Volume 4

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No. 1 Apr. 1, 1996 Absolutely Free

"Put a feather in his cap, and called it macaroni." "Yankee Doodle" was written by Englishmen, to ridicule American colonists, for trying to act sophisticated, while they lived a crude life in the frontier. But the colonists were not ashamed of their ruggedness, and adopted "Yankee Doodle" as their theme song.

Men like to take pride in their accomplishments. Soldiers display their medals; bikers their colors; construction workers their hard-hats; mechanics their uniforms; athletes their jerseys; and doctors and lawyers wear expensive suits.

They had to work hard to get those feathers in their caps. They represent what they are. They're appropriate attire in any bar. But not any church.

In many churches, only a suit is accepted as a sign that you are reverent. That's really weird. Because the Bible explicitly says that if a church shows partiality to those who wear nicer clothes, they dishonor the poor people (James 2:6), and are guilty of sinning (James 2:9). If a suit is reverent, what's a tuxedo? Holy?

So now many men feel that church pressures them to masquerade as something they're not: a suit symbolizes education, success and authority. If you don't have those things, should you be ashamed, and pretend that you do?

That's weird too, because the tentmaker who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament was so proud of the fact that he worked for a living, that he said it would be better that he would die than that boast be taken away (1 Cor 9:15). Jesus said that to be concerned about looking right, rather than being right is hypocrisy (Matt 23:25-28). Rather than pretend, many men just avoid going to church.

Those crude American colonists certainly taught a thing or two to the sophisticated British folk. More than once, Jesus approved of crude people to teach the sophisticated religious crowd how to please God (Luke 7:9, Luke 10:30-37). Maybe some of the religious people of our day could learn something from crude people.

Men, go to church. Churches need more men. And men need more exposure to the word of God (Matt 4:4). If they don't like the way you're dressed, bummer. Jesus Christ is eager to accept you just the way you are, Absolutely Free.

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Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

No. 2 Apr. 8, 1996 Absolutely Free

Commitment: the only dirty word of the "me generation." In our society, the last thing anyone wants to do is make a commitment. People live together to avoid the commitment of marriage. Men used to lie about their health, or their religious views, to keep out of military commitment.

Philosophers claim that there are no absolutes, such as good and evil, or right and wrong. As long as those are relative concepts, you can remain uncommitted to any code of ethics, and not be held accountable for your actions.

But the Bible says that we will be held accountable (Matt 16:27). And notice that sex outside of marriage, lying, and contradicting God, are sins (1 Tim 1:10). So either way you're going to commit: commit to accountability, or commit to sin.

People like to believe that if they avoid learning about God, they can't be held accountable. But the Bible says that everyone is aware of Him (Rom 1:20), and even those who haven't heard about Him, know His ways (Ps 98:2). Furthermore, even in a courtroom, ignorance is no excuse for the law.

Commit crimes, get committed to a penal institution: prison. Commit sins, get committed to a damnation institution: Hell. No parole.

Suppose that God were as spineless as we are when it comes to making a commitment: in your hour of desperation you cry out to God to deliver you from the pain you are experiencing, or to save you from the consequences of your sins, and He says, "Well, maybe... I don't know. What's in it for me?"

But Jesus was committed to save us. After He was arrested, he made no attempt to plead for Himself. He knew that in order for us to be allowed into Heaven, our sins had to be punished by death. He was committed to accept that death for us, that we might be freed from that commitment (2 Cor 5:21).

Jesus said let your answer be either yes, or no, because anything beyond that is evil (Matt: 5:37). Commit. If you commit yourself to Him, He'll commit Himself to you (Matt 10:32). And when the time comes to account for your actions, that's the only one that will count, and you'll be Absolutely Free.

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Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

No. 3 Apr. 15, 1996 Absolutely Free

Dr. Livingston, I presume. Suppose that a scientist named Jones, discovered a tribe of Amazon Indians, never before seen by civilization. He teaches them how to speak, read, and write the English language. Then goes back home.

Desiring to teach them about civilization, he returns with some goodies. But just as he is on the outskirts of the village, he sinks to his demise in quicksand. The natives find his hat, and a box next to the quicksand patch.

It's a jam-box, with batteries, and instructions. Then Chief Oonga says, "Jones' letter say box play music. Box no can play music; no drums in box." But his brother, Boonga, says, "If Jones say box play music: box play music."

Half the tribe leaves with Oonga, because they can't see how the box can play music. The other half stays, because they trust Jones. They follow the instructions, surf the dial, and start dancing to the Beach Boys tune, "Barbara Ann."

From then on, Boonga's side of the village was happier: they were jamming. Oonga's side still insisted that the box without drums couldn't work, and they began to hate the others for being so stupid, and acting so happy.

Lots of people claim that there is no way to know whether the Bible is authentic or not. Many insist that it can't be, because the miracles in it are scientifically impossible. Meanwhile, others accept it for what it says that it is, try what it says to do, and discover that it works like it says it does. And they are happier.

And others despise them for their stupidity, and their happy-go-lucky denial of reality. But when there is music coming out of the box, just like the directions say, who's actually living in a state of denial? Which denotes ignorance?

Jesus said that it would be this way (Matt 10:22). When men become consumed by their own intelligence, they become fools (Rom 1:22). They insist on proof (1 Cor 1:22), and consider the Gospel of Jesus foolishness (1 Cor 1:23).

But the humble accept it, believe it, and discover through their faith, the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24). This pleases God (1 Cor 1:21), because the foolishness of God, is wiser than all the wisdom of men (1 Cor 1:25). You can discover the power and wisdom of God, through Faith in Jesus, Absolutely Free.

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Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,


No. 4 Apr. 22, 1996 Absolutely Free

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Once a neighbor in a pick-up told a preacher, "There's a flood coming. Hop in, and I'll take you to high ground. But the preacher said, "No thanks: God will rescue me."

As the flood waters rose, a man in a row-boat came by to save him, but he said, "No thanks: God will rescue me." Later, a helicopter saw him sitting on his roof, and dropped a rope to him. But he said, "I sent you a truck, a boat, and a chopper."

This story has been told from the pulpit hundreds of times. That's odd, because it isn't in the Bible, nor does it glorify God. It glorifies the human power of reason, and discourages expecting God to intervene supernaturally.

That's completely contrary to the biblical concept of a God who likes to show-off, and demonstrate His power through someone who believes in Him (2 Chron 16:9). Suppose that when Moses told Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, Pharaoh said, "OK." How would that demonstrate the awesome power of God? But God hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that He could glorify Himself as a result (Ex 7:3).

People are always trying to rationalize the Bible. But God is famous for doing irrational stuff. He told Moses to ask a rock for water (Num 20:8). He told Joshua to attack a fortified city, by blowing horns at it (Josh 6:3-5). That way, when it works, the only rational explanation is that God interacts with His creation.

In fact, He gets angry when people look elsewhere for help (Isa 31:1), because He can't be glorified if He's not in the picture. Jesus performed miracles everywhere He went (John 20:30+31). Why else would He do such things?

Suppose that you were a brilliant artist: but every time you painted a picture, people said, "Oh that's not really a painting: they did that with computers." Wouldn't you start to get ticked that no one would give you the credit that was due?

Now you know how God feels when people try to explain away the miracles in the Bible. But not only does He want the credit, He wants you to believe that He will step-in and perform miracles in your life (Heb 11:6), Absolutely Free.

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Hebrews 11:6 But without faith 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.

No. 5 Apr. 29, 1996 Absolutely Free

Which came first: the chicken, or the egg? There are people who say they don't believe in the "Theory of Evolution," because God created the species. But many believing in evolution, say God created them, He just did it slowly and gradually.

But the arguments against evolution aren't limited to: "I refuse to believe anything that's not in my Bible." The question is (as with Spontaneous Generation: the belief that flies evolve from refuse) does the scientific evidence support the theory?

School books contain elaborate charts showing the development from monkey to man. They're based on bones found from 1830 to 1925. In 1925, all of this convincing evidence was used to support evolution in the Scopes monkey trial.

But in the 1940's, Carbon 14 dating was developed. After testing the artifacts used as evidence, it was discovered that none of them were authentic. There is no fossil evidence in the geological record to support the theory. It's not that there's a missing link: there's a missing chain: no Monkey-man bones anywhere.

Furthermore, if there are millions of monkeys today: the beginning of the chain; and millions of people; it stands to reason that we should see varieties of monkey-man mixtures alive as well. But there are none. No frogagators nor kittycows.

According to the Bible, God created plants that yield seed within themselves according to their own kind (Gen 1:12). Then He created the beasts according to their kind (Gen 1:25). So the chicken came first, with the egg: it's seed, within it.

Then God created man (Gen 1:27). However you wish to believe He did it, remember the fossil record shows distinction between species, not gradual blurs. To close your mind before hearing both sides is folly and shame (Prov 18:13).

The authors of evolution, professed atheism. Try to believe that didn't influence their findings. Just because someone wears a lab coat, doesn't mean what they say is true (1 Tim 6:20+21). A lie is what someone says to avoid admitting the truth.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), and that salvation comes by confessing to believe in Him (Rom 10:10). You can spend as much as you want to attend a university, but you can know the truth, Absolutely Free.

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1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

No. 6 May 6, 1996 Absolutely Free

Windex makes it shine. Suppose a famous architect drew a picture of the perfect community. Then he built it, and took a photo of it, from the angle that he drew it. Then he built a house on the spot that he took the picture from.

On the wall of the house, he hung the drawing, then the photo, and then placed a window, to view his masterpiece. Then he died. The guy who bought the house, decided that it was too limited. So he hung more pictures, installed windows on different walls, and invited the public to see the famous architects masterpiece.

But it was a misrepresentation of the architect's work. What you would see if you went there would depend on your personal tastes. Yet amidst all of the counterfeits, and windows that mislead your view, the original works still remained. So if your tastes matched the architect's, you would spot the true beauty.

The perfect community is called the "Kingdom of Heaven." The architect is God. The Old Testament is the picture that He drew to show what He was going to do (Col 2:17, Heb 10:1). He did it, by sending His son, Jesus Christ, to earth, to reveal Himself to us (John 14:7-9). That's the photo, the New Testament (Heb 1:1-3).

By accepting the penalty for our sins on the cross, He, as Jesus, opened a window for us, whereby we can actually see, understand, and have access to, the Kingdom (Heb 10:20). The invitation to view the masterpiece is called the Gospel.

There are a lot of false gospels, which give a misleading view of what God had intended (Gal 3:1). Other religions changed the view, and some alleged Christian leaders as well have added their own pictures to the wall (2 Pet 2:1).

But the truth remains. If you read the Old Testament, you can see what He had in mind. Read the New Testament, and see how He did it. Or go to the window of prayer, and tell Him that you believe what you've read and heard about Him, that His works are perfect, and that He alone is the only true God.

If these are your true feelings, tell Him that you want to change residence from the kingdom of sin and death, to live with Him, as Lord. Through that window, you can see, and enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3), Absolutely Free.

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John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.



No. 7 May 13, 1996 Absolutely Free

Shooting star. Suppose you were a big rock star. After taking a vacation, you lose your popularity. Then you pick up a music magazine. Many people wanted to know why you weren't performing anymore.

The magazine says that you were only in it for the money. And once you were rich, you abandoned your loyal fans. Would you be happy, or unhappy?

Well consider how God feels: there are churches today that teach that God doesn't perform miracles anymore; that was just something He did to get the ball rolling. Once Christianity became a bona fide religion, He stopped.

Do you suppose this teaching makes Him happy, or unhappy?

What does the Bible say? Well, the people who teach this trash refer to 1 Corinthians 13:9: "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."

Their explanation is that once the Christian writings were assembled as the Bible, "that which is perfect" had come. The Bible is indeed perfect, but is that what this passage means? No. It goes on to say that we only understand partially, but then we will understand perfectly (1 Cor 13:12). Do we understand perfectly?

The end of the Bible tells us that some day, God will create new heavens and a new earth, and there will be no sorrow or pain or death (Rev 21:1-4). Any rational student of the Bible will recognize that this is the "perfection" that is to come.

Here's the tragedy: Jesus tells us that all you need to procure a miracle from God is faith (Matt 17:20). People go to church to get their faith (Rom 10:17). But if a church is telling them that God doesn't do miracles anymore, it is robbing them of their faith, and of their miracles. That robs God of His glory.

Some people teach this, because this is what they were taught. But the ones who devised this contortion of scripture will fry (Mark 9:42, Rev 22:18+19). God performed miracles in the Old Testament, and New. His character hasn't changed. Don't write Him off as a has-been. He's willing to perform for you, Absolutely Free!

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Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible for you.


No. 8 May 20, 1996 Absolutely Free

She doesn't even know I'm alive. Adolescents in love will daydream for hours, imagining ideal circumstances where they dazzle their true love, who in turn, falls desperately in love with them. Guys dream of being heroes.

Picture this, being an adolescent guy: in the school cafeteria, you see a big stupid ugly oaf bugging your dream-babe. She doesn't like it, but he wont let up. He paws her hair, she recoils, and all his stupid ugly buddies cheer him on.

So you leap over a table that's in your way, as you approach them. He looks up as you deliver a right cross to his jaw, which propels him through a stack of folding metal chairs. He's out-cold. You face his buddies, and they scatter.

Or better yet, they decide to take you on, brandishing guns and blades. But like Popeye the sailor man, you fling them through windows and across cluttered tables with the greatest of ease. Naturally, she falls hopelessly in love with you.

Now suppose you had the ability to make your fantasy happen. After you decide how you would like things to go, you would make them happen that way. Wouldn't that be cool? That's what God did: He spoke creation into being (Heb 11:3).

In this world that He created just the way He wanted, there is someone that He loves, and is willing to die for (Rom 5:8), a bad guy, and a clash. It's like the Charles Atlas body building ads, where the 97 pound weakling got sand kicked in his face, and lost his girl to the bad guy; but then pumps up, and wins his girl back.

The bad guy was picking on those whom God loved (1 Pet 5:8), and Jesus stood up for us. In so doing, He made Himself vulnerable (Php 2:7+8). The bad guy took advantage of that vulnerability, and killed Him (Rom 6:10).

But He got back up, and He's in Heaven, warming-up for round 2, and He's hot. Popeye "ain't got nothin'" on Jesus: He's going to square-off with millions of demons and men who have made themselves the enemies of God, and He's going to utterly clean house: they will never get back up (Rev 20:10).

Then He, and His chosen companion: the church (Eph 5:31+32); all who love Him for rescuing them, will live happily ever after, Absolutely Free.

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Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.



No. 9 May 27, 1996 Absolutely Free

Just ignore it, and it will go away. Two men, case a convenience store, from their car. They agree that if it weren't for the security cameras, they could rob it. So one of them says, "I know: let's pretend that there are no cameras."

Is that ingenious, or what? Believe it or not, many people lead their entire lives, based on this kind of reasoning. Let's substantiate this statement:

In 1993, a Gallup pole asked: "Do you believe in God?" 93% of the people said yes. Well, that accurately reflect our culture, so they asked, "Do you practice your religion?" This time only 13% of the people poled answered yes.

In other words, they know that the spiritual security cameras are there, but they're conducting their lives as though they're not aware of them. They pretend. Is that ingenious, or what? 93% subtract 13% = 80%. That's a majority.

That's a dangerous game to play; more so than robbing a convenience store that has cameras. Jesus said, "Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in…narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt 7:13+14). "Many are called, but few are chosen (Matt 22:14)."

Many, would be like 93% or so. Few, would be like 13% or less. Does scripture corroborate the assertion that you must practice your faith? Well, it says that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). What does that mean to you?

So, you robbed the store, made a break for it, and realized that you dropped your wallet in the store, so you go back. You find the owner reading your driver's license. He knows who you are, and where you live. You can either kill him, or apologize, and ask that he doesn't give your name to the law.

That would work (Eze 18:21-23). Jesus owns the store. When you return to Him, and ask His forgiveness, He rewinds the video tape, and erases the part where you broke the law (Isa 43:25). He doesn't press charges (Ps 103:12).

But if you refuse His grace, your deeds remain on tape, and you are charged also with the murder of the owner, for He died because of your sins (1 John 2:2). If you're part of the 93% who believe this, practice it, and be Absolutely Free.

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Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.



No. 10 June 3, 1996 Absolutely Free

Familiarity breeds contempt. Suppose that you had a neighbor who wasn't quite as smart as you, and chose to do things that you wouldn't choose to do. When you think of them, you automatically associate their image with their flaws.

Now you watch a movie where an honest, average guy, like Tom Hanks or someone, meets a glamorous movie starlet, who is overwhelmed by his wholesomeness, and falls in love with him. It's heart-warming.

Then you come home and find out that your stupid neighbor ran into a starlet at the grocery store. They fell in love and she swept him off to Hollywood to marry him. Would that seem heart-warming to you, or disgusting? Why?

Jacob had a vision in a dream (Gen 28:12+13). His sons knew that dad had visions. That was OK. But when one of them, Joseph, had visions, they got ticked and decided to kill him, but sold him instead (Gen 37:26+27).

Jesus said that a prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown (Matt 13:57). He had acquired a following of thousands. But when He came to His hometown, they said, "Who does He think He is? We know Him (Matt 13:54-56)."

Then, Like Joseph, they tried to kill Him (Luke 4:29) Why is this important? Because Jesus said that if they did it to Him, be assured they'll do it to you, if you decide to be a follower of Him (John 15:20).

Most who decide to follow Jesus accept the fact that some people won't like them. As with the Tom Hanks movie, it's easy to accept things when it involves people you don't know. Who cares if people you don't know, don't like you? But often, it's your family and friends that reject you (Matt 10:21+22).

Suppose tonight, you pray, God answers, and becomes real to you. But He didn't become real to your friends. How do you expect them to react when you tell them that you met God? How would you react if it were one of them?

Is it worth being rejected by your friends to be accepted by God? Is it worth being rejected by God to be accepted by your friends? Don't reject Jesus, to be cool. Accept Jesus, and He will accept you, as you are, absolutely Free.

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John 15:20 …The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.



No. 11 June 10, 1996 Absolutely Free

Alarm, Hour, Minute, Radio, Snooze. Have you ever hit the snooze bar on your alarm clock, gone back to sleep, and dreamt that you had gotten up, and prepared for the day; only to have the alarm go off again, and bring you into the hard reality that you'd never gotten out of bed? Isn't that a rude a wakening?

A deceptive dream. That's what the Bible equates this life to for those who make a conscious decision to be against God (Isa 29:8). Once they endeavor to be His enemy, He sends them a spirit of deep sleep, where their rational reasoning faculties shut down (Isa 29:10). Neither will the Bible make any sense to them (Isa 29:11+12).

Think about it: there are thousands of professed Satan worshippers. How ridiculously ignorant can they be? In order to be one, you have to believe in Satan. If so, obviously you would believe in God. And knowing that Satan lies, and that God wins in the end, they believe Satan, and decide to lose, die, and fry. Brilliant.

They've been deceived. But not only them: Jesus said that if you're not for Him, you're against Him (Luke 11:23). So anyone who is convinced that they don't have to acknowledge His Lordship is in for a rude awakening.

That will happen at one of 2 occasions: 1. Someone tells them the Gospel of Jesus, they believe it, their spiritual eyes are opened (Rom 10:17); or 2. Judgment day, when everything shall be made known (Luke 8:17).

That's why some people think that it's rude to talk about Jesus publicly: the truth disturbs their slumber, and they don't like it. It's OK to talk about football, or politics, or sex openly; but Jesus? Oh my, that's rude.

But God gave them that spirit of slumber, so they can't be held responsible for their ignorance, right? Wrong. He didn't pour it upon them, until they'd decided to disregard Him as irrelevant or hostile to their interests (Rom 1:21-24).

By the same token, when you decide to follow Jesus, God pours out His Holy Spirit upon you, opening your eyes to truth, and wisdom, and glory, and knowledge, and righteousness (Acts 1:5, 2:17). If this morsel of gospel has cracked your eyelids, wake up, and make that decision. This alarm service is Absolutely Free.

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Isaiah 29:10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.



No. 12 June 17, 1996 Absolutely Free

Gingerbread house. Once upon a time, a few young men, who liked to smoke dope, met a guy named Jeff. He said, "Gosh, I've got plenty of dope in my apartment: let's party." What could be better? So they went with him, and he tortured, raped, killed and cannibalized them. The Jeffery Dahlmer fairy tale.

It's like Hansel and Gretel, except it didn't have a happy ending. Hansel and Gretel were led astray. In their hour of hunger and weakness, they came across friendly old woman, in a gingerbread house. What could be better?

The old woman was really as evil as Jeffery Dahlmer. She enslaved Gretel, and prepared to eat Hansel. That's how it works. The devil tempts people to destruction, by holding out something pretty, that's evil (Prov 7).

But what's the first thing that went wrong? The people were lost. The conduct of the young men whom Dahlmer killed, demonstrated that they were on the wrong path. They were lost in the woods, and seeking comfort.

But during the counter-culture revolution of the 1960's, the importance of God's Word got lost in the confusion for a large part of our culture. Now we have a whole generation that, for the most part, haven't got a clue.

God said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hos 4:6). He also said, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Prov 22:6). If you were deprived of Biblical guidance as a child, would you consider learning and teaching your own children for their sake?

Apart from Jesus, there is no getting "unlost" (John 14:6). You can try: Hansel left a trail of bread crumbs to follow out. The birds ate them, and his plan failed. He was still lost. God doesn't want you to be lost (1 Tim 2:4), because He loves you.

You might say, "Yes, but little children, like Hansel and Gretel, are more precious to God than me, because of their innocence. I'm not innocent anymore." That's why Jesus died on the cross: to pay for your sins. If you accept that gift of salvation, You become God's little child (John 1:12).

If your sins have been erased (Col 2:13+14), you are innocent. And by your faith in Jesus, you can live happily ever after, Absolutely Free.

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1 Timothy 2:4 Who [God] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.


No. 13 June 24, 1996 Absolutely Free

Pay to the order of. Suppose you won 9 trillion dollars on the lottery. How would you spend it? Wouldn't you initially pay all of your debts? Then what about your family and close friends? Wouldn't you bail them out of debt too?

Otherwise, you would be all alone in your good fortune. You could take a year's vacation, but you couldn't get your loved ones to share it with you, because they had to work. And they couldn't afford to go anyway.

Imagine being on the receiving end. One day, your paycheck barely covers your house payment. You go to pay it, and are told that your mortgage has been paid in full. Your car is paid for, your bills are paid. Then your relative pulls up in a limousine and tells you that they hit the lottery, and paid it all for you.

How would you respond to them? Would you be angry that they intruded into your affairs? After all, you were perfectly capable of paying your own debts, given a few more decades to do it.

Suppose again that you were the one who hit the lottery, and it was one of your relatives that responded this way to you? Suppose that they were willing to accept your money, but they insist that it be an amount that they specify, and on their terms, and you need only to obey them, or they won't play.

Wouldn't you have your accountant reverse all the payments you made on their behalf, putting them right back to where they were? After all, you don't want to be accused of imposing your way on others.

Anyway, that's the way Jesus feels about it. But unlike having a measly 9 trillion dollars, He owns everything (Hag 2:8). He came to earth to cancel our spiritual debts (Col 2:14). He wants to do this because He loves us (John 3:16), and He instructs His ministers to beg unbelievers to accept His offer (2 Cor 5:20).

But hey, if you don't want to play, you don't have to: You can reject Jesus, and face eternal condemnation if you want to (John 3:19). He doesn't impose His will on you (Heb 5:9). He gives options (Jer 21:8). If you believe the Gospel, and choose to allow Him to pay your debts, you'll be clear and Absolutely Free.

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John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.





No. 14 July 1, 1996 Absolutely Free

"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, An' the women come out to cut up what remains, Jest roll to your rifle an' blow out your brains, An' go to your gawd like a soldier." Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936.

As a soldier, it's better to die by your own hand, than to allow your enemy to do the honors, and then receive the glory. Historically, victorious armies delight in humiliating, degrading, and torturing their prisoners. It's a vengeance thing. By killing yourself, you deprive them of having their fun at your expense.

Spies and pilots carry poison, for the purpose of committing suicide, before the enemy can interrogate them. Japanese Samurai have a tradition of disemboweling themselves, that's considered honorable, called Hara Kiri. And hundreds of American men, sport a "Death before Dishonor" tattoo.

What do the people in the Bible say about that? They agree (1 Sam 31:4+5, Acts 16:27). "Now wait a minute, isn't suicide a sin? Isn't killing yourself covered under: Thou shalt not kill (Ex 20:13)?" Yes. But the battle techniques in the Bible demonstrate a parallel principle for Christians to apply to their spiritual walk.

For example, in the Old Testament, God saved the Jews from slavery to the Egyptians, and gave them the promised land. The only problem was, there were people living there. The Jews had to fight all those people to take possession of the gift that God had given them.

In the New Testament, Jesus saves us from slavery to the devil, and gives us Salvation. The only problem is, we are still tempted through our flesh, to fall back into slavery to the devil. We have to fight those temptations to take possession of the gift that Jesus has given us.

How do we escape being captured by sin, and owned by the devil? By killing ourselves (Rom 6:6-11). When we commit our lives to Christ, we crucify our old self with Him, and He gives us His spirit, that He might live in us (Gal 2:20). But temptation doesn't go away. The Apostle Paul said that He died every day (1 Cor 15:31).

It's OK to kill yourself by submitting to the Lordship of Jesus, because then you're born again (John 3:3), not into slavery, but Absolutely Free.

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Romans 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.




No. 15 July 8, 1996 Absolutely Free

4 Alarm Fire. Blazing debris blocks an apartment doorway so that the 3 people inside can't make it out. Suddenly a voice calls out, "I've got a fire extinguisher! I'll douse the flames while you climb over! Come on out!"

The 1st person says, "Are you sure it's safe?" The rescuer answers, "Trust me." So they do, and are saved. The 2nd person says, "I'm next; here I come!" They make it too. But the 3rd is afraid to try, and dies in the fire.

But the rescuer had saved others also. Reporters flock to interview them. The 1st person says, "I'd be dead if it weren't for the rescuer. He's my hero." The 2nd person told how they had hurdled the debris, and how others who weren't so brave died; failing to mention that it was only possible because of the rescuer.

The rescuer is immensely wealthy. The first thing he does afterward is throw a big party for all his friends; including those whom he had saved. The 1st person is welcomed in with open arms. But the 2nd person is turned away.

The rescuer tells them as they're escorted out, "I read your account of how you saved yourself in the newspapers. You never mentioned me. I have thrown this party is for those whom I have rescued. You find your own party."

Would the rescuer be wrong in acting this way?

Well, we face destruction because of our sins. But Jesus says, "I will save you. Trust Me" (John 3:15). Those who trust Him, and give Him the credit will be saved (Rom 10:9). Those who refuse to trust Him, will burn (John 3:36).

And there are those who go to church to appear holy to other people; as though they're going to be saved by their own virtue. They're going to be in for a shock when Jesus turns them away (Matt 7:21-23).

Would the Savior be wrong in acting this way?

The debris that blocks you from saving yourself is guilt. Only Jesus can breech that obstacle for you (Acts 4:12). He did it by accepting the punishment for it on your behalf (2 Cor 5:21). If you can accept that, and give Him the Glory, He will accept you (Matt 10:32), and you can escape the flames, Absolutely Free.

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Mt.10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.





No. 16 July 15, 1996 Absolutely Free

"Dr. Welby to ER, code blue. Marcus Welby to ER." Ed and Bob were best friends in High School. But then they went to separate universities, and lost touch with one another. Ed became an engineer, and Bob became a doctor.

One day, Ed was called to Cleveland to inspect the drainage in the city's main sewers. While crawling around in the sewers, and talking to one of the city engineers, he discovered that Bob works at the hospital down town.

So, as soon as he got off work, he drove down to the hospital, and went inside to see his old buddy Bob. The nurse at the desk said that Dr. Bob was in surgery. So Ed got directions to surgery, and started lumbering on in.

A nurse stopped him and said, "Holy smoke! You're filthy, and stinky! You can't go in there!" But after he explained that he was a friend of Bob, the nurse found him a place to shower, scrub, and put on a sterile gown.

After cleansing, he could go in to see Bob.

Man and God were best friends in Eden (Gen 2:19). But man got kicked out of Eden for sinning (Gen 3:23+24). Now man can't hang with God because he is defiled by sin (1 Cor 15:22), and God is Holy (Isa 6:1-3).

It's not that God doesn't want to see man, He does (Matt 18:14). But if man were allowed in Heaven with his sin, the sanctuary would become defiled. Sin is not allowed in Heaven. So God sent His Son out of the sanctuary, to give man a way to scrub, and change his righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).

After cleansing, he could go in to see God (Heb 10:18-22).

When you decide to appeal to God's mercy in prayer, spiritually, you are coming before His presence at His throne in Heaven. Conditions in the throne room must remain holy, just as conditions in the operating room must remain sterile.

Jesus accepted the punishment for our sins, so that our sins being already punished, we could be forgiven. If you have no sins to your account, you are holy. By accepting Jesus' sacrifice on your behalf, you can come before God's presence with boldness, and let your request be known to your loving Father, Absolutely Free.

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Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.


No. 17 July 22, 1996 Absolutely Free

Knee high to a 10 ft. Injun. 2 men examine a panel leaning against a wall. One says, "How big you suppose that thing is: 7 ft?"

"Gotta be 10 ft. at least," the other replied.

A 3rd man said, "That's a 4'X8' sheet of plywood."

One of the other 2 said, "How d'you know: you some kinda' carpenter?"

"No," he replied, "Plywood comes in 4'X8' sheets."

But because he admitted that he wasn't a carpenter, they laughed him to scorn, and said he "wasn't qualified to tell them squat." Suppose he whipped out a measuring tape, and proved it. Then they said, "That's just your interpretation of that tape. How do we even know that tape is accurate?" Silly, or no?

2 men examine a Goat. One says, "I wonder if it would be a sin to have sex with that thing. I mean, who would that hurt?"

"Long as your wife don't care," the other replied, "I imagine it's OK."

A 3rd man said, "You're wrong, it would be a sin."

One of the other 2 said, "How d'you know: you some kinda' priest?"

"No," he replied, "But bestiality is a sin."

But because he admitted that he wasn't a preacher, they laughed him to scorn. What if he whipped out a Bible, and showed them (Lev 18:23)? Well, the standard answer from people who can't tell what sin is and isn't, is, "That's just your interpretation. How do we even know that thing's reliable?" Silly, or no?

Say you don't want to use the Bible to determine what is right and wrong. Fine. How do you establish laws? What's your measuring tape?

The criminal laws of every civilized western nation were originally based on the laws God gave Moses in the Bible: the Word of God. Why? Because they work. Thou shalt not Kill (Ex 20:13), steal (Ex 20:15), or lie (Ex 20:16), etc. It's the only reliable standard to go by to determine truth (Heb 4:12).

There are countries that don't use the Bible: happy, tyrannical dictatorships and communist despotism. But freedom comes from Jesus (John 8:36), the word of God made flesh (John 1:14), and He gives it Absolutely Free.

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John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.




No. 18 July 29, 1996 Absolutely Free

Hoop, one on one. One day, you're shooting hoops, and a stranger asks "How about a friendly game of 21?" So you go first, and make 3 shots. Then he shoots 21. "Try again?" So you make 4. He shoots 21. You shoot 2, he shoots 21.

This is getting old. So you say, "Let's take turns taking 1 shot each, adding up our points: But every time you miss, you go back to zero. I'll say when the game is over (Your plan is to end it when you have points and he misses)."

When the score is 3-18, you realize that you've seen this guy before. He was this year's #1 draft pick for the NBA. You're playing the best. When it's 4-92, you say, "OK, you win. I can't beat you. I concede to defeat."

But he says, "No, I'll quit. If I quit, I take the loss, and you become the winner." But you say, "You don't have to do that for me."

"You know who I am, don't you?"

"Yes."

Well, if you let me quit, you can tell everyone you beat me."

"That's OK, I wouldn't feel right doing that."

"Oh, but I insist."

And with that, he takes the ball, shoots it at the hoop, and misses. The score is now 4-0. You win. All you have to accept the victory.

Jesus challenges you to a friendly game of "Who can go the longest without sinning (1 Pet 1:16)?" You can't beat Him. You're playing with the best. He came down to our home court, and played as one of us (Heb 4:15). He's never missed (1 Pet 2:22). Go ahead, give it your best shot.

He's waiting for you to realize who He is, and that you can't win against Him (Isa 45:23). When you acknowledge that the only way you could win is if He allows you to: He allows you to (Rom 10:9-11). Though He never sinned, He accepted your loss, so that you could accept His victory from Him (2 Cor 5:21).

It's not negotiable. He insists. He already took the losing shot so that you could win (1 John 2:2), by accepting the victory, Absolutely Free.

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Isaiah 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.



No. 19 Aug. 5, 1996 Absolutely Free

John was a bad boy, and beat a poor cat; Tom put a stone in a blind man's hat; James was a boy who neglected his prayers; They all grew up ugly, and nobody cares. From "The Book of Virtues" by Bill Bennett.

Imagine being blind. What would you do for a living? Beg? Sell pencils? Brats and vulgar people would harass you because you were vulnerable. If you drop a stone in a blind man's hat, he'll think it's a coin, until he feels it. Wouldn't that be humiliating? And there would be nothing you could do about it.

Suppose you were selling pencils, and someone asked you if you could make change for a fifty. You tell them you can't read paper money. So they say, "I'm sorry, here, just keep the whole thing," and hand you the bill.

You hurriedly tippity-tap your cane home, eager to share it with your mother, who takes care of you. But she groans, and tells you that it is just a piece of paper, cut out to size. All the way home you were thinking about what you were going to do with the money… only to find you had been deceived.

You were born blind to the spirit realm. There is a complete world around us that we are active in, that is invisible to us (Eph 6:12). But we know it's there. Just as you can see trees bend in the wind: you can't actually see wind, but you can see the effect it has on things (John 3:8).Ever see a radio wave?

Just like people whom a blind man cannot see, play tricks on him; so spirits whom we can't see play tricks on us. Rather stones in our hat, they put lies in our minds (1 Tim 4:1). So after this life, we'll find out that what we had, wasn't what we thought. And we'll have nothing. How humiliating.

Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind (Luke 4:18). He said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). When you believe Him, and decide to follow Him, He sends His Spirit to dwell within you (John 14:26), giving you the truth (John 8:32), and the truth shall make you Absolutely Free.

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John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.




No. 20 Aug. 12, 1996 Absolutely Free

Operators are standing by: have your credit card ready. Imagine that your childhood dream was to make suffering people happy. All your life, you work on an invention that will meet all their needs.

Once perfected, you hire the best advertising agency around, to promote your product. Now you watch your first TV commercial air.

It's a cheap production, with poor lighting, and bad sound. The spokesman is unhappy. Your product is supposed to make people happy. He describes your product, and in so doing, demonstrates that he doesn't know what he's talking about. He insults the audience by saying that if they don't buy it they're stupid.

Then another commercial airs: it's well produced, and the spokesman is charming. They claim their product will do all that yours will, and more. They're lying. But their motivation isn't to make people happy, it's to make money.

At this point, what would your feelings be toward the advertising agency you hired to make your product attractive to the public? Wouldn't you consider finding someone else to market your invention? That's where God sits now.

His product is salvation. He had to send His Son to die to obtain it. And those who have received it are called to market the product (John 15:16): to make it appealing (Col 4:6) to the customers: the lost (Luke 19:10).

Here's the sales pitch: "Because God loves you, and doesn't want you to suffer the consequences of your sins, He accepted the punishment on your behalf, as Jesus. If you are willing to believe and accept this, the product is yours (John 20:31)."

How hard can that be? But look at the miserable job some of God's salesmen are doing: some of their lifestyles demonstrate they don't believe what they preach; and others shout, "Do what I say, or rot in Hell: turn or burn!"

Then they wonder why people don't flock to them, to find God. It's because God is love (1 John 4:16). And they don't show love; or even consideration. Meanwhile, God still needs help (Matt 9:38). The competition is stiff (2 Tim 3:13). God needs you. How hard can it be to sell something that's Absolutely Free?

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1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.



No. 21 Aug. 19, 1996 Absolutely Free

Let Freedom Ring. When an elected official, or inducted soldier takes their oath of office, they vow to defend the Constitution of the United States against it's enemies, both foreign and domestic. Why? Because the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. In it are guaranteed our freedoms and rights.

Those Freedoms cost the blood and lives of countless men and women, who were willing to risk their lives to secure those rights for others. When you become a public servant, you have become entrusted with the responsibility of preserving those freedoms. And when you betray that trust, you are called a traitor.

When lawmakers limit, or counter our freedoms, or pervert the meaning of the Constitution; or soldiers side with the enemy; they betray the public trust; and profane the blood of those who died to secure their freedom.

For this reason, the punishment for treason is death. Most Americans who place a high value their freedom, consider this punishment just. For if a traitor demonstrates complete disdain for the rights of others, those rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) should subsequently be denied to them.

In like fashion, becoming a Christian entails more than saying, "Yeah, I suppose I think that's the way it is." It is a commitment to stand for, and defend the Bible. Why? Because It's the supreme law of the God. In it are His very words (2 Tim 3:16); the promises of blessing and salvation (2 Pet 1:4).

Those blessings cost the blood and life of Son of God, who came here knowing fully well that He would die (John 18:37) to secure salvation for others (John 16:7). When you become a Christian, you are entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the integrity of the Bible, securing the promises for others (2 Cor 5:18-20).

When churches pervert the Bible; or so-called Christians side with it's enemies; they betray God and those who are seeking Him (Rom 2:23+24), and count the blood of the cross a profane thing. Their condemnation is just (Heb 10:29).

If you appreciate the sacrifice of those who died to make you free, consider the cause of Jesus who died to make you Absolutely Free.

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2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:




No. 22 Aug. 26, 1996 Absolutely Free

Friendliest service in town. A kid gets his first job, working at a gas station. The owner says, "The customer is always right. As long as you treat my customers as though they are more important than you are, they'll feel important. When they like the feeling, they come back. Regular customers are what I need."

The kid says, "Yes sir!" and the owner goes home. The first customer joked that he would like a free oil change. The kid said, "Yes sir! The customer is always right!" and did it. So the guy wanted a free fill up. The kid did that too.

When the owner shows up in the morning, he finds that the tanks are empty, all his tools are gone, and the pop machine and cash register are missing. The kid gave them all away, and then said, "Come back again, real soon!"

Do you suppose the owner will be happy or unhappy?

Jesus gave us the "Golden Rule:" treat others as we would like to be treated, because that sums up the Old Testament (Matt 7:12). The Apostle John told us that if we don't love others, we don't love God, because God is love (1 John 4:8).

And so in the name of love, people approve of things that God disapproves of. For example, abortion. Apart from all the political rhetoric, most abortions are performed on upper-middle class white girls, who fooled around.

Out of love people say, "Oh go ahead. Jesus understands your pain." Yes He does. That's why the bible tells us not to fool around in the first place: that fornication is a sin (1 Cor 6:18). He didn't want you to get hurt. You don't make up for one sin, by committing another: Thou shalt not kill (EX 20:13). That's not love.

God hates divorce (Mal 2:16). Yet out of love, people say, "Jesus wants you to be happy. So, I think He would tell you to get divorced."

Jesus said that the most important thing you can do is love God. The second is to love others (Matt 22:37). We express our love to God, by obeying Him (1 John 5:2+3). When you place others' desires before His desires, you've got it backwards. Like the kid at the gas station, you make a mess with good intentions. Yet unlike an oil change, the things of God really are Absolutely Free.

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1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.



No. 23 Sept. 3, 1996 Absolutely Free

Accidents happen. One day, you and your friends are goofing around, playing miniature golf. You hit the ball really hard. It goes flying over the fence, and hits the driver of a moving car. He veers, and collides with a bus, and his gas tank explodes. He and the 37 people on the bus die screaming in flames.

Would you feel bad? Why? Those people were going to die eventually anyway. Besides, what could you do to compensate for it? Nothing. So why not blow it off, and go to the counter, and ask for another ball? Not even suicide would rectify anything.

When you sin, it begins an irreversible chain of events. You can't say, "Oops," and start again. You create a mess that you're not able to clean up. You can ask God to forgive you. And He may. But the mess remains.

It's like being a little kid, playing with matches, and burning down the neighbor's garage. Now, your father disciplines you, forgives you, and restores the neighbor's property. It wasn't fixed for free, yet you didn't pay to have it fixed. Because you weren't capable of doing so. It cost your father.

Other religions recognize that men sin. They offer ways of making up for it, whether it's through karma, or asceticism (self denial), or whatever.

In Christianity, we come to the realization, that there's nothing we can do to reverse the events we've set in motion. We can't fix it. Yet our Heavenly Father is well able to fix the damage we've done, in the hereafter (Rom 8:18). He disciplines us (Heb 12:6-8), and forgives us (1 John 1:9), and cleans up our mess.

You're not ultimately accountable to the victims of your folly. You're accountable to God alone, because the clean-up costs Him (Ps 51:4). If the victims of your folly want to hold you accountable, then God tells them that they must answer for all of the stupid things they have done in their lives as well (Matt 7:2, John 8:7).

God prefers mercy over restitution (Hos 6:6). Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13). Jesus triumphed over the law of "an eye for an eye," so that God could welcome us to heaven as His children, Absolutely Free.

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James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

No. 24 Sept. 9, 1996 Absolutely Free

Oh yeah? Prove it. The effectiveness of Christianity depends upon faith. And so Christians are called to spread faith, by preaching the Gospel. Some people believe, and some argue: "You cannot prove to me that God is real."

True. However, nor can anyone prove that God does not exist. This reduces the debate to a wager. Since neither is provable by human means, we are left with a wager to make: should we bet that God exists, or that He doesn't?

Whenever someone places a wager, they should consider the odds and stakes: what do you stand to lose, against what do you stand to win? How much should you wager on your bet? And which is the most intelligent bet?

If you bet that there is a God, and are right, you win the promises of the scriptures. But if you are wrong, it doesn't matter. Because when you die, there will be no one to answer to. You will have lost nothing.

If you bet that there is no God, and are right, you stand to gain nothing. There is no one to reward your accuracy. But if you are wrong, you lose everything. If there was anything to be gained, you lost it by betting on the wrong horse.

Seeing then that only one number pays off, how much should you bet on it? Would it do you any good to spread your bets when you know for sure that the other bets will not pay? No. And the more you wager, the more you win. So the only rational thing to do, is bet all that you have on the only possible pay off.

So when proof cannot be provided, but the stakes are high, and the odds are stacked; only a fool would bet that there is no God. A fool (Ps 14:1).

That a person can't prove, or disprove God, doesn't mean that there is no way to know. Because God can prove it to you (Deut 4:29). He says that it's obvious to everyone to begin with (Rom 1:20). There are promises in the Bible that you can experience immediately (Acts 2:38), and in this life (Mark 10:30). These prove it to you (Deut 6:7). But that doesn't mean you can prove it to anyone else.

Don't be a fool. And don't base your faith on what someone else said. Read the Bible. The faith you need is in there (Rom 10:17), Absolutely Free.

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Psalm 14:1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.)THE fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

No. 25 Sept. 16, 1996 Absolutely Free

The one that got away. There are people who fish for food, and there are people who fish for a trophy. When fishing for food, almost any fish is a good catch. But when fishing for a trophy, you can pull in a fish that's "good eatin'," but throw it back, because it won't win a prize. It was a waste of time.

If you were a fish, and you knew that you were going to be caught, whom would you rather be caught by? Wouldn't it be better to serve some purpose, than die, simply because someone wanted to be able to brag that they caught you?

Well, in a figure, the Bible uses water to symbolize the sinfulness of this world. In the ark, God delivered Noah and his family from the destruction of the water. Through Moses, God parted the Red Sea, so that it didn't hinder the Israelites. Jesus was able to walk on the water, without sinking into it. And in Revelation, "waters" is referred to as peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues (Rev 17:15).

Jesus told His disciples that He would make them fishers of men (Matt 4:19). So in a figure of speech, you are a fish. And Christians are called to pull you out of the water, the multitudes of people, and sinfulness of this world, into the light of the Gospel of salvation. Then you are no longer of this world (John 15:19).

If you accept the Gospel, you've bitten. But some Christians can't get a bite. That's because fish aren't stupid. They can tell the difference between live bait, and an imitation. And although forthright fish (people) aren't opposed to giving their lives for a higher purpose, some Christians are only fishing to get a trophy; and the fish they're going after can tell that they're not really important to the Christian.

By the way, all fish will get caught. If not by Christianity, then something else (Rom 6:16). Everyone believes something. And when the catch is hauled in, what you believed, determines where you wind up (Rom 4:16).

No one is too small to God (Matt 10:29-31). No one is a waste of time. So Christians shouldn't treat anyone as insignificant. They should use live bait: the Living Word of God (John 6:63), and no imitations. Then people will be drawn to Jesus (John 12:32), and salvation will be theirs, Absolutely Free.

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Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

No. 26 Sept. 23, 1996 Absolutely Free

Don't shoot! I'm just the piano player. Given a room, with a piano, and 100 people in it, who have never seen a piano, and don't know what one is: how many of those 100 people do you suppose will learn to master it; understanding all the concepts, like harmonies, majors, minors, chords, etc.?

OK, suppose that one of those people is a prodigy: someone born with the uncanny innate ability to tinker with it, and learn how to produce music on it. How many people now will learn to play? Not many still, because although the prodigy might be able to play the piano, they might not be able to explain playing it.

But suppose that one of the people in the room is a piano instructor, with sheet music, and instruction books. Now how many of the people in the room can potentially learn how to play piano? All of them.

Likewise, the Holy Spirit is near to everyone (Acts 17:27). But people are not naturally inclined to know how to respond to the Spirit (Rom 3:10-12). There may be a few people who are godly by nature. If so, the Bible says that they might be saved, even though they never heard the teachings of the Bible (Rom 2:14-16).

This prompts people to ask, "Well then, what do I need to hear about Jesus for?" Because Jesus didn't come to save the godly (Matt 9:12+13). He came to save the sinners (1 Tim 1:15). Those people who are godly by nature are prodigies. Without the knowledge of the gospel, they can help only themselves.

But God wants everyone to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:3+4). Listen to Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. That's faith in Jesus: the one who justifies the ungodly. It makes you righteous.

So, since God wants everyone to know how to play piano (how to respond to the Holy Spirit) He has commissioned His followers to be piano instructors, to go into all the rooms, and teach (Matt 28:19+20).

The Bible is their sheet music, and instruction manual, and you need not be musically inclined. The lessons are Absolutely Free.

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Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

No. 27 Sept. 30, 1996 Absolutely Free

As long as you don't miss, you can't lose. Almost everybody has played pool. Here in America, if you miss a shot, or scratch, it becomes your opponents turn. But in Australia, if you miss a shot, or scratch, you can take a "chance shot." You get to shoot again, but if you miss again, you have to skip your next turn.

Once you're accustomed to playing regular 8-ball, playing Australian rules seems too easy. You can miss intentionally, just to move the cue ball to a better position for an easy shot, take your chance shot, and keep on going.

According to pool room protocol, whoever made the last shot, controls the table. The winner gets to begin the next game, maintaining control. And if he doesn't miss a shot, his opponent doesn't even get to shoot.

So, life is like a pool hall, that God owns, and you're chalking up against the devil. As long as you don't miss, you will win. But no one has ever played against him without missing (Rom 3:23). Except the owner of the pool hall (John 14:30).

Before Christianity, life was like playing by American rules: you slip up, and sin, you lose control of your life (John 8:34). Christianity is like playing Australian rules: you get another chance to maintain control (Acts 26:18).

So, you miss, and the devil gains control of the table. Then he cheats, and you realize it, but he refuses to turn the table over to your control. What do you do? He does miss (Luke 10:18), and he cheats too (John 8:44).

Notify the owner. He's on your side. In fact, when you're faced with a shot that you can't make, you can ask the owner to help you out. If need be, He'll take over, make the shot for you, then give the cue back to you (Matt 10:19).

So, having this advantage, you'll never find yourself in a situation, where it's impossible to shoot without missing (1 Cor 10:13). Thus it's never a good idea to sin, just to position yourself for a good chance shot (1 Sam 15:22).

The best of all possible options is to not miss at all. But if you believe that you're capable of making mistakes, then you need to play partners along with Jesus. He'll help you to win every time, Absolutely Free.

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Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins…

No. 28 Oct. 7, 1996 Absolutely Free

Caution: Severe Thunder Storm Warning. Suppose you got a phone call one day, from your dad; and he told you that thunder storms were coming, and that you really, really, needed to install a lightning rod on your roof. So you did.

The next day, in the middle of the storm, you watch while one by one, lightning strikes every house in your neighborhood. Every one of them bursts into flame. All but yours. Lightning struck it, but it hit the rod, and was grounded.

Do you suppose you'd remember that day? Well, this is sort of the concept behind the Christian sacrament of taking "Communion." Lots of people don't get it.

In days of old, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. God told Moses to go rescue them. He performed signs and wonders through Moses, to prove that He was with him. But the Pharaoh wouldn't release the Israelites.

So God sent a destroyer, to kill the first born male of every household (Ex 11:4-7). But each Israelite household was to kill a lamb, and eat it, with unleavened bread. Then, they were to spread the blood of the lamb around the door of their house. When the destroyer saw the blood, he would pass-over that house (Ex 12:3-13).

So all the Egyptian first born males died. But the Israelite first born didn't. After this terrible sign, the Israelites were released. Then God told them to remember that day, with the annual celebration of "Passover" (Ex 13:3-5, 8-10).

It was during the Passover celebration, that Jesus took the unleavened bread, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body (Matt 26:26)." He was saying that He is the sacrificial lamb that was to die, so that death might pass over us.

Then He said, "This do in remembrance of Me (Luke 22:19)". Just like God had told the Jews to celebrate Passover, to remember.

When Jesus' ministry began, John the Baptist declared, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)" Christians are described as those who "Overcame him [satan] by the Blood of the Lamb… (Rev 12:11)."

Just like a lightning rod; destruction comes for us, because of our sins, but Jesus absorbed it for us, that we might be saved, Absolutely Free.

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Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.

No. 29 Oct. 14, 1996 Absolutely Free

The sincerest form of flattery. Suppose you own your own business, and would like to take an early retirement. So you start watching your 3 employees, to decide which one you're going to give the business to.

You ask employee #1, if they would pick up some chips on their way home, for everyone to snack on tomorrow. But they say, "Get real boss. I work for money. If you want chips, I get them on the clock, or no go."

Employee #2, says, "That's too cool boss: chips for everyone. You're alright. That's a sharp outfit you're wearing. I like what you've done with you're hair. You sure are a smoothie." If they worked as hard as they suck up, you'd be rich.

Employee #3, Doesn't comment. But you notice them bringing in chips the next day. You also notice that they've adopted some of your work habits, and subtle mannerisms. You begin to realize that you have become a role model to them, and that they are unconsciously imitating you, in many of the things they do.

Which of these 3, stands the best chance of inheriting your empire?

People imitate those whom they would like to be like. That's why all teens listen to the same style of music, wear the same style clothes, and hair. All lawyers where suits, and all bikers wear Harley T-shirts and leather. It's not just kids.

The Bible says you become like the people you run around with (Prov 13:20). So if you don't want to wind up as a dope, you might have to lose some friends. It also says that we are called to imitate Christ (Rom 8:29).

Some people who don't love God, have made a profession of saying that they do (Matt 15:8). He hates that (Isa 1:10-15). He sent His son to display His character for us to imitate. So that those who truly love Him will have an example to follow (John 14:9). It's not hard: love God 1st, your neighbor 2nd (Matt 22:37-40).

Someone's going to inherit His empire (Matt 25:34). That's how to do it.

The focus of Christianity isn't obedience. But if you really loved the boss, you'd bring in some chips for everyone anyway. It's something you should want to do out of love. Because you never go on the clock: salvation is Absolutely Free.

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Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

No. 30 Oct. 21, 1996 Absolutely Free

I don't blame you. I would've done the same thing. A cop pulls a guy over for doing 70 in a 55 mph zone. The man says, "Sorry officer, you know how it is: this baby's built for speed, and likes to go fast." The cop says, "Yeah, I know: this pad of tickets is blank, and likes to be written on." Then he writes him one.

Then He pulls over another speeder, who says, "Sorry officer, but my wife is in labor, and I'm taking her to the hospital." Seeing the woman, the cop says, "Follow me!" Then he turns on the lights and siren, and races to the hospital.

That's not fair: both men were guilty, yet were treated unequally.

God told the Israelites, "Thou shalt not kill (Ex 20:13)." Then He told them to go into the promised land, and kill it's inhabitants (Josh 9:24). That's not right.

He told the Israelites not to lie (Ex 20:16). Two Christians were struck dead by God for lying (Acts 5:1-10). But when some Israelites were hiding in a whore's house in a foreign land, she lied to the locals about them being there (Josh 2:4), and the Bible says that she was deemed righteous by God for that (Heb 11:31).

That's not fair: both parties were guilty of lying, yet were treated differently.

Religious people who push Christianity as being a strict system of rules, where you either obey, or rot in Hell, are wrong. Jesus (God) confronted the sanctimonious crowd of His day, and chewed them out for not understanding God's character, or demonstrating His mercy and compassion (Matt 23:23).

Yet others who say that "all roads lead to heaven," or "I'm OK, you're OK," are wrong also. They don't understand God's character either.

God will hold people accountable (Rev 20:12). Yet some who are just as guilty as others will be held blameless (Eze 33:13-19), either because of their motivation, or because they realized their error, and changed their ways (James 5:20).

So how can you know for sure what's right and wrong? Since thousands of church people disagree, the best thing you can do is read the Bible for yourself. It's God's Word. His character is revealed in it. And through it, His Spirit is made available to you. He will answer your questions if you ask Him, Absolutely Free.

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Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

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No. 31, Oct. 28, 1996 Absolutely Free

Vote for the peoples' candidate: (your name here). Imagine that you came from a small town, that was built around one factory. The whole town was about to go broke, until you became Mayor. You did such a brilliant job turning your town around, that you become your party's candidate for President of the United States.

So you hit the campaign trail. While you're away, all of your friends root for you. Your enemies (people who owe their prosperity to you, but are jealous of your fame), smear your name, trying to ruin your chances for becoming President.

Then you win the election. And you need to appoint your cabinet. You have to appoint people that you know you can trust, whose judgment is sound. So you look to your home town friends, who have helped you get this far.

Which raises a situation: the local factory back home will shut down, if your friends leave it, and follow you. But if they go with you, they can help create thousands of jobs for hard working people across the nation.

So it would be for the greater good, if they go with you. Those who are loyal to you will be given huge salaries, secret service protection, and travel and expense accounts. On the other hand, those who are left behind, to lose their jobs, are those who tried to stab you in the back while you were away, campaigning for President.

Now you're in Jesus' shoes. He demonstrated to us how things should be done, then split. It was something that He needed to do for the greater good (John 16:7). Meanwhile, we can either root for Him, or smear His name.

He said that those who weren't against Him, were for Him (Luke 9:50), and those who weren't for Him, were against Him (Luke 11:23).

Regardless of how we feel about Him, we all owe our prosperity to Him (Matt 5:45). He said that He was leaving to prepare a place for those who are for Him (John 14:2+3). It's a place on His cabinet (Rev 20:6).

There is also a place for those who are against Him (Rev 20:15). You determine which is your place, by how you respond to Him here (2 Tim 2:12). You can reserve your place on His cabinet, simply by putting your faith in Him, Absolutely Free.

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John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

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No. 32 Nov. 4, 1996 Absolutely Free

Intelligence is no substitute for experience. Intelligence = capacity to know. Wisdom = knowing and understanding.

An un-intelligent kid can know from past experience that drug-pushing gangsters hang out on a certain street corner. That experiential knowledge he possesses, allows him to anticipate a potentially dangerous situation, and avoid it. That would make him street-wise: wise, even though he's un-intelligent.

An intelligent person who is not street-wise, would not know to avoid that corner. Or, an intelligent person, could possess the knowledge, but choose to disregard it. That would make them un-wise. Intelligence isn't wisdom.

So, what you do with what you know, proves whether you are wise, unwise, streetwise, or otherwise. The Bible says that you can know God (John 17:3). What you do with that knowledge will show whether or not you are God-wise.

God wants all people to know Him, and to know of Him (1 Tim 2:4). What He really likes, is when someone knows Him well enough, that they become familiar enough with Him, that they can anticipate what He's going to do at times.

When David killed Goliath, He didn't ask God if it was the right thing to do. He said (paraphrased), "God's done stuff like this through me before, and He'll do it now (1 Sam 17:37)." God likes that kind of spunk (2 Chron 16:9).

There were several times when people who knew God, faced impossible odds, fully persuaded that He would save the day, without checking with Him first (1 Sam 14:6, Dan 1:12-15, Acts 3:6). They knew He would, because they knew Him.

Don't expect that kind of faith to come from nowhere. You've got to know Him. A person may be smart enough to perform a given job, but not be job-wise: familiar with the tools, and procedures. You can understand all kinds of godly principles, but if you don't know God, you're not God-wise.

It takes a certain amount of intelligence to graduate from High School, or get your G.E.D.. But you don't need to be a genius to get your G.O.D.; you just need to get to know Him, and you can because of Jesus, Absolutely Free.

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John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

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No. 33 Nov. 11, 1996 Absolutely Free

Remission physician. Fred, Ted, Ned and Ed, were all stricken with cancer, that festered and bled.

A man named Zed came upon them one day, and said, "I once had cancer, but it went away. The doctor has healing-elixir, I say, so visit the doctor, and do not delay."

Ed said, "We should do what Zed said." But Ned said, "Ed, it's all in his head: if he once had cancer, then he should be dead." Then he took his self-pity, and went back to bed.

But Ed and Fred, went on ahead, determined to follow the counsel of Zed. But not so did Ted, for persuaded by Ned, that he would look silly, he stayed home instead.

The doctor said, "Ah, I've been waiting for you," then prescribed medication, and things they should do. "Take this prescription, and heed this advice, and before you two know it, you'll both heal-up nice."

So homeward they went, with paper and potion, to read the inscription, and swallow the lotion. Ed did all that the list said to do, but Fred lost heart, and did not follow through.

That turned out to be, a terminal blunder, for not six weeks later, he went six feet under. Only Ed became healthy, and stronger, and tough. The others keeled-over. Then Ed got their stuff.

This rhyme isn't just a whimsical story: the pieces and players are an allegory. The cancer is sin (Rom 6:16), and Zed is a preacher. The Way of salvation, he was a true teacher (Rom 10:13-15).

Ned was a skeptic, and caused Ted's demise (Matt 18:7). But both Fred and Ed chose the path that was wise.

Yet scripture explains what was wrong with ol' Fred: like flesh without spirit, faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

Ye are saved by grace through faith, it's true (Eph 2:8), But once you believe, there's stuff you should do (1 John 2:3-6).

The Lord is the doctor, His blood brought the cure (Matt 26:28), If you trust and obey, your salvation is sure. You need no appointment, you need pay no fee, for heavenly healing is Absolutely Free.

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Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

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No. 34 Nov. 18, 1996 Absolutely Free

A Rock and a hard place. One day, you're walking downtown, when a thug attacks you. As you struggle, you see a cop. If you shout he will see you, and help.

The only drawback is that there is a warrant out for your arrest. As soon as that cop recognizes you, you're off to jail. What a dilemma: to need someone's help, but not be able to ask for it, because they would turn hostile toward you. So what do you do?

Well, you could try to overpower the thug yourself: his name is "Champ." He weighs 327 fat-free lb.'s, has mastered 9 forms of martial arts, and is packing an uzi, a club, and a bayonet. Give it your best shot.

This is where a lot of people think they stand. God is the cop. They don't want Him to spot them, because they think He's got it in for them. Meanwhile, Champ is the devil. he does have it in for you (John 10:10). he is tougher than you. So you do need God's help to overpower Him. Fear not: God's not gonna turn hostile on you.

News Flash: He sees you when you're sleeping; He knows when you're awake; He knows if you've been bad or good; so what difference does it make? He hasn't stricken you dead, and there's nothing stopping Him, if that's what He wanted. But He is merciful (Ps 103:8, Joel 2:13). Jesus was called a friend of sinners (Matt 11:19).

He doesn't expect people who haven't developed a strong relationship with Him, to conduct themselves as though they have (1 Cor 5:9-12). It's when people claim to serve Him, but act like they don't, that shames Him (Rom 2:23+24).

But if you fear His wrath, that's also a good thing (Prov 1:7, Prov 10:27). What bothers Him is when people don't fear Him (Luke 18:10-14). The snooty religious crowd, who thinks that their mess doesn't stink, irritate Him like smoke in the nose (Isa 65:2-5). But He doesn't want you to be so afraid of Him that you won't appeal to His mercy. He needs you to come to Him, so that He can prove His mercy toward you.

When you testify of His mercy, He will be glorified, and you will be the vessel of that glory (2 Cor 4:7). All you need to do is call on Him, to rescue you from "Champ." He already knows what's going on, but He won't intrude. He's waiting for you to invite Him into your situation, Absolutely Free.

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Joel 2:13 … turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

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No. 35 Nov. 25, 1996 Absolutely Free

"Come with me, to the Casbah." Once upon a time, a beautiful little girl dreamed that one day she would live in a palace. In her fantasy, a dashing prince would ride up, call her by name, and say, "Come away with me, my love."

But her fantasy was shattered by reality, when her step-father molested her. Hurt, humiliated, confused and seeking comfort, she told her brother. But rather than comfort her, he reasoned that as long as she was defiled anyway, there was no sense in denying himself the pleasure; and he molested her too.

Then his pals followed suit, and soon, word got out that she could be had by anyone. The women in town began to sneer at her, and call her "tramp". But the reputation made her suddenly popular with guys, offering trinkets or favors, hoping to score.

No one offered her comfort. Knowing that resistance was futile, the only comfort to be found was in accepting the trinkets. So, she took what she could get.

Then one day a dashing prince rode up, and said, "Come away with me my love." Astonished, she said, "You don't know what sort of woman I am." Then he called her by name, and said, "I know you, my love, trust me. Will you come with me?"

In shame, she cast her eyes downward, and looked at what she had become. Then, she turned, and gave her hand to the prince. As their fingertips touched, her virginity was restored, and the innocence and beauty of her youth returned to her.

Her name was "Human." She was overpowered and molested by her evil step-father, Satan, and the boys: his minions. Trinkets were temptations to sin. Those who sneer, are self-righteous people, who looked down on her, because she was trapped in sin.

Have you ever been trapped in sin? If so, then you are "Human". Demons are more powerful than you (2 Pet 2:10-12). So even the best get had (Rom 7:14+15).

But the "Prince of Peace" is Jesus (Isa 9:6). He calls to you by name. He knows what sort of person you really are (1 Sam 16:7). If you will turn your back on the ways of sin (Acts 17:30), and go with Him, your past sins will be forgiven (Col 2:13).

If you would like the innocence of your childhood to return to you, turn to Jesus (Acts 3:19). He'll show you your real Father, Absolutely Free.

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Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

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No. 36 Dec. 2, 1996 Absolutely Free

Interdepartmental co-dependance. Suppose you owned a company that made the best electric lamps in the business. Everyone is very proud. In fact, each department takes credit for the success. Then they all get angry at one another.

So they break-up into separate companies that make parts that were only designed to work with each other. But none of them will sell to the others, because of their pride, and go broke. Even if you have all the parts to a lamp, but they're unassembled; then plug-in the cord; then click the switch, the bulb still won't light up.

Meanwhile you're left holding the bag: you've got this company that doesn't make anything any more, and when you claim that you used to produce the best lamps in the business, people scoff at you, and call you a failure.

Is it your fault? Isn't it the fault of your short-sighted employees who couldn't see that they all need each other to function? Well, this is where God seems to be standing right now. He established Christianity, which turned out to be the most advanced cultural, social, and religious entity in the history of mankind.

But all of the departments within the company: sects, factions, and denominations, have separated from one another, and refuse to work together. And they wonder why they don't see miracles, like the Church in the Bible did (Acts 2:43).

Well duh. Jesus Himself said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand" (Mark 3:25). The church is called a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5), and the "body of Christ" (1 Cor 12:27). Each part of a body is important, yet functions differantly (Rom 12:4+5).

A body without a liver dead: everything looks right, but it doesn't work. If every part were a liver, there would be no sight, or hearing, or other function (1 Cor 12:17). To be proud of your part, but detached from the body, is to be a dead part.

To be proud of your denomination, rather than humble before your God, is evil, and immature, not spiritual (1 Cor 3:1-4). When Christians do evil things, non-Christians mock God (Rom 2:24). But even if the employees are quibbling, and production is temporarily halted; don't lose faith. Jesus still provides the best product a soul could want: salvation, and it's Absolutely Free.

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Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

(supplement to No. 36 on back of page)

We are experiencing technical difficulties: Please Stand By. If your company markets a product, and a customer contacts them with a request to alter the product, so that it will be more effective for them, they will probably reach someone in management.

But it's not management's specialty to change a product's design, and if they did, they would probably do it wrong. And it's not the production worker's job. Although they have some insight, they probably specialize on one portion of the product.

It's engineering's job to examine the problem, survey the possible solutions, determine how each solution would effect the various operations, and select the best solution.

In God Mfg. Corp., God intends to provide services and products to the world through His employees, the Christians. Sometimes, this doesn't get done so well. So there must be some bugs in the system. That's where the Engineer, aka "the Holy Spirit" comes in.

As church people attempt to allow God to work through them, often they hinder the process by the way they conduct themselves. Oh, some Christians love to point out your sins, but unless they're being told to do so by the Holy Spirit, they've stepped outside of their job description. They're a production worker, trying to do an engineering job.

It's the Holy Spirit's job to convict men's consciences of sin (John 16:8). You can try real hard to be holy. You can even try to do what others say is wrong in your life. But if the Spirit of God isn't directing that change, you may be spinning your wheels. Don't sweat, pray.

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No. 37 Dec. 9, 1996 Absolutely Free

Out of your league. Sally walks past 2 guys at a table in the cafeteria without even glancing their way. Guy #1 says, "Man, I would kill to get a date with her." Guy #2 says, "Dream-on dude: she's too stuck on herself to go out with a dufus like you."

As Jane walks by, she exaggerates the bounce in her step, to enhance her jiggle. Then she waves, smiles, and says, "Hi boys!" Guy #2 says, "There's your date material bud. She's hot-to-trot." Guy #1, says, "Yeah, you're right," then he tags along after Jane to vie for her affection; though he'd rather chase after Sally.

Sally wishes someone would chase after her. The reason she avoided eye-contact with the guys was because she is meek. But because she is so attractive, people mistake her timidity for conceit, and are offended.

Without knowing her, or anything about her personality, the guy automatically assumed that he didn't meet her standards. And so, he gave up on the hope of getting to know her, without even giving it a shot.

People do that with God. Without any direct knowledge of Him, or His personality, they automatically assume that they don't meet His standards, so they don't try. They picture Him as an angry old man, who is disgusted with them.

Meanwhile, He wishes someone would chase after Him (Rom 3:11). He's not ignoring you; but He's not in your face all the time, because He's not about imposing Himself on you (Mal 3:7). He is meek, and lowly in heart (Matt 11:29).

People think that they have to be perfect before He will accept them. That's not the case (Rom 5:8). All it takes to please God, is to believe that He is, and that He rewards those who seek Him (Heb 11:6). He wants all people to be saved, and come to the knowledge of Him (1 Tim 2:4).

But like Jane, there are spirits who try to steal the affection that you have for God, by appealing to the desires of your flesh (1 John 2:16). But they're not looking for a lasting relationship with you, like God is: their selfish desire is to destroy you. God's desire is to give you life, and give it to you abundantly (John 10:10). And so He gave His Son to accept your death for you; Who did so willingly, Absolutely Free.

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Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

(supplement to No. 37, on back of page)

Earthen Vessels. People fantasize about obtaining things based on their belief that the thing is attainable. For example a guy who likes fast cars might dream, of a vintage 1968 Chevelle SS. But he doesn't fantasize about owning a Ferrari, or Rolls Royce. Why not? Those cars are fast. Because they're expensive and more rare. That doesn't seem like a realistic dream. He dreams of the muscle car, because he has hope that he might actually get one.

That's why men will tend to chase "easy" women, rather than the "hard" to get ones.

Likewise people make role models out of people they think they can relate to. Young people look up to atheletes and pop culture icons, as holding a place in society that they think that they could attain. If those icons are so perfect that people can't relate to them, people have a tendancy to worship them. Then they're called teen-idols or sex-symbols, or so-on.

Well God filled people in the Bible with His Spirit, and He does so today, so that through them, He can demonstrate His power and character. But if he made them too perfect, people would end up worshiping them, rather than worshipping Him, which is His goal.

The whole idea is that when you see someone who has God's Spirit, instead of thinking that they're perfect, and that you can't relate to them, you'll see their flaws, and think that what they have: God's Spirit; is attainable. That's because He is (Acts 2:38).

That's why God said that His power is made perfect through weakness (2 Cor 12:9). He bottles His power in earthen-vessels (2 Cor 4:7), people like you.

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No. 38 Dec. 16, 1996 Absolutely Free

Mr. Know-it-all. One person says, "The meaning of life is a mystery." Another says, "No, the Bible says that it's to know and accept God."

"What if the Bible's wrong?"

"It's not"

"Oh, then I suppose the other religions of the world are all wrong?"

"Well, they can't all be right."

"Of course they can. If it's true to you, then it's true. To think that any man, with his limited mind can fathom all the complex mysteries of God, is nonsense. And to say that your particular opinion of God must be right, is arrogant."

Is this true? No. Two things which contradict one another, cannot simultaneously be true. So they can't all be right. Do they all say the same thing? No. The common focus of every major religion is: what can I do to appease God? They all get different answers. But in Christianity, God makes the sacrifice, not man.

But is it arrogant to suggest that you know the truth? No. To say that you know God, is not to say that you can fathom all the complex mysteries of the universe. Saying that you know a doctor, is not a claim to understand all the medical sciences.

Arrogance, is to suggest that if there is something that you don't understand, then no one else is capable of understanding it either. To say that it is impossible to know, is not a shot at man's ignorance. It's a shot at God's ability to relate us, what He wants us to know. If He is unlimited, then it shouldn't be impossible for Him.

His way of relating to us, was to become like us as Jesus (1 Jn 1:1-3). He encountered every temptation we could encounter, yet never sinned (Heb 4:15). He showed us His compassion and love (Matt 14:14), which is the character of God (1 Jn 4:8), then said, "…He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9).

He also said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me (John 14:6)." Does that make Christianity exclusionary? No. Because He also said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28)." "All ye," means anyone, Absolutely Free.

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1John 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

(supplement to No. 38, on back of page)

True or False? The fact that something is in the Bible doesn't mean that everyone accepts it as fact. People who aren't Christians, (and some who are) claim that it's impossible to know whether the Bible is the official word of God, or if it was just written by the a bunch of guys.

That's an assumption. Because throughout the Bible, God challenges our ability to know whether it is true or not. In the Old Testament, He repeatedly said that He would do something, and then followed up the prediction, with, "Then they will know That I Am the LORD."

Then in the New Testament, there are instructions for knowing God through Christ (Acts 2:38). The ways to know Him are just as relevant today, as they were then. He says basically, "Do this, and you will meet Me." God is not a concept, or a philosophy. He has a personality that is individual, and unchanging (Mal 3:6, Heb 13:8).

So it's only a philosophical issue, that can be argued until you actually do what He said. Then it becomes a matter of experience.

To say that you believe in God, even to say that it's the same God that's in the Bible, but that you don't believe the Bible is the un-tampered with Word of God, is foolish. #1. Why would you believe that He is so powerful that He can create the universe, perform colossal miracles, but then assume that He's powerless to keep people from changing His word all around?

#2. Only a fool would say that it's a book full of lies, that people made up, but I'm going to lead my life according to it. Try what it says, and find out for yourself.

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No. 39 Dec. 23, 1996 Absolutely Free

Rock-a-by-baby. A little baby boy is born. He is helpless and innocent, frail and delicate. Everything about him is fragile, and his parents do their best to shield him from the world. But as he grows, he finds that other children can be mean.

In school, he learns that in order to survive in a tough world, one must become tough. As a teen he does things to demonstrate his toughness. And by the time he's a man, he's outright callous, crude, coarse, and belligerent.

Everything about him is harsh, until his wife gives birth to a little baby. The child is helpless and innocent, frail and delicate. Suddenly the hard harsh man becomes tender and protective toward this precious fragile new life. But the baby comes down with a terrible disease, and cries in constant pain.

For all his toughness, there's nothing the father can do to fight the sickness, but watch helplessly while his child writhes in pain. His heart is wrenched, and he wishes to God that he could take the baby's place and accept it's pain.

God understands. God is tough. He loves and cares for us more than we could possibly understand (Matt 10:29-31). And yet we are stricken with a terrible disease: sin. It's terminal (Rom 6:23). We were born with it (1 Cor 15:21+22).

He can't stand to look at us this way (Hab 1:13). So He wished that He could take our pain, by taking our place. He could, and did. That's the whole point.

The reason that He took the form of a Man as Jesus, was to trade places with us, and accept the pain on our behalf. He actually became our sin on the cross, so that when He was punished, our sin was punished (2 Cor 5:21).

If you can believe this, and will accept this change of places, thus accepting Him, He will accept you in Heaven as His own precious child (John 1:12). That's called being Born Again (John 3:3): an innocent baby, that He longs to shelter from the world. Innocent? Yes. Your sins have already been punished, so accept innocence.

About 2000 years ago, Jesus was born: helpless and innocent, frail and delicate. He came to accept your sins. You can accept Him, and He will be Born Again, in your heart, and live through you, Absolutely Free.

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2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

(supplement to No. 39, on back of page)

Merry Christmas. Jesus said, " If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matt 7:11)

And in another place, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11"13) Go ahead, ask. That's what He wants.

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

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No. 40 Dec. 30, 1996 Absolutely Free

Craziest Deals In Town! Suppose you take a new car for a test-drive. 40,000 miles later, you bring it back, and say that you're not interested. Would that be OK?

Or, you fall in love with a car, and cut a deal to buy it on payments for 5 years. But a year later, you're not in love with it anymore, so you return it, and just stop paying on it. What's the matter with that? Why pay on it if you don't want it anymore?

In reality, you'd owe a pile of money in depreciation. Why? A new car is a very valuable piece of equipment, that becomes less valuable over time and use. That's why it takes commitment to get one. People generally understand and accept this.

But people are immeasurably more valuable than cars. So if buying a new car is a commitment that you can't enter into lightly, why are people surprised to think that you shouldn't enter into a contract of marriage, on impulse?

Living together is like a 40,000 mile test-drive. That's sort of abusing the privilege isn't it? And divorce is like saying, "Gee, this thing isn't as neat as I thought it was last year. I think I'll abandon it, and my contractual obligation."

People who wouldn't dream of treating a car dealer like this; squat on God this way every day. On God? Yes. He's the dealer. When people agree to: "For better or worse, till death do us part," these are the terms of a deal they're cutting with God, to get Him to approve their union. Why else would they go to a church to do it?

God wants marriage between a man and wife, to illustrate the relationship between Himself and those who believe in Him (Eph 5:31-32). He said He would never leave us, or forsake us (Heb 13:5). He will never violate that vow (Ps 89:33+34).

The reason God instituted marriage (Matt 19:4-6), is because He loves people, and He wants more of them: He meant for marriage to produce Godly children (Mal 2:15). In order for them to be Godly, they need a Godly example in the parents.

When we break faith on our commitments, it fogs the picture that He wants us to see. And so He hates divorce (Mal 2:16). It gives an untrue picture of how He relates to us. He never goes back on His word (1 Pet 1:25). So even though you can count on people to let you down, you can always count on Him to pick you up, Absolutely Free.

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Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

(supplement to No. 40, on back of page)

"I Do." In Jesus' day, if a man proposed marriage, and a woman agreed, He would set out to acquire property, purchase materials, build a house, furnish it with a well, livestock, and furniture, then return (perhaps a few years later) to marry his betrothed bride.

Then all of the woman's other suitors were turned away. If the man were to renege on his promise, he ruined all of those other chances she could have had. If she reneged, she just wasted years of his efforts to prepare a place for her. These offenses were considered criminal.

This was the contemporary understanding of marriage when Jesus preached.

This adds weight to His statement in John 14:1 "LET not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Just as when Jesus said that when a man and a woman join in marriage, they become one flesh (Matt 19:6), when you Join the Lord, by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, you become one spirit (1 Cor 6:17). Even your body is part of Him (1 Cor 6:15).

So being a Christian entails much more than saying, "Of course I'm a Christian, my parents are Episcopalians." Both parties involved really need to think it out. Jesus has already expressed His willingness to commit to you. Now you get to consider His proposal as you think about your new year's resolutions. His offer is Absolutely Free.

No. 41 Jan. 6, 1997 Absolutely Free

The right tool for the job. Suppose you had to make several trips from a spring to a trough to water animals. In your shed are 3 buckets: 1 has many holes in it. 1 has deadly chemicals in it. On 1 the handle had come unattached.

With a little effort, you can re-attach a handle, but it would take too much effort to fix the 1 with holes. And you love your animals too much to risk poisoning them with the contaminated bucket. Which bucket will you use?

God makes a similar choice. He designed a built-in system, through which to provide for us: a family (2 Cor 12:14). But there are people who can't provide for themselves, who aren't in a family, namely, orphans and widows.

The Bible says, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:27)." Hence the biblical definition of religion.

God instituted religion to be the family for the helpless. So He looks to people, like buckets, to carry charity to the helpless, as one would to carry water to animals. Who will He choose? Plenty of "religious" people are asking Him to bless them with greater income. But not because they want to help the needy (James 4:3).

Some, like the bucket with holes, would spend it all before they got to the needy. Some, like the bucket with poison, might bring some help, but also do more damage than good. Others would work correctly, with His help.

The proof, to demonstrate how well you work, is giving of what you have now to the poor. See, if you don't do it now, you wouldn't do it if you had more (Luke 16:10). But if you are generous with what you have now, and glorify God with it, He will insure that you get plenty more, to continue with (2 Cor 9:8-10).

Some would say that if charity demonstrates pure religion, then it doesn't have to be Christianity. Look around. How many Muslim hospitals, or Hindu orphanages, or New-age old folks' homes do you see? How many are Christian?

When you give to others, you give to Jesus Himself (Prov 14:31, Matt 25:40). He will out-do you in returning blessing to you, Absolutely Free.

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Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

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The next day shift FCG meeting will be on Tues., Jan. 7, at 3:15, in the upper room.
No. 42 Jan. 13, 1997 Absolutely Free

Welcome to another dimension: the Twilight Zone. A line has 1 dimension: length. Give it room to go side to side, and it has another dimension: width. Add another dimension: depth, and you've gone 3-D: 3 dimensional.

Suppose you like to draw stick people: 2 dimensional figures, on a plane, with no depth. But these are special stick figures, because you have discovered how to bring them to life. Yet they can only know the things on their 2-D page.

But you want them to know you, because you're their creator. If you touch the page, they'll only be able to see the portion of you that is touching the paper. A splotch. Then they'll say, "The creator is a splotch." That's not right.

Well, you could draw a picture of yourself on the page, then they would know what you looked like. So you draw yourself from different angles: a front view, a side view, and a back view, so they can get a grasp of your 3 dimensions.

What do they see? 3 pictures. What do they say? "There's 3 of them." Isn't that what we say? 3 persons of God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? But those are really 3 facets of the one and self-same God. Why is that so hard to grasp?

Suppose your job were school teacher, and one of your students was your child. And you and your child were best friends. You are their parent, teacher, and friend: 3 roles, yet only 1 individual.

As a friend, you would always accept them, in spite of their shortcomings. But as a parent, you would correct them out of love. And as a teacher, you would train them to prosper, and to use their gifts.

God wants to be our Father (Gal 4:6), our Friend (John 15:14+15), and our Teacher (John 14:26). He always accepts us despite our faults (2 Cor 5:19), but corrects us for our own good (Heb 12:5-10). And if we accept Him by faith, His Spirit accompanies us (John 7:39), and teaches us how to use our individual gifts (Eph 4:8-14).

1 tree has many leaves, and 1 day has 24 hours, and 1 hand has 5 fingers. 1 God has 3 persons, and is made up of many parts. Just as a second is part of a week, you can be part of God, through faith in Christ, Absolutely Free.

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Mark 1:10 … he [Jesus] saw… the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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No. 43 Jan. 20, 1997 Absolutely Free

Eggs can't fly. A mother duck builds a nest near a pond, lays 5 eggs, and sits on them to keep them warm. When the sun is high, she can get off of the eggs, and go get something to eat, because the sun will keep them warm.

Danger. While she is a way, a snake slithers out of the grass for an egg breakfast. 2 down, 3 to go. Of those 3, when the time comes that they should hatch, only one of them is moving. It's a little duckling struggling to get out.

But Mama wants the other 2 to hatch also. So she starts nudging them, hoping to wake the baby ducklings inside. 1 starts to move. The 2 moving eggs hatch, and learn to waddle, and wade, and eventually fly. As winter sets in, the ducks fly South. Mama did all she could, but the hatching is up to the duckling.

Here's the lesson from that story: the last little egg was quite content the way it was, and had no desire to change it's circumstance. In a sense, it had been born already: it came into this world as an egg. In the egg, it found food, shelter, and comfort. But to survive, it needed to come out of the egg, and be born again as a duck.

People are like this. We enter this world once a human: a container of a spirit. But the plan was for us to be like God (Rom 8:29). In order for that to happen, we must be born again as well (John 3:3). That entails disrupting our cozy routine (Matt 4:17), coming out of our shell, and seeking to follow after God.

Meanwhile, there is a snake lurking in the grass, just waiting for a chance to devour us before we have a chance to hatch (1 Pet 5:8). And hatching requires some effort to do. Some know that it's something that they need to do, but don't want to make the effort. But winter approaches, and soon this life will be over (Heb 9:27).

Some people turn to God, when their life gets shaken, or turns upside down. That's because they weren't moving, and He decided to roll their egg around to wake them up (Heb 12:6). He did it because He cares. It works.

Just like the ducklings learn to be ducks by following the mama around, So we learn to be Christians (after we've hatched) by following Christ (Rom 12:2). But eggs can't fly. So break out of your shell, and accept a new life, Absolutely Free.

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John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

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Separation of church and state = you can't legislate morality. This is a quote from people who feel threatened by religion, and don't want restraints imposed on them. It's absurd. Of course you can legislate morality. Do you know why it's illegal to kill? Because it's immoral to kill. The law against murder was legislated.

The concept of separation of church and state was to keep the government from corrupting religion, not to keep religion from ruining government. Liberty is only possible in a place where religion has influence.

Why? Because where the people refuse to restrain themselves, the government needs to restrain them. They restrain them by taking away their liberties. And where the rulers don't recognize a higher power, their wickedness is unrestrained.

Self restraint is a by-product of religion. When people believe they are answerable to a higher authority, they act differently. No? Don't people work harder or at least act like they are when the boss is around?

So unless you run the government, someone else's morals are going to be imposed on you. And those morals are going to be influenced by their religion. Now you have to choose whose set of morals would you like imposed on you.

Islam is much more strict than Western culture. And Hindus don't see a clear distinction between good and evil. Communism (atheism) denies the existence of God, and is known for it's human rights violations. Choose your poison.

God wants law and order, peace and civility (1 Tim 2:1-3). To establish order, He gave us laws (Ex 20:1-17). To enforce the laws, maintain the order, and preserve the blessings of peace, He installs governments (Rom 13:1+2).

Government is the minister of His wrath (Rom 13:4). The church is supposed to be the minister of His grace (1 Pet 4:10). So when church people kill abortionists, they mess up the system. The government is supposed to kill murderers (Ex 21:22-25).

But they're busy trying to do the church's job by building a leviathan welfare system, that doesn't work. Where's the restraint? Your freedom is at stake. Turn to Jesus (John 8:36), because He sets people Absolutely Free.

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Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

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Playing favorites. One child says, "May I please go to my friend's house?" And the parent says, "Yes." The second child thinks to themself, "I'd like to go to my friend's house." Then they both leave, and come home.

The first child is well received, but the second child is scolded for leaving. So later, when they both ask for permission go to a movie, the first is given permission, but the second is denied as punishment for taking-off earlier.

One child is rewarded, and the other is punished, even when they have both done the same thing. That's not fair, is it? So the first child considers their parents to be loving and generous, while the second thinks that they're mean.

Here's the killer: either way, the second child would have gone to their friend's. If they would have asked, they would have been allowed to go. Which is better: to take what you want, and suffer, or have it given to you, and be rewarded?

You're the parent, and you love both children, and you want to do nice things for both of them, as an expression of the love you have for them. Yet you feel you need to punish them when they are disobedient, or they'll grow-up spoiled. But it hurts you for the second child to resent you.

Here's God's dilemma. God loves everyone. He is Love, it is His very make-up (1 John 4:8). And He wants to do nice things for us as an expression of that love (Isa 30:18). Yet He punishes us when we need it, so that we don't get spoiled. It's for our own good (Heb 12:10). And as a result, many people resent Him, and that hurts.

But He wants to bless us so desperately, He says that we can have whatever we ask for (Matt 7:7, 21:22, John 15:7). So people ask for things, don't get them, and again, blame Him. Like the child who asked, but didn't get to go to the movie. But He promises to increase blessings to us, according to our demonstration of responsibility.

He who is faithful with little will be faithful with much (Luke 16:10). Prove yourself untrustworthy, and you won't be trusted (Luke 16:12). Is that unfair? All that God asks is that you submit to Him, in the person of Jesus Christ. Do that, prove yourself responsible, and ask what you will, and it will be yours, Absolutely Free.

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John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you."

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No. 46 Feb. 10, 1997 Absolutely Free

First love. A young man grows up in a humble home. His father has taught him important things like honesty, virtue, hard work, and strong character. As he was growing up, the little girl down the street has been growing up too.

Even when they were little, and would play together, he thought to himself, "She's the kind of girl a guy would want to marry."

But she has blossomed into a full-blown, genuine adult babe. Along comes a new guy whose father taught him important things like mind over matter: if you don't mind lying, stealing, and cheating to get what you want, then it doesn't matter.

And the new guy wanted the babe. He offers to take her places that the nice guy can't take her. He offers to buy her things that the nice guy can't buy her. He tells her things she wants to hear. Not that they're true of course.

What can the nice guy do? Say he loves her more? The new guy says that too. He pleads, vowing his loyalty, but she's been enchanted. So after the new guy uses her, and abuses her, he loses her. He got what he wanted, now he's gone. Her eyes have been opened. She gets it now. Now she appreciates the nice guy. Suppose he'll have her?

The bad news is, that all of us have played the part of the babe. We've known all along that God has been calling us to partnership with Him, but we've allowed ourselves to be enticed away by other gods (Isa 53:4, Rom 8:23).

Anything can be a god. Like money. Whatever it is that you are obedient to, has become your god (Col 3:5, Rom 6:16). Though God can supply with all the money you want, all the money in the world can't supply you with any God.

Even though we entrench ourselves in disobedience, He continues to plead with us to return to Him. The good news is that Jesus doesn't hold our unfaithfulness against us when our eyes are opened (2 Cor 5:19). When we get it now.

His love for us isn't based upon our performance (Rom 5:8). He doesn't love us for the things we do, but for who we are. His forgiveness of our poor performance inspires us to love Him (Luke 7:47). Christians don't love God because they were born holy. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), Absolutely Free.

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Isaiah 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

No. 47 Feb. 17, 1997 Absolutely Free

Always say please and thank you, and smile. Often waitresses and sales people today don't seem to understand that it's not the customer's responsibility to make their job easier. It's the server's responsibility to ensure the customer's enjoyment. After all, if you work in a service industry, that makes you a servant.

Suppose you lived next door to an eccentric rich inventor. He made things that people really needed, and would pay his salesmen outrageously huge salaries. But you've seen his salesmen in action. They get in peoples' faces and say, "Hey, stupid, you really need one of these. Now buy one from me. Do it now!" When people are repulsed by them, and don't buy, the salesmen shout, "Idiot!"

Gee, your neighbor can't seem to understand why his inventions aren't popular. You would probably think 2 things: #1. Man, his salesmen don't deserve those huge salaries they get. And #2. I'm no salesman, but I could do better than that.

Eventually you would realize that you would make a huge salary, if your neighbor would hire you. Hmm. How hard can that be: Treat others nicely, and make the product attractive to them? Well, here's the deal: God has invented this great product called salvation. Everyone needs it. His salesmen are called Christians.

Just in case they were complete idiots, He even told them how to do it. He said, "Treat others as you would like to be treated (Matt 7:12)." And "Whoever wants to lead, must make himself servant (Mark 10:43-45). Then He made Himself a servant to them, and said, "That was a example for you. Do like I just did (John 13:12-17)."

He even said that when they would do so for others, they were doing it to Him (Mark 9:35-37). That's what Christians are supposed to do. But often, the Bible rebukes Christians for not being the way they are supposed to (Heb 5:11-14, 1 Cor 11:17, Rev 3:15+16).

Jesus didn't scold sinners for being sinners. He scolded His salesmen for doing a lousy job (Matt 23:13-15, Luke 11:42-44). You're right if you think: #1. Christians don't deserve their salvation. And maybe #2. I'm no saint, but I could do better.

Would you please? God needs you to work for Him. Those who can be turned to God by you need you. There are lots of perks, like having your sins erased, Absolutely Free.

No. 48 Feb. 24, 1997 Absolutely Free

Rah, Rah, Siss-Boob-Bah. There's an old saying that goes, "When you love someone, they can do nothing wrong. When you hate someone, they can do nothing right." It's true. Parents don't stop loving their kids when they misbehave.

Sports fans don't stop loving their favorite players after a play that didn't go well. Suppose football fans only loved and cheered for their favorite running-backs, until they got tackled. How many running-backs would be heroes? None.

The only way to please the fans then, would be to score a touchdown every time you are handed the ball. The only way that could happen is if there were no opposing team. Who would go watch a game like that? What would be the point?

In reality, running backs get tackled. And when they do, Their fans are grateful that they got as far as they did before they got tackled, and hope that they didn't get hurt, because they want to see them carry the ball again.

The coaching staff of the opposing team isn't just crossing their fingers hoping that their boys will tackle you: they've studied the plays that your team use, and they've pin-pointed the weak spots, and developed strategies to stop you.

That's the way it works in spiritual reality as well. There is an opposing team (Eph 6:12, 2 Cor 10:3+4). They have pinpointed your weaknesses (1 Pet 5:8). They have developed a strategy to stop you. What can you do? How can you compete?

Fortunately, your team has a coaching staff as well: The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They're familiar with the enemy's techniques. They've developed strategies that will help you avoid getting tackled. They've got a playbook: The Bible.

When you sin, you've been tackled, but the game isn't over (1 John 2:1). We are surrounded by a great cloud of fans (Heb 12:1). They're not going to stop cheering for you when you get tackled. When God loves you, you can do nothing wrong. Nothing that will make Him stop loving you, that is (1 John 4:10).

He does love you, and knows that you didn't just lay down. He sees you getting tackled, and wants to see you get up and carry the torch again (Matt 5:14-16). The torch is the light of the Gospel, that saves men's souls, Absolutely Free.

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Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

No. 49 Mar 3, 1997 Absolutely Free

"Because I said so, that's why." OK, It's a factory, and you're the boss. One day, you tell one of your workers to do something, but after you walk away, they decide that what you wanted done is unnecessary, and don't do it.

So after you chew him out, and explain why it was indeed necessary, he gets mad at you: "Well if I'd have known that, I would have done it." Suddenly you're the bad guy, because you withheld important information from him.

So he complains to the other employees that you're unfair. He says that he could call the shots better than you. Many agree. So now, you give instructions, but when you walk away, many look to him for guidance.

When you become aware of this situation, how are you going to feel about it? Are you going to be upset with the rebel only, or with the others too?

God has given instructions to us, so that if we follow them, this world will run peacefully. He hasn't explained each decision He has made, because it's not our job to judge His wisdom: only to abide by it (James 4:11).

But many people like to read horoscopes, meditate, play Ouija boards, and call psychic phone lines. How do you suppose God feels about this? Most people think that's all a scam. Some of it is. But some of it isn't. The Bible calls it sorcery, describes it as real (1 Sam 28:7-19, Acts 16:16), and condemns it (Deut 18:10-12).

Why? Because If you believe in supernatural entities, and calling upon them for advice; then you should be calling on God (Isa 45:11-17). But if you believe, yet call on someone else, you're attempting to bypass His authority. Rebellion against God, is on an equal level of evil as witchcraft and idolotry (1 Sam 15:23).

Since it's an attempt to get around Him, it's evil even if the power you think you're calling on doesn't really exist (Isa 44:15-19). It's interesting to note that the Greek word for witchcraft is pharmakeia (Gal 5:20), the same root word as pharmacy.

This implies that doing drugs, or pharmaceuticals, is a form of witchcraft. Why? because whatever effect it is that you want to get from the drugs: tranquillity, joy; God wants you to get from Him. He gives those things, Absolutely Free.

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Isaiah 45:11 Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

No. 50 Mar. 10, 1997 Absolutely Free

The Buddy System. Suppose that you have someone who's been your best friend since grade school. No one can relate to you like them, because you have both shared each others' experiences throughout life. And no one can relate to them like you.

You're both cut from the same mold: what you like, they like, and likewise. What's yours is theirs and what's theirs is yours. You're closer than Fred and Barney. Then one day you win 7 hundred billion dollars playing the lottery. Are you going to snub your friend, and say, "Shove-off, commoner; I'm high-society now"?

What if it were them that won a zillion bucks? Wouldn't you be happy for them? But after the rush wore-off, you would begin to realize that you now have access to all that money, because of your friendship.

Not greed: just the realization that things have changed, and because of your relationship with them, things that weren't possible before, are now possible. Wouldn't you start scheming about what you should do now?

Or will your friend, who is just like you, abandon you now? If not, then there's nothing evil about making plans. It wouldn't make sense to ignore your resources. It makes sense to use your resources wisely. A life-long best friend who's filthy-rich would be a considerable resource indeed.

Well guess what: you have a life-long best friend who's disgustingly rich: Jesus. Those who believe in Him, and seek to build a relationship with Him, He calls His friends (John 15:13-15). He's known you since before you were born (Eph 1:4). He will stick by you closer than a brother (Prov 18:24). He'll never abandon you (Heb 13:5).

All of the money in all of the world belongs to God (Hag 2:8). And when you partner-up with Him, what's yours is His, and what's His is yours (1 Cor 3:21-23). He tells His friends that whatever you ask for will be yours (John 15:7). So start scheming.

But if your best friend asked you for money to by 3 bottles of nitro-glycerin, and a book on juggling, you might refuse that request out of their best interest. Likewise, God will deny a request that He knows will destroy you, because He loves you, and wants to give you good things (Matt 7:11), Absolutely Free.

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1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

1 Corinthians 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

No. 52 Mar. 24, 1997 Absolutely Free

Name, rank, and serial number. One day, the sky is filled with parachutes, just like the movie "Red Dawn". Suddenly you're surrounded by foreign soldiers. You put up a fight, but one of them clubs you from behind.

You wake up behind a barbed-wire fence, a slave. Your life becomes an endless cycle of drudgery. All you can do is fantasize about getting rescued. In your fantasy, friendly tanks roll over the fence. As you and your fellow prisoners flee to safety, machine guns chop down the camp guards like a lawn-mower.

But it doesn't happen that way. The way it does happen one night, is a person who was never captured, disables a couple of the guards, so that there's a blind spot in the fence. Then he crawls under the fence, and comes into the camp.

He sneaks into the prisoners' quarters, and instructs everyone to follow him to freedom. He returns to the fence, lays underneath it, pushing the chain-link up with his back, making an arch-way, to crawl under. This is risky.

This is nothing like you imagined being rescued, but it is freedom. To escape, you'll have to lower yourself to the ground, and crawl through. Some people decide to go, but others choose not to. But he stays, and pleads with all the others to come out. Meanwhile the guards are alerted to the escape, and they kill him.

This world has been invaded, and is under the control of evil (1 John 5:19). Everyone has been captured by sin (Rom 3:9). All but one guy: Jesus. He was never captured by sin (Heb 4:15), so He could disable the captors (Eph 4:8).

He comes to our quarters, like a thief in the night (Luke 12:39+40), and asks us to follow Him (Matt 4:19, Luke 9:23). He has become the Way (John 14:6), or Gate (John 10:7) through the barrier. All we have to do is lower, or humble ourselves (James 4:7+10), and accept His help (Matt 11:28). He got Himself killed trying to save us.

Unlike how most people would present themselves if they were God, He is meek, and lowly in heart (Matt 11:29). If today, you hear His voice, follow Him (Heb 3:7-12). Or people can insist that it must happen according to the way they imagine it, or they can accept the way that Jesus offers salvation, Absolutely Free.

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Matthew 11:28 Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

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