tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20560515837862206392024-03-17T23:02:46.919-04:00Tommy Mann www.tommycmann.blogspot.comTommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.comBlogger455125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-81083783935826023262024-03-06T12:05:00.001-05:002024-03-06T12:05:27.877-05:00ABC's <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlmkpJE4yDLoodCOVAdv3BiZdNpQHsc6yCELCd9Hj8TJpVkaPvDmmMfzpsAbIY1C_thCyqNTlntGTPmOUAa9bnApxLCZL462hcoEh72OSpi2HU3hTXFmizmjdER3qXZuummRrLhOIcTc73MSKNsR534kdYfBkWMx6oIHN1qThXcMJif9v2LRiHTFIOfQ/s2220/92367820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2220" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlmkpJE4yDLoodCOVAdv3BiZdNpQHsc6yCELCd9Hj8TJpVkaPvDmmMfzpsAbIY1C_thCyqNTlntGTPmOUAa9bnApxLCZL462hcoEh72OSpi2HU3hTXFmizmjdER3qXZuummRrLhOIcTc73MSKNsR534kdYfBkWMx6oIHN1qThXcMJif9v2LRiHTFIOfQ/s320/92367820.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">I recently wrote about the importance of milk in our diet. Paul scolded the Corinthians for still being on the milk of the Word rather than the meat, meaning that the church had not grown to maturity the way a baby likewise progresses from milk to meat. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">I said that we often create a false dichotomy, asking people if they are on milk or meat, as if Paul’s point was to choose one or the other; we need both the basics and the advanced doctrines. The author of Hebrews makes that point better than I can, writing, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food (12:12).”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">We sometimes think of milk as the stuff of babies when it should be thought of as the building block of health. We should move toward maturity, but we all need to be constantly reminded of the basics. We might call this the ABC’s. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">We cannot read sentences or paragraphs if we do not know the alphabet. As Christians, regardless of how long we have walked with the Lord, we need to master the ABC’s. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Admit you have sinned<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Call upon the name of the Lord<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Deny yourself and follow God<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Enjoy time with God every day<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Forgive those who sin against you<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Give God your time, talent, and treasure<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Hunger and thirst after righteousness<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Invite others to follow Christ<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Join a local church<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Keep God's commandments<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Love your neighbor as yourself<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Make peace with your enemies<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Never give the devil an inch<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Offer yourself as a living sacrifice<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Put on the armor of God<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Quit bad habits<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Rejoice always<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Sing praise to the Lord<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Trust and obey<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Uplift your fellow believers<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Value others over yourself<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Wait upon the Lord<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">X-amine yourself often <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Yearn for the things of God<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Zealously guard the truth<o:p></o:p></p><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-24562315805911675182024-02-28T12:14:00.002-05:002024-02-28T12:14:25.876-05:00Work Hard at Rest<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiShMO3tJzbhGd75PpSMqek3p98rJ4QwrxeyrU2gwUJ83JZ36FCmFho-RRvdBjHwYvXkWsy7YMIXgQieNg7-LmqiFj0Qu9hq_cTNYenJo1aev5C19mw1g6YofY6g20wffuKI6QuE2Y0o-xfd6Wn4iaayG9KELJkypCwDXtK5ZGp3md49AspcI4rf0fK4rY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1680" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiShMO3tJzbhGd75PpSMqek3p98rJ4QwrxeyrU2gwUJ83JZ36FCmFho-RRvdBjHwYvXkWsy7YMIXgQieNg7-LmqiFj0Qu9hq_cTNYenJo1aev5C19mw1g6YofY6g20wffuKI6QuE2Y0o-xfd6Wn4iaayG9KELJkypCwDXtK5ZGp3md49AspcI4rf0fK4rY" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I love oxymorons. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms, like small crowd, jumbo shrimp, original copy, and old news. We use oxymorons when we call a painting pretty ugly, or a comedian seriously funny. Even the word oxymoron is a combination of the prefix meaning “keen” and the word for foolish.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Oxymorons are funny and make things easier to remember. The author of Hebrews employed a clever oxymoron in 4:11 when he wrote, “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Strive, of course, means to work hard. Work hard at resting. Those two concepts would typically cancel each other out, but the author instructs us to work at rest. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">What does he mean by entering rest? In the previous passage he looked back at the exodus when the ancient Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Joshua 21:44 says the Lord gave them rest as they were able to settle down and live in peace in a land flowing with milk and honey. That was the Jewish idea of rest. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But the author of Hebrews expands that idea, saying Jesus gives a better rest than Joshua. The rest available in Christ is a rest from trying to earn our place in heaven and earning God’s favor. It is why Jesus would say in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This is not a rest that sits in a recliner and ceases from all strenuous activity, but a rest that is sure of one’s eternal destiny and position in God’s family. This is rest from worry, a rest from the stress that wonders if they are good enough, that hopes they are saved, that worries if they have lost their salvation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The rest promised by Jesus is an invitation to rest in Christ, being confident that we who put our trust in Him are permanent children of the God of Heaven. Some of us struggle with this, thinking we have to do more. It can’t be that easy, we tell ourselves. But the author of Hebrews tells us to work hard at rest. Put your mental energy into not using it. Just inhale, then exhale, and know you are a child of God. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-1082649701941821692024-02-21T17:12:00.005-05:002024-02-21T17:12:32.198-05:00Your Own Psalm 95<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0b-sZeNDwI3Rm3CmsomfJsykP4y6R9qDA3jQveH5UP3xAruVnl4ZwBTEkMgIUpgnvrkn_0K8DrMt8WDbC7AG8o9qZtPGN0nJdhrcFcBhrdzAfGTP3XZlimjVjBWi9wCirUzw_2ub-mJuYp_yVsKULKdSA3LfJ9aBsnHRiaEwtpeUz-nFjSR9Yke7ErzE/s1024/psalm-951_4759_1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0b-sZeNDwI3Rm3CmsomfJsykP4y6R9qDA3jQveH5UP3xAruVnl4ZwBTEkMgIUpgnvrkn_0K8DrMt8WDbC7AG8o9qZtPGN0nJdhrcFcBhrdzAfGTP3XZlimjVjBWi9wCirUzw_2ub-mJuYp_yVsKULKdSA3LfJ9aBsnHRiaEwtpeUz-nFjSR9Yke7ErzE/s320/psalm-951_4759_1024x768.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Psalm 95 is a song of praise to God for His goodness. It is believed that as the ancient Jews recited this psalm they would prostrate themselves in a posture of worship, as the sixth verse contains this instruction: “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But the chapter begins with these words: “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise (v.1-2)!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We should certainly sing to the Lord with thanksgiving because of all that He has done for us. Psalm 95 takes a sharp turn by looking back at the Jews in the Exodus who were not grateful. They put the Lord to the test and complained, even when God was providing water from a rock and manna for breakfast each morning. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We do not want to repeat their mistakes, but it is easy to do that when we focus on our wants instead of our blessings. Maybe you need to write your own Psalm 95, a song of praise to God in gratitude for all that He has done for you. Get on your knees, or even prostrate yourself, lift up your hands and your voice, and make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You could say something like this:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Thank you, God, for all you've done, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">For the falling rain and rising sun, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">For my family and my friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">For your love that never ends. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Many blessings along the way <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You provide still every day; <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So when I feel my faith run out, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Help me God to never doubt.<o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-12685663007849208492024-02-14T15:32:00.001-05:002024-02-14T15:32:05.957-05:00The World to Come<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLCai5YSI11fQi8C5NpeGvhD-FjC9kHlbog8tTe5Qc4USg3mvXZASQV5QVE0W8H9HcLWpJxOnc8TPP8EC9QohwK984a-4cxeACfnWVd0sw1S3wW1OpPBoqIcNyZL1uhZGN2-lnD08HFFUNOzL1BIYfizF7l6AKcCRn1qgZ7-bnD0fsFtJagG5l5cxAYM/s830/img_5a26163756692.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="830" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLCai5YSI11fQi8C5NpeGvhD-FjC9kHlbog8tTe5Qc4USg3mvXZASQV5QVE0W8H9HcLWpJxOnc8TPP8EC9QohwK984a-4cxeACfnWVd0sw1S3wW1OpPBoqIcNyZL1uhZGN2-lnD08HFFUNOzL1BIYfizF7l6AKcCRn1qgZ7-bnD0fsFtJagG5l5cxAYM/s320/img_5a26163756692.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Many Christians, myself included, believe in the future Millennial Kingdom, a 1,000-year period where Jesus will reign on earth. His rule will not end after the thousand years; that is when the devil will be cast into the lake of fire and then eternity will begin.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Some Christians, called <i>amillenialists,</i> do not believe this kingdom will be literal. They believe we are living in that period right now, and Jesus reigns from heaven, not earth. The 1,000 years, they say, is figurative.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">To this claim I would point out that Revelation 20 describes this kingdom and it uses the words “thousand years” six times in seven verses. That seems literal to me. Also, during the Millennial Kingdom it says Satan is bound, and I don’t think anyone would claim that Satan is bound now. Peter said he is roaming the earth like a lion seeking prey (1 Peter 5:8).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But I would also like to point out Hebrews 2:5, which says, “For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.” From there the author quotes Psalm 8, which says God put all things under man’s feet, meaning mankind oversees God’s creation. The author of Hebrews turned that passage to a prophecy; we do not see everything subjected to mankind right now, but we will in the Millennial Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The word he uses for world is important. The Greek word <i>cosmos</i> appears 185 times in the New Testament, and we have adopted it into English. It refers to the created world, the planet itself. But the word in Hebrews 2:5 appears only 15 times in the Bible, and it refers to the inhabited world, not just the planet. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So the point is that there will be an inhabited world to come, one where all things will truly be under man’s feet. This will be like the Garden of Eden, but it will last for eternity. I have made arrangements to live there, and I hope you have as well. If you have not, just call out to the Lord today, and He will save your spot. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-71069275468657240832024-02-08T07:11:00.001-05:002024-02-08T07:11:12.626-05:00Speak what is Right <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuK7hOB7v_CavkcebXeMXYWwHFPJ4H6UYm0OSHL6INLV4OhmSW7ZpW5oFDaQd5m480xj5tAiB-Jvemz_OsCNAqwSUHfhWRqWlLdgKkqEFLdG3P9ts-T7fXjrydoE3-aTcuZlV-KgyDtFGS2dRaoYGlSc0erDeT_DmmiJrvql8wZzcmU2uEoLTxu9D2Kc/s474/OIP.WLqQc5pp1dNDIqjiJO6hNAHaEK.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="474" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuK7hOB7v_CavkcebXeMXYWwHFPJ4H6UYm0OSHL6INLV4OhmSW7ZpW5oFDaQd5m480xj5tAiB-Jvemz_OsCNAqwSUHfhWRqWlLdgKkqEFLdG3P9ts-T7fXjrydoE3-aTcuZlV-KgyDtFGS2dRaoYGlSc0erDeT_DmmiJrvql8wZzcmU2uEoLTxu9D2Kc/s320/OIP.WLqQc5pp1dNDIqjiJO6hNAHaEK.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">How well do you represent God? Do you ever tell people what you think God is like, or what you think God wants someone to do? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I hear people affirm sin by saying, “God gave you those feelings.” “God wants you to be happy.” “Hey, God understands. He made you that way.” These sentiments almost always are tied to something unbiblical. Whenever we speak for God, we had better make sure we represent Him according to His word, and not according to the wisdom of this world. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Do you remember Job’s friends? In the book that bears his name, Job loses everything in a short time—his children, his fortune, his health, and his reputation. In his culture it was believed that if a person lived right, they would be blessed; any suffering in life had to be a sign that God was punishing them for something. So Job’s friends showed up to help him, and their help was scolding him for his secret sin and imploring him to just come clean and repent. When Job insisted he had no sin from which to repent, they insulted his hubris. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In Job’s weakness he finally asked God why he was suffering so much. God answered Job, not with an explanation, but by showing him how small and human he was compared to God. But then God had a word for Job’s friends. Job 42:7 says:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In the next verse the Lord reiterated, “you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” Job was correct in what he said about God, but the other three misrepresented God, which earned them the wrath of God. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Christian, I don’t believe God likes when we fail to present Him accurately, so make sure what you tell others about God is in line with what the Bible says. Speaking of the Bible, Job’s friends did not have one, so we are held to an even higher standard than they are, because to whom much is given, much will be required. So use the Bible to discover the truth of who God is so that you can accurately represent Him. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-40999033313781564852024-02-07T16:14:00.002-05:002024-02-07T16:14:14.933-05:00Jesus is Better <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPVP1-I9jT_6K9h14v-iMbU0w4L9v0twUKGxwOv2ytu3RHqYMPC00axttTVQQW7ZSEvgXqPIL7GQuSMIxZ23qrEQbOeIMgQfxISzz_af0tXA3qv3M215SH2pFoOfC9xmrCa-XzKwvmfdCvSbFiEp3sLxB_BJR1y5jvzT2tePIy8UxvW7emAPvOomsdf0/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPVP1-I9jT_6K9h14v-iMbU0w4L9v0twUKGxwOv2ytu3RHqYMPC00axttTVQQW7ZSEvgXqPIL7GQuSMIxZ23qrEQbOeIMgQfxISzz_af0tXA3qv3M215SH2pFoOfC9xmrCa-XzKwvmfdCvSbFiEp3sLxB_BJR1y5jvzT2tePIy8UxvW7emAPvOomsdf0/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The unknown author of Hebrews went to great lengths to tell us that Jesus is better. Using the word better 13 times in 13 chapters, the author shows that Jesus is better than Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Melchizedek; He gave a better promise, made a better sacrifice, mediated and better covenant, serves from a better temple, and is a better priest. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In the opening chapter Jesus is shown to be better than the angels, which the Jews held in very high regard. Alluding to Deuteronomy 32:43, the author reminds his audience that the angels worship Jesus, not the other way around: “And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him (Hebrews 1:6).’”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Jews’ obsession with the angels bordered on the line of worshipping them. I realize you probably don’t struggle with the temptation to worship angels, but maybe you feel the pull to do something “religious.” The Hebrew Christians were battling the thought that Jesus was not enough, and that they needed to revert back to the old system with all its outward symbolism. It didn’t save them, but it made them feel like they were extra spiritual. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Maybe you find yourself thinking that extra volunteering or giving will score you extra points with God. That is no different than the Hebrews thinking their customs made them closer to God. Jesus alone is sufficient to save, and He is better—far better—than anything else. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Jews of old would go down to the temple<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">For every hour of prayer and holiday festival;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">They ate the right diet and brought sacrifice,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">They dressed the right way every day of their life.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">They’d follow the law right down to the letter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Those things are good, but Jesus is better. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You volunteer and do charitable giving, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You come to the church where you’re always found serving;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Dressed in your Sunday best you shout “Amen!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You’ve kicked old habits and won’t do them again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You’ve done what you’re told, and you’ve done all the rest.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But Jesus is better. No, Jesus is best.