By Sid Huston

The letter “a” in front of a word dramatically changes its meaning. I wish I would have known this way back when I was taking all those academic tests. If you put that little letter in front of the words theist or Gnostic, you find a person who doesn’t believe or a person who doesn’t know what to believe. When you put that little letter in front of the word, muse you get a word that describes many people in our community today. We are living in an age when the masses want to be amused, that is entertained with mindless diversions, the desire is to be engaged in mirth to pass away the time as painlessly as possible.

Boredom has never been a problem for me, but it is for many, and this state of mind has encouraged the creation of many mind numbing contraptions, hobbies and habits for amusement. Today there seems to be a need for people to fill the unforgiving minute with pain relieving and mind altering amusement. This need must be great because many electronic games, cable and TV shows, internet activity and even medications are welcomed to help people escape their present reality.

Today in Colorado Springs over 451 Medical Marijuana Businesses exist. This new infusion of tax revenue is for 176 dispensaries, 204 grow operations, and 71 Medical Marijuana infused products. Almost overnight this weed business has spread all over our region. In the last issue of the Independent I counted over 53 advertisements for Medical Marijuana, each of them touting the benefits of their products.

Since the Obama administration made the decision to leave Medical Marijuana to the states to regulate and enforce their own laws, a whole new industry has been birthed in our region. This Medical Marijuana business has been skyrocketing, as a result of this washing of their hands.

Granted there are some positive uses for Medical Marijuana, and all of these uses are to be done under a doctor’s supervision and as a result of a doctor’s evaluation and then with a Doc’s written prescription in hand. We have research that indicates that this mind altering (Psychoactive) drug has helped people who suffer from Glaucoma, and the pain associated with cancer and various injuries.

Marijuana works in the user’s body and brain much like cocaine, heroin and alcohol does. It impinges on the Central Nervous System by attaching to the neurons in the brain and interfering with the normal communications there. Its affect on short term memory can be dangerous as a user who inhales a high dose might not be able to remember what he/she did five minutes earlier.

There are over 400 chemicals in the plant, 60 of them are cannabinoids, and these are the psychoactive compounds.  Cannabinoids have within their compound Tetrahydrocannibol or THC, and this is what binds with the human brain and activates receptors. Therefore memory, thought, concentration, sense of time, depth perception and even muscle coordination are disrupted. The user has then become very amused.

The amusement keeps the user entertained in many ways, as emotions are altered. A user can go from uncontrollable laughter in one moment and then in the next feeling paranoid. The same happens with relaxation, a person can go from feeling all tensed up into release in a blink of an eye. Then again some who have been feeling relaxed can get revved up into a full scale panic attack before you can say “bong”.

But, for most users they seem to think it helps them to unwind and to relieve stress. They say they are able to chill and feel like they have no worries when they are under its influence. Some students think this weed helps them concentrate, yet scientific studies affirm that marijuana users make more errors and had more difficulty sustaining attention than non users in controlled tests.

As a Christian who aspires to wear the CROWN, and live free in the current of God’s grace, I know the only way to do so is to be firmly founded at the base of Mount Truth. It is not wrong to seek the Lord and find out why He made this plant; certainly He has some positive use for it. He wants us to unravel these mysteries, and be impressed with His glory and then use these findings to help people; this is God’s way of showing His holiness and love.

We also know that just as pirates are known for grabbing their boucan and hacking and slashing to meet their own needs in their own ways, we can not encourage people to go to pot to meet their own needs. Satan always tempts, he will say: “Smoke this; it will help you to relax, concentrate, feel better, alleviate worry and pain etc.” But, as we have seen time and time again its use can also cause panic or paranoia and even worse and addiction.

God made us for relationship with Him and then with each other—we all know of people who have thrown valued people in their lives overboard for some Mary Jane. And the Mary Jane works like an adulteress to get people to sink deeper and deeper into isolation until they can hardly come up for breath. Just as we know we need to eat to live, when an addiction takes hold of a person’s life, they feel like they need to live to eat. Or, in this case they live to smoke dope. They become like the pirate who goes into full chase mode, to get that next high, that next euphoria, and escape. Yet in reality they have been caught in the deceivers trap.

In this way marijuana has become a false god or an idol. The Prophet Ezekiel said: “the people have set up idols in their hearts and fallen into sin.” Ezekiel 14:4

God called this idolatry lewdness, in Ezekiel He said: “I will put an end to lewdness and idolatry.” Lewdness is unrestrained or excessive indulgence. It is lust, lechery, and lasciviousness. It is wantonness. And this is where it is an attack on conscience, because with wantonness comes disregard for what is right, carelessness, and recklessness.

The irony regarding this herb, this wacky tobacco is some of its users actually think they are worshipping God better than they would with out it. The truth stings, because truth is reality, and in reality they are worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. But, their love for the hash has made their thinking into hash. The Apostle Paul explains why this type of reasoning leads people into deeper and more shameful behaviors in Romans 1:18-32.

What we have come to in this study is the absurdity of Marijuana becoming an identity issue. The use of this Hallucinogen makes it into a real gangster, a gangster that will distort the user’s sense of who they are. Along with its use comes a lifestyle, lingo,t-shirts, before long   users see or thrself as related or in relationship to the pot. Just as in our region when the fall comes around “Broncomaniacs” come out of the wood work, but this abnormally doesn’t have brain numbing chemicals altering their sense of awareness, nor does it give an obsessive craving for the next bag of grass.

As for pain relief is concerned, I am confident that God wants’ to help people with their pain. To get relief He wants us to seek Him first, and trust Him for help in your times of need. Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened.” Matthew 11:28 And Jabez of old prayed to God to help him with his pain. (1 Chronicles 4:10)

So the real question comes to the fore, how are we to deal with pain and stress? Even Jesus went through excruciating pain as Hewent through the agonizing torture of the cross. It is always good to muse our way through Luke chapter 23 and see how Jesus deals with pain. In it we see there is purpose for pain, and we see Jesus deferring to His Father to help Him with His pain. We see all kinds of pain in this text, not just physical, but relational and emotional pain. One thing for sure is this; you don’t see Jesus trying to meet His own needs in His own way. Go ahead and do some marijuana musing, if you have been going to pot instead of God, ask yourself why, and then lay this idol down, it won’t be easy but I am sure you will see that God wants to meet your needs, knows your pain and will help you.

They were a diverse group of several races and both sexes.  I heard the
young man exclaim, “Isn’t Obama like Jesus Christ?  I mean, after all,
he is healing the sick.”  The young woman enthusiastically proclaimed,
“Yeah, and he does it for free.  I cannot believe anyone would think
that a free market would work for health care.  They are all crooks and
thieves and don’t deserve all of that money.”  Another said, “The stupid
Republicans want us all to starve to death so they can inherit all of
the power.  Obama should be made a Saint for what he did for those of us
less fortunate.”  At this, I had heard enough.

I arose from my seat, mustering all the restraint I could find, and
approached their table.  “Please excuse me; may I impose upon you for
one moment?”  They smiled and welcomed me to the conversation.  I stood
at the end of their table, smiled as best I could and began an
experiment.

“I would like to give one of you my house.  It will cost you no money
and I will pay all of the expenses and taxes for as long as you live
there.  Anyone interested?”
They looked at each other in astonishment.  “Why would you do something
like that?” asked a young man, “There isn’t anything for free in this
world.”  They began to laugh at me, as they did not realize this man had
just made my point.  “I am serious, I will give you my house for free,
no money what so ever.  Anyone interested?”  In unison, a resounding
“Hell Yeah!” fills the room.

“Since there are too many of you, I will have to make a choice as to
who receives this money free bargain.”  I noticed an elderly couple was
paying attention to the spectacle unfolding before their eyes, the old
man shaking his head in apparent disgust.  “I tell you what; I will give
it to the one of you most willing to obey my rules.”  Again, they looked
at one another, an expression of bewilderment on their faces.
The perky young woman asked, “What are the rules?” I smiled and said,
“I don’t know.  I have not yet defined them.  However, it is a free home
that I offer you.”  They giggled amongst themselves, the youngest of
which said, “What an old coot.  He must be crazy to give away his home.
Go take your meds, old man.”’
I smiled and leaned into the table a bit further. “I am serious, this
is a legitimate offer.”  They gaped at me for a moment.

“Hell, I’ll take it you old fool.  Where are the keys?” boasted the
youngest among them. “ Then I presume you accept ALL of my terms then?”
I asked.
The elderly couple seemed amused and entertained as they watched from
the privacy of their table.  “Oh hell yeah!  Where do I sign up?”
I took a napkin and wrote, “I give this man my home, without the burden
of financial obligation, so long as he accepts and abides by the terms
that I shall set forth upon consummation of this transaction.”  I signed
it and handed it to the young man who eagerly scratched out his
signature.
“Where are the keys to my new house?” he asked in a mocking tone of
voice.  All eyes were upon us as I stepped back from the table, pulling
the keys from pocket and dangling them before the excited new
homeowner.

“Now that we have entered into this binding contract, witnessed by all
of your friends, I have decided upon the conditions you are obligated
to adhere from this point forward.  You may only live in the house for
one hour a day.  You will not use anything inside of the home.  You will
obey me without question or resistance.  I expect complete loyalty and
admiration for this gift I bestow upon you.  You will accept my commands
and wishes with enthusiasm, no matter the nature.  Your morals and
principles shall be as mine.  You will vote as I do, think as I do and
do it with blind faith.  These are my terms.  Here are your keys.” I
reached the keys forward and the young man looked at me dumb founded.

“Are you out of your freaking mind? Who would ever agree to those
ridiculous terms?” the young man appeared irritated.  “You did when you
signed this contract before reading it, understanding it and with the
full knowledge that I would provide my conditions only after you
committed to the agreement,” was all I said.
The elderly man chuckled as his wife tried to restrain himself.  I was
looking at a now silenced and bewildered group of people.  “You can
shove that stupid deal up you’re a ** old man, I want no part of it.”
exclaimed the now infuriated young man.

“You have committed to the contract, as witnessed by all of your
friends; you cannot get out of the deal unless I agree to it.  I do not
intend to let you free now that I have you ensnared.  I am the power you
agreed to.  I am the one you blindly and without thought chose to
enslave yourself to.  In short, I am your Master.”  At this, the table of
celebrating individuals became a unified group against the unfairness
of the deal.

After a few moments of unrepeatable comments and slurs, I revealed my
true intent. “What I did to you is what this administration and
congress did to you with the health care legislation.  I easily suckered
you in and then revealed the real cost of the bargain.  Your folly was
in the belief that you can have something you did not earn; that you
are entitled to that which you did not earn; that you willingly allowed
someone else to think for you.  Your failure to research, study and
inform yourself permitted reason to escape you.  You have entered into a
trap from which you cannot flee.  Your only chance of freedom is if your
new Master gives it unto you.  A freedom that is given can also be taken
away; therefore, it is not freedom.”  With that, I tore up the napkin
and placed it before the astonished young man.  “This is the nature of
your new health care legislation.”
I turned away to leave these few in thought and contemplation and was
surprised by applause.  The elderly gentleman, who was clearly
entertained, shook my hand enthusiastically and said, “Thank you Sir,
these kids don’t understand Liberty these days.”  He refused to allow me
to pay my bill as he said, “You earned this one, it is an honor to
pickup the tab.”  I shook his hand in thanks, leaving the restaurant
somewhat humbled, and sensing a glimmer of hope for my beloved country.

Use reason;  it is the closest you are going to get to Godly conduct.
Clifford A. Wright

We have all gawked at Tiger, becoming the first billion dollar athlete with a very recognizable brand, and possessing the most amazing athletic talent I have ever seen. When combined with his competitive focus he is stunning to watch in competition.

Lately Tiger has been shamefully present in the news; he has been forced to explain the unraveling of his image, and the reason why a superstar who is married to a beautiful model would resort to illicit sex. I am both surprised and disappointed by Tigers failures. I mistakenly thought his mom and dad, his golf coaches Butch Harmon, Hank Haney and many others, even his caddie Stevie Williams would have talked some common sense into him. The game of golf could have instructed him about staying in bounds and playing by the rules.

The stories abound about how his dad Earl worked with the lil Tiger and turned him into a golfing machine, perhaps this focus led him to become a sex addict.

The Bible does say the sins of the fathers are passed along to their children. As a former coach and golf enthusiast I have always used golf to teach life lessons, I have found no better game for teaching morals, discipline and sportsmanship than golf. What other sport requires that you call penalties on yourself? So, I am disappointed and surprised that Tiger Woods hadn’t personally embraced strong morals, nor did he feel that he had a person he could go to with his inner struggle.

Golf is a game of integrity, his dad and his coaches could teach him how to play the game, but neither his coaches nor the game himself could make Tiger into a righteous person. Britt Hume the former Fox News anchor was criticized when he said that Tiger needed the Christian faith because only Jesus could provide him with the forgiveness and the redemption he needed. I agree completely with Britt; and wonder why such a comment was scorned?

At every golf tournament before the players would tee off, the rules people would instruct about the red stakes, the white stakes and the local rules, so what the heck happened to Tiger morally, in the game of life? The first thing we must remember is that a superstar athlete does not equal a super person. Maybe there was no one who had confronted Tiger with God’s moral laws. Like “Honor your mother and father”, “Do not misuse the Name of the Lord your God”, “Thou shall not covet”, and “Thou shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20). I was duped by his wholesome ads, the humor and the winsome smile. But, in reality he had been behaving like a pirate for some time. Living like a pirate with no respect for laws, especially God’s inspired laws.

I wish he would have had coaches like Annika Sorenstam’s golf coaches Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson. As they trained Annika to compete on the LPGA they took the time to teach her what they called the VERB’s. It was their way of telling her not to get into “Victim” thinking on the course. They let her know that she had to be responsible for every adverse situation on the course; people were not going to bail her out. The rest of their acronym stands for “Entitlement, Rescue and Blame.” Golf as in life presents many situations where one might think they are entitled to special treatment, but the truth be told, not a one of us has a right to guaranteed benefits. But, when you win a million dollars per tourney and sponsors slobber all over you I suppose a person could start to feel “entitled”.

I believe Tiger began going to sex for two reasons, the first for escape from the confines and the commitments he had made to golf and the business of golf. The second was because he loved pleasure and the feeling of power sex gave him. He said, he felt entitled to it, and justified it in his mind by telling himself he had earned the privilege of pampering himself this way. And like a pirate he had no concern for his wife, his children, his fans, and his sponsors and lived with no care for God, pirates are only takers and only give to get what they want in return, they are manipulators.

You may be asking so how does one become a sex addict? Tiger became a slave to sex by believing the devils lies, like “you deserve it”, “A little won’t hurt”, “and everyone does it, or would if they could.” Once his mind bought into the rationalizations the rest is easy to understand, he became addicted by practice, practice, practice. Here is a definition of addiction that works; I define it as the state or condition where a person goes to some activity or a substance instead of a relationship. For the Christian person we know we are to go to God to get our needs met. In marriage we are to go to our mates and meet each others needs. As Tiger got in the practice of going to sex to get his needs met, it didn’t take long before this practice owned him and enslaved him.

I have good news for Tiger and every person who has become enslaved to some sort of sin, you can have victory in your life if you want it, but to get to victory there is a “reckoning” that must take place. Tiger’s day of reckoning has come, will he come to see that he has become a slave to sin, and is spiritually dead in it? For when he does He will find that Britt Hume is right, that Jesus can forgive him, redeem him and save him.

This is resurrection season, my hope for Tiger is that he will gaze upon Christ’s cross and believe that his only entitlement is to trust Him.

Michael English sings a great song called THERE’S NOT A CROWN WITHOUT A CROSS, in it are the words: “There is not a victory without a fight, there is not a sunrise without a night, there’s not a purchase without a cost, There is not a crown without a cross.” Say a prayer for Tiger to begin to find his identity in the Cross and then to wear the Crown. This is the identity that will make him secure both now and forever.

Sid Huston

Is the Host of the SYI Show

(Securing Your Identity Show)

On 100.7 KGFT Daily T 9:30AM.

Visit his web site at www.sidhuston.com

Avid Progressives like Secretary of State Hilary Clinton believe the Constitution should be a constantly changing and ‘evolving’ document. Recently the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision which allows U.S. corporations to give financial support to individual candidates in our election process. Before the ink could dry U.S. Senator from Massachusetts John Kerry cried foul and threatened to amend the U.S. Constitution. This slippery attitude regarding the Constitution is right out of the Progressives playbook, as they believe the Constitution is a growing thing and should be able to ‘evolve’ to their liking.

In volume 1 of the CONSTITUTIONALIST TODAY, Al Maurer brilliantly wrote in his article called PROGRESSIVSM:  “The progressives believed that society evolves along some path of historical development and that governments should evolve as well. Ever hear a modern Democrat say that we need “a Constitution for the 21^st century?” I have. This belief they hold in common with Marxism; that society is developing toward a utopia and that human nature itself evolves over time toward perfection.”

It is my belief that the more slippery and flexible we allow the Constitution to become the more we lose our societal foundation and backbone. This is why liberal leaning people are constantly administering a water torture to it and to us. They want to chip away and erode the document and they want us to relent from defending it. The American church has a similar problem with Postmodernism as this philosophy seeks to get church leaders to pick and choose Bible passages they want to apply and Exacto knife out the ones they are uncomfortable with from the Bible. I will not make a case for the sacredness of the Constitution as I would for the Holy Scriptures, but we have been blessed as a nation with this fine foundational document.

As a pastor for more that twenty five years I have seen this deadly evolution take place in the American church. Years ago people were instructed to make their decisions and form their values based on facts and evidence, then shape their beliefs accordingly and act or behave out of that basis. Today in politics and church life people are urged to craft their thinking based on their experience and feelings, then go straight to behaviors and let their belief’s ‘evolve’ out of this post-modern mindset. What is overlooked? I tell you it is truth that has been maligned. George Barna in his book THINK LIKE JESUS wrote: “The most important and fundamental principle conveyed is that God is the essence of truth. Everything that emanates from Him-words, plans, laws, judgment, blessings, is a manifest of moral truth. Given His nature, truth is as aspect of perfection and holiness. He is the source of truth and the gauge of truth. The laws, rules and commands listed in the Bible give us the guidelines we need to comprehend and carry out moral truth.”

In politics we see people rush to amend the constitution, in the church we are seeing a slower erosion, but a definite evolution just the same. Not all that long ago I was preaching out of the book of Romans the first chapter where I referred to God as the creator. After the service a concerned deacon ushered me into the office and asked me if I really believed that God was the creator and that evolution was a myth. I told him I did and that as science improves I believe it will ultimately defend the creation account. He told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to change my song and sing a different tune or I would be laughed out of the church. He said: “after all we have educators who attend our church.” It might seem old fashioned to hold the line and hold to the belief that the Bible is inspired, authoritative and reliable, but I believe it is the rock solid foundation that will keep our lives, and our culture from eroding away. I see no need to bend the Bible to adapt to psychology, philosophy or so-called scientific research. I don’t think we need a chiropractic adjustment to the times; we need to adjust our lives to the Bible. It doesn’t need to change, we do!

Post-modernism is an attack on truth, Jesus said: “Thy Word is Truth” (John 17:17). The issue at stake is truth; the post-modern way of thinking dissolves truth into ‘whatever’. When you are talking with a post-modern they will use the same words you say right back at you but their meaning is different. They will act like they value and respect the word truth, but to a postmodern truth is not ever absolute, it is subjective, and it is ‘whatever’ they want it to be (Moral relativism). The last thing they want to be is offensive and politically incorrect so to a post-modern truth is like Play-dough, you can shape it into ‘whatever’ you want it to be, it is their convenient truth. They think that seeing truth as an immovable and unalterable mountain is way too inconvenient. Using this line of thought they would evolve the Ten-commandments into the Ten suggestions.

The Bible was at one time called the ‘Canon’ which means measuring standard or stick. Let me ask how can you do good construction with a measuring stick that has floating or sliding numbers on its side, or if it is elastic and expands and contracts with the temperature? Ever wonder why we rarely ever hear of a church exercising church discipline? After all who are we to say what is right and wrong in this pluralistic culture? Wonder why we regularly see pastors and church leaders fail to live up to their ordination or marriage vows? This is not the church ‘growing-up’ this is moral erosion because of this deadly evolution. I’d love to hear a “thus say’s the Lord”, or an “it is written”, again.

In the last church I served, I was confronted about the way I prayed and instructed as to what I could pray about and what I could not. I was told that I could no longer publically pray for our troops serving in Iraq, but that I could pray for the Iraqi people. You see, from a post-modernists standpoint national boundaries get in the way, and that we didn’t’ have the moral authority to call anything evil let alone confront it. I wanted to beat the snot out of this leader, but then I realized he was only acting out of his identity. He was seeing himself as a defender of ‘whatever’ (moral relativism) and felt that I was in the wrong to be so ‘judgmental’. He felt that all religions are valid, and that I was way too black and white/ right vs. wrong to claim that we were doing something right like liberating the people who had come under a tyrant.

What the progressive movement is to politics post- modernism is to the American church. My hope for all of us is a secure identity; as Americans do everything you can to preserve and defend the U.S. Constitution, regularly give God thanks for giving us a godly national heritage, and this fine foundational document. As a human being, I urge you to build your life on truth, take God at His Word, and believe it is Truth, rock-solid and reliable. Because, when you base your life on this fact, you can believe that God really does love you and then realize His love makes you secure.

Sid Huston is the host of, The SYI Show, Heard daily on 100.7fm KGFT “Christian Talk Radio”,  www.sidhuston.com

C.S. Lewis – “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”

For the record, these are just clips of my favorite lyrics; I did not include the whole song, the author or the composer’s name, or are the words in original order. This is just a collection of my favorite Christmas lyrics.

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus  -  Come Lord, Born To Deliver, Born A Child, And Yet A King, Born To Reign, Reign In Us Forever. By Thine All Sufficient Merit, Raise Us To Thy Glorious Throne.

O Holy Night  -  Long Lay The World In Sin And Error Pining, Till He Appeared And The Soul Felt Its Worth. Let All With In Us Praise His Holy Name, Christ Is The Lord, That Ever, Ever Praise We, O Night, Oh Night Divine.

O,Come,O Come Emmanuel  -  Ransom Captive Israel. And Be Thyself- Our King Of Peace.

Thou Dids’t Leave Thy Throne And Kingly Crown  -  When Thou Camest To Earth For Me- Come To My Heart Lord Jesus. But With Mocking Scorn And With Crown Of Thorn They Bore Thee To Calvary.”

Joy To The World  -  He Comes To Make His Blessings Flow Far As The Curse Is Found; He Rules The World With Truth And Grace.

Good Christian Men Rejoice  -  He Has Opened Heavens Door And Man Is Blessed Evermore, Christ Was Born For This. Good Christian Men Rejoice With Heart And Soul And Voice.

O Little Town Of Bethlehem  -  The Hopes And Fears Of All The Years Are Met In Thee Tonight. So God Imparts To Human Hearts The Blessings Of His Heaven.

The First Noel  -  Born Is The King Of Israel, Then Let Us All With One Accord Sing Praises To Our Heavenly Lord, That Hath Made Heaven And Earth Of Naught—And With His Blood Mankind Hath Bought. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born Is The King Of Israel

What Child Is This Who Laid To Rest  -  This, This Is Christ The King, Whom Shepherds Guard And Angels Sing; Haste, Haste, To Bring Him Laud, The Babe The Son Of Mary. So Bring Him Incense, Gold And Myrrh, Come Peasant King To Own Him; The King Of Kings Salvation Brings, Let Loving Hearts Enthrone Him.

Hark, The Herald Angels Sing  -  Glory To The New Born King. Christ The Highest Heaven Adored, Christ The Everlasting Lord! Offspring Of The Virgin’s Womb, Veiled In Flesh The God-Head See; Hail The Incarnate Deity. Pleased As Man With Men To Dwell Jesus Our Emmanuel. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing.

Away In A Manger  -  Be Near Me Lord Jesus—I Ask Thee To Stay Close By Me Forever And Love Me I Pray, Bless All The Dear Children In Thy Tender Care, And Fit Us For Heaven, To Live With Thee There.

Angels From The Realms Of Glory  -  Come And Worship, Come And Worship, Worship Christ The New Born King. God With Man Now Residing

Angels We Have Heard On High  -  Gloria In Excelses Deo, Come Adore Thee On Bended Knee, Christ The Lord The Newborn King.

O Come, All Ye Faithful  -  O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ The Lord Joyful And Triumphant Sing All Yee Citizens Of Heaven. Yea Lord, We Greet Thee. Come And Behold Him, Born The King Of Angels. Yea, Lord, We Greet Thee Born This Morning. O Jesus, To Thee Be All Glory Given; Word Of The Father Now In Flesh Appearing.

Silent Night, Holy Night  -  Son Of God, Loves Pure Light, Radiant Beams From Thy Holy Face, With The Dawn Of Redeeming Grace Jesus Lord At Thy Birth.

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear  -  Peace On Earth, Good-Will To Men, From Heavens All Gracious King.

Go Tell It On The Mountains  -  Down In A Lowly Manger The Humble Christ Was Born, And Brought Us God’s Salvation That Blessed Christmas Morn.

We Three Kings Of Orient Are  -  O Star Of Wonder, Star Of Night, Star With Royal Beauty Bright, Westward Leading, Still Proceeding Guide Us To The Perfect Light. Glorious Now Behold Him Rise, King And God And Sacrifice. Alleleluia

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day  -  Then Peeled The Bells More Loud And Deep: “God Is Not Dead Nor Doth He Sleep” The Wrong Shall Fail, The Right Prevail With Peace On Earth And Good Will To Men.

Mary Did You Know  -  Mary Did You Know That Your Baby Boy Will Save Our Sons And Daughters? That Your Baby Boy Has Come To Make You New? This Child That You Delivered Will Soon Deliver You? Did You Know When You Kiss Your Little Baby You’ve Kissed The Face Of God?

Little Drummer Boy  -  Come They Told Me, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
A New Born King To See, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
Our Finest Gifts We Bring, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
To Lay Before The King, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum,
Rum Pum Pum Pum, Rum Pum Pum Pum,

So To Honor Him, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum,
When We Come.

Little Baby, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
I Am A Poor Boy Too, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
I Have No Gift To Bring, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
That’s Fit To Give The King, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum,
Rum Pum Pum Pum, Rum Pum Pum Pum,

Shall I Play For You, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum,
On My Drum?

Mary Nodded, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
The Ox And Lamb Kept Time, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
I Played My Drum For Him, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
I Played My Best For Him, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum,
Rum Pum Pum Pum, Rum Pum Pum Pum,

Then He Smiled At Me, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum
Me And My Drum.

⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

I am happy to endorse this Grace life Conference, I have attended one previously and have benefited greatly. I will try to arrange my schedule to be there on the 11-12^th. The conference costs a mere $15.00 and features discipleship counseling. Our SYI listeners will appreciate the emphasis on appropriating the Identity of Jesus Christ into our life situations. Larry will be the presenter at this conference, hosted by Heart Beat Ministries Intl. at 2121 E. LaSalle St. Here in Colorado Springs. Call 570-6193 to reserve your space. You will find this to be a Bible based, and enriching week-end. The conference goes from 6:00 pm Friday to 3:30pm  Saturday. You can also call Exchange Life Ministries at 303-770-5433 to learn more.

We believe in the power of prayer & worship!

Through the calming sound of the harp and the power of prayer we help hurting people find peace and strength in God.

Please check out their website at www.harpworship.com, and join them in praying for our troops on a regular basis!

If you would like to contact Phil call him at 719-574-2975, or e-mail him at pginsb@yahoo.com.  And check out his website, www.philginsburg.com  I am looking forward to having Phil on the SYI show again on Monday when he will talk about God being the “Keeper of his life.”

Also plan on joining me and others at Karl’s Jr at Woodman & I25 on 10/29/09, 10/30/09, 11/5/09 & 11/6/09 between 7:00pm to 9:00pm for discounted hand scooped shakes & malts, discussion about the book, and pick up a copy for just $8.95.

Then beginning Sunday 11/8/09 join for me for the Pine Creek Community Bible Study at Pine Creek Bar and Grill at 5:00pm, 9850 Divot Trail, Colorado Springs Co. 80920.  We’ll be studying The Little Pirate based on classic Bible Passages like Romans 6-8.

The contrasts between light and darkness, life versus death, love (security) and fear, the false against the truth, fun against sore sports, self-control up against carousing, encouragement versus discouragement and then there is all the blood and gore laid waste against beautiful innocence. Now is no time to turn off your house lights and hide, please don’t. Rather now is the time to turn your lights on and live your true identity as light, beam your brightest smile, show your big love and serve the very best candy you can give to the children.

If you are conflicted about your own children participating I’ve got some good questions for you to use to engage them in a conversation about their identity. Parenting is all about imparting identity, the identity of Jesus to your children. Ask them to think about some physical things they could make into costumes and then discuss how those items represent them. In this web site I have listed my symbols (the Lamb, Scepter, Crown, Sower, Tree, and Padlock) look and see how I give these items have meaning. Share with your children what Item you might be and why, impart, impart, impart. And then get excited about their ideas.

Then ask them what Bible characters best represent them and why, have fun and talk about who they are to you. If they make costume blunders don’t let them think they made a permanent job of it. The Lord Jesus is the redeemer and He can make all things good.