Tolerance Or Scrutiny?

‎"If anybody comes along espousing some message and asking for tolerance, you can be sure it's error because error demands tolerance, whereas truth demands scrutiny."


 ~ John MacArthur

Taxation Is Punishment

One thing is certain: the SCOTUS has inadvertently admitted that taxation is a form of punishment.

"The only thing that they may not lawfully do is not buy health insurance and not pay the resulting tax. - SCOTUS

Bullying Americans

"But there is a larger story: this result shows the left’s continuing capacity to shape elite opinion by marginalizing positions that roughly half the country holds. Just as the left has caricatured opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion as retrograde and extreme, it just pulled off the same feat in the context of Obamacare: the case was made, and Roberts bought it, that a Court that has struck down 169 congressional statutes would somehow be dangerously activist if it added a 170th one to the mix. Its an undemocratic, disingenuous sleight of hand that the left is practicing, but it is winning: the cost is that it only widens the gap between Middle America and the elite." ` Artur Davis:

Courage To Speak The Truth

It really takes incredible courage to speak the truth these days. Speaking the truth will cause you to be immediately labeled intolerant, narrow minded, archaic, out of touch, and a hater. Yet at some point this generation must come to terms with the fact that there is a Sovereign over the universe, and though His steadfast love endures forever, the reception of that love is predicated upon repentance from that which He calls wickedness. People love to mention the account of the woman caught in adultery whom He forgave, but they conveniently leave off the closing statement He delivered in that account, "Now go and sin NO MORE." It's not hate to call sin an abomination, it is LOVE. It is love that points out there is poison in a bottle or a snake in your bed. Only someone who HATES you would say you're fine in bed with the viper or drinking the poison.

~Joey Rogers, pastor @ Means Baptist Church

June: Keeping Traditional Marriage In Sight

It looks like the Oreo cookie company (Nabisco?) is pushing for Sodomy as well because they want June to be "Gay Pride" month.

Let's remember that our Creator created male and female and that the two should marry and become one flesh .


Gen 2:22  The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23  The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24  For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 

The first miracle Jesus ever did was at a wedding.


Joh 2:1  On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
Joh 2:2  and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

oh 2:3  When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, "They have no wine." 

Joh 2:4  And Jesus *said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." 

Joh 2:5  His mother *said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." 

Joh 2:6  Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 

Joh 2:7  Jesus *said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. 

Joh 2:8  And He *said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him. 

Joh 2:9  When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the bridegroom, 

Joh 2:10  and *said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 

Joh 2:11  This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. 

It's Not Unloving To Tell Men They Are Sinners

It is not unloving to tell men that they are sinners, but it is the grossest form of immorality NOT to tell them! 


~ Paul Washer

Homosexual Activists Act Angry At President Ronald Reagan

Immature, disrespectful, hateful, and angry. 

"Gay activists from Philadelphia posed for pictures while giving the middle finger to a portrait of former President Ronald Reagan during a recent trip to the White House, according to Philadelphia Magazine" reported The Blaze. Full story here.

They remain angry at a DEAD president and another who hasn't been in office for over 3 years. This isn't normal, rational behavior.

Anyone Born in the 50's, 60's, or 70's Will Like This

JC Penney President Leaves After Disastrous Alignment With Homosexual Lobbyists

Keep boycotting JCP until they take at least a neutral position on homosexuality and homosexual "marriage".
This is good news though.

OneNewsNow reports:

On Monday Michael Francis reportedly resigned, effectively immediately, although there are reports he may have been fired. Francis was named the company's president in October and was responsible for the recent change in the retailer's merchandising and marketing efforts, including pro-"gay marriage" materials and the hiring earlier this year of lesbian comedienne Ellen DeGeneres as spokesperson....

Speaking of CEO Johnson, Dan Celia of American Family Radio's Financial Issues program thinks that is who should be out -- not Francis. "... Johnson, the guy they got from Apple, he's the guy that's got all the problems," he states. "But anyway, they took a 19-percent hit in their stock price since this Johnson has come onboard." Johnson reportedly will handle merchandising and marketing until a new president is announced. Shares of JC Penney fell nearly six percent in after-hours trading Monday on news of Francis's departure. On Tuesday, shares in JC Penney tumbled to $21.87 -- a 10-percent drop.

End quote.

From the moment of conception: A Baby

Day 1: fertilization: all human chromosomes are present; unique human life begins. 
Day 6: embryo begins implantation in the uterus. 
Day 22: heart begins to beat with the child's own blood, often a different type than the mothers'. 
Week 3: By the end of third week the child's backbone spinal column and nervous system are forming. The liver, kidneys and intestines begin to take shape. 
Week 4: By the end of week four the child is ten thousand times larger than the fertilized egg. 
Week 5: Eyes, legs, and hands begin to develop. 
Week 6: Brain waves are detectable; mouth and lips are present; fingernails are forming. 
Week 7: Eyelids, and toes form, nose distinct. The baby is kicking and swimming. 
Week 8: Every organ is in place, bones begin to replace cartilage, and fingerprints begin to form. By the 8th week the baby can begin to hear. 
Weeks 9 and 10: Teeth begin to form, fingernails develop. The baby can turn his head, and frown. The baby can hiccup. 
Weeks 10 and 11: The baby can "breathe" amniotic fluid and urinate. 
Week 11 the baby can grasp objects placed in its hand; all organ systems are functioning. The baby has a skeletal structure, nerves, and circulation. 
Week 12: The baby has all of the parts necessary to experience pain, including nerves, spinal cord, and thalamus. Vocal cords are complete. The baby can suck its thumb. 
Week 14: At this age, the heart pumps several quarts of blood through the body every day.
Week 15: The baby has an adult's taste buds. Month 4: Bone Marrow is now beginning to form. The heart is pumping 25 quarts of blood a day. By the end of month 4 the baby will be 8-10 inches in length and will weigh up to half a pound. 
Week 17: The baby can have dream (REM) sleep. 
Week 19: Babies can routinely be saved at 21 to 22 weeks after fertilization, and sometimes they can be saved even younger. 
Week 20: The earliest stage at which Partial birth abortions are performed. 
At 20 weeks the baby recognizes its' mothers voice. 
Months 5 and 6: The baby practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into its developing lungs. The baby will grasp at the umbilical cord when it feels it. Most mothers feel an increase in movement, kicking, and hiccups from the baby. Oil and sweat glands are now functioning. The baby is now twelve inches long or more, and weighs up to one and a half pounds. 
Months 7 through 9: Eyeteeth are present. The baby opens and closes his eyes. The baby is using four of the five senses (vision, hearing, taste, and touch.) He knows the difference between waking and sleeping, and can relate to the moods of the mother. The baby's skin begins to thicken, and a layer of fat is produced and stored beneath the skin. Antibodies are built up, and the baby's heart begins to pump 300 gallons of blood per day. Approximately one week before the birth the baby stops growing, and "drops" usually head down into the pelvic cavity. 

General Mills Supports Homosexual "Marriage"

And now General Mills takes a hostile stand against real marriage in support of a deviant lifestyle. Why can't they either just stay neutral or better yet, stand for real marriage? Sodomy "marriage" is illegal in Minnesota.  The fact is that sodomites count for less than 5% of the population. The number of homosexual households is even LESS.

"NOM points out U.S. Census Bureau data indicating that there are just over 100,000 same-sex households in America with children under the age of 18. The group contrasts that with the over 35 million traditional American households with children under 18."

This was a bad move on every level for General Mills, especially for the families they market to.

Truly the Left has declared WAR on traditional, biblical, actual marriage. They count for a tiny population but want to dictate to the rest of us their deviant behavior and shove it down our throats.

Mark them off my list of companies I'll do business with.

Rick Warren And His Straw Man Argument

Apprising shows the tweet of Rick Warren saying something ridiculous.  Rick Warren said:

"The well-intentioned fad of finding the Cross in every verse is eisegesis. Even Jesus didn’t do that! Never force a theology."

Fad of finding the cross in every verse?  First of all no one does that.  Secondly, he himself forces bad theology via his PDL books, interviews, and speaking; one that is man-centered not Christ-centered. Unaquainted with the Scriptures himself, what he misses (because he doesn't spend time in the Scriptures nor believe them), is that God is on every page of Scripture: whether its His glory or sovereignty. He is incapable of rightly handing the Sword of Truth and has shown yet again how he is not a true believer much less a pastor or teacher. 


Jesus said the Scriptures absolutely speak of Him:

Joh 5:39  "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 

Luk 24:27  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 

Act 28:23  When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 

Warren only proves that the cross is not a concern for him. Why not proclaim the precious Cross instead of a strawman argument? One that truly is His will do as Paul did:

1Co 2:2  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 

No, what we get from Warren is dishonesty at best, treason at worst. God is on every page of Scripture, because He is its Author and its focus.

Carrie Underwood,Homosexuality, and God

Excerpts From Tony Miano over at On the Box:

Quote:

On today's edition of On the Box, we talked about the following story by Wendy Geller of Yahoo Music:

The 29-year-old country superstar and former American Idol, who was raised Baptist, explained her position on the social debate in a recent interview with the Independent. "Above all, God wanted us to love others," she noted. "It's not up to me to judge anyone."

Underwood, who is married to hockey star and fellow Christian Mike Fisher, says she and her husband attend a gay-friendly nondenominational church. "As a married person myself, I don't know what it's like to be told I can't marry somebody I love," she said. "I can't imagine how that must feel."

"I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love."

Underwood has been open about her faith throughout her career, and marked her first No. 1 hit with the religiously themed "Jesus Take The Wheel." Fisher's official sports website includes a testimony section in which he explains his personal relationship with Christ.

Sadly, it looks like Carrie Underwood, who professes to be a Christian, has taken back the wheel.

A genuine follower of Jesus Christ would not do the following:

"You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah" (Psalm 52:3).

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20)!

"Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" (Romans 1:32).

A genuine follower of Jesus Christ would agree with the Word of God:

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24)."He answered, 'Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.'” (Matthew 19:4-6)?

"But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh" (Mark 1o:6-8).

"Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error" (Romans 1:24-27).

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (Ephesians 5:21).

"Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted" (1 Timothy 1:8-11).

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

Carrie Underwood, assuming she was quoted accurately, gives every indication she is a Christian in name only; for she calls evil (homosexuality) good, and she does not believe the Bible.

Carrie Underwood has taken the wheel from the Jesus of the Bible and has given it to a false Jesus she has created in her imagination--a Jesus who approves of homosexuality and perverted form of love that is nothing more than sinful lust. Underwood, like so many other professing Christians is committing idolatry of the mind; and no idolater will inherit the kingdom of Heaven (see 1 Corinthians 6:9).

Christians must stop dubbing stars ambassadors of Christ.

Over the years, Christians have shown a tendency to jump on the bandwagon of any actor, singer, beauty queen, musician, politician, business mogul, or athlete who refers to themselves as a "Christian." I believe Christians do this, in part, because they desperately want to show the world that Christianity is relevant to the masses and acceptable among society's elite.

Yet in doing so Christians, more often than not, latch themselves not to rising Christian stars on the world's stage, but falling false convert stars who need to repent and believe the gospel. No one is a Christian simply because they mention the name of Jesus in their acceptance speeches, song titles, political platforms, or post-game interviews. And more often than not, what comes out of the mouths of professing celebrity Christians reveals the true condition of their hearts.

Carrie Underwood may be a case in point.

While Underwood's rhetoric might be in keeping with segments of mainstream American Evangelicalism, it is not in keeping with biblical Christianity. And the "love" of which she speaks regarding homosexual behavior is not a God-honoring, Christ-loving, Bible-believing love. It is a sinful love that puts man's fleshly desires above the will and Word of God. It is a sinful love that puts the love for the creature over and above the love for the Creator (Romans 1:22-25).

My suggestion to Carrie Underwood is that she takes her hands off the wheel, repent, and believe the gospel. It is not enough for her to sing that Jesus takes the wheel of her life if her beliefs indicate she is driving the car in the wrong direction.

~ Tony Miano at On The Box

End quote.

[Bold except for headings, mine; red, my emphasis; italics, original]

Tony goes on with a personal note to Carrie Underwood, which I also suggest you read at his site in the full article.

I would just like to make a comment about Carrie Underwood's false notion of not judging. God never once commands Christians to not judge. In fact, He commands us TO judge:

Mat 7:1  "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 

Mat 7:2  "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 

Mat 7:3  "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 

Mat 7:4  "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? 

Mat 7:5  "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. 

What is so often totally misquoted and misapplied by "Christians" as well as the world, actually states that the Christian is to judge (to distinguish or discern something as right or wrong, good or bad), but not hypocritically. We are to use the same standard: Scripture. We cannot point to another of a sin they are committing if we ourselves are just as guilty of it. 

John 7:24  Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. 

Is. 8 ^20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Heb 5:14  But solid food [of Scripture] is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice  TO

DISTINGUISH  good from evil.

Eph 5:11  Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;12  for it is disgraceful even to speak of the

things which are done by them in secret. 

It is Christians who can know what is evil and good, right and wrong, because we have the Scriptures, know the God of Truth, and have been

set free from our sins and given eyes to see. Romans 2 goes on to say that even the Gentiles who do not have the law, do things according to

the law because God has written in their hearts; that is, they have a conscience of right and wrong given by God. This makes the sin of

homosexuality so much worse, because by nature, all men know its wrong. Their consciences rightly accuse them, yet they supress the truth

for a lie.  

The Greatest Danger

“What is the great danger in the Christian church today? … The danger to the church today, whatever the denomination, from within, is the person who wears the cloth of Christ… and who stands behind the sacred desk, and who is unfaithful to the word of God. That is the ultimate danger to the church. The corrupt and apostate shepherds who infest our theological seminaries and our colleges, and fill our pulpits throughout the United States and Canada, and who know not God, do not believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, and will stand in the way of anybody that wants to preach it. The cancer is within, and it eats away, and we don’t recognize it.”

 ~The late Dr. Walter Martin

Marriage: Reclaiming It As God has Determined

Continuing my series on taking back June from the Homosexual  Agenda (aka Gay Pride Month), as the traditional month for real marriage....

John MacArthur answers the question:

What can my spouse and I do to build a strong marriage?

You should both recognize that your marriage is first of all a commitment to Jesus Christ and then to each other. Your best defense against forces that will erode your marriage is for you both to maintain a deep, profound, and shared relationship with Jesus Christ and a commitment to obey God's Word. Your faithful, obedient walk with the Lord will keep you from stumbling.

Here are a few practical principles to follow:

Concentrate on your heart, not your appearance.

Concentrate on who your spouse really is, not on an ideal partner.

Concentrate on loving your spouse, not on your compatibility.

 (Go here for the full article that shares specifics along with Scripture).

Emotivism Run Amok

Some excellent points made:

KET’s debate on gay marriage was revealing.

First, it became apparent that when marriage is defined merely as the union of two persons without any regard to gender, the standard of who can enter such unions becomes limitless. When asked whether incestuous or polygamous relationships could enter into marital unions, no satisfying answer was given by either Mr. Hartman or Rev. Penwell. Both deflected the question, insisting that there is no groundswell of support for such unions. This is intellectually dishonest.

Secondly, Mr. Hartman’s chief argument for gay marriage was not the well-being of children, but emotivism—that gay couples ought to be happy and entitled to the same benefits of heterosexual marriages for the sake of cultural validation and stability. Emotivism is the reigning ethic for today. Emotivism expresses right or wrong as a collection of either positive or negative feelings. If something evokes a positive emotion, it is good. Emotivism casts off any knowledge of objective right and wrong and exchanges such notions for euphoria.

