Links to previous excellent segments HERE
Audio – It’s The End of The World As We Know It – part 9
“The 7 headed 10 horned beast from the sea – The Anti-Christ and the kingdom from which he arises”
Monthly Archives: December 2009
From the Archives: Who is my Brother?
There continues to be confusion within the body of Christ concerning just who our brethren–our brothers and sisters are. In light of a recent post, I dug this excellent message out of the archives which answers the question, “Who is my Brother?”
Christian Zionists regularly assert their brotherhood and solidarity with ethnic Jews (being descendants of Jacob, particularly those who lay claim to the Land). A group known as Biblical Zionists appeals through its website: ‘join us as we stand with our Jewish brothers and see the victory of The Lord’.
Some who have affiliated themselves in this way also disassociate from fellow Christians who do not share their allegiance. Some have even suggested that ‘support for Israel’ is the criterion on which humanity will be divided and judged.
Derek Prince wrote,
“He will separate them from one another … the sheep on His right, and goats on the left’ … To the goats, those who refused to show mercy to the Jews, Christ will say: … ‘Depart from me accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels …’” (1)
Other Christians have openly identified with the Palestinian cause, defending their rights and calling for punitive action against the Israeli government.
It is in view of these alignments, and their stratagems, that we review this important area of our Lord’s teaching, namely, Who is my brother?
“Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech..”
“Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.” – Psalm 120:5-7
- Woe is me, that sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! – Gracious men are vexed with the conversation of the wicked. Our poet felt himself to be as ill at ease among lying neighbours as if he had lived among savages and cannibals. He cries “Woe is me!” Their sin appalled him, their enmity galled him. He had some hope from the fact that he was only a sojourner in Mesech; but as years rolled on the time dragged heavily, and he feared that he might call himself a dweller in Kedar. The wandering tribes to whom he refers were constantly at war with one another; it was their habit to travel armed to the teeth; they were a kind of plundering gypsies, with their hand against every man and every man’s hand against them; and to these he compared the false hearted ones who had assailed his character. Those who defame the righteous are worse than cannibals; for savages only eat men after they are dead, but these wretches eat them up alive.
- My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. – Long, long enough, too long had he been an exile among such barbarians. A peace maker is a blessing, but a peace hater is a curse. To lodge with such for a night is dangerous, but to dwell with them is horrible. The verse may apply to any one of the Psalmist’s detractors: he had seen enough of him and pined to quit such company. Perhaps the sweet singer did not at first detect the nature of the man, for he was a deceiver; and when he did discover him he found himself unable to shake him off, and so was compelled to abide with him. Thoughts of Doeg, Saul, Ahithophel, and the sons of Zeruiah come to our mind, –these last, not as enemies, but as hot blooded soldiers who were often too strong for David. What a change for the man of God from the quietude of the sheepfold to the turmoil of court and the tumult of combat! How he must have longed to lay aside his scepter, and to resume his crook. He felt the time of his dwelling with quarrelsome spirits to be long, too long; and he only endured it because, as the Prayer book version has it, he was constrained so to abide.
- I am for peace – Properly, “I am peace”; desirous of peace, peaceful, forbearing, –in fact, peace itself. But when I speak, they are for war – My kindest words appear to provoke them, and they are at daggers drawn at once. Nothing pleases them; if I am silent they count me morose, and if I open my mouth they cavil and controvert. Let those who dwell with such pugilistic company console themselves with the remembrance that both David and David’s Lord endured the same trial. It is the lot of the saints to find foes even in their own households. Others besides David dwelt in the place of dragons. Others besides Daniel have been cast into a den of lions. Meanwhile, let those who are in quiet resting places and peaceful habitations be greatly grateful for such ease. “Deus nobis haec otia fecit”: God has given us this tranquility. Be it ours never to inflict upon others that from which we have been screened ourselves.
Spurgeon’s Treasury of David, Psalm 120
As a Christian you have to live in the midst of an ungodly world, and it is of little use for you to cry “Woe is me.”
Jesus did not pray that you should be taken out of the world, and what he did not pray for, you need not desire. Better far in the Lord’s strength to meet the difficulty, and glorify him in it.
The enemy is ever on the watch to detect inconsistency in your conduct; be therefore holy. Remember that the eyes of all are upon you, and that more is expected from you than from other men. Strive to give no occasion for blame. Let your goodness be the only fault they can discover in you. Like Daniel, compel them to say of you, “We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
And when weary of the strife and sin that meets you on every hand, consider that all the saints have endured the same trial. They were not carried on beds of down to heaven, and you must not expect to travel more easily than they. They had to hazard their lives unto the death in the high places of the field, and you will not be crowned till you also have endured hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Therefore, “stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
THE DUNG OF OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS …the Manhattan Declaration
Very good message by Steve Camp..
“The Manhattan Declaration is the dung dropped from the bowels of an evangelical cobelligerent ecumenism, with the gospel of sola fide shrouded in Rome’s Papal robes.”
See here
Another Ecumenical “Letter”
Another group of self-proclaimed Christian Leaders and another letter..
Boy these groups are spewing out declarations and letters so fast its making my head spin. Some of the names below should be familiar:
Christian Leaders Urge Immediate Passage of Tough Sanctions on Iran
Pat Robertson, Southern Baptist Leadership, Focus on the Family, Megachurch Pastors Send Letter To Congress. Leaders representing millions of Evangelicals and Roman Catholics call for immediate passage of sanctions.
The Leaders include Pat Robertson of Christian Broadcasting Network, Richard Land of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Dr. James Merritt of Cross Pointe Church, Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America, (*CUFI board member) Gary Bauer of American Values, Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family, and (*CUFI Founder) Dr. John Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, and Jordan Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice.
There is also a story at Charisma
Hagee’s been trying to influence/lobby both the United States and Israel, (based on his interpretation of the Book of Esther) by way of his CUFI organization, to preemptively ‘nuke’ Iran for years.
..a confrontation with Iran is a necessary precondition for Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ. …the United States must join Israel in a preemptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God’s plan for both Israel and the West. – Jerusalem Countdown
Palestinian Pastors issue document
A group of Palestinian Christian leaders issued a document Friday in Bethlehem that pleaded the case of Palestinians and called for the end of Israeli occupation of the territory.
Authors of “The Kairos Palestine Document” said they are calling for the end to the occupation “because today we have reached a dead end in the tragedy of the Palestinian people.”
“The hearts of the faithful are filled with pain and with questioning: What is the international community doing? What are the political leaders in Palestine, in Israel and in the Arab world doing? What is the Church doing?” the 12-page paper asks.
“The problem is not just a political one,” it went on to contend. “It is a policy in which human beings are destroyed, and this must be of concern to the Church.” (more, Palestinian Pastors: Occupation Tragedy Has Reached Dead End)
Christmas in Early America
From WallBuilders, Historical Writings: Sermon – Christmas – 1844
Christmas in Early America
In America’s early years, the celebration of Christmas was a subject of heated debate among Christians, and the lines between the opposing views were drawn largely according to church affiliation. Those from the High Church (e.g., Anglicans, Catholics, Episcopalians, etc., which practiced a more formal tradition of worship), tended to support Christmas celebrations, while those from the Low Church (e.g., Congregationalists, Baptists, Quakers, etc., which practiced a more informal mode of worship), tended to oppose that celebration.
The views of the two sides had largely been shaped by their own history in Europe. For example, the High Church, which had been the church of Europe for centuries before the first colonists came to America, celebrated Christmas. However, those from the Low Church had been persecuted by the High Church, particularly by the Catholic and Anglican Church, so the Low Church saw no reason that they should copy the festival of those that had so harshly persecuted them.
Interestingly, when European colonists came to America, those affiliated with the High Churches tended to settle in southern colonies such as Virginia, Maryland, and Carolina, while colonists from the Low Churches more frequently settled in northern colonies such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Not surprisingly, therefore, the Virginia colony- affiliated with the Anglican Church- began celebrating Christmas from its very beginnings under Governor John Smith, but the Pilgrims and Puritans of Massachusetts- affiliated with the Congregational Church- refused to celebrate that day.
In fact, their opposition to Christmas was so strong that for almost two centuries in Massachusetts, Christmas celebrations were not only discouraged but even forbidden by law.
The first state to make Christmas a state holiday was Louisiana (a southern state with a Catholic tradition) in 1837- a time when the resistance to Christmas in the north was just beginning to weaken. By the 1840s and 1850s, many more states began recognizing the holiday, and by 1870, Christmas celebrations had become so accepted that Christmas was even recognized by the federal government as a holiday.
The Christmas Sermon below was delivered in 1844- a time when the celebration was still a subject of hot debate among Christians across the nation. Preached by Robert Hallam, rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Connecticut (an area of the country still very resistant to recognitions of Christmas), the sermon is an apologetic in favor of Christmas celebrations. It addresses the arguments against celebrating Christmas and presents arguments in favor of such celebrations.
“I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God; in the voice of praise and thanksgiving, among such as keep holy-day.”- Psalm xlii: 4. 5. (Psalter.)
“To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saint, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:- Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”- 1 Cor. 1: 1-3.
“He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.”-Romans, xiv:6
The Apostle speaks here of the Jewish holy-days. By the abrogation of the Law these had fallen from their ancient dignity of things obligatory, into the humbler class of things indifferent. Their observance was no longer binding upon the conscience of any man. Expediency was the highest sanction it could claim. Liberty of opinion produced its usual result of diversity of judgment and intolerance.
Jewish Christians were dealt with indulgently, and allowed without hindrance or molestation to persevere in paying a sacred regard to those annual seasons, which the history of their nation, the example of their forefathers, and the habits of their own former lives had invested with so many venerable and endearing associations.- This was simple permission however. Not even Christian Jews were required to observe Mosaic holy days. And Christian Gentiles were decidedly dissuaded from it. Their adoption of the practice might seem to indicate obligation, represent it as a permanent law and institution of Christianity, and denote a dangerous learning to formality and superstition. Even in the case of the Jews the license was jealously watched and carefully guarded. Every disposition to elevate liberty into obligation, to magnify their privilege into a duty, to enforce conformity among themselves, still more to exact if of the Gentiles, was immediately noticed and repressed.
“Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years,” writes St. Paul to the Galatian Christians in a tone of solemn remonstrance and alarm, “I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.”
Of this freedom variety of opinion and usage was the natural fruit. Most Jews regarded the day; perhaps a few Gentiles. Some Jews disregarded the day; and the great body of the Gentiles. The difference was perfectly allowable and innocent, and ought to have created no disturbance of confidence or interruption of harmony. But the spirit of man is naturally prone to be uncharitable and dictatorial. He is not content with liberty, he aims at dominion. His own judgment is the infallible standard of truth, his own practice the unquestionable rule of rectitude. He would fain be a pope and a despot, who decisions are not to be questioned, whose will is not to be contravened, whose conclusion is a Procrustean test, not only to measure but to coerce.
The Christians of Apostolic times were not satisfied to differ amicable in things intrinsically indifferent. Conscience must needs be enlisted on the side of their respective views; and then the more conscientious they were, the most intolerance they grew. Alienation and distrust, party spirit and proselytism, mutual denunciations, bickerings and criminations were the melancholy consequence.
Unholy Trinity
Its been a long time since I tuned in to any of the Christian television networks…so this was an interesting read for me. It appears by John MacArthur’s newest article, nothings changed except for the fact the wolves are multiplying.
I don’t watch much television, and when I do I generally avoid the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). For many years TBN has been dominated by faith-healers, full-time fund-raisers, and self-proclaimed prophets spewing heresy. I wrote about the false gospel they proclaim and the phony miracles they pretend to do almost two decades ago in Charismatic Chaos (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992. See especially chapter 12). I had my fill of charismatic televangelism while researching that book, and I can hardly bear to watch it any more.
Recently, however, while recovering from knee-replacement surgery, I decided to sample some of the current fare on TBN. From a therapeutic point of view it seemed a good choice: something more excruciating than the pain in my leg might distract me from the physical suffering of post-surgical trauma. And I suppose on that basis the strategy was effective.
But it left me outraged and frustrated—and eager to challenge the misperceptions in the minds of millions of unbelievers who see these false teachers masquerading as ministers of Christ on TBN.
I’m outraged at the brazen way so many false teachers twist the message of Scripture in Jesus’ name. And I’m frustrated because I’m certain that if these charlatans were not receiving a large proportion of their financial support from sincere believers (and silent acquiescence from Christian leaders who surely know better), they would have no platform for their shenanigans. They would soon lose their core constituency and fade from the scene.
