Fools, Foolishness and Folly – Part IV

Posted on May 31, 2008 by Kate

D. The Fool Does Enjoy His Folly.

Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. ~Proverbs 15:21

It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. ~Proverbs 10:23

When I was a teenager, I loved football. I would go to church early, and most of the other teen guys, and we would have a football and would play ball in our church clothes in the parking lot until we were called in for church.

One game after the morning service at Verona School, and one game before church on Sunday evenings. A game Monday evening before teen choir practice. A game Tuesday evening at Verona School. A game before church on Wednesday evening. A game before teen soul winning on Thursday evening. A game Friday evening at Verona and then go watch the Bearcats play football. Of course we played a game after bus calling on Saturdays as well. I broke my collar bone and I was playing two weeks later. I loved it, I lived it almost as much as I did church. I had a football and clothes in my car; I had a football in my room, and on my mind, and while I was at school.

A fool loves his folly and the sport of foolishness even more!

This is the fool’s life, this is what he knows! This is sin!

E. A Fool Does Meddle in the Business of Others.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. ~Proverbs 20:3

Realize a fool will be into business that is not his. This will cause strife.

How many times do we enter a conversation mid-stream then find ourselves looking foolish?
A fool wants to reveal what he knows (about himself) and a fool will jump into business that is not his and it causes problems.

FOOL STORY: A lady at work was seen putting her credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly. When she was asked about it, she said she was shopping on the internet and they kept asking for a credit card number, so she was using the ATM “thingy”.

G. The Foolish Woman Does Tear Down.

Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. ~Proverbs 14:1

This is speaking of foolish house management.

It is foolish by negligence, by bad administration, by self indulgence (neglects the home by being selfish), and it is provoking God’s displeasure!

This is a person who has no fear of God.

This woman does not fear the results of tearing down her children and husband. She neglects the opportunity to build them up, for she does not have or properly utilize the Holy Spirit of God in her administering.

He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. ~Proverbs 11:29

Can you predict the wind? Can you calm the wind?

Can you control the wind? How much damage can the wind do?

That is the result of poor house management!

It is this fool who goes from having the opportunity of having a valuable treasure, a good home to being controlled by others. This fool is enslaved by misery!

What it is referring to is the fool has no influence over others especially is this so if there is Holy Spirit influence with you.

This fool is unable to maintain his freedom and is ruled by those in his home. This fool has an unruly family/home.

In how many families today do the children actually rule?

Or the wife rules the husband?

Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. ~Proverbs 10:14

Notice what is so often used by the fool to tear down the house. The mouth!

A cutting statement; name calling, or criticism are used.

Are you “appreciating” or “depreciating” the value of those in your life?

You have the great opportunity of building folks up, or tearing down what is built up.

May we strive to be appreciaters!

To Work or Not to Work?

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Kate

Is God a cruel God or a loving God? If you are a parent reading this, would you try to thoroughly confuse your child or would you want to make things plain to him so he would know beyond a shadow of doubt what your wishes are. Why would God tell us in His Word one thing and then instruct His church to do another? Is this not confusing? God’s Word says He is not the author of confusion.

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. ~1 Corinthians 14:33

The Word says that man can only be saved by grace and faith. If our works could be a part of our salvation, then we could boast about our accomplishment. Look at the Pharisees! Christ called them serpents and vipers. That is why the Holy Spirit made sure to include these two verses in the Bible.

~Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (8 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (9)

So what does the catholic church say on the issue of salvation?

At the Council of Trent (1545-1563), declarations were made:

“If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ’s sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Sixth Session, Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 12).

“If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Sixth Session, Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 24).

Not only were these declarations made at Trent but they continue to be made by Vatican II:

“For it is the liturgy through which, especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, ‘the work of our redemption is accomplished,’ and it is through the liturgy, especially, that the faithful are enabled to express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church” (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Introduction, para. 2).

“As often as the sacrifice of the cross by which ‘Christ our Pasch is sacrificed’ (1 Cor. 5:7) is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried out” (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Chapter 1, 3, p. 324).

“… [Christ] also willed that the work of salvation which they preached should be set in train through the sacrifice and sacraments, around which the entire liturgical [ritualistic] life revolves. Thus by Baptism men are grafted into the paschal mystery of Christ. … They receive the spirit of adoption as sons” (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Chap. 1, I, 5,6, pp. 23-24).

“From the most ancient times in the Church good works were also offered to God for the salvation of sinners, particularly the works which human weakness finds hard. Because the sufferings of the martyrs for the faith and for God’s law were thought to be very valuable, penitents used to turn to the martyrs to be helped by their merits to obtain a more speedy reconciliation from the bishops. Indeed, the prayers and good works of holy people were regarded as of such great value that it could be asserted that the penitent was washed, cleansed and redeemed with the help of the entire Christian people” (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Apostolic Constitution on the Revision of Indulgences, chap. 3, 6, pp. 78,79).

When a catholic reads his Bible, what does he do when he sees a contradiction between what he has read and what his church teaches? It is a decision that every catholic must make. The Apostle Peter said,

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ~Acts 5:29

The Word Abiding in You

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Kate

It is not until a tornado victim has lived through one that one can truly appreciate the destruction it brings with its winds! After such an event, one becomes aware of the warnings – the signs in the skies, when trouble is near. One is also quick to respond.

However, to everyone else who has never experienced a tornado personally, we merely trust the media reports of the destruction and devastation. We listen to the voices of men and women give accounts of what has happened to others. Those words might impact a few people but chances are most will turn a deaf ear and will only listen once they personally experience this trial. This is true of most experiences in life.

~John 5:38-39 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. (38 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (39)

The reason why cults are so popular today is due to these two verses. Two key points are made here:

God’s Word does not abide in the followers
They do not search the Scriptures

It amazes me how many responses I get from readers who bash me for believing that the Bible is our final authority. Why would Christ Himself encourage us to have His Word abiding in our lives. Notice in verse 39 that Christ says that eternal life is found when one searches the Scriptures! Is it any wonder that the devil is trying so hard to keep people from the Scriptures?

Many contest that they did not have the New Testament at the time Christ spoke these words. Yes, this is true. However, salvation can still be found in the pages of the Old Testament. Just as we have the Romans Road today, so is there an Isaiah Road which leads the reader to salvation. Satan has managed to distract people with different denominations, cults and different versions of the Bible. People are so caught up in who has the right Bible and who has the right religion that they do not spend time searching the Scriptures to find the true way to salvation.

Jesus said,

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. ~John 6:63

Those closest to Jesus didn’t even believe in Him.

For neither did his brethren believe in him. ~John 7:5

Why? Because they did not search the Scriptures that they had available to them. They allowed the knowledge of men to dictate what they believed, not God’s own Word.

He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. ~John 8:47

Only the Bible brings truth to man. Yes, man can speak wise words but man is born a liar and can misguide many. However, the God of Glory cannot lie and He gives us His Word through the Bible so that we may be saved!

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ~John 17:17

What does it mean to be sanctified? It means to be set apart for service to God. God wants to set us apart because His Word will cleanse us, save us and mold us into His image so we can be a unique people. Many can claim they have salvation, but there will be few that find it.

These two verses ought to cause one to think:

~Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (22) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (23)

Notice that these people had prophesied in Jesus’ name, cast out devils and done many wonderful works (miracles). Yet, Jesus said to depart from Him because He did not know them and that they were workers of inquity. Having been raised catholic, these two verses reminded me of the catholic church. They prophesy in Jesus’ name – they claim to cast out demons – and they claim to have wonderful works (visions of Mary, etc.). However, compare their dogmas to the Word of God and you will find that they are not based on Scriptures but on men’s words.

If you are questioning whether or not you are one of those who does many works for Jesus but you do not personally know Him, then I pray you will settle the matter today. If you are in a religion where tradition and men’s words are placed above the Scriptures, then you will not find salvation because God’s Word says that salvation is found in the pages of the Scriptures, the Bible. I pray your eyes are opened today!

John Bunyan Quote

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Kate

I spent many years of my life wandering from God. If I

have learned but one lesson, it is that I would sooner face

danger in partnership with Him than a life of ease apart

from Him.

~John Bunyan (Author of Pilgrim’s Progress)

Names of Jesus – Day 14 – Light of the World

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Kate

What a beautiful choice of words were used to describe Jesus Christ. I especially love this one because I remember how the Lord shed His light upon my heart the day I was born again! I can honestly say that I once was blind but now I see!

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ~John 8:12

Christ came not only unto His own, the Jews, but it was prophesied that He would be a light to the Gentiles as well! Praise the Lord that the Old Testament was not only written for the Jews but the Gentile can find blessed assurance in its pages as well.

~Isaiah 42:6-7 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (7)

In the pages of the New Testament, we find how prophecy of the Jews’ Messiah was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. We find the wonderful light given to the Jews is also given to us! Praise the Lord that we can be included in such salvation as this!

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. ~John 9:5

Surely Jesus’ precious light continued after He arose! John 9:5 says that the light would be with us as long as He was in the world. But what happened to the light after Jesus arose into Heaven? Surely the light did not cease to exist!

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. ~Psalm 119:105

The Word is clear as to what light would dwell amongst us. It is the blessed Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ that shines into our hearts and illuminates us. It awakens us and quickens us – shining a blessed light that takes us from darkness to light.

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: ~Proverbs 6:23

The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. ~Proverbs 13:9

O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD. ~Isaiah 2:5

Where can one find the Gospel? One finds all one needs to know about God in His Holy Word, the Bible. Why then does man not read the Bible as he should?

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ~2 Corinthians 4:4

The devil would love nothing more than to cause mankind to doubt that we even have God’s Holy Word in our possession. Can the Creator of the Universe also keep His Word from being corrupted through the ages? Of course He can! However, the devil thinks he has won this battle. He has managed to convince the various religions of this world that they have the Bible. He has managed to convince the world that there are many versions. However, God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) and is quite able to leave us with His Word in print which has not been corrupted by man.

So why would Satan work so hard to convince the world that there are many versions of the Bible?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ~Romans 1:16

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ~2 Timothy 3:15

Satan works hard at this very thing because he knows that the Word of God has the power of salvation! Ole slew foot does not want people getting saved – period!

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ~Romans 10:17

It is the Word of God that will build your faith. The more we are in the Bible, the more we are molded into the image of Christ. If Satan can succeed in keeping you away from the Bible, then he has won the battle. You will lead a defeated life. If you are a born again Christian reading this today and you are not reading your Bible, then you are a weak Christian. If you are a catholic who believes that the magisterium and church tradition are equal to the Word of God, then the devil has already won in your life. He has managed to cause you to doubt the authority of the Scriptures. You will not be able to see the Light of the blessed Gospel because you are already blinded by the religious system you serve.

There is nothing above the Word of God to guide us. The Word does not say that a priest, a rabbi or religious leader will be the lamp unto your feet or the light unto your path. The Word says that only God’s Word fulfills this.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. ~Psalm 119:105

Teddy Roosevelt Quote on Immigration

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Kate

Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

~Theodore Roosevelt 1907~

Memorial Day Gratitude

Posted on May 26, 2008 by Kate

Memorial Day is set aside for us to remember those who have died defending our great country. It was first proclaimed by General John Logan on May 5, 1868. The first Memorial Day was observed on May 30, 1868. Flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at our own Arlington National Cemetery.

But do we need an official day to honor those precious souls who have defended our nation? Should our gratitude be set aside for just one day a year? Sadly, this is true for many Americans.

I can remember the early years of my childhood where anyone serving in the military was revered and appreciated for his contribution. We all wore the little poppy flower on our lapels to show our gratitude for those who gave unselfishly for our country. What a sight it was to sit in church and see everyone wearing these little poppy flowers. Later, we would attend the Memorial Day Parade and our war Veterans would be marching and everyone would wave their little American flag, clap and hail them as they marched by. The cheering would be deafening! Pride, patriotism and gratefulness swelled in our hearts as we cheered! Unfortunately, I have seen this dissipate throughout the years and it is ashame – in fact, it should be an embarassment to the American people! This reveals the general attitude of our country. This lack of gratitude is a blemish on the American flag and it stomps on the graves of the precious soldiers who fought, bled and died for what our flag represents.

Today’s soldiers who fight for this great nation have the same courage and vision as those who fought during our first wars in the Colonial wars! These soldiers do not have the privilege of having an opinion on the politics that put them into battle. They willingly place themselves in harm’s way because they believe that the United States is still the best country in the world. Our country was founded on biblical Christian principles and it is great today because of this foundation.

Unfortunately, America is moving further away from this precious foundation. Is it any wonder that our military no longer comes home to a hero’s welcome as they did yester year with ticker tape parades? Is it any wonder that Americans honor their war dead only once a year with no thought of them on the other 364 days? If your child was killed in action, wouldn’t you want your countrymen to appreciate what he did for them?

What do you do on Memorial Day? Do you use this holiday to spend time with the family and have a BBQ? Or, do you visit veterans at the nursing home? Have you taught your children why we celebrate this holiday? Have you taught them to honor those in the military who are yet still living? Why wait until they are dead to honor them? Honor them today with your gratefulness. Don’t be shy – show them by going up to them in the restaurant and thank them. Better yet, pay for their meal! My son, a Marine, has gone to Olive Garden twice and both times his meal was paid by a grateful citizen! Reach out – thank those in your family, those in your church and your community. Keep the gratitude moving and continue to honor those who gave themselves for our beloved United States.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

~Moina Michael~

Church Members

Posted on May 25, 2008 by Kate

Some church members are like wheelbarrows — not good unless pushed.

Some are like canoes — need to be paddled.

Some are like kites — if a string isn’t kept on them, they fly away.

Some are like kittens — more contented when petted.

Some are like balloons — full of wind and ready to blow up.

Some are like footballs — you can’t tell which way they’ll bounce next.

Some are like trailers — they have to be pulled.

Some are like neon lights — they keep going on and off.

Many, thank goodness, are like the North Star — there when you need them, dependable and ever loyal.

Great Quote!

Posted on May 24, 2008 by Kate

The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam;

not made out of his head to rule over him,

nor out of his feet to be trampled on by him;

but out of his side to be equal to him,

under his arm to be protected,

and near his heart to be loved.

~Matthew Henry

Obama's Call for Repealing Defense of Marriage Act!

Posted on May 23, 2008 by Kate

Obama Pledges To Fulfill Prophecy, Turn US Into Sodom & Gomorrah, Repeal
Defense Of Marriage Act, Legalizing Gay Marriage Nationwide
*
Dem Senators Divided on Obama’s Call for Repealing Defense of Marriage Act*
*
By Josiah Ryan
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
May 21, 2008

On the Spot (CNSNews.com) – A sampling of Senate Democrats expressed
sharply divergent views yesterday on whether they would support Sen.
Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) call to “fully repeal” the Defense of Marriage
Act (DOMA), which in the wake of this week’s California Supreme Court
decision legalizing same-sex marriage as well as a similar 2003 decision
by the high court of Massachusetts, would have the effect of legalizing
same-sex marriage nationwide.

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she would support Obama’s position,
while Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Thomas Carper (D-Del.) said they
would not. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) expressed surprise that Obama
had taken a position in favor of full repeal of DOMA.

The Defense of Marriage Act, signed into law by President Clinton in
1996, protects states from having to recognize same-sex marriages
contracted in other states. Ordinarily, under the “Full Faith and Credit
Clause” of the Constitution, states are required to recognize “the
public Acts, Records and judicial Proceedings of every other State.”

“Obama also believes we need to fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act
and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal
rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status
are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally
recognized unions,” his campaign Web site says.

Obama has emerged as the likely Democratic presidential nominee, and
California has become the second state where the local Supreme Court has
decreed a right to same-sex marriage.

When Cybercast News Service asked Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who has been
a vocal supporter of the Obama campaign, if he could support Obama in an
attempt to repeal DOMA, Nelson said that he could not. “No. I support
the Defense of Marriage Act, period,” he said.

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.) also told Cybercast News Service that he
would not support the repeal of DOMA. “I don’t believe so,” he said.
“When I was governor of my state, we passed our own Defense of Marriage
Act, which essentially said that while we respect the civil unions of
those of the same sex, we believe that marriage is something that occurs
and should occur between a man and a woman. That’s the law we adopted
when I was governor, and I am not anxious to see that pushed aside.”

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who is from one of the two states where
same-sex marriage has been declared a right, told Cybercast News Service
that she was not aware of Obama’s call to repeal DOMA. “I have not
talked to Sen. Obama about that. I have not heard anything about that,”
she said. “I did not vote for DOMA in the first place. I voted against
it, and I don’t know anything about this.”

Boxer also asked Cybercast News Service to provide her staff with proof
that Obama holds this position. “I would like to see it,” she said. “I
would be very interested in seeing it. Please provide me with the
documentation.”

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) also told Cybercast News Service he was
unaware of Obama’s position on DOMA. “I haven’t heard him say that,” he
said.

Only Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she would support Obama in
such a plan. “Yes, I would,” she said.

Maranatha!

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. 119:105

Monthly Archives: May 2008

Fools, Foolishness and Folly – Part IV

To Work or Not to Work?

The Word Abiding in You

John Bunyan Quote

I spent many years of my life wandering from God. If I

have learned but one lesson, it is that I would sooner face

danger in partnership with Him than a life of ease apart

from Him.

~John Bunyan (Author of Pilgrim’s Progress)

Names of Jesus – Day 14 – Light of the World

Teddy Roosevelt Quote on Immigration

Memorial Day Gratitude

Church Members

Great Quote!

The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam;

not made out of his head to rule over him,

nor out of his feet to be trampled on by him;

but out of his side to be equal to him,

under his arm to be protected,

and near his heart to be loved.

~Matthew Henry

Obama's Call for Repealing Defense of Marriage Act!

May 2008
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