JREnsey blog August 2019

Welcome to our post for August 2019. Cool your heels for 10 minutes and give your soul a break. We appreciate your visit.

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The Word for Today

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ⁴ And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT).

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Can God calculate percentages?

Does God really keep up with how much we give and the amount we should tithe? Is He a nerdy bookkeeper? Such questions seem to be submitted in hopes of a negative answer. Let’s see.

It seems that the Lord is indeed interested in how much of our income we turn back into His work. When He visited the Temple, Mark noted, “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury” (Mark 12:41).

But what about the specific amount, like our tithe of 10%. Does He keep up with actual income percentages? Evidently.

In the story of the ten lepers who were cleansed by Jesus (Luke 17:12-17), one of the ten returned to thank Him for his healing. Jesus pointedly asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?”

He knew exactly how many had been cleansed and that only a tenth of them showed gratitude.

Peter, by the word of knowledge from God, knew that Ananias and Sapphira were lying about their pledge and their giving. Their judgment was swift and sure. How sad.

The truth is: Jesus knows. One may fool the church, or the pastor, and even the IRS—but no one deceives the Lord.

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Hearsay about growing older

Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me; I want people to know why I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way, and some of the roads weren’t paved.

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth, think of Algebra.

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

You don’t know how you got “over the hill” without getting to the top.

One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it’s such a nice change from being young.

Older folks wait, for good reason, until evening before stating how splendid the day has been.

Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable and relaxed.

If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you’re old.

-Submitted by some old friends who know about such things

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Closer to home

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I found it interesting…

…that Mexico once banned all immigration from the United States.

…that the citizens of Tennessee still had enough guts to pass a law that mandated each school to prominently display the national motto of “In God We Trust.”

…that we made a national hero out of a woman who kicked a ball into a net the size of a two-car garage, while disregarding her anti-American rants and refusal to honor the nation’s Pledge of Allegiance. (See her picture below in the cartoon section.)

…that Aesop, the old fable writer, observed that the smaller the mind the greater the conceit.

…that Rev. Ruth Meyers, a divinity school professor, is pushing for the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer to be revised to reflect the changing world’s position that God has no gender. Why then do some female theologians insist that Bibles refer to God as “She” or “Mother” in places rather than “He” or “Father”?

…that Rev. Robert Jeffress, a prominent Baptist pastor in Dallas and a Trump supporter, said, “I don’t want some meek and mild leader or somebody who’s going to turn the other cheek. I’ve said I want the meanest, toughest SOB I can find to protect this nation.” (Wash your mouth out with soap, pastor…but keep talking.)

…that NY has banned the declawing of cats, ostensibly because of the pain and discomfort to the feline. When will they wake up to the fact that abortion is not only a painful experience for a baby, but ends in death. When cats become more important to New Yorkers than human babies, no wonder they can elect folks like AOC and Chuck Schumer to Congress.

…that discussions are ongoing at Colorado State University on the question of whether the word America is offensive. Perhaps Christians ought to put together a list of words whose meanings are offensive and prepare to enter the discussion.

…that illegals pushing to get into the U.S. hauled down the Stars and Stripes and ran up the Mexican flag at a border ICE detention center on the U.S. side. They also turned another American flag upside down. (No outrage from the news media.) Isn’t that exactly what the left wants to do—turn America upside down? They have a pretty good start. Our only hope is that the 2020 election will turn the House of Representatives upside down.

…that the Mueller investigation found that President Trump did not actually steal horses, but he is guilty of resisting being hung for the crime. – Patriot Post

…that no one seems to be trying to break into Venezuela. Perhaps if we installed their type of government it would solve our border problem.

…that most students on campus who were questioned about comments by the President they felt were considered “racist,” were astounded to learn that they were not said by Trump but Obama. Another sign the media and professors are aligned for the purpose of destroying the Trump presidency and the American way of life. Pray for your children.

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Can you imagine…?

