Participants:
Series Code: CW
Program Code: CW000040S
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00:04 Welcome everyone. We're excited to share some country
00:07 wisdom with you King Solomon had a thing 00:10 or two to say about the path to wisdom in proverbs 4, 00:13 he wrote let your eyes look directly forward 00:16 and your gaze be straight before you 00:20 keep straight the path of your feet and all your ways 00:23 will be sure join us now for Country wisdom. 00:32 If I love 00:48 being here, if you can imagine I'm gonna 00:51 see grew up in a caboose which really didn't grow up and it 00:54 was in the backyard and a good playhouse that was 00:57 from Southern Pacific this we're obviously in a completely 01:00 different area of the country, but who hasn't heard 01:03 of the Chattanooga Choo. Yeah, even if you've never heard of 01:05 Glenn Miller who made this famous 01:08 After no, well, there's Glenn 01:11 Miller who wrote at 1945 Chattanooga Choo 01:14 Choo. How do you know all these things? I don't know were there. 01:16 Oh, no, I was not come on 01:21 get to the topic what you would love to have been in this station. 01:24 Yeah in its Hay Day just incredible. I mean 01:27 today you've got some tourists around we got 01:30 a lot of rain, which is probably why we don't have too many 01:32 tourists to been 01:36 here when this Depot was just 01:39 running over with people, you know, 01:42 moving back and forth trying to find the right track trying to 01:45 find which train they wanted to be on figuring out. 01:48 You know, where do I go if I want to get to Philadelphia and 01:55 It occurred to me though, you know as much as I would have loved to have 01:57 been back at the height of the rail travel in the 02:01 We're all traveling somewhere. 02:04 You might think especially in this, you know last year 02:07 with pandemic craziness that nothing 02:10 in our lives was moving forward, but 02:15 There really isn't, you know, you're either going one way 02:18 or another way. There's there's no stopping in this 02:21 life and unfortunately here for you 02:25 know, the end we're all born with an incurable disease 02:26 called Death 02:28 That's where we all end up in this life. And 02:31 if you are not actively trying to stay on 02:34 track, you will just slowly or 02:38 not. So slowly in some cases drift off 02:40 and all of a sudden you're nowhere 02:43 near you're you're preferred destinations. No, I move 02:47 your desire too. And if my desire, I don't want to end up 02:49 just with this life being it. 02:52 I don't know. 02:54 No, that would be that's a horribly dark 02:57 dystopian Vision. Yeah, if this 03:00 was all there is seven years. Maybe that's it. 03:03 You know, nothing some may get a little longer some certainly 03:06 Less in the times in which we live. But God 03:09 has another plan for us, you know always best. 03:12 He's got the ultimate destination in mind I 03:16 You know, what's what's going on? And I listen and 03:19 I'm not pointing a finger at any particularly creature, but 03:22 there's a lot of creatures out there that are seeing things 03:25 that aren't really good. I mean 03:28 you play back in the early church. The apostles 03:32 were warning about false prophets false teachers. 03:34 You have to be able to pick them out. 03:37 Let me read your text what one to them to call evil 03:40 good and good evening that put dark history 03:43 white and light for darkness that put bitter 03:46 for sweet and Sweet forbidden. Does that sound like the 03:49 times and which we live that sounds like you're reading from the LA 03:53 Yeah, it does it. You know, it gets me 03:56 so much you hear these preachers today. You'll just get 03:59 here and get here, you know, it'll all be wonderful things 04:02 and that really in the case of it. No, 04:04 no. 04:14 Scientists tell us that humans have four basic needs 04:17 for survival food water air 04:20 and shelter, but Beyond 04:23 near survival. We also need to know that someone 04:25 cares about us. 04:28 And there is someone who cares someone who is 04:30 always there. 04:33 This little tract someone cares about you 04:36 is full of Bible verses that will help. You know, just 04:39 how much God cares for you. 04:43 Absolutely free. Just go to Talking Donkey international.org 04:47 and request offer number 04:48 123. 04:50 someone cares about you 04:56 I love this building and it's beautiful. 