lamb alive

2009-09-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

famous last words

famous last words
famous last words

These are the words, the LAST words of some famous men who chose in this life not to believe in God, Jesus or heaven:
Talleyrand Perigord: "I am suffering the pangs of the damned."
Merabeau: "Give me laudanum that I may not think of eternity."
Francis Newport: "Oh, that I was to lie a thousand years upon the fire that never is quenched, to purchase the favor of God, and be united to Him again! But it is a fruitless wish. Millions of millions of years would bring me no nearer to the end of my torments than one poor hour. Oh, eternity, eternity! forever and forever! Oh, the insufferable pangs of hell!"
Thomas Hobbs: a skeptic: "If I had the whole world, I would give it to live one day. I shall be glad to find a hole to creep out of the world at. About to take a leap into the dark!"
Thomas Paine: the noted American infidel and author: "I would give worlds if I had them, that The Age of Reason had never been published. O Lord, help me! Christ, help me! O God, what have I done to suffer so much? But there is no God! But if there should be, what will become of me hereafter? Stay with me, for God's sake! Send even a child to stay with me, for it is hell to be alone. If ever the Devil had an agent, I have been that one.
Francois Voltaire: the noted French infidel. He was one of the most fertile and talented writers and strove to retard and demolish Christianity. His cry in health concerning Christ was, "Curse the wretch!" He said once, "In twenty years, Christianity will be no more. My single hand shall destroy the edifice it took twelve apostles to rear." Some years after his death, his very printing press was employed in printing New Testaments.
The Christian physician, who attended Voltaire during the last illness, has left a testimony concerning the departure of this poor lost soul. He wrote to a friend as follows: "When I compare the death of a righteous man, which is like the close of a beautiful day, with that of Voltaire, I see the difference between bright, serene weather and a black thunderstorm. It was my lot that this man should die under my hands. Often did I tell him the truth.
'Yes, my friend', he would often say to me, 'you are the only one who has given me good advice. Had I but followed it I would not be in the horrible condition in which I now am. I have swallowed nothing but smoke. I have intoxicated myself with the incense that turned my head. You can do nothing for me. Send me a mad doctor!Have compassion on me-I am mad!'"
The physician goes on to say: "I cannot think of it without shuddering. As soon as he saw that all the means he had employed to increase his strength had just the opposite effect, death was constantly before his eyes. From this moment, madness took possession of his soul. He expired under the torments of the furies." At another time his doctor quoted Voltaire as saying: "I am abandoned by God and man! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months' life. Then I shall go to hell; and you will go with me. O Christ! O Jesus Christ!"
Charles IX: This cruel wretch, urged on by his inhumane mother, gave the order for the massacre of the Huguenots in which 15,000 souls were slaughtered in Paris alone, and 100,000 in other sections of France, for no other reason than that they owned Christ as their master. The guilty King died bathed in blood bursting from his own veins. To his physicians he said in his last hours: "Asleep or awake, I see the mangled forms of the Huguenots passing before me. They drip with blood. They point at their open wounds. Oh! that I had spared at least the little infants at the breast! What blood! I know not where I am. How will all this end? What shall I do? I am lost forever! I know it. Oh, I have done wrong. God pardon me!"
David Strauss: outstanding representative of German rationalism, after spending years of his life trying to dispense with God: "My philosophy leaves me utterly forlorn! I feel like one caught in the merciless jaws of an automatic machine, not knowing at what time one of its great hammers may crush me!"
Sir Thomas Scott: "Until this moment I thought there was neither a God nor a hell. Now I know and feel that there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the judgment of the Almighty."
M. F. Rich: an atheist: "I would rather lie on a stove and broil for a million years than go into eternity with eternal horrors that hang over my soul! I have given immortality for gold; and its weight sinks me into endless, hopeless, helpless hell."
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Now let us take the contrast. Here are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have accepted the grace of God for salvation for both time and eternity.
Jordan Antie: "The chariot has come, and I am ready to step in."
Margaret Prior: "Eternity rolls up before me like a sea of glory."
Martha McCrackin: "How bright the room! How full of angels."
Dr. Cullen: "I wish I had the power of writing: I would describe how pleasant it is to die."
B. S. Bangs: "The sun is setting: mine is rising. I go from this bed to a crown. Farewell."
John Arthur Lyth: "Can this be death? Why, it is better than living! Tell them I die happy in Jesus." Trotter: "I am in perfect peace, resting alone on the blood of Christ. I find this amply sufficient with which to enter the presence of God.
Mrs. Mary Frances: "Oh, that I could tell you what joy I possess! I am full of rapture. The Lord doth shine with such power upon my soul. He is come! He is come!"
Philip Heck: "How beautiful! The opening heavens around me shine!"
Sir David Brewster: inventor of the kaleidoscope: "I will see Jesus: I shall see Him as He is. I have had the light for many years. Oh, how bright it is! I feel so safe and satisfied!"
Charles Wesley: author of over 4,000 published hymns: "I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness. Satisfied!"
John Wesley: "The best of all is, God is with me."
Abbot: "Glory to God! I see heaven sweetly opened before me."
Augustus Toplady; author of "Rock of Ages": "The consolations of God to such an unworthy wretch are so abundant that He leaves me nothing to pray for but a continuance of them. I enjoy heaven already in my soul."
John Quincy Adams: When John Quincy Adams was eighty years of age a friend said to him: "Well, how is John Quincy Adams?" "Thank you," he said, "John Quincy Adams is quite well. But the house where he lives is becoming dilapidated. It is tottering. Time and the seasons have nearly destroyed it, and it is becoming quite uninhabitable. I shall have to move out soon. But John Quincy Adams is quite well, thank you." At death he said: "This is the last of earth. I am content."
Mrs. Catherine Booth: wife of the general of the 'Salvation Army: "The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under, but over. Do not be concerned about dying; go on living well, the dying will be right."
Elizabeth B. Browning: an English poetess who had said: "We want the touch of Christ's hand upon our 'literature.' At death's door, she said: "It is beautiful!"
John Bunyan: author of Pilgrim's Progress: "Weep not for me, but for yourselves. I go to the Father of our Lord ' Jesus Christ, who will, through the mediation of His blessed Son, receive me, though a sinner, where I hope we shall meet to sing the new song, and remain everlastingly happy, ' world without end."
John Calvin: the French Protestant Reformer at Geneva: "Thou, Lord, bruisest me, but I am abundantly satisfied, since it is from Thy hand."
Adoniram Judson: American missionary to Burma. He wrote: "Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine," and other hymns. He died at sea and his body was committed to the great deep. He said: "I go with the gladness of a boy bounding away from school. I feel so strong in Christ."
A. J. Gordon: As he lay in the chamber in West Brookline Street, Boston, looked up and with one radiant burst of joy cried: "Victory! Victory!" and so he went home.
Dr. William Anderson: of Dallas, Texas: He seemed better though still very ill. His mother was sitting in the room with him. He gently called to her, "Come over here a minute." As she approached his bed, he said, "I want to tell you something. I am going to beat you to heaven." And with a smile he shut his eyes and was gone.
Dr. Sewall: an old Methodist, when dying shouted aloud the praises of God. His friends said, "Dr. Sewall, do not exert yourself; whisper, doctor, whisper." "Let angels whisper," said he, "but the soul cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ, a soul redeemed from death and hell, just on the threshold of eternal glory-oh, if I had a voice that would reach from pole to pole, I would proclaim it to all the world: Victory! Victory! through the blood of the Lamb!"
Samuel Rutherford: When he was dying said: "I am in the happiest pass to which man ever came. Christ is mine, and I am His; and there is nothing now between me and resurrection, except-Paradise."

When you die, on which side of the ledger will your words be?

2008-11-07T09:18:00.001-08:00

Petition for the Nullification of Roe vs. Wade
By Executive Order of President George W. Bush

Whereas and because the United States Supreme Court did violate it's Constitutional ordination and mandate in it's 1973 decision Roe vs. Wade, by making new law, and thereby usurping Congress of it's Constitutionally ordained and mandated responsibility to make any and all new federal laws and also to amend any existing federal law when necessary,

And whereas and because in the same decision, Roe vs. Wade in 1973, the same United States Supreme Court unlawfully and summarily nullified the laws governing the practice of abortion and requirements of those laws in each and all the fifty of the United States of America,

We the undersigned call upon you, President George W. Bush, to by Executive Order nullify Roe vs. Wade and all decisions upholding the intent, effect or letter of that decision.

Further, we call upon you to as President declare that all willful human acts of the abortion of human unborn children being also the willful termination of human pregnancies be from the day this Executive Order forward subject again in each of the fifty states to the laws of those fifty states which did govern the practice of abortion in those states prior to the date of the decision of the US Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade, that date being January 22, 1973 AD.

Name_____________________________Date_________________

print name________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________

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Name_____________________________Date_________________

print name________________________________________________

Address_________________________________________________

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print name________________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________

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Send to:
Pres. George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N. W.
Washington D. C. 20500

This petition copyright© 2008 by D. Severy for the sole purpose described within it. It may be reproduced and distributed in print or electronically only in its unaltered entirety, without edit, including this copyright notice, and solely for the purpose of gaining the signatures of those in agreement with its stated goal. draft 11/5/08 by Dave Severy

2008-10-29T17:09:00.001-07:00

A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand
Abortion divides us against each other and against the unborn.

I am a one issue guy. To me the American people have lost their bearings, and are unable to chart a course on either the right or the left. Thirty five years of so called legal abortion have confused and corrupted our minds and hearts. This confusion and corruption is a good part of the reason we are sliding into domestic and international chaos. For the sake of God and the babies I will vote for McCain. Do we think we can just do as we please and not have consequences?

Over this 35 year period we lost our God given common sense, and the milk of human kindness has fled in the face of evil. Our major media are in the hands of the Godless liberal elites. Newspapers, magazines and television spew twisted information, lies and half truths which have surpassed Nazi German propaganda ten times in their sophistication.

The same is our public and some private schools, elementary, secondary and universities. They have fed us Darwin until we have believed that Granddad was an ape. We have dumbed down as a nation, so much that if you are under 50 there is a good chance you don't have the intellectual skills to understand most of what you read. I find the most glaring grammatical errors in major newspapers; professional journalism suffers the dumb-down too.

Adding to the mix up we have the entertainment industry. Homer Simpson, The Family Guy and Two and One Half Men have become role models for us, not for our children but for us. We look like just like them as we mindlessly tailgate at the stadium and swill beer in the stands. We have pornography which is simply the glorification of whores and sex for money. God help the man or woman who sets an example to youth of this. The desire and demand for pornography has pushed the motion picture industry to emulate pornography as much as allowed.

Drugs… why do they continue to influence us so much? I think because we are seeking escape from the reality that we are failing more and more to live as we should. So instead of moral living in the face of present evils, we take refuge in drugs and alcohol. We are cowards. Yet…

Once every four years we go to the polls to vote for what has risen to the top of the boiling pot of our electoral processes. Occasionally a candidate proves to be better than the dross which is found in every place, and every party. This year John McCain is better than dross Barak Obama. A vote for Obama is a vote to continue the unethical, immoral and illegal practice of annihilating our own posterity. That is abortion - I save you from looking up those big words.

A vote for McCain is an opportunity for McCain and McCain supporters to repudiate Roe vs. Wade just as Norma McCorvey has. Norma was the pregnant woman recruited by pro-choice lobby to sue for safe and legal abortions in 1973. Since that time she has become pro life and is now a born again Christian. That is just about what it takes to go pro life, for those who are not Christians will eventually find themselves hating Jesus enough to crucify Him again were it possible. The hatred, greed and malice which allows for a nation to destroy its own children will eventually destroy it also. A house divided against itself cannot stand, and abortion divides us against each other and against the unborn.
© 2008 David Severy

Mixed Motives for Israel???

2008-09-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 30:1-5 "Woe to the rebellious children," says Adonai. "They make plans, but the plans are not mine; they develop alliances, but not from my Spirit, in order to pile sin upon sin. (2) They go down to Egypt but don't consult me, seeking refuge in Pharaoh's protection, seeking shelter in Egypt's shadow. (3) But Pharaoh's protection will bring you shame, shelter in Egypt's shadow will lead to disgrace. (4) Though his princes are at Tzo`an, and his envoys have reached Hannes, (5) they all are disappointed with a people that doesn't help them, who give no assistance and no advantage, only disappointment and disgrace."

I wonder why we think Israel gains some advantage today pursuing the help of the US of A (and others?). The help she needs is from God, and our best for her is to present the Gospel of Yeshua the Natzrati (Jesus the Nazarene). I fear that some in the US of A, perhaps even naming themselves Christian, ally themselves with Israel for sinful, compromised motives. Moreover some in Israel are happy to have our nation’s support while knowing nothing of God’s plans for them. I have no objection to loving Israel, God loves every Israeli alive. But should we not declare to Israel Yeshua’s entire prophecy of her future? I fear we want to help her retain her status and even succeed as a nation rather than fail and make peace with the anti-Christ. If all of this were in the control of anyone other than Father, I would be scared witless. But as Father knows the time of the end, I think we need fear no evil befalling Israel. I wish that every Israeli and ever Jew on earth would be exempted from the end time crushing that I believe is coming. God may only be amused or annoyed by human wishes.

Isaiah 30:6-15 A prophecy about the animals in the Negev: In a land of trouble and anguish, of lionesses and roaring lions, of vipers and poisonous flying serpents, they carry their riches on donkeys' backs and their treasures on camels' humps to a people who will not help them. (7) For Egypt's help is worthless, pointless; so I call her "Arrogance Doing Nothing." (8) Now go, inscribe it on a tablet, write it for them in a scroll, so that on the final day it will be a witness forever and ever. (9) For this is a rebellious people; they are lying children, children who refuse to hear the Torah of Adonai. (10) They say to the seers, "Do not see!" to those who have visions, "Do not tell us the visions you have as they really are; but flatter us, fabricate illusions! (11) Get out of the way! Leave the path! Rid us of the Holy One of Isra'el!" (12) Therefore here is what the Holy One of Isra'el says: "Because you reject this word, trust in extortion and rely on deceit, (13) this sin will become for you a crack bulging out high on a wall, showing signs it is ready to fall; then suddenly, all at once, it breaks." (14) He will break it like a clay pot, ruthlessly shattering it into pieces so tiny not even a potsherd remains for taking fire from the fireplace or scooping water from the cistern. (15) For this is what Adonai Elohim, the Holy One of Isra'el, says: "Returning and resting is what will save you; calmness and confidence will make you strong — but you want none of this!

(10) They say to the seers, "Do not see!" to those who have visions, "Do not tell us the visions you have as they really are; but flatter us, fabricate illusions! (11) Get out of the way! Leave the path! Rid us of the Holy One of Isra'el!"

And by rejecting Yeshua are not today’s religious Judaists and secular Jews saying: “…Rid us of the Holy One of Isra'el!" ???

(15) For this is what Adonai Elohim, the Holy One of Isra'el, says: "Returning and resting is what will save you; calmness and confidence will make you strong — but you want none of this!”

Lord deliver us from doing anything to encourage any Jew to remain in the unblessed judgment of not being born again from above. If Israel was chastened severely for relying on Egypt, what will God do when she bows to the New World Order?

Rev 14:13 Next I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write: 'How blessed are the dead who die united with [in] the Lord, from now on!' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'now they may rest from their efforts, for the things they have accomplished follow along with them.' "

What Happened to Wall Street?

2008-09-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

The way of the world is always guided by self interest; this self interest is acceptable to the man of the world, it is taught in his home, his school, and his marketplace.

The way of God is guided by God. God needs nothing of the creation He has made to authenticate Him, or to authorize His way. It is God’s will that men and angels learn of Him, for that will benefit them, God needs no benefit.

We have to learn to accept God as altogether superior to us, each and all. All power is Gods power, even the power residing in a man, all things belong to Him, and of man He says “all souls are mine.”

If we were to accuse God of acting in His own interest, it would be true, for He cannot act against Himself. But it would not be sin, for God does not sin. God’s self interest is pure, and even generous, which we will learn if we take Him at His Word.

We might feel slighted in some way if God’s way required Him to act in a manner that crossed our will. But that would reveal our shortsightedness, our selfishness, and our unwillingness to submit to God, (who is) our Superior.

The man of the world might vindicate his own self interest were he ever to lead a life free of wrongdoing. But his self interest is contaminated by his sin, by evil; in fact it is so overwhelmed by his sin that it is called selfishness, or greed. It is the man promoting himself always first, and thereby placing God as man’s inferior. This is the sin which Satan sinned by seeking Gods status for himself. It is the sin of pride, the root of idolatry.

Idolatry puts something in the place of God, and God’s place will never allow an equal, for there is no equal to Him. Nonetheless, man is so deceived by the power of sin that to some extent each man makes himself an idol by sinning. All sin is against God, it contradicts God’s will and way, and by sinning a man or woman makes themselves a god.

The marvelous history of mankind proves over and over in the most perverse and sublime ways that man is incapable of living selfishly without dire consequences. History shows that men are inclined to continue in their selfish ways until these consequences force them to submit to someone other than themselves for help. It is our prideful shortsightedness that keeps us from going to God immediately, for His ways are able to save us, to heal us and to deliver us from consequences and from hell itself.

God has no needs. He is sufficient in Himself. Mankind has nothing but needs. We are always dependent on others, and to a far greater degree that we know. Still our pride and self interest together draw us away from God’s way to self promotion, to greed and to competition which result in strife on every level, often to outright war. So powerful is self interest in the lives of most men and nations that those who have by faith in God conquered selfishness are unable to restore the world to peace. Nonetheless they do what alone can remedy the disaster of selfish living, they live for others. Their live are dedicated to God and to their neighbors. If God needed anything it might be for you and me and all mankind to heed Him and prefer the well being of others before our own well being.

My own country of the United States declared her independence from a King who selfishly exploited economic life of the people. The high ideals of God given equality of all persons, the guarantee of their life, liberty, opportunity, and of their inalienable rights have not always been authenticated in deed. The “playing field” may have been level for some white Europeans, but (notably Africans) many other peoples were not practically included, but treated as unequal. Even today, after we have taken great pains to legislate protections against unfairness on the basis of race, national origin, religious affiliation, gender and age, the United States has only succeeded in making a level “playing field.” What is the result?

Our four major sports are highly competitive (forms of war), and our government has simply succeeded in creating an economic environment for self interest and competition among men and women. It may be regulated by law to protect us from violence to persons, but what is the end of our economic striving? Time will tell.

We must learn from God that His way is to put the needs of others first. This is right and good; it is the practical demonstration of His love working through our hearts. It is the only way in which true peace amongst us can and will arrive. The life and the words of our Messiah, Yeshua of Natzeret (Jesus of Nazareth) are the greatest substantive exposition (and a better exposition by far than this writers) of that fact, and the only exposition of authority. Yeshua is the Way, and God is love. All else is vain, destined for judgment, and unworthy of pursuit. Viva El Camino.

© 2008 David Severy

An Open Letter to Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. and his church.

2008-04-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

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Dear Trinity United Church of Christ; Pastors, Elders, Deacons and Congregants,

Ephesians 3:8 Although I [Paul the apostle] am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 2:15b His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two...

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

1. How many races are there? One, the human race. We all need to start acting in accordance with the truth of this very firm fact.
2. How many God's are there? One, the Creator of the human race. Ditto on behaving accordingly.
3. How many Saviors are there? One, Yeshua, (whom English speakers call Jesus) the Savior of all who will believe.

The Holy Spirit today, as in all times since Jesus resurrection, commands men everywhere to believe and conform themselves to the Son of God.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

We are to forsake the world.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The pattern of the world is man living according to his flesh.

1 Corinthians 3:3 ...you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

The pattern of the God's Kingdom is peace. Peace is the absence of strife.

John 14:25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

God for His purposes had separated His people Israel from the seed of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, from whom the Messiah Jesus came. But after Jesus had accomplished His Father's will, the kingdom was opened no longer on the basis of human pedigree, but on the basis of faith and grace.

Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

God established Jesus the new and only Eternal High Priest of all God's faithful (believing) people, no matter if they are Jew or greek. The Kingdom is made up of one new man, the body of Christ composed of every tongue and tribe and people and nation.

Hebrews 5:1 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Father." 6And he says in another place,
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."
7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

On the word of these and the entire Bible, our only authoritative written record of the events of our Savior, and by the Holy Spirit, I declare the dichotomy between "black" and "white" Christians to be false, and the enmity between them to be sin. It is time to according to God's Holy word and will to forgive, forbear and to love one another and to become one new man. If we do not we will be (remain) opposed God's word and will, and opposed to each other.

2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

I do not represent my self as having arrived at heavenly perfection, but I know the Way, the Truth and the Life who is Jesus the Anointed Savior, the only begotten Son and Heir of God.

On Jews and the Gospel

2008-04-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

The following statement has been sponsored and published by the World Evangelical Alliance according to Jews for Jesus. I could not find it at the World Evangelical Alliance website, but did find a news report on it at:

http://www.worldevangelicals.org/news/view.htm?id=1742

• We pledge our commitment to be loving friends and to stand against such injustice in our generation. At the same time, we want to be transparent in affirming that we believe the most loving and Scriptural expression of our friendship toward Jewish people, and to anyone we call friend, is to forthrightly share the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
• We believe that it is only through Jesus that all people can receive eternal life. If Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jewish people, He cannot be the Savior of the World (Acts 4:12).
• We recognize that it is good and right for those with specialized knowledge, history and skills to use these gifts to introduce individuals to the Messiah, and that includes those ministries specifically directed to the Jewish people (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).
• We deplore the use of deception or coercion in evangelism; however, we reject the notion that it is deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews (Romans 11:1).

To see more on it published in the New York Times visit Jews for Jesus at:

http://www.jewsforjesus.org/blog/20080328

God, help me… Amen. I seem to never be without two cents to offer. Grain of salt anyone? My comments follow the text of four points.

1. We pledge our commitment to be loving friends and to stand against such injustice in our generation. At the same time, we want to be transparent in affirming that we believe the most loving and Scriptural expression of our friendship toward Jewish people, and to anyone we call friend, is to forthrightly share the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ.

I have found justice to be a very personal challenge.
Micah 6:8 "What has the Lord desired of thee but to do justly and to LOVE mercy..."

I'm not at all sure we can address injustice effectively at all except by being merciful to the unjust. Isn't that the crowning feature of the cross? Perhaps if I (we) learned how to love and do mercy more, what is just would begin to follow along more readily. If Hitler or the Spanish monarchs had been truly merciful, what they did would have been impossible for them to do.

2. We believe that it is only through Jesus that all people can receive eternal life. If Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jewish people, He cannot be the Savior of the World (Acts 4:12).

Amen.

3. We recognize that it is good and right for those with specialized knowledge, history and skills to use these gifts to introduce individuals to the Messiah, and that includes those ministries specifically directed to the Jewish people (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).

That might ought be recommended as a preeminent desire and goal of the believer. The Old Testament was written for a purpose.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Might know what is coming!)

4. We deplore the use of deception or coercion in evangelism; however, we reject the notion that it is deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews (Romans 11:1).

I think the only virtue in being Jewish is the inextricable association of the Jew with the God and Lord of All. All have sinned, yet:

Rom 3:1,2 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

God chose Abram, a Chaldean (a gentile?) who was not a Jew except by:
Rom 2:28,29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.)

From Abraham by the will of God sprang Judah (whose name some persons have co-opted "Jew" as a curse, others as a badge of honor) and Yeshua ha Mashiach. The nations have ever since found themselves in a place of having to bow to His choices of specific persons. Nevertheless it is now as deceptive for Jews to ignore, reject and defame the person of Yeshua of Bethlehem Judea, as it is deceptive for the nominal gentile Christian to ignore the family tree of the Messiah. I really identify with Judah's dad, Jacov. He received a new name.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].
Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

Call me Israel !!!

In my (humble) opinion, we must (justly) see that being Jewish is to be of the human lineage first to be adopted by God. We gentiles are also able to be adopted by the Almighty (!!!). We ought to be humble and savvy enough to acknowledge that the tree we are grafted to has grown through Abraham to this present day!!! Are we not in position as Jews to become Messianic, and as gentiles to become Christians? Has human pedigree any importance in the visitation of the Holy Ghost to our humanity as individuals? It is I think important. But as in most of life, we do the believing (in Yeshua) and God does the heavy lifting (graciously accepting us in our present Jewish or non Jewish humanity). TY Yeshua!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As in most things I (we) must decrease. Notwithstanding, the facts of our human lineage stand as significant. The "art" is to use it in the ministry of reconciliation. The "gentile" often needs to be instructed by the same tutor given through Moses!!! The Jew needs to "graduate" from "Professor Law"!!! Ultimately The Lord must crush all our objections and opposition to His Holiness. The stuff is so simple, but we are so complex. What a tangled web has been woven!!!

John 1:12, 13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

"History" shows clearly that there were, are, and will yet be persons and a people of God to be His sermon illustration in time and space if not throughout all eternity. With all my heart, soul, mind and strength I believe God wants to exalt His Way of childbearing.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, Eph 3:8-15

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Eph 2:14 -22

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.

God did not replace Israel with the gentile church, but He did change the priesthood from the Levitical priesthood to the Kingdom priesthood. It is a permanent change. In the Kingdom, He is the Eternal High Priest and we are all His (lowly) priests. We are all to walk in the works of the priesthood to which we are appointed. The ministry of His priests is to carry out His service, His ministry, that is the ministry of reconciliation. I honestly do not see any other ministry; reconciliation to God is the ministry of the Gospel. It is a multifaceted ministry, and we have been given diverse gifts with which to serve. Even and especially, the five fold ministry is specifically designed by God so that we His priests be equipped to carry out the greater ministry of reconciling men and women to God for all eternity!!!

There is no Jew or greek (gentile) any longer except by human blood, by the will of the flesh, or by the will of man. Neither Jewish believer nor gentile believer may exclude the other on grounds of human ancestry. It has been said God has no grandkids, only sons and daughters. All must be born again from above. We accomplished our physical birth by submitting to the womb of our mother. We can only accomplish our spiritual birth by submitting to the will and work of our Savior Yeshua and the Holy Ghost.

In my (humble) opinion we must repent and return to the teaching of the "Old Testament" to advance our understanding of the necessity the Gospel, that is, of being reconciled to God. This Gospel reconciles and saves all who call upon the Savior, and this Gospel is not at all of human design. We have no wiggle room at all to preach the gospel in order please the flesh of our intellect, or please the pride of our human pedigree. Doing that will only interfere with the results God is after. It will muddy the waters and lead us astray from the will of God and the power of God.

Therefore, being Jewish or gentile are now interesting facets of our past. Other than this we risk exalting ourselves rather than God, whose will, purpose and pleasure it was to give jacob a son named Judah. This is I fear, far less than being a member in good standing of the Kingdom of the Messiah. Our royalty, our present and our future is granted to us not on the basis of our human pedigree, but virtue of the gift of life God has communicated to us graciously, that we might trust in Him above and before all others. By this we continue to receive the effect and rest of His work of salvation, deliverance and healing accomplished for us (!) by His death and resurrection. This is all we need and all we ought ever to desire.

Matthew 6:33,34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I love you all, please pray for me. I sense both by my sin and foolishness, and by no small opposition of the adversary I have been prevented from more fruitful service than is God's plan.

David

Seen on a t-shirt.

2008-03-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

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Seen today on a t-shirt at Towson Univ. Cook Library: "You think you know but you have no idea."

That sort of sums up my thoughts for us as a race, the human race that is. We think we know…

I have noticed more and more the changing face of the U.S. : so many Latinos, and not a few Africans, Asians, and South Asians. I even heard a member of a surveyor's crew calling out coordinates in an eastern European accent! I would be moved to paranoia as many are, except to remember that they are all human and for the most part all have human aspirations much the same as I do, and you.

From 1986 to 2005 the number of new legal immigrants admitted remained relatively stable at about 400,000 annually (http://www.migrationpolicy.org/) that is: eight million over the last 20 years. It is said that there are 12-20 million illegal aliens in the U.S. of A. Why has this happened? Why have 20-30 million foreign born people come to this country to live? Some come for freedom. Some come for educational opportunities. Others are recruited by industry. Each is a story in itself to be sure.

Many U.S. citizens, almost all the sons of immigrants, cry aloud, bemoaning this wave of immigration. The minor holocaust of 9/11 certainly amplified the chorus of nay and doomsayers. But if you ask this writer, we are in part, in large part responsible for this situation. The following has not been received well by those I have spoken it to; nonetheless I think we must consider our complicity in immorally and illegally making room for 20-30 million foreigners in this country.

We will fast approach the infamous distinction of having aborted 50 million. Call them fetuses, babies, unborn, preborn, infants—it hardly matters; what cannot be disputed is that almost half of those aborted would now be 18 years old, and would be English speaking persons at some adult stage of life. Many would be employed. Some would be in college. Some would be in the military and others in Green Peace, some Democrats, others Republicans. Some would be disabled or chronically ill, or in prison. But most would be pulling their weight, and adding to the strength of the nation. In short, they would be human, and as a whole they would be just like the rest of us, but for the fact of their termination, their abortion.

Had they lived, they would be competing in the market place just like we are. And they would be spending their wages and salaries just like we do. In fact, there would be far fewer aliens sending U.S. dollars out of country! Our economy, stupid, would enjoy the fruits of their labors: millions (billions?) of dollars that now find there way into other nations economies.

I expect that half of all reading this will blow off my theory as ridiculous. But these are those who find the idea of a fetus being human ridiculous. I would not mind being deceived of all I have said. But of this I cannot be deceived: preborn infants are human at conception; their abortion is murder in the sight of God and of some men and women. If the fetus is not a human being, what are those who say it is not human? And if and since fetuses are human, it is clear that those who have supported abortion have been deceived. And what are the deceived? They ARE DECEIVED. The deceived know not that they are deceived. Their deception calls all their "knowledge" into question. If you say it is no crime to abort a human fetus, I cannot even trust you to tell me water is wet. Aborted children have been immorally and unlawfully robbed of all which their murderers have coveted: the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the right to become sons and daughters of God in the earth.

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

Change is Good

2007-12-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

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Repentance has been called the joy filled life by sister Basilea Schlink. (Her book Repentance- The Joy Filled Life (by M. Basilea Schlink) is available through www.kanaan.org .) I have to admit that my life lacks the constant joy that I desire, and lacks it because I have not been diligent in seeking God in the repenting of sins. I have no one to blame for my failings but myself. Many persons have shown God to be faithful to reward their diligence; it is now time I also seek Him diligently. It is my hope that something in the following may encourage you and help you to please God and to be joyful.

I don’t know how many times I have been quoted the verse “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8.1,2 It is a wonderful verse and very necessary to understand. Yet today I am struck by the thought that I have been confusing condemnation with conviction, and perhaps some quoting the verse to me have as well. Bob Mumford has pointed out that the truth almost always appears (quite) negative in its appearance. Conviction is a Divinely granted, unmistakable and clear understanding of my sin by the Holy Ghosts reproofs.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; John 16:8

The great good news is that since I am in Christ, the revelation of the fact of my sin(s) hurts. My conscience is alive to God, and because it is, I have sorrow, godly sorrow. It seems that I may have misunderstood godly sorrow, perhaps as it is present in my soul where unforgiveness, self pity and unfounded anger also reside. Is this kind of mixture possible? It seems so, and is very disturbing to me. But is not that the “fate” of even Divine conviction, that it is often not immediately welcomed with joy, or even acceptance.

Now in this process do we not cut off the deep workings of the Holy Spirit if we too quickly minister the assurance of Romans 8.1,2 and leave aside the matter I describe above? I think we need to know personally that sin is a great sorrow to our God who has never sinned, He who did watch His Only Begotten Son die because of sin, He who must also administer eternal condemnation and separation to countless souls daily. If we are saved to conform ourselves to the Image of Jesus our Savior, we will just necessarily have to be sorrowful as He was/is, and sorrowful over our sins. These ideas seem to have been lost in Christendom.

Instead of the acknowledgement of the need for godly sorrow, we seem to skip blithely to a state of “no condemnation”. I have come to the conclusion that faith without works is dead and that the first work of the Gospel is repentance. Repentance has been called the first word of the gospel. Christendom has in so many places rejected the idea of works, not knowing that there are dead works to be rejected, but living works to be embraced.

Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

John 6:26-29 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

If repentance is the first word of the gospel, does this verse not contain the second? “…believe on him whom he hath sent”

I am persuaded that the second word of the gospel can be summed up as “work: believing God has sent Jesus and bear the fruits of repentance.” That repentance comes from conviction and conviction from the Holy Ghost is without question, yes? If not we have made it all up in our mind, and are in deception still. But since God is, He is able to regenerate us in every way, but not without our full fledged cooperation, that is, our submission to Him, believing on and in Him. He knows all and knows so much better than we how we must live and not perish.

Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

What are the fruits of repentance? I had to consult a friend for this paragraph. I wanted to skip right to Galatians 5.22&23, but there is a journey to be made. He pointed out that repentance, which means change, will replace evil fruits with good fruits. Pride and arrogance will be replaced by humility and brokenness, greed with restitution and giving, envy with contentment, drunkenness with sobriety, lust with temperance and self denial. Idolatry will give way altogether to the Living God. Witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, all will be trod under by Love and the gospel of peace.

It is the initial appearance unpleasantness of repentance to the carnal mind which hinders so many, as it surely has hindered me. Mans carnality wants an effortless salvation. It is the selfish nature of carnal thinking to arrange for that, but effortless salvation is shallow at best, if it is salvation at all. Repentance can only make room for joy and for blessings untold and unknown without it. Today I fear many, and I remain without the fullness we might have by responding to the Truth about their sin. It seems very clear to me that the joy and the assurance of salvation will come and grow and be strong only by repentance. Oh to be as Paul our Apostle of the Lord Jesus who said: Brothers, by the right to be proud which the Messiah Yeshua our Lord gives me, I solemnly tell you that I die every day. 1 Corinthians 15:31

©2007 d. severy

Thanksgiving Tribute

2007-11-16T07:16:00.000-08:00

Many gods had I, and many other loves,
Passions filled my daily life, but none were from above.
Then one blessed day, came on the wings of a dove,
This One who filled my heart, soul and mind with Awe and Wondrous Love.

Your mercy never ends,
Your favor: precious, Lord,
Your pardon for my sin sick soul
Flows freely from your Word.

Yeshua, sweet compassionate One,
You, O God, my heart have won,
Thank You, God, for Your Son

Never was there one like You, nor will ever be,
A God so faithful to His Word, One so rich and free,
One who careth on and on, a God of liberty,
Who daily loads up all I need, and gives abundantly,
Who never fails to fill my cup, the One who died for me,
And rose up triumphing by LOVE, o'er every enemy.

Much had filled my life, like stones thrown in a well,
Lies poured out upon my ear, which none should ever tell.
Strife and anxiousness walked by me everyday,
But suddenly came One from above to show a better Way.

So on in Victory, through fire, toil and flood,
My soul clings close to Calvary’s cross, for there was shed the Blood,
The Blood of God so pure, unlike any other man’s…
This poured upon the sin stained world, from God! from God alone who alone did >>> !!!

!!! >>> Forgive by this One Deed, all they that ever harmed
The life and limbs of mortal men, I being one of them.
I’m one who God forgave my many evil deeds,
And ransomed me from the devils grasp for all eternity.

O hallelu Yah, Thank You Yeshua!
For Your mercy and great grace yet so undeserved
Still Flows deep and pure to we who tread this earth…

O Praise and Thank You, and Glory be to Your Name.
O let Your Name be ever heard
from every tongue and every tribe,
Ever now and forever.

© 2007 David Severy

2007-10-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

Through to where?

We simply must examine ourselves. And be seeking the truth about ourselves. It takes only a moment for me to remember the self constructed frame that I sought to live by, the house that I built which I believed would get me through. But then came One who whispered “Through to where?”

It is quite often that my old carpenter wants to return to my old frame house. I step inside and my foot goes through the flooring. When I pull my foot back up, there is sand all over the shoe. If I do not turn and flee away from this shack of horrors, troubles are sure to come. If I proceed to build a fire in the old fire place, what will that be but strange fire? O the woe that strange fire brings. It warms and enlivens the man of flesh. It revives death. There is a way (a lifestyle) that seems right unto man, but the end thereof is death.

We cannot paint the picture strongly enough. God paints with a black blacker than the most moonless starless night, and with a white brighter than bleached linen at noon on a cloudless day. Bad is bad and good is good. They are more separate than night and day. The night and the day are both alike to God. He sees as well at 2am as at 10 am. And He sees everything all at once. No thing and no action escape His attention. And while we are still bound by His will to these jars of clay, we live in a world where good and evil are in such close proximity that we bump elbows with bad things daily.

While they may touch of temples of clay, shall we allow them to enter in? God forbid. God, having forgiven our sin by the blood of His Son HAS cleansed the temple. Why then do I often find myself brushing sand from my feet? How is it that I did not notice the sand I walked across to get to that old shack? What are the sign I missed? I admit that I failed to do the right thing, and did the wrong thing, even if the wrong thing was doing nothing at all. But need I do these wrong things over and over? God forbid.

If you are not living in freedom from actions and habits that are wrong, not only God forbid them, but YOU ALSO FORBID THEM!!! God must be pleased by all our sincere efforts to please Him. Be to pleasing Him, forbid yourself the sins you have done to please your appetite. Do this not to make a name for yourself, but to show the Lord’s esteem in your repentance and obedience. It is God who makes us righteous. I can never be impressed by my repentance. To stop sinning is not glamorous; it is the need and duty to God of everyman. I do not stand above others because I repent. Nor do I stand above others because I obey. Yet it is true that we stand apart from willful sinners in our cooperative life with God.

This is where the enemies of God will seek to drive a wedge. Obeying God is consequential. It brings delight to God, and comfort to our souls knowing He is pleased by our obedience. Yet obeying God also sets us apart, often in stark contrast with those who do not obey, even those who sit in the pews or folding chairs with us. It may bring much opposition from the enemies of God, even from those who worship beside us.

The devil is busy trying to cause others to mock us for our good obedience. The term “goody two shoes” comes to mind. If we are faithful in our repentance we will walk ever nearer to Jesus, He who ultimately was killed for being good. Yes, He was so good that He was entirely misunderstood, and murdered out of that misunderstanding! Let us walk ever nearer to Him no matter how much opposition the devil stirs up against us.

It is so rightly said that if we are opposed for obeying God, we are suffering as Christ suffered. To be opposed, even crucified, and murdered because we obey God can only end in our salvation! It is appointed unto every man to die, and then to be judged. We who believe in the Son of God Jesus have been pardoned the condemnation and sentence of eternal separation from Him, that second everlasting death for unbelieving Christ, no repentance of wrong deeds and thoughts, and not returning our souls to the Father by Jesus.

Whatever death we may die, it is the death of the flesh. Our spirit and souls are then (yes, even now!) everlastingly alive !!! Shall not then the yoke of the Lord Jesus be easy, and His burden truly a light burden? Shall not then the self denial He requires be a joy as it brings the illumination of His fellowship, and the opportunity and power to serve others? Then we may lead others to the wonderful straight gate and narrow way, when they are aware that we seek no reward from them, we seek instead for them their reward of faith, received through their faith, that is: their trust in His unmerited Favor.

Hallelu Yah!!!

I'm still trusting Yeshua, but...

