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Morning Devotional...


The Church: The Striped Candy Technique

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  
--Acts 2:42

Without Biblical authority, or any other right under the sun, carnal religious leaders have introduced a host of attractions that serve no purpose except to provide entertainment for the retarded saints.

It is now common practice in most evangelical churches to offer the people, especially the young people, a maximum of entertainment and a minimum of serious instruction. It is scarcely possible in most places to get anyone to attend a meeting where the only attraction is God. One can only conclude that God's professed children are bored with Him, for they must be wooed to meeting with a stick of striped candy in the form of religious movies, games and refreshments.

This has influenced the whole pattern of church life, and even brought into being a new type of church architecture, designed to house the golden calf.

So we have the strange anomaly of orthodoxy in creed and heterodoxy in practice. The striped candy technique has been so fully integrated into our present religious thinking that it is simply taken for granted. Its victims never dream that it is not a part of the teachings of Christ and His apostles. 
Man: The Dwelling Place of God, 135,136.

"Forgive me, Lord, where I have played into the hands of those wanting striped candy instead of You. Help me to demonstrate a God so real that no one could ever be bored with Him. Amen."

Here's a link again to Marilyn's photos with Gilbert

Adam's Failure—Christ's Strength (#20050727)
by John Morris, Ph.D.
"By the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life" (Romans 5:18).
When Adam rebelled against God, he experienced many new things—things which have haunted mankind ever since. All of these things were experienced by Christ in an intense way as He redeemed fallen mankind and the cursed creation.

Adam had never seen or experienced death (Genesis 2:17) until he sinned (3:19,22). God had ordained nakedness (2:25), but sin distorts everything (3:7,21). Before sin, Adam and Eve had known only blessing (1:28), but the universal curse followed (3:14-19). They had known joy and fellowship, but now they knew sorrow (3:17) and separation (3:23). They had lived in a garden (2: 8 ), but now the plants would bring forth thorns (3:18). Prior to sin they had been assigned work to do (2:15), but now they would sweat (3:19) as they toiled. The angel's weapon kept them from returning to the Garden (3:24) and outside violence reigned (4:8,23; 6:13). Child bearing originally was created to be easy and frequent, but now was to be accompanied by sorrow (1:28; 3:16).

Likewise, Christ experienced death on the cross (John 19:30), but by His resurrection He conquered death (I Cor-inthians 15:54-57). In this death He experienced nakedness (John 19:23; Psalm 22:18); the full thrust of the curse (Galatians 3:13); sorrow (Isaiah 53:3); and separation from God (Matthew 27:46). Cruel thorns were placed on His head (John 19:2), and He sweat great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). The soldier's weapon pierced Him (John 19:34), finally ending a series of violent acts (Luke 22:63; Matthew 27:26, 29-30; Isaiah 52:14; etc.). But through His suffering He overcame the curse and redeemed His fallen creation. As a result, many children have been brought forth (Hebrews 2:9-10), children reborn into a glorious state through His suffering. JDM

Hi everyone. 

We have had an interesting morning.  Pat had to be at the hospital at 7:30 for the minor surgery she was to have today.  She had no more than gotten onto the gurney than the power went out and the auxiliary power came on.  After awhile they said there had been a powerline but at a building site somewhere away fromt he hospital campus and they had no idea when it would be restored.  They had a couple of code red's (that is fire alarms going off) as well.  Around 9 am Pat's doctor came in and said it would be best to just reschedule as she had no idea of when the power would be back on and they could get back into the operating room.  So we left and stopped at the cafe for breakfast.  Now we have this whole routine to go through again.  I was just glad she wasn't in the operating room when this happened.

We got up to about 98 degrees yesterday and it is suppose to be almost as hot today.  They also have a severe smog alert for our area so will stay in today where it is cool.

Pat, I fear that the experience of the young missionary in India is all too often repeated in various places in the world.  I get the Voice of the Martyr's magazine and it is a real eye opener.  I thought your devotional thought today is really on target. 

Marilyn, I will check out your pictures a little later today.  Also, thanks for the devotional though.

JudyB and Pat, glad to see you are having some rain and cooler weather.  Judy, that was certainly a scarey experience that John had with the lightning. 

Janet, I noticed it was a lot cooler last evening in Missouri and Kansas.  I sure hope some of that drifts down this way.
I sure hope that isn't a serious problem for Darrell but probably best to check things out.

Karmat, hope you and Nards are able to get back online soon. 

A belated Happy Birthday Suzanne.

Etta Sue, it sounds like your friend has a lot on her plate in terms of medical procedures.  I hope she will be able to lose the weight as sure it would pay dividends for her.

Not much else planned for the day.  A special hi to everyone who stops by.

Good Morning; Looks like I forgot to post somethng other than the devotional. Thank you Pat for your devotional, I found it very interesting and very true.I even see it in my own church. We have had a lot of changes since January. The music bieng the most blatant and the "bribery" of the young people to get them in by offering expensive prizes and cash as the incentives for them to come. I have not attened the last two youth services  because I have had the grandkids here. When I asked Gilbert if the kids could go there and told him what the incentives were, He said that's not right its bribery". I have to agree with him.

Busy day today, This afternoon I will be bringing Versal's laundry home to do and then Bible Study tonight.

