The Silent Killer

The silent killer;

Prov 29:18

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Isa 28:7

7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

The hour is bleak. The evening hourglass exposes the final grains of time sprinkling vaguely through the thin vein of empty spaces. Our prayers no longer have the purpose of expected answers because our timetable has a ceiling of confusion and blank perspective.

We are drunk with excess. The evil surfeiting that Jesus warned of has become our arena of life and daily duties. The sacrifices of decades before have become vague articles on file in our archives of ancient history.

The crumbling we feel of foundations secured through the miraculous power of the blood is unquestionably shaking our faith. From standards to landmarks of tradition, every voice is calling from the abyss of distant echoes, our heads turn with wonder at the authors of the noises, knowing the sound is one of confusion and division.

Someone must have the insight and light to lead our future, but the feelings within are being subtly undermined with fear. No one has the vision. We all stand reactively squeezing each contrary sound in hope to find an answer or hope that eludes our view.

Israel experienced this phenomenon; the 400 years of silence caused them to search for a voice of fresh perspective. They chose to have the Pharisee’s write the verbal law into a useable and acceptable perspective, thereby pacifying the need for inspiration and purchasing a fresh look.

Are we doing the same thing with the search for an alley of passing, a shortcut to fulfilling our hopes for quick successes and thus bypassing the need for the frustrating chore of building disciples against the horizon of empty skies?

Are we letting the busyness of materialism and time consuming useless schedules creep up our daily devotions to cover our eyes and hide the needs of a generation that is loosing a battle with evil?

The Lord looked for a man, one who would stand in the gap and make up the hedge.

Our vision is still in the promises and hopes of the certainties of the scriptures. To build upon the “rock” of truth, to teach for a future of prosperity and fruitfulness that will come from the harvest timetable. Our vision only fails because our eyes have slipped from the vision of the Elders who had a mountainous view, where perspective was not obscured by the smog of humanity. They could see far off and understood the power in the purpose of holiness and discipleship. Time was a friend, not an enemy. It only became the crushing force when we no longer could view the purpose and perspective of careful preparation in the field of harvest.

Sowing and watering has a tinpanny sound that accompanies the duties of underlings, and the ministry has relegated itself to the purveying of the magic fantasy called “revival.”

All because of the lack of vision, and an obscured view through the surfeiting of careless hours of wasted time, while the hourglass drops the last grains of sand in the final mound of God’s timetable.

Richard Perry

Who's minding the store?

Crystal felt the hot tear streaming down her face. The pantry that at one time held a vast assortment of food now stood desolate. But that wasn’t the reason for the tears. On the top shelf several rows of canned figs stood silently, displayed through the clear quart jars. They were dusty with spots of mold that told their age by the decay.

Mom couldn’t stand to see the figs waste. She grew up poor and the figs represented something special she could offer on her biscuits. She always thought to keep things on-hand for others, or for special occasions. Even if it was just biscuits and fig preserves, she always considered keeping something for tomorrow.

In heaven God also has things stored. Vials of prayers he turns to when he wants to smell the aroma of His saints reaching for Him. Monuments that stand before him as reminders of lives who need Him, placed where He can remember them and their needs.

We’re supposed to be storing treasures, spiritual things that reap life, returning to us by the law of sowing and reaping.

Our giving has always been investments. Like bread cast upon the waters, we expect it to return not many days hence. We are seeing the passing of a generation like Crystal’s Mom. People who built for tomorrow, storing away for the lean times and a day that the extra they have now would be part of tomorrow’s provision.

God gives us ample opportunity to store away for tomorrow, challenges to store away good things when our lives are simple and answers easy. Each test is a chance to react in love; doing good to them that hate us, serving, forgiving, and even agreeing with our adversaries while we are in the way with them. To store committed prayers, praise that is forced to Him when we don’t feel the inclination, all that we might need later for our loved ones when we need to believe God for a miracle.

But we’re not minding the store.

Peter bragged that he would protect Jesus. Jesus rebuked him and said; “thou savourest not the things of God,” or loosely translated, you’re not minding the things that matter to God.

Every day we could be building stores for the coming hours of temptation. Yet, we grapple with our ego and curse the way that others take because it offends our thinking. But have you ever thought that maybe God is giving us opportunities to store forgiveness and mercy for the dark hour we are yet to face?

But someone must mind the store.

R.A. Perry

Tell them who sent you.

Halfway oblivious to the commercial that was being broadcast on my car stereo, something was said that caused me to turn the dial up a little. I have no idea what was being advertised, nor do I know the name of the man doing the advertising, but I remember clearly his last words. He said that when I go by the place that had paid for the advertisement and purchased whatever it was that they were advertising, that I was to "tell them who sent you." Now, I'm not sure if there was any special deal attached or if this was for there information purposes only, but just by mentioning this disc jockey's name, there would be some sort of recognition given. There was relevance in the mentioning of the name of the one who had sent me. Those that were given the message would recognize the significance, and would respond accordingly.

As Moses realized the significance of his calling, he also was faced with the realization that there would be questions. Questions such as, Who sent you? Who is powerful enough to fulfill these promises? Who is able to deliver us out of the Egyptians hands? Who is going to be the one to provide the miracles it is going to take for us to claim our promise land? Turning to God, Moses asked, “Who should I say sent me?” Every question that could have been asked, was answered when God replied, “I am.”

As David knelt down and chose the weapons that he would need for his impending battle, he reminisced on the day’s activities. He remembered that it was his father that had authorized his journey to search out his brothers, and it was his father that had provided the means for which he had arrived. He also reminded himself that he had the approval of the King. King Saul had recognized him as a warrior for the kingdom and that in itself would have provided him the authority needed to fight. But as he began to walk on that battle field, he recognized the Devine Providence that had brought him to that point. As Goliath threw out his last comments of reproach, David replied by telling the Giant that He came in the name of the one who had sent him.

As Peter and John walked toward the temple, and they passed through the gate beautiful, there was a lame beggar who began to ask them for a offering. Knowing that there was nothing of earthly value that they could offer him, they pulled out the only thing of authority they possessed. They proclaimed the name of the one who had sent them.

The word "apostle" in the Greek literally means, one who was sent. As apostolics, we have been sent by God to this world to offer them deliverance. There will be those that question our authority, and even at times those that question our mission. Enemies of the faith will always question the authority of those that are in need of a miracle. God has equipped those He sends with the authority they need to accomplish the task. If you are given a mission or purpose to accomplish, you will be faced with doubters and nay-Sayers. God wants you to overcome the doubt and confusion by the authority of His name. In other words, tell them who sent you!!!

Rick Perry II

For Mature Audiences Only

David sat in the church pew contemplating his hate for his wife. for several years their love had fizzled away to the deep resentment he was feeling now. They both had learned to "fake" their "Holy Ghost", but knew the chasm was too great to fix. He was about ready to slip away quietly and start his life over. He could no longer stand the harping and nagging he heard incessantly. Now even the preaching was even getting on his nerves.

What began as moods and failure to accomodate the basics of marriage had blossomed to hypocrisy; why? The begining of the law was given with the prioritizing of the promises. Leviticus stated clearly to reverance the sanctuary.

The Hebrew origianations of this statement wasn't pointing to the Tabernacle because the tabernacle in the same chapters had its own proactive laws. This could have been stated; "To morally fear the failure of protecting the things of God you have consecrated." Our minds think church, and even the scriptures point to the sabbaths, but, this included so much more in the plans to bless from God.

Marriages are one of God's main focuses to bless our lives. If we neglect to morally fear to protect the bond and union of the marriage, it creates a chasm that God will not walk with us. Later, God stated that to do these things would fulfill the relationship with Him and He would walk with his people, and to neglect?

Defauding a marriage is razor-blade across the throat of love. We cannot change the way we need certain things. Some women have to have a regular confirmation of their value, something a man is not equipped to naturally do. Some men need a regular feeling of a manly shot of championing their home and fulfilling his natural emotion of master and leader.

To defraud one another steals a precious part of natural needs and displeases God. When the woman becomes frustrated and stressed, she begins to demand and expect things beyond her husbands understanding. When the man is neglected, the chasm of love and devotion widens, and his desire to keep, protect and honor is swallowed up in the emotion of resentment.

Sometimes the chasm grows quietly until all love and dedication is washed away in the bitter emotions of self-absorbed neglect. It will eventually turn to the relatonship of God and His people when those emotions are spread outward.

How you treat the things consecrated to God are very important, but nothing does more subtle damage to a congregation as those "unknown" emotions one deals with when they are not fulfilled as a human-being.

Eventually the trouble blossums into a negative energy that affects many. Paul was clear. Defaud not. You do not own your bodies. Simple, huh? The briefest moment of carelessness concerning reverancing this Holy act can destroy hearts and lives for decades.

R.A. Perry