THE ALIAS

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HOW TO DEAL WITH ALIAS, ANNONYMOUS CRITICS

alias

By Ken Blue

The American Heritage Dictionary defines alias as; “1. An assumed name: The swindler worked under various aliases.”

During my forty years of pastoring, I have received many letters and notes sent by mysterious souls who refused to attach their names, or they used names of others to hide their identity. My advice to pastors is that they have their secretary screen their mail. If it is of the above nature, have it diverted to the garbage can.

One individual did everything within his power to destroy my family and ministry. The membership list was stolen and letters were sent to them with an alias attached. The nature of all letters was to turn the members against me. He was arrested for stealing thousands of dollars from the church offerings. People who use aliases are usually hiding more than their name.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”People who are ashamed to put their name to their comments, ought to be ashamed to make them.”[/perfectpullquote]

In most cases, I put the alias in the same category with the terrorist. These men and women hide under the cover of darkness while attacking others. Usually, they are self-righteous and hiding something in their own life.

Occasionally, you may receive letters or emails with the only identity; bible believer. Those who use this alias are neither Bible believers nor Bible doers.

You cannot stop the anonymous critics, however, you can refuse to read their dribble, and send it to the trash bin. People who are ashamed to put their name to their comments, ought to be ashamed to make them. Rest assured, God sees behind the mask of the alias. Pastor, don’t allow these vermin to disturb you.

JOB; THE QUESTION OF SUFFERING

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THE BENEFIT OF SUFFERING

By Ken Blue

While a student in Omaha, I pastored a small church in Iowa. Mrs. Blue and I visited a young man who was a teacher in the college town. As I attempted to discuss spiritual things, he said to me, “the God of Job would be my devil.” Needless to say, I was taken back and found that further discussion was useless. His problem, like many, was his inability and unwillingness to accept that God wants to use our suffering to fulfill a purpose in our life and in the lives of others.

Recently I received the following question. I will attempt to answer it as I understand the subject. However, the final answer to all our questions will be answered at the Judgment Seat.

“Hi Pastor. I have a question that keeps bugging me, and I thought I would see what your thoughts are. It’s about God’s actions that seem somewhat contradictory to his character (or at least by my perception)- in regard to Job. It seems contradictory to me that God could truly love Job and yet allow such tragedy to be placed upon him for what seems like no reason but to “prove” Satan wrong…. maybe I have it all wrong. It just seems like if Job was as good of a servant to God as the Bible says, that it would be totally wrong to inflict such pain on him. It wasn’t like God was disciplining him, or rebuking him, or correcting him- it was “just because” and I just don’t understand how that can possibly show God’s love in any way.”

The book of Job is the oldest book in existence. It is a literary masterpiece, and many colleges use it in their study of literature. It was written between 1800 and 1700 B.C. before the Exodus, or the nation of Israel existed. It was written to answer man’s question; why do the righteous suffer?

Suffering is in the world because of sin. That does not mean you are suffering because of your personal sins. We suffer because of the wickedness of others also. We may suffer for other reasons. If God protected every person from suffering, there would be no such thing as a free will, and without a free will, the word love, and choice have no meaning.

Suffering should be a warning to us not to sin. Suffering is intended to purge us from our sins, and we learn obedience by the things we suffer. David said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Psalms 119:67.

The following verse should be meditated on. “ Though he (Jesus) were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Hebrews 5:8-9. No one was as perfect as the Lord Jesus, yet God saw value in allowing Him to suffer. There were things Jesus did not know until He suffered. It is in the midst of suffering we prove and demonstrate our faith in God’s love, wisdom, and goodness. Every reader should pause here and read Hebrews 11:24-40.

Suffering is to bring us to the end of our self-sufficiency and show what helpless sinners we are. This is the end to which God was bringing Job. Although Job is said to be perfect and upright, he still had a sinful nature, and it manifested itself in his self-righteousness. His ordeal and personal confrontation with God brought him to the end of self-sufficiency and self-righteousness. Listen to his confession, after God had finished His test. “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6. This may not sound appealing, but this is the end God has for every believer.  

God does not choose every person to suffer as Job. He knew Job’s character, and that he would justify God in the end. Many would not, thus they never learn the lessons Job learned or experience the knowledge of God he did. God restored to Job double what he had.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Was God fair in his dealings with Job?[/perfectpullquote]

We often hear the word fair associated with suffering. Was God fair in his dealings with Job? Our problem is understanding what the word means. When used in this context it means “just.” Was God just in His treatment of Job, and the Lord Jesus Christ? The answer is yes and no. If God had been fair with Job, you, and me, we would be in hell. That would be just and fair; but His mercy prevailed. Then, was God fair by allowing Jesus to die and suffer in your place? The answer is yes.

If we are to be what God intended, we too must suffer. “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:4-13.

Job was a perfect man in chapter one; but he was a more perfect and much wiser man after chapter 42. You too will be better and wiser if you submit to the hand of God.  

IF GOD HAD THREE DAUGHTERS

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By Ken Blue

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13.

If God had three daughters,
Their names, I think, would be;
Faith;  Hope; and Charity.

Faith shows us how to believe all God has said.
Hope embraces promises reserved just up ahead.
Charity’s always adding her love to these.
And I thank God for Faith, Hope, and Charity.

Faith sees the invisible; and what God can do.
Hope embraces promises awaiting me and you.
Charity helps create a Christ-likeness in me.
And the greatest of gifts, is that of Charity.

Sacrifice and service is all vain without these.
Bodies burned; applause earned; no reward shall there be.
Motive is what matters, motive is what God sees;
Faith and Hope are given meaning through Charity.

If God had three daughters,
Their names, I think, would be;
Faith; Hope; and Charity.

GROUND ZERO AND MUSLIM MOSQUE

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By Ken Blue

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice…” Matthew 9:13. 

The desire of Muslims to build a mosque near to the place where the strongest adherents to Islam murdered over 2,985 is nothing more than spitting in the face of the American public and those who lost loved ones on 911.

The fact that Muslims use the religious freedom of America, something they deny to all other faiths, as a justification of the act only confirms the dark side of Islam. The above Bible verse quoted by Jesus shows the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who put the Law above mercy and compassion.

The same principle applies here. Just because something is legal or commanded by law, does not justify the action. For example, Islam and Judaism require animal sacrifices. Let us see if the law will allow them to practice that aspect of their religion.

Islam and Mormonism teach a plurality of wives; and some are chosen at age 9 and 10. Will freedom of religion leave these to practice their religion? What of the KKK? It was practices by white Christians in the South. Would it be an act of empathy to place a KKK monument near Martian Luther King’s grave, or would it be an insult to every black person in America? Should religious freedom take presentence here? What about mercy and compassion?

Muslims have made their agenda clear to all but the naive. Israel and the West must be destroyed or convert to Islam. That is not a misrepresentation of anybody’s religion. Because I am a Christian and an American, I believe Muslims have a right to build Mosque and worship as they please, as long as they grant that right to all others and harm no one in the name of Islam. 

Every American should educate himself on the teaching of the Koran, the Hadith, Sharia Law and the sermons of their leaders. Once you have done that, you will understand their “bridge building with the West” has only one-way traffic. Their religion will never allow freedom to any Muslim to convert to any other religion; the penalty is death! Islam’s goal is to convert or control all people under a Muslim ruled world.

If I have misrepresented Islam or any Muslim, I will gladly and publically apologize. However, I suggest everyone read the above verse by Jesus and see how to apply it to themselves.

To lear more, get Pastor Blue’s book, Islam vs. Christainty at

HEAD AND SHOULDERS

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IS YOUR CHRISTIANITY TO YOUR HEAD?

By Ken Blue

“And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people”1 Samuel 9:2.

After working with men and women for years, I have discovered that what you see isn’t always what you get. Beauty may attract us, but it will not keep us attached. The pretty people live in Hollywood, but it seems that none of them can remain faithful. No wonder God say, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. “Proverbs 31:30. 

Saul was every woman’s dream and every man’s envy. From all outward appearances, he had it all. But the little man inside him had never grown up. It does not require an x-ray to reveal this little fellow. All one must do is open his mouth and the little brat will take over. The evidence is obvious to all who see.

Today, all attention is on outward appearance, personality, and talent. There seems to be the idea, if we can get the attention of others, we will be validated. Thus, the attention is on the outward man while the inward man is ignored.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Today, all attention is on outward appearance …[/perfectpullquote]

What is missing in these pretty people? Why can’t commitments last? What is missing? The problem is that the inward man is neglected and ignored. What needs to be seen from the inward man is patience, obedience to Scripture, humility, transparency, and genuine love for others, personal knowledge of God, spiritual wisdom, understanding, and a moral compass. The behavior of people tells you more about them than the shoes they are wearing.

There are many like Saul, who are head and shoulders above others but are still little inside. Their Christianity has never gotten to the head or the heart. Every thought and action are self-serving; two people live in one body. Circumstances will determine which voice speaks. If every professing Christian really believed the following verse, it would make a great difference in the world. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.

Just because you have the chief seat, doesn’t make you chief. Just because others recognize you, doesn’t mean God recognizes you; and just because you are head and shoulders above others, doesn’t mean a little man isn’t living inside. God looks on the heart, so should we.