It is an awesome thing, the different things that draw our attention from the Lord on a minute-by-minute basis. We have all these wonderful distractions all around us: Desktop computers, laptops and iPads, iPods and must we forget the iPhones, and their like…

We have our, “social media” programs that pull us from reaching out to others face-to-face in person on a personal basis, and we are quickly learning how to become hermits, in a sense. What is so unusual considering all of this is the wealth of information that TRUTHFULLY overwhelms us, in light of these “things” that we so enjoy. Can you say: “Data Overload?”

I remember as a child waking-up every morning, walking into the dining room and seeing my Dad sitting there, coffee cooling with wisps of moisture rising-up, the newspaper covering his face. My Mom working steadily over the stove, cooking breakfast for all of us, bacon and eggs scenting an otherwise stale room.

A short-lived conversation would eventually erupt from my Dad, according to some unusual newsworthy article. “Yee Gods and little fishes!” My Mom would exclaim with the death of an egg-yoke in the pan. Perfection in cooking was her forte. I would take my place at the table in my usual chair, next to my Dad. “Morning Son” would come from behind the paper. “Good morning Dad…Mom” I would reply. And so this is how our day would begin at 0600hrs.

Such were the days of old, from my mind, precious though they may be. I would have to guess my forte is a history buff of sorts, ending with my articles of the written word. I like to think of being a fly, so to speak and being there, observing the various situations. I have taken many, many, trips throughout history and have been blessed to see many things and of course, by virtue of the “things” I spoke of in the above paragraphs.

I have watched, “Tora, Tora, Tora” and “Twelve O’clock High” — flying with the pilots on missions of that day and time. I have boarded old planes and ships like the USS Lexington and I am usually assaulted with the smells of yesteryear, faded times, the sweat and tears of those that lived and died there. I relish these things each and every time!

I once showed my wife a series about the Titanic and its time in being built in the shipyard in Ireland. She loves the romances in the Victorian age, some of those individuals built that behemoth of a ship─doomed─for shaking their fists in the face of God: “A ship even God could not sink.” How prophetic and ironic as well.

How odd as well, that the Historians of today, choose the verbiage, “Mother Nature sunk the Titanic” rather than exclaiming that: “God sank it for man’s willingness to disgrace HIM.” SIN in man does indeed, have consequences. History is full consequences and yet how many are willing to sit and think of life in these terms?

I myself on the other hand, love to see the panes of glass in some old building and wonder to myself, what situations have these panes of glass seen across their time? To hear the stories and events they witnessed would be music to the ears. The volumes of pages, in books, would be enormous to say the least. Yet for me, today, I am humbled beyond mention to have learned and through the written Word, witnessed the beating and death of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I write in an effort to express the sacrifice that Jesus made to give us the gift of salvation through HIS blood, that HE shed on Calvary for the remission of our SINS. As I said before, being a fly on the proverbial wall of history is exhilarating…though at times, I witness the profound worthlessness of humanity (in my view).

The good pastor addresses his congregation:

“Brothers and sisters…God did not become a human and come here to make life easier for you and me, HE came to DIE for you and me!”

Bam! The excited pastor strikes the podium.

“Are you not able to envision the pain of HIS beatings by the Romans? For by HIS stripes are we saved or the spikes that were driven through HIS hands and feet? Have you NO empathy for the extreme pain we caused HIM, the ONE that never sinned, that NEVER deserved any of it…and yet, HE chose to take all that upon HIMSELF for YOU and me!”

There are exclamations of, “Amen…Amen!”

“Do you not understand the implications of any man saying, ‘The Titanic…a ship even GOD cannot sink!’ Such heresy…to shake ones fist in the face of GOD Almighty! And then we face the fact that God almost took half the passengers, to prove HIS point! And then we take out time here on this planet and carouse around like a tomcat, drinking and getting drunk, shaming our Lord and Savior, in whose image we were created? Have we lost our direction and spiritual compass? The answer is an unequivocal: YES!”

Bam! Another strike upon the podium as the pastor admonishes the group.

You see, being the fly on the wall does have its advantages, but GOD Almighty is not concerned with the fly, HE is concerned with the spirits, the souls of mankind. HE wants what is best for us and that is found in HIS Word─the Bible. The end of which IS life eternal with Jesus Christ in heaven!

That is, of course, if you take what you read in the Bible and change your life according to what is there. Any book, textbook for school or the Bible for that matter, is ONLY worthwhile IF you read it and understand what you have read and then apply it to your life.

The Bible is the ONLY Text, known to man, that not only tells us where we came from, but HOW we were created, how others lived in times before us and how we are to live today. According to God, and then…what is to come in the future! It is NO coincidence, that the Bible is the ONLY Book that can do this and is 100 percent correct each and every time! The prophecies of the Old Testament have been proven to be 100 percent accurate in its entirety! Now that is one really significant point to take notice of.

2 Timothy 3.15-17: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (emphasis added)

Glass panes, in varying levels ofperfection, have been usedcommerciallylong before the 1700s. Having said that, there is much that these panes of glass have witnessed, stories unknown by in large, because they, like you and me are individual in their existence. Thisis why Iwishthey could speak and tell what they know, some of which we wouldprobablybe horrified by, while others would lend bits ofinformationthat would help us in the long run.

The one thing I do know about these glass panes is this: They reflect who we all are, individually and as a society, and yet the Bible had this written in it over 3000 years ago. How odd that we seldom refer to the Bible for its information on anything!

Jeremiah 17.9-10: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

This brings us to the point: What would our panes of glass say about you and me IF they were to talk?

John 3.16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Well I see that too few are out and about in the work of the Lord…

It’s so easy to sit back and take it easy, to allow someone else do the work and simply allow God to continue to bless you!

Have you ever wondered, what the Lord is going to have to say to you once you reach heaven? Does it matter to you, if you have been doing His work or not, or having to good a time, enjoying all the blessings HE promised? There, I said it twice in two different sentences! The point being, there will be an accounting of YOU personally by Jesus Christ and it is NOT an IF, it is a When! Don’t fool yourselves on this point.

As in my last article, I tried to give everyone the idea of how things were back in the tent revival days, back at a time when people sought the Lord and looked for every way to do things the right way. It would appear this has fallen, by in large on deaf ears because no one wants to look back at the “old day!”

It as if no one remembers that those “old days” were the most prosperous days this nation had ever seen. It’s almost something akin to how the majority looks at the Bible, it’s too old fashioned; it is too out of date for these modern times. We are presently looking for prosperity and happiness, safety and peace! Yuppers! I understand that, I would like those things as much as you.

There is a difference though, I already know the Rapture is coming and is coming very, very, soon! As a matter of fact, far too close than the majority, are able to discern for themselves, unless that is…they have been in the Word of God lately. That is not a request, or God asking you, God is telling you to read his Word─the Bible! Actually read the cross-references that are usually given and pay attention to the situations that took place, or those that are going to take place. Don’t skim the words, actually look at them and keep them in context and relish what the words mean to the situation. You never know, you may find something in there that relates to your situation today.

“Well, it’s so difficult to understand in some areas.” did you pray first and ask for the wisdom that only God can give you? Then again, there may be a place in the Bible that is meant for you to read and then ponder on for a while, thoughtfully rolling it about in your head. You may even have a dream about it and experience more than just reading it. You never know how the Lord is going to work it out for you. I can promise you this: HE will make it come alive and real for you!

You want supernatural─He’ll give you supernatural! HE will give you everything you need to do with what HE asks of you to do. All you must do is act on it! Will this get you into heaven, not by itself? Belief in thecrucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior, is the ONLY thing that will give you that! My writing and evangelizing won’t get me any closer to heaven than it will, you.

Unless we accept the “free will” gift God gave to you and me, with HIS Son Jesus Christ! I can write and write till the cows come home, if I don’t acknowledge my SIN before God and ask HIS forgiveness, I might as well have just sat here and done nothing at all. If I am not covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ on that cross on Calvary, I am ALREADY dead to God and I will NOT see heaven!

Let me put it this way friend, “I don’t care if you have other beliefs. If it isn’t what I said above, it won’t get you to heaven!” Why? Because this is what the Bible has stated as the ONLY way to God and heaven! Go ahead on and have your own beliefs, go ahead and think there is more than one way to heaven and God,you’rewrong now and you won’t believe differently until you stand before Jesus Christ. By that time, it will be too late to change! Jesus Christ and the angels will NOT find your name in theLamb’sBook of Life and Jesus will simply turn HIS back to you and off to the lake of Fire you will go!

Trust me, I will not twist your arm, you don’t want to believe this…FINE…don’t! You think I am forcing this down your throat, I’ll stop, I’ll back off and leave youcompletelyalone, I won’t say another word to you about it! BUT…as you stand before Jesus Christ, please don’t lie and say no one tried to tell you otherwise, no one came to your aide and tried to save you from yourself and your ignorance of God. Jesus Christ, the loving Son of God, the one that died on that cross at Calvary for you, will simply say, “I don’t know you,” and ZINGO, you will be in hell for eternity!

Don’t want to believe that either…GREAT! You gotta do what YOU gotta do for you! Just don’t blame God for the tough time you will have during the Tribulation, because…remember…YOU asked for this! This is what YOU said, YOU thought, was best for YOU! As with everyone else, it is always a single and simple decision you make just for you — if you are too scared to be called a Bible thumper or a Jesus freak. Hey…do what you gotta do!

Having too much fun drinking and carousing around, following thelatestfad to be that mosteffervescentindividual you can be, get as much wealth as you can and not care for others, ya gotta do what you gotta do…for YOU, right? You want to live in the right here in the right now, that’s fine by me. Don’t let me stand in your way! I’ll step back and I’ll take the bad names and the bad attitude. I’ll take all the hate and hurtful things, because they did that and worse to my Lord and Savior and if it was good enough for HIM…then it’s good enough for me!

John 16.1-7: “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye mayrememberthat I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

The Holy Spirit lives inside of me and HE tells me where I stand with my Lord and Savior. HE shows me what is to come, not what is here already. HEshowedme a place far better than I could ever write about or know in my heart. HE whispers HIS words of love and peace to me right now and I feel fantastic, uplifted, better than I could ever be with anyone or anything here on this little planet!

I know HE will give me a life that will never end, will all that HE has being mone as well, from now to the end of all time and beyond. All you have, without Jesus Christ, is whatever you can scrounge around for yourself for a mere 70-80 years on this difficult and desperate little planet!

2 Timothy 1.10-14: “But is now mademanifestby the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I knowwhomI have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith andlovewhich is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”

Afraid? What do I have to be afraid of…someonekillingme? That means they are simply sending me exactly where I want to be already! To die is nothing, everyone is going die, or do you think you are going to live forever?

Matthew 10.26-31: “Fearthem not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

And fear not them whichkillthe body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are nottwosparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

2 Corinthians 5:6-9: “Thereforewe are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)We areconfident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.Whereforewe labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”

I am sosorryI bring this to so many that do not know my Lord andSaviorJesus Christ, because you are truly missing out on a lot of reallyGREATthings! I do not miss a single thing from my old life, the day I accepted Jesus Christ, I hung that old person on the same cross that HE died on for me and I left that old person there.

Now I’ve been back to that old crossmanytimes and never once is there a body left there hanging, mine, HIS, or anyone elses. We are together, because my Lord and I are alive, we areinseparable, fully intertwined in the greatest love and harmony there could ever be. HE is my Lord and Savior and I am HIS loyal servant, just as it was always meant to be! Here’s a small story of being called:

1 Samuel 3.2-11: “And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; that the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thoucallestme.

And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time.

And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.”

I have nothing else in this life to do, than what the Lord asks for me to do, there is nothing more important than for me to do HIS will in my life. As long as I do as HE asks, I walk with HIM and I learn from HIM and there isnothingmore important than that! That IS my life with Jesus Christ!

John 3.16 :“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”