Our God is an Awesome God!
April 5th, 2009This video just tears me up…
Focus Action Update
February 25th, 2009Obama’s Actions Contradict His Words
12-year-old speaks up for life!
February 23rd, 2009
Obama - Radical Communist
February 22nd, 2009
The Second American Revolution
February 16th, 2009The Second American Revolution
Speechless…Silencing the Christians
February 13th, 2009Speechless…Silencing the Christians
Change we can believe in!
February 7th, 2009
- Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists, Obama supporters, et al:We have stuck together since the late 1950’s, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right, so let’s just end it on friendly terms. We can smile; slate it up to irreconcilable differences, and go on our own ways.
Here is a model dissolution agreement:
Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement.
After that it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes. We don’t like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU.
Since you hate guns and war, we’ll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA, and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore, and Rosie O’Donnell (you are however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move them).
We’ll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies, and illegal aliens. We’ll keep the hot Alaskan Hockey Moms, greedy CEO’s, and Rednecks. We’ll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood .
You can make nice with Iran, Palestine, and France, and we’ll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protestors. When our allies or way of life are under assault, we’ll provide them job security.
We’ll keep our Judeo-Christian Values. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, and Shirley McClain. You can have the U.N. But we will no longer be paying the bill. We’ll keep the SUV’s, pickup trucks, and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru Station Wagon you can find.
You can give everyone healthcare, if you can find any practicing Doctors (that is practicing, Howard Dean) who will follow to your turf (sic).
We’ll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right.
We’ll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I’m sure you’ll be happy to substitute ‘Imagine’,’ I’d Like to Teach The World To Sing’, ‘Kum By Ya’, or ‘We Are the World.’
We’ll practice trickledown economics, and you can give trickle up poverty its best shot.
Since it often so offends you we’ll keep our History, our Name, and our Flag.
Would you agree to this? If so please pass it along to other likeminded patriots, and if you do not agree just hit delete and hang on.
In the spirit of friendly parting, I’ll bet you ANWAR on who will need whose help in 15 years.
Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American
PS: Please take Barbra Streisand.
The Fairness Doctrine
January 31st, 2009January 31, 2009
The Fairness Doctrine
Imagine tuning into your favorite country radio station and after a couple of songs, you hear rap. Or imagine tuning into a rap station and hearing country. It is only fair that each genre-based music radio station play a diverse selection of music to give listeners a rounded selection of songs on one station. You may want to simply enjoy a country performance, but you cannot deny that it is only fair to have equal airtime for the rap-genre to play music as well. This might only be an imagined up scenario, but the “Fairness Doctrine” is very real.
Fortunately, the doctrine will not meddle with your music preferences on the radio. However if you enjoy conservative radio talk shows then you might be irked to find out just what the Fairness Doctrine proposes. Many extreme Leftists, the liberals of America, are working on passing this doctrine. It demands that free airtime be supplied for a liberal point of view on CONSERVATIVE radio talk shows. Of course, in return, conservatives will get airtime on liberal talk shows. This seems ‘fair’, except that there aren’t very many liberal talk shows. To be frank, they aren’t popular enough. In contrast, there are a variety of conservative radio talk shows.
This doctrine poorly disguises itself with the name ‘Fairness’. In reality the extreme liberals have no qualms about making their point. They want to silence conservative talk shows. The television has very little to offer in the way of religious channels. Some might agree that a few are enough. Newspapers generally print up a snazzy article for either opinion, although can be biased depending on who is running what. It is the radio that really gives conservatives a well earned place to speak freely. That is rapidly changing though.
Instead of imagining a country music station, imagine a conservative talk show. You tune in to listen to your favorite talk show host address an issue or give a sermon on air. And then a liberal host comes on air for an equal amount of time to refute everything that had just been said. I don’t know about you, but I pick my forms of entertainment based on what I enjoy and what interests me. If I were interested in hearing liberals tear apart a conservative case, I’d find an online discussion forum geared towards debates. It is truly wonderful to learn both sides of a story and educate yourself in issues by looking at each side with an open mind. However, demanding a station be forced by law to handout free airtime to have everything they discuss rebutted is a joke.
Many stations are funded by listener’s donations, fundraisers, and corporations. The government and state are known to fund about ten percent of what keeps a station alive. What conservative or liberal listener would want to pay to have the opposite opinion aired when they could be listening to what they tuned in for? Problem is: a conservative station that depends on listener’s donations might not be able to afford to keep the talk show alive when free airtime is given out. Not only that, but as I said before, liberal stations lack a large audience. Will conservative stations die because listeners stop tuning in due to the liberal discussions? It would seem this way. Which leads me to ask, what is the true motive behind the Fairness Doctrine?
Giving a well rounded opinion, in my eyes, is not the motive that drives some (but not all) liberals to put this doctrine in action. It can all boil down to silencing the conservatives. It is very easy to access both opinions on any matter. The television and the internet are quick means to getting information on everything. Anyone looking for a liberal opinion won’t have to go far. And if you are looking for conservative views off the radio as well, then the internet will give you everything you need. So why do we need a Fairness Doctrine? To kill one means of free speech. How far will this go? It might start with a talk show on the radio. But imagine the possibilities. Will churches have to let liberal orators rebut the sermon half-way through? It is drastic and unlikely, however it is not impossible. The point is, when will we stop and which rights will be attacked next? Conservative radio talk shows might just be the beginning.
Keep your wits about you and look for the Fairness Doctrine if it wakes up from its dormancy. President Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi are working towards resurrecting the aforementioned doctrine. There are ways to prevent the doctrine and I advise everyone interested prevent this infringement on our First Amendment; the Freedom of Speech.
-Sarah Macomber
High School Sophomore
Who is of Laodicea?
November 29th, 2008
November 29, 2008
In our last newsletter, we discussed the concept of Sheep vs. Goat.
In this issue, we will be taking a closer look at scripture to determine what it is to be a Sheep, as the sustenance of the Lord’s Flock is not oats nor grain nor ivy, but the Living Word of God.
John 21:15-17 (KJV)
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
—–
John 10:27 (KJV)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
—–
Colossians 1:10 (KJV)
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
—–
Colossians 2:18-19 (KJV)
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
—–
Colossians 3:1-25 (KJV)
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
—–
Colossians 4:1-6 (KJV)
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
…
…
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
|
|
 On the Path |
 In the Thickets |
| 1 John 2: 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. |
1 John 2: 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. … 11 … he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. |
| 1 John 2: 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. … 17 …but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. |
1 John 2: 15 … If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: |
| 1 John 2:23 … he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. | 1 John 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: … |
| 1 John 3: 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not … 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. … 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. |
1 John 3: 6 … whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. … 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. … 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. |
| 1 John 3: 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. … 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. … 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. |
1 John 3: 14 … He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. … 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? |
Are you following Jesus?
By now you may be wondering as to the relevance of the article title; “Who is of Laodicea?”
The Church at Laodicea is mentioned six times in God’s Word; four times in Paul’s epistles and twice in the Revelation to John.
Here we find Paul showing concern for the Colossians and the Laodiceans, that they remain firm in their faith and not be beguiled by false teachers:
Colossians 2:1-23 (KJV)
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
It is the message of Revelation 3 that concerns us today, for many of today’s churches are reminiscent of the Church of Laodicea as described in Revelation 3, having become complacent and goat-like, absorbed in themselves, their possessions and those material things which became their idols, losing sight of God and the purpose which had drawn them together in fellowship.
Revelation 3:14-22 (KJV)
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I encourage you to submit yourselves to an honest self-evaluation of your walk with Jesus Christ, keeping your eyes focused squarely upon Him, and eliminating whatever obstacles may lay along your path.
In the words of John:
1 John 5:
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Sheep or Goat?
November 24th, 2008
November 23, 2008
|
|
Sheep or Goat:
|
 |
| Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I find myself more and more troubled as I go through my daily life, encountering folks along the way who I would never guess were Christians were it not for the fact that they make such a profession. One example is that of a young woman, the daughter of a minister, who has a manner of speech that would make a salty sailor blush, and who unashamedly declares herself to be a lesbian, yet maintains that she is a Christian. Another example would be the folks in the break room at work, both men and women, giggling over the pornographic images which they send one another over their cell phones, several of whom I know to consider themselves Christians. While only God knows their heart and their eternal condition, I cannot help but fear both for their salvation and the salvation of those in their lives to whom they are a source of influence. The Holy Bible is chock full of indicators that professing salvation is not the same as being saved. Consider the following scripture - Matthew 25:31-46 (KJV) It is abundantly obvious what the role of a true believer is to be and the message is well paralleled in - James 2:14-26 (KJV) Lest we fall into the trap of thinking that ‘good deeds’ alone merit saving Grace, we will look to the apostle John for wisdom: 1 John 1:3-10 (KJV) Let us reflect for a moment on the various elements presented thus far, concerning SHEEP status, i.e., true salvation as opposed to the false sense of security which is the condition of the GOAT. Firstly, one must believe in God, but as noted in the scriptures above, mere belief is not enough; “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” If we were to rely solely upon the writings of James cited above, we could leap to the conclusion that belief in God + Good Deeds = Salvation. And, having done so, we would be doomed, for that is a totally false presentation of the concept of salvation and clearly demonstrates why it is so vitally important to be well-read in the Word of God, to be able to ‘rightly divide’ scripture, applying it ‘line upon line’ and ‘precept upon precept’. While there are numerous scriptures pertaining to the necessity of belief in God and the Son, Jesus Christ, [the most widely quoted undoubtedly being John 3:16] we need look no further than the scripture from 1 John above; “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Let us now revise our formula to: Belief in God + Faith in Christ + Confession of Sin = Salvation. We’re getting closer, but we are not quite there, for we have not yet covered the concept of ‘repentance’ which is, from the Greek ‘metanoia’, to reconsider, to change one’s mind. Again, we will find repentance taught throughout God’s Word, such as in Acts 20:21 where we find Paul “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”, which neatly ties together an almost complete formula: Belief in God + Faith in Christ + Confession of Sin + Repentance = Salvation. Praise God Almighty for His abounding Mercy and Grace! But wait! Before we get all warm and secure in our sanctification and eternal security, beware of the hidden snare of complacency, which is what the core message of this missive is about. Couple the very stark and clear message of Jesus’ words as related by James regarding SHEEP vs. GOATS, with John’s teaching of “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” It is evident to me, that folks who wallow in their former lifestyles, with no turning away, no changing of mind, leading to changing of walk, are, clearly those who walk in darkness, and their profession of ‘I am a Christian’ is a lie. Plain and simple. Also, it is made all the more tragic as they are lying to themselves! They have a false sense of security and will meet a GOATS tragic end! “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” PRAISE THE LORD! Thus walking in the light entails turning from sin and evidencing fruit of the spirit… Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) …the greatest of which is clearly described in the actions of the sheep, and may be summed up in a word: Charity [Love]. Let us now finalize our formula to read: Belief in God + Faith in Christ + Confession of Sin + Repentance = Salvation if evidenced by the fruit of the spirit.
|
||
