The Night He Came

It was cold the night they came

Looking for a place to stay

They had journeyed from Galilee

They had travelled for many a day

The man’s hands and feet were nicked and cut

Even in calm she had a tinge of fear

Her womb was full of life

Her time was close, her child was near

We had no room for them and child

The town was crowded so

There was no room for any

They just had to go

But, all the same

It was the night He came

During that night the shepherds watched

When angels brought news of great joy

In a barn, in a manger came

Peace on Earth by a little boy

A king to save His people

Was He the one

That I had turned away this night

Because rooms at the inn we had none

I wondered awhile if this could be

That on this day I did a thing

And turned aside

A new born king

But, all the same

It was the night He came

Many years now have passed

To Jerusalem I went at last

For the passover feast just one more time

And remember the things of my past

They hung a man upon a cross

King of the Jews, the inscription said

With a deep sigh, He said ‘It is finished’

And let out his breath and dropped his head

At the cross, a woman I saw

Could it be after all these years

That this was the boy king

I let born in a barn, my eyes filled with tears

But, all the same

It was the night He came.

I felt such sorrow and despair

For what I had done and what I saw

Royalty should have been his lot

Instead I left him to a bed of straw

One night there came a knock

At the door a man dressed in white

He said do not fear or despair,

It was my Father’s will where I was born that night

This boy, this man, This King of Kings

Came once again and asked to come in

My heart was broken and contrite

He loved me and saved me from my sin

Now, nothing is the same

For it was the night He came.

All that’s left of Summer is …

…a 3-day weekend.

By Tuesday, everything will return to normal. Kids will be back in school. Traffic will increase as summer vacationers re-learn how to drive again. Mass transit will return to crowded platforms and standing only between Jamaica and New York. After weeks of sun, fun and hurricanes, reality returns and it’s back to homework, full offices and waiting for the weekend. At least the weather is beautiful.

It’s a time for a new beginning. Of course, this time we’re going to do it right. Like New Year’s Eve, we make promises of reading the bible more often; praying more often; and staying with that bible study class you’ve been wanting to attend.

King Solomon wrote in

Ecclesiastes 1:8-10 (ESV)

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.

There is nothing new under the sun: Been there, Done That.

Some will succeed; most will fail. But, when you give it all to Jesus, you are the big winner. Only He can turn your life around. Only He can give you the strength to persevere. Only He can make things NEW!

It’s time for a new beginning. It’s time for Jesus!

And that’s the word of The Day.

He who has the most toys…

…dies like everyone else.

Nobody likes to bring up the subject of death. People just don’t like to talk about it. Surveys have shown that 100% of the population will die, whether you have the most toys or not.

Atheists believe that once you die, that’s it. That’s all there is; there ain’t no more. Some religions believe that when you die, you are reincarnated until you get it right. Others believe that God would never send a “good” person to hell. They’re all are wrong!

Hebrews 9:27-28 says, “just as it is appointed for man to DIE ONCE, and after that COMES JUDGMENT, so Christ, having been offered ONCE to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

God’s Word declares that ALL DIE ONCE and then the Judgment. Notice it also says that Christ was offered ONCE for the sins of many. The sin of many not all! Why? Because not all have accepted the sacrifice of Christ to reconcile us to God. Even a “good” person needs to be forgiven. Even a “good” person needs to accept the salvation that only Christ offers through His shed blood.

There is a judgment for sin. But, believers are not subject to that judgment. We have already been judged and redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Non-believers will be judged for their sin and their fate will be sealed to an eternity without God. That’s just a nice way to say the Lake of Fire.

Believers will be judged by the works they did for Christ and His Kingdom. Good works don’t get you to heaven. Good works are a result of your commitment to Christ. But, the end result is still eternity with Jesus.

Make the commitment to Christ now before it’s too late.

It’s as simple as ABC:

• A  - Admit to God that you’re sinner and repent and turn away from your sins.
• B  - Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and accept His gift of forgiveness.
• C -  Confess your faith in Jesus as your Savior and your Lord forevermore.

Jesus paid it All!

