Real Greatness!

Dad?! 

Yes, Son?! 

Can You Tell Me What Is 

The True Measure Of Real Greatness?

Interesting Phrasing ... Why Do You Ask?!

I Am Asking ...
Dad, I Am Asking You, Well, Because
The Guys Keep Talking About
All The Athletes
Sportsmen
Entertainers And Actors
And Money As Oh, So, Great
But ...
Something Is Nagging At The Edge
Of My Consciousness!

It's As If There Is Something Really Important 

That I Need To Understand
So As Not To Accept What's On The Street As Fact!

Okay. Sit Down With Me
And We Shall Seek To Get You Your Answer!

First Things First!

Father In Heaven, 

We Come As Children

Willing To Learn

And Seeking Your Guidance!

Please Guide Into Your Truth

In Jesus' Name. 

AMEN.

Son,

It Is Written That

By Wisdom
You Build Your House
By Understanding It Is Established ...

... And By Knowledge
Its Chambers Are Filled
With Pleasant And Precious Riches!

All Right! We're On The Same Page!
Now Tell Me What You Understand
To Be The Visible Character Of Many Of Those
Lauded In The Public Domain As Great?!

Dad, I Can Count 

- Without Even Thinking -
The Many So-Called Greats
Who Lack True Character!

Many Of Them Are Drug Abusers
Womanizers
Indulge In Abominable Lifestyles
Lack Self-Control
Rabble-Rousers, And More
And I Don't Understand 

Why They're Called Great! 

Several Of The Old Greats

- Still Considered Great -

 Even Committed Suicide

And Many Of The Young Crop

Are Following In Their Footsteps! 

What's So Great About That?!

Son, Do You Remember The Story Of Samson

The Judge In Israel
At The Time Of The Philistine Dominion!

Of Course! 

He Was The Strongest Man Who Ever Lived! 

He Was The Greatest!

And ... He Was The Weakest!

How Can You Say That?! 

He Tore A Lion In Half ... With His Bare Hands

Killed 1,000 Men With The Jawbone Of An Ass
Lifted The City Gates Off Its Hinges ...
He Was Truly, Truly, Fantastic!

He Was Fantastically Foolish
He Had No Self Control
He Lived By His Emotions

AND
Of Him His Libido Had Control!

He Who Is Mastered By Earthly  Desire
Is Weak!
True Strength Comes From The Emotions
You Control
Not The Emotions That Control You
Using Up Your Life Force
With Vanity And Things That Do Not Elevate You!

Yes, Sir.

Let's Reason This Out Together ...

Samson Was A Nazarite From Birth
He Was Dedicated To God

He Was To Avoid Wine And Alcohol
He Should Not Have Been Fraternizing With The Idolatrous Philistine Women

He Should Not Have Married One!
He Should Not Have Been Involved With Delilah, A Known Prostitute!

Yeah, Especially One Whose Name Means Consumer!

No, Son.
He Should Not Have Allowed Himself
To Participate In The Charms Of Any Prostitute - He Was Set Apart
AND
Designated As Holy Unto God!

Samson Utterly Betrayed His God
By Foolishly Betraying His Secret
For A Tawdry Exploration
AND
He Put Himself Outside The Ark Of Safety
The Hedge Of Protection
AND
For His Weakness
His Willfulness
His Malicious Disobedience
He Caused The Spirit Of The Living God
To Finally Depart From Him!

I Guess He Was Not So Great After All!

Samson Would Have Been Truly Great
IF
He Had Been Faithful
AND IF
He'd Had Self-Control
AND
Firmness Of Resolve
AND
Practiced Self-Denial
Not Giving In To The Lust Of His Eyes
The Lust Of His Flesh
AND
The Pride Of Life
Trusting In His Long Hair And His Muscles
Neither Of Which Gave Him
One Single Iota Of Power!

His Power Came From His Fidelity
His Devotion
To His Living And Holy God!

Neither Fame
Nor Fortune
Nor Associations
Make One Great!
They Can, However
Make One Notorious
Careless
Indifferent
Unfaithful
Faithless
Wicked
Wasteful
AND
Turn One Into A Wastrel!

Son, Satan Uses

Our Cherished Character Defects
AND
Flaws
To Undermine
AND
Ultimately
Destroy Us!

I Guess Buying Into Your Own Press
Is Not A Good Idea!

It Isn't!

Hmm ...

So, Dad
Would You Say That
Faithfulness
Self ... Control
Obedience To God
Self ... Denial
Integrity
AND
Firm Resolve
Are Some Of The Attributes
That Make A Man Great?!

Yes, I Do ... But

Think On This:

Samson Was Physically
AND
Spiritually Ruined
BUT
In The Midst Of His Misery
He Truly Learned About Himself
AND
Because Of Complete Repentance
AND
Turning Away From Sin
AND
Turning Toward The Savior
The Lord Heard Him In His Plea

AND
Gave Him Forgiveness
AND
Restoration To Power
To Complete His Mission
Even Though It Cost Him His Earthly Life!

This Is Lesson For Us All:

Our Sin May Be Forgiven
BUT
There Are Always Consequences
To Our Wrong-Way Walking!

Thanks, Dad!
I Knew I Could Count On You!
I Love You!

I Love You, Son!
You May Count On Me
BUT
You Must Depend On
AND
Trust Completely
In And On The Eternal God!

I Hear That And ... I Totally Agree!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Brothers By And In Sin!

Balaam And Judas
Were Neither Brothers
Nor Twins
But They Surely Were
For They Are Connected
By The Same Sin!

They Both Knew God!
They Both Had In Their Hand
Great Light
AND
By Greed For Gain
- Spiritual Dishonesty -
They Suffered The Same Fate
- Separation From Life -
By Ignominious Death
AND
Eternal Separation To Come
In The Great Day
Because
Cherished Sin
In Their Hearts
In Their Lives
Caused Satan The Arch-Fiend
To Overmaster Them!

They Walked Not Uprightly!
They Worked Not Righteousness!
They Spoke Not Truth In Their Own Hearts
AND
They Did Not The Living God Bless

This Must Be Confessed!

They Did Evil To Their Neighbor!
They Took Reward Against The Innocent!
They Did Not Fear The Eternal God!
They Loved Riches
AND

They Did Not Get Repair Stitches
For Their Bodies Have Long Since
In Their Graves Been Cold!
Old!

They Swore Not To Their Own Hurt!
They Chose To Hurt Others!
They Changed
How They Changed
Choosing Temporal Prosperity
Unto To Which To Cling
Forgetting That
Temporal Life Is Temporary
AND
That Man Cannot Thwart God

AND
Forgetting
That The Wages Of Sin Is Death
That Sin Is Its Own Reward
Compliments Of The Known Fraud!

Balaam ... Known Prophet Of God
Judas ... Known Close Disciple Of The Lord Christ
So Near To God
Yet So Very Far
Had The Bone In Their Hand
BUT
Released It
For The Larger Shadow
Magnified
By The Lens Of Evil
Held
By The Hand Of Satan
Motivated
By Pure Malice
Laid Out
On A Silvered Chalice!

Greed
For Gain
Always Ever Brings Pain
Preceded By Shame
AND 
Leaves The Greedy One
Perfectly Slain!

Gain! 

Shame!
Pain! 

Slain!
Be Ye Warned, Brother And Sisters
Do Not By Greed
The Innocent Disclaim
Nor The Name 

Of The God Of Heaven And Earth Profane
For
In So Doing
You Shall Never, Ever, Ever
The Heights Of Heaven Gain
AND

That Will Be
The 

- Your -

Eternal Shame!

CONGREGATION: Who Is In Control?!

Any Religion
That Permits Adherents To Indulge
In Selfish Or Sensual Gratification
Is As Pleasing To The Multitudes Today
As When The Israelites Were In The Desert
AND
There Are Many Pastors Working
Just Like Aaron Of Old

- Before He Was High Priest -
Weak-Willed

AND
Self-Serving
Who Pander To The Desires
Of The Unconverted
The Mixed-Multitude
Those Loud Ones
Bold
AND
Leads Them Blood Hot
Into Plain Sin Cold!

Loud Voices
Make No One Right
Just Because
They Are Willing
Someone Off The Face Of The Earth
To Wipe
AND
We Who Choose
To Stand In The Breaches
On The Word Of The Lord
Should Be Ready To Do Battle
IF 

We Will To Walk With God
In Accord!

Really?!
You Should Know Better
Than To Encourage
The People Of God
To Indulge In Physical Battle!

I Never Said Anything About Physical Battle!

But You Said:
" ... Ready To Do Battle!"
And That, My Friend
Means Fight!

Come Onnnnn!
Now YOU Should Know Better
For
The Weapons Of Our Warfare
Are Spiritual
Not Physical
AND
Those Who Rise Up
With Arms In Hand
Are Unconverted
Unchristian
Unusual!

Don't You Remember...
Not By Might
Nor By Power
BUT
By My Spirit
Says The Lord Of Hosts?!

And What About  ...

Those Who Go On The Great Commission
Should Be Men Of Integrity
Willing Able And Capable
To Issue The Stern Rebuke
Unmindful Of The Backlash
The Fallout
The Friend Spurn
AND
Trusting The Word Of God
Should Not
To The Left
Nor To The Right
Turn!

God's Justice Is Sure
Even Though It Is Often Not Swift
AND
Even In This
Man - By Choice -
Out Of The Dust Of Degradation
His Own Soul May Uplift
By Acknowledging The Sin
By Going To God In Contrition
To Repent
AND Thereby
The Sure Hand Of Justice
From Undiluted Vengeance
Through Mercy
From The Death Decree
Shall Relent!

God's Promises Are True!
God's Ways Are All Right!

AND
The End Of God's Return On Your Investment
Is
Eternally Out Of Sight!

Tasks To Be Performed
May Be Unpleasant
BUT
Lest Ye Forget
They May Be There To Test You
So
Think Always Of The Crucible
AND
Do Exactly
What The Good Lord
Gently Asks Of You!

I Bid You Think Of The Before-Conversion Aaron
Ever Willing To Please
BUT
Man-Pleaser That He Was
Caused The Death Of 3,000 Persons
Who Were Cut Down Like Trees
AND
Though In This Day
The Death Toll Is Not In An Apparent Instant
The Outcome Will Be The Same
So
Pastors
Preachers
Teachers Priests
Look To Yourselves
AND
Ask God
For A Converted Heart
I Beseech You
On Bended Knees!

Take The Exam

And

By And In Jesus' Faith

Pass The Test

And

In Jesus Christ's Peace

Be Blessed

And

Forever Rest! 

HAPPY SABBATH + Standing On The Promises That Cannot Fail! ... Really!

In Humility
I Choose To Stand
On The Sure Promises
Of The Eternal God
Giving Neither Heed
Nor Credence
To The Bewitching Tales
Of The Winsome Fraud!

Father, Help Me To Trust My God!

I Stand As One Convicted
Convinced
Trusting
Hope-Filled
That The Living Word Holy
Is Wholly True
AND
I Ask You, Dear Brethren:

Are We Trusting Our God
Through And Through?

Am I Willing To Be An Abraham
AND
In Agony Of Soul
Go
To Sacrifice My Most Prized Possession
Most Loved
Loving
Because My God Asked Me
To Answer That Cruel, Cruel, Call
The Great Test Which
To My Taste
Is Bitterest Gall?!

Brethren, Beloved
Are You?!

Am I Willing To Say To My Heart
Speaking From A Reasoning Head:

My God Is Able!
His Word To Me Is True!
He Made Life
So He Can Raise You From The Dead?!

Father, God

I'm Walking In Faith

Your Bidding To Do!

Dear Ones,
Could You?!
Would You?!

Beloved,
We Call Ourselves Christians
AND
Out Of Christ's Character
We
- In Vanity -
Walk Proud
BUT
In The Coming Day Of Trial
Will Our Backs Bend
Even Break
OR
Will We
- Converted -
In Accord With The Father
In The Name Of The Son
With The Comfort Of The Holy Spirit
AND
With The Protection Of Holy Angels
Hold The Promise
Even As A Carrot
To Encourage Us On
To Stay Battling
Enduring The Fight
So That The Lord
- Our Lord Christ -
In Us
May Delight?!

I Must
You Must
We Must
Ask
AND
Answer
For Our Own Selves:

Am I Willing
With The Lord Christ
To Go All The Way Through Life
Enduring The Strife
- Even If I Die -
Even Unto Eternal Life?!

Will I Follow Where He Leads
OR
Will I
The Path Of Righteousness
Frightened
Sorrowing
Disappointed
Discouraged Through My Eyes
AND
My Feelings
- Regretful -
Leave?!

Is My God
Good Enough
God Enough
Grand Enough
Up To Snuff Enough
AND
Against Rhyme
Against Reason
Able
AND
Faithful Enough
To Get Me Home Safely
To Be Seated
At Almighty God's
Welcome Home Table

Not A Fable?!

Will We Believe Enough

To Gain

What Is NOT Stuff?!

I Pray The Great God

- For Us All Of The Household Faith -

That We Will Stand Tall

Heeding Always

Faith's Call!

Oh, Lord

Grant Us Your Grace

For

To Us

You Are Our All And All!

In Jesus Christ's Name

We Humbly Plead!

AMEN.

CRUISING FOR A BRUISING: The Title Bout!

Fancy Appellations
Do Not Good Christians Make
For
In The Day Of Trial
That "Good Christian" Will
His Own Reputation
Seek To Save
Instead Of Standing In The Truth
For The God Of Heaven's Sake!

What's An Appe-lation?

An Appellation Is A Title
Often A Title Grand
Signifying That One Is
A Master If You Will
Of The Skill Talent
Endeavor
By Which He Or It Stands
And Is Known!

Huh?!

Okay ... It's Like This:

Barbados Is The Gem Of The Caribbean
New York Is The Big Apple
Ringling Bros. Is The Greatest Show On Earth
Billy Graham Is The Great Legitimator
Solomon Was The Wisest Man Who Ever Lived
Cassanova Was The World's Greatest Lover
AND
To Bring It All Just A Little Bit Closer
Do You Remember Norbert?!

Sure Do! 

He Is Called A Man Of Prayer!
Fraser Is A Most Gifted Preacher
Tiffany Is The Best Psalmist
Blondell Is The Star

And Demanee Is The Most Devoted Christian Ever ...!

Wait A Minute!
Now I Understand!

Do You Remember When
God's Right Hand
That Rare Visionary
And Devoted Man Of God
And All Around Bulldog For Christ
The Rottweiler For Righteousness
Brother Dr. Rev. Apostle Prophet Hussy
Was Introduced At The Last Master's Conference?!

Yes, I Do!

Did You Understand  ...
Do You Now Understand Where
I Am Leading?!

Yes, I Think I Do ...!
Yes! I Do!
Lord, Help Us!

Not Six Weeks Later 
Church Was In Uproar
Because
The Bulldog Had Imbibed Much Vodka With Sour Lime!
The Rottweiler Had Torn Down A Hemline!
The Doctor Has Committed Malpractice!
The Apostle Was Proved Not To Be A Saint!
The Prophet Had Prophesied Lies
AND  ...

Isn't It Interesting What Happens
When We Focus On Self
Instead Of Lifting Up The Lord
When We Pander To The Fraud
AND
Believe That We Are The Best Thing
Since Choice Bread
AND
Behave As If We Are Doing
The Living God A Great Favor
By Us Allowing Ourselves
To Be Called By His Name?

Oh, Dear! Oh, Dear!
Not Good! Not Good At All!

Didn't Jesus Warn About
The Pharisees
And Their Love For Fancy Titles
AND
Did He Not Tell The Disciples

The Inspired Psalmist King David Said It Best:

A Good Name Is To Be Preferred
Before Great Riches!

But ...

What Do We See In This Day?

Every Body And His Brother
Loves To Know That He Has A Letter
Or Two Or Three Or Four
For The Letters Get Him
Access Reach And Grasp
AND
He Becomes The Gatekeeper Of Glory
The One That Every Seeker Must Get Past!

The Higher The Monkey Climb
The More You See His Raw Behind
AND
- As The Lord, Himself, Stated
To The Laodicean Church -
He Needs To Buy Of The Lord
White Raiment Aka Good Character
So That The Shame Of His Nakedness
Be Not Exposed!

An Uplifted Self
Lowers The Lord!

BUT
The Uplifted Lord

Is He
Who Secures For The Lifter
The Prize Of The Great Reward!

When We Put Self
In Its Perfect Place
When Trials Come
We Do Not Have To Run
Scramble
Hide

AND 
Become Snide
Attacking All
To Protect Self's Reputation
For
We Know In Whom It Is
That We Are Hidden!

Humble Yourself
Under The Mighty Hand Of God
And ... At The Appointed Time
He Will Lift You Up!

Remember Saul ... Pride AND Greed!
Remember Satan ... Pride AND Greed!
Remember Absalom ... Pride AND Greed!
AND
Ananias And Sapphira
Seeking For A Reputation
Lied To The Holy Spirit
AND
To Death
Became Sure Victims!

There Was Absolutely No Need! 

A Title Written In Sand
Is A Title
That Will Be
By The Cruel Wind
Blown!
The Title Written
On The Rock Of Ages
Will Cause The Title-Holder
- In The Fulness Of Time -
To Stand In Peace
Glorified
Immortalized
Before The Holy God's Throne!

Choose You This Day
Whom You Shall Serve
The God Of Personal Reward
Or
The Living Holy God

In Whom Is No Fraud!

Think ... And Consider
Consider ... And Act
Act ... Upon The Truth
The Living Word Of God
AND
Save Yourselfself A World Of Hurt
AND
You Will Sure Disaster

- From Yourself - 
Divert!

Listen! Listen!
I Have The Best Title Ever!

Do You Mean To Tell Me ...!

Stop! Stop! Stop!
My Title Is:

Child Of God!

Oh. 

Are You A Word Watcher?!

Please, Ma'am
What Do You Mean
When You Say
"Watch Your Words!?"
Words Don't Have A Body!

Ah, But They Do!
Some Are Heavy Weight Champions
Some Are Butterflies
Some Are Nasty Nellie's
AND
Some Are Annoying Flies!

Some Words Push You
Some Words Pull
Some Words Run You Down
AND
Some Words Make You Feel Like A Gull!

I Like Gulls!

Oh, No! Not Gull As In Bird!
Gull As In To Make One Feel Like An Idiot!

That's Not Very Nice!

Do You Still Think
Words Have No Body
Aka No Weight?!

Well  ... I Am Not Too Sure. ...Yet.

Come, Let's Walk For A Moment!

Ryan, You Are A Kindhearted Soul!
Why Is That?!

Well, It's Nice To Be Kind
And Mom And Dad Both Teach
That What You Give You Get Back
And That Soft Answers Turn Away Wrath
And
Do Unto Others What You Want To Be Done Unto You!

Wouldn't You Call That
Ingesting Good Food?

Sure, I Would!

And When You Say Something Nice
Wouldn't You Agree That You Are Displaying
The Fruit
The Benefits
From The Good Food
That You Ingested ... Ate
AND
Digested  ...  Learned Grew From
AND
Expressed ... Practiced?!

Yes, I Would!
I Think I Understand!

If You Understand, Prove It!

I Heard Coach Keene Call Mason
A Rather Nasty Name
AND
I Actually Saw Mason Recoil
As Though He Had Suffered A Physical Blow
AND
Afterward He Looked Physically Ill!

There You Go!
So What Do You Now Say?!

Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones
BUT
Unkind Words Are Sure To Harm Me!

Well Said!

Now I Desire That You Remember This:

People Watch Our Words!
Our Expressed Words Come From Within Us
Showing Others What Is Inside Of Us
AND
Very Often
A Lifetime's Worth Of Living
Can Never Erase
The Looped Unkind-Word Recording
That In Another Person's Head Plays
AND
There Is No Pencil
Well-Enough Equipped
To Erase The Lasting 
UGLY
AND
WEIGHTY
Bad Impression
That We May Have Unwittingly Made!

Watch YOUR Words!

Yes, Ma'am!
I Surely Will!
Thanks For For Taking The Time
To Explain Things To Me!
I Appreciate You!

Thank You, Kindly!
I, Also, Appreciate You!

Even At Your Worse

Jesus Christ

Gently Calls Out To You

So Please Emulate Him

AND

Do Likewise

In Interacting

With The Brethren!

PRAYER: Lord, Help Thou My Unbelief!

Master!
Lord!
My Teacher!
My Friend!
Jesus Christ
The God Of All
Loves Me
And That ... Without End!

I Know Not Where My Feet May Travel
I Know Not Which Row
In The Garden Of Life I Must Hoe
BUT I Know The One
Whose Undying Love For Me
Has Deliberately Made
Personal Provision
Just For Me!

He Who Has Promised
Has Made The Word Plain:

Eye Has Nor Seen

Nor Has A Man's Ear Heard

The Plans

The Provisions

That I Have Made For Thee!

*********

PRAYER:

Lord, 

I Believe You! - Help Thou

My Unbelief!

Lord,

I Receive You! - Help Me Not To Grieve You!

Lord,

I Am Blind!

If Thou Wilt

Thou Canst Make Me See!

Lord, I

My Sin Against You

- In Contrition -

I Do Confess

And

I Plead

- In Jesus' Name -

Most Gracious God

Please Save Me

To Enter Into Your Bliss!

AMEN.