Some of My Favorite Bible Verses

by Aleta Kay



Ps. 1:1-3: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. How about that: a recipe for success! Straight from God!

Ps. 8:1-9: O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength becaue of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, whih thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the filed; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!  I love the poetic cadence of the King James language and for those who say it is too hard to understand, if you substitute modern pronouns for the thees and thous, it's really pretty simple. Some of the words have changed meanings over the centuries but if you read the context of the sentence it's not that hard to figure out. Also, e-sword is a free downloadable Bible program that has a built in concordance.

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. This is a blank check, so to speak, if you match your desires to God's.

Psalm 34:7  The Lord encamps round about those that fear Him. He keeps His children in the palm of His hand. Even when death is at the door, God is right there ready to take us to His home. What could be better than being home with Dad?

More another day.

I'm a Good Person

by Aleta Kay

     Most people seem to think they are good enough to get to heaven. Many religions and even Christian denominations seem to teach this. It is absolutely false. If we could be good enough then Jesus died for nothing.

     From the Garden of Eden until Christ's crucifixion a blood sacrifice was necessary to absolve people of their sins. It started when God killed two animals to make clothing for Adam and Eve. When they ate of the forbidden fruit and became conscious of their nakedness, they then had to be clothed. They did not know shame or embarrassment until then.

     Since that time God demanded a sacrifice periodically for atonement. I don't remember when it became a yearly sacrifice because God instituted many feasts and and holy days when sacrifices were made, but at least once a year the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies in the temple and offer the blood of slain bulls and sheep for the atonement of the sins of the people.

     When the Jews were held captive as slaves in Egypt for 400 years, God at last heard the cries of His mistreated people and decided to send a deliverer in the form of Moses. Moses repeatedly asked Pharoah to let the people go. Pharoah was an unstable man and could not make up his mind. He would agree and then change his mind. Every time he said no God sent a plague to show His power and to give Pharoah the opportunity to change his mind and do what was right. After the fifth plague God divided the land so that the plagues only affected the Egyptians, not the Jews. Still, Pharoah remained stubborn.

     The tenth plague promised by God was the death of the firstborn of every household. The Jews were told to prepare a lamb, the best of the flock, one per household, more if it was a large family. The blood of the lamb was to be stricken on the lintel and sides of the doorposts of their dwellings (making the points of a cross). They were then to roast the lamb and eat it quickly. If they had the blood of the lamb on the doorposts as directed they would not lose their firstborn child. If they did not they also would lose the firstborn, just as the Egyptians. They were then to leave hurriedly at dawn when the Egyptians awoke and found their firstborn dead. It wasn't until then that Pharoah agreed to let them go. In fact, he sent them away. (Then he was sorry he did and chased after them with his army, but that's another event.)

     Centuries later when Jesus came on the scene, He was pronounced, "the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." Scripture says He was led before Pilot as a lamb to the slaughter. Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; and no man comes to the Father except by Me." If anyone half as good as He were treated this way today there would be an outcry from the public and justice would be demanded. Yet no one cried out in His defense and said His treatment was unjust or inhumane.

     How in the world do any of us dare to think we can be good enough for a just, holy and perfect God? Our only defense is the blood of Christ, shed on a cruel cross, or tree, on a hill shaped like a skull called Golgotha. How dare we, who claim His name, dare to continue to live in our sins and excuse ourselves? Scripture says Jesus is our righteousness. We have none of our own. We are every one of us guilty before God, and if God the Father doesn't see the shed blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, applied to our lives, we will not enter into the kingdom of Heaven or the New Jerusalem.

     We will not be perfect in this life because we are stuck in this sinful flesh, but we must not excuse our sin. We must constantly fight our flesh and try to do what is right in God's sight because this life is temporary. Heaven and hell are both waiting. Don't be one of those that faces Jesus and He says, "Depart from Me; I never knew you." The word Christian means follower of Christ. If you're going to claim to be a Christian, then do your best to live like one. There will be a reckoning day.

Which Church is the Right One?

by Aleta Kay



     How does anyone choose a church? How do you know which one is the right one? Should it be Catholic or Baptist, Methodist or Presbyterian? Maybe Episcopal or Lutheran? How to choose?