And that’s the word of The Day

Some random thoughts on Hurricane Irene

This past weekend, Aug 26-28, 2011, Hurricane wrecked havoc on the eastern seaboard from North Carolina to New England. Packing winds of 100 MPH, she slammed into North Carolina and Virginia. As she weakens on her journey north, she made landfall once again in Brooklyn and travelled up the Hudson River into Vermont and eventually lost all her energy in NE Canada. As of today, 38 deaths are attributed to her. Property damage may well reach over $12B.

Many areas were badly affected including my hometown on Long Island. Thankfully, God spared us and our property. We lost no siding or roofing and amazingly, never lost power. We cleaned up the tree debris on Monday and by the afternoon, it looked like just another beautiful summer day on LI.

On the Friday night before the storm hit us and throughout the storm, We prayed constantly these bible passages asking God for His protection in the storm:

• Ps 107:29-31

  He made the storm be still,
     and the waves of the sea were hushed.
  Then they were glad that the waters[a] were quiet,
     and he brought them to their desired haven.
  Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
     for his wondrous works to the children of man!

 

• Ps 121:7-8

  7The LORD will keep you from all evil;
     he will keep your life.
  8The LORD will keep
     your going out and your coming in
     from this time forth and forevermore.

 

• Ps 34:8

  8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

There were others and we continued trusting in Him.

In the aftermath of the storm, I’m thankful that he spared us any damage and took us through the storm.

Other areas were not so blessed. The floods in New York and Vermont have been devastating. Does that mean that there were no Christians in those areas praying for protection. No, it doesn’t. I can’t explain it and I don’t want to try. It just happens. The best and only blessing each Christian can rely on and put all their faith in is their salvation. Regardless of what happens to us, we are always blessed. You might not think so if your basement is flooded or your house is damaged, but, you are blessed. God sent His only Son to take the punishment meant for us and reconcile us to Himself so that we can have eternal life. There is no greater blessing than that.

One more thing about the sovereignty of God: He is in total control.

Job 37:11-13 says  

He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
   the clouds scatter his lightning.
They turn around and around by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
   on the face of the habitable world.
Whether for correction or for his land
   or for love, he causes it to happen.

He turns the clouds around and around (like a hurricane) and it accomplishes what He commands. God may use it for correction or one translation says judgment. Everyone concentrated on the wind and rain from the Hurricane, yet, New Jersey, New York and Vermont unexpectedly, are dealing with massive flooding. Two of those states, New York and Vermont, have passed same-sex marriage laws allowing gays and lesbians to legally marry therefore making a mockery of God’s Word. Never underestimate the sovereignty of God. He will not be mocked.

Whose God?

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
(Matthew 24:24 ESV)

Glenn Beck has come a long way in the last 2 years since he became a fixture on the Fox News Channel at 5:00. He is funny, intelligent and a conservative with strong family values.

He opposes the rise of socialism brought about by the Obama Agenda and exposes the inner workings of the radical leftists who seem to be running the country.

Conservatives like myself loved him and he developed a huge following in the Christian Community. He evens talks about God and Jesus. He has even mentioned his own atonement and consistently has Christian pastors, authors and historians on his show to lead America back its Founding Fathers and its Christian roots.

He began the 9-12 Project and the Warrior Fund and is a darling of the Tea Party Movement.

Despite the fact that he is a Mormon, people were starting to believe that he was now a Christian. He was starting to talk and act like one.

Glenn often exhorts his audience to “question with boldness”. So I ask this question with boldness, “Is Glenn Beck a Christian or is he a Mormon?” Same thing you say? Think again! Mormons ARE NOT Christians.

This weekend Glenn has hosted 2 events in Washington. On Friday, it was America’s Divine Destiny at the Kennedy Center. Saturday’s event was called the 8/28 Restoring Honor Rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Glenn Beck said BOTH events were not Christian events but GOD events. God. Christians love to hear people invoke the name of God. But whose God is Glenn Beck talking about.

