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.

Christians Shall See POLS!?!

You Who Faithfully Carry The Gospel Of Christ
Will Be Afflicted By POLS!

Pols?! What Is Pols?!
And Whatever It Is
Is There A Vaccine Against It!?

Isn't Pols Short For Politicians?!

Yes .. But Not In This Case!

POLS Is:

• Peril
• Opposition
• Loss
• Suffering

Jesus Christ Died!
The Disciples All Experienced It
AND
Whoever Takes Up The Cause Of Christ
To Carry Forth The Gospel
Shall
- By The Hand Of Satanic Device -

Feel The Sting Of Punishing Peril
Rabid Opposition
Searing Loss
AND
Harsh Suffering!

Please Know Of A Surety
That It Is Not The Thing Nice!

The Lord Helps Those

Who Help Themselves

To A Drink Of His Mercy

Sprinkled With Grace

Lifted

By The Hand Of Faith

Yielded

To Be Molded By

The Only One

Who Is Outside

Of

Time And Space!

Walk By Faith!
Never Walk By Sight!
Trust The Word Of The Lord
For
It Will Your Heart
AND
Your Life
Exceedingly Delight!

Earthly Pleasure Is Passing!
God's Paradise Is The Place True
AND
Victory Over Sin
Is The Only Pass
That Will See You
The Pearl Gates
Getting Through!

Getting Through 
Peril
Opposition
Loss
Suffering
For The Name
AND
The Word Of The Lord
With Enduring Faith
AND
Unyielding Obedience 
AND
Absolute Trust
Gives Paradise
To The Remnant
That Faithful Few!

I Am Striving For The Win!
Are You?!
Won't You?!

Seek

Eternal Life

Over 

Temporal Property!

PRESUMPTION : FAITH!

Faith And Presumption
Are Adversaries
AND
That Is Gospel Truth!

Faith Claims God's Promises
AND
Bears Obedience
That Good

Very God Fruit!

Presumption
- By Contrast -
That Bold Fellow He
Lays Claim To God's Promises
Without Fidelity
AND
All That He Brings
Is Windblown Fruit
For
He Uses The Promises
To Excuse Transgression
AND
He Is Bold, Bold

AND
Rotten To The Root

To Boot!

Faith Is Not Presumptuous
AND
Presumption
Cannot Ever Of Faith Assay
AND
All The Brethren
Need To Know
How To Recognize That Difference
Or
For Own Sin
They Will Surely Have To Pay!

Faith Is An Open Door!
Presumption Is A Hardened Cell
Locked
AND
Neither Can Suffice For The Other
AND
Of This Fact
All Mankind
Should Surely, Surely, Take Stock!

Faith Walks Not By Sight
BUT
Presumption Lives In Flood Light
Ever Assured
By What It Can Machinate To See

AND
Always Rolling Black Dice
Ever Hopeful
Of A Free Golf Tee Fee!

In Faith Resides Trust!
In Presumption Lies Lust
Of The Eye
Of The Flesh
In The Pride Of Life
AND
All Who With Presumption Consort
Will Never
Ever
With The King Of Life
Have An Eternal Part!

Presumption Is ... Sin!

And

The Wages Of Sin Is ... Death!

And

Dead Men Can't Talk

So

... Obviously ...

Dead-Man Talk

Won't Cause God's Punishment

From You To Walk

UNLESS

The Talker

Has Taken

Is Taking

The Talking With Jesus Christ

Believing Him

And

Trusting Him For Eternal Life

Walk!

Where You At?!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: SIN + PRAYER: Father, I Am A Sinner!

Sin Is A Feisty Liar!
It Indulges In Grand Deceit!
It Walks As One Friendly
BUT
Is A Veritable Sneak!

Sin Likes The Game 
"What If ... ?!"
It Likes
"Here - Let's Pretend ...!"
It Likes To Indulge Bait And Switch
AND
A Fly
It Will Not Offend!

Sin Likes To Play
Dress UP!!
AND
DRESS DOWN!!
Sin Likes To Makes A Good Show
AND
Whatever It Takes 
To Break You
Sin Is Always Set To Let Go!

