10/14/25 PUT YOUR FAITH AND PRAISE IN GOD ONLY

10/14/25 PUT YOUR FAITH AND PRAISE IN GOD ONLY

God has used Trump to accomplish many good things for America and people in various countries, contrary to those who see Trump as a devil; but Trump is making a major mistake, contrary to those who think Trump is a savior, by taking credit for God's miraculous intervention in world events.

We know how it will all unfold and we know that worldly success is the beginning of eternal failure. Remember, "worldly wisdom" is antithetical to "wisdom from above" (Divine wisdom) and "love of the world" is antithetical to, "love of the Father."

Before Jesus returns, there will be trouble and a falling away.

There will be no Kingdom Reign until the King returns.

Except the Lord build the house (personal, familial, community or national), they labor in vain, who build it.

Do not trust in horses and chariots, do not trust in the arm of flesh, do not trust in frail and fallible men. Trust in the Lord and in the power of His might.

We owe our praise, loyalty, lives to God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), not to any other.

10/09/25 BE SURE TO GET IT RIGHT

10/09/25 BE SURE TO GET IT RIGHT

We must not trust in anything or anyone other than God (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) and His revealed word (the Holy Bible).

Recognizing the Divine purpose of Israel as a people does not mean approving everything that Israel as a nation does or approving everything Jews do as individuals.

All Jews are in need of salvation through Christ, and Israel as a nation will actually go into league with the anti-Christ during the Tribulation, but God still has a plan for Israel as a people; Israel as the offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Israel as the line through which God sent His Son, Jesus.

God promised His Son through the woman's (Eve's) seed, and through the line of Judah and God promised the land to the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God has a plan, and God will fulfill His unilateral promise. God will not compromise His justice; Israel as a people will turn to Christ at the closing of the Tribulation, ushering in the return of Christ and His thousand-year reign.

Realizing that the nation of Israel makes faulty choices does not mean discounting the Divine purpose and special position of Israel as a people, in the past or in the future.

Being against faulty decisions made by Israel as a nation does not make us anti-Semitic. Evil is evil, no matter who commits it.

We must maintain a distinction between God's affinity and plan for Israel as a chosen instrument of God and the political decisions and alignments with un-Biblical beliefs and actions.

Don't let worldly wisdom (whether political, social, cultural or religious) direct your beliefs or your commitments. Satan will use every trick possible to disrupt faith in God's word.

Remember, we are told to, "rightly divide the word of God," which means, correctly communicating the Scriptures. It takes time, effort, energy, surrender, obedience to rightly understand and teach God's truth. We are also told, do not be tossed about by every wind of teaching, but rather to be established in God's word.

10/08/25 SICK THOUGHTS LEAD TO SICK MINDS

10/08/25 SICK THOUGHTS LEAD TO SICK MINDS

This is going to sound super simple, but it is often very heavy and complicated.

A person with a sick thought or idea does not necessarily have a sick mind. But a person who accepts or harbors or embraces a sick thought or idea will have a sick mind.

Culture, family, religion, politics, education, associates, friends, society, clubs, fraternities can insert sick ideas into an unsuspecting mind, but if that mind does not renounce and denounce the sick idea or thought, then that mind will be overcome with the sickness.

It is called worldly wisdom. A Christian must be quick to realize demonic influences, and then quick to reject and obliterate those influences, even when those influences come from loved ones or trusted sources. The mind of Christ is at war with the mind of the flesh, the world and the devil. This is where a dynamic relationship with Christ is necessary and spiritual leadership (certainly pastoral leadership) is essential. God will lead and teach and counsel and warn people about the looming and engulfing dangers of sick thinking.

You better have a pastor who is informed, discerning, bold, compassionate, and faithful. You better not invest your time, money, abilities, your own life or the lives of your loved ones on a spineless, mindless, loveless leader. It will cost you more than you can even imagine.

10/08/25 A PRIMER and CHECKLIST for CHURCH MINISTRIES

10/08/25 A PRIMER and CHECKLIST for CHURCH MINISTRIES

The Bible refers to the office (position) of church bishop (overseer, elder, shepherd) but points out that it is a work (job).

The work (ministry) of the local church is spiritually oriented, but it takes many different forms. The church is actually the body of Christ, but the work of the church is in the natural and spiritual realms. Remember, the early church in Jerusalem was caring for the housing and feeding of out-of-towners after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Meeting the needs of the visiting Grecian Jews was important for the explosive evangelizing and equipping of the thousands of new converts. It required feeding them physically and spiritually. The apostles directed the church folks to find and appoint spiritual men to oversee the physical feeding and care of the visitors, while the apostles took care of the spiritual feeding and care (preaching and praying).

The contemporary local church has the same situation today. We are ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of people (seekers, new converts, and maturing believers). The ministries are varied and many. There is often more to be done than a small church is able to do, but hopefully the local church will grow in numbers as well as grow in grace.

Here is a list of ministries (obligations and opportunities), which need to be performed. As you read the list, think about your own local church and think about your ministries in that local church. Keep in mind that each individual ministry often has various attending aspects (I mention only a few examples).

CHURCH MINISTRY (preaching, teaching, music [singing instrumentation, writing and composing], audio/visual and internet).
EVANGELISM (personal, team, verbal, friendship, cross cultural, media [written, recorded, live]).
FOREIGN MISSSIONS (studies, support, communication, trips).
DISCIPLING and MENTORING.
BIBLE STUDIES (in home, in meeting house, online, on jobsite).
MINISTRY TRAINING (laity, pastoral, music, Bible, doctrine, Christian history).
COUNSELING (family, crises, marriage, vocational, relational).
CORE GROUPS (seniors, shut ins, men, women, youth, children, marrieds, singles).
SPECIAL GROUPS (single again, addiction, gender dysphoria).
SPECIALIZED ACTIVITIES (seminars, conferences, camping, boating, fishing, athletics, concerts, nutrition, printing, recording, audio/video).
HELP MINISTRIES (disabled folks, house cleaning, kitchen work,
MINISTRY PLANNING (programs, materials, facilities, properties, financial).

TOOLS AND FACILITIES
Building Maintenance, Upkeep, Development, Improvement,
Outdoor Properties...
Equipment (vehicles, lawn and garden, sound and video, recording, computing, cooking, athletic gear, library).

I am sure you can think of other ministries.

THIS IS RHETORICAL. DO NOT POST ANSWERS HERE.
(Questions to ask yourself)
What work needs to be done in my local church?
What work could I be doing in my local church?
What work should I be doing in my local church?
What am I doing in my local church?
What can I do to prepare or equipe myself for special work in my local church?
Am I preparing myself to do work in my local church?
Am I a giver or a taker in my local church?
How much time do I spend in service to my local church?

Keep in mind, there are Biblical and spiritual standards for any and all ministry in the body of Christ, and there is the need for spiritual unity, focus, energy, maturity and growth.

10/07/25 BLASPHEMOUS TEACHING

10/07/25 BLASPHEMOUS TEACHING

Here are a couple of clues that two of the most prominent voices for Reformed or Calvinistic doctrine, R.C. Sproul and Voddie Baucham (both of whom died recently), held to blasphemous beliefs and expressions of the Christian faith.

One of the many blasphemous views they espoused (along with other teachers of sinning religion) was the labeling of infants, newborn children as "vipers in diapers."
This blasphemous view is based on the idea that babies are worthy of damnation because they are "born sinners," in other words we are born guilty because Adam sinned. Not only is this an absurd idea, but it is a false doctrine.

It is true that Adam sinned and corrupted the human race with a sinful nature (Carnal Mind, Old Man, Evil Heart of Unbelief, The Law of Sin and Death, The Adamic Nature), passing to all of humanity a corrupted nature. But remember (though most folks are not told this truth) the Human Nature (though corrupted and bent) is not the same as the Carnal or Sinful Nature. It is a pollution that was added to the human condition by Adam, and it is an inherited corruption, not a condition brought about by personal sin.

Remember, God does not condemn anyone for the sins of another person. We are corrupted by heritage (with the addition of the Carnal Mind), but we are not guilty of sin until we choose to sin (contrary to the beliefs of sinning religion).

Part of the blasphemy in calling preborn children, newborn children and recently born children (infants) vipers (snakes, serpents) in diapers is that Jesus taught just the opposite, and the rest of Scripture denies that they are made guilty because of Adam's sin. God made provision for children in the atonement. Though they are born tainted, they are not born guilty. God allows no corruption, pollution, sin in heaven, therefore He provided atonement for all preborn children and very young children. This is why the Bible says Christ, "...is the Savior of ALL MEN..." Jesus did die for everyone. But once they willfully sin against God, they become answerable and accountable for their own personal sins. This is why the rest of the verse says, "...and especially of those who believe."

As terrible as it is to call very young children "VIPERS," the next statement is so vile, so crude, so profane, so blasphemous I can't even say it. A false belief, based on a bad translation of a Scripture, held by a great number of deceived people is that Jesus actually became sin, actually became a sinner as He hung on the cross. They even state the concept by taking the crudest, vilest, most profane, two-word curse (which is popularly referred to as taking God's name in vain) and then attaching the name, "JESUS," at the end of the curse. Yes, you read that correctly. The name of God used as a curse, with Jesus as the object of the curse. Sinning religion uses the vilest of terminology to replace the glorious and loving act of Divine sacrifice.

I am not making these ideas up; I am not misrepresenting the facts; I am not twisting the narrative. I am trying to make you aware of the unholy beliefs that attend doctrines of sinning religion.

The first clue that sinning religion is a false doctrine is seen in the fact that they deny the salvation of God saves us from sinning, purifies our hearts, makes us more than conquerors over sin, saves us to the uttermost, conforms us to the image of Jesus, enables us to obey God and keep His commandments and do that which is pleasing in His sight. Don't buy into any fancy theological footwork that diminishes the salvation of God to the idea that God just pretends to make us holy, when in fact He actually makes His people holy.

10/07/25 WILL THE REAL YOU PLEASE STAND UP

10/07/25 WILL THE REAL YOU PLEASE STAND UP

I recently wrote,
"I often encourage people to, 'Be the real you.' By this I mean, be the "you" which God intended for you to be, through His redemptive power. Be the "you" that God will enable you to be. Sin keeps us from becoming and from being the person God wants us to be. God created you for Himself. He would rather bless you than curse you. He would rather indwell you than disown you."

The following is not meant to be understood as an explanation of a particular passage. It is a way of looking at the transformational work of salvation.

Let me elaborate.
Sinning religion focuses so strenuously on man's sin that it cannot see God's mercy, power, cleansing, deliverance, plan, victory, redemption, transforming salvation. Though God allows men to choose sin, He took the initiative to reconcile sinners to Himself by providing an atoning sacrifice through His Son. He also calls and enables them to choose faith, repentance, salvation. God loves sinners in this world and provides deliverance for "whosoever will' believe. The sinning "you," as a child, is the kidnapped version of you. God has taken steps to cover the preborn, the newborn, the recently born (infants). This is why Jesus said, concerning little children, that they were part of the kingdom of God. (By the way, there are at least 16 passages which indicate that children are covered by the atonement).

There is a love factor, a trust factor, a joy factor, a submission factor in a small child (as well as a rebellious nature), which is more likely to turn to God in childhood than they will as they get older, when the powerful sway of the Prince of Darkness has a greater grip on them. As a child gets older, he will knowingly choose to do that which he knows to be (morally) wrong (in other words, he will willfully sin). Still, God loves the young sinner, though the young person is accountable for his rebellion. God gives the errant one, the lost one, the opportunity to have a new start and become the person God had intended for him to be.

The choice to be the "real you" is manifested by the one who humbles himself and seeks the Lord and follows Him into a transformational relationship with God. We are born with a tendency to sin and we follow that tendency. We choose to sin (willfully disobey God) and that adds personal corruption to the inherent corruption handed down from Adam. The corrupted you is not the you God intended you to be. The corrupted "you" has the opportunity to become the new you, which God intends for you to be, by choosing to believe, repent and follow Jesus. Without saving faith, you will be separated from God eternally.

But God has a better plan. Where sin did abound, grace did much more abound. Not only does God's grace forgive and cleanse us from our own personal sins, but He also purifies and delivers us from the corrupted nature we received from Adam. God miraculously transforms us into a new person and conforms us into the likeness of Jesus.

Conversion (forgiveness and the new birth) is the introduction to becoming the new (the real) you that God wants you to be, and then the purifying fullness of the Holy Spirit makes it possible to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. This will be the real you, the you that draws closer to God, the you that hungers and thirsts after righteousness, the you that walks in the light (even as He is in the light), the you that will spend eternity with Him. You make this choice. If you do not turn from sin and follow Jesus by faith, you will continue to be a committed sinner, choosing your true identity and destiny as a sinner.

Make the choice to accept God's offer of newness of life. Let Him change you into a new creation, where old things will pass away and all things will become new. In salvation God chooses not to remember our past against us. This is all made possible because His Sacrifice on the cross brings us into the real world of truth and righteousness. It is an invisible world to those who are blinded by sin and darkness, ignoring and rejecting their lost condition and their doomed future. They live in a make-believe world of smoke and mirrors. God shows us the futility of our sinful way, with the intent to enlighten and transform us from darkness to light, from death to life. But if a person holds on to a false hope he will be deluded even further until his lost self becomes his eternal self, separated from God forever.

I have yet to meet a person, who is walking in the light, love and life of Christ, regret the decision to turn from sin. In fact, redeemed people regret that they did not turn to Christ sooner. Life begins when we turn to Jesus.

Therefore, I encourage people to escape the fantasy world, the delusional world of spiritual deception and come into the real world of Divine grace and order. Become the you God wants you to become.

10/06/25 OFFERING GOD'S GIFT

10/06/25 OFFERING GOD'S GIFT

Brother Wade and I went over to Straits today. We go there after running a weekly errand to Otway.

Along with other folks, we go there to launch our boats (kayaks), fish or just to enjoy a pleasant side trip. However, we usually have the opportunity to witness and share gospel tracts with people while we are there.

Today we met two couples and two individuals. We meet believers, seekers, skeptics. It is amazing how many people are looking for answers to their personal and spiritual problems.

I like to talk to people, get to know them and then share Biblical truths with them in a personal and meaningful way. Sometimes, when I am witnessing in public, I may simply approach folks and offer them a gospel tract (along with a brief conversation, but usually I try to build a bridge of communication with people.

On those occasions when I can spend time with folks, I want them to know that they are more than just targets. I try to convey that God knows about their struggles and questions, and that He is the only One Who can meet their need. I try to point them to Jesus, but I also offer my ministry (online or in person). I encourage them to look for a Bible believing, Christ following, loving church, with which to become involved.

I point out that everyone needs to find God's answers to life in these chaotic and dark days, especially providing Biblical direction to the children and young people today.

We spoke to the husband of an Asian couple, as they fished. He actually lives in a city with one of the most Evangelical and Conservative Christian collages in America, but he does not go to church anywhere. I offered him a tract on, "The Way to God," which gives an overview of mankind's plight (from the fall in Eden) and God's provided deliverance (to the death, resurrection and the future return of Christ). I told him it would give a basic view of the Biblical message. I expected he would accept the tract because of politeness, but he actually said he would read it.

We spoke to the husband of the other couple. Though he was not a believer, he was not antagonistic, and I believe I was able to share some meaningful thoughts with him He also accepted the same tract. I saw him later and stopped to talk for a moment. When I got ready to leave, he reached out to shake hands. It was obviously more than just a social nicety.

We met a younger man casting a net for live bait. As we talked it became apparent that God was already talking to him. In fact, he said that our discussion appears to be God speaking to him about his own relationship. This led into a deeper discussion about the importance of providing a spiritual foundation for his two small children. He also took a tract and indicated that he would continue to seek more truth.

Finally, we met one more fellow who was fishing. We actually talked about his work. This was interesting because he addressed some issues that Martha and I have been discussing about internet. I told him that it seems providential that we should meet because it gives me more information concerning my own situation. I then said that I believe it was providential also, because I have some information he needs. I asked him if he would be interested in reading a booklet with Biblical information about salvation? He said yes and readily took my tract.

Before I go out in public, I ask God to lead me to the right people. I then ask God to help me share something meaningful with folks. Then I pray for them after we have met.

Everyone needs Jesus. Be sure to share Jesus with folks you meet in your daily activities.