You Can't Fix Stupid

Do not Correct Fools

"Why do you not talk about things like what happened in Ferguson, Missouri? Why do you not advocate Praying for Peace in the Middle East? Why is all I see here Bible Quotes and instructions to those who claim to be Saved. Do you not care what is going on in the World? Do you not care about teaching people what they are doing is dumb and there is a better way?"

My answer? You can't fix Stupid. You can Educate Ignorance. The Simple can learn. But you cannot fix Stupid. God does not even want you to try. Don't believe me?

{Proverbs 9:1-12}

"Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it."

God does not want you to waste your time on stupid people. Jesus even said..

{Matthew 7:6}

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

There will be people who do not accept the Truth. There will be people who will never be Saved. There are people that will even hate you, for His sake. Just because you ARE a Child of God. Just because you follow Jesus. There will be people that hate you for no other reason than that. Meanwhile, they are the Condemned. Not you. Not the Children of God. Jesus tells us not to even worry about them. They will do what they do. To the People who wanted to join and follow Jesus, Jesus told them this

{Matthew 8:22}

"But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead."

Does Jesus teach us to get into people's faces? Does He want us shoving the Word down people's throat? Hit people over the head with the Bible? Change the World? Nope. When Jesus told His Disciples to go out into the World and share the Message, He said this..

{Matthew 10:14-15}

"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."

Jesus tells us not to waste our time. Do not hate them. Do not force your Faith on them. Do not waste their time. They are not going to hear you. They are not going to accept the Truth. Move on. Let them be. Leave them to their own desires. Even God gives us up to our own desires if we chose not to accept Him.

{Romans 1:24-26}

"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:"

You see, God tells us not to do something, because He LOVES us. However, we have Freewill. We can chose not to listen. An ignorant person may think, look at the pretty orange light of the fire. I wonder what it feels like. You can educate that person and tell them, that although it is pretty, if you touch it, it will burn you. An ignorant person may listen and not touch it. A stupid person will touch it and get burned. Did I burn them? Was it punishment for them disobeying? Am I heartless and vengeful? No. I simply told them the Truth, and they did not listen. They burned themselves.

God is the same. He came to Earth as one of us, paid the Price for our Sins, and all we have to do is accept His Plan for us. All we have to do is listen. Jesus told us..

{John 3:16-18}

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

"He that believeth not is condemned already," There is nothing you can do for them. You tell them the Truth, and they reject it, they are on their own. Did God condemn them because they do not accept Jesus? NO! They condemn themselves. They are "condemned already" Why? "because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." That's it. It's really that simple.

So let's talk about Ferguson, Missouri. That is a clear example of Stupid People. I know, I know, some of you may get offended at this. But think about it. You come to my house, and you do something horrible to me. A Wise Person, would give it to God.

{Romans 12:19}

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

I speak from experience. This WORKS. Trust me. God can and will repay in ways you could never do. Trust in Him. Then you have the Ignorant. The Ignorant Person may, go to your house. Smash your car. Burn down your House. Meanwhile thinking this is OK. Why? "An eye for an eye."

Now let's talk about Ferguson. You come to my house and do something Horrible to me, in my mind at least. So what do I do? I go into MY frig, trash the food in it. I go to MY Closet, trash everything in in. I go outside and smash MY Car and burn down MY House. That will teach you.... Really? You can't fix Stupid.

All the looting, violence, and destruction will never change anything. Truth is, they do not really care to change anything. All they used this incident for is an excuse. They are acting out because they are of their Father the Devil and the things He does, they will do also. The Heart of man is evil continuously and the inventions of will be as well.

Jesus did not try to change the World. Jesus did not try to teach Stupid. He gave us all a better way. He left it up to the individual to chose a Blessing or a Curse. Life or Death. He did not take away our Freewill, he gave us something better to choose.

Still do not believe me? When Jesus was Praying, He said this..

{John 17:9}

"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine."

His concern then, and now, is that we come out of the World. "I pray not for the world" He even said this.. 

{John 17:14}

"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

Jesus left the World to it's own devises. It's own way. He did not try to change it. The World's fate is sealed. He came to bring us out of it. To Save us from it. From death itself. What happened in Ferguson, Missouri, what happens in the Middle East, the Wars, and rumor of Wars, the evils that men do, are all of the World. They are all a product of the Flesh and absence of God. The only way you could fix that is by the individuals involved, accepting God and His Plan and Purpose. But then, you would not be able to get free stuff and burn things down, because someone told you you should.

I Pray daily for an unlimited number of Salvations. I Pray that those that hear the Truth, will accept it, and it will become a powerful Seed, Planted in fertile soil, to bring forth a mighty Harvest. But I do not Pray, as Jesus did not Pray, for the World. For Peace. For the World to change. The World is what it is. It will be what it is. You could not change it if you wanted to. Only YOU can change YOU.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

God Doesn't See Color

God Doesn't See Color

As I was reading my morning devotion I was awakened by the fact that God does not see color. Peter, an apostle of Jesus, was a devoted Jew and was taught not to associate or visit anyone from another race (Acts 10:28). Have times changed? The same racial issues our county faces today were being dealt with 2000 years ago. History, without a doubt, continues to repeat itself. God makes is clear we are love and associate with all people who believe in Jesus – we are One in the body of Christ.

Through a vision God opened the eyes of Peter to see that colors are not to be separated. Peter says, “Now I understand that God doesn’t play favorites. Rather, whoever respects God and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation” (Acts 10:34). I would venture to say the continued evil that is prevalent in Ferguson, Missouri is being led by those who do not respect God. God does not see color, but evil does – it sees Red.

It is Red that saved us from our evil; the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for each one of us. Through Christ’s blood our heavenly Father sees us as white as snow – colorless without flaw. As we celebrate Thanksgiving today remember God has forgiven each of us and we too are to forgive one another. Our nation needs our prayers and our voice. Share the Good News of Jesus with those whom you know so that all may respect and love God enabling everyone to do what is acceptable and pleasing to God. Have a blessed Thanksgivings praising God with family and friends.

Take time and read Acts 10

Touching Lives for Christ… Because it Matters.

Pastor Rod Lindemann

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. 

3,2,1,Here we go. Happy Thanksgiving to ya. Can we stay out of a Box Store today? Instead of starting to worry about all the things we need to get, could we take a second to be Thankful for those things we already have? Just a thought. Let's not forget the real reason. To be thankful for all we have. Including Freedom and Life itself. Eat, Drink, be Merry, Pass out, but do not forget to thank the one that gave you that ability to do so.. His name is God.

Proverbs 4

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Keeping Up With The Joneses

Why is it so bad to Covet?

We have been mentioning Covetousness quite a bit in the last few Messages. It just keeps popping up. It is one of those things, that is actually part of Human Nature, and one of those things that can seem harmless. Problem is, it is far from harmless. As a matter of fact, it is so dangerous and Evil, that God named it as the Tenth Commandment..

{Exodus 20:17}

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

In Psalms, we talked about this as well...
{Psalm 119:33-40}

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness."

"Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness."So what does it even mean? Why is it bad? Do we not all want to "Keep up with the Joneses?" Look what you think they have. Perfect Marriage. Prefect kids. A ton of Money. They never worry about paying their bills. They are out there Vacationing all the time. Buying new Cars and Stuff in General. I was a the Bakery the other day and I saw Mr. Jones pull out a Wad of Cash, peel off a Hundred, and he told the Girl "Keep the change." Man, that would be nice to be able to do. Where is my Wad of Cash? Think of all the good I could do with that much money.. So on, so forth.

Human nature. Right? Nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself. Right? Nothing wrong with wanting more. Right? To get ahead? To be like the Joneses? Right? Wrong.. Jesus tells us..

{Luke 12:15}

"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."

The Word tells us...

{1 Timothy 6:6-11}

"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."

Why? Why is it wrong to desire more? To want better for yourself and or your Family? It doesn't make sense. It's not fair. Why should Mr. Jones, who is not even a Child of God, have all this Money, and I have to struggle to pay my Electric Bill. Why? I want what he has. I will actually do something positive with all that Cash. It's not fair.

Are you sure? Jesus warned us...

{Matthew 6:24}

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

This is why He told us this..

{Matthew 6:31-34}

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

We are to be content with what God gives us. He tells us that Life is not just about the Toys. It is not about how big your house is. Nor is it about how big your bank account is. Jesus told us the Parable of the Rich Man and his Barns in Luke 12. How he was very Rich. So Rich he was having some difficulty storing up all his Riches. Then he died. Jesus asks, "Who gets all your stuff?" Why? Again, "we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world."

So am I saying God wants all His Children to be Poor? Of course not. First, as a Side note, do you even know what poverty is? Look around the world. You will see the Poor. Dying of Starvation. Disease, Naked and unsure where their next meal is coming from. People living on less than a Dollars a Month, if that. Now look at the "Poor" in this Country. Roof over our heads. Heat and AC. Cloths on our back. Food in abundance. TVs, Cell Phones, Car, Internet. Seriously? They do not work, they die. We do not work, the Government gives us more, than some people actually working get. Poor?

