Bangladesh Calvary Christian Ministry

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"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
(1 Peter 4:10)

Donations appreciated for the Bangladesh Calvary Christian Ministry I am supporting in Bangladesh

I am doing a fundraiser to help finance a mission I help in Bangladesh. It is run by Pastor Billa Mangal Das. Bill travels as far as 1292 kilometers in his quest to teach over 1630 children, teens, and some young adults in Bangladesh. Some classes have as few as 11 children and some have over 300 students. He covers 5 Districts and 20 towns in his travels very week.

Bill does most of his travel on foot, or a bicycle. Sometimes, if he can afford it, he will rent a car or a motorcycle, but that is rare. During the Summer, he will often times travel at nighttime, because it is too hot to travel long distances in the day time.

A Seed Planted & Forgotten, But Not By God

What follows is a beautiful true story of a seed planted by a couple of missionaries, David and Svea Flood. The one seed they planted was forgotten, but not by God.

We see the here now, but God sees the future. If we have the faith of a mustard seed, we can do anything. Many have lived and died, never to see what growth the seeds they planted created. I tell you today that many seeds will grow and reach maturity and then plant their own seeds.

God is good to His word, we just need to have faith and know that He who has begun a good work in us will continue it on into the future long after we ourselves have gone to heaven. One day all who have faith, will be blessed by the many souls we meet in Heaven because of a seed we planted. One can only imagine. What follows is a beautiful true story of a seed planted that was forgotten about, but not by God.

Lessons On Life From Home Plate

Chris Sperry

Most people won’t take the time to read this all the way to the end. I hope that you will. 17 INCHES” – you will not regret reading this

An excellent article to read from beginning to end.

Twenty years ago, in Nashville, Tennessee, during the first week of January, 1996, more than 4,000 baseball coaches descended upon the Opryland Hotel for the 52nd annual ABCA’s convention.

While I waited in line to register with the hotel staff, I heard other more veteran coaches rumbling about the lineup of speakers scheduled to present during the weekend. One name kept resurfacing, always with the same sentiment — “John Scolinos is here? Oh, man, worth every penny of my airfare.”

A Father Pays The Price For His Children's Crimes

As a gift of his love for his eight-year old son, a father gives him a baseball and a bat. The father tells the boy to be carefull as to not break any windows, nor harm anyone with the toys.

So the boy takes his gift and goes outside to play with the new toy. He grabs the bat with his hand, rests it upon his shoulder and tosses the ball into the air with his other hand. As the ball descends he swings the bat at the ball. To his complete enjoyment, the boy hits the ball squarely and it goes sailing into the air. As the baseball flies across the yard, it enters the neighbors yard and smashes into their living room window.

That's when the neighbor comes outside to confront the boy about his window. The neighbor realizes that an eight-year old boy cannot fix, nor pay for the broken window. Yet he demands justice. So he confronts the boys father, who gave him the destructive instruments that shattered his living room window.

An Ominous Feeling For The Future, Yet Still In Peace Through Christ

by Chuck Ness

An ominous feeling came over me while I was in my morning quiet time of reading the Scriptures. I pray it’s just a feeling of human despair, but it seems so much more. What has happened around the World in the last few Months is similar to what was happening around the World in the mid 1930's. OH how I feel the Lord has truly turned away from us.

It is without a doubt there are many Christians in America who are not ready for the next chapter of the end. Like in the days after King Josiah of Judah died, so too are the days for America today. While not all the people were evil then, it's a fact that the vast majority did not follow God. So too are the people of America today. The vast majority of Americans do not follow Christ. Even most who call Him Lord do not follow His ways, they are more carnal than spiritual. God wants us 24/7, not just on Sunday morning for a few hours.

Thoughts I Had As I Watched The News

by Chuck Ness

We must all remember to live as an example to others, so that the World can see what the Grace of God can do through the sacrifice of His Son. Then we will be more successful at winning the hearts and minds of the lost. If possible, we are to use HIS words to bolster our example, but we must use them Scripturally.

All Christians know that our Spirit is in a constant battle with our flesh. I myself desire to be an example so others can see HIS light through me, yet my flesh is constantly getting angry over the rise of Satan's power in the World.

Do Pets Go To Heaven?

This is one of two opinions being posting,
pertaining to often asked question,
"Will Pets Go To Heaven"

by Adam Lustig

For as long as I can remember, after becoming a Christian, the question often arises "will my pet be in heaven with me?

It's a good question for those of us that are pet lovers, because of our attachment to our pets. I also am a pet lover who has lost two dogs and am now the owner of a terrier/dachshund mix named molly who loves our family to death.

To bring some clarity to this question, of our pets being in heaven with us, I have gleaned some thoughts from Jack Wellman, a Christian author, and pastor of Evangelical Free Church in Udall, KS. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read what pastor Wellman has written on this subject if this is a question you are struggling with. And as always, in advance, Thanks for Listening.

DO OUR PETS GO TO HEAVEN? 

Almost everyone has lost a beloved pet. They become part of the family and many couples who are childless consider their pets as their own children. So what happens to pets after they die? Do they go to heaven? Will we ever see our dearly departed pets again? What is their fate? What does the Bible say about animals after they die? These precious loved animals including dogs, cats, horses, and even a few unorthodox pets that families have grown to love and grieve after they are gone. Let's see what the Word of God says about whether or not animals or pets go to heaven?

Let's Roll Together (Political Commentary I wrote in 2016)

I wrote this commentary for a blog I used to contribute
contribute to back in 2009. If you would like to see the
comments it generated, follow the link. I believe you will
the comment section to be interesting, since I wrote this
back in the Summer of the 2016 Primary election season
We now know who won, and what happened in the intervening
years after Donald Trump became President.
Comments from article at Post Scripts

by Chuck Ness

I for one do not like the result of this primary race, but who would after they put their heart and soul into wanting to win. It was a classic battle, but Trump won. Just like military academies teach the logistics of some of history’s greatest battles of war, so too will this epic battle be taught for generations to come by Political Science instructors. The lessons learned will affect the way politicians run their campaigns for decades.

Both sides got down and dirty, as they obliterated the detente that made everyone speculate as to why they refused to attack each other early in the campaign. Often times even those who are the best of friends can have the nastiest of breakups.

Is God Your Financial Adviser?

by Chuck Ness

When the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, He said to him;

"Ask! What shall I give you?" 1 Kings 3:5

Solomon could have asked for anything his heart desired; wealth, women, slaves, victory in battle over all of God's enemies, or even a very long healthy life. Yet, he asked for none of those things. Instead, Solomon humbled himself and said to the LORD;

".....give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 1 Kings 3:9

Wisdom vs Folly's Invitation Proverb 9

by Chuck Ness

Advice from Wisdom vs advice from Folly is continually compared throughout the proverbs. We’ve seen these analogies often, but one thing that stands out in this chapter, is not so much the difference, but the similarities.

Satan often imitates God to lure us in. After all, when you put out poison to kill a rodent, you do not use 100% poison, you only use enough to kill them. So you use 99% of a type of food they like, to lure them into eating. Once they eat, they get the 1% of poison that will kill them.

In chapter 9, both wisdom and folly throw themselves at those of us who are simple and those who lack sense. So each are available to all of us. Both sit in “the high places in town,” so they are equally accessible to all of us. The difference is in what they are offering and the type of life that results in following each of them.

Wisdom offers insight and multiplication of days while folly offers material things such as sweet water and bread that already is ours, but by being lured away with material goods of the world, we can be led straight to hell. I take this as another way of saying that we need to chase after insight and not just stuff, because if we are following God's precepts, the rest will follow as a reward.

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

Powerful Graph Reveals Lie About COVID

I offer these two images a stand alone posts that need no
further explanation. However, if you need more explanation
then check out this article I wrote about the COVID lie,
"The Case Against COVID Vaccines".

The Case Against COVID Vaccines

by Chuck Ness

After looking into ALL the numbers offered by the official CDC website on COVID, I became even more convinced that we are being scammed over something that is no worse than a common flu. The graph above is what I put together for a quick view at the truth. As you look over the numbers I present, you must also look back at the way this so-called pandemic has been blown out of proportion.

