THERE COMES A RECKONING DAY!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Eccles. 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
I. THERE COMES A RECKONING DAY!
A. December 2006 had a few reckoning days.
Let us consider 12/25/06 ---12/26/06 ----12/30/06 and the hidden lessons.
B. I love some old fashioned words.
I guess it is the Kentucky Hillbilly in me speaking in my language that few know today.
We say ain’t as a word.
We know ain’t ain’t a word, because our teachers taught us ain’t ain’t a word.
C.. My first time in Kentucky, I stopped at a little store.
The owner asked me, DO YOU WANT A POKE?
I said, WHAT?
A Poke? --- as he reached for a brown paper bag?
I was surprised in the dictionary the first meaning of poke is a bag, sack, wallet or purse?
D. I was visiting an old man and he said: FOTCH THAT TO ME?
Fotch was a mountain term for bring.
E. I like SOME OLD words:
PONDER:
To weigh in mind
To think upon
To meditate
To carefully weigh a problem
Prolonged thinking
II. WE ARE CALLED TO MEDITATION! Old meditation and modern meditation may vary in the meaning?
A. THERE IS A BASIC FACT WE ACCEPT ABOUT THE MIND:
BASIC GARBAGE IN, BASIC GARBAGE OUT.
B. What are we feeding our minds? Our soul? Our Spirit?
Spiritual junk food will always limit our spiritual growth and we will tend to be anemic.
C. ANEMIC:
A BLOOD DEFICIENCY --- Lacking force, vitality, or spirit.
Lacking interest --- Lacking in substance
D. MEDITATE:
To reflect or contemplate ---
To focus one’s thoughts on
To plan --- PROJECT IN ONE’S MIND.
1 Tim. 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
Psalm 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Psalm 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
E. GOOD GODLY MEDITATION BRINGS PEACE, HOPE AND DELIGHT TO THE HEART AND MIND OF THE BELIEVERS.
III. TO UNDERSTAND AND MEDITATE NOW LET’S CONSIDER RECKON, UPON THE WORD OF GOD WILL BRING A CHANGE OF HEART AND A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE. WE MUST LET THE WORD OF GOD DO THE WORK OF GOD.
A. PETER SUBMITTED HIS THINKING PROCESS!
Peter did not excuse his behavior.
He did not justify what his denial to Jesus did.
Peter did not try to reason, he was in a dangerous area and this is
self-protection?
B. After thinking? Meditating? reckoning?
After remembering what Jesus said?
Peter THOUGHT AND WEPT.
Mark 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
C.RECKON:
To count, estimate, to compute --- To determine by reference to a fixed basis.
To regard, to think upon, to suppose --- To settle all accounts.
To rely upon, to accept as certain. --- To consider.
D. I consider if we can brush shoulders with the people of God and never know it?
I think as Miriam and Aaron knew their little brother, they must not have recognized
something as he rubbed shoulders with them.
They talked mean and cruel about Moses’ wife, and Moses was hurt...
Reckon they did not know who Moses was?
E. As Jezebel was so focused on her own thing and the new farm she had helped her husband get, reckon she did not realize that there was an Elijah among them?
F. Reckon the king supposed he could have his brother’s wife and still be OK?
Reckon the message pricked his heart?
Reckon a bitter woman laying claim to a husband not hers, and did not see the one sent before, --- and not know that John was called of God to make
preparations and settle things?
G. Reckon the people determined there was a carpenter’s son that could work
with wood, and they could not identify the Son of God was WITH THEM?
EMMANUEL?
H. Reckon there is a white horse saddled, and the Groom is prepared for the bride, and the church is so busy being seeker senstive, that they are not sensitive to the Holy Spirit warning: PREPARE --- HE IS COMING AGAIN.
I. Is there a man or woman of God among us, and we can not see beyond the carpenter’s hammer?
IV. LET US PONDER, MEDITATE AND RECKON ABOUT THREE MEN THAT MADE THREE CHOICES AND THE RECENT ATTENTION PLACED ON THEM.
A. ONE MAN DIED DECEMBER 25, 2006 ...
ONE MAN DIED DECEMBER 26, 2006...
ONE MAN DIED DECEMBER 30, 2006 ...
B. LIFE STYLE #1:
The man that died December 25, 2006 was born on May 3, 1933 --- died at the age of 73.
Married 4 x’s, several relationships, with 8 kids reported, he claimed 5 kids.
C. LIFE STYLE #2
The man that died December 30, 2006 was born April 28, 1937 --- died at the age of 69.
This man had at least 6 wives and unknown how many kids.
Two of his sons were great disgraces and lived playboy, murderous life styles.
D. LIFE STYLE # 3
The man that died December 26, 2006 was born July 13, 1913 --- died at the age of 93.
This man was married once for his life time... married 58 years ... 4 honorable kids.
E. EACH MAN HAD ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES TO OVER COME.
Each man made choices and left a trail for others to follow...
V. LET US RECKON AND PONDER LIFE STYLE NUMBER #1 --- JAMES BROWN --- THE GOD FATHER OF SOUL OR THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN SHOW BUSINESS:
A. James Brown was born in Barnwell, South Carolina during the depression.
His parents were poor and young.
James’ aunt took him in and raised him, she ran a prostitution house.
B. James had several run in’s with the Law as a teen.
He was arrested on various petty assault, armed robbery, alcohol charges.
C. James education was at the Alto State Reform School, a juvenile detention center in Toccoa, Georgia.
D. After serving his time James made a LIFE STYLE CHANGE --- and in 1953 he joined a GOSPEL BAND --- THE GOSPEL STARLIGHTERS.
This group traveled singing Gospel music in churches and other venues.
E. IN 1955 THE GOSPEL MUSIC WAS DROPPED FOR MUSIC FOCUSED MORE ON RHYTHM AND BLUES --- they called themselves THE FAMOUS FLAMES.
A new direction focused the attention away from the Bible and Gospel into entertainment and R and B.
F. In 1980, sales and popularity were declining of R & B, James Brown turned the talent toward DISCO.
G. JAMES BROWN’S MOTTO WAS TO PROUDLY PROCLAIM:
SAY IT LOUD, --- I AM BLACK AND I AM PROUD!
H. Brown had 116 charted songs.
I. Brown faced serious legal and financial set backs in his long career.
He had some serious run-in’s with the law and stints in prison and jails
stemming from assault charges, drug possession, and vehicular charges.
J. After a 1988 run in with the law, Brown’s pickup truck was shot at by law enforcement officers and the tires were shot off.
Some claimed this was racially motivated, it was domestic violence.
Brown received a 6 year sentence, and pulled 3 years.
K. Brown was married to 4 different ladies and had numerous relationships.
At his one funeral it was said he had 5 children, at another it was said he had 7 children.
The official report list that brown fathered 8 children, 5 sons and 3 daughters.
8 grand kids, 4 great grandkids.
L. Brown’s last relationship was a nightmare. Tommie Rae was married to another man at the time of her claimed marriage to Brown.
She claims Brown as the father of her 5 year old son, Brown denied this.
Brown had asked for a DNA test to settle this dispute for his other childrens’sake.
M. Before Brown’s funeral the family had asked Al Sharpton to intervene on behalf of the family. The locks were changed on Brown’s house and Tommie Rae was put on the street.
N. At Brown’s funeral was a great list of Black leaders.
Michael Jackson was there, as was Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson.
James Brown was PRAISED FOR HIS CHOICES AND LIFE STYLE.
There was loud, fast music, gyrating bodies in beautiful expensive shiny costumes.
There was a great sensual entertaining display to highlight the contributions of this man in the Hall of Fame.
All around his life was controversy , domestic abuse, assault charges, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and run-in’s with the Law enforcement officers, and jail and prison time.
O. I love the line I read:
James was in a shiny gold casket and had three costume changes, from blue sequins to a black shiny tux.
James Brown’s funeral with all it’s theatrics and staged music was benefiting
the LIFESTYLE OF EXCESSIVE WASTE SO PORTRAYED.
Augusta, Georgia celebrated the lifestyle of a person given to fleshly desires.
VI. LET US RECKON AND PONDER LIFESTYLE AND CHOICES #2:
SADDEM HUSSEIN:
A. Saddem Hussein was born April 28, 1937 and died December 30, 2006.
Saddem was 69 years old. He was married to several women and had many children.
B. Saddem was a cruel, mean man.
Saddem was the DICTATOR PRESIDENT OF IRAQ.
He headed the Baath party many years.
C. As dictator of Iraq, Saddam created repressive security forces to carry out his every demand.
D. In the late 1970’s Hussein ordered 68 deaths of accused spies and had them hung in a public square. He got away with it.
E. In 1982 there was a failed assassination attempt upon Hussein from the city of DUJAIL.
Without trial or legal help --- Hussein in an act of revenge had 148 men killed for being from DUJAIL. Most of the men were completely innocent, but Hussein
wanted to make an example and he ordered the 148 men to be tortured and killed. 399 others were arrested and faced cruel torture.
F. Hussein had the Iraq forces invade Kuwait to gain control of the Kuwait oil fields. The world would not tolerate this sick vicious man’s actions.
G. Hussein hated any one different in their religious or ethnic teachings.
Saddam ordered testing of MUSTARD GAS, the formula’s were used in World War 1, to kill many.
Saddem ordered the KURDS AND THE SUNNI’S of the northern parts of his nation to be gassed.
H. That was such a success that Saddam ordered NERVE AGENTS to be tested on his own people.
In one day in HALABJA Saddam ordered the use of the nerve agents and he had 5,000 killed, there was over 10,000 people crippled, maimed, and deformed from this gas.
I. Over a period of several years it is believed this mean, mad man had over 200,000 of his own people killed and buried by bulldozers in mass graves. Saddam’s crimes were against all humanity.
J. Saddam had two very mean sons, that lived in excess.
The wine flowed freely.
Women were sexually abused and mocked.
UDAY and QUSAY were shot to death in the same house the same day.
K. Saddam stole billions of dollars over the years from his nation. He took the money for FOOD FROM OIL PROGRAM, and hid it around the world.
L. Saddam got mad at his son-in-laws and had them killed.
Saddam order whole GENOCIDE battles to kill groups of people.
M. ON DECEMEBER 30, 2006 AT 6 IN THE MORNING,
SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS LEAD TO THE SAME GALLOWS THAT HE HAD
TORTORED AND KILLED MANY OF HIS OWN PEOPLE AND SADDAM
WAS HANGED BY THE NECK AS PEOPLE LAUGHED AND MOCKED HIM.
N. Those that mocked him are in trouble now, for not allowing their DICTATOR to die with DIGNITY. The wicked man came to a wicked end.
O. The next day Saddam Hussein’s body was buried near TIKRIT his home city in a private ceremony in the dark of night by his daughters.
Hussein’s grave is UNMARKED.
P. Hussein will be listed in history with Adolf Hitler, and many other mean people that tortured and were cruel and caused great misery and
death to many innocent people.
December 30, 2006 brought celebration to many people around the world. The world news broadcast and there went up a sigh of relief as the news was released.
Q. HOW ULGY AND TERRIBLE WAS THE GRUESOME DEATH OF A WICKED MAN. HOW SHALL WE RECKON THIS?
VII. LET US RECKON AND PONDER THE DEATH OF THE LIFESTYLE OF THE MAN THAT DIED DECEMEBER 26, 2006 --- PRESIDENT GERALD FORD.
A. Gerald Ford died December 26, 2006, at 93 years of age.
He was born July 14, 1913.
B. Gerald was born LESLIE LYNCH KING, JR. in Omaha, Nebraska.
His dad was a mean man with an alcohol problem.
Leslie Sr. threatened Dorothy and Gerald Jr. with a butcher knife.
C. Dorothy divorced Leslie Sr. 16 days later.
She moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and meet Gerald Ford, Sr.
Gerald never officially adopted GeraldJr, but raised him as his son.
D. President Ford never knew until he was 17 that Gerald Ford was not his Dad. In 1935 Gerald legally changed his name to Gerald Ford.
E. In high school Gerald started showing traits of leadership and he was a STAR football player. In high school he was known as kind and honest, and
was elected captain of the football team.
F. Gerald left Grand Rapids for the University of Michigan as Center and Middle linebacker.
There he was a star on the National Championship team, they were undefeated in 1932 and 1933.
After such wonderful records of winning, Gerald’s senior year, only won one game. Gerald said, this difficult year was one of his greatest learning times
ever.
G. Gerald attended YALE, and graduated and passed the Michigan bar exam and was a lawyer. He graduated near the top of his class.
H. The terrible WORLD WAR II was hot and heavy.
Gerald volunteered for the Navy and became a V-5 teacher and later a drill instructor.
Gerald volunteered for active duty on several ships.
He won 9 Operation Stars, 2 Bronze stars.
I. IN 1948 GERALD FORD MARRIED BETTY.
They had four children who all have been an asset to the Ford family and this nation. The Ford’s were married 58 years.
J. Ford served 13 terms to the US House of Representatives.
He was the 40th VICE PRESIDENT OF THE USA.
He served this nation as the 38th President.
Ford was the only not elected man to serve as president.
K. Ford came to the Presidency in a DARK DAY OF MISTRUST. Richard Nixon had left the office in disgrace because of Watergate.
Viet Nam had caused some issues of DISTRUST.
Ford was a man respected on both sides of the isle.
He was known for his honesty and integrity.
He was a friend of many.
L. Mr. Ford survived two assassination attempts in 3 weeks.
Gerald holds the LONGEST LIVING PRESIDENT AT 93.
The Ford’s hold the longest living FIRST COUPLE, he at 93 and she at 88.
M. Gerald and Betty Ford were FAITHFUL MEMBERS AT ST. MARGARET EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
On Decemeber 16th, ten days before his death, the Pastor of St. Margaret’s was in the Ford home and they took THE LAST SUPPER, COMMUNION together.
The Pastor said Mr. Ford was mentally and spiritually alert!
N. The nation mourned six days, from California, to Washington, DC, to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
On the hill side next to the Ford Presidential Library lies a man know as A MAN OF FAITH, a Friend, a man of character, a honest servant of God and
country.
Not a perfect man, but a man that the world respected and honored.
O. One of Ford’s critics discussed Gerald Ford’s quick PARDON OF RICHARD NIXON. In the discussion, Ford knew he would be criticized for the pardon. But Ford explained, for the healing to come to the nation, to drag out Nixon’s debate would have hurt the whole nation. Ford said, I pardoned him, knowing the cost, because the pardon was best for the healing of this nation. Time has recorded this to be true.
P. Now, let us reckon, ponder, and meditate on what are we leaving behind?
WHAT MARK ARE YOU LEAVING?
SOMEDAY WE TOO SHALL TAKE OUR LAST BREATH AND STAND BEFORE THE CREATOR,
WILL WE LEAVE A TESTIMONY THAT OTHERS CAN RECKON?
Live so the Preacher can tell the truth at your funeral!
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Eccles. 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass it on to others?
