Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the Lord,
defying His glorious presence.
The look on their faces testifies against them;
they parade their sin like Sodom;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
They have brought disaster upon themselves.
Isaiah 3:8-9
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
A BIG "IF"
IF My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14
II Chronicles 7:14
Thursday, June 5, 2014
The World or The Word - My Choice
John Kavanaugh
I write this not in anger, but sadness. So, sad of what we have become as Wesleyans and from the movement we once were...
Top Ten Common Arguments for Homosexual Relationships
10. Ignore the Scriptures general witness, especially about ‘original sin,’ for the last almost 2,000 years… because it’s about being a ‘good person!’
9. Ignore the faith & practice of the saints who have gone before you…because you know better!
8. Ignore all reason that shows that God made a man & woman for procreation & to be image of God’s image in the world (Gen.2:23-25; 1:28; Eph. 5:22-33).
7. Ignore experience. Say that you know many “good people” who were born that way, yet ignore those who experience deliverance from the lifestyle instantaneously or gradually.
6. Just redefine Biblical terms like most “cults” do such as “sin,” “faith,” and “love” to fit your needs. So, you parade around talking about “being more loving” yet ignore Jesus’ command that “If you love me you will obey my commandments” (John 14:15). Shucks, you know repentance is not that big of a deal either…we just short of “become Christians” by osmosis!
5. When you can’t win on traditional grounds…change subjects! “Don’t we need to be feeding poor people in Africa!”
4. Bring the argument up every year for over four decades, forming committees, using media, creating “illegal” movements within the church, protesting, and after realizing that your issue is not going to pass…break covenant anyway and do what you want!
3. After the opposing side, calls you back to Biblical repentance and to obey the covenant that you ordained …and you will not turn or repent they realize that their really can be no unity. Note, you also promote many “third way options” that only speed up the split, because you ignore the history recently within the Anglican & Episcopal Churches. Noting Jesus’ teaching (Mark 3:25), the other side makes a plan to move on fearing the end is near and let you go your way. You slander and call them “prideful” & “schismatics!”
2. After your movement has pressed the argument for decades, then claim that we are wasting time arguing and that, “IT’S REALLY TIME TO MAKE DISCIPLES!” & “IT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING DISCIPLES!” You ignore though that your ideology has led the UMC, and other mainline denominations, in perpetual decline, you are continually shrinking budgets, closing churches, your missionary presence has shrank, Cokesbury stores are closing because the average lay person “gave up” on it in the 1980’s, there are many books about the church being lost theologically for decades, and the average age in your church is 57…but if we just came together we could “make disciples” when that theological foundation that you have derived your “world view” from has brought death for generations!
1. Drum roll, PLEASE!!!!...If all else fails…call those you disagree with “bigots!
I write this not in anger, but sadness. So, sad of what we have become as Wesleyans and from the movement we once were...
Top Ten Common Arguments for Homosexual Relationships
10. Ignore the Scriptures general witness, especially about ‘original sin,’ for the last almost 2,000 years… because it’s about being a ‘good person!’
9. Ignore the faith & practice of the saints who have gone before you…because you know better!
8. Ignore all reason that shows that God made a man & woman for procreation & to be image of God’s image in the world (Gen.2:23-25; 1:28; Eph. 5:22-33).
7. Ignore experience. Say that you know many “good people” who were born that way, yet ignore those who experience deliverance from the lifestyle instantaneously or gradually.
6. Just redefine Biblical terms like most “cults” do such as “sin,” “faith,” and “love” to fit your needs. So, you parade around talking about “being more loving” yet ignore Jesus’ command that “If you love me you will obey my commandments” (John 14:15). Shucks, you know repentance is not that big of a deal either…we just short of “become Christians” by osmosis!
5. When you can’t win on traditional grounds…change subjects! “Don’t we need to be feeding poor people in Africa!”
4. Bring the argument up every year for over four decades, forming committees, using media, creating “illegal” movements within the church, protesting, and after realizing that your issue is not going to pass…break covenant anyway and do what you want!
3. After the opposing side, calls you back to Biblical repentance and to obey the covenant that you ordained …and you will not turn or repent they realize that their really can be no unity. Note, you also promote many “third way options” that only speed up the split, because you ignore the history recently within the Anglican & Episcopal Churches. Noting Jesus’ teaching (Mark 3:25), the other side makes a plan to move on fearing the end is near and let you go your way. You slander and call them “prideful” & “schismatics!”
2. After your movement has pressed the argument for decades, then claim that we are wasting time arguing and that, “IT’S REALLY TIME TO MAKE DISCIPLES!” & “IT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING DISCIPLES!” You ignore though that your ideology has led the UMC, and other mainline denominations, in perpetual decline, you are continually shrinking budgets, closing churches, your missionary presence has shrank, Cokesbury stores are closing because the average lay person “gave up” on it in the 1980’s, there are many books about the church being lost theologically for decades, and the average age in your church is 57…but if we just came together we could “make disciples” when that theological foundation that you have derived your “world view” from has brought death for generations!
1. Drum roll, PLEASE!!!!...If all else fails…call those you disagree with “bigots!
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Heaven? Hell?
The distance between heaven and hell is less than two feet.
The difference between heaven and hell is just one bowed knee.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
A Few More Things I've Learned From A Two-Year-Old
The Dance of the Dandelions
Don’t you just hate ‘em?
Those dandelions I mean.
Here in the Great Inland Northwest where we are presently hanging out, dandelions are cursed by all the natives. Landscapers will inspect your yard and quickly point out any dandelions encroaching on the lawn. It’s like there is nothing worse in the world than the Curse of the Dandelions. Their encroachment into any part of your lawn is to be avoided, fought and no expense is spared to destroy these invaders.
We moved into our present home in January. No dandelions, just lots of snow. When spring finally did decide to make an appearance here, we had dandelions popping up all over the place. They practically covered the yard.
All adults said bad things about our dandelions. Kaitlyn and Kyra did the dandelion dance. They loved having so many flowers that they could pick. Micah saw his sisters picking flowers and he joined in with them. All three were exclaiming how great it was to have the lovely yellow flowers in our yard.
Perspective you see.
The world saw a yellow menace; our grandchildren saw a reason to dance.
God tells us over and over in His Word that we are to look at things differently from the world. We are to act, talk, walk, act and react differently so that others will see Jesus in our lives. If we see things the way the world sees them, how are we any different? How will that attract people to us to ask “Why aren’t you cursing the dandelions?”
Join with our grandchildren in the Dance of the Dandelions and make people wonder about you.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Fight The Good Fight
Fight The Good Fight of Faith*
When you fight the good fight
struggling to make it right
and all the world stands against you
Is there a place for these warriors so few
Where the rewards are displayed
Where the world stands amazed?
You were not born to it
You were not given it
The victories came with a fight
Standing, saying ‘this is right’
while others mocked and railed against you
Yet, you stood as one of the warriors few
*I Timothy 6:12
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