1-16-16 Beware the Man

³ If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words,even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; ⁴ He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, ⁵ Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 KJV

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Beware the man who quarrels with the Word,

Who picks at tiny things and contradicts,

Who makes a show to have his feelings stirred,

Displaying traits the Spirit sure convicts.

He thinks that if you claim it, it is yours,

Especially the things that money buys;

He’ll tell a dirty joke beyond church doors

And never seems to look you in the eyes.

Stay far away as possible, my friend,

For all your wholesome words fall on deaf ears.

Associate with him to no good end;

He is a scourge among his friends and peers.

If Jesus isn’t in his repertoire,

The only thing to say is au revoir.

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REMEMBER: Pray for the contentious, but avoid them whenever possible.

12-11-15 True Unbelievers

⁴⁵ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. ⁴⁶ Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? ⁴⁷ He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 8:45-47 KJV

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TRUE UNBELIEVERS

Some people will not hear the Word of God

No matter how they’re told or what is said.

You will not be believed and called a fraud,

As if you were the one with the thick head.

Forgive them for they know not what they do;

There is no spark of Spirit in their heart.

You speak the truth until your face is blue;

They’ll take your words and tear them all apart.

It’s more than just resistance to the Word;

How well you know, you’ve turned it down before.

You might as well be talking to a bird;

The Holy Ghost will tell you Try no more.

The Lamb of God was sinless yet accused;

Beware the ones who want you so abused.

12-7-15 Mocked

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

Job 12:4 KJV

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Beware, the days are here when you are mocked

For standing on your Christian principles,

And even other Christians will concoct

The wildest things about you from their skulls.

Don’t dare defend yourself from such a crowd,

For they are fools, and fools are hard to change.

Just listen to the Lord and don’t be cowed;

The godliest of souls have all been strange.

The sort who love to gossip matter not,

It’s those who love the Lord live in your heart.

It will not matter what the scorners thought

When all is said and done the truth impart.

Be bold, be upright and believe in Christ.

Your faith in Him is worth the sacrifice.

9-12-15 Bad Company

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV

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Beware the gathering of those unsaved

Who use their tongues to denigrate the saints,

And on the surface seem so well behaved

Until you hear them speak without restraint.

If you are not too careful you will slide

Into the way of wicked thought and speech.

Before you know it Christ have you denied,

And you’ll no longer practice what you preach.

If you must be in such bad company,

Remember Jesus lives and grows in you.

Put all your faith in Him and you will see

No matter what they say He’ll see you through.

Good character’s corrupted by such talk.

The Savior’s here to help you walk the walk.

7-29-15 On Persecution

¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12 KJV

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These days when you say Jesus best beware,

The chance is good you’ll meet a wall of hate.

Consider yourself blessed when they just stare,

For there are places killing us is great.

Just tell them Christ arose alive from death

And you’ll be shouted down and shown the door.

In some parts of the world give Christ your breath

And they will roll your head along the floor.

Rejoice when you are persecuted here,

For so the prophets suffered this and worse.

Count it a blessing when your pain’s severe,

For your reward in heaven’s worth their curse.

When persecution comes be glad in Christ

He’ll be there with you when you’re sacrificed.

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sonnet #420

7-24-15 One Too Many

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, 

that they may follow strong drink;

that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

Isaiah 5:11 KJV

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Beware that cup of wine, that mug of beer;

It may well be the drink of no return.

Imbibing alcohol can bring you cheer,

But too much booze is cause for great concern.

You think you can control it, and you may,

Yet there will come a time it turns on you.

Addiction causes spiritual decay;

Your passion’s not of God, but of the brew.

It’s good to know your weaknesses today,

For that is where the devil burrows through.

Avoid them like the plague; just run away.

Temptation can’t compete if your faith’s true.

If it’s too late and you just cannot quit,

Turn quick to Christ and counselors submit.

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sonnet # 415

4-1-15 Fooled

There’s nothing worse than dealing with a fool,

Especially a fool consumed by lust or greed;

It’s easier to pull a stubborn mule

Than soon convince a fool to then concede.

A fool that’s in his folly please beware,

For he will pull you in then more and more;

It’s better to come cross a mother bear

Who’s had her babies stolen just before.

And then there is the fool with half a wit

That tries to separate you from your wealth.

If you refuse to give he’ll throw a fit

And stress you out so much you lose your health.

If you wear God’s full armor you’ll be tooled;

You’ll be prepared in Christ and won’t be fooled.

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Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,

rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 17:12 KJV

1-17-15 On Tongue Watching

Instead of pointing at the more profane,

Police that brazen mouth that’s strapped to you.

If you can’t watch your tongue, your faith is vain,

And those who hear you speak will think so, too.

There’s nothing wrong with humor if it’s clean;

Before you tell a joke, share first with Christ.

If you can make Him laugh it’s not obscene,

But if the Spirit tugs, it should be iced.

Beware of what you say, you’re being watched;

You represent religion to the crowd.

A vulgar tongue leaves testimonies botched;

The message that you send is clear and loud.

Your tawdry speech can so deceive your heart.

It’s better to be silent than be tart.

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If any man among you seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.

James 1:26 KJV