Revelation, one story told 7 times: part 4
Christian “Resistance”
I thought I’d share a quote that profoundly affected some of my students when we were studying in Germany.
We were in Leipzig which was in East Germany before the fall of the Wall. In the days and months leading up to the tearing down of the wall there were massive student protests throughout Germany. In Leipzig every Monday hundreds (and eventually thousands) of protesters would walk downtown to pray for peace at St. Nicholas Church. To this day, St. Nicholas Church holds peace prayer services on Monday nights.
These protests were a part of what is called The Peaceful Revolution in the former East Germany. Much of the power of these protests was focused on Leipzig and what was going on at St. Nicholas Church.
While touring the church the students found a brief history of the peace protests. In this history there was a quote from one of the leaders of the GDR (the Communist regime governing East Germany). Before his death the communist leader said:
We had planned everything. We were prepared for everything. But not for candles and prayers.
Prayer as Resistance, by Richard Beck, Associate Professor at Abilene Christian University.
Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas Church), with its undistinguished façade, was center stage during the demonstrations that helped bring down the Communist regime. Martin Luther is said to have preached from the ornate 16th-century pulpit. (Leipzig Nikolaikirche — St. Nicholas Church)
What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men—men of prayer. (Power Through Prayer, Edward M. Bounds – 1835-1913)
“…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” James 5:16
Dueling Declarations and WND’s Latest
Two stories which will leave you shaking your head…
It appears a group has come out in rebuttal to The Manhattan Declaration by concocting their own declaration, titled “The Affirmation Declaration”
LOL. Sorry, I couldn’t be more mature about this. The Affirmation Declaration (hereafter known as TAD) is intended to be a rebuttal to The Manhattan Declaration (hereafter known as TMD). It reminds me of the answer songs of the eighties. Remember Club Nouveau’s “Jealousy” was recorded as a answer to Timex Social Club’s “Rumors”? (see gcmwatch, Duel of the Declarations)
And then we have this from the website of World Net Daily–the internet’s pseudo news organization which jumped the shark a long time ago, BUT somehow still continues to be relied upon for truth in journalism by an undiscerning segment of Christian websites.
A few weeks ago in his column for WorldNetDaily, Ken Hutcherson penned this line:
I think Christians are the new Negro – but that’s an issue for a follow-up column.
Well, that follow-up column is here:
Many reading this may not understand where I came up with this concept of calling Christians “the new Negro.”
The reason is because there are undeniable similarities. Jim Crow laws were passed to keep me from having my constitutional rights and my rights under the Declaration of Independence of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Even though the Constitution gave me those freedoms, man was smart enough to be able to keep me from living those freedoms by saying I was “separate but equal.”
Today, my constitutional right of freedom of religion is being eroded again by laws such as the Hate Crimes Bill and repeated attacks by the politically correct crowd. (see, Sarah Palin Is The “New Negro”)
Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins Accused of Lying, Urged to Resign
Prominent social conservative activist Tony Perkins has again been publicly accused by other social conservatives of lying to his donor base.
Former Boston and Los Angeles radio host Gregg Jackson, the best-selling author of “Conservative Comebacks to Liberal Lies” along with David Jeffers, author of “Understanding Evangelicals” are warning the pro-life grassroots that Tony Perkins, of the Washington, D.C.- based Family Research Council (FRC) is once again lying to his donor base.
“When I received Perkins’ latest FRC e-mail I instantly realized that Perkins was perpetrating another egregious lie on his Christian donor base,” Jeffers says.
This comes as no surprise. Ever since I started receiving his emails, I’ve said the guy lies like a rug. That’s why I subscribe to these groups, to watch how they twist the truth and out-right lie to their subscribers. Who, by the way, are made up of Christians. Perkins is by far not the only one who uses these tactics.
From the archives: “Converted by his own sermon”
While sorting through old posts I came upon one from September 07 which had me not only rejoicing at God’s mysterious ways, but laughing out-loud once more. I want to repost it for anyone who may have never read the account and, that has a pretty good imagination. Every-time I read this I can almost “see” this happening. It sure is a testimony to the power of God’s Word.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 2:12
The Rev William Haslam was an English country parson whose story is told in two autobiographical volumes – ‘From Death into Life’ and ‘Yet not I’.
One Sunday in 1851 following a period of deep conviction of sin, Haslam ascended into the pulpit of Baldhu church near Truro with the intention of telling his congregation that he would not preach again to them until he was saved and to ask them to pray for his conversion.
However, when he began to preach on the text ‘What think ye of Christ’ he saw himself as a Pharisee who did not recognise that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. At that moment, the Holy Spirit breathed new life into him and the effect was so obvious and marked that a local preacher who was present stood up and shouted ‘the Parson is converted’ and the people rejoiced ‘in Cornish style’.
Others were also converted on that day, including members of his own household, others fled from the church in fear. A revival followed that blessed Sunday that lasted for three years during which time souls were saved weekly, often daily.
“others fled from the church in fear”…ahahaha…I can just see it now: it must have been like someone yelling fire!. Hopefully those fearful folks returned during the revival and were saved.
Would that God would send His Holy Spirit to convict more of the many unconverted Pastors in pulpits today.
Christians Convene to Affirm Sufficiency of Scripture??
I just don’t get all these conferences, declarations and documents, etc.
see: Christians Convene to Affirm Sufficiency of Scripture
Seriously, do we really need to hold a conference in which to “proclaim” publicly as Christians, we believe in the sufficiency of Scripture? If we’re Christians isn’t that already a ‘given’?
Maybe we could all get together here at Sola next Tuesday at 2;00 PM ET to proclaim publicly that Jesus is the Son of God!
I know, I’m being sarcastic.. 
Persecution and Preparation
“[W]here are they that sincerely resolve and prepare to be followers of them who through faith and patience ‘inherit the promises’ (Hebrews 6:12) or take them for an ‘example of suffering, affliction, and of patience’ (James 5:10)?”
The Discernment Research Group has been publishing warnings about heresies and the activities of leaders promoting heresies since 2005. Recently we have been repeatedly asked by many believers to delve into the issue of “how do I prepare for the coming persecution?”
While the world faith leaders lead their flocks into an ecumenical global church of massive proportions, there is a tiny remnant within each historical tradition or evangelical group that maintains adherence to the Bible.
Increasingly we are getting reports about these believers being censored, ostracized, mocked, ridiculed, slandered, shut down and shut out, threatened, and more.
There are those who still hold out that we can change America (legislation) back to a Christian nation, and that this will somehow change the Church at large. But this is a Dominionist pipe dream, born of the hope that by changing externals it will change the hearts of men.
This is neither Scriptural nor facing reality.
The truth is that religious leaders are rapidly taking the church into emerging spirituality, as we have so often documented in posts on this blog. In one sense these calls to change America are simply “bread and circus” for the people in the churches, giving them false hopes and entertaining them with something to do.
In contrast to this, and in the spirit of exhortation, the following are words of encouragement that tell us how to face the coming persecution without fear or dismay.
Below is the first post in a series where we will excerpt, review, and summary discussing in our modern context the classic work of John Flavel “Preparations for Sufferings: or the Best Work in the Worst Times.”[2]
It is our hope and prayer that we will all stand firm in the days to come. May we be a light shining in darkness, living and preaching the true hope of the Gospel message of salvation in Jesus Christ.
To Continue see, Preparations for Sufferings
Love the snow, but…
Forgive me all you snow-lovers, but I needed a break from the snow falling on the blog and inside my dashboard. LOL..
It was starting to affect pages loading and posting, so I turned it off for awhile. If it was happening to me I figured it might be causing a problem for someone else as well.
We woke up here to a temperature of 50 degrees with winds gusting to 55-60 miles an hour–the temp is falling now and is to drop to 19 before the day is over–so I have a hunch the real stuff may be falling here soon…
‘Divine’ bovine born on farm
After the recent story about a ‘holy egg‘ I was expecting to see more stories of signs appearing on food, objects, etc. They seem to come in groups.
STERLING, Conn. (WTNH) – It’s that time of year when miracles happen in the most unexpected places. A Connecticut farmer found a divine sign in a manger.
Exactly one week ago, Tuesday, in a Sterling manger a blessed event: young Moses, the calf, was born. The rambunctious little calf was different from all the others from the start.
“He’s a very affectionate calf and he really looks at you when you talk to him and he has that look in his eye like he wants to tell you something,” said Megan Johnson of Sterling. “He understands.”
And there was something else; something the longtime farmers had never seen before: a divine bovine.
“Later in the morning after he dried off and his hair went back into place around 9:00, 9:30 a.m., then we saw the cross was very obvious and it was really quite an eye opener,” said Brad Davis of Sterling.
The cross is as clear as day on the forehead of the Jersey-Holstein mix. But the more spiritual event came that first night.
“The moon was out that night and there was a little bit of the moonlight coming in through the windows and his cross was the only thing that showed,” said Davis.
‘Happy Holidays’ vs. ‘Merry Christmas’ War is a Waste of Time
On November 25th, Liberty Counsel released their “Naughty and Nice” list outlining which retailers recognize Christmas and which censor it with the intention of influencing Christians to patronize only those retailers who recognize the holiday.
House church leader, Ken Eastburn, commented,
“This debate is a waste of valuable ministry efforts. Since when did the goal of Christianity become about getting non-Christian businesses to pay lip-service to Jesus?”
The Naughty and Nice list was released as part of Liberty Counsel’s seventh annual Friend or Foe campaign which launched in early November. The campaign endeavors to save Christmas from those who would otherwise censor it in favor of more inclusive, religion-neutral language such as “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings.” Focus on the Family is engaging in a similar effort with the launch of their www.StandforChristmas.com website where consumers can rate how Christmas-friendly a retailer is.
“Whenever the Church becomes concerned with whether non-Christian culture pays lip-service to Jesus, there’s a problem,” says Eastburn, “Our goal was made clear in the Great Commission: ‘Go and make disciples.’ If we were busy doing that, we wouldn’t care about whether a retailer says ‘Merry Christmas’ as opposed to ‘Happy Holidays.’”
Eastburn is a leader with The Well, a network of home-based churches in California and Colorado. After selling their building in 2005, members began meeting in each other’s homes where they are challenged in their growth in Christ.
He continues, “Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s unfortunate that many businesses opt out of language highlighting Christmas, but even more unfortunate is the fact that Christians have leveraged their influence to bully those who we might otherwise have the opportunity to love and make disciples out of. It is good to know that we can use the birth of our Savior as a way to feel like we’re pleasing God when we spend extravagant amounts of money on ourselves.”
Below is a some-what related story which left me….well, with nothing to say.
New Christmas Tree Design Will Not Be Mistaken For A “Holiday” Tree –
This new “CHRIST-mas” Tree design leaves no doubt as to the symbolism of the season.
Boss Creations, a new holiday decor company, has introduced the new “CHRIST-mas” Tree, featuring the unique trait of a trunk in the shape of a wooden cross. Company owner Marsha Boggs says the tree was specifically designed to counter the “war on Christmas.”
“When I became a Christian a few years ago,” says Boggs, “I was appalled by the secularization of the Christmas holiday. When retail stores started substituting ‘Happy Holidays’ for ‘Merry Christmas,’ and schools began calling their Christmas programs ‘Winter Plays,’ it all seemed ridiculous to me. That’s why we have created products that remind people what the Christmas season is really all about – the birth of Christ.”
The “CHRIST-mas” Tree is size adjustable up to 7.5 foot tall to accommodate various ceiling sizes.
Evidence
Some of the evidence of God’s work in the soul, are: a lively interest in the things which concern our eternal welfare, a trembling at God’s Word and being suitably affected thereby, hatred of sin, loathing of self, and a childlike love for the Lord.
Ah, we never prize Divine grace so much—as when we have been afflicted by indwelling sin. It is a sense of our pollution and filth—which moves us to turn again to the Fountain open for sin and for impurity!
~ Arthur Pink, “Experimental Preaching” (1937)
Revelation, one story told 7 times: part 3
bzel333′s third segment on Revelation is below..
Previous video segments can be found here.
Any thoughts (pro or con) welcomed..
*The posting of these segments does not indicate I automatically agree with all the content.
Another Dominionist Covenant
More in a recent message at Herescope concerning the underlying issues surrounding the Manhattan Declaration: Another Dominionist Covenant
“Whenever you see a broad ecumenical coalition gathering together to sign some sort of agreement, statement, covenant, declaration, manifesto, or whatever name they call it, be on the lookout for Dominionism.”
It’s The End of The World As We Know It (8) – The two witnesses
I’ve fallen behind in posting the links to Steve Lumbley’s excellent series.
Below are links to those I’ve missed.
Parts seven and eight (which im listening to now) are especially interesting as it speaks to the identity of the 2 Witnesses in Revelation 11, which is being discussed in a post here.
If time allows listen to them all but in particular listen to segments seven and eight.
Audio (7) The Two Witnesses – Who are they? – What is their ministry?
Audio (8) More on the two witnesses, when and where do they witness?
Audio (5) Multiple fulfillments of prophecy and the Abomination of Desolation
A Personal Note Concerning Purpose…
It will be three years in March since my plunge into personal blogging, and I wanted to take this opportunity to say a few things.
For the first two years there was a personal page up, introducing myself, offering a brief testimony of my coming to Christ almost 30 years ago, and the purpose of this blog. One day, deciding I needed the ‘room’ at the top of the page for something else, I removed it, figuring if anyone read a few posts, they would get an idea of the blogs purpose.
You won’t see it on the header now but for a long time the words ‘My Journey’ were included in the header; for that is how I envisioned the blog–sharing with others where the Holy Spirit was leading me on this wonderful journey of walking with my Savior Jesus. That’s not changed. Its still one of the reasons I blog. But as time passed I also realized it was not the only, or even the primary reason any more. Sharing Christ with the lost became more important, as did sharing a number of dangers I sensed on the horizon, concerning the Church with my fellow believers.
Over the last year I’ve received notes from a few readers questioning why I post certain items, stories, etc. believing, in their own mind, these are not appropriate. I’ve learned to ignore these realizing its not the post itself, but my position (on the topic) they don’t like, and often become very angry with me about. I admit there are certain topics I post about which I’m aware are going to garner this type of reaction from one or two people. BUT I have to obey God and not worry about offending someone with what the Spirit of God has shown me is the truth.
Saying that, this is not why you’re reading this post…
There has been another item placed on the blog which has caused some questioning of my motives and reasoning for putting it up. Its the recent link added in the sidebar which speaks to Muslims about Jesus. I added it at the same time the link to Jews for Jesus was added, which speaks to questions lost Jews may have. I only mention that because I received not one complaint about the Jews for Jesus link. Sadly, I cannot say the same for the link for lost Muslims.
Brethren, there is something seriously wrong if we do not have a desire –a zeal– to see ALL lost people come to salvation through Christ Jesus.
I speak to those who have been offended by the link: have you forgotten why we are here, that we are ambassadors for Christ himself in this world? Or that we have been entrusted with a great and wonderful commission to reach the lost with the saving gospel? We all may not be able (or called) to preach or teach ourselves, but we all can point the lost to others who have. This is why the link was added folks, to point Muslims who visit this blog to a tract posted at Messianic Good News, which was written to Muslims.
If it offends you…well I don’t know what to say except perhaps you need to ask yourself why it does. Search your heart for the hidden reason you want a certain group of people, who need Jesus desperately, to be excluded from hearing the truth about Christ. Didn’t Jesus die for all?
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Hebrews 2:9
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
(God) “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1Timothy 2:4
Listed in the post below on co-belligerence, there is one specific danger I have personally pointed out in previous posts, though not as eloquently as Steve Camp did, which bears repeating:
People who champion cobelligerence lose sight of eternity in those because of temporary social moorings and therefore become calloused and hardened against the very ones that need the gospel. They therefore cannot fulfill the Great Commission for they have elevated worldly concerns above another’s eternal soul.
I pray those who have contacted me of being offended by the sidebar link, have not fallen into this kind of mindset. If you have, you need to repent while you have the opportunity.
Let us continue to point all to the truth that Jesus saves. 
The Dangers of Cobelligerence
Cobelligerence: Co-belligerence, strictly speaking, is waging a war in cooperation with another against a common enemy without a formal alliance. The term co-belligerence indicates remoteness and differences between the co-belligerent parties although jointly pursuing a common objective. In Christianity, it refers to an alliance between denominations, which are normally opposed on doctrinal grounds, for a common social goal.
