Pray With Understanding

WESTON, Wis. — An 11-year-old girl died after her parents prayed for healing rather than seek medical help for a treatable form of diabetes, police said Tuesday. (Fox News Wednesday, March 26, 2008)

Will someone please teach Dispensational Theology to the Charismatics? I’m sure you’ve already heard about this incident – and it most certainly is not the first. It just grieves me so when I see Christians practicing that which they know nothing about, does not apply to them, yet in which they believe so desperately.

Charismatics – I beg you, put down the NIV that you really don’t read anyhow. Turn off the charlatans that are teaching you this nonsense. Pick up a King James Bible and turn to:

(2Timothy 2:15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Then get down on your knees and ask God how to rightly divide His word. You will be amazed at how your understanding will clear up when you have the right Bible, the right attitude, the wrong teachers locked away, and the Holy Spirit of God to guide you. I say this not to chastise, I used to run with the charismatics. Please feel free to comment and ask questions. Perhaps I’ll write a longer blog on this subject in the near future.

Also, please know that I do believe in prayer – but I also believe God gave us doctors.

Grace & Peace, my brethren – Grace & Peace!

Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus

Christian freedom of speech will continue (in these last days) to be challenged. But let us American Christians understand that the freedoms we celebrate are not necessarily celebrated across the rest of the world; in fact, most Christians do not have the legal right to stand up, stand up for Jesus.

I am submitting this short blog, not to complain about the continual assault on Christian liberties in America, but rather to remind us that we simply must preach the gospel of Jesus Christ no matter what may become of us. God very simply could have taken us home the day that we trusted Jesus as Saviour, but He chose to leave us here that we might be a light in a dark world.

I encourage you to follow this link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,344350,00.html

Give it a read, and then get down on your knees and thank God that you still have the right to street preach – even though you choose not to. Thank God that you still have the right to tell your fellow workers that Jesus died for their sins – even though you choose not to. Thank God that you still have the right to pass out a gospel tract while standing in line at the grocery – even though you choose not to.

One day soon, it just may be illegal to speak the truth. What do we do then, Christians? Well, we respond as Peter once did:

(Acts 4:19-20) But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Grace & Peace unto you all.

Broadway Market 2008

The smell of chocolate was in the air as Western New York’s most desperately religious headed out to the Broadway Market in Buffalo, New York. It just so happens to be quite a tradition (especially among the Polish Catholic Community of Buffalo) to take a stroll down to the Broadway market to purchase pussy willows and chunks of butter in the shape of a lamb on Good Friday and the Saturday before Easter. (Just a side thought: funny how the masses gather in the cold to get a butter lamb, but have absolutely no interest in the True Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! And they call me crazy!)

Anyhow, a couple of us gathered to hand out tracts (some did some preaching) and we were able to hand out a guestimated total of 1,200 tracts between the two days. I say questimated because I only managed to make the Saturday event and 600 was the number of that day. Friday was busier so the total is likely higher. But numbers are not the issue of this blog.

The Broadway Market (for those of you who do not know) is on Broadway on the streets of Buffalo. It is a street like any other street…well, accept for the condition of the area, which is less than to be desired…to put it kindly. Somehow, security decided to puff out its chest and ask those who were situated on the sidewalk just outside of the doors of the Market to move to the street corners or the other side of the street. It seems that they did not know our Constitutional Rights to be there.

Today proved to me (yet again) that people just do not want the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, “the Christians” were not allowed in the front of the building, but street musicians collecting change were not asked to leave. There was a guitar player and a sax player. Each played “bunny” jingles to warm the hearts of the helplessly, hopelessly, religious lost. There was even a man dressed in an Easter Bunny costume waving at the eager pussy willow purchasers.

So let’s get this right:

The Easter Bunny: Welcomed.
Street Musicians: Welcomed.
Drunks: Welcomed.
Pussy Willow Purchasers: Welcomed.
Jesus Christ and his disciples: HIT THE ROAD, JACK!

Looks like we’ll have to do some work for next year. We’ll have to make sure that we have researched the laws of the land and bring a copy of such laws the next time we come. This way, the security guards (who were not even police officers…I think) will have to think twice about giving Christians the boot.

We’ll just keep on keepin’ on. ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS!

Grace & Peace be unto you all.

A Gory Religion

I was reading more of the useless news while on a lunch break at work when I came across this article. You can read it in its entirety at the following link.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200803/CUL20080312b.html

I thought that I would focus on this little section, and more specifically, the words that I have put in bold font:

“Nevertheless, Kazman told Cybercast News Service that it's ‘entirely appropriate’ to focus on Gore because he "is not just the messenger here, he is what you could easily call the ‘high priest’ of global warming alarmism.”

I know that the concept of “Global Warming” has been debated to death and that the subject has recently died down. Let me state for the record that whenever “the higher powers” decides to push something…it gets pushed to the max. When “they” have been proven to have faulty information, they quietly ride off into obscurity. As “Global Warming” gets exposed more and more as a fraud, mark my words, the nasty news media will no longer bother to waste precious air-time on it.

With that being said, I will revisit the subject matter that has been beaten to death for one reason: to expose “Global Warming” for what it is. IT IS A RELIGION.

I cannot quite recall when a particular event took place, or the name of that event for that matter. But there was a musical event that took place around the world to raise awareness and FUNDS for the “Global Warming Crisis”.

I happened to turn on the television and catch a portion of it. Let’s call it morbid curiosity, as I had no interest whatsoever in listening to the music. I turned it on just at the right moment so as to come to an understanding of what this thing is all about.

The performer was Melissa Etheridge. (I do not know if I’ve even spelled her name correctly, so forgive me if I have not) We’ll leave her personal life out of it and just focus on what she was doing when I happened to turn on the idiot box. She was preaching. It was like watching one of those “charismatic” debacles where the preacher says a sentence or two, then an organ plays a riff in order to work up a frenzy. The “blues” played in the background as the female preacher began to declare her message.

She began by pointing out the sinners: Those who contribute to the global warming problem. The camera panned around, revealing one celebrity after another. The all had their chance to speak to the crowd as well…because they are the modern day prophets of Baal. Before long, Minister Melissa began to talk about the one hope for the world. That hope came in the form of her “Savior” (yes, she used that word) Al Gore.

Folks, if you don’t think that this thing has moved into the realms of spiritual deception and false worship, you’re blind. The farce of “Global Warming” has done nothing but send the United States further into debt. I know…the “tree huggers” believe that it is a small price to pay. Let me ask: to pay for what? Hey, in the 70’s they were preaching about a coming “Global Ice Age”. Please…I’m not that stupid, and I pray that neither are you.

I just recently had a talk with my boss who informed me of some changes coming upon our company due to the need to become “Eco-Friendly”. I about lost my lunch. Our company is already competing with companies in China, India and South America. We cannot compete with the low wages others are willing to work for. To add insult to injury, our own Country…which should be helping us secure jobs HERE IN AMERICA, has decided to make it even more difficult.

Now, I do not work for a company that is pouring pollutants into the creeks. I work for a silk-screening factory. Still, we are being forced to start using “eco-friendly” inks, neck labels and shirts. For what? For a fairy tale. The plain and simple truth is that our Country cannot afford to keep doing this to the small businesses…or to the big ones for that matter. We are being taxed and regulated right out of existence.

Quite honestly, the only pollution we need to take care of immediately is the pollution that pours out of the “high priest’s” mouth. Sadly, I believe that the greatest cult leader of our day has just begun to roar. Will he be the future President that sells the sovereignty of the United States for a “theory”?

All I can say is: Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Grace & Peace, my friends…grace and peace!

A Real Presidential Candidate

Someone recently passed an email along to me. I do not claim credit for this work other than some editing. But I loved it and thought it appropriate for this website. I hope that this is not an offense to any of you…but it very much represents my feelings towards the candidates of the upcoming election. Enjoy!

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT (DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN) GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?

"My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq regime has been completed. Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete. This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq . This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.

Before me, I have two lists: One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there. The other list contains every one not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on “List 2” ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. Then every year thereafter it will go to our social security system so that it will not go broke in twenty years. The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world nations only to watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption. Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money towards solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations: Mess with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France or maybe China. I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well.

I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I do not care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.

A special note to our neighbors: Canada is on "List 2". Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not ticking us off for a change. Mexico is also on "List 2". Its president and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra thousand tanks and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put them? Yep, border security.

Oh, by the way, the United States will be abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now. We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we will be drilling for oil in Alaska – which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to “List 2” above. Pick a country and move there.

Fellow Americans, it is time to focus on our own welfare. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, 'darn tootin.' Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America.

To the nations on “List 1”, a final thought: Thank you guys. We owe you and we will not forget it.
To the nations on “List 2”, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.

God bless America. Thank you and good night."

Do you have any idea how many people in their homes would stand up and cheer after hearing that speech? It boggles the mind!

Grace & Peace be with you all.

A Modern Day Shadrach

I thought it would be good to share a miraculous testimony on this blog. The Lord has certainly worked in my life and in the lives of my friends and family over the years. After all, salvation alone is the greatest miracle. I have turned my life over to following him and ministering to his saints. Why? Out of love, of course. How? Because He first loved me. (1 John 4:19)

For those of you who have not heard, my mother’s place of employment was just the victim of a grease fire. My mother is actually a Beautician. She worked in a Salon next door to a bar/restaurant within a small plaza in Depew, New York. The fire started in the kitchen of the bar and quickly spread next door to my mother’s shop. Everyone got out and there were no injuries. There was a fireman that had to be taken to the hospital for exhaustion, be he has since fully recovered and is fine.

Because my mother does not drive, she lives within walking distance of work. She has always done this. She is on her feet all day long and is quite a trooper. Cutting hair, however, is all she knows. When the fire burned down the shop, it burned down her livelihood. She had to quickly think about the next step so as to continue to receive pay. As a self-employed Beautician (she rented a chair in the shop she worked in) she is not able to draw unemployment in the state of New York. On top of all of that, she had left her client’s phone numbers in a rolodex in the shop. She had no way of contacting them, and they had no way of contacting her as they only had the shop’s phone number.

So now, pretend that this is you. What do you do? You’re without a job, without training in anything, without a high-school diploma, without transportation, and without the ability to contact those who put food on your table. Again I ask, What do you do?

Christian, you pray.

Now let me give you the good news. Within a couple of days, a competing salon just down the street called to express their sympathies. My mother was offered a chair for the same rental fees she had at the other salon. The walk is a shade longer, but like I said, my mother is a trooper.

She now has a place to work, but what about her customers? GOD IS FAITHFUL. As the owner of the salon that caught fire walked through the ash heap, he saw one solitary thing that was preserved. It just so happened to be my mother’s rolodex. A piece of plastic filled with paper managed to be the only thing that survived the fire.

My mother is adjusting to working in a new environment, but she is working. On top of that, she has a wonderful testimony of the greatness of our God. Praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

By the way, I titled this A Modern Day Shadrach for a reason. We all know the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and how they were preserved in the fire. I chose Shadrach because of his original name: Hananiah. This name means: God has favored.

(Psa 107:8) Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Grace and Peace be unto you all.

Separation of Church & State

I was trading emails with a fellow student this past week. Somehow a question regarding weather turned into an email correspondence of John Calvin and a State run Church. I suppose that it “somehow” turned to the State Church thing when I referred to Calvin as “murderous.” So here’s the question this friend of mine brought up: “Would it be wrong for a government, say, the State of New York, to use the Old Testament civil laws as its own laws?”

My knowledge of John Calvin is somewhat limited. But as I understand it, and feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, Calvin helped establish the laws of Geneva during his time there. He believed very strongly that the State and the Church were to work together. Now let me say that I would have no problem with a State run Church just so long as the State was acting in a Biblical manner. However, this will never happen. I’m just being a realist. What were to happen if the State Church decided that water baptism was necessary in order to obtain salvation? In order to follow the Bible, I would have to rebel against the teachings of the State Church. If the State Church then threw its weight around, I might be punished, jailed or even killed by disobeying its mandate (law) to water baptize everyone. One of the great freedoms of America is its separation of Church and State. It must be said that this in no way, shape, or form means that the State has to ban all religious thought from its institutions (as many assume), but rather that it cannot enforce someone to practice a faith or a religion that he/she does not want to participate in.

John Calvin forced his views upon the populous through a State Church that was oppressive and murderous. This cannot be ignored, nor can it be dismissed as “okay.” I have heard it said that this was just the way things were back then, so we must be forgiving of Calvin for the way he dealt with Servetus. (He had him killed for “teaching heresy”) Was murder okay back in the garden when Cain slew Abel? No. Was murder okay when David had Uriah killed in order to marry his wife, Bathsheba? No. Was murder okay when they nailed our precious Savior to the cross? No. Then why would it be okay for Calvin to murder someone just because it was the mandate of the State-run Church? Plain and simple: it is not.

The Church should care for the things of the Church. The State should care for the things of the State. The State SHOULD NOT enforce someone to believe something they do not. Now concerning John Calvin, no Christian I know would ever force another to believe what he believed or be murdered for it. Apparently Calvin is an exception in the eyes of those who idolize him, but he is no exception in my eyes. In fact, I have nowhere read any of Calvin’s words that would even lead me to the conclusion that he was saved. Sorry Calvin idolaters, this is just from what I have read. But please, feel free to post a Calvin quote that would help me change my mind. If he has testified, through the written word, of a Biblical salvation, I have yet to read it…but would love to see it.

As we continued to trade emails, my friend asked me my thoughts concerning Erastus in the Bible. Erastus is mentioned three times in Scripture. He is mentioned in (Acts 19:22) (2 Tim 4:20) and (Rom 16:23). There is no proof that the Erastus mentioned in each verse is the same as the next…but let’s assume that he was. It is mentioned in Romans that Erastus was the Chamberlain of the city. This would mean that he was a public official – perhaps a mayor or governor. The reason I was asked about Erastus was because I had made this comment:

“Here’s my humble opinion, though given time, I think I can back it up Biblically. Role of Govt: Supress Evil. Role of Christians in Govt: Pray for Leaders.”

With that comment, I was asked about Erastus’ position as Chamberlain. The question then is this: Was Erastus the Chamberlain before or after he was saved? The fact alone that Scripture says that he was indeed the Chamberlain does not necessarily mean that Christians should enter politics any more than saying Christians should cut off people’s ears because the Scripture mentions that Peter did it. A statement of fact in the Scripture is not always a command to do – we must understand this if we are to properly interpret Scriptures. The Bible does teach this:

(1Ti 2:1-2) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

This is the role of a Christian in Government according to the Scriptures. This is not just a statement of fact, but is indeed, a God-given command for all Christians.

So to tie this whole thing together, Calvin had no Biblical basis for forcing his beliefs on Geneva (or any other populous) because of his own personal convictions. Even God Almighty does not force a human to believe – though He desires all men to come unto the knowledge of the truth. It is best for the Christian to stay out of politics, but rather to focus his energies on winning others to Christ. If a political leader gets saved, he should not focus his life on changing laws to conform to Old Testament laws – but should spend him time evangelizing the lost and ministering to the saints. After all, why would a government want to adopt the Old Testament Law? It is a curse, Christian…remember? I do not live by the law, but by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. The Government’s role is to protect me from harm. It should protect my right of the freedom of worship from those who would murder me for not believing what they believe. The Government should then have protected a man from being killed by John Calvin, rather than follow Calvin’s orders and do the murdering. Make sense? I sure hope so.

Grace & Peace be unto you all.