In the late summer of 1966, an older friend of mine talked me into going out for football. I first said no, but he insisted so I went to the first night of practice to see what it was like. Back then I weighed, soaking wet, 135 pounds. I was a freshman at Fulton County High School. I made the team. I would be wearing number 40 on my FCHS Pilots jersey. There were 3 other freshmen my size and the coach would not let us do much. I believe he thought we would get hurt. We were so small the only thing we added to the team was filling up space on the bench.
On Fridays, game day, all of the football players would wear their jersey to school. I felt so proud being a Fulton County Pilot. We would have a pep rally, and the star players would speak saying what we were going to do to the opponent that night. One of those Fridays, I was feeling important in class with my jersey on and so happy to be a Pilot when a classmate brought me down to size very quickly. My little football player strut was over for that year. She said to me, with a convincing and very confident voice, You don't even play. All you do is sit on the bench. Quickly what little strength I had in me left like the air coming out of a pin pricked balloon. I still remember it to this day and believe it or not as I write this, it is game day.
I still remember her name, but I will keep it to myself. She was right, and I knew it. I didn't add any more to the team than she did being a fan.The only thing the other 3 small players and I would do in practice was warmup exercises before practice and running sprints at the end of practice. What we did in between our exercises drills was look for change that people dropped around the concession stand. You know 25 cents back then would buy more than it does now.
Saying all of this leads me to this. If she had not said those negative statements, in the tone she said it in, I would probably have quit or sat on the bench the other 3 years. I now was determined to play football and get off the bench. One more thing that helped me and was also an humbling experience was our athletic banquet in the Spring. The coach was talking about all the players that actually played. Some got trophies for their dedication and playing ability. I don't even remember my name being called. I made my mind up right then that I was going to play in actual games.I was going to get me a trophy. The next year, I got a trophy for being the most improved player.My senior year I got best lineman. I also played the whole entire game. I played right guard on offense, center for extra points and punts, and middle linebacker on defense.
I go back to this many times. When I want to do something that is hard or I feel inadequate on attempting something, I remember this story from the past. Back then my classmate did not believe I would ever get off the bench. She was right, unless I started believing in myself. Yes, it is hard when you are the only one who believes in you. Many of you know what I am talking about. Many of you have gotten off the bench of life and have made extra ordinary accomplishments in helping people. And some, like me, have had that one triggering event that caused you to decide to give everything you have or quit. There is no in between. You either do it or don't.
I made friends for life playing football. Playing as a team taught me so much about life. Sometimes we try our projects alone when we really need it to be a team project. Every player on the team that wore the Fulton County Pilots whether it was on the jersey or letter jacket ended up Playing in the Game. All of them were a great bunch of guys.
It is the time of the year for baseball playoffs, college football, and NFL football. All sports enthusiast have teams they root for. Many even wear the jerseys of their favorite players. Some of these enthusiast wear jerseys, jackets, or caps of their favorite team. They wear the name but will never get in the game. Only the real players will get in the game, and it is expected of them from the owners, coaches, and especially the fans. The players of the game have spent many hours practicing their craft. They study films of their opponents. They are in top physical shape. They practice over and over the plays until they come natural to them. They are heavily criticized if do not play to their full potential. Their desire is to play in the game no matter the weather or the pain.
Today because of my age, I can only be a fan or a spectator of football, but Christian is one name we all can wear, and we are never to be a spectator. Christians are to play in the game from the day we put on Christ's name until we die.(Revelation 2:10) There is always a play you can run, always a team member to lift up, and the reward for playing is not money nor trophies. The reward is eternal life for you and anyone else you have influenced by playing until the game is over. This game has rules to abide by just like football. One main difference in this game is everyone that plays is a winner, and they can make others winners also.
Acts 11:26 says, And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, NKJV. How did they put on Christ? In Galatians 3:26-27 the Apostle Paul tells the churches of Galatia: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, NKJV. So they put on Christ and they were called by the new name that God was going to call His people as prophesied in Isaiah 62:2, You shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will name, NKJV.
So if we say we are Christians, we wear the name of Christ. By wearing His name we have the responsibility to uphold that name with all the ability God has given us. God has given all of us different abilities in which we can be His servants. We know this by the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man sat on the bench, unlike the ones with two and five talents. The two and five talent men doubled their talents. God called the one talent man a lazy and wicked servant and ordered him to be cast into the outer darkness.
When I was wearing my football jersey that Friday in class, I was really acting like one of the players but was quickly reminded that I had not played in one game. This fact really hurt, but it was a good lesson. If I had not made my mind up to do what it took to be a good player and desired to get it the game, I would have been cut from the team. Instead, because of my determination, I learned how to play 3 positions and added to the team.
If I only wear the name Christian and do not serve my God and fellow man as a Christian, this is what will happen: Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in your name?' And I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!
I can't wear the name of Christian and live anyway I please. I must live and act in accordance to God's will. Players of any sport realize they must play by the rules.
I can go to church and sit on a pew and go home thinking that is all I have to do to be a servant of God. I did that at one time, but I realized that I was just sitting on the bench not engaging in the work of a servant of God. If I didn't change, I would have no influence as a Christian and there would be eternal consequences. Also, my children and grandchildren could imitate my Christian life and have the same eternal consequences. This woke me up. I want to get in the game!
Just a few short years ago 78 percent of the people in our country called themselves Christian. Look at the immorality that we have today. Immorality is more popular than morality. Do you think Christians are sitting on the bench and letting Satan's team win? God doesn't like abortion, yet we have had more than 56,000,000 abortion in this country since Row vs Wade. Since the late 60's God has been almost taken out of every aspect of public life. Children are being taught the theory of evolution as fact and Bibles are not being allowed into the classroom. Seventy percent of black children are being born out of wedlock with many of the families today of all races fragmented due to adultery and fornication. Calling the act of homosexuality another form of diversity is being forced upon all people.Same sex marriages not far behind it. What do you think? Who's game are we playing? Who's rules are we playing by, God's or Satan's?
If football players today played football like all of the people who say they are Christians in this country, they would be fired immediately. Being a successful athlete requires a love for the game, learning the plays, practicing daily, and knowing the rules setup to play the game.They cannot go out on game day and play anyway they want.
If Christ looked at my Christian life would it make Him want to puke?(Revelations 3:14-21) I. Rick Hepler, have to examine myself to see if ,on the playing field of life, I am living as the light of the world pleasing God by showing His love and mercy. Have I been as the salt of the earth by getting close to people and teaching them the love of God, His plan for our salvation, and also His wrath if we die lost? I am getting in the game. I don't want to wear the name of Christian and look like the world. I want to be Christ like.
Are you a Christian? How do you talk? Is your language salted with profanity? Do you drink alcoholic beverages? Do you do the things of the world and dress like the world? Do you love God with all your heart soul and mind?(Matthew 22:37) If so, is He really first in your life? I am writing this on a Sunday. Did you worship God today? Do you put sports and other forms of recreation and entertainment before God?
My answers to these questions hurt. God loved me so much He gave His Son to die for me so I can have the opportunity of an eternal life with Him.. My decision was: I want in the game. Things are not going to get better if Christians remain on the bench. There are a few that are playing the game for God and battling evil everyday, but they need all Christians working to get off the bench to defeat our opposing enemy, Satan.
What if someone said to you. You don't act like a Christian, I have never seen you on the playing field. Would it upset you?
I wish Christ's prayer in John 17:20-26 would be answered.
I have a favor to ask. I am trying to build the number of people I have reading my blog to 10,000 per month and 7000 per month in book sales. I am making many contacts each day, but I need the help of everyone. Please pass this on to others. I have readers in different countries and also some have purchased my book. If you like reading my blog please send your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com.
You can go to www.amazon.com to purchase my book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart.
My promise to you is: to get better with my writing skills, and to write stories and books that will encourage you, your children, and grandchildren to desire to grow a faith in God that will help all face the giants of this life and be in heaven with God for an eternity in your next life. As always I appreciate you reading my post and buying my book.
Thank you so much!
Rick
.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
I Am Coming Out!
I first wrote this article with anger in my words, but I
reconsidered my feelings.We all sin sometime and even have thoughts we
shouldn't have as God's people. As heterosexuals, we have battles every
day in controlling our thoughts and actions in response to our fleshly
desire of sex. Satan has used this lust of the flesh in bringing many
of God's men down. Look at King David. Men you know exactly what I am
talking about. A Christian still has those fleshly desires but has no
right from God to fulfill his sexual appetite outside of marriage. This
falls under the sin of fornication. Men, especially young men, you know
how hard this is in our present culture. The apostle Paul comments on
this in 1 Corinthians 7:1-9. If you can't control this then marry. I
have not found a scripture in the Bible where God is pleased with sex
outside of marriage. This marriage is between a man and a woman.
In the 50's and 60's homosexuals kept their practices under the cloak of darkness. Back then people disobeyed God as they do today, but homosexuality was only committed by a few. Harsh criticism was pronounced upon those who were found to be participating in this sin. So they practiced it "In the Closet". I assume that over the years the pain of keeping silent about homosexuality caused them to do something about it.
I do not know how a homosexual feels. I do not know how being bullied or made fun of feels. I can't imagine the emotional pain some may have experienced telling their families and friends that they were "coming out of the closet". As a Christian I want them to know God loves them just like He loves me. Satan hates both you and me and does not want us to obey God. Satan is going to get us as far away from God as he can. Why? So on judgment day we will both be lost in Hell, the place prepared for Satan and his angels. Everyone on this planet was created in the Image of God. Satan has deceived us into covering up this image with the sins we choose to commit. He knows our weakness in the flesh and uses it to tempt us. Then we choose to partake in whatever it is.
Growing up I never heard a sermon on homosexuality. We only read about Sodom and Gomorrah and that was about it. How could such a small group over the last few years gain the power to change the attitude of our country's view towards homosexuality? What steps did they take to get to the level of acceptance that they have today among heterosexuals? They have replaced their fear in the past with brass confidence. They have gotten homosexuality, which is evil in God's sight, to be called good.
What course of action did it take for them to have this measure of success? You have to give homosexuals credit, they have put the fear in everyone from publicly saying anything bad about gays or lesbians. They now have protection and some states have legalized same sex marriages. Politicians, Hollywood, and the media give praise when prominent sports figures, movie stars, or even politicians "come out of the closet". If anyone makes a critical remark about homosexuals, the media is all over it. The public then demands an apology, some are terminated from their jobs, and businesses are boycotted and even faced with lawsuits. God condemns homosexuality the same as He condemns fornication and adultery. (Leviticus 17:22 and Romans 1:26-32)
How did those who are practicing homosexuality do this? It started with a few having the courage to "come out", then this gave others courage. Homosexuals managed to get in places of leadership. They portrayed themselves as being discriminated against. They seized every opportunity to desensitize and remove the stigma of homosexuality among the general public. They did this by the "coming out" of popular public figures and TV shows promoting gays as just an alternate lifestyle. You can think of other ways. Their strong desire to be accepted and still be able to participate in homosexual practices gave them the courage to rebel against God and even silence some of God's people. Christian, were you silenced by them? Are you going to let homosexuals teach your grandchildren in school that this is an acceptable way of life. When you die and have gone to your eternal home, who will teach them homosexuality is wrong?
Well, I do not know about you but I am tired of it. As of this date, I am "coming out of the closet". Mom and Dad don't pass out yet. Let me finish. I mean I am coming out of the closet as a Christian. NO I AM NOT GAY! I am not embarrassed to be a Christian. If you are my enemy I will love you as Jesus loves you. He loved you enough to die for you. I have been letting God's light shine, you might say, only in a closet. My "salt of the earth" is still in the box in the cabinet. I want to go to heaven and I want every one I know to go there. I want to be like Christ. I want to love like He loves.
I do not want my grandchildren to wonder why granddaddy and other Christians his age let this happen? What will your grandchildren say about you? Most importantly what will Christ say? (Matt. 7:21-23; Matt. 10:32;John 12:42)
Evil is Evil and always will be. God cannot lie. He said homosexuality is a sin and it always will be. Christians cannot not be sympathetic or moderate on this. For a Christian to be lukewarm on this issue is just like the church of the Laodiceans. Christ said because they were lukewarm He would spew them out of His mouth.
As Christians we should be Christlike in everything we do.We are to abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) If the world wants to promote evil and call it good, we can all group together and buy food and what we need from those who stand against evil. The big question is how many of us are ready to come out of the closet and be Christians who spread the Gospel to a lost and dying world. We need to be in leadership roles. How are we glorifying our Father in Heaven now? I am coming out and showing Christ to my brothers and sisters in humanity. There may be those who struggle with homosexuality. We can show them and all sinners the love of God through each of us. We must desire to have compassion and unconditional love for them and all people. Remember all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God and without Christ we can never be righteous before God. My "coming out" as a Christian is probably not going to make headlines, ESPN or Fox News, but 25,000,000 coming out will. The sponsors of some of the TV shows that laugh at Christians may have to rethink who they are sponsoring.
Final question. If as Christians we keep doing as we are now, will anything get better morally in our country?
What if 25,000,000 Christians decided "to come out of the closet" and show God's unconditional love for all mankind. Also, these Christians would be hot instead of lukewarm, having a zeal in their heart for obeying God, loving Him, abstaining from any appearance of evil, and live according to the example Christ has given us. They are not going to listen to me, but they will all of you. How about you? If you come out, you will be in a glass house. The world will be watching how we live and will be ready at a moments notice to call us hypocrites if we fail to live as faithful Christians. Read in John 15:18-19 and John 17:14-19 what Christ says about us and the world. Please think about it. Our grandchildren are depending on us.
I need some comments on this one and if you agree send it out everywhere. The cold water challenge was a great deed showing love, support and hopefully a cure for those with a dreaded disease. "The coming out of the closet as a Christian" addresses the spiritual disease we all have, Sin, and Christ is the Cure!
You can comment at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Please go to www.amazon.com to buy my new book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. If you do not have a Kindle you can download on your personal computer.
Thanks, it's good to be back.
Rick Hepler
In the 50's and 60's homosexuals kept their practices under the cloak of darkness. Back then people disobeyed God as they do today, but homosexuality was only committed by a few. Harsh criticism was pronounced upon those who were found to be participating in this sin. So they practiced it "In the Closet". I assume that over the years the pain of keeping silent about homosexuality caused them to do something about it.
I do not know how a homosexual feels. I do not know how being bullied or made fun of feels. I can't imagine the emotional pain some may have experienced telling their families and friends that they were "coming out of the closet". As a Christian I want them to know God loves them just like He loves me. Satan hates both you and me and does not want us to obey God. Satan is going to get us as far away from God as he can. Why? So on judgment day we will both be lost in Hell, the place prepared for Satan and his angels. Everyone on this planet was created in the Image of God. Satan has deceived us into covering up this image with the sins we choose to commit. He knows our weakness in the flesh and uses it to tempt us. Then we choose to partake in whatever it is.
Growing up I never heard a sermon on homosexuality. We only read about Sodom and Gomorrah and that was about it. How could such a small group over the last few years gain the power to change the attitude of our country's view towards homosexuality? What steps did they take to get to the level of acceptance that they have today among heterosexuals? They have replaced their fear in the past with brass confidence. They have gotten homosexuality, which is evil in God's sight, to be called good.
What course of action did it take for them to have this measure of success? You have to give homosexuals credit, they have put the fear in everyone from publicly saying anything bad about gays or lesbians. They now have protection and some states have legalized same sex marriages. Politicians, Hollywood, and the media give praise when prominent sports figures, movie stars, or even politicians "come out of the closet". If anyone makes a critical remark about homosexuals, the media is all over it. The public then demands an apology, some are terminated from their jobs, and businesses are boycotted and even faced with lawsuits. God condemns homosexuality the same as He condemns fornication and adultery. (Leviticus 17:22 and Romans 1:26-32)
How did those who are practicing homosexuality do this? It started with a few having the courage to "come out", then this gave others courage. Homosexuals managed to get in places of leadership. They portrayed themselves as being discriminated against. They seized every opportunity to desensitize and remove the stigma of homosexuality among the general public. They did this by the "coming out" of popular public figures and TV shows promoting gays as just an alternate lifestyle. You can think of other ways. Their strong desire to be accepted and still be able to participate in homosexual practices gave them the courage to rebel against God and even silence some of God's people. Christian, were you silenced by them? Are you going to let homosexuals teach your grandchildren in school that this is an acceptable way of life. When you die and have gone to your eternal home, who will teach them homosexuality is wrong?
Well, I do not know about you but I am tired of it. As of this date, I am "coming out of the closet". Mom and Dad don't pass out yet. Let me finish. I mean I am coming out of the closet as a Christian. NO I AM NOT GAY! I am not embarrassed to be a Christian. If you are my enemy I will love you as Jesus loves you. He loved you enough to die for you. I have been letting God's light shine, you might say, only in a closet. My "salt of the earth" is still in the box in the cabinet. I want to go to heaven and I want every one I know to go there. I want to be like Christ. I want to love like He loves.
I do not want my grandchildren to wonder why granddaddy and other Christians his age let this happen? What will your grandchildren say about you? Most importantly what will Christ say? (Matt. 7:21-23; Matt. 10:32;John 12:42)
Evil is Evil and always will be. God cannot lie. He said homosexuality is a sin and it always will be. Christians cannot not be sympathetic or moderate on this. For a Christian to be lukewarm on this issue is just like the church of the Laodiceans. Christ said because they were lukewarm He would spew them out of His mouth.
As Christians we should be Christlike in everything we do.We are to abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) If the world wants to promote evil and call it good, we can all group together and buy food and what we need from those who stand against evil. The big question is how many of us are ready to come out of the closet and be Christians who spread the Gospel to a lost and dying world. We need to be in leadership roles. How are we glorifying our Father in Heaven now? I am coming out and showing Christ to my brothers and sisters in humanity. There may be those who struggle with homosexuality. We can show them and all sinners the love of God through each of us. We must desire to have compassion and unconditional love for them and all people. Remember all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God and without Christ we can never be righteous before God. My "coming out" as a Christian is probably not going to make headlines, ESPN or Fox News, but 25,000,000 coming out will. The sponsors of some of the TV shows that laugh at Christians may have to rethink who they are sponsoring.
Final question. If as Christians we keep doing as we are now, will anything get better morally in our country?
What if 25,000,000 Christians decided "to come out of the closet" and show God's unconditional love for all mankind. Also, these Christians would be hot instead of lukewarm, having a zeal in their heart for obeying God, loving Him, abstaining from any appearance of evil, and live according to the example Christ has given us. They are not going to listen to me, but they will all of you. How about you? If you come out, you will be in a glass house. The world will be watching how we live and will be ready at a moments notice to call us hypocrites if we fail to live as faithful Christians. Read in John 15:18-19 and John 17:14-19 what Christ says about us and the world. Please think about it. Our grandchildren are depending on us.
I need some comments on this one and if you agree send it out everywhere. The cold water challenge was a great deed showing love, support and hopefully a cure for those with a dreaded disease. "The coming out of the closet as a Christian" addresses the spiritual disease we all have, Sin, and Christ is the Cure!