According to one author, it can be defined as a cultural philosophy that warrants questionable alliances in order to make social impact and change against the moral slippage that plagues our nation — these alliances created and fostered “on the basis of one thing and one thing only – the cause at hand.”[1] A case in point would be conservative evangelicals allying with the Roman Catholic Church in joint efforts to oppose abortion. (Theopedia)
- DANGER: People who champion co-belligerence do so without “preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” For the sake of cultural unity the offense of the cross is purposely removed.
- DANGER: People who champion co-belligerence adopt a secular view of being salt and light—applying that reality to anyone who rallies with them on the social cause which their moral conscience agrees.
- DANGER: People who champion co-belligerence do so in support of a moral imperative derived from works righteousness thinking God is pleased and society redeemed with the veneer of pseudo-spirituality.
- DANGER: People who champion co-belligerence do so to the purposed exclusion and amputation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in their social causality.
- DANGER: People who champion co-belligerence must yoke themselves with nonbelievers; they do so in direct disobedience to God’s Word forfeiting His favor and invoking His judgment.
- DANGER: People who champion cobelligerence lose sight of eternity in those because of temporary social moorings and therefore become calloused and hardened against the very ones that need the gospel. They therefore cannot fulfill the Great Commission for they have elevated worldly concerns above another’s eternal soul.
- DANGER: People who champion cobelligerence live as political agitators fighting for morality against the very authorities that the Lord has sovereignly placed in power.
- DANGER: People who champion cobelligerence fight to protect religious rights, violate the Scriptures in John 18:36 where our Lord said, “if my kingdom were of this world, my disciples would be fighting.” But His kingdom is not of this world—all our rights lie only in Christ.
- DANGER: People who champion evangelical co-belligerence seldom get around to sharing the gospel with their opponents; the societal concerns on cultural or political issues have overshadowed and robbed them of seeing their opponents as sinners in need of Christ (cp, Luke 14:21ff).
- DANGER: People who champion evangelical co-belligerence dumb-down the body of Christ to the status of a political action committee for the purpose of flexing our religious muscle to sway candidates, issues, morals, elections and party platforms to line up with our social-moral values. This violates the standard of Scripture as to the purpose and function of God’s church: “which is the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).
- DANGER: People who champion evangelical co-belligerence will never win the culture wars, though they might improve them some. But they will have failed miserably by sacrificing the gospel message, sound doctrine, theology, the church, and the biblical duties that the Lord has called us to all along “for a piece of political pie” with the reward of temporary fame, increased fortune and the still unrealized fantasy of a moral Christianized world without Christ and His truth at the core.
See two excellent messages posted at Camp On This:
ECUMENICAL POLITICS …by Phil Johnson
THE NEW DOWNGRADE …12 dangers of Evangelical Co-Belligerence related to the Manhattan Declaration by SJ Camp
Lord Lord?…. I Never Knew You
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:13-27
Be afraid. Be “very” afraid
This evening I was reading a post at Polycarp’s blog concerning the latest newsletter sent out by Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. I love the way these folks always start out with “imagine”…then go on to list a bunch of ‘what if’s’ as though they’re already fact.
It reminded me of the fear mongering fictional letter sent out by Focus on the Family’s James Dobson in October of 2008, prior to the election, (A Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America) which prompted me to write the organization in disgust, asking why a Christian org. was resorting to spreading fear within the body of Christ for political reasons.
Anyway, moving on..
I want to share this message from Faith and Theology written by Kim Fabricius: “Be very afraid?” An advent sermon
Do you like horror films? I do. Good ones I mean. (Angie doesn’t even like the good ones, so I have to watch them when she’s out or gone to bed. Then I turn the lights off and watch in the dark.) The first horror film I ever saw in the cinema was The Curse of Frankenstein, starring Peter Cushing as the mad doctor and Christopher Lee as “the Creature”. The film was made in 1957, so I must have been about ten when I saw it. I’ll never forget the moment when the monster tore the bandage off his face, revealing his hideous features. That night my mother let me keep the light on and the door open in my bedroom. Still, I didn’t sleep a wink; I stayed up until sunrise leafing through a pile of comics and magazines.
