Shields Of The Shepherd

Sobering Statistic- Repent and trust the Savior!

2011-12-28T16:03:00.000-05:00

US police fatalities up 13 percent in 2011 to 173

Wednesday - 12/28/2011, 12:55pm ET
By GREG BLUESTEIN
Associated Press

(AP) - One Oregon police chief was killed when a man allegedly took the officer's gun and shot him in the head. A policeman in Arizona was fatally shot when he went to a suburban Phoenix apartment complex to help a probation officer. And two South Dakota officers were killed in a shootout after a traffic stop.

The number of fatalities from departments across the country caused by firearms made 2011 one of the deadliest years in recent history for U.S. law enforcement.

Across the nation, 173 officers died in the line of duty, up 13 percent from 153 the year before, according to numbers as of Wednesday compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

The nonprofit group that tracks police deaths also reported that 68 federal, state and local officers were killed by gunfire in 2011, a 15 percent jump from last year when 59 were killed. It marks the first time in 14 years that firearms fatalities were higher than traffic-related deaths. The data shows that 64 officers died in traffic accidents, down from the 71 killed in 2010.

Craig Floyd, the group's chairman, blamed the rise on budget cuts to public safety departments. He cited surveys by police groups that showed many cut back on training and delay upgrading equipment, and referenced a Department of Justice report issued in October that said an estimated 10,000 police officers and sheriff's deputies have been laid off within the past year.

"I'm very troubled that these drastic budget cuts have put our officers at a grave risks," he said. "Our officers are facing a more brazen cold-blooded element and fighting a war on terror, and we're giving them less training and less equipment they need to do their jobs safely."

It's the second year in a row the number of officers killed in the line of duty has grown. In 2009, the death toll dipped to 122 in a 50-year-low that encouraged police groups even though the year seemed to be an aberration. Otherwise, the number of police deaths has topped 160 five other times since 2000. It routinely topped 200 in the 1970s.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called the deaths a "devastating and unacceptable trend" and said the Justice Department was determined to reverse the numbers. He said the office is supporting new training regimens and programs, one of which reimbursed departments with more than $23 million for about 80,000 new bulletproof vests. Those vests, he said, saved the lives of 16 officers in the last year.

"I want to assure the family members and loved ones who have mourned the loss of these heroes that we are responding to this year's increased violence with renewed vigilance and will do everything within our power _ and use every tool at our disposal _ to keep our police officers safe," Holder said.

The police deaths were spread across 41 states and Puerto Rico. The largest number of fatalities was reported in Florida, where 14 officers were killed, followed by Texas (13) New York (11), California (10) and Georgia (10). The New York City Police Department and Puerto Rico Police Department, which both lost four officers, were the law enforcement agencies that reported the most deaths.

Meanwhile, one city saw its first ever police death in the line of duty. In Bismarck, N.D. _ a city of 60,000 residents and about 100 sworn officers _ 32-year police veteran Sgt. Steven Kenner was fatally shot. Kenner had been responding to a domestic disturbance call.

The number of firearms-related fatalities, which have risen 70 percent since 2008, was particularly alarming to analysts. Of the 68 deaths, 14 took place while the officer was attempting an arrest, nine occurred during a domestic disturbance call and five were ambushes, according to the data.

One of the victims, Rainier, Ore., Police Chief Ralph Painter, was shot once in the head during a Jan. 5 struggle with a suspect who was accused of taking Painter's pistol from his belt. Glendale, Ariz., Officer Brad Jones was shot in August after a fight with a suspect being sought by a probation officer. And the two officers in South Dakota, James McCandless and Nick Armstrong, were killed in August after conducting what Rapid City authorities have said was a routine traffic stop.

The glimmer of good news in the report was the falling number of traffic-related fatalities involving law enforcement officers, the lowest since 2005. Floyd said revamped policies adopted by some departments on police chases and a revived focus on road safety helped bring down the number of those deaths.

"It's perhaps the most preventable death for law enforcement," he said. "Better training and better awareness of the dangers of traffic safety will help to spare more police lives as we move forward."

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=209&sid=2685547

Voice of the Martyrs- Time is short, make a difference...

2011-12-27T17:42:00.000-05:00

Paul Washer, The Gospel

2011-11-27T19:59:00.002-05:00

The threatenings of God (read all the way through!)

2011-10-18T18:30:00.001-04:00

The threatenings of God!

(James Smith, "The Threatenings of God")

"What will you say when He punishes you?" Jeremiah 13:21

God has threatened to punish lost sinners--every sinner who lives and dies in unbelief.
His threatenings are written in His Word--that we may read them;
they are published by His ministers--that we may hear them;
they are often repeated--that we may not forget them;
some of them are fulfilled in this world--that we may believe and fear them.

No unbelieving, impenitent, careless sinner shall escape! The whole of the wicked shall be turned into Hell--and all the nations that forget God.

Every one will be punished . . .
justly--in exact proportion to the nature and number of his sins;
universally--in every part of body and soul;
fearfully--without any mixture of mercy;
eternally--without cessation or end!

The threatenings of God are backed and sustained . . .
by His omnipotent power;
by His unchangeable purpose;
by His impartial justice;
by His inflexible holiness;
and by His solemn oath.
They cannot be more sure--nor can they be more dreadful.
Lost sinner, they are all pointed at you! They speak . . .
of snares,
of fire and brimstone,
of a never-dying worm,
of a lake of fire,
of blackness and darkness,
of gnashing of teeth,
of eternal separation from God, and
a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire, that will consume the enemies of God! Hebrews 10:27

Punishment is in store for you! You are warned of it, and invited to escape from it! But if you do not, then "What will you say when He punishes you?"

Can you say that you did not believe that God would be true to His Word? This would be to insult Him to His face, and to tell Him plainly that you thought Him to be a liar!

There is but one alternative; you must make up your mind to suffer the torments of quenchless flames forever--or flee to the Lord Jesus Christ for life and salvation! He is the only way of escape--there is salvation in no other.
There is pardon in His blood.
There is mercy at His throne.
There is pity in His heart.
There is veracity in His Word.
There is hope for you.

Flee to Him--and you are safe!
Reject Him, persevere in sin, prefer the world--and you must forever . . .
be lashed by an accusing conscience,
be tormented by a cruel and remorseless devil,
be punished by a just and holy God, and
condemn yourself throughout eternity!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Compliments of Gracegems

Worth every moment, a must watch!

2011-09-28T21:55:00.002-04:00

Wrestling with God

2011-09-21T17:38:00.000-04:00

Wrestling with God.
The Daily Evidence | September 16, 2011 at 6:00 pm | Categories: General | URL: http://wp.me/p1hdG9-eo

It has been said that Jacob was as twisted as a corkscrew, and it took an act of God to straighten him out. Jacob, by an act of deceit, had robbed his older brother, Esau, of their fatherâ€™s blessing. It was fear that his vengeful brother would kill him that drove Jacob to seek Godâ€™s favor.

It is legitimate to come to the Savior in fear. We have greatly wronged the One who gave us life by vio- lating His Law, and His wrath abides upon us. If we do not repent and trust in the Savior, we will reap the terrifying fruit of our actions: death and everlasting hell. What a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31)! R. C. Sproul rightly said that Jesus doesnâ€™t save us to God, He saves us from God.

Those who have had an encounter with God will, like Jacob, thereafter walk with a limp. Whereas we once had a haughty look and proud heart, we now bow in quiet humility and walk in lowliness of mind. And like Jacob was given a new name, when we meet the Lord we, too, become new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). We are born again, with a new heart and with new desires.

And just as Jacob wrestled alone with God, each of us must make our own peace with God; no one else can do it for us. Notice that Jacob said he would not let God go until He blessed him. God honors persis- tence. Seek Godâ€™s blessing until you know that you have peace with Him. Call on the name of the Lord. Be like the blind man Bartimaeus, who in desperation called to Jesus, despite the rebuke of those around him (Mark 10:48). Do not give up until you have made your own call and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10).

After you encounter God, be earnest always to keep His smile on your life. Jacob asked God for His name and then rejoiced that his life had been preserved (v. 30). Once you have come to know Him who suf- fered for you, you will rejoice with joy unspeakable and never forget the name of the One whose blood pre- served you for His everlasting kingdom.

Genesis 32:24Â Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.

-Compliments of Wordpress.com

Unfortunate realites....

2011-08-28T00:11:00.001-04:00

Not an endorsement, but something to seriously think about. Leveraging your own in-house folks is a real conideration-

http://www.churchsecurityalliance.com/members/churchsecurity/blog/VIEWO+00000002+00000086

Sobering thoughts-

2011-07-29T22:45:00.001-04:00

Oh, how dreadful the thought--to go to Hell through the church of God!

(James Smith, "The Alarming Sentence!")

"A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it--but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard: For three years now, I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree--and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil!" Luke 13:6-7

Let us look at Christ's figure a little:
A fig-tree--or a professor of the religion of Christ.
A fruitless fig-tree--or a barren, useless professor.
A fig-tree with leaves of profession--but not the fruit of holiness.

No place is as dangerous for an unconverted person--as the church of God! It is to be feared that many join the church before they are truly converted; and yet very, very few are ever converted after.

Once under a profession--God expects you to live up to that profession.
If you are planted in His vineyard--God expects you to bring forth fruit.

The owner of the vineyard comes and seeks fruit; He comes again, and again; and if He find none, He passes this solemn sentence, "Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil!"

Concerning every fruitless professor God says, "Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil! It drains the ground of its nourishment, for no good purpose. Labor is but lost upon it; expectation is disappointed by it; therefore, Cut it down! My patience and forbearance are worn out; I have come three years seeking fruit--and find none; so, Cut it down!"

It is a fearful sentence! God gives the command to some disease--He says, "Go, cut that barren professor down!" He sends death, like the woodsman with his sharpened axe--at length he strikes the fatal blow; and then the fruitless professor falls!

This command of God is fearful--it is full of terror--it includes utter destruction!

This command is irresistible--we cannot evade it--we cannot brave it out--the boldest heart fails--the strongest body yields to God's "Cut it down!"

This command is final! There is all that is dreadful wrapped up in it--even a certain, fearful expectation of God's judgment, and the raging fire that will consume His enemies!

