VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: JOURNEY: The B-TAB Tack

It Was A Wild West Locomotive!
The Whistle Said:

Brooo! Brooo!

As It Went!

I Had Spent All That I Had
AND
This Journey To The Unknown
Was For Me
No Fad
For I Was Trusting The Lord
For
By Jesus Christ's Faith
I Was For This Great Journey Clad!

The Sign Painted On The Engine Had Said:

Prayer And EFFORT!

The Insignia On The Conductor's Hat Said:

Effort And PRAYER!

I Thought To My Self ...
Strange ... Strange Indeed!
Until I Saw The Train's Engineer
Get Down On His Knees!

He Was Praying!

Okay! Okay!

I Took A Window Seat
AND
As Is My Custom
I Asked The Living God
For
Travelling Mercies, Please!

Suddenly ...

The Call Sallied Forth:

All Abooardd!

ALLLL ABOOARDD!

Soon ... 

We Were On Our Way!

Hmmm ...

I Don't Know What Caused It
BUT
Something ... 

Something ... Was Tickling My Consciousness!

I Looked Ahead!
I Looked Around!
In Front Was Just Backs Of Heads!
To The Side - Nothing Outstanding!
Outside
Pastures Green

AND

Even A Meandering Stream
BUT
As The Train Picked Up Momentum
What I Heard Said
You Will Not Believe!

The Train's Wheels
Were Talking With Speed!

I Tell You True
Those Wheels Spoke Plain!
I Heard It I Tell You!
It Was A Beautiful Refrain:

Believe God!

Trust His Word!

Act In Faith!

Blessings Will Come!

Soon The Train Was Going So Fast
That All I Could Hear Was:

Believe God!

Blessings Will Come!

Coming Into Some Stations
I Would Hear The Rhythm Change:

Believe God!

Trust His Word!

Leaving Some Stations
It Said:

Act In Faith!

Blessings Will Come!

But ...

I Loved It Best
When We Travelled Through The Country
AND
All The Contacts Were Made
AND
That Journeying Train Would Say ...

Believe God!

Trust His Word!

Act In Faith!

Blessings Will Come!

That Train

Seemed To Have A Message

To Fit

Every Destination

Every Departure Station!

I Had Been A Little Sad

To Leave The Known Behind
BUT
By The Time I Reached My Destination
I Had A Song In My Heart
Laughter In My Mind
AND
Hope In My Eye
For
I Had Been Reminded
That My God
Is Not Pie In The Sky
AND
I Knew
God's Heaven With My Jesus
Soon
Soon
Will Be In My Real View!

I Believe ... GOD!

I Trust God's ... WORD!
I Will ACT aka WALK ... In FAITH
For
I Truly Accept The Truth That
God's BLESSINGS WILL - Upon Me - COME!

What Is Your Conveyance Telling You?!

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

Trust In The Lord With Your All

Because

In That Way

 You Cannot Fall!

Satan Thinks He Controls The Ball

And

Its Residents All

But

Has No Choice But To Act

Inside

God's Omnipotent Call!

The Cross Of Christ

How Is It
That Pre-Jesus
The Roman Cross
WAS
Just An Instrument Of Torture
AND
Death
BUT
Present-Jesus

- The Life ... Of The World -
It Is A Lamp-Post
- Shedding Eternal Light -

To Those Who Will

To Be Blessed?!

The Cross Of Christ
IS
A Transport
A Transport Of Delight
Lifting High
The Repentant Sinner
Sending Him
Into The Land Of Truth
Beauty
AND
Right!

The Wood
Is Not The Thing Important!
The Man Who Hung There
Was A Body Veiling
Divinity!
Divinity
Which Chose Fallen Man's Position
So That In Life's Death
Satan - He Who Is Death To Human Life -

- Thenceforth -
Would Be In His Own Certain

Unremitting Death Throes!
No More Woes!

Life Died To Overcome Death!
Life Arose
To Give His Life
To Man - The True Walking Dead!
Life Willingly Laid Down For Us
His Life
AND
To Give New Life To Men
His Life
He Surely Took Up Again!

He Reigns!

Life Won In The Bitter Strife!

Because Of Life's Death
I Have A Way To Go To The Father!
Because Life Lives
I Can
- One-On-One -
Talk To My Father God!
Because Life Reigns
I Can Walk Through
The Gates Of Glory
For
It Is My Right
Because
The Life Enlightens

AND
Enlivens
The New-In-Christ Life

I Gained!

I Rejoice
In Life's Death
Because
- In Acceptance -
I Get Life's Life
As He Took My Sure Death!

I View The Cross
As The Sign Post
Of Salvation
AND
I Rejoice
For
By Its Light
I Can See The Way
The Way To Get Back Home

Today!

It Is The Only Way There!

I Thank God
For Grace And Glory!
I Thank God
For Truth And Light!
I Thank God
For The Faith
That Believes The Gospel
The Good News Story
AND The Mercy
That Removes Me
From The State Of Disgrace
To The Glorious Place!

The Cross Of The Word

The Life Of The World
Is The Light To My Path
The Lamp To My Feet
The Lifter Up Of My Head!
I Will Not Deny The Lord
Who Died To Save Me
BUT

I Will Lift Him Up Daily
As I Do My Own Cross
AND
Follow Him
As I Am Led To Safety!

Taking The Holy Life

For A Sinner's Life

Leads To Eternal Life

For The Repentant Sinner

Who To Willful-Sin

Is Now Cold!

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

Cross-Carrying

Christ-Following

Caring

Committed-To-Christ

Comforter-Converted Christians

Cannot

Continue Committing

Christ-Killed-Afresh Crimes Called Sin!

HAPPY SABBATH + WAITING ... For The Day! + PRAYER

I Am Of The Virgins

But

Not One Of The Foolish Ones!

I Am Ground

- Not The Stony One -

Good Ground!

I Am Not Of Those Women

- Those Churches -

Which Wear Their Own Raiment

AND

Which Provide

AND

Eat Their Own Bread

All The While Desiring

Just The Name Of The One

By Whom We Are Faithfully Lead!

I Am Not A Pharisee

A White Washed Tomb

Pretty

But Filled

With The Bones Of The Dead!

I Walk The Way Holy

Keeping Close

To The Separating Line

Having It Ever In My View!

I Walk In The Light

Holding The Hand

Of The Son Of God

Jesus Christ The Lord

Holy

Alive

Divine!

I Wait

For Day

- Not The Dark -

When

Redeemed

Glorified

Crowned

I Shall

- Having Been Caught Away -

Walk On The Glorious Golden Way

Having Face To Face Converse

With My Jesus

After

Having Forever Cast Away

The Marks Of The Vile Curse!

I Go

- Not To Hell -

To Glory!

I Go

Even If I Go Alone!

I Go

Because The Rock Of My Salvation

Calls Me

By Love

Holy Love

To Come Home!

Home ... HOME!

Where He Who Holds My Heart

 - My Beloved Jesus -

Has For Me

Prepared A Blessed Place!

Home

Where All Is Peace

Rest

AND

Joyous Consort

Comfort

Home

In The Bright Light Of

The Eternal God

Where The Living

Has Not A Taint

Of Earth

Nor Of The Old Disgrace!

PRAYER:

Oh, Lord

You Who Art In Heaven

You Who Give Comfort

To The Wanderer's Soul

You

Who Gave Your Best

To Redeem Those

- By Sin -

In The Universe

The Worst

I Bless You!

I Love You

And

I Thank You

Because

- In The Glorious Future -

I Shall

- Having Held On To Christ's Enduring Faith -

Get Up

From The Place

From Whence

I Would Have Been Deposited

By That Transport Vehicle

The Dreaded Hearse!

Lord,

I Took "E" Off Of Hearse

For My Ear Hears!

I Took "S" Off Of Hears

Because

Christ Had Unstopped

My Previously Stopped Ears!

I Took The "A" And "R" Off Of Hear

And

"HE!"

Was Revealed!

He Who Conquered Death

So That I May Be Redeemed!

