Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy.                                                           I Peter 1:13-16

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.  Use hospitality one to another without grudging.  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  but rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:  on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:  and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.                                                                                                                            I Peter 4:7-19

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at  peace among yourselves.  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.  Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the spirit.  Despise not prophesyings.  Prove all things: hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.                                                                                                                                           I Thessalonians 5:9-24

                Between the political focus on the East Coast and the Hollywood focus on the West Coast, and Oprah on both coasts and in between, it becomes increasingly difficult for us all as Christians to keep a focus that is disciplined to a PURPOSE and a PLAN for “this present darkness.”  These continue to be the best of times and the worst of times in which to be living.  The worst part is seeing the demise of  the America we once knew,  in the process of being reduced to a socialistic state. We may soon be losing our military power, our right to bear arms, the tax exempt status that Christian organizations have long enjoyed, our privilege to home school our children or even to send them to Christian Schools, as well as to have medical care for any condition for any age group, and reasonable protection of life of the aging. We will be seeing continued killing of innocent babies in the Mother’s womb and yet more money will be spent for saving animals and “Mother Earth” (as if God cannot take care of what He has created)!  It all gets back to a worldview problem.  Either God determines Truth, or man determines truth.  Man’s truth is where our country has quickly turned in such a few short years and any turning back from this reality seems very unlikely with the current mind set of forty years of values clarification, self-esteem, and environmentalism brainwashing in our schools of America. If man determines truth, then at this stage of civilization, truth is relative to what is determined to be the current trend or whim of society, (Political Correctness) instead of absolutes based on God’s Word.

The best of times lies in the fact that we still do have the right to assemble publicly for church, to pray openly, and to evangelize others, although with just the swish of a pen from the President, all of these freedoms, as well as the right to free speech (“Fairness Doctrine”) stand in dire jeopardy. The best of times has allowed us to be citizens of the greatest nation in the world and to appreciate the inexpressible joys of freedom as no other country in the world has or ever will experience. God has blessed our nation and yet we have not been thankful nor obedient to pass the baton on to future generations.  If this all ends tomorrow or in the next months, let us heed the words of the Scriptures above and pray, rejoice always, and have hearts of gratitude, as we carry out the great commission that God has given each of us (Matt. 20:28).  So in the midst of these changing times, can we have joy and peace and do what these Scriptures admonish us to do?  Be sober, watch, pray, have love, be hospitable, rejoice in trials, judge ourselves, commit our souls to God, comfort and edify, be at peace, be thankful, rejoice always, abstain from evil?

The very best of times involves the ageless TRUTH of Ephesians 2:4-9: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

We are grateful to the Lord for the many ministry opportunities in NC, SC, GA, in early February and for God’s grace to get Jobe through the fifteen times of speaking in eleven days with both a cough and laryngitis.  We have had a lot of catch up, two weekends of guest house company, medical appointments, and lots of scheduling and ordering of supplies, registrations for home school meetings, and much research for future speaking engagements.  We are anticipating the girls’ graduation with their doctorates in history from Pensacola Christian College on May 6^th if all goes as planned.  We covet your prayers for this final stage of study and writing for them. We have just received verification that the Creation Proclaims animal DVD will be completed by late March with replication of it by early April.  Please pray for this to become a reality at the appointed time.  Another new DVD that we are presently carrying is God of  Wonders, a fantastic collection of the beauty and majesty of God’s Creation featuring such men as John Whitcomb, Gary Parker, Dave Hunt, Ken Ham, and others.

Schedule March/April 2009

1^st:  Household of Faith, Garland, TX, Jenna Dee to ladies: Discipleship Basics, particularly in the home

4^th: Radio interview for Partnership Church, Texarkana, TX

5-6: Teacher’s Association of Baptist Schools Convention, Prestonwood Baptist, Dallas, (speak/exhibit)

8^th: Partnership Church, Texarkana, TX, Creation Seminar: David Markham: 903-748-6363-903-223-9943

14-15^th: Highland Park Methodist, in house retreat private home (14^th), Sunday School, HPM, Dallas, 15^th

19^th: Cardiac appointment

22 & 29^th: Community Bible Chapel, Richardson, TX, Creation series, Sunday School

30^th: Good News Club, Richardson School, Richardson, TX (Martin Tuohy, contact)

2^nd: Good News Club, Richardson School, Richardson, TX

5^th: Community Bible Chapel, Richardson, TX, conclusion of Creation series

6, 7^th: Texas Christian School, Houston, TX (Katy area), Creation teaching

11^th: Leave for Cincinnati

15^th: Creation Museum, Petersburg, KY, Lecture opportunity

16-18^th: Cincinnati Home School Convention:  Speaking and exhibiting (set up 15^th)  speak/exhibit

19^th: Heritage Family Bible Chapel, Cincinnati, Ohio: contact:  (859) 609-0934

23-30^th: The Creation Science Association of British Columbia (CSABC) Various meetings
May 3: Leave for Taryn and Mirren’s graduation, Pensacola Christian College