how to fix it, and how to do all of it safely.

Don't tell me how many people don't accept them as equal. That only reveals strong the strong ignorance of the accuser, not that of the people they accuse.

God is so good. He loves everybody and once again he is calling to anyone who will listen and think beyond the seen world and ask this question. "Who made all of this creation that I can see?" Jesus once said that God causes rain to fall on both good people and unjust people. He sends blessings to everyone. Can you find it in your heart to give him credit, glory, for the good things that have come from him?
Ask in your inner thoughts for an understanding of who God is and send it out. He will answer you if you will get quiet and think.

I'm convinced that God not only made the physical world, but that he is helping me in the details of my life, right now.
I didn't do it all by myself.
I am not a self-made man.

So, I am thankful to you God, the Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. I give You the credit for the good I have seen in my life. And, I repent for the evil that I have instigated in words and deeds, and I ask you to forgive me and help me change.
I ask you to let me know you and understand who you are. Guide me to the truth, and not just some religious opinion.
Thank you, Creator.
I give you glory!

Later!

How Would You Like Dignitaries to Visit Your Place?

If you could have a "one to one" visit with one of your heroes of the Past or Present, who would it be?
Who is the greatest dignitary that you can imagine sitting down to talk to?
Is it President Bush?
Or Hillary Clinton?
Is it a singer or a movie star?
Is it someone who is still living?
Or since we are just wishing, is it someone from the past?
Marilyn Monroe?
Bob Dylan?
Winston Chuchill?
Iron Lady Thatcher?

WhenI was about eleven, one of the Beatles claimed that they were now more popular than Jesus Christ! Maybe you wish that one of them would come to your house 4 the afternoon.
Just once!
Did you know that only one person out of that list has ever offerred to come to your house for more than a visit?

That person is Jesus Christ.
Jesus said:
Soon, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me.
Since I live, you also will live.
When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.
And because they love me, my Father will love them.
And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.
One disciple asked, Lord, how are you going to reveal yourself only to us, and not to the world at large?
He replied, All who love me will do what I say.
My father will love them, and we will come amd make our home with each of them.

Jesus really is worth getting to know.
You will find him walking through the pages of the Bible.
The Father God, the Lord Jesus, and the Mighty Holy Spirit, are looking for a chance to move in with those who are interested in their company, I mean, their friendship.

How do you get their attention?
Start reading the Bible and trying to practice what Jesus told you that you must do.
Each time you are going to try, ask Jesus for his help.
Tell him that you are aware that his commands (like "love those that hate you" )are impossible unless he helps you. Then, ask him to help you.
He and the Father will come to you, right where you are and help you and if you want them to, they will move in with you, and things start looking up from that time on.
If Jesus tells you to get rid of something, some habit or sin, he will more than make it up to you in better things to replace what you gave up.
When you begin to feel his presence at home, at work, in your car, or in your cell, Oh, Man! you have just started living!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chp.13 Rise of Antichrist: Greatest Tyrant of History

Revelation 12 sets the stage for chapter 13. It is a short, sweeping review (historical interlude in the Book of Revelation) of Satan and how he comes to the point in Chp 13 where he makes his stand and calls the Beast out of the sea. (vs. 1-3)

From the beginning of human history, Satan, or as he is referred to in Rev. 12, the Dragon, has been lurking at the gates and doors of humanity, deceiving if possible and destroying (Jn 10:1-10) any who he could get his hands on.

Genesis 4:6-8 (NLT) says,
“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

God loves and is close to people throughout the earth whose hearts break in longing for justice, for the humble in heart, for the pure in heart and for those who have been persecuted for doing what is right and just. God will give the meek an opportunity to chose right over wrong in the days ahead. His plan, revealed in the Revelation concerning the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation, will sweep in a harvest of souls that our greatest evangelists could have only dreamed to see (Revelation 7: 9-17).

During the Tribulation ‘s 7 years, the church is not being drawn together in cohesive groups (a work of the Holy Spirit) during this time, but souls are being saved by the millions.

The Antichrist will be in the place of political and judicial power, but to good people around the globe, he will be abhorrent! They will see him for what he is, and hate everything that he represents. Defying him will be an honor, refusing the mark a challenge to his authority, and death, if it comes, will be a relief...

(This is a short introduction to a teaching I gave last week to a study group I lead. It is based on the the Bible and specifically on the Book of Revelation. It is a glimpse into the near future for those who desire to see... If you would like to have a written review of the entire class, I will email it to you if you will request it in the comments section below.
Thanks.

late nite excuses

I am, once again, getting to my blog at 10:25pm, a regular time, for a regular guy, with a regular job. I have a lot that I want to say, but I am usually sleepy when I sit down to write, and often when I check on it later, I see grammatical errors that I usually would not miss.
I apologize now and won't spend a lot oftime making excuses. I hope to have better times and a more polished product, later.
Really, polish is not what I am after. "Clear" is what I am after.
I learned that from an ex-Air Force fighter pilot turned Bible teacher, and who became my friend. I haven't seen him for several years now.
His name is Hugh Smith. Hugh was a highly decorated fighter pilot. He was/is an even better Bible teacher.
As a pilot in Vietnam, Hugh flew missions into North Vietnam and fought above/with the firefights on the ground. One of these, it seems like it was nicknamed "Hamburger Hill," because our boys were being chewed up like meat being shoved through a meatgrinder.
Hugh and the fighters with him would make bomb runs until they were out of bombs and then make strafing passes until they were out of ammo. Hugh said he noticed that every time he flew over the North Viet Cong, they had to duck into holes and stay there for at least 45 seconds. In that 45 seconds our guys would gain ground and find cover that was saving their lives.
Hugh sent all his team back to the air base and he made several more runs alone, even though he was out of bombs, bullets, and almost out of fuel. He made several passes and they ducked, but after 2 runs and no shooting they quit ducking and started shooting at him.
He told me that if they would have forgotten the shooting and just thrown one of their frying pans straight up in the air, it would have brought him down. He was flying @ about 15' over the enemy's heads. When they finally quit ducking, he flew over again and this time he dumped the gas to it, and hit his afterburner. That is crazy if your about to go down for a lack of fuel, but sounded like abomb and all the enemy hit the ground again, and our guys made another very critical advance.
When he turned back for the base,he saw that he wouldn't have enough fuel to fly back in a normal pattern, so he got back up high, and ran out of fuel on his approach, and glided in for a much too fast landing...
He was highly decorated for his valor because of his actions in this battle.
Now, back to "clear."
Hugh told a group of us that were tryng to teach the Deep Truths of the Kingdom. We were very impressed with ourselves. Or maybe it was just me that was very impressed with MYSELF. Anyway, Hugh told us in a message he preached in a campmeeting in Diamond, MO, that it is not "Deep" teaching that we should be striving for, but "Clear" truth.
Hugh told us that in Japan there are some in-land lakes that are thousands of feet deep. He said the water was crystal clear. Amazingly clear. So clear, that a small exploration sub that was moving around inthe lake @ 600' below the surface could be seen as though it were only 5' down. That's clear water.
It's not deep that we need to strive for. It's clear. Simple truth.
Funny thing is , if you study and pray and prepare your teaching, and instead of complex, you make it clear, "clear" will allow you see deeply.
Now, after all the years I have preached, prayed, and served, I see that he is right. The Gospel is the power of God.
I love you all.
Later!

God Knows How to Take Care of You - Enjoy

In the last blog, I mentioned a story in a devotional book. The story, “How to Raise Money for Missions,” was a real inspiration to me.
The author was asked to come to the New Jersey shore to speak at 3 churches. His friend, who invited him to speak, had to leave town on an emergency before he arrived.
I can tell you from experience, that is an uncomfortable position to be in. When he arrived at the 3rd church he was to speak at, he discovered that the pastor of the church was unable to attend, also. So, he had to run the service alone and then he was supposed to:
· Tell about his mission work
· Describe his needs
· And receive an offering for himself

As the congregation sang, and went through the form of the service, he became very aware of the fact that they weren’t saved. “There was sadness in their worship, routine in their service, a mundane flow of words and liturgy, form without substance. I shared the simple gospel instead of sharing about missions and taking up an offering.”
He said he couldn’t talk about missions to people who were not themselves saved, so he described the opportunity that is offered for everyone to have a personal relationship with God through Christ.

After the service, the people were angry. They came to hear about missions. They did not come to be “preached at.” Also, a few stopped for a moment to inform him that they did not agree with him that anyone could have a personal relationship with Christ. All this was done within 3 minutes of the end of his sermon, and the lights were turned off and everyone was gone.
He said to himself, “I really blew this one… “ He was flooded with a sense of guilt and felt like a total failure.
Well, there was one other person still in the building and he came to me and shook my hand. The missionary offered him a trade, “If you will drive us to lunch, I will buy. They went together to a hotel, and ordered a big lunch, then the man began to pepper Steve with questions about a personal relationship with Christ. He wanted to know if I really believed that one could actually have a relationship with God.

When he went to pay, the man said for him to put up his money, that he owned the hotel.
“When I left, I had a nice check in one hand and the keys to his 4X4 in the other hand (for our mission work in Mexico”). Later, the man called me and told me that he had come to Christ and was now going to a nurturing church where they preach the Gospel.
Maybe, just maybe , His preaching wasn’t such a failure after all.

I can so identify with everything that happened that I feel it as I read it. Somehow, one must work through all of this and share the gospel, and forget the hurt and disappointments, and then lead folks to Christ, no matter the setting.
Remember, Jesus Christ really is alive.
You can know him.
You can't control him but you can put yourself in a place where he comes by, like positioning yourself on a road where someone might pass by.
A blind man did that once, in Israel.
When Jesus passed by, the man began to call out, "Son of David, have mercy on me."
Other people shushed him, embarrassed by his actions. But he called even louder, "Have mercy on me."
Jesus, surrounded by a crowd, stopped, and asked for the man calling for him to be brought to him. "What do you want?" Jesus asked him. "I want to see," the blind man said. Jesus healed him.
What do you need? Hang out on His road and ask for help when he comes by. And he will come.
The question is, Where is the road that Jesus walks down , now?
He walks throught the pages and verses of a book- The Bible.
Go to the section called the Book of Luke.
Hang out there.
He is like the wind.
You don't know where he comes from and you won't know where he is going.
But like the wind, you will know when he is there.
Read the Book of Luke.
In the Bible.

Later.

Back to More Important Things

Last Friday, a friend of mine gave me a good book, which
I recommend to anyone interested in closely following
Christ. The book is "Walk With Me a Few More Steps" by
Steven Beam.
I have never heard of him before, but this book of devo -
tional thoughts and articles, in which he writes, is loaded with
experiences very similar to mine. It is a great bag of great seeds.
What kind of seeds?, you may ask. Seeds of Greatness...
I have been deeply moved as I read its short
chapters.
One that stood out to me was a chapter entitled,
"How to Raise Money for Missions." It is great for anybody
in Christ, but especially for anyone who has shared the cucifixion of
going where you are not welcomed, preaching what they don't want to
hear and trusting God to make something out of my failures!
Outstanding!
More on this!

Bush Speaks: What I Want to Hear

The President is going to speak in a few minutes.
I would sure like to hear from the American Eagle and not the "chicken little" that is cowed down by the democrats' recent win at the polls.
But nobody ever calls here and says, "Phil, what is it you are hoping to hear?"
Here's what I would like to say if they did:

• I would like to hear that we are NOT going to stop chasing our enemies at the borders of Iraq. If they come into Iraq from Syria and Iran and Saudi Arabia, we are coming to the source with whatever it takes to make you break out in hives every time you even thjink about supplying our enemies. (That really is what we did in Vietnam. We have an Iranian /Iraqi version of the Ho Chi Min trail, down which China, Russia, Syria and Saudi Arabia are funding, feeding, and resupplying the forces that are killing Americans. And I want to see us STOP IT. We can do it.)
• We are already fighting Iran. Face it. Wrap your brain around it. Realize it is going to take an all out effort to win. And to win is all that is acceptable. It is not acceptable for us as Americans to live in fear of a group like the ones facing us there.

I am not going to sit back through another war where our greatest danger is the American political left's (read "democrats") fear of winning a war because it "just isn't nice."
I DON"T CARE WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD THINKS OF US.
The French don't like us? Give me a break!
We have had to go save them from their own BRILLIANCE (read "cowardice") twice in the last 100 years. I don't care what they think.
By the way, many of the French love us and appreciate what we did. Those Folks are still worth saving, too. They fought the Germans in their own country with their bare hands and raw courage. But like here, they are muzzled by their government and their press.

• I want the president to "unleash" the real power of the American war machine.
• I want to fight with a will to win.
• I want to hear how we at home can help.
• I want us to open factories that build our own weapons.
• I want us to fund alternative fuels.
• I want us to refuse to lose.
• I want the cowards in the Republican Party and the Democrats who are sure that nothing will work to be exposed as the weaklings that they are.
• I want to keep our promises to the Iraqis that we encouraged to stand up with us for something better for their children.

