HERE IN THE REAL WORLD

Today I had the privilege to be present at the graduation of the 2007 kindergarten class. For the past four years their parents had readied them for that day last fall when they entered kindergarten. Now some nine months later they have graduated to the first grade. Now, for the next 12 years their parents ready them for the day they graduate high school and go out into the real world. For 13 years we prepare them. We buy books, pencils, pens, crayons (the digestible kind) and whatever else they need for classes. We help with homework. We meet with teachers. We do all we can to assure that our children have the best of educations. We want them prepared for the world that lies just ahead. But, is that the only graduation we prepare them for?

Paul wrote to Timothy, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Timothy 3:14). And we hope that our youth will continue in the things they have learned. But, there is another education and another graduation that we are to prepare them for. At the end of their earthly run we have to make sure they are prepared for eternity. We have to give them a spiritual education.

Starting from the early days of their youth we are to start bringing them up in the ways of the Lord. Paul continued writing to Timothy, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Our job of educating our children in the ways of the Lord starts in their youth. We are to teach them the ways of salvation. We have to ground them in the faith. Just as we ready them for school, we are to also ready them for the graduation day when they graduate from this world to the next.

The text book we are to use is the Holy Bible. Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). By Grounding our children in the Holy Scriptures we help them to be ready for the BIG graduation day. We prepare them for the day that they graduate into the presence of the Lord.

As I looked over the kindergarten class of 2007 (I didn’t have a family member or friend in the class, I just happened to be there), I couldn’t help but let a few tears fall as I looked at the future doctors, lawyers, nurses, janitors, housewives and whatever else they will become. I couldn’t help but say a prayer that each one would one day graduate into the Kingdom. May God richly bless and keep all the graduating classes of 2007.

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

Trey Morgan has career day; What do preachers do?
John Dobbs is turning away from the mirror
Neva Cooper has gone to the storm shelter
Matt Dabbs looks at the Parent Child relationship with God
Lisa Leichner thinks kids are funny
Bobby Valentine has Heaven (11)
Chris Gallagher has some random thoughts

I will be off line most of the weekend. I hope y’all have a safe holiday weekend.

Until next time May The Good Lord Bless And Keeop You: All Y’all!

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@embarqmail.com

In my neck of the woods there is always property up for sale. And, in recent years the prices have skyrocketed. It seems that every yard has a for sale sign and as soon as it sells the new owners turn around and sell for an even higher price. The sad thing is that most of the normal working people can’t afford it at any price. I am so happy I don’t have to worry about buying real-estate.

David wrote that the Lord owns, “the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). And, guess what; He owns the thousand hills that those cattle are own. And, what’s more, we can all get in on that real-estate venture: The cost is free. When we come to Christ we get squatters rights not just for life, but for eternity.

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). As Christians we stake a claim in the most valuable piece of real-estate that has been on the market for two thousand years. A place is being prepared right now for those who “buy” into the eternal condos. There are no strings attached: it is set up on a fixed rate. The terms and conditions haven’t changed in two thousand years and they won’t change. The property won’t change hands as it has already been under the same property management for two thousand years.

The sad thing is so many of us will pass this opportunity by and buy into whatever the next joint venture is and loose it all when the market falls. Are you willing to pass up the real-estate venture of an eternal life time?

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

John Dobbs is looking in the mirror
Trey Morgan looks at a”bean: counting marriage
Tim Archer has sinners anonymous
Neva Cooper has a prayer request (please keep this one on your list!)
Richard Mansel looks at role models
Matt Dabbs says every Saul needs his Barnabus (Matt can you email; I can’t find your email address)

Laymond..I can’t pull your blog up; send me the url maybe I am typing it wrong

I will be away tomorrow; keep me in prayer as I turn a year older!

Until next time May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You: All Y’all!

Bobby
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@embarqmail.com

I have never met a person that didn’t have a measure of faith. They have faith every time they hit the break at an intersection. They have faith every time an airplane takes off and every time it starts to land. They have faith in the medicine they take. They have faith that the lights will come on. I don’t care who the person is they have faith in something. The Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). Yet, sadly, many people are lost.

Many people have “blind faith.” They accept the Word of God as it is. Maybe they can’t explain the miracles of Christ, but through faith they believe them. Maybe they cannot explain the Godhead, but through faith they accept it. They were not there 2000 years ago to witness the resurrection, but they have no problem in accepting that it happened.

A lot of people have a living faith. The actions of their lives are directed by their faith. The same faith through which they are saved is made visible through the actions of their lives. They act on their faith much like Abraham. His faith was so strong that he was willing to sacrifice his son to the God that he had his faith in. We are the same way. We can say we have faith all we want, but until we act on that faith no one knows. When we look out for those who need help we are living our faith. When we walk the walk Jesus wants us to walk we are living our faith.

And while we are saved by through our faith, others will be condemned through their faith. They put their faith in anything and everything except God. Their faith is in the scientist who continually comes up with theories that are contrary to the word of God instead of putting their faith in the God who set all the laws of science in motion. They have faith in every soldier that has ever died for their freedom and yet fail to have faith in the only death that set men free.

We all have faith in many things in addition to God. There is really no way we can get through life without having faith in many things. But, when we have faith in all things and fail to have in God, the very asset through which we are saved condemns us. How many thing today have you showed your faith in?

Until next time May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You: All Y’all!

Bobby
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@embarqmail.com

“If you don’t change direction you are going to wind up where you are headed.” I have heard that all my life. I have even told it to quite a few people. And there is a lot of truth in that statement. And as Christians we should look closely at those words.

John wrote, “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). That’s all we have to do is walk in the light: walk in His word. We are called to do what God has said. Noah knew it: Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he (Genesis 6:22). He didn’t do some of what God said; he did it all. When we follow the will of God we walk in the light; we do what he has said we are to do.

It is not enough that we hear what he has said, we have to act on it: Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock (Luke 6:47-48 emphasis added bc). Cousin Minnie Pearl used to talk about going down to the train depot to hear the whistle blow even if you knew you weren’t going anywhere. And, that’s how we are when we know God’s word and fail to put it in practice. It is much like us sitting in our driveways watching all the traffic pass us by.

As Christians our goal is eternal life with the Father in Heaven. Yet, many of us while we proclaim that is where we are headed, often do not act like our spiritual compass is pointing “due Heaven!” Is it time that you change directions so you won’t end up where you are headed?

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

John Dobbs has Tuesday morning on the coast
Trey Morgan gives us 10 books that have greatly affected him
Tim Waldrop is posing questions from an atheist
Neva Cooper looks at when it’s time to give up
Matt Dabbs has Satan’s resume

Until next time May the Good Lord Bless And Keep You: All Y’all!

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

“It’s not the 1950’s any more,” that’s what a friend is always fond of telling me. No matter what is going on in the world that is against the grain of Christianity, when I start to complain she says, “It isn’t the 1950’s anymore.” I was surprised sometime ago when a faithful member of the church took her daughter, then in her teens, to get birth control pills. This went against my beliefs. It was contrary to all that I had not only learned, but that I had taught and practiced. I guess it really isn’t the 1950’s anymore. But, being some 50 years later does that change anything? Has premarital sex become acceptable to God?

Paul wrote, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband” (1 Corinthians 7:1b-2). Paul says it is good for a man to be celibate. Yet, he knows that many cannot live that lifestyle so he gives the solution. In 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 Paul says that if people cannot control themselves they should go ahead and get married: But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. Sex apart from marriage was not an option. For those who could live celibate that was good, but for those who could not sex outside of marriage was not an option. For those struggling they were to get married.

Paul wrote to Timothy, “The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity” (1 Timothy 5:2). If we are not married to this older woman or the younger woman they are to be treated as our mothers and our sisters. Outside of marriage there are no sexual relations. They are to be treated, as the NIV translates, “with absolute purity.” The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” While married sex with one other than the spouse is adultery; while not married it is sexual immorality. In both cases it is sin. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Granted, this is not the 1950’s any more. But, one thing that is the same is God: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8). We have his Word, given yesterday, still in force today and forever: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (1 Timothy 3:16-17). We are called to do more than provide birth control and thus stop the earthly effects of sin with no regard for the eternal; By doing that we are just condoning sin. We are called to teach the eternal and then we won’t have the earthly effects to worry with.

Around the world of Blogdom today:

Tim Archer has been plagued by Plagiarism!
John Dobbs has Time After Time
Trey Morgan shows us a week around the Morgan House
Matt Dabbs has Mother’s Day- Proverbs 31
Neva Cooper says God Knew

Until Next time May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You: All Y’all!

Bobby
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Sunday is mother’s day. The day we pay tribute to the lady that wouldn’t let us play in the rain. The woman who made us eat vegetables. That woman that insisted we do homework. She insisted on us always having good meals and plenty of rest. Women like that are so mean they could make Mr. Rogers cuss, and yet they have their own day. And, rightly so!

Exodus 20:12 says, “Honour thy father and thy mother.” There are many ways in which we can honor our mothers and not just on one day a year. Every thing we do is a reflection on the one that brought us up. When someone introduces me it seems I am always “Mrs. Cohoon’s son.” So the life we live is a direct reflection back to the one who gave us that life. Before anyone knows we are a Christian, they know we are “such and such’s son.” Our actions reflect back upon our mothers before they do to God. And, when we act in ways that are good we honor our parents before others.

We honor our mothers before God when we live according to the way they brought us up. Now, I am not talking about the way we act in front of people. I am talking about how we act when there is no one around to report back about our actions. We honor our mothers when we act in front of God in ways that are pleasing to Him. And, we have to remember we are always in front of God. In our most anonymous times when no one is watching we honor our mothers before God.

As we grow older we can honor our mothers by being supportive of their endeavors. After all, they sacrificed when we were coming up so now is the time for them fly. Keep Neva Cooper’s mother in your prayers as she leaves for three months of mission work in the Ukraine. Neva Honored her mother not only by being supportive of her mission work, but by calling on us in the Christian community to pray for her mother. Remember as you pray for her work the woman that brought the Gospel to life: the virgin Mary. Then at the resurrection Jesus sent Mary of Magdala to tell Peter of the good news that Christ was risen. Neva is honoring her mother before God and man by asking our prayers.

From the cross Jesus said, “Behold thy mother” (John 19:27). We honor our mothers when we look out for their well being as they age. When we look out for the needs that they looked out for us years earlier we honor them.

As Sunday approaches reflect on the life that you have lived and how you have honored the one that gave you life. While we set aside one day a year to honor them, the real honor of our mothers is a 24 hour a day job. God bless all of you mothers. Happy Mother’s Day Mama.

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

In honor of Mother’s day I am listing all the women blogers first tonight; let them know they are appreciated!

Neva Cooper has disappointment
Lisa Leichner has post number 2 on Derek
Paula Harrington wants to know what you are doing this summer
Trey Morgan Church jargon new Christians need to know
Tim Waldrop wants to know why Jesus Wept
Richard Mansel has some book talk
Greg England has some assumptions
Matt Dabbs has some Hebrew Poetry (also note his new URL)

Until next time May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You: All Y’all!

Bobby
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

It is that time of year again when the Outer Banks population swells from next to nothing to almost everybody. High heat and humidity, not to mention mosquitoes, are just around the corner. Let’s see, did I leave out anything? Yes, ticks, fleas and an assorted allotment of insects. In case you haven’t figured out yet I am a winter person. I like the cold, the snow (that’s the white stuff that rarely falls in coastal NC) and all that goes with winter. And that’s how I get through summer: I look past summer and know that winter is just around the corner. I look straight through summer, forgetting malaria, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme disease, and heat stroke and see the first frost of fall. Our Christian lives shouldn’t be any different.

All through this world there are tons of things that rub against the grain of our Christian beliefs. Yet, while we are here we can’t separate ourselves totally from the world: I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world (1 Corinthians 5:9-10). They are here, we are here, and we cannot get around them totally. But, we don’t have to become like them. We don’t have to lose site of our goal.

Paul wrote, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). No matter what the world around him was, Paul never lost site of the goal. He knew where he was going. The mosquitoes, the ticks, the roads clogged with tourist did not take his eye away from the prize. While we many times allow such distractions to take our eyes away from our goal, Paul knew the elements that were there against him and yet he pressed on toward his goal. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26 NIV). Paul went to the goal. He fought to get to the goal. He had direction.

When the least of distractions stand between us and our goal so often we decide to change goals. We think it easier to become one with the distractions than to continue to our goal. Yet, all those distractions are the smallest of things when compared to the goal. Are you willing to let a mosquito stand between you and your prize?

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

Trey Morgan tells us ten things he has written in his Bible
Tim Waldrop has the does God exist debate
Greg England has Pentecost 1.0
Bobby Valentine continues looking at Heaven
Richard Mansel says someone is very confused!

Until Next time May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You: All Y’all

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

The little golden ring had rarely left her finger since the day it was bought. She had designed it and each little part of it was a part of her. So, you can imagine the devastation she felt when it was gone. Tears flowed more and more as she looked frantically trying to find the golden ring that symbolized 12 years of her life. She retraced her steps of the last few days and still nothing. Then right under her nose the lost ring was lying. Under our noses everyday is a world of lost people.

In His sermon on the Mountain Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4). The problem we face is that we no longer mourn. Sure, we mourn for ourselves when we mess up, but what about the sin that is all around us? We have become so insensitive to the sin around us that in most cases we don’t even notice. Unless the sin is so horrendous, such as the Virginia Tech shootings, we seem to be oblivious to it. That does not make us blessed. Jesus said we are blessed when we mourn: Not just our sins, but those of the lost that are all around us.

And what about the little golden ring? Jesus said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). The lost around us are just like that little golden ring. Their shine is hidden from the world. Their diamonds are still in the rough. Yet, they wait to be in full splendor in the Master’s hands. Jesus came to keep them from accidentally being knocked down the drain. And while it may take us forever to find the things we lose, He is ever so near the things He came to save: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

We seem to always lose things that are dear to us, but nothing can be as dear as the lost souls that Jesus came to save. Look around you as you walk the streets and see all the lost that are walking with us. Look at all the diamonds that are still in the rough waiting to be polished and put into the Master’s setting. While you mourn for them take a minute to show them the way to the Lord’s lost and found.

Around the world of Blogdom today:

Trey Morgan looks at Sleeping Ugly
Tim Waldrop asks do you believe in evolution?
Neva Cooper spends a Night At The Museum
Lisa Leichner is having a mad Monday
Matt Dabbs wonders what Language we will speak in Heaven
Greg England has Graduate 2.0
Richard Mansel has the shortest post and probably the most meaningful
Chris Gallagher looks at one of his greatest honors

Until next time May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You: All Y’all!

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Stop abortion. I Am Pro Life. That has become the battle cry for most Christians in recent years as we try and protect the unborn lives of our future. We protest. We vote for the candidates that hold to those values that we adhere to. And, even some go to the extreme extremes and resort to violence to take their stand against this most hideous of sins: they fight sin with sin. There is no doubt that we as Christians should take a stand against such a deplorable practice. But, as we take these stands against the innocent murder of the unborn child are we really pro life? Maybe we should ask ourselves what kind of life are we pro.

Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). The New International Version translates it this way, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” While we fight for the lives of the unborn, what do we do to help the little children, those who have been born, to come to Christ? Look at the trash we allow to go into these little ones. One of my pet peeves is the parents who get on TV and complain that their 12 year old dresses like a “slut” (their words, not mine). Who buys the clothes that these children leave the house in?

Many of us claim that listening to Steven Curtis Chapman is sinful as he uses instrumental music. Yet, we allow such CD’s as Snoop Dog and even Gretchen Wilson. When we do this are we letting our children “go to Christ” or are we hindering them? What’s on your TV? Do you allow shows that glorify every type of life style that is apart from Christ? Do you even check to see what is being watched? The “Passion” was rated “R” because it was too violent, but our nightly TV shows and News programs can be viewed by all. Are we allowing our youth to stumble?

We live busy lives now, more so than when I was a child. We have to squeeze in more things now than ever before. We find time to squeeze in that extra soccer game on Saturday and yet, we have to sleep in on Sunday to rest up from all the squeezing we have done in the last six days. Jesus said, “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:2).

We as Christians are passionate about the pro life issues, and rightly we should be. Yet, it seems in many cases after the child is born our care is shifted into some other area. We need to take a look at our passion and ask ourselves are we pro life or are we pro existence.

Around the World of Blogdom today:

Trey Morgan says cancer changed his life
John Dobbs look at inside out Christians
Tim Archer has a simple definition of Good and Bad
Tim Waldrop looks at a hate crime
Neva Cooper is on the World Wide Web
Lisa Leichner Has a discussion on Baptism
Matt Dabbs says creation sometimes has teeth

Until Next time May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You: All Y’all!

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

I have a lot of favorites, but if I was asked which is my favorite day of the week the answer would be “tomorrow.” It seems there is always something special happening tomorrow that makes it worth the wait. I know on Wednesday that tomorrow, Thursday, I usually go to a ball game. I know on Thursday that tomorrow, Friday, is going to be pay day. And while most people have to wait a week for their favorite day I have to wait a day. Well, to quote Annie, “Tomorrow is always a day away.” Some people wait a week, from Sunday to Sunday, to worship the Lord. Others know on Saturday that their day of worship is only a day away. But, is that what God wants from us: One hour one day once a week?

Now, I am not arguing against Sunday worship services. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25). But, what about the other six days? Paul wrote to the Romans, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1). This requires more than a one hour a week visit to the assembly building. This requires all of our time: our everything. We are not to worship on Sunday and then fall back into the world on Monday. Our lives are to be living sacrifices to God. Our actions are to be an ongoing worship service.

When asked, which was the greatest commandment Jesus answered, “The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29-30). When we start to love God with all our heart, our soul, mind, and strength we worship God every hour and every day. Our actions are guided by God’s word. We present ourselves as living sacrifices.

There is no aspect of our lives that we cannot do without God being the focus. Paul wrote, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). What about cooking? Prepare the food as though God will be your table guest. When you clean, clean as though God is going to be your visitor. How about playing sports? You play as if God was the only one sitting in the stands watching the game. When driving your car you use that care that you would use if God was sitting in the passenger seat. If you are writing you write as though God was your only reader. There is absolutely nothing that you can do that you cannot do for God’s glory. Nor is there anything you should try to do without it being for His glory.

Tomorrow is still my favorite day. And, I still will always worship on Sunday. But, I want limit my worship to one day, I will worship God on a daily basis. Tomorrow will always be my favorite day because today I can think of what I will do for his glory tomorrow. After all, it’s only a day away.

Around the World of Blogdom Tonight:

Trey Morgan has some good communication in Marriage
John Dobbs has 100 Homes
Tim Waldrop was wedding Crashers
Neva Cooper is Noticed
Lisa Leichner has another baptism
Matt Dabbs has the Lost art of Blessings (part 3)

Until Next time May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You: All Y’all!

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net