Tornado Weekend Ahead....

Forecasters Are Already Predicting a Massive Tornado Outbreak This Weekend!

I pray that people in Texas and Oklahoma remain safe this weekend. But we've seen this over and over again, and if the forecasters are anywhere near accurate, a devastating tornado will probably do major damage in these areas, up to and including death. Someone alive today will not be "waking up with Al" as it says in the picture. And since none of us knows the day or hour when we take our last breath, isn't it so very important that we are prepared to wake up in eternity?

James 4:13-14 

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

The only way to be ready is to repent & trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
Not your church; not your religion; not your philosophy; not your good works; not anything else.
If you would be delivered from the consequences of your sins against God, you have only one option:

 

Acts 4:12 

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 



Severe weather is frightening! Tornados, tsunamis, mudslides, hurricanes, and lightning. A loud clap of thunder can send us diving for cover. But all that we see and experience of this universe God created is just a small revelation of what God is like. How awesome, how powerful must God be to have spoken all of this into existence? How terribly fearful it must for a man when he comes into the near presence of the Almighty!

Job 26:14 

Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

 

Luke 12:4-5 

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

 

Go Blake Griffin!

So a professional NBA player who acknowledges that the we live in a young, created universe, and who rejects the fairy tale of evolution THEORY, which collapses without billions of years (it collapses for other reasons)...well, the intelligentsia of the sports reporting world can hardly believe it. They are talking about Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers. Of Griffin's conviction, one writer stated, "We really, really hope he was joking." See the link to the article at the end of this post.

The world says you are un-intelligent if you reject the mantra of evolution theory: that long ago, nothing exploded (Big Bang) and created everything; that (somehow - we don't know how) life arose from non-living matter, and evolved into every living thing we see around us. This is, of course, un-observable and un-repeatable, taking it outside the realm of science...but you are stupid, ignorant, and really strange if you don't buy into it.

I really love an honest atheist. What Nobel Prize winner, the late George Wald said some years ago, is a breath of fresh air. He said,

"There are only 2 possible explanations as to how life arose. Spontaneous generation arising to evolution or, a supernatural God....There is no other possibility. Spontaneous generation was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur and others, but that just leaves us with only one other possibility...that life came as a supernatural act of creation by God, but I can't accept that philosophy because

I do not want to believe in God.

Therefore I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible, spontaneous generation leading to evolution."

No, it's not science that supports the fairy tale of evolution theory...it is men & women repulsed by the thought of being accountable to their Creator: it kind of cramps the style of people who are literally Hell-bent on being their own god, deciding for themselves what is right or wrong.

I comment you, Mr. Griffin, on being bold enough to stand for your beliefs. Yes, it may cost you something (2 Timothy 3:12) but the Lord Jesus Christ is more than worth it. And God's opinion on the issue is summed up by king David in the Psalms:

Psalms 14:1  

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

 

And living for the Lord & the truth of God's word ("You mean you take the Bible literally?!?!?") will make you a target for all kinds of scorn and ridicule, but we know we're just following in Jesus' steps....

 

Hebrews 13:12-13 

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp,

bearing his reproach."

Here's the link.

Way of the Master Basic Training Course - Calvary Chapel Des Moines

I am very proud, and blessed to be teaching the Way of the Master Basic Training Course at my home church of Calvary Chapel Des Moines.  Back in 2004 Tony Didlo of Saving Faith Outreach taught various Way of the Master DVD Lessons and had an audience of 5 people.  I am pleased to announce that we now gave away all 50 study guides!!!  Last night we started Lesson 1, Cultivating A Compassion For The Lost.  It was a great evening, watching the video, breaking into smaller groups and talking through questions.  We even wrote letters to God sharing their hopes, desires, fears, and what they want from the class.  I was so blessed to receive 40 envelopes at the end of the evening. These will be returned to the students at the end of the 8 weeks for them to review and see what prayers God had answered.  Pray that all, if not, many get their prayers answered and we have a bold, strong army coming from my fellowship to win souls for Christ.

For What Is Your Life...?

... For what is your life?

It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time,

and then vanisheth away.

James 4:14

The older we get, the more we realize we are rushing towards eternity.

Let me ask you a question: how old are you?

Now add 100 years to that...how old will you be then?

Much tougher question: where will you be then?

Are you ready?

This picture is from the Des Moines Farmers Market, where the Lord has allowed us to share the gospel for going on six years now. Where has the time gone? See that blue barrel in the upper right corner? I've stood on that corner and preached the gospel many times: in sweltering heat, in snow showers & cold, even in the rain.

Why?

Because...

The older I get, the more I realize we are all rushing towards eternity.

Let's share the Lord Jesus with as many people as we can,

so they can be ready to step into eternity!

 

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Fort Hood Shootings 4/2/14

Another shooting incident in progress this afternoon at Fort Hood in Texas. Only time will reveal all the tragic details, but ultimately the cause of this and all other evil events in our world originate in the hearts of men....

Mark 7:21-22

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

 

You most likely won't hear this identified as the root cause of this shooting incident. Guns, socio-economic conditions, education, poverty, and politics, and psychology - yes. But the truth from the word of God - no.

 

So what's the solution? Only God can change the evil hearts of men. That's why Jesus came, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, was buried, and rose again 3 days later. So he could set us free from our own selves....

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

We pray for everyone involved at Fort Hood. And, I pray that many, many people will wake up to the reality & cause of evil, and come to Jesus Christ, while they still can...come to Jesus as I have come, in repentance & faith, to receive the gift of forgiveness & eternal life.

 

Will you come? Or, if you have already received that wonderful gift, will you tell others?

 

Maranatha,

Paul