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This page shows commentary for the month of November 2002 only!  To see commentary from earlier months click HERE

Does The Blood Of Jesus Wash?  Added 30 Nov 02 by: Dick Lewis

     One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of the Holy Spirit in her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry teaching young children.

It not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and the heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began.

You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.

As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting got completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry, the pastor's son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain is was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this: "My fiancee's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?"

The whole church became very quiet, and then people began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely, then it cannot cleanse us completely.

If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus... end of case!

You are blessed of God, now take those blessings and bless someone else.

* Other Email Tidbits

An Abortion Story  Added 30 Nov 02 by: Birky

     If you can read this and it not have an impact on you, then I feel sorry for you.
This tale of unmarried sex and the results should be mandatory reading
for any young couple wanting to "live together" or have sex outside the marriage.  
To those of you living this lifestyle, read this tale of sin, consequences, repentance, redemption. Full Article

Loving your enemies - A Radical Idea   30 Nov 02 by: Steve   

     This writing is mostly from a sermon I read by Dr. Ralph Wilson.  I have edited and added some commentary, in red lettering, and also have attempted to change every verse quotation to the King James Version.  It deals with the topic of Loving One's Enemies - surely a difficult thing to do!  Full Article

Email Tidbits Section Added      

     Be sure and check out the Email Tidbits section.  I receive so many emails each week that contain all sorts of inspirational stories, jokes, thought provoking commentary, and interesting items in general.  I decided to put them on the website, rather than forward them to an ever-growing list of readers.  (hehehe, less work for me).  So be sure and check out the section and let me know what you think!  Please forward me any emails you receive that you would like to share with all the readers.  Thanks!  Steve. 

Consider Charity  Added 17 Nov 02 by: Steve

KJV Matthew 25:31-46

 31.  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

 32.  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

 33.  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

 34.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

 35.  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

 36.  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

 37.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

 38.  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

 39.  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

 40.  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 41.  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

 42.  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

 43.  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

 44.  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

 45.  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

I submit to any Christian, regardless of denomination, that there is no way you can read these verses and not understand that we must feed the hungry, and give drink to the thirsty.  We must take in strangers, we must cloth the naked, visit the sick and the prisoners.  I will write more on this later.  God is definitely dealing with my heart right now on these specific verses, as well as the section below this.  But I can say this, about myself, I have been very delinquent in paying proper attention and respect to these admonishments of Jesus.  But I thank God he calls these things to mind, so as to change my heart.  Thank you Jesus for everything.  Glory to God's Name Forever!

Ever since I gave a devotion on charity at Shepherd's Fold Church, this has been on my mind.  Speaking for myself, I'm simply not in any way living up to these verses.  I can't very well be admonishing others with a free heart if I'm not practicing it - - wouldn't that make me a hypocrite?  I remember how I used to talk on Charity and helping others, how I used to wish aloud that we could bring some of the love and caring that I felt in that church beyond the physical walls of the church.  In my heart I felt love and charitable, but I find that, a couple months later, that those feelings haven't translated into actual works.  I've visited a nursing home a time or two, but I've never visited a prison in my life.  I've never actually done much of anything to help a homeless person, or a hungry person.  Or an oppressed person.  I found, when I started looking, that I couldn't hardly give to any international charity because of fears of most of the dollars going to the bureaucracy of that charity and not the people needing assistance.  I couldn't find very much need, because I just didn't look in the right places.  And I just didn't look very hard, I don't think.  Well folks, that's changing.  I can't read these verses with a clean conscience, that bothers me (And Thank God it does, I'd hate to have a hardened heart!)  I'm gonna do something, because I have to do something.  I'm tired of excuses in myself.  So I'm looking for ideas.  And I'm gonna throw out a few for you to consider also.  stay tuned, I will update this very article in a day or two, or perhaps even tonight.

Something to Consider  Added 5 Aug 02 by: Steve      

The Second Commandment is:
"Love your neighbor as yourself,"
But we don't ...
We allow our differences
To spring up between us.
We build high walls of suspicion ...
And hid behind our barriers of hostility ...
We would rather cross the street
Than meet each other face to face

We have broken our promise to love our neighbors,
We have broken the world,
We are breaking our Father's heart,
And yet He goes on loving us

He calls us to break down the barriers
To demolish the walls that separate us;
To reach out our hands to each other
And to restore our unity ...
He calls us to turn from bitterness
And start again ...

(Excerpt from Living Waters for your Parched Prayers, Rob Frost 1999)

I read this and thought it a very very good message!  We all need to examine our hearts and make sure we are obeying this great commandment!  By the way, you might consider buying the book if you see it in the stores.