The Right Medicine. Tuesday, Nov 18 2014 

Uncategorized kennethbow 9:07 am

A friend of mine had a wreck on his bicycle several weeks ago. He banged his leg on the curb and got a big ugly bruise on the calf of his leg. The swelling was about the size of a baseball and the wound became infected. It was an ugly red wound full of pus and poison to his body.

He went to a critical care unit to have it looked at after a few days. They prescribed antibiotics. He took the medicine and seemed to be doing better.

After several weeks he went for another bike ride then went for a run. The infection came back with a vengeance.

While at the hospital with him and his family last night I learned something I had not known about antibiotics. The doctor explained you need the right kind of antibiotic to combat the type of infection you are dealing with. The critical care facility had not prescribed the correct antibiotic.

The infection had looked superficially better but was not cured. So it returned worse than before.

They prescribed the correct antibiotic and lanced and flushed the wound and hopefully he is on the road to health again.

Because the last 38 years of my life has been spent treating spiritual wounds and conditions I took note of the principal involved.

It takes the right medicine to attack the cause of the problem. Some medicines may appear to help but only hide the issue and it gets worse while being unseen.

For me as a pastor and minister of the gospel, I must make certain I am presenting the right cure for the problem. I wonder how many times I prescribed the spiritual medicine and thought the issue was cured while all the time it was only superficially better?

Unknown to me the issue was only hidden under apparent healing, ready to resurface with a vengeance.

I suppose there has never been a day in Apostolic history where we need the cure for sin like we need it today! We must not only preach, but we must preach the particular things that attack the cause of sin!

We do not need spiritual band aids today, we need the cure. I pray my congregation is not sitting there week after week with hidden issues unresolved and not healed. God help me to seek God until I have the right medicine in my hand for every service.

This brief incident in my life has stirred me to want to be more prayerful. It has caused me to want to carefully take a long look each time I write that spiritual prescription.

May the preaching of the gospel produce healthy, spiritual, saints of God!

Thanks for reading today!

 

How to put a whooping on the devil! Tuesday, Nov 11 2014 

Uncategorized kennethbow 12:08 pm

How to put a whooping on the devil.

Romans 16.20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly~kjv

before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt ~msg version

1. Just go to church. He will give you 27 reasons not to go to church. Too tired, too old, too poor, too beautiful, to ugly, too friendly, too depressed, too sad. No friends, no one likes you, it’s raining, too hot, etc. Everytime you go to church you put a whopping on the devil.

2. Do not get offended. He will try to make you be offended. Offended at the pastor, offended at the song leader, offended at the hostess, offended at the usher, offended at…parking space, chair, too loud, can’t see, can’t hear, Ebola ☺ . So put a whopping on the devil and do not get offended.

3. Give God a little dance. He hates it when you dance with your love. If you don’t want to hurt the Devils feelings be sure and not dance because you’re clothes are to tight or you’re too fat or too skinny, or you are mad at your wife or your husband is a jerk or your kids have been ornery. Your dog has been sick, your kid did not finish homework, your car needs cleaning, you have lousy neighbors. But if you want to put a whopping on the devil, do a little dance.

4. Hang around and talk to good clean godly people. The devil hates that. Go home talk to back sliders or sinners, Facebook, gossip, find some dirt, run someone down….watch YouTube for two hours…get the latest football scores. But if you want to put a whopping on the devil, hang around godly people and fellowship!

5. Go out and fellowship after church and talk about things that build up spiritual character. Man I promise you the devil hates that. Most of all never invite the server to church. They would not like the church. Go home and pout, or kick the dog, get carnal. Drive up and down skid row and see if you can sin a little. Go to a bar or club or drug party…. But if you want to put a whopping on the devil… Go with good people and have good fellowship.

Thanks for reading today.

 

The Sower Thursday, Aug 7 2014 

Uncategorized kennethbow 11:32 am

Matthew 13:3 (KJV)
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

It was the beginning of the second year of Jesus’ ministry. The religious leaders were growing increasingly wary of Jesus and began to pepper him with questions that illustrated their doubts. To avoid confrontation and debate that only led to confusion, Jesus began to speak in parables.

He had just been accused of working supernatural miracles by the power of evil, and while in this moment of confrontation, Jesus’ family arrived. Jesus throws down the gauntlet of future discipleship by declaring who his family was. His proclamation that his disciples were his family, separated him from the umbilical cord of family ties once and for all.

Matthew says “the same day”, Jesus began to speak the parables of Matthew 13. Jesus deliberately chose this method to reveal truth to his followers and conceal truth from his accusers.

The first parable Jesus spoke was about a sower that sowed seed in various places and the ensuing harvest.

