There’s a land that is fairer than day,

And by faith we can see it afar,

For the Father waits over the way

To prepare us a dwelling place there.

In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore;

In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

(Sweet By and By; written by Sanford F. Bennett, 1836-1898 and Joseph P. Webster, 1819-1875)

GOODBYE 2013

In Heaven there will be no more sorrow.This mortal life is our hell. Get ready. Heaven awaits. 

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)

“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4; The Holy Bible)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7; The Holy Bible)

“…they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31; The Holy Bible)

“Ye are the salt of the earth.”—Jesus Christ

(Matthew 5:13a; The Holy Bible)

“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40; The Holy Bible)

The following scripture is an archaic, allegorically stated reason why I started a new church in my apartment. A new church is a new wineskin for the new wine. The new wine is the new believers in Christ.

“… no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. “ (Mark 2:22; The Holy Bible)

“…unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11; The Holy Bible)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”--Jesus Christ

 (John 14:12; The Holy Bible)

“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:11; THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.

“Blessed (happy) is the man who fears the LORD.” (Psalms 112:1; 128:4; Proverbs 28:14; The Holy Bible)

”As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2: 6, 7; The Holy Bible)

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

“…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”—Jesus Christ

(Matthew 6:34; New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America)

“I must be about my Father's business.”—Jesus Christ (Luke 2: 49b; The Holy Bible)

“…Render (therefore) unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”—Jesus Christ (Matthew 22: 21b; The Holy Bible)

“The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.” (Isaiah 32: 5; The Holy Bible)

“Develop your business first before building your house.” (Proverbs 24: 27; The Living Bible Copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers)

Question authority.

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:10, 11 The Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society)

“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19; The Holy Bible)

"...as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11; The Holy Bible)

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” (Psalms 95:6; The Holy Bible)

“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalms 16:11; The Holy Bible)

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1; The Holy Bible)

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22; The Holy Bible)

“What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” (Revelation 3:7b; The Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society)

“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” (Psalms 119:50; The Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society)

“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalms 24:1; The Holy Bible)

Do you ever feel poor? I do, because I am poor. Sometimes, when I feel poor, I read The Revelation to John, chapter 21. The following is an excerpt to give you a glimpse or some of the promises of the riches that await those who believe in Jesus, in the New Jerusalem. To quote the title of a popular song by The Seekers, “Open up those pearly gates for me”:

“…I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.* The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits**, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each gate made of a single pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (Revelation 21: 1, 2, 16-18, 21; The Holy Bible)

*That is, about 1,400 miles (about 2,200 kilometers) **That is, about 200 feet (about 65 meters)

If you haven’t yet, you must read The Holy Bible. It’s awesome. There are a lot more promises than this in there. There is history as well as prophecy. May God richly bless you and yours.

Jesus Christ came preaching The Kingdom of Heaven. We come preaching Jesus Christ, who is The Kingdom of Heaven, crucified, resurrected and Lord.

AN APPEAL TO MISSIONARIES TO COME TO INNER CITY SCHENECTADY

If you are called to be an apostle or missionary, I hope you will consider the inner city a mission field. I love living in the inner city. It is cross-cultural ministry. It’s like living in another country compared to growing up in a village.

 I watch and pray in this city. I pray for a better environment where I live. My neighbors benefit when God moves to make life better for me. We desperately need God in Christ in this city. The more Spirit filled men of the church there are in this city, the stronger this city will be. Come on, church. Let’s seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways, so God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land.

It is a challenge to pray for this city. Schenectady is 89^th on a list of the 100 most dangerous cities in the United States. I’m hoping that God will show Himself powerful on our behalf and transform the citizens of this city through the renewing of our minds. We must not be conformed to this world. We must stand firm and fight the good fight of faith. I do not accept that I must resign myself to believe that things can’t get better.

I believe we have the Kingdom of Heaven to look forward to and it will be better than any city in this old world. The New Jerusalem is the standard. There can’t be a better city than that. It is the city where God the Father and His Son Jesus live. If we’re going to live there, we must prepare ourselves to live there among the little ones who make up that city. We will be living among the greatest saints who ever walked on this old earth.

Prepare to die! It’s inevitable. Your soul could be required of you this very night for all you know. You could walk through a gate made of one solid pearl into a city made of gold transparent as glass this very night! I am an ambassador in chains of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus will come like a thief in the night when we least expect it. We need to be ready.

Consider this city for your mission field. We need Christians in this city who are prepared to walk through a gate made of one solid pearl into a city made of gold. We need your little light to shine in this present darkness, to show the way for people who are lost. We need positive role models for the children of this city. We need Christians who will care for the elderly and the infirm. Jesus told his disciples to let people know the Kingdom of Heaven is near and heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. May God richly bless you as you continue to grow in Jesus. 

Jesus Christ came preaching The Kingdom of Heaven. We come preaching Jesus Christ, who is the Kingdom of Heaven; crucified, resurrected and Lord.

“His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” (From, “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”, words by Mrs. C.D. Martin, Music by Charles Gabriel)

“…the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”—Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:30: The Holy Bible)

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30; The Holy Bible)

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16; The Holy Bible)

“…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.” (Hebrews 10:25; The Holy Bible)

“…the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore*, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city*, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:16-18; The Holy Bible) (* this is in reference to the city of Babylon—my note)

“…the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Corinthians 3:19a; The Holy Bible)

“Come out of her* my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” 

(Revelation 18:4b; The Holy Bible) 

(*My note: the word, "her", in this scripture, is in reference to Babylon.)

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18; The Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society)

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” (Revelation 22:11; The Holy Bible)

“…what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”—Jesus Christ (Mark 8: 36; The Holy Bible)

“…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16; The Holy Bible)

“…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”—Saint Paul the apostle (1 Timothy 1: 15; The Holy Bible)

“The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25; The Holy Bible, New International Version; Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society)

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” (Proverbs 1:8; The Holy Bible)

Do a good turn daily.—The Boy Scout Slogan

“We have found the enemy, and it is us.”--Pogo

We are a litigious country. Here is some scripture, inspired by God, about suing one another and taking one another to court. I believe we need to examine our own consciences before taking someone to court:

12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.

1If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!

7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

(1 Corinthians 5:12, 13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11; Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.)

“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”—Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:30; The Holy Bible)

“The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.” (Lamentations 3:25; The Holy Bible)

“The best investment you can make is a man.”—A quote from a carpenter I once worked for as a helper.

“WIVES, (IN the same way) be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. (1 Peter 3:1-6) (The Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society)

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6; The Holy Bible)

“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.” (Proverbs 13:22; THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.)