What's in a name?

A few years ago, while I was working an event out west, I was able to get enough time off to go to church. It seemed to be a church that was in the process of coming back to life. The new pastor was struggling with a decision, the old name had to go. The name of the church carried too much baggage. It also wasn't "hip", nor did it necessarily square with the direction the new pastor wanted to take the church.

I made it back the following year, and the church seemed to be doing well on attendance. Of course, they were hosting a Christian Athlete group associated with the event I was working. He taught a forgettable sermon on something based on a couple of verses.

I actually made back for a third year in a row. Unfortunately, the pastor was off on vacation. The bulletin was full of self-help courses and most of the service was various ministries begging for help. One Sunday a year for three years isn't a fair way to judge a church... is it?

During this process, a local Bible College decided to change its name. It is amoung the oldest, best established Bible Colleges in the area. It decided that using the word Bible in its name failed to emphasize the all important traditions and teaching of the denomination to which it is affiliated...

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
(John 21:17 NKJV)

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Giving the Dog a Bath

When you give a dog a bath, the first thing he does, when you let him loose, is to go find the strongest smelling mess in the area and roll around in it. It's built-in to him, it's the way he's designed. He desires to cover his own clean scent with a strong smell that can hide him from "prey". The good news is that he can be trained out of it.

I remind myself of a dog that's been bathed. It often seems, that no sooner that I have experienced some awesome spiritual experience, but that I find myself wallowing in some old familiar sin. Unlike the dog, this is not how I was originally designed. This is the years of living in sin, and the old bad habits showing through. Perhaps it is an attempt to "blend-in" with the world. The Good News is that I am free to follow a different path.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. (Romans 12:1-3 NLT)

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For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45b)

Out in western Pennsylvania, the issue of abortion can strike a nerve. Democrats there often describe themselves economic liberals and social conservatives who favor gun rights and oppose abortion rights.

So, it was not unusual to see a woman stand near the end of Barack Obama’s town hall meeting in Johnstown, Penn., and offer a hurried, passionate plea for him to “stop these abortions.”

…The exchange appeared to be prompted by Obama’s earlier comments that he does not favor abstinence-only education, but rather comprehensive sexual education that includes information on abstinence and birth control.

“Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old,” he said. “I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby. I don’t want them punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn’t make sense to not give them information.”

Is this the heart of someone who America thinks would make a good President? I hope not.

What actually would be a punishment, as opposed to a new life created in the image of God, is a President with such a callus disregard for human life that he considers his own grandchildren a "punishment" for a lapse of moral judgement!

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Which Jesus?

Which "Jesus" does your spiritual advisor preach? What "Gospel" (or Good News), if any, have you been taught?

These questions come to mind because of recent political doings. Senator Obama has famously distanced himself from certain teachings of a man he has called pastor for more than 20 years. That man officiated at the Senators wedding, baptised his children, and led the Senator to Jesus. I'm wondering which Jesus. From what I've researched, Jeremiah Wright preaches a "Social Gospel" and worships Jesus the Social Reformer. That's a very sad thing.

This "Jesus the Social Reformer" was pretty pitiful. He didn't lead any uprisings. He led no hunger strikes, indeed he was accused of being a glutton and a drunk by the religious establishment! (Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:34) He gathered up a large number of loose followers, seventy odd committed followers, a dozen disciples, a core group of three men, and a right-hand man. Of these, the right-hand man denied him three times and ran away, of the twelve one of them turned him into the authorities and then hung himself, rest of the twelve and the seventy all ran away, and the larger group were part in same with the crowd chanting "Crucify Him!".

Further, the "social ill" of his time was the "Roman Oppression". When the people were ready to revolt and make Jesus king, he slipped away. (see John 6:15) When asked if the people should pay taxes to the Roman Oppressor, he said yes! (see Luke 20:22-25) Although the religious authorities accused him of forbidding to pay taxes when they later set him up for execution. (see Luke 23:2) When he was executed, the Romans didn't even know who he was, it was the very people who he supposedly was trying to socially reform that chanted "Crucify him!" to the Roman Governor who would have released him.

No, Jeremiah Wright and his fellow Liberal Church leaders have missed the boat. This "Social Jesus" and "Social Gospel" they teach has no power. The historical and Biblical Jesus is the Son of God, very God of very God, He is the Living Word who spoke the universe into existence. And He didn't come to this Earth to bring social justice; He came to make dead people live. He came, not free men from the bondage of other men, but from the bondage of their own sins. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) He didn't come to put down the despotic human powers that oppress their fellow men, but rather the demonic spiritual powers that oppress our souls. (see Genesis 3:15)

That said, Jesus promised to return. And when He does return, He is coming to take the reigns of His kingdom. Then and only then will there be complete justice (social and other wise), and peace.

Pray for the Liberal Church, that they might come to know the true source of Social Justice, not their "social Jesus" but the scriptural Jesus who gave His life a ransom that many might live. For when the Lord God, brings peace and love for all men to your heart, then you might reach out to affect change for the social good.

The "Social Gospel" is just another, do good and work hard enough, then God will accept you, lie. It specializes in public good works. The Pharisee's would have approved. Make your prayers long, loud, and public so men (both the oppressed and the oppressor) can see your (self) righteousness. Do you works in the sight of men so they can bring glory to you. That is the way of the Social Gospel of the American Liberal Church. It is the opposite of what Jesus taught.

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
(Luke 18:9-14 NKJV)

The Pharisee's were the most renowned religious leaders of their day. They taught against the Roman Oppression, but were careful to not provoke the Roman Authorities too much. The tax collectors were fellow members of the oppressed society, but they had sold out to the oppressor for money. The tax collectors accepted government jobs, they were given a quota of money to raise and were to keep any excess that they were able to collect as their wages.

The words of Jeremiah Wright and his fellows are those of bigotry and racism. But are any of us perfectly clean of this stain? Father God in heaven, convict us all (Reverend Wright and his compatriots as well as myself) of the the bigotry and racism in our own hearts. Purge us as individuals and purge your church of this hatred. Ignite in our hearts a true love for you O Lord, and for our neighbors, and especially for our enemies, as you have taught.
In the name (the very nature) of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Amen (Let it be so.)

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AT&T CEO would shut down American Education system!

In a not so stunning indictment of our Education System, Randall Stephenson the CEO of AT&T remarked "If I had a business that half the product we turned out was defective or you couldn't put into the marketplace, I would shut that business down." These comments were caused by the fact that even though they had pledged to return 5,000 customer service jobs to America from India, they have only been able to actually move 1,400 so far, due to AT&T's inability to find enough skilled workers.

Although I'm somewhat dubious of his claim for his company's need for skilled customer service workers; (I mean really, how much skill is involved in answering a phone in pigeon english and frustrating the customer with misunderstandings until they give up and go away?) it is general knowledge that our education system is graduating a lower percentage of students, and the skill level of graduates is lower as well.

It's high time we take the action recommended by Mr. Stephenson and shut down our current Federal Government based education system. The Department of Education has been an abysmal failure since it was made a Cabinet level bureaucracy. It should be scrapped. All federal tax dollars that were funneled through that agency should be returned to the parents of school aged children in the form of vouchers that could be applied to the education system of their choice. It is time we took the power of educating America's children out of the hands of bureaucrats and returned it to the parents, as was envisioned by our Founding Fathers, and Thomas Jefferson in particular.

Instead of being beholden to the Federal Government, local school systems would have to answer to the parents of their students. Schools that do well would be rewarded by increased attendance and monies. Schools that fail could then be shut down to make room for expansion of the ones that work. Local communities could determine the employers that they'd like to lure to town by training their children in the skills needed by those companies (like pigeon english for telecommunications customer service.) Colleges and Universities could establish the type of education they'd like to see in their freshmen class and parents would reward the schools that help their children meet those criteria.

It is radical, but necessary if America is to stay competitive in the increasingly Global Economy. Not only that, but the displaced Department of Education workers could ably fill all of AT&T customer service employee needs, with little or no retraining.

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5 years of war every day

After 5 years in Iraq, 4000 brave American solders, sailors, airmen, guardsmen, and marines have fallen. Today, 4000 innocent lives will be taken here in America.

Over the past 5 years, 4000 of our bravest, volunteers who have chosen to fight there instead of waiting for the Islamist enemy to continue their war on us here, have made the ultimate sacrifice. Our enemy for the most part has slain our finest men and women through the use of remotely detonated bombs and the occasional homicide bomber.

We are involved in another war, a war in which 4000 innocents on average die every day of the year in America alone. It called abortion. Unlike our brave military volunteers, these innocents have no choices. The weapons of their enemy are far more horrifying than roadside bombs and human murder bombers. There are options, murdering an innocent unborn child should not be one of them.

Defunding Planned Parenthood (the nations largest abortion provider) and any other abortion providing institution would be a step in the right direction. There is a bill in the house, "Title X Family Planning Act" (S.351), that would accomplish this. If only our Representatives can stand in the face of the multi-billion dollar abortion industry.

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EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed

Finally, a movie to look forward to! Ben Stein interviews scientists and teachers who have been persecuted for their audacity to question Darwinian Evolution. He also interviews adherents to the theory of evolution, and allows them to fully and clearly articulate their point of view... which results in exposing the weakness and the problems of evolution.

The movie opens April 18th. (which, oddly enough is my brother's 39th birtday... enjoy youth while it lasts ~400 days and counting, bro!)

You can view trailers and more detailed information at www.expelledthemovie.com.

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Zeal Without Knowledge

For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
(Romans 10:3)

While Paul is speaking directly concerning the Jews, this applies to all of us who try to meet God on our own, as opposed to His terms.

We can never meet God on our terms. He is the sovereign Lord Creator of the Universe. We are rebels who are defeated and merely await the just execution to come.

But just as the anti-capital punishment crowd currently objects, the death of the guilty is never sufficient to pay for their crimes. The death of the guilty, the highest form of punishment that man can mete out, is unable to restore the damage caused to the victim. (Human justice merely attempts to constrain the future evil of others by demonstrating the consequences of unlawful actions.)

God's justice demands payment. The just payment for our rebellion is death. Not merely physical death, but spiritual (eternal) death. There are two ways to avoid the consequence of God's justice. One is to live perfectly by the Law of God. Only one person has done (or will ever do) this. The other means, and the only way open to us, is to accept the payment made by that person, and in exchange offer Him our lives as His slaves (we are so very dearly purchased!).

Not willing that any should die; God sent His Son to live among us as the lamb without blemish (one who lived a perfect, non-rebellious life (John 8:28)). Being perfectly subject, Jesus willingly chose to pay the price of all our rebellion in exchange for His rightful place at the right-hand of God as our King.

Now a thing even more glorious occurs! We who are rightfully slaves, purchased by the death of the Incarnate God; are made brothers and co-heirs of that perfect man and sons of the Living God!

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36)

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O, foolish Galatian!

When I mess up and sit convicted of the wrong things I have done, then I feel the love of God, because I cannot hide from myself the fact that I'm so undeserving of His grace.

But the truth is that I'm always undeserving!
I tend to want to forget that fact, when I'm "doing well". I want to help God make me a better person, and I cannot. I pray God will break my heart when I'm doing right and good in my own eyes, to know that it is not me or anything that I've done that can make me in anyway deserving. But only who He is and what He's done.

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Are you a Christian?

Some things bless you so much you feel you should share them.

From the devotions book, Morning and Evening, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Evening
“Whom he did predestinate, them he also called.”
- Rom_8:30
In the second epistle to Timothy, first chapter, and ninth verse, are these words-”Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling.” Now, here is a touchstone by which we may try our calling. It is “an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace.” This calling forbids all trust in our own doings, and conducts us to Christ alone for salvation, but it afterwards purges us from dead works to serve the living and true God. As he that hath called you is holy, so must you be holy. If you are living in sin, you are not called, but if you are truly Christ’s, you can say, “Nothing pains me so much as sin; I desire to be rid of it; Lord, help me to be holy.” Is this the panting of thy heart? Is this the tenor of thy life towards God, and his divine will? Again, in Philippians, Phi_3:13, Phi_3:14, we are told of “The high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Is then your calling a high calling? Has it ennobled your heart, and set it upon heavenly things? Has it elevated your hopes, your tastes, your desires? Has it upraised the constant tenor of your life, so that you spend it with God and for God? Another test we find in Heb_3:1-”Partakers of the heavenly calling.” Heavenly calling means a call from heaven. If man alone call thee, thou art uncalled. Is thy calling of God? Is it a call to heaven as well as from heaven? Unless thou art a stranger here, and heaven thy home, thou hast not been called with a heavenly calling; for those who have been so called, declare that they look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, and they themselves are strangers and pilgrims upon the earth. Is thy calling thus holy, high, heavenly? Then, beloved, thou hast been called of God, for such is the calling wherewith God doth call his people.

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