4 Lessons I've Learned in 4 Years of Tweeting

It's my 4-year anniversary on Twitter. (Send presents.) I posted my first tweet four years ago (November 19, 2008). Twitter was younger then. (I was, too.)

I've learned a lot in four years of tweeting. At the writing of this post that's 79,584 tweets to be exact. And I'm an introvert after all. (I really am!)

I've had my Twitter "ups" (making a difference as a Gospel minister in thousands of people's lives all over the world) and I've had my Twitter "downs" (like the time I lost 22,000 followers overnight due to a Twitter glitch ~ #failwhale).

But I don't want to talk about "ups" and "downs" so much. What I do want to reflect upon are some other lessons that I hope may be a help to you whether you've been a Twitter user for a long time or just starting out.

And so here we go with...

4 Lessons I've Learned in 4 Years of Tweeting:

LESSON 1: Relationships will change.

People will come and people will go on Twitter just like in real life. There will be those that you are close to on Twitter today, but you won't be tomorrow. (Where did they go?) The neat thing is there will be others that come along ~ new relationships ~ to replace the old. And that Twitter follower that you watch from afar today just might be your BFF (best friend forever) tomorrow. Who knows?

LESSON 2: It's easy to become obsessed.

Yes, like anything else, Twitter (and social media in general for that matter) can become an obsession. And let me just say, it's not social media's (and Twitter in particular's) fault. The common thread is it's human beings that use it. And it's human beings that fall in the trap of "abusing" it. So take time off. (I'm talking to myself, too.) Schedule breaks and stick to your schedule.

LESSON 3: Use people's names and say "Thank you."

I guess I learned this one from being in ministry. Twitter is all about relationships. And it's the simple things that really make all the difference ~ like greeting people (saying "Hello") and using people's names when you're tweeting with them. And I like to say "Thank you" when they retweet me or I read something they've tweeted and it speaks to or blesses me. (Retweeting others is a "Thank you" in itself.)

LESSON 4: You will be judged.

I saved this one for last probably because it's the hardest one to deal with. You can have 99 out of 100 people say nice things about you, but it's that one critical "voice" that you remember. (Isn't it true?) I have been judged for my tweets and how I tweet and even to the point of not spelling "God" with a capital "G" and using a lower case "g" instead in my Twitter name. (I've tried to tell people it's a Twitter thing ~ using lower case ~ but they still misjudge me.) So how do I deal with it? In the worst cases especially I find the best way to diffuse the judgment "voice" is to not respond and forgive.

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• 7 Mistakes Women and Men Make with Twitter (plus 1 bonus)
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Evil on the Rise

You can feel it. You can see it with your own two eyes.

Evil is on the rise.

Even in the highest offices in the land, has there ever been a time with such lawlessness ~ blatant, unchecked and with no one willing to stand against it?

Evil is on the rise for two reasons.

First, Satan is preparing his final assault. (Psalm 2:2) You see, he knows the Scripture. He knows that there is a day coming where Jesus Christ Himself will step into history once again ~ and this time the devil will be ready for Him. This time he will be the victor. This time Satan will be the last one standing(?).

The second reason why evil is on the rise is really a part of the first. You see, "Heaven" indeed is approaching earth. The analogy of the Christian life is a help to explain it.

When a person is "born again," when a person receives Jesus Christ into his (or her) heart, he (she) becomes a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) At that point where "Heaven" takes up residence inside the soul, sin (that way of living that is contrary and diametrically opposed to God's standard) ~ it begins to be squeezed / flushed out. It's like there's no more room for evil / wickedness in a person's life (Jeremiah 17:9) since holiness and righteousness and goodness has come to replace it. (Romans 6:12) The tell tale sign that you're drawing close to Jesus and He's drawing close to you is you're seeing sins come to the surface ~ to be disposed of. (Romans 6:13)

And so this is the second reason why evil is on the rise. Jesus Christ is about to reign on our planet. (Psalm 2:6) And as "Heaven" is approaching earth, evil is being exposed (and coming to the forefront in governing structures, also) to ultimately be done away with by God forever. (Revelation 19:11)

The whole of creation is in expectation of our Lord's return. (Romans 8:19) The devil is, too, even though he thinks like somehow he can stand against it. He's in for a rude awakening. (Revelation 20:2)

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• On the Devil, Photoshopping, False Prophets, Teachers and Shepherds
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The Day I Prayed for Somebody and She Got Healed

I was teaching a website class to real estate agents of our company. We were to meet in the Title Company's conference room. I arrived around noon to set up.

