YOU ARE ISRAEL

Um, Pastor Hagee...Abraham was a Gentile.

2011-01-03T09:22:00.000-08:00

Someone needs to remind Pastor Hagee that when God blessed Abram and later entered into a covenant with him that Abraham was a gentile, not an Israelite. He also needs to be reminded that all, not some of the nation's were to be blessed through Abraham's seed and that seed is Jesus Christ.

While I can't speak to Pastor Hagee's motivation I can speak to his doctrine. His doctrine is as crooked as a three-dollar bill as my dad used to say.

Pray for Pastor Hagee that he gives up on this terribly false doctrine.

What's in a name?

2010-12-30T14:09:00.000-08:00

I sometimes debate with atheists/evolutionists on various web site forums. It's a bad habit of mine! Usually, for the most part, these discussions can be quite reasonable and cordial. I do try hard to answer questions about the Bible honestly and fairly noting that many atheists it seems have a lot of misconceptions with God's nature and character and the Bible in general.

Yet I'm always left with certain questions.

For example one question I like to ask the atheists/evolutionists is, "Shouldn't Christopher Higgins change his name?" I mean most names have a meaning attached to them. Mine for example, David, means "beloved." Biblical names have meaning.

Christopher is a derivation of a Biblical name, or in this case a title and is of Greek origin. It means "bearing Christ inside". Higgins is obviously an atheist so I doubt he's bearing Christ on the inside (not saying that there isn't hope one day that he will!). I mean to be consistent one would think that the first thing an atheist would want to do is change their name once they become an atheist. It seems to make sense; to automatically want to divulge themselves of any name that has Hebrew/Biblical origins, right?

Christopher Hitchens, from what I've been told about his huge brain and wonderful intellect is, apparently, not like "other people" (though he puts his pants on one leg at a time like you and I do). I just think such a grand thinker as Chris is would have "thought" about this and changed his name accordingly.

Just an observation. Carry on!

Has Science Buried God?

2010-12-28T10:44:00.000-08:00

Generally I don't place entire videos on my blog. I definitely wanted to post this entire video of a debate between Oxford University Professors Richard Dawkins and John Lennox. It's a wonderful debate. Being a young earth creationist of course I'm biased towards Professor Lennox but that shouldn't stop you from taking the time to watch this wonderful exchange between the two highly skilled minds.

It's thoroughly entertaining. Enjoy!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

2010-12-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

By now I’m sure you are all aware that the 17 year-old military policy of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” regarding gays in the military has been repealed by congress and signed into law today by President Obama.

This is not a piece regarding that particular legislation, far from it in fact.

I’ve learned over time that, in spite of whatever the people may think, whether pro or con on any issue, the government and the Congress are basically going to do what they want to do. Is that an overly negative view regarding politics and the government and our role in the functions of said government? Not as I see it. I see it as an extremely pragmatic view in light of what King David tells us in the Psalms.

In Psalm 2 by inspiration of the Holy Spirit David asks an important question that, whenever things such as this recent vote on this policy (or other governmental action for that matter) comes up I find myself asking.

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” Fortunately God, through the Psalmist, doesn’t leave us alone to answer this question. He provides us the answer:

“The kings of the earth take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed saying, let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us.” And what does God do when these things come to pass when the kings of the earth take counsel against Him? The Psalmist says, “He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”

No doubt these are great and comforting words! Whenever we see government engaged in things that go against the firm counsel that the Lord has provided in His word it is not for us, the Christian church, to become overly vexed to the point of “wailing and gnashing” our teeth; God has everything under control. Yet this is exactly what will happen in these next few months in the majority of Christian churches across this land. Pastors of all kinds will set their hair on fire and rail against the President, Congress, the Supreme Court and even the local dog catcher (if necessary). They will wail and bemoan this decision by the government as if it was somehow either unexpected or impossible to conceive of.

I used to be involved, for a long time in my younger years, in the political process. Before I became a Seventh-day Adventist I made a decided effort to never vote again or take part in the political process. The straw that broke the proverbial camels back for me was the 2003 Governors election in California. That circus literally turned me off of politics for good.

I began to see that politics was ideally just a show. Little did I realize that three years later I would step inside a Seventh-day Adventist church and two years after that what I would read from some little old lady (with no more than a third grade education and hit in the head with a rock mind you) that would further enlighten me on the absolute fruitlessness of entertaining political questions.

“Our work is to watch, and wait, and pray. Search the Scriptures. Christ has given you warning not to mingle with the world. We are to come out from among them and be separate, “and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18). Whatever the opinions you may entertain in regard to casting your vote in political questions, you are not to proclaim it by pen or voice. Our people need to be silent upon questions which have no relation to the third angel’s message. If ever a people needed to draw nigh to God, it is Seventh-day Adventists. There have been wonderful devices and plans made. A burning desire has taken hold of men or women to proclaim something, or bind up with something; they do not know what. But the silence of Christ upon many subjects was true eloquence.

My brethren, will you not remember that none of you have any burden laid upon you by the Lord to publish your political preferences in our papers, or to speak of them in the congregation, when the people assemble to hear the Word of the Lord.

We are not as a people to become mixed up with political questions. All would do well to take heed to the Word of God, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers in political strife, nor bind with them in their attachments. There is no safe ground in which they can stand and work together. The loyal and the disloyal have no equal ground on which to meet.

He who breaks one precept of the commandments of God is a transgressor of the whole law. Keep your voting to yourself. Do not feel it your duty to urge everyone to do as you do.”—Letter 4, 1898.

These words from Mrs. White have given me comfort to know that my decision to abstain from voting and the political process was indeed the right one. Moreover it is amazing just how much these words are foreign to many Christians today. Many Christians today hold out all hope that they can change this country through the political process. Such rational seems extremely misplaced in light of the scripture from Psalm 2 and considering the record of this country - especially since the turn of the 20th century.

It’s not as if we Christians haven’t been warned that we would see things like this recent decision by the Congress coming to pass. Christians have been given advanced notice by our Lord that things like this would indeed take place.

And even though God gives the kings of the earth this instruction He has also given them, as well as us, a way to escape the judgment to come:

“Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.” – Psalm 2:5-12

In spite of what the kings of the world may do we can have great confidence in the promises of the Lord and the redemption He promises to those in Christ Jesus.

Is it possible...

2010-12-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

Is it possible that God made the universe so incredibly vast and this planet & human beings so incredibly small and seemingly insignificant so as to humble mankind and to demonstrate His great power and authority? Just asking.

Slowly but Surely...

2010-11-27T13:44:00.000-08:00

It's coming. Just listen to Judith Shulevitz's comments regarding the state and that the state's position supersedes that of Seventh-day Adventist's and even Jews, which remarkably she happens to be one! There will be a Sunday law one day.

The Sign of the Cross

2010-11-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a new video from Nicolas from Presents of God Ministry.

Scary God or Scary People?

2010-06-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Here's another excellent presentation and perspective on Jesus Christ and the God of the Old Testament from Dr. Brad Cole from the 2010 Good News Tour in Vancouver, BC. I know you'll enjoy it.

What does a Christian look like?

2010-06-11T22:26:00.000-07:00

An excellent presentation and perspective on Jesus Christ from Greg Boyd at the recent 2010 Good News Tour in Vancouver, BC. Enjoy.

What Does A Christian Look Like?

The Twin Pillars Of The Reformation

2010-06-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

More from Professor Veith and the "Rekindling the Reformation" series. Fascinating how far Christianity has not only come but how far it has fallen since the Reformation began.

Who is a Jew?

2010-05-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

Ran into this web site called Being Jewish while checking on something completely different than what I was looking for (doesn't that always happen?) where this statement was made: "The Torah also forbids a Jewish man to marry a Gentile woman, and if he does, his children by that woman will not be Jewish."

Having my curiosity pricked I decided to write and ask a question. My question was: How do you explain Boaz's marriage to Ruth?

As you will recall Ruth was a Moabitess. She later was married to Boaz, a Jew (Ruth 4:13). Thus springing from Boaz's loins came Obed who was the grandfather of David who later became the King of Judea (Ruth 4:17).

When, or if, I get an answer I'll fill you in.

We can see in the dark

2010-05-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

For just a few seconds imagine if you will that you are enclosed in a room totally devoid of any light. At first the room would appear pitch black making it virtually impossible to see anything. And yet, over time however your eyes would begin to adjust to the darkness and something truly amazing would begin to happen. As your eyes adjusted to the darkness something you would begin to see, believe it or not, light!

Now I'm not about to get into a lesson on the physics of light because simply put that would be tantamount to the blind leading the blind!

What I can say with certainty is that in a darkened room our eyes would adjust to the point that they would actually able to sense single photons of light as they penetrated the walls of the darkened room. These photons penetrate and pass through all forms of matter such as our bodies and walls. These photons of light are what our eyes are able to pick up even if we were to be placed in a blackout room.

And this brings me to my point. Being placed in a blacked out room is analogous to, and illustrative of, how the light of the world - Jesus Christ - enlightens the darkened of heart of man. The heart of course isn’t the literal heart but is our mind - our thinking, our reasoning, our understanding and our comprehension.

In the first chapter of the Gospel of John the disciple tells us quite plainly in verse 4 that, “In him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men.” Verse 5 continues by saying “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

John is telling us that in Jesus was life and the life of Jesus was the light of men and that this light shines in the darkness and the darkness just can’t understand this. And yet we can understand from a very simple illustration that light does indeed penetrate even a darkened room devoid of is light.

This light is still with us and still available to us anytime we choose to seek it through Christ’s Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit our darkened minds can be illuminated to His life and His life, told to us in His word, lightens our path which allows us to see our way even as we travel in the dark!

Why Can't I Own a Canadian?

2010-05-23T22:35:00.000-07:00

One of my Facebook friends recently posted this letter from 2002 titled, "Why Can't I Own a Canadian?" Here's the link to the article: http://bit.ly/aqaCrk

The letter is rather funny in spots, yet also quite sad in a way, especially when we contemplate the necessity for God to even have to give people such laws in the first place. Looked at wrong and it can give one the impression that God is simply mean, vindictive, harsh, vengeful, arbitrary, exacting and capricious. Personally I think misunderstanding God makes God look bad.

For example from the letter is this: "I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?" Now that's funny if for the simple fact that footballs are made from cowhide and not pig skin! However it should not necessarily render such advice from God as being somehow arbitrary or severe. Pigs are after all fairly dirty animals, especially if we can imagine the conditions during the days of the Exodus. The way I see it God was simply dispensing good advice to the children of Israel.

It's the same principal as when a parent doesn't want their child to eat all the cookies in the cookie jar before dinner when we really think long and hard about it. Is it because the parent is trying to ruin junior's fun or is it because the parent knows what will happen to the child that eats nothing but cookies? You know, I always post this video when questions about God's guidance as to what to eat or what to touch come up because it illustrates just how good and true God's guidance really is : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJCh7bR1Nf0 - this video is quite informative and definitely insightful.

Another example might be, "...as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend)...." Hopefully we'll learn to know that garments, i.e. clothing, in the Bible are always a sign of Christ's righteousness...always. So there is actually some deep spiritual connotation to this advice that God dispensed.

Job 29: 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

Isaiah 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. (Eph. 6;15-17)

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. The NIV changes "put on" to clothed.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Interestingly the law of God dealt only with marrying flax and woolen garments together which, when we ponder them, are of themselves quite symbolic. I did a presentation at one of the prisons I go to for the inmates regarding this one time.

When we question the laws of God without seeking the meaning of them or attempting to understand the reasons why God felt it necessary to give them to the Children of Israel then we run a huge risk in misunderstanding God and His nature and character. Our Heavenly Father is a wonderful, loving, gracious and merciful God. He loved us all in spite of ourselves and all our faults, and demonstrated this most vividly and poignantly on the cross! Our God is the same today as He was yesterday, and yet when we misunderstand Him it is easy to characterize Him as vengeful, arbitrary, vindictive or severe.

As I have had it illustrated to me by Dr. Brad Cole of Heavenly Sanctuary in one of their Good News Tour events we as parents tell young kindergartners not to run with scissors in their hands but we don't tell grad school students to do this. Could you imagine a world where we had to? The children of Israel were equivalent to kindergartners, not grad students. God had to bring them along in the wilderness because He had to meet them at the level of understanding the could comprehend.

They Have Made Void Thy Law - Parts I & II

2010-05-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

Professor Veith from the "Rekindling the Reformation" series. Great stuff as always.

Obama's Choice

2010-05-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

If President Obama's choice for the soon to be vacant Supreme Court seat presently held by John Paul Stevens, Elena Kagan, the U.S. solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is confirmed there will be a grand total of ZERO protestants on the Supreme Court.

Gee, that's fairly interesting.

Do you remember your birthday?

2010-03-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

How many of you actually remember what day your birthday is on? I’m going to guess everyone does. Mine happens to fall on March the 8th and for that reason March 8 is always significant in my life. Now as I’m sure you are aware March 8th doesn’t fall on the same day every year. Sometimes it’s a Monday, as it was this year, or sometimes it’s a Thursday, or a Saturday, or it could fall on another day of the week. Oh, and just in case you have begun planning ahead next year March 8th falls on a Tuesday; mark your calendars!

Similarly this Monday, March 29th at sundown marks the historical significance of a time that I would imagine might also be quite meaningful to most of us that have chosen to call themselves Christian, provided we know about it. For you see, just like your birthday the date itself never changes, yet your birthday may fall on a different day from year to year so to then the time of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior occurs during a specific time period, yet never actually falls on the same day from year to year.

If you aren’t aware Passover begins this coming Monday at sundown which, according to Hebrew reckoning, is really the 14th day of the month of Nisan. If you’ll recall, from the instructions given to the Hebrew people by God in the book of Exodus chapter 12 the Hebrew people where to set aside a one year-old male lamb, without spot or blemish, on the 10th day of the first month (Ex 12:3-5). On the 14th day of the month that lamb was to be slain and its blood placed upon both the upper and side door posts of the house (Ex. 12:6-7). This was to be done as an act of faith to remind the Hebrews of the protection that the blood of the slain lamb would offer from the visitation of the angel of death.

The symbolism of Exodus chapter 12 is still very much with us to this day and that is why Monday, March 29th at sundown should actually be quite significant for you, the Christian. For just like your birthday, it marks the time when Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; the Lamb of God slain before the world was first created, was crushed by the tremendous weight of sin in the Garden of Gethsemane, so much so that He actually began to sweat drops of blood. He was then arrested, tried in a sham trial, and shamefully handled mistreated, beaten, bruised and subsequently crucified - all to bring mankind into full reconciliation with God the Father.

Thus just before sundown on March 30th which would mark the beginning of the 15th day of Nisan we are privy to remembering our Savior’s on the cross and His last plea to His Father when He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” We can remember His last gasping breath, “It is finished.” We can remember this was the eve of the Sabbath where pious and holy men were able to kill the Son of God (this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook) and rush home in time to honor the Sabbath day.

This means then that the actual anniversary date that Jesus Christ rose from the tomb, thus holding captivity captive; so that we too could have that blessed hope and faith of being resurrected from the dead and into a new life with Christ will fall on Thursday, April 1st, for He rested in the tomb on what would have been Nisan 16 or this year the 31st of March. So when you awake next Thursday morning remember the truly awesome significance of the day. For it is the anniversary when Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James came to the tomb of Christ to finish anointing Him with the spices they had prepared only to find that the stone covering the sepulcher had been rolled away and two men in shining garments asking the women, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? 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”

Let us prayerfully remember the events of that Passover so long ago when our Lord and Savior, through His death on the cross, sought to bring mankind into greater understanding of the love of our Heavenly Father and the great expense He chose to pay.

If you would like a deeper, fascinating description of, and look into the events surrounding the crucifixion of our Lord I invite you to read chapters 74 to 83 in the book, The Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White.

God Bless.

The Erosion of Religious Freedom

2009-12-24T09:14:00.000-08:00

I am apolitical. Unabashedly so in fact. Have been for quite a number of years now. The circus that was the election for the California Governor's seat in 2003 sealed the deal for me. And no, I didn’t vote for Arnold. I voted for one of the other 100+ candidates vying for my attention. To some it might seem odd then that I feel compelled to speak on political things from time to time, but I do, however very rarely. I haven’t written a “letter to the editor” in years. Yet now is one of those times, but not for the reasons you may think.

I remember that I used to argue with my mother (Heavenly Father, rest her soul) while growing up as a young adult when she used to say to me, “If you don’t vote you have no right to complain” to which I would always retort, “Mom there’s nothing in the First Amendment that says if you don’t vote you have no right to speak out against the government.” To me this is still true today. Now interestingly, some may equate the voting process as a form of speaking pro or con and our “civic duty”. They indeed have a legitimate point. However I don’t see the right to speak freely limited to just the voting booth. With that said, I have purposely limited myself to rarely, if ever, speaking out about our government and what the government chooses to do. I mean seriously if anyone thinks they are going to tell a 3.6 trillion dollar-a-year gorilla where to sit, where to stand and what to do then I have news for you — you are seriously kidding yourself.

No, the reason I’m bringing politics into the mix here is to make a simple illustration about religious liberty and how I believe it will eventually be eroded away. The Senate has set itself to finalize a vote to pass President Obama’s massive heath care reform bill on Christmas eve. That bill, whether you agree with it or not or even whether you believe this or not, includes language that a person must buy health coverage and if they don’t they will be taxed. Seriously. The last time such a massive power grab was instigated against the American people by Congress at Christmas time we got the Federal Reserve Act and we all know where the cliff is that that Act has eventually led this nation to.

Now frankly to tell anyone that they have to buy health coverage or else be taxed is unconscionable and a violation of basic human rights. Basically the equivalent to telling a vegetarian that they must buy and eat Filet Mignon and if they don’t they will be taxed. Vegetarian? So what. Buy and eat....or else! It’s the equivalent of telling someone that doesn’t eat swine (like me!) that they have to buy hog maws and pickled pigs feet and eat. Swine free? So what. Buy and eat....or else!

As we know this bill will be passed and signed by the President. Guaranteed. It will then make the obligatory rounds through the press and the courts, where it is my prediction that the Supreme Court will eventually give us some wonderfully flowery language how this bill is good for the nation as a whole, outweighs individual liberty and thus the 3.6 trillion dollar-a-year gorilla must get it’s way. Now, of course I could be all wrong, that none of this will in fact happen, but I don't think so.

This is where I believe the aspect of religious liberty can and will eventually be tested. The questions regarding of freedom of conscious — brought to bear by this bill and it’s attendant wrangling will thus be settled once and for all. Can the questions regarding our religious liberty to worship on the day we choose be far behind? Personally, I don’t think so. Once that 3.6 trillion dollar-a-year gorilla is in the room anything is liable to happen.

When Caesar knocks at the door and says, “Pay up” what shall we as Christians do? When the government comes and demands our participation in this future boondoggle what shall we do? We shall say, “Yes sir, how much you want?” It is clear from scripture (and you may disagree) that if Caesar thinks something is his, whatever that something is, we are to give it to him because we know in reality that whatever Caesar has doesn’t actually belong to Caesar, it belongs to our Heavenly Father. When Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and render unto God the things that are God’s” Jesus made the situation as plain as day. He shocked everyone in the process. He made it plain that nothing belongs to Caesar and everything belongs to God. Yet if Caesar wants something, give it to him.

What then are we to do when Caesar tells us what day we can take off to worship or even what day in fact we can worship? What then? Well that’s easy. We obey God. Our Heavenly Father has given us something, His Sabbath day, that no man has a right or any authority to take or to claim for it belongs to Him. The Sabbath is God’s day. He made it, He owns it. It was made for man to enjoy. If Caesar wants to violate our freedom of conscious to tell us want to buy then that is certainly something Caesar can and will do. However, if Caesar wants to violate our freedom of religious conscious and tell us what day we can or can’t worship our Heavenly Father then you are free to tell Caesar sorry, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” - Psalms 118:24

The Meekness of Moses

2009-11-23T22:01:00.000-08:00

I have spoken with a few folks about this quarter's Sabbath School lesson on the book of Numbers and to a man (an woman!) everyone is quite enthusiastic and grateful for the particular lesson. And why not. This quarter's lesson has brought for many renewed interest in a book of the Bible that many consider, quite frankly, fairly boring. I've read the book before but this quarterly has helped shed new light on a number of topics and given new light to, and renewed interest in, this book. When examined much closer the book of Numbers is a book full of many fascinating, dramatic and certainly heart wrenching stories of both individuals, and the congregation of the children of Israel in particular. These stories really cause the brain to work overtime in an attempt to understand just exactly what is happening and the lessons we are being taught from scripture.

Then something hit me this morning while I was reading the E.G. White Notes book that is part of the Sabbath School quarterly. Moses was not just meek, he was super meek (if there is such a thing)!

Regarding the Sin of Moses and Aaron Inspiration writes: "Aaron and Moses both sinned in not giving glory and honor to God at the waters of Meribah. They were both wearied and provoked with the continual complaining of Israel, and, at a time when God was to mercifully display His glory to the people, to soften and subdue their hearts and lead them to repentance, Moses and Aaron claimed the power of opening the rock for them. "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" Here was a golden opportunity to sanctify the Lord in the midst of them, to show them the long-suffering of God and His tender pity for them. They had murmured against Moses and Aaron because they could not find water. Moses and Aaron took these murmurings as a great trial and dishonor to themselves, forgetting that it was God whom the people were grieving. It was God whom they were sinning against and dishonoring, not those who were appointed of God to carry out His purpose. They were insulting their best Friend in charging their calamities upon Moses and Aaron; they were murmuring at God's providence." {3T 301.3}

And that's when it hit me just exactly who Moses was, and what a truly a meek and humble man was. While it is certainly evident in all the wonderful actions of Israel's first shepperd in guiding God's children, and his magnanimous pleadings and prayers to God, just exactly how meek and humble Moses is what dawned on me. The quote above helped me figure it out.

Now, if we believe that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, and I see no reason not to believe this considering just how many theologians believe this, then this quote from Numbers 20:10 really is quite fascinating: "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" Moses was writing about himself! He was writing about what he had done. He was admitting for all to see his fault, his misstep, his error and most of all his sin. How many of us could do this? He goes on to tell us even more in verse 11: "And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also]." Wow, what honesty in the face of all the difficult times he had been through with Israel amd on the heels of the death of his sister.

How many could, or would, write so little about the death of our sister and yet be so open and honest about the very sin that would keep Moses from entering into the promised land? While pondering this I couldn't help thinking about just exactly how great a servant of God Moses truly was. Would any of us have been so willingly honest and open regarding our own sinfulness? Would we write what happened without embellishment and admit our fault as Moses did?

The humbleness, humility and honesty of Moses are truly magnificent gifts that God gave this man, who in spite all that he went through with Israel, was still able to delivery them into the hands of Joshua. Mission accomplished.

So.....where are we headed?

2009-11-16T22:43:00.000-08:00

While tooling around You Tube I ran into www.3angelstube.com which is a link from a channel a lady named Pamela who invited me to be a You Tube friend. I'm glad I accepted because I found this link from Pamela's channel. As a result I've added the following video from Hope Video because this video clearly shows where our Adventist church is heading. It is also full of Sister White quotes that clearly demonstrate she was from a true prophet of God. So check out the video below and explore the other video's at www.3angelstube.com.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Here's the description:

"Hope Media Ministry (www.hopevideo.com) invites you to watch this warning to all of God's people for this new movement - The Emergent Church - A New Spirituality has taken root in the Church today and an attempt to reinvent Christianity itself is underway. Ellen White exposed the Alpha of heresies in her day as pantheism and warned that it would resurface in the Omega apostasy before Christ's return. What are the characteristics of the Omega? What is the Emergent Church? Let's delve into contemporary Christianity and the inroads that Spiritualism and Catholicism are making both inside and outside the Christian Church. Be sure to watch both part 1 and part 2."

Follow this link to the second half of this presentation: http://www.3angelstube.com/video/242/The-New-Spirituality-Pt-2

One man's opinion

2009-11-13T12:00:00.000-08:00

My buddy Keith Johnson, who got me involved in prison ministry, in an email that he sent just a few days ago has commented on the recent incident at Foot Hood that I thought was interesting and worth sharing. So I asked him for permission to post it here. Thankfully he was glad to share.

One man's opinion
by Keith Johnson

A Poor Excuse for a Major, a Physician, and a Human Being

Major Nidal Malik Hasan is a religious and a medical fraud. As a veteran, I served in the Marine Corps from 1966-1969; during the time of the draft where one could claim to be a conscientious objector for religious reasons and/or choose to serve as a medic/corpsmen while refusing to carry a weapon.

The late Desmond Doss is the only Congressional Medal of Honor winner to never carry a weapon in combat. Doss said, "I am willing to die for my country, but not kill for my country." He also referred to himself as Cooperative Objector. Yet, he chose to go to war and not carry a weapon, while taking valor to a whole other dimension.

But Major Hasan willingly wounded and murdered unarmed personnel, while claiming Muslims should not be killing other Muslims. Well, if all Muslims held firmly to that belief then please explain to me how Iraq and Iran could go to war for 10 years; while killing, wounding, and maiming millions of Muslims? Was not that war, Muslims killing Muslims? Or can Sunnies kill Shites and visa versa and that rule not apply? Then again, how can all of the suicide bombers be relentlessly killing civilian Muslims every day? What book are they reading, because there are some who are definitely not on the same page of those who have reached a higher calling?

Where is their religious code against Muslims killing Muslims? I am smelling religious hypocrites... thousands of them, maybe millions or more. If their mantra is true about Muslims not killing Muslims, then they should be living in peace, love, harmony, and serenity, but we know that is not the case. So much for zealous religious beliefs.

In addition, Major Hasan also took the Hippocratic Oath as a medical doctor and a portion of that oath reads, " ...I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone. ..." Did he just gloss over this oath or something? Or did he have his fingers crossed--when he swore to its creed? Or was he just kidding?

Furthermore, he also took an oath to defend the Constitution from enemies within and without. Meaning, as a professional soldier, he volunteered. Nobody forced him to enter a professional standing Army. So, in reality he is more than a deranged hypocrite despite the oaths that he took, it reveals that he is another typical, religious, pious fraud. So, to those who think he is a hero, then you are just as big a fraud as Major Hasan, for it is clear that by his actions, he endorses the bombings of innocent Muslim men, women, and children that are occurring in Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran as I compose this. Muslims killing Muslims...to the demented zealots is an everyday occurrence. They are so demented that they call cowards and liars, heroes. Will somebody please pass me a dictionary, because one of us appears to have a hard time finding truth, even if truth is the only light peering out of a dimly lit room--Major Hasan would obviously not be able to find it.

Yet, he is in dire need of prayer for he is utterly deceived.

End of the article.

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Isn't it interesting how it is so easy to see the deception from Satan that we are all subject to when it is so dramatically, vividly and personally brought home to roost by such public displays of evil, yet when these very deceptions are personified closer to home they can be sometimes harder to see and recognize?

This from the pen of Inspiration:

"Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe. We shall be affected by it unless we by faith hang our helpless souls upon Christ. If men are so easily misled, how will they stand when Satan shall personate Christ, and work miracles? Who will be unmoved by his misrepresentations? Professing to be Christ when it is only Satan assuming the person of Christ, and apparently working the works of Christ? What will hold God's people from giving their allegiance to false Christs? "Go not ye after them. The doctrines must be plainly understood. The men accepted to teach the truth must be anchored; then their vessel will hold against storm and tempest, because the anchor holds them firmly. The deceptions will increase, and we are to call rebellion by its right name. We are to stand with the whole armor on." - SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 1114

Luke 16:18

2009-07-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought much about this verse? Have you ever wondered why this verse is where it is in scripture and why Jesus uses the language here just before He goes into the second half of the Parable of the Unjust Steward?

I have and that is why I find this verse so interesting and compelling.

If we think about it this verse almost seems out of place. It really starts as the Pharisees begin to deride Jesus. v. 14. Then Jesus, after being derided, takes His turn and begins dressing down the Pharisees! Jesus chides the Pharisees right after concluding the first half of the parable of the Unjust Steward.

"You like to look good in public, but God knows your evil hearts. What this world honors is an abomination in the sight of God. Until John the Baptist began to preach, the laws of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and eager multitudes are forcing their way in. But that doesn't mean that the law has lost its force in even the smallest point. It is stronger and more permanent than heaven and earth." - v. 15-17

Then comes the "coup de gras" if you will:

"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

I was always somewhat confused about this verse and why it was there in the first place frankly but especially right before the continuation of the parable with the tale of Lazarus and the rich man.

That was until it suddenly dawned on me one day that God always likens going after spiritualism, false religion and false pagan worship as adultery. Spiritual adultery. Now God had laid down some pretty specific rules as to why He didn't want the Children of Israel to go after "strange gods." His advice was for an obviously good reason - He didn't want these people corrupted with paganism. Now coupled with the parable in Luke 16 and the story of Lazarus and the rich man and then the reasons for this verse became much clearer.

Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give [it] in her hand, and send her out of his house.

Even God had to unfortunately grant a "bill of divorce" to Israel and uphold the very law He gave to Israel because through their going after other gods and idols Israel became unclean. They became unclean because of the constant chasing and acceptance of paganism. Thus they were considered engaged in adultery and harlotry.

Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

Isa 50:1 Thus saith the LORD, Where [is] the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors [is it] to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

The books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah are filled to the brim of all the various forms of adultery and harlotry that Israel and Judah committed against the Lord. This adultery and harlotry was a result of accepting all the false gods and false religion and the most grotesque spiritualism of the pagan cultures around her.

Jer 3:6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen [that] which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

Jer 5:19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these [things] unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land [that is] not yours.

Eze 16:28 Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.

Eze 16:31 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;

It is plain to me now that the reasons Jesus lays into the Pharisees the way He does and why He considers them to be adulterer. Jesus explains what happens in the case of the Pharisees adultery in recounting the tale of Lazarus and the rich man. It is because the Pharisees had accepted another teaching. In Jesus’ recounting this story of Lazarus and the rich man it is clear that He was comparing the Pharisees own understanding of what happens in the afterlife. That understanding was derived from the neighboring pagan cultures – in this case, the Greeks.

It is the Greeks that taught that man had a “dual nature” and that man was a in possession of an immortal soul. Jesus was using the Pharisees own false belief system which was borrowed from the pagans against them. At the same time He is deriding them even further.

That is why verse 18 in Luke 16 will always and forever be to me one of the most fascinating single verses in all of scripture. It is so brilliant in it’s application with regards who it was directed at and in relation to what it concludes about these false beliefs.

"But Abraham said, `If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.'"

The Pharisees had long before this time given up on seeking the higher meaning of God's character and instead were comfortable being their "own gods" if you will. This is even true of many Christian sects associated with the beliefs of 'modern' pagan Rome. Pagan protestantism has adopted so many of these same false beliefs.Thus both Rome and Protestantism are committing the same "spiritual adultery" that the Pharisees did.

Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.

As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought,the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.

The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable. Church members love what the world loves and are ready to join with them, and Satan determines to unite them in one body and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism. Papists, who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church, will be readily deceived by this wonder-working power; and Protestants, having cast away the shield of truth, will also be deluded. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium. - Ellen White, The Great Controversy, page 588

The Fallacy of the Secret Rapture

2009-07-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

Sadly it seems that most Christians today who preach about end time prophecies believe that prior to the end the church era true believers will be secretly raptured and flown home to heaven to escape the coming of tribulation.

This event will supposedly commence in the midst of the 70th week of Daniel 9:25-27. During this time 144,000 Jews will be converted and will rebuild a temple at Jerusalem where animal sacrifices will resume. Then these Jews will get on with the business of preaching the gospel to all the world. Of course, let's keep in mind, that the preaching of the Gospel has been going out to the entire world for centuries now.

Rapurists believe that the beast power, the mysterious antichrist figure, will then appear and make a "peace treaty" with these 144,000 Jews. After 3½ years of keeping a covenant with the Jews, the beast will break the covenant and commence 3½ years of persecution on the Jews and their converts. Finally there will be a third coming of Jesus to end it all and Jesus will rescue His people.

This is all a wildly fantastic scenario. The fact that it is pure fiction, found only in the pages of the "Left Behind" books and the fiction section of your local bookstore, and not anywhere in the pages of scripture should cause anyone even remotely interested in the truth to question this scenario.

It can be demonstrated quite clearly and distinctly from recent world history that this school of prophetic interpretation, coined "futurism," was developed by a Spanish Jesuit by the name of Manuel De Lacunza as a counter measure to the Protestant Reformation which had identified the Papacy as the Antichrist. It was later made popular by the Brethren Movement and Cyrus Scofield and the Scofield Bible. In the last 50-60 years it has become the prevailing view of many, if not most Evangelical churches. This teaching has many serious differences with the prevailing historical prophetic teaching and understanding of the Reformation and in particular Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. Some of the major flaws of this dispensational secret rapture scenario are:

1. There is second chance to believe in Jesus after His second coming if somehow one misses out on the secret rapture. This has got to be the most dangerous aspect of this doctrine.

2. The Antichrist appears after the church age era and this occurs after the church is raptured. Yet clearly scripture teaches us that even in the apostles day, as 1 John tells us, there were many antichrists in the church.

3. These end time prophecies call for the re-establishment of the State of Israel and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. Clearly this is an extremely myopic and somewhat convoluted interpretation of scripture because so many of these prophecies are taken from prophecies that have already been fulfilled regarding Judas return from captivity in Babylon.

4. This scenario of the secret rapture 1) absolves a Christian from the necessity of preaching the word of God to modern day Jews, which, for most Christians would be practically impossible because they do not know their scriptures better than even a nominal Jew, and 2) it neglects the obvious symbolic connection between Israel, Christ's fulfillment of prophecies regarding Israel and the fact that Jesus Christ is in fact the physical embodiment of Israel.

And yet the commission to preach the three angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12 make it abundantly clear that "the everlasting gospel" is to be preached to them "that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" and that all should "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." The Three Angels messages easily dispel the notion that the word of God will be preached after the church has flown away.

And it must be stressed that this admonition is something that is to be done now, not later, in anticipation and in preparation for the fall of Babylon and before the coming of the mark of the beast.

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" - Revelation 14:8-9

Therefore it makes the ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist and the historic interpretation to the entire world, including modern day Jews living in that secular, nation/state of corporate ISRAEL clearly different, and vital to that of most every other church in the world. In this preaching, it has to be noted and responded to the "secret rapture" view by pointing out the following:

1. After the second coming of Jesus Christ there is no opportunity to accept Him as Lord and Savior. Outside of His second advent which will be glorious, noisy, powerful, and final there is just no second chance. It is this belief the secret rapture proponent is teaching a "fairy tale" and this can cause many to fail to follow Christ now and possibly be lost eternally. It's a harbinger of a "I'll wait and see" attitude. According to the Three Angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12 the gospel and its preaching to the entire world, which directly challenges men and women to accept Christ now, is central to this issue.

2. The Antichrist is now operating in the church and has been for many centuries. The first epistle of John makes this abundantly clear. In John's day there were antichrist's in the church. The Beast power is Papal Rome, according to a historical interpretation of Daniel and Revelation, who along with other temporal political powers and her harlot daughters is set to arise and work at the end time just as she has through the centuries.

3. At this time there is no genuine significance to the Jews as a nation fulfilling Bible prophecy. In fact, it has already been accomplished by the person of Jesus Christ. We all belong to Israel, "fellow citizen's with the saints," as a result of Jesus' sacrifice. The New Testament teaches that the Christian church is true Israel. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28

The final end time battle will be fought all over the world, wherever God's people are to be found and it will center around the commandments of God and His authority as opposed to the mark of the beast system and that authority. The battle lines are clearly drawn: "Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." - Revelation 14:12. Whether the Jews rebuild a temple in Jerusalem is of no significance as the true temple of God is to be found in heaven where Jesus Christ our righteousness now dwells.

Lastly, it should be noted that this prophetic message does make those with the historic interpretation of scripture much, much different from practically every other church denomination today. It is very interesting to also note that in recent years there has been a moving away from the teachings of futurism by many prominent scholars. The movement has been more towards the historic interpretation held by the early reformers position which can only be the work of God.

It is an undeniable fact that God has commissioned all Christians in Revelation 14:6-12 to preach some great truths namely, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His soon return and the glory of His commandments and His faith to both Christians and non-Christians alike to prepare all them "that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" to meet Jesus when He returns.

There can be no more dangerous interpretation of scripture than the notion of a "rebuilt temple" and a "secret rapture."

For God so loved the world....

2009-06-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

John 3:16 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Is there really anyway we can imagine that, the Just One for the unjust? The following video attempts that very thing...in a most sobering way.

May Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, the Son of God, the Holy One of Israel shine forth in your heart today and everyday.

The Connection of the Mercy Seat

2009-06-11T11:08:00.001-07:00

I was telling a Messianic Jew that occasionally worships with us at our church how I thought the sabbath commandment - the 4th commandment, was actually a representation or type of the Mercy Seat. We are commonly taught in most Christian circles but especially Seventh-day Adventist teaching that the first 4 commandments of God's Moral law instruct us how to honor God, and the next 6 commandments instruct us how to honor our fellow man.

Now, here's the connection. The Mercy Seat covers the law inside the Ark of the Covenant which are on two tables of stone (Exodus 25:21-22, Deuteronomy 10:2). And yet, at the same time, it also bridges the gap as it also connects the law inside the Ark with the Shekinah Glory above the Mercy Seat. I have always equated the law inside the Ark of the Covenant as, prophetically or as a type, symbolic for the law being placed inside man's heart. Man's heart is to contain the Word of God represented by the manna, the Law of God as presented by the commandments and finally the Hope and Promises of God as represented by Aaron's Rod that budded.

There is only one commandment that bridges this gap and connects the responsibility of honoring God, which can be summed up with certainty in the first three commandments, and the responsibility of honoring our fellow man together and that is the 4th commandment. It is the only commandment where it can be seen that God is with us, communing amongst His people while we are also communing with Him, enjoying His time that He chooses to be with us and marveling at His creation. We are connected.

Just as the Mercy Seat connects and bridges the gap between the law and grace, so too does the 4th Commandment.

Sunday Law? Piece of cake.

2009-06-05T23:42:00.000-07:00

Go ahead and watch the following video and you tell me that leading the masses towards a Sunday law observance won't be a piece of cake.

The point is real simple. When Americans, such as those shown in this video, are given a plethora of reasons why a Sunday law is needed and necessary they will absolutely jump at it. Now add another Catholic judge to the U.S. Supreme Court and it should be fairly certain that the United States is in the process of setting up the image that will give power and great authority to the beast.

It's just a matter of time. And yet, even so, "Come Lord Jesus, come."

1844 & the Final Onslaught by Proferssor Walter Veith (Full Version)

2009-05-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

Take heart all you Seventh-day Adventist's and stand firm in your faith! Stand by what you have been taught and what you have learned from the scriptures and from Inspiration....

These are trying times, they will get much worse, and yet there is no other church or movement - none, that teaches what the Seventh-day Adventist church teaches the Bible says.

And remember to say with a loud voice, "...Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

1844 & The Final Onslaught by Proferssor Walter Veith - Parts 1 to 9

2009-05-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

Sabbath...justified

2009-05-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a short video about the Sabbath that I pray you'll find of interest and a blessing.

Pork: The Other White Meat®

2009-04-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

More proof God was right and Jesus Christ didn't die on the cross for bacon, ham and pickled pigs feet.

Happy Passover!

2009-04-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

That's right, at sundown tonight April 8, 2009 the Passover of the Lord officially began.

Today is when He ate the last supper: Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14:17-26; Luke 22:14-30

He was betrayed and arrested: Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12

Tried by Annas and Caiaphas: Matthew 26:57-75; Mark 14:53-72; Luke 22:54-65: John 18:13-27

The next day, which would be this Thursday Jesus was:

Tried by Sanhedrin: Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66

Tried by Pilate, Herod: Matthew 27:2-30; Mark 15:2-19; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:16

Crucified and Buried: Matthew 27:31-60; Mark 15:20-46; Luke 23:26-54; John 19:16-42

This coming Friday would be the day He spent in the tomb.

And this Saturday, the Seventh-day Sabbath will mark the day He arose from the tomb: Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-35

The retribution of God?

2009-03-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

A few days ago a tragic accident occurred when a plane carrying three families totaling 14 people on their way to a ski vacation in Montana crashed killing all aboard. The victims were all members of the Seventh-day Adventist church. According to the Adventist Review, “All three families were members or regular attendees at congregations in the Northern California Conference; the three husbands were longtime friends who attended both church-owned Pacific Union College and Loma Linda University.”

Three families, 14 people. Gone just like that. This is no doubt would be a very difficult situation for the survivors of just one family to bear. It is hard to comprehend three. Yet, on top of that tragedy there is still much more to deal with, a tragedy within the tragedy. What can only seem to be the total and complete mischaracterization of God Himself, His nature and His character, is the tact that has been taken by some who consider themselves “pro life.”

It appears that there are certain members of the “pro life” community, writers, speakers, etc., that see this plane crash as God’s very own retribution against the family patriarch of the deceased, a prominent Adventist, Dr. Irving M. “Bud” Feldkamp III, who owns the Hospitality Dental Group in San Bernardino, California, the Glen Helen Raceway and Family Planning Associates, a California corporation that provides abortions.

This entry is not about whether abortion is or is not wrong, or whether it is immoral.

What this particular entry is about is trying to understand God Himself and whether God is actually responsible in these situations. In other words, does God kill and/or seek retribution against sinners by attacking the sinners’ family? And if so, what does that say about God? Is all that “mercy” talk just a bunch of tripe?

Without coming right out and saying as much many “pro lifers” have hinted at the fact that this is God’s retribution for the fact that Dr. Feldkamp owns a corporation that performs abortions. Which begs the question, does God kill those family members – specifically the young children, in this case grandchildren, of people that may or may not be in working in the will of God?

In the Book of Luke (Luke 13:1-6) after Jesus was told of Pilate murdering certain Galileans as they sacrificed at the Temple Jesus said plainly to His disciples, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?” The standard view of the Jews in these times was that those who suffered, or who were poor, or who were in some other way not as fortunate as others that somehow they were cursed by God. Is that what we are to think regarding this plane crash? Yet what does Jesus go on to teach us? He says, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Jesus continues on, “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?” Jesus repeats His admonition, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

So what are we to think? Is God constantly lurking in the background waiting for those very children He created to slip up so He can pounce? Is this what God does? Paul tells us in Galatians 1:4 that Jesus died and, “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” In the Book of Ezekiel (18:20) we are told that, “The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son.”

In the desire of some people to expose what they consider to be the greatest sins of others they use a tragedy such as this to coldly and callously denounce people and yet become insensitive to others themselves. They paint God as a God that would kill the living, and breathing children and grandchildren as a perfectly just punishment for the sins of another man.

Is it any wonder that so many distrust God and want nothing to do with Him? A God that seeks to destroy the very creation He has made is a God that no one cares to know, that no one cares to learn of and is as pagan as the day is long.

Happy Easter?

2009-03-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

I like to visit various Christian forums to discuss and debate different aspects of Christianity and especially the doctrine and beliefs of Seventh-day Adventistism. Just a few days ago I logged on to one particular Christian web forum where I saw a banner ad for Easter costumes. Having my curiosity pricked I clicked on the banner to see just exactly what an "Easter" costume was all about.

The picture you see here is a product of what I found from searching the site. This picture has also left me scratching my head quite frankly.

Now, the picture here is not a picture of an aged or maturing Sasquatch although it could certainly pass for one! According to the web site it's a costume for those that want to "dress up" as Moses (Rav Mo'she)! Gee, ain't that just a hoot!

Now I'm sorry to be so sarcastic regarding this but I find this absolutely fascinating and just a wee bit troubling, and here's why.

We all know, for the most part that Easter has its origins in paganism and the adoption of pagan practices. In fact the name "Easter" has at it's core the name of several different pagan gods - Eostre of the Saxons, Ishtar of the Assyrians, Ashtoreth of the ancient Canaanites, derived from the ancient word for spring! Just another pagan god. Spring! Is Easter just becoming a new Halloween for Christians? It was pointed out to me, if you think about it, that Sunday is really just a "mini-Easter" celebration! In that sense celebrating Easter would almost appear to be redundant!

Of course, this Easter is (by far) much, much different from what the Passover of the Lord in the book of Exodus was to not only represent, but to become in our lives. Our Passover Lamb - Jesus Christ, was sacrificed at a different time, in a different place, in a completely different manner and, above all, for a completely different reason than what is represented in the Easter "holiday." His shed blood was meant to cover our sins that are found on the door posts of our earthly tents (justification) and, as that Lamb is ingested into our bodies, we are to become more like Him by taking our His nature and His character (sanctification).

This distinction should never, ever be lost on Seventh-day Adventists or for that matter any Christian.

I remember that very first Christmas I experienced in an Adventist church like it was yesterday. Of course, in that was just a little over three years ago, it really was just like yesterday! I remember thinking to myself that considering all the truth Adventists have in the Word of God and explained through the Spirit of Prophecy regarding that which will soon come to pass that embracing something born from paganism seemed odd. You know it's taken a few years since I became an Adventist to kind of get used to the whole Christmas thing.....honestly. But it still surprises me somewhat to this day that Adventists (not all) celebrate Christmas to some extent. And yes, I've read Mrs. White on Christmas.....so I see the point, at least a little anyway. In considering that so many Adventists are converts from other denominations Christmas almost becomes somewhat understandable frankly.

But not Easter - I'll never get used to seeing Easter celebrated in an Adventist church. Why? Because of all Christian denominations Seventh-day Adeventism seems to come closer to any other in understanding the sanctuary, the services of the sanctuary, the feasts and festivals centered around the sanctuary and above all the rich and deep meaning behind all the things that are represented by and through the sanctuary. Personally, I almost find it difficult to understand the true nature and character of God that Satan has constantly and regularly assailed without understanding these things.

In fact, I would love to see Seventh-day Adventists, as well as all Christendom for that matter, begin to embrace all of the feasts and festivals of the Torah and the Prophets, and learn and investigate the meaning behind the Bible feasts and festivals. These feasts and festivals, unlike some will say, have not been "nailed to the cross" but still provide a valuable window for us all to understand the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Inspiration: God’s Pen or God’s Penmen?

2008-09-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had a great blessing bestowed on me in attending the Good News Tour at the Loma Linda University church. It was a great conference put on by Heavenly Sanctuary.com and it included some wonderful pastors and teachers of the Word of God discussing their favorite subject....the nature and character of God.

I was most impressed with the sermon put together by Dr. Brad Cole titled, "Biblical Inspiration: God’s Pen or God’s Penmen?" I thought it was a wonderful sermon that was thoughtfully presented. Because I hope you find Dr. Cole's sermon as much a blessing to you as I did I have included a link for you to view the sermon. Enjoy!

Biblical Inspiration: God’s Pen or God’s Penmen?

Um, don't start one?

2008-08-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

The August 25th edition of Time Magazine includes an article entitled, "How to Stop a New Cold War."

I know! I know!

Don't start one!

Matthew 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

We are fortunate, um strike that, blessed beyond measure, that we have a humble and gracious King and Savior who kindly and without condemnation, shows us how it is to be when dealing with those that would mistreat us, deceive us, and other wise persecute us. God Himself came to this Earth and voluntarily allowed Himself to be horribly treated in order to show the true goodness, nature and character of God and just how much God loves His creation. Wow! That's truly awesome to think about frankly.

Mathew 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.

So let's repeat.

How to Stop a New Cold War? Don't start one.

One that I just don't quite get

2008-07-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Sin is the transgression of the law. I get that.

There aren't too many Christians these days that wouldn't be willing to tell anyone that will listen that homosexuality is a sin, and rightly so. Clearly homosexuality is against God's law.

And therein lies the problem.

"We're not under the law anymore, we're under grace." How many times have you heard that? How many times have you said that? "We're not under the law anymore, we're under grace." Well, if we aren't under the law anymore, then how is it even possible that homosexuality is considered a sin?

Let me explain.

It seems it's sheik to say these days that, "We're not under the law anymore, we're under grace." Yet I actually agree with this notion quite a bit. Those that have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are not under the law anymore. Their sins are covered by the blood of Son of God. Now they are under the conviction and direction of the Holy Spirit (of course we have to ask, "What standard does the Holy Spirit use?") to walk in the way of and abide with Jesus. Besides, the law is set-up specifically law breakers, not for those that obey the law.

1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

But what law?

Nowhere in the 10 Commandments can one specifically find a prohibition against homosexuality, or having an affair with one's aunt. Nor does the 10 Commandments make mention of bestiality. I think the 7th Commandment is fairly clear: "Thou shalt not commit adultery. " - Exodus 20:14. In fact, the word used here for adultery means just that, "to commit adultery, always with wife of another" - see Strongs #H5003.

Well, that's confusing. If sin is the transgression of the law and yet I can't find a prohibition against homosexuality in the 10 Commandments, then how in the world can homosexuality be a sin?

Is it something I might find in the Mosaic law? You know, that law that was ' just for the Jews.' Well, after a very brief search I found this one for homosexuality:

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.

I found this one that prohibits having an affair with one's aunt:

Leviticus 20:20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.

I found this one that says something extremely negative about bestiality:

Leviticus 20:15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.

How then can something not mentioned in the 10 Commandments, and yet mentioned in a law that apparently has nothing to do with Gentiles but "Jews" only, be considered sin? Is it because, as the pat answer seems to be, it's something that was "reiterated" in the "New" Testament?

Few men marry their sisters. Why is that considering there is no prohibition of a man marrying his sister in the "New" Testament? Could it be that's because it's found in the Mosaic law?

People will say and do just about anything to prove that we aren't under the "law" anymore but use that very "law" to conveniently attack a position in an argument they feel quite passionately about.

Yet it is these very arguments that dismantle the very positions they hold about the law and grace.

Whenever I read the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8 I try to imagine for a second that it was me caught in the very act of doing a sin worthy of death by stoning. I try to imagine Jesus saying to me, "David, where are your accusers at? Has no man condemned you?"

Jesus came to show us the Father....everything about the Father. His goodness, His mercy, His grace and tenderness. He came to show that to me, and He came to show that in every sinner. Jesus uses the law to show us our weaknesses and our propensity to sin, yet at the same time He doesn't condemn us.

Do we have license to sin? God forbid. Do we have complete freedom to pick and choose which of God's laws we will choose to follow? Sure we do. If we choose the road that's wide and that leads to destruction God will not stop us. Does that mean He stops loving us? God forbid.

Who is Israel?

2008-07-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

For an absolutely riveting video that clearly and concisely demonstrates the Biblical truth regarding the true identity of Israel please click the link shown above. The video is only 13 minutes long, yet those 13 minutes are jam packed with scriptural references and proofs that end this notion that the modern, secular nation state of Israel is the favored nation of God or home to His people.

All scripture.....

2008-07-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

"All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." - 1 Timothy 3:16-17

It's been estimated that it was roughly around 63 A.D. when Paul wrote this instruction to Timothy. The New Testament wasn't canonized until about 367 A.D., which of course would have been well after Paul's death. So it must be concluded, logically, that Paul was not referring to the "New Testament" but the "Old" or the entire scriptures of the Law (Torah) and the Prophets (Neviim and Treisar). Any other conclusion simply wouldn't make sense. Either that or we would have to conclude that until the letters of the Apostles were canonized, man was left in limbo by God for 300 years without any standards of right and wrong.

Based on this fact alone, it would be difficult to conclude that Paul was advocating the abolition of the "Law and the Prophets." If he was, why would Paul state that "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God..."? It seems most obvious that Paul was indeed stating that what God had written, by and through the inspiration of men, was good "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

No amount of insistence then that "we are not under the law but under grace" could possibly hold up against this statement by Paul. Murder was just as wrong after the cross as before. Now, this is certainly not meant to suggest that we aren't under grace, because we most certainly are. Jesus Christ came specifically to cover our sin with His blood. More importantly Jesus Christ did not come to Earth to give anyone license to sin. Therefore, it has to be concluded that the standard for sin, the law, is still in place.

In the days of the Israelites whenever anyone sinned against the law they had to sacrifice something, by faith, to absolve themselves of that sin (Leviticus 4 and 5). Of course, that sacrifice always pointed forward, in some way, to the coming Messiah that God Himself would have to sacrifice for sin.

The difference is that Jesus Christ came to be that sin offering for the sin of the people (John 1:29, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Daniel 9:27). No longer are sinners required to sacrifice bulls, goats and turtledove's for their sins. Since Jesus died on the cross, whenever anyone sins, they now have direct access to the Holy of Hollies, and the very High Priest that sprinkles His own blood and covers that sin with His own blood!

Does that abolish the law? Hardly. What it should do, for everyone, is give each and everyone of us an awesome appreciation for the lengths that God and His Son were willing to go to show us the effects of sin, and just how God the Father intends to have us reconciled to Him! What an awesome promise and display of perfect Love.

Today Christians, or for that matter anyone, who insist that no one is under the law but rather under grace have become a law unto themselves simply by rejecting the very law, and very words of God the Father. If, as David tells us in Psalms 19, the law is perfect then it can not be changed. Something that is made perfect that needs to be changed wasn't perfect after all. There can be no greater example of this than the debate about homosexuality and homosexual marriage that currently rages today.

In the Ten Commandments, the moral law of God that reveals His character, the seventh commandment regarding adultery does not mention homosexual relations specifically. It doesn't mention a man marrying his sister or engaging in sex with animals either. However, are we intelligent enough, and honest enough with ourselves to conclude that none of these are things that represent the character of God? Well, if there was no standard in place to point out that these behaviors are sins then by nature these behaviors can't be considered sins (Romans 3:20, 5:13).

Where then do we find specific outlines and prohibitions against adultery, a man marrying his sister, bestiality and homosexuality? Why in the Mosaic law that was dictated to Moses by God the Father of course. Well, if we aren't under this law anymore, or it's just for Jews, or it was nailed to the cross or whatever excuse to abolish this dictation of law we can come up with then there is NO LAW! And if there is no law, then there is no grace. If there is no grace, then there is no reason for sacrifice. If there is no reason for sacrifice, then there is no reason for Jesus Christ.

Easily then we can conclude, just as we can with Paul's letter to Timothy, that this is exactly what Paul meant when Paul wrote his letter to the Romans; that the very first chapter was rooted in the very law that so many wish to say no longer exists. After all, if we can honestly conclude that when Paul wrote his letter to Timothy he was referring to the Law and the Prophets, then we can come to the very same conclusion regarding his letter to the Romans.

Does that mean we can murder and steal?

2008-07-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

I also wanted to mention that in Ray Comforts "Answers from the Evidence Bible - Freedom from Keeping the Sabbath" there is this argument:

"Acts 15:5–11, 24–29 was God’s opportunity to make His will clear to His children. All He had to do to save millions from damnation was say, "Remember to keep the Sabbath holy," and millions of Christ-centered, God-loving, Bible-believing Christians would have gladly kept it. Instead, the only commands the apostles gave were to "abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication."

Using the same logic as expressed above then had the Jerusalem Council mentioned, "Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not covet, etc, etc, then by extension millions of Christ-centered, God-loving, Bible-believing Christians would have gladly kept them. But is that true?

What the argument here is really making is that since the Jerusalem Council did not admonish newly minted Christians from murdering, stealing or coveting then those must be perfectly fine to do! But who would buy that argument? Who would even make such an argument and still keep a straight face? Even more interesting is that this very council of consisting of new Christians from Jewish backgrounds made it known that these new Christians were to keep certain aspects of the Mosaic health laws, 1) Not to eat blood, and 2) Not to eat anything strangled or that died on it's own.

Clearly, a confused, nonsensical argument should be rejected whenever logic based on the perfect law of God and clear Biblical evidence is used to dismiss it.

How perfect?

2008-07-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

Today I had an opportunity to listen a bit to Ray Comfort of the "Way of the Master" fame. It was a tape from his appearance at the Strategic Prophecy Conference held recently in California. It was actually quite good. Ray has a very logical and Biblical way of pointing out that the "law of liberty", the Ten Commandments, are still in effect and are a wonderful way to point out sin and in effect, the character of God. He makes sense and uses a myriad of scriptures to show that the moral law of God is indeed "...is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple."

But there is a bit of a problem that we need to address.

On Ray's web site there is a section titled "Answers from the Evidence Bible" in which the argument is made that in reality the moral law of God isn't perfect after all, at least that's what I gather the argument is when I read articles titled, "Freedom from Sabbath Keeping."

If God's original moral law is perfect and able to convert the soul then why would it need to be changed by doing away with the Sabbath? Honestly, if something is perfect by definition (in this case God's definition), it needs nothing to be changed to make it better. If something is considered perfect it can't be made more perfect by changing something about it. Furthermore, if something is deemed to be perfect is later found to need changes then it couldn't have been perfect in the first place.

That's a question I love to have answered. How is it that something God deemed to be perfect wind up needing to be changed?

Here's a few questions asked in the article that I'll happily answer:

"First, nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are to worship on the Sabbath."

Actually, that's a fairly untrue statement when the weight of actual Bible evidence is applied to it. First, it was a "mixed multitude" (Exodus 12:38) that came out of Egypt and enjoyed that first Sabbath in the wilderness. That should be proof alone that God didn't just command the children of Israel. But just a scant 5 verses later we read the requirements for the strangers (gentiles) that wanted to take part in the Passover (Exodus 12:43-48). Obviously taking part in the Passover meant accepting what the Passover symbolized which is the life and sacrifice that God would later provide for the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36).

This brief picture of Bible prophecy in Exodus clearly demonstrates that there would be a people outside of the original covenant that God made that would desire to be part of His covenant. What is most interesting to note is that these strangers that desired to take part in the Passover would have done this by faith, and not by any requirement of any covenant.

Second, the stranger was required to keep the Sabbath holy and to keep from profaning it. "But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates:" - Exodus 20:10. Strangers in the Bible always symbolize a people outside of God's original covenant with the children of Israel.

Third, a "Holy Convocation" was called to be assembled every seventh day Sabbath. "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day [is] the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work [therein]: it [is] the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings." - Leviticus 23:3

One can easily conclude that if a stranger was to keep the Sabbath holy by commandment of God, and a holy convocation was suggested by God, that what might be inferred was that God wanted to share with the strangers what was going on and why?Obviously in that we see this addressed by Paul when he tells us that the oracles of God were first entrusted to the children of Israel - see Romans 3:2.

Fourth, God gives us further evidence that it is the strangers, the Gentiles, that take a hold of His covenant in a most interesting, and quite enlightening manner:

"Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;" - Isaiah 56:6

Just as the the covenant was confirmed by the willingness of the children of Israel to do what was commanded in God's holy, just and perfect moral law, the Ten Commandments - see Deuteronomy 4:13; God specifically made it clear through the prophet Isaiah that the sons of the Gentiles would join themselves to God by taking a hold of His covenant and keeping His Sabbath.

Lastly, the argument that "...nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are to worship on the Sabbath" is a bit of a red herring at best. The childish retort would simply be that nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are not to worship on the Sabbath for that matter. But in examining and weighing the mounds of Biblical evidence and scriptures it becomes even more far-fetched to believe that Christian aren't required to keep the Sabbath. After all, if the law is indeed able to "convert the soul" are we referring only to Jewish souls?

And yet Paul recognized quite fully that even those that didn't have the law, yet did the requirements of the law, were actually those that understood the law. "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:" - Romans 2:14.

It's evident, from a purely logical standpoint, that something that is perfect doesn't need to be changed. The moral law of God, written by His finger and engraved in stone, is indeed perfect, holy, just and good.

It has never changed.....and never will.

Even Jesus Christ Rejects National Israel

2008-07-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

Even Jesus Christ rejected the notion that a future, secular nation/state would have any significant relevance for the future of His kingdom. Jesus, because He is God, knew that He would be rejected by those He was sent to and that eventually those that were outside of this and yet wished to join themselves to God the Father would do so through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Let's study this important parable to find out how and why Jesus spoke what He did to the Pharisees:

Matthew 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

The householder in this parable, as in all the other parables that mention the householder, speaks of God the Father. In creating the earth and all that is in it He is the householder and the One that planted the vineyard. The vineyard in this case are those people that God has planted and continues to plant to this day that hear Him and abide with Him. See Isaiah 61:3. The vine, if there was any doubt, is Jesus Christ (John 15:1).

21:34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

The servants that God the Father sent to the husbandmen, those in charge of keeping the vineyard in order, were the prophets of the Old Testament that spoke to the Children of Israel of the coming Messiah.

21:35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

Here, Jesus specifically reminds those who He was speaking to what had actually happened to a number of the prophets that God sent to the Children of Israel. Jeremiah was stoned, as was Habakkuk and Zechariah was slain with the sword by Joash.

21:36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

Jesus here is re-emphasizing what He said in verse 35.

21:37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

This is more than obvious that Jesus here is talking about Himself.

21:38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

Jesus is simply predicting what happened in His day when the Son of God came and was killed by the Pharisees.

21:39 And they caught him, and cast [him] out of the vineyard, and slew [him].

See above.

21:40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

Jesus asks those whom He was speaking to a very important and pointed question that we must ask ourselves. When God the Father returns to see what has happened to His vineyard what will He do?

21:41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out [his] vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

Do you desire to be a part of that "other husbandmen?" By accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and abiding with Him you personally become part of the other husbandmen and will render to Jesus the fruits in their seasons.

21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

This is a direct reference to Psalms 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16. Jesus is constantly refered to as a rock or stone in both the Old and New Testaments.

21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Jesus plainly declares here that the Kingdom of God, which is found within the heart of each and every man and woman (Luke 17:21), would be taken away from those that were responsible to share the great and wonderful blessings of God the Father and eventually given to another. This fact is made even more clear in the Book of Acts when the Jews of that day found themselves unworthy of eternal life and thus the preaching of the Kingdom of God went to the gentiles.

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

In other words, when we voluntarily fall on that stone, that precious corner stone of Jesus Christ, we see our weakness and just how helpless we really are. Thus we realize how broken we are. And yet, if we resist that power of Jesus Christ and allow that stone to fall on us, it will grind one to powder.

21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

Jesus was indeed speaking to them.

The Bible and Christian thought is not a "new" religion but merely an extension of the old ways of the Israelite teachings that were meant to direct the observer to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the Savior that He would send and in our case, has sent.

Replacement Theology

2008-07-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

I think that there is some confusion in the world today, among Christians and non-Christians alike, regarding the belief that the majority of Christians are taught or believe that “the Church” has somehow replaced the nation of Israel with respect to the promises, as well as the prophetic expectations attributed to the nation of Israel.

If this is indeed the thinking, that “the Church” has somehow replaced the nation of Israel then yes, that view, in light of clear and concise Biblical teaching and understanding, both in the Old Testament and that of the Apostle’s letters, is incorrect.

Personally I believe that very few Christians have this belief, because if more Christians did, they would understand the truth that the Church has not replaced Israel, Jesus Christ has!

Those that are called out by the Holy Spirit to believe in and, more imporantly, abide with Jesus Christ are members of His Body, the Church. They become adopted members of His nation. His family has replaced the secular, nation/state of Israel with the true nation of Israel, headed by the King Jesus Christ. Now, is that thinking simply semantics? Hardly. Here’s why:

In the Old Testament, if I wanted to join with the nation of Israel, after being exposed to their ceremonies, traditions and festivals, which were to lead to a clear revelation of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, there were clear and specific guidelines that one would perform to become an Israelite. These “procedures” if you will were a type or a shadow for the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Messiah by those that would accept Him, whether they were Jew or Gentile.

Exodus 12:43-49 clearly spells out God’s desire for accepting the Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ in type.

And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This [is] the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

Now, if an Israelite had purchased a slave, that slave could participate in the eating of the Passover provided he was circumcised. Likewise, those that of their own volition who chose to partake in the eating Passover (verse 48), where also required to be circumcised and after wards were considered to be “as one that is born in the land.”

How are we, as Christians today, purchased just like a slave? Through the blood of Jesus Christ; Ephesians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 6:20. What is required of anyone that wishes to join Jesus Christ and become a follower of His way, of His truth and His life? A circumcised heart; Deuteronomy 30:6, Romans 2:28-29. Those things in the Old Testament which pointed to Jesus Christ and that were to be performed by the tribe of Israel have all been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And those things are still being performed by Him today, as our High Priest. When one takes the tremendous and wondrous leap of faith to enter into a relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords they are openly declaring that they wish to be members of His family and His tribe.....the body, called Christians, all of whom are members of His Israel.

Food for Thought......

2008-07-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

The following is a letter to the editor that was written by a friend of mine in Colorado. It is definite "food for thought." This is the link to Doug's web site: http://www.geocities.com/fountoftruth/waning.html

Letters to the Editor
Rocky Mountain News
Denver, CO 80202

Editor:

Thank you for your article of June 30, 2008 entitled “Evangelicals' political clout wanes, scholars say.” This waning political influence is long overdue. For years, Christians and their churches have been inappropriately used as partisan political tools. The consequences have been most unfortunate.

From 1980 to 2000, there was always a drumbeat about the need for Christians to vote Republican. When George W. Bush mentioned Jesus during the 2000 campaign, things went crazy. Based on just one statement, evangelical leaders relentlessly promoted Bush as this great Christian man and insisted that Christians stand with him foursquare. Someone said that it was as if they wanted to add Bush to the Holy Trinity.

Millions of evangelicals thus became fervent supporters of unprovoked war, torture, warrantless searches and spying, rogue police and guilt without trial. They became cheerleaders for the most un-Christlike behavior imaginable.

When called on this, they often would try to frighten people, saying things like, “Do you want liberals in power?” Well, our “conservative” president outspends his liberal predecessor by $1 trillion per year. Every liberal program these “conservatives” say they oppose is larger and costlier than ever. Abortions are as available now as they were in the Clinton years.

Christians are called to be light in a world of darkness and salt in a world of decay. While we need to be involved in politics, we must not compromise Christianity for the sake of political victory. We must acknowledge the very strict limits of what government can accomplish and that the state almost always does more harm than good.

We must also not yoke ourselves unequally with secular political movements. This unholy alliance of evangelical Christians and the Republican Party has given Christians a reputation as warmongers, cultural control freaks and partisan political jerks. This is not how Christ called us to live.

Let us look to the Bible and to the teachings of Christ, rather than temporal partisan political agendas, as our guide toward influencing our world.

Douglas F. Newman
Aurora

"Blood in, Blood Out"

2008-06-06T21:41:00.001-07:00

Isn't it interesting that at various times something from the outside, some sort of outside influence or condition, may reflect a certain story or passage that we might be reading in the Bible at the time? A case in point, for me, happened just a few days ago. When I returned home from being out and about, a postcard greeted me at the door. It was left in the door by Victory Outreach in Victorville. The card was promoting an event, a live drama called "Blood In, Blood Out." Judging from the pictures on the post card and this note, "To join the Mafia, you kill....To leave the Mafia, you die" one can assume that this production must have something to do with leaving the "Mexican" Mafia and the brutal lifestyle that it represents.

What was so interesting to me in receiving this post card when I did is that I was reading Acts chapter 9 at the time and reading about the conversion of Saul from early church persecutor to becoming the staunch preacher he was to become.

What's so interesting about that you might ask and what's the connection.

Well, after Saul received his sight and began preaching in the synagogues that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, folks began to take notice; those who remembered him as the one that destroyed many of those that called on Jesus in Jerusalem and those that were convicted by the truth of Saul's words and preaching of Jesus Christ as Messiah.

Verse 22 tells us that as Saul increased more in knowledge and understanding and began to be more and more empowered, he also began to perplex and confuse the Jews and cause an uproar amongst them by "proving" that Jesus was indeed the Christ. In fact, the uproar was evidently so great and so powerful in piercing their hearts by Saul's preaching that they sought to take Saul's life.

Hopefully, by now, you can see the connection. Just as it was in Saul's day where going against the grain and speaking out against what was considered to be true at the time by the religious leadership was seen as punishable by death, so the same goes on today, when trying to leave a powerful criminal enterprise like a gang, in this case, the Mexican Mafia is punishable by death.

Saul began preaching the "real" truth; that the Messiah had indeed come and came in the form of a man named Jesus Christ, with such power that he began to cut the hearts of the so-called religious leadership of his day so much to actually want him dead.

In fact, I was struck so much by the connection between this post card from Victory Outreach and these events that surrounded Saul some 2000 years ago, that I noted in my Bible by verse 23 "Blood In, Blood Out."

Through Saul's exhortation and preaching he was able to clearly demonstrate that Jesus was the Messiah spoken of in scripture, so much so that the "shot callers" in the Jewish priesthood wanted him dead.

Fortunately for Saul, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he had become a member of the only "gang" that matters.....the "Royal Priesthood" of Jesus Christ and His family.

Israel at 60, Give or Take a Few Thousand Years

2008-05-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

This happens to be the title of an article that appeared in both the Israel National News in April and today on the American Thinker website that was written by Steve Feldman and Robert Sklaroff of the Philadelphia District of the Zionist Organization of America.

Unfortunately, this article contains the most glaring error that can ever be made with respect to Abraham and the Nation of Israel - namely the insistence that Father Abraham was a Jew. Clearly, from any honest recollection of the truths offered in the Bible or the Hebrew Torah we can, with the utmost assurance, insist that Abraham was not a "Jew." Now in general, while I agree with the overall summation made by the authors of the article - that the Nation of Israel is well over 60 years old, in fact thousands of years old, I disagree (obviously) with the assertion that this Nation only includes only the actual blood decedents of Father Abraham.

The modern State of Israel is a secular state based on the model of Roman Civil Law that has been in existence for thousands of years and adopted, in fact, by virtually every nation/state in the world. So to insist, as many do today, that God will save this secular nation, outside and apart from what has already occurred in history and what we are assured of will again happen in the future through what the Apostles wrote is just not sound Biblical teaching.

Another point in the article that is a completely misleading is the writers insistence that the first "Jew" to set foot in Israel was Abraham when he purchased the grave for Sarah. This is woefully inaccurate. Actually, Abraham set foot in Canaan (which was occupied by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan during Joshua's day) when he was instructed by God to leave the land he was in for Canaan. - Genesis 12:1-12. Later, after a famine in the land, Abraham left and went to Egypt. After being kicked out of Egypt for lying to Pharaoh about Sarah, Abraham went back to Canaan. In fact, the Bible tells us Abraham went back to the place where he had originally built an alter to the Lord when he first entered into Canaan. - See Genesis 12:8 and Genesis 13:3-4.

The Bible goes on to tell us in Genesis 13 that from where the altar was, in the plain of Moreh, Abraham moved to the plain of Mamre, which is near Hebron, where he built another altar. - Genesis 13:18. Hebron is smack-dab in the mist of Israel, both in Abraham's day and still to this day! This is where God made His famous promise to Abraham (Abram) that He would provide Abraham all the land that he saw.

"For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto The Lord." - Genesis 13:15-18 KJV

The fact as to why the authors of this piece didn't add this information into their article, or just didn't know these facts, is anyone's guess. But to me it is a bit distressing and I cannot honestly believe that no one in the modern, secular nation State of Israel didn't call them on it! These are Bible basics and I would imagine, for those that are claiming the promises God made to Abraham, they would know a little bit more about them.

Intelligent Design?

2008-05-14T21:15:00.000-07:00

I loathe the term "intelligent design." In all reality it has got to be one of the poorest ways to describe creation that anyone could utter. Not to mention it's a term that singlehandedly belittles the Creator to the point of trying to attach to him our limited understanding of things around us.

Think about it. Calling God "intelligent" is the equivalent of calling the Grand Canyon a pothole. It's a description that completely underestimates actual reality. God is so much more than what any human notion could possibly even begin to describe. If you really want to know the complexity involved in trying to describe what God is, or what God resembles, read Ezekiel chapters 1 & 2. It is extraordinary to even think that God would have a mere mortal man attempt such a description in the first place and yet Ezekiel seems to pull it off quite well. I fully expect God to be just as Ezekiel attempted to explain Him...sort of, I think!

In the book of Isaiah God tells us in no uncertain terms "For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9. I don't look at this statement from God as being aloof or arrogant as much as I see Him putting truth, understanding, knowledge and wisdom in proper perspective. That is to say His perspective compared to our perspective. I mean really, can anyone imagine, in their finite minds, what it must be like to frame the heavens, to create the forces that would hold the universe together, or create the marvelous workings of the human body? In this light "intelligent" almost seems like an insult.

One of the most comical, and yet serious, passages of the Bible has to be when God finally has it up to here with Job and the Sunshine Boys and lets both barrels loose in what has to be the single best undressing of human logic and thought in the Bible in Job chapters 38, 39 & 40. Yikes! Every time I read this section of Job my mouth is literally on the floor! I try to imagine what it must have been like for Job. "I...I...I...well, I...I...umm, well I...I...er, umm...I..." You get the point.

Yet, even with all of this, God still promises us that when we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him. - Deuteronomy 4:13, Jeremiah 29:13. God is so good that He even encourages us to "reason" with Him! - Isaiah 1:18. He will even reveal Himself and His ways to us through His spirit. - 1 Corinthians 2:11-13.

If I can let me leave you with this thought. If God spoke the worlds into existence, how much actual designing took place? Paul puts it this way - that the things we see were not made of things that do appear.

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." - Hebrews 11:3

Abraham the Gentile

2008-05-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

How many times have you heard someone call Abraham a Jew? And yet, it almost goes without saying that one of the most fascinating, indeed awe inspiring, glimpses into Bible prophecy can be found in the story of Abraham - the gentile. The story of Abraham is a story for anyone and everyone that places their trust in Jesus. When you examine this story of Abraham it is, in all reality, the story of the gentiles and how the gentiles are saved.

First the basics. Abraham was a direct descendant of Noah's son Shem. We know that the whole world was populated from the offspring of Noah. Shem we are told in Genesis 10:21 was father of all the children of Eber, who was the father of Abraham. Eber then is really the father of Hebrew nation; this means that Abraham his son was a Hebrew and not a Jew. Jews didn't come along until Abraham's great-grandson Judah began to have children of his own.

According to the Strong's Concordance the word Hebrew means: "a region across" which fits perfectly when we are told that Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldees in Genesis 11:31. The area of the Chaldees was located between the Tigris and Euphrates in what is commonly known as Mesopotamia. I'm offering all this information to point out that Abraham was a gentile, no matter how we look at it, but that's not the fascinating part. This is. That very same promises that God gave to Abraham are available to us! In fact, those promises, which were accepted by Abraham by his faith in God are the same promises we receive from God and accept by faith.

In Romans 4 Paul asks us to consider father Abraham and that his justification, if it was through works, would have given him something to boast about - but not before God. Abraham was not saved by works. Paul tells us plainly that Abraham believed God and his belief was reckoned to him as righteousness. Paul goes on to explain to us that if we work then the wages we earn are not a gift but what is due to us (Romans 4:4) whereas if we trust the one who "justifies the ungodly" then our faith is reckoned for righteousness, just like Abraham (Romans 4:5). To confirm this point Paul quotes David in the Psalms (Psalms 32:1-2).

This is getting good!

Now, Paul asks rather pointedly, "How then was it (faith) reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised?" Another way we could look at this question is this, was Abraham reckoned unto God before he was "set aside" by God or after? And the answer Paul? "It was not after, but before he was circumcised." (Romans 4:10).

What a tremendous blessing this is giving us! That God accepts our faith, even before our hearts are fully circumcised (See Romans 2:28-29) just as He did for Abraham. What a wonderful way to see the picture of God building trust with us!

Paul tells us that Abraham "received circumcision" as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them" (Romans 4:11). What Paul is illustrating for us is that "the promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13). No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone. And this is exactly how we receive the promises that God makes to us! Not through the law, but by the "righteousness of faith." No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone! Paul goes on to tell us that if those that adhere to the law are heirs, then "faith is null and the promise of God is void."

Paul tells us plainly in verse 16, "That is why it (the promise) depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants--not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all..."

So the promises that God made to Abraham, that were counted to him as righteousness due to his faith, are ours to claim as well! Paul tells us that, "It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:24-25).

Wow!

The very same promises God made to Abraham belong to us as well. We will be reckoned by our faith in Him that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead! What an awesome promise and an awesome glimpse as to how this prophetic vision, expressed first in the gentile Abraham, is now available to both Jew and gentile that accept the God that raised Jesus from the dead. As our faith is counted for righteousness in God so too is our faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).

Something that illustrates this point for us and solidifies the truth of this promise made to the gentiles is the story of the tremendous faith displayed by the centurion that led to the healing of his servant in Matthew 8:5-13.

He didn't question, he just believed. He just had faith. As a result, Jesus makes an absolutely staggering comment regarding the faith of the gentiles, "I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." Matthew 8:11-12.

The promise here is obvious. The gentiles, those from the east and from the west, will sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven based on their faith and trust in Jesus Christ the Messiah while those that do not display faith in the Messiah by placing their trust in Him will be on the outside looking in.

There is much to learn from the faith of Abraham the gentile.

Ecological Dimension of Sunday?!

2008-05-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

The following was taken from a post made at Advent Talk an online Adventist discussion forum. I thought it was relevant simply because it illustrates very well what the lack of any adherence to the moral laws of God will eventually bring. Already we can see great strides being taken to legislate Sunday observance in contrast to Sabbath solemnity.

This actually quite relevant to the topic of dispensationalism because the ship of the dispensational mindset is generally without course nor rudder in the sea of sound doctrine and scripture. All the while, as dispensationalist's consistently and blindly gaze at the wrong horizon of the secular, modernistic State of Israel (built on the image of neo-pagan Roman civil law), the ecumenical world movement is quickly creeping up behind them. The minions don't see Rome because they aren't looking at Rome and their pastors, who very much teach solid Jesuit eschatology, happily lead their flock astray.

It will only be a matter of time before some catastrophic event such as an economic meltdown, a massive terrorist attack or environmental disaster will cause the supposed necessity of a legislated worldwide day of rest.

Ecological Dimension of Sunday?!

In a homily in Vienna, Austria, recently, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the threat that hovers upon the environment and Creation in general, stressing the necessity to pay greater attention to, what he called, “the ecological dimension of Sunday”, the day when the Church thanks God for the Creation. He said: “At a time when creation seems to be endangered in so many ways through human activity, we should consciously advert to this dimension of Sunday too”.

This “ecological dimension” of Sunday is a new language by which the Pope tries to show the Vatican’s leadership in a global campaign to “save the planet” (see http://zenit.org/article-20450?l=english). Wouldn’t that be what some are calling “ECOmenism”?

But in a theological perspective, we see in the papal discourse a clear distortion of the real meaning of the Sabbath institution: he points to Sunday as a day to celebrate creation, which doesn’t match the biblical teaching, for that role is assigned to the seventh-day Sabbath as being the “memorial of creation”.

According to the Genesis creation record, on the first day God was acting in His work, as Creator, and only on the seventh-day He rested, blessed and sanctified the day (Gen. 2:2, 3). So, this twisting of meanings is certainly a subtle change of the Bible’s teaching and symbolism on the subject of what constitutes the institution to remember the Creator and His creation.

In the USA, on the other hand, campaigns stressing greater respect for Sunday and the 10 Commandments are under way. A “10 Commandments Commission” was formed to promote a “10 Commandments Day” (which is being set for the 1st Sunday of May) under the command of influential Evangelical leaders, such as James Dobson, Benny Hynn, Charles Colson, Pat Robertson, Don Wildmon and a good number of others (see: http://www.ldausa.org/index.cfm and http://www.tencommandmentsday.com/).

The promoters of these significant campaigns understand that the moral and spiritual decline of the great North-American nation (and all over the world) is due to the failure of society to consider seriously these divine principles, which seems a good thing, but that implies serious dangers for religious freedom. Such initiatives could lead to having religio-political systems influencing the government to dictate norms according to the expectations and interpretations of these leaders. History teaches us a sober lesson that when there is a mix of religion and politics, minorities are always hurt. . .

In an interview on May 18, 2005 to the program “Fresh Air”, of the NPR network (National Public Radio), that covers practically the entire country, Dr. James D. Kennedy, influential minister and evangelist who had an intense radio and TV activity before passing away in September, 2007, said openly that the principle of separation of Church and State in the USA is an error that goes against the ideals of the Christian founders of the nation, and should be simply discarded. This is a very worrisome notion. His interview can be heard through the following link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4656600).

We understand through the study of Bible prophetic statements that the final events on this planet will have much to do with the Sabbath/Sunday question. It will be the definition of who will bear the seal of God, and who will receive the “mark of the beast”. And that the obligatory character of total suspension of activities on Sundays is not a new idea we can see just recalling the “rehearsal” of that during a very serious crisis in recent decades--the oil embargo of the 70’s. What day in the week was affected by those politico-economical developments of the time? The older ones remember the gas stations closing on Sundays in many countries throughout the world.

Jesus Doesn't Charge Anything.....

2008-05-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

Nor does He demand forced penance from us, or elaborate rituals. Nor does He require lengthy pilgrimages, or confession to another man. He simply asks us to believe Him, to trust Him and to abide with Him (John 15).

Plenary indulgence announced for anniversary of the Apostle to the Gentiles
Vatican City, May 12, 2008 / 11:11 am (CNA)

An Excellent Article

2008-05-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

Dispensationalism: Root Cause of Antinomianism

by J.K. McKee

The following is an excellent article that addresses some interesting points and sheds greater light on the dispensational movement and theology that is prevalent today in so many Christian circles.

Who is Real Israel?

2008-05-08T22:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a wonderful study and teaching from Pastor David Asscherick called Who is Real Israel?

I hope you find the information in this study a blessing to you this day.

Sorry, but that's just plain old wrong......

2008-05-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

The following is found at Zionism on the Web:

Christian Zionism combats Christian antisemitism

"A significant amount of Christian antisemitism revolves around the theory of replacement theology. According to this theory Christians replaced the Jews as the chosen people, and Jews have no further role to play in gods designs. Replacement theology, described by Zionism Israel.com as "a bigoted doctrine of the medieval church" is connection with anti-Semitism and specifically the promotion of the charge of Deicide, that is the Jews are blamed for the crucifixion. This charge from the medieval church lead to numerous genocides against the Jewish people in various countries. The church has since appologied and rejected this theology. Christian Zionists are at the forefront of exposing places where this evil lingers."

Special Note: The above was taken verbatim from the above named website. All spelling/typographical errors are from the website.

There can be no more insidious or deadly train of thought as to say to someone "If you don't believe like I do then you must hate me" or "If you don't believe like I do then you must be a bigot." The above statement from Zionism on the Web bears this out. What's being said here in no uncertain terms is this: If you don't believe in Christian Zionism then you must be a racist, more specifically, antisemitic. You must be a bigot. The ignorance displayed by the above referenced statement bears this out. Yet a simple and cursory look at the Bible slices through this vitriol like a hot, two-edged sword slices through the core of men!

When Paul, a Pharisee and Benjamite states with clarity that, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28) then it must be concluded based on this declaration that Paul was antisemitic!

When Paul, a Pharisee and Benjamite states with clarity that, " Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." (Romans 9:6-8) then it must be concluded based on this declaration that Paul was antisemitic!

When Paul, a Pharisee and Benjamite states with clarity that, "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." and " But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3:14, 22) then it must be concluded based on this declaration that Paul was antisemitic!

It must be pointed out that these promises do not come by blood but as Paul says these promises come by faith,

Romans 4: 13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

And Abraham's righteousness was counted as faith.....

Romans 4:9
[Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Even more powerful is Paul's declaration that if we have faith in that which was promised to Abraham, that is Jesus Christ, then we are children of Abraham:

Galatians 3:7
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Of course, tying all of this together in a nice tight package for us is John the Baptist, who, when the religious leaders of his day insisted that the had the promise of Father Abraham by blood, were told in no uncertain terms that God the Father of all didn't need them and what's more, if He needed to, He could bring forth heirs to Abraham from stones.

Matthew 3:9
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

What's remarkable in all of this is that God has done just as he promised, and continues to do so to this very day! He has made a nation to rise in place of the stubborn and obstinate Children of Israel by and through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was a Jew. Jews descended from Judah, who was one of the sons of Jacob who had his name changed by God. Jacob was the grandson of Abraham. Abraham was a son Eber. Eber was one of the sons of Shem. Shem is where we derive the term "antisemite."

And I am very thankful and very blessed that this humble and gracious Jewish carpenter called me to come to Him, to abide with Him and to be a part of His Kingdom. If believing the promises of the Bible and the truths they reveal make me an antisemite, then I stand guilty as charged!

Am I shocked by any of this? No, not in the least. Fortunately, I was given a "heads-up" ahead of time before anyone ever thought of the term "Christian Zionism."

Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Christians United For Israel

2008-05-08T07:24:00.000-07:00

Christians United for Israel has an interesting and informative web site. You can check out their website here: CUFI.org.

On their site they have an information section titled "Learn about Christian Zionism" in which various questions are asked and answered about Christian Zionism. The very first question, as one would expect is, "What is Christian Zionism?" The answer is given to us by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem:

"Tens of thousands of churches, and literally tens of millions Christians in the USA have a committed belief in the importance of standing with Israel and blessing the Jewish people. The verse most often referred to as their biblical mandate is Genesis 12:3 in which God tells Abraham “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Since the birth of the State of Israel in 1948 the theological error known as Replacement Theology has begun to decline and increasing is a theology of Christian Zionism that understands the importance of God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham and the nation he would birth.

However, just as the term “Zionism” has been turned into a negative word by Israel’s enemies, so “Christian Zionism” is under attack and often misrepresented in the media and in some public discourse. For this reason, the ICEJ’s articles and monographs defining and clarifying the beliefs of Christian supporters of Israel and placing their “love for Israel” within its proper biblical context are proving invaluable."

Let start with the very first statement which is: "Tens of thousands of churches, and literally tens of millions Christians in the USA have a committed belief in the importance of standing with Israel and blessing the Jewish people." Undoubtedly, this is true. But if I recall properly the popularity of a teaching doesn't make it true. Just because something is believed doesn't mean that it is the truth. There are many examples of this of course and conversely, just because something isn't seen as the truth by the majority doesn't mean that what is believed is false.

When it comes to things Biblical, there is only one standard of truth, and that is the Bible itself. God's Word is quite capable to speak for itself with much clarity and much illumination. This matters because by careful Biblical examination of the second part of this answer can be found to be quite suspect and quite deceptive: The verse most often referred to as their biblical mandate is Genesis 12:3 in which God tells Abraham “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Now, I'm certainly not suggesting that Genesis 12:3 isn't true, in fact, it is crystal clear. My issue of course is how it is used by the CUFI and how it is interpreted. Their view can be discerned right away from the opening words of their home page. Among other things it says quite plainly that "The Bible commands us...to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3).

There's just one problem with this whole position. Abraham wasn't a Jew! In fact, no where in scripture is Abraham ever referred to as a Jew. Abraham was a "Hebrew" and it is important to understand the connection that is inferred by this fact. The very first "Jew" was Jacob's (Israel's) son Judah. In fact, the term isn't even used in the Torah and it isn't used until the book of Ester in referring to the lineage of Mordecai. The term "Hebrew" actually refers to Abraham's lineage which comes from Eber. An Eberite is a Hebrew or descendant of Eber. This tells me one thing that I find quite remarkable. When this blessing in Genesis 12:3 was directed towards Abram before he became Abraham, he not yet been circumcised and therefore must have still been a "gentile!" This blessing was made, not by covenant or agreement, but by a promise that God had vowed.

Now I am not suggesting that we shouldn't bless the people that live in the secular nation/state currently called Israel. We should. But we are also instructed by both Jesus and the apostle Paul to "bless" those that would be our enemies and bless those that would persecute us (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28, Romans 12:14). This is quite consistent with the teachings of Jesus as He continues in Matthew 5:45-48 where Jesus teaches to be "perfect" as Christians, as followers of Jesus, that we need to love as God loves. We need to love even those that would not love us, just as God does. That's a staggering thought when you begin to meditate on what Jesus is honestly teaching.

Now back to the gentile Abram. The promises made to Abram before he was circumcised are truly remarkable in the symbolism they offer. Before Abraham was circumcised, which I see as symbolic for the circumcision of our hearts ( Deuteronomy 10:6, Romans 2:29) he was still a "gentile" which shows me that the promises extended to Abraham are available to you and I and anyone else that wishes to name the name of Jesus Christ above all that is named. This point is made by the apostle Paul, confirmed in his letter to the Galatians.

After God makes His statement to Abram regarding the blessing, God goes on to tell Abram in Genesis 12:7 that "Unto thy seed will I give this land." Paul tells us clearly that this promise was outside of the covenant that God made with Abram. "For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise" (Galatians 3:18). But what is even more remarkable is that the promise God made to Abram was not a promise made to each and every "seed" that comes from Abram, but just one, Jesus Christ. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16).

Now many might dare to call this "replacement theology" but the fact remains that all the blessings and promises that God made to Abram are accomplished through Jesus Christ. Whether one is from Kentucky, Kenya, Korea or Kyrgyzstan it matters not. Wherever one is in the world we are free to become "fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13-22).

Did He Really Say That?

2008-05-06T16:28:00.000-07:00

Pastor John Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas released a book just a little over 6 months ago titled, "In Defense of Israel." His ministry, John Hagee Ministries (JHM) produced a TV commercial promoting this book where Hagee clearly denies that Jesus Christ came to be the Messiah of Israel.

The video of this commercial can be viewed here.

It's fairly easy to see where Pastor Hagee stands and what Pastor Hagee believes. His expressed views in the commercial for his book cannot be gainsayed in any way:

"This book will expose the sins of the fathers and the vicious abuse of the Jewish people. In Defense of Israel will shake Christian theology. It scripturally proves that the Jewish people as a whole did not reject Jesus as Messiah. It will also prove that Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah. It will prove that there was a Calvary conspiracy between Rome, the high priest, and Herod to execute Jesus as an insurrectionist too dangerous to live. Since Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah, how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered? Read this shocking expose, In Defense of Israel."

Wow! If I hadn't heard it, nor seen it with my own eyes, I could have sworn that this man, a pastor of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, actually denied that Jesus was the Messiah. Worse yet, Pastor Hagee is basically saying that the Jews would most certainly have accepted Jesus had He actually come to do what Pastor Hagee says He didn't come to do!!!!! Confusing doctrine to say the least.

Now there are a great number (if not hundreds), of Bible cites that clearly show that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Anointed One of Israel. I can think of no better though than the ones that actually described Jesus being anointed.

In the book of Daniel, chapter 9 and verses 24-27 we read:

"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

Since Messiah is a variation of the Hebrew mashach which means "anointed one" and the Greek "Christos" means the same it almost goes without saying that little argument is needed to prove this point, simply based on what others called Him. Peter, in Matthew 16:16, tells us that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

In relation to the point made regarding the book of Daniel we see that Jesus was "baptized" by John in the book of Matthew (3:15-17) which is emblematic of being anointed and which was the clear fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24, where Jesus came to "fulfill all righteousness" also lends great credence and proof that Jesus was come as the Messiah.

In the book of Acts we are told by the physician Luke, in the most plain language possible in the recounting Peter's encounter with Cornelius how Jesus was "anointed" with the Holy Ghost and power."

Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

This verse also validates what is prophesied in the book of Daniel regarding Jesus being the Anointed One of Israel.

It is truly unfortunate that such drastic and sensational claims have to be made in order to sell a few books and to attempt to validate the clearly false teaching of dispensationalism and the make the denial that Jesus has come as Messiah to save all of Israel.

But rather than make judgments about Pastor Hagee and his motives we should offer prayer to the Father that the scales will be removed from his eyes and that his ears will be unstopped to the wonderful truth that the Gospel has to offer, namely that Jesus is the Messiah and the risen Son of the Living God. Even when one makes such glaring and obvious mistakes we must still believe in our heart of hearts that God the Father knows the difference, knows what is in Pastor Hagee's heart and has the capacity to rightly judge the true motives of pastors such as John Hagee and the messages they espouse.

The God Who Washes Feet

2008-05-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

In the painting shown above Jesus is either getting ready to wash the feet of Osama Bin Laden just as soon as He finishes washing the feet of Koffee Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, or He has just finished washing the feet of Osama Bin Laden, the so-called "Arch-villain of the Republic!" Amazing!

Would God really wash the feet of His enemies? Would your God really wash the feet of your enemies?

I suppose the answer truly lies in whether you believe God would wash your feet!

Romans 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

If you believe that God would wash your feet, but not the feet of your enemies or His enemies, then you more than likely serve a god much different than the God I serve. But, on the other hand, if you have faith in what Jesus actually does, which is to wash the feet of the very man that would later betray Him then you have a fairly good grasp on the character and nature of our Heavenly Father.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Dispensational Non-Sense

2008-05-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

Maybe you've heard them or seen them. Prominent pastors with large congregations and large national followings that constantly and consistently preach and teach that the modern and secular State of Israel will be saved apart from those that make up the body of the church established by Jesus Christ.

But is that really true? Does God the Father have one plan for the salvation of those that are called Jews and those that are called Gentiles? Is that the way God truly works? Clearly, the apostle Paul tells us that "...all Israel will be saved..." (Romans 11:26), but does that mean at the complete exclusion of the Gentiles? Or does the statement that Paul makes show us that all those who join themselves to the Lord will be called Israelites and thus be saved?

It's important to know and it's important to understand what the Lord is doing.

We have only scripture to point us in the right direction and to give us a firm grasp of what is true and what is false. In the days of the apostles, as they were writing their letters to the various churches, they had but one set of scriptures to prove the points that they were making and those scriptures were what we would call the "Old Testament" (2 Timothy 3:16). I suggest then that it is quite proper, and quite important, to establish the true and proper identity of "National Israel" through these "Old Testament" scriptures. This is just exactly what the apostles did, we should gladly do the same.

It cannot be doubted nor disputed that the Nation of Israel was to carry the oracles of God to the world. They were to be a model to the entire world at that time of the power, grace and majesty of the Lord their God.

Leviticus 24:2
Command the Children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.

In that oil is representative of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5 ) the Children of Israel were surely responsible for ensuring that the lamps of the sanctuary to have the oil of light, so that the word of God could be clearly known to all those who joined themselves to His sanctuary.

Psalm 119:105
Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

This same word, this same light is what led the way and lighted the path of the ancient Israelites as they made there way through the wilderness:

Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Isaiah 10:16-17
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among His fat ones leanness; and under His glory He shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and His briers in one day;

The point is this and it must be made and understood....all those that wish to hear the Lord, that wish to be saved by the Lord must "join" themselves to the Lord. There is no other way. Gentiles were never promised salvation through the Savior, only the Nation of Israel was. Yet, to becomes an Israelite one must have done certain things. Certainly, circumcision was one thing but more importantly the desire to partake of the passover meal was another. See Exodus 12:40-49.

If one wished to join with this Nation Israel, "to sojourn" with them they were required to be circumcised if they had a desire to partake in the passover:

Exodus 12:48
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

If the "stranger" was willing to do these things, the stranger was treated as a native son of the Nation of Israel, with all the rights of one that was born a direct descendant of Jacob (Israel).

Exodus 12:49
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

Let's quickly fast forward to Paul's day. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul, in one of the most clear examples of this anywhere in the New Testament, compares this very example from Exodus as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:11-13
Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

It cannot be said any more succinctly. We Gentiles, which were formerly called uncircumcision by those that are part of the circumcision and where we were outside of Jesus Christ without the covenants of promise, without hope and outside of God in this world are made "near" to Jesus Christ by His blood. Just as the Gentile converts were adopted and absorbed into the Nation of Israel by circumcision and the desire to partake in the passover, the modern day Gentiles, converted into accepting and believing in the promises through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are now partakers in the same covenant promises given to National Israel.

To make this point even more clear Paul goes on to say that we "...are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.

Friends, it can be no more plain than the nose on one's face. God saves all of Israel, both of blood and those that are Israel by adoption. To believe anything thing else simply cannot be shown to be from scripture.