HOW MUCH TIME?
 
 “…you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)
 
It has been said that most doctors dread being asked, “How much time do I have left?" One wise doctor ostensibly replied, “That’s God’s department. All I know for certain is that you have this moment.”
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 Four facts should considered whenever we ponder, “How much time do I have left?"
 
 1. NO ONE KNOWS HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE LEFT!

• …you DO NOT KNOW what will happen tomorrow…  (James 4:14)
• I know numerous people that were diagnosed with terminal illnesses decades ago that are

still living.

• I’ve preached scores of funerals for individuals younger and healthier than me.
• Since we do not know how much time we have left, we should prepare for the next life TODAY!

 
 2. NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE LEFT, IT’S NOT MUCH!

• “(Life is)...a VAPOR that appears for a LITTLE TIME and then vanishes away… (James 4:14b)
• I’ve rarely heard anyone comment, “Life lasts too long!”
• I’ve heard countless people say, “Life goes by quickly!”
• Since our life will be over “before we know it”, we should prepare for the next life TODAY!

 
 3. THERE IS INFINITELY MORE TIME “OVER THERE” THAN HERE ON EARTH!

• Whether we live to be 21 or 101, our days on earth are limited!
• But our days in heaven (or hell) will NEVER END.
• Therefore we should prepare for the next life TODAY!

 
 4. WHEN OUR TIME ON EARTH ENDS, THERE WILL BE NO SECOND CHANCE!

• “…we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again.” (2 Sam. 14:14a)
• Once we die, there will be no opportunity to CHANGE OR REDO ANYTHING.
• Therefore, we should prepare for the next life TODAY!

 
 Are you prepared for the next life RIGHT NOW? “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does NOT DO IT, to him it is SIN.” (James 4:17)
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis

HOW MANY WAYS?
 
The following story supposedly came from a police report in New York City. City police eventually stopped a disoriented driver after he traveled the WRONG WAY for several blocks on Madison Avenue, a major ONE-WAY street. When asked by officers to explain his driving, the confused man purportedly replied, “I must be late (for work), because everybody (else) is coming back."
 
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It is all too easy to lose track of direction. This occurs to drivers, sailors, pilots, hikers, hunters, and experienced guides. Far more tragically, it occurs to sincere people that desire to reach heaven. Have your heard the comment, “We are all headed to Heaven; we’re just taking different roads.” Although a popular idea, it contradicts the words of Jesus Christ.
 
For instance, Jesus said, “I am THE WAY, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through ME.” (Jn. 14:6)  How many ways?
 
"Enter by THE narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is THE gate and difficult is THE WAY which leads to life, and there are few who find IT.” (Matt. 7:13-14)  How many ways?
 
“Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’ And He said to them, "Strive to enter through THE narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:23-24)  How many ways?
 
A search of the Internet using the phrase, “How to be saved” will reveal at least 40 “ways” to be saved. Is that consistent with Jesus’ teachings? In Matthew 20:16 He said, “For many are called, but FEW CHOSEN."  He added in Luke 13:24, “…MANY, I say to you, will SEEK TO ENTER and will NOT BE ABLE.”
 
There is only ONE ROAD leading to Heaven – Jesus Christ! Traveling that “Road” involves submitting to His commands. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) Jesus’ commands include:
·        Believing in Him – “…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John
8:24)
·        Repentance – “…unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”  (Luke 13:3, 5)
·        Confessing Him before others – "…whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also
confess before My Father who is in heaven.”  (Mat. 10:32)
·        Being baptized (immersed) In His name – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”  (Matt. 28:19)
·        Continuing in His teachings – "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”
(John 8:31)
 
FOLLOW JESUS! He and He alone will get you to your desired destination – Heaven!
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis

GOD OF SECOND CHANCES!
 
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)
 
During the 1929 Rose Bowl, Georgia Tech played the University of California. Near the end of the first half, Roy Reigels, California’s star center, recovered a fumble. Attempting to avoid tacklers, he became confused and ran the wrong way. Oblivious to the shouts of coaches and teammates, he was finally tackled by a speedy teammate just before crossing the goal line (and scoring a safety for Georgia Tech). As his coaches and teammates shuffled into the dressing room at halftime, the humiliated Reigels sought a remote corner, placed a towel over his head and sobbed quietly.
 
When his team was ready to go back onto the field for the second half, Reigels didn’t budge. As head coach Nibs Price approached him, Reigels lamented, "Coach, I can't do it! I've ruined you, I’ve ruined myself, I've ruined the University of California. I couldn’t face that crowd to save my life." The wise coach placed a hand on his player's shoulder and said, "Roy, get up and go back in. The game is only half over."
 
