Thursday, May 1, 2008
This Weekend
Jeana and I will be out of town this weekend to celebrate our 22th wedding anniversary. Thank you Stan for taking care of our class. I will see you next week.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Hand Of God
As I watched the news, I was amazed at the destruction from the tornadoes this week in Virginia. Cars were tossed as if they were toys and buildings were completely destroyed. Thankfully there was no loss of life. God's hand of protection was on these people who were in the path of these storms just as it was on the students of Union several weeks ago.Is God trying to show us something ?
Do you think the churches in Virginia will be full this Sunday ?
How long will they be full ?
I pray that we as a country will see that God is in control and He loves His people. Just maybe someone's life will be changed.
Friday, April 25, 2008
An Opened Door
Since I am a little slower and heavier than most boys my age, I get to "work the gate" on our cattle farm. Working the gate means that I stand and open the gate as cows or calves come by. This lets you separate one from the other. My dad and my brother, being a little faster on their feet than me, work the cows or calves toward the gate. As the animal goes towards the gate I will open it at the right time to let it into the next pen. The cow or calve will take the opportunity go through to opened gate.
This week we will see that God opened the door of opportunity for Joseph. After a long stay in jail Joseph gets out to help Egypt through bad times. He is rewarded for his wisdom. Joseph remembered that God blessed him with this wisdom.
Does God open doors of opportunity for us ?
Do we recognize when those doors are opened for us ?
How can we remember to thank God for opened doors ?
I went to see Matt and Candy today. He is able to stand up without the aid from someone. God thank you for bringing them home !!!
I will see you in Sunday School.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A Very Special Thanks
Our class has so many people who are very talented. Some we recognize and some go unrecognized. I want to thank Stephen Forrester for his fine work keeping all of us informed on the progress of Matt Kelley while he and his family were in Jackson. Many people came by the office and told me of the blessing they received by reading his blog. It was a great ministry for our class and church.
Again thanks Stephen.
Again thanks Stephen.
An Email I Want To Share
A letter to Oprah posted this morning to her personal address.
***********************************************************************
Dear Oprah,
I realize that you won't be the first to read this, but I do hope it makes its way to your eyes and heart.
I hoped to tell you that your show has helped my daughter in many ways. I am very sorry to have to block the show in my home due to some disturbing information you are disseminating on who you think Jesus Christ is/was.
Like you I am a seeker. I took charge of my life, got an education, and I strive to constantly improve myself just as you teach your viewers. I made no effort to re-define God based on my new life. The freedom and privilege that come from success and money do not, in my mind, change who God is, was or the history of what really took place in His revealing of Himself to us.
The Course in Miracles you are promoting is a sadly convincing trap that will snare many simple minded and desperately searching people when you could so easily point them to a true solution to their suffering. The "slain Christ" does have meaning and has for thousands of years before you became "enlightened". That old rugged cross got me and thousands of others through crisis after crisis- again before your billion dollar media empire existed. Fortunately, someone influential in my life pointed me to the truth rather than some self-styled idea about who they decided to re-invent.
I implore you to re-think your actions and listen deeply to your heart and not to advisors that become abundant when you are notable. Your influence on this planet is great. Imagine if you take your "followers" down the wrong road due to inaccurate information. Teaching comes with a tremendous responsibility. Success doesn't make you right, or an expert on everything.
I doubt seriously you were taught these things as a young girl. I suppose rather they have come to you from advisors and interesting people that have influenced you along the way. In integrating these beliefs, you have abandoned your roots and attempted to re-define the One who created you . To this outside observer, you appear to be trying to take on God's role. That's been tried before and the world waits as that story plays itself out. Let him teach; you share His message. The consequences of your actions have dire ramifications for a lot of searching people.
Ms Winfrey, if you have indeed seen this for yourself, I want you to know that I will pray that the God you seem to have abandoned will find someone influential to you to show you that you are hurting rather than helping these souls and help you understand WHY God has allowed you so much. History will tell. Many have been deceived... and deceived others.
Your friend,
Steve Harbin
Every Christian should read and be aware of this. In 2Tim. 4:3-4 Paul warned "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away
their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." This warning has never been more true than it is today.
We really need to be aware of this. It is one more dangerous sign of the times we are living in.
