A CHRISTIAN NATION?

July 1, 2010

Please let me explain that I think the answer is no.  We are not a Christian nation. It is probably the only thing on which the man at our nation’s helm and I agree.

First, I must make it clear that I am not in agreement with the “Replacementists” or the “Dominionists.”  I do not think that God’s kingdom came to earth when the Christian Europeans came to America to form this nation.  Many have the view called Replacement Theology.  I also do not think that Christians will rule the earth before Jesus returns.  This “Dominion” thought is not as popular as “Replacement” thought, but it is “catching on.”  I think this is an important opening statement because many give man too much credit.

I think I know why Barack Obama says that America is not a Christian nation.  He says it because he wants it not to be.

As you will see, Mr. Obama and I have different reasons for the same conclusion.

Barack Obama wants America to be inclusive of all religions and creeds.  He has claimed to be a Christian himself, but he does not want Christianity mixed, in any form, with the dealings of the state.  There is only one other former president who, while in office, held this view.  He came from Arkansas.

Was this nation founded by many who applied Christian principles to the government that was formed?  The answer is “yes.”  Have Americans, until relatively recently, believed in the Christian faith so resolutely that God’s Word was read and said in every hall of government from the court house to the White House? The answer is again “yes.”  Have Americans, until relatively recently, had no fear of putting God’s law on its walls of government because they believed without God’s law there was no law?  A third time the answer is “yes.”

In 2010, although all of the above are true and it can be argued convincingly that a large majority of Americans thought, at a time in the past, that Christian principles should be voiced in the public square; the answer to the headline at the top of this article is “no.”

It is a painful proposition.  It is painful to know that the man who wrote our Declaration of Independence wrote his own Bible.  Mr. Jefferson didn’t believe in the miracles in scripture, so he put together a Bible that didn’t include them.  It is not only the height of arrogance; those who know what the Word says about “adding to or taking away” can see the man’s gross error.

While the topic of Mr. Jefferson is at the fore, if you can find the term “separation of church and state” in the Constitution you will have done what no man has done before.  If you can prove that the intent of the religion clause meant a separation, I will be changed.

In 2010, most Americans believe in the separation of church and state.  A relatively new thing is meant by this.  A good majority of Americans now believe that Christian principles no longer apply to governance.  God’s law no longer applies to our public lives.  We are now a tolerant nation.

Christians are to love all.  Because of this, Christianity is considered by some to be a “tolerant” belief system in today’s religious environment.

Psalm 11 puts the truth in plain view .

Psalm 11 only has seven verses but they are powerful ones.  The last of the seven says this:

7For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face.

So, we know what God loves.  But, what is “righteousness?”

The Old Testament version of righteousness is outlined in the first Psalm.  The righteous man is one who delights in the Law of the Lord.

The New Testament version of righteousness may be summarized in this verse:

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ” BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”   -Romans 1:17

It is not surprising to me that New Testament righteousness refers to an Old Testament verse. (Hab. 2:4)

A quick check for the word “righteousness” using Bible Gateway (Google Bible Gateway sometime), shows 300 references to the term.  Bible Gateway is by no means exhaustive.  All who have done a little digging should be aware of the importance of righteousness in God’s eyes.

There are certain things the righteous cannot tolerate.  Those “certain things” are very important to the faithful.  They are important because they are important to God.

The things that are important to God are no longer important to the majority of Americans.  This is why I think that the question that once could be answered with a “yes” must now be answered with a “no.”

Chris Reimers

To see the story of the painting (that was) pictured above, click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VUo8OuFaiI&feature=related

“We are no longer a Christian nation.”  Mr. Obama is quoted early in the “2nd State of the Nation” address given by Mr. Ken Ham of “Answers in Genesis.”

http://www.answersingenesis.org/media/video/ondemand/state-of-the-nation-2/state-of-the-nation-2

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THE GREATEST FEAR

June 27, 2010

It’s sometimes a good thing when you learn something.  Would you like to know what people fear the most?

I learned the answer from David, who was giving a lesson on “speaking without notes” at a public speaking conference yesterday in Little Rock.

You might think that death is the greatest fear.  That was the first thing that came to the minds of many in the room of 25 or so.

According to David’s research, people fear public speaking more than they fear death.  This is probably true since humans are creatures that don’t plan well and most figure that public speaking is on the agenda sooner than death.

After sharing his research, David shared knowledge he had about being a better public speaker.

Death, by the way, was the second most feared item on David’s short list.

The speech club that I belong to makes a serious attempt not to enter into  religious and political topics that may be offensive. This is so that the main goal may be achieved.  The goal?  It is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

If you wish to stay away from such topics, attend a speech club like mine near you.  This blog is a different “animal.”   David was making a point.  I would like to make one here since this isn’t the speech club.

No one needs to fear death just like no one needs to fear public speaking.

Everyone has heard this famous passage at a funeral:

4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;” (Psalm 23:4)

I know people who used to be petrified before an audience of any kind.  They are now able to speak in front of a group off of the cuff. “How did that happen?” you ask.  Look at the environment the club attempts to create as noted above and the question becomes, “How could comfort in front of a group of folks with that attitude not happen?”

It is the same with death.  The “environment” created by the Word of God instills a trust that is greater than death.  The Word of God is more powerful than death.

As far as I know, only two men have ever escaped death: Enoch and Elijah.  Many think they will be the two witnesses mentioned in the book of Revelation and, therefore, they will eventually die.  I will not argue the point.  But, I will quarrel with those who think they might escape death. (I must add that if you are alive during the “taking away” that Jesus describes in Matt. 24, you will not die.)

“Everyone knows they will eventually die,” many would articulate.  If this is so true, then why are people so unprepared?  They are as unprepared for death these days as they are to give a public speech.

It is the same old lie that keeps folks unprepared.

1Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

2The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

3but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'”

4The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!

5“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3)

Today there are many who promise that you can be God.  You can heal yourself.  You can make yourself rich.  You can create wonderful relationships for yourself.  You can visualize that you will be great at something and it will happen.  You can verbalize something that you want and “poof,” it will appear.  You can make God anything you want, because you are God.  You can add the salt and ignore the pepper.  You can wish for jewels, and you will find a shiny gem, a maybe more, when you pull down the covers at night.  And all of these promises can be claimed, “In the name of Jesus.”

I know that there are great promises in the Bible, but the only place I can find a promise that we can be God is in Genesis 3.  The promise is made by the serpent.

The same promise that was made by the serpent is being made in too many places today.  It is everywhere.

I am not God and you are not God. However, we can be prepared for death.

After the major mess up in the garden, a plan was formulated by THE Almighty God.  Man, no matter how hard he tries, cannot remove sin.  The only way to remove our sin was for God to take it upon Himself.

26For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

27who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. (Hebrews 7)

The ultimate offense is to think we can be God.  We should, however, ask God if we can be more like Him.

22Butthe fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

(Galatians 5)

I liked David (now President of a speech club) very soon after meeting him.  He was like God in that he was not afraid to share his best.  After spending some time with him, he asked me to accompany him and his date (a wonderful young lady named Ann) to dinner.  We had a meal to remember.

Are you afraid of public speaking or of death?  If you are, you should find a source to deal with your problem.  Email me if you would like to know where you can find a speech club like the one to which I belong.  My email address can be found under “About” at the top of this blog. Being afraid of death is a much higher problem. God’s Word, the Bible, is the only antidote for the fear of death.

Chris Reimers

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WE WILL NOT SERVE THY gODS

June 25, 2010

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said … Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.” Daniel 3:16,18

The narrative of the manly courage and marvellous deliverance of the three holy children, or rather champions, is well calculated to excite in the minds of believers firmness and steadfastness in upholding the truth in the teeth of tyranny and in the very jaws of death. Let young Christians especially learn from their example, both in matters of faith in religion, and matters of uprightness in business, never to sacrifice their consciences. Lose all rather than lose your integrity, and when all else is gone, still hold fast a clear conscience as the rarest jewel which can adorn the bosom of a mortal. Be not guided by the will-o’-the-wisp of policy, but by the pole star of divine authority. Follow the right at all hazards. When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honour to trust him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle. See whether he will be your debtor! See if he doth not even in this life prove his word that “Godliness, with contentment, is great gain”, and that they who “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, shall have all these things added unto them.” Should it happen that, in the providence of God, you are a loser by conscience, you shall find that if the Lord pays you not back in the silver of earthly prosperity, he will discharge his promise in the gold of spiritual joy. Remember that a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of that which he possesseth. To wear a guileless spirit, to have a heart void of offence, to have the favour and smile of God, is greater riches than the mines of Ophir could yield, or the traffic of Tyre could win. “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and inward contention therewith.” An ounce of heart’s ease is worth a ton of gold.

Charles Spurgeon

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FROM JOY TO SADNESS TO JOY

June 25, 2010

It was like watching a miraculous assembly line.  One doctor removed a kidney from a living donor.  Another doctor placed the kidney in a needy patient.  After the kidney was slow to awaken, a third doctor prescribed a procedure to help the kidney work.  Different nurses were aware of the situation and monitored it.  A specialist performed the “wake up” procedure.  A second specialist checked on the family to see if there were any emotional needs.

All of this took place in a state that ranks near the bottom on educational achievement tests annually.

Arkansas Baptist Hospital in Little Rock is indeed an oasis for many.  The Large “campus” in Little Rock continues to expand.  Soon, a new heart and kidney transplant center will be operational.  The hospital already handles hundreds of difficult situations daily and with precision.

It is no surprise to the Christian that it does well.  The first thing one sees when entering the large main entryway is a scripture written in very visible letters on the wall above the information desk.  To see the quotation makes the Christian feel that they are in a good place.

The Hospital is a great asset and example to those in Arkansas.

We live in a time where a kidney transplant is a fairly common procedure. We also live in a time that basic Biblical truth is not believed or known or shown respect.  It is indeed a paradox.

There is news from Arkansas that makes the heart hurt.

Here is the headline:

10-Year-Old Grand Marshall at Gay Rights Parade Sparks Controversy Across U.S.

The parade would be a sad event in any city.  Unfortunately, it is taking place in Fayetteville, Arkansas this weekend.

This headline comes from a state where, in 2008, a good majority of the residents passed a law not allowing adoptive or foster children to be raised in homes with homosexual couples.

They are pushing it down our throats, are they not?  Even worse, they are pushing it down the throats of our children.  Are they not aware of the verse about the millstone?

The continual moral decline of our society has again shocked someone who thought he was beyond that point.  I spend time around DHS, CASA, and Christian Social workers who are constantly on the alert for signs of harm to children.  How can this parade be happening in broad daylight?

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

No matter how great man’s achievements become, he should never forget the words of Jesus.  It is unfortunate that many are no longer familiar with His words.  It is unfortunate that many no longer care about the words of their only hope.

This post would not be complete without the following words:

Psalm 30:11

11 “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,”

A fruit of God’s Holy Spirit is joy.  Although Christians must not hide from the awful things they see occurring in the world, God gives joy in spite of it all.  The joy comes from the knowledge of God’s love for us and is present at times when we least expect it.  It is like a calm in the middle of a storm.  I do not live by experience, however.  God’s Word is my light. At the same time, I cannot deny that I have experienced joy in the midst of sorrow.  The world will not understand this.  Christians do.

Chris Reimers

Fayetteville Mayor Joins in the Gay Pride Parade:

http://familycouncil.org/?p=979

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FREE SPEECH FOR SOME, BUT NOT FOR ADVOCATES OF UNBORN BABIES

June 17, 2010

I received another important email from the National Right to Life Committee yesterday.  Representatives in our Congress are attempting to take away more of our free speech rights.  Will we not be able to identify those who promote the distructive practice of abortion?  If you need to know more, check the story right below this one.  And, please contact your Representative in Congress.  Contact information for Mike Ross, the Arkansas House Rep. in District 4, is in the post below.  Please send an email or make a call.  We can’t let them get by with this one.

Chris Reimers

Here’s the email that I received from the NRLC:

The right to speak one’s mind is so fundamental that the FIRST Amendment of the Bill of Rights includes this promise:  “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging
the freedom of speech.”

But today’s pro-abortion Democratic Congressional leaders read the 1st Amendment
very differently.  They would have the 1st Amendment read:  Congress shall make no
law abridging freedom of speech, unless it’s speech about incumbent Congressmen
like us.  Then we will restrict it.

Take the new “DISCLOSE Act.”  The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down a law
that severely restricted groups like National Right to Life from even mentioning the
name of a Congressman or bringing his voting record to the public’s attention
during the period leading up to his re-election campaign.

Congressmen don’t like groups like National Right to Life talking about their
records.  It’s inconvenient.  But the Supreme Court said, in effect, “too bad.
Citizens (and citizen groups) have that right.”  They struck down the law as
unconstitutional.

Undaunted by the Supreme Court’s recognition of our free speech rights, now
Congress is trying to limit our speech with another approach:  punish groups who
speak out about them by forcing the groups to provide confidential donor lists and
other sensitive information to the government.   They call this set of punishments
the “DISCLOSE Act.”

But not all organizations would be punished.  Certain allies of the pro-abortion
leaders in Congress, like the mainstream media, are exempt.  They can continue to
comment about members of Congress without fear of punishment.  And the bill is
skewed to give advantages to other allies, such as unions.

But if you’re any one of a number of other Americans, including a member of the
National Right to Life Committee which speaks for the unborn, forget it.  The 1st
Amendment no longer applies.

Please help National Right to Life fight this and other assaults on the fundamental
rights of unborn babies and those who fight for their lives with your generous
financial support.  Help us build an America where every unborn child is safe . . .
and the rights of those who speak up for them are protected.

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I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE, AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH

June 16, 2010

“And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”

– John 10:28

The Christian should never think or speak lightly of unbelief. For a child of God to mistrust His love, His truth, His faithfulness, must be greatly displeasing to Him. How can we ever grieve Him by doubting his upholding grace? Christian! it is contrary to every promise of God’s precious Word that thou shouldst ever be forgotten or left to perish. If it could be so, how could He be true who has said, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I never forget thee.” What were the value of that promise—”The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” Where were the truth of Christ’s words—”I give unto my sheep eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.” Where were the doctrines of grace? They would be all disproved if one child of God should perish. Where were the veracity of God, His honor, His power, His grace, His covenant, His oath, if any of those for whom Christ has died, and who have put their trust in Him, should nevertheless be cast away? Banish those unbelieving fears which so dishonour God. Arise, shake thyself from the dust, and put on thy beautiful garments. Remember it is sinful to doubt His Word wherein He has promised thee that thou shalt never perish. Let the eternal life within thee express itself in confident rejoicing.

Charles H. Spurgeon

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SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH

June 12, 2010

Christianity was opposed before Jesus took his first breath.  Before He was born, there was concern that He would appear and defeat the evil forces of this world.  You may recall these words:

“Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared.

“And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.” (Matthew 2: 7-8)

The worshipers were not tricked, however.

“And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.” (Matt. 2:12)

Those of you who are familiar with this story know how it ends.

“Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under.” (Matt. 2:16)

By this time Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were in Egypt. (Matt. 2:14)

This entire story was forseen some 600 years before by the prophet Jeremiah.  This is noted immediately after the story in Matthew (Matt. 2: 17-18).

The attempt to discredit or counterfeit the Word of God has continued.  Everyone knows that the closer a counterfeit is to the real McCoy, the better chance it has to deceive.

Counterfeit money is a good example.  The more it looks like the real thing, the more dangerous it is.  The more it looks like the real thing, the easier it is to fool people.

I am not the only one noticing the continual assault on Biblical truth.  Many defenders of simple truths, recognized by Christians for centuries, are trying to alert others about the current battering.  Amazingly, many well-meaning Christians are so unfamiliar with the Bible today that they don’t recognize a counterfeit.

I have posted the article by Dr. Morris below because I have recently stumbled across a church denomination that claims to be Christian but denies the Biblical view of God.  The churches in the denomination take many names.  In General, they are called “Oneness Pentecostals” and you can see their denominational names and colleges by going to the pdf below.  I haven’t spent much time in Pentecostal churches, but I think most believe in fundamental truths, unlike the “Oneness” churches.

It must be stated that (from the pdf below):

“By 1916, “oneness” views were being expounded by
some ministers in the Assemblies of God (AOG) denomination.
They were strongly rejected by the denomination’s
council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian
stance in its statement of faith. More than 160 oneness
ministers who were expelled from the AOG quickly
formed their own alliances to promote their doctrines.

