Idle Minds, Idols ... Idolatry: Faith, Truth And Trust!

Idle Minds And Idle Thoughts

Are The Devil's Workshop!

Surrounded By Sickness And Suffering
Living In A World Of Temptation And Sin
Walking Toward Hill Zion
Dogged By Devils
- Some Bold And Some In Hiding -
Is 

The Lot Of The One Sinner Repentant 

Seeking, Finding, Following, Obeying

The One Who Saves, Heals, Reveals And Seals!

Jesus Christ Says Plainly:

Seek Me Diligently

And Assuredly

It Is Me That You Find!

Knock On My Door Boldly

And

You Shall Be Invited Inside!

Ask For Your Needs

According To The Word

My Will For Your Life 

And

You Shall Surely Receive

For I Am The Giver! 

I Am The Living Word!

I Also Give Unto You

Eternal Life

But

Know This My Children

For I Make It Plain

Doubt, Disbelief, Idolatry

Will Cause You To Receive From Me

No Profit ... No Gain

For These Are Millstone Out Of Place

And

Around You Neck

Dragging You Down To Perdition

Where Destruction Is All

All That You Shall Expect To Receive

When You Do Not My Living Word Believe!

Doubt Is Sin! 

Doubt In The Holy God

Is Also A Form Of Idolatry 

Because

You, A Mere Mortal

Lift Up Yourself Above The Holy God!

Disbelief Is Sin! 

Disbelief Is Also Another Form Of Idolatry

For You, A Child Of The Dust

A Creation Of The Most Holy

Dares To Question The Ways

The Wisdom Of Your Creator

The Word Of The Self-Existent One

Who Says

"It Is Thus!"

To Do This, Beloved

Is To Forget

Who Is The One Who Is Almighty God

Who Is The One Who Inhabits Eternity

Who Is The One Who Keeps You Alive

Who Is The One, Alone

Who Causes You Physically, Spiritually

To Live Abundantly

And

In Perfect Peace To Thrive!

Brethren,

Idolatry Comes In Myriad Forms
And
Shows Itself In Varied Ways
And
Appears In Uncountable Places
And
The Lord Who Reigns Over All Creation
Hates It All!

Anything That Causes Us To Dwell On It
To The Exclusion Of The Living God Holy
Is
Idolatry
And
Is To Be Set Aside
Whether It Is Relationships

Houses, Lands, Toys, Money Or Associations!

There Can Only Be One God

- The Creator God Holy -

In Our Lives!

Split Allegiance 

Is 

Wholly Despised By The Lord! 

Idolatry Is An Abomination
And
All Who Practice Such
Shall Never Have Their Nomination
- Their Election ... Their Call - 

To Heaven Ratified!

Idolatry Is A Lie
From The Father Of Lies
Who Lies For A Living
To Ensure That Others Shall Join Him
When It Comes Time For Him To Forever Die 

For Distinctly Gross, Base, Lies

Which See Unrepentant Men ... Dying

Because

The Lord ... The Judge

- Mercy Set Aside -

Is Unforgiving!

Have Hope ...

Jesus Christ
Is
To Be First And Foremost In Our Affections
Or We Shall Perish 

As Did The Idol Worshipers Of Old!

There Is One God:
One God Giving
One God Truthful
One God Worth Trusting
One God Blessing
One God Forgiving
One God Who Is Our Hope, Help And Salvation 

One God Who Is Forever Living!

The Lord Always Provides For His People
And
We Need To Hold The Things Of This World 

With An Exceedingly Light Touch! 

Earth Is A Way-Station!

Idols Are Useless!

Almighty God Is King

And

Heaven Is Home!

NEVER POPULAR: Truth!

Truth ... And Popularity
Were Standing Before The Church!
Truth Was Standing By Himself
Off To The Right!
Popularity Looked At Him Like He Was Lurch!

There's A Story To Tell ...

Back In The Beginning
Truth Was King
Master Of Everything
Beloved Of The Brethren
Known Always For Saying 
Doing
Being
The Right Thing!

Truth Wasn't Always Convenient
But
Truth Always Was ... Truthful
Pointed
Direct
Faithful
Blessed
A Spiritual Success
At Least That Was Until
Good Old Popularity Always New
Always Current
Always Suave
Always Convenient
Blase
Totally Incapable Of
Holding The Fine Line
Willing Always To Treat With Those Brethren
Who Loved Broad Fuzzy Movable
Transient Transferable Technicolor
Inebriated Easily Repurposed ... Things!