The point is, we should not even worry about these things. Our Daddy, God, knows we need these things. If we trust in Him and Seek out the Kingdom first, put God first, He will meet all our needs. We may not have that brand new shiny red Sports Car, but we will have transportation to and from where we need to go. We may not live in a Mansion, yet, but we have a Roof over our heads.

Still do not see why Covetousness is wrong? OK. Lets look at a perfect example. King David. Yup. That same David that sleighed the Giant. That same David that God made King, and blessed mightily. He Coveted. This caused him to not only commit Adultery, but it caused him to commit Murder. Yes. That same King David.

{2 Samuel 11}

"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman."

So here is David, who out of happenstance, saw this beautiful naked Woman bathing herself. If he left it at that, all would have been fine. But he didn't. He Coveted her. Or greedily desired her. He became, in essence, obsessed. So, he inquired who she was..

"And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

So now he knows who she is. She is a Married Woman of one of his most faithful Servants. Again, if he had stopped there, knowing that she was Married and not available to him, all would still be OK. But he just couldn't resist. He gave in..

"And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child."

David allowed himself to Covet. This lead to Adultery. She became pregnant with David's Child. Now David, who is a good man. A Man of God. A Man chosen by God. David now has to figure out how to cover this up. To shorten this up a bit for time restrictions, I encourage you to read the whole story, David sends for Uriah. His plan is to have Uriah go to his house, have sex with his Wife. Then, when it is discovered she is pregnant, it will be thought to be Uriah's Child.

This didn't work. Uriah said..

"The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing."

You see, Uriah was a God fearing Man, and faithful Servant to David and Country. There was no way he was going to go home and be comfortable and sleep with his Wife, when those more important, at least in his mind, are not allotted the same opportunity.

So David attempts to get him drunk and then he would surely go down to his house. However, like the first attempt, this one failed as well. This left David with no choice. He had to get rid of Uriah. He comes up with this plan. I will send him to the front lines, in the hottest battle. He will surely be killed. He will become a Hero, I will take his Widow, as was a custom, and then it will all be fine when she has my Son. This is what he did.

Uriah was killed, David took Bathsheba to be his Wife. No one knew any the wiser. Well, no one but God. The Story continues in 2 Samuel 12, and we find that the cost of this, was the life of David and Bathsheba's Son. David repented his Sin and God forgave him, and blessed him and Bathsheba with another Son, his name is Solomon. Yup. That Solomon.

The point of the story is this. A Godly Man. One who God Himself chose. As God said to David..

{2 Samuel 12:7-8}

"God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things."

David wanted more. Like Adam and Eve, whom the Lord gave the entire World to, wanted more, and took that of which was not theirs to take, David took his desire. He Coveted and it lead to Adultery, Lying, and ultimately, Murder. The King, who was blessed, and could have had even more, chose the one thing he could not have.

To Covet, may be Human Nature, but it is not something we should fall into. It can lead to all kinds of Sin and badness. You can even die because of it. Learn to be content with what you have. Trust in the Lord. Understand that compared to the rest of the world, you are really not that poor. Not to mention, the Righteous DO have a Mansion waiting for them. You are a Child of God. Trust in Him.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Proverbs 3

1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Just a Book

Just like any other Religious Book?

Do you know any, and there is a growing number of them, who say the Bible is nothing? That it is an old Book, written by a bunch of old Men, who wanted to control the masses. Or that it should never be taken literately. Or that it is a great history Book. Or that it is filled with contradictions. Or that there is no difference in the Bible, Torah, Qur'an, Tripitaka, The Scientology Handbook, or even Books Atheist read, like "The impossibility of God" and "An anthology of Atheism and Rationalism."

They tell you that if that is the "Religion" you chose to follow, then great for you. Just let everyone else have their "Holy Book" and leave them alone. The Bible is no different, not better, nor worse, than any other "Religious Book."

First let's start with this simple fact. The Truth does offend those who chose not to accept it. Truth is, all Religion is equal. However, there is only ONE Way, One Truth, One Life. There is only ONE Salvation. His Name is Jesus.

{John 3:16-18}

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Jesus also plainly told us this.

{John 10:7-11}

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

There is no other Way.

{John 14:6}

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Any "Religion" or Man-made Tradition, that does not have Jesus as the Foundation is a lie. Anyone telling you that you can get to Heaven, in any other way than accepting Jesus's Sacrifice for your Sins, is lying to you. Without Love, your Religion is worthless. Jesus IS Love. God IS Love. Without Jesus, your Religion is nothing.

Again, I understand that this may offend some people. Sorry. Like I said before, the Truth can become offensive to those who chose not to accept is. Doesn't change the fact that it is the Truth. We talked about Religion before, so we will not spend too much time on that aspect here. However, I could form a Religion today, and in 20, 50, or 100 years from now, we could have Carlockians, Peterites, Petetite, and others, that didn't like my Book I wrote, so they broke off, formed their own Religion, writing their own Book.

Point is, Religion, or Man-Made Traditions, are nice little groups to belong too, but if they do not have Jesus, they mean nothing at all. Not mine, nor any of the ones that broke of from mine. Not any other. God does not care about Religion. He cares about YOU. He wants a one on one relationship with YOU. You have to have Faith in His Plan. His Way. His Truth. His Life.

This is why He gave us His Word. It is our Instruction for Life.

{2 Timothy 3:16-17}

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Was the Bible written by Man? Yup. All the things Jesus did, was done by a Man. Jesus, although God, was a Man. He had to become a Man, to deal with us in this Physical Realm. God gave Man His Word, to write down in the Physical Realm, so we could have it here, and learn from it. The words you are reading right now are not by the Man Peter, but by the Holy Spirit, who is leading me to write them. I'm not that smart. It is He who speaks through me. Not my opinion or point of view, but inspired words of God.

Another reason some become offended at the Bible is because it is Absolute Truth. Truth that cannot be refuted. Truth that is above us.

{Hebrews 4:12}

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

It is alien to us. It goes against our Sinful Flesh. This is why so many see it as a list of Don'ts. As restrictive. As confining and controlling. Instead of for what it is. A way to live our Lives in Love, Safety, and Security. An Instruction Manuel for Life itself. To keep us safe, and from those things, that in most cases we do to ourselves, that can hurt us.

This is why God tells us things like do not eat too much Pork. We will get sick.

Do not Murder or Steal. We will go to Jail, be killed ourselves, or worse, never get to Heaven.

Do not commit Adultery. We will hurt those we claim to love the most, and again, we may even be killed.

Do not have any other Gods before God? Because everything else is a Lie. And it will not matter in the end.

See,,

{Isaiah 40:6-8}

"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." 

Peter put it this way..

{1 Peter 1:23-25.}

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." 

Without the Word of God, there is no Salvation. What does the Word have to do with Jesus? Jesus IS the Word..

{1 John 1:1-3}

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

OK. So of course The Word of God was from the beginning. So?

{1 john 1:14}

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Jesus was the Word of God, in the Flesh, again, so He could operate in this Physical Realm. Without Jesus, there would be no Word. Without Jesus, the World would not even be here. Without Jesus, there is no Salvation.

So when we look into His Word, we find Life itself. The Word should be Praised by the Children of God. It should be taught to our Children. Sung about. The book of Psalms is a collection of Hebrew Poetry, or Poems designed to be sung. The Hebrew title for the book is Praises, and most of the Psalms deal with praise for God. Psalm 119 especially deals with praise for God's Word, or law of God, His written Will for His people. Like this part of 119, entitled, or numbered HE. HE the fifth letter in the Hebrew Alphabet

Psalm 119, HE

{Psalm 119: 33-40}

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness." 

What it is saying here is forget Covetousness. Do not let me Greedily Desire anything other than God's Word. Do not wast time with useless things that mean little to nothing, but teach me to follow YOU God, and YOUR Word.

You see, every answer, to every question, can be found in God's Word. There are no contradictions. There are misinterpretations, misunderstanding what is read, differing points of view from the Writers, and simply, lack of understanding of what we are reading. Through Prayer and reading His Word, you will have a wealth of knowledge that most will never know. Most will never know they don't know. Let the World rejoice in it's own knowledge. For we know the knowledge of the World is foolishness to God. Learn from He who made the world. Use this Manual for Life, by the one that gave you Life. The one who created all that is, was, or ever will be. Who do you think knows better? The Creature? Or the Creator? My bet is on God.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Proverbs 2

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Rules and Regulations

Is God all about making your life restrictive and boring?

I have heard it in differing forms over the years. You can keep that "Church Stuff." I'm not big on being told what I can and can't do. I live my life the way I choose. I have no desire to be told I can't live the way I want. I'm not "Religious" because I do not follow all those "Don'ts."

