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Archive for the ‘Salvation’ Category

I don’t know why but it still amazes me how backwards things are these days.  God’s word tells me this is what we would be seeing, but yet it still stops me, stunned, when I see it.

What the world calls tolerant is really intolerant.  What is called good is evil.

He is right this is a cultural war on christianity.  They are intimidating us, calling us names, and insulting our beliefs & values.  Yet they are the tolerant.  We (Christians) are intolerant.

They are killing millions of babies in the womb, destroying the family unit, and launching incurable diseases onto our society and yet they are called good.  We (Christians) are evil.

God warned us of this time but he also promised, when we saw these things, His Son’s return would be near.

Come quickly Lord Jesus!

If you have not asked Christ into your life, the essential gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and that He was raised on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4).  Believing this is the only qualification for salvation.  We are sinners in need of a savior.  Jesus died for our sins, and to prove that His death was sufficient for us,  God raised Him from the dead on the third day. Believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead is our assurance that He will raise us, too.
 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Cor. 15:3-4). 

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STOP taking Pastor Dennis Terry out of context. He said NOTHING wrong!

by The Right Scoop

***UPDATED***

I’m so tired of group think.

The left has gotten themselves in an uproar over comments made by Pastor Dennis Terry at a church-campaign event for Rick Santorum, and even some on the right are accepting their false premise. First, watch the video if you haven’t seen it:

Now let me ask you what was wrong with anything Pastor Terry said? Well if you ask those on the left, they say he’s telling non-Christians and liberals to get out of America. But that’s not at all what he said. Allow me to properly phrase his so-called controversial comments the way he delivered them:

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The thing I love about Jack Kelly’s articles is the simplicity with which he peels back so many layers of the onion (layers of scriptural truth/meanings).

The topic of this article is so very important during these last days that are so filled with deception.  It regards our salvation.

We not only need to know “how we are saved” but why it works the way it does.  It reveals the genius of God.

Jack lays it out beautifully and by knowing “why”, your belief and faith will be strengthened.  Just as study of prophecy strengthen’s our faith.

Enjoy!

God Bless!

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Believe in Your Heart

by Jack Kelly

If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead you will be saved (Rom 10:9).

We’ve all confessed (give assent to or acknowledge) with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and understand its importance to our salvation, but what about the “believe in your heart” portion of the verse?

In Romans 10:10 Paul goes on to say that it’s with our heart that we believe and are justified. The Greek word translated justify is from dikaios which means to be innocent or holy. The King James translates this word “believe unto righteousness” meaning that our belief in the resurrection is what brings us our righteousness, allowing God to regard us as though we’re innocent of any sin and therefore holy.

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When ever Joel lays out the relationship between prophecy and the events we are seeing today, I tend to listen.  He has always stayed true to God’s Word on the topic, which is why I think he has such a good track record.

The quote from the host Pastor of the conference really summed up well the feelings I have been having recently.

“It seems that there is a sense in the spiritual air we breathe that things are unraveling quickly. The slide is not unstoppable. It will take a great awakening, a supernatural intervention, an act of God, to turn us back from the precipice toward which we run.”

Time is Short, we need to step up our effort of outreach as a church, it is no time for our churches to be asleep at the wheel.  The Rapture draws near!

God Bless!

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PREPARE CHURCHES FOR INEVITABLE: America, Israel and the Church are at risk

February 13, 2012
By Joni B. Hannigan, Managing Editor, Florida Baptist Witness

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—The handwriting is on the wall and war between Iran and Israel is imminent, Joel Rosenberg, an evangelical Christian and New York Times best-selling author, told the last session of the First Baptist Jacksonville Pastors’ Conference Jan. 29.

“War is coming,” Rosenberg said. “You and I are living in an extraordinary moment in one of the most dangerous moments in the history of our country; one of the most dangerous moments in the history of Israel and the Middle East; and one of the most dangerous moments in the history of the church.”

And the question is, “Are we ready for what could be coming?”

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The video in the link below is short but backed full of wisdom.

The two items that stood out most was the belief some are preaching that it is not possible to follow the 10 commandments and that they were “nailed to the cross” and that we no longer fall under their influence.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.  It is our lack of studying the bible that has led so many astray.  Here is the scripture that references the topic.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross (Col 2:13-14).

The key focus of the message is sin.  How we are forgiven for all sins (past, present and future) under the new covenant that he was establishing with the church through His Son’s death on the cross.  We are no longer saved through adherence to the law (like the Jewish people) but through faith and belief in Jesus Christ, our savior.  The law is still valid, how else can we tell if we sin and need to repent.  It is still the way we should aim to live.  It is the way Christ lived, following the 10 commandments.

Jesus multiple times spoke of the commandments and their importance.  Paul also spoke at length about “the law” which is front and center represented by the 10 commandments as well as the old testament.  (Romans) He stated that without the Law, we do not know what sin is and that we need to repent.  It is not the law the makes us sin, we are all sinners, but without the law we would not know the standards we are measured against.

We would not know that we are sinners and in need of a savior.  We are never “good” enough as we are all filled with sin, believers and unbelievers.  It is the believers that through the Law and Jesus’ teachings know they need a savior and that they have sinned.

This is where so many fail in preaching God’s word to unbelievers, we must first show them that they are sinners just like us and then it will make sense why they need a savior.

If someone does not know they are falling from a plane, it would not make sense as to why they need a parachute.

Something to ponder…

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God’s Law cannot be “Graced” over

Exclusive: Richard Rives warns of spiritual battle over 10 Commandments

(click link for video)

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Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

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Amazing video, I think Ray Comfort drills into the true basics that a lot of us Christians have missed or forgotten through all of the noise and distractions (deception) this world throws at us.  As I watched it, I could see myself and friends I know in the position of the two young believers he is interviewing.

It is so important, and counter intuitive to this world, to remember we are not to put our “faith” in ourselves but in Jesus Christ (God).  We are to keep our eyes on Him and not this world.  We cannot save ourselves through being “good” or even repenting.  We are all sinners and no one is good enough.

It is only through faith in Jesus and His gift to us through His death on the cross.  He overcame death and is preparing a place for us to be with Him always.  He sent us the Holy Spirit to be sealed, yes sealed, within us always.  No one can remove it.

It is the simplest message and promise but very easy to forget or overlook.

God’s Word, the Bible, is inerrant.  The translation I like calls it “God Breathed”.  It has never been wrong and verifies itself through prophecy.

Make sure to watch the video.

God Bless!

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Bible: Trustworthy or lost in translation?

Ray Comfort interviews Sunday School teacher who questions Scripture

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Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

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Amazing article, there is really nothing to add.  They layout out God’s word on the subject very well.  Must read!

Folks we are under attack, it is more veiled than our brothers and sisters overseas, but it is the first stages, we are seeing that veil coming off.

God’s prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes…

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True Love, Homosexuality, and the Kirk Cameron ‘Controversy’

(Wednesday, 14 March 2012 19:56)


By Dr. Ted Baehr and Dr. Tom Snyder

Recently, a few hate-filled activists directed their bigotry against actor Kirk Cameron of “Fireproof” and TV’s “Growing Pains.” Kirk’s offense? He dared to say that God tries to protect us from self-destruction by warning us against such things as homosexuality and adultery and by declaring marriage to be a sacred union of one man and one woman.

 

So much for the godless, phony left-wing virtue of “tolerance”!

As Kirk said in his response, “I should be able to express moral views on social issues. . . without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to THEIR moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.”

Kirk Cameron was exactly correct when he said on the “Piers Morgan Show” that the God declares marriage to be a sacred act between one man and one woman. As some pundits humorously quip, “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!”

Contrary to what the haters might say, Jesus Christ Himself preached what Kirk Cameron said about marriage and homosexual lust.

In Matthew 19:1-12, Jesus quotes Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24, saying, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his gather and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not tear asunder.”

Earlier, in Chapter 5 of Matthew, Jesus says he didn’t come to Earth to abolish God’s Law, but to fulfill it. He adds, in verse 19, “Whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Thus, in teaching these things, Jesus affirms the Law of God in Chapter 18 of Leviticus in the Five Books of Moses. In that passage in Leviticus, God explicitly warns Moses and the Israelites that adultery, homosexuality, incest, bestiality, paganism, and child sacrifice are all self-destructive, abusive and abhorrent.

Jesus explicitly says in Mark 7:20-23, “What comes out of a person—that defiles him. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”

Radical leftists and extremists such as those who condemned Kirk Cameron like to talk about love, hope, change, and other platitudes they don’t really mean, but do they ever define these values? Except in ways that cast scorn on their political enemies while self-righteously extolling their own arrogance and power?

Well, Jesus Christ and His apostles define them.

In the New Testament, Jesus talks about loving God with all our mind, heart, and soul. He also commands us to love our neighbor. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul defines true Christian love for us:

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love doesn’t delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Thus, Jesus Christ teaches us to tell our neighbors to turn away from self-destruction and cruelly abusing others to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, be baptized by the Holy Spirit and filled with His power and start doing good.

In other words, the hope and change that America really needs is for her citizens to turn away from evils like adultery, rape, homosexuality, lying, arrogance, theft, murder, and malice and to rejoice in the Truth of the Gospel of Real Love – Jesus Christ.

Kirk Cameron was perfectly correct when he said homosexuality is “unnatural” and “destructive.”

In fact, studies also have shown that, not only are adult homosexual males three or four times more likely to sexually abuse a child or a young teenager, homosexual service men and women in the military are at least five times more likely to engage in rape.

In addition, people who define themselves as homosexual are more likely to commit suicide, more likely to get sexually transmitted diseases, more likely to get depressed, and more likely to have mental, emotional, and behavioral problems.

Finally, our annual analysis of the movie box office shows that movies with no homosexual content whatsoever make the most amount of money.

Given all these facts, why is anyone in the mass media of entertainment still promoting homosexuality and condemning people like Kirk Cameron when they speak out against it unless they themselves have been trapped by the “lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16)?

Especially when their own audience isn’t buying what they’re selling?

Loving people all over the world should work to heal those trapped in the lust that is never satisfied, so they can really love, by learning how to give, share, and care —  as Jesus Christ demonstrated in His Life on earth and in His Resurrected love for all mankind.

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Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

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It is amazing to see how far we have come to accepting our new world religion and without even realizing it.

It is really our new world religion and new world government all rolled into one nice neat and tight package.  Most are not aware they are even submitting to it.  Diana West does and excellent job laying out how it is happening right in front of us.

Every time I read these articles on Islam’s reactions to perceived transgressions, my mind immediately shifts to what will happen after the rapture of Christ’s church.  You can actually feel the Church /Holly Spirit restraining the rage and violence of Islam. (Like someone banging on a door while you hold it shut.)

How quickly will that accelerate once the Restrainer is removed.  It is not beyond belief that over night submission would occur, it is already occurring today.  Pretty scary stuff if you believe you will be left behind or will have to live through it.

But the Good News is that Christ promises to keep His bride from this time.  He tells us when we see these things look up and keep your eyes on Him!

It is like they tell someone frozen by fear on a ledge to not look down and to keep their eyes locked on the rescuer.  Christ is our rescuer, Savior!  For we can not do it ourselves, only through Him.  We need to keep our eyes locked on him.

We are not of this world, and we will be leaving soon.

Lord come quickly, to remove us from this world!

If you haven’t come to Christ yet, come to him now, time is short.  Read Romans 10:9, profess your belief in him, and ask Him into your heart.

Romans 10:9 – (NIV)

If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.

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Islamic rages and America’s dhimmitude

Diana West: U.S. dangerously falters by submitting to violent Muslim dictates

Six U.S. military men have been murdered by Afghan security forces seized by what may be labeled Quran-Burning Rage.

These murders are an outrage in and of themselves, but it’s crucial we don’t see them as isolated. They fit into a pattern that above all spreads “dhimmitude,” the submissive state of Christians and Jews (known under Islam as the “dhimmi”) in thrall to Islamic law.

Quran-Burning Rage follows Pastor Jones Rage, which, after a Florida pastor burned a Quran in 2011, seized Afghan Muslims and inspired rioting. Some rioters overran a United Nations outpost and murdered seven U.N. personnel.

Pastor Jones Rage followed “Fitna” Rage, which seized Muslims worldwide even before the release of Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders’ short 2008 film “Fitna.” That film sparked rioting, arson, boycotts, death threats and, as a bonus, charges that led to the protracted trial in the Netherlands of Wilders for “insulting Muslims.” (He was acquitted in 2011.)

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One of the things I have been praying for understanding of, is the concept of watchmen.  It is mentioned many times in the Bible, both old and new testament.  It was a very important role in the times of the Bible, with significant responsibilities.  Jesus himself used the word watchmen and also repeatedly mentioned: to be watchful, watch.

What I have been lead to is Ezekiel.  We that are awake and aware of the signs have a greater responsibility.

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Some of the quotes in the article below are simply amazing.  The boldness that evil has taken, we must be on the doorstep of seeing our Lord Return for us.

The scary part is he mentions that this tactic has worked with other media outlets.  How can we trust that we are hearing the truth?  Deception was to be the theme of the last days.  We are seeing it.

Some of the article was repetitive with what I posted yesterday, but here is the newest response they have gotten from the Islamic organization issuing the threats…

Contacted by WND at a telephone number in Africa, Mohammedi could cite no specific issues with WND’s reporting. Nor would he immediately provide information on how he has dealt with other media reports he’s found objectionable.

Instead, he promised to respond to WND by email with documentation about those cases.

Today, he contacted WND again, but not to provide documentation he had promised.

“Before I send you an example of how we dealt with other media outlets regarding Islamophobic and religiously racist content I would like to share with you our latest message from the global caliphate to the Muslim world; I’ve taken the time to have it translated for you in the attached,” Mohammedi’s email said.

“You see … there’s an easy and peaceful way in which people can come to terms based on common grounds of mutual respect and there’s the other way and it’s called silence,” he continued.

“I hope you will take the time to try and extract the value and much needed understanding from this communication. I have referred the matter of monitoring WND and it’s (sic) employees to our higher council of senior Ulama for instructions based on what we have found on the history of WND’s online activities.”

