God’s Hedge Around Us

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God’s Hedge Around Us
“O satisfy us in the morning with Your loving-kindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14
Years ago I heard a powerful teaching at a seminar about the way God places a hedge of protection around His kids. One of my favorite devotional authors, Glynn Evans, shared a teaching yesterday on this topic in his classic devotional, Daily with the King (Moody Press):
The great gospel message is that in Christ Jesus I am free! Thank You, Lord, for this truth. But it is just as true that IN CHRIST JESUS I am bound, hobbled, hedged and limited. My freedom is really only my freedom to change hobbles and to realize that Satan, my former hobbler, meant only viciousness for me while Christ, my new hobbler, intends only eternal welfare and good for me.

You said about Israel, “I will hedge up her way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her paths.” (Hosea 2:6) This was the wall of CONFINEMENT. Whenever we rebel against You and grow surly, as Israel did, a confining hedge will always be placed around us. Despite its confinement, that hedge was an expression of Your love, Lord. It shows the extent to which You will go to protect Your children from sinning, and, therefore, from reaping a sad harvest.
Job had a confining hedge also. Satan said, “Hast Thou not made a hedge about Him?” (Job 1:10) Thank You for this hedge, Lord. It is a hedge of PROTECTION around an obedient child f Yours to keep out the external enemy.
Lord, You build a hedge around every one of Your children. I may, if I will, break through the hedge and run pell-mell after my own selfish desires. But if I do, the consequences will be mine also. If I stay within the hedge, the consequences are Yours.

Thank You for Your hedges, Lord, whether illness, poverty, disappointment, sorrow, alienation, or whatever. I find my freedom when I realize that the hedge is not a confinement of my love for You, or Yours for me. It does not hinder my obedience to You, but makes me free to be abandoned to all the glories of a God-planned life.
Can you think back over your walk with the Lord and identify the hedges of confinement and protection that He has placed in YOUR life? If so, thank Him for the hedges. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Deuteronomy 14-16; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 16
Compass Pointers: May the power of your love, Lord Christ, fiery and sweet as honey, so absorb our hearts as to withdraw them from all that is under heaven. Grant that we may be ready to die for love of your love, as you died for love of our love. Francis of Assisi

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Proverbs 11:19; Level 2: Proverbs 11:8-13
Anchored to the Rock: A wicked man in prayer may lift up his hands, but he cannot lift up his face. Thomas Watson

The Good, Bad, Ugly

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The Good, The Bad and The Ugly 
“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.” 2 Peter 2:19-21 (ESV) 

I was three years old when this movie came out but “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” has remained a classic movie for me to watch. The movie gives a view of what will be considered The Ugly first, The Bad second and lastly The Good. Its back drop is the tail end of the American Civil War and the main theme is the quest for $200,000 in gold coin. The three characters that are after this money all display their defects but at times we can see some internal struggle within them…just not with the Ugly one. Today I am going to apply two parts of the title to this movie to a wave of attitude that we need to take notice of and one part that should re-assure us. 

The Supreme Court of these United States made a judgment call that I think is U.G.L.Y, it ain’t got no alibi, it’s just ugly. They voted 8-1 in favor of allowing the Westboro Baptist Church to continue with their hateful protest’s at the funerals of fallen soldiers. I do not say that ugly means they should have voted against their privilege of freedom of speech, I mean ugly as what it says about Gods church now in the minds of most Americans. The statements made by this church after the Court agreed that they can exercise their rights just cut the Body. They claim the Pentagon has declared war on them and by doing so they have declared war on God Almighty and that the Supreme Court justices, as well as the President (who they have deemed “The Anti-Christ”) would all be going to hell. So…I guess there will NOT be a sound preaching from Romans 13 from their pulpit anytime soon. 

Here is what I think is the bad thing most Americans are seeing about Gods church these days. We have T.V. preachers using the media available to them to preach a bad message about how God provides. If their viewers sow their financial seeds into their ministries their viewers will be blessed with prosperity. They also con their viewers into thinking there is a feel good Gospel message for them if they can just get off their butts and wiggle. What even makes this all the more bad (my terrible use of grammar excluded) is the way they use Bible verses. They seem to take a part of one verse from one book and with a few …’s they pair it up with another verse from another book. They don’t give us a true sense of God’s message of prosperity for our lives. We can run all these messages through the cross of man but we cannot run any of these messages through the Cross of Christ. So…I guess there will NOT be a sound preaching from Mark 10:17-25 from the T.V. pulpit anytime soon.
But here is Good News, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” Then we have more Good News, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.” And yet still more Good News, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” This is sound preaching that needs no pulpit. 

With the coming of Resurrection Sunday it always seems to be the habit of Mass Media to portray Christianity as a belief system that is double-minded (sometimes we are letting them by being silent). They exploit what is ugly, allow what is bad but rarely will they give any credence to what is good about Christendom.  It will be to us to continue to go along our daily path and announce (even if we use words) that Jesus Christ still sits at the right hand of the Father and that the Father will one day right this attitude for His glory and to His glory alone. Then the whole world will be His pulpit. – Chris Hughes is a regular Freedom Fighter contributor and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Deuteronomy 11-13; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 15
Compass Pointers: “Faithful shepherds protect their sheep. They work hard, day after day, to instruct, reprove, correct, and train God’s people—leading their flocks on the path of truth. Like the Good Shepherd Himself, they stand guard even when spiritual enemies threaten. Cowardice is not a consideration for them; neither is compromise. After all, they have received a divine commission, to “shepherd the flock of God [until] the Chief Shepherd appears” (1 Peter 5:2, 4).” – John MacArthur

Navigation Rules to Memorize:  Level 1: Proverbs 11:19; Level 2: Proverbs 11:8-13
Anchored to the Rock: It is foolish to pray against sin and then sin against prayer. John Trapp

In Times Like These

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In Times Like These
What an unbelievable couple of days with what is happening in Japan with the earthquakes, tremors, aftershocks, Tsunami’s. When I opened my copy of the Daily Light yesterday morning, the verses could not have been more fitting:
Oh, my God, my soul is in despair within me.
The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.
Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you. He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither has He hidden His face from him; but when he cried to Him for help, He heard. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.\

Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. Do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and yet YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? Be not unbelieving, but believing – Lo, I am with you ALWAYS. Psalm 42:6; Isaiah 26:3,4; Psalm 55:22; Psalm 22:4; James 5:13; John 14:27; Matthew 6:25,26; John 20:27; Matthew 28:20


Here is a link to an old gospel song made famous by George Beverly Shea: In Times Like These  May it bring comfort to your hearts today. Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Deuteronomy 8-10; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 14
Compass Pointers: May the power of your love, Lord Christ, fiery and sweet as honey, so absorb our hearts as to withdraw them from all that is under heaven. Grant that we may be ready to die for love of your love, as you died for love of our love. Francis of Assisi

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Proverbs 11:19; Level 2: Proverbs 11:8-13
Anchored to the Rock: It is impossible for a believer, no matter what his experience, to keep right with God if he will not take the trouble to spend time with God. Spend plenty of time with Him; let other things go, but don’t neglect Him.” Oswald Chambers

Psalm 136

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Psalm 136
This morning’s hymn of praise is from “Our Own Hymn-Book – A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Public, Social and Private Worship.” It was compiled by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) and used at his church, The Metropolitan Tabernacle.

The words of this hymn are based on Psalm 136

Give to our God immortal praise;
Mercy and truth are all in His ways:

Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat His mercies in your song.

Give to the Lord of lord renown,
The King of kings with glory crown;
His mercies ever shall endure,
When lords and kings are known no more.
He built the earth, He spread the sky,
And fixed the starry lights on high:
Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat His mercies in your song.
He fills the sun with morning light,
He bids the moon direct the night;
His mercies ever shall endure,
When suns and moons shall shine no more.
The Jews He freed from Pharaoh’s hand,
And brought them to the promised land:
Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat His mercies in your song.
He saw the Gentiles dead in sin,
And felt His pity work within:
His mercies ever shall endure,
When death and sin shall reign no more.

He sent His Son with power to save
From guilt, and darkness to the grave

Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat His mercies in your song.
Through this vain world He guides our feet,
And leads us to His heavenly seat:
His mercies ever shall endure,
When this vain world shall be no more.

Written by Isaac Watts 1719


Great words to ponder as we worship HIM today – our Audience of One! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Deuteronomy 5-7; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 13
Compass Pointers: Recognize that peace and forgiveness do not depend on feelings of piety but on Christ and on what He has done. John White
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Proverbs 11:19; Level 2: Proverbs 11:8-13
Anchored to the Rock: When we become too glib in prayer, we are almost certainly talking to ourselves. A. W. Tozer

Worship Isn’t Just for Sundays

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WORSHIP – IT’S NOT JUST FOR SUNDAY
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)
            Who should worship?  Anyone who has placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior has the privilege of worshipping the one true God.  I Peter 2:9 says “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 
            Why should we worship?  Because God desires to have a personal relationship with us, He created us for His glory that we might worship Him.  Romans 12:1-2 says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.
            When should we worship?  Hebrews 13:15 says “Through Jesus, therefore let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name.”  A.W. Tozer said “It does not seem to be very well recognized that God’s highest desire is that every one of His believing children should so love and so adore Him that we are constantly in His presence, in Spirit and in Truth.”  “True worship of God must be a constant and consistent attitude or state of mind within the believer.”  I Thessalonians 5:17 says “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
            How should we worship?  Deuteronomy 6:5 says “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  Colossians 3:16-17 says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”  I Chronicles 28:9 says “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” Robert Hayes is 
Director of Programming and artist-in-residence at America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 67; Proverbs 12
Compass Pointers: Our faith and our friendships are not shattered by one big act, but by many small neglects. J. Gustav White
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Proverbs 10:9; Level 2: Proverbs 10:27-32
Anchored to the Rock: We should pray when we are in a praying mood, for it would be sinful to neglect so fair and opportunity. We should pray when we are not in a proper mood, for it would be dangerous to remain in so unhealthy a condition. Charles H. Spurgeon

Who Said You Can Sing?

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WHO SAID YOU CAN SING ?
“Sing a new song to Him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout. For the word of the Lord is right, and all His works are trustworthy.” Psalm 33:3-4
When you were awakened this morning
Was it with a little pain?
Did you find that your picnic was cancelled By another day of rain?
And as you faced another morning
When every thing seemed to go wrong,
So that no matter how hard you tried
You just could not sing another song!
When I was just a little boy, my heart was full of joy Because I could sing in the Christmas choir.
I could not wait for that special moment of song How the music would that dark day inspire!
But my little heart was broken
As I heard these words spoken,
“Who told you that you can sing?”
And now when I am alone in my room
And I start to hum a tune
Or when I whistle as I walk down the street In my head these words repeat, “Who told you that you can sing?”
Yet I have found from the depths of my soul That what happens to me I can not control But although my thoughts are still reeling I can control what I am feeling If I can just find a song to sing
In church I would try to sing softly, it’s true, Because every one said that is what I should do.
But when I would think of the words on the page And the music would suddenly my heart engage (“Who told me I could sing?”)
It was not the choir director or my sisters in the pew It was not those who heard me sing a song so new It was not the preacher or the sexton or the kids in school Sometimes, when I realize that I am singing, I feel like a fool (“Who said that I can sing?”)
You can read your Bible every day
And learn, like Daniel, how to pray
But when you finish you must raise
Your voice aloud in songs of praise.
So if I sing so loud that I could raise the dead Remember that it was God who said,
“Yes, even you can sing!”    (Psalm 33:3-4) – Pastor Van is a friend of America’s Keswick and will serve this summer as our Campus Pastor
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Deuteronomy 1-2; Psalm 66; Proverbs 11
Compass Pointers: I am a committed to-the-death devoted follower of Jesus Christ. I am not a mere ‘fan’ who will walk away when I don’t like what he asks me to do or when my ‘self’ disagrees with his solution to a problem in my life. Katherine Walden

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Proverbs 10:9; Level 2: Proverbs 10:27-32
Anchored to the Rock: Public prayer is no evidence of piety. It is practiced by an abundance of hypocrites. But private prayer is a thing for which the hypocrite has no heart. C. H. Spurgeon

He is Able

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HE IS ABLE
“I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that HE is able …” 2 Timothy 1:12
One of my devotional tools that I have been using for years is DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH. I love it because it is just Scripture. No commentary – just the Word of God. I have been using this since 1999 and my copy is filled with marginal notes that remind me of God’s faithfulness.

Yesterday’s reading was one that I look forward to reading every year. I have copied it and placed it in several of my Bibles. It is a reminder of who HE is and what HE is ABLE to do …

He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)
He is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrew 2:18)
He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
He is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. (Jude 24)
He is able to keep that which I have committed to that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)
Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:21)
Wow! This is the God who you and I serve! This is the God who wants to have a relationship with you and me. This is the God who comes to you and me and says in the midst of difficult circumstances: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” According to your faith let it be to you.” (Matthew 9:28-29)
What are YOU facing today? Well be encouraged … HE IS ABLE! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Numbers 35-36; Psalm 65; Proverbs 10
Compass Pointers: While there is left in you a trace of ill-temper, or of vanity, of pride, or of selfishness; while there is left in you a single sin, or germ of sin, you must not rest from the battle. God does not require from you to be sinless when you come before Him, but He does require you to be unceasing in your perseverance. He does not require that you shall never have fallen; but He does require unwearied efforts. He does not require you to win, but He does require you to fight. Frederick Temple

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Proverbs 10:9; Level 2: Proverbs 10:27-32
Anchored to the Rock: Prayer is good, but when it is used as a substitute for obedience, it is naught but a  blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism. C. T. Studd

