Well here we are another Christmas eve and I thought I would ramble for awhile. In the secular world this is that special time of year that seldom lives up to the expectations we load the season down with.For somany people it is just not possible to live up to the hype of what has become the most commercialized evdnt in the country, Especially in the current state of our country and the world when so many are suffering.
Wouldn't it be beter if we could turn back to the true reason for the season. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but hase everlasting life John 3:16.Now I don,t want this blg to become a discussion about whether or not Jesus was really born in December because I find that irrelevant. The Lord knows my heart and He knows I am celebrating the birth of my savior. Whatever pagan origins may have once existed areno longer relevant today. On Christmas we celebrate the greatest gift the world has evedr known. Jesus became man and live the only sinless life ever known so that He might pay the price to restore us to righteousness. There has never beennor will ever be another sinless Human being. Only Jesus could become the perfect sacrifice to win the battle over sin death and hades.
One thing I find rather interesting is the fact that we celebrate our saviours birthday by giving each other presents.it is a good thing He loves is so much.
Sometimes I look around and wonder just what has happened to this once great and God fearing country. It seems we do n ot even fear God enough to respect Him in His own house. Humility and respect seem to have become biblical characteristics that don't translate into our actual lives,
It has been a somewhat emotional difficult year for me. It will be the first year since wse adopted Rosemarie that she will not be here with us, On the plus side we do have Xavier and Tapanga our grandchildren who we love greatly. My Father passed a little overa year ago and I still dont know how I feel about that.
I lost my Pastor this year." Pastor Rick if this somehow makes it to you " I love you brother" For a time I was upset with you but only because I didnt really know how much you meant to me until your werent there for me anymore. I really could have used some face time this past week. I still tear every time I think about you.
The whole thing surely made me reevaluate things and ultimately decided I live for God not for man or any of their preconceived notions. I am a Bapticostal and proud of it . I evangelize to win souls for God and pray in tongues when I really want to draw close to the Lord. I know it limits my chances for ministry but I refuse to b elieve the gifts ended with the apostolic age and the Bible seems to say otherwise. I have chosent to believe the whole Bib le not just the convienient parts.
To my many friends at LFC I do miss many of you, Ralf, Bill Ryan Pete and on and on but just as I pray for all of you please pray for me also.
If there is one thing I miss but that also gives me hope for the future of our country it is the wonderful group of youths I have been honored to know and to teach, although I learned more than I ever taught. Chris, Isaac, Mathew Miss Walton(sorry that your first name escapesme right now. Sierra. Chelsea Jen. You guys and girls are the future. I hope and pray you represent Christ just a little better than your adlt counterparts have. Nor can I forget Serina Klotz Becca Meskowitz and Liz Ciccarella Your the best. You guys let me know God still has a plan for this country. Lisa Janet Diane tghank you for the mentoring positions you took in Eileens life. We were both blessed because of it, There are many more names I am missing but Ive rambled enough.
For anyone still readingplease make sure you take some time this Christmas to remember the reason for the season. Jesus Christ my Lord and saviour, my all in all the reason for everything, Had He not come to earth and laid down His life for us nothing else would matter.
Be Blessed In the name of Jesus
Hugh
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas
Luke 2:7-11 (King James Version)
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
What should we as Christians do in order to celebrate this greatest gift of all. The birth of our savior, God Himself manifested into human form so that he may become the perfect lamb. Our Lord born into this world knowing that He will eventually be crucified to pay the price for our sins and grant us the ultimate gift of everlasting life.
And just how do we celebrate; why by buying each other gifts of course.Something just doesn't seem right here.Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if the gifts we were giving were just a little more Christlike. Jesus taught us how we are to give gifts. To take care of widows and orphans, to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked. To be an encourager to someone having a rough time. To pray for the sick and the lost.
Or how about a really radical idea. Step out of you comfort zone and allow the Lord to use you in a way that helps to further His kingdom by doing your part to bring home one of the lost.Helping them to see the greatest of all gifts which is there's for the asking.
We have all heard the saying that it is better to give than to receive, well I,d like to let you in on what should not be such a big secret. The feeling you get when you are able to pray with someone to accept Jesus into there life is better than anything else this world has to offer, with the exception of how you felt the day you accepted the Lord into your life. The look on the persons face when the awesomeness of what just happened dawns on them is priceless. There is nothing this world can offer me that comes anywhere near the joy I receive when I see another brother or sister become a child of the most high God.
So if we really want to keep Christ in Christmas, we can not count on the supreme court to do it for us of the AFA or the CFLJ. The way to keep Christ in Christmas is to get out there with the love of God in our hearts and the Gospel on our lips and allow the Lord to use us to bring Christ into the life of others.What could you possibly buy for someone that stacks up against the gift of helping to lead them to eternal life with their Lord and Savior.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
What should we as Christians do in order to celebrate this greatest gift of all. The birth of our savior, God Himself manifested into human form so that he may become the perfect lamb. Our Lord born into this world knowing that He will eventually be crucified to pay the price for our sins and grant us the ultimate gift of everlasting life.
And just how do we celebrate; why by buying each other gifts of course.Something just doesn't seem right here.Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if the gifts we were giving were just a little more Christlike. Jesus taught us how we are to give gifts. To take care of widows and orphans, to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked. To be an encourager to someone having a rough time. To pray for the sick and the lost.
Or how about a really radical idea. Step out of you comfort zone and allow the Lord to use you in a way that helps to further His kingdom by doing your part to bring home one of the lost.Helping them to see the greatest of all gifts which is there's for the asking.
We have all heard the saying that it is better to give than to receive, well I,d like to let you in on what should not be such a big secret. The feeling you get when you are able to pray with someone to accept Jesus into there life is better than anything else this world has to offer, with the exception of how you felt the day you accepted the Lord into your life. The look on the persons face when the awesomeness of what just happened dawns on them is priceless. There is nothing this world can offer me that comes anywhere near the joy I receive when I see another brother or sister become a child of the most high God.
So if we really want to keep Christ in Christmas, we can not count on the supreme court to do it for us of the AFA or the CFLJ. The way to keep Christ in Christmas is to get out there with the love of God in our hearts and the Gospel on our lips and allow the Lord to use us to bring Christ into the life of others.What could you possibly buy for someone that stacks up against the gift of helping to lead them to eternal life with their Lord and Savior.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE RED HAIRED GIRL
I know I haven't posted in awhile, but this past thursday I had an experience that I just can't shake. For four days I have been praying and asking the Lord what He was trying to tell me but in retrospect I think I knew immediately.
I recently took a position as a driver for a laboratory. On any given day I may drive between 250 and 450 miles dropping off bottle orders and reports and picking up sample to be analyzed at the lab. This much time alone on the road gives you alot of time to think, which can be either a good or bad thing depending on what is going on in your life.
I have been pusuing a degree in Biblical Studies in the hope of being able to enter full time ministry, I believe with all my heart that this is what the Lord is calling me to do and I know that each new experience is just His way of preparing me, but there are times the road to accomplishing this seems endless. Lately a series of financial, physical and emotional occurrences had been taking its toll.
The other day I was sitting in bumper to bumper traffic when up ahead high on the embankment underneath a bridge I say this young redheaded women sitting on a couch. On a sunny 95 degree day you see many people outside especially in the cities and at first I thought nothing about it rather than it was a strange place to be hanging out. As I neared the overpass I realized that there were clusters of clothes and personal belongings scattered up and down the embankment on both sides of the highway and I realized that what I was witnessing was a homeless colony.From the looks of things there were probably dozens of people who slept here each evening," But she just didn't look like a homeless person".
As I came closer the next minute of my life was one that will be burned into my mind forever. At first I wondered why this attractive young women was not only staying in a homeless colony, she seemed to have the most choice position. I doubt she was a newcomer. Secondly I was frightened for her, as she sat there just staring out over the highway, rats the size of small dogs skittered past her feet and she didn't even budge.I was frightened to be 100 feet away in the car and she didn't even notice them. Then we made eye contact. I will be praying for this girl for the rest of my life. She may have been 19 or 45, she was beautiful yet frightening, I wanted to get away as fast as I could but all day felt that I should have just found someplace to pull over so I could help her. I don't know what I could have done but I felt so "lacking".
So yes, I do know what the Lord was telling me. He does have plans for me, He knows I want to make a difference, He's just not finished preparing me yet. So I'll keep on trusting, but I'd like to ask all or you,"Please" PRAY FOR THE RED HAIRED GIRL.
I recently took a position as a driver for a laboratory. On any given day I may drive between 250 and 450 miles dropping off bottle orders and reports and picking up sample to be analyzed at the lab. This much time alone on the road gives you alot of time to think, which can be either a good or bad thing depending on what is going on in your life.
I have been pusuing a degree in Biblical Studies in the hope of being able to enter full time ministry, I believe with all my heart that this is what the Lord is calling me to do and I know that each new experience is just His way of preparing me, but there are times the road to accomplishing this seems endless. Lately a series of financial, physical and emotional occurrences had been taking its toll.
The other day I was sitting in bumper to bumper traffic when up ahead high on the embankment underneath a bridge I say this young redheaded women sitting on a couch. On a sunny 95 degree day you see many people outside especially in the cities and at first I thought nothing about it rather than it was a strange place to be hanging out. As I neared the overpass I realized that there were clusters of clothes and personal belongings scattered up and down the embankment on both sides of the highway and I realized that what I was witnessing was a homeless colony.From the looks of things there were probably dozens of people who slept here each evening," But she just didn't look like a homeless person".
As I came closer the next minute of my life was one that will be burned into my mind forever. At first I wondered why this attractive young women was not only staying in a homeless colony, she seemed to have the most choice position. I doubt she was a newcomer. Secondly I was frightened for her, as she sat there just staring out over the highway, rats the size of small dogs skittered past her feet and she didn't even budge.I was frightened to be 100 feet away in the car and she didn't even notice them. Then we made eye contact. I will be praying for this girl for the rest of my life. She may have been 19 or 45, she was beautiful yet frightening, I wanted to get away as fast as I could but all day felt that I should have just found someplace to pull over so I could help her. I don't know what I could have done but I felt so "lacking".
So yes, I do know what the Lord was telling me. He does have plans for me, He knows I want to make a difference, He's just not finished preparing me yet. So I'll keep on trusting, but I'd like to ask all or you,"Please" PRAY FOR THE RED HAIRED GIRL.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Racism among Christians
We are all created in the image and likeness of God.And yes I am a creationist, I do not believe I evovled from anything I believe I am God's handiwork.Now brothers and sisters we need to stop spending so much time on the things that divide us. it is bad enoughwe battle between denominations we can not also have Christians dividing by race. If we are to accomplish the grat commission we need to move beyond that.
If we have a problem with a brother the bible tells us we are to straighten things out with that brother first. All who have accepted Christ have become one family,Christs body on earth. The bible says we will know them by their fruit and there are times I think some peoples Christianity needs to be question and searched for fruit.
I personally do not want anyone sent to eternal damnation because i was not bold enough to confront them. I think we are in a time where there are more and more false teachers with the anti-Christ spirit within them and we must challenge them at every turn.BUT it needs to be done as a Christian for the glory and honor of God and racism has no place in the equation.
Do not speak out of a place of racism nor avoid a confrontation because someone might accuse you of racism. Make sure you are speaking out of the heart of a Christian, be bold, be strong, but be loving.
The main thing I am trying to say is that during such a time as ours Christians need to be uniting under the banner of Gods desires for our lives and not separating because of some silly pact mentality which can only move you further and further away from the Lord.
If we have a problem with a brother the bible tells us we are to straighten things out with that brother first. All who have accepted Christ have become one family,Christs body on earth. The bible says we will know them by their fruit and there are times I think some peoples Christianity needs to be question and searched for fruit.
I personally do not want anyone sent to eternal damnation because i was not bold enough to confront them. I think we are in a time where there are more and more false teachers with the anti-Christ spirit within them and we must challenge them at every turn.BUT it needs to be done as a Christian for the glory and honor of God and racism has no place in the equation.
Do not speak out of a place of racism nor avoid a confrontation because someone might accuse you of racism. Make sure you are speaking out of the heart of a Christian, be bold, be strong, but be loving.
The main thing I am trying to say is that during such a time as ours Christians need to be uniting under the banner of Gods desires for our lives and not separating because of some silly pact mentality which can only move you further and further away from the Lord.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
THE CHURCH
What comes into your mind when someone says "The Church"? To many of us it seems that the first thing we think of is a building. To others it may be their denomination. But isn't the church really about being a part of the family of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common. And sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. Praising God and having favor with all the people.And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:43-47 NKJV
Recently after spending a good portion of a day witnessing to someone, I was blessed when he told me that unlike others who had tried speaking with him before, he didn't mind listening to me because I was different (most who know me can attest to that, LOL), he says I didn't sound preachy. I told him that being a Christian is a lifestyle which should be expressed by actions rather than words.
So what happens when we become part of the family of God and allow Him to work through us to bring his grace to others on earth? For me it is seeing Gods love in action. Not just on grandiose levels but on personal levels. It is personal gifts and notes sent to me from people I have never met because they were touched by something I wrote. It is the member of my congregation that slips me money from time to time for no other reason than he knows I am experiencing difficult times. It is my wife's bible study teacher who has spent hours transcribing films because she knows my wife can not hear the dialogue. It is having friends who will drop whatever they are doing in order to pray with you.
