Enough to make you sick!

http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/178958/1/NC-Boy-With-Cerebral-Palsy-Asked-To-Leave-Easter-Service

I just had the misfortune of reading this article. Really? Throw a kid and his mom out of church for being a "distraction," just because he's handicapped? What would Jesus say? I can only imagine an event similar to his clearing of the temple. How can the Body of Christ possibly be edified when things like this are becoming more and more common place? The God of the Bible would not find this to be a satisfactory form of worship. He IS the Creator of the Universe, and created that little boy, just like created you and I. Jesus died for all of us, and that includes the boy and his mother.

(Mat 25:42-46 ESV)

For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." 

He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30 ESV) - John the baptist. He had it right when he made that statement. It's not about us, it's about Jesus Christ and his work on the cross.

Please, if this kind of behavior is tolerated in your church speak out against it! If the less fortunate are shunned by the leadership, take them to scripture and show them the error of their ways. This has to be stopped here and now. If they will not listen, move on to another congregation, and having nothing to do with them.

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
(Tit 3:10-11 ESV)

Jesus never meant for his Church to be a rock concert with concessions and t-shirt sales. When we allow the Church to be an entertainment venue that is focused on the "show," we are treading on dangerous ground.

Please join me in prayer for every Church around the world. Christianity is under attack from the inside out.

God Bless.

The death of wisdom.

     Although everyone has different backgrounds, with varying degrees of education, almost all of us have had the opportunity to listen to a lecture by someone whom is "over" educated. Unfortunately, I had the opportunity this week to hear a lecture (4 hours worth) given by a Ph.D. in an Old Testament History class. He has obviously educated himself to the point of stupidity. This lecture took place at a very conservative Bible college, and it was anything but conservative.

     I''ll try to avoid going into a full blown diatribe, but I am disappointed, so it may be a struggle. First off, when speaking on the creation of the universe, I stand with the literal interpretation, same as the fine folks at http://www.answersingenesis.org/. As for the integrity of the scriptures, I believe that all scripture in their original languages and entirety is the very word of God.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2Ti 3:16-17 ESV)

Now that we have established where I stand, we will address some of the lunacy that the fine "Dr." was expounding. Below are a few of his supposed "teachings." -Warning- if you are weak in the faith, please do not proceed.

• The Genesis account of creation indicates in no way shape or form that God created the universe in 7 literal days. Creation likely took place over time, (he didn't come right out and say evolution, but he hinted around about it) and in no way does Genesis chapter one indicate the doctrine of creation ex nihilo. 
• The Nephilim of Genesis Ch. 6:4 and Numbers 13:33 were not giants, but the Hebrew for the Nephilim indicates "the falling ones." This is due to the demise of the "Nephilim" to the Great Flood, and then allegedly when Israel invades the promised land. (When read in context, this makes no sense.)
• The book of Deuteronomy may have been written as late as the 6th century B.C. (He uses B.C.E) in order to incite religious reform after the Babylonian Sojourn (He's too good to call it the "captivity"). Therefore making it a forgery.
• Moses did not write the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible). The good "Dr." did not say who wrote it, but it was not Moses. "Who would have schlepped it around the desert?" (Obviously the part of Deuteronomy that was written after Moses death  was not written by him posthumously.)
• In Genesis Chapter 1, the sun and moon was not referred to as the "sun and moon" but the greater and the lesser lights. This was to counter Mesopotamian Sun worship, you wouldn't want to get that started of course...
• The creation account in Genesis was written as a response to other Mesopotamian creation accounts. Not an original document inspired by God so that his people would understand the "beginning." 

Throughout this "lecture," I found myself looking "fool" up in the Bible.

 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.  (Pro 28:26 ESV)

   In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. (Pro 13:16 ESV)

 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. (Pro 17:28 ESV)

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Pro 26:12 ESV)

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. (1Co 3:18 ESV)

    The list goes on, but  I will stop here. You get the idea, it was by far the most mind boggling Bible college class I have taken.

 Please leave a comment with any insights that you may have, it would be greatly appreciated!

Have you experienced the saving power of Jesus?

I was reading Church Planter: The Man, The Message, The Mission by Darrin Patrick, and realized that he makes an excellent point on page 21. Paraphrased, it says that no one should attempt to shepherd a church without having experienced the saving power of Jesus. That got me to thinking.. How many "Christians" have not come to terms with their salvation? 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1Jn 1:9 ESV)

In today's society, forgiveness is somewhat of a mystery to most of us. It has become common place for people to nurse grudges, and to slander and to hate. Not only is it common, but it's encouraged. This occurs almost everywhere we look. Even television shows that are geared towards children/teens encourages them to be mean spirited and hold grudges. It's no wonder that we have difficulty in feeling that the God of the Universe sent his Son on PURPOSE to die for our sins. 

Even though many of us say that we know that we are forgiven, do we feel forgiven? Is this feeling of "almost, but not quite" from God, or man? I believe it is of man. We have difficulty understanding that God has forgiven us, because he loves us. It's a concept that is rather foreign to us; forgiveness. Jesus taught about forgiveness on numerous occasions. Why? He knows that forgiveness is something that we struggle with almost daily. 

Probably the most difficult person to forgive is ourselves. Many of us struggle with guilt about our past lifestyles, mistakes, and the people we may have hurt (in one way or another). We must strive to put this behind us, and allow Jesus to save us, despite ourselves. No, we don't deserve it. The Apostle Paul was inspired to address this:

"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 ESV)

God new that we were sinners, but he sent Jesus ANYWAY! If you still struggle with accepting salvation, or have not yet "felt" the healing of a savior, pray for God to take your doubts, and your feelings of past guilt away from you. Confess that you were a sinner, and ask for forgiveness, if you still have not experienced an encounter with Christ, pray that you will, and that your sin will be put behind you.