Damn You, Satan

Jesus already won the war, but sometimes we lose some battles, and I think Satan won one tonight.

We're going through a book called Leading Little Ones To God that looks pretty good for teaching children the basics of the faith. I wanted something that was more comprehensive that went into good detail on the big picture of creation, the fall, sin, the promise, the fulfillment, salvation, etc.

Tonight was the night we were going to read a most important chapter about God sending his son Jesus into the world. And what do you know? This little problem. That little problem. Two kids are fighting about something. Another kid is grumpy (we have visitors, there's more than two kids :-)). Trinity lands funny and gets her back messed up.

A million little things all add up together and prevent going through the chapter tonight because the kids really do need to get to bed sometime, and it was already getting way too late.

That really irks me. Granted, its a good sign in one way. Satan doesn't mess with people that he's already got -- he messes with the ones that got away and have a new master. I don't really expect him to leave me alone. He didn't leave Jesus alone, so what hope do I have of that? None. I'll just trust that somehow God's going to pull some good even out of the madness tonight, because I have it on good authority that all things work for good for those who love God.

Grace and Peace

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to our great God and father in heaven!

Thank you for the many blessings you've poured down on our lives. Thank you for creation, and thank you for salvation. Thank you for laughter, and peace, and hope, and joy. Thank you for wives and mothers and children. Thank you for homes to shelter us, food to feed us, clothes to cover us, cars to get us places, and jobs to support our families. Thank you for your words and teachers of it. Thank you for the freedom to get together and worship you together without fear of punishment or death. Thank you for the new hearts you've given us. Thank you for the atoning sacrifice of your son Jesus. Thank you for your promises. Thank you for everything you've done, do, and will do for us.

If you happened across this page and you don't know the light and love of Jesus Christ, please, turn to him. Recognize man's big problem is sin. Admit it and turn from it to Jesus and commit your life to him. We may all be God's creation, but we are not all children of God, and he is not our father, until we put our faith in Jesus Christ:

"He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:10-12)

So as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ I can say "Happy Father's Day, Abba, Father, God."

Grace and Peace

Abortion: A Different View

I lifted this.

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: "Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together."

So the doctor said: "Okay, and what do you want me to do?"

She said: "I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this."

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: "I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too."

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: "You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms."

The lady was horrified and said: "No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!"

"I agree", the doctor replied. "But you seemed to be okay with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution."

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb.

Division

I thought this was an interesting read. Parts of it echo something running around in the back of my brain:

http://paceebene.org/blog/jarrod-mckenna/heretics-calvin-and-luther

Here is a highlight that caught my attention (after the statements from Calvin and Luther that made my jaw drop):

Why is it that the litmus test for orthodoxy for many evangelicals has been frozen in the 16th century in the thought of brilliant men who never the less had theologies that made it possible to disobey Christ's commands to put away the sword, love our neighbor and even enemies like God has loved us (i.e. not drowning, beheading or burning those who disagree with us).

The underlying attitudes behind such statements haven't gone away today. Rather than "killing for Christ" instead of "dying for Christ" we now have a bunch of division in the form of "denominations" (and splits within individual denominations!) and even animosity between them.

I just don't get it. We're supposed to be united. A house divided against itself cannot stand. We don't follow Paul or Apollos or Cephas. We follow Christ. Was he divided? No.

Now this is just a bunch of rambling on my part. I don't say any of it to reflect what I see in my own church home (CRB) or in churches that have archived sermons I listen to (New Life London, Shadow Mountain, Cavalry Chapel Costa Mesa, etc). Its just a rambling comment on the whole idea behind why all these various "denominations" exist in the first place.

So I still don't get it. But I see that its not a recent thing. Its not a Reformation thing. Apparently it was around 2000 years ago and isn't going away anytime soon. C'est la vie.

Praise God for solid Bible believing churches that preach Christ crucified and don't get hung up on other crap.

Grace and Peace

Sown Seeds

"You Christians are all idiots. There is no God. The universe came from nothing all by itself. Life came from non-life without any intervention. We evolved from monkeys. Its pretty much meaningless."

Ever read that God has made his existence plain through creation and you are still without excuse?

Blasted birds. They ate the seeds.

"I believed in Jesus once. My life was going great. I had it all. Great job. Big house. Fast car. Fine clothes. Hot wife. Great kids." Then I lost the job, the house burned down, the car got wreck, moths ate the clothes, my wife left and took the kids. If God would let me go through that, I want nothing to do with him."

Ever read about Job? The prophets? Jesus? The earliest Christians? Missionareis in hostile countries today?

Blasted rock. It prevented the seeds from getting moisture.

"I don't have time for that Bible study, I have bowling. I'm skipping church next week -- the big game is on. I don't have time to read the Bible, I'd miss my TV shows. I can't volunteer at that event, I have to get my car detailed."

Every read about being a doer of the word and not just a hearer? Ever read that faith without works is dead?

Blasted thorns choking those plants.

Pray to always grow in good soil.

Romans Road To Salvation

Until very recently I haven't memorized much scripture. While I've got a number of verses in my head -- most often without remembering the exact chapter and verse -- from just reading the word, I typically think more about general concepts and the bigger picture.

But there are definitely those verses that are packed with so much that you could discuss them at length. I memorized some verses today that I thought I would share. These come from what I have read is known as the "Romans Road To Salvation". I thought that title was clever.

So here goes:

1. Romans 3:23. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

2. Romans 6:23. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. Romans 5:8. God shows his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

4. Romans 10:9. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

5. Romans 5:1. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

That's just awesome in my opinion. Five verses, jam packed showing the following:

1. Man's big problem - sin.
2a. The result of the problem - eternal death.
2b & 3. The way out - Jesus!
4. How to find the way out - faith.
5. The result of the way out - reconciliation.

Woo hoo!

There's a much cooler article here about the "Romans Road":

http://www.gotquestions.org/Romans-road-salvation.html

Grace and Peace

Greatest Sacrifice

Brian made a good point in something I was listening to the other day that I kind of thought about before in the back of my head but never really articulated it clearly.

Some time in the past he thought that perhaps God the Father did not make the greatest sacrifice on the cross, but only the second greatest. After all, if he was going to make the greatest sacrifice, then why not sacrifice himself instead?

That made sense to him until he had kids.

Those of you reading that have kids, do this. Get a pen and paper and make a list of all the people on your listen that you would sacrifice your children for.

Is your paper blank? Mine certainly is. There is no such list. I would certainly die for my own children, but there is no way I'd willingly send them somewhere to be harassed, tortured, and killed.

But God has such a list, and your name is on it. That's how much he loves you!

Tennessee Football

This is a statement that was read over the PA s ystem at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee, by school Principal, Jody McLeod.

"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country."

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate life style," and if someone is offended, that's OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem.

I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology."

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment."

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then federal case law is violated.

This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.

Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS commandments.

Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.

"However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM,in the name of JESUS, to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law -- yet."

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.

They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the announcer's box!

The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America -- the seat of "justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."

Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the freedom OF religion, not the freedom FROM religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!

JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER."