tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18471912030748169682024-02-19T01:18:50.447-08:00Billy and FriendsBilly Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-15120557757040396482018-10-29T21:45:00.002-07:002018-10-29T21:49:18.549-07:00WHO Did It?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST-xEPZ1nfdlSaJ_7jxW6neE4KcLX1sqG7ZjB4GvJQ4-8P9yFTm_17bSiIsUtPCIFsXIGgrk9DC_2OWWOduW5mAeAWyDjwmF_e3o3rxU1rjsYc8GXqLYwE43kbM0dpI5ARB34gBfbEMY/s1600/Friendly+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="1180" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST-xEPZ1nfdlSaJ_7jxW6neE4KcLX1sqG7ZjB4GvJQ4-8P9yFTm_17bSiIsUtPCIFsXIGgrk9DC_2OWWOduW5mAeAWyDjwmF_e3o3rxU1rjsYc8GXqLYwE43kbM0dpI5ARB34gBfbEMY/s400/Friendly+Fire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Look at the photo above and then answer the following questions. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What type of people are in the car?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What type of people fired on the car?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What type of relationship do you think existed between the people in the car and the people who fired on it?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What was the objective of the people who fired on this car?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This photo was in National Geographic Magazine. It was taken at Pearl Harbor. The American shipyard workers in the car were killed by errant shells fired from American naval anti-aircraft guns trying to shoot down Japanese planes. The caption under the photo read "Friendly Fire." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe the church could learn a lesson here. Jesus said the world will know us by our love. Too often we hurt one another. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Beloved, let us love one another..." 1 John 3:7</span><br />
<br />
<br />Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-39702427871563135522018-05-08T04:56:00.002-07:002018-05-08T04:56:04.036-07:00Scroll down to read previous articles on Leadership issues. ---Billy LongBilly Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-51732161034703074682018-04-26T07:32:00.005-07:002022-04-13T20:13:33.680-07:00LOYALTY ISSUES<span style="font-size: large;"><i>This post is a continuation of the series on Leadership. I know there is always a "flip side" of the coin, but this series is emphasizing issues that tend to get leaders into trouble. After you read this article, you can scroll down to read previous posts. Then click the "older posts" button at the bottom of the page to go to the earlier articles on the subject.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Misguided Loyalty</b><br />Loyalty carries the idea of fidelity and devotion. It is a good character trait, but its virtue, or lack of it, depends upon the object of its allegiance as well as the motives of the devotee. Loyalty can be misplaced or misguided. It is abused when being loyal requires a person to act contrary to conscience, integrity, or truth. Misguided loyalty often stems from an attempt to avoid disfavor, rejection, or accusations of betrayal from a leader who is unwilling to really listen, who refuses to acknowledge his guilt or face issues, defects, and errors in his life.<br />We should be loyal to our friends and our leaders, but loyalty does not remove our need to stay in the realm of reality and to speak the truth in love. Loyalty does not mean indulging the sin and weaknesses in those we follow or supporting the sin in our friends or fellow-workers. Loyalty does not mean never having a dissenting opinion. True Biblical loyalty does not mean closing your eyes to reality and failure to speak up in order to avoid disfavor. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Open rebuke is better than secret love. Integrity, reality, and honesty are important ingredients in real love and in healthy loyalty.<br /><br /><b>Loyalty Within the Leadership Council </b><br />There should be love, harmony, wisdom, and prophetic insight in a council of church leaders. A group of elders should respect their senior leader, especially if he has been their spiritual father and mentor. They should give him the honor and courtesy due his position. However, individuals on any form of leadership council should speak up in their official positions and not be “yes” men. Any leadership council is useless unless its members bring their wisdom and thoughts into the conversation and decisions that have to be made. It is not good when a senior pastor or leader creates an atmosphere in which the other leaders feel they are betraying him if they disagree or express concerns that need to be dealt with. A silent council is no council. A spiritual father should respect the growth and maturity in his spiritual sons. Loyalty must be mutual and reciprocal.<br /><br /><b>Charges of Betrayal</b> <br />A couple who was rejected by their pastor left the church wounded and hurting. They were bewildered that there was no follow-up communication from people (in the church) whom they considered to be their best friends. No one called to say, “Are you okay? How are you doing? Where did you go?” Years later they received an apology from one of those friends saying he and his wife had wanted to reach out to them but were afraid the pastor would see it as betrayal. <br />Ahimelech the priest of Nob would have had the same fear had he been aware of King Saul’s condition. He innocently befriended David not knowing David was fleeing from Saul. Saul in self-pity, insecurity, and grasping to hold his position counted as enemies anyone who befriended David. He, therefore, erroneously charged Ahimelech and eighty-five priests of Nob with betrayal and executed all of those innocent men along with their families. Saul here is an example of the insecure leader who demands blind “loyalty” and perceives kindness to his “enemies” as an act of betrayal. <br />I know life is complicated. There are good, faithful, and godly leaders who have suffered abuse at the hands of rebellious followers. There is a time for church discipline. But this principle has been abused in the hands of a self-centered, self-righteous, and stubborn leadership. Leaders should stand in the fear of God knowing that injustice has two sides−freeing the guilty and oppressing the innocent. <br /><br /><b>Sons of Zeruiah</b> <br />Joab and Abishai, two of Zeruiah’s three sons, showed themselves fiercely loyal to David in fighting David’s enemies. But this outward zeal to defend David masked an inner spirit of error that manifested itself in their presumptuous and independent action. Abishai tried to get David to kill Saul when Saul was </span><span style="font-size: large;">relieving himself in a cave and </span><span style="font-size: large;">in a vulnerable position. Joab acted contrary to David’s orders and assassinated Abner and Amasa, former enemies of David whom David had pardoned and given positions of honor. Joab also slew the rebellious Absalom against David’s explicit command. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The irony is that Joab later defected to King Solomon’s brother Adonijah (who desired the throne). That wickedness of heart that had previously expressed itself in a vengeful loyalty to David later caused Joab to be deceived into a misplaced loyalty to Adonijah and into the very betrayal and rebellion he had disdained in others. The “Sons of Zeruiah” will be fiercely loyal to you today…but will betray you “tomorrow.” We need to beware of carnality in the spirit of those who support us. For that very carnality may become a door for their own deception causing them to turn on us later. <br />David said, “What have I to do with you sons of Zeruiah?” Leaders should expect their followers to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, even as they require it of themselves. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b><br />Jesus knew what it was to have faithful and loyal disciples. He also knew what it was to have ostensible followers who turned and walked away when He gave a hard word or did not respond according to their fancy. He knew what it was to be betrayed and to have friends forsake Him in His hour of trouble. But He always loved them and sought their best interest. Loyalty was important, but He did not use loyalty as a means to manipulate or “use” people. </span><br />
<h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><i>Accompanying Biblical references are available upon request.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Comments are welcome. Click the "comments" button below, or write to me at broblong@gmail.com ---Billy Long</i></span></span></div>
</h2>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
</h2>
</div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-14292864236309597822018-04-04T17:17:00.000-07:002018-04-05T04:31:39.157-07:00A PERSPECTIVE: GRACE, FAITH, WORKS, TRAVAIL, OBEDIENCE, REPENTANCE<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">GRACE, FAITH, WORK, TRAVAIL, OBEDIENCE, REPENTANCE:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">TERMS THAT STAND IN CONTRAST BUT NOT IN CONTRADICTION<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A CHALLENGE FROM FRIENDS<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had four separate conversations with friends that caused me to have concern with some of the doctrinal trends that have been developing in the church over recent years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One friend was telling me that, under the New Covenant, Christians do not have to repent. Grace has brought forgiveness and a believer does not have to “repent” of sins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A second friend was telling me that the terms “obey” and “obedience” were part of the Old Testament Law, and therefore, not appropriate for the New Testament Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A third friend expressed concern over my sermon entitled “The Blessing is Beyond Obedience” and that this message undermined faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On a fourth occasion a friend expressed a mild disapproval at my teaching on “travail and labor in Intercession.” His implication was that travail seemed to suggest “works” rather than faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The error in my friends’ approaches is that their positions rested on one facet of a Biblical truth overemphasized to the exclusion of other legitimate aspects. In formulating any Biblical doctrine, one should look at all the scripture verses related to the subject, those you like and those you don’t like, and then formulate a doctrine that draws a circle inclusive of all those verses. The whole Bible must be our foundation, not just one pet principle. Neither should it be only one facet of any one truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">FAITH AND TRAVAIL<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The following terms are inter-related: Grace, Faith, Work, Travail, Obedience, Repentance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are looking here at Biblical concepts that work together in harmony. These virtues are foundational aspects of Christian character and effectiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are perfectly compatible with each other and work harmoniously together. They may stand in contrast, but they do not stand in contradiction or opposition.