The British navy named her “The Hood.” This battleship was the pride of the navy, but one shell from the German Bismark took the lives of 1,415 sailors and only left three to tell the story.

This reminds me of the massive power of the evil one. How many has he taken over the years  because they just didn’t have the armor necessary to meet the challenge?

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Ephesians 6:11-12

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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.

Be ready, because his sights might be on you. Give it some thought.

Gary

At great personal cost, Obadiah hid a number of the prophet-preachers in a cave and took care of their needs.  We see this in 1 Kings 18:4 “And when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.” 

If King Ahab had known about this, old Obadiah’s life would have been cut short. However, this adviser to wicked Ahab realized that God had given him an assignment to fulfill.

What assignment has God given you? Does it cost you? Is it dangerous? One thing for sure, like Obadiah’s, it is recorded.

Give it some consideration.

Gary

Love “endures all things.” The word “endures” is a military term that means to hold a position at all costs, even unto death – whatever it takes.

The soldiers who received the Medal of Honor were ones who faced the challenge head- on without consideration of what it might cost. They weren’t looking for a medal for accomplishing what was set before them but did receive one.

The Apostle Paul would have won that medal.

Acts 20:23-24

…the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Come on; just get in the fight and finish it with grace. Give it some thought as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Gary

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless-it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable … The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers … of love is Hell.

    – C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis knew something about the emotion given to us called love. In order to handle it properly, one must open the manual given to us by the Creator.

1 John 4:8

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Colossians 3:14

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

1 Corinthians 13:13

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Used properly, love is a friend and not an enemy. Give it some thought.

Gary

“Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”

The quote was given by Libertarian congressional candidate John Wallner, but many thought it was by Mark Twain. It really doesn’t matter because the stench of that truth does lie in the statement.

Israel had forty-three different kings and only about six were classified as good. The northern kingdom didn’t have one out of twenty.

The Bible warns us.

Psalm 118:8–9

 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Jeremiah 17:5

Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.

Psalm 146:3

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.

Isaiah 2:22

Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?

Go vote, but don’t let it separate you from friends or family. Give it some thought.

Gary

I’m an independent voter, so I have no horse in this race. However, I do understand that both sides promise to lower my tax burden and give me more benefits. Now that doesn’t conflict with my belief in Santa Clause and the Easter bunny. Our country is 40 trillion dollars in debt, and I can’t figure out which side is more responsible for that.

I’m an independent and I approve of this message.

Reminds me of some Biblical statements.

Daniel 11:27 

Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time.

I’m so glad God oversees the future and not the politicians. God has promised to care for me no matter which side takes the reins of power. The above statements are fair and balanced. Give it some thought.

Gary

Life was easier when we were ignorant. Santa Claus brought us presents and Rudolf was our favorite reindeer. The fairy godmother gave us money for our baby teeth. Education would solve all problems. General Custer was a good guy, and all the Indians were bad guys. Nixon said, “I’m not a crook.” And we believed it. George Bush said, “Read my lips: no new taxes.” And we rejoiced. Religious leaders could be trusted. Vietnam was presented as a police action, and the forces of North Vietnam (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and the Viet Cong (National Liberation Front) would easily be defeated by our land, sea and air power. Many in the oval office promised there would be no new wars. We believed movie stars understood the political points better than the president, and we thought how intelligent these actors were.

Not to change the subject, but the majority won’t study the Scriptures because ignorance is more comfortable. Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I will also ignore your children.

Ephesians 4:18

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts

Romans 1:21–22

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.

Don’t you think it’s time to grow up? Give it some thought.

Gary