know the Bible

Healthy Hunger

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Hunger is a good thing. It is a gift from God that tells us when we need to replenish the food that fuels our bodies. However, you need wisdom to know how to feed your hunger. For instance some foods are almost addictive, but they contain useless calories. Meanwhile other foods may not be as tasty but they contain the nutrients your body needs.

As I have gotten older, I have learned that I must control what I eat and drink. Sometimes I like a soft drink but I have found water to be the ultimate thirst quencher. Within reason cake and candy is alright, but fruits and vegetables are always better for you. Because of His goodness God has given us taste buds so that we can enjoy food and drink. God has declared all food and drink to be good. But as with all good things, the key to healthy hunger is moderation.

Okay, now you have received advice on eating from a old guy with diabetes. But I don’t really want to talk about eating the right food. I want to talk about having a healthy hunger. Proverbs 15:14 says; “ A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while a fool feeds on trash.” I am a physical diabetic today because for years I ate trash and junk food without moderation. Most of us today are spiritual diabetics because of the unmoderated trash that we have put into our heads, hearts and spirits. God says we need to develop a healthy hunger for righteous knowledge.

Hunger is a good thing. But feed your soul wisely. Stop feeding your mind junk and trash. Become addicted to righteous knowledge and develop a healthy hunger for God’s Holiness. Do this and you will defeat the spiritual diabetes that has crippled so many Christians.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends,

Y’all come to see us sometime.

A Man After God’s Own Heart

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When I was about fifteen years old, a Godly man named Jack McVeigh, became pastor of Falling Creek BC. Brother Jack was one of those old fashioned pastors, who proved his love of God, by loving the people of his community. Jack was a visiting preacher. It was not unusual to see his car driving through the neighborhood as he went from door to door sharing Jesus and inviting people to church. One day he stopped at our house, and the next Sunday we went to church. And we continued to go every Sunday.

My family is large. The day that Jack McVeigh came to visit us there were eleven people in that house, nine children and my mama and daddy. It was a good day for Brother Jack and for Falling Creek Church because that day a small country church added eleven people to its roll. If this was the end of the story it would be really good story, but it’s not. It is only the beginning.

My brothers and sisters and I have all married and have children and grandchildren. This family of eleven has grown to almost eighty people. Most of us have given our lives to Christ. In our family there is one preacher, at least five deacons, a lot of youth leaders and many Sunday School teachers. I truly believe that my extended family is having a positive impact on the world because of our love of Jesus and willingness to work for His Kingdom. It all started almost fifty years ago when a faithful man of God visited our family and asked us to come to church.

The Bible teaches that we are to go into all the world making disciples and teaching them about Jesus. When God asked, “ Who will go for me?” Jack McVeigh answered and said,” Here am I Lord, send me.” He was given the power of the Holy Spirit, and through the lives of the many people that he has reached with the Gospel, Brother Jack has truly gone into the whole world making disciples.

And so I say. Thank you Brother Jack for your Godly influence in my family. Thank you for sharing Jesus with my family and asking us to come to church. By your love and faithfulness you have proven that you are, A man after God’s own heart.

Douglas Huff

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More Than Conquerors

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What is a conqueror? A conqueror is someone who enters into battle with the knowledge that he might lose. Yet with courage and determination he pours all he has into the battle seeking to overcome the enemy. Hoping that he will be victorious.

However, the Bible tells us that a child of God is more than a conqueror. What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? Well, a person who is more than a conqueror knows that the fight is fixed and he cannot lose. As we enter the battle, we know that we can be wounded and injured. There will be times when we are frightened and discouraged. And yet, we are more than conquerors, because we have the assurance that whoever is born again has already overcome the world. Our hope is in Christ and He has already made us victorious.

Yes, those of us who are more than conquerors are assured of victory before the battle even begins. When Moses demanded that Pharaoh let the Israelites go, Pharaoh was already defeated. The walls of Jericho could not stand, because Joshua obeyed the instructions of the Commander of the Army of the Lord. And the giant Goliath had no chance against a little shepherd boy, because David knew that the battle belonged to the Lord.

We have this promise, if God is for us then no one can stand against us. So, I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable can defeat us. If Jesus is your Lord, absolutely nothing can come between you and God’s love. Victory is ours because in Christ we are More than Conquerors

Douglas Huff

From Down Where the Pavement Ends

Nothing But the Truth

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The old man sat in a corner of the church enjoying the worship service. He was the best preacher and teacher in the church, but he seldom spoke anymore. He was old and he was tired so he had passed the baton to another generation. But in recent months, he had begun to be concerned about the things being taught to the congregation. The pure Gospel of Jesus Christ was being changed to appeal to a larger audience. Many were teaching that Jesus was not a real person and that He was not the only way to the Father. The old man determined he must speak out. He would tolerate nothing, but the truth.

With strength in his legs and firmness in his voice which he had not felt in months, he stood and began to speak. This is how his message began “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life” Yes, the old man was John the beloved, the one whom Jesus loved. He was the last of the generation that had eaten fish with Jesus. He had leaned against the breast of the Master. He had watched the Savior die and he saw Him live again. He, the one whom Jesus loved, would never let the Lover of his soul be marginalized by any teaching that was not the truth.

John stood as a wall that was intolerant of false teachers. He proclaimed that Jesus is alive and we can walk with Him and talk with Him. He taught that the Son of God was the only one who could stand for us as an advocate before the Father. John knew that the Holy Spirit bore witness to the Truth. He also knew that the Antichrist had evil spirits speaking through many false prophets. John’s writings teach us, if we are children of God we will be obedient to God. And if we are obedient to God, we will tolerate nothing but the truth about the Savior .

Jesus is the one who was from the beginning. With my ears I have heard His voice and with my eyes I have seen his love. His breath has breathed life into my soul and His touch has guided my steps. Like John, I have been heartbroken when man made doctrines have guided people into hell. Now while many preachers are arguing the finer points of Calvinism and Arminianism, I have determined to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. Jesus Christ is the living Savior. This is truth. I challenge all who hear and read these words. Stand on the Word of God, accept only the truth and nothing but the truth.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

The Word of God

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Down through the years the Word of God has been written in many places, on many things and in many ways. It has been carved in stone, written on parchment and in Daniel’s day it was God’s handwriting on a wall. Jesus read scripture from a papyrus scroll and prisoners of war have written from memory passages of scripture on pieces of toilet paper.

For centuries it was painstakingly copied by hand and then at the end of the dark ages the printing press brought light to the world by giving the Bible to common men. Once upon a time we watched mimeograph machines roll out the scripture. Now laser jet printers give it to us in the blink of an eye. From the shelves of my study, I can choose to read God’s word from about twenty five different translations or I can open my computer and read from even more.

Down thru the years people have tried to destroy it, discredit it and dispute it but they have never been able to ignore it. Tyrants have tried to wipe it from the face of the earth but the Bible is still here and they are not. Today, there are those who wish to outlaw the Bible in schools, courthouses and on the airways. These people are evil and one day they will bow at the feet of Jesus who is the Word of God.

This you can count on, God’s Word will never go away.

I know that nothing is permanent. Where God’s Word is written in stone, one day the stone will be turned into gravel. Where God’s Word is written on paper, one day the paper will burn. Where God’s Word is written on lambskin, one day the lambskin will rot. But God’s Word will never fail. I know God’s Word will never fail because God’s Word is written in my heart. And my heart belongs to God.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

Finish Strong

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Joash was a King of the nation of Judah. His mentor and advisor was a priest named Jehoiada. For many years the King was a great leader. Because of the influence of Jehoiada he made wise decisions and his leadership was pleasing to God. For this reason the nation was blessed. But then, Jehoiada died.

With the death of his Godly mentor, Joash lost his mooring. He then surrounded himself with ungodly men who led him to make poor choices. These men influenced the King to turn from worshiping God. This led to great suffering in Judah. The first part of his reign was filled with greatness, the second part was marred with failure. Joash was a good man who listened to the advice of wicked people, for this reason he died in shame and disgrace.

A local college football team was often encouraged by their coach to “Finish the drill”.

The coach was telling them to stay focused on the goal. They had to stay strong, remain grounded in their training and finish what they started. King Joash was a good man who started strong. But he did not remain grounded in his faith and he did not finish the drill.

Years ago I was watching the World Series when the announcer made a profound statement. He said that the championship teams did not get to the top by practicing the doing of great things. These teams were great champions because they hit the field every day and practiced simple and fundamental baseball. Practice keeping both hands on the glove and the impossible over the shoulder catches will come.

In the Bible Jesus promised that we can do great things. However, He taught us to do the simple things. As children of God, the greatest trophy we can hope to receive is to hear Jesus say “Well done My good and faithful servant.” This will happen only if we stay focused on the fundamentals. We must read the Bible daily, pray constantly and surround ourselves with Godly people.

Remember, it does not matter where you started, it is where you finish that counts. So focus on God, be led by the Holy Spirit, put on the mind of Christ, and finish strong.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Hezekiah

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In the history of the Kings of Judah, Hezekiah was one of the best. He led His nation well and did many great things. However toward the end of his reign he did something stupid. (read this story in 2 Kings Ch.20) This thing that he did was a product of him doing what was right in his own eyes and the result was death and destruction for his children, grandchildren and nation.

Honestly, when I read his story I feel sorry for Hezekiah. After all he was a good man, who made one very bad decision. Afterwards the prophet Isaiah came to him with this message; “the king of Babylon will invade your nation.Your descendants will become slaves and eunuchs and your people will be scattered.”

Hezekiah responds by saying; “ well, at least there will be peace in my lifetime”. Whenever I read his response I am horrified. I wonder, how could anyone be so cold and callous about the future suffering of their children and grandchildren?

It is true, at some time in our lives all of us have done stupid things. Thankfully for most of us the result of our bad choices will not be as bad it was for Hezekiah. However you must know that every thing you do, small or great will have some impact on your and your children’s future. That is why it is important never to do anything simply because it looks good in your own eyes.

One more thing! What is your grandchildren’s future worth to you? Will you speak out while others stay silent ? Will you rise up for the battle while others stay home ? Will you stand up against evil, even when people call you a fool? Or will you be like Hezekiah and say, “ just let me have peace in my lifetime ?”

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Email- pavementendsministry@gmail.com

Get Up and Walk

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He had been coming to this pool for thirty-eight years. He was crippled, unable to move without someone helping him. The legend said that the first one in the pool after the water moved would be healed. Multitudes of sick people surrounded him. Because of his disability, someone else always got there first when the water was stirred

One day Jesus showed up and asked the crippled man, “Do you want to be made well.” Now some people might consider this to be a dumb question. After all, wasn’t it evident that this crippled man was there hoping for a miracle? However, we don’t know the whole story. But Jesus did. Maybe, the Lord knew that all the man needed to do to overcome his infirmity was to get up, take up his bed and walk.

Jesus is asking us today, “Do you want to be made well?” For as long as I can remember I have heard Christians talk about the need for revival. I and other pastors have dreamed of a great spiritual awakening. Congregations all over the world are wondering how they can keep their sick churches from dying. Meanwhile, we go into our buildings, pull the doors closed behind us, and hope for a supernatural movement to stir the waters.

Christians, it is time to stop waiting for a high-powered evangelist to bring revival. Get up, walk into your neighborhoods, and turn the world upside down with the Gospel. Pastors let’s stop preaching our puny little self-help sermonettes. Boldly preach the Word of God no matter who it offends.

When the people in the pews can no longer ignore their sins, there will soon be a great awakening. Congregations, you need to stop worrying about your church. Jesus said: “I will build My Church”! Your job is to go into the world and make disciples.

Do we want to be made well? If we do, then we have got to get up and walk. The Kingdom of God is at hand. We don’t have any time to waste. Let’s stop waiting for someone else to stir the water and go make a big splash ourselves.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends