Archives for July 2017

Good morning,

 

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? “- Micah 6:8

 

Matthew 12:7,8 talks about mercy vs sacrifice.

 

“But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.” – Matthew 12:7-8

 

God loves justice-He is the God of justice, but His justice is tempered by mercy, throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

 

Without God’s mercy each of us would be without hope. God the Father’s mercy, allowed His Son Jesus to shed His blood to pay our sin debt, die, be buried, and arise three days later to be seen by more than five hundred people.

 

We need to do what is taught in Micah. What God repeatedly taught to each generation from the garden of Eden to the present time. What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

 

(Submitted by Kathy Stearns)

 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 

Good morning,

Sunday was our 34^th wedding anniversary. We went to the “big” city, Anchorage, and enjoyed dinner at Golden Corral.

My wife and I have many happy memories over these years. God has been very good to us. Even in what might be called the “trying times”, God has been there, helping us through.

Anniversaries are always a good time to remember what God has done for us.

God chose to do this with the nation of Israel. He was always reminding them of His promises. He emphasized obedience equaled blessing and disobedience equaled a curse. Like us, sometimes they chose to obey and sometimes not.

As the nation of Israel was preparing to enter the Promised land, God reiterated that Israel should, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: ⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Then He tells them to, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.⁸ And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.⁹ And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

WHY?

“And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,¹¹ And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;¹² Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. ¹³ Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.” (Deuteronomy 6:10-13)

That is why God gave us His word in written form. The Bible, read, obeyed, and reverenced, provides us a way that we should not forget our God. He cared about us so much, He sent Jesus to pay our sin debt.

NEVER FORGET!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.³ Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:2-3)

The children of Israel had been in captivity 70 years. (Jeremiah 25:11, 12, 29:10) God had told them, after 70 years they would be able to return to Jerusalem. Only about 50,000 went.

Why?

Many had assimilated into Babylonian culture. They enjoyed their wealth, homes, and friends. They forgot about their homes in Israel. They left the Lord.

Returning to Jerusalem would not be an easy task. Remember, the temple is gone, burned to the ground. There were enemies to deal with. The current inhabitants of the land were not eager for their return.

They went. The King supplied them, gave them letters of passage, and a mission to build the House of God.

When God wants us to go on a mission for Him, are we willing? Are we willing to give up the things of this world, to serve Christ?

Pray and ask God how you can be part of His plan to reach this world for Christ. Blessings come when we willingly surrender to Him.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Good morning,

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)

The things we say matter. We are seen by our words. Mr. Winslow challenges us to think about what we say. Especially pertaining to spiritual things.

Nothing more quickly or truly indicates an irreverent and undevout mind!

(Octavius Winslow)

“Our Father in Heaven, may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9

Nothing more quickly or truly indicates an irreverent and undevout mind, than levity on sacred subjects. The individual who can provoke a smile, or indulge in a cleverness, or shape a witticism–at the expense of what is divine and sacred–is blasphemous indeed! He who can treat in a light manner any religious subject, who can turn the Bible into a jest-book, and intersperse secular conversation with religious phraseology or Scripture language in sport–will the great God hold such an irreverent and profane mind guiltless?

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain–for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain!” Exodus 20:7

~  ~  ~  ~

We need to be careful what we say. Does what we say honor God? Everything we say should honor God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Why did the children of Israel want a king? Please read 1 Samuel 7-8 and the attached notes to find out. What does good parenting have to do with this? How big is our God? Do we allow God to rule and reign in our lives?

SAMUEL, PRIEST AND JUDGE OF ISRAEL

1 Samuel 7-8

And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. (8:7)

INTRODUCTION

Eli’s sons caused the nation of Israel to transgress. Eli’s successor, Samuel, had his own family issues.

