What is the “New Birth?” Part 2

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In the second and final part of this two part study, will cover the “new birth.” 

What does the new birth produce?

  • IT PRODUCES A SINLESS NATURE.  1 John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him:  and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
  • IT PRODUCES A NATURE THAT CANNOT SIN.  1 John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him:  and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
  • IT PRODUCES A RIGHTEOUS NATURE.  2 Corinthians 5:21 – For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
  • IT PRODUCES A DIVINE NATURE.  2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:  that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 
burden-fell-off-tn

At left, we see the same Christian from Pilgrim’s Progress that we saw heavily burdened before.  With his attention fully on the Cross, his burden has fallen off and is rolling away.  This was a conscious choice that Christian made, when he decided in his heart that the One on the cross had paid the price for his heavy burden.  It was impossible for him to get free of the burden – without the cross.  Christian was still in his flesh – and the flesh never changes.  But he had a new Spirit dwelling within  him, a Spirit that also never changes.  Christian now has two natures:  the old nature from his birth according to the flesh; and the new nature from the birth according to the Spirit.  By the old birth, all are children of the flesh; by the new birth, we are children of God.  That is why . . .

John 3:7

Ye must be born again.

Christian:“Thus far did I come laden with my sin,
Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in,
Till I came hither. What a place is this!
Must here be the beginning of my bliss?
Must here the burden fall from off my back?
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?
Blest cross! blest sepulchre! blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me!”

John 3:3

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

sage

What is the “New Birth?” Part 1

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In this two part study, this first half will cover the “first birth,” or our birth into flesh.

What does the flesh birth produce?

  • IT PRODUCES AN OLD, SINFUL NATURE.  Psalm 51:5 – Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;  and in sin did my mother conceive me. 
  • IT PRODUCES A CORRUPTIBLE NATURE. 1 Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.
  • IT PRODUCES AN OLD NATURE UNDER THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. 1 Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  • IT PRODUCES AN OLD NATURE THAT MAKES EVERY UNSAVED PERSON A CHILD OF THE DEVIL. 1 John 3:10 – In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 
pilgrims progress

The image to the left, is Christian, from Pilgrim’s Progress.   The burden he carries is a lifetime of sin.  The interesting thing, is that reading “The Book,” was what made him realize how great the burden actually was, and how desperately he wanted to be relieved of his burden.  We all carry a burden of sin, which increases in weight day by day, until we choose to be rid of it – through the new birth.  Christian came to the realization, that he needed more than a teacher –  he needed a Savior.  He needed more than religion – he needed regeneration.  He needed more than the law – he needed life. 

Christian: I seek an Inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away ; and it is laid up in Heaven, and fast there , to be bestowed at the time appointed, on them that diligently seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my Book.

John 3:3

 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:6

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Christian Theater – Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

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I hope most of you have already seen this excellent documentary from Ben Stein, which ably demonstrates the prejudice against  Intelligent Design in academia. 

 What I appreciate most about this riveting film, is Mr. Stein’s brilliant conclusion, that a solid belief in Darwinian evolution, invariably leads to atheism.  This video has my highest recommendation, for ages 14 and up. 

For the Lord’s Day – Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

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  1. What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms;
    What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms.
    • Refrain:
      Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
      Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
  2. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms;
    Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms.
  3. What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms?
    I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms.

The Story Behind Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Anthony Showalter was leading a singing school in an Alabama church in 1887. When he returned to his boardinghouse room one night, two letters awaited him. Both were from former students, and both men told of the recent loss of their wives. Mr. Showalter wrote back, seeking to comfort the young men in the midst of their grief.But what to write? When he came to the end of each letter, he wanted to include a Bible verse. He picked Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms ….”

He pondered the words of that verse as he penned them into the letters, and the lyrics of the chorus of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms came to his mind. He wrote to his friend, Elisha Hoffman, explaining that he had a chorus, but no verses. Mr. Hoffman wrote back with the rest of the words of this famous hymn.

Sam Duncan, a student and nephew of Mr. Showalter, was given the class assignment to write the tune for this poem. The piece was published under his uncle’s name in the book Glad Evangel for Revival, Camp and Evangelistic Meeting Hymnal.

http://hymnswelove.blogspot.com/2012/05/story-behind-leaning-on-everlasting.html

Deuteronomy 33:27

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Revelation 19:11-16

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.

13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And He hath on his vesture and on His thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

Isn’t He AWESOME?

Friday Proverb – Warning Against Idleness

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Last Friday’s Proverb was a stern warning against taking on debt.  This week, the Proverb covers another kind of dishonesty.  While taking on debt that you may or may not be able to repay is outward dishonesty – idleness is yet another form of sinful dishonesty – a form that we all too often excuse ourselves for doing. 

ants

Proverbs 6:6-8

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,  8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Job 12:7

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Idleness is a sin that every Christian needs to take strong action against.  Idleness should not be confused with taking rest – for even our Creator rested.  I will relate now, a story from my childhood – which aptly demonstrates the old adage – “Idle hands are the devil’s playground.”

My mother was a fabulous cook, and after my grandmother found it too taxing to host the family holiday get-togethers, it became my mother’s sole responsibility.  One Christmas, while the men were in the family room discussing politics as usual, the ladies were in the kitchen preparing the feast.  The ladies included me (age 10) my older sister (age 16) my mother, grandmother, and my aunt. 

My mother, sister, and grandmother, were all at different parts of the counter and stove, variously chopping and stirring, while I manned the sink and the dishes.  My aunt – a perpetually whiny creature, was sitting at the kitchen table facing all of our backs, and flicking through an open cookbook of my mother’s – while complaining about my uncle – her husband (also my grandmother’s son.) 

This griping went on for about 20 minutes while we were all sweating with our work, when finally my grandmother, bless her, said quietly but firmly – “Shut up and read your cookbook!”  The point of this story being – the harder you are working – the less time you have to feel sorry for yourself. 

1 Thessalonians 4:11

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. 

Matthew 20:6

And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

lazy housewife

Proverbs 6:9-11

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

We could post a list here of common things that encourage laziness and steal our time, such as TV and Facebook – but blaming those things is another form of laziness – because the real blame rests right on our proverbial laps.  No “thing” is the cause of our sluggishness except our own sinful selves, anymore than alcohol makes an alcoholic, or beautiful items at the store cause shoplifting.  The sin is ours and ours alone.  If we are honest, we could all admit to at least occasional idleness – in my case – it is more than occasional!  The reason we don’t turn off our computers, televisions and telephones is because we- don’t- want- to! 

Slothfulness at work – whether at home, job, or school, will lead to poverty says the Proverb.  I know women who whine that they do not have enough money to buy food, yet will not invest an hour a week to carefully plan shopping and coupons.  Yet these same females will spend an entire hour on the phone, complaining about how little they have to spend!  How many workers complain tirelessly about their jobs – but won’t work hard enough to advance themselves?  Dishes won’t wash themselves, laundry won’t fold itself, papers won’t file by sitting on your desk – and product orders will not be filled by osmosis.  Doing the minimum is idleness – and it is very, very sinful.  The church is guilty as charged, for sitting back in comfort and not contending for the faith as instructed by the Word of God. 

sleeping_in_church

1 Corinthians 15:58

King James Version (KJV)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Friday Proverb – No Guarantees?

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The past two Proverb studies have covered  sins of the flesh.  This week is another kind of sin, and it has to do with making promises about money. 

striking hands

Proverbs 6:1-5

King James Version (KJV)

6 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

This has to do with making promises  to others in terms of financial debt.  Either involving yourself in a venture on behalf of your own interest, or someone else (like a family member or friend as in co-signing) is against The LORD’s perfect will.  Even personal mortgages are immoral in this respect – because you are purchasing something that you may not be able to repay.  By signing a contract such as that you have – “stricken hands with a stranger” (a bank or lending institution.)  As every person is aware of in this country and around the word – banks do not think twice about ejecting you from the house or car – because technically – you never owned them to begin with.  It was always the banks’ – unless and until you pay it in entirety. 

v.2 – you said it – you own it! 

debt

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

The LORD says – do not rest until you have cleared up the debt!

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

free

The purveyors of debt are likened here to a hunter!  As hunters are wont to do – they set traps – and foolish prey step into them. 

[what is being discussed here is personal debt – not business]

By Dave Ramsey

Myth: Debt is a tool and should be used to help create prosperity.
Truth: Debt isn’t used by wealthy people nearly as much as we are led to believe.

Debt is dumb. Most normal people are just plain broke because they are in debt up to their eyeballs with no hope of help. If you’re in debt, then you’re a slave because you do not have the freedom to use your money to help change your family tree.

According to a USA Today article about debt, 78% of Baby Boomers have mortgage debt, 59% have credit card debt, and 56% have car payments. It takes a lot of will, discipline, courage and help to slay the debt monster. But it can be done. Imagine how much you could put toward retirement if you just didn’t have a stinking car payment? This is how the wealthy really build their wealth. Debt is dumb. Welcome to the real world!

Consider the Risk

My contention is that debt brings on enough risk to offset any advantage that could be gained through leverage of debt. Given time—a lifetime—risk will destroy the perceived returns purported by the myth-sayers. I once was a myth-sayer myself and could repeat the myths very convincingly. I was especially good with the “debt is a tool” myth. I even sold rental property that was losing money to investors by showing them, with very sophisticated internal rates of return, how they would actually make money!

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  

contentment

Friday Proverb – Exhortations on Marital Fidelity

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Our last week’s Proverb focused on the general sin of fornication.  This week is a continuation of the theme – focusing on faithfulness to the marriage bed, using wonderful prose to give us the depth of meaning. 

wedding rings

15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.

18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Could the Word be any more clear? 

19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

Proverbs 5: 15-19

family

Gentlemen – is it possible you do not fully comprehend how it hurts your wife when you lust after other women?  Despite the so-called women’s movement, it is clear that men in their hearts still look at females  essentially the same way.  We read far too  frequently of prominent pastors committing adultery.  Why?  What is the reason?

19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

SELFISHNESS

Both husband and wife must be willing to lay aside their  self-interest – just as Jesus – the Bridegroom of the church did.

Philippians 2:7-8

King James Version (KJV)

major loser

7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

This denial of self-interest is not demeaning! It is the only way to happiness and fulfillment in marriage!

20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

The rebuke for this kind of foolishness is not a mere hand slap. . .

bondage

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings.

22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself,and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Proverbs 5:20-23

The philosophy of the world does NOT make happy marriages.  Sadly, most Christians have accepted the conditioning that marriages are a 50/50 proposition.  That quotient has never worked, and it will bring forth the struggle for “getting our due.”  Since a married couple is one flesh – the marital unit  can not survive with two heads –  which is exactly what the 50/50 idea promotes.  Selfishness is the root of all marital problems. 

1 Peter 3:7

King James Version (KJV)

 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Friday Proverb – Warning Against Immorality

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Last Friday, the wise counsel was to walk in wisdom – that walking with the LORD and feeding on His Word is life and health – both physical and spiritual.  Today, the enticements of the flesh are shown for what they are – death.

cheating

1My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

2That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

3For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

4But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.

As the young man in the illustration demonstrates – nothing is hidden.  The person he is deceiving is unaware, but the LORD sees everything.  He may think he’s not hurting anyone – but the Proverb goes on to explain that the hurt is endless.

the eye

5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

6Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

7Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

Here Solomon is saying – why risk it?  Why throw caution to the wind for something that is so unstable?  Adultery and fornication are not part of God’s plan for us – and every sexual disease known to man is certainly not the result of stable, Godly marriages.

major loser

8Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

9Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

10Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

11And thou mourn at the last, when thy  flesh and thy body are consumed,

12And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

13And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

Giving your honor, wealth, and labors to others???  How about everyone (including your boss, pastor, and parents) knowing about what you’ve done?  How about losing everything in a divorce settlement?  How about another man living in your home, with your ex-wife, and raising your children?

Flesh and body consumed?  Well, that could happen in a variety of ways.  Financial ruin and divorce take a tremendous toll on one’s health.  Then there is the more direct type of flesh consumption- http://realtruth.org/articles/090303-005-health.html

guilty

14I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

Proverbs 5:1-14

If you think I’m just directing this at men – I’m not.  Thanks to the satanic women’s movement – the “ladies” are now making significant advancement  into adultery and fornication – an area that was formerly dominated by men.  And the results are just what the evil one intended: the breakdown of the family, less personal wealth for all income levels, abortion, declining birth rates, women’s bodies being prostituted in every form of media, and general moral decay.

We can make up all kinds of excuses for the things we do.  My parents neglected/abused me.  My marriage is lousy.  I’m under a lot of pressure.  I never really wanted to be married in the first place.  This marriage isn’t what I wanted.  My wife/husband doesn’t understand me.  I’m lonely. . . .

My, me, my, I, I, I, my, I . . . .  the Word says there simply is no excuse.  Sin, is sin, is sin. 

James 4:4

King James Version (KJV)

 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the 
enemy of God.

Friday Proverb – Wisdom is Life and Health

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In our last Friday Proverb, we learned that the best way to avoid wickedness is to flee from it. As the old saying goes – “Run like the very devil is after you!” (Because he is) It was also stressed that the wicked cannot rest or even sleep until they cause others to fall. That is a very important fact to remember when the sinful temptations are being sold to you.

father-and-son

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Again, the Proverbs are stressing that God’s Words must be kept deep within our hearts, providing life and health to our bodies. Understand that this is more than prose. Ample (if resentful) secular evidence exists to support what is written in this Proverb. It stymies the “scientific” community as to why church goers, and those who regularly pray and study the Bible, live longer. They continuously try to explain it away with brain scans and Freudian analysis. Aren’t we blessed not to have to worry about the why? And just addressing the logical side of the question – it stands to reason that the truly faithful Christians avoid much of the behavior that makes people sick, as well as dangerous situations and lifestyles.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

guarding-your-heart

From the Hebrew “keep” =

natsar: to watch, guard, keep

Original Word: נָצַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: natsar
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-tsar’)

heart1

Guarding your heart is not the same thing as “hardening” your heart. Keeping it with “all diligence,” protects your heart from being damaged by sin. Leaving it exposed like a target is considered foolishness in the Proverbs. If left exposed, sin does its damage, so that even if sins are repented of, the sins that were swept away still leaves scars. And like all scar tissue – it is hard – and can even be seen in the eyes of the repentant sinner. How much better it is to guard your heart to begin with, and not have to suffer and bear the scars for the rest of your earthly walk.

angry-mouth

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Hmmm, let’s think about wisely holding our tongues and thinking it through before we speak in anger, spite, or in a gossiping manner. “Perverse lips” means that the speaker gets pleasure from evil dialogue, such as locker room talk, or “talking dirty.” Not only should we not do these things – but we are instructed to put the people that do them far away from us. If we participate in the gossip, or in the locker room talk, we become as they are.

staying-on-the-path1

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Further admonishment to keep our eyes where they should be – focused on heaven – not the world and its trappings.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Look where you are going, think about where you are going, determine where you are going.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4: 20-27

Do not veer from the path of righteousness. If we are like Lot’s wife, and are constantly looking longingly back, or to the side – we do not belong to the Lord! In the words of John Bunyan –

Beware of this By-path Meadow; it is on the left-hand. O! how many are walking securely, confidently, and comfortably, in it; while every step they take endangers their destruction. The transition into it is easy; for it lies close to the right way; only you must go over a stile: that is, you must quit Christ’s imputed righteousness, and trust in your inherent righteousness; and you are in By Path Meadow directly.

Pilgrim’s Progress, p. 129, John Bunyan

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Hebrews 12: 13

Christian Family Theater – Darwin’s Dilemma

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Outstanding presentation covering the geology and  paleontology involved with the Cambrian Explosion.  Sorry this video has subtitles (not if it is in your language! Russian?) but it is the only full length version I could find.  Highly recommended for ages 12 and up – especially high school and college ages will benefit. 

Family Theater – God’s Outlaw – William Tyndale

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Tyndale’s famous,  selfless last words –

“Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.”

We should all say right now –

“Lord, open the king of America’s  eyes.”

If you were raised Roman Catholic, as Jim and I were, and feel any discomfort from some of the teachings, or if you feel that something is seriously missing – that is the Holy Spirit urging you!  

Jesus saving.

Matthew 11:27-29

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Video: Halloween – Trick or Treat

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This pagan, completely occult festival,  has no place in Christian homes or churches.

Stores such as Hobby Lobby have plenty of festive, Christian harvest themed decorations for your home and church.  Christians do not need to live spartan, joyless lives.  But we should not bring the evil one into our homes or houses of worship!  Dressing up as “harmless” characters will not negate the pervasive evil underlying this “feast of the dead.”

For the Lord’s Day – Beyond the Sunset

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Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning,
When with our Savior, heaven is begun;
Earth’s toiling ended, O glorious dawning,
Beyond the sunset when day is done.

Beyond the sunset, no clouds will gather,
No storms will threaten, no fears annoy;
O day of gladness, O day unending,
Beyond the sunset eternal joy!

Beyond the sunset, a hand will guide me
To God the Father whom I adore;
His glorious presence, His words of welcome,
Will be my portion on that fair shore.

Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion,
With our dear loved ones who’ve gone before;
In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting,
Beyond the sunset forever more!

Virgil Prentiss Brock – Lyrics  1887-1978

Born: January 6, 1887, Mercer County, Ohio.
Buried: Warsaw, Indiana.

Blanche Kerr Brock – Composer  1888-1958


Born: February 3, 1888, Greens Fork, Indiana.
Died: January 3, 1958, Winona Lake, Indiana.
Buried: Warsaw, Indiana.


One of the best-known and widely-used songs in the entire field of gospel hymnody is “Beyond the Sunset.” Mr. Brock has left the following account of its writing:

This song was born during a conversation at the dinner table, one evening in 1936, after watching a very unusual sunset at Winona Lake Indiana, with a blind guest—my cousin Horace Burr—and his wife Grace. A large area of the water appeared ablaze with the glory of God, yet there were threatening storm clouds gathering overhead. Returning to our home, we went to the dinner table still talking about the impressive spectacle we had witnessed. Our blind guest excitedly remarked the he had never seen a more beautiful sunset.

“People are always amazed when you talk about seeing,” I told him, “I can see,” Horace replied. “I see through other peoples eyes, and think I often see more; I see beyond the sunset.”

The phrase “beyond the sunset” and the striking inflection of his voice struck me so forcibly, I began singing the first few measures. “That’s beautiful!” his wife interrupted, “Please go to the piano and sing it.

We went to the piano nearby and completed the first verse. “You should have a verse about the storm clouds,” our guest urged, and the words for this verse came quickly as well. Recalling how closely our guest had walked hand in hand together for so many years due to his blindness, the third verse was soon added. Before the evening meal was finished, all four stanzas had been written and we sang the entire song together.

http://www.hymnalaccompanist.com/Story/story-c865.html

Revelation 21:4

 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

sage

p.s.  This post is dedicated to my husband for our 33rd anniversary.

More Mealy Mouthed Pastoring

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Billy Graham’s grandson – Tullian Tchividjian – holds forth on what is wrong with America’s pulpits.  My summation of his cotton candy opinion?  Pastors are not being nurturing enough, and are too bogged down with politics!    All blue highlighting is mine . . .


Tullian Tchividjian Says Christian Brand Has Been Damaged by Evangelicals’ Association With Religious Right

By Michael Gryboski , Christian Post Reporter
December 30, 2014|2:48 pm
Tullian Tchividjian (Courtesy of Tullian Tchividjian)

The grandson of the Rev. Billy Graham commented Tuesday that he believes Evangelicals’ involvement in the conservative political movement “has done more damage to the brand of Christianity than just about anything else.”

Tullian Tchividjian, senior pastor at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, explained to co-hosts of the MSNBC program “Morning Joe” that American evangelicalism has been harmed by its association with conservative politics.

“Over the course of the last 20 or 30 years, evangelicalism, specifically their association with the religious right and conservative politics, has done more damage to the brand of Christianity than just about anything else,” Tchividjian asserted.

“That’s not to say that Christian people don’t have opinions on social issues and we shouldn’t speak those opinions, but Sunday morning from behind the pulpit is not the place,” he added.

Tchividjian also told those on the “Morning Joe” program that he feels his job, as a pastor, is to go beyond social issues and social solutions when preaching.

“It’s not so much religion in the public sphere as much as religion in the pulpit, behind the pulpit, that’s my primary concern,” Tchividjian continued. “As a preacher, my job when I stand up on Sunday mornings to preach, is not first and foremost to address social ills or social problems or try to find social solutions. My job is to diagnose people’s problems and then announce God’s solution to their problems.”

Tchividjian was on the program to talk about his soon-to-be released devotional, It Is Finished: 365 Days of Good News.

Slated for purchase on New Year’s Day and published by David C. Cook, the book is a daily devotional centered on the Good News of God’s love.

“God’s radical grace is unbelievable, unexplainable, and definitely undeserved. But it’s the foundation of our faith. In this new 365-day devotional, Tchividjian reminds you every day that the Gospel is good news,” noted its Amazon description.

“It’s God’s message that He loves us even when we don’t deserve it. These short readings each contain a truth from God’s Word that will set you on a solid foundation for the day — a foundation of God’s grace, goodness, and unconditional love.”

In discussing the devotional with the “Morning Joe” co-hosts, Tchividjian said the book, It Is Finished, is comprised of “365 days of short readings.”

“I am really trying to help people know that all of the meaning, all of the worth, all of the value, all of the significance that we long for and that we look for, we already have because of what God has done for us,” Tchividjian explained in response to a question posed to him about New Year’s resolutions.

Well, he’s trying to sell a book of “short readings” here.  Too bad he not once mentioned getting his sheeple back to the Word of God!  Must be all that hair gel addling his brains. . .  almost seems like the goo has seeped in. . .

Yet another winning entry into the Halls of Cotton Candy Christianity!

Rick Warren – Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

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Rick Warren on Roman Catholicism: “We have more in common than what divides us”

Dec 17 2014

RICK WARREN ON ROMAN CATHOLICISM: “WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WHAT DIVIDES US”

Warren, whose Purpose Driven Life and Purpose Driven Church books have sold millions of copies around the world, recorded a video interview for the Catholic News Service in which he said: “We have far more in common than what divides us.”

He continued: “When you talk about Pentecostals, charismatics, evangelicals, fundamentalists, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians … Well, they would all say we believe in the trinity, we believe in the Bible, we believe in the resurrection, we believe salvation is through Jesus Christ. These are the big issues.

“Sometimes Protestants think that Catholics worship Mary like she’s another god. But that’s not exactly Catholic doctrine.”

He also referred to the Roman Catholic practice of prayer to the saints, which Protestants reject, saying: “When you understand what they mean by what they’re saying, there’s a whole lot more commonality.

“Now there’s still real differences, no doubt about that. But the most important thing is if you love Jesus, we’re on the same team.”

He said that Church unity would realistically be “not a structural unity but a unity of mission. And so, when it comes to the family we are co-workers in the field on this for the protection of what we call the sanctity of life, the sanctity of sex, and the sanctity of marriage. So there’s a great commonality and there’s no division on any of those three.”

Warren recently took part in a Vatican conference on the Complementarity of Man and Woman alongside conservative stalwart Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. His remarks are in tune with the tone of Pope Francis, who has spoken warmly of evangelicals and brought a different emphasis to inter-Church engagement.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/rick.warren.on.roman.catholicism.w…

[TBC: Commonality is not established by the lowest common denominator. To say someone loves Jesus means nothing if it’s “another Jesus” or if the “gospel” they present is not the biblical gospel (2 Corinthians:11:4, Galatians:1:8). The works salvation gospel of Rome is contrary to the biblical gospel, and the Jesus of Roman Catholicism did not pay the full penalty for sin. Our Lord declared, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew:7:21).]

http://www.thebereancall.org/content/rick-warren-roman-catholicism-we-have-more-common-what-divides-us

Over a  decade ago I was chased out of my church, because of my tooth and nail resistance to going “purpose driven.”  Now, Rick Warren is boldly going where he always intended to go – the one world religion.

2 Peter 2:1-3

2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Rick Warren

Dear Mr. Rick Warren – you make me sick.  May God have mercy, and cause you to repent.

False Shepherd – T.D. Jakes

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Can’t seem to get away from these TV terrors.  Get rid of your cable, and their latest book is staring at you from a table at Costco.  The “Christian Post” thinks Mr. T.D. Jakes falls under their very broad definition of “Christian” and chooses to promote his latest foray [Instinct: The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive] into the pseudo-Christian, pop-culture,  self-help bottomless pit.  Because we love our readers, no link to the article will be provided, in an effort to save you from the barrage of pop-ups and caustic advertising overrunning the site.  Here is the short introduction:

(All red highlighting is mine)

By Jessica Martinez, CP Reporter

May 23, 2014|8:28 am

Most people find it difficult to get in tune with their inner voice amid their busy lives, however taking time to listen to a gut feeling or an instinct can lead to discovering a life of abundance and satisfaction, says Bishop T.D. Jakes.

In Jakes’ new book, Instinct: The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive, he writes about how individuals can re-discover their natural aptitudes and become in sync with opportunities life presents if they are willing to see beyond their current limitations.

Inspired by a safari trip to South Africa and derived from personal experiences, Jakes’ material illustrates some of the major principles and secrets that successful individuals have applied to their lives, but rarely tell others. In addition, Jakes offers readers advice on knowing when to close a business deal, when to take a risk, and how to listen to their hearts.

Hmmm. . . .let’s see.  I guess when Peter was crucified upside down, he failed to listen to his inner voice. 

Or more currently, Pastor Saeed Abdeni has probably not taken the time to re-discover his natural aptitudes. . .

http://aclj.org/fox-news-update-american-pastor-saeed

And since Mr Jakes draws so much inspiration from Africa – one wonders how this woman, along with her unborn child and toddler,  has failed to use his system of listening to “instincts.” 

http://indepthafrica.com/sudan-keeps-pregnant-christian-woman-shackled-to-wall-toddler-in-prison/

T.D. Jakes is a false shepherd!!!!

He is a liar, and a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  Nothing he says will lead a lost soul to a saving knowledge of Christ.  His teachings stand in direct opposition to the Word of God.

T.D. Jakes says that you will have an abundant life if you follow his teachings, which include running on your inner voice.

The Bible says that you can not trust your inner voice, and that it will lie to you.

Jeremiah 17:9

 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Who is telling the truth?  T.D. Jakes – or God?

Matthew 7:14-16

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

narrow way

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Ecumenism – Hollywood Style

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Lots of excitement over the fact that pop-Christian films are being produced with a fervor lately.  Of special note, was the Easter weekend release of “Heaven is for Real.” 

This story is about a 4 year old boy who had a near death experience which has been made into a movie.  Christian media is giddy with excitement over the fact that it made more money than pagan Johnny Depp’s latest sci-fi flick. 

Should we be excited over this?

Let me just state that the father is a fool if he truly does not believe that a 4 year old can pick up enough information to provide the kind of testimony he did.  But all that aside – the really important part begins at around the 6:00 mark – where the young man states positively that you only need to love Jesus and follow Him to go to heaven.  No repentance required.  Mormons,  Jehovah’s Witnesses – and even some Muslims love Jesus.  This is a classic example of the ecumenism that has overrun the church.  This is the church Jesus Christ will spew out of His mouth.  This is another Jesus.

Revelation 3:14-16

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Laodicean Church

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.