Encouragement

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Rom 5:3-5

Feelings cannot dictate what is true. Scripture alone tells us what is true because it is God-breathed.

Man's traditions cannot tell us what is true. Traditions come and go. They are not God-breathed.

Works-based salvation, which acts as though grace, faith or belief are a work, promotes lies. We are saved by God's grace, His unmerited favor, through faith--belief and trust in Him, and not of ourselves--nothing we do saves us, it is a gift of God. It is what we think--agreeing with God about who and what we are, and Who and What He is, that saves us. Believing is not a work. It is worth repeating because in these recent days, there are cults that twist Eph 5:8 and explain it as meaning something other than what it clearly says.

Cults tell you what the Scriptures say; they actively teach you what they say so that when you read the Word of God yourself (which they do not encourage), you interpret it how they say, which promotes blasphemy and false belief. It by-passes the power and work of the Holy Spirit, although He can break through if He desires and if a person is genuinely seeking to understand. 

Praise God for giving us a living Word.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Hebrews 4:12-13

9th Commandment

Our pastor has been preaching on the Ten Commandments on Sunday nights. Tonight was the 9th, and like the others, it is worth a listen! I find God's timing to be such a blessing and comfort. He anticipates our needs and circumstances so often, and cares for us.

When God is leading us, we're not in active sin, we can't be. It's revealing when we think we're following the Lord while simultaneously deceiving someone else,  or disobeying a clear command of His. That's an indicator that who we're listening to or following isn't the Lord of the Bible. It is a god of our own creation who allows us to do things that make us feel good, but which He is against. 

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of a holy God. When people fail us, we must not let that turn our eyes from the One with all the answers. He is a good and gracious Lord, long-suffering, with an ability to endure hardships far beyond our human frailty. It would be nice if we could all be good and sufficient in all the ways, but we just can't, despite our desire to be so or efforts to be so. Praise God when people lovingly tell us of our failures! May He use our weakness to grow us and move us into the work He has for us where we can succeed. Praise God for a loving heavenly King who knows our hearts and the intents of our hearts. He is the rewarder of our work and the One who can heal our wounds. 

Sunday pm service

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Rom 5:3-5

Bible Translations-Contains Several Links

A sure mark of a church that isn't spot on is one that says the only trusted Bible is the King James version. Those churches may even call it The King James Bible, not considering it a translation, as if it were God-breathed. All Scriptural content was given by God, but the Hebrew and Greek was written in Hebrew and Greek, and that is what was inspired. Any English translation had to be translated from the original manuscripts and thus, they are all translations.

God did not re-inspire the translators of the King James or any other translation. Please also note, people had trustworthy Biblical text before the authorized version...men love words like authorized to give something clout. Too many people hear that and think, "OH! It is AUTHORIZED, so obviously it is the RIGHT ONE!" Please know, the world had Scripture before 1611. To assert the KJV was inspired is to claim double inspiration and that is unbiblical. God promised to preserve His Word, and He did that. We have older manuscripts and newer manuscripts, and giving one group of them a special name does not bestow upon it extra revelation or inspiration from God Almighty. From all of these manuscripts, there have been several excellent Word for Word translations written. God has used many translations to save people and lead them in sanctification. His Holy Spirit has known how to override our short-comings for a long, long time. 

The King James only movement has a beginning point; it was birthed due to people disagreeing with making the KJV more accurate and readable. Sadly, there is nothing new under the sun, and new groups spring up too often pushing this narrow view or that one. One such tiny church is in our area. The chief of that movement denies a literal 6 day creation, teaches people were saved by works and faith in the Old Testament, and they believe Christ was crucified on Wednesday, not Friday. The latter isn't a deal-breaker, but the other two are concerning because convincing people they do not have the Word of God if they don't have the one King James commissioned, produces a weak and limited faith. The 3rd point is only relevant because it is such a minority view in Protestantism, that it only proves my point that men are drawn to KJVO who want to be counter-culture, bold, brave, and ready to throw down for the Word of God. We must realize, discernment must show us, that certain types of men are drawn to a black/white world. Some men need to feel they are always fighting a battle. They live for a controversial position. Warriors at heart have difficulty when the war ends for them on one front, so the battle-cry of the KJVOers can be alluring, because hey, there is still a mantle to take up and fight for, even if it is within the church, right? I don't think so, brother. 

I recall as a newer believer thinking everyone in church agreed with each other; I wrongly assumed everyone was not only saved, but on the same page with their biblical depth of understanding, politics, lifestyle preferences, financial views, parenting, music, dancing, drinking...you name it. In time I found that there is a broad range of liberty and views within the church. We're not robots or clones of each other. We are real people with a framework God has given us, and some of us are one way and some another, but we're all saved and living as best we can (or as best as we're willing) for the Lord. Believers can wrongly assume they are right about everything they think if God is using them and blessing them (or others) but that is a red flag. God uses whom He will, and He can do that in spite of our wrong thinking in an area. We are all still being sanctified, so logic would lead us to have to say that He uses people who are in error... we should sin less the longer we're saved, and ideally leaders should be quite orthodox and wise, but at times we're exposed to the margins. 

Always check views you aren't sure of with the pastor of your church. Ask your Sunday School teacher as well, but do not stop there because as just explained, they might disagree with the pastor and the official position of the church and fail to make that clear in their explanation to you. A wise teacher with views that are different from the church should not state their disagreements, but rather state the church's position on the matter.

For example, my church uses one Bible translation for consistency, but it does not believe that is the only correct version. We have our 2 former pastors in the church also who affirm the current position.  Those who think that there is only one accurate translation wrongly think others have not looked into the issue closely. They fail to see that plenty have looked into it, and they are convinced it is a weak and indefensible position to take. It shouldn't cause division, but we should have a learned opinion. 

Don't take my word for it, there are links below that I encourage you to consider, from vastly more articulate and learned men than this simple writer. 

We serve a God who is mighty and able to preserve His own Word and He does not limit Himself to one sinful, earthly king's thoughts on the matter. 

Charles Spurgeon on Bible Translations preferred KJV but when Revised came out, was in favor of correcting errors

R.C. Sproul on Bible Translations a Word for Word preference and gives specifics

John MacArthur on Bible Translation Part 1 a Word for Word preference and gives specifics

Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy very good approach

**I was recently asked by a pastor I was interviewing why I care so much about this issue. I will tell you what I didn't bother telling him. I care about this issue because I have a strong sense of justice. Wrong teaching is wrong, and that bothers me. On a personal note, I've watched a beloved brother go from sound doctrine to very wrong doctrine, and it was this modern KJVO movement that led the charge. My husband believes it is an unhelpful view that indicates other wrong views, which is why I have to learn where a church stands before I can recommend it to someone else. I love the church and I love truth. My love compels me to educate those who also claim to love the Lord.**

Bible Verses for When Suffering

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

Psalms 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Romans 5:3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

Promise to the Child of God

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.

Lam 3:22-23

On the Third Day

In looking at the different ways Jews used the word "day" in preparation for teaching Genesis 1 and 2 for Sunday School, I came upon this article. It's a topic of interest because I believe Jesus was crucified on Friday, as most Christians do; yet I have been surprised to meet one or two people through my years who think it was a different day. Here's a great explanation hashing out the details! 

Why Did Jesus Mention "Three Days and Three Nights"

Why Are You Downcast, Oh My Soul?

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Phil 4:19

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My life passage, mostly memorized in this translation. When the torrents continue from without in multiple ways....when strength is failing. Battles fought as a team against the outside forces of darkness press down.... I cannot but see the continual trials as anything but from the enemy masked in a multiplicity of ways and means. My High Priest allows all that reaches me. All that reaches us. But oh God, it is too much. I do not think we can take much more. Bring the relief quickly, Father. Words do fail. The anguish in my soul is tremendous. When will relief come? How much longer, oh Lord? In my desperation, it is You alone who can help. You alone know it all. And in my distress, You remind me...O Taste and See that the Lord is good! You will not leave me as an orphan! You turn my grief into joy, and all of this happens while circumstances remain the same. I will not be thwarted by those who intimate that trust and relief in You is a sign of not working and caring. I will not live in a mindset of despair. No, I will trust in You. You whose ways are higher than my ways. You who turns the tides, raises the sun, sets the moon, hung the stars, parted the seas, raised the dead, and saved this utterly wicked person from the penalty of sin. You are King of kings and Lord of lords, great is Your faithfulness. And I will trust in You. Halleluiah to the One who set me free, Halleluiah death has lost its grip on me. You have broken every chain, there's salvation in YOUR name, Jesus Christ, my living hope. In all things.  

Psalm 40

God Sustains His Servant. For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

40 I waited [a]patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the [b]miry clay,

And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;

Many will see and fear

And will trust in the Lord.

4 How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,

And has not [c]turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

5 Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,

And Your thoughts toward us;

There is none to compare with You.

If I would declare and speak of them,

They would be too numerous to count.

6 [d]Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired;

My ears You have [e]opened;

Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I come;

In the scroll of the book it is [f]written of me.

8 I delight to do Your will, O my God;

Your Law is within my heart.”

9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;

Behold, I will not restrain my lips,

O Lord, You know.

10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;

I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;

I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.

11 You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;

[g]Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.

12 For evils beyond number have surrounded me;

My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;

They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,

And my heart has [h]failed me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;

Make haste, O Lord, to help me.

14 Let those be ashamed and humiliated together

Who seek my [i]life to destroy it;

Let those be turned back and dishonored

Who delight [j]in my hurt.

15 Let those be [k]appalled because of their shame

Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;

Let those who love Your salvation say continually,

“The Lord be magnified!”

17 Since I am afflicted and needy,

[l]Let the Lord be mindful of me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

Do not delay, O my God.

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The Lord, the Keeper of Israel. A Song of Ascents. Psalm 121

I will raise my eyes to the mountains;

From where will my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to slip;

He who watches over you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who watches over Israel

Will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your [a]protector;

The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun will not [b]beat down on you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will [c]protect you from all evil;

He will keep your soul.

8 The Lord will [d]guard your going out and your coming in

From this time and forever.

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Psalm 28

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12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Cor 10:12-13

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2 Sam 22, ........here is just a portion of this passage, which is worth reading in its entirety.... The violence is not necessarily outward war. There is a spiritual violence assaulted against God's children. It bruises and bashes us against the rocks leaving us so weary if we fail to go to the One who refreshes and restores our soul. 

Now David spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day that the Lord had saved him from the [a]hand of all his enemies and from the [b]hand of Saul. 2 He said,

“The Lord is my [c]rock and my fortress and my deliverer;3 [d]My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.4 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.5 For the waves of death encompassed me;
The floods of [e]destruction terrified me;6 The ropes of [f]Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.7 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
Yes, I called out to my God;
And from His temple He heard my voice,
And my cry for help came into His ears.8 Then the earth shook and quaked,
The foundations of heaven were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.

Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

A Psalm of David.

26 [a]Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,

And I have trusted in the Lord [b]without wavering.

2 Examine me, O Lord, and try me;

Test my [c]mind and my heart.

3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your [d]truth.

Mark 1:5

Wisdom should lead us to not overload those in another place than we are with information they are not ready to consider. I'm certain my husband is careful with the information he gives me, and he always has been. He carries the load he's carrying as our protector and provider, and is good at weighing what everyone can take on. The comparison isn't exact, but the same general principle applies with our brothers and sisters in the faith. We need to be careful to perceive when we're not doing someone a favor by making them think about something in a way that is going to strain them or cause them to struggle. 

