TO HONOR AND RESPECT

When we travel Karen keeps a pen at the ready as I drive, because God often speaks to me as we talk and cover the miles. I really enjoy these times as God gives me short bursts of thought and revelation that later becomes an article or is used to help write our newsletter. So was the case on our last trip, but I did not share my thoughts with Karen because I was resisting God’s word. I thought if I just ignored the thoughts and prompting of the Holy Spirit they would just go away, not so. I really wrestled writing this article maybe because we (that means me too) all have a lot of disrespect moving in our lives that we must allow God to remove if not we will never be able to come to the plan and purpose God has for our lives.

We have known a nice young lady for about one year or so who is a good friend of one of children. This young lady was having some problems with the older woman she was staying with and knowing her husband is a U.S. Marine serving in Afghanistan Karen and I opened our home to her until her husband comes (about three months) home. No money for rent, no money for food, no money for utility was asked of her, an unconditional invitation was extended and she accepted. Not a bad deal Karen would even make her breakfast and dinner. At first all was well no problems, but we noticed when we invited her to church she declined, strange for someone who claims they are a Christian. If you are a real Christian and have a honest walk with the Lord you will make time for God’s people or even talk about God once in a while. As time went on we noticed she was very disrespectful to her friends and especially some teachers at the college she attended. One evening after her first class I asked her about her teacher she relied, “he is an old fart in his 70s, wears hearing aids, and laughs at his own jokes.” I was shocked at her disrespect, but I did not say anything. One night the three of us went to a high school football game during the game (not once but three times) she called me by my first name and tried to correct me in public, I am older than her father, what disrespect. I had to speak to her with a stern voice she was shocked when I spoke to her that way. Now you can disrespect me all you want (I have tough skin) it is not really a big deal I am usually longsuffering, but when you disrespect my wife I must, before God, draw the line. When you have no respect for someone who cooks and cares for you, someone who has opened up their home to you this reveals an inward spiritual lack of honor and respect. Someone who really respects and honors someone would never ever think of speaking against them. My father was not a perfect man as we all are not, but even when I saw him do or say something he maybe should not have done I never thought about correcting him I had no right before God he was my father (God placed him there) in a superior place of spiritual authority and I was his son, my place was to keep my mouth shut, honor him, and pray if need be. This younger generation (even young Christians) has a big problem with respect for their parents and those in authority over them. After disrespecting Karen the three of us had a come to Jesus meeting. I told her she should be ashamed of disrespecting us and her teacher and she has no right, before God, to correct me even if I am wrong. Karen and I could not abide her open rebellion to us in our home so we asked her to leave. Later we softened our position and said she could stay, but she left anyway. We told her many times we would rather she stay, but it was her choice, not ours, to leave. Open rebellion and disrespect to authority always runs away when confronted with the truth. Disrespectful people always cast off restraint this is why they can never grow to any maturity in God. Restraint (restrictions) and limitations enable us to come to fulfillment and purpose they enable us to work well within the guide lines and rules God has laid out for us to walk, but a disrespectful person wants to operate outside God’s guidelines, they are the center of attention, the main attraction, the captain of their own ship, they think they lack for nothing, but in reality they are naked, poor, and blind to their own spiritual heart condition. I am really concerned about this younger generation, say 20-30 year olds (for the most part) have not been taught to give honor and respect. Their lives (for the most part) seem to be so plugged into screens, keypads, and electrical gadgets to the point they have forgotten how to be caring and respectful to peers, parents, and people in authority. Paul in Ephesians taught the kids, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” (Ephesians 6:1-2) What is the promise Paul talking about? Long life? Maybe so, but I think Paul was talking about much more here. Children are to be taught to honor and respect their parents, the elderly, and those in authority from an early age and from this single lesson they begin to learn how to honor God when they become of age. In school I can always tell the kids whose parents have taken little to no time in teaching manners and respect. They are the one who always seem to be in trouble, dress poorly, and get poor grades. Honoring our parents has nothing to do with taking care of them in their old age. But, the real honoring of our parents is only achieved when we become what they have tried to instill into our lives, when we become the value set and standard of what they believe and tried to work into our lives. This alone is honoring to our parents as obedience alone to God is honoring to him. In some churches today they sing, clap, and wave flags thinking they are honoring and giving God glory, oh no my friend they are sadly mistaken. Our obedience alone (as it is with kids honoring their parents) is honoring to God.

Being disrespectful or dishonoring is a big big deal to God. Did you know in every sin is an element of disrespect moving. If we truly honor someone we will not try to kill them or take what is not ours. We will find value in them and encourage them in areas they may need to improve. But people who are disrespectful quickly speak and seek to deflect their own short comings and failures. A respectful person does not like being the center of attention even if they have earned it. I am reminded of the archangel Michael when he contended for the body of Moses with the devil, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” (Jude 9) Michael could have said I rebuke you and probably would have won, but he did not he was not so presumptive to think he was that important and powerful. Disrespectful people know not how to give honor to someone who rightly disserves it. Oh the number of people I have met in my life that are jealous of someone else’s victory. If we cannot be gracious in someone else’s victory God will see to it that we have no victory. We must be able to “render therefore to all their dues.” Paul told the church in Rome, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” (Romans 13:7) If God cannot get us to give honor to whom honor is due then He cannot use us, we disqualify ourselves for service out from our disrespect. Now please know I am not talking about a honoring as the world says to show honor; through tolerance and diversity oh no. The world’s way of showing honor is by allowing sin to continue in lives. The world says I will honor your choice to reject God and His word. The world says we are to abide or be tolerant with ungodly, immoral life styles like sodomy and lesbianism, liars, thieves, etc., but God said these lifestyles are an abomination and He will destroy those who would dare reject and disrespect His word. The world dishonors a baby by killing them in the womb while the world would be tolerate and accept a woman’s right to choose. God too will destroy those who would murder an innocent life. Today we (even many Christians in the church) protect homosexuals and even give then a special status. I find it amazing those once powerful “men of God” (you know their names) who have been openly rebuked by God and found out for their homosexual desires and tendencies are now openly embracing this ungodly life style in their church and give permission to others to allow their fleshly desires to control them and the many Christians in their church.

This honoring and respecting is a big big deal to God. It is a part of our daily sincere, Godly walk with our brothers, sisters, and most of all our walk with God. Unless we can learn how to honor and respect people God will never give us His spiritual goods. Unless we can give honor where honor is due God can not use us, He cannot trust us to be faithful and honest. It is always about honoring and respecting.

READ THE BIBLE

Lately there have been a lot of preachers and teachers on TV trying to encourage many Christians into believing there will be a great turn around in the world and there will be a great revival (word not in the KJV) and many people will come to know the Lord. I will be bold and set the tone of this article early (as a matter of fact) I personally believe the best days of the corporate “Church” in America is behind her and if not careful it will taint the church world-wide causing great harm and deception. Now I am talking corporately, there are some solid local bodies of Believers left that still have a heart for God and to do what He has asked them to do, but the majority of the so called “churches” have sold out to the humanistic, apostate message of the Gospel – prosperity and blessing; serving and giving to God to get instead of serving God out of a heart of obedience and giving so that others may receive. I know what I am talking about I have seen the destructive influence of the American church for years in America and around the world. Now please do not get me wrong I would love to see many people come to the Lord this is God intention for us, but the Bible I read does not talk about this happening. So, why don’t we just read the Bible and believe what God’s word says instead of making up things to believe. But that is not what we see going on; large amounts of money is collected and some is spent on Christian TV programming and traveling the globe to prime the pumps for this great end-time revival, but again I do not see this anywhere in the Bible I study. Denominational kingdoms and mighty temples of worship for “mighty men of God” are being established all over the earth to fund and reap this phantom end-time harvest, but again the Bible I read speaks nothing about an end-time harvest as preached today. Now Jesus does mention the harvest, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:35) and in Matthew, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37). Please notice in Luke Jesus answers His own question, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2) Did you get that Jesus said the harvest is ready, but there is no one to go. Who was Jesus talking to? Why His disciples. It sounds like they were not ready to go into the field and reap the harvest. I wonder why not? When I traveled abroad every other month I would go and do the work of God, well after two or three years of this schedule I quickly saw I was not doing the work of God He was doing His work in and on me. All of the traveling, preaching, teaching, signs and wonders were more for my benefit than the people I ministered to. My friend we are the workmanship of God (Ephesians 2:10) and if we allow God He will work on us to the very end of our self.

Sure God’s grace is ever there and I daily pray many people take God up on His offer of salvation, but as time continues man also continues to walk away from God faster than he did in days of old, thus I cannot see more people coming to the Lord. As a matter of fact the Bible talks about the opposite happening. As we watch history unfold before our eyes and read the Bible how can we not believe what Peter, Paul and even Jesus Himself has said applies to today? How can we not believe we are living in the last days of man’s rule on earth and a time of grace for our sin and after that the judgment, but not too many Christians believe when Christ returns He will judge them and the nations, oh no they are looking for a baby in the manger to sing about and the presents associated with His birth. But all we have to do is read the Bible to discern the times. Back in Genesis God established a spiritual principle and man as ruler of the earth, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) and he will keep this title and function until Christ returns to judge the world. This is why man has some power to say and do things on the earth and they happen they are backed by God’s authority and His word. And why do we have no problem with worshipping or saying God, but we do with Jesus. I wonder why? Well that is easy, Jesus is Lord and man (me included at times) has never wanted a Lord reigning over him. Secretly in our heart we want to be the boss who wants to be ruled? We think God is afar off out there in space some where or some big sugar daddy who rolls over at our every whim; so God is safe to worship and serve, but not so with Jesus. He troubles us, He wants to come and live in our heart and expose our evil nature and character. Jesus wants to be involved with all of our relationships and our labors, how can we allow this? If we do we will not be in-charge. In 2 Peter we read, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:3-7) When is “the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men?” Does this not sound like today? Jesus told the disciples, “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) When Jesus comes back will He be surprised to find “faith on the earth?” How could that be? Does that sound like today? The Bible I read tells me what to expect when Jesus comes back why should I believe something else. In Matthew Jesus shares these words, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:4-14) Wait a minute I thought things were going to get better in the last days and there is going to be a great end-time revival? But the Bible does not say that the Bible says, “the love of many shall wax cold” And after the Gospel of the kingdom has been preached to the nations, “then shall the end come.” I cannot believe in this technological age of satellites and the internet not to mention the 2,000+ years of sending missionaries the Gospel message has not been preached to the nations. Further on down in Matthew 24 we read Jesus saying, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:22-24) Now I do not know about you, but these verses here give me great pause. I do not consider myself to be the “very select,” but Jesus was saying unless time is shortened the “very elect” would be deceived and no flesh would be saved. The Bible tells us all of these things so why don’t we hunker down and get serious with God? Did you know the Bible even gives us a picture of man’s heart condition, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:21-32) Does this sound like today? What else do we need to convince us that all we need is the Bible? What is the context Paul is describing here in verses 16-32? Was Paul talking about only the Church at Rome? I think not. Many Christians believe the Scriptures are written to only certain groups of people for a specific reason, well if this be true then all of the Scriptures in the Bible that deal with salvation do not pertain to us. Like when Paul told the Churches in the New Testament; women should not exercise authority (1 Timothy 2:10-14, Titus 2:4-5, etc.) over any man, oh that was just for them, but now it is okay for women to be a pastor, teacher, evangelist, a deacon, or elder. Does God’s word change with time or audience? I think not. I believe Paul here was describing the heart of man without the harnessing and discipline of God’s work and authority in our lives from the beginning of mankind to the end-times of man’s domination of the earth.

The Bible tells us all of these things and yet we still make up things and believe a lie. Why do we not just read the Bible and believe it as it is written? Remember God is not trying to Christianize the world, oh no my friend man is trying to do that. God is trying to evangelize the world (in one-on-one, personal, cost effective simplistic way) and having evangelized the world He desires to gather them together in what He calls the Body of Christ. And it is the Body of Christ; those who have answered the call of God will be His bride and to do this God expects us to read His word the Bible to know what He wants and what He does not want. My friend there is no big end-time revival coming (the Bible does not support it) be not deceived be a good steward with your resources, but there is an end-time coming and we must be ready for it and the only way to be ready is to just read the Bible and then move in the revelation given. Written David Stahl

OUR CHARACTER

God has really been pressing me on my character. I know the word character is not in the Bible (KJV) verbatim, but the entire word of God speaks about what God expects our character to be. My friend it is our character not our natural abilities, God-given skills and talents, or even our spiritual growth and development, oh no God is concerned about our character: how we treat our fellow man, what and how we hold things in our heart, are we honest or do we take advantage and manipulate people and situations for our benefit, do we have a simplistic view of God and how He relates with man, these and so much more as it relates to our character God is very concerned with. I like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his “I have a Dream Speech” he said these words, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Now Dr. King could have used any thing else instead of “be judged by the color of their skin” this was an issue that was at the heart of the civil rights movement, but please notice Dr. King wanted people not to be judged by the color of their skin or anything else, the criteria to judge someone was their character. This is the same criteria God will use to judge us when we stand before Him. God will not judge us according to the number of songs we have written and dance (Michael Jackson found this out) to, how much money or land we had, or how many houses or cars we owned. I wonder why we go so hard after these earthly things and neglect investing in our character? We always go after the things we think are important and will benefit us. Many Christians think a good character is of little to no value, but my friend they are dead wrong. It is our character that God is gravely concerned with not our personality or our outward looks. It is the inward man God focuses on and wants to see us develop, but we seem to put in little effort in developing a Godly character.

This character issue touches every area of our lives. I have seen this truth over the last 48 years of being a Christian. Now I will be honest I have not had the best of character all of my life, but I see the importance and desire for this transformation to happen in my heart and mind which will manifest outwardly in my character. I have seen this in the lives of people I considered to be mentors and fathers in the Lord, but in time and in the end I have seen the true character of these folks manifest and I was greatly disappointed. I have seen so many areas of my life where I have allowed these folks to persuade me, where I followed their advice and retrospect it was to my disadvantage. Please be very careful in the people you commit yourself to. Jesus never committed Himself to anyone, only the Father had Jesus’ total reservation of commitment. Even in prayer we must be careful here. I remember when I pastored in Germany many Bishops, teachers, preachers, pastors, mighty men of God who would come to our church (mainly to collect money to take home) and want to pray over me, well I said no. I did not know them from Adam and they would get offended this also called a separation at times between my associate pastor (a Nigerian) and I, but that was okay because Paul in 1 Timothy tells us, “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” (1 Timothy 5:21-22) That also means we should not allow someone to lay hands on us. I have shared before in a few other articles about a wonderful (I will still call him my friend because I still love him and I hold no anger in my heart towards him) friend we have known for over 30 years, but got offended at me and God and has broke off our relationship. Can you believe he even stopped sending me his newsletter? (since 1996 before we moved to Germany) I know why, he has been writing about us (Karen and I) to his (and our) friends. That is okay there is nothing else he can get from us because he has sucked our relationship bone dry. After all he said it is okay to talk about someone as long as you do not use their name. Is this right? No my friend I do not believe that is so. He has separated himself from me, my family, and the many people who would come to our monthly home group meeting quoting Scripture to justify his separation like, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Roman 16:17-18) Please know when you have to quote Scripture to justify yourself and your actions you are dead wrong. I am kind of puzzled though, I know he cannot be talking about me here, well I do have a big belly, but my “good works and fair speeches” have deceived no one. My heart is still towards him and sharing the Gospel message as we have done around the world for many years. But I am not surprised his parting shot to me was to tell me how he would come down to our home and share the word of God and sometimes not get any money. His character speaks loud and clear of his true heart condition for money and not so much for the sharing of the Gospel. After all out of our mouth speaks our heart. But we all are like this at times right? I know often I am. True character is not concerned about what they will receive in exchange for service to God, but is concerned about how much of service they can be to God.

I have seen this character truth play out in the churches we (as a family) attended. Remember the character of any given church will always reflect the character of the pastor and the people. I am reminded of a non-denomination church (that was started in our home) in Henry Country outside of Atlanta, GA that went United Pentecostal Holiness after we left for Germany. My three sons (Dave, Dan, and Joshua), Clyde Waldron (the pastor’s father), and I literally raised the walls of the building we were building to meet in, everybody else was busy that week. I have never seen such a group of people that grumbled, bellyached, and complained yet God worked in the lives of our children, Karen, and I preparing us for ministry in Germany. God can work in our lives anywhere if we give Him opportunity. God expects us not to retreat from God’s standards even to save the world. But this is what the church (especially in America) has done. We have compromised the truth of the word of God to pedal a humanistic, prosperity message, we have jazzed up the hymns (what a supreme insult to the writers like Fanny Crosby and Horatio Spafford) to make them more enjoyable to the younger population instead of telling them the true history how the hymns were birthed out of great loss and hardships. We have dumbed down true and honorable service to God, by making everything a ministry. After all everyone in church must be doing something for God, right? No everyone (in church or not) is to be allowing God to work on their character. This is God’s grand goal in our life to allow God to conform our character into the same character and image as was in Jesus Christ God’s precious Son through the transforming power of God. Not allowing God this opportunity and right of way has everything to do with a lack of character in our lives. Presently, Karen and I go to a solid non-denominational church here in Jacksonville the message is usually right on (the message of the cross) and their music is not too humanistic or self-seeking like most churches, but I cannot believe (like most non-denominational churches) they have a “them verses us” thinking. Not everyone else is wrong, but everyone else needs to be like us and if not then there are probably going to hell. It is the absolutes of the Gospels (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – saved by God’s love and grace) that must be followed and agreed upon not the optionals (outward adorning, doctrines and rituals of man, church traditions and ordnances), but sadly most churches have made the optionals the absolutes and the absolutes the optional. And again this is because of lack of a Godly character in the people. I thought we are one Body, one Spirit? Paul taught us, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:2-5) Whatever happened to those verses (from the Bible) in the church today? I guess we think there is going to be a black and white section in heaven or a denominational or non-denominational selection. What are we doing? We are fracturing the Body of Christ for political and financial gain in the world.

Now after reading this article many Christians would say, Dave Stahl you are being too critical (I have heard this before) with regards to the Christians and the church, God is in control. It does not matter all we have to do is just keep loving the Lord and people and things will work out fine, well it is true we must keep loving the Lord and people, but God expects much more of His children than this Pollyanna, lazy attitude. God expects us to speak the truth in love so that people will grow up in God and become able to shoulder some responsibility and accountability. Paul scolded the church folks at Ephesus when he said, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16) But this is not what we find in most churches, who wants to grow up when we can stay a baby and get by with messing our spiritual pants? No responsibility, discipline, or accountability just do and say whatever we want to do and say. Well this is not God’s intention for us. God’s intention is for us to grow up and come to a place of maturing where we can join with Him in the yoke and plow the field of life together.

As I said recently God has been pressing me on my character and as He presses us our spirit is always more attuned (if we allow it to be so) to what the Holy Spirit is bringing into our lives. Here are two statements by two wonderful friends in my life that the Holy Spirit quickened to my spirit when I heard them. We had Pastor Victor O. Foster (Senior Pastor of Ecclesia Ministries in Richlands, NC) and His lovely wife over for dinner last week-end and as we were talking he said, “listen not to my words, but look at my life.” What a profound statement about character. Words are cheap and often clumsy, but our life is the truth about ourselves. And then today while at the gym I was sitting in the sauna talking with Mr. Russell (a retired SGTMAJ from the U.S. Marine Corps) and he said, “I have gotten much further in life with manners than with money.” How simplistic, but oh how true. We think money is the key that opens unto us the abundant life Jesus talks about in John 10:10, but not so my friend it is the silence of the heart before God and the character of Christ knowing we are ever becoming like the Father. Money my friend cannot buy this, but a Godly character can.