Saturday, September 30, 2006

HO! HO! IT'S Off TO WORK WE GO!

It seems like I just don't have enough time in the day to get everything done. I was going to write a new post, but now I get to go to work and ride a train. There was some college football games I was going to watch, but OH NO!

I hope you have a good weekend and see you next time.

God Bless You

Friday, September 29, 2006

Do We Have The Same Team?

Well it is Friday and another week has gone by. I worked the last couple of days so I wasn't able to post. We are going to enjoy a beautiful weekend in Cheyenne if the weatherman's prediction comes true. I hope that your weekend will be nice also.

My daughter Jasmine is coming over today to visit and pick up a NFL Steelers Jacket that I was able to get for her. It is fun around here because not one of us has the same team for our favorite. My son-in-law Tim likes the Raiders. That is good because they are not doing very good so far in the season and they need support. We have fun with it even though we want different teams to win.

It is nice that we are all on the same team in our spiritual life. We have one God who is in heaven. Even though we have one God, He is three distinct Persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the Christian religion, it is referred to as the Trinity. The New Unger's Bible Dictionary gives this definition (Trinity. The term by which is expressed the unity of three Persons in one God. The Christian doctrine is: (1) That there is only one God, one divine nature and being. (2) This one divine Being is tripersonal, involving the distinctions of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (3) These three are joint partakers of the same nature and majesty of God.) It is essential to the understanding of the Scriptures.

[THE FATHER]

How do I know it is true? Romans 1;19-20 (Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 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, so that they are without excuse,) Now God tells us that we are not going to be able to say we didnt know about Him and that He exisited.

[THE SON]

How do I know it is true? John 1;1-2 ( In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.) Now here we find that the second person of the Trinity, the Son "Jesus" was with the Father in the beginning. Still not convinced? Matthew 1;21 ( She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.) Need More? Matthew 1;23 ("Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us".) The Scriptures tells us many places that Jesus is God.

[THE HOLY SPIRIT]

How do I know it is true? Matthew 3;16-17 ( When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God decending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.") Need more? John 14;16 ( I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.) John 14;26 ( But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.)

So as you can see, there is a Trinity in heaven. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. One last proof? When Jesus was speaking to the disciples, He told them in Matthew 28;19 ( Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.) Now this is straight from God the Son.

I pray that this helps explain the Trinity. I encourage you to search the scriptures for yourself. Don't take my word for it. Ask God to explain His word to you so you can understand.

God Bless You

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Exercising The Heart And Mind

Good Morning
It has been a couple of days since I have had time to post. I have been riding trains which has kept me busy. I guess I don't pay the bills unless I go to work. You might say " that seems like it would be fun to ride trains for a living". It used to be, now it has turned into a job.

Today I get to go to the dentist. No fun! Other than that, it will be just another day in wounderful Wyoming. YEA! Right now I'm going to go down stairs and work out. Sound like fun? It is to me, because it keeps me in shape so I can eat what I want too.

Now let me ask you a question. Is your heart in shape? Oh I don't mean just physically, but is it in shape spiritually? 1Timothy 4;8-9 (For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.) God tells us that we need to exercise our mind in his word, so that we can become more Christ like.

So if you don't spend time in God's word, then make a commitment to start today to spend time with God in prayer and study of His word. If you want to know God, this is the way to learn. He wants His children to come to Him. You might say, well what will my friends think if they find me studing in my bible? God tells us in James 4;4 (You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore who ever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.) 1 John 215-17 ( Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh,the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.)

He doesn't tells us that we can't have friends, but what He does say is that He will not take second place in our lives. Matthew 10;37-38 ( He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.) So He has to be first in our life, and then he will draw near to us. To do this, in James 4;8 (Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.) Pretty easy isn't it?

I hope that this has given you a little encouragement to rely on Gods promises. I know that I have, and I have found God to be true to His word. He has changed my life, and I stand firmly on his promises. All of my faith is in Him! I pray that you will do the same. Just get on your knees and tell God that you are a sinner and you want Him to forgive your sins and come into your heart and save you. He says He will and you can trust in His word. Gods tells us in Hebrews 6;18( so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us). So now we know that He cannot lie. His words are true.

I will stop for today and give you time to draw near to God, and have your mind and heart strengthened. Happy exercising!!!

God Bless You

Friday, September 22, 2006

Eternal Life In Heaven. Do You Have It?

I think that fall is finally here in Wyoming. My trees are starting to turn color and they are talking about rain mixed with snow tonight. I look ouitside and it doesn't seem like it is going to snow, but I'm not the weatherman.

It has been so dry here for the last few years that we will be happy with any moisture that we get. We need to realize that all the moisture is a gift from God. He causes it to rain or snow or even a drought.

I have always been one who likes to watch the storms. To me it is fascinating to watch the power that is in the storms. I have been in the monsoons in VietNam and it will rain for weeks on end. Now that's a lot of rain. The people rely on the rains to fill their rice patties.

I always remember that God is in control of the seas and the skies. He gives us rain in its season and snow in its season. Sometimes I want to complain when the weather does'nt cooperate with my plans, but Gods plans are the ones that count. I'm sure that you have had the same thing happen to you. We just always need to be thankful for everthing that God gives us, even if it interferes with our plans.

God has given us so much that we take it for granted. We have our health, we live in a free country, we can worship God openly, and not all countries alow this freedom. We have an abundance of food. The list could go forever. We have the greatest gift in Christ Jesus, who gave his life on the cross for all of us sinners.

Can you imagine what it would be like to know that you had no way to get to heaven?
God knew our dire circumstances and sent his son to be the savor of the world. Romans;5:8 (But God demomstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us) Thank You God!!! for the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ your Son.

But you may say that you have no sin. Wrong!!!! 1John;1:8-10 (If we say that we have no sin, we decieve ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.)

We have to accept Jesus in our lives to have eternal life. God tells us in 1John;5:11-12 ( And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.) I would say that this is pretty plain. You either have Jesus in your life or you do not have eternal life. That means you will spend eternity seperated from God. "You won't be in heaven".

I pray that you will give your life to God before it is to late. Take time to study your Bible and see for yourself what God says. It is your only hope for eternal life in heaven with God.

God Bless You!!

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Just Stuff

Here it is 4:10PM in the afternoon and I'm still not rested. I got home at 4:30 AM and went straight to bed so that I could get a little rest before my day started at 9:00 AM. Just another day in the life of a railroad engineer.

First I had a 10:30 appt.with the doctor which has been cancelled by my doctor 2 or 3 times. So today I figured I had better make it before something else got in the way. When I got home from the doctors office I had another appt. with the cable TV person. He made it over at 1130 PM and said he would have to come back on Monday. So much for getting that taken care of.

Now I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to post on my blog. Tonight we have Thursday night church and I'm looking forward to going. The crowd is usually the same people, so it is not as large as on Sundays.

My friend in Fort Wayne, Indianna, has just completed his second week of intense training tomorrow. He is starting a new job and I pray for him. He has a lot to learn in just a few weeks. Ron D., you are in our thoughts daily.

Well, I'm going to quit for today and sign off. Just a short blog for today.


God Bless You

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

New Day

Good Morning

I got up early this morning so I could workout before my day got to busy. It just seems that if I don't get my workout in early, it might not happen. Maybe you deal with this also. I have always been an early riser so this is right up my alley. (BC my wife) and I like to enjoy some time together before we head off to work.

She has a schedule, but I just go when they call me. I have had people tell me that they could not work that way, but I have been doing it for 37 years. That seems like a long time, but it was just the other day when I hired out for the Union Pacific Railroad. Or at least that is the way it seems.

God tells us in James 4;14 ( whereas 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.) I'll bet that if you ask anyone who is older, they will tell you that their life just flew by.

If you haven't accepted Christ as your savior, don't wait. Today is the day. For we don't know what tomorrow will bring. I have had people say that they will wait untill they are ready. That time may never come for them, because today may be their last day on earth.

Salvation is a free gift from God. You cannot earn it. Ephesians 2;8-9 ( For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.) So you see that when Christ died on the cross, He paid the price of my sin and yours. We can have eternal life through Him and only through Him.

All we need to do is admit we are a sinner, Romans 3;23 ( for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.) God tells us that we are all sinners, everyone of us. Then ask Christ to come into your life and be Lord of your life. Romans 10;9-10 ( that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.) Simple as that! He doesn't say you might be saved, He says YOU WILL BE SAVED.

I pray that you won't wait for another day, because that other day might not come.

God Bless You

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

"My Wife" A Gift From God!

How many times have you heard someone thank God for his wife? Probably not as many times as they should give Him thanks.

God tells us in Proverbs 19;14 ( Houses and riches are an inheritance form fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.) I think as husbands we tend to take our wives for granted. They take care of our house, raise our children, some work outside the house in the work force, they fix our meals, comfort us when we are sick, teach our children respect for others. The list is endless.

When was the last time you told your wife you loved her? I've heard guys say, well she knows I love her. That may be true, but we all like to hear someone tell us how much they care for us. I'm as guilty as the next person when it comes to expressing my feelings. I tend to say " she knows".

In Ephesians 5;28-29 the scripture says ( So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife, loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church.)

So we have an example from Jesus, that we are to love our wife as he did the church. Proverbs 12;4 says ( An excellent wife is the crown of her husband)

I give thanks to God for my wife, and so should each one of us. Thank you Lord for giving me my wounderful loving wife!!

Don't wait, tell her how happy you are that God gave her to you, and how much she means to you, and continue to love her.

God Bless You

Monday, September 18, 2006

Controlling The Tongue

Have you ever been in a situation where you heard someone tell their child to watch your tongue? I'm sure you have. It is so easy to speak before we have time to think about what we are going to say. I know that I've said things and then wished I hadn't. Unfortunately we can't take anything back once it comes out of our mouth. Oh! we can apologize, but the hurt is already done.

God tells us in James 3:8 (But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.) So God tells us that we will all struggle with that small tongue. So we know that we aren't able to control our tongue because God tells us "NO ONE" can.

With God's help and only with His help are we able to control it. When I became a Christian my whole life changed. The things I was doing and didn't think I would be able to stop doing, God took them out of my life. It wasn't anything I done because I couldn't do it without His help.

So if you struggle in this area, ask God to help you and he will give you the victory.

God Bless You

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Saturday

I have been busy all morning paying bills and getting ready to watch some football. Not that I like football, but it only last for a few months and then we wait for another day. Watching a game gives me time to rest and enjoy something that I like.

God tells us that we are to rest. He rested after 6 days of creation and called it a day of rest. Genesis 2:3 (Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.)

God didn't need rest but set an example for us to follow in our daily work. I find myself working all the time if I don't make time for rest. We tend to get caught up in this busy life we lead and the next thing we know weeks have gone by.

I try to take time out every day to study in Gods word. I have been a christian for 22 years and have tried not to let any days go by without being in the word. I have failed of course, but the next day I get back to reading Gods word. If we don't study the scriptures, we can be easily decieved.

So the next time you find yourself working all the time, Take time for God and read his word.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Hi: Today has been a preperation day for my grandaughters birthday. Baked a cake and cupcakes for the big day. My daughter Jasmine came over to help. I can't believe how fast they grow up.

Yesterday was a busy day as I was getting the yard ready for fall to set in. When you live in Wyoming you go from summer to winter with a short fall season. God has blessed us with nice weather so far and I felt I'd better take advantage of the nice days.

This weekend I'm watching football. I enjoy watching college games. I'm a Big 12 fan and there is going to be some good games. Nebr. vs USC at California, I hope that I'm home for this game. No predictions! I just hope that it isn't a run away.

God Bless

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Finally!!!

Well, as you can see I was able to get my blog up and running. This is going to be a new adventure for me as I sometimes have thoughts that I want to share. You might find them funny, thoughtful, encouraging, or not your style. Anyway this will be my first post in my blog.