THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE You have the human capacity of decision, of deliberately making choices. Many factors will influence your decision making. Some of your choices could result in your DEATH. The direction of your lifestyle is pointing toward an eternal destination. The apostle Paul wrote, "If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13 NIV) If you're just "doing what comes naturally" or "whatever feels good", you've already started a swan dive into a dry six-foot hole. A true Christian has a power source that is unavailable to anybody else. By the power that comes through the indwelling Spirit of God, the born-again believer has the capacity to "put to death" the old sinful desires and habit patterns that are left over from our human heritage and our "B.C." years. Read the letter of Romans and the Gospel of John for yourself. You will find the promised victory that we are talking about. The One who conquered Death and hell and who holds together the universe by His word is mighty enough to empower you to put away drinking, smoking, sexual sins, shooting up, overeating, or biting your nails. May you have this "Anno Domini" filled with the Resurrection power of the Risen Messiah. More than any "resolution", make a faith-transaction with the true and living God: Entrust yourself to Jesus. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS13] ATTENTION: ALL SEEKERS "Seekers" will tell you quite openly that they are seeking God or Truth or Reality. I've asked some of these, "What about JESUS?" They usually say something about "Example" or "Great Teacher" or some other nonsense. As a teenager, I claimed to be a "seeker." I told people that I was searching for God. I encountered Jesus Christ, received Him as my Savior and Lord, and I started telling people excitedly that I had been searching for God, and I had found Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. I also started reading the Bible for myself. I was shocked to my roots when I read the following passage and noticed what it actually said. I had to change my story. "It is written, 'There is no one righteous, not even one; There is no one who understands, NO ONE WHO SEEKS GOD." (Romans 3:10-11 NIV) I'd said that I'd been SEEKING for God. The Word said NO ONE seeks God. I realized, redfaced, that I had been LYING. The object of my search, which I had labeled "God", was definitely NOT the holy God who hates and must judge sin, and who offers hell-bound sinners forgiveness and life only under the bloody sacrifice of His Son. I was looking for a God who would like me the way I was and make me feel good all the time. Instead, I was captured by the Risen Messiah-King, became His willing servant and found my fulfillment in His purpose for my life. In a sense, "I found it." In a much more complete sense, "He found me." I invite you to read the New Testament for yourself. Ask God to show you the Truth, to show you Himself, regardless of what you thought He should be. All the good things you were seeking can be found only in the God of the Scriptures, and in His Son Jesus Christ. I pray that He will "find" you, too. Put your trust in Jesus. --Clyde Price [SCRAPS14] VENDING MACHINE "What if I pray and God doesn't answer?" There are many possible answers to that question. Here's one: GOD AIN'T NO VENDING MACHINE! God is a Person. He is the Perfect Parent. We can trust Him to give us believers what is GOOD. We can trust Him to keep the promises He has made to us in His Word, the Bible. Jesus said, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:9-11 NIV) If you ask for "bread" that you think is good, but that would really "stone" you, your loving Father filters the foolish request (usually) and attempts to teach you what you really need. Some folks are afraid to receive a prayer-language because they are afraid Satan will sneak in a "snake" on them. Please don't be afraid of the gift of tongues because of fear of the unknown. "One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself." (I Corinthians 14:4) This is not selfish or improper. We NEED to be edified, or built up, any way available to us. This is ANOTHER way (certainly not the only way) to "charge our batteries." If you are seeking good things from God through your faith in Christ, you may trust Him to protect you from snakes and stones. He never obligated Himself to answer destructive requests or selfish whims or fuel the flights of personal ambition or jealousy. He does promise to provide an abundant life to His faithful and obedient children. Our Father gives GOOD gifts. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS15] CAN ATHEISTS SPEAK OF SIN? It is absurd for anyone who does not believe in God to use the word, "SIN". Humanistic psychologists, counselors and psychiatrists who use the term "sin" apart from detailed accountability to the living, personal God have STOLEN the word. SIN is a "God-word". It has meaning only in reference to God and the fact that He has revealed in His Word, the Bible, that some things are right and some things are wrong, and that each one of us will be personally accountable to Him who created us. After committing adultery and murder, King David prayed, "Against You, You only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight." (Psalm 51:4) David had definitely sinned against certain other PEOPLE, but here he affirms that it is GOD'S law he has broken, and God's holiness he has offended. David depends on the blood of a lamb sprinkled by the hyssop branch to atone for his sin, looking forward to his own greater descendent, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth. Read Psalm 51 for yourself. It is a beautiful prayer of confession and repentance. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) [Clyde Price--SCRAPS16] OF PEARLS AND PIGS Some Christians know that they really SHOULD be sharing Christ with the people around them, but they really don't want to. So they pre-judge that "he probably would REJECT me," and they might quote, "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6 NIV) Maybe they'll rationalize, "Well, I won't throw my pearls before swine." HOLD ON! Jesus commanded, "Preach the gospel to EVERY CREATURE." These "pearls" couldn't possibly mean the gospel message. A pearl is usually a gift of love, a precious, personal possession, something that requires protection and gentle treatment. An oyster would tell you that pearls involve pain. You really should be careful about how and with whom you share the personal, painful things of your life. Sometimes people will betray your trust, trample your treasures, and try to destroy you. In Christ, your pain can be transformed into precious treasure, but some of it is INTENSELY personal. It is my opinion that sometimes people giving their testimonies give too much detail about sins of the flesh. I think a spouse or a fiance has a right to know some things, in view of the old covenant laws concerning virginity. But it doesn't do the cause of Christ any good to tell your graphic details of sin, tack on a conversion story, and publish what amounts to religious soft porn. God can cleanse even sexual sins, but Christians who are still dealing with "the motions of the flesh" don't need to feed the imagination with sexual details. Sometimes as believers we have very painful experiences in church situations or other ministry activities. God might use that pain to produce more of the character of Christ in us, and perhaps some of that increasing Christ-likeness will involve "covering over a matter." We shouldn't bring the newspapers into every church squabble or disciplinary action. There are "swine" out there alert for painful pearls to pounce on and trample, to bring reproach to the cause of Christ. But PLEASE don't be "careful" about sowing the seed of the Word. You can be "promiscuous" with the gospel. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS17] THE TRANSFORMERS! In the USA, even the most "orthodox" Bible-believing, evangelical Christians must realize that our values and thought processes are heavily leavened with humanism, or with just plain selfish carnality. It takes serious, concentrated and prolonged effort to identify ungodly goals and thought processes, but as Christians who are dedicated servants of Jesus Christ, this is what we are commanded to do. "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." (Romans 12:2 NIV) The nineteenth Psalm describes some of the processes of the renewing of the mind through the Word of God. Read it for yourself. Christianity is "come as you are", but NOT "do as you please." The Bible tells us what our priorities and lifestyle are to be like in order to honor the God who redeemed us in Christ. Some details will vary in different cultural situations, but the eternal principles for abundant and fruitful living are there in the Word. The letters in the New Testament contain not only the doctrinal truths of the Christian faith, but also practical applications of the Truth for everyday living. We challenge you to get a Bible and a bookmark and read Romans through Jude. Put something good in your mind. Program yourself with the Word of God. We expect you to have questions. Come by and see us if at all possible. We'd like to meet you and talk with you. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS18] EVER FEEL REJECTED? Do you ever feel INFERIOR, or stupid, or ugly? Many people are emotionally crippled because of experiences of failure, rejection, and embarrassment from childhood or adolescence. The words, "You're UGLY!", to a child, can cause decades of pain. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1 NIV) God will not hold against us believing Christians any of the mean or stupid or sinful things that are part of our history. He accepts us fully in the Lord Jesus Christ as we put our trust in Him. This acceptance is not a license to continue sinning. If you feel that you cannot overcome bondages to bad habits, besetting sins, sinful relationships, or even bad feelings about yourself, here is Good News: Jesus Christ can set you free! The powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit upon God's Word can break the yoke, can shatter the shackles forged by sin, and give you the power to live the victorious Christian life. We urge you to read the book of Romans for yourself, especially chapters 6, 7, and 8. Since God accepts us through faith in His Son, we have a duty to accept one another on the same terms. Paul wrote, "Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God." (Romans 15:7) Even if you have had painful experiences of rejection and abuse, God will accept you without condemnation, through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. At [________OUR church____], we are in the process of learning how to help people become truly free as we become servants of our King Jesus. And we are LEARNING to accept and appreciate each other the way we are. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS19]