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OBAMA DRIVES ANOTHER POLITICAL EDITORIAL

2012-02-16T15:45:53Z

Pray for me as I construct another blog. But I have decided that for the present I am going to write both Political and Spiritual editorials. I have another political one for today. Some of you more moderate and liberal readers may not like it, but it’s my blog. Comment or respond with a countering editorial, but know what you are talking about when you do.

I have read some headlines in the last two days that Iran may want to restart talks about their nuclear projects. Let me take you back to yesteryear. The event is the first inauguration of Ronald Reagan. Remember that we have had hostages being held in the U.S. Embassy for the past 444 days and President Carter could not get them released. As soon as Reagan was being sworn in, the hostages were being put on planes out of Iran.

Now that the Iranians are speaking of restarting the talks, could it be that they are positioning themselves to deal with a Republican President or Obama. If the talks are scheduled then they would only go through if Obama wins. But if the Republicans deal a heavy blow to the Dems even just in the House and Senate, could produce a backing off their saber rattling.

To add impetus to this argument, I just heard from Reuters News Agency that Iran is nowhere near a an agreement. They still want to see who the Republicans will nominate.

Obama has proven to be a weak president as was Carter. He is in the process of downgrading our military for below what is safe. He is doing this while spending more monies on social programs, which we do not even have at present.

Our monies should be placed in programs of National Defense, present users of Medicare and Social Security. People below the age of 55 will have time to reprogram their retirement plans.

I am not an economic expert. But I do know that our Constitution calls for limited input into our daily and economic lives. Ron Paul has part of it right.

Whatever Obama’s economic policies are, they do not work and will not work. You can spin some good numbers along the way. But the millions unemployed and the closed shops on main street tell another story.

We can not stand another four years of Obama economics. What do you think? Can we stand another four years of an Obama Defense Department.

Constitutional Freedoms Being Curtailed

2012-02-15T19:24:43Z

Several months ago I pronounced that I would not mix politics and my Christian Blog. But in the last two weeks the spiritual life of America has come under attack by the extremely secular Obama administration. The President has become the epitome of all the talk but none of the walk. I could not let this go by.

When Obama succumbed to the manipulations of Jarrett, Sebelius and other female advisors, relating to the mandate of ordering Churches, and Church organizations to provide abortions and other birth control to employees; he crossed the first Amendment of the Constitution. While his advisors attempted to disguise this as a women’s health issue it clearly was a constitutional issue. No Administration can tell Churches what they HAVE to do in regards to their practices. Churches cannot be made to act against their core beliefs in order to obey edits of the government. This becomes a direct violation of our constitutional rights.

We are granted by God the right to worship Him as He leads us to. We are also allowed by the Constitution to worship and/or practice our Faith as we feel led. Obama’s mandate concerning Abortions and Birth Control violated this freedom.

The compromise put forth by the Obama Administration was a farce. By telling the Churches that the insurance companies would pay for the violating services is a blind rouge. Some of the Churches are self-insured and others would simply have their premiums raised so the insurance companies could pay for the services and still make a profit.

The Abortion and Birth Control issues are only the beginning of the attempts to control our faith. Are we going to allow it.

Our government has, in their effort to solve all of our problems, walked over many of our constitutional freedoms. We must stop them now.

Never Say I'm Not Going To Do That, If God Is Involved

2012-01-26T00:54:46Z

How hard headed are we? I know we've been told ‘never tell God no’. Four months ago I was lying in a bed awaiting my Rehab tech to come and start my morning torture. I had just heard from my ex-wife who was fussing at me. I then made the momentous statement “God, I never want to get married again.”

Well, Sunday January 22, 2012, God made a liar out of me again. I married a lady that God has given as the greatest gift, short of salvation, that He has ever given me. One of my dear friends served as my best man. He and another gentleman came from my home area and my Board of Directors for Inmate Family Ministry. My best man told me Monday morning that this lady is exactly who I have been needing. Both men have seen me through my previous marriages.

Most of you know that I have written a novel. Several of you have said that the heroine, Kerah, was a melding of the woman I have always been seeking. But there were several other traits that they could not identify.

When I met her, after 300 hours plus on the phone, we were at her Church. I drove up to a guest parking slot. And even though the picture I had to go on was not really plain but neither was mine, I recognized her through the glass doors, instantly. And the missing ingredient was the Holy Spirit. And when she walked out, I knew I would be spending the rest of my life with her.

I know the time was short for me to propose to her, but we both knew that while I had said I would never get married again, we were both exactly what we had asked God to provide.

I am writing so that the majority of my friends will know that I knew what I was doing. I have had three women in my life: Mother and 2 wives. When I met Donna, I became happier than I have ever been before. I even smile now. In the past I had to consciously think smile. Now a smile is there more times than not and I don’t even think about it.

One final thing, God told me, when He called me to Ministry, that in the ‘last days’ I would have something important to do. I now know that God has given me this sweet, sensitive and loving woman so that she is part of that prophesy directly from God to me. Donna is so filled with the ‘Holy Ghost’ that she is my steering through the life and ministry we have been called to.

Father, I do not know how to say thank you anymore than I have. I am already in your debt for my salvation, through your Son. But when I am in your perfect will and keeping Donna’s strength next to me, I can fulfill Your Call on my life.

AVOID THE VERY PRESENCE OF EVIL

2012-01-20T03:32:55Z

Sometime back I was at a grocery store here in my hometown that allowed many young men and women to earn their rite of passage by working for them. The chain that the store belonged to has been sold and dissolved.

I was at one of the stores as I previously stated and while talking to the manager of the store, (who I had worked with when we were both teenagers), reminiscing over old times, a lady came up to me and said “Oh, Pastor Jim, (in a very loud voice) it was so good to see you down at the ‘Boats’ the other day. Now the ‘Boats’ is what we call the gambling casinos in Biloxi Mississippi; because they are in effect barges set up in the Mississippi Sound, next to the shore.

If you have any understanding of the Christian Life you would know that to say that to a church leader is to have derived one of two affects. The first would be to embarrass the person. The second would be to lift some of the guilt they might feel for being there themselves.

But as people of God, Ministers, Church leaders or not, we need to be aware how tenuous our lives and testimonies are. We all know how quickly our lives can be snuffed out. But many of us do not even consider how our testimonies can be wrecked or totally destroyed.

As we regularly attend our churches, we feel that covers our testimonies. It’s the preacher and his staff that are out front. Many of the even weekly congregations are oblivious to the fact there are many watching them. They slip and let their mouths go into the gutter. Some can be seen entering adult stores and adult movies. But they say that’s okay; I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve.

That exactly is the problem. Go ahead and wear your religion on your sleeve. That is the only place your religion will do you any good. In fact the only garment that will do you any good is the ‘cloak of righteousness.’ Is that perfection? No! Absolutely it is not. However, it is the fact that Christians that have been ‘born again’, ‘saved’ and walking daily with the Lord are also in the limelight turned on by the world.

The world does not understand that just because one attends church, even works in church, it does not indicate a biblical relationship with God. But those that do not flaunt their religion are usually those that are the ones with a distinct biblical relationship with God.

These are the ones that are in the world loving those that need love; feeding those that need feeding and building lives that need a little support. These are the Christians that have the love of Christ in their hearts to overflowing and they must share it with others.

But now, when either of these groups slip up it brings derision on the true Church. We cannot do anything about those that merely wear their religion on their sleeves, but we can encourage those among us that attempt to wear the cloak of righteousness.

I placed myself in an untenable situation of being in the Casino, even though I did not gamble but only ate an inexpensive delicious meal. But in this case the good was outweighed by the attack on my testimony.

A situation developed recently that made me again see that I was in the right and doing good, but in doing so I was not at the Casino nor recently, ‘avoiding the presence of evil’. This is so important in the life of a Christian.

All must weigh all of our actions by which they will be judged. Sin is an attitude that separates from God. Such attitudes result in acts that we call sin. These acts are what are judged by the world. For this reason, we must always be in prayer, instant in season and out of season and ready to give account of the grace that has been given to us, as Paul so definitely challenged us.

Do you consider your testimony as you live your life? Or do you simply think of yourself and not how your actions will affect others. If you take a drink and you do not have a problem with your relationship to God over it; what about the alcoholic that sees you and decides he can take one too. But when he does, he cannot stop. YES WE ARE OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER.

New Year Celebrations Lead Many To Make Resolutions

2011-12-27T21:48:36Z

Well now with the Christmas wrapping paper, boxes etc. put in the dumpster and existing through arguments as to when the tree and decorations will be taken down; we are ready to start preparing for 2012. Where has 2011 gone? And what a year it has been. President Obama has not had a good year because the economy has not been so good this year. We will not go in to the politics of the year. Politics are not for this blog. I am making an announcement that I may start a political blog somewhere else on the Internet in January.

And we have to have been a mole in his home, under the ground not to know there is an election scheduled in November. We will be having primaries around the country up until then; along with the two national conventions for the Democrats and the Republicans.

Most people begin to think of New Year’s Resolutions. I am not going to give you the standard list that most people go through: starting a diet, going to a gym, etc. I want to dig a little deeper. While the above items are important; they need to be considered in the light of God’s Word and His plan for our lives.

Please let's not leave Him out as you consider the way you want to move in your life. What good will it do to lose 30 pounds by this time next year. But your life may be so screwed up because you put so much emphasis on the loosing of the weight. The loosing of the weight must be guided by the principles of following God’s Will.

Anything you resolve to do in 2012 needs to follow in the belief that God has a purpose and plan for your life. If not, anything you resolve to do will fail. But if you do it with God’s leadership, you stand a stronger and better chance of keeping the resolution.

When we select a new starting point for our lives, it doesn’t matter whether it’s the start of a new year or after the recovery from a devastating set back or the loss of a loved one. Whenever we promise to do something, to stop doing something, God must be part of the formula to make it happen. Yes you should and God wants you to stop smoking. But without His help and understanding what He wants for your life after you stop smoking, you probably will not succeed.

This is with any resolution, when and where you make it. You need to have God reveal to you, the Spiritual Gifts He bestowed on you and plan He has for your life. Any resolution you make should be set to use one or more of your Gifts; and to forward the Plan He has for your life. God Loves You and wants the best for You. That best is the execution of the plan and Gifts He had for you, when you were conceived and your soul implanted in that small blob that had not yet even become an embryo.

So you see New Year’s resolutions do not simply mean sitting down and putting items on a piece of paper. It includes prayer and seeking God and His Plan and Gifts for your life. So include Him in your resolutions whenever you plan one.

HAVE A HAPPY, SPIRIT FILLED AND BLESSED NEW YEAR.

MEANING of A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-24T14:32:14Z

I want to wish all of my Blog Followers a Very Merry Christmas. We all know that if Jesus had not come nearly 2000 years, then we would not have the assurance of eternal life with God. His Son guaranteed our life with God, both on Earth and after in Heaven. Of course He has done His part; we must turn around and face Jesus, accepting the ultimate Christmas Gift His Life and Blood, that He shed... for those that will accept Him as their live Savior and Lord. This Christmas will be great time for those that have not had that face to face with Jesus, to do so. Maybe your families have been after you to do so. Maybe you have always thought you had done this through a ritual in your church. Maybe you did, but you also must realize what it's about. Ask a Christian, we will be glad to tell you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy Hanukkah.

Keeping Ourselves Out of Misery

2011-12-20T19:30:38Z

Every day we get up to startup our lives we must select the direction we want to take. Are we going to follow God? Or are we going to follow ourselves.

We love ourselves if we do not follow God. If we love you Lord, we will follow You.

The love of self causes sin to envelope our world. The envelopment of ourselves in sin makes us separate ourselves from God. The more we separate ourselves from God, the more we are in misery with ourselves and with each other.

Following God is the only way that we will not separate ourselves from God. When we follow God we are not in sin, nor do we separated ourselves from Him, which causes us to be in misery.

Who is Stopping or Slowing Us From Doing God's Will?

2011-12-15T22:23:20Z

I've been on the phone most of the today with a new friend. While they did not ask this directly, I sensed a question, if not from them, but maybe God. Why do I do what I do? What do I do?

Basically I write out what I used to preach. I usually did not preach from a manuscript, but I now write my message out entirely.

I am writing what the Lord lays on my heart. Today that is a continuation of the thoughts I have had for the past several days, "what purpose do we have?"

What purpose do you have in your life? Where are you in your life? Have you asked God recently if you are on His track? Why would God have a purpose for your life a track to run on?

Do your days seem aimless? We all find ourselves going through challenges and distresses at different times in our lives. While God does not cause these challenges He uses them to shape us. Where do they come from does not matter. Whether we shoot ourselves in the foot, causing it or that it just happens with not rhyme or reason. What we must know is that God never causes these challenges. But we do need to know that as they come upon us God will use them to accomplish the real purpose in our lives. He is never caught off guard and is ready before they happen. Our part is to remember that we are here for His Good Pleasure. His plan is not only for our lives, that if we live them the way He leads, we will also be happy; but the real purpose in our following His leadership is that we are in a war. It's a spiritual war. We fight battles everyday. These battles come from the challenges that we confront. We are part of God's Army. He will and has won the spiritual war already. However, to have accomplished this He has and is fighting spiritual battles, using His soldiers, Us.

Now, remember, God never brings these challenges on us. But He will use them to shape us into the person He wants us to be. Also remember, we do not need to give Satan credit all the time. He is capable of causing most of the havoc that we attribute to him. Most of the time it's simply us being stupid or the ethos of the planet moving through our lives.

REMEMBER MY BOOK AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT.

2011-12-11T20:40:55Z

Sales of my Book - The Creator's Universal Love- are doing good, Please consider buying one for yourself, if you haven't yet and one as a gift to someone that really digs Science Fiction. Simply click on the buy my products at the top of the list to the left of this blog and it will take you to the ordering procedure.

It is also available on Amazon.com. Simply enter the the name - The Creator's Universal Love. It's more expensive there, but I do make more on it.

This week I hope to make it an e-book. I had intended to do it earlier, however, I did not have WiFi in the Rehab facility.

I'M BACK AND LESSONS LEARNED IN REHAB.

2011-12-11T20:29:55Z

I first want to thank Barbara for posting the two blogs indicating my health. She is a dear friend in Louisiana. She is an IT manager in New Orleans. And now that I'm back I hope she can help me with design of my blog.

The surgery itself went very well. I hear it's a normal 4 hour surgery. My surgeon took double that. My recovery has been excellent. I can walk without a walker, however, I still use it outside the 'Man Cave' for safety sake. And I am still doing the physical therapy that I was doing in the rehab facility.

Speaking of the facility. The first week I was there, I really was a horse's petunia. But Barbara, who has had the same surgery, asked me if I was a Christian and a Minister to act like one. When I did my life became a whole lot better. My nurses, aides, PT and OT specialists became a whole lot more human.

My fellow residents, many of which were permanent because this was in reality a nursing home, became some dear friends. I intend to go back and see them as I have opportunity. But the ones that are permanent re-enforced a concept all of us that are becoming more senior daily, with the aches and pains that ensue, we must still have a purpose in God's plan. Whatever He has for us to do in this life is unfufilled until He takes us home. To look into the faces of these people and know, even though they may not, that God loves them and has had a purpose for them as He does all of us. But in there it really hits home. Please do not waste the time He has given us and be in His Will. It means happiness while we are here and the completion of the plan He has for us.

Knee Surgery Update

2011-11-04T20:25:45Z

Hi everyone...I am a friend of Jim's and he asked me to post here to let you know he did make it through the knee replacement surgery successfully and is recovering as expected. He appreciates all of your prayers, and asks that you please continue to pray for his speedy recovery.

Thank you,

Barbara Thibodeaux

KNEE SURGERY

2011-10-31T19:31:38Z

I am entering Providence Hospital for knee replacement surgery. I will not be posting blogs again until a week from today or tomorrow. I will be in rehab shortly there after for about 20 days. During this time I hope to feel like blogging. I will be taking books for research and my computer to be able to write.

If you pray, please do. I will be sharing with all of you soon.

Jim Holmes

WATCH OUT: You may get what you pray for.

2011-10-19T16:47:28Z

I have been praying over a particular matter for the last several months. I have asked several to assist me in this prayer I won't tell you what it is, because it's private. However, I have just been presented with what could very possibly be the answer.

It goes back to what I heard my Pastor say the other day. It is very true, a lot of us go through life, I will be happy if God would do this thing or that thing. If God would only bring this situation about; I will be happy. Well this or that will happen and we see that we are not happy yet.

What does this mean? In most cases it could mean we do not know what we want. It also means that we do not follow Paul's admonition that 'I have learned to be happy no matter what state I find myself'.

Then does this mean we should not pray for the desires of our hearts. ABSOLUTELY NOT, we should pray for the things we think we need or desire. We are told that 'God will give us the desires of our hearts'. He will. But the challenge is to have our spirits so inline with His Spirit that our desires our His desires. If we don't, He may just give it to us so that we can see that was not the right prayer or His Desire.

What I have come to realize is that we can posture our prayer that we can place our petitions before Him but, not in the lack of faith for His fufillment; but rather Lord what is best for me. I do not adhere to the 'Name It And Claim It' doctrine. But I do know He will always be there for us. If we ask in Faith He will provide the answer. But there is nothing wrong with prefacing a prayer with, "Lord I do not know what is best for me in this situation. But I trust you, and I think this is what I would desire, if it can line up with your desire for me. Do not just give it to me, because I asked for it.

I thank You Father You will give me the desires of my heart, but make my desires your desires.

Recommending a New Site

2011-10-18T22:45:32Z

I wish to recommend to my readers a new site: Movies for God . com. It's on FaceBook as well as well as directly on internet. I am also guest blogging on the site during the week. So check it out.

Jim

Are You Up Against It?

2011-10-15T21:22:37Z

Challenges come into our lives on a regular basis. And when they become overwhelming, we sometimes receive visits from 'Job's Friends' When we are in these periods of our lives, we know that we have the answers, it is just a matter of wrapping ourselves around them. Like Job, we know that we have not sinned and we have not let Satan into our heads. But all of friends know that we have, it is the only answer. Could it be that we are confronting the enemy and that our friends can not see it. They do not understand that you are moving in what God is telling you to say.

I heard Jason Crabb sing a song this afternoon on a Bill Gaither Video, "Sometimes I cry". If you are in one of these battles listen to it.

http://tinyurl.com/44ktdc5

Never Alone

2011-10-11T16:12:51Z

Christ tells us that He will never leave us or forsake us. Hebrews 13:5ff.

How many times have you felt lonely? I do not mean alone. We are alone a lot in our lives. But we never have to be lonely.

The reason is we lose sight of who we are. We are God's children, if we have been reconciled to Him through His Son, Christ Jesus.

There are many reasons for us to find ourselves alone. We may be alone in the world because of estrangement, rightly or wrongly from our families. We may be on a long solo trip for business or pleasure, but alone.

If we stay intouch with our spirit and not our soulish flesh and then place our spirits in line with God's Spirit, we are never to be lonely. Now we are human, and subcumb to emotions. It can come from the loneliness and the 'oh pity me' syndrome. The 'me, me, my, my' curse that hits all of us from time to time can only be resolved by re-alighing ourselves with God.

If today you are feeling lonely and need to realign with the Savior let the Gaither vocal band help bring your spirit back inline with His.

I WAS GOING TO POST ONE, BUT THEY ARE ALL SO GOOD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIbeTev3UMQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY9Aa6K8TAk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtUjJPsH_aI&feature=related

The Compulsion of Christ

2011-10-10T17:14:06Z

Today my thoughts moved in a particular manner to cause me to remember the week-end. And it caused me to remember the Love the Lord Showed me and us all when He 1) Gave up His Life and came to Earth, 2) that He lived among those that did not understand who He was, 3) Then humbly died on a 'tree of shame' taking our sin and shame, 4) Rising He overcame His death and ours. And as Paul tells us this Love compels us to live out His Life as His Ambassadors. Thank you Jesus.

But what does that really mean to us today. Paul in 2Cor. chapter 5 tells us that we are in business of reconciliation. As Ambassadors from God, through Jesus His Son, What does an Ambassador do? They reconcile issues between countries. We are Ambassadors from God, heaven, to this world. But to deal with this world we must deal with each inhabitant individually. That reconciliation is to bring the Earth's inhabitants back to God. And to assist them to grow closer and grow in the relationship we have with God by living our lives before them that wants to make them want to have the same life that we have in God, through Jesus.

Is God the main object of your life everyday? This editor is not putting himself up as perfect. He just knows what he should be doing. And as one of the Republican candidates states it and others, let's keep the main the main thing.

Do we want to allow Jesus into all areas of our life, or are we holding back many areas that you do not want to let Him in?
Do we want Him in our jobs, in our SCHOOLS, in our families, in church life or anywhere we go or live daily. Are we embarrassed for our friends to see Jesus in us. Is it too hard to walk in spiritual areas in our families because the kids may think you are 'lame' or may ask you a question you do not have an answer for. Again I now see the failure I have been in my 65 years with my family. Like many others I found many excuses. And even though I was a Pastor, I did not find enough time to deal with my family appropriately. That is a hard confession to deal with.

I pray with faith that I get an opportunity to fix some of the situations I created by not being the father and husband God had intended for me to be. The reason, I had not dealt with family or other groups is because I did not give in to the compulsion that Paul speaks of in vs. 14 of II Cor. 5.

I hope none of you reach my age with grown children and a failed marriage with my soul-mate and have to deal with this feelings of failure. But I must move on and deal with others under the impacting truth of Paul, which is God's truth in reality.

Changing Focus of Blog

2011-10-10T15:32:09Z

I have been hearing from friends and acquaintances that I might need to drop the Political side of this Blog. I listened and yesterday spent quite a bit of time in prayer about the concept. Several things happened Sunday and the two messages that I heard allowed God speak to me. HE SAID DROP THE POLITICAL as second leg of the Blog. It will now be entirely Religious and focus on the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ. It will also be involved in strengthening Christians and aiding in their spriritual growth.

I am still interested in Politics, however, this Blog is a tool that God caused me to create and it has been through several metamorphoses. There may be occasions when political situations may enter a particular blog. But the situations will only highlight the commentary intended focus on God's Grace and the spiritual life of Christians.

It is my prayer that the Blog will become even stronger and many will come to know Christ through it and/or draw closer to Him.

Jim Holmes
Senior Editor/Senior Minister

How Shall We Live?

2011-10-07T18:55:29Z

What is God expecting of us? Many of us are following the current political scene with great expectations. Could there be a great move of God within the next year. It is possible, if God is ready to give us another chance.

Personally it is my opinion that He is waiting on the Church to see what we will do. I know, He already knows what is going to happen. But unless we put our spirit in line with His Spirit, we will never know what the possibilities are with the Church totally in line with God. When this total alignment happens, we will see what the Church can really do.

Today I heard a song by the 'Gaither Vocal Band'. I found it on Youtube and I put the URL below. You need to hear it.

But as you listen remember these points. How shall we live. 1) Live as we are forgiven 2) Live as our spiritual debts to God are paid; 3) Live as my name is clear before God. I am His child and I'm not afraid; 4) Live as I am greatly pardoned that I must forgive; 5) Live with Law of Love, I will gladly love; 6) Live as I have learned compassion; 7) Live with the knowledge that I have been so loved that I will risk all to Love.

There are several more thoughts, but the Vocal Band says it so much better. http://tinyurl.com/n4d6be enjoy.

Prophet in Overalls from Bay of the Holy Spirit

2011-09-29T13:42:21Z

Below is a link to a youtube from the Bay of The Holy Spirit. Jerry Tomecek has recorded his latest Prophet in Overalls. Jerry and I are good friends, however, I will publish anyone that shares the same God Love that this editor does, besides Jerry. I also state that any publications from someone else, does not necessarily everything in the publication. But is that not like way it is in Christedom?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wgPrQsPV6E&feature=youtu.be