I want to thank everyone for looking at my photos. I had a wonderful time out there taking them and hiking. I am  very pleased with how they turned out.
my new profile pic is an altered one of those pics.

TTYL

JudyB ~ I just know you are enjoying your life being back to normal....whatever normal is.  I can 'hear' joy in your voice.

Papa John ~ We got a very nice cooling down rain last evening.  Much needed.  I watched the 11 o'clock news and the newsman was holding a thermometer and in a matter of minutes the temp went down 10 degrees.  Much cooler today but rainy and overcast. 

Marilyn ~ I saw your trip to Trinidad photos.  Lovely photo opportunity.

Ruth Ann ~ I don't like to miss reading NEM any day but it is a pleasure to catch up when I do.  Glad you could get on your computer yesterday.

Pat ~ Thanks for the devotion today.  Food for thought.

Larry Hanna ~ Oh, what an experience for Pat to go through.  I had to make myself stop thinking that the power might go off when I was getting a CT scan in the small (to me) tube-like thing. 

LIke I say, it is cloudy, gloomy, rainy day here but much cooler.  My A/C has even turned off for a time.  That is great.

I'll be back later tonight...... 

Larry, sorry about yours and Par's experience this morning, but like you, I'm glad she wasn't in the OR when the power went off!  Goodness!  Darrel's doctor called him back and said for him to just take it easy, not more jiggling on the riding mower for a while, and NOT to take the aspirin.  Darrel had resumed taking his aspirin (half strngth) a day too soon, and it was then he noticed the bleeding got worse.

I took Beth to therapy, and I went swimming.  She is walking (on the walker) much better today, so she said she needed some milk, and I asked if she would like to go in and use the electric cart and do a little grocery shopping.  She did do that, got a few things she thought sounded good.  She still doesn't have much appetite, in spite of resuming the steroids.  She has lost over 20 pounds.

I must get ready to go to El Ranchito for lunch.  One of the gals in our church turns 50 today, so the ladies are all meeting her at 11:30 for lunch.  Beth wants to go, too, which means I must leave extra early, as it takes a while getting her into and out of the car.  She used the walker this morning, but may be too tired to use it, and if so, we will take the wheelchair.

I will be back later!

wow what amazing photos! We just got back from a mini vacation, ill post pics soon!

Here is an update on the lightening incident. 

John as is normal did his ciircle check this morning and there was a scratch and dint in the nose of the trailler.  He checked the cat walk (The metal platform between the truck and trailler.) and lo and behold there melted onto the catwalk is a piece of ashphalt!  Bear in mind this is the maiden voyage for this trailler. also he is the assigned driver for it as he never has vehicle damage! !    He is in awe at the power of the lightening.. Amazing to know our Lord has more power than that!

Had a good day at work today.  Not so busy, but better sales than the last few days.  I am doing better on cash than I was in the spring.  No "stupid" mistakes.  The boss is much happier, ao am I.

Etta Sue yes life is much better, and the girls are slowly getting better too. 

Today is cooler than last week.  The temperatures are actually lower, but the biggest benefit is the low humidity.  John is in 110* temperatures.  He is taking the trip slow and giving the truck more cool down time. The heat is hard on moving parts, like the bearings and tires, so he is giving extra care.

Well I have a full day tomorrow, so bue for now

Judy and clan

That sure is scary, Judy about the lightening and John.  Wow!  That's what happened to me a couple of weeks ago.  I had a lightening bolt explode right in the middle of my kitchen.  I think I told everyone here.  I'm so glad I wasn't in the kitchen.  The dishes rattled, etc.

Glad to see everyone's posts. 

It's been pleasant here today with the temperatures and that's great.

Here are some good words for all of us...

Good Evening Everyone, long time no see:

I have been away up in Muskoka.  Was at a camp called Muskoka Baptist Conference and 200 people from The Peoples Church were there.  The weather was very hot, but the beautiful lake made it all bearable.

I just had a tooth pulled today.  This is one that I had root canal on and have already spent a lot of money.  This new dentist has persuaded me to get a bridge, but will have to wait until September.  So expensive.

Hope everyone is doing fine.  I will check the posts.  God bless

Love Ruthie

Ruthie, You were about an hour and a half from where we live.   Next time before you head home come up and have a cup of tea with us!

Tomorrow Mother gets her new perscription for her glasses.  She has been living with only one lense in the present frames, as the left lense was causing a lot of dizziness.  Following the example of a good friend I removed the lense and she is seeing much better without it.  She is so looking forward to new glasses.

Pat do you remember Mom saying the most dangerous place in a lightening storm is near running water, specifically the kitchen or bathroom?  I have always avoided those rooms when there is severe lightening.

The girls have decided to "camp put" in the yard tonight.  I think they are a little nutty as the temp is dropping and is only 13*C right now.   I think the doors will stay unlocked tonight and 2 girls will be in their beds come morning!

I am about ready to turn on the furnace!!!!

A hot bath and lots of covers will fix the chill I am feeling.

So, Night all and God Bless

Judy

I'm just stopping by to let y'all know I'M HOME!!  I arrived back in Coos Bay shortly after 6p.m. and am most grateful for the beautiful fog I saw as I came in!  Temperature here was 64º after leaving 103º this morning!

I am tard so think I will just wave "night, night" to y'all and see y'all in the morning.

The cat is out.  The door is locked.

You will find Thursday's NEM here.