On his 79th birthday, Pastor Wally speaks on two portions of Scripture, Psalm 23 and The Lord's Prayer. He tells us what they have meant to him and how he has adapted them to be personalized for his changing life situations, and how we should do the same. Not to change the Word of God, but in order to apply it to our lives.

Paul reminds Titus of the work he is to do, and how he should instruct believers to live. Part of how believers live, is remembering the Holy Spirit convicts the world, not you. You cannot convict someone, just as you cannot save someone. The Holy Spirit convicts and Jesus saves. But your lifestyle can turn people away from the Gospel, and that is what Paul warns Titus and you about.

Christians and governments have long had issues, but Paul tells Titus some things that are hard for Christians to live with and even believe. As Christians we are to be subject to rulers and authorities, obedient, peaceable, doing good. Yes, there will be times when the law, when government, and Christianity will be at odds. Those times are when Christians live righteously, doing what Scripture says above all. But in the meantime, we are to live such good lives that those who don't believe can say nothing bad about us, about Christianity, and about God.

Paul instructs Titus on what he should teach to various age and gender groups in order to live as the people of God. There are differences for age, and male and female, but the is one theme that is given to all, Christians are to be self-controlled. When you live as a Christian you give the world no ammunition to say anything bad about Christians and Christianity.

False teachers and false doctrine have always been an issue, because the enemy of your soul wants to deceive and destroy you. It is important that you be able to recognize them. One thing they seem to have in common is the deny the sufficiency of Jesus Christ, and the best way to protect yourself is to study God's Word, the Bible, so you can spot false teachers and false doctrine.

Paul wants Titus to appoint Elders for the church on Crete, so he gives him a list of qualifications. This list is not just for male elders, but for all Christians. As a Christian your life should be marked by Jesus and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, in such a way that you go about life differently than the world.

Paul writing to Titus, and you, is telling us that we need to further our faith because He has more in store for us to do. We need not worry, we must fully trust God, because God is the One who does not lie. And the more we grow in godliness, the more we further our faith, the more we will understand how much we can truly trust God.

As a Christian you are to be a forgiving person, but that does not mean you should be foolish about situations or people. You are to use the wisdom of God in your relationships.

Spirit filled living is not getting drunk or high, avoiding immorality, impurity, or greed, it's not less than that, but so much more. Spirit filled living is expressing your gratefulness to God in thanksgiving, song and praise, and learning the way of God's wisdom.

Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? You can know for sure. Some of the signs are speaking God's Word with boldness, living a Spirit filled lifestyle, experiencing the power of God work in you and through you, and you have a love for and study the Word of God.

Communion, the Lord's Supper, calls us to look to the past, the present, and the future. In looking to the past, we see the animal sacrifices that could never take away sin, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who does take away sin. In the present, we are reminded that right now each one of us, who follows Christ, has fellowship with God. For the future, communion, reminds us that Jesus is will return and take His disciples home.

The power of God to raise Jesus from the dead is so great it must come from outside the universe, from outside of creation. God brought the power of the future age into this age to raise Jesus from the dead. God's power is in you if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ's. How would your life and this world be different if you really believed this?

Jesus breaths on His disciples on the day of resurrection and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit." Yet, He tells them to wait in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Why two fillings? The first is for life and authority, the second and ongoing one is for power. We need both to do what Jesus has commissioned us to do; to continue His work and ministry.

Like the lady's parrot needed food, your spirit needs to be fed. If you are not feeding your spirit, your spirit will shrivel and your relationship with Jesus will be distant at best, and most likely non-existent, dead. You need to Feed the Parrot!