Sunday, July 30, 2006


7/30/06 News Letter Along With A Suggested Outline For Your Reading and Learning Pleasure On This BlogSite
…………………………….

Our Purpose:

The purpose of this blogsite is for basic Christian practical and biblical theological practical Christian living. We believe the Bible is sufficient and has practical answers on living a progressively sanctified life. Even in this we fine many times Christians find themselves confused or not clear in understanding how to think or respond biblically in many difficult real life situations. Since, therefore, we believe the Bible is sufficient in all matters pertaing to doctrine, life and godliness we desire to bring to the Christian community a look at the Scriptures to dispel the confusion and help all that find they need God’s answers to life situations and difficulties.

…………………………..

The Month Of July:


Active Evangelism could have been a theme we could put on the month of July. We have looked at the call we as ambassadors are called to proclaim and how weare to appeal to the will when we confront men regarding faith and repentance. Lastly we showed hoe to look for proper opportunitied to evangelize as we seek to help people who are having difficulty in theor lives. Since december last year we have seen 10,000 hits to the blog site and we do hope it had been helpful and refreshing as each of you have read and been instructed in the faith to live lives glorifying to God. We are continuing to see steady visitors coming to Doctrines of Grace blogsite at http://pilgrimchristian.blogspot.com/ . Anyone can come and read an articles as they face issues and problems in life in order to learn and to recall what to do regardimg different circumstances that happen. Feel free to revisit the articles that give biblical and godly directives. The site has 440 plus articles for the Christian community to read and learn in a pleasant and instructive format. Almost all of this is focused upon practical Christian living with biblical directives. May God bless you as you read and learn from His word.


Listed below in the outline is a list of articles done in the area of witnessing in the spirit that every Christian is to evangelize everyone everywhere!


Christian Witnessing

1. Called To Confess Christ In Word And As A Living Letter

2. Listening for Gospel Opportunities

3. Let's Evangelize

4. Creationism.

5. Merry Christiman

6. Why Do We Witnes To Muslims?

7. What is Pelagianism?

8. Why Did The Son Of God Come?

9. The Myth of Freewill

10. Abomination – Often Used And Misunderstood

11. God’s Mighty Promises

12. Aggressive Christianity? God’s Plan For You? …. You Betcha!

13. The Gospel Message With The Personal Call

Suggested Blog Reading Outline

While appreciating the medium of blogs we feel it would be better if we could move our blogs into more systematic and orderly headings. While not being able to do that here is good outline of the blogs and their headings so that you may be able to read by topic or ina systematic manner. We will update this at the end of each month. Finally with over 440 different blog entries and subjects (and growing) of study in Practical Christian Living theology we present the following suggested outline in reading this blog site so that it does not become confusing to you. Here is a suggested outline:




I. God’s Gift of Grace Applied

1. Grace, Grace, God’s Grace

2. The Covenant of Grace - Hodge

3. The New Birth and Conversion: The True Biblical Salvation

4. God’s Orderly Work of Salvation

5.Foreknowledged Defined

6. Christ The Lord

7. The Providence of God Brings Comfort To Believers

8. Perseverance of the Saints

9. Calvinism

10. Jesus Had The Power To Sin But Did Not Have The Character To Sin

11. A Follow-up Explaination off “Jesus Had The Power To Sin But Did Not Have The
Character To Sin”

12. A Critical Look At the Emerging Church Movement w/ Catechism Editing A Critical Look At the Emerging Church Movement by: Phil Johnson (Catechism Editing By Steve Horne)

13. Infants In The Celestial City!

14. Salvation

15. Christian Tracts

16. Why Did the Son of God Come?

17. Why All Things Work For Good

18. Justification- Salvation By Grace Through Faith

19. Decisional Regeneration

20. Salvation- God Rescues His People

21. All Of Grace

22. Perseverance Of The Saints

23. A Critical Look At the Emerging Church Movement by Phil Johnson 2006 -----Catechism
EditingBy Steve Horne http://christianthotsataglance.blogspot.com/

24. Dualism is Heresey

25. Five Points of Calvinism

II. The Doctrine of Sola Scriptura1. Sola Scriptura in Doctrine and Practice (Part 1)

2. Sola Scriptura And Orthopraxy (Part 2)

3. Sola Scriptura and Orthopraxy: Establishes "Philosophy of Ministry" (Part 3)

4. Sola Scriptura and Orthopraxy: In Doctrine, Church Polity, Worship, and More (Part 4)

5. Sola Scriptura and Orthopraxy: In Our Worship and Christian Living (Part 5)

III. The Church, Communion and Day Of Worship, Etc.

1. Identifying the Church

2. The Importance Of Church Membership

3. The Holy Spirit and the Church

4. Leadership and Unity in the Kingdom of God

5. Bible Instruction Must Be Under The Authority of the Church

6. The Keys, Who Has Them?

7. The Baptism Of Our Sinless Saviour

8. Baptismal Exhortation

9. Infant Baptism Does the Bible Teach It

10. The Sins of Rebaptism and Of Leaving One's Baby Unbaptized

11. Confusion, Not God's Way So IT Can BE Cleared Up – Baptismal Confusion

12. True Communion

13. Glorifying God

14. The Lord’s Wonderful Day

15. Thinking Deacon

16. What Type Of Church Did The Apostles Attend

17. Are We Catholics?

18. What Think Ye Of Mary

19. God’s Word Filtered!

20. Visible and Invisible Church

21. Oil in the Vessel

22. The true Church

23. The “true Church” Syndrome

24. How Did John Bunyan View Baptism?

25. Where Did Baptists Originate?

26. Gifts! …. From God? (Part 1)

27. Gifts! …. From God? (Part 2)

28. Baptismal Regeneration

29. Did You Know? Are You Shocked?

30. The Keys Who Has Them?

31. The Lord’s Supper ….. Why Not Weekly?

IV. Christian Witnessing

1. Called To Confess Christ In Word And As A Living Letter

2. Listening for Gospel Opportunities

3. Let's Evangelize

4. Creationism.

5. Merry Christiman

6. Why Do We Witnes To Muslims?

7. What is Pelagianism?

8. If Any

9. Why Did The Son Of God Come?

10. The Myth of Freewill

11. Abomination – Often Used And Misunderstood

12. God’s Mighty Promises

13. Aggressive Christianity? God’s Plan For You? …. You Betcha!

14. Renewing Your Mind .. With R.C. Sproul

15. The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion – Written for a Wonderful Purpose

V. God’s Guidance and the Tools of Faith1. Guided … by God?

2. Tools of the Faith

3. Canon - God’s Word Filtered!

4. Favorite Hymns

5. More Favorite Hymns

6. The Bible God’s Word To Us

7. Progressive Sanctification – Growing in Grace, Cooperation With God

8. Can We Use Eastern Language In Our Prayer And Devotional Life

9. We Must Be Holy


10. Much Study Is Wearisome

VI Practical Christian Living to Glorify God

A. About Biblical Counseling

1. What is Nouthetic Counseling – Jay Adams

2. Christ And Your Problems

3. Counseling and Special Revelation

4. The Sovereignity of God in Counseling

5. Is There Any Difference In Biblical Counseling?

6. Christian Counseling Change vs. Change

7. Godliness through Discipline – Jay Adams

8. Guided! … By God?

9. From Uselessness To Usefulness

10. One Anothering

11. Not Controling But Loving and Serving

12. Guidance When You are Just Not Sure What To Do

13. Biblical View of Self Esteem

14. What Do You Do When Anger Gets The Upper Hand?

15. God Has A Plan

16. God is Always in Control

17. Counseling Encourages Talebearing

18. The Power of Relationships


19. You Can Help One Another


20. TULIPGIRL. Com for the Ladies




B. Work

1. Biblical Principals of Work and the Biblical Work Ethic (A Seven Part Series)

2. What Christians May Do

3. Everybody Works for God

4. From Uselessness To Usefulness

5. Discontentment

6. Occupational Search – A Biblical View

C. Forgivness1. Our Basic Duty – Forgive the Repentant

2. A Look At Commitment

3. The Need To Forgive

4. What is Forgivness?

5. From Unpardonable to Pardonable

6. From Uselessness To Usefulness

7. Being Angry for the Purpose Of Problem Resolution

8. One Anothering

9. The Purpose of Forgiveness


10. Aggressive Christianity? God’s Plan For You? …. You Betcha!D. Worry, Guilt And Depression

1. Worry: A Serious Life Issue Which Must Be Broken

2. How Is Your Conscience?

3. What To Do With Guilt

4. Godliness Through Discipline

5. Calvin and Anxiety

6. From Unpardonable to Pardonable

7. What If I Find Hypocricy in Me?

8. What Do You Do When You Become Depressed?

9. God Has A Plan

10. Anger (# 1)

11. Anger (# 2)

12. Impatience and Idolatry

13. Keeping the Heart


14. Learning The Basics On Identifying, Handling, Overcoming And Eliminating Depression

E. What To Do With Evil1. Overcoming Evil – Jay Adams

2. The Evil of Backbiting and Evil Speaking

3. Gossips

4. Aggressive Christianity? God’s Plan For You? …. You Betcha!

F. Sex Issues

1. Thoughts on Biblical Sexuality and in Overcoming Sexual Difficulty

2. The Power of Relationships ( The Bible on personal Influences)

3. The Purpose of Forgiveness

4. Resolcing Suxual Difficulties in the 21st Century

5. The Power OF Relationships

6. Can You Answer These Questions? (For Husbands)

G. Addictions

1. AA Doctrines Compared with the Scriptures

2. Thoughts on Biblical Sexuality and in Overcoming Sexual Difficulty

3. The Power OF Relationships

H. Death and Dying & Health1. Proper Thinking At the Time of A Death and / Or At A Funeral

2. A Saint Looks At Death

3. Being Thankful For Pain

4. To Oil or Not To Oil

5. Infants In The Celestial City? .. Yo Betcha!I. Communication1. Handling Doctrinal Disagreement2. The Evil of Backbiting and Evil Speaking3. Is IT Right To Judge4. The Purpose of Forgiveness5. Can You Answer These Questions? (For Husbands)VII. My Most Precious Faith (10 Parts) Written for my Children and Place Here To Encourage You As You Disciple Your Children in the Most Holy Faith

1. My Most Prescious Faith -

2. My Most Precious Faith –


3. My Most Precious Faith – Belief of A Christian

4. My Most Precious Faith – Concerning the Sacraments

5. My Most Precious Faith – Living in Grace and Gratitude

6. My Most Precious Faith – Our Duty to God


7. My Most Precious Faith – Our Duty to Men

8. My Most Precious Faith – Prayer Our Duty and

9. My Most Precious Faith – The Lord’s Coming Again

10. My Most Precious Faith - Conclusion………IX. Miscellaneous.1. A Request Humble Honored

2. Judy Rogers Music – Giving The Best To Your Children

3. Proverbs Themes:a. Patience

b. Discipline

c. Self Image

d. Wisdome


e. Accountability

f. Honesty

g. Instant Living and Its Down Fall

h. Friendshipi. Family (Father, Mother, Children)


i. The Simplek The Tongue

j. Laziness

k. Abomination

4. Spurgeona. Are You Sure You Like Spurgeon?

b. Two Dozen Facts about Spurgeon

c. Twelve Proofs Spurgeon Believed in Uncoditional Election

d. Life

e. The Christian

f. Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats

g. The Riches of Spurgeon

h. A Sin For Which There Is No Excuse

Evangelistic Opportunities Abound

Listening for Gospel Opportunities


Have you ever been at a social function, walking in the park, befriending others, being hospitable, etc. when someone spoke to you about a difficult situation they were having? Have you given advise based on your knowledge of the scripture in a practical way or in practical matters? Have you, in any way, given people advise practically, from the scriptures in your thinking without relaying to them your source of knowledge? Have you given advise in this manner and not even known whether the one you have spoken to is a Christian? Probably, if you think closely enough you have. Did you state truth? "Yes". Did you really care that the person knew the right thing to do? "Yes". Did you know whether or not they had the power to change their lives? Probably not.

Have you given advise in this manner and
not even known whether the
one you have spoken to is a Christian?


Just what are all these questions and answers and where are they coming from. What is the point? Well, that is a very good question and seems to have gotten your listening ear. Now for the statement: You cannot effectively give non-Christians counsel and advise merely for the changing of their lives. The non-believer does not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to enable them to really change their lives. They may reform themselves in a hypocritical manner based on what you told them. They may do a good job at "sweeping one area their house" but


There is a needed first step in
the process of giving someone,
who is a non-believer, advise when asked.


they cannot really change until they are saved by the power of God, receive the Holy Spirit and are energized with the desire to carry forth God's pleasurable will (Phil 2:12-13).

The non-believer does not have
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
to enable them to really change their lives.


There is a needed first step in the process of giving someone, who is a non-believer, advise when asked. That needed first step is to let them know that they cannot really do what is right in a real life changing way until they come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only then that you can give them the real answers to their problems and difficulties. It is only then that they will have the help and power which will produce real life changing results deep down where it counts. You see, God changes men from the inside out not from the outside in. Evangelism is what is needed first and foremost when the person is seeking answers to problems and does not know Christ as Savior. The heart / mind must be changed to love the Lord God supremely by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit thereby causing real change to occur. It is salvation in Christ only, and all that is accomplished in that salvation, that there is power to change lives.

