The Devil is Selling Lemons
I did once buy a used car that was a "lemon" and it was not a pleasant experience. The car was for my oldest son and on the outside it was beautiful, however, I failed to inspect it sufficiently. It was raining on the day we purchased the car and so I did not crawl underneath of the vehicle. If I had crawled under it I would have seen that the car had been in a severe accident. Later I found out that it had been totaled and sold for salvage or junk. Someone had bought it and rebuilt it enough for it to pass as a desirable vehicle.
This car was at the mechanics too many times to remember. I thought that eventually we could replace and repair what was wrong with it. We had too much money in it to just give up or at least that was what I was thinking. After sinking several thousand dollars more into the car a service manager told me that if it was his car he would get rid of it. Why? Because it was a "lemon" and it would never be a good car and it would always have problems. Now he tells me, right!
That old devil is constantly trying to sell us some things too. They all look good on the outside but if we look at them closely we will see that they are lemons. What harm will one snort of cocaine do? Ask the person who drops dead from a heart attack. What harm will a few minutes with a prostitute do? Ask the man who contracted HIV. What harm will a little gambling do? Ask the person who develops an addiction and loses their family.
Before we buy what the devil's selling we ought to crawl underneath and take a good long look. Submit yourself to God's will in every area of your life and resist the devil - the Lord will "exalt you in due time."
Tell It To JESUS
Daily Smile:
Our staff has completed the 18 months of work on time and on budget. We have gone through every line of code in every program in every system. We have analyzed all databases, all data files, including backups and historic archives, and modified all data to reflect the change. We are proud to report that we have completed the "Y-to-K" date change mission, and have now implemented all changes to all programs and all data to reflect your new standards:
Januark, Februark, March, April, Mak, June, Julk, August, September, October, November, December
As well as:
Sundak, Mondak, Tuesdak, Wednesdak, Thursdak, Fridak, Saturdak
I trust that this is satisfactory, because to be honest, none of this Y to K problem has made any sense to me. But I understand it is a globalproblem, and our team is glad to help in any way possible. And what does the year 2000 have to do with it? Speaking of which, what do you think We ought to do next year when the two digit year rolls over from 99 to 00? We'll await your direction.
In The News:
England Endorses Marriage 'Equality'
British lawmakers on Tuesday voted in favor of a bill to legalize same-sex "marriage," WORLD Magazine reports. Supporters celebrate the bill as a step toward "equality," but church leaders and conservatives warn that if implemented, the measure will bring serious social and cultural ramifications. Spearheaded by Prime Minister David Cameron, the bill still has to endure parliamentary debates and earn approval of the House of Lords before becoming law, but if approved, would allow same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies -- provided the religious institution consents -- starting in 2015. In December, British lawyer Aidan O'Neil warned of a variety of situations in which supporters of traditional marriage could be forced to recognize gay unions as marriage. For example, primary school teachers who refuse to teach LGBT-friendly curricula could be fired, Christian parents who want to adopt could be forbidden, and marriage registrars who refuse to fill out marriage licenses could be sued. The law's religious provision specifically exempts the Church of England from performing same-sex ceremonies, since they are banned by church law. Though the provision is supposed to protect the Church of England from legal trouble, officials have expressed concern it might not be enough. "It is impossible to predict whether those provisions will prove robust enough to resist challenge in the courts," officials wrote.
Lutheran Pastor Apologizes for Praying at Interfaith Newtown Vigil
A Lutheran pastor in Newtown, Conn., has apologized after being reprimanded for participating in an interfaith vigil following the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Religion News Service reports. The Rev. Rob Morris, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church, prayed at the Dec. 16 vigil -- which was hosted by the Newtown Interfaith Clergy Association and attended by Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and President Obama -- alongside other Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Baha'i clergy. Morris' church is a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod denomination, whose constitution prohibits ministers from participating in services with members of different faiths. LCMS president Matthew Harrison wrote in a letter to the Synod that "the presence of prayers and religious readings" made the Newtown vigil joint worship, and therefore off-limits to Missouri Synod ministers. Harrison said Morris' participation also offended members of the denomination. "After consultation with my supervisors and others, I made my own decision," Morris wrote in his apology letter. "I believed my participation to be, not an act of joint worship, but an act of community chaplaincy." Harrison wrote in his letter that despite his reprimand of Morris, the Missouri Synod does not unanimously agree on what joint worship is. The denomination is still attempting to define it.
Likewise you younger
people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive
to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the
proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under
the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all
your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same
sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may
the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ
Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen,
and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
Amen. - 1 Peter 5:5-11.
Have you ever bought a car that was a
lemon? Wikipedia gives this definition for an automobile that is a
lemon: "A lemon is a defective car that, when purchased new or used, is
found by the purchaser to have numerous or severe defects not readily
apparent before the purchase. Any vehicle with these issues can be
termed a 'lemon,' and, by extension, any product which has major flaws
that render it unfit for its purpose can be described as a 'lemon'."
I did once buy a used car that was a "lemon" and it was not a pleasant experience. The car was for my oldest son and on the outside it was beautiful, however, I failed to inspect it sufficiently. It was raining on the day we purchased the car and so I did not crawl underneath of the vehicle. If I had crawled under it I would have seen that the car had been in a severe accident. Later I found out that it had been totaled and sold for salvage or junk. Someone had bought it and rebuilt it enough for it to pass as a desirable vehicle.
This car was at the mechanics too many times to remember. I thought that eventually we could replace and repair what was wrong with it. We had too much money in it to just give up or at least that was what I was thinking. After sinking several thousand dollars more into the car a service manager told me that if it was his car he would get rid of it. Why? Because it was a "lemon" and it would never be a good car and it would always have problems. Now he tells me, right!
That old devil is constantly trying to sell us some things too. They all look good on the outside but if we look at them closely we will see that they are lemons. What harm will one snort of cocaine do? Ask the person who drops dead from a heart attack. What harm will a few minutes with a prostitute do? Ask the man who contracted HIV. What harm will a little gambling do? Ask the person who develops an addiction and loses their family.
Before we buy what the devil's selling we ought to crawl underneath and take a good long look. Submit yourself to God's will in every area of your life and resist the devil - the Lord will "exalt you in due time."
Tell It To JESUS
Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Are you troubled at the thought of dying?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Refrain
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a Friend that’s well known.
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.
He is a Friend that’s well known.
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Refrain
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Refrain
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Refrain
Daily Smile:
Our staff has completed the 18 months of work on time and on budget. We have gone through every line of code in every program in every system. We have analyzed all databases, all data files, including backups and historic archives, and modified all data to reflect the change. We are proud to report that we have completed the "Y-to-K" date change mission, and have now implemented all changes to all programs and all data to reflect your new standards:
Januark, Februark, March, April, Mak, June, Julk, August, September, October, November, December
As well as:
Sundak, Mondak, Tuesdak, Wednesdak, Thursdak, Fridak, Saturdak
I trust that this is satisfactory, because to be honest, none of this Y to K problem has made any sense to me. But I understand it is a globalproblem, and our team is glad to help in any way possible. And what does the year 2000 have to do with it? Speaking of which, what do you think We ought to do next year when the two digit year rolls over from 99 to 00? We'll await your direction.
In The News:
England Endorses Marriage 'Equality'
British lawmakers on Tuesday voted in favor of a bill to legalize same-sex "marriage," WORLD Magazine reports. Supporters celebrate the bill as a step toward "equality," but church leaders and conservatives warn that if implemented, the measure will bring serious social and cultural ramifications. Spearheaded by Prime Minister David Cameron, the bill still has to endure parliamentary debates and earn approval of the House of Lords before becoming law, but if approved, would allow same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies -- provided the religious institution consents -- starting in 2015. In December, British lawyer Aidan O'Neil warned of a variety of situations in which supporters of traditional marriage could be forced to recognize gay unions as marriage. For example, primary school teachers who refuse to teach LGBT-friendly curricula could be fired, Christian parents who want to adopt could be forbidden, and marriage registrars who refuse to fill out marriage licenses could be sued. The law's religious provision specifically exempts the Church of England from performing same-sex ceremonies, since they are banned by church law. Though the provision is supposed to protect the Church of England from legal trouble, officials have expressed concern it might not be enough. "It is impossible to predict whether those provisions will prove robust enough to resist challenge in the courts," officials wrote.
Lutheran Pastor Apologizes for Praying at Interfaith Newtown Vigil
A Lutheran pastor in Newtown, Conn., has apologized after being reprimanded for participating in an interfaith vigil following the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Religion News Service reports. The Rev. Rob Morris, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church, prayed at the Dec. 16 vigil -- which was hosted by the Newtown Interfaith Clergy Association and attended by Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and President Obama -- alongside other Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Baha'i clergy. Morris' church is a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod denomination, whose constitution prohibits ministers from participating in services with members of different faiths. LCMS president Matthew Harrison wrote in a letter to the Synod that "the presence of prayers and religious readings" made the Newtown vigil joint worship, and therefore off-limits to Missouri Synod ministers. Harrison said Morris' participation also offended members of the denomination. "After consultation with my supervisors and others, I made my own decision," Morris wrote in his apology letter. "I believed my participation to be, not an act of joint worship, but an act of community chaplaincy." Harrison wrote in his letter that despite his reprimand of Morris, the Missouri Synod does not unanimously agree on what joint worship is. The denomination is still attempting to define it.
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