Three U.S. Christian Aid Workers Killed in Pakistan, source

Three U.S. Christian Aid Workers Killed in Pakistan, source

Why is it stories like this so often don't make the main stream media? This takes "biting the hand that feeds you" to a whole new level. Let a Christian do something really bad and they jump all over it. We hear of things like this once in a while and think it happens once in a blue moon and it's always "over there." Well, it happens all too often all around the world, like every day, and guess what? It's coming to America before long.

Sunday's Coming! Hallelujah!!!

This is a short sermon given by the Dr. S. M. Lockridge. It is a very powerful, moving sermon. It's simple, to the point, and sums up the crucifixion in the form of a poem. This version has scenes from The Passion of the Christ laced through it that fit the sermon perfectly. He went home to be with Jesus in 2000, four years before the movie. It's very much worth it to listen to, and feel free to pass it around.

Are We Throwing Rocks at Jesus?

By: Carl Holland
Carl's Words of Inspiration

I came across this picture while I was surfing around today. As soon as I saw it, it struck a very deep chord in me. It's a simple, yet very powerful picture that speaks volumes. Most people with even a rudimentary knowledge of the Bible are at least familiar with the passage of John 8:7, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her," but look at the words on the stones; restore, forgive, love, reconcile. These are all attributes we are supposed to be applying to our lives. Consider the following scripture verses. Galatians 6:1, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Ephesians 5:2, "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." WOW! Look how much of that is red letters, spoken by Jesus. How often do we thoughtlessly throw stones at people for their mistakes, their habits, their lifestyle? Have we stopped to pull out that huge board sticking out of our own eye before worrying about the splinter in someone else's? Have we made ourselves their judge and condemned them, placing ourselves in the position of God? If we're not walking in love and forgiveness, seeking to restore and reconcile, are we throwing rocks at Jesus?

Louie Giglio Talking About Laminin - WOW!

This is one of those videos that makes you just stop and go "WOW!" It's just a little long but watch it all the way through. It's well worth it! This video brings to mind a passage from Romans that I'm surprised Lou didn't bring up. If this video has touched you or moved you in some way, feel free to comment. Give the glory to God!

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen,

being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead,

so that they are without excuse, 

because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God,

nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts,

and their foolish hearts were darkened. - Romans1:20-21

Leap from the Lion’s Head

By: Carl Holland

Carl's Words of Inspiration

…and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan,

and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water…

that the waters which came down from upstream stood still…

Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD

stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan;

and all Israel crossed over on dry ground –Joshua 3:15-17

Do you remember the scene in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy was faced with having to cross a deep crevice to find the Cup of Christ to save his father’s life? His book of clues collected over the years told him “only in the leap from the lion’s head will he prove his worth.” From his position he could not see the bridge across the gap because it was so well camouflaged with the background of the rocky walls on the other side. Everything his senses took in around him told him he couldn’t get across, and it took a step of faith beyond what he could see, but his father was depending on him. He takes that step into seemingly thin air, but finds firm footing. The camera then pans to the side and we can now see the bridge across the divide.

And when Peter had come down out of the boat,

he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid;

and beginning to sink he cried out,

saying, “Lord, save me!” –Matthew 14:29-30

When the Israelites entered Canaan the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant went in first. The Ark was the dwelling place of God on Earth, so they were literally putting God first as they went in to occupy the Promised Land. It wasn’t until the priests actually stepped into the Jordan River that the waters parted. It was quite literally their step of faith that made the way for the Israelites to claim the promise of God. Peter, too, took a step of faith and walked on the water. It wasn’t until he took his focus off of Jesus that he began to sink. Everything else around him told him he couldn’t do this, kind of like Indy seeing nothing but a huge gap he couldn’t jump over. We may have storms all around us, seemingly insurmountable problems, and we may not even know which way to turn when we look at our circumstances, but we have to take a step of faith. “Be still and know that I am God” does not mean sit and do nothing! We may not know what direction to go, but we need to step in faith with our focus on Jesus, and when we do, God promises to guide us and uphold us. Are you stuck in neutral, spinning your wheels, don’t know where to go? Is God calling you to trust by faith His Son, the Lion of Judah, to bridge the gap between you and Him? Walking with God requires taking steps, so get out of your boat, keep your eyes on Jesus, and start stepping, and He will lead you to the Promised Land He has in store for you!

Praise the Lord and Pass the Pepto | Liveblog | Christianity Today

Praise the Lord and Pass the Pepto Liveblog Christianity Today

This is a video of a children's praise song that has caused some controversy in an article on Christianity Today. Some call it irreverent, some are ok with it. It's just the song with the lyrics on the screen, not a video of kids singing. Have a look at it and chime in with your comments.

Carman - Satan Bite The Dust!

My Great-Grandpuppies!

My daughter's dog had 8 puppies! So does that make me a "Great-Granddog?"

Renewal Notices

By: Carl Holland
Carl's Words of Inspiration

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

We’ve all received junk mail. You know… those unsolicited sale papers, credit card offers, and home refinancing deals the postal carrier stuffs your mailbox with. And with today’s electronic age there’s the spam that fills your email inbox. Amid all the clutter there are the more important things like bills, those friendly reminders from your creditors that you owe them money. Many of us also get renewal notices. I receive a birthday present from the state every year; renewal notices for the tags and taxes on my vehicles. I receive notices from my veterinarian to renew the immunizations for my pets. There are also renewal notices for such things as our licenses, membership cards, and car insurance to help us keep those things from expiring.

Unfortunately, we don’t get renewal notices in the mail for the most important things in life. We don’t get a reminder to renew our love for our spouse, and if we forget, they may remind us in a not-so-pleasant way. Nor do we get a notice to renew our love in our relationships with our children or our friends. If that love goes unrenewed, it may end up going cold.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We do, however, have a constant renewal notice from God. It’s called the Bible. Don’t let it get lost amongst all the junk. God has called us to a relationship with Him. It is the most important relationship we can ever have. He has called us to renew that relationship daily. When we are in a right relationship with God, it will flow out into our relationships with others. How up-to-date is your relationship with Him? Is it a little overdue and in need of renewal?

Get with God today and renew that relationship. Let him clean your heart, renew your spirit, and renew your mind; transforming you day by day more into his likeness. Let your relationship with and love for God spill over into your relationships with those around you. Renew those relationships that need it. Let your spouse, your children, and your friends know that you love them, and most importantly, that God loves them too.

How Can I Save My Christian Marriage

In the book of Ephesians God has given us His idea of marriage, but people often consider it sexist and oppressive toward women. Nothing could be farther from the truth. This often comes from not understanding the context of the Christian model for marriage. Ephesians 5:22 says, "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord." A different picture emerges when this passage is taken in its full context. Ephesians 5:25 commands husbands, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it." Husbands are to love their wives sacrificially, giving all of themselves to her, not lording over her and keeping her under his thumb. It can hardly be considered oppression for a wife to submit to a husband who loves with a sacrificial love, willingly giving his all to her. It is the very definition of love! It is two people giving themselves completely to each other- a two-way street. If more people practiced this biblical principle, there would be a lot fewer divorces. Christians are not immune from having marital problems. If you are struggling with a failing marriage and wondering “what can I do to save my Christian marriage,” then click one of these links to check out a very valuable resource I’ve found to help couples improve and heal their marriage, avoid divorce, grow closer to each other again, and have a stronger Christian marriage than ever before by doing things God’s way. Don’t give up! There is still hope! If you already see yourself headed for divorce, ask yourself, “Do I have anything to lose by checking this out? Or do I have everything to gain?”

Holy Fishing

This is a joke I heard many years ago and I know it's been posted all over the place in one variation or another, but I like it, so I thought I'm post it on my own blog, too.  Hey, God has a sense of humor... just look at the Duck-Billed Platypus!  Well, here goes...

