Happy New Year!

Here is 2012 in numbers via TGC:

World population (est.): 7,061,314,509

Resident population of the United States (est.): 315,067,051

In America there is:
-- One birth every: 8 seconds
-- One death every: 12 seconds
-- One abortion every: 26 seconds
-- One international migrant (net) every: 40 seconds
-- Net gain of one person every: 17 seconds

America's outstanding public debt (est.):$16,348,868,007,556.33

America's outstanding consumer debt (est.):$11,380,000,000,000

Average credit card debt per U.S. household: $15,418

Average mortgage debt per U.S. household: $149,782

Average student loan debt per U.S. household: $34,703

Median household income: $50,054

Number of Americans with income below the official poverty rate: 46,200,000

Number of abortions in America (est.): 1,200,000


Number of adoptions in America (est.): 136,000

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"Yes, Jesus Did Claim To Be God"

from OnTheBox

"One of the many "cut & paste" objections unbelievers levy against God and His Word is this: "Jesus never claimed to be God."

Truth: The Bible does not record Jesus saying these words in a single sentence: "I am God."

Truth: Jesus repeatedly asserted He was and is God, and that is why the Jewish religious leaders sought to murder Him (Mark 14:60-64; Luke 22:66-71; John 8:48-59; John 9:35-41;John 10:30-33).

The Bible is replete with the words of Jesus and the words about Jesus, which clearly show (to those who are not spiritually blind), that God the Father and Jesus (God the Son) are one in essence and character while, at the same time unique in their personage. God the Father and God the Son, along with God the Holy Spirit, comprise the Trinity of God. God is one God in three Persons.

What follows was compiled by Mark Spence and published as part of Lesson 49 of The School of Biblical Evangelism. Feel free to copy and paste this into a Word document and size it to fit inside your Bible. The next time someone foolishly challenges the deity of Jesus, you will be all-the-more equipped to give the reason for the hope that is in you."

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Merry Christmas! As we leave this season behind, here is a cool thought:

"...there was no place for them in the inn." ~ Luke 2:7

While many of us, Christian and none, no that there was no room in the inn, have we ever thought about why?  Well, I would say it was due to the influx people for the census by Caesar.  But I'd say the Lord was behind the census, not only so that prophecy may fulfilled (Micah 5:2) but so that, for our sake, He may experience true poverty, in love so that we may have true riches.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." ~ 2 Cor. 8:9

Saint Augustine on the Incarnation

Man’s maker was made man,
that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast;
that the Bread might hunger,
the Fountain thirst,
the Light sleep,
the Way be tired on its journey;
that the Truth might be accused of false witness,
the Teacher be beaten with whips,
the Foundation be suspended on wood;
that Strength might grow weak;
that the Healer might be wounded;
that Life might die.

- Augustine of Hippo

Christmas: Deaths Death Sentence

The apostle John, in his hotly debated vision letter called Revelation or more properly, "The Revelation to John", he gives us a vision of Christmas unlike any other that Scripture gives. And in light of the recent murmur about a pagan calender and the end of the world, I felt it a great time amongst all the reading of Christmas devotions, watching of movies and decorating of tress to gaze at the Cosmic perspective of Christmas and at the true meaning of the holiday.

8 People Admit They Would Kill for Money: Chilling New Documentary

Los Angeles, CA. "Genius" is a new and chilling movie based on the life and tragic murder of John Lennon. The Producer of the Los Angeles-based film company, Ray Comfort, said, "It's chilling because it reveals what people will do for money. There are ordinary people out there who would kill you. All they need is the right amount of money and the belief that they won't get caught."

Just before he was murdered, John Lennon told Playboy magazine that he didn't want to die at 40. Ironically the famous singer was gunned down at the age of 40 by a man who killed him just because he wanted to become famous.

Comfort said, "Many think that John Lennon was a musical genius. His music has crossed cultures and even generations--the Beatles have sold more than 2,303,500,000 record albums, and in June of 2012 they hit number one on iTunes. They are as big now as they ever were and they're half dead--with the tragic loss of Lennon and Harrison."

Ken Mansfield, the former U.S. Manager for Apple Records said, "Genius will open your eyes." Other reviewers have called it "fast-paced, thought-provoking and compelling." It is being promoted as "33 minutes that will rock your soul." Comfort's last movie "180" received more than 3.7 million views on YouTube and aired on television around the world. "Genius" has been released for free viewing onwww.GeniusTheMovie.com to coincide with the December 8th anniversary of the death of John Lennon.

Comfort added, "Abraham Lincoln said, 'Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored.' That's what John Lennon did. He pushed the musical envelope of creativity."

Watch Genius HERE

(Press Release from Geniusthemovie.com)

A Prayer for Overflowing with Thankfulness

--Scotty Smith

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

Col. 2:6-7

 Dear Lord Jesus, I want to be a man who gives you the quality and quantity of thanks of which you are so absolutely worthy. Not like a slow drip, a babbling brook, or a meandering stream, but like a geyser—a gospel geyser—spontaneously erupting with gratitude any and every moment. I want to overflow with thankfulness, to the praise of your glory and grace!

I have every reason to be like the healed Samaritan leper, who with a stunned heart and irrepressible gratitude returned to give you heartfelt thanks (Luke 17:11-17). I return today, and I want to return every day, to express my profound thankfulness.

From the first nanosecond I was given faith to receive you as Savior and Lord, I was fully and firmly rooted in your righteousness and love. Now, completely forgiven, I have no other righteousness than yours. Just as I cannot add one iota to your righteousness, I can never, ever be separated from your love, and your love, alone, is better than life. You have already set me free from the penalty of sin, you are continually setting me free from the power of sin, and one day you will set me free from the very presence of sin.
Jesus, I want to live in you—reflecting upon your glory with an unveiled face and marinating in the riches of your unfailing grace. I want to be built up in you, maturing by the same grace that saved me, being liberated for the race that you’ve set before me. I want to be strengthened in you, forgiving others as you have forgiven me; forbearing with others as you forbear with me; accepting others as you accept me—loving as your beloved.

Lord Jesus, how I would love to be already done with all of my carping and droning, all whining and complaining, all boohoo-ing and Eeyore-ing, and with every other expression of ingratitude. But until that Day, rise up in me this day, and set my heart, voice, hands and feet free to love you and serve those around me. Oh, Fountain of Grace, Oh, Artesian Spring of Life, set me free. So very Amen I pray, in your glorious and grace-filled name.

Go Vote!

As much as I dislike to see posts about politics. I feel this election is pretty important. Please, everyone who has the power too, go let your voice be heard, whether through casting your vote, or not casting your vote.

But remember, Jesus has the power to change the heart of any leader. (Ezra 1:1, 6:22, 7:27) and He can change the heart of whoever our President whoever may be.

No matter what "party" wins tomorrow, it's about much more then that. The office of President is one to be respected and honored, and reflects in many ways the deeper heart of the people, just as much the view of the candidate.


So, go vote tomorrow. Find your nearest voting place HERE.

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people." ~Proverbs 14:34

Why Are You Afraid of Humility?

He erased the curse, he triumphed over death, he opened paradise.

He struck down sin, he opened wide the vaults of the sky, he lifted our first fruits to heaven, he filled the whole world with godliness.

He drove out error, he led back the truth, he made our firstfruits mount to the royal throne.

He accomplished so many good deeds that neither I nor all humanity together could set them before your minds in words.

Before he humbled himself, only the angels knew him. After he humbled himself, all human nature knew him.

You see how his humbling of himself did not make him have less but produced countless benefits, countless deeds of virtue, and made his glory shine forth with greater brightness. God wants for nothing and has need of nothing. Yet, when he humbled himself, he produced such great good, increased his household, and extended his kingdom.

Why, then, are you afraid that you will become less if you humble yourself?

- Trevin Wax from "Kingdom People"

C.S. Lewis on Reasoning

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. ~Romans 1:18-32

Charles Spurgeon Quote

"Give away a tract whenever you can; better still, give a little book that will not be torn up, one that has a cover on it, for you will probably see it upon the table when you call again. Speak a word for the Master whenever it is possible; and offer a short prayer at every convenient opportunity. I think we should make it a rule, whenever we hear a foul or blasphemous word in the street - (and, alas! we constantly do so) - always to pray for the person who utters it. Perhaps then the devil might find it expedient not to stir up people to swear, if he knew that it excited Christians to pray. Try it, at all events, and see whether it may not have a subtle power to stop the profanity which is so terribly on the increase."

D.L. Moody Quote, "Wake Up Church!"

“People talk about our being earnest and fanatical—about our being on fire. Would to God the church were on fire! This world would soon shake to its foundation. May God wake up a slumbering church! What we want you to do is not to shout ‘amen’ and clap your hands. The deepest and quietest waters very often run swiftest. We want you to go right to work; there will be a chance for you to shout by and by. Go and speak to your neighbor and tell him of Christ and heaven. You need not go far before you will find someone passing down to the darkness of eternal death. Haste to his rescue!”

“If you have thought of this dying thief only as one who put off repentance, I want you now to believe of him as one that did greatly and grandly believe in Christ. And oh, that you would do the same! Oh that you would put a great confidence in my great Lord! Never did a poor sinner trust Christ too much. There was never a case of a guilty one who believed that Jesus could forgive him and afterward found that He could not–who believed that Jesus could save him on the spot and then woke up to find that it was a delusion. No; plunge into this river of confidence in Christ. The waters are waters to swim in, not to drown in. Never did a soul perish that glorified Christ by a living, loving faith in Him. Come, then, with all your sin, whatever it may be, with all your deep depression of spirits, all your agony of conscience. Come and grasp my Lord and Master with both the hands of your faith, and He shall be yours, and you shall be His.”

-C.H. Spurgeon, The Power of the Cross of Christ, 80

Response to "rapidwaters" and Creationism

I recently received a response through the Tumblr on this post responding to the Bill Nye recent comments on Creationism.  I responded below to the user named "rapidwaters".  Pray for the Lord to reach them repentance and faith.

I don’t even know how to properly respond to this idiocy. Taking the words Bill Nye said and twisting the words towards your belief in god is ridiculous. You could have at least been original and proclaimed your statement with your own words. And maybe add a few facts of gods existence … oh wait there isn’t any. It’s sad that people cannot believe in science and themselves enough that they have to continue to believing in a “almighty” fictional character. A fictional character that “loves” everyone… everyone but gays and independent women. A character that would rather have, men specifically, act like slave drivers who keep their women in check and burn other men who are curious about their fellow men’s a— holes.

Hello “rapidwaters”. Thank you for your response! I would have you notice I have not changed your response in anyway, except to sensor the curse words you used.

First, the guys who created this video (whom I am not one of of) were showing the fallacy that you in fact noticed. An appeal to there own authority. This is the same thing Mr. Nye did, he offered no evidence at all against the existence of God as if God needed to be proved.

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. ~Romans 1:18-20

You seem to affirm this by the fact that you speak very hateful toward the God you claim does not exist. You claim He is fictional due to the fact that He, in your own words, hates “gays and independent women”. Which is a strawman I do believe.

Second, Psalm 5:5 says, “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.“ God hates with a sinless hatred toward sin. Sin is lawlessness, anything done in the opposite of His nature. Like oil and water they cannot mix.

God created the standard by which He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30-31) We do not create this standard to push any sort of agenda. God sees every act and thought of man, to Him lieing, stealing, blasphemy, lust (which He considers adultry - Matthew 5:28) and hatred is murder (Matthew 5:21-26) are all sin, and rightly deserve punishment. This place of punishment, according to the Bible, is eternity in Hell.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus” - Romans 6:23

But God, in His mercy, came in the person of Jesus Christ, to suffer and die on the Cross 2000 years ago in our place. He bore the wrath of God on Himself in our place, even though Jesus was innocent. ”He who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” He then was buried and rose again three days later to defeat sin, death and Hell! Now, anyone who turns to Him in repentance (to turn from, forsake) of there sins and Trust alone in Christ and His work on the Cross (like you would a parachute) will be born again.

”3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

Believe me at one time I too hated God with my actions and ways. But, when you are born again it changes everything. You receive mercy from God, forgiveness of sins, new, eternal life and adoption as Gods Son or Daughter. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. Please, I would love to answer any questions or concerns you have with Christianity. I would love to talk more. Please, think about your eternity and what God did for guilty sinners. I say this too you, out of love for you and care for you.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. ~Romans 3:25-26

The Reward Of His Suffering

Matt Papas new song, "The Reward Of His Suffering" is making a change.

Every dime from this song goes to fund global missions.

He is worthy to receive the reward of HIS SUFFERING!

Happy Sunday!

A Response to Bill Nye "The Science Guy"

Very eloquent response to this video, from Bill Nye "the Science Guy". As someone who loved his videos as a child, I am shocked to hear him come out this strong against Creationism.

Pray the Lord will open His heart.

Death Of Yolo! HE IS RISEN!!

"You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair."

~Martin Luther, on Temptation and Sin

A Conversation With Philippa

Here is a Gospel conversation I had on some down time through Omegle. She was from England. I think it went well and I know that the Lord ALONE has the power to save. Pray for her and her salvation.

*Also, please excuse her foul language.

”And they cried out in a loud voice “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” ~Rev. 7:10

Armor Of God: The Sword Of The Spirit

"...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."  ~Eph. 6:17

After several posts about the "defense" in our armor of God, now we shall look at our main source of offense, The Word of God.

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." ~Hebrews 4:12

This being the last post in this series, I feel this one is important as we get to back to school time.  This is a time, especially for Christian in the education system where there is a massive increase in pressure, trials, and temptations

Wielding the Sword

So the question is worth asking, how do we use the Word?

The best way to illustrate this was during the temptation of Jesus in the desert,

"The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” ~Luke 4:3-4

We see Jesus trusted in the promises of the Word of God.  He showed and remembered how God promised to provide, so the temptation is not worth giving into.  Satan tried to tempt the patience of Jesus, and we see His trust in the Fathers provision.

Then we see Jesus acted on the commands of the Word:

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

⁸ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

Just simply obeying His command, even though the offer of sin is greater, is great growth for a Christian.  Once again, Satan tempts Jesus' patience to be glorified at the right hand of the Father, and once again, we see how Jesus uses the Word to spur up affection for the Father.  "He is greater then anything this temptation has to offer."  Through the Word, the Spirit gives perspective.

Armor Of God: The Helmet and the Shield

"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation..." ~Eph. 6:16-17

I feel, these verses are communicating the same truth, for two different applications.

The word "faith" in verse 16 is communicating a saving faith, an assurance, as does "salvation" in verses 17. So, Paul is telling to arm yourself with assurance, for what purpose? To guard against flaming arrows. But not just, to "extinguish" them. They have lost all there power. I mean, let's look at the picture:

You are running into battle, when your enemies begin not just to shoot arrows, but flaming arrows. I'm sure each of the warriors needed a change of armor once the battle was over. But, how does assurance play a role?

The adversary loses it's advantage. Jesus said, "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand." (John 10:29) Think about it, the enemy can't beat you, neither can sin defeat you. Sin and the devil have lost their advantage over us.

This is not only useful in the general day to day struggle with sin, as a shield would be, but it is useful as a helmet, to keep our minds focused on the Lord instead of the world. By that I mean, assurance keeps us kingdom minded, focused on the Lords goodness, not on our own efforts and legalism, which is where the devil would want us too be: focused on ourselves and not God.

Rejoice in the Truth that the devil and sin will see it's defeat...

"And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." ~Rev. 20:10

...and we shall stand, sinless, blameless, to see the face of God, only due to Christ's Righteousness and His Gospel.

"Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.  Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.  But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars —they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”~Rev. 21:1-8

So, soldier, arm yourself in assurance. Next time we will look at our main offense in the battle against sin and Satan....

The Armor Of God: Fitted Feet

"and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." ~Ephesians 6:15

As I write this, I begin to prepare my heart to take the Gospel to the streets. A team will be down at a weekly local downtown festival in Owensboro to pass out tracts and engage in conversation. Our team would appreciate our prayers, that God would give us boldness and open the hearts of those we talk see and grant salvation to even just on tonight.

God calls us to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15)

What comes to my mind when I think of "fitted feet"? Well, one sermon I had just recently heard talked about the prophet Isaiah, and what he said I think fits with this well.

I think the best way to keep our "feet fitted with readiness" is to never turn our phone off. What do I mean by that? Well, always be ready to be faithful to God's mission and purpose, no matter when, where or how it comes about.

How then does this connect to Isaiah? While most preachers will preach out of Isaiah 6, most won't finish it.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? ”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” ~Isaiah 6:8

But, look at what the Lord is sending Isaiah to preach:

He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused;make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
~Isaiah 6:9-10

He is saying, "Go preach to a people who will not listen to you and do it because you love me and wish to be faithful." Will we be ready to be faithful to God's mission even if it means going to a hostile, hardened people? God calls us to plant and water seeds, but its God who grows the seed of salvation. (1 Cor. 3:6)

God Bless!

The Armor Of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness

"...with the breastplate of righteousness in place..." ~Ephesians 6:14

We come to the heart of our protection, the breastplate. This plate is meant to protect our heart, in the most spiritual sense. What is the cause of most heart break and disappointment in the Christian life? Forgetting our identity in Christian. We can easily forget that our righteousness and identity is not in what others think about us, or what our current situation looks like, but in who Christ was, is and will always be through the Cross.

Your relationships, or lack thereof, do not define you. You're broken family does not define your identity if you are a Child of God.

The Gospel defines you. The moment you were regenerated, repented of your sins and put your Trust in Christ, you became an adopted, chosen, loved, Child of the Creator God of the universe, our Father through Christ on the Cross.

So, let's put righteousness in it's place, the center of our thoughts, hearts and minds, so we may wages war against discouragement and the devils schemes.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. " ~2 Cor. 5:21

The Armor Of God: The Belt Of Truth.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..." ~ Ephesians 6:14

Paul, here, where the battle with the devil and against sin begins. Do we hold firm to the Truth? Well, first we know what the Truth is.

Christ is Truth. (John 14:6)

The Word is Truth (John 17:17)

The Gospel is Truth. (Titus 3:3-8)

The moment we begin to forget who we as born-again Christians, are to God through the Gospel, there is noway we can walk in the victory that is promised to us. Just like once we forget that the Word is Truth and defines the world around us, and our view of it, ultimately we become a foolish builder (Matthew 7:24-27).

Think about it, the belt holds everything up, without it, we will, as the infamous song puts it, be "lookin' like a fool with out pants on the ground".

Don't look like a fool. Remember, that in a Christ we have every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3) but we have chosen, loved,(Eph. 1:4) adopted (1:5), redeemed (1:6), and given God Himself through the Holy Spirit as a "deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (1:14). These are just some of the glorious gifts given to us through the gift of Grace.

Also lets not forget that apart from Him we are dead (2:1), disobedient (2:2), objects of wrath (2:3), darkened in our understanding and without hope (Eph. 4:17-19).

Don't be a fool. Love the Truth, preach it too yourself, continue in it, buckle it to your side and stand firm in it. There is a battle between us and sin, are you ready to fight?

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." ~John 8:32

The Armor Of God

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ~Ephesains 6:12-13

Paul comtinues in Ephesians to explain the "why" behind the armor of God.

He explains that "our struggle (refering to our temptations, seens in 'schemes of the devil' in verse 11) is not against flesh and blood" but against something far greater.

We battle against the authorities of the evils realm, the rules and against the powers. Now, think, who are you?

This reminds me of the account in Acts 19, where several people tryed to take on these powers alone.

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. ~Acts 19:13-16

I think sometimes when we try to overpower these forces on our own they begin to ask the same question, "Who are YOU?" Who are too beat these forces on our own? We need He who overcomes, Jesus Christ. We need to as, Ephesains 6:13 says, "put on the armor of God" and why? So we "may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

Not only so we can stand our ground in battle, but stand even we've doen everything we can do. This is essential in our battle against the kingdom of darkness, and in our struggle for holiness.

Next post we will begin to look at each piece of the "armor of God". God Bless!

The Armor Of God.

As Paul is composing the end of his letter to the Ephesians, he begins to write about the unity in the body of the Christ (4:1-16), living a holy, Christ-imitating life (4:17-5:21) then goes on to apply the Truths of the Gospel to marriage (5:22-33), parenting, (6:1-4), and servitude (6:5-6:9) and finally he writes about those facing temptations from Satan. God has really used this passage in my life recently in regards to my fight with sin, so I thought we’d walk through what Paul has to say about the “Armor of God”. Let us begin today with verses 10 & 11.

”Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. “

When we see a word like “finally” in the Bible (much like therefore and many other phrases) we need to consider the context. We see the importance of the words to following because of how general the statement is. In the passages before he refers to wives (5:22), husbands (5:25), children (6:1), fathers, (6:4), slaves (6:5) and masters (5:9), but this “finally seems to have a unifying effect as he gives the command “be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.”

He is making statement about the power of those receiving his letter. It doesn’t say, “be mighty in your power!” or “You can do it guys! I believe in you!” This seems to carry a much different effect. He is saying, “Guys, you can’t do this on your own, don’t even try.” Much like Jesus statements through out the Gospel, but especially in John 15 where He says, “Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

Then Paul gives the command, “Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. “

Paul seems to carry with him two reasons why this command is given.

1) So they can be “strong in the Lord”

2) So they can “take there stand against the devil’s schemes.”

How much more is this important for the Christian of today? Don’t realize that Satan seeks to destroy you (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8)? We need to be on alert.

The only question left too ask is, “Are you ready for Battle?”

Most of the Church is too caught up in the world to worry about the war, which is just where the enemy wants them, in a comfortable Christianity that makes no advance in the kingdom of God and makes no assault on the kingdom of Darkness.

Over several posts, we will look at what Paul supscribes in the Armor of God to help us fight Satan, our temptations, and to kill personal sin in our lives.

"180-Changing The Heart Of A Nation"

From Pro-choice to Pro-life in seconds!

180 Movie is continuing to change hearts and minds about the issue of abortion!

Over 3 million views and thousands of copies distributed.

See what is causing to do an 180 on more then just abortion.

A Message From D.L. Moody to the Lost:

“I have no doubt that those who would not pray when the ark was being built, prayed when the Flood came; but their prayer was not answered. I have no doubt that when Lot went out of Sodom, Sodom cried to God; but it was too late, and God’s judgment swept them from the earth. My friend, it is not too late now, but it may be at twelve o’clock tonight. I cannot find any place in the Bible where it says you may call tomorrow. I am not justified in saying that. ‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’”

Yet Another Reason Believers Need The Local Church...

...For Our Humility
(I will go into greater details on what I believe are four other Biblical Reasons we need to Church. To get an overview on this, go HERE)

I think we all commonly hear Romans 12 quoted in reference to Gospel centered sanctification. The first verse reads:

"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. "

"God's mercy" here is referring back to the first 11 chapters of Romans.

What do we read in Romans 1-11? Well, a quick overview would go like this:

We are hopeless, blind, dirty, sinful creatures who have misplaced worship and affections. (Romans 1-3)

But, through the perfect life, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and our Trust in it we have forgiveness of sin, new life, hope, the gift of the Holy Spirit, God's promise that we can never be separated from Him, and victory in our life over sin. (Romans 3-8)

Also, that this was not of our own work, but all of Christs sovereignty and power, so that we can not boast. (Romans 9-11)

There mercies, which are the foundation of the Gospel, are the mouth to the river of our sanctification. Beyond that, if we look to the Gospel and apply the Gospel to ourselves, it produces in us a change of mindset.

Romans 12:2- "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."

"What Is Truth?"

Mark Spence, from Living Waters, teaches on the subject of "What is Truth?"

It's difficult to think of a more important topic than the nature of truth. Truth is that which agrees with reality.

Check it out!  Find out more at: LivingWaters.com

Closing the Deal: An Unbiblical Component of Modern Evangelism

By Tony Miano

Last week I asked on Twitter for suggestions, for blog articles. Mike King, from Mount Vernon, WA, gave the following suggestion:

If you haven't already, a written follow-up to your Q&A at Jon Speed's church, about how to "close out" a Gospel conversation.

Sometimes people ask, "How many people have you led to Christ?" My answer: "All of them." When I share the gospel, I bring everyone with whom I speak to the foot of the cross, where I leave them in the hands of the sovereign Creator and Savior. Salvation is of the Lord. I am simply one of his ambassadors.

During the earlier years of my Christian life, from time to time I would share the gospel with people. I was more evangelistic than some, but nowhere near as evangelistic as I should have been. On rare occasions, a person would indicate a desire to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. So, I would do what I was taught to do: lead the person in a "sinner's prayer."

READ MORE.......................

A Prayer For The Young, Restless and Reformed

“Please God, don’t let the young, restless, and reformed movement be another historically ignorant, self-absorbed, cooler-than-thou fad.” ~Kevin DeYoung

Prayer Request And Update

Be in prayer for me and an evangelism team as we go to a bluegrass festival near our church to share the Gospel with the lost and to fulfill our Lords Great Commission.

We leave after our VBS and it will be over 100 degress outside.

Also, I hope to have some more "Tales of a fearful fisherman" posts soon.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ~Matthew 28:18-20

God Bless! Go share the Gospel, while you still have time.

J.I. Packer Quote

“What matters supremely is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it — the fact that he knows me. I am graven on the palms of his hands. I am never out of his mind. 

All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me. I know him because he first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, one who loves me; and there is not a moment when his eye is off me, or his attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when his care falters. 

This is momentous knowledge. There is unspeakable comfort — the sort of comfort that energizes, be it said, not enervates — in knowing that God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love and watching over me for my good. There is tremendous relief in knowing that his love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench his determination to bless me.”

— J.I. Packer,  Knowing God, pg 41-42

Awesome book! I 100% recommend it.

Credit. God Bless!

When Homosexuality Becomes A Man

From "Desiring God"

Joe Hallett didn't waste his AIDS, he didn't waste his new life in Christ.

What will you do with yours?

Inspiring story. Pray it blesses you!

Singleness and the Next Generation

This sermon by David Platt is one of the most hard hitting sermon I’ve ever heard for someone who is young, and whether you are single or not.

Check it out and Be blessed!

Restoring A Broken Faith...In The Church

I have this friend who the Lord used to lead me to Christ. Though, once totally on fire for the Lord, now, it is hard to separate him from the rest of the "lukewarm Christians" that seem to fill the pews in America.

I can only imagine that this how John felt coming the sermon he wrote to the church at Ephesus (This sermon is recorded in the book of 1 John). Three main themes are addressed in this book: True Doctrine, True Obedience, and True Devotion. The latter of these themes are the answer to the other two, and this is found within the Local Church.

No blog this week.

I leave in the morning (6/10/12) for a Student Life camp.

I am currently working on a post about nomad Christians and the local Church.

Pray me and my group as we seek Gods face, and grow in our love, servitude and adoration for the Lord and that we will live it out and reach out with Gospel even once we return from out camp.

Charles Spurgeon Quote

“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

"Can a Prophet Lie?" A Conversation With A Muslim

Here is an Omegle conversation with a man from Turkey. He claimed to be a Muslim.

I got to use a couple of apologetic Truths during the conversation.

And even through what seemed to be a tad bit of a language barrier, the Gospel went forth.

Pray that God will save this man. The Gospel is the power of God, for the Atheist or the Muslims.

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Knowing God

"Perhaps his purpose is simply to draw us closer to himself in conscious communion with him; for it is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and the Son is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy is greatest, when the cross is heaviest." 

~J.I. Packer "Knowing God"

Great God Of Wonders

By Samuel Davies

Great God of wonders! All Thy ways
Are matchless, Godlike and divine;
But the fair glories of Thy grace
More Godlike and unrivaled shine,
More Godlike and unrivaled shine.

Crimes of such horror to forgive,
Such guilty, daring worms to spare;
This is Thy grand prerogative,
And none shall in the honor share,
And none shall in the honor share

Angels and men, resign your claim
To pity, mercy, love and grace:
These glories crown Jehovah’s Name
With an incomparable glaze
With an incomparable glaze.

In wonder lost, with trembling joy,
We take the pardon of our God:
Pardon for crimes of deepest dye,
A pardon bought with Jesus’ blood,
A pardon bought with Jesus’ blood.

O may this strange, this matchless grace,
This Godlike miracle of love,
Fill the whole earth with grateful praise,
And all th’angelic choirs above,
And all th’angelic choirs above.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?
Or who has grace so rich and free?

Save The Nuba

"Dr. Susan Rice, US Permanent Ambassador to the UN, has warned that by March 2012, more than 500,000 people in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile region face a level 4 humanitarian crisis, which is one step below a full-scale famine, if humanitarian assistance is not allowed into the conflict areas."

Christians are dieing because of there faith and terrible living conditions, Church, what are we going to do?

Get Educated, be an advocate, give all you can, pray without ceasing.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.  As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. ~Matthew 10:5-8

Find out more at: http://savethenuba.com

Romans Testimony- "I am an ex-gay."

Written by Roman Marquez

The last part of May 2011 is when I began my change from sinner to Forgiven. My life is somewhat a modern day prodigal son story. I led a life quite like anyone else, at least those who haven’t seen the mercy of God, lost and self-perpetuating. Many events have helped shape who I am but none near as amazing as Christ’s death on the cross. I hope my testimony enlightens, uplifts, and more importantly brings glory to God.

I was raised in a Christian home my father and mother both wanted to raise all 5 of us boys in this faith. I went to church with my father most times. I enjoyed all that church had to offer and I believed in Christ with my whole heart. I had a lot of faith and practiced it as often as I could but changes ensued and disrupted my walk and redirected my heading. What changed this? Well many things altered my life but there are two transforming factors that were most prevalent. A conversion of religion, rather a misguided burrowing into falsehoods, was the second turning point. My sexuality happened to be the deepest factor that superseded my faith in turn leading into the burrowing. My thoughts all in all seemed much wiser than anything anyone ever said.

I abandoned Christianity in defiance of God and my family. I misconstrued my parent’s love and care for ugliness. I decided that Christianity was antiquated and no longer relevant for this day and age as many lost individuals claim. I threw myself into studying many religions. Wicca and paganism were more palatable for me to study, practice, and both spoke to my desires in that I could will anything I craved. I practiced witchcraft I communed with spirits(demons). All these religions and all others are just demonic distractions from the truth. I studied these in hopes of finding the “truth” or at least one that let me be “me”. In all my searching none of these proved true or even worthy of my attention.

Pentecost Sunday- God IN us, God WITH us, God FOR us

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died —more than that, who was raised to life —is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:


“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~ Romans 8:22-39 (Emphasis mine)

"Can You Hear There Cries?"

Credit: Dan's Pulpit 

"What changed there minds from pro-life to pro-choice in seconds?" 

Check out the award winning documentary seen by millions!

180 Movie.

You Can't Take It With You

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/e-boasting

This morning I read the account in Luke 16 about Lazarus and the rich man. So much has struck me this morning.

What truly struck me that Lazarus, a man, a beggar covered, had nothing. Yet, he was a believer, and therefore had everything.

What else struck me was that the rich man, who too the world then and now, would have seemed to have everything, truly had nothing at all.

I am reminded of a choiral piece I have sang before, "You can't take it with you Brother Will, Brother John."

Christian, no matter what the world says, you have all you need in Christ.
Paul wrote in Philippians 3:7 " But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ."

In the context of that verse Paul starts rattling off what was to his gain.

"If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law,faultless." Philippians 3:5-6

In other words, Paul was "the man!" He had all he needed to be well liked and popular among the people of that time.

"The world couldn't get along with the holiest man that ever lived, how will they get along with us!"

Church, wake up. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

Above is a powerful message from Paul Washer. Hope it blesses you.

Adventures in Apologetics: Incest In The Bible

"What about all the incest in the Bible? Especially in Genesis?"

This is a common objection you will hear from "cut and paste Atheists" that seem to troll around the web. What they don't seem to realize is how self-defeating that question is to there worldview.

How is it self-defeating?
Well, in the Atheist (Agnostic/Secular Humanist etc..) worldview, there is no room for absolute statements without contradictions.

In other worlds, everything is relative in there worldview. For example, an unbelieving person can not say "murder is wrong" because by doing so they admit in moral absolutes, which are inconsistent with there worldview but consistent with the Theist worldview.

They have to say, "Nothing is 'morally wrong', it's all relative to the person."

So, now to address the "incest issue" in two ways.

My Take: The Bible condemns a lot, but here's why we focus on homosexuality

By R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Are conservative Christians hypocritical and selective when it comes to the Bible’s condemnation of homosexuality? With all that the Bible condemns, why the focus on gay sex and same-sex marriage?

Given the heated nature of our current debates, it’s a question conservative Christians have learned to expect. “Look,” we are told, “the Bible condemns eating shellfish, wearing mixed fabrics and any number of other things. Why do you ignore those things and insist that the Bible must be obeyed when it comes to sex?”

On its face, it’s a fair question. But it can be posed in two very different ways.

Read More...

A Giraffes Neck Disproves God!?

So, sometimes when I am in a dry spell on doing Evangelism I go onto chat site Omegle (warning, be careful who you run into on this site) with the purpose of engaging in spiritual conversation to then share the Gospel (through my own presentation or an online resource)

You can read our conversation HERE.  I pre-apologize for some of the "mature" (if you want to call it that) language in the conversation.

We see here the power of Biblical presuppositional apologetics, and the Gospel in action.

In this Omegle Evangelism encounter (not perfect by any means). The guy (from Israel), after I had torn apart his worldview and tried my best to present the Gospel in the time I was given, resorted to using Girrafe necks as somehow disproving God.

Pray for him. I trust that "the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation." (Romans 1:16)

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  (1 Cor. 15:58)

Why The Message Of 180 Is So Urgent

This morning we received the following tragic email via the Heart Changer website. It is a reminder of why the message of 180 remains so very urgent.

"Dear whoever came up with this and whoever is getting this. You just gave me a 180... but not the way you expected. If anything you have almost completely turned me against Christianity all together. I am 16 and pregnant. The father, a man very well known and loved in the church. They find out I'm pregnant with his kid and he's done. He has a disability that makes it so he cannot handle stress. He is an amazing man and I love him to pieces. But we cannot handle this right now and my belief is that if it is meant to happen it will happen again. !@#$% you guys. I'm deffinately getting an abortion now. God Bless."
Read more.......

Why the "Darwin Fish" Shouldn't Offend You

The popular symbol we see on the back of cars in this nation is the infamous "Jesus Fish".  What does this symbol mean exactly?  I did some research and also put some thought into why the "Darwin Fish" being sported by Atheists does not offend me.

So, what does the "Jesus fish" stand for?

I think this short article from GotQuestions.org does a great job of explaining it:

"The Greek word for fish is "ixthus" or "icthus." The Christian fish symbol that many Christians place on their cars is known as the “ixthus.” Five Greek letters form the word “ixthus,” and those letters inside the fish form an acrostic which is a message that Christians clearly identified with. The first letter represented the word Jesus. The second letter represented the word Christ, the next two, God Son, and the final letter represented the word Savior. This adds up to “Jesus Christ is God’s Son, the Savior.”

During the early days of Christianity, Christians were often put to death for practicing their faith, so they worshiped in secret places. A fish painted on the outside door of a house let other Christians know that they would be safe and welcome inside. The Christian fish symbol is now often used to identify Christians and/or Christian businesses."

We commonly see the fish with a Cross or JESUS written inside of it.

So, why does this not offend me?  Two reasons.

Straight From My Heart...

Today, I go out to take the Gospel to the streets. I come just as Paul did to the church at Corinth. I do not come with eloquence, or intelligence, just as Paul did. I come with much fear and trembling, just as Paul did. The Gospel comes not with wise and persuasive words, but with the Power of the Spirit of God, so that those who come to faith may not rest on mans wisdom but on God's Wisdom. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Jesus, bless us. Open eyes, open hearts, invade lives with your Spirit. Keep us humble, make our eyes, Your eyes; our hearts, Your heart...We ask for a harvest, as workers in your field. (Matthew 9:37-38) In Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer Request

I would like to request prayer for me and several others laborers who will be going out to share the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ this weekend at a big festival.

We will doing this through Tracts (check out the message on the tracts at the bottom of the post) and one on one conversation.

Pray that God will open hearts and minds to our message and pray and trust He will water the seeds we plant.

God Bless you.

The Message:

The million dollar question: Will you go to Heaven when you die? Here's a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, or used God's name in vain? Jesus said, "Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Have you looked with lust? Will you be guilty on Judgment Day? If you have done those things, God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. The Bible warns that if you are guilty you will end up in Hell. That's not God's will. He sent His Son to suffer and die on the cross for you. You broke God's Law, but Jesus paid your fine. That means He can legally dismiss your case. He can commute your death sentence: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Then He rose from the dead and defeated death. Please, repent (turn from sin) today and trust in Jesus alone, and God will grant you the gift of everlasting life. Then read your Bible daily and obey it.

A Time for Silence: When to Stop Sharing

Found this awesome article through the StonethePreacher blog. Taking them to heart. The article was written by Dr. Bob Gonzales. Hope it blessed and encourages you as it did me.

 One of the marks of a Christian is a desire to share the good news of the life-transforming gospel with others. In the words of the apostles, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). But what if a friend, fellow worker, schoolmate, or family member asks us to desist? Does there come a time when we should refrain from speaking to a person about Jesus and Christianity?

A few years ago, I sent John Piper’s booklet The Passion of Christ: Fifty Reasons Why He Came to Die to several close friends and relatives. To my knowledge, most of them were not Christians. I had already shared the gospel with some. With others I had not–at least not in a more comprehensive way. I wanted to be able to face Jesus on Judgment Day with the knowledge that I had attempted to share the gospel with those who were close to me.

Disappointingly, one couple replied with a letter and some materials that made it clear they rejected Christianity, affirmed materialistic evolution, and wished me to relinquish my attempts at trying to convert them. They were polite. But they were also resolute. They didn’t believe in God, and they preferred that I give up any attempt in persuading them otherwise.  Read More...

"In Christ, we are not bound to the law, but Christ in us binds us with the Lawgiver."

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” ~ Galatians 2:19-21

The Humility of a Shower

I look at the scene in John 13 with a moved and humbled heart.  I look and I see as Jesus sits with His disciples during what is to be His last week of His earthly ministry, with much conviction.  If this is what love is, my life is far from reflecting it.  If this is what humility is, I need a major reality check.

We see from this account in John, the "full extent of His love." (13:1)

During the evening meal with His disciples, which I'm sure was considered a sacred time, Jesus did the one of two unexpected things, the first: stand up (2-4)

Let's think about that again.

Spurgeon on "Reading The Bible"

If this be the Word of God, what will become of some of you who have not read it for the last month? “Month, sir! I have not read it for this year.” Ay, there are some of you who have not read it at all. Most people treat the Bible very politely. They have a small pocket volume, neatly bound, they put a white pocket-handkerchief around it, and carry it to their places of worship. When they get home, they lay it up in a drawer till next Sunday morning; then it comes out again for a little bit of a treat and goes to chapel; that is all the poor Bible gets in the way of an airing. That is your style of entertaining this Heavenly messenger. There is dust enough on some of your Bibles to write “damnation” with your fingers . There are some of you who have not turned over your Bibles for a long, long, long while, and what think you? I tell you blunt words, but true words. What will God say at last? When you shall come before him, he shall say, “Did you read my Bible?” “No.” I wrote you a letter of mercy; did you read it?” “No.” “Rebel! I have sent you a letter inviting you to me: did you ever read it?” “Lord I never broke the seal; I kept it shut up.” “Wretch!”, says God, “then you deserves Hell, if I sent you a loving epistle and you would not even break the seal: what shall I do to you?” Oh! let it not be so with you. Be Bible readers; be Bible searchers.

"If you think the worship services are too long now, wait till you get to Heaven, it'll last forever."

Pursuing The Promise Of Purity

Purity has became both a major topic in the Church as well as a major blind spot with the Body.  Most Christians don't seem to put pure purity at the of "list" for Christians.  "That's for Pastors," they say.

But this is not what Scripture says.

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ~1 Thess. 4:7

But don't work that purity doesn't purity doesn't come through our persistence, but purity comes when passion for it begins to purely trust in the promises of God.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." ~2 Peter 1:3-4

While sinless perfection is out of reach for the Christian this side of Glory, the Word tells us plainly that our pursuit for purity is not in vain.  "not only has God given us all we need for Godliness", but Peter also tells us we have His promises to rely on.

What promises are these?  Well, let's look at a few:

He promises to keep His Children blameless untill He returns.  (Jude 24-25)

He has the power to began the work He began in our salvation. (Phil 1:6)

God ALONE has the power to "sanctify us through and through" (1 Thess. 5:23-24)

Do we not realize that our holiness it is graded on the Cross?  Hebrews 10:14 says that "by one sacrifice God has made perfect forever, those who are being made Holy."  Realize today that if you have truly been born again in Christ, you'll battle against sin has already been won.

Christ defeated sin, death, Hell and condemnation.  Those whom He calls He not only justifies, but glorifies! (Romans 8:29-30).

If you haven't repented of your sins and put your Trust in Christ, do so.  There is eternal life, victory through His blood and His resurrection, and freedom from the bondage of sin.

Remember, today, to set your mind on things above, and flee immorality, pursue God. (Phil. 4:8-9,  2 Tim. 2:22)

Pursue the Promise Of The Purity.  God is faithful to grant it too you.  (1 Thess. 5:24)

"Angels Long To Look On Such Things!"

 "...Even angels long to look into these things" ~1 Peter 1:12

"Angels longing?"  What a marvelous thought?  What could Angels, who work and minister for us in the presence of God (Hebrews 1:14), long to look into?

Well, let's look in the context of the verse.

1 Peter 1:3-12-

  ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,¹¹trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.¹²It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

 This passage makes is clear what they long to look upon, the Gospel we have received.  Think about it.  Jesus didn't die for angels, He didn't suffer for angels, God didn't adopt angels, God doesn't call, sanctify, justify to angels.  God doesn't put Himself into the hearts of angels through the Holy Spirit.

God loves humanity though we in no way deserve it.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16

Today, maybe you're not a Christian and you're reading this.  Even though you are a dirty condemned sinner, God is inviting you too new life, to be adopted into His family and too be saved for the coming wrath of Hell that is deserved by all who have sinned.  (1 Thess. 1:9-10)

Repent (turn from your sin) and put your Trust in Christ and His work on the Cross (Matt 26-28) and recieve what angels long to look upon, the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

If you are a Christian, give your God praise this day that He came into your life today and did what only He could, save you from yourself.  Give God praise this Sabbath, because He is the Only One worthy of your praise, affection and devotion.  And, brother or sister in Christ, don't forget the cost of rejecting such a great Salvation (Hebrews 2:15)  Let us dedicate our lives to making His Gospel known to everyone, everywhere in every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Mark 16:15, Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 1:8)
 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— ²⁵ to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. ~Jude 24-25

Happy Easter! He IS Risen!

Matthew 28

Jesus Has Risen

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Today's verse for April 7th, 2012:

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
~2 Corinthians 5:21

In Christ, we live the EXCHANGED Life!

Good Friday

Surely he took up our pain

and bore our suffering, 

yet we considered him punished by God, 

stricken by him, and afflicted. 

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, 

he was crushed for our iniquities; 

the punishment that brought us peace was on him, 

and by his wounds we are healed. 

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, 

each of us has turned to our own way; 

and the LORD has laid on him 

the iniquity of us all. ~Isaiah 53:4-6 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." ~John 3:16

It's Thursday of Holy Week. Let us not us forget what it's all about...

Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. ~John 16:19-24

Follow this link to read about what happened on Thursday of Holy Week.

Today's Verse for April 4th, 2012:

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
~John 15:13

Above is a short message from Tony Miano, if you get time, check it out!

Today's Post For April 3 2012

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
~ 1 John 4:10

A Verse A Day To Celebrate!

Starting today I will be posting a verse a day leading up to Resurrection Sunday in honor of Christ and His victory over sin death and Hell to offer us eternal life instead of the eternal judgement we deserve.

Sunday I will also be posting a link to a mini 30 minutes movie called "Road To Emmaus" that I would challenge any believers or skeptics to take time out to watch (whether on Easter of after.)

Please feel free to share these verses, or share others to join in the celebration!

God Bless you all.

An Atheist Holiday

Warning: this was not meant of offense to Atheists, I love Atheists. This was meant NOT to offend but to inform. (this is a re post from April 1 of last year)

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”.. ~Psalm 14:1

I call you for a second, to look out of your window, and look at the world outside you window. Some people will see sun shining down on a sleepy suburb, some may see the beach, some may see rain drops dancing as the make there graceful decent. Take a breathe and look this in the face and say, “All of THIS was an accident.” Think about the millions of billions of trillions of stars out in the atmosphere, that can rival our most magnificent sun. Think about cells, who can under go transfer of energy of energy RIGHT NOW as we speak, without the use of energy. ALL of creations shouts the Glory of a Righteous God! (Isaiah 6:3)

How can you say, “There was no God, this was an accident.” This is all a trail and error? Evidence of intelligent design is all around. In every different species that wonders the earth, and everyone of them having a chance to have mate. In every breathe taken in this atmosphere that we can’t totally explain. The fact that we are standing here is a miracle, look at the wonders of child birth! And let’s go much MUCH more obvious, the existence of Gravity in a world that tries to explain away God. the God who is not made by humans, and doesn't not NEED us to acknowledge Him. (Acts 17:25).

I just call you too truly consider what you say you believe. Are you truly able too look the whole creation, including yourself, in the face and call it all an accident. That came from nothing and is meant for nothing. If you have even a shadow of a doubt about your stance that “nothing created everything.” consider Einstein’s view of God(though not the one of the Bible, He stood by God’s Hand in Creation),

“In view of such harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited human mind, am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me for the support of such views.”

~The Expanded Quotable Einstein, Princeton University, page 214

Also, if you have doubts, check out the videos in the Side bar!

And if all this evidence doesn't point you too God Hand in Creation, then I say to you Happy April Fools Day! Because the Holy God has a surprise waiting on Judgement Day, one I don’t want you too see. I don’t want you too face God on Judgement Day and be punished for your sins and The Bible says that those who don’t believe, are condemned already. (John 3:18)

I pray for you. I pray that you will consider all that I have said above and come to know God in the only way you can, through Jesus Christ, the Risen Messiah who died too pay the debt none of us could.

God Bless!

~Acts 17:24-31

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’


29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

33 > 40

Please, if you get a moment, check this out!  Share it if you like it.

Live Loved.

“Perfect Theology- A Passion For The Impossible Pursuit”

Add caption

What this post ventures to answer:

What is perfect theology?

Does it exist?

How, if it exists, can one reach it?

And how is one suppose to achieve this perfect level of theology, if it in fact, can be reached?

Let's begin with the two questions that all the others hinge on.

What is perfect theology?

Perfect theology, in this post anyway, is refering to anyone having a 100% correct view of God.

Let's get one thing straight, this has nothing to do with supporting universalism. Read on and I will explain further.