THE EXCEPT (or unless) OPTIONS

THE EXCEPT (or unless) OPTIONS

While we are in this world of testing, we are faced with, "EXCEPT" or "UNLESS" options. Here are a few passages that address our choices in life. Notice that these choices begin at salvation and continue through our life of faith.

PASSAGES and COMMENTS...
These passages are taken from various translations that use the words EXCEPT or UNLESS. Making the wrong choice in any of these testings results in disaster. 

BELIEVE IN CHRIST ALONE or DIE IN SINS
John 8:24
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am 'he', ye shall die in your sins. (ASV)
DLG note... There is no other escape from sin than Jesus Christ. 

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. (WEB WEY NIV)
DLG note... There is no other way to a right relationship with God than through Christ. 

REPENT or PERISH
Luke 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (KJV ASV WBS)
DLG note... Either REPENT (change your mind about sin, change your direction in life, turn from sin) or be separated from God forever. 

NEW BIRTH or LOSE KINGDOM OF GOD
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (KJV ASV DBY WBS)
DLG note... A miraculous, God empowered, transformed new beginning is fundamental, essential to entering the Kingdom of God. 

REMEMBER AND REPENT or LOSE YOUR LIGHT
Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (KJV ASV DBY WBS)
DLG note... Individually, believers who fall must repent again, turn again, and do the first works of salvation again (believe, confess, obey) or they will lose their light. This is also true in the corporate sense for churches. 

EAT AND DRINK CHRIST or BE LOST
John 6:53
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (KJV ASV WBS)
DLG note... Constant spiritual feasting on Christ is the only way to maintain spiritual life. 

ABIDE/HOLD FAST or BE BARREN/CUT OFF/BURNED
John 15:2-6
(2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
(3) Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
(4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
(5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (KJV ASV WBS)
(6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
DLG note... Believers who do not produce spiritual fruit (including the Fruit of the Spirit), we will be removed from Christ. Believers who do not experience purification of the heart will no longer produce spiritual fruit. Believers who do not choose to abide, continue, remain in Christ will not produce spiritual fruit, but will instead be cast aside, withered, cast into the fire and burned. Notice, it is not the believers failed works that are cast into the fire of judgment, but the believer. Our choice is either Holy Spirit fire or hell fire. 

EXAMINE/PROVE YOURSELVES SAVED or FAIL THE TEST AND BE REJECTED
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (KJV WBS)
DLG note... Those who do not prove themselves faithful during testing will be rejected (reprobate). 

REJECT FALSE DOCTRINE or BE TURNED FROM THE GOSPEL
Galatians 1:6-7
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--
7 that is not another, except there be certain who are troubling you, and wishing to pervert the good news of the Christ; (YLT)
DLG note... Those who turn from following Christ will be followers of a false gospel and therefore not be saved.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

SUCCESS AND FAILURE ARE BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE

GOD'S PLAN
God deals with humanity on both an individual and a corporate level. God created man (Adam) from the dust of the earth, then He made woman from Adam's side. From that time God's relationship with the human race has been both individual and corporate. I am using the word “corporate” in the basic sense of “body.” The "body" may be the husband/wife union in marriage (Adam/Eve), the parent/child relationship in family (Adam/Eve/Cain/Abel), the extended family relationship of grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins (Terah/Haran/Abram/Sarai/Lot), group relationship found in tribe and community (Abraham/Isaac/Jacob/his sons, Babel/Sodom, Israel/Judah) or the redemptive relationship in the Church. Marriage, family and Church are God's ideas and institutions


THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SIDE OF BEING HUMAN
There are some blessings/cursings that can only be realized by individuals and some that can only be realized by bodies of people. There are some obligations/opportunities that are strictly personal and some that are corporate. There are some successes/failures experienced only by individuals, and others that are only experienced by groups of people.


God has destined us personally to be answerable only for our own sins, but He has designed us corporately to share as victims or victors, based on other people's actions. Not only do our actions have personal consequences for us, they have corporate consequences for others, thus the idea, "No man is an island."


It is a challenge to attain and maintain a balance between private and public productive performance. While God expects us to reach our full potential as individuals, He also requires us to live in peace with one another. When a marriage, family, church is living according to God's will and by God's grace, this unimaginably beautiful community becomes a reality. This will be demonstrated on an international level during the earthly reign of Christ, when He returns. This will be the eternal norm when there is a New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem.

