Faith

[Honeylioness]

Bob Hartley: Jesus' Plans - a "Million Times Better Than I Expected"


Jesus began to define some of His hopeful, fascinating, "beyond my greatest belief" plans that were a million times better than what I ever could consider ("'What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived' “ the things God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9). He said, "Now let's share what we're going to do in 2011."

First He showed me many in the Symphony of Hope that He was putting in place. I marveled at His wisdom, as each member of the Family of God had specific roles, timing, temperaments, sensitivities and a unique worship and one-of-a-kind love for God as Hope Craftsmen, filled with radiant hope in this Hope Reformation.

I saw such glory on people...beyond what I could ever imagine. Jesus turned to me and said, "My sons and daughters“ these anointed craftsmen are more than what they think. They are more than enough in Me to handle and build out radiant Hebrews 3:13 houses of hope in the midst of these waves that are coming."
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." “Hebrews 3:13

Jesus said to me tenderly, "Remember as I show you My plans for 2011 that I'm not going to share all the answers. I'm going to purposely create some ambiguity that will lead to true dialogue, deep relationship and the right, hopeful-heart questions to ask Me in this season. I will give you and others great insights that have not been opened up to this point about My plan." He looked deep into my eyes in the most loving and hopeful way and explained, "The most important reality to Me is that I know you would not trade My secrets for any other person or reason, and that you would absorb the substance of My secrets."

He paused a moment, and then continued with that in mind. "Now let Me give you a glimpse of 2011 through My love, hope and confidence in Me so that you will see the present challenges to the nations in light of My hopeful, confident, overcoming heart. Then you can share with others from the posture of enjoying My will and being strengthened and greatly encouraged as I pull back the veil, so you can agree and pray these realities in."

The Great Symphony of Hope

From the porch swing in Heaven I reclined on with Jesus, I looked out into the distance and saw a very great multitude of people, a people who were not striving but who knew their inheritance – a vast hope and love army who believed the promise of Genesis 3:15, that the seed of Eve would rule the earth. It was the great Symphony of Hope. It is the plan of God to bring Heaven and earth together, like Jacob's ladder in Genesis 28:12, through His people.
Everyone in the Family of God was included and I watched as they went on the journey of hope together. Their hearts stayed in such a high place of inexplicable joy and hope as they stayed together, even when government realities didn't line up. Jesus began to highlight particular groups in this multitude, and He shared with such love and hope that my heart began to burn with affection for His people.

Those Who Put Out Forest Fires of Hopelessness:

First, He said, "Look at those ones," as He pointed at various groups within the crowd. "They are the only ones who know how to put out forest fires of hopelessness because they are filled with overcoming, creative joy and hope. They understand the John/Nathaniel realities of being ones who have been with Jesus."


Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue:

Second, He pointed out another group that was to bring forth something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. He explained that something old was an understanding of the heart of God from the past; something new was an understanding of the heart of God for today; something borrowed was the anointing and power mantles of others (including Jesus) from the past; and something blue was the revelation of the heart of God for the future. They would help ambush many cities and nations of the earth with the hope of God by helping many see the Heavens open and angels descending and abiding on earth, as well as the Son of Man.

Slum Dog Millionaires

Next, He drew my attention to a group that He called the "Slum Dog Millionaires" who were ones that perceived little value in their experiences in life and didn't think they amounted to much, but He had another opinion:

"They have everything they need to offer others from their own experience to bring them from hopelessness to hope in 2011...they will go from hiddenness to a 'coming-out' party! What they had experienced would create millions and millions of hope presents and packages for those who were suffering in their particular situations. They would help bring others into a place that was called 'home,' where the rightful hope of their calling in God would come forth." He said, their lives were the connecting points in the midst of these challenges between God and the hearts of many. They would help us see the Lord who fills the earth with His glory.

Hope Orchestra Conductors:

On the porch swing, Jesus showed me many other groups that I will share in the future, many of whom will act as Hope Orchestra Conductors, putting instruments into place in the Symphony of Hope. They were more than enough to handle the five Great Waves that are coming to the nations in 2011.

