It's been said, the world's greatest physician is optimism. All of us have two choices in the way we look at things. It's like the little poem says, "Two women behind prison bars; one saw mud, the other saw stars." We're told there is always time to look at the dark side. But I've observed such a time never comes to those who have removed their tinted glasses and looked at the bright side.

 

I've noticed through the years that things always go better for an optimist, no matter what the circumstances. Certainly, there are necessary negatives in the Bible and life. But they are few in comparison to all the positive promises. Let's face it; the Word of God is an eternally optimistic Book. And so should we be, if we profess to believe it (2 Cor.1:20).

 

 No Christian who believes Romans 8:28 can remain a pessimist.

Dr. Sandlin

Dr. Jon

Touching Hearts,

Increasing Hope

If you don't know GOD, don't make stupid remarks!!!!!!!

A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq andAfghanistan . One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU. 

One day the professor shocked the class when he came in he looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, 'God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 min utes.' The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. 

Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, 'Here I am God. I'm still waiting' It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him, knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. 

The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked, stunned, and sat there looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, 'What the heck is the matter with you? Why did you do that?' The Marine calmly replied, 'God was too busy today protecting American soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like an idiot. So, He sent me.'

And all God's people said -- AMEN!

Dr. Jon

Touching Hearts,

Increasing Hope

The will of God is....

Jim Elliot said, "The Will of God is always bigger than we bargained for." This is true in more ways than one; for God's will, to the surprise of many, affects not just us, but others. As Oswald Chambers writes, "If we obey God it is going to cost other people more than it costs us."  We cannot prevent the suffering of others if we are going to do God's Will. To attempt to relieve their grief will only grieve the Lord. Allow Him to deal with all the consequences resulting in our obeying Him.

 

When the wise men followed God's plan for their lives, the result was that untold numbers of children, under the age of two, were killed by Herod. How do you suppose the parents, grandparents, and siblings of those little ones felt toward the three men's brand of Christianity? And what about James and John who left their old father sitting in a boat, leaving him alone with a business he had built-up for his sons to take? The two had left all to follow the Galilean, of whom there was such controversy that people were divided everywhere He went.

 

In the movie entitled, The Untouchables, there is a great scene that illustrates my point. Eliot Ness, played by Kevin Costner, wants to bring down Al Capone. He asks a regular cop on the beat named Malone, played by Sean Connery, how to do this. to which the seasoned cop answers by asking the question, "What are you prepared to do?" "Are you willing to go all the way?" What about us, what is our answer?

 

God's Will is about God, not about us and others!

Dr. Sandlin

Dr. Jon

Touching Hearts,

Increasing Hope

Kenneth Gangel says, "the one who rows a boat seldom has time to rock it." It is better to serve in the church than to criticize others. 

Dr. Jon

Touching Hearts,

Increasing Hope

Fwd: [EVANGELIST] WHAT DOES SIN DO TO THE CHRISTIAN

Dr. Jon

Touching Hearts,

Increasing Hope

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Dr. Jon Groves" <evangelistgroves@gmail.com>
Date: September 29, 2010 2:24:16 PM CDT
To: evangelistgroves@gmail.com
Subject: [EVANGELIST] WHAT DOES SIN DO TO THE CHRISTIAN

Psalms 51

What does SIN do to the Christian?

1. SIN SOILS THE SOUL.
vs. 1,2 "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2.Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."

2. SIN FILLS THE MIND
vs.3,4 "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4.Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest."

3. SIN DEPRESSES THE HEART
vs.10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

4. SIN BRINGS CHASTISEMENT
vs.11-13 "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12.Restore unto me they joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13.Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee."

5. SIN GRIEVES THE HOLY SPIRIT
vs.14 "Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness."

6. SIN DEPRIVES US FROM OUR WITNESS
vs.15 "O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise."

--
Posted By Dr. Jon Groves to EVANGELIST at 9/29/2010 02:07:00 PM

Fwd: [EVANGELIST] WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHRISTIAN REPENTS

Dr. Jon

Touching Hearts,

Increasing Hope

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Dr. Jon Groves" <evangelistgroves@gmail.com>
Date: September 29, 2010 3:45:16 PM CDT
To: evangelistgroves@gmail.com
Subject: [EVANGELIST] WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHRISTIAN REPENTS

Psalms 51

What happens when a Christian repents?

1. ATTITUDE CHANGES ABOUT SIN
vs.1,2 "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2.Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."

2. AN INWARD WORKING TAKES PLACE
vs.6 "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hiden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom."

3. A DESIRE FOR GOD'S FORGIVENESS
vs.4,9 "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 9.Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities."

4. GOD FORGIVES
1John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

5. GOD RESTORES
vs.12 "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvaton: and uphold me with thy free spirit."


--
Posted By Dr. Jon Groves to EVANGELIST at 9/29/2010 02:27:00 PM

A 1934 prophetic cartoon

Reflections

Oh how good our God is!

What Old People Do For Fun

You make the call on the cult that Obama calls a "Great Relegion"

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Dr. Jon Groves" <evangelistgroves@gmail.com>
Date: August 31, 2010 9:23:40 PM CDT
To: evangelistgroves@gmail.com
Subject: [EVANGELIST] You make the call on the cult that Obama calls a "Great Relegion"

--
Posted By Dr. Jon Groves to EVANGELIST at 8/31/2010 09:19:00 PM