Parables and Proverbs Beginnings

Wonder how my unique "ministry" got started?
My parables were sermons first written before Lynne's death in October 2008, and then repeated and added to the following year. I wanted to tell the stories of the miracles God had orchestrated in my life without debating theology or promoting miracles. I also wanted to write shorter sermons because of the time pressures on me from working full time, pastoring a church, caring for Lynne, and trying to keep up my home. Out of this was born the Parables.
In April I joined a now defunct site, Worshipjournal.com, started by Noel Richards (a sort of Bill Gaither type worship leader, musician, and music promoter) and other European worship leaders, and I put one of my parables on the journal section. Within 2 months my site had jumped to #7 in popularity out of thousands of profiles of some very popular European musicians. I was amazed and humbled.
While I was publishing the parables on Twitter in late 2009, I tried writing out my devotions in tweet form, less than 140 characters. There was little response at first. Then I wrote the words, simply for myself, What do I have left after I've crucified self? All I have left is Jesus. It is enough.  I was again surprised. Friends were blessed by my own thoughts to God and about God. Who knew?
When I first started on Twitter, for 6 months I had only 40 followers. After I started the devotionals, which I now call Proverbs, the following grew to 400, and now to over 4000. I never picture myself as a devotional writer. Yet here I am.
Now I am surprised again. Two months ago my brother-in-law Rev Mark Black inspired me by his example and conversations to write a sermon on hell. The response for the first 30 days was negligible, but in the second month something happened on the internet. Overnight it became the most read and sought after post I have written. I am averaging 50 inquiries a week on Google Search. I have had 500 views in 2 months, 5 times as many as my most popular post.
Before the sermon on hell, after I posted links to my blog, the views would rise, but within an hour would drop to zero. Now there are views on the blog constantly, 24/7, and the views of all my other blogs are rising. At last count there were over 11,000 views on the blog, with 58 countries checking in.
Muslim countries, Communist countries, Buddhist countries, countries under dictators are hearing the message of the Cross and salvation from an Eternal Hell. Also, people without computers are reading these blogs on their cell phones.
What I have learned in the last 5 years is the overriding sense that God is directing my steps. He's directing yours also. You just may not know it yet. All the credit for any good that I may be accomplishing goes to God. Any mistakes are my responsibility. Any help  given through your prayers, reposting, and encouragement has been and will be deeply appreciated.
God is good!

Alan and Tim

This is Alan Camden in front, my brother Tim Dittmer in back. I got to play with this proficient band only once at a Gary Indiana Emerson High School music contest, 1965 or 66, because pianos aren't portable.
As I watched them perform walking back and 
forth across the stage I learned a great lesson: ALWAYS BUY THE LONGEST GUITAR CHORDS AVAILABLE.
We three also played for a friend of mine during that same contest. Her name was Jennifer, an eighth grader who was a classical soprano with a full range voice. She sang the song The End of the World.
Because of her interest in music, and the fact that we had the same lunch hours,  my eighth grade friend Jennifer and I met everyday for lunch, even though I was Senior. This caused a great deal of stress for her boyfriend.
Tim, my brother, was an excellent musician, guitarist, vocalist with the ability to harmonize.
Alan was a gifted guitarist. I was there when he first started picking up the guitar, and within weeks of first starting he was playing a style I now recognize as the Chet Atkins style. He would pick out the melody, and simultaneously also pick an alternating bass and chords.
He was so good at that style that when I first heard Chet Atkins years later, I briefly wondered if Chet stole the style from Alan.

