Just a reminder that this is the day we remember those who have died in the service of their country. Here is a link with a list of the men and women who have died in our most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan:
Faces of the Fallen
Here is a youtube link to a Fox News clip showing President Bush awarding the medal of honor to the parents of Lt. Michael Murphy, the first medal of honor recipient in Afghanistan. Murphy was a Navy Seal that gave his life on June 28, 2005 in the remote mountains of Afghanistan.
Lt. Michael Murphy's parents receive medal of honor
Every one of these men and women have mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives or children. They are friends and neighbors. It does not matter what we think about the wars our country fights or the politics. These men and women have given their all. Let's remember and be thankful for the freedom that we have and never forget the cost of freedom.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sodom
This next week our focus will be on God's judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. You can't get around the fact that God destroyed four wicked cities because of gross sin. Today I read an article in the paper about an ex-gay man who is now a 'minister'. He says he realizes that homosexuality is sin, but wishes the church would embrace gays. You can read the article here.
I wonder if a man came into the church who was a known murderer and every now and then he just went and killed someone if we would 'embrace' him?
I wonder if a man stole things from the people at church regularly if we wouldn't have a little talk with him about his lifestyle?
If a man who showed up drunk to church on occasion, would we expect him to sober up?
If a man who was addicted to sex were to proposition the women at church, would we speak with him about this?
Of course we would! We would not sit back and just hope that they figured out what they were doing was wrong. If they would not repent of these things and call them sin, we would have to say they are not brothers in Christ.
Is it OK to say that murder is wrong? Is it OK to say that adultery is wrong? Is it OK to say that homosexuality is wrong? YES!
With that said, it is not the sin of homosexuality that will send a person to hell, it is not believing in Jesus Christ. We are all sinners, but as the church we do not excuse sin. We confess it and we receive forgiveness for it and we walk in the Spirit.
We don't need to embrace gays, murders, adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, gluttons, child molesters, liars, thieves or any other kind of sin. We need to engage them with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They need to know the TRUTH! Let's get out and tell it!
Jesus can change them if they will believe the gospel. We need to embrace those who USED to be these things.
Know ye not that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicaters, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, not extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Notice how the Bible says, "such WERE some of you." A person who says they are a believer and continues in an open rebellious sin is in need of discipline to help them understand that God has changed them and they need to walk in the new life, not wallow in the old.
Do we believe in the miraculous power of God to change us? Of course! Never forget that Paul was a murderer! God turned him into a soul winner.
I wonder if a man came into the church who was a known murderer and every now and then he just went and killed someone if we would 'embrace' him?
I wonder if a man stole things from the people at church regularly if we wouldn't have a little talk with him about his lifestyle?
If a man who showed up drunk to church on occasion, would we expect him to sober up?
If a man who was addicted to sex were to proposition the women at church, would we speak with him about this?
Of course we would! We would not sit back and just hope that they figured out what they were doing was wrong. If they would not repent of these things and call them sin, we would have to say they are not brothers in Christ.
Is it OK to say that murder is wrong? Is it OK to say that adultery is wrong? Is it OK to say that homosexuality is wrong? YES!
With that said, it is not the sin of homosexuality that will send a person to hell, it is not believing in Jesus Christ. We are all sinners, but as the church we do not excuse sin. We confess it and we receive forgiveness for it and we walk in the Spirit.
We don't need to embrace gays, murders, adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, gluttons, child molesters, liars, thieves or any other kind of sin. We need to engage them with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They need to know the TRUTH! Let's get out and tell it!
Jesus can change them if they will believe the gospel. We need to embrace those who USED to be these things.
Know ye not that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicaters, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, not extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Notice how the Bible says, "such WERE some of you." A person who says they are a believer and continues in an open rebellious sin is in need of discipline to help them understand that God has changed them and they need to walk in the new life, not wallow in the old.
Do we believe in the miraculous power of God to change us? Of course! Never forget that Paul was a murderer! God turned him into a soul winner.
Soulwinning
Yesterday some of the men of our church went out into the neighborhood soul winning. We had several conversations with people about Jesus Christ. We had different reactions to the gospel. Everyone we met said they were Christians or went to church. However, when we probed a bit deeper we found that none of them gave us a 'by grace through faith' answer to how you could be right with God.
I praise the Lord that we live in a country where we can go out and actively preach the gospel. There are places where it is illegal to do what we did yesterday.
One conversation really stuck in my mind from yesterday. One lady was very polite but really not interested. She explained how she was not 'over religious' but thought if you did your best you would be OK. We asked her if we could share a verse from the Bible with her.
She responded, "Absolutely not."
She talked a little more about how if you did your best you would be OK on judgment day. We then asked her if she were wrong would she want to know.
"No," was her answer.
How sad. Some people are content with their ignorance of the Bible and do not want to be confused with the truth.
I share this to encourage you in two areas.
1. Share the gospel - people are lost and need Jesus.
2. Be a diligent truth-seeker. Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
I praise the Lord that we live in a country where we can go out and actively preach the gospel. There are places where it is illegal to do what we did yesterday.
One conversation really stuck in my mind from yesterday. One lady was very polite but really not interested. She explained how she was not 'over religious' but thought if you did your best you would be OK. We asked her if we could share a verse from the Bible with her.
She responded, "Absolutely not."
She talked a little more about how if you did your best you would be OK on judgment day. We then asked her if she were wrong would she want to know.
"No," was her answer.
How sad. Some people are content with their ignorance of the Bible and do not want to be confused with the truth.
I share this to encourage you in two areas.
1. Share the gospel - people are lost and need Jesus.
2. Be a diligent truth-seeker. Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Bible and Booze
Here is a link to a sermon preached in the 50's on the question of Christians and their stand on beverage alcohol. Enjoy!
The Christian and Liquor Traffic
The Christian and Liquor Traffic
Sidetracked!
Are you sidetracked? A lot of Christians are sidetracked right now. By that I mean they are not running the race that Jesus Christ has set out for them to run. Some of them are running a race; it is just the wrong one! These believers spend all their time focusing on the wrong things.
Read the whole article here:
Sidetracked
Read the whole article here:
Sidetracked
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Devotions for couples
If you have not tuned in to Necessary Food lately I have been blogging on each chapter of the Song of Solomon. I have put all these into a devotional package on the website. I have also added an extra devotional that is not on the blog.
This is a great study for a husband and wife to go through together.
Devotions from the Song of Solomon
This is a great study for a husband and wife to go through together.
Devotions from the Song of Solomon
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