Inspired by Men of Low Estate.

Greetings,

 I have read the book of James chapter two where it talks of
personal favortism toward certain folks who visit the church.
In James 2:1-5 it talks of showing favoritism to the rich man
but discrimination of the poor man:

 "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.  For if there
should come into your assembly a man with gold rings,
in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor
man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one
wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here
in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand
there,' or, 'Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown
partiality among yourselves and become judges of evil 
thoughts?
 Listen my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the 
poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs to the
kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"

I often thought a lot about myself if you go back to the last
post I wrote on feeling like a dejected man among believers.
(Isn't true, btw).
 But as of recent our church has welcomed at least three
people who had either become victims of this tough economy
and/or certain vices or addictions and over time I had begun
to know them quite well. I am not going to go into details of
their hardships or struggles nor am I going to give their names
but in getting to know them and spend some time with them
I actually found one of them to be INSPIRING and ENCOU-
-RAGING.  Yes, you read right, he has begun to be an
encouragement as well as an inspiration!
 I say that because despite the certain hardships and struggles
he is going through he has been attending church more
frequently and by telling me some of his testimonies I
get to see how the Lord is working in his life and that is
what I mean by him being an inspiration and an encouragement!
  Instead of looking down on people who are least esteemed,
we should not only exalt them but see them as an inspiration
and an encouragement when the Lord blesses them.
My friends, look at it like this; You too, may find yourself in
a needy situation (and don't think it can't happen to you, it can)
and if you see how the Lord is working on those of humble means
would he not do the same for you?
 There is another verse of scripture in Romans 12:16 which I want
to include here:

 "Do not set your mind on high things, but condescend to men of
low estate. Do not be wise in your own opinion."

And as of recent I find myself talking,  fellowshipping, and
even sitting with these recent visitors.
 Exalt, be encouraged and inspired by men of low estate and
that way you get to see the Lord at work which will help your
own faith in the Lord as well!

Have a blessed day.

This Is The Way It Is.

Greetings,

 It was always said that the 'truth shall set you free' and as
a Christian, I believe that is true. But the truth is also very
harsh as well, especially when you finally realize it late in life
and worse, I may have no choice but to just live it out.
 You see, stubbornness and foolishness at a young age that
goes unchecked  can do much damage in the later years as
I have now found out.  I cannot count the number of times
wishing I could turn back the hands of time and right the
wrongs I did. It wasn't so much I harmed anyone else but
more harming myself.

 So now you are wondering what brought this topic up.
 I will tell you, but this can get lengthy, so bear with me.

 Let's say for starters, I may have to live the life of a
dejected man due to some major negligence on my part,
add to it with this economy this seems to be no place for
middle-aged men such as myself.  Though I am content
being single I also know that I am going to have to live
with the fact that an unmarried+ middle-aged man=
damaged goods. Even among Christian circles a
never-married man at fifty-two-years-of-age is
undesirable. Stop right there!  Don't tell me I'm
being too hard on myself! That is simple truth!
I have been among Christians long enough to
know what is expected of Christian men after
reading literature, hearing various sermons, and
general conversations among Christian men and
women on the subject. I realized after hearing all
of this, is that I may have to live like a dejected man
even among my own Christian brethren.  There seems to
be an underlying message which tells me things such as:
"You're not good enough,"  "This is what a real Christian
man is, so measure up," and, well I won't go on. Let's just
narrow it down to this:  "You're not a real Christian man,"
is the message I have been getting. In short, "You're
not good enough!"