<o:p></o:p></p><p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-43495282539089271392024-01-31T18:23:00.002-05:002024-01-31T18:25:52.711-05:00Final Letter from the Trenches <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlUL7aUvSQF0mcmr-KZzt69fLNlrUFlAWn73LvheliwtIY7e6wpcCr0J4b2I00AoV921RWBisEYK3vY3f58LnNdK4e1HlxjBW8GC9eWgapOXCVfN4oYETLMi8-BUj6K2x58H3xSyBQKtQSoigkJ3vE5qics9u-OOSYHwFyXPCURoUzaf2TfH3lu19T8k/s750/helmet-salvation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlUL7aUvSQF0mcmr-KZzt69fLNlrUFlAWn73LvheliwtIY7e6wpcCr0J4b2I00AoV921RWBisEYK3vY3f58LnNdK4e1HlxjBW8GC9eWgapOXCVfN4oYETLMi8-BUj6K2x58H3xSyBQKtQSoigkJ3vE5qics9u-OOSYHwFyXPCURoUzaf2TfH3lu19T8k/s320/helmet-salvation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Victory is almost ours! I cannot begin to express to you my excitement concerning the progress we are making. Much of the training we have done has been about learning routine things. If I am honest, for a while I found this training monotonous, but now I am beginning to see how it was all part of the bigger plan. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We have been learning to trust our Commander and to march in His footsteps each day. This routine was meant to build our confidence to the point that we no longer have to think; we just react and do what we have been trained to do. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We have also been learning how to use the equipment at our disposal. We have learned the proper techniques to defend ourselves against the enemy. Yes, he is a ruthless tyrant, and his soldiers are well trained, but our equipment is superior, and when we properly avail ourselves of it, it can protect us from even the strongest of attacks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But now, beyond the equipment for our defense, I am becoming skilled with my weapon. When I was first issued this weapon I wasn’t sure how to use it. I was gung-ho, a little careless, and maybe a little reckless. Now I am learning to use it with precision. I can use it both offensively and defensively. I can go on the attack against the enemy, and also use my weapon to fight off his attacks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I wish you could see me now, properly outfitted in my uniform. I am able to stand firm in the face of the enemy. And soon, very soon, this battle will be over and we will stand in victory. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”<o:p></o:p></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Ephesians 6:17<o:p></o:p></i></p><p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-73309665686140202792024-01-24T15:12:00.004-05:002024-01-24T15:12:55.420-05:00A Third Letter from the Trenches <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1E7xKWIy52d-kVPTthDFhRIFL2d9-4yTDKIY4DcxcRzFFC7rF1j8ULr_4eGltgiTqzjvg7a0Pfts3Mydf0GrmCrW-W3oBHzlBnxSBHSamrH3uvgcUn8Om07Lh9aew_iw3axLB57EQZ3tifd2L7WRsnWWH10J6CZRUtrZyhr21J7bM4-ACCvFxiB0u2g/s1920/R.e031570abfe30a602f2d8388142f84c7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1E7xKWIy52d-kVPTthDFhRIFL2d9-4yTDKIY4DcxcRzFFC7rF1j8ULr_4eGltgiTqzjvg7a0Pfts3Mydf0GrmCrW-W3oBHzlBnxSBHSamrH3uvgcUn8Om07Lh9aew_iw3axLB57EQZ3tifd2L7WRsnWWH10J6CZRUtrZyhr21J7bM4-ACCvFxiB0u2g/s320/R.e031570abfe30a602f2d8388142f84c7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I have some good news! I’m afraid that my previous letters may have come across with a touch of despair. I don’t mean to complain. Sometimes I just have to put my feelings on paper, but I realize they might not be the best letters for my family to read.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But not this week. I have been eager to put my pen to paper and express to you the good news we have received. Peace is within reach. I cannot speak for what the enemy will do, but I am at complete peace, as are the other soldiers in our unit. We know that we are doing what we are supposed to do, and we are at peace with our Commander. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The battle is still raging on, but it is different. Somehow we all know everything will turn out alright. The enemy is still trying his same old tricks, but they have not been as effective as of late. His fiery arrows are extinguished as soon as we raise our shields. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Individually our shields provide defense, but when we all band together in formation our shields form an impenetrable wall. The more we work together, the more we see what we are capable of with this armor. We all have faith that everything is going to turn out well for us. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Things are really improving here. I’ll write again soon. I need to get my shoes on and get back out to the battle. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>“And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”<o:p></o:p></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Ephesians 6:15<o:p></o:p></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Soldier in God’s army, we must be ready at all times to share the gospel with anyone who needs to hear it. The unsaved world is not at peace with God, but the gospel—the good news—is that God makes this peace available. If you are not able to share your faith, you are barefoot on the battlefield. We need you to put your shoes on and join us in this fight. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-76553165353597113972024-01-19T09:27:00.000-05:002024-01-19T09:27:01.591-05:00Another Letter from the Trenches <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjbL0Zb88kqvHl_x33r4ehZjehfUms0sNFUC0_IeweGuRPNLBm05lZI8nFrO30j76rDooFMas-Cj1THT1MnDJv-_l42Dj448WzdJzI-3equZ8FBAGCuYrvYzGVCnkGVwLdYbmYp7sVWMfT5AwGBDZ3gvc2zz_3LSbEGspUSXgGrJCor06Gv2ph1KPljw/s630/OIP.2KtPCgn_fxjr4pveWg2rDwHaJ2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjbL0Zb88kqvHl_x33r4ehZjehfUms0sNFUC0_IeweGuRPNLBm05lZI8nFrO30j76rDooFMas-Cj1THT1MnDJv-_l42Dj448WzdJzI-3equZ8FBAGCuYrvYzGVCnkGVwLdYbmYp7sVWMfT5AwGBDZ3gvc2zz_3LSbEGspUSXgGrJCor06Gv2ph1KPljw/s320/OIP.2KtPCgn_fxjr4pveWg2rDwHaJ2.jpeg" width="241" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The fog of war makes things hard to see. Sometimes I find myself doubting what is really in front of me. Are my eyes playing tricks on me? At times I see the enemy when no one is there, and at other times I think I am alone and the enemy comes out of nowhere. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">That is one of the enemy’s tactics. He tries to mess with our minds, using propaganda to gaslight us. He wants us to doubt why we are actually in this war. He wants us to doubt our Commander. He is constantly asking, “Did your Commander <i>really</i> say…?” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It sounds so stupid when I write it, but in those moments I almost feel like I am going to fall for it. I must admit there are times when I start to think that maybe my Commander is holding out on us. He promised to never leave us or forsake us on this battlefield, but sometimes when the bullets are flying, I’m not sure that I see him. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">No. I can’t think this way. I know that is what the enemy wants. I won’t fall into his trap. This is psychological warfare, and those tricks won’t work on me. I just need to tighten my belt and get back in formation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">My Commander has demonstrated that he is faithful and good. He has always been there, and when I stop and think about it, all those times when the bullets were flying, he <i>was</i> there. He was out in front providing us cover. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I resolve this day to keep fighting for what is right, to keep doing what is right. The cause is good. The Commander is good, so I will be true to the oath I swore when I enlisted. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There are others in this camp that have grown weary in this war. I further resolve to help them by letting them see me conduct myself in a way becoming of a soldier worthy to serve in this army. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness”<o:p></o:p></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>Ephesians 6:14<o:p></o:p></i></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-60695423574090353312024-01-11T11:14:00.002-05:002024-01-11T11:14:33.248-05:00Letter from the Trenches<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYvUoxtF5CNVUW2zDS_HNdZbj54qT5UEVM9quWnIMkz0GV2kajYK67Gc6_WPWjZ9EdhgHE9cHpgECVAd82sl6RjIU-J3E88blwTXItUxAfKdv3_7viZpAKXaOxtLTY854dG85yuQ9AjNwV1W6wvTiIP8O-bJ89FNml73riFmJjKn8Jzssz2kdq3RHL9Y/s1599/theatre%20trenches%20letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="990" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYvUoxtF5CNVUW2zDS_HNdZbj54qT5UEVM9quWnIMkz0GV2kajYK67Gc6_WPWjZ9EdhgHE9cHpgECVAd82sl6RjIU-J3E88blwTXItUxAfKdv3_7viZpAKXaOxtLTY854dG85yuQ9AjNwV1W6wvTiIP8O-bJ89FNml73riFmJjKn8Jzssz2kdq3RHL9Y/s320/theatre%20trenches%20letter.