Coexist?

Random Bits

"I walk through this sinful world as a 

pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon

Several years ago my wife saw a posting on the internet where the Retriever Rescue Of Colorado had a pair of chocolate labs that desperately needed a foster home. As the pair had been raised together so they had to be placed together, and being older dogs (10 and 12 years) it was hard to find a home or foster home. If the RROC couldn't find them a home they were going to have to put down Molly and Kira. So we volunteered to foster them.

We were a foster failure, because they ended up spending the rest of their lives with us. For the next 4 years they entertained us with their cute quirks. Kira was the worst retriever in the world, if you threw a ball she adopted a "You threw it, you go get it" attitude. Molly was slightly better, but she had an "eat what you catch" attitude which included sticks, balls, frisbees, stuffed animals, and squirrels (which she never did actually catch). Sadly they left us this year. Molly succumbed to kidney failure on January 2, and Kira's strength finally gave out last night.

Father in Heaven:
Thank you so much for the years you blessed us with Molly and Kira. The joy we felt with them enriched our lives, and the pain of their loss reminds us of the pain You feel when we rebel. But mostly thank you for their joyful, unconditional love they had for us. Their love set an example of the love we should feel for You. I pray that we all can show the tail wagging, barking in joy love they taught us when You call us home. In Jesus name we beg you take away the sorrow and replace it with even more gratitude for Your blessing of these sweet dogs

Do you hear a whirring noise coming from the east, possibly Germany? That's Martin Luther spinning in the grave. I warned you all that Azusa Now was nothing but an ecumenical con-job designed to fill the coffers of Rome. If you think that sounds harsh, what do you think of NAR false prophet Lou Engle kissing the feet of a Roman papist in reconciliation. Reconciliation for what, pointing out Roman heresy? Dulling their swords with out necks?

But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. (1 Timothy 2:12) Here's why.

Spurgeon Thursday - 32 Cool Facts About C. H. Spurgeon

1. One woman was converted through reading a single page of one of Spurgeon’s sermons wrapped around some butter she had bought.

2. Spurgeon read The Pilgrim’s Progress at age 6 and went on to read it over 100 times.

3. The New Park Street Pulpit and The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, the collected sermons of Spurgeon during his ministry with that congregation, fill 63 volumes. The sermons’ 20-25 million words are equivalent to the 27 volumes of the ninth edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. The series stands as the largest set of books by a single author in the history of Christianity.

4. Spurgeon’s mother had 17 children, nine of whom died in infancy.

5. When Charles Spurgeon was only 10 years old, a visiting missionary, Richard Knill, said that the young Spurgeon would one day preach the gospel to thousands and would preach in Rowland Hill’s chapel, the largest Dissenting church in London. His words were fulfilled.

6. Spurgeon missed being admitted to college because a servant girl inadvertently showed him into a different room than that of the principal who was waiting to interview him. (Later, he determined not to reapply for admission when he believed God spoke to him, “Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not!”)

7. Spurgeon’s personal library contained 12,000 volumes, 1,000 printed before 1700. (The library, 5,103 volumes at the time of its auction, is now housed at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.)

8. Before he was 20, Spurgeon had preached over 600 times.

9. Spurgeon drew to his services Prime Minister W. E. Gladstone, members of the royal family, Members of Parliament, as well as author John Ruskin, Florence Nightingale, and General James Garfield, later president of the United States.

10. The New Park Street Church invited Spurgeon to come for a 6-month trial period, but Spurgeon asked to come for only 3 months because “the congregation might not want me, and I do not wish to be a hindrance.”

Good News From Your Friendly Neighborhood Cable Company!

The Short, Turbulent Life of Al Jazeera America

By THE NEW YORK TIMES APRIL 12, 2016

Thirty-two months ago, Al Jazeera America made its debut with ambitious plans (and a big budget) to become a leading voice in cable news. And though the network has garnered a number of prestigious awards, it never attracted a meaningful audience, often failing to draw 30,000 viewers in prime time.

Over the last year, it has also had embarrassing setbacks. The network was sued by a number of former employees; its chief executive was let go after staff members complained of a “culture of fear”; and its general counsel was suspended (and subsequently let go) after it was discovered that he did not have a license to practice law. In January, the network announced that it was shutting down. On Tuesday, Al Jazeera America will air its final broadcast. Here is a look back at the network over the last three years:

Emergent Monday: IHOP - Feeding the Undiscerning

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in  sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
(Matthew 7:15)

Once upon a time, Joseph Smith said that God sent him a message, so he started the Mormon Church. Ellen G. White also claimed a message from God and she started the Seventh Day Adventists. Mary Eddy Baker believes she got a message from God and she started the Christian Scientist church. Sun Myung Moon said he got a message from God and he started the Unification church. Muhammed claims to have received a message from God and started Islam.

Then there's Mike Bickle. In the 1980's Mike was a preacher in a small church St. Louis when a man named "Augustine told him that he had heard an audible voice that told him to prophesy "by the spirit of truth" to Bickle's congregation. Bickle allowed him to do this and was impressed by the seeming accuracy with which he described the condition of his church. In September of that same year Mike claims that while visiting Cairo, Egypt a mysterious, audible voice told him:

I am inviting you to raise up a work that will touch the ends of the earth. I have invited many people to do this thing and many people have said yes, but very few have done my will. (Source, page 60)

In 1999 Mike Bickle started the International House Of Prayer known for it's 24/7 prayer ministry. It has since grown to establish international ties, its own seminary, and an undergraduate program along with tying itself to the New Apostolic Reformation. And when I say it's a 24/7 prayer ministry, I mean it's really, really, Really 24/7. Nonstop praying 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is true that there's no such thing as praying too much, so the idea of a ministry dedicated to non-stop prayer is a good one. But what worries Christians is the type of prayer they use. IHOP is dedicated to contemplative prayer. Here are a few quotes on contemplative prayer by Mike Bickle.