To start with, all flus are dangerous. For those at risk. Which are the most vulnerable of our population. However, for 99% of Americans, a flu is nothing more than an inconvenience to our week. We get sick, we stay home, and we do all we can to get back to doing what we want. Simple. Something we do every Winter.

Judge Yourself Lest You Be Judged

Ever been sitting in the house, and out of the corner of your eye, you spot something moving along the floor next to the wall? Or maybe you’re lying in bed and you hear some scraping, scratching, and the pitter patter of tiny feet in the attic? When you have a mouse on the loose around the house, then you need to set a trap or two.

Everyone has their idea of what the perfect food is to trap a mouse. Cheese, peanut butter, or maybe a piece of sweet chocolate The idea is to use something that will attract the mouse over. Then when the mouse takes the bate, it meets it's maker. Well humans are no different, and neither is Satan. The only difference is the bate. If you take the bate that Satan sets out for you it could cost you your very soul.

Every choice we make in our life can be seen by the Lord. Even if we just make that choice in our heart by desiring it to happen. We are told by Christ that we are just as guilty as if we did the action. Matthew 5:28. The point being, the LORD knows everything. So keep in mind that every step you take can be a step into a trap that could lead you to spiritual destruction.

So Judge yourself in everything you do, and in every step you take. Consider the destination that will be your future, because if you don't judge yourself, then be prepared to face God on judgement day. We learn from Psalms 1:5-6 that the ungodly shall stand in the judgment, while those who choose wisely will live to stand in the congregation of righteous and gain eternal life. Matthew Henry wrote on this verse in Proverb 5 in his commentary.

Matthew Henry on Proverb 5:21

See the eye of God is always upon thee and let his fear rule in thy heart, Pro_5:21. Those that live in this sin promise themselves secresy (the eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Job_24:15); but to what purpose, when it cannot be hidden from God? For, He sees it. The ways of man, all his motions, all his actions, are before the eyes of the Lord. All the workings of the heart and all the outgoings of life, that which is done ever so secretly and disguised ever so artfully. God sees it in a true light, and knows it with all its causes, circumstances, and consequences. He does not cast an eye upon men's ways now and then, but they are always actually in his view and under his inspection; and darest thou sin against God in his sight, and do that wickedness under his eye which thou durst not do in the presence of a man like thyself? He will call the sinner to an account for it; for he not only sees, but ponders all his goings, judges concerning them, as one that will shortly judge the sinner for them. Every action is weighed, and shall be brought into judgment (Ecc_12:14), which is a good reason why we should ponder the path of our feet (Pro_4:26), and so judge ourselves that we may not be judged.

The Peril of Adultery

Warning Against Immorality

01 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
00 Lend your ear to my understanding,
02 That you may preserve discretion,
00 And your lips may keep knowledge.
03 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,
00 And her mouth is smoother than oil;
04 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
00 Sharp as a two-edged sword.
05 Her feet go down to death,
00 Her steps lay hold of hell.
06 Lest you ponder her path of life--
00 Her ways are unstable;
00 You do not know them.

07 Therefore hear me now, my children,
00 And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
08 Remove your way far from her,
00 And do not go near the door of her house,
09 Lest you give your honor to others,
00 And your years to the cruel one;
10 Lest aliens be filled with your wealth,
00 And your labors go to the house of a foreigner;
11 And you mourn at last,
00 When your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 And say:
00 "How I have hated instruction,
00 And my heart despised correction!
13 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,
00 Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!
14 I was on the verge of total ruin,
00 In the midst of the assembly and congregation."

15 Drink water from your own cistern,
00 And running water from your own well.
16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad,
00 Streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be only your own,
00 And not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
00 And rejoice with the wife of your youth.
19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
00 Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
00 And always be enraptured with her love.
20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman,
00 And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD,
00 And He ponders all his paths.
22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
00 And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
23 He shall die for lack of instruction,
00 And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Isaiah, The 5th Evangelist

by Chuck Ness

I would like to broaden your understanding of the book Jesus read from while in the synagogue of His home town, Luke_4:16-30 so that you may better appreciate the book written by the Fifth Evangelist.