PREPARING FOR SUCCESS/FAILURE
This is why it is important for people to learn early that they are not only responsible for themselves, but they are responsible as part of a social structure (marriage, family, church).


This is why it is important for young brides and grooms to learn teamwork and mutual support concepts early in their marriage. If interdependence is not understood and achieved at an early stage of a relationship, the individuals and the relationship will begin to suffer loss and failure and they will be plagued with negativity throughout their lives.


This is why it is important for people to be under the authority of wise leadership and for them to seek out that leadership and submit to the counsel of that leadership. The refusal to seek and accept sound counsel will result in personal and corporate failure, temporal and eternal loss.


AS SEEN IN CREATION AND THE CREATOR
Finally consider this. We see both the individual and corporate idea in the natural world, the institutions of God and the the nature of God.


Creation
All of life is built upon the individual part, but is related to all other parts. This is true on the mega scale of the universe and the micro scale of the atom. The far reaches of the universe impacts and influences life on earth. Our entire universe is interdependent.


God refers to the human body as an example of this concept. The body is made up of individual parts, but each part has a relationship, connection, to the other parts.


Relationships
The husband/wife relationship is said to be "one flesh" and the local church is one body, made up of various members.


Deity
There is only One God, though there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When we interact with and respond to God we are relating to One God in Three Persons. God deals with us as only One God, but He relates to Himself and to us as Three Persons. He (They) is (are) perfect in unity and in purpose.


THE FALLEN HUMAN CONDITION
God created us to be individuals who can relate to one another in perfect unity and harmony.. Sin has brought dissonance to the human race, but redemption restores us to God's plan. But remember, the longer we are out of tune with God, the more discord there will be in our lives, privately and publicly.


ABERRANT BEHAVIOR
It is called sickness when parts of the human body are not functioning properly. It is called family dysfunction when members of a family do not properly relate to one another. It is called crime and anarchy when a society does not submit to authority. Likewise, when a local body of believers does not properly interact it is an indication of soul sickness, spiritual dysfunction, and rebellion against God.


CHOOSE YOUR PATH CAREFULLY
During the early days of the automobile, people drove in well-worn ruts rather than on maintained, modern roads. When going from one community to another, a driver might be reminded, "Choose your rut carefully because you are going to be in it for a long way." This is good advice for the journey of life. Choose your path carefully, because you are going to be in it for a long way." You will have to deal with the terrain, through which the path takes you, and the thugs, who wait in ambush. And remember, the path takes you to a specific destination, whether you want to go there or not.


This is why we need a road map (the Bible). This is why we need a guide (the Holy Spirit). This is why we need to travel in a group (the local church). It is possible to live for Christ when no one else does, but it is not possible to fulfill all of our ministry without the other members of the body of Christ.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

MULTITASKING DURING CHURCH... PUHLEEEZ

The Word for the Day is Multitasking... 

Multitasking, as it is generally used in our society, has its place, but during church is not the time or place.

Sometimes “Multitasking” is a euphemism for, “I will give a partial effort to something I am not interested in, while also doing something I want to do.” Spouses sometimes call it multitasking, when they choose to expend their time and energies in various directions, rather than committing to building a good marriage or being a responsible parent. People think that multitasking is the first cousin to being Superman or Superwoman, when in reality it may signal a person's incompetence in a given arena.

I could give examples of people “multitasking” to the detriment of relationships or at the cost of successful enterprises. I will not do that. Instead, I want to address the subject of this article, Multitasking During Church. I am using the term, “church” in reference to either worship, preaching, study or fellowship times. 

Multitasking is Divided Attention...

Multitasking is an admission that a person's attention is being given to more than one unrelated pursuit at a time. People will boastfully tell you that they can adequately focus on more than one thing at a time. Though that may be true with some activities, it is not true in every situation. A doctor has no business watching the Super Bowl while he is performing brain or heart surgery. There are some things in life that should not be part of a multitasking effort: Service and Worship to God should not be given a partial effort. 

Church Activities Demand Total Focus...

To worship God in spirit and truth, precludes a person dividing his energy and attention, even with other God oriented activities. Of course, this is obvious to the person who is worshiping in spirit and in truth. This is evident to the person who truly loves God, His Word and His people. After all, when a person is totally committed to, and involved in an activity, they do not divide their effort. Anything less than total involvement is not a person's best effort. Multitasking during church is dishonest and dishonoring to God. 

