Archive for September, 2008
What Happens When You Cannot Pony Up, By Patrick Sheldon
t wasn’t long before the Assyrian army attacked Judah. Hezekiah was able to extend peace between the people of Judah and Assyria by giving the King of Assyria gold and silver. Some might see this as a bribe. Yet, I see it as a leader who will do anything to protect his people. What was Hezekiah protecting the people from? He was protecting them from the brutality and horror lashed out by the Assyrian army. Just see it as a dad protecting his family at all costs. Scripture states the payoff worked for a while: “So Hezekiah game him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal place.” Continue reading
God Brings His Plans to Fruition, By L. Sheldon
There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel - that will stand. Proverbs 19:21
I cannot tell you how many times I have planned stuff, only to see those plans go up in smoke. I have always had a desire to be on my own and to make my own path in life. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I believe it’s something God placed on my heart.
I certainly don’t have any desire for the limelight, nor do I have a desire to be wealthy. I used to be this way, but not anymore.
So what drives me? It’s a vision God gave me years ago about discipling believers and… Continue reading
Passing the Good Person Test, By L. Sheldon
If you ask the typical person if they are going to heaven, they will say they believe they will. Nobody believes they are going to Hell.
Well, if you ask them why they believe they are going to Heaven, they will tell you they are a good person.
When we hear this, how can we say they are not good person and chance offending them and losing an opportunity to witness to them?
One of the best ways comes from the “Way of the Master” training course. You give them the “Good Person” test.
Here is how it goes:
“You say you are a good person. Would you like to see how good you are? Or would you like to see if you can pass the good person test?”
After they agree, you ask them if… Continue reading
When Others Ask, By Patrick Sheldon
Scripture states the people of Israel crossed over to the other side of the Jordan. The part that strikes me the most about this story is God’s command to build a memorial of stones. Joshua 4:5, “He told them, ‘Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Continue reading
It Will Not Go Well for the Wicked, By L. Sheldon
Yes, as a nation, we have experienced tough times before. But it was very different. For instance, in the depression, most of the people grew their own food. Most people were farmers. That’s not the case today. Back then, we had people who could take care of themselves. People who didn’t always look to the government for solutions. Again, that’s it’s different today. Continue reading
Were They Ashamed, By L. Sheldon
It’s not hard to see covetousness at work in our land. If it were not alive and well, we would not be in the mess we are in now. From high gas prices to bad policy to golden parachutes for failed leaders no one seems to have any sense anymore. We have lost our good judgment, because personal covetousness runs high in this nation. Continue reading
When Peace is Not There, by Lynn Sheldon
And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” Numbers 22:9
Have you ever had a time when you were wanting to do something, but you had no peace in your heart about doing it? Everything seemed right. It looked good. It might further your career, or increase your portfolio. Nothing about the deal seemed bad, except you had no peace about it. What did you do?
I have been there. And unfortunately, there were times in my life when I had no peace about some of the decisions I had to make. Still, I went along with them, thinking it was just me. Of course, those times I went along with them… Continue reading
His Eyes are on the Truth, By L. Sheldon
Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods in diverse places, millions left without their possessions or the lives they once lived. Financial earthquakes on Wall Street, diseases, crop loss and debt. Can we not see the signs? Add these to the lies we have to endure from our leaders. Then, we ask ourselves, what happened to our statesmen? Where are our heroes? Continue reading