The Holy Spirit is the One to reveal the truth He wants to reveal in the minds of a believer reading the Word of God or hearing sound preaching. I am not equipped to debate many things, nor do I wish to, particularly with fellow church members. Unity is extremely important to God, so I generally side-step areas of disagreement that are not fundamental matters of faith and belief. I will discuss differences much more openly with people who attend other Christian churches, but even then, unity is more important than changing minds on secondary and tertiary issues. 

That said:

Mark 1:5. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Question: Did ALL of the people, every single one, go out to Jesus to be baptized? When we approach scripture with a preconceived idea that a word always has to mean X because otherwise it doesn't lead to the conclusion we want, we're not giving an honest reading. "All" does not mean ALL, as in every single one, every time the word is used. We must look at the context and not be afraid of what the Bible says or is teaching. I contend that not every single person went and I do not think the verse implies it. Figures of speech; they exist now and I believe they existed when scripture was penned. It likely means MANY, maybe even MOST, but not EVERY SINGLE person living in each country. 

John 6:37-39

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

Question: Does every single person that the Father gives to Jesus go to Him? Yes, this statement gives the limiting factor. The people God gives to Jesus, all of THEM, will COME to Jesus. (side note: All that He GIVES will COME to Jesus. Isn't that interesting? On God's side, He is GIVING them to Jesus but on the side of people, they are COMING.) Does this say the Father gives ALL people to Him? Every single person that the Father GIVES to Jesus WILL come to Jesus. And of ALL that God has given Jesus, NONE will be lost, they will be found in Him (saved) until the end and will be with Him in eternity. 

Just to make a statement, it is OUR OWN SIN that sends us to Hell, so to say God sends people to Hell is incorrect. God is good all the time, and He would be just if we all spent eternity in Hell. The way I see it, He is just to choose some to not spend eternity in Hell. Praise God for His mercy! The mind of God is much higher than mine, and many men have minds much deeper than mine, but that is just how I see it. I think we need to be careful to not throw stones at Christians who believe we're all saved by grace through faith, and not of ourselves, but realize it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man boast. We need to believe in Jesus Christ as the only payment for our sin. If we agree on that, we're among the brethren, so why try to portray one another as wicked if we disagree on finer points?

Sermon Series on Calvinism and Premillennialism

 Why Every Calvinist Should be a Premillennialist

This is a commitment to listen to, but if you are curious, here is part 1 of 6 in the series, from 2007, from John MacArthur. There's a solid bit of information scripturally that doesn't require interpreting the Bible differently, suddenly, when it comes to the end of times. I'm looking forward to the rapture of the church, the 'catching away' that Scripture teaches, and hope those in the Mid or Post Tribulation camp will listen to these thoughtfully. 

The whole series is listed here.

New Things

I'm doing a Bible study at a nearby church, and it has been a fantastic reminder of why it is beneficial to interact with the larger body of Christ than your own backyard body, so to speak. It is like going on vacation and visiting a church, only better. Getting to meet sisters in Christ who otherwise would be strangers is deeply fulfilling. It gives me encouragement to see people I've never met, in my community, who also love God and want to glorify Him. I'm also learning different ways of running a large women's Bible study and I'm grateful for that. It is easy to get into a mindset that the way our own church does things is the way every church does things, and nothing is farther from the truth! There are many ways to skin a cat, as they say. Who 'they' are is certainly up for query...and why would anyone want to skin a cat??

The point is, staying in our own routine can be stifling and discouraging. Praying with believers who are new friends is a joy. Studying and learning from godly women you've only met is a gift. Of course, I'm doing this study at a trusted nearby church. :)

New Packaging

Amen

In thinking whether we trust God or not: 

I'd like to remind us that God saw what was happening with Babel and the building of the tower therein. He took action, clearly demonstrating He is God and we are not in control. We humans like to think we're in control. If we are very careful about X then Y will not happen. Some parents think they are in control of aspects of their children's lives which no mortal can actually control, for example. 