Why Men Die First #1

Why Good People go to Hell: A Report

It is obvious to me that there is a hunger to know about hell. My sermon, Why Good People Go to Hell, has been viewed 1870 times,  21 times as much as my most popular post.
I uses Google Analytics to analyze my blog, and one of the things I keep track of is how many searches are used to find the blog. A search for a subject that I have written about can mean that the person has heard of the subject I have written about from someone else and then did a Google search to find my blog by topic.
It was encouraging to me when I first starting having people do searches to find my blog. It meant that the word was spreading. I would get excited if 1 or 2 searches were done in a week.
Since I wrote the blog on Hell, a little over seven months ago, there have been 478 searches for hell on Google.
This topic may seem intellectual, but it reveals the terrifying and tragic truth that those friends of ours that reject the Lordship of Christ either openly or through indifference are headed for an eternity of infinitely expanding suffering.
One other thought. Most non Christians are apathetic to any revelation of the Word or the fear of the Lord, an awareness of God's Presence. But according to Solomon, they hunger to understand the nature of the spiritual heart.
It is not a coincidence that there is a hunger to hear about Hell and this same quality that Solomon mentioned. To understand about the tragedy of Hell is to understand the spiritual heart. The two truths go hand in hand.
For example, the heart has the ability to amplify an emotion, like a radio beacon. If that emotion is condemnation, which is all that will be left in Hell, imagine that message amplified to  and through infinity.
I am convinced that the unsaved world wants to hear about Hell, because it also helps them to understand about their biggest question. Why does the spiritual heart have an infinite yearning? 
That infinite yearning can only be filled with an Infinite Holy God.

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Devotions From Psalms 12

For the repentant heart, God can turn even a curse into a blessing!

There's no warning label on the dangers of the spiritual heart! Surrender your heart to God!

A message from the heart can strengthen or destroy! Jesus, fill my heart with Your Grace!

Your heart will not not willingly reveal to you it's ability to destroy, but God's Word does!

It's impossible to be a people pleaser and a God pleaser at the same time!

Better to be a friend of God than of men. Men's anger can last a lifetime. God's anger can last for Eternity!

The heart can desire to please both the world and God but only one will prevail! Jesus, I surrender my heart to You!

God's Word is at least 7 times more dependable than the most dependable scholar. I trust Your Word, Jesus!


Dear Reader, I'm with you in spirit, grateful for your friendship, praying for God's Grace in you 24/7.


Sustain me with Your Life & Grace, Heavenly Father. Keep me in Your Heart, Lord Jesus.


Because we've turned our back on You, Father, we've also turned our backs on the poor. Forgive us.


We've given hero worship to godless athletes, actors, & leaders, & now their kind have multiplied.


The poor are a feast for the politicians and businessmen, but You, God, will arise on their behalf!


The proud manipulators believe they set their own destiny & will prevail against God & His Lambs. WRONG!


It breaks my heart when the godly give up & the enemy wins. Lord, we need Your Help!


God will ARISE! Lying lips will cease! The wolves will be put down! The poor will dwell in safety.

Prayers for My Blog from Psalms 1

Please join with me in praying for my blog. I can't build anything unless God is in it.

Let Your Holy Presence anoint my links and posts in Jesus' Name!*

Lord, heap the blessing plates of those who encourage me 3 times higher, like Benjamin, Joseph's little long lost brother.*

Warm with triple joy the hearts of my co-laborers, those who retweet and share my posts and links.*

Bless the bank accounts of those who support me, like the widow's oil jug that never ran out.*

Let your Joy fill the hearts of the readers, my friends, as I lift up Jesus and Him Crucified!*

Thank You, Father, for organizations that support bloggers like Google, and Amazon.*

I've planted myself in the deep rich loam of God's Word. I have no plans on leaving.*

Mission Statement

I want to see the blog succeed for four reasons:

First, so that a world wide, cascading, irreversible universal constant awareness of God's presence in the hearts of all in our generation.

Second, my Crucified and Resurrected Jesus would be lifted up so that my generation would be drawn to Him.

Third, the Parables would be published around the world, so that I can bear witness to the mighty works of God.

Last, my blog would generate an income that would prosper Mary and myself, freeing us to travel with this message and give to other works of the Lord.

Devotions From Psalms 1

Mission statement?: I want to see the blog succeed firstly, so that a world wide, cascading, irreversible universal constant awareness of God's presence in the hearts of all in our generation, secondly My Crucified and Resurrected Jesus would be lifted up so that my generation would be drawn to Him, third, the Parables would be published around the world, and last, my blog would generate an income that would prosper Mary and myself, freeing us to travel with this message and give to other works of the Lord.

For that reason, I have been spending a lot of time meditating on Psalms 1, because of the promise "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper!"

Prayers from Psalms 1


Stir with Holy Fire my hunger for Your Word, and for You, Lord Jesus. Fan the flames with Your Spirit.


Let Your Grace flood my entire being so that I will be fruitful and pleasing to You, God.


Your Word is amazing, holy Father, filled with jewels, flowers, treasures, all precious Words!


The world tells me nobody can be delighted in God's Word 24/7. Precious Jesus, let me be NOBODY!


Teach me, Holy Spirit, how to meditate 24/7 on Your Word. Help me to focus with Your Grace.


I'm blessed because I walk in Your Counsel, and not in the counsel of the ungodly.


I take my stand NOT to defend my rights and privileges, but for Your Truth, and to defend Your lambs.


I'm not sitting in the scornful, lazy mocker's chair. I'm praising, weeping laboring in the harvest of souls!


The path of righteousness or father and mother hood or marriage is not a competitive race for the best, but a walk with God.

A Journey Through God's Word

Thursday, August 4, 2011


The strange math of friendship: my friends multiply my joy, but divide and lighten my sadness.*


My path of life is either godly or ungodly/depending on the direction I face/towards God... or away*


Prayers for my blog

Please join with me in praying for my blog. I can't build anything unless God is in it.

Let Your Holy Presence anoint my links and posts in Jesus' Name!*


Lord, heap the blessing plates of those who encourage me 3 times higher, like Benjamin, Joseph's little long lost brother.*


Warm with triple joy the hearts of my co-laborers, those who retweet and share my posts and links.*


Bless the bank accounts of those who support me, like the widow's oil jug that never ran out.*


Let your Joy fill the hearts of the readers, my friends, as I lift up Jesus and Him Crucified!*


Thank You, Father, for organizations that support bloggers like Google, and Amazon.*


I've planted myself in the deep rich loam of God's Word. I have no plans on leaving.*



Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Mission Statement?: I want to see the blog succeed firstly, so that a world wide, cascading, irreversible universal constant awareness of God's presence in the hearts of all in our generation, secondly My Crucified and Resurrected Jesus would be lifted up so that my generation would be drawn to Him, third, the Parables would be published around the world, and last, my blog would generate an income that would prosper Mary and myself, freeing us to travel with this message and give to other works of the Lord.

For that reason, I have been spending a lot of time meditating on Psalms 1, because of the promise "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper!"

Prayers from Psalms 1

Stir with Holy Fire my hunger for Your Word, and for You, Lord Jesus. Fan the flames with Your Spirit.*

Let Your Grace flood my entire being so that I will be fruitful and pleasing to You, God.*

Your Word is amazing, holy Father, filled with jewels, flowers, treasures, all precious Words!

The world tells me nobody can be delighted in God's Word 24/7. Precious Jesus, let me be NOBODY!*

Teach me, Holy Spirit, how to meditate 24/7 on Your Word. Help me to focus with Your Grace.*

I'm blessed because I walk in Your Counsel, and not in the counsel of the ungodly.*

I take my stand NOT to defend my rights and privileges, but for Your Truth, to defend Your lambs.*

I'm not sitting in the scornful, lazy mocker's chair. I'm praising, weeping, laboring in the harvest of souls!*

The path of righteousness or father and mother hood or marriage is not a competitive race for the best, but a walk with God.*

Monday, August 1st, 2011


Planted in Your Word, refreshed by Your Word, I shall always be full of You. All I do shall prosper.*


Planted in God's Word. my labors shall refresh others, spread God's Word abroad, and be pleasing to You, Jesus.*


I'm a tree, planted in the loam of the Living Word, digging deeper, drawing closer to You, Jesus.*


The pursuit of the heart of God is a continuation of the repenting began at Salvation. I must drop:
gathering wealth
solving my problems
trying to understand myself
trying to understand women
trying to get others to understand me
trying to make a living
trying to get ahead
instead I must turn to You, God, and run to You!
posted to Facebook


Lord Jesus, I can't build anything unless You are in it.*


I'm Your slave, Almighty God/3 times over/created, redeemed, surrendered/an unbreakable 3 fold cord*


All that I have, and all that I am is Yours, Precious Jesus, now and forever.*


Infinity moves in my heart, all of Your Majesty, Glory, Holiness , Love*


Only You, my Shepherd, could enlarge me in my distress, with the fullness of Your Joy.*


Nothing can be built without You, Lord, no family, romance, life, business.*