Who Told You?

Man was never afraid before he ate of the tree
of knowledge. He fellowshipped easily with God.

He did not feel that he was being judged. He was
innocent and naive. Man only knew God's love.

Then Satan entered the picture.

God said to Adam, "Who told you that you were naked."

God always ask us, "Who told you?"

It is important who we listen to.

mtc 2009

The Pain of Love

Suffering is part of being human and Christian.
Those who love most seem to suffer most from
the plight of others.

We need prayer even if God does not grant our
prayer request. Asking why is never productive.

As we grow spiritually we are able to bear more
burdens. It is not pleasant but we share with Christ
in the pain of love.

mtc 2009

Depraved Calvinism

Calvinism is more than an academic debate.

How could anyone believe that my three month
old grand-daughter could be on God's list of those
with no hope - Born to Lose?

No amount of prayer, Sunday School, VBS, AWANAS,
Sermons or Singing could change that fact if she is
destine to hell.

How could a Calvinist have children knowing
such is possible? Even non-select dying babies would
go to hell. They reach accountability at conception.

How could any Christian actually believe in "no hope"
Christianity. Born to Lose is depraved thinking.

Maybe Calvin was not one of the elect.

mtc 2009

Freedom's Hidden Cost

The May 25 Army Times pictured faces of 395 fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. In the previous twelve months, these US men and women died in the wars. Seeing the Faces of the Fallen make the cost of freedom especially real. The total number is near 5,000.

It is too late to pray for those who did not know Christ. They have gone to hell preserving our freedom.

Pray for the salvation of those who will yet die.

mtc 2009

Our God is a Jealous God

In many Baptist churches, Old Glory will fly especially
high on Sunday morning. The music will be uplifting
and patriotic. We will pledge our allegiance to the flag
and to the United States of America. Our hearts will
beat hard within our chests. We will remember the
price that has been paid and continues to be paid for
our freedom. Our emotions will be made tender by
the sacrifices and our resolve will be strengthened
to fight all who would seek to tread on the USA. God
help us to be faithful citizens and God Bless America.

Old Glory will be the star as the state goes to church
this weekend. Our God is a jealous God!

mtc 2009

The Eighth Day

God created for six days and
On the seventh day he rested

God knew man would sin and die
So, He planned a new creation

On the eighth day he returned to work
And worked until the work was done

Then He shouted with a loud voice
"It is finished"

mtc 2009

Jihan's Testimony

Jihan, my wife of thirty-three years, is from Korea. This is her
testimony.


My parents were Buddhist. So, I was raised Buddhist. I went
to the Buddhist temple and bowed before Buddha asking for
blessings. My neighbor was a Buddhist fortune teller who taught
me the discipline of prayer and giving to receive blessings.

At the age of eighteen I met a young Christian woman who
became my piano teacher. She invited me to go to church. Since
I liked her, I went to church with her regularly. Soon I had a life
changing experience. I rejected Buddhism and chose Christ.

My mother notice the difference, so I told her what I had done.
Because I left Buddhism, she blamed me once when she was
unable to move her arms. Later she said my God was more
powerful than hers. Six years later she died of cancer. But,
before she died she also rejected Buddhism and accepted Christ
as Savior and Lord.

Before trusting in Christ, I was superstitious and fearful. I
was always seeking personal blessings. Now, I know that
God really loves me. I am more at peace with myself. I try to
be a blessing to others. I am sure that I am going to heaven.

I thank God for my piano teacher who invited me to church. I
thank God for the small Baptist church in Korea that showed
God's love to me and for the pastor's wife that taught me what
it means to be a follower of Christ. I thank God for the Bible.
Most of all, I thank my Lord Jesus Christ for making it possible
for my spirit to be born again and for His Spirit to reside within
me to seal my salvation, to comfort me, to disciple me, to counsel
me, to help me pray, and to provide spiritual gifts for me to use in
His church. I look forward with great anticipation to Christ's
return.

If you are not a follower of Jesus the Christ, seek Him. You too can
have a life changing experience guaranteed for eternity.

Jihan 2001

My Personal Testimony

At the age of seven, I made a conscious decision to
become a Christian. I made this decision the very
same day that I learned that I was a born sinner
and was spiritually estranged from God.

A Christian is one who has breached this estrangement
by accepting Christ's offer to restore their spiritual
relationship with God. Christ said that He came that
we might have life and have life more abundantly.

Though I did not feel like a sinner, God revealed to me
through a sermon from the Bible that I was old enough
to be accountable. That same day, I placed my trust in
Christ for my spiritual rebirth and reunion with God.

I am immortal. Now my spirit is protected by Christ
forever. My earthly destiny is determined by the degree
to which I yield to the Spirit of God who resides in each
Christian. As I yield, I experience abundant faith in Christ
and love. The fruit of the Spirit "LOVE" produces joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self control.

I am a member of a local church, the First Baptist Church
of Farmersville. And like all Christians, my mission through
the church is to go into all the world with the good news that
each persons' relationship with God can be restored. My mission
through the church is to teach other Christians what the Bible
says about the abundant life and love. My mission through the
church is to help one another maintain spiritual accountability as
we seek to become more like Christ and less like Adam. My
mission through the church is to worship God with one another, to
fellowship with one another and to minister to those in need.

In addition to human talents, God gives each church member
one or more, supernatural spiritual gifts which empowers the
church to accomplish its spiritual mission. These gifts are for the
church and are only effective when used through the church. A
spiritual gift can not be learned, improved or selected. God gives
gifts based on the availability of Christians and the needs of the
church. As such, my spiritual gifts may change.

Most unfavorable circumstances and crises in my life can be
traced to my sins or the sins of loved ones. Through it all, God
has always been faithful. God has always provided. God has
never left me unprotected. And, God has always made his will
apparent though I have not always been obedient to follow.

My testimony is that God is good and His mercy endures
forever. I can depend on the Holy Spirit to use Bible
scriptures and prayer to deepen my relationship with God
and inspire me to servanthood.

mtc 2001

Heaven Expectations

Do you have a mansion of a big house
And angels for servants

Do you live alone in the mansion
Or who is your mansion mate

Is there a horse and chariot in the garage
And white robes in the closet

Are you employed as a musician with
A harp and a briefcase full of songs

Are you digging nuggets out of the street
Or swinging on the Pearly Gates

Picture yourself as neither male or female
Sexless like the angels

Are you a baby Christian or
A mature saint of the Lord

What do you plan to do in heaven
That you can not do here?

Praise, Fellowship, Pray, Sing
Witness, Tithe, Minister, Love

mtc 1996

Disposition

The simple absence of pain
Can very often be pleasure

The absence of pleasure
For others is most painful

mtc 1997

National Hero Found Lacking

A soldier made the supreme sacrifice
He gave his young life to save his friends

Posthumous honor will come from country
And he will be praised as an army of one

Acquaintances will speak of how they knew him
Many will feel the pain and experience the loss

His parents will grieve with pride
A young girl will mourn the loss of her beloved

What deeds so honorable and sacrifices
So great are enough when life is over

He gave his young life but he was lacking.
Judgement without mercy must follow

Christianity was in the vast fog of religion
That he planned to check out some day

He chose to wait for a more opportune moment
So many things to do. Now, there is no more time.

"Depart from me. I never knew you."
Sad, but not all heroes go to heaven

mtc 2009

Relative Politics

Is there no common data base?
Does everything have a floating standard?

Now that values have become relative
Must we also have relative facts?

How must the electorate determine
To whom to cast the deciding vote?

Must we decide based on emotional relativity
We see no values, facts, truth or platform

Debates are not debates of the issues
They are conflicting statistics and sound bytes

Each politician sells self, a persona
Suspend the facts, values, truth and platform

Politicians are behind changing masks
I am who you want me to be

All is fair in love and in politics
Sort it out after the election

mtc 1996

Over Population

Physical man gets no special privileges
To excessive population

Father God and mother nature control the system
All animals must obey or become non-existent

The worst environmental hazard and
Most dangerous threat to the future

If man does not control his population
Check the scales which way it swings

Technology only temporarily postpones
Pestilence, War, Famine, Plague

It is not a good. It is not a bad.
It is just the laws of God and nature

mtc 1996

Worship Alone

Worshiping God alone is like
Trying to sing a one note song

It can be done - Hum...

But, it lacks harmony and scale

God said at least give me two or three

Gathered together in my name

How about four part harmony

Hal le lu jah - Praise the Lord

Do not neglect to assemble together

mtc 2009

Sparrows don't Worry

The Bible says do not worry
God knows when the sparrow falls
But, my hope is to fly and fly and fly
So, sometimes I worry

mtc 2009

Backslider

Do you know a Christian backslider?

In Proverbs, the backsliders heart is

Filled with his own ways.

I know I should, but..

I know I should not, but...

When Israel made choices based on
Beliefs other than God's ways,
The prophets described their
Lack of faith in God as backsliding.

In Jeremiah, their backsliding increased.
In Psalms, they turned back and tempted God.
In Revelations, they left their first love.

In Jeremiah, The Lord said he would
Destroy those who went backward and
Did not return from their ways.

God forgives the Christian backslider who repents
But backsliding still results in withdrawn blessings

It takes no effort to slide backward
Here am I, Lord. Push me forward!

mtc 2004

Church and the New Covenant

Before Christ formed His church there was the Old Covenant

Believers under the Law, Sacrificed to cover sin,
Worshipped, Sung Psalms, Studied Scriptures,
Prayed, Tithed and gave Alms, Performed Weddings and
Funerals, Helped and Comforted the needy, and
Trained Moral Values

So, Why did Christ form His Church? Why a New Covenant?

He founded His Church on Peters' confession that Jesus is the
Christ - the Messiah. The final sacrifice and a New Covenant
Christ said, "I will build My church"

Christ made the church the steward of the Keys to the Kingdom
Which is that He is the way the truth and the life and that
No one comes to the Father but through Him.
One must come to Christ to receive God's Grace and Mercy

One must hear, accept and trust Christ to have Sins forgiven
And to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What the church does
With the keys to the kingdom impacts who hears and may
Choose to be loosed for heaven

Jesus gave the church its purpose in the Great Commission to
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you

He commanded his followers to love the Lord your God with
All your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and to
Love your neighbor as your self

Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts and empowerment for Christian
Church members to operate the church to accomplish its purpose.

As local Church members we must constantly prioritize and
Evaluate Organization, Activities, Events, Resources and Time
To determine if we are doing critical works or only good works.

mtc 2004

ABSOLUTELY !

Have you heard? Everyone is saying it.
Now I am counting the times that it is said.

Over and over multiple times in conversation
Like a scratched vinyl record jumping a groove.

It is on the news, in interviews, cooking shows,
Sports and weather replacing "you know" and "Awesome."

Eating at a restaurant out on the town, I heard it
Each time the waitress came to the table.

The definition is pure or relatively free of mixture.
It perfectly embodies the nature of a thing. Perfect.

Can there be that much perfection in my presence
All day long. You think? Absolutely!

mtc 2009

Officership

The following was written as a military officer in 1987.
Application can be made to individual lives in other
professions.

I am an Officer. Officership is how well I do my job. If
we use the analogy of marksmanship, an officer must
hit the mark in five areas if he aspires to greatness.

The officer must hit the spiritual mark. In God we
trust. The same God that created something from
nothing when time began, gives meaning to each
person's life. This meaning provides the officer with
the will to endure in the face of hopelessness. It is the
spiritual which makes the officer more than an animal
at war.

The officer must hit the mental mark. He must have

the mental organization to acquire skills, knowledge,

and technical competencies. He must sharpen the

thought processes necessary for planning, directing,

and decision making. The officer must practice mental

health for a man is - what he thinks about.

The officer must hit the emotional mark. In the

absence of emotional stability, the officer will destroy

himself and others. His behavior may become

irrational and his body may become physically ill.

He may develop a dependency on prescription drugs

or alcohol. His mind may dwell on jealousy and

vindictiveness. To maintain emotional strength the

officer must develop mutually supportive personal

relationships. These relationships will sturdy him

against rejection and professional disappointments.

Emotional stability provides the officer with the

capacity to accept the consequences of responsibility.

The officer must hit the social mark. We the people

of the United States of America are one nation. We are

pledged to fair treatment, domestic tranquility, common

defense, general welfare, personal rights and liberties.

The officer has a social obligation and sworn duty to secure

the blessings of liberty. Secondly, the traditions of the

army expect certain social behaviors of an officer. He must

manage his association with superiors, contemporaries,

and subordinates with propriety.

The officer must hit the physical mark. Failure is

imminent if the officer's body does not support the pursuit

of excellence. The body must receive proper maintenance

and conditioning. It must have the capability to endure

distress and deprivation. Good health is necessary for the

officer to meet the physical demands of soldiering.

We are part of a great country, a great people, and a great

profession. When we look to the heroes of our profession we

must emulate only the shots that made them great. We have

only five shots to greatness -- Spiritual, Mental, Emotional,

Social and Physical. We must take care to place each shot on

the mark.

mtc1987

Will to Belief and Faith

Adam, the first man was created in truth destine for paradise
But by an act of the will chose a lie and hell for all humanity

Now we are all born in a lie destine to eternity in hell
We must determine then choose truth

By an act of the will I change my eternal destiny
Like ice cream flavors I am free to choose

So, does Free Will presume Will Power?
Am I depending on the same will for my eternal fate
As I am to maintain a healthy body weight?

Hum, must I act on truth which is faith or
Simply choose to believe truth and deny doubt?
Belief is on a continuum fluctuating from weak to strong

What about the person who does not yet believe but
Chooses anyway to act in faith on God breathed truth
Though maintaining intellectual dissonance?

Unless I act on truth of diet and exercise I remain fat
Likewise, my eternal destiny is changed only if I act on
God breathed truth - Faith

mtc 2009

The Lord is My Sheep Herder

The Lord is my Sheep Herder
And I am the sheep

He promised to keep me
Safe from the deep

Yes, sometimes I wander
And I go astray

But He is always there
To show me the way

For the Lord is my Sheep Herder
And I am the sheep

mtc 1990

Cockleburrs and Corn

We go through life planting cuckleburrs and corn.

We are so bold as to plant them together
In the same field and in the same row.

Then we pray, " God, make the corn prosper,
But please do not let the cockleburrs grow."

mtc 1996

Crime and Punishment

Give a non-Christian the death penalty
And you have dammed him to hell.

If a non-Christian attempts to kill a Christian
And the Christian protects himself with deadly force,
The attacker is condemned to hell.

If the Christian is killed, he goes to heaven.
Should he die with the prayer that his
Killer will become a Christian by and by?

Should the Christian protect himself only
After learning that the attacker is a fellow Christian?

Late at night when you hear an intruder at your bedroom door,
Do not directly spring into lethal action.

First inquire, "Friend are you saved?"

mtc 1996

Information Age Christianity

The Holy Spirit gave it to me
My ministry will Sell it to you

It is Information
Books, Tapes, Music, Charts
Seminars, Workshops

How to do
How not to do
How to avoid doing
How to get someone else to do

Modern money changers
In the Money business
The loving roots of evil

Did someone say Revival
Witness, Prayer, Worship

Abundant living
Bones of the Saints
And Indulgences
Get your Bulletins here

Everyone has the keys
But where are the locks

mtc 1996