bible

To be separate

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We are told in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 to become separate from the world, yet today many “churches” welcome sin into their buildings. The most pronounced version of this was when the Presbyterian Church first renounced any affiliation with the state of Israel and in the same conference allowed gays to join their group. Notice I said “group” not “church,” because the moment the rejected the chosen people of God they turned their back upon the Bible, Jesus Christ and God. This is not separating from the world this is inviting the world into what was once a place of and for God.
We are to be an example unto the world of what is good and righteous in the site of the Lord, yet many “churches” say “come to our place of worship as you are and we as well as God will accept you as you are.” This is calling God a liar.
This is something that has been steadily growing for years. Why? Mainly due to money for they could not financially support their building. Why? Because they stopped teaching the Bible long before they publicly turned their back upon God.
Yes we are called to gather together, but we are to already be followers of God when we do so. We are not to invite those that openly sin into our midst for it will weaken us over time as it has done. It clearly states that when we gather we are to give support and strengthen each other. Why do this if we are already children of God? Because we can fall astray and even fall away from God no longer bearing fruit or even become false visions of Christianity (John 15, Revelation 3). Which is exactly what many if not most in today’s Christendom have become. Why? Because they no longer separating themselves from the world but welcome it into their “churches.”
I highly recommend that people re-read or if they never have read (which I think is a possibility) Revelation chapter 2 and 3 which covers the seven churches or styles of churches as it applies to today’s “churches” and seriously compare them to the churches they are in and see if they see any resembles to their own “church.” If they see any that are called wrong by Jesus then they should leave that group and find a new and true church home.

The “Judgment” card

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Time and again I hear people stating that someone is judging them when they counter what they are saying with facts from the Bible. It basically equates to using the “race” card when you throw a countering opinion against the president of the United States.
If you deal purely in facts from the Bible you are not judging. You are just stating what the Bible says. This is what makes people counter with stating you are judging them when in actuality they sense the truth in your words and so accuse you of judging them when in fact they are judging themselves. They are uncomfortable and feel cornered because deep down they sense the truth in your words.
As long as you stick with the Bible and God and state what is written within it then you are honoring God first as we are told we MUST do. (Matthew 6:33).
More and more people are placing themselves before God and they place others before God. We are told to look to God first and then we are to look to others. If God states something is a sin. Then when you place God first it IS a sin. If you say to someone “go ahead live in sin, but love God” you are telling them to serve two masters, which we are told in verse 24 of the same chapter of Matthew we are not to do. Now here someone will counter “no that verse refers to money.” I counter: is where does money come from? The world. Where does sin come from? Our WORLDLY bodies. (Matthew 15:19-20).
When you embrace sin you embrace the world (2 Corinthians 6:17). So does this mean someone is “judging” because they state these facts? No it does what it is supposed to do. Convict their conscience and make them turn from sin and live in the glory of God, but instead since they threw out the “judgment” card so they are safe to continue to live in their sinful manner, being actors that call themselves “Christian” when in fact they are hypocrites.

The foundation is broken and built upon sand and the floods are destroying this nation

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Within life there are many trials that all must face. As they come toward maturity it can be especially hard. What makes it even harder is when you are missing a foundation to stand upon or even foundations.
One foundation is a parent. Each is a foundation. Another foundation is the Bible for within the Bible there is teaching of what is right and wrong and how to treat your fellows.
Today’s news is filled more and more with children missing at least one if not two of this foundations. Girls stabbing another for a made up character on a computer. Teens going into schools and shooting other teens. More teens beating up teachers. Now today several black kids beating on a white girl and her five year old brother, just because they were white.
What is missing? God and the Bible is missing! Who is to blame? EVERYONE!!!
It is time for God to be returned to school and the Bible to be taught and any that opposes it should be removed from their positions. It is time to get God and the Bible back into homes. It is time for men to marry women instead of having intimate relations out of wedlock and cause unsupervised children to run around beating, stabbing and shooting others just because they feel like it.
They need a foundation and that foundation is God. The very foundation that has been torn out of this nation by those on the left. It is time to stop turning the other cheek and to stand for not only our rights but for the rights of every child that has no idea what is written in the Bible. That we are to place all others before ourselves. That we are not to look down upon others due to race or creed or nationality.
This can only be done by returning to God and by teaching the Bible EVERYWHERE! It is time to silence those that wish to silence God for all they have caused is death, bloodshed and chaos.

The inner conflict

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Now this is not a talk about the inner conflict that people encounter within themselves as they try to decide on how to decide on something, but it is closely related. You can use that analogy and apply it to what I am going to type here.
Within the Body of Christ which is known at the church is millions of people. All pulling in their own direction. It is this behavior that is helping to causing issues. People serving God are placing too much emphasis upon themselves and their own wants and desires and not those of God’s.
It is this which has allowed those that oppose the Bible and God to flourish and grow. They for the most part are joined in a common cause. That cause is to remove God and the Bible from the United States of America. A prime example of this took place in the 2012 Presidential election.
Many that called themselves “Christian” stayed home and did not vote. Just because they did not like that the Republican Party’s nominee was a Mormon. As a result we find this nation in dire straits and many within the “Christian” communities do nothing but complain. What actions have been made to counter these action? From what I can tell none. Why? Because this “group” refuses to work together.
Yes we are all different. Yes many of us have different images of the two political parties that exist within this nation. I myself even though Conservative no longer deem myself to be Republican, but Independent. The thing is I see no person at all in the Democratic Party that is worth supporting due to many elements I have mentioned in other posts.
Do I like how a lot of things are being done in the Republican Party? No. Yet I see a party that at least still acknowledges that there is a God. Did I like the Republican Nominee of 2012? No, but I voted for him, because I feel that until the Democratic Party returns to God they in way should receive my support or my lack of supporting the Republican Party.
This is how ALL that call themselves “Christian” should do as well. Also if they hate how things are in the political arena then they should become active and participate in the system and try to change from the inside out. Not sitting on the sidelines or being armchair politicians.
We are told in the Bible that we should be servants to our nation to be shepherds unto the earth. Yet that is not what is being done. Most go about doing only that which is important to them and not God. This means that they are only acting a part in the play of life and so this acting has allowed those that are not acting to turn this once proud nation into something that cannot be trusted throughout the world. Why? Because those that deemed this nation as evil now run it and are turning it into that for which they say we were, but now are due to them. For only evil can cause evil yet they think themselves righteous in their own eyes for they have been blinded by the lies they have been taught. Because they were not taught that which is true which is the Bible and all that is within the Bible is inspired by God the creator of all things.

The Grey

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In the second and third chapters of Revelation. The apostle John is seeing the divine Christ who is talking to His disciple about seven churches within the young Christian faith at that time. These seven can reflect any group that calls themselves a church. There is a reason for this and it is something that all should read and try to understand even today, well especially today.
In the third chapter Jesus calls members of one of these churches lukewarm. Neither hot nor cold for God and Christ. I myself call them the grey for they are neither hot or white nor are they cold or black, thus they are grey.
Most that call themselves “Christian” in the United States can say this about themselves, but they don’t because they do not see it that it applies to them, but it does.
They do not teach nor do many truly follow the teachings of the Bible. No not even the basics of the Ten Commandments, yet they say they are “Christian.”
This posting is another of my attempts to get the Grey to awaken to their standing with God. Will most not listen? This is a definite, but still these words must be typed and posted like the thesis that Martin Luther posted upon the church door in his time. This is my “thesis.”
If you continue to read that verse to the Laodiceans you will see that Christ admonishes the Grey and says he would rather they be cold for Christ then to be lukewarm for He would spew them out.
So according to this verse if you call yourself “Christian” if you go to church and yet live your life as if God is nothing but a trip to a building once a week, than you are destine to be cast out by Jesus Himself.
To be cast out, do you understand what that means. If you are not welcome in heaven or the eternal life that follows it, then where are you welcome? If you don’t know that answer then you have lived your life in a vacuum.
How can you correct this? You must become hot for God. You must become white and shine His glory to the world and to counter that which is black and dark and evil.
Light is kindness and loving yet shows that if the Bible calls it a sin it is a sin. It does not condone it, it tries to push it into the darkness. When the sun shine can you see this darkness? No you cannot for it is driven away. Yet at night darkness thrives and lives, colors that you can see in the light of the moon become grey.
This nation is in a time of night and darkness. It is time for the sun to rise and the cast out the darkness so that all will be seen pure and clean. But remember there will still be a shadow for not all darkness can be cast out for only one has that power and His name is Jesus Christ.