To me " The Church" is the manifestation of Gods love on the earth.
Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common. And sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. Praising God and having favor with all the people.And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:43-47 NKJV
Recently after spending a good portion of a day witnessing to someone, I was blessed when he told me that unlike others who had tried speaking with him before, he didn't mind listening to me because I was different (most who know me can attest to that, LOL), he says I didn't sound preachy. I told him that being a Christian is a lifestyle which should be expressed by actions rather than words.
So what happens when we become part of the family of God and allow Him to work through us to bring his grace to others on earth? For me it is seeing Gods love in action. Not just on grandiose levels but on personal levels. It is personal gifts and notes sent to me from people I have never met because they were touched by something I wrote. It is the member of my congregation that slips me money from time to time for no other reason than he knows I am experiencing difficult times. It is my wife's bible study teacher who has spent hours transcribing films because she knows my wife can not hear the dialogue. It is having friends who will drop whatever they are doing in order to pray with you.
To me " The Church" is the manifestation of Gods love on the earth.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Absolutes
I recently started in a position as a part time fill-in driver for a laboratory which has so far provided a rather good stream of work. Besides for the fact that I love being paid to drive someone else vehichle all day it is providing me with many opportunites to encounter many different people everyday.On friday I was able to spend about eleven hours being driven around the state while a very pleasant gentleman showed me his route.
Not surprisingly we started talking about politics and world affairs. Anyone who knows me also knows that I am never short of opinions on this topic but with someone I have just recently met I know to keep things on a level of generalities until we become more familiar with each other. I knew immediately that this was a gentleman who put thought into his answers and at the age of 77 he has encountered most of the experiences life has to offer but he said something that I knew I had to address.
Now being g as we were only about 2 hours into what I knew was going to be a long day I knew I had time to get this right. The gentleman had expressed the opinion that there are "no absolutes."
Throughout the day I had learned that his son was a Christian who I have no doubt is someone I would get along with, so I knew I wasn't drifting into uncharted territories. I can only pray that I was able to help water a seed that I know has already been planted and before the day was out I did get back around to my main thought of the day.
There is one "absolute truth" and only one. Jesus Christ said "I am the way the truth and the life" this is an absolute we can cling to and use as our guide through life and praise God for that.
Not surprisingly we started talking about politics and world affairs. Anyone who knows me also knows that I am never short of opinions on this topic but with someone I have just recently met I know to keep things on a level of generalities until we become more familiar with each other. I knew immediately that this was a gentleman who put thought into his answers and at the age of 77 he has encountered most of the experiences life has to offer but he said something that I knew I had to address.
Now being g as we were only about 2 hours into what I knew was going to be a long day I knew I had time to get this right. The gentleman had expressed the opinion that there are "no absolutes."
Throughout the day I had learned that his son was a Christian who I have no doubt is someone I would get along with, so I knew I wasn't drifting into uncharted territories. I can only pray that I was able to help water a seed that I know has already been planted and before the day was out I did get back around to my main thought of the day.
There is one "absolute truth" and only one. Jesus Christ said "I am the way the truth and the life" this is an absolute we can cling to and use as our guide through life and praise God for that.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Global Warming
Good thing there are no elected officials flying out of D C for any climate change conferences this weekend.Over 6,000 years and humans are still foolish enough to think that they can do anything to control nature. How often do we hear about the pagan goddess called mother nature or the all knowing god called science.
When was the last time any man or woman managed to stop a hurricane or an earthquake or a tornado, or a tsunami"I'll wait while you look that up?"
There is only one way that we can have any influence at all over these occurrences and it can be found on the Book of 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14.
Butthen we would have to stop killing babies, stop worshipping false god,turn away from lives of immorality.
Of course there are many with hardened heart who will never repent and someday they will find out the true meaning of ETERNAL GLOBAL WARMING.
When was the last time any man or woman managed to stop a hurricane or an earthquake or a tornado, or a tsunami"I'll wait while you look that up?"
There is only one way that we can have any influence at all over these occurrences and it can be found on the Book of 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14.
Butthen we would have to stop killing babies, stop worshipping false god,turn away from lives of immorality.
Of course there are many with hardened heart who will never repent and someday they will find out the true meaning of ETERNAL GLOBAL WARMING.
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