Isaiah is the most often quoted prophet in the New Testament, yet his book can be as obscure as it is interesting. Even many Christians will admit they know very little about the book and what it has to offer for their walk with Christ. Other than being familiar with a few famous passages that foretold the advent of Christ Isa_9:6 and his suffering Isa_53:1-12, most people don’t know that there are prophecies that coincide with the book of Revelations. Isa_13:1-13, Isa_14:1-22. Unfortunately, because of their unfamiliarity they miss out on the true gift Isaiah has to offer.

I Know I Will See Christ Face to Face

by Jose Barajas

We all gathered as a family the day we celebrated the life of our father with friends and people who had known my dad. That day was beautiful as the sun shone and I had spent the morning crying and admittedly even had a few shots with my brother in law. I was chosen to be one who would speak to the crowd that gathered and really didn’t know what I was going to say.

I remember talking about each of my siblings and making people laugh because that’s what my dad would have wanted but I know I was in a daze! When we took his body to the spot where it would lay, all of my family stood there, and God only knows what they were thinking. However, because of what Jesus did on the cross, I know in my heart that I will see my dad again.

He Is Risen

by Adam Lustig

From the day Mary Magdalene met Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane after Jesus arose from the dead to her pounding on the door of the upper room, where Jesus’s disciples were hiding from the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities, these three words, “He is Risen”, have been the heartbeat of every Christian.

Jesus’s promise of His resurrection to His followers while He was alive came crashing down when he died on the cross.

For 3 1/2 years of Jesus’s ministry, He engrained into His disciples “destroy this temple,” speaking of himself, “and in 3 days I will raise it up” the religious leaders of Israel did not understand Him even Jesus’s inner circle Peter, James, and John were doubtful.

Two Timbers and A Love Beyond Measure

by Adam Lustig

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30 NKJV For as long as I can remember, things have been written to malign the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and especially during this time of the year. There have been books written and comments like the following:

..Jesus did not really die on the cross.
..He (Jesus) was only in a swoon sleep when He was taken down from the cross.
..Someone else that looked like Jesus died on the cross.

Choose Wisely by Reading a Proverb A Day, Proverb 1

by Chuck Ness

The purpose of Writing the book of Proverbs was to reveal the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations. Through Solomon, God shared His Wisdom, and He made sure that no topic was left to question. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and Godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings. Without wisdom, knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, influenced by emotional feelings. Many highly educated people are in positions of power in the United States, but very few of those educated leaders have the wisdom needed to rule properly. One can say that they have been educated well beyond their intelligence. A cursory look at the court system will prove my point that knowledge without wisdom will only lead to an immoral society that eventually crumbles from within. Judges are supposed to be above the fray, and immovable to emotions. Instead, the vast majority of judges today are Godless individuals who are vacant of wisdom. So their rulings are totally based upon emotional feelings. We the people are to blame, because we ignored God's guidance in appointing our leaders. Instead of appointing God fearing men in positions of power, we chose those who would scratch our itchy ears to lead us. It is incumbent upon us to chose leaders who have faith in Christ, then and only then can we be assured that they will make wise decisions. Paul tells us that Christ is the Wisdom of God, so if you do not have Christ in your heart, it is impossible to make wise decisions. Instead our leaders continue to make decisions based upon man's wisdom. Yet we know that God uses foolish things to bring man's wisdom to shame. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.1Corinthians 1:26-31 Now of the 31 Proverbs, only the first 24 were written by Solomon. King Hezekiah wrote 5, Proverbs 25 to 29, Agur wrote Proverb 30, and Lemuel's mother wrote Proverb 31. Many scholars believe Lemuel was in fact a nick name Solomon's Mother, Bathsheba, gave him. If so, then Proverb 31 would have been written by Bathsheba. Solomon wrote over 3000 Proverbs and composed 1000 songs, but the only Proverbs of Solomon that God decided to preserve for us are Proverbs 1-24. Like the New Testament epistle by James, it is impossible to get a chronological outline for a study since they all bounce from subject to subject, and no one can be sure of the dates. Other than to say that Solomon wrote most of the Proverbs in his younger years, and as he got older his many wives led him into idolatry. He did return in his late years, and that is when he wrote Ecclesiastes. Along with my daily routine of reading the Bible, I try to read through the book of Proverbs once a Month. It's an easy task when you consider there are 31 Proverbs. So all you need to know is what day of the Month it is. In the Months that have 30 days, or in the case of February, I just double up by reading more than one proverb so I can begin the next month with Proverb 1 on the first again.

