My friend, Charlie, is in a hospital room tonight following a stroke.
He was eating supper Friday night, alone (he lives alone). Sometime between 7:00 and 7:30 he started to get up for something.
As he began to stand, he lost his balance and fell to one side. He could not get up.
A neighbor, out walking his dog, looked in the window and saw Charlie lying on the floor, called out to him and when he did not respond, went inside to try to help.
He tried to sit Charlie up. When he did so, charlie slumped back over on his side.
Another neighbor came in and called 911.
Charlie was able to speak in a slurred fashion and let it be known that he did not want to go to the hospital.
The paramedic told him that if he would not go voluntarily, he (the paramedic) would call the police, have Charlie arrested and then they would take him to the hospital.
Charlie went to the hospital.
I saw him today.
He was in his normal curmudgeon-like spirits (I really love his sense of humor and his grumpy act...he is not really grumpy at all and has a heart of solid gold).
Charlie is a good friend and a fine Christian.
On limited income, he gives more than the richest man I know, quite literally.
Charlie has never insulted me, accused me of things I have not done or said, never yelled at me or lost his temper with me; never made life harder for me while pretending to be making it easier.
Charlie has always given me the benefit of the doubt. He has been more Christ-like toward me than most of the other people around me who masquerade as Christians.
He has laughed with me over both of our foibles, eaten with me about once per week, visited in my home for the sheer pleasure of it.
Charlie is not a respecter of persons.
He does not treat people with money differently than he treats people with no money.
He does not do things with an eye to what he can get out of it, but with an eye for how he might make things better.
He regularly witnesses his faith to even members of his own family...one of the hardest things to do.
Charlie lives a real faith, not that kind of "I'll play God's game so He'll give me what I want" kind of faith.
I have seen him trampled on by Christians while doing his job as a maintenance person at the church he worked at and then fired by a temporary staff for no good reason.
I have seen him kicked when he was down, pick himself up and good naturedly start all over again.
He has been told he was in the way, when, in fact, he was making things easier, but the person in charge was, and still is, too stupid to understand that, and cannot even recognize his own stupidity.
There is no one with whom I come in contact, daily or otherwise, who is half the man Charlie is.
Charlie is my brother in Christ and my friend.
I pray that Charlie will have a full recovery and will soon be able to go to lunch with me...I'll buy. Please pray with me to that end.
Get well quickly, Charlie. Get well quickly.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Sunday Praise
Son of David, Mighty Master, Prince of Peace, we praise you today.
We praise you for being our loving and protecting Shepherd, our Fortress and the Rock upon whom we can stand.
Blessed King of kings, with the angels we exalt you. Our anthems we sing to you.
To you be all the glory, laud and honor.
All Glory, Laud and Honor
by Theodulph of Orleans
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/g/aglahonr.htm
All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.
The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present.
To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.
Post Script: A very dear friend of mine, with whom I have lunch at least once per week, is in the hospital having suffered a stroke. His name is Charlie Warber. Please pray for him. Thank you.
We praise you for being our loving and protecting Shepherd, our Fortress and the Rock upon whom we can stand.
Blessed King of kings, with the angels we exalt you. Our anthems we sing to you.
To you be all the glory, laud and honor.
All Glory, Laud and Honor
by Theodulph of Orleans
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/g/aglahonr.htm
All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.
The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present.
To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.
Post Script: A very dear friend of mine, with whom I have lunch at least once per week, is in the hospital having suffered a stroke. His name is Charlie Warber. Please pray for him. Thank you.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Just Hanging On
Things have been so hectic lately that I have not had time to offend anybody.
I feel just like this guy.
Just hanging on.
I feel just like this guy.
Just hanging on.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
How to Read - Part 2
Well...I offended a few with my last post. Let's see whether I can offend some more with this one.
OK. It really is NOT my intention to offend. It just comes naturally.
What bothers me is how much stuff masquerades as Biblical Christianity that is little more than the expression of our imaginations or the way we wish things were.
The Romans were in charge.
Rome was not a particularly civilized civilization.
Roman soldiers' orders were to be obeyed. Penalties were severe. They ranged from heavy flogging for minor offenses to death for major offenses.
Where prisoners were concerned, they did not escape from Roman custody. If they did, those guarding them paid with their lives. No excuses.
Not only were they put to death, but their families as well. Bad news!
Now let's go to everybody's favorite book, the Acts of the Apostles.
Let's go to chapter 16 versees 16 and following.
Paul and Silas were prisoners of Rome. They were being guarded by a jailer. The jailer had been commanded by Rome to guard them carefully.
They were in an inner cell, a cell within a cell. There were no windows. No way of excape.
And they were in stocks.
These guys were in jail big time. They could hardly move, certainly no farther than their arms and legs lengths.
I might have been screaming and crying.
They were singing and praying.
Then they experienced the first Jailhouse Rock.
An earthquake shook the prison and loosed their chains and broke open the prison door.
They were free! They could leave! And the jailer was in deep, deep trouble.
Remember, the penalty for allowing a prisoner to excape was death.
The jailer picked up his sword and was about to kill himself, because that would have been a more merciful death than he was about to suffer at the hands of the Romans.
Paul saw what was about to happen and shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
Now here's where I believe EVERY sermon I have ever heard has taken a wrong turn, based on the context of the narrative.
The text requires that the jailer feard for his own physical life and that of his whole family. One way or the other, they were all going to die. At least if he killed himself, his family might have a chance.
Pick up the scripture in verse 29: "The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas (his prisoners, remember?). He then brought them out and asked, 'Men, what must I do to be saved?'"
Not for one nanosecond was he concerned about his soul. There has been no reference to his soul. There is no indication that he even knew what a soul was.
I have never heard it preached that the jailer was interested in anything BUT hs soul. The narrative dictates that he had NO interest in his soul, only his life and that of his family.
But Paul, ever diligent to sieze upon an opportunity for Christ, answered an unasked question.
Verse 31: "They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your whole household.'"
Then (this is SO important) they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his household."
They all found an answer to a question they had not asked. They found salvation both physically and spiritually.
How bold of them was it for them to wash Paul and Silas' wounds? And be baptized? And feed them?
Right there in front of the world. And the Romans, too!
Surely they had been saved to the uttermost!
The scripture says, (vs 34) "...and the whole family was filled with joy, because they had come to believe in God."
This puts to rest the inane question I have heard a thousand times, "When the husband gets saved, does that mean the whole family is saved by the husband's salvation?"
(That's a synopsis of all of the questions surrounding that issue).
Of course not. They ALL heard the word of the Lord and then were saved, each responding to the gospel!
It is my humble, but correct, opinion that when understood in this way, this is the most remarkable of the post resurrection stories in the New Testament.
Its lessons are many: 1) When in dire straits, praise the Lord; 2) When in fear turn to the Lord. 3) When saved, rejoice in the Lord.
As Psalm 150 puts it, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
Are YOU breathing today?
OK. It really is NOT my intention to offend. It just comes naturally.
What bothers me is how much stuff masquerades as Biblical Christianity that is little more than the expression of our imaginations or the way we wish things were.
The Romans were in charge.
Rome was not a particularly civilized civilization.
Roman soldiers' orders were to be obeyed. Penalties were severe. They ranged from heavy flogging for minor offenses to death for major offenses.
Where prisoners were concerned, they did not escape from Roman custody. If they did, those guarding them paid with their lives. No excuses.
Not only were they put to death, but their families as well. Bad news!
Now let's go to everybody's favorite book, the Acts of the Apostles.
Let's go to chapter 16 versees 16 and following.
Paul and Silas were prisoners of Rome. They were being guarded by a jailer. The jailer had been commanded by Rome to guard them carefully.
They were in an inner cell, a cell within a cell. There were no windows. No way of excape.
And they were in stocks.
These guys were in jail big time. They could hardly move, certainly no farther than their arms and legs lengths.
I might have been screaming and crying.
They were singing and praying.
Then they experienced the first Jailhouse Rock.
An earthquake shook the prison and loosed their chains and broke open the prison door.
They were free! They could leave! And the jailer was in deep, deep trouble.
Remember, the penalty for allowing a prisoner to excape was death.
The jailer picked up his sword and was about to kill himself, because that would have been a more merciful death than he was about to suffer at the hands of the Romans.
Paul saw what was about to happen and shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
Now here's where I believe EVERY sermon I have ever heard has taken a wrong turn, based on the context of the narrative.
The text requires that the jailer feard for his own physical life and that of his whole family. One way or the other, they were all going to die. At least if he killed himself, his family might have a chance.
Pick up the scripture in verse 29: "The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas (his prisoners, remember?). He then brought them out and asked, 'Men, what must I do to be saved?'"
Not for one nanosecond was he concerned about his soul. There has been no reference to his soul. There is no indication that he even knew what a soul was.
I have never heard it preached that the jailer was interested in anything BUT hs soul. The narrative dictates that he had NO interest in his soul, only his life and that of his family.
But Paul, ever diligent to sieze upon an opportunity for Christ, answered an unasked question.
Verse 31: "They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your whole household.'"
Then (this is SO important) they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his household."
They all found an answer to a question they had not asked. They found salvation both physically and spiritually.
How bold of them was it for them to wash Paul and Silas' wounds? And be baptized? And feed them?
Right there in front of the world. And the Romans, too!
Surely they had been saved to the uttermost!
The scripture says, (vs 34) "...and the whole family was filled with joy, because they had come to believe in God."
This puts to rest the inane question I have heard a thousand times, "When the husband gets saved, does that mean the whole family is saved by the husband's salvation?"
(That's a synopsis of all of the questions surrounding that issue).
Of course not. They ALL heard the word of the Lord and then were saved, each responding to the gospel!
It is my humble, but correct, opinion that when understood in this way, this is the most remarkable of the post resurrection stories in the New Testament.
Its lessons are many: 1) When in dire straits, praise the Lord; 2) When in fear turn to the Lord. 3) When saved, rejoice in the Lord.
As Psalm 150 puts it, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
Are YOU breathing today?
Monday, January 23, 2006
How To Read - Part 1
Editor's Note for Prophecy Theologs: I already know about the coming wedding feast of the Lamb and all that stuff, so let's not get off on that and miss the point of what's being written bout here, OK?
I read three books yesterday.
I read pages 36 and 38 of one, pages 106 and 237 of another and the first two paragraphs of the third.
That's pretty stupid, isn't it?
The other day I submitted a post of my random thoughts.
Today, I want to pick up on one of them and develop it a little bit, on-a-counta-because, I don't think too many people, especially pastors, know how to read well enough properly interpret scripture.
Now I don't mean that as an insult to pastors, even though I realize many will be insulted by it, I just hear so many sermons that miss the point of the scripture upon which they are supposed to be expounding, that it is troubling.
They are either advancing some agenda of their own, or they just don't know how to read. (They could be just liars...but let's not go there. Let's give them at least the benefit of the doubt).
(BTW: If the shoe don't fit, quit trying to put it on.)
OK...here we go.
How many sermons have you heard from Ephesians 5:22 that try to explain how God has established the order of the home and the order is: the husband is the head of the home, sort of like the President is the head of the armed services. Or There has to be some hirarchy in the family and so God has helped us out by showing us what that hirarchy is?
That would all be well and good, except that the writer, Paul, tells us that he is not talking about the family.
"Wait a minute!" I hear you screaming, "A husband, a wife, the children...that's a family, isn't it?"
Yes, it is.
"Then what on earth are you talking about 'Paul tells us that he is not talking about the family'?"
Hey. Don't shout at me, shout at Paul. He said it, not me.
In verse 32, while having introduced the Genesis concept of the oneness of husband and wife, Paul says, "This mystery great is, I but say as to Christ and as to the church."
Oops! That's a word-for-word translation from the Greek text.
Let's see if we can get it right in English.
"This (a pronoun referencing his subject: the leaving of father and mother and the joining of two people in marriage) is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
Most pastors, including one I heard on the radio this very morning, gloss over this, or ignore it completely and spend their entire time pontificating about the structure of marriage, or, if they are enlightened, telling how Ephesians 5: 22 ff is really a balanced description of what a family should be like.
"I am talking about Christ and the church."
Look! He just told us what he is talking about!
Revelation! Excitement! We don't have to guess or imagine or extrapolate! He just told us!
Now let's put it all together.
Genesis tells us that God designed marriage such that a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.
This is reiterated in Ephesians 5:31 and is used by Paul as a picture of what the church should be.
It's like this: We (the church) are the bride of Christ. Just as a man leaves his father, Christ left His Father to take on a bride...us.
Just as Jesus said divorce should never be an option for a man and wife, so it is unthinkable that the Son would ever divorce Himself from His bride, the church.
If we take the whole section of scripture, connect it to the others dealing with husband-wife relationships, apply it to Christ and the church, the whole thing suddenly takes on a whole, new, exciting, unifying meaning.
"Wives (church), submit to your husbands (Christ) as He does (a proper inference from the Greek text) to the Lord (God)."
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
Can't you see it?
Christ's bride is to be holy, clean, washed in the word, stainless, smooth, unblemished, holy and blameless!
Argue over money? That will NEVER happen in Christ's church.
Mad over some decision "they" made? Not if you're a part of Christ's church.
Someone got the spotlight when you thought you should have been recognized? Not a problem to a member of the bride of Christ.
Hung up on some "should or shouldn't" of doctrine? Christ's body would not go there because the body would be too focused on Him.
If part of the bride was hurting, the rest would come to the rescue with money, living space, healing ointment, emotional support, a job or whatever it took to bring unity, healing and to restore brideship.
Christ died for us (His bride) at Calvary. He did his husbandly duty for His bride.
How dare we take the gift of His groomship and not respond as a sweet, pure, innocent bride?
Like a bride seeks to please her new husband, so His bride must seek to please Him.
What kind of bride for Him are you in your church?
I read three books yesterday.
I read pages 36 and 38 of one, pages 106 and 237 of another and the first two paragraphs of the third.
That's pretty stupid, isn't it?
The other day I submitted a post of my random thoughts.
Today, I want to pick up on one of them and develop it a little bit, on-a-counta-because, I don't think too many people, especially pastors, know how to read well enough properly interpret scripture.
Now I don't mean that as an insult to pastors, even though I realize many will be insulted by it, I just hear so many sermons that miss the point of the scripture upon which they are supposed to be expounding, that it is troubling.
They are either advancing some agenda of their own, or they just don't know how to read. (They could be just liars...but let's not go there. Let's give them at least the benefit of the doubt).
(BTW: If the shoe don't fit, quit trying to put it on.)
OK...here we go.
How many sermons have you heard from Ephesians 5:22 that try to explain how God has established the order of the home and the order is: the husband is the head of the home, sort of like the President is the head of the armed services. Or There has to be some hirarchy in the family and so God has helped us out by showing us what that hirarchy is?
That would all be well and good, except that the writer, Paul, tells us that he is not talking about the family.
"Wait a minute!" I hear you screaming, "A husband, a wife, the children...that's a family, isn't it?"
Yes, it is.
"Then what on earth are you talking about 'Paul tells us that he is not talking about the family'?"
Hey. Don't shout at me, shout at Paul. He said it, not me.
In verse 32, while having introduced the Genesis concept of the oneness of husband and wife, Paul says, "This mystery great is, I but say as to Christ and as to the church."
Oops! That's a word-for-word translation from the Greek text.
Let's see if we can get it right in English.
"This (a pronoun referencing his subject: the leaving of father and mother and the joining of two people in marriage) is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
Most pastors, including one I heard on the radio this very morning, gloss over this, or ignore it completely and spend their entire time pontificating about the structure of marriage, or, if they are enlightened, telling how Ephesians 5: 22 ff is really a balanced description of what a family should be like.
"I am talking about Christ and the church."
Look! He just told us what he is talking about!
Revelation! Excitement! We don't have to guess or imagine or extrapolate! He just told us!
Now let's put it all together.
Genesis tells us that God designed marriage such that a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.
This is reiterated in Ephesians 5:31 and is used by Paul as a picture of what the church should be.
It's like this: We (the church) are the bride of Christ. Just as a man leaves his father, Christ left His Father to take on a bride...us.
Just as Jesus said divorce should never be an option for a man and wife, so it is unthinkable that the Son would ever divorce Himself from His bride, the church.
If we take the whole section of scripture, connect it to the others dealing with husband-wife relationships, apply it to Christ and the church, the whole thing suddenly takes on a whole, new, exciting, unifying meaning.
"Wives (church), submit to your husbands (Christ) as He does (a proper inference from the Greek text) to the Lord (God)."
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
Can't you see it?
Christ's bride is to be holy, clean, washed in the word, stainless, smooth, unblemished, holy and blameless!
Argue over money? That will NEVER happen in Christ's church.
Mad over some decision "they" made? Not if you're a part of Christ's church.
Someone got the spotlight when you thought you should have been recognized? Not a problem to a member of the bride of Christ.
Hung up on some "should or shouldn't" of doctrine? Christ's body would not go there because the body would be too focused on Him.
If part of the bride was hurting, the rest would come to the rescue with money, living space, healing ointment, emotional support, a job or whatever it took to bring unity, healing and to restore brideship.
Christ died for us (His bride) at Calvary. He did his husbandly duty for His bride.
How dare we take the gift of His groomship and not respond as a sweet, pure, innocent bride?
Like a bride seeks to please her new husband, so His bride must seek to please Him.
What kind of bride for Him are you in your church?
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Sunday Praise
Father in Heaven, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ, we join our voices in a joyous song of praise to you.
We praise you from the depths of our hearts, 'till the very air around us is saturated with your praise.
To you whose leadership and guidance is our mainstay, whose love will continue forever, we give our worship and adoration.
When this life draws its last breath, our praise will continue throughout eternity. And when we find ourselves at home in your home, we will continue to sing praises for you alone are worthy.
Come, Christians, Join to Sing
by Christian H. Bateman
Come, Christians, join to sing,
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud Praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice:
Alleluia! Amen!
Come, lift your hearts on high;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend;
To us He'll condescend;
His love shall never end;
Alleluia! Amen!
Praise yet our Christ again,
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the stain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven's blissful shore
His goodness we'll adore,
Singing forever more,
Alleluia! Amen!
We praise you from the depths of our hearts, 'till the very air around us is saturated with your praise.
To you whose leadership and guidance is our mainstay, whose love will continue forever, we give our worship and adoration.
When this life draws its last breath, our praise will continue throughout eternity. And when we find ourselves at home in your home, we will continue to sing praises for you alone are worthy.
Come, Christians, Join to Sing
by Christian H. Bateman
Come, Christians, join to sing,
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud Praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice:
Alleluia! Amen!
Come, lift your hearts on high;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend;
To us He'll condescend;
His love shall never end;
Alleluia! Amen!
Praise yet our Christ again,
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the stain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven's blissful shore
His goodness we'll adore,
Singing forever more,
Alleluia! Amen!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Randomly Thought Thoughts.
1. All, I said ALL, unrighteous anger is born of not getting one's own way.
2. Whining about our circumstances is an anathama to faith and is the result of self-centerdness.
3. Husbands and wives need to learn to give 100% of themselves to God and each other, expecting absolutely nothing in return.
4. People who read Ephesians 5 and think it says men are the boss in the family, did not pay attention in English class when writing was taught.
5. Driving over the speed limit is contrary to the law, and thus is sin.
6. Overeating is both dangerous and sinful behavior. In fact it is sinful behavior because it is dangerous. I am exceedingly guilty of this one. Are you?
7. The Old Testament is not the rule book by which we must live, it is the forshadowing of the incarnation of God and the expectation of His coming in the person of Christ.
8. I did not say the Old Testament was not a good rule book by which to live.
9. Jesus should be the in all, of all, by all and through all of everything we are and do.
10. If Jesus does not rule in your life, you are missing most of what Christianity is about and almost all of the joy of knowing Him.
2. Whining about our circumstances is an anathama to faith and is the result of self-centerdness.
3. Husbands and wives need to learn to give 100% of themselves to God and each other, expecting absolutely nothing in return.
4. People who read Ephesians 5 and think it says men are the boss in the family, did not pay attention in English class when writing was taught.
5. Driving over the speed limit is contrary to the law, and thus is sin.
6. Overeating is both dangerous and sinful behavior. In fact it is sinful behavior because it is dangerous. I am exceedingly guilty of this one. Are you?
7. The Old Testament is not the rule book by which we must live, it is the forshadowing of the incarnation of God and the expectation of His coming in the person of Christ.
8. I did not say the Old Testament was not a good rule book by which to live.
9. Jesus should be the in all, of all, by all and through all of everything we are and do.
10. If Jesus does not rule in your life, you are missing most of what Christianity is about and almost all of the joy of knowing Him.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
What to Do
On the way to work this morning I listened to two Bible study programs, each a half hour long. (It does not take me an hour to get to work, but I sat in the car to finish hearing the last one.)
Each was teaching about the tribulation.
The first insisted that the church would not go through the tribulation and that the actual tribulation, the Great Tribulation, would only be three and a half years, with the first 3 1/2 years of the 7 weeks of Daniel being rough, but not as bad as the last half.
The other seemed reluctant to say that the church would not go through the tribulation and that the tribulation would be 7 years in length.
Each quoted six or seven scriptures to back their point of view. They quoted from Daniel, Thessalonians and The Revelation.
So, is this an important issue? Does it matter to us day-by-day? Should we adjust our behavior because we believe one way or the other?
When I speak to someone about their eternal destiny, do I include this information in my explanation of their need for Christ?
What are we to do with our belief about the tribulation?
Note: Do not attempt to decern my position on the tribulation from this post. I have deliberately tried to keep my position out of it for the purpose of picking your mind.
Oh, and by they way, don't be TOO long winded about it. Please. Pretty please. Pretty please with sugar on it. Pedanticity is so boring.
Each was teaching about the tribulation.
The first insisted that the church would not go through the tribulation and that the actual tribulation, the Great Tribulation, would only be three and a half years, with the first 3 1/2 years of the 7 weeks of Daniel being rough, but not as bad as the last half.
The other seemed reluctant to say that the church would not go through the tribulation and that the tribulation would be 7 years in length.
Each quoted six or seven scriptures to back their point of view. They quoted from Daniel, Thessalonians and The Revelation.
So, is this an important issue? Does it matter to us day-by-day? Should we adjust our behavior because we believe one way or the other?
When I speak to someone about their eternal destiny, do I include this information in my explanation of their need for Christ?
What are we to do with our belief about the tribulation?
Note: Do not attempt to decern my position on the tribulation from this post. I have deliberately tried to keep my position out of it for the purpose of picking your mind.
Oh, and by they way, don't be TOO long winded about it. Please. Pretty please. Pretty please with sugar on it. Pedanticity is so boring.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
CHECK IT OUT
If you've never seen this, check it out. Either click on the link or copy and paste it in your browser.
Get ready to shiver.
http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf
Scary?
Get ready to shiver.
http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf
Scary?
Sunday Praise
Heavenly Father, in the blessed, wonderful name of Jesus, we come to you in praise.
As darkness turns to day, and as the powers of darkness run in fear from the praise of our Lord, let our hearts be filled with confidence that the Light of the World has overcome the darkness.
May the very voices of the world find unity in the praise of the who gives life.
Let it be my song as long as I have breath and when my last breath is drawn, as well as throughout eternity, that the precious name of Jesus will forever be praised.
When Morning Guilds the Skies
by Katholisches Gesanbuch and Joseph Barnby
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/gilds.html
When morning guilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When you begin the day, O never fail to say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Whene’er the sweet church bell peals over hill and dell,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
O hark to what it sings, as joyously it rings,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
My tongue shall never tire of chanting with the choir,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
This song of sacred joy, it never seems to cloy,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
To God, the Word, on high, the host of angels cry,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this at meals your grace, in every time and place;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, when day is past, of all your thoughts the last
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When sleep her balm denies, my silent spirit sighs,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest, with this I shield my breast,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The night becomes as day when from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
No lovelier antiphon in all high heav’n is known
Than, Jesus Christ be praised!
There to the eternal Word the eternal psalm is heard:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er, for aye and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
As darkness turns to day, and as the powers of darkness run in fear from the praise of our Lord, let our hearts be filled with confidence that the Light of the World has overcome the darkness.
May the very voices of the world find unity in the praise of the who gives life.
Let it be my song as long as I have breath and when my last breath is drawn, as well as throughout eternity, that the precious name of Jesus will forever be praised.
When Morning Guilds the Skies
by Katholisches Gesanbuch and Joseph Barnby
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/gilds.html
When morning guilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When you begin the day, O never fail to say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Whene’er the sweet church bell peals over hill and dell,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
O hark to what it sings, as joyously it rings,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
My tongue shall never tire of chanting with the choir,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
This song of sacred joy, it never seems to cloy,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
To God, the Word, on high, the host of angels cry,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this at meals your grace, in every time and place;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, when day is past, of all your thoughts the last
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When sleep her balm denies, my silent spirit sighs,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest, with this I shield my breast,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The night becomes as day when from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
No lovelier antiphon in all high heav’n is known
Than, Jesus Christ be praised!
There to the eternal Word the eternal psalm is heard:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er, for aye and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Saturday, January 14, 2006
MORE TO COME
I've told you before about a friend of mine who has begun enabling individual churches to have their own radio station with which to broadcast their own preference in music and ministry over the Internet. The church can also promote its upcoming events, put its pastor on, add whatever other programs they want and broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The potential listener is every person on earth with a computer and high speed Internet. As an example, http://www.capechristian.com/ had over 50,000 hits from November to January! And it has not even been promoted.
You can check out the Light Adult Contemporary sound at http://www.capechristian.com/ and follow the links to listen (you need to choose a player, such as Windows Media Player, too).
Well, here's the updated news.
I have joined forces with him to help get a varety of styles up and running.
Soon there will be: Southern Gospel; Traditional; Inspirational; Contemporary and other formats available, the church's choice.
The whole thing will be very affordable.
To put a regular radio station on the air costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions, if you have to buy the station, equipment and pay staff. Then your station is limited to the local area and a fairly low quality of streaming the signal.
This new type of station will cost a tiny fraction of that, requires little effort and only occasional involvement by the church staff. The sound quality rivals the best broadcast stations, with even surround-sound capabilities.
Listeners can log on, minimize the screen and go on about their computer business, at work or at home with the positive, uplifting sounds of Christian music and ministry playing in the background. In a short time, it will be available in cars, as wireless technology expands and improves.
If your church, or any church you know of, is interested in investigating this opportunity, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the main developer, Ron Maxwell.
God is leading in a very exciting direction, here. I'm very blessed to be a part of this gigantic effort!
The potential listener is every person on earth with a computer and high speed Internet. As an example, http://www.capechristian.com/ had over 50,000 hits from November to January! And it has not even been promoted.
You can check out the Light Adult Contemporary sound at http://www.capechristian.com/ and follow the links to listen (you need to choose a player, such as Windows Media Player, too).
Well, here's the updated news.
I have joined forces with him to help get a varety of styles up and running.
Soon there will be: Southern Gospel; Traditional; Inspirational; Contemporary and other formats available, the church's choice.
The whole thing will be very affordable.
To put a regular radio station on the air costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions, if you have to buy the station, equipment and pay staff. Then your station is limited to the local area and a fairly low quality of streaming the signal.
This new type of station will cost a tiny fraction of that, requires little effort and only occasional involvement by the church staff. The sound quality rivals the best broadcast stations, with even surround-sound capabilities.
Listeners can log on, minimize the screen and go on about their computer business, at work or at home with the positive, uplifting sounds of Christian music and ministry playing in the background. In a short time, it will be available in cars, as wireless technology expands and improves.
If your church, or any church you know of, is interested in investigating this opportunity, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the main developer, Ron Maxwell.
God is leading in a very exciting direction, here. I'm very blessed to be a part of this gigantic effort!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
With Apologies to Jeff H.
"Well, let me ask you this: Is it your testimony that you once frequented a restroom in a Wal Mart Superstore that had once been used by ........"!"
"Finish the sentence, Senator, you have to finish the sentence!"
The sentence. Finish the sentence.....ehhh what was the sentence?
The sentence about the restroom...finish it!
"Ahem....Oh...um...yes. In the restroo...ehh...your testi...ehhmony is that you used the restroom at Wal Mart that was used by....erhhh...who was the restroom used by?
"Bundy. Ted Bundy you blathering dolt!"
erhh...Bundy...yes Bundy. Should a man seeking a position on the highest court in the land be keeping company with a TV comedian from Married with Children? Shouldn't you be more careful with whom you hang out...with...whom? Doesn't that prove you are inclined to vote against Roe v. Wade?
"It is my opinion, your royal hind-end-ness, that passing judgement on someone based solely on coincidences in their lives constitutes assigning guilt by association, an area you cannot afford to explore."
Editor's Note: Hey! Gimme a break. Jeff has more experience at this than I do. But it was pretty shameful (Ted Kennedy's performance, not this post...although one might say the same about this post. But one should not...please.)
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
AT A SNAIL'S PACE
It was early in the morning, about 5:30. I was on my way to work at the radio station (wjyo, online at kingdom . fm).
The little rectangular signs on the side of the road said, "45 MPH," which I took to mean, "45 MPH."
The red lights of the back of the car in front of me seemed to be getting larger. I thought, "Hmmm. I'm gaining on him." When I got close to him, I had to slow down. 40. 35. 30. 25.
Twenty five Miles Per Hour! And I'm trying to get to work!
And of course, we were in a no passing zone. No other cars in sight, but a no passing zone none-the-less.
Finally we got to a place where it is legal to pass and I did. As I rounded the next curve, I noticed another car whose tail lights were getting bigger.
Once again, as we approached the top part of the "S" curve, it was a no passing zone. Two guesses how fast the car in front of me was going. Yep. 25 MPH.
The guy I had just passed was gaining on me from behind. He must have accelerated to 26 or 27 MPH.
At long last I got around the second guy and tooled on up to 45 MPH again, just in time to come to a traffic signal, which, of course, was red.
And stuck.
No oncoming traffic, but two cars stopped behind me.
After an insufferable period of time, with still no cross traffic, I did something I have never intentionally done before. I proceeded through the intersection on a red light.
As I rounded the next curve, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the light still red and the two cars still stopped.
They disappeared from view as I turned to the right.
In front of me was a car traveling at about 25 MPH. On a curve. No passing.
Now, I have always had an issue with patience. It is a struggle with me. I have to frequently tell myself to breathe deeply and relax. I pray that God will help me take my time.
He was giving me a lesson.
Fortunately, the road finally became 4 lanes and I was able to resume my merry jaunt to the station, where I arrived with 30 or 35 seconds to spare.
"Love is patient. Love is kind."
I confess. I was not patient, and my thoughts were not kind toward those other drivers.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
So, I have confessed. I feel much better.
But I'm having a cow-catcher installed on the front of my little Saturn.
The little rectangular signs on the side of the road said, "45 MPH," which I took to mean, "45 MPH."
The red lights of the back of the car in front of me seemed to be getting larger. I thought, "Hmmm. I'm gaining on him." When I got close to him, I had to slow down. 40. 35. 30. 25.
Twenty five Miles Per Hour! And I'm trying to get to work!
And of course, we were in a no passing zone. No other cars in sight, but a no passing zone none-the-less.
Finally we got to a place where it is legal to pass and I did. As I rounded the next curve, I noticed another car whose tail lights were getting bigger.
Once again, as we approached the top part of the "S" curve, it was a no passing zone. Two guesses how fast the car in front of me was going. Yep. 25 MPH.
The guy I had just passed was gaining on me from behind. He must have accelerated to 26 or 27 MPH.
At long last I got around the second guy and tooled on up to 45 MPH again, just in time to come to a traffic signal, which, of course, was red.
And stuck.
No oncoming traffic, but two cars stopped behind me.
After an insufferable period of time, with still no cross traffic, I did something I have never intentionally done before. I proceeded through the intersection on a red light.
As I rounded the next curve, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the light still red and the two cars still stopped.
They disappeared from view as I turned to the right.
In front of me was a car traveling at about 25 MPH. On a curve. No passing.
Now, I have always had an issue with patience. It is a struggle with me. I have to frequently tell myself to breathe deeply and relax. I pray that God will help me take my time.
He was giving me a lesson.
Fortunately, the road finally became 4 lanes and I was able to resume my merry jaunt to the station, where I arrived with 30 or 35 seconds to spare.
"Love is patient. Love is kind."
I confess. I was not patient, and my thoughts were not kind toward those other drivers.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
So, I have confessed. I feel much better.
But I'm having a cow-catcher installed on the front of my little Saturn.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Sunday Praise
Praise to the Lord! Praise the King, the mighty King of Kings.
My soul, praise Him, who gives every good and perfect gift.
Join me as we praise Him together.
You, who reigns over all things, shelters us and sustains us, we praise.
To you, O Lord, belongs our adoration for granting us that which you have from the beginning of time and beyond, given for us.
As we think of you, O Most High, we are evermore aware of your power and your might, your goodness and your mercy, your wonder and your grace.
Friend of siners, help us to praise you with every breath we have. May all of creation join us.
May our love for you find no end.
Amen and amen.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
by Joachim Neander
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh139.sht
1.Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near;
join me in glad adoration!
2. Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelter thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not see How thy desiresall hve been
Granted in what He ordaineth.
3. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee.
4. Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the "amen" sound from His peoplle again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him!
My soul, praise Him, who gives every good and perfect gift.
Join me as we praise Him together.
You, who reigns over all things, shelters us and sustains us, we praise.
To you, O Lord, belongs our adoration for granting us that which you have from the beginning of time and beyond, given for us.
As we think of you, O Most High, we are evermore aware of your power and your might, your goodness and your mercy, your wonder and your grace.
Friend of siners, help us to praise you with every breath we have. May all of creation join us.
May our love for you find no end.
Amen and amen.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
by Joachim Neander
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh139.sht
1.Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near;
join me in glad adoration!
2. Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelter thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not see How thy desiresall hve been
Granted in what He ordaineth.
3. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee.
4. Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the "amen" sound from His peoplle again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him!
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Being Real
One of my favorite singing groups over the years has been The Martins.
The Martins are a brother and sister group, Joyce, Judy and Jonathan, whose harmonies are tight and whose energy level is high, without being overpowering.
They have sung with the Gaithers and can be seen on many of the Homecoming videos.
Each of them also has his/her own solo career.
Last night I went to a concert with Jonathan Martin.
What a talent! He also ministered the gospel in a very real, down-to-earth way, using his life experience and scripture in a very sincere, uncontrived way.
But you know what impressed me most? He stood in the entrance hallway and greeted everybody who came in. He wandered among the crowd before the concert and talked with people, thanking them for coming and conversing with them momentarily.
The concert started exactly on time and he started with a worship time of prayer and praise songs, getting the largely older audience involved in willingly singing some newer choruses they were obviously not used to singing.
He behaved professionally on stage, without being flashy. He used his real personality, his real southern accent and his real life stories to present his real Savior to a full house.
At intermission, he did not position himself behind the sales table or disappear into some hidden room, but mingled with the crowd, again talking with anybody who wanted to talk.
He gave stage time to his sound man, who sang with a deep, rich voice, and who did about a 7 minute vintriloquist bit.
I believe in a real God, who has done, is doing and will do great things. He is very real and deals with us in a very real way, not according to our imaginations, as so many of us seem to get caught up in.
Would that we could all learn the sufficiency of being real with God.
Thank you, Jonathan Martin, for witnessing to us some of that realness last night.
The Martins are a brother and sister group, Joyce, Judy and Jonathan, whose harmonies are tight and whose energy level is high, without being overpowering.
They have sung with the Gaithers and can be seen on many of the Homecoming videos.
Each of them also has his/her own solo career.
Last night I went to a concert with Jonathan Martin.
What a talent! He also ministered the gospel in a very real, down-to-earth way, using his life experience and scripture in a very sincere, uncontrived way.
But you know what impressed me most? He stood in the entrance hallway and greeted everybody who came in. He wandered among the crowd before the concert and talked with people, thanking them for coming and conversing with them momentarily.
The concert started exactly on time and he started with a worship time of prayer and praise songs, getting the largely older audience involved in willingly singing some newer choruses they were obviously not used to singing.
He behaved professionally on stage, without being flashy. He used his real personality, his real southern accent and his real life stories to present his real Savior to a full house.
At intermission, he did not position himself behind the sales table or disappear into some hidden room, but mingled with the crowd, again talking with anybody who wanted to talk.
He gave stage time to his sound man, who sang with a deep, rich voice, and who did about a 7 minute vintriloquist bit.
I believe in a real God, who has done, is doing and will do great things. He is very real and deals with us in a very real way, not according to our imaginations, as so many of us seem to get caught up in.
Would that we could all learn the sufficiency of being real with God.
Thank you, Jonathan Martin, for witnessing to us some of that realness last night.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Quack! Quack!
I've been a little heavy lately, so, besides going on a diet, I thought I would lighten up.
If you pass this guy on the road, be sure to duck.
It's actually a painting ont he side of a truck.
Monday, January 02, 2006
How It Came to Be
I grew up the son of an Air Force officer and the first of three children.
I was not a bad kid, according to my mother.
If I was at a friends house and we went somewhere else, I called home, not because I was required to, but because I wanted my mother to know where I was.
Bumper cars and airplanes were my passions. (I said I wasn't bad. I did not say I wasn't wierd.)
There was a dark restlessness in me that I could not explain.
My parents were from Georgia, but I was born in Miami, Florida in 1942...a war baby.
We lived in: Brazil; Puerto Rico; Midwest City, Oklahoma; San Antonio, Texas; Tacoma, Washington; Marlotte, France; Warner Robins Georgia; Westover AFB, Massachusetts; and in between moves in Miami, Florida.
We went to the Air Force chapel every Sunday, and I "served" as an usher.
I started highschool at Paris American High School in Paris, France and finished in Warner Robins, Georgia.
While in Warner Robins, I attended First Baptist Church of Warner Robins, where Herold Moore was pastor.
There I heard something I had never heard before.
I heard that the dark restlessness inside of me was my sin nature, that it eternally separated me from a Holy God, who could not abide with or even look upon sin, and that the sin nature carried with it an eternal penalty of physical and spiritual death.
I heard that the penalty had to be paid, either by me or by God.
Thankfully, I heard that God had paid the debt for me by offering Himself in the person of His only begotten Son, Jesus, at a cross called calvary and that He proved that I could live eternally with Him by the resurrection of His Son from the grave.
That was good news...it was (and is) called the Gospel (which means "good news").
I believed what Harold said, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and at His prodding, turned to God in faith, trusting in, and only in, His finished work at the cross and resurrection and received the best gift I have ever gotten: everlasting life with God.
Let me tell you what did NOT happen that day:
1. I did not believe in the virgin birth. I didn't even know what a virgin was. (I told you, I was a "good boy.")
2. I did not read John Calvin, John Bunyon, John Wesley, John Courson, John McArthur, Billy Graham, Benny Hinn, David Jeremiah, Phil Johnson, Dwight Moody, J.Vernon McGee, Antonio da Rosa, Spurgeon, Henry Blackaby, or any other theologian.
3. I did not decide whether to be: pre-millennial, post-millennial or a-millennial; a pre-tribulationist or a post-tribulationist; Calvinist or Armenian. I did not decide whether to be Presbyterian; Roman Catholic; Methodist; or General Association of Regular Baptists. I was in a Southern Baptist church and so I became a Southern Baptist...didn't know any better, and never have learned any better.
4. I did not choose between "Free Grace Theology" and "Reformationism."
5. I did not know whether God chose me from before the beginning of time to be saved on that particular day, as opposed to my hearing and responding to His prodding in some random way.
I just knew that Jesus died for my sin, paid my debt, set me free from that dark restlessness that was inside of me and became my Savior and friend.
Since then, I have learned a lot about God through His Word. Not as much as I'd like, but a lot.
I have read all of those listed above and more, and have found points of agreement and points of disagreement with every one of them.
I have read the Bible five times through, twice in the KJV, once in the LB, and twice in the NIV. I have not learned it all, but there is no verse you can quote to me that I have not read.
I studied Old Testament and New Testament theology at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, along with psychology, sociology, and education. But I try not to let it interfere with my Christianity.
I have done Bibllical studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (long before Katrina).
I have been a minister of the Gospel since I was 17 and "have seen it all," but have discovered that there is more to see.
I am more disillusioned by Christians than any other group. They are, by-and-large, wierd. They are so wierd that if it were not for Jesus, I wouldn't be one.
I am more heartened by Christians than any other group. They are like me: struggling, imperfect beings seeking to know and serve God, whom they cannot fathom, even when they think they have all the answers.
First and foremost, I love Jesus, because He first loved me, continues to love me and said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he would lay down his life for a friend," and then He did that for me.
If I discovered today that all I believe is popycock, I would still believe it because the Christian life is the best life there is. But that won't happen.
I am very narrow minded, believing that Jesus is the only way to know and get to be with God, because He said so and is either right or a liar. He's right.
Because I know it all, even though there are millions of things left for me to know, I do not choose to get into theological arguments with people. I have never changed another's mind by stating the things I know to be correct, and they have never changed mine by stating the things they know to be correct. (Gimmie a break...I'm old and set in my ways...an elder, if you will.)
I DO love to hear what other people think. I just don't argue with them about it.
I love blogging.
I was introduced to it by Jeff Graham, my long time friend and Best Man at my wedding, and taught how by Parker Smith, my friend and co-worker at WJYO/WBIY (heard online at kingdom.fm).
My blog is a place where I tell you what I think, read what you have to say about what I think (whether or not you agree), and refuse to entertain the idea of Christians using my blog to "get at each others' throats," theologically or otherwise.
I read a diversity of blogs, including yours, if I know about you, and love to do so because I like the way you think, or what you have to say, or the way you make me think or your humor or your insights or whatever it is that attracks me to your site.
If you are in my blogroll, I read you every single day, even if you have not posted something new. One never knows when one will see something in a post one did not notice before.
Well...this has gone on long enough.
If there is anything else you want to know about me (and if you'll excuse the arrogance of thinking there is ANYTHING you ever wanted to know about me in the first place), just ask.
If there is nothing you want to know about me...why not?
At least get to know God through Christ.
That's the main thing.
I was not a bad kid, according to my mother.
If I was at a friends house and we went somewhere else, I called home, not because I was required to, but because I wanted my mother to know where I was.
Bumper cars and airplanes were my passions. (I said I wasn't bad. I did not say I wasn't wierd.)
There was a dark restlessness in me that I could not explain.
My parents were from Georgia, but I was born in Miami, Florida in 1942...a war baby.
We lived in: Brazil; Puerto Rico; Midwest City, Oklahoma; San Antonio, Texas; Tacoma, Washington; Marlotte, France; Warner Robins Georgia; Westover AFB, Massachusetts; and in between moves in Miami, Florida.
We went to the Air Force chapel every Sunday, and I "served" as an usher.
I started highschool at Paris American High School in Paris, France and finished in Warner Robins, Georgia.
While in Warner Robins, I attended First Baptist Church of Warner Robins, where Herold Moore was pastor.
There I heard something I had never heard before.
I heard that the dark restlessness inside of me was my sin nature, that it eternally separated me from a Holy God, who could not abide with or even look upon sin, and that the sin nature carried with it an eternal penalty of physical and spiritual death.
I heard that the penalty had to be paid, either by me or by God.
Thankfully, I heard that God had paid the debt for me by offering Himself in the person of His only begotten Son, Jesus, at a cross called calvary and that He proved that I could live eternally with Him by the resurrection of His Son from the grave.
That was good news...it was (and is) called the Gospel (which means "good news").
I believed what Harold said, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and at His prodding, turned to God in faith, trusting in, and only in, His finished work at the cross and resurrection and received the best gift I have ever gotten: everlasting life with God.
Let me tell you what did NOT happen that day:
1. I did not believe in the virgin birth. I didn't even know what a virgin was. (I told you, I was a "good boy.")
2. I did not read John Calvin, John Bunyon, John Wesley, John Courson, John McArthur, Billy Graham, Benny Hinn, David Jeremiah, Phil Johnson, Dwight Moody, J.Vernon McGee, Antonio da Rosa, Spurgeon, Henry Blackaby, or any other theologian.
3. I did not decide whether to be: pre-millennial, post-millennial or a-millennial; a pre-tribulationist or a post-tribulationist; Calvinist or Armenian. I did not decide whether to be Presbyterian; Roman Catholic; Methodist; or General Association of Regular Baptists. I was in a Southern Baptist church and so I became a Southern Baptist...didn't know any better, and never have learned any better.
4. I did not choose between "Free Grace Theology" and "Reformationism."
5. I did not know whether God chose me from before the beginning of time to be saved on that particular day, as opposed to my hearing and responding to His prodding in some random way.
I just knew that Jesus died for my sin, paid my debt, set me free from that dark restlessness that was inside of me and became my Savior and friend.
Since then, I have learned a lot about God through His Word. Not as much as I'd like, but a lot.
I have read all of those listed above and more, and have found points of agreement and points of disagreement with every one of them.
I have read the Bible five times through, twice in the KJV, once in the LB, and twice in the NIV. I have not learned it all, but there is no verse you can quote to me that I have not read.
I studied Old Testament and New Testament theology at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, along with psychology, sociology, and education. But I try not to let it interfere with my Christianity.
I have done Bibllical studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (long before Katrina).
I have been a minister of the Gospel since I was 17 and "have seen it all," but have discovered that there is more to see.
I am more disillusioned by Christians than any other group. They are, by-and-large, wierd. They are so wierd that if it were not for Jesus, I wouldn't be one.
I am more heartened by Christians than any other group. They are like me: struggling, imperfect beings seeking to know and serve God, whom they cannot fathom, even when they think they have all the answers.
First and foremost, I love Jesus, because He first loved me, continues to love me and said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he would lay down his life for a friend," and then He did that for me.
If I discovered today that all I believe is popycock, I would still believe it because the Christian life is the best life there is. But that won't happen.
I am very narrow minded, believing that Jesus is the only way to know and get to be with God, because He said so and is either right or a liar. He's right.
Because I know it all, even though there are millions of things left for me to know, I do not choose to get into theological arguments with people. I have never changed another's mind by stating the things I know to be correct, and they have never changed mine by stating the things they know to be correct. (Gimmie a break...I'm old and set in my ways...an elder, if you will.)
I DO love to hear what other people think. I just don't argue with them about it.
I love blogging.
I was introduced to it by Jeff Graham, my long time friend and Best Man at my wedding, and taught how by Parker Smith, my friend and co-worker at WJYO/WBIY (heard online at kingdom.fm).
My blog is a place where I tell you what I think, read what you have to say about what I think (whether or not you agree), and refuse to entertain the idea of Christians using my blog to "get at each others' throats," theologically or otherwise.
I read a diversity of blogs, including yours, if I know about you, and love to do so because I like the way you think, or what you have to say, or the way you make me think or your humor or your insights or whatever it is that attracks me to your site.
If you are in my blogroll, I read you every single day, even if you have not posted something new. One never knows when one will see something in a post one did not notice before.
Well...this has gone on long enough.
If there is anything else you want to know about me (and if you'll excuse the arrogance of thinking there is ANYTHING you ever wanted to know about me in the first place), just ask.
If there is nothing you want to know about me...why not?
At least get to know God through Christ.
That's the main thing.
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