You cannot effectively give
non-Christians counsel and advise
merely for the changing of their lives.

We pass over many opportunities to witness. We, more often than not, give forth biblical precepts and principals concerning life without ever talking to people concerning their lostness. We, in practice, act as though they are already saved and have the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit and all they need is to hear and practice the teachings of the scripture. We know that this will never work. We ought not do this any longer! When we do this we have missed an opportunity to discern spiritually where the person is coming from and to follow up with a solid life changing witness for Christ. We need to understand that people who are talking about their life situations, seeking answers, are probably the most open minded people and will at least listen as you present the gospel of Christ. They are not talking nor asking questions about a problem they are having or facing without being in a position of wanting and desiring answers for change. They see they need help and need to be healed or delivered. In reality we should hear their lostness. We then should take interest in them to graciously show them their natural condition and their powerlessness, in and of themselves, to truly change their lives. Then we can tell them of Christ the Savior and what it means to be a new creature in Christ along with the Holy Spirit's indwelling with power in order for them to will and to do God's good pleasure.

The heart / mind must be changed
to love the Lord God supremely
by the regenerating work of
the Holy Spirit thereby causing
real change to occur.


With the love of Christ poured out in their hearts they will love God and their neighbor, will be able to look unto Christ in all circumstances, tearing down any idols of the heart, and right any wrongs that has been done to others or that has caused them hurt and difficulty in their personal lives. They will understand that nothing comes by chance but for the glory and purposes of God. In essence they will be able to learn how to direct all that they do to the glory of God. Thereby they will have a changed life of "salvational substance".


Our evangelism need not be just going door to door, passing out tracts, outreach programs or preaching on the streets to be "effective". We can do these and should use every opportunity. However our evangelism needs to include the everyday part of our lives which includes caring about people enough to listen to them, telling them about the Christ of the Bible so that they may come to love Him in the salvation He has procured for His people. Then we can teach and disciple them in the scriptures (concerning any problems) so that they can have changed lives, by the power of the Holy Spirit accordiing to the direction of His Word, and be conformed to the image of Christ.


May God grant to us that we would be able to stay focused to carry forth the great comission daily in very practical ways.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Let's Evangelize

The Canons of Dort which framed what is commonly called the Five Points of Calvinism in the 2nd head of doctrine, article 5, expressed the importance of evangelism; ".. the promise of the gospel is that whosoever believes in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have eternal life. This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of His good pleasure sends the gospel."

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE WITH THE PERSONAL CALL

1. THE AMBASSADORS'S MESSAGE:

Many I hear and read in blogdom and on the internet chat programs seem to be confused about how to go about witnessing the gospel ofChrist to others. They may know what Christ did for them but how to share that with others seems to be out of their grasp. It does not need to be that way. The gospel message we share is a message of reconcilation (2 Cor. 5)! Those who will believe will have a renewed will, by the Holy Spirit, therefore we can ask questions and appeal to their will and their desires when we tell them the message of reconcilation. We can inquire and see if a man's will is being, or has been renewed so that he desires to be reconciled to God when we witness. Below is the message and some questions we can ask as we witness and take the gospel to the nations. Personally I find this quite simple. I hope you do as well!

(2Co 5:11) Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

(2Co 5:12) We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

(2Co 5:13) For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

(2Co 5:14) For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

(2Co 5:15) and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

(2Co 5:16) From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

(2Co 5:17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

(2Co 5:18) All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

(2Co 5:19) that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

(2Co 5:20) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

(2Co 5:21) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.




2. THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIRTH

The necessity of the new birth is stated by Christ, “you must be born again”. Now the message is that unless you are born by the will of God you will die in your sins and enter eternal everlasting punishment. With out the new birth you will not care about God, and His ways. You will continue to live:


Without God
Without Redemption
Without Hope
Without Peace with God
Without Forgivness
Without Heaven



Since God does the work in new birth we can state that it is truly a mystery. Jesus shows that the new birth is a mystery that must happen before one can have a right relationship with God in salvation. This miracle worked by God brings men that do not think, care, or nevertheless seek after the Him to the point of thinking, caring and seeking Him.


The mystery lies in that we cannot fully understand it nor is it something we perform. It is God that performs it John 3:8 “ The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” Now as we do not know where nor how the wind fully works nor comes from so is the work of the Holy Spirit. He moves in ones life orchestrating events and regenerating the will and heart so that at the time appointed those called hear the gospel message, believe in and embrace it because of the new birth (Eph. 2:8-10). The message is clear that one cannot be born into the family of God by their own will but by the power of God working when and where and how He wills changing the will through the mystery of divine rebirth.


3. THE PLEAD FOR MERCY

So when you are discussing this in your witness to men show them what they can do if God is calling them.

I strongly suggest leading them through the following. “What then can I do?” you may be asking. The answer is nothing. I would suggest however at this point say that if you are concerned and see that you are in need of this necessary, mysterious miracle then do the following:


A.. Fall Prostrate Before Him
Cry out to God
Call upon Him
Cast yourself upon Him

B. Acknowledge

Acknowledge you sinfulness
Acknowledge your need
Acknowledge your failure
Acknowledge your unbelief
Acknowledge you are beginning to understand some of who Christ is
Acknowledge what you understand of what Christ has done on the cross

C. Ask

Ask Him to be merciful
Ask Him for a miracle
Ask Him for a new birth
Ask Him to give you a new life

D. Remember a promise of God
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

4. MAKING THE CALL PERSONAL

It is always appropriate to make a personal call to those whom you witness to. After all regeneration is worked in the personal will of a person by the Holy Spirit. Therefore make the call to repentance and faith personal. Personal call and discussion concerning salvation goes like this:

A Personal Call
Are you willing to change?
Are you wiling to make God’s will your greatest desire?
Have you repented?
Have you turned from your sin in godly sorrow?
Have you ask God to help you repent?

Remember : The kindness of God leads to repentance. (Romans 2:4)

It is important and necessary to stop and ask serious questions concerning the faith that they may or may not have. These questions go to the an understanding of God the Father, His revelation, Jesus Christ and His belief in His shed blood and finally mankind and his sinful. Depraved, and guilty state. Questions such as these:

a. Do you believe in the God who has revealed Himself in the Bible?
b. Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners?
c. Do you believe that you are a sinner and guilty in the sight of God?

Note: If the person answers the above in the affirmative then there is no reason to doubt their faith in Christ. At this time they are responsible to worship God and be discipled in the faith and life of the people of God.
As we know saving faith contains three elements: knowledge, emotion, and volition. That is knowledge whereby the believer knows who, what, when, where, and why. The emotional element is the truth revealed gripping the person whereby they say this is a need that I have. This is what Christ did done for me. And it is an action whereby they run to the Jesus and the work He did on the cross and cry out for His mercy, resting in Him alone for salvation. It is this faith that is the conduit by which the believer receives all of salvations benefits. All the spiritual benefits of the death and resurrection of Christ is received through faith. Through real faith in Christ the believer receives:

Justification (Rom. 3:28)
Redemption (Rom. 3:23-25)
Reconcilation (Rom. 5:1)
Forgiveness (Lk. 7:48-50)
Eternal Life (Jn. 6:47)
Now once again the call to the one you are witnessing to is simple:

1. The questions:

Have you repented from sin and turned to the living God?· Are you prepared to take that step now?· Will you turn from sin, self, and the world and call on God’s mercy today?
2. The exhortation:

Repent and turn from sin.· Trust in him.· Commit you soul to Him.· Know now that all that truly turn for their sin and turn to Him, He will abundantly pardon. ( Isa.5:7; Jer. 29:13; Jn. 6:37; Jn. 6:47)
3. The Warning

God commands you to repent today (Acts 17; Ps. 27:1; Isa. 5:6;2 Cor. 6:2 ) If not you stand guilty before a holy God condemned to eternal torment.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Much more can be said but I think you get the message. Don’t get hung up in the argumentation of whether or not there is a free offer of the gospel. Tell the message of reconcilation, ask questions that appeal to the person’s will and desire that help in understanding if the person has or is calling upon the name of the Lord in faith and repentance. After all the Holy Spirit renews the will of those that believe in order for them to call upon Him. And if the person has repentented, or right there repents and gives a statement of faith in the Lord then it is time for disciplship and worship! Pretty simple huh? Any questions?

Friday, July 21, 2006

The Advancing Kingdom - The Lord Reigns by William Plumer

The Lord Reigns!

by William S. Plumer

"The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty!" Psalm 93:1

"The Lord reigns! Let the nations tremble!" Psalm 99:1

Jesus Christ is--

Lord,
Master,
Governor,
Ruler,
Shepherd,
Prince,
Prince and Savior,
the great Prince,
the Prince of Life,
the Prince of Peace,
the Prince of princes,
the Prince of the kings of the earth,
a King, the King,
the King of kings and Lord of lords!
He is God over all, blessed forever!


Christ's kingdom is universal. It includes:
all worlds,
all creatures,
all causes.

Nothing in heaven, nothing in earth--is outside of it. -

His saints praise Him.
The angels adore Him.
The devils are subject to Him.
The king's heart is in His hands, and He turns it wherever He will.

His kingdom rules over all.His kingdom is supreme. Nothing can shake it. Worms cannot spit their venom so as to reach the stars in their course. Nor can puny mortals reach the person or the power of our glorious Immanuel.

Christ's kingdom is omnipotent. By His own divine efficiency He carries on His government. He upholds all things by His powerful word. He does His will in heaven and in earth. Not an empire rises or sinks,but by His will. Not a sparrow falls to the ground,without His notice.

Every change on earth is by His providence. -

He gives no account of any of His matters.
His work on His people is mighty.
He subdues them to Himself.
He reigns as their Lord and Master.
He chains their great adversary.
He subdues their iniquities.
He strips the world of its fatal fascinations
.He makes them willing in the day of His power.He leads them into all necessary truth.


"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!"~Revelation 19:6

Friday, July 14, 2006

Rethinking and Redefining Retirement Biblically

Rethinking and Redefining Retirement Biblically




I find it interesting that within the Bible there is no concept of retirement. Work for all me for all time and for all of life is the Biblical call in the creational ordinance. Retirement is not an option for the believer since it is not a Christian concept. If one wants to hold to a retirement concept it must de redefined since it cannot be interrepted as a cessation from work. therefore you may define that retirement time in your life as a change from one field of work focus to another. (Example: Carpenter to security officer, banker to farmer, garbage collector to missionary, etc.)


The work / worship pattern is established until the Lord returns.I f there is a time when you no longer work as a carpenter, mason, office worker, C.E.O., etc then you can employee yourself in the work of the church.


Even widows over sixty are to be employed in the church (1 Tim. 5). There are always labors to be done: prayer, letter writing, visiting, mission work, newsletter / pamplet production, etc.When we come in to the New Testament and read the passages concerning work in Colossians and in Ephesians it is easy to formulate what has been known as the Biblical work ethic.


To work for any other reason than the work ethic of the Bible is to make work a horrible onerious chore wherein there will be no real enjoyment in the work performed. Any working for a monetary accomplishment only makes work a misery rather than an enjoyment. The work at home, school and office or on a job site will only be enjoyable and pleasant according to how work is viewed and how well one follows and understands the biblical work ethic.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Our Mother - The Church

Our Mother - the Church


> Holding her hand we serve the needy and practice pure religion ( James)

> Suckling Her breasts we receive the sincere and pure milk whereby we grow in grace and knowledge of Our Lord (Ephesians)

> Walking in Her steps we continue to crush Satan and evil in this world (Romans)

> Lead by Her Head we are led by the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians)

Thursday, July 06, 2006

I Remember


Today my daughter turned 18... I remember:


1. The night you were conceived
2. Talking Laughing and Reading to you while yet in the womb
3. Feeling your moves before ever being birthed
4. Being there at your birth
5. Hearing your first coo
6. Counting your fingers and toes
7. Seeing you open your eyes the frst time
8. The smell of your new born body
9. Your mother and I writing "your special song" whic we still sing often
10. The many diapers that I had the pleasure of changing
11. Your first steps
12. Hearing you speak and count
13. The surprise when your mother and I found out that you had taught your self to read (at 4 yrd old)
14. Your kisses
15. Your baptism
16. Your love of life
17. Your care and concern for others

ETC. ETC. ETC.

But most of all I remember our love for one another.


Happy Birthday my dear sweet daughter!

With Love,
Your PAPA

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Were You Aware That God Is Still Blessing The USA?
Or
Happy Fourth of July

1. In these great United States we have seen the blessing of God upon this Christian nation?
He has continued to establish, protect and preserve us as is promised in the covenant of preseveration (Gen. 9). We are continually established, protected and presevered in our:

Families
Churches
Work and / or Labor
Seasons
Crops
Etc.

2. Truly our nation is more Christianized than we think for our representative government was set up after the pattern of the representative patters of the government of the Church.

3. The United States has millions of Christians. In our great nation we can see the advancment of Christ's Church!

4. WE truly do live in liberty!


Happy Fourth of July!!!!


God bless you,
Steve