I Rejoice

With Heart

Soul And Voice

That Glory Came Down

And

Did Fill My Soul

So That Now

I Can Say

At This Very Moment

 - Today -

That Heaven Is My Goal

And

I Am Walking

Faithful

On The Glorious King's

Highway!

Thank You For The Great Blessing

In Jesus Christ's Name!

AMEN.

PERSONAL PUZZLER: Living The Committed Christian Life

The Open Question:

What Would You Say To A Church Pastor
Who Is Proudly Gay
Who Speaks Proudly
Of What The He-God
Has Done
AND
Inspirationally
Of What The She-God Is Doing?

The American Gay Population Is Less Than 4%
Of The Total Population!
What Would You Say To A Heterosexual 
Bible-Thumping Pastor
Who Says That The Christian Church Would Die
Without The Gay Church Members/Musicians Who 
Presumptuously Live 
Unrepentantly
In Known Sin Before Almighty God?

How Would You Respond To The Charismatic Pastor
- With Immensely Convincing Oratorical Skills -
Who Says That
Loving, Living And Serving 
Are The Only Three Things
That A Modern Christian Is Required To Do?

What Of ...
Confession, Repentance, Obedience
Walking And Working In Faith?

What Of ... 
The Acquisition Of The Lord's
Meek And Gentle Spirit
Against Which There Is No Law?

What Of ...
The Aspiration Of Striving 
For To Achieve God's Glory?

What Of ...
The Renunciation Of Sin?

What Of ...
Living With The Hope
That Comes Of Faith That Works
Because Of Our Love Of The Lord Christ?

What About ...
Our Asking The Lord
For The Indwelling Of His Holy Spirit?

What About ... Denying Self?

What About ... 

• Temperate Living?
• Not Walking Wise In Our Own Eyes?
• Denying The Liar?
• Watching And Praying?
• Not Holding On To Temporal Things?
• Living To Send Up Riches To Glory?
• Asking The Lord To Cleanse Us Of All Unrighteousness?
• Wearing The Whole Armor Of God?
• Beatitude Living?
• Blessing God?

And ...

What About Thanking The Holy God 
For Our Blessings
Seen And Unseen
Known And Unknown
Unanticipated
Unappreciated
Unasked For
AND
Blessings Promised To Come?

Can We "Christians" Really Get All Of Our Lives
Into The Three Broad Categories Of:

Living

Loving

Serving

Without Following The Prescriptives Of The Living Word?

Remember:

If Something Does Not Have A Name
It Is Usually Rendered Unimportant!
AND
Just Saying Live, Love And Serve
Gives Us All The Opportunity 
To Forget To Remember
To Ignore
To Less Count
To Elevate
To Denigrate
To Gravitate
To Set Aside
To Glorify!

When You Know All That Is Required
You have No Excuse For Forgetfulness
Nor Disobedience!

Can A Committed Christian
Really Leave The Living Of His Life
To Man's Happenstance?

What Purpose Does Jesus Christ Serve 
In Your Life?

What Do YOU Say To All These Things?

The Apostle Paul Said:

Without The Law, I Would Not Know Sin.

I Say:

Without Our Closely Following
The Requirements For True Christian Living
We Will Fall For Any Thing
AND
Every Thing!

We Have Been Given A Blueprint
A Blueprint For Living Christ's Life
AND
If We Will Follow It Closely
We Will Survive Earth's Strife!

We Are To:

Read The Bible AND Pray
Watch
Work In Faith
Humble Ourselves
Deny The Adversary Every Which Way
Lift Up The Lord
Remove The Beam From Our Own Eyes
Get God's Eye Salve
Get God's Gold
Get God's White Linen
AND
Put Oil In Our Lamps
AND
Accept Provided Grace
Accept The Given Faith
AND
Accept Free Offer Of Salvation
Strive To Be Redeemed
AND
Leaning On Christ ... Endure The Struggle
AND
Let The Holy Spirit Lead!