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We have learned a lot about warfare from letters that soldiers wrote to their loved ones back home. The Bible teaches that we are all involved in a war, a spiritual battle that takes place all around us. Ephesians 6:12 says,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">If we could read a letter from the trenches from a soldier in God’s army, it might say something like this: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Another exhausting day. Because of the storm last night we found ourselves nearly ankle deep in mud as we marched in formation. We know the enemy is all around us, and the familiar sounds of gunfire and rocket blasts can be heard unceasingly. Occasionally someone in our company falls victim to these guerilla style attacks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It only happens when someone wanders off from the group. Together we are strong. When we have our equipment we are invincible. But just this morning I saw a young man from our unit, couldn’t have been more than 18. He came out without his helmet and Kevlar vest. So cocky. Didn’t think he needed it. Our Commander told him to grab his gear but he laughed and said he was good. Now the chaplain has to notify his parents. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Our Commander warned us when we enlisted that all who desire to live godly in this army will suffer persecution. The conditions make me long for home, a home that I have never actually laid eyes on. But this is the home for which I fight, the home that I believe in. My orders are to rescue the perishing, to care for the dying, to deliver POWs that do not even realize they are prisoners to an enemy they have not identified. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Life in this army is not easy. Often we hear the call to attention, to fall out, to march on, to attack. Never do we hear “at ease,” but never do we hear “retreat.” We must be ever vigilant, and we must always keep our eyes on our Commander, the Author and Perfector of our faith. He has promised us victory if we will trust Him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">This is war. The enemy is real. But don’t worry about me. I have been given a secret weapon. Bigger than “the big one,” more explosive than anything the Manhattan Project could even dream. I have dynamite power, and greater is He who is in me than he who is on the side. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-23939925704168237022024-01-04T15:59:00.000-05:002024-01-04T15:59:00.819-05:00How was Abel Able?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU96OkGYPl5Zhehdmgfce3Nqbxs-WDw5_xvOTgnPWjL7YaMpr4P_22v3tO3ayEHWTxlf5EeVCY2n1TVxH85QABLbk2ke6uTTvjMDNpmeKR6uzJ5VqCu_kuGT1VI0l8zbGOUBEqm_ePld_p6Q-OKehI14xhIfx5hj7kNHYRrIlG_xLXtGh4sRrKz2SSsno/s640/cain-slaying-abel-jacopo-palma-1590.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="640" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU96OkGYPl5Zhehdmgfce3Nqbxs-WDw5_xvOTgnPWjL7YaMpr4P_22v3tO3ayEHWTxlf5EeVCY2n1TVxH85QABLbk2ke6uTTvjMDNpmeKR6uzJ5VqCu_kuGT1VI0l8zbGOUBEqm_ePld_p6Q-OKehI14xhIfx5hj7kNHYRrIlG_xLXtGh4sRrKz2SSsno/s320/cain-slaying-abel-jacopo-palma-1590.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Sibling rivalries go back a long way; all the way back, in fact, to the first siblings. Cain and Abel are the first people that the Bible mentions being born (although they may well have had older siblings). In a fit of rage, Cain murdered his brother because of the different reactions the Lord had concerning their offerings. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Genesis 4:4-5 tell us, “And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.” The preceding verse says Cain brought an offering of the produce from his garden, while Abel brought one from his flock. The former was rejected while the latter was received. Rather than being upset with himself, Cain turned his anger towards his brother and committed the world’s first act of murder. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But what is missing from this passage is God’s instruction. When did God ever tell them what kind of offering to bring? Genesis never tells us. It isn’t until Exodus that God gave Moses the law and its requirements for blood sacrifices. So how was Abel able to bring what God wanted? And how can God reject Cain if He never told him what to do?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">This is one of the cases where we have to let Scripture interpret Scripture. Let’s consider two New Testament verses. First, Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.” By faith. Abel did what he did by faith. Now add to that Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">If Abel obeyed by faith, and faith comes through hearing God’s word, then somewhere along the way God told Cain and Abel what to do. Abel obeyed by faith, and the opposite is also true. Hebrews 11:6 goes on to say, “And without faith it is impossible to please [God].” Cain heard the word of God too, but he did not have the faith to obey, so his offering could not please God because it was absent of faith. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In hindsight we know that the blood offering was about substitution; it showed the wages of sin is death, but an innocent lamb could die in the place of a guilty sinner. This was all a foreshadow of Jesus, the Lamb of God, being the ultimate sacrifice for sin. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Genesis 4 does not say Cain brought scraps; he didn’t bring the runts from his garden or spoiled, shriveled up fruit. He didn’t bring his worst, but neither did he bring his best. His best was whatever God required. God’s word might not always make sense to us, but the best thing we can do is obey in faith, and this is what pleases God. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-72301690742992036382023-12-28T14:58:00.001-05:002023-12-28T14:58:05.797-05:00Planner<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3XWjziX5vmhpzdcb2ZkfBeuIvGt8hiuBBeKLTCTBWJy9hLI3838PYUF-Fwij_GmM_-W5DPlebI21iHFRhmqulej5_nH7IPgiiocIE2L5n337gdfJNT5rv9yQvGYELlAy4wxZQlziCY6LlATDDTMFRNxLtP8z3es5F7T9Hm4wVF83n_BfQewzsgdDZ74/s1200/GUEST_a8a9fa55-09bb-4e0c-8c7d-adc117ac7d71.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3XWjziX5vmhpzdcb2ZkfBeuIvGt8hiuBBeKLTCTBWJy9hLI3838PYUF-Fwij_GmM_-W5DPlebI21iHFRhmqulej5_nH7IPgiiocIE2L5n337gdfJNT5rv9yQvGYELlAy4wxZQlziCY6LlATDDTMFRNxLtP8z3es5F7T9Hm4wVF83n_BfQewzsgdDZ74/s320/GUEST_a8a9fa55-09bb-4e0c-8c7d-adc117ac7d71.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Well, I tried. I tried to be a techy guy, but it just isn’t me. When I first became a pastor of students I got a leather organizer to carry pens, business cards, a notepad, and most importantly, a 2008 calendar. That planner soon became my personal assistant and good friend. I found it was vital to write down all my appointments, and to check my schedule often. Over the years I perfected my system, getting it down to a science. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But as 2022 was drawing to a close, I finally caved. I listened to the voices telling it me it was time to enter the 21<sup>st</sup> Century. It’s all digital, you know. Use the calendar app on your phone, sync it with the calendar on your laptop, share it with office staff…it’s all so easy!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But I am an old dog, and that was a new trick. I gave it my best shot, but the first week of not carrying a planner and I received a phone call about a meeting I missed. And yes, I set up my phone calendar to remind me of meetings, but one of us failed to get the reminder. Throughout the year I made a little progress but still missed a few important events. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So as 2023 was drawing to a close, my wife surprised me with the best Christmas present—a new leather planner and 2024 calendar. This old dog is happy again. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I like to keep tangible calendars because you can look back at it over the years and see what you did, where you went, and what happened. And there are always plenty of eraser marks where plans changed (something you miss out on when you edit or delete on a digital calendar). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The old adage tells us “to fail to plan is to plan to fail,” and I am a firm believer in having a plan. But the old Proverb tells us, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand (19:21).” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Whether you use your device or your paper calendar, we all need to plan. But at the end of the day we must remember God is in control, not us. So write your plans in pencil, being willing to submit any time the Lord leads us to grab an eraser. We can write down our plans, but as James said, we need to say “if the Lord wills” we will do this (4:15). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I hope this is a great year for all of you, and that the Lord has great things in store for us all. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-74795948869218928162023-12-13T16:28:00.005-05:002023-12-13T16:28:50.891-05:00Christmas is Coming!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WnUDcx_rnYVnh4c1JlXJDchbwzVqP5a6moEV5QeNotLQTSazvZqoBdhmSWpJQowo6oAPDN4GEynPl_xRdUrxplmND2H40hpldm6tWWrdNBssP_hL-1De_BemTe4SGGS3m7-R5oLV6ZqEnhVF7rD52fCyFl5zOvW9onDyg5tObBGCjDOK2STpAfa_LE8/s1920/R.ae21947d654e454ae3905af855f37b4e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WnUDcx_rnYVnh4c1JlXJDchbwzVqP5a6moEV5QeNotLQTSazvZqoBdhmSWpJQowo6oAPDN4GEynPl_xRdUrxplmND2H40hpldm6tWWrdNBssP_hL-1De_BemTe4SGGS3m7-R5oLV6ZqEnhVF7rD52fCyFl5zOvW9onDyg5tObBGCjDOK2STpAfa_LE8/s320/R.ae21947d654e454ae3905af855f37b4e.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It’s almost time for Christmas! As a kid that was the greatest feeling. The buildup and anticipation of Christmas culminated with a state of euphoria, the realization that soon I would know exactly what was wrapped up in those packages, and those toys would be mine to enjoy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Knowing that Christmas was coming also meant that someone was coming. We would sing that song Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and on the evening of the 24<sup>th</sup> we knew that his sleigh was loaded, and along with his team of reindeer, Santa was coming. He would even be coming down the chimney, despite the fact that we didn’t have chimneys in Orlando.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There is excitement knowing Christmas is coming. Even as an adult I still get a sense of that childlike wonder as Christmas day creeps ever closer. But for most of us, Christmas is not as exciting as it used to be. Maybe you are more like Faith Hill, singing “Where are You Christmas?” Or maybe you are more like the Grinch, who “hated Christmas, the whole Christmas season.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">If you do not get as excited as you once did when you heard that Santa Claus is coming, maybe you can still get excited knowing that someone much better (and real!) is coming. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Speaking of our Savior, Revelation 22:20 says, “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Yes, Jesus is coming to town! We don’t know when, of course. There are no <i>second</i> advent calendars where we get to count down to the big day. We need to be ready at any moment because Jesus will come whether we are ready or not. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We could probably all have a debate on when we think the rapture will be, or if the rapture will come before, during, or after the Tribulation. But no matter what our interpretation of end times events, we should all agree that Jesus is coming back. He will fix this mess of a world and restore things to how they were before the Fall. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When Santa comes he gives us a few gifts and a few moments of fun. When Christ comes He will make all things new and give us an eternity of joy. If this holiday season leaves you wanting more, take heart in knowing that Jesus is coming. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Amen! Come Lord Jesus! <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-77264600433435205732023-12-07T14:16:00.004-05:002023-12-07T14:16:57.855-05:00Milk in Your Diet <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-Par8sF69ZNZYOE787lxL4FZi7mzlMF7UfgQChBwW4OMpOn8pLMpksyaeFCgNZRn5CRw2aze3sxDoiyBegR4WoJp0y5TPnXklcZq6zGt3xNfwn6Aru2ymB_rvkRBZH3Jo6HdGqbr2y-_GJ2hxlEeywqIWpV-Vsb2n-AI40cZ7REZ3fS-ZbXtpVYkcoY/s3630/glass-of-milk-pouring-87984584-593d45d33df78c537b632490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2701" data-original-width="3630" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-Par8sF69ZNZYOE787lxL4FZi7mzlMF7UfgQChBwW4OMpOn8pLMpksyaeFCgNZRn5CRw2aze3sxDoiyBegR4WoJp0y5TPnXklcZq6zGt3xNfwn6Aru2ymB_rvkRBZH3Jo6HdGqbr2y-_GJ2hxlEeywqIWpV-Vsb2n-AI40cZ7REZ3fS-ZbXtpVYkcoY/s320/glass-of-milk-pouring-87984584-593d45d33df78c537b632490.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Have you ever heard people refer to either the milk or meat of the Word? They are talking about a level of spiritual depth, contrasting the stuff of beginners with that which is reserved for the mature. The idea comes from a scathing rebuke from Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Brand new believers are like spiritual infants, babies that cannot chew solid food. They are learning the basics, like the reliability of the Bible, the importance of belonging to a church, and how to pray. They are not ready for solid food, things like understanding the Trinity or deciphering the book of Revelation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The goal is to grow. If you have been a believer for a while, you should be progressing towards solid food. That might mean eating bananas before beef, but it is a process. We seek to move our disciples forward. That is why we often talk about moving from milk to meat. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But one thing we don’t say as often is that milk is still important. We move from milk to meat, but that doesn’t mean we swear off milk; we just swear off <i>exclusively </i>being nourished by milk. Milk is not bad, and unless you have a lactose intolerance, we all benefit from the calcium and vitamin D it provides. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">As a Christian, then, it is good to have a little milk in our diet. We never outgrow “the basics,” as it is beneficial to remind ourselves of the truth. Legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi famously began the first practice of every season by saying, “Gentlemen, this is a football” as he held up the object for which their sport was named. He then demonstrated how to put on socks and shoes. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Lombardi insisted that mastering the fundamentals was the key to success, and today the Super Bowl trophy is named in his honor. The professional athletes he coached were on the meat of their sport, so to speak, but he made sure to give them the milk as well. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Christian, as you progress towards meat, and include it in your diet, don’t forget the milk. Master the fundamentals, and you can have a successful life. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-12515019959605576992023-11-30T10:11:00.000-05:002023-11-30T10:11:00.615-05:00How do Your Words Smell?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqFVYxuwDxcHyZpXcbJ09g5uGBcfp90lLpOvNlpu8SNFBIs2ykBT7PyTdxZ4gk8ujVXUeUilSjKhqqwQ1mS6yODTF_f9Ew8Qy9xF3md1amkKbmVCFygIDtYyiqFcaaYedmT4XUP17ol1OoaPRmGVUFrLdbOigpRcTmYF6lPyiycYz4SZv6_rxes_9NkQ/s1920/smell2-1585934417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1920" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqFVYxuwDxcHyZpXcbJ09g5uGBcfp90lLpOvNlpu8SNFBIs2ykBT7PyTdxZ4gk8ujVXUeUilSjKhqqwQ1mS6yODTF_f9Ew8Qy9xF3md1amkKbmVCFygIDtYyiqFcaaYedmT4XUP17ol1OoaPRmGVUFrLdbOigpRcTmYF6lPyiycYz4SZv6_rxes_9NkQ/s320/smell2-1585934417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Did you know that your words smell? And no, I’m not talking about your breath. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The words we choose to speak have a distinct smell; some words smell good, and some smell bad. Paul referenced the smell of our words in Ephesians 4:29 when he wrote, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Greek word translated as corrupted means rotten. I’m sure you have smelled something rotten before. You walk into the kitchen and the scent slaps you right in the face. You try to hunt the source of the stench, and after several minutes you see the bag of potatoes in the corner. You hold your breath and reach for the bag; once you pick it up you see that it is dripping. You now work to get the rotten vegetables out of your house as soon as possible, and remove any trace of their remnants. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Rotten food stinks. So do some of our words. Making fun of people (whether to their face or behind their back) smells terrible. Tearing down someone made in the imagine of God is a rotten thing to do. Being a constant complainer stinks. Making crude jokes is putrid. Deception reeks. No one wants to be around that kind of smell. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">On the other hand, our words can be a sweet smelling aroma. After condemning corrupted words, Paul said to use words that fit the occasion, words that build up and give grace to the hearer. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">What if, instead of walking in the kitchen to the unwelcome smell of rotten potatoes, you are instead greeted by the smell of an apple pie in the oven? (or insert your favorite dessert) Any sane person would rather smell the pie than potatoes, and the same goes for our language. How much better would the world smell if we all commit to only speaking words that build up?<o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-8622407771925428302023-11-16T16:42:00.001-05:002023-11-16T16:42:33.462-05:00What Must I do to be Lost?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmCo1LecVG7_E30L1ryve5jjHPxooYQboDdNp0EYMuQktjZ9QfirazltmFSGNmcNO0V6WleSzchCha5YusK2Lbewb7GwRAWTSc7KcYfl3dYEr-gCpkfzMzOTYlRTc4vDu1i9p-ZOVmBNYt65oZ0waU8eUAjXHuE7mBsu99I6e0O1dIVRrd1Qb6A_IUtQ/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmCo1LecVG7_E30L1ryve5jjHPxooYQboDdNp0EYMuQktjZ9QfirazltmFSGNmcNO0V6WleSzchCha5YusK2Lbewb7GwRAWTSc7KcYfl3dYEr-gCpkfzMzOTYlRTc4vDu1i9p-ZOVmBNYt65oZ0waU8eUAjXHuE7mBsu99I6e0O1dIVRrd1Qb6A_IUtQ/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” That is what the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas in Acts 16:30. His question was posed because an earthquake opened the doors of the prison that housed the missionaries, but Paul and Silas chose not to escape. The jailer was touched by their choice to stay put, and then he knew that these men truly possessed something different. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The duo answered his question by telling him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household (v.31).” This shows us there is something we must do in order to be saved. They did not tell the Philippian that all people go to heaven automatically; each person must make the personal choice to believe in, or trust in, Jesus and His work on the cross. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">If you want the answer to the question to be <i>nothing,</i> then the question needs to be “What must I do to be lost?” Some might say that in order to be lost we need to do something terrible, like commit a violent crime or worship some false idol. But that is not true. We do not need to do anything to be lost, because we are all lost by birth. Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It really is that simple. Our eternal destiny is not decided after a careful analysis of the way we lived our lives, it is decided the second we choose to put our trust in Jesus. Belief plus nothing results in salvation; unbelief plus everything results in condemnation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">What must you do to be lost? Nothing, you are born separated from God in your sins. What must you do to be saved? Just believe. Put your trust in what Jesus has already done.<o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-65606177964984012732023-11-09T15:39:00.002-05:002023-11-09T15:39:10.851-05:00Passed Through the Heavens <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa-k3swIx_rOMbhF-85lG3-l5HrFoJCMTTT7McJHbyI4OdTYf47VwurWBpaW5dkEQ2mjatTPBeavJzL5swTgO4i1rX1KGheCGNBEC0EqXJe9EI5G7ZcMEwMDcOAvpZseIapxRiFWNukxMJdcOk2eF12MkbsFV7WszJzu5bM_XuiyYzFkusU5sOSzCWyk/s350/OIP.cC7baWr1LgqIyAGkIGhEngAAAA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa-k3swIx_rOMbhF-85lG3-l5HrFoJCMTTT7McJHbyI4OdTYf47VwurWBpaW5dkEQ2mjatTPBeavJzL5swTgO4i1rX1KGheCGNBEC0EqXJe9EI5G7ZcMEwMDcOAvpZseIapxRiFWNukxMJdcOk2eF12MkbsFV7WszJzu5bM_XuiyYzFkusU5sOSzCWyk/s320/OIP.cC7baWr1LgqIyAGkIGhEngAAAA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p>The author of Hebrews wrote, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession (4:14).” What does it mean that Jesus passed through the heavens? This certainly calls to mind the incarnation and His earthly ministry, when Jesus left heaven and was born into our world.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">After He completed His great assignment which culminated with Calvary, Jesus ascended back to heaven. Luke described the scene this way: “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” Then two angels explained what just happened: “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven (Acts 1:9, 11).”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We notice that the word heaven in our text is plural; He passed, not through heaven, but the heavens. That is because there are three heavens. The sky above us, where clouds float by and raindrops fall, is the first heaven. The second heaven is outer space, where we see the sun and moon, and the occasional planet. The third heaven is far above the second, and is the dwelling place of God. In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul described a vision into this third heaven where he saw things he was not permitted to record. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So Jesus passed through the three heavens in order to be our Savior. He did so when He came to earth, and then again when He left. The writer of Hebrews includes that fact because his audience would have understood the significance. The writer is explaining that Jesus is the great High Priest. The Jews who received this letter knew that the high priest had to pass through three levels to perform his duty. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The priest would offer a sacrifice for the sins of the nation, and then carry that blood into the outer courtyard, then into the Holy Place, and finally into the Most Holy Place, where the blood was poured onto the Mercy Seat. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It is significant that there was no chair in the temple because the priests didn’t sit down. They were continually offering sacrifices because the work was never finished. But Hebrews goes on to say, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God (10:12).”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The high priest would pass through the three areas of the temple to make continual sacrifices, but Jesus passed through the three heavens to make a single sacrifice, and because “it is finished,” He sat down, indicating there is no more sacrifice to make. All that is left is for us to trust in what He has done. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-20738922724507521502023-11-01T14:09:00.001-04:002023-11-01T14:09:02.258-04:00Lecture Me Later <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIFlQ3z_HXRHtHOBvUMdzJVdjkhuIzUM9IFpnXKyV2wLF7pyyI6WVVvVfNn_t51cGuVGM0akxTR9Pya7QW6zyU2uCqunDFB_5mVG-ckyHmXeNEUPn2-twXbF2DoV6DGFB86KplpXWHrbIejumm1EEWjfsHJ_VP2J4HinFKIk4U2RAuQT3XooCUJMOEyU/s880/woman-angry-case-bezel-communicate-business-woman-secretary-employee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="880" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIFlQ3z_HXRHtHOBvUMdzJVdjkhuIzUM9IFpnXKyV2wLF7pyyI6WVVvVfNn_t51cGuVGM0akxTR9Pya7QW6zyU2uCqunDFB_5mVG-ckyHmXeNEUPn2-twXbF2DoV6DGFB86KplpXWHrbIejumm1EEWjfsHJ_VP2J4HinFKIk4U2RAuQT3XooCUJMOEyU/s320/woman-angry-case-bezel-communicate-business-woman-secretary-employee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">One of Aesop’s fables is about a boy who was drowning in a river, so he yelled out to a man nearby for help. The man was startled by the boy’s cry, so he approached the water’s edge and began to scold the child for being so loud and presumptuous.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Desperate for help, the boy yelled back, “Rescue me now! You can lecture me later on when I am safe.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The world is filled with people who are drowning in their sin. Many of them do not yet realize this reality, but it is still a matter of fact. As Christians, our job is to rescue them, pulling them safely onto shore. Jude used similar imagery, writing, “save others by snatching them out of the fire (v.23).” Unfortunately, many of us adopt the posture of the angry passerby in the fable, choosing to lecture rather than rescue. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">What do I mean? When we see someone we disapprove of, do we share the gospel, or do we shame the appearance or action? Many of us have become experts in lecturing the lost. We tell them how much of an abomination homosexuality is, how short their skirt is, and that their music doesn’t glorify God. We tell them back in our day, men were men and used the men’s restroom and competed in men’s sports. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And don’t misunderstand me: homosexuality is an abomination, clothing should be modest, most music was written by Satan himself, and men don’t belong in women’s restrooms or sports. But lecturing the lost will not change them. We can shame a girl into a longer skirt, and she can go to hell dressed classy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We need to be more focused on saving souls. Let’s rescue them from drowning, and then the Holy Spirit will begin to lecture their heart as they are transformed into new creations from the inside out. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-3206629096290594822023-10-26T12:28:00.001-04:002023-10-26T12:28:40.379-04:00Drifting Away <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbIBHybBb5lBde2IvJC4yM2Lt0nO2AfUD1BkLbCeGMicaXTXj7jvvwVBRpdfQl8ygahBPRuDlyHWBUqaw1k1Ju0dzcj7XMhQ3ASYBwjt2kWe02pRH8qT3eMvVym_x3sutSian2wVwINMNVHUA_kvpm80c6a_5pwH8T6PHQ98MkEydayiR2gWriNvG5IA/s1300/R.86158aa8f42daec796c84ad33f09ef18.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1300" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbIBHybBb5lBde2IvJC4yM2Lt0nO2AfUD1BkLbCeGMicaXTXj7jvvwVBRpdfQl8ygahBPRuDlyHWBUqaw1k1Ju0dzcj7XMhQ3ASYBwjt2kWe02pRH8qT3eMvVym_x3sutSian2wVwINMNVHUA_kvpm80c6a_5pwH8T6PHQ98MkEydayiR2gWriNvG5IA/s320/R.86158aa8f42daec796c84ad33f09ef18.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;">The second chapters of Hebrews begins with these words: “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” We do not want to be guilty of drifting away. What is the author referring to?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;">The things “we have heard” were laid out in the first chapter, namely that Jesus Christ is supreme over all things, the only one able to bring us salvation. Drifting away from that would be terrible. But I want to point out something that should be obvious: drifting takes time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;">It has been pointed out that the Greek phrase employed by the author of Hebrews has nautical connotations, describing a boat that was carelessly tied to the dock; when the boat’s owner goes back to retrieve it, he will find that it has drifted away. However, that same phrase has also been used to describe the process of evaporation. Go outside and pour some water on the ground, and eventually you will not be able to find that water. It has made its way into the clouds and will eventually fall down as rain. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;">This process takes time. Drifting away from the truth is just as slow as evaporation; in fact, it is usually even slower. Rarely does a committed church member wake up an atheist. The drift away from God and His truth is more often seen in a series of compromises over a period of time. This is what we must be on guard against. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;">Sometimes these people who have drifted find themselves in a crisis. They receive bad news and don’t know what to do, and then they remember they used to pray in times like these. But now they are far from God, and their prayer lives have become a little dusty. Describing this drift, Louise Evans, Jr. once wrote, “The process is not dramatic, nor sudden; rather, it is insidious and quiet. The shock comes when one returns to use the faith in a time of need and finds it has evaporated with neglect.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;">I am not talking about a person losing his salvation, because I do not believe the truly saved can become unsaved. I like how Louis pegged it—a period of neglect resulted in the drifting away. Regularly spend time in the Word and on your knees, and you will stay docked in your faith. Ignore God through your own neglect, and you will drift far from shore. </span><o:p></o:p></p><br /></div><br /><p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-64906707329819939472023-10-19T14:54:00.002-04:002023-10-19T14:54:28.580-04:00Streams of Mercy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MXmySzNWiFAlehic61WtdvZ0r4zOUBz64BQVz0KxmXdmYP7sz2KJa76xamU6jHyRhwmGZsI9mFHKElIOjMXH9Iy_7hWDPGtHq-VoGnAUTJL9tLvIXnBWmtC9EM_-3QBj-Qd6qkkAnrzmxQPpYgFhadq17iNyQJhX5Pds-zPsJ-t4Ovge6DqF6vIMIvc/s474/OIP.CRhY4OBLk1Pm_kNwJV5F3wHaHa.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MXmySzNWiFAlehic61WtdvZ0r4zOUBz64BQVz0KxmXdmYP7sz2KJa76xamU6jHyRhwmGZsI9mFHKElIOjMXH9Iy_7hWDPGtHq-VoGnAUTJL9tLvIXnBWmtC9EM_-3QBj-Qd6qkkAnrzmxQPpYgFhadq17iNyQJhX5Pds-zPsJ-t4Ovge6DqF6vIMIvc/s320/OIP.CRhY4OBLk1Pm_kNwJV5F3wHaHa.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">One of my favorite hymns was written all the way back in 1757 by a pastor named Robert Robinson. The song begins this way:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Come, thou fount of every blessing,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Tune my heart to sing they grace.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Streams of mercy, never ceasing<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Call for songs of loudest praise. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It is a beautiful hymn, but I also love the story behind it, as its author was once confronted by the reality of his own words. Robinson wrote the song when he was only 22 years old. At that time he was considered be an up and coming member of the Baptist denomination, and was even commissioned to write their history (a book titled <i>History of Baptism and Baptists</i>). Unfortunately, like the song says, he was “prone to wander,” and prone to leave the God he loved. At a low point in his life he walked away from the church.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">To try to fill the void in his life, Robinson began to travel extensively. On one of his journeys he shared a stagecoach with a lady who was humming his song Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. She caught his gaze and asked if he was familiar with the tune. Robinson answered, “Madam, I am the poor, unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago. I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to feel what I did back then.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">That lady may well have been an angel that God sent to hum that song at just the right time because she replied, “Sir, the streams of mercy are still flowing.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Lord used that lady to gently remind His wayward son of the truth, and Robinson turned his life back around. He was once again fixed upon the mount of God’s redeeming love. For the second time in his life Robinson could sing, “How His kindness yet pursues me, mortal tongue can never tell.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Maybe, like Robinson on that stagecoach, you are far from God. God pursues His prodigal children because of His love and grace. He will use things like a sermon or Scripture, a lady humming a song, or even a simple post like this to get your attention and remind you of His love. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Isaiah 54:10 says, “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” You may be prone to wander from Him, but God is even better at staying near by. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-7762288850778515732023-10-11T14:21:00.000-04:002023-10-11T14:21:01.616-04:00God's Will for Us <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsnKoPOd2Ap_GSHfaidzElOHswS79GwzznsMw3BnrcBPBPPRt3XAEwpNl5gR05TBnMr5ODwMCVNZraKf7tQfaGu3HZFvARWmLBv3s3XiaM2Qg9p_HogsG4aleasMh-27pwIJWMY9NW3JkAWckAb5ydtLfv2xG1CWDMMh_t17btuPdsVGhEOKx1HglV-4/s1920/Gods-Will-Wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsnKoPOd2Ap_GSHfaidzElOHswS79GwzznsMw3BnrcBPBPPRt3XAEwpNl5gR05TBnMr5ODwMCVNZraKf7tQfaGu3HZFvARWmLBv3s3XiaM2Qg9p_HogsG4aleasMh-27pwIJWMY9NW3JkAWckAb5ydtLfv2xG1CWDMMh_t17btuPdsVGhEOKx1HglV-4/s320/Gods-Will-Wide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Last week I wrote about God’s will for Jesus, that all who look upon Him will be saved, and that Jesus will keep us saved forever. But what about us? Can we know God’s will for our lives?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The answer is yes! We can know God’s will for our lives because it was never supposed to be a mystery. God’s will for us is laid out in Scripture just as clearly as His will for Jesus. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">God’s will for your life is that you are saved and live your life the way you are supposed to. Consider 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, which says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">God’s will is that you are sanctified. That word means to be holy, or set apart. At our salvation we are made holy, set apart from the unsaved world and set apart to God. We become adopted as children of God. Sanctification means that for the rest of our lives we continue to grow in Christ. We learn how to control ourselves, saying no to sin and yes to God.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">One chapter later Paul added this about God’s will: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (v.16-18).” God’s will is that we are happy and thankful, people who pray and live their lives as if God is right beside them (because He is!). God’s will is to save you and put you in a special relationship with Him. That’s the very reason He made you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Finally, Peter contributed this to the conversation on God’s will: “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people (1 Peter 2:15).” God’s will for us, after we have been saved, is to live our lives in such a way that the world must admit there is something different about us. We must let our light shine so they see our Father in heaven. As a tangible demonstration, Peter wrote, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor (v.17).” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Are you still trying to discern God’s will for your life? It’s right in the Bible. God wants to save you and make you His child, put you in a special relationship with Him, and lead you to live your life so that others see the difference—your joy, gratitude, and good conduct—and want what you have. I hope you are following His will. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-34437472169002022492023-10-04T08:39:00.005-04:002023-10-04T08:39:21.116-04:00God's Will for Jesus <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBI9VyNb6IiOUib8vG4yBgcyInDZ74mpeqoH2V25Z6Hdh56wSTLyuilGgSbnkmkmJkqNyDL58t3rtJDRLSXc8v8fXqzalMvxPsFT-Wopyo5SF0q_Uyjutev7UJ9MMlFSaa6a3o3JYqxfyMlZyqTig5vtvFNzy99JxcTp49lJGFAuUa_WfB3YnOF0oYOE/s1440/the_will_of_God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBI9VyNb6IiOUib8vG4yBgcyInDZ74mpeqoH2V25Z6Hdh56wSTLyuilGgSbnkmkmJkqNyDL58t3rtJDRLSXc8v8fXqzalMvxPsFT-Wopyo5SF0q_Uyjutev7UJ9MMlFSaa6a3o3JYqxfyMlZyqTig5vtvFNzy99JxcTp49lJGFAuUa_WfB3YnOF0oYOE/s320/the_will_of_God.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We talk a lot about the will of God. As a pastor people say things to me like, “Pray for me as I try to discern God’s will.” We tell our students they need to find out God’s will for their lives. We have turned God’s will into some deep mystery, but the truth is, we can easily know God’s will. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Jesus knew the will of God for His own life and ministry on earth. In John 6:39-40 the Son of God said these words:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”<o:p></o:p></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">God’s will is that people are saved. He wants all who look on Jesus to receive the eternal life He came to make available. The language here reminds me of what Jesus told Nicodemus just three chapters earlier, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (v.14).”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Moses was told to craft a serpent on a pole, and all of the Israelites that looked on it were healed of their snake bites. Looking upon the raised snake was enough to bring them salvation from their fate. They had to trust that it alone was the cure. Jesus connected that to His impending crucifixion, where He would be lifted up. Anyone who now looks to Him in faith will receive the cure—salvation from our sin.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But according to Jesus here, God’s will for Jesus’ ministry is not just that people will be saved, but stay saved. It is not up to us, but to Jesus; He is the one who will raise us up on the last day, losing none that have come to Him. So often we fall into the trap that says we must perform well enough to be saved, but Jesus is the one keeping us saved. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Think about it: if we cannot perform well enough to save ourselves, how can we perform well enough to keep ourselves saved? Salvation is by grace, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9), and staying saved is a work of the Son, according to the will of the Father. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-79424517855888768782023-09-24T19:41:00.002-04:002023-09-24T19:41:44.731-04:00Grass in the Field <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuABrKzzPxgw4kkg6DcT-w00SbrXwjWUitqbGQxCtUY5YSu2gsPNh3Dzz9QTJgKGX-2S_q7kgaCH05rML8raKimyF4y5KHWTw4mRSsUzFRpEgWXJ3ES8-AqBNlWAmR17UW9I8sprtMGqt4mg6YnpSGD1Tef2A8L5fJCHbrRlgxAcWuAxN3OeXbxqoElKg/s1500/grass-field-1193260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuABrKzzPxgw4kkg6DcT-w00SbrXwjWUitqbGQxCtUY5YSu2gsPNh3Dzz9QTJgKGX-2S_q7kgaCH05rML8raKimyF4y5KHWTw4mRSsUzFRpEgWXJ3ES8-AqBNlWAmR17UW9I8sprtMGqt4mg6YnpSGD1Tef2A8L5fJCHbrRlgxAcWuAxN3OeXbxqoElKg/s320/grass-field-1193260.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There was a tribe in Africa that converted to Christianity when missionaries came through. While learning more about their new faith, these believers began to make a habit of going out into a field to pray. Each person secured his own personal spot in the field, and as they spent time on their knees in prayer, the grass began to die. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Eventually some began to cool off in their devotion, and they started to neglect their daily prayer time. This led to the adoption of a new phrase in the tribe, don’t let grass grow in your prayer field. The problem with many Christians in the church is they are letting grass grow in their prayer field. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Jesus assumes His followers will pray. In Luke 11, when speaking with one of the disciples of John the Baptist, Jesus said, “When you pray…” Notice that He did not say, <i>If</i> you pray, but <i>When </i>you pray. Prayer should be a part of the Christian’s routine. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Jesus continued with a humorous parable about a man who had unexpected company, so he began to bang on his neighbor’s door at midnight, begging him to bring out food so he would have something to feed his guest. We are so inclined to run to God when we are in a jam, but we do not spend time with Him in fellowship when life is a breeze. We bang on heaven’s door at midnight to say help, but not at noon to say hello.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then, to illustrate how good God is, Jesus said that even earthly human fathers know how to give good things. If your son asks for a fish and eggs for dinner, you would never serve him serpent with a side of scorpion.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then in v.13 Jesus concluded, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Jesus argued from the lesser to the greater, saying that fallible fathers make good choices for their children, so how much more will our Heavenly Father do for the children He loves? So do not let grass grow in your prayer field. Get on your knees and wear out a path to heaven’s door. <o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-44495258089411061802023-09-19T14:07:00.005-04:002023-09-19T14:07:38.842-04:00Grace is Grace <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWBVpp8bRbfO21pUjoLqbuDF8Mi6Q3FaDnoC0iNJxbAJ0HrOv1tKruKj3jxbYjuXnNvwhTMct4STAopM9fZ7jzShhzhSot4E1qhRhDqa-Ysmtl7pav9BrMnR4KHy3G7N7x_V9mwp5ZKDNrf4u8DzSMmjKIjYkRmGDrwlr0qum6wS9y-VaLaSqAscUVGA/s750/R.41645ed1200dca80a3d121e8d837e4b6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWBVpp8bRbfO21pUjoLqbuDF8Mi6Q3FaDnoC0iNJxbAJ0HrOv1tKruKj3jxbYjuXnNvwhTMct4STAopM9fZ7jzShhzhSot4E1qhRhDqa-Ysmtl7pav9BrMnR4KHy3G7N7x_V9mwp5ZKDNrf4u8DzSMmjKIjYkRmGDrwlr0qum6wS9y-VaLaSqAscUVGA/s320/R.41645ed1200dca80a3d121e8d837e4b6.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">What is grace? Christians love to sing about that amazing grace that saved a wretch like me, but what does that word mean? The Greek word means <i>favor or graciousness</i>, and Strong’s defines it in a spiritual sense this way: “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">This word is a familiar friend in Scripture, but let’s consider Romans 11:6, which says, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Human nature is always to make salvation the result of works, something we earn by our efforts. But the second works become necessary, grace ceases to be grace. I love the line “grace would no longer be grace.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” A rose is a rose, no matter what you call it. A rose is a rose because of its inherent qualities as a rose. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In the same way, grace is grace because of what it is—God giving us something that we do not deserve. If a zebra lost its stripes, it wouldn’t be a zebra. If a cheetah lost its spots, it wouldn’t be a cheetah. If an elephant lost its trunk, it wouldn’t be an elephant. And if grace is mingled with works, it stops being grace. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Good works are good, but they do not save. We are only saved by the grace of God. It is the divine influence upon our hearts that can compel us to call out to God. The latter does not happen without the former, and in that order. Grace is grace because God initiates the process. We love Him because He first loved us. If God didn’t act first in our salvation, we wouldn’t act at all. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">That’s why amazing grace is so sweet a sound. <o:p></o:p></p></div>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2056051583786220639.post-55052015644066667562023-09-13T14:05:00.000-04:002023-09-13T14:05:12.353-04:00When to Worry <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBFuYwEMfaFzxGf3vyqU3__v4_IiDr61ZhE0MaL7smNjZWeHKbgfF4xrgzAOtVdbOw4vJjLNd8b69INQ98Wa6kyTqwlC3tyQZX3mxicdunqsV2VH6I2SNhOKyBY8cVdKntdsm7a65dlMgYvaMiEzm0p96bOP1jprgkFVtx_J_cn2RrbNqo_5zgy2tLps/s1250/R.bc8e9e1aa74400abafd96a6bc4038123.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1250" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBFuYwEMfaFzxGf3vyqU3__v4_IiDr61ZhE0MaL7smNjZWeHKbgfF4xrgzAOtVdbOw4vJjLNd8b69INQ98Wa6kyTqwlC3tyQZX3mxicdunqsV2VH6I2SNhOKyBY8cVdKntdsm7a65dlMgYvaMiEzm0p96bOP1jprgkFVtx_J_cn2RrbNqo_5zgy2tLps/s320/R.bc8e9e1aa74400abafd96a6bc4038123.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Human nature is to worry. We worry about the economy; we worry about our health; we worry about our family; we worry about work, school, the neighborhood, and the government. There are so many things that can keep us up at night if we allow them to.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Human nature is to worry, but Jesus told us not to worry. I cannot think of a single problem I have ever resolved by worrying about it. Can you? I am powerless, with so many things out of my control, but the Lord is capable of doing anything. Rather than worry, we should trust Him to handle our problems. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Jesus used ravens and lilies as examples of things that do not worry, and yet their needs are met. In Luke 12:24 He said, “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then in verse 27 He added, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So when are we allowed to worry? I think, according to Jesus, we can worry once the ravens all starve and the flowers all wilt. Until then, we should keep trusting in God. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Jesus said not to worry</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But is it ever allowed?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Can I have your permission<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When my world's turned upside down?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So Jesus said He'd let me<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In one situation<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When the ravens have no food<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And the lilies have no sun.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">As long as ravens have food<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And the flowers still will grow <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I will keep my confidence<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In the God who loves me so.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">If He provides for the field<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And even for the raven<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then why should I ever doubt<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">That will help His children?<o:p></o:p></p>Tommy Mann Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629684679268261608noreply@blogger.com0