Another Soldier Made it Home

Last November I introduced you to this Soldier of the Cross. He no longer has to battle physically or spiritually. Some would say that he is now at rest. Peace, yes. Rest...... I doubt it. He was rarely idle in this life. He spent it working in God's vineyard. Now I am sure he is rejoicing evermore.

On September 9, 2008 Reverend Vilbert Vernon McCoy quietly slipped from his earthly existence into his eternal life with Jesus Christ. I'm sure that he wasn't so quiet once he made it to the other side. He was a stalwart in the Christian faith; a church planter, pastor, evangelist, prophet, and one crying in the streets, "Jesus is coming soon".

He was 93 years old. He leaves behind his wife of 70 something years. He preached for 60 years. What a testiimony to the power of the Cross. Until recent years, he averaged preaching 5 times per week. He traveled from one corner of Tennessee to the other many many times. He preached in every jail, juvenile detention center,hospital, and nursing home along the way. He preached anywhere the door was opened to the Gospel. He distributed over 100,000 tracts. All of which he wrote and published himself.

If ever a man was passionate about souls, Uncle V.V. was.Known all over the state as Brother V.V., he was never without a scripture on his lips. Only God knows how many souls have been won into the Kingdom because he took time to preach and pray. He will be sorely missed by many.

PC Parable

Last night I spent a considerable amount of time updating my computer. It had been quite a while since I had done a complete scan and clean up procedure. When I checked the virus vault, I found 3 trojans. Good thing they were the type that could be auto healed. There were 68 warning messages related to tracking cookies. Are they harmful? I'm not sure. I just deleted them all. Actually, I was wondering why they were there. I run the CCleaner after every use and it is supposed to catch all such stuff. At any rate, my computer is clean again.

What about my human hard drive? Often it is cluttered with tracking cookies, viruses, worms, and extensions left over from situations that I thought I had un-installed. The brain is really a complex organ, not to mention the "mind" part of it. And the soul? Who can know it except my Maker? Yet He has given me some tools to keep it all clean and running right.

The conscience is a built in helper. He put it in right from the start. I have downloaded portions of the Bible, "basic instructions before leaving Earth" over the years. Actually, I have an automatic update scheduled for that every day. That is if I have left the power on. I mean, if/when I open the pages and begin to read. The Holy Spirit is another great installation that keeps me on the right track. He is all the anti-virus protection that I will ever need.

Really, there's no need for me to continue with this analogy. I got the message loud and clear. I have to keep my brain working, my mind clean, and my soul pure. Thank God, He has made it all possible.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV

So Sad: So Relevant

Church Laughs from ChristianityToday.com

Memory Enhancements

A Mayo Clinic report states: "Ginkgo biloba has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Today, it is one of the top selling herbs in the United States. Although not definitive, there is promising early evidence favoring the use of ginkgo for memory enhancement in healthy subjects, altitude (mountain) sickness, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and reduction of chemotherapy-induced end-organ vascular damage."

While Ginkgo biloba may be known as one of the oldest memory enhancers, it can not be compared to the One that was present when the worlds were framed.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

The Holy Spirit was sent not only to remind the disciples of the teachings of Christ, but to empower them to witness to those both near and far. Peter experienced and demonstrated this power on the Day of Pentecost when he justified the behavior of the 120 who had been filled with the Holy Ghost.

This same promise has been extended to us today. Acts 2:39 states it this way; "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call."

I had a great ending for this post, but...... I can't seem to remember how it goes. Guess I should grab some Ginko on the way to my prayer closet. (smile)

Gone Fishing

Bright and early this morning I was awakened by the creaking of my bedroom door. Peeping in ever so quietly, was my Golden Boy. He wanted to know when I was going to get up and when we were going fishing. Oh how I wish I had the energy of an eight year old boy. Long story short, we got up and went fishing. Sad to say, we didn't catch anything. Maybe next time we should do our casting from the other side of the pond.

3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. John 21:3-6

Hungry and exhausted the disciples could have easily blown off the advice of the man on the shore. They had no idea that the man was the One that controlled the sea and all that it contained. It was only after he revealed his identity to Peter, that they understood why they hauled in more fish than their boats could hold.

Oftentimes our circumstances are less than ideal. Sometimes there is little or nothing to show for our labors. The feeling of failure fosters the idea of throwing in the towel or in Peter's case, the net.

But rest assured, Jesus will show up in our times of difficulty. It is up to us to be looking for him. We may not recognize his hand at work, but his voice will reveal his identity to us. So, we must ever be listening for his guidance and be willing to follow his directions.

Back to the Future?

I am a bit of a sci-fi fan, but I don't care for the ones about aliens and such. The ones I most enjoy are the ones that are likely to become reality in the future. Take flying to the moon for instance; it is a reality now, but a hundred years ago it was considered a sci-fi idea.

And what does that have to do with today's post. Very little, except the fact that things are constantly changing, yet they stay the same. It is simple really. Just take a look at what this ancient king had to say about life.

8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:8,9 NIV

Solomon received wisdom from God because he asked for it. He received favor from God because he asked for wisdom instead or riches or fame. He had the three most coveted things of men everywhere; wealth, wisdom, and women. Yet in all of his majesty, he was not satisfied.

9 Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 10 Whatever exists has already been named, and what man is has been known; no man can contend with one who is stronger than he. 11 The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? 12 For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone. Ecclesiastes 6:9-12 NIV

God is the only one that knows every aspect of the past, present, and future. Our lives are held in His grasp. A Christian's past has been covered by the blood of Jesus, his present is being shaped by the Holy Spirit, and his future is determined by the choices that he makes.

12 Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God. 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow. Ecclesiastes 8:12,13

In the end, it will be truth that will stand the test of time. Truth that can not be refuted or changed. The living Truth within the Christian gives him both strength and hope eternal. Outside of the Truth, there is no life.

10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Ecclesiastes 12:10,11

Like an Olive Tree

History tells us that all of the trees in and around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 AD. Yet there are olive trees there today. They could even be off-shoots of the trees that were growing in the days that Jesus walked the Earth. It has been said that olive trees can regenerate from their roots. This means they can be cut completely down and sometime later sprout, flourish, and bear fruit again.

"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant. But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up, so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep." Job 14:7-12 ESV

As long as there is breath in a man, there is hope. Hope for salvation. Hope for regeneration. Hope for an eternal life with Jesus Christ. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. He searches the depths of man’s soul. He is the one who pricks the conscience of man. He is the one who draws man to the Father. He is the one understands the non-verbal communications of man.

God created man in His image. He put within man a place that can only be filled with Him. Many search the world over for something to satisfy. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and plastic surgery are a few things that have been sought to stop the gnawing of emptiness. Oftentimes a person will have to hit rock bottom before they realize that Jesus is the answer to their woes. But some only need to witness a life that is vibrant with the love of Jesus.

Our mandate is to go and tell. To that I add; and live well. So what if you have been battered and cut down? Let the Holy Spirit water you soul today and you will begin to sprout again. As long as you have breath, there is hope.