That's when it happened.

As I walked in, there was a panic in the building. (Huh?) One of the ladies was having massive chest pains. (I used to work with her.) She was saying it was her heart. (It was.) They had called 911. (The paramedics were on their way.)

That's when the building cleared. I mean, literally. The other gals that were there, for some reason, left. (Weird.) And I was alone with the woman.

That's when the Holy Spirit spoke to me, "Pray."

I thought, "But this is in public." (You think that way in such a moment. If you're human you do ~ and you admit you do.)

I thought again, "I don't care what anybody thinks. I'm doing it."

I spoke to the lady, "Do you mind if I pray for you?" She said she didn't mind.

And so I put my left hand on her shoulder. I prayed. I can't remember exactly what I said. But after I was done, I looked at her and said, "How are you doing?"

That's when it happened.

She looked at me (no lie) and said, "I'm starting to feel a little better."

I was just as surprised as she was. (You feel that way in such a moment. If you're human you do ~ and you admit you do.)

The paramedics finally arrived, but that didn't matter. She was all better. :)

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On the Devil, Photoshopping, False Prophets, Teachers and Shepherds

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

The devil is the "Photoshop" master. Do you know what I mean by Photoshop? It's that picture program that allows you to do things to pictures, add and subtract, etc, to make them look real when they are not.

At first look at the picture of the alligator and tourist boat, wow! Can you imagine having that happen? One minute you're minding your own business enjoying a lovely day on the river and the next minute you've got Jaws in a crocodile suit about to eat you!

And yet if you look closer (click picture to enlarge), it's not too difficult to tell that the alligator (or boat) was added ~ and it may even be that the alligator was enhanced (made bigger) at least a couple of times?

Getting back to the devil as the "Photoshop" master ~ that's really what I want to talk about here. We are living in the last days of planet earth. The Bible says that during this time, among all the other crazy things that are taking place, there will be a spirit of deception like never before. (Matthew 24:24) Satan will be "Photoshopping" all over the place!

DECEPTION OF UNBELIEVERS

And let me just talk about the deception of unbelievers for a moment, first. If you think all religions lead to God, you are being deceived. Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father, but through me." (John 14:6) If you think a person can be good enough to make it into heaven, you are being deceived. "'There is none righteous, not even one.'" (Romans 3:10) If you think your sins are so awful that God couldn't forgive you, you are being deceived. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7c)

DECEPTION OF "BELIEVERS"

The deception of "believers" is different. (I put "believers" in quotes because ~ are they really?) This deception doesn't come so much from "without" the church, but from within. It comes through prophets, teachers and shepherds whom Satan has "Photoshopped."

And yet if you look closer, it's not too difficult to tell the bad from the good. They have certain characteristics that give them away...

How to Tell a False Prophet:

1. A false prophet can have the ability to do signs and wonders. (Mark 13:22)
2. A false prophet declares out of his own imaginations and not Christ. (Ezekiel 13:2-3)
3. A false prophet can be bought. He speaks pleasantly to those who feed him. (Micah 3:5)
4. A false prophet disguises himself as a believer while all the time he's under the control of the devil. (Matthew 7:15-23)

How to Tell a False Teacher:　

1. A false teacher portrays himself as having knowledge when he does not. (1 Timothy 1:7)
2. A false teacher offers contrary doctrine to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
3. A false teacher speaks what people want to hear instead of what people need to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
4. A false teacher is bound to wickedness, unconverted and destined for destruction. (2 Peter 2:1-3)

How to Tell a False Shepherd:　

1. A false shepherd is only concerned for himself and not the flock. (Ezekiel 34:2-3)
2. A false shepherd leads the flock astray in word and deed. (Jeremiah 50:6)
3. A false shepherd abandons the flock when they need him the most. (John 10:12)
4. A false shepherd does not exalt the Good Shepherd. (John 10:14-15)

Source: epicsnaps.com via Pastor Mike on Pinterest

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How I Hear From God

I don't share this like I'm anything great because I'm not. (I'm a sinner saved by grace like anyone else who has Jesus in their heart.) I share this for instruction purposes.

