I heard Professor Gail Riplinger make that awesome statement one day, and I
adopted it: “ALWAYS BE PURE OF HEART!” By the way, Pastor Jack Hyles honored
Dr. Riplinger with a doctorate's degree at Pastor's School (and she deserves
it). I think she is a beautiful lady, truly. There was a woman on staff with
a doctorate's degree in theology, at the First Baptist Church of Hammond,
who wrote all of the Sunday School lessons for the youth in the church. I
still have dozens of them from when I attended Hyles-Anderson College, and
taught Sunday School for four years. Ladies have a very important role in
the New Testament Church. Thank God for Y'all!
God has given me a big heart—a preacher's heart! 1st Kings 4:29, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.” I know I could never be as wise as Solomon, for the Bible says he was the wisest of all; but I pray regularly for God to give me wisdom, as the Bible teaches in James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”
The flipside of having a big heart is that I easily
get my feelings hurt. I am a very loving person, and I always look for ways
to be a blessing to others, without respect of persons. Like a little child,
I am sensitive and my heart is easily broken. I have been told on numerous
occasions to “GROW THICKER SKIN” by calloused adults. No thanks, I like who
I am, and my skin is just fine as it is. I like who God made me—a caring
believer with a big heart of love for everyone. When I fall in love with a
woman, I FALL IN LOVE; she is the only woman I think of, and I'm already
making marriage plans in my mind...lol. That is why I love music, and
musical instruments so much, because it is a way for me to express myself. I
played my banjo last night, with a broken heart, but God used it to cheer me
up. Listening to Dave
Hum always inspires me. My finger tips are hurting from the banjo
strings, because I hadn't played for so long. I also love to talk, because
it is another way for me to express my feelings. My ministry website allows
me to express my feelings, which I need and am thankful to God for the
privilege and opportunity. Thank you dear reader for listening to a fool for
Christ like me. I truly do want to be a blessing to everyone.
The Soul's Pain of Wanting to Love and Be Loved
I have been in love with a young Christian woman for
over 2 1/2 years. (I like to try to
make her laugh). Sadly, she hasn't reciprocated my feelings; but when she
waves and smiles at me, it makes me happy beyond words.
She has my heart, but I don't know if I have hers. I would gladly wait 7 years for her, as did Jacob
Rachel. I had been walking at the same time each evening, for her sake. I
did that out of respect for her, so she could avoid me if she wanted, lest I
make her feel uncomfortable. And also, by going walking each night at the
same time, she could meet up with me if she wanted, to smile and wave if she
desired. If you've ever been in love, you know the elated feeling of being
around that special person. Women are different than men; men fall in love
on the spot, but women take time for their feelings to develop, and it can
be frustrating for a man during that time, but I have learned to just keep
trying, and don't give up!
My heart is aching to get to be a part of her life. All I can do is pray in my loneliness. She is wonderful to me. She dresses modestly. She works hard. I really like her. She inspires me. I think I am a cool guy to be around. I just wish she'd give me the chance. That must be how God feels toward so many people, desiring to get to know them, but they won't repent to believe the Gospel to be saved. 2nd Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Being in love is an emotional Roller Coaster. I feel jealous over her, which is exactly how God feels. In fact, God's name is JEALOUS! Exodus 34:14, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” God knows that I love everyone, because I love God most of all, and He commands me to love everyone. Brother Hyles always taught me the great truth: “People aren't bad, they are broken!” Sadly, Harvest Baptist Church has rejected and ostracized me from their church family since 2014, because I told THE TRUTH for God. I wish I had never left in 2014, not knowing that I would become a recluse all alone, with inexplicable pain of soul, watching all my neighbours go to Harvest three times a week, and I am banned from attending their church services (just because I told THE TRUTH). A hurting dog barks! 2nd Corinthians 2:7, “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.” Who cares, right? I am so glad that God is faithful to give us another chance, even though fellow professed Christians won't (1st John 1:9).
