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In every sporting event, or field of accomplishment, there’s someone who sits at the top.  Sometimes for long, other times short-lived.  Inevitably, someone better or more skilled, will set the bar higher.

As our kids were growing up, they probably viewed me as “tight,” or even cheap!  But I wasn’t! Frugal would be a better word!  I mean, our son didn’t want a regular .99 burger, he wanted a Whopper; except, he didn’t want lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, mustard or anything! In the end, he was getting a regular burger at 3x the price! So, I had to compensate!

Our youngest daughter and wife, both purchase things without knowing what they cost. Our other daughter was money-conscious, like me-until she married.  Now, all three of them say, “I see it, I need it, I buy it; no questions asked.  I, on the other hand, ask, “Why pay $2.49 for tomatoes when they’re $.79 nearby?”  Oftentimes when we go to, or return from Sam’s or Costco, my wife will describe a cabinet of item she’s seen.  When I ask the price, she’ll not know because she doesn’t look at it.

As I once wrote, many years ago, my son and I watched a comedy show where a man had a dark greenish, almost brownish bottle.  It was ketchup! “How did it get that color?”  He was asked on the show.  He used to visit diners and other eateries, but not to eat!  He would swipe the small ketchup packages, go home, and squeeze them into his bottle!  He didn’t care how long it took him, or how much squeezing he had to endure!  He just wanted to save!  My son and I laughed hard!  He realized just what being cheap actually looked like, and I laughed because I was dethroned! 

In deeper things, there are people thinking God’s asleep.  They think mankind has figured out so many things, God’s no longer needed; if He’s ever existed to begin with.  Some, feel, He’s only a figment of man’s imagination. Many believe He’s been dethroned ages ago.

Reminds me of one of my sociology classes where I posed a question to the professor, something like this: “If God created the world 5960 years ago, and Adam was formed at 9 am, and the world believed it and accepted it, then why does the world now say it isn’t so?  Why are they now saying we evolved?  His response: Nodding his head in agreement with my numbers, he said, “We now know better.”  To him, God was dead, dethroned!

Surprise!!!  God’s still on His throne!! He’s never left it! Never will!  Psalm 102:12 (AMP version) reads: “But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever [ruling eternally as sovereign]; And [the fame and glory of] YOUR name [endures] to all generations.”

God’s not nervously chewing His nails because a measly few billion people don’t believe He exists!  He’s in full control of everything everywhere!  And sadly, He won’t forget them who reject Him.

“I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool.  His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him.  A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.  The court was seated, And the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9,10 NKJV).

Just because He’s referred to as the Ancient of Days doesn’t mean He’s an old man whose throne room smells of Ben-Gay, Muscle Rub, or Vick’s! He’s not getting by with a crutch or an emerald-studded walker!  It means He never ages! He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)!

If you’ve been dethroned in some achievements, or, never won anything to begin with, you can be sure you’ll be on His throne when you get to heaven!  Be an overcomer in Christ and secure your seat NOW!

“To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21).

God Bless! Sam

Growing up with the cartoon family of modern cavemen, was fun! I’m sure those wrapped up in the theory of Evolution, enjoyed getting a glimpse of early life before the invention of, well, everything!  I enjoyed watching them get into their vehicle and zoom away on leg-power!

Two-weeks ago, we took a long trip for my wife’s sister’s memorial.  Returning, we hit one of the thousands of potholes on Puerto Rico’s “pristine” roads. The Check Engine light went on.  We continued for miles on end. Probably, fifty miles later, and dozens of bumps later, the light turned off the following week!  This past week, it lit up again!  When I shared our wonderful road adventures with my kids, especially about the Check Engine light, our youngest’ response was spot-on! She wrote, “It wants you to make sure it’s still there after that bump!!!

I immediately thought of the Flintstones! It sometimes feels as though parts of our vehicle drops on the roads as we go about our business!  Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s happened!  Nevertheless, time to head to the mechanic.

What about you? Are you hitting bumps and potholes in your daily living? Sometimes feel like the bottom’s falling out? Have you lost vital parts such as integrity, reliability, or self-discipline?  Has your heart’s Check Engine light gone on?  Are you waiting for a few more “bumps” to turn it off?  Don’t ignore it!  Read:

“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.  Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence towards God” (1 John 3:20, 21).

Translation: If our heart convicts us, take the matter to God-He’s greater than our heart and understands us. But if all is well within our heart, we then have peace towards Him, and all’s good.

Read the fine print: “This is the book of the generation of Adam, in the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; male and female created he them; and blessed them” (Genesis 5:1,2).

In His image we were created; didn’t evolve from any fish, lower life-form, cavemen, Flintstones, or other things!

God Bless!

Sam

I was just looking online at bathroom vanities. Wow, prices have really shot up! Of course, wood species and other parts dictate final pricing, but a basic 30” solid cedar wood, one-sink vanity started at $1700!  A double vanity went to almost $4000 bucks. And that’s without a mirror!  Heck, I can buy lots of other stuff for that amount. Bottom line, vanities are expensive!

King Solomon, A.K.A. the Preacher, had a lot to say about vanities.  Was he talking about Monkeypod wood species?  Was it teak, or IPE?  Were they double vanities overlaid with gold and diamond-crusted fixtures?  Afterall, He did have gold and silver lying around in abundance like stones or rocks; (2 Chronicles 1:15 AMPC).  We’d say, “like loose change.” Not at all!  He referred to a different form of vanity.

“Vanity of vanities, said the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).

These days, there is a lot vanity everywhere!  Human vanity is very expensive. To be vain is to be prideful. Pride is sin.  It’s so powerful, it caused Lucifer’s downfall (Isaiah 14:11), and it’ll cause yours and mine too, if we live by it.  More so, it’ll keep us away from God. 

Look around and you’ll see it everywhere from show-offs with certain outfits, like ridiculous-priced purses, to watches, to folks who spend fortunes in overnight stays where, regardless of who they are, will fall asleep on a chair or floor, as easily as on a luxurious bed.

That kind of vanity does belong in a bathroom after all! It can be flushed!  Does God have any say on it?  Yep!  “Be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5).

 Rid yourself of vanity, and you’ll be able to look in the mirror and see yourself as God sees you: a loveable child walking in humility, and in need of a Savior.  Results? God will exalt you-minus the pride.

God Bless!
Sam

Everybody loves sunshine. Occasionally, we enjoy overcast, or cloudy days, maybe even some snow, sleet, and hail so we can stay home from school or work.  But sunshine is what we look forward to.

George Harrison sang Here Comes the Sun-giving us hope from cold, lonely wintry days, to better, happier times.  The world is now in turmoil due to crime, inflation, housing woes, political unrest, etc.  But on the horizon, there’s hope! Not just any son is on the way, but The Son; The Son of God!  The messier the world gets, the clearer the signs of His return.  As the song, Days of Elijah goes,

Behold, He comes riding on the clouds, Shining like the sun at the trumpet’s call, lift your voice, it’s the year of Jubilee, Out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes.

In Israel, the Year of Jubilee was held every 50 years. In it, lands and homes were returned to former owners. Debts forgiven, slaves and prisoners, freed (Leviticus 25:10-38). Likewise, when Christ returns, He will make all things right!

“And when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).

God Bless,

Sam

Recommended Song: Days of Elijah (Lyric Video) by Central Baptist of Crocket

Growing up I was a Speedy Gonzalez kid, a Bing, Bing, Ricochet Rabbit flying all over the place.  I was always on the go. As a track runner in JHS and high school, there were many runners who didn’t seem to know the difference between one lap and ten laps, or one mile and ten miles.  Kind of like my wife who can’t tell the difference between one foot and ten feet, unless of course, she counts all the toes!  Many runners zoomed all-out in sprint form on a two-mile run!  They quickly dropped out. 

For outstanding achievements, some of us received awards for our triumphs.  Although, while running indoors at the NY Armory on 168^th Street, runners who fell on the wooden track were said to receive a red (bloody), wooden medal!

Whether you’re an athlete or a smart cookie, you’ve probably received your share of awards at an event meant to honor victories and accomplishments.  But in God’s Kingdom, this isn’t a sprint!  It’s a marathon, and only He knows where the finish line is and when we’ll cross it.  Sprint, and you’ll burn out. Trot along, more like Slowpoke Rodriguez.  Go the distance!  Don’t give up! 

God’s no stranger when it comes to rewards!  If you’re a believer in Jesus as Lord and Savior and Son of God, then you’re in for a treat!  Of course, God does things a bit different from the rest of the world!  One would think that if things don’t go great, or you suffer torture, or get killed, you won’t get anything-bummer.  “Not so, Grasshopper!”

Actually, God will reward those who have left it all, lost it all, suffered immensely, have endured torture, lies, persecution, received death threats, have lost legs, arms, sight, spouse, kids, and have sacrificed their lives for His work.  Potentially, the greater your loss, the greater your reward.

So, how can you get rewarded for God’s work?  Do you set out to get slapped around, punched in the gut, or shot at for getting on others’ nerves? Absolutely not!  You simply live for Him.  No one knows the road He’s chosen for us.  Only He knows the potholes and bumps therein. Our job is to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23).  We simply live out our faith. He knows what attacks are from the enemy, and how we fare. Check out His promise:

 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-13 NKJV).

So, when will this event take place, and what do I wear… my red shoes, what purse, my flowing gown…my tux, my Joker Converse sneakers???  Relax, have a seat!   We won’t be here for that event.  We’ll be in God’s home and He knows exactly what we’ll need. This will all take place at The Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).  Trust me, it’ll be like no other awards assembly ever!  You probably won’t cry any tears of joy since God will have wiped them all away, but I’m sure we’ll all know how joyful you’ll be!  Uncontainable JOY! 

Think of the guests, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Adam, Eve…and the Body of Christ will also be there, as will the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!  Amazing!  We’ll finally see them as they are!

SPEECH, SPECH, SPEECH!

Sam

Have you found Mr. Wright, as in the Wright Brothers, and he flew the coop?  Or, Ms. Left, as in, she left me already?  Are you waiting to tie the not-so -right-person?  Cut the rope!  Bummer!

If you’re waiting on Mr. Right, the guy that’ll marry you, quick, lasso him immediately and tie the knot!  There’s no reason why you can’t have a serious relationship and why you shouldn’t want one.  It’s like a prelude to our relationship with Christ.  How we treat one another reflects how we treat the Lord, and how the Lord relates to us.’

Probably 70% of marriages fail because one, or neither person is seeking, or able to deliver what matters in the marriage. For example, let’s say, you’re both runners, if your marriage is based on how well you train, how far or fast you can run, or the type of clothing you need for a meet, your marriage will run off course, leaving you in the dust (pun intended).  If you both cook or bake, ingredients are not what’s missing in your relationship unless you’re talking about love, patience, commitment, tolerance, long-suffering, etc.

Everyone wants a marriage made-in-heaven, but remember, you’re living here on earth.  There’s no such thing as a perfect union because no one’s perfect! What y’all should be talking about is how to please God, how to live within His will, how to make amends, how to prefer one another over yourselves (Romans 12:10).

Look at it this way, we’re the Bride of Christ (No, not the bride of Frankenstein), and look at how petty we can be!  Maybe that’s why He hasn’t returned yet!  Were He pulling on His hair, He’d been bald centuries ago!  But “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9).

He loves us so much He’s willing to wait for us.  But time’s running out!  Build a relationship with your spouse NOW on things that matter!  Build it on the ROCK-not Dwayne Johnson, but on Jesus Christ!

Meanwhile, Mr. Right might be late or delayed, or missed the bus, or missed a left turn to your heart, but be comforted knowing that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, is never late or lost, won’t skip out on you, and is eagerly looking forward to seeing you at the altar where His love for you is forevermore.

AWAITING HIS RETURN,

Sam

Recommended Song: I’ve Always Loved You Third Day

Television commercials in 1978 showed the Crazy Eddie brand store on TV commercials promoting all kinds of electronics.  The guys on the block were ecstatic.  There were Technic turntables, Dynamo speakers, cassette decks, top-of-the-line tuners, receivers, and amps, to name a few.  The actor, Jerry Carroll, would end by saying, “His prices are insane!!!”

Educators, and others, define insanity as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different outcomes.”  We sometimes function the same way.  As one of our professors once said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” Can’t get different results if doing the same thing all the time.  God says the same thing!

He made with His people, Israel, a covenant in which He’d reveal Himself to them as they walked in His ways according to rituals established, and according to His word.  But He also told them He’d give them a New Covenant.  But they grew comfortable and pleased in their original pact, which could never produce the results contained in the new pact.  In order for the second covenant to go into effect, they had to “Do away” with the first one-which they didn’t, and haven’t.

To know when the new covenant was going into effect, they had to be attentive to His word and His prophets, which they weren’t doing.  The signs were present, but they were absent.

The interesting thing is, even today, not just Israel, but millions of people are still operating under the old covenant and missing out on God’s blessings. What comes to mind is in Bourn Legacy, when Jeremy Renner is trying to get ahold of blue pills unaware, they were phased out long ago.  Likewise, God did a new thing two-thousand years ago and people are still bound by the same old covenant-traditions.  That’s insane!  

So, what’s the big deal with the new covenant? Well, the old one required sacrifices and observances of ordinance. It required rituals and blood offerings and cleansings, etc. It required being “Whole;” not unclean before people and prior to presenting oneself before God. Whereas, changes in the “New,” did away with those things.  Check it out:

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1).

Everything in the law was a shadow of what was to come.  It was like a rehearsal for the actual show.

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).

God promised in Isaiah 43:19:
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the deserts.”

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant I made with their fathers…” (Jeremaih 31:31-32a).

Let’s leave insanity behind!  It’ll only get us to the nuthouse! King Solomon did say, “I went down to the garden of nuts” (Song of Solomon 6:11); were nutty people there?!

 Serving God is like getting a pre-filled-out, pre-approved loan application.  It’s already done!  Christ already PAID the entrance-to-heaven fee!  Discard the rituals! Get rid of the candles, the incense, the potpourri, the long robe, the veils, the ointments, the funny languages, the voices, even the mats and the seances, and everything else you think will draw you closer to God!  Don’t cut yourself, don’t mutilate your body, and no piercings necessary to enter into a new covenant with God!  Only need a seeking and repentant heart.  Sign up NOW!

The Fine Print: “Therefore, by the deeds of the law, no flesh shall be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).

Join Insanity-Anonymous!

FREE-TO-BREATHE,

Sam

Linda Ronstadt sang, “You’re No Good, you’re no good, you’re no good, baby, you’re no good.”  We sometimes come across relationships that are less than stellar, no good. They can take us down bad or hurtful paths.  Fleetwood Mac sang, “Don’t Stop thinking about tomorrow…it’ll soon be here, better than before.”  That’s sometimes hard to grasp. But then there’s God’s reassurance that even though dark days lie ahead for those outside His fold, in Him, great things await His children.  That’s good!

On the other hand, we sometimes come across good finds-bargains, deals too good to pass up.  My dad would walk us up and down Graham Ave. and Moore St. in Brooklyn, NY knowing where to go to get the best deals at the best prices for his hard-earned cash.  Of course, when I was nearing twelve, it was a bit embarrassing for me when shopping for clothes. My dad would haggle back and forth for a good deal. One time we passed by a familiar store but he wouldn’t pay a certain amount for a shirt.  We walked the neighborhood only to go back and purchase there anyway.

During the week of creation, God said every day was good, except on the second day where some say He didn’t create anything new, only divided.  However, seeing everything was good, He knew something was lacking.  In Genesis 2:18, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a helper suitable for him.” And so, God made the best thing ever-females!  That’s great!  But as good as good is, and as wicked as bad is, change is on the way!

 Soon, after the righteous are rewarded, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb celebrated, the wicked judged, everything on this earth over and done with, after God wipes away every tear from our eyes, and death and sorrow, and crying and pain, is gone; and after all former things are passed away, He that sits upon the throne shall say, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:4,5). 

Wickedness will be no more and God will no longer say, “It is good,” simply because everything will be excellent!  And we shall reign with Him who alone is Awesome!

Praise the LORD!
Sam

Recommended Songs: Goodness Of God, Jenn Johnson, So Good, Vineyard Worship, Awesome God, Rich Mullins

Some people have a great name, and it gets them to great places or helps them stay out of trouble!  Some people have a song in their heart which they sing when they’re happy or sad. The tune may help them through difficult times.  Still others, might have a dream which they’re holding on to in order to get where they need to go.  These are three things useful in life.

Hard to believe, but a bit over fifty years have transpired since the death of folk singer, Jim Croce, at age thirty.  His songs impacted lots of people in the short time he was popular.  And they still do. A favorite of mine, I Got A Name, deals with the three points above.

You may have a name you wished you didn’t.  Then again, you might love it.  You may have an old song that’s out of tune with those around you, but you still sing it.  Maybe your dream, as wrote poet, Langston Hughes, has dried up like a raisin in the sun, or maybe it’s deferred.

Regardless of your circumstances, as the late Jim Croce sang, “I got a name…and I’ll carry it with me like my daddy did.” I got a song…And I carry it with me and I sing it loud…I’ve got a dream…and you know I can share it if I wanted to…”

It’s a great song by a talented singer.  The lyrics, “Moving me down the highway, rolling me down the highway, moving ahead so life won’t pass me by” are the saddest part of his short life.

Like so many people, the singer wanted to enjoy all life offers before it passed him by.  Yet, it was cut short in an airplane crash.  There are no guarantees in life.  Tomorrow is elusive.  Don’t count on tomorrow to live and do what you can accomplish today.  For many, it never comes.

Christ has given us a new name; a new identity (Isaiah 62:2).  He’s put a new song in us (Psalm 40:3).  He’s given us dreams to dream and to fulfill (Jeremah 29:11; Joel 2:28). Enjoy your new name today! Sing out loud the song God has given you!  Fulfill your dreams ASAP!  God has done all that for us out of love.  Live in the moment.  Cherish each breath. Reach others for Him.  Keep moving before life p-a-s-s-e-s you by.

God Bless!
Sam

Harlem Langston Hughes, 1951; I Got a Name Jim Croce, 1973

Have you ever been passed by and left on the floor when others were asked to dance?  Maybe the creep stood you up (left you floored-in a negative way).  Maybe he had a lame excuse for leaving you hanging.   Growing up, we called someone who left you flat, a flat-leaver. 

Maybe your heart’s been broken so many times not even the best glue can piece it together.  Maybe you were at a game and you lost-bigtime.  No number of Life-Saver candies can save you. Maybe, as in my case, you’ve recently lost both friends and family members.  Even before we knew it, my wife’s oldest sister died New Year’s Day.  It’s easy to sing the Blues!

But we have a choice: Sing the Blues, Sit it out, or Dance it out!  Like a cat, we can lick our wounds, howl like a dog, roll in the mire like an oink-oink, or do something different.

Lee Ann Womack sang,                                                                                                                            

“Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,  And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance… I hope you dance (dance) I hope you dance (dance).”                                    

See, we can lament many things.  We can dwell on the bad and never move beyond the pain and hurt and sink into depression.  Satan loves that.  He doesn’t want us to prosper.  Nothing brings him more satisfaction than seeing people nearly destroyed or beaten down.

  We can sit it out because no one’s asked us to dance and wallow in misery feeling sorry for ourselves.  Oh, I know, the reasons are real and the pain unbearable. Feels like we might not even make it through the night, let alone face tomorrow.  Or, we can get up and dance alone.  Like a blind man’s sight restored, or a healed lame man, we can cast aside our cane, the staff, our walker or security blanket and leap for joy in dance before Him!

As you hit the floor in dance, you’re not alone!  God’s actually there with you!   He’s not a stiff!  He’s not a grumpy old man.  He’s not hunched over wearing a long gown with a beard reaching the floor!  He moves with you!  Put on your dancing shoes and rejoice in victory and dance before Him!  They’re not only acts of praise and thanksgiving, but an overflow of our gratitude within. Let God’s promises for a new tomorrow remove all doubt and unbelief from you today!  Allow His word to seal your heart with trust and confidence NOW!  Check it out:

“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes” (Isaiah 35:4-7).

Rejoice before Him!

Sam

PS “Let them praise his name with dancing” (Psalms 149:3a). Recommended Song: I Hope You Dance Lee Ann Womack