"Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said..."  Genesis 12:7

"Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him... Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him..."  Genesis 15: 1-5

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him  and said, 'I am El-Shaddai - God Almighty.  Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life..."  Genesis 17:1

"The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre.  One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day.  He looked up and noticed them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.  'My Lord," he said..."  Genesis 18: 1-3

"Physics was the reason for the Big Bang, not God, according to scientist Stephen Hawking. Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing," the professor said in his new book, in a challenge to traditional religious beliefs. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going," he wrote in his book "The Grand Design," extracts of which are printed in London newspaper The Times.  source: Fox News, Technology, Sept. 02, 2010

I am aware of the ever-growing Presence of the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ as we progress through these last days.  The Last Great Revival that is currently busting loose throughout the country, including the growing reports of miracles, is proof-positive of how short time really is before the Rapture hits town.  Therefore as I receive the calls, note the Presence of the Lord in my travels around the area, and the testimonials via email, absolutely nothing surprises me anymore.  These are exciting times.

This morning my wife told me of a "dream" that "was so real that I must believe it to be real".  She was taken into heaven wherein she was given "a massive hug", that she could "still feel", from my mom.  My wife was then provided with a grand tour of my mom's "massive home" and my wife could not grasp the beauty, peace, and magnificence of my mother's "palace".   It has been about 4 hours since we had this discussion and my wife is still walking around in a "stunned" condition. 

Remember my last visit to the Kingdom?  I have my observations on our website and I am still "stunned" over this visit.  How can one simply describe the Lord's Kingdom???

Abraham experienced an ongoing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ throughout his earthly lifetime.  You will note that when He, along with His heavenly escorts, (most likely Michael and Gabriel), appeared at the Oaks of Mamre, Abraham RAN over to them and fell on his face in worship. 

It is very apparent that Abraham could well identify the Lord Jesus because of his ongoing "face-to-face" relationship with the Lord throughout his lifetime. 

Think for just a moment please about Abraham's friendship with the Lord of ALL.  Despite the fact that the Lord promised Abraham that he would have a son who would provide him with generations of decedents, that would be numbered "as sand on the sea shore", Abraham failed the test.  He had an illegitimate son with Hagar - despite the Lord's direct assurances on an legitimate heir. 

How about when Abraham "bargained" with the Lord at the Oaks of Mamre over who would be ultimately destroyed at Sodom & Gomorrah?   Think about this little maneuver for just a moment:

Abraham was told to take his family and leave town:  "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation."  Genesis 12:1-2

He failed to listen to the Lord and took Lot, his nephew, with him.  The result of this disobedience were ongoing "problems" with Lot that still plague the Jews to this day.

Therefore as Abraham "bargained"  with the Lord to spare Lot's family who live in this deplorable and morally despicable place called Sodom, the Lord continued to love Abraham.  Despite his ongoing "so will you destroy Sodom if you find xxx faithful people" challenges, the Lord displayed His patience with the one He blessed.  In the final count, Lot and his daughters were salvaged, in respect to Abraham by the Lord. 

How about when Sarah literally laughed at the Lord, then followed it up with a direct lie to His face?  (Genesis 18: 10-15) 

The Lord Jesus Christ still loved Abraham and Sarah, despite their ongoing doubts, unbelief, and "problems" following His promises to them.  At the time of the Lord's physical appearance at the Oaks of Mamre, Abraham knew Him so profoundly, that he ran over to Him and worshipped Him.  Think about that for just a quick second please.  The Lord Jesus had made so many visits to Abraham throughout his lifetime that Abraham could recognize Him even at a distance.

Yesterday I met a very "intense" lady who looked me in the face and asked me a very pointed question pertaining to a well know evangelist.  She said: "What do you think about .....?"

I simply stated that ............ was a member of the Family of the Lord Jesus Christ and that I was commanded NOT to judge anyone within the Family.  That was my reply.  The lady then immediately softened and related how she had been judged by her friends, to the degree that she no longer attended her "small group".  She went on to state: "I'm nothing but a no good rotten sinner and I have no place in the church". 

My reply to her brutal self-condemnation was the above story on Abraham and Sarah.  If the Lord Jesus never ceased in His love and patience with Abraham and Sarah, then why would He give up on us?  After all, the Bible clearly states that the Lord Jesus loved us so much that He died on the Cross at Calvary so that we could have eternal fellowship with Him.  (John 3:16)

The Lord never judged, nor condemned Abraham, or Sarah.  The Lord continually appeared and ministered to Abraham and Sarah.  Why would it be any different with the Family of Christ today?

Stephen Hawking, like so many people living on the earth today, cannot justify the existence of God.  The reason?  Stephen Hawking simply isn't looking for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Mr. Hawking has no room in his life for Christ, nor does he wish to have Him there.  "Reason dictates" that God simply doesn't exist. 

Shall I condemn Mr. Hawking for his limited views?  Absolutely not.  My job is to be available to discuss the Lord Jesus Christ to those "Steven Hawkings" that the Holy Spirit may bring to me throughout my lifetime. 

The difference between myself and Mr. Hawking remains in the absolute fact that I have been where Mr. Hawking hasn't.  Like Abraham, I have come to know the voice of the Lord as He speaks to me.  Mr. Hawking has not come to understand, nor recognize the Lord's voice. 

Like Abraham, if the Lord Jesus were to physically appear to me, I would run to Him, fall before Him and worship Him as my Lord and Savior.  He has proven His love, patience,  and faithfulness to me over these 45 years of walking with Him.  I would know Him wherever, or whenever I saw Him. 

We are all Abraham's and Sarah's - there are no exceptions.  If therefore the Lord Jesus Christ loved, ministered, provided, and appeared to Abraham and Sarah, then will He do the same for us?  If we are to use the Bible as a basis for our lives on this earth, then the absolute, undeniable answer is "yes".  All we need to do, each and every day, is "Serve Him faithfully and allow Him to give us a blameless life".

Blessings, Tom