From The Highest Mountains To The Lowest Valleys

Mountains in Washington, recent trip by my wife and I

The depths of a valley are often defined by how high the mountains are surrounding them. You may be driving your car and just go down to a lower point than the surrounding area, while you can still see everything that you could before, just from a different perspective or angle. Other times you could end up in a deep valley with the mountains jutting upward and you can’t see anything except the side of a mountain. If you've ever driven in the mountains, you know that going up is a lot harder than when you're coming down. Coming down also builds speed as you try to slow down and pump the brakes of your car.

But through both of these what you do see is the higher ground. You know that the valley is temporary and it’s just a matter of time before you will be out of the valley, possibly even on top of the mountains, looking downward toward where you came from, what you went through that brought you to the higher ground. You pause for a moment and just soak in the beauty of what is before you.

Isn’t life a lot like that? Right now my family is in the deepest valley it has ever experienced and it was a downhill plunge in a matter of seconds. We are all affected by what is going on and it will have affects for the rest of our lives here on this earth. It is a difficult place to be, it is not easy and it is not without worry. Don’t get me wrong though, the worry is because we do not know the outcome, it is not because we do not trust who is in charge of this. Worry can be a cancer and destroy a person, but this worry is the kind that pushes you toward the only One that can remedy. This is in God’s hands and the valley may seem deep at this moment, but you know what? I see the mountains. I see the One that created the mountains and I have put my trust in Him to see us all through this, in His way.

Is it easy? No, not by a long shot, but knowing that the Lord is in control does ease things a lot. I gave up control about 2 seconds after this situation came about, which is about 2 seconds longer than I should have. But I know through this trial that God is ever present and will keep us from harm and will be glorified. He already has been as His power to transcend this situation with His peace and with the family of believers He has been so gracious in putting us into. This has brought me closer to God and also is strengthening my family and bringing them closer to Him as well, which glorifies His working in our lives. To God be the glory, for everything!

Please do keep my family in your prayers for His peace to transcend through this, especially to my son, my mom, my wife, the other 2 boys and myself: as well as the extended family members. Please leave a comment of any verse that may have come to mind for you or anything else that you might think could encourage us through this difficult time.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalms 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Psalms 57:1-3 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Happy New Year - 2009

I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone and their families a Happy New Year. Start out the year right with humbling yourself to the Lord and asking Him to cleanse your life of all possible sins, make it a point to pray constantly, be in constant communion with the Lord. Ask that He be ever present in your thoughts and life and that you think of Him before you do anything.

Also on a personal note: My family is in the midst of a very difficult situation. I will not go into detail, but say that my son is in a lot of trouble with the law. This is after years of issues with him, he has finally gotten caught and must now pay. I tried for a long time to change him, praying the whole time that "I" could say the right words, that "I" could do the right things, that "I" could make him see what he was doing was destructive, that "I" could just make him understand. God showed me that "I" couldn't do anything except show him love and tell him the truth and leave the rest up to the Lord. That's what I did about 2 years ago, my son has done things that he should have never gotten away with (and did get away with) and now he got caught and it is serious to the law and has devastating implications for my whole family.

I know the Lord is in control and I gave up control of my son to Him a long time ago. I know I still pray for my son and I know that God will be definitely glorified through all of this. This may be the bottom of the barrel - where my son finally sees God and how he sins against Him, the Creator of all. Please pray for my son that God will open his mind and heart to Him, please pray for my family during this storm of life. I gave up control of this situation to God a few moments after the initial shock of what has happened and am resting perfectly in His Bosom. Jehovah Shalom, You are with me,
To supply all my needs.

Bad Shirt Designs = Heretical

Q: We've all seen them, some of even may have one and a lot of them are not very biblical. What are they?

A: "Christian" T-Shirts.

I admit it. I own several Christian themed T-Shirts, but when I purchase one I make sure that it does align with the Word of God and is not like the one's pictured below. It is a growing problem where every worldly thing must be twisted around to make a catchy phrase for a t-shirt. Seems like there is a verse about that... oh yeah James 4:4 does say of you are friends with the world then you are an enemy of God and Romans 12:2 says for us to not be conformed to this world but be transformed with the renewing of your mind to prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Don't get me wrong, there are some very wonderful, God edifying Christian items out there, it just so happens that the shirts pictured below are not in that category. In fact there is a website dedicated to some of the more questionable items called "A Little Leaven". I highly suggest checking it out and bookmarking it because they add new things constantly.

So, if you have any of these shirts I would say to toss them into the trash or use them to wash your car with. They are not sound theology and are nothing to base your beliefs on, but then again neither are a lot of so called Christian songs these days (blog in the works for that). Check them out, some of these designs are down right laughable, while others are down right heretical and blasphemous. Of course this is just a small sampling, if you want to see more just type "Christian Shirt" in the search box on ebay and set back and be amazed at what people are doing in the name of Christianity these day. Just shows you the state of the message of today's churches.




A beer logo? Come on!
A whiskey label? Whatsupwitdat?

Merry Christmas To You All

Luke 2:10-14 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.


Good Morning and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

As Christmas morning approaches each year and I see more and more of the secularizing of this great Holiday I am drawn more to what Christmas is all about. We are all aware that December 25th is not the actual birthday of Jesus. Science actually tells us it was probably mid-summer, but does the date really matter? Are we to be celebrating the "day" or are we to be celebrating the Love of God that would send us His Son, that would 33 years later take His wrath upon Him for our sins? Your sins, my sins. The significance of December 25th should be it is a common day that we, as Christians, set aside to do just that, Celebrate our Lord and Saviour.

But don't forget the reason for Christ's birth in your celebrations. What better day to share the message of Christ, His Gospel, to an unsaved family member or friend? As Christians we are ambassadors for Christ in every situation and especially at Christmas time, when most of the world uses it as an excuse to throw a party and tip back a few (probably more than a few) drinks and eat a whole bunch, we have the duty to proclaim the real Reason for the season. The reason is not to party, not to eat, not to give or receive Christmas gifts, but to celebrate The Gift, Christ.

You already have an opening to the evangelical conversation. "Merry Christmas!" is the ultimate "ice breaker" as Way of the Master puts it. It is an entry, a reason to spark a conversation about things Spiritual. Share your testimony of what Christs birth, His death and His resurrection means to you. Explain Christs propitiation for us. Explain repentance and the TRUTH of the Gospel Message. Do not let this Christmas pass without sharing the greatest Gift with someone you love.

Also keep in mind that not all that profess Christ are really His. Don't let Uncle Bubby tell you that he "took care of it a long time ago" or that he's "got his ticket" or "he said that prayer" or "walked the aisle" when he was a kid. If his fruits aren't in alignment with the Word of God, he is as lost as your Christmas turkey. Share with him the TRUTH of the Word, not what man has distorted to accommodate their sins. The Word is clear that if you are fiends of the World you are and enemy of God James 4:4. Treat the professing Christian the same as any other lost person, because they are lost too, much more deceived, but just as lost. Pray that the Spirit will give you the words to say and He will. Let His will be done this day. Share Him with those you love and if by the off chance everyone in your family is a truly born again Christian, stop by a gas station and share Christ with those poor people that have to spend their Christmas Day working.