I don't want to face the shame of another Hungarian revolution where we fail to act (Eisenhower.)

Or another "Bay of Pigs" where we sit on our "Kennedian" hands while brave men are abandoned to death and prison.

Or another Rawandan masacre, while we wait for the UN to act to save people's lives. What a joke and a waste of money and hope!

Or another Jimmy Carter paralysis while our people are held hostage.

Or another Bush ( Senior) sell out of the Kurds, who we abandoned after encouraging them to rebel. O my God, what shame!

Or the cowardice of 8 years of Clinton while, to collect money for himself and his campaign, he sells our state secrets to China. (I knew it when it was happening and as the years go by, we will find ghastly levels of treason and perfidy took place with their knowledge and approval.)

I want to see our "free" press (who are not objective at all, but are totally anti-American) removed from the war theater and a real full fledged advertizing campaign both in Iraq and America, since that is what the Main Stream Media is fighting US with and which it seems, that too many Americans are impressed with...

I want our leaders to unleash our courage, our creativity, our "dogs of war" and make Iraq the 51st state, if we can't get the leaders to agree. By God, take the bit in your teeth and your destiny back into your own hands, America!

That's what I thought George Bush was saying when he stood on the ash-heaps of The World Trade Centers and the Pentegon.

Those are the things I want to hear and see.

And I pray that someone is listening.
Later!

Al Qaida, Justice, Peace: Where are the Republcans Hiding?

I have blogged twice today and then bumped something that deleted them both. That is frustrating.
The one I just lost was about Justice Delayed by the current Bush administration. I can comprehend the NYTimes and their lack of interest. They are a liberal propaganda rag that is not interested in anything that looks bad on famous liberals. What about how bad slanted coverage looks on your paper?
But I don't understand the President's administration, the justice Department and the congress (both parties) total unwillingness to move against Sandy Berger, or the treasonous national secret leaker's(we are listening in on possible al Qaida conversations) which leads us back to the "times," doesn't it? The only thing they are interested in protecting is the career of democrats their aganda.
I thought that the low level crooks being seated in high places was taking a break when Clinton and his Gang left office. But NO, We are still assaulted daily by these Guys!!! If I were president, I would try to achieve justice in these issues so that peace can reign supreme in the United States of America.

Support the Troops

From the time the twin towers fell on September 11, 2001, I have supported our military efforts to confront our declared enemies and to try to "drain the swamp" that supports, or creates their misery. That effort, however, has cost me very little in a personal way so far. That could change in the years ahead, since I have two young grandsons that are growing up right now and will have to face whatever is out there in the years ahead.
I have had to ask myself, where would I stand if it were my sons, if it were my grandsons, who were in uniform, and who were facing death, and/or possible disfigurement from war wounds, etc. So far, I think that my politics would still be the same (that is, if we will fight to win, not play around, but use our power without apology.)
If it is bad enough to go to war over, it is bad enough to win.
Anyway, here is a website to do something right now for the troops who stand between us and certain major and on-going acts of terror.
Join me in giving our support in both moral ways, like prayer, cards, and then, consider some cash.
Here is one of many ways. I will tell you who I support financially, later. Click here, http://www.letssaythanks.com/FromTheTroops.html and listen to this Marine's song.
Don't support a war politically that only costs the troops and their families. Do something now.
Later.

Saddam's Career Takes Turn for the Worse This Wk!

Hi, folks,
Happy 2007!
What happened to 2006?
I was just getting used to it.
Last week, I wrote 3 checks and I didn't have to change the year and initial the change!

Did you hear that Saddam Hussein was executed last week?
He was hanged.
He died in a merciful way given the kinds of unspeakable tortures he perpetrated on totally innocent people that he brutalized.
There was no way to exact justice from this monster in one lifetime.

He died proclaiming his innocence, which is the primary mark of a total reprobate.
When a person's mind is void of judgment and has no awareness/consciousness of sin, he is a reprobate. Awareness of sin is a primary function of the Holy Spirit, and there is no forgiveness because there is no desire for forgiveness.
Justice only begins with this hanging...


We can't get back the lives he took,
We can't get justice, true.
But Saddam won't ever kill again,
His career was just cut loose
By a real short drop,
and the sudden stop,
at the end of the hangman's noose!

(by Phil Strickland... 2007-all rights reserved)

More later-Happy New Year!