Samuel Priest and Judge of Israel

After the death of Eli, the Philistines ruled over Israel for twenty years. Then Samuel said, “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.⁴ Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.” (7:3-4)

Samuel prays, God answers

Samuel prayed, sacrificed, and cried unto the Lord for Israel. Israel repented, humbled themselves, and trusted the Lord. God gave Israel victory over the Philistines. “So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.¹⁴ And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.¹⁵ And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.” (7:13-15)

Samuel’s wicked sons

Unfortunately, this is not the end of the story. Samuel grows old and made his sons judges over Israel. His sons, Joel and Abiah, were wicked. “And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.² Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.³ And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.” (8:1-3)

Elders of Israel demand a king

The elders of Israel come to Samuel. They tell him that they do not want Joel and Abiah to judge over them when he dies. The elders demand a king. “Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,⁵ And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.⁶ But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.” (8:4-6)

Samuel did not train his sons in such a way that they obeyed the Law of Moses. Because of their disobedience, it caused the elders of Israel to demand a king. Although the Bible characterizes Samuel as a Godly man, who taught the nation of Israel well, his sons did not.

The elders of Israel no longer wanted God to rule over them, but they desired a man. “And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” (8:22) How sad!

Men still reject God

And yet, as we share Christ with the unsaved and they reject Him, they have not rejected us, but have rejected Jesus. As believers in Christ, we are commanded to “Go”. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) It is our duty to tell others about Christ. It is the Holy Spirit’s work to bring them to Christ. It is not our job to win souls. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection.

Our King is Jesus Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This weekend I was running up against a deadline for my submission to the People’s Paper. I had the topic, back ground material, and fuzzy outline. However, I did not have the motivation to write. I now know why.

The article I had in mind was not the article God had in mind.

I received a call Monday morning detailing a story that needed to be told. That article will be in the People’s Paper on 17 July.

God tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8) God wanted me to write something different and caused me to wait. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:4) He also enlightens us.

Believers in Christ must be willing to wait on God. Today we can have anything we want, any time we want. Unfortunately, to get those things, we often make poor decisions. Those decisions have consequences. We may go in debt, pay too much, buy an inferior product, or just rebel when God says wait.

God wants us to patiently wait on Him.

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” (Psalm 37:7)

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” (James 5:7)

This is a good challenge for all of us.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Every day we are confronted with trials and tribulations. Some days are better than others. Whatever we are going through, God knows. God can take care of all our situations. There is nothing impossible with God.

I hope this is an encouragement to you.

When it lays its head on the pillow of God’s omnipotence!

(J.C. Ryle)

“With God nothing shall be impossible!” Luke 1:37

Let us mark the mighty principle which the angel Gabriel lays down to silence all objections about the incarnation: “With God nothing shall be impossible.”

A hearty reception of this great principle is of immense importance to our own inward peace. Questions and doubts will often arise in men’s minds about many subjects in religion. They are the natural result of our fallen estate of soul. Our faith at the best is very feeble. Our knowledge at its highest is clouded with much infirmity. And among many antidotes to a doubting, anxious, questioning state of mind, few will be found more useful than that before us now–a thorough conviction of God’s omnipotence. With Him who called the world into being and formed it out of nothing–everything is possible. Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

There is no sin too black and bad to be pardoned. The blood of Christ cleanses from all sin.

There is no heart too hard and wicked to be changed. The heart of stone can be made a heart of flesh.

There is no work too hard for a believer to do. We may do all things through Christ strengthening us.

There is no trial too hard to be borne. The grace of God is sufficient for us.

There is no promise too great to be fulfilled. Christ’s words never pass away–and what He has promised, He is able to perform.

There is no difficulty too great for a believer to overcome. When God is for us–then who shall can against us? The mountain shall become a plain!

Let principles like these be continually before our minds. The angel’s maxim is an invaluable remedy. Faith never rests so calmly and peacefully–as when it lays its head on the pillow of God’s omnipotence!

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

The Bible tells us to rejoice in the Lord. How do we do that in this present world? The news is filled with all sorts of evil. Wars, conflicts, massacres, are daily occurrences.

Read Psalm 118 and you will be encouraged by God’s mercy, deliverance, protection, strength, and salvation.

God’s mercy (1-4)

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.² Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.³ Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.⁴ Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

God’s protection (5-7)

I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.⁶ The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?⁷ The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

God’s trustworthiness (8-9)

 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.⁹ It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

God’s helpfulness (10-13)

All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.¹¹ They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.¹² They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.¹³ Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.

God’s strength and salvation (14-16)

The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.¹⁵ The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.¹⁶ The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

What does the Psalmist do? (17)

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

If you find yourself in a place of despair, Psalm 118 will encourage and challenge you. Knowing who our God is, what He has done, and His mercy and concern for us, we should rejoice and praise the Lord.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

 

Good morning,

Israel had some great kings. David, Solomon, and Hezekiah come to mind. However, a lesser known, is Jehoshaphat.

The Bible states “And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;⁴ But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. ⁵ Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance.” (2 Chronicles 17:3-5)

What did he do?

“And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.⁷ Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.⁸ And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.⁹ And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.” (2 Chronicles 17:6-9) The Bible records few Kings that remove the high places and groves. These were places of idol worship. Even fewer record the teaching of the Law to the people.

How to prepare for war.

So, when a great multitude of Moab and Ammon came against Jehoshaphat, he knew exactly what to do. He went to the Lord in prayer. “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.⁴ And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.⁵ And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,⁶ And said,…” (2 Chronicles 20:3-6a) His prayer acknowledged who God is, His protection of Israel, and requests God’s help.

God fights for Israel.

“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.¹⁶ Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.¹⁷ Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)

How?

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.²³ For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.²⁴ And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.” (2 Chronicles 20:22-24)

God fought the battle for Israel. Why? Because of a wise leader who followed God. From the time Jehoshaphat took the throne to now, His heart was set on serving the Lord God. He never wavered.

This is the picture of the Christian life. A life completely centered around God. Do we pray, seek God, teach others about the God of the Bible, worship in song?

Jehoshaphat’s example should be ours. Is it?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

 

 

FREEDOM FROM TYRANNY

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

“Taxation without representation!” was the battle cry in America’s 13 Colonies, which were forced to pay taxes to England’s King George III despite having no representation in the British Parliament. As dissatisfaction grew, British troops were sent in to quell the early movement toward rebellion. Repeated attempts by the Colonists to resolve the crisis without military conflict proved fruitless.

On June 11, 1776, the Colonies’ Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and formed a committee whose express purpose was drafting a document that would formally sever their ties with Great Britain. The committee included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson, who was considered the strongest and most eloquent writer, crafted the original draft document. A total of 86 changes were made to his draft and the Continental Congress officially adopted the final version on July 4, 1776.

STAR SPANGLED BANNER

On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, relentlessly pounding the American fort for 25 hours. The bombardment, known as the Battle of Baltimore, came only weeks after the British had attacked Washington, D.C., burning the Capitol, the Treasury and the President’s house. It was another chapter in the ongoing War of 1812.

A week earlier, Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old American lawyer, had boarded the flagship of the British fleet on the Chesapeake Bay in hopes of persuading the British to release a friend who had recently been arrested. Key’s tactics were successful, but because he and his companions had gained knowledge of the impending attack on Baltimore, the British did not let them go. They allowed the Americans to return to their own vessel but continued guarding them. Under their scrutiny, Key watched on September 13 as the barrage of Fort McHenry began eight miles away.

“It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone,” Key wrote later. But when darkness arrived, Key saw only red erupting in the night sky. Given the scale of the attack, he was certain the British would win. The hours passed slowly, but in the clearing smoke of “the dawn’s early light” on September 14, he saw the American flag—not the British Union Jack—flying over the fort, announcing an American victory.

Key put his thoughts on paper while still on board the ship, setting his words to the tune of a popular English song. His brother-in-law, commander of a militia at Fort McHenry, read Key’s work and had it distributed under the name “Defence of Fort M’Henry.” The Baltimore Patriot newspaper soon printed it, and within weeks, Key’s poem, now called “The Star-Spangled Banner,” appeared in print across the country, immortalizing his words—and forever naming the flag it celebrated.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

God has blessed this nation. Our forefathers came to this country to obtain religious liberty. They fought for independence from the economic tyranny of Britain. Many died, but God allowed us to prevail. Freedom was bought through the blood and women who believed in freedom.

JESUS FREED US

The Bible tells us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”. (Romans 3:23) We have a sin debt that we cannot pay. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) It was Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross for us, that paid our sin debt. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7)

Christ made us free from our debt of sin. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2) So we must, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

Who is Jesus? Jesus answered that question in John 14:6. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Jesus gave you freedom, but you must be willing to take it.

Contact me to find out how.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001