Great Awakening: Is a new one taking place outside the West?

If true, this should bring us great joy folks!

….as well, we should seek the answer to “why not here?”

Some observers assert a socially transforming spiritual movement is sweeping the globe, resulting in 82,000 conversions to Christianity a day.

But only 6,000 of them are in Europe and North America.

“I believe we are in the midst of a great spiritual awakening. But when it’s mentioned in the United States, it’s generally met with blank stares, because it’s not happening here,” said Jim Denison, president of the Center for Informed Faith, based in Dallas.

Denison, theologian-in-residence with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, believes “there is a Fifth Great Awakening occurring in our world today.”

Some historians debate whether two, three or four awakenings have occurred previously, and Denison has no interest in splitting hairs over the number. He’s more concerned about why it’s happening now in the developing world and not in Western Europe and North America.

Something to think about on Veterans Day

Tomorrow, November the 11th, is Veterans Day. A day set aside to say thanks to and for all those who have served in the military. As one who had a father who served in WW2, an older brother who served and was wounded in Korea, and numerous childhood friends who served in Vietnam, (one who never came home) and a son who served in the Army, I say thank you.

But that’s not the only thing this post is about. Its also concerning the shameful story below.

Source, PNHP:

quote..

A research team at Harvard Medical School estimates 2,266 U.S. military veterans under the age of 65 died last year because they lacked health insurance and thus had reduced access to care.

That figure is more than 14 times the number of deaths (155) suffered by U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2008, and more than twice as many as have died (911 as of Oct. 31) since the war began in 2001.

The Harvard group analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s March 2009 Current Population Survey, which surveyed Americans about their insurance coverage and veteran status, and found that 1,461,615 veterans between the ages of 18 and 64 were uninsured in 2008. Veterans were only classified as uninsured if they neither had health insurance nor received ongoing care at Veterans Health Administration (VA) hospitals or clinics.

“Like other uninsured Americans, most uninsured vets are working people – too poor to afford private coverage but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or means-tested VA care,” said Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a professor at Harvard Medical School who testified before Congress about uninsured veterans in 2007 and carried out the analysis released today [Tuesday]. “As a result, veterans go without the care they need every day in the U.S., and thousands die each year. It’s a disgrace.”

Something to think about…

Murderous quotes and a seared conscience

There have always been madmen, nuts and psycho’s in the world. The difference between the past and today is people today accept their insane public comments, with little shock or public resistance against them. Even, as in the 2 cases below, when the topic is murder.  In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he warns in the latter times of many “whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron”.

May God help us all to keep a tender conscience and may the Church never cease to be shocked and appalled by sin and evil.

Fr. Frank Pavone comment today, concerning Scott Roeder:

Anti-abortion activist, Joe Provone said that Roeder, and others, were worthy of admiration, gratitude and respect.

“Not everyone possesses their courage or ability as we are all endowed by our God with different gifts and talents,” (source,  Scott Roeder: I killed Tiller and I’d do it again)

Rabbi says Jews can kill Gentiles who threaten Israel

Rabbi Yitzhak Shapiro, wrote in his book “The King’s Torah” that even babies and children can be killed if they pose a threat to the nation.

Shapiro based the majority of his teachings on passages quoted from the Bible, to which he adds his opinions and beliefs.

“It is permissable to kill the Righteous among Nations even if they are not responsible for the threatening situation,” he wrote, adding: “If we kill a Gentile who has sinned or has violated one of the seven commandments – because we care about the commandments – there is nothing wrong with the murder.”

Several prominent rabbis…have recommended the book to their students and followers. (source, West Bank rabbi: Jews can kill Gentiles who threaten Israel )

Doctrine, the New Covenant and Dispensationalism

While reading a presentation, A Return to Biblical Theology, concerning Doctrine, the New Covenant and Dispensationalism, I thought there were a few specific sections which someone new to Theology might find of interest.

Section 3: Is Dispensational Premillennialism Different from Historic Premillennialism?

• Older premillennialism taught that the church was in the forevision of the Old Testament prophecy; Dispensationalism teaches that the church is hardly, if at all, in the Old Testament prophets.

• Older premillennialism taught that the great burden of Old Testament prophecy was the coming of Christ to die (at the First Advent) and the kingdom age (at the Second Advent). Dispensationalism says that the great burden of Old Testament prophecy is the kingdom of the Jews.

• Older premillennialism taught that the First Advent was the specific time for Christ to die for man’s sin; Dispensationalism teaches that the kingdom (earthly) should have been set up at the First Advent for that was the predicted time of its coming.

• Older premillennialism taught that the present age of grace was designed by God and predicted in the Old Testament; Dispensationalism holds that the present age was unforeseen in the Old Testament and thus is a “great parenthesis” introduced because the Jews rejected the kingdom.

• Older premillennialism taught that one may divide time in any way desirable so long as one allows for a millennium after the Second Advent; Dispensationalism maintains that the only allowable way to divide time is in seven dispensations. The present age is the sixth such dispensation; the last one will be the millennial age after the Second Advent. It is from this division of time that Dispensationalism gets its name.

• Older premillennialism taught that the Second Advent was to be one event; Dispensationalism holds that the Second Advent will be in two sections – “the Rapture” and “the Revelation.” Between these two events they put an unfulfilled seventieth week (seven years) (*based on)Daniel 9:23-27, which they call “the Great Tribulation.”

• Older premillennialism taught that certain signs must precede the Second Advent; Dispensationalism teaches that no sign precedes the “rapture-stage” of the Second Advent, which may occur “at any moment.” However, there are signs that precede the “revelation-stage” of the Second Advent. The “Rapture” could occur “at any moment,” but the “Revelation” must take place after the seven years of the Great Tribulation. The first stage is undated and unannounced; the second stage is dated and announced.

• Older premillennialism had two resurrections-the righteous before the Millennium; the unrighteous after the Millennium. Dispensationalism has introduced a third resurrection – “tribulation-saints” at the “revelation-stage” of the Second Advent.

• Older premillennialism usually held what is called the “historical symbolic” view of the book of Revelation. This view makes Revelation a picture in symbolic form of the main events in the present age. Dispensationalism holds generally to the “futurist” view of the book of Revelation, which view makes almost the whole book (especially chapters 4 to 19) a literal description of events to take place during “the Great Tribulation” or Daniel’s seventieth week, which Dispensationalism considers as yet unfulfilled.

• The general attitude of older premillennialism was on the whole mild and reverent in its approach to Scripture. There have been some outstanding scholars who have been persuaded that the premillennial is the correct view. In contrast, Dispensationalism has assumed a far more dogmatic attitude. It has introduced a number of novelties in prophetic interpretation that the church never heard of until about a century ago.

From: THE BIBLE AND THE FUTURE by Dr. Wick Broomall

Section 4 (part D): The Dispensational Distinction Between Israel and the Church

Perhaps the central doctrine of dispensationalism is the distinction between Israel and the church. Dispensationalism sees Israel as an earthly people with earthly promises, and the church as a heavenly people with heavenly promises. Membership in Israel is by natural birth.15 One enters the church by supernatural birth. Dispensationalists view Israel and the church as having distinct eternal destinies. Israel will receive an eternal earthly Kingdom, and the church an eternal heavenly Kingdom.

Darby, the father of dispensationalism, stated the distinction in the clearest of terms;

“The Jewish nation is never to enter the church.”16

Ryrie considers this the most important dispensational distinction, and approves the statement that the,

“basic promise of Dispensationalism is two purposes of God expressed in the formation of two peoples who maintain their distinction throughout eternity.”17

New Doctrine

“I know the proud flesh wants to serve Christ, by striking out new paths. Proud man has a desire to preach new doctrine, to set up a new Church; to be an original thinker, to judge, and consider, and do anything but obey. This is no service to Christ.  He that would serve Christ must follow him; he must be content to tread only in the old footsteps, and go only where Christ has led the way. It is not for you and me to be originals; we must be humble copies of Christ. There must be nothing about our religion of our own inventing; it is for us to lay thought, and judgment, and opinion at the feet of Christ, and do what he bids us, simply because he gives the command”

~ C.H. Spurgeon (HT)

When reading these words by Spurgeon, I couldn’t help but think of all the new doctrines and teachings which have come, and been embraced and accepted within the Church; some even during Charles Spurgeon’s lifetime.

His quote concerning Darby’s “new” Dispensational doctrines, which were introduced in Spurgeon’s lifetime, is a classic: Spurgeon and Eschatology

Hate Crimes Rally

Provoke: to arouse to a feeling or action, to incite to anger, annoy, to stir up purposely, as in to provoke a fight.

What a bunch of headline seeking, self-glorifying men. They do this knowing:

“Let me be clear. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act targets acts, not speech.” (source)

Will U.S. Attorney General Arrest Pastors for Violation of the Hate Crimes Law

And, Ministers Rally in DC for Religious Freedom

quote..

On November 16, 2009, at 1:30 PM, an ad hoc coalition of concerned ministers from various denominations will be holding a Press Conference and Rally for Religious Freedom in front of the Department of Justice.

A group of ministers including Rick Scarborough of Vision America, Gary Cass of the Christian Anti Defamation Commission, Bishop Earl Jackson of STAND America, Paul Blair and Steve Kern of Reclaim Oklahoma, Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, Brad Cranston of Iowa Baptists for Biblical Values and Jim Garlow, a leader in the Prop 8 battle in California will join together with others and boldly preach Biblical truth concerning the subject of homosexuality. If believing and proclaiming the Bible is considered a Hate Crime, then they are willing to be arrested, if necessary, in order to stand for the guaranteed First Amendment right to free speech for all ministers of the Gospel.

Pastor Paul Blair, founder of Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, said, “Pastors have preached the Bible in America for over 400 years, pointing people to Jesus Christ and standing against sin. If preaching the Bible is now against the law, then let us be arrested. If not, may every pastor across America know that he can stand strong and proclaim Biblical Truth without fear of persecution or prosecution.”

And please, don’t tell me this action is being done for Christ, or for the sake of the Gospel. Its nothing more then self-exaltation.

The self-exalted person is he “who thinks he stands” on his own merits. Self-exaltation is an excessively intensified sense of power, or importance. At its worst, it is self-tribute, self-praise, self-honoring, self-glorifying, and self-worshipping. It overtly breaks the first three commandments by placing oneself as more important than God, setting oneself up as an idol, and making the name of one’s god, “I” or “me.” (Forerunner Commentary)

“..but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.” 1 Peter 3

Behold Your King

The long arm of Peter Wagner’s Coalition of Apostles

Interesting item at Talk to Action: Samuel Rodriguez Joins Peter Wagner’s International Coalition of Apostles

(more on Sam Rodriguez)

(International Coalition of Apostles)

Why fundamentalism will fail

(HT to Polycarp).

This is a fascinating article posted at the Boston Globe. After reading through it I found myself pondering on the implications for future generations, if Jesus tarries. Those that read here know I have no use for the terms fundamentalism or fundamentalist, as they are used today. Whatever it once denoted in Christian circles, (when younger, to me it plainly meant the belief in the infallibility of God’s word) today it has taken on a wide scope of definitions: especially the term fundamentalist:

US Military Dictionary: fundamentalism: n. 1. a form of Protestant Christianity that upholds belief in the strict and literal interpretation of the Bible, including its narratives, doctrines, prophecies, and moral laws. 2. strict maintenance of ancient or fundamental doctrines of any religion or ideology, notably Islam.

fundamentalist; n. & adj.
Modern Christian fundamentalism arose from American millenarian sects of the 19th century, and has become associated with reaction against social and political liberalism and rejection of the theory of evolution. Islamic fundamentalism appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries as a reaction to the disintegration of Islamic political and economic power, asserting that Islam is central to both state and society and advocating strict adherence to the Koran (Qur’an) and to Islamic law (sharia), supported if need be by jihad or holy war.

So as far as its use within the Church today, unless the term were to return to what it use to mean: unmovable faith in the basic doctrines, and the infallibility of the Word, (which I can’t envision happening) it’s failure is something I would applaud. It’s become a “tainted term”…and not because it denotes followers of Jesus.

Why fundamentalism will fail
A seemingly unstoppable force is being undone from the inside

quote..

IN 1910, A COHORT of ultra-conservative American Protestants drew up a list of non-negotiable beliefs they insisted any genuine Christian must subscribe to. They published these “fundamentals” in a series of widely distributed pamphlets over the next five years. Their catalog featured doctrines such as the virgin birth, the physical resurrection of Christ, and his imminent second coming. The cornerstone, though, was a belief in the literal inerrancy of every syllable of the Bible, including in matters of geology, paleontology, and secular history. They called these beliefs fundamentals, and proudly styled themselves “fundamentalists” – true believers who feared that liberal movements like the social gospel and openness to other faiths were eroding the foundation of their religion.

It’s The End of the World as We Know it – part 4

Apostasy Watch’s Steve Lumbley continues his  audio series with part 4 today:

Prophecy often has multiple fulfillments plus the timing of  the rapture

Direct Audio Link, Part (4)

Previously: Part (1) – Part (2) – Part (3)

*Updated: Revelation 12: Future or Fulfilled?

Revelation chapter 12 is one chapter which has produced a lot of debate, especially within the last 150 years. This is a chapter, even if you are 100% futurist, that contains certain aspects which cannot be easily explained away by saying its to be yet fulfilled.

Rod, at Adam’s study group blog, Pursuing Truth at 2909, has a study posted of 2 common interpretations of Chapter 12;  Futurist and Partial-Preterist.

Another interpretation is more in the line of viewing this chapter as depicting a panorama of history; this is commonly referred to as  Historicism

I plan on adding to this post (by editing it later), but in the meantime I want to only post the chapter in-full. Feel free to jump in with your own thoughts pertaining to chapter 12:

1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10And 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. 11And 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. 12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 13And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (KJV)

I wanted to update this with links to a few bible commentary notes on chapter 12. The one’s below are from EWordToday: Classic Bible Commentaries
History’s Most Renowned Commentary Writers

There may be other commentaries added later, so this may end up being part (1) of a two part post.

Matthew Henry Concise Edition:

A description of the church of Christ and of Satan, under the figures of a woman and of a great red dragon. (1-6) Michael and his angels fight against the devil and his angels, who are defeated. (7-12) The dragon persecutes the church. (13,14) His vain endeavours to destroy her, He renews his war against her seed. (14-17)

Verses 1-6: The church, under the emblem of a woman, the mother of believers, was seen by the apostle in vision, in heaven. She was clothed with the sun, justified, sanctified, and shining by union with Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. The moon was under her feet; she was superior to the reflected and feebler light of the revelation made by Moses. Having on her head a crown of twelve stars; the doctrine of the gospel, preached by the twelve apostles, is a crown of glory to all true believers. As in pain to bring forth a holy family; desirous that the conviction of sinners might end in their conversion. A dragon is a known emblem of Satan, and his chief agents, or those who govern for him on earth, at that time the pagan empire of Rome, the city built upon seven hills. As having ten horns, divided into ten kingdoms. Having seven crowns, representing seven forms of government. As drawing with his tail a third part of the stars in heaven, and casting them down to the earth; persecuting and seducing the ministers and teachers. As watchful to crush the Christian religion; but in spite of the opposition of enemies, the church brought forth a manly issue of true and faithful professors, in whom Christ was truly formed anew; even the mystery of Christ, that Son of God who should rule the nations, and in whose right his members partake the same glory. This blessed offspring was protected of God.

Doctrine without the Spirit

“The church or individual who is Bible taught without being Spirit taught has simply failed to see that truth lies deeper than the theological statement of it. We only possess what we experience. The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still.”

~ A. W. Tozer

Quotes by Great Men of God -  The Old Time Gospel

Teacher Claims Fingerprinting Is ‘Mark of the Beast’

Sigh..

A 22-year veteran kindergarten teacher in the Texas Bible Belt could lose her job for refusing, on religious grounds, to give fingerprints under a state law requiring them.

The evangelical Christian, Pam McLaurin, is fighting a looming suspension, claiming that fingerprinting amounts to the “Mark of the Beast,” and hence is a violation of her First Amendment right to practice her religion. Her case is similar to a lawsuit by a group of Michigan farmers, some of them Amish, challenging rules requiring the tagging of livestock with RFID chips, saying the devices are also the devil’s mark.

The latest case is the first in which a teacher is refusing fingerprinting on religious grounds, the woman’s lawyer said. The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to decide whether the First Amendment is implicated in fingerprinting, especially at a time when states, local governments and civic organizations are increasingly making them mandatory for anyone wanting to drive a car or coach a youth basketball team.

McLaurin’s lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency cites various passages of Revelation, the final book of The Bible:

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand and on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.… Then a third angel followed them saying with a loud voice — if anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God.… He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Her attorney, Scott Skelton, said his client believes that the computerized fingerprinting, in which her fingerprints will be stored in a database, is the mark addressed in Revelation. The teacher does not believe that it is merely coincidence that Revelation says only those with the ‘mark on his forehead or on his hand’ will be able to buy or sell, since only those teachers who comply with fingerprinting requirements will keep their jobs, he said. (more)

One reason your prayer ‘may not’ be answered

If its self serving:

Lou Engle of The Call:

“…we face a crisis that many believe could be the turning point from a society of free men and women to a society under the economic and moral control of a government hostile to Christian values…the healthcare bill..”

“The Bible shouts to us across the ages “we have not because we ask not”. Therefore, on November 6th, we are calling a Friday “Night of Petition” prior to the potential vote on Saturday November 7th. Join Mat Staver, (*BattleCry’s) Ron Luce, (*Political activist) Tony Perkins, (*NAR associate) Lou Engle, and other key leaders at 8:00pm EST with thousands of concerned believing citizens for a national prayer conference call to cry out to God for mercy and ask for the restraining of this unrighteous legislation”

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. Luke 18

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6

As I first considered “selfish prayer” I thought about the obvious applications for it: prayers that revolve around me—my needs, my wants, my desires and my dreams. I pray selfishly when I focus primarily on what I want from God rather than what He wants for me. And I pray selfishly when I focus on what I want at the expense of what others may want or need.

I have often thought of the strange fact that, during many of the wars that have raged in days past, men on both sides of the conflict have prayed to God for protection and victory. Perhaps the American Civil War was the most notable of these for there were God-fearing men, men who are known for their godliness and desire to honor and serve God, each trying to defeat the other and each pleading for God’s assistance in doing so. Why God ultimately chose to answer the prayers of Abraham Lincoln rather than those of Robert E. Lee is something we do not know. Somehow it served God’s purposes.  – (Excerpt, Selfish Prayer by Tim Challies)

TruNews’ Rick Wiles: Muddied Cup…

Below is a very sad and true story about an American Christian Conservative Talk Radio Show Host (Trunews) and now turned African Missionary, who is a true picture of pseudo missionaries who go to Africa not to serve the people, but to serve their own interests.

The experience of this Pastor in Kenya who had such a bad experience with Rick Wiles is very similar to some experiences I have had too and the problem is far and wide as some Western Missionaries are fully engaged in abusive, manipulative, intimidating work relations with their African counterparts. Such missionaries do not see African Pastors and Leaders as co-workers but as slaves and servants who are supposed to be subservient and sycophants at best. Many African Christians endure such harsh and abusive work relations simply to get the Dollars from the missionary to survive and buy a day’s meal. (continue here)

Related: See, Rick Wiles Pleads for $1 Million to Launch 24 Hour Christian Patriotic News Network

Regarding the Violence at Fort Hood

After spending the morning reading a number of posts around the Christian-internet ranging from “Its time to arm-up, we real Americans want blood!”,  to “The shooter at Fort Hood is a Muslim, our President is a Muslim; think about THAT!”..

My simple statement is pray for all involved.

I also liked Dr. Bruce Prescot’s simple message, Regarding the Violence at Fort Hood

The Christian’s Relationship to the Mosaic Law

A wonderful companion message to the one posted last evening, What were Gentile believers grafted into?.

The Gentile Believer and the Law

We have said that the experience of the ‘wretched man’ of Romans 7 is not the normal experience of a converted Gentile. It is, nevertheless, a sad fact that it may (and often does) become the abnormal experience of converted Gentiles, who, through ignorance of the great gospel truths revealed in Romans, or through the influence of Judaizing teachers and legal systems of theology, fall from their standing in grace, and seek justification, or spiritual enrichment, through law-works.

Hence the solemn warning of Galatians 5:4: ‘You are deprived of all effect from Christ, whosoever in law are being justified; you are fallen from grace.’

For as there were in Paul’s day, so are there now, many who desire ‘to be of the law, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm’ (1 Tim 1:7).

So also the struggle of that ‘wretched man’ becomes the experience of many unconverted Gentiles who, totally ignorant of remission of sins through faith in the blood of Christ, are seeking perpetually (because seeking vainly) for an inclination of the heart to keep the Mosaic law. The condition of such, if they be earnest and sincere in their desire to keep the law, is indeed ‘wretched’ in the extreme.

High Drama in Washington

Its like watching a soap-opera, or else I’ve entered a time warp which has whisked me back to the 1960′s.

Nine Arrested Protesting Lieberman’s Healthcare Stance

Nine protesters were arrested Thursday in a demonstration at the office of Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) to demand that he pledge to stop accepting from the health insurance industry.

Lieberman, who last week said he would join a GOP filibuster of any health care bill with a government-run public option, has accepted about $1.5 million from health professionals and insurance agencies since 2003, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Twenty protesters, including four students from the University of Connecticut, marched into the senator’s office in the morning and demanded to speak with him. Aides denied their request, offering constituents a closed-door meeting with two legislative aides, which was rejected.

The Nation’s first all-Christian prison

Does this mean all Christian ministers who are “thieves, crooks and liars” will be sent there? AHA! (Sorry, it just popped into my head…)

Tulsa World

WAKITA — This tiny town near the Oklahoma-Kansas state line north of Enid may soon own the country’s only all-Christian prison, with Christian administrators, employees, counselors and programs.

The idea is backed by Wakita’s leaders, has some support from state officials, and, its founders believe, is able to pass constitutional muster.

“If Chicken Little doesn’t come to town, we’ll be open in 16 months,” said Bill Robinson, the founder of Corrections Concepts Inc., a Dallas nonprofit prison ministry that is spearheading the project.

Mayor Kelly George said officials of this town of 380 were fully behind the project and have done everything they need to make it happen.

A 150-acre site on the edge Wakita has been selected, and an agreement has been reached with Corrections Concepts Inc. to manage the 600-bed prison if and when it is built.

Robinson said that if the Corrections Department does not commit to using the prison, the ministry will seek inmates from other states.

This is a good idea, a concept that hasn’t been done yet,” Mohler said.

Robinson, himself an ex-con and prison minister, said he had been working for years on the idea of an all-Christian prison, and he had invested $1.3 million so far on construction plans and other expenses.

He said a lot of prisons have faith-based or Christian units, but he knows of none with an all-Christian staff.

“The staff, being all born-again believers, will see this as a mission,” he said.

“They don’t have to go to church, or Bible study, but they have to participate in the curriculum, which is Christ-centered,” Robinson said.

He possesses legal opinions that say that as a religious organization, the prison will be able to hire only people of like faith, he said.

If constitutional challenges arise, he said, the American Center for Law and Justice, a major Christian law firm, (Founded by Pat Robertson in 1990) has agreed to represent the ministry for free.

What were Gentile believers grafted into?

This short but important message comes from one of my favorite websites, Messianic Good News. It’s important because there still continues to be many within the body of Christ who don’t understand this truth. I know, because of letters received from readers here.

May I share one of the greatest joys which has come from having this blog? Almost a year after starting it, a reader left a comment–a lengthy one at that, filled with obvious joy after reading something put together and posted, which was similar to this. While I won’t go into all of it, suffice it to say the person had been struggling with questions concerning the Church, believers, modern-day unbelieving Israel, and the Hebrew Roots teachings. The reader said the post had confirmed what the Spirit of God had been showing them in the Word.

I recall praying, telling the Lord if this blog never accomplished one more thing then that one person receiving confirmation and freedom, I considered this blog worthwhile. Don’t know why, but that came back to me tonight…

The latest misconception spreading within the ‘Messianic’ and ‘Hebrew Root’ movements is that Gentile Christians are being grafted into an ethnically defined, and predominantly unbelieving, ‘Israel’ at the present time – rather than historically, into the faithful remnant described in Romans chapter eleven. YHVH spoke of Israel as an olive tree whose branches would be cut off and thrown into the fire (Jeremiah 11:16). In Romans eleven, Paul used the imagery of Jeremiah’s prophecy to describe the reconstituted Israel under the New Covenant, on the criterion of faith in Messiah. Two processes took place concurrently:

• Firstly, those Jews who rejected the Messiah (the Prophet like Moses) were cut off from Israel and ceased to be part of that nation. (The same were ‘in danger of being burnt’ unless they repented and were grafted in again.)

• Secondly, Gentile believers were being joined in with the faithful remnant, and became part of Israel.

As under the Old Covenant, the Lord’s faithful are instructed to keep themselves separate – for the same reason as given under the Law, namely to avoid the contaminating influence of the unbeliever.

‘Do not be yoked together with unbelievers … For what fellowship is there between light and darkness, and what harmony between Christ and the Devil?’ (2 Cor. 6:14).

For a Christian to be yoked together with unconverted Jews is no less sinful than for a Jew under the Old Covenant to join himself with Moab. Nor is the contamination that enters the Camp of the Righteous through such an unholy union any less destructive!

Ironically, Paul warned Gentile believers that they were ‘grafted in’ on account of their faith in Messiah, but could just as readily lose their privileged position and be cut off again. Those who unbind themselves from the body of Messiah to stand in solidarity with unbelievers are clearly victims of such an apostasy.

Those of us moved by the love of God to labour for the salvation of the apostle Paul’s ‘ brothers after the flesh,’ must preserve our integrity and put forward a faithful witness of the hope that stems from our New Covenant faith. Those who think they can achieve Jewish salvation by participating in the religious observances of the Talmudic faith simply add credibility to that system, and can never – by the flattery of imitation – provoke anyone to jealousy. Only the new life by the Spirit of God, which manifests itself most profoundly through simple obedience, self-sacrifice, and by its fruits (Gal. 5:22), will produce such a result.

Kevin Daly – What were Gentile believers grafted into?

Randall Terry teams up with Rep. Michele Bachmann

Now here’s a scary pairing up..

Michele “scare them! get in their faces and let them see the whites of your eyes’ Bachmann, teamed up with Randall “I also thought it would be kind of funny, since it’s Halloween, to picture them burning in hell” Terry.

The following is submitted by Randall Terry, Director, Insurrecta Nex:

What: Pro-life advocates will preach, lobby, and perform skits outside the Cannon Office Building.  One skit will be Nancy Pelosi beating a “tax payer slave.”  Another will be Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in chains in hell.

Who: Mr. Randall Terry and other pro-life advocates.

When: Thursday, November 5, from 8:30 to 10:00 AM

Where: Corner of 1st St. SE, and C St. SE, outside Cannon building, near the Capitol South Metro Station

Pro-life advocates will preach, lobby, and perform skits outside the Cannon Office Building at the corner of 1st and C SE near the Capitol South Metro Station on Thursday, November 5, from 8:30 to 10:00 AM.  One skit will be Nancy Pelosi beating a “tax payer slave.”  Another will be Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in chains in hell.  “Pelosi” and “Reid” costume wearers will be in rags and chains, guarded by “demons” and “ghouls.”

From there they will proceed to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s rally at the capitol. link

These type of strong-arm ignorant tactics never work to change anyone’s mind about anything. If you’d like to read of a situation in which information and education can have much better results, see Wickle’s post,  Information v. Abortion

There are no “Geeps”

See this fellow here in the photo? Well meet a “Geep”. A hybrid between a Goat and a Sheep.

These type of hybrids are called chimeras: after the mythological monster with a lion’s head, goat’s body and serpent’s tail.

This creature, part goat and sheep came to mind this evening as once again I read an article which spoke of “Conservative” Christians.  Folks, I have to say it again–there is no such thing in the Kingdom of God as a conservative or liberal Christian.  God see’s all people as either saved and abiding in Christ, or lost.  There are no “Geeps” in the Kingdom of God.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Matthew 25:31-34

If we know this as true, why do continue to accept and/or allow others to divide the body of Christ by such worldly tags as Conservative and Liberal; And why do we continue to use those tags ourselves? Those abiding in Christ are not conservative (or liberal) Christians, they’re just Christians. period.

As I asked under the article mentioned:

When are we going to stop allowing political groups and journalists to redefine Christians as either conservative or liberal? There is no such thing….in my bible.

I don’t know about you, but I’m no “Geep”…some hybrid that is only part Christian, and the other part “Liberal” or Conservative”.

As the author of the excellent article, Simply Christian, wrote:

It goes without saying, that a person could read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, follow everything in it intended for men of this age, and he would never be anything else than SIMPLY A CHRISTIAN. No one ever became anything else by following the Bible and Jesus.

Follow the Word of God as it stands, not after it has been filtered through the creeds and doctrines of men, then let that make of you what it will. It will make of you what it made of others in the book of Acts. Those who continued in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42) were believers, disciples, saints, Christians; it made a group of them the church of God or the church of Christ, and that is all the apostles’ doctrine will ever make of anyone.

It takes something added to the Bible’s definition of “Christian” to be what is known today as a “Conservative” or “Liberal” Christian folks. The author mentions,

Follow(ing) the Word of God as it stands, not after it has been filtered through the creeds and doctrines of men..

The same can be said for following Christ and God’s word as it stands, not after its been filtered through politics or political ideology.

“One body, One Spirit, One hope, One Lord, One faith, One baptism, and One God” (Eph. 4)

Voodoo Theology

When I was a young girl, I had an albino friend.

Annie’s hair was as light and wispy as cotton candy. Her eyes as pink as Valentine Sweet-Tarts. At church, whenever we sang that song about Jesus washing me whiter than snow, I thought of her.

Annie’s skin was as white as a fresh piece of typing paper. There wasn’t a blemish on her anywhere. Annie reflected light like an angel that’s come straight from the presence of God. We went our separate ways after we ended up at different high schools. I haven’t thought of Annie in years until I caught a “Dateline” special about the slaughter of albinos taking place in Tanzania.

False Teachers and Prophets – Methods of Operation

Very good post at Discerning the World – Discernment for Africa

It is very sad to see people who call themselves Christians being so ignorant of the Scripture and then land up in all these “problem” situations like Toronto and Lakeland.

Here in South Africa we have similar “problem” ministries and people doing the rounds. The most famous currently is Angus Buchan with his Shalom ministries and Mighty Men Conferences. He is currently “spreading his wings” internationally so you might hear of him shortly also in your country.

As I am leading a few house church groups, I have been praying for wisdom on how to warn people of these false teachers/prophets and ministries and what to lookout for. Apart from checking their doctrine, I have been led to investigate something I call “their methods of operation”.

I believe God has shown me something regarding their methods and I want to share it with you. (more here)

Did you ever see my picture?

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do—that I do not do; but what I hate—that I do. I have the desire to do what is good—but I cannot carry it out. For what I do—is not the good I want to do. No, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing!” ( Romans 7)

Did you ever see my picture? It has been drawn by a masterly hand. And though another person, and one whom I am far from resembling, sat for it—it is as like me as one new penny is like another! The original was drawn at Corinth—and sent to the Christians at Rome. Many copies have been produced, and it has a place in most public and private libraries, and I would hope in most families. I had seen it a great many times, before I could discover one of my own features in it—but then my eyes were very bad.

What is most remarkable, is that it was drawn long before I was born! And now, having been favored with some excellent eye-salve, I quickly knew it to be my own. I am drawn in a posture which would be strange and peculiar, if it was not so common with me—looking two different and opposite ways at once, so that you would be puzzled to tell whether my eyes are fixed upon heaven—or upon the earth! I am aiming at two things inconsistent with each other at the same time, so that I can accomplish neither.

According to the different light in which you view the picture, I appear to rejoice—or to mourn; to have nothing—or possessing everything; to be a conqueror—or a captive. In a word, I am a double person! I am a riddle! So it is no wonder if you know not what to make of me—for I cannot tell what to make of myself!

I would—and I would not.
I do—and I do not.
I can—and I cannot.
I find the hardest things easy—and the easiest things impossible.
I am both rich—and poor.
I can do nothing—yet I can do all things.
I am opposed beyond my strength—yet I am not overpowered.
I gain when I lose—and I often am a loser by my gains.

But while I am in this perplexity, you will observe in the same picture—a hand stretched forth for my relief, and may see a label proceeding out of my mouth with these words, “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

The more I study this picture, the more I discover some new and striking resemblance, which convinces me that the Painter knew me better than I knew myself!

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do—I do not do; but what I hate—I do. I have the desire to do what is good—but I cannot carry it out. For what I do—is not the good I want to do. No, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing!”

In a word, I am a sinner, a vile one—but a sinner believing in Jesus!

I am a silly sheep—but I have a gracious, watchful Shepherd!

I am a dull scholar—but I have a Master who can make the dullest learn.

~ John Newton

John Newton’s Letters: CHOICE EXCERPTS

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Cyber Hymnal: “MORE LIKE JESUS WOULD I BE”

“Good” Christan, Pat Boone

Or, “Why don’t you be silent and cease bringing shame and disgrace upon the body of Christ”

I am so sick of these folks. Pat Boone who has made a career out of his Christianity in Gospel music, hosting Christian programs at TBN, and writing Christian books, (and who by the way, is a member of founder Jack Hayford’s church, “Church on the Way”) has been writing scathing nasty political articles at World Net Daily the last few years. I see today, Newsmax picked up his latest one.

What a ‘sorry’ representative of Christ and Christianity those like Pat Boone are. It’s not what he wrote, or what other “Christian activists” say–it’s that they do it “AS Christians”. I sure wish they’d stop.

White House Needs a Good Exterminator

quote..

All manner of parasites, vermin, roaches, rats, worms, and termites find their way into the building. Long before they’re detected, they infiltrate the walls, the floors, and the roof — and then chew their way into the structure, the supporting beams, and the very foundation of the house itself. Silently, surreptitiously, whole communities of invaders make places for themselves, hidden but thriving, totally unknown to the homeowner.