Today is the 1st of the Month, so we begin with Proverb 1 (NKJV)

The Beginning of Knowledge

01 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

02 To know wisdom and instruction,
00To perceive the words of understanding,
03 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
00 Justice, judgment, and equity;
04 To give prudence to the simple,
00 To the young man knowledge and discretion--
05 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
00 And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
06 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
00 The words of the wise and their riddles.

07 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
00 But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Shun Evil Counsel

08 My son, hear the instruction of your father,
00 And do not forsake the law of your mother;
09 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
00 And chains about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,
00 Do not consent.
11 If they say, "Come with us,
00 Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
00 Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
00 And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
00 We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
00 Let us all have one purse"--
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
00 Keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil,
00 And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread
00 In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
00 They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
00 It takes away the life of its owners.

The Call of Wisdom

20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;
00 She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,
00 At the openings of the gates in the city
00 She speaks her words:
22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
00 For scorners delight in their scorning,
00 And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
00 Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
00 I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
00 I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
00 And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
00 I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
00 And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
00 When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
00 They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
00 And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would have none of my counsel
00 And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
00 And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
00 And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
00 And will be secure, without fear of evil."

What Happened to The Virtuous Woman? Proverbs 31:10-31

Many women believe that their charm and beauty is what makes them the person who they are, yet as the proverb tells us,

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised

Proverb30:30

Peter tells women;

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes--
rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

1 Peter 3:3-4

Some of the worst lies told today are that we are all the same. We are told that regardless of what plumbing you were born with, you can be whatever sex you so desire to be. The Bible is just a bigoted, homophobic, anti-woman book and Western religious values are stupid and wrong.

Plus, girls have been taught from kindergarten through college that men are just a bunch of stupid, boorish, vile creatures who only care about sex. Which is interesting since, the more liberated women gets, the more they want to be creatures who only care about sex themselves.

The effects of these lies on modern women has been devastating. They lead women into poor quality relationships, unhealthy eating and lifestyles, shacking up instead of marriage, many more women are victims of rape today than ever. This is especially a problem with attractive women, who are often times spoiled by their parents, by men, and by society, in general.

Beautiful young girls are given more breaks and end up in the most popular clubs, they end up pampered and praised for their beauty by being chosen for cheerleader teams while the popular most handsome boys who play sports pick them as their girlfriends in their teens. Even as they get close to graduating high school their parents shower them clothing that enhances their beauty, In college and adult life, their looks can open up doors for them to get jobs that less attractive women may not get, All the while the money and benefits that come with money makes the path for their future more bright just because the world classifies them as one of the beautiful people.

All this does not make their life easier, in reality, more times than not it is more harmful for these women, because it could make them more angry. How, few take them serious because of the easy ride they had, and they begin rejecting the idea that they are what you see, not what they are. This type of adoration though is not love, In so many women it only leads to unhappiness, depression and plenty of anger. Not to mention what it does to the psyche of the less good looking women of our society. The ones who go the extra mile, just to lose out to those who are automatically classified above them because of the looks dept.

Instead of a society of woman raised on the Word of God to be virtuous loving wives and nurturing mothers as spoken of in Proverb 30, we have raised a society full of angry women more aligned with the women of Proverbs 14:1 and 30:20;

The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands. Proverb 14:1

This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth
And says, "I have done no wickedness." Proverb 30:20

Proverb 31 (NKJV)

The Words of King Lemuel's Mother

01 The words of King Lemuel,
00 the utterance which his mother taught him:

02 What, my son?
00 And what, son of my womb?
00 And what, son of my vows?
03 Do not give your strength to women,
00 Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

04 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
00 It is not for kings to drink wine,
00 Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
05 Lest they drink and forget the law,
00 And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
06 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
00 And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
07 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
00 And remember his misery no more.

