Helen Reddy: "You and Me Against the World"

Believe it or not, Paul Williams wrote this song as well as many other hits. He did record the songs he wrote but he never broke out with a hit. Listen to Helen's excellent rendition of this ballad here.

The closest analogy God could use to describe his nature to us is as a loving father. It's why Psalms 68:5 (Bible in Basic English) calls him, "A father to those who have no father, a judge of the widows, is God in his holy place."

And like a tender parent, God understands our weakness and helplessness. Psalm 103:13 and 14 (BBE) says, "As a father has pity on his children, so the Lord has pity on his worshippers. For he has knowledge of our feeble frame; he sees that we are only dust."

But tenderness doesn't mean laxity when it comes to discipline. Proverbs 3:11 and 12 (BBE) reminds us of that. "My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training: For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain."

We also can trust that whatever happens to us is for God's glory and our benefit. As Jesus said in Luke 11:11-13 (BBE) about his lavish care, "And which of you, being a father, will give a stone to his son, who makes request for bread? or for a fish, will give him a snake? Or for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If, then, you who are evil are able to give good things to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who make request to him?"

Though our heavenly Father seems distant at times from us, he still is there to help us through whatever we face. As Paul noted in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (BBE), "You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it."

If Christ hasn't come by Monday, I expect I'll post about how pollution causes a slow death.

Saturday Song: The Classics IV, "Spooky"

This song from 1968 was perfectly timed for the Halloween season. The band didn't have many hits but this song was played often during that October. Listen to it here:

Though we Christians shouldn't be fixated on occult matters, we do need to understand our adversary the Devil and his limitations. One of the most important restraints is shown in Job 1:8-11 (BBE) "And the Lord said to the Satan, 'Have you taken note of my servant Job, for there is no one like him on the earth, a man without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil?' And the Satan said in answer to the Lord, 'Is it for nothing that Job is a god-fearing man? Have you yourself not put a wall round him and his house and all he has on every side, blessing the work of his hands, and increasing his cattle in the land? But now, put out your hand against all he has, and he will be cursing you to your face.' And the Lord said to the Satan, 'See, I give all he has into your hands, only do not put a finger on the man himself.' And the Satan went out from before the Lord."

Since the Devil can't do anything beyond what God will allow, we have confidence in knowing that we can endure whatever happens to us. Like an electrical breaker or fuse, 1 Corinthians 10:13 (BBE) assures us, "You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it."

Furthermore, our Lord knew that men like the Apostle Paul could handle a demon-possessed woman because of the Holy Spirit empowering him. Acts 16:16-18 (BBE) tells us, "And when we were going to the place of prayer, we came across a girl with a spirit which gave knowledge of the future, whose masters made great profit from her power. She came after Paul and us, crying out and saying, 'These men are the servants of the Most High God, who are giving you news of the way of salvation. And this she did on a number of days. But Paul was greatly troubled and, turning, said to the spirit, 'I give you orders in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her.' And it came out that very hour."

But Acts 19:15-17 (BBE) warns those without Christ's protection, "And the evil spirit, answering, said to them, 'I have knowledge of Jesus, and of Paul, but who are you?' And the man in whom the evil spirit was, jumping on them, was stronger than the two of them, and overcame them, so that they went running from that house, wounded and without their clothing."

If the Lord doesn't return by Monday, I hope to post about eternal life verses eternal judgement.

The Flip Wilson Error

Viewers my age will remember Flip Wilson as a black, American comedian who made up a character named Geraldine Jones. Her favourite excuse for any mistake was, "The Devil made me do it." Though it was funny coming from her, this is a serious problem with certain followers of charismatic preachers.

The truth is that we can't be made to sin. James exploded that idea when he wrote in the first chapter of his epistle, verses thirteen to fifteen (BBE), "Let no man say when he is tested, 'I am tested by God;' for it is not possible for God to be tested by evil, and he himself puts no man to such a test: But every man is tested when he is turned out of the right way by the attraction of his desire. Then when its time comes, desire gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is of full growth, gives birth to death."

The Apostle Paul showed how our heavenly Father actually helps us by limiting Satan's temptations. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) that, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

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Some folks also believe that merely being tempted is a sin. That can't be because of what is written in Mark 1:13 (KJV) which says, "And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him."

Jesus likewise understands how we feel when we're tempted. Hebrews 2:18 (KJV) reads, "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

And we must also extend the same grace to each other. Galatians 6:1 (KJV) admonishes, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

This is one of many topics I'll be dealing with in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? So much nonsense has been preached to naive believers but I want to present Christ's siblings with the truth from the Word of God. Like a broken calculator, human opinions don't count.

My next post will be about the idiotic idea some people have about spiritual warfare. Non Christians and demons must be laughing their heads off as such naive and stupid antics by these gullible fools.

What Should Be Our Attitude Toward Persecution.

Those who haven't followed my posts might say that persecution is only a terrible thing. I agree that it is for now but it has tremendous blessings for today and eternity.

The Apostles understood how to deal with persecution. When persecuted, they asked for boldness rather than a way to escape it. As it says in Acts 4:29-30 (KJV), "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus."

And what was God's reply? The place where they met was shaken and they went out boldly to preach the gospel.

Though we have had two-thousand years of persecution, it's only increasing in intensity. Why? Scripture says in 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV), "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the  devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may  devour:"

Satan wants to tempt people to stop believing in Christ. That's why he uses his minions to persecute us. But we won't be overly tempted. Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV), "There hath no temptation taken you but such as  is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be  tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also  make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

In my next book, I'll outline the way the Devil tries to dissuade us from following the narrow way to heaven. Stay tuned for updates.