“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

Solomon came to the conclusion that we are to “fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Solomon was not only a great king, he also had great wealth. Wealth also converts into stuff…  Interesting to note that Solomon…who by my his own reckoning had everything he needed and yet he found it was all worthless. There are those of us who do not feel we have everything we need or want, which leads us to fall into the trap of everything we have is everything to us and in some cases we are still driven to obtain more. One view of materialism would be to put more value in stuff with less emphasis on on things of spiritual value and behavior. You could go as far as saying having preoccupation with acquiring material things or wealth. It is a tough road we as Christians are expected to walk but the truth is, obsession or fascination with anything other than God is sinful and is displeasing to God. We are to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). There will always be stuff that will make life easier, some of which does do just that…so what is the determining factor? I believe it is determined by the two words highlighted above. In Mathew 22:37-38 Jesus underscores that point. 

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. NKJV

God should become a habit in our lives… a settled or regular tendency or practice, He who alone is worthy of our complete attention, love and service. We must learn this lesson, wealth is a deceiver. It can lead us to places or things we don’t need, causing us to chase those things that we believe will make us happy and fulfilled.

(Mark 4:19)19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

We have read in scripture from Luke 16:13 that we can not serve both God and Money.  Contentment, a state of happiness and satisfaction will not be present in our rush to acquire stuff. Materialism causes us to strive for more and more and more, as if this will satisfy all our needs and dreams. Wealth and an abundance of  the stuff we possess is not the answer to all our needs and dreams. Simply said “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Life is Good

jk

(Toransufōmā) is a line of mecha toys produced by Japanese company Takara (now known as Takara Tomy) and American toy company Hasbro. Initially a line of transforming mecha toys rebranded from Takara’s Diaclone and Micro Change toy lines, it spawned the Transformers media franchise. The premise behind the Transformers toy line is that an individual toy’s parts can be shifted about to change it from a vehicle, a device, or an animal, to a robot action figure and back again.  

 Did you know that the Bible is full of transformers? Perhaps a more comfortable word might be,Transform. What does transform mean in the King’s English: An act, process, or instance of transforming or being transformed. A synonym of the word transform would be the word conversion: the act of converting, the state of being converted. Jesus told his disciples, some who were  fishermen that he would make them fishers of men.These two words transform and convert, both mean to change, being made new would be a biblical way to see it. We must understand that there were transformers in both the old Testament and the New Testament.  

Let’s start with John the Baptist whom I often describe as that guy in the desert who wore animalskins and ate insects. John the Baptist is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels and the non-canonical Gospel of the Nazarenes. The Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke) describe John baptising Jesus; in the Gospel of John this is inferred by many to be found in John 1:32.(Wikipedia)gotquestions.org acknowledges that John “the Baptist,” was in fact the first prophet called by God since Malachi some 400 years earlier. He was known as a “lone voice in the wilderness” (John 1:23) who was telling the people which were suffering and needed a Savior that the Messiah was coming. His word was repent and that meant transforming the way they were living and admit their sins and be “baptized”.

 Luke was a close companion of the Apostle Paul and also a doctor. Luke is credited with writing two books of the NT, Acts and Luke. The number here is not really important but the fact that he is the only non Jew to have a book in the Bible but also to have had two of them! The Book of Acts tells of the early church and without Luke we would not know about the struggles of the early Saints to establish the foundation of the church and organize it into a form to grow and survive. In the Book Luke we see Jesus Christ as offering salvation to all people…Jew and Gentile.

Stephen is traditionally venerated as the first martyr of Christianity. According to the Acts of the Apostles, he was a deacon in the early Church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. (Wikipedia) We are introduced to Stephen in Acts 6:5. A faithful man of God named Stephen: “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” His actions were such that many of the Jews were unhappy with his teachings… So much so that that they stirred up the people and even had some give false testimony that Stephen had spoken blasphemous words against Moses and God. These people seized Stephen and brought him before the Council. Stephen spoke in his own defense before the Council…you can read his speech in Acts 7. They were so enraged with what he said that they took him out and stoned him. When they prepared to stone him they lay their cloaks at the feet of a man whose name was Saul. Next we meet a man named Paul who had changed his name from Saul…the very man who had guarded the cloaks of those who had stoned Stephen. 

Paul  (also named Saul of Tarsus; c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD), commonly known as Paul the Apostle  and Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world.  Generally regarded as one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age, he founded several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe.(Wikipedia) He was well educated and a Jew of great influence in his community.  Paul studied under Gamaliel who was a first-century Jewish rabbi and a leader in the Jewish Sanhedrin and was also a Pharisee. Gamaliel is mentioned a couple of times in Scripture as a famous and well-respected teacher. Indirectly, Gamaliel had a profound effect on the early church. Paul wrote thirteen of the books of the New Testament and some have even tried to include in that number Hebrews which would have made it fourteen. He made three missionary journeys covering at least 10,000 miles, organizing churches and preaching the Good News. 

These are just a few of the examples of Biblical Transformers…  people who changed the world and established God’s word among his people. While it is not a movie or a well known toy it is a good example, visually to show change. But the change, the transformation we all need in our lives is real and critical to our salvation… Have you allowed Christ to transform you…have you experienced a conversion?

Lofe is Good

jk

Welcome…come on up and join in. Pastor last Sunday suggested that we prepare for our prayer time by just clearing our minds, say nothing for at least five minutes. Try it, sorta like waiting for God to speak to us. That is most likely a crude way to put it. Best said I suppose as waiting for the spirit  to lead us. Every night I come out here on the back porch to clear my mind and as the old folks say ponder about nothing particular. It never works for me. There is always something that has happened or been said that lingers on my mind. Today for some reason the thought came to me that God is everywhere. He knows every thought on our mind, each and every action we have or plan to take…why the scripture says He even knew us while we were still in the womb. That alone is a good reason to want to know God. What pleases God, what would he have us do? Pretty important stuff considering He sent His only son Jesus Christ to share the Good News with us and teach us how to live a Godly life. It was so important that Christ died for us so that those who would repent and sin no more would receive salvation and life everlasting. They will be free of the pain, suffering of this world that sin and disobedience to the Father brings upon us. 

Sounds like a good deal to me. I am going to turn the tables on you this week… Go home and sit on your back porch and ponder…Where have all the people been?

Keep Rocking…God Bless

jk

The Christian faith today is under attack, our churches are losing worshipers, we no longer have a place at the table of public opinion and Christian morals are considered to be outdated and hold little influence within our communities and sad to say in many of our churches. While it might seem old school false prophets are left to spew forth their lies and misinformation with very little challenge from the faith community. The saddest part of all this is the relentless marginalizing of the Bible…God’s word, being perverted to enable agendas that are in no way pleasing in God’s eyes. We could spend a lot time with opinions but let’s just spend time with God’s word and couple of guys who were called to defend the faith.

The best known Biblical figure bearing the name Zephaniah is the son of Cushi, and great-great grandson of King^[2] Hezekiah, ninth in the literary order of the Twelve Minor Prophets. The unique source containing the minimal knowledge of his personality and rhetorical and literary qualities is the short, three chapter book of the Old Testament which bears his name.^[1] The scene of his activity was the city of Jerusalem, which he seems to know well.^[1](Wikipedia)

God hates sin most in those nearest to him. If we today continue to live in sin, while seeking the good things God brings to us, we can well expect to experience harsh times and future judgements will be harsh. We have today the Word of God which gives us all the advantages of knowing his will, with the strongest reasons to do it; still we persist in disobedience. We spend more of our time in doing wickedness than doing good. Just as written in Zephaniah there would be a judgement against the Jewish nation, so can we expect the same to the nations of the world in this time…it is written in God’s word.

