Sinning Against God

“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” (2 Samuel 12:13)

A basic truth is expressed in this confession of David’s: Every sin—not only the sin of blasphemy or of unbelief—is essentially a sin against the Lord and His nature of absolute righteousness.

This does not mean, of course, that sin hurts no one except God. In David’s case, his sin resulted in the murder of a faithful soldier, Uriah; the implication of Bathsheba in David’s adultery; and then the death of his infant son. It probably also contributed to the subsequent sins of two other sons of David, Amnon and Absalom. Furthermore, as Nathan said, it had “given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme” (v. 14).

Nevertheless, it was, above all else, a sin against God. (Continue here)

~HMM, ICR

Roman Catholicism Woven Throughout NAR

It is my belief that Roman Catholic notions weave throughout New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and it's daughter, IHOP by: "practicing 'the presence of God'" (think: RC's mystic Desert Fathers), by calling God's presence down into earthen vessels  (like during the Mass when the priest calls "Jesus" down into the bread and the wine, as the ever-suffering crucified offering), and cleansing from sin will be done by judgment and wrath at the hands of Joel's Army (think purgatory and penance), and here we see the church "like Mary" and thus giving "birth" to Jesus on earth (what Mary did for Jesus in the first coming, the "church" will do for Him in the second coming), 

As Herescope notes:

Dr. Orrel Steinkamp explains the theology of this indwelling “glory” or “presence”:

…some Dominion teachers assert that Jesus can be an ongoing incarnation of God in His body (church) upon the earth. Consequently scriptures pertaining to Christ's ruling on earth are often seen as referringto the church rather than to Jesus. The church is viewed as a kind of Virgin Mary who must give birth to Jesus the indwelling spirit. Francis Frangipane teaches a similar message:

"When the Spirit of Christ comes into the physical world, He must enter through a physical body. When Christ first entered our world as a child, it was Mary whom God chose to give Christ birth. Mary's life symbolized the qualities the church must possess to walk in the fullness of Christ. God is preparing us as He did Mary to give birth to the ministry of His Son. Even now, in the spiritual womb of the virgin church, the Holy purpose of Christ is growing, awaiting maturity, ready to be born in the power and timing of God. The virgin church is in labor and in pain to give birth….”[67][emphases added]

End quote. (bold, original)

They infer that Christ Jesus is incapable of doing great work without man. He needs the help of a human. They reject that His physical conception and birth was purely the work of God alone; that He needs Mary to be a co-redeemer and co-intercessor with people, and that the 'Pope" is Jesus on earth.

It is very weird that NAR's dominionism portrays the church as a pregnant woman ready to give birth. Again quite the sensuous view there, not to mention mystical. The "virgin church"? Like the virgin Mary?  Except NAR is nothing but a harlot, full of doctrines of demons. 

Also, similar to the RCC's catechism #494 that claims Mary in her obedience "became the source of salvation for herself and the whole human race", NAR's dominionism makes "the church" the source of Christ's second coming and end of the tribulation. Not really much of a difference there. In other words just as without Mary there is no Jesus and salvation, without the church there is no second coming of Jesus and deliverance. This is entirely humanistic with a helpless, man-centered God!

NAR makes the church the focus, not Christ. 

The problem is not only focus, but reliablility. People are unreliable, fallible, sinful. NAR has Jesus Christ dependant upon fickle man! He must wait (seems quite passive and the God of Scripture is never passive) until "the church" makes everything read to usher in His second coming (He didn't with the first one either)--except that it's not about us, it's not with our power, it's not our doing. NAR by it's nature proves the point: they are wholly deceived and in sin. Thank God HE isn't relying on them to bring about His plan (and the biblical plan of the biblical God is not what NAR wants it to be--they are the wicked HE is using, however to bring about His purpose--likely that great deception 2 Thes. 2 discusses "because they did not receive the love of the truth."). 

The Book of Revelation, that is, the revealing of Jesus Christ, shows that all that occurs on Earth, pre-tribulation, post-tribulation, during the millennial rule of Christ Jesus, and afterwards, is all according to His decree and will. HE judges, HE punishes, HE rules, HE reigns, HE makes it all happen.

Moreover, the NAR claims that His purpose is growing in stages (evolving?), still infantile. I guess now, in addition to needing His mother, Jesus now needs the children? I find it quite insulting to His character and nature. 

This is hardly the Sovereign King of all kings and Lord of all lords, who has predestined all that is to happen before time began. He is not waiting like a pregnant woman with His plans going in stages. All that happens is because He is Creator and Master of this universe, Owner, and King. What God has determined, happens. He needs no one. NAR's prophets have a god that is all too much like themselves: faulty, inept, impotent, unholy.

And lastly, it was the RCC, after all, that did get into literal bloody battles for "spiritual" reasons, for example, The Crusades. Joel's Army is supposed to bring a blood bath first to the "household of God" to "purify it".

Psa 33:6  By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 7  He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. 8  Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!9  For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. 10  The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

Dan 4:35  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, "What have you done?" 

I'm sure there are other similarities between Romanism and NAR. As I find them I'll probably post them. 

Linger and Passion Conferences: The Presence of God and Gnosticism

               
                     (Photo Source)

The stated vision and goal of the upcoming  Linger Conference is:

"The vision and purpose of the Linger Conference is to impart the fundamental importance of remaining or "Lingering" in the presence of the King. Our attention span as a culture, even for spiritual matters, is measured in seconds and minutes rather than hours and days. This conference offers the opportunity to be transformed in the presence of God by lingering in worship, prayer, meditation on scripture, and reflection. We hope to draw the attendance of lay people in addition to church staff and provide a conference environment where believers can linger in the presence of the Lord. We pray that this conference will spark a hunger for the presence of God and a lifelong pursuit of beholding His Glory."

Additionally Linger states

The concept of lingering in God’s presence isn’t new. We see it throughout scripture, and we all know life makes more sense and we have more peace when we take the time to listen and worship. Worship changes us. It sculpts out a place for God, where He can be present in every aspect of our days.When we pause in His presence, He works miracles in our hearts. Monotony begins to fade and is replaced with a sense of joy and purpose that underlines our moments, our circumstances. 

Linger Conference seeks to explore the concept of lingering in the presence of God as part of life-changing worship. They also say:

If I’ve known the benefits of lingering in everyday circumstances, then I’ve most assuredly known the value of lingering in God’s presence. Anytime I move worship off the grid of time constraints and expected formulas, I am blessed with a deeper, more meaningful, one-to-one connection. And the reward of this kind of lingering leaves blooper reels, extra pie or sales tips in the dust. Lingering in God’s presence is life changing.

It’s this simple truth that sparked the genesis of Linger Conference.
Linger Conference is a unique event created to help all of us learn what it is to linger in God’s presence. In two amazing days in Dallas in February 2014, we will assemble some of the brightest speakers, teachers and artists to share in the disassembling of our preconceived notions about spending time in God’s presence. From moments of undiluted worship to sessions that bring us together with like-minded friends and colleagues, Linger Conference is a chance to rest, review and renew so that we can bring more intentional worship back to our churches across the country. 

~Linger (italics, original)


Now, read this analysis of the gnosticism of strange fire:

Quote:

In their 1995 book Strange Fire: The Rise of Gnosticism in the Church, which exposed the esoteric roots and fruits of the modern-day IHOP and NAR movements, Travers and Jewel van der Merwe warned about their faulty teachings about God’s “presence”:

When a high value is placed on personal experiences or revelations, Scriptures are then unscrupulously twisted and misquoted. We find those who believe the feelings of a congregation must be hyped up in order to "feel" the Presence of the Lord or else the church is thought to be "dead". Instead of music being used to worship and glorify God, it is used as a means of "connecting" or "feeling" the Presence of God. If the "location" (or a feeling within) of God is not aroused and sensed, the Spirit is said to be either absent or bound. To counter this passive situation, worship is intensified, the devil is "bound" and certain forms of excitement are encouraged until "God's Presence" is "felt". Many times music is used as the conduit for the "feeling". A popular slogan to advertise a certain music company is: "Feel the Presence of the Lord".The church has been taken down this primrose path for so long that they equate the Presence of God with a certain feeling that they obtain by doing certain things. The "goose bumps" or the "warm fuzzies" or tears of comfort, is their way of "knowing" that God is present. So what this thinking boils down to is simply: "To know God's Presence you must feel Him." In actuality this is pure Gnosticism…. 

The Gnostic god is localised in a subjective experience, a soulish feeling of being in union with creation and God. It rejects the relationship with the Creator based on faith in His written Word…. 

[W]hen emotional feelings become the doctrine of God's Presence, then God has been reduced to a "gnosis" form of Presence. For many, the doctrine of "knowing the Presence of God" is sought in a subjective experience. An emotional experience, especially a repetitive one during a worship service, if not kept in proper perspective or check, can lead to an altered state of consciousness in which the capacity for rational reasoning is greatly reduced. At this point the congregation is open to delusion and can be easily led astray. In many charismatic groups an altered state of mind is explained as "getting into the Spirit" or as a manifestation of the presence of God. Uncontrolled spiritual feelings transcend sound scriptural rationalism and give rise to the doctrine of "the Presence of God" built on an experience.[88] [emphasis added]

~Herescope, "The Passion of the Presence" (black bold, original)

Here is Lectio Divina practiced to get into the presence of "God' at Passion 2012, starring LeCrae, John Piper, Lou Giglio, Beth Moore, Francis Chan:



What Passion conferences are all about: passion.

WebsiteTwitter

Louie Giglio is Pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Ga, and the Founder of Passion Conferences, a movement gathering collegiate-aged young people since 1997 in events across the US and around the globe. Most recently, Passion hosted over 60,000 people at Passion 2013 in the Georgia Dome, uniting students in worship and prayer, and raising awareness for modern-day slavery. In 2008, Louie and his wife Shelley led the team that planted Passion City Church, a local community of faith with the DNA of the Passion movement. Their desire is to inspire this generation to live for what matters most.

~Source

In case you didn't count them, "passion" was used six times in that little paragraph. There's a message being brought forward there.

Sound familiar to Joel's Army? Youth, passion, social justice, sensuousness, mysticism.

Passion Conference 2014: I noted the sensual, fleshly, worldly nature of the conference, nearly identical to that of any famous secular band's concert these days: both using sensory techniques to heighten the senses. Enter Sola Sensa.

Passion 2014 Day 1:






(Source)

Matchbox 20, a popular secular band:








Or Maroon 5 another popular secular band:

As *NewCalvinist notes (excerpts):

Passion worship is very different from the biblical understanding of worship described above, for it is based in a culture of rock music and psychedelic lighting that produces a spirit of revelry. The reason Passion worship cannot follow biblical principles is because it has emerged from the ethos of the worldly clubbing scene that emerged in the 1960s, when it was discovered that the hallucinatory trip induced by LSD could be enhanced by swirls of intense psychedelic light. And so strobe lights were introduced into night clubs, accompanied by fast-beating, loud rock music, to heighten the sensory stimulation of the club scene. The pleasure experienced by young people at events that became known as raves was greatly enhanced by psychedelic lighting. Rave culture arose in one of the most permissive and revolutionary periods of the twentieth century....

In like manner, the Passion conference is built on the foundation of rock music and psychedelic lighting. Passion worship takes place in a darkened auditorium with flashing strobe lights piercing the darkness, to the thundering beat of rap music that arouses the young crowd into a state of ecstatic revelry, with wild arm waving and rhythmic body movements. Combined with the raucous inane lyrics of the Christian rock artist, the mesmerizing music and flashing lights are designed to arouse sensuality. The whole psychedelic event prepares the way for drugs, sex, rebellion, and godlessness....

Added to the mix is the name Jesus, and the young people are led to believe that they are worshipping the God of the Bible. But they have been deceived—what we see at Passion is counterfeit worship. And the terrible truth is that most of the young people at Passion actual believe that they can worship God in this way. We must conclude that the spirit of Passion is not the Spirit of God.

End quote.

This is Sola Sensa.

But it gets worse. Following the mind-numbing, sensory overload, in walks John Piper, ex-pastor, popular speaker, with the spotlight on him. No house lights turned on for the young adults to have their Bibles open (not everyone has the Bible on their cell phones, nor is that something that should be, imo, encouraged--and they should be taking notes, good or bad). I find it ironic but typical, because this is a stage act; a sole man getting attention; all eyes on The Man.

*NewCalvinist notes:

 Remarkably, Piper’s address to the massive crowd took place in the dark, except for a spotlight focused on the preacher. Why no light? Because the mystical, ecstatic atmosphere of Passion, which has been so carefully cultivated by darkness and beat music, with piercing strobe lights, would be shattered as the young audience were brought to their senses. But Passion does not want that; it wants young people who are held captive under the intoxicating spell of the clubbing atmosphere. It is, of course, very difficult for the Gospel of Truth to be effectively preached in such an atmosphere. Here we should remember what our Lord said about those who love darkness: ‘And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God’ (John 3.19-21)

Why the darkness? A Bible preacher, who is preaching God’s Word, would surely want the congregation to be able to refer to the biblical text.  But not Piper!  He is perfectly happy to preach in the dark, and by doing so he conforms to the ethos and spirit of the Passion conference which is all about worldly music and psychedelic lighting. 

End quote.

Linger, New Apostolic Reformation, Passion Conferences all have a lot in common. They are of the flesh, not of the HOLY Spirit. They feed the temporal, the cause people to see the things of the earth, instead of setting their minds on the things above where Christ is seated, with sober mindedness, being alert and examining all things, as the Bible commands Christians to do.

These movements and their conferences are spiritual whore houses. And trying to sanitize what they are doing with Christianese or claiming "it's for the glory of God" won't make it worthy of HIM. Israel tried that ad nausem when they pragmatically and seductively embraced paganism around them (often by marrying people in pagan cultures God prohibited precisely because they would lead the Jews astray) and ended up in spiritual as well as physical adultery. Today's "Christianity" is no different. HIS presence is not something one can call down and claim that it will keep one from all evils no matter what. When the Jews tried that with the Ark of the Covenant (then later, the Temple), God destroyed many of them for their presumption, sin, arrogance, and idolatry. He's no different today.


* NewCalvinist somehow and erroneously believes John MacArthur is a New Calvinist. This is incorrect. In fact MacArthur teaches against New Calvinism. I will say that there likely will come a time when The Master's College and Seminary, as well as likely Grace Community Church will end up as New Calvinist, but MacArthur doesn't teach nor accept it (I do agree with NewCalvinist that the music is a concern, however, at Resolve and as I hear, at GCC in the youth department).

Unceasing, Euphoric Worship:Linger and IHOP Have a Lot In Common

"In 1983, Bickle says, God instructed him to "establish 24-hour prayer in the spirit of the tabernacle of David." The tabernacle was the tent erected by King David to house the Ark of the Covenant after the conquest of Jerusalem; it became a dwelling place of God and a site of ecstatic worship…. 

Bickle believes that unceasing, euphoric worship and song at IHOP and in prayer rooms across the globe, which should never close or be empty, will promote passionate intimacy with the Lord, revive the church and demolish demonic strongholds. And so IHOPers pray all day and night, through blizzards and blackouts, in hours-long sessions of mesmeric, musical worship, repeating the same phrases over and over, expecting to precipitate the Great Tribulation and the final battle between good and evil that precedes the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. "

~Herescope, "The Passion of the 'Presence' (bold, original)

(Bickle is one of the founders and leaders of the IHOP and NAR movements.)

That's exactly why I believe the Linger Conference coming up, with John Piper (infamous for his "passion" overuse and teacher at the "Passion" conferences geared exactly to the same target audience: young adults) and Matt Chandler, both Charismatic Calvinists, is going to be nothing but mysticism. 

Here’s what I wrote recently warning about the Linger Conference and what they say is the concept of lingering over at Linger Conference:

"The vision and purpose of the Linger Conference is to impart the fundamental importance of remaining or "Lingering" in the presence of the King. Our attention span as a culture, even for spiritual matters, is measured in seconds and minutes rather than hours and days. This conference offers the opportunity to be transformed in the presence of God by lingering in worship, prayer, meditation on scripture, and reflection. We hope to draw the attendance of lay people in addition to church staff and provide a conference environment where believers can linger in the presence of the Lord. We pray that this conference will spark a hunger for the presence of God and a lifelong pursuit of beholding His Glory."

Furthering mystic Charismaticism, Linger promises 

"Worship is a core component of Linger Conference. We’ll gather for praise and worship times that will teach us all to defy expected time constraints and structure to truly come into God’s presences [sic]. We’ll hear keynotes from leading speakers who will help us expand our understanding of spending time with God. No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, you’ll be moved, involved and inspired."

They also say:

If I’ve known the benefits of lingering in everyday circumstances, then I’ve most assuredly known the value of lingering in God’s presence. Anytime I move worship off the grid of time constraints and expected formulas, I am blessed with a deeper, more meaningful, one-to-one connection. And the reward of this kind of lingering leaves blooper reels, extra pie or sales tips in the dust. Lingering in God’s presence is life changing.

It’s this simple truth that sparked the genesis of Linger Conference.
Linger Conference is a unique event created to help all of us learn what it is to linger in God’s presence. In two amazing days in Dallas in February 2014, we will assemble some of the brightest speakers, teachers and artists to share in the disassembling of our preconceived notions about spending time in God’s presence. From moments of undiluted worship to sessions that bring us together with like-minded friends and colleagues, Linger Conference is a chance to rest, review and renew so that we can bring more intentional worship back to our churches across the country. 

                               ~Linger (italics, original)

Additionally, there will be a "Linger Room" open during the conference. When I asked them by email what that was exactly, they told me, 

"The Linger Room is a "Get away" space. Before and after conference hours and during meal times, there will be worship leaders in that space leading the room in worship. At other times there will be worship music payed on CD. We have licensed Biblical counselors there throughout the conference and space set up for prayer."

End quote.

~Surph's Side, "The Linger Room"

***UPDATE**

What Herescope further says about the IHOP prayer rooms is sounding exactly like what the Linger room is about:

Quote:

Many critics, observing that IHOP recruits post-pubescent youth, have wondered where, if they are to approach their Lord as Solomon's beloved approaches Solomon, their imaginations are supposed to go. "[Jesus] is not coming until the people of God are crying out globally in intercession with a bridal identity," Bickle has preached. If the Second Coming depends upon "romantic communion" with Christ, and the alternative is satanic hegemony, then any error in worship should be made on the side of erotic intimacy – to lust and repent is surely better than abandoning Jesus in his hour of need. 

Bickle makes a point of warning his followers that bridal theology is not sexual. To IHOP's detractors, though, the introduction of any suggestion of sensuality into worship invites transgression. Aggravating the libidinal diciness, they argue, is the nature of that worship. IHOPers spend 20, 30 or more hours every week in the prayer room, often for three or four hours at a time. 

Across the IHOP complex, in cafeterias, hallways and the prayer room, music composed to enhance the ecstatic experience is "omnipresent," according to an ex-member. Among the lyrics to two popular songs: "God is a lover looking for a lover/So he fashioned me" and "Do you understand what you do to me? . . . How you ravish my heart with just one glance?" Some former IHOPers have talked of being addicted to it – they become nervous and irritable when they turn it off. Another IHOPer has written about addiction to the sedative atmosphere of the prayer room itself: "A common refrain around anxious, discouraged IHOPers is, 'I just gotta get to the prayer room.'" 

"Very quickly, there were sensual escapades with God," a former intern says, meaning that some people's private imaginings turned explicit after exposure to IHOP's "bridegroom" Christ. She says that an instructor told her, "God is using his word to kiss you." The intern heard stories of IHOPers fantasizing about having "orgies with Jesus" and "sex with God." [80][italics in original, bold added] 

End quote. (bold, original)

This nonsense stems from the Jesus Movement/Seeker Friendly junk of early Calvary Chapel/ Contemporary Christian Music days: portraying Jesus as a lover, a boyfriend, summoning the worshiper to "fall in love with Jesus" (remember the 7/11 song, "I keep falling in love with Him, over and over, and over and over again...."?).  The Linger room at the Linger Conference is open both before and after the teaching sessions with music continuing both live and on cd. I had noted in my article on the Linger Conference, "that it seems to me that with the notion of "lingering in God's presence" being the whole point of the conference, this "Get Away" room will be used to hold on to whatever lingering presence is left by keeping up the music, etc. Sort of lassoing the Spirit by use of music." It very well could be that the sensual romance is what they want to hold on to.....

Considering how many Calvinists now hold to the unbiblical eschatology of Amillennialism, rejecting biblical Dispensationalism (and it's solid hermenutics), I'm beginning to see that there is a connection between their mysticism and eschatology. Undoubtedly their theology is quite man-centered and man-driven, hence their obsession with works-righteousness (social justice/liberation theology--which is right out of Romanism), compromise on false justification (Piper says you can reject the Imputation of Christ and still be saved), and centering on mystical experiences, their eschatology would also follow in that same vein: get things "better" so they can usher in Jesus' return (NAR teaching). 

There's no huge jump from the Linger conference (which DID have IHOP's Stephen Venable as a speaker until recently--so there was enough in common with both parties to agree with each other) to a full-blown IHOP conference. Francis Chan already did it (committing more spiritual harlotry). Piper and Chandler are next to do so.

It will come. Just watch.

Because once you relegate experiences and "good intentions" as on par or higher than Scripture, you have just rejected Scripture on the most basic level, therefore anything and everything is on the table as acceptable. There remains no objective authority or truth.

Love and Loyalty To God Above All Others

In the Master’s cogent response comes the revelation of how people today have actually reversed that which is most important. Look at verse 29:

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” 

Can you see that, “The most important [Commandment],” says Jesus, is to “love the Lord your God.” It’s only after our Lord teaches this that we then get to verse 31 — The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

As I see it, we must come to understand that while there are no greater commandments than these, they are simply not equal to each other. Look at verse 31 again from the KJV — “And the second is like, namely this”; meaning obviously that it is not the first, nor the most important.

Tied up in our very commission as the Body of Christ, His Church, is our Lord’s clear command in John 20:21 — “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you..”  Therefore our allegiance as “ambassadors for Christ” is to be fiercely loyal to the LORD our God no matter whom it is we must facedown or confront.

It is from this kind of love for God that Christ will then move through us to do all the things He wants us to do.

~Excerpts from Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries

Indeed, also in Scripture God show just how important His Word is:

Psa 138:2  I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

So, as those in Christ Jesus, we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength--above all other people.

As those in Christ Jesus we are also to hold up, exalt, and regard Scripture above everything else on this earth, including all philosophies, psychologies, advice, counseling, relationships, experiences, "missions", deeds.

In other words those who are truly saved will be loyal to Christ Jesus and the Scriptures above everyone and everything else. 

To many "Christians" think relationships and missions/experiences trump Scripture and loyalty to God. What they are actually promoting is DISloyalty to God and having loyalty for men instead. This is idolatry, disobedience, and ends up with pragmatic religious junk.

Beware of Fake Christian Books From Fake Christian Publishing Companies

                         

Well, the lines are now clearly drawn. Conservatives who have a biblical worldview are now part of the Resistance, I’d say.

Nowhere do we see this more clearly outlined than with what’s happening in Christian media/publishing. Christian book publishing continues to crumble. Witness, for example, the new-and-improved Thomas Nelson Publishers.....Continue here.

~Jim Fletcher, WND 

(photo source)

Those God Is Pleased With

God is so boundlessly pleased with Jesus that in Him He is altogether well pleased  with us.

~Spurgeon


Mat 3:16  After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17  and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." 


Luke 2:14  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 

There is peace with God for only those IN Christ because in Christ is where God is pleased. Outside of Christ we are under God's wrath (John 3:36). 

What grace that any should have the smile upon them! 

What grace that any should be placed into Christ!

True Beauty

                   

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD shall be praised!" Proverbs 31:30

Every girl is a lover of beauty. Beautiful homes, beautiful furnishings, beautiful flowers, beautiful clothes, beautiful faces--anything wherein beauty is found, there will be found girls to admire it. From the time her little hands can reach up, and her baby lips can lisp the words, she is admiring "pretty things." And when a little of that beauty is her own--her pleasure is unbounded.

