Tag: Jesus Christ

He is Risen! Resurrection Day 2025

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

This morning, as I lay in bed, The Lord had me thinking about Him. These thoughts were about what today, a day that Christians around the world celebrate as the day that Jesus Christ rose victorious from the grave, must have been like.

Pretend for a moment, that you are an average citizen living at the time of Christ…

[For the past three years, you have seen this charismatic young man speak about the love and mercy of God, and how His Grace and Forgiveness is freely given, IF…

And, there’s the catch…

According to this carpenter’s son from Nazareth, you have to confess your sins, and ask the Great I am, for forgiveness.

Whoa! Wait a minute. Who is this guy? A radical? Ask Yahweh for forgiveness?

And, what’s that he said? You will then have a personal relationship with His Father?

How can that be? This is the Great I am. This is the Deity of Vengeance who destroyed those escaped slaves from Egypt for throwing a party, while Moses was up on a mountain, and building and worshiping a Golden Calf.

And, remember what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar? Daniel interpreted a dream for him, explaining that his kingdom would be ruled over by Gentiles until God sent His King. Ol’ Nebby got mad, because he couldn’t rule over the Israelites and over the whole world unless God allowed him to do so. He forgot that, and became very proud. He tried to make the people think that he was very wonderful, and that they should worship him. He didn’t trust God as some of the kings of the Israelites did, but had the very foolish idea that he could be a wise and wonderful king without any help from God.

So, what do you suppose occurred?

Why, the King had another dream, and when he found out what it meant it was really terrible. In this dream God told him that he would lose his mind and would go out in the field and eat grass just like the cattle for seven years. And Nebuchadnezzar actually did this, too. Can you imagine a mighty king, as he thought himself to be, crawling around on the ground eating grass? The Bible tells us that his hair grew long and coarse and looked like bird feathers, and his fingernails became like the claws of animals.

Finally, though, Nebuchadnezzar’s reason returned to him, and when he found out what he had done he was very much ashamed of himself.

However, he learned by this experience that he was not as wise and powerful as he had thought. Learning this, he gave praise to God for allowing him to be the ruler.

This is the God that some carpenter’s son from Nazareth has been telling us that we can have a personal relationship with?

Strange indeed.

Finally, one of His disciples betrayed Him and gave Him up to the Romans, who crucified Him.

I noticed that while He was hanging there the guards and some of the townspeople there were mocking Jesus, telling Him that if He was the Son of God, to ”jump down off of that cross”. Meanwhile, some of the centurions were casting lots over His robe.

All except this one centurion, who was just watching Him, as if he was waiting for something to happen…]

And, then came the Glorious Morning…
[Wow. It’s really been amazing around here since they crucified Jesus. Did you feel that earthquake? The veil of the temple was torn in half! And did you hear? A bunch of people that had died years ago, were seen walking around the city! But that’s not all. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard?

Listen to this: He has risen! He arose from the dead and was seen by several people. It’s true! I know it sounds unbelievable. I can scarcely take it in myself. Mary Magdalene and Mary, James and Salome’s mother, went to the tomb to perform the anointing of His body and it wasn’t there! On top of that, there was this young guy there, dressed in a white robe. They said he must have been 9 feet tall. He said, “You are seeking Jesus of Nazareth. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. See the place where you laid him.” So they went and told the disciples. But you know how Peter is. He just had to go run up there and see for himself.

Jesus even approached two of them on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize him. He even broke bread with them that night. They realized who He was and He disappeared! They ran to tell the disciples and as they were telling them, Jesus appeared right in front of them! They were all starting to panic. Jesus said, “Peace to you.” But they couldn’t believe it was him, especially Thomas. So he had him touch him in the hole in his hand where they drove the nail and where the spear pierced his side.

Jesus ate with them and performed other signs and miracles in front of them and they understood scripture as never before. He also came to them at the Sea of Tiberius. Peter took the disciples fishing and they weren’t catching anything. Jesus told them from the bank to cast the net down on the right side. They did, and they could hardly bring it in the boat! When they got back to land, Jesus already had a fire going and some fish and bread ready to eat. He asked Peter three times if he loved Him, and each time He told him “Feed my sheep’. Hey, isn’t that the same number of times Peter Denied Him?

Anyway, He taught them many things before He left. They watched as He was taken straight up into heaven. Can you imagine?

The disciples are making plans now to go out and starting spreading the Good News about Jesus’ Resurrection. They are talking about going out in pairs. Man. Nothing is ever going to be the same again.]

The despair being felt by the average citizens of Rome, at the time, is not unlike the situation which we, as average Americans, find ourselves in today.

We, too, are still struggling in the darkness before the dawn.

Our American Culture has been crumbling before our very eyes, as sin, depravity, and personal irresponsibility have been lauded by “the smartest people in the room” as normal, and values to be embraced…a Golden Calf to be worshiped by those who have turned their backs of the Almighty, because He will not give them the worldly gratification they seek…and because they erroneously believe that they are smarter than God, and can interpret and ignore God’s Holy Word in order to ignore and to rewrite to make it mean whatever they want to, in order to assuage their own consciousness, in an attempt to stifle that “Still Small Voice” within them, Who is reminding them of their sin and the consequences of it.