08 Open your mouth for the speechless,
00 In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
09 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
00 And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtuous Wife

10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
00 For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
00 So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
00 All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
00 And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
00 She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
00 And provides food for her household,
00 And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
00 From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
00 And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
00 And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
00 And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
00 Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
00 For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
00 Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
00 When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
00 And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
00 She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
00 And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
00 And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
00 Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many daughters have done well,
00 But you excel them all."
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
00 But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
00 And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Remember Those Live Phone Operator Voices?

Author Unknown

The days of the old black phone connected to the wall, or sitting on table connected by a cord are almost over. Even if you still have a dial up phone, it's probably working off a main station with a cordless phone. I would guess that 99% of Americans today have cell phones. Those of us old enough to remember those days may be able to relate to this story.

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Proverb 26:1 Only A Fool Would Want Rain At Harvest Time

by Chuck Ness

1.) As snow in summer and rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool. Proverb 26:1

Very interesting in the way Solomon explains the folly of a fool in verse 1. No one but a fool would desire a snow blizzard in the middle of the Summer. Judea was primarily an agriculture society, so they needed the weather to be as it was meant to be. Just as a rain storm at harvest time would be a disaster for the farmer. So too would the weather needed for snow in mid Summer be a disaster to crops.

Israels climate is very similar to that of California's San Joaquin valley. It never, if ever, rains at harvest time, and it never snows in July. Imagine the mess a rain storm would create for workers and machinery in the muddy field as they sludge along to pick the crop, it would be very devastating.

In Northern California where I live, the walnut, and almond farmers lose millions if it rains when the trees are flowering. Their crop will be thin and they could very well fail to break even at harvest time.

Weather out of Season is a very undesirable, in fact it can and usually is very hurtful to the fruits of the earth. So only a fool would desire the weather to be different than God has ordained it to be.

When the Israelites told Samuel that they wanted a king like the other nations had, he told them their King was God, and warned them how a human king would treat them. In an attempt to bring them to their senses, he asked the Lord to send a thunder storm at harvest time to show them their folly. To Samuel, asking for a king was as foolish as asking for rain at harvest time.

“Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking a king for yourselves.” So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.1 Samuel 12:17

If we have the faith of a mustard seed, we would accept things as they should be, and not desire the things that should not be. Whether it be rain or snow out of season, or a king to rule over us. It is but a foolish act to desire something which is not in our best interest. Who I ask, knows what is best for us besides our Lord and Creator, our Father in Heaven? So be wise in what you ask the Lord for, and understand that some things are not in our own best interest.

Proverb 26 (NKJV)

Honor Is Not Fitting for a Fool

01 As snow in summer and rain in harvest, 
00 So honor is not fitting for a fool. 

02 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, 
00 So a curse without cause shall not alight. 

03 A whip for the horse, 
00 A bridle for the donkey, 
00 And a rod for the fool's back. 
04 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 
00 Lest you also be like him. 
05 Answer a fool according to his folly, 
00 Lest he be wise in his own eyes. 
06 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool 
00 Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 
07 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp 
00 Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 
08 Like one who binds a stone in a sling 
00 Is he who gives honor to a fool. 
09 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard 
00 Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 
10 The great God who formed everything 
00 Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. 
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, 
00 So a fool repeats his folly. 
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? 
00 There is more hope for a fool than for him. 

13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! 
00 A fierce lion is in the streets!" 
14 As a door turns on its hinges, 
00 So does the lazy man on his bed. 
15 The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; 
00 It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. 
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes 
00 Than seven men who can answer sensibly. 

17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own 
00 Is like one who takes a dog by the ears. 

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, 
00 And says, "I was only joking!" 

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; 
00 And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. 
21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, 
00 So is a contentious man to kindle strife. 
22 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, 
00 And they go down into the inmost body. 

23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart 
00 Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. 

24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips, 
00 And lays up deceit within himself; 
25 When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, 
00 For there are seven abominations in his heart; 
26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit, 
00 His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. 

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, 
00 And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. 

28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, 
00 And a flattering mouth works ruin. 

Are You Cheerful Or Hesitant When You Give?

by Chuck Ness

Sometimes it's those with the least that give the most. Jesus used a widow's offering to teach a lesson of giving from the heart.

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them;

The Way Human's Treat Animals Reveals Their Heart

by Chuck Ness

Back in 2013, two days after Christmas, I had to have our beloved 18 year old dog, Hershee, euthanize. Her kidneys had shut down and she was in so much pain she could not even settle down for more than five minutes at a time. So the merciful thing to do was to end her life.

It's easy to talk about it now, but at the time it was as if a member of our family had died. Maybe this should not be, I mean after all, she was just a dog. But, whether we choose to accept it or not, Hershee felt that she was one of us, and we treated her as if we would treat any member of our family. We were her "pack" so to speak, and I trust that she felt herself a valuable member of that pack. She ate good when we ate good, was happy when we were happy and always tried to do her part, even if it was just to bark and growl at people she didn't know.

To Defend Evil Will bring A Curse From The People, Proverb 24:24

by Chuck Ness

Today we may witness the mass destruction of the NFL. Remember, Satan twists reality of those who do not keep their minds eyes and hearts on Christ. When it comes to winning the souls of the rich and famous, the most powerful tool in Satan's arsenal, is the fame and fortune they seek. For those who reach the pinnacle of success, their minds will lie to them about their importance to the human race.

It is already difficult to avoid sin, with fame and fortune it becomes almost impossible. Paul tells us that the desire for wealth and fame can lead to many pitfalls, because the love of money is the very root of evil. Not money in and of itself, but the love for it.

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

So we must never forget that with this new found power, comes much responsibility. Without Christ in your life you will inevitably fail. Even with Him in your corner, the temptations are powerful. Like Solomon himself, many men and women throughout history started off with their hearts and minds on God, just to lose sight of Him after they gained the wealth and fame they desired.

When it comes to professional athletes today, they become part of the whole entertainment industry. An industry that has long ago sold it's soul to Satan. Their new friends and advisors will twist their minds into believing good is evil and evil is good. It's just a matter of time before they too turn against all that is righteous by defending the all evil deeds of Satan's minions in the world.

That is why much prayer and diligence is needed to keep from falling into Satan's hands when money becomes no obstacle for your desires. It would be better if you pray for just enough to survive and anonymity in the world, than for fame and fortune.
This morning in London England, the NFL Baltimore Ravens plated the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both teams took a knee during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner. Not just the players, but so did the coaching staffs. Yet, they stood proudly honoring the English national anthem to show respect to the Union jack. The country we defeated for our independence 241 years ago.

The protest is nothing more than a way to show allegiance to criminals who have been assassination police and the destruction of private and public property during riots. The time to protest perceived injustices, right or wrong, is not when millions of Americans are enjoying some leisure time away from the problems of the world. All personal problems are to be left at the door. I watch sports to get away from the problems of the world.

I will say for the record, that if my beloved Minnesota Vikings do the same thing today, I will never ever watch another football game. Even though I already paid over $300 for the NFL ticket. Further more I will burn my NFL jerseys and other viking paraphernalia I have purchased through the years.

Proverb 24 (NKJV)
Do Not Envy Evil Men

01 Do not be envious of evil men,
00 Nor desire to be with them;
02 For their heart devises violence,
00 And their lips talk of troublemaking.

03 Through wisdom a house is built,
00 And by understanding it is established;
04 By knowledge the rooms are filled
00 With all precious and pleasant riches.

05 A wise man is strong,
00 Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
06 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
00 And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

07 Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;
00 He does not open his mouth in the gate.

