Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

As I recall, the opening of the old Star Trek series always included the stardate, therefore, I continue my practice of doing the same, today being Tuesday, May 19, 2025. I figured that might appeal to some out there, somewhere, not over the rainbow but rather, somewhere connecting to and landing on this particular blog where one will find the writer engaged in all kinds of stuff being slung onto the electronic page. That would be yours truly, the blogmeister himself. Since the first of these blogs back in 2007, some 3,912 have been published. That, my friend, constitutes a lot of keystrokes and images as well. Some may have not amounted to a hill of beans, as they used to say where I was raised up, but, I submit to each and everyone how that any and all references to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, well those references do have eternal significance and their application should be seriously thought about and responded to. Myself and another fellow were out on Church visitation last Sunday afternoon and we were able to make contact with a few folks. Those we didn't talk to, we left a bag of goodies along with some track information about our local fellowship and more importantly, Bible verses that explain the plan of salvation. That's right, the Plan of Salvation. It was Creator God who provided that plan. Our pastor put it this way, first comes the bad news, Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The even worse news, Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death." Woe! But, hold on, there is better news, Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." There is even the best news of all. I'm getting excited about it even as I anticipate what it is, Romans 10:13 "All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved." That all means exactly that, all. This is the message of hope for a lost and dying world. And, it applies to any and all who repent of their sins and call on the Lord to save them. No matter where you live, no matter what you have done, and, no matter who you are, these verses apply to us all. I encourage anyone to take seriously and personally this provision from our Creator. Amen.

 

Billy Graham crusade in South Korea.

One of the people we talked to this past Sunday told us he had at one time been involved in an evangelical congregation but he had concluded that a good God would never have allowed the messed up world we live in today. I mentioned how this good God had created everything perfect and it was Adam our forefather who disobeyed God and plunged us into sin. He said he had heard that. I told him he was in a dangerous position in rejecting God's loving provision of salvation. He said he had heard all that. My point? I can't save anyone. You knew that already. And, that is true. However, we can share the love of God with others, even those who have heard it all and they have concluded how a good God would not have allowed things to become like they are today. The good news is how God still loves the world including the self-appointed skeptic. This fellow said he just might visit our services. I pray that he will and I do know there have been many who have showed up for all kinds of reasons and those reasons did not include a one on one meeting with The Holy Spirit who pricks the hearts of men, women, boys, and girls as the Word of God is shared. I can understand this fellow's conclusion. I can. However, what he concludes on his own and what I conclude on my own does not change the truth God has revealed to us. There were more than 400 Billy Graham crusades and the song, 'Just as I am' was sung at most of them as a way of inviting lost people to come to Jesus. The first verse has these lyrics:

 

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd'st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

By some counts, over 3 million people responded to the Gospel message proclaimed by Billy Graham during is 58 year ministry. I think God also used the message of that song in bringing home the truth all had heard. People still need to hear the truth. My family. Your family. Everyone, everywhere. Amen.