Day 67: Everyone Loves A Parade

Great day today watching the 2010 Paducah Labor Day Parade go by, grabbed a few handfuls of candy and had some childhood memories come flooding back. The main picture I posted here is the parade leaders as they await the starting time of 9:30. Fairly prompt, maybe 3 minutes late according to my watch, but then again I was not the official timekeeper of the 2010 Paducah Labor Day Parade either.

Allan was the only one that wanted to come with me, so we walked around a bit until we found just the right spot for viewing, in the shade. Allan made a candy haul of about 5 pounds of candy. Not too shabby and I think he just might need help disposing of his take. Of course candy grabbing brought back some memories as did the Shriners/ Masonic Temples.

I really should refrain from details of my research into these organizations, but will only say that as a child I really thought they were the bomb (or whatever term was cool back then). Later in my life as God opened my eyes, not so much the great organization I envisioned. Really great in the works department, but so are all of the other religions of the world, except for Christianity.

The Shriners come from the area to entertain the crowd. They have several different vehicles they bring, an old Hillbilly type car, motorcycles, bicycles and a few other kinds. My favorite, by far, was always the go-carts. They would snake their way down Broadway, weaving in and out of each other with hairpin precision. No doubt these men have practiced for an hour or two (yes, I know for longer than that). As a child I always thought it would be fun to drive one of them in a parade. Now I think it would be great to witness to these men, share the true Gospel of Christ with them.

Another thing the Shriners are known for is their Arabic band. Not pleasing on the ears, not pleasing on the eyes, but always something everyone look for. I never could figure out why an out of shape person would want to go shirtless in front of the whole city in a parade. Then again, I can't figure out why they do a lot of other things either, of which sans shirt is the least of their worries.

But, the Labor Day Parade ha always been about working, the labor unions. If you ask any member of a union they will tell you that they are the backbone of the working man. I say they have outlived their usefulness and are more concerned about making more money, doing less work and wanting to complain about their employer like they are trying to rob them of something. I do see where unions did serve a purpose in our history, but give me a break already. I will not go into detail here, either, on the downfalls unions have.

The parade ended and we gathered out haul and hit the road. Candy was left scattering Broadway as kids struggled to carry their massive take. Why would they want to stop and pick up a few more pieces of candy? Leave it for the every hungry street sweeper as it inched behind the 3 horses that brought up the rear of the line. Will unions still be around at next years parade? More than likely. Will the Shriners continue to try and work their way to heaven? Probably. Will I be back again? Another probably, as I can't remember ever not going to a Paducah Labor Day Parade. Maybe I will continue with the Mason/ Shriner comments in a future posting. I don't want to step on any toes, but sometimes it is needed. As William Gurnall, the Puritan, said "We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. One fear cures another. When man’s terror scares you, turn your thoughts to the wrath of God." But I definitely need to address this touchy subject with love for those that are part of this group. I must prayerfully seek wisdom to tackle a subject that could drive wedges, but could also open doors. I pray for the later.

Biblical Discernment (or open your eyes to the truth)

I’d just like to address a dire situation in the church buildings these days, a very dangerous practice that is letting untold thousands, if not millions, of unbelievers through the doors. Some of these people are becoming leaders, deacons, nursery workers, Sunday School teachers, door greeters and even pastors. This could possibly be the most dangerous practice of the modern church age, well next to “decisional regeneration”. But then again this goes hand in hand with people making “decisions” for Christ.

The practice is in not discerning true believers from the “carnal Christians”, which are not Christians at all. These professing believers at one time made a decision, walked an isle, got baptized or any number of other modern, non-Biblical methods of “gaining salvation” instead of placing trust in Jesus Christ, repenting of their sins and actually becoming new creations in Christ. You can see alot of the unregenrated professors in the music business as they sing their songs that glorify sinful lifestyles, drinking, partying, promescuity, drugs, extramrital affairs, etc but then come out with a "gospel" CD and they are welcomed with open arms to any church that they want to step in to to sing their songs. It's not possible to have one foot in the world and the other in heaven. That is clear in the bible.

The modern “church” is more concerned with numbers, programs and putting out a false gospel messages themselves to be discerning. They willingly let hypocrites (actors) into their church buildings in search of higher attendances, higher offerings and higher carnal feelings. What happened to proving all things 1 Thess 5:21, judging professing Christians by their fruits Matt 7:20 and John 7:24? Instead these have been replaced with decision cards, slaps on the back, hand shakes and tithe envelops. No discernment of anyone or by anyone, all the while these unconverted people are gaining access to the sanctuaries and church class rooms, moving into leadership roles and enforcing these false beliefs that just because someone professes faith it should be taken as the truth. Churches are being filled with people that base their salvation on a decision, not Christ. These lost souls do not know what true Christianity is, so how can they be spreading the true gospel message? They can’t! Church leaders are letting Freemasons in leadership roles and no one sees a problem with this?

Then again this is a form of godliness, but believing a lie 2 Tim 3:1-7. They read the Word of God, but they either don’t understand it, or they just blatantly deny what it says. I would go with the first; they don’t understand it because they aren’t truly converted. How could supposed people of God be letting unbelievers into leadership roles? Or even letting them become members without anything but a signature on a card to move their membership? The bible is very clear that this would happen. Also with all of the new age, post modern junk that’s out there (all roads lead to God) it should not really be such a surprise. The TV preachers promote this, Joel Osteen denied that Christ was the only way on the Larry King show and yet he still has millions of other professing Christians buying his books, sending him money and attending his services. Have you ever watched a Osteen broadcast? I have, in hopes that I would hear something more than a pep rally meeting to make his followers feel better about themselves. Osteen doesn’t want to offend anyone, so he dodges the Truth and in doing that he denies Christ. Oprah has millions of followers and has pretty much the same message out there all roads lead to God. President elect Obama said very flippantly the same thing in a speech and then went on the mockingly tell the crowd that “people need to start reading their bibles”. I would suggest the same, but when they do and start believing the Word they will soon dismiss Obama, Oprah and Osteen for what they are – heretics, hypocrites and false converts.

Christ is the only Way. There is no way around it. All roads lead to hell unless they are through repentance and trust in Christ. God will not partially do anything, He will save a person or not. He will not save someone and then allow them to live in rebellion as “carnal Christians”, it’s not possible. An encounter with God is the most powerful thing that could ever happen to someone, that’s what the new birth is that Jesus told Nicodemus about, being born again is not just a cute little catch phrase, it is a biblical, Christian Truth. Unless you were reborn with a new spiritual nature then you are not a Christian. In being reborn spiritually your desires will change, you will love the God you hated. You will desire to know Him more, you will desire to please Him, not out of fear but out of love for your Savior. How great is that love?

Don’t rest in a decision, examine your spiritual walk and make sure it lines up with scripture. Start in 1 John, then the Gospels, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians and wherever God leads you and see if what your profession of faith means in light of the Word of God, not the words of a preacher, evangelist or your own feelings. If you continued in sin, it is a great possibility that you are not a Christian and you need to repent and turn to Christ. Put all faith in His Word and believe with all your heart that His Words are true. Find a biblical church, one that discerns between professing believers and true believers, one that preaches the Word in Truth and Righteousness. If a church uses worldly ways to draw people in, then it will have to use worldly ways to keep the people there. If God has truly saved you, then He will open your eyes to the false teachers and heretical ways of most churches. They have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God. Ask God for eyes to see and ears to hear that you might be able to discern the lies if your church spreading them. God will do it, He wants you to be in His Church, not the worlds church buildings. Don’t let traditions men keep you away from the True Word of God. He will lead you if you ask. I can highly recommend Oak Grove Baptist Church if you are in the Paducah Kentucky area and Union Baptist Church near Marion Kentucky. Other than that I have not been in any truly biblical churches in the immediate Paducah area, that’s not saying that there aren’t any, just that I haven’t been in any. I wouldn’t be apposed to visiting a church if you need an outside ear to hear. God has blessed me with an ear for the Truth and I praise Him for it. God will open your eyes too, it is simple after you have been truly converted. God will keep His own.

Repent and Trust.

Buffet Line Christianity.

How many people do you know that treat the Word of God like a buffet line? "Give me some love, kindness, charity, a side of meekness. Oh and throw on as much forgiveness as you can." See anything missing? How about repentance, faith, longsuffering and temperance?

The biggest problem with the American form of Christianity is the lack of God's true message. The preachers have a watered down message that is very man centered instead of Christ being the center. You would be hard pressed to step into a church on Sunday mornings and hear the words - repentance, judgment, damnation or righteousness. The very first Word said by our Savior when He started His earthly ministry was REPENT (Mark 1:15). He also said that He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repent (Luke 5:32) and twice within 3 verses in Luke 13:3,5 to Repent or perish.

Unless a person has truly repented of their sins, turned from them, been reborn in Christ, then they are not a Christian. It goes without saying that a truly born again Christian will be exceedingly sorrowful of their sins against the most gracious, forgiving God. Just as it is not physically possible for a man to become a car after sitting in his garage, a spiritually reborn true Christian can not become a sinner again. Let me clarify that statement- everyone sins, if we say that we don't we are a liar (1 John 1:8), and as you know all liars will have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). A Christian will fall into sin, not dive into it. Also upon sinning the Christian will be guilt ridden as their conscience (Rom. 2:15) overwhelms them to a daily repentance to the Lord for their sins. It is not possible for a Christian to live a constant life of sin and immorality. The true Christian will also hold dear what the Lord says in His Word, he will read and study the Bible daily to see what the Lord is speaking to him. If you have a little dust on the bible, you better start a thorough examination of yourself as commanded by Paul to the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 13:5, then read 1 John and see if what you believe a Christian is lines up with what God says a Christian is.

Just a few things that prevail in the American churches (buildings, not the Lords true Church) that are glossed over that may be signs you are not a true Christian:
1. Drunkenness
2. Premarital sexual relationships - as well as cheating
3. Praying to anyone except God (saints, Mary, etc.)
4. Pornography
5. Cheating on taxes
6. Stealing from your employer (it doesn't matter if it's a paper clip or a computer, it's all stealing - as well as not putting in a full days work for a full days pay)
7. Abortion (murder)
8. Blasphemy (which includes a lot more than the most common phrase that comes to mind)
9. Gambling
10. Watching un-Christian type movies
11. Violent types of "entertainment" (UFC, WWE, Cage Fighting,etc.)
12. Yoga
13. Anything else I didn't mention that just popped into your head


If you are involved with any of those things I beg you to examine yourself. If your basis for salvation is from a single prayer, if you have no remorse for your sinful life, if you are involved in Freemasonry, if you are now calling me a Pharisee or a legalist I beg you to read the bible to see what true Christianity is and turn from your sins and follow God on His path, a narrow path with a narrow gate. Not the path of the world, which is broad and leads to destruction. I am not a legalist or a modern Pharisee I am a broken sinner that has been saved by Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary. I have nothing to gain from this, I am not asking for you to join a church or send any money. I may not know you personally, but I love you as a human, as a soul in this existence that still has a chance to turn from the sins of this blink of an eye existence and turn to God, repent of your sin, become a new creation and live as the bible teaches. It will not be easy, you will not get everything you ask for, you will not be healed because someone slaps you on the forehead, you will not be treated the same by people at work, you will probably even be laughed at, ridiculed and called names. People in other countries are dying because they profess Christ as savior, so it’s not going to be that bad for you to be called a Jesus freak by Bob at work. As a Christian you will pray for ol’ Bob. I don’t want anyone to go to hell, but sadly the state of the church (not Christ’s church, but American churches) in this day is very indifferent to Christ, they thrive on the feel good message and prosperity of ‘What can God do for you?” How about pull you out of a pit of fire? How about die an agonizing death on a cross for you? How about creating the beautiful reminders of His majesty all around you? You should be asking ‘What must I do for God?” He asks a very simple thing – Repent and trust and He will take care of the details.

Until next time. Please read and study your bible daily. Walk with the Lord and tell everyone you know about His saving power and grace towards us – sinners. Pass out some tracts, talk to the cashier at Wal Mart, talk to Bob at work. But most of all live a humble life in solemn gratitude for a wonderful, glorious God. We deserve the grave, but He gives us His mercy.



I use instaverse daily. It is an invaluable tool or looking up scripture. After installing, just put your cursor of a a scripture such as Acts 4:13 and wait a couple seconds and it pops up to let you see the scripture. Also when using your favorite word processing program if you just type Luke 13:5 and then push alt f8 instavers will then paste the verse you input into your document. A great time saver for sure. Check it out here:
P.S. I don't get a penny for this if you download it.