Monday, October 12, 2009
iHeartFaces - "Excited"
My wife showed me her photo for this site called iHeartFaces. She took a picture today that I thought fit the theme well.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
A Baptist Catechism for Young Children
A friend of mine asked me to post this. So, here it is. Sorry, I don't know how to do PDF's for download. If anyone would like it, I would be happy to email it to them.
A Baptist Catechism for Young Children
Instructions for use: This catechism should be begun when a child is approximately 2 years old and should be totally completed by the time the child is 8 years old. Questions and answers should be memorized completely and accurately.
Q. 1. Who made you?
A. God/ Jesus
Q. 2. What else did God (Jesus) make?
A. All things.
Q. 3. Why did God make you and all things?
A. For his own glory.
Q. 4. How can you glorify God?
A. By loving him and doing what he says
Q. 5. Why should you to glorify God?
A. Because he loves me and takes care of me.
Q. 6. How many gods are there?
A. There is only one God.
Q. 7. In how many persons does God exist?
A. Three persons.
Q. 8. Who are they?
A. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Q. 9. Where is God?
A. God is everywhere.
Q. l0. Can you see God?
A. No; I cannot see God, but he always sees me.
Q. 11. Does God know all things?
A. Yes; nothing can be hid from God.
Q. 12. Can God do all things?
A. Yes; God can do all his holy will.
Q. 13. Where do you learn how to love and obey God?
A. In the Bible alone.
Q. 14. Who wrote the Bible?
A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.
Q. 15. Who were our first parents?
A. Adam and Eve.
Q. 16. Of what were our first parents made?
A. God made the body of Adam out of the ground, and formed Eve from the body of Adam.
Q. 17. What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies?
A. He gave them souls that could never die.
Q. 18. Have you a soul as well as a body?
A. Yes; I have a soul that can never die.
Q. 19. How do you know that you have a soul?
A. Because the Bible tells me so.
Q. 20. In what condition did God make Adam and Eve?
A. He made them holy and happy.
Q. 21. What is a covenant?
A. An agreement between two or more persons.
Q. 22. What covenant did God make with Adam?
A. The covenant of works.
Q.23. What was Adam bound to do by the covenant of works?
A. To obey God perfectly.
Q. 24. What did God promise in the covenant of works?
A. To reward Adam with life if he obeyed him.
Q. 25. What did God threaten in the covenant of works?
A. To punish Adam with death if he disobeyed.
Q. 26. Did Adam keep the covenant of works?
A. No; he sinned against God.
Q. 27. What is Sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity to, or transgression of the law of God.
Q. 28. What is meant by “want of conformity”?
A. Not being or doing what God requires.
Q. 29. What is meant by “transgression”?
A. Doing what God forbids.
Q. 30. What was the sin of our first parents?
A. Eating the forbidden fruit.
Q. 31. Who tempted them to this sin?
A. The devil tempted Eve, and she gave the fruit to Adam.
Q. 32. What happened to our first parents when they had sinned?
A. Instead of being holy and happy, they became sinful and miserable.
Q. 33. Did Adam act for himself alone in the covenant of works?
A. No; he represented all his descendents, all mankind.
Q. 34. What effect did the sin of Adam have on all mankind?
A. All mankind are born in a state of sin and misery.
Q. 35. What is that sinful nature which we inherit from Adam called?
A. Original sin.
Q. 36. What does every sin deserve?
A. The wrath and curse of God.
Q. 37. Can any one go to heaven with this sinful nature?
A. No; our hearts must be changed before we can be fit for heaven.
Q. 38. What is a change of heart called?
A. Regeneration.
Q. 39. Who can change a sinner’s heart?
A. The Holy Spirit alone.
Q. 40. Can any one be saved through the covenant of works?
A. None can be saved through the covenant of works.
Q. 41. Why can none be saved through the covenant of works?
A. Because all have broken it, and are condemned by it
Q. 42. With whom did God the Father make the covenant of grace?
A. With Jesus Christ, his eternal Son.
Q. 43. Whom did Christ represent in the covenant of grace?
A. His elect people.
Q. 44. What did Christ undertake in the covenant of grace?
A. To keep the whole law for his people, and to suffer the punishment for their sins.
Q. 45. Did our Lord Jesus Christ ever commit the smallest sin?
A. No; he was holy and undefiled.
Q. 46. How could the Son of God suffer?
A. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became a man that He might obey and suffer in our nature.
Q. 47. What is meant by the Atonement?
A. Christ’s satisfying divine justice, by his sufferings and death, in the place of sinners.
Q. 48. What did God the Father undertake in the covenant of grace?
A. To justify and sanctify those for whom Christ should die.
Q. 49. What justification?
A. It is God declaring sinners forgiven, and treating them as if they had never sinned.
Q. 50. What is sanctification?
A. It is God’s making sinners holy in heart and conduct.
Q. 51. For whom did Christ obey and suffer?
A. For those whom the Father had given him.
Q. 52. What kind of life did Christ live on earth?
A. A life of poverty and suffering.
Q. 53. What kind of death did Christ die?
A. The painful and shameful death of the cross.
Q. 54. Who will be saved?
A. Only those who repent of sin, believe in Christ, and lead holy lives.
Q. 55. What is it to repent?
A. To be sorry for sin, and to hate and forsake it because it is displeasing to God.
Q. 56. What is it to believe or have faith in Christ?
A. To trust in Christ alone for salvation.
Q. 57. Can you repent and believe in Christ by your own power?
A. No; I can do nothing good without the help of God’s Holy Spirit.
Q. 58. How can you get the help of the Holy Spirit?
A. God has told us that we must pray to him for the Holy Spirit.
Q. 59. How long ago is it since Christ died?
A. More than nineteen hundred years.
Q. 60. How were pious persons saved before the coming of Christ?
A. By believing in a Savior to come.
Q. 61. How did they show their faith?
A. By offering sacrifices on God’s altar.
Q. 62. What did these sacrifices represent?
A. Christ, the Lamb of God, who was to die for sinners.
Q. 63. What offices has Christ?
A. Christ has three offices.
Q. 64. What are they?
A. The offices of prophet, of priest, and of king.
Q. 65. How is Christ a prophet?
A. Because he teaches us the will of God.
Q. 66. How is Christ a priest?
A. Because he died for our sins and pleads with God for us.
Q.67. How is Christ a king?
A. Because he rules over us and defends us.
Q. 68. Why do you need Christ as a prophet?
A. Because I am ignorant.
Q. 69. Why do you need Christ as a priest?
A. Because I am guilty.
Q. 70. Why do you need Christ as a king?
A. Because I am weak and helpless.
Q. 71. How many commandments did God give to Moses on
A. Ten commandments.
Q. 72. What are the ten commandments sometimes called?
A. The Decalogue.
Q. 73. What do the first four commandments teach?
A. Our duty to God.
Q. 74. What do the last six commandments teach?
A. Our duty to our fellow men.
Q. 75. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. To love God with all my heart, and to love my neighbor as myself.
Q. 76. Who is your neighbor?
A. All my fellow men are my neighbors.
Q. 77. Is God pleased with those who love and obey him?
A. Yes; he says, “I love those who love me.” (Prov.8: 17)
Q. 78. Is God displeased with those who do not love and obey him?
A. Yes; “God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Ps.7:11)
Q. 79. What is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, 3 You shall have no other gods before
Q. 80. What does the first commandment teach us?
A. To worship God alone.
Q. 81. What is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is,4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Exodus 20:4-6 (NKJV)
Q. 82. What does the second commandment teach us?
A. To worship God in a proper manner, and to avoid idolatry.
Q. 83. What is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)
Q. 84. What does the third commandment teach me?
A. To reverence God’s name, word, and works.
Q. 85. What is the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment is, 8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11 (NKJV)
Q. 86. What does the fourth commandment teach us?
A. To remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy.
Q. 87. What day of the week is the Christian Sabbath?
A. Sunday, the first day of the week, called the Lord’s day.
Q. 88. Why is it called the Lord’s day?
A. Because on that day Christ rose from the dead.
Q. 89. How should the Sabbath be spent?
A. In resting from all work, in private and public acts of worship, and in doing good to our fellow man.
Q. 90. What is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, 12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus
Q. 91. What does the fifth commandment teach me?
A. To love and obey our parents and those in authority over us.
Q. 92. What is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, 13 "You shall not murder. Exodus
Q. 93. What does the sixth commandment teach us?
A. To avoid angry passions.
Q. 94. What is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, 14 "You shall not commit adultery. Exodus
Q. 95. What does the seventh commandment teach us?
A. To be pure in heart, language, and conduct.
Q. 96. What is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, 15 "You shall not steal. Exodus
.Q. 97. What does the eighth commandment teach us?
A. To be honest and industrious.
Q. 98. What is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, 16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Exodus
Q. 99. What does the ninth commandment teach us?
A. To always tell the truth.
Q. 100. What is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, 17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."
Exodus
Q. 101. What does the tenth commandment teach us?
A. To be content with that which God has provided.
Q. 102. Can any man keep these ten commandments perfectly?
A. No mere man, since the fall of Adam, ever did or can keep the ten commandments perfectly.
Q. 103. Of what use are the ten commandments to us?
A. They teach us our duty, and show our need of a Savior.
Q. 104. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is asking God for things which he has promised to give.
Q. 105. In whose name should we pray?
A. Only in the name of Christ.
Q. 106. What has Christ given us to teach us how to pray?
A. The Lord’s Prayer.
Q. 107. Repeat the Lord’s Prayer.
9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)
Q. 108. How many petitions are there in The Lord’s Prayer?
A. Six.
Q. 109. What is the first petition?
A. “Hallowed be thy name.”
Q. 110. What do we pray for in the first petition?
A. That God’s name may be reverenced & honored by us and all men.
Q. 111. What is the second petition?
A. “Thy kingdom come.”
Q. 112. What do we pray for in the second petition?
A. That the gospel may be preached in all the world, and believed and obeyed by us and all men.
Q. 113. What is the third petition?
A. “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Q. 114. What do we pray for in the third petition?
A. That men on earth may serve God as the angels do in heaven.
Q. 115. What is the fourth petition?
A. “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Q. 116. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
A. That God would give us all things needful for our bodies and souls.
Q. 117. What is the fifth petition?
A. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Q. 118. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
A. That God would pardon our sins for Christ’s sake, and enable us to forgive those who have injured us.
Q. 119. What is the sixth petition?
A. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Q. 120. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
A. That God would keep us from sin.
Q. 121. How many sacraments are there?
A. Two.
Q. 122. What are they?
A. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Q. 123 Who appointed these sacraments?
A. The Lord Jesus Christ.
Q. 124. Why did Christ appoint these sacraments?
A. To distinguish his disciples from the world, and to comfort and strengthen them.
Q. 125. What is baptism?
A. The quickly dipping of a person completely under water and then back up.
Q. 126. What is baptism a sign of?
A. That we have been united with Christ, and that we are cleansed from all sin by His blood.
Q. 127. In whose name are we baptized?
A. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Q. 128. Who are to be baptized?
A. Only persons who have exercised faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Q. 129. What is the Lord’s Supper?
A. The eating of bread and the drinking of the cup in remembrance of the sufferings and death of Christ.
Q. 130. What does the bread represent?
A. The body of Christ, broken for our sins.
Q. 131. What does the cup represent?
A. The blood of Christ, shed for our salvation.
Q. 132. Who should partake of the Lord’s Supper?
A. Only those who repent of their sins, believe in Christ for salvation, and love their fellow men.
Q. 133. Did Christ remain in the tomb after his crucifixion?
A. No; he rose from the tomb on the third day after his death.
Q. 134. Where is Christ now?
A. In heaven, interceding for sinners.
Q. 135. Will he come again?
A. Yes; at the last day Christ will come to judge the world.
Q. 136. What happens to men at death?
A. The body returns to dust, and the soul goes into the world of spirits.
Q. 137. Will the bodies of the dead be raised to life again?
A. Yes; “The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised.” (1 Cor.15:52)
Q. 138. What will become of the wicked in the Day of Judgment?
A. They shall he cast into hell.
Q. 139. What is hell?
A. A place of terrible and eternal torment.
Q. 140. What will become of the righteous?
A. They shall be taken to heaven.
Q. 141. What is heaven?
A. A glorious and happy place, where the righteous shall be forever with the
Lord.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Daddy Day at Marbles Museum
Well, its like after mid-night, and I should be in the bed sleeping because I have an early morning tomorrow, but I guess that grande coffee at 6pm and glass of Coke at 8pm were too much for me. So, since I can't sleep I thought I would post a short blog about my day today.
I took the boys out for a "Daddy-Day." In case you don't know what that is, thats where it's just me and the boys all day... or most of the day. We left this morning around 7:30am to go to McDonalds for breakfast. And then shortly after, we headed to Raleigh to go to the Marbles Museum. (We were actually headed to a place called the "Playspace" on Glenwood Ave., but it no longer exists.) I wish the internet could be updated with information like that.
Anyway, we ended up finally getting there around 11:30am. So, we went ahead and ate lunch in the park before going in. But once we were in... Whoa, let the fun begin! There was so much to do and so many kids! Oh my goodness, it was like controlled chaos! I mean seriously, my boys played there for 3.5 hours and would have stayed longer, and we maybe did half the stuff you could do. But boy, they had a blast. I have posted a few photos below of our day.
Taite especially loved the HUGE Thomas the Train set...
Both boys really liked the water stuff. Here was a continuous running fountain layed out like a river with a waterfall at the end. They were a little wet after this.
This had to have been their favorite. It was the "peas and carrots" bin. (ball pit) They must have went in like 30 times. We even left for a while to go do something else, and ended up coming back to finish the day here. They loved it!
Here they were supposed to be learning about other cultures in the world, like how Eskimos sometimes live. I must confess, we didn't do much learning... just playing.
Not sure what happened to this last picture of Taite with "snow shoes" on... maybe my computer savy wife can figure it out for me.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Seniors and Obama's Healthcare Proposals
I guess I'm a little surprised that more senior citizens aren't concerned about this new government ran healthcare system that the President is pushing. Under the current situation, seniors probably have the best access to free medical care as anybody through Medicare and Medicaid. But will that continue if these new proposals go into effect? Not likely.
Currently there are approximately 800,000 doctors struggling to care for some 250 million Americans with insurance. And when I say struggling, I mean it... my personal doctor has so many senior patients I have to wait days to see him when I need to. So, what is going to happen when 50+ million more patients are added to the system without a growth in the number of medical professionals? Doctors who are already swamped are going to be even more swamped. Forget waiting days or a few weeks to get much needed tests or check-ups... we will be waiting months, and in some cases years. We see this happening right now in Canada and England.
Did you know that there is a 25% high death rate in Canada for colon cancer than the USA? Why? Because of limited colonoscopies. Did you know that the death rate for cancer is 16% higher in Canadan than the USA? Why? Again, limited procedures... limited space... limited doctors. When there is an overwhelming demand and minimal amount of service providers of course rationing is going to take place.
So, when a 40 year old and a 65 year old both need knee replacements, who will most likely get it?
When an elderly person and a young person both need hip replacement, who will most likely get it?
Who will have priority in the operating room, a 70 year old diabetic or a 35 year old healthy individual?
I know our current system is not perfect... believe me, I can't stand paying over $600 a month just so I can get reduced rates when I go to the doctor every once in a blue moon! But if the gov't has any kind of track record for running anything... it is terrible!! And I just hate to see what's going to happen when they do this. Of course, we can already see what's going to happen... just look at the countries who are already doing this. I marvel at how moronic some people can be!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Church - Having It Your Way
Tonight, I attended our local associational meeting of Baptist churches to hear about what God is doing in Eastern N.C. in the way of church planting. I'm excited to see how God is working, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we have 6 different church plants or missions going on right now in our association. That is awesome because I didn't think there were that many.
One of the defining characteristics of most new churches being planted that I see (and older churches for that matter) is that each is targeting a specific group of people. If you like hard rock sounding music with a worship experience that feels like a concert, then we have a church for you. If you like high-church, liturgical worship that is very reverential, then we have a church for you as well. Maybe you like Harley's and tattoos... we have a church for you. If you like cowboy hats and spurs... we have a church for you. And in a way it is really good that we have so many different types of churches, because there are so many different types of people.
However, at the same time, I mourn a little that Christians have become so consumer-minded when it comes to church than really doing what is, I believe, more Biblical. Because in my humble opinion, I believe that the church that we should really belong to, worship with, and serve with, is the church where we live. Rather than our own preferences being the primary motivation, what about the community we're already a part of by living there? In other words, it's about being in a community and loving & serving that community of people no matter what type of people live there. I mean, I know people who will drive more than 30 miles away 2-3 times a week to attend a church that has more to offer them. What about the community in which they live? What about their brothers and sisters in Christ living 2 doors down the street? Maybe they need encouragement... maybe they need help. When did it become all about "me" and "what I want" rather than being about Christ and what He would desire?
Please understand this post, I'm not knocking new church plants or the pastors and people who are starting them. There are entire people groups out there in our own culture, that churches like mine just aren't reaching and probably won't reach b/c we're just too different. But for those of us who are established disciples, I believe we would do well to re-examine our motivations when it comes to selecting a church. Isn't the New Testament attitude more like "what can I offer," rather than "what can I get?" It reminds me of the situation in which a woman told her pastor that she was moving her membership to a bigger church because their current church just didn't have a good youth group to offer her children. To this the wise old pastor said, "Well, mam... until someone stays and builds a youth group, they'll never be one."
One of the defining characteristics of most new churches being planted that I see (and older churches for that matter) is that each is targeting a specific group of people. If you like hard rock sounding music with a worship experience that feels like a concert, then we have a church for you. If you like high-church, liturgical worship that is very reverential, then we have a church for you as well. Maybe you like Harley's and tattoos... we have a church for you. If you like cowboy hats and spurs... we have a church for you. And in a way it is really good that we have so many different types of churches, because there are so many different types of people.
However, at the same time, I mourn a little that Christians have become so consumer-minded when it comes to church than really doing what is, I believe, more Biblical. Because in my humble opinion, I believe that the church that we should really belong to, worship with, and serve with, is the church where we live. Rather than our own preferences being the primary motivation, what about the community we're already a part of by living there? In other words, it's about being in a community and loving & serving that community of people no matter what type of people live there. I mean, I know people who will drive more than 30 miles away 2-3 times a week to attend a church that has more to offer them. What about the community in which they live? What about their brothers and sisters in Christ living 2 doors down the street? Maybe they need encouragement... maybe they need help. When did it become all about "me" and "what I want" rather than being about Christ and what He would desire?
Please understand this post, I'm not knocking new church plants or the pastors and people who are starting them. There are entire people groups out there in our own culture, that churches like mine just aren't reaching and probably won't reach b/c we're just too different. But for those of us who are established disciples, I believe we would do well to re-examine our motivations when it comes to selecting a church. Isn't the New Testament attitude more like "what can I offer," rather than "what can I get?" It reminds me of the situation in which a woman told her pastor that she was moving her membership to a bigger church because their current church just didn't have a good youth group to offer her children. To this the wise old pastor said, "Well, mam... until someone stays and builds a youth group, they'll never be one."
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Proud to be a Southern Baptist
Last week, I attended the annual Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, KY. I had a good time and once again, I can gladly say that I am proud to be Southern Baptist.
One of the things I am most proud of is the fact that for the vast majority of Southern Baptists, the main thing is still to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ all over the world. This was demonstrated in several ways last week in Kentucky:
1) Before the convention ever took place, many Southern Baptists were hitting the streets of Louisville helping those in need, passing out food, and sharing the love of Jesus with those who needed to hear it. And God greatly blessed our efforts. In those brief couple of days, there were over 1,000 decisions made to follow Christ. Praise God! It makes me very proud to be able to say that when we come to a city to meet, we don't just have our meetings and leave... we really try to bless that city!
2) Another demonstration of Southern Baptist's commitment to the Great Commission was seen in the motion that was made and passed, which authorized the current SBC President, Dr. Johnny Hunt to appoint and head a "Great Commission Task Force" to study and evaluate everything going on in the SBC, in order to report back at next year's convention with recommendations concerning how we can get even more focused and even more intentional about carrying the good news about Jesus all over the world.
Something else that I am proud of is the Resolution that was passed concerning President Obama. While we as Southern Baptists are proud of the fact that enough racial reconciliation has been accomplished in this country to make it so a black man can be elected president, at the same time there are quite a few of President Obama's policies that are just wrong and ungodly, and these things were denounced in this resolution. For example:
1) his decision to provide federal funding for embryonic stemcell research...
2) his actions to provide more funding for organizations doing more late-term abortions and less funding for abstinence education... and
3) his overwhelming support of the whole homosexual agenda, even evidenced as recently by the proclaiming of June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.
Even just today, I was reading in news story that Obama made the statement that many Americans still cling to "worn arguments and old attitudes." Well, maybe so Mr. President but these "old attitudes" are BIBLICAL attitudes. These were issues that we needed to speak out against and so I'm glad we did.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Obama & the National Day of Prayer
I know it's in the news right now how a lot of people are upset that President Obama is not really observing the National Day of Prayer like former presidents have done in the past, but you know for me (and this may surprise some people coming from me), but its really not that big of a deal for me. I guess most people, knowing that I'm a conservative Christian pastor would expect me to be very upset, but I'm really not. And here's why?
First of all, much of these National Day of Prayer Ceremonies are nothing more than a lot of political show. If someone is not living as a devoted believer on a daily basis, with prayer being a regular part of their lives anyway... then what good is it to all of a sudden to pretend to be one, one day out of the year? In my opinion - none at all.
Second, I generally do not like these National Day of Prayer Ceremonies because they are so ecumenical in nature. To me it is simply theologically dishonest and hypocritical to hold hands with people of many varying faiths and pretend to all be praying to the same God. The most dramatic example probably being Christians and Muslims both participating at the same time. Here you have two faiths that couldn't be more opposite, supposing and pretending to be brothers uniting together for prayer. The book of Amos 3:3 states, "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?" And the obvious answer is no, they can't. Even Christians and Orthodox Jews can't honestly meet together for prayer as brothers. Biblically we can only go to God in prayer through Jesus the Messiah, and they reject Jesus as the Messiah. So, all these different religious groups coming together for such purposes as prayer or worship or even missions with no basis in truth, in my opinion is not theologically honest or Biblically correct. Now agreeing to work together for some kind of specific social reform like world hunger, abortion, or the traditional view of marriage is completely different; I have no problem with that. But when you start talking about praying together and worshiping together, thats different b/c each one is making the implication that the other faith is just as valid as theirs, and that is not always true.
So, for me it's not a real big deal that President Obama is not participating in this event. The only little thing that does bother me about it is the question... why is he doing this and who is he doing it for? Let's face it... he's a politician, he's supposed to do things like this, especially since he's made the claim to be a born again Christian. Now, of course, I don't believe he's a Christian anymore than Job's turkey, but he himself has made the claim, so why is doing this? What is his motivation for breaking this presidential traditional? Is there a certain minority group of the population that he is doing this for? These are the only things that I wonder about. Maybe he's finally revealing his true self... an Unbeliever. If so, I respect him for at least being real.
First of all, much of these National Day of Prayer Ceremonies are nothing more than a lot of political show. If someone is not living as a devoted believer on a daily basis, with prayer being a regular part of their lives anyway... then what good is it to all of a sudden to pretend to be one, one day out of the year? In my opinion - none at all.
Second, I generally do not like these National Day of Prayer Ceremonies because they are so ecumenical in nature. To me it is simply theologically dishonest and hypocritical to hold hands with people of many varying faiths and pretend to all be praying to the same God. The most dramatic example probably being Christians and Muslims both participating at the same time. Here you have two faiths that couldn't be more opposite, supposing and pretending to be brothers uniting together for prayer. The book of Amos 3:3 states, "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?" And the obvious answer is no, they can't. Even Christians and Orthodox Jews can't honestly meet together for prayer as brothers. Biblically we can only go to God in prayer through Jesus the Messiah, and they reject Jesus as the Messiah. So, all these different religious groups coming together for such purposes as prayer or worship or even missions with no basis in truth, in my opinion is not theologically honest or Biblically correct. Now agreeing to work together for some kind of specific social reform like world hunger, abortion, or the traditional view of marriage is completely different; I have no problem with that. But when you start talking about praying together and worshiping together, thats different b/c each one is making the implication that the other faith is just as valid as theirs, and that is not always true.
So, for me it's not a real big deal that President Obama is not participating in this event. The only little thing that does bother me about it is the question... why is he doing this and who is he doing it for? Let's face it... he's a politician, he's supposed to do things like this, especially since he's made the claim to be a born again Christian. Now, of course, I don't believe he's a Christian anymore than Job's turkey, but he himself has made the claim, so why is doing this? What is his motivation for breaking this presidential traditional? Is there a certain minority group of the population that he is doing this for? These are the only things that I wonder about. Maybe he's finally revealing his true self... an Unbeliever. If so, I respect him for at least being real.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
New Sec. of Heath Seems More Preoccupied with Death
It is so ironic that Obama's new appointment for the Secretary of Heath and Human Services be a person so obviously preoccupied with DEATH. But that is precisely the case with Kathleen Sebelius, Governor of Kansas, who's avid support of abortion rights, especially late-term abortion, is so blatantly clear.
The following report is taken from an article written by Bradley Mattes, Executive Director of the Life Issues Institute:
As Governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius has worked to oppose: parental notification before a minor daughter can have a surgical abortion, waiting periods before having an abortion, and informed consent. She has vetoed pro-life legislation that would have afforded women basic health care protections in abortion facilities, as well as one requiring specific medical reasons for a late-term abortion. Just before becoming Secretary of HHS, she vetoed a bill that would have required that abortionists provide statistical information to the state when doing late-term abortions.
Kathleen Sebelius has strong ties to the notorious late-term abortionist in Wichita, KS, George Tiller (also known as “Tiller the Killer”). Women from throughout the nation come to him for late-term abortions. He has faced multiple federal charges for doing illegal late-term abortions.
Ms. Sebelius’ confirmation hearings revealed that she underpaid her taxes by thousands of dollars. She also greatly under-reported the campaign contributions given to her by George Tiller. It was three times more than she reported under oath. She also failed to report that George Tiller had personally given $200,000 to a political action committee to elect her. Governor Sebelius even held a secret party at the governor’s mansion in honor of this late-term abortionist.
Kathleen Sebelius is not just pro-abortion, she’s a pro-abortion activist, with a special advocacy for late-term abortion.
It's comforting to know that the person so responsible for matters of health and life, seems more bent on ending life than preserving it.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Church Discipline - Tough Subject
Tonight at our Wednesday night Bible study, we ended up discussing church discipline, or as some might call it - excommunication. We very quickly looked at 3 major passages that dealt with this topic: 1 Tim.1:18-20; 1 Corin.5; and Matt.18:15-17. This is a really tough subject for the modern church for many reasons. One reason is, for years now pastors just haven't had the backbone to preach the whole counsel of God, and therefore many sincere believers are completely ignorant of what God's word says. Another reason is, we live in a very tolerant, relativistic culture... which boils down to everyone is afraid to tell anyone their wrong about anything. People have forgotten that we are not the standard, God's word is, we aren't the Judge; He is. And finally, church discipline is for maintaining the purity of the collective body of Christ, as well as helping individuals believers be as close to God as possible... and its sad to say, but I just don't think the vast majority of believers in churches across this nation today are really all that concerned with their own personal holiness before God. So, if we're not concerned with our own, then we're certainly not going to hold anyone else accountable, and rightly so.
Now, one very important aspect about this is, people MUST understand... this is not about punishment or retribution... it's about RESTORATION. Because a professing believer living in a lifestyle of unrepentant sin is NOT in fellowship with God, and gives more evidence of being still dead in their sin and separated from God, as opposed to being alive in Christ and reconciled to God. And it truly breaks my heart for the millions of people out there with their name on a church roll, who believe when they die they're going to heaven, when in all probability... they're not. And it absolutely infuriates me with all the pseudo-churches out there, who claim to be Christian, but who have long since abandoned the Scriptures, who do nothing but deceive and lull people into spiritual apathy. I fear for the pastors of those so-called churches when they stand before God and answer for all the souls who were under their care. Church Discipline is indeed a tough subject... but one desperately needed in the modern church in America.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Rainy Days
What do you do on rainy days when you just have to get out of the house? Well, in our town there's really not much more to do than to go to the local Wal-Mart and play with the toys! So, that's what we did. As you can see, we especially liked the toy leaf-blowers and the foam swords. Make sense... after a hard days work... everyone has to let off some steam. :)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Insane Religious News Stories - So Funny, It's Sad
Story #1
The Episcopal Church defrocked long-time priest, Ann Redding, after she failed to renounce her faith in Islam. Redding, who became a Muslim in 2006, has maintained that she also remained a practicing Christian. She alleged that neither faith contradicted the other, but the Episcopal Church leaders did not agree, stating that a priest of the church cannot be both a Christian and a Muslim.
Story #2
Don't have time to pray... No problem, let the computer do it for you! For those without time to pray, but yet still want a little religion in their life... a website started right here in the United States, offers the soft apostasy of "prayer out-sourcing." Users of the site may subscribe and let the company's computers recite prayers for them using text-to-speech software. For example, protestant subscribers can pay $3.95 a month for a computer to recite the Lord's Prayer each day for them. The website also encourages Catholics "to show God you're really serious" by purchasing "The Complete Rosary Package" - for the small fee of $50. The site even has prayers for Muslims and get this... promises to point the speakers toward Mecca!
I promise these were actual news stories from World Magazine.
See for yourself at www.worldmag.com.
The Episcopal Church defrocked long-time priest, Ann Redding, after she failed to renounce her faith in Islam. Redding, who became a Muslim in 2006, has maintained that she also remained a practicing Christian. She alleged that neither faith contradicted the other, but the Episcopal Church leaders did not agree, stating that a priest of the church cannot be both a Christian and a Muslim.
Story #2
Don't have time to pray... No problem, let the computer do it for you! For those without time to pray, but yet still want a little religion in their life... a website started right here in the United States, offers the soft apostasy of "prayer out-sourcing." Users of the site may subscribe and let the company's computers recite prayers for them using text-to-speech software. For example, protestant subscribers can pay $3.95 a month for a computer to recite the Lord's Prayer each day for them. The website also encourages Catholics "to show God you're really serious" by purchasing "The Complete Rosary Package" - for the small fee of $50. The site even has prayers for Muslims and get this... promises to point the speakers toward Mecca!
I promise these were actual news stories from World Magazine.
See for yourself at www.worldmag.com.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Species Confusion?
This is Dinah, our cat. However, as you can see from the picture, she likes to sit up on her back legs alot. I think she thinks she's a meerkat or something. (haha)
No, but seriously... she's a good kitty. This week since Andrea has been gone, me and Dinah have gotten close. She keeps me company no matter what room I'm in. :)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Snow Days!
Andrea said before she left for Charlotte, "Watch it snow while we're gone." Well, it did. Charlotte got about 2 inches also, but I believe we got a little more than that. I wish Caleb and Taite had been here to play in it. I'm not sure how much playing I myself could have done, seeing as how I've been sick for the last 3 days, but I would have really loved to see them!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Proper Theology Through Catechism Questions
I've started teaching theology to my son Caleb who is 4 years through an old tool... Catechism Questions. I just started the other day and already he has 3 questions down. Here are the 3 he has down so far:
1) Who made you? Answer: God (or Jesus, as Caleb says)
2) What else did "Jesus" make? Answer: He made all things.
3) Why did Jesus make you and all things? Answer: For His own glory.
Caleb is so cute when he says, "For his own glory." Now, I know that he doesn't get the meaning of all that yet, but that's not the point. The point is simply to expose them to the proper theology, get it in grained on their little hearts, and one day as they mature, they will come to know what it means. Catechism questions is a time-tested tool for educating our children in the things of God. Many great men and women of God have used them successfully for hundreds of years. And as a Christian father, this is one of my passions... I want to really educate my children in the things of God. I absolutely can't wait until they're teenagers and in the church youth group. No spiritual milk for my boys... their youth pastor better come with some meat!
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Reminder for 2009 About Why I AM Here
The Apostle Paul wrote to his young son in the faith, Timothy, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 2 Timothy 2:2, "the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
This is basically just Paul's way of restating the Great Commission of Jesus Christ found in Matthew 28:18-20. And it is a reminder for me concerning my purpose for living in 2009. This is what God has created me, saved me, and called me for... that I may take the things I have heard and learned from Him and committ these truths about God to other faithful men who will not only grow themselves to be closer and better disciples in 2009, but that they will eventually in turn teach others the things that they have learned.
Why am I here? To glorify the Lord God by doing everything in my power to make disciples of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Happy New Year and "God bless us, everyone!" - Tiny Tim.
This is basically just Paul's way of restating the Great Commission of Jesus Christ found in Matthew 28:18-20. And it is a reminder for me concerning my purpose for living in 2009. This is what God has created me, saved me, and called me for... that I may take the things I have heard and learned from Him and committ these truths about God to other faithful men who will not only grow themselves to be closer and better disciples in 2009, but that they will eventually in turn teach others the things that they have learned.
Why am I here? To glorify the Lord God by doing everything in my power to make disciples of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Happy New Year and "God bless us, everyone!" - Tiny Tim.
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