     The answer is not simple. Anyone raised in church comes with pre-conceived ideas of what church should be like. Some people are more comfortable in a big church. Some people prefer a church with rites and solemn ceremonies. Still others look for a church that is filled with excitement and has lots of programs going. Some people (like me) prefer a traditional, old fashioned kind of church.

     My personal opinion is that you first need a relationship with Jesus Christ so you can discern truth from fiction or fantasy in the pulpit. Beware of churches whose primary focus is on your comfort and enthusiasm. Those churches might make you feel good while you are there but they won't help you grow in your relationship with God. I'm not saying the church should be boring, but there needs to be a good balance of preaching that makes you examine your own life and help you see places where you need to change, and some enthusiasm. Church should also invoke a sense of awe and wonder toward our creator.

     Church should make you feel like you are part of an extended family. Find a place in which you can contribute to the well-being of the church. Sing in the choir if there is one. Help in the nursery, be an usher, make the coffee, help clean the sanctuary. Find a place where you are needed. Get on a prayer chain or get involved in a Bible study.

     There is a lot differing opinion over which Bible is the right one. I won't go into all the reasons for all of the various reasons for the opinions. The bottom line is: the Bible warns in the book of Revelation that trouble is bound for anyone who adds to or takes away from God's word. Not all "Bibles" are God's word because most of them change the words, leave out verses, passages and chapters, thus changing the meaning of God's word. Our enemy, Satan, wants us to have a "feel good" religion and not have much of the truth. I believe the King James Bible is the only valid, unchanged, un-messed with word of God in our language. It has helped me grow in my walk with the Lord, convicts me when I'm wrong, helps me understand the history of God's dealings with people, and gives me a love for the Jewish people, God's original chosen people. Jesus was a Jew.

     I attend a church that uses the King James Bible and encourages me to read along in my Bible while the pastor is preaching. When he gives a scripture reference I look it up. After all, the pastor is human too and is capable of misquoting or misreading scripture. I need to see it for myself. I am accountable for my understanding of the Bible. I am responsible for how I present it to others. Therefore, I need to read and study it for myself. I attend a church that has a close-knit fellowship: no gossiping, back-biting, criticizing. We enjoy each other's fellowship and genuinely care about each other. It really does feel like family. I feel as if I belong.

     Bottom line: 1)Pastor should preach from the King James Bible.

     2) The church should teach and preach that a. God created heaven and earth; b.God is a triune being (Father, Son and Holy Ghost); c. Jesus was the only perfect man that ever lived and He willingly died on a cruel cross (or tree) for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, and now sits at the right hand of the Father; d. Jesus will one day return (no man knows the day or time) to take His children out of this world, hopefully before God unleashes His wrath on this wicked world; 3) Jesus was born of a virgin; 4) one must be born again according to the Bible in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven; 5)the Bible is the inspired word of God from beginning to end, no passages, words or verses that were not inspired (King James Bible); 6) once born again the believer must be baptized by immersion; and 7) must preach righteous living, not because Christians are better than anyone else, but that the Lord might find us pure upon His return and that we might be a living witness to the rest of the world of God's power to work in our lives. 

The Blame Game

by Aleta Kay

     It seems every day I talk to people who aren't getting along with one family member or another. Sometimes it's a parent and child; sometimes it's brothers and sisters; still others it's a husband and wife.

     I know firsthand that no one can hurt you like the people who are supposed to love you. Grown children take their parents for granted; they steal from them, make horrible accusations, lie about other family members and create havoc in the family. There is no greater pain than emotional pain. But.....

     Now I'm a firm believer in tough love. Sometimes you have to step back and let them suffer the consequences of their actions. Sometimes you have to sever the ties---for a while. But I'm also a firm believer in forgiveness. It doesn't matter if that person deserves your forgiveness. We don't deserve God's forgiveness but it is always available to us if we repent of our behavior and come to Him in humility and a willingness to change.