Over and over, Mr. Hartman appealed to the polling evidence that suggests approval for same-sex marriage is on the rise, and a dramatic rise at that. Using such phrases as “being on the right side of history” and accusing opponents of same-sex marriage as “gasping for air,” Mr. Hartman deploys the “myth of inevitability”—a clever rhetorical ploy that insists history is unidirectional. When people use the “right side of history,” it often means “their side of history.” To hold this, it assumes that history is always unidirectional—a belief, according to Jonah Goldberg of National Review—that requires large amounts of hubris to maintain.

Let’s dissect the “inevitability” language and see if it comports with reality.

The youth of America are always more liberal than older generations. We would expect youths to have such an opinion on gay marriage. Their opinions are inherently rejectionist and rebellious by design. Wait, though, and see what their opinion is once they themselves get married and have children and recognize the volatility of family life and the needs of children to be raised by their biological parents.

There are tremendous polling problems in how the gay marriage polling is conducted: If the polling question “Should gay marriage be illegal?” is asked, you get a difference result than “Should marriage be defined between one man and one woman?” And what we see, over and over in 32 states, that every time a marriage amendment is put on the ballot, traditional marriage wins overwhelmingly. North Carolina’s vote was 61% to 39%. The result was a larger margin of victory than was polled prior to the election.

Depending on the poll, you get different results—like this one, which says 62% of Americans believe marriage ought to be defined as between one man and one woman. There are also polling discrepancies. How people poll versus how they vote is disparate in the gay marriage debate. (C.f. Huffington Post: Gay Marriage Polls Not Reflected in Votes).

One could likewise believe that the abortion culture in America is inevitably stacked towards the pro-choice community for good. It sure felt like this in the 1970s. It felt that way until recently when polls began indicating that younger generations are more likely to be pro-life as technology has given insight into the intricacy of unborn, nascent life. Give it a few more years or decades, and we’ll see America’s slaughter of the unborn become less and less the inevitable reign that it is today.

The momentum behind gay marriage is a political mirage conveyed by coastal and media elites. But remember, the cosmopolitan disconnect so evident in Manhattan, NY would be unsellable in Manhattan, KS. To say that gay marriage is inevitable based on polling is an act of political theatre meant to rally and unite a base trying to claim a victory.

Third, whatever is novel and whatever is glamorized is always given momentum in the polls. We see this throughout television where gay culture is photo-shopped to be glamorous and trend setting. But ask yourself: Does television paint a clear picture of actual society? Do the two dads on Modern Family who gleefully dote on their children depict actual statistics? No. In fact, gay men are less desirous in choosing to raise children together, as studies indicate.

And in a groundbreaking study released this week, extensive research confirmed that children fare better when raised in stable, heterosexual households, which refutes the meme that childhood outcomes are not dependent upon gender.

Lastly, even liberal media outlets see that gay marriage is far from “inevitable” andmaybe the youth of America aren’t as accepting as we originally thought. When enough false tropes are trotted out, tropes like “Americans believe there are more homosexuals in the U.S. than Catholics,” the remedy to the problem is not more argumentation, but a sobering encounter with reality.

End quote.

 [Red, original, bold is my emphasis]

~  The Family Foundation of Kentucky  

John MacArthur discusses homosexuality and "gay marriage" on a panel on "The Larry King Live" show:

God-Hardened Hearts

by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

"For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses." (Joshua 11:20)

One of the most bitter complaints of critics against the Bible is its portrayal of the severity of God, especially in His command to Moses to destroy all the Canaanites. "When the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them" (Deuteronomy 7:2). This seems more severe than ever when we read in our text that God Himself hardened the hearts of the Canaanites so that Joshua could destroy them.

But the notion that God is merely a kindly grandfather figure is a self-serving figment of man's sinful imagination. The New Testament reminds us that "our God is a consuming fire" and "the wages of sin is death" (Hebrews 12:29; Romans 6:23), and God doesn't change. "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).

