THE CROSS AND THE WEDDING RING

He who finds a wife finds a good thing. --Proverbs 18:22

That good thing mentioned in the above Scripture isn't the wife. It's marriage. Marriage is the good thing God is talking about. A wife isn't a thing. A wife is the equal partner in the awesome and wonderful covenant called marriage between the living God, a man and a woman.

Because marriage between one man and one woman is the most important and most noble of institutions the Lord has ever created, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Bible reveals God's divine blueprint and schematic for marriage. A blueprint is a detailed plan or design. A schematic is the structural diagram of that master plan.

Genesis 1:26-31 and 2:18-24 is the master blueprint, while Ephesians 5:22 through 6:4 is one of the structural schematics of harmonious marriage outlined in the Bible.

But what happens when the master plan or the structural schematic for marriage is altered? What happens when a husband or a wife attempts to break God's covenant of marriage between a man and a woman? What happens when a husband or a wife wants to end that covenant?

WITH THIS RING I THEE WED

In April 2006 as I was walking the 10-foot, 60-pound cross on a major road, a woman made a quick U-turn so she could talk to me about her failing marriage. Her husband had left her for another woman. She was crying and asked a lot of questions. She asked me to pray for her marriage, that her husband would come to his senses and return to her and her children.

I asked the Lord to dismantle the illicit affair, demolish the relationship and break her husband's hardened heart into pieces no matter what it took, so God could give him a brand new heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27). I also asked God to save the other woman's soul but to do whatever it took to pulverize and end the illicit affair.

I noticed that Mary (not her real name) didn't have her wedding ring on, and encouraged her to begin wearing it again, as a sign to the Lord and to her husband that she not only wanted the marriage to work, but that she also believed that God would save the marriage. She agreed, and I noticed an immediate and distinct difference on her countenance as she got back into her vehicle and sped off with a smile on her face (and her faith). I lifted my hands and thanked God for the opportunity to walk the cross and to pray long and hard for this distraught woman.

FLASH FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER 2007

This day is no different than others. Walking the cross on a major highway of the city, I continue to be amazed at all the people passing by in their vehicles and honking their horns and waving wildly as they drive by. I can't help but think that  this is what the ministry of Christianity is all about: presenting the cross of  Jesus Christ as God's plus sign to hurting humanity; proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ to everyone I pass by on the sidewalks; and praying in the name of Jesus Christ for those driving by in their vehicles and especially for those who come up to me and ask for prayer.

A voice breaks through my audible prayers. "Sir...sir, I've got something to tell you!" I look at and immediately recognize the woman who had made a U-turn on that major road back in April. I lowered the heavy cross from my shoulder and to the ground and say hi. "Do you remember me?" she asked. Of course I do. She smiles real big.

"Last year on Ashe Road you prayed for my marriage," she reminded me. "The one thing I remember you telling me was to put my wedding ring back on. So I did." She paused. "Every time my husband came to visit our daughter he'd look at my hand and ask why I was still wearing my wedding ring. I told him why and the other things you told me to say." She grinned. "After six months he broke off the relationship and asked me if I would have him back!"

Her face was beaming now. "He said that my continuing to wear the wedding ring he gave me when we were first married was the one thing that kept convicting him and making him feel so guilty." She began to cry. "Our marriage was saved and we love each other so much!"

"I've been looking for you for months. Every time I went out I'd scan the street on both sides in search of you and the cross." She paused. "And today...here you are! I can never thank you enough for encouraging me to continue wearing my wedding ring and for offering me so much hope when I first saw the cross." She began to cry again. "Thank you." We talked for a few minutes, then she left, a great big smile on her face...and her faith.

AN AMAZING UPDATE THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2011

The Sunday before this Christmas my wife Jeanette and I were shopping for groceries after enjoying a Christmas musical that our grandnieces were part of at their church. A woman tapped me on the shoulder. As I turned around, I recognized who it was. "Remember me?" Of course I did. 

Here she was again, a big smile on her face (and her faith). "Here you are in the same store at the same time we are. I wanted my daughter to meet the man who prayed so hard for me, my husband and our family." A smiling and beautiful young daughter extended her hand. "Hi," I greeted.

Of course we talked a good while, but then said our good-bye's. I gave them each the tract I hand out during Christmas: The Christmas Cross, which shares why I also walk the cross throughout the winter months and even (especially) on Christmas day. Sin, death and the devil don't take holidays. Christmas finds many people experiencing seasonal sadness and holiday hurt just like this family had gone through.

Jeanette and I continued to shop. Again, someone tapped my shoulder. It was Mary. She handed me a store gift card and said, "This is nothing compared to what you did for my family." I was surprised, but said thank you. We talked a few more minutes and she and her daughter went on their way.

I looked at Jeanette and smiled. Their gift meant a lot to us. But more than this, their living testimony meant everything to Jeanette and me. I was especially glad that Jeanette was with me to experience what happens often as I walk throughout the streets or even shop at stores. Smiling faces, smiling hearts, and smiling testimonies of what our awesome God can do--even (and especially) through such a simple thing as wearing a wedding ring even though  maybe you don't feel this will help.

GOD'S TRIANGLE OF LOVE AND THE LAW OF MARRIAGE

If you're struggling in your marriage, if your hope is eroding, and even if you're too angry at or hurt by your wandering spouse to even want to reconcile, please send for the free brochures I have on marriage and reconciliation, especially The Law of Marriage.

The illustration on the left shows what it takes for a husband and wife to get closer to each other, whether  or not their marriage is going good or is on its last leg. Can you figure out what the illustration is saying?

Simply, it takes both the husband and the wife to move up closer to God if they want to get closer to each other. This is the law of marriage. And it is also how God can turn a dying or unhappy marriage into a good thing!

God's biblical blueprint and scriptural schematics for a happy marriage, an enduring marriage, a dying marriage or a recovering marriage is written in the Bible. Sometimes all that's necessary for God to restore and revitalize an all but dead marriage is a simple act of faith, such as continuing to act like you are married even if you don't feel like you are. Miracles still happen every day. The secret is to endure. This, too, is the law of marriage. Glory to the King!

Send all correspondence to: Tom Alexander, Box 10551, Bakersfield, CA 93389. E-mail: Tom@WalkTheCross.com

THE BIBLE: GOD'S DIVINE ROUTE 66

The Bible is designed to transform
the Christian into a crucified believer.

The Bible is God's go-to book for every life-question we have and every life-problem or life-situation we find ourselves going through. Written over a 2,000 year period by forty-four God-inspired writers, the Bible has one great theme embedded throughout the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments which comprise the living Word of God: Jesus Christ is King of kings, Lord of lords and God of gods.

Throughout the ages, men and women and boys and  girls have searched for answers and solutions to life's simple and complex problems by reading, studying and meditating on God's Word, the Bible. And they have found real answers, practical wisdom, genuine truth and divine help written within its 1,189 chapters, its 41,173 verses, and its 774,746 words.

THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT BOOK

In my booklets The People  Of The Resurrection, Part I and II, I share sixteen spiritual truths that third day believers must live by. Truth #9 is: We Are The People Of The Great Book, Not The People Of The Great Science Fiction. There have been many counterfeit, false and science-fiction versions. There are countless look-a-likes, sound-a-likes and seems-a-likes. But there is only one Book that contains both ultimate and intimate truth. There is only one book written by God to man. Christians are the people of this great Book.