Five Great Waves in the Nations

Next, Jesus spoke as the King of the nations. He said, "These five great waves or challenges that are coming will turn into beautiful loving victories in Me as you keep your eyes on Me and enjoy Me. I will turn the Valley of Challenge into a Door of Hope (Hosea 2:15)."
As He spoke, my eyes were fixed on His, and there was not an ounce of fear or despair in His eyes. His face shone with a radiance and confident hope in His plans for the Family of God and the nations. It was more than convincing – it was unpretentious confidence. I watched as the waves began to rise in front of me, and Jesus held my hand with strength and surety as He explained each wave to me, as well as the hopeful solution in Him that He had prepared for His people.

The First Great Wave: Economic Challenge to Many Nations & Families

I watched as the First Great Wave of Economic Challenge came against the nations and families in 2011. Jesus said, "Financial pain is cruel...let Me put this challenge into perspective." He was so full of hope as He showed me this wave within the Biblical pattern of His goodness in the past, as in the days of Joseph, where a man of God was prepared ahead of time to save the nations in time of famine. He showed me other times in the past where He had bound the strongman and brought an open Heaven. He then showed me what could happen if the wave was not handled rightly.
As I watched the waves unfold, I felt anxiety rising in my heart, and Jesus took hold of my hand even more firmly. Then He opened my eyes to see the angels that were there helping. He said, "I told My disciples that life is more than food and the body more than clothing (Luke 12:23) because I know how people are susceptible when they are hungry to give in to wrong systems and wrong realities." He said, "I understand, and I have right realities and hope realities for you to choose now, to proactively become Hope Reformers and Benevolent Ones in the days to come."
I saw some of these challenges that would rise up and I felt such peace as I watched His creative genius and the economic solutions that He showed me as He worked through different ones who led others to God and a true Biblical hope versus becoming victims and dependent on the hand of man. It was a wonderful opportunity to see Him as Supplier in this great challenge before us!

The Second Great Wave: False Unity

Next, as we sat together on the porch swing, Jesus pointed out another wave on the horizon. I watched as the Second Great Wave of False Unity came against the nations. Jesus showed me those who would join together in wrong alliances and not around a lovesick God who was lovesick for people. Instead, they would gather around the survival of human beings and out of their desperate need would purpose to make false alliances. I saw that this false unity across the nations was fueled by many dying in loneliness and need. Many of those in need would respond to someone lending them a hand and a little compassion, though the source of help was not from God but from men who desired their own gain. There was compassion on the front end but a "bite" on the back end.

Jesus shared how this false unity was like Nimrod and Babylon in Genesis 11, where people became bricks versus living stones because they all conformed for the survival and need of one another. This was like Hezekiah in Isaiah 36-38, who came under false unity and alliances with pagan nations who promised them that they would be greatly taken care of by them, and the opposite was true. He showed me that Hezekiah had wrongly leaned on Egypt for help (and He showed me present tense nations) because he had felt so alone and didn't know how to take care of the people. He depended on false unity because it appeared to be a quick fix (and He showed me some of these present tense leaders who would do the same). Jesus also showed me how King Saul had succumbed to the pressures of the people.

Looking out over the nations from the balcony of Heaven, I saw that there were societies that could come together under wrong banners that will create false unity for the sake of survival, support, understanding and relationship. They will be obviously unified around the wrong values and gods, and it will come back to cause them harm.

Jesus went on to say, "I have caused there to be division among you in order to approve what is right, and I will point out what true unity is and will bring forth a unity that is a serious and unstoppable force. It will come from My prize people who will bring forth a 'better than' plan in God." (Then I saw countries that would align around them.)

