A time to laugh

It's bad enough that there is a major industrial accident at the bottom of the ocean that seems to be out of control. BUT when the concern of the outcome of the oil damage is directed toward 450 birds, and 30 dolphins, and some protected wetlands, it's time to realize that MAN is out of control. This could easily be a rant about the millions of babies we purposely murder, (that's Bible language for abortion). This could easily be a rant about how we worship the creature rather than the creator. But I digress.
I read Proverbs 1:24-27 the other day and immediately thought of this situation. The passage says that God called, and we refused; he stretched out his hand, and no man took it; we ignored his word, and listened to none of his advice, (All Paraphrased), but in verse 26 and 27 says, "I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you."
Some may say 'how mean!, I thought God was love'. Yes, he is love. Not a door mat. God's judgement is here in America today. More of it is coming soon. We allow the gay crowd to get into our teaching institutions, we allow science (this includes psychology) to take a dominant role in our existence. We teach tolerance, remove absolutes, and expect our kids to stand for something.
God is probably laughing now. So, what do we do? Be still, know that he is God, and that there is none other, then repent.

Sweet sound

Day Two of VBS

God has blessed day two of our Vacation Bible School with an attendance of 79! This is the 5th and 6th grade class reciting their Bible verse.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 20:11 that 'Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether they be right.'

It most certainly is a sweet sound, isn't it?

Hearing from God

Hearing from God is always exciting as manifested prayers are an encouragement to pray more often. Don't take things for granted when something appears that you have asked for. Be sure to give thanks always.

Greater is HE in me!

WE go through struggles that keep us apart from God. This is nonstop. A full time job for Satan. And he loves it! Some from seeds planted many years ago, or recently. Some struggles we bring on ourselves because we don't feed our spiritual body. BUT, all struggles can be overcome through aligning ourselves up with God's Word. Be careful what you look at today. What you listen to. Where you go. What you say. And remember, someone is feeding! Is it the carnal side of you, or the spiritual?

God bless.

I have not forgotten

A very influential person early in my life died last year. She gave me my first Bible when I was 8 years old (1971). What a Christmas gift.

She was my neighbor, invited me to church and became my Sunday School teacher, she was also my sitter when my parents were working. Then when I was 12 years old she led me to the Lord in salvation.

Ann was influential in a lot of childrens lives. She had a calling that way. I also know she prayed for me often. I don't know how many years she kept this up but one verse comes to mind as I ponder my life.

Psalms 119:61 says, "The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law."

My full joy in Christ has been robbed as I allowed sin to rule a good portion of my life. And I am sure it was the early teaching, and prayers of an obedient servant that kept me from falling off the page of God's will. The many scriptures I have memorized were often tugged at by the Holy Spirit, and I always knew that I should be serving God.

I tell you this for two reasons: To honor Ann, as a great lady of God. Teaching, praying, and being an example for all the children she led during her life here on earth.

And to encourage YOU. Christian sitter, Bible teacher, Sunday School teacher, prayer warrior, christian neighbor. YOU are building a foundation for some kid today that may have a way out of sin later in life when they say, "The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law." It is God's pressing word that brought me back into service. Who will I influence? Who will you influence?

Ann also helped me memorize my first Bible verse. John 3:16

This Bible sits in my office as a memorial.

In memory of Ann Pritchard. My first Sunday School teacher. The giver of my first Bible. And the one who showed me how to have life more abundantly through Jesus Christ.

Hath God Said? (Part Two)

Here is Part 2 from 'How do I commit?'
Often times we want to commit to God but are so overwhelmed with the little details we loose progress, or worst yet, we don't make any progress. Let God know you want to follow him. Then I suggest, read his word, pray for guidance, ask for wisdom to know when guidance comes, and discernment to know that it is from God and not Satan. THEN, rest, and wait.
REST AND WAIT.
Yep, these are actually action verbs! Put it in God's hands. Listen for direction. REST AND WAIT.
Enjoy.

