Slave of Christ, Husband and Father

XXX Church, Things you must know, a first hand account

2009-10-31T16:46:00.000-07:00

We were at gay pride today and i got to speak with a person from xxx church about evangelism. Let me set the stage. There was a Gay friendly church called Trinity UMC that had signs up promoting that "God loves everbody" and "whosover means everyone." They were welcoming homosexuals. I was on the opposite corner, very close to them, and decided I was going to open air. This wasn't just any open air, this was a 90% scripture 10% preaching/explanation open air. I wanted to let the word speak for itself. I raised my voice loud enough for them to hear, but I was being very careful. As I began, you could see there eyes rolling and their heads shacking. I was only reading scripture, it was the words of God they hated. I gave a balanced message, I did mention homosexuality in a few passages, but not just focusing on that one sin. I even smiled when preaching about Jesus imploring everyone to come and lay down ALL their sin.

As I was still preaching, I recognized Craig Gross from xxx church. He had a frined with a camera. The minute I saw him, I knew exactly what he was going to do. He interviewed me with the purpose of thinking Im a typical hell fire, no grace, street preacher. He was trying to provoke me. He started by asking me what I was doing and why I was doing it. My answers were very scriptural and grace centered. I emphasized my desire for all to come to repentance and be saved, telling him that knowing that the scripture teaches that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of god (1 corinthians 6:9-11) and that I would be a terrible person if I barred the kingdom of heaven by not telling the truth. I also explained that Galatians 1 speaks of being accursed for preaching a diffrent Gospel, and the UMC gay church was preaching a wrong gospel ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE.

He then began to ask me on camera why we as christians were arguing?(he was calling the gay methodists christians.) I explained that true christians have repented and turned from all sin. He was trying to make me the bad guy and insinuating that I was doing things the wrong way. I answered all his questions with scripture and was very grace centered with my bible in my hand and he asked "If Jesus were here, would he be on my corner or the other one?" I told him he would be where his word is proclaimed rightly. He then went over to talk to the other folks and get some footage for himself.

Now the interesting things happened. After they wer finished, I went over and asked them (offcamera) what they do with the concept of God hating people?(Psalm 7:11,psalm 11:5, etc. they have a new book called God Loves you and harp on that alot.) Craig said in short that he believes most of the OT law was done away with (Matt 5:17-20 Jesus didn't come to abolish the Law.) He was asking "Why do you come here and focus on this one sin?" I explained that I personally go to alot of diffrent events, even christian ones, and speak about Christ. I continued that I was speaking a balanced message of Law and Grace and that I wasn't focused on this one sin alone, but that it is a sin and needs to be spoken about. Craig replied and said that Jesus was only harsh with the relegious, other than that he was kind. I brought in the woman at the well and how Jesus pointed out her sin specifically and the rich young ruler how Jesus spoke directly to his sin (Mark 10:17-22, and John 4:10-12). He didn't really respond to that. He went on about how we are not effective.

He believes that Jesus never preached, he just made relationships with people and as they were open he shared. I brought up the sermon on the mount with look of shock on my face. I couldn't believe that hew was saying this. He also asked me for 1 verse where Jesus condemns homosexuals, and there isnt directly one, so I brought up romans 1. He said "NO, thats paul, I wan't a verse from Jesus." He went explain He believes that Jesus words in red are higher above paul and peters. (Jesus quouted the OT as sripture and 2 tim 3:16-17 says ALL scripture is inspired.) He couldn't pin me like he wanted. I am not a heartless screamer, I am beggar who has found bread telling other beggars where to find bread.

He went on to say that the Bible is a book for christians and unbelievers don't want to hear the word, thats why we must make disciples. (He is using make disciples to mean befriend lost people and hang with them and they are your disciple, at least thats how he used it in our conversation.) I asked him where faith comes from? Romans 10 declares Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. Where is the word of Christ unbelievers need? IN THE BIBLE!!!!!! I told him the word of God teaches men hate the light becuase there deeds are exposed. He was judging my brothers like crazy. Our brothers with signs (resonable sign guys), he was saying they aren't effective in reaching people. My buddy shot back by saying "have you ever held a sign and had people come to you?" He said no. He said the days of tracts and open air are gone and that speaking with people about Jesus Christ the way Paul did isn't effective. We must make disciples (befriend lost people) and eventually they will ask us.

I write this so others will have information of his theology. If you are questioning its reliability, email him at his site about his beliefs and email me about mine. I am not promoting a book, im not making money off this. People need to know this. At their booth they handed out bracelets that said "We're sorry." My buddy Keith asked them exactly what it meant? The lady at the booth said they were sorry that the relegious have condemned the homosexuals and told them they are going to hell. Even if a person says that with a wrong tone, it is TRUE from scripture that Homosexuality is a sin. I desire all men to come to Jesus, Thats why I go. Even in a dark place like this, I Go with the gospel of peace and a heart full of love. Pray that God would save ALL Gay people and that these people from xxx church would repent. God Bless

THINGS MUST CHANGE!!!

2009-10-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

Luke 9:23-26
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,[a] and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

1 John 1:5-6

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Surely the original audience understood that this verse clearly teaches its ok to go to hear the music about the goddess Diana. Most definitely they knew it was ok to buy carved idols because they look really cool. Surely they understood that they could yell and cheer with worshippers of Baal, Or does these passages mean what they say? If you went to witness at the KISS concert, you would have thought that the first 3 were the proper interpretation. I have become more and more grieved for those who profess Christ and attend concerts that are 100%, absolutely demonic. Now I admit that there are many secular bands that are morally nuetral, and I think we can wrangle over this. KISS overtly promotes sexuall immorality and I know becuase I used to listen and play their music, thats right I actually do know it.

Light has nothing to do with Darkness. NOTHING. Now the scriptures clearly teach we are here to witness, and that does involve time and contact with the lost, but not participating in SIN! Now think of this concert. It doesn't start with buying a ticket and putting on makeup. It starts with following after the things of the world, perhaps turning on the radio or internet. Then, allowing something that appeals to the flesh to take hold, in this case, buying some cd's. What we put into our minds influences us for the devil or for Jesus Christ. In the scriptures, there is no middle ground.

I was holding the God Loves/God Hates sign and started chatting with Nelson. He played musical intstruments and so do I, so we talked about that. He had bought a premium ticket for $1,000 to meet the band and get front row. He asked what I was doing and I said I was spreading the Gospel. He said that was good and told me he was a christian. He did acknowledge that sounded weird to be a christian and go into a KISS concert. He said he was a pentecostal and his pastor liked Elvis. This was a great conversation, he actually asked me what I thought about a christian going into the KISS concert. THANK YOU JESUS!!!! I told him it doesn't matter what anyone says but God and and God says Darkness has nothing to do with light. I talked about that and talked about KISS and compared their message with scripture. I really challenged him and told him I cared about him and assured him that if he continues in sin, he is not saved. I urged him to throw his tickets away and go home if he really loved Jesus. I didn't say it, but I thought about saying "Go and turn from worldly pleasures to Christ and you will have treasure in heaven." Now my tone was proper, and I shared my testimony to him. I was in rock bands and I had to turn from wicked music because it is opposed to Jesus. Jesus doesn't withhold the Joys of Music from us, he gave a whole book in the Psalms. Jesus cares for us and wants us to have him, not worldly knockoffs of true joy. He wouldn't turn from his sin. He wouldn't leave his sin behind. The conversation was friendly, he listened to me and I told him I really cared about him.

I am sick and tired of seeing crosses inbetween the cleavage of badly dressed women. I handed a tract to one of those ladies passin by, and she replied in a very sweet voices "Oh god bless you sweetie." And I agree, they don't know, and I do sincerely echo the words of Jesus "Forgive them Father for they don't know what they're doing." The terrible thing is this, they are full accountable to God. I am not saying scream at them and call them names, but for the Glory of God, TELL THEM THE TRUTH!!! I am guilty as anyone else, probably even more, but we must stop all this superficial living and tell our lost friends the Good news of the Gospel and share the truth with relegious people who love sin. WE MUST!!! And it starts with us. We are not bigtime bookwriters, we are not high profile evengelicals, we are not well speaking businessmen, we are not crafty solicitors. WE ARE AMBASSADORS OF JESUS CHRIST. Everyone who is a christian is an ambassador. Take the news to the deli man at the grocery store, take the news to your neighbors, whatever we do we must take the news and teach people the truth.

I agree they are ignorant, but their sin is cosmic rebellion against the KING and it will land them in the Lake of Fire. I am not joyful about that, God is willing that none should perish and so should we, and especially to my beloved calvanist bretheren, don't think so highly of Gods soverenty that you can't see youre responsibiblity. If we think so high of his soverenty and don't recognize the human responsibility that God has given us as christians, We haven't seen his sovernty like we think we have. His soverenty is great and his commands are a delight to all who name his name. That is not an attack on my reformed brothers, think of it is as some balance.

It is also time that pastors preach very practical things from there exposition of scriputre. Im not saying stop deep theological expostion, im saying help us as sheep to understand these things. Take the cost of discipleship, Imagine a pastor was to say in summary "you must give up things to follow Christ." Question, what things? I know the answer having been born again 5 years ago, but there are many who don't. Get specific and don't be afraid to preach against worldly media, not in a legalisic way but in a Christ and Gospel centered way. Let us be found faithful.

approaching evil

2009-10-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

We approach Gay Pride this week and to be honest, I don't have a heavy heart. I am praying the Lord will give me a supernatural Love for those who hate him the same as he loved me. In years past, there has been an overwhelming emotion to just cry, right there in the park in front of everyone, just weeping over souls. In Romans chapter 1 we find this sin to be one in which the unbeliever rails against God continually and God gives them over to the desire of their heart to the sin of homosexuality.

We must go with a heart of love. If we step onto the park without, we might as well leave. 2 peter 3:9 states that God is willing that none should perish. Our attitudes should reflect that truth. We must remember that we are representing Jesus Christ and when the Gay people see and hear us, they should see and hear Christ in us.

This is a hard word. Before you look sternly at someone and proclaim "unless you repent, you will perish," ask yourself, is that tone the way Jesus would proclaim to that particular person? There are all diffrent kinds of people in the scriptures. There were those whom Jesus gave a stern warning, and Im not against stern warnings. There are others whom Jesus was compassionate and more gracious in tone, still proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, never comprimising.

In Short, Let us think of Jesus. Let us be sensitive to the individual homosexuals we speak with. As we speak with them, let us think of the scriptures and how did Jesus deal specifically with this type of person. Its easy to stand on a street corner and scream repent uncontrollably. Its alot harder to talk to an individual and be sensitive to that person, responding to them accordingly. I am not promoting squishiness, Im promoting Christ. It is amazing how Jesus deals diffrently with a humble person, seeker, tax collector, relegious person, etc.

He never changed the message, but he was sensitive to his hearer. Let us go as dying men speaking to other dying men about Christ. Let us give law to the proud and grace to the humble. Let us sternly rebuke the relegious and have love and compassion on the humble and broken hearted. Let us pray this week that God would keep us faithful if there be persecution and let us pray even now he would work in the hearts of people we will come across. To God alone be the Glory.

I am now a Father

2009-10-17T04:39:00.000-07:00

Its been a little while since I've written, our son was born on september 26th and its been a roller coaster ride of new experiences. I feel that I am changing in some ways from this experience. I want to share some musings. There are times when a child is crying uncontrollably and you can't do much. This happened this morning and I thought of the patience of God for us. Now there is NO theological link, im just saying what has come to mind. Just as you love a crying baby and will stay up with him till he sleeps, God is patient with his children when they are whining. God shows us grace and mercy and even when we sin.

I have thought of the Great love of God for Mankind. As tony miano says in his preaching, If you a guilty criminal could go free if I were to give my son over to death for you, I couldn't do that. I can't love a rotten criminal that much, But God the Father so loved us filthy rebelious wretches, he gave us the greatest, most precious gift of the sacrifice of his son for us. I feel as if I understand that love of God for his son a little better, even though I could never fully comprehend it.

I feel the great and awesome responsibility of Shepherding a child to the cross. Not just telling him the way, not just showing him one day, but daily living and teaching it to him. It was overwhelming, but now I just take it one day at a time. As a 24 year old, im frustrated because I want everything to happen now. This has truly been a wonderful experience.

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. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

God loves, God Hates part 2

2009-09-15T18:18:00.001-07:00

I was re reading my post from a few months ago on this, and somthing needs to be said about the God hates part. Though God does hate all workers of iniquity and is angry with the wicked everyday, God even has grace and mercy on them. When they blaspheme his name, he continues to give them air. When they suppress the truth in unrighteousness, he continues to give them food to eat and clothes to wear. When they murder babies by the millions, He allows them to see the sunshine, and smell the roses. God is also longsuffering and willing that none should perish. The offer of the Gospel is free to all men, When Christ uttered "Father forgive them, they know not what they do," I don't believe he just talking about the elect. Gods hatred is diffrent than ours.

If I hated you, I wouldn't do anything to benifit you. Our God is merciful even on those who hate him in a way that we don't fully understand. Even while God hates the wicked, salvation is still offered to them. I rejoice in these truths thinking of my own salvation. God was patient. Praise be to God.

Fruits of Labor

2009-09-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

Many of you know I have commited myself to a skate park in hamilton mill. Its just a great place to go. I was able to go out last week and I get nervouse, so I have a habit of sitting on a bench and reading some scripture before I preach or evangelize. As I was heading toward a bench, a voice called out "Hey, do you have any million dollar bills?" I looked and there was a 10 year old kid, and I didn't have any, but I told him I got somthing better. I gave him a gospel of John and told him to put it in his pocket and take it out and read every so often, he skated away.

I then read some scripture on the bench to focus my attention on the Lord, and I decided to open air. I had to get a bottle of water, my throat gets very dry. I went to get a water and Taj (a young black man) said "hey, can I borrow a dollar?" I was going to give it to him, but I shot back "Borrow, when are you going to give it back?" He said "Next time I see you." I replied "You don't even know me dude." He said something that really got to me, he said "Yeah I do know you, youre the preacher man." He knew me, he knew I come and talk to people about Christ, after all this time and energy thinking no one is listening and no one cares, he knows me. I bought him chips and a coke and offered a tract, I began talking about spiritual things and we sat down and I got my bible out. Taj was a classic american. Grew up in a "christian home" with bible on his shelves and DIDN'T know the main message of the Bible. I began to explain God creating the world and us for his glory, then sin, etc. He started fidgeting alot after the Law, he wasn't comfortable. I got to hell and explained it and asked him if there was a way of escape from the wrath of God, would you want to know about it? He said no. I was heart broken and asked why. He said he deserves to be in hell becuase of his sin and if God just let him go that wouldn't be right. AMEN. He understood Gods justice. I gave him the good news of Christ and focused heavily on the fact that it is Just and how God is both Just and the Justifier of many. He wasn't ready to repent, but he was still fidgeting, but listening. He was startled, praise God.

Saturday night, I got the privelege of taking a soldier out witnessing at the skate park, and it was fantastic, 2 stories really stick out. One is about a young man named Keithon. I have handed him tons of tracts, he is there skating all the time, but we've never chatted much. I actually got in a conversation with him by asking why people don't wear helmets and he responded that many don't, becuase they know how to fall. We chatted a few minutes and I swung to the spiritual and he really sincerely opened up to me. He is post modern to the bone. I took him through some analogies to show the absurdity of post modern thinking and began talking about truth. I have a new general definintion for truth. truth is the acknowledgement and acceptance of facts based in reality. You cant just recognize truth, you must believe it. Truth must be based on facts, real facts and I explained to him the claims of Jesus are the same way. I used apologetics for the proof of the Bible and our chat was cut short, but gave him a summary of the gospel and gave him my card and challenged him to email me and I would send him all the evidence for the Bible he could ever dream of. He hasn't ofcourse, but I really pray he will.

I finally got to open air, and its a passion of mine and I don't get to do it much. I began by reading romans 1 becuase there was a fight that broke out resulting in cops showing up and then went into to romans 3. I open aired a typical Law/Grace message,and there were about 4 loafing around and listening, but afterward I had the privelege to sit with one of those young men and explain the Law and the Gospel to him and speak with him about His need to repent. It was incredible.

God has really blessed me by opening these doors, and I'm so thankful my commitment to this park has begun to pay off. At a recent Christian concert a young man that Keith and I witnessed to about a year ago said he had since repented and trusted Christ. I wish I had more time to commit, and I have this Idea to do a bible study in the park (or any park where there is people) for christians, but if you do it in the park open air style other people are bound to come and listen for minute. Baby is coming so that is my main focus now, hmmmm, how can I let the wife let me go saturday night this week.

remember the sabbath day

2009-09-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

I am writing primarily to brothers on facebook whom have misunderstood my sabbath observance thing. I want to tell you the whole story how this came about. First, a dear brother was with other brothers who remember and keep the sabbath, but are evangelical christians. Kind of like seventh day baptists, Not Seventh day adventist. My brother in Christ then came home and showed me these things in the Bible and I started to become convinced That Gentiles should remember and keep the sabbath, the same way Gentile believers after conversion don't lie, steal or covet becuase they love their savior Jesus Christ.

First from scripture, there is the sabbath in the creation account, before jews and gentiles where God rests from his creation on the seventh day. Obviously God wasn't tired, he is God, but it is in the creation account. Next we have Exodus 16, which pre-dates the 10 commandments, Where the sabbath was to be kept and yes this was to the nation of israel. Next you have exodus 20 and the 10 commandments, the moral law. My understanding is that the moral law never ends. Also, God in general is very specific about how he is to be worshipped in the OT and the day the sabbath is to be observed is the seventh day, which is the equivelant in our calendar is friday night to saturday night.

Now I do understand that there are many,many,many rules about the sabbath in the old testament. Then we get to the new testament and Jesus said that he came not to abolish the law but to fulifill it. Now the releigous people of the day did abuse the sabbath and Jesus corrected them. Jesus observed the sabbath in the gospels. Now, Jesus dies and is resurected on sunday. After his death. there are a few texts that talk about meeting on the first day, Acts 20:7 is one of them and they did meet on the first day of the week to break bread and hear preaching, no doubt about it.

There are some other texts that talk about gathering offerings on the first day, and John being in the spirit on the Lords day, but these texts I don't believe are adequate to say that there is now an observance of the "Lords day" as opposed to the sabbath. And I firmly belive Jesus is Lord of the sabbath and that he fulfilled the law, but even though he fullfilled the law, we come to Jesus in our sin, repenting and believing, then out of love for God with our new nature, we naturally keep the things in the law. We don't want to lie and offend God, or steal or lust becuse we love our saviour. *I am not suggesting observing the Sabbath becuase we must fullfill a legal requirment for salvation, I am not saying that at all.*

Here is the skinny that im thinking. The moral law, 10 commandments are clear. Salvation by grace through faith is very clear. the Sabbath being the seventh day is clear. The idea of a change from the sabbath to Lords day observance is not clear. That is what I am seeing. Now please understand I have not come to a definitive conclusion, I am doing as the bereans, searching the scriptures to see if these things are so. I have just been confronted with something that seems to be true, and i am going to the Word of God and the Word ALONE for the answer. I welcome you into the discussion with me, but please understand, I am in no way abandoning Jesus to attempt to keep 600+ laws, What I am becoming convinced of is that I should observe the sabbath the same as I don't lie, steal, look with lust.

Acts 15 the Jerusalem council must only have been about a few issues, in the apostles response, they didn't say "and teach them not to lie, not to steal, to obey parents, etc." They seem to be only concerned with a few matters their given their response. Collosians 2 and a few other texts state let no man judge you in sabbath, new moon or festival, etc. My understanding of these passages seems to be that he is refering to the festivals, ceremonies, and other sabbaths that were fullfilled in Christ. I am not making a case that we should keep the festivals, ceremonies and other sabbaths.

Now I will be honest and also write that there is no warning in the new testament that sabbathbreakers wont inherit the kingdom of God, why is there not. I have no idea, but I can only be honest and say its not there. We dont have sections of scripture where the gentile believers are being taught to obey sabbath, I acknowledge this to be true.

My email is Benjamind105@gmail.com and feel free to tell me your thoughts, but only from scripture, I don't care about mans opinions. If you send me church history, include scripture, or I will not read/look at it. Church history can only be called right if it followed the scriptures in whatever area. Please only send me things related to my issues, I don't disagree that Jesus is our sabbath rest or that he is Lord of the Sabbath, that is not my issue, My issue is observance of the 4th commandment, not out of legalism for salvation, but love for my savior. God Bless.

P.s. don't gossip about this, talk strait to me.

Reflections from the Joel Osteen outreach

2009-08-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (New King James Version)

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables

This is a truth that we have a hard time with. I admit that on some level I do. We think "oh, if they only really knew what he was teaching," or we say "they are just decieved and don't know any better." Now, both of these statements are true, but, this portion of scripture states that those who heap up false teachers, WANT TO LISTEN TO THEM. It's kind of like the fact that men are spiritually dead, but God holds those dead men responsible for their sin. On some level, it doesn't make sense humanly speaking, but the real question is what does Gods Word say and there we find the perfect answer and understanding.

I was very excited to be joined by a family in our church. They brought all their kids and they had a great time. We handed out all our material within 25 minutes. I had 200 kirk cameron cd's, another friend had 200 paul washer cd's. I had 250 tracts for the occasion and they all were given away. It is so easy to hand out things at a "Christian" event.

In reflecting on this passage as I was there, it made me look diffrently at people. A local word of faith minister attended and I got to preach to him. As I saw him I thought, based on the scripture, He wants to be hear hearing a gushy gospel. He doesn't want to be at a place right now that is properly expositing the scripture, he wants to be here. That really changes your perspective.

One man was trying to defend Joel osteen and we told him about the larry king live interview where joel answers every single question with "I don't know." The man was actually startled and asked where to get it. We told him to go on youtube and seee for himself. I handed a CD to a lady carrying a MacArthur study bible and I thought lady you couldn't have 2 teachers so far from one another. I wonder if she read the notes when joel mentioned verses.

The best part of the night for me was the open air preaching. I had the stool and we were right in front of the line and they could clearly hear us. I preached on suffering. The word of faith movement widely believes that the atonement paid for physical suffering and that it is not normal for a christian to suffer. I preached passages from peter and mentioned Job alot. As I reflected on the open air later, here are a few thoughts, and i understand that those reading this may not agree with open air. Picture this, I am on a box, in front of a crowd and Im being clearly heard. I am raising my voice so they can hear, not yelling, and not yelling "your going to hell, sinner" in an unreasonable way. What im preaching are the scriptures and the proper interpretation of scripture. When they hear me and snark, they are not snarking at me, they are mocking God.

Now you may not agree with open air, but if you were in line at an event downtown and a man got on a box and preached the gospel in a fair and balanced way, you would at the least say "I don't like the method, but he is preaching truth." You wouldn't snark and make fun. You wouldn't curse at the guy, you wouldn't find a way to mock him. Thats what they did to me. I saw it on their faces and heard it in their snickers, But as I said, I read and preached the scriptures. Gods word is what says we will suffer. You can disagree with me all day long, but when a man reads the word of god and you disagree, your a hating God.

My motive for the preaching was so that Gods word would be heard, in hope that they would think about it and look it up. You can go hear a man talk about health, wealth and abundance all day long, but when you come back to reality, when you come back to the real world where jobs are being lost, where cancer and disease are ravaging human life, where wicked men do business for dishonest gains, where suffering is real then the only thing that stands true is the Word of God. My desire it to lift him up, not me. To preach a Gospel centered around Jesus Christ, and to do nothing but magnify him and make him known.

Pray for those who are decieved by men like this, and do something about it. That coworker reading those bad "christian" books, talk to that coworker. That family member trusting in religion, share the Good news with them. Those strangers in your community running as fast as they can toward false teachers, do something. In reference to evangelism Charles spurgeon said "Do something, Do something, Do something."

Monday

2009-08-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

Something happened to me this week that I never thought would happen. I want to share it with you in hopes that you would be blessed and pray for me. It was Monday Morning. I went to the A/C supply house to fax my paperwork and get supplies for the day. As I was talking with the counter guys, they asked a question and I began whining and complaining about things in the company. You know what I mean, how the office and its procedures aren't the best, yada yada yada. I went on for about 12 minutes. Another Employee of mine came in. He was on call and I asked him about the weekend. I complained to him a little and then he said to me "did you hear about our salesman this weekend?" I didn't. Immideately I went into gossip mode. "Did he quit, did they fire him?"

My coworker responded "He Died saturday." My heart sank in a way I have never felt. This man was about 55 years old. He was my service manager at one time and I called him for alot of technical questions. He was always polite and a really nice guy. He then became a salesman and we spoked frequently. I would write up repairs and replacements and he would call me about them to get details.

I didn't believe this man to be a christian, and I never shared the gospel with him. Monday morning was a life changing experience. I hear in sermons how life change drastically at a moment in time, but ive never really experienced that. I never thought it would happen to me. The sadness and guilt I felt was tremendous. I was intensely sad to the point of tears over his death and extremely guilty because I had many oppurtunities and I never opened my mouth.

Something a christian brother said disturbed me. He said "you know, because God is sovereign, that means it wasn't a part of Gods plan for you to share with him." He said this to comfort me and I appreciate his effort, but this saying has bad implications. I would agree that God Deecreed and allowed me NOT to share with him. But the main point is this, Does the scripture command me to share or not to share? The reaveled will of God in his word Is that I should have.

The scripture is also clear that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us. I belive that and I have asked God to forgive me and this is also a new day, another chance, and another oppurtunity. I also am NOT denying the eternal security of a believer. I am speaking about the Christian responsibility aspect. I share this with you in hopes that you would learn from this. Last year I had 5 people in my circle of friends who had friends die that they didn't share the gospel with and they felt so guilty. I never thought it happen to me.

One more little note. I have gotten squishy at work in general. I have been waiting for light to shine down from heaven and somebody to drop on their knees and ask me how to get to heaven rather than obeying Gods word and speaking the gospel with those that I love. If you open your new testament to the Gospels, in the context of Jesus and the relationships he makes (Yes I do believe relationships are important), Jesus is ALWAYS speaking truth. We never see him just talking about the weather with folks. This honestly is a convicting word to me. I heard a sermon recently with a man talking Jesus making relationships and I thought to my self that we never see Jesus making a relationship and sometime down the road speak truth. We never see him going on and on with lost buddies about politics and the weather. He is speaking truth all the time. Im not saying its sinful and wrong to speak about the ball game with lost friends, Im just saying we have to deal with the text honestly. Its my goal next year as I begin the NT again to take a closer look and jesus and his relationships, becuase our model of be friendly with somebody, talk about the weahter and such for a time, and later down the road share truth is not biblical.

Thank you for reading this. I would encourage to reach out to those around you that you haven't shared with. You may wake up one morning and there gone. Go serve your King.

A Few Rambles

2009-08-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

1. We are told in scripture that we must contend earnestly for the faith and call out false teachers. How should we do this in a local community? Example: lets say im a member of the first baptist in a community and there is another baptist church that embraces worldly phsycology, misinterprets the scripture through terrible topical preaching, and doesn't talk about sin. How should we deal with that in a community? I Don't know the answer, just askig the question.

2. you know, i see the point to some degree about women preachers. Now I believe they are wrong for having them, but think of this, If you interpret the headcovering thing as cultural and women staying silent in church as cultural, well you might as well interpret pauls command for women not to teach as cultural too. I personally have never been given a reasonable explanation for headcoverings being cultural. You may disagree with me, lets hug and not draw swords on that issue.

3. How dogmatic should we be about expositional preching? Im convinced through Experience it is a better diet than topical, but I don't know exactly how dogmatic we should be about it. I just don't want to go around being dogmatic when I don't have a bible verse to back it up.

Marilyn Manson 2009

2009-07-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you not familiar with my background, this is a heartfelt place to go. Marilyn manson used to be my God. I was very much into heavy metal satanic music and he was my idol. I still remember the really nice open air preacher who preached as I sat on the steps to go into the concert.

I was accomponied by Eddie jones. We arrived a bit early and went to a public park that was across the street. We began a conversation with three young men. One attending church, the other two weren't, but all had a christian/religious upbrining. There objections were the same as always, but what we need to be gracious in realizing is that as we deal with the exact same objections all the time, most every person has never had a real christian sit with them and give them real, reasonable, logical answers and truly explain the Gospel. We sat with the young men and started with creation, all 3 agreeing there is God. Then, we turned to special revelation, the Bible. Eddie Jones is really great in this area. We gave the usual arguments of manuscripts, historical, scientific, and prophetic proof of its truth. One of the young men looked in amazement at eddie and said "your'e really good." Then we swung to the message. We used Gods law to show them there sin and one even said "How can anyone go to heaven." Just as we were explaining the cross, they had to go, but heard much truth. They said that no one ever took the time to explain the truth about these things to them.

If you look in our picture section from last year, there is a young man who has no shirt on, with black hair and fishnet style pants. I met him again this year and chatted a minute. He has 2 daughters and is a pro wrestler. I am going to try to go see him wrestle and follow up with him. I loved wrestling growing up, so I hope I can see him again. I don't watch the new stuff due to pornography and blasphemy.

We started going through the parking lot inside the place and started at one end handing out tracts. I got in conversation with a backsliden baptist/mormon. He was baptist, then mormon, and now he is a little drunk. He was a bit tipsy, but he really wanted to have the conversation with us. His friend would laugh and he would laugh, but then he would come right back to the conversation, asking questions, etc. He was really a postmodern. in times past it was just show the evidence for the bible and there you go, but we live in a postmodern age that even denies the absoluteness of truth. He loved his sin, straightforward, he loved his sin.

As we were living we got into a conversation with a man who hated black people and loved debate. He loved talking about religion. To make it short, he said his beliefs say that God is in everything and I told him that God said unless you repent you will perish. He was a swine, I couldn't give the pearls.

Upon reflection I see the need in the church for solid apologetic teaching and evangelism. example: When I became a christian, I accepted 6 day creation no problem. I knew experentially through salvation the Bible is gods word. The point I am making is that to a lost world and to those converts we disciple we MUST show the reasonability of the christian faith. Now conversion doesn't come through reason, it comes through the Gospel . We must do both.

until the whole world is reached,

Ben Davis

Computers

2009-07-26T17:02:00.001-07:00

My computer was infected again, i haven't posted as I wished. More viruses. computer viruses are part of the fall.

God loves, God hates

2009-07-04T20:56:00.000-07:00

It was interesting holding this sign at athfest 2009. Nobody complained about the God loves part. Not one soul heckled saying "God doesn't love you $%#@ moron." The second line got all the heat. Im sickened to think that Gods righteousness is mocked. Does God not hate murder? Does God not hate Rape? Does God not Hate child molestors? Everyone is ok to that point but the fact that God Hates all workers of iniquity and is angry with the wicked everyday doesn't sit well with the wicked at all. (psalm 5:5 and 7:11).

God hates unrighteousness becuase he loves righteousness. But the truth of the scripture is also that God Hates all workers of iniquity, rom chapter 2 speaks of the unrepentant recieving wrath and fury. In all of these passages we are talking about individuals. There was one lady who said to me "hey im a missionary and why do you say God hates, Jesus heart was broken for the woman at the well." Well, first the text doesn't say that explicitly and second he wasn't crying with her comforting her, he was pointing out her sin. Something modern evangelism says you should absolutely not do.

Heres the monkey wrench. One may say, but i thought God so loved the world he gave his son, how can he hate? Answer, God is angry with the sinner becuase his righteousness and justice must be upheld, and out of his mercy, grace, and love he sent a substitute.

These 2 truths are not an either/or. They are a Both/and. BOTH God hates all workers of iniquity AND God so loved the world. They may be hard for us to grasp, but the scripture has no problem reconciling itself.

Spurgeon was once asked about 2 truths that seemed to be opposite, he was asked how he reconciled them and replied "I don't. I don't have to reconcile friends." I think its becuase when you see a "street preacher/evangelist" with a sign that says anything appearing negative, immideately many get defensive. The thing I like about the sign is that it is true, but also the first line is God Loves. I have assurance I am not being unreasonable or relaying a wrong message. It is funny to heckle a man with a sign stating God Loves.

finally back

2009-07-04T20:34:00.000-07:00

well 5 months and $130 later, my laptop is fixed, and I have reliable access. I plan to Blog at least once a week. I had 518 viruses on my laptop, apparently that was a problem.

Our Suffering Substitute by C. H. Spurgeon-WOW!

2009-03-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

God is just, and a just God must punish sin. The great question is, "How can God be just, and yet the Justifier of the ungodly?" False religions endeavour to answer this question, but they completely fail. The poor heathen thinks he has found the answer in his own terrible sacrifices. He thinks he may give "his first-born for his transgression, the fruit of his body for the sin of his soul." The deluted Papist thinks he has found an answer to the question in his daily mass; he says that there is in it "a propitiatory sacrifice for the quick and the dead." It is not thus that God's justice is vindicated, neither is it thus that His mercy shines forth in its glory.

There is a cold, speculative theology, that seeks to put this question far away. There are a few men who scoff at the atonement, and reject the thought of sacrifice. These never will be more than a few; they never can be many. The heathen and the Romanist may impress the multitude; but that system which denies the doctrine of atonement by the blood of Jesus Christ, or which puts it in the background, never can succeed. Its adherents may profess to be intellectual, because they are ignorant; but they will never convince the masses. It is stamped on nature by God that every man feels in his conscience a craving after a reply to the question, "How can the just God justly forgive me the sinner?" If that question be not answered in some way, so that it may be seen how God can save, and yet maintain His justice, no system of theology can by any possibility succeed.

We must resist the tendency that seems to be in the minds of some, to keep back this vital truth, the fundamental truth of the Christian Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us not argue against this tendency; but let us rather destroy it by our own personal determination to preach more earnestly and more constantly —

"Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified."

The quickest way to slay error is to proclaim the truth. The surest mode of extinguishing falsehood, is to boldly advocate Scripture doctrine upon Scripture principles. Scolding and protesting will not be so effectual in resisting the progress of error as the clear proclamation of the truth in Jesus.

Let me now try to preach the doctrine of substitution, which is the Scripture answer to the questions, "How can God's justice have its full dominion, and yet God's mercy exercise its sway?" — "How can there be a full-orbed justice and a full-orbed mercy, and neither of them eclipse or cast a shadow over the other?"

I.

BEHOLD THE PERSON OF THE SUFFERING SUBSTITUTE —

"CHRIST also hath once suffered for sins, the JUST for the unjust,

that HE might bring us to God."

The Substitute was of complex nature. He was truly man, and yet He was truly God. Christ Jesus who "suffered" in the room, place, and stead of God's chosen people, was man, man of the substance of His mother, most surely man. He partook of all the weakness of humanity, and was in all respects, sin only excepted, tempted as we are; yea, He became "bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh." He was the perfect man, the only man in whom there never dwelt sin. There was no sin in His nature. No taint of original depravity ran in His veins. In His human nature He was "without spot or blemish." Conceived in a miraculous manner, He partook not, in any degree, of that transgression which is transmitted to us; for we are born in sin, and shapen in iniquity.

Christ did not receive any of that imputed sin which has fallen upon the race from Adam. Christ never fell in Adam. He was "the seed of the woman", but He never lay in the loins of Adam. As a private person, Christ never fell; by nature, He was not in any sense a participator or partaker in Adam's sin. Though, on the part of His people, Jesus took upon himself Adam's transgression, and bore it right away, He himself was, in His original, without the shadow of a spot, the immaculate, the perfect Lamb of God's passover.

The life of the man Christ Jesus was in every respect blameless. From His eye no fire of unhallowed anger ever flashed. On His lips the word of deceit never rested. His pure mind never knew an imagination of sin. Satan's sparks fell on Christ's soul like fire dropping into the ocean, and were quenched for ever. Hell's quiver of temptations was emptied upon Him, but no single arrow ever stuck in His flesh and blood. He stood invincible and invulnerable. He could not be wounded by temptation. "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me," was His own triumphant declaration. Not only did Christ not sin, but He could not sin. "He knew no sin." He had no acquaintance with sin, He was a stranger to sin, sin had no commerce with Him, He had no dealings with sin personally. His head turned not dizzy when upon the pinnacle of the temple. When down in the depths of humiliation, no grief found expression void of completest resignation. He was ever pure, perfect, spotless, holy, acceptable unto God.

The sufferings of Jesus have power to bless others, seeing they were not necessary for Himself. He had no need to suffer as the result of sin, nor yet that, by the discipline of suffering, He might be purged from its evil. There was no reason in Himself why He should ever know pain, or heave a sigh. His sufferings all had reference to His people. His object in suffering, bleeding, dying, was to secure the salvation of His chosen. Our souls may now trust Jesus, the perfect man, with the utmost confidence.

Let us also ever bear in mind that, while Christ was truly man, yet was He also very God. We believe and must ever teach that the perfect humanity of Christ did not lower His perfect Deity; His Divinity was undiluted and infinite. He was "Very God of very God," possessing all the attributes of the eternal Jehovah. He, who did hang upon the cross, was the same God who made all the worlds. The very Word, who did bear our sins in His own body on the tree, was that Word by whom all things were made, and without whom "was not anything made that was made." We know nothing of a human atonement apart from the Deity of Christ Jesus. We dare not trust our souls upon a saviour who is but a man. If all the men that have ever lived, and all the angels that exist, could have wrought together, and striven throughout eternity to offer a sacrifice that should be a propitiation for the sins of a single man, they must have failed. None but the shoulders of the Incarnate God could bear the stupendous burden. No hand but that which set fast the spheres could shake the mountains of our guilt, and bear them away. We must have a Divine Sacrifice, and it is our joy to know that we have this in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As for those who do not believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ, let them go their way, and preach what they will, we cannot stay to enter into controversy with them. We would speak of them as Mr. Gadsby did. A building where Unitarianism was taught was erected opposite the chapel in which William Gadsby preached the gospel of the grace of God. One asked Mr. Gadsby, "Do you not feel sad about this opposition?" He replied, "Opposition, man! I do not know of any opposition." "No opposition?" "No, brother, none whatever. Suppose I kept a baker's shop, and sold good wheaten bread, and some man came and opened an ironmonger's shop opposite, would that be opposition?" "No, that would be quite a different line of business." "So," said Mr. Gadsby, "the Unitarian Chapel is no opposition to us; it is in a different line altogether. It is a different article they have to deal out. We deal with the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and on that a soul may rest for eternity; but they deal with 'another gospel, which is not another,' with that which can never bring peace on earth, or blessedness in the world to come. There is no opposition." Of course, in another meaning of the word, there is the greatest possible "opposition" between us and Unitarians; and we will pretend to no manner of union with them, for we can never give up our belief in the Divinity and Deity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, nor can we have any fellowship with those who reject that blessed truth.

Let us stand beneath the cross of Calvary, and behold our Lord Jesus hanging there, and remember that His bleeding body was in alliance with the unsuffering Deity. Those wounds of His, that streaming, spear-rent side, was taken into union with the nature of the living and eternal God. The infinite merit of the Godhead was imparted to the sufferings of the manhood. Neither your sins nor mine can ever exceed the merit of the precious blood of Christ. If our sins be high as mountains, the ocean of His atonement, like Noah's flood, covers the utmost summits of the mountains. It prevails twenty cubits upwards, till all the highest mountains are covered. Though our sins be never so crimson, the blood of Jesus Christ is more crimson, and the one washes out the other. Though our iniquities be never so dark and bitter, His death hath taken away the blackness and bitterness of our sins; and therefore it is that "He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him."

Sinner, look at Jesus Christ! There is power in His atoning blood to wash away all thy sins. None can limit the efficacy of the precious blood of Christ. No sins can be too black or too numerous for that precious blood to cleanse. The blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient to accomplish all that God has purposed to accomplish by its shedding. Christ shall never fail in any respect. His cross is a battering-ram against which nothing shall stand. Before the cross of Christ, the stupendous ramparts of our condemnation must rock to and fro even to their fall; and not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down. We need a greater confidence in the cross of Jesus Christ, a surer rest evermore on that Rock of Ages cleft for us.

II.

CONTEMPLATE THE SUFFERINGS OF THE SUBSTITUTE —

"Christ also hath once suffered for sins."

These were endured on behalf of all them that believe. See Him in Gethsemane.

"Gethsemane, the olive-press!

(And why so called let Christians guess)

Fit name, fit place, where vengeance strove,

And griped and grappled hard with love."

"Twas here the Lord of life appear'd,

And sigh'd, and groan'd, and pray'd, and fear'd;

Bore all incarnate God could bear,

With strength enough, and none to spare."

There, for us, Jesus sweated until His soul became so full of agony that the blood flushed the rivers of His veins, and at last burst the banks and overflowed. "His head, His hair, His garments bloody were." He was clad in a ruby robe of His own blood; and there He continued still wrestling, with His soul burdened, and "sorrowful even unto death," that He might prevail on His people's behalf, and that He might suffer the wrath of God for their sins.

He rose from the place where He had been pleading, renewed in strength, and went forth to meet His doom. He was betrayed by Judas, one of the twelve. His own familiar friend, whom He had trusted, who did eat of His bread, lifted up his heel against Him. You who have been forsaken by your firmest friend in the hour of your direst need, you that have known a plighted troth broken, pretended love turned into a deadly hatred, you may guess, but you can only faintly guess, the tremendous sorrow that came into the Redeemer's soul when the traitor, Judas Iscariot, betrayed him.

They hurry the Saviour away to Annas, to Caiaphas, to Pilate, to Herod, then back again to Pilate, without any breathing time, without any respite. They accuse Him of sedition. The King of kings seditious! They accuse Him of blasphemy; as if God could blaspheme! They could find no witnesses against Him, except the basest scum of the people, who were prepared to swear to any falsehood, and even these agreed not one with another. There stood the perfect man, the Son of God, accused and slandered by men who were not worthy to be spit upon.

They condemn the innocent, they mock Him, they laugh at Him, they jeer at His majesty, and torment His sacred person. He is given up to the tender mercies of the Roman soldiery. They set Him in an old chair as though it were a throne.They had just before torn His back with scourges, till His bones stood up like white cliffs in a sea of blood. They crown Him with thorns. They cast an old purple robe on His shoulders, they mock and deride Him, as though He were a sham king. For a sceptre, they give Him a reed; for homage, they give Him spittle; for the kiss of salutation, they give Him the lips of mockery. Instead of bowing before Him as their King, they blindfold Him, and smite Him in the face.

Was ever grief like Thine, Thou King of sorrow, despised by Thine own subjects? Thou, who didst give them breath, dost have that breath back again on Thee in violent and blasphemous oaths! Thou didst give them life; and they spent that like mocking Thee!

Jesus is led forth to Calvary. He is nailed to the cross by cruel and wicked hands. The rude rabble jeer at His sufferings. Within His soul, there is an agony such as we cannot fathom. Above, there are the swelling waves of Almighty wrath against our sins, covering all His soul. Hark! that dreadful soul-piercing cry, "MY GOD, MY GOD, why hast THOU forsaken ME?" It seems to be the gathering up of all His griefs, sorrows, and sufferings into one expression. Like some enormous lake, which receives the torrents of a thousand rivers, and holds all within its banks, so does that sentence seem to grasp all His woes, and express them all, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

At last, He bows His head, and yields up His spirit! At one tremendous draught of love, the Lord hath drained destruction dry for all His people. He has "suffered" all that they ought to have suffered. He hath given to the justice of God a full recompense for all their sins. He has on their behalf presented a complete atonement, —

"And, to the utmost farthing paid whate'er His people owed."

What joy it is, believer, to think that thou has such a perfect atonement to rest upon! If there were one sin Christ did not suffer for on the cross, or one evil thought of one of His people that He did not bear, we could not be saved. But He has "finished" the whole of His people's transgression, He has made an end of all their sins, He has obeyed all the jots and the tittles, as well as the great and weighty things, of the law of God, He has magnified it, and made it honourable. He has gone to "the end of the law for righteousness" — not half-way, but all the way; not near to its boundary, but even to its very end. He has not merely sipped from the cup of wrath, not merely tasted a portion of its bitter draught, but He has drained it to the very dregs. Ere He died, He turned the cup of wrath bottom upwards, for He had taken all it contained; and when He saw that there was not a single black drop trembling on its brim, He exclaimed, with the loud voice of triumph, "It is finished!" He had drunk the whole. Glory in this, ye living people of the living Christ! He hath offered for you a complete sacrifice, acceptable unto His Father. Glory in this, ye chosen people of the living God, that "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God."

III.

REJOICE IN THE RESULT OF THE SUBSTITUTE —

The sufferings are finished. The debt is paid. Justice is satisfied. The law is magnified. Righteousness is established. For all His people's sins Christ has made a complete atonement, and for their justification He has risen from the dead.

Now, poor trembling seeker, what sayest thou to this? Canst thou not now rest on Christ? God is satisfied with His Son's atoning sacrifice; canst thou be dissatisfied with it? God thinks Jesus enough; canst thou think Him too little? Did the Lord, the King, against whom thou hast offended, accept the reconciliation; and dost thou unbelievingly and distrustfully say, "I fear it is not sufficient"? Cast away thy guilty fears, I beseech thee. May the blessed Comforter enable thee now to say, —

"Just as I am — without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come!"

Thou art to be saved by faith in Christ, who "hath once suffered for sins," and in Christ alone. Do not seek to make a saviour of thine own feelings. Do not think thou must experience this, or that, before thou comest unto Jesus. Christ wants no preparation from thee. Salvation consists in simply casting thyself down on Christ. Cast thyself down on the very face in the dust before Him, and once for all have done with thine own wretched self. Rely not on anything thou canst do, or think, or say, or know; rest alone on Jesus only, and that art saved. Be thou who thou mayest, and what thou mayest, though thou wert the very worst sinner out of hell, be thy soul the blackest, yet if thou wilt trust in Christ who "hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust," thou shalt be saved.

Trembling sinner, look to Jesus, and thou art saved. Dost thou say, "My sins are many"? His atonement is wondrous. Dost thou cry, "My heart is hard"? Jesus can soften it. Dost thou exclaim, "Alas, I am so unworthy"? Jesus loves the unworthy. Dost thou feel, "I am so vile"? It is the vile Jesus came to save. Down with thee, sinner; down, down with thyself, and up with Christ, who hath suffered for thy sins upon Calvary's cross. Turn thine eye thither; see Jesus only. He suffers. He bleeds. He dies. He is buried. He rises again. He ascends on high. Trust Him, and thou art safe. Give up all other trusts, and rely on Jesus alone, alone on Jesus, and thou shalt pass from death unto life. This is the sure sign, the certain evidence of the Spirit's indwelling, of the Father's election, of the Son's redemption, when the soul is brought simply and wholly to rest and trust in Jesus Christ, who "hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God."

May the Holy Ghost bless these words, and send them home with comfort to many hearts, for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake! Amen.

March 17-Savannah St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

Come join us as we witness to 400,000 souls who need the Lord Jesus Christ!

Where: Savannah, GA
When: March 16-17
Contact: Keith Higgins 678-350-5120 krhiggins25@yahoo.com

The holiness of God

2009-03-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

I am doing the one year bible deal this year and I have had an amazing time in my christian walk in the Old testament. I don't know it as well as the new and so this will be a good year of learning. I have seen the Holiness of God in Leviticus. Leviticus? Yes, Leviticus. As I began Genesis, It is the unfolding revelation of who God is. When I got to leviticus and all the rules, at first it was a struggle, rule after rule after rule. But then I pondered, Is this the holiness of God? Leviticus show how seperate from us he is and higher. In midst of all the rules, we see a God who has terms and conditions. You can't worship him in your own way (nadab and abihu). You come to him as he says come. The sacrificial system is testimony to that too.

To see at the beginning, He is Big, seperate, holy and distinct from us, not fallen, not sinful, not prideful. And amongst all these rules, even though it may seem overwhelming, We can come near to God. A broken heart and contrite spirit is what pleases God above sacrifice. A jew at that time if he had a broken and contrite heart, would gladly sacrifice and obey the laws, not to justify him, but to have unbroken fellowship with his God.

The same as you and I with a repentant heart, gladly ask forgiveness in jesus name and obey the commandments of the Lord, becuase we love him.

Jesus with sinners

2009-02-28T04:35:00.001-08:00

to piggy back of my previous post about Jesus eating with the tax collectors and sinners, here is another nugget of truth here. Now we cant say for sure that these sinners knew Jesus directly, but there is a good chance they did. (scripture doesn't explicitly say, so Im not going to expound on uncertainty per good hermenutics.) But if they didn't know him before, they definetely did during and after. Notice this.

Many say Jesus "just hung out with people, Got down on there level." Notice this. Jesus, the perfect spotless lamb, who never sinned and is God himself, ate with filthy rotten sinners, who knew they loved sin. How much more radically diffrent can you get. extreme light and extreme darkness at the same table. And Jesus called them to repentance we know. Jesus didn't make himself Look the "same" as sinners. Now he showed kindness by actually engaging them, taking interest in there lives, but not with the intent to say, "im just human too."

Bretheren, therefore, You and I should not be ashamed to look diffrent, we are radically diffrent from the world. We can share in the effects of sin with unbelievers, but how dare we act like, "hey youre in darkness, and im going to pretend to be in darkness too, so you will come to the light. Becuase if you see i look like darkness and draw near to me, I love Jesus and You will Love him too!" It doesn't work like that. We are not Pharisees, acting like we've never sinned, but we are to be holy as our father in heaven.

brothers, let light shine before men.

a correction

2009-02-28T04:32:00.000-08:00

I made a Mistake, please forgive me. In the scripture on the post below it sounds as if Jesus knew explicitly he was going to dine sinners, upon looking at other translations of luke, and the account in matthew and mark, I was Wrong. Levi made the feast, jesus went and tax collectors and sinners joined them. That doesn't change the main points of my post, but I wanted to acknowledge my error.

Jesus Didn't Chill for the sake of chilling

2009-02-25T16:24:00.000-08:00

27After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
29Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

31Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Now notice this, Levi made him this great feast, and he came, Levi followed Jesus just a few verses before. And there were many sinners there, Jesus goes. Now this isn't going to a whore house to visit sinners, just a dinner. It is an everyday non-sinful event/place. He didn't comprimise an appearance of evil. He was invited to a dinner, not an orgy, or a tax collector sinning seminar, but a dinner. To break bread with someone, meant more than it does today. Now the Pharisees v.30 grumbled saying why are you eating with sinners? As if to insinuate, this is not just bad, this is really bad, how dare a righteous one dine with a sinner, Lord thank you that im not like THOSE filthy sinners. Jesus responded not by telling them, "hey im just hanging out, getting down on their level, earning a right to share with them." No, he said he has come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus was without a doubt witnessing to them, sharing to Gospel, Law and Grace. T

We learn here a principal for our relationships with sinners. The relationship should be for the declaration of the Gospel, and that should be central. Again, Jesus didn't say "im just hanging out, and calling them to repent," no he said he has come to call sinners to repentance. Im sure he might have said other things, but the summation of the evening with tax collectors and sinners out of the mouth of our Lord was "Ive come to call sinners to repentance." This text is challenging to me in many ways. The question really is, in our relationship with those who are lost, why do we have the relationship? What is the purpose? Why do we invest the time we do? and most significantly, Is it centered completely around calling the sinner to repentance?

If a relationship has gone on for years with no centrality of calling the sinner to repentance, we don't have that relationship for the right reasons. The Bible is not against making a relationship with a sinner and sharing the gospel, but it is against the idea of "Just hanging out." ive been reading through the OT and oh how God desired Isreal to be seperate. Practically speaking, We don't make friends with heavy metal, satan worshipping, fornicating sinners just to hang out. Why would we (for any other motive than sharing the Gospel) continually "hang out" with sinners who love to sin? Im not saying its wrong to enjoy a ball game with Lost Larry, but what is the reason for your relationship? Why do you spend the time you spend? Showing him the love of Christ and calling him to repent is the right reason, not because you think he's cool to be with. A sinner will drag you down. A word of caution, Im not refering to looking down on sinners in a condenscending way, im just talking about the motive and drive for your ongoing relationship with a lost sinner

Here is an application. Keith recently witnessed to a prostitute. Now immediately perhaps some red flags went up, I would agree, When he first told me, i thought "you really didn't stand there and talk with a girl with her body accented by lingerie did you?" He explained, he was out witnessing, and a girl he started to chat with (dressed OK) admitted that she was a prostitute ( a higher class, not street prostitute) and he shared the Law and the Gospel with her as he would anyone else. He was out in public with witnessing buddies, he is not dating or married, and they weren't alone together in kind of way. Even after him learning she was a prostitute, Keith still listened to her, showed her kindness and cared for her, and called her to repent.

I have unsaved buddies at work. Now we do work together professionally, but we have personal friendships. I have taken many oppurtunites to show them love, laugh and joke where I can with them, and call them to repent. Im praying for them, I love them, and I know they would say to you that they would agree, I care. They might not like me for the message, but they know I care.

In conclusion, if you don't have biblical relationships with unbelievers, repent. I've got some to do too

day 2

2009-01-31T03:16:00.000-08:00

This is only a partial. We heard some wonderful preaching from a man who teaches missions at Reformed theological seminary in mississippi. It was wonderful, 30 minutes and that was only his introduction, he will exposit the text today. We got to hit the stadium, and I was dishearted, until I spoke to brandon. Brandon had never heard the law and the gospel, no one has ever explained it to him, and the Lord allowed me to do it. Got to go for now, will update more later.

p.s. Was open air preaching with a crowd and young girl was watching and listening intently and crying, When I saw that I looked strait at her and preached the good news of grace, I don't know whats going on with her, but I was deeply moved. So many stories, so little time. God Bless Ya'll!!!

Day 1

2009-01-30T02:57:00.000-08:00

Today we had dinner and heard some great preaching. It was wonderful to be able to fellowship with other brothers and sisters. I met some new friends, Andy Lapins of transfired ministries and darel rundus daughter. Tony Miano Gave a great message on 1 timothy 6. The exegesis was top notch. its day 2 right now and I am gearing up for prayer, breakfast and Tony is preaching Don't Quit. Its a message available at livingwaters.com . I heard snippets on Wretched radio, and I about cried. Its a message of perseverance. Biblical evangelism is hard, but don't quit.

Tampa, we have arrived

2009-01-29T13:44:00.000-08:00

We arrived in tampa, the limos met us and took us to the hilton where we had an extensive prayer meeting for the lost, thats all the evangelism we will do this year. Remember, preach the gospel at all times, and use words if necesary. NOT!!! It is necessary to speak and to put feet to our prayers. They are not going to see our love and fall down and repent if we don't tell them. Im so excited, we are about to go pick up a brother in christ at the airport and then we will hear Tony Miano. What a blessing to be in such rich fellowship, not just to be around one another, but to talk about the Lord ALL the time, and the conversation never gets boring, it gets sweeter and sweeter and sweeter. Please pray for us, your prayers are most necessary. God bless

pre-packaged Gospel presentations

2009-01-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

I've been pondering the positives and negatives of learning an outline and I think there are pluses and minuses.

Pluses
1. learn more about the Gospel
2. Get the main points right, leave secondary issues secondary
3. Easy to learn a presentation

Minuses
1. can become a robot, not grow in your presentation
2. takes away from a personal study aspect of "What is the Gospel?"

I think there are pluses and minuses. I think there is real value when you make people think. Every Christian should know the Gospel, some know more and deeper, other christians know it more simply, but I think there is value in asking the question "What is the Gospel?" and getting people to answer it instead of just laying an outline out. I also think churches should put their own together, or take a program and customize it. There is always stuff you wish was in a program, but its not in there.

The main points of the message are essential. An already put together outline can do that for you. In my experience, and many others, The learning of an outline is only helpful if you use it, again, and again, and again. You get less mechanical overtime and develop more of a personal proclamation. By personal proclamation i mean, you understand better where people are, and you know where in the presentation to begin.

Find yourself a sinner, and experiment. Don't purposely make a false convert.

Sick and Tired

2009-01-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

No really, im sick and tired. I got sick from staying out in the cold from the celine dion concert and now I have pink eye in both eyes. The lord is Good. I went to the skatepark last night while my wife was at work. There were only about 8 kids there and normally I would just leave on account of lack of people, but I thought these 8 people matter, so I stopped. I spoke with Brody, who didn't know anything. I think he was giving me that thing where you pretend to not know anything and try to be cool. Once again, He didn't understand the justice of God. He had never heard that God killed his own son and it pleased him to do it. More and more I am beginning to see how a false/shallow gospel has spread. one that is simple, but never is explained. example: your bad, Jesus died for you, make a decision, move on with life, etc. It is true that your bad and true that Jesus died for sinners like you, but its not expounded and exposited to men and women these days. Its not explained.

Finally, I spoke with Dustin. Our time was so brief, about 10 minutes, but my heart has never been heavier. This young man had a 4-pack of beer, and was so miserable. He didn't care about his life, he blamed God for alot of things, and just as I was really getting involved with him, his mom called and told him to come home. He was so rebellious, but you can see and hear that he is screaming for help. I pray God would save him, and send along other christians in his path.

youth group and childrens church

2009-01-11T18:42:00.001-08:00

Heres a thought, and I haven't fully reasearched or thought this out, but just a rambling. Youth groups, childrens church, etc, aren't in the bible. What I mean is breaking up the family in a local church. Im not talking about a special event at a church, but as a part of regular ministry. In Titus the older men are to teach the younger as well as older women teaching younger women. Should we break up the family at all? like I said, im not taking a position here, its just that you can't say Scripture Alone and not deal with this. what do you think? Email me at Benjamind105@gmail.com.

A Harsh Word

2009-01-11T18:28:00.000-08:00

I was at a diffrent local church recently to hear a particular person, at the end of the service, the head pastor was to give the invitation. I was horrified when he used man made methods of hand raising and emotion to get decisions. He said "now you might be embaresed, just slip up your hand." He actually did handraising at 2 diffrent times. Eventually someone came forth who was actually a christian, why he came forth I don't know, he didn't need counsel on a sin issue. The particular part of this story I want to focus on is that this man spent thousands of dollars/time and effort in seminary.

Think about this, we support and allow men to spend thousands on a seminary education (which can be great, Im not knocking education) and then allow them to come into a church and say "you might be embarased, just raise your hand, oh please if i don't get a decision my self esteem will go down, oh please." I don't know the heart of that pastor, and im not going to judge his salvation, but why isn't the church body/deacons/elders saying "woa, where is that in the Bible?" My church is supporting a man in seminary now, and I sincerely love him. My desire is to see him become more of a godly man and a better preacher, but out of love for him and who listen, if he were ever to say raise your hand and use man made methods, I would ask him, why are you taking this in your own hands. over and over in scripture the Gospel call is that God COMMANDS all men to REPENT (acts 17). The biblical model is to preach and teach to someone and command them to repent, not get some "decision" that was initiated by you.

Men were tired of Gods commands and they got teachers who preached falsely and sadly, bits of falsehood has crept in to bible teaching church. Being a Berean is not just pointing out blatant heretics, its asking your pastor/elders "Where is this in the bible." Sadly many would even think to ask that question would be rude, its becuase they love pleasing men. We must stop pleasing men and obey God.

Why Preach?

2008-12-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

Why do we preach in public places? This is a common question that is asked by many Christians. First and foremost we obey the great commission.

Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15

Go into the highways and hedges and compel people to come in that my house may be filled.
Luke 14:23

Also, if you look at the examples set forth in Scripture, Paul, Philip, Jesus, and many others, most of their preaching and evangelism is done in public places outside the four walls of the church.

A good example of Jesus' public ministry is his encounter with the Samaritan woman. He saw the woman as he was out in a public area and began conversing with her. He then changed the subject of the conversation to spiritual matters.

Jesus said, I must preach the good news of the kingdom to the other towns...I was sent for this purpose. Luke 4:43

The sermon on the mount was preached in the open air.

John the Baptist went around in Matthew chapter 3 preaching "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." It says in Matthew chapter 5, after John was arrested, Jesus began going around preaching the same message, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

Phillip the evangelist met the Ethiopian on a road as he began witnessing to him with the Scriptures.

Paul of course is a great example found in the Scriptures.

In Acts chapter 16, Paul goes outside the gate to the riverside to a supposed place of prayer. There he is found sharing with the women there and reaches Lydia who becomes a Christian and converts her whole family.

In Acts chapter 17 Paul is found witnessing and preaching in the marketplace. The people said he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

Paul said this, For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:16

The Scriptures say,

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. Isaiah 61:1-2

Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:28

But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Romans 10:14-15

What do we preach and why? We preach God's Word, God's Law, and God's gospel because the power is not in man, but in God's Word.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21

The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19:7-8

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11

Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

For you have exalted above all things your name and your word. Psalm 138:2

There is a theme repeated in Scripture where people hear and believe. So the Word must be proclaimed so people can hear and in turn believe. This will not happen if the Word is only proclaimed inside the church to Christians.

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:2

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13

The Word of God is not bound unless we bind it either by not speaking it or hiding it within the four walls of our church.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 2 Timothy 2:8-9

We should always rejoice when the gospel is being preached whether in the church or in public.

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Philippians 1:15-18

super bowl dreams

2008-12-16T16:40:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Brother Bill, My wife and I are going to the superbowl. Bill and I are going to clean out our lifesavings and ditch our wives, and spend $25,000 on front row seats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you think im serious, you don't me. We may spend that much on Gospel tracts. There is only one reason to go. Glorify God. We are going to proclaim the Gospel and I am so excited. I can't believe my wife and I are going, im very thankful and want to use the time wisely. If anyone would like to donate tracts, bibles, phamplets, christian books, or anything, please email us at krhiggins25@yahoo.com, benjamind105@gmail.com,

Where is this story from?

2008-12-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

I have a story, and I want you to ask yourself one question, What country is this from? There was a christian man, who had knocking knees, but also had compassion. His drive was to Glorify God and make his Gospel known. He was speaking with a local boy. This local boy didn't know anything about God. He had never heard the holiness and justice of God. He didn't know that he had offended God by sinning against him. He didn't know the penalty of sin, that it was hell. (at this point, other local boys started listening.) He didn't know of the God-Man, Jesus of nazareth, the Christ. These local boys heard the good news of the Gospel. They heard of Gods command to all men to repent and believe the Gospel. Now I have a question, what country is this?

A. India
B. China
C. Baghdad

Which is it. Perhaps India. No. It is America, more specifically, its the Bible belt. It was at a local skatepark. The more and more I speak to men, I see the need in this country is so great. We thought there was a basic knowledge. We thought they knew the gospel, but rejected. We have been WRONG as evangelicals in america. We have not fully seen the need. The Great commision in Matthew is to preach the gospel as it will make disciples and we are to teach those disciples to obey all that Christ commanded. I see a big emphasis on discipleship, but what has been missing from american christianity is the truth of true and false conversion, regeneration, and self examination. We must preach and teach men and women who God is and what he requires of us. We must see this country in truth, we must see our mission field in truth. The truth is, we have to get serious, no more cutsy little christmas plays, no more emotion driven services, we need to preach the Gospel. Mens hearts must be plowed, Christ must be exalted, The scriptures must be divided rightly, Men are to be told that God COMMANDS them to repent. Im getting a little hot, I know it, and I'm not meaning this in a proud kind of way. The story I told you from the skatepark when I asked him if He had ever heard any of this, and he said No, I was shocked. My jaw dropped. Why did I react that way? Becuase I wasn't thinking biblically. I shouldn't have been surprised. I am willing to say that this hinders my own personal evangelism. "Oh, they know." Well the only way to find out is to ask. thats the part we don't find very comfortable, but we must.

Black Friday and North Korean Balloons

2008-11-29T10:41:00.000-08:00

We went out on Black friday again and I think at 2 in the morning, this is crazy. It certainly sounds crazy doesn't it? Well, how about this. North Korea is very dead spiritually and you will be persecuted politically and physically there. Groups of Christians get together and launch Gospel Balloons out over North Korea. Bags of 10,000 gospel tracts fall at diffrent intervals over diffrent areas. The gospel tracts are printed on weatherproof plastic so the rain won't destroy them. These tracts fall and people get saved and churches start. Sounds crazy huh? How about this. It sounds consistent with the Word of God because the Gospel is the only thing that will make a diffrence in those peoples lives? How about this, the Christians overseas are so confident in the Word that they will print tracts on plastic, blow up a big balloon and send them out. Do you personally believe in Gods word that much? This was a challenging story for me. I examined myself again and asked myself that question and to be honest, there was some sin in this area. Lord help us to be sold out to the max for Jesus and to believe your Word fully, never doubting.

No I am not one of those guys!

2008-11-20T20:43:00.001-08:00

It is interesting how we perceive certain types of people. For example, those crazy radicals who hold signs and open air preach.

I must admit, I don't think of myself as one of those guys, but maybe I am in denial.

I will say that I usually don't hold signs. But who am I to say if it works or not? Don't knock it till you try it, right?

Well, last weekend I tried it and I must say that I think it serves a purpose. If anything, I think it edifies the person holding the sign. There is nothing popular about it and it in no way makes you look good to the world. But it makes a bold stand. As I was standing there, I felt the embarrassment kick in. But then at the same moment, I thought of Jesus Christ and what He must have felt as His own creation spit on Him and mocked Him.

I looked up and said, "Jesus Christ, I am yours!"

I don't care what the world thinks about me and I think doing something like holding a sign really makes a statement about who you care the most about.

Many people hold up signs to worship their sports team, or propose to their sweetheart. Why not hold a sign for your Savior and Master, the Lord Jesus Christ?

to Baptize or not? part 2

2008-11-09T04:55:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody, this is Ben. I want to explain my understanding of baptism and my actions. In the NT we see baptism not just as water baptism, but as spiritual. We are buried with Christ and are raised with him( many texts, but 1 peter 3:20-22 just to name one). the spiritual act happens at conversion when one is born again (john 3:3). Born again in John 3 means "born again, like the first time, from above." Water baptism, while not essential to justification, is following a biblical pattern set down by Jesus and his apostles, an outward sign of what has happened inwardly.

Now keith was a false convert and was baptized before, so was I, and I see how you can think "oh ive already been baptized." Thats false. You are only baptized once, upon true conversion. Because of the nature and spiritual significance of baptism, teaching must accompany baptism. We were talking a long while about baptism, because we were discussing a conversation a man had with keith, and I was sharing the Biblical understanding of baptism. also, i personally know keith, so I know what he knows about salvation, so I obviously didn't have to spend that much time talking about that and having witnessed fruit born in his life.

So then, I say what keeps you from baptism? then we go about doing it. I read a bit from a theology book about baptism and preached a mini sermon from Romans 3 and 6. So i have taught about baptism. Now, am I qualified to baptize? I believe I am. I am a priest (1 peter 2:9-10) as all believers are of a chosen priesthood. We did discuss, could women baptize? but that doesn't affect me. I also know of my pastor granting permission to a congregation member to baptize.

The whole reason we did this then and there is because there was a conversation a man had with keith about baptism and I saw keith being very troubled by it. I taught what baptism was and was not, and then said what keeps you? He said nothing, so becuase of how troubled he looked, I said are you so willing to obey this that you will do it right now? he said yes and we did it. I do agree that the ethiopian eunuch is just one passage among many, but it says what is says.

This is what I ask humbly from the christians who read this post. If I am wrong by scripture alone, please show me and I will repent. I want to obey God, and the most loving thing one could do if he sees a brother do something unbiblical, is show him. thats all I ask.

Letter to a Muslim

2008-11-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

Hi, this is Keith from the courthouse (the preacher)

These verses are in reference to the conversation we had. You asked why we worship Jesus as a mediator and don't go straight to God. I answered by telling you that Jesus is God. This is why I believe this precious truth. The Holy Scriptures speak for themselves so I will not spend much time explaining them. I typed all of this out; please take the time to read and meditate on these verses. Thank you.

The Old Testament testifies to Jesus Christ
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. Genesis 22:10,11 (This story is significant because God provides a sacrifice in place of Issac. This is a picture where God gives His only Son as a sacrifice for us)

Also read Isaiah chapter 53

Jesus Christ knew the Old Testament Scriptures spoke of Him
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Luke 24:44

For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? John 5:46,47

Nature obeyed His voice
And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" Matthew 8:27

Jesus forgave sin, but our sins are against God and only God can forgive sin
I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25 (God speaking in the Old Testament)

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Matthew 9:2-4

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? Luke 5:20-21

His apostles (the people who walked and talked with him) say He is God
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29

Jesus used God's personal name that was given to Moses in the burning bush
Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' Exodus 3:13-14

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. John 8:58,59

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am, they went backward, and fell to the ground. They asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: John 18:4-8

Jesus claimed equality with God
I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. John 10:30,31

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? John 14:9

Jesus took credit for others calling Him God
Then saith he to (doubting) Thomas, Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, my Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 20:27-29

The seriousness of taking credit for being called God
And upon a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him (King Herod), because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. Acts 12:21-23

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein. Acts 14:12-15

May these verses show you the true God: Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Blessings, Keith.

To baptize or not to baptize?

2008-11-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

I was having a discussion with my buddy Ben this past week and an issue came up. I had not been baptized since I was saved. I was baptized as a young lad when I made a profession of faith, but I lived like the devil until college when I was really born again.

Ben asked the question, "So what stops you from getting baptized now?"

"Nothing" I said.

So it was like an Ethiopian moment when Ben said, "Alright let's do it right now."

He filled up the tub, read some Scripture about baptism, and then baptized me in the name of the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

So, here is the theological query: Did we commit a Biblical no no?

My Pastor was not too sure.

What does the Bible say about this?

Halloween

2008-11-02T05:54:00.000-08:00

It was wonderful, we turned the tables on an evil holiday and used it to proclaim the Gospel. We set up a table with candy and tracts at the end of the neighborhood, then went to the skate park to open air preach and give out candy. It was without a doubt, the best open air I have done, I don't say it bragging or high and mighty, but just in the sense of I preached sin very hard and the penalty of hell and smiled with joy while proclaiming Jesus.

A Confession

2008-10-13T17:35:00.001-07:00

Its just on my heart to confess to those who may be new to this blog why we do this, more specifically why I do it. Upon conversion I was so thankful, I had forgivness of sins and everlasting life and I wanted to share, but I wasn't quite sure how. I learned and now what drives me is the Glory of God. Part of his Glory is for his message to go out. I look out at people and think, who will reach them? I was a goth before salvation, not many christians shared with me. I knew plenty of professing christians and they knew I wasn't saved, and they never told me. They probably felt intimidated. Think about a heavy metal concert, satanists, evolution, sexual perversion. Who will go and reach them. I just desire for them to hear the Gospel. Now let me say, I higher than no one else for doing this, I can witness all day long, but if I have not love, I have NOTHING? I just do it becuase I am consumed with compassion. I don't want anyone to go to hell, and the first step is to say "hey, how are you doing."

A Really Cool thing

2008-10-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

Sunday we went to Helen to have fun and witness. Keith was open air preaching and a girl who was selling lemonade was listening, she wasn't very busy. I was thirsty so I got some lemonade and started talking to her about the preaching. Her name is Chelsea. I take her through the Law to show her her sinfullness. She didn't believe she was that bad, but she was arragant about it, so that was good. I told her of Gods Justice. She wasn't very familiar with it. She began to explain that the church she went to talked about giving money more than God, so she left it. Probably a good thing. I told her not to be turned away from God by some of his presumed followers and she agreed. I then preached the cross and grace and emphasized that punishment of torture in hell, Jesus took that wrath and anger on himself for all who would believe on him. I really pleaded with her with genuine concern.

I gave her a copy of One Heartbeat Away and told her about all the questions it answers, then she said, "Thats the stuff that confuses me!" She had basic, but very important questions. How do we know the Bible is true, was it changed over time, did kings and rulers invent the 10 commandments? I answered all of them in brief telling her more detail was in the book.

The cool thing was she lived in Florida. She had come up to helen with friends who have family members who run the restraunt. Do you see how God worked this out? He saves me, gives me a passion for the lost, teaches me how to intentionally share the Gospel, Works out things for her to make those friends to be in Helen so she can hear the Gospel. Amazing, our God is Amazing. and I give all praise to him, its just an honor to be used by him. If we don't step out, However, God can't use us if we aren't obeying. So many times I've disobeyed, Im just thankful. I tear up as I write this thinking about her preciuos soul and how God is willing that none should perish and offers any man who repents and trusts Jesus eternal life and forgiveness of sins.

open theism

2008-10-03T17:45:00.001-07:00

heresy!

deeper conference

2008-10-03T17:41:00.000-07:00

My pastor and his wife are going. Im excited! I had to choose a breakout session between todd friel and paul washer. That was hard. I chose todd, becuase im familiar with what washer will speak about, but not todd. Its going to be great. I love going to transformed conferences. I know all of the teaching, but to see the reaction of people who are hearing about the law and true and false conversion for the first time is amazing.

Hitting the Skate Park

2008-10-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

Its friday night and tomorrow, Lord willing, We will return to the Skatepark. I actually haven't been there in a long time. My heart is consumed with compassion when I think about that place. I think about the compassion Jesus showed to lost heathens. I really think about Paul in athens in Acts 17. He saw their Idols and was distressed, he reasoned with the jews and with those in the marketplace day by day, and was asked to come to the aropegus and he preached Christ to the heathens. I go to the skatepark, and I see dead sinners. I feel compassion on their souls, I desire no one to go to hell.

Most of the kids there do not know the Gospel. They have a heard A gospel with jesus, but never THE gospel with Jesus. "God is love and won't judge," they say. If you love black people, you hate slavery. If you love babies, you hate abortion. God loves purity, therefore he hates impurity. He loves obedience, and hates disobedience. We can see how bad sin is by looking at the first sin.

I've had people say "you should be a pastor" and "you should go to seminary," but I really feel as of now my calling is just to be a layman who is obedeint to Christ. I think about the mission field and how necessary it is to stay on. As a pastor, I would still be on it, but would have other priorites too. I don't have the money to go to bible college, so that rules that out.

I pray that God would allow me to help other christians. Iron sharpens Iron. There are areas im weak in and other christian brothers are so strong in. I learn from them. I only know what I know by his Grace. I pray for repentant sinners at the skate park. I pray for repentant relegious lost people at the skate park.

word of faith preachers

2008-10-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

I truly didn't know how bad word of faith preachers really were before I started listening to Hank Hannegraff (the bible answerman). Beliefs that we are little gods, and such. It is downright heresy. I encourage you to podcast his radio show.

Feeding people to Hell???

2008-08-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

Recently we have been presented with perhaps an oppurtunity for a real mission trip. I have been thinking today, if you just feed people with no gospel presentation or verbal recognition to God, are you showing people the love of Christ or just feeding them. I'm all for feeding people and meeting the physical needs, certainly Jesus did that, Paul even took money to the saints in other places, it is very important. But, why have replaced verbal proclamation of the Gospel, and replaced that with meeting physical needs? Meeting physical needs alone doesn't tell them about their sin problem, the penalty of Sin, the justice of God, His Holiness and Righteousness, the Cross, Repentance and Faith.

Secondly, You can't show the love of Christ, if they DON'T KNOW HIM!!! The mormons feed people, the JW's, etc.. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It is a tremendous dis-service to feed people and not preach the Gospel. Puppet shows are fine to demonstrate to kids biblical truth, but a puppet show that will damn kids to hell is not a laughing matter. Doing drama skits to demonstrate biblical truth is fine, but doing drama skits to damn people to hell is abhorant.

Verbal proclamation is the Biblical Method, how dare anyone think they know better than God. Law to the proud, Grace to the Humble, end of story. GO PREACH IT, OR REPENT!!

What Are You Doing?

2008-08-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

Isn't this what we hear so much? What are you doing to save the world? What are you doing to feed starving children? What are you doing to help fight cancer or AIDS?

I am sure you have seen the advertisements on TV as I have with images of starving children or children dying of leukemia. The world wants to know what you will do to help.

To me, those are the most disheartening and hopeless questions I hear. It is sad to see suffering in the world, but those questions are so meaningless and hopeless. Why?

If I help the world today, won't it just die another day? As the expression goes, "Live to die another day."

There are many ministries and organizations all over the world, many of them being Christian based, that help people. Many true Christians do help the needy.

There are also many Baptist churches, greedy pastors, hypocrites, and others who do not obey the commands of Scripture. They spend millions on their buildings and give very little to the poor, hungry, and dying.

That is not the point of what I am saying. The point is, no matter what we do, people still die. It does not matter what you do on this earth, people still die!

You can invest all of your time and millions of dollars finding the cure for AIDS or cancer. Maybe the cures are discovered and millions of lives are saved. ...But guess what? Those people will die anyway.

You could give all of your money for treatment of a child to recover from a life threatening disease. And then the next day, as the soon as the child is fully recovered, he dies in a car accident on the way home from the hospital.

There are so many ministries today and so many Christians talking about good works. There are so many mission trips that put roofs on houses of churches, administer medical treatment, provide meals to starving people, build houses. But none of it really matters because it will be gone in a few hundred years.

We die. Things deteriorate. Time forgets.

So, why not spend all of that time and money finding the cure for death!

Oh yeah...there already is a cure...

Oh yeah...the cure is a free gift...

What's the problem then?

The cure is rarely talked about anymore from pulpits, on mission trips, in every day life.

Our disease is sin. Christ is the cure. So why don't we talk about this anymore?

Why don't we ask, "What are you doing to proclaim the gospel?"

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt. 6:19-21

"Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?' And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool!" Ecclesiastes 2:15, 16

I was in Cincinnati a while back and there were some Christians handing out water to homeless people in the city. I also see this a lot in Atlanta. Richard and I asked what they were doing and they said they wanted to hand out water to people with no strings attached. When we questioned further, the "strings" they were referring to is the gospel. They did not want to give the cure to death, they just wanted their thirst to be quenched.

Do you see the illogical thinking of this? Jesus fed the 5,000 and then he preached the Truth. In fact, after He preached everyone left Him except for His disciples.

So, what are you doing to proclaim the cure to death? Or are you just concerned with earthly things?

What are you here for, Christian?

2008-08-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

We need to realize that we are here for one purpose: To bring people with us to heaven! In heaven we will be sinless. Would God not have brought us home immediately after conversion if He wanted us sinless? In heaven we will fellowship with believers for eternity. Would God not have brought us home immediately after conversion if He wanted us to fellowship with other believers?

Open your mouth Christian!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em5gL0Rw4Aw

Finally!!!

2008-07-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

I was on Way of the Master Radio today and blew it. I was trying to make a point, and I bombed it. I was nervous, but did get a point across. he plugged John Bensleys tract for christians. July 21 hour 2.

Skating Dreams

2008-07-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

I look very forward to returning to the Skate Park this Friday night. I have a special burden for young people. Baby boomers (in a general sense) have a knowledge of the truth that todays youth don't even have. Im not saying give up on those that reject, just saying that young people today are teachable, and I say this on authority of having spoken to hundreds of them. They will listen even if they disagree. So if they will listen, why not speak God's truth? "Oh, but we have to be relevant. If we're not hip, the kids won't like us." During many conversations AFTER open air preaching, most of the young people we speak too say they see genuiness in us because to them it looks like we really believe it. No glory to us, all to him. Im just bringing up the fact that they will listen. I normally don't use this language, but lets shut up about pizza, yo-yos and six flags and start talking about Jesus. Young people are people, they are not disabled teens whom you have to talk down too.

Gay Pride 2008

2008-07-06T05:32:00.000-07:00

Short and simple. Sinners heard the Gospel. Lost sinners, heard the Gospel. If you don't believe that is good news, I love you dearly, but repent!

New tract

2008-06-20T21:01:00.001-07:00

This is a new tract I have designed. It will have a "supernatural" image on the front.

The Unknown

The supernatural has been popularized in movies like “The Exorcist” and “Final Destination.” We shell out millions of dollars in movie tickets to get a glimpse of the supernatural. Countless teachings exist on the supernatural, but none of them can be proven true. However, there is one. The question is, do you dare to know the truth? Will you actually look at the facts? Are you ready to hear?

The Truth

The one true supernatural resource is the Bible. There is proof that it is supernatural in origin. Do you dare read on? There are many scientific facts in the Bible that modern science didn’t learn to be true until later times. Science used to say the world was flat; it was written in 700 B.C. that the world was round in Isaiah 40:22. Top Medical doctors in times past would bleed people thinking they would get better, but it was written in 1445 B.C. that “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” (Leviticus 17:11)? It also contains many fulfilled prophecy. The most astonishing is about the man Jesus. Psalm 22:16 says “They pierced my hands and my feet.” We all know he was crucified, but this text was written before crucifixion had been created.. There is no other book like it in the world. The places in it have been verified by non Christian archeologists, the people groups in it have been authenticated by archeology, and there are thousands of copies from all time periods in history and this has proved that it wasn’t changed over time. (see www.christiananswers.net for more details.)

The Message

So this book is supernatural in origin, so what is its Message? We learn that “In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.” (Genesis 1:1) “May the whole earth be filled with his Glory.” (Psalm 72:19) He supernaturally created all things out of nothing. Just look around at trees, grass, the clouds.. God is set apart from us. He is Holy. He made all things for his own Glory. “Give the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength, Give to the Lord the Glory due his name.” (1 Chronicles 16:28-29) Man was created to glorify God and enjoy him forever, but we have failed miserably. The Bible calls that failure Sin. Sin is transgressing Gods commands. God defines his commands in the 10 commandments. Lets look at just a few. 1. You shall have no other Gods before me. Have you ever put anything before the God who made you to glorify him? 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. If you have used his name as a cuss word, you dragged his Holy name through the mud. 7. You shall not commit adultery. Jesus Said “ whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28).

We do these things so naturally, we are sinners to the core. “And as it is appointed for men to do once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) God will judge all people for every thought, word and deed. No doubt we are all guilty. “All liars will have their part in the lake of Fire” (Revelation 21:8) “No blasphemer will inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) The Bible makes it very clear that we will end up in Hell as punishment for disobeying God. We are helpless, we can’t do anything ourselves to be right with God. That’s why God acted for us. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) God came down from Heaven in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. He lived a perfect sinless life, and did many miracles including the most supernatural act of all, raising people from the dead. “But God commended his love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) God is a just judge and must punish transgressors, but Jesus took the punishment of God upon himself on the Cross. Jesus suffered the punishment we deserve. His blood was shed so that Gods wrath and judgment can be satisfied and he can let us go free. Then he rose again on the third day. “Repent and Believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15) Jesus said we must turn from our sins and turn to him in faith. “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) So now you have the truth. I plead with you to repent. Read your Bible every day and obey what you read. Get into a local bible teaching church. Questions? Email Ben @ Benjamind105@gmail.com

www.providenceduluth.org

www.savedfromwhat.org

www.9marks.org

www.desiringgod.org

What if?

2008-06-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

We have all been talking about this lately. How would Christians against witnessing on purpose act if they saw the heavens open up and Jesus coming with a sword? I think they would run through the streets preaching the gospel very loudly.

I've heard MacArthur say in a sermon that when someone is on their death bed, you ramp up the evangelism and I totally agree, I would do that. But how about ramping it up now when they are still alive? What has happened in Christianity today to make that sound crazy? It's because we have given in to the unbiblical doctrine of "waiting for the right moment." No one can really give you guidelines on how to know when it comes, you're supposed to just know.

The way I read scripture, it tells us to take the initiative. GO and make disciples, PREACH the gospel to every creature, etc.

For Gods sake, please stop sharing the Gospel?

2008-06-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

Witnessed this week at the Virginia Highlands Festival, it was great!!! I have one story in particular I want to share. There were 2 boys who were playing a guitar, tamborine, and singing for money, you know they had the guitar case open. I said to Keith lets go over there and listen, give them a few bucks and witness to them. The guitar players name was forest, they were probably 12. I asked them to play something, and they did, they were good. It takes alot of guts to play and sing in front of people.

Everyone had given them change and $1 dollar bills. I had a $5, so I gave it, knowing they would be extra appreciative, and to show kindness to them. I put it in their case and said good job, then I asked them what happens after they die. They weren't really sure, but out of the corner of my eye, I see a woman standing and listening to me. I'm thinking in my head that she will probably call me judgmental or something.

I began to chat with these kids and take them through the law and the gospel. These kids turned out to be catholic and said the way to be made right with God is confession to a priest. That is nowhere in the New Testament, and I told them that Jesus said (mark 1:15) Repent and believe the Gospel, meaning confess strait to God because he offers forgiveness and mercy, not a priest.

It was fantastic, they heard the truth. The disturbing part mentioned in the title came halfway through the encounter. The lady turned to me and said, " For God's sake, leave them alone and let them play." Lets break this down. These kids had not heard the true Gospel and didn't know how to be made right with God. How wrong could that lady be? The Bible says that unbelievers are storing up wrath that will be revealed on the day of wrath. I just care about theses kids, I showed them kindness by listening to them play, telling them good job, and giving them a couple of bucks.

I really pray that she doesn't claim to be Christian. I never got her name, but lift her up in prayer. She only heard the part about law, then went away. She was probably convicted, and maybe she is hurting inside. I care about her too. I pray God would send Christians her way who would share the Gospel with her.

Evolution Vs. Creation

2008-06-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

By Keith Higgins

Young earth creationist

EVOLUTION VS. INTELLIGENT DESIGN

Evolution (monkeys to man macroevolution) is being taught in public schools as the sole theory for how life originated. After researching several court decisions, it has been concluded that “…based on years of case law and disputed legislative actions, it is constitutionally acceptable to prevent the teaching of creationism and to promote the teaching of evolution in public schools” (Brownfield, 2007, p. 148). Brownfield goes on to say, “Application of the First Amendment to each case renders a decision in favor of preservation of evolution, while halting any equal treatment or classroom discussion on creationism” (p.148). Even though this is the case, there are several proponents for an alternative theory. They say that an Intelligent Designer (God) created everything. These “creationists” argue not so much from the Bible, but contend that scientific research shows evidence for a Designer. There is a continuing debate between the two sides. Vicki Johnson describes this debate as a war. She says, “The battle between creationists and evolutionists has waxed and waned in American culture and education for decades” (Johnson, 2006, p. 222). She goes on to say that “…this conflict is evident in the contemporary debate between the proponents of intelligent design and its opponents” (p. 222).

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR INTELLIGENT DESIGN:

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

There are strong accusations against creationists claiming they have not supported their views with scientific proof. Daniel Dennett of the New York Times writes, “If intelligent design were a scientific idea whose time had come, young scientists would be dashing around the labs, vying to win the Nobel Prizes that surely are in store for anybody who can overturn any significant proposition of contemporary evolutionary biology” (Dennett, 2005). The fact is that there are world renowned scientists, young and old, Christian and atheist, who have questioned and are continuing to question Darwin’s claims and accept the idea of an Intelligent Creator. After examining empirical evidence (observed through the senses), this “…was the conclusion of both Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking who referred to the initiator of the beginning as a ‘super intellect’” (Ashby, 2005, p. 21). In an interview with Hugh Downs on 20/20 on July 21, 1989, Hawking said, “It is difficult to discuss the beginning of the universe without mentioning the concept of God. My work on the origin of the universe is on the borderline between science and religion. But I try to stay this side of the border. It is quite possible that God acts in ways that cannot be described by Scientific laws” (as cited in Ashby, 2005, p.27).

Ashby goes on to say, “Hawking does not accept the concept of a personal God; however, accepting that the universe had a beginning which was initiated by a super intellect can be interpreted as an indirect endorsement of creation proposed by one of the leading scientists of all time” (p. 33).

Dr. E.C. Ashby was a member of the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology for 30 years. He was awarded the Lavoisier medal of the French Chemical Society and the Herty medal of the American Chemical Society for his research. He has lectured at over 100 universities in 14 countries and has published over 280 papers in leading chemistry journals. He says that, “Cells are the atoms of biology, the fundamental unit of life” (p. 73). He concluded after examining the probability of a cell forming by chance that, “…calculations clearly show that it is impossible for a cell to have evolved by chance. That leaves only one other explanation-that it was created by intelligent design” (p.73). He shows in his book that the mathematical possibility of forming just one enzyme (alpha chymotrypsin) through the assemblage of amino acids by chance is “one chance in ” (p.75). He states, “Because one chance in chances is considered by mathematicians to be zero, it is clear that alpha chymotrypsin cannot be formed by chance” (p.75). He then concludes once again, “To suggest that all of the compounds, needed to produce a cell could be formed by chance when the probability of forming just one enzyme by chance is zero, would indeed be an impossible position to defend” (p. 75). Michael Denton, biologist, further supports this evidence by saying, “The complexity of the simplest known type of cell is so great that it is impossible to accept that such an object could have been thrown together suddenly by some kind of freakish, vastly improbable, event. Such an occurrence would be indistinguishable from a miracle” (Denton, 1980, p.354). Dr. Ashby strongly supports the Big Bang theory, microevolution (small variations occurring amongst kinds of animals), a universe that is roughly 17 billion years old, and an earth that is roughly 4 billions years old. However, based on scientific observation, he has concluded that there must be an Intelligence that started it all.

Michael Behe, a Professor of Biochemistry at Lehigh University, reached the same conclusion. He is not a Christian, but after examining the proof he says, “We can conclude that the biochemical systems…were designed by an intelligent agent” (Behe, 1996, p. 204). Behe claims that “Attempts to explain the evolution of highly specified, irreducibly complex systems-either mousetraps or cilia or blood clotting-by a gradualistic route have so far been incoherent” (p. 177). He explains earlier that an irreducibly complex organism is one that ceases to work without all of its working parts. He uses the mousetrap as an example where it ceases to work without its five parts: the hammer, spring, catch, platform, and holding bar. He has observed and can validate evidence for molecular machines within our bodies that have several necessary parts in order for them to work. If one part is missing or inoperable, the machine breaks down. He says with confidence as a biochemist, “I have shown why many biochemical systems cannot be built up by natural selection working on mutations: no direct, gradual route exists to these irreducibly complex systems” (p. 203).

PROBLEMS WITH THE EVOLUTION THEORY

Charles Darwin in The Origin of the Species wrote, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down. But I can find out no such case” (Darwin, 1985, p. 219). He saw the difficulties of the theory and wrote great amounts about these criticisms. In the end, rather than giving scientific evidence to validate his claims and refute the inconsistencies, he blamed his inferior knowledge and relied on future scientific research. In discussing how complex organs evolved he says, “A structure even as perfect as the eye of an eagle might be formed by natural selection, although in this case he does not know any of the transitional grades” (p. 219). He also relied heavily on future findings of fossil records that would evidence transitional species (an organism that is partially evolved and in between species) and further substantiate his theory. Darwin admits, “To suppose that the eye, with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest possible degree” (p. 217). When discussing difficulties dealing with neuter insects he writes, “It is impossible to conceive by what steps these wondrous organs have been produced” (p. 222). Then without any scientific explanation he states, “We must own that we are far too ignorant to argue that no transition of any kind is possible” (p. 222).

EXPERT OPINIONS

Many other scientists have reached the same conclusions. Sir Karl Raimund Popper is one. He is the “…world renowned philosopher of science and professor of Logic and Science at the University of London” (Aksionczky, 1999, p. 100). In 1974, Popper wrote, “I have come to the conclusion that Darwinism is not a testable scientific theory, but a metaphysical research program” (as cited in Aksionczky, p. 100). Soren Lovtrup, biologist and professor of Zoo-Physiology at the University of Umega, Sweden, also said of Darwinian evolution, “I believe that one day the Darwinian myth will be ranked the greatest deceit in the history of science” (as cited in Aksionczky, p. 101). Another, “Dr. Lee Spetner, who holds a PhD in physics from MIT and accepted a fellowship in their department of biophysics, expressed my (Muncaster’s) findings in a nutshell: ‘Random variations cannot lead to the large-scale evolution claimed by the neo-Darwinians…There is a lot of evidence for nonrandom [purposeful, therefore intelligent] variation’” (Muncaster, 2003, p. 28).

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR INTELLIGENT DESIGN:

MUTATIONS

It has been shown that there is much evidence on the molecular level for Intelligent Design. As far as mutations creating new species, Dr. Carl Weiland says, “Natural selection does not create information, it gets rid of information,” and he goes on to say, “Evolutionists turn to mutations (inherited defects in copying genetic code), but many mutations are meaningless and thousands give inherited harmful diseases” (C. Weiland, public presentation, 2003). Dr. Lee Spetner, biophysicist and bio-informatics expert, after doing years of research at John Hopkins University concluded that “All mutations that have been studied on a molecular level turn out to reduce the genetic information and not increase it” (Spetner, 1997, p.138). Richard Goldschmidt commented in the 1950s that, “It is true that nobody thus far has produced a new species or genus, etc., by macromutation. It is equally true that nobody has produced even a species by the selection of micromutations” (as cited in Muncaster, 2003, p. 27).

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR INTELLIGENT DESIGN:

COSMOLOGY

There is also evidence in cosmology supported by what is known as the “anthropic principle.” This principle “…states that the universe possesses unique and narrowly defined characteristics essential to the support of life on earth” (Ashby, 2005, p. 34). Ashby says, “Ross in his book, The Creator and the Cosmos, and subsequent books, provides more than 50 examples of the anthropic principle. For example, life on earth could not exist if the earth had a slower or faster rotation, if the earth was smaller or larger, if the moon was smaller or larger, the oxygen/nitrogen ratio was smaller or larger, etc.” (p. 34, 35). Ashby goes on to say, “The numbers of stars, planets and galaxies, and the distances involved in their separation, speak to an incredibly vast universe in which planet earth is no more conspicuous than a grain of sand on the beach. Yet there is no evidence that there is another planet exactly like it” (p. 37). He makes it clear, “If evolution can explain the appearance of life on planet earth, than evolution would be expected to produce living species on other planets in the universe” (p. 37).

GAPS IN THE FOSSIL RECORD

As stated earlier, Darwin relied on future findings of fossil evidence to substantiate his claims. He asks the question, “As by this theory innumerable transitional forms must have existed, why do we not find them embedded in countless numbers in the crust of the earth?” (p. 206). He answers in part by saying, “Hence we ought not to expect at the present time to meet with numerous transitional varieties in each region, though they must have existed there, and may be embedded there in a fossil condition” (p. 207). As of today, “The fact is that evolutionists have claimed that several intermediate species have been found, e.g., australopithecus, bosei, homo erectus, Neanderthal man, etc., relating man to a common ancestor of the ape; however every so-called ‘missing link’ has been classified as an ape” (Ashby, 2005, p. 44). Another statement was made by, “Lord Solly Zuckerman, anatomist and chairman of the British Advisory Council on Science Policy” (Aksionczky, 1999, p. 101). He said, “If man evolved from an apelike creature he did so without leaving a trace of that evolution in the fossil record. The record is so astonishing that it is legitimate to ask whether much science is yet to be found in this field at all” (Zuckerman, 1970, p. 64). Ralph Muncaster writes, “Now, even though millions of fossils have been found since Darwin’s time, we still can’t identify any transitional species-let alone ‘countless numbers.’ In fact, in the fossil record body parts and systems are either fully formed or non existent” (p. 23). As far as a number of fossils of species found, “between 3 and 20 million species have been detected” (Ashby, 2005, p. 49). Even though, “A number of well-publicized species considered to be missing links relating man to the ape have been reported in the past…these reports have been shown to be either fraudulent or in error…” (p. 49). Ashby then gives a list of the alleged “missing links” and presents the scientific evidence backing his claim.

MISUNDERSTANDINGS POPULARIZING EVOLUTION

Despite overwhelming evidence for Intelligence behind creation, evolution is still esteemed as the dominant theory for life. Muncaster states with confidence, “Darwin did well with the information he had at the time, but he developed his theory at the time of the American Civil War. What is harder to understand is why this 150-year-old theory (though somewhat modified) is still being taught as fact in light of recent discoveries” (p. 24). There are some things worth mentioning that may help answer why evolution is still widely accepted.

Firstly, “Among the top scientists in the country, members of the National Academy of Sciences, 90 percent profess to be either atheistic (no God) or agnostic (not sure if there is a God) (Larson and Witham, Scientific American, p. 90, September 1999)” (Ashby, 2005, p. 21). Related to public schools, Philip Johnson reported that, “The position of educators with respect to the subject of creation/evolution is exemplified by the position taken in the high school biology textbook by Neil A. Campbell, (Biology, 2^nd ed., p. 434, 1990), that states, ‘Today nearly all biologists acknowledge that evolution is fact’” (as cited in Ashby, p. 21). Ashby goes on to say, “This position of educators is supported by the National Education Association (NEA) which has taken the position that the theory of creation should not be discussed in the classrooms when discussing the theory of evolution” (p. 21). He believes that this violates First Amendment rights. In fact, in 2006, “Pennsylvania ruled that intelligent design could not be taught in the classroom, noting that intelligent design is religion masquerading as science” (Brownfield, 2007, p. 141). Secondly, fraudulent evolutionary claims have been made throughout the last century that has furthered the belief that evolution is fact. One example of this involves Ernest Haeckel’s report on how human embryos are similar to animal embryos. This report along with drawings still, “…can be found in many biology textbooks, even today, including the most prestigious book on the cell, Alberts et al, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2^nd ed., Garland Publishing Inc., p. 31 (1989)” (Ashby, 2005, p. 46). Ashby then points out that Haeckel’s research was examined more closely by the British embryologist , Michael Richardson, and it was reported in The Washington Times that “Haeckel “doctored” his drawings to make the embryos look identical” (p. 47).

Thirdly, the media have sensationalized cases involving the evolution/creation controversy and have taken great liberty in presenting informative reports on evolution. This was seen through the famous Scopes Trial of 1925 which is described as “…one of the most misunderstood and distorted events in American History” (Aksionczky, 1999, p. 3). This is also seen, “In a recent television program (June 18, 2003) on the Discovery Channel entitled “Walking with Cavemen,” where “Lucy…was portrayed as a thinking, emotional mother of two offspring, led by a male 25 years old who later lost his life in a fight with a marauding ape” (Ashby, 2005, p. 51). Ashby accurately accuses the media of an attempt to “…deceive the public with regard to the acceptance of evolution” (p. 51). The artistic liberty taken in the film was not supported by scientific evidence.

WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS OF INTELLIGENT DESIGN

There continues to be an increasing amount of evidence that makes the case for teaching Intelligent Design in the classroom, at least as an alternate theory to evolution. In August of 2005, President Bush announced, “…that he was in favor of teaching about ‘intelligent design’ in the schools” (Dennett, 2005). Also, “Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Republican leader, made the same point. Teaching both intelligent design and evolution ‘doesn’t force any particular theory on anyone,’ Mr. Frist said. ‘I think in a pluralistic society that is the fairest way to go about education and training people for the future’” (Dennett, 2005).

The battle continues in the courts. Recently, there was a case involving a sticker being placed in textbooks. It was a disclaimer about evolution that stated “Evolution is a theory.” This raised the support and praise of many students, parents, churches, and organizations around the country, but opposition came when “…a prominent high school science teacher, argued that the placement of the sticker, among other things, promoted religious views of origins and disparaged and diminished the status of evolution” (Evans and Blaine, 2006, p. 66). The battle appears not so much to be with citizens, but with dogmatic evolutionists who, despite the evidence, cling to an outdated theory.

They still argue that, “As long as the theory of creationism is based on fundamental religious beliefs, it has no place in the public school system” (Brownfield, 2007, p. 148) even though Intelligent Design is not based on “beliefs,” but rather on empirical evidence. There seems to be a public consensus that Intelligent Design should be allowed as an alternative teaching to evolution. For example, “The Plain Dealer sponsored a telephone opinion poll of 1,507 randomly selected Ohioans between May 28 and June 4, 2002. The poll (The Plain Dealer 2002b) showed that 59 percent of the respondents supported teaching both evolution and intelligent design in public school” (Johnson, 2006, p. 232).

CONCLUSION

So if there is overwhelming evidence for Intelligent Design, more so than evolution, and the public is open to having it taught in the classroom, then why is it not?

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” Romans 1:19-23

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Psalm. 53:1

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/home.php

Bibliography

Aksionczky, Nicholas M. (1999). A second look. El Cajon, CA: Institute for Creation Research.

Ashby, E. C. (2005). Understanding the creation evolution controversy. Ozark, AL: ACW Press.

Behe, M. J. (1996). Darwin's black box. New York: The Free Press.

Brownfield, E. Y. (2007). The first amendment implications of teaching the theory of

evolution. Journal of Law & Education 36 no1 Ja 2007 , 141-148.

Darwin, Charles (1985). The origin of the species. London, England: Penguin Books Ltd.

Dennett, Daniel C. (2005, August, 28). Show me the science. The New York Times, Retrieved March 6, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/28/opinion/28dennett.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=show+me+the+science&st=nyt&oref=slogin

Denton, Michael (1980). Evolution: A theory in crisis. London: Burnett Books.

Fontana, Leonard (2004).Childhood Violence Prevention Education Using Video Games. Information Technology in Childhood Education Annual . 49-62.

Johnson, V. D. (2006). A contemporary controversy in american education: Including intelligent design in the science curriculum. Educ Forum 70 no3 Spr 2006, 222-236.

Muncaster, Ralph O. (2003). Dismantling evolution: Building the case for intelligent design. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers.

Rosenhouse, Jason, & Branch, Glenn (2006). Media coverage of "intelligent design". Bioscience No.3. 56, 247-252.

Spetner, Lee (1997). Not by chance. New York: The Judaica Press.

Vergano D, Toppo G. 2005. "Call to arms" on evolution. USA Today, 23

March, p. 7D.

Zuckerman, Lord Solly (1970). Beyond the ivory tower. New York: Taplinger.

The Word Was Preached

2008-05-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

I come with great news. I was going to a new local park to witness and preach, but I was really nervous. I was listening to a sermon from the 2007 Shepherds Conference by Alex Montoya called, " An Hour to Raise the Dead." Look it up and get it. He talks about preaching with passion and fresh fire, and preaching to a crowd even if you don't have a pulpit to preach from.

I get there and pray and get tracts, I spoke with many, I will just hit highlights. The first group I talked to had a young lady who was a Christian and believed in reincarnation. She didn't believe in Hell and I pointed out she was making an Idol in her own image, the other 3 listened, she was proud.

Another group I spoke with had a girl named Jessica, she said she was going to heaven. I asked why and she said because I was saved. Saved from what, I asked. She couldn't explain what. I asked her if she was saved from God's wrath and anger, she said she wasn't sure, she had never heard that before. I explained how God created us and is worthy of all Glory and the Law he set for us that we continue to break and his justice and holiness, and anger and wrath, and mercy and grace and call to discipleship. As I was going through the commandments, it came out that she was sleeping with her boyfriend, she was asking me questions saying that she has perfect intention to marry him. Her friend turned to her and said that is still adultery. I pointed her to 1 john seeing as she was listening, asking questions, and professing Faith. Can't go wrong with Bible.

Another guy I spoke with, it was a usual encounter. He was listening and focused, I spoke of Gods law and our condemnation and his grace and mercy to all who call on Jesus. he professed from the begining that he wasn't sure where he would go and thought if you were sincerely sorry that he would be innocent with God. Not so, I told him, I explained God as a just judge to him and that no sin will go unpunished. I spoke of Grace and mercy, then he said " Im a Christian, I go to Northpoint (Andy Stanleys church.) Based on the evidence from our conversation, I would say he isn't and I told him that and that he needed to look t0 scripture.

Then the palms got sweating. I looked around for something to stand on or a place to put my stool to open air preach. I was so nervous, I called my wife for encouragement. She was a blessing!!! Then this lady came up to me and said she was so appreciative that I was there talking with the young people about God. That was a blessing!!! I sat down on the spot I was going to stand on and searched for the scripture I would use to preach. This was a crowd ignorant of who God is so I chose John chapter 1 and Romans chapter 17. I was nervous, I was shaking, then I heard someone mock the gospel tract i had given. He was laughing and saying "yeah we are all going to hell." I was immediately filled with compassion. If that young man understood Hell, he would not have said that and I thought, Im not on a plane going down, but every second we are closer to judgement and when these kids and parents take their last breath, that is it. Heaven or Hell. God must regenerate them, but here I am speaking of our call to do what we can, to witness about Christ.

I got up and started and 4 seconds into it, everyone was silent and looked at me. What is that guy doing. The Girl I called Idolatry on was looking at me with disgust, she goes to church on Wednesday by the way. I preached John 1 and Romans 17. Then I said loudly, " You are probably wondering why this goofball is standing up preaching to me, I've come to proclaim to you today that there is a God in heaven." I talked about how to know there is a God, went through each on of the Ten Commandments and expounded on them. Told them I was no better, but guaranteed them I had committed far more sin than all of them put together. I told them how hopeless we are, but how God had mercy on filthy sinners. I preached grace with a smile from ear to ear, earnestly pleading for sinners to come. Be saved. there was a guy heckling me, sitting down from where I was standing. When i was finished, some people applauded me. Some came and smiled at me and shook my hand. I went to the young man who was heckling me, and I shook his hand and introduced myself to him. I looked him in the face with love and told him God will forgive every Sin you have ever committed if you will Repent and Trust in him. I gave him a tract that would lead him to a free copy of "One Heartbeat Away" by Mark Cahill. Other friends were around and I just told them that I didn't want anyones money likes some greasy TV preacher, I just told them because I was a wretched sinner and God Forgave me. They shook my hand as I left.

Even as I write this now, I feel moved. Everyone of those people will spend eternity somewhere. The question I always ask is " Was it Worth It?" Anyone who says no is lying. I say that in love because they will all stand and give account on the day of judgement, and God had mercy on them by allowing them to hear it. No glory to me, Im just an instrument. God alone can convert them. We say things like "the time is short" and its true, but if we really believe we will do something about it. We will have some coffee with a friend and witness, Go to a neighbor and witness, call up our parents and witness.

Last week my pastor mentioned in his sermon that he has thought about if he was on a plane, and the plane was going down he would stand up on the chair and preach really quick before it crashed. I agree with that. If you are on a plane going down, all you see are Christians and lost people, lost people who need the Gospel. At the local park, there are Christians and lost people, lost people who need the Gospel. There is no difference in these two situations biblically. We must stop looking at it like there is.

If you are a christian reading this, be encouraged. If you are obedient to God and step out in faith in your weak ares (prayer, bible reading, witnessing, etc.) God will grant you grace and give it to you to help you, but we must obey. We are not perfect in our areas of weakness, but God blesses obedience.

God bless.

A Heavy Heart

2008-05-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

I write this with many heavy things on my heart. I was witnessing to a young man named Sean at a local park. He was a professed atheist. We chatted for about 25 minutes, he liked the conversation. Clearly he was proud, didn't want to even acknowledge the existence of his maker, but there was something he said that concerned me. He brought up contradictions in the Bible and I handed him a Bible, but he couldn't point them out, I was surprised he couldn't!?! Before I told why we believe the Bible to be true, I asked him if anyone ever gave him an answer other than "Just Believe it is?" He said that no one ever gave him an intelligent answer. If we as Christians, bearing in mind that we are suppose to give a reason for the hope that lies within us, Go around telling people believe because we say so, we are doing a terrible service to the Lord. We Believe the Bible is true for many reasons, Divine authorship proven through prophecy, scientific facts in the Bible, historical accuracy, secular sources proving the Bible true on cultural matters and history, Closest manuscripts to the original, manuscripts have never been changed, etc. Im not saying lets go all apologetics, Im just saying we must do a better job explaining why we believe to people.

You know, to a certain extent, we sound like a cult when we start saying, "Just believe anyway!"

The Christian Educator

2008-05-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

My philosophy of Christian education is simple. It operates under one critical understanding: God’s Word is sufficient. In writing this, I will only describe the Biblical educator. I have no desire to and will make no attempt to use this world’s understanding of education. I will not use man’s theories or even his terminology. I will not use clever reasoning. I will not use impressive speech. “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:1-5). I will not reference any other, but God’s Word. It is His Word alone that has the power to change lives. I do not do anything, but speak what I read from His perfect law of liberty.

Children need to be changed. They come into school not knowing much. We must teach them academically, sure, but what they really need is a lasting change. It matters not to me if they make Bs or Cs in their academics. I want them to learn, but if they make As in every subject and yet their souls perish in hell for eternity, I have failed them as a Christian educator. I have not given them the very thing they need. I must give them God’s Word and God’s gospel. It is the gospel they need unto salvation. Everything else falls far second to the gospel.

I will not give them man’s gospel: “Say this prayer,” “God will give you joy,” or “Ask Jesus into your heart.” I will give them God’s Biblical gospel: Repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God certainly does give us joy, but it is not the gospel (good news). The good news is that we were sinners, dead to Christ, separated from God for eternity because of sin. We were on a road that led to our demise. It was a road that led to eternal burning and suffering because of sin we had committed. We deserve that fate. But God! How glorious God is to send a Savior, Jesus Christ. He bled and died in my stead. Students must realize this and be born again. They will only understand this if we tell them. We must share this whole Truth with them in class. If we do not, we risk giving them a false gospel that leads to their eternal destruction. This is my job as an educator. Nothing else matters in Christian education. Really, nothing else matters in secular education as well, but we may lose our jobs in the process of telling them.

We must understand that students need to be born again (Jn. 3:3). If a student is born again everything else works. Students will always sin and frustrate educators, but if students are born again they will want to obey God’s Word. They will repent when they have done wrong. They will strive to obey God. They do this because they are new creatures in Christ as His Word describes. “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved”

(Eph. 2:1-5). They will mortify the flesh and sow of the Spirit. They will live according to the Spirit of God who raised Christ from the dead (Gal. 5:16-24). They will hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6). They will desire God’s teaching above all else

(Pm. 119:9-11). They will read His Word, not for grades or selfish ambition, but because they want to know God (Pm. 119:72). They want to read descriptions of God so they can be more like Him. This is the regenerate heart. It only comes from being born again. I as an educator need to help them see this glorious truth unto salvation. I do this by giving them God’s Word. I do this by continually taking them to the living water of His Word. I lead them to the water so they can drink and be satisfied (Pm. 1:3). My opinions or clever reasoning have no place in this transaction. I give them only what can save them, His Word (Is. 55:10, 11).

I as an educator need to believe in God’s regenerating power and the power of His Word (Titus 3:5). If I do not believe this, I cannot convince the students. If I am not in love with the Word, how can I teach my students to love the Word? If I do not read the Word, why would I ask my students to read the Word? If my teaching, attitude, opinions, and words do not conform to the Word, why would my students see the power of the Word? If we are not constantly going back to God’s Word no matter the subject, why would my students ever see the necessity of God’s Word? I must read it in class. We must read it continually throughout the day. We must exalt it above all things! “…for you have exalted above all things your name and your word” (Pm. 138:2).

Out of all my education, I have learned there are two truths to being successful as an educator. They come not from classes, but from God’s Word. 1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. 2. Love your students. This is what it takes as an educator. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (I Cor. 13:1). There are philosophies galore. Man has given his opinion on how to educate a young mind. I can go to school and become a master, even a doctor of education, but if I care nothing for my student I have failed him. Love does not always mean pleasant experiences. Sometimes I must speak the truth in love. The truth will hurt sometimes, but I tell my students the truth because I love them. I want God’s Word to permeate their hearts. I love Christ and I love my students through Christ. My students know that I love them and they begin to love Christ.

Education works for both the student and the educator. Paul makes clear to the Galatians that “…in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ” (Gal. 3:26-28). We are all one in the body of Christ. This means that I do not lord my title over my students. I am not merely their teacher, but a brother to them in the Lord Jesus Christ. God is using them to bring about sanctification in my life. God is working the same for them if they be in Christ.

I do not make rules based on how I want my classroom to operate, but rather they are God’s rules to develop Godliness in their lives. My rules are God’s laws, the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20). If a student lies, I show them God’s law and punishment for lying. I share what Christ experienced to redeem liars from the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). If a student cheats (steals an answer), I show them God’s eighth commandment. It may seem extreme, but it is God’s Word. Students need to understand that disobedience does not come without dire consequences (Rom. 6:23). If they know the severity of sin, they will be weighted with godly grief unto repentance. At this kind of grief, we rejoice as educators. “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death” (2 Cor. 7:9, 10).

My classroom is one where evangelism is encouraged and commanded. God Himself gives us this commission, “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem’” (Luke 24:46, 47). I will equip my students to do this. I will help them better know the Scriptures so that they are “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15). We are on this earth for evangelism of those who are still perishing. We are not on this earth to learn perfection from sin. Otherwise, God would have taken us home immediately after conversion where our glorified bodies know no sin. We are not on this earth merely for fellowship. Again, God would have taken us home immediately upon conversion where we might fellowship with angelic beings for eternity. We are not on this earth to gain all knowledge of Him who redeemed us. In heaven we will know Him completely with veils removed. Why are we here on this earth? We are here to win souls and I want to instruct young men and women to embrace that role in Christ. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Cor. 5:18-20). May we never forsake this role or take it lightly!

I will work hard as an educator. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23, 24). Is there any better Employer? Is there any better Master? I am serving the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who redeemed me from death and hell. I will not slack in my efforts as an educator. I will plan with all diligence. I cannot allow for haphazard labor. My conscience and God’s Spirit will keep me from such sin.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:32). “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 Jn. 1:8-10). I will sin! I will act in the flesh and fail my students as well as my employers many times, but I will repent and strive for the crown. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it” (I Cor. 9:24, 25). I will fight sin and teach my students to do the same. My only hope is glory in Christ!

Is there a hell?

2008-04-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

There are actually Christians out there who do not believe in hell, but in annihilation like the Jehovah's Witnesses. Here is a response I wrote to one such Christian:

Hey Jeff,

Sorry I am just getting back with you. I wanted to give a thoughtful and Biblical response to what we talked about at Pendergrass and to what you wrote me.

I thought the best way to handle this would be to just point you to God's Word. It is His Word that we should look at. Even though I take into note what you are saying with the verses you mentioned, we must look at all of Scripture and let Scripture interpret Scripture. Here are the most revealing verses:

"he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." Rev. 14:10,11

Now this verse is talking to those who receive the mark of the beast, but it is preceded in verse 6 by telling "every nation and tribe and language and people" that the judgment is coming. Then it says in the verses I just showed you that these who will receive the mark ALSO will drink of God's wrath. And then it describes the judgment of God, "torment of smoke, forever and ever, no rest, day or night," and so on.

You said in our conversation that there is a lot of symbolism in Revelation. That is true, but it is symbolic of something real. What else would this be talking about, but the judgment of God on unbelievers?

Here are some other verses that would go along with the same point. Read the verses plainly for what they say.

"And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:13, 14

"And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:43-48

"In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction." 2 Thessalonians 1:9

"and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:51

This idea of weeping and gnashing of teeth is repeated in Matt 13:42 and 43, and Matthew Ch. 25.

"The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:42

Why would there be weeping and gnashing of teeth by people in a fiery furnace if they are destroyed as you are saying? This is in explanation of a parable by Jesus Christ. He used the parable to talk about the kingdom of God (V.31-33) and then he explains the parable (V.36-43). This is pretty compelling evidence of eternal torment. But here are a few more.

"But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" Luke 12:5

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." Revelation 21:8

"Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire." Jude 1:7

Yes, these people were killed by fire at Sodom and Gomorrah, but Scripture says here they serve as an example by being punished by eternal fire. This is a warning to us about the punishment for sin.

The rich man and Lazarus is another example of how people are tormented in hell. This is in Luke 16:19-31. You may say this is a parable, but in the context of this passage, Jesus is just teaching truth. Jesus usually starts parables about the kingdom by saying, "the kingdom is like." Here he just describes what happens with Lazarus and the rich man. In addition, he uses a real name, Lazarus. In all of his other parables, he does not mention specific names. I think this is worth looking at. Here are some more.

"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:2

"And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." Isaiah 66:24

All of these passages show an eternal torment in a literal place. I would have to do mental gymnastics to get around all these verses.

As I said, Scripture interprets Scripture. Those verses you sent me can be interpreted through the abundance of clear passages about hell. The first passage you noted, Eccl. 9:5, 10, seems to be talking about the obvious, dead people don't feel anything physically and are not conscious of anything. This seems to be talking about physical death, rather than spiritual death.

Ps. 146:4 would not seem to contradict a place of hell fire either. It could be interpreted, "His spirit goes out (to face God in judgment and hell, remember, "absent from the body, present with the Lord"), he (his physical body) goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish (this could mean simply that his plans do come to an end, he is stuck in hell)."

"And just as It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." Hebrews 9:27

Now, this is not a completely thought out study of this verse, but I am trying to interpret these verses in light of the numerous verses on judgment and hell. Again, Scripture interprets Scripture.

You also asked how a soul can burn when it does not have nerves and senses. Well there are passages that talk about the dead rising, Christians and heathens, and both have bodies. This would mean that the unrepentant sinner is given a body that can burn for eternity. You can look at the verses that talk about this.

"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:2

"Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." John 5:29

Also look at I Corinthians Ch. 15. All of these seem to teach that both Christians and unrepentant sinners will raise from the grave in bodily form. Christians will have glorified bodies, perfect. Sinners will have a body that is not destroyed and that can burn forever. "and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night"

We must also remember that God is infinite and when we sin against an infinite God, it deserves an infinite punishment. That is why Christ is the only one who could meet this requirement, because He is God, and is eternal.

As far as trying to defend God's character and say He is not loving for sending people to hell. This is ridiculous because "God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners (and his enemies), Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

This should all just point us to the cross and show us how much God really does care for us. We deserved such a fate and yet Christ saves those who would repent and trust Him. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever.

Obedience

2008-04-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Although the sign is not great and the woman is actually a pastor in the picture, you can't help but admire her heart. I see much of this on the street. There are many people who don't know what they are doing. Some of them are even doing things wrong. I wish we had more people on the streets doing it right. I wish there were theologians on the street again. I wish there were more people who knew and studied the Word. Otherwise, we have a mixture of people causing harm to the kingdom, and those who are actually giving the full, accurate council of God. I have seen all types. Some people don't emphasize sin, hell, and repentance enough. Some emphasize it too much. Some don't show love and kindness. Some talk about God's love too much. Some teach wrong doctrines like the Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, and "perfect" living Christians. Some don't even teach Christ. Some advocate sin like homosexuality.

All of these people have one thing in common though. They are out sharing. We need more born again Christians out sharing. For those of you sharing, keep being obedient.

cherry blossom glory story-Mormons

2008-03-30T07:07:00.000-07:00

We were in the middle distributing tracts and I saw 2 mormons coming. I was excited and angry at the same time. I gave them a prophecy tract and they asked what it was. We began talking and they gave me a coupon for a free mormon dvd , so I started asking about mormon doctrine. They will never bring up mormon doctrine unless your a member, they try to sound just like a good ol christian preacher.
I questioned them about eternal progression (man becoming like God) and told them about Isaiah 44 and 46 about there being only ONE GOD EVER!! and also saying that becoming like God sounded like what the serpent said to eve in the garden. Only one of them really talked and he said well youve probably read a bunch of antimormon literature and I said, well what I just qouted was God's word. I thought the conversation was over and I shook hands and said let me leave you witha a bible verse. 1Peter 2:9,10. it talks about a believer being a priest (they believe in continuation of the OT priesthood system and will bring up the issue of authority for making churches, baptising, etc.)

But the conversation didn't end . He used some apologetics on me, but i cut him with a sword. Not literally, but spirutually with God's word. He tried to use a revelation passage to prove that works are involved and I qouted verses about being justified by faith.
The conversation ended with me saying if you are saved by grace after all you can do (a book of mormon qoute) then that contradicts ephesians 2:8-9. The talking mormon was angry, but was holding back well.
In retrospect there was alot more I wish I would have said, but I think I did it right this time. I Let God's word do the talking and the cutting. No matter what they do, Gods word was spoken to them. Praise be to him alone.

pray for kevin and lewis. I will not call them elders, because they don't believe the Gospel.

Cherry blossom festival

2008-03-26T16:54:00.001-07:00

I am very excited about the festival. It is supposed to rain on saturday, but we will be on the watch. I am excited to meet some old buddies I haven't seen in a while. How wonderful to be able to share with the lost the risen Savior!

prayer needed

2008-03-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

I am asking that you pray that I could have the oppurtunity to preach a few times a week. I resolved to go to a local park with my wife and dog and walk and preach. Since resolving this, due to diffrent circumstances, I haven't been able to. I don't want to be lukewarm and comfy, the desire of my heart is to open air preach.

I find it very odd the response Keith and John Bensley have been getting. They have been getting great response. It must look weird for someone "in your backyard" to stand up and preach.

open air preaching in the marketplace

2008-03-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been pushed to the edge of my comfort zone. My buddies have been open air preaching at gas stations and grocery stores on the sidewalks. I admit, this is out of my comfort zone, but more importantly, there is nothing in scripture that would be against this. I share this with all just to show that even I get my comfort zone pushed once in a while.

Pray for my boldness. I am finding it hard to stay zealous with all the business of life. I have been struggling with oppurtunities lately. I have had them and have passed them up. Just last night my wife and I were speaking of a couple that we haven't shared truth with. I had no excuse, I have been around them, but chose to stay quiet.

That is the sin of omission. Its not that we "missed" the oppurtunity. We CHOOSE not to take it. Lord I repent.

Lady evangelism

2008-03-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I talked about prostitutes, and I would like to say to all you ladies that we could use your help. As men, we stay away from any possibility of lust, and that means not talking/handing tracts to many ladies with lowcut shirts. Or Prostitutes. Ladies it would be wonderful for you to witness to them, Im praying for women laborers for the harvest.

I get torn, because I want to hand them a tract or talk sometimes, but That would be provision for the flesh and I cant comprimise that. Pray for women witnessing to women.

Prostitutes

2008-03-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

Be in prayer for prostitutes. I was waiting downtown about a month ago to start work and saw one walking and talking to men. The minute I saw her, my heart sank and I began to pray. On our wedding night on the way to the hotel we saw one at a crosswalk. She began to talk to someone in the car beside ours and then got in. She wasn't showing any flesh because it was cold, but had on these crazy boots.

I would only speak one to one with a prostitute if Rachel was right by me, and she wasn't showing any flesh. I pray to get the oppurtunity, or even better, if Rachel began to witness to her.

Dinner with 40 Atheists

2008-03-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

www.livingwaters.com has this in their dvd section of the store. It is an amazing DVD. Ray Comfort and Mark Spence were invited to a local atheist get together. It was amazing to hear the same old arguments, but even more scary was the lack of foundation for morality. As Christians, we believe Gods Word to be the standard of morality. But as an atheist, they were pointing to society. Whatever the society says, goes.

Mark spence brought up some third world countries where rape is legal and accepted. What do you do with that? Situational ethics it is called. It is never ok to rape. Never ok to molest children or traffic prostitutes. I was having a conversation with someone this week who wanted prostitution to be legalized. We may be fine with that as a society, but when our own daughter or even wife exposes that they have been having sex for money, we are very ANGRY!!! The question is why? If it were legal, we should be ok with it, right? The law of the lord is written on our heart, we know right from wrong.

Our conscience would compel us to march out in the streets, get our daughters and take them home and drag them away from that, because we KNOW it is wrong. Praise God for his mercy despite our great rebellion.

Youth group

2008-03-02T06:46:00.000-08:00

Up in tennesse on our honey moon, I saw an ad in the paper for a haunted house attraction. Nothing shocking there, advertising death and demons, but something really struck me in the bubble box on the ad. It said Church and youth group discounts. The only reason I thought it could be there is becuases church and youth groups had gone there before. How many kids in that youth group will "fall away" from the faith and what is going to happen to those youth leaders on judgement day.

Married at last!!!!

2008-03-02T06:40:00.001-08:00

I've been married for more than a week and it feels fantastic. I have never been more filled with joy. I've been humbled alot this week as well. Im in the very beginings of learning what it means to lay your life down for someone else. My wife is around me all the time. I am begining to see the constant, non-stop, sacrificial love I am to have for her. We were straitening up our room after the trip and frankly, I didn't want to. I wanted to leave it for later, go out for a movie, anything else basically. But she wanted to and I was faced with a choice. Pitch a fit and get my way, or serve her. I chose to serve her and help with the room. Very humbling, as a single man you come and go as you please, not so in marriage. I got really sick on the trip and she stayed in bed with me all day just to stay near me, what devotion. I am amazed at our love for one another. There is so much Joy!!!

The Newlyweds are back!!!

2008-03-01T21:39:00.001-08:00

Well it has been a great week and Ben is finally back so join us in our witnessing endeavors in Atlanta this weekend and then for the huge St. Patrick's Day Parade in Atlanta the following weekend. You never know what God will do!!!

Praise God for your faithfulness!!

The wildest, Craziest, Batchelor party Ever!!!!

2008-02-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

I had the wildest bachelor party with John Bensley, Keith Higgins, and Brother Richard. More people were invited and we were going bowling. No one else showed up so we start looking at each other saying "Where do you want to go?" Were we planning drunkeness and fornication?ABSOLUTELY NOT! We were going to share the gospel with lost people. In all honesty, I was so grateful we got to. I didn't want my bachelor party to be about me, as my wedding is not about me, Its about Gloryfying God.

So we go to Atlanta and I didn't have alot of tracts. We got out there and there was nobody. So Johnny B. started preaching and people started coming.

*I stopped to young guys, Leo and Ben. I began asking about relegious beleifs and Ben dropped out of the conversation, but spoke with Leo. He was from Costa Rica and Catholic. He wasn't saved or born again. As I began talking about judgement he was humble in listening. He saw his sin through the law and I gave him the gospel. He was receptive and said he would love to read the bible in spanish, and by God's providence I had a spanish Gospel of John.

*A homeless man, Kenny, approached me asking for change, I told him I didn't have any change and began witnessing to him. Ive met homeless people like him before. He openly admitted his wickedness, I didn't even take him through the law yet. He was so humble, admitting that he has not done right by God. I showed him the law briefly and preached the Gospel to him and he was very receptive. He asked if we could go to get him food, so we did. I asked him what put him out on the streets and he admitted it was cocaine. He was very open about it and talked as if he was struggling, knowing that it was wrong and doing it. I started to talk about how he is spiritually dead and a dead man can't respond and that he must be born again to inherit the kingdom of God. I urged him to repent and emphasized that the Gospel is about forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with God, and that upon new birth God would help him with his drug problem. I emphasized that you don't come to Jesus to kick your addiction or get a better marriage, but because we realize that we are horribly wicked deserving Gods just judgement of Hell, but he commended his love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

*Benjamin was another homeless man who has got to be the proudest person ive met thus far. He proclaimed his own goodness hard, I gave him the law and empasized that God demands perfection because he is holy. He was proud and unless he repents, he will perish

*Mimi. I met her in line at the cafe and handed her a million dollar bill. I was scared and probably 24 seconds went by and then I asked her if she had a relegious background. She was russian orthodox and I asked her how to get to heaven. She said by being a good person. Do you have any clue what I said next? I took her through the commandments and she proclaimed her innocence on account of a loving God. I explained that God is angry at sin and explained the Cross and Repentance and Faith.

It was encouraging to meet Richard. Praise God that we are free in this time to publically proclaim. We don't have much time left. This was a great day.

Mime Evangelism

2008-02-18T18:10:00.000-08:00

So you don't like my method of evangelism?

What method would you prefer other than speaking it?

Maybe we could come up with some clever program or skit. I got it. I will do a mime. There won't be any speaking (that way no one will be offended). I will have white makeup on my face so I will look like a clown and everyone will like me because everyone likes clowns. That's it!

I will start with my arms outstretched. This will symbolize Jesus hanging on a cross. I will have a frown on my face so people will know that this is a sad time. Then I will hand out balloons. This will symbolize the free gift of eternal life that Christ offers to all.

Last I will juggle some balls. This will symbolize how living for Christ is a juggling act. You know? Christ is just one of the balls we add to our lives to juggle. When it is convenient, like at work, or school, or with family, or with neighbors, or with pretty much anyone who comes along, we can just drop that ball and it doesn't mess up the juggling show. If someone asks if we can juggle the Jesus ball, we can just say sure, and pick it back up again. The Jesus ball isn't necessary, it just adds excitement to the act.

Hogwash! Garbage! Keep preaching brothers and sisters. Proclaim the name of Jesus for there is no other name, under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved.

Bible Translation

2008-02-17T19:16:00.001-08:00

I use the King James most, and I have all the others. I do want to bring up a point about Bible translation. The King James, New King James, English Standard Version, New American Standard, and a few others are what is commonly called essentially literal translations. There goal is to be as close to word for word from the original languages.

The New international Version and others are what are called dynamic equivalents. They try more to get the point of the verses across, not necesarily changing the meaning, but making it easier and plainer to read.

Then there are others (don't know what to call them) like the Message (one mans personal paraphrase) which I believe to be horrible.

It is my informed opinion that we should be using essentially literal translations for our primary reading. It seems more honoring to God to translate it closest to the way he wrote it. I actually think this is really important.

I am not against the NIV, I just wouldn't use it primarily. I know many Men of God who use it primarily and I know them to be obedient to God. That's just my personal take on it.

Ask yourself, why am I reading the translation that I am?

The modern evangelist Bible

2008-02-16T05:54:00.000-08:00

Theres a new translation out, the modern evangelist bible. Heres a preview.

Mark 16:15

"Go into all the world and make nonconfrontational relationships with all people. Esteem the relationship higher than sharing the Gospel with them. You don't want to offend people. You must earn the right to share with a spiritually dead person, how would feel if you told them about hell. Be considerate, and most importantly, don't share the Gospel."

This is horrific. So many tell us in "so many words" that we just can't share with people strait out of the gate. Im sick of this, there is no reference in scripture to this. When Paul went and testified in the Market places we have no indication that he went there for months making relationships, and only then sharing the gospel. We see him being loving and kind and sharing the Gospel.

Awesome Preaching

2008-02-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

www.reformedevangelist.com

These guys recently did a campus open air and it was pretty awesome. It looks like one of the kids, it was his first time open airing. People gathered, asked questions, and still gathered and stood there. I was amazed. watch it.

A Little Fiction

2008-02-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

"Made up story"

There is this man who keeps causing all kinds of division at our meeting place. Who does he think he is, we live holy. He rebukes our leaders regularly, he is so offensive, how dare he. Then he uses verses from the holy scriptures and twists them to suit his liking. He is not doing things the right way. He is so wrong, I can't stand Jesus of Nazareth.

I post that becuase so many try to stop christians from solid open air preaching. Telling them they are going about all the wrong way and who do they think they are. How do you think those in the synagoges "felt?" How about in the market place living their sinful lives? The Gospel is OFFENSIVE!!! I don't want people to hate me for me, if they hate me, they're hating the message. They will not like us, we have assurance of that. Why on earth do we say that in pulpits and say amen, but we are so scared to share with people becuase we might offend them. I talk to people in love, but the message is a lake of fire for lawlessness, thats hard, but its true. Not to mention it would be editing the Gospel.

I am really fed up with the belief of hell in church on sundays and no belief of it when we talk to our friends. really ranting tonight.

Divine Appointments-a new perspective

2008-02-02T14:23:00.001-08:00

When we think of divine appointments, we normally think of these awesome, super duper encounters we had. Conversations that went exceptionally well. I pray for them, and love them. But I am going to propose something, you be the judge.

Everytime you are around a lost person is a divine appointment. Seeing as lost people are dead in tresspasses in sins, its their nature to be sinful. Think about this, God has ordained that youre family get together, work, sports team, etc. has lost people and God has put a christian there. Think about it, God ordained a lost person to be there with a christian and not to allow them to be going out watching pornography, beating their wife, cutting down their husband, etc. God has allowed them to be with YOU!

What will you do with that time? I have to change my perspective, becuase we normally don't get very many chances to have those super duper appointments, but anytime a lost person hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that is super duper.

Conversation about XXX Church

2008-01-26T09:59:00.000-08:00

*Does Jesus really love porn stars? Absolutely. Now that may go against what you thought about Jesus, but it is true. You see Jesus loves porn stars as much as he loves pastors, soccer moms, liars, thieves, and prostitutes. In his eyes, we are all the same to Jesus. We're all just people who need God to save us from the mess we're in and lead us to a better way. A life that is greater then you could ever imagine. *

(Note, If you visit this site, I recommend that you google xxx church and click on the link, because if you hit one wrong letter, you might get pornography.)

This past week on Way of the Master Radio they played the audio of a video from XXX church. XXX church is a christian orginization that seeks to help christians in pornography to stop it and evangelize the porno community. They go to porn conventions and hand out tracts/bibles, etc.

On Way of the Master Radio, they played "Pete the Porno Puppet" from XXX church. It was a puppet telling kids not to watch pornongraphy. In the middle of it, they had Ron Jeremy (a porn legend) tell kids it was for consenting adults to watch together. I appreciate the software they have and their desire to help christians strugglin with pornography, but the Ron Jeremy qoute was horribly unbiblical. Telling children to wait for consenting between them and another adult to view pornography. Jesus said "matthew 7:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Among their good intention, they are promoting the sin. The first qoute at the top of this page is from a page on there site. They have a new testament they give out that says "Jesus loves Porn Stars." I have a problem with this qoute.

John 3:36
"36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

1 John 3:10
"
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother."

It is clear from scripture that those who are unrepentant sinners are children of the Devil. This is a common thing that christians say, I just want to bring to the table that the wording is not biblical. It is more biblical to say that Jesus came to save sinners and offers forgiveness of sin and everlasting life to all those who repent of their sin, turn from them and forsake them and trust in Jesus alone for salvation.

Psalm 7:11
"11God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. "

The scripture is clear here that God is angry with pornstars. He offers salvation through his son Jesus, but he is angry with sinNERS. I believe we get in a funk using this "cultural christianity lingo" that God loves everybody. If God loves me as a pornstar, I don't need to stop having sex for money on camera, becuase he loves me.

1 corinthian 6:9-11
"9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

What a glorious verse. Im not holier than anyone, and as this verse states, I was a filthy rotten sinner just like anyone else. It was God who saved me, not me who saved me. He gets all the glory and the credit. I write this Blog to call attention to our message and our methods. I am thankful for the desire of XXX Church and there accountability software, but some of the methods are terrible. I am open for correction If I have said something unbiblical. My name is Ben and my email is Benjamind105@gmail.com

Changed by Scripture

2008-01-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

Im not holier than anybody, but over the past Month I have read scripture more and am really changed and challenged. Changed in the sense that I know I don't need Bible College/Seminary to know the Bible, I need God's word and his spirit to help me and thats it. Bible college/Seminary is wonderful, but I was trusting in the prospect of going there to learn scripture. Challenged by SOLA SCRIPTURA (scripture alone). I firmly believe in that, but in all honesty, you can't always tell. I go to book and the internet before going to Gods word. His word is ALL we need. Books and sermons are wonderful, but at best, they are number 2. Gods word is supreme.

On a practical not, just thought of this haven't thought it all out, What does it show the world when they don't see us being people of the Bible? They know we use the Bible in a general sense, but do the people around you know you are a person of the Book? Do they know that if asked a moral question your first response is going to be "well thats a good question and God speaks directly to that in his word, let me share that with you." What does the world see us putting our trust in. Im talking about us specifically. You in youre home. You in your workplace, and you in your community.

Blogging is addictive, it is bedtime now, nighty night.

Motivation for Manson Witnessing

2008-01-24T19:28:00.000-08:00

I feel very compelled to address this, and I want to say that my tone is not one of pride, not puffed up and not arragant. Some around me have said its not a good idea to go to the manson concert. I disagree and allow me to explain myself. First, I am about God's Glory. He gets all the credit for all things and he is worthy to be praised. Second, knowing the fear of the Lord I persaude men and teach them of the one true God.

Everyone we spoke with didn't have a right understanding of God. It is dishonoring to Christ all those who claimed to be christians and went to that concert. Could some be christians and this is there sin for a season? It's possible. There is alot of hate from some of the street preachers, not all, but some. Some just present themselves as screamers, but the people don't truly know what their about. Thats why we tract and witness one-to-one. To have a personal conversation with people, not inanimate objects, people. To help them see that God is loving and kind and to warn them that hypocrites, mistakes in the bible, etc, isn't going to come up on judgement day. They all know God exists as Psalms tells us through creation and they all have a concscience as Romans tells us.

On a personal note, I use to be in that crowd, so I have a personal understanding of their mindset and and want to use what I know to Glorify God. I know alot about metal music and alot about Manson, and I used that at this concert to show people I knew what I was talking about and springboard to the Gospel. Many christians are very, very intimidated to reach out to this people group. They are the same as any other, Dead in tresspasses and sins. Reach out to them, do you know a young kid like that, reach out to him/her. How bout a grown person, reach out to them. You witness to them just like anybody else.

My motive is love. I firmly believe that Scripture teaches that Salvation is of the Lord and God must regenerate somebody for them to understand. My hope for their salvation is in God. It is in no way, shape, or form dependant on me. I just desired to share the Good news. If anyone would like to talk about this with me, email me at Benjamind105@gmail.com

God Bless
Ben Davis

Marilyn Manson Story #2

2008-01-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

*Devoted man. I looked over by the tour busses to see If maybe any of the bandmembers were over there so I could give them tracts. There was a man standing there with some records in hopes for a signature from Manson. I handed him a tract, he took it and said what is it? I told him what it was and immediately he cut me off an said "its ok, im good." I replied "What do you mean by that?" He began to walk away and look at me like i was morbid or something. I suspect his conscience was stirring.

*Joseph. This guy was heckling some street preachers, and I tried to initiate some conversation. ( Most times you can piggy back off of the street preachers, even if they are unreasonable, you can ask someone "what do you think about that? and boom you're in a conversation.) He was laughing at me an making fun, while probably 10 people looked on. I looked toward those people and spoke a little louder so they could hear me and kinda mini open aired. Joseph was unreasonable, but after those 10 people saw all that, I handed them tracts and they took them. Even when they laugh and scoff, just keep your cool and move on. It is Christ they are hating. Joseph will stand before God on Judgement day and give an account.

Marilyn Manson Concert

2008-01-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

Matthew 28:19-20 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This was an emotional night for me. For those of you who don't know me, I was saved out of this culture and I was at this very concert 7 years ago. This weekend, it looked like rain, so I was unsure if we were going to go. In some ways, I didn't want to go, becuase I was scared and afraid. I was suffering from fear of man. On monday, as i was driving home listening to Way of the Master Radio, I started praying and almost weeping, thinking of these people. YES, they are people, real people, real souls, who are made in the image of God and will have to stand before him and give an account.

Tuesday came and we were able to go. Keith and I met up. I wore dark colors to "blend" in and Keith still had on his teachers suit. I ragged him about it, but I thought it was cool. All the goths want to be "diffrent", but when they are all together, Keith is the one who looked Diffrent. He got into great conversations. You don't need to come from this background to share Christ. We were all fallen sinners, no matter what we were like or into.

*Victoria* This is the first person I spoke with. She was looking for a starbucks. She was black, which is kinda rare in the goth scene around Atlanta. I asked her the question "When you think of Christians and Christianity, What comes to your mind?" She immediately responded Hypocrates. She said it was from her own personal experience, she didn't give many details. I explained to her that God opposes hypocracy and will judge them for the things they have done. I began teaching her about God being a LOVING GOD. In the Goth culture, God is not looked favorably on. I explained to her that He created us and gave us life and we think because of all this junk that he's bad. I explained that God had given Adam and Eve a whole world full of good food and only said of ONE tree they couldn't eat, and it was for their good. And God wasn't making robots, but Adam sinned and we do to. I talked about Gods law with her explaining even though he gave us our life, breath, clothes, air conditioning, cars, etc we blaspheme his name still and are daily shaking our fist at him. Then I talked about Christ. "God commended his love toward us in that while we were still sinners, christ died for us" I quoted and talked about how God was under no obligation to do that, but offers us the free gift of salvation. She saw my point, then ran across the street for coffee. Later she was listening to another conversation I was having, and was impressed I knew Mansons lyrics, I was talking about how hateful they were.

I will post more in the future, I want to thouroughly talk about these encounters, just takes time to write. God bless

What if the Christian Bookstore Blew Up?

2008-01-21T17:10:00.001-08:00

N2 Timothy 3:16-17 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

What if the christian bookstore were no more, and we couldn't buy books on evangelism, end times, church growth, etc. What would happen? Recently John Bensley and I were talking about how many books we have and our friends buy. Im not against books at all, but my point is, why do we depend on them? At a pastors conference I attended the bookstore is swamped with guys who have their arms full and are just getting started. Many of them well intentioned, but what would happen if we wanted to start a youth group at our church. Instead of going out and buying the latest book from a solid pastor, what if you searched the Bible endlessly for answers.

What if you picked it up and really used scripture alone to make that decision. As John and I were talking we talked about how when you read others, you read their opinions and personal interpretations. We all have opinions and personal interpretations, but a decision should be made becuase it is the teaching of scripture, not becuase John Piper does it. We all have a tendancy to look at those solid ministries and simply becuase they do it a certain way, we say yes thats it dogmatically without consulting the scriptures.

Its funny us reformed folk say scripture alone and have book shelves full. I don't read very many books, im not a big reader, but im coming around. I just don't like the notion that when we want to know what God says, we go to the bookstore and get a book on it. God gave us a perfect book, it has everything and all answers in it. Divorce, it there. Homosexuality, its in there. Principles for living, its all in the Bible.

Oh fellow brother/sister I urge you to look scripture first and foremost and to be Bible driven. Lets be a people of the book, Gods Book. When we don't go to it first, the unbelieving world sees it.

Evangelism Update

2008-01-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

To the elect in Christ-

I feel as though we soften the gospel too much. When this happens, I believe it becomes too watered down with the language we use. I do this sometimes and the only reason I can come up with is that I am afraid. This is true. I am afraid to offend people. I am afraid of rejection. My natural inclination is to steer away from words like hell. When we use the law with people, we ask them questions about specific sins they have committed. This may seem uncomfortable, but I think it is important.

Here is a real life example that I am sure we can all relate to:

You are having a conversation with someone and finally get the courage to bring up spiritual things. You begin talking about Christ and what He has done in your life. You then ask the person what they think. They give a nod and say something like, "Yeah, I see what you are saying." At that point (I know this is true with me) it is easy to be a coward and say something like, "Well the Bible says that all have sinned and we must trust in Christ to get to heaven." Now why would I say that this is a cowardly thing to do? I say this because I have done this and I stayed in control of the conversation never invoking a true response from the person. It is easy to say in a general way that all have sinned. It is also easy to talk about getting to heaven without ever saying a person is headed for hell. This way you stay neutral because you are not addressing them personally. You are addressing them in an indirect way by pointing at everyone. It is good to share this Truth with people, but let me offer another suggestion.

I have learned from others to use the law and to be really detailed, especially when talking about sin. Listen, I was a false convert for 23 years and I wish that someone had been bold enough to make me feel uncomfortable. And you would be surprised at how positive a response I get from using this method.

It just seems as though when using the law on the heart, you are using a scalpel rather than a butter knife.

So, when I get over my fears, I ask specific questions using the ten commandments. I got this from Ray Comfort. Many of you are familiar with him, but some of you are not so I write this. I ask people if they have lied, stolen, looked with lust, taken the Lord's name in vain, etc. If they say they have, then I tell them how God sees them. He sees them as a liar, thief, adulterer at heart, blasphemer, etc. He also hates their sin so much that the punishment is hell. He cannot even look upon them and He does not hear the prayers of those who cherish sin. This sounds really severe, but you know what, God is severe when it comes to sin? This is the same God that destroyed an entire city for homosexuality. He killed a husband and wife instantly for lying. He killed people for taking the Lord's supper in an unworthy manner. He caused the ground to open up and swallow women and children for rebellion. This is the same God that we call Savior. We need to remember what our sin cost and we need to explain this to people. It is only then that they will drop to their knees and cry out in need of a SAVIOR.

Now, can people be saved without using the law? I think so, but I know what it took for me. I walked an aisle when I was young not realizing what sin was and what it cost. It was only after 2 years of college, sleeping with my girlfriend and getting drunk on the weekends, that God got really specific with me. He showed me that I was a fornicator, a blasphemer, a drunkard, and who knows what else? It was that day that I repented realizing that my horrible, damnable sin cost the Savior's blood. I was radically changed. I was born again. Praise God for that! We need to be bold enough to speak the hard Truth when we share the gospel. When we don't it's like what Ray talks about. When you only give the grace part of the gospel, you water down the medicinal qualities of the cure for sin. When you give the whole truth, you don't get a fear-filled convert; You get a tear-filled convert.

May the Lord help us all to speak the Truth boldly as we witness for Jesus Christ.

One last witnessing encounter:

Tim was a very interesting guy Ben and I talked to at Discover Mills mall. He is a mason and is in to conspiracies related to religion, the government, and a number of other things. We had started witnessing to another group when he rode up on his bike. He heard us talking about the Bible and he actually yelled out that we shouldn't be sharing things from the Bible because it can't be trusted. We actually had a heckler just talking to people at the mall! So I put into place what is known as "diversion evangelism." I kept Tim busy while Ben continued witnessing to the other group. When he was done, he came over and helped out with Tim. After listening for a while, I don't know where Ben came up with this, but he asked Tim if he had ever heard of the Conspiracy of the Unrighteous. Ben then jumps into this detailed description of a guy who is deceiving millions and he is using the world to do it. Ben talked for a while and Tim finally asked, "Who is it?" Ben then slyly said, "Satan and his minions." I then asked him if he saw The Matrix. I told him about how Neo was deceived into thinking he was in the "real" world, but it was really just an illusion to keep him sedated. I told him that is exactly what satan is doing as ruler of this world. He is fooling people into thinking everything is okay while there is a real spiritual world and a judgment day coming. I asked Tim if it was possible that he was being deceived by satan. He denied it totally, but hopefully the truth we were able to share will get him thinking. Maybe he went to bed that night thinking about the Conspiracy of the Unrighteous.

Praise God for you all. In Christ,

I have to share this

2008-01-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

This is from a man in my church, his parents are having health problems, I had to share this.

My father's condition is an entirely different matter. I am very thankfulthat we had the time we did in the hospital. When I rushed out on Christmasmorning I feared that I would not make it in time. However, they were ableto clear up his pnuemonia with IV treatments to the point where he startedgetting stronger again and we had several fantastic days together. Weprayed and read scripture together often whle my entire family stood inamazement at how God's word comforted him.
One experience that will forever stand out to me is when I read twopassages; the first being the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector,and the second being the account of the two criminals crucified with Christ.I pointed out to my father that neither of these men had any claim to God'sfavor. They had done nothing that would be deserving of being with God forall eternity, and yet they were both justified by faith when they called outto God for mercy.
I also pointed out how amazing Jesus' words were to the criminal who wascrying out for mercy. In saying "THIS DAY you will be with me in paradise"He showed that there was no further waiting period, no purgatory, no massessaid in his honor, no money given to build churches in his name. No, byasking Jesus to remember him when He came into his kingdom, He showed thathe believed Jesus was who He said He was, and was placing his eternaldestiny in His hands. That day this criminal experienced what Pauldescribed when he said "To be absent from the body is to be in the presenceof Christ."
MY dad, rolling over on his side to face me, then asked, "What did the taxcollector pray?". I said, "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner." With his eyestearing up he prayed those exact words.

A Sinner Repented

2008-01-02T16:02:00.000-08:00

Luke 15:7 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

The other week we were downtown for wwe at the phillips arena and a homeless man asked me for food. He looked familiar, his name is Tone (tony I guess), so I take him to the CNN center to get some food. We chatted about him the whole way, just basic info. After he got his food, we sat down and I asked him to explain what the Gospel was. He didn't know. I took out an ESV new testament (I give them out after the encounter) and explain Gods justice and holiness and Sin. I emphasized his biggest problem in life is Sin, many homeless justify their situation. I believe being homeless is terrible, but in comparison to Sin, its like coconut cake. I explain to him God as a Judge. I talked about the wonderful news that God brought forth his son Jesus for the world, that through him we can be forgiven and have peace with God.

At this point Tone puts his finger in the air and says "I knew I remembered you." He took out the ESV NT I gave him the last time I spoke with him. I ended with Acts 17:30-31 that God commands (not asks or suggests) that He repent and believe in the Gospel. I explained true repentance to him. He put his hand toward me and said "I want to do that." I was shocked! I was grateful, joy filled. This never happened before, I thought What if he is a false convert. I took his hand and told him to pray second. I prayed and asked God to reveal his filthiness to him, his utter helplessness and that God would reveal himself to Tone. Tone prayed and asked God for forgivness. I couldn't even cry, I was in awe of what was happening. I couldn't believe it praise GOD!!! I was hating it that he was homeless, and that I couldn't disciple him. I Gave him my card with all my info. Please pray for him. After the prayer, he asked "What do I do know?" I pointed him to the scriptures and specifically the Gospel of John. I told him about the christian life in brief. What an oppurtunity.

Im writing this 1 week after and I feel more urgent and zealous than ever. It was a great encouragement. Marilyn Manson is coming to town, and I hate that, but it will gather all the goths in one spot. I was at that concert 7 years ago and heard an open air preacher and remembered him. Praise be to God!!!

God doesn't hold teens accountable for Fornication

2007-12-28T06:34:00.000-08:00

Romans 3:6-10 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
All Have Sinned 9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

Im not working today due to the rain, and I was blogging. On one of the morning shows they are talking about a sex website. They mentioned how it is unlikely that kids will make it through to marriage without having sex. Can you see the depravity. Even in secular terms 50 years ago, they would talk about it in terms of abstinence, its very possible to not do it. Today, not so. Oh those poor teenagers, they can't help it. They are going to do it anyway so lets give them birth control.

That same logic: My kids are going to party and drink so I will buy it for them and watch them. That has happened and two kids in my school died. The world sees its own flaw. Parents may be giving out condoms, but every man becomes rageful when he hears his daughter is pregnant out of wedlock.

We must teach our young people that God will hold them accountable no matter what the world says. Even if the world made it mandatory to fornicate outside of marriage, God's Word stands that it is wrong. Young people, God's definition of cool is holiness. You are cool when you obey God. God's opinion should be all that matters. Parents, please talk to your kids about this.

Calvinist vs. Arminians

2007-12-28T06:23:00.000-08:00

I just thought of this, had to blog it to the masses. I am a calvanist, I believe in reformed theology, however, I don't believe the doctrines of grace are a litmus test to see if one is a christian. If someone is not reformed, that doesn't make me question their salvation. I wanna speak about the calvinist football on the internet. I thought it was a bad idea. There is so much heat between many calvinist and arminians, we don't need to make fun. I don't know much about Jerry Fallwell, but i am convinced that Hank Hannergraf loves God and is a christian. Why make fun of him? I think its diffrent laughing and joking with a buddy in private, but many non-reformed folks are no doubt offended. I am offended. Yes I found it funny, but then thought, what is this doing for the body. What is this showing to my non-reformed brothers, yes i said brothers. The fact that there is kicking and screaming about this issue makes me sick and is dishonoring Christ. Jesus said "Repent and believe in the Gospel" he didn't say become a 5 point calvanist or become a staunch arminian.

Ephesians 4:2-4 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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;

I myself have had to repent of wrong attitudes against fellow bretheren. Calvanist, Arminian, Read your Bible everyday and obey what you read. God Bless

True Prosperity Preaching

2007-12-28T06:10:00.000-08:00

read this http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/12/27/prosperity.preachers.ap/index.html

That is what happens. That lady has a real soul and will live forever in eternity somewhere. I have noticed among the prosperity and the emergents this thought that its all about God's Kingdom. I can agree with that, BUT their definition is that WE must bring God's kingdom here. The bible paints the picture that the Kingdom is SPIRITUAL and not physical.

*Matthew 6:32-34 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

*Matthew 13:18-20 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
The Parable of the Sower Explained 18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

The Kingdom is not yet here on earth. and the parable of the sower is about true and false converts. The most important thing is salvation. If Jesus came JUST to feed and heal, we would all perish in Hell. That is terrible, that people would preach about the here and the now. about the small cut on the finger instead of the blood pouring out of the jugular as my pastor says.

We should always be reforming to scripture. We must daily be conformed by Jesus and his word to the truth. Praise be to God alone for the Gospel of peace with God through his son Jesus!!!!

Relationships

2007-12-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

I tell ya guys, its tough when witnessing to people we know and have relationships with. The thing I fight is that I don't want to make a relationship and never do it. We don't want to act or give the appearance of being nuts, but if sharing the gospel is really the most important thing, why do so many treat it as if we have to "earn the right to share the Gospel." My pastor has preached on making relationships and preparing the way to tell them, I've come to realize most of us want a miracle to happen so they can hear without US opening our mouth. We fear man, we don't actively try to make conversation. I admit that I'm the first one who is guilty. I battle fear of man just like anybody. Let us look this Christmas back to the Cross and be moved to action. I struggle just like the rest, I think theres a misconception about something. I think that some are under the impression that I might be prideful because of my boldness. I want to say that I am not, I struggle too. Yes I might witness to more people in a month, but
God is concerned with faithfulness not numbers. Hear my pastors sermons at www.providenceduluth.org , Merry Christmas to all.

Open Air stools

2007-12-21T15:47:00.001-08:00

I tell you what, Ive been looking for open air stools, and I can't find one I like. Someone needs to open a business. Custom stools for Open air Preaching. I wish I could Preach at the courthouse like John Bensley, But I do have a job once a quarter by woodruff park. I could take and lunch and cover up my workshirt and open air. That would be cool. Open Air goes against the grain for so many, but I've seen good open air and have had great results.

I open aired in Athens to get some practice, and A guy stopped and listened. I got to speak with him afterwards. He got to hear the gospel. He thought it was bold to do something like that. So many say that to us evangelist folk, I think its because we speak personally to them and proclaim Gods truth and they see genuiness. Were honest, its not about wealth or your stress level, its about your sin.

I pray for boldness to open air. The best time I think was on Black Friday at ciruit city at the Mall of Georgia. There is a strip of public sidewalk that you can preach on and circuit city is below a little hill.

Spurgeon and Whitefield do it, we go Wow! thats awesome. Laymen do it and many get disgusted. Men haven't changed, their still sinful, they still have a conscience.

Dr. Phil

2007-12-21T15:36:00.001-08:00

Romans 2:14-16
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

My mother was watching Dr. Phil and he had two 18 year olds who were married and had two kids. He was telling them that they need to taked responsibility and be parents. I want to challenge that. In secular thought without the authority of God, Why should they? Evolution teaches survival of the fittest and were animals to. If we don't feed the children, we have more food for ourselves, less competetion. How about this one, if its all about my happiness, why not kill the kids, we have abortion. Even the Lost have a conscience bearing witness to right and wrong. There is a reason we can all agree on murder and rape being wrong. Try asking someone why rape is wrong? People look at you like you're crazy and say are you nuts, because they know God's Law. The thing that broke my heart about that show was that they need the Law and the Gospel. I tell you brothers and sisters, I desire to Teach and Preach Gods word. It changed my life, it can change anyone's. So many don't know the Law and the Gospel. They must know their sin first. God help us get active in our workplaces and communities to teach men and women about the one true God. Merry Christmas!!!!

What if?

2007-12-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

Revelation 4:11 (King James Version)

11Thou 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.

There is a popular tract called What If? available at www.customtractsource.com . I was just watching about the drought and I have to ask.........

What if the drought gets worse? What if we must drastically change our lives? What if all the water dries up and we are forced to move? Is God still worthy to be praised?

What if God never sends anymore rain? What if the U.S. economy crashed because of it? What if our government structure collapsed? Is God still worthy to be praised?

If you believe Jesus will give you a better life and he just wants to love us, you would say no. Why should he be worthy, He promised a better life and he didn't deliver. But if you believe that mans biggest problem is Sin, and that God commended his love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, You would say yes. You would rejoice that forgiveness of sin is available, that God brought forth his son as a sacrafice. The drought wouldn't be an issue, because our biggest problem has been solved. Which message did you believe?

who can I witness to?

2007-12-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

No doubt there are many christians who read blogs like this and see folks who share like crazy, but you don't see where you can share in your life. Not everyone can go on a mission trip, or hit the streets. I want to encourage You

Single Mom- O mom what a great oppurtunity you have with your children. To teach them right from youth about God and his holiness. God is pleased and glorified as you train them up in righteousness. When you go grocery shopping, you probably see some familiar faces, make conversation with them, talk about the weather. At some point you could give them a tract and ask them to read it and that you would like to get their take on it when you return. It's a great way to get some conversation about spiritual things going.

More tips later, God Bless

Pray for the Goths

2007-12-18T15:01:00.000-08:00

Just got finished with Keiths latest evangelism update, read it at www.savedfromwhat.org . In January Marilyn Manson is returning to Atlanta. I feel a bit nervous and at the same time excited to be able to proclaim the Gospel to these folks. Years ago, when I went to that concert before I was a christian, there was a street preacher. He didn't yell about us going to hell because of music. He preached of Sin and the cure in christ. Ill never forget it. Maybe I will do the same. It was such joy going last time, those gothic people are real. They have souls that will spend eternity somewhere, where will it be? I can't wait to tell them of the Loving God in Heaven Who died for our sins and rose again. I don't doubt I will be cussed at, spit at, and maybe even physically harmed. I used to be in this crowd, and God saved me, he is willing that none should perish. If your reading this and would like to join us for this, email me at Benjamind105@gmail.com . God bless you all, Pray for the Goths tonight, and pray that God would save Marilyn Manson.

Mission:Athens!

2007-12-15T08:02:00.000-08:00

Friday night, Keith and I were joined by Saki and headed down to Athens. We had excellent conversation on the way down, it was the first time I met Saki. It is always wonderful to have fellowship with christians who love talking about the Lord. We got down there and did a camera interview. The guy, Nate, Was a real christian. He was a former drug addict. When asked what he was saved from he responded Eternal Hell Fire! What a great encouragement to kick off the night.

Talked to so many that evening, a few highlights.

* Will was a professing christian who was drunk. He himself admitted he was in sin that night for drunkeness, I talked with him about it, showed him scripture that told how much God hates it. He was agreeing with me, and He wasn't rushing off, he was standing and talking with me. We prayed together, and I prayed that he would hate what God hates.

*A young man came and gave me back a tract that Keith gave him, saying he didn't want to waste it. I asked him about his spiritual beliefs and his Grandad was an episcopal priest, dad a presbyterian minister, and Mom a methodist minister, and he was studying to become an independent, non-denomonational minister. He said he was going to Love and Feed the Homeless, thats great, But he seemed a little shady so I probed. I asked him how he would share the Gospel with the homeless and he said by loving them and qouted Jesus commandment for us to love one another (What happened to the verses on repentance from sin becuase were seperated from God?). I started talking about Sin, Righteousness and Judgement to come. He started saying that it all depended upon your interpretation of the Bible and wether you take it literally or figuratively and there are so many interpretations anyway. (Did this guy understand the Gospel?). I challenged him that the Bible says our biggest problem is Sin and its so Bad it causes death and that Christ came to die for sinners and rose again and man must obey God and repent. I challenged him that if the homeless or anyone die without Christ they will end up in Hell. One thing he said that disturbed me: I asked him what about eternity for those people and He said "What about the now man, what about our life here". Remember, this is one of tomorrows ministers. If he continues to preach as he did tonight, he will give countless people assurance and they will lift their eyes in Hell. I don't want that to happen, that is terrible.

*Steve and Adam. I talked mostly to steve. I started saying something tonight ive never used, I asked "What evidence do you have that the Bible isn't true?" Steve said that there were countless contradictions, I handed him my bible and asked him which ones he was talking about. He didn't know, but held they were there and i called him on that that he trusted in what someone told him about it, and told him I did that before I was a christian. It was disturbing he said that the bible said that Jesus crushed the heads of babies, I couldn't even think of a verse that could be taken out of context. He was opposed to the fact that Christianity is the only way. I explained because were sinners that Jesus is the only one who solves that problem and it was a kind thing he did. The last thing, He looked at me as if utterly disgusted and told me to stop talking with certainty about it. I pointed out to him that he is trusting in himself, he is being the judge of whats right and wrong and assured him Im certain becuase its true. He had Keith's prophecy tract and challenged him to look up the evidence in the Josh McDowell book. He was so proud, so arragant, and refused to be held accountable for his Sin. On judgement day, he will bow before God, he will know him and either he will be innocent on accoun of Christ, or be guilty for his cosmic rebellion.

I could've just cried for all these people, Keith and I both were sharing that our hearts were so burdened for these people. Many of them won't step foot into churches, we must step into the world and meet the Sinners where they are, we don't make provision for the flesh, but we meet them where they are. You don't have to go out on the street to do that. You have kids youre raising, neighbors next door, lady friends, guy friends, and folks at work.

My last story of the night, I could cry about this

*8 years ago I worked with a guy named Chris. This guy comes across the street with a beer in hand and I said hey we worked together didn't we? He said yeah and we started chatting. We talked about what jobs we had and all that, and then He asked me what I was doing in Athens. Praise God!!!!!!! I told him my testimony and he listened, he wasn't trying to rush off. I just shared with him what God did in my life and then turned it into a witnessing conversation. He has thought about it and I pleaded with him that staying neutral is making a decision. He wanted to stay neutral, he said when life gives him a jolt he will probably get right. I told him again that we offend God by our sin and God doesn't owe us a jolt and is not obligated to give us one. Keith and I gave him some literature and I gave him my business card. Wow, God worked in us both that we worked together years ago, and he brought us together 8 years later on a street corner for Chris to hear the Gospel.

My theme tonight was is it worth it? is it worth it to share with these people? Yes it is. Hell is a real place, and I say that knowing that I can't save anyone, its God, but "how are they to hear without a preacher?"Rom. 10

help put a stop to birthdays

2007-12-12T17:19:00.000-08:00

In todays world many are offended by society, but theres one group That hasn't been talked about. Those who were born on February 29th. Think about it, every year your friends celebrate their birthdays, but these people feel left out. How terrible, but I have a solution. For the sake of tolerance we must get rid of birthdays. I propose we rename them personal celebration ceremonies, this name has been proven to be inoffensive to the leap yearers. Every year, zero leap year people commit suicide because of this, lets make it stay that way. We must stand for the rights of people. Brian McLaren will head it up.

From yours truly
E. Mergent

Its just a Movie?

2007-12-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

Recently the Golden Compass has caused much upset and uproar from the christian community. I want to talk about something that applies to all entertainment. What Bible verse/passage says that its ok because its just a Movie! I was looking, I couldn't find one. Why do Christians throw out the bible and its truth when it comes to entertainment. For some or most, They hate God. They made a decision, but aren't born again. I want to discuss those who are born again and bear fruit. Why do you defile yourself? I think the biggest thing is a lack of preaching and teaching on holiness in the churches. When I was a young christian myself, there are things I listened to and watched that I shouldn't, but through sound doctrine and preaching, I was taught what God requires of me and how to glorify him. I urge you today to examine the entertainment you choose and and think about why Jesus would be ok with it. Use the 10 commandments. EX: Does this film glorify murder/hate, Does it promote fornication, etc. If so, why would you see it or listen to music that does? God has clearly spelled out his commandments and biblical principles in his word. Some of us don't want to look at this area because we love movies or music and KNOW that God isn't happy with it. For some good teaching on it, Go to www.goodfight.org They have wonderful materials to help you discern, post comments if you agree or disagree. God Bless!!!

Making Disciples

2007-12-10T15:13:00.000-08:00

Many aren't totally for what we do because they say we don't make disciples. Unless someone repents and puts their trust in Jesus, you don't have a disciple. They can be brought to church and bible studies, but they aren't a disciple until they become born again. That is why we preach the Gospel. To my knowledge, Only One person I know has been saved, but the numbers aren't important. Stay Faithful!

Just another day

2007-12-10T15:10:00.000-08:00

not much today, just a few musings. www.pinpointevangelism.com is a great link, they have great bulk tract rates. www.theapologeticsgroup.com has awesome DVD's, I hope to get some for Christmas. I hope to Open Air again this sunday at the rap concert, last rap concert we went to, there were so many people just hangin around by Mcormick and Schmiks restraunt at the Phillips arena.

Merry ChrisRamaHanuKwanza!!!

2007-12-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys, it's Keith.

You know that fun-loving guy who is looking forward to the holidays and all that family/holiday cheer.

I am writing today to inform (as usual) so that none of my Christian brothers or sisters will be led astray.

Before you get your decorations for the holiday, I need to go over a few things.

Decide what kind of decorations you want to get. The best way to do this is to visualize what kind of holiday decorations define you as a person. For example, if you are a highly sensitive person who gets offended at the mention of specific holidays. And if the mention of names of these specific holidays makes you so angry you want to spit on an old person, I would suggest the following.

Get a family tree. They now have family trees for all your family needs. If you are interested in celebrating Family Day this Christmas, please buy your family tree at your local family store (family ornaments, tinsel, and candy canes sold separately).

If you want to celebrate Hola-Day then you can pick up a holiday tree. This tree is the perfect non-specific tree for any holaday unless of course you hate Spanish people.

Lastly, be careful about what tree you already may have bought. You really need to go to the correct store to get the right tree for you. If you wanted a family tree, you may have accidentally gotten a Christmas tree or vice versa.

The best thing to do is to incinerate the tree immediately and do the Hail Mary like eight times.

Merry ChrisRamaHanuKwanza everybody!!!

A confession to all

2007-12-05T03:02:00.000-08:00

There is something I must confess to all. Please accept my apologies. My name isn't really Ben. I looked at my birth certificate and saw that it was written by men, and men are corrupt and cant be trusted. The date of birth is clearly open for interpretation, and as for the true nature of my gender, there is growing evidence I might be a girl. My mother was a girl, my sister is a girl, so clearly I could be. But, If you believe me to be a boy, that is perfectly ok for you. If you want to continue to call me Ben, thats fine, I just encourage tolerance, however, certainty will not be tolerated. Happy Holidays!!!

(that was a joke, please laugh now. Sounded absurd didn't it, postmodernism doesn't sound so intellegent does it. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!)

Comfy, Cozy

2007-11-29T17:11:00.000-08:00

just heard some guy from voice of the martyrs on WOTM Radio. Christians around the world getting killed. One story hit me hard. A christian was thrown in a sewage tank by the government and was gasping for air to stay alive. Our brothers around the world open their mouths knowing you can die and they do it boldly. Folks, What are we doing? What are we doing? We are so selfish, Myself being the first one. We are too comfy, too cozy. I want to write a full article on persecution, but I was compelled to Blog this. So many things we do will not matter in eternity. Satan is crafty, We live in a free country where we can openly and legally proclaim the Good news and we will not do it. As a whole, the American Church won't do it. We might offend somebody. When is it going to become real to us that people die, they really die and they really face a God of justice afterwards? We are so worried about this and that and Proclaiming the Gospel has become some right you have to earn with an unbeliever. That is a lie from the pits of hell and its a lie we love because we get a "get out of witnessing free card." We must Repent, and Im the first one who needs to. I love all my brothers and sisters and I know this sounds harsh, but people really die. I say that as someone I love Dearly and is close is going to pass on in the near future. He is a real person with a real soul and it will be real when he faces God. I cant run the streets mad, But I can tell him the Truth, Love him like crazy, and Pray for him. Lets do the same. God Bless!!