Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Morning Journal,

Woke up at 3:30 a.m thereabouts. Spent time communing with the Lord. Had these impressings running through my? heart that the Lord was giving me this ’set-aside’ time to do? special writings.? Seems the Lord? was saying, ‘I want you to write about the things you’ve learn in your walk with Me.’

Got up at 4:45 and went about getting ready for the day. No more sleep to be had. The impression from the Lord continues in my heart. So I decided to add an new category to my journal blog. I’ll call it, ‘Secrets of Faith - Things I’ve learned from the Lord Himself.’

5:30 a.m. - CJ and I take our morning stroll for the paper. I always love to read over the paper, drink my coffee, and then prepare for my audience with the King. Love reading Billy Graham’s responses to questions that he is asked. He is one of my greatest faith heros. What a awesone? Christian leadership-example this man has been.

Billy Graham’s encouragement this morning was titled, ‘By His Death, Christ Overcame Satan’s Power.’ Wish I had time to share his entire response, but I have so much I want to write. Don’t want to overpower you with all ‘my’ extra, extras.? ?

But here is how Billy finished his response: “But listen: Satan is a defeated foe! By his death and resurrection Christ overcame Satan’s power, and someday the final battle will be fought and Satan will be defeated forever. Are you on the winning side? You can be, by giving your life to Christ.”

I thought to myself, ‘This is so wonderful. And in truly dying to ourselves, we truly live.’

Nathan shared with Betty? and me last evening that? he had a chance to visit with? Leon and Anne Hyatt at Super One. Anne had come through her victory with cancer. But she told him that she would never exchanged her experience with the Lord during that time for anything.

Richard Spurgeon another of our church members said the same thing about his walk through cancer. May I add my testimony to this. This experience that I am walking through cannot be explained in words. I am so much under the yoke of Christ that I can hear His very thoughts every moment of the day. Yes, in dying to ourselves we truly live.

Got to add my extra bit about CJ. Was reading Garfield funnies this morning and I thought about my goofie relationship with CJ. (Yes, I consider the funnies to be one of the most important part of the morning paper.) Anyway, I’ll talk to CJ and he’ll just look directly at me with those? puzzled big brown eyes. I can almost hear him say, ‘You are one nut.? I don’t speak monkey?’ (Sorry. Had to do that.)

Now comes the greatest moment of the day — It is time for my visitation with the King. So I pick up my manuscript from heaven (my Bible), prepare my heart with a moment of meditation, and open the pages to look into the eyes of my wonderful Master and Friend. My heart so fills with joy just knowing that my King and I are going to have a talk.

By the way, the Lord is not concerned about me reading the paper first. He wants me to come to Him with an uncluttered mind. Off to the throne room I go. And here is where you are going to have to put up with my spiritual ramblings.

Point at hand –? I just couldn’t write anything about my devotion yesterday. It was so sad? reading through parts of Chronicles. I thought, ‘How evil can the human heart become? Reading about the unfaithfulness of the kings of Israel and of Judah, just reminded me of the world we live in today. No wonder the Lord Jesus needed to come into our sin-drenched world. He needed to save us from our own blackened hearts.’

I began to thank the Lord for our president and for our great nation. How this nation has been the salt of the earth. And in spite of all our failings, I remain forever grateful for a praying president and for the good solid moral leadership that we largely enjoy. I believe the Lord raised up this nation as a bulwark against Satan’s onslaughts on the human race. But what is going to happen when the Lord removes all His godly ones. (Something to think about.)

My morning devotion took me to 2 Chronicles 29:1 through chapter 30 verse 12. It dealt with the time that Hezekiah became king of Judah. Is it alright if I do a bit of walk through with you? Thanks.

Hezekiah was one of Judah’s best kings. In fact some of the Talmudic writers spoke of Hezekiah as being God’s Messiah. (Course this wasn’t the case.)

The first thing that stood out when in 29:5, where it says, “Then [Hezekiah]? said to them, ‘Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place.’”

Is there any uncleanness we need to remove from the holy place of our heart?

Then Hezekiah said, “Our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling of the place of the Lord, and have turned their backs. They have shut the door of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense? or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.”

How many? peoples today have turned their faces away from the dwelling of the Lord? How we have? become chasers of gold and silver. What has happened that homosexuals are being ordained to pulpits and into leadership roles?? I think we must agree with David, where he says,? “How the mighty have fallen.”?

In verse 10, Hezekiah makes a heart covenant with God; “Now it is my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us.”

If it were not for the mercies of God, where would we be today? Hezekiah’s covenant was not about legalism that so often turns into Phariseeism. It was all about the heart. How we need a heart like the heart of Jesus. Only one way to get that kind of heart. We must learn to walk in His yoke.

Then 2 Chronicles 29:25 really caught my eye. (Where I got the title for this journal entry.) It says, “[Hezekiah] then stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with harps and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; FOR THE COMMAND WAS FROM THE LORD through His prophets.” (Pardon the caps.)

I just have to address something here. Isn’t it amazing how we Christians can make a sin out of everything. Some groups today make it a sin to have any musical instruments involved in their worship. I don’t mean to pick on anyone, but this teaching is so contrary to the Scriptures. The Bible is filled with instrumental worship. In this one reading we find where musical instruments were commanded by the Lord. What sad little religious creatures we have become.

I continued to read, “Then Hezekiah said, ‘Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the Lord.’ And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willing brought burnt offerings.”

Did you notice that all these offerings took place after the instrument praise was offered along with the worship of the people. Hate to say this — Sometimes I see people coming to church after the worship is over. They simply want to hear the Word. But is this a good thing to do? Seems to me that our corporate worship has a special place in addressing our heart-consecrations to the Lord.? (Again, just my musings. It is something to think about.)

The moment came. It happens every morning. It’s like the King and I have finished our dialogue. All I need to do now is simply close my eyes and meditate for a few moments. How I dearly love these audiences with Jesus. (Yes. CJ is still asleep with his head on my lap. In fact he just snores away.)

Time for the office. (Course this is where I’ve been writing from.) Have? ‘Ask the Pastor’ questions to respond to. Some questions are about sin failures. I try to help these folk walk through their struggle areas.

Is it alright if I share my morning response to Pastor Wellington from India. I am so glad he wrote me back. I’ll preference snippets of his comments with italics and brackets [? ? ]. Here it is….

“[Dear Bro. Buddy. May our God fill you with His blood and the tremendous power in it! It is so nice of you to reply with such a lovely manner and kind concern.]

Thank you Pastor Wellington. It is good to hear from you. I really do feel a kinship with your heart. Hopefully one day we will be able to meet in person. That would be a joy for me.

[I am praying for your healing, Blood of Jesus. Bro. I am an X Airman of the Indian Airforce. And I was the most filthiest of all of them that were working with me.]

Meet an older ex-USA Navy man who knows where you are coming from.

[I was an alcoholic and also was addicted to drugs which led me to serious illness and problems of life. I got disgusted and wanting to die. Then came my Lord Jesus to my rescue and delivered me miraculously.]

What a wonderful testimony. I was never an alcoholic in the true sense of the word, or addicted to drugs, but I did more than my share at the bottle. However, I identify perfectly with your feelings of ‘disgusted and wanting to die.’ Been there. Just like you, the Lord Jesus came to my rescue. How can I ever look back? That’s why I love the old hymn that says, ‘O what a Savior. O Hallelujah!’

[After a couple of years, Lord took me out of the Indian Airforce to proclaim his most powerful Blood.? Bro. since I am working among Hindus it is very difficult to have the ministry going with much functions and set programs because of the? mucho stile attidude against it by the Hindus.]

This is an area that very few ministers in the USA are acquainted with. I’ve never worked with Hindus. We’ve done quite a bit of work with the Indians in Mexico and in other Central American countries. They are into idolatry. My oldest son was a missionary there for a number of years.

Brother, we work closely with a missions group called ‘Christians Sharing Christ.’ It is not a church planting missions group but rather takes films to the market places and works with local churches. My son serves on their board of directors. The organization has just entered into India and is looking at things there. I am going to send a copy of this email to my son to see where the Lord would be in our contact with you.

Of course you understand that I can’t make any promises. The vineyard work of the Lord has to be in His hand. Up to this point most of the work of Christians Sharing Christ has been with the Latin countries of the Americas. Just have to see where the Lord is in all this.

[I am mainly concerned about their spiritual salvation and teach them about the Blood of the Lamb. The idea GOD having Blood in Him striking their thoughts like anything and also they are coming to sure understanding that with out the shedding of God's Blood there is no remission of sin.]

You have the true message of the gospel. May the Lord strengthen your hands for the work, and may He keep you safe and give you much wisdom for the days ahead.

[And also I wanted to do many out door preaching about the BLOOD OF GOD but lack of money prevents me from doing it. I haven't got proper financial support and hope one of these days God will raise up ample of supports from the People who knew Jesus Blood is God's Blood and salvation of the Human spirits is available only to the God's Blood washed spirits and none other, no matter any amount of their righteous doing, filthy Rags!]

This is an area where a closer look would have to be made. As a smaller congregation we have to take note of where our monies go. However, we are looking to expand our missions program in the future. As for India, it may be through Christians Sharing Christ. I know you understand this.

Tell me more about your Baptist churches. Are you affiliated with a particular group? How is your ministry organized? Are you more independant or do you work with a denomination? These are things that would help us consider your needs a better way. (Of course a hand’s on investigation would still be required. It is important to be good stewards of whatever the Lord gives to us.)

[I request you pray for me, my family and ministry, and ask your loved Ones also to pray and help this ministry to proclaim the Blood of God.]

Pastor Wellington, I am praying for you as? I write this email. I really do sense a goodness in what you are doing. And I will take this as a serious matter.

[Please pray earnestly for your trip to our Churches and your involvement in our ministry if it is the will of God. Through the Blood of the Lamb and his love in Jesus. Wellington.]

You have my word on that. Please write back and tell me more about what you are doing. Go to http://www.christianchallenge.org/believe.html. (This will show you our Statement of Faith and also our Tenents of Faith.)

May the Lord richly bless you,

Buddy

9:30 a.m. - Got a call from one of my ’sons-in-the-Lord’. Kevin Gates is now serving at Donahue Family Church. Just checking up on me. Kevin has such a heart of a disciple. Served on Mercy Ships for a good while. Really enjoyed visiting with him.

2:30 P.M. Well, the day is pretty much on its way. Nathan is working on our fax at the parsonage. Both Betty and I are being set up as? extended offices? for Christian Challenge. Always love it when one of our kids spends time with us. Nathan is careful to keep us in the grove on what is happening at the church.

Think I’ll go ahead and close out for the day. CJ and I have had our two walks. May take another if I’m not too tired.

Love,

Buddy

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My last study was entitled ‘So what’s the deal on first fruits.’ That study was designed to only focus on first fruits alone. We need to learn another important truth about financial blessings. Remember how I ended the study? Get out of debt. Get out of debt. Get out of debt.

In this study we are going to find out why ‘first fruits’ is not a cure all when it comes to our financial needs and our heavenly blessings. Are you ready?

Ok, our subject is ‘First Fruits is Not a Cure All.’

Why is it that when some believers finally catch a glimmer on the wonderful world of first fruits, and when they set about to do first fruits they get discouraged. Nothing much seems to change. You should know the answer to that. The reason nothing seems to change is because the debts they make and continue to make are greater than the blessings that can be had in their sowings. Boy, that will knock the wind out of a person’s sails.

It is true. There are two sides to the coin concerning the blessings of first fruits to the Lord. These two sides work together. How can a believer expect the blessings of the Lord to flow in when the believer continues to stack up debts? And it all comes back to a matter of trust. The same Lord who spoke to us about first fruits, also spoke to us about not making worldly debts.

Listen to these Old Testament statements that are for? God’s people of all the ages:

“…you? may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He? swore to your fathers, as it is to this day.” (Deu8:17,18 nasb.)?

“For the Lord your God will bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but YOU WILL NOT BORROW…” (Deu15:6 nasb.)

“The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain in your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but YOU SHALL NOT BORROW.” (Deu28:12 nasb.)

Now to the New Testament writings:

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8 nasb.)

Remember what I said in the earlier study? The curse of the Law has been removed, but not the blessings of the Law. When we become obedient from our hearts to the instructions of the Lord, then we are in a position to receive what the Lord has promised.

Again listen: “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 nasb. The promises are encoded throughout the Scriptures for our benefit.)

Here is one more. Try to look at it through spiritual eyes:

” … seeing that His divine power has granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by means of them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the world by lust.” (2 Peter 1:3,4 nasb.)

Notice that the promises pertain both to our? completed salvation? in Christ, but all the promises in Scriptures are made part of our inheritance in Christ. They apply to both the spiritual and the natural. The issue is that we must become partakers of them.? This means that we must take the promises? to ourselves and apply the principles that belong to the promises.

So far so good. Here is where the problem often comes in. Many of us were never taught about issues of debts. Most everything we ever heard was, ‘Get to paying your tithe or you are cursed with a curse.’

What a horrible teaching. No one is cursed with a curse for not tithing. There is no such curse to be had in the new covenant. But neither should we expect the awesome blessings that comes with first fruits and other kinds of givings,? if we are not givers, or, if we are living in debt to the world.

There are two crucial matters involved when it comes to? getting out of debt. Both matters involve attitude. Let me deal with the first one by way of testimony.

It was only when the Lord began to open my eyes to the principles of? Biblical finance, that I understood the real problem. This is what I did. First, I asked the Lord to forgive me for making the debts that I had. Secondly, Betty and I came up with a plan where we would begin to work some sacrificial giving.

What I am about to share is as true as the sun is hot. After we made these two determinations, asking forgiveness and sacrificial giving, the Lord spoke into my heart and said, “Because you have believed Me, in six months you will be out of debt.” (At that time we owed several thousands of dollars.)

Need I tell the rest? In six months not only were we fully out of debt, but also we were back into fulltime ministry, pastoring a church that had never had a full time minister, and being blessed on a level that I never knew was possible. It was like we had passed through a gate to miracle land.

Would you believe me if I told you that we have not had a regular car payment or a house note in 33 years? No, God did not shower us with gold dust from heaven. It all began with a true heart of obedience. It all continued as we learned the wonders of giving according to the Lord and of getting out of debt.

I could tell some very funny stories about how we learned? our lessons. (Yes, I know about rain coming through the roof of our rented? house in our attempt to be faithful. But I also know about how rent can turn? into the blessings of our own home debt free.)

Perhaps just one story will help. As we pastored our small country church, I happened to have in my billfold a hundred dollar bill and a one-dollar bill. A friend was holding a tent meeting not too far from us. All day long I wanted to get to the store to change the hundred dollars into twenty-dollar bills. After all, back then twenty dollars was a pretty decent offering. (Keep in mind that we? were learning about sacrificial giving.)

Here we are in the tent. Boy am I ever sweating. Looks like they aren’t going to take up an offering? Good. Then it happens. There I am squirming in my seat. The plate comes by. I take out the one-dollar bill and place it in the plate, hoping no one is looking too hard.

Not so good. The Lord puts pressure on me. So I said, “Brother, come on back.” I then took the hundred-dollar bill and put it in the plate.? Guess what? Betty was sitting behind me with one of her friends and she saw everything I was going through. I think that girl loves to see me squirm at times.

Then it happened — As we were driving home I’m sure I? heard this voice in my heart, saying, “If you had given the hundred dollar bill, you would have the one dollar bill right now. As it were, you had to give the hundred and the one dollar bill.” Now I’m not too sure about this, but I believe I heard a bit of Holy Spirit laughter.

How hard it can be for us to learn some of these lessons. However, the Lord did let me see the blessings that came from my? day of giving it? all.

Here is the second matter that I want to put before you. Everything revolves around the attitude of the heart. I hate the prosperity teachings today that are so earthly minded. All they do is set one’s? mind? on? silver and gold. Those kinds of teachings will eat away at the? fiber of our walk with the Lord. Bible prosperity has never been about how much worldly goods we can accrue for ourselves.? True prosperity is about? making us a blessing to others. ?

How we need to understand this. Once again consider these Scriptures:

“He will not fear evil tidings His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. … He has given freely to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor.” (Psalm 112 nasb. Did you know that this Scripture is alluded to by Paul in the New Testament?)

Folks, righteousness is not simply a confession we make because? our salvation in Jesus Christ is completed. That is true enough. However, righteousness is also a path that we walk. It is a way of living. In fact the very early English spelling of righteousness was rightwiseness. Do you want to be a wise man or woman? Learn to walk in the ways of the Lord.

Here is the other attitude Scripture that I want you to see: “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind [i.e., attitude] on things above, NOT on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1,2 nasb.)

Do you see where much of the prosperity teachings are taking people today? They are making people? worldly-thinkers. God deliver us from these evil teachings. To walk with the Lord rightly, we must have pure motives.

Does the Lord want you to prosper? Yes, more than you know. The Psalmist said, “The Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of His servant.” (Psalm 35:27 nasb.)

Now you see why first? fruits if not a cure all.

There is so much more I would like to share.? How much more I would like to tell you about the times the Lord called Betty and me to sacrificial giving so as to break a troublesome yoke over our finances. Most of the time the sacrificial giving? was for the benefit of? the Christian Challenge.? But these will? remain secrets of our heart, perhaps to be shared in due season.?

Are you ready? Will you learn some of God’s secrets of the heart?

Keep two things in mind. First,? pray for guidance in your giving. Get your instructions from the Lord. And, secondly, get out of debt. Get out of debt. Get out of debt.

Hope I’ve helped a bit.

Blessings,

Buddy

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