05:01 Beautiful and imagine it filled with people all 05:04 looking for their destination. They know where they want 05:07 to go. So you're just looking for the big sign that would say, 05:10 you know Boston this way Chicago that direction 05:13 you I got to tell you I think you're seeing and 05:17 visualizing all the ladies and you know, 05:18 the late 1800 early 1900 Deep South. 05:22 Yeah, I'd look better with a course at that. 05:26 But the advantage the reason I mentioned those big signs 05:29 if you were headed for Chicago, you see 05:32 the sign this way to Chicago and wouldn't 05:36 it be nice if in real life you actually had 05:38 signs, you know popping up going this 05:41 way to the direction wherever it is you're wanting to 05:44 go because I don't know about you but I've made decisions 05:47 in my life, where at the time they 05:50 seemed reasonable and I didn't realize where 05:53 that either LED or could easily have 05:56 lid. I don't even want to talk about, you know, 05:59 you've had a lot more twist and turns 06:02 out and and all those there were 06:05 Guided by me and my choices were all bad choices, you 06:08 know earlier you were mentioning though that there 06:12 Pastors preachers televangelists, whatever 06:15 who aren't leading their flock 06:18 in the right direction. You wouldn't think that would 06:21 exist. It's very interesting because the Bible also talks about 06:25 Shepherds that are preaching to itching ears in 06:28 other words to those they want to hear certain things and they 06:31 like and they glum on of those things and today it really 06:35 bothers me could hear some of the great 06:37 preachers I won't say where but but they're 06:41 talking about this tremendous Prosperity. You give to God right 06:43 now brother, you know, I can feel it. I know that when you send in your 06:46 200 dollar check God's Gonna bless, you know, and of 06:50 course there have been scandals with certain pastors 06:52 who maybe shouldn't have had as much 06:55 as they had they were taking a bit more from the till 06:58 than they should have and you really looking you 07:01 talk about Prosperity. They're the ones are really got 07:04 the prosperity. But the Prosperity Gospel is actually 07:07 a thing. Yeah, sometimes it's called 07:09 the name and claim it. I haven't 07:14 saw a place where they refer to it. It's the 07:15 blabbit and grab it gospel. 07:18 But there are a lot of people who really 07:21 believe in that and I can understand why because on the surface. 07:25 It seems reasonable doesn't God want us to be healthy 07:28 and happy he does Malachi talks about, you know, prove God, you 07:31 know, you give to God and he'll pour out a blessing 07:33 so there is truth to them. 07:36 But you also look at say somebody like job. 07:40 Job was a absolute man. After God's Own hearted like 07:43 job did everything that God won and God did 07:46 bless that man in a mighty way. I mean houses 07:49 and children and the list went 07:52 on and on probably the richest man in the whole Realm. 07:55 But then one day the devil came up ain't the only 07:58 reason he worshiped you is because all the stuff you've given it. 08:01 And God says well, you know, go ahead 08:04 see what you can do. He's faithful to me. 08:07 And so God knew the heart of them man is 08:10 why he knew he could trust him with the stuff. Yeah, 08:14 because he could trust him even without the 08:16 stuff. Yeah, and and that proved out. We know 08:19 that in the story in Job that that the devil came 08:22 in wiped out everything took everything in his 08:26 Except his wife which was kind of interesting because 08:29 she'd had so many problems through all this too. 08:32 And she said now why don't you just curse God and die, you know, 08:35 let's just get it over with you know, I kind of 08:38 like clearly depressed. Oh totally depressed and and you know, 08:42 I mean no I can relate joke was 08:45 pretty depressed too. He called out to God in for 37 08:48 chapters. God didn't say a word. 08:50 Not a word, you know, just letting go on here 08:53 and see how he does and his buddies came to 08:56 him and said it's because you did something against God that's well 08:59 this troubles going on. That was the prevailing feeling. Yeah 09:02 that if you were doing well clearly God 09:06 loved you and if you weren't doing 09:09 Well, yeah, but it 09:12 absolutely there's no such thing in 09:15 the Bible that talks about, you know, you give this 09:18 to God this money to God or this thing that God 09:21 and he won't reciprocate. It just doesn't work like 09:24 that. God wants to trust you first with taking his 09:28 life into you and then 09:31 exit. Well now maybe I'll bless you in a certain way. 09:35 I saw something once that I think it was probably a T-shirt and it 09:38 said, you know dear Lord, 09:41 please let me win the lottery so I can prove to you that it won't 09:43 change me. 09:46 and we laughed at that but 09:49 Obviously, I think for most 09:52 people what scripture actually teaches 09:55 is that wealth won't 09:59 necessarily get you where you want to go. In 10:01 fact it it can lead you right off 10:03 track. Look at Solomon. 10:06 There's good example. I mean Solomon tremendous if 10:09 his relationship with God just seen Rock 10:11 Solid and 10:14 guns us. What do you want? I just want more of your 10:17 spirit Lord. And so God gives him more of the spirit 10:20 and God says and because that's what you asked for. I will 10:23 just point out the rest you get all the rest on top of it. Yeah wisdom 10:26 and riches and so you follow the rest of 10:29 the man's life. And what do you see? 10:31 He got off track totally off track. Yeah 10:34 down and down and down and down and you 10:37 get to the final chapters when he looks at all the stuff and I 10:40 mean this man you talk about the wealth and the gold mines and the 10:44 Thousand concubines, you know all these things, you 10:47 know and and castles and wealth and he gets to 10:50 the end. It's Advantage vanity all is not anything 10:53 to him. None of the minute thing. He almost 10:55 lost his own way. 10:58 Because of all the riches right it took his 11:00 Focus off of God. 11:03 I think Christ said something about 11:06 a rich man having a little difficulty maybe 11:10 getting in the Kingdom, you know in a 11:13 camel going through eye of a needle. Now the needle was 11:15 up in the top above the Gates Right Jerusalem 11:19 when I was a kid, I thought oh, it's like my grandmother sewing 11:21 needles, you know, she made all of my clothes, but that's 11:25 actually not what the eye of the needle referred and 11:28 it's gonna be a little difficult to get a camel up there in the 11:30 first place. Even if you could fit it through that I was on a diet, you 11:34 It also says that even the disciples 11:37 had a little trouble it was like yeah, well 11:40 if I rich man can't get in heaven how do any of 11:43 us have a have a hope because they were in 11:46 that mindset that wealth Prosperity equal 11:50 God's love 11:52 You were okay with God and it's 11:55 so often the absolute opposite. 11:59 Because truly if what's known 12:02 as the Prosperity Gospel not just good Christian people 12:05 that have been blessed. There is nothing wrong per 12:09 se with owning a lot with having 12:10 a lovely house. 12:13 But if that really were the measure of 12:16 your Christianity then God 12:19 has a lot of explaining to do to his disciples. Yeah, I 12:22 think here in the South explaining it. Yeah. It's 12:25 got a lot of spleen and yeah, but whatever way 12:28 it all totally works, you know that. 12:32 You know, I I think back and I want to say that. 12:35 The preachers that are doing the Prosperity Gospel they they may 12:38 totally believe what they're saying, but I think we get 12:41 hooked into especially Ministries, you know, we have a Ministry. 12:44 We we need funding. I mean, it doesn't operate without funds but 12:47 you you put the cart before the horse you 12:50 forget that the first thing we're supposed to talk about the Gospel of Jesus 12:53 Christ and how your life can change with him in 12:57 These guys kind of get off that truck and they put the money out 12:59 there first, and I think 13:03 another thing that is a red flag 13:07 is the thought back to the the name 13:11 and claim it type of gospel because 13:15 there's so many people who buy into that if I 13:18 pray right if I say the right words if I 13:21 believe hard enough God has to give me what I've 13:24 just cleaned and in a 13:27 very subtle way or sometimes even not so subtle. 13:30 What you're doing is saying God has to do 13:32 what I want. 13:35 It's like we have a contract I've done this. So God will 13:38 do this. And that sort 13:41 of makes you bossing God around. 