Truth's In The Word

Not Of The World

2011-10-28T14:18:00.001-04:00

James 4:4 You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.

Romans 12:1-2 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

DO NOT BE FRIENDS WITH THE WORLD

I find it interesting that Christians want to be and act like the world when we are told exactly the opposite. I just pulled two scriptures yet there are many more about staying as far away from the world system as possible.

"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. John 15:19

The world should be hating you. If not maybe something is wrong or are we compromising too much? I am not saying we should be going out looking for trouble (don't get me started on street preachers) but that the world will not like your disdain for things of the world.

I believe that is why we have been told to be in fellowship with one another, bearing each others burdens, helping each other.

Are we going to be as 1 Peter 2:9 says

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

You have been called out of darkness but some still act like they are there. God tells us to be holy as He is Holy - don't we want to hit the mark instead of constantly missing it? Strive for it don't say "I am not perfect" as an excuse to do whatever you want. Pick yourself up and carry on God has forgiven you.

Don't buy into the false promises that all your sins now and in the future are all forgiven and covered under grace. That simply is not true. Yes God gives His grace in abundance however the Christian life has been likened to a race. We have to keep striving and we can fall away if we choose a worldly lifestyle. Your mind will not be on the things of God and it is difficult to live a Christian life and a worldly life (personal experience) Something will have to eventually give and usually it will be your Christian life. You wont be able to keep up the facade for long before you are too confused to go on.

If you are struggling with a particular sin - tell someone. Make sure it is someone you trust, so they can pray with you.

James 5:16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

I will be honest. I have studied the scriptures on hell and am not yet convinced exactly what hell is according to scripture. I do know one aspect of hell though. It is ETERNAL separation from God.

We are not to be lukewarm as was told to the Laodicean Church yet many Christians are lukewarm. I don't blame them totally.

I blame the feel good, purpose driven drivel, best life now, don't dare say anything negative pastors who are preaching nonsense in the western world.

We have gotten so far away from teaching sin, holiness and repentance that I don't know whether we can ever salvage it.

Once people are convinced that their sins are all covered by grace then they get the message they can go and do whatever they want and God "understands."

Make NO mistake - GOD STILL HATES SIN!

Am I saying we need to be perfect? Of course not. We do however need to strive towards perfection and stop intentionally missing the mark.

Amish Grace - 2010

2011-08-05T15:42:00.000-04:00

Amish Grace

If you ever get a chance to see this movie grab it. It is an awesome story of forgiveness and you will need kleenex. (guys too)

Storyline: When a gunman killed five Amish children and injured five others in a Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania schoolhouse shooting in October of 2006, the world media attention rapidly turned from the tragic events to the extraordinary forgiveness demonstrated by the Amish community. Through the eyes of a grieving mother, Ida Graber, and other devastated families, this movie explores the Amish's astonishing reaction to the horrific shootings - of forgiveness and compassion

Click on the Link or Picture for more info

1 Corinthians 3 - Follow God Not Man

2011-08-03T12:55:00.000-04:00

Good Foundation

1 Corinthians 3

¹HOWEVER, BRETHREN, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [unable to talk yet!]    ²I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it],
    ³For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?
    ⁴For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, are you not [proving yourselves] ordinary (unchanged) men?
    ⁵What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Ministering servants [not heads of parties] through whom you believed, even as the Lord appointed to each his task:
    ⁶I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.
    ⁷So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater.
    ⁸He who plants and he who waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own labor.
    ⁹For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God's building.
    ¹⁰According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it,
    ¹¹For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
    ¹²But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
    ¹³The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.
    ¹⁴If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward.
    ¹⁵But if any person's work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire.
    ¹⁶Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?
    ¹⁷If anyone does hurt to God's temple or corrupts it [with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [the believing church and its individual believers] are.
    ¹⁸Let no person deceive himself. If anyone among you supposes that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [let him discard his worldly discernment and recognize himself as dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship], that he may become [really] wise.
    ¹⁹For this world's wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness;
    ²⁰And again, The Lord knows the thoughts and reasonings of the [humanly] wise and recognizes how futile they are.
    ²¹So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours,
    ²²Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future--all are yours,
    ²³And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

The Name of Jesus

2011-06-11T12:33:00.002-04:00

A Great explanation on how we got the name Jesus for Yashuah the Messiah. I hope this will put this argument to rest.

Obedience or Legalism? 26 minutes

2011-06-08T18:29:00.002-04:00

Acts 15 - Obedience or Legalism? (26 min) from 119 Ministries on Vimeo.

New Identity Crisis - This Message Will Change Your World!

2011-05-25T12:53:00.000-04:00

THIS IS BRAND NEW FROM THE ST. LOUIS FINAL RETURN CONFERENCE!

For two thousand years we have all been taught that Israel is the Jewish people and the Jewish people are Israel. This misunderstanding has crippled our ability to truly glean from the scriptures all that was originally intended. We as Believers have lost our mission, purpose and depth of knowledge of the scriptures and it is largely because of not understanding this very important topid. The greatest prophecy of the bible concerns this very subject. Many have called this teaching the key to understanding the entire bible!

I will let Professor C.A.L. Totten of Yale University tell you his thoughts concerning this very subject:

"The very understanding of this difference (of the two ancient Kingdoms of Israel) is the KEY by which almost the entire Bible becomes intelligible, and I cannot state too strongly that the man who has not yet seen that Israel of the Scripture is totally distinct from (not just) the Jewish people, is yet in the very infancy, the mere alphabet of Biblical study, and that to this day the meaning of seven-eighths of the Bible is shut to his understanding."—Professor C.A.L. Totten (1851-1908) of Yale University

Pastor Jim Staley - http://www.passionfortruth.com/

He Made a What?

