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Showing posts from September, 2011

Addicted to Joy!!

The hymn, Joy to the world, the Lord has come , is a seasonal favorite in churches and homes during the Christmas season. It was written by Isaac Watts' and published as a hymn in his famous hymnal, Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament. 1 In my estimation it is meant to declare the “Joy" one is to experience when they consider the Biblical nativity (1st Advent) and eternal rule (2nd Advent), where the Lord twice steps out of eternity and into the bounds of time. What I would like for us to consider is the question, "Can real joy be found every day of our lives?" Certainly from the world’s point of view this is impossible when we consider how worldly joy is attained. The closest thing the world can emulate to the true joy declared as available in Scripture is "eventful joy;" that is to say, a joy that is based upon certain events that occur in life; a new job, a goal reached, a new child, a new car, a new promotion, a ...

I Will Trust You, Oh Lord!! Faith in Trials.

I will trust You!! Psalm 143:8   The toughest thing Christians struggle with is by far, “faith.” Faith to believe there is a God. Faith to trust that He knows who we are (He is personal). Faith to believe He is sovereignly in control of our lives. Faith to trust that He will follow through on His promises (that is, his promises are true and trustworthy). Faith to trust that he will do what we ask in accordance with His will. Faith to continuously trust Him even if the answer we received was not included in our request.   Faith to believe and accept that He knows what is best for us. Faith is part of the Christian’s growing process. If we are to be conformed to the image of Christ, Rom. 8:29, then the very word “conformed” must by proxy include process of transformation. The process God uses is the same at its root level for all, but the experience differs. I believe the difference in experience is directly related to the call that God places on each life. Aft...

Heaven Awaits!

“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) This simple passage of Scripture has probably been responsible for bring more hope into the heart of Christians than any other in the Bible. It is beautifully written and speaks to the heart of the doctrine of Salvation. All people, young and old, at one time or another in their lives consider the question of salvation. They may not know or understand the term, but when they consider eternity, the afterlife, and what the future holds for them, often that term or its sister, Redemption, comes to mind. In our heart of hearts we know that there are times when we sin and often hurt others in the process. It is a given for all of humanity and unfortunately, there is no escaping it. The shame, the contempt we exert toward wh...

The Crack in Washington National Cathedral Exposed

As you know a couple of weeks back, the Washington National Cathedral suffered earthquake damage. This weekend the world will be able to view what the “Quakes Cracks” have exposed—an audience that perfectly pictures and illustrates the religions of the world left behind after Christ raptures His true church. In an article on Fox News titled, Evangelicals Left Off National Cathedral 9/11 Program the true church, “Evangelicals” are not invited. Interesting! The event will feature the dean of the Cathedral, the Bishop of Washington, a rabbi, Buddhist nun and incarnate lama, a Hindu priest, the president of the Islamic Society of North America and a Muslim musician. This is actually good news in that true Christianity is not being invited to mix with false religion! It is also just exactly what the Scriptures indicate will happen in the last days. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers...

Never Give Up on God

This is always a topic that can pique the interest of true Christians. You know who you are. You have prayed for God’s direction but have not received an answer. You have an urgent desire to serve Him but you do not know where. Or maybe you are serving Him in a special calling but all it has brought is trial and discomfort. Can that possibly happen? In today’s Pop-Gospel it seems it can’t. But in the real Gospel it can. Jeremiah was one such subject. Called to be a prophet, he loathed the disobedience and oppressions that surrounded him so God called him to speak out against it—his mission, to call the people back into God’s fold; but all he got in return was derision, shame, and trouble. In Lamentations He had this to say: I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath. He has led me and made me walk In darkness and not in light. Surely He has turned His hand against me Time and time again throughout the day. Lamentations 3:1-3 He has besieged...

Israel Re-gathered and Messianic Expectations!

With the nation of Israel sovereignly being in her land since 1948 a breath of fresh air is beginning to blow heavily over their land. Both Orthodox Jewish and Christian populaces have high hopes that something awesome will soon be occurring! Could the Messiah Jesus be getting ready to appear??  Many believe so, including myself!! The fact that Israel is even in the ancient land after having been overrun by the Roman tides in 70 A.D. is miraculous! What an awesome fulfillment of Bible Prophecy! The Bible states of these latter days: “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,“ That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth . In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the...