Focus on the Family banned from schools

Interesting item from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation,

Christian group banned from schools

A Christian group has been banned from ACT schools while allegations about its practices are investigated by the Education Department.

Focus on the Family has been accused of vilifying homosexuality, and preaching religion to students without parental consent.

A spokesman for Education Minister Andrew Barr says the government launched the investigation after a complaint made by a parent at a Canberra high school.

The spokesman says the group had also run programs in five other schools, although no other complaints have been made.

The Australian Christian Lobby has attacked the investigation saying there is a place for a values-based program in schools, which covers issues like marriage and abstinence, as well as the dangers of pornography.

It is not known how long the investigation will take.

“The Daniel Anointing?”

This is scary..

The purpose for the “Releasing of the Daniel Anointing” School of the Prophets is to raise up a Daniel company of prophets and identify prophets with governmental mantles.

We have seen prophets with the Elijah’s mantle and we have also seen prophets with the Elisha’s mantle, but the Daniel’s mantle carries a double fulfillment. He is first a prophet and then a prime minister. Therefore the Daniel anointing is a prophetic anointing that God is raising up to usher in a new social order of Kingdom politics.

The Daniel School of the Prophets will be activating future politicians with prophetic mantles. (Elijah List)

Our politicians are wacky enough already.

The Folly of Looking Back

One of the most poignant exchanges in the New Testament, is a question Jesus asked of the 12 in  John 6:

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, “Will ye also go away?”  (verses 66-67)

And then Peter’s reply:

Then Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (verse 68)

I love Peter’s response to Jesus; “to whom shall we go?” – Indeed, for only darkness and death awaits us if we turn back.

Anyway, that exchange between Jesus and Peter came to mind when reading this message by Jonathan Edwards.

The Folly of Looking Back in Fleeing Out of Sodom

And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. (Ge 19:15)

“Remember Lot’s wife.” ( Luke 17:32)

Christ here foretells his coming in his kingdom, in answer to the question which the Pharisees asked him, (concerning) when the kingdom of God should come.

And in what he says of his coming, he evidently has respect to two things; his coming at the destruction of Jerusalem, and his coming at the end of the world.

He compares his coming at those times to the coming of God in two remarkable judgments that were past. First, [he compares] to that in the time of the flood; “and as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man.”

Next, he compares it to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; “likewise also, as it was in the days of Lot, even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”

Then he immediately proceeds to direct his people how they should behave themselves at the appearance of the signal of that day’s approach, referring especially to the destruction of Jerusalem. “In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.”

In which words Christ shows that they should make the utmost haste to flee and get out of the city to the mountains, as he commands. Mat. 24:15, etc.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place, then let them which be in Judea flee to the mountains; let him which is in the housetop not come down to take anything out of the house, neither let him which is in the field turn back to take his clothes.”

Jerusalem was like Sodom, in that it was devoted to destruction by special divine wrath; and indeed to a more terrible destruction than that of Sodom. Therefore the like direction is given concerning fleeing out of it with the utmost haste, without looking behind, as the angel gave to Lot, when he bid him flee out of Sodom. Gen. 19:17, “Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain.”

And in the text, Christ enforces his counsel by the instance of Lot’s wife. He bids them remember her, and take warning by her, who looked back as she was fleeing out of Sodom, and became a pillar of salt.

Earth’s broken things

“This man welcomes sinners—and eats with them!” (Luke 15:2)

“I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you!” (Matthew 21:31)

Christ is building His kingdom with earth’s broken things.

Men want only the strong, the successful, the victorious, the unbroken—in building their kingdoms. But God is the God of the broken, the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filling with earth’s broken lives, and there is no ‘bruised reed’ which Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take the life crushed by pain or sorrow—and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth’s saddest failure—up to heaven’s glory!

J. R. Miller – Grace Gems

More on Destiny Church, A Cult in the Making

This is a follow-up on the previous post, Destiny Church, A Cult in the Making

Tamaki’s faithful pay top dollar to pray with ‘king’

Destiny Church supporters parted with tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege of watching 700 worshippers swear an oath of allegiance to leader Bishop Brian Tamaki.

Church officials have confirmed “several thousand” people paid $30 each to attend the ceremony, with a $60 concession for family groups.

About 700 male members of the church last weekend swore a “covenant oath” of loyalty and obedience to Bishop Tamaki at the ceremony, and were given a “covenant ring” to wear on their right hands.

A church document describes the covenant as “a solemn oath of commitment that is binding, enduring and unbreakable. You are bound to covenant … Covenant is an irrevocable, undissolvable oath of commitment”.

Though the church could not give exact numbers yesterday, some who watched the oath ceremony estimated that about 3000 people were present.

Oath takers paid $295 – plus a $5 administration fee – for the ring symbolising their loyalty to Bishop Tamaki. Some were given the option of paying the ring off over time.

The oath document gave Bishop Tamaki greater status than the Pope, Professor Lineham said. However, the “unhealthy over-deference” to a religious leader wasn’t something new to New Zealand churches.

The founder of the Ratana Church was considered a mouthpiece of God, and many Pacific congregations treated their clergy with great respect.

“There’s huge amounts of social control going on. The oath creates a community where you don’t have to think for yourself. At its heart it makes it difficult for anyone to raise concerns about the direction the movement’s taking. There’s no room to hold him [Bishop Tamaki] accountable, and that’s the scariest thing.” (more here)

Also: TV3 defends using hidden camera in Destiny Church conference

TV3′s head of news has rejected Destiny Church’s claims of “gross inaccuracies” in a Campbell Live news item, and challenged the church’s assertion it has an “open-door policy towards the media”.

Mark Jennings also defended the decision to keep the identity of a Destiny Church informant a secret, saying the informant feared for his safety if his identity was revealed. (more here)

After reading more on this man and his ministry, its apparent some form of the Joel’s Army/Dominionist false teachings are in play.

A serious request from a brother…

Truth Matters is a great Christian  blog. I’ve been blessed by its contents many times in the past. Tonight, our brother in Christ is humbly asking the Church for help.

Please see: Prayer and Help For My Mother, Carol

On a personal note, let me say this is one reason why I have supported health-care reform from the beginning. And why I have prayed for it to pass. I’ve not used the blog to promote the issue, and won’t start now. It’s just as a retiree, I completely understand the implications of the so-called “donut-hole”.

Churches to Screen “Christian” Horror Film Halloween Weekend

This is yet another story that had me struggling between laughter and tears.

Even with the box office success of Passion of the Christ and Fireproof, Christian films still conjure thoughts of bad acting, flat storylines and syrupy Sunday school lessons. But the producers of a new Christian horror film say they have created an atypical thriller that is genuinely scary.

The film centers on a new pastor who faces dire opposition from his leadership as he attempts to make changes to their small-town church.

Dangerous Calling will be screened in churches this weekend as an alternative to traditional Halloween events. (more here)

The thought of this film being up on the ‘big screen’ at Churches this weekend, while families filled the pews, …well, see for yourself;  Here’s a link to the movie trailer

(The story-line explains my laughter)

Destiny Church, A Cult in the Making

This story at the New Zealand Herald brought back memories–none of them good.

Before reading the story below check out the Churches website, and ask yourself, if you go by appearance only, does this look like a cult in the making  or a cult leader? Then come back and read the article below.

Appearances are deceiving folks…

From their “about us” page:

Destiny Churches have extended their influence beyond New Zealand and have planted a church in Brisbane, Australia. The church corporate relates closely with New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta USA, which is the home of Bishop Eddie L. Long, spiritual father to Bishop Tamaki.

Eddie Long; why am I not surprised.. anyway,

The leader of Destiny Church, Brian Tamaki, who not long ago anointed himself bishop of the church he founded, has now proclaimed himself the church’s “spiritual father” and designated the male members of the church as “spiritual sons”.

At a special service during the church’s annual conference in Auckland at the weekend, about 700 male members of the church swore a “covenant oath” of loyalty and obedience to Mr Tamaki and were given a “covenant ring” to wear on their right hands.

A church document describes the covenant as “a solemn oath of commitment that is binding, enduring and unbreakable. You are bound to covenant … Covenant is an irrevocable, undissolvable oath of commitment”.

The document, entitled Protocols and Requirements Between Spiritual Father & His Spiritual Sons, contains the text of the “covenant oath”, the guts of which is that “Above all, we stand here today in the presence of God to enter into this sacred covenant with our man of God, Bishop Brian Tamaki”.

It says:

“To you Bishop we pledge our allegiance, our faithfulness and loyalty. We pledge to serve the cause that is in your heart and to finish that work. Success to you and success to those who help you – for God is with you.”

In its introduction, the church document says that proof of a man’s covenant with God is how they “submit to God’s chosen man …

We are blessed to our spiritual father through whom this principle is being restored. The fruit of his ministry is self-evident, so much so that his call and influence is discerned at many levels in both the Christian and non-Christian communities here in New Zealand … Spiritual fathers are extremely rare … For us it is about discerning the special anointing and function God has put on Bishop’s life … “

In the document comes a section entitled “Protocols towards our spiritual father”, which takes 1300 words to describe in jaw-dropping detail how the “spiritual sons” shall behave towards their “spiritual father”.

Under “Public Conduct”, the sons will in all conversation always speak of Mr Tamaki in a favourable and positive light; and in formal and/or public occasions, they will always address him and his wife, Hannah, first in acknowledgments and addresses at meetings “as a sign of respect to the father of the movement”.

CBN: Demonic Candy

Where do folks come up with this stuff?

From an article at Pat Robertson’s CBN:

“…most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.  I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.”

“Truth cannot be argued” (a conversation)

Dave2 posted this under the topic concerning Ellis Skolfield, and I wanted to share it.

The old man awakened in the dark. As he turned, he could not even raise his hand before him, as the weight of the darkness held him still.

“Where is there light?”, he thought. “If I can find light, then I can find my way and return home!”

A familiar sound turned the man around, and he saw the faint light calling him from a doorway in the distance. As he made his way in the dark, a sudden chill shook him, and he became afraid that the door would close before he could enter.

Suddenly he stopped.

The whispers from the voices beyond the door had grown louder inside the light. As he paused to listen, his heart beat against his chest when he realized that the voices were angry and violent.

Holding his breath, the old man crept so close to the door, that he began to hate the forms the shadows made beyond the door. Such is the fear of a man whom has reached a choice only he can make.

The light grew so bright, so seductive, that he could no longer see. The voices so loud, angry and hateful, that the old man knew he had to get away from the panic and confusion that called him.

Running, just as fast as his bones would allow, the old man raced from the doorway into the dark, and found that each step into nothingness, away from the noise and bright light, gave him a peace he hadn’t had in some time.

Vincent Xavier – 28 Oct 09 = only a few days left

Video/Audio: Original prophecy by Vincent  Xavier, Nuclear bomb to go off in Washington DC October 11 2009

New Video by hetgow: 28 Oct 09 = only a few days left

(related: 25 Oct 09 Update: Excuses instead of Repenting because its just a ‘mistake’ )

*Up-dated* Randall Terry’s walking in the “spirit” of Halloween

What can one say about this foolishness. My only comment is Church, stop being associated with these kind of groups. They are destroying your witness for Christ.

A follow-up on the previous post, Randall Terry’s ‘burn in hell’ contest:

Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue, has released a shocking YouTube video that features a close-up of a bearded man with sunglasses and a hoodie ranting that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid will both “burn in hell” for their support of abortion. Within the first 12 seconds of the video, Terry boldly states his opinion:

“Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid — burn in hell — want us to pay for child killing — Abortion! – and healthcare. Healthcare,” he mocks. “Oh! They will burn in hell for this!” The video then cuts to a scene with several pumpkins surrounding burning effigies of Pelosi and Reid. Those effigies are surrounded by drawings of burning demons wielding pitchforks.

In a phone interview, OneNewsNow asked Terry if such a controversial video could be seen as a promotion of violence against elected leaders or pro abortionist

“I don’t want to be a wussy on the sidelines saying, ‘Oh, we’re just here to educate people and we want to all get along and we want to all respect each other’s [opinions],’” he replies

According to Terry, burning effigies is a part of U.S. history that dates back to the Revolutionary War, and he sees nothing wrong with the act.

“I also thought it would be kind of funny, since it’s Halloween, to picture them burning in hell,” he continues to say.

link

Randall Terry may one day, sadly find himself in hell if he continues walking in the spirit of hate and violence.

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. Luke 9

*UPDATE*

Looks like Randall Terry got his “news coverage” –he was arrested.

Mission Accomplished for Randall Terry

Do we really understand Persecution “for Christ’s sake”?

Let us address the issue of persecution.

I realize that what we western believers call persecution is embarrassing when compared to others around the world, to say nothing of former and present martyrs. But I want us to meditate on Christ’s admonition on how we should respond to persecution. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

It is unseemly to see all the Christian blogs that complain about so called persecution in America. The fact is that we are not persecuted enough because we do not exhibit the traits of Christ which would generate such persecution. We have been marginalized and institutionalized by political fervor and moral debates, and we are seen as “right wingers” rather than standard bearers of the redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And posts like this baulk at the fellowship of His sufferings.

Even if some legitimate persecution comes our way, we squeal as if we should not have to bear His reproach and sufferings. But as we can see, even the smallest of slights is magnified and results in complaining that the Muslims don’t receive the same bias. Even though every business has a right to dictate certain things, when we are made to remove a profoundly benign vest button that in effect is untrue (One nation under God, indivisible) we are outraged. This so aptly illustrates the nationalistic allegiance that has crept into the church, and the “Princess and the Pea” kind of spiritual discomfort that believers find unbearable.

The End of Empire America and Alexander the Great

I found both articles below very interesting. Ancient history has always been a passion of mine. Back in the 70′s Alexander the Great was one figure from the past, I studied extensively; The person, his character, and even the historical accounts of his battles fascinated me. Perhaps that is why I can consider the word and vision, included in the first one as true. And if it is, this only confirms that those Christians fighting against ‘what will be’ are fighting against God.

The first article’s included word/vision is from 1999.

Written by Robert Holmes
Tuesday, 25 November 2008

This article will cover a range of issues which have been brewing for six to twelve months in my heart. History will judge America as an empire. That empire is coming to an end. The election of Barak Obama is a significant prophetic event, marking the sunset of that empire, and the rising of other powers in the earth – who represent ancient powers and civilisations. These ideas have consequences for believers living both in the US and the countries who rely on her (like Australia).

But to address those things, I need to go back eight years.

Standing in Upstate New York in 2000, I had a conversation with the Lord which I shall never forget. The Lord asked me “How long does an empire last?” to which I asked, “Am I standing in an empire?”

Rather than answering me directly, He said, “All empires come to an end”. I pondered this for a moment. What empire? Was this country coming to an end? Then He asked a third question: “How do people position themselves as an empire nears its eventual end?” The implications of his line of thought were clear. America had become an empire, had influenced the world, but was now nearing the end of her reign as a sovereign super power. God wanted his people to know, their day in the sun is ending; the sunset is coming. He wanted them to make preparations.

Sign-Seekers and Crystal Balls

Some of these are bizarre.

One even gave me a headache…

Obama and the 1918 influenza connection

My thought about the Three Eights

Killer Swine Flu Vaccine And 666 Mark of The Beast All In One

THE ‘YEAR 5777′ MAY BE THE YEAR OF ‘THREE COMPLETIONS

ENOCH, HANUKKAH – AND THE FEAST OF THE OPEN DOOR

7993 Star of David

Rapture is in Fall 2009

Rapture

This Is It (I walked out of the theater today and came upon a realization. God has been using the posters, displays and ads for the Michael Jackson performance to signal to the world that the end is near. This Is It!!)

Christmas Rapture; Convergence:  Christmas with Hanukah

The Scofield Bible Hoax

Excellent message at Soul Refuge:

In a recent article in Charisma magazine (July 28, 2009), the well known Christian Zionist Pastor John Hagee made the following statement:

“Few Christians recognize that there are five judgments in Scripture. The first has occurred, and four are yet to be.”

That statement regarding the numerous judgments of God is classic CI Scofield which was popularized by his own Scofield Bible. That Bible is one of the first (if not the first) Bible to put the man made notes on the very same page as the scriptures. The problem with that is that many people start believing every thing that is written on the page as if it was the scripture itself..

Continue Here

“By His Grace” (VinnieActs2030′s Testimony)

In the past I’ve shared some of Vinnie’s discernment video’s, but knew nothing about him personally. The internet can more often then not be like that, can’t it…impersonal. We share ideas and random thoughts, but not always ourselves.

Vinnie’s newest clip is personal. Its his testimony. He had a reason for coming out from behind his computer and sharing it, as you can read below:

John is presently seeking to be set free from prescription medication. He has been chained to the drug “Klopion” for 18 years. John had a YouTube channel up named “JohnStuppy” and was asking Christians every where to please pray for him while he recorded his withdrawals for all to see and learn from.

I was introduced to John through a beloved sister in Christ, who had asked me to stop by John’s channel to pray for him. So I did! I had shared my testimony with him hoping to give him some encouragement, he told me he was strengthened by the power of Christ in my life.

I asked John if there was anything I could do to help him while he was going through this difficult time of deliverance. John’s request to me was, would I make a video sharing my testimony with all those on YouTube. Although I never use my face or voice in making a video, I was moved by John’s determination and faith in receiving freedom from this drug, so I agreed to share what Christ has done in my deliverance with all, by doing a voice track of my testimony.

Since I agreed to do this for John, for some reason, which could have been many, the “JohnStuppy” account is now closed and I have lost all contact with him.

In seeing that I gave John my word in sharing my testimony I present this video to him and all who are struggling with addictions here on YouTube. Please know that there is hope, there is love, there is grace, there is the Lord Jesus Christ!

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.-  Revelation 12:10-11

Randall Terry’s ‘burn in hell’ contest

Don’t you just “love” (said sarcastically) the direction this country is headed, especially when an article such as the one below is posted, AND its contents promoted, at a Christian News Website.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid ‘Burn in Hell’ Video/Protest Competition Opens — Prizes to be Awarded

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 /Christian Newswire/ –See video of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid “Burn in Hell” for putting child-killing in health care, instruction video on how to burn Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid “in hell,” and rules for entering video competition of Pelosi and Reid “burning in hell.”

Randall Terry states: “Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are like hardened criminals; they are bent on ‘holding a gun’ to American taxpayers, and stealing our money to force us to pay for the murder of babies under so-called ‘health care.’

“So, in the spirit of American political protest and Halloween, we are opening a competition for creating a video of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid burning in hell”.

“Burn in Hell” Contest rules are as follows:

Join a Contest! Win Prizes!

Who Can make the best “Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid BURN IN HELL!” video?

First prize: Expenses paid for weekend here in DC during Roe vs Wade anniversary, Jan 22-24, including pro-life training seminar (Includes travel stipend!), and full Insurrecta Nex television series.

Second Prize: 2 Sets of Insurrecta Nex training series, and two sets of all books authored by Randall Terry. (One set for you, one for your Church.)

Third Prize: 1 Set Insurrecta Nex training series.

Legal Mumbo Jumbo: Obey local laws on open flames; be careful; if under 18, do not burn Nancy Pelosi in effigy unless your mom or dad is with you, and gives you permission, and strikes the match; do not burn yourself; do not burn another human being; do not burn small animals; do not burn large animals; do not burn anyone from PETA; and remember: this is not a threat to Nancy Pelosi’s or Harry Reid’s person…it is a prophetic witness of what awaits them when they die if they do not repent for this horrific sin.

Randall Terry video: Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid burn in hell

C. Peter Wagner: Making his case for Dominionism

Came across this on a page at Charisma today (Last Day Fever). Its The NAR’s Peter Wagner explaining why he believes Dominionism Theology/Eschatology is correct.

I can still remember prophecy teachers who tacked rows of charts and diagrams on the church wall and explained spell-binding details of the past, present and future. I cut my spiritual teeth on the Scofield Bible and devoured Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth. My seminary professors instructed me in pre-tribulationism and premillenialism. I quickly categorized anyone who disagreed as a “liberal.”

Now I look back on those days with a strange combination of regret and amusement. How is it that I was so wrong for so long? As I analyze my change, I can sum it up by admitting that I simply did not understand the kingdom of God.

Let me explain what I mean by starting with the Great Commission.

The Great Commission has been central to my life. I committed myself to missions the night I was saved when I was 19. I spent my first 16 years of ministry as a field missionary and the next 30 as a professor of missions.

My heart’s desire was to help fulfill Jesus’ mandate to “make disciples of all nations.”

However, the time came when I had to make a radical shift in the way I interpreted those words of Jesus.

Formerly, I thought my task was to go to as many nations of the world as possible and save as many souls as possible and plant as many churches as possible. Now I take the Great Commission more literally when it tells us not to make as many individual disciples as we can but to disciple whole social groups—such as entire nations. This is kingdom theology.

When Christians Disagree

George Whitefield and Charles Wesley, both great preachers and fathers of the faith, disagreed on points of doctrine; some even called it a feud. After many years someone asked Whitefield if he expected to see Wesley in Heaven. After a moment the old preacher shook his head and said, “No, I don’t suppose I will. You see,” he continued, “men like Wesley will be so close to the Savior that men like me will never get a glimpse of them.”

**

Acts 15:39 - And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus.

I’m very glad that we have this narrative account recorded in scripture. I know it may sound cliche’ but I believe that everything in the bible is there for a reason. Luke (a masterful historian as well as a follower of Jesus Christ) was inspired by the Holy Spirit to record this for all Christians to read throughout the church age.

I’m sure there are many opinions as to why this was included in the canon of scripture, but I think one important reason is that we see that godly, Spirit-filled leaders sometimes disagree (even to the point of separation). If you have been a Christian for any amount of time, you have experienced conflict. Most ministers (unfortunately) spend much of their time on conflict resolution. We read books, attend seminars, and listen to sermons designed to help in “conflict management” (almost an oxymoron of a term if you ask me-anyone in the midst of a conflict will admit that it’s anything but “manageable”…but I digress). Hopefully through this brief message, we will come to understand that sometimes conflict is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be destructive.

You Must See A Throne

Have I got a lost man here?

Lost man! Lost woman!

Where are you?

Do you feel yourself to be lost? I am so glad of it; for there is remission by the blood-shedding. O sinner, are there tears in your eyes! Look through them.

Do you see that man in the garden? That man sweats drops of blood for you. Do you see that man on the cross? That man was nailed there for you.

Oh! if I could be nailed on a cross this morning for you all, I know what you would do: you would fall down and kiss my feet, and weep that I should have to die for you. But sinner, lost sinner, Jesus died for you — for you; and if he died for you, you cannot be lost. Christ died in vain for no one. Are you, then, a sinner? Are you convinced of sin because you believe not in Christ? I have authority to preach to you. Believe in his name and you cannot be lost.

Do you say you are no sinner? Then I do not know that Christ died for you. Do you say that you have no sins to repent of? Then I have no Christ to preach to you. He did not come to save the righteous; he came to save the wicked.

Are you wicked? Do you feel it?Are you lost? Do you known? Are you sinful? Will you confess it?

Sinner! if Jesus were here this morning, he would put out his bleeding hands, and say, Sinner, I died for you, will you believe me? He is not here in person; he has sent his servant to tell you. Wont you believe him? Oh! but you say, I am such a sinner; Ah! says he, that is just why I died for you, because you are a sinner. But, you say, I do not deserve it. Ah! says he, that is just why I did it.

Say you, I have hated him. But, says he, I have always loved you. But, Lord, I have spat on thy minister, and scorned thy word. It is all forgiven, says he, all washed away by the blood which did run from my side. Only believe me; that is all I ask. And that I will give you. I will help you to believe.

Ah! says one, but I do not want a Savior. Sir, I have nothing to say to you except this — The wrath to come! the wrath to come! But there is one who says, Sir, you do not mean what you say! Do you mean to preach to the most wicked men or women in the place? I mean what I say.

There she is! She is a harlot, she has led many into sin, and many into hell, There she is; her own friends have turned her out of doors; her father called her a good-for nothing hussey, and said she should never come to the house again.

Woman! dost thou repent? Dost thou feel thyself to be guilty? Christ died to save thee, and thou shalt be saved.

There he is. I can see him. He was drunk; he has been drunk very often. Not many nights ago I heard his voice in the street, as he went home at a late hour on Saturday night, disturbing everybody; and he beat his wife, too. He has cursed God often

Do you feel yourself to be guilty, my hearer?
Do you hate your sins, and are you willing to forsake them?

Then I bless God for you. Christ died for you. Believe!

~ Charles Haden Spurgeon

It’s The End of The World As We Know It – part 2

Steve Lumbley at  Apostasy Watch has posted part (2) in his series on prophecy, endtimes, and dispensationalism.

Part (1) can be heard here

Direct link to mp3, Part (2)

More on the faulty foundation of dispensationalism Two covenants – one of bondage the other a covenant of freedom. Jesus pronounces desolation upon Jerusalem

These are excellent teachings.

Defining and Defending Historic Evangelicalism

It seems like everyone declares themselves to be evangelical, but what does this term really mean? Does it have any historical basis? Who are some that are calling themselves evangelical that really aren’t, and why is it important to defend the historic position? These questions and more are answered in this edition of Rightly Divided with guest Phil Johnson.

Phil Johnson is the director of John MacArthur’s Grace to You ministry, and he also runs the blog Pyromaniacs.

Video: RIGHTLY DIVIDED | Episode 2: Defining and Defending Historic Evangelicalism

Pets and Heaven

If you frequent Christian discussion boards, you’re almost guaranteed to find one thread about pets in heaven. This isn’t a post criticizing those folks who discuss it out of a desire not to be eternally separated from a beloved pet. What I am questioning is the validity of pets in heaven.

I love animals–they are part of God’s creation, and over the years I’ve had my share of pets. One, a cat named “Bruno” I loved dearly.  He and I just automatically clicked.  Think it was because we had similar personalities. AHA. When he was hit by a car and died, I cried for days.

Similarly, my daughter and her family have a dog, ‘Copper’ (that’s him on the left) who has believed he was a human for the last 13 years! And sometimes he acts like one–maybe even more ‘human’ then some humans themselves. He can detect, when no one else can, when you’re upset, depressed, or not feeling well, and will bring his huge 90 pounds to sit as close to you as possible. And won’t leave your side. He’s “family”.

So you see, the belief that a beloved long-time pet and companion would be in heaven is one I can understand people clinging to, but I don’t see anything in the bible which says this is so. I do believe the word speaks of animals populating the new earth:

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat.” -  Isaiah 65:17-25

Anyway, what got me thinking about this was an article at Cleveland.com, in their religion section today:  Animal lovers hope heaven welcomes their beloved companions: Terry Pluto’s Faith and You

Will there be animals in heaven? My wife is counting on it.

Like some of us, she finds it much easier to relate to animals than people. Her favorite job was working on horse farms, but she always battled allergies and eventually had to quit. Her allergies also forced her to give up cats as pets at home.

Animals in heaven?

“John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed that he would be reunited in heaven with the horse that had been his faithful traveling companion for more than two decades,” the Rev. Scott Wilson, senior pastor of Mayfield United Methodist Church in Chesterland, said in an e-mail.

“Talk to me. No one will talk to me. I have nobody”

Amazing Story

Glenn Beck, teetering closer to the brink…

At this point I’m not sure what will occur first–if he will at some point fall totally into madness, or if his rhetoric will finally incite some ‘like-minded person’ or group to violence. Right now, its a toss-up.

Yesterdays show produced one of the most bizarre episodes of Beck-O-Crazy to date. Wielding a baseball bat while playing violent clips from the movie ‘The Untouchables’, which included one scene in which someone was beat to death with a baseball bat, was his way of comparing Obama to Al Capone.

From one of the ‘ Untouchable’ clips he played:

SEAN CONNERY AS JIM MALONE: You said you wanted to know how to get Capone. Do you really wanna get him? You see what I’m saying, what are you prepared to do?

KEVIN COSTNER AS ELIOT NESS: Everything within the law.

MALONE: And then what are you prepared to do? If you open the ball on these people, Mr. Ness, you must be prepared to go all the way. Because they won’t give up the fight until one of you is dead.

NESS: I want to get Capone. I don’t know how to get him.

MALONE: You wanna get Capone? Here’s how you get him: He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue.

Beck to his viewers:

“You gotta take a stand, even though you know, in the end, you’ll pull out a knife and they’re gonna pull out a gun… You have to ask yourself, if you stand up, what are you willing to do? Sure, you might get whacked. But let me tell you something. You spend too much time in bed with the mob, you spend too much time at that table, you’re gonna get whacked eventually anyway.”

Why is this important? Because many in his audience are Christians, who defend him and this type of sick stuff.