Choco says

Psalm 15--Some Thoughts

2012-02-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

Psalms 15:1-5

A Psalm of David. LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; (5) He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Most people think they are going to heaven when they die; are they?

They would have to keep (obey) the commandments. Luke 10:25-28 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (26) He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" (27) So he answered and said, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND,' and 'YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'" (28) And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."

The same question is asked in Psalm 15–who can live with God in his house and in his presence? Verse 1 is the question and the remaining verses answer the question.

According to these verses these activities must be done in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. The heart, will, emotions, attitude must be in harmony with this.

Walk uprightly

Works righteousness

Speaks the truth in his heart

Does not backbite with his tongue

Does no evil to his neighbor

Does not take up a reproach against his friend

Despises vile people

Honors those who fear the Lord

Swears to his own hurt and does not change

Charges no interest

Does not take bribes against the innocent

Then the promise: the one who does these things will never be moved.

What do these things mean?

1. Walk uprightly: walk is to live our life, what we do, what we think, what we say. It is our behavior. We do walk uprightly in a physiological sense, but uprightly refers to lining up and obeying God’s rules. Luke 1:6 “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” This is not a part-time lifestyle or even a majority of the time lifestyle. It must be full time. Matthew 5:19 “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” And James 2:10 “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

2. Works righteousness: Works is a word that means do, act, or function, thus it is doing righteousness. Doing righteousness by what standard? It must be the standard of God’s ways, laws, and deeds, not by our definition of right and wrong. John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Matthew 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: (25) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. (26) "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." We can consider all the rules that the Lord Jesus has just spoken in the previous chapters as well as all the other rules given by him and his apostles in the rest of the New Testament.

3. Speaks the truth in his heart: This is speaking truth sincerely. At times the devil spoke truth but it was with the intent to deceive. We must always speak the truth sincerely, from good motives, and as Jesus has given us example. Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.” Another translation has: Proverbs 23:7 “People like that take note of how much you eat. They say, "Take all you want!" But they don't mean it.”

4. Does not backbite with his tongue: does not slander. This is a type of lie. Slander is defined as a false statement or statements intended to injure someone's reputation or well-being, or the act of making such statements; defamation. (http://www.wordsmyth.net/?level=3&ent=slander). Two examples are first: Genesis 39:14-18 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, "See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. (15) And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside." (16) So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. (17) Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, "The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; (18) so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside."

And second: Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children."

5. Does no evil to his neighbor: This is fairly self explanatory. Our neighbors are not only those who live by us but also any one we met. Luke 10:29-37 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" (30) Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (31) Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (32) Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. (33) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. (34) So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (35) On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' (36) So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" (37) And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

6. Does not take up a reproach against his friend: Not only does the righteous person avoid harm to his neighbor, he also avoids talking cruel things, lies, slanders, verbal abuse, and other verbal lashings about and to his neighbor. This could also include gossip–lies told about someone and then passed on to others. Nehemiah 4:1-3 “When Sanballat heard that we Jews had begun rebuilding the wall, he became furious and began to ridicule us. (2) In front of his companions and the Samaritan troops he said, "What do these miserable Jews think they're doing? Do they intend to rebuild the city? Do they think that by offering sacrifices they can finish the work in one day? Can they make building stones out of heaps of burnt rubble?" (3) Tobiah was standing there beside him, and he added, "What kind of wall could they ever build? Even a fox could knock it down!”

7. Despises vile people: the word vile means something despised, thrown away, rejected, and refused. These are people who despise, reject, refuse God and his ways, laws, rules, and decisions. The people of Israel in 1 Samuel 8:7 “And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:23 “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." So called wise men in Jeremiah 8:9 “The wise men are ashamed, They are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD; So what wisdom do they have?” The people of Judah in Amos 2:4 “Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have despised the law of the LORD, And have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, Lies which their fathers followed.”

8. Honors those who fear the Lord: Fear the Lord as in being afraid of what he can do to us on Judgment Day. It is a fear that causes us to run to him for mercy, instead of running away and hiding. Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Those who fear the Lord are in the same camp; we are to help each other, honor each other, pray for each other in every way possible. The opposite would be to oppose, fight, and hinder.

9. Swears to his own hurt and does not change: Our examples are the leaders of Israel and the city of Gibeon in Joshua 9:17-20 “So the Israelis set out for their cities and three days later they reached their cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. (18) The Israelis did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had made an oath with them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the entire congregation grumbled against their leaders. (19) Then all of the leaders spoke to the entire congregation, "We have sworn to them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them. (20) So this is what we'll do to them: we'll let them live, so that wrath won't come upon us because of the oath that we swore to them." Jephthah in Judges 11:34-36 “When Jephthah arrived at his home in Mizpah--surprise!--it was his daughter who came out to meet him, playing tambourines and dancing. She was his one and only child. Except for her, he had no other son or daughter. (35) When he saw her, he ripped his clothes and cried out, "Oh no! My daughter! You have terribly burdened me! You've joined those who are causing me trouble, because I've given my word to the LORD, and I cannot go back on it. (36) She told him, "My father, you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me according to what has come out of your own mouth, considering that the LORD has paid back your enemies, the Ammonites." When we make a solemn promise we must keep it; it is better not to promise at all then to break a promise.

10. Charges no interest: We lend things all the time; we lend money, tools, books, etc. We must not charge interest when we do this.

11. Does not take bribes against the innocent: We are not to takes against the guilty either. 1 Samuel 8:3 “But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.” Matthew 28:12-15 “When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, (13) saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' (14) And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." (15) So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Acts 24:26 “Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.” When a decision concerning others is made, it must be made fairly with justice. We must not let anything interfer with doing what is right in God’s eyes. Even if it hurts a relationship, we must do what is right. We cannot bribe God–Psalms 49:7 “But no one has enough to buy back a life, and you cannot bribe God.” Wicked judges can be bribed–“Proverbs 17:23 A wicked judge will accept a bribe, and that keeps justice from being done.” Exodus 23:8 “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent.” Isaiah 5:23 “But for just a bribe you let the guilty go free, and you keep the innocent from getting justice.”

In summary, none of us do this perfectly, which is why we need salvation and a savior. We have broken God’s commandments. Breaking God’s commandments brings the judgment of hell forever. Jesus came and preached that people need to repent (change their attitude and life), ask Jesus to forgive their sins, and trust in him forever. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Scriptures on False Teachers

2012-01-30T11:38:00.000-08:00

Do we follow the Bible or something else?

Michael Houke

Paul on false teachers

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (2Co 11:13 ESV)

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Eph 5:11 ESV)

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” (2Th 3:6 ESV)

“If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.” (2Th 3:14 ESV)

“As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.” (1Ti 1:3-4 ESV)

“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” (1Ti 6:3-5 ESV)

“But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.” (2Ti 2:16-18 ESV)

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2Ti 3:1-5 ESV)

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2Ti 4:2 ESV)

“Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.” (2Ti 4:14 ESV)

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. For there are many who are in subordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” (Tit 1:9-13 ESV)

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” (Tit 2:1 ESV)

“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him.” (Tit 3:10 ESV)

PLURA SCRIPTURA

2012-01-26T15:59:00.000-08:00

PLURA SCRIPTURA

By Sarah H. Leslie and Ken Silva on Jan 10, 2012 in Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism, Current Issues, Definitions, Features,Spiritual Formation

PLURA SCRIPTURA ([ploo r-uh ] [skrɪpt ər’ uh])

[(1350–1400; Middle English < Latin plūrālis, equivalent to plūr-, stem of plūs plus + -alis -al); (1250–1300; Middle English < Latin scrīptūra writing. See script, -ure) ((Latin ablative, “by Scripture plus more”)*

Consisting of, containing, or pertaining to more than the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; the Scriptures plus something else.
The doctrine that the Bible contains knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness, and that superior spiritual insight may be found through the supplementation of revelations, dreams, impressions, experience, contact with the afterlife, voices, signs and wonders, psycho-social constructs, new theory, new thought, etc.
The idea that the doctrines to be admitted or confessed in the Christian faith are found directly within Scripture, as well as in other authorities considered co-equal, co-relevant, and or sublimely inspired, thus creating new revelation.
The doctrine of the authority of the personal witness of the Holy Spirit or spirit to the heart of each man as a necessary embellishment to the Biblical text.
The teaching that all things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; and that only the learned, the elect, or the leadership elite, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.
The evolutionary philosophy that the positive future of man, including world peace, is predicated upon the unity of world religious beliefs; syncretism.

*Adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_scriptura and www.dictionary.com

--oOo--

Excellent article on the corruption of the church but her refusal to adhere to the only source of 100% truth--the Bible.

Interview with Roger Olson

2011-11-15T05:17:00.000-08:00

This is an interview discussing Roger Olson's book "Against Calvinism."

The TRUE Prosperity Gospel (Paul Washer)

2011-08-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

Wretched: Don't buy it!

2011-07-29T01:03:00.000-07:00

Is God Good?

2011-07-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

Many times people bring up false arguments to discourage people from following the Lord Jesus. This video does a good job of explaining and showing the falsity of these arguments.

Assurance

2011-07-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

Assurance

A1 Definition
B1 The belief that God has saved me, that my sins are forgiven, that I am a Christian, and that I will go to heaven when I die.
B2 From ISBE: It signifies the joyous, unwavering confidence of an intelligent faith; the security of a fearless trust.

A2 The Words
B1 G4136 plerophoria (play-rof-or-ee'-ah) n. entire confidence (Mickelson)
B2 full assurance, most certain confidence (Thayer)

A3 The Uses in the New Testament
B1 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. (Colossians 2:2, AKJV)
B2 For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5, AKJV)
B3 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end. (Hebrews 6:11, AKJV)
B4 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22, AKJV)

A4 Faith and hope
B1 Faith = believing God.
C1 Example 1: The Lord Jesus says that He will come back. I believe this, so I have faith that He will come back.
C2 Example 2: The Lord Jesus says that He will punish sin. I believe this, so I have faith that He will punish sin.
B2 Hope = the emotion, expectation, that it will happen
C1 Example 1: The Lord Jesus says that He will come back, I hope it is today.
C2 Example 2: The Lord Jesus says that He will punish sin; I hope people repent and trust in Jesus Christ. If I add "...because He will punish sin," this part of the statement would be faith.

A5 God wants us to have assurance. See the verses above especially Hebrews 6:11.
B1 Another translation of Hebrews 6:11 is "Hebrews 6:11 ESV And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end."
B2 What the writer of Hebrews wants is for all Christians to have a full assurance, a complete confidence, an unwavering/non-doubting hope.

A6 Verses on Assurance
B1 God is able: 2 Timothy 1:12 KJV For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
B2 God has the strength and ability to do so: Jude 1:24-25 KJV Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
B3 God will deliver: 2 Timothy 4:18 KJV And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
B4 God has more than enough power to keep us: Ephesians 3:20 KJV Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
B5 God is able to keep us: John 10:29 KJV My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
B6 God has the strength to finish what He started: Philippians 1:6 KJV Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
B7 God has promised resurrection: Psalms 17:15 KJV As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

A7 Making our salvation sure:
B1 Passage: Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1-11 NKJV
B2 Thoughts
C1 Making call and election sure
D1 Call equals the invitation given by God. He has done this: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV
D2 Election equals chosen. Chosen by foreknowledge.
D3 Sure equals stable, steadfast, difficult to knock over or fall.
D4 Our assurance of salvation can be increased by these things.
C2 His great and precious promises given by His great power. He is absolutely able to do this. He has the power to save and to keep safe.
C3 Add: used in the sense of supply, increase. It does not mean it is nonexistent and so one needs to add it. It is to increase, grow, have it expressed in a greater way. The design of the apostle is to say, in an emphatic manner, that we are to strive to possess and exhibit all these virtues; in other words, we are not to content ourselves with a single grace, but are to cultivate all the virtues, and to endeavor to make our piety complete in all the relations which we sustain. The essential idea in the passage before us seems to be, that in our religion we are not to be satisfied with one virtue, or one class of virtues, but that there is to be. Barnes notes.
D1 Virtue to faith
D2 Knowledge to virtue
D3 Self-control to knowledge
D4 Perseverance to self-control
D5 Godliness to perseverance
D6 Brotherly kindness to godliness
D7 Love to brotherly kindness
C4 These will bear fruit. These are being light and salt in this evil world.
C5 Those who lack these things are shortsighted, blind, and forgetful (that his/her sins are forgiven).
C6 By their fruit you will know them (Matthew 7:20).
D1 Know means "recognize," that is, people will by observation of a person if they are truly Christians or not.
D2 Fruits of
E1 Doctrine: the effects and purity of their beliefs, teaching, and what they say.
E2 Life: how they live and act both in church or in other places. It will show up in their attitude, true humility, a willingness to repent, ask forgiveness of another, and their reaction to events in their life.

Today's Society

2011-06-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

I read recently where mother from Texas was sentenced to probation, and lost custody of her children--for spanking her daughter! "Rosalina Gonzales of Corpus Christi pleaded guilty on Wednesday to injury to a child for swatting the two-year-old on her buttocks."

So writes Ray Comfort on his blog.

We have to start doing life God's way. Society is falling apart. The ways opposite to what the Bible teaches lead to a dysfunctional society.

Today's Dangers: Beth Moore

2011-05-29T12:38:00.001-07:00

Another Davies Highway Tune

2011-05-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

It Is Well With My Soul

I couldn't find a way to embed. Cheers.

A Problem with Experiences

2011-05-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

Many Christians turn to experiences to validate their Christianity. One of the reasons this is wrong is found in this article: The Labyrinth: A Walk By Faith?

Successful marketing techniques induce in consumers the yearning for something they may not really need, and then offer a product to fulfill that desire. Similarly, promoting the thought that we must have experiences to feel close to God creates an impatience and dissatisfaction with the challenge of walking by faith, and implies that we are not getting truly deep or intimate experiences with God. But experiences are fleeting; they come and go. They are a black hole that is never filled, leading to repeated attempts trying to fill the hole. Offering the labyrinth as a spiritual tool can create such a black hole, because each experience is never enough – there must always be more.

Hummingbirds

2011-05-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

Watch these two videos. Which of these took a large team of engineers, a design, and lots of money, and which one was random, processes only by chance without engineers, design, or money?

Evolution is a lie. God designs the real bird.

A Warning from the late Walter Martin

2011-05-06T16:02:00.000-07:00

There is a progression that takes place in liberal theology: It begins with a corrupt bibliology, a corrupt view of the nature and the inspiration of Scripture. They have a corrupt theology because once you are picking and choosing from the Bible what you want, your theology has to suffer from it, because your human reason is corrupt… every major theological seminary that has turned from orthodox Christianity began with disbelief of Biblical doctrine. There wasn’t a single exception.

This corrupt Bibliology then lead them to the next step. Their theology began to be touched by it, their view of the Cross, the Virgin Birth were both immediately questioned; then came the miracles of Christ… And finally they had emptied the Gospel of all its content; they were simply using the outward shell so that they go on collecting money from the people and the churches; because they knew that if the people in the pew knew that they were apostate, they’d throw them out. So the strategy was hang on to the trust funds; hang on to the money we’ve got; hang on the properties we control, and we will gradually educate the laymen into this new approach to theology.

And then finally we will take control of everything. The gradual process of feeding you theological poison until you become immunized enough so that you don’t know what’s happening to you. And when you wake up to what’s happening to you, it’s too late they’ve got everything. That is not a baseless charge, I stand prepared to prove that the Cult of Liberal Theology in the United States has deliberately and consistently followed this methodology to entrap, control and dominate the denominations and the churches of the United States and our educational institutions. (The Cult of Liberalism, available from Walter Martin Religious InfoNet)

Paul Proctor - What Have We Become?

2011-05-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

Paul Proctor - What Have We Become?

The world has become our standard. When are Christians going to realize:

1. John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

2. 1 John 2:15-17 EMTV Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) Because everything that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world. (17) And the world is passing away, and its lust; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Pray for the USA

2011-05-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

It is sad that in the USA this harassment is increasing.

Nevertheless we must continue.

David Wilkerson Dies

2011-04-28T02:46:00.000-07:00

David Wilkerson's last blog posting states in part:

Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

David is now dead from a traffic accident that happened 27 April 11. I am not Charismatic or Pentecostal at all--zero. David was about the only one of that group that I respected.

Please pray for his family. Please pray that the people today will be delivered from evil--evil thoughts, desires, words, and deeds, and evil theology, ignoring living a New Testament life style and doctrine.

Mocking Jesus

2011-04-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

A good read from Cal Thomas. In one paragraph he writes:

He was mocked for the darkness He revealed in each of us and the refusal by many to come to the Light, because they (and we) prefer to remain in darkness rather than be cleansed by the light. Perhaps this mocking has something to do with the way a few who claim to be His followers misrepresent Him. That may be worth mocking, but He isn’t.

Why do people mock Jesus? Poor hatred. He came to expose their sins (the ways they have broken the Ten Commandments), so that they could repent and trust in Him for forgiveness.

Sometimes a picture is worth a 1000 words

2011-04-07T11:54:00.001-07:00

The Problem of Evil

2011-04-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

We need to respond when people ask us questions about our faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Often they will bring up this type of question. Here is how to answer it.

Read this paragraph and weep

2011-03-25T09:06:00.001-07:00

Now a Senior Fellow at Biologos, Dr. Enns devotes much of his time to lecturing on theology and writing scholarly essays that routinely cast doubt on the inerrancy and authority of Scripture, the literal concept of Bible interpretation, the historical existence of Adam and Eve, and other fundamental facts in the Bible. At the beginning of 2011, he released a new Bible story curriculum with Peace Hill Press in which he states, for instance, that the subject of sin should not be taught to children. This is disturbing for parents who love the Bible.

This article was written by Henry Morris III and can be read in its entirety here.

Increase Our Faith

2011-03-22T07:46:00.001-07:00

Often one hears, “I need more faith.” They pray for more faith; they constantly are seeking more faith. They quote Luke 17:5, “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” They also quote Matthew 17:20, “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

The idea behind these verses in their mind and understanding is, “We need more faith, so we can heal the sick, preach the gospel, raise the dead, etc.” I have heard this many times. But this IS wrong.

Faith is simply “believing God.” A very simple concept. It involves trust. The opposite is doubt. Consider the following illustrations.

Faith and doubt are on a balance. They are opposites. If we have a lot of faith, we have less doubt. If we have a lot of doubt, we have less faith.

An example, if I earn my money to pay my bills and have a little left over for fun, I need a certain amount of money. If the work does not come in, or I am laid off part time, or am sick, or any other situation that upsets our income, then we are stressed. The Christian in such an example can have faith, “God will take care of my needs,” or “I don’t know what is going to happen, I have to do everything I can to have enough money.” It may fall some where in between.

If we pray for God to increase our faith, He might very well put us in an uncomfortable situation and show that He can provide.

Faith is not for the purpose of doing miracles; it is a simple trusting in God to meet our needs.

Who Is Your Jesus?

2011-03-17T13:45:00.001-07:00

Joe Donahue says he finds people sometimes treat Jesus more like a mascot than the Savior, resulting in what he describes as an "unhealthy love" for Jesus.
"Jesus is treated by the church in the same way we would treat a genie," says Donahue. "We keep Jesus in the pocket of our T-shirt or the pocket of our clothes, and we pull him out when times are tough and we stick him back in when things are going well."

So who is your Jesus. More on the above here.

Is the Old Testament Reliable?

2011-03-09T07:38:00.001-08:00

Is the Old Testament Reliable?

This is an important article. Even thought the Bible has been proved over and over again, many still question if it is true. Every generation needs to know that Christianity is a reasonable faith. Please read the article and see the the Old Testament is true. It is not blind faith but a reasonable faith that we have. Archeology has shown many, many people and places to be actual.

The Measuring Tool

2011-03-04T07:44:00.001-08:00

The Measuring Tool

When a carpenter needs to measure something, he uses his tape measure; it is the only source of 100% truth. He cannot use his finger, his elbow to finger-tip length, the width of his hand, or just “eyeball it”. If he did, the measure would not be accurate.

Likewise, if he were to measure it and thinks, “O, that just can't be right; I know by experience that it is longer/shorter than that,” then he should not be surprised that the measure is wrong—the part does not fit.

So today the only source of 100% truth is the Bible, but people want to add to it or marginalize it. The believe the whole Bible is true, but they think, “O, that just can't be right; I know by experience that it is _________.” They may depend on a certain teacher, book, feeling, dream, vision, voice, or something else as the final authority. All that does is change/wrest/deny the absolute truth.

I have heard people say they check every dream, vision, feeling, experience, book, teacher, etc with the Bible, but do they really take the time? Do they write down this feeling, experience, dream, vision, etc and actually check it out? I don't think so.

The measuring tape is the source of 100% truth in measuring, so the Bible is the only source of 100% truth for Christianity.

PS: The measuring tool may be electronic, mechanical, or sound but it still measures by the same standard—an eighth of inch is still an eighth of an inch, and a millimeter is still a millimeter.

The Bible says:

Deuteronomy 25:14-16 ISV (14) Don't have different measuring devices in your house—one large and one small. (15) You must have honest weights and measuring devices, so you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, (16) for anyone who does these things—anyone who deals dishonestly—is detestable to the LORD your God."

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ISV All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (17) so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action.

The Different Gospels

2011-03-01T06:13:00.001-08:00

How many gospels are there? There is only one, and by it all others are judged by. Today, however, there are many different “gospels”. Here is a list and some warnings. So be a Berean and see if it is so. What “gospel” we trust in, may be the wrong one. Your soul and eternity is at stake.

False Gospels

For the true gospel see here.

The Importance of the Bible

2011-02-27T12:35:00.001-08:00

In my view, it is inconsequential on the part of individuals who are seeking to enter the Kingdom of God to veer from what the Bible really teaches, and instead following the “Blind men” who will only lead them further into the “wilderness”. It is slothfulness on the part of Christians who fail to read the Bible, which is the guideline for Christians. The analogy here is, if anyone wants to become a medical doctor, the individual has to stick to medical books, likewise, an aspiring lawyer sticks to law books. So, if anyone wants to become a true Christian, the individual must stick to the Bible, and refrain from depending solely on fake prophets!

---K. Badu

A Word of Truth

2011-02-26T16:18:00.000-08:00

A quote from Ray Comfort:

You may be the most popular dude on the planet, but the moment you say that you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, the world will see you as a homophobic, brain-washed, self-righteous, hate-filled, dim-witted, anti-science, trouble-making, self-righteous, fear-mongering, anti-choice, war-causing, hypocritical, religious bigot.

The Kimyal Receive the Bible in Their Language

2011-02-24T08:59:00.000-08:00

This video brings tears of joy to me.

The Kimyal People Receive the New Testament from UFM Worldwide on Vimeo.

Unicorns?

2011-02-23T12:27:00.000-08:00

An excellent video. This is truly apologetics

Is God In A Box?

2011-02-22T15:08:00.001-08:00

Is God In A Box?

What does it mean when people say “God in a box?”

What’s in your God-box? Each of us, says author Anne Robertson, builds our own way of understanding God—our "God-box"-- and fills it up with bits of scripture, wisdom, and our experiences of God at work in our lives. It’s a perfectly good way to puzzle out what God means to us. Encountering God through our human limitations, we learn something about the meaning of Incarnation.

But to say that our experience of God is the only valid one is to put a lid on the box and create an idol.

Author Anne Robertson from the introduction to her book: Blowing The Lid Off The God-Box: Opening Up To A Limitless Faith.

So when one hears, “You’re putting God in a box,” or “Your God is in a box,” or “You have to let God get out of your box,” or many other similar statements, they are essentially stating that it is your idea of God and who He is.

Is this right or wrong?

We must ask ourselves if we believe absolutes exist. In this day/age it is the common mindset that there are no absolutes, even for those who say they believe in them. Today the mindset is pragmatic relativism. The pragmatic means “whatever works”. Encarta® defines this as “

1. way of thinking about results: a straightforward practical way of thinking about things or dealing with problems, concerned with results rather than with theories and principles

2. way of evaluating theories: a philosophical view that a theory or concept should be evaluated in terms of how it works and its consequences as the standard for action and thought.

Encarta:

Relativism means “what is true for you”, but it “might not be true for me.” WordWeb® defines it as “ the philosophical doctrine that all criteria of judgment are relative to the individuals and situations involved.”

There are absolutes however. To best see this read Francis Schaeffer’s book: The God Who Is There

Is God in a box?

Yes.

God has absolutes.

1. God cannot lie.

(Titus 1:2 [HCSB])

in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

2. God does not change.

(Malachi 3:6 [AKJV])

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.

God is in a box--a box He has made. The attributes of His character do not and cannot change. If they did, we would never know what He wants from us.

His word--the Scriptures--also do not change.

For ever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness is to all generations: you have established the earth, and it stays. (Psalm 119:89-90, AKJV)

The word “settled” has the idea of fixed and permanent. Note, too, that His faithfulness never changes either.

Another verse:

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35, AKJV)

God does not change. His methods do not change. His gospel does not change.

Whenever someone challenges you this way, tell them that God is in a box, that He never changes. Our ideas of Him may change, after we read the Bible, but God never changes.

The Wonderful Bible

2011-01-20T14:18:00.001-08:00

“I have heard many fanatical persons say the Holy Spirit revealed this and that to them. Now that is very generally revealed nonsense. The Holy Ghost does not reveal anything fresh now. He brings old things to our remembrance. ‘He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have told you,’ [John 14:26]. The canon of revelation is closed; there is no more to be added. God does not give a fresh revelation, but he rivets the old one. When it has been forgotten, and laid in the dusty chamber of our memory, he fetches it out and cleans the picture, but does not paint a new one. There are no new doctrines, but the old ones are often revived. It is not, I say, by any new revelation that the Spirit comforts. He does so by telling us old things over again; he brings a fresh lamp to manifest the treasures hidden in Scripture; he unlocks the strong chests in which the truth had long lain, and he points to secret chambers filled with untold riches; but he coins no more, for enough is done.

Believer! There is enough in the Bible for thee to live upon for ever. If thou shouldest outnumber the years of Methusaleh, there would be no need for a fresh revelation; if thou shouldest live till Christ should come upon the earth, there would be no necessity for the addition of a single word; if thou shouldest go down as deep as Jonah, or even descend as David said he did, into the belly of hell, still there would be enough in the Bible to comfort thee without a supplementary sentence.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon
The New Park Street Pulpit
Vol. I (1855), p. 38

What the Pastors Are Missing

2011-01-08T03:14:00.000-08:00

Most pastors are catering to pleasing the unsaved. They don't seek to please God who has given the Gospel. Did Jesus preach this way?

Leslie Ludy - True Beauty

2010-12-03T16:11:00.000-08:00

ATP Simply Illustrated

2010-11-22T05:06:00.000-08:00

This wonderful motor is illustrated simply and completely. The thought that this could develop just by random chance is beyond belief or math possibility.

Are Pterosaurs too big to fly?

2010-11-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

An interesting article about pterosaurs. It seems that true science supports creation, not evolution.

What Does A Trillion Dollars Look Like?

2010-10-31T02:57:00.001-07:00

Adoption Awareness

2010-10-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Please consider helping these children.

This is my beta 2 version.

A True Witness

2010-09-26T04:50:00.001-07:00

Everyone looks at what we do and not what we say. Scripture says, ["You are to be a witness unto all," Acts 1:8], not just to friendly people, but also to unbelievers. For witnesses aren't meant to persuade those who already know, but those who don't know.

Let us be trustworthy witnesses. How can we be trustworthy? By the life we lead. The Jews assaulted Christ and our passions assault us. They tell us to reject our testimony. But we must not obey them. We are witnesses from God. But He has sent us to testify of Him.

Let us testify and persuade those who need to decide who He is. If we don't testify, then we also have to answer for their mistake. If people wouldn't accept an exceedingly wicked witness in an earthly court, much less would they accept one here when considering such great issues.

We say that we have heard Christ and that we believe the things He has promised. Then, they say, show it by your works. For you life testifies of the opposite -- that you don't believe. . . . We and not just the martyrs will be witnesses for Christ. They are called martyrs because they endured everything to speak the truth when told to reject the faith. So, we must not be overcome when our passions tell us we are to reject Him.

__________

Chrysostom, "Bear Witness," Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers, eds. Christopher D. Hudson, J. Alan Sharrer, and Lindsay Vanker (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2000), 23.

The Devil's Strategy

2010-09-22T02:37:00.001-07:00

In Genesis 3 we read the account of the first temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan.1 The strategy of the devil was successful and led to our first parents’ disregard of God’s Word to them and their rebellion against God Himself. Today Satan continues to use the same tactics, which produce the same result, namely, the disregard of mankind for the Word of God, and the rebellion of mankind against the authority of God. These tactics are:

An excellent article. Read the rest on Creation Ministries International.

Some Notes About Hell

2010-09-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hell

Some thoughts from a Dr John R. Rice article in "Sword of the Lord", 3 September 10

A1 Sheol

B1 Objection: sheol does not mean "hell"; it always means "grave".

B2 Objection #2: Luke 16 is a parable, not true history

B3 Answer:

C1 Means: the place of the unseen, the place of the dead

D1 For unbelievers: sheol means hell

C2 The word sheol is never used in reference to any grave or sepulcher in the Bible

D1 OT Examples of grave

E1 Rachel's (Genesis 35:20)

E2 Abner (2 Samuel 3:32)

E3 Barzillai's father (2 Samuel 19:37)

E4 Josiah's (2 Kings 22:20)

E5 All use the word "qeber" or qeburah"

D2 NT examples of grave

E1 John 5:28: "...all that are in the graves shall hear his voice...". The word here is "mnemeion".

E2 John 11:17, 31, 38: grave of Lazarus. The word here is "mnemeion".

E3 Matthew 27:52-53: "...many graves were opened and many bodies came out of the graves..." after resurrection. The word used is "mnemeion".

D3 Examples of the use hell

E1 In the OT

F1 Deuteronomy 32:22: "...For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell..."

G1 Does God's anger burn into the lowest hell?

G2 Or does God's anger burn into the lowest grave?

F2 Psalm 86:13: "For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell."

G1 Was David's soul delivered from the lowest hell?

G2 Was David's soul delivered from the lowest grave?

F3 2 Samuel 22:6 and Psalm 18:5: hell is a place of sorrow for many

G1 Do many have sorrows in hell?

G2 Or do many have sorrows in the grave?

D4 Hell fire

E1 Matthew 5:22; 10:28; 13:40-42, 49-50; 23:33; 25:41, 46: Mark 9:43-49.

E2 "All them speak of eternal torment, and most of them speak of fire. If Jesus said that Hell is a place of torment, then it is; and it doesn't matter whether the word "hades" or "gehenna" is used in the original Greek manuscripts."

D5 Luke 16:19-31

E1 Not parable

E2 True history, because:

F1 Definite name--Lazarus.

F1 No parable any where does that.

F2 Prodigal son or his father were nameless.

Fathers Teaching the Bible

2010-09-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

The Israelites did forget all too often, but so do many Christian fathers today. Our specific command today is: "And, ye fathers . . . bring up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Our whole American culture once was structured on biblical principles, but no more. We can blame the schools and activist courts, but a more basic cause is parental (especially paternal) failure. We again need to remember and apply in our own homes God's testimony to ancient Israel.

Henry Morris wrote the above words. It is so true. Where are the faithful fathers who read and teach the Bible daily to their families?

The Devil is a Liar

2010-08-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

A great song done wonderfully by these brethren in Liberia.

Kuo- The devil is a liar Chorus the devil can fool you
the devil is a liar
and he will take you to hell
if you are not careful 1st lead During the time of the war
nothing happen to us
...because the Lord protected us
with his hands 2nd lead I want you to know
that the devil is
defeated forever
he can not save you

Bible Inerrancy

2010-08-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Inerrancy of the Bible is an important topic. If the Bible is wrong, so is Christianity. How a person interprets the Bible is important, too. Someone adopting an allegorical method of interpretation is not much better than an outright Bible denier, for with that method they can attach any interpretation and leave others at the mercy of the "elite" group who has the knowledge and training to make the interpretation. Only those "elite" are correct; a plain, normal reading and understanding of the Bible must be thrown out, unless it furthers their cause.

No where is this seen more than the first eleven chapters of Genesis. Here is another article where the "elite" throw out the plain, normal understanding of the Bible.

The devil works hard to insure that his people get into places of power. Then with deception and their weak commitment to the truth uses them to corrupt the people. Truly this is the last days falling away.

Eight geologists, writing in Modern Reformation (magazine of Dr. Michael Horton’s White Horse Inn ministry), argue specifically that the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), and by inference committed Christians in all other denominations, should reject Noah’s Flood as geologically significant and adopt an old-earth view of Genesis.1 That is, they claim, because science, acting as “general revelation,” has demonstrated Earth’s antiquity (4.6 billion years) beyond any reasonable doubt. To support this assertion, they present two technical arguments as examples. Read this article, Summary of a Response to “PCA Geologists on the Antiquity of the Earth”

Accountability

2010-07-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

Are we accountable to God? Are we accountable to Scripture? Can we name names of false teachings? Here is a short ten minute message (part of a longer one) that addresses these questions.

Dr Richard Lumsden

2010-07-05T05:03:00.000-07:00

Testimony of Dr. Richard Lumsden from Way of Life on Vimeo.

A testimony of an honest scientist. A scientist who could stop and think rather than mock and ridicule. He knew that it is not scientifically possible to PROVE evolution.

LORD I CAN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU

2010-06-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

I've been blessed by this song for many years.

Get Right With God

2010-06-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

Jesus is going to come someday. He sees the sin, the rejection, the hate, the terrors that people are facing as they reject His rules.

Christian to Atheist to Christian

2010-06-08T04:17:00.000-07:00

Embittered evolutionist becomes rejoicing ‘creation evangelist’

So the headline reads. It is interesting in 2 ways. First, how she became an evolutionist and atheist. Second, how she became a Christian.

Almost Home

2010-05-26T15:26:00.001-07:00

The recording is not the best, but it is a very good song. Home is with the Lord Jesus. It is our hope to be there.

One of the False Gospels

2010-05-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

The prosperity "gospel", is not according to the Bible. I can't agree with everything about David Wilkerson, but he is correct here. Amen

God's Law

2010-05-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

God’s Law

God’s Law Has a Penalty Attached

If there were a law that man should not steal but no penalty was attached to it, some man would have my pocketbook before the day were over. If I threatened to have him arrested, why would he fear the law if there were no penalty?

It is not the law that people are afraid of; it is the penalty for transgression

Do not suppose God has made a law without a penalty. The penalty for sin is death: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” If I have sinned, I must die or get somebody to die for me. If the Bible doesn’t teach that, it doesn’t teach anything. And that is where the atonement of Jesus Christ comes in.

--D. L. Moody

A Single Celled Irony

2010-05-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

Many people have trouble accepting the miracle of Jesus’ virginal conception.1 It’s often dismissed as a biological impossibility—a myth that belongs to a pre-scientific age. Ironically, however, many people who mock the virgin birth have no trouble accepting a similar “miracle” that, just like the virgin birth, begins with a single cell.

So starts an article on CMI's web site. A single-celled irony

Sometimes the best argument is the truth itself.

Don't Add On

2010-05-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

Water cannot cleanse the conscience. Gifts don't prove a new life. Jesus Christ is the truth. His blood is what saves, trusting in Him and repenting. The fruit of this will be seen clearly. As my sister says, "Don't add on." Let the Gospel be pure.

An atheist knows more than a Christian

2010-04-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

This time Christopher Hitchens got it exactly right.

During a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, noted atheist Christopher Hitchens laid down some seriously good theology. Most people recognize Hitchens as the author of the bestselling book God is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons Everything. Since the book’s publication in 2007, Hitchens has toured the country debating a series of religious leaders, including some well-known evangelical thinkers. He is clever, acerbic, quick on his feet, and in general a very articulate spokesman for atheism. In Portland he was interviewed by Unitarian minister Marilyn Sewell. The entire transcript of the interview has been posted online. The following exchange took place near the start of the interview:

Sewell: The religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make and distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?

Hitchens: I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.

Sewell wanted no part of that discussion so her next words are, “Let me go someplace else."

This little snippet demonstrates an important point about religious “God-talk.” You can call yourself anything you like, but if you don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and then rose from the dead, you are not “in any meaningful sense” a Christian.

We need to know what a Christian is and then live it.

For Those Suffering

2010-04-10T05:05:00.001-07:00

Can The World See Jesus In You?

2010-04-07T04:28:00.000-07:00

Here is an important question: Can the world see Jesus in you?

Noah

2010-04-07T04:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a fictional account of Noah and his last days before boarding the ark.

Noah, the man who trusted God.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

The Weapons of Faith

2010-04-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

Changing society.

Two questions:

Do we become heavily involved in politics and political action; is this the war we fight?
Do we become heavily involved in true Christianity?

How much we get involved in political activity is up to you, but please consider: if you plan to change society, you can force your way by power or manipulation or there can be a heart change to do what is right.

What is right?

The Ten Commandments.
Two aspects:
1. Love of God--obedience to Him is how we show love to Him ("if you love me, keep my commandments").
2. Love of others--showing compassion, gentleness, the Golden Rule to others.

Physical warfare we are familiar with, but spiritual warfare is what the Christian must be skillfully trained in.

Spiritual Warfare:

1. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having a readiness to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

2. Ephesians 6:13-18 Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thus with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

3. Luke 18:1 And he spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

These are much different weapons.

1. Having a ready, correct answer. This is apologetics.

2. Truth. This is facts. The Bible is facts and have been proven to honest minds.

3. Righteousness. This is living according to God's rules.

4. The Gospel. This is the message that we have all broken the Ten Commandments, deserve punishment in hell, and by repentance and calling on the name of the Lord Jesus, trusting in Him alone; we can be forgiven, because Jesus Christ paid the penalty.

5. Faith. This is believing God. What He has given us in the Bible is true.

6. Salvation. This is a true rebirth according to the standards and definitions from the Bible.

7. The Bible. God's word to humanity.

8. Prayer. This is talking to God.

These weapons will accomplish more than any political solution.

Israel"s Unwavering Guardsmen

2010-03-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

Israel"s Unwavering Guardsmen

This reads like something straight from the Bible book of Judges.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.

7 Types of People

2010-03-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

(Ezra 7:10) For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

7 Types of People

Seek Only
These are false converts.
(Matthew 7:16-19) Ye shall know them by their fruits: Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(Isaiah 29:13) Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men.
(Matt 13:5) Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,(Matt 13:6) but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. (Matt 13:20) As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,(Matt 13:21) yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
They have a false profession.
They do not seek God honestly.
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
They do not what the "do" of the gospel.
They want to live their life as they see fit.
(Matthew 7:21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Do Only
These are blind.
James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Teach Only
These are ignorant.
They do not seek God, or do His will.
They teach but probably will teach error.
(2 Peter 2:17) These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Seek and Do
These miss the blessing of helping others.
They are selfish or scared.
(Hebrews 5:12) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
(Colossians 3:16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Seek and Teach
These are hypocrites.
They tell others what they must do, but they will not do it themselves.
(Luke 11:52) Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

Do and Teach
This is a Legalist.
They have the laws and do them, but they are not truly born again, because they do not seek God.
They think they will get to heaven, because they think that they are so good--their good out weighs their bad.
(Matthew 23:13) “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

Seek, Do, Teach
This is the correct way.

Seek
Seeking God:
What is your will? Please help me. Forgive me.
This is our personal response.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Do
Doing God's will:
Reading the Bible--specifically the New Testament, and doing what it says.
This is love to God.
Psalms 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.
John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.

Teach
Teaching God's way.
Teaching the Gospel.
Teaching His rules.
Titus 2:3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good.
Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

When Is Jesus Coming Again?

2010-03-10T08:04:00.001-08:00

Jesus is coming soon. When? No one except God himself knows.

Some believe he will come when the world is so wicked; it is inevitable for judgment.

And God saw that the evil of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all day long.Gen6:5

Some believe he will come when the last "living stone" is placed in the Temple of the Lord. The Bible teaches that God is building a spiritual house. The living stones are Christians.. those who are convicted of their sins and call out, trusting, in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.1Pet2:5

Whatever we must be looking up and be prepared.

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.Matt24:42

We look for a savior, not the Antichrist.

For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,Phil3:20

We are to be ready. This means to be humble, confess our sins, believe, and live our lives the way the Lord Jesus would want us.

You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke12:40

But take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overloaded with gluttony, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.Luke21:34

Divorice Rates: Christian Vs Non-christian

2010-03-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

Often we read that Christians divorce at a higher rate than non-christians. I just accepted this as people don't believe the Bible, what the Lord Jesus gave us in the New Testament, and will not do what it says. I just blindly accepted it, but read this article: I include only the first paragraph.

A friend emailed a copy of a January 17, 2010 article in The Sun News, a paper out of Myrtle Beach, SC, that trumpeted a Barna survey allegedly showing that ”born again” Christians suffer the highest rates of divorce and atheists/agnostics the lowest. At first I thought this must simply be agitprop. A few minutes on the internet, however, produced several websites corroborating the sources, surveys and statistics. See for example here . However, at least one purported Christian website here stated that evangelicals had a lower rate of divorce than the national average and lower than atheists and agnostics. Before this, I was unaware of the Barna distinction between “born again” Christians and evangelicals, and with exceedingly few exceptions, was unaware of people calling themselves “born again” outside evangelical circles. My curiosity piqued and smelling mischief in the gloating newspaper article, I did a little research. What I found demonstrated that biblical Christianity makes a difference in peoples’ lives and that newspapers generally cannot be trusted in matters regarding Christianity. In other words, nothing new.

Remember to Pray for Our Fellow Believers

2010-03-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

God can get us through. This may happen to the rest of us. Our we ready?

Jesus Is Coming!

2010-03-03T17:09:00.001-08:00

Do We Fear the Future?

2010-02-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

Remember that there is nothing to fear for the future except that you shall forget how God has led you in the past.

--John Bunyan

Revival

2010-02-24T08:19:00.000-08:00

Will there be an end time revival? This is asked so often, but the typical response is, "Well, we have the info, the formula in the Bible." Then this passage is quoted, "(2Chr 7:14 If My people who have been called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from the heavens, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

This is OK except when the passage is taught, humbling themselves, praying, and seeking is emphasized.

One thing is missing: "...turn from their wicked ways."

For example, a brother in our Lord Jesus writes:
How interested are we in praying to the Lord and truly worshipping His Holy Name?
How interested are we in growing in God's truth and knowing Him deeply?
How interested are we in gaining a greater knowlege and understanding of His Word?
And just how interested are we in sharing those precious things with the dying world around us?

No mention of turning from out wicked ways. He simply forgot to add this. If it was to be pointed out, I'm sure he would agree.

So to be added to the above list must be: "How interested are we in turning from out wicked ways?"

What is wicked is something defined by God himself, not us.

About Todd Bentley--the Possessed

2010-02-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

From Slaughter of The Sheep blog:

Here’s another update from Bentley:
2-05-09 7:00 PM – Maintaining Your Healing – Todd Bentley
Throughout this session Todd Bentley talked about how to maintain your healing. Todd shared many testimonies of people he knew who lost their healings, and explains why they did providing over thirty biblical truths of why people lose their healings. The service ended with a Holy Spirit breakout and many of the students were given opportunities to minister to people needing healing.
Aside from just how Scripturally unsound this is, it’s completely ludicrous. Oh, I know I’ll hear from people who say they know of many who have lost their healing, just as they know of many who have been healed. Not only do charismatics testify of their granny’s cousin’s best friend’s mother’s daughter-in-law who was healed, but they also know of their father’s nephew’s son’s girlfriend’s best friend who had a grandmother of the cousin of their niece’s mother-in-law who lost a healing.

Well said. If you watch videos on and about Todd, you will often see him in a trance. He is a liar. He is a false prophet. Easy to tell if you compare the plain, normal reading of the Bible to what Bentley says.

True Education

2010-02-06T03:59:00.000-08:00

The great principle of true education is given by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:2: "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." The great account of Christ's crucifixion, especially, is to be taught forever.
---Henry Morris

True education--do we understand this?

A New Reformation

2010-01-28T04:50:00.000-08:00

Take one look around our world. A need for a new reformation is evident, both for our culture and for the church. We must return to the Bible as our absolute authority. Ken Ham

The greatest problem then is to read and understand the Bible in its plain, normal sense. People--Christians and otherwise--do not want to take the Bible in this way.

Waiting and Praying

2010-01-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about why you pray and pray, and there seems to be no answer? I have, and surely you have, too.

God always answers prayer. There are 4 types of answers. First, “Yes”, and it means the way you expected. Second, “Yes” but not exactly like we expected it. Third, “No”; just plain, simple no. The four is the broadest category. It is characterized by “wait”.

Waiting is the hardest thing. Why does God makes us wait? Maybe the time is not right. Maybe someone has to do something first, or be somewhere first. Maybe we have to learn something first. Maybe we have to be chastened. Who knows except our loving savior. One thing for sure, if we quit praying, the answer will not come.

So let us wait patiently. Let us pray for each other. Let us not give up.

New Revelation?

2010-01-11T06:23:00.000-08:00

What astounded me was the absolute arrogance that I found there, not to mention the blatant error. The first line on his site says, “In this new teaching series, Kim will instruct his students on one of the keys to hearing God’s voice – Revelation.” Okay, let me go over this one more time – there is no revelation outside of scripture. Why on earth would God give people so-called extra revelation when they still refuse to hear what He actually spoke through His Son? The holy scripture is our plumbline of truth, and if you stray outside of that, it leaves the door wide open for anything and everything a false prophet would try to introduce into the church, and there will be nothing that can stop it. The Bible has to be our first and final authority on all things. Clement doesn’t teach that the Bible alone contains God’s word to man, he teaches that we are continuing to receive revelation in this present day, and that is not scriptural.

A good reminder that those who accept new and extra revelation do not obey the revelation that they do have--The Scriptures.

Dead or Alive

2010-01-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

The churches of today are not Biblical. Consider some of these comments from Paul Proctor and Franklin Graham.

FRANKLIN GRAHAM: 'OUR CHURCHES ARE DEAD'

Franklin Graham Begins 2010: 'I am Not Ashamed of the Gospel'

Let's start reading the Bible in its plain, normal sense and LIVING it. God help us.

Christianity VS Contemplative Prayer

2010-01-04T03:26:00.000-08:00

Christians are being exhorted to put their minds on hold through meditation and take a step into the supernatural realm. Is it biblical to connect with the supernatural realm? In an interview with Emergent leader Rob Bell, founding pastor of Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, MI, he made the following comment: "Central to the Christian tradition, for thousands of years, have been disciplines of meditation, reflection, silence, and breathing. It was understood that to be a healthy person, to be fully connected with God, and fully centered you would spend significant parts of your day in silence–breathing, meditating–praying allowing the Spirit of God to transform you and touch you." So ordinary people spent significant parts of their day in silence, meditating?

This is from Marsha West's column, GNOSTICISM, CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER & OTHER CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS.

Thank You Lord Jesus for being our perfect Passover Lamb

2009-12-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

Morality?

2009-12-23T15:37:00.000-08:00

From Ray Comfort's blog:

An atheist writes:

"I have no sin. I've made some poor choices and some bad judgments over the years, but we make amends where we can and move on... realize many of you need this emotional crutch to cope, and that's OK. Otherwise you'd be out killing people and such."

A Christian responds:

"What is your objection to killing people? If it's just a 'poor choice' or a 'bad judgment' what's the problem? Murderers can just make amends where they can, and move on..."

Bluegrass Group New Horizon

2009-12-19T17:37:00.000-08:00

This is a great gospel bluegrass group "New Horizon". They write their own music; great words. You can buy their music at PayPlay or CDBaby.

God Made Men

2009-12-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

Over the years, radical feminism has been attempting to demonize any display of testosterone. The slightest aggressive behavior is taken to the ultimate extreme portraying males as abusers. Their goal clearly is to wimpify maleness.

Lloyd Marcus (black) Unhyphenated American

You can the rest here. God made men to be strong yet gentle.

Here With Us--Joy Williams

2009-12-16T17:33:00.000-08:00

For Christmas.

Is This The Day of Backsliding?

2009-12-13T12:40:00.000-08:00

David Wilkerson has a message for you and me. This is how it starts; you can find the rest here.

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2, my italics).

This message is meant for all who have backslidden from the Lord. Backsliding is a biblical term that means “falling away, turning away, apostasy.” According to the apostle Paul, who wrote the verse above, “Today is the day of mercy and grace.” In other words: If you ever plan to believe, that time is now.

This statement by Paul is both an invitation and a warning. The warning is as follows: “Do not receive the grace of God in vain. Do not ignore, neglect or cast aside God’s offer of mercy. Respond to it now, as it is offered to you.”

Jesus warned that many believers would turn away and grow cold: “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). His message is clear: Many who have been on fire for the things of God are going to fall away. They will drift into a spiritual coldness. And some will turn to their old fleshly ways. When will this happen? It will take place at a time Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows” (24:8).

Is All Hopeless?

2009-12-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. (2 Kings 19:35)

Often the situation seems hopeless. The forces of evil have a plan. It cannot fail. Much time and planning has happened as if looking ahead a hundred chess moves to cover every possible effect.

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, thought he had everything planned. He also had the mightiest army in the then world. There was no possibility of failure. The country of Israel was taken except for Jerusalem. No country could resist him. All things pointed to a true victory here as well.

Hezekiah, knowing this, did what seems to be a stupid move--he prays.

The impossible happened. An angel was sent from heaven by God and killed 185,000 soldiers.

Today evil seems to have conquered the world. Their plans seem to be inevitable. They cannot lose. They have money, power, and dedication. All hope seems lost. Yet THERE IS STILL A GOD IN HEAVEN, and if He wills, they will be scattered as Babel was scattered. God knows how to scattered the wicked. Let us not stop praying for God to send justice, for justice is nearly gone.

Hard Times?

2009-12-05T04:13:00.000-08:00

After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the metal workers, and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me this vision: behold, two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the LORD. One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. And the LORD said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten." Then the word of the LORD came to me: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. "But thus says the LORD: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them. And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers."
(Jeremiah 24:1-10)

Two groups:

1. The Good Figs
2. The Bad Figs

The good figs go into exile, and the bad figs are scattered over the face of the earth.

The point that ministered to me is this: The group named as the good figs would much rather be home. They do not want to be in exile, but to exile they go. In exile God blesses them. How many times have we gone through hard things just like these did? Yet, this hard thing was a blessing.

Don't lose heart just because of what's happening in your life. As the song says "we'll understand it better by and by".

Who are your friends?

2009-12-04T10:36:00.000-08:00

From the Blueletter Bible Facebook wall:

Blue Letter Bible Who you hang out with affects your ability to spiritually influence others. Psalm 1:1 warns us not to become too comfortable walking, standing, or sitting with the ungodly. When we spend much time in the presence of scoffers, our lives will begin to reflect that association. On the other hand, spending time in the Word... and godly fellowship can produce a spiritual boldness for the Lord. This was certainly true of two common fishermen who caused the leaders of the temple to marvel because they (Peter and John) had been with Jesus (Acts 4:8-13).
Peggy

A very excellent thought and well put.

A Short Summary of Ruth for 22 Nov 09

2009-11-18T12:15:00.000-08:00

For my purposes at home, I use an outline that doesn't do well on blogger even in html, so I just combine the points as seen, but they can easily be expanded.

Ruth

A1 Some things

B1 She was a nobody C1 About her D1 Moabite--descendants of Lot D2 Non-royality C2 We can learn D1 We might be a nobody D2 Unknown to the world, only known to a small group D3 What about David, Gideon, Deborah? D4 We may wake up one day as a nobody but that is the day the Lord uses us

B2 She didn't think her future would be what it turned out to be C1 When she was 12 or so did she think that she would be a great-grandma to the greatest king of Israel? Did she think she would be in line of Messiah? C2 We may be in the same situation. Who knows God's plans for us? C3 We need to be ready C4 Have it settled, "I am ready to do your will, my Father." C5 We never know when or what it will be. D1 It may be hard or easy E1 Sickness F1 Man at the pool that Jesus healed:

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. (John 5:5-9)

F2 Ruth lost her husband after only a little time of marriage E2 Poverty F1 Widow that Elijah went to, who had food until the famine was over

"Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink." And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.' " So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. (1 Kings 17:9-15)

D2 It may be long or short E1 Noah preached for 120 years with no effect for only his family went on the art with him. E2 Jonah preached for maybe 5 minutes and the whole town repented.

B3 The decisions we make might seem small but are eternally powerful C1 She turned TO God

And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." (Ruth 1:15-17) C2 Her sister-in-law turned back.

B4 Bitterness like Naomi experienced is horrible, but God knows how to turn it around for great blessing. C1 We need to patient. C2 What are the pains you are feeling?

Chapter 2 Boaz

B1 May be same as Ibzan as according to some Jewish commenters.

After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons. And he gave away thirty daughters in marriage, and brought in thirty daughters from elsewhere for his sons. He judged Israel seven years. Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem. After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel. He judged Israel ten years. (Judges 12:8-11)

B2 No need for bias. Most Jews had little to do with foreigners, but Boaz feared God and was kind to strangers. We need to treat all the same. We are all created by God to serve and lobe him.

So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?" And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge." (Ruth 2:10-12)

B3 Note Ruth's humility. She would do despised work to help others and cause them to praise God. Our work and life might be very obscure, but if God may be praised by those who we help, then it is a good work.

Chapter 3

B1 Ruth was virtuous.

And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. (Ruth 3:11) C1 Virtuous means D1 Strength D2 Strength of E1 Character E2 Action E3 How we dress E4 How we talk C2 In this day of ignoring God's rules of virtue, we need to take a stand to do things God's way. God will help us. D1 Remember virtue means strength; it is not weakness.

B2 Boaz likewise was honorable.

Chapter 4

B1 There is a redeemer C1 Boaz was a redeemer for Naomi. She could have all her ancestral land returned. Boaz was willing. C2 The Lord Jesus is our redeemer. He, too, paid a price, a sacrifice of Himself, that we could have forgiveness of sins, a relationship with Him, and an eternity of peace, love, life serving the God and Creator.Is He your redeemer? Is He still my redeemer in every occassion?

B2 Boaz was a man of action. C1 He had a plan--this was according to God's law for the redemption of poor relatives. C2 When he knew what to do, he did it. C3 So us, when we know what God has revealed in the Bible, do we obey it? For us it is it "All for Jesus"?

Weak Preachers and Christians

2009-11-14T14:21:00.000-08:00

On a post about Nidal Malik Hasan and a fear to report aberrant behavior, David Cloud writes:

That exposes the foolish “political correctness” that has taken over the U.S. military, which is more zealous to please the feminists, environmentalists, Muslims, and lawyers, than it is to fulfill its obligation to protect America from all enemies. The root problem, though, is not the weakness of the military; the root problem is the apostasy and cowardliness of the nation’s preachers, which refuse to proclaim the fear of God boldly and without compromise. As a result, the nation has been robbed of its wisdom and power. The solution, therefore, from the Bible believer’s side is not to focus on politics and immerse himself in conservative talk radio; the solution is to focus on godliness, in our individual lives and in our churches. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).[Emphasis is mine]

Too many Christians want to immerse themselves in politics which leads us away from our God given duties as Christians. If you want politics, fine, but when you spend much time in politics, you are a failure as a Christian.

A Problem for Darwin

2009-11-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

Getting Over Our Love for Darwin

2009-11-10T12:03:00.000-08:00

Getting Over Our Love for Darwin by William Dembski

A good article.

A Christian's Word

2009-11-05T11:17:00.001-08:00

It should never occur to anyone to doubt our [Christian--ed] word either. The Christian's word should be inviolate. Some years ago, I heart Paul Little, at the time head of InterVarsity Fellowship, tell of a conversation that he once had with a college principal. A young woman had come to an agreement with him to be on the faculty for the coming year. She was a professing Christian, and he had taken her word for it. She was to sign the contract upon her arrival on campus. Shortly before the beginning of the semester, he received a letter from the woman. She had been offered a better-paying position and had decided to take it. She had prayed about it, she said, and had peace about it. Said the college principal bitterly, looking at the gap in his faculty and the problem he would now have in finding a replacement at that late date, "Great! She had the peace; I had the pieces." This young woman knew nothing of even common integrity, much less Christian character. "Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" David asked the Lord. "He that sweareth to his won hurt, and changeth not" (Ps. 15:1, 4). When a Christian gives his word, he should do what he says for the simple reason that he would not dream of doing anything else. He should be completely dependable. It is a fruit of the Spirit." Exploring Galations: An Expository Commentary by John Phillips page 194. Found on Google 5 November 09.

From John Wesley

2009-11-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

Quote: "Servants, as they must do their Master's work, so they must be for any work their Master has for them to do: they must not pick and choose, this I will do, and that I will not do; they must not say this is too hard, or this is too mean, or this may be well enough let alone; good servants, when they have chosen their Master, will let their Master choose their work, and will not dispute His will"
-----John Wesley's Covenant Service

Modesty

2009-10-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

This is from a conservation Jewish view. I think it is important for men and women to emphasize their soul in what they wear. The audio will explain.

There Is A Redeemer written by Melody Green

2009-10-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

This is done by Brown Bannister and Kelly Willard.

Matthew Ward singing on the next one. Take your pick, they're both good.

Having a Bad Day?

2009-10-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

If your day is rotten and burdensome, this might be a comfort to you, as it was to me.

Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again? (Job 10:9)

From "Handfuls On Purpose"
Then it is not for the clay to resist the wonder working hand of the Divine Potter. He will not reduce the clay to dust; the potter cannot fashion by dust into a useful vessel. When we have been brought low by the weight of affliction, so low that we feel as if we had been brought back to that condition of soul in which we were at first when God, by His Spirit, began to operate upon us. Let us believe that His purpose is to make us into "another vessel" more meet for His service, or in other words, when God's vessels are reduced again to clay it is that they might be refashioned for higher and more honorable work. Job's latter days is an evidence of this.

Who knows what work God will do to and through us.

Naaman and faith

2009-10-24T14:14:00.001-07:00

The story of Naaman is very interesting and can teach us many things. The one thing I want to look at today is his faith.

Naaman was the highest ranking general in Syria's army; he was also a leper. An Israeli girl had been captured and taken for a servant for Naaman's wife. This servant girl told Naaman's wife about Elisha, God's prophet in Israel. She told her that this prophet could heal Naaman of his leprosy. Naaman asked the king for permission to go to Israel, was granted permission, took a letter to Israel's king, asking him to cure Naaman. Israel's king was in shock, for he had willfully forgotten God. Elisha heard about it and sent word to the king to send Naaman to him.

Naaman went to Elisha's house and was given a message to wash in the Jordan River 7 times. He left in a rage, because he had his ideas on the method of healing, but Naaman's servants reasoned with him and Naaman washed in the Jordan River 7 times and was healed.

Note that Naaman has his own ideas of a miraculous healing, "But Naaman left in a rage, saying, "I thought that he would at least come out to me, pray to the LORD his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me! Besides, aren't the rivers Abana and Pharpar, back in Damascus, better than any river in Israel? I could have washed in them and been cured!" (2 Kings 5:11-12).

Note that his servants encouraged him to believe the prophet's method--really God's method. His servants went up to him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can't you just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured?" So Naaman went down to the Jordan, dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed, and he was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child." (2 Kings 5:13-14)

Note that Naaman did what the prophet had spoken. "So Naaman went down to the Jordan, dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed, and he was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child." (2 Kings 5:14).

Note the contrast between Naaman's way and God's way. When Naaman believed, it was not just, "Well, OK." When Naaman believed, it was down into the Jordan River. His actions showed his faith. He believed God; his actions proved it. So it is today faith is not just a belief; it is a belief lived out in action. When we believe God, we do what He says. Some of His rules in the New Testament might not make sense, just like Naaman thought about what Elisha had told him. It didn't make any difference if it made sense of not, he believed and obeyed, then he was healed.

Psalm 46:1-3

2009-10-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

I like bluegrass best, but this song on the first three verses of Psalm 46 seem appropriate is these troubling times.

	Mark and Stephen Altrogge - Psalm 46.1-3

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

The Darkest Hour

2009-10-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

To all you having a bad day or whatever.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

2009-10-11T16:22:00.000-07:00

The best version, I ever heard.

	Steve Webb - HS37: Lifespring! HymnStories Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Last Days

2009-10-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

I've posted this before, but it is worth doing so again. The end of God's patience is at hand, and it is time to repent.

Paul Washer Project - Free videos are just a click away

Proverbs 26:4-5

2009-10-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
(Proverbs 26:4-5)

Some different translations/ideas

Don't make a fool of yourself by answering a fool. But if you answer any fools, show how foolish they are, so they won't feel smart.
(Proverbs 26:4-5)

If you answer a silly [stupid--ed] question, you are just as silly [stupid--ed] as the person who asked it. Give a silly [stupid--ed] answer to a silly [stupid--ed] question, and the one who asked it will realize that he's not as smart as he thinks. (Proverbs 26:4-5)

Barnes writes:

Two sides of a truth. To “answer a fool according to his folly” is in Pro_26:4 to bandy words with him, to descend to his level of coarse anger and vile abuse; in Pro_26:5 it is to say the right word at the right time, to expose his unwisdom and untruth to others and to himself, not by a teaching beyond his reach, but by words that he is just able to apprehend. The apparent contradiction between the two verses led some of the rabbis to question the canonical authority of this book. The Pythagoreans had maxims expressing a truth in precepts seemingly contradictory.

He will be with us

2009-10-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
(Matthew 28:19-20)

..Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.

No matter how difficult things have been, are, or will be, we can be sure that the Lord Jesus will be with us. We may have to suffer verbal, physical, financial, or other abuse, but he will surely be with us, just as he has been with the saints through out the ages.

Repent or else

2009-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

America is collapsing not because we have failed to fight our enemies, but because we have forgotten God, and in doing so, have made Him our enemy. Sure, we vehemently claim Him as our own but live day to day like He’s not there or doesn’t care what we think or say or do – like America is God’s home and we have some divine right to reside here forever.

Read the rest of Paul Proctor's article.