Demons Running A Scam

I'm sorry, (well not really- just more annoyed) but I do not think that having a "church growth" expo is biblical. I think it is nothing more than an attempt to get struggling pastors to take their focus off of Christ and to put their monies into someone else's pockets. However, every true minister of God knows that it is God that provides the increase. Furthermore, what does it do to the glory of Christ when it is the pastor's "ideas" that brings the people in? Also, what kind of people will be attracted to the tom-foolery that the pastor has carried out? It won't be the Christian. It won't be the seeker either. It will be folk with itching ears who would rather have a form of godliness and deny the true power of God. Yes, the word says, "he that wins souls is wise...", but what is forgotten is the beginning of the verse,"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life..." In other words, the fruit that a pastor should bear should be something of significance- something that brings life. And lest we forget, unless you (or I) or any other preacher has been grafted into the true vine, all of our righteousness is as filthy rags (read: bloody tampons)! It is only the life that is Christ that bears fruit and that fruit stems from the Spirit which takes us right to Jesus saying, "No man can come to me, except the Father that has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up on the last day!"

So please see the death that is wrapped up in this ad. And any preacher associated with it is in question because he should know (especially the ones that call themselves bishops, elders, pastors and apostles) the difference between knowing who God is and what the devil would do to kill, steal and destroy.

In conclusion, true pastors of God- run, run from this way of thinking that you can manipulate people to coming to church by having an awesome program. How about this for size, why not just preach the ENTIRE GOSPEL?

Christian Men and Pornography

I was reading a series of articles over @ Tim Challies site dealing with "Sexual Detox." It is a really good read so far (I have only read the first two articles and I believe there are 5 or 6). He makes some very candid remarks, quite a few I had already given thought to. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it did lead me to thinking about the effect porn has played both in my life as well as in the lives of other Christian men (preacher or not). So with that, I placed a poll question on the top of the page concerning pornoghraphy. Please give an honest answer. Don't worry, it doesn't take your name or anything and I am not putting anyone on blast. But I am curious to see how much of an affect porn has had on Christian marriages (unfortunately I understand that it has, I am just curious to see how rampant). When I have enough responses, I will post it. Hopefully more of an understanding can come about so that we can truly glorify Christ in our marriages and hopefully through spiritual maturity prevent our sons, nephews, grandsons (and whomever else we can witness to) that the grace of our Lord is everlasting- but never to be taken advantage of. To God be the glory!

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For God so loved the world.....John 3:16.

Somalis Are Beheaded for Christ

The following link is to a blog entitled, "Somalis For Jesus." (Please click on the link to see, but be forewarned that it is actual footage of Mansuur Mohammed's beheading by Muslims). It is a gruesome video showing the hatred of the world toward Christ Jesus. And because the Bible says in John 15:18, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you." Here is the proof for all of you who think that we need to hold back the Gospel and only utilize "Friendship Evangelism." The dying world needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because if it is hid, it is hid from them who do not know.

We must fully engage the world and not allow the blood of those martyred for Christ to go without witness to the glory and majesty of God. If you are a Christian let this be a wake-up call to the frivolity of modern day "church-isms". Run from the stupidity of "Your Best Life Now" and "Money cometh to me!" Run from the sins of the flesh- the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Cast aside every sin that pulls you from Him. We need to be willing to give our lives for the sake of the Gospel and if you are not willing to do so, then don't piss upon the glory of God by calling yourself a "Christian." Run to the scriptures, for it is that very Gospel that testifies of the truth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our brother in Christ the beloved Mansuur Mohammed- died because he knew that it was better to suffer and fulfill the afflictions that were lacking in Christ than to live in the passions of lust and sin for a day. I believe that this dear brother is in the arms of God now, enjoying Him for eternity...

All praises to the Loving Savior, the Most High God, the Son Jesus Christ!

Consider these writings and live a life worthy of our Savior!

The Gospel Coalition

If you as a Christian, need a place to converse with others and maybe even partner up to spread the Gospel, please consider the work going on at the Gospel Coalition. It is a network for like minded people who want to share the Gospel and truly preach the resurrected King of Glory!

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE 2009

Here is a great team-up with Dr. Piper and Reach Records. Only what you do for Christ will last. Don't wait until you are helpless and can do nothing. Take your life and live it to the glory of God.

Homeland Security vs the Church

I read this article from FoxNews and I was truly angered. As a right leaning conservative, with a view that the majority of right leaning conservatives are Christian, I ask, "Could this be a step in the direction of bringing biblical Christianity to a place of persecution in America?" Think about it. The government labels anyone with right-leaning, conservative values as a potential terrorist. So they mean to tell me that if we disagree with abortion, we are considered to have terroristic traits. What kind of mess is that? Here's a kicker for you, if we (an Airman, Soldier, Marine or Seaman) have been to Iraq or Afghanistan, according to Napolitano we are susceptible to being overcome by those would want to harm the very country we fought to protect!Crazy! Really it sucks because the moral ground that I will not be moved from according to Homeland Security automatically infers that I am now to be considered anti-American. Wow. Yet if this is case, there is still more to be concerned about. Just think, after awhile they begin to crackdown on churches who preach against sin, abortion and homosexuality because they beleive it infringes on their “rights” as Americans (never mind the fact that I am entitled to my opinion). They then lock up those who speak against an immoral lifestyle because they are recognized as instigators. The way I see it, right now the seeds are being planted that will allow the persecution of the Christian Church to begin. In fact, in some places it has already begun. Homosexuals invaded a church in Minnesota last year, harrassed the congregants (who were worshipping that morning) by yelling out blasphemies (in front of the children mind you), began performing sexual acts (again in front of the children) and hung a banner that read "BASH BACK!" And as far as I know, no one was arrested even though the police came out. Yet through all this, we must draw closer to Christ-not out of fear of the enemy-but out of love and admiration for HIM, knowing that this world will pass away, but Christ abides forever!

Intermission

I love God and His mercy is bigger than I could ever have imagined. He is God and worthy to be praised. His love is higher than any cloud, deeper than any sea or thought. I thank Him daily for His goodness in my life. He is wonderful. I will praise Him in my life, with my all, through my preaching and through any song...

Even the World Can See Its Sin...

The young man in this video (Piper from the Alternative pop group Flipsyde) makes some very poignant remarks concerning the loss of a child. However, this isn't the type of loss seen when a man loses a child he has held in his arms. It doesn't stem from the losing of a child to a terrible accident or incurable sickness. Simply put, this is the view not heard from often. A young man pays for his girlfriend's abortion and regrets it years later. There is remorse and contrition from an unsaved individual over his own wickedness- a partaker of abortion. Too many pro-abortion supporters disregard and fail to consider how many people are affected by an abortion. Now for many of the "feminist" persuasion, caring about a man's feelings concerning an abortion would be akin to Hitler caring about the feelings of the Jews he was gassing, i.e. it isn't there. I know it's a bit harsh, but truthful nonetheless. Yet the underlying truth is that this young man does hurt from the abortion. He agonizes over the child that "could have been, but won't" because of his own selfishness.

I will always say that abortion is more than a woman's personal choice. There is more than just HER body that is at stake. Nevertheless, I believe things will only get worse on this issue. Yet regardless of what errors sinful man (and woman) try to make "appear" right, I will speak from the Gospel of Christ and continue to show the lies of abortion. WE must continue to advocate on behalf of the children whom abortion would kill-they don't have a voice of their own and it is our responsibility to do so as Christians.

The Gospel Prepares Us to Die!

I was listening to my brothers at StandUpMinistries from their March 22, 2007 broadcast. On it there was a brother in Christ by the name of Shawn Scott (sp?) from North Carolina. Now this brother had come to faith pretty much in the Apostolic Church. Now coming out of South Carolina I am very familiar with the Apostolic Church (There are several organizations under the Apostolic banner) and there were plenty of them on the corners and deep in the back woods. For those that are unsure of what an Apostolic Church is, it is basically a Pentecostal Church- holding to the majority of their teachings and also bringing in Oneness Theology and hyper-holiness (i.e. women in dresses only, no make-up, etc). In addition, they hold to an anti-cessationist view of the gifts. For them, all the gifts that God had given the Church are still in full use- to include a magnified view of speaking in tongues.

Now as brother Shawn was speaking, he referred to a conversation he and bro. Tim Butler (the founder of Stand Up and a man with a crazy testimony himself) had. The conversation brought up a thought within Mr. Scott and out came "the Gospel prepares us to die..." Now as soon as he said that, I caught onto that with the quickness. I understood it to be as absolutely true a statement as Shawn did. You see what lead up to this was the discussion of the harlotry of the church and how many were using it for financial gain. In fact, a lot of the discussions taken up on "Stand Up" deal with exposing that particular area because so many are in bondage to it. Really, look at TBN or Daystar and see how much of their programmings deal with "giving or sowing a seed." In so many church assemblies today the focus is on money and that should never be the case. Yes, money answers all things, but we are not to be slaves to it.

Many in the church are burdened down by the desire to "get wealth." God never promised Christians that once they came to Christ they would be debt free and all their financial woes would be gone. No, what He promised us was pain and persecution. Pain from picking up our crosses and following Him. But follow Him where? To the place where we are to be crucified on the very crosses that we carried. As for the persecution, "they that will live godly will suffer it" (2 Tim 3:12). Yet that is not the message preached by a growing number of churches out there. Most of what you hear is "God wants to bless you," "God wants you to be victorious," "hi-5 your neighbor and tell the devil to shut up," and my faviorite (snikt...) "yell out money cometh to me!" These mantras are oft quoted as if they were scripture when in fact, they are nothing more than excitable rants that play on the poor and greedy for gain. Sadly, those that imbibe on the vomit that Satan spits out through these false prophets believe that to prosper financially means that they are blessed in Christ. Yet they fail to understand that the Gospel does not prepare us to live the lives of the rich and famous.

No, what the Gospel does is the Gospel prepares us to die... in Christ, so that in the last day we may be raised with HIM according to the glory of the LORD (1 Thess 4:16). We are encouraged to put aside every weight and sin to run the race. We are encouraged to "lay up four ourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy..." Matt 6:20. We are told to focus on those things that are above and not on things that are beneath. Now consider this, "...Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." [1 Tim 6:5] Paul knew what would come after the disciples' departure, and we were being warned. It doesn't matter how rich one becomes, if earthly riches are the ends to the means, then that is the reward and that individual will have no part in HIM. There are plenty evil men out there preaching that the gain of the Gospel is measured out in financial success. What hog-wash! They have perverted the glory of the LORD and made it into a lustful tool that keeps them in an enviable lap of luxury. Earthly monetary gain is not the goal of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that is not the preparation that it provides for.

The Gospel prepares us to die- because we will die in Christ! We must die to our fleshly desires, our greedy wants, to our unholy ways. Romans 8:13 says,"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." We struggle in our natural bodies trying to live in the Spirit. The two are opposed to each other like high is to low. Two wills cannot work together, only one will come out on top. If we walk in Christ and stop the evil works of the flesh, we die in Christ, but are also raised with HIM in HIS glory. If we walk in the desires of the flesh then we will still die- just outside of Christ. We will die outside of HIS mercy, outside of HIS grace, outside of HIS love. Yet, we don't die away from HIS judgment.

Yes, the Gospel prepares us to die, for the glory of GOD. Either we die in Christ receiving HIS mercy and grace or we die outside of Christ receiving HIS judgment and wrath. GOD is glorified both ways. HE is glorified in the pronouncement of HIS mercy toward those who believe and He is glorified in the carrying out of HIS justice towards those who are wicked. God will and must be glorified.

I pray that more will come away from these wicked so-called "apostles of faith" who rob men both spiritually and financially. I pray that GOD is glorified through HIS children coming to know HIM in a more meaningful way than a "daddy gimme this..." mentality. Because in the end, the Gospel does prepare us to die- so that we can truly live in and with HIM for HIS glory!

Evolution vs Romans Chp.1

Those who would encourage the belief of evolution do so in order to undermine the premise of creation through Christ Jesus. Let's jump right into scripture.

Romans 1:18-23 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but
they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Putting the scientific data that presents the cons of evolution (and there are plenty) to the side, I want to soley focus on the spiritual aspect of this particular belief. We begin with Romans 1:18:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Here we see that the Lord's wrath is against those who suppress the truth. What truth would the scripture be referring too? Why the Gospel of Salvation, the revealed righteousness of God Himself. Most evolutionists are Atheistic in their belief, knowing full and well that if they gave in to the remote plausibility of the fact that God created the universe as stated in Genesis, there would be no way that they could believe both evolution and creationism. So, the Lord is against the truth suppressors (of any kind).

Rom 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them,
because God has shown it to them.

Here we see that man can plainly see what God has done on the earth, yet they ignore it. Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort have an awesome way of pointing out this little truth nugget. When speaking to evolutionists, they begin by asking who made the building they're currently standing in front of. Most folk tend to respond with mason, construction worker or builder. They then ask who would be responsible for making a painting. Well of course the answer is a painter. They continue with similar questions, but for right now, you get the idea. Everything that gets created has a creator. Everything that was ever made has a maker. The universe is the same way. There is a maker and a creator- His NAME is YAHWEH. He created everything that we see, the sun, the clouds, the star, the trees, the land, the ocean. He spoke it into existence and it was. Everything that we now see is proof that God made it, because no matter how you dice it, everything has to be created someway.

Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and
divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

This verse goes hand-in-hand with vs 19 and 18. Being able to see that something exists means that it has to come from someone and somewhere. And if it were not for evolution, a lot more people would be believing that some type of "force" or "god" was behind the creation of the unvierse as it is. Nevertheless, there is no excuse for not believing there is a GOD because the proof is in the pudding so to speak.




Rom 1:21-22 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

Because everyone knows that someone had to create the universe, those who refuse HIM automatically hate and despise HIM. They don't want to honor HIM so badly that they try to think HIM out of their hearts and minds, shutting out the very light that would illuminate them.They then turn and boast in what they have created with their mind, foolishly believing a lie rather than the truth- the whole time thinking they are the "intelligent ones."

Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images
resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Hummmm???? Let's see, they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man...

Ladies and gents step right up and meet Nebraska Man. Yessirrreeee!! In 1917 a tooth was discovered and some years later sent to other scientists. His body was an artist's rendering from information given from paleontologists who thought that it might perhaps be an ape or even ape-man (gasp!!!!). Eventually it was found out to be a pig's tooth. (No missing link here).

Next on our non-scientific display is (drum-roll please) Lucy!!! The ape (oops I meant chimp- oops again- long lost ancestor) was found in Ethiopia back in 1973. She... it, was heralded as the missing link between man and ape. However, even one the top Paleantoligists in the states (along with others) have concluded that Lucy (and others like her) were so different that they are not close enough to even resemble a humaoid (not to mention that her head is 60% plaster of paris from an "artisitic" rendering along with half her hip and a few dozens and dozens of missing bones). Kind of makes you wonder that with all of this "artistic" rendering going on, where's the real scientific research. Oh my bad, it is null and void because they would rather believe what they hope in (i.e. their mental capacity to find something on their own) than believe in the God who gave them life.






Quite honestly, this goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. Because they thought they could be like GOD,

"they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen."

Rom 1:25

So many men and women would rather deny the evidence of GOD before them. They would rather believe a lie with all of their heart just so that they can serve their own creation, their own desires- all so that they can be "god" in their own eyes. Unfortunately, the LORD will avenge Himself and He will pour out His wrath against the ungodly. And one of the saddest things about it is that they will continue to curse Him and will pray that the rocks would grind them.





So what do we do people? You know the answer, "Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Be instant- in season, out of season. Don't preach the seeker sensitive model, the health and wellness gospel, or the name it and claim gospel. Preach the truth- Jesus Christ crucified as the atonement for YOUR and MY SINS! Don't waiver from the Word which is able to save your souls! Don't allow fear or shortcuts to rob God of His glory. Preach the Gospel- the whole Bible from beginning to end!!!








May God's grace be upon you,









your brother and fellow slave in Christ!!