Many have spent their younger life searching for good jobs, houses, cars, and better education so that their salaries can increase. The knowledge of Jesus
Christ has been postponed so that the lust of the flesh could be satisfied…BUT! When the floods waters rise, or the winds of the tornado blow, when volcanoes
erupt, and the fires of the west blaze, when bullets ring out in the night and capture the innocent, when power lines are snapped due to the extreme cold,
when the earth refuses to yield the crops, or water cannot be found for thirst
. . . for what kind of knowledge will you long? Will it be for the knowledge that boasted a special place in a frame on the wall or will you be content
to know the Giver of All Life? Is your knowledge in Him complete?
Everyone likes to think about change. Change is exciting. Change your clothes, change your shoes, and change your bed. Every one of these statements
carried with it some anticipation, hopefully for the good. We like vacations because it changes, temporarily, our environment. Knowledge brings with
it the hope of change; a new job, car, etc.
There is a change that accompanies the Knowledge of the Holy One and it is the greatest change that will ever take place in anyone’s life . . . when this
corruptible puts on incorruption.
1st Corinthians 15:42-58;
42”So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it
is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual
body. 45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which
is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from
heaven. 48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the
image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for
the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting
of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in
vain in the Lord.”
LOOKING FORWARD
SEE YA NEXT TIME!
TER
NOTEWORTHY: HOW TO PREVENT DRUG ERRORS
Here are the steps you can take to make sure that you get the right drugs and take them properly.
IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE
Safe drug use should start in your doctor's office with a "brown bag" review. Bring all your medicine—including over-the-counter drugs and supplements—to
your primary doctor once or twice a year to check for those that you no longer need, can be taken at a lower dose, duplicate other medications you take,
or interact with each other in potentially dangerous ways. In addition, take these steps: Be wary of free samples. They often lack printed instructions.
Plus, they may not be the best drug for your condition, just the one that a representative from the drug company left at your doctor's office. Moreover,
they're the more expensive brand-name versions. So once the free samples run out, if you want to switch to a lower-cost generic alternative, you may have
to get used to a new drug. Make sure you can read any new prescription. If you can't, a pharmacist might not be able to either. So ask the doctor for
a legible one, and make sure it includes the drug's brand and generic names, directions for use, and its purpose—for example, "Take once a day for high
blood pressure." Get a written or printed version even if the prescription is phoned in or sent electronically. Then check the information on the prescription
against the label when you pick it up at the pharmacy.Voice concerns. If you think you're having unpleasant side effects, don't stop taking the drug but
ask your doctor if you can switch to a different medicine or adjust the dose. And don't let cost stop you from taking a drug, either. Instead, ask if you
can take a generic or less expensive brand, split larger-dose pills, or eliminate a less important drug from your regimen.
(To be continued)
From:”Consumer’s Health Newsletter” June 2010 — Submitted by WHS
TJIFA’S BOOK SHELF: 2nd PETER
THE HOLY BIBLE:
Come on board Readers. We’ve rumbled and rolled through Amos, and at the time of preparing this month’s Newsletter, we’re finishing the great Epistle
of Second Peter, whose authorship has been disputed more than any other book. Our teacher, Dr. McGee has firm footing in believing that the author is
none other than the person for whom this Epistle is named…Peter. The same gruff old fisherman who rebuked Jesus, walked on the water, and later died the
martyr’s death.
Peter will tackle some of the most profound arenas of the testaments.
-knowing Christ.
-where is this knowledge, and where is it obtainable?
-growth in the Christian life.
-recognizing, meeting, and dealing with apostasy.
-the more sure Word of Prophesy, which we have today.
Dr. McGee reports to us, his readers, that he is not an obstetrician, (one who delivers babies from the womb of the mother to this earth); but a pediatrician,
(one who teaches and nurtures babes through all of their growing phases). His testimony is that he began the radio ministry to teach babes to grow-up
in Christ, and he recognizes that Peter is doing likewise. Peter is dwelling in the area of bringing up baby Christians to desire the sincere milk and
eventually the meat of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The key word is – knowledge – the key verse is the last verse in this epistle:
18”But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
NOTE: Readers, least you should think too highly of the Editors of this Newsletter, I report: We, the Staff of TJIFA are growing along with you. When
we find something that enhances our growth (like Miracle Grow) we quickly pass it along to you. We are not dangling a carrot, watching you chase it and
never obtain. Instead, we are setting the table, and inviting you to dine with us.
Pass the macaroni and cheese, please…home made! TER
REVELATION? IS HE THE SON OR A PIG?
THE PRODIGAL PIG
Come home with me said the Prodigal Son,
We’ll sing and dance and have lots of fun.
We’ll wine and dine and with women and song,
You’ll forget you’re a pig before very long.
So the pig slipped out while mama was asleep,
Shook off the mud from the mire so deep,
Round his neck was a bow so big,
He’s going to show the world that a pig’s not a pig.
With his snout in the air he strolled along,
With the Prodigal Son who was singing a song.
It must be great to be a rich man of some,
He’d surely find out before the day was done.
It didn’t take him long to realize his mistake,
He’d been scrubbed and rubbed until his muscles ached.
He squealed when they put a gold ring in his nose,
And winced with pain when they trimmed his toes.
He sat at the table on a stool so high,
A bib round his neck, and a fork to try.
While the Prodigal Son, in his lovely robe,
Kept feeding his face, so glad to be home.
When the meat came around the pig gave a moan,
It looked too much like a kind of his own.
So he jumped from his chair with a grunt and a moan,
Darted through the door, and headed for home.
His four little feet made the dust ride high,
For he didn’t stop until he reached that sty.
It’s what’s on the inside that counts my friend,
For a pig is a pig till the very end.
From TTB.ORG Commentary on 2nd Peter 2.
NOTE: There are times when you may have to wait to see if it’s a pig you’ve washed or the son. They may smell alike, look alike, talk alike, and act
alike; but the truth is inside. The son is a son, his heart reveals his authenticity; while pig is always going to be a pig. TER
QUICK QUOTES:
“The only way to avoid the upheaval that all who live on earth will experience will be to be absent from earth! You can participate in Christ’s removal
of His Church from earth at the Rapture by placing your faith in Christ today. We may with the greatest assurance depend on GOD for the safety of His
Church.” Matthew Henry
“A lie can travel around the entire world, before the Truth can put his boots on.” Mark Twain
“For the Christian, Hope does not rest in the affairs of this world; it rests in Christ who is coming again.” Dr. Billy Graham
“Calling out to GOD is a sign of wisdom and strength, not weakness.” Dr. David Jeremiah
“So the Christian is caught up into God’s mission of love to the world in order that the world may come to know and believe in Jesus as the revelation
of the Father’s love for the world.Roger L. Omanson
From: Holman’s Bible Dictionary
MILL STONE…FORBID THEM NOT! TICKLE YOU PINK.
“SAD NEWS”
It's sad news. So, so sad. Please join the crew of the Good Ship SonShine in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community.
The Pillsbury DoughBoy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly.
He was 71.
DoughBoy was buried in a lightly greased coffin.
Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies,
and Captain Crunch.
Other notables included Snap, Crackle and Pop, the Keebler Elves, Tony the Tiger, Fruity Pebbles, the Trix Rabbit along with the street gang of LongJohn
Silver, Ronald McDonald, Wendy, Jack, and gang leader Colonel Sanders.
The gravesite was piled high with flours.
Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described DoughBoy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded.
DoughBoy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers.
He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes.
Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.
DoughBoy is survived by his wife PlayDough, three children; JohnDough, JaneDough and DoseyDough, plus they had one in the oven.
He is also survived by his elderly father, PopTart.
The funeral was at 3:50 for 20 minutes.
If this made you smile for even the briefest of moments, please rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else
who may be having a ‘crumby' day and 'kneads' a little lift.”
Submitted by: SLC
From: “Bits of SonShine Magazine” April-May 2010 issue.