I broach this subject today because it is my opinion many of us feel unqualified to teach a Bible study or witness or win a soul. This parable illustrates some interesting things to us.

For all of us who think we must be well prepared, intelligent, or qualified, to win souls, I want to point out some basic points.

The sower was not brilliant. In fact he/she was not a good sower at all! What sower with good sense would scatter seed where birds would immediately eat it up? If the sower was such a hot shot sower, why did he/she sow seed where the ground was stony and shallow? If Mr or Mrs Sower was as smart as we think we need to be to work with lost people, why did he/she sow seed among weeds?

I point out the obvious conclusion, the sower is not that important! The seed is what is important!

Even dumb sowers will get results if they just keep sowing. What would happen if all of us stopped making excuses about not knowing enough, or about being illiterate about the Bible, etc., and just sowed seed?

What if we stopped being soil analyzers and just threw seed there anyway? What if we stopped looking at the outward circumstances and just threw seed there anyway?

Maybe there is good ground not being reached because we analyze the soil before we sow? Maybe we feel like we need some kind of Union Card for Sowers International or something?

Maybe if we quit looking at the sower (us), and just threw seed everywhere like in the parable, maybe just maybe we would see more of a harvest?

Thanks for reading today….

 

ALL ABOUT ME? Tuesday, Jul 8 2014 

Uncategorized kennethbow 2:08 pm

Guest blog…excellent material…

 

The Virtuous Woman Tuesday, Jun 17 2014 

Uncategorized kennethbow 5:41 pm

For over 38 years of preaching I have never stopped and looked up what a “virtuous” woman is by the Bible definition. I looked up Proverbs 31.10, “the virtuous woman” and I was very surprised at the Bible definition!

I confess I always saw this “woman” by the single, narrow interpretation the KJV translators gave us. Virtue: morally good behavior (Merriman-Webster dictionary).

Here is what the original language gives us when they translate this Hebrew word “Chayil“, When Chayil is translated, it is translated as …
army 56 times
man of valour 37 times
host 29 times
forces 14 times
valiant 13 times
strength 12 times
riches 11 times
wealth 10 times
power 9 times
substance 8 times
might 6 times
strong 5 times
miscellaneous translations 33 times
[Total Count: 243]

from (chuwl); probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength :- able, activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, (+) valiant (-ly), valour, virtuous (-ly), war, worthy

Sounds like she was a woman of force, energy, capable, moral, strong, powerful, and a woman of substance in many many ways.

Maybe now we can now salute the forceful powerful women of the Bible without qualifying. Only one woman in scripture is called virtuous…Ruth!

So to these women who proved to be such a force in their world: Ruth….Sarah…Rachel…Hannah…Bathsheba…Mary…Martha…Phoebe….Priscilla…I salute you!

A virtuous woman is more than just moral!

She is a powerful force to be reckoned with.

Thanks for reading today….

 

A fresh look at the Judges Friday, Apr 18 2014 

Uncategorized kennethbow 5:26 am

A fresh look at the Judges!

I have read the Bible through over twenty times now and I am always amazed at the new and inspiring things I read each time.

While participating in our local church program this year called “Early Morning Light”, I took a fresh look at the Judges of Israel.

I confess I have always seen these freedom fighters we call Judges, as being listed in chronological order from early until late as the book unfolds. Recently I began to look at a different possibility.

It appears that they possibly are listed not in chronological order, but in the region of the country they lived and served. The book would in this case be given to us in a region by region account for no Judge ruled over all twelve tribes. Their battles when viewed on a map certainly cover different regions of the nation.

If this supposition is accurate, then rather than Samson being at the end of the reign of Judges, he would actually live during the last twenty years of Eli’s time of Judging Israel. This would also, by the longevity of his tenure, push him into the years of Samuel as Judge as well.

For me, this is a radical transition from a lifetime of thinking. Is it possible? Probable? Some scholars seem to believe it so.

If this format holds true, the book of Judges would deal with the Northern most territories first with the major campaign being actioned by Deborah and her great battle and ultimate victory. Bible historians list this as the first major section of the book.

The book would then shift eastward and relate to us the important battle of that region with the campaign of Gideon. This would be seen as the second great period of history.

This would be followed by the Southeastern region of this nation wide recording of the Judges and finally end with the Southwestern area and Samson. This would be the third and final time of historical reporting of the Judges.

If this hypothesis is accurate, the battle at which the Ark was captured would coincide with Samson’s capture, Eli’s death, and the years of Philistine supremacy. It would also mean that the book is not chronological as much as it is a regional accounting of the campaigns of the Judges that possibly overlapped or coincided at times.

I do not know if this thinking is accurate or even relevant. I know it provokes me to want to know more, think more, and meditate more.

The Bible is the greatest book in my life. Nothing else is even in the comparison. It stands alone, mammoth, towering, and sublime.

To study the Bible, to ponder it, to discuss it, to debate it, is truly one of my life’s greatest joys!

If these few paragraphs stimulate thought or debate, then I am content. For what can be more worthy of discussion and thought than the immutable Word of God.

To discuss this grand Word is truly exciting and invigorating! May it ever live in your heart and mind!

Thanks for reading today!

 

Introvert Tuesday, Mar 25 2014 

Uncategorized kennethbow 8:02 am

Some excerpts from the Matt Walsh blog “to the quiet boring girl in class”,(recommended by my good friend Nichole Criss, …thanks Nichole)
Introvert

Shyness and introversion aren’t a packaged deal.

Being shy means you have social anxiety.

Being introverted means you are energized by being alone, or in small groups, where you can hear those wonderful thoughts spinning around in your head.

You prefer intimate and meaningful communication over small talk. You’re more likely to have a limited collection of loyal friends than a large gaggle of friendly acquaintances.

Sound familiar?

That’s all it means to be an introvert.

Introversion is not to be overcome. Please don’t try. I beg you. Don’t try. I mean, where would we be if societies in the past had employed our modern strategy of treating introversion as a character defect?

I can tell you we might not have been blessed with the historical contributions of noted introverts like Einstein, Newton, Yeats, Proust, Shakespeare, Orwell, Edison, Plato, Mother Teresa, and Ghandi. In fact, many (if not most) of humanity’s greatest inventors, engineers, creators, thinkers, writers, artists and revolutionaries were and are introverts.

It isn’t a disease or a weakness. It’s a strength. Seriously, a strength. Your mind works differently, you see the world differently, you interact differently, and that is a magnificent thing. Your differences make you indispensable.

Let them call you quiet. Pretty soon, you’ll be climbing mountains and they’ll still be down at the base, talking about the weather.

I have come to accept I am an introvert. Thanks for reading today.

 

Listening for the 7th Trumpet Tuesday, Jan 28 2014 

Uncategorized kennethbow 9:02 am

I am listening for the Seventh trumpet.

It is amazing to me how this number seven is associated with nearly everything sacred.

Through out the Bible, the scriptures rest upon it with peculiar emphasis.

It was on the seventh day that God ceased his work of creation and hallowed a rest, which has made the counting of time by septenaries of days the common and universal method from that day until now.

Seven days were given to Noah to gather in the tenants of the ark; and with him came over the flood seven persons, and sevens of all the clean animals. On the seventh month the ark rested On the earth again, and on the seventh day the dove was sent out.

Seven years of plenty and seven of famine were sent upon Egypt, as the Lord signified through Joseph.

Seven priests, with seven trumpets, were to encompass the walls of Jericho seven successive days, and the seventh day it fell into the hands of Israel.

Seven days were the Jews to celebrate many of their feasts; seven days were their priests to be in course of consecration; seven days were their unclean to be in cleansing; and seven animals were required in many of their sacrifices.

Seven days did Job’s friends sit with him, and seven bullocks were to be offered for their sins.

Seven years was Solomon’s temple in building; seven days was the feast of its dedication;

Seventy years was Israel captive at Babylon.

Seven years was Nebuchadnezzar degraded as a brute, and seventy weeks were determined until Messiah should be cut off.

Enoch, whom God translated, and the first man ever exempted from death, was the seventh from Adam;

According to Luke, Jesus was the seventy-seventh descendant of Adam.

Seven hours did Jesus hang upon the cross; seven times did he speak while hanging there;

Seven times did he show himself after his resurrection; and seven days after his ascension was the Holy Ghost poured out.

Seventy was the number of disciples whom he first commissioned.

Seven petitions are contained in the prayer which he taught his followers.

Seven lamps were in the Tabernacle.

Seven Churches of Asia;

In Revelation there are seven seals, seven vials, seven angels, seven Spirits of God.

And now we are waiting for the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

Leviticus 25:8-9 (KJV) 
8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 
9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.

The Gospel is a trump of gladness, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison-doors to them that are bound.

Our great High-priest is still within the veil sprinkling the atoning blood. Sinners without are still afflicting their souls and waiting for his reappearance to pronounce upon them the life-giving benediction.

Bonds, trials, heavy sorrows, and pain still afflict the saints. Even the holiest Christians have not yet come to the fulness of their rest. The very martyrs, who laid down their lives for the testimony of Jesus, are represented as waiting and crying, “O Lord, how long!”

With all our peace in Christ Jesus, our lives are still connected with dust and tears.

The final Jubilee, therefore, is yet to come. Our priest must first come forth from the Holy of holies, where he has gone, and close the reconciliation day.

Then will our perfect rest rightly begin.

Jesus must first appear the second time, before our final release and salvation shall be complete.

Many a time have we heard the sounding trumpets of the Gospel. Long and loud has the summons to repentance been ringing in the ears of a drowsy world.

Many have listened, believed, and experienced the glad earnest of the appointed Jubilee; but there is another trumpet, “the great trumpet”,”the trump of God”, which yet remains to be sounded.

It is a trumpet which shall never be heard but once in all the the ages; a trumpet whose blast shall thrill worlds, and startle up the very patriarchs from their long-lost graves, and transmute time itself into eternity.

A trumpet which shall be blown throughout all the earth the moment our High-priest shall have appeared again. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise.”

“For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” And that trumpet is the true trumpet of the true Jubilee. When it sounds, the great Sabbath of the ages begins.

I am waiting for the 7th trumpet to sound!

Thanks for reading today!

 

Pharaoh Lived In “Dumbsville” Thursday, Dec 26 2013 

Uncategorized kennethbow 9:30 am

It is pretty hard to look back over world history and find someone as dumb as Pharaoh!

This guy was actually leading a Nation! Pretty crazy.

While reading the sequence of pain, anguish, and disaster again I again read a verse that has troubled me all my life.

Exodus 9.16 “for this cause have I raised thee up”. I have always struggled to believe God created him just to be the stubborn idiot that brought such horror to his country. This does not fit my template of who God is!

While reading it recently and doing the “be aware and compare” I wrote about in a recent blog, I was happy to understand this better.

In place of “for this cause I raised thee up”, is also translated “for this cause I have allowed you to remain”.

It appears God simply allowed Pharaoh to remain on his throne to show His (God’s) power and deliverance to Eqypt.

There is vast difference between creating someone just to serve a wicked purpose, and simply allowing them to remain there because it serves your purpose when you could have rubbed them out long before 🙂

That mental knot was untied for me today so I decided there could possibly be someone else out there in Blog-land that has also scratched their head and thought hmmm.

Thanks for reading today.

 

Bible Versions: Be Aware And Compare Saturday, Dec 14 2013 

Uncategorized kennethbow 12:25 pm

Bible Versions: Be aware and compare.

This is a controversial subject among all faiths and many scholars. The reasons are complex and we make decisions based on what other “scholars” write and say. This makes it difficult to come to conclusions first hand. The issue becomes who to trust and who is right?

The basis of discussion is that we have no original manuscripts (hand written copies of scripture). We only have copies from many time periods and geographical locations.

To oversimplify, there are two camps of thought and translation today. One is a very large camp of manuscripts that number around 64,000. These are everything from a small scrap of paper, to whole books, and entire copies of the Bible. These are from all over the world, and from many different centuries.

The other camp is relatively small and represents only a few manuscripts from very few locations. These are dated around 100 years earlier so are considered more authentic by “modern” scholars. This is one of the hotly contested issues.

Most manuscripts are well worn from being copied many times until they virtually wear out. These “earlier or older” manuscripts are in excellent condition. The critics say this is because they are faulty, hence they were not used but were discarded.

This smaller group is referred to as the minority text, while the larger camp of 64k manuscripts is generally referred to as the majority text.

The King James Version is translated from the majority text group from a specific group of manuscripts sometimes called the Textus Receptus, abbreviated TR.

Virtually all other modern versions since the King James Version are based on the minority text.

There are somewhere around 60,000 plus differences between the KJV and the modern versions. When there is a difference it is called a textual variant.

Some of these differences are small and hard to notice while others are glaring and disturbing. The minority text omits some verses that are traditionally important to Pentecostal people.

Here are a few examples of verses that are omitted: Mark 16.9-16 (These signs shall follow, etc), Matthew 17.21 (this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting), Acts 8.37, 1 John 5.7, et al.

Other times the verses are changed such as in 1 Timothy 3.16 where God was manifest in the flesh is changed to He was revealed in the flesh.

Many times the words Jesus or Christ or Lord are omitted in the modern translations from verses. Another example is in John chapter 8 where the woman taken in adultery calls Jesus Lord in the KJV. Minority texts usually translate Lord as Sir.

These are the issues that cause debate and emotions to ride high among Pentecostals.

I have adopted the position that The King James Version holds the preeminent place for me. I personally trust the majority text more than the minority text. I still use the KJV in church exclusively. We are simply more used to it and more familiar with it. It also provides us with a uniform Bible text for our public worship service.

Having said that, I use, and encourage, the reading of other versions. I have adopted the phrase “Be aware and compare”. Be aware there are differences and always compare against each other to get the most complete reading.

Nothing will ever take the place of the KJV in my life, but I will be aware and compare as I continue my “life walk” through the Word by reading other versions also.

God bless you, thanks for reading today.

 

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