Coexist? - With who?

We have all seen the bumper sticker that says "Coexist" using symbols from 7 different worldviews. They are displayed most often by people who have no allegiance to any of the worldviews shown on it. And the recent Boston Marathon bombing story featured a car with one on it that the terrorists hijacked to flee in.

While the people who display this sticker lecture everyone to be tolerant of each other, they themselves are most guilty of being intolerant of all views based on principles.

The "tolerant" people tell us Christians that we are to "turn the other cheek" as Jesus said, yet they themselves do not follow their own advice when they hurl insults at those who hold conservative views. After all, it's easier to tell others to do something that you don't have to do yourself.

And they conveniently forget that Jesus said that in regards to abuse and persecution, Jesus did not say that in regards to tolerance of sin.

God has always insisted that those who are to please him are to be separated from sin. He drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden after they sinned, and he instructed Israel to drive out of the land those who served other Gods.

(Deuteronomy 7:1-4)
1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

Sunday Devotional - Desires

In today's society we have so many choices to make that cover all aspects of our lives. We can choose where to live, what to eat, what hobbies to pursue, and often what type of vocation we will spend our life working at.

Some of our choices are simple and don't affect us one way or the other, like picking spaghetti or lasagna from a menu for dinner. Others may have an huge impact on our lives, like in choosing to drive 100 mph or deciding that robbing a bank would be a good idea.

God knows we have choices and desires, and he has encouraged us to choose good things instead of bad things.

Way back in the Old Testament God told the Israelites to trust in him first, and then after that he would give them the desires of their hearts.

(Psalm 37:3-5)
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

When Jesus preached, so many of the things he said were just repetitions of what God had told Israel in The Old Testament. Jesus told us also to seek God first, then the earthly needs we have would be provided for.

(Matthew 6:31-33)
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Golden Nugget #6

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

(John 20:27-29)

Music Friday - Ricky Skaggs "I'm Ready to Go!"

Persecutions and Tribulations

Living in The United States is comfortable, it's a country filled with every convenience known to man. Yet somehow we hear constant whining and complaining all around us. And sadly we are often guilty ourselves of doing the same thing.

"Oh if I had a million dollars", or "they should fix this terrible traffic", or in my case - "if I could get that shiny Weber Mandolin!"... Boy life would be good!

We get so wrapped up in our own little universes we forget about the people who are seriously suffering in this world. And they're not suffering because of their own dumb decisions, they are suffering because of the sin and evil in this world.

All we have to do is look at the news and see bombings in Boston, genocide in Africa, and gang rapes civilized England.

No wonder God destroyed the world in the flood so many eons ago.

(Genesis 6:5)
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Satan has his claws in many men, but it seems he's most heavily involved in followers of Islam. Muslims have a special kind of evil about them, especially evidenced in how they inflict great violence on innocent people.

One such case is that of Pastor Saeed Abedini being held prisoner in an Iranian jail. Everyday his life is in danger by threats from fellow prisoners and the brutal beatings he has to endure from the guards.

Witness to a Witness - Confusion?

This installment on the subject of Jehovah's Witnesses deals with a primary argument for why they don't believe that The Trinity exists.

This particular argument also applies to atheists who hold the same view.

In this post I'll cite the New World Translation (NWT) that The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society publishes for Jehovah's Witnesses, along with citing the King James Version (KJV) that's the basis for historical Christian theology.

To be helpful to both groups I believe it's important to show them both side-by-side. The NWT text is in the darker block first, followed by the KJV in the lighter block.

Jehovah's Witnesses claim that since 1 Corinthians 14:33 says “God is not the author of confusion” (KJV), or “God is a God not of disorder” (NWT), then The Trinity can't be true because it is confusing.

But just because a person is confused doesn’t mean a doctrine isn't true, it just means that person doesn’t get it.

You could say the same thing about believing in an invisible God. Someone could say - “It doesn’t make any sense, how do you know he exists? I will only believe in something I can touch!”

But The Bible says it takes faith:

(Hebrews 11:6 NWT)
Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please [him] well, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.

(Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

O_o

The Reverend Doctor Baptist preacher was holding revival at a rural church. After three inspired sermons one of the senior saints of the congregation commented as she shook his hand on her way out:

"Sir, when they told my we were having one of those professor types to preach our revival, I was not expecting to get much out of it. But may I say that for a PhD, you preach like a man with no education at all."

Islam - The Religion of Pieces

Just before 3pm today there were explosions at the site of the Boston Marathon immediately killing 2 and leaving many with horrendous injuries, some life-threatening.

The New York Post is reporting that a Saudi national is under guard at a local hospital and is a person of interest, although he denies having any involvement in the attack.

FOX News is being more reserved and not even reporting on that because there is no conclusive evidence yet.

However there are no groups in existence that would even attempt such an attack at a sporting event where innocent spectators have gathered - except militant Muslim groups.

I don't need to go into detail to prove that point here, there are plenty of documented attempts over the last 2 decades that should remove any doubt. Islam motivated attacks far outnumber those motivated by any other reason.

And Islamic jihadists have repeatedly claimed that they love death more than we love life.

Since those who represent Islam admit they love death and they recognize we love life, that should be proof enough that the god they serve, Allah, is a god of death.

Whereas the God that Christians serve is a God of life. And it is he love for us, his mercy, and his promise of life that motivates us.

(Jude 1:20-21)
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

So as news anchors and pundits try to blame these types of attacks on people who believe the Bible literally, the truth of the matter is that we are looking to lead people to God and his love, and we are looking for Jesus to return, and we are looking forward to eternal life.

Blowing people to bits is not an effective method to lead people to God.

Islam is the religion of "pieces", while the love of Jesus makes you whole.

Sunday Devotion - Liberty

(Galatians 5:13-18)
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

While it is true that The Old Testament Law is no longer in affect, and it is true that our sins are forgiven (even the ones we haven't committed yet), this thing called "Christian Liberty" can be a two edged sword.

On one hand we can be cavalier about it and end up doing things we ought not do because of their impact on our life, such as drinking too much alcohol or watching movies that fill our minds with unGodly things.

And on the other hand we can end up doing things that are a bad witness to those around us who look to us for an example on how to live, or who look at us as a reason to accept/reject Christ.

If we are led by the Spirit of God we will not suffer from either of those consequences. And we will be pleasing to God.

It is difficult for us to resist our own temptations on our own, without the help of The Holy Spirit. The more we please him, the closer our relationship will become, and the easier it will be to live according to his will.

Golden Nugget #5

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
(Isaiah 53:4-9)

Hallelujah!

Christians Are Extremists?

There are two news stories that caught my eye last week. Both of them imply that the world is truly turning upside down. One states that police are being trained to be on guard for Christians who take The Bible literally.

Among those groups, Kluczynski had listed, were those who believe America was founded on godly principles, Christians who take the Bible literally, and “fundamentalists”. Kluczynski did not explain what he meant by “fundamentalists” but from the context it was clear he was referring again to those who took the Bible literally or “too seriously.” - The Blaze

And another story is about how the defense department is treating several conservative Christian groups as dangerous.

As it turns out the headline is true, Christians were labeled as religious extremists in a presentation given over a year ago. But Army officials say that after receiving a single complaint following the presentation, the slide was deleted and it was never shown again. - WOAI 4 News

Both of these stories are slight on their impact of law abiding regular folk, and the second one was even discontinued. However they are indications of a growing trend.

Mormonism - The First Vision Pt 2

Last week we took a look at the first vision that Joseph Smith claimed to have and we compared what he saw in that vision with The Bible. This week we are going to look at what he heard in that vision.

By comparing what he saw with what The Bible says, we were able to determine that it wasn't Biblical nor did it qualify as being "Christian". And since Joseph Smith is the founder of Mormonism, and they claim to be Christians, it obviously is a case of misrepresentation, in that Mormon doctrines are neither Biblical or Christian.

One cannot believe un-Biblical and un-Christian doctrines and still be called a Christian. We will further document that in this weeks look at his first vision.

Joseph Smith was confused about the different Christian denominations and their teachings. He thought that their differences were such that they could not all be right, and he wanted to know which one was right so he could join that one.

Last week we left off with Joseph on the ground and the "two personages" floating above him. We continue with him regaining his composure enough to ask them a question.

My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)--and which I should join. - Joseph Smith

Kittie Faith

R.I.P. Margaret Thatcher (1926 - 2013)

Margaret Thatcher has died today at the age of 87. The former Prime Minister of Great Britain earned the nickname of the "Iron Lady" when refusing to back down in negotiations with the Soviet Union. She also earned the respect and affection of her countrymen as well as the people in the dominions and allies of the UK.

I remember those years well with fondness.

I was a young adult with a new family during the Reagan/Thatcher years. I paid close attention to all that the two of them accomplished on the world stage and was a great fan of hers.

I could see her strength, her resolve, her wit, her warmth, her humor, her friendship, her faithfulness, her devotion and the love she had in her heart. I could see all those things and I admired her greatly from afar.

But there was something else about her that I admired much more than any of those attributes, or her political accomplishments: it was her faith in God.

She was just as secure and grounded in her Christian faith as she was in her political opinions. In fact, it was because of her faith in God that gave her the foundation for her political confidence.

In 1988 she gave a speech at the Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland, The Mound, Edinburgh. It was called the "Sermon on the Mound". In it she expounded on her Christian faith.

Perhaps it would be best, Moderator, if I began by speaking personally as a Christian, as well as a politician, about the way I see things. Reading recently, I came across the starkly simple phrase:

"Christianity is about spiritual redemption, not social reform".

Rest

(This sermon was delivered in fall/winter 2012 during a nursing home ministry event)

I am so tired!

I work in a very busy and stressful industry and sometimes I wonder just how long it will go on! I would love to retire right now and enjoy a well deserved rest!

Every time we visit a retirement community like this I feel a little bit like staying and moving in!

Does anyone here remember 1965? Or a singer named Lee Dorsey? I know it was a long time ago, I was only 4 years old at the time, but Lee Dorsey had a hit song that made it to #5 on the billboard R&B chart named “Workin in a coal mine” – at the end of the first verse Lee sings “I am so tired! How long can this go on?”

In 1981 the pop music group DEVO did a version of the same song and before the song even starts the singer exclaims “I am soooo tired! How long can this go on?”

That’s how I feel a lot of times and I often mimic that song when I’m beat and wore out. You have all worked longer than I have and probably have said the same thing way more than I have.

We have to work all week long to earn money to pay the bills and then we get to the weekend where we can rest. Then Monday morning rolls around and we have to start all over again, going down into the coal mine so to speak until the end of the week when we can rest again.

It’s a vicious cycle, and there always way more work than there is rest. So it seems that we are always chasing that rest period. We say to ourselves “Is it break time yet?” Or “Isn't it lunch time yet?”. And “if I can just make it till Friday”. Or “I can’t wait for the weekend!”.

Golden Nugget #4

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
(1 John 5:7)

This weeks Golden Nugget is a verse that proves The Trinity is a real Biblical doctrine.

People may say that the word "Trinity" is not used in The Bible, but here in this verse it is clearly described.

Music Friday - We Shall See The King

Glen Kaiser - We shall see the king when he comes. Amen!

The President will follow Jesus?

Many U.S. Presidents have mentioned God and have talked about religious ideals in their speeches since the founding of our country.

A few have even invoked the name of Jesus Christ.

While it is a good thing that a President is spiritually aware, and even better if he's a Christian, there are inherent problems in mentioning Jesus by name in a speech. Especially if you also include a doctrinal point or reference a specific Bible verse.

The main problem is that of Biblical accuracy. Politicians are good at law and civil procedures, they are usually not well versed on theology.

Our current President has just recently referred to a Biblical passage and mentioned Jesus Christ in his weekly radio address as motivation for pursuing a certain political agenda.

In his weekly address on Saturday, President Barack Obama said he was recommitting himself to following the example of Jesus Christ in "seeing everyone, especially 'the least of these,' as a child of God." - President Obama CNSNews.com

While that sounds all well and good, there is that nasty little issue of accuracy. President Obama is totally mistaken about who is a child of God.

Mormonism - The First Vision Pt 1

The founder of Mormonsim, Joseph Smith, claimed he saw a vision at the age of 14 years old. The official version of that vision says that he saw both God the Father and Jesus Christ.

I say "official version" because his story regarding this event has changed more than just a few times. That, however, is a topic of discussion for another time.

But this vision is the foundation of the LDS religion, or Mormonism, and the specifics of it form the core of their beliefs which all members adhere to.

When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! - Joseph Smith

In this vision Joseph claims to have seen "two personages", which implies both were in human-ish form, and Mormons believe that's the correct interpretation. However there are a couple problems with this vision when compared with The Bible.

As noted on the Christianity 101 page, if any belief violates one of the 5 fundamental tenets of Christianity it cannot be called "Christian". I would also add the obvious statement that if a belief is in contradiction to The Bible, it cannot be called Biblical.

This vision contradicts several Bible verses and it is the foundation of a major Mormon doctrine that violates one of the tenets of Christianity.

Sweet!

Did he, or didn't he?

Easter has come and gone for one more year, and with it came the normal slew of anti-Christian news stories in news. It is a predictable ritual during Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, to flood the media with stories critical of The Bible and those who believe what it says.

Christians are being blamed for hating gays, hating women, hating poor starving children, hating minorities, hating immigrants and hating anything that upsets the perfect WASP neighborhood tranquility.

ABC interviewed an atheist to discuss religion on Easter Sunday, Google celebrated the birthday of communist agitator Cesar Chavez on Easter Sunday, and at an event called "The White House Easter Egg Roll" the First Lady proclaimed:

“The Easter Egg Roll is the biggest event that we have here on the South Lawn of the White House each year,” said the first lady. “Today, we’re going to have more than 30,000 people who will pass through this yard in celebration of nutrition and health and activity.” CNS News

Nutrition, Health, activity and eggs...no mention of the real meaning of Easter in any of this.