(10) Baptism is referred to as "branding."

(10) Baptism is referred to as "branding."
(12) Finding and returning lost sheep is not just a parable.

I’ve never worked on a farm or ranch, but as I understand it, you “brand” your livestock with whatever emblem is custom to you so that everyone will know that the particular animal belongs to you. That way if it wanders off of your property, the person who finds it can return it to its rightful owner.

Unfortunately, there are also people who wish to steal what isn’t theirs and keep it for themselves. As long as they need to property to stay alive, they always run the risk of someone finding out that the item isn’t theirs. When they are finished with the item, they dispose of it where no one can discover their secret. For an animal, a thief could simply “skin” the critter and the branding would be gone, plus they could provide themselves with food for a short period.

Satan is like this thief. I mentioned in an earlier blog about people who are “backslid.” These are Christians who for whatever reason let themselves be used by Satan for his purposes, which is to keep them from doing anything that might glorify God. He’ll use them to get others to trip and stumble also. But then when they are “used up,” he will toss them away, possibly “skinning” them, i.e. fatal effects from unsafe sex with multiple partners, drug use, alcoholism. He delights in watching them curse God and walk away as their lives diminish and they soon perish. Then he moves on to the next victim that he can find.

Ranchers often use fences and dogs to protect their livestock. The herd will hide behind the protecting animal in an attempt to hopefully stay safe. We as Christians need to do the same. We need to put God before us and let Him fight for us. He is all powerful, all knowing and He is capable of a lot more than what we are. We shouldn’t run in front of God exclaiming, “I can fight my own battles!” We usually wind up quite wounded and retreating hopefully instead of being devoured.

So if you are “branded” as a Christian, let your Shepherd do His job. It doesn’t mean that you won’t have battles or problems. But you will have someone who can help you succeed and defeat the enemy of the situation!
In celebration of Independence Day which is celebrated in the US on July the 4th of each year, Monday's blog will be on a related subject. Number 11 in this series will continue on the 6th of July.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU'RE A WINNER!!!

Congratulations! You’ve won!

Isn’t this what we would all love to hear? Publishers Clearing House standing at our door. That guy with the balloons and the oversized check, and our faces frozen in exclamation at the idea of winning a sum of 7 figures or more.

Wanna know a secret how to be guaranteed to win?

Nissi. It means “Standard of Victory.”

When the camera crew and everyone else are on your front lawn and your neighbors are calling to let you know that you’ve got company, then you can be pretty sure that if it isn’t the SWAT team, you’re in luck today. That would be your Nissi. Your standard of victory.

Why do I say that? Because that is what we use to measure success. Wealth. And millions of dollars certainly seems like success to us. (unless you robbed someone to gain that, then shame on you (no politicians, that doesn’t exclude you if your conscience is suddenly screaming.)

How should Christians measure success? Ultimate success is making it to Heaven, and receiving your rewards (should you get any…. Another blog, another day).

But success can be measured here on earth too. Were you able to get thru that test in school today? Were you able to complete your assignment at work that needed to be done for the boss? Were you able to get all of the laundry done and the house cleaned, even though it didn’t seem as though there was time enough to complete the tasks?

That is success! Success is also measured in:

Staying sober for one more day, whether it be from alcohol, drugs or whatever.

Being able to gain your mobility back through therapies.

Stopping yourself before you commit suicide or kill someone/something else.

Keeping yourself from committing any sin, whether it be eating too much, lusting after what someone else has (including their possessions, wife, husband), or a host of other things that we shouldn’t do.

Success! Even though you may sometimes feel like a failure. Success! God knows you are a sinner. He has told us all so! In His word. But how many of us have read His word? The Bible! Start taking time to actually read His words. Quit taking your pastors sermon as a substitute. Start your “fact checking” today! You’ll discover so many people who seemed like failures, so many who seemed as though they would be doomed. Yet they became a success in God’s eyes.

Read ‘em and weep! The tears will bring a cleansing and renewing inside of you and you can begin your road to success.

(next blog…. Hello!?! Is Anybody Here?!?)

The Sleeping Giant Gets a Wake Up Call

What started out as being a way of life for me became how I didn’t want to live my life. I started working in the cotton mill when I was 16, cleaning the air units for the different floors, and turning pic clocks on Sundays. Mom insisted that I take the job, and after I found out that I would be working on Sunday mornings, I didn’t argue. Finally, a break from having to listen to the same things I had been taught all my life. Or had I? If I had been taught, then wouldn’t I have a better understanding of what Christianity meant? Some would say yes. I probably would agree, especially now that I have thought more closely about it.

For 2 years I enjoyed having at least one service that I didn’t have to attend. Besides, Sunday nights were usually more casual, and I didn’t have to dress up to go then. But I was still expected to attend every service when I wasn’t working. I lived with my mom and grandparents, and as long as I lived under their roof, so be it.

I couldn’t wait to escape to the next level; Not having to attend at all.

When I was a senior in high school, the pastor talked me into taking a day off from work near graduation, and participating in “Youth Day” at the church. The youth of the church would take over all of the responsibilities for a Sunday, and usually a Senior would be the one to deliver the sermon. Guess who was picked? 3 Guesses and the first 4 don’t count!

After the service, the preacher walked up to me and said, “You’ve found your calling. You’ll make a fine preacher one day.”

“Oh my gosh, get me outta here,” was all I could think. Church people … Jesus Freaks … Stuff Shirt Preachers … HELP!

I graduated from High School, and turned down a scholarship and went in the Army. I wanted to be as far away from home as I could be. I succeeded. West Germany would be my home for the next 2 years. I was happy, with very little complaints.

I moved up in rank as I became eligible, but I was injured while on maneuvers, and so I was discharged on an Honorable, Service Connected Disability discharge.

The back injury brought a lot of pain, but it posed no problem, as I knew how to deal with the pain. Alcohol was cheap, Drugs were easily obtained while I was in service. When I got out, I found out that the same was true in civilian life. People who sat beside me in church were the same ones sitting beside me now that I was back home getting drunk, stoned or a raucous combination. And we wonder why the “outside” people view us as hypocrite’s?

(Next segment: Not only is my view of Christianity getting turned upside down, but I’m now dizzy from it spinning!)