     When a family member comes to you, heart in hand, asking for a chance to redeem themselves, love forgives--the Bible says seventy times seven. The number seven in the Bible is the number for completion. In other words, there is no limit to the number of times you should forgive. Maybe the person was sincere, maybe not. It is impossible for any of us to accurately be 100% sure of another's motives or sincerity. We know how we feel. We know what we think. We cannot see into the other person's soul or mind.

     Yes, it is hard to open ourselves to more pain. It is one of the hardest things to do to continually leave yourself vulnerable. It is vitally important to healthy relationships. When we love unconditionally, time after time after time, it often weakens the wickedness in the other person. Genuine, unconditional love is hard to resist--and it is worth the price in the end.

     One final thought: I do not believe in allowing adult children to take over your house, flaunt their attitudes, and be disrespectful. Your house: your rules. Non-compliance deserves harsh consequences. Okay, another anecdote. When our son was about fifteen years old I told him to do something (I don't remember what). He said he didn't think he should have to do that. I looked him in the eye and told him he had two choices: he could do as he was told or he could leave and find someplace else to live. I explained what the world is like out there and that I didn't want him to leave, but I was not going to tolerate his attitude. He decided to obey.

     When he came home from college he thought he shouldn't have to cut grass, do dishes, or any other chores. He had a job so I gave him the guest rules: cook your own meals, do your own laundry, pay so much rent. He was allowed to partake of family dinner with us on Sundays. He grew into a responsible adult. We have a great relationship today.

What Will Your Children Remember About You?

by Aleta Kay



     Our daughter is turning 34 this year. She called me today and we got to talking about whether or not she felt her dad was a "hands-on" dad. The answer was a resounding yes. Here's what she remembered:

1) Even though had to be out of town a lot, when we was home we used to play tickle and spank or we'd go outside and rough-house in the yard.

2) When he changed jobs he was able to take us camping sometimes. He spent time with us.

3) Sometimes he would make a big bowl of popcorn and we would sit as a family and watch movies together.

4)When I got into my teens he took me out for breakfast on Saturdays. I could say anything I wanted, talk about anything I wanted with no criticism or recriminations.

5) Sometimes we played games together like Monopoly or Life or rummy. My dad was a good dad.

If you're a father who ended up with a child due to a casual relationship, or if you're a dad who for whatever reason has distanced himself from his family, ask yourself what you're missing. It would be to your advantage to do whatever it takes to at least be civil (refuse to fight or argue) to your ex. You will be the winner in the end. Doesn't your child deserve that?

Divorce and Kids

by Aleta Kay



You have become unhappy in your marriage. There are huge financial struggles and each of you blames the other. It seems that you argue all the time and you no longer feel the love you once did. Would divorce be a good solution? At least the kids wouldn’t hear the arguing anymore. If there is violence, you think divorce would be better for them. Let’s look at it from a child’s perspective.

My parents had violent fights. Once I watched my father chase my mother around the table with a knife. I was three years old. I still remember the skirt my mother was wearing. As an adult I was afraid of big men. My father was a big man. My parents divorced while I was still young. I will soon be fifty-nine years old and I still can’t stand to hear anyone argue. I can’t watch movies or TV shows about family violence. My mother was a rage-aholic and would sometimes go on three-day rampages, then she would apologize, feel guilty, and eventually revert to that rage again. I struggle with many issues today because of all that violence. The divorce did not erase the scars.

We have a nephew who saw such arguments (without the violence) in his house, with Christian parents (and I believe his parents did and do love God but could not get along) whose every argument left the kids wondering if this would be the one that would split up their parents. Today he doesn’t want to hear anything about God, thinks Christianity is a big lie, and wants nothing to do with his mother, who can’t even hear his dad’s name without starting a tirade of criticism. His oldest sister got married and is somewhat happy with her life. The younger sister seems to have developed her own brand of religion and has a lot of doubts about who God is and just how powerful he really is.

Wouldn’t it be better to get marriage counseling and try to work through the problems? If you don’t work through them, you just carry them with you into the next relationship and your kids learn that love is temporary and relationships are expendable. If you work through it and ask God to put the love back in your marriage, you will find a relationship on the other side that is far beyond your wildest imagination. If you have questions e-mail me at themarriagementor@yahoo.com. I’ll be happy to help.

