Think up, Reward

What are you working for? 

If I ask you, most people, "How is your 401 K?" you, and most people, would be able to tell me. Pretty good. Lost some but building back. Could be better. ETC. Most people are fully aware of their financial status looking ahead to the future.

We have people whose entire career is to manage your money today, so you have the most possible for tomorrow. Our Stock Market and Banks have become like Churches for most. Money is their God. The worry of tomorrow has some paralyzed in dealing with today. People tell you all the time that you must do this or that. Set 10 percent of our salary aside. 20 percent. 30 if you can. You need to save as much as you can now, while you can, while there is income coming in so when there is not, we will be OK. That is thinking down.

Now? Let's think Up. You seem to have your 401 K down pat. What about your 401 E? Your Eternal Retirement Plan. Oh, there is such a thing. Remember what Jesus taught us? Luke 12:16-21

"And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Why would Jesus tell us this? Turn to Matthew 6:19-21

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Have you ever thought about that? "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also?" Sounds like this. Does it not? 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."

There will be a very distinct difference in Reward. But there will be a Reward. Look at John 5:28-29 again.

" Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

Wait. Have you ever heard it put this way? "those who have done good, to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." Oh tthere will be a Resurrection for all. Some Translations say "Rise" "Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment."

We will all "Rise." We are all Eternal Beings. There IS a Resurrection for every Man, Woman, and Child. Are you thinking Up? Planning for your Eternal Retirement Plan? Or are you thinking down? Are you storing up for yourselves treasures in heaven, or, are you trying to build Barns?

According to 2 Corinthians 5:10

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

John gives us a behind the scenes peek at this in Revelation 20:12-13

"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. According to his Deeds."

You see, the choice is yours. You can think about yourself, and today, and or, you can Think Up. This next story I would like to share with you is a tough one. It really is. Jesus told us this story in Luke 16:19-31

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

Now that is a harsh story. It really is. But it is simply a matter of choice. The Rich man saw Lazarus every day. He never concerned himself with anything more than himself. Also, the Rich Man knew the Word of God. He chose to not accept it. Lazarus was obviously faithful enough to be Saved by God. All about choices. Which direction do you choose to think?

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}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord!

Think Up, Strangers

We are Strangers in a Strange Land.

Last time we talked about the fact there is a God. That we must Think Up, in other words, realize that He, God, is in charge. He created all things and in all things, He is in charge. The World will tell you that there is no God. Why the Movement in the Religion Realm of No Devil? Why no Hell? Same reason for all. No Hell, No Devil, No God, No Sin. No reason for a Saviour. Live as you will. As a Society we still attempt, at least as of this second, to tell people not to Harm anyone, but we tell people to live as you will. Anything Goes. If it makes you happy, do it.

However, we know there is a God. We know that it does not matter what the World says or thinks, all that matters is what God says or thinks. Once you stop Thinking Up, thinking about God, you WILL fill your head with the things of the World and the things of the World are Enmity to God. The more and more you stop thinking of God, I'm talking to Children of God here as well, the more you stop thinking about God, the more the World WILL come in and separate you further and further from God till you get to a place where you start to call Good Sin and Sin Good.

As we are no longer of the World, we must continue to Think Up, just to keep our Minds pure and Holy.

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" {Philippians 3:20}

Oh, the World will say many things. The World WILL tell you that Sin is Good and Good is Sin. They will have all kinds of nice conversations with you, attempting to convince you that compassion means accepting the Sin with the Sinner and that we must never offend anyone. Think Up. They will tell you all kinds of things. Think Up.

Simply put, if what the World is telling you, no matter who it is that is telling you, is not in the Bible or is contrary to the nature of God, then what they, no matter who they are, are saying, they are LYING to you. We are Strangers in a Strange Land. The World does not represent us. We are no longer members of the World. We are no longer owned, if you will, by the World. Think Up.

Peter warns us in 1 Peter 2:11-12

"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

You were once one of them. You were once just like them. You once thought the way they did. But now you must not. Now you are a new Creature and you are now a Child of God.

" And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." {Romans 8:17}

An Ambassador of Heaven. Set your Minds on the things from above.

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." {Colossians 3:2}

Why?

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." {Romans 12:2}

Remeber Romans 8:5-8

"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."

God says;

1 Have no other god before God.
2 Do not commit Idolatry.
3 Do not take the Name of God in Vain.
4 Remember the Sabbath.
5 Honor your Father and Mother.
6 Do not commit Murder.
7 Do not commit Adultery.
8 Do not Steal.
9 Do Not Bear False Witness.
10 Do not Covet.

The World says;

1 Any god will do. All are equal.
2 Statues of Saints, Mary, and Jesus, can and have worked Miracles.
3 It is only belief and Language. No big deal.
4 Who cares? We live in a 24-7 Society we want everything NOW or yesterday.
5 Nursing homes and Retirement Centers
6 Abortion.
7 No big deal.
8 Depends on reason. Maybe justified.
9 Gossip. Even entire entertainment venues about Gossip.
10 Greed is good. Keeping up with the Jones is normal, healthy, and good.

See, the World will tell you all kinds of things. They will give compassionate arguments and even twist subtle truths to convince you that this is simply the Wisdom of all in the World and if you disagree with it, then you are simply foolish. However, we know what the Word of God says about the Wisdom of the World. 1 Corinthians 3:19

"For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,"

We are Strangers in a Strange Land. Whenever what the Strange Land tries to tell you, Think Up. Ask your Father. Read the Word. Think on things from above. If they come together in unity, great. If you have to choose between what you know God says, and what the World says, God is ALWAYS right. His Word is ALWAYS Truth. Good is ALWAYS Good. Sin is ALWAYS Sin. He is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forevermore. Remember to always Think Up Stranger. 1 John 2:15

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not 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}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord!

Think up, No Excuse

But I did not know. 

Many seem to think that some will go to Heaven, stand in front of God, and plead that they did not know He was real. Well? That is not going to Save them. The Word declares this in Romans 1 Starting at Verse 18

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

Stop there for a second. Read that part again. "his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." Who? God. "His eternal power and divine nature," God. The Creator of all there is, was, or ever will be, God, "have been clearly perceived," Not maybe. Not could be. But rather "have been clearly perceived," When? "ever since the creation of the world," Not, this Past Tuesday. Sorry, you missed it. "ever since the creation of the world," How? "in the things that have been made." What? His Creation. So that what? "So they are without excuse."

One of my many problems with the Theory of Evolution, along with the Obvious, it is Scientifically and Mathematically IMPOSSIBLE to get something from nothing, they refuse to even suggest that those they are attempting to teach, Think Up.

So how do you reconcile the whole something from nothing? "I don't know. We do not know everything. However, there is no possibility that there is a God." Why? "Just Shut up. You ignorant, Hateful, Racist, Bigotted, Chauvinistic, Homophobe." I'm just having a conversation with you. You say you do not know where that first something came from, nor can you answer the fact that it is ALSO Scientifically impossible that all things, Trees, Flowers, Fish, People, Hot Blooded, Cold Blooded, ETC, all came from a single Cell that came from nothing. Yet? You completely denounce even the Possibility that the first Something was God, who in turn, Created all things. "Shut up. I'm done arguing with you. There is a Scientific Consensus that Evolution happened and that there is no God." Atheist storms off.

For the very reasons I stated, it is Scientifically and Mathematically IMPOSSIBLE to get something from nothing, Creation screams out that there is a Creator. Just like looking at a Work of Art, you know there was an Artist, looking at the World, you know there is a God. Back to Romans 1

"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen."

Once you stop Thinking Up, thinking about God, you WILL fill your head with the things of the World and the things of the World are Enmity to God. The more and more you stop thinking of God, I'm talking to Children of God here as well, the more you stop thinking about God, the more the World WILL come in and separate you further and further from God till you get to a place where you start to call Good Sin and Sin Good.

God tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Think UP! Forget what the World thinks. Paul warned us of this in Colossians 3:2

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

So why the Movement of No God? Why the Movement in the Religion Realm of No Devil? Why no Hell? Same reason for all. No Hell, No Devil, No God, No Sin. No reason for a Saviour. Live as you will. As a Society we still attempt, at least as of this second, to tell people not to Harm anyone, but we tell people to live as you will. Anything Goes. If it makes you happy, do it. However,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge." {Psalm 19:1-2}

God did all this. He Created it. Turn to Psalm 90:2-4

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night."

There comes the time when this Creation will End.

"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." {John 5:28-29}

We are not here by Accident. We are not a Happy Consequence. We are not Children of a delicate and fragile Mother Earth. No Asteroid, Tsunamis, Vulcano, Aliens, or Sorry, Zombies, I know some of you were hoping for the latter, are going to wipe out the Earth. Turn to Revelation 20:12-13

"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works."

This is the first reason we need to Think Up. There IS a God. He IS in Charge. We ARE His Creation and we can be His Children. There is Free Will, but there is No Excuse.

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}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord

But Whom Say Ye That I Am?

Are you pulling a Peter?

The World will tell you there are many ways to Heaven. The World will tell you that if you say Jesus is the only "Way, the Truth, and the Life," you are a Hateful, Bigoted, Homophobic, Chauvinistic, Simple Minded, Close Minded, Fool, that hates anyone that does not look like, think like, or believes the way you do. The World will tell you that Jesus was a GREAT teacher. Compassionate, Leader, Philosopher, or whatever. They will tell you Jesus would not condemn anyone. Judge anyone. He would Love everyone regardless of how they live their lives.The World will tell you there is NO difference in "Christianity" and any other Religion out there.

You see, this is not new. We have historical Proof, that a Man named Jesus, actually lived. We have Proof that He lived when and where the Bible tells us. There is no doubt about it. But who was He? Even when Jesus was still walking among us, while He was performing miracles and teaching Salvation, the World acknowledged He was here, but not who He actually was..

{Matthew 16:13-19}

"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets."

The World will still say these things. They will still denounce Him and His Godhood. They will still reject that HE is the Door. He is Salvation. He is the Lord of Lords. The World will still reject His true person. But then He asked them directly....

"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?"

Of course you know the answer. Peter said who He was and Jesus made that famous statement...well, here keep reading...

"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Now remember this moment. This is where Peter got his name Peter, This is where many mistakenly think Jesus appointed Peter to be the first Pope. Not true. But this is also one of the biggest events in history, and most definitely in Peter's life.

Just like Peter, you believe,,,

{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."

Just like Peter, you believe,,,

{John 10:1-18}

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, 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. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

Just like Peter, there is no doubt in your mind at all, that

{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."

However, when the World came to Peter, and asked him, are you "one of them?" He said “Woman, I do not know him.” Then again, the World came to him and asked if he was "one of them." He said “Man, I am not.” A third time, the World came to Peter, and a third time Peter denies Jesus Himself.. “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.”

Remember, not too long before this, Jesus actually GAVE Peter his name. Jesus actually said to Peter,

 "upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

This is the same Peter that walked on water with Jesus. The same Peter that was there and witnessed the Miracles first hand. The same Peter that became one of the "Greatest Saints" to ever walk the Earth. The Same Peter that people felt his very Shadow would heal them.

Yet? When the World came to him, and asked, Who is this Jesus? DO you believe He is Lord? Are you "one of them." Peter denied and rejected Jesus and his person. Make no mistake about it folks. The World IS going to come to you. The World WILL ask you, "Who is this Jesus? Do you believe He is Lord? Do you believe He is the only way? Are you 'one of them?'"

Oh, the World may come to you in the form of an enemy. However, it may come to you in the form of a loved one. A lover. A Child. A Parent. A Boss. A Long Time Friend. Someone you just became interested in. Oh, the World consists of all these people. Some will hate you. Some will reject you. Some will think bad things of you. If you tell the Truth, "YES." Jesus IS Lord. YES. Jesus IS the only way. YES. I AM 'one of them.'"

You could lose the relationship. You could get fired. You could, in a growing increased number of reasons, you could even get arrested. When the World comes to you, and asks you, "Are you one of them" What do you say? When Jesus looks into your eyes, and He asks you "But whom say ye that I am?"What do you say? "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." {Romans 1:16}

Are you willing to take a stand for Jesus? Are you willing to stand for the Truth. Are you willing to tell someone the only Truth that could possibly Save their very Soul? Or are you going to pull a Peter? The World will tell you Jesus is anything but what He actually is. He knows what the World thinks of Him. He was here. He was abused. He was Tortured. He hung on a Cross for you. He wants to know "But whom say ye that I am?"

Are you a Child of 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}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..

Be Not Offended

I'm speaking to Children of God. 

Have you felt it? That twinge? That moment of embarrassment? That moment of hesitation? You know what I mean. That feeling that you get, anytime you are out of Church, somewhere in Public, when someone says the Name Jesus. Or when someone starts talking about God, the Bible, or Salvation.

Oh, in Church it's just fine. You may even say Praise Jesus after ever other Sentence. You may talk about God for an Hour following the Service. You have no problem being as "Spiritual" as everyone else that is there for that moment.

However, AFTER Church, at the Mini-Mart, Grocery Store, Mall, or whatever and wherever you had to do or go, following Church? At work on Monday, School, or whatever or wherever you do or go during the Week, when you hear someone talking Jesus, The Bible, or God, you have that moment of cringe.

Why? Because you "know" that if people hear you talking that way, they will think that you are a backwoods, simpleton, that is old fashion, and not as smart as the average person. You are afraid to be labeled a Narrow Minded, Chauvinistic, Homophobic, Hate Filled, person, that does not like anyone that does not look like and think like you.

Why? Because that is the stereotype that has been thrown out there, and repeated so many times, some actually believe it. You do not want to be one of "Them." You don't want to be seen in this light, so you remain silent. You say nothing. If someone else brings up God, Jesus, or the Bible, you may agree with them quietly, looking around to see if anyone is looking. You may even whisper "Amen," as softly as you can.

What is that? Why? That twinge? That moment of embarrassment? That moment of hesitation? Why, that outright denial, in some cases? Is it Uncertainty? Is it Pride? Is it Fear? Why would you, a Child of God, act out in this manor, ever?

