Abandoning the Faith

Below is an actual "What we Believe" statement from a church that claims to be a Christian Church. There is much wrong with it Scripturally, but most of all, it's extremly disturbing. This type of church is repeated all across our country today. I count at least 15 Scripturally compromising points within this statement.

The people of (Name changed to avoid confrontation) invite you to experience Christianity as a way of life, not a set of creeds and doctrines demanding total agreement. We invite you to join us as we seek to recover the meaning of the gospel for our time, looking to scripture, faith, and reason -- interpreted by love. At (Name changed to avoid confrontation) we believe that what Jesus teaches us about God is more important than what the church has taught us about Jesus. We believe in the liberty of of conscience, the responsibility of every believer to work out his or her own salvation, and the obligation of faithful men and women to become partners with God in building the kingdom. We take the Bible seriously, not literally, and believe that in our time the church must recover, above all, its radical hospitality -- welcoming all persons into her midst, without regard to race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or physical abilities.

Bailout for Some, Opportunity for Others

There is always so much more to anything than meets the eye. Everyone is pointing fingers as the result of the housing crash, but as they point their fingers at others, there are fingers pointing back at them. Yes, there is plenty of guilt to spread around.

Meanwhile there are those that will actually benefit greatly from this bailout.

One major law firm announced last Thursday that “it has formed a multi-disciplinary Task Force to guide financial institutions, private investment funds, institutional investors and other market participants through the legislative, regulatory and enforcement challenges posed by the Troubled Asset Relief Act and other impending actions by Congress, the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the SEC.”

The name of the law firm? Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, of whom former mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is a partner.

No doubt millions will be made.

You see, the rich will always get richer.

Capitalism - Socialism - Communism

We have a mortgage crisis, and the Senate approved 25 billion dollars in loan guarantees for US automakers yesterday?

Automakers are forced by the government to make their cars more “energy efficient” and “environmentally friendly”. The cost to meet these government mandates soars, so the government steps in and guarantees loans to the automakers. (Sound familiar, as in “guaranteed mortgages”?)

Do people not see what is going on here? It is the socialization of America and the slow death of personal property and free enterprise.

Main Entry:
so•cial•ism
Pronunciation:
\ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1837

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

Why So Many Denominations?

Many people, especially non-Christians, often ask why there are so many Christian denominations. This is a very valid question, although it must be pointed out up front that every major religion has sects/denominations/ within its system of beliefs, so Christians should not be singled out on this issue.

The number one reason is because Christianity is made up of human beings and we all think our opinions, beliefs, ideas, values etc. are superior to everyone else’s. I think there are basically four questions to ask ourselves when searching for a true Christian church.

What is the standard by which to judge which denomination is for me?
What are the basic differences in denominations?
How does one determine what “Christian” denomination to belong to?
Are all denominations truly Christian because they say they are?


1. What is the standard by which to judge which denomination is for me?

Christianity, by its very name, is based upon Jesus, the Christ (Savior). The overwhelming majority of information we have about Jesus is found in one book. That book is the Bible. There have been thousands of books written about Jesus and Christianity, but they almost all point back to what we learn of Him through Scripture. Therefore, the Bible should be our standard by which to judge which denomination is right for us. You wouldn’t determine that by reading the Quran or the Hindu Vedas. You wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) even determine that by reading books written ABOUT the Bible. That would be like listening to the television news anchors tell you what each candidate said in the debate after you just watched the debate for yourself. The Bible should be your ultimate reference for how you will live your Christian faith.



2. What are the basic differences in denominations?

There are really only two basic differences among denominations. That may be surprising, but these two differences are the basis for everything else that is taught in Christendom.

The two differences are these:
What does the church teach about the Bible?
What does the church teach about salvation?

A.What does the church teach about the Bible?

There are several trains of thought about the Bible, but they fall into basically two categories.

a. There are those that believe that every word of the Bible is directly inspired by God and written by men under His spiritual guidance. In other words, God wrote the Bible through men he chose specifically for that task, and you can trust every word of it.

b. There are others that believe parts of the Bible are strictly men’s opinions and only inspired in the way that Shakespeare was inspired. So they believe it’s not certain what you can and cannot trust about what it says. And there are those that believe that the Bible is just a book of myths, legends and fairy tales. Both of these systems are contrary to category #1.

B. What does the church teach about salvation?

There are several trains of thought about salvation, but they fall into basically two categories.

a. One belief says that salvation is by grace given to us by God through faith in Jesus Christ, and has nothing to do with our “goodness” or our “good works”

b. The other belief says that salvation is dependent on our “goodness” and “good works”.

Grace or works. That’s it. Every church fits into one of these two categories. Some try to mix the two and say that our salvation is based on grace AND works, but in order to believe that you have to throw out part of the Bible*. (Which means you would fall under category b of number A above). And if you mix works into the equation anywhere, then you are dependent on works at least to some degree.

Grace or works. That’s it.

After that, the rest of what a church teaches is based on its interpretation of those passages of Scripture that the particular church chooses to focus on. These things can include but are not limited to baptism, communion, church authority and discipline, speaking or not speaking in tongues, appropriate music, preaching styles, money handling, moral codes, dress codes, social responsibilities, politics, women’s roles in the church, pastoral requirements, etc. etc. etc.


3. How does one determine what “Christian” denomination to belong to?

There are two basic questions to ask.

A. What do they teach about the Bible?

This depends on what category you fall into under question #2. If you believe that the Bible is the literal word of God, then you must choose a church that is based on that belief. Otherwise you will be constantly torn between what the Bible says and what your church is teaching, and you will not find peace within that church body. If you believe the Bible is only partially from God, or if you believe it’s just a book of myths, legends and fairy tales, then choosing your denomination will be much easier, as long as you stay away from churches that fall under category a of question #2.

Most churches have what they call a “doctrinal statement”. If you are considering the possibility of joining a church, you should ask them for their doctrinal statement so you can determine where they stand on the Bible. If they don’t have a statement that you can read, then talk to the pastor and ask questions about his belief in the Bible. The pastor determines pretty much what is going to be taught in the church.

B. Do they teach salvation by grace or by works?


4. Are all denominations truly Christian because they say they are?

That’s an interesting question.

If you fall under category #1 of question #1, then the answer is no. If one doesn’t play by the rules, is one really playing the game? Or has he altered the handbook to fit his particular preferences? Is T-ball the same thing as major league baseball? Is flag football the same as NFL football? Of course not. They are similar, but not the same. The handbooks are different

If you fall under category #B of question #2, then all denominations are Christian.

Again – if you define Christianity as a belief system based on the Bible being the true Word of God, then you have to go with a church that falls under category #A of question #2. If you don’t fall under that category, then you are by definition similar to Christianity, but only a facsimile. When dealing with the salvation of one’s soul, I would say that is an extremely important point to ponder.

There is a fifth question that begs to be asked.


Is there one true denomination?

Although some churches believe theirs is the only true church (and there are some in mine that think we’re the only true church), they’re going to find out someday that they were wrong on some things and right on others. As long as there are human beings in the world, there will be imperfection. There is no perfect church because there are no perfect human beings. It’s a perfect God that we serve – and that should be our focus.

This has been by no means an exhaustive study, but I pray that it will help some at least to gather a set of priorities and guidelines for themselves if they are looking for a good church. Of course, if one doesn't know the God that is to be worshipped and served through one's membership in a church, it ultimately will not matter where or even if one attends. Church membership doesn't equal salvation.


*“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Romans 11:6

Is There Morality Without God?

The problem of evil is one that is hard to deal with for Christians. We know there is both good and evil in the world, and we know ultimately from where the two came. We don’t always fully comprehend why God allows evil in the world, but we trust Him and know that He doesn’t cause it – even though it is allowed.

To the atheist, the problem of evil is much more difficult. To call something evil is to suggest a moral code. To suggest morality, is to suggest a lawgiver. If God is not the lawgiver, then the lawgiver becomes oneself. And when it comes down to your morals versus my morals, we both believe ours to be superior to the other’s.

Without God, there should be no complaints about suffering, evil, calamities, crime, birth defects and other perceived injustices. Without God, all is by chance and should thus be viewed as such. So to an atheist, whether someone dies of old age or as the result of a hurricane or random drive-by shooting, both deaths should be viewed as merely part of our evolving universe. Survival of the fittest.

One atheist may think it’s wrong to sleep with another man’s wife. Another atheist may think it’s ok to sleep with another man’s wife anytime – even against her will. So who would be right in the atheist’s world? Incest may be perfectly acceptable to some, but others may find it repulsive and evil. Who would be right in the atheist’s world?

In a world without God, every man and woman becomes his or her own god, with his own set of values and laws – thinking his is superior – but in actuality his morals are only as good as his ability to enforce them. Survival of the fittest.

Atheists make some interesting observations and statements to support their unbelief. However, when they point to evil and call it such, and then use it as support for their unbelief, they shoot themselves in the foot with their contradiction. Evil is not a good argument for rejecting the idea of God. It is actually evidence that there is a God. In answer to the question, "Is There Morality Without God?", the answer is yes - but it is strictly subjective, which renders it pretty much meaningless and nonexistent.

Why We're in the Financial Mess We're In and Why it Matters that You Know

This needs to be watched by those wondering why the country is in the financial crisis it is in (and it is in one). It can all be proven if you do the research.
McCain's never been my first choice, but next to Obama, he's looking better all the time.

Code Pink and Cindy Sheehan to the Rescue

We can all rest easier tonite because Code Pink members, along with Cindy Sheehan, met with Iran President Ahmadinejad recently and discovered that this has all just been a big misunderstanding. Won’t be long now till we’ll all be invited to come prance in Iran’s new “peace park” with all the peace-loving Muslims of his country, who, after all, only want to be friends with us. You don’t think they REALLY think we’re the “great Satan”, do you? Of course not. That’s just a bunch of rhetoric because we’re mean and we won’t be friends with them.

The Code Pink bunch is going to take care of everything. They and Mahmoud had a wonderful get together according to co-founder Jodie Evans:

“Ahmadinejad told the group his dream is that Iran makes friends with the West... He’s really about peace and human rights and respecting justice,” Evans said.”

To read the whole article, go here.

I feel so much better about things now. Don't you?

YouTube Politics

As far as YouTube is concerned, porn is ok, homosexuality is ok, violence is ok, vulgarity and the foulest of language is ok, but a video telling the truth about where Obama stands on abortion does not meet an unspecified “Community Guideline”.

YouTube yanked a video about Obama’s true stand on abortion and then gave very vague reasons to the Kansas Coalition for Life. If you want to see the video itself and see what You Tube considers so offensive, you may see it here.

There are no lengths to which liberals will not go to see their candidate win the White House. They are desperate. And desperate people do desperate things.

Eternal Security

There are those who scoff at the idea of eternal security. There have been many books written on salvation, and on both sides of the issue of eternal security. Some believe you can lose your salvation through committing certain sins. But I think it's because they don't understand that our works have nothing to do with salvation. We are only saved by grace through faith - not what we do.

Others believe that the Bible teaches that once we are saved, we are saved for all eternity, because the act of salvation was not up to us, but entirely up to God. Our faith in Jesus Christ’s atonement for our sins is what saves us – not anything we do.

Paul, in explaining the doctrine of eternal security, talked to the Jews and Gentiles in a way that they would clearly understand because of the customs of the day.

The Romans had a custom called “liberalia”. This was a ceremony in which the father would “adopt” his own sons. Up until age 14, a child could be disowned by his father. However, the Father could choose to perform the ceremony of liberalia once his son turned 14, making the son a permanent, irrevocable heir to his inheritance. The father would remove the toga of the young boy and replace it with the “toga of manhood”, whereby the son was declared an adult son. This was an “adoption" in which the son received the rights and privileges of sonship and an absolute guarantee of his inheritance. In other words, children could be disinherited, but once adopted, their rights were irrevocable.

This is why Paul used these words to describe our permanent salvation and heirship to our heavenly Father:

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4-5

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…” Romans 8:17

Eternal security. We who are saved have been adopted by God the Father and our heirship to heaven is irrevocable.

I’m thankful it’s up to Him and not up to me.

The Media Attack Dogs

This picture says it all. There's a dog missing though. The SNL dog.

Un-Clintonesque

Bill Clinton actually said something,..well, nice about somebody on the Republican side of the political fence. Not only that, but he was actually believable. It sounded sincere.

First time he’s ever impressed me in a positive way…ever.

About Sarah Palin, he said, "I come from Arkansas; I get why she’s hot out there.” “Why she’s doing well. People look at her, and they say: ‘All those kids. Something that happens in everybody’s family. I’m glad she loves her daughter and she’s not ashamed of her. Glad that girl’s going around with her boyfriend. Glad they’re going to get married.’ ”

He went on to say that voters would say: “I like that little Down syndrome kid. One of them lives down the street. They’re wonderful children. They’re wonderful people. And I like the idea that this guy does those long-distance races. Stayed in the race for 500 miles with a broken arm. My kind of guy.”

He was also quoted as saying “My view is, why say, ever, anything bad about a person? Why don’t we like them and celebrate them and be happy for her elevation to the ticket? And just say that she was a good choice for him and we disagree with them?” (were you listening, media pundits?)

Is this the same Bill Clinton that served 8 years in the White House? Has age mellowed him out a little? Or is he just ticked that Hillary was snubbed by the Liberals and he secretly wants to see them fail miserably?

Homosexual Activism - a Powerful Force

How many times have we heard homosexual activists tout the American Psychological Association’s decision to remove homosexuality from the list of psychological disorders? Well, here’s some interesting figures to ponder.

The vote was not so impressive, or even overwhelming.

Out of close to 30,000 APA members at the time, the final vote was 5,584 to 3,810 to remove this sexual deviation from the list of disorders. This means that only about 37% of the group voted, and out of 25,243 members, a mere 22% of them decided for the entire organization. However, homosexual activists will say about the vote “58% voted to remove homosexuality as a disorder. Well – that is a partial truth. 5,584 is about 58% of 9394. However, it is only 22% of the total membership that year.

Makes one wonder, if in private, how many of the other almost 16,000 members would admit that they stayed out of this politically motivated vote, and are still of the opinion that homosexuality is a psychological problem. Even Simon LeVay, the “gay gene” proponent said “Gay activism was clearly the force that propelled the APA to declassify homosexuality.”

Prior to this vote, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder under section "302,Sexual Deviations" in the DSM-II. Here’s a quote from the DSM: "This category is for individuals whose sexual interests are directed primarily toward objects other than people of the opposite sex, toward sexual acts … performed under bizarre circumstances. … Even though many find their practices distasteful, they remain unable to substitute normal sexual behavior for them."

Now, because of the diagnostic code for homosexuality being removed, doctors are prevented from diagnosing homosexuality as a mental disorder regardless of their professional evaluation.

Here are two other interesting studies:

Prior to the political “gay rights” movement which insists that homosexuals are “born that way”, there were two major studies done – one in the 1940s and the second in the 1970s. Both of these studies involving homosexuals had essentially the same results: homosexuals overwhelmingly (some 80%) believed their homosexuality was the result of social and/or environmental influence.

Then the gay rights movement came onto the scene. In 1983, the Family Research Institute conducted another study with surprisingly (not really) different results. In their study, 35% of homosexuals believed they were born that way. But here’s an interesting side note: almost 80% of heterosexuals in the same study said their heterosexuality was learned behavior.

Believing that “God made me this way” greatly reduces, or even eliminates the need to search one’s heart to see if one is in sin against God, and to have to face one’s sin and repent of it. Denial helps eliminate the feelings of guilt.

Denial does not, however, eliminate guilt. Only asking God for forgiveness and accepting Christ as one's Savior can do that

Catholicism and Paganism

I posted this last Sunday, and an anonymous visitor questioned my remarks about Catholicism drawing from pagan culture and practices, and had some good questions. Enough so that I thought I would post my answer here so as to get more reader comment and hopefully show clearly why I believe Catholicism in general teaches a false gospel of works rather than by faith. I am not bashing Catholics. I love many Catholic people and my mom, whom I loved dearly, was Catholic her entire life. However, the RCC itself teaches false doctrine, and the saved people within that church are saved in spite of the teachings, not because of them. A Catholic that believes they must partake of the sacraments in order to receive the grace to be saved is following a works salvation, which is unscriptural. If what I say offends anyone, I ask that you consider the evidence for what I said, and search for yourself to see whether it is true.

First you'll need to read the post I linked to in the first sentence of this post, then here are anonymous's questions and my response about the connection between Catholicism and paganism.

Anonymous asked: Hi.

Actually Lent is 40 days of fasting and prayer representing the time Jesus spent in the desert enduring temptation by Satan. Christians all over the world, including numerous Protestant denominations, recognize this period of devotion that leads to Easter. Many mark the time by giving up something so that they may focus more deliberately on their relationship with Jesus. (Btw, if you are condemning Christian observances that have ties to paganism, I presume you do not celebrate Christmas or Easter?) It is really not uncommon thruout Christian history to take the pagan holidays and observances and Christianize them...

--Btw, I have no idea who "Tamuz" is. Do tell! Thanks.

And this is my response:

In Ezekial 8:14 -17, it says “Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here?”

This was a condemnation from God of the worship of Tammuz.

Here is the history of Tammuz:

At the tower of Babel, Nimrod built a tower to reach to the stars, not just physically but spiritually, to worship the heavens, the sun, the moon and the stars,. Nimrod was Noah’s grandson. He was married to a woman named Semerimus.

After Nimrod died, Semerimus, knowing the prophecy of the Savior to come (Genesis 3:15), claimed that she became pregnant by a sunbeam, and that her son, Tammuz, was the reincarnation of Nimrod. Tammuz came to be worshipped as the Sun God. Semerimus instituted a religion that made her and her son the objects of the worship, which was the beginning of the mother/son cult that spread throughout the world. For instance:

In Babylon, they were called Asteroth and Tammuz

In Egypt, they were called Isis and Osiris (or Horus or Re)

In Rome, they were called Venus and Cupid or Venis and Jupiter

In China, it was Shing Moo and her child.

When Constantine declared Christianity as the official religion of his empire, he went into the temples and declared that the mother/son statues of false gods were now to be worshipped as "Mary and Jesus".

Etc.

Semirimus was considered “the way” to God. She was called the “queen of heaven”(sound familiar? – Catholicism calls Mary the “queen of heaven”).

Semerimus alone could administer salvation, through various “sacraments” such as the “sprinkling of holy water”. (sound familiar? The RCC has a list of “sacraments” through which “grace” is received.)

The religion taught that Tammuz was slain, and that he was resurrected from the dead 40 days later. Every year after that, the temple virgins (sound familiar? As in “nuns”) would enter a forty – day fast in mourning over the death of Tammuz, and awaiting the resurrection. At the end of the 40-day fast, the feast of Ishtar was celebrated, where they exchanged colored eggs, eaten as a symbol of Tammuz’ resurrection, and an evergreen tree was displayed. Hot cakes with the letter “T” were baked and eaten. They believed that these hotcakes were literally transformed into the actual body of Tammuz. This is called transubstantiation. (Sound familiar? As in the “literal body and blood of Christ" of the RCC).

You make an interesting observation, in pointing out that other Christian practices seem to have their roots in pagan practices. I think the difference is that the RCC took totally pagan practices and claimed them as Christian, when there was no Scriptural basis for them, and in fact, they contradicted Scripture (mother/son worship, transubstantiation, prayer beads, virgins in places of service, sacraments as the means for receiving grace, etc.) However, there are some practices that, in using them, do not contradict Scripture, such as decorating a Christmas tree. For that matter, the calendar we use today has its roots in paganism. January is from “Janus”, the two-headed pagan god. Should we abandon our calendar? There is nothing unscriptural about our calendar.


I live in Louisiana, and “Mardi Gras” is a big thing here. It is totally rooted in the Tammuz religion. In fact, here locally, they celebrate the crewe of Janus, and actually display the god’s image as part of their celebration. I’m always amazed at the number of people who call themselves Christians who participate in this pagan ritual. I have to assume that they have no idea where it came from.

Distorting the Meanings of Racism & Sexism

I can’t count the number of times I’ve been called a racist since Obama came along.

The liberals seem to think he is off limits because he’s black. Can’t criticize him, can’t question his motives, can’t question his associations with undesirable characters, can’t scrutinize his time in the Senate. It’s all off limits because he’s black. If I dare to say anything negative about him, I’m a racist.

You just don’t want a black man to be your president. That’s what they say.

Enter Sarah Palin.

You’d think the same logic would apply, right? She’s a woman. So she’s off limits because she’s a woman. You shouldn’t be able to criticize her, question her motives, question her faith, her associations, her public record. It should all be off limits, according to the liberals’ logic, right? If you dare to say anything negative about her, you’re a sexist.

You just don’t want a woman to be a heartbeat away from being your president. That’s what they should say. The Women’s Groups, that is.

But they don’t.

Because it’s not about her being a woman. It’s about her being a conservative and being a Christian. That’s why Eleanor Smeal (The Feminist Majority), Deborah Frett (CEO of Business and Professional Women), and Kim Gandy (National Organization of Women) are all against Sarah Palin. It’s about abortion. They want to kill babies whenever, wherever, and for whatever reason, and they want to kill a lot of them. Kim Gandy says Palin (a professional women and mother) is “out of touch with American women.” Smeal said Palin (the Governor of the State of Alaska) was not a role model for feminists. She said “And so we are not against a woman being on a ticket for president. We wish it was a ticket that stood for women and women’s rights.” (read: abortion rights). These groups are also heavily populated by lesbian activists, so it’s about homosexual rights as well.

So there you are. You can be against Palin, and not be a sexist. But if you are against Obama, you are a racist.

Using some of their words, I have a few things to say about Obama.

I am not against a black being on a ticket for president.
I wish it was a ticket that stood for Americans and American’s values.
Obama is not a role model for blacks or for any Americans for that matter.
He is out of touch with Americans.
He is part of the elite.
He’s arrogant.
He unqualified to be president.

So I’m a racist. They say.

So?

Do I Love God?

One of my favorite blogs to read is Jack’s over at Forgotten Prophets. Now Jack is not one who’ll make you leave feeling happy, but you will leave with another wrinkle in your gray matter. He makes you think. He forces you to think. He demands it. Thought provocation is his thing.

He wrote something recently that came at a time just after I had had a recent discussion with my husband about loving God.

I was struggling with a dry spell in my spiritual walk. I felt that God was distant and I felt as though I were walking alone. Having had many times in my life when God’s presence was so real that it was overwhelming, I was lamenting that it had been a while since that had happened. I felt like I was on auto-pilot in my spiritual walk. I felt like a hypocrite. I felt like I wasn’t growing spiritually.

Key word here: “felt”.

I was discussing my feelings with my husband, who has been a Christian for many more years than I have, and he asked me, “do you love God?” I paused and stared at him for probably thirty seconds before I heard myself say, “No, I don’t think I do.” His mouth dropped often. He looked distraught. Disappointed. Hurt. I asked him if he loved God, and he said emphatically YES!!! So maybe it's just me.

Love is a strong emotion. But it is an emotion. And one thing man cannot depend on or rely on is his emotions. We all know what it’s like to get really mad at someone and then find out that we were totally wrong in the reason that led up to getting angry…and then being unable to turn the anger off quickly. It lingers… it subsides…but it doesn’t leave quickly.

We can’t always trust our “feelings”.

I’m consumed by God. I think about Him every waking minute of my day. I talk to Him, I cry out to Him, I question Him. I praise Him. I thank Him. I complain to Him. But I'm not sure I love Him.

I've been a Christian for nine years. I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know God through His Word and through His people. His Word has become very intimate to me, but I don't know that I really love Him. I'm intimate with Him, but I don't think that I really love Him. Does that make sense? I want to, but I don't know if I'm capable of loving God. It seems like such a huge mismatch.

I’ve had feelings of awe over God. I’ve had great emotional experiences in His presence. I’ve been excited about seeing Him work in my life and in the lives of those around me. I’ve been humbled by His power and His greatness. I’ve been at times shaken by His obvious preeminence in every aspect of my life. But I don’t know that I’ve ever felt love in its truest sense of the word.

Maybe I'm not capable of loving God.

If love is caring that someone is pleased with you, and if all your thoughts are captivated by them, is that love? If I feel confident that if forced to deny Him or die, I would choose death, is that love?

My husband says love is a decision, not an emotion. He says that he has not only decided to love me, he feels a very deep love toward me. Which is the greater expression of love? The decision or the feeling?

I’ve made the decision to love God. I’m praying the feelings will come.

The great part about this whole issue is that He loves me anyway, whether I reciprocate or not. He loved me when I was spitting in His face and denying His existence. He loves me in spite of my sin, my pride, my selfishness, my weaknesses and my failures.

God Himself IS love. Maybe that's the part that causes my questioning. How can I as a mere human being possibly think that I can love God, when the very essense of God IS love. He loves me so much that He suffered and died for me, and took my guilt and sins on Himself.

Come to think of it...that's enough to make me want to love Him even if I can't.

Nero and the Haters

In a book I’m reading by F. F. Bruce called New Testament History, there are a few paragraphs about Nero, the emperor who most historians believe was responsible for the great fire in Rome on July 19, 64 AD. Nero didn’t like the Christians, so he blamed them for the fire and had them captured and tortured as punishment. Most Romans did not like Christians – they were called “haters of the human race” and were seen as “anti-social” because they did not participate in the hedonism of the day and did not recognize the Roman gods. Much of the Roman way of life was seen as immoral by the Christians and they refused to participate in immorality or to worship the Roman idols. Nero’s persecution was done in an almost carnival atmosphere. He opened up his gardens for the occasion, and Christians were tortured in various ways, including crucifixion, being burned alive, or being sown up in animal skins and let loose to be hunted and mauled by dogs. Others were covered with pitch, torched alive and put up on poles to help light the city at night. Many of the women were used as sexual slaves.


“Haters”.
“Anti-social”

Sound familiar? Christians are still being called these things today. Somehow, calling someone a “hater” seems to justify name calling, personal attacks, cruelty and persecution, at least in the eyes of the true haters.

The Bible says that during the Tribulation, there will be two Jewish Christian Witnesses at the Wall in Jerusalem that will be warning the people of God’s judgment. It also says that they will have supernatural protection for a time, but then eventually , they will be killed. It says the whole world will rejoice at their deaths and actually declare a holiday and exchange gifts in celebration of their deaths.

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth…And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified…And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth." Revelation 11:3-10

…they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice [at their deaths].

Doesn’t seem too unbelievable these days, does it?

But then something astounding is going to happen… Revelation 11:11-13:

“And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

Those of us called “haters” have nothing to fear. Our God is in control. We are not the haters. We are the hated.

Sad. We are hated for following the God of love.

While in Paris this weekend, Pope Benedict XVI spoke out against what he called unbridled pagan passion for power, possessions and money.

He said “"Has not our modern world created its own idols?" Benedict said in his homily, and wondered aloud whether people have "imitated, perhaps inadvertently, the pagans of antiquity?"

Although there is a lot of truth in what the Pope said, I suggest that the Pope take a look at his own church if he wants to see imitations of the pagans of antiquity. Here's a few:

Transubstantiation – The belief that during Communion, the bread and wine LITERALLY becomes the body and blood of Christ.

Prayer beads – (the Rosary)

Lent – 40 days of sorrow and weeping for Tamuz

Maryolotry – Part of mother/child worship and the worship of the “Queen of Heaven”

Gargoyles – demonic looking “protectors” found on the cathedrals of Europe

None of the above pagan practices are supported by Scripture.

Public Library Porn

Imagine taking a trip with your kids to the local library. Nice family outing. The next thing you know, your kid is sitting at a table in front of you looking at photographs of perverted homosexual acts and saying, “Mommy, what’s THIS!!!”

I don’t know about your local public library, but in Nampa Idaho, the ACLU has made sure that this very kind of thing COULD happen.

There are adult book stores in most towns. If someone wants to read or look at the pictures in The Joy of Sex or The Joy of Homosexual Sex, they don’t have to go far. The Internet is ready and waiting to satisfy every fetish, every craving, and every voyeur’s need. There are bookstores and heck, even most convenience stores carry trashy magazines if you’ll just look.

The public library is not the place to showcase this type of thing.

The key work here is “public”. If one can’t prance around naked in public, or commit lewd and obscene sexual acts in public, then this type of literature does not need to be in the “public” library.

I am not advocating censorship or book burning. I am advocating discretion. I'm advocating common sense in areas when kids are concerned.

Common sense. Something the ACLU knows nothing about.

Night Before Ike

I live roughly 400 miles from where Ike is going to hit shore. Already though, there are signs he is coming. I took this pic outside the local Wally World.

Mary Landrieu - It's Time for Her to be Retired

It's time for Mary Landrieu to go. This liberal Democrat has been imbedded in Washington for far too long.




Politically she's much more in line with the Obama camp. If you are a conservative Louisianan, it's time to elect a conservative Louisianan in her place.

Whoopi Goldberg Shows Her Ignorance

Whoopie Goldberg is a liberal bigmouth and evidently knows zero about our Constitution.

On “The View” during an interview (inquisition) of John McCain, when discussing Roe vs Wade and the Constitution, Goldberg interrupted McCain to ask him about something he had said about strict Constitutionalists…

WHOOPI: "Should I be worried about being a slave…being returned to slavery…because certain things happened in the Constitution that you had to change…"


What had to change, Whoopi? Where in the Constitution did it ever state that anyone could own slaves? This was happening IN SPITE of the Constitution – not BECAUSE of it. That’s why the 13th Amendment was added, Whoopi.

And your audience is evidently as ignorant of their Constitution as you are. They cheered you as though you’d made some profound statement of some kind.

Ever notice how the audiences of liberals are so enthralled with them that they cheer at anything they say, regardless of the truthfulness or accuracy of it?

"Two plus two is five." YEAAAHHHH, you go, girl. You tell ‘em.

Ignorance is bliss, they say.

In remembrance of 9/11 I was going to post something, but after going over something I wrote two years ago, I could think of little to add. So here is an updated version of my 9/11/06 post...

Today is the seventh anniversary of a day that changed forever the way many Americans look at the world. It also showed us quite clearly that our enemy is not an individual or individuals, but an ideology based on a religion of submission, conversion by force, and death.

There was an awakening on September 11th in a lot of people’s lives to the reality of their own mortality and many turned to their local churches looking for answers, seeking comfort, and searching desperately for some semblance of normality in the face of the horror of 9/11.

Our church, like many others, saw an increase in attendance by some who hadn’t visited a church in years. There were numerous people who got saved during that period of time as a direct result of their reaction to that fateful day. I remember one young man saying that as he watched the television video clip of a man leaping to his death from one of the flaming twin towers, he suddenly realized that if that had been he that day, he would have continued falling right into the pits of hell. He came to the Lord, repented of his sin, and put his trust in Christ for his salvation.

There were good things that came out of the death and destruction of that day. For a brief time, our country was once again unified – every race, creed, color and political party joined together to condemn this heinous act and to stand behind the President in his determination to begin the long battle against terrorism that needed and still needs to be waged.

Unfortunately, in this age of fast food and quick fixes, the awakening did not last. Soon after it was back to partisan politics again. Most churches eventually saw their numbers fall back to normal, and many of those that had sought answers from God returned to their pre-9/11 lifestyles, and even forgot the short lived unity that was born out of that day.

Religious leaders caught a lot of flack from the media when it was dared to be spoken that God had temporarily lifted His hand of protection off of this nation – because of our moral decline and our removing God from the public arena. The truth is, though the words they chose to voice their belief were maybe not the words I would have used, the basic gist of what they said was true. God did lift His hand of protection. And He could very well do so again. But just as I said in a post several months ago, it is not the atheists, the homosexuals,the liberals, Hollywood, or any other group or individual that is the ultimate cause of God’s removal of protection. It is the Christian community itself that has the obligation to cry out to God, ask Him to forgive us for abandoning Him all too quickly and allowing immorality to run rampant in this country. We Christians are ultimately responsible for the future of this nation.

God help us to be strong.

God please bless America again.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14

More on the Gustav Evacuees

There were several letters to the Editor this week in our local paper about the ungratefulness of many of the evacuees from Gustav. Folks, the evacuees have been so pathetic that even the editor of our local newspaper had negative things to say about them. I think people in my area are fed up with being hospitable and then being spit on.

They’ve complained about the taxpayer funded food.
They’ve complained that the taxpayer funded buses that transport them are too bumpy or too slow.
They’ve stuffed towels and other items down into toilets and drains.
They’ve stained toilet seats, floors and walls with (use your imagination).
They’ve been verbally abusive to volunteers trying to help them.
They’ve stolen everything they could get their hands on.
They’ve complained that they can’t buy beer on Sunday.

Our government has created a culture of people who get something for nothing and they think the world owes them. So many of them are self-centered, full of hate, mean-spirited, immoral, abusive and destructive.

And the one unbelievable thing about all this is that God loves them. Not only that, but He loves them as much as He loves the best individual on earth. He loves them so much He died for them.

Hard to fathom.

Animals Can't Vote, but...

Animals can't vote, but if he could I'm pretty sure this one would vote Democrat.

Did Jesus Claim to be God?

Did Jesus really claim to be God?

Say what you will about the Bible. Say what you will about Jesus. But don’t say that He didn’t claim to be God. And don’t say the Bible doesn’t claim He is God.

Two of the cults that deny the deity of Jesus are the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons. But they are proven wrong by the book they claim to believe in.

Jesus was no ordinary man. He led a sinless life. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He spoke wisdom unheard of before. He endured extreme pain, torture and humiliation voluntarily without defending Himself. He loved as no man has ever loved because He loved His enemies as well as His friends.

Not just anyone could go to the cross and take our sin and shame upon themselves. No mere man could do it. Even if there was a perfect and sinless man, he could still only die for one man. God, being infinite, was the only one Who could take the punishment for all mankind.

What does the Bible say about this man, Jesus? What did He say about Himself? How did the Jews react when He said many of the things He said? They understood well that He proclaimed Himself to be God. That is why He was killed.

In Isaiah 42:8, God said “I am the Lord: that is My Name, and My glory will I not give to another.” In other words, God does not allow anyone else to share in His Glory.

Jesus, in John 17:5 says “And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine Own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.”

Is Jesus blaspheming God here? He is claiming the glory of God. He is claiming that He once shared the glory of God before the world began. He does this because He is God.



In John 8:58, Jesus said “Before Abraham was, I AM.” I AM is the name God gave to Moses when Moses asked “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”, God replied, “I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
So, when Jesus said “I AM”, was He being blasphemous? Or was He declaring His deity?



Matthew 28:18: Jesus said “…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Only God has ALL power in heaven and in earth.

In Genesis 1:1, it says “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Colossians 1:16 says of Jesus, “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:”

If Genesis 1:1 says God created the heaven and the earth, and Colossians 1:16 says Jesus created all things, then Jesus is clearly God.

Remember Stephen, who was stoned while Saul of Tarsus looked on approvingly? What did he say as he was dying? Acts 7:59: "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Stephen was clearly calling Jesus God.


In Isaiah 43:3, God says, "For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour..." and later, in 43:11, "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour."

Mary herself recognized that the child she carried was God. “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name."

Luke said of Jesus’ birth, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

The Samaritans said, “And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

God said that He alone is the Saviour.

Jesus was and is the Saviour.

Jesus is God.

Gustav - Those in Need aren't always Nice People

We’ve had evacuees in our town now for over a week because of hurricane Gustav. Much of what has come out of New Orleans and the surrounding area is here. About 7000people. It’s not pleasant. Churches, cities, and businesses have opened their doors to give these hurricane escapees a place of shelter and the good deed has been repaid with theft, violence, cursing, complaining, obscenity and disrespect.

In one location, an empty Walmart building has been set up to take in evacuees. It is in a part of town where shopping and eating facilities are within walking distance. There are cots set up and food is distributed several times a day by volunteer organizations. You’d think the evacuees would be thankful.

Here are a few remarks heard over the last few days.

Why have they got us in this Walmart? I want a hotel room.
I feel like I’m in a ^@#$# third world country.
They’ve got us packed in here like sardines.
Every time I have to go to the bathroom I have to walk through the @$@#&!# rain.
I can’t even get a %%!@^ pillow to lay my head on.
Bobby Jindal needs to let us go home. I’m sick of this ^!#$!^ place.

The manager of a nearby Family Dollar Store said yesterday that they were stealing her blind.
The McDonald’s across the street says they go into the restrooms a dozen at a time, steal all the toilet paper and paper towels, trash the place, and then leave.
Fights are breaking out in the civic centers and shelters, with obscenities and fists flying.
People’s few possessions they brought with them are being stolen out from under them.
Men and women are having sex right in front of the other evacuees.
Men are walking around soliciting sex and exposing themselves to the women.

I got a phone call today on my cell phone. When I said hello, a woman on the other end started cursing and screaming obscenities at me. I said “Who is this?”. She replied, “Who is THIS?, you ^%@#^%@. I replied, “do me a favor and stop cussing at me and hang up.” She said, “quit trying to disguise your ^%@^# voice, you %^%$#@&.” So I hung up on her.

About 2 minutes later my cell phone rang again. It was the same lady. “Where’s my *&&^$!@ food, you %#@$@?” I said, “Let me guess…you’re from New Orleans, aren’t you?” There was a long pause of silence as the person on the other end pondered what I’d just said. Then the obscenities started again. I hung up and laughed to keep from being disgusted.

Suggestion for Bobby Jindal. Next hurricane, erect a fence around the whole place and throw them life preservers and tell them to take care of themselves.

Oh, the Hypocrisy of it All

Liberal Democrats have championed the unwed mother. Welfare mothers produce one baby after another and receive bigger checks and food stamp priveleges as they go. If they decide to do the right thing and marry, their benefits are reduced or even taken away.

Liberals want condoms in every school, even elementary schools.

Liberals want sex taught in the school instead of leaving it to the parents, in grades as young as kindergarten.

Liberals want all forms of sexual activity to be accepted, promoted and in the case of homosexuality, even glorified.

Liberals want abortion on demand, and if the mother happens to be underage, liberals don’t want the child to have to tell her parents. And if the father is an adult, they look the other way at the abortion clinic.

Hollywood, made up mostly of liberals, produces pornography by the bucketload, and has even more recently been treading into movies bordering on kiddie-porn in the mainstream instead of the back rooms.

And they have the nerve – the audacity- to point fingers and make a huge issue over the mistake of Sarah Palin’s daughter in becoming pregnant out of wedlock.

Libs are sick. They are disgusting. They are hateful. They are self-centered. They have no love, though they like to say they do when it makes them “feel good”.

Sad bunch. Hypocrites.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27

From Snow to Desert to Rain

Years ago, in 1985, we had severe flooding in northeastern Louisiana. I remember seeing whole neighborhoods under as much as 8 feet of water. Lousiana is already a water plentiful state - but when you add too much extra rainfall, you get flooding.

Gustav came on in to our part of the state Monday night and we've been experiencing torrential rain ever since. When I left work today, I had to wade through about six inches of water to get to my car. Parts of town are under water now, and as I listen to the downpour outside, I pray God will move this out of here soon. I'm also thankful that no one I know lost life or property. I can live with the downed tree limbs and debris covering my yard - I could be floating in a boat right now!

Clinton Supporter Joins McCain Camp

Watch this video of a long time Clinton supporter "going over to the other side" and supporting McCain. Pay special attention to the interviewer and her questions and remarks. She can't stand it that he's supporting McCain. It's a hoot.


Top Hillary Supporter Switches to McCain

On a side note, reading this, "...John McCain has conceded to a party platform calling for an outright ban on abortion, with no exceptions..." was the most encouraging thing I read all day.