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-size: large;">For instance, “laboring in prayer” does not contradict “faith in prayer.” The Apostle Paul speaks of praying with “all prayer.” This means there are many patterns in prayer. It can sometimes be a simple word of faith, ask and believe, or sometimes a more protracted supplication, or even intense labor and travail. All are done in faith; and we see all in the life of Jesus. He sometimes simply spoke a word of faith to get something accomplished. But then he also “offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears.” There is a place for both. Paul said that Epaphras “labored fervently in prayer.” The disciples could usually cast out demons with a word, but also encountered situations in which the demons came out ”only by prayer and fasting.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Situations that require patience do not indicate a lack of faith. Hebrews speaks of “faith and patience,” (Hebrews 6:12). They work together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Obedience does not mean salvation by works. By the same token, salvation by grace does not remove our need to obey, and salvation by faith does not remove our need to work. “Laboring in prayer” does not mean a works/merit mentality. Laborers are called into the harvest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We labor, travail, fight in prayers in the same way as we labor in the harvest (Matthew 9: 38, John 4:38, Col.4:12).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Labor itself is not contrary to grace. Paul said that grace labors (1 Cor 15:10). We labor and work, even as Jesus did. It is part of our service. But we do not work to earn salvation, which is by grace through faith, and not of works.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">OBEDIENCE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Grace does not remove obedience as part of the Christian’s life. Obedience is not just associated with law and rules, but in the Christian life obedience is a dynamic of relationship. Even in the New Testament we obey God, our Master and Lord. We obey Him and keep His word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obedience is an element of “relationship,” a vital expression of our walk with Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Obedience existed before the law. While obedience is also associated with law, it exists apart from law. Obedience was a living and vital part of “relationship” long before there was the law. In our relationship with the Lord we obey Him, we obey His voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Adam “disobeyed” (Rom 5:19) before there was ever a “law.” He disobeyed the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Abraham obeyed long before there was “the law.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His obedience in offering Isaac was not to a law, but to a command or word arising in his relationship and communication with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hebrews 11:8, 17.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rich young ruler’s disobedience was not to law but was a refusal to obey a word arising in his relationship with Jesus. It is interesting that in this case it was easier for the young man to obey the law than to obey the voice of Jesus. The lesson is that in your relationship with Jesus, He might ask you a hard thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus obeyed the Father. He was obeying His Father’s voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hebrews 5: 8, John 8:55. (He was not “under law,” but nevertheless, His actions never broke His Father’s law). Like Jesus, we obey the Father and the Holy Spirit. Being led by the Spirit we fulfill the law, we do not destroy it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">.Hebrews 5:8-9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made perfect He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Philip 2:8. “He became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was obeying the Father…not a law. Although the scripture prophesied that HE would go to the cross, yet there was no law that commanded Him to do this. He was obeying the Father, not a rule. Sometimes the voice of the Father asks us “to do” a hard thing, sometimes something more difficult than anything in the law.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Luke 18: 18-30.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The law did not tell the rich young ruler to sell everything and follow Jesus. But the voice of Jesus told him to do that. The young man testified that he had “kept the law.” But now was unwilling to obey the voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The law did not tell Abraham to offer up his son, but the voice of the Father did tell him. (The voice also stopped him). He obeyed the voice, that sometimes tells us to do “a hard thing.” To say “we are not under the law” does not relieve us of our responsibility to obey the voice of God. That voice will not allow us to do evil, and it will not always lead us into soft places and comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The New testament is filled with verses using the word “obedience” and “command.” Peter’s writings alone include 10 sections of scripture using the word “obey” or “obedience” or “obedient.” The New Testament has commands, and we are told to obey the word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">REPENTANCE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grace does not remove the need for repentance. The great commission commands repentance. Even Christians are commanded to repent when there is sin in their lives. I have a list of eighteen New Testament verses of scripture which speak of repentance. I list here only a few of them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus in the great commission told the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel “Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:20.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Luke 24:47 He commanded that “repentance….should be preached in His name to all nations.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Jesus’ message to the seven churches in the first three chapters of Revelation he commanded them saying, “Repent, or I will remove your candlestick.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The apostle Paul in his message to Athens said that God now “commands all men everywhere to repent.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">“Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect Law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” </span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James 1:22-25</span></span></div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-74147403251322293582018-04-03T10:41:00.000-07:002018-04-03T10:41:10.135-07:00MY BOOK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeN19-xgv750cwgyYykRQ5TxWJ2dPwG6w77DMSLzTwG2Z1N0hoFAJOtAkHlIgwVjE9rkmCUM7_b5hyphenhyphenzTo5AE1tmyCSGypLc32QWRSN_TmXhFdaWuVk5HxDwV6QgJc_2PA1EZfHLEAJts/s1600/front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1042" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeN19-xgv750cwgyYykRQ5TxWJ2dPwG6w77DMSLzTwG2Z1N0hoFAJOtAkHlIgwVjE9rkmCUM7_b5hyphenhyphenzTo5AE1tmyCSGypLc32QWRSN_TmXhFdaWuVk5HxDwV6QgJc_2PA1EZfHLEAJts/s320/front+cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you are hungry to know more about how the Holy Spirit worked in the early Christian church, and if you are hungry to understand and experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit, y</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">ou should order my book SPIRITUAL POWER FOR EVERYDAY LIVING. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Go to my website at the link shown below to order your copy.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.billylongministries.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">https://www.billylongministries.com/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The book clarifies many misconceptions and contains practical teaching with many examples and testimonies of the gifts at work. It is an excellent tool for teaching others about the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. ---Billy Long</span>Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-33268283755634910962018-03-31T07:34:00.001-07:002018-03-31T07:34:21.506-07:00GREETINGS TO READERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES<span style="font-size: large;">I am blessed that so many people from around the world have been reading my blog posts. I do appreciate your visits. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are many readers from South Korea, Europe, and other nations. Please send me an email and introduce yourself if you have enjoyed these posts. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Write to me at broblong@gmail.com</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks so much. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Billy Long</span>Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-4975228527876142992018-03-21T09:01:00.001-07:002018-03-21T09:10:40.511-07:00Post Dealing with Leadership Issues<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Below are four posts dealing with important issues around the subject of Leadership. I plan to post more. So if you are interested in this topic, keep a look-out for subsequent postings at this site. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Thanks to all my friends who read my blog. I also invite you to visit my website to order my book. It is an excellent tool for understanding the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I recommend it highly for personal reading, and for use in small groups or classes. It is also very good for laying a foundation in understanding the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. ---Billy Long</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My website:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.billylongministries.com/">Billy Long Ministries</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>My Other Blogs:</i></span><br />
<a href="https://blongoutofthebox.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Out of the Box</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://hispresencewithus.blogspot.com/">His Presence With Us</a></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-47374565095523756642018-03-14T20:04:00.000-07:002018-03-14T22:03:12.880-07:00LEADERSHIP SERIES: Leaders Need Listening Skills<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">He who answers a matter before he hears
it, it is a folly and shame to him.” </span></i><span style="color: black;">Prov. 18:13<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The failure to listen when someone comes with a problem or
complaint.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Discipline yourself to listen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Do not interrupt the person before he has finished. Let him
share all that is in his heart. People, need to "drain"
themselves of what's on their mind and in their heart. If you interrupt
him before he finishes communicating his ideas, his mind will still be on his
own issues and he will not hear or be able to listen to you.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">It is easy to formulate answers before you listen to the question
or the complaint. But even if you have revelation, even if you already
understand, it is still important not to interrupt before the person has spoken
all he needs to say.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">
<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">To speak before a person has finished is to risk being guilty of
presumption, error, misjudgment and condemnation.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Usually people do not go directly or immediately to the heart of
the matter. They start at the periphery and work their way to the root issue.
Therefore, if you answer too quickly, you are only dealing with peripheral
aspects of the issue.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">People become very frustrated if they feel you have not heard them
or if you have not given them opportunity to share their heart.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">When a leader speaks too quickly and forms a judgment without
listening adequately, the person approaching him may become intimidated and
close up. He will become frustrated and withdraw feeling that he cannot
talk. The person may "drop the charges" but leave confused,
questioning his own discernment, questioning what is reality--but still with an
inner sense that things are not really resolved.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Pastors should listen because the person may have a valid
criticism.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"> A Pastor should develop the ability to make people feel
comfortable and free to communicate. Learn to help people open up and
share their heart.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Be quick to hear, slow to speak. Do not let your first
response be to defend yourself or to attack the other.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">After the person has said everything he has to say, then a leader
should evaluate and make a response.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-71458840492671409942018-03-14T19:57:00.001-07:002018-03-14T19:57:09.301-07:00LEADERSHIP SERIES: Unhealthy Control of Communication<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Introduction</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The issues highlighted below are principles I learned while serving “as referee” (and in some cases a participant) in a few church “fights” and were originally written with the intention of helping pastors understand some of the issues that get them into trouble. Initially I was reluctant to share these with a broader audience, but then realized that the principles are apropos to any discussion of healthy leadership. Many readers will identify with one or more of the problems discussed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For every issue there is a flip side. There is always the “other side of the coin.” This “flip side” issue is especially true for some of the areas covered in this article. For example, pastors usually teach on gossip, and they legitimately try to prevent unhealthy and destructive communication within their community of believers. But my emphasis here is the other side of the issue, which is leadership’s unhealthy control of communication among members.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Control of communication among members</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A typical dilemma for leadership is how to create an atmosphere of open and healthy communication while discouraging gossip and destructive talk. There is such a thing as the scorner and the gossip whose tongues can damage good fellowship, but even in a healthy group there are issues and concerns that need to be addressed from time to time. Leadership needs wisdom in this arena. Forbidding people to talk (restricting communication) can be a form of manipulation and a means of isolating people in order to control them. There are verses in the Bible that warn us of gossip and of the discord created by loose and uncontrolled tongues, but leaders have often used this principle to stifle necessary communication, and not allow people to have free communication among themselves when genuine concerns or controversial issues arise that should be scrutinized and honestly evaluated. People should be free to communicate openly on issues that arise within the group, and individuals should have the freedom to communicate their concerns and complaints. The problem here is that leaders often exhort people to not talk, while the leadership itself fails to provide a genuine, honest, realistic, and healthy platform to deal with the real issues.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking the Truth in Love</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The apostle Paul tells us we should “speak the truth in love.” With this statement he points out three operative principles that are necessary in healthy relationships. “To speak” means that people should communicate rather than suppressing real issues and concerns. It is not healthy to not speak. The error in leadership is that they often think that it is spiritual for people simply “to not speak.” And so they work at keeping people quiet rather than getting “all the cards on the table” and dealing with the realities, whatever they are. A wise man once told me that God gives us grace for reality not for pretend.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The second and third principles are to speak "truth" and to do so "in love." It is not hard to get people to speak, but it can be difficult to get them to do it in a godly manner. This is probably why leaders can be nervous about encouraging communication. The tongue can set the world on fire, but still, communication is necessary for a healthy community.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Providing a Platform for Communication</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I think it is interesting to note here that one real problem in leaders who have control issues is that they fail to provide a platform for individuals on their leadership teams to communicate their real concerns or talk about the real issues that bother them. One tool used in this form of manipulation is to plan such full agendas and organize the meetings so that the individual council members have no opportunity to “let their hair down” and share their hearts. It is possible for every member of a council or board to sit there with a shared concern over a particular issue but remain silent because the head of the group would not include or allow the topic in the agenda. The other aspect of this strategy is that leaders condemn individuals if they talk with each other individually outside the council. As a result the real concerns of people are never addressed in or outside the councils, and the consequences will be a continual stream of frustrated people who eventually leave the church.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Openness of a Healthy Group</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In an atmosphere where people are intimidated into silence they become unwilling or unable to speak up, and fail to discuss genuine or perceived issues that are important to them. This becomes a potential volcano waiting to erupt as frustrations develop over time. Unspoken and suppressed problems remain unresolved problems. They build up pressure and may eventually become explosive. Insecurity and lack of integrity create a closed atmosphere where people are afraid to talk. This is an unhealthy protectionism in leaders. It is based on a suspicion and distrust of people. It assumes they will always do the worst if they have access to facts and information. In a healthy group where there are integrity, life, and security, there will be an atmosphere of freedom and openness. People will be able to speak the truth in love, which aides in the growth of the individual and the group.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The tongue can “set things on fire,” but leadership needs to remember that some issues and problems are real. Leadership falls into serious trouble when it views the discussion of a problem as being in itself the problem. This is often an evasive action that diverts attention away from the real issues and causes the real concerns to not be addressed properly. When problems arise, they do not go away by suppressing them. Problems and complaints need to be faced and addressed. It is a mistake to evade people’s concerns and attack them for "talking.” If someone complains that there is a rattlesnake in the Sunday school, you need to at least check the room and make sure there is no snake hiding in a corner before you condemn the person for talking about it.</span>Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-31697698298056945282018-03-14T19:54:00.003-07:002018-03-14T19:54:26.615-07:00LEADERSHIP SERIES: Leaders and Manipulation<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Manipulation in Leadership</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Too often leaders are guilty of manipulation. Manipulation is unhealthy in any relationship and is a violation of trust. It involves the dishonest use of influence to get people to do what you want them to do and is an underhanded means of controlling people. Leaders use manipulation when they lack the ability to lead by inspiration, when they have ulterior or hidden motives, or when they are trying to get people to do what the individuals most likely would not do if they had access to all the facts. Manipulation involves giving partial truth and withholding information that would be necessary for others to make an objective decision. It means distributing information selectively, giving little twists to the facts, and sharing only that which would cause other people to respond favorably to the objectives being presented.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Diplomacy and Truth</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Being diplomatic can “put a sweet face” on manipulation. Diplomacy in its positive sense refers to the ability to handle affairs in such a way as to arouse the least hostility, the ability to deal with people wisely in such a way as to stir up the least amount of conflict. This is consistent with proverbs wisdom which exhorts us to control our spirit, guard our tongue, and to speak wisely without stirring up unnecessary strife. This can be a good characteristic in leadership. However, we must also remember that diplomacy disassociated from truth becomes manipulation. A leader who is being diplomatic in his pursuit of peace must be careful lest he become less than honest in dealing with people. A lie that makes people feel better is still a lie. A leader must adhere to truth and reality in working with people. He should not stretch the truth, give half-truths, or lie in order to pacify or to get what he wants.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Manipulation: A Lack of Integrity, and a Lack of Faith</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Manipulation in leadership represents a failure at honesty and sincerity. It is an absence of faith in the Sovereign God to accomplish His work by the Spirit of God. It is a lack of faith in God's ability to work in other people. It is also a failure to respect other people.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Godly leaders lead by influence, example, and truth, and not by manipulation. People follow good leaders because they trust them. Many people were offended by Jesus, but they were offended by truth. Jesus never lied or misled people to get them to do what He wanted. It is not God’s will that integrity be sacrificed for vision. If the vision is of God, then God will fulfill it in His time and in His way. When leaders have to sacrifice integrity to get people to “do the right thing” then the leaders are “off track.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Leadership should always remember that obtaining objectives by the use of specious arguments (those which appear sound and correct without really being so) only create the illusion of success. Sooner or later reality will come to light and people will be upset.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Godly leadership requires reality and spiritual substance in those who lead. People of spiritual depth, integrity, and truth do not have to manipulate. They are willing to trust God to inspire people to do the right thing, and they are willing to let the vision fail rather than use the enemy's methods to get the job done. -----Billy Long</span>Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-42303867608476830312018-03-14T16:32:00.000-07:002018-03-14T16:42:49.734-07:00LEADERSHIP SERIES: Receiving the One God Sends<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Receiving the One God Sends</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I witnessed the ministry of Allen Arrowood and Leland Davis
on many occasions. Both of these men moved in a very wonderful prophetic gift,
and both of them usually gave supernatural words from the Lord to many
individuals in the churches where they spoke. In keeping with their particular
ministry, both of these men of God made it a point to tell their host pastors
not to share personal information with them about the church or individuals in
the church. Too much personal information tended to hinder their ability to
objectively hear the voice of the Holy Spirit when prophetic words were being
given.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">On one particular occasion Allen Arrowood was guest speaker
for a congregation in which a group of people had turned sour toward the pastor
and had been pressuring him to resign and leave. Leading up to this meeting the
pastor told Allen nothing of the current distress and did not update him on the
condition of the congregation. Allen, therefore, entered the meeting without
any prejudice or priming and simply flowed with the leading of the Holy Spirit
as he spoke to the church that evening. He gave words to only a few individuals,
but gave a powerful message to the entire congregation. He did not realize at
the time that his whole sermon was a prophetic word to the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Allen’s scripture text for that evening was taken from the
following verses:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“And whoever will not
receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake
off the dust from your feet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew
10: 14<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“He who receives you,
receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a
prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew 10:40<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!
How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood
under her wings, but you were not willing! Behold! Your house is left to you
desolate, and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time
comes when you say, ‘Blessed is HE who comes in the name of the Lord!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke 13: 34-35<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The pastor, upon
hearing these verses, knew immediately this was a word straight from
God to his congregation. He was amazed how it so accurately described the current
condition of the church. He also knew that the disgruntled people in the crowd would
not hear it, but would think the pastor had primed Allen ahead of time by informing
him of attitudes that had recently developed within the congregation. The
prophet, however, had been told nothing. And without realizing it, he was simply
giving a word from the Holy Spirit that was tailor-made for this particular church.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When the service was
over, Allen went to the pastor and expressed his disappointment at not
ministering to individuals as he was normally accustomed to do. The pastor
however expressed his own amazement at the sermon and confirmed that the
message, powerfully inspired by the Holy Spirit, was the very word that needed
to be spoken.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was in that meeting.
I knew the people, and I heard the message. It was from the Lord for that
church, and reminded me of the examples in the first three chapters of
Revelation in which Jesus gives specific words to each of the seven churches of
Asia Minor. To each one He said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.” But sadly, not all have ears to hear. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The main points of the word given that night were as
follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">We must receive (welcome)
the one God sends to us, and say,“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you receive the messenger, you receive the Lord. To
reject the messenger is to reject the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Stoning God’s messengers brings desolation. Your house is
left desolate until you can bless the one God sends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you reject the messenger, you won’t see the Lord in your
situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When God sends His servants, there is a reward upon them to
leave with you. It can be a blessing or it can be judgment. You’ve got the
power to shut up heaven against yourself or open heaven to yourself. You have
the power to choose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is up to you,
based on how you receive the messenger. Don’t be quick to turn a deaf ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some final thoughts:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The message is clear.
We must receive and listen to sincere and genuine servants of God sent by Him
to minister to us. But also, we know there are immature leaders who lack wisdom
and corrupt leaders who lack integrity. How do we respond to them? How do we
recognize and protect ourselves from them? The rebellious person will use
corrupt leadership as an excuse to flout all leadership. The humble child of
God will conduct himself graciously toward good leaders and will speak the
truth in love with a humble spirit when dealing with bad leadership. I would like
to share more about this in the days ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>----Billy Long<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-56329252106655909092018-01-02T07:26:00.000-08:002022-03-27T16:42:35.302-07:00FACING ETERNITY<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: 22px;"><strong>FACING ETERNITY</strong></span></em></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDowQlvaok6FnmWIZA57aBtTKIy3ix6HBmLQgZUMPSCcdP_FqmGnAgfaTf-bdjvYEmHI9jbYVpYCfmYuoUQLzmfwsN_b823xhrnQf3sqv3mO7-CNaA8tjdr6bDVZc-g_9regnavEZGhE/s1600/06-20-11+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDowQlvaok6FnmWIZA57aBtTKIy3ix6HBmLQgZUMPSCcdP_FqmGnAgfaTf-bdjvYEmHI9jbYVpYCfmYuoUQLzmfwsN_b823xhrnQf3sqv3mO7-CNaA8tjdr6bDVZc-g_9regnavEZGhE/s400/06-20-11+017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<em><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></em>
<em><span style="font-size: 18px;">This post and the one below it share some glimpses into the spiritual realm unseen to the natural eye. I have written these articles to encourage Christians to be at peace knowing there is a glorious and wonderful eternity awaiting us beyond the veil of this flesh. My second purpose is to awaken the unbeliever to the realities of the spiritual realm and to the fact that each person must face eternity and give an account to God.</span></em><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><i>I pray these testimonies will have an effect even upon even those hard hearts who have had no desire, curiosity, or hunger to know God. I am sure that those whose hearts are inclined and open will be stirred knowing the spiritual realm is real and the risen Lord Jesus is calling them to a relationship with Him where there can be joy unspeakable and full of glory.<br />I encourage the reader to read this article and then scroll down to read the second one. Both contain some very interesting stories. ---Billy Long</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dow Robinson
worked with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Mexico and translated the Bible into
the Aztec language. In the course of his
work there he discipled an Aztec named Sebastian Vasquez who became an apostle
to the Aztecs and planted many churches among them. Sebastian and his wife Lupe
loved and cared for an 8 year old daughter who was mentally disabled. Dow shared the
story of how Jesus came to Lupe one night in a dream or vision and said, “Do
you have a daughter named Naomi?” Lupe responded, “Yes, Lord, of course I do.”
He asked her the same question three times, and then said, “Come and see her.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lupe went
and saw Naomi seated at a table with the Lord. The child was mature, happy, and
talking with Jesus. From this Lupe knew that Jesus was going to take Naomi to be
with Him. The child died the next day. Though sad, the parents were at peace
knowing their child was in heaven and they will see her again someday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Raised from
the Dead</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">The
spiritual realm is real. There are many, including some friends of mine, whose
experiences prove there is more to life than what we see with our eyes and
touch with our physical senses. I am sharing some of these testimonies in the
paragraphs below.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">H
A Baker was a missionary to China from 1919 to 1950. In his book Visions Beyond
the Veil he tells of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that fell upon the
children of his mission’s orphanage in China. The children saw visions of
heaven, hell, demons, and angels. I recently read the book Heaven Is
For Real, written by a pastor about the experiences of his pre-school son who
was taken to heaven and back during a surgery in which the child almost
died. The testimonies in these books are amazing.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">I have an acquaintance in
Charleston, SC who was struck by lightning in his yard and was technically
dead. His spirit left his body and was lifted into the air above his house.
From there he looked down and saw his body being placed into an EMS vehicle,
and his wife standing in the yard asking the Lord not to take her husband. He
saw heaven, Jesus, and family members who were there. He was overwhelmed by the
beauty, peace, love, and wonders of it all, and did not want to leave. Jesus
told him he had to return, and suddenly he was back in his body. He tells how
he was upset and depressed for a couple years because he had to return. Then
realized he needed to rejoice and share his wonderful testimony.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">I have a friend in California named
Marvin Ford who died of a heart attack and lay in the hospital dead for 30
minutes. His spirit left his body, and from above he could see the doctor and
people gathered around his body. He was suddenly in the presence of the Lord
and saw the overwhelming and inexpressible beauty of heaven. The Lord showed
him many things during that visit. Then he looked down and saw his
pastor entering the hospital to pray for God to raise him up. “Uh oh,
Lord," he said, “here comes trouble.” He knew he had to return but did not
want to. Nevertheless, the pastor prayed and God sent Marvin back. This was the
beginning of a preaching ministry that has taken him around the world.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">I
had a professor in college who died and was raised from the dead when prayed
for by this same pastor.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">A
Near-Death experience During Surgery</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Below
are excerpts from a letter sent to me my by good friend Ashur Cordes from
Minnesota. He tells of his near-death experience that occurred during surgery
in which the doctors did not expect him to survive. A Christian nurse on duty
told the family, “The only thing that will save him now is prayer.” So the
family went into the intensive care area and prayed. They called on friends
around the world to pray. Then Ashur had a miracle. His spirit left his body
and he saw the Lord right there with him, and he saw heaven in the distance.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">He
was so amazed that the Lord was right there like a brother hugging him and
healing him. Feeling he did not deserve to be in the Lord's
presence, he asked, "What about my sins?’ The Lord’s response was, "I
took care of that on the cross." The answer was explained by John 3:16.
For God SO LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Ashur
then saw what appeared to be a stream of crystal clear water flowing from the
Lord to his body along with a golden light that surround his bed. Suddenly he
was healed.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">There
are medical records that verify and confirm his condition and recovery.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Ashur
later spoke with a Christian friend in Fargo who was not at the
hospital but who had prayed in his home about 10 miles away. Ashur
in his vision actually heard his friend praying and a week later
was able to quote the prayer back to his friend word for word.
He also heard the prayers of others around the world praying for him. He describes
it this way: “I was very aware of prayers flooding in for me. I heard
those prayers. Then I heard the Lord's order that the prayers be answered. And
those prayers were in His mighty and kind hands, and HE directed them into my
heart while I watched from 8 feet above my bed. I was healed.”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br />
<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“It
did not feel like death.”</b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Lonnie,
another one of my Christian friends, was in a hospital bed and close to
death. He could feel himself slipping away and knew he was one moment away
from eternity. God’s incomprehensible love and inexpressible peace were so real
that he actually wanted to go on and be with the Lord. He very profoundly
described his experience in this way: “It did not feel like death.” He
experienced the reality of the Apostle Paul’s word that death has lost its
sting, and the grave has lost its victory…and that victory is through the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">The
thing that shone brightest to my friends who came so close to death was
the incomprehensible greatness of God's love and the awesome efficacy of the
blood of Jesus and the cross of Christ. God really loves us and wants us to be
at peace in Him.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Why Take
the Risk?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">It
is very sad to be “without hope and without God in the world,” but it is even
more grievous to face an everlasting eternity without the Lord. There are many
who do not believe in God, and they assume that death is the end and everyone
at death enters some sort of oblivion. There can be no comfort or peace in this
ideology since, if true, it would mean the eternal loss of all we love, and
gives no hope for anything beyond this current life, which is so short and
in itself holds so much suffering.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">There
are also those who believe there is a God, but who do not aggressively seek to
know Him. They take the risk that God grades on the curve. They think, “I have
been a good person. My good outweighs my bad, and so I’ll make it into heaven
because I am a good person.” The problem with this is that the scripture makes
it very clear we are not saved by our works or our own righteousness, but only
by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and by his grace (unmeritedd
favor) and by faith rather than good works. The problem with the “I am a good
person” approach is that it leaves a person unsure and simply not really knowing,
and with no real peace. The person who makes a firm commitment to Jesus Christ
as Lord is the one who faces death with true peace, hope, and certainty.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Live in
Peace, Rest in Peace</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Will
Durrant in his volumes on world history gives a vivid account of the difference
between the pagan Romans and the persecuted Christians of that era. It was said
of Christians that their lives consisted of persecutions above ground and
prayers below ground. Here are some very profound quotes from Durrant:</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">“In
the catacombs below Rome Christian graves tell the terrible tale. Heads were
found severed from the body, ribs and shoulder blades broken, and bones often
calcined from fire…But despite the awful story of persecution, note the
inscriptions on the Christians’ graves."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">"Here lies Marcia, put to rest
in a dream of peace.”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">"Lawrence to his sweetest son,
borne away of angels."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">“Victorious in peace and in Christ.”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">“Being called away, he went in
peace.”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Pagan Epitaphs</span></strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">But look at the contrast in
the Roman pagan epitaphs:</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">"Live for the present hour,
since we are sure of nothing else."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">"I lift my hands against the
gods who took me away at the age of 20 though I had done no harm."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">"Once I was not. Now I am not.
