The Swimming Axehead

One of my previous jobs was as a Safety Officer and Certified Diving Medical Technician on commercial dive vessels.  Part of my duties was to attend to the medical needs of Divers both before and after their dives.  At the same time, I was responsible for the overall safety management of the vessel’s lifesaving equipment for diving and non-diving personnel.  I was also responsible for scheduling and conducting various safety drills to maintain emergency preparedness on the vessel.  Fire Drills, Evacuation Drills, and Man Overboard Drills to name a few.

I was thinking about the importance of the Man Overboard Drill and staying prepared to rescue anyone that goes into the water unexpectedly.   In a real-life man overboard situation, the person that first sees someone in the water has to immediately initiate the response.  Every person onboard must be trained and know exactly what to do if they see someone fall into the sea.
Upon seeing a person fall into the water or noticing a person in the water, the witness is required to immediately yell out “MAN OVERBOARD!” as loudly as they can. They must get someones attention so that the rescue process can be initiated.  They also are expected to keep their eyes fixed on the person in the water, so their exact location is never lost, as well as deploy any available floatation device.  On a vessel that is underway, it is vital to the rescue that the ALL STOP order be giving quickly to minimize the distance between the man overboard that their rescuers.

The remainder of the crew, regardless of their prior duties, now has but one job, to rescue their shipmate. Lifeboatmen are assigned to deploy a rescue boat and get to the person’s location as quickly as possible.  Whatever it takes, however long it takes, rescuing their lost shipmate is priority one.

Sometimes it happens too quickly, or the seas are too rough, and the person becomes lost at sea, never to be heard from or seen again.  Then the captain of the vessel will study the event to determine if mistakes were made and will seek guidance on how to prevent recurrence and other ways to improve response.  And everyone on board will usually question themselves if there may have been more they could have done to prevent this tragedy

One important thing to note is that no one has the job of going around telling everyone why they fell in, or how foolish they were for falling in.  No one is assigned the task of discussing how much they deserved to fall in or how it was their own fault that they fell in.  Everyone has the same task, the safe rescue of their shipmate.
Sometimes we are too quick to give up on someone, too easily distracted from their cause.  Even before we know if they are safe we start picking their situation apart.  When we should be calling out to the ships crew “MAN OVERBOARD!” and getting in touch with the Captian and Master to help with a quick rescue.

Most of us have had low days and questioned our position in the Kingdom of God and maybe walked a little too close to the edge, or maybe even fallen in.  Usually, we get there by becoming distracted or by our own choices, by not praying or getting too comfortable with the world.  I’ve been there, and thankfully, my Pastor was in tune enough to recognize what was happening.  He gave the “Man Overboard” call and set a watch over me until I was rescued.  Had it not been for his, albeit unorthodox rescue method I would likely have drifted too for to be rescued.

The church and specifically the soul of men is far more important than any job, yet in a lot of ways, we leave rescue to chance.  I always say of safety and rescue procedures that “Luck is a poor substitute for a Plan.”  So, what is the plan? What should we do when we see a brother or sister slipping?  How should we respond?  I don’t think we do a very good job of planning or preparing for these situations.  This is not a criticism, it is merely an observation, an OTI, as one of my old bosses would say, an Opportunity To Improve. If I’m slapping anyone here, it’s myself.  So do we have a Rescue Crew? Do we run Man Overboard drills?

Acting shocked, offended or disappointed is NOT the answer.  There’s just so little understanding about how we should be successful at such an important task.  How should we respond?  First, we should pray, pray, pray. Touch Heaven for their situation; then we need to be a support to them, show them the true Love of the Almighty, Kindness, and Compassion.  Judgment is not in our job description, right, so leave that to God.  Remember these words when you weary “But for the Grace of God this could be me.”

I’m asking you for prayer. Help me Prayer for Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding to know how to be a spiritual Lifeboatman, to understand how to rescue souls from the very mouth of destruction, to pull them back into the safety of the vessel. I also want to help the saints to understand this as well and be Rescuers of the fallen!

 

I hope you are Blessed and Called to Action as I am by this
God Bless You Richly,
Greg

 

 

Through the years I’ve heard several preachers talk about the Jesus and the Disciples and the qualifications or disqualifications most of them would have if the modern model of success were used to chose them today.  It runs pretty close to a thought that I want to share now.

First, we’ll look at a few things that would jump out about Jesus if he were to submit a resume. From a purely physical viewpoint, He was a homeless person, He was unemployed and mostly lived off handouts. He wandered through peoples gardens picking their vegetables and eating them right on the spot.  He pushed back against the religious establishment of the days and broke the law by doing His “work” on the sabbath day.
He wouldn’t be given an interview let alone considered for employment in today’s world.

Each of the 12 Disciples had some serious emotional/psychological stuff going on as well. Peter was unstable, quick-tempered and prone to fits of rage. Thomas was negative and probably bad for morale, James and John tried to elevate themselves above the rest, Matthew was a taxman, so probably didn’t have too many friends, and on and on it goes.  One writer said the Judas was probably the best suited for employment of them all if using the standards of today’s recruiters.

Throughout history God has chosen the outcasts, the wild and wooly, to make history.
There’s a quote that says well-behaved women seldom make history, I believe that goes for pretty much everyone.  I’m not talking about mistreating people or doing people wrong. I’m talking about people that are willing to step out of line, to cross conventional thinking and risk failure for what is right or take a stand for something that they believe in.

When Jesus came onto the scene, he came to change everything.  Giving mankind the opportunity for a One on One relationship with God that they needed and He longed for.
God already had synagogues full of well-dressed and proper men facilitating the old ways, which just so happened to exclude the common man from the presence and experience of God.  Under the old law, they would never be able to commune with God the way He desired, but it took upsetting the apple cart, stepping out of line and pushing against the conventional to make this happen.  Everyone involved accepted a certain amount of risk, but the reward was worth it for them and for those of us who share in that glory even now.

Most of us are confounded by the tens, hundreds and even thousands that come to the Lord in foreign lands, where our missionaries are working.  And then we can’t understand why people won’t come to “our church” and live for God.  I say, if what we are doing is not working we must figure out what will.

Persecution of the early Church caused the church to spread and to grow.  Persecution causes some changes to occur in the hearts and lives of Christians.
It forces them to move, to stop waiting for the world to come to them and causes the church to go into the highways and hedges.  It takes the message to the Lost instead of expecting the Lost to stumble upon the Church and come in.

And, it separates the wheat from the tares.  No fake Christian is going to subject themselves to the dangers when switching sides is easier, so the unfaithful depart and faith increases and therefore, so does the presence of the Holy Ghost.

I believe that our missionaries see revival more than most because they have moved out of their comfort zones, into the highways and hedges and in many cases put themselves in or very near to a state of persecution.  If it’s illegal to be a Christian where you are, and you are willing to risk your life or freedom to further the gospel, you have initiated the persecution effect.

So, what does that mean to me? For years I’ve been anxious and unsettled, you could say restless.  I wasn’t sure what needed to change, but I knew something did.
The Word is Forever Settled, so it’s not the Word that needs to change. In fact, we must be cautious that Truth always prevails and we stay true to Gods Holy Word and the commandments within.  So what needs to change? I don’t have all the answers, but I know that my approach must change, my walk must change, my desire to see souls saved must increase.

We need to start looking at the Church as a Table and the service as a meal. It’s a place I go to be nourished in my spirit.  But that’s not living for God, anybody can live for God at Church. We get Church confused with life.  The church is where Christians are replenished to survive life.  Life happens outside the walls of the Churchhouse.  You live outside of the Church, that’s also where souls are won or lost.  We have to get past thinking that we go there a couple times a week, turn on the lights and wait for the sinners to come. That doesn’t work, it hasn’t worked like that in my lifetime for sure.  Sinners are reached in the wasteland, in the highways and hedges, in the market and at the fountain.  We have stood so rigidly in defense of God’s Word and God’s Way that I’m afraid we built an almost impenetrable wall around it and can’t understand why no one is coming in.

Conventional is not the Resume “Key Word” God is looking for.  I believe with all my Heart that God is looking for Men and Women willing to shake things up, to step out of line, to go outside the normal, to get close to the action
And I also believe that Revival and an influx of souls await them that do.

God Bless You Richly
Greg

 

Luke 14:28 – 30
28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29. Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Planning
Have you ever been a part of a construction project from planning through completion, like building a House?  If so, you’ll know as the scripture above said, before you start a project, if you want to be successful, you must have a planning stage.  Once you have secured a location, you have to decide what kind of structure it will be.  Then go through plan books until you find the perfect plans or draw what you want yourself.  Then, unless you are a carpenter or have a fair amount of knowledge on this subject you have to have a professional review your plans to determine their feasibility.  Once your blueprints are sorted out, the planning can really begin. How much will it cost, how will you pay for it, who will be the general contractor, which Plumber, Electrician, HVAC guy will you use, what permits are required, and on and on and on it can go.  The planning stage is pretty long, you don’t want to rush it and discover that you’ve figured incorrectly or underestimated the cost.  It is much better to figure and refigure during this stage.   The Planning Stage is or should be fairly long, but if you do it right, it’ll speed up the actual building process.

The Build
Next, you build.  This should be straight-forward, just follow the plan. You might add this or change that, but because you planned it out most things fall into place. The contractors arrive in a specific order, do their thing, and in a few months, you have a building, a home, ready to move into and live in, hopefully for many years to come.

Maintenance
You settle into your new Home, but sooner or later you’ll hear a weird noise or notice a strange smell. You may need to call a specialist to check the systems to make sure they are functioning properly.  Just maintenance from then on, changing filters and light bulbs, a fresh coat of paint after a few years, a fridge 10 or 15 years down the road. Maintaining the investment takes work as well, and is important and will be a lot longer process than Planning and much much longer than the building phase.

Comparison
Now, let’s look at the New Testament. Not a verse or two, but almost the whole thing.
I want to make it very clear that this is an oversimplification but done so on purpose. I am a simple man and understand things simply.  I’m sure there are people better suited to explain this, but God chose me.  I’m also certain that I will cross some of your theology with what I’m about to say, again that is O.K. We can agree to disagree and be civilized about it and have as long a discussion as you’d like to have about it and hopefully remain Brothers and Sisters and Friends.
I’m open, I want all that God has for me and if you can shed some light that will help me grow as a child of God, by all means, let it shine.  Hopefully, I can shine a little light as well.  I will not debate or argue though. I don’t argue, God would not be pleased, and I’m not good at it, so I refuse to engage in it.

The New Testament, as I see and understand it.
There are four sections to the New Testament, the Gospels, The Acts, The Epistles, and Prophecy.
I’m only going to be referring to the Gospels, The Acts, and The Epistles in this message. The Book of Revelations has its own special place but doesn’t really apply to what we are saying here.

The Gospels
The Gospels were written during the dispensation of Grace about things that occurred during the dispensation of the Law. Their subject matter is Old Testament but written with New Testament insights.  These Books are about the planning stages, the setting things in motions, figuring out the cost, appointing a General contractor, getting everything to the location, revealing the carpenter, getting the paperwork in order with courts and governments, etc. Also, the Old Testament can be considered a part of the preparation for the fulfillment of The Plan!

The Acts
The Book of acts occurs immediately after the planning stage was completed. The foundation had already been laid.  The signs of a Home started when they were all in one accord and in one place. It was the spiritual building of the House. Within a few hours that day, this House grew from just a plan to 120 souls, to a few thousand, with more being added daily. The Building part only took a short time, and now there’s a Church, The Church, a Home.  The first Home, a lot of us, ever knew.

The Epistles
The Epistles are the maintenance agreement between the Builder/Landlord and the occupants. They tell the occupants how to keep the lights on, the Fire burning.  How to keep the warranties valid. How to live in this world without being of this world.  They explain how to live and how to die.

So, it is my understanding and belief that the Church was built in the Book of Acts.  Salvation and the plan of salvation were laid out and poured out in The Book of Acts.  How to get saved, along with many, many examples of people being saved are found in The Book of Acts, it is the Building of the Church.
I also, know that a large percentage of Christians believe that the plan of salvation is explained in Romans, so here are a few things to consider:

1. Peter was given the Keys to the Kingdom in Matthew 16: 18 & 19. It was Peter that preached on the Day of Pentecost. Peter walked with Jesus, saw things that only two other people ever saw, had a close and personal connection with Jesus. He was taught by Jesus directly.  Appointed by Jesus to carry the Keys.

2. The first 8 verses of Romans makes it very clear that Paul’s audience in Romans is a church, not sinners
Romans 1: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7. To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
So why would Paul write a letter to the First Church of Rome to explain Salvation, They already knew about salvation, he was teaching them about maintaining the walk and witness. 

3. There was already a Church, revival, and persecution of the Church before Paul came to the Lord in Acts chapter 9.  Peter, bearer of the Keys, again brought the original Message of salvation to the Gentiles (us) in Acts chapter 10.

4. Romans was written approximately 25 years after the Day of Pentecost.  Pentecost is believed to have occurred in the Springtime of 32 AD. Paul penned the letter to the Roman Church about 57 or 58 AD.  With the Salvation message being so important, why would God wait 25 years between pouring out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost before telling us how to get saved?

5. Romans was not the first epistle that Paul Wrote. Historical data tells us that 1st & 2nd Thessalonians, 1st & 2nd Corinthians, and Galatians were all written over an approximate 5 year period before Romans was written.  Biblically these books are not in chronological order, so again, Why would Paul write five letters to established churches about their walk and then write to another church, Romans to explain the plan of salvation?

6. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  Just to be clear that the Books of Acts was indeed talking about Salvation.

God is not the author of confusion. The Word of God will not contradict itself.  If there is confusion or the Word seems contradictory, it is in our understanding, Not the Word.  The Word Will Always Agree.

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I’m not asking you to take my word for this or anyone else’s, I am asking you to study, to pray, to work it out for yourself with Fear and Trembling.

God Bless You Richly
Greg

 

 

 

What does the Bible say about Pride? That it goes before a fall?
That’s what most of us say when we think we’re quoting Proverbs 16:18

Proverbs 16:18 actually says that “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather take a fall than to face Destruction. Destruction seems a lot harder to come back from.  If I fall, I will get up, as in Micah 7:8. But Destruction, that kind of seems permanent.  I think we are mistakenly letting ourselves of light when we misquote this scripture.

Pride and arrogance are two of my least favorite attributes in a person.  The people that I gravitate toward are the ones with an unwavering confidence in God, but humbleness and meekness about themselves.  The only thing I have to be lifted up about is Jesus, He is my everything and without him I am nothing.
As a preacher, I know that God called me, without a doubt.  He has used me both from the pulpit and out of it, I have no doubt. But still, there is nothing more humbling to me than to be used of God.  There is a boldness that comes with the anointing, but even with that boldness, I am still humbled and can clearly see my smallness and frailty.  I see what God can do through me, through other people, but I completely aware of my limits.  I know that I can barely talk one on one, let alone minister on my own.  Through Christ, All Things are Possible, through Greg, not so much.  I am both humbled and encouraged by this fact.  I know I can do nothing but fail without God, but the one thing that turns it around and makes it work is that the God that CANNOT Fail, loves me and is all the strength I need to succeed.  Admitting and submitting to this is essential to the success of anything I try.

A Proud Look
Of the Seven things that the Lord hates in Proverbs chapter 6, the first is a Proud Look. A proud look is to think more of yourself, to feel that you are better than others, to place yourself in an elevated status above others where you can look down on them.  I don’t believe that it’s a coincidence that Pride is first on this list, it’s more likely that pride is at the root of the others six.

Sadly, we have come to a place, in our society where everyone speaks their mind, and we consider that a good quality.
I don’t like what you do, you’re going to know it.  You inconvenience me, I’m going to put you in your place.
We don’t want to be offended, but we believe we have the right to put anyone who crosses us in their place.
My honest and sincerest opinion is still just that, an Opinion.  It’s not Law, not a rule. It’s an Opinion and probably better kept to myself unless asked for. And then Kindness needs to be the rule of the day.

The best piece of advice I can offer is this:
Just because a thing crosses your Mind doesn’t mean it should cross your lips (I usually say teeth instead of lips)
A whole lot of Wisdom is knowing what needs to stay on the inside and what needs to come to the outside.
Proverbs 17:28 sums it up like this:
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

The important things are not opinion, the Word of God, for instance, is not an opinion.  It is the immutable Law of the Almighty God of creation.  It’s not left to my personal interpretation, it is the Unchanging Word Of God.

Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Proverbs 16:18 & 19 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

So, what more important, getting your way and forcing your opinion of men or pleasing God. Pride leads to Destruction, but Humility God will bless.

God Bless You,
Greg

When I was a child, I would get pretty upset and freaked out by the story of the Passover.  I’m not alone in that, as I know others that are not that fond of the Passover story in the Bible.
Imagine knowing that on a specific night the Lord was going to send The Angle of Death to fly over every home in your city.  Every house that had followed the plan correctly and had the right combination of preparation, including applying the blood of a spotless lamb to the doorpost of their home, would be passed over.  Those that were not prepared would pay a high cost of disobedience.  The price was the life of firstborn of every household that did not obey.  As the oldest male child, I’d start to mentally hyperventilate a little, then I’d remember that in my understanding, the Bible was not specific to gender, only that it would be the eldest child.  Then, I’d calm down knowing my sister Connie, being the oldest, would bear that burden, not me, so it’s all good, right! Only Kidding, I Love my Sisters and Brother dearly and wouldn’t want to lose them, then or now.

I realize that my negative mindset was based on the assumption that we’d be unprepared.  Why would I even consider being unprepared? Why would I think that my parents would allow one article of the Passover requirements to go unheeded and put their eldest child’s life in peril?  That doesn’t make any sense at all.  Why would anyone, who had been warned by Moses, just sit back and risk the wellbeing of their own child by not applying the lamb’s blood? A simple thing, a very clearly laid out set of rules that would save your child from certain death and your whole household from the great grief of losing that child.  How could you neglect even one detail of such a plan?

The actual Passover was a one-time event in history, but it is recorded so vividly in God’s Word that it can almost be felt.  God also commanded that it be commemorated yearly to forever preserve its message.  The implications of the Passover are still very real and fresh reminders of our own fragility and complete dependence on God for every breath, for every heartbeat.
As I look around today, I have to wonder if the Israelites were as unconcerned as we seem to be.  Did they hear and see Gods wonders and immediately turn their backs as we do?  Maybe my childish anxiety was not that unfounded.  I see parents today blindly going about their lives with no thought to what the consequences of their actions or lack of actions will be.  Willing laying their own children on the altar of their own selfishness and sinfulness.  They seem only concerned with satisfying the flesh and numbing their mind. Risking the eternity of their family as they go about their business, distracting themselves from the emptiness and brokenness with entertainment, sports, and chemical numbness.  Making Idols of men and women and ignoring their Creator.

The rules are laid out as clearly as ever, apply the Blood of the Spotless Lamb to everything in your life or lose everything in your life. The stakes are higher now than they were at Passover, it’s not just your eldest, it’s everyone and everything in your life that is at stake.

Jesus made a way of escape as our Passover Lamb.  His Death, Burial, and Resurrection ushered in a new Day, the veil of the Temple was ripped in two, allowing lowly humans to be exposed to the Spirit of the Almighty God and His Saving Grace.  We can enter into His presence, come boldly before the Throne of Grace where our own Spiritual Death, Burial, and Resurrection can begin to be fulfilled.
Jesus purchased this Plan with the Spotless Blood of The Only Perfect Lamb, His own Blood.  He Prepared the Way, has given us the Way, and it is our responsibility to apply it to the Doorpost of our hearts. And as with everything we do Our actions or inactions affect everyone in our lives, in our circle of influence.  Make sure that the Blood of the Lamb is applied.

God Bless you richly
Greg

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a Safety Manager, my job is to, first evaluate new work a long time before it begins. To perform a hazard analysis to determine the precautions needed to keep workers safe. Then to compare that to the client’s, my company’s and regulatory requirements, such as OSHA to build an all-encompassing Safety Plan for the work to be done.  Next, we educate the project workers about the safety plan and what is required of them to help keep them safe.  Then I, along with a team of Safety Officers become the enforcement arm of the project safety management, monitoring and coaching the workers to help them prevent incidents and injuries.
Built into most Companies policies are a list of hard and fast rules that are without excuse.  Some call them the Life-Saving rules while others call them Life-Critical rules. Regardless of the name, they are the Zero Tolerance, no sympathy, no mercy, no second chance, straight to the gate if you break one, rules.  They are there as a deterrent to the things that most people wouldn’t survive, such as a fall from elevation or exposure to high voltage electrical circuits.
I have no authority to alter, change or bypass these rules and put my own job in jeopardy if I overlook this type of violation.  Once I become aware of a Critical Rule violation, I am bound to start the process of removing that individual or group from the worksite. By far one of the least favorite aspects of my job.  But, I’d have blood on my hands if I looked the other way and someone fell to their death or if I knowing let someone work in an unsafe manner and they died or were seriously injured.

Imagine if the welding superintendent came to me and said I’ve got some welds up in the pipe rack that I need done today.  I don’t have time for that safety nonsense, so you and your safety-men stay away.  I know he won’t like my answer, I know he’ll complain to the boss about me, but the lives of his men are more important than schedules, so I’ll go, or I’ll send people to stand by there all day to watch out for his people even against his wishes.  Similar things have happened to me, more than once in my career.

The Bible says that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.”
The Bible has not changed, Gods word is forever settled, it is God’s critical rules.

There are many voices out there that are offended by the message of Jesus Christ, by the scripture and the truth that is declared within the folds of that Holy Book.
Truthfully, there’s a world that seems to be offended by everything.
They seek for a man to tell them that they are O.K.  To tell them that God accepts them as they are, no change needed or expected.  They seek someone to say that they are alright in their sin. Jesus came to seek and save the lost from their sin.  Do they really want to be found, or only justified in their lostness?

It’s our Job to know the Law, to study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the word of truth.  To declare that truth from the mountaintop, in the hedges and highways.

God accepts the repentant heart. Change is inevitable to the repentant, hungry heart.  If you seek the Lord, truly seek Him and His righteousness, He will reveal Himself unto you, and you will change!
I’ve never been in a place with God that I felt like less was an option, or less is expected of me. The more I give, the more I want to give, the more I change to align with His word the more I want to seek more of His desire for my life.

It is human nature to want to be liked and be friendly, but we must be very cautious not to water down God’s Message.  Not to fall prey to the “itching ear” crowd looking for an easy message. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.
His word is forever settled.  It changes not, and my opinion is not needed.

As a Safety Man, I’d rather offend you on the job, and you get to go home to your family at the end of the day, and I get to keep my job.
Likewise, but infinite times more important, I’d rather offend you here, and you find your way to the Lord and be saved than to have you as a witness against me at my judgment for not telling you the Truth.