I'd been reading through the Old Testament book of Esther in my regular Bible reading. And I've always been struck by the fact that, on the very day Israel's enemy, Haman, had planned to destroy the Jews, God had a plan to deliver the Jews. On the very day. (Esther 9:1)

The Jews didn't know that. But God had it marked on His calendar. (God's plans take precedence over all other plans.)

I thought nothing more of it (this point the Holy Spirit impressed upon me) and went about my day and the rest of my week.

Sunday came. And what you gotta know is my Pastor has a group of people that he calls upon each Sunday to open both the first and second services with a word of encouragement / exhortation for the congregation. I just happen to have the privilege to be in this group. My family and I attend the first service.

The other thing you gotta know is he (my Pastor) never tells me ahead of time when it's my turn. He just decides on the spot. And so my wife and I joke most every Sunday, "I wonder if he'll call on you today." And I have to be ready, as the Scripture says, "In season and out," just in case. (Isn't that crazy?)

It many times comes to me when I'm jogging. Some might call it: "The word of the Lord." A timely word. An uplifting word. This Sunday God said (not audibly, you just sense it in your mind and heart), "Mike, do you remember that point you got while reading Esther? Don't forget that point you got reading Esther."

So I'm walking up to church later and I walk past my Pastor. He doesn't say anything. I think, "Yay. I don't have to speak." (The sign you're called of God is you're reluctant about it. Remember Moses?) But then, all of a sudden, my Pastor reaches out towards me and says, "Mike, can you open the service this morning?" It's always like five whole minutes before the start that this happens. (Who needs more time to be ready than that?)

"So what should I say?" is always what goes through my mind when I'm called upon. And then I go back and forth inside, "Will this work? What about that? No, that can't be what God wants. Or maybe it is?" Then I thought (on this Sunday), "Wait a minute. The point from my reading in Esther?!"

I shared the word. I sat down. We went through worship time (about 20 minutes). Then Pastor got up. He said, "I feel like the Holy Spirit wants to do something different before I preach."

Then he looked toward me and said, "Mike, I want to thank you for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit this morning. You know, even I needed to hear what you had to say."

He would go on to minister to a nearly entire congregation that raised their hands to show they were needing help with a spirit of discouragement they'd been battling that week.

You still get up in front of everybody and you wonder if what you're bringing is timely. :)

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Proverbs 25:11; KJV)

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The Day I Found Myself on a Nude Beach

You read the title right.

Yes, I was a Christian at the time.

And the beach was marked: "Public." (I'd gone jogging on it many times.)

Which brings me to the story.

It was 1985. I was with my friend sitting on our towels. (Yes, we both had our swimming suits on.) We were listening to Christian music like we usually did.

Then it happened.

My friend turned to me and said, "Mike (I wasn't a Pastor yet), do you see that couple walking way over there?" I put my hands up to my eyes like a lookout. He went on, "I don't think they have any clothes on." Naaaah, I thought. But it was true.

They kept coming.

My friend spoke again, "I think they're walking towards us." Oh great, I thought. (I usually think like that when something crazy is about to happen.)

Sure enough, the couple was not only walking towards us (why couldn't they go talk to someone else?), but when they arrived they stood right there in front of us, birthday suits and all.

I have one question.

So where do you "look" in such a situation? Hmm? I mean, do you look up in the sky? "Lovely day we're having." Do you look to the left? Do you look to the right? (Now that would be rude.) Do you play like you've lost something in the sand: "Excuse me, I seem to have lost a quarter. I know it's somewhere around here. I had it a second ago"?

My friend and I probably did all those things.

And I don't remember the conversation. Not one word. I was rather "distracted."

(And then when they left, where do you look then?)

I know that those who don't know or love Jesus approach the subject of nudity and sex differently. (My friend and I were committed to what the Bible says about the subject that day on the beach. I am still to this day. He's already gone on to be with the Lord in heaven.) The one approach (Christ's, ours) to nudity and sex brings life (waiting until marriage); the other (the world's, lust) brings only death (sin is pleasurable for a season).

I remember in a Bible study setting years ago that the speaker said you should be able to witness to / share your faith with Raquel Welch (I'm dating myself).

Self control is a fruit of the Spirit after all. (This post is meant for men and women.)

"How can a young man (woman) keep his (her) way pure? By keeping it according to Your word." (Psalm 119:9)

"'I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman (man).'" (Job 31:1; NIV)

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Drug Bust

God spoke to me. He said: "Go over to David's house." (The name's been changed to protect the innocent.)

So I went.

I knocked on the door. No one answered. I knocked again. Still no answer. I knocked a third time. I thought about leaving. But God had told me to go? (You begin to wonder.) I began to call out, "David. It's Pastor Mike."

Finally the door opened.

It was a nice house. It had nice stuff. A nice couch. Nice appliances. A big screen TV. You name it. But there was something wrong. Drug dealing was going on. Major drug dealing. (You could sense the wicked spirits.)

It wasn't safe.

I told David he needed to get right with God. (He'd been to my church before.) I told David he needed to serve Lord completely ~ that he shouldn't put it off.

I left.

Can you guess where a big drug bust went down the next day?

"David" was sent to prison.

I would meet with him there, too.

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• 10 People Who Won't Be in Heaven After They Die
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Humbled

I was humbled. Not once. Not twice. But three times. How much "humiliation" can a person take? (Philippians 2:5-11)

It's a good thing to be "humbled." It breaks the back of pride.

The first way I was humbled is I had to confess my sin to another person in public.

I had a bad attitude with an accounts manager at our bank. After that meeting I told God I would say I was sorry (admit my sin) if I ever ran into that person again. This is months later now. This person never works at the teller window. I mean, never. Except today she was. And guess who went to her window?

The second way I was humbled is I had to pay $100 at the gas station. It wasn't for gas. It was for something else.

You see, I'd driven away with the handle to the gas pump still in my tank and ripped it clean away. My 13-year old daughter was with me. She got to see up close and personal how a dad who loves Jesus deals with an accident. He doesn't get angry. He doesn't throw a fit. He submits to the powers that be ~ to whatever they decide is reconciliation / repayment / restitution.

The third way I was humbled was when I got home and told my wife what happened.

I wasn't able to get through on the cell phone so this is the first time she heard it. And she looked at me sternly. (She needed to.) And she said, "Mike, you can't continue to keep the schedule you're keeping." She was right. I've been burning the candle on both ends with social media, etc. (And here I am writing this blog post!) It's been affecting my judgment and my alertness.

I need to be more balanced. (Pray for me.) If the devil can't stop you from doing something, he'll get you to overdo that something.

Is there an area in your life that you need to be "humbled"?

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• Dangerous
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6 Scriptures on Falling Away from the Faith (in 30 seconds)

Six Scriptures on Falling Away (in 30 seconds)

God knows just the right time to... (tweet)

(click picture to enlarge)

"Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances." (Proverbs 25:11)

How to Tell If You're Being Deceived (in 30 seconds)

Saying Goodbye and 6 Lessons for When You're "Leaving"

"And after He (Jesus) had said these things, He was lifted up (ascended into the sky) while they (the disciples) were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9)

I'm saying "goodbye" to my oldest daughter who is going away to college. And so I've got "leaving" on my heart and in my mind. I'm also dealing with the onset of "empty nest" syndrome and discovering what that really is and feels like.

And we've all "left" somewhere and something for somewhere and something else. (Right?) We've all had to say, "Goodbye," before. It could be to a particular individual (relationship). It could be to a place. It could be to our family or to a job or to a church or community group ~ it may have even been to a dream ~ and we had to leave whatever it was behind to move on and go forward in our life.

It isn't always easy to do ~ to "leave." But in many instances if we don't, it can actually do us and the people we care about harm. (Who was that last statement for?)

And so with going away in mind I'd now like to offer the following list from the Scriptures (and I guess these are really meant for my daughter and me, too?).

Here are...

6 Lessons for When You're "Leaving":

JESUS. He ascends in the clouds to God's throne. (Acts 1:9) The disciples stand (paralyzed?) looking into the sky. (Acts 1:10) The angel must tell them to move on. (Acts 1:11)

1st lesson: It's okay to remember the past, but be careful not to live in the past.

ELIJAH. He's caught away by a whirlwind to heaven. (2 Kings 2:11) Elijah's mantle is left behind for Elisha to take up. (2 Kings 2:12-13)

2nd lesson: A past relationship often serves as the template for a future purpose.(2 Kings 2:14-15)

JACOB. He deceives his brother, Esau, to the point that Esau wants to kill him. (Genesis 27:41) Jacob flees according to his mother's instruction. (Genesis 27:42-45) On his journeys, Jacob will ultimately be "dislocated" of his deceptive tendency (Genesis 32:25) and discover Esau's animosity has lessened. (Genesis 33:1-11)

3rd lesson: Just because we leave under the worst of scenarios and circumstances does not negate God's ability to bring about a redeeming of the situation and our lives.

HAGAR. Sarah demands that Abraham's mistress, Hagar, be sent away with her son. (Genesis 21:9-14) On her journey, Hagar's water runs out. (Genesis 21:15) She can't bear to see her son die. (Genesis 21:16) But God hears the boy's cry, tells his mother, Hagar, there's hope and shows her another water source. (Genesis 21:17-19)

4th lesson: Jesus said it: "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5c) Did you need to hear it?

JOSEPH. He prophesies to his brothers about a hopeful future and then dies. Some 440 years later, Israel enters the Promised Land just like Joseph said. (Genesis 50:24-26)

5th lesson: What God's spoken to you, He will do! (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6)

RUTH. Naomi decides to return to Israel. (Ruth 1:6) Her two daughters-in-law accompany her initially, but then Naomi tells them not to come. (Ruth 1:7-13) One daughter-in-law goes back, but Ruth will not abandon Naomi. Instead, she chooses to leaves her own home and family. (Ruth 1:14-19a)

6th lesson: Sometimes we go somewhere and it's for a totally different purpose than we thought. Ruth will become a part of the lineage of the Messiah after all! (Matthew 1:5)

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Evil People, Dying to Self and 7 Responses When You're Wronged

"'But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.'" (Matthew 5:39)

A professor in Bible college once told my class (of future pastors), "Don't go into the ministry unless you're ready to die." (It's funny what you remember from two decades ago.)

Of course, we really didn't know what that meant ~ because, until you're truly in the middle of something, experiencing it up close and personal (versus reading it in a book), that's the real classroom (the "school of hard knocks").

And it never feels good when you're mistreated, wronged, tricked, lied to, manipulated, taken advantage of, stolen from, your name is smeared, etc. (Been there? Done that?)

And when it really, really, really does hurt (like a slap in the face, punch in the gut, kick in the shins) is when the ill will comes from another "believer."

And yet it's part of the death process that my professor talked about for ministers (isn't it?) ~ and Christians, too ~ where we die to self (our fleshly responses to abuse) and embrace the life of Christ (the way He would respond to abuse).

And every single one of us is guilty of abusing Him (Jesus). We are. (Romans 3:23) And He's turned the cheek time and time and time again with us. He has. (Luke 23:34a)

And we're so good at sticking our chests out and parading about what spiritual stars we are.

But then we're wronged (and sometimes it's very, very deeply) and what's our response?

Here are seven choices...

7 Responses When You're Wronged:

1. Pray for the wrongdoer.
2. Wash their feet. (Jesus did with Judas.)
3. Truly forgive. (The prisoner forgiveness really frees is you.)
4. Break off the relationship. (Many times you just have to.)
5. Consider areas of wrongdoing towards others in your own life. (Matthew 7:3)
6. Avoid being suspicious of others.
7. Steer clear of bitterness.

(To listen to Matthew West's song: Forgiveness, click here.)

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Men Jesus Called (video teaching series)

(For the entire Men Jesus Called teaching series by Richard @mcProdigal and Mike @aheartforgod, click here.)

So Where Are Your Eyes? (plus podcast)

(To listen to the podcast of this post, click here.)

Pastor Mike here. Hebrews 12:2 reads: "Fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith."

So where are your eyes?

Our eyes can be on problems.

Our eyes can be on politics (or a politician).

Our eyes can be on a Pastor (or the Pope).

Our eyes can be on people (pleasing peers or parents).

Our eyes can be on a place (a past job or community where we felt secure ~ and we're trying to get back there).

Our eyes can be on pain (past or present).

Our eyes can be on our purpose in life.

Our eyes can be on prosperity preachers.

Our eyes can even be on pornography.

So where are your eyes?

They're supposed to be on the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

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7 Thoughts on Christian Relationships (tweetcast)

I want to talk about an area of thinking and approach that is very helpful to me when it comes to relating to people. (And so this is really an 8th thought on Christian relationships to go along with the other 7 below.)

I call it: "Level of relationship."

And what I mean by "Level of relationship" I'd like to explain by using a friend of mine from the past. He used to share some of the minutest details of his personal life and feelings with just about anyone he met. (Selah~pause to reflect) The problem arose (and he would take offense, my friend would be offended by) when the person he shared with would respond in what he (my friend) would perceive as a cold, stand off-ish, uncaring, unfeeling, non-empathetic manner. (I would just shake my head.)

What was happening with my friend is he was expecting a deeper (warmer) response from individuals with whom he had no relationship (having just met them or except maybe by acquaintance).

Bottom line: Don't share deep stuff except with people you know. (It will help your peace of mind.)

And don't lay expectations on others of how they must receive/relate to you. (People do this all the time with Pastors/people in leadership in the church especially.)

Determine "level of relationship" first. And then relate at that level (acquaintance to acquaintance, friend to friend, close friend to close friend). If God wants the relationship to go to a deeper level (than it already is), He is well able to make that happen.

Which brings me to a re-broadcast of a "tweetcast" on Christian relationships. (A "tweetcast" is a series of tweets on a particular subject sent via Twitter.)

Here are (feel free to tweet these yourself)...

7 Thoughts on Christian Relationships (tweetcast):

1. The will (and ministry) of God requires saying "yes" to some relationships and "no" to others

2. Christian relationships are different. The goal? To enhance your brother or sister (or spouse's) relationship w/God. Jesus more, you less

3. Share life details only at the level of relationship. Go from casual to closer to intimacy. Takes time. Make people earn your trust

4. If ur gonna get close 2 anybody means u must b vulnerable. Also, means u will get hurt from time 2 time. Forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive!

5. It's ok 2 have online (Christian) relationships. What's not okay is 2 replace (neglect) crucial offline (Christian) relationships due 2 them

6. Put Jesus Christ first and all other relationships will be right. Put yourself first and all other relationships will be wrong

7. Ur 2 best relationships in life will b the same as Much Afraid's in the book, Hinds' Feet on High Places. Their names? -> Sorrow & Suffering

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Lust, Love and 7 Things You Need to Know About Temptation

"They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted." (Hebrews 11:37a)

Are you being tempted? Dictionary.com describes temptation as: "the act of tempting; enticement or allurement."

My Open Bible goes further, saying temptation is: "a testing designed to strengthen or corrupt."

And I guess the main thing I want you to think about before getting to the 7 things you need to know about temptation is that it comes from within, not without.

James says: "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust." (James 1:14) Do you see that there? Look at the verse again.

And so it's our own lust that is at work during temptation. It's our own lust that entices us. It's our own lust that carries us away.

Lust is not just about sex. Lust is: "a passionate or overmastering desire or craving [for]" power or position or prestige or a person, etc. Lust is the counterfeit of love.

Love chooses for the highest HELP (good) of the object of its affection. Lust chooses for the highest HURT.

Remember that the next time you're being tempted ~ along with the following...

7 Things You Need to Know About Temptation:

1. No one is immune. (Moses, David, Peter all were tempted.)
2. It can last a long time. (Potiphar's wife enticed Joseph for sex over and over and over again.)
3. Giving in can destroy everything. (Samson gave in to Delilah and lost his eyes.)
4. There is a way of escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
5. Jesus overcame so that we could, too. (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15)
6. God is sovereign over temptation. (Matthew 6:13a)
7. Talking to somebody can help break its power. (James 5:16; Proverbs 15:22)

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• A Prescription for Victory Against Temptation
• The "Big Three" (sins)

On the Topic of Dreams, Dreaming and Dreamers

"It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams." (Joel 2:28; See also Acts 2:17)

Have you ever had a "dream"? I'm not just talking about any ol' dream. I'm talking about a dream that's unique, that stands out. A dream that gripped or troubled you? A dream that stuck with you, your mind just wouldn't let it go (it couldn't)? A dream that you had once or twice (or three times or four)? A dream that you wondered what it meant? A dream that gave you much joy or incredible dread? I'm not just talking about any ol' dream.

