Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.
The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity.
Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ?
And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
George Washington - September 19, 1796
Farewell Address
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Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Spurgeon Thursday - A Day of Giving Thanks
"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled." |
POSSIBLY objections might have been raised to a day of thanksgiving for the abundant harvest if it had been ordered or suggested by Government. Certain brethren are so exceedingly tender in their consciences upon the point of connection between Church and State, that they would have thought it almost a reason for not being thankful at all if the Government had recommended them to celebrate a day of public thanksgiving.
Although I have no love to the unscriptural union of Church and State, I should on this occasion have hailed an official request for a national recognition of the special goodness of God. However, none of us can feel any objection arising in our minds if it be now agreed that to-day we will praise our ever-bounteous Lord, and as an assembly record our gratitude to the God of the harvest. We are probably the largest assembly of Christian people in the world, and it is well that we should set the example to the smaller Churches. Doubtless many other believers will follow in our track, and so a public thanksgiving will become general throughout the country. I hope to see every congregation in the land raising a special offering unto the Lord, to be devoted either to his Church, to the poor, to missions, or some other holy end.
The whole subject seems to give us one or two suggestions as to matters of duty. “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness.” One suggestion is this: some of you in this house are strangers to God, you have been living as his enemies, and you will probably die so. But what a blessing it would be if a part of the crown of this year should be your conversion! “The harvest is past and the summer is ended, and ye are not saved.”
But oh, what a joy, if this very day you should turn unto God and live! Remember, the way of salvation was freely proclaimed last Sabbath morning, it runs in this style - “This is the commandment, that ye believe on Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.” Soul, if this day thou trustest in Christ, it shall be thy spiritual birthday, it shall be unto thee the beginning of days; emancipated from thy chains, delivered from the darkness of the valley of the shadow of death, thou shalt be the Lord’s free man. What sayest thou? O that the Spirit of God would bring thee this day to turn unto him with full purpose of heart.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Rekindling the Gratitude
Rekindling the Gratitude
from John MacArthur
The Thanksgiving season is a wonderful time to heighten your sensitivity to the blessings bestowed by God. Thanksgiving grabs your attention, shakes the cobwebs loose, and reminds you of all God's most precious gifts. That's one reason Thanksgiving has always held such a special place in my heart. It rekindles in me the kind of God-centered gratitude that our Lord demands and deserves—the kind that should readily be on our lips year round.
To help stimulate that kind of deeper gratitude, my family has adopted a Thanksgiving tradition we've found extremely helpful. Each year after our Thanksgiving meal we gather in our living room and simply recite the blessings of God that have touched our lives. One by one we circle the room, each one of us expressing our gratitude to God for His many physical and spiritual blessings.
Allow me to share with you just five blessings that deeply touch me every year and prompt me to thank God. Perhaps it'll catch and you'll be able to rekindle your gratitude!
You're Saved and You Know It
No work of God's is more beyond my comprehension yet closer to my heart and more worthy of gratitude than salvation. Before coming to know Christ, each of us lived in a self-imposed prison. Guilty, condemned, spiritually blind, and with no means to pay our debt, our destiny was one of eternal separation from God.
Friday, November 17, 2017
Random Bits
"I walk through this sinful world as a
pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon
|
I apologize for falling behind this week but it's been a very busy month so far, but first I need to open with a prayer of praise: Dear Father in Heaven, your power and Majesty are beyond comprehension, and when you reach down to me, a wretched sinner, and intervene in my life, I truly realize your love. Thank you for relieving me of this pain, I had forgotten how great it is to stand without stabbing agony. Thank you so much for leading me to the overly bubbly nurse who was the instrument of Your healing. Your love and mercy awe me, thank you, I love you.
Wow, just wow. A while ago I mentioned my back pain and it seemed like every medical procedure I endured just made it worse. My surgeon (Dr. Chainsaw) gave up, my pain specialist (Dr. Opiod) tried and only inflicted more pain. Then Dr. O's assistant, Nurse Caffinated, made an astute observation on how I was sitting, asked a few questions, put me on the table, and inflicted incredible pain by moving my leg around. Her pronouncement was "Your back isn't the main problem, it's your left hip." One cortisone shot later and I'm feeling better than I have in what seemed to be ages. I could write about what constant pain does to ones outlook but I will spare you that, I felt it's best to open up with a warm fuzzy because it's been a very strange week and random bits of good news outside of the Bible are few and far between.
Not Fit For The Pulpit Dept Update #1: Disgraced, defrocked, millionaire, former mega-church preacher Perry Noble is NOT a liar, he hires someone to be a liar for him
Not Fit For The Pulpit Dept Update #2: A Lesbian Bishop teaches that Jesus is a bigot filled with prejudices. Her message (which has been deleted from Facebook because it was so embarrassing) shows a complete ignorance about Jesus' mandate from God Himself to preach to the Jews (Matthew 15:24). And she said these things while talking about it! Her topic was Matthew 15:21-28. It appears that it is the Homosexual FauxBishop that is a bigot filled with prejudices and incompetence.
Not Fit For The Pulpit Dept Update #3 This particular woman does not have the Pulpit in the traditional sense but she is a writer and managing editor of a Christian website is standing on an electronic pulpit and must be held to the same standards you'd hold your pastor to if you're going to read her
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Random Bits
"I walk through this sinful world as a
pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon
|
"If there is one part of the Bible that has undergone more scrutiny and abuse than any other, it is the beginning—Genesis. The heated debate over origins has questioned the Creation and ultimately the Creator. So what exactly happened at "Creation," in the "Beginning"?" So begins the description of the newest Christian flavored movie GENESIS: Paradise Lost playing in select theaters on November 13.
Genesis: Paradise Lost promises to be a big screen study of the creation using 2D and 3D formats along with "stunning" visual effects. Commentary in the film is provided by Dr. Charles Jackson, Dr. Georgia Purdom, Ray Comfort, Ken Ham, and is narrated by Dr. Voddie Baucham. Unfortunately this is sold out in my area. If you get a chance to see it, let me know what you think here in the comments
Discernment - Perry Noble doesn't like it. Nope, not one bit. This article is important, please read it. Think about all the pastors who fall into unrepentant sin and think what is going to happen when they discover that turning to a lawyer is much easier than repenting. Here is Amy Spreeman's report on Perry Noble's crisis manager Hunter Frederick
Trump Derangement Syndrome is veering off the deep end with battalions of witches casting "hexes" at the President of the United States.
Perry Noble news
John MacArthur attacked! (unsuccessfully)
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
WWUTT Wednesday - He will wipe away every tear from their eyes
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
On November 5th at 11:25 AM a madman walked up to a small church and opened fire on people outside and on the building itself. The terrified people inside breathed a sigh of relief when the shooting stopped, but that was just the opening salvo. The madman then entered the church building and the slaughter began in earnest. I won't recap what happened inside the Sutherland Springs TX First Baptist Church, but let me say that their congregation is about the same size as the congregation in my own tiny family of loving Bereans. The thought of the possibility of watching half of my church family being executed has hit me harder than I had imagined.
Or is it the thought that I, a physically broken weak worthless wretched sinner, may survive while many of the beautiful saints that I love so much die around me, be the thought that turns my stomach?
But this didn't happen in my little corner of Colorado, home of the Mentally Disturbed Mass Shooters, it happened in Texas, another land I wouldn't mind calling home. Our church hasn't had an official discussion on concealed carry for our "sheep dogs" but we probably will. I can't speak for the other veterans on the board, Pastor Semper Paratus and Deacon Semper Fi, but as for myself (Deacon Visum Altum?), I laid down my arms upon reentry into the civilian world. I even gave up hunting and (most) fireworks. The smell of burning cordite has lost its allure and the only venison on my table is supplied by my son-in-law. I will do anything it takes to protect my flock, anything but deadly force.
My #1 defensive weapon? Prayer. Yes, many liberals are having a field day making fun of us, our prayers, and our faith in God. I won't repost any of their remarks here, many are so foul and hate filled I was shocked at their heartlessness. But that's ok, we will pray for them. They mostly need to understand the core of Christian prayer:
Thy will be done...
Monday, November 6, 2017
We Are Of Good Courage
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. (Matthew 5:11)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45)
You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. (Matthew 24:9)
11 When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Mark 13:11-13)
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:12-13)
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:14)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45)
You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. (Matthew 24:9)
11 When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Mark 13:11-13)
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:12-13)
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:14)
We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
Friday, November 3, 2017
Random Bits
"I walk through this sinful world as a
pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon
|
My sister, the witch, claims that "The Veil" (cue spooky music) is thinner on Oct 31 and evil comes can come out from the other side. And while I have your attention the New Apostolic Reformation has their own perVersion of the New Testament of the Bible which came out on Halloween. I'm not saying "Something wicked this way comes" but something really chilling happened this Halloween - The NAR decided to throw their own reformation on Reformation Day.
I don't want to give any spoilers but this fanciful rendition of the word of God was imagined up by the same folks that prophesied the Carolina Panthers victory in SuperBowl 50 (Rick Joyner) and are determined to destroy what the Reformation put in place (Mike Bickel). As usual, the Spirit of Error website is on the job exposing NAR false prophesy, heresy and out right nonsense. In Part 1 of her report on the "Passion Bible" Holly Pivec tells us about the mysterious cabal unnamed team that helped NAR apostle Brian Simmons produce this work of... this work. In Part 2 of her report Holly reveals why the NAR chose October 31 to release their Newer New Testament.
Besides re-writing the bible to reflect your own personal belief system, here's 5 more ways not to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation
Has the Reformation Failed? Most Protestants can't even identify a central Reformation teaching.
The French high court ordered a religious symbol to be removed from a larger religious symbol so the statue of a Catholic saint doesn't look "too Christian"? Somebody please explain to me where the "smart" occurs in this
Religion of Peace Update #1 - Saudi Arabia teaches children that Christians are '\"unbelievers" and the day of resurrection will not come until Muslims have killed all the Jews
God tells a Friar Thomas Weinandy to rebuke Mr. Pope for heresy, like these guys did, and Friar Tom gets fired for passing on the word. Notice that the discussion in this article goes on and on about Mr. Pope failing to uphold Roman Catholic dogma and never ever mentions his failure to uphold the Word of God
I can say with 20/20 hindsight this didn't help
Is twisting Scripture to support your pet economic theory a sin? The Christian Left doesn't seem to think so, but contrary to their high decibel exhortations, the bible does not teach socialism, and it shouldn't be weaponized by radical socialists
Jeff Durbin sells out Protestantism over Reformation Weekend - only one small thing with this article, I've heard Sean Hannity say numerous times he's left the Catholic Church in his past and has graduated to Christianity.
I have news for you, it's not just kids turning to witchcraft, I know plenty of "grown" adults who
I have news for you, it's not just kids turning to witchcraft, I know plenty of "grown" adults who
Church Holds Harry Potter-Themed Worship Services I prefer a God-themed worship service myself.
A British court ruled that a college could expel a student for posting his position against same-sex marriage on Facebook by quoting the Bible.
"The View" bleeps out the name of Jesus, and seriously, why is anyone watching?
Jennifer LeClaire continues her downward spiral into hysterical heresy. Now she's planning to replace the psychics at CNN with her own
Carl Lentz has no idea if slaughtering a baby is a sin or not. I wonder what (if) he thinks about something like this
Tired of getting highlighter bleed-through? Cant figure out which color to use? This will take the frustration out of worship! It's got to be a real product, I saw it on the internet
Carl Lentz has no idea if slaughtering a baby is a sin or not. I wonder what (if) he thinks about something like this
Tired of getting highlighter bleed-through? Cant figure out which color to use? This will take the frustration out of worship! It's got to be a real product, I saw it on the internet
Thursday, November 2, 2017
WWUTT Wednesday - What is Reformation Day?
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany, his ninety-five theses, a list of arguments calling out the corrupt practices of the Roman Catholic church. This marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, an effort to reform the church and recover the gospel.