The War on New Year

In recent years it’s become part of the Christmas tradition to look for the first shot to be fired in what has come to be known as ‘the war on Christmas’.

Its become a race between organizations like Focus on the Family and the American Family Association to see who can publicly issue the first “fatwā” against stores like Walmart, Walgreens, or the Gap, for using Happy Holidays in their ad’s and displays instead of Merry Christmas.  (I’m sure God is very impressed.. NOT!)

James McGrath, at Exploring our Matrix, has decided (quite humorously) Christians need to next, wage war on New Year:

Apparently the forces of darkness are mounting an attack, this time on the Christian holiday of New Year’s Day, which commemorates and worshipfully celebrates the anniversary of the day on which a Romanian monk miscalculated the year in which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born.

In addition to the anticalendricals, it seems that the Chinese, Jews, and Muslims are all opting out and deciding to celebrate other days as their new year. More recently the ranks of these heathen have apparently been joined by the ancient Babylonians. Worse still, countless American companies are yielding to the pressure from these groups, and instructing them to wish people “Happy New Years Day” rather than “Happy New Year’s Day”.

Truly committed Christians should be listening carefully for the lack of apostrophe and boycott any stores that prove to be committed to this heretical anapostrophism.

Fight the good fight. Make sure that you drink too much champagne on December 31st as midnight approaches, and not on one of the days celebrated by the heathen. Too much is at stake. Imagine the confusion if we had such crowds and brightly lit orbs descending upon Times Square all throughout the year.

(I hope someone at FOF or AFA doesn’t stumble across his post. It may give them ideas…)

Paul Washer

This truly blessed me.

Misinterpreting Scripture (Genesis 12:3)

Every Christian would agree that the misinterpretation of scripture[s] is the source of most, if not all, false doctrines and teachings. That is not to imply that we have to have our ducks-in-a-row 100% concerning all scripture–for, as long as we’re here on earth, we’ll be constantly learning and receiving revelation concerning God’s Word. It’s my impression God through the Holy Spirit, enlightens us to truth as we continue to study the Word.

Saying all that, I do believe the misinterpretation of certain scriptures has grown, over decades,  into actual false doctrines being taught as truth, within the Church–especially in the Western Church. Genesis 12: 3 is one such scripture:

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

If you’re familiar with chapter 12, then you know this is God speaking to Abraham.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (1-3)

In the past (and in numerous posts) I’ve pointed out those like John Hagee (CUFI) for their erroneous doctrine[s] propagated by using this verse (3) to spread false-hood.

Rex Rammell and the “White Horse” prophecy

Interesting. The line between religion(s) and politics continues to blur more everyday. My opinion is its going to backfire one day on Christians who have actively worked themselves, toward blurring the line. A Pandora’s box has been opened…

IDAHO FALLS — Idaho gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell will be mixing what he calls doctrines from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into his gubernatorial campaign in a series of meetings slated for LDS elders only.

He’s dropping fliers off to Mormon Priesthood Holders and asking them to attend an “Elders only” meeting where he will discuss the Constitution. See video

In January, Rammell will kick off a series of special meetings targeted specifically at “faithful priesthood-holders of the LDS Church” to discuss the so-called “White Horse” prophecy.

The first meeting will held at the Hampton Inn in Idaho Falls between 7 and 8 p.m. on Jan. 19. Subsequent meetings will be held in Rexburg, Blackfoot, Pocatello, Twin Falls and Boise, and only men active in the LDS Church have been invited to attend.

“Only LDS elders are invited because I don’t want people there that don’t believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Any active member of the church is welcome to attend.”

more here

• Also see article, JOSEPH SMITH’S “WHITE HORSE” PROPHECY by Sandra Tanner

• And, LDS Church issues statement on Rex Rammell

Irenæus: Against Heresies

The work of Irenæus Against Heresies is one of the most precious remains of early Christian antiquity. It is devoted, on the one hand, to an account and refutation of those multiform Gnostic heresies which prevailed in the latter half of the second century; and, on the other hand, to an exposition and defence of the faith. (ccel)

Irenaeus (130–202)

Preface:

Inasmuch as certain men have set the truth aside, and bring in lying words and vain genealogies, which, as the apostle says, “minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith,” and by means of their craftily-constructed plausibilities draw away the minds of the inexperienced and take them captive, [I have felt constrained, my dear friend, to compose the following treatise in order to expose and counteract their machinations.]

These men falsify the oracles of God, and prove themselves evil interpreters of the good word of revelation. They also overthrow the faith of many, by drawing them away, under a pretence of [superior] knowledge, from Him who rounded and adorned the universe; as if, forsooth, they had something more excellent and sublime to reveal, than that God who created the heaven and the earth, and all things that are therein.

By means of specious and plausible words, they cunningly allure the simple-minded to inquire into their system; but they nevertheless clumsily destroy them, while they initiate them into their blasphemous and impious opinions respecting the Demiurge; and these simple ones are unable, even in such a matter, to distinguish falsehood from truth.

Jewish Christian in Israel Seeks Protection from Repeated Attacks

Interesting news item from Compass Direct

JERUSALEM, December 28 (CDN) — A Christian of Jewish origin who has been attacked on the streets here four times because of his faith in Christ is seeking police protection.

Jerusalem resident Yossi Yomtov said police have been slow to investigate hate crimes against him by youths wearing kippahs, cloth skullcaps typically worn by observant Jews. In two of the attacks a youth plied him with pepper spray and stun gun shocks, he said.

Yomtov said he received Christ in 1984, while still living in the United States. He said he became a Christian after he “hit the bottom” – taking drugs and engaging in “in illegal activity.” He regards himself as a Jewish Christian belonging to no one church; he does not belong to the highly organized movement of Messianic Jews.

“I’m not secretive about my belief like some other people, and I often talk about it,” he told Compass. “That’s how many people are aware of me believing in Jesus Christ.”

Police arrived and caught one of the attackers but refused his request to press charges…“I was told to shut up,” he said. “It was clear that they were not going to press any charges.” (more here)

“A Very Thin Line..”

Their door was paper thin. They had a sheet taped to the wall to cover the front window. The porch light wasn’t on, probably because it didn’t work. When she opened the skinny door, I let them know that the presents were in the car.

The 4-year-old, blissfully ignorant of her living situation, let this stranger know she had to do her homework. “That sounds like a good idea,” I replied..

“I have to finish it or my teacher will get mad. Bye!” And with that she scampered off to another room of the house.

A future rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem (research)

Today I came upon this when ‘house-cleaning’ my files and server folders and thought someone might find it of interest. The pro’s and con’s, position-wise, concerning a future rebuilt Temple has been discussed here before, but someone still may like this for research purposes. I’m sure that’s why I kept it.

A future rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem

What several Modern Premillennialists say about a future rebuilt Temple.

Tim Warner – @1998-2003, – “When Jesus returns, it will not only be cleansed, but rebuilt entirely on a much grander scale.”

Roger Samsel – 2006, – Formal Debate Topic 1 “This prophecy goes on for nine chapters (Ezekiel 40-48) describing this temple. There is an enormous amount of detail, more than enough to recognize that this temple has never been built.”

John Darby – 1882, Synopsis of the Bible Ezekiel 40 “The reader will perceive that we find in these last chapters a revelation of the same kind as that given to Moses for the tabernacle, and to David for the templeonly that in this case the details are preserved in the writings given to the people by inspiration, as a testimony for the time to come, and to conscience in all times. God takes an interest in His people. He will reestablish His sanctuary among men.”

Dwight Pentecost – 1959, Things to Come “Ezekiel’s temple is a literal future sanctuary to be constructed in Palestine. The holy oblation would be a spacious square, 34miles each way, containing about 1160 square miles. This area would be the center of all the interests of the divine government and worship as set up in the Millennial earth.. .The temple itself would be located in the middle of this square (the holy oblation) and not in the City of Jerusalem, upon a very high mountain, which will be miraculously made ready for that purpose when the temple is to be erected.”

Evangelist Rolfe P. Barnard

Some Preaching below, that to many people today will sound “foreign”, but was heard in Churches through-out this Nation not that long ago.

THE ROLFE BARNARD LIBRARY (150 sermons)

Rolfe Barnard (1904-1969) was evidently a prophet from God for the 20th Century. With a profound sense of the absolute sovereignty and glory of Jesus Christ, he was able to preach a message that produced conviction of sin. He maintained through all his ministry what he himself called a “sweetheart love for the Lord Jesus,” and it is most surely apparent in his messages. Be prepared for a SHOCK if you enjoy the status quo type of preaching, but be assured that if you want the whole counsel of God, the late Evangelist Rolfe P. Barnard will set it forth in plain words, words you’ll never forget. (Sermon Audio)

*A few audio sermon titles*

“Making Fun of God” – “Whosoever Wills of the Bible” (A Rolfe Barnard Classic) – “God’s Call” – “Sudden Death” – “A God That Keeps Records”, and many more.

SermonIndex posted the clip below, “A Tour Of Hell by Rolfe Barnard”

To those who can’t decide what they believe

By Charles Spurgeon, courtesy of Team Pyro

The following excerpt is from “A New Year’s Benediction,” a sermon delivered 1 January 1860 at Exeter Hall in London.

Oh, how many there are that are never settled! The tree which should be transplanted every week would soon die. Nay, if it were moved, no matter how skilfully, once every year, no gardener would expect fruit from it. How many Christians there be that are transplanting themselves constantly, even as to their doctrinal sentiments?

There be some who generally believe according to the last speaker; and there be others who do not know what they do believe, but they believe almost anything that is told them.

The spirit of Christian charity, so much cultivated in these days, and which we all love so much, has, I fear, assisted in bringing into the world a species of latitudinarianism; or in other words, men have come to believe that it does not matter what they believe; that although one minister says it is so, and the other says it is not so; yet we are both right; that though we contradict each other flatly, yet we are both correct.

I know not where men have had their judgments manufactured, but to my mind it always seems impossible to believe a contradiction. I can never understand how contrary sentiments can both of them be in accordance with the Word of God, which is the standard of truth.

But yet there be some who are like the weathercock upon the church steeple, they will turn just as the wind blows. As good Mr. Whitfield said, “You might as well measure the moon for a suit of clothes as tell their doctrinal sentiments,” for they are always shifting and ever changing.

Now, I pray that this may be taken away from any of you, if this be your weakness, and that you may be settled. Far from us be bigotry removed; yet would I have the Christian know what he believes to be true and then stand to it.

Take your time in weighing the controversy, but when you have once decided, be not easily moved. Let God be true though every man be a liar, and stand to it, that what is according to God’s Word one day cannot be contrary to it another day, that what was true in Luther’s day and Calvin’s day must be true now; that falsehoods may shift, for they have a Protean shape; but the truth is one, and indivisible, and evermore the same.

A New-Year’s Admonition to those Who Can’t Decide What They Believe

Battle of the Bibles

Paul wrote, “… from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

And still, there are those who seek to change, take away from or add to God’s Word.

I have real concern for new/young Christians today–especially those who come to Christ after having no exposure to God’s Word prior to being saved. There are so many personal “bibles” available today and more being published everyday; bibles written specifically for one ‘group’ of people or another, like the Patriot Bible, or the recent [on-going] Conservapedia translation, to name only two.  I even came across something called a ‘White Man’s Bible’ earlier tonight…the point is there is a literal flood of these type of ‘bibles’ being promoted.

Tonight I read about another translation to be published. After reading of its contents it will not surprise me to see it used [or promoted] by those in the Hebrew-Roots movement, or by others deeply involved in Christian Zionism.

We can take comfort though, in knowing that regardless of the on-going continuous attacks against God’s Word, Jesus said,

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31)

From SFGate:

quote..

Willis Barnstone is supposed to be talking about his masterful new book, “The Restored New Testament – A New Translation With Commentary, Including the Gnostic Gospels Thomas, Mary, and Judas” (Norton, 1,485 pages, $49.95). The book seeks to restore the lyricism and mysticism of the Jesus story, and perhaps most important, to undo centuries of mistranslation designed to obscure the Jewish identity of the carpenter from Nazareth.

Back to Jewish names

That’s the first thing you notice about this Bible. The names have been changed, and not to protect the innocent. Other Bibles make it too easy to forget the fact that Jesus and his first 12 followers were Jews. This Bible starts by restoring the Jewish names of the purported authors of the familiar gospel stories. Matthew becomes Mattityahu. Mark morphs into Markos, Luke is Loukas. John appears as Yohanan. John the Baptist is renamed Yohanan the Dipper.

Barnstone adds three other versions of the story, the recently discovered Gnostic gospels of Toma (Thomas), Yehuda (Judas) and Miryam of Magdala (Mary Magdalene), and argues in his commentary that they are at least as important and potentially accurate depictions as the canonical accounts that made it past the theological censors and into that ancient anthology we call the Bible.

Barnstone has published four other works of biblical commentary and translation, including “The New Covenant: Four Gospels” and (with Marvin Meyer) “The Gnostic Bible.” Some of that work is repurposed in his new book.

He approaches the Bible as a scholar, not a believer.

Barnstone describes himself as “a secular Jew”…”This is a good study Bible, and I hope it can unite people whether they are secular or religious.”

His sharpest critique is saved for those parts of the gospel story that blame the Jews for the death of Jesus and attempt to portray Pontius Pilate and his officers as reluctant executioners. Centuries of pogroms and other persecution, Barnstone says, flow from the story of Pilate washing his hands of the blood of Jesus and the incongruous response of the Jewish mob. “Let his blood be upon us and upon our children!” (Matthew 27:25)

“Would anybody shout a curse upon themselves and their children?” Barnstone asks in his commentary. “The notion is silly but noxious, and has followed the Jews for two millennia.” ( full article here )

Gnostic Monica Dennington Refuted

Listening to Monica Dennington is frightening. She needs a lot of prayer.

I still cannot grasp how she seemed to fall into this heresy so quickly. Though common sense tells me it wasn’t over-night, but this deception was taking place in her heart and mind, unseen, for awhile. There is a lesson here to be learned by all who stand in their own confidence: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Gnosticism: The Gnostic God concept is more subtle than that of most religions. In its way, it unites and reconciles the recognitions of Monotheism and Polytheism, as well as of Theism, Deism and Pantheism. Gnosticism traces its roots back just after the beginning of the Christian Church.  Some researchers state that evidence of its existence even predates Christianity.  Whichever the case, the error of gnosticism had affected the culture and church of the time and possibly even a earned a mention in 1 John 4.

The Divine Feminine: In the book of Genesis in the Bible we have it clearly stated not that God, Jehovah or YHWH created the heavens and the earth, but that the Elohim did.  Now Elohim means “Creator Goddesses.” This Trinity can be seen again within the Christian tradition, and yet has been re-named as Father, Son, Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost would equate to the Divine Feminine, and even earlier in our Western Tradition the “dove” was a symbol of the Divine Feminine and the harbinger of the covenant with Noah.  Thus Jesus is empowered by the Divine Feminine, the Holy Spirit. (link)

Sophia: Goddess of Wisdom & God’s Wife. Literally she is Wisdom, because the Greek word Sophia means “wisdom” in English. More than that, Sophia is the Wisdom of Deity. She has been revered as the Wise Bride of Solomon by Jews, as the Queen of Wisdom and War (Athena) by Greeks, and as the Holy Spirit of Wisdom by Christians. (link)

T.D. Jakes: 2010 Will Be a Year of Double Portion

We’re about to be bombarded with predictions and false prophecies for 2010, so lets kick it off with a prediction by T.D. Jakes.

Dallas megachurch pastor and entrepreneur T.D. Jakes usually doesn’t make declarations or predictions for the new year.

But the year 2010 is different.

In a video message, The Potter’s House pastor said he expects 2010 to be a year of “double portion.”

“The Bible is not mystical about loss. It’s just the modern day teachers that we have today that led us down the wrong path to thinking that there would be no challenges,” he noted. “The Bible has always been clear that there would be looses. But He promised to restore the years [of] cankerworms.”

Alluding to a biblical passage in the Old Testament book of Joel, Jakes called 2009 a year when cankerworms, palmerworms and locusts ate into people’s resources, retirements and homes. But just as Joel prophesied in the Bible, Jakes believes God will restore in the new year what was taken away.

“When you look at 2010, I believe it is time for us … to look at the fact that we have been through enough things, been through enough turmoil that now we’re ready to move to the next level,” he declared in the video message, while noting that 20 is “10 carried into a double dimension.”

“Whenever God pulls back a bow, the arrow is going to go further than it’s ever gone before,” he said. “I believe that the turning point is going to be 2010.

“I believe because we have crossed this Jordan like Elijah and Elisha that we are now eligible to step into a double portion. Financially, yes. We need it; our country needs it; our world needs it. But beyond that, wisdom, inspiration, a new development of faith; I believe new ministries are going to burst wide open.”

There is a lot I could say about his misuse of Joel 2 and his lack of understanding our sin and God’s judgments, but will just say this prediction is ludicrous.

Holy Boldness

Peter Cartwright (1785-1872) was probably America’s most colorful circuit riding preacher.

Crowds flocked to hear him. Throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois, Cartwright preached to hosts of men and women, speaking three hours at a stretch, several times a week. The conviction in his booming voice could make women weep and strong men tremble. It is said that ten thousand souls were added to the Kingdom as a result of his powerful preaching.

One Sunday as Cartwright was preparing to deliver his sermon, he was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the audience, and he was asked to keep his remarks soothing and inoffensive. As he got up to speak, Cartwright began by saying,

“I have been told that President Andrew Jackson is in this congregation, and I have been asked to guard my remarks. But what I must say, is that “President Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn’t repent of his sins.”

Following the service President Jackson approached Cartwright with the comment, “Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world!” What holy boldness on the part of this circuit riding preacher!

Such fortitude also characterized the life and ministry of John the Baptist. Being the last of the Old Testament prophets and the forerunner of the Savior, John’s fiery preaching of repentance stirred the population greatly, with resulting baptisms and thousands of transformed lives.

Early in his career, John had opposed the marriage of Herod Antipas and Herodias, the divorced wife of Herod’s brother. “It is not lawful for you to have her,” John had boldly proclaimed. But that bold proclamation cost The Baptist his head! At a huge birthday bash, Herod asked his stepdaughter to dance for the guests. As payment for her sensuous performance, Herod promised to give whatever she wanted. In consultation with her mother, the performer declared, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist” (Matthew 14:8). Despite his tragic ending, Jesus said of The Baptist, “Among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).

So—have you been bold in the proclamation of your faith? And if so, what has it cost you? While boldly declaring your faith may not cost your head, Jesus said,

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

~ Paul W. Brubaker ~  The Bread Basket

Angels can’t fly, says study

Ahaha! These studies and so-called experts on biblical matters crack me up…

A study by the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life found that 68 per cent of 36,000 adults think angels and demons are at work in the world, but, according to a new academic paper, there is a major flaw. Angels can’t fly.

Prof Roger Wotton, from University College London, found that flight would be impossible for angels portrayed with arms and bird-like feathered wings.

“Even a cursory examination of the evidence in representational arts shows that angels and cherubs cannot take off and cannot use powered flight,” said Prof Wotton. “And even if they used gliding flight, they would need to be exposed to very high wind velocities at take off – such high winds that they would be blown away and have no need for wings

more

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth…” (Rev.14)

“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1Cor. 1)

“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (I Cor.2:14)

Lee Grady quit as editor of Charisma

So it seems…

I wanted you all to know about a big change in our lives. On Nov. 30, 2009, I resigned from my position as editor of Charisma magazine after 17 years of employment there. It was a bittersweet moment because I have invested so much of my life in that magazine and in the people who work there.

I am not completely ending my involvement with Charisma. I will be serving as Contributing Editor and I will still write my “Fire in My Bones” column, so you will still hear from me that way. But I am stepping down from day-to-day involvement. I am passing the baton to Marcus Yoars, a brilliant young editor who has worked in our department for more than two years. Marcus will be able to navigate Charisma into its new season and bring a fresh new edge to the magazine and its various digital products. (see, Big Changes for the Gradys)

Also see post at Onward, Forward, Toward

The Religion I Want

I am quite sick of modern religion–it is such a mixture, such a medley, such a compromise. I find much, indeed, of this religion in my own heart, for it suits the flesh well–but I would not have it so, and grieve it should be so.

The religion which I want is that of the Holy Spirit:

• I know nothing but what He teaches me.

• I feel nothing but what He works in me.

• I believe nothing but what He shows me.

• I only mourn when He smites my rocky heart.

• I only rejoice when He reveals the Savior.

This religion I am seeking after, though miles and miles from it–no other will satisfy or content me.

When the blessed Spirit is not at work in me, and with me, I fall back into all the darkness, unbelief, earthliness, idleness, carelessness, infidelity, and  helplessness of my Adam nature.

True religion is a supernatural and mysterious thing.

Letters of J. C. Philpot: The religion which I want

Israel lets 300 Gazan Christians travel to Bethlehem

Sad…

Israeli officials have let few Christians from the Gaza Strip travel to Bethlehem to make pilgrimages for Christmas, while the Strip has nearly 3,500 Christians.

CSMonitor

The Gaza Christians allowed to travel to Bethlehem starting Thursday make up less than half of the 750 who applied for permits..

“Living here is like being in a big prison,” says Constantine Dabbagh, executive security of the Gaza Area Committee of the Near East Council of Churches (NECC), an ecumenical humanitarian organization. “It’s impossible to get out, for any reason – sickness, education, worship, reuniting with family members. So if you can manage to get out, it’s an amazing thing.”

more

Was Jesus wealthy?

In one sense this isn’t even worth posting. If you look at who’s photos grace the website of this pastor who claims Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were wealthy, its like the rogues-gallery of prosperity teachers.

Nevertheless its interesting to read these people’s twisted ideas…

From CNN

Each Christmas, Christians tell stories about the poor baby Jesus born in a lowly manger because there was no room in the inn.

But the Rev. C. Thomas Anderson, senior pastor of the Living Word Bible Church in Mesa, Arizona, preaches a version of the Christmas story that says baby Jesus wasn’t so poor after all.

Anderson says Jesus couldn’t have been poor because he received lucrative gifts — gold, frankincense and myrrh — at birth. Jesus had to be wealthy because the Roman soldiers who crucified him gambled for his expensive undergarments. Even Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, lived and traveled in style, he says.

“Mary and Joseph took a Cadillac to get to Bethlehem because the finest transportation of their day was a donkey,” says Anderson. “Poor people ate their donkey. Only the wealthy used it as transportation.”

Many Christians see Jesus as the poor, itinerant preacher who had “no place to lay his head.” But as Christians gather around the globe this year to celebrate the birth of Jesus, another group of Christians are insisting that Jesus’ beginnings weren’t so humble.

They say that Jesus was never poor — and neither should his followers be. Their claim is embedded in the doctrine known as the prosperity gospel, which holds that God rewards the faithful with financial prosperity and spiritual gifts.

Merry Christmas!

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” -   (Luke 2)

My beloved friends, a very Merry Christmas to you all…

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!“

John the Baptist Christmas cards

I like this. It’s both somewhat humorous (imagine sending these to family and friends) and full of truth…

Bill Nieporte is a friend from my seminary days and pastor of Patterson Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. He’s toying with the idea of creating a “John the Baptist” line of Christmas cards.

So far, here is what he has produced:

Outside card: “From our house to yours this holiday season.” Inside: “Merry Christmas, you brood of vipers.”

Outside card: “Let’s all pass the cup as we gather round the Yule log.” Inside: “which burns like the unquenchable fire of hell that is soon going to consume you for all eternity. With love, John.”

Outside card: “Season’s greeting to you from across the miles.” Inside: “Hey, who told you to flee from the wrath to come?”

This is, of course, straight out of Scripture, but not so very Christmas sounding.

If Christmas is about renewing our hope in the idea of peace on earth and goodwill among all people, John reminds us that we are to be an integral part of bringing such an idea to fruition.

If Christmas is about God taking on flesh and coming to live among us humans, John reminds us of our need to turn our lives toward the one who is coming to us.

If Christmas is about God assuming the vulnerable form of a human infant, John reminds us that being vulnerable to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and open to the weak and vulnerable among us is how we embrace this infant being born into our lives.

Appalachian Christmas Carol: I Wonder as I Wander

“I Wonder as I Wander” had its origins in a song fragment collected on July 16, 1933 by folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles.

While in the town of Murphy in Appalachian North Carolina, Niles attended a fundraising meeting held by evangelicals who had been ordered out-of-town by the police. In his unpublished autobiography, he wrote of hearing the song:

A girl had stepped out to the edge of the little platform attached to the automobile. She began to sing. Her clothes were unbelievable dirty and ragged, and she, too, was unwashed. Her ash-blond hair hung down in long skeins…. But, best of all, she was beautiful, and in her untutored way, she could sing. She smiled as she sang, smiled rather sadly, and sang only a single line of a song.

Niles left with “three lines of verse, and a garbled fragment of melodic material. Based on this fragment, Niles composed the version of “I Wonder as I Wander”.

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die
For poor on’ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow’s stall
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
But high from God’s heaven, a star’s light did fall
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of God’s Angels in heaven to sing
He surely could have it, ’cause he was the King

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die
For poor on’ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

The New Ecumenism

Very good post by Phil Johnson on the issues concerning the Manhattan Declaration.

What sinners in this decaying culture need is redemption and spiritual rebirth, not merely sounder moral logic and more convincing rational arguments about why their sin is bad…

..the gospel—not natural law, moralistic logic, philosophical reasoning, or political strategizing, but the gospel—is the power of God unto salvation. God’s Word doesn’t need an intellectual’s rational arguments to prop it up. It may sound foolish to suggest that the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed clearly and supported only with “thus saith the Lord” carries more weight or is actually more efficacious than an elaborate philosophical argument..

If evangelicals really want to make an impact on our culture, we need to keep that in mind. We need to get to work proclaiming the gospel in our own communities. And frankly, we ought to leave the philosophical strategy in the culture war to people who have no sharper weapon. Declarations of spiritual unity with moralists, academicians, and religious figures who reject the gospel are a sham and a lie, and such declarations do undermine the gospel and muddy our testimony—regardless of anyone’s original intent.

See, TeamPyro: Robert George and the New Ecumenism

Shoplifting is ‘Least Worst Option’ for Poor

Says Father Tim Jones..

A Church of England priest has found himself at the center of controversy after he told his congregation it was morally justifiable for the poor to shoplift.

Father Tim Jones of St. Lawrence and Hilda Church in York said this week that he did not believe it was right for people to shoplift but maintained it was the “least worst option” for people in desperate situations.

Speaking on behalf of the Anglican Diocese of York, Archdeacon of York the Venerable Richard Seed said the Church of England “does not advise anyone to shoplift or break the law in any way”.

“Fr. Tim Jones is raising important issues about the difficulties people face when benefits are not forthcoming, but shoplifting is not the way to overcome these difficulties,” he said.

Full story at CPost

I hate these type of news items. AHA…

They always present [at least in my mind] a “what if” scenario. Like ‘what if’ my child was starving…would I steal food from a vender?

Of course if we lived in the days of Ruth and Boaz it wouldn’t be a question,

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: Ruth 2

I also appears gleaning was still the norm in Jesus’ day,

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. Matthew 12

The bible is very clear, ‘thou shalt not steal’… Exodus 20, which makes the tradition of gleaning a good thing..

He is altogether lovely

No words can ever express the gratitude we owe to Him who loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins.

The love of Jesus is unutterably precious, and worthy of daily praise. No songs can ever fitly celebrate the triumphs of that salvation which he wrought single-handed on our behalf.

The work of Jesus is glorious beyond all comparison, and all the harps of angels fall short of its worthy honor. We prize his bounty to us, but we worship HIM.

His gifts are valued, but he himself is adored. He is altogether lovely.

From Spurgeon’s sermon, The Best Beloved

Grace Gems

President Obama Talks About Baby Jesus

Transcript and video at The Brody File