This is common among many of the Lost, because they do not understand the Word. They do not even understand that Religion is not necessarily Salvation. They know NOTHING about Faith, and God. Zero. All they know is what they see on the News.

"Religious Folks Hate Gays." {Well, make that Christians. Even though Muslims actually Slaughter Gays everyday, we are not allowed to say that. Even know Jews do not accept the Homosexual Lifestyle, nor does any other Mainstream Religion by the way, Christians are the Homophones and evil, and need to be stopped. Just a side note.}

"Religious Folks hate Women and want them to be Slaves to Men."

"Religious Folks want to control every aspect of your lives."

"Religious Folks hate anyone that does not act the way they think they should."

"Religious Folks hate you, and would easily force you to live a life of Rules and Regulations, unless they are confined and stopped."

This is all they know about God. That and "The Bible is a Book that was written by a bunch of old men that want to control your life and steal your money. It's not the Word of God. It is not to be taken Literately. There may be some good stuff in there, but seriously, Adam and Eve? Talking Snakes? Noah's Flood? Raining Frogs? "Death of the First Born? Don't get me started with Jesus was born a Virgin and Rose from the Dead??? Seriously? You expect an Intelligent person to believe this stuff?"

They do not understand that God said..

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."{Jeremiah 29:11}

We have other Commandments you know?

Thou shall listen to me. I am your Mother / Father.
Thous shall not play in Traffic.
Thou shall not talk to strangers.
Thou shall not play with fire.
Thou shall not put small nonfood items in your mouth.
Thou shall not stick your finger, or anything else, in a light socket.
Thou shall not touch the hot stove.
Thou will wear a coat.
Thou will wear shoes.

The most dreaded????

Thou SHALL eat your Vegetables.

Why do we accept these, and not God's? Well, in some cases we know it would be bad to break our Parent Commandments. We know that if we play in traffic, we could get hit by a car and die. We know if we touch the hot stove we will get burned. ETC. However, if we do any of these things, is the result punishment for breaking it? Nope. Is it punishment dished out by an angry Parent for disobedience? Nope. It just is what it is. See, our Parents know more than we do. I know, I know, but they do. So knowing that touching the Hot Stove, and warning you against doing so, or you will get burned, is different from causing it to happen.

Our Parents, and now us as Parents, set forth these Rules and Regulations, these Commandments, these "Laws" out of love. We love our Kids. We do not want them to get burned. We do not want them to get hit by a car, or abducted by an evil person with evil intentions. We do not do this to restrict our Children s Lives and make it difficult for them. We do it to keep them safe. We do it because we love them.

I know that I'm happy I do not get burned. I know I'm happy that my House does not burn down to the ground. I know I'm glad that Bus passed by without running me over. Why did none of this happen? Because I obeyed my Parents Rules and Regulations.

God is the same way. You cannot have a Jealous, and Angry God, if you obey and put Him first. He will be your Daddy, and you Him Child. You cannot be at odds with your Earthly Family, if you Honor them. You cannot go to Jail for Murder, if you do not commit Murder. You cannot get in trouble for lying, if you do not lie. Stealing? Don't Steal. Be content with what you have, and do not greedily desire what anyone else has.

Why do you think this is one of the Ten? Do not Covet. Simply put, if you greedily desire something, it can lead you to commit all kinds of Sin. You could Lie, Cheat, and Steal to get it. You can be lead to commit Adultery. So on and so forth.

This is why The Word tells us..

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."{Romans 12:2}

Why? The World will deceive you, don't let it. Anything anyone tells you that is contrary to the Word, is a lie. So why do many not understand that the Ten Commandments, and other parts of the Word, that warn us against doing foolish things? Why do they see these as wrong and restrictive, rather than their own Sin, being wrong and deadly to them?

Yes. I am going to point out a verse here that offends some of these people. It even offends some "Religious Folks." But it applies here. It is the Truth. It actually applies to EVERY aspect of The Word of God, Faith in Jesus, Faith in God in general. It is simple. Easy to understand. They are the Words of Jesus Himself.

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." {John 8:44-47}

They cannot understand a God of Love. They cannot understand a God that so loved the World that He would become as one of us, allowed us to torture and kill Him, and did it all, for all, to have the opportunity to be Saved. They believe the lie. They do not understand that by not accepting Jesus, they are following the Thief. Jesus told us..

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." {John 10:10}

We do not serve a boring God. We do not serve a God, Sitting on His Throne, leaning forward, watching, and waiting for you to mess up, so He can send you to Hell. We serve a God of Love. A God that wants to protect us from all Evil. A God that wants us to live Life, and " have it more abundantly."

It all starts with Jesus. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Six Superstitious Myths About the Devil

By: J. Lee Grady

Americans can't seem to get enough of horror movies. Every October, in time for Halloween, Hollywood releases a creepy new crop of films about masked serial killers, flesh-eating zombies, crazed vampires and demon-possessed children who crawl out of television sets to attack us.

This year's horror fare includes Annabelle (about a red-haired doll possessed by an evil spirit), Devil's Due (about a demonic pregnancy resulting from a voodoo ritual), Ouija (about teenagers who conjure ghosts by playing a board game) and Horns, (about a murder suspect who begins growing horns and taking on other devilish characteristics).

No thanks. The world is scary enough—I don't need a horror movie soundtrack to go with it.

Many horror movies are quite religious (last year's The Conjuring was about a Christian couple who did exorcisms), but Hollywood rarely gets it right when it comes to the devil, demons and the spiritual realm. The result is that many people today have wrong ideas about Satan—and Christians often subscribe to these kooky concepts because we haven't studied God's Word carefully. Here are six of the most common myths about the devil:

Myth No. 1: The devil is everywhere.

God is omnipresent, but the devil doesn't have that kind of power or influence. Jesus said He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening (Luke 10:18)—referring to the moment when our enemy was cast out of the highest heaven. Satan posts his demons in various regions, but the devil is not watching you 24 hours a day. And if you are in Christ, you are hidden in Him (see Col. 3:3) and the devil cannot detect you on his radar.

Myth No. 2: The devil has horns.

Hollywood has perpetrated the idea that Satan has horns, a red cape and a pitchfork, but this is based on medieval folklore, not the Bible. In fact, the Bible says the devil is a master of clever disguises, and that he prefers to appear as "an angel of light" (see 2 Cor. 11:14). Without spiritual discernment, most people don't even recognize that the devil is working because he is so cunning and attractive. The devil often shows up in religious meetings, and he even deceives Christians. He also loves to work through charlatans who steal money and live in immorality but know how to quote Scripture.

Myth No. 3: The devil is afraid of crosses, holy water and religious icons.

In the typical Hollywood vampire film, Count Dracula is repelled by a crucifix and demons scream in torment when a priest utters a Latin phrase. Don't be fooled. Satan is not afraid of religious people. Satan is quite comfortable hanging around religious buildings as long as the people inside are not preaching the true gospel. That's why Paul the apostle warned us that in the last days people who at one time followed God would fall away from the faith, "paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1). Some of the most demonic heresies were hatched in church buildings when Christians turned away from the truth to follow the devil, the father of lies.

Myth No. 4: The devil is to blame for all the evil in the world.

A lot of Christians have the idea that the devil caused them to sin. "The devil made me do it!" No, the devil was probably nowhere near. The Book of James says we must own the responsibility of our sin. "Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust" (James 1:14). Don't blame the devil for what you did. Take responsibility and repent.

Myth No. 5: The devil is all-powerful.

We Christians ascribe to Satan way more power than he actually has. The Bible says in Colossians that when Jesus died on the cross, He disarmed satanic powers and made a public spectacle of them (see Col. 2:15). I love the way The Message translates this verse: "[Jesus] stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets." Satan's authority has been taken from him, and all he can do now is lie, steal, kill and destroy—much like a renegade terrorist army—until the church finishes the job of preaching the gospel to the world. And Satan knows his end is near.

Myth No. 6: The devil lives in hell.

Popular artwork often shows the devil running his diabolical operation from a headquarters in the midst of the flames of hell. But that is not a biblical concept. Ephesians 2:2 describes Satan as "the prince of the power of the air" because he runs his show from a remote heavenly location. The good news is that he won't be there for long. Jesus said hell has been prepared for the devil and his angels (see Matt. 25:41), and Rev. 20:10 says after the final judgment, God will throw Satan into the lake of fire and brimstone where he will be "tormented day and night forever and ever." That is the horror movie the devil fears most.

If you are a believer in Christ, you have no reason to fear the devil. We should not be ignorant of Satan's schemes, and you should develop discernment to know where he is working, but you do not have to be afraid of him. If you are strong in faith, aggressive in prayer and filled with the Holy Spirit, you are a threat to Satan's kingdom. The apostle Paul's words in Romans 16:20 remind us of our victory: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet."

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. You can learn more about his ministry, The Mordecai Project, at themordecaiproject.org.