Daily Devotional; formerly Chaplains Corner

[jack404]

Hear hear , Thank You!!!

[Woodnut]

AMEN, AND AMEN!,
Spot on Terry, as usual.
Thanks.

[lonewolf204]

Thanks, Terry

[Brisk44]

Thank you for the proper perspective on the forgiveness issue, that has the ring of GODS truth.

[ampaterry]

Thank you, guys, for the feedback - it is GREATLY appreciated!

Today is one of those recognized days that you just don't hear much about. This is step-family day. This day was founded by Christy Borgeld of Grand Rapids Michigan in 1997, and the first celebration of it was a family picnic, which is the recommended method of celebrating this day. This is not a national holiday, at least not yet, as Congress has yet to declare it to be one.

We have come a long way from the stereotype “wicked step-sisters” of Cinderella fame. Statistics tell us that thirty percent of children are currently in step-families, one third of Americans now live in a step family and a full HALF of all Americans will be in a step-family at some point in their lives.

This is due mainly to the increased acceptance of divorce in our society. There was a time, many years ago, when people stayed in bad marriages because divorce was simply unthinkable for any reason.

My sister's husband had a severe head injury in a car wreck, and had to be committed to a mental institution for the rest of his life. The doctors gave no hope whatsoever for him to ever improve. My sister was responsible for all the medical bills, which there was no way she could possibly pay. She could take bankruptcy, but the bills would immediately start building up again afterward. After a years of soul-searching and tears, she filed for and received a divorce, then took bankruptcy on the medical bills. Years later, she met a wonderful man who loved her and her two kids, and they married, forming the first step-family among my siblings. I pray that all step-families be as solid, loving, and nurturing to each other as this family is.

And, just in case there are any Christians out there that turn up their self-righteous nose at the thought of a day to celebrate step-families -
Remember these two things:

Christ was raised by Joseph as a step-son; our Lord was in a step-family.

Scripture tells us we should all strive to be step-children:
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (KJV);
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God bless each one of you, and a special blessing this day on all step families out there.

[Woodnut]

AMEN!
Thanks Terry.

[ampaterry]

Today is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, which falls on September 17 each year. This event commemorates the formation and signing of the Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787, and it also recognizes all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become US citizens.
Originally, this was Constitution day and Citizenship Day the third Sunday in May. It was moved to today in December of 2004.

Today, Americans are encouraged to celebrate the birth of our nation, and to learn more about this outstanding document which our country is founded upon; the Constitution of the United States.

Part of the federal law recognizing this day included the requirement that all federally funded schools have lessons today (or on the nearest schoolday) on that document. Ask your kids about this; if they did NOT receive lessons on the constitution on the nearest schoolday, raise heck until they do so, and establish firm plans to do so each year in the future. This document is far too important to be ignored any more than the government already seems to be doing. Hold their feet to the fire on this one!!

Every crook knows his Fifth amendment right to refuse to incriminate himself as a result of questioning. Most liberals think this is an excellent part of this document.

Every gun-owner knows his second amendment right to “keep and bear arms”. Most liberals think this is a bad idea, and attempt to interpret it so that only the armed services have this right, based upon the reference to “militia” preceding it. To understand how this is a right of every citizen, one must check the definition of the word “militia” at the time of the writing of this document. Unlike the modern claims, it did not refer to an army, but instead meant every adult free male citizen of the country. With the later passage of equal rights amendments, this right now belongs to each adult citizen of our country, regardless of race or sex.

Thank you, Lord, for the outstanding leaders who drafted this document.
Thank you for the privilege of living in the country that is based upon it.
Protect us, Lord, from those who would subvert the rights guaranteed to us through it.
And we ask this in Jesus Name -
Amen -

[Woodnut]

Amen!!

[lonewolf204]

Amen

[ampaterry]

Judy and I love Sears merchandise. With the regrettable exception of some Maytag appliances we purchased (My idea, of course) a few years ago, everything we have is Sears. The merchandise is high quality, the prices are good, and the people are friendly and helpful.
BUT - have you ever tried to call Sears for service? They have an automated system with poor menu's, a friendly enough sounding woman's voice, and round after round of questions which you must answer. On the rare occasion when we have needed to order a part for a sears appliance, I have repeatedly gone through a long series of such questions, only to end up back at the main menu where I had to start all over again.

I hit the same thing at work many years ago when I was attempting to check a company out using the Better Business Bureau in Texas.

At these times, I want to talk to a PERSON! In fact, I often mumble and growl at the automated voice that keeps repeating lists of things that do NOT apply to my situation.
I have wondered if any of these companies ever thought of putting a recorder on their system to record customers comments as they try to work through the lists of menu's. What would be recorded when YOU find yourself talking to one? With no person on the other end, do you feel free to rant and rave about the hassle you are forced to go through? Do you speak in a way that you would NOT if there was someone listening to you?

Matthew 12:35 (KJV);
"A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."

Ephesians 4:29 (KJV);
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

Colossians 3:8 (KJV);
"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."

Think about this when you find yourself dealing with a poorly designed answering system, or alone in your car when another driver cuts you off in traffic, or working by yourself and smacking your thumb with a hammer.

God is always listening.

May God bless each and every one of you -

[lonewolf204]

Thanks, Terry

[Woodnut]

AMEN!!
Thanks for a great start of a new day.

[ampaterry]

We hear a lot of talk today about “ethics”, but rarely do we hear the term “virtue” used any more. I can remember when good people were described as “virtuous”, can you? How long has it been since you heard someone described that way? It is part of the current drive to distance ourselves from the Bible, and from all things related to Jesus Christ. The Word of God teaches us what VIRTUE is; it does not address ETHICS at all.

So where do ethics come from? Well, first we take the standards of morality that we have inherited from our parents and grandparents. Then we filter out the idea of a just and holy God that was associated with that morality. We remove any notion of punishment for falling short of the standard. Then we proclaim that obligations to God are really mutual obligations to each other as human beings. We focus on the positive, on a few actions that people can do, rather than on the many possible violations of the standard or on the common ways that we all fall short of the standard. Then we change the name from virtue to ethics.

The Word of God tells us to avoid the ‘morals’ of this world:
Matthew 16:26 (KJV);
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Romans 12:2 (KJV);
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

And it warns us of this trend away from God which we are now seeing:
2 Titus 3:1-2 (KJV);
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"

Stop worrying about the so called ethics of this world, return to judging righteous judgment, and seek after VIRTUE!

May God bless each one of you, guys, and guide you to attain - and maintain - virtue.

[jack404]

Cheers Terry!

[Woodnut]

AMEN!
Thanks Terry.

[terryu1]

Never think about it but you are right. Cannot remember the last time I heard of anyone speaking of anothers Virtues. Thanks again Terry.

[lonewolf204]

Very well said and a good topic! Thanks, Terry

[Colt46]

Amen.

[ampaterry]

There is nothing like an "amen" now and then to keep a preacher talking!
Thank you, guys, for the support!

[ampaterry]

We live in a time of unprecedented discoveries, many of which tend to make life longer and living more comfortable and enjoyable.

Stem cell research, for instance. I have studied this subject a bit, and have discovered some very surprising things. While all the news stories and hype and crying for more funding concern Embryonic Stem Cell research, there is research going on all over the world using Adult Stem Cells. These stem cells are obtained from OTHER than aborted babies. They can get stem cells from Liposuction waste, from hair follicles, and from nose scrapings! This research has brought about many cures and successful treatments, in spite of the fact that much more money is poured into Embryonic Stem Cell work. The last time I really checked into it, embryonic stem cell work had not brought about a single cure or treatment of any kind to help people with any health issue. I don’t see how any Christian could be in favor of research that required the killing of babies to carry it out. The adult cell work deserves our support.

But with change and progress the inexorable law of change and decay also operates. The stem cell lines being multiplied in the lab seem to loose vitality with time. They seem to reach a point where they produce tumors along with the healthy cell growth in the patients.
This should not be surprising to those of us that know and understand the law of entropy, brought about by the fall of man in the Garden, when the perfection of the eternal creation was brought to an end by man’s disobedience. It is strange that so few in this world prepare for the inevitable physical decline.

2 Samuel 14:14 (KJV);
"For we must needs die, and are as water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him."

Psalms 49:10 (KJV);
"For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others."

Ecclesiastes 8:8 (KJV);
"There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it."

May God bless each and every one of you, guys -

[Juker]

AMEN!!

[lonewolf204]

Amen!

[reflex1]

And AMEN!!!

[Woodnut]

And another big AMEN!
Thanks Terry.

[ampaterry]

The movie, the Passion of the Christ, brought forth a lot of protest from some Christians who did not think it adhered closely enough to scripture. Others were greatly moved by the film. Personally, I was very impressed with this work, and the few departures from scripture were not the least bit troublesome to me, as they had no effect upon the message whatsoever.

Many years ago, there was a much wider protest among Christians over the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar.” MANY Christians were highly opposed to a production which they considered to be highly irreverent, showing events in Christ’s life accompanied by rock songs. Personally, I liked it. Indeed, there were parts that departed from scripture, and some of the songs carried a message contrary to what we know to be true. However, I believe the songs truly reflected what some of the people at the time must have thought about Christ, and therefore should not be troublesome. What I liked MOST about that rock opera was that it brought the message of Jesus Christ to a generation that absolutely would not receive it any other way! Young people that would never DREAM of reading the Bible or listening to the preaching of it gladly absorbed the opera, the movie, and the soundtrack.

I believe the Christians who object to any popularization of the gospel message could learn a lesson from the Oakland, California, police force. They added a new police car to their fleet. The vehicle had the standard logo, lights, and siren, but also included chrome wheels, hydraulic lifts, and a 500-watt sound system. The car was put on the force to help officers build better relationships with inner-city kids. Kids that would NEVER talk to a cop readily struck up a conversation with them when they were driving such a cool set of wheels!

And beyond learning from these three examples, Christians need to turn to scripture and see that Paul applied the same principle to evangelism:
1 Corinthians 9:22-23:
"I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."

We are commanded to get the message out. If we do not do that in a manner that causes it to be HEARD, we are just wasting time.

May God bless you, guys -