You can comment at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Please go to www.amazon.com to buy my new book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. If you do not have a Kindle you can download on your personal computer.
Thanks, it's good to be back.
Rick Hepler
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Conquering Giants
Have you ever experienced the giants of Monday morning? You go to bed on Sunday night dreading getting up the next day, because you know the problems you have in store for the week. I remember one place I worked, early every Monday morning we had an officers’ meeting. I hated going to bed on Sunday night because I knew what the next morning would bring. I would have nightmares concerning the job. This became a giant of a problem for me and almost made me sick. Finally I quit and found a job I enjoyed.
The problems we have in this life, if we let them, can grow into giants. How do we handle them? Most of the time our fearful thoughts make them look so large, that we become afraid. Let’s go to the Bible and see what happened to one giant.
Who hasn’t heard the story of David and Goliath? This is one of the first stories taught in Sunday school to little children. We read about this in 1 Samuel chapter 17. Saul and the men of Israel are in battle against the Philistines. In verses 4-7 we are introduced to Goliath’s size and how heavily he was equipped for battle. He issues a challenge to the armies of Israel in verses 8-10 and verse 11 tells us, Saul and all Israel were dismayed and greatly afraid. That is, when Goliath appeared, they were shattered and had much fear.
You notice in verse 16, Goliath presented himself forty days , morning and evening. I imagine every time he saw Saul and the men of Israel fleeing, his confidence was strengthened. When do most of your troublesome thoughts appear to you? Is it not morning and evening? When you try to flee from them, does this give them strength over you? If given time, our problems can wear us down to the point we do not know which way to turn. Saul and the men of Israel fled from Goliath instead of facing him. The solution to get rid of him was with them all the time , but they did not recognize it.
God showed them, and us, something that day. They could not present a champion to challenge Goliath. God chose one for them, and in verse 28 we read of David’s older brother’s anger toward David.
David was not afraid in facing Goliath, because he had faith in God. He trusted in God and did not forget what God had already done for him. Read verse 37. David’s faith and trust in God had previously been tested. God delivered him from the paw of the lion and bear, and he knew God would do the same with this Philistine.
God surprised the men of Israel by removing Goliath with a shepherd boy and one stone. Do you think the brother’s of David would have sent for David to come and kill Goliath? I don’t think so. Sometimes God shows us His glory by choosing one, who we think is weak, to bring glory to Him and His people.
Look what a shepherd boy did by having faith and trust in God. He removed a problem for the army of Israel and this gave them the courage to pursue and defeat the Philistines.
David stood up for God and what seemed impossible was made possible. Can only one make a difference by standing up for God’s commands? Does Chick-fil- A ring a bell?
I don’t need to turn my small negative thoughts into giants. Fearing them and running from them will do this very thing. We need to have the faith and trust in God as David, and expect God to deliver our giants into our hands in a way we could never imagine.
Thanks for reading. Let God help you defeat your giants today. Please send comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
I need your help. I am thinking about having this blog published as a devotional book for families or bible classes. I will add scripture and questions at the end of each story and will sell as an ebook or paperback.
What are your thoughts? Also, please invite others to read my blog. You have been so encouraging over the last year. I am sorry I can't post something each day. Right now time will not permit. I enjoy doing this so much and look for the day I can do this full time.
Thanks again!
Rick Hepler
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
"Do you want some cherry tomatoes?"
Yesterday afternoon, I was in the garden picking cherry tomatoes, and though it has been hot and dry, there were hundreds of ripe little tomatoes on my six plants. I had picked all we could eat and was wondering who I could give the rest of them to. About that time, I saw a man pushing a grocery cart down the street loaded with aluminum cans. As I approached him, I could see he was hot, tired and drenched in sweat. He chose a hot day to be picking up cans.
I asked him, hoping he would say yes, "Do you like cherry tomatoes?" He couldn't hear me and came closer. I repeated the question and he humbly said, "yes sir, I sure do". Most of his front teeth were missing. He seemed very timid. "Do you like corn and peas?" "Yes sir, I was raised on a farm and I enjoy anything out of a garden" he said, with very much gratitude in his voice. He didn't have a bag or anything, so I got him several bags for the corn and an ice cream bucket for the tomatoes.
I told him if we get the rains, we would have a good turnip patch. He said he loved turnips and turnip greens. I told him to be watching and when they were ready he was welcome to get all he wanted.
He looked tired, but he also looked hungry. I told him my name before I left and he told me his. "Thank you sir, I really appreciate it," he said as we shook hands.
Usually when someone tells me their name, I am thinking about what to say next and quickly forget it. Not with this guy. Something about him I really liked and felt drawn to. As I looked back, he was happily gathering tomatoes and I was happy that I had met him.
He doesn't know it, but he helped me more than I helped him. I know nothing about this man. He could have been drug addict or had a criminal past. I don't care. All I could see was a fellow human being hot and tired and I don't know why, but something urged me to call out to him.
I thought I had problems, not any more. With the current economic problems, I imagine, having enough food and cool shelter is a major task for him. Yes, he might be on welfare and food stamps. But one thing I know, my compassion for him and his well being flowed as river in my soul. It was good to feel like that again.
We have millions in this country just like him. They need help, whether they are on welfare or abusing welfare they need help. This help does not have to come from the government and it does not necessarily need to be money. We all need direction and encouragement.
As I was reading last night, I could not get this man out of my mind. I hoped he was alright. I wondered where he lived. Did he have a family? Then I realized I had given him something else the heat and drought had not effected. It was a fruit when given, helps the giver and the recipient. As I showed him the tomatoes, I also showed him, not realizing at the time, fruit of the Spirit, kindness and love, that God's Spirit had produced in me to give away. (Read Gal. 5:22) This fruit produced a smile on this man's face and gratitude in his heart.
As you know from my recent post, I enjoy working in the garden, planting seeds, watching them grow and eating the fruits of my labor. I enjoy more, God's Spirit working in the garden of my heart, producing a fruit I cannot grow in the garden. A fruit, when I show and give away, can change me and the world I live in.
After I read Galatians chapter 5 last night, emotions swelled inside me. Then I turned to one of my favorite chapters of the Bible, 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Nothing matters in this world if I don't have love. I can give fortunes away, and sacrifice all of my time, but without love, it profits me nothing.
I hope this man comes back to the garden. I want to show him, not what I have done, but what God, if allowed, can produce out of the garden of the heart.
The fruit of the spirit and lasting love is another solution to bringing our great nation back where she needs to be.
Each day let's make a goal to give away some fruit of the Spirit. I think we will be surprised at the difference this will make.
Please send your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Thank you so much for reading. Please share with others.
Rick Hepler
I asked him, hoping he would say yes, "Do you like cherry tomatoes?" He couldn't hear me and came closer. I repeated the question and he humbly said, "yes sir, I sure do". Most of his front teeth were missing. He seemed very timid. "Do you like corn and peas?" "Yes sir, I was raised on a farm and I enjoy anything out of a garden" he said, with very much gratitude in his voice. He didn't have a bag or anything, so I got him several bags for the corn and an ice cream bucket for the tomatoes.
I told him if we get the rains, we would have a good turnip patch. He said he loved turnips and turnip greens. I told him to be watching and when they were ready he was welcome to get all he wanted.
He looked tired, but he also looked hungry. I told him my name before I left and he told me his. "Thank you sir, I really appreciate it," he said as we shook hands.
Usually when someone tells me their name, I am thinking about what to say next and quickly forget it. Not with this guy. Something about him I really liked and felt drawn to. As I looked back, he was happily gathering tomatoes and I was happy that I had met him.
He doesn't know it, but he helped me more than I helped him. I know nothing about this man. He could have been drug addict or had a criminal past. I don't care. All I could see was a fellow human being hot and tired and I don't know why, but something urged me to call out to him.
I thought I had problems, not any more. With the current economic problems, I imagine, having enough food and cool shelter is a major task for him. Yes, he might be on welfare and food stamps. But one thing I know, my compassion for him and his well being flowed as river in my soul. It was good to feel like that again.
We have millions in this country just like him. They need help, whether they are on welfare or abusing welfare they need help. This help does not have to come from the government and it does not necessarily need to be money. We all need direction and encouragement.
As I was reading last night, I could not get this man out of my mind. I hoped he was alright. I wondered where he lived. Did he have a family? Then I realized I had given him something else the heat and drought had not effected. It was a fruit when given, helps the giver and the recipient. As I showed him the tomatoes, I also showed him, not realizing at the time, fruit of the Spirit, kindness and love, that God's Spirit had produced in me to give away. (Read Gal. 5:22) This fruit produced a smile on this man's face and gratitude in his heart.
As you know from my recent post, I enjoy working in the garden, planting seeds, watching them grow and eating the fruits of my labor. I enjoy more, God's Spirit working in the garden of my heart, producing a fruit I cannot grow in the garden. A fruit, when I show and give away, can change me and the world I live in.
After I read Galatians chapter 5 last night, emotions swelled inside me. Then I turned to one of my favorite chapters of the Bible, 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Nothing matters in this world if I don't have love. I can give fortunes away, and sacrifice all of my time, but without love, it profits me nothing.
I hope this man comes back to the garden. I want to show him, not what I have done, but what God, if allowed, can produce out of the garden of the heart.
The fruit of the spirit and lasting love is another solution to bringing our great nation back where she needs to be.
Each day let's make a goal to give away some fruit of the Spirit. I think we will be surprised at the difference this will make.
Please send your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Thank you so much for reading. Please share with others.
Rick Hepler
Friday, July 27, 2012
What Are We To Do?
The news from the past few days has been very disturbing to me and probably to you also. A successful business man publicly states his values and biblical beliefs and many are wanting to boycott his business. That business is Chick-fil-A. Read what he said:
" We are very much supportive of the family-the biblical definition
of the family unit. We are a family owned business, a family led
business and we are married to our first wives. We give thanks
for that...We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but
thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values
and operate on biblical principles."
Dan Cathy, CEO, Chick-fil-A
Now read some responses to that statement:
"What the CEO has said as it relates to gay marriage and gay
couples is not what I believe, but more importantly it's not what
the people of Chicago believe."
Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of
Chicago
"I want responsible businesses in my ward..."
Proco "Joe" Moreno,
Alderman of Chicago
"Chick-fil-A doesn't belong in Boston because of Cathy's
discriminatory stance."
Thomas Menino,
Mayor of Boston
Mr. Cathy is a living example to the solution this country needs. He believes in living by biblical principles, encouraging strong families by being married to his first wife and promoting family businesses that care for their employees. Any other business you know of closed on Sunday? You know, we used to do that in our country when I was a boy.
Read the part of his statement, "...but I thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."
Can we really do this? Do you share the same beliefs as Mr. Cathy? I do! Look what they are doing to him. Does the church you attend, share the same beliefs on marriage as Mr. Cathy? When are they going to do the same thing to me, my business, and the church where I attend? What about your business, the church where you attend, your family?
As Christians, how are we to act in this situation? First let's go to Luke 6:22-23. "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. "(NKJV) We are going to be just
fine through all of this, if we remain steadfast and faithful. Jesus said we would, so don't be afraid. (Please remember the first part of Rev. 21:8-"But the cowardly...")
How are we to treat those who oppose us? Jesus says in Luke 6:27, "But I say to you who hear: love your enemies, do good to them who hate you," We can love our enemies without compromising God's will. Look at Christ. He died for everyone, but did not compromise His father's will and also, He was without sin. We cannot sit by and do nothing. People need to know we love them but cannot approve of their sin. Read Romans 1:18-32. The last part of verse 32 should get our attention. ...that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.(NKJV) That is, they are worthy of God's wrath. We don't go out and kill them. Always remember 2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance.
What will make us strong? Be like Joshua: "And if it seems evil for you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)(NKJV) (Read
1Thes.3:14-22) Bottom line, be good and stay away from evil.
What did Jesus say in Matthew 12:25? Can we be divided as a nation? What about as Christians? What about as a family? What did Christ pray for? Read Christ's prayer in John 17:20-23. He wanted us to be one as He and the Father are one.
In closing, we as Christians must not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.(Ro. 1:16) God told Joshua to be strong and of good courage and not afraid because, He would be with him. (Joshua 1:9) I trust God, that He will be with us also.
Please share this with others.
Thank you so much for reading my blog. We are a majority with God, never forget this. Pray for our country and the children of our land that this nation will afford them the same freedom as we have enjoyed, to serve our heavenly Father in peace.
Please, you can send your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
" We are very much supportive of the family-the biblical definition
of the family unit. We are a family owned business, a family led
business and we are married to our first wives. We give thanks
for that...We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but
thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values
and operate on biblical principles."
Dan Cathy, CEO, Chick-fil-A
Now read some responses to that statement:
"What the CEO has said as it relates to gay marriage and gay
couples is not what I believe, but more importantly it's not what
the people of Chicago believe."
Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of
Chicago
"I want responsible businesses in my ward..."
Proco "Joe" Moreno,
Alderman of Chicago
"Chick-fil-A doesn't belong in Boston because of Cathy's
discriminatory stance."
Thomas Menino,
Mayor of Boston
Mr. Cathy is a living example to the solution this country needs. He believes in living by biblical principles, encouraging strong families by being married to his first wife and promoting family businesses that care for their employees. Any other business you know of closed on Sunday? You know, we used to do that in our country when I was a boy.
Read the part of his statement, "...but I thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."
Can we really do this? Do you share the same beliefs as Mr. Cathy? I do! Look what they are doing to him. Does the church you attend, share the same beliefs on marriage as Mr. Cathy? When are they going to do the same thing to me, my business, and the church where I attend? What about your business, the church where you attend, your family?
As Christians, how are we to act in this situation? First let's go to Luke 6:22-23. "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. "(NKJV) We are going to be just
fine through all of this, if we remain steadfast and faithful. Jesus said we would, so don't be afraid. (Please remember the first part of Rev. 21:8-"But the cowardly...")
How are we to treat those who oppose us? Jesus says in Luke 6:27, "But I say to you who hear: love your enemies, do good to them who hate you," We can love our enemies without compromising God's will. Look at Christ. He died for everyone, but did not compromise His father's will and also, He was without sin. We cannot sit by and do nothing. People need to know we love them but cannot approve of their sin. Read Romans 1:18-32. The last part of verse 32 should get our attention. ...that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.(NKJV) That is, they are worthy of God's wrath. We don't go out and kill them. Always remember 2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance.
What will make us strong? Be like Joshua: "And if it seems evil for you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)(NKJV) (Read
1Thes.3:14-22) Bottom line, be good and stay away from evil.
What did Jesus say in Matthew 12:25? Can we be divided as a nation? What about as Christians? What about as a family? What did Christ pray for? Read Christ's prayer in John 17:20-23. He wanted us to be one as He and the Father are one.
In closing, we as Christians must not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.(Ro. 1:16) God told Joshua to be strong and of good courage and not afraid because, He would be with him. (Joshua 1:9) I trust God, that He will be with us also.
Please share this with others.
Thank you so much for reading my blog. We are a majority with God, never forget this. Pray for our country and the children of our land that this nation will afford them the same freedom as we have enjoyed, to serve our heavenly Father in peace.
Please, you can send your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Do You Like a Clean House(Heart)?
Have you ever been put in this situation? It is a Sunday afternoon, you are getting ready to take a nap and the phone rings. Someone you haven't seen in years is just passing through town and would like to come by for a visit. You have been busy all weekend with the kids, dishes from lunch are in the sink, kid's clothes and toys are scattered from one end of the house to the other and they say, " We will be there in about 20 minutes" .
You hang up the phone, and immediately your body goes into emergency house cleaning mode. You are praying that they don't ask for a tour of the house. You only have time for cleaning what is visible and you ask, "why of all days, did they choose today to visit?" .
I remember when I was a child, mother was in the hospital for about a week. You can imagine what our house looked like, with Dad and the three of us boys there a week at home without Mom's supervision. It was a "Jesse Moment". Jesse lived down the road and if there was an Olympic game for the quickest house cleaning, I believe Jesse would win the gold metal. She would come in the door cleaning and we sure didn't need mother coming home to a dirty house. Dad would always go get her when we needed major house cleaning.
We all like to have a clean house when company comes. We don't want people to say that our house was a mess. Oh, the stress of what we think people may say about us when they leave. We always say this will never happen again then gradually we let this lay around or do not pick up that and the house needs a thorough cleaning again.
Most of the time we stress the importance of the externals, a clean house, car, shoes, windows, etc., but forget about the internal matters of the heart. In Matthew 23:24-26, Jesus reminded the Pharisees of this very thing. They had a heart, inside, problem and He stressed to them to first cleanse the inside, that the outside would be clean also.
In Psalms 51:10, David prayed for God to create a clean heart in him and renew a steadfast spirit within him. Why did David want God to create in him a clean heart? David had a weakness, the lust of the flesh, that led him to adultery with Bathsheba. (Read 2 Samuel 11:1-4) The 51st Psalm is a prayer of repentance from David to God. David knew his weakness and the thought in his heart that led him to sin against God. He wanted a clean heart, so those thoughts, which he still had in his mind, would never surface again to tempt him. Also, he wanted a steadfast spirit to help him control those thoughts.
The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Also, in Matthew 15:19, Christ says, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness and blasphemies." I now know why David wanted God to create in him a clean heart. He knew the internal battle he would have each day. He needed a clean heart and steadfast spirit to keep those past thoughts from tempting him again. Also, David valued his relationship with God. A relationship developed when he was young. When he strayed from God, he knew God well enough to confess to Him and go back to Him.
When we have a clean house, it makes us feel good. We are prepared for visitors. We have to do certain task each day to keep it that way. As mother would meet us at the door, "take those muddy shoes off before you come in the house", we must be gatekeepers of our own hearts, keeping out thoughts of the past, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
What if we, as a country, prayed to God , "Create a clean heart in us O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us" ? What would begin to happen? What if you prayed this prayer? Would your life be different?
After writing this, I realized the thoughts generated by every day life can clutter up a clean heart. The TV and Internet are two main sources of making a clean heart dirty. As mother would not let us boys come into the house with muddy shoes, we should not let this filth come into our hearts.
Please pray that we all will desire clean hearts and steadfast spirits.
Please share this with others and send your comments to: rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
We can't make a difference alone, but we can with God. He needs to know we want to make a difference. Pray! Pray! Pray!
Thanks for reading!
Rick Hepler
You hang up the phone, and immediately your body goes into emergency house cleaning mode. You are praying that they don't ask for a tour of the house. You only have time for cleaning what is visible and you ask, "why of all days, did they choose today to visit?" .
I remember when I was a child, mother was in the hospital for about a week. You can imagine what our house looked like, with Dad and the three of us boys there a week at home without Mom's supervision. It was a "Jesse Moment". Jesse lived down the road and if there was an Olympic game for the quickest house cleaning, I believe Jesse would win the gold metal. She would come in the door cleaning and we sure didn't need mother coming home to a dirty house. Dad would always go get her when we needed major house cleaning.
We all like to have a clean house when company comes. We don't want people to say that our house was a mess. Oh, the stress of what we think people may say about us when they leave. We always say this will never happen again then gradually we let this lay around or do not pick up that and the house needs a thorough cleaning again.
Most of the time we stress the importance of the externals, a clean house, car, shoes, windows, etc., but forget about the internal matters of the heart. In Matthew 23:24-26, Jesus reminded the Pharisees of this very thing. They had a heart, inside, problem and He stressed to them to first cleanse the inside, that the outside would be clean also.
In Psalms 51:10, David prayed for God to create a clean heart in him and renew a steadfast spirit within him. Why did David want God to create in him a clean heart? David had a weakness, the lust of the flesh, that led him to adultery with Bathsheba. (Read 2 Samuel 11:1-4) The 51st Psalm is a prayer of repentance from David to God. David knew his weakness and the thought in his heart that led him to sin against God. He wanted a clean heart, so those thoughts, which he still had in his mind, would never surface again to tempt him. Also, he wanted a steadfast spirit to help him control those thoughts.
The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Also, in Matthew 15:19, Christ says, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness and blasphemies." I now know why David wanted God to create in him a clean heart. He knew the internal battle he would have each day. He needed a clean heart and steadfast spirit to keep those past thoughts from tempting him again. Also, David valued his relationship with God. A relationship developed when he was young. When he strayed from God, he knew God well enough to confess to Him and go back to Him.
When we have a clean house, it makes us feel good. We are prepared for visitors. We have to do certain task each day to keep it that way. As mother would meet us at the door, "take those muddy shoes off before you come in the house", we must be gatekeepers of our own hearts, keeping out thoughts of the past, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
What if we, as a country, prayed to God , "Create a clean heart in us O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us" ? What would begin to happen? What if you prayed this prayer? Would your life be different?
After writing this, I realized the thoughts generated by every day life can clutter up a clean heart. The TV and Internet are two main sources of making a clean heart dirty. As mother would not let us boys come into the house with muddy shoes, we should not let this filth come into our hearts.
Please pray that we all will desire clean hearts and steadfast spirits.
Please share this with others and send your comments to: rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com .
We can't make a difference alone, but we can with God. He needs to know we want to make a difference. Pray! Pray! Pray!
Thanks for reading!
Rick Hepler
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Do We Have Weeds In The Garden?
Weed: a plant considered, unattractive, or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted, as in a garden. (American Heritage Dictionary)
I have written about my enjoyment of gardening in past post. I think in order to to have a productive, beautiful garden, the most important task is to keep the weeds out. Weeds, if allowed to grow in the garden, can take needed moisture and nutrients from your desired plants, and if left to mature, they can produce numerous seeds that will present a problem for years to come.
When my children were young and wanted to help me in the garden , I would ask them to chop or pull the weeds out. It didn't take me long to realize, they did not know a tomato plant from a weed. I just assumed they knew. I was wrong. I had to teach them the difference between an vegetable plant and weeds. Also, I had to explain why we chopped the weeds out.
I explained to them that a good gardener can identify the different weeds and chop them out, because if you allow them to remain, they will produce hundreds of seeds that will sprout every year. Eventually, the once beautiful and productive garden is lost to the weeds.
All gardens have weeds, but only productive ones are weed free from daily weeding by the gardener.
The christian life is like a garden. When a person becomes a christian they are babes in Christ, just like a newly planted garden. To grow and be fruitful in the Kingdom , they must know how to identify sin (weeds) and each day work not allowing sin to get rooted in their life. Like in the garden, they can't allow any sin (weed) to stand. Sin left in your heart will only spread and choke out your christian life. A christian must be vigilant every day, the same as a good gardener weeding his garden each day.
What would happen if I didn't train my children to properly identify weeds and to chop them out? Or what if they left some weeds to grow because they looked pretty to them? What if they mistakenly left the weeds they called good and chopped out the good garden plants which produce good fruit because these plants did not look as good as the weeds? How long would it take for that once beautiful, productive garden to get choked out by the weeds my children let stand because they liked the way weeds looked in the garden.
Weeds in the garden, if left to stand and grow, choke out the plants that provide food and nourishment to us, and they eventually are left dead or unproductive.
Sin in the heart does the same thing to a Christian's life. Sin if allowed to be full grown, brings spiritual death. (James 1:14-15) (NKJV)
I learned to identify weeds from my parents, but specifically from a weed science class I took in college. I also learned from my parents what was sin. Then as I read God's word, I learned the different types of sin, their causes, and the results of practicing them. To be a faithful Christian, I cannot call any sin good, let it grow, and manifest in my life. It would be as unproductive, as a garden overcome with weeds, and my christian life would be choked out to die.
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20) (NKJV) When I leave a sin in my life that I like participating in, am I calling evil good? When the leaders of this great country support what God calls an abomination as good, and protects it with laws, and those who call this evil are called several names and may even be arrested, is this what Isaiah 5:20 is referring to ?
When I enjoy a beautiful garden, my desire is to keep it beautiful and to keep the weeds out. All of them! No weed should be desirable to me because of its harm to the garden. To enjoy a beautiful Christian life I must have the desire to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. The actions that God calls sin, I must also call sin and not let it have a place in my heart.
Can I change from a sinful life? (Read in 1Cor. 6:9-11) If I call myself a Christian can I continue allowing the sins of the past in my life that the goodness of God's grace will over look? (Read Romans 6:1-6)
What happens when I am tempted and sin on occasion? Continue to walk in the light confessing the sin and the blood of Christ washes the sin away. (Read 1John 1:1-5)
By the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we now have weeds in our gardens, and sin in this world, because of their disobedience to God's command. But God loves us so much, that He already had a plan if place that would wash that sin away and make us righteous before Him.
In our country today we have a sin problem. It seems that we are at the place of no return, but with God all things are possible. (Read Matthew 19:25-26)
Allowing weeds to remain and grow in the garden never has and never will be productive. Common sense tells us this and also we can see it with our own eyes. Allowing sin to flourish in the churches and this country does the same thing. Do we not have eyes to see this?
Can you imagine what the world and our country would be like if every one who claims to be a christian, spoke the same thing, identified sin as God does, called evil for what it is, and embraced the goodness of God?
The cost of doing this will not run our country's deficit up. The price has already been paid. God's Son, Jesus, died on the cross and paid it in full. Some do not believe in God nor His Son, or they believe in Him, but do not follow Him in the way He has instructed. We can perfectly see the results of this today. Our garden is overtaken by weeds and is now non productive and almost choked out.
What if we all pitched in and chopped the garden out? How would we do it?
For a start, we all need to read, 2Ch 7:14 and James 4:10 and believe it. Do you believe God's ways or man's ways can get us out of this mess? I think I will go with God's. You do remember He created us and the whole universe? He sure did not create this mess we are in today. ( I believe man did.) I think I am going to go with God's way.
This does not begin with someone else. It starts with me. I need to identify any weeds in my garden and then eagerly and lovingly help my brothers and sisters in humanity to do the same.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". (Philippians 3:13) (NKJV)
Can I do this? Can you? Can we do it together? If we do not desire to take any action, what will our grand children's garden look like? Will it be our fault if they lose their garden to weeds?
Please send this to all of your friends and family to read and pass on. Let us have courage to follow God and His ways instead of man's. Do you think we can do this with God's help? Let me know if there is a better solution out there, because if we continue on the path we are on, it is leading us to definitely a huge weed patch.
Please have the courage to comment at rhepler52@gmail.com or rhepler52@yahoo.com . All comments are confidential.
Thank you so much for reading this and the encouragement you always give.
Rick
I have written about my enjoyment of gardening in past post. I think in order to to have a productive, beautiful garden, the most important task is to keep the weeds out. Weeds, if allowed to grow in the garden, can take needed moisture and nutrients from your desired plants, and if left to mature, they can produce numerous seeds that will present a problem for years to come.
When my children were young and wanted to help me in the garden , I would ask them to chop or pull the weeds out. It didn't take me long to realize, they did not know a tomato plant from a weed. I just assumed they knew. I was wrong. I had to teach them the difference between an vegetable plant and weeds. Also, I had to explain why we chopped the weeds out.
I explained to them that a good gardener can identify the different weeds and chop them out, because if you allow them to remain, they will produce hundreds of seeds that will sprout every year. Eventually, the once beautiful and productive garden is lost to the weeds.
All gardens have weeds, but only productive ones are weed free from daily weeding by the gardener.
The christian life is like a garden. When a person becomes a christian they are babes in Christ, just like a newly planted garden. To grow and be fruitful in the Kingdom , they must know how to identify sin (weeds) and each day work not allowing sin to get rooted in their life. Like in the garden, they can't allow any sin (weed) to stand. Sin left in your heart will only spread and choke out your christian life. A christian must be vigilant every day, the same as a good gardener weeding his garden each day.
What would happen if I didn't train my children to properly identify weeds and to chop them out? Or what if they left some weeds to grow because they looked pretty to them? What if they mistakenly left the weeds they called good and chopped out the good garden plants which produce good fruit because these plants did not look as good as the weeds? How long would it take for that once beautiful, productive garden to get choked out by the weeds my children let stand because they liked the way weeds looked in the garden.
Weeds in the garden, if left to stand and grow, choke out the plants that provide food and nourishment to us, and they eventually are left dead or unproductive.
Sin in the heart does the same thing to a Christian's life. Sin if allowed to be full grown, brings spiritual death. (James 1:14-15) (NKJV)
I learned to identify weeds from my parents, but specifically from a weed science class I took in college. I also learned from my parents what was sin. Then as I read God's word, I learned the different types of sin, their causes, and the results of practicing them. To be a faithful Christian, I cannot call any sin good, let it grow, and manifest in my life. It would be as unproductive, as a garden overcome with weeds, and my christian life would be choked out to die.
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20) (NKJV) When I leave a sin in my life that I like participating in, am I calling evil good? When the leaders of this great country support what God calls an abomination as good, and protects it with laws, and those who call this evil are called several names and may even be arrested, is this what Isaiah 5:20 is referring to ?
When I enjoy a beautiful garden, my desire is to keep it beautiful and to keep the weeds out. All of them! No weed should be desirable to me because of its harm to the garden. To enjoy a beautiful Christian life I must have the desire to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. The actions that God calls sin, I must also call sin and not let it have a place in my heart.
Can I change from a sinful life? (Read in 1Cor. 6:9-11) If I call myself a Christian can I continue allowing the sins of the past in my life that the goodness of God's grace will over look? (Read Romans 6:1-6)
What happens when I am tempted and sin on occasion? Continue to walk in the light confessing the sin and the blood of Christ washes the sin away. (Read 1John 1:1-5)
By the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we now have weeds in our gardens, and sin in this world, because of their disobedience to God's command. But God loves us so much, that He already had a plan if place that would wash that sin away and make us righteous before Him.
In our country today we have a sin problem. It seems that we are at the place of no return, but with God all things are possible. (Read Matthew 19:25-26)
Allowing weeds to remain and grow in the garden never has and never will be productive. Common sense tells us this and also we can see it with our own eyes. Allowing sin to flourish in the churches and this country does the same thing. Do we not have eyes to see this?
Can you imagine what the world and our country would be like if every one who claims to be a christian, spoke the same thing, identified sin as God does, called evil for what it is, and embraced the goodness of God?
The cost of doing this will not run our country's deficit up. The price has already been paid. God's Son, Jesus, died on the cross and paid it in full. Some do not believe in God nor His Son, or they believe in Him, but do not follow Him in the way He has instructed. We can perfectly see the results of this today. Our garden is overtaken by weeds and is now non productive and almost choked out.
What if we all pitched in and chopped the garden out? How would we do it?
For a start, we all need to read, 2Ch 7:14 and James 4:10 and believe it. Do you believe God's ways or man's ways can get us out of this mess? I think I will go with God's. You do remember He created us and the whole universe? He sure did not create this mess we are in today. ( I believe man did.) I think I am going to go with God's way.
This does not begin with someone else. It starts with me. I need to identify any weeds in my garden and then eagerly and lovingly help my brothers and sisters in humanity to do the same.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". (Philippians 3:13) (NKJV)
Can I do this? Can you? Can we do it together? If we do not desire to take any action, what will our grand children's garden look like? Will it be our fault if they lose their garden to weeds?
Please send this to all of your friends and family to read and pass on. Let us have courage to follow God and His ways instead of man's. Do you think we can do this with God's help? Let me know if there is a better solution out there, because if we continue on the path we are on, it is leading us to definitely a huge weed patch.
Please have the courage to comment at rhepler52@gmail.com or rhepler52@yahoo.com . All comments are confidential.
Thank you so much for reading this and the encouragement you always give.
Rick
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