Christian Extravagant

The longest stall in a bathroom I have ever seen. 15 feet long? It’s kind of extravagant without needing to be? But when would one “need” to be extravagant? When one has a Savior worthy of it. Like spending a years wage on the most expensive way to anoint someone for burial. A “bad” woman went and spent a years wage on a bottle of perfume, and at a party she wasn’t invited to, came in, wept, laying at Jesus’ feet. Wiped the tears from His feet, then poured this crazy expensive-perfume on Him. We are to give to Jesus extravagantly. All that we have, all that we are. Day after day, pouring our all, on Him. “Jesus let us love You like that. Truly like You are our everything. In Jesus name, Amen.”

What we really want to watch on TV, and in the movie theater.

What we really want to watch on TV, and in the movie theater. People tell us what we want to watch. And then they make it. Most of the films to get released have a lot of drama, action, and maybe a lot of swearing. If you think about it, do we really want more drama in our lives? Most people go to the theater to escape. They want to get away from the drama in their lives. I’ve been told over and over again that in order for a movie, or TV show, or a book to work is to have drama. You have to have angst. But just like in our own lives, we actually do not want more drama. Some of the best movies and TV shows I’ve ever seen are ones that have joy in them, hope in them, love in them. None of us actually like annoying characters. I hope and pray that we will be allowed to make more movies that actually are pleasing to the senses. Watch what is pure and noble, listen to what is right and true. It makes us better people.

Modern worship

A lot of people don’t like modern worship. There’s a myriad of reasons, some true, some not so true. If we look at the new testament, and all of the examples of worship, or quotes from the old testament, it seems to be very simple tunes. Like in Revelation, it seems like the number one song in heaven is “worthy is the Lamb." And sometimes, “worthy is the Lamb who was slain," over and over and over again. One of the things people don’t like about the mid to late 70s and 80s worship tunes, is if they were too simple. Those “simple songs“ could be learned in moments, and sang over and over again in simplicity. In Second Chronicles when the Spirit fills the temple, the cloud comes, and people fall on their faces. They aren’t able to really do complicated worship. Somebody does not stand up and say we will sing verse one and seven today. Simple praise courses don’t engage the mind of as much as the heart. You don’t have to think about it too much. There’s actually nothing wrong with it. It’s a way to learn and sing. And remember, we’re supposed to be childlike in our faith, simple faith. There is nothing wrong with simple songs.

God gave us His Holy Spirit to "teach us in all things." John 14 So obviously that includes how we are to be His Bride. Jesus gives us mental pictures of how we are to be His. His Bride, His Church, His army, His Body, the Body Of Christ. A friend of mine had this vision about how the Church is like the city of Jerusalem, with it's walls and gates being like His leaders. It's 12 gates are made up of His leaders as signified by the 12 different gates, and that the walls of relationship between them are the relationship that keeps them together. In the word, Ephesians 4, it says, "He's given some as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers." In this vision my friend had, these are the gates of authority that God places in each city, and they are to have relationship together and function together as the Lord built them to. Those walls of relationship between them is what the Lord's uses to keep the enemy out. If there is no relationship between the "Gates of the city," then the enemy walks up to the gate (Standing by itself) looks at the Gate, walks around the Gate, admiring, "What a fine Gate," then goes around in (No wall of relationship) and plunders the city. (Do we not see the enemy doing this in our churches?) We believe God builds His Church so that the gates of hell can't prevail against it, against us, His Church, Matthew 16 So if the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers were given to us "for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:12 And we don't have this in operation, we are severely lacking, and the enemy has way to many options to come in and mess with us. Along with this also in chapter 4 it says in 1b "to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." So if our leaders aren't doing this, and if we ALL aren't doing this, it will not work, this thing we call church. One faith, One hope...this is a picture of His bride He's coming back for without spot or wrinkle! Ephesians 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So if we are His Bride, and He's coming back, He will build us so the gates of hell can't prevail, and we will be without spot or wrinkle. He's coming back! So what if every pastor, every evangelist, every Apostle, in each city were to be used to help us ALL "come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ?" That would be awesome! Most denominational churches don't teach this, and most of what we'd consider the "church" may not even believe this! Ephesians 4 goes on to say, "13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." Sp without those gates, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, functions together under Christ, the Head of the Church, then we will NOT e equipped. We won't function the way he meant us to. Paul also says in Ephesians 5:32 "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Jesus wants us to be one, He even prayed it: John 17:21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." And in this Jesus has to make us right in Him, before we can be right with each other. John 17:14 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth." He makes us one, only He can do that. Without Him being the Head, we are just a headless body. "Lord, make us one, even as You and the Father are one. Please, in Jesus name."