Sin and My Imagination

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Sin and My Imagination
Then desire when it is conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:15
Here is a very insightful devotional from the pen of John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress. The devotional was in Voices from the Past (Banner of Truth):
The salvation of the soul is such a wonderful thing that no other thing should come before it. Men are ignorant of the worth of their souls, and their danger. How common it is for men to spend all their care, time and strength, just for their body. Clothes and foolish fancies are all-absorbing. What a loss to entertain sin at the expense of God!
Sin is delightfully admitted into every chamber of the soul, and it hides and excuses it. O what courting is between sin and he soul. O how it entertains sin and pushes God out. The soul and its imaginations actually advances the power of sin. The imagination is a powerful force that all the other faculties cannot withstand it. Sin is presented to the soul, and the soul lifts up its eyes upon it, and the imagination delights in it.
Had the imagination been on God’s side, it would have viewed the sin as ugly and ill-favored. It would resist with great defiance. The sinful soul however entertains the sin by its imagination, and leads the sinner along to the actual fulfillment.
The soul falls before the sin in a flame of love. Sin thus attacks at the level of the imagination. How many times God issues warnings of judgment to the soul! God is such a lover of the soul that he seldom lets it go on in sin, but He cries to it by His Word and providence: ‘O do not do this abominable thing that I hate!’
The Gospel is the sovereign remedy provided for those that have made themselves objects of wrath by the breach of the law. Christ is set forth to save our souls, bearing our sins for us, suffering God’s wrath for us, and fulfilling the law for us. And that, that we might have peace, joy, heaven and glory, forever and ever.
What a powerful teaching on the connection between our heart, minds, and sin! Good reminder. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Numbers 33-34; Psalm 64; Proverbs 9

Compass Pointers: “God promises us redemption, but His sacred path leads us away from safety, predictability, and comfort. Any attempt to fly over the dangerous terrain or make a detour to safer ground is doomed because it will not take us to God. Instead, it leads to a host of other idols that can’t provide us with the confidence of faith, the dynamic of hope or the passion of love we so deeply crave. Each day we either live for God or for other gods. In each moment of hardship we fear either God or man. When we choose to worship gods and fear men our lives will suffer an emptiness and turmoil that is not much different than trying to fill our bellies with dirt. At first we may feel full, but in short order our violation of God’s plan will lead to torment.” Dan Allender

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Proverbs 10:9; Level 2: Proverbs 10:27-32
Anchored to the Rock: Prayer is often conceived to be little more than a technique for self-advancement, a heavenly method for achieving earthly success. A. W. Tozer

Psalm 63 — A Paraphrase

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Psalm 63 – A Paraphrase
Just a reminder that we have Men’s Fellowship this Thursday evening, March 10th. Pastor Tony Cuellar, from Vineland, NJ, will be our guest Bible teacher. Call today for reservations. 732-350-1187.

For those of you who are reading through the Bible with me, the Psalm for today is Psalm 63. It is a very powerful one, and I want to share with you a paraphrase of this Psalm, from the book Out of His Heart, by Ward Patterson.

O God, I acknowledge YOU as my God,

            I am Yours,
            And You are mine.
I long to know You intimately,
            Like a thirsty, wanderer craves water
            In a dry and desolate land.
I yearn to meditate upon Your greatness
            And observe Your power and glory.
Life to me is a precious gift,
            But Your love is even more precious to me than life.
I will praise You with the words of my mouth.
            I will lift up my hands to You in adoration.
I will honor and bless Your name.
You satisfy every need of my life.
            You bring expressions of joy
            And gladness to my lips.
            You lighten my heart
            With the exaltation of praise.
How pleasant it is to fill my thoughts with You
            As I recline on my bed at night.
How good it is to remember Your love
            While I lie in wait for the morning.
You are my helper in every difficulty,
            The source of all my joy,
            The provider of solace and satisfaction.
I can’t get enough of You.
My whole being years for communion with You.
I want to experience a steadfast closeness with You.
I know that I am nothing without Your presence in my life.
You reach down to steady me when I am weak;
            You take me in hand and guide me with Your strength.
I can lean on You, depend on You, confide in You, turn to You, rest in You.
No danger can threaten me.
            Those who seek to ruin me
            Will themselves be ruined.
            They will go down in defeat
            Before Your justice and power.
I have such abundant reasons to rejoice, O God!
Help me to praise You with exuberance and unbounded joy!
What a powerful paraphrase of this Psalm. Take some time today to reread the Psalm, and make it your prayer back to Him today! Are you praising Him with exuberance and unbounding joy today? – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Numbers 31-32; Psalm 63; Proverbs 8
Compass Pointers: My spirit has become dry because it forgets to feed on You.
John Of The Cross

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Psalm 10:9; Level 2: Psalm 10:27-32
Anchored to the Rock: How hard it is to pray against besetting sin. William Tiptaft

Wednesday’s Meatloaf

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Wednesday’s Meatloaf 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Heb 10:23-25 (ESV) 

Did you know that meatloaf has been around as early as the 5th century, it is the cousin to the infamous Italian meatball and for some odd reason it is the 7th favorite dish in the Good Ole’ U.S.A with the Good Housekeeping seal. The American version of the meatloaf claims itself in the origins of scrapple (made with ground pork and cornmeal) and was served by Germans that made their way into Pennsylvania back in the Colonial times. 

The contemporary sense of the American meatloaf really doesn’t take root until the late 19th century. There are also international variations of the meatloaf, it is interchangeable with meatball recipes and can be accompanied by wide array of sauces. 

You are going to have to stick with me on this one today because I would like to suggest that we take a look at our churches as one would make a meatloaf dinner. Now I hope you are not turning your nose up on this one because in a very real sense our churches can be looked upon as a recipe to make a pretty tasty meatloaf.

I was having this thought while attending the T-n-T (Text and Testimony) service at the Colony Chapel on the grounds of America’s Keswick. Chaplin Jim Freed started things off by saying just how diverse the group, which was in attendance, really was. There were Colony men, Colony grads, the wives of some the Colony men and visitors. He also stated that the format for the evening was different than it had been in the past. But not matter what difference there was, Jesus Christ was still on the throne and that we still could raise the roof in praise to Him. 

As the testimonies started I got the idea of the basic’s that goes into the recipe for meatloaf. We could look at those brothers who just got in the Colony (or your brand new Christian) as the onions in a meatloaf. As you cut into the layers of an onion the oil that the onion gives off (or that inner struggle) could very well make you cry. We have the testimonies of those brothers who are preparing themselves to graduate. We could say they are like the green peppers (those coming along Christians who is really digging in). They can make a meatloaf mighty tasty and if cooked right they are worth repeating. Salt and pepper would be the next thing I would add to the recipe. That would be in the form of the Colony grad (the Christian walking uprightly) who has come back to share on how the salt works in an unsaved world that at times pepper sprays us along the path.  

And you can’t have a well formed meatloaf without the support of eggs and bread crumbs. I would view these ingredients as the wives/mothers of these men (um…these would be Christian wives and mothers). If you want a sauce to cover your meatloaf I am quite sure you could find a variety of it in the visitors who are in attendance (the Christian who, even in travel, understands the importance of mid-week service).

We can add our side dishes as they would be in the flavor of praise music (the Christian worship leader) and our chef, in the character of the man behind the pulpit (this would be in the character of Christian integrity). But the most important ingredient is the meat and without it, it just isn’t meatloaf. I would venture to say that the meat of God’s Word (the clear need of salvation through Jesus Christ) would wrap-up this Wednesday night dinner. 
Now I am quite sure that some of us out there have had a taste of some really bad meatloaf dishes. It was just thrown together to get dinner done and over with.  If this is your mid-week service is like, maybe you should see what ingredients there are to work with. I am not saying that every mid-week service has to be full of everything in the garden because that would cover the flavor of meat. Bad ingredients will make for a bad meatloaf no matter how hard you work it into shape.

What I am saying is that it is important that the ingredients accent the meat throughout the whole body of the meatloaf. It will be in this way that the chef will always have people coming back for seconds…and look forward to the Sunday morning meal. – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a regular contributor to Freedom Fighter

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Numbers 28-30; Psalm 62; Proverbs 7
Compass Pointers: “Many of you have reading the narratives of the churches of Ephesus and Corinth and have been nodding, recognizing trends you see every Sunday. You have silently wondered how the churches with which you are familiar have descended into such a state. You have watched in disbelief as fellow Christians, supposedly brothers and sisters in Christ, have destroyed one another, even while standing in the church itself. You have seen similarities between the leadership in your local churches and the examples at Ephesus and Corinth. And you have silently wondered: What is wrong with these people? How did they ever get like this? Do they not recognize how they are acting? Can they not see that? The answer is bit more complicated than a mere changing of the mind; there must be a changing of the heart.” Why Churches Die Mac Brunson & Ergun Caner

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Proverbs 10:9; Level 2: Proverbs 10:27-32
Anchored to the Rock: Yank some of the groans out of your prayers, and shove in some shouts. Billy Sunday