• Can you imagine a home invader criticizing the homeowner for not having his preferred brand of snacks in the pantry or his correct size of clothing he is stealing from the closet? Is that what is happening on our border?
• Can you imagine what would happen if an American sneaked into Mexico City illegally and took down their national flag and hauled up the Stars and Stripes? (They took down our flag at the ICE center in El Paso and ran up the Mexican flag.) This proves there is more going on down there than someone trying to get into a country for a better life.
• Can you imagine AOC being sworn in as president of the U.S.?
• Can you imagine voting for someone who does not even believe America is worth standing up for?
• Can you imagine if it becomes a crime in America to be a practicing Christian who believes the Bible and teaches its commandments? Visit China today and see for yourself what it is like.
• Can you imagine what would happen if millions of Americans abandoned common sense and patriotism? You don’t have to imagine—just read the news!

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Another smart quote from the left

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC): “[The migrants overwhelming the border are] ‘more American than any person who seeks to keep them out ever will be.’” Is she talking about the poor Mexican and Honduran laborers only, or all the terrorists coming over from Africa and the Middle East?

She also said when trying to push the narrative of climate change doom: “[Civilization] only has 12 years left [if we don’t pass my Green Deal legislation].” Eleven and counting. How else would we have known? She may be the primary reason Donald Trump is re-elected.

Does she not know that glaciers in Glacier National Park are actually expanding rather than receding? (http://lysanderspooneruniversity.com/2018/12/glaciers-continue-to-grow-in-glacier-national-park/). Leftists hate reports like this that hurt their anti-American socialist narrative.

Someone smarter than AOC, Winston Churchill, once said, “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.”

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A Christian Perspective on Secular Psychology

Ken Bow

The contrast between psychology and the Bible is so great that each of us will have to decide which one we will follow. Christianity begins with the assumption that God exists and He is the Creator; psychology, on the secular level, begins with evolutionary theory.

Christianity sees man as a special creation of God; psychology views man as the end result of billions of years of evolution. Christianity believes the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and absolutely true; psychology believes that truth is where you find it and man’s mind is the final judge. Christianity has the leadership of elders and preachers who use the Scriptures; psychology has a priesthood of therapists who quote one another.

Christianity is supported by the tithe and offerings of its disciples; psychology is supported by fee schedules and insurance payments. The Bible claims to have answers for man’s deepest questions—where we came from, why are we here, how can we change, and what is our future; psychology claims to have deeper answers for these questions which can only be revealed by therapists who have had years of formal training. The Bible claims to reveal the motive of the human heart; while psychology claims to know the unconscious drives of the mind. Christianity claims that humans can be transformed by the mysterious, miraculous power of God; psychology claims that it can transform man by helping him to understand, accept, and love himself. The Bible says that man is by nature a sinner, separated from the life of God; psychology says that man is essentially good, and needs to recognize his full potential. The Bible says that without Christ we are hopeless; psychology says that man is limited only by his imagination.

The Bible says that man is lost, and Christ is the only way; psychology says it can help man find his own way. The Bible calls sin by name; psychology says that man suffers from disorders. The Bible says that God’s people must not conform to the world; psychologists say that we must counsel the way the world does. The Bible says that each person is responsible for his choices; psychology says that each person is a victim of their environment. The Bible says that man can be forgiven, cleansed and healed; psychology says that we have to go back to our past, embrace our pain, and explore our inner self. The Bible’s answer for guilt is repentance and forgiveness; psychology’s way is for the conscience to be desensitized. The Bible says we have to crucify ourselves; psychology says that we have to actualize ourselves. The Bible says our battle is spiritual; Freud says the battle is sexual.

Down through the centuries without the aid of psychotherapy or any other kind of technique, Christianity produced millions of permanently transformed lives by the truth found in the Bible. In one century, psychology has captured the minds of millions with a message that has enslaved mankind through vacillating theories that promote sinful behavior. In essence, psychology points man to himself, the Bible points man to God.

– Together magazine 8/14

Note: Christian counseling from Scripture is one thing; secular psychology is another. The psycho-babble of our times has by and large proven to be more confusing than helpful to the Bible believing Christian, and in many cases, quite harmful. While all counselors have our understanding of the challenges involved, we encourage a scriptural worldview be utilized when seeking to help those who have been wounded by life in a fallen world.

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BooksBooksBooksBooks

Check out these Apostolic commentaries to assist you in sermon and lesson-building.

Better Than The Angels

by E. L. Holley

Here are the late E. L. Holley’s own teaching notes on the Book of Hebrews. His unique insight will provide a perspective that will shed new light on difficult passages. The material is clear, candid, and convincing. It has been winnowed so that the reader receives only the whole kernel, the heart of the matter and the real meaning that the author wanted to convey. The power of brevity is at work in these lines.
E. L. Holley was respected for his communication skills, his grasp of the Scriptures, and his insight into human nature that few have possessed. You will enjoy sitting at his feet and learning as he walks through the fascinating Book of Hebrews.  AM price $6.95

In The Presence of His Glory

by E. L. Holley

The inimitable E. L. Holley presents a verse-by-verse commentary on the General Epistles (James, I/II Peter, I/II/III John, and Jude) as he taught them in the classrooms at Texas Bible College.  AM Price $9.95

Letters From A Roman Jail eBook

by J. R. Ensey

Some of the most beautiful and truly meaningful words that flowed from the pen of Paul are found in his letters written while incarcerated in Rome. They graphically display the triumph of the pen over the sword. Nero’s sword took Paul’s head, but Paul’s pen took Nero’s empire! The topical format permits not just word study and exposition, but teaching ideas and application. This is also a good book for new converts who are into the study of the Word.                     AM price $6.95

People in Proverbs

by J. R. Ensey
Solomon and others share their wisdom about nineteen different people in the Book of Proverbs. From the Man of Understanding to the Stupid Man, from the Busy Woman to the Contentious Woman, from the Generous Man to the Offended Man and thirteen others, we deal with their traits, both good and bad. These lessons serve as sermons, Bible lessons or just personal devotional reading.

AM price $12.95

 

IHML makes it easy to win souls

Into His Marvelous Light
Available in English, Spanish, German & Italian
No other one-hour Bible study has enjoyed the consistent results of IHML over the years. Often copied but never fully duplicated. It is attractive, well written, and doctrinally sound. Those who are seeking for truth will see that the new birth is absolutely essential and that Acts 2:38 constitutes that experience. Over 2 million copies in use.

Qty	Price
1-49	$1.75 ea
50-99	$1.50 ea
100+	$1.25 ea

Guide For Living 
A follow-up Study for the new convert. This little booklet can be given to the new convert to go through alone and then come back to you with any questions they may have. It covers the new birth—what has happened to them experientially—and explains what their responsibilities are now.

Qty	Price
1-49	$1.75 ea
50-99	$1.50 ea
100+	$1.25 ea

Promotional Tracts 

Hand out these tracts to help you promote the Bible study in your community. Available in English and Spanish. It’s easy to get Bible study opportunities with these tracts.  $9.95 per 100

Order all materials shown above from Advanceministries.org/store or call 936-537-0250.

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Worth a thousand words

Only if their lips are moving…

 

In case you didn’t know…

I guess they finally figured it out…

Some days it pays just to stay in bed…

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A final thought

TV today

Computers and phones have made television virtually obsolete. It has eliminated all the reasons to have one except entertainment, and much of that is of the worthless prurient variety. The news and weather, the main reasons Christians gave for having one 30 years ago, are available instantaneously on every social media device. Yes, putrid stuff can be called up on the Net in places, but you can stay away from it by choice, whereas on the TV even the ever-present ads, which one cannot conveniently avoid, promote every anti-Christian idea possible. And on TV one is limited to what the channels list at a given time. “Aw, let’s just watch Dr. Phil, the psychologist, until the cooking show comes on.” Right.

Comparing TV and the Net as equals is like comparing apples and oranges. There were good reasons our Apostolic brethren took a stand against this medium decades ago, when decency codes were still in place. More good reasons came along later when the codes were dumped. I am not suggesting that God will have two lines in judgment—one for the TV owners and one for the no-TV folks. I am just saying we need to heed the voices of God-fearing pastors who still appeal to us to dispense with Desperate Housewives, the Jerry Springer and Oprah shows, and the disgusting ads that are not just selling soap, but pushing anti-Christian, anti-American propaganda in the process. Even National Geographic and other science programs are laden with anti-biblical evolutionist garbage. Disregarding the admonitions of pastors is probably more spiritually problematic than watching an episode of CSI, whatever that is (Hebrews 13:17).

Think about it.

Have an august August!

JREnsey