12. October 2011 by PawBill.

If you as a professing “Christian” have made a public statement of promise to follow Jesus, to live for Him and to serve Him, how well have you lived up to your commitment?  A few have gone all the way, “not turning back,” to become Biblical Christians; they have become sons of the living God—“…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” Romans 8:14 NIV.  Many became “Christian” in name only, turning back from their promise; they now live in a deceived religious state, denying the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and denying Jesus Christ.

How about it? Have you gone all the way with Jesus Christ by following the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit you received at your confession of faith or have you turned back to your sinful nature with its lust and physical desires and you human nature’s rejection of God? 

It is not too late to return to Jesus; confess your sins and repent, and surrender your self-will to the Holy Spirit.  Become born again in a spiritual re-birth and be set free from all unrighteousness, bondage, slavery, worldliness, immorality and idolatry. That is my prayer for you today.

If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do so today if you hear His calling. Begin your spiritual rebirth by knelling at His Cross and praying what is called “a sinners prayer” such as the one that follows:

Lord Jesus, I confess and repent of my sins, I accept your forgiveness and grace and I accept your salvation.  I believe that you came to redeem me, that you died on a cross for my sins and that you arose from death and the grave. I accept your promise to send the Holy Spirit to indwell me and to be my comforter and guide, and I surrender my self-will to you.  Come into my heart today.  Amen.

If you prayed this prayer in honesty, sincerity and belief, you are now a child of God; mature in Him by reading your Bible, joining a Bible believing church or study group, and follow Him in “believer’s baptism” as a symbol to others of your new life in Jesus Christ. 

If you prayed the sinner’s prayer above and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior please email me and let me know of your decision.  All emails are confidential, and no response will be made to your email address unless one is requested by you.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious | No Comments »

12. October 2011 by PawBill.

You have heard it said and you have seen it written, “America (or for that matter, the world), is at a turning point.  To think about it in another way, “The turning points are actually divides of unalterable beliefs that span generational, political, social, educational, racial, sexual and religious perspectives—parent vs. child, young vs. old, Democrat vs. Republican, poor vs. rich, literate vs. illiterate, black vs. Caucasian, rich vs. poor, Christian vs. non-Christian, heterosexual vs. homosexual.

If there were perhaps just one divide, an easy solution might be found.  Unfortunately there are just too many divides for easy solutions. There is a solution and that solution can be found in the person of Jesus Christ.  However, most modern men have been deceived and find their source of life in materialism, government, and themselves.  The ancients suffered with the same dilemmas as today’s generation and their worlds were destroyed just as America will be destroyed because of the same moral decay that claimed the worlds of the ancients. 

I tuned across a radio station, WRFG the Progressive Voice, last evening looking for a Blue Grass Gospel station.  It was disheartening to hear the voices of well meaning people speaking as “lunatics of knowledge and understanding” knowing that those voices are lost in the Antichrist’s jaws of death.  Public Broadcasting stations are increasingly becoming the voices of everything anti-American. They speak as if God is on their side when in fact, their god is the god of this world (Satan) and they do not realize it.  Fools that they are they continually promote class warfare and all the “ISMs” of bondage and slavery.

Unless you claim the TRUTH of the Biblical Scriptures of the Holy Bible, not man’s understanding of his own personal thoughts about God, an eternity in hell will be your destination.  These are not my words or thoughts but are the Truths of the living God—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious, About America | No Comments »

12. October 2011 by PawBill.

It is easy for man to get caught up in name calling—my religion is greater than your religion, my body is prettier than your body, my politics is better than your politics and that type stuff.  It serves only as a distraction and causes division.  Let’s face it, man became wired for divisiveness when “Eve Bit into the Apple.”

It matters not whether you believe in the story of Adam and Eve, but at some time in the distant past man’s disposition for “doing good” or “doing evil” brought about a divide that has pitted man against man, man against nature and man against God.  You need only look to history and to man’s present day theatrics to see man’s true self and his outcome when left to his own humanistic, self-righteousness.

While our nation argues about meaningless, unimportant “stuff,” America’s economy, her Republic and her religious and moral values are gaining momentum circling in the “great white bowl” of polluted waste that will soon be flushed into a great gulf of tribulation and sorrow.  The direction of the world and its final disposition was written about thousands of years ago, but man refuses to believe the ancients and continues with his own self-righteous ways.

What about you?  Are you lost in the discussions of religious cults, Tea Parties, 99er’s and other mundane controversies you have no control over?  Take control of your life and get your house in order for who knows when the days of economic disaster may be upon you.

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man” Proverbs 24:33-34 NIV.

As for the poor amongst us, they will survive as they always have.  As Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want” Mark 14:7 NIV. Government and caring people have always provided temporary assistance to the homeless, downtrodden and victims of disasters. However, when “temporary needs” become “permanent rights” as they have in America and the poor minority becomes the poor majority that chooses to blame others rather than themselves for their own behavioral dependencies and bad judgments and decisions, disastrous societal consequences follow close behind.

There is a solution and that solution can be found in Jesus Christ. Come to Jesus today and find peace and love in His arms. He will change your life!

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious, About America | No Comments »

8. October 2011 by PawBill.

Surprisingly, spontaneous acts of kindness can still be found in everyday life despite the seemingly ugliness of the present generation of ungodliness that is permeating every element of American society; the “me first, I’m entitled,” generation as I like to call them.   This past Tuesday evening my wife and I experienced one of those acts while traveling on US Airways flight 1447 from New York to my home via an interconnecting flight through Charlotte, NC.

Most air travelers try to carry on as much luggage as they can to avoid the baggage charges that are now being collected by most airlines; in my case, the total came to eighty-five dollars for my flight.  For most business passengers it is also a matter of avoiding the baggage claim areas and the possibility of lost or damaged luggage; I only had one wheel broken on my three checked bags and fortunately no lost luggage.

I am going out on a limb here but it has been my observation that most women’s carryon luggage pushes the airlines maximum guidelines.  It is not unusual to see other passengers assisting women with the lifting and placing of their luggage in overhead compartments.  My wife is no exception when it comes to packing her carryon bag which she complains has more of my stuff than hers. I might agree with her so I never complain. 

Let me describe our experience on US Airlines flight 1447. Prior to boarding an announcement was made requesting passengers in rolls five and six to come forward and have their carryon luggage checked because there would be no overhear compartments available in their area. I should have expected that there might be a problem (who in their right mind would go forward), but I promptly forgot about the announcement assuming I would not be affected.

My wife and I were assigned to roll seven in section two.  When section two was called to board we proceeded with the “herd” that had already grouped around the doorway entrance.   Once onboard we found our seats but our carryon luggage could not be placed overhead above our assigned seats.  There was only room above roll sixteen—ten rolls further back.

I knew there would be a delay in our un-boarding, but we had an hour and a half until a connecting flight on the same carrier, and I assumed time would not be a factor. I was just glad I had checked my carryon in New York so I did not have to deal with two bags. Some men treat or refer to their wives as “old bag’s,” but that is another story for another occasion.  When we landed my assumed time frame had quickly diminished; there was now only forty-five minutes until our connecting flight. 

When the seat belt sign was turned off upon arrival at the gate, the herd stood throughout the plane and the process began.  All the overhead doors were opened and luggage was being removed. The aisles were crowded and time was beginning to tick away.

Quickly, a strategy plan was placed into action.  My wife would make her way off the plane and proceed to the terminal and once there verify the gate location of our connecting flight.  I in turn would work my way to roll sixteen and retrieve our luggage.  It was going to be a daunting process, and I had to be graceful and not belligerent because there were many others who were also trying to make connecting flights. I know because that was the small talk as people stood waiting for the plane’s door to be opened.

As a vacant spot became open I would move back a roll. I made my way slowly to the seating over the wings where the emergency exits were located and stood, apparently, looking “old and helpless” as other passengers were beginning to exit.  There was now no way to go back any further and I had six rolls to go.  I would have to wait.

As I stood patiently, a young gentleman standing at roll sixteen suddenly asked if the remaining bag in the overhead compartment was mine.  I said yes and without any further discussion he reached up and lifted the bag out of the compartment.  That’s when the team work began.  As he held the bag over his head, he passed the bag forward and one by one the passengers, both men and women, ahead of him took my bag and passed it forward over their heads until I was able to take it.  I stood amazed at the spontaneous teamwork involved.  I offered my thanks and proceeded to exit the plane.

As I passed a flight attendant that was witnessing the courtesy I remarked to him that the “spirit of helpfulness” was still alive. He remarked that maybe the Christmas spirit was starting earlier this year.  He must have been a Christian to say Christmas instead of Winter Holidays but again, that’s another story for another time.  

I have been on many flights but I have never witnessed the courtesy of the “passing of the bag” before.  Maybe the young gentleman had witnessed me helping two older ladies with their luggage as I made my way toward roll sixteen and decided to offer his assistance.  Or maybe, he was just a gentleman and his parents had taught him common courtesy. The book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible has a lot to say about man’s interactions with others and also about the raising of children.  It is a short read and you would enjoy not only its humor but its common sense advice.

There was a recent television commercial that portrayed spontaneous acts of courtesy as one courtesy led to another and to another.  It just goes to show that people will help other.  I do not remember who the sponsor of the advertisement was, but I remember the ad and what it was supposed to represent.   

My thanks go out to the men and women on flight 1447 that passed our luggage over their heads down the aisle that day.  My wife and I arrived at the gate of our connecting flight just as they started the boarding process with no time to spare.  On the connecting flight I was able to place my carryon bag in the overhead compartment directly above our seats.  But this time, it did not matter because there would not be a need to hurry once we reached our final destination.

May your days be blessed as mine continue to be.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Humor, About America | No Comments »