I have noted this because two Assembly of God pastors in town are very active in the Watchmen of Garland County.  They DO NOT believe in these false doctrines.

Claiming to be Christian, the church website that I stumbled on states that:

“The Holy Ghost is not a third person in the Godhead, but rather the Spirit of God (the Creator), the Spirit of the resurrected Christ.”

This statement means that the Holy Spirit is not God, but that it is the Spirit of God (Huh?).  It means that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the resurrected Christ but it is not God (Huh? again).  If you are familiar with the Bible, you understand that this is not the same God that we read of in the scriptures.

The Trinity is a fundamental, key doctrine in Christianity.

Anyone who wishes to see the Biblical references that explain why it has always been a key belief can click here:

http://www.waltermartin.com/articles.html or

http://www.bible-knowledge.com/trinity-god-jesus-holy-spirit or

I must note at least three Bible verses that show that the Holy Spirit is God.  The first two identify the Trinity, and the third states that the Spirit is God.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19)

“For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)

“… no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11)

The following, timely article, was written by the son of the late Dr. Henry Morris.  I have great respect for both the father and the son.  Dr. Henry Morris wrote “The Genesis Flood” and “The Revelation Record.” Both men are well known defenders of the Christian faith and the teachings found in the Bible.

For those who live in Hot Springs, I could only find one church locally that is connected to the “Oneness” churches.

The headline of this article is important.  It comes from the word of God.  The only way to know the difference between the truth and error is to study your Bible.

Chris Reimers

By John D. Morris PHD

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1)

In chapter one of his first epistle to Timothy, Paul warned about false teachers and heresies in the church of his day, evidently particularly implicating the agnostics and their false skepticism and low moral standards. In our text for today and throughout chapter four, he warns of false teachers “in the latter times,” i.e., in our day and in our churches.

Paul had received an explicit (i.e., “express”) teaching from the Holy Spirit. There was nothing vague about it. The false teachers would, among other things, be “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats” (v. 3), with other false teachings implied throughout the chapter. What does this teach us about those who today forbid their leaders, both men and women, to marry? Or those who insist upon certain dietary regimes for spiritual reasons?

These “doctrines” will cause some to “depart from the faith.” Evidently, some who consider themselves Christians and yet have incomplete discernment, will fall into the trap of “seducing spirits,” espousing the “doctrines of devils.” The Greek word translated “depart” is apostesontai, which means “to fall away” from an original position, in this case, “the faith.” The teachers will typically be hypocrites, “speaking lies,” having “their conscience seared” (v. 2). “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).

In this time of great apostasy, we desperately need to know the biblical doctrine concerning devils (or Satan and his demonic henchmen), for their influence has nearly captured American education and culture. But we must be on guard against, and teach others to be on guard against, “doctrines of devils.” JDM

John David Morris[2] (born 1946) is an American young earth creationist. He is the son of “the father of creation science“, Henry M. Morris, and after his father’s death became the president of the Institute for Creation Research (ICR). Morris is a creationist author and speaks at a variety of churches.[3] Many of his presentations discuss the fossil record and its relation to evolution. [4]

Institute for Creation Research Website:

http://www.icr.org

The North American Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has published a pdf (below) that describes the scriptural errors in Oneness Pentecostalism.  I completely agree with the assessment that they make.  Any group denying a key doctrine outlined by scripture must be viewed as a cult. -CR

Here is the conclusion if you don’t wish to see the entire document:

Conclusions: Oneness Pentecostals have an anti-trinitarian
view of God, an unbiblical doctrine of Jesus Christ,
and unbiblical requirements for salvation (speaking in
tongues, water baptism in “Jesus’ name,” and a legalistic
moral code). Thus, those churches adhering to its basic
doctrines cannot be regarded as authentically Christian.
Any group or church that claims to be Christian yet
deviates at any point from historical Christian faith is, by
definition, a cult. Oneness Pentecostal churches are,
therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological
parameters of historic Christianity.

Here is a devotional by Charles Spurgeon that discusses the Triune God.  Mr. Spurgeon, it could be argued, was a good a Biblical scholar as any.

It appeared on Monday, July 12, 2010 at

http://www.answersingenesis.org/devotions/devotions.asp

“Sanctified by God the Father.” {#Jude 1:1}

“Sanctified by God the Father.” {#Jude 1:1}

“Sanctified in Christ Jesus.” {#1Co 1:2}

“Through sanctification of the Spirit.” {#1Pe 1:2}

Mark the union of the three Divine Persons in all their gracious acts. How unwisely do those believers talk who make preferences in the Persons of the Trinity; who think of Jesus as if he were the embodiment of everything lovely and gracious, while the Father they regard as severely just, but destitute of kindness. Equally wrong are those who magnify the decree of the Father, and the atonement of the Son, so as to depreciate the work of the Spirit. In deeds of grace none of the Persons of the Trinity act apart from the rest. They are as united in their deeds as in their essence. In their love towards the chosen they are one, and in the actions which flow from that great central source they are still undivided. Specially notice this in the matter of sanctification. While we may without mistake speak of sanctification as the work of the Spirit, yet we must take heed that we do not view it as if the Father and the Son had no part therein. It is correct to speak of sanctification as the work of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit. Still doth Jehovah say, “Let us make man in our own image after our likeness”, and thus we are “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” See the value which God sets upon real holiness, since the three Persons in the Trinity are represented as co-working to produce a Church without “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” And you, believer, as the follower of Christ, must also set a high value on holiness—upon purity of life and godliness of conversation. Value the blood of Christ as the foundation of your hope, but never speak disparagingly of the work of the Spirit which is your meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light. This day let us so live as to manifest the work of the Triune God in us.

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TWO CHOICES

June 7, 2010

After reading an email this morning, sent to me by Madge Franks, I had two choices.  I could post it today or post it later.  With words of war in the air, which is more important, this or that?  There is no question in my mind that this is more important.  This story could make your day a better one.

I tried many times to enlarge the words.  You’ll have to use the control+ and control- to toggle to larger and smaller.

Chris Reimers

What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its
dedicated  staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told  the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my  joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the
plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the  other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He  scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to  third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.
The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through  cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love  and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.

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Posted by Chris

WAR OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS MAY COME SOON

June 7, 2010

I thought it could happen last summer.  It now seems this summer may be the time.  If either the EU or Iran use military force to aid “aid” ships to Gaza, there will be war.  Bible students know what this war could mean.

Reports state that both Iran and EU reps are saying that the “flotilla” event will not happen the same way again.

Israel is saying that it will defend itself.

It appears that many are pushing the little land that God gave the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, into war.

How much verbiage is rhetoric and how much gets acted upon remains.

I have a Christian friend who knows of a believer who is living and ministering in Israel.  The ministry is called “Love Without Boarders” and was started by one lady.  She is on the ground in Israel, so I would consider this information a primary source.  It is true that she is getting her information locally so one has to view it accordingly.  The information is dated June 6th.  I have put the intro at the end because a rearrangement puts material relating to my headline at the top.

Ron Kunath is the name of my Christian friend.  His email stated:

“This is a Prayer Letter from a dear Missionary friend I worked with for many years. Check out the Gaza Flotilla Video below…God bless….RK”

Here is the Latest new “flotilla” info:

A great post by Gary Stearman of Prophecy in the News:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeIrfT-VFW8

I hope you find this as interesting as I did. 

Chris Reimers

Christian Friends of Israel,

Beginning of Gog and Magog? – Concerning the incident this week which is

trying to give Israel bad publicity the Rabbinical Council issued an unusual

statement “We are at the beginning of Gog and Magog process where the world

is against us at first, but which ends with the third and final redemption.”

Gaza Tunnels – An estimated 1,000 tunnels are in use to smuggle various

black market goods as well as drugs and weapons. Several thousand young men

and boys are employed in the tunnels. Workers are paid $20 a day, according

to Arab media. Some tunnel operators say children are more likely than

adults to work hard even for the lower wage.

Israeli Sub deployed – Israel has allegedly deployed a permanent submarine

presence in the Persian Gulf to keep an eye on Iran, according to  media

reports published Sunday. The three German-built submarines are reportedly

equipped with nuclear cruise missiles.

Syria Supports Hizbulla – Hizbullah terrorists are running weapons to

Lebanon from secret arms depots in Syria where the terrorists have been

accorded their own living quarters, arms storage site and a fleet of trucks,

Palestinians Boycott Israel – The Israel boycott by the Palestinian

Authority took on wider dimensions when Arabs burned two Arab stores for

allegedly doing business with Jews.

Hamas Refuses Flotilla Humanitarian Aid – Hamas continues to prevent the

transfer of the humanitarian aid which has been unloaded at the Kerem Shalom

crossing. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories

(COGAT) will continue to work closely with international bodies and the

Palestinian Authority in order to organize the transfer of the goods into

the Gaza Strip.

More Gas and Possibly Oil found in Israel – According to the Globes

financial journal, the field has been discovered to be even larger than

previously thought. The field’s estimated size has grown several times as

more surveys are conducted.  Last year  Teshuva, originally said the gas

reserves could allow Israel to be self-sufficient in energy for two decades,

but now it seems that was a conservative estimate.  “The results indicate

that in addition to the gas, there are signs of oil at a greater depth. We

have turned Israel into a great energy power. Today is a holiday for every

citizen of Israel. It’s a day of joy,”  The offshore platform will be imported from the gulf of Mexico.

Israel Update #12
Love Without Borders

June 6, 2010

Shalom!

Thanks for your prayers, the Lord answered and one of my co-workers returned
to Israel to continue helping with the work.

I met with the Ministry of Tourism this week to share some information and
thoughts so that Christians who are wanting to come to Israel can learn
more, meet the people and serve during their tour.  It was a productive
meeting and he invited me to take a desk at the Ministry of Tourism and work
from their office.  It would not be practical for me, but it was an honor to
be invited.  I will continue to work with him and others on staff so that we
can build a better understanding between Israel and Christians from abroad.

Israel is certainly a land of opportunity, but it is also a land of
opposition.  I guess that’s why we are told in 2 Timothy 2:3 You therefore
endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  We are in a battle,
wherever we are, but soldiers don’t quit in the middle of a battle.  (I
learned that from my dad who fought in both Korea and Viet Nam.) I believe
the Lord wants us to be doers of the Word, pray for one anther and continue to move forward following and serving Him.

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Posted by Chris

INTO ALL THE WORLD

June 6, 2010

Tomorrow they begin at the beginning.

by Jackie Fallis

The missionary team Elias and José Struik, Lisa Kappeler and Matt and Rachel Clayton present Genesis 1:1 to the Uriay people of Papua New Guinea tomorrow.

On Sunday the team started with why they’re teaching this way as well as the big picture of things — where the Uriay are in relation to the rest of the world.

Monday was spent explaining how time is linear with beginning and end, and how people have held to ancestral beliefs all around the world, but that the One who made everything communicates truth via His Word.

The team delved into how they know this is the truth and God’s authority on Tuesday and Wednesday, going further to talk about the many languages His Word is in.

Thursday is when they launch into God’s story.

From house building in 2004 to beginning to learn the culture and language, from teaching literacy to writing the Bible lessons, all of the work culminates in this.

It’s not without challenges. An Uriay woman recently committed suicide a couple of weeks ago, something virtually unheard of in their culture. They don’t believe suicide is actually possible. It’s blamed on sorcery. Due to fear of sorcery the people were actually thinking of leaving the village and falling back to one more hidden in the jungle.

“We shared our thoughts with them and tried to encourage them that they’re just about to hear the Truth and it will give life and peace,” wrote Lisa Kappeler. “Their whole mindset seemed to change and they went from ‘we’re absolutely moving’ to ‘perhaps we should stay here to hear this talk.'”

Then the village emptied out, and the missionaries were left wondering who would be there for the teaching.

Lisa wrote, “But all of us felt that we needed to rest in the Lord and wait on His timing. So we waited, and as the next two weeks went on, three couples came back, and visits with folks that came back for the day gave us indications that most of the folks would be back.”

“We’re actually expecting most of the village and some from our other two villages to arrive later this afternoon. There were a couple people that I told someone that it would take a miracle for them to be here — and from what I’ve heard recently, they’ll be here!”

Please pray that the lessons will be well-attended and that it will be clear to all who hear it. Pray further that the missionaries will be able to expand on the concepts in the lessons in one-on-one conversations.

http://www.ntm.org/news/10989

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Posted by Chris

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