Popularity Was A Pissant
And
Present 
Public
Pervasive
Persuasive 
Precious Truth Always Made Him Squirm!

Truth Is The Solid Rock:
Not Rock-Hard Cement!
Truth Is The Rock Of Ages 
By The Lord God Almighty Sown!

Ah, Well ...

The Great Day Of Decision
Had Arrived Without Fanfare
And
This Is The Day Heretofore Spoken Of
When Truth Stood Alone
His Continuing Presence In The Church
A Thing Up In The Air!

Popularity Was In His Glee!
He Had Also Been In His Cups
Aka He Was Drunk As A Skunk
And
He Thought Nothing Of It
Cared Not For Those Insular Few
Who Thought Him De Trop
Even Dissolute
And
He Was Pumping His Fists
Occasionally Thumping His Pigeon Chest
Ever Exposing His Bonafides
Aka His Jewels Gained By Bribes
And Tortured Beliefs
And
He Knew By The Twinging Of
His Left Big Toe In His Gucci Loafer
That He Was The Man Of The Hour!
With Truth
He Was Finally Settling The Score!
At His Word
Truth Will Be Put Out The Door!

He Had Repeatedly Asked Truth
To Fornicate With Him
But, Truth 
Being Always Truthful
Had Spurned His Advances
Rejected His Entreaties
Returned His Gifts
Blocked His Phone Number
Would Not Entertain His Worldly "Friend" Requests
And
Chose, Instead
To Stick Close To The Forever Friend!

Popularity Did Not Know 
How To Take "No!" For An Answer
So He Had Set Up Things In The Assembly
To Bring Cutting Present Truth To A Sticky End:
Doubt And Disbelief
Gainsaying And Carnality
Were His Choicest Henchmen!

Oh, What A Tangled Web We Weave

When We Practice To Deceive!

Facts Are Firm ...

Popularity Does Not Make One Good Or Right
And
Truth Does Not Make One Bad Or Wrong
But
Popularity 
Built On "Convenient" Truth
Is
Sure To Make One's Life A Blight!

The Blaze Of Glory ...

Present Truth ... Plain Truth
Stood Still In The Light Of Life
And
Watched As Popularity
- Present Popularity -
The Chosen Flavor Of The Month
Was Raised Up 
And
Then Ignominiously Cast Down
As The Thing Not Current
Not Viable
Not Passable
For That Time Of Life!
Present Popularity Had Been Built On Lies!
Known Lies!

The End Result Of It All ...

Unchained
Unfettered
Unchanging
Unaffected
Unfailing
Unpolished
Unspun
Uncolored
And
Unflinching
Truth Remained ... Resolute
Tall And Strong
On Solid Ground!

As For That One Called Popularity
He Was Put Outside
- No Friends -
On The Rubbish Heap Of Convenience
To Die!
Oh, How He Burned!

There Is No Eternal Profit In Popularity!

Truth Always Saves!

... Following The Kind Master!

In The School Of Trial
Which We Often Call The School Of Hard Knocks
The Lord Jesus Christ Teaches
You, Me, Us!

We Learn Life Through Self-Denial 

And 

Disappointment

And ...

Through Bitter Personal Experience
We Learn The Evil Of Sin
The Power Of Sin
The Guilt Inflicted By Sin
And
The Great Woes Perpetrated Because Of Sin

And ...

We Learn To Love 
And 
Obediently Follow
The Leading Of The Kind Master!

Obedience Doesn't Come Naturally!

We Learn To Hate Sin
And
We Long For Jesus Christ's Free Salvation!

Self Occasionally Rears Up Its Ugly Head
But
Through The Patient Discipline Of Undying Love
And
The Real Desire Our Dear And Blessed Lord To Please
We Come Around To The Way Of The Cross
And
We Learn To Walk As Those Wise
Those Who Will Not To Sin Be Lost!

And For Our Faithfulness ...

Bitter Opposition
Hatred Most Vile
And
Character Assassination
Doggedly Follow 
And
Fall Upon Us
When We Will Not Against The Lord's Truth Lie!

Lest We Forget ...

