Get Out or Stay

Just so you have the right information for what I am about to say, when it comes to war I am a hawk. In the 60’s there were two sides to the arguments over Vietnam. There were the peaceniks  (doves) and then those who supported the war (hawks). The truth today is I would like to support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but find it extremely hard to do so. First looking at it realistic we stand no chance of actually winning this conflict. Second if we are not able to stomach this then the only alternative is to go home. In a war there are always casualties and if you are unable to accept that and still want to stay then just shut up. Third, this war is not winnable, because it is hard to win a war against ideology if not impossible. Just take our losses and get out of there. Make a warning that any nation or ideology that seeks to harm us will be dealt with harshly.

Home Grown Islamic Terror in U.S.

These two videos are really scary and terrifying. Our freedom is being snatched away from us even as we look on almost like we are in a trance. We are so taken up with what is happening here that this is growing inside of our borders with no one doing anything about it.

 

Pass both of these around.

 

 

We are clossing our eyes to what is happening please wake up.

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

At the climactic stop of his 137-mile train trip that began in Philadelphia, passed through Wilmington, Del. and was to end at Washington’s Union Station, Obama spoke of the need to recapture the spirit of the American revolution. “What is required is a new declaration of independence, not just in our nation, but in our own lives – from ideology and small thinking, prejudice and bigotry…” he said
    He added, “Only a handful of times in our history has a generation been confronted with challenges so vast,” citing tough economic times and two wars. Americans today must call upon “the same perseverance and idealism that our founders displayed,” to deal with those challenges, he said. (from the dc examiner)

If what is meant in the bold type, that Obama means for those of us who still believe the Bible should give it up to a global ideal, then I have a problem with it. First the only world wide government that will work is the one with the Lord Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Any movement that seeks to minimize Christ and put Him on equal footing with other religions (those man made ones?) is not going to be supported by those of us who still believe the scriptures. The suggestion that is being made sounds strangely like the rule of the Anti Christ. The only logic that makes sense to me is the one that says if A is true (being Christ), then B can not be true (being all others) .  This being true then I stand on the following scripture:

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  (Act 4:12)”

 

 

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.  (Rev 17:14)

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  (Rev 19:16)

 

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:  (Rev 19:1)

For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.  (Rev 19:2)

And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.  (Rev 19:3)

And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.  (Rev 19:4)

 

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (Rev 19:13)

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (Rev 19:14)

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (Rev 19:15)

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  (Rev 19:16)

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;  (Rev 19:17)

 

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  (Rev 20:15)

 

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (Rev 22:13)

As A Man Thinketh So is He.

“The inner thought world determines the outward action (Schaeffer, 20)

Human action always starts from our inner thoughts. “As a man thinks so is he” is taken in part from Proverbs 23:7, is very true our actions good or bad always start from what we are thinking. A Christ centered individual should always act by first asking if this is what Christ would have me do. Being Christ centered means to also be scriptural and biblically motivated. If we are to be a Christian people who are in possession of a great deal of discernment, then we must be a scriptural and biblically oriented people. Everyone starts with some basic presuppositions and moves from these to actions.

Thoughts become our basic presuppositions and we catch these from our families. We do this much like we catch the common cold. “…people with more understanding realize that their presuppositions should be chosen after a careful consideration of what world view is true (Schaeffer, 20).” When it gets all gets gathered together there really only a handful of basic world views (Schaeffer, 20). For about the last 25 years or so Christians have been abandoning a Christian world view in favor of a secular world view. Many scientists if not all of them claim that they have no presuppositions, but when it comes right down to the fine points it is impossible to not have a basic supposition. If your presupposition says that there is no God, then all of your thoughts, acts and decisions are based on atheism. This creates a very biased way to look at the world. “–that is, although world views have many variations, there are not many basic world views or basic presuppositions (Schaeffer, 20).

Basically if we are to understand what is happening in our world we must examine the past. Today’s world is best understood by looking at these three areas in history, philosophy, science and religion. Philosophy seeks to provide an answer by approaching it from the view point of an intellectual answer to the basic questions. Science as we see it today seeks to find answers in “physical universe” and then “practical application” of these answers in the area of technology. To the scientist how he or she sees the direction of where they go with their research, is based on their philosophic world view. A religious view also determines what direction a person will take in their lives and for society as well (Schaeffer, 20).

We thus need to see an understanding as to what the main dilemmas are and then look at the past to determine where this came from historically. We could go all the way back, or just as far as the Greeks to give us the needed lessons from history. We could just go back to the Romans, “..because Roman civilization is the direct ancestor of the modern Western world (Schaeffer, 20). Rome was one of the worlds great world empires of history and we gained many great things from the Roman empire, “But it had no real answers to the basic problems that all humanity faces (Schaeffer, 21).

The Greek and Roman empires attempted to build their whole society on their concept of god, however they ran into a problem in this respect, because “..these gods were not big enough because they were finite, limited (Schaeffer 21). In fact their gods were just larger then life human beings and for that reason were unable to be any kind of sufficient answer, their gods were just “amplified humanity” and not “divinity” (Schaeffer, 21). Their gods were not big enough to provide a “reference point” or even permanent enough that could relate to real lives.  Their gods lacked the kind of strength that would stand up under strains either political or individual. Once their society collapsed their gods did too (Schaeffer, 21).

The net result is that anytime you trust in a god made by human hands and in a humans image you have the recipe for failure. The Romans failed, because their gods ultimately failed. Many in our day are trusting in man made religion to cope with the hard things of life. When self centered man seeks to have peace and affluence instead of a personal relationship to Jesus Christ the result will be exactly what we see today. The largest religion in America today is not Roman Catholic, Baptist, Protestant, Muslim or for that mater it is not even considered to be a religious organization, but it is–Humanism is the predominant religion in America today. Humanism has both a secular form and a religious form. Many religious organizations have now adopted religious humanism and have virtually replaced Christ in many of our nation’s churches with this idol for that mater so has the whole world.

Filled seats, but empty hearts and souls

Church is not about how many seats are full on any given Sunday morning. It is not how many you can claim filled the seats. Numbers are not the ultimate test, by which we test our ministries. In fact empty hearts and souls is a far more important concern. A congregation of 1,000, but 200 saved is not as good as a congregation of 200 with 175 saved.  Notice I have not said 200 with 200 saved, because not every one who is a member of our churches is really saved. There are those out there who do not realize they are not saved, but belong to Bible believing churches. There are also those out there who know they are not believers, but lie in wait to snatch up new believers.  Not just how many are saved, but how is their walk with Christ.

Is your pastor preparing you in a biblical and scriptural manner to face the world week by week? Is he faithfully preaching the text of scripture? We call this the exposition of scripture, not reading into it what you want it to say, but preaching what it says even if you do not like what it says. We use to say is the preacher stepping on your toes? If he is not doing this then he is not doing what he is supposed to do. Or are you going to church for the entertainment value, but if it is entertainment you want there are better places to go.

Church is for believers and the building them up in spiritual faith and practice. A pastor is in away kind of working himself out of a job, because he is an example to his flock, both in word and deed. This example should be creating a strong, sufficient and sustaining walk with God. Much like a parent does with a child you teach them to crawl, walk, stand and then run, plus somewhere in there you give them tools that make them better able to discern danger.

However, before you can be built up as a believer, first you must be a believer in Christ. Not just that he existed, but that He died for you, was buried in a tomb and was resurrected on the third day. If you believe this then right now as you read this tell God that you now believe that Jesus died for you and that you accept Him as your savior. Then go and find a church that will help you grow as a believer. If you need help in finding a church, please post a comment and I will help you.