The Third Great Wave: The "Nanny States"

Then while on the porch swing with Jesus, I saw a Third Great Wave rise up against the nations. He called it the "Nanny State" (which was wrong dependence on the hand of man), and He showed me how this third great wave is where many become like little children (as in Judges 8) looking for someone to take care of them. I saw the scene unfold before me, as these children first look to good leaders who say, "We're too busy." Then the children look to the thorn bushes and brambles (which represent evil leaders), and my heart sank as I watched them gladly agree to care for the children with evil intent in their hearts. I saw human trafficking rings, organized crime and other abuses come forth from this reality.
"Who's Our Daddy?" I felt the fire and passion of Jesus as He showed me the injustices to the children (and these were children not only in age, but in a sense, these children represented all of us, from CEO's of major corporations to housewives) and all of us were asking, "Who's our daddy? Who will take care of us?" He wants to answer that He is our daddy, instead of us turning to a "nanny state" and becoming wrongly dependent on the government.
The scene melted away before me, and it was He and I alone again on the porch swing, and He said, "Come closer to Me and look into My being...am I enough?" I cried as I felt the areas where I had not trusted Him to be enough. But then He smiled at me and He expanded my mind and broke every paradigm about who and what I was dependent on, and how dependent I could be on Him and His solutions.

I was totally speechless for a long time...and if you know me, that is not the norm! I was in such awe of His capacity and compassion in this encounter. I saw Him bringing forth Hope Craftsmen who would be filled with pleasure to solve these injustices with lovely, hopeful conclusions. I saw them begin to rise up and say to the children of the nations, "You have a Father in Heaven who will help to build you in hope and give you the true and hopeful advanced tools that will equip you for all you need in the future."

His Loving, Enjoyable Discipline

Jesus shared with me that there are those in the Family of God that He has a loving, enjoyable discipline for, because they have a proneness to being cared for wrongly as victims. This discipline would deliver them and they would be able to then feed and build themselves on the true and hopeful knowledge of God and not be raised as cripples. They would be equipped to appropriate who God is now and at every stage of their life.

"They have no concept of My greatness in them or in who they are in Me... Little disciplines open up the right doors to see Me properly and will go a long way, like adoration, thanksgiving, and inquiring of My heart...these will lead to decrees from Me that will bring transformation at the deepest level."

Then Jesus stressed to me that I and our Deeper Waters team (with a group of others He has shown us) have a responsibility and privilege to be Patriarchs and Matriarchs of hope that will not only deliver the children but will help build and develop them in hope and abundant life in Him that was a million times more beautiful than we could ever imagine.

He shouted, "Now, now, now is the time to be filled with hope miracles!" He was giving us an invitation to be leaders of hope to help the children to smile at their future. He said, "A thousand times more than you think...no, a million times more than what you think! Think of Philip, what a dynamic life, He translated in the blink of an eye! You've missed the beautiful hope miracles that have happened!" He said, "I am the beautiful God who has designed a future that has never entered the mind of man...and I'm inviting you into it."

The Fourth Great Wave: False Heroes with False Hopes

In confidence and in unpretentious perfect rest, Jesus showed me the Fourth Great Wave that would come against the nations. It was a wave of False Hopes that will come forth from False Heroes. He said that these false heroes will try to remind us of our worries and our doldrums and failures and try to keep these before us. This is what they were designed to do, and then they would site themselves as the answer. When we had an itch in the spirit they would offer us a scratch in the soul...meaning that their answers would be the 1 John 2:16 lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life as a way to deal with the pressures, challenges and disturbing emotions that will arise from these waves.

As Jesus watched these false heroes and observed their inferior beauties and lesser answers, He laughed, "You've got to be kidding! They will be no match for My wondrous, high heavenly ways which are full of mental and heart genius that will free people from misery." I watched as these false hopes began to turn the people into slaves and they became dependant on care systems and wrong compassions which steal their unique identity.
From the balcony of Heaven with Jesus, I saw nations where the Holy Ghost Hope Glory Train would go, and then He showed me that our nation in these next few years is going to make a choice between false hopes and true Biblical hopes. I saw that most in our nation could rely on the false hopes of ever-increasing wealth from wrong sources, growth and wrong dependence on a system to take care of them.

I watched as many were living on entertainment to avoid reality and were not dependent upon God. Jesus said, "Look over there," and He pointed out some of the false hope leaders of the past that were covered in dark thinking. I saw that many of them had great intentions and were trying to do good, genuinely desiring to help people, but they had tried to help through a humanistic mindset in their own strength rather than dependence on Him. They all had the same goal, for people to be cared for, but the real issue was who they were depending on to provide the needed care.

The Fifth Great Wave: An Incomplete Understanding of the Kingdom of God

Next, Jesus showed me the fifth Great Wave that was key and was misunderstood by the Body of Christ. It was an Incomplete Understanding of the Advancing Kingdom of God. "True understanding of the Kingdom of God is hoping in Him and experiencing His smile and fullness of life now."

He showed how the Body of Christ has been educated in wrong ways, and how it's going to take such a great hopeful determination and discipline shift in our education of who He is and who we are and our futures in Him, to understand our roles as loved image-bearers and our awesome authority in Him to bring forth divine destiny and a Hope Reformation.

Jesus was passionate about this, and He said, "I will bring forth exponential learning in 2011 regarding what the true Kingdom of God is all about." He showed me that there has been a limited view of Him and His Kingdom, and He showed me nine distinctives that were new to our understanding in how they were Biblically walked out. He had a grand, glorious, hopeful, positive invitation for all of us. He said, "You won't lose your brain or heart, but be open to hearing Me in the present tense invitation into this most fundamental lesson, of how you might live with Me in this age of faith and hope and overflow with love for yourself and others today."

He shouted, "I want to open up the Kingdom on a whole new level that will meet the needs of the coming days with hope miracles, and a hope way of living through Hope Patriarchs and Matriarchs and Hope Craftsmen. It will be so beautiful!"

At this point, Jesus became very excited as He rolled out His blueprints for 2011, because He had a "greater than" plan and an overcoming, hopeful solution for each and every challenge that would come against His people. I leaned in closer as He shared His confident hope-filled answers with me... to be continued.



Bob Hartley
Deeper Waters Ministry
Email: [e-mail]
About Bob Hartley: Bob Hartley is the founder of Hartley Institute/Deeper Waters Ministry in Kansas City, Missouri, inspired through a dream the Lord gave to Bob more than a decade ago, where the Lord spoke that the "The youth of this nation are diving into 'shallow waters' of the knowledge of God, and it is killing them!" Bob's heart is to take this generation deep into the knowledge of God through hopeful, heartfelt prayer and intimacy with the Lord, and opening up their ability to hear from His heart and partner with the God of All of Life in every arena and season of the soul.
Bob served as a pastor at Metro Christian Fellowship with Mike Bickle before entering the marketplace in 1983, with a vision to see the marketplace redeemed and cities established that value and love the person of Jesus. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Hartley Group, a "Hope Center" for the marketplace, consisting of Hartley's Executive Cleaning, Swift Chemicals & Supply, Prize Properties and H&H Management in Kansas City, Missouri. Bob is a frequent speaker to youth, churches, businesses and national leaders throughout America and the world. His quest has been to bring the Kingdom of God into every arena of life and give spiritual tools and equipping to those seeking to know and love God in the midst of their everyday lives. Currently, Bob resides in Kansas City with his wife and four children.

[Honeylioness]

Take my Son.....



A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..


When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.


About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands..


He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'


The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'


The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.


The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.



On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'



There was silence...

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'


But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'


Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.


'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.


The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'


A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'


The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'


'What about the paintings?'


'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.


The man who took the son gets everything!'


God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!


FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE

[Honeylioness]

A Holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'


The Lord led the holy man to two doors.


He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.


In the middle of the room was a large round table..


In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.


The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly.


They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.


But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.


The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.


The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell... They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.


There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water.


The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.


The holy man said, 'I don't understand.


'It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill.


You see, they have learned to feed each other. The greedy think only of themselves.'


When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you.

[Honeylioness]

At a Tennessee Football Game---not a joke

Christianity is now the target of persecution...


THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS! GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO READS THIS AND PASSES IT ON.

I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CAN SEE THE PROBLEM, BUT OUR SOCIETY CANNOT.





Tennessee Football

This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School , Kingston , Tennessee by school Principal, Jody McLeod





"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country."





Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate life style," and if someone is offended, that's OK.





I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.





I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable! means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...





I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology.."





I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment.."





However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.





This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.
Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.





Nevertheless , as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.





For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.





" However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM,in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so.. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."





One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.





They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box!





The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."





Somehow, Kingston , Tennessee Remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!





JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER.."

[Honeylioness]

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,
THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,
BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,
HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER
WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.


IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE
CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS
ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND
THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS
TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER
HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE....



WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE
PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.



'A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE
SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST ,' HE BEGAN.

'WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY
ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE.


THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE
FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT
KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT
INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED.'



THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,
MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN,
LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY..



THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY,
'GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE
MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY
WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.

HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.

THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND
HE, ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT..

THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY
THE TORRENT OF WAVES.




AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!'
HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.
BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK
TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH
THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.




HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.




BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP
STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT
WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.




'THE FATHER,' HE CONTINUED, 'KNEW HIS SON WOULD
STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT
BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO
AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS.. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED
HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. '




HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE
SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO
ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE
LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE.'


WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN
HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.




THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND
DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE
END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.




WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO
TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.




'THAT WAS A NICE STORY,' POLITELY STATED ONE OF
THEM,'BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A
FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT
THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN.'




'WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE,' THE OLD MAN REPLIED,
GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED
HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS
AND SAID, 'IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT,
I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES
ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD
TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.




YOU SEE...






I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND.'

[Honeylioness]

Silent Monks Sing Hallelujah


www.godtube.com/watch/?v=777WPPNX

[Honeylioness]

Segulot


For those who believe in segulot (A mystical Jewish formula for good mazel) and who of us can't use that!? Just 27 words.


G'mar Chatima Tova!

God our Father, walk through my house and take away all my worries and illness and please watch over and heal my family ... Amen."

[Honeylioness]

You took my parking space at church



This should wake us up.


One day, a man went to visit a church, He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, " I always park there! You took my place!"

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?" The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."

When you receive this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do. There is nothing attached. Maybe, just maybe, we can get the world to start thinking of who took our place!!!!!

[Honeylioness]

We need to keep this going even if it has been around before, and as Paul said "be much in prayer."


Evening Prayer


Someone has said that if Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Did you know that during WWII there was an adviser to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace? There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Please forward this to your praying friends.

[Honeylioness]

William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army, was asked in 1901 by an American newspaper what he thought was the greatest danger in the coming century.

Booth replied, "I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell"

[Honeylioness]

The Death of Jesus

For the next 60 seconds, set aside whatever You're doing and take this opportunity!


THE (SCIENTIFIC) DEATH OF JESUS

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death .

At the time Crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more
dreadful for Jesus, unlike other criminals condemned to death by
crucifixion Jesus was to be nailed to the Cross by His hands and
feet.


Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long.


The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into His palms as is
commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends
to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were
being hammered into the wrist that tendon would tear and break,
forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself so that He
could breath.


Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to
support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross.
Jesus could not support himself with His legs because of the pain,
so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just to continue to breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.


Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours.

Yes, Over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds.

From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side... But do we realize His wounds
Were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even large nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the nails and the spear Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the
Flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The Crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture.

He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His
Wounds. The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood.


Jesus poured all 3.5 Liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His extremities; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest.


All these without mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own Cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where His hands were nailed)



Jesus had to endure this experience, to open the Gates of Heaven,
So that you can have free access to God.



So that your sins could be "washed" away. All of them, with no exception!


JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!


He died for you! It Is easy to pass jokes or foolish photos by e-mail, but When it comes to God, sometimes you feel ashamed to forward to others because you are worried of what they may think
About you.


God Has plans for you, show all your friends what He experienced
To save you. Now think about this! May God bless your Life!


60 Seconds with God...


All you have to do Is:


1. Simply Pray for the person who sent this message to You:


2.Then, send this Message to people.. The more the better.


3. People will Pray for you and you will make that many people pray to God For other people.


4. Take a Moment to appreciate the power of God in your life, for
Doing what pleases Him.



If you are not Ashamed to do this, please, follow Jesus' instructions.
He said (Matthew 10:32 & 33): "Everyone therefore Who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven; but whosoever denies Me before others, I also will deny before My Father in heaven".

[Honeylioness]

GOD ENJOYS A GOOD LAUGH!


There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:

1. He called everyone brother
2. He liked Gospel
3. He didn't get a fair trial


But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:

1. He went into His Father's business
2. He lived at home until he was 33
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God


But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:

1. He talked with His hands
2. He had wine with His meals
3. He used olive oil


But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:

1. He never cut His hair
2. He walked around barefoot all the time
3.. He started a new religion


But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was an American Indian:

1. He was at peace with nature
2.. He ate a lot of fish
3. He talked about the Great Spirit


But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:

1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.


But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that Jesus was a woman:

1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was virtually no food.
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it.
3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do.




Can I get an AMEN!!

[Honeylioness]

Shoes in Church


I showered and shaved............... I adjusted my tie.

I got there and sat............... In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer............ As I closed my eyes.

I saw the shoe of the man next to me....... Touching my own. I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side......... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'

It bothered me, his shoe touching mine.. But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began: 'Our Father'............. I thought, 'This man with the shoes, has no pride.

They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!'

'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.

The shoe man said.................. A quiet 'Amen.'

I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again..

Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?

'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, Glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended............ And the songs of praise began.

The shoe man was certainly loud..... Sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters........ His hands were raised high.

The Lord could surely hear.. The shoe man's voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering........ And what I threw in was steep

I watched as the shoe man reached..... Into his pockets so deep

I saw what was pulled out.......... What the shoe man put in.

Then I heard a soft 'clink' . As when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me.......... To tears, and that's no lie.

It was the same for the shoe man... For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service........ As is the custom here.

We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow........... And wanted to meet the shoe man.

So after the closing prayer........ I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark..... And his hair was truly a mess.....

But I thanked him for coming.......... For being our guest...

He said, 'My names' Charlie............ I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'

There were tears in his eyes......... But he had a large, wide grin..

'Let me explain,' he said............ Wiping tears from his eyes.

'I've been coming here for months...... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''

'I know that my appearance..........'Is not like all the rest.

'But I really do try...................'To always look my best.'

'I always clean and polish my shoes...'Before my very long walk.

'But by the time I get here........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'

My heart filled with pain............ And I swallowed to hide my tears.

As he continued to apologize.......... For daring to sit so near

He said, 'When I get here............'I know I must look a sight.

'But I thought if I could touch you....'Then maybe our souls might unite.'

I was silent for a moment............. Knowing whatever was said

Would pale in comparison.... I spoke from my heart, not my head.

'Oh, you've touched me,' I said........'And taught me, in part;

'That the best of any man...............'Is what is found in his heart.'

The rest, I thought,................ This shoe man will never know.

Like just how thankful I really am.... That his dirty old shoe touched my soul



You are special to me and you have made a difference in my life. I respect you, and truly cherish you. Send this to your friends, no matter how often you talk, Or how close you are. Also, send it to the person who sent it to you.


Let old friends know you haven't forgotten them, and tell new friends you never will. Remember, everyone needs a friend.
Someday you might feel like you have no friends at all. Just remember this e-mail and take comfort in knowing that someone out there cares about you.


Live each day as your last, for we never know our time here on earth. Love and Peace My Friends

[Honeylioness]

Andy Rooney and Prayer



I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin , but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America and Canada , countries founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem , I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad , I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China , I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome .....

But what about the atheists? Is another argument.

What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humour us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.

God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, "You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honour Him. That is your right, and we will honour your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!"

God bless us one and all...Especially those who denounce Him, God bless America and Canada , despite all our faults, We are still the greatest nations of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

[Honeylioness]

Are You Ready For The RAPTURE?


Lakhóta - May 11, 2011 at 1:54am

Harold Camping lets out a hearty chuckle when he considers the people who believe the world will end in 2012.

"That date has not one stitch of biblical authority," Camping says from the Oakland office where he runs Family Radio, an evangelical station that reaches listeners around the world. "It's like a fairy tale."

The real date for the end of times, he says, is in 2011.

The Mayans and the recent Hollywood movie "2012" have put the apocalypse in the popular mind this year, but Camping has been at this business for a long time. And while Armageddon is pop science or big-screen entertainment to many, Camping has followers from the Bay Area to China.

Camping, 88, has scrutinized the Bible for almost 70 years and says he has developed a mathematical system to interpret prophecies hidden within the Good Book. One night a few years ago, Camping, a civil engineer by trade, crunched the numbers and was stunned at what he'd found: The world will end May 21, 2011.

More: www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg....L&feed=rss.news


handyman2 - May 19, 2011, 10:16pm [/u]


If these people are such bible scholars where do they get this stuff when the bible says (No man will know the day nor the hour)

seems to me they are not really bible experts. Secondly there is no such thing in the bible that says there will be a rapture.



Lakhóta - May 19, 2011, 10:25pm [/u]

May 19, 2011, 10:16pm, handyman2 wrote:
If these people are such bible scholars where do they get this stuff when the bible says (No man will know the day nor the hour) seems to me they are not really bible experts. Secondly there is no such thing in the bible that says there will be a rapture.

I agree. I've heard it said many times that religious zealots know less about the Bible than most Atheists.

Purgatory is also not specifically mentioned in the Bible - yet here we are...



Honeylioness - May 20, 2011, 9:48am[/u]

Quote: Secondly there is no such thing in the bible that says there will be a rapture.

Well, ever one not able to keep myself from adding my thoughts to a perfectly good "Christian Bash-fest" but the quote above is one of many made here that I completely disagree with.

The Rapture is mentioned several times throughout Scripture - although not in that specific word. The word itself comes from the Latin verb raptare, and the Greek word harpizo, both meaning "to be caught up" or "to be snatched up." Jesus will "snatch us" out of harm's way.

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18[/u]


"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17


While I do believe these events will take place it makes me cringe when ANYONE - Christian, Historian, DaVinci Code devotee, etc. claims to know the exact day when they will occur. Scripture is very clear on this point that only The Father (God) knows.

Christ himself said that he was not even privy to this information and to be leery of such people who claimed to know.

After spending much time on the signs of end Jesus gave a warning about false Christs and VERY DECEPTIVE false ideas about his return. Near the end of the world Jesus prophesied that some people would say that He has returned and is appearing in various places on earth, and others will be saying that He has come, or is coming, in a secret way.

"Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not."

Jesus says: Don't believe them, and then gives a description of what His second coming will be like:

"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

The second coming of Jesus will be so bright it will be like lightning, it will not be a secret to anyone. You won't have to read about it in the newspapers.

The Bible also says: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Revelation 1:7

Matthew 24:29,30,31 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, ... and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." And (vs. 31) "He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." After the tribulation, Christ will appear, and then all the tribes will mourn, and then the angels will gather the saints. Notice there will be a great sound of a trum­pet, there will be angels, the wicked will be mourning, and all will see Jesus coming in the clouds with power and great glory." Is that secret? No. The saints will be gathered, but it will not be secretly!


