The Fire of Sacrifice by J.C. Penny

Just as it takes the fire to burn the dross from the ore, so does it take the spirit of sacrifice in our lives to bring out the best within us.  Trials, labor, grief, are but the fires in our lives which are necessary to purify and bring out our virtues.

In business, sacrifices are demanded of us as well as labor, trials and economics. All these straighten our judgment, make for administrative qualities and cultivate resourcefulness

Is there any sacrifice worth-while? Yes, because of the compensation, not compensation of dollars and cents, or in name and glory, for the compensation to self.

Sacrifice establishes character. It makes for purity of motives, honor, dependability, power for service and unselfishness. It takes the fire of sacrifice to clarify a man’s mind and heart so that he can establish the worthier ideals for himself. A man who desires anything must be willing to go the whole way for it, not halfway. No man gains anything in the way of power and privileges who does not pay with a change in habits, thought and action.

“Lines of a Layman” by J.C. Penny, c.1956, Channel Press, Great Neck, NY, page 118

J. B. Phillips on Missionaries

In the book, “The Church Under the Cross” in 1956 on page xi, J.B. Phillips wrote,“I have never been a missionary myself, though that was long my heart’s desire, but I grasp with both hands the opportunity of paying tribute to this magnificent, unadvertised army. I know many missionaries personally, and at summer schools and elsewhere I have met many more. I believe there is no body of people who deserve our respect, our admiration and our support. It should not be a spiritual chore but a high privilege to support these front-line warriors with our prayers. I confess that I am often outraged by the world’s treatment of such committed, dedicated lives. Nothing is more easy than for a novelist or playwright to jeer at the “simple” missionary, or to build his own success upon the theme of a lonely missionary who “goes wrong.” I grow very weary of disparaging remarks about missionaries made by men who are not fit to black their boots. Now I would challenge all those who sit comfortably at home and disparage the work of the missionaries and jeer at “native Christians”. What have they ever done to win a single person from darkness to light?”  

My Workstyle Witness

Since I've started my new job I've attempted to really seek the Lord on how to be a witness and the approach I should use. This is how it's been going.

1. My first days and week was mostly spent with my mouth shut and ears open. Learning the job and learning the people I work with.
2. Mostly keep my witness to making general remarks during causal conversation about church or something the Pastor said that weekend. This really lets you know if someone is open to hearing more or they couldn't care less. Already any real believers will ask where you attend and step into fellowship. Must be careful if you work with temp labour. You do not know from one day to the next if the person will be there for you to witness to. You must hear God on this and step up to witness if the Lord moves you.
3. Bring a Bible to work to read during break or lunch. But don't keep your head in it long and lose touch of what is going on around you.
4. Wear Christian apparel that is appropriate.
5. Show real concern for others at work. The guy no one likes, befriend him.

That is all I got for now.

Angels on the Night Shift

"Now there were in the country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I give you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." Luke 2:8-9
On the night of the greatest event in world history the Lord choose to reveal Him-self to low class shepherds of the fields. These shepherds had to travel away from their families to get their herd to greener pastures. They had to watch in shifts during the night to protect them from predators. They had no corral to place them in for safekeeping. The night shift shepherds were surely the hired hands or servants of the owning family. No evidence just experience on those who are always chosen for the nightshift.
God chooses the lowly to share in the Good News of a Savior being born. This shows us that God loves dearly those in low places like those missing their families because of "greener pasture".
If you find yourself in this situation as I have found at many times. Rejoice that God has placed angels to watch over you, His flock, during the night. Receive His Good News and joy to all people like you.
(Note: this post was done many years at this time and I wanted to repost it again. I am currently unemployed so, keep me in prayer.)

Christ in My Career Part Two (Time)

This is a portion of a book titled, "Christ in My Career" by Allen W. Graves. I will post the entire part as written my him, because I could not summarize any better.
"Time Is to Be Used for God
The way in which a Christian uses his/her time will determine his or her success or failure in Christian living. No Christian has a right to "kill" time. Time is a precious gift from God to be invested wisely.
The proper use of time would solve the problems of many troubled and frustrated people. It would greatly reduce the difficulties experienced in the work of many Churches.
The right use of time could bring education to the unlearned, prosperity to the poor, culture to the uncouth, and achievement to the discouraged.
paul urges Christians to "walk in wisdom..., redeeming the time" (Col.4:5). Ecclesiastes 8:5 reminds every young person that "a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgement"."

The Lesson Your Pastor Didn’t Learn In College

During lunch, the other day, I struck up a conversation with another patron in the restaurant. We got on the subject of problems in the Church. Then he opened up and shared some personal things that got me thinking.

Back when his daughter was thirteen, then belonged to a very close Church where all the members felt like family and everyone was close. But there was a problem; his daughter was being molested by one of the guys in the youth group. This went on without his knowledge for two years. Other kids in the group knew about it and so did his other kids. But no one told him. He approached the pastor about the problem and asked him what he should do. This was a problem his pastor was not accustomed to. They did not teach “Youth Group Molestation 101” in college. So the Pastor talked to other Pastors (who also never took the course), but got no help. The pastor called the young man into his office to confront him about the incident. The young man confessed to the sin, repented and promised not to do it again. He was allowed to continue in the youth and praise & worship groups. The pastor then told the father that there was nothing he could do because the young man “Repented”. The pastor also told the father that his daughter would “get over it in time”. The father of the daughter confronted the father of the young man and was told that his daughter “asked for it.”

The father of the daughter then thought to involve the police and asked his daughter about this option. She felt she had loved the guy and did not want to press charges. Now the problem I would like to address is the fact that some pastors are ignorant in dealing with this issue. To better handle these incidents they need to know:

1. Molestation is against the law.
2. Sex with a minor is considered rape, even if it is in mutual agreement
3. These incidents are to be reported by law
4. Anyone covering it up is guilty

The pastor should have instructed the father of the daughter to report it to the police, even if the young man’s father is the main giver in the Church. The young man should have been removed from the youth and praise & worship groups. It is a false teaching that a person can repent and not be responsible for the consequences of their sin. The Lord truly forgives and the relationship with Him is healed, but the person still needs to reconcile the relationship with the person wronged. Is it justice for the young man to get married, have a family and go on with his life, while the daughter spends her life in therapy and confusion? Shouldn’t the young man at least have repented to the girl and offered to pay for any expenses accrued from the incident, such as therapy, etc…

The need is for pastors to get some kind of training in dealing with these problems. Seek help and information from child advocacy professionals, law enforcement and lawyers. A bible college or seminary would be smart to offer continuing credit course in this subject on campus or online. If your church has had this situation happen, it would be just like the “Body of Christ” to offer continual help to victims and not hide it under the proverbial rug. Here is my close challenge: If you have been involved in, meaning doing the deed, covering up, or just ignoring, find the victim and repent for your part in the affair. Do whatever the Lord reveals for you to do to help the victim heal. And don’t just tell her to “Give it to Jesus”, because when she does, the Lord may not be as forgiving to you as she would be. That milestone can be heavy.

Remembering My father

I would like to take time in remembering my dad today.
He passed away on Oct. 18, 2007
He was born in Skipperville, Al. Along with his twin sister Frances.
He was born to Oscar Morris Brooks and Ira Blankenship.
Grandmother died not long after they were born, then being raised by her sister Minnie later moved to Cottonwood to live with Minnie on the Blankenship Farm owned by Cousin John Blankenship.
Here they lived as share-cropers. Dad spoke of having played ball with Nazis POW's during WW2. When he became 18 he joined the Navy. Then married my mother Bettie Maxine Duke after a courship through the mail. (My mom's nephew (who was older than my mom) married my dad's twin sister. My mom lived with her brother and that's how they got together)
He was a descendent of two confederate soliders. Joel N. Brooks and his son Sammual C. Brooks of Pike Co. Al.
Dad was a deacon at Union Hill Baptist Church in Cottonwood, Al.
He was well liked around C'wood. At one time he worked for the city and was their police, fire and water man. I remember he carried no gun and would not until he became a guard at the local nuclear plant that was being built in the 70's.
I remember we were buying some used auto parts from a (drunk) dealer in town. While my dad went to get the part off a wreck (that's how they did it back then) the dealer (while play cards with other drunks) told me privately that, " when your dad worked for the city, Cottonwood had something". I felt very proud. He left this world with a good name. I can only hope I do the same.

When You Lose a Pastor

I was reading online about a Georgia pastor who committed suicide, and I felt a heavy burden for the congregation that he left behind. Recently we lost our Pastor by natural causes. I have lost pastors before, when they had moved on or the organization ceases to operate. But that loss cannot compare to a pastor passing away. It seems it would be like a sheep missing his or her Shepherd.

First, there is a loss of fellowship. The shepherd is no longer where you expect to see him. You look in the office. He is not there. You look in the pulpit, but he is no longer there. You see his number in your contact list and you know he will not answer if you call. Fellowship is gone. The sheep no longer see him in the fold, the pastures, and the mountains of their life.

 Second, there is a loss of leadership. The sheep have to shake of a sense of confusion. They seek the pastor for guidance, but he is not there. The sheep used to hear the shepherd’s voice, but now it is quiet.

 Third and final, there is a loss of example. As Paul took his disciples to follow him as he followed Jesus (see reference below), the pastor was always an example of how the sheep were to follow the Lord. Now the sheep are at a loss to see any other example outside of scripture to pattern their lives for the Lord’s service.

 But the sheep can be of good cheer. If the pastor did his job right, the sheep will be able to draw even closer to the “Head Shepherd” and gain an even deeper sense of fellowship with the Lord. The sheep would have been taught how to hear the “Head Shepherd’s” voice for comfort and trust He will send another trustworthy shepherd to take the pastor’s place. The sheep will look back at the passing pastor’s example and give glory to God for sending them such a shepherd.

1 Corinthians 4:16 , 2 Thessalonians 2:7 & 9

The Christian’s Three Families

Attending our Pastor’s funeral the other day I noticed how so many had been touched by his life. How there were many who grieved as if they were family. I had seen this before at my Dad's funeral years ago. As I stood ready to take a seat with other family members, I looked up and saw the grief in the eyes of many people who attended Church with him. Some of these had been by his side when I was not around. They grieved as much as I did, if not more. But custom dictates the family was to be taken care of. The Church treated us like royalty. But, it had always troubled me that those people where close to my Dad more than I was and therefore, their hurt was just as real. So here I stood in their shoes with the same hurt. So I wondered about this. And the Lord showed me how we have three family groups in our lives. Being made up of Body, Soul and Spirit, why couldn't I have three families?

First we have the physical family or blood family if you wish. This includes those we are linked by blood to and those that are married into the family. When two become one in marriage, they are also joined to the family. No doubt the grief of a loved one in this group should never be treated lightly. Even family members that are not close can still feel a very deep loss of someone in this group.

Second is the soul or soulish family. This is made up of friends and acquaintances. Some of these can be very close to the person and sometimes said to be "close as a brother" or "He was like a Father to me". The grief of these can be really hard to handle. If a person in both groups, blood and soul, then they can count themselves double blessed.

The Third group is the Spirit Family. To the Christian we say they are "Church Family.” In this article I will be referring to the Christian Church in general. The grief in this group can be pretty strong. If some find themselves in the physical, blood and Spirit families, then they are triply blessed. The Church family by custom usually takes care of the physical and soulish families during the funeral and dinners. And this is rightly so. For the Church family will see the departed again. And they have a the Comforter for their grief. If those in the physical & soulish family groups do not belong to the Church family, then their grief is hard because they have no hope of ever seeing the loved one again. They need comforting from the Church family. That is what we are for. To be the comforting arms of the Lord to those hurting.

So I comfort those that are in the physical and soulish family members of our Pastor that are also in the Church that we will see him again in Glory. Those that are not, I strongly urge you to become "Born Again" (John 3) so that you may join us and see Him again.

Book Review: Bill Wallace of China

Bill Wallace of China by Jesse C. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of those books every Christian should read. I highly recommend this book. Growing up I thought reading books about missionaries would be boring, but this is one that proved my thinking wrong.

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How to Present Your Testimony

To be better prepared in presenting your testimony, here are some simple and helpful guidelines to follow.

First of all (besides prayer) select a salvation plan to use along with your testimony. You may use, for example:

* Romans Road

* The 3 R's

* A B C's of Salvation

According to the group you are speaking to, you may want to center more on one area of your testimony than another.
For example, If you are speaking to a mostly church crowd. You may want to spend more time on your after salvation testimony.(baptisms,healing, incouagments etc....)If it is a crowd on non-believers, you may want to tell more of your before salvation life. But please remember that your new birth is what they need to here. Use wisdom by not glorifying your sins.(If you can speak of your past sins with a grin on your face, your teatimony will be shot). Quoting the verse,"He who is forgiven more ,loves more",is not only a misinterpretation but has hurt many believers.

Example Outline Using the "3 R's"

1. Realize
Realize your a sinner: Romans 3:23

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"

Tell how your life was before you were born again. Use wisdom on the details as to what type of group your with. Try not to use terms the people may not understand. Explain how all persons are born in sin.

2. Repent
Repent of your sinful nature. Acts 3:19,

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the Lord".

Tell how the Lord moved in your life to get you where you could be born again.Tell exactly how you were saved.

3. Receive
Receive Christ Jesus as Lord of your life.John 1:12,

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that beleive".

Tell what God has been doing in your life since He saved you.

End with exaltation. Go over main points of salvation such as: Realize, Repent, Receive. And if it is approved by the leader of your group, you should give an invitation to be born again or for christians to repent and receive power from God to serve.Turn the service over to your leader for closing comments and ending prayer. Or you may pray if approved by your leader.

2013 Memorial Day

On this memorial day I would like to remember those who gave their lives to the Spiritual Battlefields of the world. Like the three veteran missionaries that were shot down in Yemen some years ago. They gave their lives for the Kingdom of God and for the freedom to worship the King of Kings.

The Calvary Road by Roy Hession
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the Great Christian Classics, a must for any that wish to grow in the Lord.


View all my reviews

Book Review: Key to the Prison

Key to the Prison by Louise A. Vernon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very good story of the starting of the Quakers and their start in the Americas. Bio of George Fox written  from the prospective of a child during those times.


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The Duty of Christian Businessmen by Rev. Phillip Brooks

Men are talking about the institutions in which you are engaged, my friends, about the business from which you have come here to worship for this little hour. Men are questioning about what they care to do, what they can have to do with Christianity. They are asking everywhere this question: "Is it possible for a man to be engaged in the activities of our modern life and yet to be a Christian? Is it possible for a man to be a broker, a shopkeeper, a lawyer, a mechanic, is it possible for a man to be engaged in a business of to-day, and yet love his God and his fellow-man as himself?" I do not know. I do not know what transformations these dear businesses of yours have got to undergo before they shall be true and ideal homes for the child of God; but I do know that upon Christian merchants and Christian brokers and Christian lawyers and Christian men in business to-day there rests an awful and a beautiful responsibility: to prove, if you can prove it, that these things are capable of being made divine, to prove that a man can do the work that you have been doing this morning and will do this afternoon, and yet shall love his God and his fellow-man as himself. If he cannot, if he cannot, what business have you to be doing them? If he can, what business have you to be doing them so poorly, so carnally, so unspiritually, that men look on them and shake their heads with doubt? It belongs to Christ in men first to prove that man may be a Christian and yet do business; and, in the second place, to show how a man, as he becomes a greater Christian, shall purify and lift the business that he does and make it the worthy occupation of the Son of God.

Year 1895

Taken in part from: The Project Gutenberg EBook of Addresses, by Phillips Brooks

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.net or http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14497

Rick Warren on "Can a Business be Christian?"

In the March 2013 issue of "Decision" Magazine, Pastor Rick Warren made a very good point on on the matter of , "Can a business be Christian?" In the article, "Rick Warren on the Hobby Lobby Lawsuit.", page 14.  In the article Pastor warren answers the question asked above.  To quote the article, "Some flippantly say 'A business cannot be a Christian,' but the truth is, every business is either business is either moral or immoral, ethical or unethical, depending on the values they base their business on. "
I interrupt this as saying that a business, just as art, music and literature,  reflects the morals and ethics of its creators  We creations should reflect the morals and ethics of our creator  God. This article can be read at:  http://www.becketfund.org/pastor-rick-warrens-on-hobby-lobby-lawsuit/

Christ in My Career Part One (Talents)

What keeps many from thinking about being a witness in their workplace is the belief that the sacred and secular are separate. What happens on Sunday stays on Sunday. Growing up I was under the impression that we could live as we like during the week as long as we gave God Sundays and Wednesday nights. But since I gave my life to the Lord, I have learned better.

Not only does our little 10% belong to the Lord, our whole life does. In this post I would like to share a little of the first chapter of Allen W. Graves’ book, “Christ in My Career”, published in 1958 by Convention Press. He brings out Paul’s writing in 1 Cor. 6:19-20,

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price.”

 And Mr. Graves says, “Christians belong to God, A Christian’s life is measured by the way in which it is used for God.” Or may I say, “Used by God?”  Also, Mr. Graves adds, “The freedom of the Christian is disciplined by his loyalty to Christ and a desire to please Him.”

Now you may ask, “Which part is he talking about?” The Word of God is very plain; “all” belongs to God. First, our talents belong to God. The whole reason we are given talents, gifts, and skills is for God’s use and the work of God through His Church. Romans 12:1 read,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

To use our talents for service is the least we can do, the most reasonable things for us to do in our workplace.  Without this attitude of the ownership of our talents to God, we will never be effective in our Christian lives in reaching the lost.

This is Part one of a series of post I will be sharing on from Mr. Graves’ book.

What Are You Doing with God’s Grace?

Grace is an amazing word to know for living today. Looking into my Nave’s Topical Bible, I found many verses that use the word, but I would like to share a parable that illustrates its meaning. The word has evolved in today’s language to mean forgiveness, blessing, or just to give someone a break. We use the word in our Church name, “Grace Harvest Church” and before this we were called, “Grace Chapel”. So we have always liked the name, mainly because we were in such need of it. When I looked up the verses from my Topical Bible in the Amplified Version, the word was translated as, “state of favor”. So to be in God’s grace or to have grace is to be in a state of favor with God.  This is where I want to be. We men spend a lot of time trying to gain the favor of our Fathers, but in the end we realize that favor from our Heavenly Father is the only favor we need.

Now I would like to share a little story that the lord Jesus used to illustrate forgiveness to Peter and the Disciples. But it also illustrates Grace in a way that amazes me. In Matthew 18:23-35 we read,
 “23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, and ‘Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Now the first thing I wish to point out is that the servant owed the money to the King. It was not taxes, it was money loaned to him from the King. The servant at one time had received some money from the king with an agreement to pay it back. What did this servant do with this money? The same thing that we may do with the gifts and talents Christ gives us I afraid. Anyway, back to the servant and king. The servant owed the money. The amount could be figured out to today’s value but let’s just say it was an amount that neither the servant nor his family could pay it off in their lifetime (interest on sin is high priced, I guess). The King’s answer is to sell him and his family as slaves to payback the debt. This may shock some but that was what happens in those days. If you could not pay your debts, you and your family where sold as slaves to pay it off. But it was just until you paid it off or until the year of Jubilee when all slaves where set free and all land was returned to the family that had it. So the servant had a way out, but he was going to have to work for it. We find ourselves in this condition, a slave to debt. How many of us work to pay for that new car? Or it seems we work just to pay for those kids we left behind just because we wanted to be free. When they servant saw the reality of his folly and fell to the ground and begged the king to give him time. The servant probably already had a scheme worked out to try and pay the debt, enough to appease the king. But the king surprised him with compassion, mercy and yes, grace. He forgave the servant debt. He placed the servant in a state of favor. Boy how the other servants must have looked on in awe at this servant that the King showed such favor to.
            The servant left the king feeling pretty good and went straight to another servant who owed him a little bit of money which was nowhere near the amount he had owed the king. He grabbed him and tried to get the money out of him. His answer was to sell the man as a slave to cover the debt. Sounds familiar? The king heard of this and brought the servant back and gave him a real talking to. He had lost the favor of the king. Now if only the servant had received the grace of the king and let it change his heart to become a compassionate servant just as the King was compassionate, things would have been different. He stomped on the grace given him by the king. When the king forgave him his debt, someone was going to have to pay the debt, it was owed. Who paid? The King did. The servant’s grace was very expensive but he had made it cheap. This brings up a phrase coined by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “Cheap Grace”.

This brings us to the Grace or favor that the Lord has bestowed on us. It is free, but it is not cheap. Christ paid a heavy price for the Grace we have. Can you look up at the cross and see the price He paid. So many people come to Him and the Church to get what they need and not appreciate the price He paid. What does this do to Grace? It’s like standing at the cross and stepping on His spilt blood and pushing it into the mud. It’s like standing there and spitting on that blood. I did not share this when I preached this in Church, but it’s like so many are pissing at the foot of the cross and taking His clothes. How are we doing this you may ask? We do it by living our lives without giving Him all of ourselves. How grievous is this sin of cheapening the Grace of God, of stepping out of His free favor to live our lives outside his grace. When I get up in the morning and I can feel His drawing me to commune with Him in prayer and the word, but instead I choose to settle down to a movie and wash the grace He has given me. Let us look up to the Cross and accept this Grace He purchased for us, the favor of a King. As the song goes, “We owed a debt we could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe, and Christ Jesus paid a debt, a debt we could not pay.” When the loving Lord has given us so much, we indeed deserve Hell if we reject His Grace.