Effects of Divorce

by Aleta Kay



I feel very strongly about this subject. I believe we have a generation with a lot of hurting young people. They either have never had two parents in the home or their parents are divorced and still fighting all the time. They also may be frustrated , because, due to a one-parent home, they now have to fend for themselves, or be cared for by aging grandparents who can’t relate to them.

As anyone who has been divorced knows, divorce is a very expensive decision. Sometimes it is, unfortunately, unavoidable. But if you love someone enough to marry them in the first place, don’t you owe it to yourself , your mate, and your children to try to work things out? Stop and think about how the words you speak in front of your children affect them. If you love them, why would you want them to stop loving the other parent? Why put the children in the middle of your disputes? Why put them in a position of having to choose sides? It is the cruelest thing you can do to them. I believe it is a form of mental child abuse. It can’t help but cause frustration, anger and bitterness.

And who benefits from anger and bitterness? The answer is no one benefits. The Bible tells us that bitterness is as rottenness in our bones. I believe it is one of the many causes of cancer, stroke and heart attack. We worry, fret, stew and store up anger and bitterness as weapons. The one who suffers most from those is the one harboring them. The kids just get the fallout and they turn to drugs, sex, parties, lying, stealing, or whatever else seems convenient just to cover up their own hurt and anger because the adults in their lives are too self-absorbed to pay attention to them.

For your own sakes and the sakes of your children, please seek Biblical marriage counseling. God doesn’t take sides. He is for families. It is Satan who wants to destroy. The Bible says Satan is as a roaring lion, roaming about and seeking whom he may devour. Are you going to let him have your family or are you going to fight for your family? The choice is yours.

Me Respect Him?

by Aleta Kay



He beats you. Or he’s mean. Or he’s underhanded in his dealings with people. He lies. He’s unfair. How can you possible respect a man like that? He doesn’t deserve your respect so why should you respect him?

From a purely human standpoint you have no reason to. But here are some things to consider.

Are you always respectable? Are you always worthy of respect? Not unless you’re perfect. Are you perhaps being too critical, only seeing the negative? Is he living up to your lowest expectations? How does he hear you talk about him? How do your children hear you talk about him? What would happen if you change the way you think and talk about him? You loved and respected him once. What caused that to change? What can you do to turn things around?

Try praise and encouragement. Do you get better results from criticism or praise?

The second part of Ephesians 5:33 says, “and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” Reverence means respect. There is no disclaimer there. It doesn’t say you only have to respect him if he deserves it. When you are talking about him talk about the things you love and admire in him. Give the disappointing attributes to God. Let God take care of those things. Your job is to be the queen of the home. That means he is the king. Treat your husband the same way you would treat Jesus (even though he may not act anything like Jesus). If you keep treating him with respect out of a pure and loving heart, you may find yourself loving him more. Your children will respect both of you more and he may become more respectable.

Don’t fall into the trap of “if he doesn’t respect me why should I respect him.” Behaving in the same manner is retaliation. Retaliation is war and will divide your family. Do what’s right and leave everything else to God. Be a good example for your children.

If you hear other people criticizing your husband, jump in with something positive about him. Or change the subject. Don’t listen to criticism and you won’t be critical. What do you have to lose? Don’t just try it to see if it works. Keep doing it. Make it a part of who you are.

Are You a Scorekeeper?

by Aleta Kay

It’s the third time he’s broken his promise to take you and the kids to...wherever. Something else always comes first. It’s the fifth time he has watched his favorite sport on TV but he gripes if you watch your sitcom. It’s the umpteenth time he’s forgotten to take out the trash and you’ve had to do it yourself. As if all of that isn’t bad enough, you constantly have to pick up after him, do the laundry, the cooking, the cleaning, play taxi for the kids and their activities, and you have an outside job. I can feel the resentment and anger from my chair. Are you keeping score of all the disappointments in your marriage?

Here’s the question: Are there any advantages in keeping score?

Here are some thoughts to ponder: Do you want him keeping score of the times you’ve disappointed him? Hebrews 10:17 talks about how God forgives. It says, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” When God forgives he forgets. Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west,  so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Matthew 6:12, 14 says if you don’t forgive those that have wronged you, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you.

