Rights granted by government can be taken away by government.
The founders of American government rightly discerned that government should not have the power to take away rights granted by God.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
law of conservation of blessing
God blesses us to overflowing, out of the overflow we in turn bless others
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
being a servant
Servants
- make themselves available
- pay attention to needs
- do the best with what they have
- do every task with equal dedication
- faithful to minister
- maintain low profile
Servant's Attitudes
- think more of others than self
- think like stewards not owners
- think about own work not what others are doing
- base identity and confidence in Christ
- ministry is an opportunity, not an obligation
- make themselves available
- pay attention to needs
- do the best with what they have
- do every task with equal dedication
- faithful to minister
- maintain low profile
Servant's Attitudes
- think more of others than self
- think like stewards not owners
- think about own work not what others are doing
- base identity and confidence in Christ
- ministry is an opportunity, not an obligation
Monday, January 18, 2010
i'm offended
It never ceases to amaze me when I run across some religious weasel who jumps up and screams "I'm offended, I'm offended" when someone says or does something that rubs them the wrong way.
They get upset about something that offends their religious sensibilities or violates some rule they think everyone should follow.
Really, when a person says "I'm offended" consider where their focus is...
Yes, their focus is on themselves and they are upset about something that impacts them.
To me, this makes not only for a poor witness but also tells me that they are more worried about their own nitpick sensibilities than they are anything else.
If I'm at work or out in public and someone says or does something offensive, what I feel is grief.
I grieve knowing that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).
I grieve that a person could have such corruption and hardness of heart that they would say or do such a thing.
What to do then is ask God for an opportunity and a Word in due season to reach that person and plant a seed of hope into their life.
They get upset about something that offends their religious sensibilities or violates some rule they think everyone should follow.
Really, when a person says "I'm offended" consider where their focus is...
Yes, their focus is on themselves and they are upset about something that impacts them.
To me, this makes not only for a poor witness but also tells me that they are more worried about their own nitpick sensibilities than they are anything else.
If I'm at work or out in public and someone says or does something offensive, what I feel is grief.
I grieve knowing that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).
I grieve that a person could have such corruption and hardness of heart that they would say or do such a thing.
What to do then is ask God for an opportunity and a Word in due season to reach that person and plant a seed of hope into their life.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thirteen Heresies in The Shack
I recieved The Shack as a gift for Christmas. When I started to read it, it was indeed a very emotionally moving and interesting story. However there were some things that did not sit quite right as I was reading. While I appreciate the gift and the spirit in which it was given, there are several false doctrines of the universalist and emerging church hidden throughout the book. I found this article by Michael Youssef most helpful in sorting things out...
Thirteen Heresies in The Shack
Michael Youssef
http://www.leadingtheway.org/site/PageServer?pagename=sto_TheShack_13heresies
1. God the Father was crucified with Jesus.Because God's eyes are pure and cannot look upon sin, the Bible says that God would not look upon His own beloved Son as He hung on the Cross, carrying our sins (Habakkuk 1:13; Matthew 27:45).
2. God is limited by His love and cannot practice justice.The Bible declares that God's love and His justice are two sides of the same coin — equally a part of the personality and the character of God (Isaiah 61:8; Hosea 2:19).
3. On the Cross, God forgave all of humanity, whether they repent or not. Some choose a relationship with Him, but He forgives them all regardless.Jesus explained that only those who come to Him will be saved (John 14:6).
4. Hierarchical structures, whether they are in the Church or in the government, are evil.Our God is a God of order (Job 25:2).
5. God will never judge people for their sins.The Word of God repeatedly invites people to escape from the judgment of God by believing in Jesus Christ, His Son (Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-3).
6. There is not a hierarchical structure in the Godhead, just a circle of unity.The Bible says that Jesus submitted to the will of the Father. This doesn't mean that one Person is higher or better than the other; just unique. Jesus said, "I came to do the will of Him who sent me. I am here to obey my Father." Jesus also said, "I will send you the Holy Spirit" (John 4:34, 6:44, 14:26, 15:26).
7. God submits to human wishes and choices.Far from God submitting to us, Jesus said, "Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life." We are to submit to Him in all things, for His glory and because of what He has accomplished for us (Matthew 7:13-15).
8. Justice will never take place because of love.The Bible teaches that when God's love is rejected, and when the offer of salvation and forgiveness is rejected, justice must take place or God has sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for nothing (Matthew 12:20; Romans 3:25-26).
9. There is no such a thing as eternal judgment or torment in hell.Jesus' own description of hell is vivid ... it cannot be denied (Luke 12:5, 16:23).
10. Jesus is walking with all people in their different journeys to God, and it doesn't matter which way you get to Him.Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one will come to the Father but by me" (John 14:6).
11. Jesus is constantly being transformed along with us.Jesus, who dwells in the splendor of heaven, sits at the right hand of God, reigning and ruling the universe. The Bible says, "In Him there is no change, for He is yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 11:12, 13:8; James 1:17).
12. There is no need for faith or reconciliation with God because everyone will make it to heaven.Jesus said, "Only those who believe in me will have eternal life" (John 3:15, 3:36, 5:24, 6:40).
13. The Bible is not true because it reduces God to paper.The Bible is God-breathed. Sure, there were many men through 1,800 years who put pen to paper (so to speak), each from different professions and different backgrounds, but the Holy Spirit infused their work with God's words. These men were writing the same message from Genesis to Revelation. If you want to read more about the place of Christ in the Scripture, read "We Preach Christ" (2 Timothy 3:16).
Thirteen Heresies in The Shack
Michael Youssef
http://www.leadingtheway.org/site/PageServer?pagename=sto_TheShack_13heresies
1. God the Father was crucified with Jesus.Because God's eyes are pure and cannot look upon sin, the Bible says that God would not look upon His own beloved Son as He hung on the Cross, carrying our sins (Habakkuk 1:13; Matthew 27:45).
2. God is limited by His love and cannot practice justice.The Bible declares that God's love and His justice are two sides of the same coin — equally a part of the personality and the character of God (Isaiah 61:8; Hosea 2:19).
3. On the Cross, God forgave all of humanity, whether they repent or not. Some choose a relationship with Him, but He forgives them all regardless.Jesus explained that only those who come to Him will be saved (John 14:6).
4. Hierarchical structures, whether they are in the Church or in the government, are evil.Our God is a God of order (Job 25:2).
5. God will never judge people for their sins.The Word of God repeatedly invites people to escape from the judgment of God by believing in Jesus Christ, His Son (Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-3).
6. There is not a hierarchical structure in the Godhead, just a circle of unity.The Bible says that Jesus submitted to the will of the Father. This doesn't mean that one Person is higher or better than the other; just unique. Jesus said, "I came to do the will of Him who sent me. I am here to obey my Father." Jesus also said, "I will send you the Holy Spirit" (John 4:34, 6:44, 14:26, 15:26).
7. God submits to human wishes and choices.Far from God submitting to us, Jesus said, "Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life." We are to submit to Him in all things, for His glory and because of what He has accomplished for us (Matthew 7:13-15).
8. Justice will never take place because of love.The Bible teaches that when God's love is rejected, and when the offer of salvation and forgiveness is rejected, justice must take place or God has sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for nothing (Matthew 12:20; Romans 3:25-26).
9. There is no such a thing as eternal judgment or torment in hell.Jesus' own description of hell is vivid ... it cannot be denied (Luke 12:5, 16:23).
10. Jesus is walking with all people in their different journeys to God, and it doesn't matter which way you get to Him.Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one will come to the Father but by me" (John 14:6).
11. Jesus is constantly being transformed along with us.Jesus, who dwells in the splendor of heaven, sits at the right hand of God, reigning and ruling the universe. The Bible says, "In Him there is no change, for He is yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 11:12, 13:8; James 1:17).
12. There is no need for faith or reconciliation with God because everyone will make it to heaven.Jesus said, "Only those who believe in me will have eternal life" (John 3:15, 3:36, 5:24, 6:40).
13. The Bible is not true because it reduces God to paper.The Bible is God-breathed. Sure, there were many men through 1,800 years who put pen to paper (so to speak), each from different professions and different backgrounds, but the Holy Spirit infused their work with God's words. These men were writing the same message from Genesis to Revelation. If you want to read more about the place of Christ in the Scripture, read "We Preach Christ" (2 Timothy 3:16).
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Is Barack the Anti-Christ?
I ran across a poll on a web site with this as the subject, and I couldn't resist weighing in...
While Barack is not a likely candidate for *THE* anti-christ, he is truly an example of the spirit of anti-christ currently growing in the world.
Barack goes about saying "peace, peace" in spite of the spread and upscaling of terrorism throughout the world.
He is a very charismatic speaker and can win over entire audiences, even though a careful examination of his speeches reveal little or no actual substance or clear position on issues. When he speaks, everyone hears what they *want* to hear, regardless of what he is actually saying.
Barack's position on religion is the very essence of the "one world religion", a.k.a. "tolerance" -- a religion where humanism, polytheism, islam, and watered down christianity are all happy bedfellows and every man is right in his own eyes.
As we approach the time of the tribulation, we will continue to see a rise in false religions, false prophets and false christs. The world leading up to the tribulation will be under a great delusion, and in the news and popular media we can observe it growing stronger every day.
Just as labor pains increase in frequency and intensity as the time approaches for delivery, so will we see an increase in frequency and intensity of all the signs that Jesus and the prophets spoke of in scripture.
The leaves are budding on the fig tree, look up for your redemption draws nigh.
While Barack is not a likely candidate for *THE* anti-christ, he is truly an example of the spirit of anti-christ currently growing in the world.
Barack goes about saying "peace, peace" in spite of the spread and upscaling of terrorism throughout the world.
He is a very charismatic speaker and can win over entire audiences, even though a careful examination of his speeches reveal little or no actual substance or clear position on issues. When he speaks, everyone hears what they *want* to hear, regardless of what he is actually saying.
Barack's position on religion is the very essence of the "one world religion", a.k.a. "tolerance" -- a religion where humanism, polytheism, islam, and watered down christianity are all happy bedfellows and every man is right in his own eyes.
As we approach the time of the tribulation, we will continue to see a rise in false religions, false prophets and false christs. The world leading up to the tribulation will be under a great delusion, and in the news and popular media we can observe it growing stronger every day.
Just as labor pains increase in frequency and intensity as the time approaches for delivery, so will we see an increase in frequency and intensity of all the signs that Jesus and the prophets spoke of in scripture.
The leaves are budding on the fig tree, look up for your redemption draws nigh.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Islam the religion of peace
Islamic religious tolerance can be summed up as:
You can believe anything you want, as long as you confess allah is god and mohammed is his prophet.
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