13:44 For one thing. I don't trust myself enough to know 13:47 whether if the things I want are actually good for me or 13:50 not. Yeah, you know, I'm often telling God God. I 13:54 really need this. I really need this thing. You've got to do this 13:55 you've got and 13:58 In the back of my brain, is that little part going? Yeah, but 14:01 thy will be done but that's kind of through clinched teeth, 14:04 you know, circling steel. Yeah. I know. It's 14:07 got to be your will but never scary once in a 14:10 while, you know, you know, you should pray this certain prayer about God take my 14:13 life do whatever you want and it's scary prick it 14:16 is and then I think why should that be 14:21 What does that say about my relationship with God that I'm afraid of 14:23 what he might do? Yeah. Yeah. I've got to find 14:27 another texture for you. I wanted to read I was thinking about it and you 14:30 know, they in Chapter 2 Verse 14:33 3 last party says and he will teach 14:35 us his ways and we will walk in his 14:38 past or on the right tracks, you know, 14:41 he's and he's got apparently more than one path. Why because there's 14:44 more than one personality, you know, your path is 14:47 not necessarily my path or Teresa rules or anybody else as 14:50 we know in our team here. We've all got different paths, but 14:53 God wants to lead us he says and 14:57 let us then therefore walk in the light of 15:00 the Lord. 15:02 And remind me of course, what is 15:04 the light to our path? 15:08 The psalmist says Thy word is a light. If 15:12 you are really following this you don't have to worry about getting off 15:14 track and ending up in a destination that you 15:17 didn't want to go to. Yeah. Yeah. No God wants 15:20 to guide everyone of us any looks in our hearts. He looks 15:23 in our lives. He looks all the way down the end of the track. 15:26 Because there is as we said, you know, there is an end 15:30 And he will guide us to the perfect ending in 15:33 this life and the journey along the way whether it 15:36 looks like that was the track we wanted or not. Yeah, exactly 15:40 speaking of tracks. I'm going to show you another area sure 15:41 chance. 15:45 Hey Janice, how are you doing? 15:48 You wrote another book. I did had a bird on my 15:51 heart and God help me get it done. 15:52 So the plan of love 15:56 What's it about? Well, it's really about God in 15:59 eternity. So everything that was going to happen here and his 16:02 amazing love. He says I'm going 16:05 to take care of the problem. I'm gonna take care of the situation by giving 16:07 my own life. 16:09 He did all that but we've 16:12 been lied to so much. We don't see what God has planned 16:15 for us what God is doing for us. 16:17 Matter of fact the angel came down to Mary and said You shall 16:21 call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their 16:24 sins notice it wasn't in but from where 16:27 can people get the book. Hey, I'm glad you asked. 16:30 Folks if you'd like your own personal copy, log on 16:33 to talking donkey international.org, you know, please if 16:36 you would send us a donation of twelve dollars or more or more 16:39 and we'll get you the book and I'll be happy to sign 16:42 it for you, too. Thank you so much. 16:48 Did you notice all the lines all the trains? There 16:51 are a lot of tracks which reminds me of something you said 16:53 inside about God taking all 16:57 of us maybe on a slightly different track. Yeah, but 17:01 we're all going to the same destination. And 17:03 because there isn't 17:06 maybe I should back up a lot of people even Christians think 17:11 there are a lot of ways and they're all 17:14 leading to the same place, but that's not true. Scripture tells 17:17 us there's one one track one path. 17:21 And so whatever track you're on it, it better 17:24 be headed for that path. So maybe I was just 17:27 kind of thinking, you know tracks come from everywhere. I was on 17:30 a track you were all we're but then God grabs a 17:34 hold of them said this is the track I want you and it's leading to 17:36 Jesus Christ. When you get to this point, then I'm 17:39 gonna take you in an amazing journey and each Journey may be 17:42 on a different track, but that's in Jesus Christ. He's there in 17:45 any other way just gonna have and it 17:48 reminds me. I thought of Paul 17:51 I used to have a real love hate relationship 17:54 with Paul. And in fact, I still kind of do there's 17:57 some of the things he says that when I meet him 17:59 in heaven and you've worded 18:03 that a little differently, yeah, but there 18:08 There's one time in particular especially in reference to 18:11 Prosperity Gospel. And is 18:14 God going to just bless you with 18:17 big homes and luxury items and the 18:20 vacation of your dreams and that'll show 18:23 how much favor you have with them because he said 18:26 that he's been there. He's he's 18:29 been in a place of prosperity. 18:33 He's been the opposite. 18:35 He's been poor. He's been, you know 18:38 cold. He's been burning hot. He's been 18:40 sick. He's been well and what he 18:44 says about it was in all things keep learning 18:47 to be content. It wasn't his goal 18:50 to be prosperous to be 18:53 physically and financially prosperous. 18:57 But it's also interesting that he said he 19:00 had learned. 19:03 To be content and took him on that daily Journey. You said 19:07 one thing else flashing on it? But it's 19:09 interesting. Jesus said the poor you always have 19:12 with you and I'm thinking well if there 19:15 any those that follow Jesus and the poor, you 19:18 know, certainly there were they just I never 19:21 frosted them for whatever reason because he's saw 19:24 the end from the beginning. 19:26 And your conditions here on Earth aren't the most 19:29 important thing and it certainly not a 19:33 judgment on whether or not you're in favor with God at 19:37 I got to tell you you remember the the story of 19:40 the the guy, you know, he wants all of his gold buried 19:43 with him. So buried all the gold gets to 19:45 heaven and Saint Peters. 19:50 What did you bring? All those paving stones here before sit in 19:55 the right Chris back? Yeah. It also 19:59 made me think of The Price is Right. 20:01 The Price is Right. Yeah, you've got 20:04 it, you know, the price is right the game show I do. Okay. 20:07 What does that have to do with our episode here? Well, my 20:10 mother always watched it. I watched it growing up as a 20:14 Didn't watch it. I think from the time of high school on because 20:17 you know, I wasn't at home that much but I 20:20 knew of the show hadn't thought 20:23 of it in years and my best friend Mary one 20:26 day comes in and she just 20:29 I want to go to The Price is Right. I want to see how it's filmed. I 20:32 want to try to get on it, you know, because I think I'd be good at 20:35 it. I've always watched it and you know, Mary Mary's, you 20:38 know, like a labrador poodle mix. 20:41 She's you know, any she gets excited about 20:43 a dog and so 20:49 she goes you want to go with me. 20:51 And I knew what the show was as I 20:54 said, it hadn't thought about it in years, but I thought 20:57 yeah, I'll get out of town with you and I'll be fun. We'll go 21:00 on a little road trip Southern California and we had 21:03 the third friend with us too all the way down. They're 21:07 talking about. Oh wouldn't it be 21:09 so cool if we got on stage and Mary's ready? It's like 21:12 I hope we play Plinko and I think 21:14 I don't know that wasn't game 21:18 that they showed in my mother's era but 21:21 she was explaining what Plainfield was you had the 21:24 highest chance of winning cash, you know, like thousands of dollars. 21:27 And so she was hoping that she'd 21:30 get on stage and she'd get Plinko and I mean, she's already 21:33 planning what she's gonna do with the money and I 21:36 tend to be more pessimistic. I like 21:40 the viewed as being realistic and 21:43 so all the way to Southern California, 21:45 I'm going look guys. They're what three 21:48 400 people in the audience. 21:51 How many get called up during the course of a game? What 21:54 are your odds? Let's just enjoy watching 21:57 the show seeing how a Hollywood 22:00 you know show is filmed. Well you get there really 22:03 early and you get to know the people around you and 22:07 I have this young man who's going. Yeah. I'm 22:09 hoping to win a car and I remember telling him he said 22:12 what are you what do you want to win? And I said, 22:16 Actually, I'm good. God has been very good to 22:19 me. I can't think of anything that I need. I'm just 22:21 here for fun. 22:24 I ended up winning the showcase showdown at the end, but it 22:27 blessed our church because the grand piano I 22:30 won is still there at church the furniture. 22:33 I won went to our pastor who was 22:36 building his own house and you know 22:39 was on a budget and pastures in on your denomination don't 22:42 have much money. No, they're not known for being wealthy and 22:45 I have to admit I kept the world's Walt carpeting 22:48 but we did need that but I have so 22:51 much fun giving away the things that I'd won on 22:54 stage and in my game and I just felt like 22:56 that was a bonus. 22:59 That at least for that moment. I was content. I'm not always. 23:02 And because of that. 23:06 I got this extra blessing praise the Lord. 23:09 This is God does want to bless us. He does want to 23:12 pour our blessings upon usage throughout scripture. He says that and 23:15 so here's the interesting situation is he 23:18 said look I want to cause you to ride on the highest mountains, 23:22 you know, that is God's desire, but 23:24 he's got to trust us but your goal 23:27 has to be doing right with God. That's right. Nothing else, right? 23:34 Welcome. I'm Steve Hicks director 23:37 of podcast Ministries for talking donkey International a 23:41 I'm inviting you to watch and share our 23:44 new daily podcast called something's happening 23:47 here Monday through Friday at 3 pm Pacific 23:50 Standard Time. 23:52 On this podcast, we will examine the big headlines of the 23:55 day and try to understand them the way that God does we'll 23:59 talk current events spiritual principles 24:01 biblical prophecy and practical takeaways. 24:06 We want to equip our audience with the knowledge that we need 24:09 to navigate the mess of today and get to the 24:11 hope of tomorrow. 24:14 And we'll do it in 15 minute chunks. 24:17 So come check it out friends on Facebook YouTube and 24:20 talking donkey international.org. Join 24:24 us on some things happening 24:26 here because there is truly Something Happening Here. 24:30 Subscribe today and I will see you then. 24:35 Scientists tell us that humans have four basic 24:38 needs for survival food water air 24:42 and shelter, but beyond 24:44 mere survival. We also need to know 24:46 that someone cares about us. 24:49 And there is someone who cares someone who 24:51 is always there. 24:54 This little tract someone cares about 24:57 you is full of Bible verses that will help. You 25:00 know, just how much God cares for 25:04 It's absolutely free. Just go to Talking Donkey international.org 25:08 and request offer number 25:09 123. 25:11 someone cares about you 25:16 In this 25:21 world, we have so many tracks to 25:24 choose from I mean, we've got tracks all 25:27 over that you the choices are mind-boggling. 25:31 But they're not all headed the same direction. They're not all 25:33 hidden. They're right direction. 25:37 And it can be so hard without these clear signs going. 25:40 This one is leading the right 25:42 way. This one is not 25:46 how do you make sure that you are on the right track? Well, first 25:49 of all, the thing is the Bible talks about Jesus Christ is 25:52 the only way he's the door. He's the light. He's 25:55 the way he's the truth. He didn't say he'll lead us to 25:58 it. He says he is so when we seek Jesus we have 26:01 it all and the key is we've got to get in the 26:04 scripture. There's just moved out about it Prosperity Gospel. The Lord 26:08 says in a pair of kind of my paraphrase that 26:10 King James the whole world is seeking after these things. He said 26:13 don't seek after those things. Listen to what he says in Matthew chapter 26:15 6 26:17 Verse 33, but see key first the kingdom of 26:20 God and his righteousness his righteousness his 26:23 life and all these things will be 26:26 added to you. I'll give you everything else. If you seek 26:29 me first, you know, then he says listen to this take therefore. 26:32 No thought how much thought 26:34 Not a bit. No thought for tomorrow for tomorrow. 26:37 She'll take thought for the things of itself. 26:40 Sufficient then is the evil for today. In 26:43 other words. We've got to battle evil today and folks. I 26:46 want to ask you you're basically who is an 26:50 engineer of your train. Who's the engineer right 26:52 a lady wrote an interesting ideas and 26:55 thought one time said she saw the whole world speeding on train. It 26:58 was heading toward destruction, and she she 27:01 asked she found the conductor said, you know, what's going 27:04 on here. The conductor was the devil. 27:08 And the devil kind of laughed and said, you know, hey relax here 27:12 just take it easy friends, which train are you on 27:15 who's leading the train who's guiding the train are only 27:19 directions for which track to get on what direction to 27:21 get on and who's the engineer is the Bible. So 27:24 I bid you choose today Jesus Christ. It's 27:27 that simple maybe you've never accepted Jesus. It's really 27:30 simple right now, wherever you are simply reach 27:33 up and say Lord help me. I want to choose you 27:36 today Lord, you guide my life. And as you said Janice wonton, 27:39 that can be a scary thing. But God will get 27:42 you I don't like giving up control which is ridiculous because 27:46 it's not like all the things I've had 27:48 control of always turned out really perfect. In fact 27:51 most of the time I'm you know, cleaning to control and 27:53 why 27:56 Exactly folks Bible says choose you this day whom you'll 27:59 serve choose you this day. Who's the engineer of 28:08 Thank you for watching join us again for another exciting country 28:10 wisdom. See you next time. |
Revised 2023-04-13