Be Pruned: To Bear Fruit That Will Last

The ideal gift/devotional book for the new graduate from 8^th grade, high school or college, or just that special person or special occasion, such as birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or whatever. The 2024 upgrade in hard cover is only on Barnes & Noble.

Also for personal or small group Bible study and spiritual growth.

Available on Amazon in paperback and hardcover or on Barnes & Noble in hardcover (2024 edition).

Full color interior; 132 pp.

Buy it now for the graduating junior high, high school or college special person in your life. Do not forget that birthday coming up or Mother’s Day or Father’s Day either. Makes an excellent wedding gift to get a marriage off on the right spiritual footing.

Contents.

Introduction                                                                           

Areas Requiring Pruning                                                    

Roots                                                                             

Suckers                                                                         

Water-sprouts                                                              

Lateral Offshoots                                                        

Girdled Branches                                                        

Excessive Fruit Spurs                                                 

Excessive Flowers                                                        

Double Leaders                                                            

Main Frame                                                                 

Inferior Branches                                                        

Objectives of Pruning                                                          

To Improve and Maintain Vigor                               

To Increase Fruit Bearing Quality and Quantity     

To Uphold Natural Beauty and Shape                      

To Maintain Proper Position and Relationship        

To Promote Healing and Recovery                            

Timeliness of Pruning                                                         

During Dormant Periods                                            

During Seasonal Growing Periods                            

When Not To Prune                                                    

Methods of Pruning                                                          

Maintenance or Seasonal                                          

Renewal or Rejuvenation                                         

Reconditioning                                                           

Corrective or Remedial                                            

A Snippet of Understanding (Epilog)                               

A Process of Restoration

The Gift

James F. Gauss

December 25, 2023

By nature, and by culture, we as Americans, like to give and receive gifts.  We like to, if we can afford to, give gifts, not only at Christmas, our favorite time, but also on a person’s birthday, graduation, wedding and many other special occasions.  We also like to receive gifts at those times too.  We may even give or receive gifts for no particular reason at all.  Just because we feel like it.

People of many other cultures like to do the same.  Even in poorer cultures, or families, gifts are often given and received.  They may be torn, battered, used or handcrafted, but the spirit in which they are given or received is the same: A spirit of love in giving and a spirit of thankfulness in receiving.

Have you ever given someone a gift and charged them a sum of money or some other extraction from them, like a favor, or promise?  No, if it is a gift, you can’t.  Otherwise it would not be a gift.  If you did receive something of value—other than a “thank you”, a kiss, a hug, or a smile—it would no longer be a gift, it would be a bribe.  A gift, by nature and purpose, is free to the receiver, otherwise it is not a gift, but a purchase by you and/or a payoff by the giver.

Have you ever been given a gift and told by the giver to never open it? It may be beautifully and expensively wrapped.  It may be tiny or huge, but if you could never unwrap it, how would you know what it is or the giver’s intention?  How or when would you ever thank them for their gift? The gift might be worthless, like a block of wood.  Unless, of course, you needed wood to cook or stay warm.  Then it may be invaluable and highly cherished.  It could be something very valuable, like a gold watch or a thousand shares in a large company.  However, such a gift might be viewed as meaningless if the receiver already had dozens of gold watches or a million shares of the company already. 

It’s all a matter of perspective, expectation and spirit of the receiver.  The receiver may place a far different value on the gift received then the giver intended.  While the giver may give the gift out of love, the receiver may not appreciate the gift or the intent of the giver, because they were expecting something else.  Something more expensive, bigger, flashier or in keeping with one’s image and desires.

What is the most cherished, or expensive, or biggest, or most appreciated gift you have ever been given?  In your childhood, it might have been a shiny new bike, or a much sought after electronic device, or puppy.  For a special occasion, like a graduation or wedding, it might be something that you attach more symbolic or heirloom value to, rather than monetary value.  Most of us can remember such gifts and may even still have one or two.

Many, many years ago, there was a gift given to all mankind.  A gift that was enthusiastically received by some, but rejected by most.  Some excitedly unwrapped the gift immediately and fully embraced its substance.  Others struggled to open the gift or fully unwrap it, and therefore could not fully enjoy its purpose, nor be fully thankful to the giver.

Two thousand years later, the majority of people worldwide still struggle to freely receive that gift.  Millions of people have freely accepted this gift, but sadly, many millions more reject it, even though it is free, yet given at a great price.  Some desire the gift, but reject the giver.  Others willingly receive the gift, but forget all about the giver as time passes.  Many more think there is a “catch” to the gift and they must “earn” the giver’s favor in order to fully benefit from the gift.  If they only knew the true nature of the gift and fully embraced the giver and his intentions, they would be set free and the world would be a different place.

What is this Gift? It is the gift that was purchased at the greatest price ever known to mankind, by the greatest giver of all creation.  It is a gift that is beyond man’s full comprehension and appreciation.  Yet, it is free and without any “strings” attached.  It cannot be purchased by anyone, at any price, but only by the One who paid the ultimate price.

The Bible says that sin entered the world and mankind when the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God and rebelled against Him.  Apostle Paul, who considered himself chief among sinners, wrote, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23).

“Therefore,” Paul penned, “as through one man’s [Adam’s] offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s [Jesus’] righteous act [death on the cross] the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Romans 5:18).

“For the wages of sin is [spiritual] death,” Paul clearly stated, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

God’s gift to those who will accept it takes on many forms.  First, those who accept His gift are brought into right relationship with Him through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and His subsequent resurrection from the dead.  If one accepts those facts, then he or she will receive the gift of redemption and forgiveness for their sins.

Jesus Himself said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).  The gift of eternal life with Father God and His Son is the most amazing gift of God.  However, it does not start upon death, it starts with that assurance once one calls upon Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of one’s life.  When that happens believers receive another astonishing gift. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Romans 10:9-13).

Come! Receive your free gift from God.

Books by Gauss Price Changes

Visit booksbygauss.com for more details on some great books.

The Gospel Starts with Repentance

James F. Gauss, Ph.D.

May 13, 2023

No. 277

Most people would describe themselves as a “good person” and therefore deserving of going to heaven after they die.  Most Christians have that special relative, friend, neighbor or co-worker who is difficult to witness the Gospel of truth to because, after all, they are a “good person” in their eyes.  They never murdered anyone, never raped anybody, and maybe never stole anything.  In their view, they never committed any “major” sin and therefore are a “good person” and certainly God would not reject their entrance into heaven.

Is “Good,” Good Enough? In chapter 19 of the Gospel of Matthew there is an interesting exchange between a rich young ruler and Jesus.  The man believed he was good enough because he kept the commandments of God.  But Jesus told him he lacked one thing.  Jesus knew the man was obsessed with his wealth, so he told him to sell all that he had, give the proceeds to the poor and follow Him.  The rich young man could not do that and left his eternal reward behind.

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’

“So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments’” (Matthew 19:16-17; NKJV)

The New Living Translation and New International Version (and others) omit “Good” before teacher and renders verse 16, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

In either version, Jesus response is the same: There is only One who is good and that is God.  It is also interesting that Jesus, the only sinless person to have ever lived on earth, did not respond and say, “Did you say ‘good’?  That’s me, I’m good.”  No, He completely deflected such an assertion that would have put Him above His Father in Heaven.  No, no one is good in the eyes of God except those who repent and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of his or her life.

Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Christians in Rome, reminded them and us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23).  However, three chapters later, Paul offers this remedy, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The often quoted Bible verse, John 3:16, is familiar to most Christians and shows up on placards at many public events.  But the full thought runs through verse 18.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

The Greek word used to describe “believe” means to “rely upon” or to “entrust” one’s life to.  In this case Jesus is calling those who believe in Him to entrust their lives completely to Him.  Admittedly, not an easy task in a world of so many distractions and temptations.

God’s love for His human creation is indisputable and reassuring to those who seek comfort and solace from an evil world.  Yet there is a step that one must take in coming before God and establishing a relationship with Him.

Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly called the Israelites to repent of their evil and return to Him or suffer severe consequences.  More often than not, when they rejected God and His commandments, He turned them over to their enemies under whom they experienced horrendous persecution and death.

In Ezekiel 18, God spoke through the prophet about the righteous and unrighteous Israelite.  God contrasted those who sin but repent vs. those who sin but refuse to repent.

“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:21-23).

On the other hand,  . . . when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die (Ezekiel 18:24).

In the same chapter, God, through Ezekiel continues to chastise Israel for their sin.

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” (Ezekiel 18:30-32).

Throughout the gospels Jesus made it clear, that in order to receive salvation, one must come before the Father in a spirit of repentance.  In the letters of His apostles, they also made it unmistakable that repentance was the first step for those who desired to be a disciple of Christ.

Right after Jesus was tempted by Satan after 40 days in the wilderness, Apostle Matthew recorded, “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17; my emphasis).  Jesus apparently did not start preaching about God’s love, but rather of the necessity of sinful man to repent and seek God’s forgiveness first.  Then they will experience God’s true love for them, which was there all the time.

Preach not Repentance, it does Offend.  It seems that in America most preachers are unwilling to preach about repentance.  To them it seems harsh and unwarranted.  They would rather preach about God’s love and benefits.  As a preacher said to me once, “We don’t need to repent.  We did that already.”

To the contrary, not only are sinners called to repentance, but those that have already been saved by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, are called to live a life of repentance.  Far too many “Christians” accept Jesus as their “savior” as a means of “fire insurance”, but not as a way of living a transformed life.  We all sin.  A life of repentance helps to keep us on track with God.

Apostle John, in his first letter to those that are Christ followers, made it clear.   ^“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

“I have not come to call the righteous,” Jesus asserted, “but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32).  However, the irony is, that as sinners, no one is righteous.  As Paul wrote, “As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;” (Romans 3:10).

Although all the apostles abandoned Christ before His crucifixion, Peter, who denied knowing Christ three times, felt he was chief among sinners.  He clearly understood the need for repentance and redemption before Almighty God.

After his spiritual rebirth at Pentecost, “Then Peter said to them [fellow Jews], ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38; my emphasis).

In his second sermon to his Jewish brethren after his rebirth, Peter called them to “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” (Acts 3:19).

After Jesus’ resurrection and before His ascension into heaven, He appeared to His disciples and instructed them, “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47; my emphasis).

Apostle Paul, who persecuted Christians unto death before he met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, would later write, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10; my emphasis).  Trye repentance for one’s sins leads to a godly sorrow, a remorse (and sometimes restitution) for the sin(s) committed.  God does not want us to be burdened by sin and guilt, but to have true regret, yet know the freedom of His forgiveness when we come before Him in repentance.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [of salvation], as some count slackness,” Peter wrote, “but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

The Bottom Line.  “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men,” Apostle Paul penned, “the Man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5).

To the church in Ephesus, Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

There is no other path to God and to eternal life in Heaven than through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life.  None!  No other deity or belief system; not your goodness or good works; not the priest in your confessional booth.  No, nothing other than Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for your sins and sinfulness.  You are free to believe what you desire, but God’s word and His salvation plan for mankind has never changed and never will.

Related.

The 7 Churches of the Book of Revelation

Psalm 107

A Prayer for Repentance in the Church

Also check out:

Be Pruned: To Bear Fruit that will Last

Bond Slaves: Confessions of Hard Core Bikers

Overcoming the Storms of Life

Revelation 18 and the Fate of America (2021 Edition)

The Catholic Church and the New Testament

The Catholic Church: Why I Left it.

Psalm 107

Thanksgiving to the Lord for His Great Works of Deliverance

James F. Gauss, Ph.D.

May 4, 2023

No. 274

Sometimes as Christians and a people of prayer we get discouraged.  We pray hard and often in the midst of affliction or spiritual darkness, yet see very little tangible results.  I am likely one of millions of Christians who experience such emotion occasionally and even frequently.  Yet, I am a firm believer in prayer and answered prayer.  Why?  I have seen numerous miraculous answers to prayer that were not coincidence or mere happenings.  Some of the things I pray about may not happen in my lifetime, but that does not stop me from praying about them.

Recently, I have been reading through the Gospel of Luke, and at the start of chapter 18 Jesus shares the parable of the persistent widow.

“There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” (Luke 18:2-5).

Like all His parables, Jesus was providing His disciples a teachable illustration on the consistency of prayer.  “Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?’” (Luke 18:6-8).

The consistency and persistency of prayer is as important as the prayer itself.  We are never to give up; never give the devil a foothold; not one square inch.  Pray without ceasing!

This parable reminded me of the great Psalm 107 where the psalmist recounts some of the trials and tribulations of the Jewish people.  How, because of their rebellion against God, they were constantly getting themselves into deep predicaments.  Once they realized their difficulty and that they had no answers to relieve their situation, then they cried out to the Lord God and He had mercy on them and delivered them.

Right now, in America, and in the Church in America, it feels in many ways that we have reached the end of our proverbial rope.  It seems like there is no way back.  No way to redeem what we have lost.  And, maybe we have gone too far away from God.  Maybe America has fallen so far into the pit of debauchery that we are beyond redemption.

However, through repentance, there is always hope in God and through God.  He always has a way forward, upward and out of our sinful morass.  It does, however, take consistent and persistent prayer of the faithful petitioning God for His forgiveness and mercy.

Remember, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Psalm 107. 

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
² Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
³ And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.

⁴ They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in.
⁵ Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
⁶ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.
⁷ And He led them forth by the right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
⁸ Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
⁹ For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

¹⁰ Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Bound in affliction and irons—
¹¹ Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
¹² Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
¹³ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces.
¹⁵ Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
¹⁶ For He has broken the gates of bronze,
And cut the bars of iron in two.

¹⁷ Fools, because of their transgression,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
¹⁸ Their soul abhorred all manner of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
¹⁹ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
²⁰ He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
²¹ Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
²² Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.

²³ Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters,
²⁴ They see the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
²⁵ For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
²⁶ They mount up to the heavens,
They go down again to the depths;
Their soul melts because of trouble.
²⁷ They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
And are at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brings them out of their distresses.
²⁹ He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.
³⁰ Then they are glad because they are quiet;
So He guides them to their desired haven.
³¹ Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
³² Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders.

³³ He turns rivers into a wilderness,
And the watersprings into dry ground;
³⁴ A fruitful land into barrenness,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
³⁵ He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings.
³⁶ There He makes the hungry dwell,
That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
³⁷ And sow fields and plant vineyards,
That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
³⁸ He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle decrease.

³⁹ When they are diminished and brought low
Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
⁴⁰ He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
⁴¹ Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
And makes their families like a flock.
⁴² The righteous see it and rejoice,
And all iniquity stops its mouth.

⁴³ Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Finally, as Christians we must continually remind ourselves, that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

To do such battle we must put on the whole armor of God and carry on spiritual warfare—not on our own, but enjoined by fellow believers near and far (see Ephesians 6:10-18).

Related.

A Prayer for Repentance in the Church

The 7 Churches of the Book of Revelation

Will America and the Church Become a “Byword”?

Proclamation 97

Revival in the Church. When will it come? Part 1

Revival in the Church. When will it come? Part 2

Overcoming the Storms of Life

James F. Gauss, Ph.D.

January 2, 2023

228 pp, $12.95

On Amazon here.

No one goes through life without a “storm” or two.  Everyone experiences hardship, loss, stress, deprivation or some other crisis that impacts or maybe controls their life. With outside influences beyond their control mounting in the current socio-economic, military and terrorist threats, decline in morals, depression and a host of other issues too large to deal with alone, millions are seeking answers and spiritual solace. This book takes the reader through 12 steps or storm preparation and storm survival chapters using biblical teaching to bring forth insight, encouragement and the reality of God’s love. The First Mate’s Study Guide helps to drive home the points made in each chapter; challenging the reader to put biblical principles into practice before, during and after the storms of life.

This book was originally published in 1999 under the title, “Christians Confronting Crisis.”  It made its way to the continent of Africa and received the following reviews:

“What we are truly hungering for is a better understanding of God and our relation[ship] to Him. No man has ever influenced us so much or become so much a part of our life as yourself.” Pastor Peter Segita Ogega and Monubi S. O’Ngau, Kenya Fellowship Church, Kenya, East Africa

“I do highly recommend the book, Christians Confronting Crisis, to the colony of God.” Pastor Emmanuel Madziwanzira, Christian Apostolic Faith Church, Zimbabwe, Africa

“I would like to thank you so much for the book I have come across . . . Christians Confronting Crisis. . . .  There is a life changing for the better through some of the topics.” Philip Mativengah, Zimbabwe, Africa

“I was so overwhelmed and I thought the only escape was suicide, but thank God for your timely intervention of your book, ‘Christians Confronting Crisis.’ I have finally found freedom and hope in Christ.

“The book had [sic] been an eye-opener and answer to so many issues I have been struggling with.” George T., Ghana, West Africa

In 2010, it was revised and updated and re-released under the current title, “Overcoming the Storms of Life.”

After knowing intense personal crisis and loss, this author guides his readers through an encounter with Biblical truths. The chapters will inspire a dialogue within you, and hopefully with others as well, because interspersed between each chapter of thoughtful interplay between God’s word and life’s realities are set situational exercises which ask how you would handle particular life dilemmas. I could see using this book for individual devotion, or for a gathering of two people or a small group who read the chapters and then come together for the thought questions and the situational responses. If you have struggles with God’s or life’s fairness and the place of God in it, this book can offer healing and wisdom for the challenges of life.

Pastor Greg Schlicker

Contents

Captain’s Pre-log

Day   1. Red Sky in the Morning

              First Mate’s Study Guide: The Warning

Day   2. On the Lookout

              First Mate’s Study Guide: The Watchman

Day   3. The Captain’s Captain

              First Mate’s Study Guide: The Captain

Day   4. Batten Down the Hatches

              First Mate’s Study Guide: Stormy Seas Ahead

Day   5. Prepare Your Lifeboat

              First Mate’s Study Guide: Storm Preparedness

Day   6. Watch Those Fins Mate

              First Mate’s Study Guide: Swimming with the Sharks

Day   7. Going with the Wind

              First Mate’s Study Guide: Riding it Out

Day   8. Hunkering Down Within the Storm

              First Mate’s Study Guide: Fighting the Good Fight

Day   9. Surviving in the Aftermath

              First Mate’s Study Guide: Release Me!

Day 10. Seeking a Safe Harbor

              First Mate’s Study Guide: Visit Me!

Day 11. See the Rainbow

              First Mate’s Study Guide: Until Death Do Us Part

Day 12. He Who Calms the Storm

              First Mate’s Study Guide: Deliver Me, O God

Captain’s After-log

More details on Amazon here.

An excerpt from the first chapter:

Day 1

Red Sky in the Morning

Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call,

who will get ready for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:8

Captain’s Log: 0600 hours, September 15, Cape Fear, North Carolina.

They call me Braveheart, Captain Peter Braveheart. I’m the skipper of the H.M.S. (His Master’s Ship) Victorious. My home port is Cape Fear on Bald Island on the outer banks of North Carolina. My sailing destination has always been Safety Harbor on the Gulf Coast of Florida in the northwest corner of Old Tampa Bay. My cargo is precious and always valuable and must get through. They call me Braveheart because I’m a veteran of the sea. But there have been many times when I have felt neither brave, nor endowed with a strong heart. This is my 12-day captain’s log of a journey that I will never forget.

            No sea captain ventures forth on the ocean without knowing what the prospects are for foul weather and a plan to safely navigate through a storm. One of my first considerations before setting sail is to pay close attention to any posting of storm flags or ominous weather forecasts. Paying close attention to such warnings will aid me in preparing my ship and crew for any challenges that may lie ahead. As the sun rose and its warm rays spread westward to greet me on the morning of the 15^th, a brilliant reddish hue flexed its wings north and south from the yellowish-orange orb. The beginning of the day certainly looked innocent enough, but it foretold of the troubles to come. We initially sailed northeast toward Cape Lookout.

            At this very moment you may be going through your own crisis—a struggle with spiritual, emotional, physical, or material survival. If not, we may all be in the midst of a crisis that threatens our freedom or well-being: economic or stock market collapse; war in the Middle East or elsewhere; an oil crisis; political crisis; a decay in national morality; food shortages; murderous and senseless violence; renewal of nuclear holocaust tensions; threats or the reality of terrorism; or any number of other crises that could affect us all. 

The storm warning. Before a storm strikes there are usually significant and somewhat ominous warning signs: the sky darkens, the winds shift or pick up speed, barometric pressure drops or there is a rapid temperature change. There is an old sailor’s saying: “Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning; red sky at night, sailors’ delight.”  Sometimes a calamity, such as an earthquake or volcanic eruption, happens suddenly and unexpectedly. In our personal lives we have similar experiences. Often the storm that is about to affect our lives can be seen from afar or even “predicted” as an outcome of some choices we have made or situation in which we find ourselves. Or, it may be something that happens without warning, such as an accident, illness, or sudden death.

In the midst of or before any crisis, whether personal, regional, or global, God either sends out a clear warning of the impending nature of the crisis or has already made provision for the resources to help us deal with or find the way out of the crisis. More often than not, God’s warning to us individually, or even corporately as a nation, comes in the midst of calm, peace, and prosperity. The sky is blue, the sun is shining; all seems well in our world, what could be wrong? we ask. It is in these times that God sends a warning of an impending calamity, a storm brewing among us. But because our eyes, ears, and hearts have been dimmed and deadened by the ways of the world, we miss God’s warning, and therefore often suffer the consequences. Throughout biblical history the scriptures record numerous examples of God warning His people, and sometimes the pagan society in which they lived, of His impending judgment or some life-threatening event. In each case He provided a way through the crisis for those that would hear and obey Him. Those that listened and obeyed survived. Those that did not, perished.

            Noah, the man who found favor in the eyes of the Lord was no stranger to a storm. The author of the letter to the Hebrews recounts the story of Noah: “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family(Hebrews 11:7a).” Notice that Noah was warned about things not yet seen. Noah’s “storm” was yet many years in the future. It was an event that he could not understand; nor would he have had a clue how to prepare for it if God had not clearly directed him. Notice also, that Noah responded to God’s warning by faith. He did not rely on his own reasoning or planned response, but by faith in God’s word. He could not have imagined what a flood of God’s magnitude was all about because there had never been such a calamity. He had to accept God’s warning solely on faith and faith alone. Once Noah acted upon his faith he also had to obediently carry out God’s plan for “riding” out the storm. God did not build the ark—Noah did out of obedience to God. God did not gather the animals—Noah did out of obedience to God’s plan. God did not gather food for the animals—Noah did by the wisdom that God had given him.

            In our world today, too often when God sends out a warning, whether to the world or to His followers, we take far too much time to reason with God. That can’t be right; I don’t see any storm clouds. Or, that can’t be, look at how great and strong we are.  Or we might even be as arrogant to say, Storm, what storm, I can weather anything. But be forewarned as in the days of the prophet Jeremiah when the Lord spoke through him:

            “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.

            They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.

            ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.  So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 6:13-15

Learn to hear the trumpet call. In biblical history the trumpet was used in various ways: To sound a warning (Exodus 20:18), as a battle cry (Joshua 6:5,20), to rout the enemy (Judges 7:16,18), to announce the king (1 Kings 1:34,39), to herald a time  of  celebration  (Leviticus  25:9),  to  warn  of  an  enemy >>>>>>

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