The Perscuted Church

Every morning when I  wake up, I read my Bible.  I drive to work listening to a Christian radio station.  My truck has two Christian stickers on the rear window.   I can pray openly anywhere I want.  I have the freedom to stand on the court house steps and pass out religious material, without  fear of imprisonment.

This is not true in 51 countries.   In many countries the dictator is the only one to be worshiped.   To some, other religions, Christians are a threat.  You can’t mention the name of Jesus Christ, in Iran or Afghanistan.  You won’t see an Ichthous (fish) on a car bumper in Turkey. And  I don’t think you’ll see the Gaither Vocal Band in Red Square, Russia.

I often wonder how many  Christians there would be if some how our society were to be over turned and Christ were outlawed.  Would you go to church Sunday, if the police were in the parking lot, ready to arrest anyone that showed up? The point I’m trying to make, is we do have freedoms like no other nation, and we need to pray for those who don’t have these freedoms.

November, 8th is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  Continually pray for those living under persecution but especially on November the 8th, Posted Steve Waltrip

Tired and depressed

I look forward to the changes of the seasons, fall brings cooler weather, and beautiful colors from nature.   There’s a smell in the woods unlike summer.  You can smell dirt in the woods in the fall.  With all the foliage gone, you can hear things better, I think sound travels farther.  The sky seems clearer and the stars brighter.

I work at a power plant and during the spring and fall the demand for power is lower.  The board of directors, use this lull as a time to rebuild wore out parts in the plant.  This means long working hours, I’ve been on seven-ten hour days.  Last week I worked seven night, 4pm to 2:30am.  We do abnormal jobs that, we don’t normally do, so to say the least I’m very tired.  I hurt in places I did not know existed.

When your mentally and physically tired, your brain works over time.  Usually toward the negative, you take offence to things that you would normally just pass off.  Sometimes you say things you don’t really mean.  I do two thing to prepare myself.  The Bible say’s, Phil.4:8, Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. First, I don’t always trust what my mind is thinking, so I don’t (trust my mind).   Second, if what I’m hearing is true, but is not honorable, I just ignore it.  This may sound crazy to some, but it works for me.  I have a healthier out look during these times and I’m not flying of the handle at little things.

I have found that adversity is going to come in life, it’s how we handle these times that reveals Christ to others.  Do people see Christ in you?  It’s easy to be a Christian in the good times, what kind of a Christian are you when things go rough.   Posted by Steve Waltrip

Discipleship

October the 19, I went with a friend to a church work shop, in the area.  I took two class on Discipleship.  This is what I learned.

Matthew 28: 19 “Go therefore and make Disciples…”    The last command that came out of Jesus mouth,  the last message He conveyed to us, was not going to church(which is important), was not read your Bible(very important), but make disciples.  It has been my experience the last words that come out of a persons mouth when leaving this earth, are probably the most important words they have ever spoken.

Our Churches are lacking and I have failed.  I plan to do better.  I plan to help my church rectify the problem. What about you?  You may be a Christian, but are you a Disciple?

The picture above is one of an English Mastiff,  a loveable breed of very large dogs, that sober profusely.  They are very protective of their master.  Most all breed of dogs are eager to please their master.  This is the true definition of a disciple. Posted by Steve Waltrip

Catching the Wave

I want you to know up front I am not a surfer.  Never have and probably never will.  But just because I have never surfed doesn’t mean I don’t have an imagination.  One time, when I was about 16 the family went to Florida for a vacation.  While there, I tried my hand at body surfing.  I wasn’t very good, but there is an art to catching the wave just right.  We never went very far, because we didn’t go out very far.  Just enough to feel the power of being carried along by some outside force.  If you committed to early the wave just went over you, to late and you just bounced over it.

At church our pastor has been delivering a series of messages on “Catch the Wave”.  Which got me to thinking.  Finding God working, is a lot like surfing.  You need to keep your eyes open, study the timing and hop on at the right time.  To early, and it will swallow you, to late and you just bounce over it.  To be very good it will take practice.  Your not going to catch the wave just right without work .  Sometimes you going to catch the wave just right and you’ll ride inside the curl, then sometimes you’re going to wipeout.  But take it from me, your hard work will be rewarded. Posted by Steve Waltrip

All Things Work Toward Good

 

I know I’ve talked about Ro. 8:28 before, “All things work together toward good to thoses  who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”  But this verse is the pillar of my faith.  It was by this verse that I was saved, and it is by this verse that I live every day.   I woke up this morning at 2 a.m. to lightning and thunder, but I knew everything was going to be OK.  When my alarm went off at 3:30 a.m. I set up, with sore muscles, a stiff neck, and I knew everything was going to work out.

You see, through all the trials we go through in life, all the knocks, bumps and bruises we receive, God’s ultimate goal is for us to be Christ-like.  When a co-worker stabs you in the back or a loved one says the wrong thing to you.  How do you handle it?  Are you able to turn the other cheek?  Are you able to love your neighbor as yourself?  Can you walk the extra mile for the one in need?  Until you can, you are not Christ-like!  I think in the last few years I have made great progress in this area.  I have a way to go, but I use to be very selfish. 

I have learned that everything has a purpose to mold me into Christ likeness.  To Him be the glory.   Posted by Steve Waltrip