Recipe For A Happy New Year

Bible Reading:  Ephesians 5:1-16

Key Verse: Verse 16 - “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Key Words: Redeeming the time

Happy New Year!  If you really want a happy new year, then I heartily recommend the following recipe.

Take twelve fine, full-grown months and see that they are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor, hate and jealousy.  Cleanse them completely from every clinging spite.  Pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness.  In short, see that these months are freed from all the past – have them as fresh and clean as when they came from the storehouse of TIME.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts.  This batch will keep for just one year.  Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many people spoil the entire lot in this way); but prepare one day at a time as follows.

Into each day put twelve parts of faith, eleven of patience, ten of courage, nine of work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), eight of hope, seven of fidelity, six of liberality, five of kindness, four of rest (leaving out this is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing – don’t do it), three of prayer, two of good will and one well-selected resolution.  Put in a dash of fun, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

 Pour into the whole love and grace, and mix with vim.  Cook thoroughly in a fervent heat; garnish with sweet smiles and a few sprigs of joy; then serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness – and a happy new year is a certainty. 

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

✞ Apply the above principles, and I do hope you will have a Happy New Year.

Biblical Literacy

Bible Reading:  Psalms 119:9-16

Key Verse: Verse 11 - “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Key Words: Thy word have I hid in mine heart

A pastor asked a Sunday School class of junior-aged young people, “Who broke down the wall of Jericho?”  

A boy answered, “Not me, sir!”  

The pastor was noticeably upset and turned to the Sunday School teacher, “Is this typical?”  

She replied, “Pastor, the boy is a trusted and honest child, and I really don’t think he did it.”  

Such a response sent the pastor straight to the Sunday School Superintendent.  After hearing the pastor’s grievance, the superintendent attempted to console him by saying, “I’ve known the boy and his Sunday School teacher for a number of years, and I just can’t picture either one of them doing such a terrible thing.”  

In disbelief, the pastor sought out the chairman of the deacons.  The wise deacon tried to smooth things over with his conventional wisdom, “Pastor, let’s not make a big issue of this.  Let’s just pay for the damages and charge it to our maintenance account.”

I would think there is some Biblical illiteracy in that church, wouldn’t you?

The Library of Congress recently conducted a survey that asked, “What book has most influenced your life?”  The Bible finished first.  Yet during a typical week only 45% of Americans who claim to be Christian, say that they read their Bible at all.  Of that 45%, just 12% claim to read God’s Word daily.  With stats like these, the above story may be true.

I trust you are daily reading, studying, and applying God’s Word to your life.  

 

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

✞Hide God’s Word in your heart in 2024 & beyond.

Strengthened Within

Bible Reading:  Ephesians 3:1-17

Key Verse: Verse 16 – “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

Key Words: strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man

The ability to win spiritual battles does not come from being physically strong, but from the strength given within.  Spiritual victories come from the Holy Spirit.

F. B. Meyer once had a firewood factory that employed former prisoners from the local jail.  Meyer would give them a job to do, would pay them good wages, give them a place to live, and would encourage them spiritually.  In exchange, he expected them to be good employees.  If they were not, he lost money and would have to fire them.  Meyer did have to fire many of them, and the process of doing so grew wearisome; so Meyer purchased a circular saw powered by a gas engine.  In one hour it turned out more work than could all the combined efforts of all the men during one day.  

One day Meyer had a little conversation with his saw, “How can you turn out so much work?” he asked.  “Are you sharper than the saws used by man?”  

“No.” 

 “Is your blade shinier?” 

 “No.”  

“What then?  Better lubrication against the wood?”

The saw’s answer, could it have spoken, would have been, “I am stronger because of the driving force behind me.”

 Meyer observed later that many believers are working in the power of the flesh, in the power of their intellect, their energy, their enthusiastic zeal – but without effect.  They need a greater force behind them.  They need the power of the Holy Spirit.

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Be energized in the inner man by the Holy Spirit.  This comes through a right relationship with God, by focusing on Jesus and doing what we do for God’s glory.  It comes from witnessing and desiring to see souls come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I'm Baffled

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 16:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 2 - “Upon the first day of the week let  every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath  prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."

Key Words: let every one of you

Yes sir and yes ma’am, I’m baffled.  I truly am.  Not just me, but other pastors are baffled as well.

It seems as though when our churches want to collect money for special projects, people open up their wallets and checkbooks and give generously.  For example, someone in the church is needy and going through a hard time – out comes the money.  When there is a special missions project, man, do the people give!  I read a story that took place during the Civil War.

Far removed from the Civil War’s action in the little town of Austin, Nevada, a local election turned into a bonanza for the Union Army.  Two local candidates for mayor, Democrat Reuel Colt Gridley, who was a Southern sympathizer, and Republican Dr. H. S. Herrick, a staunch Union supporter, proposed a friendly wager: Whoever lost the election would march between Austin and Clifton, Nevada, carrying a sack of flour, whistling either “Dixie” or “John Brown’s Body.”  Gridley lost; he made the 1.25-mile trek carrying a 50-pound sack of flour decorated with red, white, and blue ribbons and flags.  Herrick carried Gridley’s coat and cane, but at the end he wouldn’t accept the flour, leaving Gridley “holding the bag.”  In the local saloon, the two decided to auction it and send the proceeds to the U.S. Sanitary Commission fund.  The auction turned into a fundraiser, with one miner after another buying the flour and re-donating it for another sale.  At the end of the day, they had collected over $4,500, and Gridley still had the sack.  He took the show to cities around the United States.  In the end, $275,000 was raised.

Even in those days of the Civil War when many were hurting financially, they gave – because it was a special project.

 Now, it’s not the giving to special projects that bothers the pastors, it’s the lack of giving faithfully week after week to meet the general needs of God’s work.  The money for the General Fund goes to meet the needs of our children and children’s ministries, the bus ministry, the Sunday School ministry, the Prime-Timers ministry, visitation, music, and the list goes on and on.  So the next time the offering plate is passed, give to the church’s General Fund – it goes to meet special needs as well.

                                                                                                Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Give.  It’s the way the church meets the financial needs of the ministry.

Thinking Yourself Happy

Bible Reading:  Acts 26:1-20

Key Verse: Verse 2 - "“I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:”
Key Words: I think myself happy

To say the least, Paul was in a perplexing situation.  He was facing death for literally doing nothing wrong (Acts 25:10).  He now stands before King Agrippa and says, “I think myself happy.”  

There are times that in the midst of all sorrow and trials, we have to look for the good and literally “think ourselves happy.”  Have you ever done that?  I know those who think themselves into sorrow, and others who think themselves into a fit of anger; but I know very few people who think themselves into being happy.

Near the end of her life, Frances Havergal jotted down on a calendar everyday things for which she thanked God for that day.  She said, “It’s my way of thinking myself happy.”

The seventeenth century pastor Jeremy Taylor was persecuted for his faith.  His house was plundered, his family driven out, his estate seized.  He wrote, “I have fallen into the hands of publicans, and they have taken all from me.  Now what?  They have taken away my merry countenance, my cheerful spirit, and a good conscience.  They have still, though, left me with my family, my Bible, the promises of God, my hope of heaven, and my charity to them, too.  Still I sleep, I eat, I drink, I read, I meditate.  God has given me so many causes for joy that the little handful of thorns shall not take away my thankfulness to God.”

Should we not carry the same attitude?  Today, I challenge you - no matter what happens in your life, think yourself happy.

 

                                                                                    Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

✞Focus on the things that matter, not the things that do not matter.

✞Stay close to God.  Thinking oneself happy requires this.

✞Stay in the Word.  Thinking oneself happy requires this, as well.

The Battle Over Obedience

Bible Reading:  Genesis 3

Key Verse: Verse 6- “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

Key Words: she took of the fruit thereof

Eve’s conversation with the serpent was a battle.  It was a battle over whether to do right or wrong, good or evil, obey or disobey.

The serpent won the battle with man, and he did so by firing one single shot: the shot of deception.

Notice the deception of the serpent.

1. Verse 1: “Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
2. Verse 4:  “Ye shall not surely die.”
3. Verse 5:  “Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

Since that time Satan has attempted to deceive mankind in order that we may disobey and lose the battle over obedience.

In the Houston, Texas, zoo you might find an unusual phenomenon.  Although you pay to see and learn about animals, the alligator exhibit can tell you much more about people.  In every other cage you don’t find a large display of scattered coins.  You see normal habitat, as you might expect, without a spattering of loose change.  So why is there frequently money in with the alligators?  Is it because there’s water, and people seem enamored with throwing pocket change into water?  There are other exhibits with plenty of water, but they don’t have all the nickels, dimes, and quarters.  The reason for this abundance of money stems from a sign by the alligators.  As you read to learn more about these interesting creatures, the zoological society presents a reminder not to throw money into the water, as it only takes one coin, digested by an alligator, to kill the huge reptile.  To the chagrin of the zoo staff, coins are often thrown all around the alligators.  Whether it’s coins in the alligator pit or just one tree in a garden called Eden, sinful man has a tough time obeying the rules; and as a result, he loses the battle of obedience.

