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How Does Your City View the Homeless?

Brian Hilts — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 01:05:00 GMT

What is the condition of your city? What I mean by this is how is it's acceptance of the homeless and the poor? Often we find some American Cities with a negative attitude toward the homeless and the poor. Laws regarding outdoor feeding programs to possess and purchase permits each time they serve the homeless a meal, panhandling laws and more. First we need to remember we live in America...where we believe all men are created equal but to be treated equal. This morning I saw a homeless man downtown before anyone was out looking for leftover tobacco in the streets and on the sidewalks from the clubs activities from the night before. This was on a Sunday Morning when no one was around. Today I poured out my heart with the Cities homeless ...assuring them of the Grace of God and His compassions. Gods love is for the poor and the way we treat them is very important. For the Lord is the creator of us all. We must also keep our Faith in a part of the solution and approach to our cities homeless. We need leadership in our city that has compassion for the poor and sees them as a part of the community and not a problem to our community. For it is the Poor that remind us to keep our hearts motivated in our compassion and caring in our community. A community without the poor can hurt our Faith , Our Compassion and acts of Faith. Therefore let us remember that our Highest and most Nobel calling is to our Christian Faith and its founder in Heaven who watches over us all. Without the poor our Faith is inactive. We are in a community where our Faith and Compassion is made for our fellow citizens and the homeless. There is a reason we all live together in a community. As we approach the Holiday season let us allow the love of God to motivate our compassion and commitment to all his children in our city ...when we see the homeless let compassion compel us and not distance ourselves from Gods inheritance...for not all who wander are lost. Let us care for those who live on the streets, railroads, abandoned buildings, concrete slabs, and the wooded areas of our community. And may we remember that we all have a common bond ....the Lord is the Maker of us All.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. II Corinthians 8:9

May this Holiday Season give Hope to the Homeless and help us to see the Greatness of the Grace of God.

Brian

Charity and the Cross

Brian Hilts — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 21:43:00 GMT

The Cross and our Faith...I am pondering today the Centurian Soldier who was at the Cross when Christ Died. When he saw Jesus die he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God". I ponder our society today as this Roman was brought up in no religion or especially ones we know today but was essentially a pagan. Or he may have believed in Roman Gods. There was something about the Death of Christ on that Cross that made this man reflect in his own heart and confess that Jesus was the Son of God. Our nation needs this today. Our communities need this today. A recognition of Christ and a newness of our Faith. The Centurion Soldier was moved to believe and make his declaration. Are we moved today to believe? In the heart of the homeless community the cross of Christ is being presented to people that they can believe. This is why we must keep our Christian Faith at the Center and front of our charities in the community. You cannot sell out for money or opportunities that may present themselves from Federally tagged grants. If a homeless person cannot know Christ in the midst of thier poverty, hardship and homelessness then what kind of Hope are we giving them? Our homeless shelter not only looks at helping them find a place to live in our community but we offer them the greatest hope of all and that is eternally to be with Christ. This is the kind of charity provider our community must have and keep. Charity without Christ is simply socail services. Socail Services are important but I have never seen our Priest or Pastors sharing the greatest social services of all in any of our state or federal buildings. Our Charity offers both. Stand with me as we keep our Faith in our community and our Christ centered Charity in our Community. This is what is most important. You can build buildings, provide social services but without Christ at the Center and His heart being revealed to the people we are nothing....perhaps it is as Paul said to the Corinthians..."If I give all I possess to the Poor yet have not Love, I am nothing"....Or perhaps if we give all to the poor and we have not our Lord Jesus the greatest example and demonstration of Love...we have nothing. Keeping Christ in our Charities is the most important thing of all....For the Greatest of these is Love and my friends...God is Love.

Brian

Stimulas Money and the Homeless

Brian Hilts — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:07:00 GMT

With Homelessness and Poverty a problem in our community and the recent revelation of one of the Highest Poverty rates our country has seen since the 1960's. We are sad to say that the Homeless Prevention Program in our community has had to cut and remove people from its program. This was money recieved from the Recovery Act. Fort Smith was awarded 1.3 Million dollars for Homeless Prevention and has currently spent 473,000. Those running the program were informed they were now out of money until they recieve more funding in July of 2011 this means that those who were in the program will be dismissed. Many have already been calling us telling us it was their last month for housing asking to return to the Community Rescue Mission. While this concerns us there is a deeper problem here. Not the Government funding Housing but the lack of opportunities for people to be employed. Where are the jobs in our community? Good companies have shut down. Others have moved assembly lines to other parts of the nation or world. While our community is very charity conscious and alway helping those in these situations. We need to create our own recovery act and stimulas plan for our community. We have to find places to work. It may have all started on Wall street but it certainly has reached our local area. There is a shift of opportunities in our community. We need employment strategy and jobs for the community. Most of the stimulas money in our community hasnt created jobs but has only kept jobs through projects designated. Keep all the homeless and poor in your prayers and let us find ways to recreate a good economy in the River Valley.

Brian

Keeping Faith in our Care for the Homeless

Brian Hilts — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:54:00 GMT

Faith Based Charities verses Federal or HUD funded Homeless Care.

