Looking Ahead

Interview with William Lane Craig in London

2011-11-10T07:24:00.000-08:00

The student television station at Imperial College London (stoictv.com) conducted an interview with World renowned Philosopher Dr. William Lane Craig who speaks to us about how his interest in Philosophy began, his work on a rational defense of the Christian Faith, and his debates with the world's leading atheists...Click Here

Who is Bill Craig? He's the guy that Richard Dawkins avoids...even more than going to church.

God’s Way Of Peace: A Book For The Anxious

2011-06-11T03:46:00.000-07:00

Barry Horner, author of Future Israel has graciously made this booklet by Horatius Bonar available. It's well-worth reading:

There seem to be many, in our day, who are seeking God. Yet they appear to be but “feeling after him, in order to find him,” as if he were either a distant or an “unknown” God. They forget that “he is not far from every one of us” (Acts 17:27); for “in him we live, and move, and have our being.”

That He is not far; that he has come down; that he has come nigh; this is the “beginning of the gospel.” It sets aside the vain thoughts of those who think that they must bring Him nigh, by their prayers and devout performances. He has shown himself to us, that we may know him, and, in knowing him, find the life of our souls...keep reading

1 John 2:2

2011-02-01T13:48:00.000-08:00

"He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."

Excerpt from Dr Paul Henebury's study "Christ’s Atonement: Its Purpose and Extent, Part 1" Conservative Theological Journal March 2005:

Propitiation

This crucial term has been subjected to a great deal of attack over the past century or so. From scholars like R. C. H. Lenski, and, most notably, C. H. Dodd, the doctrine of propitiation has suffered strong objection. The reason for this isn’t hard to discover. To “propitiate” means to appease or avert the wrath of God, and that is conceived by some to be a problem. Dodd argued that pagans placated, that is, “propitiated” their false gods by their sacrifices.

Surely the true God is not to be pacified in the same way! And since Dodd was the Chairman of the RSV translation, he made sure that the word “expiation” replaced “propitiation” in verses like Romans 3:25 and 1 John 2:2; 4:10. Thanks to the scholarship of Leon Morris and others, “propitiation” has been shown to be an essential teaching in both testaments.7 In fact, Morton H. Smith has said:

To deny the propitiatory character of the sacrifice of Christ is to deny the essence of the atonement. For the atonement means that Christ bore our sins. ... How can we think of him carrying our sins, without bearing the judgment for those sins? Sin and judgment are inseparable in the Scriptures. Thus to bear the sin is to bear the judgment. ... The wages of sin is death, and he paid the wage.

These passages from Paul and John teach that Christ did not simply remove our guilt (expiation), He actually bore the wrath of God which ought to be visited upon us (propitiation). Otherwise, God could not be “just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). Nevertheless, although the propitiation has been made, the condition of its efficacy is individual trust. Paul brings this out very clearly in Romans 3:25 when he states concerning Christ, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [hilasterion] through faith in His blood ...”

Notice how the propitiation who is Jesus Christ, is received “through faith in His blood.” This indicates that the propitiation is available but not applied until the person trusts Christ. This is how John employs the term in his First Epistle. In 1 John 2:2, Christ is called “the propitiation (hilasmos) for our sins: and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” Again, in 1 John 4:10, [14] we read, “[God] sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (see also Heb. 2:17 where hilasterion is translated “reconciliation”). Millard Erickson sums up:

The numerous passages that speak of the wrath of God against sin are evidence that Christ’s death was necessarily propitiatory. We read of the wrath of God against sin in Romans 1:18; 2:5, 8; 4:15; 5:9; 9:22; 12:19; 13:4–5; Ephesians 2:3; 5:6; Colossians 3:6; and 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:16; 5:9. So then, Paul’s idea of the atoning death ... is not simply that it covers sin and cleanses from its corruption (expiation), but that the sacrifice also appeases a God who hates sin and is radically opposed to it (propitiation).

Response to a Calvinist

2011-01-29T04:52:00.000-08:00

I've linked to one of Helen Setterfield's articles here previously. Here's another good one:

A friend who is a Calvinist wrote to me that he was a little upset with my articles on Calvinism here. I asked him to show me where I was wrong. His points are in blue italics. My responses are in straight print.

The Apostle describes us as being dead in sin (Eph. 2:1,5). Picture Lazarus in the tomb—powerless to choose life. We’re all like that, but Jesus quickened Lazarus from the dead. John tells us that these were signs. Paul himself was in no mood to choose Jesus, but Jesus was in a mood to do a heart transplant on Paul (cf. Ezek. 36:26).

First, I think the problem is with the definition of ‘death.’ Death means separation, not unconsciousness. When a person dies physically, he is separated from his body. The body may not be able to respond, but the person himself is quite conscious (or hell would have no meaning). Spiritual death, or the second death, is separation from God. In John 17:3, Jesus defines eternal life as knowing God and the Son. That means eternal death is NOT knowing them. The ‘know’ in this context is not an intellectual acknowledgement, but rather an intimate relationship – along the lines of Adam knowing his wife and she becoming pregnant. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He caused his soul and spirit to re-enter his body and healed the body from the effects of what caused his death. Remember the story about the rich man and the other Lazarus after death (Luke 16:19-31)? Both were entirely conscious although their bodies were probably well-rotted by that time. So death is not unconsciousness.

In Isaiah 1:18, the Lord invites the sinner “Come, let us reason together…though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Who is the Lord talking to? Someone who is already saved? No. Someone who is deeply in sin, and the person is being offered a choice. This offer is totally meaningless if the person is not able to respond to the Lord.

In Jeremiah 29, the Lord tells the people of Israel, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.”

Remember Jesus saying, “Come to me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give your rest.” Are only those chosen from before the beginning of time those who labor and are heavy-laden? I sincerely doubt that.

About Paul. Paul was totally eager to protect the reputation and character of God. For THAT reason he was persecuting the Christians. Paul’s heart was totally for the God he knew from the Scriptures and had been taught in rabbinical school. He had also been taught that the Christian sect was heretical and therefore he was going to do his best to protect God’s holy reputation/name and stamp it out. God knew Paul’s heart and honored Paul’s devotion, even though it was involved in a misunderstanding about Jesus. So Jesus presented Paul with the truth of Himself and Paul responded 100%. The rest is history. There was no ‘mood’ about it, either way...read the article

Calvinism & John 3:16

2011-01-27T10:50:00.000-08:00

Great article. I think the author nails it well....

In order to believe in Calvinistic theology, a person must explain why the normal text of a passage simply does not say what it appears to say. John 3:16 is probably the most popular Bible verse in all the world, and yes, by that I mean the entire world. I could be wrong, but needless to say, many people, even non-Christians, know this verse by heart. However, according to Calvinists, this verse does not really mean exactly what it says. To them, the word “world” does not mean the entire world.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

A Calvinist could probably spend over thirty minutes explaining to you why the word “world” in this sentence does not mean the whole world...keep reading

John MacArthur - The Narrow Gate

2010-10-14T18:50:00.000-07:00

I've posted this before but it's worth repeating.

There is only one way....

Truth and Control

2010-08-05T04:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a great post from a friend.....

Something some of us have been pondering lately-How does Satan diminish the believer’s effectiveness in this world and how do we assist him in this? Two thoughts...continue reading

Misquoting Jesus?

2010-06-29T09:56:00.001-07:00

Best selling author Bart Ehrman has written a book called Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why

Here are a few sources that challenge Ehrman's assertions:

The Gospel according to Bart

The Bible, the Qur'an, Bart Ehrman, and the Words of God

Misanalyzing Text Criticism--Bart Ehrman's 'Misquoting Jesus'

Bart Ehrman Answered (Interview with Mike Licona)

Bart Ehrman Again

And finally William Lane Craig discusses Ehrman's assumptions:

William Lane Craig - Response to Bart Ehrman - Gracepoint Berkeley (2010) from Gracepoint Berkeley on Vimeo.

The Nature of the Bible

2010-03-11T20:45:00.000-08:00

The Bible contains 66 books written by about 40 different authors over a period of around 1,600 years.

What’s so remarkable about that?

The authors came from a variety of different professions and backgrounds and spoke languages ranging from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek yet none of them contradicted each other over an array of issues and topics.

Even though the last book was written around 90 AD, so many Greek manuscripts and fragments of the New Testament are still available that we can be assured that accuracy has been preserved. Moreover, in 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery produced fragments of every Old Testament book except Esther and they all attest that what we have today is virtually unchanged from the original. Despite many attempts throughout history to destroy the Bible, it has survived intact.

No other book on faith – or anything else for that matter – can match these achievements.

You can read much more on The Nature of the Bible HERE and it is the first lesson of an Ariel Ministries Discipleship Course.

Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum of Ariel Ministries has put together a fantastic and free teaching resource for people interested in knowing more about the Bible and God’s ultimate plans for this world. There is a wealth of solid information in written printable format backed up by hours of audio lessons with a quiz after each subject is completed. It takes some time to complete but you can go at your own pace and it is well worth the effort.

You can learn more about the Discipleship Course HERE.

And you can commence it HERE.

Are you here by accident?

2010-02-17T12:57:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article by Tony Garland:

Are you here by accident?

Why I believe...

…we are here by design, not chance

...the Bible is the reliable message of God

...Israel demonstrates the existence of God

...Christianity is unique among all religions

…You should ask yourself these questions

…You should seek God

Walking trees …

2010-02-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

Modern science helps us understand a puzzling miracle
by Russell Grigg

In the Gospel of Mark, there is an intriguing account of how Jesus healed a blind man in a two-step process:

‘And He came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. And He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spat on his eyes and had put His hands on him, He asked Him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, I see men as trees, walking. And after that He put His hands again on his eyes and made him look up. And he was restored and saw all clearly’ (Mark 8:22–25).

Bible-believing Christians have no problem with this miracle, as the Bible presents the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who, in the beginning, created the universe and all things in it, including human life, by the power of His Word (Genesis 1; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16). The Lord who could do one could certainly do the other. The only question that arises is why the cure was in two stages rather than just one...continue reading

The real Jesus?

2010-01-16T15:34:00.001-08:00

I had just watched my fiancé go through the Departure Gate at Melbourne airport and was feeling miserable. Not wanting to go home to an empty house I wandered around the airport almost hoping that – for some reason – there would be a problem with her papers and she would have to stay with me a little longer. I found a book shop to browse in and kill some time. One title stood out and caught my eye. It was Deepak Chopra’s fictional “Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment”.

I know a little about Chopra’s views because I spent a lot of time reading the sorts of New Age materials he writes. Chopra’s Christ isn’t God. This Christ wasn’t born of a virgin and did not die on the Cross to save those who would place their faith in Him for salvation. Chopra’s Christ is no more God than I am. Chopra is only one of many self-styled gurus who claim to know more about Christ than what can be found in Scripture.

What gives these people the TRUTH about Christ that Christian Biblical scholars seem to miss? I remember comparing a plethora of New Age and Gnostic materials supposedly detailing who Jesus Christ was, is and what He did. Much of their information was apparently gleaned from visions derived in meditation.

The late former Beatle George Harrison once made this statement in an INTERVIEW:

"If there’s a God, I want to see Him. It’s pointless to believe in something without proof, and Krishna consciousness and meditation are methods where you can actually obtain God perception."

Interestingly, my New Age sources all purported to be enlightened yet they all differed in most details and aspects of Christ’s life. Many claimed He was the reincarnation of a series of historical individuals but none of them ever substantiated each other. How can this be reconciled?

But whether it was Chopra, Yogananda, Edgar Cayce or any one of the many gurus from India – they ALL unanimously DENIED that Christ was the Son of God who died for the sins of the world. They ALL imagined God and Christ in their own image.

In that same interview, Harrison made another interesting comment:

My idea in "My Sweet Lord," because it sounded like a "pop song," was to sneak up on them a bit. The point was to have the people not offended by "Hallelujah," and by the time it gets to "Hare Krishna," they’re already hooked, and their foot’s tapping, and they’re already singing along "Hallelujah," to kind of lull them into a sense of false security. And then suddenly it turns into "Hare Krishna," and they will all be singing that before they know what’s happened, and they will think, "Hey, I thought I wasn’t supposed to like Hare Krishna!"

Chopra has claimed that Christians have hijacked the real Christ. He points out that out of so many gospels only four were chosen. There was a logical reason for this. The four chosen were written by eye-witnesses and corroborated each other. The later Gnostic gospels weren’t eye witnesses and often contradicted each other.

I thought about my fiancé and her trip back home. She had to place her trust in a system and a host of individuals to get her home safely. The pilot had to be accredited and approved and the airplane had to be air worthy. Our journey in this world and through eternity is like her plane flight. We have to ask questions, engage our intellect and put our faith in the Right System and Person. The next time you have to take a flight, would you be prepared to trust your taxi driver or check out person to fly the plane for you?

Jesus Christ Questions and Answers

Can I Trust the Bible?

Christian Answers for the New Age on Deepak Chopra’s New Age Jesus.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Mat 16:15-16 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

John 20:27-28 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

1Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Mat 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

God's Maniac

2010-01-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take the opportunity to present Lou Talley's website and book.

In Lou's words:

"PTSD is no respecter of persons, knowing many women veterans who have returned home from hostile areas to become dysfunctional as parents who were not that way prior to being deployed.

"I also know of past earthquake victims from 1995 who are still sleeping outside and afraid to go back into their homes or apartments for fear of being caught and buried in another earthquake.

"My book is for all who suffer with PTSD, men, women, children, but especially veterans past and present who suffer with this crippling disorder."

I've read the book and I highly recommend it!

MARILYN MANSON: THE OUTCAST APPEAL

2009-12-29T16:45:00.000-08:00

This is an article written by Marcia Montenegro of Christian Answers for the New Age.

Although there are rock groups in the past and present that used satanic lyrics and symbols, none have seemed to have actually created a cult following among teenagers and young people as has Marilyn Manson. Named Best New Artist of 1996 by Rolling Stone magazine, Manson's third album, "Antichrist" Superstar," which sold more than 1 million copies, reached No. 3 on Billboard magazine's survey....Continue Reading

Christians should not miss this very important part at the end of Marcia's article:

What is needed is outreach, not protest.

Although what Manson often declares is at odds with Christian belief, we Christians must be careful not to self-righteously condemn him, nor should we turn our heads away when we see teens dressed in bizarre outfits. What kind of message does this send? It only seems to prove Manson right in what he says about Christians. This attitude is alienating. What good is it to reject those who already feel rejected, or alienate those who feel alienated?

Instead, we should ask teens why they like Manson. Is it just the music or is it also the attitude and message Manson has? Be willing to address the issue of hypocrisy. There is hypocrisy in society and in the church. Why? Discuss this and listen. Be willing to admit some of what Manson says is true, because it is.

For anyone ready to put down Manson or the kids who like him, read First Corinthians 13. All your knowledge, words and faith mean nothing without love; you are as a "clanging cymbal." Keep in mind that Jesus hung out with all kinds of people when He was on earth, including many that were treated as outcasts by the culture of that day. Would not Jesus maybe be hanging out and talking with these teens who are Manson followers, if He were here today? I think so.

A brief response to anti-creationist books

2009-12-22T22:24:00.000-08:00

From CMI:

What about the anti-creationist books? I can’t possibly deal with all of them, but I will highlight some of the typical tactics and distortions used in such books by addressing some of those in the Selkirk and Burrows book, Confronting Creationism: Defending Darwin.¹ Such books normally present a distorted account of the creationist position, which is then made to look silly. They erect a ‘straw man’, set him alight, and then gloat over how stupid creationists can be to believe such things. Of course, creationists are not above criticism; we are human, fallible creatures. And sometimes the more ‘flakey’ fellow travellers of the creation movement give the sceptics cause to blaspheme. I have no wish to defend the indefensible. This response deals with deliberate distortions of main-stream creationist thinking by much anti-creationist literature...Continue Reading.

Repent And Be Saved! I Said, REPENT!!!

2009-12-08T13:07:00.000-08:00

From Jack Kinsella:

I believe that the Bible calls us to be witnesses of Christ, and that there is no more perfect expression of God's will in the life of a Christian than when he works to lead others to Christ,

That said, what does one do, as one of our readers related recently in one of our forums, when somebody is clearly not interested in hearing the Gospel?

The forum comment describes an experience we've all shared in some variation. You strike up a conversation, and somehow, Jesus comes up in the discussion.

Your conversation suddenly stalls, and when you try to revive it, you meet a wall of stony silence.

Eventually, you come to recognize the signals and past experience tells you its time to say something cheery and take your leave.

But then it bothers you all the way home. . . "why didn't I press the issue? Am I a coward for Christ? Jesus endured the collective hatred of the human race. Am I so weak I can't bear a little rejection?"

You are convinced you failed Him. You had a chance to share the Gospel, and you blew it.

Maybe if you had tried a little harder, they might have listened. But no, you were too chicken!

It isn't like you don't know what is at stake -- especially if you have been an OL member for any length of time at all.

You know that every person you meet is destined to spend eternity somewhere. You already know that they will either spend eternity in the joyful presence of Christ.

Or they will spend a Christ less eternity alone, tormented by the punishments of hell and their memory of rejecting their chance to escape it.

You know it because I remind you of it every chance that I get to do so. The redemption of a single sinner is worth the whole world, the Scriptures say. When one sinner repents, the angels rejoice.

Nothing in our walk though this world is of greater eternal value than leading a lost sinner to Christ.

But instead of pressing the issue, you walked away.

Knowing all that you know, you gave up without a fight. What kind of soldier are you?

If that is your story, or you have one like it, then the answer is, a smart one. A smart soldier would not press a battle against the odds -- just so he could say he was in the fight.

Once you've used up all your resources in an unwise and ill-prepared assault, then those resources are no longer available to be deployed elsewhere where they can be of greater tactical value.

You offered Jesus, the offer was rejected. But in making the offer, you planted a seed. What you do next will affect the probability that your seed will take root.

You can continue to pour water on it until it drowns. Or you can plant it, give it as much water as conditions demand, give it a chance to germinate, and let nature take its course.

Planting the Gospel is sometimes like that. You plant it by sharing the Gospel, but sometimes, like planting in saturated ground, you can overwater and drown the seed.

Sometimes, just planting the seed is all that is necessary, and then its time to let the Holy Spirit take care of the nurturing.

Instead of drowning the seed in your eagerness to get it to take root, sometimes its better to let it germinate, even if it means somebody else will get to reap the harvest.

If your concern is for the health of the seed rather than your profit from the harvest, then it is not such a big deal if somebody else gets to harvest it.

Should you have pressed that person who clearly didn't want to be pressed?

Ask yourself how you react when a salesman keeps pestering you after you tell him you'll think about it.

Not only won't you buy from that salesman, odds are that you won't buy that brand, either, even though the salesman had nothing to do with the quality of the product.

Jesus knows whether or not you've done the job He sent you to do. How does He tell us to handle rejection? Does He tell us to press the issue until it comes to blows?

No. He says: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." (Matthew 10:14)

"And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them." (Luke 9:5)

"He that heareth you heareth Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me." (Luke 10:16)

When Paul and Barnabas attempted to preach the Gospel, "the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts."

Paul and Barnabas did their best. They preached the Word, the offered the salvation of Christ, and the Word was rejected. What did they do next?

"[T]hey shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium." (Acts 13:50-51)

"And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ."

Notice that Paul and Timothy were moved by the Holy Spirit to witness to the Macedonians. Notice also what happened when the Macedonians didn't want to hear it.

"And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." (Acts 18:6)

This was the Apostle Paul, and the Bible says it was the Holy Spirit moved him to preach. But the Macedonians were free to choose.

Paul and Timothy didn't browbeat them, but rather, Paul said, "I've done what the Lord sent me to do. From here on out, it is up to you."

Paul was not a bad Christian. He wasn't weak, he wasn't wishy-washy, he wasn't uncaring. Paul was God's chosen evangelist to the Gentiles.

But Paul understood that the seeds he planted would grow unto the Lord, or they would NOT grow unto the Lord.

There is an old saying to the effect that "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink."

And if you try, you'll probably drown the horse.

It wasn't up to Paul to do more than the task that God put before him. Neither is it up to you.

It is our duty and our solemn responsibility to make sure everyone we meet has a chance to choose whom they will serve in this life and where they will spend eternity.

But it is not up to them to make the choice for them. Or to feel responsible when they choose badly. It's not we that we failed Him.

The seed we plant may not germinate for decades, but that's up to God, not us. That's where the 'trust' part takes over.

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)

Don't beat yourself up. Your job is to take the stand as a witness. It's up to the Holy Spirit to obtain a conviction.

"Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it." (1st Thessalonians 5:24)

There are times when its our job to plant the seeds, then get out of the way and let Him take it from there.

The Deniable Darwin

2009-11-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

Note: David Berlinski has most recently written The Devil’s Delusion and The Deniable Darwin.

CHARLES DARWIN presented On the Origin of Species to a disbelieving world in 1859 - three years after Clerk Maxwell had published "On Faraday's Lines of Force," the first of his papers on the electromagnetic field. Maxwell's theory has by a process of absorption become part of quantum field theory, and so a part of the great canonical structure created by mathematical physics.

By contrast, the final triumph of Darwinian theory, although vividly imagined by biologists, remains, along with world peace and Esperanto, on the eschatological horizon of contemporary thought.

"It is just a matter of time," one biologist wrote recently, reposing his faith in a receding hereafter, "before this fruitful concept comes to be accepted by the public as wholeheartedly as it has accepted the spherical earth and the sun-centered solar system." Time, however, is what evolutionary biologists have long had, and if general acceptance has not come by now, it is hard to know when it ever will...Continue Reading

John MacArthur on Biblical Authority

2009-11-15T23:28:00.000-08:00

Romans 8:35-39

2009-11-13T23:26:00.000-08:00

Rom 8:35-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Evolutionary Logic

2009-11-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

Article by William Dembski:

Since the neo-Darwinian synthesis of the 1930s, evolutionary biology has become a growth industry. This growth has resulted in the demand for more flexible methods of establishing evolutionary biology's grandiose claims than the laborious, difficult, pedantic, and "rigorous" methods favored throughout the rest of the sciences. This demand has been met by what is now a well-developed branch of evolutionary biology known as evolutionary logic.

