Daily Word - The escape to Egypt, massacre of the innocents - Matthew 2:13-18

Scripture:
Matthew 2:13-18 (New Living Translation)
The Escape to Egypt
13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”[a]
16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. 17 Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A cry was heard in Ramah— weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.”[b]
Footnotes:
Matthew 2:15 Hos 11:1.
Matthew 2:18 Jer 31:15.

Reflection:
Who can explain suffering, especially the suffering of innocent children? Herod's massacre of children who gave their lives for a person and a truth they did not know seemed so useless and unjust. What a scandal and stumbling block for those who can't recognize God's redeeming love. Why couldn't God prevent this slaughter? Suffering is indeed a mystery. No explanation seems to satisfy our human craving to understand. What does Paul the Apostle mean when he says: We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called to his purpose (Romans 8:28)? These innocent children and their parents suffered for Christ.
Suffering, persecution, and martyrdom are the lot of all who chose to follow Jesus Christ. There is no crown without the cross. It was through Jesus' suffering, humiliation, and death on a cross, that our salvation was won. His death won life — eternal life for us. And his blood which was shed for our sake obtained pardon and reconciliation with our heavenly Father. Suffering takes many forms: illness, disease, handicap, physical pain and emotional trauma, slander and abuse, poverty, and injustice. Jesus exclaimed that those who weep, who are reviled and persecuted for righteousness sake are blessed (Matthew 5:10-12). The word blessed [makarios in the Greek] literally means happiness or beatitude. It describes a kind of joy which is serene and untouchable, self- contained and independent from chance and changing circumstances of life.
There is a certain paradox for those blessed by the Lord. Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. She received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. But her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take way. Do you know the joy of a life fully surrendered to God with faith and trust?

Prayer For The Day:
Lord, you gave your life for my sake, to redeem me from slavery to sin and death. Help me to carry my cross with joy that I may willingly do your will and not shrink back out of fear or cowardice when trouble besets me.

Daily Word - The Visit Of The Magi - Matthew 2:1-12

Scripture:
Matthew 2:1-12 (New Living Translation)
Matthew 2
Visitors from the East Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men[a] from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,[b] and we have come to worship him.”
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities[c] of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’[d]”
7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
Footnotes:
Matthew 2:1 Or royal astrologers; Greek reads magi; also in 2:7, 16.
Matthew 2:2 Or star in the east.
Matthew 2:6 Greek the rulers.
Matthew 2:6 Mic 5:2; 2 Sam 5:2.

Reflection:
If Jesus truly is who he claims to be, the eternal Son of God and Savior of the world, then why is he not recognized by everyone who hears his word and sees his works? John the Evangelist states that when Jesus came into the world the world knew him not and his own people received him not (see John 1:10-11). Jesus was born in obscurity. Only the lowly shepherds recognized him at his birth. Some wise men also found their way to Bethlehem to pay homage to the newborn King of Israel. These men were not Israelites, but foreigners. They likely had read and discussed the Messianic prophecies and were anxious to see when this Messianic King would appear. God led them by means of an extraordinary star across the desert to the little town where Jesus was born. In their thirst for the knowledge of God, they willingly left everything, their home and country, in pursuit of that quest. In their diligent search they were led to the source of true knowledge -- to Jesus Christ, the Light and Wisdom of God. When they found the newborn King they humbly worshiped him and gave him gifts fitting for a king.
What fueled their search for the Messianic King? Faith in the promise of God to send a Redeemer, a King who would establish God's reign of peace and righteousness. Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. It is through the help of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and opens the eyes of the mind, that we are able to understand, accept, and believe the truth which God reveals to us. In faith, the human will and intellect cooperate with grace. "Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace" (Thomas Aquinas).
To know and to encounter Jesus Christ is to know God personally. In the encounter of the wise men with Jesus we see the plan of God to give his only Son as King and Savior, not just for the Jewish people but for all the nations as well. The Lord Jesus came that both Jew and Gentile might find true and lasting peace with God. Let us pray today that Jew and Gentile alike will find the Lord and Savior on their journey of life. Do you bring the light of Jesus Christ to those you meet through the witness of your life and testimony?

Prayer For The Day:
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for bringing salvation to all the nations. May the gospel of salvation be proclaimed to every nation today and to every person on the face of the earth. Help me to be a good witness of the joy of the gospel to all I meet.

Daily Word - He will save his people from their sins - Matthew 1:18-24

Scripture:
Matthew 1:18-24 (New Living Translation)
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement[a] quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,[b] for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,[c] which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.

Footnotes:
Matthew 1:19 Greek to divorce her.
Matthew 1:21 Jesus means “The Lord saves.”
Matthew 1:23 Isa 7:14; 8:8, 10 (Greek version).

Reflection:
Do you believe that God will fulfill every promise he has made? The prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah spoke words of hope in a hopeless situation for Israel. The Davidic dynasty was corrupt and unfit for a Messianic King. Apostates like King Ahaz (see 2 Kings 16) and weaklings like Zedekiah (see Jeremiah 38) occupied the throne of David. How could God be faithful to his promise to raise up a righteous King who would rule forever over the house of David? The prophets trusted that God could somehow “raise up a righteous shoot” from the stump of Jesse (see Isaiah 2:11). Like the prophets we are called “in hope to believe against hope” (see Romans 4:18) that God can and will fulfill all his promises.
Mary had to face an enormous challenge to her faith and trust in God and to the faith of her family and Joseph, the man she chose to marry. She was asked to assume a burden of tremendous responsibility. It had never been heard of before that a child could be born without a natural father. Mary was asked to accept this miraculous exception to the laws of nature. That required faith and trust in God and in his promises. Second, Mary was not yet married. Pregnancy outside of wedlock was not tolerated in those days. Mary was only espoused to Joseph, and such an engagement had to last for a whole year. She was asked to assume a great risk. She could have been rejected by Joseph, by her family, by all her own people. Mary knew that Joseph and her family would not understand without revelation from God. She nonetheless believed and trusted in God's promises.
Joseph, a just and God-fearing man, did not wish to embarrass or punish his espoused wife, Mary when he discovered that she was pregnant. To all appearances she had broken their solemn pledge to be faithful and chaste to one another. Joseph, no doubt took this troubling matter to God in prayer. He was not hasty to judge or to react with hurt and anger. God rewarded him not only with guidance and consolation, but with the divine assurance that he had indeed called Joseph to be the husband of Mary and to assume a mission that would require the utmost faith, confidence, and trust in Almighty God. Joseph believed in the divine message to take Mary as his wife and to accept the child in her womb as the promised Messiah. Like Mary, Joseph is a model of faith for us. He is a faithful witness and servant of God's unfolding plan of redemption. Are you ready to believe in the promises of God, even when faced with perplexing circumstances and what seems like insurmountable problems? God has not left us alone, but has brought us his only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate Christmas, the feast of the Incarnation, with joyful hearts and let us renew our faith and hope in God and in his redeeming work.

Prayer For The Day:
Lord Jesus, you came to save us from sin and the power of death. May I always rejoice in your salvation and trust in your plan for my life.

Daily Word - The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David - Matthew 1:1-17

Scripture:
Matthew 1:1-17 (New Living Translation)
Matthew 1
The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah 1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David[a] and of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram.[b] 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa.[c] 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.[d] Jehoram was the father[e] of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon.[f] Amon was the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin[g] and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon). 12 After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. 14 Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
17 All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
Footnotes:

Matthew 1:1 Greek Jesus the Messiah, son of David.
Matthew 1:3 Greek Aram, a variant spelling of Ram; also in 1:4. See 1 Chr 2:9-10.
Matthew 1:7 Greek Asaph, a variant spelling of Asa; also in 1:8. See 1 Chr 3:10.
Matthew 1:8 Greek Joram, a variant spelling of Jehoram; also in 1:8b. See 1 Kgs 22:50 and note at 1 Chr 3:11.
Matthew 1:8 Or ancestor; also in 1:11.
Matthew 1:10 Greek Amos, a variant spelling of Amon; also in 1:10b. See 1 Chr 3:14.
Matthew 1:11 Greek Jeconiah, a variant spelling of Jehoiachin; also in 1:12. See 2 Kgs 24:6 and note at 1 Chr 3:16.

Reflection:
How well do you know your spiritual heritage?
Genealogies are very important. They give us our roots and help us to understand our heritage. Matthew's genealogy of Jesus traces his lineage from Abraham, the father of God's chosen people, through the line of David, King of Israel. Jesus the Messiah is the direct descent of Abraham and David, and the rightful heir to David's throne. God in his mercy fulfilled his promises to Abraham and to David that he would send a Savior and a King to rule over the house of Israel and to deliver them from their enemies. When Jacob blessed his sons he foretold that Judah would receive the promise of royalty which we see fulfilled in David ( see Gen. 49:10). We can also see in this blessing a foreshadowing of God's fulfillment in raising up his annointed King, Jesus the Messiah. Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. He is the hope not only for the people of the Old Covenant but for all nations as well. He is the Savior of the world. In him we receive adoption into a royal priesthood and holy nation as sons and daughters of the living God (see 1 Peter 1:9). Do you recognize your spiritual genealogy and do you accept God as your Father and Jesus as the sovereign King and Lord of your life?

Prayer For The Day:
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Messiah and Savior of the world, the hope of Israel and the hope of the nations. Be the ruler of my heart and the king of my home. May there be nothing in my life that is not under your kingship.

Daily Word - New Bible Study

Just in case you were wondering....

Our Sunday School class is going to try something new. We are going to do a daily Bible study together. Each day there will a new study/devotional posted on this blog. We are starting with the four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. The book of Matthew will be first and below you will find a brief introduction to the book before we get started.

A note to Friends from Facebook that will see these posts....Please feel free to join us!

First study goes up tomorrow morning....See you tomorrow!

Introduction to the Book of Matthew

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God
Jesus chose one of the unlikeliest of men to be his apostle, Matthew the much hated tax-collector who worked for the Roman empire (Matthew 9:9). Unlike most of the other apostles who were skillful fishermen, Matthew was skilled with the pen and with giving an account of facts and figures. Papias, one of the earliest Church historians, records that "Matthew collected the sayings of Jesus in the Hebrew tongue." Matthew the evangelist wrote some 1068 verses. While the evangelist Mark wrote some 661 verses which focus on the "events" of Jesus' life and ministry, Matthew focuses on the substance of Jesus' teaching. When did Matthew write his gospel? Sometime in the last quarter of the first century, likely between 85 and 105 AD.

Matthew was responsible for the first collection or handbook on the teaching of Jesus. His account of Jesus' teaching is arranged in five sections which focus on the kingdom of God: (1) the Sermon on the Mount or the Law of the Kingdom comprise chapters 5-7; (2) his missionary instructions to his disciples on the duties of the leaders of the kingdom in chapter 10; (3) the Parables of the Kingdom in chapter 13; (4) the themes of "greatness" and "forgiveness" in the kingdom in chapter 18; and (5) the "coming of the King" in chapters 24-25.

Matthew's gospel is placed first in the canon of the New Testament, not because it was written first, some of Paul's letter's and the Gospel of Mark were written before, but because it is a bridge between the Old and New Testament. The main point and argument of Matthew's 28 chapters is to convince the Jews that Jesus is their Messiah King, the Anointed One, the Christ, the Son of God and founder of the kingdom of God. Matthew's account uses the word "kingdom" 50 times, and the "kingdom of heaven" 32 times.

Matthew's account emphasizes Jesus' kingly rule and divine authority. Jesus says to Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). Jesus' last words to his apostles also speak about his kingly authority over all: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always..." (Matthew 28:18-19) Matthew uses the word "all" four times in this passage alone. Matthew also shows Jesus' authority over nature by his miracles, his authority over sin by forgiving sins, and his authority over death by his resurrection

The Gospel of the Jews
Matthew writes as a Jew to his fellow Jews to present to them the evidence for Jesus' claim to be the King of the Jews. He quotes extensively from the Old Testament prophets to show how Jesus fulfilled all that was spoken about the Messiah who would come to establish the reign [or kingdom] of God. He frequently writes, "as it is written in the prophet..." or "this was done to fulfill what was spoken by the prophets..." Nine times Matthew refers to Jesus as the "son of David". The prophets had fortold that the Messiah would be a direct descent of David. Matthew's gospel begins with the genealogy of Jesus, tracing him back to David, King of Israel, and then to Abraham, the first Jew. Matthew traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph, his foster father, rather than through Mary, his biological mother [as Luke's account does]. Matthew, the observant Jew, notes that according to Jewish genealogy, the father's lineage counted legally for royalty.

Peace

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph. 3:17

Really Good Video....Makes You Think

I have never really heard of this fellow Matt Chandler before I read about him on my friend Thomas Winborn's blog.....It's worth checking out by the way. He (Chandler) says some biblical stuff in the short video below. It should make you think about things. If it doesn't....

I found some more videos on this guy that I will post soon. Hope this helps you through your day, or makes it a little more difficult.....which one do you NEED right now?

A Little Help...Or A Different Way Of Looking At It All...

I am in the middle of reading CS Lewis' 'Mere Christianity' right now. There is so much I want to share with my friends. Little chunks of wisdom here and there, it really is very exciting to me....This passage is found at the end of Lewis speaking on the Christian viewpoint of sexuality - the right moral standard if you will. This is a good thought process to apply to our walk with God as a whole. Listen up and comment freely....

We may, indeed, be sure that perfect chastity - like perfect charity - will not be attained by any merely human efforts. You must ask for God's help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity (or courage, or truthfulness, or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven. The only fatal thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfection.

This certainly cleared up some foggy patches for me and hope it does for you also. I hope that each of you have a wonderful week!

.....Mere Christianity, pp. 172-173

At worst...the antiChrist...At best....Communism

A suggested lesson plan that calls on school kids to write letters to themselves about what they can do to help President Obama is troubling some education experts, who say it establishes the president as a "superintendent in chief" and may indoctrinate children to support him politically.
Obama will deliver a national address directly to students on Tuesday, which will be the first day of classes for many children across the country. The address, to be broadcast live on the White House's Web site, was announced in a letter to school principals last week by Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Obama intends to "challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning," Duncan wrote. Obama will also call for a "shared responsibility" among students, parents and educators to maximize learning potential.
But in advance of the address, the Department of Education has offered educators "classroom activities" to coincide with Obama's message.
Students in grades pre-K-6, for example, are encouraged to "build background knowledge about the president of the United States by reading books about presidents and Barack Obama."
During the speech, "teachers can ask students to write down key ideas or phrases that are important or personally meaningful."
Possible activities after the speech include writing "letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." Teachers are encouraged to follow up on the students' progress in meeting that and other educational goals.
For grades 7-12, the Department of Education suggests teachers prepare by excerpting quotes from Obama's speeches on education for their students to contemplate -- and ask as questions such as "Why does President Obama want to speak with us today? How will he inspire us? How will he challenge us?"
Activities suggested for after the speech include asking students "what resonated with you from President Obama's speech? What lines/phrase do you remember?"
Obama announced his intention to deliver the address to students during an interview with Damon Weaver, a middle school student from Florida who gained a following of his own last year on the campaign trail for his interviews of high-profile figures.
The Department of Education is using the president's address to kick off a video contest titled, "I Am What I Learn," in which students are invited to submit videos of up to two minutes on the importance of education in achieving their dreams.
Obama's critics say the lesson plans and the president's calls for a "supportive community" are troubling on many levels.
"In general, I don't think there's a problem if the president uses the bully pulpit to tell kids to work hard, study hard and things like that. But there are some troubling hints in this, both educationally and politically," said Neal McCluskey, associate director of Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom.
Among the concerns, McCluskey said, is the notion that students who do not support Obama or his educational policies will begin the school year "behind the eight ball," or somehow academically trailing their peers.
"It essentially tries to force kids to say the president and the presidency is inspiring, and that's very problematic," McCluskey said. "It's very concerning that you would do that."
Parents of public school students would also have to pay for that "indoctrination," regardless of their political background, he said.
"That's the fundamental problem. They could easily be funding the indoctrination of their children."
Frederick Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, said the suggested lesson plans cross the line between instruction and advocacy.
"I don't think it's appropriate for teachers to ask students to help promote the president's preferred school reforms and policies," Hess said. "It very much starts to set up the president as a superintendent in chief."
Amid the debate on the federal government's level of involvement on issues like health care and others, Hess said, "There's a lot of people" on both sides of the political spectrum who will rightfully be concerned with the president's call to action.
"It shows exactly what the problem is," he said. "This is going to open the door to all kinds of concerns."
Messages to the White House seeking comment were not immediately returned early Wednesday.
After reading the Department of Education lesson plans for the speech, McCluskey said he noticed several passages that should set off "alarm bells," including language that attempts to "glorify President Obama" in the minds of young students.
"It could be a blatantly political move," he said. "Nobody knows for sure, but it gives that impression."
McCluskey also noted that the lesson plans for young students contain suggestions to write letters to themselves on how they can help the president, but that suggestion is not in the lesson plan for middle and high schoolers -- perhaps due to the likelihood of increased political ties at that age.
"You don't want to see this coming from the president," McCluskey said. "You don't want to see this coming from the federal government."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/02/critics-decry-obamas-lesson-plan-students/

WOW!

A Christian homeschool girl in New Hampshire has been ordered into government-run public school for having "sincerely held" religious beliefs.

An attorney working with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has filed motions with a New Hampshire court, asking it to reconsider its order to send the 10-year-old homeschooled girl into public school. According to ADF allied attorney John Anthony Simmons, the court acknowledges that the girl in question is doing well socially and academically, but he adds that the court went too far when they determined that the girl's Christian faith was a "bit too sincerely held and must be sifted, tested by, and mixed among other worldviews."

Simmons contends that parents have a "fundamental right to make educational choices for their children." However, the girl's parents divorced in 1999, and she is now living with her mother who has been homeschooling the child since first grade. As part of the schooling, the young girl has been attending supplemental public school classes. As part of parental custody hearings, a court-appointed guardian stated that the child reflected her mother's "rigidity" on questions of faith and added that girl's best interest would be served by exposure to a public school setting. According to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, home-based education is an enduring American tradition and right. ADF concludes, based on that statement, that there is no legitimate legal basis for this latest court ruling.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=659638

Biblical Manhood Part 8 of 8

Biblical Manhood part 8 of 8

Biblical Manhood Part 7

Biblical Manhood Part 7 of 8

Biblical Manhood Part 6

Part 6 of 8

Biblical Manhood Part 5

Part 5 of 8

A Warning Against "OBAMACARE"

An article I picked up on today....Why is this so hard to understand?????

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address comes to mind. In the art of persuasion, it's often most effective to paint in brief, colorful strokes. A savvy reader with the handle "Jerseyvet" made an incisive observation after perusing my latest column concerning Obamacare: "Start out with the premise that the demand for healthcare is infinite, but the supply is finite," he wrote. "So healthcare has to be rationed. I trust the market, unfettered by governmental restrictions, more than the government. The Canadian and British systems of healthcare reinforce my belief." Jerseyvet – clearly one of those acerbate, "un-American" town hall "astroturfers" – has slung an arrow precisely through the heart of the matter.

Even Obama famously gaffed upon this weighty truth with his ill-advised postal services analogy on the free market vs. government care: "UPS and FedEx are doing just fine," he noted, "It's the post office that's always having problems." (Isn't that precious? Seriously – did Joe Biden write that line?) The president could have saved us all the trouble and just admitted: "Blue Cross and Blue Shield are doing just fine (with room for true free-market reform). It's government healthcare that's always having problems." Fittingly, it was British statesman Edmund Burke who observed: "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." Regrettably, unless "we the people" defeat liberals' radical experiment in British-style healthcare, we're destined to repeat the very dark history under which they (the Brits) presently live and needlessly die. President Obama is on record: "I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal healthcare plan," he assured the AFL-CIO in 2003. But Daniel Hannan – a popular British member of the European Parliament – recently warned us of what to expect should Obama's vision come to fruition: "If you want to see what a government-run healthcare system looks like, you need not look any further than the countries like Canada or Great Britain. They already have in place so-called universal healthcare, and the results, well, they're not pretty." And, as you're about to see, with the words "not pretty" Mr. Hannan has secured his spot in the "morose understatement hall of fame." The following headlines from Britain's three leading newspapers -- the Times, the Daily Mail and the Telegraph -- bear out Mr. Hannan's ominous warning. Most of these stories are from 2009 and address the U.K.'s version of Obamacare (Britain's "National Health Service," or "NHS".) For a sobering exercise in reality, simply replace "NHS" with "Obamacare" everywhere it appears:

