Some musings from a new octogenarian (I love that word.): 

In scripture, 80 represents freedom from oppression. Moses was 80 when God called Him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.  God is calling us “old guys” to demonstrate the freedom of living for Jesus.

 8 is the number of new beginnings.  10 is the number of completeness and divine order.  8 X 10 = the beginning of a new level of relationship with God.  In this new beginning, we must rely on Isaiah 40: 31: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

If we choose, we can forget the hair dye. Proverbs 20: 29: “The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head.”

This morning, I thought with a chuckle: “Yesterday, on my birthday, I was 80.  Today, I am 80+.

 

 

You Are the Light of the World

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.:

Jesus said that we, His people, are to shine like a city that is set on a hill that cannot be hidden.

And the world, including all of creation, is watching us and waiting for us to step forward and take our places as the sons of God. (Romans 8:19).

The sons of God must stand in unity against the forces of the enemy of our souls.  The turmoil in our culture is manifested in the political, but its roots are in the spiritual.  Only the sons of God can battle in the spiritual realm.

"Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

 

Notice  that the center candle the only candle that is the candle stick.  It is the vine.  The other candles are branch off the vine.  7 is the number of God.  6 is the number of man.  We cannot accomplish any thing without God. Our light does not shine without Him.

How can we make our little light shine?

Light dispels darkness.

Darkness is not the opposite of light.

Darkness is the absence of light.

 

Romans 12:2.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

(Matthew 22:37)

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 27:39)

Romans 8:38-39:For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 5:22-23:   the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Jeremiah 29:11:  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

 Debate Will Be 

By Rev. Lonnie Crowe  

 

As we fervently enter this election cycle, no matter the issues, no matter which side of the issues we espouse, we must stand for those issues that touch our hearts. We are blessed to have freedom of speech. We dishonor that freedom when we enter into slander, libel, insults, vulgarity and prevarication. 

Points to consider: 

1. Be certain that comments address the issues rather than personalities. 

2. Insults and vulgarity never win an agrument. Speaking personally, no one can insult me into acceptance. 

3. If disparaging comments are directed toward us, we must never stoop to the level of our adversaries. 

4. I Corinthians: 14:40: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” 

 Good News Thoughts from Pastor Lonnie

We can control what we think.

Philippians 4: 8.  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. 

Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

 

We Must Be the Salt

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Matthew 5:13. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

Salt, symbolically, pictures permanence, loyalty, value, healing and purification.

2  Chronicles 13: 5.  "Should you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? Because salt is a preservative, a salt covenant is a perpetual, a forever, covenant.

Leviticus 2:13.  `And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

Salt represents the purity in our offerings to the Lord.  Our offerings include good works, good attitudes, obedience and faith as well as money.

Salt is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.  It is healing.

2 Kings 2: 19-22:  Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.'' And he said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.'' So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the Lord: `I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' ''  So the water remains healed to this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spoke.

Just as the salt in the water healed the water, the river of living water that is to spring from our innermost being is to bring healing into the spiritual chaos swirling around us.

Caution:  If we lose our saltiness, our testimony becomes worthless and is trampled over by others.

“Progressive Christianity” is Christianity without salt and light. It is a form of godliness that denies the power of godliness.  Paul cautions us to stay away from this. (2 Timothy 3:5)

Franklin Graham: “I would say the exact same warning applies today to the advocates of progressive Christianity. They deceitfully promote and proclaim what I believe is clearly a “different gospel, which is really no Gospel at all.

“When the topic of justice is discussed, progressive Christianity is primarily concerned with the issues of social and racial justice (which the Bible does address), but most often neglects the far more fundamental issue of God’s justice—how a holy and just God deals with sinful and wicked men.

“And when it comes to the matter of personal sin, progressive Christianity most frequently fails to see the ruinous consequences of mankind’s depraved, sinful state. Biblical teaching on the precious blood of Christ, the sacrificial, substitutionary, atoning work of Christ’s death on the cross, is too often neglected or distorted.

“To reject the deity of Christ is to deny Christ and doom yourself to an eternity spent in hell. To love darkness more than light will end in an eternity in hell.

“To hope that good works alone will earn salvation, while rejecting the gift of everlasting life through faith in Christ alone, will lead straight into the eternal abyss.

“To deny the fullness of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit—can risk a person spending their eternity separated from the glory and splendor of God Almighty.”

From Progressive Christianity Can Lead You to Hell.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4:  Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

To be salt means to be a positive influence and to preserve what is good spiritually, materially and emotionally. People must see the unconditional love of Jesus through our words and our actions.

Colossians 4:6: 6.  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.