Hello!

Have you seen http://jasongastrich.com?  In the event that there is a vote to recall California's corrupt Governor (which is very likely), I'll be running for the open position.  On Thursday evening, I sent a message announcing my candidacy, so I won't elaborate any more here.  However, please pray for this situation, visit jasongastrich.com, see my political viewpoints and learn about the race for Governor.

Have you ever used a newsgroup?  Newsgroups are easy ways to communicate with people.  Some people even prefer using newsgroups over forums and discussion boards.  Right now, I'm in the process of creating two newsgroups.

The first group is called sdnet.bible.  The news admin for sdnet requires a handful of people to post messages about this group being a good idea, so would you mind coming and posting something positive about it?  This will be a great place for Christians around the world to post messages, discuss the Bible, evangelize, etc.  Before this newsgroup is created, we need positive messages and remarks in a place called sdnet.config.  Use this link to get there: http://sdnet.jcsm.org (Internet) or click here for AOL users.

My debate with Farrell Till concerning God's land promise is underway!  Round 2 is finished, so I'll be posting my Round 3 message, soon.  Please come and see the debate and post a message in our Commentary section.  Link: http://tilldebate.jcsm.org.

Are you on the National Do Not Call list?  Recently, the government has created a web site for people to tell telemarketers to stop calling them.  If you go to http://www.donotcall.gov and give them your phone number, most telemarketers will be unable to call you for 5 years.

Libraries and schools have been told to put porn filters on their computers if they want to continue getting federal funds.  This is a great blessing.  Let's pray that they help people avoid pornography.

Today, I'm beginning a 7 day fast.  Please pray for this endeavor.  I'll be avoiding food, drinking measured juices and drawing closer to God.  I'm going to pray for one hour each day, write in my journal and attempt to read the entire New Testament.  Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.

I hope you and your family have a great Independence Day!  Be safe, have fun and glorify the Lord.

Would you prayerfully consider supporting JCSM with $5 per month?  If God leads you to take this step of faith and bless this ministry, PayPal will process a donation subscription for you.  It will only take a minute and you can join us in this dynamic ministry that constantly reaches people all over the world.  Here is the link for $5 donations: Click here!

This is your ministry, so please feel free to link to JCSM and forward these devotions to your friends and family. On JCSM, there are over 50,000 web pages of pictures, forums, midis, Bible lessons, humor, proverbial stories, links, devotions, poetry, prayer journals and much more!

JCSM has encouraging sermons, exciting debates and the Bible on MP3 online and you can freely stream and download them!  Come and listen at http://sa.jcsm.org.

If you consider yourself either a theological scholar, a seeker or a student of the Word, then you'll enjoy the Inerrancy Discussion Board.  It's the #1 place for discussing the inerrancy of God's Word!  Come and see: http://www.inerrancy.com (the Inerrancy Discussion Board is sponsored and administrated by JCSM).

Would you like to support God’s work on the web? If this ministry has touched you in a special way, please pray and consider sending a gift to JCSM. You can join us in our vision to reach people on the web with the good news! Either email me for more information or simply go here: http://vision.jcsm.org.

Visit The JCSM Study Center!  We have over 400mb of resources like English and foreign Bibles, maps, ancient literature, commentaries, Greek and Hebrew dictionaries and concordances and much more!  Plus, it's all free.  Link: http://study.jcsm.org.

Welcome to the new readers of this message! Here are the Devotions, A Moment of Introspection, JCSM's Challenge, the Greek Bible Word of the Week, a faith-builder from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" and the Quotes of the Week. Have a fantastic week and God bless you!

Love in Christ,

Jason Gastrich, B.A., M.A.B.T.

ICQ#: 20731140

The Weekly Devotional Message

Day 1: "The God of Order"

Exodus 13:18  "So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea.  And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt."

1 Corinthians 14:33, 40  "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints....  Let all things be done decently and in order."

Colossians 1:15-18  "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."

Insight: God is an orderly Creator.  He had many purposes for each of His actions.  Emulate God's order and avoid doing things haphazardly or half-heartedly.

Prayer: "Thanks for being a God of purpose.  Thank you for knowing exactly what You want and how You want it done.  Help us to emulate You.  Give us wisdom and knowledge.  Let us have more order in our own lives.  We love You, Lord.  Bless us and lift us up.  Thank you for knowing all things.  Thank you for having natural explanations and spiritual explanations for all things.  Let us understand the deeper and hidden things.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 2: "See God's Beauty By His Creation"

Genesis 1:16  "Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.  He made the stars also."

Genesis 9:13  "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth."

Romans 1:20  "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."

