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Dear Christian Believers,
God bless you and you family in the powerful name of Jesus
Christ.
We just finished a tremendous "Young
Adult Advance." What a super group of young
men and women. They came with great expectation, and I
know they were not disappointed. The teachings (doctrinal
and practical) hit the mark, because everyone came prepared
to work, and that allowed GOD to work in the hearts and
lives of all of us.
I did the opening teaching
Thursday night on why it's important for all of us to
study, and to learn the Word of GOD for ourselves. People
say, why do I need to study or spend time learning something
that is so complicated as the bible? What does the average
church goer really know about GOD ...HIS only begotten
Son ... HIS Word the Bible? Why do I need to know that
about GOD, after all I go to church; my preacher can tell
me all I need to know? I grew up in a small town of about
2500 people. My family belonged to St. Paul's Church,
a membership of 1000, (almost ½ of the town) Dr. Eugene
Bassler was our minister. A tall handsome man with black
wavy hair and a mustache. He had a radio voice, very distinct
and clear. He was a great communicator and all in the
church seemed very pleased to have him as our minister.
His son Tom and I graduated from high school together.
On day, when I was 10-12 yrs old, Dr. Bassler was in our
kitchen discussing the Bible when I came into the kitchen.
I saw the amazed look on my mother's face, and heard her
say to him, "if you don't believe this (referring
to the Bible in her hand), HOW can you believe that CHrist
is coming back? Dr. Bassler answered with, "Well
after all, I never seen him leave in first place."
That was the last time we ever attended a church
service at St. Paul's. Dr. Bassler held a Doctor of Theology
degree, he was a minister who is supposed to know and
believe the scriptures, and yet he didn't believe that
Christ was coming back again, while the scripture give
great detail of how Christ's return is going to happen.
Let me ask you a logical and reasonable question; am I
now supposed to trust my eternal life to Dr. Bassler who
doesn't even the scriptures from which he reads on Sunday
mornings in church? NO THANKS! Do you see WHY, It's important
for us to study and learn what is in the Word of GOD for
ourselves? GOD is the creator of all life. He knows HOW
it is to be lived, HOW to get the most out of life, HOW
to maintain it, and HOW fix a life when it's having trouble.
GOD created life and HE had a manual written, that has
all the information any person will ever need to live
a profitable, happy, blessed life. When Mary Lou brought
her new car, an owners manual came with it. Who is responsible
to read it and study it? Mary Lou and husband John are!
So it is with us, and the life we now have. To get the
most out of our lives we MUST read that creator's manual,
and learn our responsibility. GOD has done HIS part, now
we must do ours. GOD will reward us if we will seek HIM
and get to know HIM. Here are some key instructional scriptures
in HIS manual:
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith [believing]it
is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him.
Here it tells us that we
must have faith, and must believe that HE is. Then cometh
to HIM and become a seeker of HIM. The end result is HE
will reward us.
Luke 11:9-10
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you.
10 For every one that asketh
receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened.
So folks, it's up to you,
and I believe that GOD is, then seek and love HIM with
all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. GOD wants us
to know HIM, and love HIM. He wants us to seek HIM, so
that HE might direct our paths into a life of blessings.
Not only for ourselves, but that our lives will be a blessing
unto HIM and others. Without HIM we will only wander and
our lives will be swallowed up by the world, and eventually
just perish.
Jeremiah 10:23
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself:
it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
I exhort you to read, and
study the Creator's manual. Let's enjoy the full life
GOD had given to us, OK?
John
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