A valley of dry bones

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Ezekiel 37:1-3 (NASB) 

As Christians walk through their days that turn into weeks that turn into months that turn into years that turn into decades that turn into the length and breadth of their lives, they are continually put into circumstances where they must either believe and obey God or disbelieve and disobey Him. Most believers I know have a horrible habit of limiting God by their lack of faith (unbelief). Tragically, these decisions can result in walls of spiritual blindness to become erected in their hearts. With this spiritual blindness can come apathy or, worse, apostasy. Their decision to limit God with their lack of bold brokenness is based in idolatry. … View article →

The New Apostolic Reformation – A Shelter for the Unqualified

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The Bible is absolutely clear regarding the qualifications for a pastor,” says Stephen Colin. In this piece over at Famine In The Land, Colin offers two examples of wolves in sheep’s clothing, Todd Bentley and Mark Driscoll, who have found shelter in the NAR cult, despite the fact that, according to 1 Timothy 3:2-7, both men have disqualified themselves from pastoral ministry.  Colin writes:

Bob Dylan, hailed as one of the great song writers of the 20th century penned a song called “Shelter from the Storm” in 1975. The lyrics to the song have been regarded as a poetic masterpiece, which is probably why he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016. The third verse in particular uses imagery which is akin to something we see in the visible church today. … Continue reading →

The Ten Most Hateful Americans and Why they Matter

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Language alert!

“John Brennan was Obama’s CIA director who once voted for Communist Gus Hall for president. This Deep State denizen, who many believe helped organized the Obama spying on the Trump camp during the election, is suffering from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

(Frank Hawkins – American Thinker)  The American Left is stoking hatred and it’s tearing us apart. Our media is guilty of not only of failing to shame those responsible, in many cases they egg them on, giving them a platform. The volume of irrational hatred spewing into our ether is extremely unhealthy, even dangerous for our republic and the broader American culture. Continue reading →

He Does Not Budge

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Then the Lord said to me, Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.But I said, Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets keep telling them, You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.Jeremiah 14:11-13

Jeremiah goes on to describe the land, how the cisterns have no water, the ground is dismayed, there is no rain on the land, the crops are dried up, and wild asses stand and pant, and there is no water in all of the land. This is part of the judging hand of God.  View article →

Can You Compete With Horses?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? … If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:4a-5

Jeremiah cries out to God with some troubled questions on his mind. These are the standard questions people ask when things begin to go wrong in an individual life, or in the life of a community, or a nation. I heard recently that a very well-known and well-liked high school girl disappeared mysteriously a few days before, and no one knew where she was. All her high school friends were praying for her. She was a Christian, and they were sure that God would protect her. …   View article →

BSF Leader resigns; warns members about 2018 Study

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From Berean Research:

This week, long-time Bible Study Fellowship International (BSF) leader Linda Davis is warning members signed up for this fall’s new study, People of the Promised Land. Davis is a BSF veteran of 22 years. Please consider sharing this link with women who are not on social media.

Also share our resources:

White Paper: Purpose Driven

White Paper: Spiritual Formation

White Paper: Emergent Church  Continue reading →

Getting ‘Unhitched’ from the Old Testament? Andy Stanley Aims at Heresy

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Megachurch pastor Andy Stanley describes the effort to retain much of the Old Testament as “intellectually ruinous and morally debilitating.” Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary & Boyce College, disagrees. He argues that because the Lord Jesus and the Apostles didn’t “unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish Scriptures” as Stanley urges Christians to do, we should pay no attention to him.  Moreover, Dr. Mohler warns:

We are looking here at the ancient heresy of Marcion, who argued that the Old Testament must be repudiated by the church. Marcion, who lived about the years 85-160, taught that the Old Testament revealed a Creator deity who is not even the same God who sent Jesus. Unsurprisingly, he also held to a heretical Christology.

Now listen to Dr. Mohler explain why he believes Andy Stanley’s teaching aims at heresy. He writes: Continue reading →

Having Faith in Doubt: A Response to Steven Furtick

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Let me say as this plainly as I know how: there is nothing of doubt in faith. God is not honored by doubt; doubting is not obedience to God. It is disobedience.

(Owen Strachan – For The Church) Doubt is back in the news. We’ve all heard a great deal about postmodernism over the years; one of the ways it continues to influence us as a culture is to make us prize uncertainty and distrust certainty. It seems more authentic, more truly human, even more virtuous, to live in gray areas than it is does to traffic in certitudes. You could sum up the spirit of the age like this: we’re being encouraged to have faith in doubt. Continue reading →

A tale of two confessions: Bill Hybels and Art Azurdia

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“The bottom line—when a pastor disqualifies himself because of immorality, his church needs to investigate, and then rebuke. They need to rebuke him publically, clearly, and directly.” 

(Jesse Johnson – The Cripplegate)  In the past month, two prominent pastors have had their private sins publicly exposed: Bill Hybels and Art Azurdia—one nationally known and whose fall was front page news, the other known only inside of evangelical circles and his fall reported largely on social media.

Both demonstrated conduct contrary to the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3, conduct that disqualifies them from being elders. Both committed adultery, and the fall of both men will obviously bring shame on the name of Christ. Continue reading →

You exist to glorify Christ

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” – Colossians 1:16

Christ is the focus of the apostle’s gaze in this text. He begins a dissertation on the surpassing excellencies of Christ from verse 15-22. I want to focus our attention right toward the beginning of this beautiful section to focus on one key phrase. That is the statement “all things are created through him and for him.”

What does it mean that all things are created for the Son? What exactly does this text convey about the Son? View article →

Christians Mystically Encountering God (Reprise)

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FLASHBACK FRIDAY

This article by CRN managing editor Marsha West was published 4/16/2013.

For a couple of decades there has been a big push by numerous evangelical leaders to incorporate pagan practices into the visible Church.  These unbiblical practices have their origins in Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, likewise the New Age movement.  Roman Catholic Trappist Monks fully embraced Eastern religion’s pagan practices.  Through the writings of Thomas Merton, Basil Pennington, William Menninger and Thomas Keating these practices have been introduced into mainline Protestant churches as well as independent, nondenominational, charismatic and Pentecostal churches. Continue reading →

Rick Warren Says Saddleback Has Matched the Growth of Church in Acts 2: Just Needs a Few More Baptisms to Pass a History-Making Milestone

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“Already baptized? That’s ok!  Since baptism doesn’t really do anything your invited to come and be baptized again!” 

(Daniel Long – Long For The Truth)  Do you want to feel significant, special, important? Then you need to be baptized! But, baptism in any old church won’t do! Nope. In order for your  baptism to be really special, you need to be baptized at one of the twenty Saddleback Campuses.

Why?

First, because “no other church in America,” or quite possibly the world, has done what Saddleback has done! Saddleback is the modern-day church of Acts 2. Continue reading →

Clashes in Argentina after plans to legalise abortion rejected

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Supporters say dangerous abortions have killed thousands in the country – but politicians have voted against changing the law.

(Sky News) Protesters have lit fires and thrown bottles at police after Argentina’s senate rejected a bill to legalise abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.

Thousands of pro and anti-abortion protesters in rival colours gathered in heavy rain outside Congress in Buenos Aires as politicians debated the proposal for 15 hours. Continue reading →

Unbelief, signs, and wonders

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

48 Therefore, Jesus said to him, “Except you see signs and wonders you never believe!” John 4:48 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

I lived in the Kansas City area from September 2001 until the first couple of weeks of December 2012.  In Kansas City is a “church” that calls itself “World Revival Church.” It is closely associated with another “church” that was once sued by the corporation ‘International House of Pancakes’ because it used the same logo, i.e. IHOP. In any case, the people behind these “churches” advertised heavily on local television during the evening news hour while we lived there. The focus of their ads was not to come there to see God glorified or to come and learn about Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Nope, it was all about “feelings” and “being blessed” and “experiences.” … View article →

Threats prompt removal of Harvest Crusade ads in Orange County

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“The artwork on the banners wasn’t overtly religious. So we were very taken aback that the ads received complaints and threats.”

(L.J. Gambone – Daily Press) For the past 29 years, pastor Greg Laurie’s Southern California-based Harvest Christian Fellowship ministry has been holding annual crusades at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. In an effort to advertise for the year’s event, to be held Aug. 17-19, Harvest paid to place several banners in malls at Fashion Island in Orange County with the help of the Irvine Company. Continue reading →

Willow Creek Elders and Pastor Heather Larson Resign over Bill Hybels

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“We believe that [Hybels’s] sins were beyond what he previously admitted on stage, and certainly we believe that his actions with these women were sinful,” she said. “We believe he did not receive feedback as well as he gave it, and he resisted the accountability structures we all need.”

(Bob Smietana – Christianity Today)  In the summer of 2008, Bill Hybels stood in front of thousands of pastors and other church leaders gathered at Willow Creek Community Church and admitted his megachurch had failed. Continue reading →

Pro-lifers denounce FDA for buying ‘fresh’ aborted baby parts for experiments on mice

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“We call on Congress to pass the Roby Amendment to stop taxpayer funding of these repugnant practices and act swiftly to ban them altogether.”

(Calvin Freiburger – LifeSiteNews) – Pro-life leaders are outraged over revelations that the federal government continues to use human tissue from abortions in medical experiments, according to documents highlighted by CNS News.

A June 13, 2018 notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces that the agency has awarded a $15,900 contract to Advanced Bioscience Resources, Inc. (ABR), a San Francisco Bay fetal tissue procurement firm, for the purpose of acquiring “Tissue for Humanized Mice.” The contract runs from July 15, 2018 to July 14, 2019. Continue reading →

There is no such thing as a new kind of Christianity!

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-5 (NASB) 

This blog has been online since 2006 and over the years I have tried to address all of the forms of “Christianity” that were in fact “Strange Fire.” How did we know they were “Strange Fire?” They did not line up with what God’s Word says His people will do as they serve Him. It is amazing how no matter how “new” the attacks on God’s truth are, the more they consist of the very same rebellion that is exposed throughout both the Old and New Testaments of Sacred Scripture.  View article →

What Censorship of Alex Jones Means for the Rest of Us

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“What is disturbing is that these are independent companies that seem to have made this decision collectively. In other words, competitors are making decisions about content publication together. Regardless of how you feel about Jones, that should make anyone who is cautious of a Corporatocracy a tad concerned.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Social media companies are private corporations that reserve the right to deny service to anyone. There is no constitutional right to demand that Google, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or iTunes allow any person to speak freely. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution restricts the government from prohibiting speech, but privately owned companies – whether newspapers, opinion websites, or social media platforms – can censor whomever they want. That said, the coordinated censorship of Alex Jones by these companies should frighten anyone who is seriously concerned with a free flow of information in the Marketplace of Ideas. … Continue reading →

Jerry Falwell Jr. to Pen Political Book With ‘Gay Marriage’ Advocate, Evolution Adherent Jimmy Carter

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“One of my problems with evangelicalism is that it normally argues that one can be saved only through a personal relationship with Jesus, which seems to consign Gandhi to Hell. Do you believe that?” Kristoff also asked.

“I do not feel qualified to make a judgment. I am inclined to give him (or others) the benefit of any doubt,” Carter replied.

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  Jerry Falwell, Jr., the president of Liberty University, which hails itself as the world’s largest Christian university, says that he is writing a book with former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, the specifics of which have not yet been announced. Carter, who has publicly expressed his support for “gay marriage” and says that he believes in evolution, claims to be a born again Christian and teaches Sunday School in Georgia. Continue reading →

The Pastors Who Run Evangelical Hollywood

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Judah Smith & Justin Bieber

“Pentecostal interpretation of the Bible is not always what millennials want to hear. Media outlets have questioned Lentz, Veach, Smith, and Wilkerson about their views on marriage equality and abortion, which more traditional Pentecostal churches rail against. The cool pastors, however, prefer not to share their opinions on these issues.”

(Pulpit & Pen) Kanye West. Kim Kardashian. Russell Wilson. Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Justin Bieber. I know that if you hear these names you think, “solid Christian believers.”

No? The influence of charismaticism’s prosperity-driven moralistic, therapeutic deism in Hollywood has been well-established. In particular, the influence of Hillsong has been explored by major media. Like the Church of Scientology, Hillsong has thrived primarily by celebrity influence. And so, Carl Lentz – the pastor of Hillsong New York – has been seen taking shots with addiction-riddled Justin Beiber. Beiber and his one-time sweetheart, Selena Gomez, have visited pastor of Hillsong’s affiliate church in Seattle, Judah Smith via private jet. Continue reading →

A very precise way to gauge the authenticity of a Christian leader

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. Romans 6:21 (NASB) 

When first began writing and blogging (2006) the majority topic of discussion was undoubtedly what was going on in the seeker sensitive churches all around us as they abandoned expository preaching, replacing it with topical sermons, entertainment, drama, dance, videos, et cetera. Things sure have progressed, or is it actually the opposite with the gospel contextualization having replaced all of that with the goal of church globalization within the framework of Dominonism? I remember some of the debates from that time and as I look back on it now, I see what was actually happening. …    View article →

What are the greater works Jesus promised we would do?

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The key is to see that these “works” were a signpost, along with Jesus’ words, that bore witness to the truth of Jesus – that he was indeed God’s promised King. The works we do, as Christians, are the good things that are part of the normal Christian life that bear witness to the truth of Jesus.

(PastorFish) “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) Continue reading →

Bethel’s delusions of grandeur – impervious to the realities of the Carr fire

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Before we get to Rick Becker’s piece, here’s a quote by Theresa Dedmon, a woman who’s on the pastoral staff at Bethel Church in Redding CA. Bethel’s not far from the raging Carr fire that took the lives of 7 people and destroyed well over 160,000 acres and 1,077 homes in Shasta County:

All of us have most likely experienced raging fires, like the Carr fire, that has come against us either in our relationships, pursuing our dreams, or feeling secure for our future. Remember, that support from others, hearing God’s voice, declaring, and giving thanks will be key for your victory. I can hardly wait to share with you stories of victory and breakthrough as we press in for God’s mercy and blessing for protection and restoration. Remember you are Born to Create, and declare life! (Emphasis in the article) Continue reading →