Intruder Alert!

In case one hasn't noticed after spending more than five minutes on my blog, I'm a big fan of nature. I especially have a penchant for reptiles. (Must be the "goth" in me.) This weekend, whilst purging the exterior house windows of those pesky little green tree frogs that leave smear marks on the glass, I spotted a new visitor. Luckily, Sweetie had the camera on stand by and he grabbed a snap of this little guy over our front door.

What is it, you may well ask? Don't fret, we had to look it up too.

Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)

"Hold still for the camera and don't blink ..."

"I can't. I'm a Gecko."

He, or she, is a Gecko?! In Southeast Georgia!? This is not part of their normal range.

"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!"

Fear not, for they are harmless, and are actually beneficial little creatures. They eat bugs and that's just dandy in my book.

I only hope there are more of them. If I find more, for any fellow amateur herpetologists out there, I'll be sure to share.

And that was yet another exciting weekend in the country. *smile*

Ride Safe,

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ When Things Look Bleak

When Things Look Bleak 

by Pastor Paul M. Sadler

Berean Bible Society

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“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
—Psalm 73:1-3

This particular Psalm, along with eleven others, is ascribed to Asaph, a Levite who ministered as the chief musician at the temple. After many years of faithful service, Asaph began to waver in the faith. With a heavy heart he says, “My feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped.” Most believers can relate to this having experienced the same struggle in their own lives. In fact, it is an all too common problem.

Notice what the stumbling block was: Asaph became envious of the prosperity of the ungodly. He made the mistake of comparing his life with the lifestyle of the rich and famous. “They have more than the heart could wish” (vs. 7), everything had been handed to them on a silver platter. And what was even more disturbing to the Psalmist was they had obtained their ill-gotten gain through corruption and violence (vss. 6,8). Meanwhile, Asaph had labored day and night to barely make ends meet. He had compassion on the poor, but the wicked oppressed them seemingly with impunity. It just didn’t seem fair! As the old saying goes, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

The wicked in those days, as now, were not interested whatsoever in God and acted as though He really didn’t know or care (vs. 11). And to add insult to injury, the heavens were silent! The Psalmist, on the other hand, sought to live a righteous life only to find himself afflicted by the world and chastened of the Lord. This caused him to ponder, “Have I cleansed my heart in vain?” The more he dwelled on this, it was just too painful for him to bear. “Until!” Until what?

“Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors” (Psa. 73:17-19).

Have you ever awakened from a nightmare and felt thankful it wasn’t real? For the ungodly the nightmare described here is very real. The Psalmist’s “foot had almost slipped,” but he was spared by God’s grace and mercy in salvation; but the slippery slope the ungodly will find themselves on ends in terror. When things look bleak—Remember Psalm 73! ** (see below)

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

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** Psalm 73
A psalm of Asaph.
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace;they clothe themselves with violence. 7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. 8 They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" 12 This is what the wicked are like-- always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. 15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. 16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20 As a dreamwhen one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. 21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beastbefore you. 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strengthof my heart and my portion forever. 27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Your Greatest Need #SavedByGrace #PrayForOurCountry

Did you ever hear the Word, or maybe something on TV or the radio or whatever, that you really, really needed to hear. Right then. Right now. Right at that moment? And you knew it was God speaking to your heart?

It's a, "Better listen, kid, I love you and want you to understand" moment.

This just happened to me.

I was feeling spiritually low, again. Discouraged, spit out, tired, weary, frustrated. So ANGRY I can't put together a complete sentence without wanting to throw something! All these wicked people. Prospering. While we struggle to make ends meet with no end in sight.

In today's Two Minutes With The Bible, the Lord sent us all who would listen the encouragement to continue on in prayer. And I pray that it may "edify" others as well. I hope this lifts your spirits as well.

Ride Safe,

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Your Greatest Need 

by Pastor Ricky Kurth

Berean Bible Society

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Even in these challenging financial times, the greatest need of a Christian is not monetary. It is rather found in Colossians 1:11, where Paul prays that we might be

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all…”

Unto all what? Whatever it is, Paul is convinced we are going to have to be “strengthened” with “all might” according to “His glorious power” to obtain it. As we read on, Paul tells us the goal of all this empowerment:

“…unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”

Patience? The reason we need all this mighty empowering is so we can be patient? While this mayseem anticlimactic, we submit that patience is our greatest need. We need patience to put up with the world’s wickedness, the abortions, etc., patience in knowing the Second Coming of Christ will right the world’s wrongs. We need patience as televangelists continue to dominate the airwaves with their dilutions and pollutions of the gospel, and patience as Bible teachers muddle the minds of the saints by their failure to rightly divide the Word. And since no man today has the gift of healing, we need patience with our physical infirmities, and longsuffering as we wait for that wonderful change that will come to our bodies at the Rapture (Phil. 3:20,21).

Finally, we need patience with one another, as we learn to not just put up with other believers, but to actually give them the same unconditional love and acceptance God extends to us. 

Moses was patient with unbelieving Pharaoh, but lost his patience with his brethren. How like us! But ask yourself, when did David show greater spiritual strength, when he slewGoliath, or when he refused to slay Saul?

Paul says we are to be strengthened to all patience “according to His glorious power,” but what is God’s glorious power? The destructive power He exhibited at the Red Sea is called “glorious” (Ex. 15:6), but we suggest that God’s glorious power today is seen inHis patience. The fact that God could put an end to the abortions and religious confusion, but doesn’t, is His most glorious power in the dispensation of grace.

The apostle concludes by praying that we might be patient “with joyfulness,” perhaps the hardest part of longsuffering. God doesn’t chafe under the vexations He receives from the world, religion, and the Body of Christ, and neither should we!

If this kind of power were not available to us, Paul would not be praying that we might have it. And so may his prayer also be the prayer of our hearts, as we enthusiastically study the only source of spiritual strength, God’s Word rightly divided.

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Giants Among Us #Flowers

Anyone else having difficulties with Blogger this week? I can't get all my blogs to display as previously.

It's giving me this business, as above, which is pretty useless. I can only see one post at a time and not all the blogs. If I'm missing some of your posts, this is why, and I do apologize.

Silly thing. *sigh*

It seems that most of my blogging buddies are posting photos of their sunflowers.

Guess I'll jump in. *smile*

I planted Giant Sunflowers all around the garden. At least these are doing well.

Also, sewed Giant Zinnia seeds under the Purple Martin houses near the garden.

What we lack in vegetables [gee, I don't know why ... cough] I've made up for with a profusion of color.

"O LORD, how manifold are your works!" [Psalm 104:24]

Ride Safe,

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ The Spirit Of Faith

The Spirit Of Faith 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society

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It is thrilling to hear the Psalmist, though “greatly afflicted”, say: “I believed, therefore have I spoken” (Psa.116:10).

It is thrilling too, to see the Apostle Paul, though “troubled… perplexed… persecuted… cast down… alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake” — it is thrilling to see him take his stand with David and to hear him speak of having “THE SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH”, adding: “WE ALSO BELIEVE AND THEREFORE SPEAK” (II Cor.4:8-13).

If only all who believe the glorious message of God’s grace: that believers in Christ are accepted in Him, pronounced “complete” and baptized into one body by one divine baptism — if all who believed these truths would speak out today, there would be a sweeping revival tomorrow in the Church, the Body of Christ. If, putting all other considerations aside, they would openly and honestly say: “WE ALSO BELIEVE AND THEREFORE SPEAK”, the results would be as refreshing as far reaching. And they should speak, for this is “the spirit of faith”.

But, alas, there are few who possess “the spirit of faith”; few who will stand, regardless of consequences, for the light God has given them. Some maintain a discreet silence because of the “fear of man”; others because they love “the praise of man”. Both say: “One must be careful what one says, for these truths are not popular”, but both alike are guilty of unfaithfulness to God and the truth.

With God’s help, let us not be among them. Let us, where the truth is concerned, stand with David and Paul and say: “WE ALSO BELIEVE AND THEREFORE SPEAK!” Let us be among those who truly possess “the spirit of faith”, who are determined to “stand fast in the faith” and ready to “fight the good fight of faith” (I Cor.16:13; I Tim.6:12).

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

How Now Brown Towels

We just returned from a sojourn to the Jesup Walmart. After wading through the usual sea of tattooed Wal-Martians and cheaply made Chinese goods, I noticed that there's not as many people there as there used to be on a Saturday. The store looks ragged too, like it needs a good washing.  You know the economy is suffering when the poor can't afford to spend their welfare checks at a Walmart. After side stepping several Prozac laced urchins blocking the isles, I did manage to find a few good bargains. One item we needed was some type of throw to put on the brown living room furniture for the Jack Russell Terriorists to lay on. They're fairly clean for dogs considering they have such easy access to the outdoors. It's their tiny white fur on brown upholstery that's bothersome.

I decided on bath size chocolate colored towels for only $5.88 a piece. Good deal huh?

Now we're preparing to chow down on DiGiorno pizza (my favorite is the Supreme with thin crust, we add extra Pepperoni) and iced Samuel Adams Summer Ale.

I wish everyone was here to join us.

Ride Safe,

Funny Friday ~ King James I Takes On Smoking

King James IV of Scotland and I of England

(b. June 19, 1566 d. March 27, 1625)

On smoking:

"A custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof, nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless."

Such a command of the English language. Makes one want to speak and write more eloquently, doesn't it.

One can read more about King James here or in one of David Starkey's fantastic history books. They're very enlightening. James I is the King that brought us the King James Version of the Holy Bible as England tore itself loose from the bondage of Catholicism. We owe him a great deal. 

Rideth Safeth,