 

                                                                                                Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Adopt for your life the teaching of the song our children sing quite often: “I will obey the first time I’m told.”

If Christ Had Not Come

Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 6 – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, 
The Prince of Peace.”

Key Words: The Prince of Peace

“There’s a song in the air!  There’s a star in the sky!  There’s a mother’s deep prayer, and a baby’s low cry!  And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing, for the manger in Bethlehem cradles a King!”

A few years ago a striking Christmas card was published with the title, “If Christ Had Not Come.” It was founded upon our Savior’s words, “If I had not come.” The card represented a clergyman falling into a short sleep during his story on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream, he found himself looking through his home, but there were no little stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells or wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort, gladden, and save. He walked out on the public street, but there was no church with its spire pointing to heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Savior had disappeared.

A ring at the doorbell, and a messenger asked him to visit a poor dying mother. He hastened with the weeping child and as he reached the home, he sat down and said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended at Malachi. There was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair.

Two days afterward he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service, but there was no message of consolation, no word of glorious resurrection, no open heaven, but only “dust to dust, ashes to ashes,” and one long eternal farewell. He realized at length that “He had not come,” and burst into tears and bitter weeping in his sorrowful dream.

Suddenly he woke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in his church close by: “O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!  Come and behold Him, born the King of angels!  O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”

Let us be glad and rejoice today, because “He HAS come.” And let us remember the annunciation of the angel, “…for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10,11)

    Merry Christmas!

 

                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:  

✞Praise God!  Christ did Come!!

Success

Bible Reading:  Joshua 1:8-18

Key Verse: Verse 8 – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Key Words: then thou shalt have good success

Joshua was governed by the book of the law.  This book was prepared for Joshua according to Exodus 17:14, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”

Rabbinical scholars record that Joshua was holding the book of Deuteronomy in his hands when he was notified of Moses’ death.  We do not know if that is factual, but we do know that the law of God was important to Joshua.  God instructed him to meditate day and night upon God’s Word so he could know and obey the Word of God.  Meditation was not optional; it was a command.  As you read Joshua 1:8 you come to the realization that meditation plus application equals success.  This is the only place in the Scripture where the word success is used.  No doubt Joshua obeyed the Word and was prosperous.

H. P. Barker gives a graphic illustration that points out the need for both knowing and applying the truths of Scripture.  When he looked out into his garden one day, he noticed three things.  He first saw a beautiful butterfly that would light on a flower and then flutter to another just for a few seconds.  It touched as many flowers as it could, but derived no benefit from the flowers.  He watched a little longer and a botanist came into the garden.  He was equipped with a notebook under his arm and a big magnifying glass that he used to study the flowers at length and then write his findings in his notebook.  After studying the flowers for several hours, he left.  The third thing that was noticed was a tiny bumble bee that would land on the flowers and sink deep down into it, extracting all the nectar and pollen it could carry.  It went into the flower empty and came out full.  That is what the Lord wants to happen to us when it comes to studying His Word.  He wants us to get something from our study of the Scriptures that will satisfy us and fill us with His joy and power.

That’s what real success and prosperity is: it’s getting inside the Word of God and coming out full.  Let me encourage you to make this a daily habit in your life.

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

✞Get inside God’s Word, obey it, live it, love it.  Spiritual success is sure to follow.

That I Have Given You

Bible Reading:  Joshua 1:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 3 - “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”

Key Words: that have I given unto you

The book of Joshua starts with the word now.  This word links the book of Deuteronomy with the book of Joshua.  Moses is referred to as “the servant of the Lord.”  What a compliment!  God Himself referred to Moses as a servant of His.  Now Moses is dead, but God’s Word continues to go forward.  Leaders may change but God doesn’t.

Now that Moses is dead, Joshua is to take over and go forward over the Jordan River to possess what has been promised.  It’s interesting to note that the book begins with Moses’ death and ends with Joshua’s death.  Every place God’s people tread, God has given the land to them.  This is what God intended for His people forty years earlier.  (See Numbers 13.)

I read recently about a young man who was very impressed by a motto on a sticker that said, “LET GOD.”  He cut out the six letters, pasted them on a card, and hung the motto on his bedroom wall.  Somehow the blessing he sought did not seem to come.  One day, however, he found the last letter had dropped off his board, leaving the motto “LET GO.”

When we let go of all the things that hinder us: our will, our plans, and selfish desires, then Joshua 1:3 can and will be fulfilled: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”

The pastor from India said, “That was no mistake.  I found the true and living God because I searched for Him with all my heart.”   And so can you!

 

                                                                                                    Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:  

✞ Many blessings of God are missed because we fail to go forward, so I challenge you to move forward. 

Company Rules

Bible Reading:  Proverbs 29:1-18

Key Verse: Verse 18 - “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is  he.”

Key Words: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he

In today’s world many see laws, rules, and regulations as restrictions to one’s rights.  But in reality laws, rules, and regulations are for our safety.  So rather than begrudge rules, we should rejoice in them.  Let me explain.

Timothy Munyon says, “While living in Florida, I have friends who worked cleaning rooms at a nationally known inn located directly on the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico.  They would spend their work breaks running barefoot in the sand.  The problem was that the inn required all employees to wear shoes at all times while working.  I noticed the employees responded in two ways.  The majority thought the rule restricted freedom.  The rooms had shag carpeting, delightful to bare toes, and just a few steps away lay the beach.  To them the rule requiring them to wear shoes was nothing more than employee harassment and intrusion into their personal rights.

But a minority of the employees looked at the rule differently.  Sometimes late-night parties would produce small pieces of broken glass.  Occasionally a stickpin would be found hidden in the deep piles of the shag carpet; and still others knew the pain of skinning bare toes on the steel bed frames while making beds.  The minority saw the rule as protection, not restriction.”

So were God’s rules written to make life miserable, or were they written by a loving Heavenly Father Who cares about His children?

 

                                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞ Rather than complain about rules, rejoice in the safety they produce.

Gossiping People

Bible Reading:  II Thessalonians 3:1-12

Key Verse: Verse 11 - “For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.”

Key Words: but are busybodies

A busybody is a person who sticks his/her nose in other people’s affairs, and then spreads what they know or think they know.  Today we don’t call them busybodies, we call them gossips.

Are you aware that the word gossip is not found in the Word of God?  But its meaning has a spiritual significance, or maybe I should say a lack of spiritual significance.  The word gossip comes from the old English god-sibb.  The word god is a false god and the word sibb means akin to, so then a gossiper would be someone who is akin to a false god.  Now, isn’t that interesting?!!

After three years of research, Indiana University Sociologist Donna Eder, identified an important dynamic involved in gossip.  Eder discovered that the initial negative statement was not the starting point for gossip.  The critical turning point was found in the response to the initial statement.  “She’s a snob” is not the starting point of gossip.  It is when someone else agrees that “She’s a snob” that the gossip first begins.  Eder found that the key is whether or not a negative statement is seconded.  If a second is provided, then gossip ensues.  If the second is not provided, then the conversation changes directions.  No one ever challenged an evaluation that had been seconded.  Now no matter how cutting the opening remark, an immediate quibble from a listener could send the talk into a less critical direction.

The moral of all this is “gossip isn’t any fun if you aren’t willing to agree.”  Moral number two: we have the power either to incite or defuse gossip.

 But primarily I need to know that when I gossip, I’m akin to a false god and helping to promote the work of Satan.  So let’s not gossip, but rather let us spread the gospel.  Amen!

                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞   Let’s be busy spreading the Gospel, not the gossip.

Sacrificial Love

Bible Reading:  Song of Solomon 8:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 7 - “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”

Key Words: Many waters cannot quench love

Love is an unusual thing.  It will cause you to do things and act in ways you never thought would be humanly possible.  

For example, William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story.  The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria.  The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's breath.  Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, "Momma, kiss me!"  Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter.  She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord.  Real love forgets self.  Real love knows no danger.  Real love doesn't count the cost.  The Bible says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."

Love does many a splendored thing.

                                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞Never forget God’s love for you in sending Jesus to die, be buried and raised again.  That was the greatest gift of love.

Ordinary Person - Othniel

Bible Reading: Judges 3:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 10 - “And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.”

Key Words: And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him

If you were asked who the first judge of Israel was before you read Judges 3, would you have known?

Othniel was the son of Kenaz who was the younger brother of Caleb, thus making Caleb “Uncle Caleb” to Othniel.  But Othniel was just an ordinary person that God used in an extraordinary way to deliver Israel from the oppression of the king of Mesopotamia.  For forty years Israel lived in peace under the leadership of Othniel.

The key to his extraordinary leadership was that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.

You as well can accomplish extraordinary things for God if you will submit yourself to the Spirit of God.

In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push.  After pondering his problem, he devised a plan.  He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off.  As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running.  He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station.  When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood.  Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable."  He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life.  For two years needless trouble had become routine.  The power was there all the time.  Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

So it is in our lives…ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things, but only as their spiritual life is connected to the Spirit.

 

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:  

✞Don’t be ordinary, be extraordinary…not by your own strength, but by the Spirit of the Lord.

Remember Your Youth

Bible Reading:  Ecclesiastes 12

Key Verse: Verse 1: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”

Key Words: while the evil days come not

Thought: Life may begin at forty, but everything else begins to wear out, fall out, or spread out.

Man is like an automobile. As it gets older, the differential starts slipping, and the u-joints get worn, causing the drive shaft to go bad. The transmission won’t go into high gear and sometimes has difficulty getting out of low. The cylinders get worn and lose compression, making it hard to climb the slightest incline. When it is climbing, the tappets clatter and ping to the point where one wonders if the old bus will make it to the top. The carburetor gets fouled with pollutants and other matter, making it hard to get started in the morning. It is hard to keep the radiator filled because of the leaking hose. The thermostat goes out, making it difficult to reach operating temperature. The headlights grow dim, and the horn gets weaker. The memory chip drops a few bytes, and the battery needs constant recharging. But if the body looks good with no bangs, dents or chipping paint, we can keep it washed and polished, giving the impression that it can compete with the newer models and make one more trip down the primrose lane before the head gasket blows. Gentlemen, start your engines. 

     

                                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:  

✞Remember to enjoy and use the days of your youth with Godly wisdom.

Our Rights

Bible Reading:  Luke 18:9-19

Key Verse: Verse 14 - “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Key Words:  for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased

Me, myself, and I have become the predominant pronouns of our day.  I came across the following article which I’ve read on a couple of occasions (and has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Aye from Georgia); but for this hour and this day, I think it bears repeating.

“We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters.

We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.”

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV or any other form of wealth.  More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended.  This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone–not just you!  You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots and probably always will be.  

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm.  If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing.  Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care.  That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we’re just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people.  If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others.  If you rob, cheat or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job.  All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness.  Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over-abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country.  We don’t care where you are from, English is our language.  Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage.  This country was founded on the belief in one true God.  And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all, with no fear of persecution.  The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!!”

                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do: 

✞If we are filled with ourselves it leaves no room for God.

You Have Practiced Grace On Me

Bible Reading:  John 8:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 11 - “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Key Words: go, and sin no more

Many of you are aware of the story of the woman caught in adultery and brought to Jesus.  There are many truths which come from this great Bible story, but none more important than watching Jesus put grace into practice.  The woman by law deserved death but Jesus applied grace.

Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19^th century.  On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon’s orphanage.  It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself.

Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit.  The attack was printed in the newspapers and the talk of the town.  People flocked to Parker’s church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal.

“I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage.  I suggest we take a love offering here instead.”  The crowd was delighted.  The ushers had to empty the collection plates three times.

Later that week there was a knock at Parker’s study.  It was Spurgeon.  “You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me.  You have given me what I did not deserve!”

       

                                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞You want to “break” people? 

Decisions, Decisions

Bible Reading:  Genesis 4:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 5 - “But unto Cain and to his offering    
he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”

Key Words: But unto Cain and to his offering    
he had not respect

All of life is full of decisions.  We go from one decision to another often giving little thought to the decisions we make.  But each decision is important and affects not only our life, but the lives of others.

From our Bible reading for today we see that Cain made a decision to bring an offering of fruit rather than an offering of blood which was a bad decision on his part.  One bad decision always leads to another bad decision.  Because of Cain’s jealousy of his brother Abel, he slew him.  First we make our decision and then our decisions make us.

Notice the results of Cain’s decision.  

Genesis 4:11-14, “And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood 

from thy hand;” (vs.11)  “When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.” (vs 12)  “And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.” (vs 13)  “Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.” (vs 14)

The words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true:  “Our philosophy is not best expressed in words.  It is expressed in the choices one makes.  In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves.  The process never ends until we die.  And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.”  How true!

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                               Dr. Mike Rouse        

What to do: 

✞Make wise Godly decisions because first you make your decisions, then your decisions make you.