Last week Brian Fisher on afr read a series of laws in early America that REQUIRED bearing arms to church.
Also, Doug Giles on Clash Daily did a very good job on the issue of armed Christians.
THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE ON EARTH FOR A CHRISTIAN
September 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The most dangerous place on earth for a Christian to live today is in America.
And I don’t mean that just because it is now becoming harder to be a Christian for some in America.
It has been hard to be an authentic Christian in America for many decades, because it has been too easy, to0 comfortable.
Nobody is going to complain, nobody is going to speak up against the good times that Christians have experienced in this God-blessed land.
Christians and the culture have been so compatible for so long in this country, that no one noticed the culture drawing Christians away from the strait and narrow.
The greatest influence on Christians, that I observe for most of my life, is the focus on making more money, buying more stuff, insurance, and retirement.
We say we can have it all, and store up treasures here, just as long as we are Biblically responsible.
And absolutely no one is going to oppose that.
No one, that is, except Jesus and the Bible.
The Bible is chocked full of warnings about money and wanting money and loving money and storing money.
Decades ago, my dad was willing to quote all the Bible verses so black and white against trusting money.
He paid the ultimate price for that boldness.
Today, my pastor is also willing to quote the Bible in severe contrast to the growing evil around us.
He is paying severely right now for his boldness.
IT IS, or IT ISN’T
September 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment
LEVEL is not a range.
OBEDIENCE is not a range.
TIMING OF OBEDIENCE is not a range.
TRUTH is not a range.
THE SOURCE OF TRUTH is not a range.
“I am the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life.”
—–Jesus
“Your WORD is TRUTH.”
—–His Book
SUCCESS – – – DEFINED
August 18, 2017 By Leave a Comment
We all tend to define SUCCESS by “favorable response from other people to what we have done.”
We choose our words (even our thoughts) carefully to make a good impression on someone.
We spend time and energy concerned about what people think of us.
How can we develop a higher level definition of SUCCESS—and simplify our striving for it?
CONTENTMENT is the first step toward genuine SUCCESS.
Formula for CONTENTMENT: “Having FOOD and CLOTHES, let us be CONTENT.”*
Step two—GREAT GAIN is an obvious synonym for SUCCESS.
Formula for GREAT GAIN: “GODLINESS with CONTENTMENT is GREAT GAIN.”*
Conclusion—simple definition/formula for SUCCESS:
GODLINESS plus FOOD plus CLOTHING equals SUCCESS.
*—–His Book
DESTINY AFTER DEATH – – – COUNT THE COST – – – OR . . .
June 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Who do you want to figure your taxes?
The IRS sometimes offers, “We will figure your taxes for you.”
Who do you want to figure the cost of your spiritual life?
What about the cost of your life after death—the cost of your eternal destination?
Fact is—that has already been decided, if you do nothing.
Count the cost, of following Jesus, now—COSTLY.
Count the cost of not following Him now, and then—VERY COSTLY ! ! !
“. . . FINISHED.” – – – and – – – BEGUN
April 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” the payment for all our sins was done, finished.
When Jesus rose from death, the guarantee of our resurrection and eternal life was begun.
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble.
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble.
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble.
Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
SOMETIME I FEEL LIKE SHOUTIN’ GLORY.”
THE LORD’S DAY – – – AND – – – THE DAY OF THE LORD
March 4, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Most people are aware of the meaning of “The Lord’s Day.”
But for most people it doesn’t mean anything to them every weekend.
Most people say Merry Christmas—it has the name “Christ” in it.
But for most people Christ doesn’t mean anything in their celebration.
The Lord’s Day—one day a week set aside as special, by God Himself, from week one, six thousand years ago.
God rested on the seventh day, and made it a holy day.
God told us to do the same.
We do well to not change anything initiated by God, consecrated by God, and commanded by God.
American culture is changing many sacred things ordained by God—ordained for our well-being.
Many changes are dramatic and immediately disastrous, and become national issues.
But the impact is more gradual, but deep and profound, as we forget to remember The Lord’s Day.
God made this one day a week different for our benefit—to rest.
If we don’t stop to actually rest one day a week, we lose so much, no matter how much we claim to keep going seven days a week.
It’s like the benefit of stopping every activity after a meal, including thinking, to give the digestive system priority for four minutes.
God also made this one day a week different for our benefit—to remember Him.
If we don’t stop to actually recognize God at least one day a week, in every part of our life, we lose even more, everything important.
We must “Be Still, and Know That He Is God.”
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
If He says it is important enough for us to stop one day a week to think about Him, to get direction for the rest of the week, then we do best to do so.
Now, The Lord’s Day serves to prepare us for The Day Of The Lord—the greatest day of all—the ending day of history that is only the beginning.
If HIStory is His Story, then RESTory is the rest of the story—perfect rest forever in heaven, or the worst torment forever in hell.
If we fail to remember The Lord’s Day now, with honest open heart before Him, how will He remember us on The Day Of The Lord?
DOES THE BIBLE DEFEND ITSELF ?
February 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The Bible lists five pieces of defensive armor for Christians:
The belt of TRUTH.
The breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The shoes of the GOSPEL OF PEACE.
The shield of FAITH.
The helmet of SALVATION.
Use them for personal protection and defense against attacks.
The Bible lists one offensive weapon:
The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God—THE BIBLE.
Does a sword need protection?
Only when not in use, sheathed.
Does the Bible need protection?
Only, perhaps, when we keep it closed.
Does a sword provide defensive protection in its sheath?
It only works offensively, in hand, in use, in combat.
Does the Bible provide defensive protection, closed?
It only works open, in use, read, spoken, lifesaving in spiritual combat.
Open your Bible.
Read your Bible.
Do not hesitate to quote the Bible.
It has far more power than our words.
“The Word will not return empty, but will accomplish that for which it is sent.”
CONTENTMENT – – – TO ACHIEVE ? – – – OR – – – TO BE ?
December 3, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Accomplishment may give satisfaction, but it takes more to experience contentment.
When we achieve, and reach a goal of completing something, we feel good, for awhile.
Then we must find something more to do if we are to feel good again.
Getting something done, getting paid, getting stuff, getting happy—it has to be repeated.
So how do we get contentment—or do we just experience contentment when it happens?
“Food + Clothes = Contentment” —–His Book
“Godliness + Contentment = Great Gain (Success)” —–His Book
Therefore,
Godliness + Food + Clothes = Success
“I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.” —–His Book
So, you can’t “achieve contentment”—you can only “be content.”
But we can “learn . . . to be content.”