The job of the evangelist is not done until the evangelized becomes the evangelist.
Free faith-sharing tools for horse lovers
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.
John 3:16-17 KJVR

Evangelism is nothing more than one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.

Free faith-sharing tools for the workplace

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Passage for July 29th, 2007

An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:1-3, ESV)

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. (Nahum 1:7-8, ESV)

Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder-- no end to the prey! The crack of the whip, and rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end-- they stumble over the bodies! And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute, graceful and of deadly charms, who betrays nations with her whorings, and peoples with her charms. Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her? Where shall I seek comforters for you? (Nahum 3:1-7, ESV)

There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil? (Nahum 3:19, ESV)

Background Passage: Nahum 1:-3:19

Lesson Passage: Nahum 1:1-3, 7-8; 3:1-7, 19

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

VBS Game 3

I've been in FAITH now for the last 4 years. In those 4 years, I have gone out on visitation more than 80 times, I have shared Christ with as many as would allow me to, ministered to several families and even with all of that, I have never seen so many want to receive Jesus as I did tonight. To my untrained eye, I would say over 150 children went forward tonight after praying to receive Christ. Before VBS started tonight, God reminded me of the urgency of having to reach this generation for Christ.

After such a wonderful night, I hate to have a sad note, but I believe I must. First, I have a guy at work who was a witness to a suicide of a teenage girl just a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, his neighbor came from work and when she opened the garage door, her daughter had hung herself in the garage. Second, just this past Monday, one of the single moms at my shop had to leave work early because her daughter had attempted to overdose on pills and was in the hospital. Both of these kids viewed their lives as so hopeless that they decided it would be easier to just end it instead of continuing on.

I believe that the reason God made sure to remind me of these instances just before VBS got started tonight was to make the victory I saw in Christ tonight that much sweeter. I mentioned last night how exciting it was to see the kids "get it". Tonight, I cried tears of joy as I listened to an auditorium filled with children pray the sinners prayer out loud. For those around us, we need to show them that there is hope and that hope is Jesus. With out Him, this world is a hopeless place but with Him, it is a never ending adventure.

On that note, I want to thank Pastor Todd for stepping up and filling Pastor Jeff's place on short notice. Tonight, we taught on the arrest, trial, crucification, burial and resurrection of Jesus. It tied in great with the rest of the night, but try to cover all of that in 17 minutes, three times. Continue to pray for us as we cover Jesus' appearance's after His resurrection.

God bless

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

VBS Game 2

Well we just got home from Game 2 of VBS and I am just amazed at how well our classes are going. The kids are attentive, eager and excited to be there.



During a Q&A period with Pastor Anthony Vines, the kids were asking some great questions. I am also amazed at how much the world has influenced there view of Christ, the Church and Christianity in general. Some of the questions were as simple as how old are you and where do you live but some were very thought out. Like one of them had a two parter, first can you be born a Christian. Obvious answer, no. Second, then how do you become a question. I loved how the kids were able to analyze a statement and then take it to the next level. Of course, Pastor Anthony told him that he need to have a personal relationship w/ Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Savior and Lord.

Please continue to pray for these little ones and know that the word of God is being preach in Highland, Ca. without any reservation.


God Bless

Pictures from K-stan














VBS - Game 1

VBS was great last night. I was put in charge of the bible stories for 5th grade. We get to be in the Bible Study Locker Room and share truths from the Bible with these smart, young children. Many of the kids there I know because Tanner is in that age group, but it was very refreshing to see LOTS of new faces.

I kinda cheated on setting up the Bible stories. I was able to request a different Pastor each night this week. Pastor Todd Barnett did a great job of getting the kids to laugh and really be engaged in the lesson. Last night was the story of how Mary and Joseph were heroes because they did what was right in God's eyes even though it wasn't easy. It was exciting to see the kids "get it" as they realized how it would have been easier to follow the worlds way but they choose to go God's way.

Tonight should be just as exciting!! Tonight we get to look at how John the Baptist played his position in God's plan and humbled himself to make sure that everyone saw that he was just being the messenger, Jesus was to be the focus!!!

