Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 December 2015 Proverbs 4:12

Proverbs 4:12.   When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened (hindered); and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 

Oh Friends, what is our world coming to eh…especially this supposed Christian country called Canada? Now listen to this story from an article published in the Toronto Sun newspaper a couple of days ago. It’s titled ‘ROOM FOR DIFFERENT VOICES,’ and subtitled ‘Christian group fighting to hold fest in Yonge-Dundas Square.’ 

Let’s set some parameters before we get into the meat of the article. Yonge-Dundas Square is a public square created in downtown Toronto around a decade or less ago, where shows and other events are put on. 

Now to the best of my knowledge it was paid for with public tax funds, is owned by the City of Toronto, but is run by a Management Board, which recently had a meeting with a group called Voices of the Nations who have been running a summertime Christian show in the square for the past five years. 

However, a permit to run the sixth show next year was denied because of ‘concerns over songs about Jesus Christ being too proselytizing, which is not allowed in the public square.’ 

What hogwash! What heifer dust! But nudity and crime and violence and songs about sex drugs and rock and roll are permitted. Ah Lord eh! And they boldfaced enough to want to talk about “explicit items of what is and is not appropriate behavior in the square,” and ground rules that “are free of intolerance and consistent with the values of a public institution.” 

Steupssss! I guess the negative, sinful behavior is what’s appropriate, not singing or talking about Jesus! These blooming hypocrites eh! As the organizer’s wife reputedly called it: “a de facto ban on Christianity” in the square. 

And as the writer of the article pointed out, religion IS a part of the square, because, “right now, in Yonge-Dundas Square a menorah is proudly and appropriately displayed – completely fitting and enthusiastically welcomed since we are right in the middle of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.”  

That made him wonder if after Hanukkah is over, they will also appropriately put up a crèche featuring the Nativity Scene. Hn! I won’t hold my breath for that nuh. It surely seems as though everybody else but Christians have rights in this supposed land of freedom of religion and freedom of speech. We can’t complain about other religions, but others complain about us and get their way. 

And our wonderful Prime Minister is hustling to bring in thousands of Syrian Refugees in to the country, most, if not all of them Muslim. Do you think they are going to come here and just accept the status quo? Obviously not! In fact they won’t have to because they already have more rights than Christians, and they have been taught to proselytize from young.  At one stage Christians were taught that too, but I guess we don’t any longer. 

Anyway, let me shut my mouth about all of that eh, before they charge me with inciting hate crimes, or whatever they call it. And that’s no joke friends, for in these times of all kinds of unlawful activities, high security and surveillance, anything is possible. 

The long and short though of the story my brethren is that we have no one but ourselves to blame for whatever rights are being taken away from us. We are either too complacent or fearful to stand up for what we believe in. And until we do, we will see what little we still possess, being gradually taken away. 

Just check out the amazing amount of Christian persecution that’s going on around the world right now nuh. It seems like the early days of the church once again. So my fellow believers, it’s up to us to stand up strong and fight back in Jesus’ name, otherwise we’ll soon be marginalized…if we haven’t been already!  End of sermon! 

Let’s turn to our Bit now. ‘When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened (hindered); and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.’ 

Yes my people, that is what happens when we avoid the wisdom of this world which is mostly wickedness, and instead turn to the Lord God Jehovah for His wisdom and understanding. 

And today we’ll look at some scriptures that agree with our Bit, beginning with these awesome words from Bruh David from Psalm 18 – Thanksgiving for deliverance. He boldly declares of his God. ‘Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden (held) me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps (path) under me, that my feet did not slip (did not stumble).’ (Ps.18:35-36)  

And if we know Bruh David’s life story, then we know that that is gospel truth! Now hear it from the opposite side of the coin, as Job’s buddy, Bildad, speaks of the plight of the wicked. 

‘Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle (tent), and his candle (lamp) shall be put out with (beside) him. The steps of his strength shall be straitened (shortened), and his own counsel shall cast him down. For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare. The gin (net) shall take him by the heel, and the robber (a snare) shall prevail against him.’ (Job 18:5:9) 

Yes Friends, you have it from both sides now; words of indisputable truth, per the wise righteous and the foolish wicked. And let’s not forget that today is Sunday; the day we gather in the Lord’s sanctuary to praise and worship Him and receive His mercies and blessings, also to have our faith strengthened and our souls encouraged so that we can fight the good fight for another week. 

My fellow brethren in Christ, please don’t defer from gathering with other believers today, so that the Lord may be glorified and His children energized. Much LOVE!

…onward Christian soldiers…marching as to war…with the cross of Jesus…going on before…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 October 2014 Amos 4:6B

Amos 4:6B.         …yet ye have not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

Well my Friends, brothers, sisters, neighbours, kinsfolk and strangers, it’s Sunday; the Lord’s Day, the Sabbath Day, a day we are supposed to keep holy and magnify the Lord therein!
 