The fruitless professor is to be cut down and committed to the eternal flames of Hell!
Here is wrath--fearful wrath!
Here is justice--inflexible justice!
Here is vengeance--the vengeance of an infinite God!

O fruitless professor. . .
Consider!
Fear!
Tremble!
Repent!

God looks for fruit from every professor. He will certainly punish--if there is no fruit.

Fruitless professor--where will you be soon? The axe lies at your root, even now! The executioner is only awaiting the command!

Divine mercy will soon urge her last plea; the year of reprieve will soon expire--and then, "Cut it down!" is all that remains! Oh, how dreadful the thought--to go to Hell through the church of God! To profess that you are traveling to Heaven--when in reality you are going with the lost multitude to eternal perdition!

C/O Gracegems

Daily Readings from the Life of Christ

2011-07-07T20:47:00.001-04:00

Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” -Matthew 7:22–23

On first reading, these are some of the most startling, convicting words Jesus ever uttered. The key issue for Him is obedience to His Word and will. He later declared, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31; cf. Rom. 6:16; Col. 1:22–23; Heb. 5:9).

All the empty words and professions of respect for Christ and the shallow works of supposed dedication now come to condemn all disobedient claimers to the Lord. When Jesus tells them, “I never knew you,” it does not mean He didn’t know their identities, but in essence, “I didn’t know you as My disciples, and you didn’t really know Me as Lord and Savior. You chose your kingdom, but it wasn’t My kingdom.”

A life that professes to be a Christian but in no way actually reflects His holiness does not possess true salvation. Such a profession comes from a dead faith that results in no good works (James 2:17).

It’s not that faithful disciples will not stumble and sin sometimes; otherwise Jesus would not have taught about forgiveness of debts (Matt. 6:12) and confession of sins (cf. 1 John 1:9). Believers cannot expect perfection in this life, but they should expect to be heading in that direction.

Those who persist in lawlessness show that they are not Christians. No matter how orthodox and outwardly fervent, religious activity that doesn’t stem from repentance of sin and manifest a desire for obedience to Christ is still rebellion against God’s law.

*Compliments of Pastor John MacArthur and gty.org*

Courageous- spread the Word

2011-06-15T21:32:00.001-04:00

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FJ0121NU&utm_source=GodTube%20Must-See%20Video&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=06/14/2011

Coming soon to a theater near you!!

The sanctification of the Spirit

2011-05-31T17:26:00.000-04:00

The sanctification of the Spirit

(James Smith, "The Great Comforter" 1858)

"God has chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit." 2 Thessalonians 2:13

To sanctify, is to separate and set apart for holy purposes and holy uses. The Lord has separated His people, by choosing them in Christ to be holy; and He sanctifies them now for Himself--by the power, operation, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In sanctification, a work is commenced which is to make us exactly like Christ. A sanctified person has . . .
his heart changed,
his will renewed,
his understanding enlightened,
his conscience purified, and
his affections spiritualized.

Sanctification extends to the whole man, soul and body; and is carried on through . . .
the Word,
the ordinances, and
the providence of God.

Sanctification has its seat in the heart; but it regulates the whole man, and appears in his conduct in every-day life. If a man experiences the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, then . . .
sin grieves him,
Satan tries him,
the world troubles him,
and Heaven attracts him.

Spirit of Jesus, sanctify us deeply, thoroughly--that we may be just like Jesus! Sanctify us . . .
by every trial,
by every affliction,
by every privilege,
by every comfort!

(From Gracegems)

WAKE UP CALL- Please pray...

2011-05-20T22:38:00.001-04:00

Coptic Christians Need Protection -- Will the U.S. Help Them?

By Penny Young Nance

Published May 20, 2011

As the Coliseum in Rome deteriorates with every passing day, the thoughts of Christian martyrdom and persecution that happened there also seem ages away.

But as surprising as it may sound, it still happens. Instead of Christians being eaten by lions, they are being bombed during protests. Instead of being burned at the stake, their churches are being set on fire.

Coptic Christians in Egypt, the largest contingent of Christians in the country, are under severe attack — so much so that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom announced just recently that Egypt made the list of “Countries of Particular Concern.”

That's not really a list anyone wants to be on: countries put on this list are some of the worst violators of religious freedom. But it’s not enough. Calling a country out will not necessarily force them to change their behavior. A bully doesn’t work like that.

Leonard Leo, chairman of the Commission, told reporters that the final straw was the massacre on the day Coptic Christians celebrated their Christmas Eve services. Since January of this year, 400 Christians have been murdered, hundreds more injured, and multiple churches have been burned, including a massacre on New Year’s Day, where a bomb at a church in Alexandria killed 20 Christians.

The Coptic Christians have been begging for protection from the new Egyptian government without any results. Last Saturday, while Christians were being attacked with gasoline bombs and rocks in Cairo, riot police did not immediately respond; and when they did respond, they looked on for a full hour and did nothing. Soldiers had to be brought in to contain the violence.

The U.S. has directed its own military to help provide protection and apparently has attempted to put diplomatic pressure on the new government for protection. But more has to be done. The Egyptian government is filled with cowards bent on letting Christians suffer at the hands of the majority religion of Islam.

There are 10 million Coptic Christians in the Middle East, where they are overshadowed predominately by the Muslim culture and Islam, President Obama’s fabled “religion of peace.” In fact, it is the radicals, who call themselves Muslim, who are using rape, violence, and church-burnings to persecute this minority religion of Christianity in Egypt.

Persecution is nothing new for Christians (at Concerned Women for America we recently interviewed some local Coptic Christians for an upcoming event on Sharia Law, and the stories they told were stark). The Coptic Christians in Egypt aren’t backing down, nor are they intimidated, but they do want protection.

When is enough violence enough? Maybe much hasn’t changed since centuries ago when early Christians were persecuted and martyred.

Bottom line: If we don’t work with the new Egyptian government to ask them to protect this minority, we could see significant religious cleansing in Egypt. And if that happens, then shame on us.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/05/20/coptic-christians-need-protection-help/#ixzz1Mx0c9DXT

Important Questions

2011-05-09T17:50:00.000-04:00

Should it be according to your mind?

(James Smith, "Important Questions!" 1858)

"Should it be according to your mind?" Job 34:33

We are prone to be fretful, to complain of the dispensations of Divine Providence, and to reflect harshly upon the Lord's dealings with us.

We want our own way.

We wish to carve for ourselves.

We would be treated as God's favorites.

We want our ease, and prosperity, and pleasure, consulted in all things. And if this does not appear to be done--if our wills are crossed, if our schemes are frustrated, if our purposes are broken off--then we stumble, think ourselves badly treated, and look for everybody to sympathize with us.

Under these circumstances, God comes to us--as we sit among our broken cisterns, surrounded by our dethroned idols--and puts this question to us: "Should it be according to your mind?"

Are you wiser than God?

Are you kinder than God?

Are you holier than God?

Are you more just than God?

Are you better informed than God?

May not your mind be dark, or selfish, or foolish?

Should it then be according to your mind?

Should you reign--or God?

Remember that God acts in the highest wisdom; His motives are grace and justice; and all His purposes are worthy of Himself.

The least the Christian can do is to submit--and to prefer God's wisdom, way, and work--to his own. Seeing God has so arranged all events, that all things must work together for the good of His people--they, at least, should daily say, "Father, may Your will be done!"

O my soul, seek grace from God, not only to submit and be resigned to the dispensations of Divine Providence--but to acquiesce in them, and be pleased with the whole of them! Your good is consulted--your best interests are secured; and soon, very soon, it will be seen that infinite wisdom and mercy, grace and goodness, have marked out every step of your road!

"Jesus replied: You do not understand what I am now doing--but someday you will." John 13:7

(Compliments of GraceGems)

10-4 Ministries Travis Yates- Excellent Gospel presentation to the PNP!

2011-04-23T19:14:00.001-04:00

The Gospel: Mission Philippines 2011 from Ten-Four Ministries on Vimeo.

Voice of the Martyrs

2011-04-20T09:29:00.003-04:00

Please check out the current effort to share the Gospel in restricted lands...

http://www.thejesusmovie.com/bg_jesusmovie_wdbm_441.html

"Courageous" Movie Trailer

2011-04-04T18:04:00.000-04:00

Pray for our brothers and sisters in service...

2011-03-26T10:17:00.001-04:00

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/25/justice-department-alarmed-rising-number-police-deaths/

2011-03-09T18:48:00.000-05:00

God sees through these fig leaves!
by Thomas Watson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

("Parental Solicitude" being a letter of James Smith to his children)

My dear children,
As your parent, I feel deeply concerned for both your present and everlasting welfare. Great will be my sorrow and distress--to see you associated with the worldly, the careless, or the profane--and to look forward with the fear of being everlastingly separated from you! O what an idea--to be separated forever! the parent enjoying unutterable blessedness--but the child enduring unspeakable, unending woe!

With all the solemn realities of eternity before me I write, and with the deepest solicitude I beg your attention. Allow me first, my dear child, to call your attention to the infinite value of your immortal SOUL. You have a soul which is immortal, destined to live forever. Live it must, live it will, and live forever; but it is capable of enduring most dreadful, fearful, and never-ending torments!

I tell you from the mouth of God--
that you have an immortal soul;
that there is a glorious heaven--and a dreadful hell;
that one or the other must be your eternal abode;
and I beseech you to consider seriously, reflect in time, and flee from the wrath to come!

Your nature is entirely depraved, and always has been! You were conceived in sin, shaped in iniquity, and brought forth under the curse of God! You have grown up hitherto in a sinful state:
every thought of your heart,
every word you have spoken,
every action you have performed,
is more or less sinful.

Your heart is a fountain so corrupt, that nothing pure can possibly proceed from it. God, says of your heart, my child, that it is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked!" Every variety of sin and wickedness lurks there! It may be concealed from your view, but yet it is there; and if temptation should present itself, or the Lord takes off his restraints--it would soon make its dreadful appearance.

There never was a sin committed by the vilest malefactor, or a crime perpetrated by the greatest monster of iniquity--but the seed of that sin or crime is to be found in your heart! "For from within, out of the heart," says Jesus, "proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, thefts, covetousness, wickedness; deceit, lust, an evil eye, pride, blasphemy, foolishness! All these evil things come from within and defile a man!" Well then may the Apostle say, "The carnal mind is enmity against God--for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be! So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God!"

Do you think that it is possible, my dear child, for anything good to come from a heart like this? But just such a heart is yours--and the reason you do not know it, is because spiritual darkness and ignorance are spread over your soul; the eyes of your understanding are darkened, and you are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin!

GraceGems

A word for men...

2011-02-28T19:13:00.002-05:00

Another fallen brother-

2011-02-19T12:38:00.003-05:00

Please pray for the family of Officer John Falcone.

It appears that the alarming rate of our brothers and sisters being killed in the line of duty continues. The incidents are almost becoming daily news. A US Marshal was shot and killed only the other day. Pray and stay sharp- God bless-

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110219/NEWS/110219710/-1/NEWS

Pray for the Body worldwide...

2011-02-15T17:25:00.003-05:00

An untold story...

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/02/15/critics-slam-government-media-weak-response-anti-christian-attacks/

Thought for the Day...and longer...

2011-02-07T18:35:00.001-05:00

You can't love God and the world

(by James A. La Belle)

"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4

It is my firm conviction that worldliness is destroying the church of Jesus Christ. The church is more and more becoming . . .
like the world,
indistinguishable from the world,
pursuers of the world,
lovers of the world.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is hardly more than an appendage or appendix to our busy, worldly lives. We are no longer distinguished as separate, consecrated, pilgrims, sojourners, or holy unto the Lord; instead, we have . . .
eyes full of the world,
hearts in love with the world,
ears attentive to the world,
lips filled with worldly speech,
hands filled with worldly things,
feet comfortable with worldly paths, and
bodies no longer ready to depart and be with Jesus since that would mean giving up the world.

There is a heaven to be won and a hell to be shunned, and all those who have no visible, practical, transforming, determinative, self-denying, world-abhorring love for Jesus Christ--will be anathema at His coming!

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world." 1 John 2:15-16

*Gracegems*

In addition to the last post...

2011-01-25T06:10:00.005-05:00

Another grim reminder-

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/24/authorities-fear-cops-targeted-officers-shot-hours

Pray, stay alert, and God bless-

Romans 13:3-5
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

Please Pray...

2011-01-23T21:03:00.003-05:00

This year started out as a violent one for law enforcement...the trend seems to be continuing. The below are just a few incidents in a rapid succession of violence against our brother and sister sheep dogs. Please keep them in your prayers and further pray that they know Christ. Stay safe and God bless-

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/23/detroit-police-department-respond-sto-precinct-shooting-reports/

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/23/person-killed-deputies-hurt-washington-walmart/

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/20/officer-killed-wounded-miami-shooting/

2011-01-15T18:39:00.000-05:00

From the mouth of a child...

2011-01-10T20:52:00.000-05:00

A grim start to 2011...

2011-01-02T08:28:00.002-05:00

Please pray for the family of Deputy Hopper. As the apparent trend in violence towards law enforcement continues, stay alert, be careful, and God bless-

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/01/ohio-standoff-leads-sheriffs-deputys-death/

Disturbing...stay alert and more importantly make sure Jesus Christ KNOWS YOU!!

2010-12-30T16:44:00.002-05:00

Police fatalities jump 37 percent in 2010
By GREG BLUESTEIN, Associated Press Greg Bluestein, Associated Press Tue Dec 28, 4:30 pm ET

ATLANTA – Two officers in a remote Alaska town were ambushed as they chatted on a street. A California officer and deputy were killed by an arson suspect with a high-powered rifle as they tried to serve a warrant. Two other officers doing anti-drug work were gunned down by men along a busy Arkansas highway.

These so-called cluster killings of more than one officer helped make 2010 a particularly deadly year for law enforcement. Deaths in the line of duty jumped 37 percent to about 160 from 117 the year before, according to numbers as of Tuesday compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, a nonprofit that tracks police deaths.

There also was a spike in shooting deaths. Fifty-nine federal, state and local officers were killed by gunfire in 2010, a 20 percent jump from last year's figures, when 49 were killed. The total does not include the death of a Georgia State Patrol trooper shot in the neck Monday night in Atlanta as he tried to make a traffic stop.

And 73 officers died in traffic incidents, a rise from the 51 killed in 2009, according to the data.

Craig Floyd, director of the Washington-based fund, said the rise in fatalities could be an aftershock of the nation's economic troubles as officers in some communities cope with slashed budgets.

"We're asking our officers to do more with less. We're asking them to fight conventional crime, and we're asking them to serve on the front lines in the war against terror," he said.

Last year's toll of 117 officers killed was a 50-year low that encouraged police groups. But this year's total is more the norm than an anomaly: The number of police deaths has topped 160 five times since 2000, including 240 in 2001. The annual toll routinely topped 200 in the 1970s and before that in the 1920s.

The deaths were spread across more than 30 states and Puerto Rico — with the most killings reported in Texas, California, Illinois, Florida and Georgia. The two law enforcement agencies with the most deaths were the California Highway Patrol and the Chicago Police Department, each with five.

Ten of the shooting deaths came from five tragedies in which several officers were shot and killed in groups.

The cluster shootings started in February, when authorities say a Fresno County, Calif. deputy was shot by an arson suspect who had vowed to kill investigators and himself rather than go to prison. The killing led to a daylong gunbattle during which a police officer was also shot and killed. The gunman later killed himself.

In March, San Juan authorities say two park rangers serving as guards at Puerto Rico's Department of Natural Resources were gunned down by invaders who jumped a fence during an attempted robbery.

Two West Memphis police officers doing anti-drug work in May were shot to death by two men wielding AK-47s along an Arkansas interstate. The suspects were later killed in a shootout that injured the local sheriff and a deputy at a crowded Walmart parking lot.

In June, authorities say a man wanted for writing a bad check shot and killed two Tampa, Fla., police officers after he was pulled over at 2:15 a.m. And in August, a man was charged with killing two officers chatting in front of his home in the tiny Alaska village of Hoonah.

Maria Haberfeld, a professor of police science at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said the rise of community-oriented policing over the last few decades has also had the unintended consequence of lessening the public's respect for officers.

"It's a cascading effect of the people thinking police are here to serve and protect them on an individual basis" instead of acting as an arm of the government, she said. "We spend hours teaching children about Shakespeare and history, but we don't devote even an hour a week to the role of police in creating the world in which we live."

The uptick in traffic deaths also troubled analysts.

The research didn't reveal what led to many of the traffic deaths, partly because local departments often don't keep complete records of those fatalities, said Floyd. But he said it suggests that more research is needed to investigate possible driver fatigue and distracted driving.

"We're asking citizens not to talk and text on their cell phones, but we're providing officers with laptop computers and cell phones and radios," he said. "That means taking their attention from the road. Are we putting too many distractions in police vehicles?"

Paul Washer- The Narrow Way

2010-12-26T17:16:00.001-05:00

Make sure you are in the Truth!

2010-12-08T16:40:00.000-05:00

The Importance of Prayer

2010-12-02T18:31:00.000-05:00

PRAYER

(James Smith, "Sunny Subjects for All Seasons" 1858)

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

How important is a spirit of prayer! It is . . .
the proof of regeneration,
the manifestation of grace in our hearts, and
the evidence our title to mansions in the skies!

Prayer is . . .
the breath of the renewed soul,
the beating of the sanctified heart,
the effect of the life of God within us.

O that I had prayed more!

Prayer should become a habit with us--then everything would furnish us with matter for prayer. Prayer should mingle with our pleasures and our pains, with our labor and our rest. O for more prayer!

We should never do--what we cannot pray God to bless.

We should never go--where we cannot ask God to go with us.

If we would hold fast our profession,
if we would adorn the gospel,
if we would honor Jesus,
if we would enjoy our mercies,
if we would get good by our trials,
if we would see all things working together for good,
if we would conquer Satan,
if we would overcome the world,
if we would crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts
--we must pray!

Prayer, if it is believing prayer . . .
opens Heaven to us,
unveils the glorious face of God, and
brings down foretastes of the joys of paradise,
makes us a match for all our foes,
enables us patiently to carry every cross, and with perseverance to climb and pass over the loftiest hills we meet with on our heaven-bound pilgrimage!

Those who pray, will, by deriving strength from Heaven, by drawing down wisdom from above--withstand every storm, and shout God's praises at last.

Tempted Christian--pray, and you will overcome every temptation.

Troubled Christian--pray, and God will deliver you out of every trouble.

Perplexed Christian--pray, and God will make your way plain before your face.

Doubting Christian--pray, and God will disperse your doubts, and chase your fears away.

Trembling Christian--pray, and God will strengthen you with strength in the soul.

Sick Christian--pray, and God will make all your bed in your affliction.

Dying Christian--pray, and death will lose all its terrors, and you will gently fall asleep in Jesus.

Lost sinner--pray, for God who heard the publican and justified him, will hear you and save you.

O for the grace of prayer, that we may in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

(Grace Gems)

Intense- watch to end and think...

2010-11-29T18:34:00.000-05:00

James Smith, "God is Merciful" 1858

2010-11-18T17:37:00.002-05:00

Last night Sam was at "The Fighting Rooster"

(James Smith, "God is Merciful" 1858)

"God is merciful!" said old Mrs. Jenkins, as she came from the funeral home where drunken Sam Voller was just laid out. Last night Sam was at "The Fighting Rooster" and drank too much beer, then he quarreled, a fight followed, and Sam got an unlucky blow--and now he has gone to appear before his Maker, to give an account of the deeds!

Yes, Mrs. Jenkins, God is merciful--but not always. God is merciful--but not to all. There was no mercy for the world of the ungodly, who perished in the flood. Nor was there any mercy for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were consumed by fire from heaven.

Neither can we see, though we do not wish to judge harshly of our poor fellow-creatures, how there could be mercy for Sam--who lived in sin, died in sin, and died in consequence of his sin. "He who confesses and forsakes his sin--shall find mercy;" but how can he hope for mercy--who hardens himself in sin, and perseveres in it until summoned to appear before God to give an account of it?

"There is mercy with God--that He may be feared," not that He may be trifled with, and insulted to His face!

Mercy may now be obtained by any one and every one who seeks it. But the Lord, who is now so merciful and gracious--will by and by manifest His wrathful indignation; and say to those who now refuse to come when He calls them, "Depart from me, you cursed ones, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!" Terrible words--called forth by persevering in sin, and inflicting a terrible doom! May no reader of these lines, ever endure the threatening contained in them!

