John 15:18-20
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.'If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.
How's the world treating you, Christian?
Take a walk with me back in time a couple thousand years ago. Christians were routinely put in an arena with blood thirsty lions that were waiting to tear their limbs apart while spectators went crazy with delight. Why did these Christians allow this to happen? They could have simply renounced their faith and would have been set free. Backsliding wasn’t as common then as it is now so what was the motive to let a lion rip you apart?
How about trying to translate a Bible into the modern English language of the day as William Tyndale did in the 16th century? Tyndale’s final words as he was about to be burned at the stake? “Oh Lord, open the King of England’s eyes”.
Fast forward to July, 2005 - When 34-year old Jiang Zongxiu went to her neighboring market last June in Guizhou Province, China. Along with her mother-in-law, Jiang went through the marketplace, taking opportunities to hand out Bibles and Christian literature and telling people about Jesus. Only this day they had an encounter with the Chinese police.
The two Christian women were handcuffed together and brought to the police station. They were interrogated throughout the evening of the 17th. The next morning they were sentenced by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) to 15 days incarceration for "suspected spreading of rumor and disturbing the social order."
Jiang and her mother-in-law knew the risk of spreading Christian literature in communist China. Both had been active in their church for more than 10 years and dared to go forth. Even when they were arrested, interrogated and sentenced to serve 15 days, they were willing to accept the consequences of their actions - all from a government that claims to have "freedom of religion."
But it was not enough for the PSB to arrest and beat these two Christian women for the crime of passing our Christian literature. In the afternoon of June 18th, Mrs. Jiang Zongziu was pronounced dead by the PSB office of Tongzi County. They claimed she died of "natural causes." The fact is she was beaten to death.
Christian, when was the last time you shared your faith? No, I'm not talking about that fish on the back of your car. I'm talking about walking up to that friend, co-worker, brother, grandmother that you know is not saved and sharing the Gospel.
Have you resided yourself to just showing up to church on Sunday and keeping to your own little world? Has your witness become non-existent because at the mere mention of the name of Jesus a sinful world would stop smiling at you? Are you reluctant to mention the word ‘sin’ to a sinner because he might be offended? Are you afraid to mention the bloodstained cross because the world might laugh and spit in your face?
150,000 people will die worldwide today and a vast majority of those people are going to hell.
Who do you know in your own little world that needs a Saviour?
How's the world treating you, Christian?
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
How to be a good Democrat
How to be a Good Democrat
1. You have to believe the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of Federal funding.
2. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat, than US nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese communists or Arab terrorists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical, documented changes in the earth's climate, and more affected by yuppies driving SUVs.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.
7. You have to be against capital punishment but support abortion on demand.
8. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who've never been outside of Seattle do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe the military, not corrupt politicians, start wars.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad, because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, General Robert E. Lee or Thomas Edison.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides aren't.
16. You have to believe Hillary Clinton is really a lady.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried, is because the right people haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and sex offender belongs in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites and bestiality should be constitutionally protected and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese is somehow in the best interest of the United States.
21. And finally, you have to believe that this letter is part of a vast right wing conspiracy and not just observations of specific facts.
1. You have to believe the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of Federal funding.
2. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat, than US nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese communists or Arab terrorists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical, documented changes in the earth's climate, and more affected by yuppies driving SUVs.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.
7. You have to be against capital punishment but support abortion on demand.
8. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who've never been outside of Seattle do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe the military, not corrupt politicians, start wars.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad, because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, General Robert E. Lee or Thomas Edison.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides aren't.
16. You have to believe Hillary Clinton is really a lady.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried, is because the right people haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and sex offender belongs in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites and bestiality should be constitutionally protected and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese is somehow in the best interest of the United States.
21. And finally, you have to believe that this letter is part of a vast right wing conspiracy and not just observations of specific facts.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Plain and simple
Plain and simple, this is why I support the death penalty.....
Funeral for 6-Year-Old Christopher Barrios Held; Suspects Took Turns Assaulting Boy
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Six-year-old Christopher Michael Barrios was laid to rest Thursday, a day after a convicted child molester and his family were indicted for sexually abusing and killing the Georgia boy.
According to an indictment issued Wednesday, convicted child molester George Edenfield and his father took turns sexually assaulting Christopher while the molester's mother watched, then they choked the boy to death.
The indictment charges all three family members with murder and child molestation in the slaying of Christopher, whose body was found March 15 inside a trash bag dumped by a roadside.
District Attorney Stephen D. Kelley said he will seek the death penalty against 32-year-old George David Edenfield, who has a prior child molestation conviction from 1997, and his parents, David and Peggy Edenfield.
"This is one of the most horrific crimes that I have seen in 21 years of prosecutions," Kelley said.
A very horrific crime indeed.
I am truly at a loss of words after reading the full story about how these monsters, George Edenfield and his father, took turns sexually assaulting this precious little boy. Just as horrific, the mother of Edenfield watched as the duo did every sort of evil on this little boy that no person should ever have to go through, let alone a six year old.
Funeral for 6-Year-Old Christopher Barrios Held; Suspects Took Turns Assaulting Boy
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Six-year-old Christopher Michael Barrios was laid to rest Thursday, a day after a convicted child molester and his family were indicted for sexually abusing and killing the Georgia boy.
According to an indictment issued Wednesday, convicted child molester George Edenfield and his father took turns sexually assaulting Christopher while the molester's mother watched, then they choked the boy to death.
The indictment charges all three family members with murder and child molestation in the slaying of Christopher, whose body was found March 15 inside a trash bag dumped by a roadside.
District Attorney Stephen D. Kelley said he will seek the death penalty against 32-year-old George David Edenfield, who has a prior child molestation conviction from 1997, and his parents, David and Peggy Edenfield.
"This is one of the most horrific crimes that I have seen in 21 years of prosecutions," Kelley said.
A very horrific crime indeed.
I am truly at a loss of words after reading the full story about how these monsters, George Edenfield and his father, took turns sexually assaulting this precious little boy. Just as horrific, the mother of Edenfield watched as the duo did every sort of evil on this little boy that no person should ever have to go through, let alone a six year old.
This is evil personified.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Christian Contemporary Music
I was dial surfing the other day on the radio in my truck when I came across the song, “What If” on a Christian station. I could not find the author of the song, just the lyrics.
Please take a moment and read the lyrics………
What If
What if you're right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you're right?
What if it's true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it's true?
What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
But what if you're wrong?
What if there's more?
What if there's hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love?
What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find a thousand more unanswered questions down inside?
That's all you find?
What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Than folklore that must be told and retold?
You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land for so long
But what if you're wrong?
I interpret this song like this: Someone is trying to witness Christ to another person. Instead of presenting the Gospel, this person decides to try ‘What if’s” instead.
“What if you’re right?”
“What if he was just another guy?”
“But what if you’re wrong?”
“What if there’s more?”
Those lyrics don’t say much about the relationship that the author has with the King of the universe. Instead of writing songs that express the deity of Christ and the majesty of God Almighty, the author chooses to write a debate disguised as a witnessing encounter.
In fact, this song is nothing more than Pascal’s wager wrapped up in nice catchy hooks to fill space on a particular FM station.
In a nut shell, Pascal argued that it would be better to bet that God exists rather than betting He does not. For instance; to believe in God is better than not believing in Him. If God exists and you believe in Him, as the argument goes, then your gain is immeasurable. If He does exist and you do not believe in Him, then your loss is immeasurable.
Pascal used this argument in hoping that it would covert people to Christianity that were not convinced of God’s existence.
Instead of using the power of the Gospel to convert a sinner, Pascal and the author of this song rely on human wisdom to achieve what only the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ can do.
Contemporary Christian writing like this is just as dangerous as the emerging church movement; full of nice sounding music filled with words that have nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Please take a moment and read the lyrics………
What If
What if you're right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you're right?
What if it's true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it's true?
What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
But what if you're wrong?
What if there's more?
What if there's hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love?
What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find a thousand more unanswered questions down inside?
That's all you find?
What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Than folklore that must be told and retold?
You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land for so long
But what if you're wrong?
I interpret this song like this: Someone is trying to witness Christ to another person. Instead of presenting the Gospel, this person decides to try ‘What if’s” instead.
“What if you’re right?”
“What if he was just another guy?”
“But what if you’re wrong?”
“What if there’s more?”
Those lyrics don’t say much about the relationship that the author has with the King of the universe. Instead of writing songs that express the deity of Christ and the majesty of God Almighty, the author chooses to write a debate disguised as a witnessing encounter.
In fact, this song is nothing more than Pascal’s wager wrapped up in nice catchy hooks to fill space on a particular FM station.
In a nut shell, Pascal argued that it would be better to bet that God exists rather than betting He does not. For instance; to believe in God is better than not believing in Him. If God exists and you believe in Him, as the argument goes, then your gain is immeasurable. If He does exist and you do not believe in Him, then your loss is immeasurable.
Pascal used this argument in hoping that it would covert people to Christianity that were not convinced of God’s existence.
Instead of using the power of the Gospel to convert a sinner, Pascal and the author of this song rely on human wisdom to achieve what only the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ can do.
Contemporary Christian writing like this is just as dangerous as the emerging church movement; full of nice sounding music filled with words that have nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Why should Christians witness?
From CARM:
Have you ever asked yourself, "Why should I witness?"
Several reasons should come to mind.
First, because Jesus commands you to: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," (Matt. 28:19).
Also, Ezek. 3:11 says, "and go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not..."
Second, you must witness because you love the unsaved (if you don't, you should). The most loving thing you can do is present the gospel in hopes of bringing others to salvation. Galatians 5:22 lists love as one of the fruit of the Spirit. It is love's nature to give. Take for example John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." Love gives, and if you have only a small portion of His love, you will want to give to others.
Third, witness because it is a wise thing to do. Prov. 11:30 says, "...he who is wise wins souls." Now, I know I am not a very wise person. But, since God says I'll be wise to win souls, or try to, then great, let me at it. I want to be wise in God's sight.
Fourth, witness to keep people out of hell. Hell is a terrifying place of utter anguish and eternal separation from God. Those who are not saved go there. Witnessing is an attempt to keep them out of hell.
Fifth, witness because it pleases God and brings glory to His name.
And finally, witness so they may find the love and fellowship of God (1 John 1:3), the greatest of all treasures.
I can think of no greater gift than salvation. It frees the sinner from sin, it delivers the lost from damnation, and it reveals the true and living God to those who don't know Him.
The angels of heaven rejoice greatly when anyone passes from judgment into salvation (Luke 15:10). Shouldn't we as Christians rejoice too? Shouldn't we weep over the lost? Shouldn't we ask the Lord of the field to send laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2)? Certainly! The salvation of others is the goal of your efforts.
The love of God is your motive. Is there anything greater? So, give.
Have you ever asked yourself, "Why should I witness?"
Several reasons should come to mind.
First, because Jesus commands you to: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," (Matt. 28:19).
Also, Ezek. 3:11 says, "and go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not..."
Second, you must witness because you love the unsaved (if you don't, you should). The most loving thing you can do is present the gospel in hopes of bringing others to salvation. Galatians 5:22 lists love as one of the fruit of the Spirit. It is love's nature to give. Take for example John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." Love gives, and if you have only a small portion of His love, you will want to give to others.
Third, witness because it is a wise thing to do. Prov. 11:30 says, "...he who is wise wins souls." Now, I know I am not a very wise person. But, since God says I'll be wise to win souls, or try to, then great, let me at it. I want to be wise in God's sight.
Fourth, witness to keep people out of hell. Hell is a terrifying place of utter anguish and eternal separation from God. Those who are not saved go there. Witnessing is an attempt to keep them out of hell.
Fifth, witness because it pleases God and brings glory to His name.
And finally, witness so they may find the love and fellowship of God (1 John 1:3), the greatest of all treasures.
I can think of no greater gift than salvation. It frees the sinner from sin, it delivers the lost from damnation, and it reveals the true and living God to those who don't know Him.
The angels of heaven rejoice greatly when anyone passes from judgment into salvation (Luke 15:10). Shouldn't we as Christians rejoice too? Shouldn't we weep over the lost? Shouldn't we ask the Lord of the field to send laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2)? Certainly! The salvation of others is the goal of your efforts.
The love of God is your motive. Is there anything greater? So, give.
Friday, March 02, 2007
What? Not Mars too.......
Well, well, well……it seems our solar neighbor, Mars, is going through a planetary warming too.
Isn’t that interesting?
Evidently, the polar ice caps on Mars have been diminishing for the past few years due to…hold your taters……solar irradiance. Solar what? Irradiance, that is.
Irradiance as defined by the Dictionary.com - incident flux of radiant energy per unit area.
Just wait a minute; where does that radiant energy come from? Why yes, it comes from our nearest star (the Sun).
So, why is that important? Well, it seems that Mars and Earth share the same Sun and thus the same solar irradiance is affecting both planets. I wonder if the Mars equivalent of Al Gore is aware of this info?
Is it not possible, Mr. Gore, that the Sun is our enemy right now during this current cycle of climate changes and not we, the people?
Isn’t that interesting?
Evidently, the polar ice caps on Mars have been diminishing for the past few years due to…hold your taters……solar irradiance. Solar what? Irradiance, that is.
Irradiance as defined by the Dictionary.com - incident flux of radiant energy per unit area.
Just wait a minute; where does that radiant energy come from? Why yes, it comes from our nearest star (the Sun).
So, why is that important? Well, it seems that Mars and Earth share the same Sun and thus the same solar irradiance is affecting both planets. I wonder if the Mars equivalent of Al Gore is aware of this info?
Is it not possible, Mr. Gore, that the Sun is our enemy right now during this current cycle of climate changes and not we, the people?
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