The attachment was a 23-page brochure promoting a worldwide Islamic caliphate. Called “The Global Islamic Civilization: The Power of a Nation Revived,” it said, “People who follow Islam are divinely selected and guided by the Almighty Allah Himself, these people then form part of a great Islamic civilization, that are united as one nation. a universal empire, known as the Muslim Ummah.”

The religious tract lauds the characteristics of true believers as humility, piety, honesty, loyalty, obedience, good conduct, peacefulness and morality. Those who fall outside of Islam are made up of “ignorance, arrogance, deception, faithlessness, disobedient, indecent conduct, war mongering.”

“Can you imagine having leadership based on the implementation of the qualities of believers? Can you imagine a family, a community a city, a country, No! a nation! built on such a beautiful standard of character. It would be the most moral society on the face of the earth, it is such people that deserve full respect and honor, it is such people who not only deserve to rule the world, it is their right to rule the world.”

Can anyone say One World Religion and One World Government rolled into one?  What do you think will happen when all of the Christians are raptured?

The following part of the quote sent a chill over me as pure evil, something out of a movie:

“You see … there’s an easy and peaceful way in which people can come to terms based on common grounds of mutual respect and there’s the other way and it’s called silence,” he continued.

or

Mohammedi told WND in the telephone interview that his concern is that publishing material he doesn’t like “creates a problem on a global scale.”

“Some people have different ways of reacting to different articles that are published,” he said. “We’re trying to prevent certain unwanted events from happening due to these publications.

“We need that (publication) to come to an end because if you want peace and stability around the world, you would need these things to come to an end as well.”

Wow!

Lord come quickly, to remove us from this world!

If you haven’t come to Christ yet, come to him now, time is short.  Read Romans 10:9, profess your belief in him, and ask Him into your heart.

Romans 10:9 – (NIV)

If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.

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Muslim threats against WND heat up

A leader of an Islamic group that warned WND to “moderate” its reporting on issues involving Islam because of the way Muslims may react is ratcheting up the pressure, telling a reporter today, “There’s an easy and peaceful way in which people can come to terms based on common grounds of mutual respect and there’s the other way and it’s called silence.”

The email came today from Faarooq al Mohammedi, who has said he is working on behalf of the Muslim organization called United Muslim Nations International organization.

He initially contacted WND with a warning to take “extra precaution when publishing religiously sensitive material or in creating religiously sensitive suspicions about peoples (sic) religious beliefs and practices.”

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Matthew 24:36-38 – (NKJV)

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

There are so many signs around us today that this prophecy is coming to pass.  The article and commentary below are both good examples of how we are seeing this occur, if we take the time to step back and look.

Grant Phillips uses a great analogy, in his commentary “Worse and Worse“, of the Fog of Death from the Ten Commandments movie.  You know the one we watched as kids with Charles Heston?  Which in and of itself shows how far we have come; do you think that would ever be produced today by Hollywood?

The Days of Noah was a horrible time, it was described as humankind at its worse of the worst.  Sin, immorality, and hate had completely consumed man (the flesh).

Genesis 6:12-13 – (NKJV)

12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.  13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

ALL flesh had been corrupted and violence was the norm.  I would say hatred and apathy were also prevalent knowing what usually leads to violence.  Life was not valued at all, it was disposable, pleasure was more important.

What does Paul have to say corrupts our flesh and the church?

1 Corinthians 5 – (NKJV)

Immorality Defiles the Church

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Immorality Must Be Judged

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Does that sound like our current world?

I couldn’t help but think of that when I saw the article below on reactions to Andrew Breibart’s death last night.

Lord come quickly, to remove us from this world!

If you haven’t come to Christ yet, come to him now, time is short.  Read Romans 10:9, profess your belief in him, and ask Him into your heart.

Romans 10:9 – (NIV)

If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.

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‘Burn in HELL!’: Shocking Tweets Celebrate Andrew Breitbart’s Death

When an individual passes away, regardless of his of her ideological positions, one would expect he or she would receive respect. In the case of new media mogul Andrew Breitbart, who died early in the morning on Thursday, there has been a surge of vile commentary spewing across the Twitterverse. From comparisons to Hitler to individuals tweeting that they are content the pundit has passed, the messages are disturbing at best.

Below, The Blaze has assembled some of the most disturbing messages we’ve seen on Twitter over the past few hours:

@darrenfiorello: Andrew Breitbart died? Is it wrong that I’m happier about that than when they got bin Laden and Saddam?

@readjunk: I wonder if the state of Douchery will lower it’s flags at half mast? #AndrewBreitbart

@johnkapp: Andrew Breitbart was a racist, sexist, homophobe. Good riddance.

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This is unbelievable.  Jesus said that we should prioritize our lives in this order.

God first, wife and/or family second, then all the rest.

Just because something is not the first priority in your life, doesn’t make it unimportant to you, but keeping right order of priorities in life can be life changing…

Mark 12:30-32 – (NKJV)

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.

God first!

Neighbor second – including Wife, Children, Family, Friends in that order.

And there are none greater than these, so sorry, Brian, Country is not listed above those two.

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Libtalker Bill Press: No difference between Santorum and the Taliban

Posted by The Right Scoop The Right Scoop on February 28th, 2012 in Politics | 63 Comments

The screeching hyperbole coming out of the left over Santorum is so over the top that if anything remotely close to this was uttered about Obama by a radio host, the left would be in a massive uproar calling for boycotts and firings. And Al Sharpton would organize a march around the radio host’s workplace hoping the walls would fall like Jericho.

But none of that matters when they do it to the right. It’s just fair criticism to say Santorum is the American Taliban.

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Click on the article title for a link to full original referenced article.

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It is amazing in the following two articles how contorted our “religions” have become today.  Satan has been working overtime as he too senses time is short.

What Rick is doing is fulfilling prophecy in two ways.  It is leading to a falling away of the church from foundational Bible beliefs, the Rock, to build a church on.  It is also beginning / aiding the roots of “One World Religion”.  Helping set the stage for the coming antichrist.

Both the authors do a great job laying out the comparision for the two sides Rick is trying to merge.  It is not possible to bridge the gap and still remain grounded on the Rock.  Deception is so great these days, I can see why Jesus said over and over when speaking of the last days: “Do not be deceived!”

I think finally God is showing me what it means to be watchful or a Watchman.  If you are not studying Bible prophecy, you have a greater risk of being deceived.  You don’t know what to look out for or may be too caught up in this world to even notice the path you are on.

Which road are you on?  (Two Roads, Two Gates, One Goal)

God Bless!

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Rick Warren’s bridge to Islam

I’ve had a number of issues with Rick Warren over the years.

But, with his latest effort to find common theological ground with Muslims and suggesting Christians and Muslims worship the same God, the man dubbed “America’s Pastor” by the secular media is getting very close to heresy – if not crossing the line.

Here is the key to illustrating his error: Do Muslims even claim to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as Christians and Jews do? No, they do not. They believe God did not create a covenant with Isaac and Jacob, but rather with Abraham’s firstborn son Ishmael. They believe the Jewish and Christian Bibles are misrepresentations of truth. They believe the Quran accurately and faithfully represents the true personality and will of God.

This is not a minor theological difference. It is as basic and fundamental as it gets.

And the differences grow from there.

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This is an amazing article by Jack Kelly.  I have been reading and listening to Romans recently and I had so many ah-ha’s while reading his article below that I lost count.

He does a wonderful job unpacking how we were designed to work and how sin has corrupted and confused that design.

I have added in the Scripture text that he referenced so that you can see God’s word on the subject.

Enjoy!

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Body, Soul, And Spirit

by Jack Kelly


For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebr. 4:12-13)

Some people view the soul and body interchangeably, while others think the soul and spirit are the same. But it’s more accurate to think of them as separate components.  Our soul is the conscious part of us, composed of mind (intellect), will, and emotions.   It makes choices and controls our behavior by giving orders to the body. Our spirit is the subconscious part, an internal adviser to the conscious soul.  It’s  our conscience.

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Great message this week from pastor JD.

He also brought up Franklin Graham’s interview and I couldn’t agree with him more. (12:38 min mark)

He also mentioned a follow-up on the interview where Chris Matthews calls for Blacklist of Franklin Graham.  It appeared in Real Clear Politics on Thurs. 2/23.  I think it just adds to the magnitude of the interview as an example of what is occurring in this world.  We are living Bible Prophecy!

Another quote that jumped out at me from Pastor JD:

“You can have this world after we are gone.  You will only have it for seven years though.”

He also brought up a lot of other great prophecy events we are seeing unfold in the headlines.

He ended with quoting Philippians 2:9-12.

Philippians 2:9-12 – (NKJV)

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

The last line does a good job summing up what the interviewers and much of this world lack.

They have no fear of God.

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Terry lays out in this weeks Nearing Midnight article something I have been feeling as well.  It is strange how what he wrote is almost exactly the conversation my wife and I had late last night.

There is just a feeling of something big looming, accompanied by a sense of anxiousness.  The looming thing/event is also preceded by a feeling of a blanket of evil that is enveloping this world.  Everywhere you turn, it feels like evil is wrapping its tentacles throughout every inch of our public lives and in some cases appears to be winning the battle.

Worst yet, those of this world seem to be supporting it and promoting it.  To them what should be wrong is right.  I call it the “1984” effect.  What’s up is down and whats good is evil, 2+2=5.

I don’t know how anyone that has their eyes open, could not see we are living in the end times.  The signs are so vivid and numerous.

The part of Terry’s commentary that really struck a chord with me was the last 4-5 paragraphs.

He talks about the restrainer and how it will be removed in the last days.  Paul addresses it in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-10 – (NKJV)

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He[a] who now restrains will do so until He[b] is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Then he posed the questions that really hit home for me:

” How can God be ‘taken out of the way’ so evil and Antichrist can take over for a time?”

God promised us that once sealed with the Holy Spirit that it could not be removed from us.  So if the Holy Spirit has to be removed, then so do we (the church).

The church must be raptured as Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 5:1-11.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – (NKJV)

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 – (NKJV) – The Day of the Lord

5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Yet another proof point on the Rapture of the church and a message of joy in this time of anxiousness.  Could that anxiousness really be the Holy Spirit prodding us, preparing us, to look up for our redemption draws near?

It’s almost time to go home!!!

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Rapture Ready – Nearing Midnight Commentary 2/27/12

Restraining Sudden Destruction

There is a sense among many at this moment in history that impending disaster presses against the fabric of life on planet earth from every side. This is not mere paranoia pushing against the collective anxiety-ridden psyche of a world uncertain about its future. The threat is real, and it is in Bible prophecy. A quick scan of issues, events, and anticipated actions testify to the reality of the threat and validates the angst.

Israel is ground zero for much of the fear pressing upon a world full of dread. The Jewish state is considered the trigger point for possible nuclear conflict in the Middle East–conflict that is sure to spread globally once unleashed. Iran is the antagonist that is the cause of the most immediate threat to regional and world peace–although the world diplomatic community seems intent on making Israel responsible for keeping war from erupting. This is the way it is, despite the fact that the Iranian regime’s leaders threaten to wipe Israel off the map.

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Revelation 17:14  “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

One of the ways satan has tried to confuse and deter Christians from solidifying their beliefs is by making prophecy seem scary or confusing.  I am going to address the latter today, and hopefully the first in the coming days. 

(Why does the word Revelation = Scary?  Is that what you thought when you read the first word of this post?)

The Lord led me to an article by Mike Taylor from a while back.  It really lays out the comparison well between two of the most popular beliefs. 

Having studied the different views on end time timelines, there is one that rose above the others, premillennial.  What make it stand out to me is that you really did not have to suspend believe for the pieces to fit together.  And more importantly, there were not any pieces left on the table as “not fitting” the theory you have assembled.

I believe that the bible is 100% correct and the infallible word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit.  God would not layout prophecy that contradicted itself, it all fits together.  You just need to continue to pray, study and dig deeply untill they all fit.  In all my years of (more…)

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A question I have been asking myself recently is what does it mean to be a “watchman”?  Jesus uses this term several times throughout prophecy.  I have prayed about this and I feel pieces are beginning to come into focus.  One of the pieces is summed up well in an article this week by Jim Fletcher, at Israel Watch.

I think being a watchman for God and His signs of the last days has a lot to do with “not being of this world” as Paul so eloquently stated in Romans 12:2.

Romans 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are not supposed to “fit into” this world, we are not called to be normal.  Jesus said take heart and do not be discouraged if the world hates you because they hated Me first.

John 15:17-19 (KJV) –  17These things I command you, that ye love one another.  18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

This is not a bad thing, it is actually good.  I think that is where we have gone so wrong as a church and frankly as parents.  We should not try ourselves to conform to this world and we should not teach our kids that is the right way.  I think that is a major component of (more…)

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It seems the Lord is sending me a message early in this new year.  I have had the thoughts and feelings to slow down and listen, calm my mind, clear my life of the “clutter”.  Normally, I get this feeling every year, wanting to rid my life of stuff and simplify but normally it is just physical stuff and yes I still have those feelings but it is different this year.  I feel the Lord is really trying to get through to me to quiet my mind and listen, block out all the “noise” of today and truly listen, because time is short.  I think “time is short” is the secondary message I am getting.  It is the feeling when someone calls you over to tell you something important and says shhh, shhh, we need to focus here and execute.

This morning I posted an article I have read a few weeks back before the holidays, saved off and re-read this morning after my prayers.  It was the one the Lord led me to and I was prompted to post.   Then this evening, I listen to my favorite paster from the islands out west, and toward the end, he tells a story about the same topic, we need to “hear the still small voice”.

Are we slowing down to hear what God is asking us?

That is the question I am asking myself everyday now, are you?

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This article by Matt Leasher really hit home for me this holiday season.  It may be something that you want to consider as you kick off your new year.  I use to believe and still hear from others quite often, that God doesn’t work these days like he did back then (in the bible).  I no longer believe this.  God promises in His word that He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The real problem is that we are so “busy” and distracted by all of our electronic gadgets (TV, DVR, Phones, Computers, iPods, iPads, laptops, netbooks, ultra books, kindles, radios, etc) let alone all of the other people in our lives (kids, parents, co-workers, neighbors, clients, pets, etc) that we just do not hear him calling.

When was the last time that you just sat and listened for God’s small voice?  We are told that he whispers to us on the wind and that he is always there telling us His will for our lives.  We just have to slow down, stop, pray and listen.  Not for just a minute or two but longer.  The first few times I tried this were agony, I will not kid you, but after a while it was peaceful, clarifying, and very insightful.

God wants us to slow down, take a breath and rest in his peace and quiet.  Slow down your mind, and truly rest.

He is calling you, he has a purpose for you.

Do you hear Him calling?

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Answering The Call

By Matt Leasher


Many of God’s children have the misconception that being “called by God” means that they are to join the seminary and become a minister or a missionary after a beam of heavenly light has burst into their room and told them to do so with a thunderous voice, however, the truth of the matter is that when God calls on us it is usually in a still small voice and unto the common man – like you and me.

We read in 1 Kings 19:11-13 that God called upon Elijah, the humble prophet, in a “still small voice” when Elijah was hiding in a cave, afraid, and running from further service to the Lord.  Elijah had already done great things in the Lord’s name at this point. He had called down the fire of God from heaven to defeat the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, (1 Kings 18:20-40), he had confronted King Ahab to inform him that the drought God had brought on the land would end, (1 Kings 18:1-19) and prior to that he had restored life to the widow’s son, (1 Kings 17:17-24). He faithfully did all of these miraculous things in the name of the Lord God of Israel.  But when Jezebel, the evil wife of King Ahab, sought to kill him, he then ran and hid in a cave. What I want to point out here is that God called upon Elijah with a still small voice even though Elijah became weak and afraid. Elijah tuned out the world around him by finding a cave to hide in and it was there that God revealed Himself with a still small voice.  Elijah already knew God and knew Him well when God gently called upon him to continue His work.  This is a lesson for us as well, in that being a believer is a prerequisite to answering the call of God and He will speak to us in His still small voice if we shut off the world around us.

We live in an age and culture where there are always “better things to do” than spend quiet time alone with the Lord. Anytime there is “free time” it is usually spent on self-entertainment. This age of technology has created a cyber world of self amusement so that when the day’s work is done then we are immediately engulfed in our digital devices whether it be TV, the computer, or our cell phones which have now become mini digital do-it-alls.  The younger generation of today find themselves walking into walls because their eyes are constantly glued to their cell phones. They have become slaves to the digital world.  They cannot hear that still small voice of the Lord because their minds are always too preoccupied with the cyber world.  Back in the 19th century, (which was only 112 years ago), when the day’s work was done the only evening leisure was reading by candlelight. In a Godly sense, these were good days but in a humanistic sense, the technological advancements of today’s society are better days. Society sees itself progressing because of technology but I’ll bet from God’s viewpoint of wisdom, He sees our world setting itself up for self-destruction as a result of technology and most disheartening to Him has to be the lack of attention of His calling via the Holy Spirit.

The problem isn’t just a result of technological toys. The problem is the same old problem it has always been – man’s heart. In this Age of Grace that we are living in the Holy Spirit is at work drawing souls to Christ but the physical means that His work is accomplished is through human vessels.  The human vessels that are willing to do this work are those that answer the call of the Lord.  God can use anyone that is willing. God is not looking for people that are qualified.  He is looking for people that are available.

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.  (2 Chronicles 16:9a)

God isn’t looking for robots either. He is looking for loyal hearts that love Him and that share in His desire to reach the lost and bring them back to Him.  Jesus said:

“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

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It is amazing how God’s word, His prophecies, always come true exactly as spoken thousands of years ago.  (He is batting a thousand.)It should remind us that just because a prophecy does not make sense to us today, does not mean its true meaning will not be revealed tomorrow.  We need to continue our study and be watchful taking all that we see occurring back to scripture.  It is one of the truths that always echos in my head concerning Revelations and the prophets of old (Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel), that these scrolls/words/prophecies will be sealed up for a latter generation, the last generation for which they will make sense.

People may write this off as coincidence, but I would state there is no such thing as coincidence in God’s plan for us.  Even from just a statistical standpoint, the odds of 4 to 5 to 6 coincidences occurring  in a short period of time and matching Isaiah’s prophecy from God is astronomical.  I am reminded of another prophecy fulfillment that a lot of folk call just a coincidence.

The Bible made more than three hundred prophecies about the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Just what are the odds of such a coincidence?

Try this:

Cover the entire state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep, put a red X on just one of them, and then blindfold someone and give him one chance to pick it.

That’s what scientists have said are the odds that Christ would have fulfilled just eight of those prophecies.

And Christ fulfilled more than three hundred.

I don’t know about you, but if all those other prophecies came true, I’m going to expect more of the same when it comes to the remaining ones.  To read more about Why Prophecy? follow the hyperlink to the full article on my site.

So how is that coincidence theory holding up?  It always amazes me what we can convince ourselves of  and how illogical our logic can get.  One of the commentors summed it up well:

America is under God’s judgment. Any person can see what is going on in this country. This verse is prophetic for America because we are turning into a wicked and evil nation. 9 11 was a wake up call for America to repent and return to the Lord. A nation goes down in stages….deception, darkness, division, and then destruction. Ronald Reagan said “If we cease to be one nation under God , we will be a nation gone under.” The Bible says in Isaiah 5:20-21 “Woe unto them that call evil good, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” Go ahead and ignore God’s Word and live in sin but be assured payday will be around the corner.

I think a lot of us have heeded the warning, but a lot still remain asleep, please share this article and this site with others that may not be fully awake, time is very short and we must reach out before it is too late.

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Old Testament prophecy fulfilled before our eyes?

Americans scrambling to Bible to see previously untold parallels with today


Posted: December 21, 2011
7:40 pm Eastern
By Joe Kovacs

What do sycamore and cedar trees have to do with biblical prophecy, the tragic events of 9/11 and the imminent future of the United States?


The roots of a sycamore tree at Ground Zero felled on Sept. 11, 2001, have been preserved as a memorial to the event in New York City. A local messianic rabbi believes it’s a visible fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy about God’s current judgment on America.

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The article below by Jack Kelly, does a good job summing up what I have been feeling this Christmas season.  I have felt this season more reflective, and a focus on savoring the small things. 

Trying to focus on generosity instead of all of the stuff that usually surrounds holidays these days.

Kind of a back to the basics sort of approach. 

Even more interesting is what I have not been feeling to the degree I have in years past.  I have not felt anxious, or overwhelmed.  I am saddened by all of the evil that is overwhelming the world but internally, I feel at peace, maybe even a little excited for what we are on the cusp of.  If asked “what” we are on the edge of, I would have to say honestly I don’t know exactly, my blessed hope just like Paul is that Christ’s Return is near, the Rapture, but it could just be another series of sorrows.  But it just feels different. 

I feel an acceleration is coming, it feels like the calm right before the storm, where things are peaceful and then the 100 mph winds hit 2 minutes later.

Maybe it is just the time I took off from posting helped me step back from the barrage of signs and events.  Maybe it is the realization of God’s true distinction of “good” people from saved.  (more on that in a future article)  But I think not, its more than that.  It is a reassuring peace. 

But it really does feel different this Christmas, it defies the “reality” of our world but maybe it is not a “peace” of this world.

God’s christmas gift is where our focus should be…

May God Bless each of you this Christmas season and may you remember what the true meaning is behind it all.

myblessedhope

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The Last Christmas?

by Jack Kelly 


Whether you’re following commentaries by prophecy scholars on the nearness of the rapture or predictions by financial experts on the nearness of the world’s economic downfall, the message is the same. This could very well be the last time we celebrate Christmas as we’ve come to know it.

And that’s a good thing. Because for most of the world, Christmas has become little more than an annual exercise in spending money we don’t have to buy things they don’t need for the people on our list, some of whom we don’t even like.  Add to that the sad fact that millions of American families are doing this from homes they no longer own, adding to a debt load they can hardly carry now, and you can see the level to which the world has sunk. And the saddest fact of all is they aren’t doing this out of any gratitude for what the Lord has given them.  They’re doing this because for a brief period of time they can pretend everything’s OK.

For believers it should be a different story, although most of us are totally unaware that the greatest event in Church history is looming on our horizon. The coming rapture should be energizing the body of Christ and causing a massive reorientation of our priorities and yet current polls indicate that over 90% of us are still focused on the secular world and the fading illusion of happiness it offers, rather than the incredible promises of the Bible.

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I will have to second Grant’s take…I feel we are near indeed. 

The signs are numerous.  Lord come quickly…

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I Come Quickly

By Grant Phillips


In the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, Jesus says to the Church three times, “I come quickly”. (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20)

Many years ago, I realized that when a word or phrase was repeated in the Scriptures, it was a way of emphasizing the need of listening intently to that word or phrase, because of the importance of what is about to be said. For example, when Jesus said, “Verily, verily”, as He sometimes did, He was saying, “Listen up. Everyone pay attention. It is very important you hear this.” Today, we would probably underline the word or phrase, or put it in italics, or make it bold, or use an exclamation point, or all of the above.

Following are the actual words from Jesus, in this last chapter of Revelation, v.7 “Behold, I come quickly, v.12-13 And, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. v.16 I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. v.20 Surely, I come quickly.

Get this. He said the same thing previously to the Philadelphian church in Revelation 3:11, “Behold, I come quickly …” So this actually makes four times in this one book He made this statement to His Church.

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Apostasy!  It is a major sign of the last days.  Are we experiencing it?

A good test is to ask your friends and family about Christ’s Second Coming or the Rapture this weekend.

What a great time, thanksgiving, to bring it up?  You might be surprised at what you hear and feel coming back your way.  Even those that wear the name christian, seem to be shrugging off the second coming or the rapture or the end time signs.

It is a good test to see how attached we are to this world.  Are we looking forward to Christ’s return, or do we feel it would mess up our plans?  Do we have to many things yet to do in this world? 

The video/audio below is a grouping of portions of sermons that are very pointed and probably what most don’t want to think about.  They speak in love, to fellow brothers and sisters, it is not being said based on growing their congregation, but to wake us up to what Jesus has called us to do.

The part that really hit home for me was his statement about when was the last time you spent an hour with Jesus.  Have we set aside an hour each day to spend with Christ, the number one priority in our lives.  Is he?  I was guilty.  Maybe if you pieced together all of my 5-10 minute segments, but is that quality time.  We use that argument with our kids and loved ones, how about Christ Jesus?

When was the last time you heard a sermon as pointed as the ones in the video.  Think about that as you listen.  It is the Truth!  It is pointed, but it is the Truth, the Word of God!

God Bless, let us hear the Truth and take it to heart…

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Frank DiMora’s Blog:

In the past two weeks two members of my own family who claim they are Christians have said the following: “You have been saying the Lord is coming back soon for years, they were saying the same thing 2000 years ago and Jesus still hasn’t returned”. Over the years I have noticed more people saying the same thing. These people who say these things aren’t reading the Word of God, and they are unaware that what they stated was actually a fulfillment of prophecy for the last days.  Why is this important? Watch the video below.

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A great sermon this week, this is one you will want to listen to again and again to unpack it all.

It is actually very useful and reassuring in these times…

God Bless!

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This week Terry had a great article in the Nearing Midnight section of RaptureReady.com.

Events are happening so very fast now that it is hard to keep up, let alone keep your head from spinning.  Just as Christ has predicted, end times prophecies are nearing completion at a stunning rate, all the pieces falling together one right after another, and yet the world acts as if nothing out of the normal is happening.  In fact, if you try to bring up the predictions from the Bible, you are mocked.  (Which in and of itself fulfills prophecy – ironically!)

I don’t know about you but I can feel this sense of something imminent.  I can sense that evil is accelerating and enveloping the planet.  People’s sense of right and wrong seem to be reversing themselves as deception rises to unprecedented levels.  The Truth, the Word of God, seems to be getting nudged out.  This world no longer has a need for it.

The hour feels late, but do you sense the world expects anything big will happen?  Or is it a day like any other day?

Matthew 24:36-44

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Jude 1:16-19

16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

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Rapture and Sudden Destruction

Every week I find in my email inbox a number of predictions for this or for that concerning Bible prophecy. Many involve the writer’s prediction of the time of the Rapture, based upon a specific formula he or she has figured out, or has adopted from someone else’s thoughts.

Some, such as the particular writer I’m thinking about in writing this commentary, send out each year a dozen or more predictions of the time of the Rapture to various forums, including Todd and me. His predictions usually revolve around traditional Jewish holy days. Although every prediction has thus far failed to come to pass, the writer is persistent, becoming more adamant about the validity of his date-setting with each succeeding “forth telling.”

I must admit that I’ve come to sort of look forward to unwrapping these missives to peek at what we might have, kind of like opening a surprise package. One thing sure…it’s never a disappointing exercise. He always has something new and unusual to spring upon the recipient. If he remains so persistent–based upon the way world events are shaping up–he is bound to be at least nearly right about the timing of the Rapture at some point.

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I had heard that alternate title once before long ago, but was reminded of it in Jack Kelly’s article “Wisdom of the Ages”.

The Bible is the most amazing book.  The more you read it, the more Truth and wisdom you can glean.

Satan’s plan over the centuries to move us from knowing our history, to being so focused on the future, is quite cunning.  You hear it said all the time, that everything you need to know about life is in the Bible, well maybe you don’t hear that as much these days but the statement is still as true today as it was when it was written.

Jack does a superb job at laying out how contorted our world view has become.  Not only have we just been taught little by little, that our past (history) is not important, but we have in fact seen much of it re-written.

The one constant in our world has been the Bible, but even that is under attack as new interpretations are developed under the goal of “modernizing” the language so that it can be “better” understood.  That is false!  Spend some time reading the Bible and it will come to life!  To better understand that deception check out my previous post on changes that are being made through translations. (Is your Bible uncorrupted?)

Enjoy the article below, it was a very enlightening and refreshing read!  It will also give you some great tools, straight from scripture, that God wanted us to know and use daily.  It is better than any self-help book currently published.

God Bless!

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Wisdom Of The Ages

by Jack Kelly

Recently, I was reminded of a video I had watched some years ago on the life of Abraham. First shown on one of the cable networks, it was surprisingly faithful to the Bible’s account of Abraham’s life.

The late Richard Harris portrayed Abraham as a man of great sensitivity, with a yearning to know God. Eventually he was successful, for the Bible describes him as God’s friend (Isaiah 41:8). It does not tell us why Abraham sought God, or how he even knew there was a God. Although Abraham’s early  ancestors had obviously known of Him, the people of Abraham’s time were not followers of this God. How did Abraham find out about Him?

Creation Chronology

Genesis 5 is a chronology of the first 10 generations of man. It’s given without explanation or embellishment and covers the period from Adam through Noah.  Since the chronology is specific, calculating the life span of each man is simple, as is the total time from Adam’s creation to Noah’s death – 2006 years. Genesis 6 – 9 then shifts gears to describe the Great Flood, which occurred 1656 years after Adam’s creation. Chapter 10 is about the Tower of Babel.

Then in Genesis 11: 9 the chronology abruptly begins again with Noah’s son Shem and continues through Abraham (then called Abram) in Genesis 11:26.  Once again we can calculate both the individual life spans and the total elapsed time of 10 generations. By putting the two lists together you come to the amazing discovery that Noah was still alive when Abram was born and died when Abram was 58.

You can also see that if Adam recounted the story of his origin to his son Seth and his grandson son Enosh, (seems likely, since Adam’s origin was pretty unique) then Enosh could have told Noah.  In fact 8 out of the first 10 family heads were still alive and well during most of Noah’s life. Only Adam and Seth had died. Since they all lived in the same general vicinity, Mesopotamia, it’s likely they all knew Adam’s story and could have passed it along.

Hello Noah? This is Abraham

Only Noah and his three sons survived the flood, but any of them could have talked with Abram. In fact Noah’s son Shem, still around when Abram’s son Isaac was born, actually out lived Abram. (Some say Shem was the one called Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18-20, the King of Salem to whom Abram paid a tithe on the spoil he had taken while rescuing Lot.)

The notion that the Creation story came from fables told by illiterate primitives around campfires at night just isn’t so.  The chain of information from Creation to Abraham needed only 3 links; Adam, Enosh (Adam’s grandson) and Noah. It is no stretch of the imagination to conclude that Abram had heard about the Creator of the Universe through this chain and then sought Him out. You see, in those days there was great interest in the lessons of the past; the wisdom of the ages.

What’s The Point?

Today in almost every field, great emphasis is placed on new thought. Nothing wrong with that per se, but in our quest for the “latest thing” are we losing our grounding in the wisdom of the ages?

Through out history, every society has relied on the wisdom of its elders to instruct the young, guaranteeing that its heritage would remain intact and that simple truths would not be lost. Because for the most part western society no longer venerates its elders and their wisdom, we live in a revisionist world, where even the past is becoming uncertain.  (Was Columbus a good guy or a bad guy? Was the Holocaust real? Who was JFK?)

Many of life’s simple truths are no longer passed along, yet they have always been effective in building successful lives. They were first written down for us in the Bible, confirmed in the biographies of successful people, and documented by society’s observers.  Here’s an example.

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This is a tough area and topic to discuss, it is almost as charged as the abortion topic, but I think it is a key sign that we are living in the last days – the Days of Noah.

Did you know that the only other time in history that same-sex marriage was legal was in the days of Noah?  It is true.  Christ warned us to be watchful, and look for it to be like the days of Noah and the days of Lot, then we would know we were in the End Times.

I have always struggled with the fact that everywhere you turn these days you can not escape the media putting the “Alternate Lifestyle” in our face.  It is not that I want it banished to some dark corner but maybe just a little perspective.  If they are truly a minority (an alternate lifestyle), one that needs extra protections evidently, then why is it treated as if it is as common as a successful marriage between a man and a women.  I might argue that if you assessed our society based on our media, you would get the reverse impression, that the healthy marriage was really the minority, but that is another topic.

There is obviously an agenda but that agenda has consequences.  And it is those consequences that are almost always overlooked by our current society and especially the media.  God warned us of all sins, He did that as a loving father.  He does not want to see any of us get hurt and He wants to protect us from this evil world.  Homosexuality is a sin just like all of the others it is listed with in 1 Corinthians.  It is just as destructive as adultery or idolatry or theft.  We all struggle with our own portfolio of sins, being christians of flesh this is our cross to bear until Christ comes back for us.  God gave us the tools to help combat it the best we can, some days successfully, some days not.  But it is through keeping our eyes on Christ that we gain the strength over time to resist more successfully, even thought the sin never truly departs us.  Through faith in Christ, we are of the spirit and not flesh as Paul stated.

Dr David Reagan does a great job laying out the truth, as disturbing and painful as it is.  We can not ignore God’s Word, or pick and choose which parts of His Word we want to believe, we must have faith and trust in Him, modeling ourselves after His Son, Jesus Christ.

God Bless!

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Homosexuality as an End Times Sign: Consequences

Dr. David R. Reagan


Let’s consider for a moment the homosexual political agenda. It’s a radical one that most people are not really aware of. If enacted, it would serve to undermine the Biblical concept of the family.

The first goal, of course, is to repeal all state laws against sodomy. Until 1961 every state in the Union had a law against sodomy. Since that time, state after state has repealed its anti-sodomy law due to pressure and threats from homosexual activists and organizations like the ACLU despite the fact that the Supreme Court has consistently upheld the constitutional right of states to pass such laws.

Another goal high on the political agenda is to get special laws enacted that would prohibit any kind of discrimination against homosexuals. The proposed laws are broad in scope. Some would prohibit a person from refusing to rent a room in his home to a homosexual. Others would go so far as to penalize a church for refusing to hire a homosexual, and organizations like the Boy Scouts would be required to recruit homosexual leaders. The most ominous laws are those that would classify verbal attacks on the homosexual lifestyle as “hate crimes.” The latter laws could be applied to media ministers as well as preachers in the pulpit.

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Very interesting and thought-provoking discussion of what we are seeing in the headlines.  The prophetic signs are so numerous and coming so quickly it can be overwhelming.  We are certainly living in the last days Jesus spoke of…

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This is a great sermon series that I think really solidifies God’s gift of grace in our lives and how we are truly saved through God’s grace, not our works.  He touches on many of the stumbling blocks we as christians have run into as we manuever through this world.

Very positive and thought-provoking.  It is a message you can listen to again and again.

Enjoy!

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Thought provoking article on what will the second after be like…

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Rapture On Sunday 

By Grant Phillips


My apologies for using another song I wrote, but here goes. I also wrote this one three years ago, and it is called “Rapture On Sunday”.

The Lord is coming soon and it could be at any day
We may be at work church home or at play
The time is up to Him but ready we should be
You should see it too I hope you do agree

I’ve often wondered if the churches in the US of A
Would miss many members on that glorious day
Would the preacher keep on preaching would the choir sing right on
Would the pews still be full and just the children all gone

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More on what is headed our way this Fall, Terry does an excellent job laying out some of the back ground and what is coming in his Nearing Midnight article on www.raptureready.com.

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Geopolitical Details

09-19-2011

Modern Israel, as we consistently say, is the number-one signal of where this generation stands on God’s prophetic timeline. That nation is, therefore, the best example in the geopolitical arena to use for focusing on details of issues and events shaping the stage-setting for Bible prophecy fulfillment. The student who watches Bible prophecy develop from the premillennial, pretrib viewpoint has, with clarity others can’t see, I think, seen Israel come back into its own land, with its ancient national language restored. It did so following a miraculous rebirth into modernity on a single day, just as prophesied (Isa. 66: 6-9). The intricate details of the amazing rebirth are there to be gleaned by the hundreds, if not thousands.

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Last installment in a series of eight, excellent message, talking about Thessalonians and the coming prophetic events in September…

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Another great sermon on the coming rapture and the signs of our times…

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The article below caught my attention this morning, partly because of its topic but also because of its author.  I respect Jack Kelly, he is linked to all over my site and has written some of my favorite articles.  His most recent article goes contrary to a lot of the articles I have posted here in the last few weeks.  I think it is a great read and something we should all ponder.

I agree with him that the key to these end times is to take everything to God in prayer, ask for discernment to know what is truth and what is deception. 

That is what I try to do with this site, is bring topics and my perspective on what I have discerned for you to ponder as you study the Bible, the Lord’s Word.

His main point is that Revelations 12 can not be fulfilled until the previous chapters are since Revelations is mainly chronological.  I believe both his point and the previous posts can be correct.  Let me explain.

Throughout the Bible, many scriptures have dual meanings and fulfillment.  Revelations 12 speaks of things to come but also depicts a sign in the heavens. 

Question?  Do you think God knew we would be able to predict where the stars would be in the future as well as the past?  Do you think the thought that those that are “watchful” would be checking for future times around his “feasts” or “holy appointments”?  I do but ponder that.  I also do not believe what these watchful souls are doing is astrology.  They are only looking for how Bible prophecy (“signs in the heavens”) could be fulfilled.  God told us to watch the heavens for signs.  He created the heavens and all of the signs within it.  Are we ignore them, not look at them or for them?  I am not sure that is what Jack is saying but I think it is dangerous to label what these believers are doing as Astrology or a sin.

Leviticus 19:26 (KJV) – “You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying.”

I do not think I would place the acts of those watchmen as “divination or soothsaying”.  Maybe a bit harsh there.

God never said that the signs we would see in the heavens would occur this day and then the next day events would happen.  He only said that once we see these “signs” his return is near, that we are in the season or nearing midnight.

Will Elenin fulfill prophecy?  I don’t know, but it is an interesting exercise in looking at what effects it could have on our little planet.  How those align with events described in the Bible and how much deception there is on earth to cover them up.  Would Satan try to cover up and hide God’s signs of the times?  You bet.  Are these them?  I don’t know but that is why we must pray for discernment.

I don’t know when the Lord will return to rapture His bride (the church), but I do feel it is drawing near.  There are signs all around us.  I believe one set of those signs are His holy feasts or appointments that he laid out for us.  The first four Christ fulfilled through his coming, dying for our sins, and over coming death to take His place in heaven next to His Father.  I believe He will fulfill the rest of them as well.

So in summary, please read through Jack’s article below, I believe it gives us some good thoughts to ponder.  Take everything back to the Lord in prayer; praying for discernment of the truth, God’s word.

You can hear the Messiah’s footsteps, the signs are overwhelming!

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Why Sept 29 Will Not Fulfill Rev. 12

 by Jack Kelly

Judging by the questions I’ve received, a youTube video and an online article have apparently convinced a lot of people that the fulfillment of Rev. 12 and  the rapture of the Church will both occur on Sept 29th of this year, which is the annual celebration of Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets.  Can this be true?

While Sept. 28-29 are the scheduled dates for Rosh Hashanah this year, and while the rapture could happen on any given day, Rev. 12 definitely can not be fulfilled on Sept. 29, nor on any other day this year or the next or the one after and here’s why.

Rev. 12 speaks primarily of three things.  The first is an overview, given in signs, beginning with the time of the Lord’s birth.  John used symbolism from Joseph’s 2nd dream (Genesis 37:9-11) to identify the pregnant woman in Rev. 12:1-2 as Israel (represented by Mary) about to give birth to the Messiah.  An enormous dragon, identified as Satan in Rev. 12:9,  was there waiting to devour the child the moment He was born.   This means that from the beginning the Messiah was born to die, and when He did He was taken up to God’s throne.  We know this as His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. (Rev. 12:1-6)

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This is a good video that details what the effects of Elenin could be this September from a physics stand point.

It’s effects align almost exactly with those described in Revelations 6:12-14 down to the order of events.

Revelation 6:12-14

New International Version (NIV)

 12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

Is it coincidence?

Note:  I started the video at the 6:04 minute mark and the segment runs through the 10:34 minute mark.  The rest of the video before and after is good, but the text does flash a bit fast as well as a major sound increase.  (The middle four and a half minutes is well worth the time.)

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Below is a series of studies that Jack Kelly did a while back on the Olivet Discourse and the parables Jesus tells regarding the last days.

These are often the topic of much debate as to their meaning and I think Jack does an excellent job at look at the grammar, customs/traditions of the period, timing, and context to discern who these parables are about.

They are meant to be read in order but have value as stand alone but some loss of context.

This topic came up over the weekend and I felt others would benefit from me dusting these off as well.

Enjoy!

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Saved From The Worst But Kept From The Best?

Who Are The Overcomers?

Understanding The Olivet Discourse Parables

Understanding The Olivet Discourse Parables Part 2

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The Parable Of The Wedding Banquet

Parable Of The Wedding Banquet, Follow Up

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David does a great job at laying out the feasts and how each one relates to Christ.

Our next one up is Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets) – September 29th-30th this year.

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Amazing revelations on the major earth quakes and birth pains we have been seeing.

Is everything mentioned in the video coincidence?  I think not.  You be the judge.

Acts 2:21 (NIV) – 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

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Amazing sermon series on an area we all could work on.

I have been working on applying this in my life over the last couple weeks and have found it very valuable.

Enjoy!

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One of the puzzles I have been trying to work through in by head is how will the Psalm 83 prophecy be fulfilled.  For the longest time there were several roadblocks that kept this from being a feasible occurence.  Some examples would be:

– Turkey was a NATO ally and future member of the EU

– Libya was under a secular dictator

– Egypt was protecting Israel’s southern border and under a secular dictator.

– Syria was under a secular dictator.

– Iraq was under US protection with a major military presence.  This acted as a buffer between Israel and Iran.

Why do I list these in particular?  Because of God’s prophecy in Psalm 83.

Psalm 83

 1 O God, do not remain silent;
   do not turn a deaf ear,
   do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,
   how your foes rear their heads.
3 With cunning they conspire against your people;
   they plot against those you cherish.
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
   so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”

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