2007-09-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

I for one am glad the King does not require me to learn Hebrew and Aramaic to be a citizen of heaven. The problem with us in America is first that we don't live in America; we live in the United States of America. Canadians, Mexicans, all the Central AMERICAN and South AMERICAN countries are populated with AMERICANS too. Even if they speak Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian, French, or Indian dialects, they too are AMERICANS. We in the USA are a stuck up bunch of slobs. We price our own labor out of the market place and then cry like babies when entrepreneurs out source jobs to people willing to do them elsewhere. We then cry foul when people cross our borders to do the labors we won't do for the money business owners want to pay. Can you say greedy? All this has been done in the context of abortion, divorce, homosexuality, drug/alcohol/tobacco and sexual addiction, which are prevalent inside the "church" and outside it. Most of us further, do not go humbly into the poorer parts of AMERICA and preach the gospel and provide clean water and basic needs. Instead our government gives around 1% of our taxes to foreign aid, and we cry foul as if we would go broke that way. Our churches (not all) collect tithe and offerings for their local building projects and are often unable to raise what they want to do that. But do we need any more steeple houses here? While the poor in AMERICA are worshipping in hovels or outdoors? I am as guilty as any I criticize. (Romans Ch. 2) But I do seek the Lord to get so that I may give. I'll not brag about my not so great gifts to the poor. I don't have much to give. I do buy Spanish gospel tracts to give to the hard working legal and illegal immigrants here from other AMERICAN countries. I respect them for what they are: sinners in need of the Savior, JUST LIKE ME. I just want to barf when ever I hear rich whiny USAers complain about how bad it is to endure the speaking of a Spanish language in our little kingdom called the UNITED STATES (of america). This is political correctness from political conservatives from a wing that is not right, in my humble opinion, that is all it is, and I hope you can see that there is another way of seeing this problem. Shall we all go learn hebrew and greek now?

2007-09-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

Superego >>> << EGO >> <<< Id

ID The term id is a Latinised derivation from Groddeck's das Es.[1] It stands in direct opposition to the super-ego. It is dominated by the pleasure principle. It is a mass of instinctive drives and impulses, and demands immediate satisfaction.

EGO In Freud’s theory, the ego mediates among the id, the super-ego and the external world. Its task is to find a balance between primitive drives, morals, and reality while satisfying the id and superego.

SUPEREGO Freud's theory states that the super-ego is a symbolic internalization of the father figure and cultural regulations. The super-ego tends to stand in opposition to the desires of the id because of their conflicting objectives, and is aggressive towards the ego. The super-ego acts as the conscience, maintaining our sense of morality and the prohibition of taboos.

[1] Groddeck, G.W. (1928). "The Book of the It" Nervous and Mental Diseases Publishing Com, New York

The above adapted from wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ego

Id would destroy us, ego would preserve us in our pleasures and sins, superego would, does control the outcome of the life of unredeemed flesh. Conscience unredeemed, sentience uninformed by and in the Almighty can only seek control of Id (and the Id’s of others) to advance the success of the ego. Yet no matter which prevails the end is the same, ego goes to hell.

It seems that Satan knows or anticipates or intuits the very thing, the very victory God is leading us in, or toward, and he attempts to drive a wedge just at that point. If God is promising us “A” and revealing His gift of it (as part of our salvation) Satan tries to advance “not A” or “anti A”. “C” is attacked with “not C”. “not A” and “not C” and all his other “nots” are often such close counterfeits to the Real Truth, we “fall” for it. The fruit looked good to Eve after Satan sinfully yet subtly “notted” God’s one command saying to her “thou shall not surely die”. It was the crafty destruction of faith, faith which would have kept the unseen, yet unknown experience of dying from being “birthed” in sin.

Adam and Eve had never sinned and didn’t yet know the difference between good and evil in their experience. Was this why their confidence in God was overcome? Satan is the person of sin, and the power of sin is deceit. Eve was deceived. A very powerful creature Satan cast the net of deceit over her. That Adam is never reckoned as deceived implies he had motive to eat. Was this a battle along the lines of Id Ego Superego? Was Adam looking for a solution to being separated from Eve? For a moment she was dying and Adam was living. Did he think he could choose Eve’s sin over God and His Word and live? Crimes, sins always have motives, but the sinning, criminal, harmful, superego has lost the truth and ability to fend off deceit. If we would be harmless we must overcome the deceit of sin. But if we are deceived, how can we know truth while our whole being is in deceit?

Satan, deceived in himself, thought that he could not only kill them by deceiving them to eat, but that He could kill God, and take over the universe. It was a plan which backfired, yet it did take countless souls away to hell.

Two Wars, Two Armies, Two Arsenals

2007-09-24T13:13:00.000-07:00

The world is locked in a struggle in which many players seek the prize of dominating the marketplace. The cry for human freedom is often lifted as a banner, but intended as a cover for the greed of those who would lead the people. They even do it under the banners of "church and religion". Democrats and Republicans alike are as vulnerable to the corruption as was Judas, the Sanhedrin, and Pilate, and even the jihadists of our day. And if we are not vigilant, we may be stained by greed as well. Don't be led about by those who have no regard for the welfare of your soul in eternity, but instead offer temporary protection for the flesh in return for your labors and blood.

This is the victory that overcomes the world, it is our faith in Jesus. We walk not according to the sight iof our eyes, but by faith in God unseen and the world to come. Blessed are they which have not seen and yet believe. Put no confidence in the flesh. Make no provision for the flesh. Man shall not live by bread alove but by EVERY word that is spoken from the Mouth of the Almighty.

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Hebrews 11:1-2 Trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. (2) It was for this that Scripture attested the merit of the people of old.

John 20:29 Yeshua said to him, "Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!"

Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

1 Timothy 6:6-12 Now true religion does bring great riches, but only to those who are content with what they have. (7) For we have brought nothing into the world; and we can take nothing out of it; (8) so if we have food and clothing, we will be satisfied with these. (9) Furthermore, those whose goal is to be rich fall into temptation; they get trapped in many foolish and hurtful ambitions which plunge them into ruin and destruction. (10) For the love of money is a root of all the evils; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains. (11) But you, as a man of God, flee from these things; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you testified so well to your faith before many witnesses.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way; (4) because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God's power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments (5) and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah. (6) And when you have become completely obedient, then we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience.

HOW THEN SHALL WE LEARN?

2007-09-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

9.20.2007

How then shall we learn?

Hebrews 5:7-10 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (9) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (10) Called of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. KJV

Hebrews 5:7-10 During Yeshua's life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions, crying aloud and shedding tears, to the One who had the power to deliver him from death; and he was heard because of his godliness . (8) Even though he was the Son, he learned obedience through his sufferings. (9) And after he had been brought to the goal, he became the source of eternal deliverance to all who obey him, (10) since he had been proclaimed by God as a cohen gadol to be compared with Malki-Tzedek. Complete Jewish Bible

The Son of God, Emmanuel, Yeshua, learned obedience as He suffered in the flesh. His "perfect being" (He) never sinned. He met every temptation to sin with an able, efficient and sufficient "No". Yet His turning to His Father was with strong crying and tears, and His Father heard Him in that he feared . Yeshua was in the flesh as we are. He had to "deal with it" just as we do. He had to overcome the fact of His adopted carnal mortality. I have often thought: "hey, this is God we are talking about, Jesus could never sin, He couldn't fail to be perfect, He had to accomplish my salvation." But it was just not so easy. He was doing a "thing", a "job", accomplishing a goal that would and could never ever be done by any another, and would be done only once. It might be like going through school, then college and law school, and then having only one opportunity to pass the bar exam. Twenty years of school and one shot at achieving the goal, being made a lawyer. No passing grade and poof, you are a cab driver, not a lawyer!

But his was not something Jesus did to advance His career as God's only begotten Son and Heir. He did this so that we, who can never by our own efforts achieve sinlessness, -in that we have already sinned before the matter of faith even appears on our horizon- Jesus did this so that we by faith can enter into His grace and his sufferings. We can be made perfect, having been justified and reckoned righteous by His sacrificial work. We too can learn obedience in the things we suffer as His children. By our faith and God's great power by which nothing is impossible. We can learn obedience, and having learned it, we can live in it. Not to believe for and pursue perfection (imputed and imparted) is not to believe the good news, and not to pursue it's fruits.

How then shall we live?

1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 5:3-4 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

A Tale of Two Families

2007-06-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

A Tale of Two Families

The real issue in this matter of gay marriage revolves around what is accepted as a family. No two homosexuals or lesbians, ever have or ever will generate or beget a child. Not in the way it has been done NORMALLY, that is, outside of so called modern science/medicine. The question is: because some gays are willing to adopt children, or to conceive them by an extra "marital" heterosexual partner, or by conceive them by an artificial insemination, do these modern "options" mean that the resulting relationships are families? They are not, not in the historic, traditional, or classic sense, nor in the Judeo Christian sense. They are a "new and novel" invention. Very new. Have such things been around for more than a very few decades? Probably so, but not in great numbers, nor in open society. Should our government allow for them to enjoy the same privileges and powers granted (heterosexual) families?

How I long for a King, for the KING, my King : Jesus, to return. He will set our lives straight in every way.

People are so enamored by democracy, the rule of the people. It does nowhere exist in so pure a form as a simple majority rule. It used to be known that most people were (and are) not well educated enough, nor noble (moral) enough to make decisions for any except their own children. So they looked to the elders, the wise, often the aged, and usually the men to guide them. Things got along well enough, except when the wicked were allowed to rule. Today we attempt this with our many elections. Yet the peoples of the world are generally not able to choose wise and good enough leaders, men or women, and when the wise and good are elected or crowned it seems they are not long endured.

President Bush is no perfect man. But those who elected him by a very slim majority in most every state did hope, I think, for better than what he has been able to accomplish. But our muslim enemies struck at that possibility of good and just change so quickly, it made the collective conservative head spin. The administration had already been slowed assuming power by the democrat challenge to the election.

But it is clear is that there is no great mandate for change at all. Half the people seem to wish cradle to grave socialism, which is just making government into a diverse plantation, a perpetual baby sitter, and the other conservative half seem to wish freedom to simply continue to exploit the power of private enterprise. The Christian right seems deluded into thinking that the government, if led by constitutional constructionists might establish the kingdom of God on earth. It won't, it could not, IMHO. That is being done already by Jesus, where persons are learning to obey God and the Gospel.

So that is the joy in the midst of our suffering the madness that pervades the peoples of the world and the USA. Gay marriage, Abortion, pornography and prostitution, addictions: drug/alcohol/tobacco/sex, child abuse, murder, and mayhem of every sort, and a religious madness on every side, false doctrine, jihad, false gods and false prophets, none will stop the Lord from completing His eternal good will. God will have a remnant, a small family of saints, willing to rend their hearts and not their garments, to be despoiled and abused by the merciless, ridiculed by the elites, scorned by the pagan religious, and spat on by the churlish. Eventually in the USA they may also be arrested by the government and made slaves, or crucified. But this remnant will be elevated to the height and glory of His throne in victory over their own carnality, their sins, and over all their enemies. The wonder and the glory is that these things will drive the sincere closer to God and farther from sin than the ease the industrial church has known for the last hundred years. © 2007 David Severy

Gloria Adios

2007-04-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

"EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU JESUS?"
-Author Unknown.

As you read this think about what you would do!

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales
convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they
would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their
rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen
inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.
Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they
all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.

ALL BUT ONE !!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with
his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl
whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told
one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home
destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned
to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears
running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time
helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled
about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples,
put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he
did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and
bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl,
"Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"
She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we
didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl
called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back
into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made
his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and
bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?" Do people mistake
you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like
Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact
with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.
Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to
church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been
bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you
and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Please share this,,,, Sometimes we just take things for granted,
when we really need to be sharing what we know...

2007-04-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

“…and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

How do we live like this? Living without loving our lives? It is only possible if we love the life, the lives of others.

Phi 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Phi 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Phi 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The bible was written without punctuation marks, and capital letters. The above appeared in Greek somewhat as:

let nothing be done through strife or vainglory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves not looking every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus

We tend to isolate the ideas of the scriptures by considering them as separated from one another. The (punctuated) phrases, sentences, and the verse numbers, paragraphs and chapters are all arguably not inSpired. Notwithstanding we must do better in connecting the divine ideas of scripture to each other, seeing the whole as well as the part.

So it is clear (to me) that the mind of Christ is that we love others, and that we love them as Jesus loves us, by laying down our lives for others. The alternative is a life of self absorption, narcissism and idolatry. Looking on the things of others means we are concerned for the well being of others, not in ignorance of our own needs, but before and above our own needs. We let the decency and order of our worship extend into our everyday affair, making sure there are none of others of us unloved, or unserved, according to their need. This will not mean only the provision of food and raiment, but also their equipping for the ministry. Just as a starving man is of little use, so is a man starving for heavenly wisdom, knowledge, and vision. And even those provided for spiritually and materially fat will turn in on themselves, and on each other, destroying the work, if they do not learn charity, and that as Jesus our Lord said and says: it is more blessed to give than to receive.

The ministry is simply to provide for the material needs of the poor, the widow (in deed), and the orphan. It flows from and follows our edification in the Word, Will and Way of God.

and let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not faint we have therefore opportunity therefore let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Gal 6:9,10

Father, please favor us to grow and succeed in and for Thy Son, Jesus our Lord, amen.

© 2007 David Severy 4.26.07

NO ROOM

2007-03-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

In recent years, television, movies, and video games have grown more and more bloody and violent. Many (most?) Americans watch them and play them without any real thought as to their appeal, acceptance, or effect. Why do we now tolerate daily what was once abhorrent to us? How have we so easily adjusted to the gore?

I remember when I first saw CSI. The show was so bloody and grotesque I turned it off. Now I can watch it and barely squirm. Are we being adjusted to accept this without squirming? The world at large lives with wars, and with terrorism, yet is never adjusted to the shock of their blood and that of their loved ones spilt senselessly on the ground.

What truly saddens me, and sickens me is that our children suffer the bloodiest violence of any age group. The number one cause of death in the U.S.A. is not heart disease, or any other disease, it is simply abortion. The CDC reported the number of deaths in 2004 to be 2,398,343. They also report the leading causes of death for 2004, the latest year, found in the list below.

Age Groups
Rank
1-85
1 Heart Disease 652,029
2 Malignant Neoplasms 553,806
3 Cerebro-vascular 149,942
4 Chronic Low.Respiratory Disease 121,951
5 Unintentional Injury 110,872
6 Diabetes Mellitus 73,134
7 Alzheimer's Disease 65,965
8 Influenza & Pneumonia 59,391
9 Nephritis 42,304
10 Septicemia 33,099

Yet in none of the CDC reports on “death” have I seen the word abortion appear. They do "track" abortion, calling it “legal induced abortion”.

One cannot escape that the fetus, the baby is alive until it is aborted. One cannot deny its DNA is different than the mother’s DNA. One cannot deny that unless the life is taken from the fetus, it will grow to become viable. Viable is the term used to mean the fetus can likely survive being born. Presently that means it must be very near 24 weeks old. But should one ever extinguish the hope of viability? This word viable itself is derived from roots meaning “live” or “alive”. From Merriam Webster’s Online dictionary, the definition of viable, comes this: Etymology: French, from Middle French, from vie life, from Latin vita -- more at VITAL .

In a CDC web page I found this and quote: “In 1998 and 1999 (the most recent years for which data are available), 14 women died as a result of complications from known legal induced abortion. Ten of these deaths occurred in 1998 and four occurred in 1999; no deaths were associated with known illegal abortion.” (From Abortion Surveillance --- United States, 2000 by CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5212a1.htm ). Notice that deaths of 14 women, (the mothers) are acknowledged as death, but for the 857,475 abortions reported to the CDC, none were acknowledged as death! “Wanted dead and alive” seems to apply, as the CDC also reports on infant mortality. I quote from the CDC again: “The infant mortality rate, the rate at which babies less than one year of age die, has continued to steadily decline over the past several decades, from 26.0 per 1,000 live births in 1960 to 6.9 per 1,000 live births in 2000.
(From: http://www.cdc.gov/omh/AMH/factsheets/infant.htm ).

The conclusion is that the CDC does not consider the fetus worthy of the appellation baby, or reckon abortion as the death of a baby. It is noteworthy that fetus is from Latin, a language still much alive in medicine and science, and fetus translated means “little one”. Yet the CDC does not associate the aborted fetus with death in any manner at all. If they did, abortion statistics, as deaths would be acknowledged as the number one cause of death in the US and many other countries. Even though now in slight decline, abortions still exceed 1,200,000 per year in the USA. Compare that figure to the chart above.

So why make all this trouble about abortion? Should we to be able to look at pictures of abortion as casually as we do CSI Miami, or 300 (the movie), or Grand Theft Auto. With this in mind open the following links:

http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GFRD,GFRD:2007-12,GFRD:en&q=abortion&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

Even with all the fake blood and guts I have seen on TV, these pictures are still very difficult to look at. If you are not offended at me for suggesting that abortion end, be at offended that most who see the need for abortion do so for their own freedom from responsible sexuality and freedom from child rearing- Moms and dads alike. There is no room for neutrality regarding abortion. It is murder. It's acceptance in this country, called the land of the free, the home of the brave, betrays the hypocrisy and/or the ignorance of many, from the least to the greatest of us. Yet again I dare say: THERE IS NO ROOM FOR NEUTRALITY REGARDING ABORTION.

Written by David B, Severy © 2007

Untouchable?

2007-03-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Satan could find nothing in Jesus Until the final Day of Judgment, those who are the Lord’s remain vulnerable to sin by the presence of their unredeemable flesh. 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. There will come a necessary change that we must receive to become immortals in God’s Kingdom. But until then we are dwelling in earthen vessels. The devil seeks to destroy us, and to discredit our testimony before God and man. Satan’s advantage over us comes through our sin. Satan has trapped many a Christian in sin. 2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Nonetheless, we are able to be “untouchables”, immune from Satan’s grasp, even from his fiery darts. By faith and by repentance, by removing our whole heart, mind soul and strength from the practice of sin, Satan cannot touch us. 1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. The unrepentant, those who practice sin are able to be touched by Satan. Hear the sensibility of the Lord’s call to repent. Please read Isaiah 1:16-20. John the Baptist and the Apostles echo this call to repent. Without repentance can we be born of God? The answer must be no. What is repentance? Many have defined it and defined it well. For me, this is repentance:

1) Having understood the Gospel of Christ I see and acknowledge myself a sinner and I see my particular sins.
2) I confess them to God and ask for forgiveness by the sacrifice and blood of Jesus.
3) I continue in self examination as often as possible, asking forgiveness of the Father when I fall.
4) I seek not self improvement, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit for all His fruits to be born in me.
5) I study the scriptures for the renewing of my mind, for a knowledge of the Holy, and for a fear of God.
6) I keep the two great commandments in the forefront of my mind, and love God obediently, and my neighbor as my self.
7) I seek God’s will, that I might know the good works he has ordained for me to do, and do them.
8) I accept the chastening that the Father gives me as a necessary and true blessing, even when it seems painful.
9) I cultivate an attitude of thankfulness and humility in self denial, knowing that my life in the body will end, and I will answer to God for what I have said and done.
10) I seek to discover God’s pleasure and to be pleasing to Him, not in flattery, but in sincerity according to His Will and Way in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

copyright © 2007 by David Severy

where are we????????

2007-02-20T23:02:00.000-08:00

People think sex ed solves the problem of educating their children, but it does not. Half of all American women are single parents. In parts of Baltimore, MD where I live, 90% of all children are born without two parents in the home. City wide it is 70%. And in many places sex ed begins in grade school.

It is not just sex ed, but sexual permissiveness in many forms that causes us to be lesser persons. I think a key event driving this today is the acceptance of Playboy magazine received in 1953. The Supreme court allowed it as "free speech", and whoredom has been on the increase ever since. Now perhaps it is that sex crimes are just being outed more and more, but I don't think so. In the Catholic church this is probably true, but protestant, pentecostal, and evangelical denominations are all seeing increasing incidences of sexual sin. Why do you think it is happening?

Matthew 24
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

It is happening because we are not paying attention To Jesus and His words.

Genesis 6
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

I think there are many factors, and some are beyond man's ability to do much about. But one thing any man can do is pray.

James 5
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (NLT)
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (KJV)

Can we confess our sins? Can we admit we live in an idolatrous culture, which exalts self fulfillment above love of neighbor, above sacrifice for wife and for child, and for the Lord? Can we admit that we are distracted by the smoke and mirrors and the sexual images all around us? Can we admit that our TV's and computers, out cameras and even still our easel and canvass are the pedestals for our false idols, our gods which we worship and praise instead of Jesus?

James 4
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

7 So humble yourselves before God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts,
for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
9 Let there be tears for what you have done.
Let there be sorrow and deep grief.
Let there be sadness instead of laughter,
and gloom instead of joy.

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Church and "state"?

2006-10-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a response I wrote to only the mention of the issue of church and state, it is one side of the issue as seen from "Mt. David Severy". LOL, but seriously I write and think like this, and long for those who would cheerfully respond, not to debate, but to dialog, and move toward knowing God's heart and will together.

Re: separation of church and state: What would George Washington have done? Would he (George Washington) have told the nation to clean up TV and the Internet? Or would he have told us to put them out of our homes?

Didn't God first call Abraham, separating him out of his pagan land and bring lead and join him in the Covenant of Promise? Didn't God call (separate) Israel out of Egypt? Didn't God from Samuel to Malachi continually call the children of Israel to faithfulness and away from their idolatry? Didn't God call "whosoever will" to separate himself from the world, flesh and the devil by faith in His Son and join himself to God and to His people? And having left the world behind, are christian people not called to continue to be separated from the world by the renewal of their mind according to the thoughts of the mind of Christ.?

Should we be surprised that there are many in the world, in our nation and even in our "churches" who don't desire the separation God calls men to that He might save them? I am not a zealot every moment myself. I am not every moment 100% faithful to God. Yet how much can we expect of the unsaved, of the pagan, of the enemies of God? Do we want also to conquer them as we do often try to conquer each other: denominationally, doctrinally, and even in the hypocrisy of our traditions? (I am guilty of my own part in this, too) Is there not enough to oppose in the heretics, and in the wolves who attack us?

I am not what I should be. God has made it clear to me that I have often imposed my views on others in the same unkind ways that others have done to me. Yet I continue to believe that if a christian will separate (sanctify and consecrate) himself to God, God will lead him in a way which will overcome the world and the flesh and the devil, and overcome the unloving, unkind ways we (I) often walk in toward each other. If the church were to do this believer by believer, rather than try to herd the whole world or nation into repentance and obedience (something it is itself not accomplished in fully), the results might astonish.

As it stands, the church is mocked, I fear, because of it's worldliness, it's compromise with the devil and it's lack of knowledge the will of God, not for any lack of knowledge of the will of the founding "fathers".

2 Corinthians 6:17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

Matthew 23:9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

I marvel at what the Anabaptist's have accomplished and maintained for several centuries. Not by trying to bend the world around them to the Ways of God, but by being willing to bend their own necks in His yoke. And they do this without participation in politics!

My POV? And I give it knowing all to well my own failures to live up to my own expectations, and to God's< Let the christian be faithful to God, and let the world do as it will. No man was ever influenced well by any lawgiver except God. It has been said that the civil authorities are a reflection of the desires of the populations they govern, yet we know that they bear the sword as God's ministers. Therefore shall the word of the Lord be effectual, which bids men and women of Christ's blood:

1 Timothy 2:2
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

John 18:36
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight , that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world , that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice .

Jesus had to go to the cross. The apostles found out they had to go to their crosses as well, and Jesus tells us all: unless we pick up our cross daily we are missing the call of God. We are not called out of the world to rebuild a temporal psuedo christian world where we are not persecuted. The blood of the Martyrs IS the seed of the church. The church miraculously grows fastest in times and places of great persecution. Has the devil has not effective in thwarting the growth of the church in America by loading it with material wealth, and by tempting the church to protect the national interest above it's christian need of holiness?

I don't want the last word, but will ask: didn't Jesus come that men should hear the truth and choose their king for the world to come, not to establish an earthly Kingdom presently, but to choose and be built by God into an eternal spiritual house? If so does this require the imposition of moral law on those who will reject it out of hand? I think it would be wonderful if the world would wake up, "straighten up and fly right". But will it ever come under conviction when we as christians chase after everything except God's holiness? The "founders" gave us a rupublic, God gave us a Kingdom and His Son our King. There is a difference.

Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 3:10
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

To build upon this eternal foundation requires we ourselves become living stones. Not that we require others to be living stones, although Jesus did command the eleven to make disciples of all nations, but not to make all nations into disciples. The latter is certainly impossible. At the least it can only be accomplished by the former coming first. We are called to become like our master, and we cannot become greater. But to be like Jesus is to daily carry our cross. After all Jesus picked up His Cross sometime ago, for it is written :

Revelation 13:8 ...all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

Again, I have to remind myself of my own moral failures, and great need to walk what I talk. If I don't give attention to my own repentance, I risk becoming the very thing that Jesus seemed to hate the most: an hypocrite. But I can't escape the "feeling" that the evangelical arm of Christ's body it the USA needs to hold itself to account before it hold's the unbeliever's feet to the fire. This is what I am trying desperately to do in my own life, by holding myself accountable to God, and repenting. Don't we need to make some sacrifices? Wouldn't turning off TV and Internet, or turning them out of our homes be wisdom? I have no TV at home. I recently got a computer, and am already wondering how big a mistake it may have been! We are barely able, by all accounts, to promote 10% of our children into their adult lives committed to Him. Shall we tame the devil and have our children be saved? Our neighbor? Our enemies? Or shall we flee fornication and idolatry, and humble ourselves before God? Fornication and idolatry are the mainstay of TV, Cinema, and online entertainment. The devil shall never be tamed, but he may be overcome.

Compromise(rs)?

2006-10-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

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Dear Friends,

If you don't think the political "arena" is a place of compromise, let this old man try to give some focus. We have recently witnessed the removal of Mark Foley from the U.S. House of Reps. And oh, what a buzz and flap now is made. But consider : Yesterday one of SRN's and Townhall's finest reminded his national audience this very true and relevant fact: That the Republican Party has been welcoming gays, (read homosexuals) into the fold for some time. He pointed out that Republican gays are part of the U.S. Government. They even have such a "sweet" name: The Log Cabin Party. Is that like in Lincoln's humble home? Or is that like putting "logs" into "the cabin"? Sorry, but I have seen much in present day Sodom, and we need to be reminded of just what sodomy is, for we seem to have altogether forgotten!

Now the harvest has come. And all the Republican Party faithful are aghast at Foley's indiscretions? Didn't they KNOW what the end would be of their decision to befriend such men/women? Very few know the pain and conflict of men who have fallen into the pit of sexual immorality and still have a desire to do good, and to serve. But today, what is needed to be done to HELP these men/women is not being done. And what is needed is painful for all involved and unpopular, and does not guarantee success. This is what is needed:

1) Call Homosexuality and all sexual immorality SIN. Say that God does call and condemn it as such, and that you agree with God. Do not condemn the immoral person- for your sins, of what ever bent, are many, or at the least enough, and God condemns all sin.
2) Identify and shun, and seek the removal of all immoral persons from the "party".

By now many are undoubtedly laughing, shaking their heads and thinking - "this is not the church we are talking about, it's the Government."!

Others might be thinking- "if only we could operate the Government as God rules the church".
And I'm thinking- "if only the church would obey God, and "legislate" from it's knees instead of trying to do it from the House floor".

Some may see that this is the Bible's way that I proposed for the Republican "party". It was demonstrated (done) in the Church at Corinth. Paul, the apostle of the Messiah, instructed the church to remove the immoral man for the sake of that man's own soul, and also for the well being of the church. It is clear that they followed his instructions, for later Paul instructed them to welcome the man back into their fellowship, for he (surely must have) repented, reformed, changed. And we shall (?) hope and pray for Mark Foley, yes?, no?

But questions do present here, for some still say we shall have a fine involvement of our faith and politics. Shall those in political and very public civil life or those in the Republican "party", (see Galatians 5:19-21 Amplified Version) submit and be bound to Bible ways? This is the very dilemma that is warred over in the guise of the separation of church and state. For to live in submission to the God of the Bible is not popular, and is quite abhorrent to those who prefer, endorse, and promote "gay" ways (and atheist ways). Next question: What level of authority do Christians have to make law for those who resist God's law? Did God commission us to become civil legislators or to make disciples? We may posit a mandate from "our founding fathers"; but do we have that mandate from God whose Son would have us "call no man father"? (see Matthew 23:9) Is it ever possible to establish civil law apart from all the wishes of all the people? Is compromise of right ways ever entirely avoided? And if not, and I think it is not, how shall we account for the damage done (or at least possible) by our compromises? Is not compromise of God's way itself sin for the believer, the christian? Does God ever charge the church to rule the civil magestries? These are questions not addressed since the 1500's in most places where the church has been established.

Frankly, I think it quite reasonable in the U.S. of A. for the church to butt out of the civil government which christian men founded in such a way to stay out of their affairs. All this really does illuminate is the temporal nature of time that God has ordained for all men: we call it 2006, and men's inability to explain the Constitution, and also particularly churchmen's inability to explain right doctrine. Does christendom in North American want to do daily war in state and national capitols, to win what God says we might well have by faith from our knees, and this in addition to the war it does do daily within it's own denominal houses? (See 1 Corinthians 11:18,19)

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." Paul, apostle of Christ 1 Timothy 2:1-3

I note that no recommendation is made to apply to Ceasar for admission to the Senate, and that the words quiet, peaceable, godliness, and honesty are not often adjectives associated with Washington insiders, or insider wannabes.

We who name the Name of Jesus must think over very carefully our walk through the political world which so many Christians (?) commend. Yes? No? The saying goes, "Get down on your knees and fight like a man". And how I also need to do this, and more. I know a lot about compromise. Please pray for me as well as Mr. Foley…

Milieu Control

2006-10-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

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On "Religion" and Politics

I gotta tell it like I see it: "Religion" and politics seem inseparable today, but holy religion and faith need to remain separated from politics for some very good reasons.

A faithful man who goes into the arena of Politics goes to the place of "statecraft" (the art of conducting state affairs). It is a place of compromise and without doubt a place where the love of money prevails over many souls.

The man who trusts God has no need of defending his life in this arena. Nor does the man of faith need to wage war with his neighbor or his enemies. The man of faith KNOWS that the event of his own mortal demise catapults him to another place, where no trace, not the slightest trace at all of greed, compromise or strife is found. He knows that this is also true for his beloved wife and children, as He trusts God with their destiny.

But let a man of faith enter the arena of politics and watch him. Watch him as forces of the war already being waged against him now cohabit his daily milieu. Watch him as the bad company he must keep begins to corrupt the good moral character God has graciously built into him. Watch him as the accomplishments of his political career rarely influence others to become faithful to God, but merely maintain status quo arrangements, preexisting conditions, matters that he and God would more powerfully CONTROL through PRAYER.

Call men out of sin, but be ever so careful and wary as to how close you get to them as you call. The damage that can be done in one hour of compromise can compromise for a lifetime the good God has done for you. Very few have done much good in political careers. Many have tried. If you are a Wilberforce, then I will not forbid you. But if you are like my own self, a weak and sinful but repentant soul, in need of daily forgiveness from God, I will nearly forbid you, warning you, and encouraging you that what you might do on your knees with God, could outstrip even the good of a Wilberforce.

Our object as men of God? Not to be holier than our brother, our neighbor, or our enemy; but to obey the command: "...he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1: 15,16

Not Surprised

2006-10-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

Why I Am x Surprised By Foley's Moral Failure
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I am of a “generation” brought by God’s providence into the world at a time of crisis. I was born in 1949. Eleven months prior to my birth, a very historic “rebirth” took place when Israel was mandate her homeland in “Palestine”. This is seen by many as a “sign” from God, or if you prefer, an indicator of things soon to come. The jury will remain out for most of us regarding God’s timetable, as tomorrow is a mystery to mortals. And I offer my “history” not as a sign from God, though it might be received as an indicator of what some part of the crisis of “my generation” has wrought in me, and to one degree or another, wrought in so very many men of “my generation”. For I confess my sinfulness and my sins, but will go to my grave believing that I am part of a group of many men of the U.S. of A. who have met with similar “opportunities” for evil doing, and have done them.

The following list might be seen as a poll. How many of the following can you identify with? Perhaps a scale of one to ten might be useful. I don’t expect too many who have gotten this far to go much further, for my story is neither unique nor attractive. It might make a better movie, with a theme running somewhere between Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Midnight Cowboy. But I proceed hoping that some good may come of confession, that some might avoid learning the hard way what I have learned, and avoid the paths I have regrettably trod upon. I’ll preface it with this title:

By age _______ I was: _______________.

5…..terrified of my own Dad

7…..learned to live with fear of parents yet…

7…..learned to hide my misdeeds and…

7…..became exercised in disobedience

8.….began on a path of daily sexual self abuse courtesy of a “friend’s” education and…

8.….began a daily search for pictures of women in whatever state of undress available and…

10…began stealing money from my Mom’s purse

12…began on a path of tobacco addiction by stealing my mother’s cigarettes

16…became addicted to one pack (20) cigarettes a day funded by allowance or theft and…

16…consuming beer purchased for me by 18 year old friends in Wash. D.C. and…

16…consuming beer in bars in Washington D.C. though underage

18…begun habit of marijuana consumption daily when possible and…

18…pursued pornography more openly and successfully

19…had my first relationship and sexual experience with a girl which lasted 2+ years

21…began again to use pornography

22…girlfriend dumps me and …

22…had first experience with prostitute and…

22…pursued hard core pornography and…

22…visited topless/bottomless bars for the first time

I’m 57 now. If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you are called a “boomer” a member of the post WWII baby boom generation. My guess is that 50% of male boomers would respond that they do identify with more than 50% the list above. They might not have experienced these things in the order or the magnitude of my personal experience, but I believe many would say “been there, done that”. And it didn’t stop in 1964. If anything, the ball which started rolling over my generation kept right on rolling and is rolling today, rolling over many if not most men, and to an increasing extent over women as well.

This ball, this crisis I refer to is not the rebirth of Israel, which I referenced above, although it may be a reference, or a benchmark some will consider for reasons relative to their faith in God. The ball, the crisis I refer to is the mass production, distribution and reception of pornography! It began in December 1953, with the first issue of Playboy Magazine, whose founder Hugh Hefner looks exceedingly healthy for an 80 year old cancer survivor. In my Google search for accuracy I have found that Hefner and I share the same birth date, April 9th, he being 23 years older than I, to the day!!! (uuggghhh… One good thing did happen on April 9th [1865], the armistice was signed between Lee and Grant ending the US Civil War) Now I am not going to say that all my sin, or any of it can be Hefner’s fault, or the fault of those who lost the battle against pornography in the courts. But I am of the view that this was an event which marked a new and more damaging flood of iniquity into the nation, a flood that continues today to be a major factor in what many are calling the “coarsening” of American “culture”.

I have had occasion to meditate much on the matter of pornography’s ongoing inroads into the souls of North American men and women. I was 5 years old in 1954. What the nation had allowed to happen that winter of 1953-54 was became this “ball” rolling in the direction of every man and some few women in the US. My own father eventually had some involvement with pornography, as my younger brother did find a Playboy magazine at home. What year that was, I do not know. I saw my first issue around 1959 at my cousin’s home, it belonged to my uncle. But I know from my own experience, which began sexually around 1957, the desire to view pornography was mounting in the hearts of many, many men. Additionally, I believe the inhibitions against doing this were under great pressures to be abandoned. Temptation and availability, and a new look of glamour (see http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/glamour) made this pressure a constant fact of life for predisposed souls, and an unholy consideration for those standing against such things. I say that from the intuition of my 57 years lived in this generation.

I want to make some comments on “culture”. Culture is though of as a “good thing”. I have come to think of culture as the things which grow in a Petri dish. From Wikipedia one may learn: Petri dishes are round shallow glass or plastic dishes that biologists use to culture cells, cells which can be bacterial, animal, plant, or fungus. It was named after the German bacteriologist Julius Richard Petri. It was invented in 1877. The dishes are filled with various substances called media which provide food to the cells “cultured”. The “American culture” which is so much in discussion is perhaps best seen as cells : citizens who are introduced to various media : venues and derive food : fine to coarse arts by which they grow : become “cultured”.

As I see it pornography is a venue of very coarse art. Again from Wikipedia this very cogent definition of pornography: Pornography (from Greek (porni) "prostitute" and (grafi) "writing"), more informally referred to as porn or porno, is the representation of the human body or sexual activity with the goal of sexual arousal. "The explicit artistic depiction of men and/or women as sexual beings." It is similar to, but distinct from erotica, though the two terms are often used interchangeably. It should be note that it is used for more than arousal; it is used for sexual gratification, as an adjunct or aid to the achievement of sexual orgasm.

Nobody against pornography likes to talk about it. We all get, or ought to get very squeamish when this topic is broached. But too frequently we titter (to laugh in a nervous, affected, or partly suppressed manner), or worse: get titillated (to be excited pleasurably: aroused by stimulation). So we assiduously avoid the topic, and we ignore the peril to our sons and daughters and our community from this obvious and truly devilish strategy on our souls. But if we do admit that pornography is wrong, and damaging to everyone it touches, and in fact can lead one to a real and eternal place called h-ll, then we ought to seek strength to resist it’s lures, to protect our loved ones, and to fight it’s perpetrators, human and spiritual.

If you have read this far and do not believe pornography to be a most evil and damaging venue of the basest “entertainment”, you cannot really believe any human activity to be evil. The basis for determining wrong from right is not your possession. YOU need to think that through very carefully. You are likely one taught that YOU are the one who determines wrong from right. If you believe this, then I want to tell you there are more than 6 billion other people you must allow the same liberty. The conflicts which result every day, in myriad upon myriad of ways, because we will not accept the Absolute Truth; these conflicts will be with us until our dying day. But this does not mean we need to consent to them by defaulting to moral relevancy. Acts are judged, and have been judged by men since the beginning of time. The Absolute Truth is given to make it easier to live, and easier to judge correctly, but we flee Absolute Truth’s presence preferring our own (6+ billion) brand(s) of “truth”, which are no truth at all.

But if you have read now on, believing in our Truth Absolute for every man, then what shall we say? And to whom shall we say it? I fear that what needs to be said must be said to those who lead. We, or at the least I, wish, want, deeply desire and plead with leaders everywhere, political and religious, to lead us back to an environment conducive to moral self control, and particularly to the protection of our sons and daughters from an environment which makes merchandise of their sexual “talents”. Today it is still illegal by civil law to have even consensual sex with a woman under 18 in all but 3 states (USA). But once she (your, my daughter?) has her 18th birthday, she is legally permitted to disrobe for the pornographer, and to engage in any form of sexual behavior, hetero, h-mo, sado-masochistic, bestial, what else is left? AND BE PHOTOGRAPHED IN THESE ACTS, WHY? So the pornographer can profit by the sale of the still and moving images of this girls behavior.

Why do I spell this all out? Why review these unseemly acts and related matters? These behaviors are found rampant in Government and in the church TODAY. A man who counseled men at a recent Christian “Men’s Retreat” told me that 80 %, one in every five men he spoke with was viewing pornography. This sin ran my soul down starting around age 8, when my pornography, my “images”, my idols were found in the Sears and Roebuck’s catalog, and in the New York Times Sunday Book Review. But before I was 20, they were from Playboy. Today Playboy is running right along side every other “mainstream” pornographic magazine with full blown and fully completed sex acts photographed. I will not describe them further than that, except to say they are mild compared to the internet “offerings”.

I want to tell you, both the church and the civil Government, that both “your houses” are imperiled by the toleration of the pornographer and his work. It will bring the house down, either simply by and sure moral decay over the years, or by the judgment of God in an instant. Witness the tsunami which wiped out the coast of Thailand and other Far East Asian locals where the sex “industry” and sex “tours” (or those wealthy enough to play there) had been a mainstay of tourism for three or more decades. I frankly do not understand the churches lack of activism here, and lack of preaching/teaching, except that it’s own “house” is filthy. Nor do I understand the civil government’s permissiveness, except that it is under no moral mandate, and is subject both to the bribes of the pornographer and demonic influence.

Are men beyond caring? I care. I have care enough to have fought this sin (and woefully to have lost many battles) for nearly one half a century. I regret to say that perhaps? there is very little that can be done. We may be near or at the place where there is a Divine withdrawal of grace regarding what might have been done in past times. The thought of that makes causes my soul to feel as if dead. But there is a time coming (come already?) when “no man can work”. And also a mandate coming (come already?) when the church shall receive this word:

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Revelation 22:11

Are we there yet? I don’t know. This I do know: Jesus Christ alone can save from h-ll.

Why Some ARE Hated.

2006-10-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

Why some ARE hated...

Revelation 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

Ezekiel 23:29 And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

4 It is true that the Lord was crucified nearer to Jerusalem than Rome. The exact location is still disputed, some say within the city (Jerusalem) some say outside. Hebrews 13.11The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. And the Lord did refer to Jerusalem as Sodom in Ezekiel Ch. 16. But believing these facts does not save you, nor does it validate 1600 years of Roman Catholic history! I think it is worth noting that Rome occupied Jerusalem/Israel when our Lord was crucified, and that the comfortable political relationship was for the Pharisees apostasy, for what else could it be? 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. And if it was faithlessness for the Pharisees and their synagogues, what shall it have been for Rome? The sins of Cain, Balaam, Jezebel, Jannes and Jambres, and eventually the nicolatian heresy?

If we want the Lord's approbation we must seek it from HIM, not from Rome, not from our association with Israel, not even from each other. We are to live our lives with love for one another by the power of the Lord. No amount of political correctness in "christian" doctrine will substitute for being "found in Him". 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. Galatians 2:17 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!Philippians 3.8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death

So it is wise for us to pray for each other, knowing that whatever the nearness of the Day of the Lord, the day of our mortal demise is certainly nearer that at the bginning of this very hour! Can we let our doctrine be our doctrine, and not shove it in each others faces? Can we commit to praying the Lord change our "brother"? Or have we forgotten the slimy rock the Lord found us under? It was not the Roman Church, slimy though she and many other non Roman churches be. The Lord found us under the slimy rock of our own transgressions, in our own filthy rags. They were not doctrinal misunderstandings, they were moral sins and failures, and many of us have the appearance of being trapped by them still! Other wise why is christendom , mocked, despised, ridiculed by the world? God cannot be mocked, but unfaithful "believers" can and will be. We should be the city on the hill and the salt of the earth, but it reeks of hypocrisy still, and of heresy (better named doctrinal/denominational disputing, (see 1 Corinthians), which seems to this man to be the substance of what the world perceives (rightly?) as our(?) hypocrisy. The whore is really not just unfaithful Rome, but apostasy where ever God is named but denied, where ever His Name, even just the Name God is used purposely in vanity and deceit. Jeremiah 48:10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

We need to remember that the appelation APOSTATE does truly mean twice dead. Jude 1.11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. 12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about[a] by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. It is not a term to throw around cavalierly. To charge even Benedict XVI with apostacy is a very serious thing to do, for doing so says he is unalterably hell bound. I don't think we need to be determining the destination of Benedict XVI or any Roman Cathoilc soul. Let us turn our attention to the matters of our own deep hearts, and to our spouses and children. It is perilous, I think, and perhaps presumptuous to go furether than our own front doors with anything but the GOOD NEWS. Leave your personal grudges against religious institutions in God's capable hands. Please. Or write YET ANOTHER book on why Roman membership will doom you.

let me entertain U

2006-09-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

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I've been thinking on life before and after TV. Entertainment(s) are not new. The Greeks had their tragedies, and Shakespeare is wonderful. But from the point of view of Jesus, just what is the value of entertainment? This question just will not and cannot avoid the asking of the all time question of the universe: "What is the meaning (the value, the purpose) of life?”

If there is a God, everything must reference from God's being and the meaning, value and purpose He assigns (entertainment). Now some will say: "There is no if about it, certainly there is a God." And others will laugh or be angry that God be suggested as real. But if there is no God, then it is, as is so popular today with every age group, it is so that there is no absolute. (Never mind the fact that "No absolute exists" is a truly absolute statement. This is the same as asking "If a liar tells you a lie, is he/she lying?") No God: yields no absolute truth, no immutable benchmark of right being, nothing to reference yesterday or tomorrow on, let alone today.

So if you believe God is, you must begin to think like He thinks, even about entertainment, perhaps especially how He thinks about entertainment today. For what is so popular, and so important to our economy, TODAY, as entertainment? This is so in the USA, where entertainment began to flourish, in Europe where propaganda and entertainment married each other in the early 20th century, and now everywhere an electrical cord or a satellite dish is available.

God "thinks" about everything we do. Better said He JUDGES everything we do. Yes He does!!! That is what makes us so uncomfortable RE: GOD, or should make us so, if we really believe He is. But if we are able to believe in not only God, but also His Son Jesus, we will have a hope that unbelievers do not have. And we will be more comfortable "thinking" and, yes JUDGING as God does JUDGE.

Do you say "Judge not lest ye be judged?" Those are the words of Jesus. But read the whole statement:

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ' Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

This is not about letting everything slide (into the abyss of moral equivalency). It is about avoiding hypocrisy. We are just not allowed to say "you're wrong about 'X'" without the knowledge that we are wrong about "X" too, or at least wrong about "Y" or "Z". To pretend we are not wrong is to have two faces, and to speak from our second face is to have two tongues. This has been done so long and so often by humans that the behavior has been codified and we call the behavior pretence, or ACTING. The root of the Greek word "hypocrite" does mean ACTOR. Now can we see some light? Who are our entertainers? They are actors. They are persons we pay and pay attention to for their ability to be something they themselves are not.

In "real life" we do or should expect our family, out neighbors, our citizens and officers to be true, at least to be true to us. It is very plain that today, most care not for what befalls their neighbor as long as "life" treats them "fairly". But most learn later, and some sooner, that life is not fair. We are born equal in God's sight, but that time and chance, combined with our own (responsive) deeds and misdeeds, brew quite a different blend in each soul. And we do expect and even ask each other to "be real" or to "get real" occasionally. Why? Because we are all hypocrites at times.

Now back to entertainment, to Radio, TV, Movies, and Internet; to drama, music and the information super-highway. And to getting real. Wait, that is an oxymoron, now, isn't it? Well listen to this true account.

I was riding a transit bus in Baltimore, Maryland one morning. I had just discharged a difficult duty, which had left a bitter taste in my mouth, and was returning home. Often at such times I am able to share the gospel most effectively. My appetite for relief from my heart's distress is so great I am better able to "plunge in and swim" than at other times.

I encountered this young man, about 14 years old on the bus. He was speaking to a peer about a comic strip character that was named with a bible name. I began by asking him about this character, "Is this the real (I have forgotten the name) ________ you are talking about?" I had to explain to him that there was character in the Bible named ________. But as time went on it became apparent this child did not know that the Bible was held by some to be a historical and true account about actual men and women. Not only so, it was clear he had as much, if not more, belief in his comic book characters as in any Bible character. This in itself was something to marvel at, yet I got the distinct impression he really believed these comic strip characters were REAL !!!

Now was he one of a kind? Or are many children growing up believing their entertainments to be more real than what shall we say: Their family relationships? Their communities and their needs? The church, the Bible, even GOD Himself? Perhaps not, yet I think that we might agree that the Lord's will for us, and for our communities can be, and I will say is, negatively affected by what passes for entertainment today. I would rather be alone with my thoughts for an half hour than in front of ANY sitcom. And for this reason have no TV in my home. My nemesis today has become the internet, (by which this writing will reach you, and I does hope to reach you, please feel free to forward this along), - the internet which will I hope soon become more manageable entertainment for me.

I make this confession: Given only one opportunity to view the "wrong" movie or TV show (and this has happened even in the last month), my soul will revert to enjoyment, laughter and lust over the basest images and dialogs. I was a "corinthian" before I followed Jesus, and the depths of my heart are very vulnerable to sin.

Whatever you were or are now, my question is: “Are you willing to think and judge as God does about entertainment?”

1 Corinthians 2
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written:

" Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Letter to a fan !! On the "Good Life"

2006-09-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

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Dear SouthernCross,

A fan on The Huffington Post? Who'd a thunk it !!! For a like minds, the church was at its best 33-100 AD after that it was in persecuted uproar until 325. Then the Name was usurped and the worst cult ever: anti-christ in most every way was perpetrated. As has been pointed out the Bible was suppressed in a dead (Latin) language for 1200+ years (!) and today has only been in living languages for something over 400 years. Christians are in the west trying to play "catch up" intellectually, while in the mid and far east, south America and Africa, they are brutally persecuted, beaten and murdered for their faith and their conversions to faith. This is the proof of their faith. Not whether they are able to protect the lifestyle of the middle class and evangelical famous.

In Solomon’s day he had servants to empty his crapper (pot). Today we in America flush. Solomon had a mule, or a Chariot, or litter carried about on the shoulders of men. Today we turn a key and 2-4 hundred horses start up and carry us at up to 5 times the speed of a fast horseman. Can you say refrigerator, air conditioner, TV, PC??
Solomon, the richest (and wisest) had not these.

Nor did Jesus or Paul. What manner of "cristian" will send his own sons to Iraq with M-16's and rocketry to defend the rights of Americans to "worship" God in stained glass and drive thru cathedrals, while their brothers, if they are, are being burnt out, beaten, and murdered all over the world?

We say we are keeping the homeland safe. For what? Bloodguiltiness? What clerical court order is America carrying out in its assault on the world's "hot spots". Is it not as the communists do say, big business, corporate America, and Corporate World Capitalists savaging the resources of the plentiful third world? Communism has no answer to it but to overthrow it and supplant it with its own evil greed and violence.

The real Gospel says have faith in God. Live as God did live, as God the Son did live.

Matthew 5:
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

The Gospel in a Political Box

2006-09-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

One thing I have determined after nearly 30 years a student of Jesus/Church/world is this: Though the church is thoroughly infested in the west with enemies, the church and the nation (USA or whatever) is not the same thing. It appears that many, and I include you, Dr. Dobson, (John &:24; correct me if I am wrong) would have us think the US of A is either the church, the promised land, or the very Kingdom of God itself. It is none of those. To try to make it such is an impossible effort and FOLLY! It cannot be done, and until the Lord returns, the establishment of political/secular institutions (other than His church, which He Himself said HE would do “on this ROCK”), is not His desire. For christians, it is far from the top of His list.
There is a call lost on the ear of the church today, it is christian (and congregational) sanctification. This is really just repentance (by separation from sin and sinning), and the establishment and maintenance of good works. It is really our FOCUS, second only to the Lord. The involvement in politics, from any other place than ones knees, is a sure fire way to remain unsanctified, by the absolute necessity of compromise, and that by contact with the demon spirit(s) of compromise.

Let the world (of political maneuverings) go where it wants to go. The Gospel IF accurately preached AND FOLLOWED will be persuasive to "whosoever will" trust God. But do we not muddy the Gospel with our desire for the American Dream, (best exemplified by $1.00 a gallon gasoline?)do we not really give God credit for a heaven (or hell) to come?

Christian, do you really think that men, even christian men, will even make straight what God has made crooked? If so start with yourself, your sons and daughters, your congregation, and leave the state (Romans 13) to the influence of your example. In two hundred years of "christian" political maneuverings in the Governments of the 50 states and this nation, the losses have been many. Why? It is because christian congregations have not circled the wagons in separation and sanctification and grown from within. Instead they have sought "converts" in the most unlikely of places, where wickedness abounds, and compromise, and greed, and all manner of demon led spirits: City Hall, County seat, State and National Capitol!!!

If you believe will all your heart mind soul and strength that God has a heaven for you, what happens in Washington D.C. and around the nations capitols must take a lesser place. You are hardly likely to stop greed/abortion, adultery/homosexuality/pornography, drug addiction, alcoholism, tobacco addiction/idolatry in the halls of the Capitols or the governor’s mansions.

The idea we can vote ourselves out of the mess we are in is preposterous, and ridiculous in every way. We might pray our way to a quiet life (1 Timothy 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.)Is there any Biblical mandate to reform the secular except by the preaching of the Gospel and the following of it?

Romans 10
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

How it is...

2006-08-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

How it is..., yes? no?

God is dealing with us in a way which we can understand. And it is a way we will understand if we are hungry enough for the understanding. If we were fish, like salmon, and God had made us in His image as fish, perhaps our baptism would be in air instead of water. But we are human. God has arranged all of His creation with us in mind. His Gospel is the same: a design of the creator, everything in it and of it is suited to us, the objects of His pleasure. Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

God could have had us to be baptized in olive oil. He could have had us to be baptized in large vats containing wheat grain. He chose water. I think he made water to suit our needs rather that making us to be baptized in water. (see Mark 2:23-28)

God was about one thing: redeeming us from the hand of Satan, from the kingdom of darkness and restoring us to His own fellowship. He was doing these things and He is the One I worship. If He had chosen olive oil, I would be the first one in the olive grove weeding everymorning. Just how hungry are we to know Him, to know His person(s), and then to know and understand His works?

If we are hungry He will teach us. It has been said the devil is in the details. I believe God is in the details too, He made the details. But if we do not acknowledge God, we will often and perhaps always fail to understand His details. Then the devil is able to wreak havoc with our understanding. Put God before everything. He wants it that way and promises success if you will put Him first.

Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

4 So shalt thou find favour (GRACE) and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him (believe Him), and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence (your FAITH), and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Now what I'm going to say next might be considered off by some. So I'm going to give it a disclaimer as being the thoughts of a mere man, moi. I don't want you to think I say God authorized me to teach it as His word. For I believe the Way that God has ordained is perfect, and I can make a mistake. And in spite of what I will say I still believe in water baptism.

God is, reiterating, interested in restoring us to Himself for all eternity. He has arranged for us to be born out of a womans belly rather than a seed pod on a tree. Nonetheless, He has told us that He will bear us to heaven, {"rebear" "bear (born) again"}, and He will do this by His own hand. We cannot do it for ourselves. How shall He do it? By restoring our hearts with and by faith that He can! He really baptizes us by faith in Him .

Wether our beginnings in saving faith are accompanied by "water baptism", or by "Spirit baptism", or by "fire baptism"; there is one thing for sure, it is into Him and most importantly into His Name that we are baptized, immersed, dyed (in the wool). This is why I believe most people miss the importance of Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: He doesn't say to baptize them in the water of the Father, etc., He says the NAME. Immerse them in the Name. Get them to know the NAME of God.

That is why I think Paul did say:

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17

If water were all that were needed He would have sent Paul out to baptize in water. But He sent Paul to preach. Why? Because without a preacher there is nothing known in which to have or place faith . The idea of faith itself is a weak idea without God who ordains it.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? Romans 10.

1 Corinthians 1:21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Believe God, not the preaching. God does send the preacher, and God does give the preacher the message, therefore it is God who will be believed and God who will save through faith in Himself by His grace. The fact that He will do it by sending a preacher to preach His word is very necessary. Why? Because people must know God by His Name. God must send the saved preacher man of God to introduce Him.

It began with God, and for everyman it begins and ends by the hand of God: sending the preacher with the word of God, and the Name of God, IN the Name of God, and IN the Spirit of God. This is why the endless discussion of the means of grace will never settle it for man. There is only one "means". God's hand moves, and moves to save or to condemn a man on the basis of that man's faith, or lack of faith.

We all want to put the matter in a box we can be comfortable with. Why? So we can store it in the hall closet and just haul it out when "the occasion arises". But the occasion is now. Right now. Faith is a right now "thing", a very living faith in a very lively God. God's endless life is very powerful. And if we will make our faith a now thing, the power will flow. What power? Faith power. But if we store it up on the shelf, well, it just sits there and does nothing. There won't be any closets for faith in Heaven, you might as well take it off the shelf and learn to use it now.

2 Corinthians 6:2
For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

So you ask (this is how I came to write this): "Were these people rebaptized?" I don't know. The question is wrong. The question is: "Did they put their faith on the shelf, or did they use it in every 'now' moment of their lives?" And guess what: I don't know if they did or did not !!! But I know that it is their faith that saved them in every "now" moment of their lives, if they kept it. Keep the faith baby.

Romans12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith .

Please don't wonder "if I slip away into unbelief will I lose my salvation?" Just don't go there. Believe ! Now ! If you feel your self slipping, unslip! You, if you are born again, have the power of God available.

John 15:7 But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! (NLT)

As I said, I still "believe" in water baptism. That is I still acknowledge it as a "tool" God has in the "tool box" which He allows we should use. And it is a sacred tool. I consider it a sacrament with the Lord's Supper. But I also believe it is for the spiritually cognizant, those who understand the Source, Object and the Goal of the act of FAITH which water baptism must be. (The Lord's Supper too) Can one be baptized in ignorance and go on to be saved? I think so. Many infants thankfully have. But how? Only by going on to believe the God of their creation.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV)
Hebrews 11:6
So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (NLT)

I hope those who read this know that in greek the New Testament words for faith and belief (and trust) are the same word.

De-Spin the NYT front page? OK !!! I'll do it !!!

2006-08-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Pan on the NY Times:

"After U.N. Accord, Israel expands push into Lebanon." By John Kifner and Greg Myre

Could have read: "Olmert Says Israel Would Acknowledge Promised U.N. Resolution Monday at 5 AM" .

We will see how long his bull allah (oops I mean: hezbullah) is able to refrain from attacking Jews after that.

"Tracing Terror Plots, British Watch, Then Pounce" By Philip Shenen and Niel Andrews

Could have read: "British Succesfully Conclude Investigation Arresting 24 Martyr Wannabes".

Tony the Tiger Blair you know, that representative British lion, just a wild beast against the religion of peace.

"Israel Seeks Hint of Victory" by Steven Erlanger

Could have read: "Israeli Army Still on Alert as Jews Prays for Peace".

Yep. Israel, persecuted since Balaam and Moab just wants to be a "winner" like everyone else? How about they just want to live another day or hour?

"Panel Suggests Using Inmates In Drug Trials" by Ian Urbina

Could have read: "Voter Pool Threatened by Scientists".

Yes, boys and girls, felons we want to enable as voters for Dems are being threatened by Republican scientists??!!$#%^#@%*(^%$@%&^??!!

"A Charity's Enviable Problem: Race to Spend Billions" by Stephanie Strom

Could have read: "Milk of Human Kindness Money finds Human Kindness Unprepared".

Profits are for offshore bank accounts, not for goodworks? No one plans for charitable givers? Please! Bill, Melinda, Warren call me. lambsev@gmail.com

"Hold Tight, Cowboy, That Bull's A Thoroughbread" by Joe Drape

Could have read: "Rodeo Animals Valued While Human Fetus Still Trash".

"Excuse me, but I'm with Mutual of Omahahaha. May I insure your bovine embryo (valued at $80 ,000 on delivery)?"

© 2006 by D. B. Severy

rage against the ________

2006-08-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

(from my new blog at: http://lambykins.townhall.com )

Tuesday, August 08, 2006 1:28 PM

rage against the ________

The Town Hall is where you go to rant, yes? I marvel. The good 'ole U.S. of A. is where civilization survives, no? Well, you say. Well I hope to say too. Well we should define some terms. That is, after all we have said and done, what we should have done before we had said and done it. For "what we have here is a failure to communicate."

I was over thirty when I discovered that the words coming out of my mouth were habitual, and I often had no idea of what those parroted sounds really meant. I got a dictionary, and a Bible concordance because that Book of all, needs to be understood. I don't want to sound like Mr. Know It All, but I really do know a lot more at 57 than I did at 30 something.

I don't really like to say it, because I like to do it, and to write it, but talk is cheap. It costs one very little to open mouth, gears engaged or not. The wise are said to be those who are able to, and often do, say nothing. But for the rest of us (6.62 billion), our wisdom will be found when we are able to be understood as wise.

As a former conservative, and before that a former liberal, and before that a child, I find conservatives more able communicators. Liberals (liberal being a prime example of a misused term) are less able. But it is on purpose, I think. Arch libs are studied in propaganda. They do much of their communicating through the arts, particularly through music and music videos. They create genres of : "feelings". Can you hear Barbara Streisand singing: "feelings"? And this is how they gain their masses following. But this is not news.

One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song's measure
Can trample and empire down. ~ Arthur O'Shaughnessy

Odd that a lamb should speak of it, yet people are herd animals. They follow another more easily than they are able to lead. And they are as easily led by a song, a song writer that is, than by say, Joe Liebermann. Not better led, just as easily, if not more easily. So I wonder why the conservatives have so much trouble staying in the lead. Could it be their song writers are less talented? I don't think that is their problem.

The problem for conservatives is to "sell" integrity. Not their own integrity, but integrity itself. For this thing integrity, which men do lack the most, has the least appealing process of attainment of any virtue. If it is not altogether difficult enough to interest most men in any virtue. Yet the presence of integrity in a man will do more to silence the rant, and begin dialog than all other virtues. Or it will cause to flee.

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

So dear reader, ends the maiden voyage of my Town Hall Blog. I wonder if you will flee or stand? I have flown many times. But as I age, and as the season for harvest draws nearer, my own pride and all my cowardice seem a trifle to knowing the right thing from the wrong. Not the right from the left, anymore. There is precious little satisfaction in that. It is too easy a discernment, red being an altogether different blue. I want to know right from wrong: not just as an intellectual pursuit, nor as an entrance into political acceptance, but as a worldview, a lifestyle. And as a habit, I desire to learn and do the right, and having done all, to stand.

Yours and His, Lambsev

What say ye?

2006-07-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

As a "child of the 60's and 70's" my anti-US government sentiments were fueled by the "counter culture" and a lot of drugs. I now am not very kindly disposed toward the Govt. for new reasons : abortion for example. I realize that until God says not, I must obey the all laws of the land. Without bitterness. Yet I believe that we must do more to oppose those laws which do violate God's laws. Abortion in particular, and also the permissive laws re pornography, the lax war on drugs, and the legalizing of gay marriage. But this may speak nothing new to you.

I may surprise some, but I think that the christian preoccupation with issues such as ten commandment monuments and even prayer in school do drain financial and spiritual resources from more important efforts in the public square. My decided opinion is that if I know the ten commandments and Jesus Christ, I don't need to see them in every court house, or a nativity scene in every courtyard.

They will know us by our fruits, not by our bumper stickers, monuments, displays, or any other (to them, if not to us) empty religiosity. They are offended by our displays of religiosity, especially when they discover us in our own hypocrisies of sin. It is not our job to offend them, but to pray and do good to them. Will we be willing to form our children in prayer- at home where others will not be offended? Or must we leave that also entirely up to their school teachers?

Of course it would be good if the pagan/athiest culture would be willing to have their children endure our prayers. They are not. And our insistence of these rights only drives unbelief further into their souls. Enough! Let your and your children's good behavior and good deeds testify of God.

I do draw the line at the point where they forbid house meetings and Bible/Tract distribution (public or private) We have a good constitution to guarantee religious freedom. Let's not cause the unbelieving world to change it by insisting they "eat from our troughs". Let's not rub their noses in what many of us don't yet comprehend about faith in God.

I say let them take the monuments down. Have three minutes of sincere prayer with your children before sending them off to school. Take the millions of dollars saved in legal fees and put it to work in better things. Let's let our light shine as Christ commands, and not be whiners over these stones (momuments), dare I say idols? I dare. Even the right to pray can become an idol. Yes? No?

Censored???

2006-07-25T10:20:00.000-07:00

One of myfriends at myspace has sent a bulliten announcing a decision to delete any friend who displays nudity ("half naked" being sufficient) on their profile page. If I followed their example would I have to delete you?

We live in an age where innapropriate sex and pornography has become a consuming interest of most men and even many women. Sexual "addiction" is the fastest growing "addiction" in the USA. I think it is true in many many other countries as well.

I note the Thailand and the Phillipines particularly, where sex "workers" (prostitutes) abound and sex is a tourist attraction, being promoted in broad daylight. As one who has repented and continues to repent daily of immoral and unholy thought and behavior, I can say that the recent Tsunami in the Asian Pacific was explained as God's chastening for the largely unopposed operation of whoremongers (pimps).

I am honestly hoping for the chastizement of God to fall on a certain section of my home city: Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore has had a reputation for liscentiousness sexually (and likely otherwise) since 1773. That is right since seventeen seventy three! Remarkably, it is also the home of the first Roman Catholic Diocese, yet the presence of Roman Catholics (established as a diocese 6 April, 1789) has not seemed to slow down sin here.

Billy Graham once turned down an invitation to preach in Baltimore when his staff found no significant unity amongst the protestant churches here tThankfully he has been here twice since then.

Yet there is little progress toward the eradication of prostitution (on the street or in houses), drugs, or the sin of abortion. Can you see the connection between these three?

My sense is that God is still saving souls here one at a time. An awakening here must be preceded by a revival.

The enemy does continue to flood the homes of so many believers through his number one venue: the television. Turn it off, better yet throw it away. The internet gives you much much more choice and control that that one eyed monster. Even though the internet has pornography in seeming unlimited abundance you don't have to watch it. You may preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ instead. You can study the Bible with excellent Bible study tools like Bible Gateway, the Blue Letter Bible, E Sword and many many others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu/~grau_c/block.html

From the link above:

"This Baltimore Barbary Coast has the longest, continuous history of any honky-tonk area in the country. Chicago's North Clark Street Rialto dates back only to the latter years of the last century; and New Orleans' Bourbon Street was a respectable Vieux Carre thoroughfare 100 years ago. But marines, fresh from the shores of Tripoli, and the jolly jack-tars of Admiral John Paul Jones' navy roistered through the grog shops and dance halls of 'The Block," with soft-spoken, hard-drinking floozies from Fells Point on their arms, 75 years before the California goldrush and 35 years before Chicago had a single inhabitant."

James Marshal discovered Gold at Sutter's Saw Mill on January 24th, 1848. 1848 minus 75 years puts one around the year 1773.

winning

2006-07-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 13
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

We can’t count the hairs on our head, we can’t turn one white or brown. We can’t grow ourselves on inch taller. Even if we could, we couldn’t out run the day of our passing from our body into God’s hands. Why do we build our homes and our nations like they will last forever? Why does our pride require us and each other to build these pale imitations of the places God has prepared for those He receives by their faith in Him? He who wins souls is wise. I want to win the "soul" of the Savior.

Philippians 3
7 …what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

BEST Story of the decade

2006-07-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

(used with the authors permission)
PLANNED PARENTHOOD CELEBRATION CRASHED BY ABORTION SURVIVOR

by Ted Harvey, assistant minority leader, Colorado House

She sings the anthem to applause, then her secret is revealed to stunned silence.

I want to share with you an awesome experience I had in the Colorado House of Representatives on May 8. It is a humbling experience to look back and realize that God used me to play a role in His divine orchestration.

I was leaving the House chambers for the weekend when our Democrat speaker of the House announced that the coming Monday would be the final day of this year's General Assembly. He went on to state that there were still numerous resolutions on the calendar which we would need to be addressed prior to the summer adjournment. Interestingly, he specifically mentioned that one of the resolutions we would be hearing was being carried by the House Majority Leader Alice Madden, honoring the 90th anniversary of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

As a strong pro-life legislator I was disgusted by the idea that we would pass a resolution honoring this 90-year legacy of genocide. I drove home that night wondering what I could say that might pierce the darkness during the debate on this heinous resolution.

On Saturday morning, I took my 8-year-old son up to the mountains to go white-water rafting. The trip lasted all day. As we were driving home, exhausted and hungry, I remembered that I had accepted an invitation to attend a fundraising dinner that night for a local pro-life organization. One of my most respected mentors had personally called me several weeks earlier and asked me to attend, so I knew I'd have to clean up and head over.

After our meal, the executive director of the organization introduced the keynote speaker. I looked up and saw walking to the stage a handicapped young lady being assisted to the microphone by a young man holding a guitar.

Her name was Gianna Jessen.

Gianna said "Hello," welcomed everyone, and then sang three of the most beautiful Christian songs I have ever heard.

She then began to give her testimony. When her biological mother was 17 years old and seven and a half months pregnant, she went to a Planned Parenthood clinic to have an abortion. As God would have it, the abortion failed and a beautiful 2-pound baby girl was brought into the world. Unfortunately, she was born with cerebral palsy and the doctors thought that she would never survive. The doctors were wrong.

Imagine the timing! A survivor of a Planned Parenthood abortion arrived in town just days before the Colorado House of Representatives was to celebrate Planned Parenthood's "wonderful" work.

As I listened to Gianna's amazing testimony, the Lord inspired me to ask her if she could stay in Denver until Monday morning so that I could introduce her on the floor of the House and tell her story. Perhaps she could even begin the final day's session by singing our country's national anthem!
To my surprise she said she would seriously consider it. If she were to agree, she wanted her accompanying guitarist to stay as well. A lady standing in line behind me waiting to meet Gianna overheard our conversation and said that she would be willing to pay for the guitarist's room. Gianna then said that she would think about it.

As I was driving home from the banquet, my cell phone rang. It was Gianna, and she immediately said, "I'm in, let's ruin this celebration." Praise God!
When Monday morning came, I awoke at 6 a.m. to write my speech before heading to the Capitol. As I wrote down the words, I could sense God's help and I knew that this was going to be a powerful moment for the pro-life movement.

Following a committee hearing, I rushed into the House chambers just as the opening morning prayer was about to be given. Between the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, I wrote a quick note to the speaker of the House explaining that Gianna is an advocate for cerebral palsy. I took the note to the speaker and asked if I could have my friend open the last day of session by singing the national anthem. Without any hesitation the speaker took the microphone and said, "Before we begin, Representative Harvey has made available for us Gianna Jessen to sing the national anthem."

Gianna sang the most amazing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner that you could possibly imagine. Every person in the entire chamber was completely still, quiet and in awe of this frail young lady's voice.

Due to her cerebral palsy, Gianna often loses her balance, and shortly after starting to sing she grabbed my arm to stabilize herself, and I could tell that she was shaking. Suddenly, midway through the song, she forgot the words and began to hum and then said, "Please forgive me; I am so nervous." She then immediately began singing again and every House member and every guest throughout the chambers began to sing along with her to give her encouragement and to lift her up.

As I looked around the huge hall I listened to the unbelievable melody of Gianna's voice being accompanied by a choir of over 100 voices. I had chills running all over my body, and I knew that I had just witnessed an act of God.

As the song concluded the speaker of the House explained that Gianna has cerebral palsy and is an activist to bring awareness to the disease. "Let us give her a hand not only for her performance today, but also for her advocacy work," he said. The chamber immediately exploded into applause -- she had them all in the palm of her hand.

The speaker then called the House to order, and we proceeded as usual to allow members to make any announcements or introductions of guests. For dramatic effect, I waited until I was the last person remaining before I introduced Gianna.

As I waited for my turn, I nervously paced back and forth praying to God that he would give me the peace, confidence and the courage necessary to pull off what I knew would be one of the most dramatic and controversial moments of my political career.

While I waited, a prominent reporter from one of the major Denver newspapers walked over to Gianna and told her that her rendition captured the spirit of the national anthem more powerfully than any she had ever heard before.

Finally, I was the last person remaining. So, I proceeded to the microphone and began my speech.

Members, I would like to introduce you to a new friend and hero of mine -- her name is Gianna Jessen. She is visiting us today from Nashville, Tennessee, where she is an accomplished recording artist.

She has cerebral palsy and was raised in foster homes before being adopted at the age of four.

She was born prematurely and weighed only 2 pounds at birth. She remained in the hospital for almost three months. A doctor once said she had a great will to live and that she fought for her life. Eventually she was able to leave the hospital and be placed in foster care.

Because of her cerebral palsy, her foster mother was told that it was doubtful that she would ever crawl or walk. She could not sit up independently. Through the prayers and dedication of her foster mother, she eventually learned to sit up, crawl, then stand. Shortly before her fourth birthday, she began to walk with leg braces and a walker.

She continued in physical therapy and after a total of four surgeries, she was able to walk without assistance.

She still falls sometimes, but she says she has learned how to fall gracefully after falling for 29 years.

Two years ago, she walked into a local health club and said she wanted a private trainer. At the time her legs could not lift 30 pounds. Today she can leg press 200 pounds.

She became so physically fit that she began running marathons to raise money and awareness for cerebral palsy. She just returned last week from England where she ran in the London Marathon. It took her more than eight-and-a-half hours to complete. They were taking down the course by the time she made it to the finish line. But she made it, nonetheless. With bloody feet and aching joints, she finished the race.

Members would you help me recognize a modern-day hero -- Gianna Jessen?

At this point the chamber exploded into applause which lasted for 15-to-20 seconds. Gianna had touched their souls.

Ironically, Alice Madden, the majority leader and sponsor of the Planned Parenthood resolution, walked over to Gianna and congratulated her.

As the applause began to die down, I raised my hand to be recognized one more time.

Mr. Speaker, members, if you would allow me just a few more moments I would appreciate your time.

My name is Ted Harvey, not Paul Harvey, but, please, let me tell you the rest of the story.

The cause of Gianna's cerebral palsy is not because of some biological freak of nature, but rather the choice of her mother.

You see when her biological mother was 17-years-old and 7-and-a-half months pregnant, she went to a Planned Parenthood clinic to seek a late-term abortion. The abortionist performed a saline abortion on this 17-year-old girl. This procedure requires the injection of a high concentration of saline into the mother's womb, which the fetus is then bathed in and swallows, which results in the fetus being burned to death, inside and out. Within 24 hours the results are normally an induced, still-born abortion.

As Gianna can testify, the procedure is not always 100 percent effective. Gianna is an aborted late-term fetus who was born alive. The high concentration of saline in the womb for 24 hours resulted in a lack of oxygen to her brain and is the cause of her cerebral palsy.

Members, today, we are going to recognize the 90th anniversary of Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood…"

BANG! The gavel came down.

Just as I was finishing the last sentence of my speech -- the climax of the morning -- the speaker of the House gaveled me down and said, "Representative

Harvey, I will allow you to continue your introduction, but not for the purposes of debating a measure now pending before the House."

At which point I said, "Mr. Speaker, I understand. I just wanted to put a face to what we are celebrating today."

Silence. Deafening silence.

I then walked back to my chair shaking like a leaf. The Democrats wouldn't look at me. They were fuming. It was beautiful. I have been in the Legislature for five tough years, and this made it all worthwhile.

The House majority leader wouldn't talk to me the rest of the day.

Was it because I introduced an abortion survivor, or was it because we touched her soul? She could congratulate an inspirational cerebral palsy victim and advocate, but was outraged when she discovered that the person she congratulated was also an abortion survivor.

The headline in The Denver Post the next day read "Abortion Jab Earns Rebuke." The majority leader is quoted as saying, "I think it was amazingly rude to use a human being as an example of his personal politics."

Yes, Representative Madden, Gianna Jessen is a human being. She was when she was in her mother's womb, and she was when she sang the national anthem on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives.

The paper went on to quote Gianna, stating she was glad I told her story.
"We need to discuss the humanity of it. I'm glad to be able to speak up for children in the womb," she said. "If abortion is about women's rights, where were my rights?"

All I can say is, "Glory to God!" He orchestrated it all, every minute of it, and I was so honored to have been chosen to play a part. May we all continue to be filled with and to fight for the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
If you'd like to contact Ted Harvey, you may e-mail him at ted@tedharvey.com
For the fuller story and more : www.TedHarvey.com and www.tedharvey.com/gianna.htm

"Out to lunch. Think it over."

2006-06-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

At noon they found a sign on the door marked Justice of the Peace. It read: "Out to lunch. Think it over."

When was the last time you heard a sermon on the virtues, privileges, duties and responsibilities of Marriage? I have heard pastors complain about their wives, and about being married.

Is there a great lack of preaching on the goodness of marriage because there is a great lack of study of it? There are many good exponents of christian marriage. But every man and woman thinking of marrying someone someday, must prepare by studying what makes a marriage pleasing to God. It was given us to enjoy, not to create our own burdensome visions of it. But what men and women enjoy today are to often the antithesis of what God enjoys.

One thing I know, marriage is not for the lazy or the faint hearted. It takes tremendous courage and work. Standing up for Jesus when you have mouths to feed requires FAITH and some many times we (and I do include myself) have so "little faith". So many have their eyes on everything but Christ. He will, by the increase of our faith sustain and increase courage and strength, so that we do not lack these essential marriage making gifts.

Jesus teaches about the roots of bitterness and about the deceitfulness of riches and of sin. Divorce is the result of not treasuring Him and His Truth. Tremendous hardship can be endured with attention to Him.

But how many marriages are just high maitenance on both end? To the point where the sufferings of Christ are neglected and forgotten. Marriage is just a God diven opportunity to glorify God. (And please HIM forever.)

Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

If this is to be our attitude in the church, how much more in our home? But I fear we are losing ground to material pleasure at an alarming rate. Television, and all the entertainment tech pooh has become idolatry. If men in the past were deceived by the devil with stone statues and idols,
should we be surprised that the great wasteland of moving and talking pictures has reached out and stolen our hearts from our first love? Prosperity is MORE dangerous than affliction.

Psalm 119:50
This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psalm 107:41
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction...

Senator John McCain, relates how he and his fellow military men endured the Vietnamese war prisons (McCain for 7 years); remembering scripture bit by bit, they reassembled the verses they had learned and heard in church. they endured because the were quickened by the Word, not by HBO.

Marriage has virtuous opportunities that can strengthen the christian soldier in the good fight. Why do Christians divorce? They do not look to Jesus, the Author AND Finisher of their faith. I would add that He is the daily Finisher of our faith. Folks do not see that what ever it is they are escaping and/or chasing by divorcing, this is a temporary world their eternal souls are living in. When it ends it will not be a good thing to have "divorce" on the "resume". It may not keep you out of heaven, but I can't imagine there being no loss of reward.

Give Glory to God, He hasn't killed you yet !!!

Revelation 4:11
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

firewalls, finalizing...forever

2006-06-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

firewalls, finalizing... forever

I woke this morning tired. Too late to bed... I went back to bed in a few minutes and got about two more hours of sleep. When consciousness returned I was refreshed and refreshed again as God gave me a word of wisdom. As I regained my alertness, my mind perceived some thought. It was a lie, and likely a temptation from without. I rejected it as such immediately. And, it seemed as a reward for doing so, God sent the sweetness of this word into my soul.

Mankind is "damaged goods". The damage comes from sin. As a result our souls are confused, and broken, dysfunctional. Every part of us is not operating exactly as it should, that is, in harmony with all the other parts. It should act to please God, because that is why we are created !!! Revelation 4:11 ( information? call 411) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Watchman Nee said it well in describing our soul as fractured. The parts are there: mind, heart, and body (strength). And we who are saved have the Holy Spirit too. But we experience no small amount of inner conflict. Our thoughts accuse us and even condemn us but we go right on doing that which brings it to us. Our minds are fogged over, trying to somehow determine what is happening to us and our loved ones and in the world, and why. Even we who rejoice in the God of our salvation grope for understanding of the Word of God. Try as we may, we do not always find our way through to peace, or to repentance.

My experience has been wonderful. I say so looking back over 57 years of life. It is God my Father, Yeshua the Messiah who has given me an in Spired heart to say it IS wonderful. Nor just wonderful: full of wonder, but also full of a sure hope in God. The years have also had much terror, even horror, certainly too much sin and sinning. But God is faithful and will not let me or you be tempted above that which we can endure and escape, even should it take 30 or more years. My born again birthday is November 1976. It has been a long process, as humans judge time. But now God is letting this plant bloom. Praise Him !!!

Now to the meat of the word of wisdom: Initially I saw my mind as a Compact Disk, the writable/erasable variety. When all the data is placed thereon, then the finalize button is pushed and the data is permanently installed onto the disk and may no longer be rewritten or erased. That is why it is important to review the disks contents before finalizing. You won't have options after this is done. God allows data to be placed on the disk, into our mind as it were. Now as I write, the Lord shows me my mind as a buffer. Those of you who know computer schtuff know that a buffer is where data is sent temporarily to be processed, to worked with, manipulated. After the process is completed, the data is stored in memory. From there it can be accessed by the buffer again and again for additional tweaking, or by the operator as software. The Lord showed that my heart is the memory. "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19) The computer is more complex than a CD recorder. I'm not by any means an expert, but I think that data in computer memory is never finally finalized. It can always be returned to the buffer where it can be worked on again and again. Data may be protected, that is from unauthorized access, from loss. It can be backed up with copies of it's files.

The soul is a bit different than a computer, yet the term "artificial intelligence" makes much sense. It shows that the computer's intelligence has a human design, just as the human soul has a Divine Designer. Transfer of data between mind and heart takes place at the speed of thought. And I think that speed is variable. It is subject to a host of opposing influences which would hinder the processing and destroy it, and perhaps more importantly corrupt it. It is also subject to ones own will. It is enhanced if our "data" has integrity and our "files" are "clean". We can either cooperate with God in our data processing, that is to say, our thoughts and meditations, or we can oppose God and ourselves by ignoring Him willfully or unwittingly, thereby remaining in the snare of the adversary. "...in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." 2 Timothy 2:24-25

Now to the crux: One day God will finalize us each and everyone. By faith we are now finalized, and awaiting the eternal fullness of His salvation. See yourself as a "compact disk" again. On the day of our death we will wait for Him to push the button. He will do it and after doing so, our soul and all its essence will appear before Him. If we are saved, if He knows us, we will see Him face to face and He will "finalize" us permanently and eternally as beings bearing the fullness of the image of Jesus. I believe that this process will be that in which He gently washes away every tear, removes any splinters in our eyes, and establishes our souls in His Kingdom finally and eternally glorified in estate and body. Please don't get me wrong, I dont believe we will become Divine. Yet we will become perfect, 100% PERFECT and unable to even think one hundredth of a sinful thought let alone do a sin.

On the other hand, if you are found to be a goat, He will not know you. The data on your hard drive and the software operating it will be someone elses, and I think you must see that someone else is Satan. If you have died with Satan's program operating your soul, you will remain Satan's laptop forever. And though some say God will not, I know He will let your PC soul operate in sin, in hell, and in ruinous destruction and torment for all eternity. You will spew out blasphemous data while the current of hell's fire run through your circuits, and the worms of eternity afflict your files with ease and alacrity, corrupting your every output.

So the word of wisdom is just this:

Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

That is the King James Version. But it is not original with England's King, nor is it original from me. It is God's word of wisdom, albeit revealed to me to exposit as I have. No true wisdom is original with man, all wisdom and every good and perfect gift comes from above, from God the Father, who is without any shadow or turning of corruption.

It might be almost as well said : "guard your soul". Be careful what you allow to approach you at your "keyboard", it is there you open the portal to your buffer. Be very careful what you admit to your buffer. Be careful that you quickly and effectively process the enormous amounts of garbage data that the world and the devil throw around. Process that garbage right into the trash file and empty it immediately. If you don't the garbage will stink, rot, and infect your soul with its corruption. And out of your heart and mind will spew just what is festering in your memory, in the deep places of your souls being. "Garbage in, garbage out", so the apt saying goes. It won't be pretty. The Devil is aiming it right at your heart, and at your mind, seeking to take you captive to his will and way of operating. Dont let it happen that you become and remain corrupted. It has been reiterated by countless souls in God's church for centuries. From the New International Version:

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

The Severy paraphrase has it thus: Check yo-self befo u wreck yo-self, and do it often. The 5 second rule says that if you look on a beautiful woman for more than 5 seconds it has likely become the sin of lust. I add that whatever sight or thought you improperly entertain may begin to attach itself to your hard drive, corrupting other files, and making a pathway for more evil. Some of us (moi) have been steeped, and steeped ourselves in lust, bigotry, pride and hypocrisy. They become default settings predisposing us to respond to our world and our brothers in sin. - 5 seconds- If you respond within 5 seconds, dismissing all evil thinking as it tempts you, you will be guarding your heart. Eventually 5 seconds will become default, and you can install the 4 second firewall, then the 3, the 2, and the one- until the pooh literally bounces off. Fortify your firewall by installing the original YHWH Security program, otherwise known as the Holy Bible, the Word of God. As you read the Word, let it (Him) do the surgery it (He) alone can do.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

By allowing God to be with you, in your memory and your mind, He is able to operate with His "software", and the files He will build will be beautiful, clean, and full of His Glory !!!!! Oh, Hallelu Jah, Blessed be the Name, Baruch ha Shem Yeshua ha Mashiach . Thank you Jesus, my Lord and my God. Amen !!!

© Copyright 2006 By David B. Severy For use ONLY in its entirety by whosoever will seek permission.

For Courage

2006-03-06T19:41:00.000-08:00

Here are the “Famous Last Words” from:: LIFE’S CHOICES: Discovering the consequences of sowing and reaping , By John W. Lawrence. I have also included several other Gems and Poems found therin.

The person who is unsaved is in darkness and continues in more darkness, while the Word stresses that "the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18). Both are the products of sowing and reaping. The believer sows light and reaps greater light; the unbeliever sows darkness and stumbles all the more in the darkness that blinds his mind and heart.

The contrast is not seen anywhere more vividly than that which exists between two poems which Dr. Alva J. McClain, former President of Grace Theological Seminary, gave in his theology class notes. The one is entitled, "Invictus" written by William E. Henley, who, by the way, died of suicide. The other is written by a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, Dorothea Day, and her poem is entitled, "My Captain." Observe, if you will, the difference in them.

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed
.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Captain

Out of the light that dazzles me,
Bright as the sun from pole to pole,
I thank the God I know to be
For Christ the conqueror of my soul.

Since His the sway of circumstance,
I would not wince nor cry aloud.
Under that rule which men call chance
My head with joy is humbly bowed.

Beyond this place of sin and tears
That life with Him! And His the aid,
Despite the menace of the years,
Keeps, and shall keep me; unafraid.

I have no fear, though strait the gate,
He cleared from punishment the scroll.
Christ is the Master of my fate,
Christ is the Captain of my soul.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dying Statements of the Unsaved

Listen to the difference in the recorded testimonies of those who died without Christ and those who died with First are those who sowed their lives against the Lord Jesus Christ and the truth of the Word of God, and here is they reaped in death.

Talleyrand Perigord: "I am suffering the pangs of the damned."

Merabeau: "Give me laudanum that I may not think of eternity."

Francis Newport: "Oh, that I was to lie a thousand years upon the fire that never is quenched, to purchase the favor of God, and be united to Him again! But it is a fruitless wish. Millions of millions of years would bring me no nearer to the end of my torments than one poor hour. Oh, eternity, eternity! forever and forever! Oh, the insufferable pangs of hell!"

Thomas Hobbs: a skeptic: "If I had the whole world, I would give it to live one day. I shall be glad to find a hole to creep out of the world at. About to take a leap into the dark!"

Thomas Paine: the noted American infidel and author: "I would give worlds if I had them, that The Age of Reason had never been published. O Lord, help me! Christ, help me! O God, what have I done to suffer so much? But there is no God! But if there should be, what will become of me hereafter? Stay with me, for God's sake! Send even a child to stay with me, for it is hell to be alone. If ever the Devil had an agent, I have been that one."

Francois Voltaire: the noted French infidel. He was one of the most fertile and talented writers and strove to retard and demolish Christianity. His cry in health concerning Christ was, "Curse the wretch!" He said once, "In twenty years, Christianity will be no more. My single hand shall destroy the edifice it took twelve apostles to rear." Some years after his death, his very printing press was employed in printing New Testaments.

The Christian physician, who attended Voltaire during the last illness, has left a testimony concerning the departure of this poor lost soul. He wrote to a friend as follows: “When I compare the death of a righteous man, which is like the close of a beautiful day, with that of Voltaire, I see the difference between bright, serene weather and a black thunderstorm. It was my lot that this man should die under my hands. Often did I tell him the truth.

‘Yes, my friend’, he would often say to me, ‘you are the only one who has given me good advice. Had I but followed it I would not be in the horrible condition in which I now am. I have swallowed nothing but smoke. I have intoxicated myself with the incense that turned my head. You can do nothing for me. Send me a mad doctor! Have compassion on me-I am
mad!’ ”

The physician goes on to say: “I cannot think of it without shuddering. As soon as he saw that all the means he had employed to increase his strength had just the opposite effect, death was constantly before his eyes. From this moment, madness took possession of his soul. He expired under the torments of the furies.”

At another time his doctor quoted Voltaire as saying: "I am abandoned by God and man! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months' life. Then
I shall go to hell; and you will go with me. O Christ! O Jesus Christ!"

Charles IX: This cruel wretch, urged on by his inhumane mother, gave the order for the massacre of the Huguenots in which 15,000 souls were slaughtered in Paris alone, and 100,000 in other sections of France, for no other reason than that they owned Christ as their master. The guilty King died bathed in blood bursting from his own veins. To his physicians he said in his last hours: "Asleep or awake, I see the mangled forms of the Huguenots passing before me. They drip with blood. They point at their open wounds. Oh! that I had spared at least the little infants at the breast! What blood! I know not where I am. How will all this end? What shall I do? I am lost forever! I know it. Oh, I have done wrong. God pardon me!"

David Strauss: outstanding representative of German rationalism, after spending years of his life trying to dispense with God: "My philosophy leaves me utterly forlorn! I feel like one caught in the merciless jaws of an automatic machine, not knowing at what time one of its great hammers may crush me!"

Sir Thomas Scott: “Until this moment I thought there was neither a God nor a hell. Now I know and feel that there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the judgment of the Almighty.”

M. F. Rich: an atheist: “I would rather lie on a stove and broil for a million years than go into eternity with eternal horrors that hang over my soul! I have given immortality for gold; and its weight sinks me into endless, hopeless, helpless hell.”

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Dying Statements of the Saved

Now let us take the contrast. Here are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have accepted the grace of God for salvation for both time and eternity.

Jordan Antie: "The chariot has come, and I am ready to step in."

Margaret Prior: "Eternity rolls up before me like a sea of glory."

Martha McCrackin: "How bright the room! How full of angels."

Dr. Cullen: "I wish I had the power of writing: I would describe how pleasant it is to die."

B. S. Bangs: "The sun is setting: mine is rising. I go from this bed to a crown. Farewell."
John Arthur Lyth: "Can this be death? Why, it is better than living! Tell them I die happy in Jesus."

Trotter: "I am in perfect peace, resting alone on the blood of Christ. I find this amply sufficient with which to enter the presence of God."

Mrs. Mary Frances: "Oh, that I could tell you what joy I possess! I am full of rapture. The Lord doth shine with such power upon my soul. He is come! He is come!

Philip Heck: "How beautiful! The opening heavens around me shine!"

Sir David Brewster: inventor of the kaleidoscope: "I will see Jesus: I shall see Him as He is. I have had the light for many years. Oh, how bright it is! I feel so safe and satisfied!"

Charles Wesley: author of over 4,000 published hymns: "I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness. Satisfied!"

John Wesley: "The best of all is, God is with me."

Abbot: “Glory to God! I see heaven sweetly opened before me.”

Augustus Toplady; author of “Rock of Ages”: “The consolations of God to such an unworthy wretch are so abundant that He leaves me nothing to pray for but a continuance of them. I enjoy heaven already in my soul."

John Quincy Adams: When John Quincy Adams was eighty years of age a friend said to him: "Well, how is John Quincy Adams?" "Thank you," he said, "John Quincy Adams is quite well. But the house where he lives is becoming dilapidated. It is tottering. Time and the seasons have nearly destroyed it, and it is becoming quite uninhabitable. I shall have to move out soon. But John Quincy Adams is quite well, thank you." At death he said: "This is the last of earth. I am content."

Mrs. Catherine Booth: wife of the general of the 'Salvation Army: "The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under, but over. Do not be concerned about dying; go on living well, the dying will be right."

Elizabeth B. Browning: an English poetess who had said: "We want the touch of Christ's hand upon our 'literature." At death's door, she said: "It is beautiful!"

John Bunyan: author of Pilgrim's Progress: "Weep not for me, but for yourselves. I go to the Father of our Lord ' Jesus Christ, who will, through the mediation of His blessed Son, receive me, though a sinner, where I hope we shall meet to sing the new song, and remain everlastingly happy, ' world without end."

John Calvin: the French Protestant Reformer at Geneva: "Thou, Lord, bruisest me, but I am abundantly satisfied, since it is from Thy hand."

Adoniram Judson: American missionary to Burma. He wrote: "Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine," and other hymns. He died at sea and his body was committed to the great deep. He said: "I go with the gladness of a boy bounding away from school. I feel so strong in Christ."

A. J. Gordon: As he lay in the chamber in West Brookline Street, Boston, looked up and with one radiant burst of joy cried: "Victory! Victory!" and so he went home.

Dr. William Anderson: of Dallas, Texas: He seemed better though still very ill. His mother was sitting in the room with him. He gently called to her, "Come over here a minute." As she approached his bed, he said, "I want to tell you something. I am going to beat you to heaven." And with a smile he shut his eyes and was gone.

Dr. Sewall: an old Methodist, when dying shouted aloud the praises of God. His friends said, "Dr. Sewall, do not exert yourself; whisper, doctor, whisper." "Let angels whisper," said he, "but the soul cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ, a soul redeemed from death and hell, just on the threshold of eternal glory-oh, if I had a voice that would reach from pole to pole, I would proclaim it to all the world: Victory! Victory! through the blood of the Lamb!"

Samuel Rutherford: When he was dying said: "I am in the happiest pass to which man ever came. Christ is mine, and I am His; and there is nothing now between me and resurrection, except-Paradise."

When you die, on which side of the ledger will your words be?

Other Gems from the book:

If a child lives with criticism, HE learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility, HE learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule, HE learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame, HE learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance, HE learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement, HE learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise, HE learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness, HE learns justice.

If a child lives with security, HE learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval, HE learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, HE learns to find love in the world.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Man calls sin an accident; God calls it an abomination.
Man calls sin a blunder; God calls it blindness.
Man calls sin a carelessness; God calls it a catastrophe.
Man calls sin a defect; God calls it a defilement.
Man calls sin an error; God calls it an estrangement.
Man calls sin infirmity; God calls it iniquity.
Man calls sin a lapse; God calls it lawlessness.
Man calls sin a mistake; God calls it madness.
Man calls sin reasonable; God calls it rebellion.
Man calls sin a trifle; God calls it a tragedy.
Man calls sin a weakness; God calls it willfulness.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"It's not what I'd do with a million,
If riches e'er fell to my lot,
But it's what I will do at the present
With the ten dollar bill that I've got."

"Five thousand for my convertible,
Ten thousand for a piece of sod,
Twenty thousand I paid to be in a house,
A dollar I gave to God."

"A sum to, entertain
My friends in endless chatter;
And when the world goes crazy mad,
I ask: "Lord, what's the matter?"

"Yet there is one big question
And for its answer I now search
With things so bad, in this old world,
What's holding back my church?"

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For every hill I've had to climb,
For every stone that bruised my feet,
For all the blood and sweat and grime, For blinding storms and heat,
My heart sings but a grateful song
These were the things that made me strong!

For all the heartaches and the tears,
For all the anguish and the pain,
For gloomy days and fruitless years,
And for the hopes that lived in vain,
I do give thanks, for now I know
These were the things that helped me grow!

Tis not the softer things of life
Which stimulate man's will to strive;
But bleak adversity and strife
Do most to keep man’s will alive
O’er rose-strewn paths the weaklings creep
But brave hearts dare to climb the steep

Author Unknown

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As a parent, what can you do that will enable you to be the greatest possible influence you can to your child? Here some positive steps.

1. Make home the brightest and most attractive place on earth. Make it a little bit of heaven where the fruit of he Spirit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control are seen in your life.
2. Let your child invite his friends to your home and able so that he would rather be home than anywhere use on earth. In order to accomplish this, have a good sense of humor and do things together as a family.
3. Take him responsible for the performance of a certain united number of daily duties. Thus, never do for your child what he is capable of doing for himself or use you will make him a dependent cripple.
4. Never punish him in anger; and, when he is to be punished, seek to punish him only in the degree and the way that the Lord punishes you.
5. Talk about the Lord and the Word, not as something foreign to life and its activities, but as the natural outflow of your life as a family so that the Lord is seen as the very heart and center of all your thoughts and actions.
6. Do not criticize your child as a person, but rather encourage his abilities and help him over his weaknesses and discouragements. Be generous with your wise. Laugh, yes, but only at your mistakes. Never tease. It is meanness.
7. Live uprightly before him at all times, but do not hesitate to confess your weaknesses and ask forgiveness of him when you fail. It is very hard for a child to confess a mistake if he has never had the example.
8. Let him hear, "I love you," not only to your wife, but also to him; and then show it by treating him with respect. He wants this more than anything else.
9. Be careful to impress upon his mind that making character is more important than making money, and prove it to him by your seeking to improve yourself as a person.
10. Be much in prayer that the Lord would overrule your mistakes and work in accordance with the very intent of your heart. A contrite and humble heart before God accomplishes much.

Hot Planet!!!

2006-03-04T11:03:00.000-08:00

12:56 PM - Hot Planet
Weekly News
Q: Neptune's origin can't be explained by evolution, but is it "proof" of creation?
A: Neptune is an amazing planet that can't be explained by long ages of time, but this, by itself, doesn't "prove" creation.

Astronomers were amazed to discover that Neptune is very active, even though it's so far from the sun. Winds reach 1,300 mph, and the planet actually generates heat!

This easily fits the creation model, because a young planet could still be cooling off. But it doesn't fit with a belief in millions or billions of years, because it should have cooled off by now.

Evolutionists keep looking for some bizarre scenario to explain Neptune. But even if they finally come up with a "good story," it still doesn't make the story true.

And that's the problem. While we can look at the present and make guesses about the past, we can't prove the past. Instead, we need a reliable eyewitness.

And we do have such an eyewitness—God Himself! What better "proof" could there be than the character and testimony of the Lord Himself? But sadly, many astronomers prefer to keep inventing fables, rather than putting their faith in God's Word.

Neptune: monument to creation.
from :: www.AnswersInGenesis.org

moms have lambsalive

2006-02-11T12:35:00.000-08:00

Pro-Abortion Scientist Finds Abortion Causes, Rather Than Prevents, Serious Mental Disorders

Results indicate over 90% of abortions therefore likely committed in violation of law

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, February 10, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – New research from a pro-abortion New Zealand scientist has found that abortion causes serious mental disorders. The study, by David Fergusson at Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, tracked approximately 500 women from birth to 25 years. It showed that women who have had abortions, even when previous indicators are taken into account, have a much higher than average experience of serious psychological disturbances.

Fergusson had anticipated that his research would prove the abortion advocate propaganda that abortion relieves anxieties and gives women a greater sense of control over their lives. He assumed that problems experienced by post-abortive women would be traceable to mental health problems that had existed before the abortion.

In England and New Zealand, indeed, in most jurisdictions around the world, abortion is legal when a woman’s health is considered to be threatened by the continuance of pregnancy. The key to making this provision the equivalent to abortion on demand has been to define “health” as including “psychological health” as broadly as necessary to allow abortion in every case. The great majority of abortions are committed on the “mental health” myth, according to the abortion industry’s own admission.

That myth may now be seriously challenged by the research that showed women who have abortions, experience “elevated rates of subsequent mental health problems including depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviours and substance use disorders.”

The abortion industry is not going to be pleased with the results of the research. Fergusson presented his results to New Zealand’s Abortion Supervisory Committee, and according to The New Zealand Herald, the committee told Fergusson that it would be “undesirable to publish the results in their ‘unclarified’ state.”

See a more extensive review of the major implications of this research in today’s LifeSiteNews.com *Special Report* by the Elliot Institute:

Abortion Causes Mental Disorders: New Zealand Study May Require Doctors To Do Fewer Abortions
Pro-Choice Researcher Says Some Journals Rejected Politically Volatile Findings

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/feb/060210a.html

GOING ON...

2006-02-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

Never miss an opportunity

Hebrews 6:

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

For the church this was written to, the writer was saying: There's more! It gets better! It goes deeper! These folks were struggling, much as we do today amongst the scores of denominational "churches". But they had already come through the apostles teachings on the foundational doctrines. Even those concerning the gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians Ch. 12 !!! Yet they should by that time have been teaching the foundations to new believers, while they themselves should have been going "on unto perfection".

I don't know what this means to you, but to me this means that perfection is within the grasp of the believer who will SEEK GOD FOR IT. Otherwise you might as well say it isn't there and I'm just imagining those words, making them up.

Before we get all het up, lets look at the word perfection:

From the excellent Blue Letter Bible (on-line):

perfection from 5046 - Strong's concordance

teleiotes {tel-i-ot'-ace} (Greek)

1) perfection

a) the state of the more intelligent

b) moral and spiritual perfection

http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/5/1139195987-5844.html (see more on perfection here)

Now I have heard this word perfection taught as functional moral maturity. Not the perfection we will experience in heaven, where slip and fall attorneys will have to cease.

Christian faith is more than the statement "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven." It is true that the church is a "hospital for sinners", a place where the spiritually wounded are healed. God is there in Spirit to heal them, but He really does want for an abundance of the spiritually mature to do the light lifting. He, after all, did all the Heavy Lifting at Calvary.

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

My question is where are these spiritual ones? We have teachers by the scores of scores. We have pastors even more. But where are those spiritual, to lay the salve and bind the wounds? Israel Pastors were chastened with a heavy hand for neglecting the health of their sheep. And it got pretty messy because they did.

Isaiah 1:
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

The prophets and priests were guilty too.

Jeremiah 2:8
The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Jeremiah 23
1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

But wait a minute. He says woe to the pastors who feed my people. If they are feeding them, then they are healthy no? Not if they feed them Junk food. The junk food of the day was Baal, Molech, Ashtoreh, and other foreign so called gods. Those who should have been spiritual were feeding on and feeding their flocks on worse than swine, though the swine is a type of spiritual uncleanness. And in feeding them foreign gods and idols they drove the flock from before the face of God, spiritually, and I suspect, in every way so that He could not bless them.

It was really a mess. I urge you to read the 16th Chapter of Ezekiel to see the depth of Israel and Judah’s revolt against God.

It was this ugly situation that Jeremiah wept over:

Lamentations 4
1 How the gold has lost its luster,
the fine gold become dull!
The sacred gems are scattered
at the head of every street.

2 How the precious sons of Zion,
once worth their weight in gold,
are now considered as pots of clay,
the work of a potter's hands!

3 Even jackals offer their breasts
to nurse their young,
but my people have become heartless
like ostriches in the desert.

I want to suggest to all who might consider it, that apart from Satan we have no worse threat than the idolatries of our times. We as Christians are called by the name, the Holy and Perfect Name of Jesus. Yet I fear we do not always hear Him.

Matthew 17
5...and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

John 5
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

He also said to the woman caught in adultery: "neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more."

For many years I looked upon these words of the Savior in despair, wondering why my life was so full of INIQUITY (Iniquity is defined as lawlessness, or the habituation of sin). But today I am a new man on account of these facts:

1) God is not finished with me yet!

Philippians 1: 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

2) Jesus did not retire from ministry nor from ministering to even me!

Romans 5:
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

God has assured the pathway to a victorious life here and in Heaven!

Romans 8:
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

God has given me the substance of victory!

Hebrews 11:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1 John 5:
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Today I look at the phrase "Go and sin no more" and I see opportunity! Opportunity to go on to perfection, to become a spiritually mature and functional Christian, one equipped to lay on the salve, to pour in the oil and the wine and bind up the wounds of those who are hurting and even perishing. This is the will of God for a man of God, YES?

May many hear and go, and not just repent and stop sinning, but go on to study and equip their hearts to share the gospel, for God sends His Word to heal.

Psalm 107:
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

1 John 2:
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 3
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Saints: God wants us perfect. He knows if we resist this and do not exercise faith to become perfect, we will languish in sin and the sin of unbelief. It will only get worse until it gets better, and it will not get better until we take God at His WORD, His word which he sent to heal US.

What are the idols that demons push in your face that cause you to stumble ? Find out that you may cast them down and GO ON TO PERFECTION, to that functional spiritual maturity God has purposed to prosper you with, that you may also heal the sinner.

Psalm 51
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
_________________
May God Grant you more than you can ask or imagine, I ask of the Savior. AMEN

Five

2006-01-27T10:03:00.000-08:00

On the 25th I left you with this:

"We simply must get it through our thick hearts and minds that Jesus is calling to us from eternity to JOIN Him THERE. The condition and situation of our life here is to be perfect, and holy."

"Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord"

More Truth Telling? (the comment box is open!)

I have no doubt that some choked on these words. Let me say that I know Christians sin after they are saved, and that we have to be on guard against the many perilous temptations of the world and our own weaknesses, as well as Satan himself. But this cannot justify us being unconcerned with our progress toward a godly lifestyle. We are, like it or not (and what's not to like?) called to holiness, and to perfection.

I have found sin to generate guilt, shame, and depression. Physical sickness and weakness do have their roots in sin. Had we no sin we would live in perfect health and perfect relationship with God. But it is now not so. I fear we do not have what is necessary to effectively overcome sinful behavior. We all to often "cop" to the saying "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven".

I have heard it said: "I sin every day"!!!

God help us and God forbid, though for some it is no doubt true. By contrast I heard an elder say once: "I'm to busy to sin"!!! Now that IS a refreshing attitude to hear expressed.

We overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony, AND by not loving our own lives till death. Revelation 12:11 What do we do to overcome sin? WE REPENT. Now as I have thought on repentance, I have come to the conclusion that the power that completes repentance is godly sorrow.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

We need to be really truly sorry for our sins. They cost Jesus a tremendous amount of suffering. They cost Him 33 plus years apart from heaven and from the presence of His Father. And at the end they cost Him a day of spiritual and physical pain and degradation the likes of which none of us can never fully comprehend, unless like so many of His followers have, we to suffer as He did. We need to be sorry for our sins in light of this and in light of God's past and present heart brokenness for our pitiful condition. He longs to make us whole and holy, mature for a life where sin is a rare exception rather than a continuing habit as some presume He allows. Sin and sinning SHOULD cause us much and deep sorrow.

But for repentance we have NO REGRET !!! Why? Because it is a joy to repent !!! , and to be free of the guilt of sin, and the shame, and the regrets for the harm done others and self, and the grief to God's own precious heart.

1 Peter 2:19-21

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

To excuse sin because we are "sinners saved by grace" is to ignore the fact that there is no excuse for sin in God's eyes. We were going to hell because we were sinners. Why should we not be altogether adamant against sin each and every day of our lives?

We quote Romans 6:23-

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Shall we not study as well to live out the first 22 verses?

Romans 6
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

We are made free from sin !!!

How is it that so many of us live so far from the practice of this freedom? I think there are several factors. One is our failure to depart from the pursuit of our appetites, lusts and pride. Another is our unwillingness to avoid the "entertainments" of the world in these very late days. And even should we refrain from these things, I fear the affluence and comforts of even the poorest of many Christians (especially in the west) cause us to be dull of heart and slow of mind and conscience.

Luke 21:34

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

We are charged to walk worthy. We are called to a life that is different than that of pagans, cultists and secularist "humanists". We are called to live a life different than those lost in sin, and different than those practicing sin. We are called to be different as we are called to be holy and perfect.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Quite simply and, I think accurately: We are called to be His. What will we be for God that He should keep us for eternity?

Four

2006-01-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

Truth Telling

Today I read of Hal Lindsay's resignation from Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) Television. http://www.hallindseyoracle.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=12286 It seems he spoke out a little too truthfully (?) about radical muslim terrorism. TBN has an evangelistic outreach into the Arab world and thinks Hal's words and warnings will work against their efforts. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48163

It seems to me that as Christians we need to look at some things Jesus said, for understanding His Word will "adjust" our attitudes to the Truth.

Luke 21:17 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake."

John 15:18 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."

And Paul:

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

It is a "default setting" for the believer. If you really live and walk as Jesus did, eventually people will hate you. The righteousness of God is in diametric opposition to the unrepentant proud sinner man/woman. It is just so that Jesus is the cornerstone and Capstone for some and the stone of stumbling, the rock of offense for others. My fear is that we hide both this truth and our faith as we seek a comfortable path through a very uncomfortable world.

My friend Melvin, who resisted Christ as long as I knew him, finally stopped my attempts to evangelize him by saying simply "they CRUCIFIED Him!" He was really saying "I don't want to share the Son of Man's fate." And it is so with many calling themselves by His Name. Understandable from the natural mind set, to be sure. Yet the apostles were of a different mind:

Acts 5:41 ....they (had) called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

I want to humbly communicate this truth: The Way of Jesus, the Life of Jesus and His Truth are not the same as the world's. The world has a thousand thousand ways truths and life"styles". Jesus and God, His Father, and the Holy Ghost have ONE. We do ourselves no profit in avoiding the God who will save us for pleasure, or justly condemn us for our rejection of Him. Jesus said to them:

"I AM the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father except by me."

John 14:6

If you will live as faithful, not hiding your light, expect that people will hate you. The more godly you lives before the unrepentant, the more powerfully you will provoke them, either to themselves repent, - or to more vehemently resist, oppose and persecute your God, you and your faith. It is just the way it is!!!!! A pastor friend of mine suggests that if you are not being at times persecuted to some degree, you may want to check your Christian "pulse".

Matthew 5:10

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:43

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

We simply must get it through our thick hearts and minds that Jesus is calling to us from eternity to JOIN Him THERE. The condition and situation of our life here is to be perfect, and holy.

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord

Three

2006-01-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

I'M BEGGING YOU TO READ THIS ONE

Dear fans, and those who endure me:

I sincerely urge you to read this letter. It may be the one letter I write this year truly worthy of your attention. So much so that I ask that you send a reply. No matter if you are a seminary grad., or a babe in christ, a pastor or a grunt (foot soldier) like me, I truly believe the information and the source of it to be essential truth for the culture war. I can't state the case strongly enough. If your goals in the Lord are not being achieved as you desire for his pleasure, KNOW THIS: (as I have discovered this week), the church in N. America with all it's resources has lost ground to the Athiest and the pagan because of her ignorance. Please read this and let me know what you think. I believe it will start us on the road to accomplishments for Jesus we never dreamed, or are dreaming, possible.

Yours BEGGING,
Dave P.S. my words are in these dark blue letters.

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The excerpt below is from Answers in Genesis. If you will go there and study even a little bit, the rewards will amaze you. We simply have no concept of how foolish we appear to the unbelievers when we cannot even tell them the Lord's answers for Darwin's theories. The folks at Answers in Genesis may have the most powerful apologetic ministry going today. They believe that the Bible is 100% correct, authoritative and Inspired by God Almighty. They also say that the Devil has quite cunningly and effectively undermined the once widely held respect for and FAITH in this TRUE BOOK by casting aspersions through Darwin's "theories". I learned something else I didn't know: Clarence Darrow, who defended Scopes at the infamous "Monkey Trial" was an ACLU lawyer !!!! There are sure enough plenty of dupes wearing the ACLU label in courts today, yet these dupes of the devil are running roughshod over the dupes of the church who haven't the slightest idea (as I had not till this past week ) of how to even teach the Book to their children. It gets me a bit steamed up to challenge us all to do a little homework for the Lord's sake and our own , that we might not appear fools trying to defend our FAITH !!! William Jennings Bryant, who prosecuted Scopes in the Monkey Trial, could not stop the admission of evolutionary teaching into that Tennesee public school. Here is one reason why:

from : http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v23/i2/bigpicture.asp

The big picture
Being wrong about the six days of creation does not automatically mean someone is not a Christian. But if you think that makes it unimportant, stand back and look at the big picture....
by Ken Ham

The world’s press was watching and listening in 1925 when, at the famous Scopes Trial in Dayton, Tennessee, William Jennings Bryan (seen as the man representing Christianity) was cross-examined about his faith.

Part of the dialogue went as follows:

Clarence Darrow (the ACLU lawyer) [D]: ‘Mr Bryan, could you tell me how old the Earth is?’

Bryan [B]: ‘No, sir, I couldn’t.’

[D]: ‘Could you come anywhere near it?’

[B]: ‘I wouldn’t attempt to. I could possibly come as near as the scientists do, but I had rather be more accurate before I give a guess.’ …

[D]: ‘Does the statement, “The morning and the evening were the first day,” and “The morning and the evening were the second day,” mean anything to you?’

[B]: ‘I do not think it necessarily means a twenty-four-hour day.’

[D]: ‘You do not?’

[B]: ‘No.’ …

[D]: ‘Then, when the Bible said, for instance, "and God called the firmament heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day," that does not necessarily mean twenty-four-hours?’

[B]: ‘I do not think it necessarily does.’ … ‘I think it would be just as easy for the kind of God we believe in to make the Earth in six days as in six years or in six million years or in 600 million years. I do not think it important whether we believe one or the other.’

[D]: ‘And they had the evening and the morning before that time for three days or three periods. All right, that settles it. Now, if you call those periods, they may have been a very long time.’

[B]: ‘They might have been.’

[D]: ‘The creation might have been going on for a very long time?’

[B]: ‘It might have continued for millions of years.’

Right there, I believe, Darrow knew he had ‘won’ the trial in the public mind! As a humanist, Darrow knew that the language of Genesis 1 was clear, and taught that God created in six literal days. But he knew that if he could show the world that Christians really didn’t believe the Bible like they purported to, he could persuade many that Christianity was a bankrupt belief—which is what he really set out to do in this trial anyway. copyright © Answers in Genesis http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v23/i2/bigpicture.asp

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William Jennings Bryan was a brilliant lawyer but he didn't know squat about God's Book !!! We all should take a lesson, yes? The reason we have public schools tearing our children down instead of raising them up is OUR OWN IGNORANCE HAS LEFT THEM DEFENSELESS AGAINST THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND TEACH THEM THEY HAVE APES FOR GREAT GRANDPARENTS !!!!!!!! Yet I wonder just what God meant by these verses?:

2 Thessalonians 2: 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Isaiah 66: 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

Could the delusion be evolution? I think it could be. What do you think?

What I learned from Answers in Genesis this week:

If the fossils are really millions of years old, then they died millions of years ago. By simple math we KNOW the year that God created Adam to be in the range of 6000 years ago. The Jewish calendar is today in the year 5766. http://www.uscj.org/metny/huntinhh/heb5cal.html One has to deny the Bibles dates to say that man was created or was evolved by God millions of years ago. If man was that old, the fossils would place the beginnings of the death of men and animals before the year of Adams appearance. We KNOW that Adam and Eve were sinless and that by their sin, death (the real death) entered into the earth. Before Adam's sin : no death; after Adam's sin : death. If this is true, and the Bible is true, yes?, then no death could have preceded Adam's sin. Therefore all the dead fossils have to have died AFTER Adam sinned. This thinking about what IS TRUE will either make or break the entire Bible in the minds of men and women. For if the fossilized remains are older than Adam's sin, then God's Words in Genesis to Adam are just lies. That's not the way I see it and God doen't teach it that way either. It is only one step further to the conclusion that God's word- Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh -is also a lie, and that men can marry men and women women. I have had to reconsider much in my life after I got saved. And the above thinking is all new to me. I believed in the six day creation, but I didn't realize how crucial it is to believe it to be able to defend the rest of God's Book. If there is one lie in the Holy Bible, how can anyone be expected to place any confidence in the rest of it, or in it's being from God mouth? And do not persons use the slightest "appearance" of contradiction in the Bible as an excuse to throw the entire text on the ash heap?
It is encumbent upon the elect and the saved to rescue the Book and it's Holy repute from the ash heap. The resources at http://www.answersingenesis.org/ are so good that your church, sunday school, and even your children simply must see them and teach/be taught them.

Two

2006-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

from January 12th this year:

Dear Ones,

A remarkable morning, today. I was up early and thinking about reading the Bible and heard one word: Ruth. ! So I prayed. This morning I prayed not to glean (even though Ruth did glean), but to harvest, to reap down some inspiration from God from the book of Ruth. My prayer was answered. ! As I read I began to notice various things from the New Testament. Bethlehem, famine, harvest and harvesting (reaping), grace and favor, and of course, redemption. But at some point Ch 3 verse 3 just popped out with this (to me a) huge blessing:

In the simple first instructions Naomi gives Ruth, she tells her to wash herself, to annoint herself, and to dress in her best garments. The parallel jumped out at me, surely the answer to my prayer. Washing suggests repentance and baptism; annointing the filling of the Holy Spirit, and dressing in her best parallels our agape motivated good works which cloth us in white (Rev 3:5; 4:4; 7:9). This was the harvest of a blessing to me. ! It pre- figures the very preparation that we undergo before the consumation of our heavenly redemption.

blessing shared = 2x the blessing !!!!!!!!!!

Yours and His, with agape, Dave
copyright © d.b.severy 2006

One

2006-01-20T08:10:00.000-08:00

Share

If I be lifted up from the world, I will draw all men unto me.

Jesus is the only opportunity for success, for victory: for winning. Personally, that is, for each person, a man/woman can do no better (and a lot worse) for him/herself than to TRUST Christ for life. This truth is established by God who swore by Himself and will perform His promises to those He chooses. The question remains: “ Who will you choose ? ” to share the Gospel with?

I am persuaded that though God knows the beginning from the end, that part of His plan, and certainly His desire for you, is to “lift” Him “up”. Not to crucify Him as was done, and done that you might enjoy the salvation of God forever, but for you to put Him crucified, died, and risen from the dead, before the eyes of the men and women of this present world. Share the Gospel.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

We must choose Jesus, and choose Him first and above all others: as our Leader, and our Love. But in doing this, we are transformed into different men and women. Our God given faith witnesses to our hearts that we are citizens of heaven, and that we are escaped from the eternal torment of Hell by the favor of a Holy God. We do not and cannot attain His favor by our merits, for we have lost them by sinning. But Christ did put Himself forward into our place to receive our punishment and clear our debt (demerit) to Holy God with His crucifixion.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Because of this unmerited and undeserved favor, which came at such an incomprehansible cost to God and to Jesus, we are given choices we cannot make otherwise. First is to respond in repentance, in view of our sin and the grief and cost God incurs from it. Second is to place our trust in Christ for that which He alone can provide: passage to eternal Life, vis-à-vis eternal death. Third, we obey God joyfully in all His righteous commandments. Having done these, then shall we not choose to share the Good News with as many as we may choose? We are free in Christ, we have liberty. But I sincerely think our liberty is abused by the withholding, dare I say the supression of the Word of Salvation by God and His Annointed One: Jesus.

Wise men still seek Him, and find Him when the seek with all their heart. Wise men do not stop satisfied in the finding. They seek out others who are also seeking, even those unwise who are not seeking. Do you want true friends? Share the Gospel. Those who choose your God will be friends forever.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

D.B.Severy © Copyright 1/20/2006