Revelation 3: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Life choices

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Events have transpired lately that reminded me of my past. Events of growth into maturity; and the challenges of finding our place within this world that we must traverse through as we are forged into instruments that can or cannot be used by God. What got me through this time of teenage confusion and messages being shouted at me from all side was the foundation my parents had given me. Of all the elements they did not give this one element they did is the element that finally led me down the path which turned me into a tool for God.
This one important item is an item that is not being given to most of our children. It is an element that is being removed from society and today’s parents for the most part are allowing it. Why? Because they did not receive it themselves. As a result our world as we know it is falling into to chaos and confusion. It is why sin and the acceptance of sin is on the rise. It is why school violence is now the common place instead of the unusual. Ultimately who is responsible for this? Each and every person that does not make it known that these values that were the foundation of the upbringing of generations of citizens of this country the United States of America that it allowed to prosper and grow.
There are those that wish to blame this item for the ills of the world. There are those that wish to say all evil acts that came from this nation were the result of this one item. That would be a lie. For only evil can cause evil and evil only exists when this item is not present to help counter it.
It is those that do not accept what this item offers and represent that cause evil to rise and destroy.
This item offers insight into the human soul. This items allows all to understand that being human is not something we should strive to be, but something that is greater than being human. To attempt, even though we will falter and fall, to reach for the divine and holy. For when you strive to reach for something so pure and wonderful that you yourself become something better than you would ever accomplish by just being human.
For we are taught that only evil emits from a human heart, and what is divine and wondrous can never be found there.
But how can we learn to be above the corruption of humanity? What is this item that can lead us to being better, happier and something to seek after?
It is the Bible and all the teaching that are within, especially those that come directly from Jesus Christ the Son of God who is the divine.

Replies to responses … well response

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The other day I posed a question. At the time I am writing this I am responding to the sole response.
Joseph Rathjen posted:
“Well, what can I say, except that unlike the demon I have felt the true presence of God in my heart and all the good that he stands for. For years, I lived in a spiritual darkness that I knew deep down in my soul was wrong and damaging. It took some time to repent, but I finally realized that having an open and sympathetic heart, being unselfish, learning to be forgiving and unresentful made my life a lot more fulfilling.

So, I guess I can say that being born a Christian didn’t necessarily make me a Christian. Until I experienced his calling and tried to share it with others did I realize what Christianity is all about. I’m not a holy roller or a bible thumper, but I try to show other people in my life (in my own way) his way.

It’s a wicked world we live in so sometimes you have to be a little sneaky. Is that a sin, lol?”

I wouldn’t call it sneaky. I would call it honesty. “Holy rollers” and “bible thumpers” actually turn people from God or more accurately scare them from God.
Those folks are a phase in their growing in God. I can speak of this from personal experience. I would say that the first five or six year after becoming born again I turned into a “holy roller.” Why? It could be due to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that it just over flowed out of me. Since I was not well versed in the Bible and had no real mentors to turn to help me work through this filling of God’s glory that it made more overly “religious.”
Now why did I put quotation marks about that word? It is simple. Religions are the product of man seeking to please God. It is this which Jesus confronted the Pharisees about when he walked the earth. It is religion that placed Him upon the cross, but He knew this and accepted it.
True “Christians” actually should act as you finally learned. They should have an open and sympathetic heart. They should be unselfish, forgiving and unresentful for it is not our place to judge, but Gods. We are to be Jesus’ example upon this earth at this time. The key word is “example.” We are not here to judge, but to help. We are to guide them toward the light and away from sin. How do we do this? By our actions for most do not respond well to words, but when they see your actions they see what true believe in God is and so it makes them at the very least start to think.
We are to be a shining light that shows brightly upon the world. Show the difference between what is Godly and what is human. Does this make you sneaky? No. It makes you a true example of God.

I must also add that being born into a Christian household does not make you one. It is something that is the responsibly of those parents of the household to instill and teach their children, but ultimately it is these children’s own decision if they wish to live in sin or live for God. For each person is only responsible for their own life’s choices.
So again Joseph you are not being sneaky you are being the opposite. You are a walking example of Jesus Christ the Son of God who walked, talked and dined with sinners.

Confessions of a screwed up middle-aged man: God’s time

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This is a snapshot into my life.
We are told in the Bible that the man is to leave his father and mother and cleave unto the woman that becomes his wife making one entity.
Well at the age of 20 I did that and for nearly 13 years through growing up and finding God the man I had become was not acceptable to the woman that I had married. So she cast me aside even though I knew she was the one woman that was I meant to be with me forever.
For ten years I waited for her to return. Even after she remarried, I waited. Striving to follow the teaching of God.
Then toward the end of this decade I did what I was not supposed to do. First my faith waivered, second I placed too much emphasis on me doing God’s work and less on letting God do God’s work.
As a result I met another woman and married. It was not till near the end of the 9th year of marriage to this one that I came to find that I had been lied too, deceived. The woman I thought I had married did not exist. Instead the woman I was married to brought into my life destruction and chaos and destitution. Soon after I entered into my year of Job and kept the promises I had made to her and myself if she did not correct her ways. As a result I was divorced for the second time.
I had returned to my correct place with where I should be with God, yet different. I was in a different city. I was a different man. So God knowing this set me upon a new path. A path that would allow me to serve Him and allow me to reach out to more people then I have ever envisioned myself reaching. Do they listen or ignore me I do not know, but many have read my words and still a seed is planted that may or may not grow.
As I followed God, I let Him lead me. Well, He led me to another woman. A woman I did not know could ever exist.
We share so much in common, yet there are still differences that make it interesting and exciting to be with her. I can say she is truly “God sent.”
Due to my believe and love for God I knew that my human desires would interfere with my walk with God, and God has made a provision just for this. He states that if you divorce and you cannot stay single He would rather us remarry then to live in sin. But I also must add that when you serve God He will reward you if you are truly serving me.
As a result yesterday I married for the third and last time. For she is truly the woman I am meant to live with for all eternity. I know that it stated until death, but when you truly understand God there is no death except that caused by sin. If you live for God and you serve God you will do so for all eternity and so you will do that with a companion because we are told we are not meant to be alone. My companion is my new wife and it is she that has now truly replaced my first wife and for that I will love her forever with only God being more important. For the person I was at twenty is not the man I am today. We are two different people, even though I have always been this person that now types these words. The person then was a child of sin and the man I am now is a child of God.

Separate ourselves from the “world”

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Many times we are told to separate ourselves from the “world,” but what is the world. In 1 Peter 4:2 it is stated simply: “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”
But what are the lust of man.
Matthew 15: 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
1 Peter 4: 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
If this is how you live your live, in the flesh of the world then per the Bible you are not truly “Christian.” Yet many go about stating and saying they are “Christian” even though they live in the sins and many more listed above.
Jesus made it clear that what comes from the heart is human. When you turn to Christ and accept Him as your Savior your life should change. You become separate from the “world.” So the things of the world should become unimportant. Distractions of the world like sporting events, television, and fashion are not your main concerns. What does become important is the teaching of the Bible and living a life that is separate of the “world” though still to be able to talk to this world to allow those that do not live their life’s toward God will be able to see how life should be lived when following God. That you be a living witness through your actions if not by your words.
1 Peter 4: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Live your life as Jesus has instructed. Not how man has instructed. For we cannot serve two masters.
Matthew 6: 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (also Luke 16:13)
Yet many that call themselves “Christian” live there life in both worlds, which is not only a lie unto God but themselves.
1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Another refresher about following the laws of the land

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Time and again I have posted about following the laws of the land. Why? Because most do not.
“WHAT?” you shout back at me. I answer with this simple statement. How fast did you drive down the expressway or the average street today? You become speechless because you know it was not the posted speed limit for which ever road you were on, because you need to get someplace in a hurry. I have mentioned time and again Titus 3:1. Well today I am adding some more verses:
1 Peter 2: 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
To me when something in the Bible is repeated more than once it is meant to be a tool for judgment upon the day of the White Throne Judgment. Why? Because it states in the Bible that there must be two witnesses against you. Since we are dealing with spiritual matters then we must work off of that which is meant to teach our spirit to love and honor God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. What is that? The Bible. So this very book serves as your two witnesses and can be used against you when you find yourself not in the audience on that great and wondrous event, but as the one on trial with God as your judge.