Weakness Of Self!

It Was A Supremely Beautiful Day!

Whole Heart And Bold Heart

- Brethren In The Faith -

Were In Companionable Silence

Enjoying A Moment's Respite From 
The Myriad Challenges That Daily Face Those 
Who Choose To Walk Wisely With Jesus Christ The Lord

When The Big Boy Of Brighton 

- Weakness Of Self -

Broke Into Their Reverie!

The Interruption Is Anticipated

Expected
And 
Dreaded! 

Bubbles Are Going To Be Burst! 

Pride Is Going To Be Cast Down To The Ground! 

Public Sin Is Going To Be Confronted! 

Feelings Are Going To Be Hurt! 

Tempers Are Going To Flare! 

The Word Of The Eternal God 
Is 
Going To Be Shared

And

The Name Of Almighty God
- For Which He Is Known Jealous -
Is 
Going To Be Vindicated

And

It Is Hoped ... By The Lord's Great Grace

That A Sinner ... Repentant

Will Confess Known Sin To The Eternal God

To Be Saved And Forever Blessed! 

Weakness Of Self Is Blessed! 

His Quiver Is Full! 

His Home Is Allegedly, Supposedly, Apparently, Happy! 

His Wife Is A Willing Servant In The Service Of The Lord

And

He Is Rich In The Pocket!

He Is Also An Ordained Pastor!

Whole Heart And Bold Heart

Have Importunately Prayed To The Lord Over This Meeting

Because Of, Well, Ahh

The Delicate Nature Of The Subject Matter! 

It Started This Way ... 

It Was Being Said By Certain Folk That 
Weakness Of Self Is A Lay Preacher (Wink, Wink)

When A Letter Arrived In The Church Office

Accusing Weakness Of Self 

Of Eating A Box! 

Eating A Box Of What!?! 

Whole Foods Sells Their Food At The Hot Bar 
In A Brown Box! 

Big Deal! 

He Was Eating Out! 

They Thought Nothing More On The Matter

Until A Few Days Later 

When The Evidence Appeared! 

There ... Sail In The Wind
Was Weakness Of Flesh

In Living Color

In Flagrante Delicto! 

The Telephone Rang

And

Whole Heart Nearly Had A Stroke

When It Was Disclosed That

The Evidence Was Also In A National Rag

With Obvious International Reach! 

You May Well Imagine The Fall-Out! 

Fast Forward ... 

Meeting Is In Session
And

Presented With The "Evidence"
Weakness Of Self Decided To Brazen It Out! 

Brethren, 

Don't Be Bold When You're Wrong! 

That's What Got Achan Executed! 

Back To The Meeting ... 

Letting The Holy Spirit Lead

Whole Heart And Bold Heart

Allowed Weakness Of Flesh

To Wax Poetical

And

As Was His Won't 
To Pontificate ... In An Extraordinary Fashion! 

They Did Not Interrupt ... At All

And

That Is When Weakness Of Self 
Became Exceedingly Uneasy

And

Stopped Moralizing
Stopped Justifying!
Stopped Being Sanctimonious! 

He Knew He Was Caught Dead To Rights

And

He Knew He'd Have To 'Fess Up

But

The Scourge Of Every Man
- Pride -
Did A Usual 

When Suddenly ... Quietly ... Firmly

Whole Heart Addressed Bold Heart

And

Started Talking About 

Joseph, Son Of Jacob-Israel
And 
The Potiphar's Whorish Wife! 

Weakness Of Flesh Gasped

And

Turned White Like A Sheet! 

They Waited To Make Sure That He Was Okay

And

Then They Continued Calmly Talking Together! 

Weakness Of Flesh Wanted To Run

But

As He Said Later

He Felt Like He Was Glued To His Seat!

He Also Said That He Knew He Was Done For
When Whole Heart And Bold Heart
Lovingly Quoted

And Then ... With Compassion
Spoke To Him, Thusly:

As People Of The Lord Of Life

Living According To The Holy Word

We Cannot At The Same Time 

Be People Of The World: 

We Only Live In The World As Pilgrims 
Headed Toward The Heavenly Home! 

We Are Striving For Christ-Like Characters 

Which Cannot Be Acquired 

By Being Friends With The World
And

Breaking The Ten Commandments

As That Would Make Us Enemies Of Almighty God! 

We Cannot Serve Two Masters 

So Let Us Endeavor To Serve God Acceptably 

With Holy Trembling And Godly Fear Aka Awe! 

The Commandments Are A Hedge Of Protection: 

Let Us Stay Behind It 
Since It Is Our Soul's Desire
To Be Ever Safe 
And 
Eternally Blessed!

As Regards Weakness Of Flesh

He Was Broken!

He Was Defrocked

But

He Was Not Discarded

Cast Off

Cast Out! 

Seeing The Error Of His Ways

And

Being Convicted Of Sin

And

Convinced Of Righteousness

He Later Stood Up Before The Whole Congregation

Speaking With A Contrite Heart

And
Confessed His Public Sin

Against The Holy God! 

He Acknowledged His Pride

His Unholy Passions

And

Accepting That He Knew Better

And 
Should Have Done Better

He Spoke Through Tears

Of The Sordid Temptations

Pastors And Preachers Face

From The Wiles Of 
Nubile And Voluptuous Women And Girls 
In The Congregation

Who Seem Bent On Doing The Devil's Work 
From The Church's Pews! 

Weakness Of Flesh Did Not Cast Blame!
He Took Responsibility For His Own Actions
And 

He Simply Stated The Facts

And Then

He Said The One Thing That Broke The Church:

I'm Glad This Denouement Happened! 

The Lord Hasn't Left Me To Destroy My Soul That 
He Purchased With His Innocent Blood! 

Lord, 

Please Forgive Me! 

I Am Truly Sorry

For Casting Your Holy Name Down In The Mud

For Giving Satan

Something With Which

To Accuse The Brethren

And

Most Of All, Lord

I Am Sorry, So Sorry

For Crucifying You Afresh! 

Thank You, Father

For Loving This Prodigal

For Not Giving Up On Sinful Me!

Thank You For This Second Chance! 

After All These Years Of Ministry, Father

I, Now, Truly Understand

The Savior's Words To Apostle Peter:

And When Thou Art Converted

Strengthen The Brethren! 

Brethren, 

Pray And Plead For Me! 

I Love The Lord But I Lived For My Flesh! 

I Taught The Word! 

I Did Not Live The Word! 

I Did Not Eat The Flesh Or Drink The Blood Of Jesus! 

I Did Not Consume The Manna Of Heaven 
From Which I Would Have Received Life! 

I Did Not Take To Heart

The Words Of The Sweet Psalmist Of Israel:

Thy Word Have I Hid In My Heart

That I Might Not Sin Against Thee! 

Brethren, 

Were The Lord Not A Merciful God

I Would Have Committed That Sin 
And Immediately Died 

Effectively Closing My Eternal Account With Almighty God
And Consigning My Soul To Everlasting Separation For The Lord! 

I Stand Before You A Sinner ... Saved At Last! 

Unconfessed Sin Is Sin Unforgiven

But I Am Blessed To Be Here Confessing And Repenting

And Acknowledging My Real Need For Jesus Christ
Our Only Savior! 

As I Confess My Known Sin
I Know That He Will Forgive Me

Because He Is Just And He Is Faithful

To Keep All Of His Promises! 

Brethren, 

Do Not Doubt Almighty God: He Means What He Says! 

Do Not Tempt Almighty God: We Are Mortal!

And Do Not Sorrow Over Sin

Because Of The Price That You Must Pay!

Please Express Godly Sorrow Because Sin Is Exceedingly Sinful

And Is An Affront To The Holy God

Who Gave His Best To Save Us At Our Worse! 

Please Don't Accept The Pleasures Of Sin ... For The Season!

Seasons Change

But Sin Will Always Be Sinful

Because There Is No Reason
And No Excuse For It! 

Please, I Beseech You
Do Not Do As I Did And Use Weakness Of Self 
As An Ever-Ready Excuse To Sin 

And Don't Use "Overwhelming" Temptation 
As The Reason For Sin! 
The Lord Makes A Way Of Escape
From Every Temptation That Is Common To Man
So That We Are Able To Stand
And Have Victory Over Sin!

I Sinned Because I Wanted, Desired, To Sin! 
King Solomon Was Right: All Is Vanity
And Vanity Vexes The Soul!

Nobody Forced Me To Sin

Because The Lord Has Made Sure That 
That Can Never Happen! 

We Each Have A Sovereign Will

That Cannot Be Usurped

By Neither Satan Nor The Savior! 

My Sin Is My Own

And Before Almighty God

And In Your Presence

I Sincerely Confess That I Am Guilty

And State With Humility That 

I Repent Of My Sin

And That By God's Grace

And With Your Loving Help ... I Appeal For It

I Turn Away From Sin And Sinning

And I Will Be Walking ... Wiser

With A Humbled Heart

With Shamefacedness 

- Thankfully Not Damned By The Holy God -

Toward New Jerusalem

The Holy City Of God! 

Weakness Of Flesh Left The Altar Of God

Singing:

Father, Lead Me Day By Day

Ever In Your Own Sweet Way! 

Teach Me To Be Pure And True! 

Show Me What I Ought To Do! 

Just So You'd Know ...

The National Rag Did Not Publish 
That Confession And Repentance Is Good For All Souls
That Amends Are Being Publicly Made

And Best Of All

That There Is Singing Up In Heaven

For The Lost Sheep

Who Is Returned Unto The Safe Fold Of Almighty God
- Who Sees, Feels, Knows And Is in All -

Over The Repentant Sinner
 Who Is Finally Come ... HOME! 

Humble Yourself

And

Harden Not Your Heart

So That Where There Is Life In You

There Is Hope

For

Your Soul's Salvation!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: The Great Motivators!

The Conference Is In Session

And

The Great Motivators Themselves Are There:

 Fear Is There For The Clan Of Live Evil

And

Perfect Love Is There For The Clan Of The Good Shepherd

He To Whom His People Are Dear!

You Should Know That That Conference

Is 
Attended For Two Reasons:

One To Rescue
And

One To Destroy 

And

All The Attendees Employ 
The Methods Of Their Respective Leaders

And

Do It For Love And With Joy!

The Clan Of Live Evil

Live To Do Evil

To Be Vile

And

To Cause Unimaginable Pain!

To Instill Fear In Others

Is 
Their Reason For Being

And

Every Day They Swear That

No One That They Put Their Claws Into

Will Be Getting Away!

Vain Words Is What I Call Them

Because

Perfect Love Always Casts Out Fear

Who Dares To Try To Steal Man's Hope

Leaving Him Naked

And

Without Any Way In His Life

With Things To Cope!

Perfect Love

Is
Born Of The Shepherd Of Rest

The Savior Of Man

The Son Of Almighty God Begotten

The Redeemer

Who From Satan's Temptations 

Gave No Quarter

And

In Fear

From Him Did Not Run!

The Good Shepherd

The Savior

The Redeemer 

The Forever Friend

Loves Sacrificially

And

Leaves No Loose Ends

For One To Trip Over

Or To Become Entangled

Or To Become Frayed

Causing One To Be A Castaway!

He, Being Ever Obedient 

Doing What Does His Father Please

Engenders In His People's Heart

The Comfort That Brings To The Human Spirit 

- From The Sweet Spirit Of Truth -

What Gives Ease And Relief, And Release!

By Contrast
Fear Brings Up The Past

Denies The Present
And

Rejects The Future!

Fear Undermines

Redefines
And

Maliciously Crosses Solid Yellow Lines! 

Fear Contradicts

Castigates
And

Thoroughly Humiliates!

Fear Wonders

Worries

Wanders
And

Vindictively Wastes!

Fear Does Not Know How Perfect Loves Tastes

Until The Soul ... Thoroughly Oppressed
And
Expressing Need Of Salvation
Opens Up Their Heart
And

Perfect Love ... Naked

Unashamed

Unafraid

Unerringly Extends That Gentle Hand
Providing Sure Healing

Compliments Of The Son Of God

Compliments The Soon-Returning To Earth

Son Of Man!

Perfect Love Heals Hurts!

He Soothes Sorrows!
He Makes Human Hearts Glad!

He Gives Help For Today 

And

Graciously Provides Hope For Tomorrow!

Perfect Love Gives Energy Like The Shining Sun!

He Gives Calm Like The Glow Of A Harvest Moon!

He Gives Continual Sparks Of Joy Like The Twinkling Star

And

From His Hand Of Help

One Is Never, Ever, Far!

You Hurt!?! 

He Hurts!

You Cry!?!

He Cries!

You Lie!?!

He Doesn't 

Because

His Heart Is Pure

And

Against Every Known, Practiced
Promulgated, Putrid, Sin 
He Is The Cure

And

That Is Why The Clan Of Evil Hates Him!

To Escape Them

He Is The Only Door!

Every Day Is A Conference!

Every Day Provides Another Opportunity Of Escape!

The Clan Of Evil Cares Not For Those Whom They Overcome:

They're More Interested That Prince Shiloh
The Good Shepherd

Should Not Have A Victory!

No! Not One! 
His Presence Relieves Them Of Their Fun!

Brethren,

The Good Shepherd Gives Good Gifts To Men!
The Gifts Are Free
And
On His Strong Arm
We May All With Assurance Depend
So Do Not Be A Merchandising Snob
And
Deny That Anything Gotten For Free Is A Waste
Because
This Is One Freeness That
All Mankind Should Seek To Apprehend
To Take
To Taste!
It Cost Jesus Christ His Blood!

We All Have Personal Choices To Make
And
The Choice Between Perfect Love
And
Fear
Must Be By Self Made!

Fear Will Tie You Up In Gordian Knots
But
The Sword Of Perfect Love
Will Free You
With One Clean And Clear Chop!

Be Wise

Unto Your Own Soul's Salvation

And

Give Satan

And

His Decimating Fear

The Grace Of Almighty God Blot!

HAPPY SABBATH + Do Fuh Do!?!

Far Less Confidence
And
Far More Confidence
Were Brethren  ... Equals
But 
With Far More Confidence
Being The Child On The Distaff Side!

Far Less Confidence
Was The Favorite Child ... Obviously
And
He Had A Veritable Gold Spoon In His Mouth
A Silver Platter At His Right Hand
And
An Army Of Sycophants
Dogs-Bodies
Groupies
Hangers-On
And
The Usual Yes-Men Fixers
To "Make It Happen!"

He Was So Very Used To Having "It!" His Way
That He Had Placed Allllll His Confidence
In Mere Man!

He Liked It Like That
Because
His Heart Was Greedy
Gross
Fat
And
He Had No Use For The God
Who Had Given Him His Head
Upon Which To Place His Favorite Hat!

On The Other Hand
Far More Confidence
Knowing The Facts Of Life
And 
Having Experienced
What Comes As A Result Of The Lay Of The Land
And
Having Had His Faith Severely Tried
Had Learned Patience!
It Was Doing In Him A Perfect Work
And
Because He Knew That His Salvation
Comes As A Result Of His Getting Out
From Under Godless Rule
He Had Cast His Cares On Shepherd Of Rest
King Of Love
And
Is Well And Truly Blessed:

No Sin Is Too Big To Confess

And

No Sin Is Small Enough To Be Hidden!

Far More Confidence
Had Decided To Have Far More Confidence
In God Is Able
Because
He Knows That God Is Able Cares
Blesses
Guides
Chides
Comforts
Protects
Directs
And
Always Knows Best!
God Is Able Is The Good Father!

One Day

Far More Confidence Met Itsa Lipogram

Who Encouraged Him 
To Write A Statement Of His Faith

Minus The Use Of The Letter "E"!

In Far More Confidence's Mind

He Concluded That The Excluded "E"

Stands For No Evil

And So

He Wrote:

Our Lord

Is Always

Faithfully Caring For Us

And

Graciously Supplying Us

With His Gifts Of Loving Favor

So I Am ... With Wisdom

 Will-Surrendered

Walking Sagaciously

In Lord Shiloh's Holy Sight! 

