April 1 april fool

 April Fools.  The first day of April. The exact origin of April Fool’s Day is unknown, but some historians speculate it dates back to 1582.  France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.  The Julian calendar new year began with the spring equinox around April first.  People who didn’t get the news or rejected it continued to celebrate New Years during the last week of March through April first.  They were called “April fools.” Pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish), said to symbolize a young, easily caught fish and a gullible person. The Bible uses the word “fool” 66 times.  Let’s examine a few.  Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. Sometimes there is safety in numbers.  Bounce ideas off others to get their input to evaluate.  Two heads are better than one. Seek counsel to be wise.  Especially seek counsel daily from God’s Word, the Bible.  Proverbs 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. Be open to constructive criticism.  Search for a grain of truth in every criticism.  Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Some say Abraham Lincoln said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”  Then there are those who say Mark Twain said those words first.  Of course, if the internet states it, then it has to be right.  Right?  Don’t be a fool!  Even much of the news we get cannot be trusted.  Still, it’s good advice to remain silent unless you really have something worthwhile to say. Proverbs 26:4-5  Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. We are not to argue with a fool.  State the truth.  If he accepts truth, he is better off.  However, if you do not correct him, he will think you agree with him. Next are two verses are almost identical: Psalm 14:1  Psalm 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. We could call April first Atheists Day!  Christians are called “fools” because 1 Corinthians 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. I rather enjoy being a “fool” for Jesus.   Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  Please don’t die a fool.  Put your faith in Jesus if you desire to be wise.  www.heretheword.com 

 Between a rock and a hard place. Sometimes we find ourselves in difficult situations.  Paul wanted to graduate to Heaven, yet he knew the Lord wasn’t through with him down here on earth.  Philippians 1:23-24 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.   Sometimes life was miserable for Paul.    2 Corinthians 11:23-30 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.   However, life was also sometimes wonderful for Paul.  Romans 8:18   For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Paul knew he was obeying His Lord who had told him he must suffer great things.  Acts 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. I am ashamed of my complaining to my Lord.  I greatly admire the followers of our Lord who do not complain.  Paul wanted to graduate to Heaven, but he knew there was still work to for Jesus.  He purposed to forget the bad from the past and press forward.  Philippians 3:13-14  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. You and I too should desire to graduate to glory.  But until Jesus calls our name, I hope we will be busy doing our Fathers business.  Luke 2:49  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?  www.heretheword.com 

 Disappointment.   Ecclesiastes 3:4  "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;"      Life is not consistent.  It is not smooth sailing all the time.  If we never had rain the constant sunshine would turn the world into a dustbowl.  Give and take.  We cannot expect to always have blessings without having some trials.  As a Christian, Jesus is my High Priest.  I can talk to Him about anything. Hebrews 4:14-16 " Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."    When it seems, life is unfair we can talk to Jesus about it.  We get discouraged.  We get depressed.  Sometimes our situation seems hopeless.  But for the Christian there is always hope.  We must determine in our heart to hold fast our profession.  I purpose in my heart to serve Jesus even if He kills me.  Job said, Job 13:15 " Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him"  . Sometimes we may have to say, “Jesus, I love you.  You saved me.  You watch over me.  You are preparing a place for me in Heaven.  But Lord sometimes life is so unfair.  Disappointment after disappointment. But in my heart, I know you are still in control.  You may kill me, and surely someday you will, but in the meantime, I purpose in my heart to follow you and stay in close fellowship with you. I will maintain mine own ways before you.  I will continue to read my Bible.  I will continue to pray.  I will be faithful to my church.  I will use the Spiritual gifts you have given me to be a blessing to my church.  I don’t appreciate the disappointments and heartaches, but I love you Supremely and I will not give Satan the victory.”  Jesus in anguish cried: Matthew 27:46 … My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? We will never experience the disappointment and heart break Jesus experienced.  God the Father will never turn His back on us.  Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Expect disappointment.  But also expect unexpected blessings.  Both will come your way.  Don’t get caught in the moment.  Continue to trust and obey. For there’s no other way. To be happy in Jesus. But to trust and obey.   www.heretheword.com 

 He killed a cat.  As a boy one of our neighbors down the street killed a cat.  He then dissected it in his garage.  All of us boys gathered to see the gruesome scene.  It was repulsive.  Blood and guts don’t affect me now as they did then.  When my mother heard about the death and dissection, she was beside herself.  She was a cat person.  The very idea that a man would do such a horrible thing.  However, our neighbor was completing a class assignment.  He was going to college to become a pharmacist.  The dissection of a cat was required.  Even though he had a “good” reason mother never forgave him.  I wonder how many people he helped medically in his capacity as a pharmacist. Many times our assignments on earth are less than pleasant.  God knows how to educate us.  Or discipline us.  Whatever it takes to get our attention and teach us His ways.  Our experiences, good and bad, help us to understand the needs of others.  The Lord expects us to care about others.  The more we go through the more we are able to minister to the needs of those around us.  2 Corinthians 1:4 “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”   Been there.  Done that.  Hard times.  God brought us through them. Now we are privileged to comfort those having a hard time.  Teenage pregnant unwed daughter?  Been there. Son in jail?  Been there.  Cancer threating the life of a loved one?  Been there.  Death of a parent?  Been there.  I don’t care to list the things I have not experienced that others have. The list could be endless.  But I am thankful for the comfort I have received and am certain that in the future when trouble comes my way Jesus will be near to help me.  Then after the storm has passed, I will be better qualified to comfort others.  Joseph accused of messing with his master’s wife landed him in prison.  But God worked it for good.  Romans 8:28  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  Peter put on death row for being faithful to Jesus resulted in him and the church growing in grace. Acts 12:7 “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.” Paul put on death row gave him the opportunity to write much of our New Testament.  Jesus comforted Paul.  Paul still comforts us today though he has been dead many centuries.  Perhaps the cat that someone has to dissect may repulse you but if they are doing it for the Lord He will turn it for good.  www.heretheword.com 

 Hey you!  The motor in my bucket truck died.  I was in the bucket doing cable TV construction.  High in the air with tree branches below me I could not lower the bucket.  The truck motor operated the bucket.  I needed someone to start the engine.  Plenty of cars were passing by.  I tried to get the attention of drivers, but they smiled and waved back at me.  They must have though I was a friendly fellow.  Finally in desperation I pointed at one man and started yelling at him.  He pointed at himself as if to say, “Who me?”  I shook my head yes and kept pointing at him and yelling at him.  He pulled over and shouted, “What did I do?”   Apologizing I said, “I’m sorry sir.  I needed to get your attention.  My bucket truck died, and I am stuck up here.  Would you please start the truck?”  He was more than happy to accommodate me, and I again apologized and told him how appreciative I was.  After that I ran a set of wires from the starter to the bucket so I could start it myself if this happened again.  Now here is a man driving down the street minding his own business and someone apparently angry is pointing and shouting at him.  Perhaps I should be thankful I didn’t get shot.  Now picture the average person going down the road of life and someone tries to get his attention.  Christians are commanded to tell others about the love of God. Matthew 28:19   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Christians ask Jesus to help us plant the seed.  The good news is that Jesus saves.  We are not trying to irritate others.  We are not trying to prove our holiness and their sinfulness.  We are trying to share the fact that we have all sinned, but Jesus will forgive us if we repent and put our trust in Him.  Isaiah 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. God the Father laid on Jesus all of our iniquities.  Jesus was sinless.  Our sins killed Him on the cross.  He arose from the grave able to save those who will repent and call on Him for help and forgiveness.  Sometimes God does drastic things to get our attention.  He tries kindness.  If that fails, he tries affliction.  Hard times.  If that fails, He may bring disaster into our life.  Not that He is happy to afflict you.  His love constrains Him to get your attention.  Hey you!  When He gets your attention what are you going to do?  Listen and follow?  Or ignore and seal your fate?  The decision is yours.  I have decided to follow Jesus.  I am so glad I did.  Will you?  

 Let him catch the rabbit’s foot.  Years ago rabbit foot key chains were popular. I enjoyed tying a string on one and pulling it around the house for the cat to chase.  Simple entertainment.  But my mother observed that I wouldn’t let the cat catch it.  She explained that the cat needed to catch it occasionally so as to not get discouraged and give up.  She was right.  In life we need to “catch the rabbit’s foot” every so often.  Constant frustration breaks our spirit.  We need victories, even small ones from time to time.  We need persistence and faith and elbow grease, but we also need some victories along the way.  Many people experience defeat after defeat and are ready to throw in the towel.  Most of us have. How do we persist until we find success?  Walt Disney failed time after time.  Abraham Lincoln failed time after time.  Henry Ford failed.  Thomas Edison showed a reporter a journal of over ten thousand experiments that didn’t work in his effort to make the incandescent light bulb.  Said he, “I have not failed 10,000 times.  I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”  Around experiment 12,000 that he had success.  Persistence.  Faith.  Determination.  But also, I believe there is a God driven knowledge that something can be done. God gives people ideas.  James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.   Bishop Wright told his sons if God wanted them to fly, He would have given them wings.  His sons, the Wright brothers, went on to success.  Now I want to address the spiritual realm.  All of us desire to know our creator.  He is sought in many different ways.  Satan is a great counterfeiter and has devised numerous paths to god.  (little g)  2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.   Are you still on the road to find truth or have you found the truth?   John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  Search for God with all your heart.  When He reveals Himself accept His gift of eternal life.  Don’t give up.  Don’t quit.  Others have experienced His saving grace and you can too.  Isaiah 45:3  And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. When you find Jesus you find the greatest treasure in eternity.  Don’t give up.  And to brighten up your day help someone else with success in their life. Help them to catch their rabbit’s foot and you will find joy too.  

 New church member.  The church she was a member of was over 100 miles away.  She attended faithfully each week.  It was a long drive, but some things are worth the effort  Then the church adopted a new rule.  Do not attend here unless you receive the jab.  God’s Holy Spirit within her convicted her to not to take the experimental drug.  She was no longer welcome to worship there.  We are thrilled the Lord led her to our church.  What a blessing she is to us and what a blessing the church seems to be to her.  That’s the way it should be.  Churches must have rules in harmony with their Bible convictions.  For example, everyone and anyone is welcome to worship the Lord at our church.  I say “our church.”  Actually, the church belongs to Jesus and we are privileged to be part of His church. So, while the doors are open for all to worship, there are requirements to become a member of the church.  Unmarried couples of opposite sexes living together in a physical relationship must either establish separate households or get married. We are not punishing their behavior.  We are trying to follow the Bible.  If sinners were not allowed inside the building the building would remain empty. Jesus died and rose again to establish and build His church.    Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  Jesus builds His church on the statement Peter had just made.  Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus established His church.  Jesus builds His church.  Jesus protects His church. He instructs us to attend and be faithful to His church. Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  Many wonderful church services are free for the watching.  Television and Internet worship services are wonderful.  Attending a church service in person is so much more of a blessing.  Someone has said, “Watching a fire on the TV is pretty but there is no warmth.”  Assembling together with other Christians adds so much more to the experience.  There is “warmth” in greeting one another.  Shaking hands.  Smiling.  Visiting.  Singing together.  Giving.  Then especially feasting on the meal the pastor has probably spent many hours on preparing.  “and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  We are living in Biblical times.  Events daily remind us that God’s judgment is coming our way.  Are you ready to stand face to face with Jesus?   

 No beer in Heaven.  Occasionally I like to listen to Polka music. The upbeat pace increases my energy level.  Recently I heard a  song titled, “In Heaven There is no beer.”  Some of the words say, “In Heaven there is no beer.  That’s why we drink it here. And when we’re gone from here, all our friends will be drinking all our beer.”  This song brought laughter to my heart.  No beer in Heaven.  I presume that is true. Although Jesus taught us He will drink fruit of the vine in the kingdom of God.  Mark 14:25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. I will refrain from commenting whether the wine Jesus made from water was intoxicating or not.  It is true there will be no sin in Heaven.  Will there be any child molesters in Heaven?  NO!!!!   Yes.    No active, ongoing child molesters however, there will be many child molesters who repented of their sins and asked Jesus to save them.  As well as prostitutes.  Drug addicts.  Pushers.  Bank robbers.  Murderers.  Adulterers.  Liars.  Cheaters.  As well as you and me.  We are not all guilty of all sins however we are all guilty of sin. Ecclesiastes 7:20   For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. If it were not possible for sinners to be in Heaven no one would be there.  Just like there would be no churches if sinners were not allowed in.  Don’t look at other church members to see Jesus.  In all of us Christians you will see inconsistency.  1 John 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  Look to Jesus to see Jesus.  Is drinking beer a sin?  You are accountable to the Lord, not man.  If you are saved, Jesus is your Lord.  Ask Him.  I understand some people have had their doctor suggest they drink a beer each night for their stomach’s sake.  Is that like Paul telling Timothy: 1 Timothy 5:23  Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.?  Again, was the wine recommended to Timothy fermented?  I’ll ask Timothy when I see him.  Really.  It is by grace we are saved.  It is by grace we are KEPT.  1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. I am so thankful I am a kept man.  Are you kept?