The Bible has much to say about dreams and dreaming and people who dreamed. (That's Jacob's dream of a ladder in the picture with the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Read about it in Genesis 28:10-17)

I happen to be a "dreamer" myself. (You'll find out more about that in just a moment.) And so it's important to me to be clear about dreams 'cuz it's just too easy to become weird about dreaming and go off the deep end. (Know anybody like that?)

The following 7 points on the topic of dreams were first broadcast on Twitter in 7 tweets (a "tweetcast" ~ each is 140 characters or less).

And so here we go with...

On the Topic of Dreams, Dreaming and Dreamers:
(feel free to tweet these yourself if you like)

Unger’s Bible Dictionary: [Dreams are] a domain of experience, having an intellectual, ethical, & spiritual significance #dreams #tweetcast

Dreams can have a futuristic aspect 2 them. (Cupbearer&Baker in Gen 40) Is God trying 2 tell u what’s 2 come,good or bad? #dreams #tweetcast

Sometimes prudence dictates keeping our dreams 2 ourselves (pride lurks, people misunderstand) Gen 37:5-11 #dreams #tweetcast

God uses dreams 2 warn people about sin (Abimelech~Gen 20; Laban~Gen 31:24; wife of Pilate~Mt 27:19). If ur sinning, stop #dreams #tweetcast

Joseph's dream (Jesus' earthly dad) confirmed Mary’s visitation and God’s will 4 them. Mt1:18-25; Lk1:26-38 #dreams #tweetcast

There r dreams that r a figment of 1’s imagination. (Jer23:16,25-32) Believers need 2 b careful 2 (if pizza was 4 dinner) #dreams #tweetcast

A recent dream I had:When We Lose Ourselves (Identity Theft) R lives should not b ruled by dreams, but by Christ(Eccl5:7) #dreams #tweetcast

(Picture above of Jacob's Ladder in the public domain: click here.)

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Don't worry about what others think... (tweet)

(click picture to enlarge)

"'I have loved you with an everlasting love.'" (Jeremiah 31:3b)

7 Reasons Why God Allows Wicked People to Rule

"Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel." (1 Kings 16:30-31a)

Why does God allow wicked people to rule? It's a question many people ask. (Have you ever asked it?)

We ask it especially when we find ourselves oppressed, our lives made miserable, our security shaken ~ and it's due to other people's rulership over us ~ whether it's a boss, parent, politician, etc. ~ or it could even be a church leader for that matter. Why does God allow such (quote) "evil men and women" (see verses above) to assume positions of power / exercise, take control?

Well, part of it includes that these have free will just like everyone else. It's a sad fact that there are people (in a fallen world) who choose to beat down (via laws, a heavy hand, ungodly passions and thinking, wickedness) their constituents, employees, sons, daughters, wives, congregation ~ and it's their own choice to do so.

And it's one thing to say you're a Christian while all the while you do unChristian things and promote an ungodly lifestyle. (All "kings" who have an ear, let them hear.)

And there's more to it...

7 Reasons Why God Allows Wicked People to Rule:

Reason #1: So that we might distinguish between unrighteousness and righteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)

Reason #2: So that we might choose between unrighteousness and righteousness in our own lives. (Revelation 13:1-4)

Reason #3: So that a righteous leader might arise to stand against the unrighteous him or her. (Exodus 3:10)

Reason #4: Because we ourselves have sinned and turned from God and He needs to get our attention and draw us back. (Judges 3:7-11)

Reason #5: So that we will set our hearts upon our eternal home and not get so comfortable in this one. (Matthew 6:21)

Reason #6: So as to allow for the person in charge an opportunity for repentance. (Jonah 3:6-10; Romans 2:4b)

Reason #7: So that we might turn our gaze upon (especially if we've been distracted from) the only Person worthy of ruling over people's lives. (Isaiah 9:6)

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