THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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THE GOOD SHEPHERD

By Ken Blue

The Good Shepherd goes before;
Preparing every day.
In new life, His sheep now walk.
He is the living Way.

The Good Shepherd gently leads;
They follow in His fold.
Safely held by His hands;
Protected from their foes.

The Good Shepherd is the door;
To lifes abundant fields.
They lie down by still waters;
At night they fear no ill.

The Good Shepherd knows His sheep;
He counts them every day.
He knows each one by their name;
He has lost none, they say.

The Good Shepherd gave His life;
He died for each ones sake;
Placed Himself between sins’ wrath,
And the life sin would take.

The Good Shepherd comes again;
Like a thief at midnight.
Who, is now the Great Shepherd,
Is Chief when faith is sight!

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT/ BIBLICAL OR BIAS

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CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE BIBLE

Firing SquadBy Ken Blue
In the Old Testament the following crimes deserved the death penalty:

  1. Murder (Gen 9:6, Ex 21:12, Numb 35:16-21).
  2. Abuse of father or mother (Ex 21:15).
  3. Speaking a curse over parents (Ex 21:17).
  4. Blasphemy against God (Lev 24:14-16, 23).
  5. Breaking the Sabbath (Ex 31:14, Numb 15:32-36).
  6. Practicing magic (Ex 22:18).
  7. Fortune telling and practicing sorcery (Lev 20:27).
  8. Religious people who mislead others to fall away (Deut 13:1-5, 18:20).
  9. Adultery and fornication (Lev 20:10-12, Deut 22:22).
  10. If a woman has intercourse before marriage (Deut 22:20-21).
  11. If two people have intercourse when one of them is engaged. (Deut 22:23-24).
  12. The daughter of a priest practicing prostitution (Lev 21:9).
  13. Rape of someone who is engaged (Deut 22:25).
  14. Having intercourse with animals (Ex 22:19).
  15. Worshipping idols (Ex 22:20, Lev 20:1-5, Deut 17:2-7).
  16. Incest (Lev 20:11-12, 14, 19-21).
  17. Homosexuality (Lev 20:13).
  18. Kidnapping (Ex 21:16).
  19. To bear false testimony at a trial (Deut 19:16, 19).
  20. Contempt of court (Deut 17:8-13).

Execution could be stoning, burning, using a sword, spear or arrow (Lev 20:27, 21:9, Ex 19:13, 32:27, Num 25:7-8).

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”red” class=”” size=””]…is your opinion about the death penalty biblical or biased?[/perfectpullquote]

I, for one, believe in the death penalty for premeditated murder. It was practiced before the giving of the Law to Moses, under the Law and by the gentile nations during most of the dispensations. Its primary purpose was to show the value God places on human life. Without laws, no society can exist.

However, the question is, when you and I go through the above list, how do we justify selecting some and ignoring others? Has society set the standards for your thinking? Has your church influenced your selection or did you just pull them out of a hat? Would you approve of your son or daughter being executed for contempt of court or for cursing you? If your daughter had premarital sex, would you condemn her to death? I don’t think you would. In fact, if all the above were practiced today; you probably would not be reading this article and I would not be writing it. You know what I mean!

These were the laws for the nation of Israel. Certainly there should be and must be a penalty for all crimes, and God has left it up to other governments to establish what will be considered capital crimes. You must accept that conclusion, set your own standards, or incorporate all the Old Testament laws for capital crimes. So, is your opinion about the death penalty biblical or biased?

COWS AND BUTTER

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By Ken Blue

“I milk a lot of cows, but I make my own butter.” I have no idea who first made that statement, but it has a ring of wisdom to it. None of us are as original as we might think. A man who believes he must be original in every matter is foolish and proud.

My advice is, milk every cow you can, and get every last drop from the old heifer. Then edit it, rearrange it, pray over it and preach it! If God blesses it, then use it again and again and again.

We have been singing the same songs over and over for 150 years; people are blessed and no one complains. If you find a sermon that work; then work it. Most pastors do not care where you got your message. The Congregation is the last to care.

It amazes me how pastors can praise you on how your sermon has blessed them, until they discover where you may have gotten the idea or outline for it. If they dislike the vendor, the product can’t possibly be good.

Most preachers are thankful they have provided something that helps others. So milk the cows and don’t worry about their breed or whose pasture you found them in. Just put the bread and butter on the table and let God’s people enjoy the feast.

THE WAR REPORT

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By Ken Blue
# 3
Some reinforcements have been added since my last report on my war with ALS. I want you to see them and praise God with me.

Brother Jim Miller manufactured the stainless steel attachment for my wheelchair. As you can see, my books, my Bible or my computer can be placed on it. It is fully adjustable and is God’s perfect gift through His talented and generous servant, Jim Miller. Thank you Brother Miller.

In the center is an adjustable hospital bed. It was provided by Mr. Andrew Obrastoff. These are God’s reinforcements in my time of need and they are a comfort to me. Isn’t God good? On the right is a wheelchair van, just perfect for me!

I also want to thank Jon Perry, Brad and Shalli Sutton for completely remodeling my bathroom with handicap bars and wheelchair accessibility.

I’ll bet God could use you to be a blessing and help to someone. Why not ask Him to show you a need and then dedicate yourself to filling it? You’ll be blessed, others will be helped, and God will be praised!

LIFE’S BREVITY

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LIFE’S BREVITY

By Ken Blue

Life is entered amid the tears,
Like the weavers shuttle; flies.
Like a vapor, it disappears,
Like clouds in the restless skies.

Life is measured, as but a span;
Only threescore years and ten.
As brief as the breadth of a hand;
One step from cradle to end.

Life’s compared to a breeze that blows;
For some, in turbulence spent.
Allusive, as the wind it goes,
For the troubled and content.

Life’s a shadow cast by the sun;
Shades of a purpose unseen.
Fleeting; it’s always on the run;
As a token placed between.

Life’s as water spilt on the ground,
It dries and it disappears.
Search is vain, it cannot be found;
Untraceable; as grief’s tears.

Life’s mirage, on the horizon,
Keeps dancing, slipping away.
Charming; with deceit devising,
A game with the mind to play.

Life passes as a leaf that fades;
Its home; the awaiting sod.
Although, gloriously arrayed,
It quickly returns to God.