The Drought Continues In 2013 - My Observations In Kansas

This weekend I traveled between Buhler, Kansas and Hesston, Kansas, on a blacktop road that I have been traveling for nearly 43 years (since I acquired my license). There are several cattle ponds on this road that have been in existence all of this time...until now. The drought is widening into 2013 and the outlook is not good.
I spent the weekend in Hutchinson, Kansas, and visited with my daughter and her family. They had traveled to Cheney Reservoir a couple of days earlier and told me some amazing things about the drought's effect on Wichita's chief source of water. Wichita is Kansas largest city, over 300,000, and they believe a water crisis could be as close as a month away.  Keep in mind that Cheney Reservoir is right in the middle of the best wheat land in America. Hunger and famine are on the horizon.

As I continued to drive home through the Flint Hills of Kansas I witnessed more dried up ponds. It is truly an eye opening experience to see first hand the damage of this epic drought. I have been warning you of the dire global financial situation, bizarre animal deaths, extreme weather conditions, signs in the heavens and the coming New World Order. I believe that all of these things are portending the coming tribulation and return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3:1

King James Version (KJV)

3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Dear Reader, it's not going to get better. Times will get more and more dire as the Earth undergoes birth pangs the closer we get to the glorious appearing of King Jesus. The real question, as I have posed many times, is....are you ready?  Have you trusted in the saving work of Christ on the cross to be sufficient payment for your sins? Watch the little video in the right sidebar and peruse the articles in this site. If you have a question feel free to email me too. The most important thing you can do as far as prepping for the coming disasters is to receive Jesus as your Savior. I'm praying for you that you will make that important decision. 

Eye Opening Bible Verses That Reveal What The Scriptures Say On The Subject Of Forgiveness

I recently did a search on my favorite Bible study site, www.blueletterbible.com and found some interesting things concerning the subject of forgiveness. For starters, the word "forgiveness" occurs only 7 times in the entire Bible. The word "forgiven" is found just 42 times. You would think that there would be more occurrences of both these words but the Bible is a very efficient book and when these words are used there is a great deal of theology packed into each appearance in the Scriptures.
There are three of these verses that I want to draw special attention to as to their profound meaning and implications. The first is Ephesians 1:7...
 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
This verse is part of a running introduction that tells us what a wonderful position we are in as believers. It is because of God's grace (unmerited favor) that we have been redeemed (bought back) and experienced forgiveness of sins, all because of His shed blood. Real forgiveness is not something anyone deserves or earns and comes at a very dear cost to our Savior, His life blood. The next verse is very similar and is found in Colossians 1:14...
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
This verse tells us nothing new but does emphasize what we learned in Ephesians 1:7. However, the previous verse is connected and gives us another benefit of God's forgiveness notice what verse 13 says...
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Not only have we been forgiven, redeemed and graced but we have also been delivered from darkness and translated (present tense) into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Our forgiveness and place in God's kingdom is as certain as if we were already present with Him in heaven. 
The final verse that I want to call your attention to is found in Colossians 2:13...
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
When discussing Bible verses on forgiveness this may be my favorite verse. This verse tells us just how many sins God has forgiven and the answer is "all". There are a lot of folks today that want to tell us that Jesus death on the cross paid for all of our past sins and now it is up to us to clean up our act and atone for all our future sins. In other words, Jesus death on the cross is not sufficient for sins that we commit after we believe. What rubbish! When Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago all of my sins were yet future. What arrogance to assume that we could have any part in our redemption. The only part I played in the whole drama was the "sinning" and God does all the "forgiving" through the blood of His dear Son. If God has not forgiven all of my sins (past, present, future) then I am a doomed man. We are all doomed.
The only response that we can render to God to acquire this great forgiveness and all of it's benefits is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I urge you to trust Christ as your Savior today.

 

California Teacher Knows What It Is Like When Your Past Haunts You

By now you have probably heard about Stacy Halas, the 8th grade science teacher in California who lost her job because of a short experimentation with porn acting back in 2006. Ms. Halas is a classic example of someone who knows what it is like when your past comes back to haunt you.
Halas had a short lived career in the porn industry as she only worked for 9 months back in 2006. But those 9 months have cost her a job and a future career in education. According to Oxnard, California, education officials it was Stacy's lying about her past that cost her a job. Not only are they trying to fire her but they are trying to extract past pay from her as well
I have some difficulties with this story for several reasons. First, I believe teacher's unions, California especially, are inherently evil. It seems to me that it's the old pot calling the kettle black scenario. The NEA has done more to destroy the morals of the nation's children than any other organization. The slimy liberals in California are having trouble with what a young woman did in 2006, really? Second, people make mistakes and then begin a process of reform. Ms. Halas, in my book, is a poster girl for cleaning up her act. Where is the grace Oxnard? I guess you don't get any grace from hypocritical school officials. Third, while I don't condone the porn industry I doubt that Halas commited a crime. Fourth, it's not enough that they have fired Ms. Halas but they want all their money back too! Are you kidding me?
When I read a story like this one I am reminded of the Biblical story of the woman caught in adultery and drug before Jesus by a bunch of accusing men. The story is located in John, chapter 8. It would do you some good to go and read the account. It would also do the Oxnard School Board some good to drop the rocks they have picked up to throw at Stacy Halas.
I'm so glad that Jesus Christ by His crucifixion and resurrection from the dead introduced radical grace to this sinful world.

Romans 4:8
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

2 Corinthians 5:19

¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

God does not "impute" or "keep track of" or "count" our sins if we have trusted Christ as Savior. I don't know Stacy Halas' heart but if she has trusted Jesus as her Savior then there is one person in the universe that is not holding her brief porn career against her! That my friend is radical grace and unless you have received this radical sin forgetting grace you are doomed to an eternity separated from God Himself. I can concur with the great hymn writer Philip P. Bliss, who wrote the words to Man of Sorrows. In that wonderful song he exclaims "Hallelujah, what a Savior"! Only a Savior who totally forgives and then forgets our sins is worthy of such praise. Do you know Jesus? Watch the short video in the right sidebar entitled "How To Be Forgiven In 3 Minutes". Trust Christ today and your past won't come back to haunt you!