Plowing On with Dr. J.L. Cook

Isa. 58:11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy they soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be lika a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.

Joel 3:12 says, ” Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Each of us is faced with decisions on a daily basis. Some may be as simple as, ” What flavor of ice cream do I want?” or “What brand of coffee should I buy?” We make dozens of simple decisions every day.
However, we are also faced with decisions that can be life changing and life altering. Good decisions can improve our lives, and bad decisions can make our lives more difficult. What decisions are you facing today? Are you wondering what job to take, what career to pursue, or whom to marry? You may even have to make decisions concerning the medical care of a loved one.
Decisions determine your direction and direction determines your destiny. It is important to make right decisions. Many people have made irreversible decisions, which hurled them onton a wrong path for the rest of their lives.
I’m reminded of a story that i heard many years ago. A young executive asked a businessman nearing retirement for the secret to his success. THe businessman said, ” Right decisions, son. Right decisions.” The young man replied, “Sir, how did you learn to make right decisions?” The businessman said,Experience, son. Experience.” again the young man asked, ” But sir, how did you gain experience?” “Wrong decisions, son. Wrong decisions,” replied the businessman.
I think we can all attest to having gained much experience through wrong decisions. It is important to make right decisions. God doesn’t make our choices for us. However, over time learned the value of his waiting until he knew exactly what direction the Lord wanted him to take in each project. I realized that if we had started with our plan, it would ahve been a catastrophe. It was important to wait on God’s specific directions. I learned a valuble lesson that I put into practice everyday; I don’t allow anyone or anything to pressure me into making a hasty decision. When making decisions, gather data and facts. But ask yourself, “Why should I do this? Is it my idea or God’s idea? Is it my desire or God’s desire?”
Don’t be led simply by other people’s advice. Let it agree with your spirit. Wait on the Lord. You don’t always get God’s direction when you want it. When you are wainting on God, Satan will whisper in your ear, “What are you going to do?” You son’t have to play Satan’s game by his rules. Ask him what he is going to do when he is defeated. Don’t worry about tomorrow- don’t answer his questions. Satan likes to get you concentrating on what you don’t answer his questions. Satan likes to get you concentrating on what you don’t know, what you don’t have, & what you can’t do. Yell in his ear. ” Satan your time is short! I am walking by faith and not by sight and greater is He taht is in me than he that is in the world.”
Listen carefully to the voice of God. Ask Him for wisdom.
James 1:5 says, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and unbraideth not; and it shall be given back.

Plow With Dr. J.L. Cook

Don’t Get Brain Washed !

In August last year, I spent four days preaching at a Bible College in West Virginia. I love speaking to college students because they are spiritually hungry. They love passionate worship, and I can preach without offending anyone.

On the third night, I told the kids I needed to get brutally honest. They gave me permission to shoot straight because I genuinely care about them. I warned them about four lies they must confront.

Every Christian in this country must learn to dissect these lies using the word of God. The devil is working overtime today to gain control of our Nation’s Soul. This is not a time for Christians to be squishy in their Faith or spineless in their convictions. We must plant our feet on the bedrock principles of the Bible and oppose each of these lies.

1. Hell does not exist…
Jesus Preached about hell more than anyone in the Bible. His words dripped with love, He didn’t soft-pedal when addressing the eternal consequences of sin. The true gospel is a double-edged sword that offers both the “goodness and severity of God”(Rom. 11:22, emphasis added). That’s why hell is one four-letter word we should use more often – not to condemn people but to warn them that mercy has a time limit.
The world rejects the concept of hell because it’s too exclusive. Our Oprah-ized culture insists that everyone deserves a warm and fuzzy life free of consequences. But if we truly love people we will explain that hell is not a metaphor – it is a real place of dreadful. Separation from God that sinners choose when they reject Him.

2. God didn’t create the world…
2009 is the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species, so you can be sure the scientific community will bonard us this year with more “proof” of this sketchy theory. The mainstream media and academia insist that evolution is pure fact. Anyone who dares to challenge it is considered a religious idiot.
The world does not want to believe in a Creator because if He is real, then He has a ultimate authority over His creation. On the flip side, man has no moral responsibility if he crawled out of a primordial soup, grew fins, then legs, and the became a talking ape. Evolution is not really about science at all – it is about rebellion against God’s rule over us.

3. All religions lead to God…
This isn’t a new lie, but it is enjoying a revival today. The doctrine of universalism – which states that all people will ultimately gain salvation and enjoy heaven – has become the religion of the masses.
Even some charismatic and Pentecostal preachers such as Carlton Person of Oklahoma and D. E. Paulk of Atlanta have abandoned biblical orthodoxy to embrace this heresy. They are not on a crusade to rewrite Christian Theology – and they have allies in some mainline denominations (such as the Episcopal Church) where the authority of Scripture is denied.
Christians who embrace universalism are like the neutered prophets of Baal in Jezebel’s court. They preach a powerless message that can’t change anyone. We must arise in the Spirit of Elijah to prove to the world that the one true God answers by fire.

4. Man can redefine morality…
Leaders in media, politics, education, and entertainment are plotting the overflow of conventional morals. They want a hedonistic world with no rules and no guilt. This was most obvious when Newsweek published a recent cover story brazenly claiming that the Bible approves of same-sex marriage.
A lying spirit has invaded many mainline churches and is convincing weak Christians to change their views about homosexuality, abortion, and fornication. Evil is called good while those who stand for the biblical values of purity and traditional marriage are labeled bigots. If we ignore these lies they will engulf us.
We cannot be silent to the issues the devil attacking. If you are wavering in your faith on any of these four fundamentals, get honest about your doubts, repent of your lukewarmness and get you mind renewed. Don’t become a brainwashed victim.

Coming November 2009

We are starting a new ” Sanctuary Church” on Old Fayetteville Rd. in Leland, NC. The first service in the new building will be on September 6, 10:30 a.m. Be much in prayer for this new ministry. For more information please call 910-395-5593.
Please Note Service Times:
Sunday Worship… 10:30 A.M.
Thursday Worship… 7:00 P.M.
November 2009… We will be starting a city-wide bible study entitled. Understanding The Book of Revelation. A verse-by-verse study of the Book of Revelation. Enhance your understanding of this dynamic, final book of the Bible. “Class Room-Style”. The Chronological Timeline of Events Found within the Book of Revelation, as well as many other topical studies makes this teaching a must for any serious student. Your only cost will be the Teaching Syllabus $20.00. A one year study of the Book of Revelation!

Good Morning,
When Jesus hand-selected His 12 disciples, He picked men who had little or no bible training. They were ordinary workingmen who followed Him and believed Him. After they walked with Him for three years, learned His spiritual disciplines that released authority on Earth. Not only did they do the same works He did, but they did them to greater dimensions throughout the entire known world.
Jesus has also chosen you and ordained you to bear fruit that remains (John 15:16). North Carolina College of Theology will enable you to sit at His feet, learn what He Taught His disciples, and receive a solid bible study and education. At the North Carolina College of Theology God has put together a team of leaders who are seasoned in both relating the truths of scripture (KJV) and teaching with integrity and living a separated life. You will find they have both world- perspective and experience, inspiring vision for true evangelism that covers the globe.
We are so glad you are considering NCCT. If we do not have a satellite school near you, you can deal directly with home headquarters. Call or write today, to receive a catalog and application. I look forward working with you.
In His Love,

Dr. J.L. Cook, Ph. D.
President & Founder

A Letter From Dr. J. L. Cook

Dear Friends of NCCT:

I see NCCT becoming one of the Largest Satellite Bible Colleges in the world, bringing forth ministers and Teachers who will leave a legacy of their ministries for generations to come. God will take that which seems like a small nothing and use it to shake the nations around the World.
I see growth and development, understanding, and wisdom that will clarify the gospel of Jesus Christ that we will return to the days of the Book of acts.
I see great fellowship, great relationships, great partnerships and times of refreshing without competition or competitive spirits, and I see the creative power of God being released among us to share with the world.
Divisions and Doubt will be dried up like a drought!

Man-made ranks will be dissolved, and the ranks if God will appear in divine order, the way God=s spirit breathed it out to man. The body of Christ has not recognized this divine order because they have been smothered by Religion.

You who are becoming connected to NCCT have not seen anything yet? Let us all yeild ourseleves to what God wants to do through us and for us, and we will see great blessings on display!
A key factor in this whole scenario is humility. We must recognize that we all have limitations, and we must never be concerned about who gets the credit for the success, for we know all success and glory comes from God?

My Mind goes to Joshua 1:8…
This Book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therin day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

God Bless You,

Dr. J.L. Cook, Ph.D.
President of NCCT

May 29, 2009 at 5:40 A.M.

Hello Friend:

I want to talk to you today about the All-Sufficient One. Have you ever thought of God that way?

When God is your All-Sufficient One that means that He’s got plenty of whatever you may need in your life. You are never going to find God running out of anything. There will not be time when you ask Him to meet a financial need and He’ll say that someone else prayed about 30 minutes before you and depleted heaven. God will never say He had to lay Jesus off, that angels are on strike or that depression has hit heaven and everyone is out of work. God is the All-Sufficient One. He can meet all our needs according to his riches in glory (see Phil. 4:19). It doesn’t make any difference what the economy is doing down here; heaven’s economy works under another system. Heaven’s economy isn’t broke.

Many times, God has gone over and beyond when fulfilling my needs. There have been many times that He took care of me and I have plenty left over. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (KJV). That means that there is no limit to his supply. How many Chrisitans do you suppose there are on planet Earth right now? Do you know that if God met each of their needs and they had plenty left over, it wouldn’t even dent His capital reserve? That’s the God you serve.
Aren’t you glad to be a child of the All-Suffient One?

Guess What?
Graduation is one week away, 1018 will be graduating. Man, that’s along way from nine just eleven years ago. I’m so proud to be part of this wonderful Bible College.

Last night , I was sitting in my study at home, reflecting on my life. Over 35 years of evangelism, has given me much insight into people’s lives, their experiences, their pain, their joy!

Traveling night after night for so many years, I can say I have had pain and triumphs. Yes, I have realized that what you reveals, what you want. When you obey God, you prove beyond any doubt that you truly love Him.

This Morning, Early… My Mind is FULL! About how wonderful Jesus is to me… Beloved, I love Him Today with all my heart.

Your Friend,

Dr. J.L. Cook

Just Laugh a Little!

Hello Friend!
Guess what…happiness is … taking time to laugh.
Proverbs 17:22… “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones”.
I realized many years ago…that laughter is an instant vacation. Laughter is medicine for the soul, but sometimes, amid the stress of the day we forget to take our medicine.
Instead of viewing our world with a mixture of optimism and humor, we allow stress, worries, and distractions to rob us of the day that God intends for our lives.
Beloved, the next time you find yourself dwelling upon the negatives of life… Refocus your attention to the positive things.
Today, as you go about your daily activities, approach life with a smile on your lips and hope in your heart, and laugh every chance you get, after all, God created laughter for a reason… and father indeed knows best… So Laugh.

Your Friend for Life,

Dr. J.L. Cook, Ph.D.
P.S. Don’t you dare give up! “God is good, and heaven is forever, and if those two facts don’t cheer you up…nothing will!

GRADUATION NEWS

Hello Friend,
Just a note to let you know we have reserved rooms at the Courtyard by Mariott, 100 Charlotte Ave., Carolina Beach, NC, 1-910-458-2030 ( Thursday-Friday). When you make your reservations let them know you’re from NCCT to recieve the special price.

We would also like to invite you to the President’s Breakfast, June 5, 2009 at 9 a.m. This will be held at the Courtyard by Mariott, Carolina Beach, NC. For reservations please call 910-395-5593. Reservations can’t be for more than 5 people.

We ask that all graduates be in their seats at the Cape Fear Community College’s Schwartz Center no later than 4 p.m.

We Believe this will be the greatest Graduation ever. God is so good to us at NCCT. We look forward to seeing each of you.

If you have any question , please call us at the school office 910-395-5593

Your Friend,
Dr. J.L. Cook

Do You Know Jesus?

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the greatest Friend you’ll ever have. As you say these words, if you’ll believe them with your heart, you will be born again. (Roman 10:9-10)
Jesus, come into my life. Forgive me of all my sins. I ask You to cleanse my heart, and make me a new person in You right now. I believe that you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross for me.
Jesus, I want to thank You for loving me enough to die for me. I accept all that Your shed blood bought for me on the cross, and I receive You as my Savior and Lord. In Your name I pray. Amen
If you’ve just prayed this prayer, Congratulations! You are a “new creature in Christ” and as 2 Corinthians 5:17 in the New Testament says,”…old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Friend, you have a whole new life with Jesus to look forward to, starting now. Your slate is clean before God. Your spirit has been reborn because of Christ’s great sacrifice and love for you. Please write and let me know of your decision to follow Christ and I will send you a free booklet to help you begin your new life as a believer. So write today and remember, Christ is thinking about you and He only wants the best for your life. God bless you!

Walking In White

” Thou has a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy” (Rev. 3:4)

The white cliffs of Dover from part of the British coastline facing both the Strait of Dover and the country of France. Part of the North Downs formation, the cliff face, which reaches the height of 106 meter, owes its brilliant appearance to it’s composition of chalk infiltrated with steaks of black flint. The cliffs spread east and west from the town of Dover in the country of Kent, and old but still important English port.
The cliffs have great representative value for Britain because they face towards Continental Europe across the narrowest part of the English Channel, a scene in which the cliffs often became a guard against threatening invasions. Also, since crossing at Dover was the basic route to the Continent before the time of air travel, the white cliffs afforded travelers their first sight of the United Kingdom.
Tours are available for travelers to walk near the white cliffs of DOvers. On a sunny day, tourist can see France very easily. Beautiful to say the least, the white cliffs are covered in greens and yellows dropping steeply into the turquoise sea. From cliffs to the lighthouse back is a four-mile trip. All tourist admit that walking in white is also quite a spiritual experience.
Walking in white corresponds with a life of purity! The pure ones were not many in number. In fact, Jesus said that there were only a “few” in Sardis who had not “defiled their garments.” Through divine enablement, this handful of people had walked in divine light. And, Jesus saw them and commended them for their purity. Since garments often speak of testimony in the Scriptures, these believers has a becoming testimony in an unbecoming world.
Walking in white connects to a life of progress! “They shall, the Lord Jesus promised “walk with Me in white.” Not only have they kept their lives undefiled by the world, but they will continue to walk in undefiled fellowship. Again, we are reminded of the privilege of walking with Jesus, and we are also remined that the only true porgress of on’es life is by moving along the pilgrim pathway with Him.
Walking in white computes for a life of praiseworthiness! “They are worthy.” This is not the opinion of these particular believers about themselves. Neither are these the comments of other believers about these saints. Rather, this is the true evaluation of the Lord Jesus Himself. If He says one is worthy, then we can believe that he or she is worthy. In this day of impure, stagnant, and unworthy religion, may we be numbered with thoses who ” walk in white.”