“CAN YOU IMAGINE THE MOTHERS OF THE FOLLOWING MEN SAYING…?
Christopher Columbus – “I don’t care what you discovered, you still could have written.”
George Washington – “The next time I hear about you throwing money across the Potomac River, you can kiss your allowance good-bye.”
Thomas Edison – “Of course I’m glad that you invented the light bulb, now turn it off, and go to sleep.”
Albert Einstein – “Do you think you can do something with your hair?”
Michael Angelo – “Why can’t you just paint on the walls, like other children.”
Abraham Lincoln – “Do you have to wear that stove pipe hat, why can’t you wear a baseball cap like all of your friends?”
“You never know who your child will grow up to be. Talk to your child as you want to be talked to, and listen.”
From: Listen to Life.Org by: Dr. Jerry Fawcett.
Conversation hears, receives, contemplates, then speaks, and gives. TER
THINK ON THESE THINGS: “BROTHERLY LOVE”
May 11, 2010
“Love One Another”
“… add to your … brotherly kindness love” (2 Peter 1:5, 7).
Love is an indefinite thing to most of us; we don’t know what we mean when we talk about love. Love is the loftiest preference of one person for another,
and spiritually Jesus demands that this sovereign preference be for Himself (see Luke 14:26). Initially, when “the love of God has been poured out in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5), it is easy to put Jesus first. But then we must practice the things mentioned in 2 Peter 1 to see them worked
out in our lives.
The first thing God does is forcibly remove any insincerity, pride, and vanity from my life. And the Holy Spirit reveals to me that God loved me not because
I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, “… love one another as I have loved
you” (John 15:12). He is saying, “I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have
exhibited it to you.” This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable—it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some
of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated.
“The Lord … is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish …” (2 Peter 3:9). I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt
with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way. I may get irritated
because I have to live with an unusually difficult person. But just think how disagreeable I have been with God!
Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through Me? Neither natural
love nor God’s divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline.
From: “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald ChambersTESTIMONY TIME: JACOB’S DEATH BED TESTIMONY
If there was ever a testimony that we should take note of, I would choose Jacob, whose name was changed by GOD to Israel.
Jacob started his life deceiving his father and his twin brother Esau. He then went to work for his mother’s brother, who showed him where his deceptive
gene originated when he tricked him into working twice as long as previously arranged for his wife, Rachael.
We can follow his life through all of his problems, and eventually even find him wrestling with GOD’S Messenger for a name change. With this name change
Jacob became the Father of the House of Israel, the Nation of GOD’S people.
Jacob or Israel was tricked by his own children, in his old age, when his sons sold Jacob’s favorite son into slavery, and pretended that he, Joseph was
dead. Joseph, however, was alive, and he points to the sovereignty of Almighty GOD as he realizes that all he suffered was for the good, to save his father
and brethren alive.
On Jacob’s death bed, we’ll find a man weary of trickery, who blessed his twelve sons, and gathers his skirts to die. It is often said that a death bed
confessional is to be taken seriously, because the tester has no more reason to walk in the ways of man; but to gain a last possibility of truth. Here
is Jacob’s Last Will and Testament; it has affected you and me, even to this day.
Genesis 49
1And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. 2Gather yourselves
together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. 3Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength,
the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: 4Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst
thou it: he went up to my couch.

5Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour,
be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 7Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their
wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
8Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. 9Judah
is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10The sceptre
shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11Binding his
foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12His eyes shall be
red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
13Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. 14Issachar is a strong ass couching
down between two burdens: 15And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto
tribute. 16Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse
heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. 18I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. 19Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the
last. 20Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. 21Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
22Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: 23The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him,
and hated him: 24But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the
shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven
above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: 26The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings
of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate
from his brethren. 27Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

28All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he
blessed them. 29And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of
Ephron the Hittite,
30In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite
for a possession of a buryingplace. 31There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
32The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. 33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he
gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
FRIDAY’S WORD:
KNOWLEDGE Translation of several Hebrew and Greek words covering a wide range of meanings: intellectual understanding, personal experience, emotion, and
personal relationship (including sexual intercourse, Gen. 4:1, etc.). Knowledge is attributed both to God and to human beings.
God’s knowledge is said to be omniscient . He knows all things (Job 21:22; Ps. 139:1-18); His understanding is beyond measure (Ps. 147:5). He knows the
thoughts of our minds and the secrets of our hearts (Ps. 44:21; 94:11). He knows past events (Gen. 30:22), present happenings (Job 31:4), and future events
(Zech. 13:1; Luke 1:33).
The knowledge which God has of nations and human beings indicates that He has a personal interest—not merely an awareness—of people (Ps. 144:3). To be
known by God may mean that a nation or individual is chosen by God to play a part in God’s purposes in the world (Jer. 1:5; Amos 3:2; Gal. 4:9).
The Bible speaks often about human knowledge. Knowledge of God is the greatest knowledge (Prov. 9:10) and is the chief duty of humankind (Hos. 6:6). In
the Old Testament, the Israelites know God through what He does for His people (Ex. 9:29; Lev. 23:43; Deut. 4:32-39; Ps. 9:10; 59:13; 78:16; Hos. 2:19-20).
This knowledge of God is not simply theoretical or factual knowledge; it includes experiencing the reality of God in one’s life (compare Phil. 3:10) and
living one’s life in a manner that shows a respect for the power and majesty of God (compare Jer. 22:15-16).
In the New Testament one knows God through a knowledge of Jesus Christ (John 8:19; Col. 2:2-3). The apostle Paul closely connected knowledge to faith.
Knowledge gives direction, conviction, and assurance to faith (2 Cor. 4:14). Knowledge is a spiritual gift (1 Cor. 12:8) which can grow, increase, be filled,
and abound (Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9-10; 2 Cor. 8:7). It consists in having a better understanding of God’s will in the ethical sense (Col. 1:9-10; Phil. 1:9),
of knowing that God desires to save people (Eph. 1:8-9), and of having a deeper insight into God’s will given in Christ (Eph. 1:17; 3:18-19).

