SCRIP-BITS

Galatians 6:9.    And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Ah my Friends, what’s there to say today that will put a positive spin on things eh? Oh I know! I saw a quote today, one we’ve already used, but which works well in conjunction with our Bit. It’s also something that we need to be continually reminded of. It’s short, and simple, but very provocative and truthful. Harold Russell tells us that: ‘There is no formula for easy living. Anyone who says he has one is either joking or lying.’ I know some of you might not consider that positive, but it is, in the sense that it keeps us firmly rooted on Mother Earth, hopefully in the Word, and not focused on the glitzy, high flying sense of easy living that’s foolishly being bandied about today. Everybody figures the world owes them a living, and an easy one at that. But Friends, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, there’s no success in anything at all without hard work. Even if you want to be lazy and good for nothing, you still have to work hard at it to be successful. And if you get a lucky break at the beginning, to make it last, you’ve still got to work your butt off. Even the celebrities we so adore and put up on pedestals, the sensible ones that is, have to work seriously to keep their careers going and not be asked the embarrassing question of:’what have you done lately?’ So please don’t be fooled by all the easy goes being advertised out there, especially on the Internet, for even the successful crook has to work hard to stay one step, or preferably several steps ahead of the law. And Friends, there’s no situation that calls for more putting our noses to the grindstone than being a follower of Jesus. Jesus expects us to work hard in doing good, just like He did. The Good Book puts it thus: ‘How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.’ (Acts 10:38) Friends, we’re also anointed with the Holy Ghost, that means God is also with us and therefore we have no excuses to not emulate our Leader. And to do that, we need to develop His characteristics which were based on doing good and spreading LOVE to all and sundry. That’s why our Bit staunchly states: ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (don’t lose heart).’ Oh my people, well doing for the believer should be automatic, be like a second nature, like getting up everyday and automatically getting dressed, without having to think about it. For that’s how our Saviour operated. He never turned His back on an opportunity to serve or do good, and neither should we. That’s where our true Christian attitude should blossom forth; where we should be walking all our big talk. Yes Friends, I know that’s our biggest drawback. That’s why Bruh Paul told the Corinthians: ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain (futile) in the Lord.’ (1 Cor.15:58) Yes my people, our God is a great rewarder of those who diligently further His kingdom. Bruh David declared it long ago in Psalm 62, God only is my rock and my salvation. ‘Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest (rewardeth) to every man according to his work.’ (Ps.62:12) So there’s nothing to fear regarding our rewards for diligent work on God’s behalf, since He’s proven Himself, many times over, to be a righteous and just God. Bruh Paul also informed the Corinthians: ‘Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God (God’s fellow workers): ye are God’s husbandry (field), ye are God’s building.’ (1 Cor.3:8-9) That encapsulates everything my people. Though we perform different tasks, we’re all labouring towards the same worthwhile purpose, furthering the kingdom, and we’ll all eventually receive rewards depending on our efforts and the fruit we bear. Now, here are some encouraging and comforting words from James, re patience in the Lord’s service. ‘Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman (farmer) waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish (establish) your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh (has come near). Grudge (grumble) not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold. The judge standeth before the door.’ (James 5:7-9) Oh mih breddren, what excellent advice! Please, let’s take it to heart! Though life’s not easy, our God is good and faithful, and as believers that gives us unwavering hope and trust in Him, His Word and His promises. Consequently, each of us needs to make a strong showing in whatever area we’re called to. We definitely cannot afford to faint, get weary or lose heart. And don’t even think about giving up, for that term does not exist in the believer’s vocabulary! Oh Friends, Jesus knew that it was hard, since He experienced it first hand, and even needed the Father’s Spirit to help Him do His sacrificial duty. So He knew, being lesser mortals, we couldn’t do it on our own, that’s why He sent His Spirit to dwell in us, to lead and guide us in our rough and rugged earthly journey. And we’ll end with some more appropriate words of Bruh Paul to the Galatians: ‘As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’ (Gal.6:10) So people, let’s hang in there despite all the trials and tribulations, knowing full well that they will all eventually pass, and concentrate seriously on furthering the kingdom through our tireless efforts on God’s behalf. We pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Till we talk again tomorrow, God willing, please stand strong and steadfast in the Lord. Much LOVE!…to truly reflect Jesus…we must walk our talk…like He walked His…

Joel 2:28.    And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my sprit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Oh Friends, would you believe that it’s only after I came to transfer the handwritten Bit to the computer that I remembered today was Friday. I was so lost in my own doings that I did not hear you all crying out in relief: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ Please accept my humble apologies. (smile) Now let’s do as we ought and chant our Friday Chant. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ And I hope we all sincerely prayed that, with vim and vigour too. (smile) Now here is how I originally intended to begin the Bit. Oh Friends, I hope you all enjoyed yesterday’s Sermon from the Basement, because I enjoyed writing it. And to show how our God does move mysteriously, a friend e-mailed me saying that she had been dreaming big dreams for herself and her family, but was filled with doubts re the wisdom and possible futility in doing so. However, when she read the Bit, she immediately felt positive and reassured. Praise the Lord for that mih people! And please don’t think that because I’m writing all this scriptural stuff that I’m this great guru or fountainhead of wisdom, for I am not. In fact, God is doing a work in me by having me write this Bit. I’m learning as I go along too. Remember my first reaction to God’s suggestion to write it was my lack of biblical knowledge. But knowledge can only be gained by diligently pursuing it, and thus the Lord has kept me pursuing knowledge of Him and His wonderful ways over the last three and half years. I have matured and improved, but am still a long way off from being as good as I can be. Friends, we’re all works in progress in God’s eyes. The important thing is not to beat ourselves up, consider ourselves unworthy, or lose hope and faith when we don’t measure up to what we think are God’s standards. Don’t forget that the Lord knows us better than we even know ourselves. He knows what we’re capable of. He knows that we’re frail, weak humans, for He’s the one who made us. However, His LOVE for us is so strong, that He’s willing to overlook our failures once our hearts and motives are right and we’re sincerely trying to walk the path He’s laid out for us. Oh Friends, I’m chuckling, because I don’t know where all the above came from, or where it’s going, but I know for sure that the Bit will end up being fine because the Lord’s hand is moving on my behalf. Would you believe I haven’t even opened the Good Book yet to check on a Bit, though I have something in mind. I just sat down here, asked for guidance, pulled the paper towards me and began writing. And between you and me, I just LOVE writing these Bits that just seemingly come up out of the blue, because then I really get the feeling that the Lord is trying to say something to me. What? I don’t always know, but there’s a definite impression that the Spirit’s about and moving in ways I can’t truly fathom. But since I claim to have surrendered my soul, my will and my mind to God, then I have to be willing to be led by His Spirit. Oh my people, I know a lot of believers still can’t understand or fathom the Spirit element in our lives, but believe me, it’s REAL! I can tell you that from first hand experience. Without the help of the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Guide, the Comforter, whatever you choose to call Him, I could not have successfully accomplished the writing of this Bit. Sometimes I’m totally lost and dumbfounded, or struggling, not knowing which way to turn, but as you can see, everyday I manage to come up with something sensible that lauds and magnifies our great and wonderful God. Praise Him people! That Bit yesterday is a perfect example of how the Spirit works in us: three separate ideas on three separate occasions just came together and gelled as one in my mind. Now that certainly wasn’t just my brilliance, but something greater than me, working in me. So my brethren, please don’t listen to the many naysayers about the reality of the Spirit and its role in our lives. Every believer has Christ’s Spirit living in them, the problem is for us to sit down and consider His workings, to take time out to listen and understand, then obey His dictates. So if you feel that still, small voice within you trying to converse, to strike up a conversation, please sit still and listen. If we don’t, or can’t connect with Him, it’s surely our fault, for once we’re true believers, I can guarantee that He’s abiding within us, within the very heart of our beings, and don’t let anybody tell you differently. This is not a set of mumbo jumbo, as some seem to think. It’s as real as you and I are! He’s sent to help us see life and do it the way the Father desires. And if we truly believe and have the heart’s desire to follow Jesus, to pattern our lifestyle after His, then His Spirit will surely show us how to do it. And when we put it all into practice, what happens? Obviously something beautiful! ‘And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.’ Yes my people, that’s when the Lord generously pours out His Holy Spirit, His blessings and mercies on us, and we become peaceful, LOVING and prosperous. The Spirit obviously wanted me to highlight Him and the very important part He plays in our everyday lives. And I sincerely hope that I’ve done it well enough so those of you, who never took Him seriously before, will do so now, because if you don’t, you’ll never be able to walk fully in the Lord. Oh Friends, all kinds of thoughts continually batter at our minds for attention, but it’s essential we ensure that they line up with God’s Word before we embrace them. Remember we’re fighting a spiritual battle, and the first place Beelzebub attacks us is in our minds, in our thoughts, for that’s where everything begins. And the Holy Spirit is extremely helpful in assisting us to sift our thoughts, to sift the wheat from the chaff. Oh my people, if you hear Him calling today, please don’t ignore it, because it might just be a wake up call that’s very important to your life and your well-being. So until tomorrow, God in favour, please walk safely under His protective wings. Much LOVE!…we can only walk this earth successfully…with the Spirit of Jesus leading and guiding us…

Psalm 119:50.    This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
 
Oh Friends, another day has dawned; dark, cloudy and rainy in my area, but my heart is bright and singing with joy, offering thanks and praise to the Most High God Jehovah. That’s because I’m alive, and though my circumstances can certainly be improved upon, yet I have a roof over my head, clothes to wear and food to eat; three basic things necessary for comfortable living, which a majority of the earth’s population so sadly lack. And you Friends, if you too have the basics for living, then please join with me and joyfully shout: ‘All praise be to thee O Lord, the great and generous God, who gives us all things that we may enjoy them, that we may also magnify and glorify your Holy Name! Amen!’ But Friends, even if we don’t have all the fixings for a comfortable life, even if we’re suffering and afflicted in serious ways, we still ought to give thanks, because we know for certain that the negative circumstances will eventually pass, and a new day of peace, health and prosperity will dawn in our lives. But to do that in a positive manner, we have to immerse ourselves in the Word, where all our hope, and all the promises of our God lie. Our Bit tells us that, but to understand it properly, we have to read the verses before and after it. ‘Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast cause me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me (given me life). The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined (turned aside) from thy law.’ (Ps.119:49-51) Yes my people, the unbelievers will laugh at and mock us when we stick to the Word during our times of affliction. But little do they know the awesome power that resides in the promises and pronouncements of Infinitely Everything! And all God’s people gratefully declared: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Thank Him for His faithfulness to the sinful children of men!’ Yes mih breddren, there’s nothing that cheers and comforts the hurting heart and brings upstanding hope to the sorrowful soul like the Word! Here are a couple of those encouraging passages. We all know those great, uplifting words of Bruh David from Psalm 27: ‘Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.’ (Ps.27:14) Oh Friends, if there’s one passage in the Good Book to live our lives by, that’s it! Just surrender your lives to the Lord and wait patiently on Him! We can do no greater thing! Now don’t forget Isaiah’s great promise on behalf of our God either. It’s another amazing piece of uplifting scripture: ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’ (Is.40:31) WOW! Truly words of wisdom and hope mih people! Though the world’s imploding and exploding around us, we ought not to fear and worry, for the Lord has promised to look after all those who trust in and wait on Him. And as usual Friends, I’m chuckling at the underhand tactics of the Spirit because He’s calling for a personal testimony. I never intended to divulge this current affliction, but I guess, in hindsight, that’s why He led me to that Bit, since my present situation falls squarely under it. One of my knees is acting up something terrible, causing me severe pain whether I’m walking, sitting, sleeping or standing, but the ole fella’s pressing on regardless. ‘Thanks be to God!’ Unfortunately I have another month to wait before I have surgery on it. And this is one time I’m certainly practicing what I’m preaching: I’m holding fast to the promises of the Word, knowing from personal experience that the Lord, for whatever reason, is doing a work in me, and that some day, if I stand steadfast and strong in faith, He will work everything out for my good. Oh Friends, the Lord has brought me through more painful situations than this, so why wouldn’t He continue to do so eh? The annoying thing about my old knee is that the pain’s so inconsistent and temperamental. One moment I’ll be going along fine, then all of a sudden I’ll shout out in agony, as I did a couple minutes ago, when a spasm of pain unexpectedly shoots through my knee. Another time, it’s just there constantly and nothing I do improves it. Steups! It’s so frustrating, that sometimes I querulously ask: ‘What now Lord? What’s the purpose? I don’t think I need to learn any lessons this might teach.’ Hn, hn! But the answer never satisfies me, for it’s always: ‘Take time mih lad, take time.’ So I just steups, sigh, grin and bear it. Can’t do anything else anyway. No Friends, it’s not easy, but if we have faith, even as a grain of mustard seed, we can do anything in God’s name! And we’ll end this stirring Bit with some more uplifting words, this time from Bruh Paul, on the bearing of infirmities, both our own and those of others, as he talks about unity in Christ. ‘We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities (weaknesses) of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let everyone of us please his neighbour for his good to edification (being built up). For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime (beforehand) were written for our learning, that we through patience (perseverance) and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Rom. 15:1-6) And all God’s people raised their hands and eyes to heaven and joyfully shouted: ‘AMEN!’ Yes my brethren, for us to be successfully united in Christ, we must all bear the burdens of life, ours and those of other believers, hopefully, in faith, with patience and perseverance, using our Saviour as the glowing example. So let’s all pledge to do that nuh, so that our God can be glorified and magnified, for that’s our basic purpose here on earth. Till tomorrow then, God willing, please go in faith, hope, LOVE and peace. Much LOVE!…the greatest antidote for affliction…the Word…
 

Proverbs 30:11.    There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
 
Oh Friends, more mysterious workings of our God, right off the bat! After writing the Bit, I usually remove all the bookmarks marking the passages I’ve quoted. Somehow though, yesterday I forgot to remove the special one marking the current Bit and found it still marking yesterday’s, Proverbs 29:16. So, the opportunist that I am, I decided to scan the opened pages for something worthwhile. Oh Friends, a few seconds later my eyes collided with these words of Augur: ‘There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.’ And something inside of me suddenly went ‘Wow! That’s this generation he’s talking about!’ And after a split second’s contemplation, I knew that those challenging words were meant to be Today’s Bit. Oh my people, if we’re truthful, we’ll all agree that this generation has the least respect for their parents than any that’s ever gone before. And again, if we’re truthful, we’ll acknowledge that a large portion of the blame for this outrageous, ungodly behaviour lies with us, the parents. That’s because we never taught them to honour and respect their parents as the Good Book dictates. Please note that holding parents in esteem was so important in our God’s eyes that he made it one of the original Ten Commandments. ‘Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.’ (Ex.20:12) Yes Friends, it’s right there in glorious black and white! But note also, the admonition unto parents: ‘And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.’ (Deut.6:6-7) Obviously my people, we haven’t done as the Good Book says, for if we’d taught them diligently and spoken the Word in all our daily doings, our children would not have strayed as far from it as they have. Oh Friends, unfortunately, because of this serious downfall on our part, I’ve heard of children actually cursing their parents; directing the f-word and many other unpleasant ones to their parents faces. That truly saddens me, but the fact is if we hadn’t made life so easy for them, without teaching them the real respect, honour, appreciation and responsibility that they owe to their parents, it wouldn’t be as bad as it is. Granted, on individual merit, many parents don’t deserve the accolades due to parents, but this in no way lessens the children’s responsibility. A Christian child ought to honour their parents regardless of the circumstances. As the old people would say; if you raise a child right, they usually stay right. At least they know the difference between right and wrong. Sadly though, many of this generation don’t have a clue as to what’s really right or wrong. They simply hold on to whatever they, their friends or the ungodly world says is right. I heard about this son, sitting beside his father’s bed in the hospital, I’m not sure if the father was actually dying or just very ill, but instead of reaching out to his father, this son and his greedy lawyer were already making plans to carve up the father’s estate. Ah Lord eh! I also heard about this daughter who never visited or paid any attention to her elderly parents, but when the parents took an extended Florida vacation, she was quick to lambaste them for spending her inheritance. The gall and ‘boldfaceness’ of some of these children eh! And that’s a true story, shared with me by the sister of the same obnoxious ingrate. Oh mih people, what’s going to become of the next generation of children eh, if this one is so disrespectful? I shudder to think that they can be any worse, but if you look around, you’ll notice that the young ones are indeed more disrespectful than their parents. Enough of me though, let’s hear what the Good Book has to say on the subject. And in the law concerning acts of violence, Moses stipulates: ‘And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.’ (Ex.21:17) Yuh see people, cursing your parents was considered such a serious matter back then, that it was judged worthy of an automatic death sentence. Leviticus expands on it: ‘For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.’ (Lev.20:9) And Cousin Sol ominously declares: ‘Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure (deep) darkness.’ (Prov.20:20) And whenever possible Friends, we like to close with the definitive word of Jesus on a topic. Hear Him lambaste the hypocrite scribes and Pharisees on this one, as he talks about the things that defile a man. ‘And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death (be put to death). But ye say, if a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say a gift (dedicated to the temple), by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer (allow) him no more to do aught (anything) for his father or his mother. Making the word of God of none (no) effect through your tradition which ye have delivered (handed down): and many such like things do ye.’ (Mark 7:9-13) Yes my people, the ole crooks managed to legally worm their way out of supporting their parents. Please, let’s not follow their unrighteous example. Oh Friends, though we’ve made such a sinful mess of this generation, and it might be a tad late to reclaim them, I’m imploring us to let’s work diligently and prayerfully to avoid the same thing happening to the next one. We certainly don’t need the downfall of that one on our conscience too. So start teaching your grandchildren, RIGHT NOW, about honour and respect for their parents, even if they don’t deserve it. That’s the only way the Lord’s word will take fruitful root in their hearts. Till tomorrow when we meet again, God in favour, go safely with Him. Much LOVE!…a parents’ most important job…teach their children the Word…
 

Proverbs 29:16.    When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

Ezekiel 18:20.    The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Oh Friends, no wonder we love our leaders so! Hn! What’s the outcome of the Seoul G.20 Conference? Nada! Nothing! They agreed to disagree, so the good ship ‘Global Economy and Trade’ will continue to drift aimlessly, while seriously listing to starboard, until the proverbial heifer dust hits the fan, then we’ll belatedly rush into crisis mode. And the sad fact is that we all know what’s required to right the listing ship; the few haves have to come down a step or two, so that the many have not’s can move up a step or two. But it just goes to show that all the hogwash we talk about the global scale of things is just that, because when it comes down to the nitty gritty, our small minded, parochial national interests always come first. Just like so many of us believers, the world leaders talk a good global talk but refuse to walk it. And Friends, have you heard about the 97 thousand dollars that the U.S Government gypped their Canadian counterpart, for a second hand two-ring table seating sixty something that was previously used at the Pittsburgh G.20? Now the Canadian Government can’t even give it away. In the first place it was made of particleboard, and it’s simply too big for normal, everyday use, plus it’s going to cost an arm and a leg to store it. Not to mention a whole set of other stuff extravagantly bought for the conference that nobody wants to buy now.  Oh Friends, don’t even talk about some of the horror stories of police abuse and override of authority, and the ineptitude, incompetence and dictatorial behaviour of some government mandarins that’s coming out of the inquiries into Toronto’s G.20 fiasco. If only half of those stories are true, then several heads, from top to bottom deserve to roll. Unfortunately though, after spending much time and money on these inquiries, nothing much in the form of justice is going to happen. A few low station scapegoats might get their wrists slapped, but nowhere near the retribution that’s justified. And sadly, the 2010 G.20 Conference will forever be an indelible blot on Toronto and Canada’s human rights history. I guess we’ll just have to wait until the Lord administers His justice for the perpetrators to get their rightful comeuppance. For as our Bit clearly states: ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity (guilt) of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. ‘Yes people, in the Lord’s good time, we shall all receive our just rewards. And today we’ll finish up with this Bit, where we were discussing the last parts. Listen to Bruh Paul on the subject: ‘Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious (self-seeking), and do not obey the truth, but obey unto unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. For there is no respect of persons with God.’ (Roman’s 2:4-11) And isn’t that the truth my brethren! The Lord doesn’t care who you are, if you disobey, then you’ll pay the price. Oh Friends, if those words didn’t touch your hearts and give you reason to pause and consider your own lives, then hear the definitive word on it all from Jesus. ‘For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he reward every man according to his works.’ (Matt.16:25:27) Oh my people, there’s nothing more that I can add to those words of the Master. I’ll simply close by pleading to us all to be very aware and very careful of our actions, for in due course, when the Master comes again, this time in unsurpassed glory, we shall have to answer to Him for every one of them. Till we talk again tomorrow then, God in agreement, walk safely under the shadow of His protective wings. Much LOVE!…when hard ears pickney doh hear…deh feel…and grievously too…

Ezekiel 18:20.    The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Oh Friends, what’s happening with our leaders eh? Where are there minds at? While tension is thick around the whole world, with Christians being murdered in Baghdad for their faith, vicious criminals committing violent crimes worldwide under the guise of religion, a cholera epidemic in Haiti, etc. etc, 32 of them are meeting for two days in Seoul, South Korea, at another G20 conference, with a retinue of thousands, only to bicker and argue and come up with nothing concrete or practical to implement, causing more riots, demonstrations and police brutality, like recently happened in Toronto. Don’t even talk about that nuh, because we’re still suffering the backlash, the aftermath of that travesty, and will for some time to come. Can’t they understand that these high level meetings produce nothing worthwhile but are certainly a powerful magnet for those dissatisfied with any and everything and those solely interested in anarchy? Oh Friends, we’ve got to seriously pray that they come to their senses soon and make some right decisions yes, because the world is slipping back into a trade and monetary crisis. Debt is overwhelming all over, but nobody wants to band their jaw and tighten their belts and work to get it down. Let’s hope we all wake up soon and realize that our world has become a small global village, what with all the modern technology and communication, international trade and financial interconnectedness. That means, unless everyone pulls together, we’ll all go under together! As our Bit so tersely puts it: ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity (guilt) of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.’ And that’s the awesome truth my people! Those are the Lord’s terms, and if we don’t abide by them, then death and destruction will be our lot. We’ve already looked at the first two parts, let’s look at the last two now: ‘the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.’ They mean exactly what they say my brethren. Both groups of people will receive rewards and /or punishment for their behaviour. Let’s check out some scriptures that paint a better overall picture, beginning with a passage from Cousin Sol’s awesome prayer at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. ‘Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.’ (1 Kin.8:32) Yes my people, it’s the basic law of our God; whatever we sow, we eventually reap. We can’t expect to sow peas and reap corn. Likewise we can’t sow evil and reap righteousness. Listen to Isaiah, re judgement on Judah: ‘For Jerusalem is ruined (has stumbled), and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke (rebel against) the eyes of his glory. The show of their countenance (the look on their faces) doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! For they have rewarded (brought) evil unto themselves. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him (done to him).’ That picture is as clear as day Friends! Judah and Israel brought their calamity upon themselves through their sinfulness. And they were boldfaced enough to flaunt it. I’m sure you can see the tremendous similarities between Israel and Judah in Isaiah’s time and the wickedness that’s currently perverting our once godly society, with it being trumpeted just as blatantly all over God’s creation. And since God’s words and laws don’t change, what do you think will happen to our sick, lustful, evil, blasphemous, ungodly society? I won’t answer that, because it speaks for itself. But I was just reminded of something I read in the papers: ‘Amazon sells pedophile guide.’ That’s the headline in the Thursday Star Entertainment Section. The Book’s titled: ‘The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure: a Child-Lover’s Code of Conduct.’ Amazon is selling that self-published e-book on line through their Kindle department. How sick can we get eh? And hear the author’s argument, one Phillip R Greaves II, that pedophiles are misunderstood, as the word literally means to love a child. He says it’s only a crime to act on sexual impulses toward children, and offers advice that purportedly allows pedophiles to follow the law. Ah mih people, what is our world coming to eh? A book on how to abuse children! Then we wonder why our world is rapidly falling apart, being systemically destroyed. Really Friends, yuh think the good Lord going to sit on His throne and allow that nonsense for long? I doubt it. However, time and space have run out on us, so we’ll have to continue this Bit tomorrow, if God’s in agreement. Till then, please walk safely with Him and be very aware and careful of your acts, whether they are righteous or wicked. Much LOVE!…wickedness brings short term pleasure…but righteousness commands eternal joy…

Ezekiel 18:20.    The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
 
Oh Friends, I’m hearing more shouts of ‘Praise the Lord!’ than I’ve heard in a long while. Yes, I know it’s Friday, and everybody’s just dying to get home for a brief spell of down time. Well since it’s Friday, let’s chant our Friday Chant nuh! And people, we chanting with plenty vim and vigour to show our appreciation! (smile) ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.’ Ah mih breddren, every so often we need stuff like that to keep us going, to lift our spirits, add some much needed encouragement to our worn and tired souls, to put a smile on our faces and a little chuckle in our hearts, for without those things, our lives would be just one, long, dreary, drawn out negative process. And the seriousness of our Bit doesn’t help matters either. ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity (guilt) of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.’ Wow! What a serious, no nonsense pronouncement! Ah mih people, our God is a good God, but sin just goes against the very grain of His nature,  thus He abhors it and those who are steeped in it. But He’s also a just and righteous God, so He won’t let one person suffer for the sins of another. Yesterday we looked a the first part of the Bit; ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die.’ Today we’ll check out the second part; ‘The son shall not bear the iniquity (guilt) of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son.’ Now that’s a very important piece of scripture Friends, for it clearly states that every individual is totally responsible for the sinful acts they commit, and will have to pay the price themselves. Sin isn’t something we can shift from one person to another. That’s only happened once; when the Father weighed down Jesus, like Atlas, with the burdensome sins of the whole world, so that we could be redeemed and made right with Him. And all God’s people joyfully cried out: ‘Thank you Lord!’ Yes Friends, we should be eternally grateful for that vast outpouring of LOVE that the Father showed for us. So I don’t understand why we still go out of our way to sin and antagonize Him, when we know what’s He’s done for us, and His abhorrence of sinful behaviour. But as the Bit says, everybody will have to answer for their own wrongdoing. Now let’s look at some scripture that gives us practical insight into the topic. Remember, the Good Book is a practical tool for practical living. Almost all the answers for living a wise and sensible life are to be found in there, as either successfully lived or messed up by another living, breathing soul. It’s not rhetorical, fairy tale stuff, but real life occurrences from which we are expected to learn. Hear Moses on the subject while laying down the law of domestic relations, as dictated by the Father. ‘The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.’ (Deut.24:16) Nothing can be clearer than that Friends! We all have to individually pay the piper for the tunes we’ve danced to. Yesterday we saw the practical application of that principle when Amaziah, king of Judah slew the unfaithful servants who killed his father, but left their children alone, as it says in the Law of Moses. That story is also told in 2 Chronicles 25:3-4. Yes my people, all the principles in the Good Book have very practical applications. They haven’t been put there just for nice reading, but for our education, encouragement and guidance, as words to live by. And having tried to hammer home that point, successfully I hope, let’s check out this last passage on the guilt of sons and fathers. This time Jeremiah is the spokesman, expounding on Judah’s restoration. ‘And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord. In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.’ (Jer.31:28-30) Oh my brethren, that scripture is so important that it’s written in several places of the Good Book, so please don’t ignore it, for you do so at your own peril, putting your salvation and everlasting life with Jesus in jeopardy. And we’ll end on a light note. Here ah talking to mih West Indian Friends in particular. That talk about setting teeth on edge, just reminded me that that hasn’t happened to me in many years. Remember in our youth how that happened all the time, because we’d be constantly eating sour fruits; like cherries, plums, green mangoes, tamarinds, golden apples (pommecytere, june plum) and a host of other teeth edging stuff. Now them was the days! Sin and ungodliness were mere figures of speech to us. Oh Friends, we can make it that way again if we’re seriously willing to try…for our children’s sake. But we all have to work together, if it’s going to happen. More tomorrow on this Bit. Till then go safely with God. Much LOVE!…at the end…Peter won’t be able to pay for Paul…Paul will have to pay for himself…