Notes From A Retired Preacher

Many words have been written about our “job” as believers.

Let me cut to the chase…

I am an unashamed believer in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I am trusting Jesus alone to get me to Heaven. He guarantees Heaven to me, not as a reward of my works, but as His Gift to me through my faith in Jesus Christ alone as my Savior.

In my 77 years of life on this earth, no one has ever come up to me and started a cogent and clear conversation about how I can have eternal life in Christ alone.

I have been approached by many false religions and cults preaching a message contrary to God’s Word… but never a clear Gospel message.

So, this is a believer’s “job” (to me it is not a job but a privilege) to share their faith in Jesus Christ.. to convince those we meet to likewise put their faith in Jesus alone as their personal Savior.

There are many peripheral things we as believers may do; meet together with believers of like mind to encourage each otrher, study God’s Word, pray and worship the Lord. These are important.

But the Bible says “How shall they hear without a a preacher [one who shares God’s Word].” We may not all be “preachers” but we can each be sharers of the Gospel for our Savior.

That is our job no, privilege to share our Savior!

If you are not sure of Heaven, eternal life in Christ visit our personal web site.. drop a line and I will be happy to explain what God says in His Word about eternal life in Jesus Christ alone.

WeaverClan Personal Web Site

Ted Haggard, Pastor of New Life Church (NLC) and the head of the liberal National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) resigned his Pastorate today with a graphic confession. Frankly, until the MSM and the leftists decided to expose him, I never heard of him.

Haggard is a sinner as are we all. He proclaims that he is a believer in Christ.. If he believes his (NLC) Statement of faith record of the Bible, then I would guess he probably is a true Christian. But that is for the Lord to determine. However, liberal theology can muddy a clear Bible Doctrine. I have issues with some of his church doctrine which tends to touch on the charismatic error. Often such error leads one to doubt his assurance of salvation.

But does it matter that Haggard was caught? I feel for him and congratulate him for making the right decision to resign and acknowledge his sin before his congregation. I went through the similar agony as did his congregation.

Years ago the Pastor who led me to Jesus Christ, with a clear simple Gospel message, had an affair with a student. He resigned his position, divorced his wife and married the student. Shortly after, his wife developed Alzheimer’s disease and was remanded to the custody of her daughter. What a tragedy! What a shock to those of us who knew him.

Am I bitter? Honestly, I have a tough time forgetting his sin and the damage it did to my family personally and the thousands of the Body of Christ whom he had touched, but I’m not bitter.

I am thankful that my ex-Pastor has continued his life sharing salvation through Christ alone with whomever will listen.. but he realizes his organized ministry in a church is damaged and finished.

Does Haggard matter to me… No. The liberal trick of releasing this scandal just before the election probably will have little effect on discerning Conservative Christians, much to the dismay of the MSM’.

If Haggard has truly trusted in Jesus Christ alone for his salvation, then by the promise of God’s Word, he has eternal life, never to lose it. This specific sin was forgiven when Christ shed His blood on the cross, even before Haggard conceived the sin in his mind. God’s perfection was imputed to Haggard the moment he made his decision to trust Christ.

That is God’s Grace and His Love that “saved a wretch like me.”

And yes, we as believers, should pray for him and especially his wife and family.. They are in the eye of the scandal storm. His church family is in turmoil — so pray for them.

How to have eternal life.

Anna, over at the Blog “A Rose By Any Other Name” wrote a great insightful post on the Westboro Weirdoes and their missionary zeal of protesting at funerals. She made a legitimate statement, “I do not understand how a group who call themselves Christians can act in such a way.”

I commented on her statement and now expand upon it.

1. Yes, they “call” themselves Christians but anyone can call himself a Christian — but what he calls himself does not make him one.

2. She said, “They have definitely proven that time and time again by their repulsive actions.” Believers (including me ) must be constantly reminded that the action we see in a person does not prove before God that they are Christians. Only the Lord and they themselves know for sure by their faith.

3. A believer can tell that another person is a believer in Christ only by their testimony in words. I personally know many folks who are wonderfully nice and “moral” people but are members of cultic religions. I also know some folks who, by their words, profess to be Christians, yet live deplorable lives. In either case their words do not support their behavior or their behavior belies their faith.

One of these vile WestBoro Baptist women (Shirley Whoositz) said that all others (murdered babies, the Amish, Jews, and all other Christians, etc) are condemned to hell because they do not keep God’s laws. Therefore by her own words, she proves to us that she is not preaching a true Christian Gospel but an accursed, false works-law “salvation” message. Therefore, she condemns herself and all who believe her drivel.

Obeying God’s laws will never keep her or anyone else out of hell. God’s Law is perfect and condemns mankind but God’s Grace saves. The Bible says God’s law is simply a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians 3:24-25 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [instructor] to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

The penalty for breaking the law (sin) is death, spiritual separation from God. But the Gift of God is eternal life through personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Christ’s death on the cross, His burial and resurrection is the fulfillment of the law — and is available to anyone who makes a one time decision to put their faith in Christ as Savior.

Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

These Westboro Baptist people do not talk like believers in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we assume by their words that they are lost and need Jesus Christ as Savior. If God’s Grace in Christ can save a sinner like me, then He can save anyone… even these people. This is available to them only if they individually choose to place their trust/faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Only then they will have God’s gift of eternal life. They must no longer depend on the keeping of God’s law or their “good” works for salvation, but only Christ alone.

The law cannot save — placing one’s faith in Christ alone does save.

It is obvious that the Westboro bunch is being deliberately provocative, but without Christ they are blind and preaching an accursed message. Pray for their salvation in Christ alone. Then their eyes will be opened and they can see.

Please pray also for the families of the murdered children and the family of the murderer.

Our Gospel Web Site: WeaverClan.com

Liberal churches in the USA have always been far left.. but read this quote from the Jerusalem Post. Liberal Churches are anti-Israel to the core! This article was sent to me by “The Berean Call,” a Conservative Christian group. and was posted in their latest weekly newsletter.

The findings of a delegation of the World Council of Churches, upon returning from a visit to Beirut and Jerusalem is that “Israel’s assault on Lebanon was planned even before Hizbullah attacked and was aimed at driving a wedge between the different faiths that have been living in harmony in the country. We came back from Lebanon sharing the impression that this destruction was planned. And if the action by Hizbullah was the trigger, this was a planned operation all ready to go.” The World Council of Churches represents 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church (“Jerusalem Post,” 8/17/06).

[Comment from The Berean Call: To the World Council of Churches, it very reasonably seems that they do not care that missiles have been indiscriminately fired into population centers in Israel for months (years) prior to the Israel incursion. No rational individual blames a dog who is constantly kicked for occasionally biting back. Having divorced themselves from biblical truth, the World Council of Churches have cultivated a selective blindness. Inevitably they divorce themselves from reality.]

Nuff said!

The Berean Call Web site
Our personal web site.

“The problem was those who believed it failed to teach it! And soon many who did not necessarily oppose it, just no longer held it.” IFCA Voice Magazine, September-October 2006

This quote made me think about our blessed America whch I love and my faith in Christ, in whom I trust for my eternity.

Our country began with The Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Most churches begin by capturing their fundamental beliefs within a doctrinal Statement of Faith based on the Holy Scripture. In each case principles are delineated and then affirmed by those involved in the group (our country, our church).

Our liberal education system has failed just as have many of our churches because, “The problem was those who believed it failed to teach it! And soon many who did not necessarily oppose it, just no longer held it.” This illustrates the rot caused by apathy and compromise. Education no longer teaches the principles of our Constitution. Our fundamental churches no longer teach the basic principles of Scripture.

Unless we reverse this trend in our wonderful country and in our fundamental churches; unless we begin to stand for what we believe, our Republic designed by the Fathers of our Constitution and our churches designed and ordered by the Lord in His Scriptures will “Circle the drain.”

Liberals rejoice because the bell tolls for the death of our Constitution and of our fundamental Biblical faith.

2 Tim. 313-14 “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” The KJV Bible

Our country and our faith — will the younger generation be Lost to Neglect???

Our Gospel Web Site.

This morning, for five ot ten minutes, Fox and Friends featured Rick Warren, famous Pastor of Saddleback Church and author of “The Purpose Driven Life.” This was obviously a promotion for Rick’s special on FoxNews one day soon.

I don’t particularly like to pick on a fellow “Pastor” but I must.

Warren announced that he is launching a “network” of churches and church people to “change the world.” His ambitious plans are to include five billion church people throughout the world to give the people of the world a “purpose.” He says he wants to include all churches, synagogues and religions.

Striking to me was the complete absence and avoidance of the words “Christ” or “Jesus.” That is quite an omission for a supposed minister of Jesus Christ. What else are we to conclude except that his message is one of a “social gospel” or a philosophy of social redemption. Such is not a Biblical message.

We see a 2000 year old Biblical warning about such philosophies in the verse, Colossians. 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

The Apostle John spoke of those who would substitute man’s philosophy for the message of Salvation in Christ by God’s Grace in 1 John 4:5 “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.”

The world is still in the same condition as it was 2000 years ago. Here is the Apostle John speaking of Jesus Christ in John 1:10 “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.”

The world still knows Him not!

We do not need another P.E.A.C.E. group as Warren calls his movement. We need dedicated believers in Jesus Christ telling the world “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

The world needs to hear “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18

It amazes me to see this man speak for five or ten minutes on FoxNews and never mention his Savior Jesus Christ. The Saddleback church, of which he is pastor, has a reasonably clear Statement of Faith yet he seemed unwilling to share that with the millions of FoxNews listeners this morning. We can pray he will do better and share salvation in Jesus Christ on his already recorded special to be aired later on FoxNews. I am not very optimistic.
Philosophy and vain deceit will not save the world. Man will not save the world. The only salvation for this corrupt world is for believers in Christ to go into the world and share their belief and trust in the Savior Jesus Christ alone.

Find out here on our personal web site how simple it is to KNOW how to have Eternal Life.

God’s Land Grant to Abraham/Israel. What exactly is God’s Land Grant promise to Abraham and his seed, Israel.

Many followers of Israel have no idea just where the borders of Israel lie which were granted by God to Abraham and his chosen nation Israel. Below are some scriptures in the Old Testament which delineate these borders exactly.

The dark outlined area describes the Royal Land Grant from God to Israel through Abraham.

Genesis 15:18 “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:”

Ezekiel 48:1 “How these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; …”

Ezekiel 48:28- 29 “And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea. “

I strongly recommend you read Ezekiel 48:1-29 to understand the division of the land between the tribes of Israel.

When will this happen? By reading prophetic Scripture, it is commonly believed that this will occur at the beginning of the Millennial Reign of Jesus the Messiah over Israel and the nations. Here is the chronology:

• First: This event is called by Christians “The Rapture” or the taking out of believers from the earth to ever be with the Lord and this happens prior to the beginning of The Great Tribulation. This Divine Delivery is for Jews and Gentiles who died as believers in Jesus the Messiah and likewise for believers who are still living. These “Raptured” ones are those, Jew and Gentile, who have made the decision to trust Jesus the Messiah as their personal Savior. This event can happen at any moment in the blink of an eye.
• Second: Seven years of great Tribulation on the earth, at the middle of which the person and identity of the Anti-christ will be revealed.
• Third: At the close of the Great Tribulation, the Nations of the World will gather against Israel in the Final Big Battle of Armageddon, believed to take place in the Valley of Megiddo in Israel. The Messiah returns with His legions and, by the word of His mouth and the brightness of His coming, He destroys the anti-christ and his minions who are the enemies of Israel. This is a final victory for Israel.
• Fourth: After this victory, Israel as a nation will realize and trust that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus will finalize the Royal Land Grant to the Nation of Israel described in the illustration above and will rule and reign over the nations for One Thousand Years (Millennium) from the Throne of David in Jerusalem (The City of Peace).

So today, what are we to do to prepare?

If you have never done so, make a decision and personal choice to trust Jesus Christ, the Messiah, as your Savior — right now. He is THE Savior for Jew and Gentile alike but until you personally trust Him alone as YOUR Savior, His free gift of salvation will bypass you. Take His Free Gift.

How I trusted Jesus the Messiah as my Savior

Is Israel Surrounded?

This was originally posted January 6th 2006 — and is more relevant today than then.
Can you even find Israel in the sea of Muslims? Believe me, THEY know how to locate Israel.

Just Ramblin’.

Think Israel…. Think its borders.. think its predicament.

I am not an Israeli but I love Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, but think on this.

Would “surrounded” describe Israel? We have known for years that this is the condition of the little nation of Israel. Look at a map of Israel and its environs.

• “Palestinian” Gaza to the west, “
• “Palestinian” Egypt and
• “Palestinian” Saudi Arabia Wahabists to the South,
• “Palestinian” Hesbollah in Lebanon and
• “Palestinian” Golan Heights to the North,
• “Palestinian” Syria to the East,
• “Palestinian” Iran over to the east within striking distance — Calling the shots
• Supposedly friendly Jordan to the East…

Palestinian terrorists Hamas elected in the Jimmah Cahtah supervised elections in Palestinian territory.

Hesbollah rockets striking Israel without mercy and without care about killing civillians.

Iranian “President” Ahmadinejad promoter and financier of Hamas and Hesbollah all over the world makes some claims he is the Islamic “messiah” and threatens to wipe Israel off the map.

Ahmadinejad recently concluded a friendly visit with Dictator Bashir Asad of Syria. What did they talk about? Was it in preparation for the present offensive?
General Georges Sada, former cabinet guy and confidant of Saddam Hussein writes and swears that he has credible information that Saddam shipped 57 airliners loaded with WMD to Asad in Damascus, Syria just before the Iraqi liberation. See article here

Israel IS surrounded, as in the coil of a snake, by militant Palestinians who vow to kill all Jews and wipe Israel off the map. Ahmadinejad , the oil rich “messiah,” could call all Palestinian terrorist governments to attack Israel on cue, while he sends some of those No-See-Um WMDs to Israel via his long range missiles.

Pray for the peace of Israel… but pray someone strikes Palestinian terrorists before they strike Israel. (and the terrorists will strike). (and they HAVE)!!
And just think, until recently the USA paid the Palestinian Authority millions and millions of US taxpayer dollars..

An interesting take on Palestinians in Jewish World Review, by Victor Davis Hanson.

Addendum to Hamas plans:

From The Patriot Post, Conservative newsletter — published by Mark Alexander, a true Patriot friend:

With the election results in, the United States has vowed not to deal with Hamas—and with good reason. Thursday, only one day after the elections, a joint U.S.-Colombian sting operation uncovered a false passport ring with links to Hamas and al-Qa’ida. The counterfeit Colombian passports were then used by terrorists to gain entry into the U.S. and Europe. South American organized crime’s latest cooperation with Hamas and al-Qa’ida shows just how broad the global campaign against terror has become.

Patriot Post, International Conservative Newsletter

Israel is indeed in the coil of the snake — and Iran is the head of the serpent.
My Website

I am not one who loves all the contrived greeting card holidays… Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.But with this post, I will explain why it is important for us to do the Biblical thing and "Honor thy father and mother…"

Though I loved my Dad we had disagreements and arguments. Who doesn't. He provided well for his family and loved all of us in spite of us. Twenty two years ago he died and went home to Christ his Savior. Shortly after I trusted Christ as my Savior I was concerned for Dad's eternal destiny — even though he was a very "religious" and moral person,

When we visited Dad and Mom, our conversations would devolve into "arguments" about "What is a Christian?" He wanted to know but would not believe me when I told him what the Bible said. I explained to him, "A Christian is one who has, by faith, trusted Christ alone as his Savior." I know I pestered him so much he was disgusted with me. Shortly before he died at age 83, he wrote a letter to me, unprompted (something he had never done before) — in which he said "I know you wanted to know… I trusted Christ as my Savior…." I still have that letter, typed with his old Smith-Corona portable typewriter. It is a treasure to me.

Folks, show your Dad you love him, hug him and tell him how much you care for him. If you know Christ as your Savior, share Jesus with him. He won't be around forever.

Dads. if you know for sure you are going to Heaven, tell your kids how they can know!

Here are excerpts from a wonderful piece about fathers in the Patriot Post 6/16/06 newsletter.

Headline in a "study" report: "Fathers linked to healthy families"…

What cadre of nescient dolts does not already know that fathers are essential to healthy families, and who among us would waste good money on a study to affirm that which is so abundantly clear?

Alas, certain enlightened folks out there insist that holding the institution of fatherhood in high esteem is tantamount to misogyny. In fact, many liberals have, for the past four decades, insisted that mothers can do it all. One of the high priestesses of the so-called women's movement, Gloria Steinem, once declared, "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." And last fall, uber leftist Feminista Maureen Dowd published a book entitled, "Are Men Necessary?" which has become the manifesto of the man-hating movement.

Worse yet, academicians are spending large sums of your tax dollars to research this very question, despite the plethora of family research indicating that children raised in homes with their biological fathers have a much higher chance of succeeding in life. Unfortunately, some 25 million American children live absent or apart from their biological fathers. One in three children—and only one in five inner-city children—are in homes with their fathers.

Of course, many moms have no choice but to do it all. This is because many biological fathers have abdicated their responsibility for proper love, discipline, teaching, support, moral guidance and protection of their family. (Memo to divorced dads and assorted victims of feminist rage and unfair family courts: Please hold your mail—we know that women file almost 70 percent of divorces, most without any claim of abandonment, infidelity or abuse.)

 

The disastrous social consequences of this abdication are clearly evident and well documented. Though many single moms do manage to bring up relatively well-adjusted kids with the help of extended families, churches and schools, the correlation between social deviancy and fatherless homes is irrefutably linked.

"The lack of effective, functioning fathers is the root cause of America's social, economic and spiritual crises," writes Dr. Edwin Cole.

To wit, the truth—and it is a hard truth for men who have abandoned their families, but a harder truth for their children: According to the CDC, DoJ, DHHS and the Bureau of the Census, the 30 percent of children who live apart from their fathers will account for 63 percent of teen suicides, 70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions, 71 percent of high-school dropouts, 75 percent of children in chemical-abuse centers, 80 percent of rapists, 85 percent of youths in prison, and 85 percent of children who exhibit behavioral disorders. In addition, 90 percent of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. In fact, children born to unwed mothers are 10 times more likely to live in poverty as children with fathers in the home.

"[The causal link between fatherless children and crime] is so strong that controlling for family configuration erases the relationship between race and crime and between low income and crime," notes social researcher Barbara Dafoe Whitehead. David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values, adds, "[The absence of fathers] from family life is surely the most socially consequential family trend of our era."

Of course, the traditional family model is clearly ordained by God as evidenced throughout the Old and New Testaments. In fact, every major religion in the world recognizes an identical family order.

Tragically, the pages of history—especially 20th-century history—are rife with the terrible misdeeds of those who were raised without fathers, or with abusive fathers: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden and many others of lesser infamy.

Never let it be said, however, that the Left allows the facts to get in the way of its agenda. Indeed, a strong case can be made that liberal social policies are directly responsible for generations of fatherless children—particularly black children. And Democrats, as we have noted many times previously, have a vested interest in keeping blacks and other "victimized" constituencies dependent on the state.

Love your Dads AND your Moms!!! You will never regret it — even if they don't show you the same love in return.

Our personal web site: WeaverClan.com

Biblical Christianity has been under attack since Jesus Christ appeared on this earth in the Flesh 2000 years ago.

During the month of April this year we see a crush of books and movies attempting to destroy the message of Salvation in Jesus.

You’ve seen apostasy promoted on ABC, National Geographic and NBC. You’ve seen most of these books of lies on the best seller lists, The Gnostic gospels, the Da Vinci Code [the book and the movie], The Jesus Papers, the Gospel of Judas, ad nauseam.

If this weren’t bad enough, the ACLU’s war against Christianity, the supposed doctrine of “separation of church and state” and removing all vestiges of the Christian faith from every avenue of life continue as relentless as the tide in the Bay of Fundy.

The “religious” left is busy promoting anything to destroy all vestiges of Christianity and the evangelization of our country.

Despite all of this incessant drumbeat of anti-Christian rhetoric, just remember: Jesus is still risen… He still lives. His Salvation is still available to each and every person who will receive Christ by faith alone.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

There is NO WAY the power of these satanic messages can cause a believer in Jesus Christ to “lose” his faith, but these can cause him discouragement and disillusionment. On the other hand, the tragedy is that an unbeliever can be deterred from believing the truth by indulging in these lies, false-message books and movies.

As has been said in a book title, “Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth!” (Hal Lindsey)

The Good News message of salvation in Christ will not be stopped despite the extreme tactics of the left..

The attitude of the Apostle Paul should be the attitude of every believer who places their faith in Jesus for eternal life.

Philippians 1:20 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”

The facts:

1 Cor. 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ……. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The Truth will conquer and outlive the lies of those who attempt, through their puny efforts, to destroy the Gospel of Jesus.

Visit Our Gospel web site.

HE IS RISEN!!
Which event is the most important, (1) the death or (2) the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah?Of course there would be no resurrection of Jesus had He not been crucified… but He was crucified.

But what if, after Jesus was crucified, dead and buried, He had not resurrected from the grave? There would be no salvation.. There would be no proof that Jesus is indeed God in the flesh and that is Satan’s message. We see such a lie has been touted by “liberal” theologians from the time shortly after Jesus was put to death by the Roman court.

• Matthew 28:1-8
  “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers [guards] did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.”
• Luke 24:6-7
  “He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

“Great Joy” would be an understatement!! Imagine their circumstances, the Person they trusted, worshipped and followed had just been humiliated, crucified, had died and was buried. They come to the tomb expecting to complete their mourning. Then they see the tomb empty and hear the words, “He is not here: for He is risen.” HE IS RISEN! Imagine the JOY!

• Then in Matthew 28:11-14
  “…some of the watch [soldiers, guards of the tomb] came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you [keep you out of trouble].”

This is amazing. The soldier guards knew Jesus had arisen from the tomb even though it was tightly sealed and this happened while they were guarding the tomb. A Roman guard who failed in his duty was liable for the death penalty thus they would move heaven and earth to see their duty was completed. So here we see the origin of the lie, perpetuated even until today, from those who deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For centuries books and expose’s have been written trying to disprove the Resurrection… all to no avail. HE IS RISEN!!

Often, religion tends to dwell on the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus to the neglect of the resurrection. YES, the horrible crucifixion of Christ is a vital part of the Gospel of our Salvation.. But religions too often ignore or de-emphasize the fact — HE IS RISEN!

By His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the Messianic promise outlined in the Old Testament.

The Gospel (Good News) is not good news without the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is alive but Mohammed is dead, Buddha is dead, Confucius, Mary Baker Eddy, Joseph Smith, etc are all dead. Every religious leader throughout history has died. The only One to rise under His own power is Jesus the promised Messiah.

The following has been called “The Gospel in a Nutshell”:

• 1 Corinthians 15:1-6
  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, ….. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once….”

Witness after witness after witness: this is evidence of His resurrection.

Salvation by God’s Grace is understanding that we are imperfect. God calls this sin. Our sin requires a death penalty.. But God with love beyond infinity, loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to make that death penalty for the whole world, to the Jew first and then the Gentile, that all who would believe or trust in Jesus would have everlasting life in Heaven with Him. Jesus came and fulfilled the law and paid the death penalty we humans owe. He did that and arose from the grave just as He predicted. Now the responsibility is upon us. Do we trust Jesus alone as our Savior, our complete Savior, apart from our good works? If we do trust Jesus alone, we HAVE everlasting life, guaranteed.

• John 3:16-18
  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
  He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Dear friend, at this time of year when we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, perhaps you do not know for sure you have eternal life in Christ. If you are not sure, please trust or rely upon Jesus alone as your Savior to deliver you to Heaven, to give you eternal life. It is not by an organization, church or your good works, simply Jesus. I pray you will make this decision as it is the most important one you will make during your entire life on this earth.

I pray you will!!

Our Personal Web Site

First — From God’s Word:

Col. 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

From: The Patriot Post

“A cynical, mercenary, demagogic press will produce in time a people as base as itself.” — Joseph Pulitzer ++ “In the United States there is no phenomenon more threatening to popular government than the unwillingness of newspapers to give the facts to their readers.” — Nelson Antrim Crawford

“The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie. One word of truth outweighs the world.” — Alexander Solzhenitsyn

“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” — General George S. Patton

“Being defeated is often only a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.” — Marilyn vos Savant

“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.” — Samuel Ullman

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More from The Patriot Post:

The wild eyed Church Left Says: “Measures to counter terrorism must be demilitarized and the concept of ‘war on terror’ must be firmly and resolutely challenged by the churches… The ‘war on terror’ has redefined war and relativized international law and human rights norms and standards. A military response to terror may become indiscriminately destructive and cause fear in affected populations.” — World Council of Churches statement urging a “criminal justice approach” to dealing with Jihadi terrorism

Do we suppose Terrorists will shrink in fear from our demilitarized search and destroy mission?

Bookworm has a great article about some who defy the MSM and in turn warn of Islamic totalitarianism. Here..

Caliphate. Sharia Law. what does it mean?

Americans and freedom loving folks the world over…I warn you! Pay attention to the Muslim riots, Cartoon wars, Iranian threats to Israel and Europe. Then listen to the lies flowing from the liberals in the NSA hearings.

Bookworm comments on a post extracted from a post of Daniel Pipes about the insidious nature of irrational Muslim behavior in the world.

Is “crescendo” the operative word for world events?

Read it and weep!

Standing firm in the face of a medieval culture

Thanks, Bookworm!!

Is the world, the United States ready for an Iranian messiah? Daniel Pipes writing for American Conservative Union warns his readers that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran is preparing the way for the messiah of Islam. (perhaps he thinks he is the one — some time within the next few years).

Pipes says:

Thanks to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a new word has entered the political vocabulary: mahdaviat.

Not surprisingly, it’s a technical religious term. Mahdaviat derives from mahdi, Arabic for “rightly-guided one,” a major figure in Islamic eschatology. He is, explains the Encyclopaedia of Islam, “the restorer of religion and justice who will rule before the end of the world.” ….. continues the encyclopedia, “Belief in the coming of the Mahdi (Messiah) of the Family of the Prophet became a central aspect of the faith in radical Shi‘ism,” where it is also known as the return of the Twelfth Imam.

In a fine piece of reporting, Scott Peterson of the Christian Science Monitor shows the centrality of mahdaviat in Ahmadinejad’s outlook and explores its implications for his policies.

He often raises the topic, and not just to Muslims. When addressing the UN in September, Ahmadinejad flummoxed his audience of world political leaders by concluding his address with a prayer for the Mahdi’s appearance: “O mighty Lord, I pray to you to hasten the emergence of your last repository, the Promised One, that perfect and pure human being, the one that will fill this world with justice and peace.”

On returning to Iran from New York, Ahmadinejad recalled the effect of his U.N. speech: one of our group told me that when I started to say “In the name of God the almighty and merciful,” he saw a light around me, and I was placed inside this aura. I felt it myself. I felt the atmosphere suddenly change, and for those 27 or 28 minutes, the leaders of the world did not blink. … And they were rapt. It seemed as if a hand was holding them there and had opened their eyes to receive the message from the Islamic republic.

“Mahdaviat is a code for [Iran’s Islamic] revolution, and is the spirit of the revolution,” says the head of an institute dedicated to studying and speeding the Mahdi’s appearance. “This kind of mentality makes you very strong,” observes the political editor of Resalat newspaper, Amir Mohebian. “If I think the Mahdi will come in two, three, or four years, why should I be soft? Now is the time to stand strong, to be hard.” Some Iranians, reports PBS, “worry that their new president has no fear of international turmoil, may think it’s just a sign from God.”

I’d reverse that formulation. The most dangerous leaders in modern history are those (like Hitler) equipped with a totalitarian ideology and a mystical belief in their own mission. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fulfills both these criteria, as revealed by his U.N. comments. That combined with his expected nuclear arsenal make him an adversary who must be stopped, and urgently.

Read the entire article in: American Conservative Union

Believers in Christ who have read the “Left Behind” series will recognize the attributes of the anti-christ in this corrupt Iranian leader. Americans and Christians beware.

If you would like to know for sure you are going to Heaven My Web Site

Joe, my comments here about language are not intended as a criticism of you – but of determining whether a language style is one I’d endorse for my family and friends. As we all know, people do what people do! I am not personally offended, only hesitant to recommend certain blog language to those close to me. This, of course, means they must miss the good stuff too.

“Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults.” Socrates (469 BC – 399 BC)

So likewise, I excoriate myself with this quote:
“Socrates seems to be the philosophical napkin with which the ensuing cultural thinkers of history wipe their mouths of pedantic ooze.” Unknown

Before (and a while after) I trusted Christ as my Savior, I jaw-boned a verbal blue flame with the best (or worst) of ’em. Thankfully, the Lord did not make it a requirement that I clean up my language in order to secure my eternal life in Christ. The “F” bomb (as it is called now) was a common word of mine and I used it (and many others) with abandon. (I thank God that by His Grace I have eternal life — not by my actions or quality of words, but simply by my mental decision to put my faith in Christ as my Savior.)

However, as many have said, “Words mean things.” Here is a Biblical statement, “but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay.” I believe a malediction strengthens no argument.

Shortly after I trusted Christ, I realized that as I spoke, my young children and friends listened — and many times mimicked what they heard. Finally I concluded — I can express my thoughts just as well (maybe better) without the necessity of unseemly language. I am thankful my kids and g’kids have followed my lead into a more civil language style (at least when they are around me.)

Again, I emphasize — this note is not critical of you, but is indicative of my desire to see my family read Conservative and/or Christian sources which do not emulate the “average.” I pray my kids and g’kids strive to be above average… Joe, I’m not just “pickin'” on you — I have a similar problem with Rush when he goes off on a tear with off-color language, innuendo and puerile topics which he seems to enjoy. Rush, who has such a brilliant mind, would be just as effective without them. I cannot tell my g’kids to tune in to him — for fear that they will think I am OK with such words and thoughts.

This verse means a lot to me:
“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 1:13

Guess I’ll hop down from my pulpit, thanks for your forbearance.. (Fret not — at my age, I can’t hop anywhere.)

Thank God I am in Christ eternally, determined by His Grace and my choice, not by my behavior.

“Religion” — The pathetic and the comical.

National Review Online (NRO) interviewed writer Andrew Brietbart, author of “Hollywood Interrupted” and produced the following insight into the mind of “religious” Hollywood.

NRO: How long before Kaballah {unorthodox Jewish mysticism} is out of style in your parts? Will Scientology ever be?

Breitbart: I didn’t grow up in a particularly religious house, or neighborhood, so I understand skeptics of organized religion. But the same people who mock the story of Jesus, the ones that speak incredulously of the “Virgin birth” or bemoan the Gospels, are the first people to line up outside L. Ron Hubbard’s pulp-science-fiction temple or to buy Madonna-endorsed Kaballah-water and her voodoo bracelets. Twenty years ago it was Shirley MacLaine and her myriad lives, all of which were strangely historical leading roles. Astrology will always be a given here. Hollywood will always be a reliable place to study comically trendy belief systems. In a strange way, I find this a good thing.

Many folks exuberantly pay their fare to see and adore movies of these Hollywoodians not realizing fully that their “small” ticket price. multiplied by millions, enriches the coffers of these foes of our American Republic. Of course these examples are the extremes in the world of American “religion” but some of the “mainstream religions” are just as pathetic.

Witness this post from “The Berean Call” newsletter, 12/12/2005:

Dominion Theology (reconstruction, kingdom now, etc.) is a very real part of what is called “The New Spiritual Warfare.” One frequent teaching is that our prayer gives the Lord permission to operate in the earth.

[False] Religion Says: “As intercessors we have an enormous responsibility. God will actually use us to enforce his will in what I call the earth realm.” “The law of prayer is the highest law of the universe. It can overcome the other laws by sanctioning God’s intervention.” (“Possessing The Gates Of The Enemy,” Cindy Jacobs, p. 48).

God Says: “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35).

The idea that “religion” can “sanction” or give permission to God before He can act borders on the absurd. God, Who created the Universe, needs no permission from man to function.

Reformed Christianity (Calvinism) makes claims that God, despite man’s desires or choice, determines in advance that some folks go to Heaven while leaving those less fortunate to be condemned to Hell. If that were true, God would be choosing some to Heaven and choosing the rest to hell. This makes a mockery of God’s Love and Grace. Scripture says God loves the whole world and by His Grace, as His love gift, sent Jesus Christ to pay for the sins of the world.. the whole world, not just a chosen few — so that whoever trusts Christ as Savior WILL have eternal life!. Some time ago I spoke with a friend whose mother deliberately chose not to trust Christ as her Savior. As he and I discussed the failures of Calvinism he stated, “I could never worship a god who deliberately refused to allow my mother to make a decision to trust Christ as her Savior!”

Even the time honored father of Protestantism, Martin Luther managed to proclaim a message contrary to God’s Gospel.

Luther said, “Where there are no good works, there is no faith. If works and love do not blossom forth, it is not genuine faith, the Gospel has not yet gained a foothold, and Christ is not yet rightly known.” John Dillenberger, ed., Martin Luther (New York: Doubleday, 1961), 18.

Martin Luther obviously misread the Scripture in Ephesians 2:8-10, especially Verse 10:
Ephes. 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Now if the Bible, in Ephesians 2:10, said “we MUST walk in them. [good works],” then I could agree with Luther. However the Bible says, as believers in Christ, “we should walk in them..” I must believe the Bible before I believe Martin Luther in this matter. God graciously gives us the choice to trust Christ — and then we as believers have the choice to serve Him, which we should do.

TV is cluttered with unbiblical preachers proclaiming, “Put your money on my altar and God guarantees to bless you with material prosperity!” God’s Word never makes such promises.

Screaming TV preachers “preach” in a breathless, unintelligible gibberish and the audience becomes ecstatic.

The largest and best known religious TV channels spend hours weeping and telling how they are strapped for funds. They beg for your dollars while seated in and surrounded by gilded furnishings and silken finery.

Has organized mainstream “religion” become a pathetic comic routine? Kaballah, Scientology, Calvinism, New Age Emotionalism, MacLaine’s reincarnation religion of secret mysticism and The Prosperity Gospel, ad infinitum. These are all perversions of God’s simple, eternal plan of Salvation. Apparently the world’s religions have become a proud, prancing, pitiful and pathetic comedy with eternally pernicious consequences.

What IS the truth of God’s simple Gospel — the eternal plan for all mankind? Read it HERE.

What’s the difference between these two combinations of words?

1. The press says with a sneer, “Spying on American Citizens”
2. President Bush says “Surveillance upon Alcaida and those communicating with Alcaida; listening in on those who are sworn enemies of freedom in general and America in particular.”

Answer:

1. This is a statement made by determined liberal mainstream media trying to smear the President, hoping to assist in the defeat of the United States.
2. This is the truth about what President Bush is doing; desperately trying to protect the country against our sworn enemy, International Radical Islam and fellow travelers in this country.

Just think (if you dare), what if we were condemned to another Clinton or a Gore, Kerry or Teddy, et al, under the same set of circumstances. The press would laud the President, crown him with many crowns and fall at his or her feet in putrid worship.

I thank the Lord for the Neo and Old conservative blogs. Having been through the political wars for 50 years as a Conservative, I find it a real joy to see the newer generation awaken to the serious dangers hidden under that slimy alias of “Liberal Democrat.” Back in my day, we called them Socialists and Communists. We weren’t too far off then and it smells the same today.

Folks, the liberals do have an agenda.. to regain their good old power days regardless the price. The security of our country is either non-existant or waaaay down on their list. Destruction of our free Republic is their goal.

Of course liberals are being powered primarily by the mainstream media. However, don’t overlook a close scrutiny of mainstream “religion.” Think it not strange that religion of the left is also playing its part by promoting the liberal philosophy and theology. I will try, in my next post, to quote from mainstream religion to prove the point.

Jesus Christ Himself said in Matthew 15:9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy said 1 Tim. 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

So, let’s not be taken in and hoodwinked by the left in politics or our faith.

John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.