|City on a Hill - Writings for Refuge

There is no escaping some basic Biblical realities. 1. Not everyone brought into the kingdom by truth will stay in the kingdom. 2. It is a love of truth that changes us into kingdom-minded people who are willing to respond all the way. Jesus won't be unequally yoked in love, and love is reflected in actual choices to lay down an old life and pick up a new one. Jesus gave it all, and we must, as well. Our "all" is small, and growing, but it's real... It's costly...in fact, if I do it right, it costs everything by the time I am done. Matthew 13:44“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46“who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Every writer of the New Testament described this same testimony...in fact, that is wh...

A friend asked about something I have been teaching into for a few years now, which is the idea that I think Great Tribulation is going to begin in June of 2017. I do actually believe that. But, I believe it in faith...choosing to be sure of something I hope for...not "knowing" or even seeing that it is true: Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony......6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 7By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. I believe the June thing is right, mostly because that word has worked in my life in a powerful way...i am very different because of the hear...

I've been talking about repentance, fasting, and wearing sackcloth lately. I think it is a fascinating topic. One of my sons wrote out some questions for me based on the stuff I had been talking about, and I thought they were terrific questions, so I am sharing them here: Q. what is the reward for fasting? A. Generally, a burning heart, but also wisdom and revelation and a sense of being loved. It is longing for Jesus to return (Mat 9:15) so that is what you get…the reward. But, a lot comes with that. Q. how do you gain a better heart posture? A. By positioning yourself before God. He’s the fire. We are the wood. If we want to burn, we get close to the fire. This happens by asking, receiving, and testing out if we are getting anything (talking and listening to God, worshiping, and reading the Bible). The testing is essential. If we just ask, and don’t test, its really hard to know if we are receiving. Q. are you saying that when you are praying and fasting it should be in sack clot...

God has never let me fall...not once. He has told me some amazing things and had me walk them out in faith...waiting to see if he would keep his promise. He ALWAYS has...every time. Once, he told me to call in to work and tell them I wouldn't be there, then drive three hours across the state to go pray for my mom to get healed of Lupus by anointing her head with oil. I had no idea what I was doing, but I called my boss and told him I wouldn't be at work, stopped at a grocery store and bought some olive oil and drove across the state to find my mom. I prayed for her. A day later I found out she got healed. She is still healed to this day...that was over 20 years ago. Once, he told me to quit my perfectly good job as a senior geologist at one of the better environmental consulting firms in the state. He said if I would trust him, he would bring me the work I needed. I had three young kids, the oldest was 3 and the youngest of which was about 5 Mo's old. I went upstairs early ...

Delusional people see everything falling into place, even if it isn't. Faithful people believe God, even when they can't see exactly how it all fits. How do you know what is true? Fruit. That's the only way. Has the word God spoke worked to produce righteousness, selflessness, and truth in your life? Then it is a good word, no matter how hard it is to believe. If it hasn't produced these things, it is a lie, no matter how true it seems. Matthew 7:14“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in...