As far as the Canaanites were concerned, God had given them 400 years to repent (Genesis 15:13-16), but each new generation had gone further away from God than the one before, and they were practicing (as archaeology has revealed) every form of debauchery known to man. It was an act of mercy by God toward all those who would come in contact with them in future generations to decree their destruction now. They had already irrevocably hardened their hearts toward God, so God now hardened their hearts against Israel. Thinking they could destroy God's people, they only hastened their well-deserved end. HMM

~ from ICR's "Days of Praise"

The Discipline of Patience by Henry Morris III, D.Min.

"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:4)

Patience, or endurance, is part of the development that produces the experience that brings hope and assurance to those who are the "twice born" (Romans 5:3-5). Patience is a discipline--a "work" that is necessary for our growth. Although such discipline never seems pleasant at the time, it is administered by our loving heavenly Father, who focuses His "work" on our spiritual maturity (Hebrews 12:5-8).

Our text contains several key aspects that promise victory through the process of learning patience. Wisdom is granted liberally as we ask for it during the testings that produce the "perfect work" (James 1:4) of patience. As those who love the Lord endure the testings that will surely come , the endurance practiced will produce a "crown of life" (James 1:12) as an eternal testimony to our patience.

Psalm 37 outlines the principles for gaining patience during this life. First, "trust in the LORD" (Psalm 37:3) and follow His leading in everything you do (Proverbs 3:5-10).

Second, delight in the Lord--get excited about Him (Psalm 37:4). That trait is amplified often in Psalm 119 (Psalm 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 70, 174). Then, commit your way to the Lord (Psalm 37:5), becoming like a branch attached to the vine (John 15:4-7).

Finally, rest in the Lord (Psalm 37:7) and wait on the Him (Psalm 37:34). That doesn't mean just "hang around." It means to be a fully prepared servant, waiting for his master's orders to implement. The "profitable" servant (Luke 17:10) learns what his master wants and stands ready to respond to the needs of the kingdom.

Patience is never obtained through bored indifference. HMM III

~From ICR's "Days of Praise"

Same Sex Ceremony in the Military Is Wrong

The Daily Caller reports:

Quote:

Two Republican congressmen and a military chaplains’ organization are crying foul after the U.S. Army confirmed that an Army chaplain officiated a same-sex wedding ceremony for two female soldiers last month in the base chapel at Fort Polk, La.

“The liberal social experiment with our military continues. A same-sex marriage-like ceremony should not have occurred at Fort Polk, especially since the people of Louisiana have made it abundantly clear that our state does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions,” Louisiana Republican Rep. John Fleming said on Wednesday.

“My frustration is compounded by the fact that a social agenda, which has nothing to do with military readiness or our national defense, is being imposed on our men and women in uniform.”

End quote.

More here.

I agree. This is a horrible idea, first of all because no Christian would dare violate God's created order in "marrying" two people of the same sex. Moreover, no true Christian would recognize such a relationship as valid, since God Himself has stated it is sin (Romans 1:23-32, Jude 7, 1Cor. 6:9-10). Also, the military should not be the place of a social experiment. And lastly, when the voters made it clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, which is in line both historically, biblically, biologically (fit and function), and culturally (well, until these Post-Modern days of Sodom and Gomorrah), such an act of defiance should not have occurred.

When Rome Calls: Reformers Running Back To The Roman Catholic Church

"As to your concern whether contemplative is being taught at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, the sad truth is the seminary is promoting contemplative spirituality. Here are a few links from their site to show this. Incidentally, Reformed Theological Seminary has several campuses, and it appears that the campuses are essentially teaching and promoting the same things. Based on our findings, we have added Reformed Theological Seminary to our “Contemplative Colleges” list." ~Lighthouse Blog

For the examples of Contemplative Spirituality being taught at RTS go here.

So much for Scripture alone, Faith Alone, Christ Alone....

The compromise begins by considering the Roman Catholic Church to ever have been a legitimate church.  This is why Reformed theology is wrong: its man-centered and leads to increasing compromise and anti-biblical practices.  The creeds and confessions, so often upheld as the shield of the faith for Reformers, have historically done little to keep error at bay. We only have Scripture as our Sword of the Spirit. It alone is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. It alone is God-breathed:


2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Scripture is the mind of Christ, as it were. It is our plumbline, our test for all things, our anchor.

The spirit of compromise is everywhere and its sad, because it reveals a treacherous heart against the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Marriage: Reclaiming it as God has determined

Marriage is a serious matter. Two people take vows before not just people, but God Himself, to love and be united until the day one of them dies. God hates divorce because its separating what HE has joined together. When a man and a woman get married, they become ONE FLESH, a new unit, a family. Its a beautiful thing that reflects our Creator's wisdom. In fact, marriage is His picture of our relationship to Christ; something beautiful, loving, intimate, solid, and pure.


Mar 10:2  Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.
Mar 10:3  And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"
Mar 10:4  They said, "Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY."
Mar 10:5  But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
Mar 10:6  "But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.
Mar 10:7  "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,
Mar 10:8  AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Mar 10:9  "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."
Mar 10:10  In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again.
Mar 10:11  And He *said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;
Mar 10:12  and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."

Reclaiming The Month of June As The Wedding Month of Legitimate Marriage

The definition of marriage by God Who is the Creator of all things:

Gen 2:18  Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."
Gen 2:19  Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.
Gen 2:20  The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
Gen 2:21  So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.
Gen 2:22  The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
Gen 2:23  The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."
Gen 2:24  For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Gen 2:25  And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Answers

Hypocrisy

Do You See Your Need for Jesus?

Come Ye Poor and Needy Sinners

1. Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.

2. Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God's free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

3. Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you're better,
You will never come at all.

4. View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Maker lies.
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?

5. Lo! th'incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.

6. Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.

Chorus:
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.


By Joseph Hart

The Negative Health Effects of Homosexuality

Homosexual activists attempt to portray their lifestyle as normal and healthy, and insist that homosexual relationships are the equivalent in every way to their heterosexual counterparts. Hollywood and the media relentlessly propagate the image of the fit, healthy, and well-adjusted homosexual. The reality is quite opposite to this caricature which was recently conceded by the homosexual newspaper New York Blade News:

Reports at a national conference about sexually transmitted diseases indicate that gay men are in the highest risk group for several of the most serious diseases. . . . Scientists believe that the increased number of sexually tranmitted diseases (STD) cases is the result of an increase in risky sexual practices by a growing number of gay men who believe HIV is no longer a life-threatening illness.[1]

Instability and promiscuity typically characterize homosexual relationships. These two factors increase the incidence of serious and incurable stds. In addition, some homosexual behaviors put practitioners at higher risk for a variety of ailments, as catalogued by the following research data....

~ Family  Research Council

End quote. Go here for the rest of the article which includes the statistics and citations of sources.  ~ Family  Research Council

There are benefits to obeying God's commandment of fidelity and purity. There are consequences for violating them.

**Update**

According to a report in the Chicago Tribune: "A new "superbug" strain of gonorrhea, seemingly resistant to all known antibiotics, could be headed for the United States as the sexually transmitted disease continues its global march....“If individuals use condoms consistently and correctly, you can prevent the transmission of gonorrhea,” she said. The disease can be transmitted through oral sex as well, she cautioned....Untreated, the disease can cause a number of health complications in women, including infertility. It can also increase a person's risk of contracting HIV and trigger other serious illnesses, including heart infections, she [Dr. Gail Bolan, director of the STD Division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] said. "

1Ti 1:10  the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and

whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

1Co 6:9  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10  nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 

Jud 1:7  just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Rom 1:24  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

Rom 1:25  because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Rom 1:26  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;

Rom 1:27  and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Rom 1:28  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Rom 1:29  They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

Rom 1:30  slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31  foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

 Rom 1:32  Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.