As we see more Christians get obsessed with the way medicine works, often for reasons not hard to comprehend, it is essential to always put our actions and the expectations of those actions in the pool of God's sovereignty. Our putting them in the pool does not change the reality He IS sovereign and in complete control. Rather, it changes our focus--our obsessing. It changes our telling people off regarding their health decisions. It changes our pride and self-assurance. It changes our anxiety over making sure it is all perfect. Bear in  mind, God chastens those He loves. 

Doing all we know to be right to avoid a certain circumstance, and then having that circumstance become our reality, changes us in ways nothing else can. When we are people with terrific conviction, drive, and discipline, we can make many things happen. It can be easy to forget it is God who enables success and brings results,  regardless of whether they are positive or negative. They are His to bring. 

So we buy organic meat and dairy and our child still starts puberty prematurely. 

We don't vaccinate and our child grows up to be infertile. 

We are careful in pregnancy and our child still gets life threatening allergies. 

We don't use traditional medicine and cancer still comes. 

We clean with natural products and uncontrollable rashes still turn up. 

We never used chemicals on our skin or went out in the sun,  and skin cancer still showed up.

How can this be?? We did all we knew to be right, faithfully, and yet, we suffer. 

Beloved, let us remember that God is sanctifying His children. It's not about creating the perfect scenario to then bring the perfect outcome. It's not about us having it ALL the way we've worked to have it. 

Don't you see? The issue is this: are we going to work hard to do what we believe is right, trusting Him if it turns out we're wrong, or trusting Him if it turns out we were right but it still went all wrong? Where is the grace and mercy if that isn't how it works? Because some do it ALL wrong and get the results we'd want. Right? The mother who smoked in pregnancy had a healthy baby. The mother who never went around second-hand smokers had a child who developed asthma early on. And we recognize that as grace and mercy with the smoker,  right? The issue isn't the ISSUE at all. It is where our trust is. God's grace and mercy are not dependent on anything we can muster or control. They are His gifts to give. Our job is to serve Him faithfully and work hard, always trusting the results to be part of His plan. Not our plan.

We're not to be fatalistic because God calls His children to righteousness and excellence. He expects us to trust Him and if we do not, He cares enough to make the trust happen. Even if the fallout of that process is something we must look at for the rest of our lives. 

God is good, all the time. 

Bible Translations

Pastor Mike does a great job in the following two sermons explaining Bible Translations. I hope you will watch.

Part 1

Part 2

There is also a good Q & A at the start of this sermon and very worthwhile material in the sermon itself. These can be read as a single transcript on the Grace to You website or listened to. 

The Inspiration of Scripture Pt 1

The Inspiration of Scripture Pt 2

      Dahlias grown and photographed by Melissa

Ideas Other Men Put Into Our Heads: KJVO

From the translators to the readers, KJV 1611 this is very long and is a slow read, but it is clear the translators would not have said their rendering was the only one to trust.

God began to give us the Old Testament roughly 3500 years ago, with Moses being given The Ten Commandments in 1400 BC. By 500 BC all of the original Hebrew manuscripts, which comprise the 39 books of the Old Testament, were completed. The New Testament (original Greek manuscripts) were completed in the 1st Century (1 AD to 100), over 1900 years ago. 

It is a beautiful truth that God preserved His Holy Word for us for us just as He said. Knowing this, we all have our Bible translation preferences, and it is my contention that no one who reads the Scriptures would come away thinking one translation would be only true words of God. Genuine Bible translations are inerrant and infallible, and some are better than others as far as word for word translations versus thought for thought translations. But my point is that no where in the Scriptures does it say to "stay tuned for this or that particular translation later to be the only Bible to use". The Word has been saved for us by God and the notion that only one translation is accurate is an idea that a man would have to inject into another man's thinking. Men love to enslave other men, especially if they themselves are enslaved. 

