Christian

“Don’t wear black.”

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This is what I told my wife. Why? I told her this because I don’t want her to wear black to my funeral if I should be called to heaven before her. Now again why?
Sure there will be a bit of sorrow but only due to the separation from her, but that is not what we are told and promised. This is one of the things that I see as a misunderstanding that has never truly been addressed within the church. I have yet to see a truly happy and joyous funeral. This is not what I want if I do go before her.
This life is only temporary. This life is not our true goal. This life is not all there is. This is but a proving ground. A trial to see if we are truly worthy to honor and serve the creator of all there is, including us.
To be called to His presence is a time that should be celebrated not mourned over. Now if you do not know for sure where they are going once this life ends then yes by all means mourn and be sorrowful. For you do not know if you will ever see them again, but if you do know that Jesus is your Savior and those that love you are the same then celebrate and rejoice. For it is only a short parting that will go by quickly for the one that has been called before our Lord.
Think of how joyful they are to be standing within the light of God, to be talking to our Savior the Lord Jesus the Christ. Is that not something to want to throw a party about?

If you are a Child of God then He has disciplined you and spanked you

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In Hebrew 12 it is spelled out what God does for those He loves if He has accepted you to be His child. In verse six it states that God so loves you that he discipline you and he flogs you. This is one of those concepts that many chose not to acknowledge or hear.
Chasten – 1 (Of a reproof or misfortune) have a restraining or moderating effect on (as adjective chastening) a chastening experience
1.1 archaic (Especially of God) discipline; punish.
They take the first part of the verse that God loves them and then ignores the rest. They also ignore the verse above this:
Hebrews 12: 4 – Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Why mention this and then two verse later mention that God so loves you that He disciplines and spanks you? It is answered in the next verses:
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
So if God is disciplining and spanking you because He has accepted you what is it he is doing this for? That is simple it is stated in the fourth verse: sin. This is why it is important to read the entire Bible, which most have not done. It is also important to read the book of Leviticus for within that book is everything God calls “sin.”
As you can see in the verses above the reason for these punishments is made clear. Verse eight is a startling statement and it is one that many need to read and think upon. For if you live in what is called a sin within the Bible and do not suffer punishment for it then God considers those to be “bastards, and not sons.”
Do you get the meaning of that? Do you get to understand what that means? God loves his children and so disciplines and spanks them, but if you flauntingly live in sin, any sin, and are not punished by God are you really His child?
Now I can tell you I have felt the discipline of God and I have been flogged by God. I know the pain and anguish that goes with it, but we are promised in verse eleven that in the end we will be seen as righteous and we will be considered a true child of God. These are not just words in a book. I have been through these very things. I have experienced them on a personal level. This is real. So God’s love is real, and if He loves you He will put you through some rough times. Why? To remove sin from you, for He know that even though we have asked His Son into our lives we still commit some sins, but the goal is to remove all sin. Starting with the worst sin first and the minor sins last. It doesn’t work the other way around where the minor sins are first and the major last.
So if you live a life that has what the Bible calls to be a major sin, and you feel no discipline or spanking from God to remove this sin from your life, then are really just a bastard, a pretender, a hypocrite? Only you can answer that.

The misconception of “politicizing” religion

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There has been fallacy built since the 1960s that has now firmly entrenched itself into those in power within the Body of Christ. To start to breakdown this error we need to look to the First Amendment of the Constitution.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
The government can make no laws in the “establishment” (the act or an instance of establishing.) [making] of a religion.
Neither can the government prohibit (to forbid the action of) the free exercise thereof.
So clearly we can practice our faith and the government cannot interfere with said practice.
Now look at this verse:
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.
Now we all concede that mammon is money. Now since money is behind all that happens especially in politics. We cannot serve the desires of politicians and God, but we can influence through our right to vote who we serve. If our masters are the politicians then we should follow what they say and do as they do. But that is not what Christians are called to do. We are called to follow God. Does this mean we should never vote? By all means no. It means the total opposite.
Proverbs 3:6 – In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
So we are directed by God in all our ways which includes politics and He shall tell us who to vote for.
This means we must follow everything that the Bible directs us to do within it. For example:
Matthew 10:33 – But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
So if a group or person denies Jesus then Jesus shall deny them to God. So why would you support a group or person that denies God? There is a group that officially denies God at this time. It is the Democratic Party. https://www.democrats.org/party-platform. Go ahead read it. Show me one time you find the word “God” mentioned.
This fact alone says any that call themselves “Christian” cannot vote for a democrat yet many do and in returning they are denying Christ unto His Father.
Any that argue that Christianity and politics do not belong together is not following the true meaning of the Bible and it purpose to guide all away from sin. How can you be led away from sin when you encourage the removal of God from the ballot box and in essence allow sin to reign over God?
We are told that me must seek out the kingdom of Heaven and righteousness. We are to do this first and foremost in ALL that we do. This includes the ballot box.
Those that say otherwise are falling for the propaganda placed out there by those that have twisted the First Amendment to state that religion has no place in government when it is the total opposite that is true. Government has no place in religion, but that does not mean religion has no place in government. If that were so then why even bother to open the senate and congress with prayer? Also Senators and Congressmen quote from the Bible all the time while they are on the floor.
Now if you do not like that the two parties are corrupt then per the Bible and if we are to seek out the kingdom of God and to be righteous then should we not remove those that do not seek the kingdom of God and are not righteous? The answer is a resounding YES! So again we come back to placing religion into politics.
Simply put per the First Amendment the government cannot make a religion but a religion has the right to change the government since the government cannot interfere in the practices of any religion which includes addressing issues that fall within the political domain. So in turn can influence change within the political arena for the good of all especially when seeking the kingdom of God and righteousness.
As a final note for those post. In Romans 12 it states that each part of the Body of Christ has its own tasks and duties to perform. I fully support the endeavors and actions of those other with their own tasks throughout the body. Many though have forgot this little bit of scripture and think that the main duty of the Body is to add more to it. As I stated above this is all fine and good and I support it, but they must remember that there are other parts of the Body with their own tasks assigned unto them by Christ. Below find the verses of this book:
Romans 12: 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
One group that is forgot is the “exhorter” to exhort means: 1. to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently. 2. to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings.
Many forget that it is required and is a legitimate part of the Body of Christ for someone to do this task. For it is important as the last verse states not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome it with good.

Who is blame for the state of the United States? The answer will surprise most.

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It is important to state that all need and should be free to make their own choices in life. What is also important is that these freedoms are not forced upon others who do not wish to participate. Yet there are groups within the United States that desire to do this very thing. Unfortunately people have not been taught correctly for decades. There are lifestyles that are called sins and as I stated in the first sentence all have the freedom and the right to choose to live in sin if they so desire.
Those in the Christian community fear one thing. They fear that they will be forced against their beliefs to say that sinning is good when by the Bibles definition it is bad. Only one group can take blame for this issue coming to this point and that is the Christian community itself. For too long the silence as been deafening from the pulpits and from church leadership. It is something that all within Christendom must come to acknowledge and accept. They have forgotten the great commandment to love and honor God first, then all others, then themselves. Too many that call themselves “Christian” think solely of themselves and what they can get from the world they now live within. This is not Christianity, but hypocrisy. They are acting the part of “Christians,” but in reality they are self-absorbed spoiled children that care only for one thing, themselves. This is not Christianity. It is this behavior that has been growing since the late 1960s that has encroached its way throughout the American church and it runs rampant in most churches especially in large congregations.
What is needed is for the Church to give itself a self-exam. All that call themselves “Christian” need to re-evaluate where they stand with God and if in reality they truly do honor and serve God.
What to look for in how you live your life if you are a “Christian:”

1 Place God First (Matthew 22:37). This means to say things like: “Does this please God?” “Would Jesus do this?” In everything you do, everything, and if the answer is no then you did not place God first.
2 Love all others as you would love yourself (Matthew 22:39)
3 Place all others before yourself (Philippians 2:3)
4 Teach the entire Bible (Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16)
5 Teach your children (Proverbs 22:6)
6 Punish your child when they do wrong (Proverbs 13:24) “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
7 Follow the commandments (John 14:15)
8 Follow the laws that man places before you (Titus 3:1). This is the one that most ignored. Like for example speeding when you drive.
If you fail in most of these then you need to start doing some serious thinking for placing God first is something that must happen every day and when you do that you can love those about and place them first. You will learn the Bible and desire to teach others about it, especially your children and you will know that it is best to punish them when they do wrong for in the end they will not do it again and so follow the laws of man and of God.
If more had taught this and lived this we would have never reached where we are today. The good news is that we are one step closer to Christ return. Read 2 Peter chapter 2 to understand.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: The straw that broke the camel’s back

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I had mentioned in another post an encounter I had with someone that had twisted the Bible to suite his own image of the world and thus his believe in God. What I had left out was that it was someone that attended the church I had called home for over three years. I also left out that one of the church leaders was a part of the conversation and had witnessed the same misuse of the Bible. I mentioned this later to the church leader and he gave me an excuse for the man’s misuse of the Bible. I must also add that he did nothing in the conversation to support my endeavor to help correct this man’s misstep as I approached it with love wishing to help the man grow in his faith in the correct manner. Today I read Galatians 1:7-10 and I felt compelled to write this post. Here are the verses:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Later that week in another venue the same man that had misquoted the Bible I assume, feeling empowered but the lack of support I was given by the church leadership, found it necessary to belittle and degrade me in another issue. Since I could not count on those in church leadership to support me I decided to pray and think upon what it is I should do. I took three days to think and pray upon it and reached my point where I felt God wanted me to go. I contacted the church leader and informed him that I would be resigning my membership for my church home I had loved so much.
Now why did I do this? It was not the church I had come to three years ago. Somewhere along the lines it become more important to appease then to confront. It became more important to entertain then to aspire to reach God.
I was married for the last time in this church and I so wanted to be there and help the church achieve new and wondrous goals, but that is not the church I had come to three years ago. I do not even know what to say.

Confrontation – A key element of the New Testament – yet today the ultimate sin

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The definition of the “Confrontation” is as follows – per Oxford Dictionary: 1. The bringing of persons face to face; esp. for examination and eliciting of the truth. 2. The action of bringing face to face, or together, for comparison.
Many times Christ Himself had confrontations with the Pharisees, scribes and even the rich. Another prime example is why Paul left Titus in Crete (see the book of Titus). This is the New Testament. This is the Bible. To promote change not only in the person but the world about them. Yet today when you try and show the Bible to someone and it is conflicting with their image of the world then you are a “judge” and you are “judging someone.”
Judge – the closest that fits is – 3. a person qualified to pass a critical judgment: a good judge of horses.
Judging – 8. to form a judgment or opinion of; decide upon critically: You can’t judge a book by its cover. 9. to decide or settle authoritatively; adjudge: The censor judged the book obscene and forbade its sale. 10. to infer, think, or hold as an opinion; conclude about or assess: He judged her to be correct.
But many people are not “judging” people they are confronting them “for examination and eliciting of the truth.” And what is the “Truth?” That is the Bible.
People when made to feel uncomfortable when confronted with the truth have stated running to this word “judging” as a scapegoat tool to shut down the conversation, because they fear to hear the facts. They fear to stand within the confrontation, for they fear that they will be shown to be the one lacking in truth.
The Bible spells out clearly what is good and what is bad. It is found within the entire book that is called the Bible. Yet when someone points out the truth found within it that someone is now evil, now a pariah for even suggesting that someone is not living per the Bible.
Yet the Bible itself said that there will be those given the task to evangelize, to pastor, to teach.
An ”evangelist” is: 1. a Protestant minister or layperson who serves as an itinerant or special preacher, especially a revivalist. 2. a preacher of the gospel.
A “pastor” is: 1. a minister or priest in charge of a church. 2. a person having spiritual care of a number of persons.
And a “teacher” is: 1. a person who teaches or instructs, especially as a profession; instructor.
I myself have been called by God to be a teacher of the Bible and I know without a doubt that the Bible is full of confrontations. Being human no one is always right, but those that stick to having the Bible as a foundation of where they are speaking from is more correct then wrong. If you do not like what someone says see if what they say is Biblically correct before you throw out the scapegoat word, and confront them where they are confronting you as an equal.

Jesus in the Temple an important debate

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Jesus speaking to the Pharisees and scribes in the temple. It is important to understand the exchange here. Key elements are shown that all that call themselves “Christian” should see without being told what is transpires here. Can you see the importance?

John 8:31 (KJV) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Those seeking riches that call themselves “Christian”

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It is something that just astounds me. Those that listen to others that try and tell them that “Through God you can become wealthy.” This is not what the Bible teaches. In fact Christ said this about being rich:
Mark 10: 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
So if it is harder to enter into heaven, why do so many seek to run away from God? The answer is symbol, they really don’t know Him because they have not read the Bible. They listen to these false prophets that say God will grant you riches all you have to do is tell Him to give it to you.
Humans are not the boss or master of God. We are His servants. We are His tools. We are not meant to have wealth here, for our reward is promised us in our eternal life, which is not going to be spent lounging about on some cloud by the way, but exploring all of God creations doing tasks that He has set before us to fulfill.
So the next time someone says they can promise to make you rich, remember that if you do listen, you will be further away from God.

The Holy Ghost

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I still remember the day I was bathed in the Holy Spirit. It is something I will never forget. I have felt that touch a few times since but none was as filling or rewarding as that first time. It is then that I knew without a doubt that God was real. It is then without a doubt that I knew Jesus was real and still alive yet in a different plain of reality know as Heaven with His Father. It is then that I knew Elijah and Enoch were real and still alive. Still awaiting their time that is to come that they are to be the witness against all that will be left alive after the last Christian dies halfway through the Tribulation that is to come.
It is due to this filling that I have not fallen away from God. It is due to its presence within my life that I have returned to the path that Jesus set before me to follow. A life where I know I must stay true to the Bible as it is written that tells us all is black and white and there is nothing but death for those that insist upon staying within the grey (Rev. 3: 15-16). A filling that tells me there will be those that were once children of God but have fallen away (2 Peter 2:18-22).
I know that the tingling sensation I felt that day was enough to lead me into a true discovery of the Bible. To know that I must read, must study it. Not in new version written by men of recent times but of those other men filled with the Holy Spirit themselves. Knowing that having this common sharing of this holy touch from the trinity of God placed me spiritually beside them. No longer parted by centuries of this corrupt world but brought together by a common link. A holy link tight directly to God though His Son the Lord Jesus Christ my friend and Lord.
Does this make me better than anyone else? By all means no, but what it does do is cause me to be fiery in my speech to cause those that read my words to think, to wonder and yes even desire to experience the same joy and satisfaction that has been bestowed upon me through this blessed out pouring of God’s eternal love. I beg of you to seek it out. Read the Bible, go to church and do not fall for the propaganda from those that deny there is a God. For they are not only lying to you but mostly to themselves, and for many it is to be a costly lie that will haunt them forever.

Heaven the holding ground

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In 1 Peter 1:4 at the end of the verse it says “reserved in heaven for you.”
For those that have not read it Peter is referring to our live eternal that we were promised through Christ sacrifice for us upon the cross.
In particular I want to draw your attention to the word “reserved” of the King James Version of this verse. The actually meaning of the word in the Greek is to hold, preserve, and watch. Many have this image though not studying the Bible themselves that Heaven is all there is beyond this life we now live, but that is not what is promised us. Look at the first part of the verse: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away” The main thing I wish you to note is the statement “that fadeth not away.” It will last forever, but its time is not yet revealed to any and they are held over in Heaven until such time as God finishes what He is going to do with those upon this planet.
We know that we shall be in clean of our sins. We know we will live forever. Yet people even within Christendom go about as if this life, this short life is all that we are promised. Yet that is not what the Bible teaches. If people would truly read the Bible then they would learn what is true and what is real. All I can do is encourage them to do so, but it is up to them to do it.