the Old Lunch-Time Thoughts

Come on over...

2010-06-14T11:08:00.002-04:00

I've setup my blog at a new website, using Wordpress, which give me quite a bit more flexibility than here at blogger.

So, come on over to Hindsey.com to see what I've got there, and to enjoy your lunch-time thoughts!

Just a thought...

Coming Soon...

2010-06-09T15:36:00.002-04:00

So, I've decided to resume my blogging habit. Coming very soon, there will be a new place to read my posts, and interact! I will let you know soon.

Just a thought...

The Christian Faith

2010-01-01T13:53:00.003-05:00

We're gonna skip the normal "sorry it's been so long since I've blogged..." thing, and get right to it.

I know that many Christians in my circle make a big deal about the term "religion." The quote goes like this: "Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship." And when someone calls what we have a religion, we often jump and say that it's not a religion.

(Now, I understand the point. Any religious system, with its outward acts of worship, its creeds and doctrines, its rituals and traditions, is not what we are talking about. True Christianity is about reestablishing a good relationship with God the Father, and that is only made possible through God the Son. So, I get the point.)

I've always shied away from making the statement though, that Christianity is not a religion. A religion is defined in a variety of ways, but they generally have in common that a religion is a "set of beliefs." Belief is another word for Faith. So, a religion is a faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please God. By grace are we saved through faith. God gave His only begotten Son, so whosoever believeth in Him should not perish." Christianity certainly is about faith. So, is it wrong to call it a religion? Certainly not. Is it more than a religious system? Certainly it is!

So, (developing a much longer thought, and a different direction that you're probably thinking I'm going!) maybe it would be better to call it the "Christian Faith" than to call it the "Religion of Christianity" or something like that. Yeah, I like that better, the Christian Faith.

Now, here's the problem that I have. Much of the philosophies in the world today separate faith from experience/reason. They put the natural world on one level, and the super-natural world on another level. (Francis Schaeffer writes about this in his book, "Escape from Reason.") So, we call it the Christian Faith, and all of a sudden, in the mind of many, many of the hearers today, they've already put the topic of the conversation on this "other" level. To them, we're not talking about something in the real world, but something else out there. Something, that to them, is unknowable and completely relative.

So, maybe I don't like using the phrase, "The Christian Faith" so much anymore. Maybe it would be better to call it "The Christian Truths," or maybe "The Truths of Christianity." Yeah, I like that a lot better. But, you'll notice that this post isn't finished yet, so I've probably got more... yeah, I do.

The problem with using the term, "The Truths of Christianity," is that there are quite a few differing "truths" held by those that claim the association with Christianity, each of them claiming some other Authority for these truths. Some would claim Tradition as an authority, others may claim their own experiences as the authority. But the only trustworthy, stable, and perfect authority lies in the written word of God, the Bible.

So, I think the best way to speak of the doctrines of Jesus Christ, ought to be with the phrase, "The Truths of the Bible." That way, we are making the claim that these are truths that affect the natural world and the supernatural. They interact with faith and also with reason. They are universal and absolute. And the source of these truths is, plain and simple, the Bible.

So, now, what are you going to be doing with the "Truths of the Bible"?

Just a New Year's thought...

Emmanuel

2009-12-22T10:17:00.001-05:00

"God..." ok, stop and think about that... "God..." --- and then --- "... with us." How amazing is this Jesus, this Emmanuel!

Bought with a Price

2009-08-28T09:20:00.003-04:00

Imagine you find a car that you want to buy. You go to the dealer and tell him that you want to buy it. The dealer comes back and tells you that the price is one million dollars! One million dollars for a car? Andy, you've lost your mind... But, that's the price. If you want the car it will cost one million dollars. Anyway, you love this car so much that you consider it worth the price.

So, there you go, even though the car is not nearly worth a million dollars, you buy this car for that price, and go to the dealer to pick it up. You sign all the paper work and get the license plates, and you're ready to go. You finally get the keys, the anticipation is over, and you start the car up, and begin to drive... life is good.

But then, you realize that there's no steering wheel in the car! You go back to the dealer and ask him about it. He tells you that you did not pay enough to get the steering wheel too! What?! A million dollars for this cheap junker of a car, and that's not enough money to get the steering wheel too?

I Corinthians 6:20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Ok, now imagine that the car is really pretty much worthless. The car doesn't have a steering wheel; there are no tires on it; the engine has 350,000 miles on it, and hasn't run in a couple years; the hood doesn't latch; the doors are barely hanging on; and it leaks all the fluids you can imagine.

Yet, someone comes in, and pays WAY more than one million dollars to buy the car anyway.

That's us.

God loved the world so much, that He paid a price that is just invaluable. He gave His only begotten Son. Why? To buy, to redeem, this old clunker, called Andy.

What does Andy do in return?

"Sorry, God, You didn't pay enough to have the steering wheel too."

... really? ...

just a thought

Shameless Advertising

2009-08-07T10:39:00.003-04:00

I've been working a side job for a few months now with a couple of guys from church. They are pretty decent graphics designers, and with my technical help with websites, we've got a pretty good thing going.

Anyway, today we launched our new website at www.FesyukDesign.com

Check it out, and let me know what you think!

No thoughts involved.

Stop the Blasphemy!

2009-07-15T14:09:00.002-04:00

I got one of those awesome forwarded emails the other day (I hate 99.9999% of forwarded emails, but sometimes they do give me a blog post idea!). I've received this one before as it has circulated around the Internet a few times. It is the one that says that "In God We Trust" is being taken off of our coins in the US.

The truth of the matter is that the new dollar coins did have "In God We Trust" taken off the front and back, but put on the edges, along with the year. So, it wasn't taken off of the coins, but it did cause enough of an uproar, I guess, that new ones are to put it back on the front or back. You can read more about it here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/dollarcoin.asp

Here's the thought of the day. I think that we as Christians should start a petition about this. We should stand up for what's right. We should not let these things go on! Look at what our government is doing - having strayed so far away from our founding fathers!

So, yes, I think we should start a petition. We need to tell the government that they MUST stop making up coins that say "In God We Trust" on them.

You probably want to stop... go back and read that last paragraph again. That wasn't a typo.

"In God We Trust?" Can anybody, honestly say that the United States trusts in God? This is a vain thing that our government puts on the coins nowadays. We, as a nation, are not trusting in God anymore. Why should we as Christians allow the secular government to use God's name in vain? It's blasphemy!

Ok, I'm not going to start a petition or nothing, but really, render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar, and unto God the things that are God's.

Just a thought...

Jesus

2009-07-07T14:11:00.003-04:00

What do you think of when you think on Jesus? I mean, of all the different characteristics, positions, functions that Jesus is, which of them comes to your mind when you "picture" Jesus?

Do you see Him as the meek and lowly man that when He was punched, He did not punch back? When He was spat upon, He did not revile nor open His mouth?

Do you see Him as the great Mediator, the great High Priest, that when man approaches God (unable to do so on their own merit), He pleads to the Father on man's behalf? Man's Surety standing before the throne?

Do you see Him as the overthrower of the moneychangers' tables in the Temple, coming in with a whip, a whip that He made for the occasion, with the intent of driving them out of His Father's house?

Do you see Him as "Big Brother," since one day the Christian is destined to be conformed to His image?

Do you see Him as Baby Jesus, Who had to have His mother and Joseph run for their lives away from the wicked King Herod? A helpless babe, dependant upon two poor humans.

Do you see Him as the King of kings who will come one day, in a flame of fire, with a sword drawn, with His garments soaked in blood, to enforce righteousness?

Do you see Him as the all-forgiving One; Who, regardless of what your sins were, will cast them as far as the east is from the west; Who loves you unconditionally; Who, even when believers sin, He still has their sins covered?

Do you see Him as getting upset, or grieved, when His believers sin? Not approving of that sin, and ready to execute the Father's correction as needed?

He is all of these things, and way more. He is love and mercy, yet He is true and holy. He hates the WORKERS of iniquity, yet He died for His enemies nonetheless. He is willing to forgive, but He does not simply overlook. He will come with a vengeance to punish sin, yet He provides a way to escape it.

Are you willing to go through this life with a limited view of Jesus? Will you just grasp onto one of His attributes, or one of His positions, and ignore the rest? I am understanding more and more why it is so important to read His word - it is so we can get to know Him better. I don't want to be stuck with such a narrow view of Jesus. I want to know Him more and more.

Jesus - what a name! what a God - the only true God.

Just a thought...

Bible Verses About Dying Young

2009-07-03T13:03:00.003-04:00

For some reason, the title of this post is a very frequent search phrase that comes to my blog. Certainly, that has to do with me linking to Shannon Young's blog. Even still, it seems there are a lot of people on this world wide web, that are searching for what the Bible says about dying at a young age.

I can't imagine what a person that searched for that is going through. Perhaps they are looking for comfort for a friend or family member that was lost, or perhaps there is a terminal disease that they are faced with. I can't imagine going through something like that.

What does the Bible say about it? Paul desired to be absent with the body and present with the Lord, and even though he wasn't a young man, that thought can through. Oh, how awesome it would be for a young person to be so fixed on Christ that he wasn't concerned about the life of this body, but just desired to be present with the Lord!

What advice is there about dying young? I am reminded of a quote by Jim Elliot (Missionary to Ecuador that was murdered by the people he was trying to reach at age 28), when writing in his journal during college: "Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus."

Jesus died at an age younger than He should have. I am 32 this year... that means, next year I will be the age that tradition records that Jesus was when He died. (A though for another day: Will I have accomplished as much as He did when I get to be His age?!) Jesus had a full life, but not a long life.

Just a thought...

Stupid Bird

2009-07-02T11:44:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 1:17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

I used to really have no idea what the point of that verse was in the middle of Proverbs. It is right in between the sections that warn the reader to avoid hanging with bad people, and the part that says that these bad people will get their reward.

Then finally I think I figured it out. The net, is the warning that is given, that God will judge sin. If you fellowship with those enticing sinners, then you're going to end up getting in trouble. The warning is put out there, right in front of you! There is a trap - a net, if you will - that is laid. But if the net is set out right in front of you, then it shouldn't work, right? You should just fly right around it, right? It's vain to set the net while the bird is watching.

But, you know what, I'm afraid that this world is full of stupid birds. The trap is set; it is even set right in front of our eyes, but we still fly right into it. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not - they lay wait for their own blood.

Don't be a stupid bird.

Just an aviary thought...

Dehumidifier

2009-07-01T11:41:00.003-04:00

Hello, again, everyone, it has been a while - where have you all been?! :)

So, my wife decided that she wants to move into a house that will give us some more space. It doesn't matter that she's 8 1/2 months pregnant, or that since we're selling our house, people will be coming by to see it - while my parents and brother & family are in town staying with us... but, anyway, that's what's going on in my life right now.

Our basement... ok, Our cellar... because of the location of our house, kind of on top of a hill, has never had a problem with water getting into it. We have a sump pump, but it is sitting on a shelf down there. Well, even though water doesn't run into our basement, the basement always seems to be a damp place. I wish I were more like my basement...

Today's Thought, which I think may be tied into my inconsistency with blogging, has to do with dryness. I have been going through a dry spell in my life in regards to spiritual matters. I am still active in ministry; I still am performing all the duties that I have committed to; but, my intimacy with my God, my abiding in Christ, my praying without ceasing - has been very dry of late. What is it?! Why do these times keep coming up?! O wretched man that I am!

Taking the principle found at the end of Romans 7, where Paul asks: "who shall deliver me from the body of this death," and we know his answer: "through Jesus Christ our Lord." However, the problem that I have constantly, the typical Laodicea problem, is that I think I am fine. I think I can handle life all by myself. Things are going great, and I think that it is not that important to rely on and communicate with God as much.

Oh wretched man that I am!

I am praying that I will sanctify the Lord better in my heart, and as a result, hopefully I will have more thoughts to post on here. If not... would you pray for me? Seems a strange post to make here, but that's where I'm at.

Oh wretched man that I am, but Oh, what a merciful God He is.

Just a thought...

The Independent God

2009-04-22T10:11:00.006-04:00

"It is evident, by both Scripture and reason, that God is infinitely, eternally, unchangeably, and independently glorious and happy: that He cannot be profited by, or receive any thing from, the creature." -- Jonathan Edwards

I have a new gadget on my iGoogle page, that is Christian Quotes Past and Present. This one came on there today, and I thought I would comment on it. I love Jonathan Edwards, ever since I did a report on him in an Institute class a while ago. My thoughts on this quote:

The principle of what he is saying is that God is not made better by anything that we do for Him. God does not become more powerful if He has more people serving Him. God does not become less powerful if He has fewer people doing His will. He does not learn or know more things when we pray to Him. He does not improve when we praise Him more. He does not need us. God is already perfect in every way!

Here's the thing, we can take that idea and throw everything away, knowing that our actions aren't going to make God any better. Or, we can look at His independence, and realize that in spite of it, He still loves us and works through us! What a privilege that we can serve this absolutely perfect God, even though He doesn't need us to. He wants us to.

I will disagree with Edwards in a point. He says that God does is "independently glorious and happy." That is true, in that He does not need us to be happy. However, it is not true, in that, our actions do bring joy or bring sorrow to God. He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked; we can grieve the Holy Ghost; He is pleased when children obey their parents. Our actions do affect the happiness or grief of God - for the Bible tells me so.

It is true that God does not need us in order to be happy. However, He has chosen to tie His happiness with His creation's actions. We have the ability to bring pleasure or to bring grief to the Almighty, Independent, Eternal, Creator God of the Universe.

I think we ought to work on the bringing Him pleasure part. He is so worth it!

Just a thought...

Disappointed with Forgiveness?

2009-04-21T11:28:00.000-04:00

Mark 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mark 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

It's a familiar story. Jesus was becoming very famous among the people, and they could hardly get to Him any more because of all the people. Well, these four men came carrying a loved-one to Jesus, because they knew that He could heal him. There was absolutely no doubt in their mind that He could heal the palsy in this man.

They demonstrated their faith by bringing this guy down in his bed, through the roof to get to where Jesus was! (Glad it wasn't my house!) They went through all this work - getting through the people, opening up the roof, after having carried this guy from where he lived. All of that, they did, just because they believed that Jesus could heal their friend.

Then, they finally arrive; they get to where Jesus was. They get His attention, and Jesus looks over at them, after they had finally completed their mission. Their friend was about to get up and walk - they knew it!

"Son, thy sins be forgiven thee..."

"Um, Jesus, 'thy sins be forgiven thee'? That's not why we brought this guy to You. You see, he's paralyzed; he can't get up off this bed. He needs to be healed... Ok, now you're talking to these other people about whether or not You are Who You say You are... You've missed something here, Lord..."

(What? That's not in your version? Strange. Anyway...) I wonder if the four men were a bit disappointed at Jesus' first action in the situation. They came to get their friend healed, and Jesus was more concerned about the guy's sins.

Hmm... how often are we more concerned with the physical issues of life, and when Jesus addresses something else instead... do we get upset? Are we so caught up with our friend's palsy not being healed that we fail to rejoice in the fact that his sins were just forgiven?! Sometimes, like in this story, the friend will be healed, but if he's not, are you happy with what Jesus did for him? Or, would you think He missed the point if He didn't do what you wanted?

Just a thought... (with pictures today!)

Miss California - way to go

2009-04-20T10:40:00.003-04:00

No, I did not watch the Miss USA pageant on TV! But, foxnews.com has an article about Miss California. She was asked about whether she believed in gay marriage or not. Her answer:

We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised.

I'm going to forgive her for being soft, "I think that I believe..." and instead give her credit for speaking up against the sin of homosexuality. What I want to focus on is one of the responses of the co-directors of the pageant:

"As co-director of the Miss California USA, I am personally saddened and hurt that Miss California believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman," said Lewis in a statement. "I believe all religions should be able to ordain what unions they see fit. I do not believe our government should be able to discriminate against anyone and religious beliefs have no politics in the Miss California family."

I believe she meant to say that religious beliefs have no place in the Miss California family, or that politics have no place in the Miss California family. Sounds like she was trying to say that Miss California should not have said what she said. But, HELLO, she was asked that question by one of the pageant's judges! If it's not supposed to be a part of it, then why is the judge asking the question!? Was she just supposed to lie? Not answer the question? Turn into a spineless sheep and follow the judges lead?

Well, I know nothing about Miss California other than what she answered in response to that question, and I'm glad she stood up for what she believed. Who would have thought that Miss California of all places would have held that position?! And California turned down Proposition 8 too... hmm... maybe they're not AS far gone as I thought.

Anyway, just a thought... (no pictures!)

The Moveable Ways

2009-04-17T11:37:00.001-04:00

Proverbs 5:6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

Looking at this verse in Proverbs, which is talking about the "strange woman," I had a couple of thoughts on it that I wanted to share. While the specific context is referring to the strange woman, the principles can be applied to any temptation from the devil.

The verse says that her ways are moveable. They don't stay the same; they are ever changing. We can be sure that, although the root of the temptations end up being the same, Satan does not attack in the same way. One day he might be tempting you with laziness by giving you a way out of getting some work done that you should do. The next day he might tempt you, when you don't have much work, to do nothing at all. The ways of the strange woman don't stay the same - that would be too easy for you to identify and stay away from them. They are moveable.

Another way I apply this verse, is that when I am on the "way" to her house, it is moving. I think of those bridges that are at some of the parks. You know, the kind that move and go back and forth as if you were on a big rope bridge. When you're walking across that bridge, your mind shifts from simply getting to the other side, to trying to keep your balance and not fall down. Well, the "bridges" you get on while following the strange woman are the same. She doesn't want you to have time to stop and think, and meditate on what you're doing. Instead, she shakes the bridge from the other side, so that you're too distracted to realize that the path you're on is the path to hell (Prov 5:5).

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Let's walk circumspectly, identifying her ways, and at all times, let's not get distracted but keep our eyes focused on the will of the Lord.

Just a thought...

Brotherly Love?

2009-04-16T16:05:00.003-04:00

Do you know that you're saved?

Some religions would teach that you can not know for sure that you are saved. That basically you need to live your life as good as you can, and at the end of the day, hopefully, for your sake, you have done good enough.

The Bible teaches that you can know that you are saved. In 1 John 5:13, John tells us that he wrote these things so that those that believe on the name of Jesus could know that they are saved. The apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost seemed to think that we could know that we're saved.

Next question: HOW do you know that you are saved?

John said you can know, and he says that he wrote "these things" so that we could know. So, what are those things?

Well, if you peruse the book of 1 John, he goes through a variety of different ways how you can KNOW for sure that you're saved. A quick side note: Understand that John is not telling you how to GET saved in 1 John. He is telling you how to KNOW that you ARE saved. It is an important distinction.

Anyway, something that just didn't set very well with me at first was something found a couple of times in 1 John - things that John says you'll know you're saved if... And one of the things he says was - that ye have love for the brethren.

1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

I can understand the other principles taught throughout the book, that if we are born again, that is, if we were born of the Spirit, having the Holy Ghost living in us, that we will be changing due to His working in us... I can get that.

But, it sticks out to me that God says that one way to know whether you're saved or not, is whether or not you love the brethren. He seems to put some pretty heavy weight on that characteristic of a person - I mean, I guess that is how people will know that we are His disciples if we have love one for another.

Just a thought...

Today we Celebrate the Moon god

2009-04-13T11:34:00.002-04:00

I don't think I've ever done this before... Today, I am actually going to recant my last post. Friday, I posted on how using the word Easter was a horrible thing to do, and how that everyone that does it is dying and going to Hell. Ok, maybe I didn't say it that strong, but you get the point.

Anyway, I was thinking on it some more over the weekend, and I have to come to you today with a different perspective. Today, is the celebration of the "moon god." Did you know that? Tomorrow it's not the moon, but a god associated with Mars. The next day, it's not as certain, but probably a god associated with Mercury. The next day (which will probably give away what I'm saying) is the celebration of the god Thor. Yup, that day is "Thor's day." If you don't get it yet, so that real fast 10 times: "Thor's day."

Yeah, the names of our days are actually named after pagan gods in English. They actually come from the 'gods' of the same people where we get 'Eastre.' Yet, I have no problem calling this moon day, Monday. When Friday comes around, and I call it that, I am not celebrating Frigga, the Germanic goddess of married love. Saturday, I will not even be thinking about Saturn at all. Nor will I put much thought into the sun on Sunday - unless it's sunny out, then I might.

So, here's what I'm saying. The Venerable Bede, an Old English Christian around 700AD, was the historian that tied "Eastre" with the time of the celebration of Christ's resurrection. Most other languages use Pascha or something like that (the word translated Passover normally in the KJV). What he wrote was this: "Eostur-month, which is now interpreted as the paschal month, was formerly named after the goddess Eostre, and has given its name to the festival." At his time (1300 years ago), the month was formerly named after that goddess.

So, 1300 years ago, the Old Old English word for that season was Easter. In fact, if you look at pre-1611 English translations of the Bible, the word "Easter" is used when talking about the Passover almost exclusively. It wasn't until the 1611 when Pascha was translated Passover instead of Easter (with 1 exception). You know what, like Mike and Matt said in comments yesterday, when someone says "Easter," they're really not thinking about any gods whatsoever - only the God of gods. I'm still not sold on the idea of the eggs and bunnies, but maybe I could be persuaded on that as well... who knows?

So, anyway, enjoy your celebration of the Moon god, and we'll talk to you again on Tyr's Day.

Just a thought...

Happy "Easter"?

2009-04-10T11:50:00.004-04:00

This post may be controversial... but since when has that stopped me from posting?!

I want to avoid a long post like yesterday's, so that hopefully people will actually read it. So, to the point: Is it ok for Christians to refer to this coming Sunday as "Easter"? Also, is it ok for Christians to practice the traditional "Easter" activities, like coloring eggs, chilling with the Easter Bunny, and stuff like that? I am going to try to answer these quickly, and if you have any disagreements or discussion points, I would answer more thoroughly in comments.

Ok, the name "Easter" comes from an Anglo-Saxon word "Eastre." This was the name of an Anglo-Saxon goddess during the Spring time. The tradition has it that this goddess was either another name for, or simply a similar goddess to Queen Semiramis. This queen is supposedly the wife of Nimrod. God says:

Exodus 23:13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

I know, I know... that's Old Testament. However, we look at what God says in the Old Testament and we learn about Him. We learn from that verse that He does not like people talking about other gods, even mentioning their name. I can not believe that God is happy when people call the day, in which His Son rose from the dead, conquering death and hell, after the name of a pagan goddess. I just can't accept that. So, No, we Christians should not call this Sunday "Easter." How about we use "Resurrection Sunday" instead? Say that to your lost acquaintances, and you'll have opportunity to start a spiritual discussion - be prepared!

Ok, how about the practices associated with Easter? I mean, yeah, Eastre is recognized by Christians and non-Christians as the fertility goddess. The rabbit is known for its exceptional breeding capabilities, and the egg is also a symbol for fertility in pagan religions. So, we talk about the Easter Bunny, and we color eggs - both symbols associated with the goddess Eastre, which we already learned we're not supposed to even talk about... I really just have a hard time believing that God would be pleased when Christians participate in those activities.

Let me answer the first argument that will be made against me: "But, Andy, you celebrate Christmas, and that's all associated with Santa Clause, and the date used is the date of a pagan festival..." First of all, it still is called "Christmas" meaning "the birth of Christ." Christ is preached whether in pretence or not, so I'll rejoice (Philippians 1:18). And I understand that the date we celebrate is the date of a pagan festival. But, we don't know the date He was born, so why not try to compete with a pagan festival to try to get it to disappear (by the way, it seems to have worked!). And, Santa Clause... Unlike some zealous preachers would say, Santa is not just "Satan" with the letters mixed around. Santa actually means Saint in most languages, and Santa Clause specifically comes from the Dutch: Sinterklaas, which means Saint Nicholas. I have no problems with Nick. I understand the Roman Catholics have made more of him than he would have of himself, but historically, he seems like a pretty nice guy - so do Valentine and Patrick by the way.

So, I don't think I'm being two-faced about "Easter" vs. Christmas. I just think it would be well-pleasing to the Lord if we were to put away the pagan name for the day that Christ rose from the dead -- the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- and truly call it something that is at least Christian.

I failed... I made this longer than I wanted to... sorry!

Just a thought...

It Was Thursday

2009-04-09T13:37:00.005-04:00

Now, I know that this really doesn't matter. It's not that big of a deal. I can still have Christian fellowship with you, even if you erringly disagree with me... But the fact is that the Bible really points to Jesus having been crucified on Thursday of that week, not Friday - and not even Wednesday.

Ok, some givens:

The Jewish day started at sundown - around 6:00pm
The day after the crucifixion was a sabbath day
Jesus was risen from the dead by Sunday

The traditional day for the crucifixion is Friday. That is, because the sabbath day was the next day, and the sabbath day is the 7th day of the week, then He must have been crucified on the 6th day of the week which is Friday.

However, Leviticus 23:32 demonstrates that when the word "sabbath" is used in the Bible it does not exclusively refer to the 7th day of the week, but rather it can mean the beginning of one of the feasts. Jesus was crucified on the Passover, which means the very next day was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first day of that feast was one of these sabbaths (Leviticus 23:7).

Ok, so the Bible does not say that He was crucified on Friday, only that He was crucified the day before a sabbath. So, let's see what it says about when He rose from the dead.

Matthew 28:1 says that in the end of the sabbath (this would be the weekly sabbath), as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week (proof that we're talking about the weekly sabbath here), that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb (Matt 28:1). The earthquake came and the angel rolls the stone away. Jesus had risen from the dead. It could be He rose at that very moment, or that He had risen a little bit earlier, but by Sunday at the break of dawn, He was no longer dead -- Hallelujah!

Next, let's look at how long Jesus was in the grave. First, we find Jesus prophesying about rebuilding the temple (they thought He was talking about Herod's temple, but He really meant His body). He said that if they destroyed this temple, He would rebuild it in three days. Ok, that's a good start. He also compares His time in the earth to the time that Jonah was in the belly of the whale: Matthew 12:40: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Can Friday work?!

If Jesus was crucified on Friday, I can understand saying "Friday, Saturday & Sunday - there, three days." However, Jesus was more specific and said, "three days and three nights." If we take that any part of the 6:00 am to 6:00 pm is the day, and any part of 6:00 pm to 6:00 am is the night, we can't fit three of each in the time that Jesus was in the earth. Friday (before sundown) He is put in the tomb, so we have Friday day (1 day). When sundown hits, that's Saturday night (1 night). When the next day came, which was the 7th day sabbath it was Saturday day (2 day). When the sunset and it became the first day of the week, we have Sunday night (2 night). Well, Jesus rose before the dawn of Sunday day, but even if He did wait until after sunrise, we're still short a night! I don't see how Friday is possible, if we're going to take Jesus exactly.

Some will say that He was crucified on Wednesday. This allows more time to get the three days and three nights. Wednesday He's crucified before sundown, so that night, Thursday night is the first (1 night). Then the next day comes, which Wednesday people will say is the sabbath of the 1st day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (1 day). That night comes, Friday night (2 night), and the next day, Friday day comes (2 day). The following night (3 night) and day (3 day) are Saturday, and the weekly Sabbath. Sunday night comes, and before Sunday night finished, He rises from the dead - thus giving three full days and three full nights. I can buy this... with a couple of problems.

Why didn't Mary Magdalene and the other Mary come on Friday to see the sepulchre? I understand if they couldn't go on the sabbath day, but Friday wasn't a sabbath either way. It was in-between the two sabbaths if there was a Wednesday crucifixion.

Also, if Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, then how can the men walking on the road to Emmaus say, when talking about Jesus being crucified, "...and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done." Today is the third day? If Wednesday was the day of crucifixion, then Thursday would be the first day since it happened; Friday would be the second day since it happened, and Saturday would be the third day since it happened. But, Jesus was walking with the men on the road to Emmaus, making it Sunday. Only Thursday (or Friday) makes the statement make sense that "to day is the third day since these things were done."

So, if we look at all the Scriptures involved, it seems pretty straightforward that Jesus was crucified on Thursday. But, is this something worth arguing about?! Is it something that should distract people when there's bigger battles to fight?! No, it's not. So, just agree with me, and let's move on!

Just a thought...

A Glorious Church

2009-04-08T11:03:00.003-04:00

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

I know all the husbands get excited when reading Ephesians 5 and it says, "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord." Then, we take a step back and are floored (hopefully) when we read, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church..." That is, in the way that Christ loved the church, so ought we to love our wives! Ok, I've got work to do.

But, as I was thinking on the verses following, a new perspective became strong in my mind. Why did Christ love the church and give Himself for it? So that He could sanctify and cleanse it - to make the church pure and holy, clean. Husbands, we ought to love our wives, by soaking them in the word (washing of water by the word). Which will cleanse them, make them holy (Psalm 119:9, John 15:3).

And the reason that we want to soak them in the word, and make them holy and without blemish - vs. 27 - that we can present them as glorious! Christ did it so that "he might present to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Husbands, as we love our wives and desire to have a sanctified and clean bride through the word, then what we are doing is making her glorious. She looks wonderful; she is admired; she is praised by those that see her.

Husbands, love your wives.

Of course, this post doesn't apply to me, because my wife is already as glorious as can be!

Just a thought...

Memorials

2009-04-06T11:25:00.002-04:00

Well, I owe this day to Aaron Putney. You see, I woke up with this kind of like blurred vision that I get right before I am hit with a migraine. Now, when I get hit with a migraine, I'm laid up in bed for a solid 24 hours. Well, when Aaron and I were a part of a missions trip to Zambia about 4 years ago, I got my blurred vision and he introduced me to Excedrin Migraine medicine. I just pop some of those in when I get that, and the migraine is stayed off. So, even though I'm not 100% today, thanks to Aaron at least I have made it to work!

Anyway, thinking of that trip reminded me of a thought that I've had recently. You constantly see throughout the Old Testament that God was telling His people to setup memorials of great things that He had done in their lives. One example that comes to mind is when they crossed the Jordan River, they were to take 12 stones and build an altar to remember the crossing.

I think God would have us do the same thing in our lives. When He does a miraculous work in our lives in some way, I think He'd be pleased if we were to make something, or bring something around that would remind us in the future of the way that God worked. It also gives us the opportunity to share that with anyone else that asks about it - like our kids. I'm really not sure what kind of memorials would be good, but I think the principle is sound.

Just a thought...

The King's Daughters

2009-04-03T11:23:00.000-04:00

Psalm 45 is a two-part Psalm. The first 8 verses are Messianic in nature, speaking of King Jesus, who is fairer than the children of men, has grace poured in His lips, is most mighty with glory and majesty, full of truth, meekness and righteousness, and is called "God" by the Father in vss 6-7 (this is quoted in Heb 1:8-9). What a great King we follow!

The second half of the Psalm is directed to "Kings' daughters." When I read that Psalm, I wish I were a little girl... Ok, that doesn't sound good, but let me explain! First of all, we all know that the King's daughter is a princess. What little girl wouldn't want to be a Princess to the King of kings?! The King greatly desires the beauty of them; the King's daughter is all glorious within.

What a great desire we as fathers ought to have for our daughters. That they would be the King's daughters. That is, until you look at verse 10 more carefully...

Psalm 45:10: "Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;"

You're telling me that the daughter is supposed to forget her people and her father's house? You're telling me that I am supposed to be training up my daughters to forget their father's house!? Really, to forget me?! I don't like that thought at first glance. But that is what God wrote.

Fathers (and Mothers too), are you willing to actually train up your daughters to follow so whole-heartedly after King Jesus that they would forget their father's house? That's what the daughters are supposed to do according to Ps 45:10. I know that sounds difficult, but when we compare it to Luke 14:26 and Matthew 10:37, we'll find that that is the cost of discipleship.

My challenge for me today... Can I really purpose in my heart to train my daughters to follow Christ, knowing that may mean that they forget all about me?

Hmm... Just a thought...

Liquid Plumber

2009-04-02T09:54:00.001-04:00

My sink had a clog in it recently. The water would not drain down very well. It would take a good couple minutes for the sink to drain after you ran enough to, say, shave or brush your teeth.

Finally, I got sick of it. I decided that I was going to do something about it. So, I went to the store and bought some Liquid Plumber. I followed the directions and poured the stuff down the drain, and then I let it sit. 15 minutes later, I was able to run water through it no problem!

I did it! I fixed my sink! I feel pretty good about my plumbing skills. I should go pro...

Now, you (at least, those of you that are critical) are saying, 'Andy, um, you just poured something into the sink. It was really the Liquid Plumber that fixed it - if anything, the creator of Liquid Plumber should be getting the credit here.'

That wasn't very nice of you to say, you critical person. Oh, but yeah, that's what I would have said! And we'd be right. I really didn't fix my sink's drain. All I did was pour the stuff that somebody else concocted into the sink.

Have you ever been there in a spiritual sense? Have you ever been on a spiritual high for something that has happened, and you start to take credit for it? Have you successfully witnessed to somebody else, and thought - 'boy, I'm a pretty good soul-winner.' That's like me saying, 'I'm a pretty good plumber.'

Let's be sure to give God His due. But by the grace of God, I am what I am.

Just a thought...

A Little Privacy Please

2009-04-01T12:00:00.003-04:00

I miss blogging... It is a good discipline for me to post things here, so I find it profitable for me, and I enjoy hearing from both of you, my readers. It makes me really iron out some of the things that I think about. I pray that it is profitable for at least someone else too. Anyway, here we go again, with today's Lunch-Time Thought.

I hear people cry about how the government with its surveillance is an invasion of privacy. There are people that don't want our intelligence people in the US to have the ability to eavesdrop or monitor communications where they deem important, because then they might use it to watch what "I" am doing.

Well, frankly, I don't have a problem with it. I would rather have people watching what I'm doing if it means they are allowed to watch what people that want to hurt us are doing. Oh, but wait, that would mean that I would have to act appropriately so that I would not be embarrassed... is that all that bad?

Paul teaches in Ephesians 5 that I was "sometimes darkness." I did not like the light because my deeds were evil. But now, I'm exhorted to "walk as children of light" (vs. 8). He goes on to tell us not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, and that it is a shame to even speak of the things done of them in secret (vss. 11-12). Again, we find that bad things are associated with darkness, so that nobody finds out! Then an interesting verse:

Ephesians 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Anything that makes manifest is light. Whenever my deeds are scrutinized, then they are in the light. I can't hide them. If I know that somebody is "invading my privacy" and watching my every action, then it is going to encourage me to stay clean.

Although, I suppose my philosophy is hypocritical, for I still do want to go to the bathroom in private!

Anyway, just a thought...

Following Joseph's Example

2009-02-03T11:53:00.004-05:00

One of the verses that I chose to be a memory verse a couple years ago has really made me stop and think every time I read it: Genesis 41:38, "And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?"

Joseph had just interpreted Pharaoh's dreams predicting the seven years of plenty followed by the seven years of famine. He showed himself to be a wise man, and Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was full of the Spirit of God. Do you catch that? The lost world, recognized that this man was full of the Spirit, and he wanted him to lead his country.

How many times does Joseph's example stick out to us? He ran away from temptation with Potipher's wife. He was forgiving when his brothers showed up after having sold him into slavery. He was a godly example.

What was Joseph's solution when Egypt was facing, or about to face, a tough economic time? If you don't remember, he taxed the people 20% across the board for all of their increase during the seven years of plenty. That sounds fair. That way, when the seven years of famine came, he had stored enough to be able to provide for the people of Egypt, and more, for all the people that came to buy food from them.

Ok... now that I've strung you all along long enough... What about Joseph's actions during the time of famine? The people of Egypt, whom he had taxed the seven years prior, came to Joseph, the government, and needed food - no problem, he sold it to them. Then, when they couldn't afford to buy the food any more, he took their cattle off of their hands. Then when the cattle was gone, he took possession of their lands. He made a deal with them that they could work the government's land, and keep the 20% tax going. It sounds like Joseph's actions were designed to improve governmental control over personal areas.

In politics, I am a conservative. I don't believe that we ought to support people that do not work (1 Thessalonians, Ephesians 4, etc.), which is today called welfare. I disagree with those that think it's ok to end a baby's life in the womb, and therefore disagree with a government that would be willing to let tax money be given to groups that encourage abortion. There are some ungodly things going on that I think displease God. In those areas, I would be willing to stand and fight.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the most politically savvy guy around. However, big government, while definitely not American, is it really the Christian's place to stand up and fight against it? So, the government gets control of the car industry; they take control of the banks; they regulate the "free market" with minimum wages and other regulations. Yeah, it's un-American. History teaches that it doesn't work very well. But since this is not my kingdom, is that where I need to be fighting? Joseph, the man filled with the Spirit of God, used his wisdom and cunning to increase the government's control of goods and property, and to limit the rights of the people.

Alright... I'm ready... let the stones fly!

Just a political thought...

Modern Missions part 2

2009-01-19T11:53:00.005-05:00

Friday's post was about the deputation process. Today, I want to talk about an idea of means of support for a missionary were they not to "do deputation."

This is a theoretical idea that I have here - not scriptural, but logical to me. What if the missionary's pattern was to work hard on finding 10 families on their mission field. The missionary goes and teaches them the gospel, baptizes the believers, and then teaches them to observe all things... like tithing. Were a missionary to find 10 families who would be obedient to God in all those steps, the missionary could be supported the equivalent salary as those to whom he is ministering.

I know, I know... we Americans couldn't live on the salary of some of the countries to where we go. We would need to have more than those people in order for us to live. Because we... well... um... we need more, right? I mean, because we're Americans we need more money to live on... um... huh.

Anyway, just another missionary thought

Modern Missions

2009-01-16T09:31:00.004-05:00

Let me begin by saying that today's thought hasn't been fully formulated in my mind. However, it's something I've been tossing around for a couple days, so I want to get it out there... (Since, so few people touched my Assassins post, maybe this will have more interest.)

Modern Missions (at least, in America) generally works like this. A man surrenders his life to do whatever God would have him to do. He then will determine the "where." (I remember hearing a preacher down in Georgia say, "You do the 'what' until you know the 'where.'" It's a good charge.) Once he knows where to go, he'll usually start off by talking to his local church's missions director, whoever that may be. The next step is usually a survey trip. They go and see the field where they are interested in going, and begin to gather pertinent information. Then they return and begin the process called "Deputation."

This "Deputation" process is what I want to consider today. The purpose of deputation is to raise the financial support needed for the mission field, by presenting the work that God has laid on their lives to churches around the country. The missionary's desire is that those churches would decide to commit to helping the missionary, financially, on a regular basis. Once the missionary has enough committed churches to meet the financial needs that were calculated, then the missionary prepares to go to the field and begin the work. In the process, he also gains much needed prayer and, hopefully, encouragement from other believers.

Matthew 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Matthew 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Now, when Jesus sent out His disciples on the mission that He had for them, He did say to do the exact opposite. He wanted them to go, preach the gospel, and worthy recipients of the gospel there would provide the needs of His apostles. Of course, He also told them to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils! So, I can accept the argument that I am taking this passage out of context, and that it shouldn't apply to modern missionaries.

(Can I add real quick here, that I have a lot of missionary friends, even my parents(!) that have gone through this same process. There is nothing anti-biblical about it, and I do not think they are wrong in doing it that way.)

I wonder what would happen if a missionary today tried it like Jesus did with His missionaries for that specific project. I wonder what would happen if someone just got up and went somewhere else preaching the gospel, and trusted that God would provide his needs - that the converts would be obedient to the message of the workman being worthy of his meat. What a reliance the missionary would put on God, and not on the money coming in from back home.

Maybe I can develop this thought some more in the upcoming days, but am I way off base in this line of thought?

Just a thought...

Assassin

2009-01-14T16:05:00.000-05:00

Confessing my faults here... I am a fan of the Bourne Trilogy of movies. If you don't know, they are stories about a government assassin. I had a question for you: Could a Christian ever be right with God and have that profession? You know, those black ops guys that the government denies they exist, etc.

Well... why not? I mean, if an infantry person's task is to kill the enemy in front of him, because he is being obedient to the government (who has been given the "sword" to execute good for God's sake - Romans 13), that is excused as being ok. Now, when the same task is done in secret, but for the same goals, does that make it wrong?

hmm.... just a thought.

Vanity...

2009-01-12T09:26:00.004-05:00

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

So, I was thinking of Vanity, and how full of themselves some people are. I heard about Oprah Winfrey's magazine, and how on each of her magazine covers, her face is always on there.

It seems to me that she wants to be the "star" of the show. Well, since it's her show, I guess that make sense.

Vanity, Self-Centeredness (nope, that's not a word, I checked), Pride... all of these things ought to have no place in the Christian's mind, like they are in the mind of the Gentiles.

Anyway, just a thought...

By the way, how do you like my new blog header?!

:)

Living or Walking?

2009-01-08T10:09:00.004-05:00

Gen 5:7 - And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years...
Gen 5:10 - And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years...
Gen 5:13 - And Cainan lived after he begat Mahaleel eight hundred and forty years...
Gen 5:16 - And Mahaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years...
Gen 5:19 - And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years...
Gen 5:22 - And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years...

I posted a while back about how I was amazed that Enoch was faithful to walk with God for 300 years. But now I want to contrast what the Bible says about Enoch vs. the rest of his forefathers.
First of all, we notice that they all "lived." That's profound. They had breath; they walked around; they related with other people. They lived. We don't know much about their lives other than they procreated. However, Enoch did not just "live." Enoch did more than that; he "walked with God." His life was not wasted, but rather was spent in communion with God. What a great example.

Second, we notice the lengths of their lives. 807, 815, 840, 830, 800... that's how many years Enoch's forefathers "lived." Now, when we get to Enoch, we find that after he begat Methuselah, he only was around for 300 years. Why would God take him at such a young age? (I mean really, 365 years old is not that old!?) It reminds me of a quote from Jim Elliot (who, coincidentally, died on this date in 1956 (thanks Pastor Curran for the reminder), written in his journal:

God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus. (1948)

Are we willing to give up just "living" and actually spend our days on earth faithfully "walking with God"? And if that requires that God takes us earlier... are we ok with that? Jim Elliot recognized that the length of life was not as important as the quality of the walk with God. Enoch knew it too. Let's learn it.

Just a thought...

Giving In...

2009-01-02T11:57:00.002-05:00

Ok, Fine, I'll give in to all the hype!

You should check out Barone's new blog site: www.PrayForItaly.com

I wonder what everyone's thoughts are on a missionary doing something like that. Is it a waste of time? Is it a good way to keep awareness up? What other thoughts do you have?

As always (Oh wait, I forgot that I hadn't posted in forever, and probably don't have any readers, let alone returning ones...), Anonymous posts are welcome.

Conceived of the Holy Ghost

2009-01-01T11:16:00.004-05:00

Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Happy New Year, everyone! I have started my new reading plan today, and when I read this verse that last phrase jumped out at me: "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." Now, I know Christmas was last week, and we all know the actual point of this verse is that Jesus was born of a virgin. But, it made me ask myself: What in me is conceived of the Holy Ghost?

I mean, I desire to do things for God. I desire to please Him. Mary was also a "good" woman. She was a faithful, pure (though not sinless), devoted follower of God. But, even still, the best thing in her life was that which was conceived of the Holy Ghost.

So, my desire is that this year, we will be driven by the Spirit, and that ALL (lofty goal?) that we do would be conceived and driven of the Holy Ghost.

Just a New Year's thought...

Merry Christmas - Morning

2008-12-25T12:36:00.003-05:00

Merry CHRISTmas, everyone. As we celebrate the birth of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, may we keep His example of humiliation and love for others in our thoughts.

I was thinking this morning, as I was awaken earlier than I desired, how much I wish I was as excited for the things of God as children are for Christmas. My kid woke up all by themselves today, without Mommy and Daddy needing to go tell them that it was time to get up. Now, if this were a Sunday morning, and it was time to get up for church, it would have taken quite a bit longer to wake them up!

I wish that I was so excited in the morning about being able to spend time in God's word, to commune with Him, to spend my day representing the God of gods to this world, as people get about waking up to presents.

Anyway, Merry Christmas. I hope today is a day of revival in our lives as we adore the Person who was laid in a lowly manger and is coming again quickly!

Just a Christmas thought...

Funny - sort of

2008-10-24T15:58:00.002-04:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while, and now I come to you with this, but I couldn't resist:

God Is... Holy

2008-10-06T13:35:00.004-04:00

Friday night at Home Bible Study we looked at the topic of temptation and how Jesus dealt with it when He was tempted by the devil. I'll save some of the details of the lesson for another day's post, but the attribute that we see of God when we talk about temptation is that God is holy.

I wish I could get a grasp on the holiness of God. He has absolutely no tolerance for sin. He does not allow the smallest, most seemingly insignificant sin to go overlooked. Uzzah touching the ark of the covenant to keep it from falling, caused him to die. Adam taking a bite out of a piece of fruit caused a world of trouble - just taking a bite! Giving to the church, but claiming that they gave a greater percentage than they did, caused Ananias and Sapphira to be killed. Some children mocking the prophet of God because of his bald head, caused God to bring two bears to kill the children.

Some of those examples, we would see as being so ridiculously insignificant. I mean, really, so some people make a joke about one of God's men - and He has them killed? (Um, maybe I better watch what I say about any preacher - not just the ones I like.) God is pure from absolutely any sin. He is not the author of sin, and He will never allow sin in His presence! So much that He even turned away from His Son when Jesus bore all of my sins on the tree. Thank You, Jesus for that.

I think we could all take a step back, consider those things which God hates, take a look at our lives and find some stuff to clean up. And you know those little things, that you know aren't right, but they're just small... well, they're not small in God's eyes. Those little things caused Jesus to go to the cross as much as the big. I mean really, it was simply a bite of fruit that required it. How "small" is your sin compared to that?

"Be ye holy, for I am holy."

Just a thought...

God Is... Calm

2008-10-03T12:05:00.003-04:00

The economy is collapsing. The war in Afghanistan is getting worse. Iran broke away from the international nuclear agency and is working on developing nuclear weapons. Gas prices are so high. If the democrats win, they'll want to grant the same "civil rights" to gay couples as to married men and women... and Winter is coming!

There are many things which could be cause for worry and concern for us. My work-life has been quite out of control the past couple weeks, and it looks like it will stay that way for a couple more weeks if not months. It is Crazy! Pandemonium! Hectic! If I believed in stress, I think I'd be facing it right now.

The good news though, is that we have a God that is calm. God does not get all worked up when He sees the problems that we cause in this world. He is not biting His nails, wondering what will happen next. True, He does know in detail what's coming up, so I guess He has an unfair advantage in that area. But our God is calm - in the sense that He's not worried. (I couldn't think of a better antonym for "worried." Anyone else think of a better?) So, as we focus on God more and more, and recognize His sovereignty and His power, we will see that He is calm and collected. Then we can and should be just as calm, just as careful for nothing, knowing that all things work together for good to them that love God.

Take it easy, Andy...

Just a thought...

God Is...

2008-10-02T13:11:00.003-04:00

After being rebuked last week because I had more tags for "Homosexual" than I did for "Holy Spirit" and such, I would like to do a series of posts on God. Now, I may have another thought that interrupts it, but for now... God.

The first in this series I want to share is that God is. He is. The way that He said it was, "I am." I love how the Bible starts off, "In the beginning God..." It doesn't try to defend the existence of God (only a fool would believe that He does not exist), but rather simply states what He did. While we can not see Him, hear Him audibly, or touch Him, we know that He is, because of what He has done.

What do we do with this attribute? It is easy to be distracted by the things going on around that we can observe with our physical senses. Unfortunately, we need to be reminded that there is in fact a God. That He is. He is not just a fairy tale. He is not just something that we tell our kids to scare them into obeying us. He is not just something that we have to fill up our Sundays. God is. He is the great I AM. Let's not forget it.

Just a thought...

Let It Crash

2008-10-01T11:39:00.003-04:00

I may not be very liked for this post, but this is my perception of what to do with the whole economic issues going on. Now, I do not claim to be an expert on matters in this area. Financial wisdom is not my strong point. But, why don't we just let the whole thing crash? Why don't we allow us to reap the error of the ways we've been travelling?

"Maybe it would lead us into another depression." As horrible and difficult that would be, I think it would probably help my generation and the next to kind of grow up. It would teach us that we may not have everything handed to us on a platter, but rather we'll have to actually work hard to get by. And this isn't a charge against everyone; I know many work very hard to earn what they have. I like to think that I do too (even though "work" is just plugging away at a keyboard, doesn't quite seem to fit, but that's another issue).

But maybe the best thing for this generation would be for it to have to face extreme economical difficulties. We'd have to limit the amount of food that we eat. We might even need to consider growing some of our own food. We couldn't keep up to date with the latest technology toys that we call tools - we'd really just get the things that we need. It might be good for us...

Anyway, just a thought...

Troubles with a Testimony

2008-09-30T08:37:00.001-04:00

I get to teach in Word of Life for the Junior Highers tomorrow night, and the topic is: being prepared with your salvation testimony. We find that the Apostle Paul used his personal testimony a couple of times when presenting an argument, a defense, for his faith. He used it as a witnessing tool.

So, as I'm preparing to teach the kids, let me ask you: Would you be prepared to give a good presentation of your personal testimony to someone that is interested? Well, we probably should be.

But my thought for the day is the trouble that having a prepared testimony could be. The problem comes if there is a false conversion. That is, if there is someone that has never had their life changed, has never been born again, does not have the Holy Spirit indwelling him, and if he is taught how to prepare a testimony, then all that is being done is that he is encouraged and strengthened in his trust in his false conversion.

Look at it this way. When you want to help someone know that their saved, what's the first question you ask them? "Mister, Mister, I want to know if I'm saved or not." "Well, Johnny, you need to be able to go back to a time or place, when you put your faith in Jesus...." Is that the right answer? I don't think so.

Is that not teaching the questioner to trust in an event that happened in their life? "If you can't go back to a time or a place..." teaches the trust to be put in the events of that time and place. The correct answer is, "Well, Johnny, if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, thou shalt be saved." The trust needs to be in the event of 2000 years ago, not just a little while ago. Let's be sure that, while it's good to have a prepared testimony, we don't end up teaching people to trust in the wrong thing. The publican that prayed, "God, be merciful to me a sinner," does not look back at that moment in time, but rather looks at the God that is merciful to him, the sinner.

Just a thought...

Happy Birthday Timothy!

2008-09-29T14:32:00.002-04:00

Today is my son's 6th birthday. Timothy Andrew Hinds (I love that name!) is my musician. He loves to sing, and he can actually carry a tune pretty good for a little kid. I just wanted to use my post to say,

Happy Birthday Timothy!

2008-09-26T13:29:00.002-04:00

Christian fellowship is a great thing. And family is a great thing too. I am blessed to have good friends, and brothers who are Christ-minded servants. Last night, a missionary friend of mine who had been flying standby was going to have the pleasure of sleeping in the Atlanta airport. There were no plans made for him once he got there, and I couldn't get hold of him while he was on the plane. So, I called up my brothers who live in the Atlanta area, and they drove up to the airport (a good 45 minute to an hour drive), not sure if when they got there he would want to just stay there or come back with them or what...

Well, from the sounds of it, he was happy to sleep in a soft bed, not worrying about someone grabbing his stuff or anything - even if it was on a Lightning McQueen pillow! But, anyway, isn't it great to be a part of a bigger Family? To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Now, if only they can get him out of Atlanta today...

Just a thought...

God's Longsuffering

2008-09-25T22:18:00.002-04:00

You know, I've been meditating on God's longusffering. I seem to need to do that a lot! So, I was searching a well-known blog for whatever may have been said about the subject, and I came across this post. Sorry if you've read it before:

One of my personal favorite attributes of God is His longsuffering. If I were God (...hearing the collective sigh of relief that I am not!...), I would not put up with me and the things that I do.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [of His return] but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repenntance.

It is true that God does not desire anybody to go to Hell. He does not have pleasure in the death of the wicked. But some of the lost people in the world despise the riches of God's longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God, His patience and forbearance in pouring out His wrath on man, is meant to lead men to repentance (that is my paraphrase of Romans 2:4). Instead they just add wrath on top of wrath, adding more and more sin to their account.

But you know what, we as Christians are guilty of the same thing too often. We experience God's longsuffering when we do something wrong, and because He does not execute judgment right away, we deceive ourselves and think it's ok to get away with it. God's forbearance of judgment against us when we sin ought to be used for us to praise Him for it, rather than use it as a license to go deeper into sin.

1 Timothy 1:16: "...for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering..."

Just a thought...

Link here: http://hindsey.blogspot.com/2007/09/gods-longsuffering.html

Not "Us" and "Them" - Homosexuality part 7

2008-09-24T11:16:00.005-04:00

1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

This is my last planned post regarding the topic of homosexuality in this series. I do believe that this is an important topic to stand up for. If two lost people want to participate in homosexual acts, that is their problem with God. I would expect them to do such a thing, and since it is a sin, I will be against the practice of it - as I am against the practice of any other sin. But, the problem with this issue is that they insist that we recognize the sinful practice as being acceptable. What will happen some day when we say someone can't be a Sunday School teacher because they are openly gay? How will that law suit turn out in just a couple/few years from now? Let's stand up. But on to my thought for today...