Philippians 4:13, 14 says, “....forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Forget the past. You can’t change it. Dwelling on the past is self-defeating. Philippians 4:8 tells us to not even let negative thoughts in. We are rather to dwell on, ponder, consider, and eagerly look for the good and positive things in each other and in life. Look forward to the future. Plan it–together. Be willing to compromise.

If you want to be happy in your family relationships, forget the things that are past. If you ask God to help you, you can do it. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” You can’t do it by yourself, but with the Holy Spirit living inside, yes you can.



Do You Treat Your Spouse Like an Enemy?

by Aleta Kay



As I walk through this life I see a lot of hurting people, and because the married couple is hurting their children hurt. Divorce hurts everyone. Loud arguing and violence hurts everyone in the family. People argue about how to discipline the children, what religion to raise them in, finances, his wants vs. her wants. The list seems endless. You push his buttons; he pushes your buttons. Add the cost of school supplies, pictures, trips, projects, etc. into the mix and you have a recipe for the blow up of a family. What to do? Who is right?

Obviously we aren’t going to solve everything in this brief space, but here are a few suggestions. First, when you feel yourself starting to get angry, take a deep breath; tell the other person you need a few minutes to think. Then go to your room or go for a walk and think about his or her point of view. Are there any valid points? Is there room for compromise? Does the issue have to be solved right now or can you both take time to reason things out?

Make a list of the pros and cons of the situation if there are any. If you have a relationship with God, pray about it.

Don’t feel that you have to be right all the time. Don’t treat the other person as if they are the biggest idiot in the world, and definitely don’t let the children hear you say anything that even remotely resembles that. It will tear down their respect for both of their parents. If they don’t respect you, they will rebel. After all, if you can’t handle your life as an adult, how can they expect you to handle theirs?

Finally, don’t treat each other as enemies. Ephesians 6:10-19 gives us the formula for fighting our battles. The verse that I want to emphasize here is verse 12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Satan (the chief ruler of the darkness of this world) is out to destroy your family. He can only be defeated by the power of God. Whether or not he wins is up to you.

Family is a Wonderful Thing!

by Aleta Kay



     We just finished a weekend with family. We get together once a year and spend two and a half days together. We are a very diverse family. Some of us are Christians. Most of us are not. Our jobs and lives are as varied as this country. Some have college degrees; some never graduated high school. But acceptance and love abound. There are some differences and sometimes feelings get hurt. Most of the time those things get worked out. Family members travel from as far away as Indiana, or as close as an hour away. A few travel from Oklahoma. We are always happy to get together and sad to see everyone leave.

     It breaks my heart to see families who don't get along. I have a co-worker whose dad died and she's broken-hearted because her sisters won't speak to her. My co-worker has lived next door to her parents for many years and has cared for them. Now her sisters are accusing her of taking advantage of their mother and trying to get the inheritance.

     I understand sentiment and wanting things with which to remember a loved one when they pass away, but to deny another family member the love they deserve in order to get something out of that death is sad and selfish indeed.

     We  all have to face the loss of our loved ones eventually, sometimes at a young age, sometimes in their later years, but that passing should draw us closer together, not drive us apart. Loss should create a deeper bond, not selfishness.

     Seek the higher road--seek to keep family intact. I once heard a great Christian comedian say, "You can pick your friends but you're stuck with your family." I left a job once because they told me I couldn't go to family reunion. I could (and did) get a new job. I can't get a new family. Think about it.

The Pursuit of Happiness

by Aleta Kay



     Before I get started with my actual blog I just want to apologize for not posting for a few days. We are on vacation in the mountains and don't have good signal. But don't give up on me. I'll post when I can and when I get back home I'll be posting on a daily basis again. My offering for today follows.

What does it mean to be happy? Is it just feeling good in the moment? Is it contentment? Is it that buoyancy of spirit like when you first fall in love? Those good feelings are temporary.

Joy, on the other hand, is a deep abiding sense of peace even in the midst of personal storms. It is present long after exuberance has faded away. Joy is knowing your family is safe, and that, come what may, God is in control. He will take care of you. Joy is knowing that God is with you in every circumstance. He has His best in mind for you, even when life gets hard.

Our Constitution guarantees us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Although it doesn’t spell it out this way, that right was intended to be within the boundaries of legal endeavors. We must have laws or we have chaos. God has laws too. Joy, peace, contentment and happiness come when we obey those laws. Guilt, anguish, broken homes, rebellion, selfishness, etc. come from not obeying those laws.

Happiness may come with getting drunk or high. It may come from one-night stands and relationships with self-gratification as the goal. But it won’t last and these endeavors will lead to frustration and feelings of worthlessness.

God sees your pain. He sees the real you that you hide from the rest of the world. The good news is: He loves you. He sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for your sins (and mine). Jesus knew what was coming. He went to the cross willingly because of His great love for us. He wasn’t forced to do it. “For God so loved....put your name here.....that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” All you have to do is believe that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, rose again the third day as He said He would, ask God to forgive you for your sins, and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. Then find a Bible-believing church to attend so you can grow in the knowledge of your new-found faith. Of course, I recommend my church first: Bethel Baptist Church in Lake Placid.

Dragonflies and Butterflies

by Aleta Kay



     This will probably not be a very long message but thought I would post what I thought was an intereseting observation.

     We were at a rest area the other day and it was rather blustery. I watched a dragonfly try to fly into the wind. The wind kept pushing it back. The dragonfly would get pushed back far enough to get to a place where the wind wasn't as strong, then fly back into the wind again. This scenario played out repeatedly for about three minutes. Finally the dragonfly turned around and flew toward the wind again but from a different angle. At last it got through.

     It reminded me of how we humans continually try to demand our own way, do our thing, buck against God and the consequences for our sins. Eventually some of us decide to follow the path, the wind of the Holy Spirit if you will, and find peace. Others of us, like that dragonfly at the beginning, just insist that our way will win out. Watch out for those consequences: and the consequences are yours because you chose the path.

     Butterflies are strictly moved by air currents. They have no choice about their path unless it is a perfectly still day. God moves them at His will. And aren't they lovely little creatures?

Stand Up, Church!

by Aleta Kay



     Is anyone besides me appalled at the state of this country? I have never in my lifetime (almost 60 years) seen the economy this bad. I have never in my lifestime seen such violence and rampant pedophilia. I have never in my lifetime seen so many single-parent homes where the children have no idea who their fathers are. When I was growing up we never heard of teachers molesting their students. We never heard of parents encouraging their kids to beat up other kids. We never heard of parents killing cheer leaders or coaches or children killing their parents.

     We now live in a day and age where so-called Christians want to be told how good they are. It's a name-it, claim-it society. The television "preacher" (I prefer to call him an orator because he doesn't preach the true gospel) will say things like "You just speak to that check book and tell it there is money in that account. And if you send me a gift of ___________amount God will bless you. How dare they tell such lies!? If you follow their advice your check will bounce, your account will be in worse shape, and you'll be in trouble for lack of sufficient funds. God does not honor stupidity. Making a television preacher rich at the expense of the local church (which is where your tithes belong) will not honor God and you cannot expect God to bless you because you chose to have your ears tickled.

     Church, we need to "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unseen thing, and I will receive you saith the Lord Almighty," 2 Corinthians 6:17. We have the blood of lost people on our hands because we want to play church instead of being real. We are sending people to hell because they see right through our posturing. They see us for the hypocrites we are. The world knows what a Christian is supposed to be and we are letting them down. Judgment will begin in the house of God.

     If we want to see our nation turn around; if we want government that will do what is right; if we want God to bless America (the United States--we are not the only America), then it is time for Christians to act like Christians. It is time for us to make a difference. It is HIGH TIME we show the love of Christ to a lost and dying world. We need to stop apologizing for our faith. We need to stop being afraid of their faces. Joshua 1:9 says, "Be strong and of a good courage, neither be afraid for the Lord thy God is with thee." It is time for us to live what we say we believe. It is time for us to stop cursing, going to the bawdy movies, stop accepting all the lewdness and decadence. It's time for the church to start speaking the truth in love. It's time for us to show people we care about them.

     It's time for us to practice 2 Chronicles 7:14--"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." We need to repent collectively and individually, not just for our own sins, but for the sins of our nation, and for sitting back and allowing things to get to this point. Psalm 33:12 says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

Pro_14:34
We need to repent for the sin of prayerlessness, the sin of laziness, the sin of apathy, and the sin of lack of concern for the lost. Only when we turn our hearts toward God and really commit ourselves to Him, persevering in prayer for our country and the lost will we see God's hand in our nation again. WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO EXPECT ANYTHING FROM GOD WHEN WE ARE COMPLACENT, TAKE HIM FOR GRANTED, AND DON'T LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM! WOE UNTO US IF WE HEED NOT HIS WARNINGS! God is not a celestial teddy bear or Santa Claus. He is a just and holy God who has conditions attached to His blessings. If you want our nation to be prosperous again--if you want God's blessings on your own life: follow him. The word 'Christian" means follower or imitator of Christ. It has nothing to do with your denomination or religion. Christianity is NOT a religion. It is a RELATIONSHIP with almighty God.
     Let's stop playing and pretending. Let's get real. Let's get on our knees, fast from TV, partying, watching movies, whatever you spend most of your time on. Let's put God to the test and really, earnestly pray for this country, our military. Let's make a difference and see if we can once again really be ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
     I don't mean any harm against anyone. I love all people. But this country was founded on a strong belief in God. It broke away from England in order to give people the freedom to worship as they chose. I have no problem if you don't want to hear it. You have a right to say "no." But you don't have the right to tell the rest of us that we can't hear it. Atheism has ruined our youth as morality has been thrown out the window.
     If you are one of those people who opposes our right to hear the gospel, this is still a somewhat free country. You have the right and the freedom to move to any country where you will not hear it: most any country in Europe: France is primarily agnostic or atheistic. There is not a large Christian influence in Sweden, Switzerland, or Germany either. Please understand, whether you want us to or not, we will pray for you. You can't stop us. I am sorry for whatever caused you to hate God, but God still loves you. You can't make Him stop loving you. Hell will be your destination in spite of His love. He will not force anyone to go to heaven. He leaves the choice to you.
     RISE UP CHURCH!

What Has Happened to Our Country?

by Aleta Kay



     Ten years ago today our country was attacked by terrorists. We grieved enmasse over the loss of human life, the devastation of two major landmarks. We were stunned that a major strategic military/political building would be targeted on our own soil. We grieved and worried over the long-term effects of the ash and other debris that polluted the air around those sites. We cheered for bravery of those who lost their lives taking down the terrorists in the plane in Pennsylvania so the losses would be fewer than if they had not. We cheer on our military and other heroes who push aside their own fears to keep others safe and free. And then...

     On at the very least a weekly basis I see on the news where parents are urging their kids to fight and beat up other kids. They beat up their own kids if they lose. The parents sometimes join in the fray. They attack referees at high school football games. They bully other kids at school. Call me a bleeding heart conservative, but it saddens and sickens me that we can on one hand make heroes out of those who fight to keep us free (as we should), then diminish their service and sacrifice by promoting and encouraging senseless fighting. I wonder if those parents have any brains at all. How can any parent claim to love their children and teach them hatred? How can any parent claim to love a child and raise that child to be filled with anger, malice, discontent? Those parents must hate their children.

     I'm not talking about teaching them to defend themselves. I'm talking about teaching aggression. Self-defense is far different from going around starting neighborhood fights and having parents stand on the sidelines telling their kids to punch, hit, kick, bite, etc. To those parents I say you are raising your kids to be murderers. You are raising them to have a miserble life that will probably either land them in prison or death. And you can pat yourself on the back when that happens and say, "I did that."

     The words in red in the following passage are the words of Christ. He was and is the only perfect person who ever lived. He hung on a cross for things he was not guilty of so that we could go free. He took our punishment and forgave those who mutilated him and hung him on that cross. He knew what he was talking about when he said these words:

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:11
 These are the words of a winner. He rose again the third day and will come again at a pre-appointed time known only by God the Father. I'm on his side and that makes me a winner too, regardless of any other viewpoint. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.