Tuesday, July 27, 2010

THINKING

His face was contorted and his eyes glared with no real focus. “What are you looking at?” Sarah, Sam’s wife asked. “Nothing, I’m just thinking” Sam replied. Was Sam really thinking? Joey gazed into space as he stared hard out the class room window. “Joey, stop day dreaming and get to work” Mrs. Aliceson barked. How is it that adults are awarded praise for “thinking,” while a child is rebuked for “day dreaming?” Thinking! What is it?
Thoughts, what are thoughts? Thoughts are defined as “the act or process of thinking. The product of thinking I find that a little funny. Thoughts are the product of thinking and thinking the act of creating thoughts. It reads like a Merry-go-round. Bare in mind, thinking creates thoughts and thoughts are the product of thinking, which nothing of the above definition leaves a man’s mind. What is thinking, as defined, than nothing short of “day dreaming?”
Often we hear of men and women these days who just sit around doing nothing but letting their minds “wonder.” They are “thinking” we say. The truth is; they are “day dreaming.” They are “spinning their wheels” we say. If I’m not mistaken, the automobile which spins its wheels is “stuck” and is really going nowhere.
What are “thoughts?” When we read of men in the Bible who “thought,” they almost inevitably got into trouble. When Abraham was asked why he lied about Sarah being his sister instead of his wife, he said “Because I thought” (Gen 20:11). When Balak, King of Moab hired Balaam to curse Israel, the Bible reveals that this evil was generated from “I thought” (Num 24:11). Ironically, the name Balak means “waster, emptying” (Lockyer, All of the Men of the Bible, 65).
The Hebrew word for “thought” is ‘amar, which can mean “suppose.” A good name for “thoughts” is supposition. A great truth can be gained from this truth. Those who like Balak, waste their time “supposing” something to be that is not, believing something is fact that is a lie, are in deed wasting their life away on emptiness.
When Naaman “supposed” that the Pastor Elishia would simply come to church and say a few words and he’d be healed, and didn’t, “Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought” (II Kg. 5:11). When David was on the bottom of depression and at the point of backsliding, he admitted, “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me” (Ps. 73:16). David’s dilemma was all caused by the turning of the brain, supposition.
Now then after we have proven, “thoughts,” as we understand them, are not virtuous, let me explain future. Thinking as we have come to understand it is little more than meditation, churning our brain activity. “Mauling it over in the mind” is what we have called it. This kind of “thinking” is not true thinking. It is nothing more than a seed bed for mental imaginations.
We have learned that the devil uses the power he has to put thoughts into our minds. The Bible reveals that Satan is the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). The word “air” here is better defined as “subconscious.” Satan can not read our minds, but he can put thoughts and imaginations into our minds. This is why we are commanded “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). Therefore, thoughts roaming free can be a base for the devil to generate “assumptions, wanderings, imaginations and visions which oppose the word of God.
Notice, when Job began to fear, trouble came to him. Job latter confessed, “In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, 14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. 15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up” (Job 4:13-15). We read in the first chapter of Job that it was the devil that brought those “thoughts” and visions of torment in the night. Uncontrolled thoughts have power to create visions and imaginations which can be bad to one’s emotions.
Paul said it well, “When I was a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor. 13:11). The real true way of thinking is to “Write” your thoughts down, or “Speak” your thoughts. Spoken and written thoughts are the way God created in the beginning. What was in the mind of God in the beginning, he spoke it out. Jesus said, “It is written.” Real thinking must be done with a pen or with words.
The next time you start “thinking,” pull out a pen and start writing, you’ll be surprised what you put on paper. The next time you start having “thoughts,” speak it out and hear for yourself if it is of God or not. “Keep thy heart (thoughts) with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).

Sunday, July 18, 2010

CONDITIONS OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

FREE LOVE – The biggest Paradox of the last Century. The two words in the same sentence, Free and Love is a joke. Let alone using Free as an adjective describing the noun LOVE. It’s as false as saying “Dry Water.” Just as Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton didn’t charge the world to use their discovery, did not mean that their discovery came FREE. The cost and value of such wisdom is priceless and extremely expensive to those who invested life to discover it. Even though we hold it free.
However, those who have dared to use Einstein’s Theory of Relativity without the reality that such expensive knowledge has brought the world to a near peril. This single piece of FREE knowledge has cost and is still costing the world $trillions (Nuclear Weapons).
Trying to teach a parent to give a child love unconditionally will cost that parent his life. For I as a Preacher of the Bible or counseling Psychologist try and teach a man or woman to love their spouse unconditionally will advise them in the Art of Sacrifice.
“For God so loved the world that he gave…” is still the most expensive “unconditional Love” known to the world. True, it cost YOU nothing for God to LOVE you unconditionally. It cost YOU nothing for God to display his love when you were unloving. Yes, it is true, “God loved us in while we were yet sinners” (Rom 5:8). When we could not love him, he loved us. Not because we deserved it but when we were at our worse. “Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6).
However, even when Jesus loved and gave his life for us, yet his death could have or would have done us NO good unless we would have RECEIVED his gift. “And whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
What are you saying pastor? I’m saying that LOVE, true love is real. It is not mere words on a card. It is not a flower in a vase. True love is blood, sweat and tears. Therefore, true love and selfishness cannot be in same room. Unconditional love is expensive. It is self sacrificing and can hurt. But the rewards are unparallel.
Every Blessing comes with Brokenness. Every gift comes with a price. Every love comes with a sacrifice. It is impossible for me to give or receive “Unconditional Love” by itself. I must RECEIVE unconditional love if it is to impact me. God can give unconditional love, but it will never reach me until I Receive it. The condition is “Whosoever believes.” The dynamics work in the Ebb and Flow. “We love him because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
There is no greater subject in all the world like that of LOVE. Love is the greatest feeling for feeling. Love is the eternal motive and cause for all creation. Love is seen in the father’s eyes and the mother’s embrace. Love is known by many and craved by all. Love is the most common subject yet one of the most perplexing subject.
Love has been the cause of wars and the cause of peace. Love has been the death to many and the life of most. Love is seen in the face of a two year old with his daddy. Love, true love is WORSHIP. To love God is to worship God. “Great love has no one than this that a man would lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus loved you so much he did MORE than just TALK. He GAVE – his all.

By Dr Tim McClure
www.drtimmcclure.maxous.com

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

THE AMERICAN DREAM

Promiseland Newsletter 7-10

THE AMERICAN DREAM
Where did the phrase, “The American Dream” come from? If you give any attention to the liberal media today, you will believe that “The American Dream” is all about greed, corporate corruption and the evils of capitalism. However, if you take some time and research the real history and find the facts, you will find that the origin of “The American Dream” dates back over a century before Independence Day, July 4, 1776.
In fact, the phrase “American Dream” can be discovered in cottage prayer meetings and campfire stories from the hundreds of thousands of peasants who were nothing more than slaves to the Barons and Land Lords of Europe. Stories are written of many who would tell of Bible Prophecy of a land that “flowed with milk and honey” in opportunity for the common man to own his own home. Sermons in the hidden corners of cities all across Europe compared going to America like God’s people being freed from Egyptian slavery and going to the Promiseland. Songs and Hymns were written of going to the “Glory land” and being “Set free.” Years later those without knowledge of the original singer’s social plight thought the songs were about heaven. But biographies and writings revealed their songs were about freedom.
For centuries, and even millenniums before America was discovered, all of Europe’s people were held in slavery to the tyrannical rule of the Barons, Land Lords, Aristocrats and Bankers. The few elites who owned everything had made it illegal for the common people to own property. Only the few who lorded over the rest controlled all the land, business, trade and money till no one outside their circle could “get a piece of the pie.” No average common person could even start a business, nor even buy property if they had the means. Only the Nobles declared that they had the rightful heir of all the land and no one outside their heirs could ever own it.
The same historical evidence is found in Babylon, Persia, Egypt and literally every continent on planet earth throughout Bible history, let alone world history. Every continent during the past 5000 years has suffered slavery at the hands of tyrants from Asia, Persia, Africa, Europe and the Slovaks. No, it is neither right nor just, but every land has been enslaved by those who had the power and control over the land. If you owned land, you were in control. If you did not own property, business or freedom, you were a slave to those who did.
When America was discovered and opportunity was broadcasted to any European that they could own their own land, build their own house and farm their own land if they dared to take the trip. Hundreds of thousands risked their lives and many thousands died all to take the risk to own their own land. – So they could be FREE. Hence, “The American Dream” was named. For once in over a thousand years a peasant could change the destiny of his family.
The original American Dream was born from the hearts of common people who took the risk to change the course of their future. That dream is still alive today. Yes, we still are enslaved by the tyrannical suppressive “Barons, Bankers and Government Lords” through their tight grip on Real Property, Business and Exchange. But unlike many places around the globe, in America one can still take the risk of Owning his own property, start his own business and become free from being a slave to the “Owners” by becoming an “Owner” himself. If you can Dream it, you can become it. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you FREE.”
By Dr. Tim McClure (for more articles, see my blog): http://drtimmcclure.blogspot.com