08 He who plots to do evil
00 Will be called a schemer.
09 The devising of foolishness is sin,
00 And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
00 Your strength is small.
11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
00 And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this,"
00 Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
00 He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
00 And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

13 My son, eat honey because it is good,
00 And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
00 If you have found it, there is a prospect,
00 And your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
00 Do not plunder his resting place;
16 For a righteous man may fall seven times
00 And rise again,
00 But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
00 And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him,
00 And He turn away His wrath from him.

19 Do not fret because of evildoers,
00 Nor be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
00 The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear the LORD and the king;
00 Do not associate with those given to change;
22 For their calamity will rise suddenly,
00 And who knows the ruin those two can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These things also belong to the wise:
00 It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous,"
00 Him the people will curse;
00 Nations will abhor him.
25 But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
00 And a good blessing will come upon them.

26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

27 Prepare your outside work,
00 Make it fit for yourself in the field;
00 And afterward build your house.

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
00 For would you deceive with your lips?
29 Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me;
00 I will render to the man according to his work."

30 I went by the field of the lazy man,
00 And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
00 Its surface was covered with nettles;
00 Its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw it, I considered it well;
00 I looked on it and received instruction:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
00 A little folding of the hands to rest;
34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
00 And your need like an armed man.

I'm In The Potter's Hands

by Chuck Ness

LORD, bless me to be what YOU want me to be. Strengthen and lead me so that I can serve YOUR purpose. I am but an old piece of clay in YOUR hands O’ LORD, mold me to reflect THEE. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen

The Fruit Of Repentance

"how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;"
1 Thessalonians 1:9

#PureGraceDevotional+26

by A.S. Chima

Repentance becomes a sham when its ends in words without action.

There is no true clinging to Christ except there be a willful act of repentance, are there not many of Gods People who think Crying or Self Pity party is Repentance?

They sometimes have the tears of Judas, yet lack the heart of Peter.  I call it a "deceptive repentance" that hides under the cloth of outward piety yet lacks the heart of Godliness.

But the early saints knew its was impossible to serve two master at the same time, because there must be a turning from Sin before clinging to Christ, no wonder it was said of them, "how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;"

True repentance always has an everlasting testimony in the fruit its bears consistently...

Think about this. True repentance is not passive but active in its actions.
May The Lord Give You Understanding.

Panda Attacks Man & Wrecks Car

by Chuck Ness

Time for a little humor and fun. Check out these crazy Panda Bears.

Everyone thinks Pandas are such cute and cuddly looking animals. Easy for them to say though. I doubt they have ever been attacked by one? Well the guy in this video learned that you better not get too close to them. Especially if you got something they want.

As I watched this and some other videos on Pandas, I was struck how China takes such good care of their Pandas? After all, what China gives the Pandas is what Democrats in America are promising for all the people. Half of us will play all day, and the other half will take care of all their needs. Well, they better hope they don't run out of bamboo, or there's going to be a panda revolt.

Something interesting I learned while putting this post together. Did you know that there is a debate that has been going on for over a century as to whether or not the giant Pandas should have a family of their own in the vast system of scientific classification that has a label for just about every animal in the world. Some scientists believe Pandas are not bears, but should be classified with the raccoon family.

John The Baptist, The Last Aaronic High Priest

by Chuck Ness

Many may be baffled by this, and some may even disagree, but if you allow yourself to step away from what secular history has told you about the religion of Judaism, you will realize that there is truth in what I am about to share.

Let me begin by stating, there is absolutely nothing “Jewish” about God's revelations to Moses at Mt. Sinai. Everything Moses wrote that God instructed him to write, was distinctly Hebraic. NOT Jewish. The followers are called Jews, because the Southern Kingdom was the only one to return, and all who were part of it became known as Jews. However, that has to do with their DNA, not their religion.

The Jewish religious tradition was born in the late second temple period, by the Pharisees. There are 613 laws that God handed down to Moses, called the Torah. These laws were to guide the nation of Israel and, as Paul told the Galatians, to be a tutor and disciplinarian to guide God's people to their Messiah, Christ Jesus. However, the Pharisees added what is known as the Mishnah, which is an oral tradition of commentaries on the Mosaic Law.