This made for interesting reading and how we are so easily deceived. Go to the different web sites listed and it makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. All the untruths that are being taught to gullible people. We best be on our toes with our Bibles in our hands to see what is truth and untruth and help people see the real "light." May God help us!
So sad to say, I used to think Oprah knew it all.
Many of you, like me, have probably been Oprah fans for a long time. This is very discouraging news to hear about one who has such tremendous influence on the general public. Please ask God to show Oprah the real Jesus Christ.
Just to make sure this was true, I went on Oprah's website and there it is. The below article is very interesting, so I thought I would share.
MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY READ THE BELOW....IT IS THE SUBJECT ABOUT WHICH THE ABOVE LETTER WAS ADDRESSED..........(EXTREMELY WELL, I MIGHT ADD)
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/smith-oprah.htm and
http://www.oprah.com/xm/mwilliamson/mwilliamson_about.jhtml
"Oprah and Friends" to teach course on New Age Christ
Jesus Christ being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed and , this false New-
Age Christ teaching is about to make huge inroads into the world, with the help
of the queen of television talk shows, Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah Winfrey, beginning January 1, 2008, on her daily radio program will offer
a year-long course on the New Age Christ, in a lesson a day and completely
cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles "Workbook."
Listeners will be encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long
course, and an audio version, recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas will
be available on compact disc.
Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset-a
New Age worldview that include the beliefs that there is no sin, no evil, no
devil. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they
believe about God and life, and, bluntly states: "This is a course in mind
training" and is dedicated to "thought reversal."
The Course in Miracles - in reality is the truth of the Bible turned upside
down.
Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book, A Course in Miracles
was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand
copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience.
Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book to the top of the New York
Times bestseller list .
A Course in Miracles is allegedly a "new revelation" from
"Jesus " to help humanity work through these troubled times. This
"Jesus", who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus
Christ, began delivering channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University
Professor of Medical Psychology, Helen Schucman.
One day Schucman heard an "inner voice" stating, "This is a
course in miracles. Please take notes." For seven years she diligently
took spiritual dictation from this voice that described himself as
"Jesus."
Here are some quotes from the "Jesus" voice of A Course in Miracles :
"There is no sin . . . "
A "slain Christ has no meaning."
"The journey to the cross should be the last 'useless' journey."
"Do not make the pathetic error of clinging to the old rugged cross."
"The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that
is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you
pray."
"The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."
"The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him
that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation."
2 Timothy 3 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away.
Christians.....Take heed!!
And PLEASE pass this one on.....if you never forward anything else!
***********************************************************************
Dear Oprah,
I realize that you won't be the first to read this, but I do hope it makes its way to your eyes and heart.
I hoped to tell you that your show has helped my daughter in many ways. I am very sorry to have to block the show in my home due to some disturbing information you are disseminating on who you think Jesus Christ is/was.
Like you I am a seeker. I took charge of my life, got an education, and I strive to constantly improve myself just as you teach your viewers. I made no effort to re-define God based on my new life. The freedom and privilege that come from success and money do not, in my mind, change who God is, was or the history of what really took place in His revealing of Himself to us.
The Course in Miracles you are promoting is a sadly convincing trap that will snare many simple minded and desperately searching people when you could so easily point them to a true solution to their suffering. The "slain Christ" does have meaning and has for thousands of years before you became "enlightened". That old rugged cross got me and thousands of others through crisis after crisis- again before your billion dollar media empire existed. Fortunately, someone influential in my life pointed me to the truth rather than some self-styled idea about who they decided to re-invent.
I implore you to re-think your actions and listen deeply to your heart and not to advisors that become abundant when you are notable. Your influence on this planet is great. Imagine if you take your "followers" down the wrong road due to inaccurate information. Teaching comes with a tremendous responsibility. Success doesn't make you right, or an expert on everything.
I doubt seriously you were taught these things as a young girl. I suppose rather they have come to you from advisors and interesting people that have influenced you along the way. In integrating these beliefs, you have abandoned your roots and attempted to re-define the One who created you . To this outside observer, you appear to be trying to take on God's role. That's been tried before and the world waits as that story plays itself out. Let him teach; you share His message. The consequences of your actions have dire ramifications for a lot of searching people.
Ms Winfrey, if you have indeed seen this for yourself, I want you to know that I will pray that the God you seem to have abandoned will find someone influential to you to show you that you are hurting rather than helping these souls and help you understand WHY God has allowed you so much. History will tell. Many have been deceived... and deceived others.