From the sounds of it, we had the largest group of all the grades, 76 in attendance not including helpers!! If we did, they get the high attendance trophy and bragging rights until tomorrow!!

God bless!!

Passage for July 22nd, 2007

The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: "Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!"

Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised.

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, "Who will bring me down to the ground?"

Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.

If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night-- how you have been destroyed!-- would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings?

How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out!
All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you-- you have no understanding.

Will I not on that day, declares the LORD, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau?

And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.

Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.

On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.

But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.

Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity.

Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress.
For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.

For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.

But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.

The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.

Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb.

Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.

Obadiah 1:1-21 (ESV)

Friday, July 20, 2007

James Madison Quotes

"The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse."

-- James Madison (speech in the Virginia constitutional convention, 2 December 1829)

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"The apportionment of taxes on the various descriptions of property is an act which seems to require the most exact impartiality; yet there is, perhaps, no legislative act in which greater opportunity and temptation are given to a predominant party to trample on the rules of justice. Every shilling which they overburden the inferior number is a shilling saved to their own pockets."

-- James Madison (Federalist No. 10, 23 November 1787)

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"In the first place, it is to be remembered, that the general government is not to be charged with the whole power of making and administering laws: its jurisdiction is limited to certain enumerated objects, which concern all the members of the republic, but which are not to be attained by the separate provisions of any."

-- James Madison (Federalist No. 14, 30 November 1787) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"But ambitious encroachments of the federal government, on the authority of the State governments, would not excite the opposition of a single State, or of a few States only. They would be signals of general alarm... But what degree of madness could ever drive
the federal government to such an extremity."

-- James Madison (Federalist No. 46, 29 January 1788) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit."

-- James Madison (Federalist No. 51, 8 February 1788)


Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Founders' Quote Daily‎

"Nevertheless, to the persecution and tyranny of his cruel ministry
we will not tamely submit - appealing to Heaven for the justice
of our cause, we determine to die or be free...."

-- Joseph Warren (American account of the Battle of Lexington,
26 April 1775)

Monday, July 16, 2007

Summer Missionaries Report from the Field

Amanda Wilkinson, NAMB Summer Missionary,
Cleveland Hope, Cleveland, Ohio

Our activities have changed each day. We've worked on community projects with painting & clean-up of elderly and disabled people's homes. We've helped churches with their VBS. We worked at a decathlon as volunteers for the local event in order to build relationships in that area for the Church of the Hills, which is a church plant that will launch next year. We've also been a part of doing door to door surveys in order to help the Bridge Church, which is also a church plant. We helped run and facilitate three block parties. Two were hosted by established churches while the third was to build relationships with the community for Gateway Church, which is a church plant.

Every Saturday my partner & I work with a local church, Cuyahoga Valley Church (CVC) to feed the homeless at the downtown square in Cleveland. We also prepare and clean-up for each Saturday with the ladies in the church. Every night we also go to Trader Joe's (a gourmet grocery store) to pick up the food that has expired in order to use for the homeless ministries on Saturday & Wednesday. I think that pretty well covers our activities thus far. Oh wait, we've also helped with Upward Basketball and Cheerleading camps as well as passed out many, many fliers for various ministry activities. Okay, that's it.

Meaningful Experience: While we were prayer walking, surveying, and building relationships with people in downtown Cleveland, we had an opportunity to pray for a lady working in a parking garage. After we prayed we went to a Chinese restaurant. As we sat down, a man came up beside our table and told us he was paying for our meal because "it's a good thing" what we were doing. I asked him if we could pray for him for anything. He said he had a relationship with God, but just wanted a more intimate one.

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Brandon Ratliff, NAMB Sojourner Missionary,
Mission Arlington, Arlington, Texas

During my first two weeks at Mission Arlington, I've done a multitude of activities. I have helped lead 2-3 summer programs a day, taught small groups of children at revivals, worked Rainbow Express (a sort of VBS), moved furniture, handed out food, sorted donations, and worked the front room, which is where people are counseled before they receive material assistance. The days are long, but fulfilling, and the stamina and attitude of the full-time staff is amazing.

The most meaningful experience of these first two weeks had very little to do with me. I was counseling in the front room, where someone comes to the Mission, fills out an application for assistance, and is then met by a counselor to see how we can help them.

