1. Daily Oracle – March 1, 2015 This saying is trustworthy: "If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work". - 1 Timothy 3:1 (HCSB) There is a difference between desiring something and achieving, accomplishing and succeeding at it. The Word is replete with warnings about false teachers and preachers; not everyone who comes to you in the name of the Lord was sent by the Lord. We are told to be discerning, to test the spirits, to challenge that which is doubtful or questionable. There is little doubt that those who are "called" are in fact called; the question is called by whom and for what purpose? The title "overseer" used here has to do with those in church and ministry leadership. These are preachers, teachers, deacons, elders, bishops and other (some biblical and others not so much biblical) positions within a given denomination. Ever wonder why denominations have different offices, positions and officers? Sometimes it's a "feel good" appointment, made up to appease a church member. Other times it is the difference between how denominations interpret scripture. A friend of mine was recently "ran out" of his church for pointing out that the rules of the denomination called for a certain office and that for the over 30 years he was in church there no one had ever been appointed to that office. Over 30 years and several pastors and each one told him "I need to get the church organized first...", but nothing ever happened. Read scripture and see the type "overseers" God calls for. Decide for yourself if your congregation is biblically organized. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

2. Daily Oracle - March 2, 2015 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars who consciences are seared. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from food that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth. - 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (HCSB) Surely, if we are not living in the end times, we are living in the latter times. We are living in days where seemingly everything and anything goes. Abortion, same-sex marriage, hyper-tolerance, etc. are the norms of the day. People, sadly including Christians, fall under the influence of deceitful spirits and the doctrine of demons. Hell is denied as a "real place" and heaven is overflowing with souls, regardless of not only how they lived their lives, but what they believed in life as well. God, when He was exclusive to the Israel, set forth standards and social mores that caused the Jews to be considered a "peculiar people". Well, with the death and resurrection of Jesus, all those who call on His Name are to be considered peculiar people as well, called out from the popular culture and expected to follow the standards and social mores set forth by God and Jesus and maintained by the Holy Spirit. These are not unobtainable standards, but God knows that not all will accept them and more, not fewer, will reject them - and Him. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

3. Daily Oracle - March 3, 2015 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters. - 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (HCSB) This is a model for a community that is decent and in order. It is all about respect, mutual respect and deference to those worthy of deferring to. Far too often, older men are disrespected and taken advantage of, young men are seem as threats and thugs, older women are discarded for younger women and the young women are singled out for verbal, physical and sexual abuse. This is a reality and it is not part of God's economy or His plan for how we treat one another. Older men, who hopefully are wise and knowledgeable, are seen as "old heads" whose ideas and insights are of no use. Younger men are looked on with a jaded look, not always trusted or "teachable". Older women are seen as meddlers and busy-bodies, always when their noses in someone - or everyone - else's business. And younger women are sexually objectified and disrespected. As you can see, there is a "pecking order" in God's community of believers. While this order is for all society, it is very important within the family of believers. This is, however, a two-way street. Old men cannot treat young men badly just because they are old. Likewise, old women cannot force their morals and demeaning ways on young women, simply because "the Bible says", or, moreover, "because I can". If all of us could slow down and treat each other as God sees it, much more would run smoothly. Nothing in God's Word is there just for the sake of filling a page in the Bible. It is all profitable and we do well to adhere to it. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

4. Daily Oracle - March 4, 2015 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. - 1 Timothy 6:7-10 (HCSB) Naked we came and but for the clothes we wear in the casket, naked we shall go. To "take" anything else would be selfish and pointless. Why be buried with money, jewelry, in your favorite car, or whatever the case may be? Those things, just as the body, will rot and turn to nothing. Some eccentric people ask for such things while most people accept that what they have is temporal and the soul is eternal. Be thankful you are leaving here with your soul intact and heaven-bound. If you want to be rich just for the sake of being rich, the Bible says you are wrong. There is nothing wrong with being rich, being wealthy, having "stuff". But if it is simply because "I can", Paul says you may fall into temptation, a trap and chase after anything and everything that might bring you money. He goes on to tell this truth: the love of money is the root of much evil and people fall away from the faith in their pursuit of it and love of it. Again, nothing wrong with money; it is a necessity. But when you obsess on it and it possesses you, there is a problem. Think about some of the things people do for money and I will leave it at that. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

