Church Pirates

not a huge fan of Ed Young but this is so true.


Church Pirates always:

• move just down the street
• take members with them
• say it is of God
• are church trans-plants (from or cause a minor or major split in church)
• grow by getting other church members and claim they are reaching their community. 
• are in your Church.....
• are in your community

I Would love to hear your thoughts.......

Sproul- Consorting with Whores

That there is a deep and profound chasm that separates believing in the total depravity of man and our own understanding of the depth and scope of our own sin is a potent sign of the depth and scope of our own sin. “Total depravity” is a true and sound biblical doctrine about how the fall has impacted mankind. We are sinful in every part of our being and utterly unable, precisely because we are unwilling, to embrace the work of Christ on our behalf unless He changes us first. Because we are totally depraved, however, we see this as a doctrine about man, rather than an actual self-description. We distinguish between the problems of “man” and our own problems. It is safe to speak ill of man, but dangerous and sad business to look too closely into our own hearts of darkness. So instead we think ourselves as partaking in a general sense of this depravity thing, but see it manifest in our own lives in nice, clean ways. We have a high view of God’s holiness, of His law, and so confess with all due piety that we are sinners indeed, rebels against the living God, in a nice, clean, abstract sort of way.

The living God, however, has a far more accurate and potent picture of what we are. We are whores. We are shameless, self-degrading, crass and crude. We throw ourselves at strangers, selling our dignity for cash. Worse still, after He has redeemed us, washed us, even married us, we go back for more. We turn tricks before the all-seeing eyes of a Husband who suffered hell for us. Again He comes and washes us. He holds us. He confesses His love for us. He promises He will never leave us. He makes us new again.

But because we are still proud, we parade around in the beautiful gown with which He has covered us, suggesting that it surely had a few spots, a wrinkle or two on it before He found us.  But they were nice, respectable spots and wrinkles. What we should be confessing is that it was once stained through with our whoredom. The joy of the Lord is not that He took we who were mostly clean and made us wholly clean. The joy of the Lord isn’t that because He worked in us no one needs to know our former shame. The joy of the Lord is that while we were out walking the streets He came for us. While others paid to pollute us, He paid to redeem us.

Our Father told us a story so that we would know what we are. He gave us a prophet, Hosea. And we, sinners that we are, instead of confessing to being Gomer, thought He was telling us to be more like Hosea. “Oh,” we humbly confess, “we should be so much more compassionate towards the really bad people. Please forgive us for not being more loving toward the unseemly ones of this world.” The truth is He is confessing that we are the unseemly ones. That’s what we are, the people Jesus died for and married, the people adopted and loved of the Father, the people indwelt and being cleansed by the Spirit — God in three persons, consorting with such as we.

Spurgeon- The Reason For the Season

Christ did not merely speak the truth, but he was truth. Had he been truth embodied in an angelic form, he had possessed small power over our hearts and lives; but perfect truth in a human form has royal power over renewed humanity. Truth embodied in flesh and blood has power over flesh and blood. Hence, for this purpose was he born.

So when ye hear the bells ringing out at Christmas, think of the reason why Jesus was born; dream not that he came to load your tables and fill your cups; but in your mirth look higher than all earth-born things. When you hear that in certain churches there are pompous celebrations and ecclesiastical displays, think not for this purpose was Jesus born.

No; but look within your hearts, and say, for this purpose was he born: that he might be a King, that he might rule through the truth in the souls of a people who are by grace made to love the truth of God.

(Pyro)

Music Idolatry?

Bob Kauflin is Director of Worship Development for Sovereign Grace Ministries. He is also one of the worship leaders at the Church Josh Harris pastors. 


He says....Music turns from a gift to a god when we look to it for the joy, comfort, power & satisfaction only God can give. Here are 5 indicators that might be happening. 

1. We choose to attend a church or a meeting based on the music rather than the preaching of the gospel and God’s word.
Nowhere in the Bible are we told that the church is to gather around music. We gather around the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ. We gather to hear God’s Word in the Spirit’s power. Eph. 2:13-14 says the blood of Christ unites us, not music. 

2. We can’t worship in song apart from a particular song, style, leader, or sound.Anytime I say, I can’t worship unless X happens, or X is present, unless X is the death of our Savior on the cross for our sins or the power of his Spirit, we are engaging in idolatry. At that moment, X is more important to us than God’s command to love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength. That doesn’t mean that there are no bad songs, lousy leaders, or inappropriate styles. But being discerning is different from being unable to worship God at all. 

3. We think music leads us into or brings God’s presence.Here’s what music can do. It can affect us emotionally. Create a mood. Soften our hearts so that we listen more intently. Help us hear words differently. Distract us from what’s going on. Help us focus on what’s going on. Help us remember words. And more. 

Here’s what music can’t do. Make God more present. Bring God’s presence down. Bring us into God’s presence. Manipulate God. (Heb. 10:19-22; 1 Tim. 2:5).  There is only one mediator, and it’s not a song, style, leader, or sound. It’s Jesus Christ. 

4. Poor musical performance leads us to sin against other band members or the musicians leading us.We’re hardly representing God’s heart when we get angry, frustrated, or impatient with musicians who don’t play up to our standards. God’s standards are perfection, and they’ve been met in Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life in our place and died as our substitute, enduring the wrath of God in our place. ALL our offerings, no matter how well or poorly offered, are perfected through the once and for all offering of the Savior. We can strive for excellence to serve others, while extended to others the same grace we’ve received. 

5. A love for music has replaced a love for the things of God.
It’s possible to listen to music that’s destroying your soul and be completely dull to it. To become enslaved by an idol and you feel like you’re breaking free. In his confessions, Augustine said “For he loves thee too little who loves along with thee anything else that he does not love for thy sake.” I have no doubt we love music.  But do we love music for God’s sake or for ours?

To sum up:
Music is useful, but not necessary.
Music is good. But Jesus is better.
Music is a gift, but not a god.
Music isn’t my life. Christ is.

The gifts of God are meant to deepen our relationship with God and create fresh affection for him. Not replace him.

Crazy Free Throw!

I wish The Heels could catch this kind of break, about 10 times per game! :)

Matthew 1:21

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21

• Jesus- “Jesus” is from the Hebrew Jehovah is salvation. Joshua (Jehovah saves) is the Old Testament name for Jesus. “Jesus” is the human name and “Christ” is His official title. The name “Jesus” occurs 150 times in Matthew.

Matthew announced that God would act uniquely and graciously through Jesus. Jesus’ most single role is that of Savior. The word “He” is emphatic, demonstrating that “He and no other” will save people from their sins.

• save- has the basic meaning of rescuing one from great peril. Additional nuances include to protect, keep alive, preserve life, deliver, heal, be made whole. 

• sins- the penalty thereof......

Randy Alcorn:

"I have written about Hell in a number of my books, both nonfiction and fiction. It is an unpleasant subject, one which modern Christians are tempted to avoid and deny. And the church’s avoidance of it inevitably leads to many church-goers denying it.

I wrote in my book If God Is Good that if we regard Hell as a divine overreaction to sin, we deny that God has the moral right to inflict ongoing punishment on any humans he created to exist forever. By denying Hell, we deny the extent of God’s holiness and the extent of our evil. We deny the extreme seriousness of sin. And, worst of all, we deny the extreme magnificence of God’s grace in Christ’s blood, shed for us on the cross. For if the evils he died for aren’t big enough to warrant eternal punishment, then perhaps the grace he showed us on the cross isn’t big enough to warrant eternal praise.

The greatest kindness we can offer people, coming out of a life of humility and faithfulness to Christ, is the good news about Jesus and his saving grace. Spurgeon said, “If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay....If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned or unprayed for.”

Another Tar Heel Dunk

 

J.R. Smith never played for The Heels but he would have had he not gone pro out of High School. He came back and played at one of the Alumni games.
Great Dunk!

I believe these words!

I Die Believing These Words

“Robert Bruce, the disciple of John Knox and Andrew Melville, died at Kinnaird on July 27th, 1631. He had come to breakfast and his younger daughter sat by his side. As he mused in silence, suddenly he cried, ‘Hold, daughter, hold; my Master calleth me.’ He asked that the Bible should be brought, but his sight failed him and he could not read. ‘Cast me up the eighth of Romans,’ cried he, and he repeated much of the latter portion of this Scripture till he came to the last two verses: ‘I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ ‘Set my finger on these words,’ said the blind, dying man; ‘God be with you, my children. I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus this night. I die believing these words.’”

Marcus L. Loane, The Hope of Glory (Waco, 1968), page 160.

(HT Ray Ortlund)

Tripped Up

One of the Jets Coaches trips Miami player!

Advice to Worship Leaders- Great Stuff!

Ed Stetzer - Guest Post from Philip Nation: Advice to Worship Leaders

What do you Think?

Watch out for that Camel in Church!

Keep the animals out of the sanctuary......

Go Tell It on the Mountain?

When I heard this spirit filled rendition of Go Tell It on the Mountain a few things came to mind like:


1. I wonder if the first Christians were as excited to Go Tell as Merna is to sing...


2. Does Wal Mart still sell that sweater.


3. Are those flowers real? Can't tell with that close up


4. Half of our Church looks like this every Sunday morning when we sing.... we sound better though :)

Pride and Determination

This video shows both the Pride and Determination of man all in the same play! Great job Baker.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Pick up line for Calvinist

You know it's funny! :)

Liam Neeson on Aslan

Voice of Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia

From a Daily Mail interview with actor Liam Neeson, the voice of Aslan in the Narnia films:


"Aslan symbolises a Christ-like figure but he also symbolises for me Mohammed, Buddha and all the great spiritual leaders and prophets over the centuries.
That’s who Aslan stands for as well as a mentor figure for kids – that’s what he means for me."

Poor Liam Neeson has tried to lump Jesus in with regular dudes. Sad. Hope someone will share the Gospel with him. Last time I checked Jesus was being worshipped by the Angels as The Lord.

1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“ You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
“ Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“ Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Ty Lawson! Tar Heel

Exegesis

[ek''-suh-jee''-sis] (Greek exegeisthai, “to explain” or “to interpret,” from Greek ex-, “out of” or “from” + Greek hegeisthai, “to guide”)


With respect to biblical interpretation, it involves the process of critical analysis of the given text to produce direct, logical conclusions (utilizing the who, what when, where, why method). It often involves the evaluation of the original texts of the Bible (OT-Hebrew, NT-Greek).

Good quote:
A concern for the reverent and accurate interpretation of God’s word functions simultaneously as both a necessary speed bump that keeps us from running roughshod over the text and a guard rail protecting us from veering off into the ugly ditch of academic gamesmanship.

Vince Carter- Top 10 Dunks

Since The Heels are so bad this year, I thought I would post some former players great plays. Just to remember the good ol days.... and to make me feel better! :)

In Yo Face Battier

I Love seein a Dookie get dunked on!!

Great Interception!

This is how I used to do it at Sugar Loaf!!

Wide Receiver drops pass then blames God

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson did this…




Then he tweeted this:

He must believe in the God Fairy......

(22 words)

More on TSA "pat downs"

Mac on Being Thankful

The Bible repeatedly stresses the importance of giving thanks. “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving” (Ps. 50:14). “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His works with joyful singing” (Ps. 107:21–22). “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Thy name, O Most High” (Ps. 92:1). “Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Eph. 5:20).

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:17). “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15). Thanksgiving should permeate our speech, our songs, and our prayers.

Our Lord knew the importance of giving thanks. In Matthew 11:25 He said, “I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes.” Before feeding the five thousand, Jesus “took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated” (John 6:11). Just before raising Lazarus from the dead, “Jesus raised His eyes, and said, ‘Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me’ ” (John 11:41).

Revelation 7:11 tells us that the angels give thanks: “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’ ”

David (2 Sam. 22:50; Ps. 28:7), the Levites (1 Chron. 16:4; Neh. 12:24), Asaph and his relatives (1 Chron. 16:7), Daniel (Dan. 6:10), and the priests, Levites, and descendants of Asaph (Ezra 3:10–11) also gave thanks to God.

In addition to those positive examples, the Bible teaches that failing to give thanks characterizes the wicked. One indictment of unbelievers is that “even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks” (Rom. 1:21). Evil men are marked by ungratefulness (Luke 6:35; 2 Tim. 3:2).

(Grace to You)

Help Unearthed

Unearthing Sexual Exploitation from Unearthed on Vimeo.

Facts:
The average age of entrance into sex trafficking is 13 years old.
Members of every country and ethnic group perpetuate these crimes.
27 million people are trafficked globally.
There are few places to put people who come out of trafficking.
Few people are aware of this massive issue.

(Resurgence)

Can I Live?- Nick Cannon

Lyrics
[Talking]
Talking Ma
I know the Situation is Personal
But it something that has to be told
As I was making this beat
You was all I could think about you heard my voice

[Verse 1]
Yeah Just think Just Think
What if you could Just
Just blink your self away..
Just Just wait just pause for a second
Let me plead my case
It’s the late 70′s Huh
You Seventeen huh
And having me that will ruin everything huh
It’s alot of angels waiting on their wings
You see me in your sleep so you cant kill your dreams
300 Dollars thats the price of living what?
Mommy I dont like this clinic
Hopefully you’ll make the right decision
And dont go through with the Knife incision
But it’s hard to make the right move
When you in high school
How you have to work all day and take night school
Hopping off da bus when the rain is pouring
What you want morning sickness or the sickness of mourning

[Chorus]
I’ll Always Be a part of you
Trust Your Soul Know it’s always true
If I Could Talk I’d Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE
I’ll Always Be a part of you
Trust Your Soul Know it’s always true
If I Could Talk I’d Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE

[Verse 2]
I am a child of the king
Ain’t no need to go fear me
And I see the flowing tears so know that you hear me
When I move in your womb that’s me being scary
Cause who knows what my future holds
Yo the truth be told you ain’t told a soul
Yo you ain’t even showing I’m just 2 months old
Through your clothes try to hide me deny me
Went up 3 sizes
Your pride got you lying saying ain’t nothing but a migraine
It ain’t surprising you not trying to be in Wic food lines
Your friends will look at you funny but look at you mommy
That’s a life inside you look at your tummy
What is becoming ma I am Oprah bound
You can tell he’s a star from the Ultrasound
Our Sprits Connected Doors Open Now
Nothing But Love And Respect Thanks For Holding Me Down She Let Me Live…

[Chorus]
I’ll Always Be a part of you
Trust Your Soul Know it’s always true
If I Could Talk I’d Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE
I’ll Always Be apart of you
Trust Your Soul Know it’s always true
If I Could Talk I’d Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE

[Repeat 2]
[Nick Talking]
It’s uplifting foreal yall
I ain’t passing no judgement
Ain’t making no decisions
I am just telling ya’ll my story
I love life
I love my mother for giving me life
We all need to appreciate life
A strong woman that had to make a sacrifice
Thanks for listening
Thanks for listening
Mama thanks for listening

Not sure I want to fly anymore...



What!!!


If the TSA is gonna do this.... I'm not sure... What about you?

Pic. from Fox News

Saved from God by Tullian

Tullian writes,


“Edward T. Welch said, ‘The gospel is the story of God covering his naked enemies, bringing them to the wedding feast, and then marrying them rather than crushing them’ … I remember sharing the need to be saved with a college guy in my office. He looked at me and said, ‘You Christians always talk about the need to be saved. I don’t understand. Saved from what?’ Paul said that Jesus ‘rescues us from the coming wrath’ (1 Thessalonians 1:10, NIV). In other words, Jesus came to save us from God! The last person an unrepentant, Christless sinner wants to meet after he or she dies is God” (pp. 97-98).

Cats!

See more funny videos and TBT at Todays Big Thing.

I hate cats but this is pretty cute.......

Doug Wilson erases the Sam Harris chart

How am I supposed to defend the faith against these swamis of reason when they keep making me wheeze like they do?


Sam Harris, aspiring scientist and indignation impresario, is promoting this project, in order to advance the sweet voice of reason. You can look at a really cool graphic they have put together here. The base line represents all the verses of the Bible, and the red lines all arch, like so many mortar shots, to the location of another verse, with which it is supposed to collide. You can then tell at a glance that the Bible is just full of contradictions. The night sky is lit up with them. A really cool graphic is necessary to illustrate this because today's street smart youth know that iPhone apps have dispensed with the need for actual arguments and textual study, you know, the kind with books.

I took a random sampling of just a couple of their contradictions, and addressed them below. I will perhaps be forgiven if I don't work through them all. You don't need to drink the whole bottle to tell that it's vinegar. So, here are a couple drops from their bottle, in all their glory, and I don't think I am risking contradiction when I say we need to look elsewhere if we are looking for Pinot Noir that goes with the tenderloin.

#208 If a husband believes, is his wife saved also? 1 Cor. 7:14, Acts 16:31 ≠ 1 Cor. 7:16

Can you feel your faith teetering? Well, you oughter, you superstitious rube, because here are the verses themselves, actually quoted.

"For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy" (1 Cor. 7:14).

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:31).

Which are said to contradict . . .

"For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?" (1 Cor. 7:16)

Let's see. The name of this venture in high intellectual attainment is Project Reason. I am thinking that maybe they should rename it as Project Literacy, for that is where (it seems to me) the issue may lie.
Scripture tells us that a believing spouse ought not to leave an unbeliever simply because of that unbelief. You don't need to worry that having an unbelieving spouse will pollute any resultant children, for the unbelieving spouse is sanctified with the result that the children are holy (1 Cor. 7:14). So, go ahead, stay married to that unbeliever if the unbeliever is content to remain married. And then, to throw us off completely, we have an account of salvation coming to the entire household of the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:31). Apparently, nobody has taught Sam Harris how doctrine ought to be derived from narrative, along with the corollary of how it ought not to be.

Now, all this is set up as a contradiction to the question posed in 1 Cor. 7:16, which encourages a believing spouse whose unbelieving spouse decides to leave them. We know about this because of an intervening verse, verse 15, a little something that we biblical expositors like to call "context."

"But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace" (1 Cor. 7:15).

So when you look at that poster, with all those red arches proving that the Bible is a tissue of contradictions, just remember that #208 was one of those red lines. Tell yourself that Sam Harris thinks the Bible is unreliable because it tells Christian spouses to stay married to the non-Christian if the non-Christian wants to, and not to worry about it if they don't. Most of us would call this different counsel for different circumstances, but for Sam Harris, it is a contradiction. This, under the banner of Project Reason?

"Put your money in the slot, and push B17 if you want the Fritos. Push D9 if you want the Snickers bar."

"O ho! Can you Christians not see the contradictions?"

"Um, no, actually . . ."

"Let us graph it for you. Let us draw a red line from the Fritos to the Snickers. Now do you see?"

"No."

"Did you go to one of those Christian schools? Did they even have science classes?"

Okay, so maybe that one was a fluke. Let's look at one more before my patience runs out.

#211 Is it OK to make images? Ex. 20:4, Deut. 5:8, Deut. 4:16-18, Dt. 4:23, Deut. 27:15 ≠ Ex. 25:18, 20, Num. 21:8

Now here are the verse, in toto, with a little surplus added. The little surplus is more of that context business.

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them" (Ex. 20:3-5a).

"Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: Dt. 5:8-9a)

"Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath dividedc unto all nations under the whole heaven" (Dt 4:16-19).

"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee" (Dt. 4:23).

"And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen" (Deut. 27:14-15).

All of which is said to contradict . . .

"And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat" (Ex 25:18).

"And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be" (Ex 25:20).

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live" (Num. 21:8).

Follow that? God told the sons of Israel not to make images that they would bow down to or worship, and this is said to contradict the making of images that they did not bow down to or worship. Heh. Let us illustrate this Accomplishment of High Reason with a parallel argument. It is against the rules of soccer to touch the ball with your hands. Does it follow that it is a contradiction to allow the players to kick the ball with their feet? I don't think so, but of course I am not an aspiring scientist like Sam Harris.

Trick Play!

(via Driscoll Middle School in Texas)

The Heavens declare the Glory of God

A brilliant white core is encircled by thick dust lanes in this spiral galaxy, seen edge-on. The galaxy is 50,000 light-years across and 28 million light years from Earth.  
One light year = 5,865,696,000,000 miles


The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1
(truth matters)

"Mommy, I want God to do for me what he's done for Daddy."

Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel, the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, is a New York Times best-selling author of nearly twenty books and has been interviewed on numerous national television programs, including ABC's 20/20, Fox News, and CNN
Share's how his faith in Jesus made an impact on his daughter

How can I tell you the difference God has made in my life? My daughter Allison was 5 years old when I became a follower of Jesus, and all she had known in those five years was a dad who was profane and angry. I remember I came home one night and kicked a hole in the living room wall just out of anger with life. I am ashamed to think of the times Allison hid in her room to get away from me.

Five months after I gave my life to Jesus Christ, that little girl went to my wife and said, "Mommy, I want God to do for me what he's done for Daddy." At age 5! What was she saying? She'd never studied the archeological evidence [regarding the truth of the Bible]. All she knew was her dad used to be this way: hard to live with. But more and more her dad is becoming this way. And if that is what God does to people, then sign her up. At age 5 she gave her life to Jesus.

God changed my family. He changed my world. He changed my eternity.


Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Paranormal Activity 3- Patton

C. Michael gives his final take on Demons:

What I don’t know:


I don’t know if Satan is the “ruler” of all the demons.

Though there does seem to be a ruler of at least some of the demonic forces; Rev. 9:11. Is there a hierarchy? Do all the demons “like” or agree with Satan? Maybe there is internal disagreements and rebellion?

I don’t know why Satan battles against the Lord. Does he think he can actually win?

This is perhaps the most bizarre wonderment concerning the issue of Satan and the demons. When Satan entered Judas, betrayed Christ, and had him killed, did he actually think he won? This makes me pause and wonder two things: 1) How much of the future does he really know? 2) Does he not believe the Bible concerning his end? I guess my question is How good is Satan’s theology?

I don’t know how much demons really know. Are they smart?

Could it be that they have been here so long that they have lost focus in many cases? Could it be that certain types of demons have a really screwed up worldview? After reading Spirit of the Rainforest and hearing of people’s experience with demons, I am confused. Many demons seem very confused. Many don’t not even seem to believe in God. Could there be demonic atheists? Could it be that the noetic effect of sin can be applied to demonic minds.

I don’t know why demons were confessing a correct view of Christ before other people (Mark 3:11).

What where they thinking? Were they compelled to confess him? It seems rather counter-productive.

I don’t know why there is no mention of a plan of redemption for demons.

It could be, as Thomas Aquinas thought, that demons, since they are not part of one species called “angels” could not be represented by Christ all at once. In other words, Christ would have to die for each demon individually in order for them to find alternate representation.

I don’t know how much organization there is among demons.

I don’t know if they have “board meetings” once a month, or if the left hand knows what the right hand is doing. Being finite, both spatially and gnostically, they are limited beings. Do they really communicate that much. How? Is there a central plan? Is there a demonic Facebook?

I don’t know how they travel.

I don’t think they have the power of transportation, like on Star Trek. It would seem that they have to travel and it takes time (Dan. 10:11-21). This may have implications on how well organized they are.

What I imagine to be the case:

I imagine that Satan deceives demons into thinking their is hope.

I imagine that Satan is self-deceived into thinking there is hope.

I imagine that most demons are aware and believe in basic theological facts but I don’t know how well they put this together.

I imagine that there is a lower form of demons who are not “up to speed” on things. They are just going about their daily business without much knowledge or concern for any “bigger plan.”

Paranormal Activity 2- Patton

What I am pretty sure of:


I am pretty sure that all demons, including Satan, are beings that have been around from creation or before.

Although, it could be that only some of them have been around that long. Satan was in the Garden, but when did the rest “fall”?

I am pretty sure that they cannot enter into a believer.I know that this will shock some people that I don’t have this under “what I know.” While it seems odd that the presence of a demon and the presence of the Holy Spirit could be in the same habitation, I am only pretty sure of this and for different reasons. 1) The type of “possession” that a demon would take is fundamentally different from the type of possession that the Holy Spirit would take. I don’t believe that the Holy Spirit ontologically indwells believer, while this must be the case when someone “has a demon” (biblical language for demonization). 2) “Demonization” could simply be a matter of degree describing how much control that they have of a person. Not sure it is a black and white issue. Enough on that…

I am pretty sure that most demons are aware of their eventual fate (Luke 8:31)

Though I may be misunderstanding the way “abyss” is being used.

I am pretty sure that there is some sense in which Satan is the “ruler of this world” (Jn. 14:30; 16:11; 2Cor 4:4; Eph. 2:2; 1 Jn 5:19).

I don’t know how to process this though.

I am pretty sure that angels and demons don’t procreate (Matt. 22:30)

Therefore, there is not really a species called “angels” or “demons” in the proper sense. They were all created individually and have no “blood” relation to each other. Each individual angel or demon is its own species, if you will. While they may be alike in many ways, it is not because of genetics!

Part 2

Paranormal Activity?- Patton

C. Michael Patton gives his take on Demons:

As a Christian, I believe in angels, demons, and Satan. The Bible is pretty clear about this.


However, outside of coming to passages that speak of them in Scripture, I have never attempted to make a concerted effort to systematize my theology in this regard. I have not developed a course on angels and demons. I have never taught a class entitled “Satan: Understanding Your Enemy” or anything like that. Why? Because I don’t know that much about them. When it comes to “demonic activity,” an Evangelical buzzword, I don’t really know what it looks like. However, I am somewhat persuaded that most of pop Evangelical demonology systematizes itself around many things that we think we know, not allowing for the vast sea of mystery that is involved here.

Just this morning I prayed that God would protect me from “the Evil one” because this is an important part of our battle: calling on God to rescue us from the devil (Matt. 6:13).

Below is my thoughts out loud about what I know, am pretty sure of, don’t know, and imagine to be the case with regard to Satan and demons.

What I know:

•I know that demons, including Satan, are not omnipresent.

How could they be? They would have to be transcendent to be omnipresent. They are not God. So they are not transcendent. They find extension in space just like we do. They cannot be in more than one place at one time.

•I know that demons, including Satan, are not omniscient.

Maybe they are intelligent. Certainly they are crafty. But they, I assume, are like us, learning and relearning, changing and adapting according to the times.

•I know that Satan is an adversary and an accuser (that is what his name “Satan” and “Devil” mean).

•I know that Satan seeks to keep people from having correct thinking (Rev. 12:9; John 8:44).

•I know that Satan wants us to call into question, change, and distort God’s word (Gen. 3:1-7)

•I know that Satan and demons can “go into” people and animals distorting their thinking and actions.

Although, I don’t know what this means, it seems as if they desire to find a “home” or an ontological presence in living organisms. That is just bizarre. Maybe someday we will understand why. Could it be that at their “fall” they lost their “bodies” and don’t want to be without a physical dwelling? Just speculating.

•I know that Satan desires to take the place of God (Matt. 4:8-10)

•I know that Satan and demons seeks to disguise their deception in a way that appears to be trustworthy (2 Cor. 2:14-15)

•I know that demons can bring about physical debilitation (Matt. 9:33; Matt. 12:22).

•I know that Satan and demons have a decent Christology (i.e. they know who Christ is; Mark 3:11).

•I know that we need God’s protection from Satan (Matt. 6:13)

Part 1

Josh Hamilton- I Am Second.

Josh Hamilton, of the Texas Rangers,  is one of my favorite Baseball players, eventhough I am an avid Yankee fan. Pray for his spiritual growth.

Chandler on John the Baptist

1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
‘ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 11

Mohler on the Crystal Cathedral

In his 1986 book, Your Church Has a Fantastic Future, Schuller provided what he called “A Possibility Thinker’s Guide to a Successful Church.” The book is a manual for a ministry built on pure pragmatism, sensationalistic promotion, a therapeutic message, and a constant and incessant focus on thinking positively.


His message about money was simple: “No church has a money problem; churches only have idea problems,” he asserted.

In an odd and upside-down way, the news of bankruptcy at the Crystal Cathedral makes that point emphatically. The most significant problem at the Crystal Cathedral is not financial, but theological. The issue is not money, but this ministry’s message. The “gospel of success” is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, therapy is no substitute for theology, and “Possibility Thinking” is not the message of the Bible.

It turns out that Robert Schuller offers the best analysis of this crisis with his own words. “No church has a money problem; churches only have idea problems.” The theological crisis in Garden Grove is far more significant than the financial crisis.

(vitamin z)

Hard Heart

In the beginning of Mark 3, after a number of altercations with the Pharisees in chapter 2, Jesus "entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand." (v.1)

"And [the Pharisees] watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him." (v.2)

Jesus asked them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?”

No answer. (v.4)

"And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart." (v.5)

Hardness of heart. What exactly is meant by this phrase used all over the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament? What is the nature of this thing that so angered and grieved Jesus?

Jonathan Edwards helps us to see that "by hardness of heart is meant a heart void of affection. So, to signify the ostrich's being without natural affection to her young, it is said, Job 39:16, "She hardeneth her heart against her young ones, as though they were not her's."" (The Religious Affections, 47)

The Pharisees couldn't care less about the crippled man. Jesus looked around at them, sensing no love or move of affection in them whatsoever. They had no compassion for those around them, their hearts were hard.

God, soften our hearts. Give us the affection that ought to be there—first and foremost for you, and also for others. Give us hearts of compassion for those around us. Let us not be like a cruel mother ostrich, without natural affection for her young.

(Desiring God-  Jeff Lacine )

James MacDonald's Tweet

This morning Pastor James MacDonald tweeted this:
"Crystal Cathedral files bankruptcy. Off u go, onto the garbage heap of history, where everyone who minimizes sin, and the cross belongs"

What do you think? Are you happy the Cathedral has filed for bankruptcy? Why or Why not?

I feel like this every Monday

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Most preachers will understand. I hate Brett beat the Cowboys Sunday

NOOOOOOOOO!

Someone should have stopped this!!!

A Picture says a Thousand Words

The Power of a Photo

(this is a photo of a child at 10 weeks)


Jennifer Rego:

For myself, the power of the photograph is precisely that it is the reminder that I need that defending the unborn is not simply “a cause”, or an “issue”, because people are not causes or issue, they unique, unrepeatable human beings that I have a relationship with simply because we both share our human dignity, and it is simply because of that, that I have an obligation to defend them.

(Vitamin Z)

How to Save trapped Miners!

Wonder if they got paid overtime?

Wall Street Journal

Give God Glory...

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory. Acts 12:23a

Herod Agrippa was not a nice guy–he killed James the brother of John and imprisoned Peter–but no one could deny he was important. He was the grandson of the impressive (and murderous) Herod the Great. He was a friend of Emperors and one of the great princes of the East, ruling over the land of Judea. So when Herod, decked in royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a stirring ovation, it seemed only fitting that the crowds would shout, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

Ah, such a discerning crowd. Such a grateful people. Such a good day to be king. Herod just soaked it all in.

God let it all hang out, and he struck down Herod dead right on the spot.

What made Herod’s crime so serious as to merit such swift retribution? He committed no crime against humanity (not in this moment at least). He decreed no unjust law. He did nothing outwardly heinous. No, Herod’s crime lay in what he failed to do. He did not give God the glory.

No one may mistake us for gods, but someone may hail you as a great quarterback, a fabulous cook, a drop-dead beauty, a powerful preacher, a gifted writer, a tremendous student, a successful entrepreneur, or a really kind person. Now what to do? In most cases rebuking the encourager is a sign of pride more than humility. Just say thank you. But then you ought to quickly say, think, or feel, “to God be the glory.”

We may be self-aware enough not to seek out showers of fame and praise, but it sure is easy to bathe in it when it comes. We all have Herod in our hearts. Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. We love the fame of our name more than the Lord’s.

So remember what Herod forgot: the world does not exist to make our dreams come true. Our friends do exist to make us feel special. The church does not exist to make us feel comfortable. And God does not exist to make much of us. His glory he will not give to another. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1).

(DeYoung)

Mark Dever: Biblical Thoughts on Conversion

What spurs "Biblical Conversion"? Is it spurred by a choir singing old timey hymns for an hour, is it a preacher sharing stories about people dying in car wrecks and going to hell or is it something different. Can people be manipulated into  false assurance thru a thirty minute invitation? What brings Biblical Conversion? Mark Dever gives us his take, from the Bible

Biblical Thoughts on Conversion

We find many people who join the church who are not believers. Instead of focusing on the need for conversion though, many become tolerant to the hypocrisy. The suggestion that people can change is regarded with skepticism. Our mentality is to adapt, not to try to fundamentally change things. We are who we are, and we are taught to be proud of it.
There is no denying people have a deep longing for change. We are not content, so we re-arrange furniture, buy clothes, change where we live, change our work hours, or even change our spouse. In and of ourselves, we end up defeated in our own choices.

It is obvious to non-believers that Christians are different, and it comes from change. We read in 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10:
8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

After Paul left Thessalonica, conversions happened, change happened, and it made a difference. Verses 9-10 tell us the Thessalonians turned to God from idols to serve God and wait for His Son from heaven.

True conversion will always involve turning in faith to the true God from the false ones, which we set up for ourselves. It will always involve realizing that final answers don’t come here, but we wait for the coming justice of Jesus.

In the Old and New Testaments, conversion is the idea of turning. It is the act of turning from sin to Christ in faith. As Christians, we believe there are countless people throughout history that have come to know God. We acknowledge conversion is a miracle and experience the joy of knowing that you really can be forgiven of your sins against God.

3 Steps to Conversion

1. We’re called to repent of our sins and believe in Christ.
In Acts 26:20 Paul summarizes his Gospel proclamation: “…but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.”

True repentance always accompanies saving faith. This faith is not mere knowledge or the approval of some facts. There must be a personal trust in Christ if it is to be saving faith. That’s where the problem comes in – human depravity.

So what do we do? What we need is to be converted. We need the Holy Spirit to convert us. Everyone is either a believer or an unbeliever, converted or unconverted. There is no middle ground. No one is born a Christian. You must be converted to be a Christian.

2. God must give us the gift of repentance of faith.



3. God uses means to give us this gift: the preaching of the Word and the right of baptism.

7 Questions to Ask before you Preach the Bible. Chan

1.Am I worried about what people think of my message or what God thinks? (Teach with fear)

2.Do I genuinely love these people? (Teach with love)


3.Am I accurately presenting this passage? (Teach with accuracy)


4.Am I depending on the Holy Spirit's power or my own cleverness? (Teach with power)


5.Have I applied this message to my own life? (Teach with integrity)


6.Will this message draw attention to me or to God? (Teach with humility)


7.Do the people really need this message? (Teach with urgency)

Why Study the Bible? Mac

Number one, it is infallible. In total the Bible has no mistakes. In it's original autographs it is without error. In Psalm 19, verse 7 the Bible says of itself, "The law of the Lord is perfect". It is flawless; in fact it has to be because it was authored by God who is flawless. Recently I was asked to write a research paper for a certain convention that's going to be coming up in our country, and they asked me to write the paper on the subject authority and inerrancy. And the real issue of the paper was this: if God wrote the Bible and if God is the ultimate authority and if God in His character is flawless, then the Bible is flawless and the Bible is the ultimate authority. You see, the fact that God is perfect demands that the original autograph, the original giving of the word, of God must; in and of itself also must be perfect. So we say to begin with then that the Bible is infallible and that's the first reason to study it because it is the only book that never makes a mistake, everything it says is the truth.

Not only is it infallible in total but there's a second word we use to describe the Bible and that's the word inerrant. Not only infallible in total but inerrant in the parts. In Proverbs chapter 30, verses 5 and 6 it says this, "Every word of God is pure, add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee and thou be found a liar". Every word of God is pure. Not only is the Bible in total the infallible word of God but in part to the degree that every word is the truth of God.

I would add another term, the Bible is not only infallible and inerrant but it is complete. There needs to be nothing added. Now maybe that's a surprise to some people. There are people today who believe we need to add to the Bible. There is a certain existing sort of a philosophy-theology combination known as Neo-orthodoxy. And they tell us that the Bible was simply a comment in its lay on man's spiritual experience and today man is having more spiritual experiences and he needs another comment. In fact I was reading one writer recently who said, 'that we need a Bible written for today just like the one in our hands was written because we need somebody to comment on what God is doing now'. So that the Bible is still being written. This same writer aid when Tom or Mary stand up in your church and. say Thus says the Lord - they are equally inspired with Isaiah and Jeremiah or any of the other prophets. In other words the Bible is not complete. That's a current philosophical-theological thought but at the end of the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation we read these words, "For I testify unto every man", Rev. 22: 8, "if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book". The Bible ends with a warning, it ends with a warning not to take away anything and not to add anything. That's a testimony of it's completeness. It is infallible in it's total, it is inerrant in it's parts, never makes a mistake in it's total presentation in it's most divisible presentation and it is complete.

No we would have to add a fourth word about the Bible, it is authoritative. If it is perfect and complete then it is the last word. It is the final authority. Isaiah chapter 1, verse 2 says this, "Hear, 0 heavens and give ear 0 earth: for the Lord hath spoken". When God speaks, everybody listens because His is the fin 1 authority. The Bible demands obedience. The Bible is not a book for discussion and by that I don't mean that we shouldn't discuss it's implications, and applications and meanings, I mean that we shouldn't discuss whether it is true or not. It is authoritative; it affirms and assumes that it is true. In John 8:31, you have the little incident here where Jesus is confronted by some of the Jewish leaders and as Jesus faces these leaders there's a little dialogue going on and there of course, are other people there and it says in the text here, "That many believed on Him". No doubt some of them were leaders but said to them, if you continue in My word then are you My real disciples". In other­ words, He demanded response to His truth, He demanded a response to His word, it is authoritative. In Galatians chapter 3 and verse 10 it says this:" Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them". Amazing, cursed is anyone who doesn't continue in everything that is written in this book. Tremendous claim to absolute authority. In James chapter 2 verse 9 we read this: "If you have respect of persons you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors, for whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one part is guilty of all." In other words to violate the Bible at one point is to break God's law. It is authoritative in every part. Well, infallible, inerrant, complete, authoritative we ought to add another word, this is a great word, the Bible is sufficient.

It is sufficient. For whatever it is in the heart of a man that is necessary the Bible is sufficient. In II Timothy there's a great word, chapter 3 and verse 15 and Paul here says to Timothy: "And that from a child, Timothy, thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus". Now first of all it is sufficient for salvation. The Bible is able to make you wise unto salvation. You can ask yourself this question, what is more important than salvation? Nothing. The greatest reality in the universe and the Bible is that which makes you wise unto salvation. But more, verse 16 says: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable" now watch... "for doctrine", that's teaching, principles of wisdom, divine standards, divine truths, "for reproof", that means you're able to go t somebody and say - Hey, man, you're out of line, you can't b have like that, there's a standard and you're not making it with that standard. It is also profitable "for correction" that says to that person you've just reproved - don't do that, do this, this is the new path. You teach, you reprove, you show a corrected way and further it is profitable "For instruction in righteousness". Now-you point the new way and, show them how to walk in it. Fantastic book, the Bible. It can take somebody who doesn't know God, isn't saved and then save them. And then it can teach them and then it will reprove them when they do wrong. It will point to them the right thing to do and then show them how to walk in that right path. And then the result is verse 17: "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works". The incredible reality of the Bible is that it is sufficient to do the whole job. It is one product that does the whole job. The Bible is infallible, inerrant, complete, authoritative and sufficient.