Jesus Himself knew that this would be the case. He told us...

"And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."{Matthew 11:6}

He foretold us that the World would hate us, because it hated him First.

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."{John 15:18}

We instinctively know this is the case. Some of us have experienced this.

Uncertainty?

Sometimes Children of God become Offended, because they are uncertain of certain things. You say, "Jesus is the only way." They say "Why? You narrow minded fool. My Grandma was a great lady. She was Jewish. She did a lot of good in the World. She fed the Homeless. She helped all those in need. She read her Tanakh every day. You telling me that just because she did not believe in 'your Jesus,' she is in Hell?" If you are not grounded in The Word, you may not know the, nor how to, answer.

Uncertainty can lead you to become Offended. It can lead you away from God all together. Uncertainty can become a powerful tool of the Devil. "Are you really sure you are saved? Are you really sure there is a God at all? Seriously, look and Mr. Lucky. He is a Billionaire. He spends more in an hour than you make in a year. He doesn't even believe in God. You do. Right? You cannot even pay your electric bill. What is this God you believe in doing for you anyway?" If you are not sure of what you believe, you may fall for this trick. You MUST read the Word, Pray, and have Faith, that those things you read and learn in Church are True. You must lay yourself a solid foundation. One that is unmovable.

Pride?

We have a President that called those of Faith "Bitter Clingers." He said, "And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them " Children of God are consistently Mocked, and Ridiculed in the Media. Children of God are labeled "Racist, Narrow Minded, Chauvinistic, Homophobic, Hate Filled, Simpletons." Anyone that speaks Jesus's name are thought too stupid to know what is best for them. They are made fun of. They have been forced to remain silent in a lot of places. You would not want to be thought of as one of "Those People." Would you?

Fear?

All around the World, there are knocks on the door. They burst in. They Rape and abuse the Women and Children. They torture and kill the Men. They burn the house, and Churches to the Ground. All around the World this can happen to you, for no other reason than this. You believe in the name Jesus. You wouldn't want a knock on your door. Would you?

Look at Peter. Right before they came to take Jesus, Peter told Jesus he was with Him to the end, even to death itself. Jesus knew better...

"Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples."{Matthew 26:31-35}

You know the story. Peter was asked three times if he was "One of Those" and Peter denied Jesus thee times. Why? Out of fear.

When you first say the Prayer.

"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!"

You are Saved. You...

"have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."{Romans 8:15-17}

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}

You must come to fully understand what that means. You must learn who you are NOW as a Child of God. You need to find a Church teaching these things. Be Baptized the way Jesus commanded us to be. KNOW you are a Child of God, and if God, is now your Daddy, you no longer have to worry about what anyone else says or does. You should also no longer have any fear.

Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians..

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."{2 Corinthians 12:10}

It is no longer about us. Once you become a Child of God, it should become, all about Him. Once you have done all you can do, and you can do no more, THAT is when God begins. When you are the weakest, that is when God is working in your life the strongest. We must follow Jesus's example..

"“who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth”; who when He was reviled, reviled not in return; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously; who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed."{1 Peter 2:22-24}

Paul wrote to the Ephesians...

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"{Ephesians 5:1-8}

Those that know not God, are not of God. Those that revile you, mock you, insult you, hate you, do these things unknowingly. They do not know what it is that awaits them. They have no idea what awaits us. If they did, they would be one of us. But they would rather believe the lie. No God. No God, no Devil, no Hell, no Sin. They like to believe these things because it becomes easy then, to do what you will. No Sin, no Hell, no reason for a Savior. No reason for a Loving God. No rules no Morals.

So whenever someone attacks you, for no other reason than your Faith in Jesus, do not become Offended. Just understand that,,,,

"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."{John 3:18}

We are not the fools.,,,

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good."{Psalm 53:1}

There is nothing that they can do to separate you from the love of God...

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."{Romans 8:31-39}

Are you a Child of God? Are you sure? If God is your Daddy, The SAME Spirit that Raise Jesus from the Dead is IN you. You are Blood Bought. You are Blood Cleansed. You are Saved. They do not deserve the power to offend you. They do not deserve the power to put fear in you. They are nothing. They will come to nothing. Be the Child of God you are. Be certain. Be humble, knowing that it is not about you at all. Have no longer ANY fear. God is now your Daddy. Do not allow any to offend you. Do not allow any to persuade you. What do they have that you see as so precious that you need to forsake who you have become for their approval? They will try to offend you. Just remember, you are the one Saved..

Be blessed. Be a blessing. Be the Child of God you are...

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}

Persecution of Christians, Coming to America

It's coming here.


Folks, I will admit, I am angry today. I really am. We will be doing things a bit differently today. I received a request to Pray for the Persecuted Church of Christ all around the world. When I say Church of Christ, what I mean is, Children of God. Not talking a specific denomination. Not talking about certain groups. I'm talking about the Body of Christ, of which, YOU are a part of.

OK. I was also given some examples....

According to the U.S. Department of State, Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Christ.

With the exception of four official state-controlled churches in Pyongyang, Christians in North Korea face the risk of detention in the prison camps, severe torture and, in some cases, execution for practicing their religious beliefs. North Koreans suspected of having contact with South Korean or other foreign missionaries in China, and those caught in possession of a Bible, have been known to be executed.

In Syria, Christians are increasingly becoming the target of violent attacks. Catholic and Orthodox groups in Syria say the anti-government rebels have committed "awful acts" against Christians, including beheadings, rapes and murders of pregnant women. A special 'Vulnerability Assessment of Syria's Christians' conducted by the World Watch unit of Open Doors International from June 2013 warned that Syrian Christians are the victims of "disproportionate violence and abuse." They warned further that Christian women in Syria are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse.

In August 2013, Egypt faced what has been called the the worst anti-Christian violence in seven centuries: 38 churches were destroyed, 23 vandalized; 58 homes were burned and looted and 85 shops, 16 pharmacies and 3 hotels were demolished; 6 Christians were killed in the violence and 7 were kidnapped.

The bloodiest attack on Christians in Pakistan's history occurred in September 2013. Two suicide bombers exploded shrapnel laden vests outside All Saints' Church in the old city of Peshawar. Choir members and children attending Sunday school were among 81 people killed. The attack left 120 people wounded, with 10 of them in critical condition.

During an attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi in September, Islamic terrorists asked people for the name of Muhammad's mother or to recite a verse from the Quran in order to identify non-Muslims. One of the terrorists announced, "We have come to kill you Christians and Kenyans because you have been killing our women and children in Somalia. Any Muslims can go."

Four Christians in Iran will get 80 lashes each this month for drinking wine during a communion service. Ahmed Shaheed, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, said that it is common practice for Christians to be punished for violating theocratic laws. In the UN report Shaheed wrote: 'At least 20 Christians were in custody in July 2013. In addition, violations of the rights of Christians, particularly those belonging to evangelical Protestant groups, many of whom are converts, who proselytize to and serve Iranian Christians of Muslim background, continue to be reported.'

An average of 100,000 Christians around the world are killed each year for their faith.

This is enough to make anyone angry. And of course, we will be Praying for them today. Remember what Jesus told us?

John 15:

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Then Jesus Blesses us.

Matthew 5:

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

So we can know that it is coming. We must understand these simple facts. We must not forget who we are. Jesus said,

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We also know that...

Romans 8:

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So it is to be expected. Jesus foretold us these things. However, in the Country that was FOUNDED in the Name of God and In the Name of Religious Freedom? "In God We Trust?" "One Nation Under God?" Could this type of persecution be coming HERE? The Answer is YES. This is why I'm angry today.

Back in April 2009, I posted the "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" You can see the PDF HERE

So if you are Pro-life, you may be a Right Wing Extremist? If you are anti-Amnesty, you may be a Right Wing Extremist? If you are in the Tea Party, you ARE a Terrorist. You Racist, Bigoted, Chauvinistic, Homophobes out there. Yes. I'm talking to YOU. You freedom loving imbeciles. You are a threat to National Security. This is an official Government, Homeland Security, Document. Then in 2011, I posted this.

Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland, which was funded by Homeland Security, for the sum of $12 million dollars, by the way, says this..

The report takes its definitions from a 2011 study entitled Profiles of Perpetrators of Terrorism, produced by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, in which the following characteristics are used to identify terrorists.

- Americans who believe their “way of life” is under attack;

- Americans who are “fiercely nationalistic (as opposed to universal and international in orientation)”;

- People who consider themselves “anti-global” (presumably those who are wary of the loss of American sovereignty);

- Americans who are “suspicious of centralized federal authority”;

- Americans who are “reverent of individual liberty”;

- People who “believe in conspiracy theories that involve grave threat to national sovereignty and/or personal liberty.”

And of course,,,,

The report also lists people opposed to abortion and “groups that seek to smite the purported enemies of God and other evildoers” as terrorists.

Now I'm not talking about jokes, insults, etc. These have been around since there were Christians. Tell a joke about a Jew, you are labeled a "Anti-Semite." Tell a joke about a Muslim, or even speak out against Islam and their war against us, you are labeled a "Islamaphobe." In some areas in this Country today, it is actually illegal to do so. Yet? We have a President that calls Christians "Bitter Clingers." Christian bashing is all but encouraged. So this is not new. What IS new, is our Military is being primed right now, to be against, US. I'll say this again, Our Military is being primed to be against YOU. Here are eight examples..

1 On October 17th, soldiers at Ft. Hood were instructed that evangelical Christians are a “threat to this nation”…

Soldiers attending a pre-deployment briefing at Fort Hood say they were told that evangelical Christians and members of the Tea Party were a threat to the nation and that any soldier donating to those groups would be subjected to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

A soldier who attended the Oct. 17th briefing told me the counter-intelligence agent in charge of the meeting spent nearly a half hour discussing how evangelical Christians and groups like the American Family Association were “tearing the country apart.”

2 During a recent U.S. Army briefing, the American Family Association was identified as a “domestic hate group“…

Several dozen U.S. Army active duty and reserve troops were told last week that the American Family Association, a well-respected Christian ministry, should be classified as a domestic hate group because the group advocates for traditional family values.

The briefing was held at Camp Shelby in Mississippi and listed the AFA alongside domestic hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazis, the Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam.

3 A battalion commander assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky sent out a mass email to those under his command last year that included the “Christian Right”, the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family founder James Dobson under the heading of “Domestic Hate Groups”.

4 An unclassified guide for military leaders that was published in August 2011 identifies those that exhibit “extreme religious intolerance” as potentially violent radicals. If you claim that your faith is the only true faith (like most Bible-believing Christians do), that would put you into this category.

5 Earlier this year, the Pentagon issued a written statement to Fox News that stated that “religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense” and that “court martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis”.

6 One of the top consultants that Barack Obama has brought in to the Pentagon to work on issues related to religion in the military, Mikey Weinstein, has described evangelical Christians as “human monsters” and “enemies of the United States Constitution“.

7 Mikey Weinstein also teaches that when an evangelical Christian shares his or her faith, it is the equivalent of being “spiritually raped by fundamentalist Christian religious predators“.

8 In April of last year, a U.S. Army training presentation specifically identified evangelical Christians as religious extremists. On a slide entitled “Religious Extremism”, “Evangelical Christianity” was at the very top of a list of extremist religious groups that also included al-Qaeda, Hamas and the Ku Klux Klan.

This was compiled by Prophecy News Watch. Now I do want you to notice the dates that all these things began being OFFICIAL US GOVERNMENT POLICY. 2009. Immediately following the Election of one Barack Obama as President, Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, and one Harry Reid as Leader of the Senate.

Gone are the days of going to Church, singing songs, and going home to BBQs. It is time we stand up folks. It is time we do whatever we need to do to throw these people out of Power. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke.

Now do not misunderstand me here folks. I'm not calling for us to take up arms and storm the White House. Remember what Jesus told Peter when they came to take Jesus away. "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." This is true, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

We removed God from America. We got what we got. The only thing to save America now, is to put God back in it. When the time comes to stand up and be counted. STAND UP. Being a Child of God is not always sweetness and light. It is not always about singing hymns, and dressing nicely. Sometimes it's about taking a stand. It's about becoming active. Pray for the persecutions of your Brothers and Sisters all around the world, but do not forget to Pray for those of us right here in America.

When the time comes to Vote, for now, we still have free elections, vote those out that brought these things into being. One of the other reasons I left Politics was I stopped seeing any difference in those in power. They all tell you whatever you want to hear to get elected, then they go to Washington, and they all become the same. Time for TRUE Hope and Change.

Oh Heavenly Father, Lord God, we come before you today, to pray for our Brothers and Sisters all around the world. Those that are being persecuted for your name sake, and your Word's sake. Those that are suffering in the name of the Kingdom and the name of Jesus. We pray for them. That you may be always with them and never leave them. That they may have the boldness, strength, and comfort. To stand up. To carry on. To endure. To be your Children. Father we Pray today that you are true to your Word. For we know you are. That your Word declares it shall never return to you void. Remind them Father that great is their reward.

Father we also pray for America. This Country that was founded on your Word. Founded in your Name. Found in the name of Freedom. We pray today that those in this Country that are attempting to destroy it and rebuild it into something it was, not only never intended to be, but the exact opposite of what it was intended to be, fail. We understand that those things that are happening in this Country right now, are happening by our own hand. We pray forgiveness for this. We pray for forgiveness of all our sins. We pray to you today for your Child right here in America, that they may have the boldness, strength, and comfort. To stand up. To carry on. To endure. To be your Children.

Father, we know that you are God. We know you are in charge of all things. We know that you select those in power and authority. We know that it is your Will, not ours, that shall be done. So as Jesus said, we do not pray for the world, but rather for our Brothers and Sisters who are in it. Those you have selected, and those you have called. Be with us. Be with them. Show each of us the way in which you want us to go. To be. We ask you do not lead us into the temptation to take things in our own hands, but show us the way you want us to go. Bless us as we Bless others. Teach us, as we teach others. Comfort us in the times of need. Strengthen us to be bold enough to speak the Truth, your Truth Father, to any you ask us to speak to. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen!

It's up to you folks. Sit back and do nothing. Stand up and be counted. Go out and elect those that will end the madness, or allow others to vote for those that will continue to carry us down a dark and dangerous path. Pray or not. Vote or not. Do or do not. But make no mistake about it. It IS coming here.

Goodbye, Christian America; Hello, True Christianity

Real life example of living for real

We will talk about Tithes and Offerings next time. We have a very special guest today, that is going to share with you, a real life example of the difference in living for show, and living for real, as a Child of God. Many of you know that I was a big Political guy. In the New Media for years debating Politics and the State of the World. Many of you know that I was, and still am, watching the world very closely. It is getting darker and more dangerous as time goes on.

I have watched Mahmoud Ahmadinejad raise to power from being a terrorist and part of the Hostage Crises  in which 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981, to the current President of Iran. He is on a quest to bring about a world dominated under Sharia Law. His number one goal to achieve this, is to "Wipe Israel off the Map." I have watched Putin in Russia never leave power, now regained Presidency. I am watching him attempt to rebuild "Mother Russia" and attempt to bring about another Cold War with us. I am watching the new leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, flexing his Nuclear muscle. I watched Mohamed Morsi rise to power in Egypt with the help of our American President, Barack Obama. I continue to watch America, supply this new leader over a Billion dollars a year, Fighter Jets, and Tanks. As Morsi and Ahmadinejad form an alliance. Of course, I am also keeping an eye on China.

For years I warned what would happen if America, founded on the Gospel of Christ. Founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs, stopped leading the World. For years I warned about removing God from America and the moral decline that is following. I have been warning for years who Obama is and what his goals are. Not only he, but all that share his view. Yet? Here we are.

So how does a Child of God, actually make a difference? What can you do to matter enough to change the World. Post the Ten Commandments? Display Crosses? Go to Church and Praise God and go home and watch Reality TV? Or just simply live as a Child of God?

Richard Stearns is President of World Vision US and author of 'The Hole in Our Gospel.' Ladies and Gentlemen  Richard Stearns

Goodbye, Christian America; Hello, True Christianity

The day I became a Christian, one of the first people I wanted to tell was my mother. I had considered myself an atheist while I studied neurobiology in college. But as I studied more, I discovered Jesus and became a Christian. It was the early 1970s, and my mother's response to my life-changing decision captured the view of most Americans at that time: "That's nice, but isn't everybody Christian?"

Times have changed. According to a recent survey by Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, the number of Protestants has fallen below 50 percent for the first time in American history. Catholic adherents have remained stable thanks to immigration, but many U.S.-born Catholics are leaving the church. The survey also revealed another startling fact: the number of people who are not affiliated with any faith rose four percent in just the last five years. Nearly 20 percent of the population say they are of no specific faith at all.

If my mother were alive today, I think she would agree that we are quickly moving toward a secular society.

As this cultural shift has occurred, many Christians have reacted in frustration. We have fought to place the Ten Commandments in courtrooms and Christmas crèches outside town halls. We have sued over public prayers and crosses in state parks. One court recently weighed in on whether cheerleaders at a Texas school should be allowed to post Bible verses on their banners.

While symbols can be important, we have focused perhaps too much on them instead of the underlying reality they reflect. Instead, we need to go back to the basics of living as disciples of Christ, living missionally for Christ and demonstrating the Gospel in tangible ways within our schools, workplaces and communities. While I would be happy to see the Ten Commandments back on the courthouse wall, the fight over symbolic issues is backfiring, alienating people from the truths of the gospel rather than attracting them to it. The kind of Christianity the world responds to is the authentic "love your neighbor" kind. Its appeal can't be legislated through court battles and neither can courts stop its spread.

Dean Curry, senior pastor of Life Center Church in Tacoma, Wash., is a pastor who has made this change. He told me that a decade ago people would say to him, "You're the church that has that neat Christmas pageant." Like many churches, Life Center was also best known for what it opposed.

But that began to change after he made a trip to Lesotho, a small country in southern Africa in 2005. Dean had an encounter with suffering and an encounter with God. After witnessing the ravages of AIDS and the plight of orphans he had met one day, Dean lay in a bed in a grass-roofed hut weeping. He was overwhelmed by a problem that was so much bigger than anything his church could address.

"This is too big for our church," he said. "We can't just add this to our missions budget. How can I do this?" Dean believes that God gave him an answer that night. "You need to mobilize your city to care for these orphans." The group returned to Tacoma with broken hearts and a determination to come together as a city to help this tiny country of Lesotho 10,000 miles away. The Global Neighbor project was born.

Today, now seven years later, more than 5,000 people have become involved in one way or another. The mayor, public schools, Rotary Clubs, other churches, small businesses, judges, the head of the humane society, the Jewish community and some of the local policemen: They are all transforming lives half a world away. Pastor Curry told me, "We also engaged folks from the gay community. These were people who wouldn't have returned my call as an evangelical leader but now they want to partner with the church."

They achieved in five years what they expected to take 15. HIV/AIDS orphans received help. Those who are HIV positive receive care so that their children won't become orphans.

In the seven years since the Global Neighbor Project began, Life Center Church has seen its membership double. Pastor Curry told me, "We used to be known as that church with the big Christmas pageant -- now we're known as the church that is helping AIDS orphans."

There was a time when Pastor Curry might have worried about things like posting the Ten Commandments in courtrooms, but today he's too busy changing the city of Tacoma and world. This is the work Christians are called to do. Christians can stop worrying about the symbols of the decline of Christian America and get back to the mission Jesus gave us to show the world a different way to live -- a way that demonstrates the great character of God: his love, his justice, his compassion, his forgiveness and his reconciliation.

Thank you Brother Stearns. It truly is amazing how much you actually effect people in your daily lives by simply being you. Are you living for show? As a Child of God, you need only be you. God picked you for a reason. 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

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!

Seek First The Kingdom of God, Part One

How do you do that?

Jesus said,,,,

Matthew 6:

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

What does it mean. How do you do this? What is the "all these things shall be added unto you." Does this mean you stop doing everything, is order to Pray, read the Bible, and go to Church? We are going to take a more in depth look at this statement by Jesus. Starting today, and for the next few messages, we will answer the who, what, why, and how, you can and should, do this very thing.

First? Who's Kingdom? God's.

Genesis 1:

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Of course you know, Genesis 2 tells us that the seventh day, God rested from all He did. He blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it. Hence, the Sabbath Day.

God is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. He is God. He created you. He created you exactly, as written in His Book...

Psalm 139:

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

Then he gave you domination over all things.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Now of course we know that Adam, in turn, and in his fleshly wisdom, gave all this authority and domination over to Satan in the Garden of Eden. He fell for the same Sin and Temptation that Satan himself fell for. He wanted to be God. So now God Himself calls Satan the lord of the air. He is the lord of this world and of all flesh that is not written in the Lambs Book of life.

It has become simple. When you are born, you are born into the world of the flesh. You are born into Sin. You are under the authority of the lord of the air. God tells us that there is a way to overcome that. He started off telling us, what we must do to keep ourselves from the devil. To separate ourselves from the world and be His Children. He told us who HE is. He said this...

Exodus 20:

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

As long as you understood, that God is, and you followed His Commandments, He considered you His Child. However, the heart of man was continually evil. Remember, as God spoke these words to Moses, man was building himself a Golden Cafe.

Exodus 32:

1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord.

6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

We will discuss this story more next time. But needless to say, God was not happy. God send messengers, teachers, and prophets. Man abused and killed them all. So God made it simple. Jesus.

John 3:

16 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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 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.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

However, man decided to kill Him as well. Jesus tells us this, in this parable.

Mark 12:

1 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.

6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.'

8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

Unlike the previous messengers, teachers, and prophets, with Jesus, HE is not dead. HE is still the "the way, and the truth, and the life." No one comes to the Father except through Him. All man has to do now, to be adopted into the Family of God, is accept this gift. It is all inclusive. Not exclusive. Jesus came for ALL. Not just a few. Not just for this or that Religion. Jesus has little to do with man-made traditions. God doesn't care how good a "Insert Religion here" you are.

No. He said, you want to get to Heaven? You want everlasting life? You want to be my child? Accept the gift I gave you. Allow Jesus to be the taker of your Sin. Allow His blood to be your blood. Allow His death, to be your's that you may live. Accept the only key. Jesus.

Think about this. You do not have to follow a bunch of dogmas. You do not have to get man's permission, and convert to this or that tradition. You do not have to, nor is there anything, you can do. Simply accept Jesus's sacrifice, and live.

Romans 5:

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

So the very first thing you need to do, is seek God. Find out for yourself who God is, who Jesus is. Find out for yourself, how God, Jesus, loved you so much that He actually died for you. Accept that sacrifice. Receive the Spirit of adoption whereby you may cry Abba Father. Without that, you have nothing.

Jesus tells us that this is the greatest of all the Commandments.

Mark 12:

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

So when you seek first the Kingdom of God, you must seek first God. You must get to know your Father. Understand the Adoption. Understand the Gospel. Understand who YOU become as a Child of God. The authority you get back. The power you receive. The Grace you are covered in. The fact you are no longer of the world, but in it.

You must start putting God first and foremost in your life. Have nothing in your life more important than Him. You must seek His Will, His Way, His Truth. You must seek His plan and purpose for YOU and for your life. He has one. Do you know what it is? 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

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!