May the Lord Bless you all this day and every day!
Merry Christmas!

Real Truth Matters

Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you all know about a great website to check out, Real Truth Matters. It is full of sermon downloads, manuscripts and regularly updated blogs from some really gifted people.

Please take the time to check it out and if you have a blog or web page of your own please put a link to it yourself. The weekly sermons are awesome. Pastor Michael Durham speaks the truth as revcealed in scripture and does not compromise.

Christmas Giveaway

Trevin over at Kingdom People has a great Christmas contest up. With it he is giving away his top 10 books of 2008 and an ESV Study Bible. Totalling $260 in value. Wow! Be sure to check it out!

Here are the books:
#1. THE REASON FOR GOD - Tim Keller
#2. CULTURE MAKING - Andy Crouch
#3. SURPRISED BY HOPE - N.T. Wright
#4. WHY WE’RE NOT EMERGENT - Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck
#5. HOW PEOPLE CHANGE - Timothy Lane & Paul David Tripp
#6. THE BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE -David Helm & Gail Schoonmaker
#7. JESUS MADE IN AMERICA - Stephen Nichols
#8. RESIDENT ALIENS - Stanley Hauerwas & Will Willimon
#9. WORSHIP MATTERS - Bob Kauflin
#10. The Sermon on the Mount through the Centuries - Jeffrey Greenman, Timothy Larsen, and Stephen Spencer

A Dog By Any Other Name Is Still A Dog.

If I told you that I was a doctor and had a very successful practice would you believe me? Let’s say I even went to the hospital Monday through Friday each week, went into patients rooms and talked to them about what their ailments were. Would you believe me? If you know me, probably not. If you don’t know me you would probably want to see some proof, maybe my diploma or some other fruit of my many years of laboring in school. Let’s say then that you followed me around for a couple of days, just hanging out while I was in the hospital for a day or two. What you did see was me going into the rooms and talking with patients. But what if something was peculiarly missing? What if no one ever acknowledged me as a doctor, or I never read any charts, talked to the nurses about the patients or did any of the other things that the other doctors were doing? What if I actually just talked to the people superficially? Nothing about their ailments, nothing about their medications. Would you start to question my doctorate? Would you then ask for proof that I was actually what I was saying I was?

Switch scenarios. What if I talked about being a chef, how I spent years laboring in culinary school, training under the greatest chef’s of our current day. I ask you over one night and we have frozen pizza. I ask you over another time and we have cheeseburgers and fries. Our conversations would be about food and it’s preparation, not all the time but I would make it a point to work it in somehow. This goes on for a few years and I never fix anything remotely resembling a culinary masterpiece. Would you start to question my cheffness (I just made that word up)? Would you believe that I was still what I claimed to be?

A third scenario is of a police officer. Say that someone comes to your homes front door, knocks and introduces himself as a police officer. Would you ask for proof of this before trusting him into your home? Would you ask for his credentials? Badge, name, etc before allowing him into your home? What if this person did have a badge that resembled a real one and had on a uniform that didn't quite look like all of the other officers that you had seen before. Would you still take him at his word and superficial appearance? Would you prod further to see if he actually was what he said he was?

In all of these scenarios I would be claiming to be something that I obviously wasn’t. You would probably start to question me even, maybe even ask to see my diplomas or strongly suggest that I produce some kind of proof that I was a doctor or a culinary master chef. What if I even did things that were detrimental to both of those professions? Did things that would blatantly go against what a doctor would do or mess up boiling water?

Why would someone then take a person at their word as being a born again Christian if their lifestyle did not line up with what you knew a Christian is, biblically? This is a major problem in churches these days as thousands if not millions of professing Christians become members, even going on to be deacons and pastors. People take them at their word, even though their fruit doesn’t match up with what the bible say’s are the fruits of a follower of God. Can a true Christian live in sin? No. Does a true Christian plan their sins out in advance, in the name of grace? Does a true Christian think they have a ticket to heaven and are free to commit whatever they can because all they have to do is ask to be forgiven? Where do people get that crazy idea? Oh, yeah that’s right, it’s the false gospel that has permeated the church buildings for the past several decades.

Do you take someone at his or her word as being a Christian? I must say that I do initially, but when things start to not line up with what the Word says, then I start to question. If someone professes Christ, but blasphemes His name…. then I can say with almost 99.99% confidence that they are not truly converted. If someone says they are a Christian, but listen to music that is provocative, glorifies sin, defiles women or is out and out satanic and offer nothing but “It doesn’t affect me” then they have just admitted that the Spirit is not in harmony with their own spirit. Their conscious has been seared and they are living in self-deceit. What if a person is living with someone of the opposite sex and sees nothing wrong with it, even bragging that God put them together to live in sin? That they are a Christian because God is love and will forgive them on judgment day because He forgives every sin.

“So, Jeff. You sound awfully like a Pharisee right now. Passing judgment on peoples sins like that. You have no place to judge anyone. Judge not lest you be judged.”

All I have to say about that is you need to keep reading the bible, the same book and chapter, Matthew 7 and see that we are to judge by fruits, not cast pearls before swine or give to dogs what is Holy. Now, I’m sure it’s not just me reading it that way. In order to not cast pearls before pigs I have to what? Know that they are pigs. How do I do that? I judge to see that they are pigs, swine, hogs. I see that they are not sheep; I see that they are not Christians. How do I know that a dog is a dog? It’s obvious, they look like a dog, act like a dog and bark like a dog. A dog can be nothing but a dog.

Q: So what does a Christian look like?
A: A Christian, of course.

They follow the Word of God. They love the things of God. They abhor the things of this world. They love their brothers. They seek to become more like Christ and less like them. They search the scriptures. They love to interact with other Christians. They listen to edifying music. They get offended when someone uses the name of God in vain. Their spirit bares witness with The Spirit. In other words, they do what the bible says and still feel wretched in doing it, not worthy of any of the Grace that the Lord shows them.

What they do not do is use that Grace as a get out of hell free card. They do not blaspheme Gods Holy name. They do not listen to worldly music. They do not watch filthy TV shows or movies. They do not steal. They do not lie. They do not cheat on their wife.

So is a Christian sinless? No. We all sin, but the difference is the reaction to sin. A Christian will be sorry for their sins, will turn from them and strive not to sin. A Christian will not plan their sins out, but fall into sin. A Christian will not and can not use the Grace and Price of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as a freebie to partake of this worlds lusts. If someone does, then they are in serious need of examination. If it is you, check yourself, Are you living for God or living for you? Are you doing things that are glorifying the Lord or satisfying your flesh?

To close, I am not saying that you are going to hell because you tell a lie, steal from your employer, listen to AC/DC, get drunk or cheat on your wife. What I am saying is that those things will be the evidence that you are going to hell, not the cause. Did I judge you? Yes. Did I judge you because I want you to go to hell? No. I wouldn’t wish hell upon the most evil person in the world. I want everyone to know Christ as a true follower of His. I pray that the Lord does a work so miraculous in your life that your drastic change in life will be evidence to those around you that you have been truly converted. And with time as you grow; your fruits will be evidence of your conversion. Not your words, not your profession of faith, but your lifestyle, your fruit production and your following in the path of Righteousness. May God do a work in your heart.

Office Christmas Parties and Professing Christians

Well, the Christmas season is upon us and with that comes the office Christmas parties. Some of these are good, some are bad and some are just downright ugly. Oh there is the other kind as well, the non-existent one. That’s the kind my job has, although they do give us an extended lunch period the day before Christmas Eve and we all bring something to eat, a pot-luck if you will. Don’t get me wrong, I am very appreciative of the extended lunchtime and most of the food brought is good.

A lot of office Christmas parties are nothing more than an excuse to have a party. By party I mean drinking alcohol. I attended my wife’s office party this past weekend and really felt like a outcast. I am by no means a conversationalist, especially with people I do not know and about things I do not have any desire to talk about. This night was a prime example of that. For those of you that think I'm quiet, you would have thought I was comatose had it not been for the occasional drink of the diet soda. The closest thing that even resembled a conversation I had was with someone that attends my former church (read my other blog entries to see the state of this church). I asked them how things were going there, with all the changes taking place, etc. I knew they would be very vague because they only graced the church with there presence every now and then.

I went into the evening with the desire to be a faithful witness and actually preach a little bit. Most of these people are professing Christians, but you would have had a hard time picking them out from the others. Drinking, cussing and talking about men (from the ladies) were the status quo of the night. I did pass out a few gospel tracts during the parade that was taking place outside before I partook of the hors devours and joined my wife upstairs at C.C. Cohen’s in downtown Paducah.

So why am I writing about this? I guess it’s to vent, somewhat. I have to continually remind myself “Sinners are going to be sinners. They are going to sin. They aren’t spiritual, the do not want anything to do with God”. It’s a really hard thing to do when they claim to be Christians. It is blasphemous to profess Christ and live like the world. I saw the real deal hypocrites in full force that night. Well, until the Christian doctor in the practice showed up and everyone seemed to change very quickly in what they were saying, what they were drinking, etc. Although when he and his wife did show up I felt a kinship for the first time that night.

As Christians we are supposed to distance ourselves from the worldly things. James 4:4 says that to be friends with this world is to be an enemy of God. Matt. 5:13-16 says that we are the salt and light of the world and we are to let our lights shine to glorify God. I know some will say “Well, you have to be out in the world to share the gospel.” And that is true, you have to spread the Word, but should you be doing so to people that are under the influence of alcohol? Not drunk, but “feeling good” as they call it. Matt 7:6 says that we are not to give that which is Holy to dogs or cast pearls before swine. Is this what that verse means? Not to spread the seed in places that are not tilled yet? But, maybe instead, do a little tilling, preparation for the sharing of the Gospel? In my experience, telling someone that is drunk about Christ would be like casting pearls before swine – they would not and could not appreciate what is being told to them, they would dismiss it as soon as you open your mouth.

That night I was out of my element. My element has been to be around mutually edifying brothers and sisters that love the things of God. We do go out and witness and yes, it is in areas that sinners frequent, but not in a bar, strip club or casino. There are obviously sinners at all of those places, but they are all one huge pigsty. The pearls of Truth would be trampled on in the mud of the flashing lights and cigarette smoke. I have heard of people saying that it is o.k. to go to a bar to witness. My question is – where do you draw the line on sinful places to go to for witnessing? Do you also go to the strip clubs? The casinos? How about the porn shops? Maybe just go into a Mormon Temple or Jehovah’s Witness church? Those places are houses for the demons and if you enter in one of them you better be prepared for spiritual warfare. But then again, maybe they are no worse than the majority of professing Christian churches out there as well, that have created their own god that allows them to frequent those kinds of establishments because they are living under grace and only have to ask to be forgiven. O how that makes my blood boil to hear someone say that.

This post has really gone on a different direction than planned, which often is the case with me. Eclectic at best, but prayerfully, informative and relatable. I guess I should really start using an outline and sticking to it. Nah!

Who Put The X In Christmas? A Poem By Me.

Every year I send out this poem that I wrote several years ago. It was probably 10+ years ago as I was driving around my hometown of Paducah and was noticed several marquees that had "Merry Xmas" and "Xmas Sale" on them. I was getting somewhat upset because, to me, this is blasphemous. You are replacing Christ with an X. The whole reason for Christmas is abbreviated out of convenience and it upsets me.

I have even had arguments online about this, once with a person that claimed to have been a biblical student. I can't remember if he said he was a pastor or had just studied Greek, in which his instructor had told them to abbreviate Christ as X in their notes and studies. This may be so, but in my neck of the woods it's just blatant blasphemy. Please don't ever abbreviate CHRISTmas.

Here is the poem I wrote. It was written before I was truly converted, but I suppose God was already working on me back then too.

Who Put the X in Christmas
Who put the X in Christmas ?
I ask myself today .
Who forgets the reason ,
And puts our Christ away ?
Who are the ignorant ones ,
That replace His name in vain ?
Each time I see the blasphemy ,
I hang my head in shame .
As I look upon my Christmas tree ,
And the star that's placed up high .
I think of what He gave for us ,
And for the ignorant my heart does cry .
It's been many , many years ago ,
But Christ will always be .
How great our God that gave His Son ,
That died on the cross for me .
Just one thing I'll say to you ,
And I think you will agree .
Without our Christ in Christmas ,
Just another day it would be .

So, have you experienced? What? You ask. I suppose it depends on which side of the charismatic line that was drawn you stand on. Do you believe that “experience” trumps scripture? Do you know that scripture is the litmus test for everything? Do you believe that speaking in tongues refers to speaking in an actual language or incomprehensible gibberish? Have you ever been “slain in the spirit”? Do you follow leaders such as Kenneth Copeland, Rodney Howard Brown or Benny Hinn? Do you test every spirit as required by 1 John 4:1?

I have always been fascinated by the “faith healers” that are on television. Even as a young child, when cable TV first came to Paducah KY and I got my first glimpse of Ernest Angley. He was quite peculiar to my brother and me. He was very different than the pastor at the church we attended. Our pastor never smacked anyone on the forehead or stuck his fingers in anyone’s ears and said they were healed of deafness. Angley was actually one of our favorite characters to imitate when we were playing. My brother would smack me across the forehead (probably just to inflict pain) and I’d fall back and act like I was healed of whatever ailment I professed. We didn’t know any better we were kids. What we did know is that something wasn’t quite right with what was being portrayed on “The Ernest Angley Hour”.

Fast forward several years to Peter Popoff and his miracle water and gloves or whatever he was peddling at the time. He had people throwing walkers into the air and old ladies jumping up from wheel chairs and doing a Luau. Yet again, I was awestruck at what this man was claiming; a few years older and still unconverted I knew this man was a fraud. Something was very similar to me between these 2 men. Maybe it was the theatrics, maybe it was the constant asking for money for healings and blessings.

Now that the Lord has chosen the convert my soul, He has also been glorious enough to open my eyes to a lot of things that do not stand up against scripture, one being these false prophets that claim “signs and wonders” take precedence over scripture. In other terms, it doesn’t matter that the bible says to test everything against scripture. The newest breeds of these false prophets claim to have regular meeting with Jesus, face to face. Claims of day trips to heaven are common as well as “miracle gold dust”, miracle gems, miraculous dental work and oil appearing from nowhere. All I can say is….. WOW! What is really troublesome are the countless thousands of people with itching ears that are sending their welfare checks to these men in hopes of healings or financial gains. I pray that these people will realize that these men (and women as well) are charlatans and are out for nothing but monetary gain and doing the devils work of deception and sending these people to an eternal hell.

One major question. Where is the Gospel? Why do these people say “Lord, Lord” and deny His Word? Why do they claim to do the Lords work in healing and casting out demons, but deny the power and never say anything about a repenting, saving faith in Christ? To me these false prophets are very obvious, but to countless thousands they are what they have been waiting for; someone to tell them what they want to hear, that they can be healed, that their marriage can be fixed or that their bad back can be mended and they’ll be doing cartwheels this very night. Why can people not see this? Why are these people looking for this type of message? I just speculate when I say selfishness, but it all points to that. People seem to have a “me” complex and want what is good for them only. But this “good for them” is usually heal my headache, heal my flat tire, make my bank account larger, fix my cars engine, let me win at bingo tonight, give me the winning lottery numbers. Nothing about healing ones sinful ways, giving them a heart of repentance, showing them how sinful they are and how in need of a savior they truly are.

I received and email today of one of these healing ministries setting up camp here in Paducah on Fridays starting this weekend. I am a skeptic at best, but I am at least not going to pass judgment without first testing the spirit in which this is being held in. I am skeptical because of the false prophets I mentioned earlier and really want to believe that people are not being deceived, but I will go into these meetings with a discerning eye and ear and will be testing what is taking place against scripture, not experience. It is being billed as “healing meetings” so it already has a mark against it. Why? Because they have already said God will be there and will be doing their bidding of healing. They have made a demand of the Lord and a promise that He will be there to do what they have planned. I just see a lot wrong with that. I never go anywhere knowing that the Spirit will show up, although that is what I pray for, that God will manifest Himself and His presence felt, but I never go into any place or any situation expecting Him to do anything. To do so is very arrogant and does make demands of God and I am just not going to do that and see it as wrong by those that do.

So what is my point in this rambling? It is to test everything against scripture. 1 John 4:1. We are even supposed to test ourselves 2 Cor. 13:5. That would be a good starting place for anyone that is reading this. Test where your faith lies, in God or in an experience, in a profession, in a pastors words. Has the Lord saved you from your sinfulness as well as hell? Do you still live a life that is sinful to God? Can you steal from your employer and it not phase you in the least? Paperclips may be cheap, but then it’s not the price of something that dictates the sin, it’s the motives. Do you lie on your taxes? Have you created a God in your own mind that you think turns his eyes from your blasphemy or your promiscuity? Do you hold a hatred for someone? If God has saved you, you will be changed. You will not continue on a path of sin to a fiery pit. God will finish His work in you and will not allow one of His to live a sinful, blasphemous existence. It is not possible. That is a starting point, once you have a saving faith in God and not anything else and then you can start to examine other things in light of scripture and Gods revelation in the Bible, not by experience that doesn’t align with His Word.

The Todd Bentley "Type" Deception

I have watched with a lot of wonder and amazement as the hit count on this blog have increased. I do take advantage of a free counter that shows referring websites to this blog. What is disturbing is the number of hits for people searching google for “Where’s Todd Bentley” Where’s Bentley” etc. and my blog has found a place for those searchers because of a post I did back when Todd Bentley was at the pinnacle of his popularity and had gone missing for a few days. This was written a few weeks before anything was released about his affair with his staff person.

I assume that Todd is still hiding out somewhere waiting for the right opportunity to make his comeback as other false prophets have done historically: by name Peter Popov, William Branham, and recently Ted Haggard (who is now blaming everyone in his past for his homosexual tryst that landed him on the curb). Some do not ever go away like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Rodney Howard-Browne. Some have been accepted as true followers of Christ and are deceiving millions of people every day with their self help, prosperity preaching that caters to the egos and worldly lusts of the general public. Those being deceived have itching ears and are following a message that is as man centered as have ever been. Even the newest “prophet” on the scene that people are enamored with, Barak Obama, openly denies Christ as the only way, openly defiles and mocks the Word of God while all the while claiming to be a Christian.

These situations leave me dumbfounded as millions of people follow these, in essence, false prophets. How does a little blog like mine gets so many hits for a search engines link to my blog titled “Where’s Todd Bentley”? In my honest opinion it is because these poor lost souls are searching for a savior, a messiah that is going to fix them of what ails them, fix their bank accounts and make them prosper physically, emotionally and monetarily. They are not searching for the True Messiah, the True Savior Jesus Christ. So many people latch on to hopes in a man like Bentley, Hinn, Obama or Joel Osteen that deny the true Jesus Christ of scripture. Scripture does not say, “all roads lead to heaven” it says Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life – No one comes to the Father but by Me John 14:6. It also says that the path is narrow and many will be deceived and few will find the true path to salvation Matt 17:13-14. This narrow path is…. NARROW, not broad as many people think, “Oh well, let me bring all this baggage of my life along with me, the fornication, lying, stealing, blasphemy, partying, smoking, cussing. Jesus is my ticket He will forgive me. I can do all things because Christ will forgive me”. What? How wrong is that? The path is narrow. You cannot bring the baggage of those sins with you, they must be checked at the door and left behind, and you must travel the path of salvation by yourself. See, God saves you alone. God does not save a family or church simply because they are a part of that family or church. Salvation is a One on one with the One in which God creates a new heart in you because of His mercy and His pleasure, not for anything that you can do. All we can do is repent and believe and continue to repent and believe daily, every minute of every day.

Salvation is evidenced by the radical change in lifestyle. Out with the old, in with the new. I have heard it said “If you are what you were then you ain’t”. Not correct grammar, but correct theology. If your lifestyle continues to be one of sin, not just expressed but also in your heart, the desire to sin like always, then you really need to examine yourself to make sure you are in the faith 2 Cor. 13:5. There is a very good chance that you are not a Christian. You will be a new creation 2 Cor. 5:17, old thing will be passed away and all things will become new. That is the biblical way of saying if you are what you were then you ain’t.

If you came to this blog searching for where Todd Bentley is hiding out, I do not know. I do know that if you desire Bentley then you are looking in the wrong place and upon the wrong person for your answers. Bentley is a false prophets at it’s most obvious and if you tested every spirit as 1 John 4:1 dictates then you would discern that Bentley as well as those previously mentioned are false prophets sent by the god of this world to deceive millions as they have been doing. What you really need to be searching is scripture and spending time on your knees asking God to reveal to you true salvation and to create a new heart in you. Repent of your sins, leave them behind, don’t look back Luke 9:62, keep your eyes on Jesus instead of an earthly figure. If God saves you then He will also keep you, if He started a work in you He will finish it. You will not be partially saved from your sins, but will grow in the sanctification process, as you will become less like you and more like Him. Cry out to God right now for mercy, for His truth of salvation. Do not be deceived any longer by these worldly and corrupt men of the devil. They desire nothing but your money and your souls in hell.

My prayers go out for you that are deceived, my heart breaks for the countless souls that believe these lies. Please God open their eyes to the Truth of Your Word.

Light of the world....

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Chandra and I just returned from a few days in Seattle Washington. To say it is a lot different than Paducah KY is a harsh understatement. Not just in the sense that it is a bigger city, has mountain peaks as scenery and millions of people, but in the sense that the spiritual atmosphere there was completely different.

Here in Paducah you can find a church in about any direction you turn, you actually don’t even have to be looking for a church (building) to find one. That is the same for about any other city I have visited, but then again I have never been that far West and out of the direct impact of the bible belt. In Seattle I did open the phone book and find a lot of listings for churches, but driving and walking the streets I found only 1 and it wasn’t in Seattle, it was in Renton just outside of Seattle.

I had already made plans to attend Mars Hill Church there, because of the sound theology (although somewhat controversial) of the pastor, Mark Driscoll. Well before the trip I had contacted Mars Hill and asked them which of the 7 campuses would be the most convenient and was decided on that the Downtown campus would be the most likely candidate. I did take a little stroll on Saturday following one of those cute little cartoonish city maps, but with great success. I found the building of the Mars Hill Downtown campus.

The service Sunday morning was winding down for the Song of Song sermon series, so it had a lot to do with husband and wife and how they should be “doing” things. It actually went right along with a course titled “Love and Respect” that Chandra and I have been attending at Oak Grove Baptist here in Paducah. I won’t go into detail of the décor or message, because I’ve gotten totally off base on what I was going to write about.

On the flight out it was daytime, very bright sky very beautiful to look out over the clouds. I always set next to a window when I fly so I can soak in Gods creation. I pray in thanks of God for allowing me to look down at what He has created. About the most spectacular sight flying in was the mountain ranges, but Mount Ranier, Mount Olympus and Mount St. Helens jutting skyward was just simply breathtaking.

Taking all of the beauty of the mountain ranges, the landscape and the marvels that we flew over during the day, I can say that they return flight had more impact on me than anything I saw in the daylight. This was only the 2nd flight I have ever been on at night, but God has been working on me a lot since that first night flight. This flight I was noticing the lights below.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I started thinking that as Christians we are to be salt and light to the world. My mind started to wonder around that verse and I began to see the lights differently below. They looked a lot like how Christians are in the world. You see great darkness and then see thousands of individual lights scattered throughout these dark places. Then you see thousands of lights together in places that form neighborhoods and those are on the outskirts of cities that have millions of lights. My mind was racing to equate that as the single lights are very noticeable in the darkness, they do not conform to the light, they in fact nullify the darkness. The neighborhoods I likened to groups of Christians that study together, hang out together, witness together and are there in the rough times for each other. Or even could be the Church study groups or Sunday school classes. Then you gaze out further and see the cities, the Churches. The brighter light in the darkness cast by them is because of them being grouped together. Not that one shines more than the other, but they all shine together to be a beacon in the darkness. Looking out from the plane window I could see cities plotted out across the blackness. I could also see the single lights as we were flying over them, but only for a fleeting moment. I then started to think about what connected them and that each and every one of those lights were connected by the streets. If there was a light, then there was a street, road or highway that would get you there.

My thoughts then changed to the parable of the vine and branches that Pastor Durham has been teaching on. The lights being connected to the streets were like the branches being connected to the Vine, just as Christ connects us all. All the lights that the plane flew over were in fellowship together because of the road, they were all doing what lights do – casting light into the darkness. Even the lights in Seattle are connected to the lights here in Paducah; we all have the same roadway, which is Christ. Christ connects each Christian together and when we come together we cast more light as neighborhoods, more light as Churches and then when the sun rises, that Light exposes everything. Christians can then sit back in the Light of the Son as His Light shines upon the Earth.

The light of Christ exposes all the darkness, not like our small lights that affect only our surroundings. But God has purposed us to be those lights in the darkness, to come together as friends and families to study His Word to cast more light, then to be the Church which casts off even more light, that is connected to all the other Churches to be one Church, the Bride of Christ so the Light of Christ can shine.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Ephesians 5:8 For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

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.

Obama Declared the Next President

Well, Obama was just declared to have enough electoral votes to be the next President of the United States. I would go on a tirade and ask how people could be so deceived or how a professing Christian nation could elect a murdering baby killer to the highest office. But I wont go there. This is all in Gods plan and while I don't think Obama is the anti-christ, I do know he is an anti christ and a large step towards acceptance of the real anti christ to come.

So am I bothered? Not really. I voted for McCain after deliberating on casting my vote for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution party. It is no surprise that the majority of Americans voted for Obama. I say this because of the sinful state of this country. I believe God has finally had enough and is giving this country over to it's sins in judgement. I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet, but I do know somewhat the Word of God and His character. God can not stand sin and the blatant, revelling in sin that the USA does is very damning.

I just pray that you truly know the Lord and are not resting in a decision that you made way back when. If you are trusting in anything other that the redemptive work of Christ then you are not a Christian and will be cast into the lake of fire. If you think of salvation as being kept from going to hell for eternity only, then you are not a Christian. If you put your faith in a pastor, Sunday school teacher or a priest that declared you saved, then you are not a Christian. Please examine yourself and make sure that you have TRULY repented of your sins, turned from them to God and put your faith in His Word. That is the only way to salvation contrary to the false gospels that abound now. Christ is the Way, Truth and the Life and no one can get to the Father but by Him.

As a Christian, I can not support the choices of President Elect Obama. I will however be praying for him, as I do other lost people. I will pray for his genuine conversion which will be evidenced by his fruit. Please also pray for him. Even though you may not like him, what he does will affect you and your family. God is sovereign and Obama was elected for a reason. The hand of God was upon this as millions of people were left to be deceived by this man. All in Gods glorious work.

The Great Commision As America See's It

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

Have you ever bribed someone to become a Christian? Have you ever told someone “I’ll give you $1 a day as long as you follow Christ, listen to a sermon every day and read this Bible I give to you?” Would that be a draw to someone? Probably not in the depraved United States, Canada, England or any other economically “sound” country.

What if you did the same thing in a deprived nation instead of a depraved nation? Imagine the people that would be knocking you down to get that dollar bill a day. Let’s use Ethiopia as an example. This is one of the poorest countries in the World. The Per Capita income of Ethiopia is in the $90 range, meaning some people get more and some get less. So offering a person $1 a day would make that person wealthy in Ethiopia. Now what if you changed the offer, “I’ll feed you, your family, your village every day. I’ll build you houses, give you free medical and dental care, dig fresh water wells and set up schools for your people. All you have to do is listen to our message, follow what we say and accept Christ as your savior.” Does that sound familiar to anyone? Am I very far off base as to what goes on in some mission fields?

I have heard mission trip reports of how many people were fed, how many teeth pulled, how much food given out, how many people ministered to and how many people that got saved. Let me clarify something now before you read any further – I am not against missionaries, I am not against feeding the poor, I am not against treating the infirmed or pulling teeth. I believe a Christian should help out who they can, when they can. But I will put this out there – Is it biblical for confessing Christians to bribe the poor people with food, health care and shelter in order to “get decisions for Christ”?

Jesus did feed thousands on a couple occasions found in scripture (Matt. 14:13-21, John 6:1-14) and it would probably be safe to say He did even more times than these. What I see in these passages is Jesus feeding those that were following Him to hear His Word. They were not being bribed with food to come and listen. Not to say that some did not have the purpose of a free meal in mind. But the food was secondary, it was not a calling, it was not an issue. It was a freebie if you will. The draw was Christ Himself and His Word, Christ’s teachings, not bread and fish.

Once again I am not disrespecting the feeding of the starving or any other good that comes out of mission trips. What I am speaking about is motives for why people do these things. Is it to feed people, help people? Is it more selfish and about the mission persons works and to feel better about themselves. Is it about the numbers and boasting about how many people “accepted Christ” along with the bag of beans? I am sure that a lot of emotion is seen on the mission field, a lot of joy and a lot of grief. Shouldn't Christ be central to everything on the mission field? Not the human ego that thrives on “feeling good” about what they have done. But is that the answer to this dilemma? A lot of missions trips are for the sole purpose of making the missionary feel better about themselves, feel good that they “did their part and saved some souls”?

What if only 10% of those souls were the only truly converted ones? Actually, what about the other 90% that were told because they “accepted Jesus” that they were going to heaven where they would never be hungry again, where you can have whatever your hearts content, where the person’s needs are magnified above The True Reason for Heaven. God. Sure the benefits of being in heaven are great, but is that a persons motivation for going there? If so I would strongly consider doing a self-examination to see if you are really in the faith - 2 Cor 13:1-10. God is central to any truly converted life. Not the sparkles that entice the flesh, be it food, health care, fixed marriages, healed relationships, full bank accounts or a warm fuzzy feeling. All of those may be true fruits, but the Lord is the True Reason, His Glory, His Exaltation. We are but mere slaves that He bought but a great price, a true Christian is not central to their own lives, but the Master is central and is worth everything.

So what is the answer for missions trips? Like anything else the answer is God. What will bring Him more glory? What will get the message of the Cross out there more? Spending $5,000 for a missions trip per person, or sending that same $5,000 to indigenous missionaries that can use that same $5,000 to build 5 churches or feed a whole village for a year or send 10,000 bibles to China? What is the motivation is the ultimate question and answer as well? Is it self-centered or is it God centered?

What about the American mission field? What should an evangelist do in America if 90% of the “decisions” they are getting are not true conversions? This is the exact question I would submit to the large crusades, celebrations and festivals throughout the USA. If the 10% were your goal and the 90% thought they were saved but were speeding toward an eternal hell, would you change your message? Would you tell the 90% that they were damned or would you assure them that because of their decision, an emotional outpouring, after hearing you speak of how bad hell was on one extreme or how loving God is on the other extreme they “decide” to follow Christ? Jeremiah 17:9 declares that the heart is wicked above all things. We as humans are wicked and therefore it is our nature to reject God in His Holiness and righteousness. We need Him to burden us, to show us our sins, to take us to a point where we then see how deceitfully wicked we are, how much our lives were lived in hating God and how unrighteous and deserving of hell we really are. Then and only then can you look to God and plead for His forgiveness through the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross, Repent and Believe is all we can do, it is the only way to God through Christ. You can’t profess to be a Christian and live like the world (Romans 12:1-2, James 4:4, John 15:19, John 17:14) it is not possible – can a dog meow or a cat bark? Can a fish live out of water? So a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) cannot live like the world. We are birthed into the family of God out of the bondage of sin, we are His and He will keep His children faithful. God will not partially do anything; He will always finish what He starts (Phil. 1:6)

So just seek the Lord’s Word on missions. Do not jump into something with selfish motives. God does not need more missionaries to go have a feel good trip, that will make you feel good for taking beans to an outskirt area in Africa. He needs His people to take the Word of God in all Its glory to those people, without compromise, without bribery and without selfish motives. As I said before if you really want to help, send your $5000 to an indigenous or native missionary and take the vacation time you would have traveled on and go to the outskirts of your own city, or the vastest mission field of all – the American Church.

A great place to start if you would really like to help spread the Word of God would be Heart Cry Missionary Society. This is a great organization that takes the true Word of God to many places first and foremost, without compromise. I am sure there are many other missions and opportunities for you to be a part of sowing the seed of Gods Word throughout the world. Please do extensive research and commit to prayerfully seeking God's will before you send money to any of them. Make sure that the Word of God in TRUTH is the foremost to whatever group you send financial support to. If you truthfully seek Gods guidance He will direct you.

Ten Indictments from Paul Washer

This is a definite must hear message from Paul Washer. This was given at the recent Revival Conference held in Atlanta GA, October 22nd. This comes in just shy of 2 hours, but is a must hear. Watch this video instead of 2 hours of the trash on TV tonight or download the audio at Sermonindex by using THIS LINK.

A special thank you to Lanes Blog and Sermon Index for posting the audio and video of this important message.

A Change of Seasons

Picture from the top of Lookout Mountain in Tennessee

Just a week ago my wife and I ventured to the great state of Georgia, the city of Woodstock to be exact for the Way of the Master Deeper conference. Along the way down we stopped off in Chattanooga Tennessee and drove to the top of Lookout Mountain. What a beautiful sight it was, looking out over the valley from that high of a perspective, the leaves of the trees below changing and bursting in a huge variety of colors. Green, brown, orange, red and yellow all laid out before me by God so I could see His glory, the beauty of His creation and I stood in awe and my eyes teared up as I thanked the Lord for all He does for me and all He allows me to partake in.

Looking out over the valley did spark a thought in my head that continues to play through my head. A verse actually:
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

The changing of the seasons laid out before me in all of the colorful splendor. God has set forth the changing of the season’s into 4 very distinct times of the year, at least here in Kentucky they are distinct. The fall or autumn is vibrant in colors as the leaves change in splashes of colors, which is also the harvesting season. What it actually is is the death of vegetation, but needed for the growth of the plants, it is also marked by a drop in temperatures and shorter daylight hours.

Next on the season clock will be another drop in temperatures along with the chance of freezing precipitation. This was my favorite season as a child because of the increased chance that I might not have to go to school because of snow. Winter also has Christmas, which as a child meant presents, presents and more presents. The winter season is also a dormant time of year that plants are not visibly growing, or showing the signs of growth.

Spring slides in around March/ April with temps getting a little higher and the birds singing as leaves spring forth (no pun intended) and flower buds are starting to get noticed. This season, like fall, is full of eye candy. Many vibrant colors emerge, the greens of the leaves, bright yellows, reds and blues of the flowers. The birds that flutter around singing praises to the Lord also are full of colors, the red of the Cardinals and the blues of the Jays and even the brown shades of the finches are equally as pretty to the eyes.

Spring gives way to the scorching summer months as the thunderstorms pop up and move through. The warm weather allows for us to get outside to play and interact with Gods creation. The magnificence of creation… how can anyone doubt that God created it? For us, He created it and gave us dominion and look at what we have done to it.

With the 4 changing seasons there are certain laws that are known as farmers prepare their fields, cultivate, sow their crops and then reap the harvest. These are the laws that God put into place for the changing of the seasons and man can’t do anything to circumvent those changes. A person may be able to deny a season has changed, pollution may play a part in affects on the changes but denial and global warming do not change the laws of the seasons. Over my lifetime I have seen winter snows of 8+ inches on a regular basis dwindle off to an occasional 2 inch dusting or even winters that would allow for shorts to be worn. But the seasons still change and the laws of nature that God set forth are still in effect.

Back to 2 Timothy 4:2, there are only 2 seasons listed – IN season and OUT of season to preach the Word of God. So there are only 2 seasons to preach the Word, when the soil is ready and when the soil is not ready. In other words, always be telling someone about God. We all need to be in a constant state of telling others about the Lord and His promises in the Bible to us. Actually it should be abnormal if we are not proclaiming His Word.

I am just as guilty as anyone for not doing this. I must continually ask God to put words into my mouth as He did Moses and Jeremiah. I have always been a quiet person and it is a struggle for me to talk to anyone, but I must say that God does empower me at times. He is really doing a work in me and opening my mouth more and more as I share what He has done for me and the truths that He has revealed to me. This has to be the Lord, because I am not capable of doing this.

I implore you, Christian, to do what the Lord commanded us to do and take His Word to everyone. Start with your family, move onto your neighbors, your friends and then to those you come into contact with. Find some biblically sound Gospel Tracts (links to the left of my blog) and hand them out, leave them with tips and give them to coworkers. Tracts are a great way to start a conversation and swing those conversations to what is most important, eternity. Make sure that you are biblical and fully explain Gods biblical plan of salvation, His complete Gospel and not the 4 spiritual laws or Romans Road. These are not complete Gospels and are actually quite dangerous.

I pray that God will move you to open your mouth and speak. How will someone know until they hear? Romans 10:17 lays this out. Now go out and tell someone of everything that God has done for you and for what the Word says for salvation.

Speeding Toward Eternity

So here’s a little story. Say a person, we’ll call him Bubby, was traveling down the interstate heading to Nashville for a weekend getaway with his wife Sissy and their young son Bubby Jr. The speed limit is 70 MPH so Bubby sets the cruise to 75 and sets back for a nice little drive looking forward to the weekend getaway.

About 30 minutes into the drive Bubby notices that everyone around him is just flying by, staring him down like he’s going slower than Granny on her way to the grocery store. (No disrespect to Grannies anywhere, but you do drive on the slow side). So Bubby presses down on the gas and eases it up to 80 where he seems to be going the same speed as everyone around him. There are a few exceptions, the guy in the Vette that flies by doing about 95, with the top down, his bluetoothe headset in full use because he looks like he’s yelling at the windshield. Bubby also passes by a few cars that seem to be going somewhat slow and looks at them like they are out on a Sunday drive in the country and need to get out of his way. Sissy has her head plastered to the pages of the newest John MacArthur book, Bubby Jr. has his thumbs in a frenzy trying to get Mario to the next level on his DS and Big Bubby is rocking out to Third Day’s newest CD.

In the rear view mirror are flashing blues. Bubby’s heart drops to his stomach and thinks, “Whew, I’m glad he’s not after me and is after one of these other guy’s going faster than I am”. He proceeds to back down his speed to 70, the speed limit, and pulls over into the right lane to let the officer go by and get the guy in the Vette. To Bubby’s dismay, the cop pull’s into the right lane as well. “I must have a tail light out or something, my tags are good, the other people were speeding past me. I better pull over and see what this guy wants”.

Bubby pulls over. Sissy closes her book and asks what’s going on, Jr. is still pounding away at the DS controls, oblivious to anything except Mario. The officer walks up to the door and Bubby hands him all the required info – license, insurance and registration. The officer asks if he knows why he pulled over him.
“Tail light out?” Asks Bubby with a twisted grin of concern.

“No sir. You were going 80 in a 70 zone. I am going to have to site you.” Was the come back answer the officer gave, without a smile, without blinking his eyes, without an ounce of compassion.

“What about those other people officer? The guy in the Vette especially was going waaaay faster than I have all day. Shouldn’t you have pulled him over instead?”

The officer was visibly shaken by Bubby’s inquisition. And informs Bubby that he could also add reckless driving and a whole slew of other charges, maybe even pull his license on the spot and take him down to the station for a blood test to see if he had any illegal substances in his system. Bubby slumps down and as the tears stream down his face, tells the officer he is sorry and realizes now that he was breaking the speed limit and is very sorry. The officer sees how distraught he is and allows Bubby, Sissy and Jr. to resume their trek to Nashville with only a warning. Bubby resumes the drive, drying his eyes, blowing his nose and telling his wife how thankful he is that that nice, kind officer didn’t give him a $250 ticket. He matter of factly sets the cruise at 67 and leaves it there for the whole trip, thankful that he got off with just a warning and not a ticket.

“So Jeff, what has this got to do with God?”

I’m glad you asked Bubby (or Sissy). Because it is a prime example of how people look at their sins. Everyone is going down the road, some people doing some things that are very sinful. Others look at them and justify to themselves their own sinfulness with a “At least I’m not doing what that guy is doing” attitude. They can very easily determine someone else’s sinfulness, but their own sins they don’t even see. They justify telling a white lie because its not as bad as someone’s lying on their taxes. They justify looking at porn on the Internet because they are at least not cheating on their wife like that guy at work. See where this is going?

Until the law steps in and shows someone of their sin Romans 7:7-9, they are doomed. They will keep sinning while trying to justify their sins by someone that is worse in their eyes. In all actuality God sees sin as sin. In our eyes we have degrees of sin. A little white lie is o.k. Eating a grape at the grocery when you walk by them is perfectly acceptable. Watching the girl in a bikini across the street washing her car is fine and dandy. Partying a little here and there is not going to hurt anyone. After all, at least we don’t cheat on our taxes, steal the whole bunch of grapes from the supermarket and there is no way there is a chance that you would have an affair with the girl across the street. But to God, you have stolen, lied and committed adultery. You have sinned; you have broken God’s law. It doesn’t matter what the guy at work is doing, it doesn’t matter what your neighbor is doing, it doesn’t even matter what your pastor is doing. It is one on one with God, you broke His law and you must answer to Him. You can’t justify by what so and so did, or “at least I am not doing what that one guy did”. You have to answer for you. The Light in your rearview mirror exposes your sin for how sinful you are until you cry out to God for mercy.

Praise the Lord that He made a way that we can be justified. Thank God that He loved us enough that He took His entire wrath for our sins out on His only Son (Isaiah 53:10), Jesus. See, Jesus is the only way we can be justified. He is our advocate, our propitiation (1 John 2:1-2), our Savior. Do you see how sinful you are? Do you know how wretched you are? Do you know that Christ is the only Way (John 14:6) to be forgiven of your sins? If so, cry out to God to have mercy on your soul this day. Praise His wonderful name and the sacrifice given so you may be whole. Cry out for Christ to stand on your behalf to justify you in the eyes of the Father. Repent and turn from your sin loving life. Produce the fruits (Galatians 5:22-23, Titus 3:14)that will evident your conversion. Praise God in everything that comes your way - good, bad, feast or famine (1 Cor 10:31). God is Good. But you must do as Jesus Himself said in Luke 13:3,5 Repent or perish. Do not look for justification anywhere else but the foot of the Cross-. You can’t work your way to heaven with good deeds. You can’t say a magical prayer and have a ticket to sin and blaspheme the Lord. Don’t rely on a decision that you made when you were a kid to be your salvation. There is salvation by only One Way – Christ Jesus, Savior and Lord of all.

Do you confess Christ?

Matthew 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.


Do you confess Christ before men? Do you tell people that you are a Christian? Do you go to church on Sunday’s? Do you fellowship with other professing Christian’s? Do you share your faith on a regular basis? Do you know where your Bible is? Do you own a Bible? What is the basis of your salvation? Can you name the 10 Commandments? In order? Can you name 10 TV shows and the cast? Do you know any scripture by memory? Do you know the lyrics to every Pink Floyd record out?

Let me take one of these questions and expand on it a little bit. Do you confess Jesus before men? A lot of people will say “Sure I do, I tell everyone I am a Christian. Even when I am out drinking with the boys (or girls) at the strip club or when I get home to my live in girlfriend (or boyfriend) and we talk about our faith. I even say “God bless you” when people sneeze. (see previous post)” I see it every day, people will acknowledge that they are a Christian with their mouths, but their lives and actions speak just the opposite. The fruit they are producing are of the bad variety, nothing lines up with being a Christian at all. I would venture to say that most of these poor souls have been proclaimed “saved” by a pastor, elder or alter worker in their childhood church.

So what about Matt 10:32 that says if someone confesses Christ as Savior that Christ will confess them before the Father? Doesn’t that mean they are a Christian? Well, yes it does…. But only if they truly do confess Christ. If their confession of Christ is apparent in their lives, if their lives line up with what true confession of believing in Christ means, Biblically. A true confession of faith is not a one and done experience, that is where most people that are deceived get it wrong. They think that a prayer saved them, that walking the aisle saved them or that being baptized saved them. They are all wrong. Salvation is a miraculous work of God, it can’t be undone, and He NEVER only partially saves anyone. A true regenerated, born again Christian will not do the things I mentioned above, they will not have the earthly desires and use Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as a “get out of hell free” card. Christ’s shedding of His blood was not a ticket to heaven.

Another question. Why do you want to go to heaven? Is it because the alternative is a terrible place to spend eternity? Is it because you want to have all your desires whenever you want them, as many as you want, eat as much as you want, participate in your favorite hobby for eternity (golfing, hunting, video games, etc.)? If you say yes to any of those, then you very seriously have a warped idea of Heaven. Heaven is all about God, not you, not me, not the cute little cherubim or streets of gold, pearly gates and crowns of awards. Heaven is for the worship of God, the eternal praise of our Creator that breathed life into our being. Any other description would border on blasphemy. God did not create us for our own pleasure, but so He would be glorified.

So do you confess Christ as your Savior with lip service only? Or does your confession ring true by your life as a confession. Remember even the demons believe in God, they confess Him with their lips, they believe in Him, they know who He is. Belief in is not the deciding factor, but belief ON Christ. With that belief comes repentance, a new birth. All of your sinful lifestyle choices will become increasingly sinful to you. You will not have the desires you once had, you will not frequent the places you once did and your sins will become increasingly sinful to you - that is called sanctification. God will not start a work and not finish it; He will not only give you forgiveness without sanctifying you as well. If you are walking with a foot on both sides of the fence, then you are in danger of hell, most likely on your way there. Jesus Himself said in Luke 9:62 that anyone that looks back to his sinful life is not fit for the Kingdom.

So for the last time – Do you confess Christ before men? Truthfully? Or would your actions speak otherwise? Do you have a sinful lifestyle? Do you lust for money? Or for the other sex? Do you hate anyone? Do you honor your parents in every way? Do you put God first in your life? You will stand before a righteous God on judgment day, you will not be able to justify your sins by saying you're not as bad as Hitler or the guy at work that cheats on his taxes and his wife. It will be you and the Lord and you will be exposed. Does that worry you? Do you have the confidence of salvation through the blood of Christ? Do you cling to a “flu shot” salvation, the been there done that mentality? Or is it evident that Christ is Lord of your life? You better make sure….. soon.

Real Truth Matters Conference

There are less than 2 weeks until the Real Truth Matters Conference here in Paducah. Please check out the website for this event for more information.

This will be a great opportunity to learn what the TRUTH of the Gospel message is. This is a free event with lunch provided for those attending. Please keep the conference, the speaker - Pastor Michael Durham - The planning committee, the volunteers and workers and everyone attending in your prayers. Satan does not want this message to be proclaimed and wil try everything he can to keep it from happening.

Please watch the video explaining the conference from Pastor Durham


And this video for a little background


Also check out the Real Truth Matters Website and Living Priorities Online for Messages from Pastor Michael Durham.