Be sure to look up Psalms 119:32. Then get ready for some real action. Commitment. "I will run......, WHEN THOU...." Like the ole saying from the basketball coach, he says 'jump', you say 'how high'.

Have a great day!

Hath God Said?

Hey all, I have been toying with getting a fun comic type thingy together mainly for another page on my website http://www.larrydschultz.com/ and thought I would try it here as well.

This series will mostly be a lesson through Psalms and Proverbs.

Enjoy.

Is TRUTH perished from your life?

Without proper support any structure will fail when a load is placed upon it greater than it can handle. This support is TRUTH.

In the late 1800's William James, 'the father of modern psychology' wrote of the notion that 'Truth was relative to time, place, and purpose." This philosophy makes provision for what once was truth to be changed according to circumstances, and situations.

Alcoholism is being considered a disease instead of a conscience choice. Pedophilia is being studied to see if a disturbance in the brain causes this desire, if so, then that will become a disease instead of a sin. Abortion has been a news worthy item for years as a choice.

What a world we would live in if we had an excuse for everything we did. All the sins were relative to time, place, and purpose. It is ok to steal food because I was wanting to feed my family. The good outways the bad syndrome. Very dangerous attitude. Do we truly rely on God anymore for our DAILY BREAD? Go to my blog about FAITH and check it out.

Read Deuteronomy 4:7-9 (the entire chapter is worthy of reading) God says in part ".....what nation that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law....". He goes on and tells the people to teach them to their sons and their sons' sons. Truth does not change. And TRUTH must be protected by memory, and passing it along.

Years later in Jeremiah 7:28 we see that the nation does not obey the voice of God; nor receiveth correction; is cut off from their mouth (stopped passing it down); AND 'truth is perished'. Scary. Read chapter 8:7-12 (sound like AMerica?) Check out the next few chapters to see how God handled this.

Oh, Larry, this is the Old Testament and this is the history of Israel. Yep, you are correct. BUT, is there not a lesson to be learned for today? Is obeying God now different from obeying God then? I think not. He is longsuffering, but his judgements are still true.

Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the truth." And in Hebrews 13:8 we read, "Jesus Christ, the SAME yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Verse 9 tells us that 'it is a good thing that the heart be ESTABLISHED'.

Is your heart established today?

Things may look good today, and promising for tomorrow, but if you don't have established truth in your life it could all disappear. These two snow people I made a few years ago are gone. After I created them they were happy for a season. But they were subject and bound by the laws of 'thawing and melting'.
Today I am going to search my heart and be sure I am on the path that will help me NOT to melt when trouble comes. I want the truth in my heart.
"I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me."
Psalm 119:19

"Thy Word is very pure; therefore thy servant loveth it." Ps. 119:140

"FOREVER, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven." Ps. 119:89

Have a great day! and please feel free to post a comment.

Adam and Jesus

It's nice to know for certain about things. And one thing we can be thankful to God for is He makes it clear about sin. And He makes it clear about what to do about it. This video (12 minutes long) covers the dramatic events leading up to the immediate punishment for sin.
After seeing on the news all the debates about capitol punishment, water boarding, putting your hands on children in a punishing way, it got me thinking about the original sin. God was swift, some would say harsh, but one thing for certain, he was clear. There was no wondering if God hated sin or not.

Disobedience was the outward action. Was 'listening' to someone question God's Word the real sin? Was the 'willingness' to go against God's Word the real sin? We mostly judge sin and crime by the outward action, but God often warns of the inside.

'From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh'. Matt. 12:34

To lust on a woman is adultery. Matt.5:28

God looks inside. Like a seed, once it gets growing it is hard to stop. Once we see sin the way God sees it, we will definitely have a different attitude about what we look at, or what we think. Now maybe with these things in mind we can understand a little more about why God hates sin so much. By time is gets to the 'action', it has already caused internal damage.

This too is why it is such an insult for someone to think they can get to heaven by being good. I Corinthians 15:22

Bible Study-Step One

Studying is hard enough in itself but especially if you don't have the proper tools or even know what they are. I have prepared a little video to share the tools I use in my Bible study time.

There are five kinds of action here, and each builds itself on the previous: reading, studying, memorizing, using, and sharing. And they usually come in that order. We all know how to read, so this short series begins with studying. I hope you can begin seeing changes in your approach today.

"Commitment with accountability closes the gap between intention and results."--Sandra Gallagher

II Timothy 2:16 exhorts us to study.

Psalms 119:9 asks a question and gives a very, very clear answer.

Enjoy the video.

"We are not a Christian nation"

President Obama at the G-20 meeting today speaking with Turkey leader said, "We don't consider ourselves a christian nation or a muslim nation, but a nation of citizens bound by a set of values." Well, that's news to me. (I see it coming though) In his book "The Audacity of Hope" (Constitution chapter) he speaks about the constitution as something behind the times, a guide, that "must be read in context of an ever-changing world." After reading the chapter twice I am led to believe that some of his notions are correct, but without some absolute to rely on the Constitution will always be left for mulitiple translations and changing if it hinders our progress as a nation. This is clearly the teachings of William James who brought the philosopy of "Truth was relative to time, place, and purpose". If this be true then there is no truth other than what is believed today. Our nation is in for some big changes, and I don't think they will all be good ones.
God doesn't have a backup plan in his purpose. What He says stands the test of time. Psalm 119:89. Thank God.

PORN? Sure, why not!

Well, I never understood the saying 'going to hell in a hand basket', or why it was even suggested. BUT, maybe it was because of stuff like this. http://wjz.com/local/movie.sex.education.2.974390.html
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/college/bal-te.md.porn03apr03,0,5333968.story
I am sure you have heard by now that a $10 million porn movie was supposed to be shown to college students followed by a presentation from planned parenthood. Hmmm, it doesn't surprise me that this would eventually make an attempt to our schools. The new 'sex education'. Yeah, free love, sex without love. That's what we need to teach. You may ask, 'haven't you ever seen porn or had sex without love? YES, too many times. I wish I had some of my life back. What next? Classes on how to properly inhale a bong for the ultimate buzz?
Look, if there is no absolute moral standard in our world then this is absolutely fine. But to me and probably millions of other Bible believers this kind of activity is garbage. I have most recently vowed to not have sex again until I get married. I have asked God to forgive me and help me with this.
At 46, healthy, 'good looking' :), active, and presently without a girlfriend, you may ask 'why?' Two reasons. One, because I believe it is unpleasing to my God to seek pleasure outside his blessing. Two, why should I expect anything less of myself than I do from my son whom at 14 will surely be undergoing the same temptations, urges, and consideration that I am sure I will be up against soon. I want to be able to be an encouraging voice by way of example.
I challenge YOU, if you are an unmarried, Bible believing, example wannabe, then make this pledge for a better relationship with Jesus.

No pledge

One thing that threatens the core value of America is the removal of the pledge of allegiance from our schools. We have already removed 'under God' because of a ridiculous seperation of church and state issue. If only the powers that be would look at the organizations that want this out: Agnositc, athiest, special interest groups (ACLU), Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), just to name a few. After a closer look they would see a trend of a minority using our constitution in a way that I am certain wasn't meant to be used. Let's remove things that bring us down morally. Let's remove things that hurt people emotionally.
The reason I believe we need the pledge kept in the schools is that is creates an awareness of our origins. I am not even so upset that 'under God' was removed, it wasn't added until 1954 anyway. But to kick out the pledge. COME ON! So, it offended someone. THAT person needs to leave my country. There is a council meeting at an elementry school in Oberlin, Ohio in April discussing the removal of the pledge. Imagine, this is the community that is well known for their participation in the Underground Railroad, the helping of the freeing of slaves. I will post the outcome.
ONe more thing. There is a new school cirriculum in America that is truly anti-American, the IBO. http://www.ceopa.org/InternationalBaccalaureate.html
I will write more about this socialistic wave next time. Until then, check out the website so you can follow my take on it.
If you know of a school in your area that is considering removing the pledge please take the time to voice your concern to them. This is a Goliath that we need to knock down America!