He first loved us & More ... :) Shangy! >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Monday we had Tech Horror Stories - be sure to visit for fun and practical information! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/tech.html Click Here Wednesday I was web surfing and came across an artist that blew my mind. This guy takes mini to the extreme! Image making art so small you can fit it into the eye of an ordinary needle? This man does that! Not only does he do that, he is known the world over and a Master! Of course I had to feature him and his art! Micro Folk Art http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/microart.html Click Here Yesterday our friend Pat sent a picture I had seen before. It did exactly the same thing it did to me the first time I saw it - gave me those stomach willies you get when looking down at something from a height! So I went looking and found out more about it and got it up so all could see and share in this... Awesome Bridge! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/awesomebridge.html Click Here Thanks Bunches Pat! Be sure to spread this around to all your friends and family and share with them too! ======================================================================== .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. ( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` ) `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `.' `.' `.' `.' `.' `.' `.' `.' >-->From CES: Reaching out with the Love of God or Christianity: "The Come as you are Party" [The following article is an edited transcription of our March / April 2001 audio teaching by John W. Schoenheit, Reaching Out with the Love of God Or Christianity: The Come as You Are Party.] In this teaching, we are going to be talking about reaching out with the love of God because God reaches us with His love. If I had a second title for this teaching, I would call it “Christianity—the come as you are party.” Why would I call it that when the subject is reaching out with the love of God? The answer is that Christianity is a come as you are party. When I think of myself and when I got born again—when I got invited into God’s family, I was eighteen years old. I had been an unbeliever for 18 years. When I became a Christian, I brought my unbeliever self—with all my hang-ups, all my faults, all my failures, and all my bad habits. I brought these into Christianity, and as I read the Bible and as I interacted with other people, I saw that I needed to change. A driving force was there behind that change. Something was there that motivated me to change, and that something in the Bible is love. Sometimes as Christians we forget, especially when we are older Christians and have been in the faith a little longer. We exercise our senses to discern good from evil. We get so sharp on what is right and what is wrong. We see things that are wrong in other people’s lives, and it is so easy to go up and tell them! Christianity is the come as you are party. They come to Christianity as they are, with all their faults and failures, and what do they sometimes get? “Well, you ought to change this. You ought to do this.” It sounds like criticism, and it is hard and harsh. That is not what we primarily get from God! The Word does speak reproof. Absolutely it does—no question about it speaking about correction; however, the way that it is done or the way that God motivates us is so powerful. He motivates us with love. Let us take a look at this and see how it works. This verse is one of the defining verses of the Christian experience. 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. Wow, what a powerful verse. How many times in my life do I reflect on that—that my energy to love or my desire to love comes from the fact that I am loved. I know that God loves me, and He loved me first. He did not command that I love Him, and then when I did, He kind of warmed up to me. Not at all! He did not say, “Okay, you love Me,” and then He watched me with eagle eyes, and when I finally decided to love Him, He finally decided to become closer to me. Not at all! God pours out His love on people that are hard hearted, unforgiving, self-centered, and selfish. He pours out His love on all people, and then that love begins to warm people up and awaken them. It begins to get them to the point that they are willing to respond. We are going to see this pattern in a couple of places in the Word. It is very important that we understand that God is constantly reaching out with His love. Visit Here for the rest of this powerful teaching: http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=802 Love .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. ( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` )( ` ) `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `. .' `.' `.' `.' `.' `.' `.' `.' `.' ========================================================================= >-->From Our Friend John-Paul :) God Is Preparing You God is `Preparing`-- you for the Ministry that He is `Preparing`-- for you. He's working at both ends of the process— In your life to prepare you for a unique role of service, And He's preparing beforehand the work He'll give you in His timing. So wherever you are right now is God's classroom for future service. Joseph's prison term prepared him to be God's man on Egypt's throne. Moses' years in Pharaoh's court equipped him for his tasks as leader of Israel. For years Joshua served as Moses' aide, and Elisha did the same for Elijah; God was preparing them both as successors. Paul's years in Arabia were readying him for years of missionary service. Even Jesus experienced an extended period of preparation in the carpenter's shop of Nazareth. Just think, Whatever you are right now, God is giving you experiences that are training you for future service. It may be over a long period of time or only a few minutes, But He equips us with what we need to serve Him. Think of your circumstances today as God's Seminary. " `All` there is of God Is Available to the Man or woman-- who is Available to `All`-- There Is of God". Do you want it? Then You must give your `Everything` to GOD. What---- an Exchange! Always~~~~~~~~ john-Paul --- ...Great! Thank you for this wisdom John-Paul ====================================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: HEAR AND FOLLOW John 10: 22-30 If I say to you: / , /\ \|/ /\ |\\_;=._//| \." "./ //^\ /^\\ .'``",/ |0| |0| \,"``'. / , `'\.---./'` , \ /` /`\,."( )".,/`\ `\ /` ( '.'-.-'.' ) `\ /"` "._ : _." `"\ `/.'`"=.,_``=``_,.="`'.\` jgs ) ( "SSSuffffering Ssssucccaatashsh" You would know that somewhere nearby is a little yellow bird that is going to say: .-"-. /_ _ \ \@ @ / (_> _) `)(_ /((_`)_, \__(/-" __|||__ jgs ((__|__)) "I taught I taw a puddy tat!" There are voices that we never forget. In verses 27 and 28 are extremely important words from Jesus: 1. MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE. An American tourist was traveling in the Middle East. He came upon several shepherds whose flocks had intermingled while drinking water from a brook. After an exchange of greetings, one of the shepherds turned toward the sheep and called out, "Manah. Manah. Manah." (Manah means, "follow me" in Arabic.) Immediately his sheep separated themselves from the rest and followed him. Then one of the two remaining shepherds called out, "Manah. Manah." and his sheep left the common flock to follow him. The traveler then said to the third shepherd, "I would like to try that. Let me put on your cloak and turban and see if I can get the rest of the sheep to follow me." The shepherd smiled knowingly as the traveler wrapped himself in the cloak, put the turban on his head and called out, "Manah. Manah." The sheep did not respond to the stranger's voice. Not one of them moved toward him. "Will the sheep ever follow someone other than you?" The traveler asked. "Oh yes," the shepherd replied, "sometimes a sheep gets sick, and then it will follow anyone." A sign of our own spiritual wellness is that it is Jesus whose voice we hear. 2. JESUS SAID: I KNOW THEM. Numbers. Our lives are filled with numbers. Each year we file our income taxes. Now that's an exercise in numbers to end all numbers games. Pages upon pages of numbers: earned numbers, spent numbers, invested numbers, and saved numbers. When it is finally prepared, we send it off to the Internal Revenue Service with our Social Security number on it. And the IRS takes all those numbers and puts them into a computer, along with the numbers of thousands and thousands of other people. And to them, we become a number. The government knows us by our tax number. The state knows us by our driver's license number. The bank knows us by our account number. And when we retire, we'll be remembered by our Social Security number. And it goes on and on. In fact, sometimes I wonder if anybody knows us at all without a number! That's why this word is so significant, because it tells us that God knows us. He knows us intimately, in fact, better than we know ourselves. And that's important to remember. In spite of the fact that the image of sheep and shepherd is foreign to our experience, the words of the Gospel this morning hearken for us a truth that our human hearts long to hear. The Old Testament writer put it even more clearly when he wrote, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." Jesus says it this morning, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me, and I give them eternal life." Donald B. Strobe, Collected Sermons: A mother of eight children was once asked if she had any favorites. "Favorites?" she replied. "Yes, I have favorites. I love the one who is sick until he is well again. I love the one who is in trouble until he is safe again. And I love the one who is farthest away until he comes home." Or there's the story of the mother answering the Censes Taker with the names of her many children. Censes Taker tells her he doesn't need names just a number. She says we don't have so many we have to number them! They all have names. That is what God is like. God is a Divine Parent whose love never stops, a Parent whose love will never give up. You may stop loving God, but God will never stop loving you. You may run away from God, but you will soon find that your legs are too short. You can't get away from God. And that is not a threat, but a promise! God is out on every road where people, like sheep, get themselves lost, earnestly and tenderly seeking them and calling them back home. 3. JESUS SAID: THEY FOLLOW ME. There is a fable about a man who lived in the desert. He would wake up every morning and follow his shadow. So as the sun moved across the sky from east to west the man essentially walked in a large oval. At sundown he ended up where he had started. This continued for years. The man walked in circles day after day, following his shadow. One night the man heard the voice of God in a dream while he slept. The voice told him to stop following his shadow. Instead, "Follow the sun," the voice challenged, "And you will experience life as you have never dreamed it could be." The man thought for many days about his vision of God while he continued to walk around in circles in the desert. But one day he mustered up enough courage to break away from his shadow. Little by little, step-by-step, the man began to follow the sun. And he discovered a kingdom that was, heretofore, way beyond his wildest dreams and imagination. So it is for us when we follow the Son. He may lead through places we never dreamed of going but once there and once past that place in life, we know that we have been on the right path with him. 4. JESUS SAID: I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE Beginning in the 1930s Arthur Stace spent his early morning hours writing the word "Eternity" in a distinctive cursive style in every doorway, on every street, and major entrance to a public area that he could find in Sydney, Australia. For years, the citizens of the city wondered who was writing the "one word sermon" and why. In 1956, Stace was a member of the Burton Street Baptist Church, where he also served as the janitor and a prayer leader. One day, the pastor of the church, Rev. Lisle M. Thompson, stumbled across Stace while he was writing his chalk message on a sidewalk and the mystery of the "Eternity" messages all over Sydney was solved. Stace said that after his conversion to Christianity, he heard a sermon in which the evangelist said "Eternity! Eternity! Oh, that this word could be emblazoned across the streets of Sydney!" In his simple way, Stace decided to do that. If you Google this story, you will find a site where you will see this word "Eternity" in lights on a bridge in the city. Eternity. Who doesn't want it? Hear and Follow! Source: http://www.fumc-gulfport.org/Sermon.htm To Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com =========================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Becky :) >Powerful Stuff If You Need It. I Happen To Be One Who Does. I claimed it for you - now claim it for me. God has thousands of ways to provide for us, that we know nothing about. Here is your financial blessing! It's a simple prayer. Don't sleep on this...Someone recently read this for the first time and received exactly enough for a $0 balance on all credit cards. If you need a financial blessing, continue reading this e-mail. 'Casting all your care upon Him, because He careth for you" Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving God, I pray to you that you abundantly bless my family and me. I know that you recognize, that a Family is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother, husband and wife, but all who believe and trust in You. GOD, I send up a prayer request for financial blessing for not only the person who sent this to me, but for me and all that I have sent this message on to. And that the power of joined prayer by those who Believe and Trust in you is more powerful than anything.! I thank you for your blessings. God, deliver the person reading this right now from debt and debt burdens. Release your Godly wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that you have given me GOD, for I know how wonderful and mighty You are and how if we just obey You and walk in your word and have the faith the size of a mustard seed that You will pour out blessings. I thank You now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come because I know You are not done with me yet. In Jesus Christ's name I pray. Amen. TAKE 60 SECONDS and send this on quickly and within hours, you will have caused a multitude of people to pray to God for each other. Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life for doing the thing that you know He loves. Peace and Blessings.... Have Faith --- ...Amen! Thanks Becky! ============================================================================ >He Trusted Me Story Editor: by Arthur W. Griffith Jack Lewis Washington, USA At age 22, I was far from home. I had been totally deaf since contracting spinal meningitis at age seven. Although we were working in Illinois, my brother and I had decided to buy an old car, quit our jobs and go out West "where the sky is a little bluer, and the friendships a little truer". We had family members there. World War II had just started, and soon gas rationing might make the trip impossible. In order to make the trip, I needed a driver's license. It would be my first. I applied for a driver's test, but as the appointment date came around, our car was laid up for repairs. What should I do? Summoning my courage, I walked into a car sales showroom. I wasn't really expecting any help, but a friendly, middle-aged salesman approached me. Back in 1942, many people felt that a deaf person should not even be allowed to drive. Still, I showed him a note explaining my dilemma. The man read my note and looked at me kindly. Then he wrote: "I will take you. You can use my car." I could hardly believe it, and wrote, "Why are you doing this for me when you don't even know me?" He wrote back, "My son is in the Army. I hope other people would help him, so now I'll help you." The next day when my appointment was nearly due, I met him and he took me to his car. It was a nice Packard stick shift. After driving a few blocks, he stopped and wrote that I should drive it to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to get the feel of it first. Because I was nervous, my driving was slow and gear shifting was not all that easy, but he didn't seem to mind. He waited while I took the written test. I was gratified to pass with near-perfect marks. Then the officer took me out to the car. The owner was not allowed to ride with us. I was directed to drive around the block and park the car. I eased it out from the curb and guided it safely around, and parked it in the still empty space. Hooray! I had passed. My new friend seemed to feel as pleased as I did. I felt like hugging him. I knew I had a debt to repay by helping others. After 20 successful years working in machine shops, I spent the rest of my career as a pastor to the deaf, including five years in Washington, DC. I have worn out many cars, but will never forget the man who placed his trust in me only minutes after we met, and helped me get my first driver's license. =======HeroicStories======= >-->Another great one from CES: Adopted by God FAQ: I know that as Christians we are “born again of incorruptible seed” (1 Pet. 1:23). Why then do several places in the Church Epistles speak of our being “adopted” by God? The Greek word translated “adoption” is huiothesia, and it occurs only five times in the New Testament, all in the Church Epistles (Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). According to Vine's Lexicon it means: “the place and condition of a son given to one to whom it does not naturally belong.” Louw and Nida’s Greek Lexicon says: “to formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance.” Huiothesia literally means, “to place as a son.” “Adoption” clearly indicates that a Christian is a member of God’s family. In the Roman culture, the adopted son or daughter had four major changes: a change of family, a change of name, a change of home, and a change of responsibilities. [1] Most importantly, by using the word “adoption,” God emphasizes that salvation is permanent for the Christian, which is why it appears only in the Church Epistles. Some versions translate huiothesia as “sonship,” but we believe that is not as good as “adoption.” While it is true that someone adopted into the family attains sonship (the status of a son), “adoption” is more accurate to the Greek meaning of the word, and it correctly expresses the fact that the adopted child is permanently placed in the family. Visit Here for the rest of this wonderful teaching! http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=796 Sonship ===================================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: MORE LIGHT AND LESS NOISE . | . \ | / `. \ ' / .' `. .-*""*-. .' "*-._ /.*" "*.\ _.-*" : ; ____ """"': .. ; _.-*" \ `.__.' / "*-._ .' `-.__.-' `. bug .' / . \ `. / | \ ' | ` A great story from one of America's greatest story-tellers, Abraham Lincoln, was related by the president during those anxious days of the American Civil War. A delegation of well-meaning patriots tried to impress upon the president the gravity of the war. They implied that his administration was neither as wise nor good as it ought to be. He listened carefully, then responded with a memorable anecdote. He told them that he once had a neighbor who found himself in a tight situation. He was traveling home one dark and rainy night. There were few bridges in the country and he came to a stream that he would have to ford. But because of the darkness and the rain, he couldn't see well enough to know just where to cross. Lightning flashed and he saw his way for the briefest moment. But the man was perplexed because there seemed to be more thunder than lightning. He was convinced that every lightning flash was followed by several loud peals of thunder. The poor man just stood at the edge of the stream in his confusion about how to proceed. He finally prayed, "O Lord, if it is just the same to you, give me more light and less noise." The delegation clearly got the point that the president needed more solutions and less complaining - more light and less noise. Some people are more like light and others are more like noise. Some people shed light on solutions. Others only make a din about the way things are. Some people help us to see the situation more clearly. Others just sound off about who's to blame. Some people show a better way. Others clamor about the present course of action. Some people offer to help. Others wail about the problem. The sun rises every morning and sheds light, vanquishing the night's darkness. The rooster also rises every morning and makes noise, which does nothing about the darkness. How could things be different if you were more like the sun than the rooster? What if you decided today to contribute to the light? -- Steve Goodier ========================================================================= >-->From AndyChaps: >10 Traits Of The Wise Man .--. , , ) .-----._ ___ < /) | | ||==|| _(())\) | | /|==|| __ .-' (()/ '-. :_____:/ |"_|/) /| _/ () \ / .-------. __.' / | oo)__/ () \ | / '=======' () / | :~ \_ ) _/ _/ /__________________/ | | |- (--|(,/ | [___o___] | | / ) \ | / [___o___] / | | ( \ | / [___o___] / | | ( | / | / | / . | |/ __ |/ | | : | <`,,'>,--,--..-, snd | |__/_____\ | / ( ( ) ) \ .,,. oo=' oo=' '-'\ ) ) ) )\ ___.---; < (,_)_)(_,)_/ / \ .-\_/_,__ ||| ||| _ _\_\_ \\ __\-' ~~ ~~ ( ) ( ) _/ '-' /_/-/_/-' "A young man was promoted to fill the position of a senior officer with a brilliant record who had just retired from the company. The young man asked his predecessor for the secret to his success. The old man answered, ' Two words: right decisions.' The young man then asked, 'But how do you make right decisions?' Again the older man answered, this time even more tersely than before, 'Experience.' 'And how do you get this experience?' The young man asked once more. 'Two words---' answered the older man, 'wrong decisions.' " - ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS James 3:13 - The Apostle James asked the question, "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?" So many have their own opinions about what constitutes a "wise man." Nonetheless, how do the Scriptures define him? God's Word speaks repeatedly about this topic. In this message we would like to look at ten characteristic features of the "wise man" and see how we compare. #1 A Wise Man Has The Power To Hear Proverbs 1:5 says - "A wise man will hear..." In other words, he hears with attention and interest; he has the power to hear. How important is it that we hear? Very Important! Luke 8:18 - The Lord Jesus told us on two separate occasions - "Take heed therefore how ye hear..." Mark 4:24 - and "Take heed what ye hear..." Throughout the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke; Jesus repeatedly is recorded as saying - "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." How is your hearing today? Do you pay close attention to what is being said to you by others? Do you listen with attention and interest? #2 A Wise Man Is Always Growing And Increasing Proverbs 1:5 - "A wise man...will increase learning." Proverbs 9:9 - "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser..." Amos 6:1 - He is never "at ease in Zion." He is always growing in grace and increasing in the knowledge of God. He readily receives instruction, and resultantly, adds to his learning, insight, instruction, and teaching-power. How about you? Are you further along in your knowledge of the Word, for instance, than you were a year ago? What do you do with the godly instruction that comes your way? Do you apply it to your life and make yourself wise in mind, word, and act? With all of the instruction that you have received over the years, are you able to teach others, or are you still having to be taught the first principles - Hebrews 5:12 - "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." #3 A Wise Man Accepts And Obeys The Commandments Proverbs 10:8 - "The wise in heart will receive commandments..." He that is wise lays hold of and accepts God's precepts from His Word. He understands that his life is not his own and that he lives not unto himself, but unto Him that died for him. How about you? How do you respond when God gives you a command? Is your attitude like that of Mary - Luke 1:38 - "...be it unto me according to Thy Word..." Luke 19:14 - or like that of the citizens in the Parable Of The Talents -"...We will not have this man to reign over us." Your reaction will determine whether or not you are a wise man or woman. #4 A Wise Man Stores Up Knowledge Proverbs 10:14 - "Wise men lay up knowledge..." A truly wise man hides wisdom and understanding from God's Word in his heart and mind. James 1:19 - He is "swift to hear"and "slow to speak," reserving his words for the right time, place, and audience. How about you? Are you storing up God's Word in your heart for God to then release you at the right time and in the right place to the right people? Matthew 12:35 - "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things..." #5 A Wise Man Has Discernment Proverbs 16:21 - "The wise in heart shall be called prudent..." Those who are learned, shrewd, crafty, cunning, and intelligent will be recognized for their discernment, insight, and understanding in the matters of life. These are the ones with wisdom from God. How about you? Do others recognize your keen sense of discernment? Hebrews 5:14 - Do you have your "senses exercised to discern both good and evil"? Hebrews 5:13 - Or are you still a babe on milk - controlled by emotions, whims, and fancies? Ephesians 4:14 - Are you still like a little child "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness..."? #6 A Wise Man Easily Receives Correction Proverbs 9:8 says - "...rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee." In other words, reprove and correct a wise man, and he will have affection for you, truly love you, and consider you as his friend. How about you? Are you like this wise man? How do you react to the correction of the brethren? David welcomed reproof from the brethren. Psalm 141:5 - In fact, he considered it as something desirable - "a kindness" and an "excellent oil" - "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil..." Is this how you feel when someone comes along and corrects you? Proverbs 27:17 - Do you love those whom God sends to sharpen you as iron? Proverbs 9:8 - Or are you as the scorner who hates those who reprove him? Proverbs 12:15 says - "...he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." #7 A Wise Man Is Remembered For His Words Proverbs 15:7 says - "The lips of the wise disperse knowledge..." A wise man is always scattering or spreading out wisdom and understanding wherever he goes. However, his perception and understanding is not tossed about at random. Proverbs 15:2 tells us - "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright..." In other words, his knowledge is well placed - spoken at the right time in the right place and to the right people. Proverbs 14:3 - As this knowledge spreads forth, it brings forth two results - it guards, protects, and keeps the wise man - "...the lips of the wise shall preserve them." Proverbs 12:18 - It also serves as a medicine, cure, or remedy for the recipients needing wholeness and restoration - "...the tongue of the wise is health." How about you? Proverbs 10:21 - Do your lips "feed many" with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from God's Word? Isaiah 50:4 - Do you have the "tongue of the learned" where you speak a "word in season" to those who are weary? Isaiah 54:17 - Do your words protect you against every tongue that rises against you in judgment? Are your words medicine for the sin-sick or the sick in body? #8 A Wise Man Is A Holy Man Proverbs 14:16 tells us - "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil..." This man lives under the holy restraint of the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 4:14 - Resultantly, he avoids the "path of the wicked"; he does not travel on it; he turns from it and passes away. How about you? Proverbs 16:6 - Do you fear God enough in your life to depart from all evil? Proverbs 16:17 - Are you walking on the "highway of the upright", 1 Thessalonians 5:22 - abstaining from even the appearance of evil? #9 A Wise Man Is Influential Proverbs 13:20 says - "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise." The wise man leaves a marked impression on all. Hebrews 10:24 - He provokes those about him to love and to good works. Proverbs 2:20 - He walks in the "way of good men" and keeps the "paths of the righteous" and influences others to do likewise. How about you? Psalm 119:63 - Are you a companion of all those who fear God and obey His commands? What kind of company do you keep? Are you influencing others for Christ or are others influencing you for the world, the flesh, and the devil? Someone once said, "Show me his company, and I'll tell you the man." Another said, "Let me know the company he keeps, and I shall easily guess his moral character." #10 A Wise Man Wins Souls Proverbs 11:30 tells us - "...he that winneth souls is wise." His measure of influence reaches far beyond the four walls of the Church building. Proverbs 24:5 says - " A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength." This man is bold, loud, mighty, and powerful. Because of his knowledge of the Word, he is alert, brave, courageous, determined, and solid in his faith as he goes forth into all of the world as a mighty witness for the Lord. How about you? Ephesians 6:10 - Are you "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might"? Acts 18:24 - Are you "mighty in the Scriptures"? Acts 17:6 - Are you turning the world upside down for Jesus? Are you winning souls for the Kingdom of God? James 3:13 - The Apostle James asked the very pertinent question - "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?" We have examined 10 basic traits from the Scriptures which depict the wise man. Using these characteristics as a criteria of judgment, on a scale of 1-10, how do you score? How many match your life? 9 out of 10? 5 out of 10? 2 out of 10? Whatever the results of our personal survey, may we all go before the Lord and cry out to Him for His enabling grace to be that "wise man" to whom the Apostle James referred in Chapter 3 of his Book. May the Lord take the areas of our weaknesses and make them our greatest strengths. May God Bless His Word. Connie Connie Giordano P. O. Box 383016 Duncanville, TX. 75138-3016 Copyright 2002 by Connie Giordano ======================================================================= ** Important Words ** The six most important words: "I admit I made a mistake." The five most important words: "You did a good job." The four most important words: "What is your opinion?" The three most important words: "If you please." The two most important words: "Thank you." The most important word: "We." >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :)Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales && Service You can trust us to provide you with quality computer sales and repair. We've been servicing the Van Wert area since 1981 and can help you with all your computer needs. Please phone us at 419-238-5806 ************************************************************************ -->This is for all you who love food andd DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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