Your friend,
Steve Harbin
Every Christian should read and be aware of this. In 2Tim. 4:3-4 Paul warned "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away
their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." This warning has never been more true than it is today.
We really need to be aware of this. It is one more dangerous sign of the times we are living in.
This made for interesting reading and how we are so easily deceived. Go to the different web sites listed and it makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. All the untruths that are being taught to gullible people. We best be on our toes with our Bibles in our hands to see what is truth and untruth and help people see the real "light." May God help us!
So sad to say, I used to think Oprah knew it all.
Many of you, like me, have probably been Oprah fans for a long time. This is very discouraging news to hear about one who has such tremendous influence on the general public. Please ask God to show Oprah the real Jesus Christ.
Just to make sure this was true, I went on Oprah's website and there it is. The below article is very interesting, so I thought I would share.
MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY READ THE BELOW....IT IS THE SUBJECT ABOUT WHICH THE ABOVE LETTER WAS ADDRESSED..........(EXTREMELY WELL, I MIGHT ADD)
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/smith-oprah.htm and
http://www.oprah.com/xm/mwilliamson/mwilliamson_about.jhtml
"Oprah and Friends" to teach course on New Age Christ
Jesus Christ being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed and , this false New-
Age Christ teaching is about to make huge inroads into the world, with the help
of the queen of television talk shows, Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah Winfrey, beginning January 1, 2008, on her daily radio program will offer
a year-long course on the New Age Christ, in a lesson a day and completely
cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles "Workbook."
Listeners will be encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long
course, and an audio version, recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas will
be available on compact disc.
Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset-a
New Age worldview that include the beliefs that there is no sin, no evil, no
devil. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they
believe about God and life, and, bluntly states: "This is a course in mind
training" and is dedicated to "thought reversal."
The Course in Miracles - in reality is the truth of the Bible turned upside
down.
Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book, A Course in Miracles
was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand
copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience.
Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book to the top of the New York
Times bestseller list .
A Course in Miracles is allegedly a "new revelation" from
"Jesus " to help humanity work through these troubled times. This
"Jesus", who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus
Christ, began delivering channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University
Professor of Medical Psychology, Helen Schucman.
One day Schucman heard an "inner voice" stating, "This is a
course in miracles. Please take notes." For seven years she diligently
took spiritual dictation from this voice that described himself as
"Jesus."
Here are some quotes from the "Jesus" voice of A Course in Miracles :
"There is no sin . . . "
A "slain Christ has no meaning."
"The journey to the cross should be the last 'useless' journey."
"Do not make the pathetic error of clinging to the old rugged cross."
"The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that
is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you
pray."
"The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."
"The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him
that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation."
2 Timothy 3 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away.
Christians.....Take heed!!
And PLEASE pass this one on.....if you never forward anything else!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Remember Me
We all go though hard times. If you are not in a struggle now you will be in one. It is easy to lose hope.
This week Joseph is in prison. He is in charge of the king's cup-bearer and baker who were sentenced with a crime. Both have dreams and Joseph interrupts these dreams with God's help. One of these men is restored to his position with the king, the other one is not so lucky. In the excitement of freedom, Joseph was forgotten and left in prison. Joseph never lost hope.
How can we not lose hope during a struggle ?
How can we always remember who should get the glory ?
As I write this, David and Candy are bringing Matt home. Praise God for answered prayers!!!! It would have been easy to lose hope but they did not. God has a plan. He had a plan for Joseph and He has a plan for the Kelly's. Let's be a class and a church who remembers that God is in control.
This week Joseph is in prison. He is in charge of the king's cup-bearer and baker who were sentenced with a crime. Both have dreams and Joseph interrupts these dreams with God's help. One of these men is restored to his position with the king, the other one is not so lucky. In the excitement of freedom, Joseph was forgotten and left in prison. Joseph never lost hope.
How can we not lose hope during a struggle ?
How can we always remember who should get the glory ?
As I write this, David and Candy are bringing Matt home. Praise God for answered prayers!!!! It would have been easy to lose hope but they did not. God has a plan. He had a plan for Joseph and He has a plan for the Kelly's. Let's be a class and a church who remembers that God is in control.
Our Pastor's Dad
Brother Frank's dad pasted away last night. I do not know the details yet. Let's keep him and his family in our prayers.