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Showing posts from May, 2011

When Sin Loses its Sting

Besides the rise of crime and the apathy and downright hatred toward Christianity each day, how can we measure how sin has lost its sting? According to some statistics, 340,500 people are born each day and only 3-4 % of those (10,000) become Christian.** It does not take a rocket scientist to see that according to those stats 1 in 36 becomes Christian each day. Why? One big factor, people no longer fear God. They mock Christians and deride their faith, so much so, that even the true believers are often hindered from sharing their faith because of fear. This is a form of persecution and it often drives believers to gather together and separate themselves from the unbelieving. I find myself rejoicing and free in mind and spirit when I meet with a brother or sister in Christ who shares the same hope in Christ as I. But alas, the moral down slide continues. This also was the state of the early churches as they were driven into seclusion to worship, many in caves and through cryptic scribbl

Ode to the Self-less Heroes

I am writing this today in remembrance of all the past and soon-to-be heroes that have always risen whenever disaster has stricken in America. Each week, sometimes daily, these men, women, and children rise up to expend their energies to be there for all of those in need. The past few weeks have seen tragedy after tragedy from the east to the west, yet still, these untiring servants ride out the tide. In America we hurt when others hurt and we lend a hand when others need one. We are not perfect, and we all will fail at one time or another, but when disaster strikes, those failures we often dwell upon, like light scattering the darkness, seem to also scatter unselfishly from our minds. In America, we know that we must somehow do what we can even if it means giving up all we have. It is to all of you, who know sorrow and fear when you see it and recognize a heart in distress by the sounds of the echo, Thank You! From the hearts of all those who cannot repay, a resounding Thank You agai

The Church Victorious

Now that May 21st has come and gone, many of the 'Camping" followers will fall into a disillusionment, even if for a short time. This always occurs after a false prediction. But the crux of the matter falls under the banner of discipleship. We as the blood-bought church have been given a responsibility by Jesus Himself, to make disciples accorrding to His teaching not ours. Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. The Bible never tells us to ascribe to the teachings of any other than what Jesus taught. Had Camping and his followers understood this there would be no issue because there would have been no prediction

God’s Obedient Remnant

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Matthew 9:37 (NKJV) I was thinking today about a couple of things I recently read, and while pondering them, I thought of the verse above. Today, as in all years past, God has had His remnant of obedient and believers who have never failed to take forth the gospel to the world of despair. The passage above follows with a request to pray for the Lord to bring forth laborers into His harvest (vs. 38). As a believer there have been many times I have felt like doing something for God and many others when the Lord requested I do something for Him. The difference in the two is the Lord was in one and I was in the other. God provided the laborers in the one, while I was the laborer in the other.  It is a simple principle that teaches listening, responding through prayer, and obeying Christ’s call will result in provision for His harvest. God always provides the needs for His missions. What God

Recognizing the Battle

The times we live in are turbulent. No one would disagree. They are tough and for many they are overwhelming on many levels. The Christian has been given an arsenal to use in times like these. We have the Scripture, the Words of Jesus, and the Bible's many promises, ....all given to help succor the inner hope and peace that we need to face life each new day. It is this inner place of the soul that we need to feed with the living presence of God. This is the place we can run to when trials of any sort cross our path.  The Scripture reveals that many times Jesus went off by Himself away from the crowds. Although we are not told, on many of those occasions why, we can surmise it was to commune with the Father. When He was facing the biggest trial of his human life, the crucifixion, He gathered His disciples and He simply said to them, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." Matthew 26:36 (NKJV) Even as the Son of God, He knew there were times when He needed to seek th

National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer. Evangelicals from around the nation will be gathering to pray and listen to speakers that will present in one form or another, facts for why we need to pray for our nation. The Bible is not silent on our need to pray for our leaders and those in positions of great responsibility. E. M. Bounds once wrote: Civil and Church rulers shape the affairs of this world. And so civil and Church rulers themselves need to be shaped personally in spirit, heart and conduct, in truth and righteousness, by the prayers of God’s people. This is in direct line with Paul’s words: “I exhort therefore,” he says, “that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for rulers and all that are in authority.” It is a sad day for righteousness when church politics instead of holy praying, shapes the administration of the Kingdom and elevates men to place and power. Why pray for all men? Because God wills the salvation of