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Mistakes, blunders and errors - we all make them. And we are not alone. The Bible is filled with examples of God’s servants that let Him down at crucial times – Adam & Eve, Abraham, Lot, Moses, Aaron, Samson, Eli, King David and  Jonah; not to mention the apostles of Christ. Peter even denied Jesus 3 times, cursing all the while.
 
And so it is with us. Some of our gaffes are so bad that we wish we could find a hole and disappear. Thankfully, we serve the God of the second chance! He is well aware that we have failed Him and will continue to do so. But as long as we confess our faults and get up, he will put us right back into the "game".
 
Returning to the story of Roy “Wrong Way” Reigels, his coach talked him into returning to the field. He not only turned in a stellar performance during the 2nd half, he was named team captain and earned All-American honors the next season.
 
No matter how badly we fail, the game isn't over yet. Get up and get back in the game. God can use you and His church needs you!
 
Jesus, always Jesus!



Dennis

THE DECEPTION OF PORNOGRAPHY
 
Pornography – the very word ought to disgust faithful Christians. It comes from the Greek word pornographia – meaning “the writing or drawings of harlots” (akin to the Greek word porneia, from which we get the word “fornication”). No child of God should ever partake of such an abominable practice - see Gal. 5:19-21. Yet countless Christians routinely view or read pornographic materials, and many thousands are ensnared by it (Heb. 12:1). This is largely due to the DECEPTION of pornography.
 
How so you spell “PORN”? Many mistakenly limit pornography to XXX magazines or graphic videos. However, pornography comes in many forms. The American Heritage Dictionary defines pornography as: “Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or OTHER MATERIAL whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.” Wikipedia adds: “Pornography may use…a variety of media — written and spoken text, photos, sculpture, drawings, moving images (including animation), and sounds such as heavy breathing. Pornographic films combine moving images, spoken erotic text and/or other erotic sounds, while magazines often combine photos and written text. Novels and short stories provide written text...” 
 
The scope of pornography is much larger than many care to admit. What the world calls art, music, romance novels, commercials and entertainment may in fact be pornographic. Virtually ANYTHING that triggers sexual arousal can be classified as pornography. This includes Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues, posters depicting scantily clad women (or men), certain romance and mystery novels, Victoria Secret catalogues, popular movies, wrestling, TV shows (Remember Baywatch?) and even soap operas.
 
“Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned?” (Prov. 6:27). The biggest deception of pornography is that it pretends to be a “harmless diversion”. In reality, it will doom countless millions to hell! “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality ... those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). Don’t be fooled by pornography!
 
"But fornication and all UNCLEANNESS or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints..." (Eph. 5:3)
 
Jesus, Always Jesus!
 
Dennis

THE ENCOURAGERS
 
A perpetual pessimist served in our Army during wartime. Despite the fact that he wore a uniform and swore loyalty to the United States, he ended up aiding the enemy. Although he never took up arms against his countrymen, his WORDS were just as detrimental. All day long he constantly uttered dispiriting remarks such as, "There is no way we can come out of this alive!" or "We will lose this battle for sure!"  His commander, sensing that he was demoralizing his unit, removed him from the front lines and restricted him to quarters. He was eventually court-martialed. He was ultimately found guilty of criminal behavior and sentenced to a year in prison.
 
That soldier is only one of countless examples of people whose negativity infected and discouraged others. Do you recall the story of the 10 spies that “discouraged the heart of the children of Israel” (Numbers 32:9)? Instead of encouraging their countrymen to move forward by the strength of Jehovah (as did Joshua and Caleb), these pessimists effectively turned God's people into cowards.


Unfortunately, pessimists are sometimes found in the Lord's church. Comments like "That program won’t work!”,  “We’ve tried that before!” or "This church will never grow!"  have discouraged countless Christians. Pessimists have stunted the growth of many churches, and caused more than a few to divide.
 
THANK GOD, HOWEVER, FOR ENCOURAGERS IN THE CHURCH! Like Barnabas of old (“Son of encouragement”), these Christians focus on what is right with the church and her members! Although all Christians fail at times, the encouragers focus on our strengths and potential. They constantly remark, “I thank God for you!  I’m glad you are here! You make a difference to the church!”
 
We are living in dark days. The upcoming election is worrisome, worldliness is widespread, and riots and murder dominate the news. We all desperately need a good word; kind thoughts; perpetual reminders that we are important, needed and loved!  The wise man wrote "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." (Proverbs 12:25)
 
Thank God for the encouragers at Milan! Keep up your great words!
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis