TRAVEL BAGS: Heading For Heaven!

It Is Almost Time 

To Leave For The One Journey

To The Eternal Home! 

We Pack For Every Other Journey

But

For This Journey

We Must Strenuously Unpack

Or We Will Never Get Home!

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

What's In Your Travel Bag!?!

What Travel Bag!?!
I'm Not Going Anywhere!

Suit Yourself!

What Do You Mean By That Remark!?!

Nothing! Nothing At All!

Oh, No, You Don't!
Your Nothing At All Is Always Something!
I Know You, So Out With It!

Since You Asked So Nicely, I'll Tell You!

When "You" Are Going Away
You Pack Pants, Shirts, Dresses
Underwear, Toothbrush, Toothpaste

Shoes, Socks, Stockings

Coat, Jackets 

All According To Gender

All According To Season 

And
Fancy Attire As Befits The Reason

And

If You Are So Inclined
You Even Pack Craft Supplies
Reading Material
Cross-Word Puzzles And The Like
And
For All Your Trouble Making Sure
Not To Forget Anything "Important"
You End  Up With Too Many Items

Engendering Outsize Baggage

And 
Overweight Charges

Or

You End Up With Too Few Items

And 
Find You Have Forgotten A Necessary Item

And

Then Have To Make An Unexpected Purchase

Which You Did Not Factor Into Your Trip Expense

And

Thereby Causing A Debit Or Credit Card Charge

And

Then You're Angry, Upset 

Unsettled, Unfocused, Anxious 

Off Your Game, Unhappy, Unproductive

No Fun To Be Around! 

Okaaay! I Feel You!

Now ... When Going To Heaven

We Must Unpack Our Brand-Name

Mortal-Man Exclusive-To-The-Race

Stained-By-Sin
Compliments Of Satan, Bags! 

If We Are To Meet 
The Restricted Character Requirement
We Must Cast Away Pride, Lust, Envy, Greed

Self, Sin, Pet Sin, Besetting Sin

Vainglory, Gainsaying, Doubt, Disbelief

Selfish Desire, Self-Satisfaction

Murder, Hate, Hopelessness

Covetousness, Idol Worship

Swearing Falsely, Cursing Your Brethren

And The Like! 

Good Gracious! 

I've Never Considered That Side Of Life! 

Maybe You Should! 

I Most Certainly Will! 

Let Me Ask You A Question Though, Fergus!?!

Go Ahead, Bram!

You've Got Me Seriously Thinking
And Now I Want To Know
What Are You, Personally
Are Putting Into You Heaven-Bound Baggage! 

I'm Putting All Things That Will Withstand Fire
All Things That Are Intangible!
Mind You, It's A Work In Progress
But 
I'm Puting My Name ... My Character 

- My Life In Christ -
Self-Denial

Faith, Hope, Obedience 

Confessed And Repented-Of Sin

My Willing Work To Help Further The Gospel

My Acceptance Of The Truth As Found It In Jesus

My Enduring All Things For Jesus
My Trust In The Promises Of God

Love For And Service To My Fellow Man

My Longing To Be With Jesus 

My Footprint On The Rock Of Ages

Upon Which, Upon Whom I, On Faith 

Believing 

Willingly, Eagerly, Stand! 

Let's Just Understand One Thing:

Nothing That Reeks Of Sin

Shall Enter The Heavenly Realm! 

So, I Guess ... I Shall Say

- In Shorthand Version -

Clean I Came ... And Clean I Shall Go! 

I Couldn't Have Said It Better!

HEARTACHE-HEARTBREAK: Do You Know Jesus Christ The Lord!?!

Intense Craving
No Back-Bone
Lucy Look-Back
And
No Discernment Were Doing The "Usual"
Carping, Complaining
Crying And Cursing
And
In Their Hearts
They Were Suffering From That Devilish Disease
"To Egypt Crawl-Back!"

They Were Into "Let's Have A Lack Attack!" 

They Were Strangers To Truth ... To Undisputed Facts! 
The Lord God Almighty
Just, Faithful, Kind And True
Had Drawn Them Out Of The Cesspit Of Sin
And
Had Them Headed To The Promised Land
And ... Yet ...! 

Let's Backtrack To Go Forward ...

Their Lord Is Holy!

He Is Faithful To His Living Word! 

He Is Jealous Of His Name!

He Judges Righteously! 

He Is The King, Kind!

He Gives Perfect Peace

And

Provides Peaceful Rest!

He Listens. 

He Loves Them ... Sacrificially!

He Gives Good Gifts ... Exponentially!

He Is Near

And

For Each Purchased Soul

He Diligently Cares

And

He Forgets Not His Own

And, Yet ... !?!

Ingratitude Abounds ...

Many Of His Children Called
Distrust His Word 

Doubt His Promises

Gainsay His Law

And

They Even Impugn His Good Name! 

Time For Introspection ...

Do They Know Him ... For Real!?! 

The Question Is On The Table:

How Can YOU Worship

How Do YOU Reverence

The God Of All Grace

The King Of Earth And Glory

The Master Of The Wind And The Waves

The Judge Of All Flesh

If You Don't Personally Know

Who He Is!?! 

As The World Turns ...

If The Lord Christ Were A Pop Star

You Would Know His Bona Fides! 

You Would Know Every Song In His Catalog

His Every Hit

His Every Miss

The Food He Eats

The Clothes He Wears

The Brands He Purveys

Every Quotable Quote He Says

What He Drinks

What He Thinks

What He Drives

How He In The High-Stakes Poker Game Survives! 

By Your High-Level Presence 

By Your Financial Support

You Would Cause His Bottom Line To Substantially Thrive! 

You Would Defend His Name

His Honor 

His Character!

You Would Wear Your "Love" For Him

On Your Tongue 

On Your Head

In Your Heart 

On Your Back

On Your Bottom 

On Your Feet

And

On Your Well-Fitting 

In Fashion, Ever-Current Sleeve!

As The Stomach Churns ... 

The Pop Star Doesn't Know You Personally

Doesn't Care Whether You Live, Thrive Or Die

Cares Only For Your Coin Spent In His Behalf
And

Does Not Call Your Name And Mourn Over You

When From Sin You Refuse To Depart! 

The Pop Singer Cannot Guide You

Into Eternal Truth!

He Will Not Prepare A Personal Place For You 
In His Or His Father's Palatial Home!

The Pop Star Is Not Instantly Or Ever Available To You 

On His Not-Dedicated To You Telephone

And

He Gives Not One Whit Whether You Call Him At Home!

Depart From Idolatry ... 

It's Sad, Really! 

Pop Star Proud Gets Almighty God's Glory: 

You Can Tell In Detail 
The Pop Star's Personal Life And Times' Story! 

You Sing Of Him

With Him
And

You Pine For Him

But, Beloved 

You Will Never Receive A Personal Invitation

With Custom-Made To Fit You Clothing

Transportation

Protective Detail

To Dine Exclusively With Him

Where He Will Serve You His Dinner!

Let Reality Bite ...

Jesus Christ, Alone
Is 
Able To Save You Utterly

But

You Know And Crave The One

Who Enslaves You Utterly

With Flights Of Folly, Foolishness 

Fancy And Fantasy! 

It's Time To Reorder Our Steps

By The Grace Of The Eternal God

And

Start Really Praying For Rain! 

Don't Know What To Say!?! 

Not Knowing What To Say 

Isn't A Good Reason To Cease Praying!

Prayer 

Is 

Two-Way Communication 

With The Friend Who Is Almighty God

Who Understands

And 

Who Always Accepts The Prayer Of Faith! 

Not Getting Whatever You Want!?! 

Accept Almighty God's Answers With Gratitude 

Especially When The Answer Is No, Or Wait! 

His Response Is Always What Is Good For You
And 
For His Glory! 

Heads Up ...

The Lord Loves You Personally: Believe It!

Reach Out And Touch The Hand Of Love 

Presently Extended You 

In This The Time Of Probation! 

The Living Make Decisions For Life

Or For Death ... No Coercion! 

The Dead Man's Decision-Making Ability

Ceases

In The Instant He Ceased From Having

The Breath Of Life

From Our Creator God

Jesus Christ The Lord! 

It Is We, Living, Who Can Decide
What Our Reward Will Be
By Our Personal Decision-Making
And
Nobody But Christ Can Deliver The Goods!

Isn't It Time That He Becomes To You
Your Forever And True Friend!?!

Brethren, 

It Is Time

To Lovingly, Intimately, Know The True Friend Personally

Who Really Does Well And Truly Know You
Knows Your Name
Knows Your Frame!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: PRIDE - D.O.A! + PRAYER: We Are Committed To Christ, Dear Father!

... The Eye Is The Window To The Soul
And
Your Tone Of Voice Speaks To Your Ultimate Goal!

A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath

But
Unsurprisingly
Truth, Plainly, Compassionately, Spoken
-  Considered By Many To Be Egregious Words -
Often Leads To A Blood Bath!

So, Brethren, What Acronym Shall We Use
So That The Congregation Is Not Confused!?!

B. S. T. S.
Better Safe Than Sorry!

D. O. A...!

... Dead On Arrival!?!
Have A Heart, Man!

Oh, No!
You Misunderstand!
It Means Devils Offer Apples!
It Means: Don't Obfuscate - Ameliorate!

I'll Say That It Means
Delightful Opportunities Await
The Darlings Of The Lord
But Woe Betide The Deceived Followers Of
Satan, The Bold God-Fraud!

And I Say That Dead On Arrival Is Appropriate
To Describe Those Who Arrive At Judgment Day
With Their Known-Sin Unconfessed
Souls Unrepentant!
The Living-Sinner Shall Die!

The Prior-Dead Sinner
And
The Then-Dead Sinner
Shall 1,000 Years Hence Rise To Die Again ... Forever
Because
In And At The Love Of Almighty God
They Did Find Offence!

This Is Really Quite Amazing, Actually!
How Does A Created Being
Find Something ... Anything
In The Love Of The Living God 
To Ridicule
To Be Offended Thereby!?!

I Dare Say That In This We See The Hand Of Satan
- The Agent Of Shame -
That Fallen Angel Cruel
Who Thought To Denounce
Deny ... Defy

Dispute ... Denigrate

Bedevil

And

Destroy
His Own Creator
All The While Refusing To Recognize That
In That Stance Lay ... Abject Failure!

Brethren,

Let Nobody Fool You!
Pride Is Costly Array!
It Makes One Skin Cuffings
To Get The Cloth
The Sewing Of Which Requires One 
To Have Personal Currency
- No Discount -
With Which The Bill To Pay!

Let's Call Pride Exactly What It Is!
It's Bill Of Short Goods!

It Is A Sin Against Divinity!

Pride Is A Wide-Awake Delusion!
It's A Can't-Awake-From Illusion
Promoting Confusion
Adjuring Collusion
And

Leading Adherents To A Fiery Final Conclusion!

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, 

Please Hear Our Prayer!

We Are Committed To Performing

All Your Commandments:

Please Help Us Not To Permit Pride

Over Us To Hold Sway!

Satan Is The Bold Liar

Selling Man Upon Things 

That Should Never Be Sought

And

Failing Abjectly

To Tell The Truth

By Which He, In His Sin, Was Caught!

Jesus Christ Is Righteous

Is Lord, God And King!

Jesus Christ Is Our Master

And

He Is Acknowledged Creator Of 

Man And Everything!

Please Help Us, Dear Father

To Do Exactly As Our Jesus Did:

Help Us To Pray Without Ceasing

To Commune Constantly With You

To Seek You Ever For The Infilling Of

The Sweet Holy Spirit Of Truth

And

For Strengthening By The Holy Angels

The Personal Guardians Of

The Children Of Faith

Who Also Influence Us

To Do The Good And The Right!

Father,

This Battle Is Yours

And

We Are Soldiers In Your Great Army!

Please Help Us To Remain Faithful

Enduringly Faithful

Having No Place In Our Surrendered Hearts

For The Sham

The Shame That Is Called Pride!

Please Help Us In Your Holy Love, Lord

Confidently To Confide And Abide!

The Signs Of The Times Are Everywhere!

Men's Hearts Are Failing Them From Fear

Of Those Things Which Shall Befall The Earth

And

Still More Men Have And Are Taking

The Path Of Least Resistance

Doing Anything And Everything

That Pleases Their Flesh

That Fills Their Eyes

That Speaks To Their Pride In Their Lives

And

The People Of The Living Word

The People Of The Book Of The Eternal God

Are Being Persecuted, Prosecuted

Condemned, Denied

Defiled, Displaced

And Dispatched ... No Grace!

Please, Father

Remember Your Promise To Abraham

Isaac And Jacob-Israel!

Remember Your Promises

As Spoken By Your Own Beloved Son

Our Savior, Jesus

That The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth

That No Child Of Faith Is Ever Alone

Forgotten

Nor Unforgiven For Repented-Of Sin

That All Things Work For Our Good

That There Is A Place Prepared For Us

In Your Many Mansions

That Jesus Is Coming Again, Soon

To Redeem Us Unto Himself!

We Believe You!

Please Bless And Keep Us

In Your Holy Care!

Remember Us, Lord!

Let Your Pitying Love Fall Upon Us, We Pray

For It Is By Holy Faith

That We Are Walking On The Strait Way

Headed To The Hill Zion!

Please, Father

Grant Us These Few Petitions

And

Hasten The Great And Glorious Day

For It Is In Jesus Christ's Holy Name

That We Humbly Pray

And

Importunately Plead!

We Love You, Lord!

Please Come Soon!

AMEN.

HAPPY SABBATH + Sin Will Not Last!

Inside The City
And
Outside The City
Were Human Through And Through!
Inside The City
And
Outside The City
Are Men Just Like Me And Like You!

Inside The City Was Thought To Be Wrong
- He Humbly Served The Risen Lord -
And
Outside The City Was Known To Be Strong
- He Served His Lusts And Lived Like The Fraud -
And
Under Normal Circumstances
This State Of Affairs Would Be Applauded
Because
The Unjust Judge Of Their Mortal Lives
Is 
A Tame Man That Carnal Men Lauded!

But ...

Normal Circumstances Are Abnormal To Be Sure!
The True Judge Of All The Earth-Bound
Was Standing At The Open Door!
He Called To His Faithful, Enduring, People
Who Had Committed To Living Inside The City
- The City Of Light -
Where Life Is Eternal
Where There Is No Mortal Strife
And
There Is All That Will The Saved Soul Delight!

Another But ...

These Days Were Funny Nights
For Those Who Had Made A Contract With Death
With Satan The Bold
With Sin
With Self
With Hearts Rendered Unfeeling ... Cold
With Eyes On The Main Chance
With Harsh Hands On Weak Men's Throats
With Hard Heels On Needy Men's Necks
With Tainted Taste Buds Loving The Abominable
With Tawdry Thoughts Toward The Husband, The Wife, Unlawful
On Murder And Mayhem
On Dishonoring Parents Considered Old
On Lying For A Conversation
On Refusing To Accept The Call To Conversion
And Instead
Choosing To Walk In Vain Wisdom
Doing That Which Pleases Self
Desiring The Distasteful
Demanding The Undesirable
Worshipping The Abominable
Honoring The Unholy
Building Houses In Sand
Ignoring The Holy Son Of God
- The Loving Son Of Man -
Choosing, Choosing, Choosing Broadway
Ignoring, Rejecting, Despising The Strait And Narrow Way
Calling, Always Calling, The Unwary, The Unwise
The Unwashed
Those Living In Circumstances Mean
To Ignore The Call To Christ's Salvation
To Live The Lie That Says Man Is God
That Satan Is Friend And Not A Murdering Fraud
That Jesus Christ Failed On His Mission To Save Man
That A Relationship With Christ Is Not Sound Advice
That Self-Denial Is Unnecessary Sacrifice
That Man-Pleasing Is A Pleasurable Delight
That Self-Sacrifice Is A Thing That One Should Hate
That Man Makes His Own Destiny
That Man Names His Own Fate
That Waiting For A Savior Is Just Cheap Click-Bait
That Jesus Christ Is Not Coming
Therefore ... He Will Be Late!

If Only They Chose To Know ...

Outside The City Is Lost-Man Domain!
Inside The City Is Saved-Soul Terrain!

Outside The City Is The Cast-Out, Condemned!
Inside The City Are Saved-For-Eternity, Forgiven Souls
Known Repentant God-Fearing Women, Children And Men!

Don't Trust Your Eyes ...

In The Present Order Of Things
Those Outside The City Are In The Right 
Rich
Blessed Of "God" And Increased With Goods
And
They Have Need Of Nothing
Including Their Creator, Redeemer
Jesus Christ The Lord
And
It Is For This Reason
That Satan Had Prevailed Against Them
And
In The Day Of Judgment
They Will, In The Lake Of Fire
Be Seriously Joining Him!

By Contrast
Those Inside The Holy City Will Be The Rejects
The Fools
The Despised Of The Earth
But
Praise God For Jesus
The Times Are Changing
Changed
And
Those Inside The Bright And Beautiful City
Are The Blessed
The Beloved Of Christ And God
Those Who Permitted The Holy Spirit Of Truth
To Guide Them And Chide
And
Bless Them With Loving Insights
And
Desires For Ever-Increasing Truth And Light
And
They ... Accepting The Gift Of Faith And Grace
Truth And Righteousness
Peace And Rest
Forgiveness And Mercy
Yielded Their Free Will
And
Their Free Choice
To The Sweet Spirit That Leads To Eternal Life!

For All Their Sorrows, Their Woes
Their Bruised Heads, Their Stubbed Toes
Their Confessions Of Known Sin
Their Humble Repentances
They Had Reached For The High And Holy Hand
And
Accepted The Free Salvation
The Saving Grace
The Promise Of Life Everlasting
And
Their Sin Being Cast Into The Sea Of God's Forgetfulness!

They Trusted In The Promises Given
Enduring, Working, Waiting, Watching
Believing, Receiving
Knowing That In Him Was No Deceiving
And
Now ... At The Last Trumpet
The Condemned Earth They Were Leaving
In The Zion-Bound Train
Jesus Christ The King Of Glory
Leading!

It Pays To Serve Jesus ...

Their Sacrifice For Him
Had Not Been In Vain!
They Had Not His Name Profaned!
Their Earthly Losses Had Gleaned For Them
Heavenly Gain!

For His Love
They Had Suffered Time And Again
And
Here ... At Last
Is The Day From Time Forever Past
And
They ... Triumphant
Enter Eternity
- That Realm Which Lasts, And Lasts -
Where Space Is Vast
And
No Shadows Are Cast!

Those Outside The City
Had Had Their Riotous Blast
And Now
They Shall From Time And Eternity
Forever ... By The Holy Hand Of The Judge
Be Cast!

Brethren,

At This Point
Sin Is A Thing Of The Past!

It Is Better To Be Lowly Servant

In The House Of The Living God

Than

To Be A Despoiled Prince

In The Pleasure-Palaces Of Satan

The Deceiver

The Condemned God-Fraud!