5. Daily Oracle - March 5, 2015...but I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day. Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you. - 2 Timothy 1:12, 13-14 (HCSB) There is nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to your relationship with Jesus. There is nothing to hide from, no one to run from, no reason to sit down and be quiet when His name is on the lips of others. It doesn't matter how well you know the Bible, how many verses you can quote or even if you always get it right. What does matter is that you try. You seek. You study. You challenge. Paul says to hold on to the sound teaching that he has taught. He had a good thing entrusted to him as do each and every one of us. Paul never ridiculed or put down anyone for trying. He warned against those who taught a doctrine of demons, and rightfully so. Think about all that God entrusted to him; he was not told to withhold anything. God did not share a secret with Paul and tell him to tell no one. Rather, He poured so much out to Paul that he was driven to spread the Good News to any and all who would listen. Jesus said if we are ashamed of Him or His Father in this life, don't expect to be recognized by either of Them in the next. The only thing to be ashamed of is being quiet when the Spirit says speak. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

6. Daily Oracle - March 6, 2015 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. To please the recruiter, no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of everyday life. Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. - 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (HCSB) God never tells us to quit. He never tells us to give up. He always encourages us when we are walking in His path. Paul uses the examples of a soldier and an athlete. Both are competitive. Both face challenges and obstacles. And both of them, when they are dedicated to their mission, will always succeed. The soldier may not earn a Medal of Honor and an athlete may not win a Gold Medal. But life, not Christianity but life, is a competition. The one with the staying power will always cross the finish line, always accomplish the mission. As a US Marine, I gave it my all - most of the time. But I would be lying if I said I gave it 100% all the time. But there were Marines better than me and not as good as me. I learned to emulate the better ones and bring along the weaker ones. That is the way Christ expects us to do with non-believers and fellow believers too. It is not about outdoing one another as it is in different areas of life. Rather it is about sometimes being a servant rather than a master. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples; that is a humbling task. But through the foot washing, Jesus demonstrated His true leadership. Follow God's path for your life. Hang in there despite the trials and tribulations. And in the end, not only will you be crowned, but you will be told "well done, good and faithful servant". © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

7. Daily Oracle - March 7, 2015 But know this: difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of religion but denying the power. Avoid these people! - 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (HCSB) Pick up a newspaper. Watch the evening news. Pay attention to "Breaking News". Watch the crime "dramas" and the "ripped from the headlines" programming. Things are out of alignment. Paul says watch the difficult times in the last days. Remember that to God a day is 1,000 years and 1,000 years is a day. We don't know what times we are living in, but, as Jesus said, there will be signs. It's not like we've not been told; not warned, but told. A warning means something may happen. Being told, in this case, means it will happen, it is happening. Read Paul's description of people. We are surrounded by them! And the truly worse part of it is all this stuff and all these people have slipped into churches and even into pulpits. "Holding a form of religion" does not make one a Christian. Being religious does not make one a Christian. It is about your personal - personal - relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what sets you apart, that is what saved you and that ensures your eternity in heaven. The popular culture does not care for anything but itself. And again, read the list of people Paul laid out in this scripture. You may bring one or two to Christ; some people never bring anyone. But guess what? You plant, another waters and another harvests. God does not give us a quota to fill. Paul said avoid these people. And avoid them we must. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

8. Daily Oracle - March 8, 2015 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. - 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (HCSB) Paul has a warning for the church and a warning for us. He foretells of the day when people will turn away from the sound preaching and teaching of the Bible and choose to believe anything and everything that makes them happy. What makes them feel good. Don't worry about what scripture says about sin. Write your own Bible. Let it say that down is up and up is down. Forget the warnings. Follow the next one who comes along preaching a new feel good theology. When was the last time you heard a so-called "fire and brimstone" sermon? Probably been a while. Most people don't want to hear the wages of sin is death. They don't want sermons or lessons on sin and hell; give me anything goes and tell me I am going to heaven because I have already endured hell here on earth and in this life. Tell me I can do what I please and God will give it a wink and a nod. God has not changed. The Word has not changed. It has not conformed to the world and the world does not want to conform to the Word. Pray for those who chase after these fables and fairy tales. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