Every girl longs to be beautiful. There is in woman a nature, as deep as humanity, which compels her to strive for good looks. There is no more forlorn sorrow for a young girl, than for her to be convinced that she is hopelessly ugly and undesirable. Oh, the bitter tears that have been shed over freckles, or a rough and pimply skin--and the energy that has been expended in painting and powdering and waving and curling herself into beauty!

A desire to be beautiful is not unwomanly. But, mark it: true beauty is not of the face--but of the soul! There is a beauty so deep and lasting, that it will shine out of the homeliest face and make it lovely! This is the beauty to be first sought and admired. It is a quality of the mind and heart--and is manifested in word and deed.

A happy heart,
a smiling face,
loving words and deeds, and
a desire to be of service--
will make any girl beautiful!

A beautiful soul shining out of a homely face--is far more attractive than a beautiful face out of which looks a soul full of selfishness and pride!

Let your chief charm be of heart and mind--not of face and form. Seek the true beauty which lasts even into old age!

Solomon, in one of his wise sayings, expressed plainly the evil that comes to a woman who is beautiful of face, but lacks the true beauty of soul: "Like a gold ring in a swine's snout--is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion!" Proverbs 11:22. As the swine would plunge the golden jewel into the filth and the mire as he dug in the dirt--so will a pretty woman who is not godly, drag her beauty down to the very lowest.

There are many peculiar temptations to those who are only lovely of face. Without true beauty of soul--a pretty face is a dangerous gift!

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight!" 1 Peter 3:3-4

(Mabel Hale, "Beautiful Girlhood" 1922)

Affliction

Affliction hardens those whom it does not soften. 

~Spurgeon

"America": a new documentary

Third Time MSNBC Slams Conservatives As Racists

MSNBC continues to slander Conservatives....And how they think by tweeting such vitriolic nonsense is "news" is beyond me. It's time for them to either grow up or get out.

*There was Joy Reid in December slamming Sarah Palin for having a Christmas tree in an old family Christmas photograph, wrong stating that the Bible teaches against Christmas trees.

*Then there was MSNBC's Mellisa Harris-Perry and panel who mocked Mtt Romney's family Christmas photo that included an adopted black grandbaby. As I mentioned in that article NY Daily News had reported:

"Daily Beast's Dean Obeidallah, also on the panel, chimed in that he thought the photo was "great." "It really sums up the diversity of the Republican Party and the RNC, where they have the whole convention and they find the one black person.""

*And now MSNBC came out tweeting that Conservatives wouldn't like the bi-racial Cheerios. Seriously.

Quote:

MSNBC’s official Twitter account deleted a tweet last night that suggested conservatives wouldn’t like a new Cheerios commercial featuring an interracial family set to air during the Super Bowl.

“Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/ biracial family,” read the tweet, which linked to an MSNBC.com story on the new ad.

msnbcVerified account‏@msnbc

Earlier, this account tweeted an offensive line about the new Cheerios ad. We deeply regret it. It does not reflect the position of msnbc.

•  Reply 
•  Retweet 
•  Favorite 

• 425RETWEETS
• 96FAVORITES
• 

7:55 PM - 29 Jan 2014

msnbcVerified account‏@msnbc

We are deleting the earlier offensive tweet. It does not reflect msnbc's position and we apologize.

•  Reply 
•  Retweet 
•  Favorite 

• 290RETWEETS
• 101FAVORITES
• 

7:56 PM - 29 Jan 2014

End quote.

MSNBC is full of hatred, racism, and lies. Their tweet DID reflect their views. We're seeing consistent racism bellowing from their network, trying to pin Republicans or Conservatives as racist, when it's nothing short of a lie. Usually when people make such attacks it's because they themselves are the ones guilty of such a thing. You know, like when these liberals judge others for judging.

It's too late to apologize because this is their pattern of vitriolic, irrational behavior. The MO these days is, you can SAY ANYTHING YOU WANT just as long as you eventually make an "apology". Sorry, but fake apologies are just as bad because they are a lie. Repentance, that is, turning away from one thing toward something else (turning away from slander and to the truth), is what they need to do, but haven't. Slam and then apologize is their way of saying what they believe but without too much heat. But slandering a person or group's character with insults is not only wrong, not only not true journalism, but is just flat out immaturity.

MSNBC: grow up or get out of the "news" business.