What's The Big Deal About The KJV? (part 4)

One of the main arguments people give for not reading the King James Bible is that it is archaic. We can watch Shakespeare without having to update it. College students are even encouraged to read Shakespeare! Gilbert and Sullivan plays are performed all the time without making a modern script. Why do we need a Bible with modern lingo? What's wrong with getting a dictionary out and expanding your vocabulary? We shouldn't allow ourselves or our children to become dumbed down just because others don't want to put the effort into learning!

Healthy Minute- Kegel Exercises

Exercise is something that we all need. Eventually, everything runs south! But, we can't help our bodies out with regular exercises to strengthen and tone. This will give us energy and will help with our health all around.

Most people think of only two types of exercises- cardio and weight training. But there is a muscle that most people overlook when doing both of these, and it is the pelvic floor muscle.

The pelvic floor muscles run from the front of your pelvis (stomach area) to the back of your pelvis (lower back area) and help to hold all of your internal organs inside of your pelvis. When these muscles become weak, or in a woman's case stretched out from having children, the internal organs begin to drop. Typically, the first sign that this has happened is some form of incontinence.

Kegel exercises are important for both men and women alike.
This video will tell you a little more about how to do kegel exercises for women. 

 

 

 

 This video will tell you a little more about how to do kegel exercises for men.

 

 

How to do Kegel exercises: from the Mayo Clinic

It takes diligence to identify your pelvic floor muscles and learn how to contract and relax them. Here are some pointers:

• Find the right muscles. To identify your pelvic floor muscles, stop urination in midstream. If you succeed, you've got the right muscles.
• Perfect your technique. Once you've identified your pelvic floor muscles, empty your bladder and lie on your back. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for five seconds, and then relax for five seconds. Try it four or five times in a row. Work up to keeping the muscles contracted for 10 seconds at a time, relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions.
• Maintain your focus. For best results, focus on tightening only your pelvic floor muscles. Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Avoid holding your breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.
• Repeat 3 times a day. Aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions a day.

Don't make a habit of using Kegel exercises to start and stop your urine stream. Doing Kegel exercises while emptying your bladder can actually weaken the muscles, as well as lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder — which increases the risk of a urinary tract infection.

The Paradox Of Christ (poem)

The Bible is filled with opposites which every Christian should know.

It's only by learning these paradoxes will the Christian grow.

The Creator of the universe was born in a cattle stall,

There was no room for Him, yet He has room for all.

The Bread of Life was hungry upon the mountain top.

The Water of Life was thirsty, but on Calvary there was not a drop.

Those who want to be the greatest must have a servant's life.

We are called to be soldiers, and yet, we shouldn't have strife.

The Lamb of God is the Shepherd who gave his life me,

And thru his death I am granted life eternally.

Those who want to gain their life, must lose it to his will.

And the man who holds his life as dear, will lose everything still.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah is called the Son of Man

But throughout time He is known as the Great I Am.

He who is the Door of Life has the keys of death and hell.

Those who will may enter in- others we must tell!

Christ is the glorious Conqueror, yet He is also the Suffering Son;

Cursed and hung upon a tree, and still the Holy One.

"It is finished!" was his cry as He gave up the Ghost,

From the throne, He rules and reigns above the Heavenly Host.

I lay my life down and take it again; the temple built in three days.

The Word of God which fills Heaven and Earth in two words- Jesus Saves!

What is my life but a vapor that quickly goes away?

But what I do upon this earth will be rewarded some day!

Grass and flowers wither and fade, as a leaf I'll fall away,

But my tears are in His bottle, and He'll always hear me pray!

You see, we must be humble and we must learn to be wise,

The paradox of the Christian life will take you by surprise!

-JCT

The Prisoner In The Third Cell (book review)

The Prisoner In The Third Cell is written by Gene Edwards. It talks about something that each of us face on a daily basis- Whose fault is it?

The prison, whom you will see is John the Baptist, has been imprisoned by Herod. He did nothing worthy of being imprisoned, and yet, here he finds himself in the third cell of a Roman prison.

There are two other cells mentioned. The man in the first cell blames other men for all his problems. Nothing is really his fault. It's all because of the choices other people that have paved the way for him to be thrown into his current predicament.

The man in the second cell blames God for his problems. Like the man in the first cell, nothing is really his fault. Circumstances outside his control have led him to the misery he now faces.

In this book, John must face the question "Whose fault is it?" Will John blame spiritual intervention beyond his control or will he blame the sinfulness and unpredictablility of man as the culprit?

This book lets us see that there is actually more than just two answers to the question. And it'll open your eyes to the possibility that what you're going through isn't actually a punishment, but may be a blessing in disguise.

How Will They Hear? (song)

Christ had one request- that we would harvest souls and share the gospel.

Funny Happenings- No Running!

It seems like for every hour you spend in church, you spend most of that time fussing at children not to run inside a church building.

One night, our church was having "Family Night". I was watching a 7 year old zip through the pews at warp speed- up one aisle, then back down the next.

I figured, instead of just fussing at him, I could show him why he shouldn't run in church. I called him and my son over to me. My son had tripped while running in the auditorium and caught his eye on the corner of a pew.

I told my son to close his eyes, and then pointed out the scar to the other boy, "Do you see that scar?" I questioned, and turned to see if he was looking.

The boy got up real close and took a good look at the scar. Then, he stepped back, threw his hands into the air, and replied, "I didn't touch him!"

Believer's Heritage- Billy Sunday

 William Ashley Sunday was born in 1862 on his grandparent's farm in Iowa. His family wasn't wealthy. His father, a bricklayer, died in the Civil War when he was 10.  His mother couldn't provide for him, so he went to live in the Iowa Soldier's Home For Orphans.