In vain for mercy now they cry;
In lakes of liquid fire they lie;
There on the flaming billows tossed,
Forever--O, forever, lost!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(GraceGems)

Let us reason together!

2010-11-09T19:15:00.000-05:00

Another Spurgeon great

2010-10-24T19:10:00.001-04:00

Men are brought to God by the effectual power of grace, but grace never violates, though it subdues, the human will. They make a great mistake who think that God treats men as if they were logs: God knows they are not logs, and never treats them so. He has made them in his own image, to be free, intelligent agents, and he acts upon them as free agents. It is difficult for some men to understand how grace can be effectual and almighty, and yet man can still be a free agent. Now, if persons do not see this, we are not bound to give them understandings, but the two things are consistent enough: prejudice creates the difficulty, there is none really. A man may be free enough, and yet he may be so overwhelmingly persuaded to a certain course, that he cannot do otherwise; such moral power does not at all interfere with true liberty. If we taught that men were saved against their wills, and that physical force was put upon them to make them Christians, we should deserve to be denounced as talking nonsense, or worse; but the power which we speak of is moral, spiritual, persuasive, and operates in strict accordance with the usual laws of mind. The grace of God does no violence to the will, but sweetly overcomes its obstinacy, making it a willing captive. 785.690

God and our Nation

2010-10-14T18:20:00.001-04:00

Is it nothing to you?

2010-10-01T15:48:00.001-04:00

Is it nothing to you?

The death of our Lord Jesus Christ is the most wonderful, astounding, magnificent event in the history of the universe! Nothing that is, has been, or shall hereafter be--can be compared to it. Yet, as He was suffering the wrath of God, bearing the sins of His people, dying as the voluntary Substitute for guilty, hell-deserving, hell-bent sinners, such as we are--we hear the Son of God expressing the most woeful, unexplainable lamentation imaginable. He cried, "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like My suffering that was inflicted on Me, that the Lord brought on Me in the day of His fierce anger?" Lamentations 1:12

When I hear those words falling from the lips of the Son of God, as He hangs upon the cursed tree, I simply cannot avoid asking a question. Of whom does the bleeding Lamb of God speak these words? To whom is the death of Christ meaningless and insignificant?

Nothing in all the universe is more wonderful and magnificent in the eyes of God the Father--than the death of His dear Son!
The angels of heaven ever look into the mystery and wonder of redemption by the blood of Christ with astonishment!
Faithful gospel preachers are so overwhelmed with the wonders of redemption and the glory of the Redeemer--that they never cease to study, glory in, and preach the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Redeemed sinners on the earth cherish nothing, delight in nothing, marvel at nothing--like the death of our Lord Jesus Christ for them!
The ransomed in glory appear to think of nothing and speak of nothing--except the dying love of the Lamb in the midst of the throne! (Revelation 5:9-12).

Yet, there are some to whom our darling Savior speaks as it were, with astonishment, to whom His death is meaningless, insignificant, nothing! Who are these people to whom the sin-atoning death of Christ is nothing?

Our Lord is here addressing Himself to everyone who 'passes by' Him--passes by His death as the sinners' Substitute in unbelief. O unbelieving, Christless soul--it is you to whom the Son of God speaks!

O cold, calculating, heartless, preacher, you who pass by the crucified Christ--and take to your lips the meaningless, insignificant trifles of politics, social corruptions, moralisms, denominationalism, historical religion, creeds, and debates about nothing--it is you to whom the Master speaks!

Christ crucified is mundane, meaningless and insignificant--only to unregenerate, unbelieving souls!

It is my heart's prayer that you will hear these words echoing in your soul--until the death of our Lord Jesus Christ is made to be the most important thing in all the world to you. I pray that we may become totally consumed with the crucified Christ, that our hearts, our lives--every fiber of our souls may be constantly dominated by the death of Christ as our sin-atoning Savior. Let us meditate upon and study the great, sin-atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, until it consumes our every thought!

*Another Gracegem gem!

Sons! Brethren! Princes!...

2010-09-23T18:47:00.000-04:00

Sons! Brethren! Princes! Friends! Heirs! Jewels! My Portion! Mine!

(John MacDuff, "The Night Watches")

"And they shall be Mine, says the LORD Almighty, in that day when I make up My jewels!" Malachi 3:17

"MY JEWELS!" Of what favored creatures does Jehovah thus speak? Is it of seraphs? Is it of angels? Methinks, at such a title, even they would take the dust of abasement, and veiling their faces, cry, "Unclean! unclean!" But, marvel of marvels! It is redeemed sinners of the earth--once crude, unshapely stones, lying in "the horrible pit and the miry clay," amid the rubbish of corruption--who are thus sought out by divine grace, purchased by divine love, destined through eternity to be set as jewels in the crown of the eternal God!

"The Lord's portion is His people!" There is a surpassing revelation of love here. Great, unspeakably great, is the privilege of the believer--to be able to look up to the everlasting Jehovah, and say, "You are my portion, O Lord!" But what is this, in comparison with the response of Omnipotence to the child of dust, "You are Mine!" Reader, have you learned to lisp your part in this wondrous interchange of covenant-love, "My beloved is Mine--and I am His!"

What an array of wondrous titles belong to the saints of God, and given, too, by God Himself, in His own Word! He calls them--Sons! Brethren! Princes! Friends! Heirs! Jewels! My Portion! Mine!

And when is the time when they become thus dear to Him? Sinner, when you wept at the cross of Jesus--you became His jewel. No--from eternity past--"He has loved you with an everlasting love!" True, you are not yet set in His crown. You are yet undergoing the process of polishing. Affliction is preparing you; trial is needed to remove all the roughness and blemishes of nature, and make you fit for your Master's use. But, blessed thought! "Now it is God who has made us (literally, chiseled or polished us) for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." Yes, God Himself, the possessor, who prized that earthly jewel so much, as to give in exchange for it Heaven's "Pearl of great price"--He has the polishing in His own hand! He will not deal too rashly or roughly!

A jewel in Immanuel's crown! Not only raised from the ash-heap to be set among princes; but to gem through eternity--the Forehead that for me, was once wreathed with thorns!

Shall I--can I--murmur at any way my Savior sees fit to polish and prepare me for such an honor as this? Let me sink down on my nightly pillow overpowered with the thought; and as I hear my covenant God whispering in my ear the astounding accents, "You are Mine!" I may well reply, "I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me live in safety!" Psalm 4:8

-Gracegems

Lest We Forget

2010-09-11T13:26:00.001-04:00

Click on title or use link-
http://shieldsoftheshepherd.blogspot.com/2009/09/lest-we-forget.html

Paul Washer on Salvation

2010-09-09T18:47:00.001-04:00

Gotta love the Gems!

2010-09-02T20:22:00.001-04:00

There is a way to hell--even from the very gates of heaven!

(James Smith, "Not Far from the Kingdom" 1859)

"You are not far from the kingdom of God." Mark 12:34

Many are in this dangerous position. They are not far from the kingdom of God--but not actually in it.

They have clear light in their heads--but have no grace in their hearts. They know the gospel in theory--but have no inward experience of its power. But no man can be saved by light in the mind; there must be the life of God within the soul.

They have not only clear light--but correct morals. The tongue is controlled. The temper is governed. The life is regulated. But with all this, the soul is dead in trespasses and sins. There may be morality--without spirituality. The life may not only be correct--but there may be a regular attendance on gospel ordinances. They may come as God's people, sit as God's people, hear and sing as God's people--and yet not be in the kingdom of God!

There may be no objection felt, or opposition shown to the doctrines or duties of the gospel. All may be admitted, professed, and even admired; but still the person may not be in the kingdom of God.

There may also be a form of prayer--but prayer without faith--prayer without the heart, without the soul.

They may be employed in teaching God's Word, either in the Sunday School, or in the pulpit--and yet not be in the kingdom of God.

O how solemn is the thought, how searching is the fact--that people . . .
may have correct views of truth;
may regularly attend on the means of grace;
may acquiesce in the doctrines and duties of Christianity;
may associate and unite with God's people;
may regularly bow the knee in prayer; and
may employ their time and talents in instructing others in the things of God--and yet never enter into the kingdom of God themselves!

Reader beware! for many rest short of vital religion. They know nothing of a broken heart for sin, of living faith in Christ, or fellowship with God through Him. They rest in a form of knowledge, or in a routine of religious services. Such may find out their mistake too late, as did the foolish virgins--when the door was shut! Or, like those referred to by our Lord when He said, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:22-23

Many will come very near to the kingdom--but will never enter it. As John Bunyan says, "There is a way to hell--even from the very gates of heaven!"

But it must be dreadful to come near, so near to heaven--and yet to be thrust down to hell!

-Compliments of Grace Gems

Tick Tock

2010-08-26T19:48:00.001-04:00

Truth spoken plainly

2010-08-19T18:10:00.001-04:00

Swallowed up in a worldly church!

(James Smith, "Man's Treatment of Gods People" 1859)

"If the world hates you--keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world--it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world--but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you!" John 15:18-19

Such is the testimony of the Lord Jesus.

Real Christians have never been favorites of the world--and while it continues what it is, they never can be.

Nor can the pure and simple gospel be pleasant to the world, because it lays the sinner in the dust, and exalts God as supreme and sovereign. Let us not be surprised then, if we hear worldlings speak against the gospel, and traduce the Lord's people; for what the Romans told Paul, is in a good measure true in the present day, "For concerning this 'sect', we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere!" Acts 28:22

This 'sect' originated with Jesus, the hated Nazarene, who came into the world for its good, and to save His people from their sins. He gathered around Him many--but they were principally the poor and unlearned. There was nothing in them, or about them, to recommend them to the proud and sensual world.
They were begotten of God, and made new creatures in Christ.
They embraced the truth that He taught.
They observed the precepts that He gave.
They copied the example that He set.

Their creed consisted pretty much in these facts:
that man is a lost sinner,
that salvation by works is impossible, and therefore it must be all of grace--or not at all;
that the Lord Jesus came into the world to take the sinner's place, fulfill the law in the sinner's stead, and die as the sinner's substitute.

By such hopes, they were animated,
by such rules, they walked, and
at such objects, they aimed.

And yet, they were spoken against and despised, because they poured contempt on the luxuries, pride, and honors of this world. They were treated as the offscouring of all things, unfit for society, unfit to live.

"Do not be surprised, my brothers--if the world hates you!" 1 John 3:13

And yet, like Israel in Egypt, the more they were persecuted, the more they multiplied and grew; until at length they spread not only over the Roman empire--but nearly over the world. And, had they retained . . .
the simplicity of their lives,
the spirituality of their minds, and
the correctness of their creed--
they would no doubt have encircled the globe!
But at length they were . . .
courted by royalty,
loaded with wealth,
became intoxicated with worldly honors,
and then their glory departed!
They drank into the spirit of the world,
conformed to its maxims and customs,
sought its approbation and applause--and
so fell from their exalted station, and lost their real dignity. The 'sect' that had been spoken against everywhere, with the exception of a few--was swallowed up in a worldly church!

There are still some, who, like the ancient sect of the Nazarenes, are spoken against everywhere. They will not swim with the stream. They will not compromise their Master's honor, or give up their Master's truth. According to the light they have--they walk; and they rejoice to exalt the Savior, humble the sinner, and proclaim salvation, all of grace. They rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer shame, for His dear name.

Reader! Do you belong to this sect? Is there anything in your religion that is distasteful to the world, anything that draws forth its opposition, or excites its contempt? The carnal mind is still enmity against God, and if we are godlike--that enmity will manifest itself against us!

If we copy Christ's example, as set before us in the gospel; if we testify against the world, that its works are evil, and call upon it to repent, as Christ did--we shall soon be hated by the world!

From Gracegems

2010-08-13T22:31:00.000-04:00

A well placed round...

2010-08-05T19:48:00.001-04:00

"The mourning of a penitent is not because of hell: if there were no hell he would mourn just as much. His grief is not for what sin might cost himself, but for what it has cost the Substitute."

-Charles Spurgeon

Worth your thought

2010-07-30T21:53:00.001-04:00

The biggest loser!

(James Smith, "The Safe Side!")

There are usually two sides:
the one dangerous--the other safe;
the one is uncertain--and the other is sure.

It is always the wisest--to be found on the safe side!

Look at the unbeliever:
He denies the Bible to be God's book.
He walks by his own reason.
He gratifies his senses and his lusts.
He lives in sin.
He must soon die.
He has no Savior.
He has no true hope.
If the Bible is false--then he is safe; BUT
if the Bible is true--then he is damned forever!

He is certainly not on the safe side!

There are many things in the Bible which he does not like.
He is prejudiced against it.
It never prophecies good concerning him--but always evil.
It requires him to change his present sinful course--but he loves it.
He loves sin--and the Bible condemns it.
He gratifies the lusts of the flesh--and the Bible bids him to mortify them.
In a word, there is as much opposition between the Bible and him--as between light and darkness, holiness and sin, truth and error. Therefore he hates it!

At the best, with him all is uncertain, unsatisfactory, and vexatious.

He is certainly not on the safe side!

Now look at the true Christian:
He believes the Bible to be from God. He has examined it. He has evidence of its inspiration in his heart. He fully believes it.
What the Bible says of himself as a sinner--he knows to be true.
What it says of Jesus as a Savior--he has proved to be a fact.
As guilty--he has applied to God for pardon, and obtained it.
As impure--he has sought the cleansing operations of the Holy Spirit, and has experienced them.
His guilt is gone--therefore he has no slavish fears.
His soul is justified--therefore he has peace with God.
He approves of the inspired precepts--and regulates his life by them.
He carries his cares to God--and is sustained under them.
He realizes that God is his Friend, his Father, and his everlasting Portion.
He is peaceful.
He is often happy.
To him death has no sting--and eternity has no terror.
He knows Jesus as his Savior--and trusts in Him.
He knows God as his Father--and walks with Him.
He knows the Holy Spirit as his comforting Teacher--and listens to Him.

He is, perhaps, more tried than the unbeliever--but he has supports, consolations, and pleasures--of which the unbeliever knows nothing. He lives to bless others, to honor God, to prepare for a glorious immortality.

He would not change his worst day--for the unbeliever's best day!

He is on the safe side!

If the unbeliever should be right--then the Christian is no loser.

But if the Christian is right--and he is--then the unbeliever is the biggest loser--an infinite loser!

Reader, on which side are you? There is but one safe side.

There is no safety for a sinner now--but at the Cross!

There will be no safety at death and judgment--but in Christ!

He who is on the safe side now--will be on the safe side then!

There will be no changing sides then!

"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne! All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand--and the goats at His left.
Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father--inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world!' (the safe side)
Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones--into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons!' (the perilous side)
And they will go away into eternal punishment--but the righteous will go into eternal life!" Matthew 25:31-46

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Reader! You might want to forward this gem on to your unsaved friends!

Grace Gems

Ask yourself...

2010-07-24T23:02:00.005-04:00

The Plan!

2010-07-15T18:39:00.002-04:00

The following is from Spurgeon's sermon,
"A Feast for Faith" No. 715. Isaiah 28:29.

God does not work without a plan.

God has not left the world to chance.

There are some men who are always kicking
against the doctrine of an eternal purpose,
and who grow angry if you assert that God
has settled what shall occur.

It is by the consent of all agreed that men
are foolish if they work without a plan, and
yet they cry out when we insist that God
also, in all his working, is fulfilling a well
arranged design.

Depend upon it, however, let men rebel
against this truth as they will, that God has
determined the end from the beginning.

He has left no screw loose in the machine,
he has left nothing to chance or accident.

Nothing with God is the subject of an "if" or a
"peradventure," but even the agency of man,
free as it is, as untouched and undisturbed as
if there were no God, even this is guided by His
mysterious power, and works out thoroughly
His own purpose in every jot and tittle.

God wings the thunderbolt, and shall He
not guide the most passionate spirit?

God puts a bit into the mouth of the whirlwind,
and shall He not control the most ambitious will?

God takes care that even the sea shall come no
farther than He bids it, and shall not the heart
of man be equally subject to the Divine purpose?

Yielding to man his free agency, giving to him his
responsibility, leaving him as free as if there were
no purpose and no decree, yet the eternal Jehovah
works out His plans, and achieves His purpose to
the praise of His glory.

Everything that has moved or shall move in heaven,
and, earth, and hell, has been, is, and shall be,
according to the counsel and foreknowledge of God,
fulfilling a holy, just, wise, and unalterable purpose!

God is wonderful in His design and excellent in His working.

Believer, God overrules all things for your good.
The needs-be for all that you have suffered, has
been most accurately determined by God.

Your course is all mapped out by your Lord.
Nothing will take Him by surprise. There will be
no novelties to Him. There will be no occurrences,
which He did not foresee, and for which, therefore,
He was not provided. He has arranged all, and
you have but to patiently wait, and you shall
sing a song of deliverance.

Your life has been arranged on the best possible
principles, so that if you had been gifted with
unerring wisdom, you would have arranged a life
for yourselves exactly similar to the one through
which you have passed.

Let us trust God where we cannot trace Him.

In the end we shall read the whole of God's
purpose as one grand poem, and there will not
be one verse in it that has a syllable too much,
or a word too little. There will not be one stanza
or letter redundant, much less one that is erased.
But from beginning to end we shall see the master
pen and the master-mind drawing forth the glorious
array of majestic thoughts. And with angels, and
seraphs, and principalities, and powers, shall burst
forth into one mighty song, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"

We shall see how from the first even to the last, the
King has been ruling all things according to His own will.

Gracegems.org

Take Heed-

2010-07-08T05:29:00.001-04:00

I am going to vomit you out of My mouth!

(James Smith, "Daily Bible Readings for the Lord's Household")

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold--or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold--I am going to vomit you out of My mouth!" Revelation 3:15-16

The Lord Jesus hates lukewarmness! He would rather we made no profession of religion at all--than to profess--and then not practice His precepts!

He loves to see His people zealous--and it is a shame to us, when we are dull and lifeless in His ways.

It is to be feared, that many professors do not realize that their 'indifference' is a sin! They think that having professed Christ, if they just attend to a few religious duties, and creep along in a certain religious course--that this is enough. They are never hot--and they do not really like to see others on fire for the Lord.

Professor of religion, Jesus says, "Be hot--or be cold!"
Be altogether a Christian--OR throw off your vain profession!
Do not wear the Christian name--only to dishonor it!

Professing Christian--are you hot, or cold--or lukewarm?

(From Grace Gems)

Absolutely worth a minute of your time

2010-07-05T00:18:00.001-04:00

Another Gem

2010-06-22T19:15:00.001-04:00

Paul's estimate of himself

(James Smith, "The Pastor's Morning Visit")

"I am nothing!" 2 Corinthians 12:11

This was Paul's estimate of himself: "less than the least of all saints," and "the chief of sinners."

The more we know of ourselves and of Jesus--
the more shall we be humbled in the dust before Him;
and the lower we lie before Him,
and the happier and holier we shall be.

Sinful MAN will, MUST be something--this is both his pride and his misery.
The Christian is willing to be nothing--that Christ may be all in all.

If we daily felt that we are nothing--how many mortifications we would be spared; what admiring views of the grace of God would fill and sanctify our souls!

Apart from Christ--we are less than nothing; but in Christ--we are something!

We are empty--but He fills us!

We are naked--but He clothes us!

We are helpless--but He strengthens us!

We are lost--but He finds us!

We are ruined--but He saves us!

We are poor--but He supplies us!

All that we are--is by Christ!

All that we have--is from Christ!

All that all we shall be--is through Christ!

Christian, you are nothing! Therefore beware of thinking too highly of yourself; or imagining that you deserve more than you receive--either from God or men.

Humble souls are soon satisfied.

O could I lose myself in Thee,
Your depth of mercy prove,
O vast unfathomable sea
Of unexhausted love!
I loathe myself when God I see,
Content if Christ exalted be!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taken from Grace Gems

Please Listen

2010-06-15T17:38:00.001-04:00

Paul Washer

2010-06-07T22:29:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day Prayer

2010-05-29T22:50:00.005-04:00

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please hold our service men and women in your strong arms. Cover them with your sheltering grace and presence as they stand in the gap for our protection.

We also remember the families of our troops, and ask for your unique blessings to fill their homes and your peace, provision and strength to fill their lives.

May the members of our armed forces be filled with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord's mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

-Prayer and photo taken from the internet- God bless our troops, our nation, and may we all turn to the Lord and embrace our Savior, Jesus Christ-

Now is the Time of Salvation

2010-05-23T22:28:00.002-04:00

Oh sinner! It may be now or never with you. I know that God saves men at the eleventh hour, but I know also that there are many who are not saved at the eleventh hour, and that after such-and-such an hour has struck, many are given up to hardness of heart, permitted to be there own destroyers, without any checks of conscience or of the Holy Spirit-and such may be your case. The ticking of the clock always cries to men who know how to interpret its meaning. "Now, or never! Now, or never! Today on earth, tomorrow in eternity!" If you have Christ, the only time to seek Him is today. "Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." "For now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation."

Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Gold compiled by Ray Comfort

Faith in overwhelming tragedy

2010-05-13T18:44:00.001-04:00

Repentance (our April topic)

2010-05-06T17:24:00.002-04:00

We have a problem...

2010-04-30T19:29:00.002-04:00

Peculiar, distinct, and different

2010-04-21T12:37:00.001-04:00

Something peculiar, distinct, and different from other people

(J. C. Ryle, "Old Paths")

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

Does anyone ask me what we may expect to see in a true conversion? I reply--there will always be something seen in a converted man's . . .
character,
feelings,
conduct,
opinions
and daily life.

You will not see perfection in him; but you will see in him--something peculiar, distinct, and different from other people.

You will see him . . .
hating sin,
loving Christ,
following after holiness,
taking pleasure in his Bible,
persevering in prayer.

You will see him . . .
penitent,
humble,
believing,
temperate,
charitable,
truthful,
good-tempered,
patient,
upright,
honorable,
kind.

These, at any rate, will be his aims--these are the things which he will follow after, however short he may come of perfection.

In some converted people you will see these things more distinctly--in others less. This only I say--wherever there is true conversion, something of this kind will be seen.

Compliments of Grace Gems

The Sin of Pride

2010-04-09T17:13:00.002-04:00

How is it that you do not lay hold of Christ, since this is the only time when there is a probability that Christ can be laid hold of? I will tell you why it is. You do not love Christ; you love sin. Or else you are too proud to come to Christ; you think yourselves good enough, and you think that Christ is not for such as you are, but only for great sinners and the lowest of the low. O sirs, is your pride such a fine thing, that you will be damned in order to maintain its dignity? Throw your pride down, come as a sinner must come, and lay hold of Jesus Christ. Or if it be your sin, which hinders, may God, the Hold Ghost, help you to pluck out the right eye and cast off a right arm sooner than having two eyes and two arms to be cast into Hell fire.

"But," saith one, "how may I lay hold on Christ?" May the blessed Spirit enable you to do it. Here it is: Trust Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Conscious that you deserve His wrath, trembling because of His terrible Law, look to Jesus. There hangs a bleeding Savior. Methinks these eyes can see Him bleeding there; God eternal, He by whom the Heaven of Heavens was made, and the earth and the fullness thereof, takes upon Himself the form of man and hangs upon the tree of the curse.

Charles Spurgeon from Spurgeon Gold by Ray Comfort

Happy Resurrection Day!

2010-04-03T21:26:00.001-04:00

Compliments of Todd Friel and Wretched Radio

2010-04-01T19:00:00.000-04:00

The only refuge in sorrow

2010-03-26T17:31:00.000-04:00

The only refuge in sorrow

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

"Being in anguish--He prayed more fervently." Luke 22:44

We see the Master at prayer in Gethsemane. It was here that He prepared for His Cross. We should notice that His refuge in His exceeding sorrow--was prayer; and that, as the sorrow deepened--the refuge still was prayer. Prayer is the only refuge in sorrow. The lesson from the garden prayer is that we should take all the hard things, the anguishes, the insufferable pains, the bitter griefs of our lives--to God in prayer. We may be sure, too, that God will answer. If He does not relieve us of the suffering, He will strengthen us so that we can keep it, and still go on trusting and singing.

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Another from John Piper

2010-03-18T17:10:00.001-04:00

The Exam

2010-03-09T18:40:00.001-05:00

Borrowed from The Centurion Papers blog and You Tube.

Ponder this

2010-02-26T18:46:00.002-05:00

Compliments of John Piper and Wretched Radio

The Law's Matchless Perfection

2010-02-18T18:40:00.002-05:00

"I warrant you it is a humbling day when a man gets to understand that for every idle word that he has spoken, he will be brought to account; and when he hears again that his desires and imaginations will all come under divine scrutiny. How startled is the purest mind when it understands that whosoever looks upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart, so that even glances of the eye and thoughts of the heart are offenses of the Law. The Law of God takes cognizance of the entire nature, and reveals the evil, which lurks in every faculty. The mere imagination of sin is sinful- the very concept of it, albeit that we should reject it, and never carry it into act, would still be a stain upon our minds, and render us impure before the thrice holy God. This is one of the first works of the Law- to show us what spotless purity demands, and to reveal to us the matchless perfection, which alone can meet its requirements".

Charles Spurgeon- Spurgeon Gold compiled by Ray Comfort

Something our community needs to be aware of-

2010-02-13T10:38:00.002-05:00

Utterly heartbreaking that this perpetuates in our country (or anywhere for that matter). Please be aware and please pray!

Report: Hundreds Forced into Sex Trade in Ohio
Posted: February 11th, 2010 12:52 PM GMT-05:00
By MATT LEINGANG
Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio --
About 1,000 American-born children are forced into the sex trade in Ohio every year and about 800 immigrants are sexually exploited and pushed into sweatshop-type jobs, a new report on human trafficking in the state said Wednesday.

Ohio's weak laws on human trafficking, its growing demand for cheap labor and its proximity to the Canadian border are key contributors to the illegal activity, according to a report by the Trafficking in Persons Study Commission.

"Ohio is not only a destination place for foreign-born trafficking victims, but it's also a recruitment place," said Celia Williamson, an associate professor at the University of Toledo who led the research.

Formed last year by Ohio Attorney General Richard Condray, the commission also found that hundreds more in the state are at risk of being forced into sex trafficking or to work against their will in fields, restaurants, sweatshops or constructions sites.

Nationwide, between 45,000 and 50,000 people are trafficked into the United States, according to a 2001 report by the U.S. State Department. But Williamson noted that the problem is hard to quantify because of the underground nature of human trafficking, and studies often rely on estimates. Even the Ohio study, which analyzed law enforcement and government databases, is limited, she said.

Cordray said the report establishes the scope of the problem in Ohio as authorities discuss ways to combat it.

From 1990 to 2000, Ohio's foreign-born population increased 30 percent, and the state has a growing pool of legal and illegal immigrants who draw victims or hide victims, Williamson said. These networks are highly organized, with brothels fronting as legitimate businesses.

Also, Toronto's airport is an arrival destination for international victims who are trafficked in Canada and transported to other cities, helping make Toledo, about 55 miles southwest of Windsor, Ontario, rank fourth in the U.S. in terms of arrests, investigations and rescue of domestic child-sex victims, the report said.

Only Miami, Portland, Ore., and Las Vegas had more.

A federal investigation into a child prostitution ring in Harrisburg, Pa., exposed Toledo as a center for the trade in 2005. Nine local girls were sold as sex slaves as part of the ring, and at least 12 of the 31 people charged had ties to Toledo.

Ohio does not have a stand-alone human trafficking law. Instead, it allows prosecutors to attach a human trafficking specification to related crimes that increase prison sentences - just as penalties are more severe if a crime involves a firearm.

According to the report, 42 states with tough human trafficking laws can bring serious charges. Offenders in Delaware, Montana, New Mexico and New York may face up to 100 years in prison, for example.

The report said that besides weak state laws in Ohio, law enforcement agencies often don't recognize human trafficking when responding to reports of illegal activity. For example, Ohio is quick to label child prostitutes as delinquents and to incarcerate them, rarely looking further at the adults involved, Williamson said.

The report recommends handling child trafficking cases through the child welfare system rather than the juvenile courts.

A test with eternal consequences

2010-02-07T13:46:00.002-05:00

Again, do you know?

2010-01-30T22:47:00.001-05:00

Do you know?

2010-01-21T20:00:00.001-05:00

Glory to the King of kings

2010-01-11T20:29:00.002-05:00

Our Lord Jesus, Who Was and Is and Is to Come. Repent and trust Jesus.

Reality in a Nutshell

2010-01-07T21:08:00.003-05:00

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=57b89216572c373fc2d1

Compliments of Tangle and Wretched Radio

Remember the Heritage of our Nation

2010-01-04T22:46:00.002-05:00

Rep Randy Forbes

Deeper than Linus

2009-12-25T00:19:00.002-05:00

No commentary needed, just put your faith in and trust the Savior, Jesus Christ. Reposted compliments of John MacArthur and Wretched Radio.

Well put Linus

2009-12-24T13:24:00.001-05:00

Self-Examination

2009-12-21T05:50:00.002-05:00

The Character of Genuine Saving Faith

2 Corinthians 13:5, Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

I. Evidences that neither prove nor disprove one’s faith
a. Visible morality: Matt 19:16-21
b. Intellectual knowledge: Romans 2:17ff
c. Religious involvement: Matt. 25:1-10
d. Active Ministry : Marr 7:21-24
e. Conviction of sin: Acts 24:25
f. Assurance: Matt 23
g. Time of decision: Luke 8:13-14

II. The fruit /proofs of authentic / true Christianity
a. Love for God: Luke 10:27, Romans 8:7
b. Repentance from sin: Psalm 32:5, II Cor 7:10, I John 1:8-10
c. Genuine Humility: Psalm 51:17, Matt 5:1-12, James 4:6-9
d. Devotion to God’s Glory: Psalm 105:3, Isaiah 43:7, I Cor 10:31
e. Continual Prayer: Luke 18:1, Eph. 6:18, James 5:16-18
f. Selfless love: I John 2:9ff, 3:14, 4:7ff
g. Separation from the world: I Cor. 2:12, James 4:4ff, I John 2:15-17
h. Spiritual Growth: Luke 8:15, John 15:1-6, Eph 4:12-16
i. Obedient Living: Matt 7:21, I Peter 1:2,22….I John 2:3-5

If list I is true of a person and list II is false or non-evident, then there could be cause to question the validity of one’s profession of faith. If list II is true of a person, then list I will be true as well.

From: Dr John MacArthur Study Bible Index Notes, 1997. Re-posted by Wretched Radio.

The TRUE Meaning of Christmas

2009-12-10T17:03:00.002-05:00

As we celebrate Christmas, I pray we all remain grounded- or become grounded- in what the 'season' is really about. Its not about Santa or good cheer, but about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ- who has given those who put their faith in Him and repent of their sins- the ultimate gift-

John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Death and Dying

2009-12-04T20:19:00.007-05:00

A worthy commentary on our mortality by Ray Comfort...something many of us may not think about, but we need to...

http://raycomfortfood.blogspot.com/2009/12/ray-are-you-afraid-of-dying-this-is.html

A Message for Law Enforcement

2009-11-28T10:35:00.004-05:00

-The below is an outstanding post by Travis Yates from 'The Centurion Papers' (and Ten-Four Ministries)- I could not have said it better, and it bears repeating and reposting!-

Law Enforcement in particular has a nose for what is the truth versus what is a lie and that in and of itself is one of the huge stumbling blocks to Christianity by Law Enforcement.

From being in the profession for over 16 years, I can tell you that for the most part, the Christianity that Law Enforcement is confronted with is generally in one of two camps.

1. The local minister that instead of preaching God's Word, they stand up on Sunday and trash the Police for the latest "story" they may have heard in the community. This same minister will likely stand in front of news cameras or in front of a boycott line and you guessed it. Instead of proclaiming the Gospel, throw mud at the Police.

2. A Preacher that tells the Police, likely at a funeral of one of their own (since that is likely the only time most in Law Enforcement will enter a Church) that "there is a special place in Heaven for Law Enforcement Officers." or "Blessed are the Peacemakers, and you as Peacemakers are children of God."

Both items above are absolute junk and the lost Law Enforcement Officers I meet know it. They can smell a lie. It is there job.

So with that said, if you are new to our small ministry to the Nation's Finest, we will not mix words and we will call a heretic a heretic and a lie a lie. There are too many lies being told and they get in the way of what is truly important, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As you may suspect, there is more to come on this topic. This ministry is not in the business of doing things to just make folks "feel better". We want to tell you the truth. In a world where truth is one's opinion and simply "relative", we want to tell you the only truth that matters.

Truth

His name is Jesus Christ and he came to Earth more than 2000 years ago and lived among us but there was a difference between Him and the rest of the world. Jesus Christ was God and he left Heaven (John 8:58), humbled Himself and was born of a virgin. He was on an incredible journey. He healed the sick, raised the dead, walked on water, cast out demons, feed thousands with a few loaves of bread. he calmed the storms and confronted the heretics of His day. Simply put, this Man names Jesus did exactly what you would expect God to do if He came to earth as a Man.

Jesus Christ was God. You can deny Him, you can say that makes no sense but the truth is, Jesus did not do these things alone. There were hundreds of witnesses to what He did and more than just the Bible talks about them. Just a quick glance at the history books of the day and the evidences that are apparent to even those that rejected Him, will tell you these things happened.

They will even tell you that the one thing happened that could have only happened if Jesus was God. Approximately 30 years after Jesus was born and lived a perfect life (He never sinned), Jesus was crucified. He was murdered for His claims of being God and the threat that imposed on the Government. All of this happened just as the Old Testament prophesy said it would. Written hundreds of years earlier by the Prophets:

"By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence,and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;" Isaiah 53:8-10

Evidence

More than 300 Messianic prophecies like this were made in the Old Testament and then fulfilled through Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Experts will tell us that the chances of one person fulfilling a mere eight of these prophecies are one-in-100,000,000,000,000,000. For one person to fulfill 48 of these prophecies, the number becomes staggering – one chance in 10-to-the-157th power. Add to that the 250 other prophecies, and it becomes impossible for any other person except Jesus to ever fit that particular sequence of time and events.

You see, Jesus did die but His death wasn't the end and what happened next is why you are hearing about Him. Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day and He showed Himself to over 500 witnesses. Many of them chose to die proclaiming His name in the future years of early Christianity.

Now at this point, you can tell yourself those men were just crazy or all of this was a myth, an urban legend, nothing much more than Santa Claus but you really don't believe that. You can't believe that if you are a logical person and if you are in law enforcement, investigate it yourself. After all, with what is on the line, you would be the crazy one to not look into this Man named Jesus.

So why did Jesus die? He died because it was the only way for the human race to be saved. Now at this point you may be saying that you are a good person, after all you enforce the law, you abhore evil, you do what is right. You are not the criminal. In fact, you lock up the criminals.

Well, that is where you and myself were wrong. We can't look at ourselves the way we or society looks at what is right and wrong. Compared to society in general, maybe you are a good person but you see, this Jesus was Perfect, Holy, Righteous and He looks at right and wrong differently.

In Jesus' encounter with the Rich, Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-26), He told him that he needed to keep the commandments. Have you ever lied or stolen? Have you always honored your father and mother? Have you used God's name in vain (blasphemy) Have you loved your neighbor as yourself? Has God always been the most important thing to you?

You may say, well I haven't murdered or committed adultery but Jesus said that if you are angry with your brother you are guilty (Matthew 5:21) and if you have looked at someone with lust, you have committed adultery (Matthew 5:27).

What is the point here.

Romans 3:10 says it well: "no one is good, not even one."

None of us can make it to Heaven based on our good works because in God's eyes, we have no good works. The prideful, self righteous are like the rich, young ruler(Matthew 19:16). He was futile in trying to keep the commandments to enter the Kingdom. No one can keep them and that is why a sacrifice had to be payed on the behalf of sinners.

Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and was murdered. He and He alone was that sacrifice. It is because of Jesus that we can have everlasting life. The alternative is Hell, a place where the "worm never dies and the fire is not quenched" Mark 9:48.

The Bible is clear that many will go to Hell.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14).

Solution

So what is the answer. Jesus Christ is the answer. He is the only answer. This salvation is a Gift. A free gift. You can do nothing to receive it. There is no amount of good deeds you can do; You can't walk an aisle do receive it; Saying a sinner's prayer doesn't give it to you. There is nothing you can do to receive it.

So there it is. There is the truth. I'm not here to give you a soft, candy message that makes you feel good. The Gospel has always and still is divisive.

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34

But you deserve to know the truth. Jesus did not come to earth and die so that you can get promoted, or get a nicer car, or always be healthy, or have a wonderful life. He died for sinners. On the Cross, He took the Wrath of God. He drank from that cup (Luke 22:42) and He drank every bit of the Wrath that we deserve as sinners. He was a Propitiation for Sin; He payed the price. Isn't that enough?

The question is, do you believe that?

Do you believe that Jesus is the only God and he was raised from the dead?

Do you see your sin as an abomination to a Holy God (Proverbs 8:7)?

Has God enabled you to repent of your sin, turn from your sin(Mark 1:15).

Has God opened your eyes to the mystery of Him and His Kingdom (Matthew 13:11, Ephesians 1:9)?

Do you trust everything to Jesus?

These are the words of Jesus, the Savior of the world: "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:38).

"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me' (Matthew 16:24).

How are these things possible? How can a person deny their pride, their lustful thoughts, their sin, their status in the community and believe in Someone that will literally make people hate you (John 15:18)?

Through the grace of God, a gift of God. It is through His love, His glory, for Him and only Him.

Jesus said that you must be "born again" to see the Kingdom of God and that can only happen if God gives you that gift (John 3:3).

Call out to the one true God, Jesus, The Savior that was raised from the dead and ask Him to save you (Romans 10:13).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

The Disciples of Jesus will be known, they will be different.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

They will likely not be the ones representing Christianity that you despise, that you think is a joke, that are on television asking for your money or trashing the police.

The Saints of the Savior, my Savior will be different. While still battling sin, they will be on a daily walk with the Lord and a daily process of being made more like Jesus. They will be humble, meek, mild and not of this world (1 John 2:15). They may even be a little "weird" in the eyes of others but there is no doubt that they will stand out and they will love and give and care for you.

They will care for you enough to tell you the truth and that truth may not be exactly what you want to hear but my friend, it is the truth.

I care for you. Many are praying for you.

Vest For Life/ Armor of God Project

2009-11-18T17:14:00.003-05:00

Travis Yates, a fellow officer and a strong brother in Christ, heads up Ten-Four Ministries and the Vest For Life/ Armor of God Project. Recently the program received some media attention. It is alarming how many police agencies across our own country (let alone our allies across the globe) either cannot afford ballistic vests or only acquire them piecemeal through temporary funding sources. Two officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) have already been saved by vests provided by the program. It is also alarming how many police officers do not know Christ. This program seeks to help in both cases, a truly worthwhile endeavor for body and for spirit. Pray about approaching your chain of command in participating in this critical mission.

Truth is what matters...

2009-11-12T21:34:00.002-05:00

Does He know you?

2009-11-04T17:43:00.006-05:00

Photo by Thorsten Grödel, Structurae
Inscription at the Lübeck Cathedral in Germany

Ye call Me Master and obey Me not,
Ye call Me Light and see Me not,
Ye call Me Way and walk not,
Ye call Me Life and desire Me not,
Ye call Me wise and follow Me not,
Ye call Me fair and love Me not,
Ye call Me rich and ask Me not,
Ye call Me eternal and seek Me not,
Ye call Me gracious and trust Me not,
Ye call Me noble and serve Me not,
Ye call Me mighty and honor Me not,
Ye call Me just and fear Me not,
If I condemn you, blame Me not.

-Anonymous

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

You can say you know the President, but you will only get in the White House if he truly knows you. You can say you know Jesus Christ, but you will only enter His Kingdom if He truly knows you. How are you walking? Does He truly know you?

What do you think? The consequences are eternal.

2009-11-01T00:50:00.004-04:00

Having a discussion with a highly respected medical doctor, he asked me if I had any further questions. I looked at the cut away diagram of the human anatomy posted on his office door. As I pointed to the diagram I said "tell me doc, you think that came about by accident?" He said "Not a chance, 5 million years or 50 billion years, the human body is way to complex to have come about by chance."

Welcome home Tito!!

2009-10-26T21:13:00.001-04:00

The Lord has answered our prayers and brought MSG Tito Velez back home to us safely from a year plus deployment to Afghanistan with the US Army! There are none happier than his wife Grisel! Welcome home soldier and we thank you and profoundly appreciate your service!

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

Perfectly stated

2009-10-22T20:46:00.003-04:00

A prayer from our first president

2009-10-15T21:09:00.001-04:00

A Portion of George Washington's personal prayers:

“O Most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ, my merciful and loving Father; I acknowledge and confess my guilt in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of my sins, but so coldly and carelessly that my prayers are become my sin, and they stand in need of pardon.”
“ I have sinned against heaven and before Thee in thought, word, and deed. I have contemned Thy majesty and holy laws. I have likewise sinned by omitting what I ought to have done and committing what I ought not. I have rebelled against the light, despising Thy mercies and judgment, and broken my vows and promise. I have neglected the better things. My iniquities are multiplied and my sins are very great. I confess them, O Lord, with shame and sorrow, detestation and loathing and desire to be vile in my own eyes as I have rendered myself vile in Thine. I humbly beseech Thee to be merciful to me in the free pardon of my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son and only Savior Jesus Christ who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me.”

"Make me to know what is acceptable in Thy sight, and therein to delight, open the eyes of my understanding, and help me thoroughly to examine myself concerning my knowledge, faith, and repentance, increase my faith, and direct me to the true object, Jesus Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life, ..."
[from a 24 page authentic handwritten manuscript book dated April 21-23, 1752]

Words of Christian encouragement

2009-10-08T16:39:00.003-04:00

All the sins of the saints

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)

"We know that all things work together for good,
to those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

All the afflictions, and
all the temptations, and
all the oppressions, and
all the oppositions, and
all the persecutions--
which befall a godly man,
shall work for his good.

Every cross, and
every loss, and
every disease--
which befall the holy man,
shall work for his good.

Every device,
every snare,
every deceit,
every stratagem,
and every enterprise of Satan against
the holy man, shall work for his good.

They shall all help to make him . . .
more humble,
more holy,
more heavenly,
more spiritual,
more faithful,
more fruitful,
more watchful.

Every prosperity and every adversity;
every storm and every calm;
every bitter and every sweet;
every cross and every comfort--
shall work for the holy man's good.

When God gives a mercy--
that shall work for his good.
When God takes away a mercy--
that shall work for his good.

Yes, even all the falls and all the sins of
the saints shall work for their good. Oh . . .
the care,
the fear,
the watchfulness,
the tenderness,
the zeal--
which God raises in the souls of His saints by their
very falls! Oh the hatred, the indignation, and the
detestation--which God raises in the hearts of His
children against sin--by their very falling into sin!

Oh what love to Christ,
what thankfulness for Christ,
what admiration of Christ,
what cleaving to Christ,
what exalting of Christ,
what drawings from Christ's grace--
are saints led to, by their very falls!

It is the glory of God's holiness, that . . .
He can turn spiritual diseases--into holy remedies!
He can turn soul poisons--into heavenly cordials!
He can prevent sin by sin, and cure falling by falling!

O Christian! What though friends and relations frown upon you,
what though enemies are plotting and conspiring against you,
what though needs, like armed men, are breaking in upon you,
what though men rage, and devils roar against you,
what though sickness is devastating your family,
what though death stands every day at your elbow--
yet there is no reason for you to fear nor faint, because
all these things shall work for your good! Yes, there is
wonderful cause of joy and rejoicing in all the afflictions
and tribulations which come upon you--considering that
they shall all work for your good.

O Christians! I am afraid, I am afraid--that you do not
run so often as you should--to the breasts of this promise,
nor draw that sweetness and comfort from it, that it would
yield, and that your several cases may require. "We know
that all things work together for good, to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I
have been the longer upon this verse, because the condition
of God's people calls for the strongest cordials, and the
choicest and the sweetest comforts.

*Compliments of Grace Gems- pilgrim@gracegems.org

A comment from Albert Einstein

2009-09-30T21:00:00.002-04:00

How have you cut up the pie He gave you?

2009-09-27T19:05:00.001-04:00

The ultimate weigh in

2009-09-18T23:19:00.005-04:00

Lest We Forget

2009-09-11T08:49:00.005-04:00

We lost 72 law enforcement brothers on 9/11/01. We remember and honor them this day as we do the numerous firefighters and citizens that perished as well. We have been fighting this battle since and it continues today as it will tomorrow and into the future. Let us not forget that evil exists in the world and what our duty is as Christian law enforcement officers. We must bear our spiritual armor and shield as we do our physical armor and shield- with unshakable faith, true courage, unyeilding commitment, heart-felt humility, and most importantly empowerment from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Never forget.

Ephesians 6:12-18 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Ever Vigilant

2009-09-09T08:17:00.002-04:00

A member of our team ran across this article. It talks about the importance of being prepared. It's too late to have a plan after an emergency!

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Worthy Commentary

2009-09-03T17:37:00.002-04:00

Religion Is Just A Patsy
from the September 01, 2009 eNews issue
http://www.khouse.org

Religion is often blamed for the miseries of the world. An "Imagine No Religion" billboard has just gone up in St. Louis, and most people get the point even if they disagree with it. If it were not for religion, after all, there would have been no Spanish Inquisition, no Taliban, no World Trade Center bombing, no human sacrifices to various and sundry gods. Religious wars would be conspicuously absent from world history and nobody would follow cult leaders in sipping down toxic Kool-Aid. Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion spends the first page of the Preface going through the evils that have been done in the name of religion. Yet, while atheists love to blame zealous believers for the world’s sufferings, they have missed the true problem. Yes, much earthly evil has been done in the name of one deity or another, but religion isn’t the real problem. The real problem is …. human nature.

Religion is a convenient scapegoat for the atheist, who wants to justify himself in a world of believers. The atheist has a serious problem in blaming the evils of the world on religion, though. For every complaint against religious people, there are plenty of complaints to be made against the faithless.

Have people been slaughtered in the name of religion? Certainly. Yet, the Crusades are a drop in the bucket compared to the massive death toll caused by atheistic regimes. The leaders of the French Revolution shoved God out of their social justice crusade, and the result was a blood bath. Stalin is responsible for the deaths of at least 20 million of his own people, and Mao Zedong's death toll runs upwards of 40-70 million. From Pol Pot in Cambodia to the Kims in North Korea, governments freed of "religion" – those utopias of atheistic communism - have murdered millions upon millions of people. People of various religions continue to fight all around the world, but, anti-God governments streamline human death. Any time people get starry-eyed about imagining "no religion too" they need a little history lesson.

The problem isn’t religion or even lack thereof. The problem is humanity. Human beings have this propensity for violence and greed, for self aggrandizement and selfish laziness. We struggle – and sometimes succeed - to overcome these things, but they are there inside us. As Paul writes in Romans 7:21-24:

"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

We all have that destructive sin nature inside us by birth. It’s there, and we spend our lives fighting it. If we were naturally good, it would be easy to be good and kind, generous and patient. If we were naturally good, it would be a heavy effort to be rotten. But, we find that we are just the opposite, always struggling to do what is right and constantly falling into that corruption that most people want so desperately to avoid.

Even the atheist wants to avoid the corruption, as far as his own conscience dictates. Atheists have consciences too, after all. Paul writes:

"For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;" -Rom 2:14-15

Atheists and humanists are quite capable of morality and moral decision making. Yet, in rejecting the True God, atheists and humanists make themselves their own gods, and because they have no greater yardstick to measure by, it often happens that they reject one evil only to turn around and embrace something far worse. The poor in France had good reason for anger against the spoiled aristocracy and opulent church in the late 18th century. But, having only man’s reasoning to depend on, and hearts full of vengeance, thousands of innocent people were murdered. The atheist has nobody but himself and the local legal system to help him do the good he wants to do, and that can lead easily into gross error. Humankind has excellent thinking ability, but we can easily use that brainpower to justify doing the evil we want to do rather than the good we should.

Yet, the atheist is not too far off when he looks at the religions of the world and feels massively unimpressed. Religion is not the salvation of the world. Religion can be useful in that it provides a framework in which to live, and gives people rules of right and wrong outside themselves. Yet, religion itself cannot change the human heart or free humans of their natural destructive tendencies. In fact, some religious sects actually promote violence and destruction.

Paul didn’t find the answer to his dilemma in religion. He found the answer in the person of Jesus Christ. He found his answer in the Spirit of God, working in human lives to cleanse and free and make new. And the Spirit of God is real, and He is powerful, and He continues to change millions of lives today. If more atheists were truly aware of the reality of God's Spirit to heal and to transform, Richard Dawkins would sell fewer books.

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Gal 5:16,22-25

Life on this planet is hard, and Jesus never promised us anything different. He said we would have many troubles in this world, but he also said he had overcome the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. If we are filled with the Spirit, walking hand-in-hand with our King and Savior, His light is going to shine out of us to the lost and the dying. And if, in the midst of our own struggles and suffering, the reality of Christ is alive and well in us, anybody who is watching will see the difference between the truth and the false religions that have caused so much grief through the years. If people can see Christ in us, they won't want to imagine a world without him.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." - 2Cr 4:6-10

Vest For Life

2009-08-27T10:11:00.005-04:00

Law Officer magazine recently posted an article by Travis Yates of 10-4 Ministries about the Vest For Life/ Armor of God Project. I suggest checking out this program at one of the links on the right hand side of the blog. This worthwhile program gets used/ refurbished vests, otherwise slated for destruction, into the hands of police officers (world wide) who do not have a vest. It also introduces the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the officers as well. It may be worth the time to speak to your chain of command and find out if your department would be interested in participating. Article link below-

http://www.lawofficermagazine.com/news-and-articles/articles/lom/0508/vested_for_life.html

Gut Check- Are you counting the cost?

2009-08-20T18:30:00.005-04:00

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 14:28 - For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

Philippians - 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Please pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters.

The Lost Doctrine - Paul Washer

2009-08-14T20:10:00.003-04:00

Something to think about...we need always to examine ourselves...

Pray for Tito and our Troops

2009-08-07T21:14:00.005-04:00

Please keep Tito and all our troops who are serving in harms way in your thoughts and prayers. Our brother Tito currently serves bravely in Afghanistan in defense of our nation. God bless you and keep you and speed you home.

Run For Your Life

2009-08-07T18:16:00.006-04:00

Law Enforcement Fellowship

2009-07-30T17:29:00.000-04:00