Well, I got a woman who seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown. I introduced myself and took her to a counseling room. She was at the Mission seeking help to pay her rent. As it turned out, her husband had recently passed away, and the government check she used to pay her rent had been lost in the mail, so she was facing eviction at midnight.

At the end of the session, I asked if I could pray with her, as we do with everyone who comes through the Mission. She said yes, and then said that the Lord had been faithful for 21 years (she was in her 40's).

It amazed me how a woman who was having such a rough time was still so solid in her faith, which is far greater than mine. Even though I was supposed to encourage her, I came out of the session more inspired than she was. It's easy to believe in the faithfulness of God when there are few trials; so much harder for that woman, yet her faith is so much more established than mine.


Lindsay Stanford, NAMB Summer Missionary (from MS BCM),
Tahoe City Baptist Church, Tahoe City, California

Our group has been in orientation since we arrived in Tahoe City. We had meetings all day for the first week or so. Once we learned how most of the things around here work, we began working the A+ before and after school program.

Before school, we watch the kids and learn a Bible verse before the school bus comes so their parents can go to work. After school, we helped them with their homework, sing songs and teach them a Bible story until their parents get off of work. It has been a great time to get to know the kids and their parents. We have had several opportunities to see the area of Lake Tahoe by taking a tour around the lake and by going on a few hikes. The area is absolutely beautiful!

The people of this area are searching for anything. The New Age stuff is pretty big. One day I was teaching a group of kids grade kindergarten to sixth grade. As we were outside playing, I told the kids that in just a few minutes we would go back inside and do our Bible story. A little girl who just finished the second grade looked at me and said "What's a Bible Story?" It caught me off guard. But I explained to her what is.

A couple of days later, one of my partners told me that the same little girl and her younger brother said that they had never heard about God until they came to our program a couple of weeks ago. Whenever I brought my group inside for the Bible story that day, we made a craft with a Bible reference under a verse on the craft.

Jaylynn, the little girl, asked me what the numbers were for. So, I sat down with her and showed her how to use a Bible. It was a very exciting day for me and an eye opening one as well.

The kids are so curious about everything. They are at a very teachable age which is definitely a great opportunity for us as summer missionaries.

Justin, one of our preschool kids, has attached himself to me for some reason. He comes from a good family. Every time I see him, he runs and gives me a hug. As I was babysitting him and his older brother Alex, I realized for the first time how hard it is going to be for me to leave these kids on August 4th. The children of Tahoe City, CA have stolen my heart. They are truly a gift from God!


Kendal Frazier, NAMB Summer Missionary,
High Country Church, Colorado

Since I have arrived, I have felt God's guidance in two particular ways.

The first and foremost thing God has been teaching me and reminding me is that my own resources, energy, and lover for these people is insufficient. God continually has been showing me the Christian's obligation to rely on the LORD for His divine power to provide all that we need. I am seeing more and more when I am tire and have little steam left in - God is my strength and my victory.

Another thing God has been showing me is how very important it is for one to practice interceding on others' behalf. Our pastor had to make a decision to forego working with another local ministry because of "integrity issues." Sarah & I hit our knees. After praying really hard for brokenness and reconciliation, God broke down barriers. He is continuing to bring our ministries to a point of renewal and righteousness.


Angie McDonald, NAMB Sojourner Missionary,
Baptist Mission Centers, Houston, Texas

My first week of ministry was absolutely incredible. Joy Mission Center has food and clothing ministry, teen, pre-teen, Kid's club and a senior adult ministry. Because I teach preschoolers on Sunday mornings at my home church, a friend and I were put in charge of teaching the preschoolers at Kids club the Bible lesson.

Kids club runs from Monday to Thursday, and by club time on Thursday, I was worn out. I went into the prayer room and asked God to reveal to me the real need of the preschoolers and that they are not "just preschoolers." Well, God showed me just that.

That day, we had close to 30 preschoolers in a room about the size of my bedroom, and I was overwhelmed. I found out that these kids did not know what the Bible was or how it was important, exactly who Jesus is and what He did for us, or exactly what prayer is and how to do it.

When God revealed this to me, my heart broke in two pieces. These preschoolers are one of the main missions God had has now given me for the summer. I am going to begin incorporating these truths about the Bible, Jesus and prayer into the daily Bible stories that I get to share with these kids. Without the basics of Christianity, these kids are not going to fully understand salvation, and I believe God has placed me here in Houston in order to teach truths to the preschoolers!!


Ashley Fish, NAMB Summer Missionary,
The Haven Fellowship, Pen Yan, New York


Most of my time here so far has been spent planning VBS and a five week summer program to follow that. Both of these ministries are being viewed as outreach projects because so much of the area is unchurched and a lot of the families are single parent. So, quality activities for the children to do while mom and/or dad are at work is a huge need. This will be a way to reach the parents as well as the kids with the message that Jesus loves them.

A meaningful experience has been the reminders from God that it all means nothing if I'm not listening to Him and doing what He wants to have done this summer. It's been really hard being out of school and not having a very set schedule to keep up with prayer and devotional times.

Once again I have come to a place in my Christian walk where I have to go all the way to obedience and surrender or give up and go home. There is too much at stake to be half hearted.

Pray for me that I would find encouragement to stay in the Word and stay strong. I am very excited to see what God will do with the summer program!


Joy Doriety, NAMB Sojourner Missionary,
Mission Arlington, Arlington, Texas

I am completely blown away by the perspective that everyone carries here at Mission Arlington. Bringing the church to the people is something that I had never considered before. I feel a call in my heart and soul here. I feel that God has given me a taste of his will and of his plans for me. Living solely for the purpose of winning people to Christ (when I say solely, I mean every detail, every moment, 24-7) has been made very real to me.

I was working in the front room one day and a Spanish-speaking lady came in. She knew about the same amount of English as I did Spanish, which is not very much at all. She began to speak in English. Suddenly, she started to speak rapidly in Spanish as tears streamed down her face. It is amazing that I understood everything that she was saying. There is absolutely no way that happened based on my own abilities. God allowed me to hear what she told me. When she stopped talking, we held hands as we prayed, she in her language and I in my own.

Thought for the Day

Consider it pure joy... whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

James 1:2,3

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Passage for July 15th, 2007

Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty. Has not food been cut off before our eyes, Gladness and joy from the house of our God?(1:15-16 NASB)


"Yet even now," declares the Lord, "Return to Me with all your heart, and fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in the lovingkindness and relenting of evil. (2:12-13 NASB)


Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and will have pity on His people. (2:18 NASB)


"Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall have plenty to eat and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame. Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other; and my people will never be put to shame. It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls." (2:25-32 NASB)


Background Passage Joel 1:1-3:21


Lesson Passage: Joel 1:15-16; 2:12-13, 18, 25-32

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Receive God’s Mercy

How did God make you aware that you needed to repent of your sins and receive His mercy? _____________________________________________

In Joel's day the people of ________ did not take seriously God's attitude toward _____.

Being cut off from the temple was __________ God was not pleased with the people. They had lost the joy and ____________ they usually experienced in the temple festivities. They were learning that God brings certain ____________ on His people's sins.

Why do we need to consider if adverse conditions may be the Lord's way of warning us to turn back to Him? ___________________________

_____________________________________________________________

God is still ____________ and calling for His people to _______________.

Why do you think hard times often bring us closer to God? __________

_____________________________________________________________

God's ___________ would produce three important results. First, the people would have their physical needs __________. Next, God's people would __________ the name of their God, Yahweh, for dealing so mercifully and so wondrously with them. Also, God's people never again would be put to ________. They had been shamed by their belief that God had abandoned them, and thus they felt they needed to look elsewhere for food instead of looking to God. Also, they were shamed in the face of other nations whose people thought God had forsaken Judah.


Saturday, July 14, 2007

Prayer Requests from July 8th

Miller Family - Pray they finish the house quickly and that it sells quickly.

Shupe Family - Pray the adoption process continues to go smoothly.

Tammy's friend Brian that he would be able to reconcile with his wife, and her friend John who is serving overseas.

Tammie's eye surgery, and that her husband and son would see the need to be involved in Church & Sunday School.

Crystal's job possibility and that her husband would also see the need to be involved in Church & Sunday School.

Birnbaums - unspoken

Continue to keep Nora in prayer: some better days; some bad days; still perhaps no real change or improvement in treatment. Staff and deacons were to pray over her Sunday evening, anointing for healing. Pray that God would allow the healing for His Glory.

Kitty reports that Trey continues to do well and that he will get the next scan results soon: Pray for healing results to the newest treatment and God's healing. Trey and Cathy will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this next week and Kitty will go there for the celebration and visit. Pray for travel mercies, health and all of the detail of travel and the celebration.

Molly continues to undergo treatment for her bladder and kidneys: 6 courses of antibiotic treatment so far and not much change in the condition. Pray for God's healing touch.

Praises that Rich's elbow is healing up well.

Praises for the safe return of all of the travelers and the successes in San Antonio.

Ed, Dorothy & grandson; Stan & Joy; Kitty; Ray & Marcie; all the others.

Prayers for the Stone family and the safety of their son as he continues in the military.

Prayers for Dan's son as he continues his tech training in Texas in the Air Force.

Prayers for the Zinn's and the newest child in the family.

Claudia in the loss of Tom. Pray for comfort and guidance.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

George Washington Quotes

"And you will, by the dignity of your Conduct, afford occasion for Posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to Mankind, had this day been wanting, the World had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining."

--George Washington (The Newburgh Address, 2 January 1783)

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"Tis folly in one Nation to look for disinterested favors from
another; that it must pay with a portion of its Independence
for whatever it may accept under that character; that by such
acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given
equivalents for nominal favours and yet of being reproached with
ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than
to expect, or calculate upon real favours from Nation to Nation.
'Tis an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride
ought to discard."

-- George Washington (Farewell Address, 19 September 1796)
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"The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations."

-- George Washington (Farewell Address, 1796)
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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Praise!!

Praise be to God!! Georgy was released from the hospital this morning. Surgery was done late Monday night and everything went well. The Curtis' say thank you for all the prayers.

Thought for the Day

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will read a harvest if we do not give up.
-Galatians 6:9

This morning, thinking about all that lies ahead for the next few weeks, with VBS, Team Kid, and finishing things up @ home before school starts again, I was starting to get weary just thinking about all of it. Then I saw this verse and it reminded me that I can't give up. I know that God will continue to give me strength to carry on. What I do, I do for His glory and His honor. I am but a tool for Him to use.

Our God is an awesome God!!

Monday, July 9, 2007

Scripture for July 8th

1This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

He tells the godly that God's long patience will hasten their repentance

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

and exhorts them to holiness of life

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.


2 Peter 3:1-18 KJV

Monday, July 2, 2007

John Adams

John Adams (Diary, 2 June 1778)

"The foundation of national morality must be laid in private families … How is it possible that Children can have any just Sense of the sacred Obligations of Morality or Religion if, from their earliest Infancy, they learn their Mothers live in habitual Infidelity to their fathers, and their fathers in as constant Infidelity to their Mothers?" -- John Adams (Diary, 2 June 1778)

John Adams (Inaugural Address, March 1797)

"In the midst of these pleasing ideas we should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our liberties if anything partial or extraneous should infect the purity of our free, fair, virtuous, and independent elections." -- John Adams (Inaugural Address, March 1797)

John Adams (Thoughts on Government, 1776)

"Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and moral philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man. From this principle it will follow that the form of government which communicates ease, comfort, security, or, in one word, happiness, to the greatest numbers of persons, and in the greatest degree, is the best."

John Adams (Thoughts on Government, 1776)

"Each individual of the society has a right to be protected by it in the enjoyment of his life, liberty, and property, according to standing laws. He is obliged, consequently, to contribute his
share to the expense of this protection; and to give his personal service, or an equivalent, when necessary. But no part of the property of any individual can, with justice, be taken from him,
or applied to public uses, without his own consent, or that of the representative body of the people. In fine, the people of this commonwealth are not controllable by any other laws than
those to which their constitutional representative body have given their consent."

Passage for July 1st

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. But these, like unreasonable animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet. These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit," and , "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."


2 Peter 2:1-22 NASB