I know nothing about it.”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">"Traveler, curse me not as you
pass, for I am in darkness and cannot answer."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Our
assurance in Christ</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is a fearful thing to face
eternity without God.</span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Knowing these spiritual realities we should cry
out to God to know Him and serve Him, and to intercede for our loved ones. I
pray daily for my family, friends, and others on my prayer list. I cry to God
for their salvation and for them to know Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. The
greatest grief for me would be to stand by the coffin of a loved one
without full assurance of his or her relationship with Jesus.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by
faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of
God." Romans 5: 1-2.</span></em><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></o:p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Lay
hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where
the forerunner (Christ) has entered for us…” Hebrews 6: 18-19.<o:p></o:p></i></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-20266154020618894422018-01-02T06:11:00.003-08:002018-01-02T06:15:03.679-08:00The Hard Heart<span style="font-size: large;">THE HARD HEART<br />Mr. Clarence was the elderly patriarch of a family who lived not far from my childhood home. His wife was godly woman, but he never attended church or professed to be a Christian (at least not to my knowledge). He ran a small country store in the Longs community, and was famous for “stretching the truth” by telling some unsuspecting customer that a perfectly healthy neighbor had “passed away” that morning or the day before. My grandmother once answered the door to find a sad old gentleman standing there giving his condolences regarding my grandfather’s supposed death. Mr. Clarence had told the gentleman that “old man Tharon Hardee was dead” and buried.<br />“Mrs.Eva,” he said with a sad look, “I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am to hear about Mr.Tharon’s passing.” About that time my grandfather, alive and well, came to the door to greet the startled gentleman.<br />Mr Clarence’s favorite target was a particular neighbor living not far from his store. He would often tell folks that Mr Faircloth had died that morning. I stopped by his store one day for a drink and a snack. As I walked in he met me with sad eyes and said, “Son, did you know that old man Faircloth died this morning?” Without a moment’s pause I responded, “What! Again?” Mr. Clarence burst out laughing. He appreciated my quick response, and seemed to like me after that.<br />Years later when he was an elderly man in his 80s, my mother and I visited him when he was recuperating from a heart attack. “Mr. Clarence,” I asked, “when you had your heart attack, did you call the preacher to come pray for you?”<br />“Hell, no!” he replied emphatically and without hesitation, “I thought I was dying. I called the doctor!”<br />As far as I know, he maintained that disposition right up until the day no doctor could save him.<br />The human heart can harden to the point that it is “cold” and seared. This is a sad state. One man, when asked if he wanted to give his life to Jesus, responded that all his family was in hell and that he “just as well go be with them” there. He was sincere in his callousness. He seemed to have no fear or concern regarding eternity and his place in it. I should also mention that this man was one of Mr Clarence's sons.<br />But we must all stand before God to give account. It is appointed unto man once to die, and after death the judgment. I pray that everyone reading this post will have given his or her life to Jesus Christ, and will begin this new year with a heart soft before the Lord and filled with the peace of God.<br />“For God so loved the world that HE gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16</span>Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-84782566636541102452017-12-16T21:08:00.001-08:002017-12-17T05:05:26.960-08:00"...AS BRO LARRY BRINGS US THE MESSAGE."<strong><span style="font-size: large;">“Hot Off the Griddle of Heaven.”</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pastor and Mrs Varnell did all they could to encourage us young college “preacher boys.” Their little church in a nearby town provided many opportunities for us to speak at their meetings. I remember one special occasion when Pastor Varnell called me and said, “You boys come and preach this Sunday.” Usually one of us would deliver the sermon, but on a couple occasions we did a “tag team” message, dividing the time up between us. On this particular occasion Pastor Varnell was letting us decide who would address his congregation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Our circle of aspiring ministers consisted of Larry, Lonnie, Mike, George, and me. On this particular Sunday, however, Larry Rodeffer and I were the only ones able to attend the meeting. On our drive to the church I turned to Larry and asked, “Do you have the message?” He shook his head and said, “No, Billy. I don’t have a thing. Do you?” Very confidently I replied, “Yes, Larry. I’ve got the message.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived at the church, went in, and took our seats on the platform beside the pastor. I began looking through my Bible, doing some last minute preparation for the sermon. Larry was sitting there relaxed with his Bible lying on the seat beside him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When it came time for the sermon, Pastor Varnell walked up to the podium and said, “Bro Billy and Bro Larry are with us this morning, and one of these boys has a message ‘hot off the griddle of heaven.’ ” He turned and looked at us, and I gave the signal that I would be the one he should introduce.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I walked up to the podium, read a few verses from Luke chapter 4, said a prayer, and then looked out at the congregation. But to my great horror, my mind went blank. I had preached from those verses many times, but this time I could not find the message. As I began to mumble to the congregation I thought to myself, “Oh Lord God, how am I going to get out of this? I have read the scripture and said the prayer.” Once you do that you are into the message. “But I have nothing to say. What am I to do?”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A brilliant idea came to mind. I paused a second, and then with renewed confidence and peace, I looked at all those people and said, “You all remember what I have said---as Bro Larry brings us the message.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I then went to my seat and sat down, looking at Larry with that “innocent” guilty look on my face.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Without saying a word Larry looked at me in a mild shock, and very slowly picked up his Bible and walked over to the podium. He laid his Bible on the pulpit, opened it up, and then slowly looked back and stared at me for about three seconds with that questioning look of surprise and shock still on his face.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He then gained his composure, told the congregation to turn to the chapter where Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood, and proceeded to give one of the best sermons he had ever given.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">“Brother Larry” did have the message. I did not. And though Larry had not planned to speak at that particular moment, he drew from the resources of his life of prayer and study and gave a message that really did turn out to be “hot off the griddle of heaven,” as Pastor Varnell had promised in his introduction. Larry was the only one there who knew I had been rescued from a predicament. His success overshadowed my mistake.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mistakes are part of growth .</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We must be willing to make mistakes and to stumble in order to learn and grow. It takes faith to be willing to take risks. Peter spoke up and was wrong a few times, but learned in the process. In the Bible we see men of God moving in great success, accomplishment, victory, and accuracy in the things of God, yet we also see them in failure, missteps, and errors of judgment. Why is it that we have difficulty seeing ourselves on either end of this spectrum? We are shocked to think that we can experience and participate in the same successes as those men of the Bible. We also are shocked and discouraged when we find ourselves in the same types of mistakes and failures. Too often we are content to stay in some path of mediocrity and safety where we do nothing great and make no major mistakes. We even think this is where we belong. But that is not real life as God intended for us. God meant for us to learn and grow. And to do that we need to be willing to take risks in our walk of faith.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Likewise, leaders must not be afraid for people to make mistakes. Often church leadership is afraid to create an atmosphere where people can take risks, especially in the things of the Holy Spirit. They are afraid people will become strange and spooky or get into some eccentric and crazy behavior. Therefore, they prohibit people from stepping out and taking initiative. My philosophy has been that church members should have freedom to speak up and “step out”, as long as they give the leadership and their brothers and sisters permission and liberty to correct and instruct them in the process. This atmosphere of freedom and love where people are comfortable attempting obedience, unafraid of failure, yet loyal to truth, teachable, and willing to be corrected rather than indulged or rejected is what we see in the relationships of the twelve disciples in their walk with Jesus and each other. This same atmosphere is good for us also. Training and growth require the freedom to stumble and slip a bit. ---Billy Long</span>Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-48460144236997546802016-06-06T09:12:00.001-07:002016-06-06T09:27:46.556-07:00WHERE CAN YOU HIDE?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvirVqTgCp7bLb9d0k4YGGf3ZPRcOkol9tHeJo1Uk4CTH_a2MLfkEw0XAjWDov03qrFxBfSIiyXKZ3mrtDvxSMDFPlT5uyTgskvXzoXwyX9kkdT87szhqN_YqfAto6-4n8pQEzVoXlJcA/s1600/Copy+of+fish+in+bowl+-20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvirVqTgCp7bLb9d0k4YGGf3ZPRcOkol9tHeJo1Uk4CTH_a2MLfkEw0XAjWDov03qrFxBfSIiyXKZ3mrtDvxSMDFPlT5uyTgskvXzoXwyX9kkdT87szhqN_YqfAto6-4n8pQEzVoXlJcA/s320/Copy+of+fish+in+bowl+-20001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship…paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1: 2</em><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Jonah tried to run from God's call upon his life. He found he was unable to "burn his obedience bridge."<br />
<br />
<strong>Fleeing From the Presence of God</strong><o:p></o:p><br />
Jonah boarded a ship headed to Tarshish, a city located on the far west end of the Mediterranean Sea, probably in Southern Spain near Gibraltar. To sail past this point would be to enter the vast unknown Atlantic Ocean. Jonah was going to a remote location that represented the point farthest from and most opposite to where God was sending him. He was fleeing not only from the purpose of God but also from the very presence of God. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>“Asleep”<o:p></o:p></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jonah went down into the ship and fell asleep. </span></strong>Usually a person running from God is unable to sleep very well, especially during a storm. Generally speaking there is no rest or peace to the wicked, but Jonah was able to sleep. He slept to escape his guilt and to avoid praying. He could not pray as did all the others on board who feared for their lives. He was in rebellion and he knew what God would say. He was trying to forget what he had already heard. So he avoided calling upon God.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>"Throw me into the sea" </strong><o:p></o:p><br />
Jonah probably saw death as a means of continued disobedience, just another, yet final, step in avoiding Nineveh. He probably assumed he could repent, die, and go on to Abraham's bosom. So he landed in the water thinking he would drown and be out of his misery. But instead he was swallowed alive by the whale.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong><o:p> </o:p></strong><strong>“Expelled From God's Sight”</strong><o:p></o:p><br />
Jonah "woke up" to realize that he was not dead, but in a very dark, remote, and frightening place. As the whale descended into the depths, Jonah came to the realization of what it really means to be expelled from God's presence. He had been hurled into the deep like a stone and felt himself falling to the base of the mountains. The mighty waters covered him with an intensity of distress. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Sometimes the greatest discipline God can mete out is to give us a heavy dose of the very thing we claim to seek in our rebellion. An appropriate judgment upon those who "flee from God's presence" is to be "expelled from His sight". <o:p></o:p><br />
In reality, however, Jonah was under the discipline of a loving, yet determined, heavenly Father who had not forsaken him, but was allowing him get a taste of what he was asking for while simultaneously being placed back on track toward Nineveh and the purpose of God.<o:p></o:p><br />
The wicked mistakenly think it will be a relief to get away from God, but it is a most awful terror. It is a cold, hopeless, and fearful place. Therefore, Jonah cried out in horror thinking he had been expelled from God’s presence. How relieved he must have been to discover that he was still alive and in the hands of God, and to know that he had not descended into Sheol in his rebellion. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong><o:p> </o:p></strong><strong>A Whale: A Rebellious Person’s Gethsemane</strong><o:p></o:p><br />
Jonah intended to burn his obedience bridges when he embarked upon that ship to Tarshish, The Mediterranean Sea is large, and during Solomon's time ships from Tarshish came to Israel only once every three years. Therefore, it is obvious that Jonah was trying put himself into a situation in which it would be impossible to change his mind and in which God, even if He should forgive Jonah, would be unable to send him back anytime soon. Jonah assumed God would probably find someone else to do the job. <o:p></o:p><br />
Jonah was to learn a hard lesson. If we deliberately burn our “obedience bridges” behind us in an effort to make obedience impossible, God can still make a way, a very uncomfortable way, to get us back on track. A person may think he is safe from the will and purpose of God as he sails far out onto the blue Mediterranean Sea. But God sends a storm…and then He sends a whale. Many who tried to run from God have found themselves traveling via "whale belly.” Once Jonah got onto the boat there was no easy way out and no easy or comfortable way back. But there was a way. He had to marinade in whale-belly enzymes for three days. He would definitely return to Israel a lot more tender of heart.<o:p></o:p><br />
A “whale” is a very uncomfortable circumstance which God uses to return us to His will while giving us incentive not to run away again. A whale is also a place for a second chance, a door to restoration that otherwise would have been impossible. A “whale’s belly” can be a rebellious man’s Gethsemane—a place where even the rebel is willing to pray “not my will, but thine be done.”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>The Goldfish</strong><o:p></o:p><br />
Like Jonah we cannot escaped the presence or the call of God (Ps 139: 7-12; Romans 11: 29). His incomprehensible mercy and steadfast love will follow us to the ends of the earth (Ps.23: 6). God's word will overtake those to whom He speaks (Zech I: 6; Prov. 13:13). He may give us room to run…but we will meet Him in the way. If God was so persistent with Jonah who was genuinely trying to flee, how much more will He work to apprehend and help those of us who desire to obey but yet struggle in the valley of decision. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p>And for those of us who are determined to flee, it is foolish to think we can succeed in escaping and hiding from God. It is like the goldfish that decides to run away from home. He has nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. But why would we want to run and hide from such a wonderful God who loves us so much? In the blindness of our humanity we fail to see the awesomeness of His love, power, and wisdom. He is good. His way is right and best. We should embrace Him and His plan for our lives. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<em>“You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me…</em><o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence?</em><o:p></o:p><br />
<em>If I ascend into heaven, You are there;If I make my bed in hell, behold You are there.</em><o:p></o:p><br />
<em>If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,</em><o:p></o:p><br />
<em>Even there Your hand shall lead me, And your right hand shall hold me.” <o:p></o:p></em><br />
<em> -Psalm 139: 5-10 </em><o:p></o:p>Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-89132894598489971422015-07-23T06:11:00.000-07:002015-07-23T06:11:20.235-07:00FLYRoaches can actually fly. I know I've seen some of those big ones do it. But I've seen them track out across hot asphalt, stick, and die...because they refused to fly. It's in their nature to stick close to the ground and places to hide. We can "fly" if we live for the Lord and walk in His ways. But when we live according to our lower nature and sin...we live "in the gutter" and track into snares and traps that cause us to "lose our lives" rather than saving them.Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-51673448989383256862014-06-18T04:05:00.003-07:002014-06-18T04:08:01.252-07:00The Effects of Folly<span style="font-size: large;">Ecclesiastes 10: 1 <i>"...So a little folly outweighs wisdom"</i><br /> Our failures often make a bigger “splash” than our successes. People will often forget all the good a man has done and judge him based on the one mistake or failure in his life. Many contemporary men of God who have done great works and accomplished very significant things for God will be remembered primarily for the sin that was discovered in their lives. A man's folly is more entertaining to the public than his wisdom. His sins will be trumpeted much louder than his accomplishments, especially if they follow his accomplishments. <br /></span><div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The enemy would take advantage of our sins and failures in order to produce shame and despair, and ultimately to make us quit. But we should humble ourselves before God, surrender to His discipline, and continue in faith and obedience. Our reputations, as well as our lives, are in His hands. </span><br /> </div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-14680877092089521932014-06-11T05:49:00.004-07:002014-06-11T05:53:46.540-07:00DEALING WITH REGRETI look back over my life and see many regrets, things I would change or do better if I could go back and start over. I see areas where I was not a wise and faithful steward of resources, time, responsibilities, opportunities, and potential. <br /> How do I resolve what in the natural seems to be un-resolvable? What do I do when I’ve lost or forfeited something I can never get back? How do I find comfort when something dear to me is gone? The answer: I give it to God.<br /> The prodigal son left home and wasted his inheritance in the world of disobedience and sin. Sometimes I feel like the prodigal who stayed home. I did not waste my life in sin and dissipation, but rather was the “good son” who stayed in the fold but still squandered opportunities, resources, time, and potential.<br /> So what do I do as I look back seeing these areas of lost and so many things I would change? I give it to God. My hope is in the redemptive power of Christ, and in the grace, wisdom, and goodness of God that helps me overcome myself.<br /> “I am not ashamed, for I know Him whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1: 12.<br /> I give it to God, after I have given myself to Him.Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-24757286837943227472013-12-22T08:40:00.001-08:002013-12-22T08:40:46.866-08:00LEADERS NEED LISTENING SKILLS<div class="MsoNormal">
The failure to listen when someone comes with a problem or complaint.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Discipline yourself
to listen. Prov. 18:13<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do not interrupt the
person before he has finished. Let him
share all that is in his heart. People,
need to "drain" themselves of what's on their mind and in their
heart. If you interrupt him before he
finishes communicating his ideas, his mind will still be on his own issues and
he will not hear or be able to listen to you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is easy to
formulate answers before you listen to the question or the complaint. But even
if you have revelation, even if you already understand, it is still important
not to interrupt before the person has spoken all he needs to say.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To speak before a
person has finished is to risk being guilty of presumption, error, misjudgment
and condemnation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Usually people do
not go directly or immediately to the heart of the matter. They start at the
periphery and work their way the root issue. Therefore, if you answer too
quickly, you are only dealing with peripheral aspects of the issue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People become very
frustrated if they feel you have not heard them or if you have not given them
opportunity to share their heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When a leader speaks
too quickly and forms a judgment without listening adequately, the person approaching
him may become intimidated and close up.
He will become frustrated and withdraw feeling that he cannot talk. The person may "drop the charges" but
leave confused, questioning his own discernment, questioning what is
reality--but still with an inner sense that things are not really resolved.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastors should
listen because the person may have a valid criticism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A Pastor should develop the ability to make
people feel comfortable and free to communicate. Learn to help people open up and share their heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be quick to hear,
slow to speak. Do not let your first
response be to defend yourself or to attack the other.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the person has
said everything he has to say, then a leader should evaluate and make a
response.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-48960066627077188232013-10-27T08:10:00.003-07:002013-10-28T05:56:28.511-07:00THE APPLE OF HIS EYETHE APPLE OF HIS EYE<br />
I could write a book listing the miracles I have witnessed and the ones I have been a part of. Reading it you would be pressed to believe in God and His desire to work intimately in the lives of people. But then I could also write another book about the times I was in “the deep” about to be swallowed up and close to losing everything. Reading this list of my failures and struggles, you might then say, “Where is your God?” <br />
<br />
I could tell you of friends being healed through prayer and also of others dying in spite of it. I have friends who have experienced miraculous healings and friends who have been raised from the dead. Some have received immediate response to prayer, and others have suffered what seems an interminable wait as they call on the Lord daily for healing, help, or an “open door.”<br />
<br />
I have experienced the church in its glory as the people of God abounded in their love for one another with the presence of God among them so real it was like heaven itself. Then on the other hand, I have seen church people bite and devour one another and leave the brothers and sisters bleeding in their wake. All of us have seen people of God who truly represent godliness and right living, but we also know of those who have stumbled through sin and hypocrisy. We have seen the church demonstrating the wisdom of God, and then watched as she behaved in an embarrassingly foolish manner. <br />
<br />
Christians gasp in shock at these anomalies, and the world uses these inconsistencies as an excuse to deny God and to mock the church. We should not be too surprised. The New Testament writers address these very issues. None of this was foreign to the early Christians. They knew both the reality of a Sovereign God and the reality of human weakness. The high priest in Zechariah chapter 3 stood before the Lord clothed in filthy garments (representing the sin and failure of God’s people whom he represented). The enemy was there to accuse them. But God shut the mouth of the accuser by saying, “I have chosen them, and that settles it.” God is Sovereign and He has chosen us. This should give each of us hope. Remember the words of the old hymn: “I hear my Savior say, ‘Thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness, watch and pray. Find in me thine all in all.’ ”<br />
<br />
It is easy to be critical, but we need to guard our attitude towards the church. She is the apple of God’s eye. And even with her faults, God loves her and will one day present her to Himself as a bride without spot or wrinkle, a people upon whom His glory rests. We should not use her faults as an excuse for our own disobedience, but rather as an inspiration to “labor fervently in our prayers that she may stand fast, perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12).<br />
<br />
We should recognize the realities and problems, but intercede and pray with a heart for God’s plan for the church rather than “pointing the finger” with a judgmental and condemning spirit. The apostle Paul said, “Who are you to judge another man’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand.”<br />
<br />
The purpose of God will be accomplished not because we are worthy, but because HE is worthy. Instead of falling back because of our failures, we should rejoice that Almighty God will complete His plan for His people, and will bring forth His kingdom on earth. Not one jot or tittle shall fail of what He has said regarding the church. If Jesus, while hanging on the cross and facing the agony of death could in that hour say, “It is finished.” (i.e., all things are accomplished and the scripture is fulfilled here today. John 19:25-30), how much more, in the face of our weaknesses and failures, from His position at the right hand of the Father in heaven will He not be able to accomplish His plan and purpose. The eternal purpose of God was accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. Its outworking and realization will be fulfilled because He is God.Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-11012054716632849352013-10-12T07:15:00.000-07:002013-10-27T08:13:39.429-07:00What's Happening?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">“What’s happening?” </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I remember my two-year old grandson in his mother’s lap sick with a high fever and in pain. With eyes red and face wet with tears he cried out to his mom and me, “What’s happening, what’s happening?” The anguish in his little face and voice was heart-wrenching. Overwhelmed with compassion for the child I laid my hand on his head and prayed for him. The Lord healed him almost instantly as he lay in his mother’s arms. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">His cry made such an impression on me that I have at times imitated him as I have approached God in moments of grief, pain, or perplexity. If my grandson’s cry so deeply touched my heart, I knew that my cry would also in the same way touch the mercy and compassion of our Lord. And so, I have on occasion looked up into the face of Jesus and cried like that child, “What’s happening? What’s happening?” </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">He does not always let me know what’s happening. But I know He is always there. I take comfort in God’s incomprehensible love for us His children. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">“But Zion said, The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49: 15-16.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">“His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks Him.” Lamentations 3:23-26</span></span></div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-86623895041693363162013-09-05T08:30:00.000-07:002013-09-05T09:25:43.348-07:00An Unusual Miracle<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">An Unusual Miracle</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">“And God worked
special miracles by the hands of Paul.”
Acts 19:11<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We live in a 2-story house. There is an air-conditioning
unit for upstairs and one for downstairs. Last year our upstairs unit went out
and had to be replaced. This was an expensive undertaking and beyond our means
at the time, and we were grateful for the Lord’s merciful provision that came
when we needed it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then this past June the downstairs unit quit working. I was
at my desk upstairs when Laurel and our daughter Mary called up to me saying it
was getting hot downstairs. We discovered there was no cold air coming through
the vents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had two different Heating and Air technicians look at it.
The diagnosis was that the Freon had leaked out, and that the unit needed to be
replaced. That would be a huge expense. We did not have the funds to replace it.
The service tech, therefore, informed us that we could get a temporary repair
that would cost about $1900, but which would not have any guarantee beyond
another year. We did not have the money even for the temporary fix.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So we began the summer with family and friends downstairs having
to suffer and endure the heat. We were advised to run the air-conditioning
upstairs, but only the fan downstairs. The fan would help circulate the air.
But of course, it was circulating hot air, especially on these 90 degree summer
days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It became a regular part of our daily prayer life to ask the
Lord for provision so we could get that air-conditioner fixed. Then this past
weekend we experienced a miracle, an unusual miracle. Laurel went downstairs to
the kitchen Monday morning and noticed that the air-conditioner was running on “fan”
as usual, and the downstairs was hot, as usual.
She went back upstairs for a while and later returned downstairs to find
that the air-conditioner was turned to “on” and that the house was cooling. She made inquiry into who had turned the
air-conditioner on and found that no one had touched it. Laurel, our daughters Mary and Claire, and I
were in the house, and not one of us had touched it. Now it was turned on and
cooling the house better than it had before. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a miracle. “Someone” had fixed the air-conditioner.
We had gone to bed the night before with it hot and running on “fan.” Now it was
filled with Freon, turned “on,” and working better than ever and cooling the whole
downstairs. We have been enjoying the cool house this week and thanking the
Lord for his mercy and kindness to us in this matter. We acknowledge Him and
give Him the glory. May this be to the praise of the glory of His grace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The early Christians were accustomed to God’s intimate and
miraculous presence among them. It was normal for them to witness lives changed
by the power of God, healings, supernatural prophetic words, casting out
demons, etc… But they also experienced what the Bible calls unusual,
extraordinary, or special miracles. At Jesus’ instructions the disciples found
a coin the mouth of a fish. He multiplied food. Paul shook a viper off of his
hand and was unhurt. Prison doors opened for the apostles and chains fell off
their hands and feet. Philip was caught away by the Holy Spirit and moved
instantly from one location to another. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I heard a missionary share how he had been protected by
angels sent from God to watch over him one night when he was travelling alone
and followed by thieves who had planned to rob and kill him. One of them later
asked him, “Who were those large, armed men who stood around your camp that
night?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are other unusual and extraordinary miracles throughout
the Bible: miracles of food, provision, protection, supernatural guidance, and
healings. We also are entering unusual and difficult times in our nation. I
believe we will once again need God’s active presence and help as we navigate
the troubled waters in our society. As the darkness grows, so will the glory of
God upon His people. These are days in which to reach out to God and expect Him
to fulfill Jesus’ promises to manifest Himself, be with us, work with us, and
confirm His word with signs following. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-71580284635225356972013-09-02T06:21:00.001-07:002017-07-31T13:55:03.604-07:00LOOK AT YOUR NOSE<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #1b0431; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
LOOK AT YOUR NOSE</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3331197054885276387" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” -Genesis 1:1.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is infinitely too complex to have come into being randomly and by itself. There are so many interdependent systems that are necessary for the existence of life on earth; and the degree of refinement, accuracy, and perfection in the coordinated performance of all these operations necessary for life are too complex to exist apart from design. They are independent yet dependent and interdependent, and their functions must be exactly precise and with perfect timing. These dynamics testify to the existence and reality of God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I see the reality of God in many simple, subtle, and yet so obvious aspects of life that we often take for granted. For example, look at your nose. It is located in a most beneficial and practical place on your body. The nostrils point down so you don’t have to cover them to keep rain from falling into your sinuses. It is just above your mouth so that the sense of smell can work together with your sense of taste to help you enjoy your food. I can think of other more unpleasant places your nose could have been located. Your ears have their own little “satellite dishes” on the sides of your head to help capture sound. Your eyes are in recessed sockets to help protect them. They are located in the front of your head so you can see where you are going. Your feet point in the same direction as your eyes. The size of our moon, its distance from the earth, the tilt of the earth’s axis, the distance of the earth from the sun: If you change any of these in the smallest degree you will end life on earth. This is also true of the numerous systems that operate in the human body: Skeletal, circulatory, reproductive, pulmonary, muscular, neurological, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Life is just too orderly to have come into being without design. Everywhere you look you see evidence of design. The necessary interacting, interdependent, and coordinated operations of the systems required for life, from biological to geological to astronomical are so exact and precise that it is impossible for life to have developed on its own by chance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And what about sex? I could rest my case on that point, but will continue my thoughts. Male and female. In terms of species development the world could not have seen reproduction without the complete and fully developed male and female. If you could have reproduction without these, then there would have been no need for male and female. So how could this have possibly evolved---two separate systems made to be completely separate and absolutely compatible, and yet totally interdependent with neither being able to carry out the reproductive function without the other? There would have been no births, no reproduction without fully developed reproductive systems. “SOMEBODY” had to design this, and it had to begin fully functional.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This law of “irreduceable minimums” eliminates the possibility of evolution. Scientists have discovered that there is no such thing as a “simple cell” to start with. [Just get a scientist to explain the complexity of the DNA in any single cell]. I recently saw a documentary on TV in which a scientist described the complexity even in the single-celled amoeba. Too many complex, separate, yet interdependent systems have to be in operation at the same time for life to exist. If you eliminate any one of them, life would cease to exist. In other words, for life to exist, all of these systems would have to be created simultaneously.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Evolution is a very awkward and yet convenient way for people to try to avoid God. Evolution itself is foolish, but if you do away with God, evolution is about the only thing you are left with to explain how we got here. So the very concept of “evolution” is a product of intellectual “devolution,” i.e., what you arrive at by default when you reject the reality of God. A few years ago I was reading a book in which the author had recorded his conversation with a prominent evolutionist. The evolutionist told him, “We did not evolve from anything. Life is too complex to have evolved, but I prefer to believe in evolution than to believe in God.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I prefer to believe in God. It is more comforting to believe in God, that there is a power beyond and greater than our comprehension who created us as finite beings with limited capacity to understand the created universe, and who created us with no capacity within ourselves to comprehend or grasp the infinite realities beyond our created universe, but Who also desires to introduce us to Himself and take us beyond what we see and know. As the Bible says, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If there is no God, then we face the most depressing prospects, a meaningless procession of people heading into an eternal oblivion. But there is a God and this gives us hope for eternal life. The very issues raised in the paragraphs above echo the words of the psalmist who tells us that the heavens, the earth, and all creation testify to the glory and existence of God. This means that there is more to life than this life. This is only the beginning, not the end. To see and understand this, one must look up to the One who is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our Lord who brings us to the Father.</span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></em>
<em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him." -Colossians 1: 16.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></em>
<em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. -Romans 11: 36.</span></em><br />
<em style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></em>
<em style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead..." -Romans 1: 20.<br /></em><br />
<em style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse of heaven His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their sound has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." -Psalm 19: 1-4.</em><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;">
<em></em><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<em></em><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<em>[You can go to the comment page to write a response by clicking "comments" below, or you can write me an email at<a href="mailto:blong8@sccoast.net" style="color: #956839;">blong8@sccoast.net</a> ].</em></div>
</div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-36842948750373526962013-08-25T20:15:00.001-07:002013-08-26T06:38:50.619-07:00The Resurrection is Real: Otherwise, What is the Purpose? -by Lowell Peterson<i>Here is a very significant article for our times, written by Lowell Peterson, my good friend since college days. He is a great writer and gives us an important lesson. With so many strange "voices" in the air these days, Lowell calls us back to simply believing the Bible, that it is a true and accurate historical account of who Jesus is and what He did for us. --Billy Long </i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Do I actually believe in the literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Am I gullible enough to think that this itinerant preacher really defied all laws of science and common sense to come strolling out of a sealed tomb after being declared dead, following the savagely brutal execution of crucifixion and lying in grave clothes over the weekend? My God in heaven! I believe nothing else! Nothing else matters! Not my own existence, not this sad, pathetic world where confused, lost people slaughter each other for the fun of it, where children are enslaved into human trafficking, where “the best lack all conviction and the worst are full of passionate intensity"! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> I love my friends. There are some guys I have hung around with for over 40 years, ever since our college days, who have grown more “sophisticated” with age and more cynical about theological dogma. Some have embraced the warm, fuzzy collegiality of Bishop Spong who would tell us that the more fabulous Bible stories are exactly that – something much akin to fairy tales that include an inspiring moral. The essential thing is the moral; the story is just an effective way of communicating and remembering the moral. So, in Christianity, the vitally indispensable thing is the Sermon on the Mount, the lessons Jesus gave us to motivate ethical living and loving our fellow man. All the rest of it, whoppers like a Virgin Birth, healing miracles, substitutionary atonement, literal Resurrection, all that stuff, is just a medium for telling the story. Belief in all that sideshow fluff is optional so long as you get the real gist of the tale – be a wonderful, kind, compassionate human being. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> But then, why would this same Jesus throw in the line that, without Him, we can do nothing? Why would the predominant message of the entire Old Testament be that we fickle, vacillating, self-centered human beings aren’t capable of living out the law of doing good without the supernatural assistance of a living Savior? Why would the writer of a third of the New Testament and one of the most profoundly effective writer/preachers of all time not merely suggest but vehemently insist that, if God did not, quite literally, raise Jesus from the dead, then all else is vanity? Where is there any victory in just trying to be a decent human being against the tide of moral depravity “if we have placed our hope in Christ for this life only”? And why would St. John, the very epitome of the message of a love that conquers all, bother getting himself exiled to Patmos for the benefit of merely a pleasant story such as the one he tells in the 21st chapter of his gospel: Early in the morning, on the day after this merely metaphorical Resurrection that symbolizes the hope of inner rejuvenation, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved [this same John] said to Peter [who later suffered his own crucifixion in defense of such fairy tales as this], "It is the Lord!" And Peter got so overly enthused that he ripped his clothes off, plunged into the sea and swam ashore to run to an illusory image of Jesus, a mere phantom, we suppose. When the rest landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread . . . Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Come and have breakfast~! This mere ghost, this mirage of their overwrought imaginations invited them to eat a meal! This is stunning. It seems so unspiritual, so ordinary. Why didn’t Jesus say, “Hey, I’ll meet you guys at the temple. I need to pose for a stained glass window.”? Because life in Christ continues … “Jesus did not vanish into mystical spirituality, becoming one with the cosmic vibration. Jesus has a body, and it's His body. His wounds have been healed, but the scars remain—not gruesome, but lovely, a remembrance of all He did for us. His friends recognize Him. They share a bite to eat. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">This is our future as well—our lives will be healed and we shall go on, never to taste death again.” (John Eldredge) Without the promise, the hope and the certainty of the Resurrection, all else is mere ornamentation. Looks and sounds pretty, but has no power to redeem or transform a life. Only the living Jesus can do that. </span>Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847191203074816968.post-8245564241131639452013-08-19T12:42:00.001-07:002018-05-17T19:19:29.798-07:00ADVICE TO THE GIRL LOOKING FOR A GOOD MAN<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Here is some advice to the
young girl who wants to find a good man. There is a lot I could say to the men, but I'll save that for another posting. -Billy Long</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Don't "sell yourself cheap."<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If you "sell yourself cheap" you will not be treated as valuable. Men
subconsciously believe the old saying: “You get what you pay for.” If it costs nothing it must be worth little.
The average fellow who has not committed himself to biblical morality will
usually fall into the lifestyle governed by the crude maxim, “Why buy the cow
when you can get the milk free.” So
don’t sell yourself cheap. Be the priceless treasure you are. Make some guy pay
the price for you to be his. A man who is rich in character and integrity will
be lavish in his love and commitment to a woman of virtue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But a man who “buys” what
is sold cheap is himself impoverished of character. If you sell yourself cheap, you will attract
only the stingy, self-centered, selfish, and immature “buyer.” There was a country music song entitled “I
like my women a little on the trashy side.”
It is interesting that he said “women” —and not “wife.” The song sends
the subconscious message that the promiscuous man is looking for promiscuous women,
but his tune changes when he decides he wants a good wife. He then switches to
the old Charlie Rich hit, which
describes the lady who reserves her sexuality for the sanctity of the marriage
bed “behind closed doors” rather than flaunted in public.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Vulnerability attracts predators.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The lion chases the
weakest antelope, or the young one straggling at the rear. Predators sense weakness, and human predators
sense weakness of character in their prey. So it is important to develop
strength of character. Grow in maturity and wisdom. Put away the childish teen
attitude that looks for the “cool” guy. Everywhere I look I see young girls hanging out with boys or men who will probably
make a good one-night stand or a short-term romance, but who in the long-run
will leave the girl alone carrying the baggage and weight of the load he
irresponsibly leaves behind. Don’t look for the fellow who is following the
herd in all the latest looks and attitudes. Find a man who is pursuing a mature
future, who will have a job, be able to provide, who can handle responsibility,
and be faithful to one woman as long as he lives. Don't waste your time with the wrong kind of man. Build a relationship with a person who will be
faithful to you and your children for life. “Mr. Cool” is fun for today, but he
does not hang around for the long term. Even if he did hang around, you’d find
yourself wanting to throw him out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Like attracts like.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If you live “in the
gutter” you will not attract a mate who “soars in the clouds.” People
unconsciously gravitate to people who are at the same level as themselves. They identify with and develop relationships
with people who are of the same character, spirituality, and lifestyle. If you want a godly husband, you need to be a
godly woman (and vice versa). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sex outside of covenant short-circuits relational intimacy.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If you really want to be
intimate, then don’t be intimate with a man who has not committed himself to
you in the marriage covenant. Real intimacy involves heart to heart
communication, personal relationship, and friendship in which a couple really
gets to know each other. When a woman’s
first approach is to give sex to the man, his focus and interest will remain
there. He will not be interested in spending the time and energy to know the real
person, to be truly intimate at the soul level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A girl is deceived when
she thinks she will catch a good life-time husband by advertising sex and using
it as a lure. The man will settle for the sex and seek it out, but fail to press
into friendship and really getting to know her. Men are not generally good at
communication anyway, and when they are treated to sex outside of marriage, they lose their incentive to communicate at a deeper level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When he wants to have sex, she feels “used” rather than loved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t sell your birthright for a bowl of stew.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Esau sold his birthright
for a “mess of pottage.” He was tired and wanted food. He exchanged what would
have been a great treasure and long-term blessing for some temporary relief. He
traded his birthright for the pleasure of that which tempted him for the
moment. He later regretted it when it was too late. Think of your future spouse
as your “birthright,” something worth waiting for, something wonderful that God
will give you. The pleasures of promiscuity and an immoral lifestyle are like
the pot of stew. It is pleasurable for the moment, but will leave you empty and
alone tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Final thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Find a man who loves the
Lord and who has a job or at least a clear plan for his future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Be the virtuous woman of
Proverbs 31 and trust God to help you to meet the right person in God’s time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">if you think Jesus is
asking too much of you now, just wait until the devil comes to collect later. The
devil offers his pleasures up front and deceives you into thinking it is easy
and free. He gives you a “pot of stew” now and helps you feel better for a
moment, but then steals your birthright and leaves you destitute and suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Lord asks you to do
the right thing now, knowing that His blessings and rewards follow the faith
and obedience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Trust the knowledge,
wisdom, timing, and love of God. He is right, upright, and good.<o:p></o:p></span><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-43313434-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>
Billy Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.com3