What’s in Heaven you failed to ask for?
Henry a good church member died and went to heaven. Saint Peter meet him at the Gates to welcome him. Took him to his mansion. Peter said, get settled in and I’ll come back in an hour and show you around. Henry was stunned, beautiful mansion, heaven, this is great. Peter picked him up and was taking him around seeing family, ministers, church folks – came by an amazing Hugh opulent gothic building. “What is that?” Would you like to see? Yes. Walking through with as far as the eye could see everything imaginable from gifts, treasures, miracles etc. Wow, whose is all this? No one’s. Why? It was all laid up for you but you never asked for it.

Proverbs to live by:
Kindness, a language deaf people can hear and blind can see
Of all the things you wear, a happy face is most appealing
Action speaks louder than words, but not nearly as often
When looking for faults use a mirror, not binocular
Having a sharp tongue can cut your own throat

COMING EVENTS
July 2010 – Opportunity – Theme for July, 10:30 AM Sunday’s
July 4 – American Dream illustrated sermon @ Promiseland 10:30 am
July 7, 14, 21, 28 – Recovery from Ruin classes every Wednesday @ 7 PM
July 11 – Couple’s Social – Food, Fellowship, Fun @ CafĂ© – 6 PM
July 16, 18 – Fusion groups – @ a place near you – call 321-216-8030
July 18 – “Antshillvania” Children’s Musical @ Promiseland 10:30 AM
July 31 Back to School Concert @ Brother’s Park 4-8 PM Games, Food, etc.
Aug 1 – Raise the Roof – Prophet Tony Hall @ Promiseland 10:30 AM

Promiseland Church
1855 Lansing St. Melbourne, FL 32935
www.promiseland.org
http://drtimmcclure.blogspot.com/
http://www.drtimmcclure.maxous.com/sp1/
http://www.thehomebusinessacademy.biz

Monday, July 5, 2010

God Wins $11 Million Sweepstakes

The other twenty million finalists might as well give up. One of the gold-sticker-laden sweepstakes entry forms and magazine sales pitches that show up just about weekly in most Americans' mailboxes was sent to God.

American Family Publishers sent its computer generated entry form to “God of Bushnell” at the Bushnell Assembly of God; a church in central Florida. “God, we’re searching for you. You’ve been positively identified as our $11 million Mystery Millionaire” – the form read.

The fine print showed the Creator was merely a finalist, but the letter encouraged him to try his luck. “Imagine the looks you’d get from your neighbors: Well don’t just sit there God, come forward now and claim your prize” the marketing letter said.

Bill Brack, the church’s pastor told the Tampa Tribune that he had not yet decided whether the church would “enter God’s name in the sweepstakes.” Pastor Brack said, “Truth is, God already has $11 million dollars” as he chuckled.

Laugh out loud – I know it sure would be one of the funniest headlines ever read: “God Wins $11 Million from Sweepstakes.” I’m sure that wouldn’t be the first crazy news headline we’ve ever seen, but it would sure be one of the best ones.

By Dr Tim McClure
www.drtimmcclure.maxous.com/sp1