• "Cancer doctors do not tell patients about drugs which could prolong lives" (link)
• "Patients forced to live in agony after NHS refuses to pay for painkilling injections" (link)
• "A million failed asylum seekers [illegal immigrants] will get free NHS care in human rights U-turn" (link)
• "Ruling 'denies treatment to 100,000 Alzheimer's patients'" (link)
• "Transsexuals win right to sex swap on NHS" (link)
• "Patients risk going blind as NHS refuses treatment" (link)
• "NHS targets 'may have lead to 1,200 deaths' in Mid-Staffordshire" (link)
• "Patients with suspected cancer forced to wait so NHS targets can be hit" (link)
• "Hospital chairman quits over dangerous targets" (link)
• "Patients forced to wait hours in ambulances parked outside A&E departments" (link)
• "NICE could deny drugs to stomach patients" (link)
• "NHS staff face the sack if they discuss religion with patients" (link)
• "11 serious errors a day in NHS surgery" (link)
• "War hero refused treatment by NHS" (link)
• "Cancer patient Linda O'Boyle dies after NHS ends free care over 'top up'" (link)
• "Drug addicts get priority access to swine flu vaccine" (link)
• "Row as terminally ill woman given bed in hospital bathroom" (link)
• "NHS staff 'no longer asked if they would be treated in own hospital'" (link)
• "Beat the NHS queue with a medical trip to Malaysia" (link)

These headlines are the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds more just like them with very real people and very real lives behind each. Make no mistake: If we don't sink this Obamacare Titanic before it sets sail, we become the headline. We needn't speculate.

History is our crystal ball.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=651582

Don't Be Lazy - Biblical Manhood Part 2

Part two of eight.

Dr. Baucham starts into the meat of his discussion about biblical manhood. A biblical man is committed to "God honoring labor".

Biblical Manhood Part 1

This video series is a recording of Voddie Baucham discussing biblical manhood. It is actually one long sermon but has been broken down into 8 parts for the sake of bandwidth and time. This is video 1 of 8 and serves more as an introduction about what he's going to get into later. I will post each of the eight videos in succession starting today. Each video is about 10 minutes long.

How To Make Good Roman Soldiers....

Bro. Rodney spoke a little about this last night.....

Who's raising YOUR children?

A Cool Drink Of Water

We Need It....Daily

Who Am I?

Do you ever stop what you are doing at work, at home, at church even and ask yourself "what am I doing"? Have you ever seen something go wrong at work, perhaps a co-worker was unfairly dismissed or perhaps someone very undeserving got a raise and you didn't? HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO ME!.....as you shake your fists in anger. Is there someone in your life that is just plain HARD TO DEAL WITH?

Is there an answer for all of this? How am I supposed to handle it? What I am I supposed to do? Why does this happen? How can I make it stop?


This video is about 10 minutes long but it's worth your time......

Another Letter To My Congressmen

I sent yet another letter to our congressmen. this time it was much more simple and like last time only Mike Rogers responded.

Here's the question I asked:

Dear Congressman Rogers,
Will you vote to require members of Congress to be included on any bill dealing with health care? Please give me a yes or no answer.
I request the courtesy of a reply.
Sincerely,
Matt Fuller


Here's the answer he gave:

Dear Mr. Fuller:

Thank you for contacting me with regard to the healthcare reform debate that is currently ongoing in Congress. It is good to hear from you.

Like you, I am concerned about many of the healthcare reform proposals that have been discussed in Congress. What is important in this debate is that Americans have access to quality and affordable healthcare coverage. Though I have not yet seen the finalized proposal, and the specifics of the government-run or "public option" plan are beginning to surface, I would strongly oppose any proposal that would hurt or even destroy the availability of private insurance in favor of a single government-run plan over the long run. It is important to note that I am a cosponsor of H.Res.615, which was introduced by Representative John Fleming (LA), that would express the sense of the House of Representatives that Members who vote in favor of the establishment of a public, federal government run health insurance option are urged to forgo their right to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and agree to enroll under that public option.

It is my understanding that debate on this issue is expected to continue for the next several weeks. I plan to continue following it closely.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Should you need to find more information on issues of importance to you, please log onto my website at http://www.house.gov/mike-rogers. I look forward to hearing from you again.

The Value Of A Soul

The Value Of A Soul

Democracy

I am a democrat (one that believes in and supports democracy) because I believe in the Fall of Man. I think most people are democrats for the opposite reason. A great deal of democratic enthusiasm descends from the ideas of people like Rousseau, who believed in democracy because they thought mankind so wise and good that everyone deserved a share in the government. The danger of defending democracy on those grounds is that they are not true. And when ever their weakness is exposed, the people who prefer tyranny make capital out of the exposure. I find that they're not true without looking further than myself. I don't deserve a share in governing a hen roost, much less a nation. Nor do most people - all the people who believe advertisements, and think in catchwords and spread rumours. The real reason for democracy is just the reverse. Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows....
This introduces a view of equality rather different from that in which we have been trained. I do not think that equality is one of those things (like wisdom or happiness) which are good simply in themselves and for their own sakes. I think it is in the same class as medicine, which is good because we are ill, or clothes, which are good because we are no longer innocent...When equality is treated not as a medicine or a safety-gadget but as an ideal, we begin to breed that stunted and envious sort of mind which hates all superiority.

C.S. Lewis
The Business of Heaven, p.411

Contact Your Congressman.....

Yesterday I wrote our US Representative and the two US Senators from Alabama and asked them the following questions about the preposed healthcare policy that the president is trying to push.

1) Will you oppose any healthcare reform bill that uses my tax dollars to pay for abortions?

2) Will you oppose any healthcare reform bill that in any way promotes euthanasia?

3) Why is Congress and the president pushing through a healthcare bill that would cost another trillion dollars over the next ten years? Shouldn't we concentrate on getting the debt under control first?

4) How can government promise to do more with less? Will you oppose any healthcare reform bill that in any way limits my access to healthcare or medicines recommended by my doctor?

5) Why are you imposing additional mandates and taxes on small businesses, which create the overwhelming majority of new jobs, in the middle of a severe recession?

6) Why are you trying to force us in the direction of more government involvement in healthcare when everywhere government-run healthcare has been tried, quality declines and care is rationed?

7) Why are you and the White House rushing this bill through Congress and ignoring the concerns of the American people?

8) Why do you believe bureaucrats can make better decisions than me about what kind of health insurance I should have? And will you guarantee that any healthcare reform bill passed by Congress will always allow me to choose my own doctor?