Job 26:7-14  "He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.  He binds up the water in His thick clouds, yet the clouds are not broken under it.  He covers the face of His throne, and spreads His cloud over it.  He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, at the boundary of light and darkness.  The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at His rebuke.  He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm.  By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.  Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him!  But the thunder of His power who can understand?"

Insight: The awesome things in this world talk about God's beauty.  If you've ever marveled at something God created, then you should give Him credit and marvel at Him all the more.

Prayer: "Thank you for being marvelous.  Thank you for being beautiful, too.  You are an awesome God and a wonderful Creator.  Help us to see things in nature and respect and honor You more.  Thank you for making such awesome things.  Thank you for making things that we cannot explain or fully understand.  Help us to search for meaning while giving You praise.  Thank you for reminding us that You are God and we are not.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3: "Well Done"

Matthew 25:21  "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'"

Psalm 18:20, 21  "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God."

Mark 9:41  "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

Luke 6:35, 36  "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.  For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."

Insight: When we get to Heaven, God is going to say, "Well done," to the good and faithful servants.  Will He say this to you?

Prayer: "Thanks for being worthy of our time, devotion and service.  Thank you for being an awesome God.  Help us to be fully devoted to You.  Thank you for blessing our obedience.  Forgive us for being disobedient and unhelpful.  Forgive us for wasting time and pursuing unworthy things.  Give us wisdom and help us to stay on the right path.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4: "Know When to Speak"

Proverbs 10:19  "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise."

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7b  "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to keep silence, and a time to speak."

Ephesians 4:29  "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

1 Timothy 2:11, 12  "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.  And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence."

James 1:19  "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

James 3:5-10  "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.  See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so."

Insight: Words can build and words can destroy.  How we use our words is very important.  Be careful and speak wisely.

Prayer: "Thank you for helping us and giving us words to say.  Help us to be sensitive to your Spirit.  Thank you for times of silence, when we can simply listen and relax.  Help us to discern when we should speak and when we should keep silent.  Let us be edifying with out words.  Let us build people up and not call them names or pointlessly hurt them.  Thank you for saying such awesome and profound things in your Word.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5: "God Hates . . ."

Exodus 20:5  "You shall not bow down to them nor serve them.  For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."

Proverbs 6:16-19  "These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."

Proverbs 8:13  "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate."

Isaiah 61:8  "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant."

Zechariah 8:17  "'Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath.  For all these are things that I hate,' says the LORD."

Revelation 3:16  "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

Insight: God hates evil and sin.  His nature is purity and perfection, so we shouldn't be surprised that He hates evil.  Do you hate evil?  Try looking at the good and the bad as God does.

Prayer: "Thank you for telling us what is good and what is evil.  Thank you for giving us the Bible.  Help us to discern these things with your Holy Spirit.  Thank you for convicting us and teaching us.  We love You, Lord.  Thank you for being a good God.  There is no other God like You.  Forgive us for embracing evil or not thinking of it as that bad.  Forgive us for sinning.  We want to be pure and like You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6: "Avoid Divorce"

Malachi 2:15, 16  "But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit?  And why one?  He seeks godly offspring.  Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.  'For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,' says the LORD of hosts.  'Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.'"

Matthew 19:3-9  "The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?'  And He answered and said to them, 'Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.  They said to Him, 'Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?'  He said to them, 'Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.  And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.'"

1 Corinthians 7:10-16, 27  "Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord:  A wife is not to depart from her husband.  But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband.  And a husband is not to divorce his wife.  But to the rest I, not the Lord, say:  If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.  And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.  But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases.  But God has called us to peace.  For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?  Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? ... Are you bound to a wife?  Do not seek to be loosed.  Are you loosed from a wife?  Do not seek a wife."

Insight: Marriage is not just a promise to your spouse.  It is a covenant with God.  Remember how and why God ordained marriage and do everything you can to stay together.

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us the sacrament of marriage.  Thank you for blessing godly marriages.  Help every couple to be godly and be devoted to making their marriage work.  Thank you for giving me a great wife and marriage.  Help those that are hurting and suffering due to arguments, separation and divorce.  Help us all to repent and trust You for healing and direction.  Let us be humble and unselfish in our marriages.  Bless those considering marriage and help them to be fully dedicated to You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

You can read our Bible lesson called, "Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage," here: http://www.jcsm.org/biblelessons/MDR.htm.

Day 7: "Give Glory to God"

1 Chronicles 16:23-34  "Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.  Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.  For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.  Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place.  Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength.  Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him.  Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!  Tremble before Him, all the earth.  The world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved.  Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and let them say among the nations, The LORD reigns.'  Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.  Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth.  Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever."

Psalm 29:1, 2  "Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."

Psalm 115:1  "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth."

Psalm 150:6  "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.  Praise the LORD!"

Jeremiah 13:16 "Give glory to the LORD your God before He causes darkness, and before your feet stumble
On the dark mountains, and while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death and makes it dense darkness."

1 Corinthians 10:31  "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Revelation 14:7  "...Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

Insight: Always give God the glory.  He has given you the opportunities, the strength and the abilities that you have.  Bless Him and others with the things He has entrusted to you.

Prayer: "Praise You for being worthy of all the glory.  Help us to understand how we need to constantly praise You.  Help us to thank you for difficult things.  Thank you for knowing exactly what we need and thank you for not always letting us have the easy way out.  Thank you for spiritual growth.  Thank you for the people that give You the glory.  Thank you for the ones that know that their power and their glory come from You.  Praise You for being good and being our God.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

You can read our Bible lesson about giving God the glory, here: http://www.jcsm.org/biblelessons/givingGodglory.htm.

A Moment of Introspection

How far would you go to get someone saved?

Pray for someone, then share the gospel with them.

God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

logos: Word - the divine expression, account, something said

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" claims:

Genesis 3:14 - God curses the serpent. From now on the serpent will crawl on his belly and eat dust. One wonders how he got around before -- by hopping on his tail, perhaps? But snakes don't eat dust, do they?

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" responds:

* This passage doesn't necessarily say the serpent became a snake.  This serpent was likely a unique animal that the Devil left after this incident.  Furthermore, if this serpent literally ate dust, it is likely that this is an extinct species.  One of the fossils that evolutionists use to promote the evolution of species is likely this extinct animal (which did not evolve any further) or its offspring (if it had any).

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and explains over 3,000 difficulties regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.)

Do you know how a godly man and woman should be?  Could you recognize one?

What is your criteria for godliness?

You shouldn't ask God to save someone and refuse to be His messenger of the gospel.

Pray for someone, then share the gospel with them.

Sometimes we have to wait until the end of our trial before we can know and understand the lessons we learned.

Being a Christian doesn't mean that your entire life will become easy.

How far would you go to get someone saved?

How quickly does the Devil win in your life?

Jesus chose fishermen to join and serve with Him because fishermen are patient, tough, persistent, etc.

When God calls you to do something, don't think it'll be easy.

Become more available to God.

These quotes came from God, me and Miles McPhearson.

Do you need more quotes?  We have thousands in our archives!  They are located here: http://quotes.jcsm.org.

These quotes can be used for sanctification and fun. Most of them are directly based on scripture and scriptural principles. Some of my quotes are humorous or rhetorical. Some are written from sermons and Bible studies. Others are lyrics from songs. If you’d like me to go into more detail on any of them, please email me.

Like most verses in the Bible, they can be debated. To use what I’ve written in the most beneficial way, try and trace them back to the scriptures and apply the true principles to your life in a meaningful way! Please don’t sell my quotes or publish them for profit. If English is not your first language, you may not understand some of the quotes. I'm sorry, but some of them are English metaphors and deal with multiple word meanings. God bless you all!

Please make a commitment to pray for this ministry. As every believer is tempted and tried, this ministry faces trials also. God has blessed me, JCSM and the people who have been reached! Unfortunately, the enemy knows this and spiritual warfare is the result. Please at least pray that the devotions continue to be written religiously, the web pages stay on the www and the readers are blessed, sanctified and protected from evil. Thank you very much in advance!

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You can join our vision and help this ministry! Your donations will keep these ministries running and further our visions for evangelism. Hundreds of web pages have been created to lead people to the Lord. Frequently, we make new ones and they are used to bring more and more people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. We’re certain there will be more ways to reach people in the future.

If you wish to contact us in the mail or send support, please make checks payable to Jesus Christ Saves Ministries.  Here is our mailing address:

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

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Along with getting support, we also give support! JCSM regularly gives to churches, Christian ministries and needy people. Another function of this ministry is to do counseling. We are always answering questions about life, the Lord and everything in between. Lastly, we do a lot of research on religious topics on the internet and library. You will definitely see the results of our hard work and your loving support, in the web pages, and in the weekly devotions!

Fishes and Loaves (FALO) is a great, missions organization.  They have helped many people embark on missions trips to the uttermost parts of the world.  If you are interested in missions, please visit http://www.gofalo.net.

Do you need to find a solid, Christian church?  I've attended numerous Calvary Chapel churches and I've been very blessed by their Bible-based sermons, inspiring worship and kind members.  If you don't have a home church or need to find a new one, I recommend visiting the following site and locating a Calvary Chapel near you: http://www.calvarychapel.org.

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Jesus loves you!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should have everlasting life."