It is sad in our nation that these two entities for what they represent have never been able to meet in the middle or endorse each other in fullness. For instance a Faith Based Organization can only receive funding if it is willing to make all of its Faith Programs Optional. This includes something as simple as praying with a client or praying before a meal is served. Christian Organizations must compromise to meet federal codes. There is another problem involved in that the Federalization of Homeless care in any city creates another Government Mecca that empowers people to not pursue initiative to change. In other words Federal Homeless Care empowers or encourages people to remain homeless or basically to not have to change bad behaviors because the government is now fully involved in paying for their care and cannot empower them to change. Basically it creates another branch of welfare in a community. The Faith Based Organization however can challenge them through their Faith to pursue Hope and a Better life. One of the greatest problems is: “Where there is no vision the people perish“, or properly said where there is a lack of vision to change we remain the same and cannot rise to a greater potential that is rooted in the depths of all of us through our Faith. Faith empowers vision and perception of ones self. One weakens while one empowers. Please understand I am not opposed to care beyond measure to those who need it but I am opposed to the inability to share the meanings and purpose of life as proposed by our Creator in His Holy Word. Faith will create a deeper vision within the soul giving it hope to change. We cannot as a society afford to lose the very foundation upon which all things consist. So I challenge us today to realize we are on two paths in our community. The secular and the sacred. Not only to say that the Federalization of Homeless care will also deepen the burden of the states in the provision of its multiple Medicare programs especially for border cities. These are things we must consider. Government creates government, while Faith creates independence and freedom. It was Faith that caused pilgrims to seek a new country and a better life while leaving the comforts of Government. I challenge us all to look deep into the roots of our community and nation and ask ourselves do we want Faith to continue or do we desire the rise of a new kind of care and commitment in our community in the expansion of Federal Government controlling and developing homeless care. Which is greater Faith and its effect or the secular and its new society it will create in our community. Our Methods must match the Message. We must provide Faith, Hope and Love.

May God give us discernment as we face these issues in our community.

Brian

Serving is Simple

Brian Hilts — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 18:19:00 GMT

You may feel that there is nothing you can really do to help the homeless or the poor. Just remember something as simple as donating bottled water helps the homeless in our Summer Heat in our community. It may seem like something small but it is actually a blessing. Serving can be made simple with the homeless. Donating small items can mean a lot. We have now passed the 30,000 meals served mark for this year. You may want to think about donating canned vegatables to the shelter or organizing a canned food drive at your place of work, or talk to your childrens school. All of us working together can make a difference. Hope you have a great summer.

Brian

Homelessness and the Heat

Brian Hilts — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:21:01 GMT

Many Times as the Summer heat begins to beat down in our state and city many of the homeless become dehydrated and can suffer from heat stroke in our community. Last year I called the ambulance twice on individuals who came up to our Mission from the Arkansas River suffering from dehydration or heat sickness. This is why I ask that we all remember the hardness on those who are living on city sidewalks, concrete or asphalt. Cities are known to be hotter because of the concrete and buildings. And how hot it can become with temperatures drawing close to the century mark coming soon. Please remember to collect Bottled Water, Gatorade and other items. Go to our website: www.fscrm.org and look at our Summer Needs. Lets work to gether to keep people safe in the Heat, as we have already lost one homeless person this month as it begin to become hot. Thanks for all you do for the Community Rescue Mission. Your Charity at work in the Community you care for.

Brian

Honoring the Homeless

Brian Hilts — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:21:00 GMT

Today let's remember the homeless and what we can do to help them. We just celebrated Earth Day a couple of weeks ago along with the celebration of the EPA being created to help control enviromental issues. Let's remember all of those who work with the homeless to try to help create a better standard of living and or an enviroment for them. Homeless people can have Hope in America. Our nation can help through its citizens to help the homeless living in camps, shelters or other places. Let's not fight the good in our communities helping these individuals but let us all see that by having compassion we are giving Hope to the poor. Be Charitable.

God Bless
Brian

Four Things Christ Commands

Brian Hilts — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:14:00 GMT

Things Christ tells us to Do

Matthew 5: 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I. Practice your Faith: No one lights a candle to put it under a bushel...you should not hide your Christianity. Jesus is saying here that if you are a believer then you aren’t to hide it from the world or people you are around or interact with. You are called light. Light exceeds darkness the Bible says and will always shine in dark places. Today I want to challenge you to let your Christian influence be felt by those around you. If the Bible says to love then I want you to love, if it says to forgive then I want you to forgive. We are to be Christ like to those in our community and in our part of the world. You cannot hide your Christian witness or its ability to influence others. People sometimes become Christians by seeing Christ in you. The Bible says that Christ is the hope of Glory…and Christ in you and working through you is to give hope to those around you. These three abide forever the Faith, Hope and Love. Today do you reflect Faith, do you reflect Hope and do you reflect Love to those who are around you and are hurting or in need. We don’t need more hate we need more love , care and commitment in the world. And we are to be the witnesses of the grace of God to those around us. I want to encourage you today to live for Christ and God and let others see his Grace in you and desire what you have. It doesn’t mean that you are perfect, or have it all together but that you are simply doing your best to do what Gods words tell us. We make mistakes but Gods word teaches us that if any man or person does sin and we confess our sins that he is faithful and just to forgive us all our transgressions or sins. Let God love through you and Christ reach out to you.

II. Practice Forgiveness: It states that if you know there is a person or persons whom you have offended or perhaps they have offended you that you are to do your best to make peace with them. Forgiveness is essential for our hearts to be healed and feel healthy in our Christian walk. The bible teaches to practice or walk in forgiveness with men or others and then come to God. How many of you know God may not want to talk if he knows you have issues with forgiving others. Forgiveness is important to let others go for past harms or hurts. Open you heart to help others and yourself by forgetting the past and those things which are behind you. Today allow the Holy Spirit to influence you and do his work in your heart and reach out to your brother or sister for whom Christ died and offer them love and hope. You then are being Christ like and whether they receive this from you is their problem. You have fulfilled the royal laws of Christ in that you have loved and offered them forgiveness. You say you don’t know how. I understand that is why it must be Gods love working through you to them. God will help you and assist you in forgiving others. It was while Jesus was being crucified that he stated Father forgive them for they know not what they do. While being murdered he ask God to forgive those carrying out his execution. This is forgiveness. My friends if we expect Christ to forgive us then we also must practice mercy, judgment and truth. We must fulfill the more important aspects of Christianity and that is to forgive and practice what Christ preached and offers to us. We can be so hypocritical in that we say Lord forgive me, yet we wont forgive someone who owes us 20 dollars or more. It takes Christ to Love and to Forgive. We are to forgive Because God for Christ sake has forgive you. Do you forgive others…Do you know it was the work of God in the cross that offers you forgiveness. When God forgave you for your sins were you perfect or a sinner? We must practice mercy, love, truth, forgiveness, and proper judgment. There is no room for the wrath of man in Gods eternal Kingdom. Love God and those around you. Not only are we to forgive…

III. Practice Giving: give to him that asked thee. We are to carry the attributes of Gods kingdom in our hearts. God loves charity and practices charity every time he answers a prayer or does something for you. Today do you want to be like God and give. If God hadn’t given the Gift of his son then none of us would be here today? God has given his very best and daily gives to us our daily bread or food, shelter and basic needs. Charity is the art of God, and our good works are to glorify God and point people to Christ. Giving is the opposite of our society. Greed verses Giving. Greed is the heart of the wicked who shall stand before the throne of God for not helping the poor and needy but have been self centered in this life. They remembered not the poor or as Jesus said if you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me. Greed never meets the need…but Giving makes life worth living. Today let us all become more charitable in our consciousness and to those around us. That is why the bible says if you have two coats give to him who has none. We are to do what society will not do. That is to give hope , love and the things that others need. You see sometimes just the spiritual answer isn’t good enough. To say God loves you but it is within your power to Bless them with what they need and don’t that isn’t right. If you have the ability to help a person then do it. This is another one of the royal laws of Christ. Give to him that asketh thee. Give to him that asketh thee. Has anyone asked you for help and you could help but didn’t. Let our hearts become more generous. For the generous souls shall be made fat the scripture says. God loves a cheerful giver the Bible says. Do all things as unto the Lord. And you shall be blessed. God gives to the poor and needy and let us do the same as we have the ability. Let us Bless humanity in whatever way we can. It may be volunteering to sweep, mop, or help in the kitchen or whatever but we all can donate to a greater cause …this too is giving. Let us give because God did give to us the greatest gift of all even when we didn’t deserve it.

IV. Practice the Path: Jesus said to enter into the strait or narrow gate. We are commanded here to make the right choice in life and to walk into the will of God for our salvation. Jesus is the door to heaven and we are commanded to walk through that door and down that path. Today have you chosen Christ as your path in life? Have you chosen Jesus as your salvation? Do you want to be redeemed and preserved from the wrath of God and his judgment? Then you need to step off the broad road that the majority travels and go down the narrow road that the minority travels. The pleasure of sin is for a season but eternal life is just that eternal. Jesus said he who comes to me will never thirst again. It is time for some of you to make a choice about life. And commit to Christ in Life and follow him. Jesus said Follow me and I will Make you…make you into a person you never knew before, a person who can give, and love, and forgive. Today I ask you to step off the path of destruction and step onto the path of life. Scripture says the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord. Do you need Gods divine path in your life? Has your road left you weary and heart broken. Then today step into Christianity and the Faith of God and into His Son the Lord Jesus and you will be saved and experience salvation in a way never known. Get off the path of destruction and onto the path of construction and better yourselves, save yourselves. If you saw a warning or danger sign most of us would respect it. Today the cross of Christ is both your warning sign and your saving or salvation. You are warned of damnation in scripture and Christ is your savior. Today the straight and narrow is the way to go. Better you lives, your families, yourselves and spare yourself. And find hope and peace in Christ today. Can you do that? It is so simple. Today let us reach out to the throne of God and ask for his mercy and love…and you will be forgiven. Christ is your answer to your needs today and may he help us all to love him and follow him in our lives today. May His grace bless and change your lives today. And may all that God offers to you be found. May we all be blessed today in our Saviors grace.

Fresh Start Program and Progress

Brian Hilts — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:42:00 GMT

Sorry for the downtime! A quick update on the homeless situation. Fort Smith is doing well in taking care of its homeless. This past month we took into our shelter 65 individuals, this includes families with children. We are doing our part for the community. This morning we held our first meeting in our chapel for homeless individuals to recieve job training. We partnered with Firelight's Fresh Start Educational Program which do an excellent job for us and for the homeless. This couse is for individuals who have signed up to recieve housing with HPRP- Homeless Prevention Rehousing Program. All our clients who have signed up for this course will be required to attend our classes in our chapel each Tuesday. There are 22 courses. We want to thank you as a community for your prayers and support. God Bless you as our Lords Passion is upon us this Easter.

Brian

Sermon to the Homeless 2.14.10

Brian Hilts — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:24:00 GMT

Devotion to Community and God

Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

I. Cornelius…his name alone tells you that he was a person that wasn’t in his environment. He was a soldier of the Roman Army in a land that they had occupied. He was stationed in Caesarea just north of Jerusalem in Israel. Here was a Roman in Israel. His belief since he was a child to be acquainted with all the gods of the Romans. He was taught a different religion all of his life. One that didn’t ever connect him to One true God…or as scripture states there is One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism….for the first time the worship of the Jewish people had intrigued him that there was one God to worship and that they had temples dedicated to this God. His spirit began to hunger and to thirst for the true God and his mind began to think is there more than what I have had? Have you ever wondered if there was more to life than what you have experienced? All his earthly needs were met, yet he still hungered for a deeper spiritual life, a yearning within that couldn’t be satisfied with the accomplishments politically in the Roman empire or in his own accomplishments. He asked himself the question …is there more….so he even did more… look at what he did.

II. He gave much alms or charity…out of his curious search for moral correctness and a relationship with God it made him a charitable man. He didn’t just tip the community he was generous with the community. Here he was a man that was linked to the Romans who collected taxes of the Jewish people giving more to the community out of his heart. He gave money that helped the poor, he gave money that helped build synagogues and Jewish temples he gave to the causes that he saw before him in his world that effected the people he was with and the ones he was involved with. His charity impacted his immediate community and the community viewed him as a different kind of Roman. Charity is a powerful gift to a community and it was out of his generosity that it even deepened his heart to know more about God….His compassion to the community created within him a desire to pray. Not only was he generous but he was also praying.

III. He prayed to God always…he was effected by what he saw in Jerusalem, he saw the oppression of the people by the government and his own people he identified with the suffering. The suffering caused him to seek God and a God that could do something for the people and the community. Compassion is a powerful thing that will even cause you to pray for those that are hurting. Cornelius saw suffering and began to pray. His prayers were to uplift the community. To help the world in its current conditions. I am sure he was a world thinker as he was in an empire with world domination and influence but he saw things differently through the eyes of compassion. Oh that the whole community could view the homeless situation as suffering and not certain individuals trying to figure out ways to remove and channel or pass laws to reduce it. The community that fails to assist the Lord is the community that fails. We must be Faith based , we must be charitable, we must seek to do the will of God without harm. You know you can be Faith Based and never say a word about Christ as some organizations have opted to received Federal money. He was an official of the government but he knew he didn’t have the answer alone so he prayed. He prayed for change, he prayed for hope, he prayed for more, he prayed that oppression of people would cease to exist…He was faithful to God yet there was more for him…notice because he was concerned what took place..

IV. The Angel of the Lord…the Angel appears to him and tells him specifically to call for Peter, the Apostle unknown to him that at the same time the Lord spoke to Peter that three men would seek him to go to the house of Cornelius. This is truly a divine moment. The angel tells Cornelius that your giving and your prayers have come up before God as a memorial….that God himself recognizes such things and causes him to remember and pause about the person doing such things in the earth. The angel directs him to Peter and Peter in return goes and visit’s the household of Cornelius…Cornelius gathers all his household to listen to the words of Peter as Peter in obedience went to Cornelius home afraid and concerned because he wasn’t Jewish but was a Roman Soldier…but God had different plans….Peter began to open up and share with him what had happened to the Lord Jesus. How he was taken by wicked hands and by Herod and Pontius Pilot was tried , falsely accused and was crucified. Peter shared the Christian faith with Cornelius from the moment of its conception to the current events. As Cornelius listened the Holy Spirit entered his house and the Blessing of Christ came upon them and entered their hearts. There was a moment of joy and blessing a God moment in the life of Cornelius that God had honored his heart and sent his Apostle to guide him into a relationship with his Son the Lord Jesus. Cornelius received this truth this teaching this wonderful news and God confirmed it through his holy spirit. Oh that today we would all be open to the words of life and the love of Christ. This is a time that if God was fulfilling this promise in the days of the roman empire, he is still today fulfilling this promise in our times. For listen to this verse about the times of the Gentiles…(Cornelius was a gentile)… Luke 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled…(you know from that moment the Faith and Gentiles receiving it spread) listen to this verse: Romans 3: 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Cornelius was a Gentile, and his time had come…according to scripture he was the first convert recorded who was a gentile.. Our moment has come and it is time for us to cease the time of our salvation. May we all have an experience with God that leads us into a relationship with him.

The Lord Bless you today.

Sermon to the Homeless 1.31.09

Brian Hilts — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:55:00 GMT

The Greatness of Opposition

The Name of Jesus Forbidden

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Prayer for Boldness

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David[b] have said: ‘ Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’[c]27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Sharing in All Things

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

I. Unlearned and Uneducated Men…as we have discussed before Jesus as Gods word has said has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Jesus used ordinary men and women to follow him and proclaim his goodness and mercy. God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and Peter and John had left all to follow him and are now proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are facing persecution for their obedience and are facing the leadership of that community. God chose to use them to fulfill his will and his destiny and sometimes there is a price to be paid for your obedience to the Lord. Jesus said Blessed are those which are persecuted for my names sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. They were being persecuted for taking a stand for Christianity in a society that was being shook up in its beliefs. The leadership couldn’t understand the compassion and works of Christ and it revealed their hatred. Peter and John purely declared the will of God and were confronted for their works and their words. If you stand up for Jesus you will be persecuted…if you stand up for Jesus you will face opposition if you stand up for God you will be hurt as they were even thrown in jail for their beliefs and outspokenness for the Lord. Have you ever made a statement of your faith in public? Have you even ever shared your faith in private with another person? Here were ordinary men facing persecution and opposition for what they believed. We need to be led by their examples and declare the truth of Gods word both in private and in public…it is a witness to your Christian Testimony. If you stand up for Jesus people will be upset.

II. Let us threaten them that they speak no further in this Name…the leaders were concerned they were upset that people had the will to proclaim the name of Jesus. How could they not for it was him who was crucified and had died before there very eyes but had also appeared to them in private and in public saying Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel…sometimes when you want to do what is right there will be people that oppose you…sometimes when you know to say or declare the truth their will be opposition…sometimes when you want to share Gods love people will not receive it. Today don’t be afraid to stand up for righteousness and doing what is right in your lives. Today allow the Lord to be your protector and don’t be afraid to make a move for what is good for your life spiritually and morally. Say I need your help today Lord and your peace as I move forward and he will comfort you and enable you. Never be afraid to stand for the truth..for in doing so you stand for righteousness and the kingdom of God in your confession of your faith. Only good can come from your stand for God, in this case a man who hadn’t been able to walk for forty years was now able to walk and over 5000 people became converts of the Lord. The world cannot stand the truth and the light of God but we are to be proclaimers of his righteousness and his truth. It was a movement for the Lord and listen to what the world leaders did: ‘

Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the LORD and against His Christ

III. This opposition promoted prayer: The apostles as a result of this persecution and threat begin to pray. They prayed to the Lord declaring what the world and the leaders had done towards the holy one and declared behold Lord their threats and their wickedness and stretch forth thy hand that they servants may speak with all boldness…instead of caving in they prayed it in. Instead of quitting they asked God for more. Instead of being hurt they reached out to God in prayer and asked him to give them boldness to continue declaring the glorious works of Christ. This opposition sparked a prayer movement in asking God to do more. Behold Lord their threats! There are times we need to ask God to step in and be encouraged by him and our Faith to continue our works with the Lord. They asked that God would continue his wonderful works through the name of his Child Jesus. For it was in his name that this man found soundness that these 5000 people found peace with God and a relationship with him ….all things come through our relationship with Jesus for he is our Hope and peace and righteousness…all channels of Gods blessings come through the peace of God and His Christ..can you believe in him today and trust him for your needs to be met. Can you believe in him and believe he hears your prayers today and knows your needs in your life? Yes you can believe today and trust him for he cares for you… Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you…Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding and he will comfort and aid you in your current affliction. For God is our peace and our shield. Trust him and he will Love you eternally today. For the grace of our Lord Jesus was this that in his Love he became poor for our sakes that we through his poverty might be made rich in the faith of the foundations of the world and all the heavens. Declare and decree it today and you will believe it.

IV. This prayer and Faith created unity and philanthropy…their was a sharing of the people with each other….of their possessions their was a true love of God working and moving in the midst of the people. The movement had began and the spirit of real Christianity was birthed…caring sharing, prayer and faith. God was in their midst and doing a great work among the people…the Lord Blessed them and moved in them to believe and continue in Faith and good deeds…today what we need is a genuine experience with the Lord to help our hearts and to possess our souls…and it will change humanity and the way it operates in greed and in problems. The world stood against this but it was the most compassionate thing that ever began and they wanted it to stop…today we can be examples to the world and to Christ. We can trust him and he will move and love us eternally…May his Kingdom be established today in your hearts and give you peace in all that you do. May the grace and peace of God keep you and establish you in every good thing and in every good work..and may we be like them and proclaim, pray and be peaceful and caring and sharing…so help us by the Grace of God…Amen.

Do you know Christ today…do you have Faith today?

Hunger Hits Many Americans

Brian Hilts — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:26:00 GMT

1 in 8 get help at food banks

14 million kids among hungry

By Wendy Koch USA TODAY

One in eight Americans — 37 million — received emergency food help last year, up 46% from 2005, the nation’s largest hunger-relief group reports today.

Children are hit particularly hard, according to the report by Feeding America, a network of 203 food banks nationwide. One in five children, 14 million, received food from soup kitchens, food pantries and other agencies, up from 9 million in 2005, the year of the group’s last major survey.

“This is a crisis,” says Vicki Escarra, president of Feeding America. “People need to understand that this is America, and we’re seeing this kind of need.” She says the report is her group’s most comprehensive study on emergency food distribution.

It comes as a record number of Americans are receiving food stamps — 33.7 million last year — and as President Obama, who has set a goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015, proposed in his budget Monday to add $1 billion annually to school-based food programs.

The report “reinforces what we know, which is that poverty and hardship are rising,” says Stacy Dean, director of food assistance policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which researches how public programs affect low- and middle-income people. She says some of the same people who get food stamps also go to soup kitchens or food pantries, because the government aid might not be enough.

The Agriculture Department reported in November that 14.6% of households didn’t have enough food at some time in 2008.

Feeding America based its report on 61,000 interviews with people seeking food aid and 37,000 surveys of food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and other programs affiliated with Feeding America food banks.

More than a third of those interviewed said they had to choose between food and other necessities, including rent, utilities and health care. The average monthly income of households seeking help, $940, is below the $1,214 federal poverty level for a two-person household.

“Our system is overburdened,” Escarra says. She says companies, individuals and the federal government have increased donations, but food banks are still struggling to keep up with demand.

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada served 124,200 people last year, four times as many as in 2005, spokeswoman Jocelyn Lantrip says.

“We’re a very hard-hit state,” Lantrip says, noting Nevada’s 13% unemployment rate. She says the food bank is able to meet demand largely because it got a new privately funded facility in July 2008 that tripled the bank’s size and expanded its ability to accept perishable food, much of it donated by grocery stores.

In Austin, the Capital Area Food Bank is holding more food drives and sending trucks to local grocery stores to pick up food about to expire, spokeswoman Kerri Qunell says.

She says the bank collected 3.3 million pounds of food last year, up from 1.8 million in 2008.

Qunell says most of her food bank’s clients have jobs but aren’t earning enough to make ends meet. Like Lantrip in Nevada, she sees more newcomers.

She recalls meeting a man in his early 60s who lined up for food at a mobile pantry. He told her that, in the past, “my wife and I were always the ones who helped.”

Unemployment and Homelessness

Brian Hilts — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:27:00 GMT

Let us remember this Holiday Season the Homeless, Jobless and less fortunate in our communities and country. As unemployment reaches a staggering 10% which means a tenth of our workforce is unemployed I am concerned that we will see a new increase in homelessness this coming Spring and Summer as people struggle to regain employment and economic security in our nation. Consider helping your local charities as they are the ones that will be there to help those in need in our nation.

Sermon to the Homeless 12.06.09

Brian Hilts — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:44:00 GMT

The Birth of Christ to the Homeless

I John 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

I. It was a Promise….God had told us in the years of past even starting in the Garden of Eden that he would use the seed of a woman to bring forth redemption and the solution to the problems created in that time. It was through their transgression that sin entered world and through the actions of a woman and her husband that resulted in the downfall of humanity. How many of you know the Bible says Eve was deceived but not Adam. It was a terrible thing. However in the midst of the promise of death, sin, and the shadows cast upon the world ….God told Eve that through Her seed that Gods enemies would be bruised. It was later and even seen throughout the whole old testament the promises of God foreshadowing the arrival of the Birth of Christ. He used types and illustrations and direct words. One of the most quoted but most important is found in Isaiah….Behold I will give you a sign a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and his name shall be called Immanuel- This is important for this is stating the virgin birth of Christ but also the arrival of God into our earth as a child. God clothing his Son in the Flesh. It was the arrival of the divine into a fallen world and God came in the lowly birth of a manger.

II. It was a Process….this was a process of all of Gods promises being fulfilled, being brought to pass, It was a strategic plan anchored in Christ. The angels announced his birth to the Shepherds in the field; the star guided the wise men to discover him in the manger in Bethlehem. The child Jesus grew and the bible says that he found both favor with God and with Man. He was a child born that was destined to die for our sins. This was part of the process. Jesus begins his ministry and his Prophets role as the Messiah, he challenged the world and its culture, and he healed the sick and the poor he assisted. He spoke to us the greatest words ever spoken. He commanded us to love one another and to love our neighbors as ourselves. He was the ultimate leader and lover of humanity. The philanthropist and prophet. Who cared for the poor and the people. It was Jesus that saw humanity as Sheep without a Shepherd and it was then that he was moved with compassion and fed them. That same spirit today lives in the hearts of charities and Christians in your community and in this world. We are the fruit of Christ death and his original commandments; it is in him that we find our mandates and callings for lives. To help those who have no help to share Gods love with those that know no love. It is in him that we lead and love and show others the greatness of God.

III. The Plan…the plan was that in the death of Christ all men would experience the love of Christ and the power of his cross and his forgiveness. We all have a past and some is darker than others but in this passage it states that the light shines in the darkness. In the darkness we find our saviors love, in the darkness we find the goodness of God, in the darkness we are reminded of his holiness and kindness all in one. In the darkness Jesus cries out and says I am the light of the world. Are you in darkness today? If so Christ is your answer and your hope and your love. When no one else loves you he will, when you feel all alone he cares for your….for these same scriptures say that he was full of Grace and Truth. Grace and Truth…it is his Grace that he accepts us and in truth that he justifies us and makes us Gods creation and brings into a holy right relationship with God. Today do you need his Grace do you need his kindness. Of his Kindness have we all received says the Bible. And today God wants us to experience his grace and truth and kindness. Don’t feel left out this Christ- Mass but allow the holy one. The blessed son of God to give you hope and an everlasting relationship with God... Human relationships will fail you. Heaven and Earth will pass away but not Gods love for you. Will you follow him today?

IV. His Peace….the angels even announced Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward men. His peace surpasses all understanding…not only will Christ bring peace to the earth but he will bring peace to your hearts. This Christ mass allow the prince of Peace to give you and everlasting peace. Peace is a missing element in our world of war and confusion but peace is a spiritual thing. It is having peace with God and His son the Lord Jesus. Today bring yourselves to him and you to will find his Blessed Peace…for he is Shalom, King of Righteousness and King of Peace…be blessed today and Gods peace be with you all Amen.

May Gods Grace and Peace be with you all today.

Christmas Greetings

Brian Hilts — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:10:00 GMT

Greetings this Christmas Season,

It is so hard to imagine that within just a few weeks we will be waking up to December 25th. I hope and pray as my family is...we realize that it is more than the material blessings but it is also the spiritual blessings. While we realize all we have is in Christ we strive to remember those less fortunate. This Christmas Season let us all be thankful for all that God has done. Not only has he blessed as as scripture states with all spiritual blessings but he has also bestowed upon us His blessings in life. I know some of us are struggling so let us remember what is the foremost important thing in our lives.

God Bless you and Have a Joyful Holiday Season.

Brian

Sermon Notes to the Homeless Hope Chapel 11.22.09

Brian Hilts — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:12:00 GMT

Thanksgiving Sermon to the Homeless

Ten Healed of Leprosy only One Thanks the Lord

Luke 17: 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

I. Have Pity on Us…these were ten lepers who were outcast to society. They were not allowed to mingle or walk with the rest of the people because of their disease. It states they stood at a distance indicating their outcast position in society. Often we feel as lepers to a community or society socially unaccepted. But they found one that would listen to them. It was Jesus. Oh the truth in this is no matter how society views you or whatever you sickness or what makes you different God has time and compassion to talk to you. Jesus was sensitive to their voice realizing who they were. They cried out Jesus have Pity on us….this was something that no one else in society had ever offered them…unconditional love and mercy. They felt the pain of rejection and even the sentence of death upon them. The religious people didn’t want them, children were afraid of them, they were forbidden in mainstream society much like some of us today. They were told where to walk, sit and sleep. They experienced the feelings of rejection and having no pride in life. But Jesus tells them to do something that was actually not normal for them to do….

II. Go show yourselves to the Priest. I am sure they had even tried to do this before and knew they would be turned away. I am sure they had reached out to the community leaders before and were rejected. But they didn’t realize that Jesus or the Christ was going to do something greater than they ever expected….that was to heal them. Sensing that Jesus cared they did as he said and were cleansed or made clean of this vicious disease. They were obedient to our Lord is the substance of truth here. They went to where they felt rejected and were healed. How wonderful this is…for now they are accepted in society they are no longer seen as the outcast or forbidden to touch. Jesus had truly worked a miracle that changed their life, socially- he even removed the sentence of death that was upon them. How glorious and reflective of what he does for all of us today who cry out and say Master, have pity on us. The glorious Lord saves us and forgives us….but here is the irony and relation of this text to Thanksgiving.

III. One of them…it states that one of them only one came back and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. Oh how sad….as it is about to be thanksgiving we are to give thanks, this one man reflects the mood of gratitude in our society and our community that basically only one in ten was grateful for the Lords help and mercy. The Lord does the work but no one thanks him. We must adopt a new attitude this thanksgiving and that is to thank the Lord for what he has done for us. Our society no longer recognizes the Goodness of God…what if only one out of ten today continues to be thankful to God? Recognize his goodness and mercy. It may be the help received through the Christian charity but we are to be thankful. IT may be that our Lord has erased and forgiven our sins and manipulation in our society. We are to be thankful. It may be that God has made us clean and overcome our addictions but we are to be thankful. It may be that society has given us a second chance in our community and we are to be thankful. To often we are to thankful for the services of the Lord and we are like the other 9 lepers who did not return to the Lord to thank him. Jesus asked him was not all ten cleansed or changed? where are the other nine? Jesus didn’t take away their miracle or his love and charity to them but simply questioned their hearts and motivation. Where are the others? Were they not grateful for what I did? This Thanksgiving let us not be as the ones that don’t thank the Lord for what he has done but let us thank the Lord for his assistance and Love. No matter how we perceive it we are at his Mercy and need his Kindness to help us. Are we grateful to the Lord this Thanksgiving? You may be in the Mission but it is the Lord who provides for you? You may be here against your will, but it is the Lord who provides for you- give your gratitude to the Lord for his Love and Works demonstrated to you this Thanksgiving,

IV. Your Faith has made you whole…in the thanksgiving of the one leper Jesus gives him the confirmation he needed to hear… he states to him your Faith has made you whole. Today it is still your Faith that makes you whole. Experiencing the compassion of Christ and Christianity. Embracing Gods love through Christ is an issue of Faith. It is your belief in Him that changes the outcome of your life. Jesus recognized the act of worship and gratitude in this person and the Lord confirmed the well being of the Leper. This year allow your Faith to make you whole. We are sick spiritually and socially we need help. Allow this year to be your year of gratitude and thankfulness. Let the power of the Lord cleanse you and make you whole. Be thankful to God. Trust God. Hope in God and you can see the Glory of God. Go in the way the Lord directs you and you will be cleansed. Be thankful and you will be confirmed show you appreciation to the kindness of God your true gratitude…And when the Lord does good for you remember to return to the Lord and be thankful for what he has done for you. Whether it was from Heaven or through Humans it is God who has done it for you. It may even be the Charity of a Mission in your community but be thankful this year for Gods Love and Blessings.

May a spirit of Thanksgiving and Gratitude be found in our Hearts this year.

Amen.

Sermon to the Homeless 11.08.09

Brian Hilts — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:41:00 GMT

The Searching of the Lord

Zephaniah 1:4-7,8,12

4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;

5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.

7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath;

I. Them that are turned back from the Lord: them that are turned back from the Lord indicates those that no longer are pursuing a relationship with God. They in fact had turned to worship idols and false Gods..many times we turn to substitutes for God in relationships and possessions. Seeking to find fulfillment in the world in the place of God…God indicates that these individuals had turned their back from God or from the source of their life inspiration. We are to seek the Lord and search for him with all our Hearts…scripture states to Love the Lord thy God with all they heart, soul and mind. We are to worship the Lord and in Him we find completeness and the answers we search for. Don’t allow loneliness and the desire to follow the world to pull you away from your relationship hips with the Lord… Why would you want to turn back from following the Lord and the Paths of Righteousness. It is true that sometimes sin will appeal to us to forsake our Love for the Lord but we are to not turn back from the Lord. If you were to sin and you will …you should turn to the Lord and ask his Love and Forgiveness to forgive your mistakes. Romans 1. 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

II. The Lord hath prepared a sacrifice and invited his Guest….The Lord reminds us that he has prepared a sacrifice for us when we follow our own paths and find sin. That in its place he has placed his Son on the Cross for us to believe in Him. We are to trust in Him and we have been invited to partake in his gift of Mercy and Love. As far as the Heavens area above the earth so is his Mercy and Love to us. It is great, it is grand and God desires and invites… calls you to be a partaker of his kingdom of His dear Son in the Light , the Lord of the Light the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:13 states he has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his Dear Son. Today follow his path, follow his goal, find his Love and heed the Calling of God. Broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be on it but narrow is the way to leads to life…but once you enter in you will not be disappointed you will not be ashamed. Follow the lord you are his invited guest….why decline the invitation…What better thing do you have to put in His place?

III. The Lord will do an extensive search. The Lord will do an extensive search, it states with candles. This is an unusual statement in that God will actually seek out those that have lived against him and transgressed his Holy law. No human is exempt from this search of the Lord. But it also indicated the compassionate side of the Lord in that he looks and searches for you. You may have thought you were lost in this part of the city or world or in this place on 3^rd street. But the Lord searches for you and can and will find you. You will not want the Lord to find you and you not possess a relationship with God. This search turns up both the Good and the Bad. Jesus stated will he Find Faith when he comes? The Lord is the Judge of the Living and the Dead, the Righteous and the unrighteous obey him and you shall live follow his obedience to Life.

IV. They say the Lord will do neither evil or good…These are people that have a misconception of God. They believe the Lord will neither do Good or Bad or there is no consequence for our sin. That God is almost non existent or does to hold us in accountability with him. They are not able to discern the truth and believe God is not active in the human race…they are in for a shock. The Lord can bless you with Good or he will punish our Sins…scripture even states receiving double for our sins. These individuals no longer had a respect or fear for the Lord. They felt God was absent from their midst and they felt a false sense of security in their own security. The Bible states it is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living God. God does respond to humanity and is responsive to those that do good and those that do evil. Don’t be deceived God will do something.

V. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them from his wrath. This tells us that the rich of the world and the foolish of the world will never be able to purchase happiness or purchase forgiveness with their silver or Gold. God is not moved by mans influence. He is moved by mans heart. Those that seek evil God will punish those that come to his calling and invitation and do righteousness he does Love. Your silver can never by Gods love or exempt you from his Justice. These are but elements of the earth and have nothing to do with Gods Justice….only the Blood of the Divine Christ can deliver you.

Today let us not turn away from our Lord but let us pursue his Presence , Love and Forgiveness.

May his Grace and Mercy Guide us today.

Amen

Sermon to the Homeless 11.01.09

Brian Hilts — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Will we Contend with God

Book of Job

40:1 The Lord said to Job:

2 “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”

3 Then Job answered the Lord:

4 “I am unworthy —how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.

5 I spoke once, but I have no answer — twice, but I will say no more.”

6 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:

7 “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

8 “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?

Contend with God? Really? Is it wise??

I. Will the one who contends with the Almighty Correct him?- Or change the way in which God is dealing with you or his corrections or instruction toward you? No, can the clay pot say to the potterer why have you made me so. We cannot change the way in which God deals with us. Job states this is so.

At the Potter’s House

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

II. Silence- Job answered the Lord by saying simply this ? How can I reply to you who am unworthy and basically made of the earth and of human frailty. Job states I am unworthy and will cover my mouth. He states he has no answer. Job realized that you cannot argue or contend with God.. if the Almighty has chosen it or done it…..it can only be undone the moment His will decrees so. Silence was the Answer in dealing with God in correction.

III. The Storm- Look God finally speaks but from where? A storm. Or the storm. Was this a storm of lightening and thunder and wind? More than likely yes, but it is also symbolic of Jobs circumstances. He was in a storm in his Life and it was in the midst of this violence and disturbance that God Speaks. He states Brace yourself like a man-(find courage and faith as well) I will question you and you will answer me. In other words when the supreme justice of the universe ask you a question you will speak. God gave him no option but exerts himself as God to Job. Sometimes there are no options but to speak to the Lord and answer his direct questions. Questions like are you in my will? Is it Sin at the root of your problem? Maybe the questioning of God can lead to a solution?

IV. Self Sufficiency disclaimed: God says if you can clothe yourself in honor and majesty if your voice can be as thunder or in other words if you can speak as me then I will honor you...but God shows that even the greatest of his Creations as he refers to Behemoth cannot be channeled by no man but he only responds to the almighty. It all comes back to your response to God, there is a time to be silent, a time to pray, a time to ask but never a time to blame for who can change the will and mind of God. We are to submit to his mighty power and live, obey and be justified, accept and not be destroyed. For it is he who has made us and him who we will be accountable to. BE as Job, meek humble and quiet then perhaps God will speak to you from your storm and heal your circumstances. Believe today in the Lord for he is Mighty to save. As scripture says: The Lory they God in the Midst of thee is mighty. Mighty to save. Zephaniah 3:17....The Lord they God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love. He will joy over thee with singing. Although the Lord may be angry his mercy is for a lifetime. Receive the Lord and his ways today.

Amen

Site of Homeless Viglil November 6th @ 5:30PM

Brian Hilts — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:23:00 GMT

This is the site of our Homeless Vigil - Friday Night November 6th. See the River Bridge in the background. For more information call us at 479.782.1443 or email: brian@fscrm.org- This is your opportunity to live like the homeless and have that experience for one night. To be a voice for them in thier conditions and enviroment.- Brian

Going Green with the Homeless

Brian Hilts — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Going Green- Teaching the Homeless to Pick up thier trash and be clean. When we think of places like Cheronobyl with all its Radiation that created birth defects and death for 100,000's. We should learn to keep a balance between Creation and Mans responsibility to keep it clean. Just the homeless cleaning the trash in the city area is an effort to respect Creation. I will be teaching that this month at the CRM- to take responsibility- to be constructive and not destructive...trying to spark personal responsibility.