Many times, we conservative Christians make a distinction between us and homosexuals. We make it an "us vs them" kind of thing. And, many times we see homosexuality as a disgusting thing that we despise, not just because it is a sin and God hates it, but we think that it is a despicable act and we gladly oppose it. We take the "high road" because it is not a sin with which we struggle, so therefore we can rail on it at will.

(Here's where I'll lose all my friendly readers.) I don't think you Conservative Christian Men really hate homosexuality as much as you say. I think the idea of disgusting relationships with another guy really grosses you out; that's true. But if there are two beautiful women involved... I think the sin all of a sudden isn't as disgusting to us. The temptation is a little different; the sin is the same.

What am I saying? Take heed lest you fall. One of the other things that struck out at me at the Gay Pride Parade this year was the number of heterosexual couples I saw sitting down and enjoying the parade. Why were they there?! I think I know the reason. Romans 1 talks about how when people start ignoring God, and change His glory into corruption like us men, that they then are turned over unto even more vile things. I believe the principle is that everyone is capable of participating in any sin. If lusts are never restrained, then the desires will grow stronger, and will need more to satisfy. At some point, the affection turns to homosexuality. It just becomes a way to, supposedly, satisfy a desire.

Really, Conservative Christian, let's not think that there is anything better in us than there is in the worst of sinners. God's grace working in us makes us whatever good that we are. Someday, we'll have a righteous hatred for sin like we should - when we are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. I can't imagine what that will be like!

Just a thought...

Unanswerable Signs - Homosexulity part 6

2008-09-23T11:48:00.000-04:00

At the parade this year (and if you are just joining this series, you may want to look back at the past five posts to catch up) there were some signs that the "church people" marching in the parade were holding. Most of them, I'm sure, were directed towards those of us that were protesting the sin of the parade. These signs... I'm telling you... they were unanswerable! They cut to the heart, and I almost felt that I had to turn around and go home! I'll share them with you in the order I saw them:

"Jesus Is Love" "Jesus Loves Me" "Jesus Loves You" "Stand on the side of Love" - There we go. Right away they got me. I mean, Jesus is love. Since He is so loving, He would never tell someone to stop sinning. I mean, "Go and sin no more" wouldn't be in His vocabulary. He loves people so much that even though their sin will send them to Hell (because of His righteousness), He doesn't want to spoil their good time.
"Open and Welcoming" "If we run from one another, we run from Christ"- This church wanted everyone to know that they were welcome to come to their church. They would NEVER teach a message that if one that is called a brother is living in sin you should not fellowship with them (1 Cor 5:11, Rom 16:17, 2 Thes 3:6). I've said this before in comments, but anyone is welcome to come to my church. But if they can sit there and agree with the message - living in sin - then there's a problem with the message being given.
"Our faith is over 2000 years old. Our Thinking is not!" - Oh, I get it. What God called abomination more than 2000 years ago, is clearly not an abomination anymore. What Paul referred to as error, unnatural, vile, etc in Romans 1 was old thinking. If God were around today, He clearly wouldn't say that homosexuality is a sin anymore. Or, maybe I misunderstand. Maybe it is that if we think the Bible is true, that is the old thinking. Now we can know that what God said 2000 years ago is not true any more.
"Never place a period where God has placed a comma." - I knew it! God was just speaking to me the other day. He told me that it was alright for me to murder, as long as the victims were stupid. God clearly has added more to His word, so that the things that He hated, He no longer hates. He now likes sins - well, at least certain sins.
"We have Love, Truth and Pride in our pulpit!" "Pride In Our Pulpit" - (...cough... holding in laughter... ) Yeah! Love! We've got it in our pulpit. We love everyone! Truth! Yeah... I mean, truth for today, the way I want to see it! We've got truth - relatively! Pride! Yeah... uh... pride is good! We're proud! God doesn't hate a proud look any more. Pride doesn't come before destruction any more. God would never resist the proud!
"We're putting JESUS back in CHRIST.ianity" - After reading this sign, I kind of think that if God were around today, He would probably be walking in the parade with these people, glorifying this sin. Obviously this sign is enlightening everyone that Jesus had left so-called Christianity (I'm sure they're referring to fundamentalists and others that reject accepting homosexuality). So, here's to fixing all of those that are simply believing God's word. No, no, get away from that. Let's get back to Christ - ignore His word - get back to Him.
"Would Jesus Discriminate" - Seriously, would Jesus hold something against someone just because of what they're doing? I mean, other than that appointed day in which He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31).
"God loves you for you" - Yeah, God loves me for me. I mean He sent His Son to die for me because I was a good and righteous person. He loved me because my heart was clean. God loves me for me.
"God loves gay's there is no other way!" - Yeah, God doesn't even love heterosexual people!
"Presbyterian by choice, Gay by the grace of God" - This one really is my favorite. Presbyterians are Calvinist in their theology. Therefore any choice that man would make would be a sinful choice because of their totally depraved nature. Any good choice they make would be by the grace of God. Since this sign says Presbyterian by choice, contrasted with being gay by the grace of God, it must be that being Presbyterian was the sinful natural man choice, but being gay was the righteous choice given by the grace of God. I mean, the alternative is that they don't really know the theology of the denomination to which they claim to belong... but that couldn't be. I'm sure they're studied up on theology.
Anyway, just a couple of utterly absurd thoughts...

More Marchers - Homosexuality part 5

2008-09-22T11:24:00.003-04:00

Well, carrying on the theme from last week, on the topic of the Gay Pride Parade, I wanted to mention one more group of marchers in the parade. This group showed up, I believe, 3 years ago or so. I could be wrong, but that's my recollection. This group of marchers in the parade are the so-called Christian churches. The ones that I noticed were:
Lake Avenue Baptist Church
Community Christian Church in Chili
First Universalist Church of Rochester
Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua
Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church
Third Presbyterian Church
Downtown United Presbyterian Church
St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene Episcopal Church

Now, I'd like to start this post by suggesting you read last Wednesday's comments. You can read the post too, if you haven't, but I had an anonymous commenter that went back and forth with me about being hard on the homosexuals and showing no grace. We discussed a little, and I want to clarify (as can be read in the comments too) that when the world participates in homosexuality, they are doing what the world is expected to do. However, when someone takes the name of Christ and insinuates that He is just as happy with somebody living in sin, which homosexuality is, as He is with someone trying to avoid sin, then I have a big problem with it.

You are HYPOCRITES which do such things. You say that God loves them, but fail to teach that God loves them through the Cross. The love of God was manifested by the Cross. The Cross is the punishment for our sin, which Jesus took in my place! You hypocrites go out and say, "God loves you. Your sin does not matter to Him. Jesus really died so that you can go ahead and live however you want, spit in His face, and just continue on in sin." Hypocrites! You teach people that they can live in sin, have no repentance towards it, and that God will take them to Heaven when they die. You are leading people straight to Hell when you teach that they can continue to disobey God and He is ok with it. You are making them twice as much the children of Hell as you are!

You look beautiful on the outside, claiming that God's love will triumph in the end, and you ignore the judgment and holiness of God. You teach people to say that they love God, but when God says, "If you love me, keep my commandments," you ignore it. Or, you teach man's commandments, and present them as being God's. You make God's holy word worthless!

You snakes! You children of the devil! You deceivers! You enemies of righteousness! Stop perverting the right ways of the Lord!

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Let me say one more time. When the lost world does its sin, that is what I expect them to do. They don't have the Holy Spirit to guide them. They are limited to their own selves to try to run their lives. Their flesh, like mine, is far too weak to do what is good. But when a pastor of a congregation of people, a congregation that calls itself a Chrisitan church, says that homosexuality is not a sin. When he or she says that God's word does not mean what it says (abomination, unnatural, error, vile), then he or she is the enemy of the cross of Christ. I will not stand with that person. I will not welcome them to teach or preach wherever I am.

Additional reading for this post: Matthew 23, Acts 13:10, Mark 7:13

Just a Thought...

The Marchers - Homosexuality part 4

2008-09-19T11:28:00.001-04:00

Continuing in my discussion of my observations from the Gay Pride Parade in Rochester this year, I wanted to write today about the participants. Outside of the expected pro-homosexual advocacy groups, I want to mention three groups.

First of all, let's talk about the businesses...

There were a couple of those "artsy" kinda theater type entities there. You know, the kinds of places that would use Macs. (I'm gonna hear it for that one!) There was a car dealer, Bob Hastings, but I understand that one of our pastors or church members contacted him about that one, and it won't be happening again. And, then there was the least likely group, The Humane Society... I mean, really, are they there to the defend the rights of gay animals? I mean, they don't even have any gay animals (because animals do what is natural). Again, I believe someone contacted them, and we'll see if they're back next year.

Those two or three aside though, and there really were very, very few businesses this year.

...Interesting -

Second, let's talk about the politicians...

I can only assume that since these people are marching in the parade that they are in agreement with the cause of the parade. I really, honestly, know very, very little else about any of these candidates. But their marching in agreement with this pro-homosexual crowd really puts a tarnish on their record. I just thought I would list them for you all. You can see the list of names under the pictures of them, and some other pictures of the same parade they were at.

Family Court Judge Jon Kohout

Monroe County Court Judge Frank P. Geraci

Rick Dollinger, running for NY State Senate

Tom Hasman, running for Monroe County Clerk

Dave Garretson, running for NY State Assemblyman

Monroe County Legislator Dick Beebe

Jon Powers, running for US Congressman

NY Supreme Court Judge Elma A. Bellini

Ok, last category... Oh, you know what... I think I'm going to post that category on Monday... let the blood cool down and all before I do!

Just a straight thought...

The AIDS Float - Homosexuality part 3

2008-09-18T08:38:00.001-04:00

One of the floats that was in the Gay (sin) Pride (another sin) Parade (I guess parade's are ok) was "AIDS Rochester presents Happily Ever After with (crossed out Hansel) Heather & Gretel, a Queer Fairy Tale!!!" You can see it in the picture on the right.

Now, I have been to, not many, but a few different parades. In none of those parades,have I seen AIDS Rochester advertise anything. It could be that I just missed it, I'm not sure. I mean, in this parade they happen to be advertising for a "queer fairy tale." (On a side note, I just want to be sure that I am politically correct - calling sodomites "queers" is acceptable?) Why did I not see them in the other parades? Why are they not presenting a Pot at the End of the Rainbow fairy tale during the St. Patty's day parade? Why aren't they out there talking about the flowers during the Lilac Festival's parade?

Why does the AIDS place only advertise during the Gay Pride Parade?

The answer is obvious - The AIDS place advertises among the homosexuals because they are the ones that most need their services. From the little I read on the subject, the consensus is still out that homosexual sex and sharing drug needles are the causes for AIDS. Ok, so, let me get this straight... A horrible disease can be caused be spread by homosexual sex, yet people still think it is just an alternative lifestyle?

Maybe there's more to it, but all I know is that AIDS Rochester recognizes its base of people. Oh, and God calls the recompense of homosexuals' error meet.

Just a thought...

The Parade - Homosexuality part 2

2008-09-17T08:22:00.003-04:00

This is my 2nd part in my string of thoughts on homosexuality. Back on July 19 of this year, there was a Gay Pride Parade in downtown Rochester. As usual, our church joined with some other Bible believing churches in the area and made a presence at a couple of the intersections along the parade route. I think it's neat because they advertise two sins in the title of their parade: Gay and Pride. Both are wrong before God. Maybe that's where I ought to begin this post, by demonstrating that homosexuality is wrong.

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Ok, let's move on to my next post...

Just kidding. While that verse does in fact plainly demonstrate that God views homosexuality as "abomination," I will go ahead and receive the argument that the same book of the Bible tells us that certain foods are "abomination." Yet, we would feel comfortable eating them today. So, to discuss the whole Old Testament / New Testament law issue, see my other posts, but are we limited to this being an Old Testament principle? I am going to post a larger passage from Romans now. There are groups that claim they are Christian, and try to get away passages in the Bible that speak on the subject of homosexuality (claiming they're all OT would be one way). I think they probably miss this passage because they're not using the right words in their concordance. I'm quite certain they're not getting their beliefs from their daily Bible readings, so I'll assume they're using a concordance to look up key words. Anyway, notice the words used to describe what these people did, after they turned away from God: (And, can I just remind you that God's words are much more important than my words, and that your time would be much more profitably spent if you read the following verses carefully and skim my blog, rather than the converse.)

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

"uncleanness," "lusts of their own hearts," "dishonour their own bodies," "vile affections," "against nature," "burned in their lust," "unseemly," "error"

Those are the words that God uses to describe homosexuality in the New Testament. We can throw in the following verses just to further enforce the point:

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Timothy 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Then there's Sodom. This city was destroyed by God's judgment, bringing fire and brimstone to the people there. Now, Sodom had plenty of sins (Ezekiel 16:49-59 -- and for those of you that want to use verse 49 to say that Sodom's sins were only the things found in that verse, just keep reading, and you'll see that verse 50 is adding more things to the list, and includes that they did "abomination."). But when the angels from God came to take Lot out of the city, the men of that city wanted to have sexual relations with them. They were so taken by their homosexuality that when Lot offered his two daughter, they didn't even want to take them! That story can be read in Genesis 19. Jude 1:7 goes on to use Lot as an example of of the judgment that God will bring on all workers of iniquity. The Bible uses the word "sodomite" to describe a homosexual, and they're constantly being told to drive them out. The sodomites were not to be allowed in the land.

I would just like to add to this topic that transvestism (if there is such a word) is also considered abomination before God: Deuteronomy 22:5.

See, the Bible is pretty STRAIGHT on the matter. If you could forgive my puns here, we are told in Matthew 7 that "straight is the gate" that leads to life. It's really not an issue whether or not the Bible is for against homosexuality (because it is clearly against it). The issue that people have is whether or not they are going to believe the Bible, and therefore God, or if they are going to make their own religion, create their own image of God, just to suit their lusts.

Homosexuality is a sin. God says so, and frankly He is Who decides what is sin or not. Let's not forget that lying and heterosexual lust is just as much of a sin! That sounds like it will be another post though!

Hey, let's just submit our wills to God in every thing. Let's stop pretending that what we want to do so much, is acceptable in God's eyes, and instead surrender to the Almighty God Who loved us enough to send His Son to die in our places on the cross.

Just a thought...

Homosexuality - part 1

2008-09-16T09:45:00.000-04:00

Ok, I said a while back, after I had gone to evangelize at the Gay Pride Parade this year in Rochester, that I would be writing down some thoughts on that parade, and on the issue of homosexuality in general.

Well, yesterday, I got a Christian News brief in my email, and one of the articles was about a CCM musician that publicly announced that he's living a homosexual lifestyle. I knew I recognized the name of the artist, but I wasn't sure who it was. I looked up some of his songs and was surprised that they were some of the songs that I'm familiar with that have been sung many times in our church and the churches I've been around to. Anyway, that news article reminded me to get busy on writing my thoughts on the subject.

So, my first thought, will be based on that news article, and carry on from there. I hope you don't get too sick of the subject, and I will try to be original enough on the subject that you don't lose interest. Maybe even I'll throw in some stupid humor so you can at least laught at me in the process!

Anyway, my thought/question for the day is this: What do we do with the songs from this songwriter? I mean, someone comes out and says they're living in something that the Bible speaks negatively about (that will be tomorrow's post, I imagine), what do we do with the the music that they already created? The same could be asked about music that a musician brought about, what appears to be good, godly, Christian music, and then they go and leave their husband or wife? Do we throw out the music with the reputation that the artist has thrown away?

What do you think?

(Let's see how many readers I really have anymore!)

As always, anonymous comments are more than welcome.

"I'm Just a Bible-Believer!"

2008-09-15T13:18:00.004-04:00

1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

How many times have you heard good preachers say things like, "Yeah, some people say they are X and others say they are X. But, bless God, I'm just a Bible believer!" (You can plug in your choice of doctrinal differences for the X's.) The idea is this, both parties have problems with them, so I'm simply going to follow what the Bible says.

Now, this is the right stance to take - let's get that out of the way. However, when you look at 1 Corinthians 1:12, the contentious people at the church of Corinth were following different personalities, if you will, and saying that "I'm a Pauline, I'm an Apollite, I'm a Cephan, I'm a Chrisitan..." (I had fun making up those names!) Notice that one of the contentious group of people which Paul is chargin here was saying, "I am of Christ."

That group of people, the "I am of Christ" group, is just as guilty as those that are saying to be of Paul. The fact of the matter is that we all should follow Christ and not just say that we are. Don't be mad when people are willing to accept "labels" to simply help establish their beliefs - that's not the problem. Now, when you follow your group-label to a contentious point, well, now you really have stopped following Christ's example.

Anyway, just a divisive thought...

The Love of God

2008-09-12T11:27:00.003-04:00

Imagine a young man. Let's say he is 22 years old. He lives in the poorest region of India, or maybe Cambodia. He's got a horrible disease that causes him extreme pain, all of the time. He is too poor to receive any medical attention, and he is in such a remote location that there would be little chance to get any even if he could afford it. To make matters so much worse, this man has never been exposed to the name of Jesus Christ.

How well would this man respond to someone coming to him saying, "Hey, man, I just wanted you to know... God loves you"? I wonder what kind of reaction he would give. Whatever it was, I imagine disbelief would accompany it. This illustration demonstrates a principle that I think not many will receive.

The love of God cannot be experienced apart from the cross of Christ.

You will have no way of convincing that poor, sick man that is in extreme pain, that God loves him - unless you first explain the cross of Christ. And frankly, the cross of Christ will not make any sense to him either, until you explain the unholiness of man. And even then, the unholiness of man will mean little until you explain the holiness and righteousness of God.

So, where do you begin to show the love of God to that man laying in agony? By talking about the holiness of God! Doesn't make sense at first, but without that, the message gets lost somewhere.

Just a thought...

Fellowship of the Unashamed

2008-09-11T11:31:00.002-04:00

The following is a well-known quotation, a resolution, that states the motives that every Christian should have. I came across it again today, and wanted to share it with all my readers (both of you, that is). The only thing I suggest before simply praising this piece -- is that you don't say it from the flesh. Looking on line, I found some audio clips of preachers saying this resolution - with the drums going in the background, with the preacher emphasizing all that "He" will do (found with all the uses of "I" in it). Remember, when reading this, that only by the grace of God are you what you are. That being said, this really is great!

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."
The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I won't look back, let up, slow down,back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking,
small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.
I now live bypresence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven,
my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,
my Guide reliable, my mission clear.

I cannot be bought,compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity,
negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity,
or meanderin the maze of mediocrity.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I must go until Heaven returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.
And when He comes to getHis own,
He will have no problem recognizing me.
My colors will be clear.

Thankful for Dirty Work

2008-09-10T09:30:00.003-04:00

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

I was talking with a friend recently, and we were talking about how people aren't always thankful about certain things. This verse popped into my mind. Specifically, we were discussing being thankful for people that provide you with an opportunity to do some "dirty work."

Should nursery workers be thankful for the little snot-nosed brats with dirty diapers that get to change on Sunday mornings? I mean, anybody that is close to being a Christian is thankful for the nursery workers, but are the nursery workers thankful for the kids - without the kids, they lose an opportunity to minister for the Lord's sake!

That's just one example, but when you've got some task to do - for ministry purposes - and you just really don't want to do it... are you thankful for it? Or, do you gripe and complain? The key is to remember for Whom you are really doing it.

Anyway... just a thought...

Life After Institute

2008-09-09T11:36:00.003-04:00

sniff... sniff...

So, all of my friends (ok, maybe not all of them) were at the Bible Institute last night, taking New Testament Survey. And, I was at home. They all got to sit with one of our pastors teaching through the New Testament, asking questions, learning from the experienced teacher... and I couldn't go. You know, I didn't miss Institute over the summer, but I think that's because no one else was at class either. But, now that it has started again, I felt a bit left out.

Wait a minute... they had to go to class last night. Then tonight, they have to go again... for FOUR hours. Sunday and Wednesday they'll have a class that gives them homework to do. And me? ...I stayed home. We had some friends over for dinner. We worked on some ministry stuff together. I got to be with my wife and kids. It was pretty nice actually.

Now, tonight, I might drop by and listen to Missionary Mike Ireland teach on Systematic Theology, but I wouldn't have to do the homework!

I guess I don't miss Institute all that much...

Just a thought...

As the Oracles of God

2008-09-08T12:35:00.003-04:00

1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

I think I'm happy that the point of today's post never came up in Homiletics class - or at least that I missed it if it did.

If any man speak... and by looking at the verse before, we see that this is a "speaking" as a gift from God. That is, there are certain people that are gifted in the area of preaching. But here's the kicker: Preacher, if you are taking on the ministry of preaching (speaking), then you are accepting that God gave you the gift to do it, and that when you speak - and this is the good part - you are to speak as the oracles of God!

Now, maybe that doesn't mean much to you, but the "oracles of God," are the messages/places/communications where God met with the people. The Scriptures are the most common example of God's oracles that we have. But preachers are to speak as if they were God communicating directly with the hearers. And the warning goes out, that God does NOT like to be misrepresented. I remember in Job 40 when God had enough of people saying, "God says this," or "God does this." He comes down in a whirlwind. (Don't' miss that - a whirlwind! not a still small voice here - we have a twister coming down.) The first thing He says, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge Gird up now thy loins like a man for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me..." He doesn't sound happy - and He starts His glorious answer to Job and his friends, by saying, "Why are you talking about what you do not know?!"

So, Preacher, you are to preach as if the message you are saying are exact words that God would have you say to the hearers. And, if that doesn't make you spend serious time in prayer about your message... maybe it should!

Just a thought...

Home Bible Study

2008-09-05T11:37:00.002-04:00

Tonight starts another year of Home Bible Study at our house. In the past, we've struggled with the number of kids in our average size house. So, to fix that this year, we've added a few more of them! Yay!

I love Home Bible Study, and I just wanted to post some of the things I like about it. I don't know that there will be any real exhortation here, but simply some ramblings. I like Home Bible Study because:

It is the tool that God used to really bring me back to Him. When my wife and I were newly married, and weren't living the way that we ought to have been, a couple (Ryan & Becky Donovan) invited us out to a Home Bible Study at Bob and Sue Patterson's house. Rick Grape was the leader of the Bible Study, and he kept on pushing me, challenging me, and not letting up. It is exactly what I needed. I wasn't getting that in "big church," but in the Home Bible Study setting of discipleship, that close-knit accountability is here.
It is a great opportunity for accountability. Now, Rick challenged me apart from the 7:00-9:00 official study time. However, during the study itself, we give everyone the opportunity to share what they have gotten out of their daily Bible devotions. You see, I think this is probably the most important part of Bible Study. People will remember very little of a lesson that was taught during a Home Bible Study, but if every week they are expected to have read their Bibles and have spent time with God, that is a habit that can be established and last for ever. And... that's more important than any facts or lessons that a teacher could give on a Friday night.
It keeps me focused. When every week I have to be ready to minister to a bunch of families coming over to my house, it helps keep me from wandering off and concerning myself with too many other, non-important things. I get to work on preparing a lesson, organizing and presenting it.
I get to hear others' understandings of the Bible. Some passages in the Bible are harder to get a grasp on than others, and during our study, people are encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and give input. With this input, we can guide the study in a new direction if needed, and we can hear what others are seeing from the same passages. Now, for clarification, the Scriptures have one meaning, and if two people look at the Scripture and suggest that they say different things, only one of them can be right. Scripture can be applied in different ways in people's lives, but it only has one doctrinal meaning - let's get that relative garbage out of here.
We get to really teach the kids the Bible. We have gone with a Divide and Conquer methodology with the kids. In principle, anyone over 10 or so can sit in with the parents - they're old enough to follow along and get it. Kids 5-10 are set around a long dining room table that we have (yup, we put the leaves in for Bible Study!). Last year we had, I think 11 kids, if everyone showed up in this age group, this year it looks to be closer to 15! I think we need another leaf! But, with this age, we really have the opportunity to teach some real topics, push deeper than a kids' Sunday School will do, and have these kids learn some of the meatier parts of the Bible - yet presenting them, illustrating them, with things the kids can understand better. Anyway, that's our focus with them. The younger kids, well, they basically are baby-sat. Hmm... anyone have any ideas how we could make that time more profitable for them?
Snack Time! Now, when we were with the Farrells for Bible Study, I remember Jill making some of the best meals I have ever had. Everyone got excited when it was their turn to bring "snacks." Well, we've cut back on that a bit, but we still have some good stuff! But, actually, this "snack time" after 9:00 is often the best time of fellowship and conversations of the whole night. The "structure" for the study is gone, and people are free to talk about whatever's concerning them. Hopefully, this year, we'll handle this lack of structure time better with the kids.

Anyway, just some thoughts on Home Bible Study...

It Is His Angel

2008-09-04T12:01:00.003-04:00

Acts 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

I love the story in Acts 12. Peter is in prison, and he was getting ready for his execution. Herod had just killed James the brother of John, and it says that he was ready to "bring him forth" to be executed. He even had Peter sleep between two soldiers, with two chains, and then some more on the outside of the door. Herod wasn't messing around - tomorrow was Peter's day of death.

My thought today is this: I'm really glad that the principle of, "IF we ask in faith in the name of Jesus, THEN He will answer" is not true in the inverse, "IF we do not ask in faith, THEN He will not answer." Because, it says in verse 5 of that chapter that "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." And even when Peter is finally released miraculously by the angel (if you're not familiar with the story, read it!), he goes to the house where people are in the middle of a prayer meeting. These people were praying fervantly for Peter!

But, what happens when their prayer was answered? Well, Rhoda hears Peter's knock on the door and goes and tells everyone else. Out of her excitement, she failed to even open the door for him. So, these prayer warriors, who did not cease to pray for Peter, when God gave them the answer to their prayers, what did they say to her? "Thou art mad." And when she insisted that he was there? "It is his angel." These people were more ready to believe that Peter's angel (whatever that may mean... another day's post) was standing at the door, than that God had freed Peter from prison as an answer to their prayers.

The moral of the story? We really should pray in faith, expecting God to answer, when we're asking things for God's sake. But, when we really don't think that God is going to answer the prayer - we ought to keep praying anyway. These people prayed without ceasing, yet deep down inside, they did not think that God was going to answer. They were expecting to have Peter's funeral tomorrow night, but they kept praying.

Pray without ceasing.

Just a thought...

"for me" and "for to me"

2008-09-03T10:16:00.002-04:00

Oh, I'm sorry, did I miss a day blogging? Forgive me...

Anyway... I will try to be more faithful with my blogging. You know, I had this notion in my mind that if I didn't come up with something monumental every post, then I would be looked at as being plain or just simple. My pride makes me do stupid stuff. But this blog is important to me as it makes me take time in the middle of the day to bring me back to my real purpose in life, whether I'm eating or drinking, to do all to the glory of God.

So, today's post, comes from Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." What a thing that Paul could say! What a punch packed into that little verse. My thought is this: Often, we think of that verse and here it preached as this, "My life is all about Christ. FOR ME, I live for Christ." And that is a great philosophy to have for your life, to say, "Hey, if I'm gonna live, I'm gonna live for Christ."

I think Paul is saying even more than that in the verse though. He doesn't say, "For me to live is Christ," but rather "For TO me... to live is Christ." Paul says, that in his mind, living is all about Jesus Christ. It is not only his life that has a purpose of living for Christ (that's good and all), but he says that for everyone, their purpose for living is Christ. For to Paul, living is all about Christ. To live is Christ. That was Paul's view about life. It was more than just his life, it is life for everyone - but of course, not everyone is obedient.

For you to live, it ought to be about Christ. Regardless though of how you are actually living, to live is Christ. At least that's what Paul thought, and I suppose I agree with him!

Just a thought...

Acknowledge Him

2008-07-23T11:42:00.003-04:00

I've noticed one thing recently, and that is, it's hard to have a Lunch-Time Thought when you aren't getting lunch times!

That's my sorry excuse for not having written. Actually, I have a post I am preparing, but it is taking me longer to put together than I anticipated, but it's coming soon. - has to do with a parade on Saturday...

Anyway, today's thought is quick and simple: Acknowledge Him.

Proverbs says to "acknowledge him" in all of our ways. That seems to me to be the first step. Let's recognize God's presence in every part of our lives, and then give Him credit. I say that is a first step, because if we could get that down, it would be a lot easier to get so much else right in our lives. It's tough for me to acknowledge God and then go on and do something He hates. We fall into sin when we stop acknowledging God.

So, in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Just a thought...

Happy Dependence Day

2008-07-03T12:08:00.003-04:00

I heard of a church in California that has a "Dependence Day" celebration tomorrow, July 4. I thought that was just a fantastic thing to do, to bring to mind our total dependence on God, rather than just remembering the day that we dissolved the political bands that tied us to England.

I was thinking of other holidays that we could use as bookmarks throughout the year to bring to mind some things. Maybe you have some more ideas too?

October 31: Rather than celebrating death, violence, wizardry and witchcraft, let's remember October 31 as the day in which a man posted (would have been on his blog if he had one) a bunch of different ways in which the practices he was tied to were unbiblical. That would be a good day for each of us to have a reformation in our lives, our homes, and our church. We can step back and look at everything and see if it's in line with God's word - or if we need to reform.

Labor Day: That'd be a good chance to evaluate the things for which we are laboring. 1 Cor 15:58 tells us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. It doesn't give us hope for our labor in the world, so let's make sure that all our labor is ultimately being done for the Lord. That's a good day to make sure our greatest efforts (yea, all our efforts) are being done for God.

I'm not saying we don't celebrate those days for the accepted meaning of them (other than Halloween, that one I am saying that we shouldn't celebrate), but rather take time those days to celebrate and bring to mind greater things.

Now, if only I could think of something to remember on Christmas and Resurrection Sunday...

Just a thought...

Me & Peter

2008-07-02T13:53:00.001-04:00

I was listening to preaching on a Christian radio station this lunch-time while running errands, and the preacher talked about Jesus' washing of the disciples feet. It made me think about how I would probably have acted like Peter in the situation.

You know the story, after a while, Jesus gets up and begins to wash His disciples feet in an act of humble service. When He reaches Peter's feet, Peter tells Him not to was his feet. Jesus, doing this act to demonstrate how that if even the Lord will humble Himself to serve others, so ought we.

Well, Peter (like me!) wanted nothing to do with this. Now, I don't really know his intentions, but if I were in the situation, this is what I'd be thinking.

First of all, he really didn't want to wash anyone else's feet. That would have required work. It would have made him get up and then even humble himself to his peers. What would they think of him? Would they stop seeing him as the important apostle that he was - one of the "elite 3"?

Second, he (or, at least what I would be doing) was willing to let his feet stay dirty so he could just keep eating dinner. That would be due to my laziness. "Yeah, my feet are dirty... oh well." Now, Jesus explains that there's a spiritual significance to it all too. How many times might we notice that parts of us are dirty with the things of the world, yet we're too lazy to do anything about it! Forget helping others with it, we won't even get ourselves clean.

Third, when Jesus, the Lord, came to wash his feet, he wanted nothing to do with it at first. I don't get it - why is it humbling for us to be served? Is it just because we don't want to show that we are dependent on others? Is it because we want people to think that we don't need anything, or that we're so good, that others can't even do anything to benefit it us? Peter didn't want his feet to be cleaned by Jesus. He could have done it himself if he wanted them clean, but he certainly didn't need someone else to do it for him --

It reminds me of a poem by Michael P. Johnson:

The prince of pride who’s of the night
Was once to Me a great delight
But pride took hold with sin’s desire
Now he awaits eternal fire

Ok, while I do like that poem, I hope you all recognize the joke of 3 points and a poem...

Just a thought...

A Little Help, Please

2008-06-30T12:13:00.002-04:00

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

I'm having a hard time getting a strong grasp on this verse - could anyone help me out?

The context:
Matthew 11:9-15 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Good or Bad?

2008-06-27T11:45:00.003-04:00

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/26/scotus.guns/index.html

Many of you may have heard that the Supreme Court ruled this week that the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution is Constitutional.

Ok, now read that sentence again before you go on.

I'm sure there was more to this than I am saying, but the basic problem I have with what happened in this case is that 4 of our 9 Supreme Court Justices thought that the 2nd Amendment should not be accepted as has always been accepted, but rather to limit it.

Well, this is non-Spiritual post two in a row today, and I'm not even going to go into a gun debate, but I'm just not sure if we should be happy that the Supreme Court upheld the 2nd Amendment, or if we should be sad that 4 of them did not!

Anyway, just a political thought...

Oh be careful...

2008-06-26T12:00:00.002-04:00

Ok, this post really has nothing to do with me trying to get acrossa spiritual point or anything. Just that you shoul be careful what you're doing because you never know who's watching!

Google Maps has just released a "Street View." You go to www.google.com and click on maps. Type in your favorite address, and when it comes up, look for the little thumbnail for Street View. It's neat.

Click here to see the new church... hopefully

That's all for today!

Procastination

2008-06-25T11:08:00.003-04:00

This came in my "Daily Christian Quotes" email, and I wanted to share it with everyone -

"No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow. It is only when they are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards, and that the remembrance of unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done is welcome and pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us. Undone, they stand threatening and disturbing our tranquillity, and hindering our communion with God.

"If there be lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at once. The only way to get rid of it is to do it."

Just a thought from Alexander MacLaren...

Experientialism

2008-06-24T12:25:00.003-04:00

Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

I was in conversation a couple weeks ago about Replacement Theology. That is the idea that the Church has replaced Israel in God's ultimate plans, as opposed to a Dispensational Theology which says that God dealt with Israel, but has temporarily put them off to deal with the Church, and will return to Israel later (after the Rapture).

Well, the conversation had to do with the Reformers, and how they were big on the Replacement Theology. But, to give them some credit, they lived in a time when Israel was not a nation, and had not been a nation for a millennium and a half! It is so easy for us to see how Israel will be involved in future events, because we see them as a nation. For the Reformers, that was an unreasonable idea since Israel no longer existed - in their minds. They had to take Scriptures to mean something a little different than the plain meaning of it, in order to match their experience.

However, I wonder how much of that we are guilty of as well? How many times do we read something in the Bible and say, "Well, that can't mean that, because all of my experience, observation and reason say that it can't be that. It must mean something else..." Instead of just taking Scripture at what it says, we change it to match our experience. That puts experience above revelation... that's a no-no!

My hat goes off to those theologians that held to a literal, national Israel being dealt with in Scripture, even though there was no "possibility" of a national Israel!

Just a thought...

Quietness is Temperance

2008-06-23T11:33:00.001-04:00

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

I'm a bit slow sometimes, so this thought may be common knowledge for most of you, but as I was thinking of training my children, I realized that teaching them to be quiet is a way of teaching them temperance. I'm not sure if any of you have ever experienced this, but did you know that if you put a bunch of kids in the room and just let them do whatever they wanted, that it would get very loud in there! By teaching them to restrain from just getting as loud as they want to be, you are at the same time teaching them temperance and self-control. On the other hand, allowing them to get as loud as they want and showing no restraint - you teach that it is OK to indulge.

I am finding more and more ways that lust plays a part in my life. lust is not limited to the common description, sexual perversions, etc., but it can be found in yelling or screaming. When we give in to what our flesh wants to do, the flesh that is contrary to the Spirit, we are indulging the same as if we indulged in other lusts.

Just a thought...

Quick Thought...

2008-06-20T15:02:00.003-04:00

How would a Calvinist reconcile Paul's actions described in yesterday's post with their theology?

Paul did not witness publicly to certain people, because he knew that in open they would not receive it. However, Calvinist theology says that when God decides it will happen, the Holy Spirit will make that person born again, regenerate him, and he will receive the word and be saved. If Paul believed that, then why would it matter to him whether he witnessed publicly or privately. Either the Spirit was going to regenerate the recipient or not, right?

It seems that Paul was hoping to work the natural circumstances to better prepare this recipient for the gospel.

Anonymous comments are always welcome...

Just a thought...

Witnessing in Vain

2008-06-19T11:30:00.002-04:00

Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Some would argue that when a person is ready to be saved it does not need to be a private affair, but rather they will be ready to jump out and let the whole world know. Paul demonstrates, though, that there are times that presenting the gospel to someone ought to be done in private, and not in public - not for the sake of sparing the witness's reputation, but rather to be more profitable in the opportunity.

People's pride can play a big part when being witnessed to in public. I've seen that at times when out on the street. People have to act all cool when they're around their friends. Paul brought the gospel to some of them privately, so that his time would not have been spent in vain.

Could it be that we can waste our time when witnessing to the wrong people at the wrong time? By no means am I going to give me or you an excuse for our slothfulness in witnessing, but Paul sought for a better opportunity to witness to these people, and didn't waste his time by doing it at the wrong time.

Just a thought...

Moses' Focus

2008-06-18T09:44:00.005-04:00

Romans 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

At Men's Prayer Meeting last night, Pastor Brado preached a message about seeing the glory of God, and the things that had to happen in Moses' life for him to see God's glory in Exodus 33-34. I really cannot imagine what Moses experienced when "the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there." But, as Brado was preaching, he made suggestion to this thought, and it was one of those things that I wish he had carried further.

As I was hearing him preach, and afterwards looking back at Exodus 32, here's what I found. When Moses was meeting with God on the mount - thunder, clouds, lightning, the whole works - God told Moses about the golden calf thing going on at the bottom of the hill. Moses great prayer of intercession, found in verses 11-13 caused the Lord to "repent" of the evil which He was going to do to the people. The thing is that Moses was meeting with God, and his prayer of intercession seemed to be entirely God-centered. He basically said, "God, spare this people so that You look good and are glorified more among the heathen." And God spared them.

However, as Moses started getting away from God, coming down the mountain, in a picture he started walking away from God and towards the people. His eyes started focusing more on the sins of the people than on the time spent in the presence of God. The end result is that his anger waxed hot, and he broke the tablets that God had written for them. Now, I'm not saying it was wrong to be angry over the sin, but I think he took it to the point of having lost control.

Too often we get caught up with all the sins and things that other people are doing, and we can spend too much time and effort trying to understand the evil, and it distracts us from doing the good. God wants us to be wise concerning that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

Now, the real thought of the day: Can you really begin to imagine what it was like in Exodus 34 when God stood there with Moses? I mean, I usually use the "zoomed-out" image in my head of this little guy standing in the midst of a big cliff with God somehow around him. But, imagine yourself in the clift of the rock, and all you can see is God's hand as He covers you as His glory passes by, and the you see His "back parts" as He goes on. I don't think at that time Moses paid too much attention to what the people were doing at the bottom of the mount!

Anyway, just a thought...

All Your Needs

2008-06-17T11:23:00.001-04:00

Another thought that came while reading The Exemplary Husband had to do with what our needs are versus our wants. How would you define what your needs are? Really, think about that for a second - what are your needs?

Stuart Scott (that would be the author of the book) defines what are needs are, basically as this: Needs are things without which God's work cannot get accomplished. I like it.

So, what are some things that we think are needs:

Running water? I remember hearing the story of a missionary family that went to stay at a church, and the "missions quarters" where they were put up did not have running water - and it was a hot day... Running water sure would have been nice...

Two cars? I had to get a ride to work Monday because our van is in the shop. It really would have been nice to have a second car...

One car? Do we forget how new the idea of an automobile is...

Credit Cards? Television? Telephone? Microwave? Shoes? My trip to Zambia a few years back aswers those ones for me...

"Needs" are the things without which God's word cannot be accomplished. Think about what you consider to be a "need," and then think about these:

What did John the Baptist NEED while in prison? Did God fail to supply John the Baptist's needs? I mean, he was beheaded. John Baptist probably thought that he needed some way to escape, or that he needed a good lawyer...

What did the Apostle Paul NEED during his involuntary fasts? God did not provide him food for days at a time. If you had asked Paul, I bet he would have said that he needed some food. Don't we all consider daily food to be a need for us... Did God fail to supply Paul's need?

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

If God will provide the needs of His faithful, and yet at times His people have gone without some of the most basic things of life, then I think we have to look back at Scott's idea of a need.

Needs are those things without which God's work cannot be accomplished.

Just a thought...

I'm Great at it

2008-06-16T11:45:00.002-04:00

As I was reading in the book, The Exemplary Husband, the author was speaking of how husbands first need to recognize who God is, and who they are, before they will end up being the exemplary husband. In speaking of who man is, the author writes that the man needs to recognize that he is a "great sinner."

When I read that phrase in that context, it really stuck out to me - a great sinner - yeah, that's me. Unfortunately, I am really good at it. Paul wrote that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom Paul claimed to be chief. I think often we compare how we are with others, and maybe we recognize that we are just as bad and even worse than so many people, and we admit, Yes, I'm a worse sinner than so and so. But, to be willing to admit that I am a "great sinner," well, that's a bit more humbling - yet true.

Just before John Newton died, he said, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour." And we praise Him for it!

Just a thought...

Fess Up

2008-06-13T11:19:00.000-04:00

Imagine two fighter jets about to go into a dogfight. They are the only two friendly planes, the rest are enemies. Now, imagine if one of the jets had defective guns on the right side, and for whatever reason the pilot could not see to his right, and all of the instrumentation was failing on the same side. Is this a problem? Of course it is. The second plane would have to be sure to cover that side of his ally when the enemy approaches. But with the two of them working together, it's still possible for them to win the battle.

Now, what if the pilot of the first jet never told the second that he had plane trouble? What then are the chance of them winning the battle? The second pilot would not know to help out on the weak side, and the first jet would be in serious trouble.

Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

You know, in the spiritual warfare that we fight, we have allies in the battle. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church - the assemblyl of believers - not necessarily a believer by himself. Working together, the body of Christ will prevail even against the very gates of hell. However, I think we probably could find some examples of pilots in that warfare that are severely handicapped in one way or another, and they are not willing to be honest about it and let others know.

Christians are to bear one another's burdens (fulfilling the law of Christ). However, if a burden is hidden, the brother becomes weak. If I lie to you, then I am not helping out the body of Christ, but hurting it. I may keep up my good reputation, but it would not be for the mutual benefit of everyone.

Just a thought...

Hard to Catch Up

2008-06-12T11:59:00.000-04:00

Last week my family and I took a vacation down to Atlanta, GA to visit my brothers and our parents before they headed back to Guatemala. It was fantastic trip and time of fellowship. However, the sad part about it was that I had to come back!

Have you ever been away from your work for a week, and when you return there is twice as much stuff as normal waiting for you, and you spend most of your time trying to catch up and never get anywhere? It seems to me that life would be easier if we just worked through the vacation so that it isn't overwhelming when we come back? It seems impossible for me right now to catch up!

Well, as I was thinking of a thought (huh?!), I thought about those times in our lives where we, regretfully, take a spiritual vacation. You know what I'm talking about, those times when we Christians act as though we were the owner of our lives. I find that it is a lot harder to catch up to where I was spiritually before going on "vacation." It seems to me that the Christian life would just be easier if we were to stay faithful, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and then having to catch up again... and again... and again...

Just a thought...

What's He Doing?

2008-06-11T12:20:00.000-04:00

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Let me ask you a question. (It's my blog, I can do that.) Do you ever shy away from the question, "What is God doing in your life?" That is, if someone were to come up to you right now and ask you that, would you get uncomfortable all of a sudden? Ideally, we should have a list of things on the tip of our tongues ready to answer that question. If you're like me though, too often, I would have to stop and think about it for a few minutes before I could make up something spiritual.

What is God doing in your life?

(here is where you pause and answer that question to yourself)

I mean, it is God working in you to do His good pleasure, if you're a Christian, right? So, what's He working on? Nothing? Maybe you think that God is not doing anything with you today, or this week. Maybe He's just letting you take a break... C'mon, let's be serious. The God that notices when the sparrow falls in the field, don't you think He has something for you, today?!

It's safe to say that if you shy away from the question, it's not that God isn't doing anything in you, but rather, you're not giving Him the due attention to see what it is. Or, God forbid, maybe you're ignoring Him altogether and pretending like your life is your own.

This thought came from Rick Grape's charge at Men's Prayer Meeting last night when he read from Psalm 28:5 which say, "Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up." It was a very insightful message last night - one that I needed very much.

So... hopefully at least by reading this post, you'll consider the answer to the question:

What is God doing in your life?

Just a thought....

Comfort from His judgments

2008-06-10T12:24:00.002-04:00

I was looking through my favorites, and I came across this particular link - Lunch-Time Thoughts it was called. Then I remembered... I have a blog! Sorry for the lag in posting, although I'm sure most of you hadn't noticed anyway. Well, let's just pick up anywhere.

Psalm 119:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

In this verse David makes the statements that by remembering the Lord's "judgments of old" that he comforted himself. In this Psalm, the word of God is referred to by a variety of terms, including "judgments." So, we could say that David is saying that by thinking on God's word, it brought comfort to him (Romans 15:4 - through patience and comfort of the Scripture).

However, if we take "judgments" as the more direct meaning of the word, we find that David comforted himself when he thought of how God dealt with people, and the decisions that He made towards them. When he thought of God's judging Sodom and Gomorrah too wicked to spare - it brought comfort. When he thought of God's flooding the world in the days of Noah, it brought comfort. When he thought of God kicking Adam and Eve out of the garden, it brought comfort. The only reason David could be, and we could be comforted by such things is when we recognize God's hatred for sin as a good thing - oh, and when we are in the right too!

At the same time, God judged people to be worthy recipients of His grace. What? you say. Worth of God's grace - impossible! Actually, no, all of us are worthy of His grace and mercy. Those that are whole have no need for a Physician. We are worthy in that we are so miserably helpless! So, God's judgment of Noah to receive grace. God choosing to bless Abraham, not because of anything he did, but simply because he believed God. These things also bring comfort.

So, let's be comforted knowing that the Judge of all the earth will do right.

Just a thought...

How Marvelous

2008-05-28T09:48:00.002-04:00

I don't have any real deep thoughts today. The theme that has been on my mind of late is from a hymn: My Savior's Love. That was the hymn that I picked for my graduation. The first verse is on my mind:

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene.
And wonder how He could love me,
a sinner condemned, unclean.
How Marvelous, How Wonderful
And my song shall ever be -
How Marvelous, How Wonderful
Is my Savior's love for me.

I truly am amazed that my Jesus would love me, knowing who I am. I am eternally indebted to Him for what He did for me, His enemy at the time.

Thank you, Mr. Charles Gabriel for penning the words to that hymn.

Happy Birthday, Esther

2008-05-23T08:28:00.002-04:00

Ok, so it's a day late, but still... Our youngest turned 1 year old yesterday, our Queen Esther... Isn't she adorable?!

Extremes

2008-05-22T10:27:00.001-04:00

Why is it that we are a people of extremes? I refer specifically to doctrinal questions right now. We have a hard time walking the balanced line wherein truth usually lies, and instead, we jump far away from the opposition, and we end up going too far.

For example: Justification by faith vs. works... Living in a predominantly Roman Catholic area, we have to deal with some of the errors in that religious system. Roman Catholic dogma states that salvation is by God's grace, which the individual receives through the sacraments. However, taking Communion (a sacrament) is a work. If salvation is of works, then it is no more grace, Romans 11.

So, here's what our extreme tendencies make us do, we jump so far away from that that we almost take away everything from "faith," and teach that all you have to do is to say a prayer, or even worse, just raise your hand. Works are almost discouraged as a whole, just because we want to be sure to be separated from the other side.

The fact is that we need to recognize that works are important, that they are a necessary result of salvation (result, not cause). We need to be balanced, and take the whole truth of God regardless of who else abuses different parts.

Now, what do we do with those that are too extremely balanced...

Just a Thought...

Wednesday

2008-05-21T11:47:00.002-04:00

Well, it has been a full week since graduation. Tonight, I am going to go to church after dropping the kids off at AWANA, and then I get to sit in the service and hear some preaching. I don’t have to be anywhere or do anything other than just be there. This feels all new to me, and I get to enjoy it with Sarah too!

Ok, I think it’s time to pickup something to read and study. Anybody read any good books lately that they’d like to share about? I think I will keep reading my Biblical Greek book, but I doubt any of you will care about that.

I’ve graduated… it’s starting to sink in…

No thought today, just rambling.

Pascal vs. Paul

2008-05-20T14:21:00.002-04:00

The French philosopher, Blaise Pascal, is known for his famous "wager." He proposed that since the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, that a person should "wager" that God does exist because if he is wrong, he has nothing to lose, and if he's right, he has everything to gain.

However, when we compare that to what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:19, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

I don't know about you, but having a "miserable life" would be something lost. That is, back to Pascal's wager, if there is no God, then Paul says I can expect to live the most miserable life of all men because I follow Christ. And if there's no God, then after this miserable life, there is... well... nothing?

Pascal's wager seems to have two flaws, in my ignorant opinion. First of all, it is still using "reason" to arrive at God. His wager is "reasonable," yet God demands that we come to Him by faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Second, Pascal's wager dismisses the denial of self that the Christian life calls for. Dying is not a comfortable thing, but following Paul's example, all Christians should "die daily."

No, if God were not to exist, then we have everything to lose. However, God does exist; Jesus Christ did rise from the dead; our faith is not vain! I believe philosophy fails yet again to God's word.

Just a thought...

The Stupid Graduate

2008-05-15T10:45:00.002-04:00

The Stupid Graduate, that's me...

Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Last night's graduation was a great time. Yet, right in the middle of it, I had the opportunity to demonstrate my utter carelessness and stupidity. I had the opportunity to brag on my wife Sarah, but I didn't. The Bible says that whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour (aka grace) of the LORD. But by the grace and favour of God, I am what I am. I needed to tell the whole world that, but I didn't. I'm stupid.

Sarah has been supportive of me through these years. We started Institute with a couple classes 6 years ago. I went full-time 5 years ago, taking one semester off for Joey being born. So, for the past 5 years, Sarah has been there encouraging me to finish (actually, she never cared if I was learning anything, she just wanted me to finish!). She has been by my side through other struggles we've had: being laid off from my job the month after we were married, struggling through very irregular income while trying to run my own business a few years back, and having to deal with creditors and bankruptcy as a result of that business. She has been the greatest help to me during all of that time.

She has given birth to our five wonderful children. 3 of which have been born during my time in institute, and 2 which were just very young when I started. She has been a great mother to them and had to do things with them that I should have done, but was unable to while in classes. She has done all of the work taking care of the children at times when I would be sitting in my office doing my homework, studying, or preparing some lesson.

And then there was this semester... Talk about finishing it off with a bang. Towards the end of last year, the debt that I carried over from the business caught back up to us, and the creditors finally got to the point where they were beginning to garnish my wages - that doesn't do very well on a tight budget! We finally were "forced" into filing bankruptcy. So, we've been dealing with that whole process and all that goes along with it. Then there was the little issue of a computer that was not backed up and half of a thesis that was lost. Needless to say, Sarah gave me as much time as I needed to get that re-written, and believe me, it was a lot of what should have been family time used to finish that. And the biggest difficulty this semester, was the miscarriage. With everything else going on, she had to deal with a physical and emotional trial greater, probably, than any other she has had before. Yet, she let me go on and finish. She still did all the same that she has done.

I should have said all of this last night, but I'm the stupid graduate, remember? As soon as I sat down and Seth got up (immediately praising his wife), I realized how dumb I was. My first thought was this: "I wish I had used notes!" My second thought was this: "How stupid I am, to think that I should have needed notes to remember to talk about Sarah." As Seth was talking, I thought about standing up when he finished and saying something about her then, but I thought it would have been inappropriate to interrupt the ceremony, especially after what Seth had just said and all... More evidence of my stupidity. It would have been very appropriate, but I didn't.

Whoso findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. God's grace and favour was bestowed to me in the most incredible way when He gave me my wife. She is a wonderful mother. She shows me love when I do not deserve it. She is kind and patient towards other people. She is compassionate. She has a great voice to sing. She can cook. She can sew. And to top it all off, she's a great kisser!

I love my wife, and I am so thankful for her.

I love you, Sarah.

Sad Story... Again

2008-05-01T16:10:00.002-04:00

Well, this is the third sad story I have in a row. The only thing is that it is only sad for others. You see, I got myself married to the most BEAUTIFUL and WONDERFUL and GRACIOUS woman in the entire world! And that happened 9 years ago on this day! It's great for me, but sad for all the other guys in the world because she's all mine! :)

Anyway, I love you, Sarah. Happy Anniversary!

Follow Up on the Sad Story

2008-04-30T09:54:00.000-04:00

2 Kings 1:3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

Today's post is a follow up on yesterday's. You can find that here, although more importantly would be to read the original story here. Oh, and by the way, here is Seth's take on the story too.

The verse I added above, in 2 Kings 1, was the result of a king that fell down and got hurt. So, what was the king's reaction? He went to enquire of Baalzebub whether or not he was going to make it through the sickness. Elijah comes to meet the messengers that King Ahaziah sent, and he basically says to them, "You go up to find your help from other places, because you do not have a God."

What does Elijah and Ahaziah have to do with this little girl that died? Probably nothing, but I would like to bring to light an issue that I believe we many times neglect. The parents of this girl were trusting God for the healing of their daughter. God does still heal. He has not stopped being the Great Physician. Ahaziah failed to look to God for his problems, and God was quite displeased. This family believed they were faithfully looking to God, and yet their daughter died. What do we do?!

Well, let me first give you a test, I would probably fail this test, but here goes: You and your child are riding your bikes down the street. The kid hits a bump, and falls into traffic and is hit by a car. You get up to him and see that he is bleeding and unconscious. What is your first reaction?

Call 911?
Call out to God?

Ahaziah called 911. This family called out to God.

Now, lest any of you think I am trying to defend this family's actions, I am not. I take my children to the doctors (well, usually Sarah does). However, if my first response to sickness is, alright we better go get them checked out, instead of asking for God's mercy, then my outlook is skewed. God surely did give man the understanding and knowledge of the human body and of medicine. If we are to think that man came up with medical knowledge on by himself, then we fail to really understand man's utter dependence on God. It may be God had already answered that family's prayer years earlier when he let the doctors discover the cure for that little girl's problem.

In summary: We need to look to God for our help, and not to ourselves. It would be great if we were in so close communion with God at all times that of course we would seek God first. However, God has already provided so much in His love, and we should be aware of it.

Just a thought...

Sad Story

2008-04-28T15:07:00.003-04:00

Read the news story here:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352949,00.html

I don't know what to say about that story. It is devastating to me. Were they wrong, biblically, to take the stance they did?

This story breaks my heart. Well, apparently I don't have any thoughts on this - what do you, my fearless readers think of it?

Judah

2008-04-28T12:14:00.002-04:00

Genesis 29:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

It almost seems to me that God was trying to get Leah to this point of where, having conceived her fourth son, she finally quit looking at herself and decided to just praise the Lord. Ends up that this son, Judah, was the one from whom the Messiah was to come.

That was what I read on Saturday morning before going out street preaching. We had a great time in down town Rochester. I watched 16 year old Mike Ireland preaching like his dad. We got out a ton of tracts. Oh, and the weather was just incredible! I met a man from the Congo that was interested in learning the Bible more (I gave him NSBI info).

My favorite though was when I preached near the Liberty Pole. I was just outside the bus stop and I started preaching. To my utter amazement, people actually listened this time! There were probably 4 or 5 people just looking at me the whole time, apparently listening. I even had an Amen from one of them at the end! Well, maybe two or three minutes later, I was off handing out tracts, and one of the ladies that was listening, with her two little boys, came over to me and asked if she could get "one of those pamphlets." I didn't get a chance to talk with her any more, but certainly the Lord was working on her heart! Praise Him!

Judah: Now will I praise the LORD!

Just a thought...

Spiritual Reality

2008-04-25T08:09:00.003-04:00

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Well, there will be no time to write a Lunch-Time thought today, so I will write a coffee-break thought! Actually, I have the privilege of preaching at Northstar's chapel today, which for some reason is one of the hardest venues wherein I have had to preach.

The topic of the message for NCA today is trying to establish a biblical reality as opposed to the reality that is presented to people today. My opening illustration has to do with "Reality TV" and how that is not reality at all, yet so many people in our society think that TV is what real life is supposed to be like.

Isaiah 6 is my text, and the first four verses have to do with God seated on His throne, and the seraphims and all of this spiritual activity going on. The point there is that there really is a spiritual world, and that according to 2 Corinthians 4:18, the spiritual world is more real, or more important, at least, than the physical world.

Then there's God... Holy, Holy, Holy, the LORD of hosts! The whole earth is full of His glory! If we could live our lives daily with that perception, recognizing the Holiness of the Lord, seeing His glory in the whole of the earth, what a difference that would have on our day and on our Christian walk.

Just a thought...

Get a Job

2008-04-24T09:42:00.004-04:00

Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Help me out with the application of this verse. It seems to me that God is saying for the man to get his work established, make it "fit for thyself" ("thyself" is singular, fit just for him), and then once it has been established, he goes and builds his house.

Sounds like the single man that is looking to build his home ought to establish his career first. He ought to work on being able to support himself before he considers getting married and having children, building his house.

I think the problem is that our society doesn't have our kids building their careers until after high school, or even not until after college. I think it would be better to start working with our boys on their careers when they are young - 11? 12? 13? Start getting them established in the career that they want to do. They, of course, will listen to your guidance in picking a career, since you've trained them right since birth!

It seems to me that the best career in the world would be one in which you could devote your time to the study of God's word and to prayer (of course, not to the neglect of the rest of life, but simply being compensated with carnal things for the spiritual ministry. See Rom. 15:27). All Christians should know how to study the Bible, how to evangelize, etc., so that should be a part of all of their educations!

Anyway, just a thought...

The Whole Earth

2008-04-23T19:37:00.002-04:00

Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

The scene in Isaiah 6 is the temple of God. (A side thought: Since when was there a throne in the temple? Is that one of the differences between the OT Temple and the Heavenly? Or, is the mercy seat God's throne? Any thoughts?) Isaiah hears a seraphim cry unto another, and we all are very familiar with the "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts," but how much do we think about the last phrase, "The whole earth is full of his glory"?

I thought on that verse for a little while and realized that I do not see God's glory in the whole earth. That is, I do not see the glory of God in a pile of dirt. So, there are a few possible explanations:

1) The seraphims were wrong, and God's glory isn't really in the whole earth, just parts of it. Ok, that one's unlikely.

2) God's glory can be found in the whole earth, but it's not really found in everything in the whole earth, just parts of it. I guess you could stretch it that far if you want or need to. Maybe that's right.

3) Here's what I think is right: I am just failing to see it!

God should get glory from a pile of dirt. It just goes to show His creative power. He made the dirt. It reminds me of the scientist that challenged God to a life-making contest. The scientist said that he would have a contest against God and see who could make a better living being. So, God accepted, and the next day they got together and as the scientist reached down to grab some dirt to make his "life," God said, "No, you have to use your own dirt!"

The whole earth is full of the glory of God. Do you see it?

Just a thought...

Sending Missionaries

2008-04-21T14:45:00.004-04:00

(Act 13:3) And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Alright, I have a question.

Why don't churches send missionaries any more? I mean, why doesn't First Bible send missionaries?

{dramatic pause here, while everyone gasps, and says, "What do you mean?!"}

I know that First Bible has many missionaries that have gone out from the church. I actually know a couple of them very well. But, I am not talking about the common day connotation of "Sending." My question is why does it not happen like it happened in Acts 13 any more? The Holy Spirit told the church to separate Paul and Barnabas to go out. It does not say that Paul and Barnabas felt the call on their lives, and then came to the church leadership and told them that they were going to go somewhere.

Why don't our churches, and why doesn't my church, instead just send misionaries out. It's easy, we walk up to someone that has shown himself faithful in the ministry, possessing the necessary gifts and abilities, and has a willingness to serve God wherever He desires, and (after we are certin that we are being directed by the Holy Spirit) we tell him that God wants him to go some place where there is a specific need.

Oh, and another missions thought... I wonder if God wants His people to tithe on the church members. That is, 1 out of every 10 families is supposed to be given up to God.

Just a thought...

What's this?

2008-04-21T14:01:00.004-04:00

This is not a thesis topic...

This is not a fictitious declaration of independence...

This is not going to be about Jonathan Edwards (sorry, Dan)...

This IS... just a thought...

I went to see Expelled in the movie theaters Friday night after Home Bible Study, and I think it is a very worthwhile movie. It is not a Christian movie, so don't go with the expectation of such. It is simply a movie that exposes some of the characteristics of some of the more prominent evolutionists.

Ben Stein did a great job in putting the movie together. Now, from what I understand, he may not have been totally honest with the evolutionists when he approached them for an interview. The story goes that he told them that he was doing a movie on the disconnect in America between religion and science, or something like that. A New York Times article can be found here about it. Well, the evolutionists got a bit upset about that. They would not have taken part in a movie like what was produced! Apparently, they wouldn't say those things if they were going to be presented in a negative light.

But, why not say them? I mean, the purpose of this movie shows that there is a silencing of critics of evolution. By the evolutionists saying that they wouldn't say the same things had they known, just goes to demonstrate the point better that they do have something to hide!

I'm rambling... Here's the thought: Make sure that you mean what you say, and that you can defend what you say. If there is some doubt to what you are saying, then do not say it as if it were fact. Otherwise, you may look silly like Richard Dawkins, and say things like, "No, there can be NO God, of course not! ...but, Yes, maybe aliens seeded life on earth. But, NO GOD!" Or like the other scientist in the movie who suggested that life may have begun on crystals. That's just a theory though :)

Well, it is good to be back. I'm not making promises that it will be daily yet, but I'm here!

Just a thought...

Thesis 36/36: Other Religions

2008-04-16T21:57:00.005-04:00

DOCTRINES OF CULTS
Doctrine 36 / 36: Other Religions

Religions can be categorized into one of four categories: Atheism, Monotheism, Polytheism, Pantheism. The belief that there is no God is atheism. There are three major monotheistic religions in the world: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The rest of the religions in the world are some sort of polytheism or pantheism.

Atheism is something that must be taught to a person, as only a fool would say that there is no God (Psalm 53:1). Atheism usually is accepted when a person wants to get out from under the authority of a higher being. If a man can consider himself to be the most important being in the universe, then all of his actions are justified and he will not have to give account for them.

As for the monotheistic religions, Judaism is the basis for Christianity, with the major fault that they failed to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah. Islam is a religion that began with Muhammad in 7th century Arabia. Muhammad was exposed to Judaism and Christianity, and also to the polytheistic gods of the neighboring tribes. He claims to have been visited by the angel Michael, and was given visions from which he recorded the book of Koran. The god Allah was taken from one of the deities of the neighboring tribes, the "moon god." Islam is a religion that promotes proselytizing by all means necessary, including the sword. While some have strayed from the fundamentals of Islam, and created their own version of it, that method of spreading the religion is what was practiced by Mohammad himself. Islam teaches that heaven is gained by works, by following the teaching of the Koran. Those that die in war for the cause of Islam are promised immediate rewards in a heavenly paradise.

Buddhism is an offshoot or sect of a greater religion of Hinduism. Both of these religions can be considered polytheistic. However, they are essentially humanistic in their teaching. They emphasize the real light being found inside of man. Meditation is emphasized so that man can discover himself and find out his own meaning for life. There can be no right or wrong, as there is no authority. Hinduism teaches that the law of Karma, all deeds in past and present life will be rewarded or punished. Because they believe in reincarnation, their current estate in life may have been caused due to good or bad done in a previous life, and if they do harm to others in the present life, they will have a lower estate in a future life. Some sects believe that the perfect state, Nirvana, can be achieved during the present life by an "Enlightenment," while others believe that Nirvana is a future state at which a person will arrive once all of the bad has been punished. Though some of these teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism are attempted to be meshed with Christianity (such as the moment of Enlightenment and the Conversion of a Christian), the fact is that they do not hold to a Sovereign God, and Jesus Christ is at best a mere prophet.

The New Age Movement in America, which in recent times has been popularized by Oprah Winfrey's web class teaching Echart Tolle's book, "A New Earth." This teaching specifically, and most New Age teaching in America, is simply the American version of Eastern Hinduism. It teaches the idea that there are many ways to get to God. It teaches that Jesus is not the only way. Man again is taught to look to himself to determine what is right to his own spirit and conscience.

All non-Christian religions have a few things in common. They do not have the same negative perception of man and his depravity. They fail to recognize a loving God that would sacrifice His only Son as a substitution for man. They do not accept that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. The end result is that, while some of these religions make the world a nicer place in which to live, they are simply making a nicer world from which they will go to hell.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

Thesis 35/36: The Occult

2008-04-16T21:57:00.001-04:00

DOCTRINES OF CULTS
Doctrine 35 / 36: The Occult

When Jesus went into the wilderness, Satan tempted Him by telling Him to worship him. It seems that beginning at the fall of Lucifer in Isaiah 14, Satan's desire is that people would worship him, by following him and not following God. There are many ways in which he does this; some of them are not as frequently recognized as being of him. For example, liars and murderers are said to be people whose actions take after the father of lies, the devil (John 8:44). However, in recent times, the following of Satan has not been hid, and there are people that claim to simply be worshippers and followers of Satan.

The First Church of Satan started in San Francisco in the 1960's by Anton La Vey. He promoted the worship of Satan by name, and said that since man was simply full of carnal passions, he may as well just give in to them. Sex has always played a large part in the church of Satan and its religious ceremonies. Sacrifices, animal and even human, are also known to be performed in certain rituals of devil worship as well. People are drawn to this occultic worship for numerous reasons. Some of them partake in devil worship simply to rebel against the standards. For example, many young people find interest in it because they know that their parents would be opposed to it. Others join because of the sexual acts that are accompanied with it. Since these sexual perversions are allowed in that society, people join them to simply allow their lusts to run uncontrolled and remain accepted.

Spiritism is another way in which Satan draws people to follow him. Spiritism is the interaction of humans with spirit beings of different forms. This includes necromancy, divinations, and speaking with familiar spirits. The Bible gives an example of this type of activity in 1 Samuel 28, when King Saul went to the witch at Endor, and asked counsel of her. To her surprise, the dead prophet Samuel actually spoke to her. Some of these spiritist practices are proven to be hoaxes, however these things do exist, and there can be communication between spirits and humans. Some of these spirits, which are devils, fallen angels, will pretend to be a dead relative of the person seeking them. Due to the knowledge that devils have of people that have lived (Satan is not omniscient, but he is very observant and knows of people from the past), they are able to communicate facts about them that nobody else living could possibly know. These devils deceive people that the spirits of the dead are actually speaking to them, however the Bible teaches that those that are dead without Christ are in hell already (Luke 16:19-23). In Deuteronomy 18:10-11, the Bible directly forbids the practices of divination (foretelling the future), consulting with familiar spirits, and necromancy (speaking with the dead). Ouija boards are another medium through which access into occultic practices begin. They are not just harmless board games.

Another from of following the devil that has become prominent in America as a result of the Harry Potter series of books is that of witchcraft. Witchcraft is the art of using magic, or supernatural powers, to accomplish something. As with Spiritism, some have disregarded witchcraft, considering it a hoax, or some other illusion. While certainly there have been cases of these, the Bible teaches that Satan does have the power to perform signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Wicca is the name of the practice that came from the Celts in Ireland, from which came the name witch. A witch is a female practitioner of Wicca, and a male would technically be called a wizard or a warlock. Witchcraft is often accompanied by drugs, which tend to open up people to devilish influences and possessions. The man possessed with a devil in Mark was able to break chains; it is no surprise that supernatural events would take place around such situations. Enchantments (magic spells), witches, charmers and wizards are also forbidden in Deuteronomy 18:10-11.

A less obvious practice of the occult is in the area of fortune-telling and astrology. In most, if not all, newspapers in America, there is included a horoscope. The word horoscope comes from the Greek words meaning "hour" and "sight." It means looking at the times, and specifically divination based upon the time of a person's birth. A horoscope is an astrologer's prediction about a person's life based on the position of the heavenly bodies and the date of the person's birth. Horoscopes should not be treated as a game or as a silly comic in the paper. Rather, God again directly prohibits the "observer of times" and him that "useth divination" (Deuteronomy 18:10).

Satan has power to perform signs and lying wonders, and he has a desire to deceive and to devour (John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8). Care must be given to avoid being sucked into his traps. God has promised power through His Holy Spirit by the humiliation of man. Satanism and other occultic practices promise power through self-exaltation and the desire to satisfy carnal lusts.

"Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

Thesis 34/36: Cults

2008-04-16T21:56:00.001-04:00

DOCTRINES OF CULTS
Doctrine 34 / 36: Major Cults

According to the CIA world factbook, in 2007 in the United States of America, Protestants made up more than 50% of the population. That was followed by Roman Catholics with 23%, Mormons with 1.7% and "Other Christian" at 1.6%. The other Christian classification would include the Jehovah's Witnesses, who, though they don't have extremely large numbers, are a very visible religion in America.

Roman Catholicism is one of the oldest religions associated with Christianity, and its beginning is quite difficult to pinpoint. The religion developed over time out of the true Christian church, as some of the leaders began to become more secularized and tied to the government. By the year 590 AD, with Pope Gregory the Great, the Roman Catholic Church had begun to take power, and, as often occurs, power corrupted the leadership. The Pope and the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church began to take power to themselves, and even began to exalt their teaching and doctrine to be on equal level as the Scriptures themselves. Once this happened, the Roman church could develop and promulgate any doctrine that it wanted, without needing Scripture to support it.

Some of these doctrines that have developed over time include auricular confession (a person needs to confess their sins to a priest to receive forgiveness), papal infallibility (that the pope, when speaking ex cathedra, is not able to err), baptismal regeneration (that a person's baptism puts them into the body of Christ), transubstantiation (that the elements in the Lord's Supper turn into the actual body of Christ), an unbiblical veneration of Mary (Immaculate Conception, and Perpetual Virginity) and probably the biggest error is the means by which God's grace is bestowed to man. The Bible teaches that justification is by grace through faith, apart from the law (Romans 3:28). However, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that God's grace is bestowed through the sacraments of the church, such as, the Eucharist (Communion). The church leadership therefore has the ability to withhold the sacraments and claim to be withholding salvation from those that would deviate from their authority. Salvation gets narrowed to down to the performance of specific works, of which the priests have control.

Mormonism originated in the early 19th century under Joseph Smith, Jr. Joseph Smith claimed to have been visited by an angel, Moroni, who led him to an ancient, hidden book of Mormon. This book was allegedly translated by Joseph Smith, and as a result of it and of other visions, he began a new church. Joseph Smith was eventually killed by an angry mob that stormed the jail in which Smith was held because of some of his actions. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as it is also called, has constantly been under persecution, with its headquarters moving frequently. Finally, in about 1847, the young church settled in Salt Lake City, Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young. Their teaching denies the existence of an Absolute Sovereign God. They teach that Elohim, God the Father, was once a mortal man but ascended into Deity; and in the same way, other mortal men can ascend into Deity to be God like Him.

The Jehovah's Witness religion and associated Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were originated with Charles Russell during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although the present day Society does not claim to be the follower of an infallible man, his teachings are in line with their doctrine, and he was the first president of the society. Jehovah's Witnesses deny the biblical doctrine of the Trinity vehemently, and they deny the existence of eternal torment in hell for the lost. Instead, they teach that a lost person is simply annihilated at death. According to the doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the atonement of Christ was half the work of God, and half the work of man by enduring to the end, rather than the biblical doctrine that the atonement was entirely the work of God applied to those of faith.

Both Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses fail to teach properly the Deity of Jesus Christ. They allow that He is the Son of God, but they do not allow that He is equal with God. Jehovah's Witnesses use their New World Translation of the Bible to change John 1:1 from saying, "And the Word was God," to having it say, "And the Word was a god." Like the Mormons, they teach that Jesus was just another god, and not "God manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). The other common error they share with Roman Catholicim, is that the work of Jesus Christ is all sufficient to save, and that justification is by grace alone, through faith alone. All three religions teach that man has a part greater than simply believing to secure their salvation.

"Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar."

Thesis 33/36: Basic History of the Church

2008-04-10T21:34:00.003-04:00

DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH
Doctrine 33 / 36 Basic History of the Church

When John was given the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapters 2-3 of that book were written to the angels of seven churches in Asia-Minor. While these seven churches were literal churches, it appears to also have a prophetical significance predicting seven periods of church history.

Ephesus: (Pentecost - 100AD)
After Jesus' resurrection, the book of Acts and the Pauline epistles give much of the history of the that early church. It was a time when the gospel was spread throughout the world, but it took some instigating by persecution in the beginning, to get the church out of Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). The time was identified with the Jews ultimately rejecting Christ, Paul taking the message to the Gentiles, the writing of the New Testament, but also by the persecution of Roman Emperors, like Nero, who is credited for beheading the Apostle Paul. John, the last of the apostles died about 100AD, and was the only one that was not martyred for the faith.

Smyrna: (100AD - 313AD)
This second period of church history was a time of persecution. In Revelation 2:10, the angel of the church in Smyrna is told of ten days of tribulation, and during that time period of history, there were ten strong waves of persecutions of the early church by the Romans. The church was in hiding, fearing persecution, and continued to spread around the world because of the persecution.

Pergamus: (313AD - 590AD)
The third period of church history was the beginning of the secularization of the church. The Roman Emperor Constantine, head of the political world, proclaimed tolerance for Christianity with his Edict of Milan in 313AD. Christians were saved from persecution at this point, and Constantine even called the Council of Nicaea in 325AD to solidify certain Christian doctrines such as the Deity of Christ, which at the time was a debate going on between Arius (believing that Jesus was distinct from God) and Athanasius (who believed that Jesus was Deity). The fact that a Roman Emperor began to call Church Councils should have been a warning to the church which was called to be in the world, yet not of it. This period of time begins the rise of political interest by the church's leaders.

Thyatira: (590AD - 1517AD)
The fourth period of church history is the Middle Ages. It begins with the rise of power with the Roman patriarch. In earlier periods, the church had five patriarchs that tended to govern the church. They were the patriarchs of the cities of Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople, and Jerusalem. However, with Gregory the Great, who was pope from 590-604AD, the power of the Roman patriarch grew into a political and even military power. It took supremacy over the other patriarchs, which had been developing over time, but was here solidified. This time period developed into a time of essential tyranny of the Roman Catholic church over the people. People were forced to comply with the priests' commands or they would be threatened with excommunication. Fear was a tactic used by the church to control its subjects. The sale of indulgences began in this time to raise money for the church. The masses were all said in Latin, and there was no Scripture for the common person to read as the cost and language made it near impossible. There was a remnant of the faithful in the Roman Catholic church and also outside of it. Two of the more famous groups during this period were the Albigenses of the 13th century and the Waldenses of the 15th. Though their doctrine was not perfect, they were brutally persecuted by the Roman church for failing to convert to Roman Catholicism. John Wycliffe was a man in England during this time that also was against some of the teachings of Romanism, and he translated the Bible into the English language to try to enable the common person to have God's word directly available.

Sardis (1517AD - 1793AD)
This fifth period of church history began with the nailing of Martin Luther's 95 Theses to the door at the University at Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. Martin Luther was a priest that wrote on some of the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Martin Luther only wanted to reform and better the church he was in, his refusal to compromise began a movement that spread throughout Europe. Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Knox all began movements in their areas that created a group of churches that were in protest to the Roman Catholic Church. They were termed Protestants as a result. Their overriding themes were the five solas: Sola scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola fide (Faith alone),Sola gratia (Grace alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), Soli Deo gloria (Glory to God alone). They emphasized Scripture and its teaching, and gave it authority over the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. It was a period of wars between the Protestants and Romans, but it ended with a Europe divided into nations with different churches. The unified, political, Roman church was no longer what it used to be.

Philadelphia (1793AD - 1881AD)
The sixth period of church history begins with the travelling of William Carey to India. This short era was a time of great missionary movements around the world. As Revelation 3:8 says, Christ opened a door that no man could shut for these missionaries. Men were going to the uttermost part of the earth: William Carey to India, Hudson Taylor to China, Adoniram Judson to Burma, David Livingstone to Africa. They were praised for having kept God's word.

Laodicea (1881AD - present)
This last period in church history may be said to begin with the publication of the Revised Version of the New Testament along with Westcott and Hort's Greek New Testament in 1881. Christ says nothing good about this church in Revelation 3:14-22, but rather that it is a lukewarm church that does not recognize its poverty. It has been a time of much compromise with the world, of much laziness on the part of many Christians. The Scriptures are not treated as God's very words, and therefore not obeyed as much. And while there truly have been localized revivals of religion during this age, the overall presence of the church in Christ's eyes is that of a lukewarm church.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

Thesis 32/36: Evangelism

2008-04-10T19:47:00.001-04:00

DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH
Doctrine 32 / 36: Evangelism

Evangelism is a transliteration of a Greek word meaning gospel, or good news. To evangelize is to simply tell others the good news of Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This message is the plan of redemption that God established for the world, and of which the Bible is all about. The Great Commission that Christ gave before He ascended into Heaven was to go and preach the gospel, to be witnesses for Him (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). He wants His church to continue His work of seeking and saving that which was lost (Luke 19:10).

The church is the body of Christ, and as such, it has the same mission that the body of Christ had when He walked the earth: to seek and to save that which was lost. Because Christians have been reconciled to God by Jesus Christ, God has in turn given them the ministry of reconciliation. Their job is now to represent God on earth, to be His ambassadors. They are to carry the message to the lost world, and to beg them, in Christ's stead, that they too would be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). If God's purpose for the Christian was simply to get him to Heaven, then at the moment of salvation, He would take him home. However, God wants the Christian to turn around and bring more people to Him.

Evangelism is the roots for missions. Telling others of Christ must begin first by the local church, in the local area. The missionary himself ought to be someone that has established himself as being an evangelist at home, before he should qualify to be an evangelist to another place. The witnessing begins at "Jerusalem" and then goes out from there (Acts 1:8).

Much of the difficulty with evangelism, especially in America, is that people do not feel that they have any need of "good news." They do not realize the need for "Jesus." They do not care that He did something for them, however great it was. The reason for this is that they fail to see their sinfulness. For this reason, it is important to use the law when, or before, sharing the good news. If a person fails to see their sin, they will fail to see their need for the Savior. The purpose of the law was not to justify anyone, but rather to show everyone how sinful they really are (Romans 3:20; 7:13). So, the law must be presented to the person, to demonstrate that they are sinful, and the holiness of God must be shown to them to realize that their sin has created a major problem for them. After they truly see their sinfulness and God's holiness, they will beg for the Savior. It would be erroneous to invite someone to come to Christ if they never recognize their need for a Savior. They may respond to an invitation for wrong reasons: to please the person inviting, to fit in socially in a group, etc., but all of those reasons will fall them short of godly repentance.

Evangelism is to be accompanied by prayer. Paul planted, Apollos watered, but only God can give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). What Paul is teaching there is that Christians are to work in the fields, but at the end, it is only God that can do the saving. Christians must pray for those to whom they will be evangelizing, and they must pray that God would send more laborers into His field (Luke 10:2).

"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace."

Thesis 31/36: Worship

2008-04-10T19:22:00.003-04:00

DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH
Doctrine 31 / 36: Worship

The first mention of the word "worship" in the Bible is found when Abraham was taking his son Isaac, at God's command, to sacrifice him. He told the men that had been going with him that they two were going to worship (Genesis 22:5). Somehow, the word in America today has been associated to mean simply a church service and specifically to the music part of the service. Worship is ascribing worth to someone, ascribing divine respect to someone.

In the Old Testament, worship was almost always associated with two things, sacrifices and a person falling on their knees or face (Genesis 24:26; 1 Samuel 1:3). It did not always take place at the temple (Joshua 5:14), but that was the normal place. It always had to do with an external act, whether it be falling on the ground before someone, or meeting together at the temple for a religious ceremony. It is this external act of worship from the Old Testament which is why some call a church service a worship service. It is not incorrect, but it has much greater meaning.

When Jesus met the woman at the well in Samaria, they began to discuss where the right place was to worship. She said that worship was to be done in the mountain where they were, and the Jews taught that it was in Jerusalem (John 4:20). Jesus answers her question to Him by saying, "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father" (John 4:21). He was not simply saying that the place of worship was going to be changing, but rather the method. He goes on to say in verse 23, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." The external act is not the primary thing that God wanted. He even despised the "worship services" of the Jews (Amos 5:21-23). The fact is that God is not able to be worshipped by "men's hands" (Acts 17:25), as He is the creator of them all. He desires true worship, a true sense of divine reverence to be hand by man in his spirit. God desires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6).

"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34). When a man truly worships God, he will end up demonstrating it with external actions. He will praise the Lord in song; he will fall on his face in humility; he will sacrifice of himself for the Lord. However, it is the confusion of these external acts with the reverence that must be had on the inside, which causes vain religions to spread. In regards to music used during a church service, it must be music that is made out of the abundance of a heart that has a divine respect towards God. If the music is made to please man, then God will hate and despise it as He did that in Amos 5.

"Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."

Thesis 30/36: Tithing or Stewardship

2008-04-10T16:43:00.002-04:00

DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH
Doctrine 30 / 36: Tithing or Stewardship

Money is one of the biggest hindrances in the world to a person being saved. Jesus said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:23). The very first principle that must be understood when speaking of finances is that all things are God's. "The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof" (Psalm 24:1). No man has anything that he did not receive from God. Even if the man gave something in exchange for it, ultimately, all things come back to God. The life that the man has is from God, so that he could do nothing without Him. "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Once a man recognizes that all things are God's, and that he is only a steward of God's things, then he must look to see what God desires of that which is His. When dealing with finances, we see the principle of tithing established all the way back in the life of Abraham. A tithe, by definition, is the giving of ten percent of something. After Abraham recovered Lot from captivity, he tithed on the spoil (Genesis 14:20). Tithing is followed up as a law in the Mosaic Covenant, when all the people were to give a tithe of all that they had (Leviticus 27:30-32). God considers the tithe to be His, so that if a man were to withhold the tithe from God, he is actually robbing God (Malachi 3:8). The children of Israel had the opportunity to give a freewill offering on top of their tithes, but the tithes themselves were God's. Jesus commended the Pharisees for their tithing as well (Matthew 23:23).

Under the New Testament, the tithe is not repeated as a command. However, Paul charges the Corinthians to be faithful in giving, even to the point of making themselves poor, by following the example of Jesus Christ. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). In that passage, Paul is saying to the Corinthians that God has given so much more than could ever be repaid, that the Christian should give as a sign of gratitude. When considering how much to give, the tithe is a great place to start. Beyond that, the Christian should give according to what he has (2 Corinthians 8:12). As the tithes in the Old Testament were for those that lead worship, and for the temple expenses, so in the church, the tithe is used to maintain the local leaders and expenses for the local ministry. On top of that, money given goes to support missionaries around the world.

God promised to bless those that proved Him, and tithed. He promised that the return on the "investment" would be great, and that to hold on to God's money would actually hurt their finances. He does not say that they would have less money, but rather that their money would not be able to go as far (Malachi 3:10-11). The money spent for God on earth will end up having eternal value (Matthew 6:19). Christians are to be content with the simple life from a physical standpoint, knowing that they have Jesus Christ, and that is all that is needed to make them content (Hebrews 13:5).

"The love of money is the root of all evil."

Thesis 29/36: Discipleship

2008-04-10T16:08:00.001-04:00

DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH:
Doctrine 29 / 36: Discipleship

The Great Commission is to preach the gospel and to baptize the converts in all the world. However, it does not stop there. The last part of the Great Commission is to be "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19). The salvation of a man is only the beginning. This teaching them to observe all things is Discipleship. There are people who get saved, and even baptized, yet they never move into the area of learning to observe all things. Jesus goes into detail on the higher level that is required in a true disciple (Luke 14:25-33).

Discipleship speaks of taking what a person has learned and passing that on to somebody else. It is not always taught in a classroom, and in fact, is probably taught more outside of a classroom. Discipleship is essentially leadership. A person leads somebody else to where he should be. It is not confined to spiritual matters either. Moses had a disciple in Joshua, and when Moses died, Joshua stepped in his place and successfully carried on the movements of the children of Israel. However, the Bible does not speak of Joshua having had a disciple, and in turn, when Joshua dies, the people end up doing whatever they felt was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25).

Christians are to study the word of God, but it is not enough for a man to gain knowledge for his own sake; it must be passed on. Paul encourages his disciple, Timothy, to follow the example. "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). Paul did not keep his knowledge to himself, nor was it sufficient that he passed his knowledge on to somebody else. Paul wanted it to be spread from Timothy to other men, who, in turn, would teach it to others as well. Christianity dies when the last person stops discipling somebody else.

Discipleship comes in many shapes and sizes. It does not have to be a formal program, but it has to happen. It does not always have to be done in a one on one manner; Jesus had 12 disciples. Jesus spent the majority of His time with his group of 12 disciples, and even more time with three specifically, Peter, James and John. He knew that the time would come that He would be taken out of the world, and the ministry would be left in their hands. From them, Christianity grew to thousands, who then took it all over the world. Discipleship works in multiplication, whereas evangelism without discipleship grows by addition. The difference between those two is that discipleship requires true investment in the disciplee's life by the leader.

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

Thesis 28/36: The Lord's Supper

2008-04-10T15:26:00.002-04:00

DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH
Doctrine 28 / 36: The Lord's Supper

The night before Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus gathered His disciples to Him to have their last supper together before He was to be killed. After this meal, they went to the garden to pray and then He was taken to be tried and executed. At this supper, Jesus institutes one of the ordinances that He gives to the church, and which Paul reiterates in 1 Corinthians 11, the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20), or Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16).

The Lord's Supper consists of two elements: the cup, and the bread. The "bread" refers to the body of Christ that was broken for the world (Matthew 26:26). Jesus is the "bread of life" (John 6:35), and He was broken. The "fruit of the vine" or the "cup" as it is referred to when speaking of the Lord's Supper is a representative of blood (Matthew 26:28). Often grape juice, or wine, is a picture of blood in the Bible (Revelation 14:20). The Lord's Supper was a direct picture of the braking of Jesus' body, and the spilling out of His blood on the cross.

Jesus gives the purpose for the Lord's Supper when He says, "this do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24). The Lord's Supper is a time when the church is to come together and specially think on the sacrifice, the broken body and spilled blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Paul explains another element of the Lord's Supper when he refers to it as "Communion." "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16). Paul is here explaining the mystery of the Body of Christ, and how when a believer takes part in the blood and body of Christ, he is put into communion with Christ. This communion with Christ carries on to the communion with fellow believers. The Lord's Supper is also to be a time of communion, of fellowship, with the fellow saints of God. For that reason, everyone is to eat dinner at home before coming to the Lord's Supper so that carnal lusts do not arise and cause division among the brethren for simple food (1 Corinthians 11:18-22).

A grave warning is issued to those that are partaking in the Lord's Supper. "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body" (1 Corinthians 11:27-28). The Lord's Supper is to remind the saints that Christ died for their sins. It was their sins which necessitated a Savior and His sacrifice. The Lord's Supper is to be a time to remember this, to remember the sacrifice, and motivate the Christian to live right. If a person despises the work on the cross, and if he shows it during the Lord's Supper, he is "not discerning the Lord's body." No man is worthy of partaking of the body of Christ; it is those that treat Christ's sacrifice unworthily that bring damnation to themselves. The Lord's Supper is to be a time to sanctify one's self, and to demonstrate that he does live right. It is improper to eat of the Lord's table, and then turn around and eat of the "table of the devil," and all that he offers in this world (1 Corinthians 10:21).

Transubstantiation is the Roman Catholic doctrine that teaches that the bread and juice of the Lord's Supper actually change their substance into the literal body and blood of Jesus. They make Communion a necessary part of a man's salvation because "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" (John 6:53). However, at the Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples that the bread and juice they were eating were His body and blood, yet His body had not been broken as of yet. He was speaking spiritually, not physically (John 6:63). The drinking of blood is prohibited in the Bible (Leviticus 17:10-11; Acts 15:20), and if Christ were speaking literally, He would be violating His own laws.

Consubstantiation is the teaching held by some, including the Lutherans, that the elements to not actually change into the body and blood of Christ, but in a very real, and spiritual way, He is present in the bread and juice. The Bible teaches that the elements are there to help the believers remember what Christ did. There is not a spiritual significance in the actual bread any more than there would be in the bread offered to an idol; it is still the same bread. It is what is done with the bread and juice that makes them important.

"This is my blood of the new testament."