Church Time is Not Spare Time...

Church time is not the time to catch up on writing correspondence, texting friends, sorting pictures, writing memoirs, planning activities, knitting or clipping your fingernails.
Church time is not the time to fret over work problems, family problems, money problems, health problems, relationship problems.
Church time is not the time to think about the big game, the upcoming concert, the next party, your summer vacation, your impending nuptials or your scheduled divorce, movies or TV programs.
Church time is not the time for the worship leader to plan the songs for the next service, not the time for the teacher to plan her lesson, not the time for the Building Chairman to sketch plans for the new addition. Leave your baggage and your distractions outside.

Don't Degrade the Church...
If you are not going to give God your all during church time, don't bother to come at all.
If you are going to play games and pretend to give God your all, don't come at all.
OR, come and surrender to God as soon as you enter the gathering. Confess your lack of pure commitment and ask God to deliver you.
THEN, worship, praise, study and fellowship in the beauty of holiness.

There are at least three reasons a person should not give partial effort to God during church time. 

GOD DESERVES OUR TOTAL EFFORT...

No one should render to the God of the universe anything less than total effort, time and energy. He has given us 168 hours a week and He expects us to come aside from the activities of the world in order to draw closer to Him.

If lovers expect full attention from one another, how much more should God, the lover of our soul, expect us to give Him our full attention, if we love Him with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength?

If instructors expect full attention when they are imparting knowledge to their students, how much more should God, the Fountainhead of all truth and wisdom, expect us to give Him our full attention?

If coaches and managers expect 110% effort from their players and workers, how much more should God, Who has called us into His glorious service, expect our full attention. 

WE NEED TO GIVE OUR TOTAL EFFORT...

We are a needy people.

We are a temporal people.

We are an easily distracted people.

We are a forgetful people.

We are a weak people.

We need to give God our best in order to receive His best.

We have so many flaws and problems that we need to focus completely on Him if we don't want to miss His best for us.

We prepare ourselves, equip ourselves and discipline ourselves to give our best effort in other areas of life, how much more should we want to give our best to God? How much more do we need to give our best to God? 

OTHERS NEED/WANT US TO GIVE OUR TOTAL EFFORT...

The people sitting near us do not need the distraction of multitasking during church.

Children and new people need to see us totally involved in the church service. They need to see what it means to worship God in spirit and in truth. They may be learning from us.

There are others who are in dire need of what God wants to give them, and multitasking robs them of God's best. No man lives to himself. We are our brother's keeper. God has prepared your neighbor's heart, prepared the message, prepared the service and the devil wants to use us to undermine the plan of God. It is Satan's purpose to disrupt church, it is our responsibility to keep from being Satan's tool of destruction.

There are those who have come to offer their best and to enjoy God's best during a church service and they should not be robbed of that opportunity by those who don't give God their all.


Oh, the glory that awaits a church when all of the people come together to worship in spirit and in truth. Do not be the one who sabotages the church.
We will either be a stepping stone or a stumbling block; a help or a hindrance; a blessing or a burden.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

THE TRAGEDY OF LOSING A LOVED ONE

When Tragedy Strikes...
How sad when tragedy strikes a family. Consider these scenarios.

A loved one drives to the store to buy party favors to hand out at their child's birthday. On the way home a drunken driver plows into the side of the vehicle, killing the birthday boy sitting in the back seat. OH, THE TRAGEDY.


A long battle against a ravaging disease finally ends when a young parent slips into eternity. OH, THE TRAGEDY.


A brave young warrior is killed by "friendly fire" in a country that does not want him there, fighting for a political agenda he does not espouse, and which is contrary to American principles and heritage. He is brought home in a body bag days before we withdraw in shame. OH, THE TRAGEDY. 

The heartache is indescribable and the scenarios are without number. Sometimes families never recover from such losses. 


BUT CONSIDER THIS...

A family is undermined and relationships are shattered irretrievably because of a misunderstanding and false pride and suspicion and selfish anger and petty differences. Parent and child, siblings and fellow church friends are thrown to the curb and love is abandoned because someone rejects the way of Christ and good counsel is despised. The brief, but important moments of love, joy and spiritual unity with the most important people in our lives are cast away, like garbage on a refuse pile. OH, THE TRAGEDY.


Sometimes the tragedy is self inflicted. Though the tragedy is avoidable, some people are determined to embrace heartache, suffering and loss. Though failed relational tragedies are inescapable, some people are determined to rob themselves and inflict others with great sorrow by holding to their toxic attitudes. No amount of reasonable or emotional appeal or spiritual counsel turns a stubborn heart. OH, THE TRAGEDY.

We need the words of Malachi to be fulfilled in our society today.

Malachi 4:6
(6)  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

We need to dwell together in unity. As the Psalmist said,

Psalms 133:1
(1)  ...Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 


We need to be of one mind, regardless of what the world says,

1 Corinthians 1:10
(10)  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 


If we would hear and heed the words of Peter we would enjoy the blessings of God.

1 Peter 3:8-12
(8)  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
(9)  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
(10)  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
(11)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
(12)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

THE CHURCH AND SPIRITUAL ASTIGMATISM

The Church is not man's idea or invention. The Church is the idea and creation of God. A proper view of the Church is God's view of the Church.


Astigmatism is blurred vision because the eyes do not focus sharply on an object.


Spiritual Astigmatism is when a person does not have a clear understanding of Biblical truth. There is a great deal of Spiritual Astigmatism because people do not have a Biblical view of the Church.


The Lens of the Church...
If a person does not have a correct view of the Church, he does not have a correct view of the Christian faith. If a person does not have a correct view of the Church, he does not have a correct view of salvation. If a person does not have a correct view of the Church, he does not have a correct view of God.

From God's Point of View...
It is God Who gave the Church its exalted position. Read the Book. Also, the first generations of believers understood the importance of the Church in God's plan of salvation. As aberrant groups tried to replace Biblical beliefs with false doctrines, the early believers correctly pointed out that there is no salvation outside of the Church. Sadly, the various organized sects within the Church claimed to be the only true church and said there was no salvation outside of their organization (as seen in Romanism).

God's New Testament Models of the Church
The Body of Christ (Ro. 12:4-5; 1 Co. 12:27-28).
The Bride of Christ (Ep. 5:23-33).
The Household of Faith, of God (Ga. 6:10; Ep. 2:19-22).
The Building/House of God (Ep. 2:19-22; 1 Pe. 2:5)
The Pillar and Support of the Truth (1 Tm. 3:15).


Biblical Concepts...
The Church was a Divine mystery, hidden until Christ came (Ep. 3:3-10).
The Church belongs to Christ, is being built by Christ and will defeat the powers of hell (Mt. 16:18}.
Christ died for the Church (Ep. 5:23).
Christ is Head of Church (Co. 1:18).
Christ is coming back for the Church (Ep. 5:27).
The gifts of the Holy Spirit were given to the Church (1 Co. 12:7, 14:4-5,12).
The Church holds the Keys to the Kingdom and is vital to the salvation of the lost (Mt. 16:19, 18:17-19).
God has appointed officers in the Church; elders/deacons (Ph. 1:1; 1 Tm. 3:10-13; 1Tm. 5:17-19).
The Church was given Divinely gifted leaders, to convert the lost and perfect the believers; apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor/teachers (Ep. 4:11-12).
The ministry of the apostles was to plant churches and appoint elders in those churches (Ac. 15:3, 23).
God gave authority to the Church to tend to His business (Ac. 15:2-6).


For Further Consideration...
The Book of Acts is God's record of the origin, planting, growth and ministries of the early Church.
More than half of the New Testament books were written to either churches or pastors.
God directed John to send His Revelation to seven churches.


Therefore Remember...
The Church is God's chosen institution to reach the lost and to sustain the believer, therefore, an incorrect view of the Church is an incorrect view of the Christian faith, salvation and God.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

FROM CLUTTER TO CATASTROPHE

A Sad Subculture

I have watched programs, in shocked bewilderment, about hoarders. These are not people who hoard food. These are people who hoard clutter, trash, garbage or animals and all the filth that goes with them. They have allowed the accumulation of these things, often times useless trash, to take over their lives.

Held Captive By Their Desires

I watch in horror as people have allowed accumulation of trash and filth to overtake their house and drive their families away from them. Garbage collects on the floor and vermin overrun the house. The garbage has filled all the rooms of the house and there is no place to cook, eat, sleep, visit, relax, or even bathe. People are willing to lose friends, family, personal dignity and health as they cling to their trash. Not only have I seen houses that were floor to ceiling with debris, I have seen someone who bought another house to live in because their trash had totally taken over their house. Still, they accumulate junk and garbage in their new home, until their new house becomes another dump site.

Moving From Value To Tragedy

It is asserted that these people have psychological problems. I am not focusing on that question at this time. I am simply pointing out that people, for whatever reasons, allow their orderly, clean, productive, attractive lives to become chaotic, filthy, useless and abhorrent when they allow stuff to enter and remain in their lives, to the detriment of their own value, their relationships with friends and loved ones and their useful place in society.

An Unintended End

People do not intend to become useless pigs. It does not happen overnight. It is the result of neglect, laziness and misguided values, which eventuates in deliberate choices to reject reason.

The Greater Tragedy

Most of us are appalled when we see such behavior. However, some of the same people who are disgusted with such aberrant behavior are collectors of spiritual trash and garbage. These people have neglected their own relationship with God and allowed the accumulation of spiritual debris to overtake their relationship with God.

Look And Learn

Just like the people on these "Hoarding" programs, most people are unaware of their own spiritually aberrant condition. At some time in the past, some people who have confessed and repented of their sins, and placed their faith in the saving work of Christ, have slowly allowed the worthless things of this world to accumulate and take over their lives. The things of the world are crowding out the good things of God. Yet, they will not hear, they will not see, and therefore they are being swept away in a sea of emptiness.

Take Charge

Take time to evaluate your life. Take time to let God speak to you. Take time to be holy.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

GOD'S COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

God, the Great Communicator
God has always sought communications with humans. It was face to face with Adam and heart to heart with Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Old Testament Prophets and John the Baptizer. Ultimately He communicates with all believers in Christ through His indwelling Spirit.

2 Peter 1:21
(21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

John 16:13-14
(13)  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
(14)  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

 While we live in a technologically advanced world of communications, God has always been ahead of the curve. Consider some of the present forms of modern communications and remember, God has provided everything we need for first rate connection, but we must stay online with Him if we want to hear from Him.

2 Peter 1:21
(21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

James 1:21-22
(21)  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
(22)  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Wireless

Before the internet, television, radio and telegraphy, God's Spirit communicated with His people wirelessly. In the most advanced form it was infallible revelation.

Hebrews 1:1-2
(1)  God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
(2)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Texting

God texted us long ago through the written revelation given to men like Job, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, the prophets. Matthew, Luke, John, Peter, James and Paul. We have the whole document in the Holy Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
(16)  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
(17)  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Tweeting

Tweets are short, random, unscheduled and time sensitive communications. Spiritual tweets are God's sudden interventions, intended to lead, inform and encourage us. Though tweets are quick and specific updates from God, they are based on long established truths found in God's revealed text, the Bible. These communications are sometimes called God's leading.

John 16:13-14
(13)  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
(14)  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

Romans 8:14
(14)  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Audio/Video

Though this is more rare, God sometimes communicates through visions. Visions come in various forms at varying levels, but visions never contradict or add to the body of truth found in the Bible. Visions are not to be confused with trances or occult communications with spiritual beings. Visions from God glorify Christ and build up the believer in the Biblical faith of Jesus Christ. Biblical visions are not to be sought and must be subject to the Word of God.

Acts 2:17
(17)  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Acts 9:10
(10)  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

Acts 10:3
(3)  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

Acts 16:9
(9)  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

Acts 26:19
(19)  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Social Networking

God provides community/social networks for our inter-action and development. His primary and preferred community is the local church.

Hebrews 10:24-25
(24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
(25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting

MP3

God has given us Christian songs that encourage and edify us. We can call these songs to our memory or He brings these songs to our minds throughout the day.

Ephesians 5:19
(19)  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Colossians 3:16
(16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Tech Support

God has appointed pastors to answer questions, assist in correcting problems, update and upgrade our accounts.

Colossians 1:25-29
(25)  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;
(26)  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
(27)  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
(28)  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
(29)  Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Ephesians 4:11-14
(11)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
(14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

A Good Connection

We can either have good or bad communications with God, depending on our connectivity. Our signal depends on our relationship with Him. He always gives a good signal, but we can turn away from Him and miss His enlightenment.

1 John 1:6-7
(6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
(7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould