Monday Night Thoughts

I hope everyone had a great Monday.

A friend I work with has decided to jump into the world of blogging. The name of the blog is, "American Car."

The blog is all about cars. If you have the time, visit the blog and offer him some constructive tips on how to improve it. It is always fun to watch how a blog develops and changes over time.

Here is the link and let him know that you heard about his blog on the Preaching Today blog:

American Car

I also have some very good news to report tonight:

Look who's BACK!!!!!

If you never listened to the radio program Issues Etc then you have not lived :)

Issues was one of the most informative and hard hitting programs on the radio. They would inform listeners about what was happening in Christianity and then offer some very hard hitting critiques. The program comes from a Lutheran perspective, but it is was always a great program. One day it was here and then suddenly it was removed from the air. Well they are back and I know I am very happy about it! Here is the link to the site and I can't wait until the first program:

Issues

Have a great Monday Night!

Sink Or Float

I don’t know if this illustration has ever been used before. It probably has, but, I aint heard it before so here it is.

 

It’s about trusting God, or how to do so.

 

Imagine you’re in really deep water and you don’t know how to swim. Scared? You’ve been trying to stay afloat by thrashing your arms about to no avail. You’re pretty much exhausted trying on your own to not drown. Then your head starts going under and you’re panicking. What do you do?

 

Don’t panic! You relax, take a deep breath, and do what seems unnatural at first, you lay back! Spread out your arms and let your body float on top of the water on your back. Breath normally now and stay relaxed looking up to the sky with the sun on your face.

 

Same with trusting God. Don’t try to stay afloat in your scary or difficult situation on your own strength, you’ll just sink. And certainly don’t panic! Fear not, be not afraid!! Just take a deep breath and relax. Pray, and trust. Let your body, your soul, relax, find peace in God that passes all understanding when you pray, being anxious for nothing! (Philippians 4) Lay back and look up to the Father and let the light of the Son shine on your face. He’ll get you through! You'll stay afloat.

 

So where is the life preserver in this illustration?? You’re floating without one right? Yes...and no. Your life preserver is…your faith (trusting in) God as you relax and don’t panic! AND…..the works of your faith is your laying back, which seems unnatural, and allowing yourself to float. (You can’t say you trust God but then keep thrashing about…you gotta relax and lay back!)

 

No illustration is fully perfect, but let me know if this illustration is flawed with holes, like, is your life preserver really your faith in God or is your life preserver God? Surely He is the preserver of your life.

 

What illustration would you come up with for trusting God?

Thoughts On Feelings Of Experiences

Are we past feelings, those who reject the notion that faith is based in full or in part on feelings or experiences? No, we feel as much as anyone else. I love the good feeling of excitement. And I remember when the Lord blessed me in a special way in my Christian infancy (assuming I’ve grown past that by now). I was made joyously and freely excited about the risen savior, MY risen savior and Lord! And I remember O how blessed that time was. Yes, you’d call it a “mountain-top experience.” And there you go, feelings, experiences…most Christians have them, even non-charismatic reformed folks and fundamentalists can.

 

But here’s what I was recently thinking: I sometimes long for those excited times. And you know what, I long for them not just because they were exciting, but because over time a Christian can feel like they’ve been wandering in the desert of affliction for a long time, in a dry spell, and you keep thinking back to that oasis you last enjoyed, and as you wander, you wonder if it’d be easier to go back to that pervious oasis not knowing when, if ever, another spiritual oasis will come along. And then in your wandering, you may begin to wonder about the state of your salvation, “Will I EVER make it to the promised land?” Then you may wonder, “Did I ever really get saved from my previous bondage in the first place?

 

And with that, you are tempted to think that you need an experience like the spiritual oasis you had in the past. You think you need it because you need the feeling to know that you are really saved after all. If that feeling comes a second or third time, you’ll know it wasn’t just a one-time fluke of emotionalism. If it’s recurring, doesn’t that add weight to the validity of your salvation, if you keep getting excited over it?

 

One problem with this thinking is that you may also wonder, “What if that good feeling was an imitation of the devil to make me think I was saved when really I wasn’t? Is that possible?” See the problem? You can easily wander too far in your wondering about feelings and struggle in doubt for a long time. You can’t base your salvation on an experience because you can always second guess the experience. This, however, is not to say that experiences of true regeneration do not or cannot happen or that they have no validity at all.

 

The point is, if you do doubt your salvation, forget your past experiences. You need to focus instead on God’s word. That’s where faith comes from in the first place! Romans 10:17! Faith comes by hearing of the word, not by having a positive experience. After your faith comes by the word, then the positive feelings and experiences can come. Don’t put the proverbial cart before the horse here.

 

So here’s the order: “Word, Faith, Feelings.”

Don’t go: “Feelings, Faith” or “Word, Feelings, Faith.”

It doesn’t work any other way than God’s way, so ask God to work in you the work of faith wrought by His Holy Spirit ministering the word to you. And praise be to His name!

Todd Bentley Kicks Cancer Patient in the Stomach

This video is beginning to make it's way around the Internet. I can't tell for sure if he actually kicks the man but you can watch it for yourself.

Word Of Faith Heresies

YOU WON'T BELIEVE YOUR EARS!!! Flabbergastingly ghastly, preposterous, ridiculous, twisted, evil, lies!

Some of the false doctrines taught are the same heresies that the early church denounced.

Listen to the audio of all these WoF heresies for a good summation of their grave errors. 

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

This one is...unbelievable!

These guys vent hate and threats towards others and

desire to kill people and condemn them to hell!

Extravagantly Blessed

“Do you want to be extravagantly blessed by God?”

This is the question on the back of the book entitled, “The Prayer of Jabez.”

Now it’s very likely that you’ve heard of this book before, which has been out since 2000. I have heard of it, and what I’ve heard about it has not been good. I’ve heard that it has a health, wealth, prosperity bent to it, if not worse.

Not having read the book myself, I can’t really say. But based on the one simple question above, found on the back cover of the book, it sounds like what I’ve heard could be true. 

The idea, “extravagantly blessed” would certainly fit into prosperity preachers’ toolbox easily. One way to define prosperity could very well be “extravagantly blessed.”

Before I venture to read the book, I’d like to offer an answer to the question now.

Most people, if not all people in the whole world, would love to be extravagantly blessed, right? Who wouldn’t?! Seriously! So, as I heard someone else point out, just like the prosperity perachers’ market, this book has a target market of about 6 billion people! Everyone in the world wants to be extravagantly blessed! Sounds like an easy sell!

But do you buy it? I have the book (didn’t buy it actually), and I plan to read it before I buy its message of course.

As for my own answer to the question, although I am like most people in the world and would (sounding spiritual) “be content” with being extravagantly blessed, my answer is:

“I am already extravagantly blessed!”

Seriously, I live in America. As for physical and material blessings, compared to a handful of rich people in the states, I’m blessed but not extravagantly, but compared to the other 5.99 billion people in the world, I am extravagantly blessed. As for intellectual blessings, again, compared to the majority, I am extravagantly blessed (I aint saying I’m so smart). As for spiritual blessings…I am extravagantly blessed indeed!

So what does Jesus mean in John 10 about giving the sheep life more abundantly? Maybe the book has an answer to that...

How much more blessed can I get!? Apparently, that’s what this book is all about. We’ll see. But I’ve got my red flag radar up and running.

Does that mean I won’t learn anything because I’m being too “close-minded” and skeptical? Absolutely not. And even if it did mean that, don’t you think discernment and righteous judgment is more valuable and correct than a “tolerant” and “open-mind”? As you’re reading these very statements now, you are filtering them through what you know to be right and wrong and you are making judgments, evaluations, as to the validity and correctness of the arguments and their premises herein. That’s a good thing. The question is, is what you know to be right and wrong based on God’s word or on the world’s wisdom? The answer is, God’s word teaches discernment and righteous judgment and contending for sound doctrine. Without God’s word, we don’t really know what’s right and wrong, so we’d better base our thinking upon God’s word or all of our thinking will be…base.

The Rebelution's Do Hard Things Tour

This coming Saturday the teenagers of Victory Baptist Church will be attending the Rebelution conference in Dallas, TX.

Here some information about the conference:

The Rebelution's Do Hard Things Tour is coming to seven major cities across the United States in 2008. Each conference is a challenging one-day event for teens by teens who believe that our generation is ready for a change. Ready for something that doesn't promise a whole new life if you'll just buy the right pair of jeans or use the right brand of deodorant.

We believe that our generation is ready to rethink what teens are capable of doing and becoming. And we've noticed that once wrong ideas are debunked and cleared away, our generation is quick to choose a better way, even if it's also more difficult.

The Do Hard Things Tour invites you to explore some radical questions:

Is it possible that even though teens today have more freedom than any other generation in history, we're actually missing out on some of the best years of our lives?

Is it possible that what our culture says about the purpose and potential of the teen years is a lie, and that we are its victims?

Is it possible that our teen years give us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for huge accomplishments -- as individuals and as a generation?

And finally, what would our lives look like if we set out on a different path entirely --

a path that required more effort but promised a lot more reward?

We describe that alternative path with three simple words: Do Hard Things.

"The Anointing" Per God's Word

So what is the anointing according to scripture?

Some observation points to consider about 1 John 2:27 are:
-The anointing is from God (“him” referring to the Holy One in 1 John 2:20).
-The anointing abides in believers (does not say believers abide in or “walk in the anointing”).
-Believers are to abide in him (referring not to the anointing but to God).
-The anointing teaches believers (doesn’t knock you to the ground like “BAM!” in Lakeland via Todd Bentley.)

1 John 2:20 points:
-Believers are “anointed by the Holy One”.
-Being anointed is connected to having knowledge (of the truth of Christ) which concords with 1 --John 2:27 in that the anointing teaches believers.
-Being anointed seems to be a natural result or part of being a believer as it is not specified otherwise in this text (a believer in Jesus as the Christ is contrasted in this context with antichrists who are trying to deceive and teach Jesus is not the Christ).
-As such, being anointed does not appear in this text to be a separate event or a recurring event following a believer’s salvation.

2 Corinthians 1:21 points:
-God anoints Christians.
-Being anointed seems to be an act distinguished from being sealed and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, although the text does not specify that these acts occur at different times subsequent to salvation.

James 5:14 points:
-Anointing here is with oil on a person with prayer for healing of the sick.
-Healing is a blessing and is indicated here, but the text does not indicate living in a “glory-bubble” where life goes great for you all the time.

Mark 6:13 points:
-Also refers to healing with anointing oil.
-The disciples performed this healing, as well as demon out-casting, but they also proclaimed that people should repent, which is not so popular anymore in WoF teachers and others.

Mark 14:8 points:
-Jesus anointed with ointment by the woman before his burial.

Luke 4:18 & Isaiah 61:1 points:
-Jesus anointed by the LORD (to do many things…the works of salvation)
-Verse 3 in this passage refers to the “oil of gladness” (could this be supporting text for “the anointing” making one feel joy and euphoria and the like since anointing is often in conjunction with oil?)

There are many other texts to consider and worth looking into to learn more about the anointing as used in the Bible in quite some contrast with WoF leaders like Benny Hinn and Todd Bentley. Here are a few verses to check out:

Luke 7:46 points, Acts 4:26-27, Acts 10:38, Hebrews 1:9, Matthew 6:17, Mark 16:1, Revelation 3:18, Amos 6:10, Exodus 28:41, Exodus 29:7, Exodus 29:36, Exodus 30:22-33, Judges 9:9, Ruth 3:3, 1 Samuel 9:16, 1 Samuel 16:12-13, Psalm 23:5, Micah 6:15, Genesis 31:13, Levitcus 4:3, Numbers 3:3, 2 Chr 22:7, Psalm 2:2, Psalm 89:20, Songs 1:3, and many, many more!

Here's a brief definition also:

Anoint:
Bless somebody with oil by rubbing oil or ointment on a part of someone’s body, usually their head or feet.
To ordain somebody by installing them officially or ceremonially in a position or office.

"The Anointing" Per John Piper

John Piper of Desiring God.org has some good things to say about the anointing and related things. They're good because they're founded in scripture. Following are some teachings about or involving the anointing.

The Anointing & AntiChrists

As it turns out, this one seems quite relevant to the current situation with Todd Bentley.

Correlating correct Biblical preaching with the coming of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is free to do as he pleases!

Anointing the sick and gifts of healing.

Gifts of the Spirit.

"The Anointing" Per Todd Bentley

Now what does Todd Bentley believe and teach about "the anoiting?" I already began to cover this in a recent post, and now we delve further into it.

First there is already a great blog post covering the subject well. Check it out here. Be sure to listen to the audio clip and expand the post to read all of it.

To hear more about Bentley's contradictory statments about what "the anointing" is, there is a 52 second audio clip where Todd Bentley actually says that 'the anointing" is not the Holy Spirit, the Father, or Jesus...but it is a substance...but then says that "the anointing is Jesus"...and contradicts himself. You can find it in this Crosstalk audio broadcast at time 49:30.

Of course you can check out Fresh Fire Ministries as well. There you will find a myriad, a plethora, of teachings on "the anointing" from Todd Bentley.

Rather than comment on them or probe them, at least for now, I simply am posting them here for ease of access and to encourage you to investigate further for yourself and see if these things are true or not in light of scripture.

Here are some of Bentley's teachings on "the anointing":

The anointing of the Holy Spirit - Part 1
The anointing of the Holy Spirit - Part 2
The anointing of the Holy Spirit - Part 3
Manifesting the anointing - Part 1
Manifesting the anointing - Part 2
Increase of the anointing - Part 1
Increase of the anointing - Part 2
Keys to growing in the anointing - Part 1
Keys to growing in the anointing - Part 2
Keys to growing in the anointing - Part 3

"The Anointing" Per Benny Hinn

Having mentioned (here's the post) that WoF proponents such as Todd Bentley and Benny Hinn use the term "the anointing" quite often and in ways that do not seem to align with scripture, I thought it'd be good to take a look at how they themselves define it and teach it before we look at what the scriptures have to say about, "the anointing."

First, Benny Hinn. In a word, Benny Hinn defines "the anointing" as…power. He says, "it is the power of God." Plain and simple (See here). What does Benny Hinn base that on, what scriptures? There seems to be just one, Acts 1:8:

Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The context of this verse is Jesus speaking of the baptism of the Holy Spirit coming at the day of Pentecost fulfilling what the prophet Joel spoke of.

Why does Hinn label this power as "the anointing"? Does he base it on verses such as the one that shows that when David was anointed the Spirit rushed upon him (1 Samuel 16:13). Or could it be based upon the fact that Jesus was anointed and had power to perform many signs and wonders?

It's not a far stretch of the imagination to see a connection between "the anointing" and power. What I am curious about, though, is why WoF leaders tend to often teach this power, just like Pentecostals often heavily emphasize the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (why don't Pentecostals label this as "the anointing" as do WoF and other Charismatic leaders do?) Is this truly a power that the Church can have today? That's a fair question. We should continue to search the scriptures to see if these things be true or not.

But for now, what else does Benny Hinn have to say about "the anointing"? Hinn taught at a conference in San Jose about the anointing. He began his teaching based on personal experience. (Do you see at least a yellow flag here?) Then Hinn went to scripture, Psalm 89, to show seven results of the anointing:

1. You will be established.

2. You will be strengthened.

3. Satan can’t touch you.

4. God will defeat your enemies.

6. You will have authority.

7. You will influence the world.

Source

Is this correct?

Hinn is later quoted as saying, “It’s a command from God to never lack the anointing!”

Where in scripture is that command???

Finally, Benny taught three levels of the anointing:

1. Salvation—the leper’s anointing

2. Anointing for ministry—the priestly anointing

3. Authority—the kingly anointing

Benny Hinn also had more to teach about "the anointing". See for yourself.

Justin Peters With Crosstalk America On The WoF Movement.

Crosstalk America today, June 25, 2008, aired a show interviewing Justin Peters about the Word of Faith movement. If you've been following our coverage here, or if you're just now looking into the Lakeland Revival with Todd Bentley and WoF, you should benefit from this interview.

Here's the link where you can download or listen to the MP3. When you get to Crosstalk America, look for the June 25 program with Justin Peters. Good stuff.

Crosstalk America On Todd Bentley

Here's a link to a good look at the Lakeland Revival with Todd Bentley. It's about an hour long. It was aired recently on Crosstalk America hosted by Ingrid Schlueter.

The main question the show asks is, are the "signs and wonders" really of God or are they manifest imitations of the devil? Further, are these events really bringing God glory?

The audio broadcast is also filled with video clips of Todd and purported miracles in the revival. Also interviewed are two pastors John Sharp and Ken Silva.

You will even hear more similarity between Todd Bentley, Joseph Smith (Mormonsim), and Mohammed about being visited by angels. In some previous posts I've also mentioned some other similarities between WoF leaders' teachings and Mormon teachings. (e.g. relying on feelings for faith.)

What's more, it is mentioned that Todd Bentley said people need to be more concerned about "the angel" than Jesus!!! And many of the references of Todd Bentley meeting his named angels have been removed from his website as they were getting a lot of flack for it. [Red flags!!!]

This is a good look at what is going on. Take some time to take it in:

Crosstalk America on Todd Bentley

Here's the video on Ken Silva's site also. And here's his blogpost detailing this.

"Burning In The Bosom"

In a recent post (read here) I stated that I could not find direct reference through the official Mormon website to D&C 9:8 which teaches about the "burning in the bosom".

Well I found it here: D&C 9:8.

It also goes on to say that belief is based on feeling. Red flags!

Todd Bentley's Statement Of Faith Fundamentally Flawed

Directly from the Fresh Fire Ministries website, home site of Todd Bentley, we find something interesting about their statement of faith in what seems to be a gross contradiction.

Observe the very first and last entry taken from their own website (see for yourself):

"We believe in...
1. THE WORD OF GOD
We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error, unified in their redemptive purpose, yielding a complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of mankind. We hold the Bible to be trustworthy, the only supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Scripture is our source of revelation of God, the knowledge of salvation, the origin of all things and of the hereafter-it is the final Court of Appeal on all points of doctrine, life and godliness. (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12)

12. FURTHER REVELATION
We recognize that God is continually restoring truth and light to His Church. Therefore, we place no limit on further revelation; however, each must be substantiated according to the Scriptures."They state that the Bible is fully inspired, without error, and complete in revelation of God's will for salvation. Furthermore, they state that the Bible is trustworthy and the only authority in all matters… They go on to say that the Bible is our source, seemingly the only source, of revelation of God…and that it is final.

So, if the Bible is:
1. Fully inspired
2. Without error
3. Complete
4. Trustworthy
5. The only authority
6. Our source
7. Final

Then why is God "continually restoring truth and light to his Church"??

I contend that if the Bible truly is all of those things in statement number one, then statement number 12 is a gross and glaring contradiction.

First of all, "continually…" If the Bible is a "complete revelation", then how can there be continued revelation?

Secondly, "restoring…" This implies that the Bible, or the truth thereof, was corrupted, yet in statement one they say the Bible is without error and trustworthy. This does not comply.

Also, how could God's word lose light and thus need it restored? The Psalmist said, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105. How can God's word which accomplishes what He wants and does not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11) lose its light?

I honestly don't see how these two statements are compatible. It seems to me that if statement one is true, which I believe it is, then statement 12 is completely unnecessary and contradictory.

When the canon of scripture was closed, that was it. We have all the revelation we ever need. We could do a whole other blog post on how and why people claiming to hear from God today, as in new revelation, is dangerous and incorrect. I mention it briefly in another post.

Lastly, FreshFire ministries and Todd Bentley are not the only ones to believe in continued revelation and purport that scripture needs restoration. The Mormons believe the same thing. They receive new revelations from the Mormon presidents as well as the book of Moroni given through the prophet Joseph Smith. See for yourself here and here and here.

What is the significance? Pt 2

Yesterday I challenged everyone to find out the significance of 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 other then church discipline. I received some good suggestions but no one pointed out a very important thing found in the text.

Consider:

. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Look carefully at the text:

If we don't obey what?

Our word by the epistle.

What are the consequences if they did not obey?

Church discipline

This text speaks to the authority of God's word. Paul understood that the letter he had written was authoritative and binding to the believers at Thessalonica. This does not prove the bible is inspired but it does show that in this case the writer understood his words had an authority that were binding upon believers.

This is an important truth that we should take some time to consider.

Good job on the things people did point out.

Have a great night

"The Anointing"...is it really "BAM!"?

When watching the Lakeland Revival with Todd Bentley, you hear a lot about “the anointing.” I’ve heard about this a lot from others too, such as from Benny Hinn. What are they talking about?

Recently (6/10/08) Todd Bentley taught (read it here) about “the anointing” from the book of Job. Is Job 29 really referring to “the anointing”? It seems that Todd was reading “the anointing” idea into the text. In Job 29, I see God having “watched” over Job (verse 2) as referring to God’s care, protection, and providence, but I don’t see how those are defined into “the anointing” as a force or a special touch of God on a Christian’s life. In verse 3, Job goes on to describe God’s previous “watching” over Job. The description does not seem to lend to “the anointing.” Then in verse 4 Job says that not only did God watch over him, but he had a “friendship” with him, but I do not see how this “friendship” or its cross-references even infer a special “glory-bubble” that is “the anointing” that Todd Bentley claims to be in touch with all the time. In Job 29, Job seems to be lamenting that God isn’t “there” for him like He once was due to Job’s dire circumstances. But we know that God IS “there”. God is always “there” for His children even when He seems like He is not. Todd Bentley boasted that Job 29 was an unlikely text to teach about “the anointing”. I think I can agree with Todd on that one.

This brings up the good question, what exactly is the anointing according to God’s word? One might also ask why many charismatics talk a lot about “the anointing” while other denominations never mention it. As of yet, I do not know a much about the anointing according to scripture, but I suspect, reasonably I believe, that “the anointing” which people like Todd Bentley and other Word of Faith proponents refer to is not totally in-line with scripture.

First, based on observation, “the anointing" as used by WoF proponents seems to be…a force (much like they believe faith to be a force…) People seem to be controlled by this force and knocked down by it. Secondly, the N.T. does use the phrase “walk in/by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 25; Romans 8:4) but never uses the phrase “walk in the anointing” as some use. So is the anointing something, a force, that a Christian can walk in? Thirdly, “the anointing” as talked about by folks such as Todd Bentley, seems to refer to feelings of joy, euphoria, burning, and the like. It also seems they use the power of suggestion to raise expectations to perceive (with the senses), rather than actually receive in most cases I presume, a special touch from God called “the anointing” along with these feelings.

Interestingly, the WoF leaders are not the only ones who lead someone to believe (perceive) they have felt this kind of burning touch from God. The Mormons also use some power of suggestion and expectation…to win converts. They talk about the "burning in the bosom" with you and then pray with you to receive it, and they claim it's a sign of the Spirit or God at work in you to confirm The Book of Mormon to be true. By this they rely totally on physical feeling for basis of faith! So it seems that both the cults and heretical ministries use fleshly feeling to confirm God or faith in your life. I see red flags going up here. (References BB1 BB2 and Mormonism. Strangely I could not find reference on the Mormon website of the verse in D&C 9:8 that refers to “burning in the bosom” but they do use that term, just ask a Mormon. The closest ref I could get to D&C from their own site was D&C.)

The Bible teaches that the just live by faith and that we walk by faith, not by sight (feelings, senses)(Galatians 3:11, Romans 1:17, Hebrews 10:38, Habakkuk 2:4, 2 Corinthians 5:7, John 20:29, 2 Corinthians 4:18). There can be faith without feelings at times. You don't base your salvation upon a good or bad feeling. Feelings follow faith, but not always, not necessarily. The only thing that must necessarily follow true saving faith is works, as James teaches. This is not to say that you will never have the joy of the Lord or the joy of salvation, just not always. If you base your faith on feelings, then the day you feel "the anointing", for example, is not upon you is the day you may believe you lost your salvation, or at the very least sinned grievously. But this is not always the case. See Job. Therein is the danger of relying upon feelings to determine salvation, whether it be feelings of joy or a burning in the bosom.

This does get challenging, for there are times when certain feelings should follow certain actions. Guilt should follow sin, for example. Conviction by the Holy Spirit should follow sin. The Bible also teaches, in Romans 8:14-17, that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are his, but it does not teach that it is a “burning in the bosom.” The Spirit witnesses to us that we are God’s children, and the effect of this is that we cry to God, “Abba! Father!” rather than ‘burning in the bosom’ or, as seen in WoF revivals like that of Lakeland, laughing giddily as if drunk and then falling onto the ground as if knocked out. Furthermore, as children of God we should then suffer, not live in a “glory-bubble” of continuous “mountain-top” experiences with God unlike what Todd Bentley and others preach today. (Who cares if that doesn’t fill offering buckets? God’s children will not only suffer, but will cheerfully give in the midst of pain and suffering!) Although certain feelings should follow certain actions, faith is an action that has some exception. Faith in Christ should be based on reason and facts rather than feelings or emotions. Faith is rational, and it can effect the emotional, but not always or necessarily.

Faith is a gift from God. The question that remains is, is “the anointing” a gift from God much like a second infilling or baptizing in the Holy Ghost? What does scripture have to say about anointing or “the anointing”? What do you think?

Lord willing, I plan to post some further points to consider about the anointing according to scripture.

Ordo Salutis

Article found at http://www.monergism.com/


Latin, "the order of salvation." The ordo salutis is the theological doctrine that deals with the logical sequencing of the benefits of Salvation worked by Christ which are applied to us by the Spirit. This first thing to remember is that we must never seperate the benefits (regeneration, justification, sanctification) from the Benefactor (Jesus Christ). The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration, etc.) is the work of God in Christ and is by grace alone. Election is the superstructure of our ordo salutis, but not itself the application of redemption. Regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit which brings us into a living union with Christ, has a causal priority over the other aspects of the process of salvation. God opens our eyes, we see. God circumcises/ unplugs our ears, we hear. Jesus calls a dead and buried Lazarus out of the grave, he comes; In the same way, the Holy Spirit applies regeneration, (opening our spiritual eyes and renewing our affections), infallibly resulting in faith. All the benefits of redemption such as conversion (faith & repentance), justification, sanctification and perseverance presuppose the existence of spiritual life. The work of applying God's grace is a unitary process given to the elect simultaneously. This is instantaneous, but there is definitely a causal order (regeneration giving rise to all the rest). Though these benefits cannot be separated, it is helpful to distinguish them. Therefore, instead of imposing a chronological order we should view these as a unitary work of God to bring us into union with Christ. We must always keep in mind that the orders expressed in the following articles occur together or happen simultaneously like the turning on of a light switch or a faucet. But God turns on the light/faucet, so to speak. All aspects of the work of God continue together throughout the life of a Christian.

Historically in the Church there has been disagreement about the order of salvation, especially between those in the Reformed and Arminian camps. The following two perspectives of God's order in carrying out His redemptive work reveals the stark contrast between these two main historic views. Keep in mind that both viewpoints are based on the redemptive work which Christ accomplished for His people in history:

In the Reformed camp, the ordo salutis is 1) election, 2) predestination, 3) gospel call 4) inward call 5) regeneration, 6) conversion (faith & repentance), 7) justification, 8) sanctification, and 9) glorification. (Rom 8:29-30)

In the Arminian camp, the ordo salutis is 1) outward call 2) faith/election, 3) repentance, 4) regeneration, 5) justification, 6) perseverance, 7) glorification.

Notice the crucial difference in the orders of regeneration and faith. While the Reformed position believes spiritual life is a prerequisite for the existence of the other aspects of salvation, the Arminians believe that fallen, natural man retains the moral capacity to receive or reject the gospel of his own power. Even with the help of grace he still must find it within himself to believe or reject Christ. This has broad implications and raises questions like why does one man believe and not another? You might also notice that, according to Arminians, election is dependent on faith, not the other way around. This is no small matter ...understanding the biblical order, while keeping in mind its unitary process, is crucial and has a profound impact on how one views God, the gospel, and the Bible as a whole.

Here is the original article.

Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

Isaac Watts is recognized as the "Father of English Hymnody", as he was the first prolific and popular English hymn writer, credited with some 750 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in active use today and have been translated into many languages.

Born in Southampton, Watts was brought up in the home of a committed Nonconformist — his father had been incarcerated twice for his controversial views. At King Edward VI School (where one of the houses is now named "Watts" in his honour), he learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew and displayed a propensity for rhyme at home, driving his parents to the point of distraction on many occasions with his verse. Once, he had to explain how he came to have his eyes open during prayers.

"A little mouse for want of stairs ran up a rope to say its prayers."
Receiving corporal punishment for this, he cried

"O father, do some pity take And I will no more verses make."
Watts, unable to go to either Oxford or Cambridge due to his Nonconformity, went to the Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington in 1690.

His education led him to the pastorate of a large Independent Chapel in London, and he also found himself in the position of helping trainee preachers, despite poor health. Taking work as a private tutor, he lived with the nonconformist Hartopp family at Fleetwood House, Abney Park in Stoke Newington, and later in the household of Sir Thomas and Lady Mary Abney at Theobalds, Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire, and at their second residence, Abney House, Stoke Newington. Though a nonconformist, Sir Thomas practiced occasional conformity to the Church of England as necessitated by his being Lord Mayor of London 1700–01. Likewise Isaac Watts held religious opinions that were more nondenominational or ecumenical than was at that time common for a nonconformist; having a greater interest in promoting education and scholarship, than preaching for any particular ministry.

On the death of Sir Thomas Abney, Watts moved permanently with widow, Lady Mary Abney, and her remaining daughter, to their second home, Abney House, at Abney Park in Stoke Newington - a property that Mary had inherited from her brother along with title to the Manor itself. The beautiful grounds at Abney Park, which became Watts' permanent home from 1736 to 1748, led down to an island heronry in the Hackney Brook where Watts sought inspiration for the many books and hymns written during these two decades. He died there in Stoke Newington and was buried in Bunhill Fields, having left behind him a massive legacy, not only of hymns, but also of treatises, educational works, essays and the like. His work was influential amongst independents and early religious revivalists in his circle, amongst whom was Philip Doddridge who dedicated his best known work to Watts. On his death, Isaac Watts' papers were given to Yale University; an institution with which he was connected due to its being founded predominantly by fellow Independents (Congregationalists).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Watts

What is the significance?

Today for my study time I read 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15. This text clearly speaks to the subject of Church discipline but it also teaches another important truth. Take the time to read the text for yourself and let me know what else is taught in the passage.

I look forward to reading what everyone finds. Post your comments on the blog or e-mail me at: tsrk30@sbcglobal.net

Geraldo Interviews Todd Bentley

In this interesting interview with Todd Bentley, Geraldo directly requests medical record verification of purported healings in the Lakeland Revival and also IRS filings to verify where the offering money goes. Todd Bentley claims all is legit and appears to comply with Geraldo's request. This took place June 14th, 2008.

It will be interesting to see in a later video the results of Geraldo's investigation. Let's hope someone posts that on YouTube for all to see.

Creed of Chalcedon

During Sunday school we discussed the Creed of Chalcedon.

Here it is for all those interested.

We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body; consubstantial [co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the unity, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning him, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.

Salvation's Struggle

Have you ever struggled with your salvation? Ever been down? Ever gotten to the point where you even doubted whether you were saved? As many of you know, I came out of the Fundamental Baptist world a little over a year ago...in general, that world is not the place to ever admit that reality. I am a very self-condemning and introspective person and I have a nasty habit (and sin!) of constantly picking at my motives and mulling over my inner heart. Now, don't get me wrong- we should inspect our hearts and pay attention to the work of the Lord by the Spirit through His Word to mold us into the image of Christ, right? What I'm warning against is focusing on our failings and missing Christ! Set your mind on Him, not on yourself! Reminds me of the following Scripture:

Colossians 3:1-4- "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

I have struggled with my salvation even to the point of doubting its reality at times and have had bouts of depression when I focused way too much on myself and my situation...and got my eyes off Christ. I remember during a seminary class actually admitting this fact to a Fundamental Baptist group of friends...bad mistake! They treated me like a leper and actually made jokes about it! That didn't help. I also heard from the pulpit many times things like, "God's made us in such a way that there's no way you can remember your physical birth...but no way for you to forget your spiritual birth." Preaches well...but it's really not rooted in reality or Scripture. 

Let's not make the same error, faith waivers and sometimes we focus on ourselves, our sin and our situation and get our eyes off the object of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ...even to the point of not realizing in the present the reality of our position IN CHRIST.

I recently listened to a sermon (actually part of a series that you can find on Sermonaudio.com) that was excellent and very encouraging. I highly recommend you to listen to this one. Very good, very encouraging, very Scriptural. The sermon series is called "Healing Balm for Self-Condemning Hearts" and it was preached by Pastor Jerry Slate of Berean Baptist Church. Here is the link to the specific sermon that I'm talking about:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=35081517289

I won't spoil it but a couple things that jumped out at me today was the need to keep my eyes on Christ...not myself. "Small faith lays ahold of a strong Christ!" We fail, we waiver, we doubt...He stands strong and unmoved...He alone is the source and strength for our faith. Look to Him through His Word and be strengthened...keep your eyes on Christ and forsake the raging waves that threaten and the boisterous wind that seeks to topple us...however, realize that when you do start sinking it is Christ Who will catch you!

The Counterfeit Revival

I've mentioned Hank Hangraaff's great exposure of the heresy that is the Word of Faith Movement or the Health, Wealth, Prosperity Gospel. He's written books and articles about it.

Here is an excellent 4 part article covering the WoF movement starting with the Toronto Blessing and going through the Pensacola Outpouring. Hank explains how the "sign & wonders" in so-called Healing Revivals, like the latest one in Lakeland, Florida with Todd Bentley, actually take place and exposes them for what they really are, a farce:

The Counterfeit Revival part 1

The Counterfeit Revival part 2

The Counterfeit Revival part 3

The Counterfeit Revival part 4

Also, later Hank Hanegraaff revisited the Counterfeit Revival to reveal more false signs & wonders, like people getting gold fillings in their teeth (instead of God giving them new teeth?) and also talks about the Brownsville Revival. Read that here:

The Counterfeit Revival Revisited

Visit Equip.org for more.

Justin Peters Interviewed About Todd Bentley In Lakeland

Previously we posted 4 clips of Justin Peter's Word of Faith (WoF) Movement seminar overview called "A Call for Discernment" where he exposes the falsehood and heresy within the movement. (Here are parts one, two, three, & four.)

Following that we posted a blog article by Justin Peters where he recounted his firsthand experience at the Lakeland Healing Revival with Todd Bentley. (Go here.)

In this post we provide 2 clips of an interview with Justin Peters where he recounts his firsthand experience once again. Hear parts 1 & 2 for yourself:

Part 1

Part 2

As Todd Bentley's Lakeland Revival continues, remember the healing claims and other so-called prophecies and see if they are true or not.

Again, this so-called healing revival is just like the ones that took place in the 90's with other leaders such as Benny Hinn. The "signs and wonders" are really a result of heightened expectations, power of suggestion, even hypnosis in cases, among other things. Hank Hanegraaff of equip.org explains these well in several free articles on his website as well as in his books Counterfeit Revival and Christianity in Crisis.

3-Dimensional Freckles

My wife sometimes likes to point out that I've got some moles. I don't think so. I don't have any moles. They're really just 3-Dimensional freckles, at least that's what I call them, and I'm sticking to that.

 

Let's say for argument's sake that she is right. Then I'm hiding from the truth, changing it up a bit to make myself feel more comfortable. (Really I am just being funny, mostly.)

 

Of course, people find all kinds of ways to cover up their imperfections and to deflect any guilt of sin. We can subtly justify our actions, condoning them, and feel less sinful. But it's a smoke and mirrors game. And it's not a good idea to play this game lest our conscience become seared as with a hot iron. 1 Timothy 4:1-2.

 

If we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us and we make God out to be a liar. That's a big time, "Ouch!" 1 John 1:8-10.

 

Let's be careful to not try to hide our sin in pride or cover it up. We have to face up to the truth and deal with our wretched selves knowing that the grace of God in the face of Jesus Christ makes it possible to have forgiveness of sins, if only we confess them and by God's grace repent of them.

Islam Introduction #2

Heavenly Hope

I’ve been reading a few chapters from CS Lewis’ “Mere Christianity.” It’s all really good stuff. He speaks so plainly yet what he talks about is so profound.

  

Lewis was talking about hope and desires and pleasures and heaven. He was talking about hoping for heaven and comparing it to our desire for pleasures on Earth. He said that many or most of our pleasures on Earth, great in themselves, never seem to quite fulfill us. He talks about two wrong responses and one right response to our inner desire for great pleasure which seems to not be fully fulfilled by anything on Earth. Of course he’s referring to heaven and being with God as the ultimate fulfilling of our soul’s desires and happiness. He gave a few examples of pleasures on Earth that are great but don’t quite fulfill us. And he made this comment:

 

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world…Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it [that desire mentioned above], but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.”

 

So I thought about some of the most distinct and greatest pleasures I have been blessed by God to enjoy on this Earth so far, thrills which are the most thrilling, or better yet the most fulfilling, yet never quite fulfilling enough and always leaving me longing for more of the experience if only to maybe finally be fulfilled in what my desires are grasping for.

 

One example is the experience and feelings I get when I’m in the desert mountains of West Texas. There is something amazing about it. It’s like you can feel God out there. There’s an openness, a grandness, a beauty, a marvel, and a wonder that many songwriters and poets have captured well in words but not completely. It’s something not capturable on Earth it seems. And so, when I’m out there, it truly arouses in me a feeling, a desire I long to fulfill, a desire I can’t describe. Is it completeness? Is it fullness? Is it relaxing, tranquil, and peaceful greatness??? Surely this hints at actually being with God in Heaven! (I recently wrote an article this blog about these feelings entitled “Top of Texas.” You can read it here: Top of Texas)

 

Another example is found in the experience of sexual intimacy. The deep desire aroused there which longs to be fulfilled but is never quite fully is…One-ness. (There is ecstasy for sure, and I can’t imagine heaven offering greater ecstasy but…oh wow!) But Oh to be one with my wife. How deep an inexpressible longing. But how about all that one-ness Jesus talks about in John 17:11, 21-23?! Oneness with God that Father, like the oneness in the trinity shared by God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!? I cannot grasp that, but I know that I was created to have such a longing and need of One-ness fulfilled, and if not fully in sex with one wife, then it must be fully in heaven with one God!

 

A lesser example would be the relaxing and refreshing thrill and joy of riding my motorcycle: it feels like…Freedom! And all kinds of car companies know this and market heavily to it! But they like to make you think that the freedom you feel on a motorcycle (or the power you feel in a muscle car, or the rushing speed in a sports car) is ultimately fulfilled here on Earth rather than in Heaven. And they say you get that freedom in this year’s 2008 model…until next year when that freedom can actually be ultimately found in the new and improved 2009 model! But those experiences won’t fulfill your desire for freedom no matter how improved the next year model is! Only in heaven, the eternal model.

 

Some other examples could be joy found in having children and joy found in giving. Joy is for sure ultimately fulfilled in heaven.

 

I hope this will spur you to think on things that you long for. Examine the feelings and desires you have in your own heart, then ask yourself what experiences you long for in order to fulfill those feelings and desires. Then try to notice if or how much those experiences actually fulfill or don’t fulfill your deeper inner feelings and desires. Then try to imagine and hope for heaven and how only then and there with God will your feelings and desires be ultimately fulfilled, all to God’s glory!

 

Completeness, fullness, relaxing, tranquil, and peaceful greatness, One-ness, Freedom, Joy…I can’t wait to get to Heaven! God is glorious!

Pornication

DISCLAIMER: The following contains adult content.

 

In response to Trevor’s recent post on porn, thanks be to God I can honestly say I do not now have and have not ever had an addiction to porn.

 

But the truth is also that while I’ve had no addiction to porn, I have had an attraction to it. Online porn has been a temptation to me in the past, and regretfully I have given into that temptation. It seems safe to assume that it has been a temptation for others also and probable that other Christians have given in to the pleasures of sin for a moment or even a season.

 

The temptation to look at online porn coincides most strongly in males with the temptation to lust after women and masturbate, and I say that not to gross anyone out or make myself sound especially humble. I say it to offer help to other men who have probably had similar struggles. I surely understand the struggle more than I wish. This post is to help you.

 

I am speaking not as one who has won victory in the war over sexual immorality or fornication, but as one who is still in the war, at times fighting fiercely and at other times not so much, and having won not the ongoing war but some battles. I can say with clear conscience that I do not currently use online porn in any way and have not for quite some time.

 

Furthermore, masturbation is not always associated with porn. It can occur otherwise from simply a lustful thought in the mind for example. A married man's body belongs to his wife, not to himself! As such, masturbating robs a wife of her conjugal rights, and this is in direct violation of scripture. 1 Corinthians 7:3.

 

Recently I have been learning how to fight better! This may be a no-brainer to some, but it has been wonderful news to me: As a husband, you cannot fight these battles without your wife! Allow me to explain.

 

Before I was married, I looked forward to the day that my marriage would cure my struggles with masturbation. After getting married, I was disappointed to learn that marriage was not the cure and I had to keep struggling on and losing many battles. I actually thought to myself that the advice I’d give to grooms-to-be would be to prepare them for the reality of the ongoing struggle against masturbation.

 

But glory to God I was recently taught out of 1 Corinthians 7 that marriage is in fact a cure for all sexual immorality! This coincided with my other recent revelation – that I cannot fight sexual immorality on my own as a husband, and my wife, my helpmate, must help me!

 

But how can she help me in my problem if she’s unaware of the problem? I had for years considered confessing to my wife this ongoing problem, a struggle with masturbation. Actually, before we were married I confessed this problem to her and we both kind of assumed in marriage it’d be done and gone. But it wasn’t, and I was afraid to tell my wife. I was afraid of the hurt it’d cause her, but she took the news graciously. And now her knowing alone has been a big help to me.

 

We are to flee sexual immorality and even the appearance of evil. So here's some more hopeful help. You’ve got to get in the habit of taking lustful thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and submitting your thoughts to the obedience of Christ. And you have to work at it. You have to hate the sin and fight it. You’ll take a punch to the face in the fight, or a blow to the gut, but you’ve still got to be fighting with the fierce determination of fighting to the death! But you can kind of tag team fight. Tag your wife, your pastor, God’s word…

You can also do what I’ve heard, “Erase and Replace.” Erase the lustful thought by replacing it with a wholesome thought. One way I do it is when I am tempted to lust after a woman, I think to myself, “Hey wait a minute, I’ve got me a good looking woman, my wife! She’s beautiful and….” and then you just start thinking about your wife instead of lusting after another woman. Another thing I sometimes do is write romantic poetry about my wife and for my wife, which helps me to think about her and develop the habit of having her beauty in my head rather than lusting after the beauty of another woman. It helps me focus on the blessing of me and my wife’s relationship and to honor it and praise it in the right way rather than focusing on an adulteress relationship.

 

If you’re a married man with similar struggles, you have great hope! If you’re not married and have similar struggles, talk to your pastor! Or do like Paul said, if you burn with passion, get a wife!

 

I’d like to offer some other good resources for help in addition to Covenant Eyes. Be Safe Online looks excellent and is endorsed by many including sexaddict.com, Chuck Swindoll, Josh McDowell, and New Man magazine. Check it out: Be Safe Online

 

Also, you must either read John Piper’s book, Sex & the Supremacy of Christ or listen to the lectures on it. It’s fantastic! Piper also has a lecture entitled "Men's Talk." Good stuff. If you want to hear a sermon on Song of Solomon and get the proper Biblical perspective on the greatness and pleasure of sex within marriage, it’s there! God is good!

 

You know, God did not give us such strong sexual desires and then leave it up to us to figure out how to deal with them through trial and error. No, he gave us Song of Solomon and other passages in scripture!

 

And I might add that we men have got to quit hiding these sins if we have them. Confess your sins, but use discretion and discernment as to how, when, and where you do so, but do not hide. If you really want help in this difficult area, you’ve got to admit you struggle.

Mr. J Medeiros - Constance

Someone left the following comment on my post, Music With A Message:

what is the purpose of posting the video "Mr. J Medeiros - Constance"

Constance is a story about a girl in the Philipines victiminzed by Human Trafficking. It was created by Sam Sanchez of Stick Productions. in 2006. It has spread like wildfire via YouTube, and has inspried an international human rights movement called the “Constance Campaign.” Mr. J spearheaded the movement, And has partnered with Non-Profit’s like XXXChurch, and HumanTrafficking.org. In May 2007, Constance was featured on CBS Evening News in an expose’ on internet pornography.

The video is posted on my Music With A Message blog.

Here is the link:

Music

MUSIC WITH A MESSAGE

If you love music then you may be interested in the blog, Music With A Message. I created the blog to point people to music that I feel has a message and is worth listening to. You can check the blog out at this link:

Music

Have a great day

Signs That You Are Addicted to Porn

There is a dirty little secret in Christianity that many don't want to talk about. That secret is the fact that there are many men who are Christians who struggle with Porn! There was a day that if a man wanted to purchase pornography he would have to go to an adult bookstore or go into a convenience store and ask for it because it was kept behind the counter. This would discourage most men who did not want others to know he was looking at porn. Times have changed and today you can simply log into your computer and have access to all the porn a person could ever want! Many men who find themselves having a problem with porn are ashamed and afraid to talk to anyone about the subject. The church usually treats porn as some kind of special sin and looks at those who struggle with it different then those who struggle with other sins. Many men will not admit they even have a problem.

Recently Fox news posted an article on Signs that you are addicted to porn.
The story was written to help people determine if their partner has a problem.
Please be warned, the article is very blunt in some of the signs that could point to an addiction to porn. All men should take the time to read the article and ask themselves if they have a problem.

Here is the link:
Signs

If you are struggling with porn and need help let me offer a few suggestions:

Install Covenant Eyes on your Computer:




Their Accountability software monitors Internet use and emails reports to people you select.

You would need to choose someone who would be willing to check the report and who would confront you.

Here is the link to Covenant Eyes

Eyes

If you are married you must talk to your wife. You cannot overcome Porn addiction without your wife!

Find a Godly man who you can have frank conversations with about this subject.

I am always willing to try and help those who struggle. You can contact me at tsrk30@sbcglobal.net

Report: Exams prove abuse, torture in Iraq, Gitmo

I usually avoid posting anything that is connected to politics but I feel today that I need to post the following:

Report: Exams prove abuse, torture in Iraq, Gitmo

WASHINGTON - Medical examinations of former terrorism suspects held by the U.S. military at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, found evidence of torture and other abuse that resulted in serious injuries and mental disorders, according to a human rights group.


For the most extensive medical study of former U.S. detainees published so far, Physicians for Human Rights had doctors and mental health professionals examine 11 former prisoners. The group alleges finding evidence of U.S. torture and war crimes and accuses U.S. military health professionals of allowing the abuse of detainees, denying them medical care and providing confidential medical information to interrogators that they then exploited.

Some of these men really are, several years later, very severely scarred," said Barry Rosenfeld, a psychology professor at Fordham University who conducted psychological tests on six of the 11 detainees covered by the study. "It's a testimony to how bad those conditions were and how personal the abuse was."

One Iraqi prisoner, identified only as Yasser, reported being subjected to electric shocks three times and being sodomized with a stick. His thumbs bore round scars consistent with shocking, according to the report obtained by The Associated Press. He would not allow a full rectal exam.


To read the rest of the story follow this link:
Torture


This report brings up a big question: As Christians do we support the torture of possible enemies of our country?


I believe war is permissible if certain criteria is met:

1. To protect innocent life
2. The results of a war would be better then not going to war. In some cases if a war is not fought millions may die.In some cases if a war was not fought the loss of human life may be less then that loss during the war.
3. A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified.
4. A just war can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered. For example, self-defense against an armed attack is always considered to be a just cause.

There are other thins that could be added to that list but I believe the above illustrates the point.

If a war is fought how should the enemy combatants be treated?

Do we support torture?

Do we support harsh interrogations?

We must remember that as Christians our first allegiance is not to a flag or a country but to our God.

We are committed to the word of God not a political party.

I do not claim I have all the answers but I do know that as Christians this is an issue we must think about and spend a lot of time struggling with the scriptures to come to a biblical opinion.

Stupid Hurts

Psalm 92:6-7   6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this:  7 that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever...

Proverbs 10:8   8 The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. 

Proverbs 14:16   16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. 

Proverbs 17:12   12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. 

Take My Life

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.

Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and gold; not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

-Frances R. Havergal

The Greatest Album Of All Time!

Anyone who is a music fan has that one favorite Album of all time. This is the album that you listen to over and over again and you never get tired of it. This is the album you would choose if you were going to be placed on a deserted island and you could only take one CD. This is the album that you know every single word and every beat. For me and my oldest daughter, "Never Take Friendship Personal" by Anberlin is such an album.

We listen to the CD all the time and we know every word. In fact my daughter has certain quotes from the lyrics hung up all over her room. Never Take Friendship Personal is just an amazing CD. If it is possible to play a CD too many times then it is going to happen with this one.

Here are some of our favorite lyrics from the CD:

Song:

Never Take Friendship Personal

Lyric:

Tell me something more than what you try

The greatest tragedy is not your death

but a life without reason

That your life had no purpose.

Song: Paperthin hymn

Lyric:

A sleepless night becomes

bitter oblivion

These thoughts run through my head

Over and over

Complaints of violins become my only friends

August evenings bring solemn warnings

to remember to kiss

the ones you love goodnight

You never know what temporal days may bring

So laugh, love, live free and sing

When life is in dischord, Praise Ye The Lord

Here is one of my daughters favorite lyrics:

Song:

The Symphony of blase

Are there no shadows where you are?

I can see everything as day

Problems that you try to hide away

are pushing me aside

Could the winter calm come twice?

Because your heart seems so cold tonight

Thirst for substance somehow isn't right

It's killing me inside!

There are many more I could share I may do so in a different post.

Here is the great video for the incredible song,

"Paperthin Hymn"

Here is the video for the song

"The Unwinding Cable Car"

It is from their latest CD "Cities"

Spending Time With God

How was your time with God this morning?

In our fast paced, have it your way, right a way world, its hard to make ourselves slow down and spend time in the word of God. So I thought I would throw out a challenge for anyone who was willing to take it.

Spend the next couple of days reading Psalm Chapter 1.

See if you can learn how to be blessed.

Victory Baptist Church has a great resource to help you learn to study the bible, you can listen to it HERE.

Twisted Twisters

Sinners sin. They sin because they’re sinners. They’re not sinners because they sin. They’re sinners because Adam freely chose to sin and as a result his sin was imputed (I think that's the correct term) to all mankind forever (known as the doctrine of Original Sin). See Romans 5.

 

Twisters twist truth because they’re twisters. They’re not twisters because they twist truth. And they're twisters because they’re sinners. They’re deceived by Satan, the Father of lies (John 8:44), the Father of twisting truth. A twisted tree is going to yield twisted truth. Thus false teachers are twisted twisters.

 

God is true. His truth is true. He does not and cannot sin, lie, or twist truth (Hebrews 6:18). But we finite humans twist the image of infinite God in our sinful state. We may not be false teachers, but we have twisted or marred the image of God.

 

Thank God that by His grace he has a plan for this: Sinful sinners are justified by the sinless Savior Jesus Christ.

 

O LAMB OF GOD

O Lamb of God, still keep me
Close to Thy pierced side;
'Tis only there in safety
And peace I can abide.
What foes and snares surround me,
What lusts and fears within!
The grace that sought and found me
Alone can keep me clean.

'Tis only in Thee hiding
I feel myself secure;
Only in Thee abiding,
The conflict can endure.
Thine arm the victory gaineth
O'er every hateful foe;
Thy love my heart sustaineth
In all its cares and woe.

Soon shall my eyes behold Thee
With rapture face to face;
One half hath not been told me
Of all Thy power and grace.
Thy beauty, Lord, and glory,
The wonders of Thy love,
Shall be the endless story
Of all Thy saints above.

- James G. Deck

Relationships In The Internet Age

There was a time that if you liked a girl and wanted to find out about her, you had to actually walk up to her and have a conversation. Times have changed with the invention of the Internet. The following is a true story:

Video

Adoption Is Greater Than The Universe

Intro to Islam

Surah 112

The Following is from the Qur'an

Surah 112

Say: He is Allah, the one and only God the Eternal, the Absolute He begot none, nor was He begotten and there is none comparable to Him

Eat Or Be Eaten

Decisions, decisions. Eat or be eaten sounds like a no brainer. I'd rather eat, wouldn't you? Yes, but at times we act like we'd rather be eaten.

Isaiah 1:19-20  19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;  20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

If you want to eat, you must be willing and obedient.

If you want to be eaten, you just refuse and rebel.

We know to refuse is to be unwilling, and to rebel is to be disobedient. Even Christians at times can be unwilling and disobedient. That's a bad combination. We should always want to be willing and obedient.

How often do we will to do the right thing but don't do it. Or will to not do the wrong thing but do it? Romans 7 speaks to this.

When it comes to willing to do good, and actually doing that good, God gets the credit for it because:

Philippians 2:13   13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

God told Israel through Isaiah the prophet that they would be held responsible for their actions and would either be blessed or cursed depending on their obedience or lack thereof.

Christians are like Israel. God gives us responsibility for our actions. But we must realize that it is also God who gives us the ability to carry out the right actions, as seen in Philippians 2:13.

So if you want to eat the good of the land, continually seek God first. Seek His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things like food, clothing, and the good of the land, will be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33   33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

To God be the glory.

A GREAT WORSHIP ALBUM

Take me past the outer courts

Into the Holy Place
Past the brazen altar
Lord I want to see your face
Pass me by the crowds of people
And the Priests who sing your praise
I hunger and thirst for your righteousness
But it's only found in one place


Chorus:
Take me into the holy of holies
Take me in by the blood of the lamb
Take me into the holy of holies
Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am

Those amazing lyrics come from the song, Take Me In by the Band Kutless. The song can be found on the great CD, Strong Tower















Here are the lyrics for the title track, Strong Tower

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way
I go runnign to Your moutain
Where your mercy sets me free

(chorus)
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek

In the middle of my darkness
In the nidst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul


You can purchase the CD at this link:
Tower


Here is the video for Strong Tower

Knowing of Him...or Knowing Him...There's a Big Difference

Good morning. Just wanted to share a very quick snip from AW Tozer's book, "The Pursuit of God." Reformed churches are typically known for sound, verse-by-verse, exegetical preaching. This is missing in most churches today and I am blessed to be in such a church. However, as good as this is, there is a sound warning that cries from the pages of the preface to Tozer's book that I want to encourage any like-minded Christians to beware of:

"Sound Bible exposition is an imperative must in the Church of the living God. Without it no church can be a New Testament church in any strict meaning of that term. But exposition may be carried on in such way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience, they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts. "

What great advice and what a sound warning! Christian, be careful in your pursuit of truth...make sure it is the God of truth that you seek...not truth for the sake of knowledge. I hope I'm clear; what I'm trying to say is that we must not be solely focused on being saturated with the truth of God's Word, of correct doctrine, of sound exegetical preaching that we miss the whole point...knowing Him. I think Paul would agree:

(Phi 3:10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all you dad's out there in the blogosphere. Hope it's a good one for ya!

Sovereign Grace Seminary

I am always looking for good teaching to put on my I-Pod. This week I found the Sovereign Grace Seminary. They have placed the lectures to some of their classes online for people to download. You can even subscribe to the audio as a podcast, this will allow you to have the audio automatically download in I-Tunes. Here is the link:

Seminary

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

At Victory Baptist Church we are studying the Puritan Catechism during the Sunday school hour.

This Sunday we come to Part 4 of the Catechism:

The Son of God

Q. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?

A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5), who being the eternal Son of God, became man (Jn. 1:14), and so was and continues to be God and man, in two distinct natures and one person for ever (1 Tim. 3:16; Col. 2:9).

The question of Who is Jesus Christ is the most important question a person can ever answer. If Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation then you must have the right Jesus because a false Jesus cannot save!

This Sunday we are going to study all the wrong answers people have given to the question of who is Jesus?

Here are some of the wrong answers given in church history:

EBIONISM

The earliest heretical view concerning the person of Christ was that known as "Ebionism." In the interests of a supposedly pure monotheism the Ebionites denied the Deity of Christ and held that He was merely a man on whom the Spirit of God rested in its fulness. God and man were regarded as always external to each other. It denied the possibility of a union of the divine and the human nature and so ruled out the doctrine of the Incarnation.

DOCETISM:

Chronologically, the next important error to develop concerning the person of Christ was Docetism. This term was derived from the Greek word dokeo, meaning to "seem," or to "appear." While the Ebionites believed that Christ had only a human nature, the Doceti held precisely the opposite error, asserting that He had only a divine nature and that His appearance in this world was only an illusion, or, more correctly, a theophany. According to this view He did not have a real human body and therefore could not have had a real human life. This meant further that He suffered no real pain and died no real death.

ARIANISM

A third error that arose in the early Church, more serious than either of the preceding ones, was Arianism. This view denied the true Deity of Christ and held rather that He occupied a position somewhere between that of God and man, that He was the first created being and the creator of all other creatures. He was thus regarded not as possessing absolute Deity, but only as the highest of created beings. Because of the claims which He made, the authority which He assumed, the miracles He worked, and the glory He displayed particularly in His resurrection, the great majority of the early Christians recognized Him as truly God. The Arians, however, misinterpreted certain Scripture statements relating to His state of humiliation and assumed that temporary subordination to the Father meant original and permanent inequality. Origen, the most outstanding of the early church fathers, in connection with his doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son, had taught inherent subordination. Arius carried this idea much farther and declared that the generation of the Son had taken place in time, thus definitely making Him a creature.

APOLLINARIANISM

The next error that the Church had to face concerning the person of Christ was that of Apollinarianism. This system denied the completeness of His human nature. It acknowledged His true Deity, and also that He possessed a real body and a soul which would continue after death; but it denied that He had a truly human mind, i.e., a reasoning mind that reached conclusions through mental processes as do ours. It asserted in effect that He was simply God masquerading in human flesh, and that ignorance, weakness, obedience, worship, suffering, etc., were to be predicated of the Logos, that is, of the Deity or Divine nature as such. If, by way of comparison, we can imagine a man's mind implanted in the body of a lion and the lion thereafter governed not by lion or animal psychology but by a human mind we shall have something analogous to what the Apollinarian system set forth concerning the incarnation of Christ. Apollinarius was a tricotomist, and his system was based on the assumption that there were three elements in man's nature: a material body, an immortal soul, and a reasoning mind. We believe, however, that man is composed of only two elements, body and soul, and that the mind with which man reasons in this life is the same as the soul or spirit which lives on after death.

NESTORIANISM

Nestorianism is basically the doctrine that Jesus existed as two persons, the man Jesus and the divine Son of God, rather than as a unified person. This doctrine is identified with Nestorius (c.386-451), Patriarch of Constantinople, although he himself denied holding this belief. This view of Christ was condemned at the Council of Ephesus in 431, and the conflict over this view led to the Nestorian schism, separating the Assyrian Church of the East from the Byzantine Church.

EUTYCHIANISM

Also known as Monophysitism: Greek: monos, one and physis, nature

The primary advocate of this view in the early church was Eutyches (A.D.378-454)

Eutyches taught the opposite error from Nestorianism, for he denied that the human nature and the divine in Christ remained fully human and fully divine. He held rather that the human nature of Christ was taken up and absorbed into the divine nature, so that both natures were changed somewhat and a third kind of nature resulted.

All of these are wrong answers to who Christ is.

In my next post I will proved the standard orthodox definition of the biblical teaching on the person of Christ.,

Wait A Minute!

Wait! Hold on! Hold up!

Waiting happens. Yes. Everyone must wait at some point whether we like it or not.

When it comes to waiting, there are really only two ways to do it. It's simple. There's only two options. But we humans dislike both and almost always want to add a third option while wishing it was the only option.

Especially here in America where everything is like a drive-through mentality, "Gotta have it now" or "Have it your way right away", it is no surprise that the only option we want when it comes to waiting is to...NOT WAIT.

We do not want to wait! We want to hurry up and "Git-r-done." We are uber-busy and have no time to spare.

Unfortunately we must all still wait at times. And as mentioned, you really only have two choices as to how you are going to wait. You can either wait PATIENTLY or IMPATIENTLY.

That's it. That's all you get.

Because we almost always want a third choice, to not wait at all, but often do not get that option, we succumb to the default way to wait, impatiently. It happens oh so naturally.

Well Christians, what are we to do? One of the fruits of the Spirit is...patience (think loooooong suffering, or so my previous post about it.) Galatians 5:22-23. And we know that love, a trademark of the Christian life, is...you guessed it...patient! 1 Corinthians 13:4.

So Christians' only real option in waiting is to wait patiently. But I know at least one Christian (I won't mention Jason McFadden's name) who sometimes waits impatiently.

Just keep in mind that fact next time you're waiting and it may offer some help in the situation. Either you wait patiently or impatiently, but one way or another, you are going to have to wait. Don't fight it!

I suppose also that you can wait upon different people or things. I'll just mention Isaiah 40:31. You can wait upon the Lord, and if you do...you get your strength renewed.

Baptist Flush Out Cancer

Group Uses Pink Toilets to Raise Money

By: Christy Hendricks

SIKESTON, Mo. - When you hear of fundraisers you might think bake sale, car wash or raffle. But one local Relay for Life group puts a new spin on the words "bathroom humor."

The Miner Baptist Church Relay for Life team wanted a fun fundraiser that all ages could participate in. 

So they sanded down, primed, and painted some toilets all in the name of cancer research.

Pink toilets, not your average lawn ornament, but it's become a common sight in the Sikeston-Miner community.

"There's no instruction with these things. You just wake up in the morning and there's a toilet in your yard," said Mike Wilson with the Miner Baptist Church.

The Miner Baptist Church hopes to use these toilets to flush away cancer. 

Imagine waking up in the morning looking out your window to a yard full of pink toilets. Now the only way to get them out of your yard is to call the number on the back, drop in $10 and the name and address of a friend or neighbor and they'll be moved out of your yard the next night."

Mike Wilson helps move the toilets every night along with several others from his church. He says folks can't get enough of the pink commodes.

"Not only has the money been good. It's like almost $1700 at $10 a pop. So you do the math how many times these commodes have been moved around," he said.

That money goes to help people like Teresa Bye, a 14-year breast cancer survivor and relay team captain for the church

"One of the drugs that I was on after I finished my chemotherapy was Tomoxifen. Tomoxifen is a direct result of research money earned from past Relay for Lives," Bye said.

Teresa says the money from raised won't be flushed away.

"We've got doctors and we've got research people that are leaving the field daily because the money for the grants just aren't there. This is what relay is all about. It's about getting the money together to talk and to teach and to cure." 

They've definitely helped raise cancer awareness.

There is an insurance policy people can buy to keep the toilets from coming to their yard, but Mike Wilson says they haven't sold many of those because the commodes are so popular.

The Scott County Relay for Life is this Saturday at the Sikeston High School football field from 11 a.m. to midnight.

House of Yahweh Wrong Again...Nuclear Baby Missing!

OK...you all know we've been covering the false and heretical teachings of Yisrayl Hawkins and his House of Yahweh, right? Recently I posted a link to a video clip showing him make a new false prophecy and prove he is NOT what he claims to be.

Our church contacted the House of Yahweh a few days ago asking them about the June 12th prophecy and were told that the news reporters falsely misrepresented them and that they didn't predict the end of the world by June 12th. They said that if we watched the full video clip we would know the truth.

Partial truth...partial error...that's the bread and butter of this cult and its leader. I will admit that many have misrepresented them in a certain context...Yisrayl Hawkins didn't say that the whole world would end on June 12, 2008. But that's only 1/2 the truth...

I watched the entire video that you can listen to below-it's about 1 hour and 20 minutes long. You can go to this link http://www.yisraylhawkins.com/Welcome.aspx the part about the prophecy part starts around the 19:30 point:

You have to listen very carefully to what he really says. I think the following is an honest description of what was supposed to have happened yesterday... according to Mr. Hawkins, when asked "You've set a new date, Jun 12th," he said "Oh no...I've not set a date for the war to end." Notice the subtle difference? HOY folks say they were misrepresented and seemed to almost suggest that the tape was altered or manipulated. The clip seen on TV is simply just the part that speaks of the prophecy...and it's the exact same video as on the HOY website. Nothing is misrepresented...

Hawkins said that the date had to do with when it would start. Again, he waffled around and shuffled left and right...but when directly confronted he said he was "expecting the nuclear baby to be loosed by then...turned loose by Yahweh by June 12th." He described this time as being a time when 1/3 of all the men in the 1/4 part of the earth in/around the river Euphrates will be killed by nuclear war.

So has this happened? Has there been a nuclear birth pang in the mid east where many are killed by a nuke in the mid east? No! FALSE PROPHET!!!!! He amazingly loves to mix OT Judaism and Christianity, but I've noticed that stoning a false prophet is removed and not put into practice at the HOY...good thing, huh? We'll try and keep you updated with the excuses that are going to flow out soon...no doubt. Sadly, people will still follow this man even though he proves himself to be a false prophet, time and time again.

The Bible and Copyrights

Someone left the following comment on the post, "God Wrote the book."

God wrote it... man has tried to mess it up, copyright it and profit from it over the centuries.

Many times people use the copyright argument to try to prove or discredit a translation. We should always strive to find truth and not to simply try to prove something. Consider the following information:

The following was posted at this link:

Copyright

Fallacy #1 - The King James Version is not now and never has been copyrighted.

"I believe the King James Bible is the work of God and not of man due to the fact that it is not now and never has been copyrighted."

I hear this "defense" of our Authorized Version of the Bible quite often, and even heard a testimony of this being the deciding factor in a man being convinced of the superiority of the King James Version at last year's Dean Burgon Society meeting in Grayling, Michigan.

Although I rejoice with the man giving the testimony, in that he has arrived at a position of knowing which Bible is God's preserved word in English, I must say I would be more comfortable if he had discovered God's Truth via a more defensible pathway.

The facts are, of course, somewhat different from the above quoted statement. While it is true that the Authorized Version of the Holy Scriptures has never been copyrighted in the United States, it is not true that the Authorized Version has never been copyrighted at all.

Upon publication of the Authorized Version in 1611, King James I of England assigned to that great work a "Cum Privilegio" (Latin: with privilege). The Cum Privilegio was issued in the form of a "Patent" which is very much like our copyright. However, the King realized that patent (copyright) law stated that a patent or copyright was only good for the life of the person holding the copyright, plus 50 years, so, instead of placing the patent in his name, or the names of the translation committee members, he issued the patent in the name of the Crown (a "Royal Letters Patent in Perpetuity"). In this way, he was able to secure the patent for the duration of the British Crown, plus 50 years. This means that it will never come into the public domain unless HM the Queen or one of her successors releases the patent.

According to British law, in England, the printing of the Authorized or King James Version of the Bible (KJV) is the monopoly of the Royal Printer, by virtue of a patent first granted to Christopher Barker in 1577. Only the University Presses of Cambridge and Oxford are permitted by royal charter to override this monopoly; one other publisher, Scottish, is an accepted printer of these materials. (By its royal charter of 1534, the University of Cambridge had acquired the perpetual right to appoint three printers who could print "all manner of books."

The right preexisted Barker's patent, and was taken to cover Bibles, so Cambridge printed a Geneva Bible in 1591 and its first KJV in 1629. Out of fairness Oxford acquired a similar charter in 1636, and in the 1670s printed Bibles.)

So the first A.V. Bibles published in England were the work of the Royal Printer (in the early 17th century, that would have been Robert Barker, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, according to the title page of the 1611 edition of the A.V.).

Although the universities (Oxford and Cambridge) always claimed the right to print the Bible, Cambridge had not exercised that right since the year 1589; but in 1628 a duodecimo New Testament was published at Cambridge, by the printers to the University, and the following year Thomas and John Buck issued the first complete Cambridge Bible. The University of Oxford did not begin to print Bibles until the year 1675, when the first was issued in quarto size; the spelling having been revised by Dr. John Fell, Dean of Oxford.

The only exception to the above was a small octavo Testament issued at Edinburgh, by the Heirs of Hart, in 1628 (the Anfro Hart whose "Breeches" Bible was so highly esteemed). This is the first Testament printed in Scotland of the King James Version, and it was the Heirs of Hart who were included in the Royal Patent of 1577, as noted above.

Today, all Bibles printed in England are printed by the university presses of either Oxford or Cambridge.

However, the good King did not take into account that one day his nation would enter into an agreement with the other major powers of the world whereby they would honor each other's laws regarding copyright and patents. Today, we have international copyright laws that are honored by all signatory nations. Unfortunately for the King and his descendants, but fortunate for us, the "Crown Patent" did not fall within the agreed upon guidelines for International Copyright (due to the patent being in the name of the Crown instead of in the name of an individual), so the Authorized Version of the English Bible was never included in the international agreement. Therefore, the Authorized Version is not copyrighted in the United States, nor any other country, except the British Empire, or Commonwealth Nations which have agreed to abide by the patent laws of Great Britain. However, the patent is still in force in Great Britain, and all Authorized Version Bibles printed in Great Britain are printed under the patent agreements with Cambridge and Oxford.

The argument has often been made by able defenders of the King James Bible that the above is not true for there were many Bibles printed by those not having a license under the "Cum Privilegio." However well intentioned these good people may be, it must be pointed out that none of the Bibles in question (with one exception) were printed in the British Empire.

In the year 1642, a folio edition of the King James Version was printed at Amsterdam by "Joost Broersz, dwelling in the Pijlsteegh, in the Druckerije." The notes of the King James Bible are omitted, and the arguments and annotations of the "Breeches" Bible are inserted in their place. Bibles with the KJV text but with Geneva notes were printed in Holland in 1642, 1672, 1683, 1708, 1715 and in England in 1649. It must be noted that the English printing of 1649 was done during the English Civil War (1642-1653, which resulted in the arrest of Charles I in 1647, and his beheading January 30, 1649, and the exile of the Royal Heir, Charles II, to Holland). It was during this period of civil unrest, when the consensus of opinion was that the Royal family had no rights or privileges, and there was no King in England, that the Royal Patent was ignored.

If the fact that the King James Bible is not under copyright in the US indicates that it is the word of God and not the words of men, as the newer versions are indicated to be by virtue of their copyright, does that also mean, as the KJV is under copyright in England, that it is not the word of God in that country? To me, the copyright argument does not prove anything other than that currently if you want to print the NIV you have to pay to do so, but you do not have to receive anyone's permission to print the KJV in this country. However, one hundred years from now (or even 75 years from now) the copyright on the NIV will cease and anyone can print it without permission or payment. Will the NIV be a better or more accurate version in 50 or 75 years when its copyright expires?

I don't think so. The argument dealing with copyright is weak at best, and deceitful at worst. There are so many good reasons to believe in the superiority of the King James Bible, it seems odd to me to use a false argument to support a book of Truth.

The following was found in the Wikipedia article on the KJV

In most of the world the Authorized Version has passed out of copyright and is freely reproduced. This is not the case in the United Kingdom where the rights to the Authorized Version are held by the British Crown under perpetual Crown copyright. Publishers are licensed to reproduce the Authorized Version under letters patent. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the letters patent are held by the Queen's Printer, and in Scotland by the Scottish Bible Board. The office of Queen's Printer has been associated with the right to reproduce the Bible for many centuries, with the earliest known reference coming in 1577. In the 18th century all the surviving interests in the monopoly were bought out by John Baskett. The Baskett rights descended through a number of printers and, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Queen's Printer is now Cambridge University Press, who inherited the right when they took over the firm of Eyre & Spottiswoode in 1990.[55]

Other royal charters of similar antiquity grant Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press the right to produce the Authorized Version independently of the Queen's Printer. In Scotland the Authorized Version is published by Collins under license from the Scottish Bible Board. The terms of the letters patent prohibit those other than the holders, or those authorized by the holders from printing, publishing or importing the Authorized Version into the United Kingdom. The protection that the Authorized Version, and also the Book of Common Prayer, enjoy is the last remnant of the time when the Crown held a monopoly over all printing and publishing in the United Kingdom.[56]

I wanted to post this information just to ensure people were familiar with some facts that they may not have known.

Kept by the Power of God

from "The Poor Man's Portion" by Robert Hawker 

1 Pet 1:5 "who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation." (NKJV) 

When I call to mind that in me, "that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing;" when I stand convinced, (as I do most fully, blessed be God the Holy Ghost, for having exercised his gracious work in my soul, to this gracious effect,) that though renewed in the spirit of my mind, yet in that unrenewed part of myself, which is hastening to the grave, every member is virtually all sin; when I know that never did sin break out in acts of open wickedness, in any son or daughter of Adam, but that the seeds of the same sin are in me and my nature; I long not only to know, but always to keep in remembrance by what means, and from what cause it is, that those seeds do not ripen in my heart, as well as in others; that while corrupt nature is the same in all, it is restrained in me, while so many of my fellow creatures, and fellow-sinners, fall a prey to temptation. Blessed Spirit! the merciful scripture of the evening answers the important question. They who are kept, "are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation." Here is the solution of the whole subject. With what humbleness of soul, then, ought every child of God to fall down before the throne of grace, under the deepest sense of distinguishing love, in the consciousness that it is divine restraint, and not creature merit, which makes all the difference. Help me, Lord, to go humbly all my days in this view, and let it be my morning thought, as well as my mid-day and evening meditation, that I am kept by your power, through faith unto salvation. Almighty Father, help me to be live my life depending upon your faithfulness in the covenant of grace, established and sealed as it is in the blood of your dear Son, that "you will not" turn away from me to do me good; and that you will put your fear in my heart, that I shall not depart from you.-Jer. 32:40. Precious Lord Jesus! cause me to rest also upon an union with you, a communication of grace from you, and a participation in you, in all the blessings of your redemption. Surely I am the purchase of your blood, and you have said, "your sheep shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of your hand."-John 10:28. And Oh! you blessed Spirit of all truth, may you be to me an indwelling security from sin, to keep me from falling, and to preserve me faultless in Jesus, until the day of his coming. Make my body your temple, and cause me, by your sweet constraining love, to "glorify God in my body, and in my spirit, which are his."-1 Cor. 6:20.

God Wrote The Book

How can we really know if God wrote the Bible through the men of God or if the Bible is simply a book written only by man? 2 Peter 1:20-21 is one answer. 2 Timothy 3:16 also.

There are also quite a number of ways to prove the validity and the reliability of scripture. Maybe you have heard of them.

We've got an acronym called MAPS (thanks Hank Hanegraaff and equip.org).

M-Manuscript evidence.

A-Archaeological evidence.

P-Prophetic evidence.

S-Statistical evidence.

One might even add or distinguish Historical evidence but would ruin the acronym (MAPSH?).

Now, you can spend some good time learning the details of these and you would probably benefit greatly as you would enhance the foundation of your faith, the very word of God.

But here's a rather inductive way to prove God wrote the Bible based on observing scripture alone. Just think about it and it makes a lot of sense really.

But be forewarned: It is blunt.

Either man or God wrote the Bible. Man did not write the Bible because the Bible teaches circumcision, and no man in his right mind would ever put a knife to his manhood.

So only God could have written the Bible, for man would never come up with something like circumcision. That's a premise no man can deny.

Case closed ladies and gentlemen.

Why I Preach Verse-by-Verse

When people ask me about Victory Baptist Church I tell them that we preach the bible verse-by-verse. Most of the time I can tell by the reaction that the person really doesn't understand what that is or why it is important. This coming Sunday will be a great example of why verse-by-verse preaching is important.

We are nearing the end of our study of 1 Corinthians 7 and this Sunday we will be studying the following text:

36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

If most people are honest they have probably never heard a sermon on this text. Why are we covering it? because we are going verse-by-verse and we do not skip a passage because it may be difficult or people may think it is boring. It is God's word and we must seek to understand it.

The above passage has many difficulties when one tries to study it.

Look at the words of Matthew Henry on this text:

In this passage the apostle is commonly supposed to give advice about the disposal of children in marriage, upon the principle of his former determination. In this view the general meaning is plain. It was in that age, and those parts of the world, and especially among the Jews, reckoned a disgrace for a woman to remain unmarried past a certain number of years: it gave a suspicion of somewhat that was not for her reputation. "Now," says the apostle, "if any man thinks he behaves unhandsomely towards his daughter, and that it is not for her credit to remain unmarried, when she is of full age, and that upon this principle it is needful to dispose of her in marriage, he may use his pleasure. It is no sin in him to dispose of her to a suitable mate. But if a man has determined in himself to keep her a virgin, and stands to this determination, and is under no necessity to dispose of her in marriage, but is at liberty, with her consent, to pursue his purpose, he does well in keeping her a virgin. In short, he that gives her in marriage does well; but he that keeps her single, if she can be easy and innocent in such a state, does what is better; that is, more convenient for her in the present state of things, if not at all times and seasons." Note, 1. Children should be at the disposal of their parents, and not dispose of themselves in marriage. Yet, 2. Parents should consult their children's inclinations, both to marriage in general and to the person in particular, and not reckon they have uncontrollable power to do with them, and dictate to them, as they please. 3. It is our duty not only to consider what is lawful, but in many cases, at least, what is fit to be done, before we do it.

But I think the apostle is here continuing his former discourse, and advising unmarried persons, who are at their own disposal, what to do, the man's virgin being meant of his virginity. Terein ten heautou parthenon seems to be rather meant of preserving his own virginity than keeping his daughter a virgin, though it be altogether uncommon to use the word in this sense. Several other reasons may be seen in Locke and Whitby, by those who will consult them. And it was a common matter of reproach among Jews and civilized heathens, for a man to continue single beyond such a term of years, though all did not agree in limiting the single life to the same term. The general meaning of the apostle is the same, that it was no sin to marry, if a man thought there was a necessity upon, to avoid popular reproach, much less to avoid the hurrying fervours of lust. But he that was in his own power, stood firm in his purpose, and found himself under no necessity to marry, would, at that season, and in the circumstances of Christians at that time, at least, make a choice every way most for his own conveniency, ease, and advantage, as to his spiritual concerns. And it is highly expedient, if not a duty, for Christians to be guided by such a consideration.

However,

The New Testament Commentary written by Simon J. Kistemaker offers three interpretations to this text:

1. Father and Daughter This passage is speaking of the Father who in that culture could determine who and if his daughter would marry.

2. Spiritual Marriage: A couple are married and live together in spiritual Harmony but do not engage in physical intimacy.

3. The Engaged Couple. Speaking about issues that can occur when a couple is engaged.

Even translators have struggled with this passage. Consider the following:

KJV

36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

NAS

36 But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. 38 So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

NLT

36. But if a man thinks he ought to marry his fiance because he has trouble controlling his passions and time is passing, it is all right; it is not a sin. Let them marry. 37 But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. 38 So the person who marries does well, and the person who doesn't marry does even better.

ASV

But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well.38 So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

It is only verse-by-verse teaching which leads a pastor and a Church to struggle with difficult passage of God's word in and effort to know God's word.

Scripture Readings For The Day

1Kings 18:41-46

Psalm 65:10-13

Matthew 5:20-26

Sins & Stones

Is neglecting to confess your faults the same as actively hiding your sin?
Is lack of confession of sin the same as saying you have no sin?

If so, then you can cast the first stone. John 8:7.

And 1 John says you are deceived and the truth is not in you. 1 John 1:8-10.
Lying is a sin, so put down the stone. (Romans 3:23-->Romans 6:23-->Revelation 21:8)
Confess your faults. James 5:16, Acts 19:18.

Humble yourself & confess your sin. Do not hide in pride.

Jesus is the Savior and He is great because:
1. He had no sins, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22, Isaiah 53:9.
AND
2. He had no stones to throw. John 8:4-11.

If we had no sin, I’m sure we’d still throw everyone else into a rock quarry and make a meteor shower look harmless compared to the stone throwing melee that would ensue. And we’d just stone each other in the cross fire.

Only Jesus could have no sins AND no stones to throw - that's why HE is the Savior and HE is great. We are but dust. Genesis 18:27.

The cross is the only way to wipe out sin. Jesus showed us that. Romans 5:8, John 14:6.
And Jesus told us he’d wipe out our sin, but we must confess it. 1 John 1:9.

And we must confess Jesus as Lord. Romans 10:9-10.

The Need For Church History

The last few weeks we have been posting many articles about the Lakeland Revival and Todd Bentley. The false teaching and deception makes me angry and upset. As I sit and watch and listen to what is being said, I cannot understand how so many people can be deceived.

Those who are deceived and are lost, their deception makes sense. They are blinded to the truth of God, they are spirtually dead. But how can true Christians be led astray so easily?

I think there are two important things happening in the American Church that is making people easy prey:

1. Lack of careful verse-by-verse preaching of God's Word!

2. Lack of teaching on Church History.

Ask the average Christian some of the following questions:

1. Who was Augustine?

2. Who did Augustine have a controversy and debate against?

3. What was the debate and controversy about?

4. What is significant about the Council at Carthage that met in 418 A.D.? 5. Who were the Ebionites?

6. What was Docetism?

7. What was Arianism?

8. What is significant about the Chalcedonian Creed?

Sadly most Christians will have no idea what you are talking when asked the above questions. Why? because their church never teaches history.

This is important because much of Church history is the story of how doctrinal error began and how the early church fought against it. Today many of the ancient heresies are present and many christians are believing them because they have no idea that they were condemned by the early church!

To help equip people in the subject of Church history I want to point people to the following resources:

Grace Baptist Church in California did a great series on Church history you can listen and download all the messages for free: Here is the Link: History

James White taught a good series on Churh History and you can listen to the messages at this link: History

Covenant Theological Seminary has placed all the lectures for the Ancient & Medieval Church History class online. You can listen at this link: History

Caffeine Christian

Luke 8:13, Mark 4:16-17, Matt 13:20-21

The guy who got excited over God’s word had no root and fell away, kind of like being bummed out when your caffeine wears off, or being tired after a sugar crash. At one moment you're all a buzzin', but that energy kick has no lasting value. The next moment you're feeling the fatigue.

So the only way this guy could stick with the program was to either keep drinking the milk of the word like popping a coke can for another buzz and thereby at best being a superficial Christian, or he could always eat the meat of the word and get his spiritual man fortified with strength to stand the test of life.

Moral of the story – Eat the meat of the word and let it take root in you lest you crash and drop out of the program.

The milk of the word is good stuff, don't get me wrong. But the meat has more of what your spiritual man really needs for vigor and strong roots of faith, faith that will help you stand the tests and trials that will come. And they WILL come. (1 Corinthians 3:2, Hebrews 5:12-13, 1 Peter 2:2, James 1:2-4, James 1:12, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 2 Timothy 3:12)

Isn’t God’s word sweet to your taste, even sweeter than honey to your mouth? (Psalm 119:103)

How do you know? Well, was it not the word of God that saved you, or rather the hearing of it that gave you saving faith? Romans 10:17. This is part of justification.

So also it is the word of God that keeps you going. John 17:17. This is part of sanctification.

Don’t rely on the occasional buzz you might get from a good sermon to feed your faith. It’s not enough. It’s like caffeine. You can always enjoy some. But don’t forsake or neglect a regular and steady diet of God’s word daily or your spiritual man will shrivel up and wither away when the test of life comes. God’s word is your vitality.

As Peter said to Jesus – “You have the words of eternal life!” John 6:68. (Emphasis added)

In light of steady feeding on God’s word rather than the occasional and temporary buzz, this quote may prove practically helpful:

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Ryun

Adoption

Heirs with Christ, The Puritans on Adoption by Joel R. Beeke

This is one of those doctrines that often gets over looked, Beeke does an excellent job of explaining it with the help of the puritans.

If you get a chance get this book.

Buy it here.

House of Yahweh...More False Predictions

Remember we did a whole series on the heretical cult that's in our area, the House of Yahweh? Leader/Founder Yisrayl Hawkins, aside from popping in and out of jail for bigamy charges, is at it again. This time on national news. Take a look at how he waffles around and then pins down the prediction that nuclear war will start by June 12th...that's right...Thursday.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5002192

Big question is...how many of his followers will open their eyes and realize they are following a false prophet that has no idea who the Lord Jesus Christ is...let alone what will happen in the future?

Lakeland Florida Healing Outpouring LIVE - 6/10/08

To watch the live broadcast yourself, you can log in at God.TV.com for free.

10:24 PM

Tonight's Florida Healing Outpouring appears officially over online as another program streams.

Signing off.

10:18 PM

The healing outpouring faded to black at10:18 Pm tonight then switched to another program.

Todd, more than once, said that tonight they would bring out the bucket of oil that is usually reserved for Fridays. It seemed that by Todd saying this that there was supposed to be a very special healing anointing to happen later tonight using the bucket of oil.

But the bucket of oil never came.

There was a sermon from the Bible. And a lengthy time of challenging the crowd to give big money.

10:04 PM

Todd is spending 5 minutes now encouraging giving money for the offering with Bible verses and personal stories of his own giving and by what the Lord told him...

Todd says that he did not buy the gift of anointing but honored it by releasing giving and generosity...

Todd says "the glory" got on his face and said it had been on others' faces and it looked like gold on their face.

He claims that they received hundreds of gem stones one night...it was the anointing or a result thereof...

Todd does not want people's $10 if it's not a sacrifice...so they should give more...

Going on 8 minutes now of "preaching a mini-sermon"(JM) on giving good offering tonight...

Todd continues to reiterate over and over about giving, "challenging" the crowd, Todd says.

Todd says that if you did not come to be generous and are mad at Todd for talking about giving, then do not expect Todd to pray for you.

The revival/ministry, says Todd, is behind on finances and they need the money because they have been relaxed on the offering time.

Now at 11 minutes of soft music and Todd challenging people to give a good offering of money.

Todd has not received any honorary money directly from the offering, and he claims that is amazing. The Lord told Todd to not receive any direct money from the offering for the entire revival. They are putting 100% of the offering back into the ministry...says Todd.

After 13 minutes of this, the ushers began collecting the offering.

10:04 PM

An offering announced. How many of you are ready to "sow" into the anointing, Todd asks.

"It's offering time, who's excited about that?!" says Todd.

Todd is encouraging the crowd to sow and give money generously for the right reasons. Music plays softly in the background.

Todd says you will "release the anointing in your life through giving." Todd says you reap what you sow...

Todd claims extreme generosity in his own life. Gives a personal story.

Todd calls the offering "planting your seed" to Fresh Fire ministries. He says you can use your Visa or Mastercard too.

"Sow a seed tonight, a big seed. That would be awesome, because we really do need your money" says Todd Bentley.

10:02 PM

God told Todd to anoint people with purpose to receive the anointing. He's going to pray for people tonight.

I don't know if the bucket of oil is still going to be brought out tonight as Todd said earlier.

9:59 PM

Todd says the key verse, the key for getting the anointing is verse 12-17. You must be humble, care for the widow, the poor, have mercy and justice...to have the anointing.

Todd challenges people to reach out to the lost and the poor...

You want to be anointed like Job to set the captive free, says Todd. You want all the favor of the anointing...

Todd prays for everyone to receive the anointing in the anointing service tonight...

9:54 PM

Todd used to watch Benny Hinn. Hinn's words would impact Todd greatly because Hinn had such a great anointing, says Todd.

Todd is focusing now on verses 21-23 to say that your words will be great and have great impact on others when you have the anointing.

9:50 PM

Todd says he will never neglect the poor no matter how big he gets. He says he loves justice, mercy...

9:48 PM

Todd says Job was so anointed because Job helped the poor, the widow, the orphan. (Could Mother Teresa have been super anointed then? Why or why not?)

9:46 PM

Todd seems to be preaching that Job 29 says a Christian can have a supernatural anointing in everyday life at least some of the time if not all of the time.

He then uses the lead singer of U2 as an example of just "being yourself" and then says the anointing can let you live and wear any clothes you want. It actually seems to make a connection between Bono and wearing what you want as if to suggest Bono has the anointing all the time, or at times. I don't think that was his intention...?

9:38 PM

Job used to live like his feet were in butter, just sliding easily through everyday life.

9:36 PM

Todd repeating Job's condition presently.

Todd explaining the anointing is not just healing but at times more than that where the devil can't touch you and everything is supernaturally great.

Todd says the Israelites wore the same clothes and sandals for 40 years because they were so anointed.

Todd says the anointing not just for ministry, but for everyday life.

Todd repeating the story of Job here. Job was so blessed by "the glory" that the counsel of heaven was just right over his tent in the morning, the friendly counsel of God.

Todd yelling these things out. Some crowd response, a few claps. A little yell. An "amen" here or there. May be hard to hear the crowd over Todd's mic.

Job had rivers of oil, like cream, fat, butter...

9:27 PM

Job used to not have to fast and pray and seek the Lord's counsel, Todd says, as Job is now in the dark.

9:26 PM

Job 29!

Todd speaking in tongues with the words "ba-boom ba-bam" it sounds.

Todd still trying to pump up the crowd as he's about to read from Job 29.

Job was in the anointing describing what the anointed life is like...

Verses 1-6 of Job 29 read. Todd says Job is remembering the anointing in his past, wishing he had that anointing back. Job is going through a hard time.

Now Todd is relating to life experiences of being in a hard time like Job. But Todd has not explained the text much at all yet.

Todd defined the word "God watched over me" in verse one as protection or a glory hedge, a glory bubble. Todd says Job walked in divine covering.

Verse 3- Job still remembering the day of the Lord's illumination even in hard times in the past...

9:17 PM

Todd is talking about how the anointing is different every night. He wishes he could reproduce the same anointing every night sometimes. He sometimes does not have the anointing in preaching and must fly by his instruments.

Many times he preaches until something happens...until the anointing is present..."I don't even write sermons!"

Todd does not write sermons, he has "messages."

9:14 PM

Todd is pumping up the crowd about the anointing...no Job yet...and the crowd seems pretty non-responsive.

"Healing is not miracles, miracles are not healing..." says Todd... He is explaining greater and more specific anointing but has not yet specified what it is it seems........

9:11 PM

One chapter in the book of Job has more about it than anywhere else in the Bible, says Todd.

It is supposed to teach how to expect intense anointing...

Todd also said a minute ago he would bring out the bucket of oil tonight...

9:09 PM

Opening Bibles to the book of Job! "Who talks about the anointing using the book of Job?" asks Todd.

9:08 PM

Testimonies appear to be done, for now. Todd is supposed to preach and teach on anointing soon, according to what he said earlier...

9:07 PM

No body coming out of wheel chairs or anything obviously real or dramatic yet, if there are wheel chairs in the back...

9:04 PM

Todd just felt the Lord touch his right ear...indicating a person was just healed in their ear...

9:01 PM

A lady claiming healing started laughing and got "boomed" over.

A young boy purported to have a high sense of autism (Augsburg syndrome?) was healed and blown over by Todd...

Folks claim their deafness was healed and blindness was healed...

Quite a few people do not seem to be responding to being blown over or "bammed" over...

There's a diabetic sniffing dog on stage now. The dog will alert to high blood sugar by licking your hand...they might let the dog loose in the crowd to sniff out diabetes. This person claiming the healing claims her pancreas (sp?) is being re-created? The dog likes Todd. The girl is not responding to the "bams" but the other lady did. Todd also told fire to go on the dog it seems, but the dog was unresponsive.

8:52 PM

Todd "bammed" and "boomed" a lady 3 or 4 times and she did not fall right over. Stayed on her feet it seems...

8:49 PM

Todd blew on people and they fell backward..

8:48 PM

Todd does not want to have just testimonies right now because he wants to preach but there is so much healing anointing right now...

Now they're doing testimonies.

Todd is trying to verify the healing...asking if she's feeling anything...she said she felt hot and as soon as she did he laid her out on the floor.

"Boom." People falling out as Todd hears them tell him their healing.

Todd "boomed" a lady but she did not fall right out...

8:45 PM

Todd is encouraging simple plain healing along with the major kind.

8:41 PM

Healing still being claimed over and over. He's claiming more specific sicknesses and infirmities being healed.

The crowd does not appear very excited. Possibly focused in prayer.

Todd appears to be receiving words of knowledge of specific healings...

8:38 PM

Todd says tonight is not an actual healing service, but healing can still happen. He said, Lord willing, he is going to get out a Bible and do some preaching and teaching on how to get some of the anointing.

8:37 PM

He says they're going to have healing tonight.

He is going to get the bucket of oil out that only comes out on Friday. He's going to get it out on Tuesday and Friday this week.

8:36 PM

Todd is not asking for people who want prayer to come to the front, he is asking for people already healed in the audience to come forward and testify to the healing.

8:35 PM

Todd is commanding many diseases to be healed.

No Bible yet. No sermon.

Todd just asked if anyone felt anything happen in their body right now. He tells them to come to the front quickly!

8:34 PM

Todd commanding healing and declaring healing to come down.

The crowd does not seem to be as on fire.

8:33 PM

Todd is commanding demonic power to come out and go away...commanding specific sicknesses to come out of people. "Let the anointing be released!"

"Receive it..."

Todd holds his fingers toward the camera and says "Let it flow..." "Fire..."

Naming more sicknesses. Miracle healings claimed to be taking place right now...

"Put your hand on the part of your body that needs healing!" "Pop, pop, pop!"

8:30 PM

Todd is naming and claiming specific healing miracles to occur soon. He feels the anointing of the Holy Ghost. He's asking the crowd to stand and get ready... He's feeling the healing about to come down...

8:29 PM

Todd claiming that they're about to speak healing down, claim it... Todd talking about the need for a healing ministry far above and beyond previous healing ministries. Todd wants notable miracles.

Todd feels real authority right now if the crowd is ready to go there with him. He is telling them that they will feel it and receive the healing pretty soon. He is suggesting to crowd what is about to happen. He is encouraging them to think so.

8:26 PM

(Back up on video)

8:23 PM

Todd claiming demonic activity to blame for sickness and lack of healing. Talking about spiritual warfare, taking authority.

Todd is asking why healing can't fall from heaven right now? "There's an outpouring happening right here" says Todd.

Online video stream breaking up...

8:19 PM

"You have not because you ask not..." "How precious is the anointing?" Todd says everyone united in faith can release healing. "We expect the miraculous."

The crowd is not responding very much...some cheers and clapping here and there...

"It may not be that you don't have enough faith. It could be demonic activity in your city."

8:17 PM

Prayer for healing, signs and wonders shouted out.

"Power, power, power!"

8:16 PM

No Bible yet.

Todd said you "reap what you sow" as to tell the crowd to pray for healing in order to get it.

8:15 PM

Todd is "speaking" and "declaring" healing to happen in hospitals...

8:14 PM

Todd repeating the same call over and over for God's power and healing to come and be released.

Encouraging healing signs and wonders...

8:12 PM

Todd speaking loud and fast now. Encouraging fire in believers and continued healing...they want to see more people healed, saved, delivered...

The crowd is trying to cheer along...

8:11 PM

No Bible reading yet. No sermon yet. No one slain in the Spirit yet.

Encouraging prayer for healing around the world...

Todd calling for power...for healing...

8:09 PM

Todd about to read a story of a testimony. Somebody totally brain dead, he read from a letter. EMT's shocked his heart 3 times back to life. He came to at the hospital. He was in ICU...in a coma state...for a week. Brain scan said man was brain dead...Man was prayed over. He improved, but still on life support...now off life support and is alive and awake and normal.

8:06 PM

Todd defending people's miracles, trying to avoid criticism from the media...doing the best they can to ensure every prayer request is received, prayed for, and that every testimony be followed up by a phone call with the people and even a doctor for verification...

Todd asking folks to contact the ministry to verify miracles.

Todd saying though don't need all this, but believe that the miracles are true.

Now 24 resurrections claimed.

8:04 PM

Todd claiming miracles are occurring. Seems to be defending the veracity of the miracles. Says he will do the best he can to follow up on the miracles to prove they're real.

8:03PM

(Back up online)

8:01 PM

(Video stream still down. Internet traffic? Switching from the low stream to the high stream and refreshing the webpage so far prove ineffective...)

7:58 PM

Online stream still down.

(Claims that Jesus showed up during the downtime are not probable due to the stream being dead. I'm pretty sure the broadcast is also on satellite TV and is probably not down but don't know for sure.)

7:55 PM

Online video stream from God.TV still down to black.

7:51 PM

Speaker speaking in tongues. Quickly and easily switches back to English while watching the crowd...

Live stream dead again...

7:50 PM

Tongues from the speaker...Back to English...encouraging more intimate worship...

7:49 PM

Speaker speaking faster and higher...encouraging full worship...

7:47 PM

Stream up...

The speaker told the crowd he's preaching real good right now but the crowd isn't responding to the same degree...to the Lord...I don't think the speaker opened the Bible yet at all, so I don't know what he was preaching...

Music and worship again...

Crowd told they want God's full glory but God wants their full heart in worhsip...thus keep singing...

Todd saying, "Pull down that fire!" "Do you want it? It's based on your passion, hunger."

7:45 PM

Dead live stream again...

7:44 PM

Someone is speaking. He feels God right now. He is encouraging worship to continue...

7:43 PM

(Missed the last 10 minutes)

7:33 PM

Music volume and tempo ebb and flow...

7:32 PM

Slow repitition of same choruses...

7:27 PM

The previous choruses are being sung again.

7:26 PM

Todd speaking... "We want to be deeper." He says worship is not done yet. I missed the last 10 minutes. Don't know if any scripture was read yet.

7:14 PM

Live video stream from God.TV went dead. Still dead...

7:12 PM

Todd appears to have a Bible open on his chest. He is encouraging fresh hunger for the annointing.

Talking about the excitement wearing off...to not let that happen...

Todd was so "overcome by the glory" Sunday is why he couldn't come to the Revival...He had a personal visitition of the glory of God...

The live stream just went dead...

7:10 PM

Bentley speaking..."There's a breakthrough..."

7:06 PM

In song, "Open the flood gates of heaven, let it rain, let it rain..."

The music leader has control over herself enough to encourage the crowd to keep repeating, looking at them to gauge the activity...

Todd Bentley is on the side stage in worship...

7:o3 PM

The crowd is getting excited. Cheering. Screaming... Music pumps up... No lyrics...

Back down to softer repeating, "Open the flood gates of heaven, let it rain!"

7:01 PM

"We won't relent until you have it all, my heart is yours." Music pause...

7:oo PM

Everyone is still on their feet.

"Open the flood gates of heaven, let it rain!" repeated over and over again in chorus.

Now the crowd is cheering during music pause.

Repeating again, "I don't want to talk about you like you're not in this room, I wanna look right at you, wanna sing right to you..."

6:57 PM

"Open the flood gates of heaven, let it rain!" repeated over and over again in chorus.

6:54 PM

Songs are heartfelt and passionate. Seemingly sincere, genuine. As for doctrine and truth, well there are no traditional hymns or the like. Otherwise, "I don't want to talk about you like you're not in this room, I wanna look right at you, wanna sing right to you..."

6:50 PM

New song. Music continues.

6:49 PM

"Just let him come forth...break out..."

6:48 PM

Calm, slower, a heightened hush...

6:45 PM

"Something just broke! You feel that? God we're so hungry for all of you. We want to go to a new depth..."

6:43 PM

Now it's being repeated over and over for the crowd to "press in" to the Holy Ghost along with the repeated question, "Who today?" asking who is going to worship the Lord. Does this invite or or push the crowd to perhaps work themselves up more and more?

Otherwise, the lyrics are not doctrinally enriched at all. Mostly short simple phrases...

"Cry out" now being encouraged.

The lead singer seamed to studder a bit for a few seconds. Tongues?

"Deeper, deeper..." "Come on"

6:35 PM

During a pause after the last song, the crowd showed some signs of excitement until the next song flowed in.

6:32 PM
The two hour show starts at 7pm CT, but the entire event is 4 hours long starting at 5pm CT.
So right now is continuous praise & worship. Highly energized contemporary heartfelt worship songs so far, sung at length repeating chorus' numerous times, along with some slow songs.

The crowd was told to "press in" to bring on the outpouring as they worshipped.

The crowd is large, filled with young and old alike. All the people are on their feet, arms raised, and swaying in typical fashion. So far it all seems fairly normal. There's nobody laughing, slain in the Sprit, or dancing wildly.

The crowd shots from the jib arm cameras don't appear to show any of the crippled in the back rows.

Todd Bentley should arrive near the last hour of the show. The updates may be few and far between until then.

LIVE BLOGGING OF THE LAKELAND REVIVAL

Where to begin? Saturday night at the Lakeland Revival, a prophecy was read that Jesus was going to appear on the stage at Lakeland Sunday night. This did not happen and interestingly enough, Monday night Todd Bentley was not at the revival. Tonight, Todd is supposed to be back and we at the Preaching Today blog will be watching. Beginning at 7:00pm Central time, we will start live blogging the Lakeland revival. We will create an initial post and then update it continually throughout the service. What this means for you is that you will need to refresh the screen about every 15 minutes to read the latest entry. We hope this will give everyone a different perspective on what is happening. Please post your comments as you read our observations on tonight's service. We pray God will use this effort to inform and keep people away from error.

Justin Peters Exposing the Lakeland Revival

I was sent this blog post by Justin Peters from another contender of the faith...

Here is Justin Peter's blog post on Adventures in Christianity.

It's easier to read there, but here it is below also.

Read Justin Peter's first hand account of his attendance at the Lakeland Revivial featuring Todd Bentley, and be discerning. Justin Peters is the one who conducts the seminar called "A Call for Discernment" which exposes the Word of Faith Movement. The 35 minute demo video of his seminar is found in a few posts below this one. Justin Peters conducted his Masters thesis on Benny Hinn. Justin Peters has Cerebral Palsy and attended 7 Benny Hinn crusades. His first hand accounts are credible and balanced.

Justin Peters also decided to take a trip to Todd Bentley’s Lakeland revival. Here is his story:

Hello All,
Let me first say that for some reason all of the quotation and question marks I used were for some reason converted to semicolons. This will make my post somewhat difficult to read. Does anyone else have this problem?
Well, I went to Lakeland, FL to attend the revival services. I was in attendance Monday morning and evening, Tues evening, and Wed. morning. I really did try to go to these services with an open mind, but once there it did not take very long for my mind to begin closing. Todd Bentley does not preach in the morning services. Monday morning the preacher was a 28 year-old lady named Kira Mitchell who is one of Todd’s interns (for lack of a better word). He is apparently mentoring her. She told a great deal of dramatic stories and spoke often about how God speaks to her in dreams, visions, and, on occassion, in an audible voice. Peppered throughout her message were references to the upcoming time where the anointing would begin flowing (to which she referred as “walking in the sauce” which struck me as rather irreverant to say the least) and people would be healed. She called for those with tumors and cysts to come forward because God was telling her that an anointing was there for people such as these. So, many did come forward - particularly women with breast cancer it seemed. She would go person to person down the line and prophesy over him or her (she said to numerous women “You are a daughter of destiny” though she never seemed to elaborate on exactly what that meant) and attempt to slay them in the Spirit. Some went down, some did not. There were people who claimed to be healed of their tumors. Noticeably lacking from those who claimed to be healed, however, were people such as the man who was blind, the woman who was on crutches suffering from crippling arthritis, and the mother with her seven year old little boy who was born without a brain - only a brain stem. None of these poor people were healed.
Then came Monday night. The service began with a solid two hours of “worship.” The music was extremely loud and quite heavy. It was more like a rock concert than worship. People were jumping up and down, speaking in tongues, some were laughing uncontrollably (bibilical support for this?), being slain in the Spirit, some lay on the floor twitching and writhing around, some would burst forth in screams. To be fair, the more dramatic manifestations were not the rule but nonetheless did occur with considerable frequency. In short, the worship was highly, highly emotionally charged. Finally, Todd got up to “preach.” Now, I put the word preach in quotes because what I observed of Todd’s messages could not be characterized as preaching by even the loosest definition of the term. He did not read and explain any text of Scripture. He basically performed and told dramatic stories of people being healed. Then came time for the healing to begin. Todd said, ‘If you are sick, I want you to begin doing something that you could not do before. You have to activate your faith by doing something you couldn’t do before. If you’re in a wheelchair, get up out of that wheelchair and start walking. If you couldn’t move your legs, start moving them.’ Well, I’m sitting in the wheelchair section (in my own electric chair) and so people all around me began trying to get out of their wheelchairs. Family members began trying to coax their loved ones out of their chairs and people on crutches stood up trying to walk without them. There was a large man sitting next to me in a wheelchair who was paralyzed from the waist down. He began to try to inch his way to the edge of his seat. His wife and a young lady who I presumed was his daughter encouraged him along. There was another lady standing over him speaking in tongues. Well, this man got to the edge of his seat, slid off, and crumpled to the floor like a rag doll. His wife and daughter kept encouraging him to “just believe.” The other lady kept up her tongues. This went on for a good half hour and the poor man could do nothing. They finally helped him back into his chair. (Probably just didn’t have enough faith, you see.)
A number of people who came in in wheelchairs walked up on stage for Todd to pray over them. Todd would ask them their condition, command them to be healed, and then lay hands on them and yell very loudly into the microphone, “BAM!!” Some would then fall back and lowered to the floor by the ready catchers (one person he even head-butted as he “BAMMED” him). He claimed most, if not all, of these folks healed. Well, these individuals could all walk even though they were in wheelchairs. I watched each one as they came back down the stage and from what I could observe every one of them went back to their wheelchair or stayed on their crutches. I honestly did not see anyone dramatically and unquestionably healed. Some of these individuals I followed and was able to get their names and phone numbers. I will follow up with them in a few weeks to see what if any change in their condition has occurred. There were a few empty chairs that all of the sudden appeared on stage but I did not see anyone actually get out of them.
Larry was another man who made it up on stage but he was not in a wheelchair. Larry, a pastor, has throat cancer with a grim prognosis from his physicians. Larry was very, very weak and feeble. When he spoke his voice was weak and raspy. Bentley claimed his healing and Larry agreed with him. Larry was helped off the stage by a young man and they left the auditorium. I caught up with them out in the hall. There was no discernable change in his condition. I will call Larry in a few weeks to see how he is doing. Please pray for Larry that God would heal him and, if physical healing is not God’s will, that Larry would know sufficient grace and strength made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:7-9).
There were so many people there sick with cancer, in wheelchairs, parents with crippled and sick children, retarded children and the like. I did not witness any miracles that were truly undeniable.
Wednesday morning something interesting happened. The pastor of Ignited Church, Stephen Strader, was preaching. At the end of the service he called for all preachers and evangelists to go into the fellowship hall where he was going to bestow on them “the anointing.” Well, long story short, I found myself in the fellowship hall. Strader came in and said, ‘Ok, I have some instructions for you. I’m about to come to each one of you and lay my hands on you to give you the anointing of this revival so that you can take it to your own church.’ He then admitted that not everything that has been going on at the Lakeland outpouring has been from God. He readily admitted that some people are getting caught up in emotionalism. He said, “I want you to take these next few minutes and pray. Pray, ‘God, if there is anything here You want me to have, give it to me. If there is anything here You do not want me to have, don’t give it to me.’ Now I think that is a fair prayer.” I had to agree with him. It certainly seemed like a fair prayer. But then he said something that really disconcerted me. He said, “Now, when I come up to you to give you the anointing, I want you to stop praying. If you continue to pray while I lay my hands on you, it will hinder the passing of the anointing from me to you. You are not to pray while I’m laying my hands on you and giving you this anointing.” Well, the Scripture that immediately popped into my head was 1 Thess. 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Why was the pastor of the church telling me to do something clearly against Scripture?? Let’s also look at this logically. When a person prays, he is communicating with the Triune Godhead. This anointing that is about to be given to me is also, supposedly, from the Tiune Godhead. How could these two acts possibly be in contradiction? How could me praying to God hinder me from receiving something from God? Unless, of course, this anointing was not really from God. Needless to say, huge red flags immediately went up with me. Now, I’m not making an accusation against Strader here, I’m just saying that his instruction to stop praying was patently unbiblical at best and, at worst, possibly a doorway to receive something from some kind of spirit but not the Holy Spirit. Please know that I am not judging the man’s heart, I’m just saying that this was an unwise and potentially exceedingly dangerous directive on his part. Well, Strader went up to each person, layed hands on them, and loudly yelled into the person’s ear “FIF!!,” (this is how I heard it) or, “FIRE!!” Practically everyone fell down, some twitched and jerked, some laughed, some just lay there. Well, when he came up to me, I was steady praying opting to follow the directives of Scripture rather than his. He layed hands on me, yelled “FIF” but I felt nothing other than concern about what was going on around me.
On a positive note, I attended one of their street evangelism training seminars. I was pleasantly surprised that the accompanying handouts were biblically solid - at least in the section that pertained to presenting the Gospel. The attendees were being trained to give people the Good Person Test by going through the 10 commandments. This is good. However, if someone made a ‘decision for Christ,’ then they were also, apparently, asked if they wanted to speak in tongues and so forth. A discussion on tongues is beyond the scope of my purposes here - I’m just telling what I observed.
Bentley struck me as an exceedingly arrogant person. He claims to have regular angelic visitations, was translated to Australia, and has been to Heaven where they actually did surgery on him [Forgive me if I just don't believe this. Was Paul allowed to tell us what he saw and heard when he was caught up into heaven in 2 Cor. 12:2-4? No. If the man who wrote half of the New Testament was not allowed to speak of what he saw, I seriously doubt anyone else claiming to be able to do so (especially if they have tapes or books to sell)] Bentley makes Benny Hinn look conservative by comparison (and I wrote my Master’s thesis on Hinn). On Tuesday night, Bentley got up to speak right after the two hours of music and all of the sudden excitedly said, “Is it raining in here? Is it raining in here?” as he held out his arms looking at them as though he was feeling drops of rain. Then the band, without missing a beat, started playing a chorus entitled “Let It Rain” complete with the lyrics against a backdrop of water being projected on the large screens. This was clearly ed. I was amazed that no one seemed to catch on to the obvious stunt. He claims that he has medical proof of these healings and resurrections. Maybe he does, I’m not sure. Friends, may I kindly offer a bit of caution here? Even if all of what Bentley claims is true (and I seriously doubt that it is), that does not in and of itself validate his ministry. The Bible often speaks of false prophets and false teachers who have performed and will perform signs and wonders. In fact, false Christs and false prophets will show signs and wonders so compelling that even the elect will almost be deceived (Matt. 24:24 see also Matt. 7:22-23).
Dear friends, after having been to the Lakeland Outpouring in person, I am very concerned about what is going on. Are there people there who are really saved and love the Lord? I have no doubt this is the case. Could some of the healings be real? They could be but I did not personally observe any - and I looked for them. Is Todd Bentley a man of God or a false prophet? Well, all I can say is that I do not believe him to be an honest man, he is a masterful manipulator of people’s emotions, he is actively engaging in activities that are extra-biblical and flat out unbiblical, and he does not preach the Word. What I am about to say is, I freely admit, subjective and by no means in and of itself authoritative in any way, but my spirit was very troubled the entire time I was there - very troubled. I believe that the Lakeland Outpouring is just the latest manifestation of the counterfeit revivals which broke out in Toronto, Brownsville, and Pensacola back in the ’90’s.
Let me conclude by saying that I long to see revival - true revival. I’m just not at all convinced that what we are seeing in Lakeland is. Let us pray for those sick and crippled who are being manipulated. If some are truly being saved, let us rejoice in that but pray that the focus would cease being on signs and wonders. Let us also pray for those who are leading this movement that they would not deceive or be deceived themselves.
Justin Peters

Puke & Carpet

Like oil and water, puke and carpet don't mix. Recently my son barfed in his bedroom and reminded me of this. Try to scrub vomit out of 28 year old half-shag rug and...you'll still have some left over.

Light and darkness don't mix either. You can't scrub darkness out of an unsaved person. It'll ALL be left over. But what's impossible with man is possible with God. He can scrub a stony heart out completely and replace it with a new heart. He can do that easier than I can take out my puke stained carpet and replace it with new carpet! (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Ezekiel 36:26)

You also can't mix the light of a saved person with the darkness of the world. It just don't work.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

Outpouring of God or Inpouring of Money?

There have been many claims of revival and mighty outpourings from God. For example, in the 1990's we had the Brownsville Revival and now we have the Lakleland Revival. What usally accompanies these supposed revivals is an opportunity for people to make a lot of money. This happens in a few different ways:

1. Merchandise: Everyone will have a book that you need. It will be the book they claim will change your life forever.. You will need the DVD set so you can experience the outpouring of God in your own home. But wait - there is more! If they can somehow create a product that is connected to the revival with any perceived spiritual benefit, they will do it!

2. Offerings: At some point there is always the claim that people need to give in order for the revival to continue. Don't let this miraculous move of God end! Give sacrificially and keep this revival going. I always find this claim humorous. God is supposedly healing people of all kinds of horrible diseases but somehow he can never provide money to sustain the revival.

3. Plant a seed. They will claim that if you plant a seed (which is code for "give us money") then God will give you back more. You give 10 dollars and God will give you a hundred.

Is any of this happening with the Lakeland Revival?

Consider the following:

The following was found on the God TV website:

Here is the link:

TV

WE MUST KEEP THIS REVIVAL GOING LIVE ON GOD TV!

To our dear friends all across the world – we feel as though our lives, the lives of our GOD TV teams and the lives of you - our viewers will never be the same again and we know so many many of you are feeling the same. Even as we write the Angelic Presence is so strong across the airwaves.

We are literally receiving thousands of emails from you, our viewers ALL ACROSS THE WORLD, telling us where you’re watching, sending healing testimonies and prayer requests and begging us NOT TO STOP BROADCASTING THIS REVIVAL!FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS, we believe that GOD TV was raised up to show the Glory of God throughout the earth and connect the nations of GOD in this vast outpouring Of Gods GLORY and HIS GRACE upon the nations - And YOU can be part of the miraculous by helping us take the fire of revival from Florida to the uttermost parts of the earth.

We have rescheduled all our programming, and are about to make some revolutionary decisions which will no doubt cost us more revenue, but we want to be OBEDIENT to the Spirit of the Lord. As many of you have guessed, we have NO BUDGET to broadcast this outpouring.

It was not in OUR plans – oh but HOW it was in GODS PLANS FOR GOD TV!We have gone out on a limb and are riding the wave with the Holy Spirit.

This Sunday we run out of the money given to carry the revival live EVERY night, but our hearts AND YOUR hearts are all burning to keep the revival on air!

If its within your power to sow into broadcasting this historic outpouring – and you are led by the Lord to do so – countless millions around the world will be eternally grateful – what can we say – things we know your heart already beats with - multitudes are already being DELIVERED, SET FREE, HEALED, RADICALLY SAVED AND SET AFLAME BY THESE BROADCASTS ALL ACROSS THE EARTH!

We need YOU… the Body of Christ needs YOU… the lost world needs YOU to ensure these live broadcasts keep going for the next 40 days!Please help us NOW!We love and appreciate you so VERY much... thank you for doing whatever you can...

Rory & Wendy Alec

Also consider the following Video

So then, is Lakeland really interested in the outpouring of God, or are they looking to have the money pouring in?

Benny Hinn & Jesus' Physical Appearance

Todd Bentley is not the first to claim a physical appearance of Jesus. Benny Hinn employed this back in 2000. Not surprisingly, nobody got Jesus' numerous appearances on film or video.

This website talks about this heresy: Let Us Reason

Here it is from the "horses mouth" where, just like Todd Bentley, Benny Hinn works up the people's expectations and get this, he just comes out and says it, "Expect it!"



In this next video, Hinn makes the claim again. He says that Jesus is going to appear BEFORE His second coming. So where does the Bible speak about Jesus' 1.5th coming!?

He goes on to say that not only does he believe Jesus will physically appear, He is "expecting" it and he "feels" it. Since when did Christians walk by sight instead of by faith!?

Hinn claims there are pictures and video of Jesus' physical appearances. If so, someone please post them onto YouTube.

Todd Bentley & The Second Coming of Christ

Todd Bentley at the Lakeland Revival read a letter from someone who claims that she received a prophetic word from the Lord. The Lord told her that He was coming in person, with clouds and chariots and all, to the revival, as in a physical manifestation of the second coming of Christ.

Now listen, Todd Bentley then disputes that prophetic word from the Lord to clarify that Jesus may not actually come in person.

See the problem here!? One person says, God told me this..." Then another person says, "No, God told me this..." or "God didn't mean what He told you..."

HOW CAN THESE FOLKS BELEIVE AND DEPEND ON HEARING MESSAGES DIRECTLY FROM THE LORD WHEN THE LORD CONTRADICTS HIMSELF?! Who is right? Bentley or the woman?

This is why we read the Bible for it is God's sure word through which he has spoken. If anyone adds to those words...not good.

Also remember that Jesus himself said, "God told me" and you Christian, in His word, in the Bible, that people, such as the one's in the video clip, will say, "Look here is Jesus" or "Look there he is!", but don't believe them! Elect, do not be deceived:

Matthew 24:23-27 23 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Luke 17:20-24 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." 22 And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

So why would Bentley read the letter with a claim that Bentley would have to dispute? Because it's still effective for his game. Read a letter claiming Jesus is coming in person really gets the crowd worked up in expectational frenzy. It's heightened suggestion. Then when he clarifies the fortold event, he is controlling the people's expectations. He is telling them what to really expect. Again, increasing the expectations then just focusing them. After this, Bentley then encourages the crowd to invite Jesus to show up. In other words, after increasing and focusing their expectations, he then encourages them to continue expecting, which in effect minimizes his dispute of the claimed event to take place. This is mental manipulation and deception.

Top Of Texas

Last year I got to hike to the highest point in the state of Texas, Guadalupe Peak, twice!! I look forward to doing it again too (anyone else wanna come?). The vistas and breathtaking views along the Guadalupe Peak Trail are just awesome. Reaching the peak not only awards you with an unparalleled 360 degree panorama, but you can also enjoy the brilliance of a West Texas sunset at 8,749 feet! It was a spectacle well worth driving 12 hours through the night to see.

When you finally make it to the top, your sense of accomplishment is eclipsed by the beautiful enormous views and the vast landscape. So if you feel any pride at all for persevering to the summit, it quickly vanishes in the light of the grandeur of a pink and orange sky with clouds set ablaze by the setting sun!

Sitting near the pinnacle of the trail, staring miles and miles away, you are literally higher than anyone else on the ground in Texas. But you don’t get prideful and look down on all those people from a big ego (unless you’re a goat).

Instead, at the apex of the mountain, you revel in the beauty of God’s creation, you bask in the light and wind of a rocky zenith, and you listen to the silent wilderness that surrounds!

Your focus is not on you! Your focus is on what’s around you, what’s outside of you. You gaze at beauty greater than your own. You marvel at a creation beyond your reckoning. You enjoy feeling so small in the presence of something so big, so dominating, and so massive as the mountain. With awe, you wonder at the wonders resting before you!

Stillness pervades your mind, hinting at tranquility. You are as still as the mountain, suggesting serenity. After all of your hiking, the power and stillness of the mountain stop you in your tracks. Motionless, you gaze. Breathless, you gasp.

Now the glory of creation that fills your vision declares a glory infinitely greater than itself (Psalm 19:1).

We are created for God’s glory. And as Christians, we are destined (predestined) to be with God in glory to praise and worship His glory and splendor and beauty and majesty forever and ever (Romans 8:30).

When we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, He exalts us (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6, Matthew 23:12, Luke 1:52, Job 5:11, Psalm 147:6, Luke 14:11, Luke 18:13-14). Someday we will be exalted to where God is in glory (John 17:24, Romans 5:2, Romans 8:18-30, Romans 9:23, 1 Corinthians 15:40-5, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Colossians 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, 1 Peter 5:1, 1 Peter 5:10, 2 Peter 1:3, Jude 24).

Like upon the mountain top beholding the sunset, when we are lifted up, exalted, in glory, in heaven, we won’t be admiring ourselves or our accomplishments. We won’t feel any pride for our efforts in getting there. We will focus not on ourselves but upon God and His awesomeness.

Standing atop the mountain, you don’t worship the kingdoms and their glory that you see below. You don’t worship the devil, and you don’t worship yourself. You worship God and His glory alone (Matthew 4:8-10).

It took a lot of work to get to the “Top of Texas”. I knew that what was up there was beautiful and amazing. I knew it was worth the effort to backpack all the way up. I was focused on the prize, and that was my motivation for planning such a trip.

This life is a journey. As sojourning Christians, focus on Christ, the Christian’s prize (1 Corinthians 9:24, Philippians 3:14), and you will stay in the fight (1 Timothy 6:12) and do whatever it takes to persevere unto the end.

A trip to the West Texas Mountains and desert is not just a vacation destination, it’s a radical sabbatical!

Heresy & Reality Check

If you've watched the Word of Faith Exposed 4 part video, then you recall that Benny Hinn talked about the Lord's face appearing on the back wall of the church where thousands of people saw it and it stayed there for 8 weeks!

8 weeks is plenty of time to set up a tripod and some still and video camera's and record the whole thing! Plus, cameras are always rolling at Benny Hinn's events, so why didn't they turn the camera already rolling there around and film the Lord's face and his mouth moving when Hinn preached?

Word of Faith Exposed part 4

Word of Faith Exposed part 3

Word of Faith Exposed part 2

Word of Faith Exposed part 1

If you're in a Reformed Baptist circle, you probably know the Word of Faith movement, or the Health, Wealth, Prosperity Gospel is wrong.


You may have read Hank Hanegraaf's books Christianity in Crisis or The Counterfeit Revival.

But have you heard about Justin Peter's ministries? I never had until yesterday.

Justin Peter's does seminars revealing the heresy of the Word of Faith movement. I hope he comes to Abilene, TX.

Below is a 35 minute video overview of his seminar. It is EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.

Here is his website: Justin Peters You can download the entire video for free also.

Also, share this with others who have not yet confronted this heresy.

Being accurate and balanced, Justin Peter's seminar looks to be the best exposure of the heresy in the WoF movement. It's also spoken well of by John MacArthur.

In this video, the most sinister of heresies may be found in the clip of Beny Hinn talking to someone about prayer. They state that prayer is earthly permission for heavenly intervention/interference. In other words, they truely believe and state that God cannot do anything on earth that man does not allow, and that allowance and permission is prayer. THEY TOTALLY ROB GOD OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY!

Relating to the recent post about amputees not being healed, the testimony at the end of this video may make you cry for the thousands who are not healed AND then doubt their salvation! What harm is done!

One might say to have a big heart like Paul and say, "Well hey at least they're preaching Jesus just not in the most accurate way...some good can come of it." But they're NOT preaching the Jesus of the Bible! It's sinister and damaging. Elect, do not be deceived!

Copyright Curiosity

I was curious if it was possible to copy/paste a movie file of a film I rented and downloaded through iTunes. So out of tech-geek curiosity, not in an attempt to steal, I found out it was possible. But after that, the movie would not play at all. I don't know if it was because of copyright protection or what. I guess I should have watched the movie first and then tried to copy it to satisfy my curiosity.

Moral of the story: Don't take chances with sin (in this case breaking copyright laws). Avoid even the appearance of it (and don't be curious about it either). One way or another, you'll reap what you sow. Seems like I've heard that somewhere before. (Galatians 6:7-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

And to make sure I sound cliché, "Curiosity killed the cat."

Right When Wrong

Christian, you wanna do right. But sometimes you do wrong. The right thing to do when you’re wrong is to admit/confess that you’re wrong. So then, even when you’re wrong, if you admit it, you’re right.

Even when you're wrong, you can be right, at least in admitting that your wrong. That sounds like humbling your self and being exalted. It takes humility to admit you're wrong. Humility and humbleness go hand in hand. So to be exalted, you humble yourself and admit you're wrong, and you'd be right to do so.

Could this explain how or why when the man smote his breast and said to God that he was a sinner, that then God said he was justified? Or, when the sinner said he was wrong, God said he was right? Right to admit wrong, or was righteousness then imputed to him? Either way, a sinner was justified!

God justifies the ungodly. Jesus saves sinners. Christ died for the ungodly. Amazing! 1 Timothy 1:15, Romans 4:5, Romans 5:6.

Luke 18:13-14 13 But the tax collector, (a)standing far off, (e)would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but (b)beat his breast, saying, 'God, (c)be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For (a)everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

1 Peter 5:6 6 (a)Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

James 4:10 10 (a)Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Why won't God heal amputees?

The Charismatic movement teaches that the death of Jesus Christ not only provided salvatio, but guarantees physical healing now!

The Assemblies of God is a large Charismatic denomination and in their statement of faith, they state it this way:

WE BELIEVE...Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ's atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins).

12. Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.


If you have ever been to a healing crusade or watched a Charismatic preacher on T.V. then you are familiar with how this works. People are brought to the stage and claim that God has healed them from all kind of things - cancer, blindness, deafness, and many other things. However, what I find strange is that I have never seen a person who has lost their leg or one of their arms be brought up on stage and healed so the world can see. If physical healing is guaranteed for now, then why not heal amputees? Many have come back from the Iraq war and they have lost a limb and I have not seen one of them have their lost limb restored by some Charismatic who claims God has guaranteed healing now!

In fact, I listened to a sermon preached at New Hope Church in Abilene, TX, and the pastor made the following statement, "Healing is as easy to get as salvation!"

If that is true, how come amputees who become Christians remain amputees?

I know some Charismatic out there will claim that an amputee has been healed and that is fine. It should be easy to prove it. Get me a copy of the medical records showing the person was an amputee and then bring the person to me. We will take the medical records and the person to a doctor and confirm the miracle. If it is happening, I would think we would be seeing this on one of the many Charismatic T.V programs!

So charismatics, did God guarantee healing now for everyone except amputees?

Todd Bentley's Lakeland Revival

I hope everyone is having a great Saturday. I have been doing more research on the "Lakeland Revival" and I wanted to share what I have found:

The Cross Talk Radio show has done an entire program on this subject.


Here is the information and links:

Todd Bentley's Lakeland Revival

Host:
Ingrid Schlueter

Guest:
Ken Silva and John Sharp

Listen:
RealAudio Windows Media MP3


Claims of revival must always be made in the light of Scripture so that we can determine whether this is a true movement of the Holy Spirit that points to Christ, or if it's a counterfeit.

With this thought in mind, Ingrid Schlueter welcomed Pastor Ken Silva of http://www.apprising.org.

Joining him was Pastor John Sharp, the pastor of The Way Christian Fellowship in McCarney, Texas. These pastors joined Ingrid to discuss the alleged revival in Lakeland, Florida.

There are numerous theological and doctrinal problems with this alleged "revival" that are discussed by the pastors, problems that are highlighted by audio clips presented by Ingrid. One clip has Todd Bentley claiming that gold teeth are appearing in his followers. Another mentions how he was ordered by Holy Spirit to kick an "elderly worshiper" in the face! One makes contradictory statements about the source of the "anointing," while other clip exposes the over emphasis on angels.


More Information

Video examples of what happens at Todd Bentley's meetings, and critiques of his "revival", can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtSK9TyduR4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K8XjObzfXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSlt0_8HwMk

Is Bentley Confused?

More information is also available at:
http://www.thewaycf.com

http://blog.thewaycf.com

http://www.wingswatchman.org

ACTUALLY PREACHED FROM A PULPIT!

Sometimes I cannot believe what is being preached in churches across America. In fact there are times I am completely shocked by what I hear.

Consider the following example:

The Church:

Fountain Gate Fellowship

Abilene, TX

Here is the link to the Church web-site:

Fountain

The Sermon:

Guest Speaker-Johnny Moffett

Here is the link so you can listen for yourself:

sermon

At about the 22:15 minute mark the following comment was made:

"Moses walked up to the red sea and stuck a stick in it and it turned to Jello, they walk across on dry land, those 3 million Jews, and when the Egyptians tried it God melted the jello and it drowned them all. Y'all don't look at me like that, study, study, study, In the Hebrew that word parted the red sea means congeal."

I am not making this up, in fact I don't think I could make this up if I tried. A preacher stood in a pulpit and actually told the people that Moses turned the red sea into Jello!


I can't believe I have to actually do this but let's study the text:

Exodus 14:
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

Notice a few things:

1. Moses did not stick his stick in the water, he streched out his hand over the water. If we go back a few verses we read God's instructions to Moses

Exodus 14
15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground

So already the preacher made a mistake but all preachers sooner or later can simply make a mistake.

But let's continue our study:

According to the sermon the water turned to Jello, let's look at the text again:
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.


The text is pretty clear, the wind pushed the waters apart, the text does not say the molecular structure of the water was changed into Jello!

The pastor claimed the Hebrew word means congeal.

Let's take a look:
Exodus 14:16

Divide
Hebrew
(qb


Phonetic Spelling
baw-kah'

Transliterated Word
Baqa`


Parts of Speech
Verb

Definition
to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear (Qal) to cleave, cleave open to break through, break into (Niphal) to be cleft, be rent open, be split open to be broken into (Piel) to cleave, cut to pieces, rend open to break through, break down (Pual) to be ripped open, be torn open to be rent to be broken into (Hiphil) to break into to break through (Hophal) to be broken into (Hithpael) to burst (themselves) open, cleave asunder


As you can see, what the preacher said was 100% false!

Yet the Church actually placed the sermon online so people can download it!

Professing Christians who are members of that Church has allowed something so completely foolish and false to be placed on the Churches website!

Think about it, the preacher taught that the Red sea was turned to Jello! Maybe the children of Israel was hungry so God gave them a tasty Jello snack! (sarcasam)

This is so pathetic that all Christians should be saddened and angered that this is what some people consider preaching and that Christians will tolerate this in their Church!

A BAD DAY AT WORK

Have you ever had a really bad day at work? Did you get upset? Did you say something that you now regret?

Check out the following video: I would say this guy was upset:

A bizarre surveillance video is making the rounds on the Internet showing an office worker who suddenly gets violent and begins trashing not only his desk but the entire office, much to the shock of several coworkers. A healthy debate rages online as to the authenticity of the tape.


http://view.break.com/513310 - Watch more free videos

Fundamentalist Potshots

I thought this was good food for thought. Taken from John Piper at desiringgod.org.


20 Reasons I Don't Take Potshots at Fundamentalists
June 2, 2008 By: John Piper
Category: Commentary
1. They are humble and respectful and courteous and even funny (the ones I've met).
2. They believe in truth.
3. They believe that truth really matters.
4. They believe that the Bible is true, all of it.
5. They know that the Bible calls for some kind of separation from the world.
6. They have backbone and are not prone to compromise principle.
7. They put obedience to Jesus above the approval of man (even though they fall short, like others).
8. They believe in hell and are loving enough to warn people about it.
9. They believe in heaven and sing about how good it will be to go there.
10. Their "social action" is helping the person next door (like Jesus), which doesn't usually get written up in the newspaper.
11. They tend to raise law-abiding, chaste children, in spite of the fact that Barna says evangelical kids in general don't have any better track record than non-Christians.
12. They resist trendiness.
13. They don’t think too much is gained by sounding hip.
14. They may not be hip, but they don’t go so far as to drive buggies or insist on typewriters.
15. They still sing hymns.
16. They are not breathless about being accepted in the scholarly guild.
17. They give some contemporary plausibility to New Testament claim that the church is the “pillar and bulwark of the truth.”
18. They are good for the rest of evangelicals because of all this.
19. My dad was one.
20. Everybody to my left thinks I am one. And there are a lot of people to my left.

AN UNSAVED CHARISMATIC

Today I recived a very good question by e-mail and It made me do some research and I thought what I found could be helpful to many people.

Here is the question: I have simplified the question, this is not how the writer of the e-mail stated it:

Charismatic leders speak in tounges, do miracles, and heal people, Dosen't this have to be from God because lost people could not do these miracles and Satan would only bring about suffering and destruction:

I woulld point people to an important verse to begin with:

2 Corinthians 11:14 - And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.


Also consider:
Matthew 7:22 gives us a picture of Judgement. Those who are being judged claimed that they cast out Devils but look at whay they are told by God: I never knew you! depart from me! That is an amazing verse!

Also consider this:

2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 - 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But you may ask, do we have a clear example of a lost person speaking in tounges and healing people?

I think we do. watch the following video

Colorado Senate Bill 200

Just recently Colorado passed into law Senate Bill 200 with wording that prevents discrimination against persons of any sexual orientation in places of public accommodation.

Here's the bill to read for yourself: Senate Bill 200

There are a plethora of responses online that can be Googled, including perspectives for and against this new law.

To summarize, the main objection of concern to this new law is that it allows males and females to cross dress and use public facilities of their choosing, such as a man dressed as a woman using a women's bathroom or even shower/locker room.

If this sounds crazy, it's because it is.

This includes bathrooms and locker rooms in educational facilities as well. I'm concerned with how this will affect adolescent boys who insist on showering with the girls after P.E. - I'm sorry if that sounds like a sick joke. I wish it was.

Further, after reading the wording of the bill, it seems possible for not only a transgender person to enter the opposite sex restroom, but it also seems possible for a heterosexual male to use the ladies room without fear of reprisal and without violating the law. How and why? Because the wording of the bill states that it is not lawful to discriminate against anyone based on many things including sex (gender) and sexual orientation (or sexual disorientation as the case may be) in a public place of accommodation.

This means that a heterosexual (that's the "sexual orientation") male (that's the "sex" or gender) is permitted to be free of discrimination from using a public accommodation such as a women's bathroom.

Can I be interpreting this right!?!? One website called this bill the opening of Pandora's box. I at least call it a slippery slope.

The good news is that so far the only public accommodations exempt from this law are religious places like churches, so far.

Now lest I be accused of sensationalism and fear-mongering, I'll add that those in favor of this bill present it as gender equality. That sounds nice and politically correct. But I disagree with it.

The genders male and female were designed by God to be different, not equal, and God said that it was "very good." Man is the one who has come along and said that male and female are "not good."

This is akin to calling evil good and good evil...Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Anything other than heterosexuality is a perversion against nature, the way God designed things. Heterosexuality is sexual orientation. Everything else is sexual disorientation. And I still have the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech to believe and say so.

It is not hateful to discriminate against evil, it is wise! Evil should be and in some areas of the USA still is "discriminated" against. Murder is evil and it is "discriminated" against. Murderers could say they are discriminated, but they are just incriminated. So far everyone agrees that murder is evil (except against unborn human babies - abortion). The Bible says murder is evil. It also says homosexuality is evil. Mortals, saved or not, are not free to pick and choose what is evil and what is not. If God says it is evil, it is evil.

For those in favor of this bill, you might say that there's really nothing to fear or be concerned over, for the bill merely makes it legal for a transgender person to go into the restroom of the opposite sex so that they feel more comfortable despite their natural gender. What's wrong with allowing someone, especially a gender confused person, to feel comfortable? So what if a cross dresser is confused about what sex to choose, they should be allowed to feel comfortable, the argument may go.

The rebuttal goes: So, you are all about making people feel comfortable? Then why not make as many people feel comfortable as possible? So then, why make the minority, homosexuals and cross-dressers, feel comfortable when the majority, heterosexuals, feel uncomfortable if a person of the wrong gender walks into their bathroom?

Now, let's say a male feels feminine and wants to become a woman, so he gets a sex-change ("gender reassignment") operation and takes estrogen hormones to become a woman. The fact is he is still a male because as far as I know genetic science has not made it possible for a male to alter his DNA, his XY chromosomes, to become female XX chromosomes in his DNA. That mutation is not possible so far. Therefore, the male with a female anatomy and hormones is still a male as God originally fashioned him in his mother's female (not his father's male) womb to be!

What about those who say homosexuality is ok because some are born homosexuals. Even if that's true, the Bible says it's still a sin regardless of how you got that way. And everyone is born a sinner anyways, so it makes some sense. And they are still responsible to God for their sin, to not be a homosexual, born that way or not.

Some may say I'm too focused/afraid on the public accommodation of bathrooms and shower rooms in schools and health clubs. I will add that this senate bill 200 does do some good stuff. It prevents discrimination against homosexuals in public, for example, from getting a loan or eating a meal. That's fine. But the bill should be re-worded to not allow cross-dressers from going into the wrong bathroom, for example.

I will probably be accused of hating and attacking those who are not heterosexual. Despite the harsh sounding offensiveness and "intolerance" towards non-heterosexuals, I am telling the truth and as the saying goes, sometimes the truth hurts. Granted, I may be presenting it in not the best way, and for that I apologize. Please forgive me in that case. Thankfully, I'm still free to voice my opinions even if those who claim tolerance do not tolerate it.

Hateful? I hate the sin of homosexuality (among all sins) for example, but I do not hate homosexuals. God does not hate homosexuals either, just their sin, of which homosexuality is one. That's called hating the sin, loving the sinner. And because I love the sinner, I cannot accept their sin. If I did not love them, I would not care and I'd let them wallow in their sin! Sin is not good no matter how good it feels.

Here's a further question: What is it about homosexuality and other gender disorientations that makes them so repugnant to the heterosexual? Is not all sin repugnant to God? Should Christians react as strongly towards a lie as some do towards homosexuality?

Here's why I think homosexuality is often perceived and portrayed as an especially heinous sin: Because it is contrary to nature, to God's created design, or His designed creation. It is unnatural as it says in Romans 1:26-27. This is why even non-Christians see homosexuality as repulsive. They might not call it a sin, but there are plenty of non-Christians who still think that homosexuality is gross, and the reason is because it is contrary to nature. It is a perversion. It's a distortion of the way God intended. And because of this, it becomes harder for a Christian to love the sinner yet hate the sin. This sin in particular is a gross perversion of nature that makes it difficult for a Christian to deal with.

Nevertheless, Christians can still, by the power of God, love the homosexual and reach out to them with the good news that Jesus saves. Jesus can forgive you of your sin of homosexuality and set you free from it.

For those who are Christians recovering from a life of homosexuality and may still struggle at times with it, my heart goes out to you. May God grant you the strength to fight the good fight of faith and keep your old man dead. We are all wretched men. Who shall deliver us? God through Jesus Christ! (Romans 7:24-25). To Him be the glory!

Todd Bentley's Violent "Ministry" (WOTMR) [1of2]

Election/Predestination

This is an EXCELLENT discussion on these doctrines found free on John MacArthur's Grace to You website.

Listen and learn!

Election/Predestination

A Piece Of Humble Pie

You eaten a piece of humble pie lately?? It's hard to swallow. I think I got to choke a little down the other day:

As I came to a stop on my motorcycle at a turn, the road had a bit of a slope to the right, so my right foot came down first and my bike leaned a bit too far as if it were going to fall over. Its light weight combined with my incredible hulk leg kept it up! Ha-ha. At first I was a bit embarrassed.

But as I sat there watching the cars go by, I thought, ya know, the only people who may have seen me almost fall have already driven by and forgotten about it or will in the next few seconds. So, who cares?

It's hard at times, but I try to value the humility that happens to me because then I can feel the freedom in being honest about my fallen self and be free of what others think of me who don’t really even know me.

I hope that’s a humble two cents and not prideful nonsense.

Afterthought: What's harder to swallow, humble pie, or your pride? Hmmm...

6 Reasons Pastors Should Blog

Here's another great resource for blogging, especially for pastors. From DesiringGod.org.

6 Reasons Pastors Should Blog

Be A Kinder Calvinist

I was challenged by and thought this was a good article to share, taken from Desiring God.org

Be A Kinder Calvinist

Who's Searching For You?

I was checking my email online the other day and got one of those banner ads on the side for some kind of singles connection. It was the typical picture of a beautiful young woman looking sultry that I had to refrain from the temptation to lust after. But what really stuck in my mind was the catch phrase which asked the question, "Who's searching for you?"

First of all, it is laughable that some young hottie is searching for me, as the ad suggested! Some gorgeous babe who's never met me is looking for me, yet in high school I pretty much couldn't get a girl to look at me. What? The thought that I'm wanted by some unknown girl out there tempts my ego - Austin Powers may have mojo, but not me - yeah that's crazy.

That's the laughable part. The serious part is that as Christians, we were and are in fact wanted by someo