Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Salesmen And Soldiers

Salesmen And Soldiers 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society

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It is true indeed that salvation is bestowed by grace and received through faith — entirely apart from works, religious or otherwise. But it is equally true that it costs to embrace the truth and costs even more to stand for it, rather than selling out. This is why Proverbs 23:23 exhorts us to “buy the truth and sell it not”. In this sense we are not to sell the truth. Yet in another sense we are salesmen of the truth, urging men to buy it.

As we do this we find that there are those who would actually seek to hinder men from buying the truth. Yet it is not primarily they who oppose our efforts, but Satan and his hosts.

“FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD [age], AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS [wicked spirits] IN HIGH PLACES” (Eph. 6:12).

This is why God’s salesmen must also be “good soldiers of Jesus Christ” (II Tim.2:3). We must make the glorious message known despite the opposition. We must “put on the whole armour of God” and meet our adversaries with “the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”( Eph. 6:11,17). When they would shut our mouths we must pray for ourselves and each other:

“…that utterance may be given unto me, THAT I MAY OPEN MY MOUTH BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the [Paul's] gospel.
“…THAT THEREIN I MAY SPEAK BOLDLY, AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK” (Eph.6:19,20; Rom.16:25, 26).

This, by the grace of God, is our prayer and our resolve.

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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.

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Family Survival In A Nuclear Age

Family Survival In A Nuclear Age 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society

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There has been a great deal of discussion of late as to whether property owners should build fall-out shelters for their own families. Some have advocated building such shelters and providing them with all the necessities for survival, including even weapons to keep others from intruding or overcrowding the quarters! Others object to this, however, as a savage viewpoint, and feel it would hardly be worth survival to have to turn a deaf ear to the cries of neighbors or friends who might need shelter too.

Soviet Russia, however, is not the only threat to family survival. There are other forces at work, just as deadly but generally ignored. When this writer was a boy, dad read the Bible and we prayed and gave thanks to God at every meal. One result of this has been that today not one member of our large family shares the fears of the world as to the atomic bomb.

America as a whole is not so well off. She is departing from God and the Bible. As a result, a constantly increasing number of its families are being broken up through juvenile delinquency, alcoholism, dope, divorce, etc., and with these a chilling fear of the future.

St. Paul said to the Philippian jailor: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). This, of course, does not mean that if a man trusts Christ as his Savior, the rest of the family will be automatically saved. The sense is rather: “Believe in Christ and you will be saved, and this goes for your household too — if they believe they will be saved” (Acts 16:31). As Rom. 14:12 says: “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God,” but it is a wonderful fact that nothing is so apt to keep a family together as mutual faith in Christ and a mutual love for the Bible. Let’s be more concerned about this type of family survival. Let’s make God our “fall-out shelter.”

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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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Dear Readers: I know that this lesson may seem outdated, but with Obama and crew at the helm he is leading us over the cliff to ultimate complete disaster. PLEASE pray, and witness to those that are lost like there's no tomorrow! I have no special insight, and the Lord may chose to tarry another 1,000 years, but I do believe we have very few tomorrow's left. Unsaved souls must be our primary concern.

God bless you all. Ride safe.

Obama Air Force Nominee Is Non-Pilot Female

Unbelievable! In yet another obvious attempt to further weaken the US military, Øblasphemer has picked a female non-pilot to head the US Air Force in the Pacific:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/17/air-force-command-nominee-is-1st-woman-non-pilot/

A non-pilot heading the Air Force? That will do wonders for morale, I am sure. What’s next? Perhaps a person who has never been on a boat leading the Navy and a person who has never shot a gun leading the Army? He's already stuffing the military with Muslims, deviants, and other non-American's.

I am very worried. 

Ride Safe,

Winfield Farms Vintage & Now Shopping Spree #antiques

We enjoyed a lovely lunch today with good friends at the local Garden Cafe' in downtown Blackshear. After engorging ourselves on their delectable fresh homemade sandwiches, chips and sweet ice tea and a hour of friendly conversation, we all took our leave to go run errands. However, upon leaving the Cafe, I noticed a new antique store in the little strip of businesses. Yep, made a bee line for it too!

The store uses the title of Winfield Farms Vintage & Now. I meant to ask them if they where Winfield's but was so excited about the new finds, completely forgot myself.

Oh, yeah, life is good.

Also, prayers for all the families and friends with loved ones on the airplane in the terrorist attack in the Ukraine today. Our thoughts are with you.

Ride Safe,

Throwback Thursday: 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 #tbt #motorcycle

This week I'm featuring my old 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 750.

04 June 2005

GA Highway 94

Columbia County, Florida

These where the Cruiser Years in the Sparky household. That was before I discovered Adventure or Dual Purpose Bikes. My husband calls cruisers Butt Jewelry. Men! *lol* He's right, though, because it's similar to changing from riding ponies to race horses. Adventure Bikes are a whole new ball game.

I was "bikeless" (horrors!) for the many years we lived in the Big City. I bought this cruiser style motorcycle shortly after moving to the Georgia countryside. It was easy to ride in a straight line, but it was a bear in the corners. The advanced fork rake made it hard to handle and it always felt like it was going to tip over. At least I had strong arms back then. Anyway, I thought it looked cool. I kept this little gem until it was traded for the 2006 Kawasaki 900 Vulcan LT Classic. 

Ride Safe,

Simple Woman's Day Book #1

That's me, a simple woman, with simple taste's, and a simple mind.

First of all, I want to thank everyone for the prayers that I know where sent up for me this past week. I greatly appreciate your love beyond measure. Things worked out after all and the medicine is here. I'm happy and I give God the glory "Great things He hath done ..."

Ok, this is my first attempt at filling out the Simple Woman's Day Book linky. I hope it's not too boring for my readers. *smile*

FOR TODAY 

Outside my window: Bright sunshine. VERY hot. It hasn't rained here in almost three weeks. It's getting scary dry again.

I am thinking: About how concerned I am for our country. We're being invaded daily by Mexico and the President is aiding and abetting the enemy. They are not "children", by the way, but young teens infested with diseases being shipped, unescorted all over America under cover of darkness. An evil darkness sits in control of our government.

I am thankful: For so many things but I will put my laser like focus on that medical things seem to be straightening out. 

In the kitchen: I just finished cleaning up the supper dishes. Hubby created a real superb meal (he said I needed comfort food) of fried chicken, garlic gravy, ford hook lima's, and baked bread with real butter.

I am wearing: What is this? A crank call? *lol* Ok, plaid (duh) Bugle Boy shorts with a matching plain blue Icon T-shirt. and my favorite World Wide Sportsman flip flops

I am creating: A more organized, clutter-free home, I hope. We've been systematically working through every nook and cranny and deciding what to sell and what to throw out. Thanks to all this work, we now have an official pantry! It's big too. An entire room off the kitchen. All that is needed is more shelves.

I am going: Nowhere at the moment. Already ran my errands this morning; banking, grocery shopping and RiteAid for a few sundries. RiteAid was having a Buy One Get The Second Free soap sale so I stocked up.

I am wondering: What else I can sell to loosen up more room in the house.

I am reading: The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir. I really enjoy Tudor History and just about anything English, especially related to the monarchy.

I am hoping: I sleep better tonight. I think I shall now.

I am looking forward to: Cooler weather, perhaps some rain, so we can ride again. I am seriously considering buying a more open helmet for hot weather but I so dislike having my chin 'out there' in case I take a tumble. 

I am learning: To be a little more patient, I hope, and trust the Lord more.

Around the house: Again, organizing, cleaning, utilizing our space more.

I am pondering: Hmmmm ... I'll have to get back to you on that.

A favorite quote for today: "Let your conversation by without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

One of my favorite things:  No contest! Lindt 70% Dark Chocolate.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Auction is Friday evening in the neighboring town of Blackshear. I've kinda gotten hooked on these things. I even bought some of those little battery powered hand fans to keep myself cool. The boys, the Jack Russell Terriorists, will be one year old tomorrow. Where has the time gone!?

A peek into my day: This is what's in the garden. Well, at least the flowers are doing well after the Great Vegetable Massacre. *giggle*

Thanks for tagging along. Have a wonderful evening folks.

Image Courtesy of ZingerBug.com
Ride Safe,

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Unions Or Unity?

Unions Or Unity? 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society

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Here is a company of Bible-believing Christians joined together in, let us say, an evangelistic endeavor. All are trusting in the shed blood of Christ for salvation, though some are Baptists, some Presbyterians, some Episcopalians and some represent other denominations.

Are all these believers one? Yes, in Christ, for “there is one body” (Eph. 4:4).

What united them? The “one baptism” (Eph. 4:5) by which the Holy Spirit unites all believers to Christ and to each other: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles…” (I Cor. 12:13).

Yet these same believers, all trusting in the finished work of Christ for salvation, remain sadly divided as far as fellowship in the work of the Lord is concerned. They may have blessed fellowship in their evangelistic endeavor, but at its conclusion they go back to their mutually exclusive church organizations.

The reason? Basically it is that they have confused “the gospel of the kingdom,” proclaimed by Christ on earth and His twelve apostles, with “the gospel of the grace of God,” proclaimed by the ascended, glorified Lord through the Apostle Paul (Acts 20:24; Eph. 3:1-3).

Striving over baptismal modes and meanings, most of them still require their particular forms of baptism for entrance into their churches, while explaining at the same time that the ceremony has no saving value and that it is not required by God for entrance into the true Church.

Can’t we stop being Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists and just be Christians? Why should the Church of Christ remain divided and weak, when God says:

“WE BEING MANY ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST, AND EVERY ONE MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER” (Rom. 12:5).

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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.