Relating to Pregnancy

For those who know me personally (or have read this blog for at least the past year), you know that I have been pregnant.

Just yesterday I came home from the hospital, now a mother of 3 (1 daughter, 2 sons). Overall I enjoy motherhood, I love watching my children grow, learn, discover. Discipline is not fun, but it is vital, and luckily at this stage  almost 6, 4, nb) discipline means no tv, or no special toys.

Pregnancy on the other hand - it is hard, even brutal at times (and I am not talking about labor just yet). Each of my four pregnancies were different (1 miscarriage last year). Very little was similar from one to another. Weight gain was different, nausea/vomiting happened in all, but to very varied degrees, leg cramps, hip/back aches...oye! But no matter what, a pregnancy that goes to term will have the end result of labor, and of course, a baby.

The labor part has been on my mind lately, obviously due to the fact that I was going to go through the experience. But I was not just thinking about the personal physical aspect of labor. I have been in awe on how God uses the labor/birth process in scripture to convey the end times, how the world will labor before the Rapture and Tribulation.

Matthew 24:8 - "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Mark 13:8 - "For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

1 Thessalonians 5:3- While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

Revelation 12:2 - and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

I feel now, that women of faith, female followers of Christ, who have birthed can relate to this portion of God's word unlike anyone else. It doesn't matter if you had a vaginal or c-section birth. In the weeks leading up to the baby arriving, a woman's body aches, it hurts, it practices the real ordeal. All of those are the beginning of birth pangs. For the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been miserable. Unable to sleep, always uncomfortable, lacking focus, constantly wondering if this was the real ordeal, nauseated and even vomiting. Not a pretty pregnancy glow to be seen (not sure if I ever had one).

And here's the other thing, why God is absolutely brilliant with His details, there are still pains after the baby is born. The woman's body has to return to it's pre-pregnancy state, go back to "normal." And it takes time. The body doesn't spring back right away (yes we all know that one woman  - she is a unicorn). I am 3 days out from giving birth, and having my easiest experience by far and I look 3 to 4 month pregnant, waiting for my milk to fully come in, things are still swollen, and at most getting 3 1/2 hours of sleep at a time.

The Rapture is when God calls the Church home, and from my studies in Revelation 12, we (the Church) are what the woman gives birth to. And after the Church is birthed to heaven, in a manner of time judgement comes upon the earth. Some of the judgement are focused on the remaining humanity, but a good deal of the judgement falls on the earth itself. Those of who die or are caught up, the world we return to when Jesus has his 2nd coming, will not be the world we left behind. It is going to be drastically changed, through painful means. And just like a woman who has given birth, whose body will never bee 100% back to what it was, I believe we will recognize the world we return to, it will be familiar, but for sure, it will not be the same. And that there is another beauty of a relationship with Christ. We are never the same after we come to know Him. Come to a personal relationship with Him. The shell we have will stay the same, but become softer, we will carry with us His fragrance, the sweet aroma of salvation (to those who want pursue a relationship with Him, to others it will be a repugnant stench), but most importantly the work He will do on our hearts, on our inside will have us being a 180 of who we use to be.

I want to leave you with the song by Lauren Daigle - You Say. Remember who you are in Christ, the world is chaotic right now, there is very little left that needs to happen for the Church to be called home. Live each day faithfully unto the LORD. God bless.

What time is it?

Many people are curious about the end times. Not just believers, but secular people too. Look at Hollywood in the past ten years or so. There are many movies that have been made with an end times bent. Do any of the movies hold true to scripture? Not really, but having studied Revelation, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Daniel, the Gospel, certain parts of certain movies get really close. Which is why if I

happen to watch a movie that is close to what scripture says will happen, my heart aches, and skips a beat.

I am not afraid to share my opinions on things. Especially scripture. Once upon a time it was politics, but scripture...that took over, as it should have. With what I have studied the past few years, I have a responsibility to share God's word, and what is to come.Sometimes I think I scare other believers with my opinions. With my beliefs.

I am not a date setter, I want to make that clear. But I strongly, even passionately, believe we (the world, society...humanity) are in the last seconds of the Church Age. That literally any minute the trumpet will sound, and:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonian 4:16-18

I have read scripture, I have seen the prophecy's and I have seen world history. And I am waiting. I am living life thankful for everyday, doing my best to live for Christ, to share His message, to be a fragrance in the world:

2 Corinthians 2:15  (NASB)

15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;

Everyday I have on earth, means that Jesus has not called His Bride home. But I do believe that it will happen soon. That God will not wait any longer, that He will finally have enough and pour out His wrath on a world, but first will remove those who have endured to the end.

Here are somethings I want you to consider, if you think I have lost my mind about my beliefs.

The Bible tells us many things about what will precede the return of Jesus Christ:

1. It will be a time when knowledge and transportation have greatly increased (Daniel 12:4)

2. Wickedness will be rampant as it was in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-38)

3. Homosexuality will be rampant (Luke 17:28-29)

4. Adultery, material greed, and the killing of innocent life will be commonplace (Revelation 17-18)

5. The Gospel will have been preached to all nations (Matthew 24:14)

6. Many false religious leaders and false prophets will have arisen (Matthew 24:23-25)

7. Earthquakes, disease, and famine would be widespread (Luke 21:11)

8. There will be many wars and rumors of war (Mark 13:7)

9. There will be a Jewish holocaust (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

10. Followed by Israel's return as a nation (Ezekiel 37:11-12)

11. Israel's pure language, Hebrew, will return to the land (Zephaniah 3:9)

12. The Ethiopian Jews will return to Israel (Zephaniah 3:10-11)

13. The Russian and European Jews will return to Israel (Jeremiah 23:7-8)

14. The Roman Empire will be revived, but will only be a confederacy (Daniel 2:40-43)

15. Many believers will fall away (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

16. And perhaps the most shocking prophecy can be found in 2 Timothy 3:1-7:

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of god; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

These prophecies have already been fulfilled—just in this past century, in fact.  Many just in the last few decades.  The Bible's apocalyptic prophecies are being fulfilled right now, for the first time in history.  It is actually happening.  Open your eyes while there is still time.  