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH

Read all about it! It's in the Book!

The Bible, which many good folk call "The Good Book," is actually The God Book because it is the one and only true God's written communication to the world. The Bible contains everything that the living God wants to tell us for now--everything about Himself, His creations, His plan for man, and His instructions and guidelines to follow if we desire genuine truth, eternal hope, lasting peace, unfailing love and divine help. According to an anonymous writer of yesteryear, B-I-B-L-E actually stands for:

Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth

WHAT SOME WELL-KNOW PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THE BIBLE

Other books are for our information.
This Book is for our transformation.

• George Washington. "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
• Abraham Lincoln. "Take all this Book upon reason that you can, and balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man."
• Thomas Jefferson. "I have always said, I always say, that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands."
• Daniel Webster. "The Bible is a book of faith, and a book of doctrines, and a book of morals, and a book of religion, of especial revelation from God."
• Sir Isaac Newton. "No sciences are better attested than the religion of the Bible."
• Douglas McArthur. " Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed."
• Patrick Henry. "There is a Book, the Bible, worth more than all others that were printed."
  

GOD'S HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN

God's divine GPS to help us get to Heaven

In mankind's spiritual and moral journey to find the one true God and eternal life, the only theological road or highway the living God has ever constructed for humans to safely and correctly travel down (or up) is the Bible. As mentioned previously, the Bible contains 66 God-inspired books. It is the living God's divinely paved and mandated Route 66--a Highway of Holiness that even the most simple and innocent can confidently and safely travel on:

A highway [the Bible] shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean [unbeliever] shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall never go astray...The redeemed shall walk there. --Isaiah 35:8-9, emphasis added

This Highway of Holiness was completed in A.D. 95, after the book of Revelation was written. According to the one true God, there will never be other "lanes" or pathways added to this Canon of divine Scripture. Because this heavenly Route 66 is God-constructed, it will never have to be shut down for repairs or to fill in any potholes. Because it is all-inclusive and contains everything that God wants us to know about spiritual, eternal and moral truths, nothing new or improved is ever to be added to this only highway to Heaven.

Got questions? Need answers? Need directions and a divine GPS? Take a little journey down God's Highway to Heaven, the Bible. This divine Route 66 is the heavenly road God has given you and me that will take us to where He is. It is a road that even fools can travel in their quest to discover ultimate truth and genuine eternal life without ever getting lost.

WHY JESUS COMMANDED PEOPLE TO BE BORN AGAIN

"You must be born again." --Jesus Christ, John 3:3

THE CHALLENGE:

Reading the entire book of Ezekiel for PERSONAL spiritual growth.

BUT FIRST READ THE SCRIPTURE BELOW.

When a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness, says the Lord GOD --Ezekiel 14:13-14

Question One.
What does the above passage mean to you?

Question Two.

Have you truly accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior or do you think you are a Christian because your parents are or because you attend church and are basically good?

THE REVELATION:

We must repent of our sins and receive a new heart and spirit to be truly born again.

The 36th chapter of Ezekiel reveals the essential born-again experience expounded by Jesus Christ and unbelievably unknown and totally strange to Nicodemus, the devout religious leader the Lord was talking to in John, chapter 3. And what's truly amazing, Ezekiel proclaims emphatically that the one true God takes no pleasure at all in the death of sinners, mentioning Noah, Daniel and Job four times in four verses as examples of the type of righteous individuals God expects His people to be like (chapter 14).

THE SINNER'S PLIGHT AND REMEDY:

If you carefully, slowly and prayerfully read all 48 chapters of Ezekiel, you will grow spiritually. But it's chapter 18 I'd like to expound on in this blog. Here are the highlights of chapter 18:

1. God declares that all souls are His (v. 4).

2. The soul who sins shall die (v. 4).

3. We die because of our individual sins, and not our father's, mother's, son's, daughters or friend's (v. 20).

4. God takes no pleasure in the fact that the wicked shall die (v. 23).

5. People complain that the way of the Lord isn't fair (vv. 25,30).

6. God reveals the remedy to nullifying sin and thus death because of those sins (v. 30).

7. The LORD reveals how individuals can be born again (v. 31).

8. God says it one more time--"I have no pleasure in the [eternal] death of one who dies. Therefore turn and live!" (V. 32).

THE CONCLUSION:

God declares that everyone is a sinner. Sinners must die. God takes no pleasure in the death of sinners. People will always complain that the way of the Lord isn't fair and that there just has to be diverse ways to get into Heaven other than by accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior. But God declares that His way is fair, and reveals the only remedy for sin--the born again experience.

HERE'S HOW TO GET YOUR LIFE-TIME WARRANTY FOR THE SOUL:

1. Confess to God that you are a sinner.

2. Believe and confess that Jesus Christ took your place on the cross and died for your sins.

3. Ask God to give you a new spirit and a new heart.

4. Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.

5. Pledge to give God the opportunity to grow your spirit by praying, reading the Bible and finding a Bible-believing church to attend.

GOD'S PROMISE:

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a new heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. --Ezekiel 36:26

HEAVEN AND ETERNAL LIFE

A deaf mute was asked, "What is eternal life?" Grabbing a pencil and pad, he wrote down his answer: "Why it is the lifetime of the Almighty." What a great answer to anyone who wants some idea as to just how long eternity will last. As long as the eternal God is alive, eternal time will exist. And since God will never die, for most of us that's quite long enough.

WHAT DOES HEAVEN MEAN TO YOU?

Imagine There's A Heaven!

Heaven. Like eternal life, this word conjures up many thoughts and ideas in the minds of people, both religious and nonreligious. To Friedrich Niietzche, the father of the modern-day concept that God is dead, Heaven was just a figment of enslaved man's imagination. To John Lennon, a member of the popular 1960's music group The Beatles and deceased composer of the well-known song entitled Imagine, Heaven just doesn't exist and furthermore, as he implied in his song, the belief that it does exist is one of the reasons why the world's inhabitants cannot and do not live in peace.

Yet, to the atheist, agnostic, deist, freethinker, unbeliever, infidel, and believer -- and for the Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian -- the Christ who rose from the dead revealed and taught four primary things about Heaven: (1) it is not an imaginary place; (2) it is not unfathomable; (3) it is mysterious; and (4) it is attainable.

Until someone disproved it, intelligent men actually believed and argued for years that the world was flat. Columbus proved those intellectuals, philosophers and skeptics wrong. In effect, Jesus is our heavenly Columbus who not only spoke authoritatively about the reality of Heaven; He had actually been there, lived there, ruled there, and reigned there.

TEN FOUNDATIONAL AND CORE TRUTHS ABOUT HEAVEN

                                                  1. Heaven is an abode -- a place to live.

I Can Only Imagine!

2. Heaven is a prepared abode -- a place of order and readiness.
3. Heaven is a peopled abode -- a place of resurrected individuals, including family and friends.
4. Heaven is a paternal abode -- a place where God our heavenly Father also lives.
5. Heaven is a palatial abode -- a magnificent palace adorned with God's pure light and glory.
6. Heaven is a pleasurable abode -- a place of great joy and happiness.
7. Heaven is a peaceful abode -- a place of undisturbed calm and tranquility void of war, death and disease.
8. Heaven is a perfect abode -- a place where there is no sin, fear, tear, woe or foe.
9. Heaven is a permanent abode -- a place that will last forever (the lifetime of the Almighty) and whose occupants will live for all eternity.
10. Heaven is a prescribed abode -- a place where, according to Jesus Christ, only those who believe He is the Way, the Truth and the Life can enter (John 14).

The One who is called the Resurrection and the Life, Heaven's Columbus, beckons anyone and everyone to enter into His peace concerning the reality of Heaven:

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it was not so, I would have told you. --John 14:1-2

MARIJUANA, MONEY AND MEDICINE

Money doesn't grow on trees; it grows on marijuana bushes.  --A marijuana cultivator

Marijuana is not a drug. It's like blue jeans -- just a part of life. --Teenage drug user

In almost 39 years of ministry I've had the opportunity to talk with some one million youth and their parents about the dangers of drug use, including marijuana. I've also seen the fight to legalize marijuana ebb and flow with the emergence of new generations of youth and young adults. Prodrug groups like NORML (National Organization for the Reformation Of Marijuana Laws) and Yes We Cannabis continue to do battle against parents and other concerned adults in their efforts to wear out civilized society and chemicalize our sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters.

MARIJUANA ISN'T HARMFUL

This was the first tactic the prodrug proponents used to deceive parents and youth. Of course, this tactic failed miserably, because we have known for a long time that marijuana is, indeed, a harmful drug. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient in pot that results in its psychoactive and hallucenogenic properties. THC damages chromosomes, alters the female menstrual cycle and adversely affects the reproduction system. Male users produce a greater number of abnormally-shaped sperm and a lower sperm count. THC also damages the respiratory system, including the lungs. The immune system is also affected by pot use.

The above are just a few of THC's physical adverse effects on the body.

MARIJUANA IS MEDICINAL

The latest tactic used by the chemical gurus, paid pipers and mind merchants is promoting the idea that marijuana is a good medicine. No one wants to see a family member suffer chronic pain, and if a medicine can be found that alleviates pain and suffering, then this medicine should be rigorously tested, approved by the FDA and then prescribed safely and in a controlled manner -- just like all the rest of America's approved and available medications. So far, the FDA has concluded that marijuana isn't a beneficial medicine and is, indeed, a dangerous drug.

So why do so many marijuana users swear that the drug heals them of their ailments and painful symptoms?

If you ever used marijuana, you know the answer to the above question. Like any drug, marijuana numbs pain. But the real reason marijuana users say it helps with their pain is that the drug gets them high -- to the point that you don't care if you have that pain. Of course, once the high is gone, you have to toke a joint or two again...and again...and again.

TWO REASONS WHY ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

The number one reason is, of course, money, Like the quote above from the marijuana cultivator declares, money doesn't grow on trees; it grows on marijuana bushes. The second reason is, of course, marijuana users want their THC. They want their high. And they don't care that legalization will put all of America's gullible youth at risk.

A lot of youth are going to follow the chemical crowd when it says that marijuana is both legal and harmless. In fact, over one million American families will be hit by some type of drug problem for the first time this year. Marijuana use by kids will be one of  those drugs that slams into the family living room like a runaway vehicle.

DON'T THROW IN THE TOWEL

Kern County and the city of Bakersfield (California) are faced with a marijuana dilemma. In the coming months voters will probably be asked to approve or continue to ban marijuana collectives, which sell marijuana to medicinal marijuana users. Our Kern County Supervisors banned such "pharmacies" a month ago, and now the paid pipers, chemical gurus and mind merchants have succeeded in temporarily overriding the ordinance by collecting enough voter signatures to squash the ordinance for now.Our Board of Supervisors now face the decision to either repeal the ban entirely or take it to a special or general election in 2012.

I believe there are enough sane people in this county to keep marijuana collectives shut down for good. The attorney for the promarijuana people said that, if the ban was upheld, 300 people would lose their jobs. Do we really care that 300 "drug dealers" will lose their jobs? I hope not.

For these 300 drug dealers to lose their jobs and join the legal economy by getting ligitimate jobs is a good and moral thing for our county. As for the marijuana users who consider pot a medicine, there are other legal and sanctioned medicines they can use instead -- even though they swear these other drugs don't help. The truth is, they simply want their THC.

In the coming months, remember to keep your Kern County Supervisors in prayer as the medicinal marijuana controversy comes to a head and we either throw in the towel or fight this drug battle to its end.

GRACE LIKE RAIN FALLING DOWN

Showers of Blessings
From God's Holy Spirit.

As I walk the cross throughout California cities and talk with and pray for so many people, it's very apparent that we all need God's grace in our lives -- both saved sinners and unsaved sinners. After all, the Bible declares that we all come short of God's glory, and that when we finally do come to Jesus we are saved by grace alone--and nothing else. Our good works will not save us. Our good looks won't get us into God's Heaven. Our good heart is still dirty as far as God and salvation are concerned.

Even when we become a believer, we aren't good enough to get into God's Heaven. We might be able to get into man's heaven or religion's heaven or good works heaven, but not into God's Heaven. The truth is: man's heaven and religion's heaven and good works' heaven are figments of fallen man's imagination. They don't really exist. And that could be a real problem as far as God is concerned and as far as precious souls are concerned as well.

SAVED BY GRACE ALONE

When I talk with precious souls on the streets, I let them know just how much God loves them. I also make sure they know what God requires of them to be forgiven of sins and to get into His Heaven. I'm always amazed that street people understand their plight more than most other people -- people who go to church and think they'll get into God's Heaven just because they attend church, people who have never actually confessed that they are sinners and asked God to forgive them and then asked Jesus Christ to be their Savior, and people who are religious but who do not follow Jesus Christ in every way.

The truth is, God calls all people to confess that they are sinners and to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, the One who died on the cross for their sins. I don't care how good I am or even how bad I am. I can only get into God's Heaven by confessing my sins and believing that Jesus Christ took my place on the cross. My righteousness isn't good enough to get me into God's Heaven.

The gift of eternal life in Jesus is a free gift. It cannot be earned  by good works or bought with gold and silver.  The Bible declares "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

THE DEFINITION OF GOD'S GRACE

The literal meaning of God's grace is "unmerited favor." This simply means that we cannot earn any type of favor with God that will give us access into His Heaven and His kingdom. It is undeserved favor. God knows we are sinners and we can't ascend into any degree of sustained holiness. I might do great in one point, but in another area of my life I might fail miserably when it comes to keeping the Ten Commandments.  God's remedy for our plight is His unmerited favor!

All we have to do is accept the free gift! Here is what God says about His free gift of salvation: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). God's free gift of salvation is all about His grace--His unmerited favor. Think of God's grace as G.R.A.C.E -- God's Riches At Christ's Expense. And think about this amazing grace as a type of spiritual rain that gently yet powerfully falls down from Heaven and cleanses us from our sins like water washes away dirt.

THE SINNER'S PRAYER

Salvation and forgiveness of sins is a free gift. We receive this gift when we simply confess to God that we are  sinners, ask Him to forgive us of our sins, and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. This might go against the grain of everything you've been taught, but this is God's way. Admitting that we are sinners, repenting from our sins and asking Jesus Christ to be our Savior is the only way we can get into God's Heaven. This is how we become "born again," a vital topic Jesus talked about in the third chapter of John.

If you want God's grace, His unmerited favor, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, repeat out loud the prayer below.

God, I am a sinner. I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ took my place and died on the cross for my sins. I accept Your Son as my Savior and ask Him to come into my life, to be my Lord and my Helper. I ask You to help me become the person you want me to be. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. 

If you have any questions, write me at Tom@WalkTheCross.com. God's grace abound in your life through Christ Jesus!

THE BOOK OF "PRO VERBS"

Notice the title--it's The Book of Pro Verbs, not The Book of Proverbs. Although this blog is about the book of Proverbs, when we dig a little deeper spiritually inside this book of pithy sayings, we'll soon discover that Proverbs is, indeed, a book of pro verbs.

Pro means "right" or "proper." A verb is any word that denotes an action. Put together, a pro verb is "a right or proper action." And this is exactly what the Holy Spirit is stressing throughout the book of Proverbs: how to live right, how to act right, and how to be right in all our choices and decision-making.

But don't take my word for it. Read the book of Proverbs for yourself and see how many "pro verbs" you can find. Proverbs even tells us why we need these pro verbs--these right and proper actions--in  our lives.

Why Even Believers Need "Pro Verbs" In Their Lives

I think we all can say that each of us needs more wisdom. Regardless our years of service for Christ or our station in life, we are still sinners, howbeit saved sinners (in contrast to unsaved sinners). So we are going to make mistakes at times. We will sometimes act foolish in our decisions, even though we may be the wisest person in our church or in our Bible study.

In fact, the Hebrew language uses five different words to reveal the five types of fools mentioned in the book of Proverbs: (1) the simple fool, who is without biblical knowledge and easily seduced; (2) the reactionary fool, who simply wants his way all the time; (3) the silly fool, who is only interested in a good time; (4) the scorning fool, who has rejected God's truth and delights in mocking believers and their standards; and (5) the committed fool, who is a chronic victim of his own passions.

There is one other type of fool mentioned in the Bible. But this is the type of fool God wants His people to be: "We are fools for Christ's sake" (1 Corinthians 4:10). This type of fool is full of God's wisdom and utilizes wisdom's seven essential pillars which are necessary to keep our human "temple" firmly standing strong and upright on the solid rock of our spiritual foundation in Christ.

Pro verb living, or doing what is right and proper, will help keep us from becoming one or more of the five types of   worldly, earthly, fleshly, sensual and soulical fools mentioned in Proverbs, and motivate and help us to become a fool for Christ, the King of kings, Lord of lords and God of gods.

Wisdom's Seven Essential Pillars

In the book of Proverbs, wisdom is likened to a majestic palace. This grand and majestic palace is said to be built upon and supported by seven essential pillars.

Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn out her seven pillars. --Proverbs 9:1

Biblical wisdom's essential seven pillars are: (1) the Fear of the LORD (which is also the central theme of Proverbs); (2) Knowledge; (3) Understanding; (4) Prudence ("practical wisdom"); (5) Discretion; (6) Justice; and (7) Righteousness. These seven pillars uphold God's wisdom and makes it supreme over all other wisdom.

Why Read The Book Of Proverbs And Follow It's Pro Verbs?

Proverbs have been described as "short sentences based on long experiences." The main author of Proverbs is King Solomon of ancient Israel. Read Solomon's life-story in the Bible and it won't take long to discover that his short sentences and personal declarations comprising the book of Proverbs as well as his personal exasperations and woes expressed in the book of Ecclesiastes are, indeed, based on his long and oftentimes trying and failing life-experiences.

As you read the book of Proverbs ( or "Pro Verbs" ), here are some of the things you can discover about wisdom:

1. Wisdom comes from three sources.
Trial and error. Counsel from others. God and His Word.

2. God's wisdom is available to all.
To the general public. To political and judicial leaders. 3. To courtroom judges. 4. To the nation as a whole.

3. God's wisdom has seven essential pillars.
These have already been mentioned, but can you find them as you read Proverbs?

4. Foolishness also has its seven pillars.
These are mentioned in Proverbs as well.

5. Satan offers individuals what the Bible calls demonic and sensual wisdom.

In summary, there are many essential reasons why we should be reading and re-reading and taking in as spiritual food the book of Proverbs each day. These reasons are given in the very first book of Proverbs, Proverbs One.

Can you find them?

If so, you should have no problem at all understanding the importance of making the book of Proverbs and its many "pro verbs" your way of living in Christ.

A SPECIAL WORD.

Next month I will release a booklet entitled "THE BOOK OF PRO VERBS." This booklet will go into much greater detail than this blog does. All FaceBook friends will have the opportunity to receive a free copy. --Street Evangelist Tom Alexander

THE CROSS AND THE FAMILY

The Cross Of Jesus Is God's Plus Sign
To The Family

F-A-M-I-L-Y. As a service project, a group of high school students served dinner at a local shelter for the homeless. One of the "dinner guests" wrote a letter to the adult leader and requested that she read it to the youth group. The handwritten letter read:

Dear Friends:
Thank you for the fine meal. Most of us are here today for three main reasons: (1) Lack of education; (2) Drug and alcohol addiction; (3) Alienation from family and friends. So you won't be here one day in the future on the RECEIVING end of all this good food and hospitality, PLEASE (1) Stay in school; (2) Stay away from drugs and alcohol; (3) Stay in close contact with family. Thank you for the fine meal.

The family is God's premiere institution. It is that which He primarily works through to manifest His will to a city, a county, a state and a nation. But what happens when a family falls apart and becomes dysfunctional?

THE CROSS OF JESUS IS DYSFUNCTION JUNCTION

Dysfunctional families produce disenfranchised children. These families aren't just the homeless or poor. They are the families which live in suburbia. They are the middle class and upper class. They are church going families and they are the cream of the crop families. Dysfunction can--and does--happen to all types of families.

However, if there is any thing on Earth that can break apart and then fix all dysfunction and all disenfranchisement, it is the cross of Jesus Christ.

As I walk the cross throughout California cities, this is what I share with the moms and dads who approach the large cross and ask for prayer for their family and their children:

The very last word of the very last Scripture in the Old Testament tells us what the fathers' abandonment of their children has done and is doing to our city (and nation). That word is C-U-R-S-E: "And [the Spirit of Elijah] will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:6, emphasis added).

The 5th chapter of the book of Zechariah describes this curse as a large flying scroll that flies across the face of the earth and enters the house of sinners.

What can break all dysfunction? What can nullify "the curse"? The cross of Jesus and everything it represents is dysfunction junction! It is that which can transform men into crucified husbands and dads. And crucified husbands and dads can become spiritual men who walk in the Spirit each and every day and lead their families to THE WAY.

AN ENCOURAGING WORD FOR ALL MEN

Allowing the Spirit of God to make us Ephesians 6 husbands and dads is how God breaks all dysfunctions in the family. Ephesians 6 shows men the proper way to treat their wives and children. More than a wife respecting her husband or children obeying their father, the Holy Spirit places the burden and responsibility of maintaining a happy and healthy family squarely on the shoulders of the father/husband.

God is for husbands and fathers. He wants us to win, not lose. So He gave us the Bible as a guidebook as far as marriage and family are concerned. And he expects us to follow these guidelines. There are many guidelines, but here are three vital guidelines for all husbands/fathers to follow when it comes to the family:

1. BECOME BORN AGAIN.
Jesus declared that, unless we are born again, we CANNOT (1) see the kingdom of God and (2) we CANNOT enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3,5). To be born again simply means that we ask God to forgive our sins and accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior.

2. BE LED BY THE SPIRIT EACH DAY.
The Holy Spirit, in many ways, is God's conscience in us. That is, the Holy Spirit will always prompt us to do God's will concerning all things. He will convict us if we sin or stray from God's ways. He will convince us that  what we are doing is either right or wrong. And He will convert our way of thinking to conform to God's way of thinking.

3. BE A MAN OF GOD.
There are three things a man must constantly be aware of: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life if he is to grow spiritually and strong in the Lord: (1 John 2:16). The lust of the flesh desires the "toys" and things of the world more than doing the will of God. The lust of the eyes includes the imagination and things associated with fantasy, which will keep a man spiritually immature and nongrowing in his walk with Jesus. The pride of life is living life apart from God and His ways, especially if God's ways seem unpopular or even unfair.

AN ENCOURAGING SCRIPTURE

You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. For Hell cannot thank You, death cannot praise You; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. The living man, the living man, he shall praise You, as I do this day. The father shall make known Your truth to the children. --Isaiah 38:17-19

PORNOGRAPHY: WINNING THE PERSONAL WAR

Ridding Our Lives Of The Heavy Weight
Of Porn Can Be An Impossible Struggle
Without Help From The Holy Spirit.

A soldier radioed his commanding officer. "I have taken a prisoner." His proud commander instructed, "Bring him along with you." A long pause ensued. "He won't come." Perplexed, his commanding officer ordered, "Well, then come yourself." Another long pause followed. With resignation in his voice, the soldier answered, "I can't. He won't let me."

ENEMY OF THE SOUL

Pornography is an enemy of the soul, but it can be an enemy that we sleep with if we're not careful. Adult men and teenage youth especially can find themselves captive to its subtle enticements and then become completely addicted to its various lustful forms. And just like that hapless soldier, even if we want to escape with our lives, we find that pornography just isn't willing to let us go. Of course, pornography is an equal opportunity enemy. Women and teenage girls do battle with this enemy of the soul as well.

ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

Each week on Monday or Tuesday I walk the cross downtown. I always park at the very same spot. And each week it never fails: an adult man walks across the street to where I'm parked and salutes while he sings, "Onward Christian soldier marching off to war / with the cross of Jesus going on before." That's his way of showing appreciation to this cross walker for praying downtown.

This mid-aged adult is a Christian. He is a very like-able individual and we talk for long minutes before I take off on the cross walk. But he has a chronic problem. Pornography has taken him captive, and as hard as he tries, he finds himself falling back into the same mindset. He puts filters on his computer and has tried just about everything to break completely away from this addiction.

GOD'S ARMOR AND WEAPONS CAN REALLY HELP

In the war on pornography and the personal campaign to be set free from this unrelenting, no-quarter given enemy of the soul, God has provided every believer with the spiritual and moral strategies, tactics, logistics, weapons and maneuvers to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:7). The biblical Greek word for warfare is strategis, from which our English word strategy is derived.

These spiritual weapons of our warfare include:

* The Armor Of God.
God's truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, His Word, and Spirit-endued prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18).

* The Armor Of Light.
God's wisdom, understanding, prudence, insight, revelation and knowledge (Romans 13:12-14).

*The Armor Of Righteousness.
God's spirituality, morality, ethics, principles, virtues and values (2 Corinthians 6:6-7).

Just like in any war, first there is the skirmish, then the conflict, next the battle, and finally the war. And the war on pornography is a war that Christian men must win at all costs.

HOW TO WIN THE WAR

Only Jesus Can Set The
Porn Captive Free.

To win the war on pornography we must daily put on the armor of God. Then we must utilize eight spiritual strategies, weapons, maneuvers and logistics to keep ourselves free of pornography's strong attraction and pull. These eight antiaddiction tactics are:

1. PRAY. We must ask God to give us the desire and the grace to be set free from the power and influence of this fixation.

2. GOSPEL UP. We must often read and  fully understand what Romans 6-8 is telling us. These three chapters will show us how to die in Christ and, thus, how to die to this addiction.

3. SEEK HELP. The mid-aged adult I mentioned earlier isn't ashamed to seek out help. Little by little he is getting the victory over pornography.  Of course, it is wise to seek help from someone you fully trust, such as a pastor or mature Christian.

4. RESOLVE. Deal with your past by asking God to heal you of all physical, mental and emotional hurt and pain that set this fixation in motion. He will!

5. SOLDIER UP. Every day take up and put on the armor and armaments of God.

6. COVENANT.  Like Job, make a covenant with your eyes and heart to not look at a woman (or man) to lust (Job 31:1; 1 John 2:16-17).

7. DIE DAILY. Even the great apostle Paul had to die of self daily (1 Corinthians 15:31).  This goes along with reading Romans 6-8.

8. LIVE DAILY IN CHRIST. Romans 6-8 also shows believers how to live in Christ, as does 1 Corinthians 15, the "Resurrection Chapter."

For though we walk in the flesh [are human] we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal [earthly, fleshly or soulical] but mighty in God for pulling down [mental] strongholds, casting down arguments [excuses] and every high thing  [rationalizations] that exalt itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every [sensual] thought into [spiritual] captivity to the obedience of Christ. --2 Corinthians 10:3-5

A Fresh And New Way Of Looking At God's Ten Commandments

Keeping The Ten Commandments By Letting The Holy
Spirit Transform Them Into Ten Principles Of Life.

The editor of a weekly newspaper in a small Southwestern town was hard put one week for copy to fill a column. So he had an associate editor typeset The Ten Commandments, and ran then without making any editorial comment. Three days after the paper was published, he received a letter saying: "Please cancel my subscription. You're getting too personal."

Maybe that's the real reason people are up in arms against posting The Ten Commandments in classrooms, courtrooms, living rooms, bedrooms and hearts throughout our nation. Perhaps there are a lot of individuals who feel that these ten divine rules to live by are way too personal and painfully cut to the quick each time they read them.

WHY EVEN CHRISTIANS DON'T LIKE COMMANDMENTS

C-O-M-A-N-D-M-E-N-T. An unpopular word in today's adult and youth vocabulary and culture of rebellion. So, instead of understanding the purpose of these Ten Commandments and the other commandments found in both Old and New Testaments, both nonbelievers and  immature and nongrowing Christians reject all authoritative orders by stating that they are no longer under Old Testament law, so they can do what they want to do as long as they go to church and/or accept Jesus as their Savior. In a sense, they have actually accepted The Lie of Satan (Genesis 3:1-13).

Jesus Christ declared that He did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He did just that. He's the only one who never sinned, thus He fulfilled the Law's requirements. As hard as we try, you and I can't. So everyone who accepts Jesus as Savior and Lord is declared righteous. In a sense God declares, "Because you accept My sinless Son as Your Savior I deem that you have fulfilled the Law as well. I now accept you as My son or daughter--not because of your righteousness or unrighteousness, but because you have made Jesus Christ your personal Savior.

THINK OF GOD'S TEN COMMANDMENTS AS GOD'S TEN ULTIMATE VALUES

The Ten Commandments of God are listed in Exodus 20. These ten commandments represent so much more than oppressive, unreasonable, undoable and antiquated rules. These ten rules actually reveal the ten things God values more than anything else in the universe--ten invaluable and priceless things that have to do with Him and His human creations.

God's Ten Commandments actually reveal His Ten Ultimate Values And Absolutes!

GOD'S TEN ULTIMATE VALUES:

God's Ultimate Value #1. Himself.
You shall have no other gods before Me (verse 3).

God's Ultimate Value #2. His Character.
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven or on earth...You shall not bow down to them or worship them (verses 4-6).

God's Ultimate Value #3. His Name.
You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name (verse 7).

God's Ultimate Value #4. His Day.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (verses 8-11).

Ultimate Value #5. Parents.
Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD is giving you (verse 12).

God's Ultimate Value #6. Human Life.
You shall not murder (verse 13).

God's Ultimate Value #7. Moral Purity.
You shall not commit adultery (verse 14).

God's Ultimate Value #8. Private Property.
You shall not steal (verse 15).

God's Ultimate Value #9. Truth & Integrity.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor (verse 16).

God's Ultimate Value #10. Internal & External Restraint System.
You shall not covet your neighbor's house...your neighbor's wife...or anything that belongs to your neighbor (verse 17).

FROM COMMANDMENTS TO VALUES TO PRINCIPLES

Unlike that irate newspaper subscriber, there's no reason to cancel  a growing and maturing relationship with God because He seems too personal and asks you to keep His unkeepable commandments. Just let Him transform your mind and show you that these ten commandments are actually His ten ultimate values. Then, don't be surprised when He eventually changes these ten ultimate values into ten natural and doable principles of life.

What's the difference between a commandment and a principle?  A commandment is an authoritative order. A principle is "a natural or original desire, tendency, ability, endowment, or motivation." Thus, the commandment "Thou shalt not steal" automatically becomes "I will not steal," and so forth.

That's how powerful the Holy Spirit will be in your life if you let Him!

Why I Don't Drink Alcoholic Beverages

I'm a minister. I wasn't always a minister. I wasn't always a Christian, either. That's the number one reason why I don't drink alcoholic beverages. You see, I clearly remember the life I lived before accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. That life included the use of alcohol beverages.

I started drinking when I was 13, partially because of peer pressure, partially because of the problems I was facing at that age, and partially because I just wanted to. After all, drinking has been a socially accepted pastime since civilization began.

DRINKING CREATES STINKING THINKING

I was never an alcoholic. There were times when I didn't touch a drop of alcohol for long periods of time. But I did notice that when I did drink, my brain chemistry changed. That is, whenever I drank beer or hard liquor I thought and acted differently than when I was sober.

I never drank to get drunk. Even though I usually didn't get drunk, I did notice that I began to say things and do things that normally I wouldn't say or do. Whenever I drank I felt it was okay to do things that really weren't okay to do, such as start a fight with a complete stranger or take advantage of a female companion, especially if she was drinking too.

When I drank I didn't care about anyone else but me. Whenever I drank I did things that I would normally never had done--stinky things that I wouldn't tell my parents, immoral things I wouldn't tell my wife, and humiliating things I would never ever tell anyone.

DRINKING CREATES AN ATTITUDE OF "BAD-ITUDE"

Everyone agrees that alcohol lowers our inhibitions, or ability to suppress stupid, absurd or evil actions, emotions and thoughts. Whenever I drank I believed I was one bad dude. Whenever I drank I didn't care that my crude language offended anyone. Whenever I drank I didn't care that my behavior was offensive or embarrassing to those around me.

In short, drinking was my excuse to do what I wanted to do without regard for anyone else's feelings or thoughts. I knew that I could always blame my stupid, mindless, indecent and perverse behavior on alcohol.

DRINKING CREATES A LIFETIME OF REGRETS

I realize there are many people, including Christians, who believe it's okay to drink alcoholic beverages. I've had long conversations with believers and nonbelievers about this issue, from Jesus' turning water into wine at a wedding (John 2:10), to what happened to Noah when he got drunk (Genesis 9:20-29), to Lot when he got drunk (Genesis 19:30-38), and to kings when they drink (Proverbs 31:4-5). Endless debates occur when two opposing mindsets strive to outdo the other.

My question to Christians especially is, Do you think that there is one event or action in Jesus' entire life that He ever regretted doing? Do you think Jesus ever got drunk or ever lusted for someone's wife or do a stupid thing that He later absolutely regretted or was totally embarrassed or completely shocked about after drinking wine?

Now answer this question: Is there one event in your life that you absolutely regret because of being under the influence of alcohol? If you're honest with yourself, you can probably think of several times when drinking alcoholic beverages resulted in stinking thinking or even resulted in nonChristian actions or indecent behavior that you truly wish you had never done.

IS THERE ANY BIBLICAL JUSTIFICATION TO DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES?

If we look long and hard enough we can justify just about anything, including drinking. While you're thinking hard on the subject of justifiable drinking, consider what the Bible has to say about those individuals who are candidates for alcoholic beverages:

It s not for kings, O Lemuel  [Solomon], to drink wine, nor for princes [to drink] intoxicating drink; lest they forget the law and pervert the justice of the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter at heart. Let him drink an forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. --Proverbs 31:4-7 (see also Proverbs 20:1 and especially Proverbs 23:29-35).

Who does the Bible say are justified in drinking alcoholic beverages? Those who are perishing and dying. Those who are hopelessly embittered, chronically resentful, or venomously indignant. Those who are impoverished, destitute, miserable or pathetically wretched.

If any of the above fits your situation in life, maybe you have just cause for drinking alcoholic beverages. However, if you're a growing and maturing Christian, perhaps a better drink to consume is what Jesus' apostles described in the book of Acts -- the new wine of Holy Spirit living (Acts 2:4,12-13,14,15).

The truth is, if you are constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit, alcoholic beverages will seem as old wine in new wine skins. In other words, you'll want the new life in Christ, and not your old life in the world. You'll want the spiritual "high" of the spirit and not the psychoactive "high" that intoxicating (literally, "to smear with poison") products give their users.

STILL NOT CONVINCED THAT ALCOHOL IS BAD FOR YOU?

Consider these truths and facts:

* Seventy percent (70%) of all murders are alcohol-related.
* Fifty percent (50%) of all rapes are alcohol-related.
*Fifty-five percent (55%) of all arrests are alcohol-related.
* Sixty percent (60%) of all sex crimes against children are alcohol-related.
* Sixty percent (60%) of all problems brought to family courts, including divorce, wife abuse, child abuse, and incest, are alcohol-related.
* Seventy percent (70%) of all abused women say they drink to drown their sorrow and to cope with an alcoholic mate.
* Seventy percent (70%) of all drownings, fifty percent (50%) of those who die in falling accidents, and fifty-five percent (55%) of those who die in fires are under the influence of an alcoholic beverage.