I wish I could spend a holiday with her and her family sometime, as a guest. I could bring my Hawaiian Steel Guitar over, or my Banjo, or Pedal Steel Guitar, or Ukulele, or Acoustic Guitar, or all of them...lol. Heck, I've even got a 21 String Harp, a 15 String Lute, and an 8 String Mandolin, and I can even play the radio (lol). Or I could just bring myself, that would be nice, and be much appreciated. Because of the rejection I get from Harvest Baptist Church, I naturally feel like everyone has contempt for me in the neighborhood (because they all go to Harvest). Nobody has ever invited me to anything over the past 5 years I've lived here, but I would definitely come if I were invited. The Jehovah's Witnesses came by my house again Saturday (the 5th time so far). If I didn't know any better, I'd join the JW's, because they care enough to come to my door. Being in love is painful, if the other person doesn't feel the same toward you. God knows my heart, that I only feel love toward others. I don't have much time left on earth, 20 to 30 years at most. Granted, today could be the last day of anyone's life. Proverbs 27:1, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Remember, every day is a gift from God, which is why we call it: “THE PRESENT”!
I wish she could know my heart, and me hers. I want to be a part of her life. I would do anything for her, and she means so much to me; but I am just a distant face in her life, with a broken heart wanting to be loved. It is so frustrating. I admit that I am not good at people stuff. I always mess things up, one way or another, by trying too hard. I was really hoping her family would invite me over for Thanksgiving, or for Christmas. I would enjoy being in their family's presence. I apologize to my web visitors for writing about this subject so much, but it is my life right now. Acts 4:20, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” We all go through the chapters of our life, until the book is finished, when we depart from the earthly tabernacle of this flesh (2nd Corinthians 5:1-7). Psalm 90:9, “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.” THIS WAS YOUR LIFE!!! | MORE. I'm looking at places to live in North Carolina, where Lord willing I may move, but for now I'm just taking life the only way God gives it to us—one day at a time! God is so very good!!!
Lord willing, I need to find a woman who likes me too. I keep falling in love with women who don't like me. If I can find someone who likes me too, then we'll be happy together. Having a positive attitude is very important in marriage. You both have to try to make it work, or it will be rough. All you need to fall in love is a pulse, but to stay married requires a plan. I just want to make someone happy, each day of the rest of our lives. I am lonely every day for companionship, but the good Lord sustains my soul. I get happy making God happy!!! I enjoy knowing that God enjoys my fellowship with Him. I love Jesus and want the whole world to know that I am not ashamed of His name, which is why I wear a “John 3:16” cap everywhere I go (and I admittedly have a complex over my bald head on top; and so did Brother Hyles, which he talks about in this cool sermon titled: “A GOOD OLD AGE”). I love Brother Hyles beyond words, for his godly influence in my life, and for TEACHING ME HOW TO FORGIVE AND LOVE EVERYONE!!!
When I get my feelings hurt, I withdraw into my shell like a turtle, staying home and watching movies. I have a big collection. I like Jurassic Park, Poseidon, Dante's Peak, Saving Private Ryan, Tron and Willie Wonka's Chocolate factory, to name but a few. I learned how to deal with living in solitude from watching my father, who lived alone because my mother needed constant medical care in a nursing home (she suffered a crippling stroke in 1989). My Dad picked her up on weekends to bring to the Rescue Mission (legally a church), and then brought her back to the nursing home on Monday. I often helped out, going to get my Mom to bring her to the mission. I used to stop at the gas station and put $2 or $3 gas in his 40 gallon tank on the van, just because I loved my Dad. I didn't have much money, not enough to fill it up, but I did what I could. When you love your mother and father, you do little things for them. Likewise, when we love God, we do little things for Him. When we do little things for others, we are doing it for our heavenly Father. God is always watching. Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
My parents were married for 36 years! They lived that way for 12 years, before my Mom went to Heaven in 2001. My Dad listened to movies in the background, to keep him company as he worked at his desk, and it works for me. That is one way that I cope with loneliness. I listen to sermons all the time too, and Alexander Scourby read the Bible, and movies; and then I only listen to secular music in my car, to give me balance. It breaks up the monotony of the day. To each his own. As a musician, I don't like to listen to music, I like to “FEEL” music, so I crank up the radio in my car. Music is a beautiful thing, and it cheers my soul. Music is a gift from God, and the ability to hear, which many people do not have. Always thank God for the blessings in your life dear friend!!! Despite my constant neck pain, I thank God for the blessings in my life. Christmas is a lonely time, which I hate being alone, but I know God is with me. I spent five Christmases (2009-2013) without as much as a word between me and another human being, and I wanted to kill myself; but God who raises the dead, sustained my spirit (2nd Corinthians 1:8-10).
One of my “faults” (James 5:16b) as a Christian is that I think too much sometimes. I am a thinker. That is a good thing, but it gets me into trouble at times, reading too much into a situation, and I panic or worry. It's a hard habit to break! When I have a heavy heart, time slows down, so that every minute seems like an hour, and an hour like a day. One of my supplications (petitions in prayer) is for God to help me to be more patient. When I walk into a store, and see 10 people standing in each checkout line, I kindly walk out. I hate waiting! If I see traffic backed-up, I wait about 60 seconds and make a U-turn, going another route. Albeit, Lord, please help me to be more patient when it comes to OTHERS! 1st Thessalonians 5:14, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”
I admit that I am weak emotionally. I get my
feelings hurt easily. I am restless in my soul, wanting to sprout wings and
fly away! Psalms 55:6, “And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for
then would I fly away, and be at rest.” I cry upon my pillow, desiring
to be near to the one I am in love with. All I can do is wipe away the
tears, and look to my blessed Savior for comfort. I won't hold grudges. Life
is too short to live with a burden of hatred. Although I am a lonely man, I
have the joy of the Lord in my soul. I guess my song is: “Looking
For Love In All The Wrong Places!” by Johnny Lee. One day I will
hopefully find a lonely woman, who is looking for love like me. I choose to
do the only thing I can do—LET GO, LET GOD! Since Jesus forgave a woeful
sinner like me, I certainly am going to forgive everyone, even if it is
never asked. LOVE IS THE GREATEST!!!
I Hate Being in 'The Friend Zone'
The
“Friend Zone” is where you are in love with someone, but they just want to
be your friend. God hates being in “The Friend Zone.” Most Christians only
pray when they need something from God. They don't want to be close to God,
they just want to be “friends.” I don't just want to be God's friend, I want
to be as close as possible with Him, the restorer of my soul. Psalms
23:3, “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his name's sake.” I must have an intimate relationship with my God!
There's not a meal that I eat, but that I thank God multiple times
throughout the meal, appreciating my working taste buds and the delicious
food that God provides. I actually love my own cooking! I love to cook and I
love to eat. I make awesome deep-dish pizza. I make an awesome beef and
vegetable stir-fry. I have learned to make fire in the cast-iron pan, and
flambé all my vegetables. One whole green bell pepper is only 25 calories!
That is so cool! I make great homemade flan (Mexican custard), Mom's
favorite cheesecake, and great White Castles (lol). I love cooking!
One day I pray that God will give me a wife. And if He does, I want to be her servant, as a godly husband ought be. The Bible teaches MUTUAL SUBMISSION. Ephesians 5:21, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Marriage is two people making a life for each other. I don't want to be in “The Friend Zone,” I want to be in “The Marriage Zone.” Concerning getting married, Pastor Jack Hyles used to humorously say from the pulpit: “There's a fat slob for everyone!” That's funny. There were some women in the church who were seemingly never going to find a husband, which Brother Hyles mentions in his helpful sermon titled: “Let Yourself Know What Yourself Already Knows.” In this sermon, Brother Hyles praises Miss Viola Mae Walden (1915-2007), who never married so she could serve the Lord as Dr. John R. Rice's secretary, living a life of loneliness. I think about that sermon often, feeling like I will never find a wife. Loneliness is painful at times. It depends a lot on the personality of each individual. I have never liked going to restaurants by myself, I always want to be with someone. One day at a time. God is with me all the time. Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
One of the hardest things I have had to process as a
Christian, is the carnality and grudging-holding of professed Christians,
who bear the name but not the cross of Jesus Christ! Nothing has destroyed
churches in America more than affluent snobs, who lord over the churches as
if they own it instead of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor Jack Hyles said that
businessmen are destroying churches all across America. The reason why is
obvious—because they prioritize MONEY instead of THE TRUTH, LOVING PEOPLE
and SOULWINNING! James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Most of America's churches are
deceived!!!
Always Be Pure of Heart
Our
text Bible verse says only the pure of heart will see God. Matthew 5:8,
“Blessed are the pure in
heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 18:4, “Whosoever
therefore shall humble himself as this little child,
the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Luke 18:17, “Verily I say
unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God
as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” That is
why over 80% of all Christians were saved in their youth, before age 18. I
was saved at age 13. By age 70, a person only has a 4% chance of getting
saved. Adults have to figure everything out, and are blinded by sinful pride
and love for sin. Children are sensitive, they get their feelings hurt
easily, like I do. I am like a big kid in many ways. That is a part of being
PURE OF HEART.
“God will not use proud people!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a quote from the classic sermon: How To Be Used Of God
I don't want to become cold, calloused, cold-hearted, and a grudge-holder, like so many carnal believers are nowadays, grieving the great heart of God. Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Heaven is filled with children. Luke 18:16, “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Could this Scripture be referring to the 1,720,000,000 babies murdered by ABORTION over the past 40 YEARS in the world? Or does this verse refer to the humility that epitomizes the redeemed, who have “submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3b). I think both truths apply.
Being “PURE OF HEART” simply means that you are REAL PEOPLE!!! That is a popular term used by black folks. I want to be REAL PEOPLE! How about you dear reader—are you REAL PEOPLE, or a REAL PHONY? Judas was a big phony! The apostle Peter messed up quite a bit (like me). On one occasion Peter was so off in his thinking, that the Lord even said: “GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN!” Yet, Peter was REAL PEOPLE, because he was 100% sincere and honest in his motives.
One of my favorite Bible characters, if not the most, is Nathanael. John 1:47, “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” I love that! I want to be just like Nathanael, in whom is NO GUILE!!! There was nothing deceptive, phony or fake about Nathanael. I have never seen such arrogance as I do today in pastors and churches, who vehemently reject THE TRUTH. Even when you humbly place THE TRUTH directly into their hands, they couldn't care less. Instead, they blame the truth-teller, and shun him from the church, and count him their “enemy” (Galatians 4:16b), when all he was trying to do was open their eyes with THE TRUTH. With whom do you think God is more pleased—the agreeable son with the good attitude (new evangelicals), or the son with the big mouth who causes trouble (the fighting fundamentalist, like me)? No doubt, many of my readers would consider me the son with the bad attitude, for exposing churches by name and ripping on Bob Jones University; but if you read that Bible story, it was the son with the bad attitude with whom the Father was pleased, because he GOT THE JOB DONE! ...
Matthew 21:28-32, “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”
All across America, professed Christians meet together each Sunday in nice fancy buildings (with padded pews, air-conditioning, stained-glass windows and plush carpeting), Sitting On The Premises instead of Standing On The Promises! They operate money-hungry Bible colleges, charging students $30,000 per year for room and board, making big bucks promoting the cancer of new evangelicalism. Fundamentalists build churches, new evangelicals take them over and run them into the ground spiritually, “teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake” (Titus 1:11b).
I'm talking about apostate pastors and Bible professors, who sanction dozens of different Bible versions! It sickens me that the average pastor today is okay with umpteen Bible versions. IT'S NOT OKAY!!! If you talk to any of them, they will try to weasel their way out of the conversation, by claiming that they don't agree with all the modern versions. That is like supporting Adolf Hitler, while defending yourself by saying that you don't agree with all the Nazis. Those horrible pastors have no excuses! New-evangelicals deliberately avoid going too deep into the Christian life, staying in the shallow end of the swimming pool, afraid to wade out into the deep! Luke 5:4, “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” Dear reader, I challenge you to—“LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP” for God!!!
If you have ever been blessed by anything from me or my website, it is only the LORD JESUS CHRIST working through me! I give God ALL the praise, glory and credit, “for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5b).
