VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Self-Denial Does Not Fork!

Self-Denial 

Is 

The Strait, Hard, Road Upon Which 

Every Christ-Follower Must Enduringly Walk! 

It Is The Pathway To Hill Zion 

And

It Does Not Fork! 

Self-Denial Has The Tarmac Called Truth 

And 

For Illumination

It Has The Light Of Life

And 

All Who Are Determined, By Heavenly Grace, To Stay Thereon

Have Holy Angels Excelling In Strength For Personal Protection 

And

Encouragement 

Until Life Shall End! 

Beloved, 

When We Walk With Jesus Christ The Lord

We Cannot Play Footsie With Satan, King Fraud 

Because 

Who Is Not Working With Jesus Christ 

Is 

Striving ... Working ... Against Him 

And

That State Of Affairs 

Shall Have No Blessed-Forever Beautiful Ending! 

Please Do Not Let Your Carnal Self Cause You To Sin 

By Doing What You Truthfully Know Is The Wrong Thing: 

Wrong Is Never Right 

And 

Right Is Never Wrong 

And

Re-Mixing Them To Suit Your Desire 

Is 

Going To Get You A Berth In The Lake Of Fire Pyre! 

There Is No Excuse For Sin

And 

The Devil Didn't Make You Do It! 

Check Your Words, Thoughts And Actions 

And

Cease Living By And For 

Chemical, Emotional, Reactions! 

Faithfully Walk In Accord 

With Jesus Christ The Lord Our King! 

 

Positively ... Passionately

Pursue Peace

With The Prince Of Peace! 

HIRELING SHEPHERDS: Dereliction Of Duty ...!

When I Was A Child
We Sang:

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
All Seated On The Ground
The Angel Of The Lord Came Down
And Said:
"Those Flocks Are Mine!"

It Is Only Now That I Realize That Instead Of Jesting
We Actually Spoke The Truth!
There Was The Bigger Picture
The Weightier Truth Being Revealed
And
We Didn't Then Understand It!

Jesus Christ Paid For Us Sheep Of The Flock!

There Are Many Flocks Being Cared For
And
All Who Remain Faithful Are Headed To The One Fold
Belonging To The Good Shepherd!

Problem Is ...

There Is A Problem With The Hireling Shepherds
Who Are Faithless
Spineless
Deceitful
Lazy
Self-Serving
Greedy For Gain
And
Serving Two Masters!

I Have A Question!

Go Ahead! Ask Away!

If You Cannot See Your Employer
Does It Mean Your Employer Can't See You!?!
If You Are Paying Yourself
Feeding Yourself
Fattening Yourself
And Starving Your Charges
Some Of Them Even To Death
And Without Presently Facing Any Consequences
Does That Mean That Your Employer
The Kind Master
That Good Over-Shepherd
Is Unaware Or Is ... Dead!?!

That's Two Questions ... But I'll Allow The Freebie!

That's Generous Of You ... And I Thank You!

Seriously, Though
Both Jesus Christ And The Apostle Paul
Treated To This Very Issue
Which We, Ourselves, Are Seeing Played Out Today!

The All-Seeing 

All-Knowing
Ever-Present 

Feeling-All Things Holy God
Is 

Not Mocked
Cannot Be Fooled
Keeps Perfect Records
And
Is No Fool!

He Doesn't Sleep
Doesn't Wear Dark Glasses
Doesn't Own Pajamas
Has No Grandchildren Godchildren
Step-Children Nor Bastard Children
Knows Every Last One Of His Children By Name
And
Every Employee In His Service
And
Every Student In The School Of Jesus Christ!

Meticulous Aka Perfect Records Are Kept
And
The Hireling Shepherd Who Doesn't Spare The Flock
And, Instead

Teaches Smooth Things So As Not To Offend Their Sponsors
And
Propagates Fanciful Theories
To Make Personal Disciples Out Of The Lord's Called Children
Is 

Facing A World Of Hurt
Come Reconciliation Of Accounts 

Aka Pay Day Aka The Day Of Reward!

Keeping Two Sets Of Books Won't Help!
Having An Accounting Service Won't Help!
Crying Lack Of Knowledge Won't Help!
Accusing The Lord Won't Help!

And
Making An Excuse Of The Fraud Won't Help!

It's Face The Music Time
And
All The Previously Undisclosed To Public View
Blood On Their Hands
Will Be Shining Like A Beacon!

I Guess That The Phrase
"Do All To The Glory Of God!"Is Lost Upon Such As Those Underlings!

Their Favorite Song Is ... Obviously

Self Before The Savior!

Sinner Before Saint!

I Want Now The Fruits Of My Labor

Because

Future Glory Cannot Compare

To Being Presently Great!

Bite Your Tongue!

Truth Is Truth!
You Don't Have To Like It!
You Must Speak It!
You Must Believe It!
You Must Live It!
Almighty God
The Shepherd Of Rest
Our Hope For Glory To Share
Demands It Of His Faithful Children
But
He Will Never Coerce It
And
That Is Why Deceitful Workers
And
Those Who Call The Lord, Father

But

Are Willful Wayward Children 

Will Be Without Excuse
As Regards The Revealed Will
And
Disclosed Ways Of The Eternal God!

I Suppose That Holding The Fort

Until The Master Appears

Is Considered A Light Thing To Them!

Utterly Disgraceful Behavior Is What I Say!

Bottom Line ...

There Is No Real Profit Gained
By Playing Footsie With The Fraud

And

We Will Do Well To Remember That

All That We Do For The Lord Christ
Is
Exponentially Rewarded!

In That Light

Take What You Want ... And Pay For It
Takes On A Whole New Meaning!

Diligence And Economy 

Must Be The Watch Words Of All Who Labor For The Lord!

As Paul Says:

"... Covet No Man's Silver, Gold Or Apparel!"

Jehovah, Hallelujah! 

The Lord Does Provide!

Final Word ...

Jesus Christ Cares!

Jesus Christ Saves

And 
Jesus Christ Pays!

Amazing Grace And Everlasting Glory Are Free!

Amazing Grace!
Redeeming Love!
Joy And Peace
Sent
From The Throne In Heaven Above
Where
Mercy Is Free
And
Faith ... For The Day
Blessed
By The God Eternal
Was Is Has Been Paid For
By The Innocent Lamb's Blood
Which Is The Cleansing Flood!

Salvation!
Forgiveness!
Blessing!
Truth!
Hope!
These Are Amongst The Graces
That From Almighty God's Love
To Us
Does Float
Free
Easy
Swift To Be Assimilated
By The Seeking One Who
Does Not From On The Path
Want To Be Eliminated!

Truth ... In The Inward Parts!
Heaven In Our Eyes!
Ears Hearing The Call To Life
While The King Of Love
Awaits
Our Affirmative Reply!

There Is No Hard Sell!
There Is No Soft Shoe!
There Is Heaven To Be Achieved
And
The Sinful Life To Be Cast Aside
As From Sinning
We Seek Totally
To Be Completely Relieved!

The Fact Of The Matter Is ...

Jesus Christ 
Is 
My Portion
Is Not 
A Popular Notion
Because 
The World Chooses To Walk Upon 
The Own-Way Ocean
Which Treats To Their Need Of Titillating Locomotion!

There May Be Motion In Your Own Ocean
But
It Doesn't Mean
You're Going The Right Way
Since Your Motion May Be A Whirlpool
Because

Your Prayers Are For Things False

About Which You Had No Real Notion! 

The Bottom Line Is ...

Licentiousness May Be Your Preferred Lotion!

Own Way May Be Your Choicest Body Cream!

Ignorance Of Truth May Be Your Custom-Made Perfume 

And

Your Ready Excuses May Always Be Lean

But

Jesus Christ The Lord 
Is 
Always On Duty
And

Truth Is Always Right And Bright

And

One Day

The Book On Your Life Will Be Opened:

Will You

In Almighty God's Heart

Be

A Blessed Delight!?! 

The Facts Are Plain ...

You Have Free Will!

You Have Free Choice!

You Have The Right To Choose The Eternal Blessing!

You Have The Right To Make The Choice That
Will Have You Among The Souls Cast Out
The Souls Forever Lost! 
Have You Counted The Cost!?!

Will You Love The Lord That Loves You!?!

Will You Choose To Take In Him Your Rest

Or

Will You Walk In Your Own Way With The Devil

Doing Wrong And Being Forever Evil!?!

Profit May Be Mammon!

Profit May Be Heavenly Gain!

Profit May Make You Rich In Christ Indeed 

Or Leave You

In Eternal Shame And Unquenchable Flames!

Think About It ...

Eternal Separation From The Holy God Will Be The Lot

Of Those Who Have Not

By Dint Of Surrendered Will To The Lord Christ

Received

Immortality's Eternal Life's Bloom!!

The Flames Will Finally Go Out

When The Sinner Is All Consumed!

Make Your Decision ...

Choose Your Choice

And

Give Your Voice

To That Which Will Cause You To Live 

In Peace 

With Jesus Christ

Our Lord And King Forever

For

There Will Never, Ever, Ever Be

Neither In Heaven Above

Nor Earth Beneath

An Immortalized Glorified Sinner! 

The Ninth Symphony: A "GOOD" GOSSIP!

Muuuuusic!

Cue Basso Profundo ...

Cheap Talk
Slave To Our Words
AND
Rabid Gossip
Do Not Like
Master Of Our Mouths
AND
They Are On All Points ... Opposed!

Cheap Talk
AND
Rabid Gossip
Like Something For Nothing
AND
Take Pleasure In Picking Up
Bring A Bone
AND
Carry A Bone
Whenever

Wherever

However

Fate And Life

- And A Free Meal - 

Generously Make It Possible!

Cue Chorus ...

Slave To Our Words
Is
How Shall I Say It ...
SpEcIaL!
Really, Really
 SpEcIaL!

Cue Mezzo-Soprano ...

Slave To Our Words Is 

Androgynous
AND
Bats Left

AND  Bowls Right
AND
Was, Is, Well
An All-Rounder
In The Gossip Game
AND
Always Has 
"The Excuse!"
For Why What 

Was Said
When Who Was Where
With If But And And Annie!

In His Her Their Presence
Things Get Iffy Real Fast!

Words, Words, Words
Come Out Fast!

Faaaaast!  Real Fast ...!

A Lone Violin

Pretentiously Crying, Plays

As The Villain Of The Piece Says:
"Wellllll, I Heard Yesterday
That Tomorrow Was Looking To The Future
But He Had Connected With The Past
And Is Living Today
With Them Old New Peoples From Over Yonder
Out There

Whooooo

Everybody Done Know
Aint 'Bout Nobody Don't Care
But Is Having An Affair With Brown Bear
Who Does Care For That Moojin Pear!
Don't Tell Nobody What I Say -
Keep It Pun De Down Low, Yuh Hear!"

Cue Tenor ...

His Famous Last Word Is Always ...!

Cue The Villain Of The Piece ...! 
"But, I Didn't Mean Nothing By It!
I Just Repeated What I Heard!
Don't Shoot The Messenger!
I Ain't Get Paid For This Pretty Piece O' Free Work!"

Cue The Aussie Narrator ...!

Brethren,

Gossip Is A Real Jerk

Who Enjoys Performing A Good Twerk

AND

If You Are Not Careful

When Gossip Is Finally Finished

His Work On You

Will Make You Go Berserk!

Let The Trumpets Sound ...! 

Gossip

Does Not Provide

 Praise-Worthy Perks!

Gossiping Is Sin! 

It Does Not Edify! 

It Starts With A:

"Did You Hear?!"

And

Ends Up Telling Lies

Which Breaks

The 9th Commandment!

It's The Truth - Don't Sigh!
Do Not On Your Conscience Lie! 

--**--**-**--**--

Let The False-Oath-Taker

With Contrition

Cry!

--**--**-**--**--

Gossips Will Not Enter Heaven!
On This Truth You May Rely!

### END SYMPHONY ###

Complacency Con & Contempt Com!

Angels

Cannot Remain Where People

Do Not Want

Jesus Christ's Presence

AND

Do Not Notice

His Absence!

They Were Cussing!

Nothing To Lose!

Last Ditch Effort!

Nothing To Gain!

Going All In!

No Turning Back!

Moving Forward!

Stop Looking Back!

                                     Why?

How?

                     If?

                                                      What For!

I Should Have Known!

You Never Cared!

Selfish!

Idealistic!

Unbending!

Unyielding!

You Don't Understand!

You Don't Love Me?!

I Hate You!

I Pity You!

They Never Raise Their Voices!
- Loud Voices Are Despised! -
They Use Complete Sentences
AND
They Want To Sever All Ties!

They've Known Each Other Forever!
Complacency!
Contempt!
BUT
That Is Proving Problematic
For
Where Ever Complacency Went
Contempt
Energetically Followed!
That Is How Their Time Is Spent!

Stop Following Me!
Stop Calling Me!

You're Such A Mellow Fellow!
It's Amazing How With Life You Cope!
You Take All Things For Granted
And You Look To Be Sauced Up
And Ever Always On Dope!

I Can't Say The Same For You!
You're Always Snide
Even Angry!
You Say Everyone Is Beneath You
And You Are Always Looking
For The Least Excuse To Vent!
You're So Twisted That You Are Bent!

Brethren,

So In The World
So In The Church
Is Complacency
Is Contempt!

A Complacent Christian
Is One Who
- Ultimately -
Will Hold Jesus Christ In Contempt!
This Is The Truth Of The Gospel
AND
Reliable
And So I Can Promise You!

An Analogy Is In Order:

Two Things That Are Not Complacent
Are
Jello And Hot Tea!
Jello Is Cold!
Hot Tea Is, Well, Hot!

Revelation's Laodicean Church
Is Representative Of
Our Church's Behavior Today
Which Is Lukewarm
Complacent
AND
Taking For Granted Its God
AND
This Church
- Unchanged -
Is Decidedly Marked
For
The Spewing Out!
AND

This, Dear Ones, Is A Call Out!

Those Laodiceans
They Have Need Of Nothing!
They Are Increased With Goods!
They Talk Of The Lord!
They Walk With The Devil
AND
They Don't Even Realize
That Jesus Christ
AND
The Holy Angels
Have Departed
Their Well-Heeled, Rising, Neighborhood!

Theirs Is Not A Teachable Spirit!
They're Into Platitudes
Seminars
Retreats
AND
Wiseman Sage Gurus
AND
They Have Not The Required Time
True Gold
Eye Salve
Nor Clean White Raiment
To Purchase From The Living, Loving, Lord
For
Wittingly Unwittingly
They're In The Pay Of The Fraud
AND
All The World
- Suitably Appalled -
Can See
Their Naked Short Backs
Indented Sides
AND
The Unmentionable Portions
That They Can't Cover Up
AND
Definitely Can't Hide!

Awareness
Is A Must
To Avoid Complacency!
Choke Complacency
AND
Contempt Will Dead Be!

I Am Asking My Jesus
To Keep Me In The Realm Called Aware
AND
To Engender In Me
A Sense Of Urgency
So That Christ's Condemnation
Of Me
Will Not Ever Be My Fear!

Complacency
AND
Contempt
Are Completed
By Condemnation
AND
Those Condemned
Are Damned
AND
Cast Into 
The Eternally Lost
Conflagration!

Please Do Not Allow
Lack Of Care
AND
Consideration
To Cost You 
Your Christ-For-Me Commission
For

There Is Nothing
Too Big Too Small
That We Can't Carry To God!

If God Is God Don't Abuse Him!
If You Are God
Please Know That You Will Lose
For
You Can't His Will
Nor His Way
Ever Hope To Deflect
Or
Confuse!

Flowers Look Up
AND
The Birds Give Vent To Their Praise
Of Our God
AND
So The Question Must Be Asked:

"What Is Our Excuse?!"

For Not Cheerfully Loving
AND
Doing For Our God The Same!

We For Whom Is Prepared
The Great Reward
Of The Everlasting Day
Need To

Call To Jesus!
Walk To Jesus!
Talk To Jesus!
Think On Jesus!
Go With Assurance To Jesus
AND
Just Be ... With Jesus
AND
Do It Daily
Moment By Moment
Gladly
AND
Stop Behaving
Self-Righteous
AND
Acting Out So Badly!

Complacent Contempt

AND

Contemptuous Communication

Are Fruit

From

Satan's Poisoned Planting Ground!

Please Avoid Them

At All Costs

Or

In The Day Of Jesus Christ

Be Assured

That You Will Be Eternally Lost!

Count The Costs

And

Humbly

Passionately

Trust The Lord Jesus Christ

And

Give Satan And His Kind

The Get-Thee-Behind-Me

Get Lost Toss!

HisSe Fit

Hasty Impatient Speech
Always Always Has
A Sufficient Excuse
For Whenever
He Decides To Have
A Fully Involved Tantrum
Hence The Expression
He Is Having 

A "HisSe Fit!"

Really?

Really! I Kid You Not!

Okay. Convince Me!

Yesterday
I Stepped On His Toes ...

... Accidentally, I Am Sure?!

Accidentally!!

... And He Went Off On Me!

Hear Him:

Rock Stones! Breadfruit!
Cherry! Ripe Plum!
Oranges! Bananas!
What De Chewing Gum?!

Heyyyy!
Hold Up Big Man!
Watch Your Language!

Not My Language!
I Am Just Telling You What He Said To Me!!

Nevertheless...!

Anyway, I Said
"Sorry!
It Was An Accident!"

He Inhaled!
He Exhaled!
He Gritted His Teeth!
He Displayed A Plastic Smile
And
Offered Me His Release:

Man, I Am Real Sorry!
Ive Been Having A Hard Day!
I Left The House In A Rush This Morning
And
I Did Not Say My Prayers!

Wow!

Some Excuse ...!

Last Week
He Pushed Me In The Street
Saying That I Was In His Way
And
Then Proceeded To Lambaste Me
As If He Had No Care!

He Said:

Invalid!
Idiot!
Ignoramus!
Slowpoke!
Can't Walk Straight!
Go Catch A Bus!

Father In Heaven!

How Did You Respond!

I Cried Out
In Distress
And He Heard My Hurt Tone!
Nevertheless, He Went On
But Called Me Later
On My Private Number Telephone
And
He Laid "It" On
With A Shovel
As Though There Is Ever
Sufficient Excuse
To Treat A Human Being Badly
And Using
Get This
"Being Human"
As His Cure-For-All
Excuse!

He Went On To Say

That I Had Caught Him Offguard

And

That He Wasn't Feeling Himself

For

His Life Right Now Is Real Hard!

So, What Did You Say?!

I Said: "Thanks!"
Which, Translated Was 

"No, Thanks!!

You Are Not My Friend!"

He Does Things Like That
Always
And Expects All
Along With Him Rubbish Game
To Joyfully Play

Even Though We Know

That He For Our Feelings

Does Not Care

And

He Does Not God Fear!

A Soft Answer
Turns Away Wrath!
Honey Catches Flies!
Ignorant Excuses Don't Friends Make
And 

Our Father In Heaven

Doesn't Like White Lies!

I Know
And
I Am Sorry
But
I Wanted Him Off My Telephone!

I Am Sick And Tired
Of HisSe Fit
And
I Desire By Him
To Be Left Alone!

Father,

I Do Not Declare

Nor Do I Dare To Decree!

I Just Make My Simple Plea!

Please, I Beseech You

Keep Hasty Impatient Speech

Self-Serving's Sufficient Excuse

And

Fully Involved Tantrum

Away From Me

For They Make Me Want To Behave

In The Way Ungodly!

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name, I Plead!

Amen.