Russell J. Anderson, Sr.
– My Ramblings, Ideas and Thoughts…
On Being Real
All I ever wanted to be was real. What do I mean by that? More than anything in my life, I don’t want to be — or pretend to be something I am not. So for that reason, my prayer has been over and over to just put it our there as it is for me… No fake words or “God Bless Yous” that I did not mean. If I say I’m praying for someone, then I really am. If I am happy, then I’m happy… The downside of that is when I am down, then I’m gonna post that too.
In Acts 2:13 the people look at the newly-Spirit filled Christians and suppose they are drunk, because they are so happy. I can so relate to that, being a reformed drunk myself. What I mean by that is when one has been touched by the Spirit of God, it’s better than the BEST high.
If you are at a party, and everybody is having a good time, and you are joyous — then you fit right in. However, if you walked down the street a little ways, filled with your good feelings from the party, your happiness may be interpreted as drunkenness.
So in the REALNESS of my happiness, I look around at those around me, and I see all kinds of hurting. I been to those parties too, and they are not as much fun.
The biggest truth is this: Only Christ can take away the dirt and pain of life. I’m just a dirtball that the Saviour looked down onto in the slimy pit, had mercy on and saved. There is nothing in me without Him, and I realize that.
We as people always project “the best” and try to put our best foot forward — But all I want to be is real. It is very easy for me to be so amazingly happy when I constantly see God moving in my life, when He walks beside me and continually affirms His love in little ways, in verses and in song. Me as the “dirtball” tries hard, but still blows it so bad, so often… And Jesus just reaches out His hand and offers me forgiveness — And Grace…
That’s as real as I can be — To share that.
Ezekial24-28 “‘For here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You’ll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God!
Amen! – May your will be done in my life, Lord.
Chivalry
Today, the terms chivalry and chivalrous are often used to describe courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women. I guess I could also go into the history of Knights, gallantry and honor — but I think you get the point.
So were stepping out the door today, everyone had a coat on except Irene. I mean, for Pete’s sake, it IS January! She says: “I’m hot.”
So as were driving down the road and I look over, and in my melodramatic language I say:
“You know, your going to be the death of me because you refuse to wear a coat…”
“How is THAT?” she asks.
So I explain: “So if YOU don’t have a coat, and the truck breaks down there won’t be any heat. If there isn’t any heat, then you will be cold. If your cold, I’ll have to give you my coat, If I give you my coat that means that I’ll have to figure out whats wrong with the truck without a coat, and I’ll die of exposure.”
“So you’ll die of chivalry…” but when she said it, it came our “shiver-ry…”
With that we just cracked up in our usual corny style. Ya gotta admit — THAT was a great pun!
Chivalry is NOT dead... Yet!
I Got A Rock
Today I went to church, and I got a rock… No, really — I did!
"I Got A Rock..."
It was a powerful morning of praise and worship, and our pastor had just finished preaching an awesome, Spirit-filled message when we started singing and I seen the ushers come up like they were gonna take the offering again — but they already did that. My first gut-reaction was that I thought they were taking up another collection for those in need in Haiti — until the plate got to me, and I saw that it was filled with ROCKS! So, I took one!
Now, to be fair, I need to go into the text of todays message…
Quick paraphrase by Russ: Children of Israel, milling about in the dessert for 40 years, living on manna. It comes time for Joshua to lead the people into the promised land. It’s in the third chapter of Joshua… So — Josh tells the priests to take the “Ark of the Covenant” to the river edge, and as soon as their feet touch the water, it parts and becomes dry land. This was a miracle of God, and He again provides for His people.
I loved how Pastor Brian brought up about how dry the riverbed was — Not muddy, and dry enough so that about 2 million or more Israelites, animals and everybody can walk across the riverbed. In Joshua 4, this is what happens:
“When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, ”Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”
This was done as a REMEMBERENCE of what God had done that day. “In the future, when your children ask you, ’What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
So — The question was phrased to us: What would we tell our ”field of influence” about what the Lord has done for each of us. Hence, the rock was given to each of us as a rememberence.
I was kinda glad they gave out the rocks, because I was already thinking about finding a rock myself… So I was on the right track.
My not so photogenic, but really cool rememberence rock...
All of this being said, let me tell you about the miracles that the Lord has been doing in our life…
It’s been one thing right after another, the truck had to be repaired, and because of the expense, our checking account is $0.00. Because the Lord is good, we have a house right now, we have HEAT, I have enough GAS to get to work, and there is food enough to get us through the next 12 days. God’s blessings have been awesome! I can’t tell you how many times in the last month God has, out of nowhere provided for us. It may look bleak to those who don’t understand whats going on — But He is providing provisions for us, out of nothing, from unexpected places. It’s all God — And we feel we are just along for the ride…
The world I am sure is looking at us as poor… But God in HIS word says different: Joel 3:10 says: ”Let the weak say I am STRONG.”
I’ve done some studies, and I’m learning more day by day — but this is what I know. God provides, and is.
GOD IS GOD!
Whats more, we are happy — and are praising GOD for ALL OF HIS GOODNESS! His LOVE will not FAIL — and as sure as the Manna eating Israelites passed through that riverbed on DRY GROUND that day, looking at the water on both sides and the dry ground below their feet — I know God will see us through to the other side.
Oh — and by the way — If you run into me, let me show you my new rock!
Top 10 Predictions for 2010
I wish I could take credit for this list, but it was sent to me via a friend… In the light of all of the devastation in the world, I hope this list is a comfort for those who trust in it.
Now, with all the problems we face in this world, it can be unsettling to the mind. Today, I will share with you ten predictions that are sure to come true this year!
Top 10 Predictions for 2010
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth..
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still honor the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed teaching and preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
Isn’t It Great To Remember Who Is Really In Control, and that; “the Word of the Lord endures forever.” — ( 1 Peter 1:25 )
On Friendship and BELIEVING
I have made so many friends on Facebook over the past year. Facebook has become a way of life that has greatly enhanced the daily drudgery of a common work week.
We celebrate birthdays, holidays, Laugh with each other, pray for each other and see pictures of each others families. It’s wonderful to have made contact with so many people I haven’t had contact since High school.
I’ve been able to even get to know people from my own family better — and share in their daily lives. What a blessing!
So we all post a sentence or two as a status every now and then… All very superficial or course. We post what we want others to know… And want then to believe about us.
My belief however is that unless I am REAL, and share what is REALLY going on in my life, then I’m not being a real friend.
I’ve tried to be sensitive to what others believe, but it comes to a point where I really can’t be my authentic self unless I truly share what is on my heart. THE GREATEST change in my life will have a 20th anniversary this February 14, 2010. It is on THAT day in 1990 that I realized my need of, and ACCEPTED the GIFT of Jesus Christ.
The truth is this: As I lived my life, I have come to the conclusion that I was wrong. I’ve made a great deal of mistakes and did MANY things I am ashamed of. Worse yet are those things I have done that were not only wrong in my mind, but also in God’s eyes.
In Romans 3:23 is says: ”For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We all have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent before God.
This presents a problem in a relationship with God, because He is a God of Holiness. To be a friend of one who has done wrong things would make Him unholy and impure.
When somebody has done wrong things, those things have to be made right. The penalty for speeding around town is a ticket. They take money away you, so you don’t want to do this wrong thing again. If you steal, they take your freedom away from you by placing you in jail.
According to God’s word — the penalty for sin is punishable by death. Romans 6:23 teaches us about the consequences of sin – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death! What is eternal death? That would be forever being separated from God and His goodness.
But what about that second part of that 6:23 verse: ”but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” What is that gift? Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What’s that all about?
Essentially it is this: We stand condemned without any way of paying our penalty for the wrongs we have done. The price to be paid is DEATH. My DEATH means eternal separation from God. There is NOTHING I could do, or ever do to make myself good enough to pay for the wrongs I have done. God’s Son Jesus — A PERFECT and HOLY MAN (part GOD and part MAN) steps up however and says this:
“Yes — This man stands guilty and has sinned… But I have payed the price for his sins. As a MAN I died in his place. As GOD I was made PERFECT and came back from death.”
Jesus continues and tells his Father:
“Not only is he now innocent of everything he has done, or ever will do, but I have ADOPTED him into our family.”
Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus’ death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus’ resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins.
So how was this arrangement made? It was BELIEVING and REALIZING that I had a problem. It was BELIEVING that I stood condemned. I had realized that by myself, I had come to the end of my rope.
That was actually very easy. I had made such a mess out of my life that all I wanted to do WAS die. I tried easing the pain by numbing myself with substances.
In BELIEVING that I WAS CONDEMNED — I also REALIZED that GOD WAS REAL. It was a matter then of BELIEVING that JESUS was who He said He was.
If I BELEIVE in Him, and what He has done — Then I am saved BY HIS sacrifice. This is done by CONFESSING that I indeed NEED JESUS to do what I cannot do for myself.
Romans 10:9 says ”that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins – and we will be saved!
Romans 10:13 says it again, “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God.
Romans 8:1 teaches us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins.
Finally, we have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
It all comes down to BELIEVING in Jesus — Or NOT.
If you BELIEVE Jesus, and can see your need for a change in YOUR life as well — then you simply talk (pray) to God and say: ”God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. With your help, I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness – the gift of eternal life! — Amen!”
In saying that prayer myself — Who I used to be has now passed away and has DIED. The NEW person I am NOW LIVES.
My motto now is this: ”HE DIED FOR ME — I WILL LIVE FOR HIM. 100%.
For me NOT to share this would be HIDING THE GREATEST THING that has EVER HAPPENED in my life.
If I offended anybody, I apologize. This is my LIFE and WHO I AM. My friends can either HIDE or BLOCK me — But it DOE NOT CHANGE who I am, and WHO I must be.
Points To Ponder
Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. He had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. He had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He had won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
On Blessings…
A blessing, (also used to refer to bestowing of such) is the infusion of something with holiness, divine will, or one’s hope or approval.
The Priestly Blessing is set forth at Numbers 6:24-26:
- May the LORD bless you, and keep you;
- May the LORD make His countenance shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
- May the LORD turn His countenance to you and grant you peace.
A Snowy Day In Ashtabula, Ohio
Not bad for a Cell Phone picture… Looks a little like a painting.
The ODOT Ashtabula Salt Domes…