YOU DIRTY DOG! YOU ROTTEN PIG!

ANYBODY CLOSE TO ME OR MY FAMILY WOULD KNOW THAT WE HAD A GERMAN SHEPHERD NAMED REV. REV WAS VERY SWEET TO HIS FAMILY EVEN HARMLESS BUT ALSO VERY PROTECTIVE. WE ALL LOVED HIM SO MUCH. HOWEVER THERE WAS ONE THING THAT HE DID THAT MY EVERYONE AGREED WAS PRETTY DISGUSTING. SIMPLY PUT HE WOULD VOMIT AND THEN GO BACK AND LICK IT UP. AND NO MATTER HOW HUMAN REV WOULD SEEM TO US AT TIMES THIS PROVED THAT HE WAS STILL JUST A REGULAR OLE DIRTY DOG.

I CAN SEE HIM RIGHT NOW, DROOPING HIS HEAD AND GAGGING AS IF HIS STOMACH WAS UPSET. SOMETIMES HE WOULD WALK AROUND AND THROW UP TWO OR THREE TIMES ALL IN SEPARATE PLACES. AS WE WOULD ATTEMPT TO CLEAN UP HIS MESS WE WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT TO HOLD HIM BACK FROM TRYING TO LICK UP WHAT HE HAD JUST VOMITED. IT WAS DISGUSTING. AS A HUMAN THIS WAS HARD TO UNDERSTAND, CERTAINLY WE WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO THE VERY THING THAT MADE US VOMIT? WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT, AT LEAST I WOULDN'T.

NOT SO FAST!

I GUESS I'LL START WITH MYSELF AS IT MAY SEEM SELF RIGHTEOUS OF ME TO POINT THE FINGER. AS I REFLECT ON MY LIFE I SEE PATTERNS OF HOW I RETURNED TO THE SAME OLD DISGUSTING HABITS THAT MADE ME "SICK." THE VERY THING THAT HAD ME BOUND AND BEGGING GOD TO DELIVER ME I WENT RIGHT BACK TO IT. THE SAME THING THAT HAD ME CRYING MY HEART OUT TELLING GOD, "LORD IF YOU HELP ME ONE MORE TIME, I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN," WAS THE FIRST THING THAT I WOULD GO BACK TO NOT SOON AFTER GOD CAME THROUGH FOR ME AGAIN. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT BUT I (AT LEAST MY HABITS) HAD BECOME EQUIVALENT TO A DIRTY DOG.

2ND PETER DEALS WITH THIS IN THE 2ND CHAPTER. IT TALKS ABOUT MEN WHO HAVE KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM SIN BUT TURN AWAY FROM IT TO RETURN TO THE LUST OF THEIR FLESH AND THE POLLUTIONS OF THE WORLD. THE BIBLE GOES ON TO COMPARE THEM TO DOGS THAT RETURN TO THEIR OWN VOMIT AND A PIG THAT HAS BEEN CLEAN BUT GOES RIGHT BACK INTO THE MUD THAT MADE HIM FILTHY. BEING RAISED IN CHURCH ALL MY LIFE I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO TRIED TO KEEP A FOOT IN THE CHURCH AND A FOOT IN THE WORLD. MOST OF THEM WERE UNABLE TO KEEP THAT FOOT IN THE CHURCH BUT OFTENTIMES WERE OVERCOME BY THE WORLD THAT THEY WILLINGLY RETURNED TO.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHEN WE BECOME LIKE THIS "OUR LATTER END IS WORSE THAN IN THE BEGINNING. THAT BEING SAID WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT GIVING IN TO OUR CARNAL DESIRES, AND NOT LAYING ASIDE THE SIN WHICH SO EASILY BESETS US. DON'T DECEIVE YOURSELF GOD'S EXPECTATION OF YOU IS THAT IF YOU ARE SAVED THAT YOU DO NOT CONTINUE IN SIN. THE BIBLE IS CLEAR ON THIS. CHECK OUT 1JOHN 3:2-10, ROMANS 6:12, JOHN 5:14, & JOHN 8:11. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE SCRIPTURES TO THIS POINT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY MOST OF US MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN. IN FACT FOR MANY OF US IT IS BECAUSE OF OUR OWN SINS AND DISOBEDIENCE WHETHER IT WAS AN ACT OF COMMISSION OR OMISSION. THE TRUTH IS MOST OF US CAN SAY "THE ENEMY DIDN'T GET US HERE BUT HE SURE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHERE WE'VE PLACED OURSELVES." WE MUST BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES BEING LIKE THAT DOG THAT 2PETER SPEAKS OF RETURNING TO THE THING THAT MAKES US SICK. I THINK GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND MERCY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE TO KEEP ME OR YOU. BUT THANK GOD THAT HE "KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER THE GODLY OUT OF TEMPTATION.

PLEASE DON'T BE A DIRTY DOG, OR A ROTTEN PIG. I REMEMBER MY MOM LOVING REV SO MUCH THAT SHE WISHED SHE WOULD SEE HIM AGAIN IN HEAVEN. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT "ALL DOGS" DON'T GO TO HEAVEN IN FACT NONE OF THEM DO; NOT HUMAN DOGS AND NOT SPIRITUAL DOGS. ACCORDING TO REVELATION 22:14-15 DOGS NEVER MAKE IT INSIDE THE GATES.

WILL YOU?

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW???!

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD PEOPLE SAY THINGS LIKE “LIVE LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW,” “LIVE FREE,” “LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST,” AND FINALLY “YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE.” I’M SURE YOU MOST LIKELY HAVE. HOWEVER HAVE YOU EVER QUESTIONED THESE SAYINGS? HAVE YOU EVER CHALLENGED THE VALIDITY, THE TRUTHFULNESS, & THE ACCURACY OF THIS WAY OF THINKING. WELL I HAVE AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THESE SAYINGS ARE THE FURTHEST THING FROM THE TRUTH.

MOST OF THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE USE THESE SAYINGS YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY ARE DEFINDING THE ACTIONS THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN OR MAY SOON PARTAKE IN, OR EITHER THEY ARE ENCOURAGING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS TO LIVE LIFE WITHOUT REGULATION AND WITHOUT RESERVATION. IN OTHER WORDS THEY WILL TELL YOU LIKE THE SONG, “IT’S YOUR THING, DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO, I CAN’T TELL YA WHO TO SOCK IT TO.” THIS THOUGHT PROCESS SAYS THAT YOU SHOULD BE WILLING AND ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FEEL IT AND NO ONE ELSE HAS THE RIGHT TO LORD OR RULE OVER YOUR LIFE. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE YOUR DECISIONS FOR YOU AND TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. SINCE YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE YOU SHOULD ENJOY IT REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO.

I GUESS IT DOES NOT FRUSTRATE ME SO MUCH THAT NORMAL PEOPLE THINK THIS WAY. IN ALL HONESTY IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED. RATHER IT IS THE FACT THAT CHRISTIAN (SAVED) INDIVIDUALS ARE AFFIRMING THIS BELIEF THAT IS SO FRUSTRATING. THE REASON IT IS DISAPPOINTING IS BECAUSE IT STANDS IN CONTRADICTION AND OPPOSITION OF THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD. BELIEVE IT OR NOT GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR US TO HAVE SO MUCH CONCERN WITH OUR NATURAL CARNAL LIFESTYLE. I DON’T CARE HOW MANY TIMES YOU’VE HEARD IT FROM A PREACHER OR HOW BIG THE PREACHER THAT YOU HEARD IT FROM, IT’ S NOT THE TRUTH.

CHRIST DID NOT DIE FOR YOU TO GET THINGS OR LIVE HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE BUT RATHER ACCORDING TO 1 COR.15:3, ROM. 8:5-6 & JOHN 10:10 CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE LIFE IN HIM. CHRIST SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SIMPLE MECHANISM TO HELP US REACH OUR GOALS AND FULFILL OUR DREAMS. HIS MISSION, HIS PURPOSE IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN THAT. HE NEVER INTENDED FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT WE COULD DO WHAT WE WANT WITH THE LIFE THAT HE GAVE US BUT RATHER AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST WE MUST SUBMIT OURSELVES, OUR WILL, OUR DESIRE TO THE ONE THAT LOVES US SO. HOW CAN I BE SO SURE OF THIS YOU ASK?

LUKE 9:24 TELLS US THAT “WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT: BUT WHOSOEVER WILL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL SAVE IT. IN JOHN 12:25 IT SAYS THAT, HE THAT LOVETH HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT AND HE THAT HATETH HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD SHALL KEEP IT UNTO LIFE ETERNAL. THE BIBLE IS EXPLICITLY CLEAR THAT THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THEN THE LIFE WE NOW LIVE. IN FACT THIS LIFE IS NOTHING IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, FOR JAMES 4:14 TELLS US THAT OUR LIFE IS JUST AS A VAPOUR WHICH APEARETH FOR A LITTLE TIME AND THEN VANISHETH AWAY.”

THE BIBLE ALSO TEACHES THAT NOTHING THAT WE GAIN ON THIS EARTH, WHETHER POSSESSIONS, RICHES, FAME, TITLES, ESTEEM, WE CAN’T TAKE THEM TO THE NEXT LIFE WITH US. WHAT IS OF MOST IMPORTANCE IS WHERE WILL YOUR SOUL END UP WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE. WOULDN’T IT BE A TRAGEDY IF YOU WAISTED YOUR SOUL ON TEMPORARY THINGS OF THIS EARTH. BUT THAT’S VERY POSSIBLE IF YOU FOLLOW THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN THIS BLOG.

SO AS FAR AS THAT YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE THING I CONCLUDE WITH THIS. YOU CAN ONLY LIVE ONCE BUT THAT MEANS THAT YOU WILL DIE TWICE. OR YOU CAN DIE ONCE IN CHRIST AND LIVE LIFE ETERNALLY. HERE ARE THE SCRIPTURES TO PROOVE IT:

-MATT. 10:28

-REV. 20:6, 14,

-REV. 21:8

-JOHN 17:3

-MARK 10:28-3

-JOHN 11:26

GOOD AND PLENTY PART 1

IN THE BIBLE THERE IS A FAMILIAR STORY ABOUT THESE THREE FELLA'S WHO WERE GIVEN TALENTS. ONE OF THEM WERE GIVEN 5, THE OTHER 2, AND THE OTHER ONLY 1. OF COURSE YOU KNOW HOW THE REST OF THE STORY GOES. WHEN THE LORD CAME BACK TO SEE HOW HIS INVESTMENT WAS GOING THE ONE WITH 5 HAD GAINED 5 MORE, THE INDIVIDUAL WITH 2 HAD GAINED 2 MORE, AND THE PERSON WITH 1 HID HIS TALENT IN THE EARTH AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE WHAT HE WAS GIVEN, YET ALONE ADDING ANYTHING TO IT. THIS LAST MAN WAS CONSIDERED AS A WICKED AND SLOTHFUL SERVANT.

MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE READ THESE STORIES IN THE BIBLE WE READ IT WITH A SENSE OF FAMILIARITY. WE OFTEN HAVE HEARD IT SO MUCH THAT WE ALREADY CAN ASSUME THE CONCLUSION AND MESSAGE IN THE STORY. HOWEVER MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE DRAWN MORE TO OUR PERCEIVED MEANING OF THE STORY VERSES THE ACUTAL RELIVANCE OF THE STORY IN OUR LIVES. IN OTHER WORDS WE NEVER SEE HOW OFTEN TIMES MANY OF US ARE LIVING EXAMPLES OF THIS STORY. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT.

I REMEMBER ONCE AND A YOUNG TEENAGE BOY WATCHING BRIAN MCKNIGHT ON T.V. SINGING AND PLAYING ONE OF HIS SONGS LIVE. I WAS SO AMAZED WITH HIS ABILITY AND SKILL. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT I BEGIN TO COMPARE HIS ABILITY TO MY ABILITY. OBVIOUSLY I FELL SHORT. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT I ALLOWED SELF PITY, INSECURITY, FEAR AND SELFISHNESS TO INFULTRATE MY HEART AND CAUSE ME TO WANT TO QUIT. I HAD LITERALLY SAID IN MY HEART THAT SINCE I HAD ONLY "THIS MUCH" ABILITY AND HE HAS SO MUCH MORE I'M JUST GOING TO BURY MINE AND DO NOTHING WITH IT.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR MANY YEARS THAT SAME ATTITUDE FOLLOWED ME. ALWAYS COMPARING MYSELF TO SOMEONE ELSE AND ALLOWING WHAT THEY HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT I DO WITH WHAT I HAVE. THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I WOULD SAY, "SINCE I CAN'T SING THAT GOOD GOD, I JUST DON'T WANT TO SING AT ALL." OR "SINCE I CAN'T PLAY THE PIANO THAT WELL GOD I JUST DON'T WANT TO PLAY AT ALL." OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE WRONG ATTITUDE TO HAVE. FORTUNATELY I HAD PARENTS AND PEOPLE AROUND ME WHO WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO QUIT LIKE I WANTED TO.

GOD IS NOT CONCERNED WITH HOW MUCH YOU START WITH BECAUSE HE GAVE YOU WHAT YOU HAVE RATHER HE IS CONCERNED WITH WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. HAVE YOU MADE PROGRESS WITH WHAT GOD GAVE YOU? HAVE YOU PRODUCE FRUIT OUT OF THE SEEDS THAT HE HAS PLANTED IN YOUR LIFE; OR HAVE YOU WICKEDLY BEEN MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE AND BURIED YOUR ABILITIES IN THE EARTH. IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN YOU'LL END UP JUST LIKE THAT, BURIED WITH NOTHING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE GREATEST SINGER IN THE WORLD TO BE A GREAT SOPRANO IN THE CHOIR. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE GREATEST SPEAKER IN THE WORLD TO TESTIFY OF THE GOODNESS AND THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE RICHEST PERSON IN THE WORLD TO BE RICH IN GIVING. AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL GOD WANTS YOU TO DO IS TO TAKE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE AND PRODUCE MORE OUT OF IT.

IF GOD GAVE YOU 1 TALENT HE DOESN'T ALWAYS EXPECT TEN BACK BUT HE DOES EXPECT YOU TO GIVE HIM MORE. SO STOP SAYING THAT WHAT YOU HAVE IS NOT ENOUGH. THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE. WHAT YOU HAVE IS GOOD AND PLENTY ENOUGH TO MAKE MORE. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OVER WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU,