At A Loss For Words..... Almost.

As I sit here writing this I'm filled with amazement yet again.

To see God exceed all of our hopes and expectations is like nothing else.

Thank you to so many of you who made the decision to invest in SOS Radio during Friendraiser.

More than a thousand new givers joined Team 360!!!

The goal was 700.

Lord thank you!

After meeting our goal we encouraged you to purchase solar powered radios for needy folks in the villages of Guatemala and southern Mexico.

They're pre-set to receive only the local Christian station.

What an outreach!!

More than a thousand radios were purchased!

A friend of HCJB World Radio bought a radio for every one purchased up to a thousand of them.

So... more than two thousand radios are on their way "south of the border"!

Who knows how God will use the music and the messages to touch countless lives there.

I'm totally at a loss for words today.

Thank you!

And may God get all of the glory!!

See ya on the radio.

Friendraiser Day 2!

Wow.

As I sit here at the beginning of our second day of Friendraiser, I still have to catch my breath a bit.

Seeing God show up beyond our hopes is so humbling.

Thank you so much for following God's leading to invest in the ministry of SOS Radio.

When Day One wrapped up last night, we had already met and exceeded our goal of 700 new Team 360 members!

Today, I can't wait to see what God has planned.

Stay tuned!

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV) "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. "

Friendraiser Begins!

We've been talking about it for weeks.

Now it's finally underway!

Friendraiser 2009 kicked off this morning at 6am Pacific time.

What fun!

We're looking for 700 new friends to join Team 360.

Team 360 is made up of those folks who want to invest 30 dollars a month... a dollar a day... into the ministry of SOS Radio.

We're non-commerical.. meaning we're totally funded through the gifts of God's people.

Will you consider giving to SOS?

Click here: http://www.sosradio.net/200812/friendRaiser2009.html#giving

I love chatting with the volunteers who have given of their time to help out at our studios here in Las Vegas.

They answer phones, handle mailing, help out with hospitality, you name it.

A big "thank you" to all of them!

Here's a verse from Proverbs that we can hang our hat on today:

Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

Thanks For The Reminder Lacy!

As we get ready to kick off our Friendraiser event tomorrow morning here at SOS Radio, I'm reminded of how God uses this ministry in powerful ways.

I just received an email from Lacy.

God has placed a dream in her heart, but there are challenges.

She needs encouragement!

Here's what shes says:

Hi Kurt!

I am from the Bitterroot Valley in Montana and I'm a figure skater.

I recently moved to Philadelphia about four months ago to train in ice dancing. I left home at 17 in order to pursue skating and I've been in LA and in Sun Valley, Idaho. Now I'm 21 and here on the east coast.

For the last four years I've been searching for an ice dancing partner. God put this dream in my heart, one that most counted unrealistic, and so it all began.

Four years of being a single ice dancer is unheard of, and no coach can tell me why I haven't had a boy say yes yet. The coaches say that I need to, "just give it time."

Moving to the east coast was supposed to boost my chances of getting into a partnership, as most of the ice dancing world lives here. I've had a rough go these last few months adjusting to another place and leaving my family behind again.

The one thing that defines who I am is the dream that I believe God has given me and the promises that He gave me many years ago that this is what He made me to do and wants me to live. I dreamt of God using me to reach people through my skating, of touching hearts and lives with the gift He's given me.

I've always thought of myself as being Christ's ambassador in the world of skating. And I still dream of those things, but lately I've been so weighed down that it's hard to function.

One thing that has been a saving grace to me is SOS radio. I listen online and it helps me get through my day and reminds me of home. God speaks to me so often through SOS, the music and DJs.

My mom told me about your conversation with Britt Nicole and so I went online and listened to it on your web page. It made me cry. I felt God had spoken directly to me and given me a promise, but now in the waiting and the turmoil of my heart I begin to doubt.

I guess I just wanted to write that I appreciate what you do and what SOS does, and what artists like Britt do.

It's so hard being isolated from everything I knew and the people I love, but your radio station helps bring encouragement back to me.

I hope that someday I'll get to be like Britt and tell about how God used an unconventional way of leading me into my skating ministry and how the long years of waiting were for His glory and that it will all come together in the end.

So, thank you for your encouragement and may God continue to use you and bless the station.

If you don't mind, would you pray for me, that the dream I heard God give me so many years ago might burn inside stronger in the face of adversity and loneliness and that in His will He would send me a skating partner?

I'd really appreciate it. Thanks again and may God bless you!

Sincerely,
Lacy

When you invest in SOS Radio you are investing in opportunities for God to touch so many lives!

Here's my response:

Hi Lacy,
How awesome to come into work today and read your e-mail! Your heart for the Lord burns so brightly. I was encouraged big time!

As Britt was unpacking her story for us on the air I just had this feeling that many people would be blessed by what she had to say. Based on the response I can see that God really showed up. He always gives us an encouraging word when we need it the most.

I can see why her story hit home with you. This in-between time for you is so hard. But you have a lot of good company:

*Moses spent 40 years on the backside of the desert before his big moment came

*Abraham and Sara were promised a child but many years went by before Isaac was born

*John the Baptist lived in the wilderness for years until God told him it was time to start preparing the way for the coming of the Savior.

* Jesus spent 30 years in obscurity working in his earthly father's carpentry shop before beginning his mission to save the lost

*The Apostle Paul accepted Christ but ended up spending many years on the sidelines before beginning his ministry

On and on it goes.

The wealth is in the waiting as God prepares us for the next step.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Also keep this in mind when you really feel overwhelmed:

"Faith is the refusal to panic".

We'll be standing with you in prayer!

God bless you Lacy in your work for Him.

I can't wait to hear what God does next.

Keep us posted!

Kurt

Can you keep Lacy in your prayers too?

A Holiday Weekend

So what do you have planned for the Memorial Day Weekend?

On the way to the station today I filled the car up with gas.

I was wondering why the price spiked!

Happy Holiday!

Whatever you have planned, take a few moments to remember those who have served our country.

Especially those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy our freedom.

All gave some, some gave all.

If you're going to be cooking out, here are a few tips;

Cookout Tips: http://www.ehow.com/how_5015353_host-memorial-day-cook-out.html

Don't need tips?

How about just one:

Don't be overconfident.

Yep.

I'm talking from experience.

A Page Jumper

This morning I prayed before I even cracked the spine of my One-Year Bible.

I always say something like...

"Lord, I seek a word for today. Holy Spirit, make the words I need most to hear jump off the page and into my heart!"

I opened the Bible.

Some verses from a favorite Psalm greeted my eyes and yes... jumped off the page:

Psalm 84:11-12 (ESV) "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!"

For the Lord is a sun....

Lord you are as bright as the noonday sun.

You light my path and bring warmth to my soul.

"..a shield.."

You protect me.

From the world.

From others.

From myself.

"...the Lord bestows favor and honor."

Your favor... your smile... the honor you give me I don't deserve.

But then again, you always treat me with such undeserved kindness.

Honor me?

Wow.

I am reminded that the only honor that counts is from you.

"No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

In my imperfection I desire to walk uprightly.

The desire itself pleases you.

It's like a small child who spends the afternoon in the backyard flower garden.

He picks flowers.

He picks a few weeds too.

He makes a bouquet to hand to his Dad.

It's not much to look at.

Especially as the dirt from the uprooted plants falls all over the floor when he brings it inside.

With bright shining eyes he looks up and hands it to his father.

It's not really a bouquet he's handing over.

It's his heart.

The father's heart melts.

"I can't wait to bless you, my son!"

"O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you."

The little boy runs back out into the world content.

That's what you do when you know that your heart is in good hands.

Can I Still Be Used?

Are you coming off a failure of some type?

In your aching heart a thought surfaces:

God.....will you use me again?

Or is this the last straw?

The fact that the question is in your mind is a very good thing!

You care about honoring God.

Despite the battle with sin and temptation.

If you could have lunch with the Apostle Paul to discuss this whole thing he might tell you something about his own battles....

Romans 7:21-25 (ESV) " So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Romans 8:1 (ESV) "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

When God called you to serve Him, He knew all about this recent stumble in your life.

And the other ones too.

As a Christ follower, the blood of Jesus covers you head to toe.

Every day of your life.

There is forgiveness for the broken-hearted:

Psalm 34:18 (NKJV) "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit."

Think of all the great heroes of the faith in the Bible.

God called them knowing they would fail at times.

What about Samson?

Judges 13:5 (NKJV) "For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall BEGIN to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."

Zero in on that word BEGIN.

Samson would only begin to deliver Israel.

God knew he would fall into sin big time.

But He called Him anyway.

And the key was where he ended up.

With his eyes gouged out and in prison... yes.

But with a broken and contrite heart.

Isaiah 66:2 (ESV) "....But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."



Judges 16:28-30 (ESV) "Then Samson called to the Lord and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes."

And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other.


And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines."

Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life."

God still used him.

Hebrews 11:32-34 (ESV) "And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, SAMSON, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness.."

God can still use you too.

Job Hunting 101: Graduating From The School of Hard Knocks

He came to Las Vegas to start a church.

But God had other plans.

While trying to find work to support the church plant, Scott Linklater ran into a brick wall.

Many brick walls.

He couldn't find a job.

For months and months.

How God took care of him is really a neat story.

But it's more than that.

Scott was taking notes.

His discoveries are really exceptional.

And now he's helping other people with their own job hunt.

It's turned into a ministry.

In fact his heart is to host workshops for the unemployed in churches.

To give them tools to use.

To provide encouragement.

To talk about God's faithfulness.

Scott dropped by the show for our Total Impact segment last week.

If you or someone you know is unemployed and looking for work, I think you'll find some good stuff here.

Just set aside a few minutes and click to listen:

Total Impact-Scott Linklater on The Job Hunt: http://www.box.net/shared/xgbd1udxli

God is with you in your job hunt.

He really is.

Vision Impaired

Why is it we always look at life through a short term lens?

This is what I want today.

This seems good right now.

Who cares where this road leads. I'll deal with it later.

This frame of mind can lead to a wasted life.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV) " Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun."

For those of us who follow Christ, I don't think we're so Heavenly minded we're of no earthly good.

I think the problem is we're so earthly minded we're of no Heavenly good.

There's an appointment with death on the schedule for all of us.

Realizing that isn't being morbid.

It's wisdom.

Psalms 90:12 (ESV) "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Are we living out what we say we believe?

What's the general pattern of our life?

Need a new life lens?

The Bible is both a short term AND a long term lens.

A true two-for-one deal.

Good for now and eternity.

Want to live carelessly?

That means you won't enjoy experiencing God along the way.

And think about that appointment you'll have to show up for at the end of your life.

Proverbs 5:11-12 (ESV) " and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, and you say, "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!"

There's no comfort in regret.

How much better to walk with God daily, moment by moment.

Peace in the midst of the struggle to be obedient.

Caring about where this road leads.

Okay.

Sounds great.

But I've blown it too many times to count!

Think mercy.

Micah 7:19 (ESV) "He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

Change begins with mercy shown and mercy embraced.

Psalm 51:1-17 (ESV) "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise...."

That sounds to me like a step-by-step plan to readjust the focus of our lives.

A Visit With Britt Nicole

What a great time we had with Britt Nicole on the show yesterday!

She dropped by the studio here in Las Vegas to chat about her faith, her music, and more.

There was a lot of ministry going on, for sure.

Some highlights:

*Britt's calling into ministry (Not typical!)

*Her healing from her parent's divorce

*God's Timing

*God's Faithfulness

*The stories behind the songs "Set The World On Fire" & "The Lost Get Found"

(She sings those two songs live)

My phones were ringing like crazy.

"Hey.... you gotta post this interview on Goff's Digest so we can download it!"

So... as promised.. here you go.

To make it more convenient for you, I've broken up the interview into four parts.

I think her words as well as her music will be a big blessing to you today!

Britt Nicole With Kurt Part 1: http://www.box.net/shared/39rh4iv98q

Britt Nicole With Kurt Part 2: http://www.box.net/shared/fejn03fxcy

Britt Nicole With Kurt Part 3: http://www.box.net/shared/tr9y2c8b48

Britt Nicole With Kurt Part 4: http://www.box.net/shared/iyb4n7jjqo

With Many Or With Few

Sometimes reading through 1 and 2 Chronicles in the Old Testament can be a challenge.

You've got a lot of names and genealogies.

But I'm glad it's all in there.

The Bible isn't filled with tall tales.

The list of names anchors God's work in real time.

And he used real people.

From cover to cover it's history.

HIStory, in fact.

King Asa of Judah was one of the good kings.

He tore down the altars to the false gods and tried to do his part to bring the people back to God.

But real life happens to real people.

King Asa goes out to battle a million-man army from Ethiopia.

He counts his troops.

"Let's see... one.... two.... three...."

Hey.. this is 2 Chronicles.

He likes to take his time listing stuff.

The total; 580,000 men.

"Uh.... can we get a recount?!"

They're outnumbered.

God smiles.

2 Chronicles 14:11 (NKJV) "And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, "Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!"

You can help if we've got a lot of fighting men.

You can help if we only have a few.

The victory is in your hands anyway.

We are weak.

You are strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NKJV) "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Chronicles 14:12 (NKJV) "So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled."

God's deliverances.

Each one is unique.

Let Him choose the method.

With many on our side.

With few.

It doesn't matter.

God + 1= A majority.

Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV) "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

Like an Eagle

It's for the birds.

Not really.

I just wrote that because it's been a while since I used an overused cliché.

It's actually for us.

It's called the Bald Eagle Cam.

In Oklahoma a camera has been mounted on a platform where a pair of eagles have built a nest.

They're raising a youngster there.

And they have no idea that more than a million people from 60 countries are watching their every move.

That's a good thing.

What parent in their right mind would agree to such an arrangement?

When an Internet glitch interrupted the reality show, people went nuts.

I guess they do exist.

Eagle Video Junkies.

What's the big attraction?

I could come up with some picturesque description I suppose.

Or.... just let you find out for yourself:

Eagle Cam: suttoncenter.org/eaglecam.html.

You probably didn't expect to be thinking about eagles today.

Me neither.

But maybe it's God's unusual way of encouraging us.

Isaiah 40:30-31 (ESV) "Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Faith and Cancer

As I was thinking about what to share in today's entry my mind kept going back to an interview I did last month on Total Impact.

It has to do with hanging onto your Christian faith in the midst of a cancer diagnosis.

The Oasis of Hope Hospital is a place where Christian doctors are helping a lot of people.

The hospital is located just across the border from San Diego, California.

Click here to visit the website: http://www.oasisofhope.com/

In my conversation with the Counseling Director at Oasis, Daniel Kennedy, I learned a lot about our faith in the midst of this battle.

Click here to listen to my conversation with Daniel:

Faith & Cancer-http://www.box.net/shared/a4g6ud7z4e

And remember:

Isaiah 43:2-3 (ESV) "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God.."

"I'm Outta Here!"-John Mark

I sure tried to follow the Lord's leading.

Loving Him.

Walking closely with Him.

Reading His Word.

Praying.

Obeying.

Seeking forgiveness for my sins.

Seeking godly advice from friends.

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV) "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. "

I felt confident.

I headed down the road.

A smooth road.

For a while.

Sunshine.

For a while.

Birds singing.

For a while.

Then in the blink of an eye the road gets rough.

The clouds roll in.

The darkness is so thick you can cut it with a chain saw.

"But Lord, I thought this is the way you wanted me to go."

"I must have made a mistake!"

Ever been there?

I have.

And so has John Mark.

Check this out:

Acts 13:4-13 (ESV) "So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. AND THEY HAD JOHN TO ASSIST THEM.

When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.

Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And JOHN LEFT THEM AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM."

John Mark decided to turn back.

"This is crazy!"

"I thought God wanted me to do this but I'm no Paul or Barnabas!"

"I'm just plain old John Mark!"

What he didn't realize is that it was God working through and sustaining Paul and Barnabas.

The difference was they trusted God to show up.

On sunny days.

On stormy days.

It took faith.

But the best thing about this story is that God wasn't finished with John Mark.

Paul may have written him off.

Barnabas didn't:

Acts 15:36-41 (ESV) "And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord."

John Mark was originally on the right road even though it didn't seem like it.

But God is so kind.

Once He assigns us a mission He doesn't give up on us.

Even when we turn back.

Psalms 103:14 (ESV) "For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust."

John Mark didn't make the same mistake twice.

He went on to be a great hero of the faith.

He even wrote the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament!

Even Paul eventually came around:

2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV) "Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry."

Feeling inadequate?

Things a little tough?

Stick with it.

God will help you.

Have you already turned back?

God knows your heart.

If you're willing, He'll get you back on the right road.

And you'll be able to encourage others who are faltering.

You might even share with them something like this:

Don't ever doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light.

I like to think that's something John Mark would say.

Real Moms, Real Jesus

Does Jesus really understand the peanut butter and jelly life of a real mom?

More than you know!

It's something I learned when Jill Savage joined us on the show.

She's written some very popular books for moms.

Her latest is "Real Moms, Real Jesus".

If you're a mom... you might need a quick dose of encouragement.

So for the next 5 minutes sit back.

Relax.

And click below to feed your soul.

Jill Savage-Real Moms, Real Jesus-http://www.box.net/shared/b6ootvbhso

And one more thing.

Happy Mother's Day!

Prayer

Happy National Day of Prayer!

What an important day it is.

Praying for our nation, our leaders, cities, schools, families, the list is endless.

I hope you'll be able to attend a National Day of Prayer event in your city.

For a rundown of events click here: http://www.nationaldayofprayer.com/home/home.html

In Las Vegas, we've got a gathering at the Grant Sawyer Building from noon to 1pm.

And this evening at 6, I'll be at the gathering on the steps of City Hall downtown.

If you can't make it out, I encourage you to set aside a few minutes to pray for the things God brings to your mind.

Prayer is powerful!

Do you believe that?

If you have a few minutes take a listen to my conversation with pastor/evangelist/author Greg Laurie.

We were talking about prayer and he had some awesome things to say.

Like for instance... "Prayer isn't overcoming God's reluctance, it's grabbing onto His willingness."

Enjoy!

Greg Laurie On Prayer: http://www.box.net/shared/8nau4g22pl

The High Places

As I was reading through the books of 1 and 2 Kings in the Old Testament, something stood out.

There were many bad kings in Israel and Judah.

And a few godly ones.

Too few, in fact.

But even the best of them only followed God so far.

For some reason they left many of the high places standing.

What exactly were the high places?

The high places were features of Canaanite religion, and the conquering Israelites were commanded to destroy them when they entered Canaan (Numbers 33:52; Deut. 33:29).
—New Unger's Bible Dictionary

They were the places where the people worshiped other gods.

God wanted them destroyed because they would draw the Israelites away from Him.

Deuteronomy 7:16 (ESV) "And you shall consume all the peoples that the Lord your God will give over to you. Your eye shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you."

Our God is loving, kind, merciful, patient, gracious, forgiving.

But He's also holy, just, righteous, and.... jealous.

Exodus 34:14 (ESV) "...for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God"

New Unger's Bible Dictionary also says this:

"After Solomon, who grievously sinned in erecting high places for his heathen wives (1 Kings 11:1-8), this heathenistic institution prevailed among many kings of the Davidic line. Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son, made high places in the mountains of Judah (2 Chron. 21:11), as did Ahaz. Hezekiah broke them down (2 Kings 18:4, 22); Manasseh, in his idolatrous orgy, re-erected them (2 Kings 21:3). They were again destroyed by Josiah (2 Kings 23:5, 8, 13)."

King Josiah was awesome.

He was the one who really wiped out the high places.

No mercy.

I want to be like him.

Do I have some high places in my life?

Places where I worship money.

People.

Pleasure.

Praise.

A job.

Security.

Whatever.

At the end of the day partial obedience is disobedience.

God knows if I don't wage war on the high places they'll just sit there.

Ready at a moment's notice to welcome me back.

And destroy my life.

Grins

Thanks so much to Virginia!

She emailed some smiles my way today.


Well.. not smiles actually.


Just some cartoons that made me smile.


Enjoy!

Like A Rock

To borrow a cliché.. "Are you between a rock and a hard place right now?"

No good options.

Just you and a handful of gravel.

As a follower of Christ you know you're not alone.

He's always with you.

Matthew 28:20 (ESV) "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

You're reminded of that great truth as you sit in exhaustion.

On a rock, of course.

Warm and fuzzy it's not.

Easy and enjoyable it's not.

Hard and uncomfortable it is.

But have you considered some other things about rocky places?

For instance, God likes to show up there.

Psalm 114:7-8 (ESV) "Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water."

When the Israelites left Egypt, God led them into a barren, rocky wilderness.

Water.

We need water!

What are we gonna do?

All we have here are rocks!

Psalm 78:15-16 (ESV) "He (God) split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers."

So there you are today.

Sittin' on the rock.

Gettin' harder by the moment.

It doesn't look like it but it's true.

This is the "Splash Zone".

Best seat in the house to get wet.

He's Home

As you probably already know, Las Vegas headliner Danny Gans has passed away.

He died in his sleep at his Henderson home.

Danny was only 52.

For the latest details check out the Las Vegas Review-Journal: http://www.lvrj.com/

Many people across the world know Danny as a hugely talented entertainer.

And man... he sure was.

But his passion for his Lord and Savior was always first.

Please pray for Danny's wife Julie, and his 3 children Amy, Andrew, and Emily.

What you may not know is that Danny was a supporter of the work going on here at the SOS Radio Network.

He stood with us through the years.

Too many stories to tell you.

Just know his heart for Jesus Christ and the spreading of the Gospel in Las Vegas and beyond meant so very much to us.

This verse keeps passing through my mind today:

Psalms 116:15 (GW) "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones."

What a moment when Danny heard these words from the lips of Jesus:

Matthew 25:21 (ESV) "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant... Enter into the joy of your master."