Thursday, December 17, 2009

You Cannot Take Christ Out Of Christmas, Only Man Out Of Christ

If you want to make this a special Christmas, DON'T FORGET THE BIRTHDAY BOY!
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A young man training to be a missionary came to me one day and confided he was struggling in his relationship with the Lord. "I want to please Him," he said, "But it's very difficult, and I mess up all the time. It troubles me to know end, and I don't know, will I ever be pleasing to God?"
"You are exactly the one who pleases God the most!" I exclaimed to the young man with the troubled heart for God.
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God is not looking for perfection in His children, just that we are His humble children. We were all born sinners, appalling creatures. Sin cannot be removed from us completely. To have a relationship with Christ, our Lord, one only needs to turn his heart over to Him, and live his/her life by faith in Him. No human can avoid sin completely, but, accepts the Holy Spirit's conviction and repents (turns away) and is forgiven.
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We cannot live in sin (iniquity) and expect the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, in an ungodly place.
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When we accept the truth of the Gospel and ask Jesus to come into our life and we give up control to Him, we become dead to sin. This does not mean we cannot sin, rather, we lose the desire to sin.
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Are you struggling with the idea of giving your life over to the One who gave you life? Are you not ready just yet to give up that sin that pleases you so much right now? Maybe it is iniquity you have struggled to walk away from, but, have not been successful. Well, it is all perception. Perception is everything. We cannot conceive of His Glory and Love through our transgressions and discontent. In fact, the only content we will ever TRULY find is when we surrender our pathetic way of life over to Him and live in His Will.
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Christmas, regardless of all the rhetoric and ignorance, is Christ's birthday. It is why we even celebrate the 25th December. We have come to make Christmas all about us humans. A special time to feel good about ourselves in giving gifts to one another and 'spreading cheer'. But, it is Christ's birthday. Not very many consider giving Him a gift, instead, we give everyone BUT Him a gift. In some cases, we go out of our way to find a gift for someone we don't even like.
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Did you know December 25 is not even the actual day Christ was born? Nope! it was actually much earlier in the month, but, for commercial reasons we decided to place Christmas closer to New Year's Day.
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If only more people could perceive iniquity as a pleasure only for a season, then their world will come crashing down. Many people even call themselves Christian, but, never turned to His Will and direction in their life. In other words, I hate to have to be the one to tell them, they are not really Christians. If you were led to read this far and you have been struggling with repenting of some iniquity in your life and you would like to do things His way for a change, for your life, follow this link immediately and I will tell you how. It is really very simple---the hard part is having the heart to do so.



I Wish All of You a Safe and Merry Christmas and God's Blessings!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Planned Parenthood Does Not Need "Bail Out"


Planned Parenthood is the world's largest abortion provider, with an annual budget in excess of $1 billion - that's right, $1 billion - and posted an $85 million profit last year. Planned Parenthood also received $350 million in federal funding in 2007.

The number of federal government "bailouts" of private businesses over the past year is bad enough - but forcing American citizens to finance the abortion industry under the guise of "health care" cannot be accepted. The taking of human life is not health care. That's why Americans United for Life is fighting back against abortion lobbyists in the U.S. Senate. Will you join our fight today?

You can help prevent the tragedy of a dramatic increase of abortions in America -- funded by your tax dollars! Please follow this secure link right away to make a contribution of $50, $100, $250 or more to support our fight against federal funds being used to take innocent lives.

Every year, well over 1,000,000 children lose their lives through abortion in America. For decades, existing federal law has prohibited the use of taxpayer funds from paying for abortions. But now a radical change would take place if the Democrat's health care bill becomes law, our government would force pro-life taxpayers to pay for abortions.

Senate Democrats are perilously close to passing a health care bill that does not include language prohibiting federal funding of abortion; in fact, it explicitly includes federal funding for abortions and for insurance plans that include abortion coverage. If this version of the bill passes, there's virtually no way the final version will protect life when it is signed into law by President Obama.

We worked with pro-life Senators to have a mirror version of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment included in the Senate bill. But pro-abortion Senators like Barbara Boxer, Claire McCaskill, and others who have publicly stated the bill will not pass with any pro-life language prevailed and killed the pro-life amendment that would have maintained existing law preventing taxpayer funds from being used for abortion.

The abortion industry does not need a government bailout! I cannot think of a greater, more important fight than to keep taxpayer funds away from the abortion industry. I can't even imagine how many more children will be killed each year if we allow our tax-dollars to be used to end innocent lives.

We must continue this fight and get this message out to as many people as possible. Please follow this link immediately to give as generously as you can, then forward this message to friends, family, colleagues - everyone you know.

We are not powerless in this fight. We can choose to have our dollars used to protect life, not end it. So I hope I can count on your support today.


Charmaine Yoest
President, CEO
The Legislative Arm of
Americans United For Life

Well over 1,000,000 innocent lives are ended by abortions each year, and now the U.S. Senate is dangerously close to passing a health care bill that will allow our federal tax dollars to fund more abortions. Please follow this link today and make a contribution of $50, $100, $250 or more to Americans United for Life so we can continue our work to prevent federal funding of abortion. Then, please email this post to everyone you know to help us build our grassroots coalition. Thank you.

Friday, December 4, 2009

A Different Christmas Poem


Please, take just 10 seconds to send a printed card to a soldier (FREE)
Or, if you are able to afford a $25 donation USO will send a $75 Care Package

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts…

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said, "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.”
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
“I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles , SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum , Iraq

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Do You Believe He is Able?



"He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus
said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
Matthew 9:28


Have you ever read the Bible and wondered why Jesus would ask a
blind or lame man if they wanted to be healed before He healed
them? The Bible says in John 5:6, that Jesus saw a man who had
been crippled for 38 years lying next to a pool and asked him, "Do
you wish to get well?"
More specifically, in Matthew 9:28 the
bible says, "He (Jesus) entered the house, the blind men came up
to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to
do this? "

The reason Jesus ask these needy individuals these
seemingly obvious questions, is becasue Jesus understood that there
is a real connection between what we "believe" and what we
"receive". Jesus knew they first must believe that they can be
delivered before they were able to receive deliverance. It is
possible for someone to have been in a condition for so long that
they they refuse to believe that anyone can help them. For God to
change many of our situations we must first believe that things
can be better, and that better is God's will for our lives."

In Romans 4:3, we are given the secret to the blessing Abraham
enjoyed in his life. The text says, "Abraham believed God and it
was credited to him as righteousness."
The secret is simply -
Abraham "believed God". As a matter of fact, God granted him the
desire of his heart, not because he was perfect and obeyed His
every command, but that he believed Him. Abraham didn't earn what
God gave him, he simply believed God for what he could not do in
his own power.

Your ability to believe in God's goodness and His
predetermined purpose for your life is what gives you the ability
to exceed your limitations. The Bible says that Abraham believed
God despite living in an objectively dead situation. His belief in
God's goodness above the deadness of his situation is what gave
birth to his blessing.

Belief that life has something better in store for you is what will
empower you to overcome what otherwise has overcome you. The reason
so many people's situation becomes their destination is because
they believe that their situation can't change. What we believe is
the most important and determinative factor in our lives. What we
believe will determine what we strive to accomplish and what we
will settle for. Believing in something gives it life and makes it
a reality in our lives.

What is it that you need or want to change in your life? In order
to see better, you must believe better. Better is available, but
you have to believe that it is God's will for your life and that it
is available. Just as we saw above, Jesus is asking you the same
question He asked the blind men in the text, "Do you believe that I
am able to do this?"


Dr. J.C. Matthews, Senior Pastor of Dunamis Life Ministries and Chancellor of The International Kingdom Institute.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Appreciation For Our Military


This letter which follows was sent to a good friend and brother in Christ, Pastor Ed Boston (pictured above) of Hope First Wesleyan Church in Hope, IN. He has long been a supporter of our troops and creator of Do The Right Thing.

Dear Editor:

While I'm eating my Thanksgiving dinner with my family this year, I'm going to have a hard time enjoying it knowing that our President is willingly allowing our men and women in Afghanistan to die while waiting for him to make up his mind whether or not to give them the resources they need for survival.

I was heartsick while reading a chat room that is sometimes visited by soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan, ask us to please pray for their safety because each day things get worse, and they don't know when they are going to get the help they need. Pastor Ed Boston, of Hope First Wesleyan Church in Hope, IN works with deployed soldiers and veterans through an on-line ministry called Do The Right Thing. He has confirmed the stories and the concerns of those currently serving.

These brave men and women went where they were told to go and are doing their very best, so how deranged is it to send them there as sitting ducks while the elite politicians play golf in between paying off their friends for political favors.

There is something so seriously wrong with our government allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to get away with funnelling obscene amounts of money to his friends in the auto unions, not to mention the developing corruption story coming out of the Goldman Sachs relationship. Simultaneously, this administration is obsessed with taking over 1/6 of our economy through socialized healthcare! All the while, as if they are invisible, the President is completely ignoring our brightest and best who are literally dying in Afghanistan.

These same politicians campaigned on how Afghanistan was the war we "should" be in, and most Americans agreed with them, and yet they have absolutely no conscience at allowing these men to be slaughtered when it is within their power to protect them. It is beyond me how they sleep at night.

So we'll eat our Turkey and be grateful that we live in the greatest country on earth, but first I'll call and write to all of my legislators and plead with them not to sit down to their dinner until they have gotten our military the support they need, and stop sending our children to slaughter like the bird they are about to consume.

Susan Kaminski


I am baffled as to how and why the present commander - in - chief can deny support for the troops in a war which he supported. Regardless of political strategy or agenda, our soldiers are not pawns. Many are pleading and looking for legal avenues to force the president to do what is necessary.


Meanwhile, I ask that anyone has the mind to, please go to this site sponsored by Xerox and send a FREE printed card to the soldiers. It takes only 10 seconds, literally, and you will be glad you did.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Go, And Teach All Nations (Part II)



A Sermon Delivered On Sunday Morning, April 21st, 1861, At The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by Charles Spurgeon

PART II: The Argument

I have endeavored to be brief, but, I find I have been long, and therefore pass at once to the argument with which the text commences. The ARGUMENT is this: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, go ye, therefore, and teach all nations.”

Three things here. Christ had suffered, bled and died; he had now risen from the dead. As the effect of his finished work, he has as mediator received all power in heaven and in earth. There is no allusion here to His inherent power that is not given to Him: that is His native right. He has, as God, all power in heaven and in earth.

The text relates to Him as mediator. As mediator he had not this power once; he was weak, he was despised, he was forsaken even of His God. But now, having finished the work was given Him to do, His Father honors Him. He is about to lift Him to His right hand, and gives Him, as a result of His resurrection, all power in heaven and in earth.

Three things, then. First, this is the picture of the Church’s history, and therefore, she should teach all nations. Secondly, his is the Church’s right. Thirdly, it is the Church’s might; and for all these reasons, she ought to teach all nations.

First is the Church’s picture. Christ suffers, bleeds, dies. Do you give up His cause? Do you look upon it as forlorn and desolate? He is nailed to the tree; the world abhors Him, fools gaze and sinners laugh. Do you lay down your weapons and say it is idle to defend such a man as this? It is all over now, He bows His head upon the cross. “It is finished,” saith He; and do your unbelieving hearts say, “Ay, indeed, it is finished; His career is over, His hopes are blighted, His prospects withered?”

Ah! Little do you know that His shame was the mother of His future glory; that the stooping was the rising, that the crown of thorns was in fact the fruitful root out of which sprang the eternal crown of glory. He is put into the grave: do you say that there is the grave of all your faith could believe, or your hope could suggest? He rises, brethren, and His resurrection takes effect and fruit from the fact that He died and was buried.

Do you not see the picture? We have been sending out heralds of the cross these eighteen hundred years; they have landed on many a shore to die. Fever has taken its hundreds, cruel men have slain their scores, from the first day until now, the record of the mission is written in blood. Somewhere or other there must always be martyrs for Christ.

It seems as if the Church never cold plough a wave without a spray of gore. She is still in Madagascar persecuted, afflicted, tormented, still are her ministers hunted about like partridges upon the mountains, and her blood is dying the shambles of her slayers. Do you give up all hope? Shall we, as we look upon the tombs of our missionaries, say that Christ’s cause is dead? Brethren, as you turn over the long roll, and read the names of one after another who sleep in Jesus, shall you say, “Let us close the doors of the Mission House; let us cease our contributions, it is clear the case is hopeless, and the cause can never have success?” Nay, rather, the Church must suffer that she may reign, she must die that she may live, she must be stained with blood, that she may be robed in purple, she must go down into the earth, and seem to be buried and forgotten, that the earth may help the woman, that she may be delivered of the man child.

Courage! Courage! Courage! The past is hopeful, because to the naked eye it seemeth hopeless. The cause is glorious because it has been put to shame. Now, now let us gather the fruits of the bloody sowing: let us now reap the harvest of the deep ploughing of agony and suffering which our ancestors have endured.

I think that no true-hearted Christian will ever give up any enterprise which God has laid upon him, because he fears its ultimate success. “Difficult,” said Napoleon, “is not a French word.” “Doubtful,” is not a Christian word. We are sure to succeed; the Gospel must conquer. It is possible for heaven and earth to pass away, but, it is not possible for God’s Word to fail, and therefore, it is utterly impossible that any nation, or kindred, or tongue should to the end stand out against the attacks of love, against the invasion of the armies of King Jesus.

Thus, then, you see, a fair argument can be built upon the text. Inasmuch as Christ is to His people a picture of what they are to be, inasmuch as by His suffering all power was given to Him in heaven and in earth, so after the sufferings of the Church, the wounds of her martyrs, and her deaths of her confessors, power shall be given unto her in heaven and in earth, and she shall reign with Christ over the nations gloriously.

We now take a second view of the argument. This is the Church’s right. All power is given to Christ in heaven and in earth. What then? Why this? Kings and princes, potentates and power, are ye aware that your thrones have been given away? Do ye know it, ye crowned heads, that your crowns have been given- given away from you to one who claims to be King of kings and Lord of lords? Do ye pass decrees forbidding the Gospel to be preached? We laugh at you! Ye have no power to prevent it, for all power is given unto Christ in heaven and in earth.

Do ye say the missionary has no right upon your shore? The virgin daughter of Zion shaketh her head at you, and laugheth you to scorn. She has right anywhere and everywhere; she has rights in heaven without limit, and rights in earth without bound, for all power is given to her head in heaven and in earth, and she therefore has a patent, a claim which is not to be disputed, to take to herself all countries and all kingdoms, because the power above is given unto Christ.

What is that man doing on yonder shore? He has landed on an island in the South Seas; he is an intruder, banish him at once! Sirs, mind what you do , for surely ye fight against God. But, the man is sent away, he comes back again or if not he, another. A severer edict is passed this time, “Let us slay him, that the inheritance may still be ours.” But another comes, and another and another. Why do you stand up and take counsel together against the Lord, and against His anointed? These men are not intruders, they are ambassadors come to make peace, nay, more.

They are delegates from heaven, come to learn the rightful heritage of King Jesus. Ye, by putting them away as intruders, have denied the rights of Christ, but, to deny is one thing and to disprove another. He hath still aright to you, and therefore hath the missionary still a right to whithersoever he will, preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Once or twice in my life I have met with some miserable little ministers, who, when I have gone into a village to preach, have questioned my right to preach in the village, because I ought to have asked them first, or to have consulted them. Can Christian men look upon a district as their own dominion? Or recon God’s servant as a poacher on their estates, or a brigand in their own territories? Is there any place on this earth so that man can shut out God’s ministers? We once for all put our foot on any claim so ridiculous.

Wherever there is found a man there is found a minister free to preach. The whole world is our parish, we know of no fetter upon our feet, and no gag upon our lips. Though kings should pass laws, the servants of Christ can bear the penalty, but they cannot disobey their Master. Though the Emperor should say the Gospel should not be preached by any unauthorized denomination in France, as I have heard he has said of late, we care not for him.

What cares the Church for a thousand Emperors? Their resolutions are mockery, their laws waste paper. The Church never was yet vassal to the state, or servile slave to municipalities and powers, and she neither can nor will be. At all the laws of states she laughs and utterly defies them, if they come in the ways of the laws of Christ which says, “Teach the Gospel to every creature.” Brethren, I say, the Church has a right anywhere and everywhere- a right not because she is tolerated; the word is insult, not because the law permits, the law permitting or not permitting, tolerated or not, everywhere beneath the arch of God’s heaven, God’s servants have a right to preach.

Oh, that they would claim the right and teach and preach Jesus Christ continually!

But, now, lastly, it seems the argument of the text contains the Church’s might. “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth; go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Ye have power to teach, fear not. Let this be your encouragement; you must succeed, you shall prevail. There lived another man saved Christ, who could say, ”All power is given me on earth.” Canute put his thrown by the side of the sea, but the waves wet his person, and proved to his flattering courtiers that he is but a man.

What power have kings over the lightning, or of the rushing winds? Can they control he tides, or bid the moon stand still? Power is not given unto man, even here on earth. Much less can any man say that all power in heaven belonged to him? This is a singular expression. One which only could be used by Christ, and if any other should attempt to use it, were an imposition, or a blasphemy, but the Lord Jesus Christ can say today, as He said then, “All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth.”

Let us think then all power is given to Christ in providence. Over common daily events He has supreme authority. You have launched upon the sea, upon a mission voyage; He rules the waves, and wings the winds. Fear not, for tempest is His trembling slave. You have come near the shore, but, there are hidden reefs and sunken rocks. Fear not, for all the power in the lowest deep has been given unto Him to guide you safely, and to bring you to your desired haven.

A band of men meet you upon the shore, brandishing their weapons. You are unarmed, you have nothing but the Word. You shall now prove that “more is He that is with you, than all they that be with them.” Go, in this your might.

All power is given to Christ-- powers over the wills of men as well as over the waves of the sea. But, political occurrences prevent your landing on a certain country, through treaties, or a want of treaties. There is no room for the missionary in such-and-such an empire. Pray! And the gates shall be opened; plead, and the bars of brass shall be cut in twain.

Christ has power over politics. He can make wars, and create peace, with a view to the propagation of His Word. He can change the hearts of princes, and preside in the counsels of senates. He can cause nations which have long been shut up to be opened to the truth. And, indeed, what a wonderful proof we have had of late, that all power belongs unto Christ, for human skill has been yoked to the chariot of the Gospel.

How wondrously, my brethren, have the inventions of man of late years progressed! How could we have preached the Gospel to all nations - how could we have even known that America existed, if it had not been that the Lord put it in the mind of Columbus to discover the New World? And how wearisome our life, if with the ordinary slow navigation of the ancient times we had to journey among all nations! But now we are carried across the waves so rapidly that distance is annihilated, and time forgotten.

Truly God has opened up the world, and brought it to our threshold. If He has not made a smaller world, at least He has made it more convenient and nearer to our hand. And then see how countries, which once could not be reached, have been opened to us.

The “Celestial King of China”, the rebel prince, invites us to come and preach. He does not merely permit - he invites. He builds places of worship. He is prepared, he says, that his brethren should come and teach him, and teach all his subjects, for they are imperfectly taught in the things of God. And the Imperial Sovereign of China, too, though he does not invite, permit’s the missionaries to go among his millions.

There is perfect liberty for us to preach to four hundred million persons who before had never seen the light of Calvary. And there is India, too, given up to our dominion, and the old Company, which always impeded us, rolled up in its shroud and laid in its grave. And there are other lands and other places which once seemed to be environed by impassable mountains, into which we have now a road.

Oh, for the will to dash through that road riding upon he white horses of salvation! Oh, for the heart, the soul, and the spirit to avail ourselves of the golden opportunity, and to preach Christ where He has never been preached before. All power, then, we can clearly see, over everything in this world has been given to Christ, and has been used for the propagation of truth.

Brethren, let us recollect that power is given to Christ in Heaven as well as on earth. All angels bow before Him, and the cherubim and seraphim are ready to obey His high behests (i.e. commands). Power is given to Him over the plenitude of the Holy Spirit; he can pour out the mysterious energy in such abundance that nations can be born in a day. He can clothe His ministers with salvation, and make His priests shout aloud for joy. He has power to intercede with God, and He shall presently send out men to preach, give the people the mind to hear, and give the hearers the will to obey.

We have in the midst of us today our Leader. He is not gone from us. If His flesh and blood be absent yet in body as well as spirit he still lives, adorned with the dew and beauty of His youth. As for the Muslim, his leader has long ago rotted in his coffin; but ours lives, and because He lives His truth and His cause live also.

We have with us today a Leader whose power has not diminished, whose influence in the highest heavens has suffered no impairing. He is universal Lord. Oh, let our efforts be worthy of the power which He has promised. Let our zeal be in some respect akin to His zeal, and let our energy prove that the energy Divine has not been withdrawn.

I wish that I could preach this morning, but, the more earnestly I feel, the more scant are my words with which to express my emotions. I have prayed to God a prayer I shall repeat until the day I die. I have prayed that out of this Church there may go many missionaries. I will never be content with a congregation, or with a Church, or even with ministers, many of whom have gone out of our midst.

God’s people everywhere will I trust aid me in training young soldiers for my Master’s army. God will send the men, and faith will find the means, and we will ourselves send out our own men to proclaim the name of Jesus.

Brethren, it is a singular thing, some young men get the idea in their minds they would like to go to foreign lands, but these are frequently the most unfit men, and have not the power and ability. Now, I would that the Divine call would come to some gifted men.

You who have, perhaps, some wealth of your own, what could be a better object in life than to devote yourself and your substance to the Redeemer’s cause? You young men who have brilliant prospects before you, but who as yet have not the anxieties of a family to maintain, why would it not be a noble thing to surrender your brilliant prospects, that you may become a humble preacher of Christ? The greater the sacrifice, the greater the honor to yourself and the more acceptable to Him.

I have questioned my own conscience, and do not think I could be in the path of duty if I should go abroad and preach the Word, leaving this field of labor. But I think many of my brethren now laboring at home might with the greatest advantage surrender their charges, and leave a land where they would scarce be missed, to go where their presence would be as valuable as the presence of a thousand such as they are here.

Oh, that I long that we may see young men out of the universities, and students in our grammar schools - that we may see our physicians, tradesmen, and educated mechanics, when God has touched their hearts, giving up all they have, that they may teach and preach Christ. We want Vanderkists; we want Judsons and Brainerds over again. It will never do to send out the heathen men who are of no use at home. We cannot send men of third and tenth class abilities; we must send the highest and best. The bravest men must lead the van.

O God, anoint thy servants, we beseech thee; put the fire in their hearts that never can be quenched; make it so hot within their bones that they must die or preach, that they must be down with broken hearts, or be free to preach where Christ was never heard.

Brethren, envy anyone among you - I say again with truth, I envy you - if it shall be your lot to go to China, the country so lately opened to us. I would gladly change places with you. I would renounce the partial case of a settlement in this country, and renounce the responsibilities of so large a congregation as this with pleasure, if I might have your honors. I think sometimes that missionaries in the field - if it be right to compare such great things with such small ones - might say to you, as our English king did to his soldiers at the battle of Agincourt, changing the word for a moment - Have we none out of our sixteen hundred members - have we none out of this congregation of six thousand - who can say, “Here am I, send me?” Jesus! Is there not one? Must heathens perish? Must the gods of the heathens hold their thrones? Must thy kingdom fail? Are there none to own thee, none to maintain thy righteous cause?

If there be none, let us weep, each one of us, because such a calamity has fallen on us. But, if there be any willing to give all for Christ, let us who are compelled to stay at home do our best to help them. Let us see to it that they lack nothing, for we cannot send them out without purse or scrip. Let us fill the purse of the men whose hearts God has filled, and take care of them temporarily, leaving it for God to preserve them spiritually.

May the Lord, the Divine Master add His Blessing to the feeble words that I have uttered, and let me not conclude until I have said, I must teach you too, and this is the teaching of God - “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Trust Him with your soul and He will save you. For “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not, shall be damned.”

Awake, thou Spirit, who of old
Didst fire the watchman of the Church’s youth,
Who faced the foe, unshrinking, bold
Who witnessed day and night the eternal truth
Whose voices through the world are ringing still,
And bringing hosts to know and do thy will!
Oh that thy fire were kindled soon,
That swift from land to land its flame might leap!
Lord, give us but this priceless boon
Of faithful servants, fit for thee to reap
The harvest of the soul; look down and view
How great the harvest, yet the laborers few.
Oh haste to help ere we are lost!
Send forth evangelists, in spirit strong,
Armed with thy Word, a dauntless host,
Bold to attack the rule of ancient wrong
And let them all the earth for thee reclaim,
To be thy kingdom, and to know thy name.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Go, And Teach All Nations

This particular scripture found me three times this week. Then, I was led to this sermon by Spurgeon, and ultimately it kept haunting me to the point I finally realized the Lord wanted me to share this. It is one of the best explanations of what it actually intails to be a Christian. It is a portion of what I harp on to believers. Due to the length, I have dived it into two parts, but, please be patient and read it all, as it is one of the most vital messages for the Christian.


A Sermon Delivered On Sunday Morning, April 21st, 1861, At The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington

Part I : The Command

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth, go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost’.” (Matthew 28:18-19)

While I was meditating in private upon this text I felt myself carried away by its power. I was quite unable calmly to consider its terms, or to investigate its argument. The command with which the text concludes repeated itself again, and again, and again in my ears, till I found it impossible to study, for my thoughts were running hither and thither, asking a thousand questions, all of them intended to help me in answering for myself the solemn inquiry, How am I to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?”

The practical lesson seemed to me to overwhelm in my mind the argument of which that lesson is but a conclusion, “Go ye and teach all nations.” My ears seemed to hear it as if Christ were then speaking to me. I could realize His presence by my side. I thought I could see Him lift His pierced hand, and hear Him speak, with authority, blended with meekness, “Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the All-glorious God.”

Oh! I would that the Church could hear the Savior addressing these words to her now, for the words of Christ are living words, not having power in them yesterday alone, but, today also. The injunctions of the Savior are perpetual in their obligation, not binding upon apostles merely, but upon us also, and upon every Christian does this yoke fall, “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

We are not exempt today from the service of the first followers of the Lamb. Our marching orders are the same as theirs, and our Captain requires from us obedience as prompt and perfect as from them. Oh, that His message may not fall upon deaf ears, or be heard by stolid souls!

Brethren, the heathen are perishing; shall we let them perish? His name is blasphemed, shall we be quiet and still? The honor of Christ is cast into the dust, and His foes His person and resist His throne. Shall we, His soldiers, suffer this, and not find our hands feeling for the hilt of our sword, the Word of the Spirit, which is the Word of God? Our Lord delayeth His coming; shall we begin to sleep, or to eat, or to be drunken? Shall we not rather gird up the loins of our mind, and cry unto Him, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly?”

The scoffing skeptics of these last days have said that the anticipated conquest of the world for Christ is but a dream, or an ambitious thought, which crossed our leader’s mind, but which is never to be accomplished. It is asserted by some that the superstitions of the heathen are too strong to be battered down by our teachings, and that the strongholds of Satan are utterly impregnable against our attack. Shall it be so? Shall we be content foolishly to sit still? Nay, let us rather work out the problem, let us prove the promise of God to be true; let us prove the words of Jesus to be words of soberness; let us show the efficacy of His blood and the invincibility of His Spirit, by going in the spirit of faith, teaching all nations, and winning them to the obedience of Christ, our Lord.

I do not know how to begin to preach this morning, but still it seems to me, standing here, as if I heard that voice saying, “Go thou, therefore, and teach all nations;” and my soul sometimes pants and longs for the liberty to preach Christ where He was never preached before; not to build upon another man’s foundation, but to go to some untrodden land, some waste where the foot of Christ’s minister was never seen, that there “the solitary place might be glad for us, and the wilderness rejoice and blossom as the rose.”


I have made it a solemn question whether I might not testify in China or India the Grace of Jesus, and in the sight of God I have answered it. I solemnly feel that my position in England will not permit my leaving the sphere in which I now am, or else tomorrow I would offer myself as a missionary. Oh, do none of you hear the call this morning? You that are free from so great a work as that which is cast upon me - you that have talents as yet undevoted to any special end, and powers of being as yet unconsecrated to any given purpose, and unconfirmed to any one sphere; do you not hear my Master saying in tones of plaintive sorrow, blended with an authority which is not to be denied, “Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?”

Oh that there were might in some human lip to move the thousands of our Israel to advance at once, unanimously and irresistibly to the world’s conquest, like one tremendous tide rising from the depths of the ocean, to sweep over the sands, the barren sands which are now given up to desolation and death?

Oh that once again the voice of thunder could be heard, and the lightning spirit could penetrate each heart, that as one man the entire Church might take the marching orders of her Lord, and go to all nations, baptizing them in the name of Israel’s God. O Lord, if we fail to speak, fail not thou to speak; and if we know not how to bear thy burden, or to express thine awful thoughts, yet speak thou with that all-constraining silent voice which well-trained ears can hear, and make thy servants obedient to thee now, for Christ’s sake!

This morning we shall first dwell a little while on the command, and secondly, we shall enlarge upon the argument. There is an argument, as you will perceive, “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations.”

First, my brethren, and very briefly indeed, a few things about the COMMAND. And we must remark, first what a singularly loving one it is. Imagine Mahomet (ie: Mohammed) on his dying bed saying to his desciples, “All power is given unto me in Heaven and earth;” what would be his command? “Go ye, therefore, with sharp scimitars, and propound faith in the prophet, or death as the dread alternative; avenge me of the men who threw stones at the prophet, make their houses a dunghill, and cut them in pieces for vengeance is mine, and God’s prophet must be avenged of His enemies.” But Christ, though far more despised and persecuted of men, and having real power which that pretend prophet never had, says to His disciples, as He is about to ascend to Heaven, “All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth; go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

It is the voice of love, not of wrath. “Go and teach them the power of my blood to cleanse, the willingness of my arms to embrace, the yearning of my heart to save! Go and teach them. Teach them no more to despise me, no more to think my Father an angry and implacable Deity. Teach them to bow the knee, and kiss the Son, and find peace for all their troubles, and a balm for all their woes in me. Go ye, speak as I have spoken; weep as I have wept; invite as I have invited; exhort, entreat, beseech and pray, as I have done before you. Tell them to come unto me, if they be weary and heavy laden, and I will give them rest; and say unto them, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, but rather that he should turn unto me and live.’” What a generous and gracious command is that of the text, “Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Note, too, how exceedingly plain is the command, “Go ye, teach all nations.” The Romish Church has misunderstood this. She says, “Go ye, mystify all nations; sound in their ears a language once living, but now dead; take to them the Latin tongue, and let that be sounded with all the harmony of sweet music, and they will be converted. Erect the sumptuous altar; clothe the priest in mystic garments; celebrate mysterious rites; and make the heathen wonder; dazzle them with splendor; amaze them with mystery.” But, “Nay,” says Christ, “nay, go ye and teach.”

Why, it is the mother’s work with her child; it is the tutor’s work with the boy and with the girl - “go ye, and teach.” How simple! Illustrate; explain, expound; tell; inform; narrate. Take from them the darkness of ignorance, reveal to them the light of revelation. Teach! Be content to sit down, and tell them the most plainest and most common things. It is not your eloquence that shall convert them; it is not your gaudy language or your polished periods that shall sway their intellects. Go and teach them. Teach them! Why, my hearer, I say again, this is a word which has to do with the rudiments of knowledge.

We do not preach to children, we teach them, and we are not so much to preach to nations. That word seems to big and great for the uncivilized and childish people; go ye, and teach them first the very simplicities of the cross of Christ.

And note how he puts it next. Who are to be taught? “Go ye, and teach all nations.” The Greek has his philosophers, teach him, he is but a child; he is a fool though he thinketh himself to be wise. There be polite nations which have a literature of their own, far larger and more extensive than the literature of the Christian: teach them nevertheless. They are to be taught and unless they are willing to take the learner’s place, and to become as little children, they can in no wise enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Do not debate and argue with them. Put not your self with them upon their level as a combatant concerning certain dogmas; insist upon it that I have sent you - sent you to teach the most erudite and profoundly learned; and when you shall claim it, I am with you always to back your claim, and men shall be willing to sit at your feet to be taught the name of Jesus.

I do not know whether all your missionaries have caught the idea of Christ - “Go ye and teach all nations” but most of them have, and these have been honored with many conversions. The more fully they have been simple teachers, not Philosophers of the Western Philosophy, not eager disputants concerning some English dogma, I say the more plainly they have gone forth as teachers sent from God to teach the world, the more successful they have been.

“Go ye, therefore, and teach.” Some may think, perhaps, there is less difficulty in teaching the learned than teaching the uncivilized and barbarous. There is the same duty to one as to the other: “Go and teach.” “But they brandish the tomahawk.” Teach them, and lie down and sleep in their hut, and they shall marvel at your fearlessness and shall spare your life. “But they feed on the blood of their fellows, they make a bloody feast about the cauldron in which a man’s body is the horrible viand.” Tech them and they shall empty their war kettle, and they shall bury their swords, and bow before you, and acknowledge King Jesus.

“But they are brutalized, they have scarce a language - a few clicking sounds make up all they can say.” Teach them, and they shall speak the language of Canaan, and sing the songs of Heaven. It has been proven, brethren, that there are no nations incapable of being taught, nay, that there are no nations incapable afterwards of teaching others. The African slave has perished under the lash, rather than dishonor his Master. The Esquimaux has climbed his barren steeps, and borne his toil, while has recollected the burden which Jesus bore. The Hindu has patiently submitted to the loss of all things, because he loved Christ better than all. Feeble Malagasay women have been prepared to suffer and die, and have taken joyfully suffering for Christ’s sake.

There has been heroism in every land for Christ. Men of every color and of every race have died for Him. Upon His altar has been found the blood of all kindred that be upon the face of the earth. Oh! Tell me not, they cannot be taught. Sirs, they can be taught to die for Christ; and this is more than some of you have learned. They can rehearse the very highest lesson of the Christian religion - that self sacrifice which knows not itself but gives up all for Him.

At this day there are Karen Missionaries preaching among the Karens with as fervid an eloquence as was ever known by Whitfield. There are Chinese teaching in Borneo, Sumatra, and Australia, with as much earnestness as Morison or Milne first taught in China. There are Hindu evangelists who are not ashamed to have given up the Brahminical thread, and to eat with the Pariah, and to preach with him the riches of Christ.
There have been men found of every class and kind, not only able to be taught, but able to become teachers themselves. And the most mighty teachers, too, of the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well was that command warranted by the future facts, when Christ said, “Go ye, teach all nations.”

But, brethren, he text says, “Baptizing them.” They are to be taught, and afterwards they are to be baptized. I know not why it is that we yield to the superstitions of our Christian brethren, so much as to use the word baptize at all. It is not an English word, but, a Greek word. It has but one meaning, and cannot bear another. Throughout all the classics, without exception, it is not possible to translate it correctly, except with the idea of immersion. Believing this, and knowing this, if the translation is not complete, we will complete it this morning.

“Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Now I think that our Missionary Society, while it may take precedence in matters of time - for it was the first that was ever commenced with the exception of the Moravians - ought also to take precedence in matters of purity, because we can carry out this text in every country, teaching first, and baptizing afterwards. We do not understand the philosophy of first baptizing, and afterwards teaching. We hold that we must teach first, and then, when men are disciples, we are to baptize them. Not the nations; the Greek does not bear that interpretation, but, those who have been made disciples we are to baptize into the Sacred Name.

We think that the brethren do serious damage to the Gospel by baptizing children. We do not think their error a little one. We know it does not touch a vital point, but we d believe infant baptism is the prop and pillar of Popery, and it being removed, Popery and Puseyism become at once impossible. You have taken away all idea of a nation godliness and a nation religion, when you have cut away all liberty to administer Christian ordinances to unconverted persons. We cannot see any evil which would follow, if our brethren would renounce their mistake; but we can see abundant mischief which their mistake has caused, and in all kindness, but with all fidelity, we again enter our solemn protest against their giving baptism to any other than disciples, to any but those who are followers of the Lamb.

Throw down her hedges? Give her supper and her baptism to those that are not Christ’s people? Break down her walls? Remove her barricades? God forbid! Except a man be renewed in heart, we adre not allow him to participate in the ordinances which belong to Christ’s Church. It is a disastrous thing to call unconverted children Christians, or to do anything which may weaken their apprehension of the great fact, that until they are converted they have no part or lot in this matter.

Brethren, if you differ with me on this point, bear with me, for my conscience will not let me conceal this solemn truth. To you who agree with me I say, while our other can do in some things more than we can, and we rejoice in their efforts, and would heartily bless God that they wold show more activity than ourselves, yet we ought to be ashamed of ourselves if we are a whit behind. We are a body of Christians who can fairly and purely teach and baptize. We can obey this command of Christ abroad as well as at home, without running counter to our practice in one place by our practice in the other. We ought to be first and foremost, and if we be not, shame shall cover us for our unfaithfulness. “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

(Continued in Part II: The Argument)

Friday, October 23, 2009

Witnessing of Wrath To Come; Not Joy and Happiness


A few years ago, I attended a Christian conference in Katy, Texas, where I had the privilege of hearing Kirk Cameron speak. Kirk is an actor who gave his heart to the Lord several years ago. He teamed up with well known evangelist Ray Comfort (Living Waters Ministry) and together they have produced a series of DVD ministering videos called “The Way of the Master". Kirk is well known for his starring in the “Left Behind” movies.

In their ministry, Kirk and Ray approach people from all walks of life and show them the NEED to turn away from sin and accept Jesus as their Savior. As anyone has read any of my articles would know, I am a strong proponent of this type of evangelism. Too many people are walking around today deceived into believing they are saved when they are not.

While it is true that, once saved, you cannot lose your salvation, thanks to misguided evangelists seeking numbers, rather than strong believers in Christ, many think they are saved due to a (five) minute prayer. Meanwhile, most professed Christians are living in all ranges of iniquity, including fornication, adultery, pornography, alcohol and drug abuse, blasphemy, and even supporting the most heinous of sins-- abortion.

I have heard so many arguments from people claiming to be Christians regarding (my) view of the Gospel… “Is just the way you interpret it”, they’ll say. They truly believe that God’s word is acceptable in many different forms, depending on how each individual interprets it, as long as that individual thinks he or she is doing the right thing. It is truly sad. What they are saying, in essence, is that they can play stupid, and all will be fine in the end. God said His people will be destroyed due to ignorance. That means ignorance is no excuse. Worse yet, is the fact that the ones of whom were presented with the truth, and rejected it, will be the most harshly judged.

This brings me to the next most popular argument… “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”
Oh, I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been hit with that one. Totally misunderstood, even atheists use that one. Judging sin is not the context by which Jesus meant we were not to judge others. As much as misguided sentiments like “pray about it, and you’ll be fine”, oftentimes we tend to use scripture to enable our disconnect from doing the right thing, and still seem godly about it. It’s always human nature to rationalize our own lackings. When it comes to sin, we are commanded to judge it, especially, in as far as pointing it out, and hopefully the recipient will be nudged to be convicted of it, and repent. Silly atheists!!!

At the conference, Kirk gave the best analogy I had ever heard regarding the need to make it clear why a person needs the Lord.

Two men are seated on a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put it on as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first, since he cannot see how putting on a parachute could possibly improve his flight.

He decides to experiment and see if the claims are true. As he puts it on he notices the weight of it upon his shoulders, and he finds he has difficulty in sitting upright. However, he consoles himself with the fact he was told the parachute would improve his flight, so he decides to give it a little time.

As waits he notices that some of the other passengers are laughing at him for wearing a parachute on a plane. He begins to feel somewhat humiliated. As they continue to point and laugh at him, he can stand it no longer. He sinks in his seat, unstraps the parachute and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fills his heart, because as far as he was concerned he was told an outright lie.

The second man is given a parachute, but, listen to what he is told. He’s told to put it on because at any moment he could be jumping 25,000 feet out of the plane. He gratefully puts the parachute on. He doesn’t notice the weight upon his shoulders, nor that he cannot sit upright. His mind is consumed with the idea of what would happen to him if he had to jump without the parachute.

Let’s now analyze the motive and the result of each passenger’s experience. The first man’s motive for putting the parachute on was solely to improve his flight. The result of his experience is that he was humiliated, disillusioned, and somewhat embittered against those who gave him the parachute. As far as he is concerned it will be a long time before someone gets one of those things on his back again.

The second man put on the parachute solely to escape the jump to come. And because of his knowledge of what would happen to him if he jumped without it he has a deep rooted joy and peace in his heart knowing that he is saved from sure death. This knowledge gives him the ability to withstand the mockery of the other passengers. His attitude toward those who gave him the parachute is one of heart felt gratitude.

Now listen to what the modern Gospel says: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. He’ll give you love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and lasting happiness.” In other words, Jesus will improve your flight. The sinner responds, and in an experimental fashion he puts on the Savior to see if the claims are true. And what does he get? The promised temptation, tribulation, and persecution. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ; he’s offended for the Word’s sake; he’s disillusioned and embittered--- and quite rightly so.

He was promised peace, love, joy and fulfillment, and all he got was trials and humiliation. His bitterness is directed at those who gave him the so-called “Good news.” His latter end becomes worse than the first, and he’s another inoculated and bitter “backslider.”

Instead of preaching that Jesus improves the flight, we should be warning sinners that they have to jump out of a plane. That it’s appointed for man to die once, and then face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). When a sinner understands the horrific consequences of breaking the Law of God, he will flee to the Savior, solely to escape the wrath that is to come. If we are true and faithful witnesses, that’s what we should be preaching-- that there is wrath to come-- that God “commands all men everywhere to repent: because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:30,31).

The issue isn’t one of happiness, but, of righteousness. It doesn’t matter how happy a sinner is, or how much he is enjoying the pleasures of sin. Peace and joy are legitimate fruits of salvation, but, it’s not legitimate to use these fruits as a drawing card for salvation. If we continue to do so, the sinner will respond with an impure motive, lacking repentance.

Can you remember why the second passenger had joy and peace in his heart? It was because he knew the parachute was going to save him from sure death. In the same way, as believers we have joy and peace in believing because we know that the righteousness of Christ is going to deliver us from the wrath that is to come.

With that thought in mind, let’s take a close look at an incident aboard the plane. We have a brand new flight attendant. It’s her first day aboard the plane. She’s carrying a tray of boiling hot coffee. She wants to leave an impression upon the passengers, and she certainly does. As she walks down the aisle she trips over someone’s foot and slops the coffee all over the lap of the second passenger. What’s his reaction as the boiling coffee hits his tender flesh? Does he go , “Man that hurt!!!” ? Yes, he does. But, then does he rip the parachute from his shoulders, throw it to the floor, and yell, “Stupid parachute!!!” ? No, why should he? He didn’t put the parachute on for a better flight. He put it on for the jump to come. If anything, he clings even tighter to the parachute and even looks forward to the jump.

If we have put on the Lord Jesus Christ for the right motive-- to flee from the wrath to come-- when tribulation strikes, when the flight gets bumpy, we won’t get angry at God, and we won’t lose our joy and peace. Why should we? We didn’t come to Christ for a better lifestyle.

If anything, tribulation drives the true believer closer to the Savior. Sadly, we have multitudes of professing Christians who lose their joy and peace when the flight gets bumpy. Why? They are the product of a man-centered gospel. They came lacking repentance, without which they cannot be saved.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

"They Just Don't Understand": The Fate of Rifqa

Fathima Rifqa Bary, a 17 year old who ran away from her parents in Ohio in fear for her life stated to media, "They just don't understand." That is why I write this, because most DO NOT understand, as much as they think they do understand.

Rifqa was raised in a devout Muslim family. A few years ago she accepted Christ. As much as she stayed low key of her Christian faith, was spotted by people from the local mosque involved in certain activities. Rifqa had already suffered abuse with injuries noted by her school (cuts and bruises). When the mosque made it public that Rifqa was an apostate and her father threatened to kill her, she took it seriously, as well she should.

The Koran teaches (ch 4, v89) that if one becomes an apostate of Islam they are to be killed by anyone which whom gets the opportunity to do so. In Muslim states it is no problem. Since they are in Democracies (until they can change that) they must abide by the respective country laws. Regardless, there have been many 'honor killings' here in the U.S.; two right here in Texas. Last year a Muslim father shot and killed both his daughters as he learned one of them dated an American. This brought shame on the family. This is the chilling 9-1-1 call.

Monday, 10/12/09, Florida Judge Daniel Dawson ordered Rifqa be returned to her parents in Ohio. I was not surprised. In fact, I expected it. Anything else would be a negative connotation toward the satanic Islamic religion which you are force fed is 'peaceful and loving'. It is only "kooks and fanatics" like myself which slander Islam with hate mongering.


In reality, it is ignorance which enables Islam to gain a foothold in Europe, and is very close to accomplishing the same in America. Muslims spew the rhetoric that it is only 'radical' Muslims which support violence and plan to take over the world. They have Muslim college students get on facebook and twitter and seek all forums involving any conversation on Islam. Their specific mission is attempting to convince infidels that if you are anti-Muslim you are a bigot, or worse, a Christian is a hypocrite. No Christian wants to be called a hypocrite.

Muslims will quote scripture out of context, and the typical Christian will either stay away from the debate or buckle under the pressure as they do not know the Gospel enough to retort. In essence, many Christians are ignorantly led to believe, falsely, we all worship the same God, and Islam is just another religion. So many people, even Christians, do their bidding for them. Especially young people, whom never read the Koran, will begin to argue with me regarding what they believe vs. the facts.

Average Americans and many Christians just do not understand Islam, but, do not want to be labeled a bigot or a hypocrite. We are all supposed to love our brothers and sisters of another faith. Right?!! And we should share the Truth (Gospel) with them anytime we get the opportunity. Once presented to them, if they reject it that is their responsibility. But, to accept the religion of tyranny, which is exactly what they solicit, is blasphemy. You better get this. It is utter blasphemy, and no matter how many times you said a short prayer professing your faith to Jesus, you are on a straight path to hell if you defend the lies and rhetoric of Islam.

In Rifqa's case, it is very possible a young girl may end up dead when she has asked for help, because so many defend the gutter religion. the ridiculous hypocrisy here is the liberals who scream they are for your rights are the very ones enabling Islam to meet their goal of making you their slave. It is due to rhetoric mostly spun by the liberals we wouldn't think of doing anything that would upset or offend our Muslim 'brothers'.

There are a few in the media who are starting to get involved and ask questions. Even so, they are not stepping across the line and 'calling a spade a spade'. For those not familiar with the old saying, you would not call a spade a rake, that would be ridiculous. If I needed a spade, but, ask you to bring me rake, not a lot will be accomplished. The fascists are able to get along with the constant rhetoric which discounts the truth, merely because we will not call a spade a spade.

Islam is not a peaceful, misunderstood religion. You are led to misunderstand, through deception. There are over a billion Muslims in the world. I have been told I cannot judge all of them because of the beliefs of a few. This is the deception. It is a few, who call themselves Muslim, but, follow another doctrine. These are considered apostates just like Rifqa, and face the same fate. Why do you think Muslims are killing other Muslims around the world? It is because they do not follow the true doctrine of the Koran, and are considered apostates.

It is exactly the same as Jehovah Witness, Mormon, or any other religion which professes to be Christian, but, deviates from the Gospel and deceives their followers. They are not true Christians by definition, but, many accept their doctrine through ignorance, and are not saved.

It is only illegal in sharia law to kill another (true) Muslim. The Koran teaches ALL infidels must die before their messiah (grand Mahdi) can return. That means even if you live to be a ripe old age, your grandchild may be forced to choose between Islam or die, someday. It is even worse for Jews. The Koran teaches Jews cannot be converted, and should be killed at any given opportunity. Yet, we are led to believe that only a distinct few 'radical' Muslims wish to harm the Jewish people. True Muslims are radical, as their Koran is radical and satanic.

What boggles the mind is how little we are willing to learn about something we ignorantly defend. Our political leaders do not want you to know the truth, as it is against their political ambitions. The Leftists in our government work hand in hand with the jihad of Islam, as they both strive for global unity and one governance. The major obstacle for both the socialists in power now, and Islam (also socialists) is the American Constitution. It is being ignored at every turn.

As President Obama ignored National Prayer Day, and stayed away from cameras for the first time to avoid controversial questions, he gave a celebratory speech at the beginning of Ramadan. Obama disgustingly pointed out there is a correlation between Christian and Muslim principles. He is either the most ignorant or the most boldly deceiving President in history.

Just like Rifqa, we are being ignored of the detriment which faces every citizen. Rifqa will eventually be handed back over to her parents. They are not citizens, and are possibly going back to their country of Sri Lanka. If they get Rifqa back to Sri Lanka, even if her parents do not kill her, the Mosque will. Honor killing is the #1 cause of death in Muslim states. It is perfectly legal to kill your wife if she is suspected of adultery. No questions asked if you kill your child because they dated a boy of another faith. And, no problem-- if you know of someone to have left the Muslim faith (an apostate) to behead them slowly, with a kitchen knife. More on Children beheaded

New pics reveal Hamas-linked C.A.I.R. backstage media coordination in Rifqa's case

Friday, October 2, 2009

Healing Part II: Forgiveness


When we forgive we are releasing a prisoner…our self!

Hard as it may be, we find that patience and perseverance in the Lord is the only healthy way to ride out the storms (Healing Part I) in life. God has a perfect plan and His perfect Will for our lives is not always apparent. We stray from the path He intends for us, or we are ‘side swiped’ by an event which entangles us in confusion, and devastating pain.

All the self help books in the world will not take the place of God’s Counsel. Ten years of psychotherapy will not achieve what God can achieve in us, in the blink of an eye. He knew a long time ago the place you were going to be tonight. He knew your pain. Pain is not His Will for us, but, since we are not always obedient and operate for our own good, He does it for us. Like a good father; like a good shepherd.

As it goes with the lamb which constantly strays, the Good Shepherd must brake our legs, sometimes, in order to get us back where we belong-- for our own good. The Lord knows exactly what state our soul is in. He knows at what stage of our understanding He can say one word, just one, and we will comprehend exactly what he is telling us. This is where He wants us ultimately and always. A close relationship. Where the Good Father only has to ‘speak once’ and we get it.

Now comes the more difficult part of healing. The pain and suffering we endure is really trivial once it is behind us. It seemed so great at the time, but, barely conjures up a memory. The truly hard road is that of FORGIVENESS, but, we must take it like it or not.

It cannot be a shallow, outwardly gesture. Rather, it must be a process which encompasses our soul until we reach a different realm of understanding. His understanding. We cannot think like God. It is inconceivable to us how the all merciful, all loving Father moves. Part of our process, our journey, must be forgiveness. It is obviously very important to our Father in Heaven, as He will not forgive us, until we have done so ourselves.

That said, it is all part of the whole LOVE thing, in which He is constantly trying to steer us. We are ever so stubborn when it comes to the type of love He wants us to give and receive. If only we would follow His Word, the complete process, and obey the demands of unconditional love.

When we have reached a certain level of understanding in our heart regarding a situation, or a person in our life, the Lord gives us the next step, word, or opens a door, as He knows we can handle it.

I have heard and read many sermons and articles on forgiveness. The two most common misconceptions of evangelistic preachers these days are right out of most secular ‘self-help’ books.

1. Forgiveness does not mean forget

2. Forgiveness is for yourself, not the other person.

I have heard many preachers, for which I have the utmost respect, adamantly pushing these two key issues when it comes to forgiveness.

It is further deception by the enemy to lead the sheep silently to the death, and away from the goodness our Father has in store. It is through our selfishness in most cases we find it impossible to forgive. Sometimes for the smallest things. But, there is oftentimes huge issues, recent or maybe years past. Maybe we don’t even know we hold bitterness for a certain person. We discounted a situation a long time ago; our concept is that it was forgiven, when it was just forgotten, for now. If an issue goes unresolved it lays dormant deep inside us, until such time it is uncontrollably brought out by a memory, or a word spoken, or even a fragrance.

The Lord knows we don’t truly forget, unless we truly forgive. Likewise, if we truly forgive, then we must forget. When He forgives us, it is forgotten as if it never happened. Unlike a criminal court, as a man stands accused of a crime, and his previous crimes may be held in account for his punishment. When we are truly sorry for our sin, and repent, He is faithful to forgive. Thank God for that, RIGHT?!!

No matter how strong the offense (or trespass) which was perpetrated against us, we must be obedient to God’s command to forgive and forget. If we are to hold onto the smallest portion of the incident in our heart, or in our mind, without completely letting it go, then what have we accomplished? It is like undergoing surgery for a tumor, but, deciding to leave just a little bit in there, for old times sake. Why bother with surgery?

The second issue for which I appeal to your charitable nature. Yes, forgiveness is for ourselves, BUT, also for as much as the one who trespassed against us. The process of healing cannot be a clinical, calculated procedure if we are to get it right. Likewise, forgiveness is not a ‘paint-by-numbers’ and reach the end-result experience. We must give up a part of ourselves which is perhaps the most difficult part to surrender. Our pride, or center of being. We must step out of our self, in the same way we would leave our comfort zone to help the needy during the holidays, or run out in the middle of the night to answer the call of a distressed family member.

The one thing we most commonly put aside when we think we have dealt properly with forgiving someone is that person is also a child of God. They are also growing in the way God sees fit. Or, maybe they don’t yet have a relationship with the Lord, but, you are blessing them exponentially by giving of yourself when they most often feel they don’t deserve it. This may drive them to the Lord on their own accord. If we are holding a hard heart, or ill feelings against them, we are not only hurting ourselves, but, we are denying an opportunity to bless them. If you reject that idea, then you haven’t truly forgiven, as you told your self you did.

The whole purpose for the Lord to constantly steer us to the path of charity (which refers to love in the KJV) is so that we might lose that ever damning , overwhelming sense of self, or self centeredness, which keeps us from following all His guidelines for loving one another.

Christ forgives us without conditions. We don’t deserve it--it is by His Grace alone. We want to place limitations and conditions on our forgiveness of others, without grace? Just saying your forgiven without the true heart experience and surrender to God’s charitable ways, is just as meaningful as “I’m sorry” and not meaning it. Don’t waste your time. Also don’t waste your time going to church, as God does not want you to bring Him offerings while you knowingly have an unresolved issue with a brother or sister, or neighbor.

Jesus not only said we were to forgive seventy times seven, but, we were to ‘turn the other cheek’. I know this is hard to do, and we will not always take that path, especially in the heat of the moment, when our feelings have been destroyed by another whom we trusted. We forgive to bless our trespasser as well, whether we like it or not, as it blesses us in the end.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

God Bless America (once again)


2 Chron 7:14 ~ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (KJV)

America was once a blessed nation; it can be once again, when we bless God once again. Many are fooled by evangelists into believing they should just pray about it, and God will handle it. That's not biblical. We screwed it up by ignoring God. Why would He fix it? He is waiting for us to fix it, or He will turn us over to our enemies. That's biblical.

Most evangelists and Pastors have been advising, and in some cases demanding their church not watch news or read newspapers, as it is "Too depressing." I've heard more ridiculous things come out of clergy's mouths before, but, this ranks high up there.

What the apathetic and uninformed portion of America does not understand, because their is no rocket fire or brigades in the streets, the Second Revolution is taking place. If "We The People" lose, they will wish they had awakened before it was too late. The REAL victims will be our most precious children and their children.

Notices were sent out from both Bush and Obama administrations to every registered licensed ministry requesting they advise their members to avoid news media. Of course, that was before a stronghold was placed on most media sources by the Obama camp. Works are in progress to totally control what you hear and see through media, so enjoy it while you can. Obama's new communication Czar has gone on record praising Hugo Chavez for his successful revolution in Venezuela, and media take-over.

The portion of America which has no problem with government taking care of their children is thoroughly incapable of taking care of them properly themselves. Our children should worship God, rather than a self serving politician. Only then will the outcome be favorable for generations to come. We will have to answer for the outcome...

The saddest realization from all this usurper awareness is around half the country has no problem with government "taking care of them" and making all their decisions.

"To the disempowered, it seems much easier or even more acceptable to leave one's life in the hands of third parties (governments, aid agencies, and even God) than to try to alleviate one's circumstances through one's own effort. Disempowerment - whether defined in terms of a lack of self-confidence, apathy, fear, or an inability to take charge of one's own life - is perhaps the most unrecognised problem in Africa today." ~ Wangari Maathai

It is President Obama's clear intention to make everybody on the globe equal, thus eliminating our unique form of government and capitalist society.

I regularly receive comments from "Christians" advising I should not be reporting such things about our President, but, praying for him. God ordained government to promote justice, not evil. There is nothing biblical about giving into tyranny. If George Washington, or all who signed the Declaration of Independence had just prayed about it, we would still be under British rule. If we do not give up this stupid apathetic state we have adapted we will eventually be under New World Order rule.

We are losing America, because America as a whole drifted away from God. We have allowed evil to get out of hand and run rapid, through apathy on our part. We refused to speak up in fear of being called "politically incorrect" or a "racist" or "homo-phobic" or anything they could think of to shut up the opposition to their sinful ways becoming the norm. The "Moral Majority" was being attacked and propaganda made them out to be wackos. Unfortunately, we cannot say we were part of the moral majority, because the opposition has won, so far, because we heard the cry of a few in battle, but, we looked the other way ad waited for the next person to handle it. Deserters!!! This was once a blessed nation, it can be once again, as soon as we bless God once again. He didn't make this problem, and He won't fix it alone. We should pray always, but, prayer alone won't cut it. And it's gonna take more than a few to fight the "Spiritual Battle". We need to recruit and work tirelessly FOR OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.


Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God~ Thomas Jefferson

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Shake It Off!


"Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you
go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet
."
Matthew 10:14

As Jesus began to prepare His disciples for their calling as
leaders in the Church, He decided they needed to go out on
their own and learn to do what they had previously seen Him
do. For soon Jesus would no longer be physically with them
and they needed to know who to operate in His absence. So He
gathered the disciples together and instructed them to go
out into the surrounding cities to preach and demonstrate
the Kingdom of God. At the very end of His instructions,
Jesus tells his disciples to do something, that is not as
spectacular as His other instructions, but is essential to
their having success in what they have been assigned to do.
This essential piece of wisdom that Jesus shared with his
disciples has just as much application and revelation for
us today, as it did when He originally spoke these words
over 2000 years ago.

Jesus first instructs His disciples to take no money for
their journey, preach the Kingdom of Heaven, heal the sick,
raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons and when
it is all said and done - know when to "shake the dust off".

Jesus said that their ability to shake off criticism, rejection,
opposition and other people's opinion of them was just as
important as their preaching the gospel, healing the sick,
raising the dead, cleansing lepers and casting out demons.
Jesus knew that their ability to overcome persecution and
rejection was critical to their ability to succeed at what He
told them to do. If they succumbed to criticism and rejection,
there would be no preaching, healing, raising or cleansing
because they would quit and abandon what they were sent to do.

We too must learn to shake off the dust that others cast upon
us to stop us and move forward in life. There are times in life
when we will have to go at it alone! If you never learn to
shake off what life and others will place upon you, you will
find yourself bound and unable to move forward in life because
you're carrying things and burdens that God never intended
for you to carry.

Not only must we learn to shake off the dirt that others place
upon us, but we must also learn to shake off the dirt that
we've accumulated and held onto over the years. There are
things in our pasts that have clung to us to remind us of what
we used to be. This dirt may be failures, words that have
wounded us or mistakes we've made that we are trying to make
up for that hinder us in moving forward into our assignments
and callings. Many of the disciples had less than desirable
pasts that they had to shake off and move forward despite
their history. There was Matthew the tax collector who had
to shake of the guilt, shame and condemnation of his past
occupation in order to move forward in the ministry that
Christ had given him. If Matthew had not learned to shake
off what he knew about himself, and what others were saying
about him, he would not have been able to minister with the
conviction and power necessary for him to do what Christ
instructed him to do. The enemy will use other people's
attitudes and opinions to try to cause you to doubt yourself
and forfeit what God has for you.

What is it that you've allowed to lay dormant because of
rejection, opposition or someone's opinion of you? Has someone
said something to you that has caused you to doubt yourself,
your ability, purpose or future? If so, do what Jesus told
His disciples to do - "shake it off" and keep moving!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Redeeming The Time

cross2
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but
as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what
the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15-17

One of the most precious gifts God has given mankind is---
time. A major characteristic of time is that you will
never have more of it than you have right now. With each
breath you take, you are that much closer to taking your
last breath. We all reach a point in life where we realize
that we've lived more life than we have left. The older
we become the more careful we are of what and with whom we
spend our time on. We begin to realize that we truly do
not have time to waste!

Some of you may look over your shoulder at your past and
smile with satisfaction at how you used the time that you've
given, while others may reflect on their past and wish that
they had the ability to do some things all over again. However,
what is done is done. We must do the best we can with the time
we have left.

What do you do when you now have the wisdom to do a thing
right, but you don't have the time to do it all over again?
What do you do when opportunities, like water, have slipped
through your fingers and the doors that were open are now shut?
You may be asking: "Is there any way to regain what I've lost
over the years?" The truth is, you will never be able to
reclaim the time lost - but you may be able to "redeem" the
time you have left!

The Bible instructs us to "redeem the time". If we are
instructed to redeem the time, the next question that must be
asked is: "How do we go about redeeming our time?" The answer
actually lies within the word redeem. The word redeem in the
Greek is "Exagorazo". It is a compound word made up of the
preposition "ek" which means "to come out of" or "from", and
the verb "Agorazo" which means "to put to work in the
marketplace". The marketplace is simply a system of exchange.
The way to redeem your time is to exchange the system in which
you are investing your time.

Many Believers, although born again by faith, still operate by
a system dominated by the flesh. Anything that is not logical
or probable they shy away from because they fear not being in
control of the situation. They are operating under a system
of works, which can only pay them a wage, which correspondingly
controls their worth. This is the reason a person can work
hard all their life and discover that the time they spent
working was wasted because it could not give them what they
earnestly desire - freedom and fulfillment.

God's system, or the Kingdom of God, is one of redemption that
is founded on faith. Our productivity and worth is not based
on our abilities or efforts, but our faith and obedience to
God's Word. Everything we receive in this system is a gift.
Jesus said, to seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness and all things will be added onto us
(Matthew 6:33). God does what we can't do by our believing
(in faith) that He can do it!

In the Bible, Abraham tried to have a son, under the system
of flesh (or his own abilities and efforts) for almost 100
years without success. God gave Him in a moment, by faith,
what he could not produce by his flesh over a lifetime. God
redeemed Abraham's time because Abraham switched systems. He
received by faith what he could not produce by in his flesh.

Like Abraham, God has allowed some of you to live long enough
to know that your system doesn't work. God can fix in a moment
what has been broken for years. It all depends on the system
that you are investing your time and efforts in. It's not to
late! Switch today and redeem your time!