The Way Of The Cross Leads Us  To The Eternal Home
But
The Journey Is Marked With Tears
The Setting Aside Of SelfCast Off Doubts
Disbeliefs
Terrors
Troubles
Songs Of Gladness For Battles Won
Pleadings For Revelation
Songs Setting Forth Trials Overcome
And
Songs Of Victory Over Besetting Sin!

Make Up Your Mind ...

Jesus Christ The Righteous
Is 
Our Savior
And
We Will Not Be Moved!

Faith And Grace

Are

Our Only-For-The-Present-Day "Vitamins"

And

The Holy Spirit Of Living Truth

Is

Our Constant Companion

Guiding Chiding Directing Teaching Us

So That The Accuser Of The Brethren

Cannot Cause Us

Our Love For Our Lord

To Cut Loose!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Who's Their Real Boss!?! + PRAYER: Lead Us, Heavenly Father!

Salesman Showman Works For A Boss!
Who It Is He Works For
Many People Are At A Loss!
Is It Boss Lost
Or
He Who Died On The Cross!?!
Suffice It To Know
In Hell There Is No Hoar Frost!

Boss Lost Is Cross
Because
He Was Out Of Glorious Heaven Tossed
And Because

He Who Died On The Cross
Is
The One Who By Sinning Souls Saving
Costs Boss Lost Numerous Souls
Who Would To His Side
Would Have Been Surely And Forever Lost!

Boss Lost 
Is 
The Liar Called Father
The Murderer Called First
And
Being Jealous Envious
Deceitful And Profane
He Takes Great Pains
To See That Others Do Not Holy Heaven Gain!

On The Other Hand ...

He Who Died On The Cruel Cross

Was Obviously Alive And Then Died

And

Was Obviously Dead 
And 
Is Certainly Alive

And

His Life, Death, And Life Forevermore

Puts A Period Most Pronounced

In What It Is That Boss Lost

Will For Eternity Assuredly Secure!
Sin Will Never Rise Again For Sure!

He Who Died Upon The Cross

Reigns And Rules In Highest Heaven

And

His Rule And Reign Assures The Believing Host

That They Do Not Have To Eat Pharisee Leaven!

Pharisee Leaven

Is
Food Fit For White-Washed Tombs!

Pharisee Leaven

Is 
Doubt And Disbelief Served On A Gold Spoon!

But For Sure What Pharisee Leaven

Is Not
Is Meat Fit For Those 

Who Will Inherit Robes Of Righteousness

Those Who Will Bear The Lord Christ's Holy Likeness!

This ... Is A Problem!

Salesman Showman

Can Sell Snow To Eskimos

Can Sell Icecream In Winter

Can Sell Feathers To Ducks

And

Is Doing A Brisk Trade

Selling Personal Truth

As A Way Of Life 

To Those Who Desire To Know

The Way To Eternal Life!

The Best Sellers ...

Lies 
White Lies

Half-Truths

Fabrications

Embellishments

Are Best Sellers Against Known Truth
By A Nine To One Margin!

The Accolades ...

Salesman Of The Day

Salesman Of The Week

Salesman Of The Month

Salesman Of The Quarter

Sales Of The Year

Are All Plaques And Awards

That Grace His Wall Of Glory

And

He Has For Each Win

A Very Personal Good-For-Him Bad-For-You Story! 

Truth Always Comes Out ...

One Day
The Boar-Cat Was Let Out Of The Bag
And
It Was Finally Revealed That
Salesman Showman Shows Gross Contempt 
For He Who Died On The Cross

And

It Then Became Well Known That
Salesman Showman Indeed Works For Boss Lost

And

Lives In The Present

The Here And The Now

And

Reaps Putrid Riches From Those 

Who Labor At The Think And Grow Rich Plow!

The Facts Remain ...

Personal Truth Is Not Truth Plain! 

Personal Truth Is Not Truth Pure! 

Personal Truth Will Never Lead To The Cure

And

Personal Truth Will Lead Many Men

With Many Minds

Away From Jesus Christ The Righteous

- The Only Way To The Father - 

The Only Open Door
The Only One Who ... Against Sin
Has The Sure And Certain Cure! 

Brethren,

Many Are The Salesmen Showmen
Who Stand Upon The Altars Of God Today!
Many Are The Salesmen Showmen
Who Pander To Sinning Men's Wild Ways
And
Winsomely Push Aside Their Known Fears!
Many Are The Salesmen Showmen
Who Most Assuredly
Do Not For Lost Men's Souls Care
So, Therefore
It Is Imperative That We Each Know Personally
The God Of All Grace
To Whom We Do Pray
And
Seek To Work Out Our Own Soul's Salvation
For Soon Comes The Great And Awful Day!

PRAYER:

Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us

In The Path Of The Truth And Right!

Bless Us, Lord, With Food Fit For Us

And

Help Us Daily To Fight Faith's Good Fight!

Help Us, Lord

To Look Up And Walk Onward!

Help Us, Lord

To Pray And To Plead

For

The Blessings Of Peace And Rest

For

Faith's Hope And Christ's Glory

And

To Walk In The Truth

As Is Told In The Good News Gospel Story!

Help Us, Lord

To Walk In Truth

To Pray With Power

To Live With Love

And

To Rest In Hope

For

We Ask All In The Name

The Matchless Name Of Jesus Christ

The Righteous Lord

The King Of Glory

Our Only Savior, Redeemer

And

Forever Friend!

AMEN.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Serve Me Salt!

Father Most Faithful,

I Come Unto Thee

Asking For Salt Unmeasured

Your Grace

That Is Ever Sufficient For Me!

By Your Grace

Help Me To Walk Wise!

By Your Wisdom

Grant Me Discernment

To Detect Satan's Lies

And

By The Blood Of The Innocent

Make Thou Me Clean

So That In The Day Soon Dawning

Fear Of Condemnation

Will Not Cause It To Be To Me

The Thing To Hide From

The Thing Best Not Seen!

Riches Bring Cares Insurmountable

That Poor Men

Ignorant

Wish That They Could Have

But, Lord

I Beseech You

Have Mercy On Me

And

Bless Me With

The Spirit Of Contentment

For What I Have

And

Spare Me The Curse

Of Lusting After Things

That In Your Wisdom

Are Not Things That Will Bless Me

And

Cause Me To Achieve

Your Personal Gift Of Immortality

And

Eternal Wings!

Father,

Your Word Says That

The Poor Is Better Than The Liar

So Keep Me From Lies! 

Your Word Says Get Wisdom

That Principal Thing

So, Please

Grant Me Wisdom

And Understanding

That Only Comes From You

So That The Knowledge

That I Daily Gain

Will Be A Blessing To Me

And

- In The Sharing Thereof - 

The Children Of The Kingdom True!

Father,

Please Let Patience In Me

Do A Perfect Work

So That I Am Complete

And

Perfect

Just As Is My God

And

Keep Me, Lord

Keep Me In Your Blessed Care

And

Away

Far Away

From The Shiny Beads And Baubles Of Unbelief

Distrust

Disobedience

Denial

And

Self

That Are Liberally Distributed By

The One Damned

Satan The Fraud

Who Is Vainly Trying To God!

I Love You, Lord

And

I Worship You Alone

And Not Giving Your Glory To The False Other! 

Please Accept These Few Petitions 

And

Make Me A Fit Vessel

For Your Heavenly Use! 

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name

I Fervently Pray And Humbly Plea!

AMEN.

The Seed Of ... Sin!

The Seed Of Sin

Long-thread Cotton Spins

Making Smooth Cloth

Strong and Supple

As The Refreshing Wind!

That Seed Is Self

Who Its Maker Denies

And Stands Sits On Its Own

On The Apostate's Satanic Throne!

Sin Is Accursed!

You Must To It Be Adverse

Looking Not At Your Self

But Keeping Your Eye

On The Living God 
Who Is The Lord of The Universe!

Self Is Mortal Insanity

Indulging in Conversational Inanities

Which Offer Nothing Substantial

Nor Bearing Gravity

To Whomever with It Is In Charity!

*******

Let Not Anyone 

Take 

A Loaf of Bread 

From Your Mouth

Who Cannot Give You 

A Dry Biscuit!

Satan

Sin

and 

Self

Are

Synonymous

with

Sacrilege!

*******

If Sin Is Around

Satan Is To Be Found!

If Self Stands Its Ground

Damnation Follows Close 

and then 

Fully Surrounds!

Root Out The Seed!

Get The Gardener King!

Get Jesus Christ

and

Eternally Live 

and 

Sing Thankful Praises To Him!

Ephesians 5:15-20