WHAT ABOUT UNBORN CHILDREN, BABIES AND ALCOHOL?

If you're a young lady or woman and thinking about having a child one day by your alcohol-using mate or you yourself drink, you need to know what smearing an unborn child's brain and body with "liquid marijuana" can do to him or her. For starters, the children of alcoholic and problem drinkers stand a fifty percent (50%) chance of becoming alcoholics or problem drinkers themselves. If both parents drink, there is an  eighty percent (80%) chance that a child will become an alcoholic or problem drinker.

Fetal alcohol exposure (FAE) occurs when an unborn baby is exposed to alcohol by a drinking mom. Such exposure can result in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is alcohol's toxic, poisoning effects on an unborn baby, characterized by mental retardation, poor motor skills development and growth deficiency, both before birth and throughout childhood.

Alcohol is directly toxic to a developing fetus, and is very capable of producing mental and physical abnormalities. FAS also results in central nervous disorders, small heads, small eyes, thin lips and short noses. FAE and FAS newborns exhibit signs of painful alcoholic withdrawal, just like adults.

Why I Won't Ever Get Another Tattoo

I'm a minister. I wasn't always a minister. I wasn't always a Christian either. That's the number one reason why I won't ever get another tattoo. You see, I remember why I got a tattoo in the first place. I was in prison, doing time for bank robbery and armed robbery, Like many inmates, I decided to get a tattoo, even though it was against prison regulations. A fellow convict who happened to be a tattooist inked me. I'm glad I chose to have the Scorpion tattoo done on the left side of my upper back and out of sight for the most part.

Addiction to the ink is a very real bondage.

TATTOO TABOO

When I became a Christian I was still in prison. One thing was certain, however. I chose to serve Jesus with all my heart, body and soul. This meant I would never do drugs again. It also meant I'd never get another tattoo.

I was tempted many times to get inked again. Yet, no matter how many times I tried to justify getting another tat (or using drugs again) the Lord of the resurrection and new life kept reminding me that my body was now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16 & 6:19).

Of course, I tried to justify getting another tattoo. Like many of today's third millennium believers (including some pastors and youth pastors) who attempt to nullify Old Testament  teachings against getting a tattoo, I tried to find scriptural  excuses and "okays" from the New Testament to justify getting another tattoo. But there really isn't any place in the New Testament that says it's alright to get inked.

There are, however, many New Testament Scriptures that warn against serving, walking and living in the flesh rather than in the spirit. Getting a tattoo is never a spiritual act. Rather, it is either a mystical, soulical, carnal, secular, or fleshly act.

WHAT ABOUT JESUS TATTOOS?

In 1998 a consortium of 100 tattoo parlor owners across the nation banned together and formed the Christian Tattoo Association, whose members vowed to "push" Christianity by using tattooing as a witnessing tool. One of its founding members is married to the granddaughter of one of California's best-known pastors and whose church movement has over 700 affiliate fellowships. Clients include pastors and youth pastors who personally believe that the Bible isn't referring to religious tattoos when it admonishes believers to steer clear of branding the flesh, including inkings.

We are bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ
and our bodies are not our own!

THIS IS WHAT I ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS WHO WANT TO GET INKED TO DO INSTEAD

Instead of getting a Jesus tattoo or religious inking or marking, why not buy a couple of Jesus tee-shirts or other religious apparel that boldly proclaim in large and colorful print your love and commitment to Jesus and wear them both proudly and loudly?  You can always get a new tee-shirt to replace the old message with a new and fresh one. But a tattoo is permanent. Instead of inking a favorite Scripture on your neck, arm or hand, why not buy a colorful wristband or necklace that asks, "WWJD?" (What Would Jesus Do?), or "WJGATBITCTTD?" (Would Jesus Get A Tattoo Because It's The Cool Thing To Do?), or "WWJRWMTD?" (What Would Jesus Really Want Me To Do?).

THINK BEFORE YOU INK

Getting a tattoo is like teaching a pony only one trick. The novelty soon wears off and you're stuck with a pony that can only do one trick. Once you get a tattoo, you'll start thinking  you need another one as the novelty wears off. Like drugs, it is easy to become addicted to the ink.

Although I am free in Christ to do whatever I want to that is lawful (1 Corinthians 6:12), I won't ever get another tattoo because: (1) God's Word really tells me not to; (2) my array of Jesus tee-shirts is a far better witness than a tattoo; and (3) I want Jesus, not self, soul or flesh, to be Lord of my life.

What The Bible Says About The Occult And Satanism

The Upside Down Cross Is One
Of Satan's Blasphemous Devices.

Each year a growing and significant number of youth and adults are fascinated by and drawn to the occult, the supernatural realm and paranormal activity. What's tragic is that, according to America's largest religious research organization, 36% of Christians read their horoscope on a regular basis.

Surprisingly, surveys reveal that four percent of Christians compared to three percent of nonbelievers say they have consulted a medium or spiritist other than a minister for advice.

THE THREE REALMS OF THE OCCULT

There are three realms, or spheres, which comprise the occult: divination, magick (the accepted way to spell this type of occultism to distinguish it from the harmless tricks and illusions performed by magicians who entertain audiences), and spiritism.

DIVINATION consists of astrology (study of stars); horoscope (scope of the hour); zodiac (wheel of life); cartomancy, or tarot card reading; mirror mantic (crystal balls, mirrors, rock crystals); and palmistry (palm reading).

MAGICK consists of white magic (magic that uses spells, incantations, prayers and chants for "good" purposes; black magic (same as white magic, except it is used for "bad" purposes, such as harming an individual, making a person sick, etc.); sex magic (spells used to make someone fall in love or have sex with an individual); witchcraft (performance of supernatural or satanic magic, rites and activities by witches, warlocks, wizards and sorcerers for evil purposes); and Wicca (modern word for witchcraft which centers upon goddess worship).

SPIRITISM includes necromancy (corpse divination); seances ("sittings"); mystic appearances ("materialization"); channeling (New Age term for necromancy); and angel divination (communicating "angels").

Of course there are many other techniques and methods which make up the occultic realm.

WHY SUCH INTEREST IN THE SUPERNATURAL?

The Peace Sign Has Its Roots In
Nazi Germany And Satanism.

1. The Secularization Of The Gospel.
Because the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been watered down, a spiritual vacuum still remains in the hearts of millions of immature and nongrowing believers and nonbelievers alike. People have an inherent need to fill that vacuum. Whenever a "harmless" or even harmful type of occultic practice comes along, there is an attempt to fill that vacuum with mystical and "spiritual" enlightenment, knowledge, revelation and activity.

2. Curiosity And Attraction.
Many who are curious about the occult first get involved in so-called "harmless" activities and practices, such as consulting horoscopes or playing with Ouija board or certain types of fantasy role-playing games (FRPG) such as Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Vampire: The Masquerade.

3. The Reality Of The Occult.
The supernatural and satanic realms really do exist, although such reality is based on deception, delusion, temptation, and lies. Some youth and adults are satisfied to accept occultic enlightenment and experience as the ultimate reality. Or, they are fooled into thinking there is no longer a need to search for ultimate truth, which can only be found by purposely reading the Bible and realized by placing their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE OCCULT AND WITCHCRAFT 

Both Old And New Testaments Have Much
To Say About The Occult & Satanism.

Here are just a few Scriptures from the Bible warning against delving into occultic practices and activities:

Deuteronomy 18:10-12  --witchcraft, soothsaying, sorcery, spells, mediums, necromancy
Leviticus 19:26,28,31   --divination, cutting the flesh, mediums, familiar spirits, blood eating
Revelation 18:23  --sorcery (witchcraft, drug poisoning, or drug using)
Acts 19:17-20 --what to do with all occultic material

The ultimate sorcerer behind all occultic practices and activities is Satan (1 John 5:19 and John 10:10). There are four levels of demonic sway and activity in the life of those involved in occultic practices:

1. Demonic Influence.
2. Demonic Obsession.
3. Demonic Oppression.
4. Demonic Possession.

HOW TO BE SET FREE FROM THE SWAY, MANIPULATION AND CONTROL OF THE OCCULT.

Jesus Can Break The Chains Of
Satanism & Occultism!

Step 1. REPENT, or completely turn away from occultic activity.
Step 2. ASK God to forgive you of all sins related to occultic activities.
Step 3. RENOUNCE, or fully reject such activities.
Step 4. DESTROY all objects, artifacts, symbols, trappings, games, and books associated with the occult or Satanism.
Step 5. REFUSE to become involved in such activities again.
Step 6. PRAY this prayer:
Lord, I am sorry for my involvement in the occult and in satanic activities. Please forgive my sins. I turn away from such involvement and activities, and renounce the occult and satanism. I do not want to be involved in such activities ever again. As a commitment to you and a testimony to my family and friends, I will destroy everything I possess which is related to or connected with the occult and Satan. I ask you to fill this spiritual vacuum in my life with Your Spirit, Your love,and Your life and to help me live solely for you from this day forth. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

What The Bible Says About Drugs

Depending on the source, you will ultimately hear or read many interesting statements about drugs and drug use. Some youth think drugs are harmless. Some adults feel there is really such a thing as responsible drug use. Some politicians feel all drugs should be legal because each individual has the constitutional right to pursue happiness in any manner or form available to them, regardless the consequences.

Since 1975 I have talked with some one million youth about the dangers of drug use. From the hundreds of letters and notes I've received from youth after visiting their school and sharing these dangers, I believe many of the youth I spoke to got the message: drug use--from alcohol, marijuana and Ecstasy to cocaine, heroin and meth--can hurt you in some way.

In the hey-day of my drug prevention ministry, I spoke at hundreds of California school districts and their schools. Only once in this entire time has a school district changed its mind about allowing me to share drug truths with its students. Prior to speaking at several of its schools, I spoke to parents and adults at a Marin County school district. They didn't like what they heard.

So they cancelled my school presentations in their school district.

Many of those parents and adults smoked marijuana and used other drugs. That's why they didn't want me to tell the truth about what these drugs would eventually do to their kids if they used drugs.

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

In my "Users Are Losers" presentation to youth, I always share what the Bible says about drugs. The Bible doesn't specifically mention marijuana or cocaine or heroin or other types of drugs. These names were unknown back then. But the Bible does use words that include these types of mind-altering and mind-expanding drugs. These three specific Bible words associated with drug use are:

Witchcraft
Sorcery
Sorcerers

These three words actually mean "to poison or intoxicate the mind with drugs; enchantment with drugs," or in today's drug vernacular, "to get high."

The New Testament was written in Greek. The Greek words for the three words above are:

pharmakeia --intoxicate or poison the mind with drugs
pharmakos -- drug user and/or drug dealer
pharmakeus --drug dealer, or mind poisoner and enchanter of drugs

DRUG SORCERERS, PAID PIPERS, CHEMICAL GURUS AND MIND MERCHANTS

Our English words pharmacy, pharmacist and pharmaceutical are derived from the root of the three Greek words above.

There is a difference between good medicines and bad drugs. Pharmacies and pharmacists assist good doctors in prescribing good and beneficial medicines that heal or take away pain. Then there is the self-proclaimed Dr. Feel Good who peddles "medicinal marijuana" and other illicit drugs as medicines. But these are not FDA or DEA approved medicines. These are "get high" medicines.

I am for good and approved medicines that heal and help. I am against drugs that people say they use to treat an illness or a pain when, in actuality, its main use is to get and stay high while under the influence of that drug. All drug addicts and drug users can live a drug-free life by accepting Jesus as their Savior and  trusting Him to break their habits, whether it is an addiction to pot, alcohol, heroin, or any other psychoactive or psychedelic chemical.

The problem is--most drug users and addicts don't really want to stop taking chemicals. It's all about the 'high." That's what they live for...that's what they fight for...and that's what they will die for as well. That's what the drug sorcerers, chemical gurus, paid pipers and mind merchants are banking on.

Shields Up! But First...

In the Star Trek series, we've all heard Captains Kirk and Picard holler out, "Shields Up!" in the face of impending danger and attack from hostile forces. What about the believer? Has God given His soldiers of the cross similar protection from hostile forces and impending danger.

He sure has. One part of the armor and armaments of God mentioned in Ephesians 6 is "the shield of faith."

When the apostle Paul mentioned this shield, he used the same word Jesus used to describe Himself as "the Door" (John 10). A door lets family and friends in, but keeps intruders and strangers out. The shield of faith protects the believer from intrusions and danger as well, what the Bible calls "the fiery darts of the enemy."

ANOINT THE SHIELDS!

The shield Paul mentions was about four and a half feet long by two and a half feet wide, and protected the soldier from tar-pitched fiery projectiles thrown at him. That's pretty good protection in itself. But to insure that the shields did what they were designed by God to do, He also commanded: "Arise you princes, and anoint the shields" (Isaiah 21:5).

In the Old Testament, shields were anointed with holy anointing oil consisting of an admixture of five special ingredients (read Exodus 30:22-25). What are New Testament believers to anoint our shields with?

2 Peter 1:5-7 gives us the answer. We are to anoint our shield of faith with the New Testament's "holy anointing oil," which is made from an admixture of the seven spiritual ingredients mentioned in these three verses:

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your [shield of] faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness [agape] love.

THE NEW TESTAMENT'S HOLY ANOINTING OIL:

SEVEN SPIRITUAL INGREDIENTS

Virtue is "a preeminent estimation for God and the things of God." Knowledge is "possessing an intimate and personal relationship with God, which includes recognizing and fully understanding His Word." Self-control is "putting into practice what we've learned about and from God." Patience is "to abide under God's chain of command."

Godliness is "a commitment to defer to the will, mind and purposes of God and devote one's energy and resources to His kingdom." Brotherly kindness (philadelphia) is "a God-given affection for and devotion to the well-being of fellow man." Love (agape) is " a divine, Spirit-imparted affection for God and His will."

Why must we anoint our shield  of faith before we lift our shields up? Verses 8-12 give us the answer! (make sure you read these verses.)

When we sense trouble or danger, God's Spirit cries out, "Shields up, Christians!" But not before we anoint our shields with the New Testament's holy anointing oil!