As a teenager, he started to play baseball for a local team in Marshalltown, Iowa. It was here he was noticed by the professional baseball team now known as the White Sox. He started playing baseball in 1883 for the Chicago White Stockings, jumping to the Pittsburg Pirates and then the Philadelphia Athletics.

It was during this time, in 1886, that he learned about Christ through the Pacific Garden Missions in Chicago. He met his wife Helen Thompson during this time and they were married in 1888. 

Billy had been feeling the call to preach when the YMCA asked him to leave baseball and come preach at their services, which he did in 1891.

Billy turned down a $400 per month salary to play baseball for an $84 per month ministry. The ball team is said to have offered him $500 a month and even $2,000 per month to come back. But Billy had decided to serve Christ.

He started working with two travelling evangelists, and after a revival in Iowa, Billy started evangelistic campaigns across the United States, first in the West, and then in large cities in the East after WWI. His wife Helen helped to organize his campaigns, spoke at women's meetings, and was there to support him when he needed it.

Billy Sunday's preaching was rather rough. He used words that most of the preachers of his day would have cringed to use. This even caused some of the ministers of his time to criticize him. Billy's response was, "I want to preach the gospel so plainly that men can come from the factories and not have to bring a dictionary." He often used his entire body and other nearby objects in his sermons. No doubt, he kept the audience attention while he delivered the message of salvation.

Towards the end of his life, Billy was offered a million dollars to play in movies, but Billy still was committed to serving God. Money wasn't going to keep him from the ministry.

Billy is said to have preached to millions and it's estimated that around 300,000 came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as a result of his ministry.

"I'm against sin, I'll kick it as long as I have a foot. I'll fight it as long as I have a fist. I'll butt it as long as I have a head. I'll bite it as long as I've got a tooth. And when I'm old and fistless and footless and toothless, I'll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition." And he did. He went home to be with the Lord in 1935 after a heart attack at the age of 73.

His wife went on to help raise money for rescue missions and Christian ministries. She was active at Bob Jones University and Youth for Christ. She followed her husband's example in ministry until the Lord took her home in 1957.

Peach Tart Pie With Crumble Topping recipe

Preheat oven to 375*. This recipe will bake all at once, but has to be put together in 3 parts.

Crust:

1/2 cup cold butter

1 1/4 cups flour

1 egg yolk

2 to 3 TBS cold water

Cut cold butter into flour until little balls form. Add the egg yolk and 1 TBS water. Mix and gradually add more water until the dough is moist. Press into a baking pan. I like to use a deep cast iron skillet.

Filling:

4 1/2 cups sliced peaches

2 tsp lemon juice

1/8 tsp salt

3 TBS corn starch

3/4 cup sugar/ brown sugar mix

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

You can use fresh or defrosted peaches. Mix the peaches with the lemon juice. In another bowl, mix the salt, cornstarch, sugar/ brown sugar mix, cinnamon, and nutmeg together. Add to the peaches and mix together well. Fill the pie crust.

Topping:

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 stick butter

Mix ingredients together and sprinkle on top of the peaches. Bake at 375* for 45 to 55 minutes.

Who Is Going To Fill Their Shoes? (video sermon)

Bro. Mark McGaughey asks the question, "Where is Christianity going?" One day, the preachers who are preaching now are going to be old, possibly retired or passed on. Who is going to win the next generation? It won't be the carnal, worldly Christians today who are worried about what their friends, family, or others think instead of what God thinks! It'll be the men who stand for truth and don't compromise no matter what it costs them.

Murmurings And Disputings

Philippians 2:14-15- Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Boy does Paul ask a lot! Murmuring is complaining and disputing is arguing. Paul says we are suppose to do all things without complaint and argument. I'm not sure about you, but I know I haven't reached that point.

Paul urges us to control ourselves because of our testimony, or our reputation, to those around us. As Christian's we should be different from the world. And one of those differences should be our ability to control our emotions and our tongues.

I Corinthians 1:20- Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Many people go around arguing because they think it makes them look smarter than others. God doesn't need you to show off your wisdom; he needs you to spread the gospel. Do you know what God says about these people?

I Timothy 6:4-5- He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

He says their pride leads to a lot of trouble and warns that you should stay away from them.

Job 6:25-26- How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

Job asks a very good question. What good comes from arguing? The only thing that happens is people become angry, usually say things they shouldn't, and our flesh leaves feeling justified while God's Word is ignored.

Titus 3:1-2- Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

We aren't to be brawlers. We're to be meek and gentle. Christ himself didn't waste much time arguing. He spoke the truth and went on.

What do you think will effect people more? Your wisdom or God's truth? Will hearts be changed by your disputation or by God's Word?

II Timothy 2:23-26- But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Sometimes people ask questions just so they can argue their point. When this happens we should walk away. We need God's wisdom to help those who need to be recued from the devil's grip. How? Thru strife? No! With a gentle, patient meekness. And that's not something the world knows how to deal with.

The world expects you to bow up and argue and defend your point. God wants us to meekly spread His Word.

Proverbs 15:1-2- A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

A soft answer comes from listening to and practicing God's Words. The tongue of the wise is full of scripture and knows when to block, stab, or sheath the sword.

Sometimes you need to block the attack- stop the argument before it starts.

Sometimes you need to use scripture to shut the mouth of fools- not your own wisdom.

And sometimes we need to just sheath our sword and walk away. There's no reason to waste time on a hard head who only wants to prove he's right when there's a soul somewhere searching for the truth.

In all of these scenario's you are side-stepping an argument and spreading God's Word.

Philippians 3:20- For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Our conversation should be scripture. Our thoughts and actions should be those that please our Savior.