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But backsliding still results in withdrawn blessings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