"Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon: he said, "Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me." So, under God, dear brother in the Lord, conquest has made you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be, "Excelsior." He only is a true conqueror, and shall be crowned at the last, who continueth till war's trumpet is blown no more. Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies. The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if she can but tempt you to cease your pilgrimage, and settle down to buy and sell with her in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you, and to prevent your pressing on to glory. "It is weary work being a pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Give me at least a furlough from this constant warfare." Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service: he will insinuate that you are doing no good; and that you want rest. He will endeavour to make you weary of suffering, he
will whisper, "Curse God, and die." Or he will attack your steadfastness: "What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as do others, and let your lamp go out as the other virgins do." Or he will assail your doctrinal sentiments: "Why do you hold to these denominational creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks: fall in with the times." Wear your shield, Christian, therefore, close upon your armour, and cry mightily unto God, that by His Spirit you may endure to the end."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
A Stark Contrast
Both in my inbox today.
From openly gap Bishop Gene Robinson who has been invited by Obama to speak at his inauguration: "It is also an indication of the new president's commitment to being the President of all the people. "...[I]t will be my great honor to be there representing... all of us in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community" Robinson said. Robinson will deliver the invocation at Sunday's ceremony, which both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden are scheduled to attend. According to the AP, "Robinson said he doesn't yet know what he'll say, but he knows he won't use a Bible. 'While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans,' Robinson said. 'I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer.'"
From Bill Keller who will be presenting the Gospel at the upcoming Florida State Fair: "If you have been called to serve the Lord, now is the time to start serving
Him. There is a lost and dying world outside the four walls of the church
that desperately needs God's Truth and the hope we have in Jesus Christ. God
needs men and women to rise up in these last days who will take His message
of hope to these lost and hurting souls. Paul could have had a nice life
simply preaching to those Believers in the churches of his day. But he
understood that it was the lost who needed to hear the Gospel, since without
Jesus they were going to die and spend eternity in hell. He literally put
his life on the line each day to bring the Good News to the lost and hurting
even though most didn't want to hear it!
The cold hard reality is that a person who dies without Jesus is going to
spend eternity in hell. People are dying and going to hell every second. We,
who possess the words of everlasting life have a responsibility to bring
that message of salvation through faith in Christ to these dying souls. Why
do we spend all of our time, energy, and resources telling the saved how to
be saved, when it is the lost who need to hear those words of everlasting
life?"
There couldn't be a greater difference between these two who both call themselves Christian. Even though I shouldn't be surprised at this point, Gene's comment that he "will be careful not to be especially Christian" is an abomination to the Lord. Can you imagine Paul having that attitude as he went on his missionary trips? Can you imagine having that attitude as you interact with co-workers or strangers at the grocery store? Or does each of us have that attitude from time to time even if it is unintentional?
From openly gap Bishop Gene Robinson who has been invited by Obama to speak at his inauguration: "It is also an indication of the new president's commitment to being the President of all the people. "...[I]t will be my great honor to be there representing... all of us in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community" Robinson said. Robinson will deliver the invocation at Sunday's ceremony, which both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden are scheduled to attend. According to the AP, "Robinson said he doesn't yet know what he'll say, but he knows he won't use a Bible. 'While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans,' Robinson said. 'I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer.'"
From Bill Keller who will be presenting the Gospel at the upcoming Florida State Fair: "If you have been called to serve the Lord, now is the time to start serving
Him. There is a lost and dying world outside the four walls of the church
that desperately needs God's Truth and the hope we have in Jesus Christ. God
needs men and women to rise up in these last days who will take His message
of hope to these lost and hurting souls. Paul could have had a nice life
simply preaching to those Believers in the churches of his day. But he
understood that it was the lost who needed to hear the Gospel, since without
Jesus they were going to die and spend eternity in hell. He literally put
his life on the line each day to bring the Good News to the lost and hurting
even though most didn't want to hear it!
The cold hard reality is that a person who dies without Jesus is going to
spend eternity in hell. People are dying and going to hell every second. We,
who possess the words of everlasting life have a responsibility to bring
that message of salvation through faith in Christ to these dying souls. Why
do we spend all of our time, energy, and resources telling the saved how to
be saved, when it is the lost who need to hear those words of everlasting
life?"
There couldn't be a greater difference between these two who both call themselves Christian. Even though I shouldn't be surprised at this point, Gene's comment that he "will be careful not to be especially Christian" is an abomination to the Lord. Can you imagine Paul having that attitude as he went on his missionary trips? Can you imagine having that attitude as you interact with co-workers or strangers at the grocery store? Or does each of us have that attitude from time to time even if it is unintentional?
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Thoughts from today
From Dr. James Kennedy - A woman's right to choose "is a very interesting concept. It is an aborted sentence. It ends rational dicussion; it is an emotional declaration; it is a sentence without a predicate. Obviously, a moment's reflection would indicate that a person does not have an unlimited right to choose anything he or she wants to do (including killing someone)."
I learned that there is a GodTube site.
Both the "Roe" in Roe v Wade and the "Doe" in the companion case of Doe v Bolton are both outspoken pro-life advocates today.
I was watching a program on Fox (you know, the far-right network) that profiled the story of a man, who is the son of a founder of Hamas, who converted to Christianity. What opened his heart? What gave him spiritual eyes? When was he born again? When he read the following phrase in the Bible..."Love your enemies." It was a radical departure from everything he had been taught and changed him in an instant. Now, he lives in the US and is seeking political asylum. His life is in danger because the Quran says, "If anyone changes their religion - kill him." Now that is religion. Following orders to gain acceptance instead of the other way around. Can you imagine following that god? Allah doesn't go looking for the lost sheep. He doesn't care about the prodigal son eating out of a pig's trough. He is not about love or sacrifice. Do you want to worship a god that doesn't love you? I know I don't.
There is no such thing as hypocritical joy. There are hypocritical smiles, and hypocritical laughter, and hypocritical testimonies about our joy, and hypocritical good deeds and kind words. But there is no hypocritical joy. Joy is either there as a testimony to what you treasure. Or it isn’t there. God knew what he was doing when he created us to know and enjoy him. His aim is that we reflect and display the worth of his glory. God created us to enjoy him, because joy is the clearest witness to the worth of what we enjoy. It’s the deepest reverberation in the heart of man of the value of God’s glory.
I am wrestling with presuppositional apologetics. I don't know enough about it yet to write something intelligent on the matter.
I think this was a good day.
I learned that there is a GodTube site.
Both the "Roe" in Roe v Wade and the "Doe" in the companion case of Doe v Bolton are both outspoken pro-life advocates today.
I was watching a program on Fox (you know, the far-right network) that profiled the story of a man, who is the son of a founder of Hamas, who converted to Christianity. What opened his heart? What gave him spiritual eyes? When was he born again? When he read the following phrase in the Bible..."Love your enemies." It was a radical departure from everything he had been taught and changed him in an instant. Now, he lives in the US and is seeking political asylum. His life is in danger because the Quran says, "If anyone changes their religion - kill him." Now that is religion. Following orders to gain acceptance instead of the other way around. Can you imagine following that god? Allah doesn't go looking for the lost sheep. He doesn't care about the prodigal son eating out of a pig's trough. He is not about love or sacrifice. Do you want to worship a god that doesn't love you? I know I don't.
There is no such thing as hypocritical joy. There are hypocritical smiles, and hypocritical laughter, and hypocritical testimonies about our joy, and hypocritical good deeds and kind words. But there is no hypocritical joy. Joy is either there as a testimony to what you treasure. Or it isn’t there. God knew what he was doing when he created us to know and enjoy him. His aim is that we reflect and display the worth of his glory. God created us to enjoy him, because joy is the clearest witness to the worth of what we enjoy. It’s the deepest reverberation in the heart of man of the value of God’s glory.
I am wrestling with presuppositional apologetics. I don't know enough about it yet to write something intelligent on the matter.
I think this was a good day.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Worth a Read
A Tale Of Two Churches
By Doug Patton
December 16, 2008
This is a tale of two American churches. One is in a major city. The other is in a small town. One preaches hatred of America and its institutions. The other preaches love and patriotism. One is infected with a toxic dogma known as Black Liberation Theology. The other espouses the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One was just firebombed. Guess which one.
Barack Obama spent twenty years sitting in the pews of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, listening to some of the foulest teaching ever to come from the mouth of a "preacher." That preacher was a poison-tongued demagogue named Jeremiah Wright, who has spewed racist lies and hateful conspiracies from his pulpit during his entire career.
Meanwhile, in Wasilla, Alaska, an evangelical church, attended by Gov. Sarah Palin and her family, teaches the true meaning of Christ's message to His church and to a fallen world.
On Friday, Dec. 12, the Wasilla Bible Church was firebombed. Authorities said the fire started at the main entrance of the church and that they are investigating the blaze as arson. They estimated the damage at $1 million. No one was injured, although a small group, which included children, was inside at the time.
The Wasilla congregation gathered for their services at a local middle school the Sunday following the fire. The statements of the members and their pastors, as reported by the Associated Press, are telling:
Patsy Inks said the news initially shocked and frustrated her. But by Sunday, she was feeling blessed, she said at the school, where worshippers lingered over a potluck dinner for a church family leaving Alaska. "This tragedy has brought us all together," Inks said, her eyes tearing up.
The congregation realizes the church is more than the building, said John Doak, associate pastor at Wasilla Bible Church. "The definition of the church is the body of Christ, made up of God's people," Doak said. "The church is still there. We are the church."
Gov. Palin, who was not at the church at the time of the fire, stopped by Saturday. She reportedly told an assistant pastor she was sorry if the fire was connected to the "undeserved negative attention" the church has received since she became the vice presidential candidate on Aug. 29.
According to AP, worshippers acknowledged the possible Palin connection with the fire, but more in a "gee, maybe" sort of way, said Rob Tracy, a member of the church. But people are speculating about other motives.
"It's just as likely to be some troubled person who has a beef with God," Tracy said.
"Or some local punks," Doak said.
The AP seemed to offer a different motive for the attack:
"After Palin was named John McCain's running mate, the evangelical church was the subject of intense scrutiny. Early in her campaign, Palin's church was criticized for promoting in a Sunday bulletin a Focus on the Family 'Love Won Out' conference in Anchorage. The conference promised to 'help men and women dissatisfied with living homosexually understand that same-sex attractions can be overcome.'"
So let me see if I have this straight. The media fell all over itself during the Obama campaign avoiding an in-depth look at the vitriol flowing like a river of vomit out of Wright's Chicago church. Yet, when Sarah Palin was named as John McCain's choice for vice president, every major news outlet in the country put reporters on planes to Alaska to "investigate" this woman's strange church. And now that this same church has been burned -- an act that would surely be hailed as a "hate crime" had it happened at Obama's church -- we are told that a ministry to help homosexuals who want to leave their deviant lifestyle may be the reason for the attack.
Meanwhile, the loving, forgiving members of the Wasilla Bible Church are turning the other cheek after their church has just been burned to the ground. Can you imagine Jeremiah Wright and his ilk having such a reaction had it been the Trinity United Church of Christ that was attacked?
By Doug Patton
December 16, 2008
This is a tale of two American churches. One is in a major city. The other is in a small town. One preaches hatred of America and its institutions. The other preaches love and patriotism. One is infected with a toxic dogma known as Black Liberation Theology. The other espouses the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One was just firebombed. Guess which one.
Barack Obama spent twenty years sitting in the pews of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, listening to some of the foulest teaching ever to come from the mouth of a "preacher." That preacher was a poison-tongued demagogue named Jeremiah Wright, who has spewed racist lies and hateful conspiracies from his pulpit during his entire career.
Meanwhile, in Wasilla, Alaska, an evangelical church, attended by Gov. Sarah Palin and her family, teaches the true meaning of Christ's message to His church and to a fallen world.
On Friday, Dec. 12, the Wasilla Bible Church was firebombed. Authorities said the fire started at the main entrance of the church and that they are investigating the blaze as arson. They estimated the damage at $1 million. No one was injured, although a small group, which included children, was inside at the time.
The Wasilla congregation gathered for their services at a local middle school the Sunday following the fire. The statements of the members and their pastors, as reported by the Associated Press, are telling:
Patsy Inks said the news initially shocked and frustrated her. But by Sunday, she was feeling blessed, she said at the school, where worshippers lingered over a potluck dinner for a church family leaving Alaska. "This tragedy has brought us all together," Inks said, her eyes tearing up.
The congregation realizes the church is more than the building, said John Doak, associate pastor at Wasilla Bible Church. "The definition of the church is the body of Christ, made up of God's people," Doak said. "The church is still there. We are the church."
Gov. Palin, who was not at the church at the time of the fire, stopped by Saturday. She reportedly told an assistant pastor she was sorry if the fire was connected to the "undeserved negative attention" the church has received since she became the vice presidential candidate on Aug. 29.
According to AP, worshippers acknowledged the possible Palin connection with the fire, but more in a "gee, maybe" sort of way, said Rob Tracy, a member of the church. But people are speculating about other motives.
"It's just as likely to be some troubled person who has a beef with God," Tracy said.
"Or some local punks," Doak said.
The AP seemed to offer a different motive for the attack:
"After Palin was named John McCain's running mate, the evangelical church was the subject of intense scrutiny. Early in her campaign, Palin's church was criticized for promoting in a Sunday bulletin a Focus on the Family 'Love Won Out' conference in Anchorage. The conference promised to 'help men and women dissatisfied with living homosexually understand that same-sex attractions can be overcome.'"
So let me see if I have this straight. The media fell all over itself during the Obama campaign avoiding an in-depth look at the vitriol flowing like a river of vomit out of Wright's Chicago church. Yet, when Sarah Palin was named as John McCain's choice for vice president, every major news outlet in the country put reporters on planes to Alaska to "investigate" this woman's strange church. And now that this same church has been burned -- an act that would surely be hailed as a "hate crime" had it happened at Obama's church -- we are told that a ministry to help homosexuals who want to leave their deviant lifestyle may be the reason for the attack.
Meanwhile, the loving, forgiving members of the Wasilla Bible Church are turning the other cheek after their church has just been burned to the ground. Can you imagine Jeremiah Wright and his ilk having such a reaction had it been the Trinity United Church of Christ that was attacked?
Saturday, December 13, 2008
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