For the past several years, our Sovereign Nation and the rest of the world have been fighting enemies foreign and domestic, even within our own government, along with a Chinese Coronavirus, a combination of challenges which have claimed thousands of deaths in our country and the loss of jobs for millions of Americans.

Today, as we watch as out-of-control judges and political ideologues attempt to take away our American Freedom, we all need to remember the words of President Ronald Reagan:

We are never defeated unless we give up on God.

Fellow Americans….my message to you on this Resurrection Day 2025 is

DO NOT GIVE UP ON GOD. DO NOT GIVE UP ON THE FOUNDING FATHERS’ HOPE, WHICH BECAME AMERICA.

As the old country Preacher’s wife always told him when she took away his plate after supper,

Hold on to your fork, Hon. Dessert is on it’s way.

The final chapter of the amazing story of our Blessed Land has not been written yet. It is up to each and every one of us to write it, strengthened by the Grace of God.

Until He Comes,

KJ

“For God so loved the word, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John

He is risen indeed!

Thoughts For a Palm Sunday: What Would Jesus See If He Rode Into Washington?

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

As I sit here on Palm Sunday morning, I was wondering what Jesus would see if he came into Washington, DC riding on a donkey.

I believe that Christ would see a country divided thanks to the views of two political parties.

What I mean by that is he would see one political party who is trying to bting our country back from a spiraling collapse by trying to reemphasize America’s place as a world leader while strengthening our country domestically and attempting to bring back the traditional American faith and values which made our country strong to begin with.

The other political party and their followers are advocating a cradle-to-grave totalitarian government in which 50% or more of taxpayers’ income would be relegated for use by the state to appease those they deem worthy of Americans’ money.

On this side, he would see a political party trying to rewrite the Bible as a book advocating sin, “non-traditional families”, and “fighting fascism”, while the advocates of this political ideology don’t have a clue as to what fascism is

People have taken the word of God and thrown away salvation through repentance by proclaiming that Jesus would accept people’s sin.

Yes, He loves us all, but he hates sin.

And that’s enough of my preaching for today.

The government viewpoint, which those out of power at this moment, are espousing can be seen in their fight against the elimination of financial corruption in our government.

You can also see what they really believe in their fight against Israel and their support of those who would destroy her and her people ,

The Israelis are proclaimed by God to be his people in Genesis 12: 1-3.

The bottom line is, unless this country can find its way back to embracing what is right and stop embracing what isn’t, this country could very well eventually be assigned to the Dustbin of History.

As a brother-in-Christ always tells me, it’s not politicians who are going to save this country.

It’s God.

Hosanna!

Until He Comes,,,Again,

KJ

Christmas Day 2024: “One Solitary Life” Made All The Difference

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

“Tis the season for Christmas movies.

From the Hallmark romance movies to Bill Murray’s “Scrooged” to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, there are movies to be found on television for everyone’s taste. However, there is none quite like Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the Holiday Classic starring Jimmy Stewart.

In the movie, Stewart plays the role of George Bailey, an average man whom, through a series of circumstances, finds himself living a life which he had never really envisioned himself leading. When dire circumstances arise, he contemplates killing himself, only to be stopped by an angel named Clarence, who shows him what his hometown would be like if he had never been born.

After viewing the difference which he had made in his sphere of influence, Stewart prays to the Lord to return him back to his family and his life.

The movie ends happily, with all the people whom he had helped over the years coming to his aid in his moment of crisis.

The last time I watched this movie, I had not seen it in quite a while and I found myself with tears in my eyes at the end of it.

It was then that I realized that God puts us where He wants us to be.

It is up to us to navigate around the pitfalls of life caused by our own Free Will by using the Gift of Discernment which we have been blessed with and by listening to that Still Small Voice which resides within each and every one of us.

Each and every one of us can make a difference within our own sphere of influence.

However, there remains only One who walked this Earth in human form who is still making a difference and whose birth we celebrate today.

Many stories have been written about Him.

On this Christmas Day, please allow me to present to you one of the best and the gentleman who wrote it.

Dr. James Allan Francis was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. He became a pastor at age twenty-one and served in ministry for the remainder of his life. His first pastorate was in New York City at the Riverside Baptist Church, and after serving in other varied pastorates in the East, he came to Los Angeles in 1914.

Though he had a busy life as a pastor, Francis was able to publish a handful of books: Drops from a Living Fountain (1895), Christ’s Mould of Prayer (1924), and Christ is All And Other Sermons (1928). His publications are full of passionate encouragement for Christians to know their Lord, to rely on him, and to follow his example.

Francis’ most famous words, now known as “One Solitary Life,” originated as part of a sermon that he delivered on July 11, 1926 to the Baptist Young People’s Union at a Los Angeles Convention. A friend transcribed the message titled “Arise, Sir Knight,” and Dr. Francis published it that same year in a collection called The Real Jesus and Other Sermons.

Today, we celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

As you spend today with your family and friends, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our nation and those who are away from home, protecting you and me.

Please allow me to close with one of my favorite Christmas songs, featuring a remarkable performance by the man who wrote it, Mark Lowry.

God bless us, everyone.

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village as the child of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another obscure village.

He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty and then for three years was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book.

He never held an office.

He never owned a home.

He never had a family.

He never went to college.

He never put his foot inside a big city.

He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born.

He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.

He had no credentials but himself.

He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of his divine manhood.

While still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against him.

His friends ran away.

One of them denied him.

Another betrayed him.

He was turned over to his enemies.

He went through the mockery of a trial.

He was nailed upon the cross between two thieves.

His executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth while he was dying, and that was his coat.

When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today he is the center of the human race and the leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon the earth as powerfully as has this one solitary life.

Until He Comes,

KJ

He is Risen! Resurrection Day 2024

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, Politics2 Comments

This morning, as I lay in bed, The Lord had me thinking about Him. These thoughts were about what today, a day that Christians around the world celebrate as the day that Jesus Christ rose victorious from the grave, must have been like.

Pretend for a moment, that you are an average citizen living at the time of Christ…

[For the past three years, you have seen this charismatic young man speak about the love and mercy of God, and how His Grace and Forgiveness is freely given, IF…

And, there’s the catch…

According to this carpenter’s son from Nazareth, you have to confess your sins, and ask the Great I am, for forgiveness.

Whoa! Wait a minute. Who is this guy? A radical? Ask Yahweh for forgiveness?

And, what’s that he said? You will then have a personal relationship with His Father?

How can that be? This is the Great I am. This is the Deity of Vengeance who destroyed those escaped slaves from Egypt for throwing a party, while Moses was up on a mountain, and building and worshiping a Golden Calf.

And, remember what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar? Daniel interpreted a dream for him, explaining that his kingdom would be ruled over by Gentiles until God sent His King. Ol’ Nebby got mad, because he couldn’t rule over the Israelites and over the whole world unless God allowed him to do so. He forgot that, and became very proud. He tried to make the people think that he was very wonderful, and that they should worship him. He didn’t trust God as some of the kings of the Israelites did, but had the very foolish idea that he could be a wise and wonderful king without any help from God.

So, what do you suppose occurred?

Why, the King had another dream, and when he found out what it meant it was really terrible. In this dream God told him that he would lose his mind and would go out in the field and eat grass just like the cattle for seven years. And Nebuchadnezzar actually did this, too. Can you imagine a mighty king, as he thought himself to be, crawling around on the ground eating grass? The Bible tells us that his hair grew long and coarse and looked like bird feathers, and his fingernails became like the claws of animals.

Finally, though, Nebuchadnezzar’s reason returned to him, and when he found out what he had done he was very much ashamed of himself.

However, he learned by this experience that he was not as wise and powerful as he had thought. Learning this, he gave praise to God for allowing him to be the ruler.

This is the God that some carpenter’s son from Nazareth has been telling us that we can have a personal relationship with?

Strange indeed.

Finally, one of His disciples betrayed Him and gave Him up to the Romans, who crucified Him.

I noticed that while He was hanging there the guards and some of the townspeople there were mocking Jesus, telling Him that if He was the Son of God, to ”jump down off of that cross”. Meanwhile, some of the centurions were casting lots over His robe.

All except this one centurion, who was just watching Him, as if he was waiting for something to happen…]

And, then came the Glorious Morning…
[Wow. It’s really been amazing around here since they crucified Jesus. Did you feel that earthquake? The veil of the temple was torn in half! And did you hear? A bunch of people that had died years ago, were seen walking around the city! But that’s not all. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard?

Listen to this: He has risen! He arose from the dead and was seen by several people. It’s true! I know it sounds unbelievable. I can scarcely take it in myself. Mary Magdalene and Mary, James and Salome’s mother, went to the tomb to perform the anointing of His body and it wasn’t there! On top of that, there was this young guy there, dressed in a white robe. They said he must have been 9 feet tall. He said, “You are seeking Jesus of Nazareth. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. See the place where you laid him.” So they went and told the disciples. But you know how Peter is. He just had to go run up there and see for himself.

Jesus even approached two of them on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize him. He even broke bread with them that night. They realized who He was and He disappeared! They ran to tell the disciples and as they were telling them, Jesus appeared right in front of them! They were all starting to panic. Jesus said, “Peace to you.” But they couldn’t believe it was him, especially Thomas. So he had him touch him in the hole in his hand where they drove the nail and where the spear pierced his side.

Jesus ate with them and performed other signs and miracles in front of them and they understood scripture as never before. He also came to them at the Sea of Tiberius. Peter took the disciples fishing and they weren’t catching anything. Jesus told them from the bank to cast the net down on the right side. They did, and they could hardly bring it in the boat! When they got back to land, Jesus already had a fire going and some fish and bread ready to eat. He asked Peter three times if he loved Him, and each time He told him “Feed my sheep’. Hey, isn’t that the same number of times Peter Denied Him?

Anyway, He taught them many things before He left. They watched as He was taken straight up into heaven. Can you imagine?

The disciples are making plans now to go out and starting spreading the Good News about Jesus’ Resurrection. They are talking about going out in pairs. Man. Nothing is ever going to be the same again.]

The despair being felt by the average citizens of Rome, at the time, is not unlike the situation which we, as average Americans, find ourselves in today.

We, too, are still struggling in the darkness before the dawn.

Our American Culture has been crumbling before our very eyes, as sin, depravity, and personal irresponsibility have been lauded by “the smartest people in the room” as normal, and values to be embraced…a Golden Calf to be worshiped by those who have turned their backs of the Almighty, because He will not give them the worldly gratification they seek…and because they erroneously believe that they are smarter than God, and can interpret and ignore God’s Holy Word in order to ignore and to rewrite to make it mean whatever they want to, in order to assuage their own consciousness, in an attempt to stifle that “Still Small Voice” within them, Who is reminding them of their sin and the consequences of it.

For the past several years, our Sovereign Nation and the rest of the world have been fighting enemies foreign and domestic, even within our own government, along with a Chinese Coronavirus, a combination of challenges which have claimed thousands of deaths in our country and the loss of jobs for millions of Americans.

Today, as we watch an out-of-control Congress and Administration attempt to take away our American Freedom, we all need to remember the words of President Ronald Reagan:

We are never defeated unless we give up on God.

Fellow Americans….my message to you on this Resurrection Day 2023 is

DO NOT GIVE UP ON GOD. DO NOT GIVE UP ON THE FOUNDING FATHERS’ HOPE, WHICH BECAME AMERICA.

As the old country Preacher’s wife always told him when she took away his plate after supper,

Hold on to your fork, Hon. Dessert is on it’s way.

The final chapter of the amazing story of our Blessed Land has not been written yet. It is up to each and every one of us to write it, strengthened by the Grace of God.

Until He Comes,

KJ

“For God so loved the word, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John

He is risen indeed!

Christmas Day 2023: “One Solitary Life” Made All The Difference

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

“Tis the season for Christmas movies.

From the Hallmark romance movies to Bill Murray’s “Scrooged” to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, there are movies to be found on television for everyone’s taste. However, there is none quite like Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the Holiday Classic starring Jimmy Stewart.

In the movie, Stewart plays the role of George Bailey, an average man whom, through a series of circumstances, finds himself living a life which he had never really envisioned himself leading. When dire circumstances arise, he contemplates killing himself, only to be stopped by an angel named Clarence, who shows him what his hometown would be like if he had never been born.

After viewing the difference which he had made in his sphere of influence, Stewart prays to the Lord to return him back to his family and his life.

The movie ends happily, with all the people whom he had helped over the years coming to his aid in his moment of crisis.

The last time I watched this movie, I had not seen it in quite a while and I found myself with tears in my eyes at the end of it.

It was then that I realized that God puts us where He wants us to be.

It is up to us to navigate around the pitfalls of life caused by our own Free Will by using the Gift of Discernment which we have been blessed with and by listening to that Still Small Voice which resides within each and every one of us.

Each and every one of us can make a difference within our own sphere of influence.

However, there remains only One who walked this Earth in human form who is still making a difference and whose birth we celebrate today.

Many stories have been written about Him.

On this Christmas Day, please allow me to present to you one of the best and the gentleman who wrote it.

Dr. James Allan Francis was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. He became a pastor at age twenty-one and served in ministry for the remainder of his life. His first pastorate was in New York City at the Riverside Baptist Church, and after serving in other varied pastorates in the East, he came to Los Angeles in 1914.

Though he had a busy life as a pastor, Francis was able to publish a handful of books: Drops from a Living Fountain (1895), Christ’s Mould of Prayer (1924), and Christ is All And Other Sermons (1928). His publications are full of passionate encouragement for Christians to know their Lord, to rely on him, and to follow his example.

Francis’ most famous words, now known as “One Solitary Life,” originated as part of a sermon that he delivered on July 11, 1926 to the Baptist Young People’s Union at a Los Angeles Convention. A friend transcribed the message titled “Arise, Sir Knight,” and Dr. Francis published it that same year in a collection called The Real Jesus and Other Sermons.

Today, we celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

As you spend today with your family and friends, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our nation and those who are away from home, protecting you and me.

Please allow me to close with one of my favorite Christmas songs, featuring a remarkable performance by the man who wrote it, Mark Lowry.

God bless us, everyone.

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village as the child of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another obscure village.

He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty and then for three years was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book.

He never held an office.

He never owned a home.

He never had a family.

He never went to college.

He never put his foot inside a big city.

He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born.

He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.

He had no credentials but himself.

He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of his divine manhood.

While still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against him.

His friends ran away.

One of them denied him.

Another betrayed him.

He was turned over to his enemies.

He went through the mockery of a trial.

He was nailed upon the cross between two thieves.

His executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth while he was dying, and that was his coat.

When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today he is the center of the human race and the leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon the earth as powerfully as has this one solitary life.

Until He Comes,

KJ

From The Innkeeper’s Point of View

On By kingsjesterIn ChristianityLeave a comment

Luke 2: 1-7 (ASV):
1 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.
6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Caesar Augustus had come up with the bright idea that a census should be taken of the whole Roman Empire, in order to more effectively tax the stew out of all of us.

It especially hurt small businessmen like me. You see, I’m nothing but a lowly innkeeper, barely keeping my head above water, working 16 hour days. Oy! I could continue to gripe, but who would listen?

Anyway, like I said, Caesar decreed that everyone should get themselves registered for the Census. In terms of business, that actually turned out to be a good thing.

I was about to lock up for the night, when a young man and woman came to the door.

He was a strong,rugged-looking young man. I think he was a carpenter. She was a beautiful, pregnant little thing. Bless her heart, she looked like she would deliver at any moment.

Their names were Joseph and Mary.

My inn was packed, for once, and I had no rooms available. But, some part of my heart told me that I just couldn’t send them away.

So I offered them my stable, which would at least offer some protection from the elements.

What happened that night was wondrous.

Men are still talking about it to this day.

A precious little baby boy was born that night, and the most miraculous things happened. People said that animals actually spoke!

And, the local shepherds said that angels came to them and told them about this baby.

They sang His praises and told the shepherds that they needed to come to my stable to see and worship that little baby.

Three wise men, sent by Herod, showed up later, bearing gifts for that special infant.

They were overcome by that little one and decided that they would not report back to Herod, but, instead, would return to their homes.

It was quite a remarkable time. As the years went by, I heard stories about that child.

They named Him Jesus.

He grew in knowledge and stature. At 12, his parents lost Him. They found Him in the synagogue, teaching the old men that should have been teaching Him!

Can you imagine?

He grew up working beside His father in his carpentry business and when He was 30, I heard that He was baptized by that wild man, John The Baptist.

According to witnesses, the heavens parted, and they heard the voice of God saying:

This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.

For three years, He traveled with a group of twelve disciples, performing miracles, preaching and teaching about God’s love and His plan for mankind.


And, now I’ve heard that just yesterday, they nailed Him to a cross, executing Him as they would a common criminal.

So sad.

But, you know, there is a still, small voice inside of me that’s telling me that His story is not over, yet.

I truly hope that you enjoyed this post today. I originally wrote the preceding story 13 years ago today in honor of this special night.


Tonight, we celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. In closing, I want to share two videos with you. The first is a video entitled, “That’s my King!”, as read by Dr. S.M. Lockridge. The second video is a song that I’ve had the privilege of singing in choirs many times, “The Hallelujah Chorus”, which has become a favorite of Believers everywhere.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! And may God bless us, everyone!



Until He Comes,


KJ

He is Risen! Resurrection Day 2023

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

This morning, as I lay in bed, The Lord had me thinking about Him. These thoughts were about what today, a day that Christians around the world celebrate as the day that Jesus Christ rose victorious from the grave, must have been like.

Pretend for a moment, that you are an average citizen living at the time of Christ…

[For the past three years, you have seen this charismatic young man speak about the love and mercy of God, and how His Grace and Forgiveness is freely given, IF…

And, there’s the catch…

According to this carpenter’s son from Nazareth, you have to confess your sins, and ask the Great I am, for forgiveness.

Whoa! Wait a minute. Who is this guy? A radical? Ask Yahweh for forgiveness?

And, what’s that he said? You will then have a personal relationship with His Father?

How can that be? This is the Great I am. This is the Deity of Vengeance who destroyed those escaped slaves from Egypt for throwing a party, while Moses was up on a mountain, and building and worshiping a Golden Calf.

And, remember what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar? Daniel interpreted a dream for him, explaining that his kingdom would be ruled over by Gentiles until God sent His King. Ol’ Nebby got mad, because he couldn’t rule over the Israelites and over the whole world unless God allowed him to do so. He forgot that, and became very proud. He tried to make the people think that he was very wonderful, and that they should worship him. He didn’t trust God as some of the kings of the Israelites did, but had the very foolish idea that he could be a wise and wonderful king without any help from God.

So, what do you suppose occurred?

Why, the King had another dream, and when he found out what it meant it was really terrible. In this dream God told him that he would lose his mind and would go out in the field and eat grass just like the cattle for seven years. And Nebuchadnezzar actually did this, too. Can you imagine a mighty king, as he thought himself to be, crawling around on the ground eating grass? The Bible tells us that his hair grew long and coarse and looked like bird feathers, and his fingernails became like the claws of animals.

Finally, though, Nebuchadnezzar’s reason returned to him, and when he found out what he had done he was very much ashamed of himself.

However, he learned by this experience that he was not as wise and powerful as he had thought. Learning this, he gave praise to God for allowing him to be the ruler.

This is the God that some carpenter’s son from Nazareth has been telling us that we can have a personal relationship with?

Strange indeed.

Finally, one of His disciples betrayed Him and gave Him up to the Romans, who crucified Him.

I noticed that while He was hanging there the guards and some of the townspeople there were mocking Jesus, telling Him that if He was the Son of God, to ”jump down off of that cross”. Meanwhile, some of the centurions were casting lots over His robe.

All except this one centurion, who was just watching Him, as if he was waiting for something to happen…]

And, then came the Glorious Morning…
[Wow. It’s really been amazing around here since they crucified Jesus. Did you feel that earthquake? The veil of the temple was torn in half! And did you hear? A bunch of people that had died years ago, were seen walking around the city! But that’s not all. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard?

Listen to this: He has risen! He arose from the dead and was seen by several people. It’s true! I know it sounds unbelievable. I can scarcely take it in myself. Mary Magdalene and Mary, James and Salome’s mother, went to the tomb to perform the anointing of His body and it wasn’t there! On top of that, there was this young guy there, dressed in a white robe. They said he must have been 9 feet tall. He said, “You are seeking Jesus of Nazareth. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. See the place where you laid him.” So they went and told the disciples. But you know how Peter is. He just had to go run up there and see for himself.

Jesus even approached two of them on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize him. He even broke bread with them that night. They realized who He was and He disappeared! They ran to tell the disciples and as they were telling them, Jesus appeared right in front of them! They were all starting to panic. Jesus said, “Peace to you.” But they couldn’t believe it was him, especially Thomas. So he had him touch him in the hole in his hand where they drove the nail and where the spear pierced his side.

Jesus ate with them and performed other signs and miracles in front of them and they understood scripture as never before. He also came to them at the Sea of Tiberius. Peter took the disciples fishing and they weren’t catching anything. Jesus told them from the bank to cast the net down on the right side. They did, and they could hardly bring it in the boat! When they got back to land, Jesus already had a fire going and some fish and bread ready to eat. He asked Peter three times if he loved Him, and each time He told him “Feed my sheep’. Hey, isn’t that the same number of times Peter Denied Him?

Anyway, He taught them many things before He left. They watched as He was taken straight up into heaven. Can you imagine?

The disciples are making plans now to go out and starting spreading the Good News about Jesus’ Resurrection. They are talking about going out in pairs. Man. Nothing is ever going to be the same again.]

The despair being felt by the average citizens of Rome, at the time, is not unlike the situation which we, as average Americans, find ourselves in today.

We, too, are still struggling in the darkness before the dawn.

Our American Culture has been crumbling before our very eyes, as sin, depravity, and personal irresponsibility have been lauded by “the smartest people in the room” as normal, and values to be embraced…a Golden Calf to be worshiped by those who have turned their backs of the Almighty, because He will not give them the worldly gratification they seek…and because they erroneously believe that they are smarter than God, and can interpret and ignore God’s Holy Word in order to ignore and to rewrite to make it mean whatever they want to, in order to assuage their own consciousness, in an attempt to stifle that “Still Small Voice” within them, Who is reminding them of their sin and the consequences of it.

For the past several years, our Sovereign Nation and the rest of the world have been fighting enemies foreign and domestic, even within our own government, along with a Chinese Coronavirus, a combination of challenges which have claimed thousands of deaths in our country and the loss of jobs for millions of Americans.

Today, as we watch an out-of-control Congress and Administration attempt to take away our American Freedom, we all need to remember the words of President Ronald Reagan:

We are never defeated unless we give up on God.

Fellow Americans….my message to you on this Resurrection Day 2023 is

DO NOT GIVE UP ON GOD. DO NOT GIVE UP ON THE FOUNDING FATHERS’ HOPE, WHICH BECAME AMERICA.

As the old country Preacher’s wife always told him when she took away his plate after supper,

Hold on to your fork, Hon. Dessert is on it’s way.

The final chapter of the amazing story of our Blessed Land has not been written yet. It is up to each and every one of us to write it, strengthened by the Grace of God.

Until He Comes,

KJ

“For God so loved the word, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John

He is risen indeed!

Sunday Morning Thoughts: There is a Revival in The Land!

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

Asbury Revival

Nick Hall is the visionary of the Together movement, author of Reset, and the founder of PULSE, a ministry at the center of the largest millennial-led prayer and outreach efforts in the world. Nick has shared the Gospel with nearly 4 million students. He is the president and CEO of The Table Coalition and sits on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals.

The following quote is an excerpt from an Opinion Piece he posted at FoxNews.com.

I received this text message from a friend who has heard me use the term “revival.” I don’t use the term lightly, but what God seems to be doing is unprecedented.

We saw over 2,000 students repent of sin and turn to Jesus last week through events at the University of Georgia, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Iowa State, and North Dakota State.

I’ve been doing evangelism for 20 years. I was trained by and traveled with both Billy Graham and Luis Palau. These are the highest percentage of responses to the healing, redeeming message of Jesus that I’ve ever seen. Could this be a revival?

It’s easy to be skeptical. We live in an age of hype and celebrity faith leaders. Many will question and criticize, but it always takes faith to believe instead of doubt.

What if God is moving on these campuses and at Asbury University?

I got home to Minnesota exhausted last weekend but incredibly stirred to travel to Kentucky. I’m a husband and father of three and leaving my family again over my few off days is not ideal. My bride looked me in the eyes and said, “You have to go.”

In 1970, a revival broke out in the same place – Asbury University, in the Hughes Auditorium. It began from the chapel and students kept worshipping, praying, and repenting for 144 hours.

I first read about the Asbury 1970 revival when I was 18 years old and a freshman in college, I preached and prayed for it to happen again for 22 years!

Without a revival, we stay in our sin. It’s God’s method of revealing Himself, and it’s been a God-ordained vehicle used throughout the history of the Church.

“The revival is still happening! Four days and counting!” The text messages kept coming. I began my pilgrimage to Wilmore, Kentucky on Monday. Could this be real? What I found shocked me.

In an age of sensationalized encounters, what’s happening at the Hughes Auditorium is incredibly simple, humble, and ordinary.

There isn’t a single ‘known’ figure on the platform. It’s students leading the way alongside a few campus ministers. It’s raw worship, Bible reading and exhortation, and repentance.

Confession broke out numerous times, the crowd would listen and speak out, “The blood of Jesus forgives me.” The altars were full night and day, wet with tears, from young and old. It was multi-ethnic, multi-racial, and multi-generational.

The crowds kept flooding. I didn’t want to leave but felt a burning that we need this back home, every home!

Upwards of 5,000 people flooded Wilmore. There were traffic jams and hungry souls filling four venues and the front lawn.

I talked with Max, the gas station attendant. He grew up Sikh in Asia but said he is overwhelmed by God’s love hitting his community.

“Do you think I can go?” I told him that he needed to go.

I met a teenager named Michael, carrying his skateboard, telling me that while he isn’t a Christian, the meetings at Asbury are “cool” and he said, “I can feel the love of God.” He said he’s closer to trusting Jesus but is counting the cost.

I met others impacted from Hawaii, Boston, and California.

From across the nation, people are flocking to encounter Jesus. Earlier this week I received a report that up to 20 other college campuses have started meetings. New doors are opening!

The thing about the Asbury Revival is that it happened without a huge robotic lighting system and paid professional singers.

It didn’t happen in a Megachurch or a church where the cross and altar have been replaced by colored lights and a stage.

The Holy Spirit moved in a humble college chapel and the resulting Revival is spreading like wildfire across our Sovereign Nation.

But, why?

And, why college “kids”?

For the past couple of decades, churches have been trying to figure out how to attract more young people to their services because, quite frankly, the older Americans who pay the bills and tend to be the backbone of the congregation, have been dying off.

However, in their zeal to attract a younger crowd, they have alienated older Christians by replacing familiar older hymns and corporate worship with professional “Worship Leaders” singing songs meant for Contemporary Christian Radio, not the vocal range of average Americans.
A lot of churches have become “Woke”, embracing popular culture instead of preaching and teaching God’s Word from the Older and New Testaments in the Holy Bible.

This has resulted in a generation hungry for the love of the Triune God, thirsting for the joy and unconditional love which only repentance of sins and the Amazing Grace of Salvation can bring.

Both young and older Americans are coming to these Revivals, “weary and heavy-laden” from their personal burrens, seeking the relief that accepting Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior can bring.

Now, I am certain that I will catch grief from the “Woke” Liberals who may read this post.

That’s fine.

My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, died for me.

Writing about what is happening in His Name is the least that I can do.

There’s a Revival happening in America!

God is ALWAYS on time.

Until He Comes,

KJ

Christmas Day 2022: “One Solitary Life” Made All The Difference

On By kingsjesterIn Christianity, PoliticsLeave a comment

“Tis the season for Christmas movies.

From the Hallmark romance movies to Bill Murray’s “Scrooged” to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, there are movies to be found on television for everyone’s taste. However, there is none quite like Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the Holiday Classic starring Jimmy Stewart.

In the movie, Stewart plays the role of George Bailey, an average man whom, through a series of circumstances, finds himself living a life which he had never really envisioned himself leading. When dire circumstances arise, he contemplates killing himself, only to be stopped by an angel named Clarence, who shows him what his hometown would be like if he had never been born.

After viewing the difference which he had made in his sphere of influence, Stewart prays to the Lord to return him back to his family and his life.

The movie ends happily, with all the people whom he had helped over the years coming to his aid in his moment of crisis.

The last time I watched this movie, I had not seen it in quite a while and I found myself with tears in my eyes at the end of it.

It was then that I realized that God puts us where He wants us to be.

It is up to us to navigate around the pitfalls of life caused by our own Free Will by using the Gift of Discernment which we have been blessed with and by listening to that Still Small Voice which resides within each and every one of us.

Each and every one of us can make a difference within our own sphere of influence.

However, there remains only One who walked this Earth in human form who is still making a difference and whose birth we celebrate today.

Many stories have been written about Him.

On this Christmas Day, please allow me to present to you one of the best and the gentleman who wrote it.

Dr. James Allan Francis was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. He became a pastor at age twenty-one and served in ministry for the remainder of his life. His first pastorate was in New York City at the Riverside Baptist Church, and after serving in other varied pastorates in the East, he came to Los Angeles in 1914.

Though he had a busy life as a pastor, Francis was able to publish a handful of books: Drops from a Living Fountain (1895), Christ’s Mould of Prayer (1924), and Christ is All And Other Sermons (1928). His publications are full of passionate encouragement for Christians to know their Lord, to rely on him, and to follow his example.

Francis’ most famous words, now known as “One Solitary Life,” originated as part of a sermon that he delivered on July 11, 1926 to the Baptist Young People’s Union at a Los Angeles Convention. A friend transcribed the message titled “Arise, Sir Knight,” and Dr. Francis published it that same year in a collection called The Real Jesus and Other Sermons.

Today, we celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

As you spend today with your family and friends, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our nation and those who are away from home, protecting you and me.

Please allow me to close with one of my favorite Christmas songs, featuring a remarkable performance by the man who wrote it, Mark Lowry.

God bless us, everyone.

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village as the child of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another obscure village.

He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty and then for three years was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book.

He never held an office.

He never owned a home.

He never had a family.

He never went to college.

He never put his foot inside a big city.

He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born.

He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.

He had no credentials but himself.

He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of his divine manhood.

While still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against him.

His friends ran away.

One of them denied him.

Another betrayed him.

He was turned over to his enemies.

He went through the mockery of a trial.

He was nailed upon the cross between two thieves.

His executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth while he was dying, and that was his coat.

When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today he is the center of the human race and the leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon the earth as powerfully as has this one solitary life.

Until He Comes,

KJ

From The Innkeeper’s Point of View

On By kingsjesterIn ChristianityLeave a comment

Luke 2: 1-7 (ASV):
1 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.
6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Caesar Augustus had come up with the bright idea that a census should be taken of the whole Roman Empire, in order to more effectively tax the stew out of all of us.

It especially hurt small businessmen like me. You see, I’m nothing but a lowly innkeeper, barely keeping my head above water, working 16 hour days. Oy! I could continue to gripe, but who would listen?

Anyway, like I said, Caesar decreed that everyone should get themselves registered for the Census. In terms of business, that actually turned out to be a good thing.

I was about to lock up for the night, when a young man and woman came to the door.

He was a strong,rugged-looking young man. I think he was a carpenter. She was a beautiful, pregnant little thing. Bless her heart, she looked like she would deliver at any moment. Their names were Joseph and Mary.

My inn was packed, for once, and I had no rooms available. But, some part of my heart told me that I just couldn’t send them away, so I offered them my stable, which would at least offer some protection from the elements.

What happened that night was wondrous.

Men are still talking about it to this day. A precious little baby boy was born that night and the most miraculous things happened. People said that animals actually spoke!

And, the local shepherds said that angels came to them and told them about this baby.

They sang His praises and told the shepherds that they needed to come to my stable to see and worship that little baby.

Three wise men, sent by Herod, showed up later, bearing gifts for that special infant.

They were overcome by that little one and decided that they would not report back to Herod, but, instead, would return to their homes.

It was quite a remarkable time. As the years went by, I heard stories about that child.

They named Him Jesus. He grew in knowledge and stature. At 12, his parents lost Him. They found Him in the synagogue, teaching the old men that should have been teaching Him! Can you imagine?

He grew up working beside His father in his carpentry business and when He was 30, I heard that He was baptized by that wild man, John The Baptist.

According to witnesses, the heavens parted, and they heard the voice of God saying:

This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.

For three years, He traveled with a group of twelve disciples, performing miracles, preaching and teaching about God’s love and His plan for mankind.


And, now I’ve heard that just yesterday, they nailed Him to a cross, executing Him as they would a common criminal.

So sad. But, you know, there is a still, small voice inside of me that’s telling me that His story is not over, yet.

I truly hope that you enjoyed this post today. I originally wrote the preceding story 12 years ago today in honor of this special night.


Tonight, we celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. In closing, I want to share two videos with you. The first is a video entitled, “That’s my King!”, as read by Dr. S.M. Lockridge. The second video is a song that I’ve had the privilege of singing in choirs many times, “The Hallelujah Chorus”, which has become a favorite of Believers everywhere.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! And may God bless us, everyone!



Until He Comes,


KJ