9. Daily Oracle - March 9, 2015 To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact both their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work. - Titus 1:15-16 (HCSB) This is a major difference between the saved and the unsaved. The saved, while not always pure, at least seek purity. They try to eat right (purity of the body), pray regularly (purity of the spirit), think higher, not lower, thoughts (purity of the mind), and walk upright and in step with God. On the other hand, the unsaved do, at the very least, the exact opposite of the pure; Paul says they are defiled and unbelieving. They have no regard, few morals or boundaries, and "enjoy" a "devil may care" lifestyle. But their worst attribute, the one that truly sinks them, is that they profess to know God. This can be called professing without possessing God. They talk the talk, they quote scripture, they wear fine suits and dresses to church in their fine automobiles, but, as Paul says, they betray themselves and they betray God by their works. They have no "kingdom works"; the works they do have are for their own gain and for the recognition and praise of other mere mortals. Most condemning, Paul says, is they have no capacity for good work; not good works (plural), but even good work. They have a form of religion but would not know Jesus if they met him face-to-face. While not beyond God's redemptive grace, they are so far removed from Him that they may never find Him. All because of self-deceit. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

10. Daily Oracle - March 10, 2015 Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love and endurance. In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine...likewise, encourage the young men to be sensible about everything. Set an example of good works in yourself, with integrity and dignity in your teaching. - Titus 2:2, 3, 6-7 (HCSB) Sound guidance and instruction for anyone willing to take heed. Paul leaves no one out; older men, young men, older women. He tells each what is expected of them and how they should interact with and build up others, especially to the "younger" generations coming along. But he points out that one does not have credibility or is worthy of respect simply because of age or experience. He tells the older men to be self-controlled and worthy of respect; "respect your elders" we are raised to do, but, sadly yet honestly, not all elders are deserving of that respect. As is said, you have to give some in order to get some. Drunkenness, loose living, nasty attitudes, etc are not qualifiers for the respect and deference Paul is talking about. He tells both the older men and older women to encourage young men to do the right thing. Old folks don't need to teach or encourage drug dealing and gang banging, having babies all over the place or walking around with jeans around the knees. Little boys as well as little girls look up to young men as big brothers, mentors, protectors. Young men have more influence than they may think. In too many neighborhoods and households, as the young men go, so goes everyone else. Live the life God gave you and leave the devil behind. We can all do better. We are all good at something. And we all have at least one young one looking up to us. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

11. Daily Oracle - March 11, 2015 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned. - Titus 3:9-11 (HCSB) The problem with foolish debates is they usually turn into arguments and fistfights. The Word of God may be discussed and even subject to "healthy" discussion, but it should never reach the point of shouting, congregations splitting and new denominations popping up. God wants all done properly and in order; there is nothing orderly about an argument or a fight. When we engage in such behavior, we are doing Satan's work; and his bidding. Rebuking is a proper approach to settling differences, but Paul says enough is enough. He says it is okay to reject a divisive and hard-headed person after a first and second warning. If they persist in their nonsense, it demonstrates their unwillingness to get in step with the Word of God and seek only division and strife among the body. Granted, some scripture means different things to different people, but more importantly, there are precepts, commands, "rules" of the Word that are not open to debate. Always go with the Holy Spirit; He will never steer you wrong. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

12. Daily Oracle - March 12, 2015 So if you consider me a partner, accept him as you would me. And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. - Philemon 17-18 (HCSB) Philemon was the master of a slave named Onesimus who had runaway and came under Paul's influence. Paul, having converted him to Christianity, convinced him to return to his master and help spread the Gospel. This could not have been an easy decision for Paul or Onesimus. Both had to have agreed though that it was the right thing to do. Although Philemon may have been furious about the situation as it was, Paul told him, rather asked him, to accept his slave back as though he was receiving Paul. Further, Paul continued, if he has damaged you or caused you expense, charge it to me (Paul) and he would take care of it. Jesus took your sin and mine and washed us clean. Some of us have runaway from Him and have been convinced (usually convicted by the Holy Spirit) to return home to Jesus. In His grace and in His mercy, Jesus says any wrongdoing - charge it to Me. Any damages - charge them to Me. Paul asked Philemon to forgive Onesimus; Jesus asks us to forgive those who may have (or actually did) wronged or hurt us. It seems so easy for Jesus to forgive us; it is easy because He love us unconditionally. It is often difficult for us to forgive because we often, more often than not, love conditionally. If Philemon can forgive a runaway slave and Jesus can forgive us of all our nonsense surely we can find it in our hearts to forgive those who trespass against us. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

13. Daily Oracle - March 13, 2015 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. - Hebrews 1:1-2 (HCSB) The Old Testament was full of prophets, men and women God used to foretell His plans for people and nations, to speak prosperity or destruction on Israel or some other nation. He came to these prophets in different ways, revealing His will and His desire that He wanted carried out. Some prophets were motivated and ready to confront kings and common people with the Word of God. Some prophets were hesitant, perhaps even scared, to proclaim, "thus saith the LORD". God always protected His prophets and all of the prophecies He spoke either came to pass or are waiting to be fulfilled. Prophecies have not stopped. Prophets have not disappeared. But after the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ, God has used the Son and the Holy Spirit to speak to those who call on the Name. God uses personal relationships rather than sweeping prophecies when dealing with His people. Whereas He may have, in times past, spoke of blessings and curses over the nation, He now comes to us on a personal level through the Person of the Holy Spirit. Just as Israel and the Israelites did well to heed the prophets of old, we do well to listen to the words of the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

14. Daily Oracle - March 14, 2015 We must therefore pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. - Hebrews 2:1 (HCSB) It amazes me that we can memorize song lyrics, sports statistics, poems, birthdays, you name it and cannot recall scripture. Sometimes a song I have not heard in (literally) years will just pop into my head and I can sing it in my head or out loud without missing a beat. I know birthdays that are not written down for certain friends and family alike. As an itinerate historian, dates and events and causes and so forth are not a problem. But, "where is that in the Bible?" "I know the Bible says this but I cannot find it!" Again, it amazes me. The writer of Hebrews says we need to study, to dwell on, to focus on the Word that we have heard so that it, and we, do not drift away. As tedious as some of it may seem, every word in the Bible is placed there for a reason. It may not seem important to us that the Temple was X feet by X feet or that the color of this thread was this and another that. But it all has significance. It all has meaning. And God has told us to study His Word to show ourselves approved. Just as a teacher or a professor or an "expert" must know what he or she is talking about, we have a much higher calling for "knowing our stuff". I am not suggesting that anyone memorize the Bible from cover-to-cover, but scripture says know what we know and we will stay anchored. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

15. Daily Oracle - March 15, 2015 Watch out, brothers, so that there won't be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin's deception. - Hebrews 3:12-13 (HCSB) In a sense, Christianity is not a "go it alone" faith. Although we are held responsible for our sins and actions on an individual basis, we are always encouraged to not only share the Gospel, but to bring one another along as well. Left alone and to ourselves, we can give Satan an invitation into our lives, whether we intend to or not. Jesus did not (although He could have) go it alone; He had His 12 disciples and from them the numbers grew and eventually a faith movement, or as the popular culture calls it, a religion. We are to put our house in order on a daily basis. In other words, we are not to wait to forgive those who we need to forgive. We are not to save up sins and transgressions until we think we have enough to bring to the Lord. We are told to not let the sun set on our wrath, don't even go to bed angry. There is example after example in the Bible and in this life of sin creeping in and taking hold of people and situations. We are to know the difference between the voice of the Spirit and that of the deceiver. God is watching over us and protecting us, but that does not mean Satan doesn't take his opportunities when he gets them. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

16. Daily Oracle - March 16, 2015 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12 (HCSB) God's Word, the Holy Bible, is a living, breathing collection of holy scripture that uplifts, convicts, builds- up, shames, encourages and can even depress us - if we are not willing to walk in His path. I say depress because the rich young ruler was certainly bummed out when he was told what he had to do to follow Jesus and yet he loved his "stuff" more than he loved the Savior. It can convict us of our own sins and shortcomings; ever wonder how you are sometimes led to a particular scripture on a particular day and it answers a particular question or points out a particular fault? It is sharp enough to cut through anything and it cuts both ways. There is nothing sharper than God's Word. The writer goes on to say that it is a judge, not the Judge, but a judge of the heart. We are to always guard our heart, no matter what. The mind can be a virtual minefield, if you will, and it can be Satan's playground. God knows everything that is going on in your life and He knows where everything we do and think come from. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you through the Word if you will allow Him. Take your hands off your life and put it in God's hands. Trust Him with mind, body and spirit. Let His sword cut through the nonsense and give you peace. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

17. Daily Oracle - March 17, 2015 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of God's revelation. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature - for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. - Hebrews 5:12-14 (HCSB) No born-again believer wants to be told that he or she is an infant, subsisting on milk and not meat. But the truth of the matter is, we were all once infants in the Word. I believe that the most "dangerous" person in the world is a brand new Christian. Why? Because when we first come to salvation we know just enough to get us in trouble. Most newly minted believers shoot first and ask questions later; that is, they become self-righteous and "holier than thou" and in many cases turn others away from the Gospel rather than draw them to it. But we cannot stay that way forever. At some point we need to get off the milk and on the meat. And when is that point? The writer of Hebrews says when we have the sense - the good sense - to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, the voice of the Holy Spirit from the lies of Satan. It is a daily task. No one ever truly (I don't believe) earns a PhD in discernment. No matter how long you've known Christ or if you met Him yesterday, you can still fall for the lies of the devil. He never quits. He tried to overthrow God; He tempted Jesus in the Wilderness; He tried to thwart His going to the Cross; he will engage Jesus once last time and time, for him, shall be no more. You can wash the meat down with milk, but the spiritual protein in meat far surpasses that of milk. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

18. Daily Oracle - March 18, 2015 We have this hope - like a sure and firm anchor of the soul - that enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner... - Hebrews 6:19, 20 (HCSB) Before the day of Jesus' crucifixion, only the High Priest entered the inner sanctuary. No one else was allowed to enter. But on that day of days, as Jesus "gave up the ghost", the sky blackened, the earth quaked and above all the curtain that hung between the sanctuary and the inner sanctuary was ripped in half, from top to bottom, a 40 foot curtain was torn in two, forever removing any wall or obstacle between man and God. The only "mediator" is now Jesus. The writer says Jesus was a forerunner for us, as He reconciled God and man. He became sin for all who would ever live and die. He took it so all we have to do is call on His name and our sin and sins are forgiven. Jesus is our anchor, no matter what rough waters affect our lives. Trials and tribulations will come and go, and God will always be there when the dust settles. All that stands between you and a relationship with Jesus is - you. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

19. Daily Oracle - March 19, 2015 So Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant...therefore He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. - Hebrews 7:22, 25 (HCSB) Jesus ushered in the new covenant with His crucifixion, death and resurrection. These acts of unselfishness also ushered in the dispensation of grace. God has not changed, but once Gentiles were found worthy of worship, His approach to people changed. As Jesus told Nicodemus, "for God so loved the world..."; not just Israel any longer, but the entire world. There have been several covenants that men have lived under, but none can compare to the Blood Covenant that Jesus brought to all who would call on His name. The Bible says that Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, every day interceding for saint and sinner alike. Neither God nor Jesus desire any would go to hell, but the Bible also says that although God is long-suffering, not all will come to salvation. The important thing is Jesus is pleading and interceding for us and those He knows will come to salvation. It is only too late to call on His name after there is no more air in the lungs or blood flowing in the veins. That does not mean put it off; as Paul told the Corinthians "today is the day of salvation".

20. Daily Oracle - March 20, 2015 And just as it is appointed for people to die once - and after this, judgment - so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. - Hebrews 9:27-28 (HCSB) It is appointed for each of us a time to die; that is, to transition from this life to eternity. Jesus is the only One who totally escaped death; Enoch "walked with God" and was no more and Elijah was carried to heaven on a flaming chariot. In a sense, they did not taste death. But Jesus overcame death, hell and the grave. He was judged for the sins of all the world and was resurrected from death. Likewise, all of us who die will in fact one day stand before Judgment. The end of Jesus' earthly life resulted in His resurrection; when He returns for the church (the saved), His mission will be to bring salvation to those of us who are patiently awaiting His return. There is nothing we can do to speed up or slow down His return. Some have tried both and ended up looking like fools - because they were fools. The Bible says only God knows when He is sending His Son back for we believers. Jesus doesn't know the day or the hour, but He is crystal clear on what He must do when He returns. It will be a beautiful day for many, not so beautiful for many, many more. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

21. Daily Oracle - March 21, 2015 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life. - Hebrews 10:39 (HCSB) That is a short sentence filled with a lot of power. God does not expect us to be weak and run in the face of adversity. Jesus did not die and rise from the dead only to have us cringe and break into a sweat when someone is nasty to us. We are the born-again through the Son, but we are not doormats either. We were not put here, covered by the blood, to be used or taken advantage of. We are to be kind and compassionate, but we do not let our kindness be taken for weakness either. Faith is our engine, it is what keeps us going and going strong. It is what pushes us, motivates us, towards the prize. Jesus said faith the size of a mustard seed will enable us to move mountains. Faith is one of the greatest assets we enjoy as Christians. Coupled with works, there is nothing we cannot do. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

22. Daily Oracle - March 22, 2015 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...But without faith, it is impossible to please Him... - Hebrews 11:1, 6 (NKJV) Faith. The writer says that without it is impossible to please God. This entire 11th chapter of Hebrews is dedicated to faith and the faithful. It is faith that gels the personal relationship any born-again believer shares with the eternal God. It is the substance of things hoped for; anything that we can ever hope for is based on both the tangible (temporal) and the intangible (the eternal). None of us have ever seen God, but we know that He is real, that He exists. Everyone has his or her "proof" that God is real. Not everyone has a "road to Damascus" conversion experience as Saul (Paul) did, but there was a moment in time when every believer knew that God was there. Nothing that is seen is any longer hoped for. In other words, once we see something it becomes real to the sight, the sound, the touch, the smell, perhaps even the taste. God says to all of us "take Me on faith". Most who saw Jesus still did not believe; no, they wanted something or someone more "grand" than the itinerate Preacher from Nazareth. But once they saw the sky darken, the earth quake, graves open up and the veil torn, even the centurion was moved to say "surely this was the Son of God". Fire burns whether you believe it or not; you don't have to believe it burns, but you know better than to play with it. God is real whether you believe it or believe in Him or not. But without faith, whether you believe or not, it is impossible to please God. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

23. Daily Oracle - March 23, 2015 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin. - Hebrews 11:24-25 (HCSB) These days, we would say that we left the popular culture and its short-term pleasures for the salvation and the sacrifice of serving God. For many people, life for them, as it is was for Moses in the Palace, was good. There were excesses, waste, living for today and not worrying about the consequences of their actions. Moses made a decision that not only got him evicted from the life of being Pharaoh's grandson to a life of herding sheep and being a stranger in a strange land. Moses had his plan for delivering Israel; but God too had a plan... As Christians, we are not commanded to live in squalor or depravation. We may live in a palace, or something like it, but we have a great obligation to others. It goes well beyond the tithe; God says to whom much is given, much is required. There are wealthy Christians and poor Christians; the poor will always outnumber the wealthy. It is up to each of us to do according to what we have and strive to do the very best we can. We all have time, talent and treasure; talent and treasure will vary, but we all have 168 hours a weeks. God wants our very best; He does not want the left-overs. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

24. Daily Oracle - March 24, 2015 Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead. - Hebrews 12:12-13 (HCSB) Those tired hands and weakened knees are the result of tireless prayer. There was a time when we got on our knees, folded our hands, bowed our heads and prayed. No so much anymore. We tend to pray where we are; some on the couch, some in bed, others in prayer closets. It doesn't matter where you are, the key is you are praying. Some find it pious to get on bended knee to pray. Others lift their hands to heaven as they pray. No matter your methodology, be reverent before the Creator. The commercial says a body that stays in motion remains in motion; the muscles that are weak and tired will stay weak and tired. If a muscle is not used, it will weaken and eventually become no good. If your prayer muscles are not exercised, daily, they too will become weak and pretty soon you are not praying at all. Prayer is the communications line, so to speak, to God. You need to be "programmed" to send or you cannot expect to receive. Prayer is a two-way street; prayers go up, someone said, and blessings come down. God knows what you want, what you need and He knows what He will bless you with. But the Bible also says make your petitions known. Ask and you will receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it will be opened to you. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

25. Daily Oracle - March 25, 2015 Let brotherly love continue. Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. - Hebrews 13:1-3 (HCSB) Jesus said we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Some question "just who is my neighbor?" Cain asked God if he was his brother's keeper. It is easy to stay caught up in our lives and in ourselves. Selfishness is not a virtue; selflessness is. Greed and stinginess are not virtues; generosity and sharing are. When we take care of others, God will take care of us. Don't look down on those locked up or scoff at those who are mistreated or abused. You don't know how they got there and you certainly don't know when the "shoe may be on the other foot". Angels take the form of people. The angels in the Bible were not winged creatures or winged persons. The angels who went to rescue Lot from Sodom were "beautiful men". We never know who we are dealing with when we deal with strangers. A kind word never hurt. Holding a door never hurt. Not blowing your horn and "losing my religion" is never an answer. You don't know, I don't know, who God puts in our paths. Jesus said that the way you treat others is the same way you treat Him. When God said "come, let Us make man in Our image" that meant just that; not just physical attributes, but in the image of Him too. Kindness can never blow up in your face; being rude and miserable to others surely can. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

26. Daily Oracle - March 26, 2015 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways. - James 1:6-8 (HCSB) In Hebrews 11 we are told that without faith it is impossible to please God. A doubter lacks faith. Faith is an anchor, it holds us steady no matter what. A doubter does not have an anchor; he is, as James writes, wild and unpredictable like the surging sea. Anything and anybody caught in a storm on the open water is in trouble. With nothing to hold on to, without anything to keep it in place, whatever it is is going to be tossed up and down, back and forth, until eventually it hits land or sinks. So too is it with the doubter. Without faith, sooner or later he or she is going to hit rock bottom or drown. The doubter is not to expect anything - anything - from God. Again, without faith it is impossible to please Him. This may seem harsh, but God has laid out the framework, the blueprint so to speak, of how we are to approach Him, how we are to worship Him. No one can profess to know Him and then not trust Him. The indecisive person cannot be trusted, they are unstable in all their ways. One cannot be hot today and cold tomorrow, one cannot say "I trust in the Lord" and then "do it my way". Never "stick your toe in the water" to test how God will react to your prayer or petition. Ask in faith, James says, without doubting and see what God will deliver. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

27. Daily Oracle - March 27, 2015 Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him. No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. - James 1: 12-15 (HCSB) These four verses say so much. There is a promise; the crown of life if only we endure the trials and tribulations that life throws our way. Sometimes we don't look for trouble, for temptation, for sin: sometimes they will, individually or collectively, find us. It's how we deal with it that matters. Then there is the birthing process; James could not make it any plainer. It all starts when we are drawn away, enticed by our own evil desires. We may not think they are harmful, but we are only fooling ourselves; not God, not even Satan, only ourselves. Then at the moment of conception, it gives birth to sin; it may be immediate, it may stick around a while. But that bouncing baby is sin. Then, James says, when it is full grown it too gives birth; not to sin, but to death. The unsaved, the unrepentant, has not a chance. Even Jesus, when led by the Holy Spirit to the Wilderness to be tempted, did not find God there waiting to tempt Him. Nope; just like the rest of us, He was found by Satan and was tempted the three times. God never tempts, He allows temptation, but He Himself does not do it. Few of us can claim that we are weak and tired and hungry after a forty day fast in the wilderness. Satan came at Jesus at His low point; God has made provision for us, as He did for His Son, to overcome and escape it. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

28. Daily Oracle - March 28, 2015 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith alone save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, and one of you says, "Go in peace, keep warm and eat well", but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself...You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe - and they shudder. - James 2:14-17, 19 (HCSB) There is an argument that faith alone gives one salvation, that works alone gives one salvation and that a combination of the two gives one salvation. James seems to clear that argument up. One cannot simply be told keep warm, eat well and all will be right with the world. There is something called putting feet to faith. Actions speak louder than words. Don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk. There has to be both. Now one simply cannot "work" his or her way to heaven; one must have faith as well. Remember that without faith it is impossible to please God. We are not alone in believing in God, His power or His mercy. Satan and his demons believe, they just don't "recognize". Even those who profess there is no God, I believe, deep down know better. If they don't know now, they will know when they are standing before the Great White Throne Judgment. God gave us the free will to accept or reject Him; one must believe something in order to reject it. Some don't think it's cool to go to church, to read a Bible or to pray. I would argue better a nerd now than a cool cat burning in hell later. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

29. Daily Oracle - March 29, 2015 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell...with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in His likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and curses. My brothers, these things should not be this way. - James 3:6, 9-10 (HCSB) The tongue. The strongest and most destructive part of the human body. Read what James writes; it pollutes, it sets life on fire and the source of that fire is hell itself. Words can never be "un-said"; once that blast leaves the lips, there is no retrieving it. There is no unhearing words. There is no unringing a bell. The tongue starts fights, lends itself to violence, drives people to murder and suicide; it's crazy! One who can hold his or her tongue is stronger and mightier than any other weapon ever formed. Worse, we pray and we curse and we breath out lies and spread gossip with the very same tongue. It is not like they are interchangeable and we use one tongue for this and another for that. We praise God, we glorify Him with words and turn right around and go off on someone without batting an eye. As James writes, blessing and cursing comes from the same mouth and that just doesn't please God. What can we do to control it? I wish I had a foolproof answer. Best I can say is stop and think before you speak. Self-control. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

30. Daily Oracle - March 30, 2015...do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy...therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you... - James 4:4, 7, 8 (HCSB) We cannot have it both ways, have our cake and eat it too. There is God's way and there is the way of the world, the popular culture. People have chosen between the two since the Garden of Eden. The popular culture so overwhelmed the world at one point that, the Bible says, God's heart was grieved and He sent the Great Flood. But He also sent a promise in the form of a rainbow that He would never again destroy the world with water. We are told to submit to God, resist the devil, and he will leave us alone. The key, often overlooked in this verse, is submitting to God. No one is a fan of submission; to most, submission is weakness. But in this Christian life, strength is only found in submission. Which leads to another promise: draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Christianity is all about the personal relationship between Creator and believer. When we draw near, He will draw nearer. I say nearer because God is always just a prayer away. We never have to look for Him; He is always where He is supposed be when He is supposed to be there. On the other hand, He sometimes needs to "look" for us, especially at those times when we are wrong and we try to (like we can) hide from Him. Once again, there is no one foot in/one foot out. It is all-in or nothing. He is Lord of all - or not Lord at all. That decision is a personal decision that each one of us must make for ourselves. © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015

31. Daily Oracle - March 31, 2015 So, for the person who knows to do good and does not do it, it is a sin. - James 4:17 (HCSB) One sentence that speaks volumes. I would argue that we are all born with a sense of right and wrong. That is to say, that even if we are not taught something is one or the other, we still have that "gut feeling" that something is (most likely) wrong. Perhaps the first word a baby hears is 'no'. Yet they stay in mischief. But at some point, especially after we come to the knowledge that is Christ, there is no mistaking right from wrong. Yet we often continue in wrong. And again, who do we sin against? We sin against God and we sin against heaven. Discerning right from wrong is a life-long process. Some things are just more obvious than others. Bank robbing is clearly wrong, but what about all those pens you have brought home from work? Or having someone punch your timecard? Or anything else you can relate to? The point is if we know it is wrong and do it anyway, we are wrong and therefore sinning. It's said when we know better we do better. So if you know what is right and good and do not do it...? © Foot of the Cross Evangelism 2015