I can't here develop the theory of evolutionary logic in detail, but I will introduce some necessary terminology. In ordinary logic, which is used throughout the rest of the sciences, one is justified asserting that a claim is true provided one can formulate a coherent and rigorous argument that supports it. In evolutionary logic we relax both these restrictions: an evolutionary claim is true provided there is an evolutionary argument that supports it. This definition is sufficiently clear as not to require elaboration. Further, we stipulate that any circularity in this definition is virtuous rather than vicious.

The benefits and practical applications of evolutionary logic will be obvious. Professional authors of evolutionary tracts depend on it for their livelihood. Instructors in evolutionary biology find that evolutionary logic enables them to make complex ideas readily accessible to students regardless of their preparation or background (indeed, proficiency in evolutionary logic has been shown to be positively correlated with high self-esteem). Research workers in a hurry to claim priority for a new result or who lack the time and inclination to be pedantic find evolutionary logic useful for expeditiously writing up their results. In this respect evolutionary logic has a further advantage, namely, the results are not required to be true, thus eliminating a tiresome (and now superfluous) restriction on the growth of evolutionary knowledge...Continue Reading

How life works

2009-11-02T16:25:00.000-08:00

From Creation Ministries International:

Life is not a naturalistic phenomenon with unlimited evolutionary potential as Darwin proposed. It is intelligently designed, ruled by immutable laws, and survives only because it has a built-in facilitated variation mechanism for continually adapting to internal and external challenges and changes. The essential components are: functional molecular architecture and machinery, modular switching cascades that control the machinery and a signal network that coordinates everything. All three are required for survival, so they must have been present from the beginning—a conclusion that demands intelligent design. Life’s built-in ability to adapt and diversify looks like Darwinian evolution, but it is not. Darwin’s theory of speciation via natural selection of natural variation is correct in principle, but it cannot be extrapolated to universal ancestry. What we see instead is different kinds of organisms having been designed for different kinds of lifestyles, with enormous potential for diversification built-in at the beginning, but with time this potential for diversification has become depleted by selection and degraded by mutations so that we are now rapidly heading towards extinction. Intelligent design and rapid decay point to recent Creation and Fall, as the Bible tells us...Continue Reading

If anyone thinks that rocks need millions of years to form, then experiments carried out by Murdoch University (Perth, Western Australia) researchers would surely overturn that idea...From sand to rock—quickly!

Unlocking God's Secrets

2009-09-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

Bob Morley has written a great book. Here's what Alesia has to say....

This book, by Bob Morley, is by far one of the best books I've read. If you want to know the answer to why we exist, why we are here, what is our purpose, read this book to find the answer...read more

One of the Best Things You Can Hear

2009-09-18T01:53:00.000-07:00

Clayton McDonald's story can be found HERE

Do you know where you are going when you die?

More on "Defending the Bible"

2009-09-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd post some salient points that jumped out at me as I read through John Whitcomb's article in the last post.

If the Biblical picture of man's enmity against God and control by Satan is correct, then how can Christians ever persuade men to turn from sin and Satan to the true and living God? The Biblical answer, of course, is that they cannot. The Scriptures do not say that it is difficult for the unbeliever to accept spiritual truth. They say that it is impossible. "A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised" (1 Cor. 2:14). When our Lord once made a similar pronouncement concerning an entire segment of society, His disciples "were very astonished and said, 'Then who can be saved?'" His answer provides for us the key to all truly effective Christian apologetics today: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26)....

The Biblical method of winning men to Christ (including the intellectuals of our day) is to lovingly, patiently and prayerfully present the true Gospel "according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3-4) from the context of a godly life (1 Thess. 1:5, 2:3-12). Only the "living and powerful" Word of God can penetrate the unbeliever's shield of defense and pierce into his heart (Heb. 4:12), and thus only God may receive the glory for the genuine conversion of sinful men. Once converted by God's Holy Spirit, a man for the first time in his life enjoys the proper perspective and frame of reference for analysing his intellectual problems concerning Christian doctrines, even if he never finds the complete answers this side of heaven. As the Apostle John described it, "you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know . . . And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for any one to teach you . . . as His anointing teaches you about all things" (1 John 2: 20, 27).

Defending the Bible - CONTEMPORARY APOLOGETICS AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

2009-09-11T23:28:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across Part 1 of this article by Dr John Whitcomb in the book “DISPENSATIONALISM tomorrow & beyond”. Now I realize that that ugly word “Dispensationalism” will be enough to immediately turn a lot of people off. But this article is well worth reading if, like me, you have had reservations and frustrations about your personal witness and wondered what you could do to improve it.

How much do Christians have to know to successfully witness to the unsaved? What are Christians really up against? Is it just the other person's lack of faith or unwillingness to accept the Truth? Or are there other factors and obstacles involved in this drama?

Here are the titles Dr Whitcomb covers:

Part I: Human Limitations in Apologetics

Part II: Christian Apologetics and the Divine Solution

Part III: Proof Texts for Semi-Rationalistic Apologetics

Part IV: The Limitations and Values of Christian Evidences

The full version of John Whitcomb’s essay can be found HERE.

The Nativity: Fact or Fiction?

2009-09-09T16:30:00.000-07:00

From Creation Ministries International:

In Genesis 3:15, God says to Satan ‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on your head and you shall bruise him on the heel.’ Numerous Christian and Jewish Bible scholars have interpreted this verse as the first prophecy of the Messiah (see documentation). Known as the Protevangelium, it is the first gospel promise made to sinful mankind, whose willful rebellion in the Garden of Eden brought forth death, suffering, and a corruption of God’s perfect creation.

This verse makes two implicit promises. First, it hints at the virginal conception, as the Messiah is referred to as the seed of the woman. This is contrary to the normal biblical practice of naming the father, and not the mother, of a child. Second, it hints at the Messiah’s suffering and ultimate victory... The Nativity: Fact or Fiction?

Does prayer change God?

2009-08-31T23:46:00.000-07:00

Here's a short three minute video with John MacArthur discussing this question.

Does Prayer Change God? Find out HERE

What Makes a Christian Martyr Differ from Other Faiths’ Martyrs?

2009-08-30T00:57:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered how much persecution and pain you would tolerate for your faith if put into the situation? Are you prepared to face death? I’ve often wondered these things about myself. Here's an insightful article from Answers In Genesis:

“He was a martyr for a good cause.” A person is put to death (often quite brutally) because he refuses to recant his beliefs and teachings when he is demanded to do so by angry opponents. So, we have Muslim martyrs, Jewish martyrs, communist martyrs, Christian martyrs, Buddhist martyrs, Hindu martyrs, etc. They are all the same, right? Not really.

The English word “martyr” is an almost direct transliteration from the New Testament Greek word, martus, which originally meant a “witness.” It was especially used in the early church to signify those who were witnesses of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (e.g., Acts 1:22), and consequently many of those apostles died giving testimony of their Lord. In current usage it usually means one who is killed for refusing to renounce their religious faith, practices, and beliefs. The unspoken assumption is that if the person would renounce his beliefs, then he would not be put to death—and thereby avoid martyrdom. History is replete with tales of martyrs: from Old Testament believers, to the Apostles, to the early Church fathers, down to our time, especially in areas like the Sudan, the Middle East, the Philippines, Indonesia, and parts of South America. For the most part, these have been either Jewish or Christian martyrs, and the logical question to ask would be why. Why not Buddhists or Taoists or Hindu martyrs to the same extent? We will consider that question in due course...Read More

Who do you think that I am?

2009-08-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

With that brief question Jesus Christ confronted His followers with the most important issue they would ever face. He had spent much time with them and made some bold claims about His identity and authority. Now the time had come for them either to believe or deny His teachings.

Who do you say Jesus is? Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but your eternal destiny as well...Read More

Politics, God, and Us

2009-07-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

This is a must read article from Bob Morley...

I have bitten my lip so much recently trying to keep these articles on “God Stuff” and away from politics, but today I feel the need to combine the two and talk briefly about little known current events and how they relate to the supernatural and to us as believing Christians.

First, let’s discuss Cass Sunstein, Obama’s new Regulatory Czar. This man believes that bloggers like me who disagree with his beliefs should be permanently silenced. To put Sunstein into focus, he is a close friend and supporter of Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the brother of Obama’s despicable, foul mouthed Chief of Staff, Rob Emanuel. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel has written that people who are terminally ill, including old folks with dementia as well as children with cerebral palsy, should be denied all basic health treatments in order to facilitate death and save the “state” money...Read more

Are you a good person?

2009-07-21T22:29:00.000-07:00

Defend the Front Line!

2009-07-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

Jan Markell’s latest update is must read for all Christians.

Article by Heidi Swander

Excerpts:

I was stunned recently by the story of a pastor from Brazil. One day in the not-too-distant past he was airborne and seated next to a lady who, at 6 p.m., began praying fervently. When an opportune moment presented itself, he asked her if she was a Christian. Much to his chagrin she said, no, that she was praying to her father, Satan, for the demise of pastor so-and-so.

As the conversation progressed, this Brazilian pastor found out that the Church of Satan worldwide has set aside the 6 p.m. hour every day to pray for the demise of the Christian church, and most specifically for its pastors. It would also appear that they assume or are assigned specific Christian leaders to pray against....

Until we reach our heavenly home, we are all in a fierce, spiritual battle. In that battle, our pastors and other spiritual leaders would be considered the front line against Satan and his minions. How to fight against the forces of evil? God says the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh (II Cor 10:4). We must PRAY.

Pastor John MacArthur in his message, A Plea to Pray for Pastors, says, "We need to remember that prayer is battle; it wages war not against God but against the status quo, against sin and fallenness and the flesh and devils." In Rom 15:30, 31, Paul directs the Christians to "strive together with" him in prayer. In Col 4:2 he admonishes the church to "continue earnestly in prayer." The word "continue" says that he took for granted their prayers; the word "earnestly" means to be "courageously persistent" or "to hold fast and not let go." This praying is hard work. But we are commanded repeatedly to do it...Read more

Also, here’s another great website for people seeking answers:

Confident Christians

The Necessity of the Cross

2009-06-28T21:19:00.001-07:00

What do Buddha, Muhammad, Ghandi, Karl Marx, John Lennon and Joseph Smith have in common? If signs marked their grave-sites, theirs would read “Occupied”. Christ’s grave would read “Vacant”.

Act 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

1Co 15:12-18 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

Christianity is an exclusive religion. It claims to have the ONLY truth and, as such, it is intolerant to any other belief system claiming the way to Salvation. In today’s progressive society, the word - intolerant - has negative connotations. Yet intolerance is necessary to our daily lives. Most people would not tolerate an inept pilot flying their airplane. Making a decision that affects our eternity demands that we do not tolerate deception.

It has often been said that there are many paths to God and that all religions are equally valid. This is a logical fallacy. I suspect that those who claim this are either not being entirely honest for various reasons or they haven’t thought through the implications of that statement:

1) Religions cannot all be valid because most contradict each other’s Salvation system.

2) Some deny any need for Salvation.

3) Buddhism is atheistic.

4) Hinduism teaches multiple gods.

5) Islam; the New Age and certain cults claiming to be Christian, deny that Christ was anything but a great man, master or prophet.

6) The New Age teaches that we are gods – we only have to arrive at that realization.

7) Christianity teaches that God became man and was crucified on a wooden cross to redeem mankind and the universe. There is no other way.

Given the contradictions above, there can only be two possibilities (despite claims by Oprah & co) - either all the belief systems are wrong, or only one of the systems is correct. If this world is the by-product of an accident then this article is worthless and so is Christianity. Simple as that.

In my personal search, I had to first deal with the prevailing attitude that this universe was the result of an explosion and life on earth began in a pond of primordial soup, or brought here via meteor from a pond elsewhere in the universe - and somehow evolved through a mechanism that is still not understood. This is basically what is being taught as fact in schools, universities and propagated by practically every media outlet. The evolutionary view has become so pervasive and repetitious that not many (if any) secular individuals dare question it publicly. Those who do are treated with derision.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

It’s not my intention to turn this into an apologetic for Creationism, but please refer to the links below as they will help anyone who is genuinely and objectively searching for answers. You can use the search engines to research particular subjects or you can contact these websites with specific questions no matter how complicated they are. These people are bona-fide scientists well able to hold their own in debates and many have even published secular peer-reviewed scientific articles and books. And, yes, I have challenged and tested them.

Answers In Genesis

Creation Ministries International

True Origin

Having satisfied myself that there was a God and that evolution was problematic, I spent years reading New Age materials and chasing the “truth” down rabbit holes. The New Age isn’t exactly a structured system per se. What it does do very well is obfuscate the truth by presenting a smorgasbord of appealing options for a fastidious seeker not wanting to be offended by blood spilled on wood. Those astute enough will quickly realize how contradictory its varied teachings are. Ironically, some see this as an advantage. In fact – and this is very significant – the only consistent teaching I found throughout the New Age and in other religions is that Jesus was just a human being – not God.

That’s not what the Bible teaches. When Adam and Eve fell, garments of skin were supplied as a covering for them by God (Gen 3:21). This idea of covering by sacrifice is a thread woven throughout Scripture. The myriad idioms and rituals used for priestly intercession and sacrifice were all designed to point to Christ’s substitutionary provision on the Cross for all who place their faith in Him (John 3:16). The testing lesson of Abraham in Gen 22:1-14 points directly to the Cross. God never intended for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and, furthermore, Abraham knew this because of the covenant promises God had made regarding Isaac’s future (Gen 17:1-7; Gen 21:1). Even though Abraham was distressed, he knew well enough to trust God:

Gen 22:7-8 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

Numbers 21:7-9 is also a prophetic foregleam of the Cross as Christ points out to Nicodemus in John 3:14, 15. And the manna from heaven (Exo 16:14-35); the smiting of the rock by Moses (Exo 17:6) and Jonah’s three days in the belly of the beast are only the most commonly recognized pointers to Christ – there are far too numerous similar examples to account for here. Finally, in Revelation, we read:

Rev 5:5-7 and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Rev 22:13-14 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

The Bible is an unparalleled, integrated system of sixty six books, written by forty different authors, spanning about 3,500 years that affirms Christ’s divinity and the ABSOLUTE necessity of the Cross. This truth is sprinkled throughout the book from beginning to end. No other literature purporting to be spiritual can match the Bible for consistency, integrity and critical scrutiny – leaving aside prophetic considerations. The message it contains is not about restrictions – it is about Freedom and Incredible Joy. Put it to the test for yourself.

What you do, or don’t do, will impact your eternity.

Further reading in no particular order:

Christian Answers for the New Age

A Brazen Epitaph

Aleph Tau

The Resurrection and Genesis

Jesus Christ Q & A

Can I trust the Bible?

Is Jesus Really God?

Evidence for the Resurrection

Ankerberg Theological Institute Apologetics

Pastor Chan Resources

2009-05-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

Here is an audio resource that I highly recommend listening to. Pastor Chan of Cornerstone Church is on fire for God and everything he says is bound to impinge on our, sometimes, lukewarm attitudes.

Audio files

Thanks to Alesia for the tip.

Gay Marriage and Homosexuality

2009-05-01T23:49:00.000-07:00

Gen 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh...

Why shouldn’t loving homosexual couples marry?

Any discussion about gay marriage is really a question about the legitimacy of homosexuality itself. If homosexuality is wrong then so is gay marriage. From a homosexual and atheistic perspective, there would probably be no question about either the right to marry a person of the same gender or engage in sexual activity. There are several arguments and claims commonly proposed by both gays and their apologists to defend these activities. Here are some:

1) There is no God; the Bible is irrelevant; there is no reason why I shouldn’t pursue what I want.

The first argument is commonly used to justify whatever pursuit the believer desires and is not restricted to the subject of this article. If God does not exist and this world is a result of a cosmic accident, then there is no moral law and no good or evil. If such is the case, then the only law is that which is agreed upon by those who can impose it or those who can get away with it. The inherent danger of this view is that moral law is then determined by those in control at any given time and, therefore, is in constant flux. Eventually, any action can be justified under this scheme – eugenics, bestiality, group marriage, mass murder etc.

It’s not uncommon for those who want freedom of sexual expression to be actively involved in opposition against belief in a God, Christianity and Biblical inerrancy. Scott Bidstrup is one example of a homosexual journalist who has attempted a rebuttal to Lee Strobel’s book. Notwithstanding these attacks, Christian apologists are well able to RESPOND to any rebuttal or debate. How have you justified your belief to yourself? Have you diligently checked all the arguments pro and con?

Morality and Ethics Questions and Answers

The Holocaust and evolution

Answering the ‘new atheists’

2) I was born gay. God made me this way, therefore it’s OK.

The second argument is problematic on the basis that some people are born with both physical and mental disabilities. Given this view, if a baby has a congenital heart disease, are we then acting contrary to God’s wishes if we provide medical assistance? If a man is born with a proclivity to violence or an attraction to children; is it justifiable for him to act upon this God-given impulse? There isn’t any scientific data that conclusively shows there is a gay gene, but even if this were the case it would not automatically make it right. We live in a fallen world where disease and accidents occur and this is not necessarily the will of God.

My genes made me do it!

Death and Suffering Questions and Answers

3) I’m not hurting anyone.

Contrary to the assertion of the third argument, certain homosexual activities are, in fact, dangerous and diseases and violence within the gay community are prevalent. Unfortunately, the mainstream media will not readily make this sort of data available and it is politically incorrect to mention it. Ironically, governments legislate to minimize smoking, accidents in cars, drug usage etc because of the financial and human mortality costs they incur on society, yet the practise of homosexuality is treated as sacrosanct.

Homosexuality Statistics

Homosexuality and health

Homosexuality and Murders

Gay Bowel Syndrome

4) People who speak out on, or disagree with, the practise of homosexuality and gay marriage are homophobic.

The expansion of the Hate Crimes law to supposedly protect gays actually enforces this view. The phobia label is an effective apparatus utilized by activists and, sometimes, well-intentioned legislators to shame and frighten dissenters from expressing opinions about homosexuality. That I disapprove of a certain conduct does not directly follow that I fear or hate the individual practising it, yet the law will soon prosecute me for expressing that opinion. Pastors and priests will soon risk breaking the law if they refuse to marry gay couples, even if it contravenes their own fundamental religious beliefs and despite the fact that gay couples have alternative options.

A genuine Christian will not hate an individual as this is against our faith. We are directed to witness to, love, and pray for all. So when Christians vote against legislation to permit gay marriage or express an opinion against it – what they are doing is practising their faith in God, freedom of speech and right to vote – not hating gays. Someone who wants to remove a crucifix or Nativity Play from a public place might just as easily be classified as Christophobic. Someone who speaks out against stealing could be labelled kleptophobic, and the list goes on.

Gay Agenda

Matthew Shepard

5) The Bible does not condemn homosexuality.

Finally, there are “Christian” ministers and pastors who teach that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. Often the book of Leviticus is invoked – specifically Lev 18:22 and Lev 20:13 where the Bible condemns that practise. It is then argued that because the intricate rituals in that book are no longer observed and not applicable to modern Christians that, therefore, references to homosexual behaviour are also now irrelevant. Yet the following verse is quite clear:

Lev 18:22 'You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.

Furthermore, in chapter 20 there are also a number of commands against adultery, incest, cursing, bestiality, offering children to Molech etc. Using the above logic one could then argue that these could also now be permissible. But the reason that Leviticus had so many purifications and rituals was because the offerings and sacrifices were meant to vividly point to Christ’s Perfect Future Sacrifice on the Cross as our Saviour. In other words, the book is symbolically prophetic. The whole process had to be exact because God is exact. Christ’s sacrifice had to be perfect to pay for ALL of humanity’s sins and Leviticus reflected this truth. The rituals are no longer necessary because Christ’s redemptive work was accomplished at His death but the essence of the commands and warnings are all still relevant. I suggest reading Herbert Lockyer’s “All the Messianic Prophecies of the Bible”. This book helps to show how the Bible is a unique integrated system that points to Christ.

The problem of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is usually explained away by the suggestion that God was punishing the people because of inhospitality based on Eze 16:49-50. But apart from inhospitality, verse 50 clearly tells us that Sodom also committed abominations - “They were haughty and practiced abominable deeds before me. Therefore when I saw it I removed them.” (NET)

That this is the case is corroborated by Jude 1:7 - “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.” Rom 1:18-27 and 1 Cor 6:9-10 also support the truth that Scripture, taken as a whole and in context, condemns homosexuality. Another tactic employed by some is to imply that David and Jonathon, and even Christ and John the beloved disciple were engaged in homosexual activity. But all these claims can be easily shown to be erroneous.

There are very clear Scriptural warnings for those who would lead the flock astray (Mat 7:15, Mat 18:6, Jas 3:1) and God’s relationship with the church is often compared to a Holy and Pure Marriage between a husband and a wife (2 Co 11:2, Eph 5:25-27, Rev 19:7-9, Rev 21:9).

Ultimately it gets down to this - if there is no God then none of this matters. But if God really does exist then our decisions will have Eternal Consequences. Do we serve and please ourselves or God? It's not just homosexuality that displeases God - it's all sin regardless of how small. All of us have failed but the good news is that Christ has provided for us by His work on the Cross. Please visit the following links that further discuss Salvation:

Salvation Issues

The Pearl

Further reading:

God's Plan for the Gay Agenda

The Sin of Sodom--Genesis 19

The Book of Leviticus

Studies on Leviticus

Salvation by John MacArthur and Kirk Cameron

2009-04-23T02:00:00.000-07:00

Personal Reflections On The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader

2009-04-20T02:20:00.000-07:00

I found this article on the internet. Eustace Clarence Scrubb is a character I strongly relate to. He reminds me so much of myself - he needed redemption and Aslan un-dragoned him - just as Christ is doing for all of us...

"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it. His parents called him Eustace Clarence and masters called him Scrubb. I can't tell you how his friends spoke to him, for he had none. He didn't call his Father and Mother "Father" and "mother," but Harold and Alberta. They were very up-to-date and advanced people. They were vegetarians, non-smokers and teetotalers and wore a special kind of underclothes. In their house there was very little furniture and very few clothes on beds and the windows were always open."

~ The Voyage of The Dawn Treader, p.1

...C.S. Lewis paints a powerful image of redemption and the freedom we find in Christ. Like Aslan, Christ must move toward us and do what only He can do -- free us from the guilt and power of enslaving sin. Try as we may, we can not rid ourselves of the dragon that dwells within each of us. It is only the finished work of Christ that can accomplish the task. Through Christ we are to put off the old self and put on the new self. It is Christ that makes all things new.

...Read More

The times they are-a-changing

2009-04-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

Slowly, slowly Christianity is being cast as something undesirable in the US. Is it me or is Pres Obama moving away from his "faith"? It seems only the other day when he was praising Islam's contribution to America. I know he was being a politician...but....

Amidst all of the American flags and presidential seals, there was something missing when President Barack Obama gave an economic speech at Georgetown University this week -- Jesus....

Jesus Missing From Obama's Georgetown Speech

Salvation Issues

2009-04-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

From RaptureAlert

Top ten reasons for not being a Christian

Are you good enough to get to Heaven without Jesus?

What is salvation?

What must I do to accept Jesus Christ?

I'm not good enough???

Salvation for Dummies

Believe In The One He Has Sent

How Do you Explain the Empty Tomb?

2009-04-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

An article from Middletown Bible Church.

The Resurrection of Christ

The tomb was empty. The lifeless body of the crucified Christ was laid in a new tomb, a giant stone was rolled up against the grave’s only entrance, and the burial site was guarded by Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:62-66). How do we explain the fact that on the third day this tomb was found to be empty? Not even Harry Houdini could have gotten out of that one!

The resurrection of Christ is one of the most thoroughly and solidly documented events in history. There were numerous eye witnesses who saw the risen Christ. See 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 where we are given a listing of different people who saw the Lord alive after His death, including over 500 people on one occasion (verse 6). If an impartial jury could have all the evidence presented to them, including an abundance of testimony from eyewitnesses, the members of the jury would be forced to conclude that Christ rose again from the dead. The facts of the case overwhelmingly support this conclusion.

The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of Christianity. If someone could prove that the resurrection never happened, it would destroy Christianity and render it a false religion and a lie. Anyone considering the claims of Christianity should begin with the empty tomb. If Christ did not rise again from the dead, then how do you explain the empty tomb?

George Lyttelton (1709-1773) was a famous English writer and statesman who lived during the period when rationalism, agnosticism and deism were very prominent in Western Europe. Just before he died, he told his close friend and biographer, Dr. Samuel Johnson: “When I first set out in the world I had friends who endeavored to shake my belief in the Christian religion. I saw difficulties which staggered me....”

Lyttleton and a friend by the name of Gilbert West, being fully persuaded that the Bible was unreliable, determined to expose Christianity as a falsehood. Lyttleton chose the Conversion of Paul and Mr. West the Resurrection of Christ for the subject of hostile criticism. Both sat down to their respective tasks full of prejudice. However, the result of their separate attempts was that they were both converted by their efforts to overthrow the truth of Christianity. They came together, not as they expected, to exult over an imposture exposed to ridicule, but to lament over their own folly and to felicitate each other on their joint conviction that the Bible was the Word of God. Their able inquiries have furnished two of the most valuable treatises ever written in favor of revelation, one entitled, “Observations on the Conversion of St. Paul” and the other “Observations on the Resurrection of Christ.”

[Another example of a skeptic being transformed as a result of examining the evidence is the case of Lew Wallace, the author of Ben Hur. Wallace was a friend of the famous infidel, Robert Ingersoll. One day Ingersoll challenged him, “Lew, why don’t you write a book and prove to the world once and for all that Jesus Christ was nothing but a mythical figure, much less the Son of God?” Wallace spent a great deal of time and money investigating every shred of evidence he could find, and his conclusions were far different from what Ingersoll had hoped, as any reader of Ben Hur knows.]

Have you ever seriously considered the resurrection of Christ? How do you explain the empty tomb? Some, like Mr. West, discredit the resurrection and ridicule it. But have they ever sat down as Mr. West later did, and looked at the historical accounts and seen for themselves the wealth of evidence pointing to the fact that the One who was crucified rose again? Most people never even bother to examine the record or weigh the evidence.

Suppose a religious or political leader living today began to make the following announcement over the radio: “I want you all to know that when I go to London, my enemies will murder me, my body will be buried, but in less than a week’s time I will come back from the dead and hundreds of people will see me.” What an extraordinary prediction! And yet the Lord Jesus made these kinds of statements repeatedly during His ministry on earth (see Matthew 16:21; 17:9; 17:22-23; 20:18-19; 26:32; etc.).

It is important to notice that Christ was seen by all kinds of people at different times and under different circumstances. On one occasion He appeared to just one person; on another occasion He appeared to two people. Several times Christ was seen by seven or more people. On one occasion there were more than 500 people who saw the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:6). Of those who saw the resurrected Lord, some were women and others were men. One was a tax-collector, others were fishermen, one was a skeptic (Thomas), another had recently denied Christ (Peter) and another was an enemy of Christianity (Saul of Tarsus).

The risen Lord was also seen under all sorts of conditions. Some saw Him in a garden, others saw Him in a room, others talked with Him on a road, and others ate with Him by the Sea of Galilee. He appeared more than once in Judea and more than once in Galilee and once He appeared north of Galilee near Damascus (Acts 9). Some met Him on a mountain; some saw Him at the dawn of day, others during the bright light of day, still others at night. After His death, He was seen alive for a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3). A medical doctor of the first century underscored the certainty of the resurrection as proven by the post-resurrection appearances of Christ when he said this: “He (Jesus) showed Himself alive after His passion (death) by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3).

Those who deny the resurrection have tried in vain to come up with satisfactory explanations for why the tomb was empty. Different people have suggested the following weak theories (except for #5 which is pure folly!):

1) The disciples stole the body of Jesus.

First of all, how would they have gotten past the Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb and how would they have moved the giant rock which was rolled against the tomb’s entrance? But even more significant is this: If the disciples had stolen the body, then they would have known that Jesus was dead. Why then would they have gone forth and fearlessly preached that He rose again? Most of them were killed because of the message that they preached. Men seldom lay down their lives for what they know to be a lie or a falsehood.

2) The women went to the wrong tomb and found it to be empty.

If they had made such a mistake it is certain that the authorities would have quickly called this fact to their attention. If the enemies of Christianity had known where the body was, would they not have produced it? This would have once and for all proven that the resurrection was a falsehood. All they had to do was produce the body, but they never did.

3) The people who claimed to see Christ actually had hallucinations and visions. They thought they saw Christ but they really didn’t.

This might answer one or two isolated cases, but it’s impossible that 500 people on one occasion would all be afflicted by mass hallucinations (1 Corinthians 15:6). And again, this could have easily been answered by bringing forth the dead body of Jesus.

4) Jesus did not really die on the cross, and when He was put in the tomb He was still alive. When people later saw Him alive, it was because He had never died!

A question was once submitted to a newspaper column and received the following answer:

Q: Our preacher said, on Easter, that Jesus just swooned on the cross and that the disciples nursed Him back to health. What do you think?

A: Beat your preacher with a cat-of-nine-tails with 39 heavy strokes; buffet him repeatedly; nail him to a cross, hang him in the sun for six hours; run a spear through his heart, embalm him; put him in an airless tomb for many hours and see what happens!

5) A UFO came and took away the body out of the tomb by means of a molecular transporter device.

******************
Do you have a reasonable explanation for why the tomb was empty? I’ve only found one that fits the facts and harmonizes with all the evidence: Jesus really did rise again from the dead, just as the many eyewitnesses declared. One of those eyewitnesses wrote this (speaking of himself even though he uses the third person): “This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true” (John 21:24).

Probably no God?

2009-04-07T00:03:00.000-07:00

Ariane Sherine and Richard Dawkins at the launch of the atheists’ “There probably is no God” bus ad campaign

by Phil Robinson

Published: 7 April 2009(GMT+10)

Out and about on Britain’s roads, you probably wouldn’t expect an atheist to challenge you about your belief in God. But this is currently the case in England, Scotland and Wales 1) where what have been dubbed ‘atheist buses’ are currently sporting the slogan “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

The initial idea for the advertising campaign came back in June 2008 from an article written by a comedy writer, Ariane Sherine. She was unsettled by an advert that she saw on a London bus with the verse: “When the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8), followed by the Christian organisation’s website. Sherine was able to read there that, as a non-believer, she would be “condemned to everlasting separation from God and then spend all eternity in torment in hell.”

In response to this, Ariane jokingly suggested that if 4,680 atheists read her article and all contributed £5, then they could run their own advert on the London buses. The suggestion was warmly received by the atheist community with over £150,000 raised since October 2008 in support of the idea. Even the ‘evangelical’ atheist and supreme Darwinist Richard Dawkins personally donated £5,500. Due to the vast amount of money which has been donated to the campaign, it was decided to also place slogans inside the buses as well as throughout London’s tube (underground rail network). The advertising campaign was officially put into action on 9th January.

Atheists: “There’s probably no God”

The slogan does not say that there is no God, but rather is qualified by the word “probably” for two reasons: firstly, so that it does not breach the advertising standards in the UK, and secondly because you cannot prove a negative; i.e. lack of positive evidence is insufficient to completely disprove something. For example, just because no-one has ever seen a luminous green elephant wearing a sombrero, this does not necessarily mean that one does not exist, even though it is highly unlikely. To disprove it one would need to be simultaneously observing every part of the world, indeed the universe, which could possibly harbour such an entity. Similarly, to completely disprove God’s existence, one would need to have a near-infinite amount of knowledge.

While an official definition of atheism simply means not believing that there is a God, as defined on the official ‘atheist bus’ website, it has a bigger meaning: “It’s about making sense of the world, thinking freely and feeling liberated because of it. It’s about using your intellect and sense of reason to learn what life is about, and having the courage to think for yourself. It’s about relying on evidence when deciding on your beliefs, and being brave enough to speak the truth.” There is considerable fluff and nonsense in this statement. Let us consider some of these statements...read more

There really is a God and He is coming back. Are you ready?

President Obama okays funding embryonic stem cell research (but removes adult stem cell funding)

2009-03-18T16:58:00.000-07:00

What are the issues involved?

by Lita Cosner

Published: 19 March 2009(GMT+10)

Earlier this month, President Barack Obama reversed a Bush executive order which limited federal funds for embryonic stem cell research to lines created before 9 August 2001 (see US Senate passes embryonic stem cell bill; President vetoes). Under Obama’s new executive order, federal funding will be available for new embryonic stem cell lines, created by the destruction of human embryos. Some in the media have hailed this as a step forward for science. Others try to garner support for the decision by enlisting the support of family members of individuals who suffer from illnesses like ALS (Lou Gehrig s Syndrome) and diabetes, who hope that this form of stem-cell research might lead to cures of their conditions. But do the facts back up such hope? read more...

Constance Cumbey offer

2009-02-27T17:08:00.000-08:00

Constance Cumbey has spent many years tracking New Age trends and its slow yet consistent infiltration of Christianity and society at large. She and her team of volunteers also supply cutting edge information on the UN, Europa and the Globalist agenda.

While I do not agree with absolutely everything Constance has to say, I think her work is invaluable.

Now she has generously offered her books for free download HERE.

Thank you, Constance.

Your prayers reveal the level of your maturity

2009-02-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

Some of us struggle in prayer. Unfortunately, I confess that I do sometimes. Does it ever feel like an obligation to you?

In his devotional book “Drawing Near: Daily readings for a Deeper Faith” February 18, here’s what John MacArthur says:

“Your prayers reveal the level of your maturity.”

Typically, Paul’s prayers reflected his concern that his readers mature spiritually. That is impossible without prayer, because spiritual growth depends on the Holy Spirit’s power, which is tapped through prayer.

Prayer is so vital that Jesus instructed His disciples to pray “at all times” (Luke 18:1). Paul commands us to “pray without ceasing” (Thess 5:17). Peter said we should be “of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer” (1 Peter 4:7).

Now this is the interesting part:

Scripture gives many commands to pray, but the true test of your spirituality is your compulsion to pray, not simply your obedience to commands. As a Christian you exist in a spiritual realm in which prayer is as natural as breathing is in the natural realm. Just as atmospheric pressure exerts force on your lungs compelling you to breathe, so your spiritual environment compels you to pray. Resisting either brings devastating results.

The more you see life through God’s eyes, the more you are driven to pray. In that sense, your prayers reveal the level of your spiritual maturity. Paul prayed with urgency day and night because he shared God’s love for His people and His concern for their spiritual maturity.

Examine your own prayers. Do you pray from a sense of duty, or are you compelled to pray? Do you pray infrequently or briefly? Do your prayers center on your own needs or the needs of others? Do you pray for the spiritual maturity of others? Those important questions indicate the level of your spiritual maturity and give guidelines for making any needed changes in your pattern of prayer.

Dr MacArthur then suggests that we thank God for the privilege and power of prayer. If we have neglected our prayer or prayed selfishly, we should confess our sin and to ask God to give us a sense of holy urgency in prayers. Are there people we should be consistently praying for?

Dr MacArthur’s suggestion for further study is to read Daniel 6:1-28 in light of the following questions:

What was Daniel’s pattern of prayer?

What accusation did the political leaders bring against Daniel?

What was the king’s attitude toward Daniel?

How did God honor Daniel’s faith?

Jan Markell interviews Gary Cass

2009-02-09T23:11:00.000-08:00

This is another MUST Listen for all Christians!

February 7, 2009 - Hour 1Dr. Gary Cass from the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission joins Jan to warn of the targeting of Christians under the new administration. From the "Fairness Doctrine" to "hate crimes," believers now have to watch their step. Christian broadcasting will be the first to be cut off under the rule of the new Federal Communication Commission. "Understanding the Times" radio could soon be history. www.christianadc.org

The Rapture vs. Witnessing

2009-02-09T00:14:00.000-08:00

For those of us who lean towards the possibility that the Lord may return for the church before the 7 year tribulation (whenever that may occur), here is some wise counsel from Ron Graham.

Mr Graham's article is applicable to all Christians regardless of their eschatological beliefs. What are we doing with our time? I confess that he hits a nerve with me.

The end times are approaching and the signs spoken of by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 are spilling out continually onto the scene today and are pointing dramatically to Christ’s soon return. Believers can see the signs if they are alert and watching. As Dr. Chuck Missler puts it "We must be well versed in the scriptures to accurately ascertain the time of the signs”. There is a preordained time that the signs are going to appear, and what we see happening all around us are the birth pangs that are so aptly spoken of in the scriptures.

I for one can’t imagine this world going on the way it has in the past. Signs that point to the end time when Jesus will return aren’t just subtlety appearing on the scene, they are exploding with a fierceness that’s unparalleled in mans history. We can watch this explosion on our television sets, radios, internet, newspapers, and from every other direction one can imagine. This was not the case even ten years ago; the birth pangs have arrived.

So just what are our options as believers now that we are beginning to witness a plethora of recurring signs which we are assured will occur just before Jesus' return? We have many options. They include such things as witnessing fervently to our family and friends. Being in constant prayer is an admonishment from the Apostle Paul, maintaining a close relationship with our Church family. Create and maintain an atmosphere of love and support for those who are shut-ins and especially provide for those who lack provisions.

In these last days all Christians should be intent on always keeping abreast of whatever intrusions the enemy might devise against the brethren. In these last days Satan is going to hit hard against anyone who promotes the name of Jesus and diligently proclaims His message. The last thing any Christian will want is to be caught alone and off guard when the evil comes down, and it is coming. Solitude creates evil bedfellows. Continue in fellowship, the breaking of bread together, encouraging one another... Read more

Von Campe radio interview with Jan Markell

2009-01-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

This week Jan Markell interviewed Hilmar Von Campe. I suggest every American listen to what this man has to say. Jan's Radio Show. Scroll down to January 24, 2009 - Hour 2.

Hilmar Von Campe was a member of the Hitler Youth movement. His book is "Defeating the Totalitarian Lie: A Former Hitler Youth Warns America." Von Campe says that the same totalitarian issues that were present in Germany in the 1930s when Hitler came to power are now becoming evident in America. It is must-listening even if bits are lost due to Hilmar's German accent. It is also another wake-up call though it seems few are listening. www.voncampe.com

Fight FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act)

2009-01-23T21:02:00.000-08:00

"The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do." -- Senator Barack Obama, speaking to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007

From NARAL Pro-Choice America :

Thanks, President Obama!

Just days into Obama's presidency, he took swift and decisive action to end the global gag rule. The repeal of the global gag rule means that health clinics in developing countries will again be able to offer the world's poorest women access to much needed reproductive-health services, from birth control to prenatal care.

The above statement is just another way of saying, "thanks President Obama for making abortions more readily available."

We Christians may well be limited in what we can do but we still have prayer and a voice. Don't sit down and give up. Fight FOCA have a petition we can sign to get our message across. We must find our collective voice and not give up.

Please go to the Fight FOCA website and sign the petition.

Thank you.

See also:

MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

Obama signs order to export 'torture'Commits American millions to support of abortion industry...HERE

Bishop Eugene Robinson: Not especially Christian

2009-01-12T19:16:00.000-08:00

Apparently "Bishop" Robinson won't be using a Bible at the Lincoln Memorial during an inaugural event for President-elect Barack Obama where he has been invited to speak. According to Robinson:

Robinson, 61, said both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will attend the event, and Obama is expected to speak. As for himself, Robinson said he doesn't yet know what he'll say, but he knows he won't use a Bible.

"While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans," Robinson said. "I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation."

Robinson said his prayer will be reflective of the times.

"I think these are sober and difficult times that we are facing," he said. "It won't be a happy, clappy prayer."

Mike Mickey shares his thoughts on the matter and I agree with him. Read Mike's article HERE.

The (Im)moral of the Story

2009-01-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

Answers In Genesis reviews Will Smith's new movie.

The popular culture is infused with beliefs contrary to the Book of Genesis (and the Bible in general), and it’s not just the high-profile debate over origins that regularly plays out in society. Take Seven Pounds, the latest movie by box-office megastar Will Smith, which was number two at the box office when released just before Christmas. Television commercials continue to proclaim that the movie is “the perfect holiday gift.” Smith, as co-producer, is also banking on his considerable charm plus the promise of a movie about redemption and selfless giving to lure moviegoers during the holidays.

Yet what audiences end up watching is a film that makes suicide look noble—though the gruesome way the protagonist kills himself could not be described as glorifying suicide. For whatever inspirational and altruistic moments there might be in the movie (which may have prompted the producers to time its release for Christmas), it has some very dark moments, especially at the end. While unwary theatergoers might hear about the film’s apparent heartwarming story of the unselfish acts of Smith’s character, this is by no means light holiday fare.

Seven Pounds tells the story of a man who decides that life is not worth living anymore. His deep emotional distress comes from both guilt and grief, and as he descends more and more into self-absorption, he kills himself to alleviate his suffering. At the film’s beginning, you sympathize with this tormented soul and are moved by his altruistic acts toward many strangers. Even before he kills himself, Will Smith’s character donates body parts so that others can live; his suicide provides additional body parts so that others (including one who turns out to be his love interest) can live.

Read the article HERE

Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You (Psalm 33:20–22).

Critique of The God Delusion

2008-12-19T17:54:00.000-08:00

Recently, there have been a spate of books written by atheists attempting to debunk both Christianity and a belief in God. Make no mistake, Christianity is the enemy here. If the God of Christianity does exist, then that places a responsibility on each individual that comes to that realisation. That would mean that sin exists and, with it, all its consequences - both temporal and eternal.

Critique of The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

by Philip Bell

The title of this book immediately betrays the bias of the author—even for those unacquainted with the writings of this Professor of the (so-called) Public Understanding of Science of Oxford University, Richard Dawkins. Just to skim the chapter contents is to give one a forewarning of what to expect. For instance, Chapter 1 is entitled ‘A deeply religious believer in no God.’ Chapter 4: ‘Why there almost certainly is no God.’ Chapter 7 is ‘The ‘Good’ Book and the changing moral Zeitgeist’—showing Dawkins’ absolute dislike of the message of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures. More provocatively still, the ninth chapter is ‘Childhood, abuse and the escape from religion.’ The single appendix is ‘a partial list of friendly addresses, for individuals needing support in escaping from religion.’

So much for any attempt at balance and objectivity—this book is certainly not a disinterested search for truth and is devoid of any careful weighing of evidence, for and against his thesis. Rather, it is this author’s most polemical work to date, that of a man driven by an unholy zeal to depose the God he claims to disbelieve in but transparently hates.

‘I am attacking God, all gods, anything and everything supernatural, wherever and whenever they have been or will be invented.’ (p. 36: emphasis added in all quotes unless otherwise stated)

However, he takes pains to inform his reader that his venom is mostly reserved for monotheistic forms of God and one in particular:

‘Unless otherwise stated, I shall have Christianity mostly in mind, but only because it is the version with which I happen to be most familiar. … I shall not be concerned at all with other religions such as Buddhism or Confucianism.’ (p. 37)

Read the rest of the ARTICLE.

What Is Sin?

2008-12-14T23:10:00.000-08:00

I feel this is one article that everyone should read:

This Week’s Feature Article by Jack Kelley

Judging from the feedback I’ve received lately, some of us don’t know what sin is. The word comes from an old English archery term meaning “to miss the mark.” Jesus gave us the mark in Matt. 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Anything short of that is missing the mark, and whether by thought, word, or deed, is sin. The main purpose of His three chapter Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) was to change our perception of sin. The Pharisees thought that if they obeyed the commandments they weren’t sinning and therefore didn’t need a Savior. To achieve their position of authority, they had to have lived such an exemplary life as to appear nearly perfect. This focus on perfection in their behavior made them arrogant, unsympathetic toward their weaker brethren. It had made them worse than useless in advancing the Kingdom. They were actually driving people away.

He began by saying that in judging our behavior, God would not overlook even the smallest detail of the Law. He said that even our thoughts would be held against us. Anger is as bad as murder, He said, lust is as bad as adultery, and so on. He said that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees we will certainly not enter the Kingdom. (Matt. 5:20) Later on He said that they were like whitewashed tombs which are beautiful on the outside but full of dead men’s bones. He said in the same way they appeared to people as righteous but were full of hypocrisy. (Matt. 23:27-28) The Pharisees were compulsive about their behavior, applying the Law to the most minute things in their lives, even giving a tithe of the herbs and spices that grew in their gardens. (Matt. 23:23) And our righteousness needs to exceed theirs? In all of their behavior they had achieved perfection.

Read the rest of the ARTICLE

There is no Rapture?

2008-12-10T16:03:00.000-08:00

Some good thoughts by a fellow Aussie:

There is no Rapture?

By Keygar

What if there’s no rapture? What if an angel appeared to me right now and said “sorry mate, you got it wrong, there isn’t any rapture, you’re going to have to go through the tribulation, do you want to call it quits?”

“No way” I’d say (by God’s grace, after getting up off the ground). God has got me this far, I’m sure He can get me all the way to finally be with Him. If I have to lose my head (literally) during the tribulation, I’m sure He’ll give me the grace to endure to the end. Would I want to keep my life anyway, and be like the Christian haters who will run the earth during that time? In a fit me thinks, and my head has never been much to look at anyway.

It amuses me though, and saddens me, how many so-called Christians really verbally attack other Christians who do actually believe in a rapture event. I even wonder if they are Christians. They certainly don’t exhibit the fruit of love, patience and tolerance. I have no problem with or grudge against those Christians who don’t believe in a rapture. Who knows, they might be right. DOES IT REALLY MATTER to the point of being rude about it. Surely the main thing is to eventually be with Christ forever no matter what suffering or persecution may or may not precede that...

Read the rest of the article HERE

Note the concluding thoughts:

But, ultimately, my faith and hope and joy doesn’t lie in "a rapture", it lies in the person of Jesus Christ. He alone I REALLY am totally sure about. Not the rapture, not the scoffers, not the world, not the politicians, not other Christians, not my family, but ONLY, Jesus Christ. I am happy just writing about it. I can’t wait to get to heaven, whenever that will be.

Well said!

Death and Suffering Questions and Answers

2008-11-30T00:03:00.000-08:00

Creation Ministries International tackle another subject that has generally confounded mankind throughout the ages. I’ve read many inept essays by religious leaders attempting to tackle this thorny issue. I remember quite clearly how many struggled to explain how a God, if He really existed, could have possibly allowed the Indonesian Tsunami to take so many lives.

But God really is on His throne and He is in sovereign control. The universe isn’t a chaotic accident that occurred in our primal past, as the atheists would have it.

So, what are the answers? The answers are found in God’s word, the Bible.

Here is a sample of titles that CMI have addressed. If anyone has any further questions or troubling concerns, I can personally vouch that the CMI team are only too happy to graciously respond to e-mail queries, and I strongly recommend that people take advantage of that resource.

How can an all-powerful, loving God allow suffering and death?

Why would a loving God allow suffering?

How did bad things come about? (From The Creation Answers Book)

9/11 and the real ‘enemy’

Why is there death and suffering? (available in Italian)

The problem of evil (response to critic explaining the logic involved)

CMI answers philosophy/religion professor on biblical exegesis and the problem of evil

When did evil begin?

The Fall: a cosmic catastrophe: Hugh Ross’s blunders on plant death in the Bible

Cosmic and universal death from Adam–s fall: an exegesis of Romans 8:19’23a

Answering angry anti-Christianity (response to critic)

Crossing the thin red line: There are answers

The Fall into Sin

‘Lost’ without Genesis: coping with the ‘death wave’

The awesomeness of death

Two histories of death

Waves of sadness: Tsunami terror raises age-old questions (available in Spanish)

More titles HERE

"How to be a Witness" Acts 1:8

2008-11-16T15:53:00.000-08:00

Wintness according to Strong's definition:

G3144
μάρτυς
martus
mar'-toos
Of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally [judicially] or figuratively [generally]); by analogy a "martyr": - martyr, record, witness.

Pastor Joe Focht has some excellent teachings on audio. Acts 1:8 is an especially good one, I think. You can listen to it HERE

Why should the Bible be trusted?

2008-11-07T23:55:00.000-08:00

Another great resource from:

Creation Ministries International

Frequently asked questions listed by topic

Is there evidence that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, rather than mere stories and opinions of uninspired men?

The Authority of Scripture (available in Spanish)

Jesus Christ on the infallibility of Scripture

Holy Books?

Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy—with exposition (posted on Biblical Hermeneutics Web site)

The Christian and Authority (The inerrancy and primary authority of Scripture, Elliot Miller, Christian Research Institute)

Bible and Christian Theology (FAQ, Christian Answers Network)

M-A-P-S to guide you through Biblical Reliability (Hank Hanegraaff, Christian Research Institute)

The Bible’s Manuscript Evidence (Hyde Park Christian Fellowship)

The Textual Reliability of the New Testament ((Semi-Technical) Tekton Apologetics Ministries)

The Textual Reliability of the Old Testament ((Semi-Technical) Tekton Apologetics Ministries)

The Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Authority of the Bible

Manuscript Support for the Bible's Reliability

Can we believe the Gospels? A former chief magistrate examines the witnesses to the resurrection

Book review: The Sufficiency of Scripture

The first book of public hygiene

Modern medicine?

See Q&A: History: Biblical Chronology

Where did the individual OT books come from, and how were they combined to form the OT?

The Formation of the OT Canon ((Semi-Technical) Tekton Apologetics Ministries)

What is the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls? (Associates for Biblical Research)

Are there answers to skeptical attacks against the Bible?

The Da Vinci Code: Secret hidden truth?

Da Vinci Code apostate challenges CMI

Materialist ‘defence’ of Bible fails (defence of the supernatural in Biblical miracle reports)

See Q&A: Countering the Critics: Refuting alleged Bible errors

Can the Bible mean anything we want? Or are there clear rules for interpreting it?

Should Genesis Be Taken Literally? (analysis of different types of literature in the Bible, and how to interpret each)

L-I-G-H-T-S to the Word of God (Hank Hanegraaff, Christian Research Institute)

Biblical Hermeneutics (Semi-technical, Biblical Hermeneutics website)

Genesis: What does it really teach, should it be trusted, and why does it matter?

See Q&A: Genesis

Are there special codes embedded in the Scriptures that can be used to predict the future?

What about the ‘Bible Codes’?

God's Grace

2008-10-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

By Jack Kinsella, publisher of The Omega Letter

There is a wonderful hymn published at the turn of the 20th century that proclaims, "Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin."

I'm sure most of you have sung these words at some point or another, but have you ever truly contemplated their meaning?

"Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!" We sing it, but do we really believe it? More importantly, do we really UNDERSTAND it?

Wrote the Psalmist, "My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding." (Psalms 49:3)

What is wisdom? Psalms 111:10 says that "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."

Solomon noted that "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom," before admonishing us; "and with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)

But how does one make the leap from 'wisdom' to 'understanding'?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

"Wisdom and instruction", applied together, produce knowledge.

"When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee." (Proverbs 2:11)

One can, therefore, express it as a Divine equation: Wisdom + Knowledge = Understanding.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)

'Wisdom' is the product of 'fear' (or reverence) of the Lord (as expressed in His Word). Out of His Revealed Word comes 'knowledge', which, when applied with 'wisdom' gives birth to 'understanding'.

Note well that it is 'understanding' that the Lord says will KEEP thee.

It is the 'wisdom' to recognize oneself as a sinner in need of salvation taken together with instruction that Christ has extended a free pardon for one's sin's that result in the extension of God's grace, which produces saving faith.

Proverbs 19:8a says, "He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul, he that keepeth understanding shall find good."

I don't think the first part of that verse is an inaccurate statement, although it tends to take the wind out of our sails a bit when we think about it.

I prefer to think of my coming to Christ as an expression of my love for Him -- but when I am as honest as Solomon was, and teachable enough to know wisdom when I hear it, I understand that my reason for turning to Christ was love of MY soul. (The wisdom to love Him came later.)

But note well that, to 'find good' out of wisdom, one must apply 'understanding'.

Assessment:

Whenever I tackle the topic of 'Amazing Grace' some of the forum comments and emails suggest there are still many misunderstandings, particularly about the way I articulate the doctrine of grace.

I don't mind revisiting it as often as necessary, as long as you don't mind revisiting it with me.

The Bible instructs us to strive for perfection. To sin no more. To be perfect, even as the Father is perfect. That our every waking moment should be dedicated to God. ("Sell all you have, pick up your Cross and follow Me.") To pray without ceasing.

That certain sins really drive God nuts;

"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." (Proverbs 6:16-19)

And I have knowledge that I am occasionally guilty of pride, sloth, gluttony, mischief, etc., -- just as before I was saved. (Moreover, my personal observations tell me I am not alone among believers in this regard).

Now we turn to the concept of 'grace'. "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24)

Further, Paul writes; "All things are lawful for me" but then says, "but all things are not expedient." (1st Corinthians 10:23)

Few argue the Bible doesn't teach salvation as an unearned gift extended to all who will receive it. But then they stumble over the idea of eternal security as a 'license to sin'.

I don't mean to sound pompous in saying this reflects wisdom, but without understanding. And it is 'understanding' that the Lord says is what will 'keep' you.

They argue that the doctrine of eternal security turns the Bible into a book of 'suggestions'. I've been accused of endorsing sin. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Wisdom plus knowledge equals understanding.

I reverence God's Word, which tells me that sin is man's natural state of being. Paul's explanation of the dual nature of man in Romans 7 confirms to me that the struggle with sin after salvation is as common to all men as it was to Paul.

It was the wisdom to love my own soul that brought me to the point of salvation, and the knowledge of grace and the dual nature of man that brought me to the understanding of grace.

Paul wrote, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, ACCORDING AS GOD HATH DEALT TO EVERY MAN THE MEASURE OF FAITH." (Romans 1:23)

Wisdom (God's Word) says that some struggle more with sin than do others, and that God deals out different measures of faith to each of us according to His will.

I think it fair to say we are pretty forgiving of ourselves. Sometimes, we can come up with pretty convincing reasons for falling at the moment we did.

That isn't to suggest the reasons justify the fall, but we extend to ourselves the grace to pick ourselves up, and try again. Wisdom plus knowledge go out the window once we assume God is less forgiving of us than we are of ourselves.

God's grace is perfect and all sufficient. If God's grace didn't extend to our post-salvation sins, then the only ones who would be in heaven would be those who died at the point of salvation.

Legalism dictates that God demands perfection, settles for minor imperfection, and revokes salvation from those whose imperfection crosses some invisible line.

Remember the story of the 300 lb preacher reminding his congregation that smoking is defiling the Temple of the Holy Spirit?

Smoking isn't among God's Seven Deadly Sins -- but on that list, the glutton sits right there beside the drunkard. Are fat people habitual, unrepentant sinners who have condemned themselves? Or does God extend His grace to us according to our individual (and God-given) weaknesses or strengths?

I have the wisdom of Scripture that tells me that a holy God cannot countenance sin. That wisdom also tells me that, in God's eyes, all sin is sin, and there are seven that God hates with a particular passion, habitual sins that, barring God's grace, condemn as unrepentent; fat people, lazy people, gossips and drunks. I also have knowledge of human nature from personal observation. I have intimate knowledge of myself and my own shortcomings.

Applied with a knowledge -- but without an understanding -- of grace, it tells me that my own salvation must depend on my first accepting Christ and then, never sinning again.

I came to Christ thirty-five years ago. I am sure I have sinned in the last thirty-five years. Wisdom plus knowledge -- but devoid of
understanding -- therefore dictates that I am already lost and without hope -- so why bother even trying?

"Grace" is not a license to sin, it is Divine permission to get back up and try again. Sin is burdensome because it tends to pile up so fast. Soon, it becomes so heavy you CAN'T get back up on your own.

The burden is lifted by the grace of God so that we can get back up, heal our wounds and return to battle. Grace is not license to sin. It is medicine to heal and bandages to cover our sin so we can fight on.

Understanding grace is to understand what Paul meant when he told the Galatians, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21)

The 'Defeated' Christian - revisited

2008-10-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

I know I have to be constantly reminded:

The "Defeated Christian"

by Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor

You’ve all seen him. The defeated Christian. The guy who tries and tries, but after being saved for thirty years, he still hasn’t quit smoking. Instead, he hides his cigarettes before coming to church and won’t get too close when shaking your hand for fear you’ll smell the smoke on him.

Or the Christian who you know is saved, but he just can't quite give up the bottle. Or the Christian who got saved, but doesn't go to church, because he just doesn’t think he fits in with the rest of the crowd?

Or won’t go because he thinks that everybody at church is a big hypocrite? That defeated Christian who knows that even though he is saved, it just didn't seem to ‘take' like it seemed to with everybody else, so he’d just as soon not be reminded of it all the time by being around those to whom it did.

Especially since, if he were to mention it, somebody would point out it was either because of some unconfessed sin, or maybe he just wasn't all that sincere when he first accepted Christ.

Why is it that some Christians get saved, and immediately become a new creature, where others get saved, and look remarkably like the old one?

Don’t tell me you don’t know somebody like that. Maybe you even ARE somebody like that. And it’s hard . . . so hard to keep trying and trying when it seems to come so easy to everybody else. It’s enough to make anybody give up.

I’m going to leave the usual beaten path, now, to address an issue that comes up fairly regularly in our forums. Those of you who have no besetting sin, no secret sin in your heart that only you and God (and the enemy) know of, go make yourself a nice cup of coffee. The rest isn’t for you.

Now, for the honest readers . . . Why does God deliver some people from booze, cigarettes, pot . . . fill in your besetting sin here _______?

The answer? I don’t know. Disappointed? Don’t be. Sometimes He just doesn’t. It doesn’t mean you aren’t a Christian. It doesn’t mean you aren’t saved. It doesn’t mean God has abandoned you. It only means you feel defeated. You still have that sin.

Now, how come you feel defeated? Is it your weakness? God's? Haven’t you been to Him with this? How come its still an issue in your life? You KNOW God is real, so . . what’s WRONG WITH YOU?

Nothing.

Welcome to the Church of the Walking Wounded. That’s why so many people find fellowship on the internet they don’t find in church. No guilt. Nobody can see you sneaking that cigarette or that beer.

You come looking for God, and looking for that forgiveness you keep hearing about, but never find in church.

Instead, you learn that if you smoke, (or whatever) you are defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit and you must give that up first to find fellowship. Except you have been trying for years and just can't quite make it.

You sit there in the pew, thinking about the cigarette you are going to have on the way home, and you feel ashamed, guilty. Why even go back to church? You hypocrite!

You are taught that God forgave you at the Cross, but now you are on your own. All these sins you now know about yourself are left for you to deal with on your own. Only NOW you know what they are.

So every time you sneak that cigarette, you feel guilty. “Fred got saved and within a week, he cut out smoking, he cut out drinking and he cut out cursing.”

(You think to yourself, “Sure. And for entertainment, Fred is now cutting out paper dolls in the Happy Home,” – but then there you go – you sinned again!)

Sin is the disease of the human race. No human being is exempt from it. The Apostle Paul, speaking of sin, said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

Creative hyperbole? Or do you believe every Word of God is true?

The Apostle Paul was, according to God's Word, chief among sinners. He must have had a difficult time being chief among sinners and chief among the Apostles, but that’s what the Bible says.

It must have bothered him, like it bothers you. (Those not getting coffee right now) Knowing what is right, but succumbing to temptation to do the wrong thing. Over and over.

This is a very difficult subject – I am approaching it with much fear and trepidation. There will immediately be those who will jump on me for preaching a license to sin. I am not.

Before you jump on me, read it again first, please. I am quoting the Apostle Paul, not my opinion.

Paul writes, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7:14-15,17)

Maybe Paul isn’t speaking to you, but he is playing MY theme song. “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:22,23)

Does this sound to you like a guy who was having an easy time of it? Why didn’t he just do what the pastor tells you? “Just take it to the Lord and He'll take care of it.”

Ever do that and then He didn’t? So you found some good reason why not, or instead just figured you weren’t worthy? Or maybe that He cared more about Fred the King of the Paper Dolls?

Paul wrote of, “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) Now, I’ve heard this verse exegeted many times.

To listen to the theories, Paul must have fallen into a thorn BUSH. I’ve heard Paul had a speech impediment, that it was his failing eyesight, that he was unattractive to look at, even one argument that he had halitosis!

What does the Bible say Paul’s thorn in the flesh was? Everybody looks for something specific to make sense of the verse. They are looking for some physical flaw that Paul thought would hamper his effectiveness for God. In so doing, they miss the forest for the trees.

The Apostle Paul, the ‘chief among sinners, specifically said that his thorn was a ‘messenger from Satan sent to ‘buffet' him. Paul’s thorn was his SIN which kept him from being 'exalted above all measure.' “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8)

Stay with me here and see the picture. Here's poor Paul, knowing the task the Lord has set before him, knowing that he is ‘chief among sinners' and knowing his weakness for whatever that sin might have been.

So he takes it to Jesus, (just like you did) sincerely expecting Him to handle it for him, just like the pastor told you He would for you.

“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (v.9)

The Bible says that we are sold unto sin. That it is our natural state. That the most unnatural thing a man could do is NOT sin. You are saved, you believe, yet you wrestle with your besetting sins.

Every time you whip one down, a new one crops up that you have to deal with. Its a never ending battle and you are losing. How can this be?

How can you be sincere, be sincerely saved, and still battle with sins that don’t seem to bother other Christians?

There is only one logical answer. It is so simple you are going to immediately say, “I knew that.” But you probably really didn’t.

Jesus did it all. Really. ALL. The most simple of principles, yet most preaching is based on the deception that He didn’t. Instead, most are taught in principle, that Jesus got the ball rolling at the Cross, but now that you are saved, whether or not you fail or succeed in beating back your sin nature is up to you.

Therefore, when constantly confronted with your sin and how bad it is, it is much easier to give up and not go face the weekly confrontation. You believe you are defeated.

Rather than being free, you are in bondage to your guilt. How many people do you know who went to the altar call on Sunday who weren’t guilt-ridden by Wednesday?

Salvation is either a gift of grace through faith or it is a product of faith plus good works.

Moses had faith and good works. So did Abraham. So did David. But without the Savior, they would be dead in their sins.

The bondage of sin to a Christian is the weight of the guilt of that sin that keeps him from seeking God's face. Jesus set us free from the bondage of sin. Is this a license to sin? As Paul said, “God forbid.”

“All things”, Paul said, “are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” (1 Corinthians 10:23) Interesting word, ‘expedient.' It means, “Appropriate to a purpose.”

The reality is, we are humans. Even after we become new creatures in Christ, we co inhabit the castle of flesh with the old man.

You will have your battles, but your defeat only comes when you give up. Following Paul’s lamentations about his struggle with the flesh and the duality of man, Paul writes, beginning with Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

This verse also tends to get spiritualized out of context. I’ve heard it argued that if you sin, then you are walking after the flesh, rather than after the Spirit.

I put it to you: Did you ever, since you were saved, commit a sin and not care, not feel any responsibility before God? Well, then, Who are you walking after? The irresponsible flesh? Or the living Spirit?

It isn’t sin that defeats the Christian.

It isn’t that you still haven’t quit smoking, or whatever else it might be that you think is defeating you. Sin is what humans do. Forgive is what God does.

It is GUILT that keeps you defeated, and keeps you from the Throne. It keeps you from telling people about Jesus. It keeps you beaten down.

It is incumbent upon a Christian to try and live a more Christ-like life, but the dichotomy is that the Bible says it is impossible.

Even those of you now scandalized and convinced I am preaching libertine Christianity KNOW that you still have a sin problem. Whether it's a big sin, a little sin, a habitual sin or an occasional sin, its still sin. Even as we sin, (and Scripture says we ALL do) we hate it, as Paul did. But we sin. As Paul did. Read Romans 7 again.

If we COULD live a sin-free life, then why was a Savior necessary? And what was Paul rambling on about when he talked about the 'good that he would' and so forth?

If there were a formula that involved accepting Christ and THEN living a sinless life, then why did He need to go to the Cross at all?

Why not just make the revised Ten Commandments read, 'Accept Christ and don't sin" and THEN you can go to heaven? The answer is obvious. Nobody would be there.

We are living in the last days. There is no time to bandage the walking wounded, the battle has been joined. Every soldier is desperately needed on the line.

A soldier on the line does his best, and that is all anyone can ask. Especially the One Who really KNOWS that you are doing the best you can.

And He not only understands, He made you to a specific purpose, which is why all things were lawful to Paul, but not all things were expedient.

What may appear as defeat to you from your vantage point in the action may actually be a tactical victory somewhere else up the line. Only our General knows, and He says, 'Trust Me'.

Take heart! Don't let the fact you are a sinner steal your victory. The only prerequisite for being a Christian is that you must be a sinner first. God has a plan for your life, and He has somebody for you to talk to.

That appointment is so important to God that He has arranged your whole life until now -- just so you would be available to keep it when that appointment comes due.

Will you be there to keep it? Or will you be licking your wounds in defeat off in a corner somewhere? We're running out of time, and the enemy's sole focus for your life is to keep you defeated and ineffective as the hours tick down to the Final Confrontation.

“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians (12:9)

The rest of you can come back from the kitchen now.

Fear Factor

2008-10-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

Answers In Genesis have a new article that all Chrsitians should take note of.

The best part about my freshman year in college was my roommate. She was a fellow Christian, and it was comforting knowing I could come back to my room after class and share my struggles with her. She could understand why I was so upset. She helped me gain perspective and showed me I was not the only Christian and conservative on campus, even though it felt like it at times.

As we would walk to our separate classes together she encouraged me, confirming we knew the truth, that our ideas were valid, and that we were responsible to present the whole picture.

Those days really made a difference before I walked into English class. I could hold my head higher. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of a solid, grounded Christian friend. Fortunately for my roommate, she didn’t seem to have drawn a class schedule featuring some of the far left academia nuts I was encountering. But she didn’t escape completely.

As my roommate sat in freshman biology class the first week of school, the professor paced across the front of the class, turned and asked if anyone did not believe in evolution. If they did not, would they please raise their hands? My Christian roommate and another student both raised their hands.

At a secular school, it certainly would be plausible that the majority of students adhere to the story of evolution. But it is even more plausible that there were other students who didn’t believe, or at least questioned some of the holes in the evolution theory, but were too scared to identify themselves. The two who did raise their hands became easy targets the rest of the semester.

My roommate wasn’t intimidated and stood up for her convictions with that small gesture of raising her hand. With that simple act, she acknowledged that truth is more important than conformity. There were probably others in her class who thought the way she did, but they were too scared and intimidated to identify themselves. It’s easy to be bullied into silence. It happens a lot—even to mature Christians.

An example of how silence can engulf members of an audience happened during the Iraq War. At an anti-war “teach-in,” a Columbia University professor Micholas DeGenova, told an audience that he would like to see “a million Mogadishus.” He was referring to the Somalia incident in which 18 American soldiers were ambushed and killed in 1993, their corpses dragged through the streets to the cheers and jeers of crowds. DeGenova, assistant professor of anthropology and Latino studies, also said, “The only true heroes are those who find ways that help defeat the U.S. military.”

The crowd listening to DeGenova nearly filled Columbia University’s Low Library. And the crowd was silent. If there were students who disagreed with DeGenova’s murderous comment, their voices were not heard. How is it possible in a crowd that size that not one person was utterly repulsed by DeGenova’s wish for a million Mogadishus? How can that be possible?

How? Fear. There probably were at least a few who disagreed with DeGenova, but they were afraid to be heard. Fear is a powerful intimidator.

Read the rest of the article

Muslim fingerprints in Obama's history

2008-10-07T22:26:00.000-07:00

This is something a little different but, coming up to the US elections, I think very important!

By Janet Porter

I've misspoken before. I've misspoken before on national television. I've mixed up words, reversed orders, but I have never once misspoken concerning my faith and the God in whom I trust. Even in the most heated debate on Islam, never did I ever utter the words "my Muslim faith." Nor, even when talking about Buddhism, have I ever slipped up and referred to "my Buddhist faith." Ever. Why? Because my Christianity is so ingrained in me, so a part of who I am, that the thought of adhering to a false religion is so foreign, so blasphemous, that the words would never cross my lips.

Not the case for Mr. Obama. On ABC's "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos, Obama said:

"Let's not play games, what I was suggesting – you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith. And you're absolutely right that that has not come."
Watch it online.

Matthew 12:34 says: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

Notice that Obama didn't correct himself. He was "corrected" by George Stephanopoulos who interrupted Obama, with the words: "Christian faith."

Let's just say he misspoke. Did Obama misspeak when he told the New York Times that blasphemy was one of the "prettiest sounds on earth at sunset"?

That's right. In a Feb. 27, 2007, interview with the New York Times' Nicholos Kristof, that's how Obama described the Muslim call to prayer. That prayer, which Obama recited with a "first-class [Arabic] accent," begins with this:

Allah is supreme!
Allah is supreme!
Allah is supreme!
Allah is supreme!
I witness that there is no god but Allah
I witness that there is no god but Allah
I witness that Muhammad is his prophet ...

Really? No god but the false god Allah is the prettiest sound on earth? Really.

Speaking of slip-ups, here's the clip of Obama saying he's visited 57 states. He's such a "global citizen," perhaps the 57 member states of the "Organization of the Islamic Conference" was more second nature to him than our own 50 U.S. states.

While Obama's campaign site declares: "Senator Obama has never been a Muslim" and "was not raised as a Muslim," the records say differently.

As was documented by Jerome Corsi in his best-selling book, "The Obama Nation," in January 1968, Obama was registered as a Muslim at his primary school under the name Barry Soetoro. Even the Associated Press has released a photocopy of the document where Barack Obama is registered as an Indonesian citizen of the Muslim religion. (Listen to Dr. Corsi on yesterday's Faith2Action radio program at http://www.f2a.org/ discussing it).

Obama also claimed he never attended a mosque. Not so, according to eyewitnesses. As was reported in WorldNetDaily, childhood friends and even his school principal said they saw Obama attend the mosque with their own eyes. In response, the Obama campaign issued another statement: Instead of claiming Obama was never a Muslim, as they had previously posted, they then claimed he "has never been a practicing Muslim."

Even in Obama's autobiography, "Dreams From My Father," he called his school "a Muslim school" and admits he studied the Quran during his formative years from age 6 to age 10: "In the Muslim school, the teacher wrote to tell mother I made faces during Quranic studies."
He could have never made faces in Quranic studies if he wasn't studying the Quran.

So this weekend on national television, he referred to his "Muslim faith." Last year he said that praising Allah as the one true god was the prettiest sound on earth. He said he was never a mosque-attending Muslim, but eyewitnesses say otherwise. Despite what Obama and his campaign have claimed, by his own admission, he studied the Quran.

Add to the fact that on June 13, 2008, Obama's half brother, Malik Obama, who lives in Kenya, told the Jerusalem Post that "if elected his brother will be a good president for the Jewish people despite his Muslim background."

In that same article was a picture of Malik with his half brother Barack in traditional Somali elder dress with a turban on his head in 1985. Like many pictures of Obama in Muslim attire readily available on the Internet, he was not between the ages of 6 and 10 when the photos were taken.

Let's pretend all of this is just part of some smear campaign. Forget everything that I've said and take a look of who's backing this guy.

According to Islamic expert Brigitte Gabriel, author of "Because They Hate, A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America" and her new book, "They Must be Stopped: Why We Must Defeat Radical Islam and How We Can Do It," there are some very interesting campaign supporters of Barack Obama. Beyond the support of unrepentant terrorist William Ayers, Obama has backing from some other notorious groups, from "al-Qaida to Hamas, to Hezbollah," to "Islamic Jihad" to the "Muslim Brotherhood," to "all the terrorists organizations" who "are coming out in force for Obama for president," stated Gabriel on the Sept. 3, 2008, Faith2Action radio program (on the "Archives" section of http://www.f2a.org/).

On the same program, she spoke of the Muslim Brotherhood project for North America, in 1982, whose plans were to get Muslims actively involved in politics. Gabriel claims that the Islamic websites and terrorist organizations are calling Obama the "first Muslim president of the United States."

As far as they are concerned, said Gabriel, these groups claim "Obama can say anything he wants to get elected – he is a Muslim." They claim that if he had renounced his Muslim affiliation declared early in life, he would have changed his Muslim name.

What is interesting is the Islamic world has not renounced Obama for becoming a Christian – a capital offense under Shariah law.

What is perhaps more interesting is that Sen. Barack Hussein Obama has never renounced his Muslim ties. He was too busy pretending they didn't exist until the documents and eyewitness accounts surfaced recently.

Let's not play games. By way of review, on national television Obama "misspoke" about "his Muslim faith." Last year he said the words "there is no god but Allah" were "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset." Then he said that he's been to "all 57 states" (57 states coincidently belong to the "Organization of the Islamic Conference"). According to eyewitnesses, he was a mosque-going, Quran-learning, Muslim (according to official documents released by the AP). His friends say so. His principal said so. His own brother said so. He wears the Muslim turban and Somali elder dress for photo-ops, apparently for fun. While he hasn't renounced any of this, not one Islamic extremist has called for his death as an apostate from Islam.

Obama is right about one thing. Sen. John McCain isn't talking about Obama's Muslim faith. But the rest of the country is beginning to.

Distributed by www.ChristianWorldviewNetwork.com

Intense persecution in India

2008-10-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

Following on from my previous article, here's something else to ponder and pray about:

Read the article here

It's a great shame that our western, politically-correct media does not report this often enough, if ever! An excerpt from the article:

Christian community receives no help from any quarter within India. Our only help is the Lord Himself. Astonishingly , people who are being burnt in severe fiery tests, are firm in their faith and willing to suffer, even to die. This is seen irrespective of denominational differences, which further amazes us.

Urgent prayer needed for Orissa

2008-09-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hi my brothers and sisters in Christ,

Please get this prayer request out to as many as possible as soon as possible.

Dear Brother Reggie Naidoo,

Greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you for all of your concerned prayers lifted at the Throne of Grace on our behalf during the past. It is with a great burden that I share this Prayer Request with you that you may pray for us and also encourage your family and friends to go on their knees to seek the Lord on behalf of the Christians who are persecuted in Orissa, Karnataka, and in the other parts of India, during the past months, which is still continuing.

As you would be aware through the media coverage, the Christian community in Orissa, India, is facing a desperate situation as their homes are being looted and burnt, churches demolished, people beaten to death and in some gory cases the homes were locked from outside and torched killing all those who were inside. The fanatics and fundamentalists are hand in hand in these places with only a single purpose in mind and that is to wipe out the Christians and all the Gospel related activity as much as they could as they do not want to see the kingdom of God expanding on this earth.

So far hundreds of churches have been demolished to the ground, houses burnt to ashes, many people tortured, beaten and murdered, and in some cases as I have mentioned above, houses were locked from outside and torched by the fanatics.

Thousands of people have become homeless and are taking shelter in the thickets of the nearby jungle that is home to many wild animals including tigers. There is nothing to protect them from sun, rain and the cold at nights. The children have no milk to feed on, the adults have no food to eat, no clothes to change and no clean water to drink. The people keep on moving from one place to another for the fear of being detected by the fanatics. If they come into the village in search of food, they will be caught and beaten, however, people risk their lives and sneak into the nearby villages at night to grab whatever they can and return to the jungle to feed their wife and children. These kind of atrocities have been there on for years in many parts of India, but now it has taken a new dimension and very vicious.

Your prayers are very much needed for God to touch the fanatics and those who are against the spread of the Gospel, and ease out the situation that peace may reign again in these areas and that people could lead a normal life free from all fear and violence.

Thank you in advance for taking this into your heart. We love you very much and greatly appreciate your concerned prayers on our behalf.

Sincerely,
In Christ Jesus,
FRANK GODBERG

God Questions and Answers

2008-09-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

Following on from the previous post:

Creation Ministries International

answers some more questions relating to God.

Does God exist?

Is one God really three persons?

How can an all-good God allow evil in the world?

What about the attributes and names of God?

Read the answers here

Jesus Christ Questions and Answers

2008-09-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

This is an excellent resource from:

Creation Ministries International

Is Jesus really God?

What is the evidence that Jesus ever existed?

Did Jesus Christ really rise from the dead?

Was Christ really born of a virgin? Are there answers to the sceptical objections?

Did Jesus fulfill any prophecies?

Is it rational to believe in Jesus’ miracles?

Jesus Seminar: Facts or fallacies? Are the ‘gospels’ of Thomas and Judas reliable?

What about the claims of The Da Vinci Code?

Was Christianity just copied from pagan mythology?

What is the difference between Gnosticism and Christianity?

Why is Jesus Christ given the title of ‘the last Adam’ in 1 Corinthians 15:45?

Click here to get the answers.

Wake-Up Call

2008-08-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

From Rapture Ready

by Faith Noles

In Matthew chapter 24, the disciples asked Jesus what would be the signs of His coming. In verse twelve, Jesus said of one of these signs: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” This verse, along with many other scriptures such as 2 Thessalonians 2:3, indicate that many ‘Christians’ will fall away in the last days and that their love for God will be cold. In Revelation 3:15-16, God speaks to the church of the Laodiceans “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold not hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth”.

It’s a sad day when the church, which is the light of the world (Mat. 5:14), becomes a small burning piece of coal instead of a brilliant flame of fire. This didn’t happen overnight. This gradual falling away has come through years of vicious attacks by Satan. The devil has used several different strategies in his plans for the downfall of the church. A big one on the list is the boob tube---that little box that appears so harmless, yet sends forth a world of iniquity. That wonder of an invention has bombarded the world with violence and lust, which has desensitized mankind. Christians have allowed the devil to tell them what they should eat; what they should wear; how they should smell; what they should believe. If you’re thinking that the television has not been used by the devil, then you are blind. Satan will use every means possible to bring your downfall. I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

How have we been desensitized? I heard a preacher describe the conscience of man as a triangle with three sharp points. Every time you hear or see something that is wrong, the triangle turns and you feel the pain as your conscience is pricked. If you’re exposed to sin over and over again, then the points of the triangle will eventually wear down until they are smooth. The sin is no longer painful. An example of this is that the devil has slowly indoctrinated the world into accepting homosexuality. He started with comedy. Sin seems so much easier to accept when it’s funny. Christians were ‘entertained’ by homosexuality. They had forgotten that Romans 1:32 says, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them”.

God tells the Laodicean church that they have basically made Him sick. They proclaim to be Christians, yet they are indifferent towards sin; they are indifferent towards the needs of others; they are indifferent in their service towards God. The churches of Ephesus, Sardis and Laodicea show the downward spiral of spiritual decline. The Church of Sardis had not been watching. The Church of Ephesus had left their first love. And the Church of Laodicea was lukewarm. If you stop watching and guarding your heart and mind, then you will leave your first love. If you leave your first love, then you will become lukewarm, lulled to sleep by the fog of indifference.

When a person falls in love, they are bubbling over with happiness. You can’t wait to tell your family and friends about your newfound love. A mature person will then protect and guard their new relationship. How would you respond to your spouse, who proclaimed they loved you, if they turned their head away when you were speaking to them or didn’t respond to your affection? It’s nauseating when someone says they love you but their actions are speaking something totally different.

Christianity is the same way. When you accepted Jesus, your heart was overflowing with love for Him. You didn’t want to do anything to displease Him. However, you stop communicating with Jesus on a daily basis. Your mind has been bogged down with the things of this world-- how to make a living and just survive. You relax by sitting in front of the television instead of reading your Bible. You think you’re spiritually fine since you go to church every Sunday and give tithes. You become indifferent to the evil going on around you because you feel too tired to try to change anything. Sin creeps into your life little by little. So, how’s your relationship with God? God said that He would spew you out of His mouth. You’re asleep at the wheel; you haven’t been watching; you haven’t been wise, but you have been enticed away from the fold.

Let’s take a look at what’s happening to you in another dimension--the Spirit world. Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. There’s a battle raging right at this moment for your very soul. God is calling you to “awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:14). He tells us in Romans 13:11 that it is “high time to awake out of sleep:” Today, you need to choose “whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15). It’s time for you to wake up and join the battle. Turn off the t.v. Fall down on your knees before God and confess your sins. 2 Chronicles 7:14 “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.” This reminds me of a few verses I wrote years ago:

Our hearts have grown cold, and slothful our ways,
The harvest is ripe and short are the days,
Prayer and faith can move mountains, but brother when do you pray?
Fall down on your knees; see what God has to say.

Let all the earth praise Him, fall down on your knees,
Awake from your slumber, awake from your ease,
The angels cry holy around His great throne,
Praise God in the highest, Thou will be done.

Dear heavenly Father, I pray that You will stir Your children to repentance. Give us a hunger and thirst to draw closer to You. Fill our lamps with oil that we may not be ashamed at the coming of Your Son. Make us vessels worthy for Your use. I ask in Jesus precious name. Amen.

THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN

2008-08-17T03:42:00.000-07:00

"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Timothy 4:10).

There are those who teach that God has provided salvation only for those who are His elect. They would also teach a limited atonement, that Christ died on the cross only for the sins of God's elect [those who will believe on Christ and be saved]. Such false teaching is answered by the verse cited above. This verse teaches that there is a sense in which God is the Saviour of all men and there is a special sense ("especially") in which God is the Saviour of those who believe. Timothy should have had no problem understanding this because Paul had already written in this same epistle that there is a sense in which God is the Saviour of all. He is the Saviour of all men because He desires all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4) and because Christ died for all men (1 Tim. 2:6). Paul also made it clear that there is a special sense in which He is the Saviour of those who come to God through Christ and who believe and know the truth (1 Tim. 2:4; 4:3).

Extreme Calvinists have a problem with this verse because the expression "all men" must here be understood as referring to all humanity without exception. The verse teaches that out of that large class of people referred to as "all men" there is a smaller class of people referred to as "those who believe." It is therefore obvious that the "all men" describes a group of people that includes more than just those who believe (more than "the elect"). He is the Saviour of all men. He is "especially" the Saviour of believers (in a special sense that is not true those who are not believers).

The expression "all men" is also found in 1 Timothy 2:4. Extreme Calvinists tells us that in this verse the "all men" means "all sorts of persons" (see Jay Adams' translation). They say that it refers to all men without distinction but not all men without exception. Thus in 1 Timothy 2:4 they understand the "all men" to refer, not to all humanity, but to "the elect" which would include elect Jews and Gentiles, elect men and women, elect slaves and freemen, etc. In other words, according to their theology, God does not desire to save all men without exception, but God desires to save only His elect who belong to all kinds of classes of people (God's elect are among the rich, the poor, the Jews, the Gentiles, etc.). This is forcing the text to fit one's theology. We simply must let the verse say what it says: "God will have (desires) all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." Indeed, God proved His desire for their salvation by sending Christ to die for them (1 Tim. 2:6)!

The extreme Calvinist must find a way to get around the clear statement of 1 Timothy 4:10. Jay Adams has tried to do this in a unique way in his translation: "who is the Saviour of all sorts of men, that is, of those who believe." The problem with this is that the word "especially" cannot be translated "that is." Adams is desperately trying to force the verse to fit his theology, even at the cost of abandoning sound principles of translation and ignoring the obvious meaning of words.

How then do extreme Calvinists explain this verse? They usually argue that the term "Saviour" is used in a temporal and not an eternal sense, meaning that God is the Preserver of all men or the Deliverer of all men, especially of those who believe. This runs contrary to all the standard translations (NASB,NIV,RSV,ASV,NEB, etc.) which render the word "Saviour" and not "Preserver." Also their view raises this problem: Does God really preserve believers in a temporal, physical way more than He does unbelievers? Often God lets the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer in this life. Christ promised His followers persecution, tribulation and even death at the hands of unbelievers. The truth is that they who believe are likely to undergo great difficulty in this world. Believers must suffer through natural disasters (floods, tornados, fire, etc.) just as unbelievers. It is true that there is spiritual help and comfort for believers even in the midst of their trials, but in what sense are believers preserved physically and temporally in a very special sense that is not true of unbelievers? Often unbelievers seem to be well-preserved in this life, whereas believers are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things (1 Cor. 4:13).

It is true that sometimes the verb "save" is used in different ways, and it does not always mean salvation from sin. 1 Timothy 2:15 speaks of the Christian woman being saved from satanic deception (compare 1 Tim. 5:14-15). Also 1 Timothy 4:16 is likewise speaking of being saved from Satanic deception (compare 4:1), but this is not a good parallel to the verse under discussion because obviously Satanic deception is not the issue in 1 Timothy 4:10.

It is helpful to ask this: How does Paul use the expression "God our Saviour"? The term "Saviour" is applied to God in several other places beside 1 Timothy 4:10. See Luke 1:47; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2:3; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4; and Jude 25. Will anyone venture to say that in these seven texts the meaning is "God the Preserver," referring to temporal and not to eternal benefits?

The last place Paul used this term is very significant. It is found in 1 Timothy 2:3 (and see also 2:4 where "all men" is used). God is the Saviour of all men in the sense that He desires all men to be saved and Christ died for all (1 Tim. 2:4,6). The verse clearly refers to eternal salvation. The ASV understands 1 Timothy 4:10 in this way because in the marginal reference it gives these two verses: 1 Timothy 2:4 and John 4:42.

Is it a problem to say that God is the Saviour of all men? Only to the extreme Calvinists who say that the Saviour's work on the cross had nothing to do with those who are not elect. The Bible speaks of God being "the Saviour of the world" (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14) and yet it is obvious that the world will not all be saved. The vast majority of those who make up "world" will perish because of their unbelief and rejection of God's Saviour (John 3:16-18). And yet we must ask, how can the world reject Him as Saviour if He is not in some sense the world's Saviour? How can a person reject the gospel if Christ did not die for him (compare 1 Cor. 15:1-4)? What is the good news that he is rejecting? The extreme Calvinist has no good news for anyone but the elect. You cannot reject something that is not genuinely offered to you. If there is no gospel offered to the "non-elect," then how can they reject the gospel?

Why did Paul strive so diligently and why was he willing to suffer reproach as he labored in the gospel? Paul knew that he had a message for all men—a message of hope, a message of good news, a message of reconciliation. He also knew that as this message went forth it would be gladly received by some. There would be those who would believe and be actually saved. Note the similar motivation expressed by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:10. Paul was willing to endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they might obtain the salvation that is found in Christ (not just so that they might have temporal and physical deliverance). Paul knew that God was using his gospel preaching (as he proclaimed the good news of Christ and His death on the cross to all men) as a means by which God would bring the elect to faith in Christ. Without preaching there can be no faith (Rom. 10:14-17). Paul was willing to suffer and labour and pray toward this end.

"His will is that all men should be saved, and He has made full and sufficient provision for the salvation of all, so that, as far as salvation stands in Him, He is the Saviour of all men...if God be thus willing for all to be saved, how much more shall He save them that put their trust in Him" (Alford). "While God is potentially Saviour of all, He is actually Saviour of the believers. So Jesus is termed `Saviour of the World' (John 4:42)" (A.T.Robertson). "He has a general good-will to the eternal salvation of all men thus far that He is not willing that any should perish...He desires not the death of sinners; He is thus the Saviour of all men" (Matthew Henry).

Those who take this verse at face value cannot be in danger of teaching universalism. If God were to actually save all men, then how would believers be saved in a special sense? The very fact that the verse says that there is a special sense in which believers are saved implies that there is a sense in which unbelievers are not saved. Unbelievers are not actually saved, even though God the Saviour has desired their salvation and provided for it in the death of His Son. May we joyfully carry the gospel to all men, telling them that there is a Saviour for them who has died for them! May we urge them to receive this One who came to be their Saviour. "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-12).

George Zeller (revised March 2000; October 2003)

THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN

Who Are the Elect?

2008-08-09T23:29:00.000-07:00

My introduction to Calvinism, the teaching of the "Elect" and predestination was at Barry Setterfield’s Genesis Science Research website (which I highly recommend) where I found some articles written by Barry's wife, Helen.

Helen Setterfield has graciously given me permission to post her article in full, but because it is quite lengthy, I'll post part of it and provide a link to Helen's website for those who wish to read the rest. In this very insightful article, Helen explores the meaning of the term elect, who it refers to and how and why God chooses people:

Who Are the Elect? by Helen Setterfield

As a challenge to my conviction that Calvinism is not accurate, I was asked to please give my opinion of the term ‘elect’ as used in the New Testament. My response was that my opinion didn’t matter a whit, but what the Bible says is what matters, and so I promised to do a study on this word.

I learned a lot, and that is an understatement. I do want to thank my husband, Barry, for his help in helping me look up so many verses and checking many in other translations for me. So here is, as requested, what ‘elect’ appears to mean in the New Testament.

The Greek words being dealt with here include ‘eklegomai’, ‘eklektos’, and ‘ekloge’.

Matthew 24:15-31”So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel – let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.

“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

“Immediately after the distress of those days

‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

“At that time the sing of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather the elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

The first two uses of ‘elect’ in the above passage are in direct reference to Daniel’s prophecy regarding the abomination that causes desolation and the time known as Jacob’s trouble. This is the Tribulation. Revelation tells us that during that time there are 144,000 of the tribes of Israel who are identified as “the servants of our God.” These are chosen by God to be hidden from the wrath. Thus they have the name ‘elect.’ But they are chosen because they are His servants, and that is stated plainly. This use of ‘elect’ clearly does not pertain to any of us here on this forum today.

The third use of ‘elect’ in the above is interesting, for they are being gathered not from on earth, but from ‘the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.’ The implication is that they are already dead as we would consider them here on earth and are being gathered for this final scenario which Jesus is prophesying. There is internal evidence in the Bible that these may be the ‘armies of heaven’ who follow Christ when He comes down for battle against the beast in Rev. 19. Their clothes are ‘fine linen, white and clean.’ These are identified as the robes of the saints in verse 8, just preceding that coming. These are most certainly the elect, whether one sees that word from a Calvinist or non-calvinist perspective.

There is one other option for these elect, as the term is used once, as seen below, for some of the angels. Read the rest of the article

Other articles by Helen covering this topic:

My Response To Calvinism

Esau I Have Hated

A Clarion Call to the Modern Church

2008-08-05T04:10:00.000-07:00

Christians historically have understood that their calling is to be in the world but not of the world. As Os Guinness pointed out in a perceptive series of articles on the church-growth movement, traditional evangelicalism not only resisted worldly influences, but also used to stress "cognitive defiance" of the world spirit. Now, however, "the world has become so powerful, pervasive, and appealing that the traditional stance of cognitive defiance has become rare and almost unthinkable" ("Recycling the Compromise of Liberalism," Tabletalk [May 1992], 51.).

At some point, evangelicals decided to make friends with the world. Guinness pointed out that although we are called to be in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-18), many Christians have reversed the formula, becoming of the world while not really being in the world. They did this by allowing cable television, VCRs, radio, and other forms of communication to infuse worldly values into their thinking, while isolating themselves from any personal involvement with the people in the world who most desperately need the gospel. "Evangelicals are now outdoing the liberals as the supreme religious modernists and compromisers of today," Guinness writes (Ibid.).

The market-driven philosophy so popular among modern evangelicals is nothing more than "a recycling of the error of classical liberalism" (Ibid.). The reason most evangelicals were caught unaware by modernism a hundred years ago is that liberals rose from within evangelical ranks, used evangelical vocabulary, and gained acceptance through relentless appeals for peace and tolerance. New church-growth movements are following precisely the same course, and that tactic has taken evangelicals by surprise once again.

Most of the market-driven megachurches insist they would never compromise doctrine. They are attractive to evangelicals precisely because they claimed to be as orthodox in their doctrine as they are unorthodox in their methodology. Multitudes have been sufficiently reassured by such promises and have simply abandoned their critical faculties, thus increasing their vulnerability.

Unfortunately, real discernment is in short supply among modern evangelicals. Like the modernists a century ago, churches in the user-friendly movement have decided that doctrine is divisive-peace is more important than sound teaching. Wanting to appeal to a modern age, they have framed their message as a friendly, agreeable, and relevant dialogue, rather than as a confrontation with the gospel of Christ. The relevant issues of our modern age-radicalism, abortion, feminism, homosexuality, and other politically charged moral issues-pose the most obvious threat for user-friendly churches. Their undefined theology and seeker-sensitive philosophy do not permit them to take a firm biblical stance on such matters, because the moment they defy the spirit of the age, they forfeit their marketing appeal. They are therefore forced to keep silent or capitulate. Either way, they compromise the truth. If a church is not even willing to take a firm stand against abortion, how will it deal with the erosion of crucial doctrine?

If a church lacks discernment enough to condemn such overt errors as homosexuality or feminism, how will it handle a subtle attack on doctrinal integrity? Many evangelical churches have wholly abandoned strong preaching about hell, sin, and the wrath of God. They claim God's primary attribute is benevolence, one that overrides and supersedes His holiness, justice, wrath, and sovereignty. Rather than addressing humanity's greatest need-forgiveness of sins-modern sermons deal with contemporary topics, psychological issues (depression, eating disorders, self-image), personal relationships, motivational themes, and other matters a la mode.

The market-driven philosophy of user-friendly churches does not easily permit them to take firm enough doctrinal positions to oppose false teaching. Their outlook on leadership drives them to hire marketers who can sell rather than biblically qualified pastors who can teach. Their approach to ministry is so un-doctrinal that they cannot educate their people against subtle errors. Their avoidance of controversy puts them in a position where they cannot oppose false teaching that masquerades as evangelicalism. In fact, the new trends in theology seem ideally suited to the user-friendly philosophy.

Why would the user-friendly church oppose such doctrines? But oppose them we must, if we are to remain true to God's Word and maintain a gospel witness. Pragmatic approaches to ministry do not hold answers to the dangers confronting biblical Christianity today. Pragmatism promises bigger churches, more people, and a living church, but it is really carnal wisdom-spiritually bankrupt and contrary to the Word of God. Marketing techniques offer nothing but the promise of popularity and worldly approval. They certainly offer no safeguard against the dangers of the down-grade toward spiritual ruin.

The only hope is a return to Scripture and sound doctrine. We evangelicals desperately need to recover our determination to be biblical, our refusal to comply with the world, our willingness to defend what we believe, and our courage to defy false teaching. Unless we collectively awaken to the current dangers that threaten our faith, the adversary will attack us from within, and we will not be able to withstand. Yet, surely, there must be some who will fling aside the dastard love of peace, and speak out for our Lord, and for his truth.

(A craven spirit is upon many, and their tongues are paralyzed. Oh, for an outburst of true faith and holy zeal! (Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

John MacArthur

God’s Maniac - Louis Talley

2008-08-02T23:17:00.000-07:00

God’s Maniac — as Lou Talley calls himself, has been around the block. A VietNam veteran he survived the fray, only to be unwittingly sold into bondage after dabbling in the occult. In and out of mental hospitals with Post-traumatic stress disorder, he was at the end of his rope when he gave his heart to God.

A man with a message of hope, Lou will tell you that nothing is impossible with God. He’s living proof!

God’s Maniac - The Book Coming Soon!

"The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory."

2008-07-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

A gem from Spurgeon:

"The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory." - Deuteronomy 5:24

God's great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are?

Man's eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance.

He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who "do business in great waters," these see his "wonders in the deep." Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man.

Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God's greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by.

Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you.

Waiting on the Lord

2008-07-13T04:15:00.000-07:00

My apologies for another long post, linked off site - however, I think this article is well-worth the effort involved in reading it...

Psa. 27:14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

Psa. 37:9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

Introduction

The waiting room, a land where time seemingly stands still. It is a place where life is put on hold. In my doctor’s office, it feels like hours have passed, and yet when I look at my watch, it’s been only 20 minutes. When we are in the waiting room, it seems as if progress has come to a screeching halt.¹

This short, but excellent article by Mark Wheeler formed the incentive for this series on waiting on the Lord.

One of the important exhortations of the Bible is the call to “wait on the Lord.” Even though God promises special blessing for waiting, waiting is one of the most difficult exhortations of Scripture. Why is it so hard? Because, as a part of fallen humanity, we are so prone to take matters into our own hands, to follow our own schemes. Yet, over and over again we are told in Scripture “wait on the Lord.”

We don’t like to wait and when we think of waiting we are apt to respond with the pun, “Wait? That’s what made the bridge collapse!” Of course, that’s weight, not wait. But then these two words, weight and wait are not always unrelated because one of our needs in waiting on the Lord is the need to cast the weighty burdens of life on Him.

The comment about the bridge expresses our normal dislike for waiting, especially in our “I want it now!” society. Ours is a society that has grown accustomed to immediate gratification. Due to modern technology and all our conveniences—telephones, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, fast foods, airplanes, etc.—we have many things immediately at our fingertips. Just think of the speed of the latest computer technology in comparison with the computers of only a few years ago.

Even in our modern age of conveniences, waiting is still a big part of life. When we think of waiting, what comes to mind? We might conjure up visions of an airport terminal, a doctor’s waiting room, the line at the supermarket, or being stuck in rush hour traffic. The facts are, most of us are waiting for something most of the time:

Maybe you are in a job situation that’s really tough to endure and you are waiting and hoping that conditions will change for the better.
Maybe you are without a job and waiting for news on an application.
Maybe you are ill (or have a loved one who is) and waiting for your health to improve.
Maybe you are on a diet and waiting for your weight to drop a few pounds.
A single person may be waiting for Mr. or Miss Right.
Or maybe you are waiting for your spouse or child to become interested in spiritual things.

Read the article off site

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

2008-06-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

I'm currently reading an important little book written by Pastor Francis Chan, called "Crazy Love".

Pastor Chan raises many points which should disturb any professing Christian, and I strongly recommend everyone to read it. It has certainly made me uncomfortable about myself. Read it if you dare!

See some Amazon reviews:

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

Pastor Chan's website:

CrazyLovebook.com

A very special thanks to Alesia at Verily, I say unto thee… for graciously sending me a copy.

A Video well worth watching...

2008-06-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

Scroll down to view the video...

Examine Yourself

The date of the coming is concealed…

2008-06-19T16:58:00.001-07:00

The date of the coming is concealed. When he shall come, no man can tell. Watch for Him, and be always ready, that you may not be ashamed at His advent. Should a Christian man go into worldly assemblies and amusements? Would he not be ashamed should his Lord come and find him among the enemies of the cross? I dare not go where I should be ashamed to be found should my Lord come on a sudden. Should a Christian man ever be in a passion? Suppose his Lord should there and then come; would he not be ashamed at His coming. One here says of an offender, “I will never forgive her; she will never darken my doors again.” Would you not be ashamed if the Lord came, and found you unforgiving? Oh, that we may abide in Him, and never be in such a state that His coming would be unwelcome to us! Beloved, so live from day to day in duty and devotion, that your Lord’s coming would be timely. Go about your daily business and abide in Him, and then His coming will be a glorious delight to you.

Charles H Spurgeon

Consider It All Joy By: Greg Herrick Th.M., Ph.D.

2008-05-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

Introduction: A Hammer, File, and Furnace

God uses many different kinds of trials in our lives in order to mold, awaken, and mature us, i.e., to make us lovely, Christlike people. These sources for trial can be compared to various things in life, for example, a hammer, a file, or a furnace. A. W. Tozer explains,

Now, the hammer is a useful tool but the nail, if it had feelings and intelligence, could present another side of the story. For the nail knows the hammer only as an opponent, a brutal, merciless enemy who lives to pound it into submission, to beat it down out of sight and clinch it into place. That is the nail's view of the hammer, and it is accurate, except for one thing: The nail forgets that both it and the hammer are servants of the same workman. Let the nail but remember that the hammer is held by the workman and all resentment toward it will disappear. The carpenter decides whose head will be beaten next and what hammer shall be used in the beating. That is his sovereign right. When the nail has surrendered to the will of the workman and has gotten a little glimpse of his benign plans for its future it will yield to the hammer without complaint.

The file is more painful still, for its business is to bite into the soft metal, scraping and eating away the edges till it has shaped the metal to its will. Yet the file has, in truth, no real will in the matter, but serves another master, as the metal also does. It is the master and not the file that decides how much shall be eaten away, what shape the metal shall take, and how long the painful filing shall continue. Let the metal accept the will of the master and it will not try to dictate when or how it shall be filed.

As for the furnace it is the worst of all. Ruthless and savage, it leaps at every combustible thing that enters it and never relaxes its fury till it has reduced it all to shapeless ashes. All that refuses to burn is melted to a mass of helpless matter, without will or purpose of its own. When everything is melted that will melt and all is burned that will burn, then and not till then the furnace calms down and rests from its destructive fury.1

Suffering is no fun. Sometimes God uses a hammer-at least it feels that way-and at other times he uses a painful file. He even uses a furnace, though perhaps not as often, being ever mindful that we are made of dust. Suffering is gut wrenching and drawn out at times, but the one thing that you must know, Christian, is that God is with you through the whole ordeal. He has focused all his energies on you and will never leave your side, though for a moment it may seem as if he's abandoned your heart and fled from your thoughts.
How We Should Respond to Suffering (and Why)

But how should we respond to suffering? Sometimes we balk at the very thought of it. It's unthinkable to us that our heavenly Father would even permit, let alone design suffering into his plan for our lives. We persist in this illusion even though scripture clearly teaches us that God creates both light and the darkness, peace and calamity, though only for our good.

Now there are various reasons why we suffer. Some times we suffer because we've made patently impetuous and poor decisions. And so we're in the process of reaping what we've sown and God permits it to teach us that His glory and our good are all that matter to Him. This does not mean that you cannot ask God to end the trial. He may say "No," but in his infinite wisdom and mercy He may grant your request as you humble your heart and return to your Savior. It may, however, be better to ask for wisdom in the midst of a trial, rather than ask God to immediately end it. Nonetheless, God is infinitely merciful, taking delight in His people and listening to their cries for help (Exod 3:7)!

But there are seasons in our lives when we suffer though we've not sinned in any specific way. We all realize that we sin each and every day of our lives, but that is not the same thing as committing a particularly egregious sin or developing an ongoing pattern of unbelief or moral impurity. In short, there are times when we suffer-whether at the hands of other people or circumstances God sends our way-simply because God is working in our lives to purify, strengthen, and enlarge the room in our hearts for Him. So has God brought a hammer into your life lately? Is He working away with a file? Or do you feel like you're in the furnace right now? What is God's overall wisdom to us in these circumstances? Listen to James:

1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. 1:5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. 1:6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. 1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, 1:8 since he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Suffering is no fun. But James doesn't tell us to consider it fun! He tells us to "consider it all joy." Going to Disney's Theme Park is fun. Suffering daily with illness, losing a business, or grief through any form of loss...well, that's not fun! But such trials can be processed with joy, be they a hammer, file, or furnace!

Yet you ask, "How in the world can a person consider the trials which have surrounded them, like a pack of hungry wolves, all joy?

Don't psychiatrists preach that such a perspective usually evidences gross denial, plain and simple? And don't the experts claim that such people should immediately go on medication or be locked up before they explode?

But again, James doesn't say, "Deny that you're in a real tough battle right now." He doesn't say, "Deaden the pain though binging and purging, through more movies, through other forms of escapism." He actually tells us to consider our trials, that is, he encourages us to give careful thought to what's going on in our lives. And he tells us to do so in a certain way, because of what will happen in and through us as a result. That's materially different.

First, James encourages us to consider, regard, or view these trials with joy. And, "no," he's not joking! We are to welcome difficulties as we would an old and dear friend. Think of an old friend you haven't seen for years. Think of meeting him/her again. Would your face be downcast when you saw them? Would you offer them bitterness, anger, and a pouting attitude? No! You would receive them into your home, delighted that they had come to visit. You would open your heart to them and receive them with joy! So it should be with trials...at least according to James.

But, James tells us not to welcome trials simply with joy, but to welcome them with all joy! Our joy is not to be mixed with anything but more joy. It is to flow like pure brook water, untainted with the dirt of unbelief and bitterness.

But why? Why should we consider the trials in our lives with all joy? Answer: Because we know what trials accomplish in us. We are being tested so that we might look more like Christ in terms of patience/endurance. In short, we are being tested so that we might become mature and complete, with a pure and undefiled faith. We go through testing so that we might not lack anything!

Have you seriously considered that before? If you deeply want to grow in Christ, to enjoy greater intimacy with Him, and to reflect his persevering heart in your experience, then welcome trials with joy. Like the words of faithful friends, they cut deep, but in the end, you're a more Christlike Christian! In the end, your family benefits. In the end, the church is blessed. In the end, the world is changed!

But there's a second reality that empowers us toward rejoicing and joy in the midst of trials and it is this: if we're being tested, there must be Someone giving the test! Thus we know that we are not suffering for something, but for and with Someone...We're suffering at the nail-pierced, blood-stained hands of Christ Himself. He has designed the particular trial through which we're passing and He will carry us in it-carry us, I say, with those blood-stained hands!
Conclusion

So, if you know Him and today there are no particularly difficult trials in your life, consider yourself blessed and thank the Lord. But if you know Him, and you're passing through the fire today, then consider it all joy; welcome the various and diverse trials as old friends! Know that it is Christ himself who is working out his great plan in your life and that nothing can separate you from His love (Rom 8:38-39). He is only working spiritual fruit in you so that you might be mature and complete and that you might in turn enjoy Him more.

If you do not know the Lord today, then listen to what he's telling you through the difficulties of life. You were not made to "go it alone." You were designed for relationship with people and, most importantly, with the Ultimate Person. Trials are God's knock at your door. Don't tell Him He has the wrong address. Rather, welcome Him in and watch how everything changes!

Consider It All Joy

Speaking in Tongues By: Lehman Strauss , Litt.D., F.R.G.S.

2008-05-15T03:31:00.000-07:00

Introduction

This is not the final chapter to be written on the subject of speaking in tongues. Men (and women) will be having their say until our Lord returns to settle this matter once and for all time. It is difficult to say how, when and where the modern tongues movement began. In the many pamphlets and books I have examined opinions differ. We do know that the phenomenon of tongues-speaking is widespread, and it is likely that no issue in Christendom has caused as wide a split in its ranks in modern times as has speaking in tongues.

All Bible-believing Christians who study the Word of God are in agreement that the gift of tongues is present in the inspired Scriptures. In the New Testament two lists of gifts appear in which the gift of tongues is included. In 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 “kinds of tongues” and “the interpretation of tongues” are said to be sovereignly bestowed gifts of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 “tongues” appears in the list of gifts. We call them “spiritual gifts” from the Greek word charisma, suggesting that the gift is a bestowment of God’s grace. It is not a natural ability that one might develop, but rather a special gift as those appearing in the above mentioned passages in First Corinthians.

The Holy Spirit is sovereign in the distribution of these gifts. Following the listing of the gifts, Paul adds, “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will” (1 Corinthians 12:11). No one person has all the gifts, nor are we to seek the gifts. We must be careful that we do not confuse the Spirit as a gift to the believer with the gifts the Spirit gives to believers. Every believer has received the gift of the Spirit, but not every believer has received the gifts which the Spirit bestows.

(1) It is a mistake to assume that speaking in tongues is synonymous with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is unscriptural teaching which says that all who are baptized by the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues. The Scriptures state emphatically that all saved persons have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body . . . ” (1 Corinthians 12:13). All the believers at Corinth received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, however all did not speak in tongues. The question asked in verse 30, “Do all speak with tongues?” is so phrased so as to convey the expected answer, “No.”

Read the full article

Have you received the Holy Spirit?

New Links added

2008-05-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

I’ve added some new Discernment Ministries links. The Christian church is increasingly being infiltrated by the New Age and heretical teachings.

While none of us will agree with EVERYTHING said by these various ministries (I certainly don’t), it is vitally important in these last days that we be as the Bereans were:

Act 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Who Does God Say That I Am?

2008-04-21T01:49:00.000-07:00

By: Kenneth Boa Th.M.; Ph.D.; D.Phil

Who Does God Say That I Am?

Here is a list of biblical affirmations about our identity in Jesus Christ that is derived from a few selected passages in the New Testament. This is just a portion of the many truths about who we have become through faith in God’s Son, but it is a powerful inventory to review from time to time:

• I am a child of God.

But to all who have received him--those who believe in his name--he has given the right to become God's children … (John 1:12).

• I am a branch of the true vine, and a conduit of Christ’s life.

I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me--and I in him--bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing (John 15:1, 5).

• I am a friend of Jesus.

I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father (John 15:15).

• I have been justified and redeemed.

But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

• My old self was crucified with Christ, and I am no longer a slave to sin.

We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin (Romans 6:6).

• I will not be condemned by God.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

• I have been set free from the law of sin and death.

For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

• As a child of God, I am a fellow heir with Christ.

And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)--if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17).

• I have been accepted by Christ.

Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God's glory (Romans 15:7).

• I have been called to be a saint.

… To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours (1 Corinthians 1:2). (See also Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, and Colossians 1:2.)

• In Christ Jesus, I have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption … (1 Corinthians 1:30).

• My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 6:19)?

• I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him.

But the one united with the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17).

• God leads me in the triumph and knowledge of Christ.

But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).

• The hardening of my mind has been removed in Christ.

But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away (2 Corinthians 3:14).

• I am a new creature in Christ.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away--look, what is new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

• I have become the righteousness of God in Christ.

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• I have been made one with all who are in Christ Jesus.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female--for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

• I am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir.

So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God (Galatians 4:7).

• I have been set free in Christ.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

• I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

• I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God.

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love (Ephesians 1:4).

• I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).

• I have been predestined by God to obtain an inheritance.

In Christ we too have been claimed as God's own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11).

• I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)--when you believed in Christ--you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

• Because of God’s mercy and love, I have been made alive with Christ.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you are saved (Ephesians 2:4-5)!

• I am seated in the heavenly places with Christ.

… And he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … (Ephesians 2:6).

• I am God’s workmanship created to produce good works.

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them (Ephesians 2:10).

• I have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ.

But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13).

• I am a member of Christ’s body and a partaker of His promise.

… The Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6). (See also Ephesians 5:30.)

• I have boldness and confident access to God through faith in Christ.

… In whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ's faithfulness (Ephesians 3:12).

• My new self is righteous and holy.

… Put on the new man who has been created in God's image--in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth (Ephesians 4:24).

• I was formerly darkness, but now I am light in the Lord.

… For you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light (Ephesians 5:8).

• I am a citizen of heaven.

But our citizenship is in heaven--and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ … (Philippians 3:20).

• The peace of God guards my heart and mind.

And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

• God supplies all my needs.

And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

• I have been made complete in Christ.

… You have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority (Colossians 2:10).

• I have been raised up with Christ.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).

• My life is hidden with Christ in God.

… For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

• Christ is my life, and I will be revealed with Him in glory.

When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him (Colossians 3:4).

• I have been chosen of God, and I am holy and beloved.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience … (Colossians 3:12).

• God loves me and has chosen me.

We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you … (1 Thessalonians 1:4).

The more we embrace these truths from Scripture about who we have become in Christ, the more stable, grateful, and fully assured we will be in this world.

The Power of Prayer - Do You have a two-bit prayer life?

2008-04-02T01:19:00.000-07:00

by Dr. David R. Reagan

In James 4:2 we find these words: "You do not have, because you do not ask." Let me ask you a question: If you were to stop praying, would it radically affect your life? Or is that question one that you can’t answer because it’s like that old trick question: "Have you stopped beating your wife?" In other words, is it possible that you are one of those Christians who couldn’t stop praying because you have never really started?

On the other hand, are you one of those Christians who pray regularly out of a sense of habit or a sense of duty — but who doubts seriously the power of prayer because you have never sensed its effect in your life?

Again, I ask: If you were to stop praying, would it radically affect your life?

Perhaps you are one of those Christians who would really like to pray, but you have fallen victim to the modern, "sophisticated" concept that prayer is merely a psychological exercise in self-help — and therefore you are turned off by the concept of participating in a sham — by, in effect, praying to yourself.

An Age of Unbelief

There is no doubt that we live in an age that does not believe in prayer. The great tragedy is that Christians have become caught up in the philosophy of our age, a philosophy that enthroned Science as god. We are taught on every side that we live in an impersonal universe, a world that is a great, remorseless machine, obeying relentless laws. And in the midst of it all, we tiny humans are nothing but transient pygmies.

The result is that we have a hollow god — a god that has no heart, no compassion, for Science cannot feel or laugh or show mercy. Science can only analyze, measure, dissect, weigh and speculate. And so we feel a sense of meaninglessness; a loss of significance; an erosion of hope; a lack of power.

Oh, many of us who call ourselves Christians go through the motions of prayer. But our prayers are often infrequent and vague and faithless. Most of us pray prayers that a stone god could answer:

"Father, we pray for all those who it is our duty to pray for."

"Father, forgive us of all our unforgiven sins."

Our prayers tend to be empty, meaningless rituals. We are like the king in Shakespeare’s Hamlet who tried to pray for the forgiveness of his sin of murder in order to purge his feeling of guilt. His prayer was ineffective. As he put it, "It didn’t even reach the ceiling."

When the king analyzed his problem, Shakespeare put words of wisdom in his mouth that are as profound as any that mere Man has ever written about prayer: "My words fly up; my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to Heaven go."

Like this king, we are often guilty of praying without meaning. Consider, for example, the songs which we sing as prayers, but which we do not mean at all. In fact, we would be appalled if the Lord answered them. A good example is to be found in the popular prayer song, "Take My Life And Let It Be" —

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite will I withhold;

Take my intellect and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Even when we occasionally pray honestly, earnestly, and specifically for something, most of us pray with little or no expectation of fulfillment. The proof of this is that when our prayers are answered, we either react with astonishment, or else we react with crass unbelief, attributing the answer to some natural cause or process — like luck.

In this regard we are like the little boy playing on the roof of his house. He loses his balance and starts sliding off. As he approaches the edge of the roof, he cries out, "Help me, Lord!" A moment later his pants catch on a nail and he is saved from falling. He looks up and says, "Never mind, Lord!"
read the rest of the article

See also:
Prayer, Revival, & the Holy Spirit
Why don't Christians Pray?

Kept from the Hour by Gerald Stanton

2008-03-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

This an online book on the rapture from a Pre-Tribulational perspective, graciously hosted by Berean Watchmen Ministries and Rapture Ready.

Chapter One: A Theme of Great Significance

Chapter Two: Not Appointed Unto Wrath

Chapter Three: Is the Church in Matthew 24

Chapter Four: The Day of the Lord

Chapter Five: Who is "The Restrainer"?

Chapter Six: The Imminency of the Coming of Christ for the Church

Chapter Seven: The Golden Rule of Biblical Interpretation

Chapter Eight: The Partial Rapture Theory

Chapter Nine: The Mid-Tribulation Rapture Theory

Chapter Ten: The Post-Tribulation Rapture Theory

Chapter Eleven: The Rapture: Incidental or Fundamental?

Addendum – see also:

12 His Coming – Our Hope

13 The Rapture Debate

Facts about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

2008-03-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

Sir William Ramsay, regarded as one of the greatest archaeologists ever, investigated the writings of Luke in an apparent effort to undermine the Gospel writer's credentials as a historian, and to discredit the entire New Testament. After 30 years of study, however, Ramsay concluded, "Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy... this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians."

* Gospel writers' accounts of Jesus' burial and resurrection
* Consider the strength of the evidence
* Consider the weakness of theories given to deny the resurrection
* Consider what historians say
* Further study
* References

Read the article

Genesis and the Cross

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Religion, Gnosticism, the New Age and all that….

2008-03-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

There is more than one path to God.

Ever heard that before?

What about this?

All religions contain truth.

I’d like to relate a conversation I had with an atheist I once knew. The person in question is highly intelligent; a University graduate and a lecturer in food science. This occurred during my New Age days when I practised meditation and yoga. The atheist in question was a Malaysian Buddhist who practised Vipassana meditation and regularly attended retreats in Burma. At that time, I considered him to be advanced on the path. One day as we were talking about meditation experiences and techniques, the subject came around on the existence of a God. He made the following blunt and confident statements that somewhat startled me at the time:

“When you go deeply enough into meditation you eventually reach a point when you can actually see that there is no God. All our masters and teachers know this. You will soon see for yourself.”

Oh really?

I can’t recall how I answered. I remember thinking of a number of rebuttals off the top on my head, but we were in a gym and in between sets and I really liked the guy. And from previous conversations I considered him to be a tad smarter than the average Neanderthal I trained with. I remember thinking if my friend was right then these “masters and teachers” could tell us what was on the other side of the universe without having to send out space probes…right? They could tell us which planets were inhabited or not – all from sitting down and monitoring their breaths.

Do I sound cynical?

I hope so!

This intelligent man was telling me that by using the faculty of his own mind in meditation (but without rational thought), he could ponder the existence of God. Think about that for a while. This is a common presumption of New Age devotees…but there is one problem.

Some months later we were talking about a TV special where the Illusionist, David Copperfield, performed the stunt where he apparently walks through the Great Wall of China. My intelligent friend made another startling statement. He casually informed me that his teachers told him Copperfield had gone over to the dark side in misusing his powers.

Say that again!

It seemed that in this simple statement, the “Enlightened” house of cards was suddenly blown down by the wind of gullibility. It was then that I really probed him about his beliefs. No, he didn’t believe in a God but he did believe in “deities”…of course there are deities…and we are like “gods” learning through progressive incarnations. Proof? All we have to do is meditate and realize this for ourselves. My intelligent friend was deluded. He left logic and objectivity behind. Basically he was an accomplished food scientist and that’s all.

Over the years, I’ve researched more books and articles about the New Age, meditation and yoga than I care to admit. I read about Edgar Cayce’s jaunts through the Akashic records. I was even a member of the ARE. I also practised Kriya yoga through Pramahansa Yogananda’s “Self Realization Fellowship”. I read Annie Besant, Neale Donald Walsch, Richard Bach, Helen Schucman’s A Course In Miracles and many, many others. There are two main threads that run through all the claims made by most of these people and systems.

1) They claim some special knowledge of TRUTH that is derived by their own efforts or transmitted by certain masters (received in meditation).

2) They all - without exception - deny that Jesus Christ died to save us!

Now, someone might say, “If they all deny Jesus Christ died for our sins then, hey, maybe they’re right!”

This is where we get to the problem that I referred to earlier.

Here’s the thing: In all the research I’ve done; what with all the Akashic record readings and teachings by supposed ascended masters ad nauseam, none of these charlatans (yes, they are all charlatans) agree with each other except on that one thing:

That Christ did not come to die for us.

For example, Yogananda will tell you about Christ’s previous incarnations and so will Besant, Cayce and a host of others…but they’ll all contradict each other.

Now Neale Donald Walsch takes contradictions to new levels – he actually regularly contradicts his own statements in the “Conversations With God” books.

Walsch’s contradictions

Conversations With God

All paths and religions lead to God?

This is a logical fallacy based on careless assumptions. This can only be true if they all agree with each other about how this is achieved and if they all agree with each other, then there is only One Way.

The Buddhists are predominantly atheists. The Hindus believe in multiple gods. Islam contradicts Christianity regarding salvation. Islam teaches salvation by works (as does the New Age when you really dig into it).

The New Age. What is it?

World Views in Contrast

Assorted articles

Salvation According to the Old Testament: By Faith in Christ or by Faith and Works Apart from Christ?

The Teaching Of Islam

Christianity (true Christianity) is unique in that it teaches that it was Christ’s work on the cross that facilitated our salvation by Faith through Grace, not by works.

Salvation

I believe the presumption that there are many paths to God or “whatever” has one basic motivation driving it - it frees the believer to do whatever he or she chooses without compunction. The alternative is an obligation to follow a certain path which may be choice restrictive. I think this is what motivates people like Oprah Winfrey and the gurus she surrounds herself with.

To this I say – CAVEAT EMPTOR

What do these people really know that you don’t and why would you trust them?

Would you buy a car or a house without checking it out first?

Would you marry a person without knowing something about them?

If there is a God who offers multiple viable alternatives to salvation, then is it logical that these paths contradict each other?

Think about it. Your decision may affect where you spend eternity

Choose well.

A presentation, explanation, and mini-argument for the faith

THE MAN GOD USES by Ray Stedman

2008-03-10T01:01:00.000-07:00

In discussing our subject the term, man, is used in a generic sense which includes women as well. Man or woman, there is no respect of persons with God. God delights to use anyone, boy or girl, man or woman, who makes himself available to him. I suspect that if we investigated we would find in most hearts here a basic hunger to be used of God. If you have been a Christian for any length of time you have experienced something of this and you know the joy of it, the glory of it, the sheer excitement of it. There is nothing quite like the sense of having been a channel of divine activity, of having been used to do God's work.

I suspect that there is a hunger in your heart to be used of God not merely occasionally, but consistently. And to be used, not despite yourself, as sometimes happens (for the Scripture tells us that God even uses the devil, so if you are resting upon that you are in pretty poor company), but to be used with full acquiescence and acceptance of God's program for you. Doubtless you desire to be used to heal, to make right, to restore, to break down middle walls of participation, to unite that which is shattered and fragmented, to deliver from oppressions, from bondage and enslavement, to enlighten and open eyes, to illuminate reality, to dispel mists, illusions and visions, and to empower, enrich, fulfill, and intensify. All these are descriptions of the work God is here to do, and what he will use you to do if you are available to him. It is exactly what God proposes to do with each one of us. and thus to be used is what gives meaning and purpose to life.

Without this, the best we can do results in a sense of deadness. meaninglessness and pointlessness. We might give a most impressive display of energy, vitality, and activity, but when we get to the end we shall have to ask ourselves, What's been the point of it all? In the day of the judgment of the believer before God he may say to us, "What you did was interesting, and active, but you missed the point." Thus I suspect that with many of us there is a very deep desire to be used of God. I confess, for my own part, that I will be quite content if it could be written on my tombstone what I once saw on another's, "He was used of God."

Spiritual maturity, becoming grown up as a Christian, is nothing more nor less than to be made ready for consistent use by the Spirit of God. When you have reached that place it will be marked by certain signs, which are unconsciously revealed to us by the apostle Paul in a well-known passage from the first chapter of Romans:

"I want you to know, brethren, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish: so I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

It should be quite apparent that the apostle is not drawing a deliberate self-portrait. He does not intend to talk about himself or what kind of a man he is; he is simply breathing out to these Roman Christians, many of whom he has never met, a long standing desire on his part to come to the capital of the Empire to visit them and to have a ministry among them. But in the process of doing this he unconsciously reveals the qualities of the man or woman that God uses. This we will look at together...Read the article

Worshipping God

2008-02-29T18:31:00.000-08:00

Strong's numbers:

G4352
προσκυνέω proskuneō
From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.

G4576
Σέβομαι sebomai
Middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to revere, that is, adore: - devout, religious, worship.

On and off, for a long, long time, I’ve been struggling to define how someone takes time out to spend time with God in prayer and worship. I’ve read several articles relating to worship but none of them, so far, really answered the question to my satisfaction. Perhaps that’s because I’m relatively new in the Christian walk or it may be indicative of my intellectual deficiencies. I am quite able to get up early before sunrise and spend time in prayer and Bible study but what about the worship part? How often have I read that an author has spent time in prayer, study and worship!

Is it really just a case of deciding to spend ten minutes in prayer, ten minutes at worship and ten minutes in study? What are the elements of worship? Is it giving thanks and expressing love? Is worship kneeling in obeisance and singing a hymn? Does the worship period have a definable beginning and end?

Or is that worship period merely a brief overt expression of something that Christians do every moment of their lives?

I’m going to indulge myself here and talk about my dog (again) to try to illustrate what I think worship is. Mac, who passed away last year, was unique among the dogs I’ve owned. When I first picked him up and brought him home from the breeder, I thought she’d made a huge mistake in selecting him for me. Even at three months, he was like lightning; into everything, and he demanded full-on attention. In other words, he was high maintenance – not the sort of animal a self-absorbed dolt like me would naturally choose.

As big as he grew, Mac was a true lover of people and other dogs. So much so that I presumed that he would be happy just about anywhere. So when I had to temporarily place him in a kennel because I was re-blocking my house I thought he would thrive amongst the other dogs. He didn’t. When he came home he was under-weight and was so happy to see me he actually cried and wouldn’t leave my side for hours.

This dog, a lover of attention, would drop everyone and choose to be with me. At feeding time, late at night, no matter how hungry he was he would first lick my hand before eating his food. Or, if given the option, he would rather come inside with me before eating. If I gave him a bone and then took it away from him, he would simply accept it. My previous dogs would have growled a warning.

I’m about 92 kgs and fairly strong - Mac was just under 50 kgs (all muscle) and whenever we went for walks and he found an interesting scent, he would bear down with his legs so that he was almost immovable. That was always a titanic struggle. One day, as we were walking along a railway line, Mac found a pole with an enticing smell and bore down as usual to indicate that he wasn’t moving until he’d thoroughly investigated the scent. I immediately tied his lead around that pole and walked on a few metres, leaving him behind. As soon as Mac noticed I’d moved away he tried to follow. He was ready to drop that new scent, no matter how interesting it was, to be with me.

The point is that I was number one in that dog’s life. He was totally devoted to me – he worshipped me. This wasn’t something he switched on and off - this was something he lived with and gave outward expression to at every opportunity.

Mac came into my life and taught me something very valuable. He gave me an example of what my attitude should be to my Lord. Worship is inexorably linked with love, obedience and devotion. In so many ways I fail miserably to follow that example.

***************************************************************************
I finally came across this article by Ray Stedman. I believe he hits the nail on the head!

...On the other hand, when true worship occurs, life becomes vital, real, exciting, daring, and adventurous. It is felt to be eminently worthwhile. Those of us who have learned to worship the true God know this is true. Worship is the foundation to all we do and say, and we find ourselves worshipping in some form or another all day long. It is clear, therefore, we must give close attention to what true worship is. How do we learn it? How do we practice it? To answer these questions we must turn to the Scriptures. I want to explore the nature of worship now, and next week we will look at some of the methods of corporate worship.
WHY WORSHIP? by Ray C. Stedman

The Great Story of Your Walk with God

2008-02-27T20:01:00.000-08:00

By: John F. Walvoord
When it first happened, you could hardly understand it. You had been seeking something that was missing in your life — an inner peace, a sense of having found the real meaning of life. You had struggled with your own failures, your foreboding sense of God's disapproval, and you had struggled to comprehend what Christians were talking about when they said they had found peace with God.

Gradually the Light Dawns

You began to understand that your problems were too great for you to solve, but that God had provided a way of salvation. Somehow Christ in His love had opened the way for forgiveness and renewal when He died on the cross. In His resurrection, Christ proved to you that He was indeed all that He claimed to be; the Son of God and your Savior. Then came the venture of faith, the simple belief that it was so, that Christ actually died for your sins. So you put your trust in Him as your Savior.

Next came that indescribable sense of relief. You had found the secret of life and of a new vital relationship to God. You experienced a wonderful peace. Your sins were forgiven. God had accepted you as His child. You realized what it means to be born again by faith in Jesus Christ. A new chapter in your life had begun. It was a new adventure, a new experience of what it means to walk with God.

Although your experience differed from that of many others who had had similar struggles to find the Truth, the important fact was that you had found Christ and that Christ had found you, and in that new relationship there was promise of the present and for the future. While you still could not define completely all that had happened, the important fact was that now you were a new creature in Christ.

But There Were Questions ...

As you observed the lives of others who claimed to be Christians, you saw that all Christians were not the same. Some seemed to have a much closer walk with God than others, and some who claimed to be Christians could hardly be distinguished from those who were not. What was the secret of really walking with God? How could your life be what it ought to be now that you were a Christian?

As you sought answers to these important questions, you discovered that part of the problem was yourself. You soon woke up to the fact that although you were a new creature in Christ, this did not automatically cause you to make the right choices or to have the right desires. There was an empty within. As you studied the Bible, you discovered that the Bible takes this into consideration. Scripture recognizes that Christians are far from perfect and, accordingly, speaks of the "flesh" and "its lusts" as in Romans 13:14.

You discovered that even Paul had a tremendous inner struggle and confessed, "I find then the principle that evil is present in me" (Rom. 7:21*). But when Paul raised the question, "Who will set me free from the body of this death?" he also gave the answer, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom. 7:24-25). Then the way to be delivered from our inner temptation to sin is through the same person who delivered us from the guilt of sin, that is, through Jesus Christ.

You Learned What It Means to Walk with God

As you studied the matter further, you discovered that the secret of overcoming this inner tendency to sin was to "walk by the spirit" as Paul mentions in Galatians 5:16. In other words, the Spirit of God who indwells Christians is able to give them strength to overcome sin and to fulfill the will of God if they will yield their lives to Him.

A milestone in your spiritual experience was when you discovered Romans 12:1-2. There the whole matter was brought into perspective. Paul wrote in verse 1, "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Rom. 12:1). You found that even though you were imperfect, God would accept your sacrifice because you belong to Christ.

Walking with the Lord accordingly meant walking in dependence on the Holy Spirit who indwelled you, submitting to the directions which Christ Himself would give as the Spirit guided your life. Unlike your accepting Christ, which was an act once for all, you found that this was to be a daily experience. Even when you failed, if you confessed your sins and yielded yourself to God, He would forgive you and restore you into an intimate walk of fellowship (1 John 1:9).

But Your Struggles Weren't Over ...

But your problems did not stop when you found God's provision for victory over yourself. You soon learned that your new Christian faith required a standard of life that was very different from what the world around you was following. Here again, Paul came to your rescue and in Romans 12:2 he wrote, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

You discovered that the secret of living as Christians in a world that is hostile to Christian standards and values was twofold. First, you could not conform to the world outwardly. This did not mean that you had to dress in a peculiar way as some Christians have done, or that you had to label everything that the world says and does as evil. For instance, it was not wrong to use an automobile instead of a horse and buggy. But you did have to sort out what is good and evil in the world, and as Paul indicates, you were not to shape your life according to the pattern the world offers.

Not only should there be nonconformity to the world outwardly, but second, the real secret was an inner change, a renewed mind, a new insight into the real values and goals and meanings of life. The Bible became more important than the newspaper, and prayer more important than the latest newscast. Now you had to look at things from God's point of view, and realize that you were out of step with the world about you because you were in step with an unseen world that related to heaven.

Your Goals Changed

The goals of the world — to acquire material wealth and material things, to attain position and cater to pride — were not to be your goals. The tendency to satisfy the desires the body that were evil and opposed to walking with God had to be replaced by the desire to be pleasing to God and to live for things which endure in the life to come. It affected how you spent your time, how you spent your energy, how you spent your money, and how you related to people. You were in the world, but you were not of the world; and God d planned this so that you could be a light to the world that was without light.

Your Christian experience matured and you learned something else that you had not realized before. There were not only problems with yourself and problems with your world, but you were also involved in a spiritual conflict. Here again you found that Paul's experience corresponded to your own when he wrote, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). You found that all Christians are in a spiritual conflict where they were not only at war with themselves and the world, but they were also contending against an unseen enemy, the devil and forces of evil.

You Learned that the Bible Anticipated Your Struggles

Surprising as this is, you discovered that here again the Word of God anticipated this problem. Paul again revealed the divine plan to enable Christians to conquer Satan and resist all his temptations. He described it in Ephesians 6 as putting on the armor of God, and followed with the exhortation which sums it all up; "Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:14-17).

Your defenses against Satan were: the Truth which God provides, a righteous life made possible by the power of the Spirit, and relating your life to the proclamation of the gospel. Satan especially hates soul winners, and anyone using the shield of faith thereby trusting God for protection from him. In the battle you would need to hide again and again behind the fact that you were saved by, in effect, putting on the helmet of salvation. Above all, you were to use the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—which Christ Himself used so effectively in resisting Satan's temptations.

You Are Walking with God!

Walking with God involved so many diverse experiences and scriptural truths that it was not easy to put it all together. But the important point is that you are walking with God. While walking by its nature is trusting your limbs to carry you, and involves effort on your part, you are not walking alone. As you walk with God, you are able to overcome your own sinful tendencies and live a life that is pleasing to God. Walking with God you are conformed to His will, not being conformed to the world but being transformed within. Walking with God you are able to face the temptations of Satan by putting on the armor of God, resisting him and having victory in your spiritual life.

You now know that walking with God is a supernatural experience in which every Christian can sense God's presence and power — even though you cannot see Him with your physical eyes. It is God's plan that as you walk with God in this present evil world, you will be prepared for your walk with God through eternity. Then you will be in His holy presence and earth's temptations will be far removed.

Right now, however, the most crucial issue of your life is whether you are really walking with God. This is more important than what you are doing for Him, what you give to Him, or what you attain by way of earthly recognition for achievement.

God is more interested in you and your relationship to Him than in anything you are doing or experiencing. So as you walk through this world, be sure you are walking with God and not foolishly attempting to walk like a Christian without the Spirit of Christ as your faithful companion.

*All Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, ©The Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973. Used by permission.

Courtesy of Bible.org

Comfort for Believers in Times of Trouble

2008-02-24T21:43:00.000-08:00

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Psalm 91:1-2

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Corinthians 4:7-8

Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee. Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

For I the Lord God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, FEAR NOT, I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13

As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD is proved: He is a shield to all those who trust in Him. For who is God, save the LORD? Or who is a ROCK, save our God? The LORD liveth; and blessed be my ROCK; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. Psalm 18:30-31, 46

I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my ROCK, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:1-2

These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee. Isaiah 26:3

Wherefore, He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

As thy days, so shall thy strength be. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:25, 27

But thanks be to God who giveth us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians15:57

Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator. I Peter 4:19

For this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. I Chronicles 22:19

The LORD, thy God, in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest (be silent) in His love, He will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee. Psalm 143:8

As a father pitieth His children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14

God meant it unto good. Genesis 50:20 (Joseph’s statement about being imprisoned in Egypt)

And God shall wipe away ALL tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24

Wherefore, glorify ye the Lord IN the fires. Isaiah 24:15

Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to cast away. Ecclesiastes 3:6

This thing is from Me. I Kings 12:24

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials; knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

Let your manner of life be without covetous-ness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:5-6

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:13-14

Blessed by God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of ALL comfort, Who comforteth us IN ALL our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort which we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us therewith be content. I Timothy 6:6-8

I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God to them that are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Nay, in ALL these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and by it many be defiled. Hebrews 12:15

The Middletown Bible Church

What Makes Worship So Important? by Nancy Missler

2008-02-22T21:40:00.000-08:00

For the purpose of new readers just joining us this month, let's review for just a moment. This series began two months ago with my own story of several years ago, where I had become so discouraged and so disheartened at some of the horrific events in my life that I had lost the joy of my salvation. I tried to remedy it by praying more, going to more Bible studies and giving more things over to the Lord. But still, I remained shut down and joyless.

The event that finally changed my life was seeing the word "worship" at every turn. You know how it is when God tries to get your attention, He allows you to hear His voice everywhere. So, I began to question myself, "Do I personally really worship the Lord?"

Over time, He answered me: "Nancy, you don't even know what worship means, and that's why you have no joy."

Now, I've been a Christian for over 47 years, so you'd think that I would, at least, have a handle on what true worship is. The truth that the Lord showed me was, yes, I praised Him, yes, I read His Word and yes, I confessed and repented of my sins on a daily basis. But, after I did these things, I would get up and go about my business, without so much as a thought about truly worshiping Him. Oh, yes, every once in a while, I would raise my hands in church or fall on my face to pray for something specific, but He showed me that on a daily basis and on a personal level, I had never entered into worshiping Him and adoring Him. As a result, when the trials hit, I lost the joy of my salvation...Read the rest of the article

Nancy Missler is Chuck Missler’s wife. I owe a great debt to Chuck Missler’s ministry...About Chuck and Nancy Missler

Are Pre-Tribulationists in danger of delusion regarding the Tribulation?

2008-02-22T21:04:00.000-08:00

A further response to some comments I have picked up on in different forums…

Shouldn’t we prepare for the Tribulation?

“One of the weakest arguments for rejecting the pre-Trib position is that we should be preparing the church for the coming Tribulation; otherwise, Christians will be unable to endure the sufferings of those months of calamity. After all, the thinking goes, the church today is so self indulgent that it will crack under the attacks of the Antichrist, or will become disillusioned if it expects to be raptured prior to the Tribulation but wakes up one day to find the church is entering the Tribulation. Some ministers even say that those of us who offer the hope of a pre-Tribulation Rapture will be attacked by angry Christians if it turns out that believers have to go through the Tribulation after all.”

“Such a pessimistic view not only blasts the Rapture but sells short the enabling ministry of the Holy Spirit. If the church were forced to proceed through the Tribulation, we would not be abandoned by the Spirit of God. Philippians 4:19 would not be torn from our Bibles, for God would still supply all our needs. Besides, how would one prepare for such a time of tribulation? True, we could memorize more Scripture, but you don’t need the threat of tribulation for that.”

“All agree that people will be saved during the Tribulation. These Tribulation saints will be martyred for their love for Christ. The Holy Spirit will provide these Tribulation martyrs supernatural grace to be faithful until death. It seems ridiculous to me to promise God’s sufficiency to these new baby believers and then warn today’s Christians that unless they are prepared properly, they won’t be able to make it during the Tribulation.”

by Tim LaHaye “The Rapture - Who Will Face the Tribulation?"
pages 71-72

Amen to that!

I might also ask this of those who privately hold to some loftier moral position just because they believe in a Mid-Week, Three-Quarter-Week or Post-Week Rapture;

What is it, exactly, that you are doing that you think your pre-Trib brothers and sisters aren’t doing, to prepare for the Tribulation, or even a possible pre Daniel’s 70th week persecution/martyrdom?

The Silence of God

2008-02-21T21:51:00.000-08:00

"Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out;
they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
But none says, 'Where is God my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,
who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?'
There they cry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men." (Job 35:9-12)

"Why is God silent? Men cry for help, but God knows that what they are crying for is merely relief, that is all. They want to be taken out of the harmful, painful effects of their selfish ways and then allowed to go right back to being selfish. Nobody is concerned about God's glory and about being taught by God and learning at his hand and at his feet. Rather, they are simply crying out for deliverance, they want to use God, and to that kind of an appeal God is silent. I think this is why our prayers are often unanswered. Our selfishness has produced agony in our life and all we want is to escape the penalty; we are not at all concerned about God himself. And that is one reason for God's silence." (Ray C. Stedman)

The Power of God, Prayer, and the Christian’s Hope (Ephesians 1:19-23)

2008-02-19T00:55:00.000-08:00

By: Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M.

Introduction

The darkest moment in the life of the disciples was that three-day period when the body of the Lord Jesus lay lifeless in the tomb. For those three days, the disciples of our Lord were hopeless. They gathered together in a locked room, fearing the same fate as their Master, at the hands of the Jews (John 20:19). Even when reports began to reach them that the Lord was alive, they initially refused to believe them (Luke 24:11).

It was not until the risen Lord appeared to them personally that they were convinced of His resurrection. Once convinced, these men would never be the same. The resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus transformed the disciples from a frightened, discouraged, and defeated band of men to a dynamic, confident force which, in the words of their enemies, turned the world upside down.

The resurrection of our Lord was proof that He was the Messiah, as He claimed, and that death could not hold Him in its grip (see Acts 2:22-32). Beyond this, the ascension of the Lord Jesus to the right hand of the Father brought about the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit, empowering believers and convincing and converting those whom God had purposed to save (Acts 2:33-36)

In the first chapter of his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul has spoken of the blessings which God has purposed and provided for every believer, in Christ, to the praise of the glory of His grace (verses 3-14). He has also prayed for the Ephesian saints, that the Holy Spirit might grant them the enlightenment to grasp the unseen realities of which the Scriptures speak, which are the foundation of their faith. He has prayed for their growing comprehension of the “hope of His calling,” and of the “riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (verse 18).

In verses 19-23, Paul describes the third foundational truth which is fundamental to the faith and practice of the Ephesian believers: the knowledge of His infinite power:

And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:19-23).

The Easter season is nearly upon us. Most of us probably are content with our belief in the resurrection and ascension of our Lord as a historical event. In this belief, we differ from many. But this is not a sufficient grasp of these events as Paul understands and teaches them. There is much more to be gained from these events, as our text will indicate to us. The truths of this text are those which will transform our lives, if we but believe them. As Paul looked to the Spirit of God to make these truths and their implications known to his readers, let us likewise look to Him to enlighten our hearts, so that we might grow in our grasp of these realities, and thus find our thinking and lifestyles reshaped by them...Read the rest of the article

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Special Report: The 'Defeated' Christian

2008-02-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Jack Kinsella - The Omega Letter editor
(see Recommended Links)

You’ve all seen him. The defeated Christian. The guy who tries and tries, but after being saved for thirty years, he still hasn’t quit smoking. Instead, he hides his cigarettes before coming to church and won’t get too close when shaking your hand for fear you’ll smell the smoke on him.

Or the Christian who you know is saved, but he just can't quite give up the bottle. Or the Christian who got saved, but doesn't go to church, because he just doesn’t think he fits in with the rest of the crowd?

Or won’t go because he thinks that everybody at church is a big hypocrite? That defeated Christian who knows that even though he is saved, it just didn't seem to ‘take' like it seemed to with everybody else, so he’d just as soon not be reminded of it all the time by being around those to whom it did.

Especially since, if he were to mention it, somebody would point out it was either because of some unconfessed sin, or maybe he just wasn't all that sincere when he first accepted Christ.

Why is it that some Christians get saved, and immediately become a new creature, where others get saved, and look remarkably like the old one?

Don’t tell me you don’t know somebody like that. Maybe you even ARE somebody like that. And it’s hard . . . so hard to keep trying and trying when it seems to come so easy to everybody else. It’s enough to make anybody give up.

I’m going to leave the usual beaten path, now, to address an issue that comes up fairly regularly in our forums. Those of you who have no besetting sin, no secret sin in your heart that only you and God (and the enemy) know of, go make yourself a nice cup of coffee. The rest isn’t for you.

Now, for the honest readers . . . Why does God deliver some people from booze, cigarettes, pot . . . fill in your besetting sin here _______?

The answer? I don’t know. Disappointed? Don’t be. Sometimes He just doesn’t. It doesn’t mean you aren’t a Christian. It doesn’t mean you aren’t saved. It doesn’t mean God has abandoned you. It only means you feel defeated. You still have that sin.

Now, how come you feel defeated? Is it your weakness? God's? Haven’t you been to Him with this? How come its still an issue in your life? You KNOW God is real, so . . what’s WRONG WITH YOU?

Nothing.

Welcome to the Church of the Walking Wounded. That’s why so many people find fellowship on the internet they don’t find in church. No guilt. Nobody can see you sneaking that cigarette or that beer.

You come looking for God, and looking for that forgiveness you keep hearing about, but never find in church.

Instead, you learn that if you smoke, (or whatever) you are defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit and you must give that up first to find fellowship. Except you have been trying for years and just can't quite make it.

You sit there in the pew, thinking about the cigarette you are going to have on the way home, and you feel ashamed, guilty. Why even go back to church? You hypocrite!

You are taught that God forgave you at the Cross, but now you are on your own. All these sins you now know about yourself are left for you to deal with on your own. Only NOW you know what they are.

So every time you sneak that cigarette, you feel guilty. “Fred got saved and within a week, he cut out smoking, he cut out drinking and he cut out cursing.”

(You think to yourself, “Sure. And for entertainment, Fred is now cutting out paper dolls in the Happy Home,” – but then there you go – you sinned again!)

Sin is the disease of the human race. No human being is exempt from it. The Apostle Paul, speaking of sin, said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

Creative hyperbole? Or do you believe every Word of God is true?

The Apostle Paul was, according to God's Word, chief among sinners. He must have had a difficult time being chief among sinners and chief among the Apostles, but that’s what the Bible says.

It must have bothered him, like it bothers you. (Those not getting coffee right now) Knowing what is right, but succumbing to temptation to do the wrong thing. Over and over.

This is a very difficult subject – I am approaching it with much fear and trepidation. There will immediately be those who will jump on me for preaching a license to sin. I am not.

Before you jump on me, read it again first, please. I am quoting the Apostle Paul, not my opinion.

Paul writes, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7:14-15,17)

Maybe Paul isn’t speaking to you, but he is playing MY theme song. “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:22,23)

Does this sound to you like a guy who was having an easy time of it? Why didn’t he just do what the pastor tells you? “Just take it to the Lord and He'll take care of it.”

Ever do that and then He didn’t? So you found some good reason why not, or instead just figured you weren’t worthy? Or maybe that He cared more about Fred the King of the Paper Dolls?

Paul wrote of, “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) Now, I’ve heard this verse exegeted many times.

To listen to the theories, Paul must have fallen into a thorn BUSH. I’ve heard Paul had a speech impediment, that it was his failing eyesight, that he was unattractive to look at, even one argument that he had halitosis!

What does the Bible say Paul’s thorn in the flesh was? Everybody looks for something specific to make sense of the verse. They are looking for some physical flaw that Paul thought would hamper his effectiveness for God. In so doing, they miss the forest for the trees.

The Apostle Paul, the ‘chief among sinners, specifically said that his thorn was a ‘messenger from Satan sent to ‘buffet' him. Paul’s thorn was his SIN which kept him from being 'exalted above all measure.' “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8)

Stay with me here and see the picture. Here's poor Paul, knowing the task the Lord has set before him, knowing that he is ‘chief among sinners' and knowing his weakness for whatever that sin might have been.

So he takes it to Jesus, (just like you did) sincerely expecting Him to handle it for him, just like the pastor told you He would for you.

“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (v.9)

The Bible says that we are sold unto sin. That it is our natural state. That the most unnatural thing a man could do is NOT sin. You are saved, you believe, yet you wrestle with your besetting sins.

Every time you whip one down, a new one crops up that you have to deal with. Its a never ending battle and you are losing. How can this be?

How can you be sincere, be sincerely saved, and still battle with sins that don’t seem to bother other Christians?

There is only one logical answer. It is so simple you are going to immediately say, “I knew that.” But you probably really didn’t.

Jesus did it all. Really. ALL. The most simple of principles, yet most preaching is based on the deception that He didn’t. Instead, most are taught in principle, that Jesus got the ball rolling at the Cross, but now that you are saved, whether or not you fail or succeed in beating back your sin nature is up to you.

Therefore, when constantly confronted with your sin and how bad it is, it is much easier to give up and not go face the weekly confrontation. You believe you are defeated.

Rather than being free, you are in bondage to your guilt. How many people do you know who went to the altar call on Sunday who weren’t guilt-ridden by Wednesday?

Salvation is either a gift of grace through faith or it is a product of faith plus good works.

Moses had faith and good works. So did Abraham. So did David. But without the Savior, they would be dead in their sins.

The bondage of sin to a Christian is the weight of the guilt of that sin that keeps him from seeking God's face. Jesus set us free from the bondage of sin. Is this a license to sin? As Paul said, “God forbid.”

“All things”, Paul said, “are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” (1 Corinthians 10:23) Interesting word, ‘expedient.' It means, “Appropriate to a purpose.”

The reality is, we are humans. Even after we become new creatures in Christ, we co inhabit the castle of flesh with the old man.

You will have your battles, but your defeat only comes when you give up. Following Paul’s lamentations about his struggle with the flesh and the duality of man, Paul writes, beginning with Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

This verse also tends to get spiritualized out of context. I’ve heard it argued that if you sin, then you are walking after the flesh, rather than after the Spirit.

I put it to you: Did you ever, since you were saved, commit a sin and not care, not feel any responsibility before God? Well, then, Who are you walking after? The irresponsible flesh? Or the living Spirit?

It isn’t sin that defeats the Christian.

It isn’t that you still haven’t quit smoking, or whatever else it might be that you think is defeating you. Sin is what humans do. Forgive is what God does.

It is GUILT that keeps you defeated, and keeps you from the Throne. It keeps you from telling people about Jesus. It keeps you beaten down.

It is incumbent upon a Christian to try and live a more Christ-like life, but the dichotomy is that the Bible says it is impossible.

Even those of you now scandalized and convinced I am preaching libertine Christianity KNOW that you still have a sin problem. Whether it's a big sin, a little sin, a habitual sin or an occasional sin, its still sin. Even as we sin, (and Scripture says we ALL do) we hate it, as Paul did. But we sin. As Paul did. Read Romans 7 again.

If we COULD live a sin-free life, then why was a Savior necessary? And what was Paul rambling on about when he talked about the 'good that he would' and so forth?

If there were a formula that involved accepting Christ and THEN living a sinless life, then why did He need to go to the Cross at all?

Why not just make the revised Ten Commandments read, 'Accept Christ and don't sin" and THEN you can go to heaven? The answer is obvious. Nobody would be there.

We are living in the last days. There is no time to bandage the walking wounded, the battle has been joined. Every soldier is desperately needed on the line.

A soldier on the line does his best, and that is all anyone can ask. Especially the One Who really KNOWS that you are doing the best you can.

And He not only understands, He made you to a specific purpose, which is why all things were lawful to Paul, but not all things were expedient.

What may appear as defeat to you from your vantage point in the action may actually be a tactical victory somewhere else up the line. Only our General knows, and He says, 'Trust Me'.

Take heart! Don't let the fact you are a sinner steal your victory. The only prerequisite for being a Christian is that you must be a sinner first. God has a plan for your life, and He has somebody for you to talk to.

That appointment is so important to God that He has arranged your whole life until now -- just so you would be available to keep it when that appointment comes due.

Will you be there to keep it? Or will you be licking your wounds in defeat off in a corner somewhere? We're running out of time, and the enemy's sole focus for your life is to keep you defeated and ineffective as the hours tick down to the Final Confrontation.

“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians (12:9)

The rest of you can come back from the kitchen now.

Jesus' Death: Six Hours of Eternity on the Cross

2008-02-11T00:30:00.000-08:00

Jesus' Death: Six Hours of Eternity on the Cross

courtesy of Lambert Dolphin's Library

A superficial reading of the gospel narratives concerning the death of Jesus will show that He was nailed to the cross at 9 o'clock in the morning, and was dead by 3 in the afternoon. His terrible ordeal, it would seem, was over in a mere six hours.

The agony in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before had been an ordeal in prayer before His Father that we can scarcely understand. The writer of Hebrews comments on this incident,

"In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered..." (Hebrews 5:7, 8)

Then, too, Jesus had been up the rest of the night without sleep enduring scourging, beating, cruel mockery and unspeakable brutality. He was already weakened when he carried his cross, stumbling, to the place of crucifixion alongside the main public highway, probably just outside the Damascus Gate.

Several medical doctors and forensic experts have written books about the common Roman form of execution---death by crucifixion. Often the process took several days. The nailing of hands and feet forced the victim to push up against the weight of his own body to take a single breath. In the hot sun, terrible thirst ensued and death came in most cases from suffocation amidst great pain. The victim was also naked and humiliated---death on the cross was reserved for the most wretched of all criminals.
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Tim LaHaye And Hank Hanegraaff

2008-02-07T01:47:00.000-08:00

Some time ago, on another site, an individual was commenting on a supposed dispute between Tim LaHaye and Hank Hanegraaff. This individual suggested that LaHaye had started the feud and I got the distinct impression that LaHaye was being singled out as the bad guy. This is, no doubt, due to his rapture belief. I find this ironic as Hanegraaff is a partial preterist, has no love for Israel or pre-millennialists as a whole and has even gone so far as to call dispensationalists anti-Semites. It’s a wonder to me that LaHaye should get this sort of treatment by another Christian, whether it be Hanegraaff or the commentator.

I remember hearing of LaHaye, and later, the Left Behind books just as I was coming out of the New Age. I remember mocking him as well. I’m still not a big fan of the books from a literary viewpoint but I have no doubt that Tim will get a “Well Done” from the Lord.

I’m sorry I judged Tim LaHaye back then.

This is an article by Jill Martin Rische, the daughter of the late Walter Martin, who was a Post-Trib believer. The article appears on Moriel.org which is owned by Jacob Prasch and who happens to be Pre-Wrath. May God bless them both!

The article's primary focus is on Hanegraaff but it also gives the reader an insight into the real LaHaye.

Tim LaHaye And Hank Hanegraaff: The Men Behind The Headlines