Writings start from Septmember 5, 2005 and go backward in time.

1.

Dear Everyone I know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Thank you for allowing me the time to study the Bible and be able to share what God seems to be showing me.

I found the word "Christian" in the KJV only 2 times in the Book of Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16.  I found the word "disciple" in the KJV 271  times and in the New Living Translation 305 times.

As I described the ministry God showed me on the web site www.waikikibeachoutreach.com, I wrote

"Desiring to be disciples of Christ Jesus, God has led us to establish the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry to feed and minister to over 150 homeless and about 50 others who are very poor and hungry from Queen Kapiolani Beach Park (near the Waikiki Aquarium) to Lewers and Kalakaua (near the pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel) at this time."

He showed me a new way to live, not of this world, but in the spirit realm.  What does that mean?  As I studied His Word today, I was led to the following that might touch the life of someone reading this or someone you know.

The Cost of Discipleship The Bible does not call us to be Christians, it calls us to be disciples of Christ.

"Sit Down First and Count the Cost"
What is the cost of discipleship? Jesus said, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it - lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:28-33). "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:25-26)

The Cost of Discipleship - Paul Knew the Cost
The Apostle Paul understood the cost of discipleship! He was a man who enjoyed great prominence among the Jewish elite, but forsook all for the love of Christ! Paul declared, "What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." (Philippians 3:7-9)

The Cost of Discipleship - From Carnal to Christian
The cost of discipleship is this: We must each give up our old selves in order to embrace and become the person Christ has created us to be. Therefore "put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:9-10), for "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:14), rather, "the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). But even though "we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3), "you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight" (Colossians 1:21-22). Thus, having been "reconciled to God through the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10), we have received "exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4). Therefore, "do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16). "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4). "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (John 12:25-26).

The Cost of Discipleship - A Final Word
The cost of discipleship is totally reasonable in light of the gift we've been given! "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19). Simply put, we were "bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20). "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

Whatever stage of life we are in, discipleship will cause changes to happen in our hearts.  As we grow closer to God, we will have less of a desire to sin and more of an urge to obey God. Our attitudes, values, morals, and desires will change and this will affect our relationships.  This is a cost of discipleship.

We may find that we begin to make new friends - friends who share our values and beliefs.  However, we may also have opportunities to share our new-found faith with our existing friends as they see the change take place in our life. Try not to concentrate on whether we will lose your friends.  Instead focus showing Christ's love to them.

Even though the cost of discipleship can be heavy, our heavenly Father loves you and knows what we need.  When we allow Him to change our heart, remember that He is a good God who can be trusted.  He loves us and wants His best for us.  He has our best interest at heart and wants to fulfill His wonderful plan for our life. So although the cost of discipleship may be great, it is always a worthwhile sacrifice!  When we get discouraged, remember the verse in 2 Samuel 24:24: "I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" When we offer that which is precious to us up to the Lord, He values it and it is beautiful in His sight.

God bless you and your family in your personal journey.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.boberb.com and www.waikikibeachoutreach.com

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2.

Dear David and Everyone I Know,

 Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus.  Thank you for sharing your prayer ministry with me.  Thank you for sharing the Word of God.

 As you have shared some scriptures to us, I was moved to study them and comment back to you.  I pray it touches someones heart as it has mine.

 Proverbs 17:17 (New Living Translation)

 A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

 No change of outward circumstances should abate our affection for our friends or relatives. But no friend, except Christ, deserves unlimited confidence. In Him this text did receive, and still receives its most glorious fulfillment.

 Proverbs 17:22

 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

 It is great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful, and cause to be cheerful, if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful.   As I greet each morning with God's Word, from Psalms 118:24.  This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.  It really does inspire a cheerful heart all day long, even during challenges.

 Proverbs 18:24

 There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

 Christ Jesus never will forsake those of us who trust in and love him.  May we be such friends to others, for our Master's sake.  Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end; and we are His friends if we do whatever he commands us,

 Luke 18:1-8

Story of the Persistent Widow

  (1) One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up. (2) "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone. (3) A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her. (4) The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. `I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself, (5) `but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!' "

    (6) Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this evil judge. (7)  Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? (8) I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?"

All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God.  Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.

Ephesians 4:10-18

  (10) The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe.

   (11) He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12) Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, (13) until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.

   (14) Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. (15) Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  (16) Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Living as Children of Light

  (17) With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. (18) Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

Exhortations to mutual forbearance and union.

Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ's kingdom and glory.  By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride.  By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men unwilling to provoke, and not easily to be provoked or offended.  We find much in ourselves for which we can hardly forgive ourselves; therefore we must not be surprised if we find in others that which we think it hard to forgive.  There is one Christ in whom all believers hope, and one heaven they are all hoping for; therefore they should be of one heart.  They had all one faith, as to its object, Author, nature, and power.  They all believed the same as to the great truths of religion; they had all been admitted into the church by one baptism, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sign of regeneration.  In all believers God the Father dwells, as in His holy temple, by his Spirit and special grace.

To a due use of spiritual gifts and graces.

Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help.  All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one.  He received for us, that he might give to us, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience.  There is a fullness in Christ, and a measure of that fullness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ.  The more we find ourselves drawn out to improve in our station, and according to our measure, all that we have received, to the spiritual good of others, we may more certainly believe that we have the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in our hearts.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.boberb.com and www.waikikibeachoutreach.com

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3.

Dear Esta and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus.  Thank you for your words of encouragement.  Thank you for calling me and speaking to me today.  mostly, thank you for your prayers.  Thank you for sharing God's Words and your favorite scriptures.

As you have been, I was in the Dark and no one listened until I called upon our Lord and became willing to turn my will and life over to Him.  Wow, what He has done to me!  What He is doing to you!  We trust Him to solve all our challenges as we call upon Him in prayer.  Amen.

Psalm 33:4 (New Living Translation)

For the word of the LORD holds true,
       and everything he does is worthy of our trust.

Psalm 34:4

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me,
       freeing me from all my fears.

As we recognize that love, joy and peace comes from our Lord, then everything else, including fear, is not from Him, we can release it back to the ego, self, demons, devil, others, or whatever we want to call that which is not from God.  Since God's Word, and Jesus, is above all words, we are free in our Lord.  Our Heavenly Father will take good care of us.  He will always answer our prayers.  We have nothing to fear, no matter how trying situations may seem.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.boberb.com

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4.

Dear Laura and Everyone I Know,

 Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus.  Thank you for sharing the Word of God again. 

 As I was led to read the Scriptures, it led me to research some more.  So, I have confirmed what you have written in a different way.  The words in parenthesis are my own, not the Bible's, but could give some clarity to how God's Word might apply to today.

 Nahum 3:4-19 (New Living Translation)

 (4) All this because Nineveh (this is now the city of Mosul in Northern Iraq, once the capital of the Assyrians), the beautiful and faithless city, mistress of deadly charms, enticed the nations with her beauty. She taught them all to worship her false gods, enchanting people everywhere.(Maybe like New Orleans is now with the  focus on nudity, sex, money, drinking and drugs during Mardi Gras and a nice appearing city at the Gulf - but not so pretty in the poor areas)

    (5) "No wonder I am your enemy!" declares the LORD Almighty. "And now I will lift your skirts so all the earth will see your nakedness and shame. (6) I will cover you with filth and show the world how vile you really are. (7) All who see you will shrink back in horror and say, `Nineveh lies in utter ruin.' Yet no one anywhere will regret your destruction."

    (8) Are you any better than Thebes(in Egypt, see description below), surrounded by rivers, protected by water on all sides? (9) Ethiopia and the land of Egypt were the source of her strength, which seemed without limit. The nations of Put(land just west of Egypt that is now called Libya and could be like Texas supporting New Orleans) and Libya also helped and supported her.  (10) Yet Thebes fell, and her people were led away as captives. Her babies were dashed to death against the stones of the streets. Soldiers cast lots to see who would get the Egyptian officers as servants. All their leaders were bound in chains.

    (11) And you, Nineveh, will also stagger like a drunkard. You will hide for fear of the attacking enemy. (12) All your fortresses will fall. They will be devoured like the ripe figs that fall into the mouths of those who shake the trees. (13) Your troops will be as weak and helpless as women. The gates of your land will be opened wide to the enemy and set on fire and burned.

    (14) Get ready for the siege! Store up water! Strengthen the defenses! Make bricks to repair the walls! Go into the pits to trample clay, and pack it into molds!  (15) But in the middle of your preparations, the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down. The enemy will consume you like locusts, devouring everything they see. There will be no escape, even if you multiply like grasshoppers. (16) Merchants, as numerous as the stars, have filled your city with vast wealth. But like a swarm of locusts, they strip the land and then fly away. (17) Your princes and officials are also like locusts, crowding together in the hedges to survive the cold. But like locusts that fly away when the sun comes up to warm the earth, all of them will fly away and disappear.

    (18) O Assyrian king, your princes lie dead in the dust. Your people are scattered across the mountains. There is no longer a shepherd to gather them together. (19) There is no healing for your wound; your injury is fatal. All who hear of your destruction will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your cruelty?

Thebes is city of ancient Egypt. Luxor and Karnak now occupy parts of its site. The city developed at a very early date from a number of small villages, particularly one around modern Luxor (then called Epet), but remained relatively obscure until the rise of the Theban family that established the XI dynasty over 4000 years ago. The city rapidly became prominent as the royal residence and as a seat of the worship of the god Amon. At Thebes, also, was the necropolis in the Valley of the Tombs where the kings and nobles were entombed in great splendor in crypts cut into the cliffs on the Niles west bank. The citys greatest period was that of the empire, when it served as a reservoir for the immense wealth that poured in from the conquered countries. As the empire began to decay and the locus of power to shift to the Nile delta, Thebes went into decline. For a time in the 11th cent. B.C., it was a separate political entity under sacerdotal rule. Thebes was sacked by the Assyrians in 661 B.C., an event referred to in the Bible (Nah. 3.810 as shown above), where the city is called No Amon (Amon city). The Romans sacked it in 29 B.C., and by 20 B.C. a Greek visitor to the site reported only a few scattered villages. The temples and tombs that have survived, including the tombs of Tutankhamen and of Ramses IIs sons, are among the most splendid in the world, and the site has been the scene of much important archaeological work.  (I saw this city in an Omni Max show about the Nile River in Las Vegas this year - very interesting)

I could add a lot more words, but I think the Holy Spirit with is already enlightening most of us by just reading the words of the Bible as we understand the historical perspective.  Maybe the Bible shows us something about today.  Maybe those who don't know the Lord need us to share the Good News of allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us as we accept Jesus as our personal Savior.  Praise the Lord.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.boberb.com and www.waikikibeachoutreach.com

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