DOES GOD EXIST?

Guess who said: "To suppose that the eye, with all its inmitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for correction of spherical and chromatic aberration,could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest possible degree...The belief that an organ as perfect as the eye could haved formed by natural selection is more than enough to stagger anyone." Charles Darwin (Shute,E., Flaws in the Theory of Evolution, Craig Press, Nutley, N.J., 1961, pp, 127-128. Even Darwin recognized that an organ as intricate and magnificent as the eye required a Creator. Sir Isaac Newton said,"This most elegant system of suns and planets can only arise from the purpose of an intelligent and mighty Being." "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy work." Psalm 19:1. Albert Einstein declared, "The harmony of natural law reveals an intelligence of such superiorty that compared with it, all the systematic thinking of human beings is utterly insignificant."

Today's Lesson on Irony

1.We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works. And another statement for consideration. 2.We constantly hear about how social security is going to run out of money. How come we never hear about welfare running out of money? What's interesting is the first group "worked for" their money, but the second didn't. Finally 3.The food stamp program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is proud to be distributing this year the greatest amount of free meals and food stamps ever...to 47 million people, as of the most recent figures available in 2013. Meanwhile, the National Park Service, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, ask us "Please Do Not Feed The Animals." The stated reason for this policy is because "The Animals will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of themselves." This ends Today's lesson on Irony. I

Solving Life's Problems

Don't worry about anything;instead pray about everything;tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace,which is more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

The Only Way To Live

Because The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He restores my failing health. He helps me do what honors him the most. Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemines. You have welcomed me as your guest, blessings overflow! Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home. Psalms 23:1-6.

Corporate Greed is Making Us Sick

The failure of our corporate and political leaders to make sure every worker gets good health care is causing some unpleasant consequences - not just for them but for all of us. Consequences like stomach flu.

Ill workers often spread illness. This is because millions of employees who deal directly with the public,  as well as with co-workers, are not covered by paid sick leave policies. so, when they come down with something like stomach flu, they still tend to drag themselves to work rather than going to bed until they recover, because staying home means a loss of pay...or even loss of their jobs.

Low wage workers, such as those in the restaurant industry, are particularly vulnerable and, since they handle food particularly threatening. Nearly 80% of America's food service workers receive no paid sick leave, and researchers have found that about half of them go to work ill, because they fear losing their jobs if they don't. As a result, a study by the Centers for Disease Control finds that ill workers are causing as much as 80% of America's stomach flu outbreaks, which is one reason that CDC officials have declared our country's lack of paid sick leave to be a major public health threat.

You'd think the industry itself would be horrified enough by this endangerment of its workforce and customers that it would either take the obvious curative step of providing the leave or of pushing , in the name of public safety, for a public sick-leave program. But, such huge and profitable chains as McDonald's. Red Lobster, and Taco Bell not only fail to provide such sensible care for their employees, but have lobbied furiously against city and state efforts to require paid sick days.

All the top corporate executives, who never touch the food their chains serve, get paid sick leave. For them to deny it to workers is idiotic, shortsighted, and even more sickening than stomach flu.

This article was written by Jim Hightower with a bit of paraphrasing by myself.

Literature is Terrific Fun! "Outcasts of Poker Flat" Plot Summary.

"The Outcasts of Poker Flats"  A Bret Harte short story.

"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" is set near a California mining community during November of 1850. Checking out the effectiveness of vigilante justice, the "good moral" residents of Poker Flat hope to improve the town by expelling a group of undesirables. Among these objectionable characters are professional gambler John Oakhurst; a prostitute known as Duchess; her madam, Mother Shipton; and Uncle Billy, the town drunkard and a suspected thief. The four are escorted to the edge of Poker Flat and "forbidden to return at the peril of their lives." With no other choice, the group heads toward the next settlement, Sandy Bar, However the trip requires them to pass over a difficult mountain trail in the Sierras. Less than half way to their destination , the group becomes exhausted and decides to camp for the night.  The story continues on with the challenges they face while on the trail in a heavy snowfall with very few provisions. In my opinion some of the undesirables exhibited more character traits than the "good citizens of Poker Flats" that placed them in peril on that November day.

My goal in this post is to encourage you to purchase and read this Bret Harte short story on a cold November evening and turn off your TV for an hour of really fun entertainment. Literature is terrific fun! It encourages you to think. It helps you dream. It is full of heroes and villains, suspense and humor, adventure and wonder, and new ideas. It introduces you to writers who reach out across time to say: " Do you want to hear a story I wrote?"

Prayer is where the action is !

I have no idea why but God has chosen not to act without the prayers of his people. It is no accident that you are reading this blog at this particular minute.  So I'm asking all  Christians that find your way to this blog to join me in 15 minutes of prayer daily.

Claim God's promise in I John 1:9. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Please pray daily for whatever burden the Holy spirit has put on your soul. My particular burden is to pray for all the abused and mistreated  of this world, both people and animals.

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit I have done an extensive study of prayer that is pleasing to
God and invokes action on His part.  First I will list the order of prayer that works miracles and then discuss the Bible verses that the Holy spirit laid on my heart. First, bind the Strong Man then, Praise ,Thanksgiving, Confession, Intercession and then Petition in this order. You will notice that petition comes last ( praying for your personal needs) and most of us place this at the head of the list and maybe not even consider the other five at all.

1. Bind the strong man. James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. You have to get rid of the devil before he will allow you to have a prayer session. (the phone will ring or a dozen other distractions) Just tell him to get out and leave you alone in the name of Jesus and he will flee.

2.Praise the Lord. Psalm 100:4 "enter His gates with thanksgiving and His Courts with praise. Give thanks to Him: bless His name." The only way to enter God's gate and be in his court is with thanksgiving and praise. Once we enter the gate and are in His court then and only then, may we petition the Lord!  Praise is making love to God.

3. Thanksgiving -   Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to god."

4.Confession -  I John 1:9  "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me. But if I confess my sins He is faithful and just and will forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness." Confession is agreeing with God about my sin.

5. Intersession - James 5:16 "therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." Intersession is praying for others.

6.Petition - John 15;7 "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you. Ask whatever you wish and it shall be done for you."  Petition is asking God for self and should be done at the very end of your prayer session. Many times we only take part in the petition part of prayer and it just doesn't work that way.   Never fail to ask daily for the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

There you have it. Miracle working prayer. Please join me each and every day in your prayer closet ( a quiet place without interruption) praying for the burden that the Holy Spirit has laid on your heart.