An Economic Lesson

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." ... "Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. Luke 12:15,33-34 [MSG]
• O: Earthly treasures are fleeting, and not worth the effort to obtain and protect them.
• A: Economic crisis! Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman, Washington Mutual -- the failure of the banking industry. The stock market plunging over 700 points in one day. Mortgage foreclosures. The news today is rife with tales of financial woe and bail out. Finger pointing and blame gaming are the popular gestures. But why? Because we have allowed ourselves as a nation to become so obsessed with material possessions that we're willing to borrow outside our means to buy what we cannot afford to impress our neighbors. But what does God say? Put your treasures in Heaven. The things of Earth -- no matter how nice, no matter how expensive -- will all pass away. They will be left behind -- along with the mounting debt that purchased them -- when we move on from this place. But the treasures of the heart and of the soul will live with us forever in Eternity.
• P: God, whatever the politicians cook up to bail us out of this economic downfall, help us to learn a valuable lesson about the true value of valuables.

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The Perfect Gift

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?" Luke 11:10-13 [MSG]
• O: The gift of Salvation is ours for the asking.
• A: Why does God say that all we must do to be saved is ask? Simply believing in Christ as the Son of God who dies for our sins and inviting Him into our hearts is the ticket to Salvation. No tests involved. No preconditions. No cost to us whatsoever, because Jesus already paid the price for us. And it isn't a trick. When my son or daughter ask for something, like a special gift for their birthday, or something like that -- if it's in my power to give, I give it to them. I want my children to be happy and to know that their father loves them so much that he would do anything for them. Even die for them. Our Heavenly Father has that same kind of love for us. So much love that He came to Earth in the form of man and died for us, so that we might live forever. Salvation is the Father's gift to give, and all that we have to do is ask.
• P: Father, Thank You for the greatest gift, and for being the perfect model of the kind of father I should be to my children.

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Seize The Day

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day." Luke 9:62 [MSG]
• O: There is no time to waste.
• A: "Seize the day." For there may be no tomorrow. The coming of the Lord is close at hand. It will happen at a time when it is least expected, with no warning. Every day that we live could be our last. Now is the time to accept the gift of salvation. Now is the time to stand up and follow God. Now is the time to share the Word to all the Earth. Now could be the only time we have left. Seize the day.
• P: Father, help me to spread Your Word in daily interactions with others. Show me the opportunities. Help me to seize the day, Lord.

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Change

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss." Luke 6:48-49 [MSG]
• O: Merely reading the Bible is not enough. We must put God's Word to work in our lives.
• A: I make a serious attempt to Life Journal every day. To read the Bible and journal on what I've read. I look forward to going to church every Sunday. I produce a Christian music podcast. I want to be used as a tool by God. But do I really put the Word of God to work in my life? Do I let it change me? Do I come away from church, or my Life Journaling, with some life-changing epiphany? Sometimes I think I do, but do I really live out those changes? Not often enough.
• P: Father, change me. Use me for Your will. Move me, bend me, and shape me. Make the change real in my life.

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Proof In The Pudding

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "How can I account for the people of this generation? They're like spoiled children complaining to their parents, 'We wanted to skip rope and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk but you were always too busy.' John the Baptizer came fasting and you called him crazy. The Son of Man came feasting and you called him a lush. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating." Luke 7:31-35 [MSG]
• O: Words are cheap, meaningless. It is action that speaks volumes.
• A: The Bible is by no means a political manual. It is the divinely inspired Word of God. Inspired as it is, I find that I am frequently led to one passage or another with very timely importance. As we draw closer and closer to the day that Americans will select their next President, we will hear lots of talk. Through debates and campaign ads and the talking heads of the mainstream media. Lots of talk. Lots of worthless words. It is the actions of the candidates that we must weigh the most heavily. They can talk about change. They can talk about hope. They can talk about putting country first. It's when [if] they show us change, show us hope, show us how they put their country first that we must stand up and take notice. Talk is cheap. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
• P: Father, as we come down to the wire, help us to not be influenced by the political rhetoric. Help us to see through the politics and select the man that will best lead this country into the future.

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Unexpected Silence

It has been a bit quiet around here lately. I mean, I haven't put out a podcast since my 9/11 episode. There are several factors:

• Work has been very demanding, and my schedule has been so out of line with the norm that I'm not home as often as usual in the evenings to prepare a show.
• The intensity of the Presidential campaign has required more time to follow the stories and share my thoughts.
• I am in the process of reading an upcoming release from a new author for the purpose of writing a review (watch for the book -- and the review -- before the first of the year).
• I've been busy during much of my free time remodeling the kids' bathroom, which takes what little available time I would have for podcasting.

Have no fear, the show will return soon, bigger, badder, and better than ever. Your comments? Joe

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End Times Prophecy

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "'That's when Michael, the great angel-prince, champion of your people, will step in. It will be a time of trouble, the worst trouble the world has ever seen. But your people will be saved from the trouble, every last one found written in the Book. Many who have been long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame. "'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever. "'This is a confidential report, Daniel, for your eyes and ears only. Keep it secret. Put the book under lock and key until the end. In the interim there is going to be a lot of frantic running around, trying to figure out what's going on.' "As I, Daniel, took all this in, two figures appeared, one standing on this bank of the river and one on the other bank. One of them asked a third man who was dressed in linen and who straddled the river, 'How long is this astonishing story to go on?' "The man dressed in linen, who straddled the river, raised both hands to the skies. I heard him solemnly swear by the Eternal One that it would be a time, two times, and half a time, that when the oppressor of the holy people was brought down the story would be complete. "I heard all this plainly enough, but I didn't understand it. So I asked, 'Master, can you explain this to me?' "'Go on about your business, Daniel,' he said. 'The message is confidential and under lock and key until the end, until things are about to be wrapped up. The populace will be washed clean and made like new. But the wicked will just keep on being wicked, without a clue about what is happening. Those who live wisely and well will understand what's going on.' "From the time that the daily worship is banished from the Temple and the obscene desecration is set up in its place, there will be 1,290 days. "Blessed are those who patiently make it through the 1,335 days. "And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it's all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward." Daniel 12 [MSG]
• O: For 3-1/2 years the "oppressor" will rule the Earth during a time of Great Tribulation. ... when the oppressor of the holy people [is] brought down the story [will] be complete.
• A: Long before the birth of Jesus Christ, before His death and resurrection, before His ascention into Heaven, before the revelation to John, there was Daniel. The book of Daniel is so full of End Times prophecy that it is often read in conjunction with the book of Revelation. God revealed to Daniel many of the events that will take place when the Antichrist makes his rise to power. It seems that much of what God revealed to Daniel has already begun to come ture. It is only a matter of time before the full prophecy is fulfilled.
• P: Father, open our eyes that we might see the signs and choose wisely how we want to spend eternity.

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Baptism

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire." Luke 3:7-9 [MSG]
• O: Baptism by water only is not the key to Salvation.
• A: What counts is your life. ... It is your life that must change, not your skin. The practice of immersion Baptism -- being dunked in water -- is a symbol. It is an act of confessing your belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Savior, and Messiah. It is not by immersion (or any other form of) Baptism that we are saved. We are saved by believing in Jesus Christ. We are saved before we are Baptized. We are then (after receiving Salvation) Baptized for two reasons: 1) because Jesus did it and said that we should, too; 2) it is a tangible act of our confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation without Baptism is still Salvation. Baptism without Salvation is like a bath without soap -- worthless.
• P: Father, Thank You for Your Son, for giving us Baptism as the symbol of our sins being washed away by the blood of Christ.

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