From the Website: http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?p=8821

All Christians recognize the primary consequence of the garden sin: death. Beck, on the other hand, sees the poisonous meal as a good thing. Recently, he said Adam and Eve “came down” and “had to eat the apple” because “they had to have a knowledge of good and evil” because “freedom to choose is essential”. Here is an exchange he had back in 2008 with one caller, who actually had the right idea about sin in the garden:

GLENN: Ask your professor why Adam and Eve came down. Why, what was the whole thing about with the snake and the apple? What was that all about?

CALLER: Because they disobeyed God.

GLENN: Yeah, but what did that do? If Adam and Eve could if Adam and Eve didn’t have the apple, they wouldn’t have been fruitful and multiplied. Man would not be if it wasn’t for that, okay? So what did they do? They ate the apple. Their eyes were opened. They saw the difference between good and evil.

Notice the talk show host tries to correct her and ignores that “disobedience thing”. He echoes Joseph Smith’s Pearl of Great Price (Moses 5:10-11):

“Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient”.

The Latter Day Saints doctrine in view is that “spirit babies” are born of Celestial marriage and as Glenn Beck says, “come down” to be born in human form. The Bible rather teaches that Adam and Eve were created and God breathed into them the Spirit of life. They did not pre-exist. In keeping with the serpent’s deception, Mormons believe that they must become human before they can become “divine.” In spite of his frequent allusions, some people refuse to acknowledge Glenn Beck’s LDS views have made their way into his radio and television shows on a regular basis.

Glenn Beck does not pray to or believe in the God of the Bible. He prays to a different God, a false God. Glenn Beck is a Mormon, not a Christian.

Click here for a chart of Mormonism vs Christianity

I agree with a lot of the politically conservative views he espouses but I can not stand with him on the issues of God and Faith. I wouldn’t stand with Oprah Winfrey and I won’t stand with Glenn Beck.  Both are false prophets.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6 ESV)

The only means of salvation is Jesus Christ. The real Jesus; the Jesus of the bible.

Jesus is having a conversation with Nicodemus who is a leader and a ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee. He’s a teacher, someone who knows the Word of God and Old Testament biblical theology. But he’s burdened because he wants to enter the Kingdom of God and in spite of his religiosity he’s not satisfied that he has attained that, that he has entered the Kingdom of God. So Jesus speaks to him in John 3:3 and says, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born from above, or, born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.

What is He saying to Nicodemus? “Nicodemus, you’re working really hard to get into the Kingdom of God. But I want to tell you something. You don’t get in there from here, it comes from above. If
you’re going to be regenerated, it has to come down from above. You can’t achieve it.”

This is a divine miracle that comes down from heaven. This is not something you can generate. This is not something you can produce. This is not something you can manufacture. This is a spiritual thing, a work of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit comes to whom He will when He wills. That’s such a powerful answer. You’re talking about a divine miracle that comes down from above.

Has that miracle happened to you? Are you born again? It’s the only way to heaven. Not my words but Jesus’ words.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
(Romans 1:16,17 ESV)

The righteousness from God and not from man is revealed in the gospel. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. You can NEVER earn your way to heaven. The bible describes our works as filthy rags. Nothing “good” that we do earns us any points. Salvation is a gift to all who believe.

It’s as simple as ABC:

• A  - Admit to God that you’re sinner and repent and turn away from your sins.
• B  - Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and accept His gift of forgiveness.
• C -  Confess your faith in Jesus as your Savior and your Lord forevermore.

Any questions? Read the Gospel of John!

And that’s the word of The Day

Burgers? We don’t need no stinkin’ Burgers

On Friday, July 16, 2010, the Joyful Hearts enjoyed a Summer BBQ. But, this was no ordinary BBQ. Hamburgers and hotdogs were not the fare of the day. No hotdogs-eating contests. No Wendy’s Double-Stack lookalikes. No ketchup or mustard necessary.

No, this was something special. As people began to arrive, they were puzzled when they saw that no grill was being used. No one was sweating over hot coals. There was no smoky fire with hotdogs and hamburgers. There was none of that. People were worried. Were we just going to have salads for dinner? “Where’s the beef?” was the cry.

Well, the beef was on the way and so was the pork.

    

Andy D’Agostino had graciously offered to cook for the Joyful Hearts. But burgers and dogs were not on his menu. Two days earlier, I went with Andy to the Restaurant Depot and we bought a 17-lb boneless ribeye roast and a 9-lb pork tenderloin. Andy did the cooking at home and at 6:45, he showed up with 2 of the most delicious-looking pieces of meat you ever saw. The beef ribeye was tender and juicy. The pork was cooked to perfection and came with Andy’s own spicy apricot-mango chutney. Hmmm good!

Needless to say, everyone was pleasantly surprised and equally satisfied with the special of the day. It was delicious. Thanks, Andy. You did a great job and the Joyful Hearts are very grateful.

Burgers? We don’t eat no stinkin’ burgers!

Potato Salad and Chocolate Chip Cookies

A beloved brother of Gospel Community Church, Al Eastwood (no relation to Clint), went home to be with the LORD last week. Al and his wife Merrill have been living in Florida for the past decade or so. Al had Parkinson’s Disease. Sue and I met him 3 summers ago when they came back to NY for the summer of 2007. Al was very frail even then but when he was younger, he was a valuable member of the church, well-loved and good friend to many. His wake was last Thursday and the service was Thursday night. We couldn’t make the service because of softball even though we wanted to go but there would have been no one to run the girl’s team that night.

Al was buried at Calverton on Friday and everyone was invited back to the church afterwards for food. Sue and I helped Ellen setup the tables, make the coffee and make sure everything was right for when they came back. We were also waiting for the delivery of the Big Sammich (a 6-ft hero). We didn’t stay once everyone showed up. We were there just to setup.

Ellen’s mom, Dolores, makes the best potato salad ever. When we were setting up, I noticed a whole aluminum tray of her potato salad in the fridge. Our mouth’s were watering for a piece of hero and Dolores’ potato salad. But, we left as we had planned.

On Saturday morning, I open up the church at 6:30 AM for the Men’s Bible Study Breakfast. When I opened the refrigerator, I was disappointed that no Sammich was left but I did notice the aluminum tray. So, when the men were finished with the bible study and as I was leaving, I asked Pastor Ed if I could take the aluminum tray home with me because I was certain that Dolores’ potato salad would eventually get thrown out. Pastor said to take it home.

I got home and put it in the fridge excited about having the leftover potato salad to enjoy. When noon rolled around, I told Sue, I was going to make a plate of potato salad. She didn’t want any which meant that there was more for me. I got out a plate, took the salad out of the fridge and opened it to spoon some out. When I peeled back the aluminum foil on the aluminum tray, my eyes opened in amazement and then saddened as the disappointment was realized. It was a tray of chocolate chip cookies. It was the first time ever in my life that I was unhappy to see a chocolate chip cookie.

Two similar tray; 2 different foods; 1 disappointed man. So, I did what any other true-blooded American would do – I ate a cookie!

The object of my belief was the tray. I believed that the tray was what I wanted. That it contained all that I expected. I made it my idol, took it home and worshipped it. But, when I opened it, it was a lie. It wasn’t what I wanted. It was something else altogether. The outside was the same, the inside was very different. It wasn’t the real thing.

Unfortunately, many people today believe in god the way I believed in that tray. They claim to believe in their own god but once the true layer in peeled back, the One True God is revealed and it’s not what they expected. Potato salad and chocolate chip cookies are one thing but, salvation, eternal life and redemption are something else.

 

That One True God is God, eternally present in 3 Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He will never disappoint you. He will never fool you. He’s the real thing. The One True God is not an object. It’s not a feeling. It’s not an idea. It’s not an as-long-as-you-believe-in-something-you’re-ok kind of god. No, it’s none of these things.

The One True God is revealed to us in a Person, the LORD Jesus Christ. John 17:3 says “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (KJV)

Don’t be fooled by the outward appearance. Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. (John14:6)

So, go ahead and peel back and “taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.” (Psalm 34:8)