IF I WERE 35 AGAIN- Part 2

   One morning in my devotions I do every morning, God asked me the question: “What would you do if you were 35 years of age again?”  Wow, what a great question to get you thinking and reevaluating!  I wrote in my first BLOG that such a short blog would not allow me to share the list that I created over the following months. However, with many emailing me and requesting me to share with them some of my thoughts, I offer you a few things on my list in this blog that I pray you can use.

   KNOWLEDGE- I would place the greatest value upon WHAT information I would obtain and place inside my soul (mind). Jesus said, “The truth you know shall make you free” (John 8:32). The Bible reveals that we are saved by knowledge and knowledge is the first principle to life (Prov 1). The principle is this; the measurement of knowledge we have equals the measurement of life we shall enjoy.  Ignorance is the key to sin and being lost. If you do not know God, you are lost. If you do not know how to communicate, you will be alone. If you do not know business or economics, you will always exchange a lot of your time for a little bit of someone’s money. 

   Ignorance and deception are the core of every destruction known to man.  Ignorance is the key to poverty, sickness and psychosis. The right kind of knowledge is power. The right kind of knowledge is essential to freedom.  One can know all there is to being a drug dealer, but that will not lead one to a secure freedom.  People possess a lot of wrong or bad knowledge that leads to false beliefs and this has lead many of us to live a strained, hurtful and difficult life. 

   As I look back over the past 20 years and think of the many things I never was able to have or had lost, it almost all had to do with the wrong kind of knowledge which created wrong set of beliefs.  If I were 35 again, I would be very studious and scrupulous about what I allowed into my soul (mind).

   1.) I would take careful time to research and discover my single most definite purpose in life and give myself to study the right kind of information / knowledge that would facilitate my success in that purpose.  I would study to know the right kind of information that would move me towards the ultimate purpose that I was placed on this planet. I would give myself to know the best information for the use of my purpose for the betterment of myself and everyone else I came in contact with. I would not waste my time learning to know information that mattered little to nothing to me nor those around me. 

   2.) I would read the top ten books on any one given subject of my passion and purpose.  We will all have the same life, same conditions and same results of life if we do not increase the quality of information and knowledge.  It has been said, “If we keep doing what we’ve always done, we shall get what we’ve always gotten.” If I were 35 again, I would pick very carefully the time and energy I would invest in growing myself, my mind and my soul in order to become exactly what God had intended on me to become. If I were 35 again, I would not just allow every fly by night junk that the world, television, Hollywood, so-called news, neighbors, associates and friends said I should allow into my mind and soul. (to be continued…)

© 2012 Dr Tim McClure

IF I WERE 35 AGAIN

   I found myself some time ago sitting down by the river doing my morning devotions pondering my evaluating stages I often go through.  I was reminiscing the many opportunities that I had found myself being offered but because of my upbringing, background and training, I either didn’t see it, understand or outright rejected what now I know was God giving me favor.

   Ignorance comes to many of us at a cost that we will never be reimbursed for.  However, if we are so blessed and gifted by grace we can use our failures, mishaps, misunderstandings or ignorance to our future advantage.  I found that on this one morning I had one of those enlighten moments:

   That morning in my devotions I hear the Lord say; “What would you do if you were 35 again?”  Wow, will something like that get your attention or what?  I found myself instantly pulling out things and ideas that I would do and or not do. My mind raced for several minutes before I stopped long enough to start writing down a list of things I would do – if I were 35 again. (I can just hear many of you reading thinking of the questions, “well, what are some of the things would you do?”)

   This short BLOG will not suffice such a list, however, I found myself working with my son, Tim Jr that particular week of which he was going to be having his 35^th birthday in just a few weeks away and I said, “Son sit down, we need to have a talk.”  As we sat there, I told him what I had been hearing God ask me and about my list. Then I pulled it out of my pocket and said, “I want to give it to you.”

   I will never be 35 again, but you’re about to turn 35 and you can use this far greater than I could.  As we sat there talking about ministry, family, finances and the future, I tried in a short simple way to suggest the viability of such a thought and the list.  Yes, Tim Jr started the process of the list and is still working it (to my prayer in a far greater success than I could ever make of it).

   With that thought in mind, let me ask you; “What would you do if you were 35 again?  Perhaps you are 35, 40 or 25.  Can I challenge your emotion today and suggest that you can take this simple devotion and start to jot down a few things and make your own list of what you would love to redo, change or start afresh. 

   What would you do different? What decisions would you have made or not have made? What so called friends would you have avoided or gone out of your way to make? What book would you have read or not read? How would you have spent your time more productive and what wasted stuff would you avoid?  Whatever you would do or not do is merely a thought you may wish to ponder for your future and for your success.

© 2012 by Dr Tim McClure

WILL FAITH DISAPPEAR ON EARTH?

Luke 18:8 when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?

            Jesus posed this question just after the story of the widow woman who cried “Avenge me of my adversary.” Trying to teach his disciples the warning of this earth becoming so detached from God and Moral absolutes, Jesus lead them to the thought and question: “Will there come a time on this planet that we humans disconnect ourselves from FAITH? Can we become so carnal that we disrespect the spiritual?

            The Humanist Francisco Petrarch in the 14^th Century coined the Name Dark Ages though speaking of the falling and loss of the Italian Culture and Literature upon Europe: his hypothesis soon was used by the church to explain the decay of the Moral and spiritual truth in society.

            This FEAR was Real since we first read of this very disconnect from God during the days of Noah: “GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented God that he had made man on the earth (Gen 6:5-6).

            This was later repeated by man in Gen 11 when they thought to create a way by imagination to eradicate the very thought of God, his laws and truth from earth. They even thought to make their OWN heaven. Could they have so disconnected themselves from spirituality till they would have built an earth void of FAITH?

            Journey through the Bible and find every great man of God became great by challenging man to repent, fleeing from sin and stop selfish destructive living.  Read history and find every great Philosopher or inventor who challenged the status quo such as the Earth is round, not flat; we can fly, or germs were the cause of illness.  They were ridiculed, imprisoned, and even killed.  Nostradamus, George Washington and Booker T Washington called Nations to change from evil ways. Sir Winston Churchill, Dr Martin Luther King and hundreds of men and women who became great did so NOT by becoming LIKED, but by doing RIGHT.

            It is possible in 2012 that we are on our way in America – in Europe and the world that our fallacious flirtation with funny, fancy and filth is pushing Faith right OUT of our Families, Finances and Future.  America just 50 years ago had a deeper and higher respect and appreciation to church, preachers and faith than they do today.  Ladies and Gentlemen; “When the Son of Man cometh, shall he FIND Faith on earth?”

            This sobering question is not meant to leave us depressed, but rather to shake us away from following the “cows to the slaughter.”  Allow me to challenge you to leave off the excuses why you don’t attend church like you should anymore.  Let me provoke you to find your faith, increase your faith and add to your faith.  We cannot just sit by and allow the Faith of God and faith in God to disappear.

            “Faith comes by hearing a preacher preaching what thus saith the Word of God” (Rom 10:17).  Let me motivate you to tune your ear to hear a real man of God today seeding the word of God into your spirit till you can rise to BELIEVE that God can and will bring a miracle crusade of Faith back to America again.

© 2012 Dr Tim McClure

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.promiseland.org

EXPERTS SAY...

I was driving home from a trip the other day when I heard a clip of “so called news” on the radio that quoted: ‘Many people have turned to exercise to lose weight and get healthier, but EXPERTS say that exercise can cause death.” 

Crazy isn’t it? I have heard all kinds of “Nutty professor” advice from these “Experts” – so called that want to get another face time in the spotlight.  I heard one that said; “More Americans have turned to vitamins to supplement their nutritional health, but experts say that vitamins can be harmful…”   I know you have heard the daily barrage of “Experts say” – but who exactly are these EXPERTS?

I have been hearing these quackery commercials (news so called) spew out their “expert” advice for more than 40 years.  Amazing, more than 90% of the “experts” are anonymous.  And those who offer a name come mainly from University study geeks who have never been past the college parking lot of the real world.

I know, I am a tad bit sarcastic with these “so called experts” but when they spout off such stupidity I just can’t sit back and let it go unchallenged.  Hear me out: I can prove my stand easily.  Have you ever sat and watch a TV commercial trying to sell you on taking their DRUG that can help with your cancer, diabetes, arthritis, depression, etc?  And then at the end of their commercial, they give you this list of 50 side effects on how this drug has been found to cause and even KILL you?  BUT, the experts say it may help with your ingrown toenail.

The next time you hear any “news, commercial” or otherwise anonyms “Expert” trying to sell you something, just count the number and severity of side effects and think of my rant and your good dose of COMMON SENSE.

© 2012 By Dr Tim McClure

STAY AWAY FROM NIGHTCLUBS

John McDevitt, an Army reservist who served for one year in Afghanistan is staging a protest outside of a local Bank of America branch in Utica, New York after he claims the bank refused to reimburse him for supposedly fraudulent charges he incurred while on two weeks leave in Athens, Greece, a local NBC affiliate, WKTV reports.

McDevitt says he was charged more than $25,000 by an Athens nightclub even though he claims he only bought a few drinks there, but BOA's investigation has concluded that he'll have to take the charges up with the Greek Nightclub if he hopes to recoup the lost funds, according to WKTV. McDevitt says he planned to use that money for his daughter's wedding but now, he will have to use another credit card and go in debt.

Personally, I don’t doubt at all that a Nightclub in Greece stole his money, seeing that the nation of Greece is in the worst economic state of all the nations of Europe. It doesn’t take an economics professor to see that Greece is one of the worst nations to visit let alone use your ID or credit card information.

LESSON: However, whether McDevitt spent $25,000 on a drunken, stupid night or the Greece Nightclub stole from him, we must walk away from the lesson STAY AWAY FROM NIGHTCLUBS. I mean, come on now! Especially these days where we hear of Identity thief is happening 24 hours a day. And worse, VISA and MasterCard just reported they were HACKED and millions of card information was stolen.

Moral of this story is; 1) stay away from places that attract criminals; 2) When using your credit card or ID, never let it out of your sight and; 3) Check your online bank / credit card accounts every day – especially when you are in another country. Ask me how I know!!!

© 2012 by Dr Tim McClure

SNAKE OIL REMEDY INDOCRTINATION

Another “Snake Oil Remedy” quack has come forward trying to get “we the people” to buy their modern “so called drug science.” Dr David B Agus, professor of Southern California wrote in his book, The End of Illness some of the most bizarre “remedies” to prevent and or cure cancer.

Agus suggests that if a woman would wear comfortable shoes she would have a less chance of dying from cancer. This kind of “Snake Oil” indoctrination is just one of the failure deception of modern day “so called” medical science. What kind of “medical science” is suggesting what kind of shoes you should or should not wear will prevent cancer?

Agus also sites some bizarre elusive study by some research group (who is funded by pharmaceutical company) that taking vitamins may cause cancer. This is blatant evidence that modern day “so called medical science” is either brain dead or their hidden agenda is obvious in wanting the public NOT to live in health.

Any amateur person who has read just one article about human health knows that our biological system feeds on and essentially must live on minerals and vitamins. And for any “so called medical professional” to suggest that taking vitamins will cause cancer is the worst kind of “Snake Oil Remedy” quack.

Truth; it is such modern day “so called medical science” that is ALL about proscribing and forcing the human population to take their drugs for life all in the name of “staying healthy. For every ONE Snake Oil Quack like Agus, there are hundreds of real health professionals who can and have done ten thousand scientific research proving the REAL medicinal and health benefits of vitamin supplements and exercise. Additionally there are tens of thousands of evidence that DRUGS KILL; whether sold by drug dealers on the streets or in the doctor’s office.

FACT: there has been hundreds of thousands of people who have DIED by drug prescriptions and under a doctor’s “care” in a single year in America and NOT even 100 has died from taking vitamins in TEN YEARS. Next time you see a “Prescription drug” advertisement on the television, listen to the 30 side effects – even death that one will suffer from taking their “prescription drug.”

And these people want to preach to me about what shoes to wear and why I should NOT take vitamins!!! Sorry “Doc” go sell your Snake Oil Remedy to someone else. I will match up MY health against yours and anyone of your patients any day of the week. And I attribute my health to godly living, happiness, great family, taking VITAMINS and exercise – and NEVER TAKING DRUGS from the streets or doctor’s office.

© 2012 Dr Tim McClure