Star Wars is White.

Have you ever noticed Star Wars is very white? Except for Lando Calrissian, I don't think there's any people of color. Now with Nazi inspired Stormtroopers, representing of course, the "dark side," we could assume things, but I don't know if we need to. How would African Americans be from galaxies far, far away? Or would there be any Chinese except from...China? You won't find any indigenous Mexicans whose ancestry is from another planet, because...they are from, Mexico! I guess we can't find many normal "minorities" so instead we have aliens. Evolutionary inspired "space people" from other planets. So Star Wars could be called White Wars...White People Strike Back, Return of Whitey. Star Trek blazed the anti just white trail back n the 60's with as many minorities as possible. But not White Wars. Now we can't forget the great voice of James Earl Jones as Darth...but once he's unveiled (did I just say unveiled like when a kkk guy takes off his hoodie..) then Darth is fully white, and he looses his very cool voice. (Of course for the newer series they changed the actor! Who is still white) So what's my point? THAT I NEVER NOTICED! I'm so used to just whites on screen it wasn't weird to me. Strange. I grew up in a black neighborhood, and was one of the only white people, so color has never meant anything different to me other than I thought all races were seriously cool, and that God is amazing in His creative ability! (I wanted to be a Native American when I was a kid because I thought they looked the coolest!) So back to titles, White Wars, The Whites Awaken, The Last White Person...

PTSD Posing as Truth, Satan's Disguise

Posing as Truth, Satan's Disguise; that's what PTSD is. One man can see the same exact things in the same foxhole, and yet he does not suffer from PTSD, while the other, right next to him, seeing the same things, kills himself because of PTSD. Unbroken the book, not the movie that falls short of the truth, tells the story of Louis, "Louie" Zamperini, a man who was tortured, and for many years suffered from PTSD. Louie turns to alcohol to try and numb the pain, but nothing can take away the horrors of what he saw, what people did to him. Until Jesus came in and set him free. The day Louie gave into Christ, Jesus set him free. Free from unforgiveness, pain, memories, and instantly from all effects of PTSD. No more nightmares, no more PTSD, overnight. Jesus set him free. No more of satan's lies, Jesus set Louie free, and Jesus can set you free. Satan is the father of lies, but Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Two men each build a house, one on sand, the other on the Rock. When the storms came, the memories, the attacks, the rains descended, the floods arose of terror, the man who did not listen the Jesus, his house fell, and great was it's fall. The other man did listen and obey what Jesus said, he built his life on the Rock, on Christ. The same rains came, the same storms of life, but his house stood, because he stood on Christ Jesus, the Rock. You too can stand on Christ, and believe what He says is true. Or you can believe the sands of time can heal you, but they never will, only Christ. He alone is truth, and He alone can set you free. Love covers the multitude of sins that people will, and have, put on you. Love forgives, and yes, forgets, even as Jesus will remember your sins no more. Love takes into account no wrong. (1 Corinthians 13) Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7) Forgive, love, know Jesus has all of this, Jesus died for all our sins, so don't let them effect you any more. They are all lies, satan's lies to keep you in his evil grasp, of pain, torture, nightmares and misery. Jesus takes all that away. It's what He died for, our sins. Unforgiveness is a sin. The evil you saw, the evil they did to you, was their sin. Unforgiveness is your sin. They can, and need to be forgiven, but so do you. Their sin opened the door for you to sin, for you to let the devil in, and through that process, you have opened the door to your enemy, who only comes to kill, steal and destroy, he is the father of lies, and the truth is, Jesus set you free. Only listening to Jesus, only building your life in Him can set you free. He is the only way. Pray, "Lord forgive me, I have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. Please forgive me of all my sins. I believe You died and rose again. By faith, through grace, I receive You now. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen." Let His Word renew your mind, through the washing of the water of His Word. In Jesus name, Amen.

Love, that's it.

There was one original don't. "Adam, Eve, don't eat this fruit, or you will die." Seriously, you will die. Then, because they didn't do the 1 don't, God added 10 more don'ts, Thou shall not's they were called, "No killing, stealing, coveting..." Then Jesus came and filled all the don'ts and added two do's: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. To do or not to do, that is the question. But we can do this because He also gave us of His Spirit, to teach us in all things and bring back to remembrance all that He said. We're covered, we're ready, and through Christ who strengthens us, we are able . So, let's do.

Thinking

For 22 years I have sat here, praying, reading, watching. Little has changed. Snowmen have come and gone. Different cars. God has been so good to me. How can I complain? I love watching the world go buy, and yet still being a part of it; sometimes in big ways, sometimes in small ways. My gets have changed a lot over the years. I used to want different things, so I'd get those things. Now one of my favorite things is just to sit, relax, stare! In the Summer I love to lay right here and watch the pretty trees blow above me head. In the winter I love to see the same 1800's white church across the street. It's all so pretty and sweet. Thank Your Lord for 2016, 15, 14, 13, 12...and all those years that have come and gone. How wonderful You are in them. Thank You Lord, thank You very much.

How chipotle got it wrong and how we are getting it wrong.

People got sick in 14 states and no one knows why. Welcome to chipotle restaurants. Volkswagen and now Mitsubishi lied to the government about emissions. People are being beheaded, Christians are suffering persecution in the last five years more than the last 500 combined. The world seems to be losing it's mind. "As in the days of Noah so shall it be when the Son of Man returns" this is what the Bible says will happen before Jesus comes back. "The love of many will grow cold" is another verse that talks about the end times. I believe firmly Jesus is coming back very soon and that we are living in those last days the Bible prophesied about. So the Christian response must always be love. God's love covers a multitude of sins and it's in showing love that we will show that we are one of His. Don't let your love grow cold.

Death in Good Thunder

A chapel is "a small building for Christian worship, typically one attached to an institution or private house." Two people died yesterday on Chapel Street here in our little city of Good Thunder. Chapel is another name to describe a "church" building where Christians meet for worship. The Bible tells us that we, as Christians, are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, where God actually resides. "The angel of death came and visited our city" was the thought that came to me this morning when I went out to pray. He came and carried them away to God's throne. As I walked I prayed for the police who had a long night, still on duty from a sleepless night. I prayed for the family who have been left behind, who did not get a lot of sleep either. In bother cases the Lord had me pray for peace. He even had me pray for joy. As a Christian "The joy of the Lord is our strength." Lord, You be glorified, even in death. In Jesus name, Amen.

Miracles From Heaven

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CldGTG6iVrU I was invited last night to see this. It was very good. Comes out in March. Great story about our God who still does miracles! When I was a kid I took my future wife to a Hollywood premier, a bad Matt Dillion movie called Rumble Fish. I paid $50 per ticket, and didn't like the experience much, except for the company. The best part was that a carriage awaited us outside, something I had arranged beforehand, it was very sweet. Last night we were treated to this special screening, given free t-shirts, and a gift bag. When God provides, He opens the doors, He does the paying for. In the movie, God speaks to this little girl. This morning God spoke my name, and woke me up. I have never heard God's voice like this. God, still, speaks. It felt like nothing I had ever experienced. He told me too that when we become loud, people taste our flavor, but when God speaks they taste His. God's flavor tastes like Love, Joy, Peace, Mercy and Grace. Miracles From Heaven - Official Trailer (ft. Jennifer Garner) From the studio that brought you Heaven Is For Real, don't miss the incredible true story coming March 16, 2016. From today's study, interesting huh? January 29, 2016 ICR.org Thanks to Answers In Genesis. Children in Heaven “And [David] said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23) The death of a loved one is always a time of great sorrow, but the death of a beloved child is perhaps the keenest sorrow of all. Nevertheless, for the Christian believer, we “sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Our text verse makes it clear that, when a child dies (even one born of a sinful relationship such as this child of David and Bathsheba), that child goes to be with the Lord in heaven. Jesus said: “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

Sin separates us from God

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2. Sin separates us from God, so we can's see and hear Him. The more we sin, the less we hear.Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He shall direct your paths. So if we disobey this, and don't in all our ways acknowledge Him, and we DO lean on our understanding, and we don't trust in Him with ALL our heart...how can He direct our paths? Just this morning I went out to pray early, usually the stars greet me in their mast, lovely array; but only two were visible. Something was blocking my view of them; clouds. Sin blocks us from God. He can still break though, because He's God, but sin will always have that effect. "Repent therefore..." "Lord, forgive us of our sins. Cleanse us from all wickedness, so we can hear, and let us obey. You are good, and Your mercy endures forever, Thank You. In Jesus name, Amen."

You are God's field, you are God's building!

1 Cor. 3:4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. Another way of saying this might be, " I am a Lutheran, I am a Baptist etc.

Spiritual Schizophrenia

Ever hear of spiritual schizophrenia, or Sp Skitzo for short? It's when you walk in the Spirit some of the time, and then all of a sudden you skip to your flesh, and walk in it a bit, then back and forth, leaving your friends, family, those you're trying to reach for Christ, all confused, frustrated, bewildered. God said I have it, and I have it big time, but I don't have to. All I have to do is what His Word tells me to, things like; crucify the flesh daily with it's passions. Give no opportunity to the flesh. Live in the Spirit. Be crucified with Christ so it's no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me. My life has to be lived 100 % in the Lord, because it's no longer I that live, it's Christ that lives in me. Can I be 97% faithful to my wife. Or am I expected to be 100% faithful? If 100%, then why do I think it's any different with the Lord? Father forgive me for not being faithful. Let me be Yours, all Yours, because we can't be kinda born again, or mostly, we either are, or aren't. So Lord, I am all Yours, in Jesus name, by grace, through faith. Amen.

We all are tempted! But none of us has to sin!

You are not evil because you are tempted! We all are tempted, sometimes every hour of everyday. God wants us to know, "4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) If we don't take those thoughts captive, we are in trouble, and may end up sinning. Let's really think about every thought, run to Christ with it each time. It will also deepen your relationship with Him!

God commands; "Hear His voice."

Does God command that we hear His voice? YES! Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a mountain, His clothes become brilliant, God overshadow's them and then says those words. John 10:4b "the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." 5: " 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." We NEED to hears His voice, because all of us like sheep have gone astray!(Isaiah 53:6) The other reason we have to hear Him is so we can believe, so we can do the things the Father says we can, like cast demons out! Sin gets in the way of us hearing, and prayer and fasting can help us deny ourselves, pick up our crosses and follow after Him daily. Mark 9:17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” 19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,[a] all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Why could we not cast it out...He replied...nothing but prayer and fasting. One translation even says MUCH prayer and fasting. In order to follow after Him, we have to hear His voice, and in order to hear His voice we have to do His will, take up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Him...DAILY! Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Lord help us to hear You, help us to trust in You with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding; In all our ways acknowledge You, so You can direct our paths. Lord, we believe, help our unbelief, in Jesus name! Amen! Proverbs 3:5-6

100 years of knowing about Christ, but not knowing Christ.

I got to see a 100 year old woman pray to receive Christ yesterday! I talked to her first this last summer, when she turned 100. She went to church every Sunday growing up. She was baptized as a infant. She went though confirmation. As I talked to her about Christ, she kept saying, "I've never thought about it like that," and "I've never gone that deep." She knew about Christ, but didn't know Him. Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ So she didn't quite understand how to receive Christ, because she thought she already had! Her religious tradition had not yet become a relationship, a "first love." Then I visited with her a second time, and she warmed up a bit, I got to pray with her, but not to receive Christ, she still didn't understand. Then this third time, yesterday, we talked more, as friends this time, and I was finally able to ask her, "Do you want to pray to receive Christ now?" She said, "Yes." So we prayed a very simple prayer, and she asked Jesus to be her Lord, she confessed her sin, received Christ in, and now at 100, she's born again! Both times we prayed she was touched, and would cry. It is so sweet to be able to minister to someone who wants ministry. So many of us harden our hearts and we don't want to be touched. Well, as in this woman's case, it's never too late! Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, 15 while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." God bless your day!

Water does not save, only Jesus does. Infant baptism & sprinkling.

I pray that this would dispense grace to the hearers. (Ephesians 4&5) Isn't it as simple as: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) Why do we have to complicate this simple truth; Jesus alone can save? Why am I even bringing up such a divisive issue? This belief is keeping people from receiving Christ because they believe that a religious tradition, (The way it's instituted) like water baptism, has saved them. There is no verse that says sprinkling infants with water will save them. There's no scripture that says to baptize infants. There's no scripture that says to baptize by sprinkling. The greek word the Bible uses when talking about baptism actually means to immerse (Go under the water) : baptízō – properly, "submerge" hence, baptize, to immerse (literally, "dip under"). (baptízō) implies submersion ("immersion") Hebrews 10:22 "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Here we see our hearts are sprinkled, but our body's washed. Remember baptism is not a means of grace, it is a sybol of what Christ did for us, and the way He cleanses us from ALL sins, hence being dunked instead of sprinkled! The first mention of infant baptism is by a man named Tertullian around A.D. 220, almost 200 years after Christ. (https://bible.org/question/what-are-historical-origins-infant-baptism) Jesus did not institute it, He Himself did not practice it, and yet we all believe He was perfect, was He not perfect in this as well? Did Jesus mess up by not being baptized as an infant? If Jesus was perfect, and we are to imitate Him as beloved children, (Ephesians 5) and He was not baptized until He was an adult, then why would we institute something that wasn't done on a regular basis in any churches until 400 years after Christ, by pious parents? (Not my words!) (The apastolic age, 453 AD https://bible.org/question/what-are-historical-origins-infant-baptism) If you teach that sprinkling water on a baby saves them, you are relying on a man's doctrine and not the scripture for your foundation of that belief. Also, the scripture again is very clear that we are to be imitators of Christ as beloved children, (Eph 5:1) and not a man, even if he were a leader in the Church. We are to imitate Jesus in all we do, doing what He says, doing what He did. If He was going to institute something as important as infant baptism, wouldn't He Himself have done it? Angels appeared to Mary & Joseph, couldn't an angel have appeared and instructed them to baptize Him as an infant? But Jesus was not baptized as an infant. We all know that the church went into the dark ages, and many different doctrines came along during that period, so we can't trust a certain period of time after Christ to introduce different doctrines outside that what Christ Himself introduced. Also, if there is just one Bible verse that says something to the contrary, are we really going to stick with the traditions of man over scripture? Philip was brought by God to an Ethiopian eunuch who was traveling along a road. Phillip "preached Jesus to him." (Acts 8) After seeing some water by the road the Eunuch asked Phillip “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Phillip's response here is key to our discussion, " If you believe with all your heart, you may.” Why did Phillip do that, why would he put a condition on baptism? And why does every scriptural example of everyone that is baptized use this exact same premise, someone believed, and then was baptized? Our marker needs to be Christ: Ephesians 5:8 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." & "17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." We are supposed to be taught by Him, Ephesians 5:20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus. So why do we put the traditions of man over the scriptures? Why would we ever do that? "Do not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation." (Romans 1:16) Don't change the Gospel, it works. There will never be a better way than the way Jesus showed us. In fact He even says if you try any other way you are a "theif and a liar." (John 10:1) Jesus also says that "He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) Don't change His way, don't do it another way, any other way that "seems right to a man" will lead to death. (Proverbs 14:12) Water doesn't save, Jesus does. I had a conversation with a woman in a church who was 100 years old! She was baptized as an infant, raised and confirmed in the same church, and still attended when she could, at 100! I asked her about her relationship with Jesus, how she felt about Him. She said to me over and over, "I have never gone that deep." She insinuated, "I believe because that's what they (The church leadership) told me." "Do I need to pray?" she asked. She did not seem to know Jesus, and her religious tradition was blocking her understanding of actually what it means to know Christ, and be known by Him. Do you know Jesus? Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20) Has Jesus come in to your life, is His presence evident? Has your heart been redeemed? Do you know Him? Do you have to be baptized to be saved? Is there one scripture that would refute that? YES! When Jesus was crucified, for our sins, this happened: Luke 23:39 "Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” This one man believed, and Jesus said, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." Jesus alone saves. His blood alone cleanses. His grace is sufficient. Nothing your parents do can save you either. Tradition should not take the place of relationship. If your tradition teaches you that baptism brings you into a relationship with Christ so you don't need to accept Jesus as Lord, you are missing not a tradition, but you are miss Jesus. I don't want to major on sprinkling verses and immersion, but let me say this: Think of the visual image of one going under the water and coming back up again. One dying, and being raised up again. How does sprinkling even compare? (Mark 1, Matthew 3) Mark 1:10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. And, Matthew 3:16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him." It does not say, "John sprinkled Him, then He walked over to the shore, and then...it says "imediately He came up out of the water." Let's not change the Word of God for a man made tradition, it's just not worth it, and it robs the believer of being baptized, and having the same experience Jesus did. Don't we want to see the heavens opened, don't we want people to experience baptism? Let's not rob them of that. Let's do it the way Jesus did. Let's let Him be our example in everything, not a man. Here are just a few scriptures on salvation: Romans 10: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. John 1:12 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: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:not of works, lest any man should boast. Pray this: "Lord Jesus, I confess You are Lord. I believed God raised You from the dead. I receive the free gift of life, I receive You Jesus. I confess You are the way, the truth and the life. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God to salvation. I believe that old things are passed away, and all things have been made new. I beleive grace has saved me. In Jesus name, Amen." Keep reading your bible, keep praying, keep believing, keep loving. Love covers a multitude of sins! (1 Peter 4:8) Numbers 6:24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’ In Jesus name, amen!

God's supply should be our only provision

2 Corinthians 8:13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” We know that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." (James 1:17a) And we believe God will supply "all our needs according to His riches in glory." (Philippians 4:19) So if it is God's supply, it's perfect, as we'll always have enough to share with others, which ties into another promise, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38) If you or I don't share, and we take too much, we may actually be taking anothers supply, that we were supposed to give them. I have been convicted when I've eaten too much only to find out someone else didn't get any. We must only receive what God intends as our provision, and always be ready to share, liberally. If we do, we will see many more that are now going without, be richly supplied as we are now. Then we will know, and feel the blessing of, "remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)

When abnormal becomes normal.

I saw a planes vapor trail across the moon this morning, it looked really cool, and I had never seen it like that before. But if it became an everyday occurrence, eventually it would loose it's "cool factor." I used to live in Colorado, and my friends and I always fought the tendency for the Rockies to lose their magnificence, and for most, they did. I feel we are doing that with the Lord, He's losing His magnificence, His brilliance, His rightful place in the Church, and our lives as the most awesome thing ever. One of the things that leads to this is compromise, or sin. When compromise enters the Church we become the devil's play toy. When Christ isn't on the throne of our hearts, our lives, our church boards and committees, then who is? Us? Are we the new Lord of the manor? Have we become some kind of king? It seems like it. If we are usurping the Lord and His place, we may even be acting like we're gods, except without all that power...and love, and all good God like things....all the things we've surrendered so we could become king. "Forgive us Lord, place us Lord, with You, the true King of Kings and Lord of Lord's, in Jesus name, Lord, we surrender to You, in Jesus name, please, have Your rightful place in us again.""For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." —2 Corinthians 4:5