Super Heart Living - Rick Josey's Blog

December 10, 2007 -- 6:00 PM

Hero Huckabee Steps Up to The Plate...

Thank God for Mike Huckabee!

Finally, a presidential candidate with integrity, credentials and experience. All three. No wonder he is being publicly endorsed by Zig Ziglar, Chuck Norris, Donald Wildmon, Rick Flair and others putting their reputations on the line behind Mike Huckabee.

My wife and I recently "discovered" Mike Huckabee. We had been busy and had not paid much attention to the candidates running for President. But from what we had read the leading conservative candidates did not inspire us. They are all good men, but didn't inspire us as leaders.

Then we learned about Mike Huckabee. And like many Americans, young and old, we got excited. Now, a month later, we are really excited.

Here is a Christian man (a former pastor) who is endorsed by the past presidents of his denomination. His fellow governors selected him to chair the National Governors Association. Time Magazine voted him one of America's five best governors. And Huckabee's detailed plans for the "vertical" lifting of America are being endorsed by thinking citizens who appreciate his solid answers to critical problems.

Governor Huckabee has written several popular books detailing his solutions to our country's problems. His book on regaining physical health has been endorsed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Clinton and Mitt Romney.

Yes, the Mitt Romney.

Mike Huckabee has the character, compassion and courage to lead our country. And his 13 years experience governing in Arkansas has toughened him up to win this election and lead us forward.

Is Mike Huckabee perfect? No, of course not. Nobody is. But...

No one else is as qualified to govern us and solve the problems we face. Huckabee's record in Arkansas speaks for itself. And is highly praised by both liberals and conservatives.

We encourage you to check out Mike Huckabee for yourself. Read about his accomplishments. Watch the videos on this site and elsewhere. Study his policies and his detailed plans for solving our most urgent problems.

Now we have a candidate we can get behind and root for. Mike Huckabee has stepped up to the plate and is going to hit a home run and win this election.

Mike, we love you, we support you and we endorse you.

God bless you, Mike Huckabee!

November 18, 2007 -- 11:00 PM

Mockers, Mock on...

An interesting thing happened recently. Someone accused me of "worshipping" a Christian leader. Can you believe that?

What prompted such a ridiculous accusation? A biased person read only ONE of our biography pages here, a "tribute" to a Christian man. And by focusing on that ONE page only (!) the critic concluded (incorrectly) that I am somehow enamored with that leader.

Actually, we have FOUR tribute pages to FOUR different leaders! And we'll be posting more tribute pages in the future.

The critic, and his sarcastic friends, ignored our tributes to other great Christian leaders. They only read a few of our pages, then rushed off to criticize us. (We have the website records of their brief visits) Shame on them!

Some people see just what they WANT to see in life. They sit around scoffing and criticizing anybody else who attempts to reach out and bless others. I guess other people's accomplishments threaten their own "do-nothing" lifestyles.

For years I've watched one man become popular for trashing another Christian leader. That is this guy's only claim to fame! He criticized a Christian Bible teacher who did his best to teach the accuracy of God's Word. Yet, this critic himself on his website is pushing his own denominational doctrines...in violation of God's Word.

You figure it out.

It's easy to sit back and carp at others...while doing absolutely nothing yourself. But the real heroes are those who "get in the trenches" and work hard to bless God's people.

Ever notice that Jesus never hung around a cafe eating bitter beans and sarcasm souffle? No. Jesus Christ got out there in life and edified others and ministered to them. He DID SOMETHING with his life.

Jesus praised the true believers. He called them "the light of the world" and "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13-14). Jesus Christ lifted God's people. He edified them! He never put them down for their faults or mistakes.

Bitter critics who sit around slandering others should keep in mind that slander was Satan's downfall. And slander is still one of the devil's characteristics. He is the true "accuser of the brothers" (Revelation 12:10). Not a good guy to emulate.

Let me answer my critic's accusation:

Am I "worshipping" somebody? Yes. God Almighty!

Am I following a man? Yes. Jesus Christ our Lord! Period!

Am I praising some people? Yes. Anybody who does God's will. Regardless of their faults. They are my true family.

(Matthew 12:48-50).

Worshipping someone? Following someone? Praising those who do God's will? Yes. Absolutely.

I am guilty as charged. Mea culpa, mea culpa, Mea Culpa!

Mock on, critics.

October 25, 2007 -- 3:30 PM

Real Believers Don't Fit In...

When Jesus Christ preached one of his first messages in his hometown, the home folks got angry. They couldn't handle the truth of what he said. So they tried to throw him off a cliff! You can read about this in Luke 4:16-30. Imagine that..."religious people" trying to kill Jesus.

But that's not unusual. Read the gospels and you will see that the religious leaders frequently plotted to kill Christ. Have him assassinated.

Religious people are nice folks, aren't they. If you are a real truth-seeker you've probably already discovered that. Try to stand up for the truth and you'll experience the "left foot of fellowship." They'll boot you out.

Real believers don't fit in. Religious fruit-cakes may ask you to leave.

Jesus delivered a demon-possessed man and the people of the area couldn't handle the situation. They freaked out and asked Jesus to leave the area. He did (Luke 8:27-37).

Real believers don't fit in.

September 27, 2007 -- 12:00 AM

Don't Convert the Converted...

I don't know about you, but as a Christian I'm tired of religious people constantly "preaching to the choir"... evangelizing those who are already believers. When God's people gather together for fellowship or worship, they need to be edified and built up with God's Word. Not talked to as though they were the "lost."

If preachers want to win the lost, they should go out into "the highways and hedges," out into the world where lost people really are.

Preachers, stop harassing congregations of believers with "salvation" messages. It gets old, and it is annoying. Especially when those gathered believers are hungry for God's Word. Converted Christians do not want to hear another "salvation" message. They want to hear the "full message of this new life" (Acts 5:20). They want to know how to live the Christian life.

My wife and I recently toured the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC. What a thrill to visit a tribute to one of my heroes, Billy Graham. The grounds are immaculately landscaped, the staff are wonderful Christians and the galleries give an exciting look into the ministry of the world's premiere evangelist. What an appropriate "memorial" to Billy and Ruth Graham. God bless them for their faithfulness.

But the staff at the Billy Graham Library is mostly preaching to the choir. Their guided "tours" are geared towards "winning the lost" to Christ. Yet, most of those tourists are Christians. And it is a bit annoying to be forced to listen to various video presentations that are set to "win you to Christ." Hey, most everybody there is already a believer!

Martha and I once attended a business conference that was held in a local church building. We greatly appreciated the church loaning us the room for the day. But when one of the church "hosts" stood up and gave an evangelistic pitch to those business people present, Martha and I cringed. It was out of place, inappropriate for the occasion. It was a tacky, awkward gesture.

When will we Christians learn that the goodness of God leads a person to repentance (Romans 2:4). Not the "assertiveness" of well-meaning but misguided religious fanatics. There is a time and place for everything.

Let's wise up and treat Christians like Christians, the lost as lost, and business people as business people. Let's respect people for who they are and what they really need at the time.

Is that so hard?

September 12, 2007 -- 9:00 AM

Opinions Don't Count...

Too many Christians are running around saying "Here's what I think about this problem..."

What YOU think about it? When it comes to the truth, your opinion doesn't matter. Neither does mine. The real issue, the thing that's important, is...

What does GOD say about it?

Jesus says GOD'S WORD is truth, and if we continue in HIS TEACHINGS we'll know the truth. We are to live by every word that comes out of GOD'S mouth...not man's (John 17:17; 8:31-32; Matthew 4:4)

Much of the "Web 2" craze is described right there in the Bible, in Proverbs 18:2. Listen to what God says about all of this "opinionizing" ...

"A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions."

People love to air their opinions. They love to talk and show how much they think they know. They love to impress each another. This is the basis for "trash TV." People airing their own opinions. And God says they are fools (Proverbs 18:2).

When God's people spend more time listening to each others' opinions instead of listening to Him, they are in trouble. They are fools. God says so.

God's understanding of things is UNLIMITED (Psalm 147:5). But man's understanding of things is DARKENED (Ephesians 4:18). That's why society is so messed up. We have been "opinionizing" instead of going to God for wisdom.

If you want to know TRUTH, don't search for it in the forums, blogs or at MySpace. You won't find truth in people's "opinions."

You'll find the truth in God's Word.

September 5, 2007 -- 12:10 AM

Read It For Yourself

The Apostle Paul says, "When you read, you will understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ..." (Ephesians 3:4).

Notice the principle: when you read, you will understand...

You will NEVER understand God's Word until you sit down and READ it! Too many Christian believers try to focus on one verse and then "guess" about its meaning. Hey, God says when you READ the Word you will understand it.

Stop guessing about the Bible's meaning and start READING God's Word!

My wife and I read ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BIBLE each and every month! You read that right. We read the entire Bible 12 times a year! I've done this ever since the early 1980s and have now read through the Bible more than 260 times. And let me tell you, you start to really understand and love the Bible when you READ IT! All of it.

So if you want to really understand the Scriptures, listen to the Apostle Paul: "When you READ you will UNDERSTAND" (Ephesians 4:3).

August 29, 2007 -- 10:00 PM

Beware The Destroyer

Martha and I were reading the Word tonight and we noticed something interesting. In Esther 3:5-6 when Mordecai refused to bow down to wicked Haman, ol Haman got really ticked off. He became "enraged" (NIV). And he set out to destroy Mordecai's people. When I read this I told Martha "That's just the way Satan is. He goes after you, to destroy you."

Nothing revolutionary about that thought, right? But then later when I was reading in Revelation 12:17 I saw that insight stated, right there in Scripture. It says the dragon (Satan) was "enraged" and set out to destroy God's people.

So, whenever you see someone wicked turn on you and set out to do you in, just remember...it is Satan who is enraged against you. He is out to destroy your life. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but...wicked spirits (Ephesians 6:12)

Beware the destroyer.

August 29, 2007 -- 7:00 AM

Dry Weather, Dry Hearts

I was mowing the lawn the other day and the lawn mower was blowing dust everywhere. North Carolina sure has been hot and dry! And that seems to be symbolic of something that is happening in people's hearts...

Too many Christians have become "dry" in their walk with God. They have allowed the world to press in on them and dry up the fountain of joy, love and peace they once drank from. The pressures of life are making them afraid and timid. And they are no longer walking by faith but by fear. That's not the way it's supposed to be! Jesus says...

"Don't be afraid, just believe!" (Luke 8:50). God does not want us to be afraid and in fact fear does not come from God

(2 Timothy 1:7). God speaks to us in his Word and his soothing words are the "rain" we need in our hearts! In fact, God calls himself the spring of living waters! (Jeremiah 2:13)

Dry spell? Not if you are listening to God. Faith comes into your heart when you hear his good news! (Romans 10:17)