Wretched Radio with James White https://youtu.be/Eh3k_A9ugOo

What is interesting is that people who know they are leading others to believe in cultish ideas will use logic that is actually true against them, to try and spin it to be true about opposing views. For example, someone could wrongly say that simply reading the Bible a person would never come away thinking that God chooses us (those who will be born again). That statement is easily proven to be false because there are numerous verses that talk about God choosing us. See: 2 Thess 2:13, Eph 1:4, and John 15:16. No one needs to tell a person the Bible says God chooses--one can see it for themselves. How someone decides to process that information can depend on a number of things, but to say there is no way a person could believe that God chooses us unless someone else puts that idea in their head is easily disproven. It is written in black and white for all to see. It is like saying no one could ever believe that Jesus is the Son of God unless someone tells them! The Bible says that Jesus is the Son of God in Acts 8:37, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 5:5. The phrasing and idea that "no one could read and come up with...." inoculates a person from the reality that THEY are the ones trapped by thinking which can only be interjected by another man. Tell someone a false statement using colorful phrasing that sounds true and you immediately make that person harder to reach with the truth, which is that THEY are the ones buying into thinking no one would come up with on their own. Men love to enslave other men.

A Close Look At Psalm 12:6

With that I contend that no one, literally, NO ONE, can read the Bible and on their own say, "Only THIS translation is the word of God!" It simply can't be, because God gave us His Word long before Martin Luther, William Tyndale, King James, or Noah Webster started to print Bibles. 

It seems quite bigoted to say that the Holy God of the universe, Who is Sovereign over all the affairs of this world, would give His word to one race/type of person long after He actually gave His word to mankind. The different translations are all the Word of God, in whatever language they have been translated to. God says all Scripture is inspired by God, there were not inspired men. No inspired translators folks. That verse helped lead me out of Catholicism. God inspired the original Hebrew and Greek of the Scriptures, and He has preserved that Word for His followers faithfully. We can trust Him. 

Accurate Way to Think About Inerrancy 

Interesting to note is that the original 1611 King James Bible contained 80 books, so people who somehow think that translation was given to Holy men who were directly inspired by God should be Roman Catholic, right? 

Men love to enslave other men and take their focus off of what matters for the kingdom of God. 

I'm not passionate about this issue. Honestly, it is a waste of time to wade into these waters for the vast majority of people. God preserved His word and we can trust it. I prefer the translation I prefer, and to spend time debating things that are virtually devoid of value isn't a prudent use of my time. That said however, truth matters. 

Why Are There Different Types of Christians?

A person could go in an endless number of directions with a title such as this. What do I mean by 'types'? What is meant by 'different'? I'm referring to Christians who are more conservative in how they live versus "Christians" who live how they want. The former may seem restricted in their choices of what consists of entertainment, how they dress, and lifestyle choices. "Christians" on the other hand don't necessarily look that different from the world. They may say things that are different from the world, but they do many of the same things. What is the world? It is those who deny God in theory and practice. 

The defining issue of why some Christians live very different from other "Christians" is an issue of biblical authority. That is to say, what is the source of truth? If the Bible is true on all points of life and theology, then it ought to be followed as God's holy word. If the Bible is optional and we are free to pick and choose what to follow, then God isn't God, we are. If we are God, then we are not part of His elect--we are not His children--we will not spend eternity with Him. If the Bible is God's holy word, which God says it is, then "Christians" who ignore what it says aren't really submitting themselves to God. 

It has been said that either Jesus is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all. That is the crux of the matter. Saying we believe in Jesus as God's only Son, and that He died and rose again to conquer sin does not put us in God's family. We must believe that Christ died for our sins and turn from them. If we continue in our sin, what is the point? We are not saved from eternal damnation by a whimsical "I believe" which then lets us be our own Gods! That is no where in Scripture. 

The one and true God of the Bible is the One with the authority to make the rules. He has clearly laid them out and just as Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and they life." God has said that  we are to have no other god before Him...yet we make ourselves gods all the time by doing what we feel is right, what we feel makes sense, what we think is ok--all the while ignoring what He has said is the right way for His followers to act, think and live. 

The issue of different types of Christians is this: either the Bible is all true and God-breathed, or it is not. If it is not, and we do life how we want, sprinkling in Bible words to sound like we have morals, then we will face eternity without Him. Being a Christian means turning in a new direction--leaving the path of self and getting on the path of God. It is nothing short of heartbreaking to see how many people are choosing the wide road that leads to destruction. Don't be among them. There are no do-overs.

Daniel

I've been enjoying more study time in Daniel this month, and thought I'd share some good sermons that have aided my endeavors. It is a joy to have time to dig into God's word more now that the homeschooling years are finished. Days are so different from when the kids were being raised! Those days were filled with much keeping of the home, rearing and educating, teaching at co-ops, taking care of lots of critters here at home, and facilitating friendships for the kids. 

Rather than lament days gone by, it is great that now there is so much more time for other endeavors! Being older, priorities and opportunities shift, which is refreshing. I can serve at church in more ways, help out financially by working outside the home, minister to younger moms more, have more time for prayer, and I can minister to my husband more intentionally. My kids control their social lives! The needs of the home with yardwork, animals and day to day child rearing are past. My kids are people I prioritize among my friends. Getting older is nice. It has it's hardships as each stage does, but for me, this is a time I love.

Daniel 7 sermons

Daniel 6

All Daniel sermons

Effective Use of One's Energy

Person A believes in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the infallibility of Scripture, loves God, sees Him as loving and just, and has their view of the mechanics of how one comes to be saved, but it is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. 

Person B believes in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the infallibility of Scripture, loves God, sees Him as loving as just, and has their view of the mechanics of how one comes to be saved, and it is also by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, but they differ some from Person A.

For some reason, Person B can't stand the way Person A sees the mechanics, and thus accuses them of creating an unloving God. Person A, however, believes God IS loving. It is Person B, viewing and understanding Person A's beliefs, who comes to the conclusion God must be unloving to think as Person A does---but stay with me, only Person B thinks God is unloving in this scenario. Person B--according to their own view, sees God as loving, and so does Person A. Both are genuine born-again Christians. 

In light of this, why does Person B waste time attacking Person A? Person A is not attacking Person B. Person A could accuse Person B of believing in a small God-but they don't give that air time. Why does Person B care that Person A's views makes they themselves see God as unloving? Clearly Person A has reconciled their own view to land with a loving and just God.

Why would you apply someone else's 'truth' to your own views or put conclusions or words in someone else's mouth? Is it possible to not really understand how someone else is seeing and understanding the Scriptures? Is it not better to give the benefit of the doubt to fellow Christians?

I've got my views and I trust in them. It is inane to me to focus on what other people believe and waste time reacting to it. The more you react to something (ie a bully), the more credence you give something typically...isn't that what we've always thought?

Is this manner of acting/reacting of God or the enemy? 

Who is being divisive and tearing down the body of Christ? Our enemy is not on the inside of orthodox beliefs people, but on the outside. It is a wicked world, and yes, it is true that focusing on it is uncomfortable and difficult. Interacting with this culture is miserable, but it does not warrant micromanaging and tearing down the body of Christ. Make no mistake, we are ALL part of the body of Christ who believe that it is by grace through faith and not of works that people are able to spend eternity as forgiven people in God's presence. Only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ are we saved, and the issue I'm referring to is dealing with sincere people who hold to the truth I've just stated.

Do I know all the ins and outs of those outside orthodox Christian beliefs (Mormons, Catholics, JWs, etc.)? No, that would take away from the valuable time I've got to do what God has called me to do. It is discouraging, tiring and makes me angry when believers attack other believers. It has no place in the church as far as I'm concerned, and it is dangerous to attack godly men who love the Lord and are doing the work He's called them to faithfully. 

Whenever I see one group continually calling out and criticizing another, I don't look disparagingly on the group being attacked, I look disparagingly on the attackers. What are they afraid of? Why can't they just do the work they have been called to?

God said what He said, and it is too bad if it doesn't fit into some cut and dry mold. He is good, loving, faithful, sovereign, just, and I trust Him to work out, rightly, all the things. I'm not going to pretend He didn't say such and such because in my human reasoning, it wouldn't make sense. He said it, I believe it. 

Man's wisdom falls short where God's excels. Let God be true, and every man a liar.

Verses of Great Comfort

When it comes to having unsaved loved ones,  nothing comforts like God's word. When I thought it depended mostly on me,  I was consumed and often despaired. God makes it clear it is He who draws people,  gives them to His Son,   and makes the 'dead-in-sin' alive. There is a serious transaction between God Himself and Jesus Christ. I cannot make anything or anyone that is dead- in sin or bodily- come to life in any measure.  All I can do is live faithfully and share the gospel with those God puts in my path. Knowing that, I see that my part is only a part of the equation. What I need to do is to trust God and rest in who He is, leaving the results to Him. 

Thanks be to God for His Sovereignty. 

Jn 6:37

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me,  and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 

Jn 6:39

This is the will of Him who sent Me,  that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 

Jn 6:44

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 

Jn 10:25-30

(obviously great for eternal security of the believer as well)

Eph 2:4-10

But God,  being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)...

Finally,  in recent years no passage of Scripture has given me comfort like Ephesians 1:3-14, especially verses 3-5. Our good and faithful High Priest is all powerful. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

Biblical Inspiration Validated By Prophecy

Biblical Inspiration Validated By Prophecy, Part 1: 

You can read this transcript or listen... here's the start...

"Now, for tonight, we are going to continue our look at biblical inspiration. This is a little bit more like a classroom than it is a preaching event. I want you to think through with me some of the....."

Biblical Inspiration Validated By Prophesy, Part 2

Not Wasting Time on Other People's Hang-ups

If there is one thing that hasn't been the easiest concept for me to grasp, it is not wasting time on other people's obsessions, hang-ups, stumbling blocks...call it what you will, but it is something a person is rather consumed by and which there mind won't be changed on. 

Blind spots could encompass what is being referred to here, but obsession is more my jam right now. I recall having a Sunday School teacher years ago who began to see certain Scriptures differently. It can happen; years of studying, the Lord opens our eyes to see things in a new light. Still within the realm of orthodoxy, but different than we once saw it. That is the beauty of a living text. God knows when, what, and how to reveal the truths to us. The thing is, this individual didn't realize that we were not all being moved in the same way at the same time on the issue he was feeling VERY enlightened about. 

When there is a Christian issue that people differ on, if it isn't a matter of salvation and it is one in which the person does not have a teachable spirit, tread carefully. Maturity and wisdom should lead and help us see that it just isn't worthwhile to wade in those waters. Am I saying truth doesn't matter? Of course not, it certainly does, but there are people who are genuinely only interested in changing other people's minds, not truly willing to have their own mind changed. In cases such as that, don't waste your time, is what I'm saying. 

Is it casting one's pearls before swine? Well, it all depends on what the topic is and who is receiving the unwanted input. If it is an unbeliever who is hostile and has hardened their heart to the truth, yes, they may turn and tear you to pieces. A brother or sister in Christ wouldn't do that, but it could be a waste of time that brings division where it doesn't need to be.

The Bible is wrought with events relevant to the time in which they were written, and it foretold events in the near future to the time in which it was talking about. At the same time, those Scriptures can reveal prophetic truths for dates much later. That is the amazing thing about the Almighty God. His living word fulfilled things that have happened and reveals truths to come. If someone doesn't see that, leave it to the Holy Spirit to one day show them. 

Bible Questions and Answers, Part 77

Bible Questions and Answers, Part 77: 

Please take time to listen to this--especially if you are afraid of dying, or are a man who wants to be married...if you worry about people not wearing masks...tune in. People ask Pastor John MacArthur questions on anything they want. There is excellent help found here.