 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

A very specific accounting of behaviors and the fate of those who persist in such behaviors. We can and must push aside all the word play and  agenda spewing rhetoric and through prayer and the Holy Spirit understand the intent of the Gospel.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

This weeks blog is short, sweet and to the point…read the Gospel…immerse yourself in God’s word so that…

Galatians 2:16

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 

Have a great week and never leave your faith to false prophecy or the selfish agendas that seek to divide us in the faith. 

Life is Good

jk

Well it is Wednesday night and I am on the back porch…sat here for awhile but couldn’t get the lady out of my mind at the doctor early this morning…7:45 am… if you will. I was scheduled for a heart echo and stress test, I had already wore a monitor for a week. I am going to share this from my perspective and I am not known for political correctness. First the important stuff. She was from Nashville and rode the train over here to come to St. Thomas Heart East here in Lebanon and we met her in the waiting room for those here for tests while waiting for our tests. She said she was 72 yrs old was here on her own. She was friendly and full of life and a very knowledgeable person when it came to years past and was very much interested in what my problem was. It was remarkable the concern and interest she had in both myself and my wife. I will be 80 in just a few days and anytime us old folks get together many times it is in a doctors office…bet you didn’t know that. It is either Church of doctor, it may be a club, I don’t know. It was obvious she was a lady of the faith and of course we both spoke to that. Now the hard part…

She was black…you can use any other word you want in this age of Wokeness. The lady and I have been around awhile, we are old school and we have seen it all. It brought back memories that weren’t good but also it brought to my mind a time of turmoil, hate and injustice. I can assure you this lady experienced all of it…yet there was a dignity and manner that commanded civility and respect. You see both that lady and the wife and I somehow had found a common ground. Lyndon Johnson and the civil Rights Act of 1964 and all the changes our generation had to make but I just wanted to make this point. Somehow we made it through it and in time while not all wounds healed but a new understanding and forgiveness was the legacy of our generation. But then came the Rev.s Al and Jackson and a host of haters whose only goal was to live off the hate and bury the forgiveness. The loss of MLK was an act of hate and set us back from how far we had come. So here is my summation of all this. Generations now that have taken our place are mad all the time and in their anger they destroy the civility and decency by running over the good that is just waiting to be found. I didn’t get her name but she made my day so much better. All I can say is I wish we had known each other back in the day and I am sorry that the hate of that day stood in our way.

See you next week right here on the back porch.

Kurt

In past writings here in the Pew we have studied Luke who was the only Gentile to have a book in the Bible…he actually had two. Luke and Acts in which he introduced us to Saul, who would soon become known as Paul. Paul would go on to become known world wide as one of the greatest Christian missionaries. There is much to know about Paul while it was noted in our study of Luke that we didn’t have a whole lot to go on, Paul on the other hand some would say remains one of the most read authors in human history. A large part of his notoriety is his abrupt turn from persecutor of Christians to its greatest proponent who shaped the history of the early Christian Church. So some questions about Paul are in order. Saul of Tarsus, later to become the apostle Paul… Who was he and how did he become the apostle Paul?

Saul was born in Tarsus about AD 5 in what is now known as modern day Turkey. HIs parents were Jewish but held the coveted Roman Citizen that would serve Saul well in the difficult times in his christian ministry. Saul would have been about 20 when they moved to Jerusalem. It was here that Saul began his studies of Jewish Scriptures and Law under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. While there are some conflicting information it is believed that Saul was present for the trial and execution of Stephen. (Acts 7:54-60) The executioners removing their outer garments prior to the stoning laid them at Saul’s feet and scriptures seems to imply they had Saul’s approval. (Acts 7:58) Paul was given extraordinary privileges to pursue and arrest any of these ring leaders of this Christian movement including the female believers. As it came to pass Paul was on his way to arrest and extradite any of these Christians he found in Damascus when he was confronted by the very one he was persecuting.

Acts 9:1-9

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

It had to be one of the most dramatic moments in Church history…Saul’s conversion from an avid persecutor to an ardent missionary became an overwhelming testimony to an unbelieving world. Saul of Tarsus became the Apostle Paul. 