2011-05-17T09:50:00.001-04:00

Listening to the news and hearing them say that Arnold Schwarzenegger had an affair with a staff member 10 years ago which resulted in the birth of a child. He only told his wife this year. My problem is they keep calling it "a mistake."

Since when did adultery become a mistake? Why dont we call it what it is?

Arnie You have been TERMINATED!

Pithiness, Pithiness all is Pithiness

2011-05-13T13:12:00.001-04:00

I have been saying this on my Facebook page for the last few weeks and I am sure not many have caught on to my reference.

I am watching post after post of Christian "catch phrases" that sound good but when I or other people are going through certain situations we sometimes don't need the pat "God is in control, I will be praying for you, God knows what you are going through," answers.

Do you think we dont know that?

I would rather hear "what can I do to help" or "I am here if there is anything I can do for you."

It comes back to the saying "People dont care how much you know (or how overly spiritual you are) until they know how much YOU care."

I will pray for someone if they request it but when I am down dont share scripture with me unless I ask you for it. If you have some solutions for my problem that would help.

If I am losing my home because of things I am going through I dont want your "I will pray for you," That may or may not help. Maybe God wants YOU to help in a real way. I will give you some scripture for that. (I am not in this situation just giving an example)

Anyway this is my opinion on the pithiness of posts I see sometimes. I will help anyone if it is at all within my ability.

UPDATE: Some of my friends took exception to this post so I want to make an clarification.

This post is more a post about the state of the church today. It is nothing about anyone personally. I guess it is a check your heart before you speak kind of post. If you say "I will pray for you," but have the ability to help in other ways you are not being your brothers keeper is the main message.

If you are a successful businessman in the church and a brother and his family may lose their home through no fault of their own and you say "I will pray for you....." but not offer other help or at least think about it.....their is an issue.

That was the point I was trying to make

Public Rebukes from Others

2011-05-07T14:51:00.000-04:00

I really get tired of judgmental Christians with little or no knowledge of their Bibles except for the pet verses they use , taken out of context, to promote their particular agenda.

If you are going to come at me on Christian Forums or Facebook Pages then please be prepared to back up what you say with Scripture.

I am not saying I am always right, nor do I always defend scripture nicely. (although I am attempting to get better and defend with grace) I am always prepared to defend the Word.

If I am wrong I will be the first one to apologize publicly. If you decide to rebuke a brother publicly on a forum instead of privately as the Word says then be prepared to be admonished back publicly.

Matthew 24 - A Word of Warning

2011-03-12T12:18:00.001-05:00

1JESUS DEPARTED from the temple [a]area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to the buildings of the temple and point them out to Him.
    2But He answered them, Do you see all these? Truly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.
    3While He was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and said, Tell us, when will this take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end (the completion, the consummation) of the age?

    4Jesus answered them, Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error].

    5For many will come in (on the strength of) My name [appropriating the name which belongs to Me], saying, I am the Christ (the Messiah), and they will lead many astray. (yep that is happening)

    6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. (This too)

    7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place;

    8All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish].

    9Then they will hand you over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. (with the rise of Islam and Sharia law this could happen)

    10And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. (this is happening now)

    11And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. (I can name quite a few can you)

    12And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity,
    13But he who endures to the end will be saved.

    14And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.

    15So when you see the appalling sacrilege [the abomination that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place--let the reader take notice and ponder and consider and heed [this]
    16Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains;

    17Let him who is on the housetop not come down and go into the house to take anything;

    18And let him who is in the field not turn back to get his overcoat.

    19And alas for the women who are pregnant and for those who have nursing babies in those days!

    20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

    21For then there will be great tribulation (affliction, distress, and oppression) such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now--no, and never will be [again].

    22And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would endure and survive, but for the sake of the elect (God's chosen ones) those days will be shortened.

    23If anyone says to you then, Behold, here is the Christ (the Messiah)! or, There He is!--do not believe it.

    24For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's chosen ones).

    25See, I have warned you beforehand.

    26So if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness (desert)--do not go out there; if they tell you, Behold, He is in the secret places or inner rooms--do not believe it. (or if they say He is in Lakeland Florida, Kansas City, Brownsville etc. etc)

    27For just as the lightning flashes from the east and shines and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

    28Wherever there is a fallen body (a corpse), there the vultures (or eagles) will flock together.

    29Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (this has not happened)

    30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and beat their breasts and lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliancy and splendor].

    31And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (His chosen ones) from the four winds, [even] from one end of the universe to the other.

    32From the fig tree learn this lesson: as soon as its young shoots become soft and tender and it puts out its leaves, you know of a surety that summer is near.

    33So also when you see these signs, all taken together, coming to pass, you may know of a surety that He is near, at the very doors.

    34Truly I tell you, this generation (the whole multitude of people living at the same time, in a definite, given period) will not pass away till all these things taken together take place.

    35 Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

    36But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

    37As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

    38For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women] being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah went into the ark,

39And they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away--so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

    40At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

    41Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

    42Watch therefore [give strict attention, be cautious and active], for you do not know in what kind of a day [whether a near or remote one] your Lord is coming.

    43But understand this: had the householder known in what [part of the night, whether in a night or a morning] watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be undermined and broken into.

    44You also must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.

    45Who then is the faithful, thoughtful, and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household to give to the others the food and supplies at the proper time? (this was important....)

    46Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is that servant whom, when his master comes, he will find so doing.

    47I solemnly declare to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

    48But if that servant is wicked and says to himself, My master is delayed and is going to be gone a long time,

    49And begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken,

    50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he is not aware,

    51And will punish him [cut him up by scourging] and put him with the pretenders (hypocrites); there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

Gossip - The Truth

2011-02-14T15:52:00.001-05:00

We all know that gossiping is a sin. What if gossip is said out of the pretense that you care about someone.

I think about all those ladies at prayer service on Wed. night saying "Did you hear about Betty, poor dear....I heard her husband is a gambling alcoholic and that she gets beat near every week."

The truth of the matter is that the husband doesnt gamble and has wine for dinner once a week , never gets drunk and is a nice man who would never dream of harming his wife.

These kinds of gossip can not only hurt the people it is being told about but when being used as a pretense for praying and caring is just plain wrong.

Would it not be better to say "I would like prayer for a sister who I hear is going through some issues with her husband and ask for God to mend the situation."

We need to be about our Father's business and not everyone else.

There Is Power in The Blood

2011-01-21T22:26:00.002-05:00

Lewis F. Jones

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow.
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T20:14:00.001-05:00

I have to admit that 2010 was not a stellar year for me both personally and professionally. However it is over and moving on to more positive friendships, relationships and business.

So without further adieu here is my list of commitments (I dont say resolutions as there is NO commitment to that)

1. To be more positive in life and business. I have been influenced in the past year by outside sources and found myself getting increasingly more negative. Time to cut that out.

2. To read and study (thanks you know who you are. Call me again I dont have your number lol) my Bible more. As a Christian it is the rule of faith and standard and I better know what it says and apply it to my daily life.

3. Be more available to my friends. I have sheltered myself more especially in the past few months as I didnt want any more hurt this year. Some people I sheltered myself from purposely and others just because of my situations.

4. Take care of what needs to be taken care of immediately....NO MORE procrastination.

and..........

#5. set my future and put myself in a position to be more aware, more understanding and more nurturing. I am a little bit of a control freak but that goes with the whole entrepreneurial lifestyle.

I am not where I want to be but know where I am going

Anyway that is it. Look forward to chatting with you, making new friends and business associates over the coming year

W. James Wright

The Forgotten Commandment

2010-11-27T13:16:00.000-05:00

I found this video and wanted to share it.

Early Church Fathers on Homosexuality

2010-11-16T18:41:00.000-05:00

It seems the early church Fathers have a lot to say about homosexuality. I do want to make the distinction between homosexuality and pedophilia. Some homosexuals are pedophiles not all just as some heterosexuals are pedophiles and not all. That is a distinction that has to be made in reading these passages when they talk about little boys. Only some would act on those lusts

Tertullian
"[A]ll other frenzies of the lusts which exceed the laws of nature, and are impious toward both [human] bodies and the sexes, we banish, not only from the threshold but also from all shelter of the Church, for they are not sins so much as monstrosities" (Modesty 4 [A.D. 220]).

Novatian
"[God forbid the Jews to eat certain foods for symbolic reasons:] For that in fishes the roughness of scales is regarded as constituting their cleanness; rough, and rugged, and unpolished, and substantial, and grave manners are approved in men; while those that are without scales are unclean, because trifling, and fickle, and faithless, and effeminate manners are disapproved. Moreover, what does the Law mean when it . . . forbids the swine to be taken for food? It assuredly reproves a life filthy and dirty, and delighting in the garbage of vice . . . Or when it forbids the hare? It rebukes men deformed into women" (The Jewish Foods 3 [A.D. 250]).

Cyprian of Carthage
"Oh, if placed on that lofty watch-tower, you could gaze into the secret places--if you could open the closed doors of sleeping chambers and recall their dark recesses to the perception of sight--you would behold things done by immodest persons which no chaste eye could look upon; you would see what even to see is a crime; you would see what people embruted with the madness of vice deny that they have done, and yet hasten to do--men with frenzied lusts rushing upon men, doing things which afford no gratification even to those who do them" (ibid., 1:9). Arnobius

"[T]he mother of the gods loved [the boy Attis] exceedingly, because he was of most surpassing beauty; and Acdestis [the son of Jupiter] who was his companion, as he grew up fondling him, and bound to him by wicked compliance with his lust . . . Afterwards, under the influence of wine, he [Attis] admits that he is . . . loved by Acdestis . . . Then Midas, king of Pessinus, wishing to withdraw the youth from so disgraceful an intimacy, resolves to give him his own daughter in marriage . . . Acdestis, bursting with rage because of the boy's being torn from himself and brought to seek a wife, fills all the guests with frenzied madness; the Phrygians shriek, panic-stricken at the appearance of the gods . . . [Attis] too, now filled with furious passion, raving frantically and tossed about, throws himself down at last, and under a pine tree mutilates himself, saying, `Take these, Acdestis, for which you have stirred up so great and terribly perilous commotions'" (Against the Pagans 5:6-7 [A.D. 305]).

Eusebius of Caesarea
"[H]aving forbidden all unlawful marriage, and all unseemly practice, and the union of women with women and men with men, he [God] adds: `Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for in all these things the nations were defiled, which I will drive out before you. And the land was polluted, and I have recompensed [their] iniquity upon it, and the land is grieved with them that dwell upon it' [Lev. 18:24-25]" (Proof of the Gospel 4:10 [A.D. 319]).

Basil the Great
"He who is guilty of unseemliness with males will be under discipline for the same time as adulterers" (Letters 217:62 [A.D. 367]).

John Chrysostom
"All of these affections [in Rom. 1:26-27] . . . were vile, but chiefly the mad lust after males; for the soul is more the sufferer in sins, and more dishonored than the body in diseases" (Homilies on Romans 4 [A.D. 391]).

Augustine
"[T]hose shameful acts against nature, such as were committed in Sodom, ought everywhere and always to be detested and punished. If all nations were to do such things, they would be held guilty of the same crime by the law of God, which has not made men so that they should use one another in this way" (Confessions 3:8:15 [A.D. 400]).

The Apostolic Constitutions
"[Christians] abhor all unlawful mixtures, and that which is practiced by some contrary to nature, as wicked and impious" (Apostolic Constitutions 6:11 [A.D. 400]).

False Doctrine

2010-11-14T17:38:00.000-05:00

“I cannot endure false doctrine, however neatly it may be put before me.

Would you have me eat poisoned meat because the dish is of the choicest ware?
It makes me indignant when I hear another gospel put before the people with enticing words by man who would fair make merchandise of souls; and I marvel at those who have soft words for such deceivers. “That is your bigotry,” says one. Call it so if you like; but it is the BIGOTRY OF THE LOVING JOHN, who wrotein 2 John chapter 1 verses 10 and 11.
“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed; for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.” I would to God we all had more of such decision, for the lack of it is depriving our religious life of its backbone and substituting for honest manliness
a mass of tremulous jelly of mutual flattery.

HE WHO DOES NOT HATE THE FALSE DOES NOT LOVE THE TRUE; and he to whom it is all the same, whether it be God’s word or man’s, is himself unrenewed at heart. Oh, if some of you were like your fathers, you would not have tolerated in this age, the wagon loads of trash under which the gospel has been of late buried by ministers of your own choosing. The apostle spake by inspiration when he said, “If we or an angel from heaven preach to you any other gospel than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
“According to modern effeminacy he ought to have said, “Let him be kindly spoken with in private, but pray make no stir. No doubt the good brother has his own original modes of thought and we must not question his liberty. Doubtless he believes the same as we do, only there is some little difference as to terms.” This is treason to Christ and treachery to truth and cruelty to souls.

IF WE LOVE OUR LORD, WE SHALL KEEP HIS WORDS AND STAND FAST IN THE FAITH, coming out from among the false teachers.
Nor is this inconsistent with charity; for the truest love to those who err is not to fraternize with them in their error, but to be faithful to Jesus Christ in all things.”

-Charles Spurgeon

The Homosexual Question

2010-11-14T11:36:00.000-05:00

I thought I would come back to the homosexuality question and how I believe a rational Christians response should be.

As for the homosexuals that aren't in the church and are living in their lifestyle. I will pray for them. The Word says that God has given them over to their reprobate life style because that is what they want. It is not my place to judge those outside the church body at all. God will have His judgment when the time comes. (1 Cor. 5:12)

I would not bash, picket funerals, yell at, hate or in any way make these people feel any more uncomfortable than I would the guy I know who is lying to his wife, the guy/girl having an affair, the guy/girl caught in a lifestyle of drugs and sex. The actions mentioned are counter productive. We are to love them

SIN IS SIN and if a Christian is honest we all sin. The fact is that Christians are supposed to not live in sin which means turning away from the way you once were and following the lifestyle and example Jesus has set. (1 John 1:8)

Which brings me back to the matter of can you be a homosexual Christian?

The answer is yes! Oh that's gonna get a whole bunch of knickers in a knot but before you crucify me let me explain.

You can be a homosexual Christian but remember what I said about turning away from your sin. We know that a man shall not sleep with a man as he does a woman. (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13) We also know that the homosexual act is an abomination to God. We also know that God has given some over to their lusts. (Romans 1:18a, 21–27)

A practicing homosexual cannot be a Christian because they are not WILLING to give up (repent of) their homosexual lifestyle and as with any other sin it needs to be dealt with. They are not to hold any office within the Church Body nor be in Ministry within the Body.

I encourage you to treat persons who engage in homosexual conduct and/or relationships with compassion and extend to them the gospel of repentance, forgiveness and transformation through Jesus Christ without reservation.

From Peter Vandever

2010-11-13T23:06:00.001-05:00

My response in bold

First of all, to be clear this is a revival; not a evangelistic crusade.

Follow up?

As this is a revival and not a crusade; there is ZERO need for followup. The people are coming to get touched by God’s Fire and that is the focal point of the revival. This is not a evangelistic crusade where pastors can use the revival to “find new members.” In Acts, a couple tried to come to God on their terms and to see how they could profit from the revival underway. Their names was Ananias and Sapphira. Enough said?

*****So what you are saying is the people get touched with God's fire without discipleship (followup) How is this Biblical in any sense.

Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

You cannot MAKE DISCIPLES without followup*****

With that said, I have a theological problem with doing follow up even in a crusade setting. If we really believe that the Holy Spirit is born in a person at salvation; then we are forced to equally believe that the Holy Spirit “will lead you into all truth.” The problem we have is we think to think pastors are the Holy Spirit personified.

*****SERIOUSLY********** again not scriptural at all******

What about prayer meetings?

We have not and will not have prayer meetings at the revival. This local pastor wanted to take a night and have a prayer meeting for the nation. What is wrong with that? You pray when there is no harvest; NOT when it is harvest time. Prayer is to build faith. We do not need to pray for something when we have the faith to see it happen. In the time of visitation, you need to walk in faith; not hide in the caves of the church. It is time for the Church to leave the building.
Does Fiji need prayer? Yes. Does Fiji need to cancel people getting saved, healed, delivered and fill so we can tell God want He already knows and so we can ask God to do what He told us to do? I don’t think so. You see, the purpose of prayer is to build faith for revival. If you have the faith, prayer is a waste of time.

Disclaimer: Prayer is not intimacy and intimacy is not prayer. Intimacy is required.

*****Prayer IS intimacy with the Heavenly Father. We MUST come to the throne of God in prayer before, during and after any revival. The purpose of prayer is for intimacy and relationship with the creator. The other point I would like to make is that it is ALWAYS harvest time..Prayer is not to build faith. It is to be in communion with God.********

What about community?

The pastor was concerned that I was mocking “fellowship and community” calling it potluck Christianity. He also asked me to try and get believers in similiar locations across Fiji to build “relationships.” I told him as I normally would, “God is more concerned with the fact that they don’t know Him than He is the fact they know each other.” The Church is not a social event where you meet people and develop “lifetime friendships.” That’s what community support groups are for.

******Are you seriously saying that church community is a bad thing? The Christians in any area need to be in community. Are you saying the Christians dont know God? This is one of the most convaluted paragraphs I have ever read.

God is concerned that the church doesnt know Him YET they want to be in intimacy in prayer with Him and want the churches to be in community. Pretty New Testament to me.******

We come to the revival to get to know God and God alone. I don’t care what is happening with anyone else in the place. If God does not come, nothing else matters.
While I realize that many people in “revival ministries” with an emphasis on Ecclesiology will have some major issues with this post but truth remains even when it does not aline itself with our favorite author.

*****We dont need to go to a "revival" to get to know God. He can meet us where we are. The truth you speak about is your personal truth not the reality of what God wants to do. God wants to meet us where we are and He wants to bring us into community with other believers. My interest in revivals by man ended at Lakeland Florida.******

Can You Be Gay and a Christian?

2010-11-06T12:05:00.000-04:00

This question has been raised to me on several occasions and I definitely have my views about it. However I would like to know whether other Christians believe that you can be a practicing homosexual and a Christian?

I am monitoring comments on this subject! Why? I will not allow this to be a platform for anti-gay bullies or people that in my view just want to be mean and cruel. That would not be the response that Jesus would have.

There is a lot of scripture regarding this subject. I also think we need to look at what the first century church (pre-Constantine) believed about this.

Please leave comments below. I will leave this post and advertise it for a week or so and then give my response. Probably in video form if I get that much energy. So.......what say you Christians.

By the way - I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE FRED PHELPS SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY OR MORALITY!!!

~Halloween is for Devil Worshippers~

2010-10-30T14:19:00.001-04:00

I did not write this - see footnote

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

..."And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
"And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
II Cor 6:14-18
Is Halloween Devil Worship?Hallowe’en. The eve of All Hallows’ or All Saints’ Day celebrated the last night of October. In the Old Celtic calendar the year began on November 1, so that the last evening of October was the night of all the witches, which the Church transformed into the Eve of All Saints. Source: The Oxford English Dictionary.
1. The Druids invented the earliest Halloween celebrations. They were an order of Celtic sorcerers. The Bible condemns all sorcery and sorcerers (Rev 21:8; 22:15).
2. November 1, the first day of the Celtic year, was a feast day to Samhain, lord of the dead, by the Druids. But the Christian God is the God of the living (Mark 12:27)!
3. The jack-o-lantern, large fires, and apple bobbing also come from superstitious paganism, as most any encyclopedia will prove; but God condemns the use of religious practices from unbelievers (Deut 12:29-32; Jer 10:1-2).
4. The only cultures and societies that masquerade religiously as evil characters around fires at night are patently pagan, God-rejecting, devil-worshipping nations, which Christians are to entirely reject (Lev 18:24,28; Deut 4:6; 9:5; 12:29-32; 18:9,14).5. When God wrote the laws for Israel, all witches and any related persons were to be put to death, for He strongly hates anyone seeking to devils and witchcraft rather than to Himself (Ex 22:18; Lev 19:26,31; 20:6,27; Deut 18:9-12; I Chron 10:13-14).
6. God specifically commanded not to learn the dark customs of the nations around Israel, including all forms of witchcraft (Lev 18:1-4; Deut 12:1-4,29-32; 18:9-12).
7. The idolatrous practices of pagans are devil worship, no matter what the worshipper thinks or intends (Lev 17:7; Deut 32:17; II Chron 11:15; Ps 106:35-39; I Cor 10:20).
8. The holy God condemns any observation of the religious traditions and customs of unbelieving pagans, even if you are doing it as a Christian to Him (Deut 12:29-32).
9. The Catholic Church whitewashed the pagan customs with a new name to keep their pagan "converts" happy. But Jesus Christ declared that church to be the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth (Rev 17:1-6; II Thess 2:9-12; I Tim 4:1-3).
10. The worshippers of God are to come out of Roman Catholicism by special warning from heaven (Rev 18:4), and Halloween is obviously a Roman Catholic holiday.
11. Halloween is an evil day originating with unbelievers and infidels, based on blackness, darkness, night, unrighteousness, and infidelity, which Christians should separate from and not even touch, if they want to be God’s children (II Cor 6:14-18).
12. Christians burn anything that has to do with witchcraft, for they are commanded not to touch any unclean thing (Deut 7:25-26; Acts 19:13-20; Gal 5:20; II Cor 6:14-18).
13. Halloween is a worldly religious celebration of pagan origin, and Christians are not be conformed to this world, but rather to be transformed (Romans 12:1-2).
14. When a devil or sorcerer meets God, he knows he is helpless; and one day God will cast all devils, sorcerers, and witches into the Lake of Fire (Ex 7:11-12; 8:18-19; 9:11-12; Mark 1:24; 5:7; Rev 21:8; 22:15).
15. The disciples of Jesus Christ and sons of God are to walk as children of light, not as the children of the darkness of this world (Acts 26:18; I Thess 5:4-8).
16. God’s true followers value His precepts on all subjects and hate any idea, opinion, or practice to the contrary (Ps 119:128; Is 8:20; II Tim 3:16-17; I Tim 6:3-5).
17. Halloween is popular with the world, which is evidence that it is an abomination to God (Luke 16:15). Friendship with the world makes God your enemy (Jas 4:4).
18. If you must have Halloween, God has offered you a simple alternative. Become a great celebrator of Halloween and reject Christianity, because He cannot stand you polluting His name with your hypocrisy (Ezek 20:39; Hos 4:17; Amos 4:4-5).
19. The past lives of Christians had enough excess and sin to cover a lifetime, so there is no need to participate in this worldly, wicked, and pagan celebration (I Pet 4:3-5).
20. Christians do not threaten "trick or treat" to anyone for any reason, so parents should not endorse such profanity (Gal 5:14; Eph 4:31-32; I Thes 5:15; Jas 2:8), and neither do Christians deceive others with masks, even for a joke (Pr 26:18-19; Rom 13:13).
21. Paul condemned a compromising brand of Christianity that loves pleasure more than God and has a form of religion without authority or true discipleship (II Tim 3:1-5).
22. The blessed God of heaven seeks worshippers to worship Him in spirit and in truth, according to the apostolic faith once delivered to the saints (John 4:23-24; Jude 1:3).
Abbreviated History and Customs of Halloween
Oxford English Dictionary (Second Edition)
"Hallowe’en. The eve of All Hallows’ or All Saints’ Day celebrated the last nightAbbreviated History and Customs of Halloween

Oxford English Dictionary (Second Edition)
"Hallowe’en. The eve of All Hallows’ or All Saints’ Day celebrated the last night of October. In the Old Celtic calendar the year began on November 1, so ...that the last evening of October was ‘old years’ night’, the night of all the witches, which the Church transformed into the Eve of All Saints."
Encyclopedia Britannica (14th Edition)
"Hallowe’en or All Hallows Eve, the name given to Oct. 31, as the vigil of Hallowmas or All Saints’ Day, now chiefly known as the eve of the Christian festival. It long antedates Christianity. The two chief characteristics of ancient Hallowe’en were the lighting of bonfires and the belief that this is the one night in the year during which ghosts and witches are most likely to wander abroad. History shows that the main celebrations of Hallowe’en were purely Druidical, and this is further proved by the fact that in parts of Ireland Oct. 31 is still known as Oidhche Shamhna, ‘Vigil of Sama’. This is directly connected with the Druidic belief in the calling together of certain wicked souls on Hallowe’en by Saman, lord of death."
World Book Encyclopedia (1959 Edition)
"The Druids, an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain, believed that on Halloween, ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, and elves came out to harm people. They thought the cat was sacred and believed that cats had once been human beings but were changed as a punishment for evil deeds. From these Druidic beliefs come the present-day use of witches, ghosts, and cats in Halloween festivities."
Halloween Through Twenty Centuries (by Ralph Linton)
"The American celebration rests upon Scottish and Irish folk customs which can be traced in direct line from pre-Christian times. Although Halloween has become a night of rollicking fun, superstitious spells, and eerie games which people take only half seriously, its beginnings were quite otherwise. The earliest Halloween celebrations were held by the Druids in honor of Samhain, Lord of the dead, whose festival fell on November 1."
World Book Encyclopedia (Quoted in the Atlanta Journal on October 16, 1977)
"It was the Celts who chose the date of October 31 as their new year’s Eve and who originally intended it as a celebration of everything wicked, evil and dead. Also during their celebration they would gather around a community bonfire and offer as sacrifice their animals, their crops, and sometime themselves. And wearing costumes made from the heads and skins of other animals, they would also tell one another’s fortunes for the coming year."The celebration remained much the same after the Romans conquered the Celts around 43 A.D. The Romans did, however, add a ceremony honoring their goddess of fruit and trees and thus the association with apples and the custom of bobbing for them."
World Book Encyclopedia (1959 Edition)
"In the A.D. 800’s the church established All Saints Day on November 1 so that the people could continue a festival they had celebrated before becoming Christians. The mass that was said on this day was called Allhallowmas. The evening before became known as All Hallow e’ven or Halloween…. It means hallowed or holy evening."
World Book Encyclopedia (1959 Edition)
"Jack-O’-Lanterns were named for a man called Jack, who could not enter heaven or hell. As a result, he was doomed to wander in darkness with his lantern until Judgment Day."
Compton’s Encyclopedia (1978 Edition)
"Customs and superstitions gathered through the ages go into our celebration of Halloween, or ‘Holy Eve’, on October 31. The day is so named because it is the even of the festival of All Saints, but many of the beliefs and observances connected with it arose long before the Christian Era, in the autumn festivals of pagan peoples…. Even after November 1 became a Christian feast day, honoring all saints, the peasants clung to the old pagan beliefs and customs that had grown up about Halloween…. Our Halloween celebrations today keep many of these early customs unchanged."

This was posted on Facebook by Martha Azucena and I hope she doesnt mind me sharing it here

Thanksgiving - A Time To Reflect

2010-10-10T09:53:00.002-04:00

I wanted to list some of the things I am thankful for. As most of you know this has been a trying year with the passing of my father and the ensuing family drama. Even in this chaos I seem to find time for thankfulness.

Paul did say "in whatever state you are in therewith be content." He was able to find contentment under tough circumstances and I am going to attempt to do the same this year. Onto the list:

God's Grace - without this I would be lost. I am learning to grow in Him. Some people don't like the way I am growing but I believe God through the Holy Spirit will lead you to all righteousness. I am not perfect contrary to popular belief but growing each day.

My Relationships - The friends and family that are around me. You have given me hope and encouragement during troubled times this year. To my friends - you have been more like family to me than my own. Thank you for words of wisdom when I needed them.

My best friend Jonathan who keeps me stable when I wander

Friends that I havent seen in years that I have been able to reconnect with on Facebook and Twitter. It is so good to reconnect

New friends that I have been able to meet through social networking sites.They have been a blessing

My Job - Yes I am thankful for the work I do with fine art reproduction and the customers I have met as well as the stores, managers and others that have come across my path over this year. Things are changing over the next few months but still will be there.

Life - I will take on more life this year. I will challenge myself more

Health - I am working on getting healthier, more sleep, eat right and lose a little weight. It will be an interesting year

Speaking of which I am off for a long walk will add pictures later

Have a great Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for?

UPDATE - I had pictures. I lost pictures. I accidentally deleted them. Next time

Photo to Canvas Design

2010-10-02T14:12:00.003-04:00

With Jonathan D. Payne from Genesis Point Design we are establishing a Photo to Canvas Design Company. Jonathan will be designing Christian Artwork that we will have put to canvas at your request. We are in the negotiation stage with a large North American Photo to Canvas company that will handle all of our production and shipping needs.

Imagine having a beautiful piece of canvas hanging in your home to remind you of the wonderful Word of God and His Majesty.

The sizes will be 11x14, 16x20 and 20x24 and will either be able to be framed, framed or gallery wrapped. Negotiations should wrap up next week but in the meantime I have created a little promo video to give you a sample of the artwork you could have hanging in your home. Enjoy!!!!

Essential Doctrines of Christianity

2010-09-28T10:54:00.000-04:00

Essential Doctrines of Christianity

The Bible itself tells us very clearly what the essential doctrines of Christianity are.

The Deity of Christ - Jesus is God in the flesh (John 8:58 with Exodus 3:14) John 1:1, 14; 10:30-33;20:28; Col 2:9; Phil 2:5-8; Hebrews 1:8

Salvation by Grace - Eph 2:8-9; Gal 5:4; Gal 2:21

Resurrection of Christ - 1 Cor 15:14 and 15:17

The Gospel - Gal 1: 8-9; it would not be possible to present the gospel properly without declaring that Jesus is God in flesh as per John 1:1,14; 10:30-33; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:8.

Monotheism - There is only one God (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8)

Secondary Essentials

These are necessary truths yet there is no self declared penalty for their denial. They are still essential to the Christian faith

As an example Jesus says that he "is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by him," (John 14:6). There is no penalty associated with denying this however it is an absolute truth and an essential Christian teaching which cannot be denied.

1. Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation - John 14:6 Jesus said it so it MUST be true

2. The Virgin Birth - Matthew 1:23

3 The Doctrine of the Trinity - Matthew 28:19 (see also Matt. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6.)

There is not a single verse that represents this doctrine however the doctrine of the Trinity has been found by looking at all of Scripture. This is the proper representation of scriptural revelation concerning the nature of God.

The Truth And The Lie In... Worship

2010-09-27T17:31:00.001-04:00

Pastor Mark Driscoll preached this sermon at the exchange conference on June 17th in San Diego, CA. The Exchange conference was presented by The Resurgence and other speakers included; Peter Jones, Francis Chan, Kevin DeYoung, and others teaching how to distinguish the Truth from the Lie in all of life. For more info visit http://thexchangeconference.com/

It is about 58 minutes long so grab your favorite beverage and enjoy.

My favorite place for FREE sermons and much more. Enjoy

http://www.marshillchurch.org/

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse- Revelation 6

2010-09-03T23:11:00.001-04:00

The Word is True!

Radical Islam In America

2010-09-02T17:51:00.000-04:00

This is an important video. Please take the time to watch it and understand what is happening in our countries. Love the Muslim, Pray for the Muslim.

The "IF" Factor

2010-08-05T07:24:00.000-04:00

I have been posting some "IF" verses at my Facebook Page as well as here in my blog.

What is upsetting to me is I hear people praying for material things, for healings for themselves or others (good thing to pray for) or for financial blessings. They are resting on God's promises that He will provide these things for them.

The problem as I see it is that God has said He will supply our needs, NOT OUR WANTS. He will supply in accordance to His will.

Then we have what I like to call, "THE IF FACTOR."

IF you abide in me AND my Word abides in you......then you have the right to ask what you will and it SHALL be done unto you.

God's blessings in the Word are ALWAYS conditional.

Today's Christians need to STOP looking at God as the big bless me, give me everything fairy in the sky and start looking at Him as their deliverer, their constant help in time of distress, their master, a God worthy to be praised and worshiped, the one who DOES judge them at the end of days etc.

These Christians have been so caught up by the Opraphication of the Christian life that they actually forget to read the Word for themselves. People the hour you spend "learning" life lessons from Oprah (and many Christians still do for some reason - See Oprah Denies Christ ) would be better spent reading the Word and learning from the One who created you.

Teachers like Joel Olsteen, TD Jakes, Robert Schueller, Benny Hinn, Todd Bentley, and the likes have done a great disservice to the Gospel message. (and I could mention many more by name)

Yes God is a loving God who does love His children. He loved us enough to send His Son here to die a cruel death so that IF we believe in Him we can have eternal life.

God is also an all consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29

Scripture reference John 15:7, Hebrews 12:29

Some of the "IF" statements in the Bible

2010-08-01T09:57:00.001-04:00

Some of the "IF" statements in the Bible
"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
Genesis 4:7

"Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession."
Exodus 19:5a

"After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time – if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and provoking him to anger, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed."
Deuteronomy 4:25-26

"And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness."
Deuteronomy 6:25

"If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers."
Deuteronomy 7:12

"If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed."
Deuteronomy 8:19

"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today – to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul – then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied."
Deuteronomy 11:13-15

"If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow – to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him – then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you."
Deuteronomy 11:22-23

"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse – the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known."
Deuteronomy 11:26-28

"If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul."
Deuteronomy 13:1-3

"If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the LORD, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent."
Psalm 91:9-10

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land..."
Isaiah 1:18-19

"If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea." Isaiah 48:18

Jesus said: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Matthew 6:14-15

Jesus said: "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 17:20

Jesus said: "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Matthew 21:22

Jesus said: "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."
Luke 17:6

Jesus said: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."
John 8:31

Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
John 8:51

Jesus said: "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
John 11:40

Jesus said: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:35

Jesus said: "If you love me, you will obey what I command."
John 14:15

Jesus said: "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."
John 15:6-7

Jesus said: "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love."
John 15:10

Jesus said: "You are my friends if you do what I command."
John 15:14

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31

"...if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9

"By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain."
1 Corinthians 15:2

"If anyone does not love the Lord – a curse be on him."
1 Corinthians 16:22

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
2 Corinthians 5:17

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
Revelation 22:18-19

*****All scripture taken from the NIV - not the best translation but the one I am using this morning

The KJV Onlyer's Attack

2010-07-22T08:28:00.000-04:00

I have been embroiled in the past few days discussing KJV Only and their beliefs. I have endured personal attacks such as being called"jesuitical, a liar, a sinner because I supposedly lied, pavonine eisegete (look each word up) and more.

The worst was, "Metzger, Aland, White, etc., are no better than medieval Papists and infidels. Their writings remind me of your idle posts. None of them ever proved an error in the Biblical text of the AV1611. Neither have you.." This post however was marked as spam by someone.

This is typical of KJV Onlyists when you question their beliefs.

Why I am not a KJV Onlyist. If The translators themselves were not sure of the accuracy of the translation of the KJV. (in the margin notes they had placed alternate translations) I just spent hours looking at a 1611AV and will continue to study this matter more in depth. Why would they have placed alternate translations? Which translation was inspired?

I have said over and over again I LOVE THE KJV!!! I also use other Bibles which KJVO people would not approve of to deepen my study.

After my last post I even had someone try to leave a comment sending people to a KJV Only site. I do moderate comments. I do not censor comments of those that disagree with me however when they bash something and try to lead people elsewhere (to a KJV Only site) I will not let the comment go through.

If you choose to read the KJV Only then I have no issue with that. It is the militant KJV Onlyists that feel it is OK to attempt to bully people into their belief system that I have an issue with. It seems that they have skipped over the whole section on fruits of the spirit and want to "rebuke" (they love that word) with a hammer.

OK that is all I will say about that.

Keep studying the Word!

Online Bible Study Resource

2010-07-21T15:31:00.002-04:00

Blue Letter Bible Course Catalog

There are currently 13 courses on the Blue Letter Bible Institute (BLBi) in which you may enroll. The format of these courses are available in text and (or) audio.

Courses Available- Register Here

Series - Doctrine of the Faith

Christology
God's Sufficiency for Godly Living
Growing in the Grace of God
History and Authenticity of the Bible
The Attributes of God
The History of Redemption
The Person and Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Series - Exposition of the Scriptures

Matthew
Servanthood
Survey of the Bible 1 (Genesis-Song)
Survey of the Bible 2 (Isaiah - Malachi)
Survey of the Bible 3 (New Testament)

Series - Apologetics and Cults

Searching for the Truth on Origins

They Also Have Audio and Video Commentaries by well known speakers such as Chuck Missler, Greg Laurie, Ray Stedman and more.

Go here to access that material

Need Study Tools? - Visit Here for Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Timelines and More

U- Turn is Required

2010-07-21T13:27:00.002-04:00

Matthew 4:17
From that time on, Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”
Repentance is crucial. It is the starting point of the relationship.

Repentance, Restitution (where you can), Restoration (being restored into the family of God)

Major Changes

2010-07-19T17:15:00.000-04:00

Truthsintheword is going through some major changes. This is necessary as I have grown and am learning I have a desire to get more Bible based and less pointing fingers.

I look forward to serving you more in the coming months