Yes my brethren, it’s calling for the gathering of all and sundry to worship and praise our esteemed Creator, Father God, and our wonderful Deliverer, Jesus Christ, the Name above every other name, to which all knees must bow and all tongues declare that He is Lord indeed!
 
So today, please let the sanctuaries be full of new creations in Jesus, all avidly singing and praising the wondrous name of the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
 
And remember that it doesn’t really matter how many are gathered together, though it would be nice to have all creation, (smile) for Jesus promised that ‘where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.’ (Matt.18:20) So don’t be cowed by a lack of numbers, because it’s not the outward show He’s interested in, but the true state of our hearts.
 
Ah mih people, our God is such a wonderful Deity that it truly amazes me when folks refuse to worship Him! And none more so than the Israelites of old. Imagine it nuh Friends, after He brought them out of dire bondage in Egypt, gave them the Promised Land and prosperity they didn’t work for or even deserve, they had the gall, the ‘boldfaceness’ to turn away from Him! Steups!
 
And even His punishment for their dreadful disobedience didn’t seem to faze them. As the Good Book relates: ‘I have smitten (stricken) you with blasting (blight) and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm (locusts) destroyed them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:9)
 
How foolish and insensitive my brethren! And the Good Book continues: ‘I have sent among you the pestilence (a plague) after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses (along with your captive horses); and I have made the stink (stench) of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:10)
 
Ah Lord eh! One would think that by then they would have gotten the message. But they obviously did not. And the Good Book continues: ‘I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.’ (Amos 4:11)
 
What fools mih breddren! But in reality we can’t judge the Israelites of old too harshly, because we are doing the same foolish thing in our modern society. The Lord raised us up as great nations, but then, when prosperity set in, we behaved as though we did it all in our strength. Chuh! How foolish!
 
And I like how Amos describes it later on. ‘Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought (over nothing), which say, Have we not taken to us horns (a symbol of strength) by our own strength.’ (Amos 6:13)
 
So Friends, we in this modern technological age are just as ignorant, stupid and guilty as the Israelites were in their simple agrarian days. We are hearing the same warnings my people, with all sorts of disasters suddenly raining down on us all over the globe. Old diseases which we thought we had eradicated are coming back – polio, malaria – with new ones ever on the horizon, think of Ebola and Chikungunya.
 
Even our super drugs, antibiotics are no longer as useful, because superbugs are developing that resist them. Poverty, hunger and homelessness are widespread in a world of plenty. Greed and selfishness predominate. Economic fallout is widespread… And everyday we’re moving further and further away from God with our overly sinful, doh-care behaviour.  
 
Oh Friends, you don’t need me to point out the inequities, the shameful and disgraceful aspects of our society, because we are all touched and afflicted by them to some degree.
 
And as I contemplate our current disgusting situation, I’ve come to the conclusion that something is drastically wrong with our brains, because as children we were taught, it was drilled into us, that disobedience brought punishment. And we most certainly experienced it when we were foolish enough to disobey the authority in our lives, whether they were our parents, school teachers, the law, or even strangers!
 
So how now that we’re adults, when we should be wiser, we have turned against our wonderful, ever-LOVING and magnanimous God, Creator and Provider eh?
 
No wonder Jesus compared those fit for the kingdom of heaven to little children. ‘Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt.18:3-4)
 
Obviously Friends, from our proud and disgusting behaviour, it’s obvious that we’re not humbling ourselves as little children, which means that our place in heaven is somewhat dicey.
 
And as the Lord eventually said to His chosen people: ‘Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind (or spirit), and declareth unto man what is his (God’s) thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, the God of hosts, is his name.’ (Amos 4:12-13)
 
That’s a powerful warning my people! As the scholars declare: ‘4:12-13. Prepare to meet thy God warns that God is not going to visit Israel with salvation, but rather with inevitable and complete judgement.’  
 
And unfortunately my people, He’s established the same destruction for us, if we continue in our evil, ungodly ways down the path of disobedience that we have so unwisely chosen to tread.
 
Please remember that He is our Creator and Controller, His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours, and He doesn’t play the silly mind games that we play. His patience is long, and He gives more than enough rope to hang ourselves. So let’s consider ourselves warned, and be wise and return to the Lord. That is the ultimate in wisdom! Much LOVE!
 
…continual .disobedience to God’s Law breeds only one thing…eventual punishment of death and destruction…but true repentance…oh my my… it joyfully  brings forgiveness and salvation…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 June 2013 1 Corinthians 13:4

1 Corinthians 13:4:    Charity (LOVE) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (LOVE) envieth not; charity (LOVE) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. 
 
Oh Friends it’s Friday! And some workers gathered around a group of itinerant musicians, raucously applaud: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! The weekend’s here, and work soon done. Ah say, thank God is Friday yes!’

 
Yes my people, Friday is an important day in our week; for some it’s the start of their Sabbath, for others it’s the start of their weekend and two days off of work, and most importantly it was the day on which Christ was crucified, the day He sacrificed His sinless life for our sinful ones.
 
And all God’s people said, ‘Glory Hallelujah! What a wonderful Lord and Saviour we have. Praise His Holy Name! Amen!’
 
Anyway Friends, since it’s Friday, let’s chant our Friday Chant to get us into the right frame of mind to face the weekend in a positive, Christ-like manner. 
 
‘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.’
 
Now that ought to give us the right perspective to handle the weekend. However, before we look at our Bit, let’s spend a moment in prayer for the unfortunate residents of the Fort McMurray area in the Western Province of Alberta, who are now facing imminent danger and the loss of their homes and belongings to rising floodwaters.
 
Oh Friends, so far it seems like this is the year of the flood and tornados, and the hurricane season hasn’t even gotten in to full swing yet. But we simply can’t afford to let disasters get us down.
 
In fact, as disasters strike, we need to lift, to ramp up our faith and trust in Almighty God, who’s promised to look after all those He’s called and have sincerely heeded that call. (Rom.8:28)
 
And when we consider our Bit, we see how extremely important it is, because, ‘Charity (LOVE) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (LOVE) envieth not; charity (LOVE) vaunteth not (does not brag on) itself, is not puffed up (arrogant).’
 
Yes my people, that’s truth of the absolutely undeniable kind! 
 
Now yesterday, we saw in the passages before our Bit (vs.1-3) that regardless of our other attributes, that we’re useless, nothing, unless we have LOVE. And then the Good Book explains the basic God-like qualities of LOVE. (vs.4-8)
 
Today, we’ll take a gander at some scriptures that deal with the qualities that our Bit talks about; the long suffering of LOVE, its kindness, its lack of envy, its humility and lack of boasting, as well as its non-arrogant nature.
 
And what better place to begin than in the wisdom of Cousin Sol’s words, as he contrasts the attributes of the wise and those of the foolish. He states in matter-of-fact language, that ‘Hatred stirreth up strifes: but LOVE covereth all sins.’ (Prov.10:12)
 
And isn’t that gospel truth Friends! Our negative emotions wreak havoc in all aspects of our lives, but that wonderful attribute of LOVE, covers, brings God’s caring and harmonious nature to the front, leaving all negative issues in its wake.
 
As Hezekiah so wisely states in His glorifying prayer after his healing: ‘Behold, for (my own) peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in LOVE to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.’ (Is.38:17)
 
Oh my brethren, the wonderful works of the amazing God we serve never ceases to amaze me! In His great LOVE for us, He throws our sins behind Him and forgets them, even more so since Jesus paid for them with His sacrificial blood.
 
Meanwhile, in Ephesians, Bruh Paul lectures us on the kindness aspect of LOVE: ‘Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’ (Eph.4:31-32)
 
Oh Friends, we can never find a higher level of God-like behaviour than forgiveness, especially when it’s based on the fact that God has forgiven us such a multitude of abominable sins! And that can only happen through a sincere LOVE for Christ! 
 
Then in Galatians, re walking in the Spirit, Bruh Paul touches on the question of envy and jealousy. ‘If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory (conceited), provoking one another, envying one another.’ (Gal.5:25-26)
 
Ah mih fellow believers! I had to let out a long, loud sigh there because, unfortunately too many of us Christians aren’t truly walking in the Spirit, for envy, deceit and selfishness have become hallmarks of our modern society. And though we’re supposed to be in the world, but not a part of it, sadly, we allow the negativity of the world to greatly invade and influence our spirits, and thus our walk with Christ.
 
Now listen to James, re saving an errant believer. ‘Brethren, if any of you do err (wander) from the truth, and one convert him (turns him back); Let him know, that he which converteth (turns) the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide (cover) a multitude of sins.’ (James 5:19-29)
 
Again my people, it’s that attitude of kindness and caring, of not being judgemental, the lack of pride and arrogance in our fellow believers, that helps to turn us around when we’re faltering, and allows God to not only correct our sinful behaviour, but also blot out our sins.
 
And we’ll end with a last word of absolute wisdom from Cousin Sol. ‘He that covereth a transgression, seeketh LOVE; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very (the best of ) friends.’ (Prov.17:9)
 
And isn’t that the everlasting truth of man’s behaviour! Unfortunately, many of us have personally experienced it through unreliable gossip and the running mouths of the busybodies who take pleasure in spreading it, to the very real detriment of friendships.
 
Well that’s it for today my people. I certainly hope that these few words (smile) -as if I ever write few words eh – I do hope though that they  provoke serious thoughts in our souls, which then lead to serious Christ-like actions in our lives. I sincerely pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Much LOVE my brethren!
 
…a true walk with Christ entails many things…but none more important than LOVE…  
 
P.S. Sorry that this is somewhat late Friends, but my allergies acted up earlier on and I took some medication to calm them down, but apparently they calmed me down too much. (smile)
 
And though I wrote a rough draft without any problems, I’ve been in a semi-fog while transcribing it to the computer, making a set of foolish mistakes, which obviously annoyed me. But the Lord in His LOVING-kindness gave me the wherewithal to complete it without losing my mind. Much LOVE!