But though Paul recognized the importance of knowledge, he also knew that it could be a divisive factor in churches such as at Rome and Corinth where some
Christians claimed to be more spiritual because of their knowledge of spiritual matters (Rom. 14:1-15:6; 1 Cor. 8:1-13). Paul argued that knowledge puffs
up but love builds up, and the knowledge exercised by the “strong” in faith could cause the “weak” in faith to go against their Christian conscience and
lead to their spiritual ruin. Knowledge can be misused (1 Cor. 8). Love is more important than knowledge (1 Cor. 13), yet knowledge is still a gift, necessary
for Christian teaching (1 Cor. 14:6) and for Christian growth toward a mature faith (1 Cor. 8:7; 2 Pet. 1:5-6; 3:18).
In the Gospel of John, knowledge is a key concept, although the noun “knowledge” itself never occurs in John’s Gospel. John instead frequently uses the
verbs “to know.” Jesus and the Father have a mutual knowledge (John 10:14-15), and Jesus’ knowledge of God is perfect (John 3:11; 4:22; 7:28-29, for example).
Jesus brings to lost humankind the knowledge of God which is necessary for salvation (John 7:28-29; 8:19), but which humankind has distorted through sin
(John 1:10). God’s knowledge of Jesus consists of giving Jesus His mission and the power to perform it (John 10:18). Jesus’ knowledge of the Father consists
of His hearing God’s word and obediently expressing it to the world.
Knowledge of God is closely related to faith, expressing the perception and understanding of faith. Full knowledge is possible only after Jesus’ glorification,
since the disciples sometimes failed to understand Jesus (John 4:32; 10:6; 12:16). In John, knowledge is expressed in Christian witness which may evoke
belief in Jesus (John 1:7; 4:39; 12:17-18) and in love (John 17:26). Whereas Jesus’ knowledge of the Father is direct, the disciples’ knowledge of Jesus
is indirect, qualified by believing. The Christian’s knowledge of Jesus is the perception of Jesus as the revelation of God which leads to obedience to
His word of love. So the Christian is caught up into God’s mission of love to the world in order that the world may come to know and believe in Jesus as
the revelation of the Father’s love for the world.
Roger L. Omanson
From: Holman’s Bible Dictionary
IN THE MIRROR:
Taken from Pastor John Piper’s book, ‘DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE – STUDY GUIDE’ page 46, CROSSWAY BOOKS.

“To take up a cross and follow Jesus means to join Jesus on the Calvary Road with a resolve to suffer and die with him. The cross is not a burden to bear,
it is an instrument of pain and execution. It would be like saying, ‘Pick up your electric chair and follow me to the execution room,’ Or ‘Pick up this
sword and carry it to the place of beheading.’ Or ‘Take up this rope and carry it to the gallows.’
The domestication of cross-bearing into coughs and cranky spouses takes the radical thrust out of Christ’s call. He is calling every believer to ‘renounce
all that he has,’ to ‘hate his own life’ (Luke 14:33, 26), and to take the road of obedience joyfully, no matter the loss on this earth. Following Jesus
means that wherever obedience requires it, we will accept betrayal and rejection and beating and mockery and crucifixion and death. Jesus gives us the
assurance that if we will follow him to Golgotha during all the Good Fridays of this life, we will also rise with him on the last Easter day of the resurrection.
‘Whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it (Mark 8:35).’ ‘Whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life (John
12:25).’”
I somehow want to run between these two thoughts; what you read above, and:
“I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die and find out there isn’t; than live my life as if there isn’t, and die to find out that there
is.”
We’ll never get around the fact that God is calling us to a certain point, and a certain place in Himself. That’s what the Gospel is all about!
If you’re reading this today with the courage that it takes to digest particular types of Christian reading, this has a lot to do with my motivation as
I write, because He causes us to be ‘thinkers’ all along the pathway, “He is calling every believer to ‘renounce all that he has,’ to ‘hate his own life’
(Luke 14:33, 26), and to take the road of obedience joyfully, no matter the loss on this earth. Following Jesus means that wherever obedience requires
it, we will accept betrayal and rejection and beating and mockery and crucifixion and death. . . ” Terrible, horrible words aren’t they? But my problem
is that I believe the God that created me, and knows all about the way I’m wired, has the right to demand maximum obedience from me. Not in order that
He can sit in heaven and gloat, “Look how I can make [your name] do just what I want him/her to do!” NO. I want to think of God as saying, “Look at how
much so and so loves me because I sent my Son to die on the Cross for his/her sins!”

That’s my purpose for; “I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die and find out there isn’t; than live my life as if there isn’t, and die
to find out that there is.” It’s a great philosophical statement, and I’d be more than willing to share with you the thought that for me and anybody else
the idea certainly could be a ‘life changing’ one; but the problem could come in the fact that so many people are doing just that, but rejecting the profound
words of Jesus Christ at the same time.
I hope you’ll find this interesting in support of how damaging an effect wrong views can be: “One of the most colorful figures in American history was
Robert G. Ingersoll. He was an agnostic who gave dramatic lectures throughout the nation about his doubts concerning the existence on God. One night when
he was addressing an audience in a small town in New York, he proclaimed eloquently his doubts about a future judgment and hell.
When he was finished, an old drunk stood up in the rear of the hall and said with thick tongue, ‘I sure hope you’re right, Brother Bob. I’m counting on
that!’ Modern man does not like to think of God in terms of wrath, anger, and judgement. He likes to make God according to his own ideas and give God the
characteristics he wants Him to possess. Man tries to remake God to conform to his own wishful thinking, so that he can make himself comfortable in his
sins . . .”
Taken from a message Billy Graham gave in 1962, and can be found in this month’s ‘decision’ magazine p.2.
Or what about how Wilbur M. Smith writes in his brief book of 28 pages, ‘Have You Considered HIM? Published by INTER-VARSITY PRESS; DOWNERS GROVE ILLINOIS
60515.
In his introduction; a Brief for Christianity “The only reason for my writing this message is that I couldn’t help it. It is, in printed form, what I
would like to say to millions in our land, to each one personally, with no others listening to our conversation. What I long to do is persuade those who,
year after year, live without giving any serious thought at all to one by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the founder of the Christian faith. I long to
persuade them to give serious, honest, intelligent consideration to this person, Jesus, and to come to some definite conclusion regarding Him and their
relationship to Him, based, not upon the superficial, often inaccurate, and sometimes sneering references to Him in contemporary secular literature; not
the mere echo of unbelieving professors, or skeptical thinkers, but, the result of one’s own unhampered, personal thinking. I hope that what I have written
will be of help to such honest men.” WMS
What I’m thinking when I read or hear from honest men and women that obviously don’t want anything from me, only for me, and their words seem to match
the words of Jesus, “This is something I can place my trust in.” Personally, what I always see when Jesus tells me to “renounce all I have,”is two major
things; (1) I’m foolish if I think I have anything He did not first give to me. (2) What is there in my life that I can keep after drawing my last breath
on this earth, except He who gave His life for me.
The whole concept of not being willing to experience a ‘wasted’ life, is to have a real experience in the life God has planned for you in His Son. Once
again, scripture is replete with the message God has for your heart, and it sort of starts with Jesus’ words in; Mark 8:35; and John12:25; and they’re
as simple to understand as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3. When you are Born Again, the Holy Spirit gives you that hunger and thirst you need to know
all that God has for you, and you will know exactly why there had to be people like the ones you hear from today. God loves you, but He will never leave
you with a false impression of what it’s like to follow Him, and know that the Kingdom of God involves the rule and reign of God presently, not after
you die without allowing God to give you this supernatural manifestation of who He is. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven . . .” doesn’t mean
that we just go around displaying how ‘good’ people we are, but that there is Some-one living on the inside of me, Who is much greater than I can ever
tell you about. Watch my life; look at my lifestyle; listen to my conversation; examine my value system; see where my treasures go; ‘Hold my mule’ while
I shout of His Goodness.
Have you ever heard it expressed, whenever people care not to serve the Lord in a particular capacity, “It don’t take all that?” I find that amusing because
the strange thing is that; No, you don’t have to do anything pleasing to the Lord, or show any outward affection toward Him. I never debate other’s actions.
But from my personal perspective, when love exist, you WANT to do everything possible to give a communicable portrait of your sincere dedication and devotion
to that individual. The reason I would like to amplify this in your thinking is because I believe this is the kind of Love Jesus is talking about, and
not only that, but He offers a whole Kingdom in return — to live within me now, and to show me all that He has prepared for me later:John 14:2 - 3 (KJV)
2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

What is good is if we can ask ourselves if we really believe Jesus’ words in John 14, as well as the many other things that are written in John’s gospel
alone, would we still have an inclination to defend our ‘self-rights’ in this world? Or would we look for another, which is what Jesus calls for. Nelson
writes in his introduction of John, “ . . in John’s Gospel, one has turned into a quiet cathedral, where he is called upon to meditate upon the deep things
of the Eternal Son of God— the Word made flesh!” That’s hard for me to argue with, how about you?
John 6:63 (KJV) 63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
It’s my prayer that you’ll take what you will, and use it for your own personal growth and development in your Christian walk. In closing, while hoping
for one more chance to help anyone avert a wasted life:
“What do you think of this person Christ? What is your personal conclusion regarding His claims for Himself? If you do not accept them, have you sound
reasons for rejecting them— not simply the blind following of someone else who has rejected Christ, but have you, yourself, come to a conclusion regarding
this evidence, which is laid out before us so clearly in the Gospels of the New Testament?
Surly you would not say that you do not ‘understand’ these things, therefore you will not believe. That is not the attitude of modern man toward the physical
facts of this universe, nor toward the historical data of great events. Have you ever sat down before these Gospels and really thought through what they
say, really considered the Character who is here portrayed?” p.20 Have You Considered Him?

Q. If, and when we will sit back and take a complete spiritual inventory, what will we find?
There comes a ‘final chapter’ in every life. Will yours be written as one who ended up with what God sees as unnecessary; or will your life be recorded
as one who heard the clear message of the Good News, and said, “YES!” to Jesus, because of the immeasurable price in which He alone paid on Calvary’s Cross,
just for you? Only you can decide that!
God Bless, SLC O TASTE AND SEE!
SCONES

INGREDIENTS:
1 ¾ CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
(NOTE: IF USING SELF RISING FLOUR OMIT BAKING POWDER & SALT)
3 TBLS. SUGAR; 2 ½ TSP. BAKING POWDER
½ TSP. SALT
1/3 CUP FIRM BUTTER
1 LARGE EGG– BEATEN
½ CUP CURRANTS OR RAISINS
4 TO 6 TBLSPS. HALF & HALF
WHITE COARSE SUGAR/ DECORATING SUGAR OR GRANULATED SUGAR

DIRECTIONS:
HEAT OVEN TO 400 DEGREES F.
BAKING TIME – 15 MINUTES
MIX FLOUR, BAKING POWDER, SUGAR & SALT IN LARGE BOWL.
CUT IN BUTTER USING PASTRY CUTTER UNTIL RESEMBLES FINE CRUMBS.
STIR IN RAISINS, EGG, AND MILK.
PLACE DOUGH ON LIGHTLY FLOURED SURFACE, KNEAD 10 TIMES.
ROLL OR PAT DOUGH INTO 8 INCH CIRCLE ON UNGREASED COOKIE SHEET. CUT WITH SERRATED & FLOURED KNIFE INTO 8 EQUAL WEDGES— DO NOT SEPARATE.
BRUSH WEDGES WITH HALF & HALF, SPRINKLE WITH SUGAR CRYSTALS.
BAKE IN PREHEATED OVEN 15 MINUTES.
FOR FASTER VERSION – DROP BY SPOONFULS ONTO COOKIE SHEET.
HOWEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO THESE WONDERFUL ADDITIONS TO YOUR COFFEE OR TEA IS JUST REALLY ALRIGHT. ENJOY!

TER