Left Over Red Letters

Maybe you've heard of the Jesus Seminar. This group of supposed experts claim authority over which of the Red Letters were spoken or not spoken. This false persuasion of Christianity places emphasis on the assertions of man over the assertions of the Bible. Such assertions embrace the curse, rather than the blessing.

Just as bad are those that emphasize some aspects of the Scripture over others. In today's American Christian church, even among Bible believers, God's grace is heralded repeatedly, while His justice is oft neglected. His love is proclaimed loudly, while His wrath is swept under the rug. I understand it is much more pleasant that way, and it is easier for you to tell people about the "pleasant" attributes of God.

Paul is recorded by Luke, saying ...

"I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God."
Acts 20:24-27 (ESV)

Imagine the common thinking of American culture contrasted to the real Red Letters ...

“Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin."
Luke 17:1-2 (ESV)

Let's teach our children about the various forms of sexually identity and expression, so their bigoted parents will not teach them intolerance toward their fellow man.

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:16 (ESV)

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matt 7:13-14 (ESV)

There are many paths to God. All that believe in God will be saved.

When man gets done with the Red Letters, there is not much left. When man has his way, God's character is fashioned in man's likeness. This should not be. Let us embrace the whole counsel of God. Let's us read and study all of His Word. Let us understand that the God of Mercy is the same God that will destroy everything that is evil.

If God allows evil to remain, heaven won't be heaven, will it? It will be just like the temporal world, where man asserts his ways over God's ways. Seek the whole counsel of God. Seek the whole Truth that is found in His ways.


America Bless God

New Babylon Rising

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The pictures you are about to see will take your words away, and fill your mind with awe and wonder.

The city of Babylon is mentioned throughout the Sacred Scriptures. It is the city where human ingenuity came to life, and made itself known as an enemy of God. It is the city known for one of the Sevens Wonders of the world, the Hanging Gardens. It is the city known for the hand writing on the wall, and much much more.

The city was destroyed, and has been in ruins for most of the past thousand years. It did lie in desolation as the OT prophets had spoken, until, under Saddam Hussein, it got a new beginning. The city was restored under Hussein, and became occupied by the U.S.M.C. during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Today, the U.S. Military refers to the location as Camp Alpha. The location north of present-day Al Hillah, Iraq about 55 miles south of Baghdad. Below is a link that will take you to the exact location on Google maps. Be sure to turn on the Photo option (under the more button) to see some real pictures taken of the restored palace.

Click here to see the Palace at Babylon on Google Satellite

There is reason to believe the United Nations has chosen this site for their next world headquarters (some speculation required). The area has been recently been transformed into an agricultural mecca, which the U.S. invasion and the United Nations have helped bring about. The Tower of Babel is also thought to be in this region.

Is this a New Babylon rising? What do you think?

God's ways are above our ways. Human rationale will fail. God never fails.

Know the Blessing of His Ways

I Will Be My Brother's Keeper

Clint Eastwood would say, "Go ahead, punk. Make my day". Badge or not, Dirty Harry carried a vigilante style of law enforcement. Abel's brother, Cain, carried a similar attitude. I know we all love to see the bad guy meet his maker. Unfortunately, our pursuit of justice often trumps discernment. Then we wind up cutting down the fruit of the vine. Allow me to explain.


In the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, we see the seeds fall on different types of soil. Some soils are more conducive to plant growth than others. Many times we look at the soil condition merely as the circumstance of life, of which we can do nothing about. We forget that we are the cultivators. We are the pest control company. We carry water. We watch for disease. We are our brother's keeper.


Following the Parable of the Sower is the Parable of the Weeds. This parable references wheat and weeds. The weed referenced is likely darnel (tares), which look very much like wheat when it is green. Suppose a young man accepts Christ at sixteen, and we find him drunk and carousing in a bar at the age of eighteen. Do we put the axe to the vine? He is still an immature plant. Should we cut him down or help him grow?


While certainly there does come a time to cut off a rebellious believer, we must be sure we allow time for maturity and correction. Most transformations do not occur over night. Green plants often look a lot like green weeds. It's not until they mature and achieve the ability to reproduce that we can discern which is a weed and which is a fruitful plant.

My Brother's Keeper - by Rich Mullins

My friends ain't the way I wish they were
They are just the way they are
And I will be my brother's keeper
Not the one who judges him

I won't despise him for his weakness
I won't regard him for his strength
I won't take away his freedom
I will help him learn to stand

And I will ~ I will be my brother's keeper

Thank God for Rich Mullins. Thank God for His compassion and mercy. Now, go and do likewise.

America Bless God (and your brother)



listen on-line

The Anti-Establishment Church

The prophets dealt with it. Jesus rebuked it. He and the Apostles died because of it. Bible translators were killed by. Today, the Word of God is maligned by it; and many people reject it.

It is establishment religion, in opposition to the One True Church.

One of the lies from the Garden of Eden is that you shall become like God. This is the pursuit of Satan and the unregenerate man. Men pursue wealth, power, and authority. Governments and councils seek it with material and worldly aims. The poor are oppressed and the average person is taken advantage of by such corrupt power. It infects the man, the family, businesses, governments, and social institutions, even religious institutions.

One of the most powerful Red Letter passages is found in Matthew chapter 10. Jesus is speaking to the disciples before sending them out among the Israelites...

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. “A disciple is not above
his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household."

Matthew 10:16-25 (ESV)

This passage is truly timeless. Since the inception of Christ' kingdom on earth, the establishment has opposed Him, His disciples, His teaching, and His kingdom. Man seeks to build his own kingdom. Man wants his own empire and his own rules. The natural man rejects the will and way of God, and establishes his own dominion, as far as the Lord allows.

Our experience with human institutions drives many of us away from establishment churches and other establishment organizations. Our experience tells us that these institutions become corrupted and political. Poor character, poor conduct, and human agendas take over, thereby, wrecking the organization. Organized religion has killed the prophets, killed the Christ, the apostles, the Bible translators, missionaries, evangelists, and many more left untold.

Even with all this, the true church, the bride of Christ lives on. The Beautiful Bride; The Bride washed in the Blood of the Lamb is being continually sanctified and purified. She is being fitted for that Great & Dreadful Day. She is being prepared for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, and you need her.

If you are His disciple, you need to be a part of the church. You and I need the fellowship, the accountability, the rebuke, the comfort, the joy and the teaching of the One True Church. No man is an island. Do not let your anti-establishment attitude bring your demise. Do not let the human institutions keep you away from the One True Church.

The Kingdom of God is Near

It's just an interesting phrase to consider. The words came right out of Christ' mouth, spoken to the disciples.

And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ - Matthew 10:7 (ESV)

The Kingdom of God is at hand? The Kingdom of Heaven is near? What was Christ speaking of? Was He speaking of physical proximity, chronology, spirituality, or what?

It's also interesting to reflect upon the way Christ was treated by a few select few people and the heavens them self. There were a select few whose conduct generated mighty songs. The Magi from the East bearing gifts fit for a King. There were the few disciples that immediately bowed down in His presence. Then upon Jesus death there was "Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight" - John 19:39 (ESV)

The point is there were a few that recognized Jesus as King. Many mocked Him for claiming to be King of the Jews, but when asked about His Kingdom by Pontius Pilate, Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36 (ESV)

The Kingdom of God is at hand, and indeed it has come. Not to its fullest measure, but it is here. It is very near you. It is on your heart and in your mind, and the moment you die you will face it for eternity. The King has already come and purchased your entry. And we turn to celebrate the birth of this King and His Kingdom in this season of the year.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” - Luke 1:31-33 (ESV)

Listen to the audio sermon, "My King Who Died for Me".

Note: Please be aware of the fact that we do not know Christ' birth date. December 25th is not the correct date. I am sure of that, but not sure exactly what date or season is correct.

Priorities in Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

It was released less than three months after my day of birth, but it's one of those classic movies that many of us "more mature folks" have seen and remember, the movie "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World." The plot begins with four car loads of people hearing the dying words of a thief. With his last breath, he tells of a $350,000 treasure buried in Santa Rosita. Then it is off to the races as the quirky cast attempts to grab the stolen cash.

While our life is not as dramatic, the story line is the same. A dying thief has told us a lie about a non-existent pot of gold, and we're now clawing and scratching our way through this world in search of treasure that doesn't exist and will not satisfy, even if we did find it.

The point is to check our priorities. Are the pursuits of this world trampling our relationship with God? Does the routine of domestic gathering dominate our time and undermine our commitment to the commands of our Divine Creator?

There are four basic matters that First Steps Discipleship challenges you to fit into your life.

1. A fulfilling prayer life
   
2. The study of God's Word


3. Fellowship & service to His people


4. Testifying to the Glory of God

With all the quirks of our own personalities, the madness of this world, and the various curve balls thrown our way, there are no more important tasks than the being and doing of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
- Matthew 22:37-40 ESV

Know the Blessing

The Fury of God's Love

"Watch out now." "You better be nice." "You're gonna burn in hell." "You better play by the rules." "Don't make me come down there."

Today, the Christian church in America has shifted too far in the opposite direction, but not too long ago preachers pounded on pulpits and threatened the fires of hell, if you did not accept Christ as Savior. The truth is that without Christ all are condemned to hell. Our condemnation is not the question. The question is, "How shall we escape condemnation?" And yes, Jesus is the answer.

I say these things to beg the question, "Shall we fear God"? Do we need to be afraid of God, and are there different types of fear of God? How can an all loving God be full of wrath? First of all, yes, you should fear God. And I pray your fear is grounded in a balanced knowledge of who is He, and not a one-sided perspective. Allow me to explain.

Put your self in the place of an American slave in the 1800s. Your lord is harsh man. He works you to the ground; He punishes you harshly, when you make a mistake or fail in a task. Though he does provide you with shelter, food, and clothing, you see no hope of ever being free. Your lord has total domination over your life and treats you harshly. You would do anything to escape him. Any positive thing he does for you is overshadowed by your fear and anger towards this abusive person.

Now, let's trade you to another master. This master still requires of you hard work and service, but the master is kind. You are a part of his family. He is providing for you in exchange for your service. You have clothes, food, and shelter. You know your master's business and you help him with it. The work is hard, but you share in it knowing that you are of mutual benefit to each other, and that your lord is a fair man. You are still his slave, he bought and paid for you, and if you try to run, or fail in your duties, there will be stern punishment. But you also know that this master may someday set you free. He has the power and authority to keep you, or to set you free.

The first master is the picture Satan would have you believe about God, when it is really the devil that holds you down. Satan would have you believe that God is an evil one-sided oger that will never let you go. Satan wants you to think God is oppressive, controlling, and full of wrath.

The reality is that Satan is the destructive master. But Satan is also subject to God's sovereignty. God can and has destroyed individuals, families, cities, nations, and even the entire know world. He has destroyed evil, and he will do it again. You should be afraid of that. God has promised to destroy everything that is evil or causes evil, and He has demonstrated this in the past. You do not want the Lord to break out against you. You want to be on His side.

Now, knowing that God has such awesome power over His enemies, we also understand that this is the fury of His love. We know that He destroys His enemies for the sake of His people and His kingdom. Do you want murders in heaven? If murderers lived in heaven, it would not be heaven, would it? Do you want rapists, liars, thieves, and quarrellers in heaven? That would ruin the whole deal.

God is at work fitting us for heaven. He is preparing a place for us. I know you think of mansions, when that phrase appears. But what about the rooms of our hearts? What if it is really the spaces of our heart that need to be made ready for heaven. Certainly it is. We must come to understand that fear of God is justified. He can and does break out against evil. He is holy. He is Mighty. He is the Eternal God. He is also Our Righteousness.

The ultimate deception is associating our fear with unjustified or evil motives of God, rather than the fury of His love.

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. - 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 ESV

- Recommended Fiction Reading: Karen Kingsbury, Every Now & Then
- Recommended Music: Rich Mullins, The Love of God, Songs 2

Know the Blessing