 So how good am I supposed to be?  I realize that my lot in
life isn't normal by society's (and even Christian) standards
and I also realize that it was mostly my fault. Yes, I confess that!
But I also realize that I have been comfortable just as I am as
well. I am truly blessed for a man of modest if not low means
and I have the Lord Almighty to make me realize that. I have
food and clothing and do things I enjoy which I see as perks
of Christianity, much like the fringe benefits of being employed
by a certain company. Oh, but I can't share that with anyone!
 It sounds like I have to be better than that.  I got news for you
my good people, I will never be good enough for you because
I am at the stage in life where I should have had it together years
ago.  Guess what? You are right, I should have gotten my act
together all those years ago and bettered myself so I could be
that man society and/or Christianity and a potential wife could
accept, love, and respect.
 Okay, so I'm not good husband/father material.  What? So for that
I'm not good enough for Christianity, too?  Haha, you're right again.
I'm not a good husband and father candidate because a man in his fifties
on a modest income couldn't support a wife and kids, add to it that
financially speaking, it gets pretty tough money-wise when you wish to
send your kids to college and approaching retirement age.
Okay, so what if I did blow all these opportunities sky high a long
time ago and that I am considered damaged goods?  Am I supposed
to be any less of a Christian man because of that? For awhile I did
feel good about who I was after being saved but then all this marriage
mandate and these 'man-up' campaigns all came about as if to shame
me.
 Well, it's come down to this, I find it easier to live like a dejected man
than to go through major life changes this late in life. I'm too used to
living alone and doing things I enjoy to even want to make those kinds
of changes (marriage and fatherhood) and besides, I can't afford it.
But, I CAN afford to do things for the Lord and to enjoy my hobbies
which I consider perks. But if I'm not considered good enough because
I haven't made myself good husband and father material, then I'll just
have to endure living as a dejected man, even among my own Christian
brethren. But I will not be shamed or coerced into it just because of
missed opportunities. You can accept me or reject me, but I have made
my choice.

Have a blessed day.

Happy Fourth of July!

Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July and remember to
thank a vet and all military people currently serving in our
armed forces, but more importantly thank the Lord Almighty
who really made it all possible.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." (Psalm 33:12)

Long Hours at Work= Manna From Heaven

Greetings,


It has been quite awhile since I posted on here but overtime at
the coin vault has kept me away from this and my Newberry
storyblog. Been at my parents' house one Saturday to assist
with a slight plumbing issue and the weekends after that I
spent on my model kits and church.

 Now in regard to the overtime at work that I just mentioned,
most would probably murmur and complain about the long
hours and I can understand that, especially if one has a family.
But to me it has been a blessing in disguise as it has helped me
with certain financial issues due to some medical bills and some
automotive issues. Yes, more is taken out in taxes and going to
a bi-weekly pay period has made it a bit tight if not inconvenient
but to me it's been like manna from heaven as I have had more
disposable income than before and that has helped with the bills
I mentioned and not only that, could save more as well. I won't
say I'm rolling in dough, but I will say that I am rolling in God's
blessings and these blessings are for a reason. God honors it
when we pay our debts. He knew my situation and I believe
this is His answer.  He does as it is written in Phillipians 4:19:

"My God shall supply all your need according to His 
riches and glory by Christ Jesus."

And it is to God that I give the glory to because He has
allowed it. Our branch has gone through some changes
and we lost three managers due to some issues that
were discovered but the rest of us as well as myself
are still there and it looks promising. I myself had to
make a few adjustments in what I did but if that's what
it will take for the branch here in Cincinnati to go forward,
I'll take the change anytime.

I now do what I thought I'd never do and that's heading
to the gym early in the morning so as to not be out too late
what with the longer hours.  I need my exercise as well.
Here's a verse from 3 John:2:

"I pray that your soul prospers in all things and
be in health, just as your soul prospers."


 It was my prayers and the prayers of others that have
been a blessing as well and He has certainly answered
them according to His riches and glory.  And I thank
you all who have prayed for me and I ask that you please
continue to do so.
 I am working nine-and-half hours through next week to
keep our orders filled and keeping in mind that all this is
a blessing from the Lord is what keeps me going.

I leave you with this verse from Deuteronomy 28:12:

"The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of
His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and
to bless all the work of your hands."


Have a blessed day.

With Food and Clothing, Let Us Be Content.

Greetings and Salutations,

 Earlier at the beginning of this year I have experienced some certain

financial hardships and the company where I am employed, Brinks,

has changed from a weekly to bi-weekly pay period, so things have

been a bit tight as of now. Of course I am still thankful to be employed

and have food, clothing and shelter which are the basic necessities and

right now that is all that's important as far as possessions go.

 I have been eating both lunch and dinner where I work, lunch during

the noon lunchbreak and then when I get off work before heading to

the gym. I purchase food that can be microwaved and has in fact

been on the menu since last month.  I have been buying at Family Dollar

mostly with the exception of certain food items such as meat and fresh

vegetables. I buy enough to last me two weeks and praise the Lord

have been keeping it under fifty dollars.  God is good!

 The key word for this post is contentment.  The contentment I am

talking about can be found in the New Testament book of 1 Timothy

6:6-8 which reads like this:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought

nothing into this world and we will take nothing out of it. But if

we have food and clothing we will be content with that."  (NIV)

The word contentment popped into my mind when faced with these

struggles with money. While it has been a chore sitting down to

re-work my finances and budget, I also find that I can still be content

with what I can still purchase and with what I already have. I guess

the overall thing I am going through is a lesson in contentment.

 I end with this scripture verse from Luke 3:14, Phillipians 4:11-12,

and Hebrews 13:5:

"Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely and

be content with your wages."    (Luke 3:14)

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have

plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and

every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in

plenty or in want."     (Phillipians 4:11-12)

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content

with what you have."     (Hebrews 13:5)

Have a blessed day. 

Wrath on the Road: How I Overcame.

Greetings,

 My place of employment takes me to the Queensgate area

of Cincinnati, which is in the southwest corner of the downtown

Cincinnati area, and I take Interstate 75 to get there, save for

heavy rainy or snowy weather in which I take the alternate

route through Vine Street, Spring Grove Ave. and then

Dalton Street.  I-75 scares me plenty on rainy or snowy days

as some if not most other motorists drive as if it's clear sailing

which I think is very foolish on wet or icy roads, and accidents

on I-75 are frequent enough as it is.

 But even on normal days the early morning commute frequently

gets intense, especially around 7am. Come to think of it, so do

I. Worse yet, I get a little too intense, more so than the traffic

in fact.  Not a good way to behave. It seems it's always on the

road that I'm not at my best tempermentally speaking, if I don't

count some of the intense moments at work as well because

there I get out from behind the wheel of my car and get in 

behind the wheel of a forklift truck.  Mind you, I don't drive

recklessly in either my car or the forklift but inwardly I

can burn with wrath if someone blocks me, cuts in front of

me, tailgates me, or if they're in front of me, I perceive they are

going too slow.  It's almost like if my car had weapons, I would

take them out. OOH. Commiting murder in my heart.  Not a 

good characteristic for a Christian, in fact, it's conduct unbecoming.

Now while no one else may see my anger, God does, and He 

knows the innermost thoughts of the heart. Something needs to be

done here, yes?

 Well part of the solution was to leave earlier than usual to avoid

the 7am rush hour which has helped, but this attitude issue I knew

is what really needs to be addressed here.   

 Part of my prayers when I start the day was always to ask the

Lord every morning to grant me safe, traveling mercies when I

head to work and then home and anywhere else I may go that

day. Gradually  when other motorists got careless around me

in whatever they did that could've endagered me and yet didn't

I thank the Lord that there was no accident involved in regard

to the other motorists' recklessness.  In short I count my bless-

-ings.  I have made it more of a habit each day to do that and

to realize each  that I went to work in one piece and that I

came home likewise. The solutions were allowing God as

the driver, and me the co-driver, and to count the small 

blessings of not getting into accidents whether they had the 

potential to be my fault or that of others.  Besides, it's all so

petty anyway.  Those times other motorists could have

done me harm, or even I to them, God has kept His

hand on me (and the other motorists, too) and kept me

from harm, so why not count my blessings, and yes, why

get angry. Here I still am, and I thank you , Lord, amen!

Have a blessed day.  

Exalted vs. Humbled

Greetings,

 In the book of Matthew chapter 23 Jesus talks about
the scribes (teachers of Hebrew law) and the Pharisees
who were members of the strict Jewish sect which held
the Mosaic law and their own traditions as binding.
 Jesus even stated Himself that the scribes and the
Pharisees sat on Moses' seat and instructed His
followers to obey them.  But He also went on to
tell them not to do what they did because the
scribes and Pharisees didn't practice what they
preached. (Matthew 23:1-3).
 Jesus then went on to tell his followers the
ways in which the scribes and Pharisees exalted
themselves while out in public, at banquets, and
in the synagogues, all to be seen of men. (Matthew
23: 4-7).
 Now Jesus literally turns the idea of leadership on
its head in verses eight through twelve of chapter 23
in which He says:

 "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you only
have one Master and you are all brothers.  And do
not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one
Father, and He is in heaven. Nor are you to be
called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
The greatest among you shall be your servant.  For
whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever
humbles himself shall be exalted."

Jesus was instructing His followers to not get arrogant, heady,
and high-minded.  In short He was warning them about pride.
God hates a proud heart because pride does away with the
need of Him. In Proverbs 29:23 it reads, "A man's pride
brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor."

 In the past I frequently struggled with bouts of inferiority
and insignificance seeing that I was (and still am) a man
of modest means and low social status. If there was ever
a man that was lowly in spirit, it was me. Even as of recent
I have had these struggles. There were times in church that
I sat in the back of the sanctuary alone and felt unworthy to
sit with the others even though no one showed any rejection
towards me. And it was also of recent that I began to take
a long hard look at myself and realize I was isolating myself
from my brothers- (and sisters) -in-Christ.
 I still feel that I am the least of my siblings-in-Christ but now
I am seeing that more as a badge of honor than a ribbon of
shame after reading scriptures dealing with pride versus
humility.
 As a Christian I now realize how foolish it had been to carry
this feeling of insignificance. So foolish in fact that I didn't
really realize how much I really had it made. What I mean was
I failed to see all the little ways the Lord has blessed me and
that how much those little blessings really added up.  Yes, I
live on a modest income, drive a thirteen-year-old Saturn
sedan, live in a one-bedroom apartment, and had debts due
to some unexpected occurences. But my bills are always
paid, I have food to eat, and I take joy in small pleasures
such as my hobby of model cars (which God has graciously
allowed me to have) plus a caring church family.  Oh Lord,
I feel humbled yet so exalted! 
 I pray that the Lord keeps me humble and to guard my heart
and mind against pride.  If anyone considers me the greatest,
my I serve them in humility such as Jesus did in washing His
disciples' feet.  If anyone considers me the least, may it be used
to glorify the Lord!  Amen!

The Triumphal Entry.

Greetings,


 Why was Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem considered a triumphal entry?
Well for one thing it was where Jesus' purpose here on earth would come
to pass. Some would think it a day of triumph for those who greeted Jesus
as they saw Him as the new king of Israel and one who would take away
the rule from the Roman Empire.
 Pagan rulers were often welcomed in with much pomp, celebration,
banners, music, parties, and what-have-you. You get the idea. Kings
often came into a community riding on a fine horse, all decked out.
 But when Jesus came into Jerusalem, he rode in on a borrowed donkey,
and He didn't come in with a lot of glitz and glamour.  Now the people
were correct in that He was a king, only not quite the king they were
expecting, as they would later find out, which in turn caused opposition
among the people and had them shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
 But at the time Jesus entered Jerusalem the multitudes that greeted Him
were common folk, not high-ranking officials or military leaders as would
the case be had Jesus been an earthly king.
The multitudes must have really been expecting some powerful earthly king
as it says in the quote below:
"And when He had come to Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying
'Who is this?' "  (Matt. 21:10)
 The scene of Jesus Christ coming into Jerusalem was like a royal procession,
and prior to that time Jesus avoided such a display.  Now here He was
presenting Himself publicly as the nation's (Israel) Messiah and King.
But what He was presenting Himself as was not what the people were
expecting. The people couldn't see it, but He was coming to save people
from their sins, not rule here on earth or to overthrow Roman rule in Israel.
The triumph of Jesus entry into Jerusalem was to publicly present Himself
as Savior. And it would be through His crucifixion, death, burial and
resurrection that He would accomplish this.  That was His triumph in
His entry into Jerusalem.

The story of the Triumphal Entry can be found in Matthew 21:1-11,
Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19

Have a blessed day.

The Sissy, the Movie

An animated story from the Jack T.Chick tract, 'The Sissy.'
Enjoy!

Truckin' For Jesus.

Greetings,

 It's been awhile since I've been on here and I realize there

is much to be delivered.  I have come to realize  a lot of things

left lying around that needs to be picked up and carried to

better places and this will be quite a journey even though

I may go nowhere geographically speaking.

 The first thing is to carry with me God's word. As a truck

that is no good without its driver, I am no good without God

and His word. We (and I) must deliver the Word as well as

a truck driver that delivers his goods. As a truck that picks

up its cargo and drops it off at its destination, We pick up the

Word by reading, meditating and memorizing and then drop

it off by sharing with others. That is what you call Truckin'

for Jesus.  Pick up the Word, carry it with you and drop it

off. To translate:  Read, meditate, and share.

Have a blessed day.