From Unsealed.com:
What is to come:
The world is in a very real way falling apart. The day is upon us when the world will look like this:

• Millions have disappeared creating disaster, chaos, heart break and confusion.
• Some say Christ came and took His followers, although their voices are being drowned out by those who say otherwise.
• Millions of churchgoers who have been left, say it must have been something else.
• Cultists, spiritualists and the self-righteous will proclaim "anything but God," but they will be anything but right.
• Many will believe a deception of one flavor or another.  Perhaps the CERN particle accelerator opened a wormhole in the time-space continuum.   Still others will say it was aliens.
• When the Church is taken up, Satan and his demonic fallen angels will be cast down to the earth, with power, beauty and answers.  We suppose they will masquerade as aliens with answers.  Aliens they are, but aliens cast out of heaven and not from Krypton.  Their objective is to wreak havoc, before they are sentenced to hell and take as many with them as they can.  
• Everyone wants a cute-little-friendly-helpful-E.T.-phone-home-Close-Encounters alien friend.  That's not what they'll find.  Even Stephen Hawking was wary of contact with aliens.
• I speculate many will say these "aliens" have come to solve the world's problems and for a time it will seem as though they have.
• In the midst of the racial, moral, political, poverty and homelessness tensions, and amid anarchy, war, death, rape, murder, economic and ecological collapse, violence, and polarization, their ideas will seem the right way to go.
• Others will be out front.  Perhaps some of the following: Macron, Pope Francis, Putin, Trump, Netanyahu, etc, but they are not men to follow in days like this.  Love them or hate them is not the point.  God commanded mankind to spread out, fill the earth, and trust in Him and not in mankind's collective ability, but humanity still pursues the Tower of Babel—The E.U., the U.N., and towers reaching to the sky all continue to go up as a declaration of our own collective independence from the only One with any real answers.
• Words like volcano, earthquake, radiation, tsunami, hail and meteor will take on meaning like never before, as God steadily increases the pressure.  He loves you and will pay any price for you to wake up and repent, even if many unrepentant, dead men walking must suffer and perish to give you an opportunity (God is sovereign over everyone).

Friends, if you have not put your faith in Christ, please do not wait. When the church is "raptured," that is taken to heaven to be with Christ, you do not want to be left on earth. I have shared what will happen in the time after that great disappearance. It will not be an easy time, it will be a horrible, desolate, destructive time. There will be pain, hurt, suffering, and punishment unlike any other. 

Remember, today is the day of SALVATION:

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NASB)

for He says,

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—

DISCIPLINE: Christianity & America

I like this definition of "discipline:" train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way:

Unfortunately, discipline is lacking from society in general, but I see it lacking more dominantly in American society and in most lives of Christians. And I am not immune from this lacking. I have become more aware of the lack of discipline in my life since being diagnosed with gestational diabetes at the beginning of July, But in reality, my awareness of started a few months prior when my OBGYN has my omit carbs from my diet. I was gaining weight a bit too quickly for my pregnancy, and reached the max weight I had gained when preggers with Abigail. 

My first step in getting my weight under control was omitting pretty much all carbs: pasta, bread, cakey sweets,etc. I was still enjoying fruits, in moderation. Basically think lazy keto. I lost weight, baby boy was still growing on target, but I was feeling and looking better. Then I failed the 1 hour glucose test. And then a few days later, I failed the 3 hour glucose test. And my life has been different every since. I had to go hard-core on the carb cutting. The dietitian didn't like that idea, but if I have carbs, my glucose levels spike out of control. I had a great conversation/meeting with the diabetic educator. She told me to try carbs,and if I could manage eating them without spiking great, if not, do what is best for Ari and I. 

So for the last 6 weeks or so, I have been essentially hard-core Keto. No fruits. Very restrictive on veggies. Plenty of meats/proteins, healthy fats, nuts, and good cheeses. Has it been easy? Heavens no! I am essentially eating the anti-American diet. I can't really eat out, unless all I want is a salad with some grilled chicken. I have to cook, meal prep is a must, and since I am eating anti-processed foods, I am going shopping every 3 or 4 days so, instead of 1 time a week. 

And at my last check up, my doctor was happy. My only level (I test 4 times a day) that has been of concern has been my fasting/wake up level. But with more research, and modifying my evening I believe I have taken the steps to get that under control. WITHOUT medication! But it has taken work, and I have to be focused. I have had to keep a good log so if my #'s spike I can figure out what I ate differently. I also live by a clock now. Eat breakfast by a certain point, make sure that I have time for lunch/testing, get in an afternoon snack, eat dinner early enough to have a snack before bed time, but it must be 30 minutes prior to bed, and finally I have to make sure there is 8 hours of fasting after that snack before I test again but before I eat breakfast. 

Its all worth it though. I am doing what is required to keep Ari healthy and myself healthy. And I want to do this as naturally as possible. I had resigned myself midweek last week that I would have to take medication to keep my fasting level in check, but thankfully, after more research I discovered the importance of a protein snack 30 minutes prior to bed. And if I can make that work every day until my my appointment this upcoming Wednesday, I think my doctor will agree. 

Going through this has been having me evaluate my spiritual life. And taking a look at the world around me. I need structure. And when precept is going on at my church, I can tell you my spiritual life is ablaze. When summer comes (and precept ends)...there is still a flame but its not blazing. I need a study, I need something requires me to dig deeper, have homework, come to class prepared. I like studies. I like having something to give my focus too. It helps me. I do well with my prayer life, and meditations, when I don't have a study to focus on. But I will admit that my Bible reading isn't as indepth during that time. But oh boy! Precept starts, I am in the word, I am checking cross references, I blog more (sorry folks, but I am being honest).

And so I have come to realize that the discipline I am exerting in my personal life for my health, I need to exert in my spiritual life. I easily read a few scriptures a day, but God's Word, it is our daily bread. It feeds our soul. Summer time fasting is not what is needed. During the heat (literally and figuratively) we need to eat as well as possible, give our bodies what it needs. And Scripture is the bread of life. We have God's word to sustain us. Yet most of us are not "eating" correctly. A verse or two a day will keep you alive. But when the storms come, the trials....your "fat" stores are going to be low, and you will not last long. But if you are going in depth into God's word, reading more and more each day, overlaying God's word with current events, studying with a passion. You will be ready for the days that are hard.

I wish this lack of discipline I see in myself was a rarity in the christian world. But I feel it is not. Overall, when you look at the world, discipline is the farthest thing from anyone's mind. Society has become about "self" and doing "what feels right." Life is about excess. Governments are taking children from parents for "disciplining," psychiatrist say that telling a child "no" will harm their belief in themselves, and there are so many more examples, just watch the mainstream media.  The word discipline is not in most people's vocabulary anymore. And unfortunately, many in the kingdom are flowing with the world. Scripture tells us this will happen.

Matthew 24:10  (NASB)

10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

1 Timothy 4:1 N (NASB)
Apostasy

4 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

Discipline isn't fun. Whether it is a parent discipline a child, or a person restraining themselves from treats/pleasures. It takes work, its hard, and it can be frustrating. But there are generally long term rewards. We discipline our children so they that they learn what is right & wrong, and hopefully they will become adults who are beneficial to society, and biblicaly, they serve the LORD for His glory. I am disciplining myself with my diet so my unborn child will not be overly large, we can avoid a c-section (faster recovery for me), and eventually hopefully not have diabetes as I get older. Remember, God disciplines us too.

Hebrews 12:6 (NASB)

6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,

Discipline is about love.

• we (parents) discipline our children because we love them
• we discipline ourselves with diet/exercise so we can be a better version of ourself (a type of self love - which can go to far)
• God disciplines us, because He loves us.

Discipline is about love. Not harm. And though when the LORD disciplines us it can be painful, it can be uncomfortable, in the end it is for the betterment of ourselves, and His glory. Which is our purpose in life, to bring glory to God. The world, the little "c" church, and America, for sure, all need more discipline. And now is the time, before God's discipline changes to His wrath. 

Dream Small

Have you heard the song, Dream Small by Josh Wilson? I absolutely love it, add my pregnancy hormones and I sometimes cry when it comes on the radio. Dream Small Video

Here are the lyrics:

It's a momma singing songs about the Lord

It's a daddy spending family time the world said he cannot afford

These simple moments change the world

It's a pastor at a tiny little Church

Forty years of loving on the broken and the hurt

These simple moments change the world

Dream small

Don't bother like you've gotta do it all

Just let Jesus use you where you are

One day at a time

Live well

Loving God and others as yourself

Find little ways where only you can help

With His great love

A tiny rock can make a giant fall

Dream small

It's visiting the widow down the street

Or dancing on a Friday with your friend with special needs

These simple moments change the world

Of course, there's nothing wrong with bigger dreams

Just don't miss the minutes on your way, your bigger things, no

'Cause these simple moments change the world

So dream small

Don't bother like you've gotta do it all

Just let Jesus use you where you are

One day at a time

Live well

Loving God and others as yourself

Find little ways where only you can help

With His great love

A tiny rock can make a giant fall

So dream small

Keep loving, keep serving

Keep listening, keep learning

Keep praying, keep hoping

Keep seeking, keep searching

Out of these small things and watch them grow bigger

The God who does all things makes oceans... from rivers

So dream small

Don't bother like you've gotta do it all

Just let Jesus use you where you are

One day at a time

Live well

Loving God and others as yourself

Find little ways where only you can help

With His great love

A tiny rock can make a giant fall

Yeah, five loaves and two fish can feed them all

So dream small

Dream small

The first few times I heard the song, I just hummed along, but then I started to pay attention to the lyrics, and they hit home. For some time now I have struggled with am I doing enough, am I enough. Am I doing everything I need to do for the Kingdom. And my pregnancy probably has not helped. I have had plans to go back to school and finish my degree. I have struggled with the fact that I have yet to write a book and be "published." But then I took this song to heart. And started talking to God. Those things I struggled with were MY ambitions, MY dreams. Those are not bad things, but had I really considered God. Had I sought His will in my plans. Then yesterday, the following verse was referenced twice.

 



The first time I heard it was while I was driving to pick up my kids from their summer care. I listen to Pastor Nathan Cothen out of Beaumont, TX. He is head pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont. And Monday through Friday, 4-4:30 p.m. I am blessed to hear him preach on my radio, FM 100.7

His message yesterday was about our motives, "Are you living your life in an effort to be somebody, or in a way that desires to serve somebody?" And in the sermon he came to the scripture above, and it was like I hit a brick wall. It is so simple. We all have a part, and we need to be in God's word, in prayer, and in study to know what it is we need to be doing.

Last night was Wednesday night service, and normally our Associate Pastor Jon is the one who gives a message, but his father, our Lead Pastor, Dr. Redmond, gave the message. And he gave a phenomenal message out of the book of Acts.

Take a moment, and read Acts 3:1-12 (provided below in the NASB translation):

Healing the Lame Beggar
3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter’s Second Sermon
11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. 12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?
He titled his sermon, Do What You Can. And he shared a story about a few conversations he had with a gentleman who is active in the church, who serves. And the man he talked to you was very humble, and he stated he and his wife do what they can. And that is so impactful. If we all, with what resources we are stewards over, just do what we can - the impact would be magnified greatly.

And now I am not struggling like I was on if I am doing enough for the Kingdom. This is my ministry, this is my calling:

Be a mother.
Be a wife.
Be a daughter/in-love.
Be an assistant.
Be a blogger.

Those are my tasks from God. Do I need to finish my degree, no, my on the job experience has better trained me than any of the classes I have ever taken. If money and time allow, one day I will complete it. But doing so won't complete me. In regards to being "published," well, I am, here. I am self-published. And I still have ideas for a few books, and maybe that is where God will direct me one day. But right now, I need to focus on being obedient to Him with this blog, and writing when He tells me to do so. And raising three children, as the Bible instructs in Ephesians 6:4 (NASB) will take plenty of time, prayer, and dedication: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

And this really has hit home to my heart lately as my Connection Group has been doing a study on the book of 2 Corinthians. And having grown up in the church, I have always heard of the Apostle Paul, and always thought of him as Superstar going around that region and creating churches and winning souls. But the truth is, yes he was creating churches, sharing the gospel, and winning souls to the Kingdom, he was a very humble man. In fact, the church at Corinth was upset that Paul wasn't more of a Super Apostle.

And you know, all this brings me peace. I need to do what I can with the resources the LORD has given me. And if I do what I am supposed to, that is enough. There is beauty in realizing my mission field is my family, my connection group, my readers. And if I do what I can, that is what God wants.

FAMILY: Growth

As of today, June 27th, I am 24 1/2 weeks pregnant.Less than 16 weeks until I get to meet our gift from God. Now, I have been quiet, even absent for a while. Everything has been going well, but with my husbands training schedule, I have been parenting solo most evenings, so once the kiddos are asleep, I rest. I pretty much veg out, and deal with my braxton hicks contractions.

Life has been good for our family, immediate and extended.

Mother's Day was glorious. We gathered at my in-love's house, our little unit, my brother/sister in love and their son, and my sil's parents. Church was good that morning, and we were all ready for some time together. My sil who lives 10 hours away texted me at one point when we were all gathered, to make sure we weren't eating yet. Notified her steaks were not even yet on the grill. 

Not even 10 minutes later she starts a Facetime conversation with my mil. Nothing out of the normal with this, since they live so far away, we cannot spend every holiday together, and the wonders of technology allow us to see each other in real time. It's beautiful!

As we are all waving/saying "hi" their youngest starts shouting, "I'm going to be a BIG brother!" It took a few yells for it to register with us. So yes, the Midland crew is growing to 5, due in January. We were all happy, hugging, and just overall excited by the extra growth in the family. Our bundle was a surprise, and now we weren't going to be the only ones sleep deprived but blessed.

A little while later lunch was ready and my middle bil said he wanted to lead the prayer. Nothing abnormal, we gather in the kitchen, hold hands and he begins. He then said, "And Lord, we pray for healthy pregnancy's for J (me), L (midland), and L(his wife).....I scream, her mother screams, kids looked confused, my mother in love looks dazed, and my husband says we broke his ear drum.

We never said Amen on that prayer.

But, the conclusion is, all three of us Shuman wives are pregnant.

I am due mid October

Middle SIL is due end of November, start of December

Farthest away SIL is due start to mid January

Our clan is going from 13 to 16, 5 grandchildren to 8!

Oh, and because time has flown since Mother's Day, 2 of us know what we are having.

The original granchild crew is this:

Boy - 6 year old - Midland Crew

Girl - 5 year old - Mine

Boy - 4 year old- Midland Crew

Boy - 3 year old - Mine

Boy - 3 year old - Middle Shuman Crew

My daughter has been the only girl in the group. Let me tell you, she was determined that we were having a girl. Unfortunately the ultrasound did not reveal that, nor did the silly string on the 1st Saturday in June. When it finally dawned on her that the blue meant a brother she flat out cried for 15 minutes.

The next weekend, after church, the kids and I drove up to see the Middle Shuman Crew at my sil's parents house. They did blood work to find out sooner if their son would get a brother or a daughter. WE arrive, and the cake is cut, because none of us are patient, and while we were there for lunch, the gender was the main reason for gathering. We saw blue icing, and hey, Shuman's make boys, no real surprise. But, my brother in law had a cannon, and he didn't shoot it off right away. And then he did.

PINK!

And all of us were confused....did this mean twins, a boy and a girl....or was the cake a decoy.

My sil reassured that twins were not in her oven, but in fact a little girl was. My daughter is now happy that at least she will have a girl cousin, since my husband and I disappointed her in making her yet another brother. 

My husband and I did have a name picked out for our next little boy, and in the week between I tried teaching both kids. Stone learned the baby's name quickly, he loved/s the fact that he gets a brother. Abigail didn't seem interested in learning it. But once she found out her aunt was having a girl, she magically learned the name.

Our little boy, due in less than 4 months, will be Ari Matthew Shuman. Ari means lion. Matthew means gift from God. And that he absolutely is. Once Fall hits, our lives, all of our lives, will never be the same with these three new little blessings. A girl name has yet to be decided for my first ever niece! And the Midland Crew will not know for a few more weeks what their #3 will be.

SERMON

I recently was introduced to Pastor Morris. Please listen to this great sermon by him. Iwas suggested to me by a co-worker. Her and I both realized we had missed a part of the resurrection story. Had you realized this?


Dominion Sermon - Pastor Morris

UPDATE: Movie Warning

If you are not sure what this is in response to, please read my post from yesterday. Movie Warning
At the end of my post I indicated that I would be writing Focus on the Family: Plugged In Movie Review about their 4 out 5 rating for the movie Show Dogs. Below you will find my email to them:

___________________________________________________________________

To Whom it May Concern,

 

I am concerned about the rating your establishment gave the movie Show Dogs. It was rated a 4 out 5 for family friendliness. As a mother of two young children, and a 3rd on the way, I use your site to help guide me in what we as a family watch. I have found previously your ratings to be spot on.

 

But with the movie Show Dogs, I think you were too generous. Many of the mom's I am friends with shared on social media a troubling review that essentially says the movie is trying to normalize the grooming for sexual predators. Here is the link to the article:

https://foreverymom.com/arts-entertainment/dog-show-movie-review-grooming/

The movie, from your site's review, would have been one my husband gladly would have taken my 3 year old to see. My husband is a police office, my son talks nothing but about good guys, bad guys, trucks, and dogs. This movie has 3 of his 4 must have's as a 3 year old boy. I am disturbed that your review summarized this troubling scenario mentioned above as:

 

Sexual Content

Some of the female dog handlers wear formfitting, low-cut outfits. A male handler ushers in his dog while shirtless. A trainer offers to let Max breed with his dog. Frank repeatedly cups Max's nether regions (off- camera) to prepare him for the judge's on-stage inspection of him. Max and another female show dog share a "kiss," à la that iconic canine canoodle in Lady and the Tramp.

I don't care that it is off screen. The fact that it is discussed apparently as it is, is appalling. Your conclusion, that this a "kids movie through and through" could not be further from the truth. I have always revered your site, as many women who I look up to relied on your site to help guide them in their parenting. I now can no longer use your site as the guiding site in movie decisions for my family.

___________________________________________________________________

 

Sometimes, when you take on a task for standing up for yourself, or in this case the innocence of your children, you wonder if it is worth it. Will they even respond? Will they brush it off? In this case, it was worth my time to not only write my original post, but to write Focus on the Family. They did in fact respond to my email, and publicly responded to the outpouring from parents I would assume nation wide. Below is their email response to me:

 

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Thank you, Jessica, for writing to Plugged In, a ministry of Focus on the Family. Your message was forwarded to us here in our Family Help Center, and I’m happy to get back to you.

Your confidence in our ministry means a great deal to us. It was good you took the time to share your disappointment about our Plugged In staff’s recent review of Show Dogs. We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the issues you raised and address the content in the movie that you feel needed more attention in the initial review. A blog by Bob Hoose, our staff member who saw the screening, is now posted on the Plugged In website. We believe you’ll find what Bob has to say beneficial. We also want to let you know that some changes are being made to the review in response to the feedback we’ve received.