We Are Also Called Upon To:

Entertain Strangers
Love The Lord
Love Our Brother As We Love Ourselves
Walk The Straight And Narrow Way
Let Our Heart Be Fertile Ground
Let Good Angels Influence Us To Do Good
Stand On The Rock Of Ages
Stand On The Promises Of God
Reach Out To Jesus
Let Jesus Hold Our Hand

AND ...
We Are Encouraged To:

Get Victory Over Sin Through Jesus
Go On The Narrow Road With Straight Walking
Use Soft Answers To Turn Away Wrath
Not Be A Fool
Be Wise Unto Salvation
Don't Indulge A Double Mind
AND
Live For The Lord
For, In This, Is Great Reward!

The Great Question
That Needs The Simple Answer
From A Spirit-Lead Conscience
Is

Does Just Living

Loving

And

Serving

- A Doctrine Of Fallen Man -

Serve The Purpose

In Your Call To Jesus Christ

- The Savior God -

Who Died

To Save You?

Doctor, Doctor: The Great Physician

I Went To The Soul Doctor!
He Said I Needed A Self Exam!
He Said I Needed A Dose Of Self-Discipline
AND
That Thereby
My Self-Respect Would Get A Shot In The Arm!

I Did Not Like The Sound Of That!

I Did Not Like Where This Was Headed!
I Could Feel A Head Ache Coming On
For I Had To Do Me Some Head Scratching
Which Was Going To Leave
My Big Pig-Headedness
Exposed
ANDMy Wilful Head
Quite Shorn!

If I Thought
That This Was All
Of My Denouement
I Was Operating Under A Misconception
- That Was Soon Made Plain -
For
Dr. Jesus H. Christ
- The Great Physician Himself -
Was In My Eyes
Shining The Bright Light!

And ...

It Became Obvious

That There Was Going To Be
A Struggle To The Death
IF
I Desired To Attain
The Everlasting Life!

Dr. Jesus ...

Some People Called Him

Lord Christ!

Dr. Jesus Said:

Raise Your Daily Intake Of Self-Sacrifice!
Remove Self-Aggrandizement From Your Diet!
Add At Least Three Servings Of Prayer To Your Plate Every Day
AND
Keep In Constant Communion
With The Holy Spirit -
He Will Your Tried Spirit Cheer!

I Was Saying To Myself ...

Goody! No New Medicine Today!

When ...

Here Is Your Prescription
For Daily Therapy!
Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs
Help To Make Your Walk Through The Vale Of Tears
Tolerable
Even Unto Easier!
Keep A Zion Song In Your Heart
As You Go On God's Errands
Each Day
AND
In The Name
- My Name -

That Is Your Hope For Surpassing Glory
Go To The Father
Without Ceasing
AND
You Will
In Eternity
Before The Great Throne Sing!

Cling To The Living God!

Cling?!

CLING.

... And Rest Easy!

The Holy Spirit, Here
Will Assist You! - Just Ask!
The Holy Angels Will Surround You -
This Labor Of Love
Is Their Beloved Task!
I Am Always Available! -
Just Say The Name!
Just Think On Me!
Just Reach Out To Me
AND
Get Up From In Front Of 

That Benighted Silent Teacher
You Call Must-See TV!

I Adjure You
To Help Somebody
To Give A Good Word
Point A Soul To Salvation
Get Out Amongst The Obedient Sheep
Walk Away From The Goat Herd!

You Are Known By The Company You Keep
If You Walk Together
You Agree
So
Choose Elevating Companions
AND
Don't Give Idle Words
Not Even A Single Moment
Of Game Play
AND
Do That That Is To The Good
Today!

Today?!

TODAY.

Much, Much, More Was Said

BUT

Sufficed To Say

I Left Dr. Jesus' Office

Committed

To Straight Walking

Faithful Working

Constant Fervent Praying

Joyful Thanksgiving

AND

Persistent Praising Of The Holy God

Each 

AND

Every Day!

Let Me Tell You ...

You Should Visit Dr. Jesus!

He Is Truly

A ... No!

The Great Physician!

I Love Him!

Personal Puzzler: PASTOR: Willing Skilled And Able

Willing, Skilled And Able
Are Pastors!

Ordination By The Big Church HQ
Is Not 
The Point!

They Preach
Attempt To Preach
Almost Succeed In Preaching
The Good News Of The Coming Kingdom!

Of Course ...

You Would Understand That With Names Such As Theirs
There Is Going To Be Drama
Problems
Maybe Even Some
FUN!?!

Pastor Willing Is Not Skilled!
Pastor Skilled Is Not Able
AND
Pastor Able Is Neither Willing 
NOR
Skilled!

I Do Not Profess To Know How It Is Possible
BUT
Things Get Complicated After That:

Pastor Willing
- Though Lacking In Skill -
Is Full of Faith
AND
He Truly Loves The Word
AND
The Word's Word!
He Loves Him Some Jesus
AND
He Is Ready
- Notice Or Not -
To Preach
AND
Teach 
That Holy Word!

Pastor Skilled Is Ahh Umm ... Skillful
An Able Raconteur
To The Point That His Storytelling
Turns snruT
The Word of God
Into Fables!
Hebrews 13:8 Is Often Muttered
When He Walks By
AND
Things Often Get Ugly
When He Is At The Sacred Desk
The Podium
On The Altar
AND
Well, Ahh
Just About Any Time He Opens Wide 
His Mouth!
Able Is Not A Descriptive
To Be Ascribed To Pastor Skilled!

As For Pastor Able ...

Good Old Pastor Able!
He Knows The Word Of God!
You Can Ask Him Anything!
Only Problem ...
Well, The Problems Were ...
Look ... It Is Like This:

Pastor Able Knows God's Word - No Argument
BUT
He Has Not Got One Iota of Skill 
When It Comes To Teaching
AND
Preaching The Word Of God
AND
Because He Lacks The Requisite Skills
He Has Become Somewhat 
Decidedly 
Well ... Unwilling 
To The Point Of Refusing
To Serve In The Lord's Ripe
- For Harvest -
Fields!

Something Has To Give!

Your Assignment
- Should You Choose To Accept It -
Is To Fix
FIX 
These Pastors
Using Their Various Strengths 
To Help Each Become 
Better Stewards 
For Their Master!

How Can We Get A Worthy Pastor
Out Of These Three?

By The Way ...

The Church Down The Street 
Has Put Out An Announcement
Asking For One Pastor Who 
Is Willing, Skilled AND Able!

Here's Your Opportunity
To Find A Pastor
To
"Fit The Bill!"

They Desire A Pastor Who:

• Believes AND Preaches AND Teaches Victory Over Sin Is Possible In Christ
• Reverences The Holy God
• Is Zealous For The Preserved Word Of God
• Honestly Preaches Of Hell AND Damnation
• Intimately Knows The True AND Living God
• Sets Not Himself On A Stratified Layer Above The Holy People
• Lives Not On Rarified Air, and 
• Preaches From The King James Bible - NO EXCEPTIONS!

The Straight Word IS Our Watch Word!

• No Writers Of Popular Theology Need Apply
• No Pastors With Groupies Need Apply
• If You Need An Armed Body Guard - Do Not Apply
• If You Need An Annual Holy Land Trip -  Do Not Apply
• If You Need A Big Ride - Do Not Apply
• If You Are A Ten Commandment Man With Commandment Two Removed AND Commandment 10 Is Split In Two - Do Not Apply

Our Church Is Not A 501 (C) 3 Not-For-Profit
BUT 
Is 1 John 5:7 Compliant!
Truth - In Love - Is Spoken Here!

If You Call Sin By Its Name - Apply!
If You Have A Personal Relationship With Jesus Christ - Apply!
If 1 John 1:9  Is True To You - Apply!
AND
Please
If You Have Been Forgiven Of Any Past Indiscretions
Do Not Hide Behind A Lie!
Come Clean
AND
Say What The Lord - In Mercy - Has Done For You
AND
Perhaps
You Can A Sinning-Soul Edify
AND
Point Towards God's Grace! - APPLY!
God Forgives AND So Do We!

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

The Ball Is In Your Court!
Get The Church An Able Skilled And Willing Pastor
Or
A Skilled Willing And Able Pastor
Or
A Skilled Able And Willing Pastor
Or 
A Willing Able And Skilled Pastor
Or
Just That For Which They Asked:

A Pastor

Who Is

Willing, Skilled 

And

Able!