Bible Shorts With BibleBob

Falling With A Rooster

Falling With A Rooster "Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away [and be ashamed and be afraid to be associated with Me as disciples], because it is written, 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have been raised [from the dead], I will go ahead of you to Galilee." But Peter said to Him, "Even if they all fall away [and desert You, ashamed and afraid of being associated with You], yet I will not [do so]!" Jesus said to him, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny and [that you even know] Me three times." But Peter kept saying insistently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all were saying the same thing as well. Then all of His disciples abandoned Him and fled. While Peter was down below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, "You were with Jesus the Nazarene, too." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." Then he went out [of the courtyard] to the porch, [and a rooster crowed.] The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to tell the bystanders, "This [man] is one of them." But again he denied it. After a little while, the bystanders again said to Peter, "You are in fact one of them, for [it is clear from your accent, that] you are a Galilean, too." But he began to invoke a curse [on himself] and to swear [an oath], "I do not know this man you are talking about!" Immediately a rooster crowed the second time. And Peter remembered what Jesus said to him: "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And thinking of this, he began weeping [in anguish]." Mark 14:27-31, 50, 66-72 AMP Sometimes we speak before we think. Under pressure, we blurt out words without thinking. It's like acting like we don't have brains. In the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy asks the Scarecrow how he can talk without a brain, he replies: "I don't know. But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?" That's a way of saying our words don't match our beliefs. I had lunch yesterday with Elijah, a young man who graduated from this school last year. He mentioned that his basketball team (from a public school) played against a few Christian schools. The players whom you'd believe were Christians did not exhibit a particularly noticeable Christ-like behavior. For some of them it was quite the opposite. HBU? Is your behavior noticeably Christ-like? Will you fall away and hear the rooster crow? Roosters I used to think roosters only crowed in the morning as a wakeup call. The shrill cry of an early rising rooster has pierced many a sleeping ear. Roosters crow when there's danger or as a wakeup call. Truth be told folks, as it always should, roosters crow any time they just feel like crowing! Most humans who mimic roosters usually do so through a "cock-a-doodle-doo!" Methinks that's a pretty far cry from what a crowing rooster actually sounds like. Funny thing about roosters, they're deaf to the loudness of their crowing. God designed roosters in a way that protects their ears from the 100 to 140 decibels blaring from their beaks. If you're right next to the rooster, the noise level is like being at a rock concert or listening to jet engine taking off. That's loud folks, but the rooster is immune to the impact of its own voice. When the rooster opens its mouth, part of the ear canal closes, and soft tissue covers a portion of the ear drum. Simon Peter heard the rooster crow. It was like an alarm going off as an alert to an enemy. The enemy that was allowed to enter was pride and extreme confidence in the flesh. Jesus allowed Peter to fall to strengthen him through failure so Peter could strengthen others. Wisdom and compassion in their highest forms come through suffering and struggle. The boldness and confidence in Peter's flesh was no match for Satan's request to "sift Peter like wheat." The sound of the roosters crowing was a spiritual pecking at the pride of Peter. A man was broken by the sound of a crowing rooster. Simon Peter had his conscience seared by the sound of a screaming bird. The rooster might as well have been screaming, "Shame on you! You denied your best friend and Savior three times in His hour of greatest need!" Some churches have a rooster on their steeples. It's a symbol of our likelihood of falling and the guarantee we have In Christ that through repentance at the cross we receive forgiveness, mercy and grace. Peter fell, but that wasn't the end of the story. God's grace and mercy is always louder than a rooster crowing. He restores humiliated and embarrassed people whose extreme confidence became shame mired in extreme pride. Arrogant confidence is self-centered pride that ultimately leads to destruction. Humble confidence is Christ-centered thoughtfulness that values others above ourselves. Today's Assignment Take a few moments to write about what you will do to avoid becoming someone who will fall away. Be prepared to stand and give your advice to help your friends avoid becoming someone who falls away into arrogant confidence and self-centered pride. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. How To Subscribe To Our Podcast and YouTube Videos | [https://biblebob.org/how-to-subscribe-to-our-podcast-and-youtube-videos] Biblebob.org [http://Biblebob.org] https://youtu.be/LS_aVLsbwes [https://youtu.be/LS_aVLsbwes]

Dipping Points, Breaking Points, Tipping Points & Turning Points

Dipping Points, Breaking Points, Tipping Points & Turning Points "So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." (Citation - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG) We often judge other people by what we hear about them, read about them or watch other people talk about them. You've probably heard the old adage that says: "Be careful pointing a finger at someone else; you'll have three fingers pointing right back at yourself. Every person you meet contains valuable information for your spiritual growth. Each one of us travels through life seasons where parts of our character go through the cycle of birth and death until there's the final season - either eternal life or forever separation from God. Each season represents a point in time, a space for you to grow or decay and a guarantee that what you've done will occupy a record in history. Just as there are four seasons, there are four points: 1. Dipping Point - this is where God allows you an experience, good or bad, that happens for your benefit. Wisdom gained in the dipping prevents future tripping (making the same mistake again.) 2. Breaking Point - God takes to the end of your capabilities until you have nowhere to turn, but Him. You can refuse, become hard hearted, but that would open the door to evil. You don't want to go there. 3. Tipping Point - This is the great "Ah Ha" moment where you begin to understand the lesson God us trying to teach you. 4. Turning Point - Once you've totally surrendered to God, the overwhelming peace that transcends all understanding settles in your soul. You're walking in a new direction with fresh wisdom, insight and knowledge. When listening to the stories of other people going through the seasons and points of life, always remember that only God knows their hearts. Believe in the best for all people. Just sayin….. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. How To Subscribe To Our Podcast and YouTube Videos | Biblebob.org [https://biblebob.org/how-to-subscribe-to-our-podcast-and-youtube-videos]

Nerve Pain On the Cross & Saving A Starfish

I woke up about 2 am and walked into my office,recording studio. On thw all is a cross made entirely of nails - approximately 72 of them. I started to think about the pain points of each one of those nails. Jesus only had three nails that held him crucified to the cross. The pain from the different neve endings is a different story. The nerves in the human body are said to number 7 trillion. I'm not sure how they got that number, but I do know we have a lot of nerves. Our lips alone are said to contain over one million nerves or sensory endings. On the cross there was no end to sensory pain and torture. Looking at the cross on my wall repeatedly reinforces what Jesus did for us. I arlready had my lesson plan for class, but I had to add this information on the extent of nerve pain - especially pain received from torturers whose mission was to keep you alive as long as possible to inflict the maximum amount of pain. Consider such things and just say the name, Jesus. The Cultivation of Curious Minds "They were only testing Jesus because they hoped to trap him with his own words and accuse him of breaking the laws of Moses. But Jesus didn't answer them. Instead he simply bent down and wrote in the dust with his finger. Angry, they kept insisting that he answer their question, so Jesus stood up and looked at them and said, "Let's have the man who has never had a sinful desire throw the first stone at her." And then he bent over again and wrote some more words in the dust. Upon hearing that, her accusers slowly left the crowd one at a time, beginning with the oldest to the youngest, with a convicted conscience. Until finally, Jesus was left alone with the woman still standing there in front of him. So he stood back up and said to her, "Dear woman, where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?"" John 8:6-10 TPT Questions are valuable. Answers are important. Actions are profitable. When Jesus was asked a question about a woman caught in adultery, his answer was twofold, he combined words with action; he bent down and wrote in the dirt with his finger. I suppose you could call Him a dirt doodler with a double answer. No one knows what Jesus wrote, but it was powerful. Scholars (out of curiosity) have debated up to this present day what He may have written, but nobody knows. Jesus combined His answer with an action that caused a reaction. Jesus answered His questioners by causing them to examine themselves. Their inquiry, even though it was brought with ill intentions, made them probe their own hearts. Has anyone ever asked you a question that caused you to examine your heart or your way of life? The most important question anyone can ever answer is, "If you died today, do you know where you'll spend eternity?" There's some people in Buffalo, NY called Starfish Ministries. You may have heard the story of the starfish on a beach. Thousands of starfish were stranded and small girl picked them up one at a time and threw them back into the ocean. A man questioned her about why she was doing this. He combined his question with a preconceived answer that said her actions useless; "You can't possibly save all these starfish!" Saddened at first, but after some quick and thoughtful heart examination, she picked up another starfish, threw it in the ocean and said, "Well, I made a difference for that one!" The man joined her in saving starfish. *Original story written by Loren C. Eiseley. Today you are being given an opportunity in collaborating with Starfish Ministries in the creation of a survey that has the potential to save one person at a time. The ultimate goal is to evangelize and engage with strangers in sharing Christ. The short survey will be given to people in public locations. They'll be offered at least $5 for participating. Each question should require a "Yes" or "No" response. The idea is to lead people to at least consider the concept of God and His Son, Jesus as the Messiah. Here are some examples: 1) Have you noticed that despite the best efforts of mankind there is still so much brokenness in the world? 2) Do you feel the world would be better by following most if not all of the 10 Commandments found in the Bible? 3) Given all the available historical information, do you believe Jesus Christ actually existed?

Dad Couldn't Sing, But He Made A Joyful Noise!

Sometimes we think we don't measure up to others. Viewing others with envy. We fade into quietness because we think our voice doesn't matter. We're not good enough. As a young boy attending Catholic church with my family, I often stood beside Dad when it was time to sing the hymns. I remember looking up at Dad and seeing his lips barely move with his eyes glued to the hymnal. You wouldn't hear him sing unless you were really close like I was. Dad's singing voice sounded like a man with a mouth full of marbles singing underwater. That might sound kind of harsh, but the reality was Dad would never make it on America's Got Talent! Dad sang with the voice he had and didn't care if anyone judged him. That's the way it should be and it was. Dad sang to God and not for anyone else. His singing wasn't an audition or an attempt to impress anybody. Dad sang for an audience of One. Since I was a little boy when I made this observation, it wasn't a pride issue in thinking that my singing voice was superior to Dad's. Although now that I'm an old head I recognize the danger of judging others and seeing their efforts as inadequate. Focus on Self-Examination: Instead of evaluating others, individuals are encouraged to test their own actions and maintain humility (Galatians 6:4-5). "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." Psalm 98:4 KJV "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness and delight; Come before His presence with joyful singing. Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. [Eph 2:10] ¶Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations." Psalms 100:1-5 AMP "For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]." Ephesians 2:10 AMP "But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another." Galatians 6:4 AMP "but He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness." Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP "¶For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother's womb. I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was being formed in secret, And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape]." Psalms 139:13-16 AMP

God Stories With Biblebob (Ep 6) Black Flies, Prejudice & Forgiveness Pastor Randy

Sometimes God uses irritations to stop us dead in our tracks to correct something in our character. For Pastor Randy, the story starts with a broken-down vehicle in s pitch black darkness filled with buzzing and biting black flies. Things went from bad to worse. Even in this unenviable situation, Randy was still looking to serve somebody. That's admirable, but it's not the end of the story. Randy had a long-time prejudice toward Native Americans. God brought him face to face with a part of his character that God Himself wanted changed. The rest is history, Randy was humbled and forgiven of his prejudice. "All things work together for good." Romans 8:28 Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. Please ask a friend to subscribe to Biblebob. Thank you.