As a final thought, we want to emphasize again something Bob stated in his post. Focus takes the subject of child abuse extremely seriously. In fact, in April we aired a broadcast on the topic titled “Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse” in order to ensure that parents and other caregivers are alert to this problem and have the tools they need to guard the innocence of those under their supervision. If you didn’t hear this program at the time, we hope you’ll take several minutes to listen via the link above.

Again, we’re glad you contacted us and hope we’ve provided some helpful clarification. May God bless you and your loved ones.

Mia Jones

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I am glad I did receive a response. And I am encouraged that they are responding to the fact that many people, parents, thought the review was lacking. I did take the time to read the blog by Bob Hoose, the staff member who saw the screening. And for the most part I like his response, but some things still irked me. Case in point.

 

The movie is about a police dog that goes undercover as a contestant in a show dog competition. And as part of the process, the judges have to inspect the animal’s private parts (that’s a part of real dog shows, by the way). Since Max the cop dog has never been through this process, his human trainer tries to prepare him for being examined in that way—much to Max’s chagrin. They tell him to try not to think about it and go to his “zen” place. It’s played as a growl and snap joke in the movie.

 

I honestly do not care if an inspection of animal private parts is how it is done in real life, I feel that Focus on the Family is missing the point. This part of the movie didn't need to be in the movie. How can I teach my child about her private box (PARENTING: Hard Work and Worth It!), and that it is private, when a movie makes light of it, and that part seems to be glossed over by reviewers. Now Mr. Hoose is right, people view life/movies/music through their own filter of experience. Like Mrs. Maldonado, I am a survivor of sexual abuse, and I am somewhat hyper vigilant to scenarios like this in movies, the news, books. But, I don't think that we necessarily saw this through that survivor's filter. We saw it through the filter of being mom's who are well aware and highly informed about what is going on in society. Honestly, anything made by Hollywood, I am suspicious of. Sexual scandals abound more and more we hear about the abuses going on, and everything that comes from Hollywood is over sexualized. I still do not understand at the age of 32 what a half naked woman or man has to do with selling perfume. 

 

Mr. Hoose shared: As I was writing this blog, a colleague of mine took a phone call on the issue. The caller—a mom—had some concerns about the review. Once we explained what we try to do in our reviews, including this one, she understood, and she added that the whole controversy actually inspired her to talk with her own kids about sexual abuse. That’s a wonderful reaction, I think. Whatever take we have on this movie, whether we see it or not, I applaud Maldonado for talking with her own children about these very important topics the movie made her consider. I applaud our caller for—even though neither she  nor her children had seen the movie at all—opening up this line of dialogue in her own family. Whatever the movie’s intent was, these are important conversations to have. And safe kids and safe families are definitely on the top of both our lists.

I do agree with this, this movie is giving families an open venue to have this difficult conversation. I am still not appeased though with the nonchalant feeling about the scenes in question. And I might have to resolve myself to this fact. I know my family will not be seeing this movie, and based on the comments to my post on Facebook, and the private messages I have received, many in my circle of friends and community will not be seeing it either. And that might just have to be enough, for now.

Movie Warning

I am not a helicopter mom by any means. My kids do not have me hovering over them all day every day. I let them breathe, I let them learn, I let them play, I let them have consequences. I am not raising them to stay my babies forever, but to become responsible adults who not only will function in society but contribute in a positive manner.

And part of that is sheltering them from some of the ills of the world. As they get older it is harder and harder (and I say that with them being only 3 and 5). I know I cannot wrap them in bubble wrap and isolate them. They have to be exposed to humanity and society to some degree so that when they are no longer under my roof they don't rebel and become trouble makers ransacking society. But, at this young age, there are still many things they do not need to be exposed to. In time we will have conversations, but when they are old enough and mature enough - and for each child that will vary. Boys and Girls age/mature differently, so a conversation I have with my daughter at age 9 might not happen until age 11 with my son.

This is not my normal post. We do watch movies, my husband and I, and we do let our kids watch movies. Princess's, super hero's, Disney classics, Bible stories, it runs the gauntlet on what my littles can watch. They don't watch a movie every day, we have dedicated play time, book time, and weather permitting, we send them outside to get hot and sweaty, and a bit stinky. My daughter has gone to the theater 3 times now, my son twice. It is a treat, and one we try to make happen in the summer for sure, to break up the routine a bit. When it comes to the movies we go to, my husband and I try to pick one that we ourselves will enjoy, but that the kids will understand.

I heard about a movie yesterday, that from the outside looking in, we totally would have taken our kids to! The movie is called "Show Dogs." IMDB gives this description of the movie:

Max, a macho, solitary Rottweiler police dog is ordered to go undercover as a primped show dog in a prestigious Dog Show, along with his human partner, to avert a disaster from happening.
IMDB: Show Dogs

It sounds super fun, and I know my 3 year old would love it: police and dogs! It is right up his alley!

But the article I read yesterday paints a different light on the movie, and it is something that cannot be ignored:

It all started out fine, she says:

“The premise is great for a kids movie.  Max is a talking police dog (voiced by Ludacris) who is paired up with a human partner, Frank (Will Arnett) to infiltrate a prestigious dog show and rescue a kidnapped baby panda.  Being a tough dog from New York, Max has no business competing in a dog show but uses his street smarts to outperform the competition to get closer to the inner circle of kidnappers.  Along the way, Max learns lessons about trust and the need to accept help from others.  The usual hilarity ensues with dog farts, bites on the rear-end, and slap-stick bonks to the head which elicit giggles from the audience. “

It’s when Max the police dog learns what he has to do to truly go undercover and be accepted as a legitimate show dog that the trouble with this movie starts. WHAT does Max (and apparently all the show dogs) have to submit to?
Having his private parts touched and inspected. Yep. Maldonado continues:

“What could have been solely a fun movie for kids that would get my highest recommendation is damaged by a dark and disturbing message hidden, not so subtly between the fluffy dogs and glamorous parties of the show dog lifestyle.  As part of any dog show, contestants are judged on their abilities and physical attributes.  One part, in particular, is the inspection of the dog’s private parts.”

Max, of course, is  NOT cool with this, and when his partner Frank and a former champion show dog try to get him to accept this process, a certain dark and very dangerous theme for kids emerges. Maldonado explains:

“Since the inspection of the private parts will happen in the finals, Frank touches Max’s private parts to get him use to it.  Of course, Max doesn’t like it and snaps at Frank for him to stop.  Max is then told by the former champion, who has been through the process before, that he needs to go to his “zen place” while it happens so he can get through it.  More attempts are made by Frank to touch Max’s private parts, but Max is still having trouble letting it happen and keeps snapping at him.”

Max needs to get it together, see, and LET PEOPLE TOUCH HIS PRIVATE PARTS, or he might lose the competition and fail at his mission to rescue the kidnapped panda.
Do you see what’s happening here? Max’s success is riding on whether or not he lets both his partner (for practice) and a stranger (the competition judge) touch his private parts.

IN A KIDS MOVIE. WHAT???
Newsflash, folks: THIS IS CALLED GROOMING and it’s what sexual predators do to kids!
It gets worse. Maldonado describes the movie’s dramatic dog show finals scene:

The day of the finals come and if Max doesn’t let his private parts be touched, he may lose the competition and any hope of finding the kidnapped panda.  It all rests on his ability to let someone touch his private parts.  The judge’s hands slowly reach behind Max and he goes to his “zen place”.  He’s flying through the sky, dancing with his partner, there are fireworks and flowers-everything is great-all while someone is touching his private parts.

So a stranger touches Max’s privates and it MUST feel good because Max has gone to his happy place while being fondled.
UMMM. NO.
Maldonado saw the movie with not only her kids, but her husband and her mother too. After the movie, all three adults felt uncomfortable with the “private parts” stuff. She says:

During the movie, I kept thinking, “This is wrong, it doesn’t need to be in a kids movie. Everything else in the movie is good fun except for this.”  Afterward, my husband mentioned that he picked up on this message too, as did my mother who saw the movie with us.  Dog Show Movie Review

Numerous mom friends of mine on social media have been sharing the warning not to take your children to this movie. And I have to concur. I was curious though what Focus on the Family: Plugged In Movie Review had to say. I was shocked.

Conclusion

Show Dogs is a kids' movie through and through. If you consider its story and presentation on a graduated scale—say, one that ranges from whine and scratch on the low end all the way up to a family pleasing tail-wag peak—this pic probably qualifies as a Saturday-matinee chew toy that lands on the less-enthusiastic, flea-bitten side of the scale. It feels like a talking-dog version of Miss Congeniality: a canine caper the youngsters will giggle at even as parents roll their eyes wearily.
On the plus side, it actually has plenty of action and less doggy doo-doo humor than I expected. And in the negative column, there are some extended dog-private-parts-inspection moments and a couple uses of the word "d--n" that really should have been left on the cutting room floor.
Your kids will likely think it's silly and fun. But whatever you do, I'd suggest you leave your family dog at home. 'Cause he'd never forgive you.  Plugged In: Show Dogs

They gave the movie a 4 out 5 for family friendliness. I really am shocked. I visit their site to get an idea of movies my husband and I are considering for our kids, and I feel this is a major letdown. All they shared about the above is this:

Sexual Content

Some of the female dog handlers wear formfitting, low-cut outfits. A male handler ushers in his dog while shirtless. A trainer offers to let Max breed with his dog. Frank repeatedly cups Max's nether regions (off-camera) to prepare him for the judge's on-stage inspection of him. Max and another female show dog share a "kiss," à la that iconic canine canoodle in Lady and the Tramp.

They summarize the grooming of a "person" to accept fondling by another in one sentence. I am sorry, but that is wrong. My family and I will NOT be seeing this movie, and I plan on writing to Focus on the Family and letting them know that this movie is not appropriate for anyone, but ESPECIALLY children.

While my children are young, and I make a majority of decisions for them, I will do what I can to shelter them from thinking things like this are normal.

LEGACY: Impact on Men on Families & Society

Have you ever seen the movie"Courageous" by the Kendrick brothers? I highly recommend everyone watch it. Married, never married, divorced, have no children, or do.

Honor Begins at Home

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.

While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.

When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God ... and to their children?

Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Viewers will once again find themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.

Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That's courageous. (Courageous the Movie)

-*-*-*-*-

The title song for the movie by Casting Crowns, I love it.And in my pregnant condition, it makes me cry. It stirs my heart and overwhelms me.Take a moment to watch it.

Couragous - Casting Crowns

In America, and the world today, there is major crisis. That crisis is the lack of fathers/men in the lives of their children/families.

Prager University has a video on the importance of black fathers, but they share some statistics on fatherhood in general that makes it worth watching: Prager U: Father Video

Children who grow up without a father are:

• 5x more likely to live in poverty & commit crime
• 9x more likely to drop out of school
• 20x more likely to go to prison

Statistics on unwed mothers:

• In 1960, 5% of children grew up in a home with a mother and father not married to each other.
• In 1980, it was 18%
• 2000 it was 33%
• By 2015, that increased to 44%

This issue, this lack of men in the family, crosses generations, races, and economic boundaries. Now it might be more noticeable in certain communities, but this issue effects everyone. There are those on the extreme left who say, "The future is WOMAN!" I have issue with that. God made man and woman both in His likeness. God doesn't make mistakes, He made man and woman to fulfill His plan for creation. Both serve a purpose. Humanity needs both men and women, no matter what science says.

I look around my own life and so the evidence of the importance of men. I am blessed that in spite of my parent's divorce when I was 2.5 years old, my mother eventually married another man, who for the past 24 years has been an amazing influence in my life, and now I can say in my children's life. The day I walked down the isle, both my father and "step" father walked me down the isle to wed my husband. While my mother and father did not make life work together, them and my "step" father worked together in raising me. And, maybe I am a bit biased, but I think I turned out rather well.

My mother/father in-loves have been married around 40 years, raised 3 sons to adulthood, and now have 5 grandchildren with my unborn child being their 6th. The 3 sons talk to each other, us 3 sister-in-loves talk too. We are stronger for these bonds.

Let's look at the Reverend Billy Graham, a tangible example almost everyone the world over can look to. He passed away on February 21, and the world will not be the same with him in Heaven. But the legacy  he left, it cannot be underplayed. I have followed the teachings of his daughter Anne for several years now, and on April 12 was blessed to hear his daughter Ruth speak at woman's event at my church. And should the LORD tarry through November, I hope to hear in person his 3rd daughter Gigi speak. These three ladies and his sons have taken up the torch their father lit and and running the race that Jesus set as an example:

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB)
Jesus, the Example
12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Friends, there are many heartaches in this world.

February 14 - Parkland, Florida
February 21 - Billy Graham passed away
April 8 -Chemical attack in Syria
April 17 - Former First Lady Barbra Bush passed away
April 27 - Alfie Evans dies
April 30 - Israel exposes Iran Lies

Death, destruction, lies.

It is only going to get worse. My pastor preached tonight the midweek sermon. Normally his son does, but food poisoning (send up a prayer). Our pastor and his wife just returned from a trip to the Holy Land with 82 other church members. And his sermon tonight shared what I have learned the past 8 months about Christianity.

Here are some of my sermon notes:

In Israel, there are 13.5 million people: 7 million Palestinians & 6.5 Jews,numbers released by the Israeli military a few weeks ago.
Of those 13.5 million people, 1% of those are Christians, and in the Holy City, Jerusalem, that number is less than 1%.

He added that America is heading towards a society that shares that statistic. With everything going on in our country, and the world, faith in Christ is declining, knowledge of who Christ is is declining. And unless the men of the world come to faith in Christ, society will continue to crumble. Men serving God and not themselves will be what changes our world. Jesus could tarry and not Rapture the church if the men in this country, in the world, grew up, manned up, and became men who serve God. A man who serves the LORD puts God firs, then his family, then himself. He works hard, is active in church/community, is a present in the lives of his children, and shows his children love by serving/loving his wife. A man who marries a woman, usually brings them both out of poverty. Men make a world of difference. We need to appreciate what men are capable of doing.

Prager U has another great video that outlines the benefits of men marrying. Prager U: Be a Man, Get Married

Let me wrap up. The future is not man, is not woman, it is both working together to fulfill God's will. We need to stop down playing the importance of men in society and the world. Scripture tells us that a day is coming when the church will no longer be here, and the wrath of the God will be poured out on humanity. We do not know when that day will come. So until then, we need to pray, we need to share the Gospel, share what Jesus has done in our lives, and remember that God wins in the end. And because we do not know the day, or the hour, we must live as if we have time, even though we are aware that we do not know for sure how long we have. Ladies, pray for the men in your lives, and in the lives of your children. Men, seek God first, lead your families by example.

A Note for Women Raising Children with out Fathers:

Dear Sister,

You are amazing, you are loved, you are not alone. You are doing the best you can, in a situation God never intended for any of His beloved children. Remember, we live in a fallen and dying world. God will be father to the fatherless. Keep moving forward. Do what you can to set the example of Christ in your home. Find men (preachers, pastors, grandfathers, uncles) who can be an example to your children. Boys and girls alike need to see what men are supposed to be like. And remember, our heavenly Father loves our children even more than we do. We have to trust them into His hands. He has given them to us to raise, but ultimately they are not ours. Hang in there. You are prayed for.

The Sower, Seed & Soil: A Study of those who will go to Heaven

I have spent the past 8 months studying God's word, and what Jesus says is a disciple of Him. Eight months is a good deal of time to stud scripture to understand what Jesus taught in 3 1/2 years to His disciples. I have been blessed that my teacher on the class was a man that I admire, who has a passion for Jesus, and came to the faith through the Old Testament. And I am grateful that he is a man who wanted to teach a class that was of quality not matter the quantity of students. On the best day, there were 5 students, and the lowest, his wife and I were the only one's in attendance. And I feel that on those two occasions where his wife and I were his only pupils, the conversation and studying went to an even deeper level. I am blessed by this couple, I see them as friends, mentors, as family.

Now to what he taught, what I learned, and the truths everyone needs to face.

The attendance in heaven is going to be shocking, in two ways.

1. The people who go there will be shocked by who is there.
2. The people who go there will be shocked by who is NOT there.

The study I was apart of outlined: the call, cost, commitment, and the comissioning of the disciples. Jesus outlined a process to His disciples that they were to use to make more disciples to fulfill the Great Comission (Matthew 28:19-20).

I want to start with verse 16 though. Scripture should be read in context, not just picked at.

Matthew 28:16-20 (NASB)

¹⁶ But the eleven (in spite of deceptive Judas) disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. ¹⁷ When they (the eleven) saw Him, they (the eleven) worshiped (prostrated before Him) Him; but some (at least two) were doubtful (did a double take; unbelief at what they saw). ¹⁸ And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, (imperfect tense) “All authority (ability, strength, power to do God’s will) has been given (one event with result into the future) to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go (COMMAND – as you go) therefore (because of the authority) and make (COMMAND – molding, manufacturing, process) disciples of all the nations (no one is omitted), baptizing (emersion of life) them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (under the authority of the trinity), ²⁰ teaching (instruct personally) them to observe (living, keep, obey, act) all that I commanded (pay attention) you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (forever, end of time).”

This process, it is what God intended for all Christians/disciples to follow. And by the way, those are one in the same. A disciple is a Christian, and a Christian is a disciple. If you answer the personal call that brings you out of the darkness, and choose to pay the price of following Christ, and endure to the end (Matthew 10:22;24:13) you are a disciple of Christ.

The truth is though, most people who walk to the front of a church worship room and say they have given their life over to Christ, will not endure to the end. And by most, I say with confidence 72% of "professing" believers are not disciples of Christ (I will explain later in this post where I get this number from). They do not take the time to invest in God's word, to know what God has instructed His believers to do (live, act, believe), and when life gets tough they give up on "faith" because it is easier. And this is clearly outlined in at least two portions of scripture:

1. Parable of the Soil: Matthew 13:3-12; Mark 4:3-9; Luke 8: 5-8
2. The letters to the Seven Churches: Revelation 2 & 3

The Wisdom of the Parable of the Soil

Matthew 13:3-12 (NASB)

3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

Mark 4:3-9 (NASB)

3 “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9 And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 8:5-8 (NASB)

5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

By reading these three portions of scripture, we learn that there are four types of soil. If you have spent any length of time in a church service, more than likely you have heard a sermon on "What Type of Soil Do You Want to be!" The problem with these sermons, is they miss the mark, not entirely, but unfortunately, in a crucial way. Most pastor's in my own experience use this topic as a sermon on salvation to the lost. But that was not the target audience. The soil is in the church. This goes back to when I mentioned "professing" believers. The parable of the soil is a picture of those in the little "c" church (your local community churches). Not everyone in your local church is a possessor of saving & sanctifying faith. Unfortunately, the parable of the soil tells us that those in the local church are 75% lost; 25% saved. Truths about the parable: Sower is God the Father, Seed is the Word of God, and the soil is you and me. Of the three, the only one that changes is you and me. We have a choice to be lost or to be saved. Here is the break down of the four soils:

• The seed that fell beside the road.
• World system
• Has heard the Word of God
• Birds - occupation, recreation, family, money
• Might not even a a professor, but the soil is dry (not good for growing)
• DIAGNOSIS: LOST
• The seed that fell in the rocky places.
• Professor's for sure
• In the little "c" church, but is not in the big "c" Church (body of Christ)
• Bad fruit
• Judas, of the original 12
• DIAGNOSIS: LOST
• The seed that fell among the thorns.
• Professor
• Not sanctified
• No fruit
• Chokes
• Unsaved
• Has a visible appearance of fruit/flower - is deceiving
• Most of the little "c" church
• Largest portion of soil in the church
• DIAGNOSIS: LOST
• The seed that fell among on good soil.
• Possessor
• Good Fruit\
• Sanctifying faith
• Will endure to the end
• DIAGNOSIS: SAVED

Friends, brothers & sisters in Christ, we have a mission field literally in our House. The recently departed Reverend Billy Graham was once quoted as saying, "At least 50% of those sitting in church pews are lost." The parable of the soil shows us that number is closer to 75% - and God's word tell us that.

Now, let's wrap up with the Letter's to the Seven Churches from Revelation 2 & 3. I won't outline the Scripture here, I have shared that previously: Revelation: Letters to the Seven Churches

But a quick summary will suffice for what I want to talk about.

Church #1 - Ephesus Revelation 2:1-7

• Description of Christ - Holds 7 stars in right hand/ Walks among the 7 golden lampstands
• Commendation - Poverty (but rich), blasphemy of the false, some in prison, tested
• Reproof - V4 - Bu this I have against you that you have left your first love. Jesus is their first love, duty w/o devotion.
• Warning/Instruction - Repent, do your first deeds, from where you have fallen. 
• Promise to Overcomers - Crown of life,not hurt by the 2nd death

Church #2 - Smyrna Revelation 2:8-11

• Description of Christ -1st and last was dead, come to life (V8)
• Commendation - V9 - I know your tribulation (& poverty) but you are rich. FAITHFUL
• Reproof - NONE
• Warning/Instruction - V10 - Be faithful unto death
• Promise to Overcomers - V10 - Crown of V11 - Life, not hurt by the 2nd death

Church #3 - Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17

• Description of Christ -V12 - The One who has the sharp two edged sword.
• Commendation - Hold fast to My name. Did not deny My faith.
• Reproof - Tolerating the teaching of Baalm. Eat things sacrificed to idols. Some hold to the teaching of the Nicolatians. 
• Warning/Instruction - Repent or I will make ware against you. Jude/2 Peter
• Promise to Overcomers - Hidden manna White stone, new name

Church #4 - Thyatira Revelation 2:18-29

• Description of Christ - Son of God. Eyes like a flame of fire. His feet are like burnished bronze
• Commendation - Deeds, love, faith, service/perseverance. Greater than at first.
• Reproof - Tolerate Jezebel - prophetess - leads astray - immorality lust , idol, sacrifice, seduction
• Warning/Instruction - Hold fast until His return. REPENT
• Promise to Overcomers - Authority over nations. The morning star - possess.

Church #5 - Sardis Revelation 3:1-6

• Description of Christ - Has 7 spirits of God and the 7 stars
• Commendation - Have a name and are alive
• Reproof - Dead. About to die. Works are incomplete.
• Warning/Instruction - Remember what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent.
• Promise to Overcomers - Walk with Him in white garments, name not erased from the book of life. Name confessed before the Father and His angels.

Church #6 - Philadelphia Revelation 3:7- 13

• Description of Christ - Holy, True, has key of David, who opens and no one will shut. Shuts and no one will open.
• Commendation - FAITHFULNESS
• Reproof - NONE
• Warning/Instruction - NONE
• Promise to Overcomers - An open door. Deliverance from Great Tribulation. Permanent place in the Temple of God. A new name.

Church #7 - Laodicea Revelation 3:14-22

• Description of Christ - The Amen, faithful, and true witness. Beginning of the creation of God
• Commendation - NONE - NOT EVEN ONE
• Reproof - Neither cold/hot: LUKEWARM Say rich and wealthy and need nothing, but are wretched, miserable, poor,blind and naked
• Warning/Instruction - Buy gold refined by/from Jews to be rich, white garments to not be naked, Eye salve to see. Be zealous & repent.
• Promise to Overcomers - Sit with Him on His throne.

Only 2 of the 7 churches were given no reproofs: Our Savior, Jesus Christ, held nothing against Smyrna and Philadelphia. And if you look at the map above, you see that the seven churches were close to each other. They knew of each other, and could influence each other. 5 of the 7 made a choice to not follow the steps of Smyrna and Philadelphia. And therefore, Jesus gave them commands that had consequences: rewards or penalties for obedience. The letters are written to the churches, and the churches are portraits of the church across the globe today. Every little "c" church fits one of the seven descriptions. Do the math, only 28% of churches are doing what Jesus told His to disciples to do. That statistic is heartbreaking. So many in the churches today are lost, by choice, and they are influencing those around them in the pews. Possessors are in short supply. There are few doing the work of seed planting for the harvest that is to come. 

Those of us that make up the 28% must not lose heart, must continue on, be strong, and endure to the end....death of these mortal bodies or the rapture of them unto Heaven. Keep planting the seed. 

I leave you with one more image to consider. The current of the world system that we are born into naturally leads to hell - death, eternally separated from God the Father. To be a possessor, a disciple,

you have to go against the current, which takes endurance, that Holy Spirit provides. At the top of the image is the gate to Heaven. You recall in the parable of the Narrow/ Wide Gate, few will enter by the Narrow. That is an understatement. Think of that gate as a capillary, which only allows one cell through at a time. That is the gate to Heaven, guarded by Jesus Christ. He only allows one person at a time to enter, and He decides who enters. The most highly exclusive destination.

Remember, Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB)

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

If we do not endure, we are not disciples of Jesus Christ. And everyone who is not His disciple is going to hell. The gates to which are wide open, inclusive (takes anyone), and are never satisfied.

If you would like to know more on the course I took, it will be offered again, and I will share, with pleasure, that information.