Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Upcoming Ministry Calendar


Available for Speaking and Bible 
Teaching Engagements

Residence - Lakeland, Florida

I am a member in good standing of the Fellowship Baptist Church of Lakeland, FL, and subscribe to the doctrinal statement of our church family. While I represent Fellowship Baptist as a member wherever I go, that representation is not in an official capacity.

Contact:
  • comingsus@yahoo.com
  • 607-591-1076



My wife, Judy, and I are volunteers at this well established and growing recovery ministry. Each Friday we go to the central ministry site where Judy spends the morning with the adult education program, and I teach two introduction-to-the-Bible classes: one for the men in the program.  and the other for the ladies in the program. Prior to COVID we accompanied several from our folks, one Sunday evening a month, to minister to the overnight guests in a chapel and evening meal. 


WRITING MINISTRY

On an average of once a quarter, I am a contributing author for the HORIZONS adult Sunday School devotional paper: published by the Regular Baptist Press. These are not available for individual order. However, soon I will begin posting them on this blog.




THIS'S AND THATS'S 

At our local church, Judy is involved in AWANA, working with the Sparks, and in other ministries as needed. Both of us were participants in the choir before COVID. When that resumes is up the Lord. I am tagged from time to time to give a short lesson in AWANA, to lead them in their SWORD DRILL, to bring a lesson to the Youth Group, and to preach in a service or for Prayer Meeting. 

JUDY and GUARDIAN AD LITEM

In a much more involved ministry in the community, Judy serves with the Polk County Guardian Ad Litem. This is a child advocacy body whose goal is to serve as an informed voice for children in the child placement decisions of the court. 

 



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Monday, June 8, 2015

FIRST ROAD LIBRARY COMPLETE

 WELCOME TO THE CORE LIBRARY
for the Blog


AN ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF ALL POSTS
  • Scan the list below to find an article of interest.
  • Click the article and you will be taken to it. 
  • If you are pursuing a particular subject you might want to check out the "Category List" on the home page.

Items Not Posted Yet are Orange
Items embedded in other articles are in italics.

A 1942 Classic: Up to Date and Prophetic
A Challenge for Not-God People
A Close Call In the Wilderness
A Garden of Stories
A Look At One Boy's Legacy
A Must-Have Book If You Talk with People About Problems
A North Dakota Walk
A Remembering Task 
A Second Look At Peace On Earth
ASecond Reason for Portraying Fundamentalism Darkly 
A Silent Plea In An Old Cemetery
A Question That Should Draw Us In for a Closer Look
A Young Man's Struggle With the Sovereign Commands
Abercrombie Trail, The
Absolute Self Denial
Alfies, Take Note
Amid Living Walls
An Historic Site of the Mind
An Opportunity for Wisdom on April 1st
And There's More
Being In the Way by Not Being In the Way
Being Led and Planting Corn
Being Led Is About Following
Being Led is for Wimps
Being Led Is About Knowing Our Task
Best Friends, Worst Enemies - Thompson, Grace, Cohen, and Barker
Bible Reading Helps for Easter and Christmas (As Well as Through the Year)
Bible Study or Bible Conversation
Bless for the Right Reason
Bob Varner - Master Wood Craftsman 
Boots On the Ground
Brotherly Love Looks Like THAT ?!
Can You Imagine - Repulsive?
Central Florida in April
Cheering On the Next Generation - 2014 01 16
Conscience Abuse
Contextual Self Denial
Cracker Country
Cultivating Our Awareness of Our Need for Mercy
Dad. Dad! DAD!! Look!
Dad Remembered
Dangerous Calling
Dark Saturday Service
Demagogues and Such
Did He Just Say What I Think He Said?
Did You Ever Hear Someone Talking About You?
Do I Dare 
Doing the Math / Feeling Belatedly Grateful - Again
Do We Forget the Mystery?
Do You Have An Opinion About Fiction and Fantasy?
Don't Forget the Plot Lines When You Read the Bible
Don't Throw Away the Study Books
Dyslexia Has a Champion in Lakeland Florida 
Eileen Sutton Gives An Idea for Your Next Vacation
Fading Memories
Feeling Dismal? Check This Out
First of All Grace / Source of All Graciousness
Five Reality Checks for the Blessing Place
Florida a Short History - Michael Gannon
Florida Spring
Florida Strawberry Festival
Florida State Fair
Florida's Icon
Florists Make Me Think of God (a little)
For the Record - 2014 05 06 - Thoreau and Peace with God
Freedomism
Friendship Fields or Ambush Alley
For Crew and Country - Wukovits
Four Meet at the Crossroads - 2014 01 22
Four Thoughts On Christian Repentence 
From A to B with R and R Along the Way
From Old Familiar to New Familiar
God Led Me to Buy a Ford
Grace Givers Among Mercy Scorners
Granny the Spoiler
Grief-and-Gossip Fodder
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Trails Are Not the Point
Have At It
Have You Picked Up Any Clues?
Have You Read "Unbroken," Or Just Watched the Movie?
He Can Do WHAT?
Heat's On in Melbourne - 2014 01 14
Hey Shirker ! - 2014 01 13
How Well Do You Like Pop-Up Ads?
I Believe You Will Not Hurt Me Unnecessarily
I Believe You Will Not Mislead Me
I Believe You Will Not Own Me
I Believe You Will Not Violate Me
I Can't Pronounce His Name but I Can Applaud His Character - 2011 04 18
I Hope You Will Never Walk Away
I Should Have Guessed
I Understand Some May Reject Me Because of You
If Tennis Balls Could Talk - 2011 01 29
If You're Going to Sneeze - book review
I'll Never Forget the Look on His Face 
In Tune With Heaven by Vance Havner
Is A Quaint Farm In the Country Still On Your New Year List?
Is Mercy for Good Actors With the Right Script?
It's a Good Thing the New Birth Is a Work of God's Spirit
It's Just a Hole by guest contributor, Dave Coy
It's Just Plain Weird
It's Not About A Second Chance
It's Not About "Morals"
It's Not About Stolen Cookies
It's Not About Pork Chops or Orientation
It's Not Too Late for Some Holiday Dickens
It's Official! There's Another Comings
Jesus Beyond Christmas
Jesus' Home: Important Assumptions
Jesus' Job Description for Storytellers
Kingdom Teens
Know the Territory
Know Who You're Talking To
Leave 'em Guessing
Lessons from a Tennis (Soccer, Baseball, Football) Ball - 2010 04 22
Life Happens In the Spaces
Looking for a Different Birthday Cake?
Making the Break with Culture and Orientation
Meaning and Motivation
Mercy Is About Identifiable Guilt
Mercy? No Way!
Mercy Shown Is Not Necessarily Mercy Received
Mind Your Own Business 
Nazareth Was Not A Primary
No, Jesus Was Not a Wizard. But...
Nobody Saw That One Coming
North Dakota Walk, A
Not A Mamma's Boy
Of Hands and Feet and Gates and Doorposts
Oh My! Oh My! Oh My! - 2014 01 21 
Open Hand / Clenched Fists
Ox Cart Angel - Book Review
Politics and the Irrelevant Jesus
"Pop-Up" Hucksters
Pretty Girl
Profitable for Living Life
Quiet Places
Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys - Thompson and Kindlon
Rational, Real Time and with Integrity
Reflections for Life's Final Journey
Remember the Buffalo Bills in 1993 ?
Review: A Land Remembered
Richard Gasquet Battles to Move Ahead - 2014 01 17
Roads to Wahpeton
Roads Were Meant to be Walked Upon - Book Review
Sanibel Beach, Florida, In the Winter
"Saved By Grace" - Poem by Don Hubbard
See You Next Year, Lord Willing
Self Control and the Trust of Friendship
Self Denial and Self Control In the Bigger Picture
Sham is Sham Wherever You Am 
Sing Sweet Mocking Bird
SO MANY WINDOWS TO WASH
So, Will It Be A Ford or A Chevy? 
Sola Misericordia
Some Random Thoughts Concerning Blessing
"Soul Physicians" - Book Review
Sovereign Commands and the Need of a Savior
Sovereign Commands and the Sovereign God
Story Telling Is An Embedded Part of Our Creaturehood
Strangers, Friends, and Brothers
Subdued Acres: Munsinger / Clemens Gardens
Swallow and Follow
Sweet Sixteen and Mile-High Tennis 2014 01 08 
Ten Books of Recent Interest 2014 09 12
Ten Books (Plus One) For Which I Am Thankful
Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child
The "Acceptable Sins"
The Author's Heart
The Baronet's Song
The Blessing Place Remembered
The Book of Man - William Bennett
The Days of the Quest
The Discovery of Mercy
The Enigma of Christian Resistance to Self Denial
The Elephant Behind the Freedomist Pulpit
The Footprint of the King
The Forgotten Path of the Mercy Seeker
The Fundamentalist May Have Been On To Something
The Gospel Is Not a Product

The Grace of Grit - 2014 01 24
The Great Eight 
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Greatest of These
The Habits of Sin Do Not Vanish on the Other Side of the Granite Door
The Light of Wonder In the Valley of Horrors
The Longest Walk
The Look of a Boy from Above
The Look of a Follower
The Look of Looking
The Look of the Blessing Place
The Maple Tree Boat
The Mentor's Farewell
The Miracle Zone
The Mother of All Self-Denial Mandates
The Mysterious Wonderer
The Mystery of the Truly Awesome
The Perfect Funeral
The Plot Thickens
The Principal's Son's Surprise - 2014 01 15
The Right Side of History / The Wrong Side of Prophecy
The Saber Finds Its Mark
The Sad Face Is Not the Issue
The Savior's Heart for Unity
The Second Rail
The Swans of Lakeland
The Tennis Player's Secret
The Tracker - Tom Brown Jr.
The Voice of Many Waters
The Withered Grape
There Was This Woman
Things Felt While Raking Leaves
Think of a Train
This Kid Knocked Their Sandals Off
To Our Faithful Paper Deliverer
To the Princess From the Peasant
Treacherous Hearts
Treason in Reverse, an Unwanted Expectation and a Foolish 
Tripped Up By Trappings
Delusion
Troubleshooting Tips in the Followers' Manual
Two Days Before August
Ugly Boxes
Unexpected Seekers
Valley of the Shadow of Oops
Vloedgraven, Sven - 2011 04 18 
Walking on Eggs Is Not Required
Wandering Eyes
Way Down Upon the Suwannee River
We Can Understand Our Need for Mercy If We Think About It
We Never Know Who's Listening
We Were Warned 
Well Driven Nails - book review
What About Earthquakes and Fire?
What About the Materially Poor?
What Do Blue Grass and New Jersey Have in Common? 
What Do You Look for In a Face?
What Makes a Crisis a Crisis?
What Then, My Heart ? 
What's the Deal With the Gag Order?
What's the Use of Preaching? Its Audience
What's the Use of Preaching? Its Character
When I Find These Things I Wonder
When Self-Denial Goes Into Overdrive
When the Footprint Meets the Foot
Why the Dark Portrayal of the Fundamentalist Era?
Who's Who In the Men's Singles at the Australian Open - 2014 01 13
Why We Want Grace to be a Package
Will There Be A Shepherd Boy at the Open? - 2014 01 15
Wind, Water, Fire, and Quake
World Lit Only by Fire - William Manchester 
Worthiness - An Impossible Assighment
Worthy Walk, The - A Logical Response
You and Beauregard at the Dead Salamander
You and Brunhilde at the Dead Salamander
You and Emmett at the Dead Salamander 
You and Elliott at the Dead Salamander
You and Erford at the Dead Salamander
You and Orlando at the Dead Salamander
You May Call Me Jesus  
You May Not Want Heaven As Much As You Think You Do
Your Friend - Adrift?





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Friday, June 5, 2015

The Blessing Place

© Harold H. Comings
2015
Published on http://haroldhcomings.com 

"Blessing" is one of those biblical terms which has become a husk in our vocabulary. Examine with me a way in which the word can return to life in our relationship with family, friends, and especially with the next generation. When we have finished you may want to find a "Blessing Place" of your own; but remember, the point is not primarily about geography. It is about touching a soul.

The Blessing Place Remembered
The Look of the Blessing Place
Bless for the Right Reason
Five Reality Checks for the Blessing Place
Some Random Thoughts Concerning Blessing

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Friday, May 29, 2015

Regaining the Drama

Story Telling is an Embedded Part of Our Creaturehood
Don't Forget the Plot Lines When You Read the Bible
The Plot Thickens
Granny the Spoiler
What Makes a Crisis a Crisis?
Think of a Train
The Second Rail
Jesus' Job Description for Storytellers
Don't Throw Away the Study Books!!!
Meaning and Motivation
It's Not About "Morals"
Learn to Think Through






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Thursday, May 7, 2015

The Mysterious Footprint of Godliness

Do We Forget Mystery?

Where to Begin?

Did He Just Say What I Think He Said?

The Footprint of the King

Nazareth Was Not a Primary

Know Who You’re Talking To

He Can Do WHAT?

No, Jesus Was Not a Wizard, But…

The Saber Finds Its Mark

Open Hand / Clenched Fists

The Author’s Heart

Wind, Water, Fire, and Quake

What about Earthquakes and Fire?

What’s the Use of Preaching?Its Character

 What's the Use of Preaching? Its Audience

What About the Materially Poor?

When the Footprint Meets the Foot

The Mystery of the Truly Awesome

And There's More

Have At It

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Friday, February 27, 2015

A Gift Scorned


© Harold H. Comings
2015
Published on http://haroldhcomings.com 

Why is it people who want nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, embrace the hymn Amazing Grace? Where are the multiplied thousands who have made professions of faith in every scenario from huge evangelistic meetings to simple living rooms over the past sixty years? How might the familiar illustration of an offered pen as an example of the free gift of salvation play a role in answering those questions? 

There is a gift that must be received if the gift of grace is to be received. That gift was the heart-and-soul of the writer of Amazing Grace but was not presented in its lyrics. That gift is a largely unwanted gift - a scorned gift. It grates against the soul of the human heart; and that gift is the subject of this devotional booklet. 

CONTENTS

We Were Warned

The Gospel is Not a Product
Why We Want Grace to be a Package
Sola Misericordia
Mercy? No Way!

We Can Understand Our Need for Mercy If We Think About It
You May Not Want Heaven As Much As You Think You Do
It's Not About a Second Chance
The Habits of Sin Do Not Vanish on the Other Side of the Granite Door

It's Not About Stolen Cookies
Mercy Is About Identifiable Guilt
The Forgotten Path of the Mercy Seeker
It's a Good Thing the New Birth Is a Work of God's Spirit
The Discovery of Mercy

A Second Look At Peace On Earth
Grace Givers Among Mercy Scorners
Ugly Boxes
Treason in Reverse, an Unwanted Expectation and a Foolish Delusion

Cultivating Our Awareness of Our Need for Mercy
Mercy Shown Is Not Necessarily Mercy Received
Is Mercy For Good Actors With the Right Script?
The First of All Grace / The Source of All Graciousness
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Thursday, January 15, 2015

BUMPED INTO WHILE READING

2015 - January 15

SHALOM / PEACE / SIN

From Cornelius Plantinga in Not the Way It's Supposed to Be as quoted by Dr. Robert Kellemen in Soul Physicians p 124.

"The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight--a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights." (p. 10)

 "Sin is the vandalism of shalom." (p. 7)
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Friday, November 14, 2014

Walking Worthy In the Atmosphere of Grace

A series of articles which consider the biblical command to walk worthy in an atmosphere where we are saved and justified and declared free from the law by the work of Christ and not by works of our own.

Worthiness: An Impossible Assignment
The Worthy Walk: A Logical Response
I'll Never Forget the Look On His Face
Grief-and-Gossip Fodder
The Sad Face Is Not the Issue
It's Just Plain Weird


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Monday, July 7, 2014

The Withered Grape

© Harold H. Comings
2014
Published on http://haroldhcomings.com 

Freedomism has the ear of many who reject the extra-biblical policies and prohibitions of various legalistic imperatives of twentieth century Fundamentalism. It is one thing to cast off false check-lists of spirituality. It is another thing to cast aside the unblushing message of Scripture that a feature of the fruit of the Spirit is self control. This devotional series seeks to resurface Jesus' call to a self control which even incorporates self denial. It is not a call to return to legalism. It is a call to return to an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. A relationship which declares war on embedded sin in our lives. A relationship which revisits the biblical mandate of sensitivity to the conscience of others. A relationship which demonstrates the reality and authenticity of focus on the life changing vision which belongs to those who trust him.

Below, in order, is the growing series chapters in this "Withered Grape" publication. Read and ponder. Share with friends.

INTRODUCTION
ABSOLUTE SELF DENIAL





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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Is This the Right Road ?

© Harold H. Comings
2014
Published on http://haroldhcomings.com 

What does God want me to do? 
I know what He wants me to do, but how do I get there?
I know I'm doing what he wants me to do, but where do I go from here?

We call it, "God's will for my life." More specifically we may even think in terms of "God's will for today." 

I either case, one of the greatest concerns for anyone who is serious about being where God wants them, is "How can I know how to recognize it, pursue it, achieve it and look beyond it?"

Here are some thoughts to help you work through the process. 

Below, in order, are twelve devotionals built around this concern. Read and ponder. Share with friends.

Being Led and Planting Corn
Know Your Task
Follow
Troubleshooting Tips In the Follower's Manual
Mind Your Own Business
God Led Me to Buy a Ford
The Look of a Follower
Being Led is for Wimps
So, Will It Be a Ford or a Chevy?
Being In the Way by Not Being In the Way
Happy Trails Are Not the Point
Swallow and Follow

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Saturday, April 26, 2014

Reading With Wonder


© Harold H. Comings
2014
Published on http://haroldhcomings.com 

An important part of reading Scripture is imagination. F. B. Meyer, quoted by Richard L. Mayhue in John MacArthur, Jr's. book, Rediscovering Expository Preaching:

There are five considerations that must be met in every successful sermon. There should be an appeal to the Reason, to the Conscience, to the imagination, to the Emotions, and to the Will; and for each of these there is no method so serviceable as systematic exposition. (p. 17)
This series of thirty devotional clips is presented with a desire to prod readers to think about several incidents in the earthly ministry of Jesus. To think about them imaginatively in a way that captures the life of the narrative. I have sought to be true to the text. When we imagine the look of a scene which God has described in broad strokes we realize that someone else may think of a different scenario. That's good. It is not my intention to say, "This is the way it happened." Rather, I say, over and over, "It is possible or probable..." or "It might have been." Like Paul's unnamed thorn in the flesh, the absence of specifics enables an event to be placed as a template over the events we encounter in our lives today.

Below, in order, is a list of the chapters to this "Reading With Wonder" publication. Read and enjoy at your leisure. Share with friends.



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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

JEANETTE'S JOURNEY TABLE OF CONTENTS

Book One
THE POTTER AND THE CLAY

Copyright Information

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