Kermit Gosnell number 2 -- abortionist Douglas Karpen

Just when I thought the horror was stopped with Gosnell's conviction, another horror story opens up. This guy's name is Douglas Karpen. His clinic in Texas was exposed by three whistle blowers, Deborah Edge, Gigi Aguliar, and Krystal Rodriguez. The stories they are telling are even more horrific with the born-alive babies heads being twisted off or gouged if the spinal cords were not snipped.

This seems like the so-called doctor enjoyed inflicting the cruel treatment to these innocent babies. It makes my stomach roil.

One of the informats, Deborah Edge, said that she wasn't aware that what Karpen was doing was illegal. I find this incredible. Here is someone watching a baby being born alive, spasming in excruciating pain, and not realizing it was illegal. She said,

“When he did an abortion, especially an over 20 week abortion, most of the time the fetus would come completely out before he cut the spinal cord or he introduced one of the instruments into the soft spot of the fetus, in order to kill the fetus,” said Deborah Edge, who worked as a surgical assistant for Karpen for about 15 years until leaving in March, 2011.

 You can read more about it here. But, I strongly caution you that the photos of the aborted babies are horrific and not for the fainthearted. I cannot imagine what these babies have suffered.

I have been praying that the truth would come out about these abortions. I have been praying that God would show those who think abortion is "okay" what it truly is: Murder. Perhaps these babies have not died in vain.

Honoring Mom -- the second grader way

=====  Friday's Thought For The Day (May 10, 2013) from Pastor Alan Smith =====

THE MOTHERLY SIDE OF GOD

In honor of upcoming Mother's day, here are some humorous answers given by second grade children to the following questions about mothers:

Why did God make mothers?

1.  She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2.  Mostly to clean the house.

3.  To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1.  He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2.  Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring 3.  God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1.  God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2.  They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1.  My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2.  I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1.  On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2.  Diet. You know her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?

1.  She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2.  I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

3.  I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

     I could say much about the godly attributes of Christian women, but allow me to say something about the motherly attributes of God.  We don't often think of God as being like a mother, but there is a motherly side of God.  Don't worry, this is not an attempt to be politically correct, and I have nothing but disdain for the versions of the Bible that change all references of God to a feminine gender.  But there are passages of scripture that compare God to a mother.

     Keep in mind that we're dealing with metaphors, figures of speech:  God is a father, a mother, a shepherd, a king, a fire, a shield, a rock.  All of those words provide comparisons to help us understand who Almighty God is and what he's like. 

     God said to the Jews, "As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you." (Isaiah 66:13).  God comforts us like a mother comforts her children.

     In Hosea 13:8, God said, "I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, and there I will devour them like a lion."   God protects us like a mother protects her babies.

     In Isaiah 49:15, God said, "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you."  God is even more devoted than a mother!

     I thank God for the godly mothers who will receive this e-mail.  But, beyond that, I thank God that He loves me as only a mother can -- without reservation, in spite of my shortcomings, and with a love that will never end!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Helen Street Church of Christ

Fayetteville, North Carolina 

To subscribe to "Thought For the Day," send a blank email to join-thought-for-the-day@hub.xc.org

Vacation in Space, the Final Frontier

I now understand why God split everyone up and scrambled language at the Tower of Babel.

Genesis 10-11 tells the story of Nimrod and his plan to build a tower to the heavens. Today, what Nimrod was attempting is rather quaint until one understands the tower was for power over mankind and for turning worship toward demons instead of the one, true God.

On April 29, 2013 the goal toward commercial flights into space came one step closer to being achieved. 

Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin empire, which includes space transportation company Virgin Galactic and commercial airline Virgin Atlantic, called the achievement "without any doubt, our single most important flight test to date."

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226530#ixzz2SoBI06zT

This is one more step closer to Branson's goal of touring space as a regular business. What the Entrepreneur article does not talk about is this goal of Branson's and also of Elon Musk's started long before Obama cut funding to the United States' space program.

I think it is disgraceful that our astronauts have to piggy back on the Russians to get into space. Regardless of that, the epiphany of these courageous entrepreneurs to build a business into the final frontier is more than commendable. It proves more than ever that capitalism is a much stronger economic tool than socialism. There are no barriers, including the sound barrier that Branson's Virgin Galactic broke, in capitalism. 

This is why God scrambled the people and their language.

Genesis 11:6  And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.

I like the way Webster translated it: and nothing will be restrained from them which they imagine to do.

Of course God knew that day would come when He created Adam. The fact that God had it recorded that man could do anything he imagined is huge. The only thing holding us back are our own fears and listening to the father of lies rather than to our Creator. The key concept here is that we are obligated to our Creator to bring Him glory and honor, not disgrace by pursuing our own glory and honor from perishable men.

It is an amazing thing for mere men to reach into space. I think it is even more amazing that men, without the help of government, are running a race to space in healthy competition without rancor.

12 ways to bring God glory...

Image from the black hole core of the Whirlpool Galaxy

According to Scripture...


Romans 4:20… [Abraham] did not stagger by unbelief at the promise of God, but was empowered by faith, giving glory to God,

Our faith gives glory to God. Abraham was one hundred years old when God told him Sarah would bear him a son. He fell down and worshiped God Almighty at this supernatural feat He would perform. What's more... when Sarah died, Abraham married again and had six more sons. Talk about glory to God!

Psalm 50:23 Whoever offers thanks glorifies Me; and he who prepares a way, I will show the salvation of God to him.

Our praises and thanksgivings give glory to God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Then whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God. 32 Be without offense both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God. 33 Even as I also please all in all things, not seeking my own advantage, but that of the many, that they may be saved.

Everything we do, we are to do to bring glory to God. Being without offense to anyone is a lot harder than reading the verse. We must buckle in for the bumpy ride that Satan is bound to cause so in order to do it, we must make a deliberate decision to put God first every day. Otherwise, our thought processes can get us into trouble by making self first.

We must be sensitive to our brothers and sisters around us. When I raise my hands to God in praise in church, I do so in a muted manner. Most of the folks in my church are uncomfortable with major displays of affection toward God. I still do it, but not to draw attention to myself. Although, sometimes I hear God shouting, “Wake up, Children! Wake up!”

Jesus told Peter how his death would glorify God.

John 21:19 But He said this signifying by what death he would glorify God. And having said this, He told him, Follow Me.

1Peter 4:14 If you are reviled in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because "the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you." Truly, according to them, He is blasphemed; but according to you, He is glorified. Isa. 11:2

1Peter 4:16 But if one suffers as a Christian, do not let him be ashamed, but to glorify God in this respect.

2 Thess 1:11 For which we also continually pray concerning you, that our God would you worthy of the calling, and would fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and work of faith in power, 12; so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Allowing God to work through us brings Jesus glory and glory to God.

John 15:8 In this My Father is glorified, that you should bear much fruit; and you will be disciples to Me.

Philippians 1:11 being filled with fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

1Corinthians 6:20 You were bought with a price; then glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are of God.

Glorifying God should be done in unison... all saints.

Psalm 34:3 O magnify Jehovah with me; and let us exalt His name together
Rom 15:6 that with one accord and with one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Because of this, receive one another as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Seriously, I take this to mean when we are a congregation, we are to worship in unison. We should not be each in our own little world while church is going on. The personal kind of worship is to be practiced when we are alone and this glorifies God in our body and our spirit. But, when we are together, it should be in one body, of one mind, in one accord, in order.

This list is by no means comprehensive. However, it gives a bear bones overview of how to glorify God and what is acceptable. I figure when one does enough genuine glorying of God then the false glorifying will become readily recognizable, kinda like the way bank tellers can spot counterfeit money just by feeling it.

1 Chronicles 16 is David's way of glorifying God in worship. He is not dancing inside the Temple in this exaltation. I think it is worthy to note that neither David, nor the priests nor the people ever danced inside the Temple. I believe it is also worthy to be noted that God was extremely emphatic about the conduct of the priests as they came into His presence. They were to come in fear and trembling, not riotous dancing, shouting and singing. Any slaying to be done was by God Himself in response to profane behavior of the priests who entered the Holy of Holies.

I strongly believe that the believers of today have forgotten the Holiness of God and Who God really is. He is Just as well as full of Mercy. He is not The Great Daddy-O, but is worthy of deep respect to the point of foreheads to the ground. I tremble with fear and disgust when I hear someone take the Lord's Name in vain or in curses. They know not what they do.

Since David danced before the Lord, can we assume that dancing would be equivalent to running down the aisles?

There is no reference to dancing in the Temple. There are about seven references to dancing before the Lord (one in Luke 15 the Prodigal Son parable). I admit that my search is not thorough, but I have not found any place in Scripture where it was holy or reverent or glorifying to God to run down the aisles (dancing) in the Temple.

The only place I find where there is great celebration in dance before the Lord is the invitation in Psalm 149. Here it is clearly a celebration and it is for everyone to dance. I find a correlation in Luke 15 when the Prodigal Son comes home and there is great celebration and dancing. But, not in the Temple. It is a group thing, not an individual thing.

Idle words profit nothing

Idle words are those that are useless, malicious, have wicked intent, or words that accomplish nothing. Matthew Henry highlights the fact that the heart is the fountain and words are the streams flowing from the fountain. "A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams."

Jesus told the Pharisees that men will have to answer for every idle word that passes
their lips in Matthew 12:36. In context these religious leaders had just accused the Son of God of doing the devil's work. Jesus warned them that everything will be forgiven mankind except the blaspheming of the Holy Spirit. I have often heard young people express fear of mentioning the Holy Spirit for fear of committing this unforgivable sin. Personally, I do not believe that a person who is a true believer could ever commit this sin because our hearts are indwelled by the Holy Spirit; and according to Paul's second letter to Timothy (2:13) He cannot deny Himself.

A true believer deeply desires to please God, and we have been given a new heart with the potential to be filled with God's desires. The journey is all about being sanctified and becoming more like our Father. However, Jesus' admonition to the Pharisees is perplexing. If we are forgiven all our sins when we accept Jesus as our Savior, then how can we stand before Him on the Day of Judgment and account for all our idle words? It seems to be a conundrum.

There are two ways of understanding Numbers 22:20-22. Firstly, God says, “If these men call you in the morning, then go with them and do as I say do and only that.” Secondly, God says, “I give you up to your own lusts, Balaam. Since they came go ahead and go with them.” In both cases, God's anger is kindled and burns brightly against Balaam for several reasons.

In the first reading, Balaam disobeys God because he does not wait for the princes to call him which is direct disobedience to God's command. In the second, God's directive is similar to what Paul talks about in Romans chapter one. God gives up the corrupted, wicked to their own lusts and it brings down His wrath upon them for He has provided everything for them to believe in Him, yet they turn from Him to pursue fleeting pleasures trading their souls for temporary satisfaction. In either case, God knew what would happen and how Balaam would bitterly betray Israel to Balak.

 Regardless of how you interpret these verses, it was a sin of Balaam to go with the princes of Moab because God had originally commanded him not to go to Moab. As Matthew Henry says, “As God sometimes denies the prayers of his people in love, so sometimes he grants the desires of the wicked in wrath.” Nevertheless, Balaam had spoken to these princes, “If Balak would give to me his house full of gold and silver, I could not go beyond the mouth of Jehovah my God, to do anything, small or great” (v. 18).  Does Balaam think he can change the mind of God? He calls Him “my God” as if he had a personal relationship with Him. How deeply wicked it is to know God's will (not to go to Moab, and not to curse Israel), yet to turn around for the sake of a few coins and ask permission to go when he was commanded not to go.

Balaam said he would not go against what God said do, yet he did just that. This is what Jesus was talking about when He warned what would happen to those who spoke idle words. How often do we say things that we don't mean, and give promises we don't fulfill? These words Balaam spoke came from a vain and worthless heart. Jesus said the bad tree bears bad fruit, and the good tree bears good fruit. Also, what comes out of the mouth is what is buried in the heart, and therefore leads to good deeds or wicked deeds. Balaam's word should indicate a penchant to obedience but his actions indicate the opposite.

If Balaam had meant what he said, the more honorable princes sent by Balak would have been sent back before they had ever dismounted or spoken to him about all manner of honor to be given him. Idle words mean nothing, do not profit anyone or edify, and are an abomination in God's sight. If we do not have our Advocate Jesus by our side when called to account for our idle words (for we have all spoken them), then we are ruined.

Feelings...Feelings: Where's the assurance?

Feelings... nothing more than feelings... Albert Morris was so caught

Kimochi means "feeling" in Japanese.

up in trying to forget his feelings for some girl. You know, you can't depend on feelings. One day you are so in love, and the next day he's done something that is so outrageous you are infuriated. Children scream, "I hate you!" when they've been thwarted. It doesn't mean the real and abiding love is gone, it just means that feelings have overshadowed that deep emotion of love.


There is a time to rely on feelings and a time to ignore them. Someone said, I know there are times when I'm not saved because I don't feel saved. Pooh! John wrote the believers so that we could be assured of our salvation. There are several things that give us that assurance. 1 John 4 beginning at verse 13.

1. We don't just talk the walk but we walk the walk. We show love and compassion to our brothers and sisters. We act like a family.

2. We put action to compassion. We help those we see in need. Like James says we don't just pat them on the shoulder and say, "I'll be praying for you. Be warm." We give them a coat to stay warm.

3. We don't condemn ourselves. Here's the feeling part. God is greater than we are, He knows everything in our hearts. How amazing that we are forgiven before we sin. If we confess our sin then God is faithful to forgive us, putting our sin as far away from us as the east is from the west. Astounding!

4. We then have a clear conscience. Not only that, but we are blameless. Imagine it! Blameless in the eyes of God.

5. God answers our prayers. Sometimes He answers immediately. Sometimes He says, 'Wait'. Sometimes He says, "You are not ready for that, yet." The condition is praying for things that are within Jesus' character and within God's principles. Like praying for someone to get saved... or for the wisdom of our leaders. We must always rememer that God's ways and thoughts are much higher than our own. He sees all the consequences of every action and if just one thing is out of kilter, that could hinder someone's walk with Jesus. It would be better for that person to have a millstone around his neck and be tossed into the sea. That's how strongly Jesus felt about a stumbling block.

6. We obey God. We keep His commandments and we don't "fudge a little" here and there. It is part of our having a clear conscience. Walking with God doesn't allow for fudging.

7. We want to please God. It isn't a matter of "trying to be good." It isn't a matter of being fearful of what might happen. It is a definite, deep and deliberate desire to please our Heavenly Father. That stems from loving Him.

8. We believe Him. We not only believe in Jesus, but we believe what He says in His word. How can we trust unless we believe? Believing we believe.

9. Abiding we abide in Him. All that happens because He first abided in us. The Holy Spirit ignited our souls into life, Spiritual life and the combination of the Holy Spirit with our soul made a brand new creature. That is so exciting. We are not at all "just human". We are something quite different, and precious in God's sight. Sacrifice. That word that means the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim. God gave His Son. Jesus willingly laid down His life in sacrifice for us. God says it and that is enough. Believing or not believing does not make it so or not so. God did it. That settles it. This is how we know beyond any doubt, beyond any question that we are saved. These things are outward indications of the inward change that the Holy Spirit caused to happen. Amen and Glory be to God.

The trouble with Pharisees...

…is that they don’t do anything with God’s rebuke. Matthew 23

wasn’t the first time they didn’t pay attention to God’s rebuke. If it wasn’t their making motions of worship while having greed and murder in their heart it was the painful distress of oppression they brought down on widows and orphans. Isaiah told them. Jeremiah told them. Habakkuk told them. Micah told them. But, Malachi, oh Malachi said it with the sting of a red zinger.

 Mal 2:1  And now, O priests, this command is to you. 2  If you will not hear, and if you will not set it on your heart to give glory to My name, says Jehovah of Hosts, then I will send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. And indeed, I have cursed it, because you are not setting it on your heart. 3  Behold, I am rebuking your seed, and I will spread dung on your faces, the dung of your solemn feasts; and one will lift you up to it.

I have so often wondered why the studiers and keepers of the law were so blind to the Grace that abounded in the Old Prophets. There was always a hope, always a bright shining light: “Return to Me, and I will return to you, says Jehovah of Hosts.”

That just wasn’t good enough because Jesus came in an unexpected way. Oh my! Jesus focused on unexpected people. Oh my! This couldn’t possibly be the Messiah, because He didn’t come in purple robes with a built in crown. He was “common” looking.

This was the crux of the problem with the Pharisees. They focused on the outside. They wore huge phylacteries and broaden the hems of their robes, and had tzit tzit  (the tassel with blue cords that were wrapped 613 times for each command of God in the OT) that trailed behind them when they walked. They were so full of religious prejudice they burst with it, sloshing it all over those they had been entrusted to teach God’s Word and God’s ways. Oh, they mouthed platitudes correctly, but their actions were so far off the mark they didn’t even hit the white space of the target. God says it time and again, actions speak louder than words and they have a much more powerful punch. The Pharisees clung to a double standard, which is what Jesus warned against. “Listen to, and do what they say, but do not do what they do,” and He called them whitewashed graves: clean on the outside, but full of filth on the inside.

They are not good life examples. They had egos that bloated them to a ripe fatness that raised a stink and drew flies. They clamor for public attention. They had a destructive witness and were a Spiritual hindrance. Pharisees conform to the external only, and consistently refuse God’s rebuke. This is what locks a Pharisee into being a Pharisee as we think of them today. Because of all this, they missed God when He came.

Now that we’re on the same page, what about today? Are there lots of Pharisaical people populating the pews of our churches? What about our government? As Bette Davis said, “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.”

Just because we are Americans living in the freedom bought by our forefathers’ blood and guts, we do not have the right to turn our backs on God’s will for our country. He laid out exactly how we are to go in our daily work and play, and how to know His will. He is quite explicit:

Ezekiel 33:25  So say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: You eat on the blood, and you lift your eyes up to your idols, and you shed blood. And shall you possess the land? 26  You stand on your sword, and you each do abominations, defiling his neighbor's wife. And shall you possess the land? 27  Say this to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: As I live, do not those in the ruins fall by the sword? And I will give the one who is on the face of the field to the beasts to be eaten, and those in the forts and in the caves shall die by the plague. 28  For I shall make the land desolate and a waste, and the pride of her strength shall cease. And the heights of Israel shall be a waste that none will go through. 29  And they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have made the land desolate and a waste because of all their abominations which they have done.

This is not a prophecy, but a done deal. You could read “Israel” as “United States” or “England” or “Germany” or “France”. Our country and our world is in this pickle barrel today because we sit silently by while the squeaky wheel gets all the grease. You know which wheels I’m talking about, too. The homosexuals and the abortionists, and the evangelists who sing God’s word like angels on Sunday and live like the devil the rest of the week are all on the same playing field. Who was it that said that our God’s standards are so high that He considers lust as well as anger against a brother, equal to murder? How much more an abomination is it that we keep silent and watch it happen? Oww! That stomped on my toe… 

So here it comes… you know what’s coming… here’s the million dollar question. What will Jesus find you doing when He shouts your name to “Come up here!

10 Things a Christian should know

1. The difference between love and lust.

1 John 4:16  And we have known and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and the one abiding in love abides in God, and God in him

Jeremiah 22:17  But your eyes and your heart lust for nothing but your unjust gain, and to shed innocent blood, and oppression, and to do violence.

Galatians 5:16  But I say, Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

2. When to hold on and when to let go.

Proverbs 3:18  She (wisdom) is a tree of life to the ones who

lay hold on her, and happy are the ones holding her fast.

Luke 14:3  And answering, Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, asking whether it is lawful to heal on the sabbath.

Luke 14:4  And they were silent. And taking the man, He cured him and let him go.

3. Trouble when he sees it.

Exodus 18:8  And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt on account of Israel, all the trouble which they had found in the way, and Jehovah had delivered them.

Job 5:6  For affliction does not come forth from the dust, nor does trouble spring up out of the ground;

Psalm 22:11  Be not far from Me; for trouble is near; because no one is there to help.

4.  A load of bull when he hears it.

Psalm 59:12  For the sin of their mouth is the word of their lips, even let them be captured in their pride, and for cursing and the lying which they utter.

Psalm 120:2  O Jehovah, deliver my soul from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.

2Peter 2:3  They will be greedy and cheat you with smooth talk. But long ago God decided to punish them, and God doesn't sleep.

5.  His strengths and weaknesses.

Nehemiah 8:10  Then he said to them, Go eat the fat, and drink of the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is our strength.

Job 17:9  And the righteous shall hold firmly on his way; and he of clean hands adds strength.

Romans 6:19  I speak as a man on account of the weakness of your flesh. For as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and to lawless act unto lawless act, so now yield your members as slaves to righteousness unto sanctification.

6. How to start a fire--in the hearth and the heart.

Psalm 104:4  He makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire.

Proverbs 25:21  If one hating you is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22  for you shall heap coals of fire on his head, and Jehovah shall reward you.

1 Peter 1:7  so that the proving of your faith, much more precious than perishing gold, but having been proved through fire, may be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

7. How to be gracious in victory and defeat.

1 Chronicles 29:11  To you, O Jehovah, be the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all in the heavens and in the earth belongs to You, O Jehovah; Yours is the kingdom, and You lift up Yourself to all as Head;

1 Corinthians 15:54  But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality, then will take place the Word that has been written, "Death was swallowed up in victory." (Isa. 25:8)

Numbers 10:35  Each day as the Israelites began their journey, Moses would pray, "Our LORD, defeat your enemies and make them run!"

Romans 12:21  Don't let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.

8. When to talk and when to listen.

Numbers 7:89  Whenever Moses needed to talk with the LORD, he went into the sacred tent, where he heard the LORD's voice coming from between the two winged creatures above the lid of the sacred chest.

Proverbs 18:21  Words can bring death or life! Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say.

Proverbs 23:9  Don't talk to fools-- they will just make fun.

Proverbs 25:15  Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem.

Ecclesiastes  5:2  Don't talk before you think or make promises to God without thinking them through. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so don't talk too much.

9.  The Ten Commandments. AND The importance of trying to follow them.

Exodus 20

10.  At least one true friend who will be there whenever he calls.

Psalm 144:2  You are my friend, and you are my fortress where I am safe. You are my shield, and you made me the ruler of our people.

Proverbs 7:4  Let wisdom be your sister and make common sense your closest friend.

Proverbs 17:17  A friend is always a friend, and relatives are born to share our troubles.

Proverbs 18:24  Some friends don't help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.

John 15:13  Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.