Chunky Bars 10/31/13

Good Morning.

This morning I am starting the day with a hot cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee.

I grew up on the South Side of Milwaukee Wisconsin and lived within walking distance of Milwaukee County Stadium. Milwaukee is home to the Major League Baseball team named the Brewers. Back to the walking distance. Today most parents would never let their kids walk to the stadium. That would be exercise.

We would work and save up a couple dollars to go and sit in the bleachers and drink an RC Cola.
On the way to the Stadium we would walk to the factory that made Chunky Bars. We could go in and buy the rejects for almost nothing. They were so good and a real treat for us. As kids we did not have a lot of money. So one Chunky Bar would be split with a pocket knife 4 ways. Yes we had pocket knives and none of us turned out to be mass murderers. They never even searched us at the stadium.  Times have changed. But one thing should never change. We learned to share even if one of the other kids could not pitch in the same amount. They received the same share. We all knew that when they had the chance and we were down that they would throw in an extra nickel for us. We shared. One of the guys that we hung with now donates all of his income to special needs kids. It all started at home where we were all taught to share with each other and not hold back the best.

Hebrews 13:16                     
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.           

1 Timothy 6:18                     

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,             

Luke 3:11    

And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

Share it's good for the heart.

God bless,
Marty

Wait? Are You Nuts? 10/30/13

Good Morning,

I started today with a cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee.

Wait, wait , wait! Wait at the store, wait for the doctor, wait for the car repairs, wait for supper, wait to be healed, wait for a raise, wait for a job, wait for a spouse, wait for kids, wait for better weather, wait for a plane.
Wait, wait, wait. I want to scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I come from an era prior to microwaves and the internet. I remember actually having to cook a hot dog in boiling water or fry it. Now we see people yelling at the microwave for being too slow, or paying big bucks for faster internet service. It seems that I am not very patient.

The Israelites had to wait and the wait was not a comfortable one. We have to wait on God for many of the seasons we go through. We must trust that His plan and timing is best.

The Israelites Cross the Red Sea Exodus 14

14 At Etham the Lord said to Moses:

² Tell the people of Israel to turn back and camp across from Pi-Hahiroth near Baal-Zephon, between Migdol and the Red Sea.^{[a] 3} The king^[b] will think they were afraid to cross the desert and that they are wandering around, trying to find another way to leave the country. ⁴ I will make the king stubborn again, and he will try to catch you. Then I will destroy him and his army. People everywhere will praise me for my victory, and the Egyptians will know that I really am the Lord.

The Israelites obeyed the Lord and camped where he told them.
⁵ When the king of Egypt heard that the Israelites had finally left, he and his officials changed their minds and said, “Look what we have done! We let them get away, and they will no longer be our slaves.”
⁶ The king got his war chariot and army ready. ⁷ He commanded his officers in charge of his six hundred best chariots and all his other chariots to start after the Israelites. ⁸ The Lord made the king so stubborn that he went after them, even though the Israelites proudly^[c] went on their way. ⁹ But the king’s horses and chariots and soldiers caught up with them while they were camping by the Red Sea near Pi-Hahiroth and Baal-Zephon.
¹⁰ When the Israelites saw the king coming with his army, they were frightened and begged the Lord for help. ¹¹ They also complained to Moses, “Wasn’t there enough room in Egypt to bury us? Is that why you brought us out here to die in the desert? Why did you bring us out of Egypt anyway? ¹² While we were there, didn’t we tell you to leave us alone? We had rather be slaves in Egypt than die in this desert!”
¹³ But Moses answered, “Don’t be afraid! Be brave, and you will see the Lord save you today. These Egyptians will never bother you again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you, and you won’t have to do a thing.”

WAIT???? And be slaughtered?
The Israelites did not see God at work under the sea preparing a path for them. In seasons of waiting on the issues of life, we need to wait on the Lord and trust that He will carry us through. We might not see Him at work, but He is.

1 Peter 5:7

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Oh by the way. Here is the rest of the story. Continued Exodus 14
¹⁵ The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you keep calling out to me for help? Tell the Israelites to move forward. ¹⁶ Then hold your walking stick over the sea. The water will open up and make a road where they can walk through on dry ground. ¹⁷ I will make the Egyptians so stubborn that they will go after you. Then I will be praised because of what happens to the king and his chariots and cavalry. ¹⁸ The Egyptians will know for sure that I am the Lord.”
¹⁹ All this time God’s angel had gone ahead of Israel’s army, but now he moved behind them. A large cloud had also gone ahead of them, ²⁰ but now it moved between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The cloud gave light to the Israelites, but made it dark for the Egyptians, and during the night they could not come any closer.
²¹ Moses stretched his arm over the sea, and the Lord sent a strong east wind that blew all night until there was dry land where the water had been. The sea opened up, ²² and the Israelites walked through on dry land with a wall of water on each side.
²³ The Egyptian chariots and cavalry went after them. ²⁴ But before daylight the Lord looked down at the Egyptian army from the fiery cloud and made them panic. ²⁵ Their chariot wheels got stuck,^[d] and it was hard for them to move. So the Egyptians said to one another, “Let’s leave these people alone! The Lord is on their side and is fighting against us.”
²⁶ The Lord told Moses, “Stretch your arm toward the sea—the water will cover the Egyptians and their cavalry and chariots.” ²⁷ Moses stretched out his arm, and at daybreak the water rushed toward the Egyptians. They tried to run away, but the Lord drowned them in the sea. ²⁸ The water came and covered the chariots, the cavalry, and the whole Egyptian army that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them was left alive. ²⁹ But the sea had made a wall of water on each side of the Israelites; so they walked through on dry land.
³⁰ On that day, when the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the shore, they knew that the Lord had saved them. ³¹ Because of the mighty power he had used against the Egyptians, the Israelites worshiped him and trusted him and his servant Moses.

Wait? I think so!
Have a great day.
God bless.
Marty

The World Will Not Stop if You Do. 10/29/13

Good Morning World,

Today is starting with a big cup of Door County Maple Coffee. However you receive this message I ask that you pass it on today and share it with others.

Last spring I finally had to give in and have my shoulder repaired. Being the dumb guy that I am I waited too long and the repairs needed became worse. I kept thinking, "wait until spring, who will shovel snow if I am not there, but who will mow the grass in the summer, who will do my job at work, who will preach for me? Well I had to give in and I thought for sure that the world would collapse without my guiding hand. I was so wrong. Friends, from time to time we need physical repairs or just plain rest. Our Great Physician God prescribes it.

Psalm 127:2                

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.              

Mark 6:31                

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.              

Hebrews 4:9-11                     

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.              

Proverbs 3:24                     

If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.              

Exodus 20:8-11                

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

The world did not stop when I healed and rested. It kept on going. We need to take time and spend it resting, recharging, and relaxing. We also need time to be alone with God.

There is another type of rest that people avoid.

Matthew 11:26-30                     
Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We all need rest for our souls. Many people struggle daily without having the assurance, and peace of having Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They do not know where they will spend eternity. They wonder and have no peace. Jesus invites us to come to Him and experience forgiveness of our sins and join Him in heaven where we will see God and dwell forever with them. The Holy Spirit is tugging on your heart right now to accept this invitation to Jesus. What are you waiting for?
pray and invite Him in to your heart today. Let me know if I can assist or help.

God bless,
Marty

Time Spent as a Prisoner of War 10/28/13

Good Morning,

I woke up this morning and I am not in hell. It is more than I deserve. Top that off with a hot cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee and I find myself most blessed.

I am a strong supporter of our Country's Veterans. I say thank you and pray for them. My heart goes out to them, especially the ones who have the title of POW. Prisoner of War. Their stories of survival amaze me. Their will to live astounds me. I am usually brought to tears when I read their accounts. I want to share a short story written by an American POW who was captured in Vietnam during the war. Howard Rutledge found peace and learned to appreciate what God was teaching him during the time of his captivity. Howard writes.

" During those long periods of enforced reflection, it became so much easier to separate the important from the trivial, the worth-while from the waste...

My hunger for spiritual food soon outdid my hunger for a steak.  I wanted to know more about the part of me that will never die. I wanted to talk about God and Christ and the church. It took prison to show me how empty life is without God....

On August 31st, after twenty-eight days of torture, I could remember I had children but not how many. I said Phyllis's name over and over again so I would not forget. I prayed for strength. It was on that twenty-eighth night I made God a promise. If I survived this ordeal, the first Sunday back in freedom I would take Phyllis and my family to their church... confess my faith in Christ and join the church. This wasn't a deal with God to get me through that last miserable night. It was a promise made after months of thought. It took prison and hours of painful reflection to realize how much I needed God and the community of believers. After I made God that promise, again I prayed for strength to make it through the night.

When the morning dawned through the crack in the bottom of the solid prison door, I thanked God for His mercy." Rutledge and Rutledge In the Presence.

We all go though trials and major issues in life. We can view them as trials and struggles or we can view them as teaching and preparations for life. God never promised an easy road that would be trouble free or painless. But God can use these seasons for something good. Our trouble is not punishment, it is training for life as one trains a child, which is the normal experience of children.

Psalm 119:102 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰² I have not departed from your laws,
    for you yourself have taught me.

 

Sometimes a season of learning lasts a lifetime, Our faith in God brings Him to our side. As a student learns, they are always taught to apply the knowledge of that day to the next day even though the chapter is not finished.

We learn as we go and need to apply it daily.

Whatever we are going through. With God we can get through.He will carry us and give us strength to endure.

Deuteronomy 11:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

Remember what you learned.

11 Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. ² Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm;

God bless,

Marty

Calm During the Storm 10/27/13

Good Morning Dear Friends,

I am drinking a hot cup of Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee to help me wake up.

Let's get right to it.

Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV)

Jesus Walks on the Water

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
²⁹ “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Funny thing happened once while I was preaching on walking on water. While giving it full fire and brimstone, the folks in the Saturday night service started pointing to the door behind me. It had been raining pretty hard outside and when I turned around and looked the storm water was blowing passed the door and soon we were up to our knees in water. A few cars were floating in the parking lot. I never did thank the Holy Spirit for adding the great special effects to my sermon. Another funny thing is that our pastor/elder board has strongly urged me to never preach on that subject again.

But back to our lesson. Note that the disciples of Jesus were in a storm and Jesus was not with them. They were probably wondering where Jesus was and why He did not go with them. They looked out and saw him walking on the waves in the storm. ( The sea had not been calmed yet). Then Peter asked to get out of the boat and walk to Jesus. Again note. The storm was still around them. Jesus was not in the boat but out on the waves. Peter asked to come to Jesus. Note again , that when Jesus said "come" the storm was still there. The storm was not quieted until Jesus got into the boat with Peter.

Our lives have many battles, trials and just plain old stormy days. We look for Jesus in the safety of our comfort zone. Where we need to look is out in the storm of our lives. Jesus can be found there and the storms do not impact Him. He still calls us to follow Him through the storm. If Jesus calmed every storm before they really got to us we would never experience walking through and overcoming a storm with Jesus. We would always fear the storms instead of embracing them knowing that they increase our faith and give us strength and confidence for the next one.

So when the storms of life come, call out to Jesus and ride out the waves with Him.

God bless.
Marty

Living in Peace 10/26/13

Good Morning,

Saturday morning and the old coffee cup is filled to the top with some Door County Harvest Blend.

Most of you know that I enjoy duck hunting. One of the times I enjoy best is the 15 minutes before legal shooting time. You are usually sitting in the dark, gun is loaded, decoys are out and it seems as if a whole lake can quiet itself. There have been times while waiting for the time to shoot that I could literally hear my heart beat. What a time of peace.

I think if each day, all day long could be like that for all of us this world would be a better place. God tells us in the Bible that we should live at peace.

Romans 12:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

You say that's impossible. But God says. 

Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I know what life is like. I live it just like everyone else. Family stress, work issues, government shutdowns, sickness are common to me also. These alone can trigger wars within and without.

But yet God has an expectation of us.

Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.

Not only are we to live in peace but yet we are to be ambassadors of peace.

See despite what you think, we are to work for peace, be at peace and live in peace. But yet this world gets ugly and we wonder if there is real peace.

You have to remember that this world is not our home. We are just passing through. In heaven we will experience peace and love eternally. But while we are here we should try to make the world a better place. This is an expectation of God.

Have a great day.
Marty

 

 

Ladies! What to look for in a man. 10/25/13

Good Morning.
Friday has returned once more. My day started with a cup of Door County Highlander Grog coffee.

 
Last night several men from our Faith Bible Church Men's Ministry started the preparations for the Annual Men's Steak Feed. We butchered the steaks, chopped onions, set up tables so the work load would be less tomorrow. I am proud to serve God with those guys. Last night was fun for sure. But we all knew why we were there. We love Jesus Christ and He is Lord and Savior to us.

Enough said about the men. In our Men's Ministry Group we sat down and wrote what we believed in and what each man should practice. I have attached it below for the ladies to read. Ladies use it as tool or test to find the right man for yourself or show this to your daughters. Any man that lives this statement is marriage material. You could say that a Godly man is a marrying man.

Faith Bible Church Men's Ministry

                             Band of Men

 

Statement of Faith

• We believe the Bible to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God.

• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory at some time in the future

• We believe we are saved by grace. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We are a Spirit-led people, and trust in His work to transform and sanctify our lives. We believe that eternity is at stake and, therefore, we desire to share the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ.

• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and we support the ministries of Faith Bible Church.

                                  Covenant 

I will surrender my all to God - no matter the cost - so that I can become more like Jesus Christ - my Savior and King. I will seek out a band of men, for whose lives and legacies I will fight, so that together we can fulfill our mission to know, love and glorify
God our Father.

Make vows to the Lord your God, and fulfill them." (Psalm 76:11)"

Mission Statement

We believe that no man should have to stand alone.

We believe in spiritual growth through serving and teaching

We believe we are placed here to serve God, our families and one another.

We believe in accountability to God and one another.

          We believe in timely fellowship for the men, and also strive to promote family events.

Ladies, print this one and carry it with you. Next time some guys seems to shine for you, pull this out and ask him how he measures up. Men teach this to your boys and grandsons.

Last night I spent the evening with men, God fearing, manly men. And it was great.

Have a wonderful day,
   Marty



Evidence of Walking in the Spirit. Last of the Series10/24/13

Good Morning World!

Thursday and I am counting the hours until Friday. Our Men's Ministry at Faith Bible Church in Greenfield Wisconsin is holding it's annual Men's Steak Feed. Great meat, great preaching and this year a special dessert.

This morning I am starting the day with a hot cup of Door County Caramel Apple Coffee, Here's hoping your coffee treats you as good as mine does me.

Walking in the Spirit. I witnessed someone walking a Spirit Filled life Tuesday night, A church member and friend lost a dear family member Sunday to a long battle with cancer. She was very young. Yet that night he was in Bible study and shared openly and honestly from his heart. He smiled and took part in our discussion and even joked around a little. I did say to him that he was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit because of his contentment and great peace despite the circumstances. Most people would have stayed home and threw themselves a pity party. Yet our friend came to minister and share in God's Word.
  A Contented People - Not only will the Spirit teach us to worship Him with songs of praise, but the Spirit will teach us to worship Him by trusting Him. As the Spirit of God takes control of the believer's life, the believer will be brought to the place where he learns to trust the Lord for every need and for everything. As we grow in the Lord we come to understand that He is on our side, Rom. 8:31. When this truth becomes a reality in our hearts, we will be able to say with David, "The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want." We will know for certain that our God is able to look after us, and that all He is doing, whether we like it or not, is for our good and His glory, Rom. 8:28.
What I am trying to say is that the Holy Ghost will teach us contentment. This was Paul's experience, Phil. 4:11-13, 1 Tim. 6:6-8. This will be our experience also as we yield to the filling of the Spirit of God. As we come to understand the valuable lesson that God is in control of even the smallest details of our lives, we will come to develop an attitude of gratitude, even for things that we do not understand.
 When we see someone expressing joy as they pass through one of life's valleys, we know that the flesh doesn't produce that. It is the work of the Spirit of God. Our selfish, critical spirits will have a difficult time existing in the glory of His abiding presence and power. Remember, when He fills a life, there isn't room for anything else! I witnessed this Tuesday night. My friend came to give.

Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Does a river flow out of you? Come on friends! It is time to give in and realize that there is more to Christianity than just going to church looking for a spiritual hand out. You can be alive and used by God to bless others even during your darkest times. God can and will use a willing heart that desires to be used. The Holy Spirit is waiting to be let loose from the bonds of your hearts and lack of trust and empower you to hear God and do His will.

Live a life that is alive in God. You are missing so much!

God bless,
Marty

Evidence of a Spirit Filled Life 10/23/13

Good Morning.

It sure is cold in Wisconsin today. My coffee is an extra hot cup of Door County Almond Toffee.

We will continue looking at a life filled with the Holy Spirit.


Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV)

¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

OUR WORSHIP OF THE SAVIOR
 Here is what we can learn from the verses.

A. A Celebrating People - These verses teach us that we are to be making "melody in your heart to the Lord." As individuals, we are to be so filled and excited by all that the Lord has done in and to us that our hearts are filled with a song of praise for Him. The word "melody" means "to pluck, to strum or to vibrate." The image is of someone playing a harp. I think that Paul is telling us that when we are filled with the Spirit of God, we will be walking in close fellowship with Him. As this takes place, the Spirit will fill our hearts with love for Him and like a master musician plucks the strips of a harp to produce beautiful music, the Lord will pluck the strings of our hearts and will produce a symphony of praise to the glory of God. Have you ever been guilty of walking around with a song in your heart? Ever been guilty of making up your own songs of praise to Him for all He has done for you? That's what Paul is talking about. When we are walking in the Spirit, He will produce worship for the Savior!

          If you were on trial for being filled with the Holy Spirit, would there be enough evidence
          to convict you?
         
          God bless,
             Marty

 

Evidence of a Spirit Filled Person 10/22/13

Good Morning,

Tuesday and I am celebrating a night that was filled with friends, helping friends. A couple of us helped a church member last night and put our seldom used construction skills to work and the family now has hot water again. It felt good to stretch some muscles that had not used a pipe wrench in a long time.

So I will treat myself to a hearty cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee and toast hot water and good friends.

Many people look for something when they enter a church building or service. They are seeking a charge to their soul's battery. It seems to me that they are confused and are looking for emotions or feelings. What they are missing is the "Spirit Filled Life". They possess the Holy Spirit but are afraid to see what a Spirit filled life is like. So they quench the Spirit within and rely on others to fill their needs. As soon as the need is not met they blame others and start the Christian Dance called the Church Hop". They never really become effective members or impact the Kingdom for eternity. They sit and look at the speaker or pastor and remind me of a bunch of mosquitoes that just figured that they broke in to the mannequin factory.

So let's take a look at one verse in a series that we will study this week.

Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)

¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

 

Here is what we can be taught by this verse.

 

A. Control - As liquor controls the life of the drunkard, Pro. 23:29-35, the Spirit of God should control the life of the believer. (In their walk, their talk, their thoughts, their attitudes, their actions, etc.)
B. Completeness - The word "filled" means "to be full to the top; lacking nothing; nothing short of complete." If there is room for any other thing in our hearts, then we are not filled with the Spirit. His will should be our will. His thoughts should be our thoughts. His desires should be our desires. The Holy Spirit is to be in absolute domination of our lives.
C. Consistency - This little verb is in the "active tense." This means that it is to be a constant state of being. Very literally, we are to "go on being filled with the Spirit." Sadly, this kind of consistent living in missing from many Christians walk with God.
D. Compliance - This verb is also in the "passive voice". This means that this filling is something that is done to us. It is not something we can work up on our own, but we are to be vessels that God can fill and use for His glory. That means that we are to be clean, ready and open to the filling of the Spirit of God.
E. Command - It is also worthy of noting that this verb is in the "imperative mood". This makes it a command. Paul is not offering us an option for living, but is laying down the command of God for our lives. When all these things are taken together, it seems clear to me that it is the Lord's will for every believer to be filled with the Spirit at all times. When we aren't, then it seems obvious that we are walking in rebellion and sin before the Lord, James 4:17. Why is this so serious of a matter? Because when we are not walking in the Spirit as we should be, we will not be able to hear His voice when He speaks and God will not be able to use us as He desires to.

A Christian who cannot hear and discern God's voice is basically a bored and unhappy Christian living their faith through others. This is the sad state of many people and whole churches.

Tomorrow we will continue this discussion. Hang with me this week,

God bless,
Marty

Hard Work and the Bible 10/22/13

Good Morning.,

Monday and the work week has begun. I am starting mine with a cup of Door County Harvest Blend Coffee.

I want to share some Bible verses on work and proper business behavior. I will let God's word stir in our hearts today. Funny thing. God doesn't need me to speak on this. These verses will cut right to the heart.

Deuteronomy 24:14
Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. (NIV) Psalm 90:17
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands. (NIV) Psalm 128:2
You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. (NIV) Proverbs 12:11
Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. (NIV) Proverbs 14:23
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (NIV) Proverbs 18:9
One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. (NIV) Ecclesiastes 3:22
So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? (NIV) Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: (NIV) Isaiah 64:8
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (NIV)  John 5:17
In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working." (NIV) John 6:27
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. (NIV) Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' (NIV)  1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (NIV) Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (NIV) 1 Thessalonians 4:11
...and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, (NIV) 2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." (NIV) Hebrews 6:10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (NIV)

Wow. That says it all. Now get to work.

God bless,
Marty

Furnace Rooms 10/21/13

Good Morning.

I started this day with a hot cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee. It was good to the last cup.

Every home in Wisconsin has a furnace as well as every commercial building. The climate gets cold here and heat is needed. When work needs to be done in the furnace room, it is best to be done in the summer when the heat is not being generated. It can be pretty warm and uncomfortable.

Go with me here for a minute. If God is everywhere, ( and He is), we actually dwell in His spiritual house every day. So imagine if you will that in God's house there is a furnace room. Now let's equate this to something. Remember God does get angry with us. I would imagine that he "gets hot". I would not want to be in God's furnace room. ( Correction) Argh!!!!! 

Here are a few Bible verses that support the fact that God does correct us. Notice they are pretty tough words.

Proverbs 3:12
"For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights."

Job 5:17, 1
"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole."

Psalms 94:12, 13
"Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law, That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked."

1 Corinthians 11:32
"But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world."

2 Corinthians 4:16 ,17
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,"

Hebrews 12:6, 7
"For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?"

Hebrews 12:10, 11
"For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

God does get angry.

Romans 1:18 ESV     
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

So if we want to avoid a spanking in the furnace room we need to fly right. We need to avoid sin.

John 14:15                 
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

That spells it out plainly. Avoid a spanking. Follow God and stay out of the furnace room.

God bless,
Marty

Doughnuts, and Friends 10/19/2013 Doughnut Recipe Included

Good Morning,

I am headed out to goose hunt with friends and my nephew this early AM. My oldest dog Fritz will be with me trying to add to his retrieve total. His lifetime retrieves stand at 4034. Sure would be nice to see him get one today.

Part of all hunting excursions for avid hunters usually includes food. Our early morning romp today includes Doughnuts with my Door County Coffee. Today's flavor is Harvest Blend.
Usually after about an hour or two we are all ready for a snack and some coffee, especially if it is cold. We will leave our blinds and share the bakery and coffee. I must admit that it is always nice when our hunts produce a good harvest. But I do enjoy the jocularity that goes on during these little breaks. It is good, clean, wholesome fellowship. The bakery is just the added special treat that makes it all that much better.

Ecclesiastes 2:24 (ESV)

²⁴ There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment^[a] in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,

Enjoy your friends, pray with them, laugh with them, and by goodness have a doughnut.

God bless,
Marty

Sourdough Donuts

ingredients

2 cups sourdough starter
1 cup lukewarm milk
1 1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 cup flour

directions

Mix starter, milk and flour until smooth. Add eggs and oil and beat well. Blend in small bowl the sugar, salt, soda and flour. Mix well into dough.

Turn out onto 1 C flour and knead lightly until most of flour is worked in (dough is soft.) Place in greased bowl and turn to grease too. Cover with wax paper and let rise until doubled.

Then turn onto 1/2 C flour on board. Pat to 1/2" thick. Cut and put on well floured sheet and let rise until doubled. (Don't cover!)

Fry only 3-4 in hot fat at once and fry raised side (top) first turning only once. Drain.

Greendale Panthers and Thank You 10/18/13

Good Morning.
Friday once again and I am ready for it. Started today with a hot cup of Door County Caramel Apple Coffee.

Last night I went to watch my nephew Matt play in his high school football game. Greendale and South Milwaukee were facing each other for the conference championship game. It was Wisconsin weather for football. 42 degrees and had been drizzling all day. Damp and cold was the flavor of the weather. Being an avid duck hunter helped me to dress for the event. I really have no shortage of warm clothes. So I bundled up like something out of "Duck Dynasty" and went to the game. It was a great game if you were cheering for Greendale. The Panthers won 41-7. Matt played very well and I was very proud to be his uncle.

But there was something that left me feeling a little more proud. I could not stay for the awarding of the conference trophy. I headed for home and just as I got through the door the phone rang. My brother had told Matt that I was at the game. Matt called and I told him what a great game it was and how well I thought he played. Then I heard on the other end of the line. "Uncle Marty thank you for coming to my game".

You see to me every second of that cold weather was worth it. Not to hear a thanks for coming, but to know it warmed Matt's heart. The thank you came from his heart and from being raised to be thankful for family and friends.

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

 

Matt you are a great football player. Better yet your heart is in the right place.

 

Have a great day,

Marty

Therapy for Couples 10/16/13

Good Morning,

Today is Thursday. I looked over the top of my glasses and I can see Friday! I am starting this day with a big cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee. It's a good one.

Today many couples spend a lot of time in marriage counseling. Needless to say that they also spend a lot of money. No doubt there is a lot of stress on marriages these days. I would be lying if I said my wife and I never had any differences of opinion that expressed itself in anger toward each other. When that has occurred we head straight to therapy. It takes two different methods to straighten us out.

Here is our version of therapy. 
#1. Stop, time out! It's time to pray. That is the first step and it brings God on to the scene on our behalf.

Matthew 18:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Psalm 107:28-30 

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven

 

#2 We go to Scripture and read what God has designed for love. Once that is done either one of us or both will find where we were wrong and apologize. Below is what we both read and are usually convicted by the Holy Spirit within minutes of what we are lacking on God's love scale.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV)

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

God has a plan for everything in life and He doesn't charge for office time. He tells us that when we call on Him He is there, and He has already given us the directions. It's a fix yourself kit with a hot line to the Designer of All Things.

Have a wonderful day!
God bless,
Marty 

Beef Steak. It's what's for supper. 10/16/13 With a Recipe

Good Morning,

It's coffee time and mine is Door County Apple Cobbler. www.doorcountycoffee.com

Our Church's Men's Ministry is gearing up for the Men's Annual Steak Feed October 25th. We provide each man or boy with a huge beef steak, fried potatoes, baked beans, garlic bread, root beer and dessert. This started with 30-40 guys and has grown to over 200. It is an event that we look forward to every year. Each guy grills their own steak to perfection and then they carve it with whatever knife they bring. The knives range from small steak knives to knives the size of machetes.
A great time of fellowship is had by all.

But what is most important is that we have a guest speaker come every year and present a topic of challenge to the men and boys and then present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the assembly. Many men and boys have made a decision to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior during these times.

My challenge to all of you is to pray for this event. Secondly, I want to challenge you to find an event or church service where the Gospel is preached and take a friend. You might not even like steak or whatever, but you can invite someone to share in some worship, or fun and most of all Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

New King James Version (NKJV)

Serving All Men

¹⁹ For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; ²⁰ and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law,^[a] that I might win those who are under the law; ²¹ to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God,^[b] but under law toward Christ^[c]), that I might win those who are without law; ²² to the weak I became as^[d] weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. ²³ Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

You might have to eat steak to reach someone! Now would that be too bad?

God bless,
Marty

Cowboy Beans Recipe
         
        Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/4 c. granulated sugar
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. sorghum or other molasses
• 1 tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 2 tbsp. mustard
• 1 can (approx. 16 ounces) pork 'n beans
• 1 can (approx. 16 ounces) butter beans, drained
• 1 can (approx. 16 ounces) kidney beans, drained
• 1 can (approx. 16 ounces) pinto beans, drained
• 1/2 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled

Preparation:

Cook ground beef until browned, breaking up and stirring as it cooks. Add onion and cook until tender; drain off excess grease. Add remaining ingredients, except bacon. Put in casserole or crockpot and top with bacon crumbs. Bake at 350° for an hour, or cook in covered slow cooker or crockpot on HIGH for 1 hour, then reduce heat to LOW and cook 2 to 4 hours.

Classic Art and the Sistine Chapel 10/15/13

Good Morning,

Tuesday morning and as I am heading out I have a hot cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee in my hand.

I was thinking about some of the world's classic artists and their work last night as I watched the sun disappear to the West.

My thoughts turned to one in particular.

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) Also known as Michelangelo, he was an Italian Renaissance artist. He is often considered a contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man, alongside Leonardo da Vinci.

Pope Julius II (also known as Giulio II and "Il papa terribile"), requested that Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. Julius was determined that Rome should be rebuilt to its former glory, and had embarked on a vigorous campaign to get the job done. That such splendor would (a) add luster to the name of Julius II and (b) serve to supersede anything that Pope Alexander VI (a Borgia, and Julius' rival) had accomplished, were not unimportant considerations. How Big Is the Ceiling? It's about 40 meters (131 feet) long by 13 meters (43 feet) wide. These numbers are rounded off just a tad, but don't detract from the fact that Michelangelo painted well over 5,000 square feet of frescoes. The Sistine Chapel Ceiling is one of the works that he is most famous for. Millions have traveled to Rome to see his work. Yet each day what people see in the Sistine Chapel is exactly what they could see the day before.  I am not minimizing the awesome work of art. I just am going somewhere else with this. As I was watching the sunset I remembered that God is everywhere and nothing exists except that He makes it. Each day hour by hour our Artist of the Universe paints a new ceiling in His chapel. Not two days are alike and since God knows where we each are at any moment, the ceiling we see was painted just for us. No one visiting the Sistine Chapel can say that the painting, even one little piece was made with them in mind. So when you watch God paint His chapel remember this. Isaiah 40:26 ESV           Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. Psalm 19 1 The heavens declare the glory of God;     the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  What an amazing God we serve. God bless, Marty 

Sunshine and Health 10/14/13

Good Morning,





Starting today with a cup Door County Highlander Grog Coffee.



Yesterday was a beautiful day with sunshine that warmed us up after an early morning duck hunt that found us in one of our first cold mornings in the Wisconsin fall.

When I got home I cleaned my gun and put away several items until next weekend. I looked out on to my driveway and saw my 12 year old Springer Spaniel laying curled up on the concrete. I walked over and saw that he was sound asleep. I touched the concrete and it was nice and warm from the sunshine. He seemed at peace and full of contentment. The sun warmed him on all sides. It really totally surrounded him with comfort.

Numbers 6:24-26 New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
²⁶ The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

As we all enjoy sunshine with the warmth and light it brings, we all need to spend time with the Son of God and be encompassed with His love. This would be Sonshine. Time spent with Jesus in prayer can be warming, enlightening and can produce peace and contentment. Best part of it is this, You don't have to lay on concrete to enjoy it. Practice good spiritual health concepts and keep the evil one at bay.



God bless your day.

Marty

Apples and a Recipe 10/13/13

Good Morning.

The Lord's day today. A day that God has given us to worship Him and rest. I pray you can do both. My coffee of course is hot and comes from the Door County Coffee Company. I am drinking some of their maple coffee.

On Friday afternoon we enjoyed the company once again of one of our Pastors and his family. They came to help us harvest our apple crop. They are hard workers and the chore was made short by their diligence to work as a team. We shared some bakery and beverages after the work was done. Our back yard which will soon be frozen and covered with snow was alive with laughter and fun.

All this brought me back to the apple blossoms of spring. I remember praying for a good harvest and for the fellowship of our friends. Without God's blessings we would have had neither. Oh we would still be friends and would fellowship, but this has become a fun tradition for us. God blessed us in a way that only He can do. He fed us physically and fed us emotionally.

Isaiah 65:24 NLT
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

But here is the thing. As I look into my yard and remember that prayer one morning, I can know that God heard me and answered my prayer. He and I were in "the garden".

God bless,
Marty

Apple Butter Recipe

Ingredients

5 1/2 pounds apples - peeled, cored and finely chopped

4 cups white sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

 Directions

1. Place the apples in a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Pour the mixture over the apples in the slow cooker and mix well.
2. Cover and cook on high 1 hour.
3. Reduce heat to low and cook 9 to 11 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and dark brown.
4. Uncover and continue cooking on low 1 hour. Stir with a whisk, if desired, to increase smoothness.
5. Spoon the mixture into sterile containers, cover and refrigerate or freeze.

Know when you need help. 10/12/13

Good Morning Dear Friends,

My coffee is today Door County Harvest Blend. This is a new one for me. I am enjoying it immensely and highly recommend it. This early AM finds me in the duck marsh with a good buddy and his dog. I will be hunting hard this weekend.


Mark1:39
³⁹ And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

Jesus healed many people during his life on Earth and continues to do so today. Often in Scripture we see people bringing diseased, crippled, blind, and demon possessed friends and relatives to Jesus. In other instances these same diseased, crippled, blind, and demon possessed folks sought Him out on their own. They came one way or the other to be healed.

If we were told by a physician that we had cancer and it was bad we would call out to the Lord for healing. Seems obvious. Yet we seem to ignore the sins within us that we like to keep. We don't cry out and ask for healing from our little demons within that keep us doing the same things over and over again. We gloss them over with terms like "sickness, bad habits, alcoholics, drug addicts, or just little sins".  All sin is not of God and comes from Satan. We need to cry out and ask to be healed and released from these sins embedded in our nature and styles. Just because we are not raving maniacs does not mean that sin has not found a home in our heart. I would like to say that the portion of our heart that holds on to this sin is "heart real estate" that Satan owns and occupies. This would be a demon foothold. We need to ask Jesus to heal us and allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in a clean heart. A clean heart full of love beats best. Full of love means that we are full of the Holy Spirit of God.

I used to refer to unruly children as "little demons". I can't do that anymore. It implies too much.

Know when you need help, and call out to be healed. Here is the best Spiritual MRI you can use.

Psalm 139:23-24
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

Have a great weekend. God bless.
Marty

Sweet Hour Of Prayer 10/11/13

Good Morning.

Friday, Friday, Friday!!!!!
Starting today with a hot, hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee.

Thursday this week I had an extended drive between appointments. I took advantage of the quiet and played some quiet Gospel music which was instrumental only. The sun was shining and my mind began to wander. It seemed just right to me. But something was missing. I felt restless and not at ease. Then it hit me. This would be a good hour to spend with God in prayer. And pray I did. I asked the Holy Spirit to lead my prayer. As people would come to mind, I would pray for them, praise God as I was led, thank Him and just enjoyed the time. When I arrived my mood changed. I was content. The restlessness was gone. I had just spent an hour alone with God. I wanted to keep driving. I knew then that I would share this in our devotional. The moment in time reminded me of a song.

1. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   That calls me from a world of care,
   And bids me at my Father’s throne
   Make all my wants and wishes known.
   In seasons of distress and grief,
   My soul has often found relief,
   And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
   By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
2. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
   Of those whose anxious spirits burn
   With strong desires for thy return!
   With such I hasten to the place
   Where God my Savior shows His face,
   And gladly take my station there,
   And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Throughout Scripture we are reminded God is always with us and desires a relationship with us. How does one have a relationship with anyone? Get to know that person better. How do you do that with God? Study the Word, His Word, the Bible and pray. Prayer is the instant messaging system of God. God never sleeps. He hears everyone of our prayers 24/7/365. " In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief."
Can you say that? Do you turn to God for refuge and strength in time of need? I hope so. Do you make all your wants and wishes known? I hope so. Do you praise Him in times of joy and in times of grief? I hope so. Are we all learning the power of a sweet hour of prayer? I hope so.

"You who answer prayer,
   to you all people will come." Psalm 65:2

Have a sweet day.
Marty