He Did Not Gain Any Friends For That Bold Statement

But

That Was Nothing Unusual

Since He Usually Walked Alone

Depending For Comfort

On The Ever-Present Companion 

By Sight Always Unseen! 

He Made His Bed And He Lies Comfortably On It

Because

He Who Gave Him Life

Was Beside Him ... Holding His Hand

Leading, Feeding
Revealing The Light

Present Always At His Right Hand! 

He Became Persona Non-Grata!

From Then Onward

His Faith Firmly Fixed

His Eye Seeing Salvation

His Heart Holding Hope

He Looks Ever To His God

The Lord Of His Life

- Unerringly -

Ignoring The Barbs And Bites Of This Life
- From His Own Brethren Turned Adversaries -

Knowing ... By Faith

That He Will Survive This Life Of Strife! 

He Has Chosen To Daily Stick To The Good Book:

Because

It Does Not Become A Christian To Get Down And Dirty 

Doing Things Vile 

To Settle Scores With Our Adversaries
Who Would Even Deny Us Our Own Life! 

Brethren, Beloved

We Who Believe The Living Word Of God 

Must Do All To Rise Above Our Natural Inclinations 

To Indulge In A "Do Fuh Do" 

And, Instead

Choose To "Kill" With Kindness

Giving A Soft Answer ... To Turn Away Wrath

Extending A Helpful Hand

And 

Recognizing That 
But For The Available Grace Of Almighty God 

We Could And Would Be Acting 

Just The Same As The Unrepentant Evil-Doer
Who Hates Us Because We Love The Lord! 

Face The Facts ...

Doing Evil Is Instinctive 

But

Doing Good Is A Personal, Christ-Like, Choice!

Choose To Do That Which Will Please The Lord Who Loves Us! 

Do Good And Bless Yourself Today

And 

Always
Against Instinct And Tradition! 

Don't Cultivate The Satanic Soul-Blight! 

Choose Ever ... Always

The King Of Love ... Our True Shepherd

To Joyfully Delight! 

Choose To Bless Your Enemies ... In Jesus' Name!

It Is Not Going To Be Easy To Do

But

It Will Always Be Right

In The Holy God's All-Seeing Eyesight! 

Do Good

And

Good Will Attend Thee!!!

SOUL-DECIMATING SHAME: Personal Stock Market Correction

I Took Jesus Christ For Granted!
I Thought That I Was Real Bright!
I Kept Jesus In My Heart
And
Most Assuredly ... Conveniently
Decidedly Out Of My Sight!

He Was As A Comfortable Shoe
Or As An Old Known Broom
Always Able To Sweep The Corners Clean
And
I Just Didn't Think On Him
Because, Well
He Was Always There
And
Useful For When I Had Things That 
Caused Me A Spot Of Bother!

An Able Convenience!

How Convenient!

Shameful, But Nevertheless True!
He Served For Me A Purpose
And
I Am Ashamed To Say
I Paid Him Good Lip Service!

How Disgraceful!

You Did Yourself A Disservice!

My Actions Were Distasteful, I Know
But
That Is How It Is
When One's Spirit Is Unregenerated
And
It Most Often Takes Something
Unwanted
Unexpected
Unsought ... Something Too Hot To Personally Handle
To Bring The Holy Jesus
Front And Center
And
Definitely
Into Our Every Living Thought!

Been There!

Done That!

Who's Got The Tee-Shirt!?!

I Got Me Some Scars!

I Don't Ever Want To Walk That Road Again!

Hard Lessons Are Often Taught
Through Sorrow, Hurt
Loss, Pain And ...!

... Don't Forget The "S" Word!

What Are You Talking About!?

Game!
Fame!
Disdain!
Shame! Shame! Shame!

Oh, Yeah!

You're Running A Game!
You Made "That"  Move Once Too Often
And
You Hold The Lord's Spirit
With Unmindful-Of-Tomorrow Disdain ...!

... And End Up In
Soul-Decimating Shame!

Yup!
That Sounds About Right!

Indeed!

But, God ...

In His Great Grace

Had Mercy

And

In The Person Of The Beloved Jesus
Died In Our Stead  
To Make The Way To Live
And
The Way To Life Plain

So That We Could The Sin-Life Shed!

Praise The Lord ...

I'm Clean!

I'm Forgiven!

I'm Walking In The Holy Way

And

Almighty God's Great Grace Being Ever Sufficient

It Is In His Holy Hands

That I Intend To Stay!

Hear, Hear!

It's Glory For Me!

Glory For Me!

I'm Bound For Glory

Brethren, Beloved
Please Come And Join Me! 

AMEN!!!

CHOOSING SATAN OR THE SAVIOR: You Cannot Be Forced!

Beware The Handshake
The Pat On The Shoulder
The Kiss On The Cheek
The Knife In The Back
From The Friend Who Is Foe
The Foe Who Is Fiend
The Merciless Adversary
Whose Heart Is Devilish ... Unclean!

Look Up To Jesus
The Author ... The Finisher Of Our Faith
The Giver Of Good Gifts
The Lord Of Creation
The God Holy Whose Words Are Ever Plain
Who Blesses
Who Rewards
Whose Tongue Is Not Forked
Who Heart Is Pure ... Wisdom
Who Love For Us ... To Save Us
Caused Him To Earth To Come Down!

One Is Light, Love, Hope, Truth, Righteousness!
The Other Is Darkness, Hate, Despair, Lies, Unrighteousness!
The One Who Is Light 
Is 
Love Offering Eternal Life
In The Mansions Of The Blessed!

The Other Who Is Darkness 
Is 
Hate Offering Eternal Damnation
With A Christless Life As A Precursor
To A Godless Death
Leading To Condemnation
And
The Prophesied Damnation
And
Eternal Separation From Him Who
Paid With His Holy, Blameless, Life
To Rid Our Souls Of Known Sin's Shame!

Jesus Loves Us 
Died To Save Us
Lives To Save Us
And 
He Saves Us!
Satan Hates Us
And 
Works To Destroy Us

And

We Have The Choice To Make
As To Whom We Shall Follow!

Will You Choose Life As Found In Christ Jesus
Or
Will You Choose Death As Found In Satan
And
From Which, Friend
There Is No Coming Back To Living Again!?!

Live As One Forgiven
And
Living For Jesus Christ
And 
Die As One Faithful To Jesus Christ
And
Rise To Live ... To Eternally Live
With Jesus Christ The Righteous Judge
The Conquering King!

Live In Sin For Satan
And
With Sin Unconfessed
And
Unforgiven
Die Willfully Unrepentant For Satan
And
Rise To Die Again ... Damned
Eternally Separated From The Lord Of Life
Jesus Christ The Lord 
The King Of Earth And Glory
The God Of Creation
Our Only Savior!

The Decision Is Yours ... Alone!
You Cannot Be Forced!
You Cannot Be Coerced:

You Will Be Encouraged To Deny Self, Sin And Satan
And
To Choose Life In Christ By Christ
Through The Holy Spirit Of Truth

And

You Will Be Sorely Tempted To Exalt Self
And
To Deny Jesus Christ's Personal Sacrifice For You 
And
Denigrate His Power To Save You
By The Adversary Of Souls, Satan!

You Will Be Tempted
But
Never Beyond Your Endurance To Resist
When You Reside In The Lord's Camp
Because
With The Temptation You Receive
- Which Is Common To Man -
The Lord Will Provide You With A Way Of Escape
So That In Triumph ... Against The Merciless Adversary
You May Victoriously Stand!

Brethren, Beloved

Be Wise Unto Your Own Soul's Salvation!
Grace Is Free!
Mercy Is Free!
Salvation Is Free!
Faith Is Free!
Forgiveness Is Free!
Blessings Are Free!
Heaven Is Free
But
To Get To Hell
You Will, Personally, For Your Own Ticket
With Your Own Blood
Your Purchased Soul
Have To Pay!

When We Don't Know Who Jesus Is

We Also Do Not Know Or Appreciate

The Blessings And Privileges Available To Us

Or Are Able To Utilize The Gifts Of Love

Presented To Us For Our Own Soul's Salvation

By Available Grace

And

Free Mercy

Compliments Of The Lord Christ

- Almighty God With Us -

Who Is For Us!

Choose Life ... In Jesus Christ!