MountainChristian

Here's the picture I took today. The river is still pretty shallow, and you can see the exposed banks of the river. It's definitely in better shape but not anywhere near full-flow. Still very thankful for the Lord's blessings in giving us what rain we received. : )

I guess I don't need to go tomorrow...and apparently I was wrong about the rain having a "filling" effect on the river! This was posted by the Water Plant Superintendent of our local water system earlier this evening! If you look at the picture, immediately above the dam, there was basically nothing but a small one-foot wide trickle before the rains came (at best). They would have to wait about 8 to 10 hours for enough water to build up before they could withdraw water from the river. Even then, once they were able to withdraw, they could only do so for about 4 - 6 hours.
The picture doesn't do it justice, because it doesn't show the full width of the river. If you can, imagine what is above the dam as being roughly about three times the width of what's shown. The "intake" for the water plant is located about 50 yards above the dam. According to this picture, the river appears to be full again...or close to it! PRAISE THE LORD! I think I'll still go check it out tomorrow and post a picture though. ; ) Things are looking good right now! However, please continue to pray for us...PLEASE! I'm trusting the Lord that this isn't just a temporary blessing! : ) I absolutely love the Lord! He's incredibly amazing, gracious, kind, and giving. When things look bleak, he's always there to comfort and console. He's my Lord, and I love him!
The caption from the picture read...
First time the river has flowed over the dam at the water plant since July 20th.

Hard to tell in the picture, but we're getting more heavy rain today! Heavy rain and wind. Never thought I'd take a picture of rain. : )

Glad to hear your drought is broken, I was wondering how things were going for you.
The other day I jumped into the car and the outside temp was 43°C (that's around 110°F) - the first hot day of the season. The last week or so has seen temps over 30°C every day, and this month has been fairly mild with more than a few days down in the mid 20's. 
But now we are moving into fire season - I am sitting here at my desk and the wind is howling and the temp is not too bad, but it feels warm. With low humidity, high sun UV ratings, the grass and bush dries out, and then we get a few hot days, the idiots come out lighting fires, and the wind blows hard - we get huge fires on occasion. We have fire bombers based here all year round, and bring in extra for this season each year.
Water is never really our problem, as this place has always been dry, so we have dams built and water restrictions in place for as long as I can remember. We have never run out of water, partly because when it starts to get low-ish, the authorities hit panic mode and make sure everyone knows that we are low, with daily updates on dam water levels on the nightly news, newpapers etc.
But bushfires are a problem every year for us. Most of the time the normal suburbs are ok from the actual fires, but the smoke causes respiratory problems throughout the city, and of course there are people living in the bush areas.
Last year a whole town basically burned down, and that fire was started deliberately............

Drove home from work tonight in a torrential downpour! First rain since late August/early September! 
Thank you Lord! Thank you for the rain and for letting me make it home safely! 
...and thank you to all who have prayed! Please continue... : )

almost exactly
Almost the same menu we had. We also had giblet gravy, English peas, chocolate cake, lemon squares, cranberry sauce, but no sweet taters.

Turkey, Dressing, Sweet Potatoes, Green half runner beans, pumpkin pie, and cheesecake pie

Pot roast cooked in apple cider, onions, carrots potatoe casserole, brocolli salad, fruit salad, dinner rolls,pineapple delight, cole slaw, pumpkin pie ala cool whip

We have 22 here this year. a whole suckling pig went in the smoker yesterday, I saw a turkey being prepped @ 5 this morning. Peanut butter bon bons and pumpkin pies were finished @ 1 this morning. There will be sweet potato casserole, dressing and gravy, potato salad, corn, roast beef, brownies (with walnuts in them), field peas, and I forget what else they said.
 
All but one of our 5 children and 10 of our 11 grandchildren (plus 2 to be born in 2017) are here plus a young man (just turned 16) that we'll have here for a couple of years.
Had homemade seafood gumbo for breakfast (leftovers from supper last night).

We are having -
Cornish hens (stuffed)
Potato salad
Cole slaw
Polish Sausages in Horseradish sauce
Nachos with dip
Reuben egg rolls
Strawberry trifle
Peanut butter fudge
German chocolate pie
Pumpkin pie
Apple fritters
We let each member in our family of 6 choose what they want to add to the list for our feast.
This is what we ended up with. 
Kind of a fun way to enjoy the day together.
Thank you for a great family Lord!

- Did the Lord put his wrath upon Noah and his family? No, they escaped in the ark.
- Did the Lord bring wrath upon Lot? No, The Angels brought him forth, and set him without the city
- Did the Lord bring wrath upon anyone who was his child when he was punishing the heathen? No, Jesus alone was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
- Will God bring wrath upon his enemies? Yes
- What is the final wrath? When God burns up the earth and hell. When the elements melt, after the 1000 reign. 
- Isn't the final wrath of God Hell and then the Lake of fire? No. Hell is a location. Lake of Fire is a future location. Wrath is an emotion that will start a fire that shall burn up the earth and hell. 
The Church is looking to escape like Noah in the Ark, and like Lot by the angels' hands. We will be set outside the earth when God's wrath comes upon it. If God's wrath was only coming upon a percent of the earth we would look to be moved to a safe area, but His wrath is coming upon the whole world, all of the earth. 

Is Tribulations the same as the wrath of God? While you are alive is the wrath of God on you? While you are alive can the wrath of God come upon you?
 

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 
A day of comfort or a day of fear and trembling? 

So there is 3.5 years we are not appointed to. Then moving back again to chapter 6 when the Lamb's wrath begins. In chapters 4 & 5 John is telling is what Heaven is like and nothing wrathful occurs. So that would give us another 3.5 years of the Lamb's wrath. 7 years so far. 
What isn't talked about, another 3.5 years is needed for Israelis to bury all the dead from Magog before the Antichrist runs them out of Israel.

Is Tribulations the same as the wrath of God? While you are alive is the wrath of God on you? While you are alive can the wrath of God come upon you?
 

If the rapture is moved to Rev 20, then a problem occurs with 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” and Revelation 16 ...."Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."

Weekly Sermon

Introduction:
 
     A.  The Conflict
 
           1.  The publicans and sinners come
 
           Luke 15:1 – “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”
 
           2.  The Pharisees and scribes complain
 
           Luke 15:2 – “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”
 
     B.  The Message
 
           1.  Rejoicing when a lost sheep is found
 
           Luke 15:3-6 – “And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
 
           2.  Rejoicing when a lost coin is found
 
           Luke 15:8-9 – “Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?  And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.”
 
           3.  Rejoicing when a lost son is returned repentant
 
           Luke 15:22-24 – “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.  And they began to be merry.”
 
           4.  Rejoicing by God the Father when a sinner repents
 
           Luke 15:7 – “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
 
           Luke 15:10 – “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
 
I.     The Other Brother Did NOT Agree with the Father.
 
Luke 15:24-28a – “Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.  And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry . . . .”
 
II.   The Other Brother Became Angry with the Father.
 
Luke 15:28-30 – “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”
 
III.  The Other Brother Broke Fellowship with the Father.
 
Luke 15:28 – “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.” 
 
IV.  The Other Brother Cared Only about Himself.
 
Luke 15:29-30 – “And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”
 
V.   The Other Brother Continued in Bitterness against the Father.
 
Luke 15:31-32 – “And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”
 
Note: The parable ends without any indication of repentance on the part of “the other brother.”  In fact, both brothers departed from fellowship with their father.  The younger son broke fellowship through a sinful lifestyle, whereas the older son broke fellowship through a sinful attitude.  Furthermore, the older son engaged in a broken fellowship while never leaving the father’s house, and while having continued in outward, “religious” service and obedience to the father.
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Luke, ​Delight of the Lord, Sin of Selfishness, Rebellion against God      Please share this post with others: View the full article

Can we draw the line with one gospel for jew and gentile? 

Can we draw the line with one gospel for jew and gentile? 

The rod is a short club used for beating the enemies away.
The staff is use for catching and guiding the sheep.

Modern staves have a better crook than the wooden ones. The sheep learn what the crook is for and pay attention to where they are being guided. Also it's good for catching them when they do not want to take meds that taste bad or shots that sting. My uncle has sheep and I've been shocked at their friendliness. They have better and bigger personalities than cattle. In fact they seem to be as loving as a good dog. 

Until I joined this message board I had never even heard of the F part of IFB. I, and any other Independent Baptists I fellow shipped with simply described ourselves as Independent Baptists, I always thought and continue to think that this simple designation is all that is needed. I think that at this late date the term "Fundamental" has come to be associated with extremists, especially outside of Baptist or even Christian ranks.
I use the term IFB here on these boards simply because it seems that this is the term that has been used here historically. But as for myself, I think it is an unneeded and possibly even a confusing descriptive term, especially to those outside of Baptist ranks.
I will never drop the name, "Baptist" because I believe that the truth has, and still does, reside in Baptist ranks. I will also continue to use the term "Independent" in my every day life to describe what kind of Baptist I am. I believe that our designation as "Independent" is born out by Scriptural examples of how the Church That Jesus Built is to function.

We didn't vote for Trump either (or Hillary). But the election is over, and he won.  I hope he turns out the way some folks think he will. I have my doubts, based on his past. But we will see. 

Well Donald Trump will be our 45th president. I did not vote for him but I accept that he will be our president. I will be praying for him and our country. Please pray with me that he will seek God's face, lead in a godly way, and that he will gather to himself, and listen to, wise counselors. 

To those who may be interested,
The Hebrew word from which the English phrase “is old” is translated in Proverbs 22:6 is “zaqen.”  This word is a Hebrew verb which, in the foundational picture of its origin, means “to have the chin hanging down from old age.”  As such, this Hebrew verb means “to be or become significantly old.”  Within the Old Testament, this Hebrew verb is employed a total of 27 times; and in every case it refers unto an individual who is significantly old in age.  (See Genesis 18:12-13; 19:31; 24:1; 27:1-2; Joshua 13:1; 23:1-2; Ruth 1:12; Job 14:8; 1 Samuel 2:22; 4:18; 8:1, 5; 12:2; 17:12; 2 Samuel 19:32; 1 Kings 1:1, 14; 2 Kings 4:14; 1 Chronicles 23:1; 24:15; Psalm 37:25; Proverbs 23:22)  Even so, in Proverbs 22:6 the phrase, “and when he is old,” would indicate that the result statement of the verse (as it is written) extends even unto the time when the child has become a significantly old person.

The only tulips I am concerned with!