9) Why are you throwing affirmative action/racial set asides into a healthcare reform bill?

10) Isn't it clear that this provision would drive up the cost of health insurance for everyone?

I sent these questions to Mike Rogers, Jeff Sessons and Richard Shelby. So far only Rep. Rogers has responded back to me. I will post his response below and the other responses on this website as they come in. This is the healthcare system of our country's future so please your comments are welcome on these responses. Better yet contact these guys yourself and ask them some of these questions. Let them know if you are not happy with what is going on.

Here is the response from Rep. Rogers:


Dear Mr. Fuller:

Thank you for contacting me with regard to the healthcare reform debate that is currently ongoing in Congress. It is good to hear from you.

As you know, for many Americans, healthcare continues to be a top concern. The number of uninsured Americans is estimated to be more than 45 million. Even those that have health insurance worry about catastrophic events that could leave them destitute. Healthcare coverage costs too much, and with the trajectory of the amount that Americans spend on healthcare expected to rise, doing nothing is not an option. While I do not sit on the Congressional committees that have jurisdiction over healthcare reform in the House, I think we can all agree parts of our healthcare system are broken and should be fixed, and I am supportive of Congress fixing the current system in a responsible way, with realistic solutions and practical price tags that does not result in a government takeover of healthcare.

Plans that would help groups of people purchase health insurance at an affordable price, relative to the plan chosen and other factors would be an important aspect to consider in the healthcare reform package. Group purchasing would allow those who have a difficult time purchasing coverage on their own to have more negotiating power, and would allow groups such as trade or professional organizations that have membership, or small businesses to be able to join together to purchase health coverage for their employees. I support expanding opportunities for small business to purchase health benefits. I support Americans being able to choose their own doctors, hospitals and healthcare providers and of reforming the medical malpractice system and allowing doctors to practice affordable medicine. Americans want choice, affordability, and access to healthcare, and above all they want to their families and doctors in charge of their healthcare.

Many of the proposals that have been discussed recently in Congress are disconcerting. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provided a cost estimate that reported the cost of the Democratic comprehensive healthcare reform proposal at over $1 trillion. On top of the $800 billion Economic Stimulus bill and the $3.2 trillion Democratic budget, both pieces of legislation I voted against, I am strongly concerned this type of massive proposal is not just an expensive measure that would not cover all of the uninsured, but the CBO estimated that the House bill would increase the Federal deficit by $239 billion over 10 years. There have been discussion that taxes will be increased to pay for the healthcare reform proposals. It is important to note that I am not supportive of Congress paying for this reform on the backs of hardworking Americans, small businesses, and doctors by taxing sugary drinks, taxing employer-sponsored health plans or by reducing the reimbursements that will be paid to healthcare providers.

In this debate it is important that Americans have access to quality healthcare and affordable coverage. Though the House bill is being reviewed, and the specifics of the government-run or "public option" plan are surfacing, I would oppose proposals that would hurt the availability of private insurance in favor of a single government-run plan over the long run. It is my understanding that debate on this issue is expected to continue for the next several weeks. I plan to continue following it closely.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Should you need to find more information on issues of importance to you, please log onto my website at http://www.house.gov/mike-rogers. I look forward to hearing from you again.



Sincerely,
Mike Rogers
Member of Congress

Wisdom?

Today, when you watch the news and you hear our president and our lawmakers and media try and ramrod a healthcare package that clearly will hurt the majority of the citizens of our country consider these words. Those with scales over their eyes will scoff at this comment and ask "what the Sam Hill does that have to do with healthcare reform or government or peace or OBAMA or Hillery or our job or marraige or......?"


EVERYTHING


For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes....

Watch this video and be unaffected but remember that we do not know what our life will be like tomorrow. We are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. There WILL come a day when you WILL have to reconcile with Christ's actions in the video.

Amazing Love

I just thought I'd share.
IT'S AMAZING - DON'T FORGET IT!

Just listen.

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

Hello, hello...ello...ello....lo....o... Is anybody out there?....out there....there....??? (That's my echo symbolism)

A Response To The Post "Sanctification & Holiness" By 7-10 Brownfish

I found an article on this subject by a man named Jerry Walls. Well....it's not only about Holiness and Santification but on what C.S. Lewis thought about the subject and how it relates to us. By the way, Lewis is one of my favorite authors. He tackles stuff like this early and often. I thought about writing a few things down as a response to your post but after reading this piece I really had nothing fresh to say. I tried to post it as a response to the post but unfortunately I was limited to 4,000 characters. Needless to say I picked out the good parts and have posted them below. I will also post a link to the site where I found the article. Drink this in.....it's good stuff man!

While Lewis is best known as an apologist for the faith in an age of unbelief, many of his writings are extremely valuable for persons who are already believers and who want to grow and mature in their faith. Indeed, Lewis could be a very rich resource for Christians of any tradition who want to recover this vital component of biblical faith.

In his autobiography, Surprised by Joy, Lewis communicates the significance and value he places on holiness as he recounts the impact he felt reading Phantastes, a fantasy novel written by George Macdonald, a 19th century Christian writer. Lewis was a teenager at the time—atheistic in his beliefs, but searching for a meaningful philosophy of life. He was deeply interested in classical fantasy and mythical literature because of its ability to arouse in him a longing or desire for a dimension of reality beyond the material. Macdonald's novel had this effect on him, but it did more. For the first time in his life, he was attracted by the quality of holiness, although he says he did not realize what it was that was attracting him at the time. Lewis also described the importance of the experience in The Great Divorce, as he imagines meeting Macdonald in heaven: "I tried to tell how a certain frosty afternoon at Leatherhead Station when I first bought a copy of Phantastes (being then about sixteen years old) had been to me what the first sight of Beatrice had been to Dante: Here begins the New Life. I started to confess how long that Life had delayed in the region of imagination merely: how slowly and reluctantly I had come to admit that his Christendom had more than an accidental connection with it, how hard I tried not to see that the true name of the quality which first met me in his books is Holiness."

It is surely significant that Lewis, in retrospect, identified holiness as the quality which first captivated him in Macdonald's writings, and it is equally significant that he also confesses that he was reluctant to admit its connection with Christianity. This is a common theme in Lewis's writings. Christianity is powerfully attractive at a profound level, yet it repels us at another level. The quality of holiness is both beautiful and fascinating in its supernatural dimension, and it stirs the hope in our hearts that there is more to life than the material and physical. But at the same time, it is disconcerting in its moral dimension, because it exposes our sinfulness and calls us to a thorough transformation which is at times threatening—even painful.
Lewis develops this point many times in his writings, perhaps nowhere more clearly and eloquently than in Book IV of Mere Christianity, chapters 4-11. It is very important to notice that Book IV as a whole is about the doctrine of the Trinity. This is precisely where the idea of salvation and sanctification should be located. The doctrine of the Trinity is not a matter of abstract speculation which has little to do with the daily business of Christian living. Rather, it is the essential content as well as context in which the Christian life make sense. It illumines the reason the Son of God became a man and gives insight into how this affects our salvation. Lewis puts it as follows: "Now the whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the life of Christ ... Christ is the Son of God. If we share in this kind of life we also shall be sons of God. We shall love the Father as He does and the Holy Ghost will arise in us…Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else."

Lewis had little patience with the modern tendency to trivialize Christianity by reducing its extraordinary claims to mundane, ordinary ones. Christianity is about a real relationship with a real, supernatural God. It is about nothing less than being brought into the eternal life of the Trinity through the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ. And this is what sanctifies us and makes us holy. Notice what Lewis says happens when we share in the life of Christ. "We shall love the Father as He does and the Holy Ghost will arise in us."

Lewis is quite emphatic that salvation is not merely about the forgiveness of our sins, as crucial as that is. As we grow in our Christian life, he observes that: "We begin to notice, besides our particular sinful acts, our sinfulness; begin to be alarmed not only about what we do, but about what we are" (my emphasis). Particular sinful acts can be forgiven, but our sinfulness itself, which is the root of particular actions, needs different treatment. For our sinfulness to be cured, we need radical moral and spiritual transformation.

Lewis recognizes that our natural tendency is to rest content with forgiveness, or with merely a measure of progress in the moral arena. We would like God to help us with some of our more embarrassing or annoying sins, and then we would be satisfied. But God has other plans in mind. Lewis drove this point home in several passages in which he employed a number of vivid and memorable images, such as the following: "He [Jesus] never talked vague, idealistic gas. When He said, Be perfect, He meant it. He meant that we must go in for the full treatment. It is hard; but the sort of compromise we are all hankering after is harder—in fact, it is impossible. It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to team to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."

What this means is that ultimately we have only two options: either the literal perfection which results when our sanctification is complete, or damnation. Damnation is the mirror image of sanctification. It is the consequence of thoroughly refusing to love God closing ourselves off entirely from the Holy Spirit. These are our only two choices. "We must be hatched or go bad." This is not to endorse the extreme views of some who have preached "holiness or hell" in such a way as to assert that if one is not entirely sanctified in this life, then he will be lost. God is a gracious and merciful Father who patiently and lovingly pursues his project of perfecting us. If we have opened our life to God, we can trust him to finish the job.

The only thing which can prevent God from completing his work of perfection in us is our unwillingness to allow him. Lewis is quite emphatic about the fact that we remain free in the process of sanctification and that our perfection goes forward only as we cooperate with God's grace. This often requires definite acts of faith and surrender on our part. Lewis illustrates this graphically in The Great Divorce. In a famous scene, Lewis describes a ghost who shrinks back from the life of heaven because of the interference of a little red lizard on his shoulder. The lizard (which represents lust) whispers in his ear to discourage him by telling him that he cannot possibly be happy without him, even go on living. An angel offers to silence the lizard. Initially the ghost agrees, until he learns that the angel means to kill it. Then the ghost retreats: "Honestly, I don't think there's the slightest necessity for that. I'm sure I shall I be able to keep it in order now. I think the gradual process would be far better than killing it."
The angel assures him, however, that the gradual process will be of no use in this case and says: "I cannot kill it against your will. It is impossible. Have I your permission?" Eventually, after a dramatic struggle, the ghost agrees to allow the angel to kill it. When he does so, a remarkable thing happens. The lizard is transformed into a shining stallion, on which the ghost, likewise transformed into a substantial person of radiant beauty, rides off into the glory of heaven. Lewis draws the following lesson: "Nothing, not even the best and noblest, can go on as it now is. Nothing, not even what is lowest and most bestial, will not be raised again if it submits to death ... Lust is a poor, weak, whimpering, whispering thing compared with that richness and energy of desire which will arise when lust has been killed."

This underlines the crucial point that holiness represents our true satisfaction and fulfillment, just as sin represents our destruction and misery—despite its seductive promises. In "The New Birth" Wesley wrote that "it is not possible in the nature of things that a man should be happy who is not holy" (Works, 1985, 2:195).

What lessons can be learned from Lewis by those who wish to recover the biblical doctrine of holiness? First, we cannot begin to appreciate the depth and power of this concept unless we see it in its larger theological context. Too often the idea of holiness has been construed as a relatively peripheral matter or a doctrinal distinctive of certain sectarian denominations. It is worth emphasizing that in a book about "mere Christianity"—the classical faith of the Church—Lewis insists that Christianity is about nothing other than God's offer to make us like Christ. Moreover, he explains the great doctrines of Trinity and Incarnation in just these terms. Holiness is not a sideline issue or the concern of only those with esoteric interests, but rather, it is the heart of the faith.

Second, Lewis very effectively reminds us that the process of sanctification will not go forward without our cooperation, and that moral change requires some painful choices on our part. If heaven is our goal, there can be no compromise with the various lizards on our shoulders.

Third, Lewis shows that the holiness which God requires of us is far better than anything we might, in our shortsightedness, vainly prefer to it. If we are to recover the power of the message of holiness in our generation, this is an essential key. Like Lewis we need to understand and exemplify the attractiveness of holiness in all of its splendor. It is worth remembering that Lewis first encountered holiness in reading imaginative literature. Might we employ more creativity and imagination in our efforts to display holiness in all its splendor? Certainly this includes the moral renewal which we desire, but it is more than that. It is also a vision of the beauty and meaning of life which answers to our deepest longings for happiness and satisfaction.
In our age, as in every age, people are longing for happiness, not realizing that what they are looking for is holiness. Like C.S. Lewis when he first read Macdonald, they typically do not know the name of what they are looking for. It is our evangelistic and theological task to help our generation name its deepest longings. A fresh reading of Lewis would be a good step in that direction.

http://www.goodnewsmag.org/library/articles/walls-mj95.htm

Sanctification & Holiness

I have an assignment for you today. Perhaps you could use this research as your Bible time. Would you do a "word study" on the above subjects, then respond to this blog with your thoughts and findings about:
Holiness- Maybe you will discuss how this applies to God, and how it applies to you.
Sanctification- What is this exactly? Maybe you would share something from your life that shows this term in progress.
Why are you a Christian?- Can you explain?...what does it really mean?
You don't have to write a 30 minute dissertation, just take a moment during the day and express your view.

What causes a false convert?

Boy is that a can of worms! It's one of those subjects that can get you in a lot of trouble. I really hate that it does...one would think that assuring each other of our salvation would be welcomed dialoge. But more often than not it's an unwelcome monologue! Furthermore, bring this subject up and you'll create a roundtable discussion with answers from every angle (the interesting part though is that God's clear instruction is the ONLY angle that counts). When it comes right down to it though, "what causes a false convert" is really a very narrowly, precisely, and easily answered question. But in order to answer it, we must first declare what is necessary to be "born again" (also known as a true convert). Or in other words, in order to know what causes a false convert, it's imperative to know what causes a true convert.
Listen up:
1. Realization of one's sinfulness (God is HOLY, and your sin is despicable. It makes you physically sick with conviction)
2. Repentance of sin (a sincere confession to God that you see your sin just as He sees your sin.)
3. Declaring to God that you believe and trust that Jesus' death on the cross was the sacrifice to make you acceptable to God. It is the payment for all that nasty sin that you're ready to leave behind.

That's it. You are now saved, you are a "new creature". So if it's that easy, why would there be any false conversions? Because many (if not most) neglect (if not completely omit) steps 1 and 2. A lot of invitations to the Gospel today sound a lot like "Jesus died for you, don't you think He deserves your devotion? Come on, give your life to Jesus." Sure, some of us can get emotional enough to respond to that invitation, but it left out a required step, thus resulting in a false conversion. And sadly, to the typical person, ME is the most important person in my life, so that devotion to God will quickly wane. Stay with me right here, because we're about to get into the meat of the matter... In Psalm 19:7 God's word says "the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul". Another translation reads "the law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul". Not much difference. Before salvation you are spiritually dead...a dead soul. What we want is a soul revival! A true conversion is equivalent to a soul revival. So what is PERFECT at doing it?-God's law (the 10 commandments). Let me give you an analogy to illustrate this point. I sell for a living. Specifically, I sell life insurance for a living. But regardless of what the product or service being offered is, three things MUST be addressed before any sell is made:

(1) Here's a problem
(2) Here's a solution
(3) Do you want to do something about it or not?

If you skip any step, or get them out of order, you will NOT make a sell. Step #1 is absolutely the most important. Unless I can illustrate to you that you have a problem, you won't see the need to buy my product. A good salesperson will spend 90% of his time showing the client he has a problem, not 90% of his time explaining the solution. (Read that last sentence again...it is the pivotal issue of this discussion.) You can have the best product, at the best price, but until your client understands he/she needs it, they won't buy. That is what is missing from so many conversion experiences that make them false. The person didn't really get saved, because he/she responded to Christ in a wrong manner. They never recognized their sin, much less repented of it in brokenness. The typical person who walks the aisle today does so out of a desire for "life enhancement". They are experiencing problems in their life, so they hear a message about how much God loves them and/or how being saved will fix their life. So they respond, everyone parades by and hugs their neck and congratulates them, and then a year later they aren't even coming to church anymore. Then everybody just says "oh, they are backslidden" Phfooey! They were never saved. (Listen, give a man a parachute and tell him it will make the flight more comfortable...it won't take long before he realizes the opposite is true. But tell him that the parachute is to save him from the jump to come, and you'll never get it off his back!) Backsliding is a man-made concept to justify why we can't understand how that "Christian" isn't acting saved. After all, we all saw them walk that aisle. If you can tell me how a mortal man can overpower the Holy Spirit living within him, I might begin to believe in "backsliding". But back to my point. How do I prove to a prospect that they need life insurance? I use what's called an "FNA"...a Financial Needs Analysis. It's pretty simple: You ask the prospect how much money they need to bury themself, pay off their debts, put the kids through school, and provide some "living" money to their survivors should they die prematurely. During this process, the client begins to see "I have a need". Then I show him life insurance, and how it fills his need, and a sell is made. If I just go to that client and ask "do you want to buy some life insurance", they'll say NOPE. So to begin wrapping this article up, how do I connect this? What if we used an "SNA"?...a Spiritual Needs Analysis. We could list the 10 commandments, ask the client how they fare with each one, and they'll quickly begin to see "I have a problem". Then just share the Gospel, and you'll make a sale. Likewise, if you just go to them and say "Jesus loves you, do you wanna get saved", they will say NOPE. Why would they, they don't have a problem, right? Think about it!

Ignorance, or sinister motive?

While in Turkey, President Barack Obama said: "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values." So, is we is, or is we ain't?

I found this very interesting. Do you know the Preamble for your state? . ..

Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..
Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land. Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...
Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...
Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences....
Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution....
Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.
Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the St ate of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891, Preamble.. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...
Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction
Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution.
Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this Constitution...
Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ..
Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..
New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...
North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance....
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...
South Carolina, 1778, Preamble We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ...
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI..III.. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ...
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other
Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility...
Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution...

Friends, that doesn't leave much room for wondering or debate. After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong! The question then isn't really whether or not we're a nation founded on God's principles. The question is are you with Him, or against Him?

Interesting Read

Many preachers (including Bro. Rodney) correlate our culture with the one of the early church. We are watching more and more each day as our culture not only accepts but actually embraces an immoral lifestyle and mistankenly calls it "freedom". That's a scary statement when you start thinking about the Holiness of God - sin is, well its just sin. It crawls all over me just as it does everyone else. It bothers me because I really do like to do what I want to do but that is not what God wants, commands, me to do and just conveinently changing what God wants will eventually spell disaster. I have heard the "art of politics" called the "art of lying" and I think that statement rears it's head more everyday. In my opinion this country has sold its soul to keep from being accountable for the sin that we have committed. We found the first smooth talking guy that would tell us, in a profound "sounding" way, "why don't we all just get along" and we gave him one of the most powerful offices in our culture today. His clan is about to pass a law that will legally punish you for calling sin a sin and according to the article below it really isn't even being passed to protect any of the "innocents" from the "hypocrits" as they say but it is an invention born of greed. The song "Dearly Loved" by Jimmy Needham says:

To the slaughters you are being led
Being told that it's a party
That this God is in your head
And every single lie
Sounds just like the greatest truth
But the one truth you're not hearing
Is that he died for you.

Isn't that so true? Isn't that what we've done? I don't think, never mind what I think, the bible says that for those that embrace this lie that's being sold, the party isn't going to be any fun.

I found this article and just thought I'd share. It surprises me that even the lefties are starting to notice the hidden agendas that have been all packaged and prettied up and are handed out on a neat little platters. Enough rambling, here is the article:

A surprising revelation from a homosexual activist over the purpose of the "hate crimes" bill is drawing kudos from at least one pro-family spokesman.

The activist is Andrew Sullivan, one of the movers and shakers in the international homosexual movement. "The real reason for hate crime laws is not the defense of human beings from crime. There are already laws against that," Sullivan writes on his blog, "and Matthew Shepard's murderers were successfully prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in a state with no hate crimes law at the time." Sullivan continues: "The real reason for the invention of hate crimes was a hard-left critique of conventional liberal justice and the emergence of special interest groups which need boutique legislation to raise funds for their large staffs and luxurious buildings. Just imagine how many direct mail pieces have gone out explaining that without more money for [Human Rights Campaign], more gay human beings will be crucified on fences. It's very, very powerful as a money-making tool -- which may explain why the largely symbolic federal bill still hasn't passed." Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel read the blog entry and offers this take on Sullivan's comments on Senate Bill 909. "He is to be commended for his candor," says Barber. "He has admitted publicly now that the hate crimes bill...is, among other things, simply a money-making scheme drummed up by the organized homosexualist lobby." S. 909 is called the Matthew Shepard Act to honor a young homosexual man who was tortured and killed in 1998 not because of his sexual orientation, but during the course of a robbery. As Barber notes, the murder has been used as a money-raiser, too. "Andrew Sullivan points this irony out and points out how ridiculous it is that they are using [Shepard's] name, exploiting this poor young man's horrible death to try to push a money-making scheme...a social ponzi scheme," says Barber. "The cat's out of the bag," he continues. "Sullivan's admission...is both refreshing and stunning at the same time." The hate crimes bill, which has already passed the House, would add sexual orientation to other protected classes.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=531184

A Hidden Blessing.....

Yesterday I attended a funeral......in Millerville, AL. I had never met the man that the funeral was for. I'll get to that later in the story.

Have you ever heard someone say "I don't go to funerals" or "I don't visit funeral homes, I just don't like them." Do you ever wonder why someone might make that statement? I think it is because a funeral is actually, to some extent, a hellfire and brimstone sermon in action. Funerals force people to consider their own mortality, at least in this life. It makes them think about things that they would otherwise just rather put on the backburner for another time.

I am 31 years old and I have been to my share of funerals. I have been to funerals that, in my opinion, more closely resembled a circus than the "celebration of some one's life". I wonder what causes that? I assume, though I am no judge and nor do I want to be, that it is a lack of the knowledge of the things of God (see Matthew 7:24-27) that causes the circus effect at funerals. For the record, the one I attended yesterday was conducted in right reverence and respect for a man that was loved by many, many people and in respect for God and His ways.

Now, I went to this funeral in support of my friend and sister in Christ, Traci Morrow, who had lost her dad. This is what we are supposed to do. In 1st Corinthians 12:25-26 Paul says "....there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." So I went to comfort my friend. Little did I know that God had a Tremendous Blessing waiting on me in that little church in Clay County, AL. The things that I saw during this funeral were amazing to me and I don't know if I'll ever forget them.

Matthew 22:34-40

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Apparently Roy Carr (Traci's father) understood this passage in the Bible or maybe he didn't, I'm not sure. He did seem to live out his life with respect to those commandments though. A couple of things stood out to me about this man yesterday that led me to believe that Mr. Carr understood the very intentions of Jesus when he spoke those words.

Allow me to backtrack just a little to get to the heart of the matter. When I arrived at the little church for the funeral I was told by a mutual friend who had been at the visitation on Wednesday night that "there was standing room only there. You had to wait in line outside the funeral home to see the family. There must have been 250 - 300 people there. " Shrugging my shoulders I thought "wow, you see that a lot when a child passes away but not a 56 year old man." I casted it off to the fact that Millerville must just be a small, close knit community. I am sure that it is but that wasn't the only reason, nor the major factor, that caused all of these people to come out that night to the funeral home. When the funeral started I quickly found out that Mr. Carr had upwards of 30 pallbearers (I didn't count, that's just a guess - there were alot). These people were hurt at the loss of their friend and you could see it on their faces. You see, Mr. Carr was deeply rooted in his community, he invested most of his life into those around him. He was the chief at Millerville Volunteer Fire Dept. for 15 years. Gathering from what I heard at the funeral though Mr. Carr didn't just love the building that housed the VFD he loved and invested in the people that served with him and those that they served. I saw this in the faces of the people that Mr. Carr loved yesterday. Traci even told those that were there from the community yesterday that "my dad loved you" and "he tried to teach you and take care of you." The preacher spent time talking about how Mr. Carr loved the church and told stories about how he lived that love on a daily basis. What type of man is a man that doesn't try to improve what he has and the lives of those around him? I have only been to Millerville once and through it a hand full of times in my life but I can say with the utmost assurance that Millerville, AL is a better place today because Roy Carr chose to make it his home. I can only hope that someone says that about me some day.

The second reason that led me to believe that Mr. Carr understood Jesus' answer to the Pharisees' question is what I heard the preacher and good friend of Mr. Carr's say about him as he preached his funeral. He made the statement several times that "we are not here to mourn for Roy but we are here to mourn for ourselves. I know he's in a much better place now, kicking gold dust up as he walks along the streets of Heaven." This served as a singular statement that intertwined throughout his sermon as he switched back and forth between the Gospel of Christ and various stories about Mr. Carr's faith that seemed both to confort to those that were suffering in the room and offer hope to those that might otherwise be hopeless in their own confrontation with the mortality of this life. He spoke about his love for certain passages of scripture, in particular Psalm 23. The preacher moved through arguably one of the most famous passages in the bible as you would expect to hear at a funeral but one thing was different about this time. I've heard preachers correlate verse 4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil", with the family and suffering friends at a funeral service as a comforting passage obviously because of the end of the verse "for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me", as a reminder that God loves us and is with us when we suffer the loss of a loved one. This preacher did not do that however. When he arrived at this part of the passage he stopped and told a story about spending time with Mr. Carr as he suffered at the hospital. He talked about how they had conversations about Psalm 23 and how Mr. Carr showed no fear about walking through the valley of the shadow of death. What faith does a man have to have in something that makes him look death in the eye and hold his chin up? That's not playing church! I think that what the preacher was trying to say was that Mr. Carr KNEW that God loved him and would take care of him and he loved God for it - his reaction to the reality of what was coming soon was a testament to this. What a powerful statement to those of us that now talk about his life!

I never had the privledge of meeting Mr. Carr but I now wish that I had. I cannot tell you that I have ever walked away from a funeral saying that about someone but there is something real about Mr. Carr's life that I cannot ignore, something tangible. Mr. Carr invested his life in the things that mattered. He made his time count for something and those that knew him and "did life" with him understand that the most. When I think about the things that I saw and heard yesterday I am inspired to be a better father to my two boys, a better employee at work, to put the needs of others in front of my own and to share the Gospel of Christ to those that might not know.

What kind of man can inspire those things in someone that never met him just by attending his funeral? I would say a man that lived life touched by the purpose of God. We should continue to pray for those that loved Mr. Carr and have been deeply touched by his death but we should also celebrate his life daily by removing our selfish ambitions and loving those around us more - a trait that Roy Carr seemed to know all too well.

I created this post in response to a request that I have asked God for recently. I asked God that He would be real to me today. I think that, at least in part, God answered my question with this situation. Watching how Traci Morrow and her family responded during her father's funeral, seeing how grounded they were, listening to the preacher speak of Mr. Carr's unwavering faith even in the face of death was amazing to me. This must be the faith that the Bible speaks about. This must be the real deal.

What power and strength must lie in actually knowing the I AM? Seeing and hearing what I saw and heard yesterday only makes me more thirsty for the real God of the Heavens and I hope it does for you also.

God Bless,
Matt