However at the end of the day what this discussion really comes down to is FAITH. You either have faith that God is who He says He is - or you do not. You believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God or merely an interesting collection of writings and poems. That the world was not formed from random coincidence and a theory - or it was. That striving to live your life in a Christ-centered way that respects others and His creations is worthwhile - or just "common sense"

This is not a new concept nor an unexplored one. Common men and great minds have had to struggle for themselves to answer these questions.

Pascal's Wager (or Pascal's Gambit) is a suggestion posed by the French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist Blaise Pascal that even if the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a rational person should wager as though God exists, because living life accordingly has everything to gain, and nothing to lose. Pascal formulated his suggestion uniquely on the God of Jesus Christ as implied by the greater context of his Pensées, a posthumously published collection of notes made by Pascal in his last years as he worked on a treatise on Christian apologetics. The Wager was set out in note 233 of this work.

Following his argument establishing the Wager, Pascal addressed the possibility that some people may not be willing to sincerely believe in God even after acknowledging the enormous benefit of betting in favor of God's existence. In this case, he advises them to live as though they had faith, which may subvert their irrational passions and lead them to genuine belief.


In other words: "If you incorrectly believe in God, you lose nothing, whereas if you correctly believe in God, you gain everything. But if you correctly disbelieve in God, you gain nothing, whereas if you believe in God, you lose nothing." - Pascal


billisonboard - May 20, 2011, 10:03am

... a rational person should wager as though God exists...

If God exists, do you think he is impressed with this wager?



shelby - May 20, 2011at 10:05am


"The Haddad children of Middletown, Md., have a lot on their minds: school projects, SATs, weekend parties. And parents who believe the earth will begin to self-destruct on Saturday.

The three teenagers have been struggling to make sense of their shifting world, which started changing nearly two years ago when their mother, Abby Haddad Carson, left her job as a nurse to “sound the trumpet” on mission trips with her husband, Robert, handing out tracts. They stopped working on their house and saving for college.

Last weekend, the family traveled to New York, the parents dragging their reluctant children through a Manhattan street fair in a final effort to spread the word.

“My mom has told me directly that I’m not going to get into heaven,” Grace Haddad, 16, said. “At first it was really upsetting, but it’s what she honestly believes.”

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43106614/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/?GT1=43001

What is the mom going to say to her daughter come sunday. Quite disturbing I must say.



billisonboard - May 20, 2011 at 10:10am

“When the day comes that I must account for my life, I will not be asked: ‘Why weren’t you Moses?’ I was not equipped to be Moses. But I dread the question, ‘Why weren’t you Zusia?’

—Reb Zusia of Anipoli



palmbeachpaul - May 20, 2011 at 12:46pm


Nice post. I believe in the rapture, too- and my wife was just noting this morning that she's horrified about how bad it's going to look for Christians when this guy is inevitably proved wrong.

My thought is this: Currently, the entire country is having a conversation about the rapture- a coming event that many are not even aware is prophisied in Scripture.

People are Google searching, reading posts like this on the internet, maybe even finding legitimate Christian ministries to make inquiries. And it's never a bad thing when people are honestly searching the Scriptures and inquiring of God.


thyme4change - May 20, 2011at 1:02pm[/u]

Quote: she's horrified about how bad it's going to look for Christians when this guy is inevitably proved wrong.

I know that this loony bird doesn't represent ALL christians or even MOST christians. His is actually a pretty small following. I don't intend to hold all christians responsible for this one nut - just like I don't hold all christians responsible for the that guy who protests military funerals. I hope most others can tell the difference between the large amount of christians in this country and the smaller groups of extremists. Although, we (PBP) certainly can't tell the difference between a muslim and a terrorist - so maybe christians don't stand a chance.


Lakhóta - May 20, 2011 at 1:50pm [/u]

When 6:00 pm rolls around on Saturday, and nothing happens, I will not laugh out loud nor chuckle to myself. I will simply pity the poor misguided fools who believed it. However, I will somewhat condemn them for trying to push their nonsense onto others.