Be It
Black And White
Technicolor
Cartoon
Video Short
Full Feature Film
Sin Has A Place For Everybody!
Did I Tell You
That Plain Sin Operates
The Local Welcome In Inn?!

Sin Is The Local Doctor!
Sin Is The Local Priest!
Sin Is A Chameleon
That Offers All And Everybody
Free 
AND
Focused 
Stress-Busting Free Relief!

Sin Paints Itself As A Paragon Of Virtue
Giving To Each Man According To Felt Need
BUT
Indulging In Sin Is
Like Crack Cocaine
Mixed With Grand Prix Speed!

Sin Invites One
For A Little Test Run
Just A Trial
One And Done
BUT
What The One-Time Sinner Does Not Know
Is That Sin Is A Freeloading Pimp
That
- Left Unchecked -
Turns One-Timers
Into Full-time Free-Basting Whores!

Now ...

You May Not Like
That Last Analogy
BUT
I Encourage You
To Look Back At Your Own Life
AND
Magnifying-Glass-Truthful Be!
I Did
AND
Believe Me
It Wasn't Anything Called Pretty!

No One Commits One Sin!
No One Keeps Sinning Small-Time
For
Unchecked By The Soul's Savior
Sin Is An Accelerator
On A Banana Peel
On An Oiled 
AND
Mirror-Polished
Zip Line!

Let No One Fool You!
Man Cannot Control The Will To Sin
For One Taste Of Sin
Releases
The Bull In The China Shop 
Within!

BUT ...

There Is Hope!

Man Has The Creator
The Redeemer
The Savior
The Soul-Lover
The Friend
The Substitute
That Waged War
AND
Won That Fight
By A Plain
"It Is Written ...!"
Aka
"Thus Says The Living God ...!"

The True Friend
Exposes
The Real Enemy!
The True Friend
Conquered
Sin
AND
Death And Hell
Its Progeny
AND
The True Friend
Made A Straight Path
- Narrow -
For Those Who Would From Sin
Sinning
AND
Hell-Bent Hell-bound Sinners
Walk Away
AND
All It Takes
Is A Little Faith In The Provision
AND
A Heartfelt Prayer:

Father In Heaven

From Sin

Take Me Away!

I Am A Sinner

But

I Don't Want To Walk In That Way!

I Believe Your Word Of Promise!

I Believe That You Are True!

Save Me!

I Am Dying In Sin

But

I Want To Walk With You!

Grant Me The Promised Victory

Over Dread Sin

In This Very Moment

Right Now

Today!

Grant Me The Power

In Jesus' Name

To Walk In Faith

No Matter The Matter

The Day

Nor The Hour!

AMEN.

Brethren,
A Dressed-Up Sin Is Still Sinful
Still Ugly!
A Dressed-Up Sinner No Less!
Unconfessed Sin
By The Unrepentant Sinner
IS
The Unforgiven Sin
Of
The Unforgiven Sinner
Which Equates To
The Unblessable Mess!

Call Sin What It Is -
Transgression Of The Law
Of The Holy God
AND
Give It Its Just Reward
By Turning It
AND
Its Purveyor
Over To
The True Living
Able Available
Holy Righteous One Eternal God
Who Has The
"It Is Finished!"
For The Wily Satan
That Unregenerate Fraud!

Sin Is No Joke
So Stop Clowning Around With It!

Jesus Christ Saves One From Sin
Never In Sin
So
Let It Go!

Say To Sin
"No!"
AND
Let Christ 
In You
By You
AND
For You
Really, REALLY, Show
AND

Let Us Bask
- DAILY -
In Heavenly Love's 
Imperishable Glow!

Tested Sin?! Taste Salvation!

I Know What Sin Looks Like
AND
More Particularly
I Know Its Taste
AND
I Know
Through The Grace Of Christ's Faith
That It Is A Death That
- Summarily -
Will Be Replaced!

Let Me Tell You ...

For Me

It All Started
With A Lil' Some'ing Some'ing
Followed By A Tall Glass Of Gimme More
Topped Off With A Gateau
From Randy Andy
AND
Culminated With
Got To Spread The Spores!

Sin Is A Pool Side
Bed Side
Table Side
Service
Designed To Meet Eaters
In
AND
At
Every Desire
AND
That Desire
Never Ever Leans Toward
Get Less
For
It Is Stuck On The Gear ... Get More!

I Would Be Tired Always Wanting More!

You Speak Truth
BUT
Sin Is A Saddled War Horse
Opinionated
Cultured
Wild
Greedy
Beautiful And Deadly
BUT 
It Ever Acts Nice
Before It Does The Nasty
AND
Turns You
On To
AND
Into
Spiced Vice Full Of Lice!

You Are Making Me Itch!

Stop Talking About That!

I Can't!
I Must Speak The Truth
For Sin Would Have Completely
Wrecked Me
Were It Not For Dear Grace
Who Came 

AND

Stopped
Checked Me!

Mercy!

Mercy Was There
AND
So Was Love
Who Called Me
Calmed Me
AND
More Particularly
Caringly
Held Me ...!

Oh, What Love!

He Spoke!
I Listened!
I Blubbered!
We Cried
AND
He Left Me Holy Spirit Comforter
After Saying That
For Me
He Was Tried
He Had Bled
AND
Cruelly Died!

I Was Hurt
AND
I Was Sorry
For My Sin
AND
For Hurting Him!

I Was Hurt
Yet
I Was Made Happy
For His Hurt
Allows Me Repentance
So That
By Faithful Surrender
To Him
I May Into Holy Heaven
Through The Pearl Gates
- Right Gained -
Walk In!

Sin Calls One To Always Live In The Now
In All Ways
BUT
It Doesn't Last Forever
For
It Has No Root
In The Rock
- The Rock Of Salvation -
That Lasts Forever
AND
Ever!

I Had To Choose!
Salvation
OR
Sin!
Sinful Pleasure Now!
Damnation Later!
OR
Saintly Self-Denial Now!
AND
Everlasting Joy
With Christ The Lord
Later!

Which Did You Choose?!

I Chose To Believe
- Big Word Coming Up -

The Preponderance Of The Evidence
AND
When Sin And Salvation
Were In The Balances Laid
I Saw With My Own Gritty Eyes
Felt With My Own Creeped-Out Skin
Knew In My Own Scarred Hurting Heart
That I Had Been
By Satan And Raw Sin
Sucker-Punched
AND
Roundly Played!

I Had Nearly Died

BUT

On That Very Day
I
- Spiritually Edified -
Got Out Of The Bed With Sin
AND
Leaving Everything
- Better Called Nothing Worthwhile - Behind
I Had Answered The Knock At The Door
Of My Heart
AND
Eagerly Invited In The Beautiful Caller
AND
The Pest
- The Now-Unwanted Sin -
Had No Choice
BUT
From Me To Depart
 For He, Sodden
No Longer Thrilled My Heart!

I Prayed ...

Oh, Father

I Heard Your Voice

And

Moved By Your Spirit 

And

Finally Convinced 

Ready To Change

Truly Convicted

And

Actually Acknowledging My Need

And

Pain

Honestly See Myself

And

- Desiring Free Salvation

Which Can Only Come

From You, God Divine

The Only One True Faithful Kind - 

Invite You In!

Please Hold Me! 

Keep Me

Forever

Please Stay!

Please Make Me Clean!

 

I Don't Want 

My Homemade Bread Anymore!

Please Feed Me Yours

From Heaven's Stores!

Before You, Lord 

I Am Shamefaced Naked! 

Clothe Me In Your Righteousness 

For I Am Now Yours!

I Was Blind

But Your Eyesalve Gives Me Healing

So That I Can Clearly See Thee!

Bless You, Lord!

My Old Name Is Dirt O. Damnation

And

In Revulsion 

I Wittingly Willingly Lay It Down! 

Give Me Your Name, Lord! 

Your Love Lifts Me

And

I Desire To Wear Your Ownership! 

I Desire To Wear The Family Crown!

He Heard ... Me!

He Answered ... Me!

AND

In That Instant

New Life Began For ... Me!

That Is, Indeed
Amazing Grace!