Paul much latter would write in 2 Corinthians (11:22) and a letter to the Philippians church (Philippians 3:5) describing himself as such.

 2 Corinthians 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.

Philippians 3:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 

No one could have been better suited to a calling such as this than than Saul…now the Apostle Paul.

 Most biblical scholars agree that Paul would have traveled over 10,000 miles – BY FOOT! Listed below are the books we know for certain Paul wrote, thirteen! If we were to add one other that scholars still debate over…Hebrews, that would be fourteen.

The Thirteen:

Galatians (AD 47)

1 and 2 Thessalonians (AD 49—51)

1 and 2 Corinthians and Romans (AD 52—56)

Ephesians, Philemon, Colossians, and Philippians (AD 60—62, during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment)

1 Timothy and Titus (AD 62)

2 Timothy (AD 63—64, during Paul’s second Roman imprisonment)

Oh yes…that question earlier…How did Saul become an apostle?

Romans 1:1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God

Thanks for coming byThe Pew this week.

Life is Good

jk 

To many people here and around the world she has become The Apple of Their Eyes. Only a few were aware of her birth and her labors would be long and painful. Her future, one of uncertainty, was wrought with struggle. There would be many battles ahead and many mistakes would be made before she could even stand on her own. Her own people would challenge her and engage in open conflict as she struggled to find her place in the world and among her people. Like all things obtained through struggle and strife, she bore those marks with pride, never losing sight of her belief in God and in the love she had for all people. Why she even sent those of her own to die for others and to stand in the gap between the oppressed and those that sought what she had and through example offered freely to the world.

Today sadly she is threaten and abused by those who would seek to marginalize and destroy her very existence because it stands in their way… The very foundations of her strength are being eroded by indifference and disrespect. Churches that once stood in the grace of her benevolence now struggle to find a place among her people. The law we as a society live by, which is a product of our doing…is now simply a mater of convince. Kindness, love and tolerance are buzz words in the reality of the day…just words…no action. There is no such thing as difference of opinion…or civility as her people tear into each other to maintain a false sense of comfort in the value of their agendas. 

Less said the better I guess…Oh by the way if you haven’t guessed yet the identity of the lady…

God Bless LADY LIBERTY and the USA.

jk

We are not speaking in a romantic, philosophical, or literary manner. What does the Bible say about the heart?  The Bible mentions the heart almost 1,000 times. The bible says the heart is our spiritual pump that puts forth our emotions and desires. 

Acts 13:22  After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

Jeremiah 3:15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.

So scripture says God also has a heart. May we be blessed with leaders that follow His heart. 

Consider this… After the fall of man in the Garden, we have been affected at the the very heart of our being. Our mind, emotions and desires have been tainted by sin—and we refuse to see it, we are blind to our own condemnation. There is this unsettling fact that while we may not understand our hearts, God does. 

Jeremiah 17:10“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

In Mark we are confronted with the scriptural truth of our being.

Mark 7:21-23   For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

There is no wiggle room here so to speak. We may blame a host of things on the things we do but we are reminded that the problems we have are from within…we all have a heart problem and it is not medical. How long has it been since you heard a Hell and Damnation Sermon? I think we all realize that there is more to life than a set of rules to follow and not doing so will bring rejection from certain segments of our society. This brings us to one of those dirty little secrets of Christianity. For Christians it is a Matter of The Heart. In God’s world it is not a matter of rules or the law, it is about the commands given by God to His people from the time of creation and on…it is about Jesus and his teachings to us during his ministry. It is about salvation and the fact that we must change…our hearts must change and that only happens through the power of God, through our faith in Him. 

Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

God will test us… Psalm 17:3 Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.

We will complete our time in the Pew today with this Proverb:

4:23 Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.

We are living in a time of uncertainty and only our faith and our God will bring us through it. The Pew tries to stay out of politics but today this thought is warranted …maybe Governments all over the world need to examine their HEARTS. 

Life is Good

jk 

Resource Material –  gotquestions.org