Friday Mens Group 2/1/19

Perseids Meteor Shower over the Black Sea w/ Milky Way

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands”
Psalm 19:1

Hi Men:

Of course we don’t need to travel to the Black Sea to be in awe of God’s creation.  The very familiar verse from Romans 1:20 reads, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”   That’s right, even those 120 million Hindus on my previous email will have “no excuse” on That Day!

We need to heed Christie Chong’s comment at the bottom of her most recent update (see attached) concerning her dear husband’s medical update.  Her prayer requests was, “For our eyes to be fixed on the prize, not a temporal one, but a far greater eternal reward.”  Christie is spot on!  This is not our home; we are not home yet.  We have an eternal home awaiting us.  Do not make you visa permanent.  We are sojourners in a foreign land and we represent the King!  What kind of an Ambassador are you?

 See you at noon………….

Dying to Live,
Dan

 Movie to Watch:  TheLeastOfThese.movie


“Seeking God in Our Pain” 
Red Book – Day 33


Jackson’s Journal – See attached blog:  Having a Relationship w/ God

This is what Gayle Jackson said in his most recent email:

The next blog was written by a longtime friend and coworker for Jesus, Skip Tschantz. This topic is discussed and taught around the circuit and I felt Skip brought meaningful clarity to the issue.

If you recall, the recent blog discussions have focused on knowing God. The questions to consider for this blog are:

  1. If I slip and fail at obedience, what does it mean? What do I need to do?
  2. If I think I am saved for sure, but live mostly by the world standards, what should this mean to me?

 Always appreciate all questions and comments.

Maybe we should wear a blue ribbon? 

Gayle and Skip


Facts of the Matter 

DEALING WITH SUFFERING (2 of 5)

We continue in our discussion as to why we suffer:

 God develops mature character in us through our perseverance in suffering: 

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (Jms. 1:2-4). (See Rom. 5:3-5; Act. 14:22; 1 Pet 1:6, 7)

 God  allows  suffering in our lives in order to reveal the life of Christ in us:  

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body (2 Cor. 4:8-11)

God disciplines us through the suffering we cause from our own rebellion:  

Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:  How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,  since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you– when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.  Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.  Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,  they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.  For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm” (Pro. 1:20-33). (See Deu. 28; 32:15-43)

This week, may you experience His grace, peace, and protection.

 ~R. Dwight Hill


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