Doing the works Jesus has given us to do

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1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 (NASB) 

The growing apostasy in the Church in our time is actually the culmination of decades of poor, man-centered doctrine within our churches and ministries coupled with relentless assaults of liberalism by unbelieving believers bent on remaking Christianity into a politically correct social institution. …  View article →

Lesbian Feminists Clash with Transgenders at London Pride Parade

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According to their website, “Get the L Out is a group of lesbian and feminist individuals and organizations, opposing the increasingly anti-lesbian and misogynistic LGBT movement and the erasure of lesbians.”

(Tyler O’Neil – PJ Media)  We told you it would happen, and it finally has. Conservatives long predicted that feminism and transgenderism were ultimately incompatible, but for a long time it seemed like the LGBT movement might just hold them together. Well, on Saturday that movement burst open, as lesbians led the parade in attacking transgenderism.

“Transactivism Erases Lesbians!” read a banner that temporarily led the Pride in London march in the heart of Britain’s capital. Continue reading →

Professing Christian Foster, Adoption Agency Agrees to Place Children With Homosexuals to Comply With Philadelphia Law

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[Palusky] lists Rob Bell, Rick Warren, Coldplay, The Police, Sting and U2 among his likes on social media. Under his “religious views” section, he provides a link to a message from Rob Bell. Palusky also characterizes his political views as being in the “center.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  A well-known professing Christian charity has agreed to work with homosexuals seeking to foster or adopt children after its contract with the City of Philadelphia was suspended for a time due to its policies on child placement. Continue reading →

Imagine There’s No [Christian] Religion

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How many Americans are aware that our Canadian neighbor has pretty much shut Christians out of any significant cultural role? Recently, Dr. Peter Jones visited Ontario and it soon became clear to him that something has happened to Western civilization that makes Christianity a dangerous threat in that country. So in Canada, Christianity must be criminalized and eliminated altogether. According to Dr. Jones, Eastern Buddhism’s practice of mindfulness meditation is everywhere in Canadian culture. He informs us that mindfulness even receives the favor of the courts while Christianity is now perceived as unfavorable. In this informative piece, Dr. Jones reveals the dangers of mindfulness meditation. Under the heading Cultural Effects, he includes a quote from a book by Christine Chandler, who practiced mindfulness meditation for nearly thirty years: Continue reading →

Boast in the Lord

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB) 

It is very common in the visible church in our time to hear preachers and teachers and people within local bodies of believers to boast about all sorts of things pertaining to their salvation or walk. They boast about their confirmation, baptism, church membership, Holy Communion, keeping the Ten Commandments, living the Sermon on the Mount, giving to charity, and living a moral life. It is not uncommon to hear some even boast about their faith, but all their boasting is rooted in good works, not grace. View article →

Are good works evidence of genuine faith?

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10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. James 3:10-12 (NASB) 

Is the following statement true or false Do good works authenticate true faith? I know that for a growing segment of the church visible this is, for them, a loaded question that they will refuse to either address or answer, but if you pin them down, they will say “false.” However, if you are Biblically centered, that is, if you are centered on the fact that God’s Word is His Truth and it is the gift He has given to His people to be the source of His Truth for their time in this life, then the only answer you can give is “yes” because that is what the Bible clearly teaches. Let’s look at a passage, James 3:1-12, that clearly reveals this principle. View article →

New Memos Confirm Russia Probe’s ‘Hyper-Political Bias’

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“[Tom] Fitton told Fox News host Pete Hegseth that the memos provide proof of ‘an out-of-control investigation that is really abusive in its targeting of not only President Trump, but people around him.'”

(Kathryn Blackhurs – LifeZette)  A new report revealing top FBI officials’ “hurry the F up pressure” to obtain warrants surveilling former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page shows the Russian collusion investigation “was infected by the hyper-political bias” against President Donald Trump, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said Friday on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.” Continue reading →

If Paul Experienced Ministry Pressure–So Does Your Pastor

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“While we see a list of hardships, there is one statement that sticks out to me in 2 Corinthians 11:28 where Paul makes a statement about his anxiety regarding the churches. While we can be sure that Paul was promised to suffer for Jesus (Acts 9:16) and after being imprisoned in Rome he was beheaded for his faith…”

(Josh Buice – Delivered By Grace)  It is well documented that the apostle Paul had a hard ministry. He didn’t exactly have an ivory palace gig where he studied the ancient writings of Moses and churned out volumes of commentaries. … Continue reading →

Pope Francis Embraces ‘LGBT’

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“That the Vatican would embrace language invented by homosexual activists to promote the homosexual agenda does not bode well for the Papists. Sadly, and to our shame, our evangelical leaders – from Russell Moore at the ERLC to Albert Mohler at SBTS – have already adopted the LGBT language long ago.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  The New York Times recently printed an op-ed from John Gehring, a Roman Catholic commentator and author, wondering aloud if the church would ever fully embrace the LGBT movement. After many years of providing expert commentary on the Vatican and its various policies, Gehring’s professional assessment is that yes, the Vatican will come to a full embrace of queer people. The reason, for Gehring, is that Pope Francis has given subtle clues to his evolution on the topic of sodomy, the most astonishing of which is his embrace of the ‘LGBT’ term. Continue reading →

Judgment at the Great White Throne

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. From his presence fled the earth and heaven, and a place was not found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, having taken their stand before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by the things written in the books according to their works. Revelation 20:11-15 (translated from the NA28 Greek text) (Read verses 13-15 on the site.)

In Revelation 2:11, in his message to the Church at Smyrna, our Lord Jesus said, “Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις. Ὁ νικῶν οὐ μὴ ἀδικηθῇ ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου τοῦ δευτέρου.” Or, “The one having ears let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one overcoming will never be hurt by the second death.” What is described in Revelation 20:11-15 is the judgment of those going into “the second death.” These are people who have already lived their physical, temporal lives on earth and have died physically, but now they stand before the great white throne to receive the judgment of God. View article →

Episcopal Committee Hears Call to Revise Book of Common Prayer, Replacing Masculine Terms for God, Mankind

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“Rowan Pantalena, who identifies as “non-binary transgender” and a candidate for the Diocese of Connecticut, contended, “I am not your brother or your sister. I am your sibling.” Pantalena asked for language that would expand on the existing text, rather than a complete overhaul.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  A committee tasked with hearing desired revisions to the Book of Common Prayer listened to remarks on Wednesday from Episcopalian leaders and others who want to make the historical book’s text more gender-neutral by removing masculine nouns and pronouns for God and mankind. Some Episcopalians disagree, and have presented a resolution asking that no changes be made to the book, but rather that deeper devotion be given to the existing text. Continue reading →

All believers are called to be faithful witnesses

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

10 Do not fear the things you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison that you may be tested and you will have affliction ten days. Be faithful unto death and I will give you the Crown of Life. Revelation 2:10 (translated from the NA28 Greek text) 

Πιστὸς (pistos) is the Greek adjective translated in Revelation 2:10 (above) as “faithful.” Πιστὸς is defined as “faithful, trustworthy, reliable, dependable.” In the context of Revelation 2:10, 13, which are our Lord’s own words, to be “faithful” is to refuse to compromise the Christian faith, even in the face of persecution and martyrdom. In this day of superstar or what some call “Rock Star” Christian leaders whose popularity is based upon their willingness to dilute the Christian faith with the world and its ways or even by blending in the cultic ways of other religions, we need to have a clearer understanding of the faithfulness that is expected of the genuine Christian by our Lord. View article →

Should Followers of Christ Observe the Torah?

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“Paul says he is being persecuted because he’s not requiring obedience to the Torah. This was the source of his persecution. He calls the idea that we are under the cross rather than the Torah “the stumbling block of the cross.” Then he says that those who say we need to be circumcised should go all the way and cut it all off! Serious words, indeed.”

(Amy K. Hall – Stand To Reason) A great deal of the New Testament is devoted to the question of the Christian’s relationship to the Mosaic Law in the Torah, but if the questions I receive from people are any indication, there’s an increasing amount of confusion among Christians on this topic. (I explain my theory as to why this is happening here.) Continue reading →

Pro-Life Roe v. Wade Movie Sets Off a Panic in Hollywood

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“The film has been enveloped in controversy since its announcement last summer. Facebook blocked all crowdfunding for the film on its platform by restricting its ability to share posts or run ads.”

(Kyle Becker – LifeZette) The abortion debate has been rigged in popular American culture for decades.

Now, one filmmaker is looking to change that.

Nick Loeb secretively has begun filming a pro-life Roe v. Wade feature film that is enlisting the star power of Robert Davi, Jon Voight, and Stacey Dash, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Continue reading →

‘Thank God for Abortion’ Float Appears in New York City Homosexual Pride Parade

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“One commenter remarked, “God bless you brave and intelligent ladies. Yes, it’s your body and your baby. You all have the right to do what’s best for you. Nobody else has the right to tell you what to do with your body. …”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  A profanity-laced video posted to social media on Monday features an interview with the woman behind the “Thank God for abortion” float that appeared at the NYC Pride Parade on June 24. The woman, who claims that she was “blessed” to have two abortions, says that she is trying to push back against the Christian beliefs that stand against both homosexuality and abortion, and characterized the float as a “never before seen spectacle of autonomy and conviction.” Continue reading →

Preaching to Non-Religious People

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Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. Acts 14:15-17

Here is the pattern for preaching to a non-religious people. If you want to know how to reach your neighbors who are not interested in the gospel, and who know nothing of Scripture, who have not been to church and are not interested in it, here is the way. The approach is through nature. When Paul went to the Jews, he started with the Scriptures, the truth of God that they already knew. When he went to the Gentiles, he started with nature, the truth of God which they already knew. He points out three things that ought to have been very plain to them if they had been thinking about their contact with nature. Continue reading →

Happy Fourth!

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“Here in America today people will gather in sidewalks to see parades or in backyards to eat hot dogs or in parks to hear music…whatever you’re doing I hope it’s with family, a structure the Lord ordained as a foundational building block of the nation. And I hope it affords you means to behave in Gospel ways and to speak of the Savior to others. Because we live in America, we can still do that. We can assemble freely and practice our religion freely.”

(Elizabeth Prata – The End Time)  The Fourth of July is so fun for a kid. It’s a day when the grownups stay home and we all get to play. For some, that means swimming in the lake or at the beach. For others it means parades and cookouts. For just about everybody it means fireworks.

Our family did lots of different things on the holiday. We spent summers at the Cape. We went to the Park and listened to the Boston Pops. We had pool parties with BBQs. But mainly what I remember is our grandparents’ beach house on the Bay, cousins, and all the uncles leaving to go buy fireworks and returning laughing carrying a huge box. Cherry Bombs and rockets and roman candles, and most delightfully, sparklers.

I loved the sparklers. I’d run up and down the beach waving them as I passed all my other cousins who were doing the same thing.

Is there anything more fun or beautiful than colorful fireworks streaking overhead? Jimmy Buffett has a song called,  “The night I painted the sky”.

Independence Day

And all I remember

Was a midnight rainbow

That fell from the sky

As I stand on the beach

I slowly surrender

To the child in me

That can’t say goodbye

The rockets in the air

And the people everywhere

Put away their differences for a while

Oh I am still a child

When it comes to something wild

Oh that was the night

I painted the sky

The prominent memory is the family- nuclear and extended, gathered together on the 4th. Fun, family, eating, family, laughter, family.

There’s some negative reactions these days from Christian conservatives when a person even tiptoes over to the rah-rah America side of things. I unashamedly love my country. Though I love America, I know my ultimate citizenship is in heaven. But the Lord birthed me in 1960 in America and kept me alive throughout these 50 odd years and I can’t complain about His ordination of his time and place for my life. It wasn’t China in 645 BC or Iceland in 1828 or Germany in 1944. It was America, 1960.   View article →

The Power of Obedience

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In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, Stand up on your feet! At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. Acts 14:8-10

Notice the amazing way God began to open up this city. Paul and Barnabas had no idea what they were going to do. They did not form a committee and say, Well, let’s see if we can get the Chamber of Commerce report on the city’s population distribution. Then we could divide it into squares and evangelize in a systematic way. They had no plans other than to be there and to do what God sent them to do — to preach. So they walked right into the market place and began, trusting the Lord to have prepared certain people, to have people of his choosing ready to open the door to the city. View article →

Concerns Raised Over Video Featuring 10-Year-Old ‘Desmond the Drag Kid’: ‘I Wanted to Do Drag … When I Was Two’

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“A lot of you have to realize that your minds are stuck in the norms of our era. 500 years from now gender fluidity will be the norm. You are not able to transport your mind to the future and see it all. You’re basic [expletive]…,”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  A viral video of a 10-year-old boy who identifies as a “LGBTQ activist and advocate” and a “drag kid” is raising concern as some state that children being taught about drag and homosexuality is inappropriate and a reflection of ungodly parenting. Continue reading →

Art Azurdia Falls Into Sexual Immorality

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“By every account so far, it seems that Trinity Church in Portland has acted quickly, decisively and with integrity regarding this matter.”

 

(Pulpit & Pen)  Dr. Arturo G. Azurdia III, the brilliant expositor and homiletics master at Trinity Church in Portland has fallen into sexual immorality and been released from his position as pastor. The statement of Art Azurdia’s fall was made on the church’s website by Thomas Terry, on of Trinity Church’s remaining elders. Continue reading →

Carried About by Every Wind of Doctrine

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In his latest blog post, Rick Becker reveals some of the heretical teaching that’s currently being passed off as biblical Christianity when it clearly is not — it’s satanic!

Becker not only examines the teaching that’s being sold to the Christian “consumer” as “truth”; he discloses who’s doing the selling.  A few examples (there are many) are John Bevere, Shawn Bolz, Kris Vallotton and Roma Downey.

Bethel Church in Redding CA is one of the largest producers of “every wind of doctrine” on the planet; thus, that “church” is to be avoided at all costs.  (More on Bethel Redding here) According to Becker, the people who purchase conference tickets, books, merchandise, etc., of the people mentioned in his post are contributing to the billion dollar industry known as the “evangelical industrial complex.”  Sadly, it’s all about money….and greed.

So – here’s Rick Becker’s piece over at Famine In The Land: Continue reading →