There was a Baptist preacher and a Catholic priest who liked to go fishing together a lot.  One day they invited a Jewish rabbi to go out in the boat fishing with them.  After a while, the preacher said, "I gotta make a nature call.  I'll be right back."  He hopped out of the right side of the boat, walked over to the shore, "answered the call of nature," then walked back, got in the boat, and continued fishing.  A while later the priest had to go too, so he hopped out of the right side of the boat, walked to shore, "answered nature," then walked back to continue fishing.  A while later the rabbi has to go, too.  He thought to himself, "well, if these guys can walk on water," hopped out of the left side of the boat, and sank.  As they are helping the rabbi back into the boat, through his tears of laughter the preacher says to the priest, "you think we should have told him where the rocks are?"

The Garden of Life

I can't claim to have written this.  I received this by email from a friend a few years ago and saved it, so I don't know who wrote it to give them credit, but I like it.  So, here it is just as I received it...

“The Garden of Life”


For the Garden of your daily living

Plant three rows of peas:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

No garden without turnips:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

To conclude our garden, we must have thyme:
1. Thyme for God
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends
4. Thyme for each other

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.
There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow.

I found a really great e-cookbooks site! Cook restaurant quality meals at home for a fraction of the cost!

When Emotions Mislead | Men of Integrity

When Emotions Mislead Men of Integrity

When God created us He gave us the ability to feel emotions. Our emotions, however, can deceive us. How we respond should always be bounced against God's Word to be sure we're handling things the way God would have us do. We can't trust our feelings, but we can always trust God.

One Minute Sermon

I love this video! Simple, straight message.

Have You Had a Heart Transplant?

By: Carl Holland
Carl's Words of Inspiration

Heart transplant surgery, though still a very serious operation, seems almost routine with today's medical technology. Many people claim to feel like they have much more energy and can breathe better after receiving a new heart. Sort of a "renewed life" you might say. That's what it's like when we come to God and let the Holy Spirit work inside us. Before a heart transplant is even considered, it must be determined that there is a problem with the heart to begin with. In Jeremiah 17:9 we read:

The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

who can know it?

And in Proverbs 28:26:

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,

But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

So, our own hearts can deceive us and we not know it, and we are fools to trust it. Ouch! Sounds pretty harsh, but that’s what God has said about the human heart. He certainly knows, because He says so in Jeremiah 17:10:

I, the LORD, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give every man according to his ways,

According to the fruit of his doings.

So how do we get this heart transplant? Simple… we just ask the Master Surgeon for it, and we humbly allow Him to do it. As we seek to do His will and set our own desires aside, He renews our heart, both inwardly in how we look at things such as ourselves and situations we face, and outwardly in how we respond to and treat others around us. Humbly submit to His authority, His ways, and His will for you today, setting you sights on the things above, and let Him do some radical, life-changing surgery in you to make you more like Him!

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:14-19

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. – Ezekiel 36:26

Are You a Prism or a Mirror?

By: Carl Holland
Carl's Words of Inspiration


Ephesians 5:8 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light”

Remember science class back in elementary school (or maybe it was middle school, it was too long ago for me to remember exactly when) learning about prisms and their interaction with light waves? They have a pretty cool effect where they bend the light passing through them and break it into the rainbow of colors that make up the light spectrum. The light coming out doesn’t look like the light going in. Mirrors, on the other hand, simply reflect the light that hits them right back without changing it. In 1 John 1:5 we read,

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

We are to walk as children of light, and God is that light. We must be careful, then, that it is God’s light that shines forth, not our own. Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be followers, or imitators in most translations, of God. We can’t be God. Trying to be equal to God is what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden, as well as getting Lucifer booted from Heaven. God speaks quite well for Himself. He doesn’t need our opinion. When we try to inject our own thoughts or feelings or opinions into God’s word, we change it; distorting it and refracting it like a prism. Our words, our actions, our lifestyle, should all reflect the character of God, shining the light of Christ, not our own light, to a lost world. Brethren, are you a prism or a highly polished mirror? Being completely honest with yourself, are there some areas you can think of where you could use a little more polishing? I know I sure have some. Open yourself up to God’s instruction a little more, grow closer to Him day by day, and let him buff up that shine a little more. He doesn’t even need Windex.