Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Are U.S. evangelicals losing their influence on America?

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2011/06/poll_evangelica.html

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday Quotes

The certainty that God is always near us, present in all parts of His world, closer to us than our thoughts, should maintain us in a state of happiness most of the time. But not all the time. It would be less than honest to promise every believer continual jubilee and less than realistic to expect it. As a child may cry out in pain even when sheltered in its mother's arms, so a Christian may sometime know what it is to suffer even in the conscious presence of God. Though "always rejoicing," Paul admitted that he was sometimes sorrowful, and for our sakes Christ experienced strong crying and tears though He never left the bosom of the Father (John 1:18). - A. W. Tozer

If through faith you have placed your eternal destiny in the loving hands of Jesus Christ, you can be sure that God is at work, shaping the events and circumstances of your life into a beautiful mosaic that will reveal His Son to the men and women around you. His hand is on you, as it has been since before you were born. - Chuck Smith

Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don't need to search any further for security. Elisabeth Elliot

And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow. G. K. Chesterton

Remember it is the very time for faith to work when sight ceases. The greater the difficulties, the easier for faith; as long as there remain certain natural prospects, faith does not get on even as easily as where natural prospects fail. - George Mueller

We could never be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world. - Helen Keller

Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work. - Peter Marshall

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Sunday Quotes

An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others. - A. W. Tozer

God never made out a long contract that says, “Abide by all my terms and I will love you and bless you; but if you violate even the smallest provision, it’s all null and void and you are out of My kingdom!” Christians are not bound by any heavy contract to God. Paul declared that the only thing that constrained him was the love of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 5:14). - Chuck Smith

Do you ever think, God can't love me today. I don't even love myself. I am miserable. Does God love us less when we have failed? No. Our standing before God is not based on our performance, but upon our faith in what Jesus has done on the cross. Because of Him, we are blessed with a beautiful, stable, loving relationship with our Father. - Chuck Smith

If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed.
If you look within, you’ll be depressed.
If you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest. - Corrie Ten Boom

God never made a promise that was too good to be true. Dwight L. Moody

Robert Dick Wilson, who mastered over 45 different languages in his lifetime, in order to read the manuscripts of the Bible in their original languages, after a dissertation to his students on the complete trustworthiness of Scripture, said with tears: “Young men, there are many mysteries in this life I do not pretend to understand, many things hard to explain. But I can tell you this morning with the fullest assurance, that, ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.’” - From the Book, “Which Bible,” by David Fuller

God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him. - Jim Elliot

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

An Excellent Article by Dr. James Emery White...

Baptists and Baptisms - Dr. James Emery White Christian Blog
http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/dr-james-emery-white/baptists-and-baptisms.html?utm_source=Crosswalk_Daily_Update&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=06/14/2011

Monday, June 13, 2011

"Profiling" in Church

Ever notice that most churches have a "profile?" It's not something that is spoken or even part of the "Requirements for Membership;" but its still there.

What am I talking about? Well, most churches have a "target group." That's a certain demographic (I hate that word) that they are trying to appeal to. It can be, for example, Youth, or 20 somethings, or even 30 somethings.

Now if you fit into their "profile" then you are catered to in almost every way. You and your children are entertained. "Messages" targeted to what you like or are dealing with one an everyday basis. A series of "messages" are "targeted" to you, all designed to make you happier, comfortable, even wealthier. "Messages" are carefully worded to avoid offending anyone.

Now, if you don't fit into their "profile" then you are basically ignored until you leave; or die. (Whatever comes first).

The basic problem with this (besides being un-biblical) is that it creates two classes of "Christians." One is "in;" the other is "out." If you are "in", God can use you in a special way; if you are "out," well you need to find another place to worship (there is little hope of God every using someone like you).

More often than not, I am in the "out" category. You see, I am a 58 year old ex-pastor who taught the Bible verse-by-verse and actually believed that it has more to offer than books written by the "hip" so-called "christian" authors. (I even believe in Hell; scandalous, isn't it?).

Being in the "out" category is kinda cool. Read what Harley Howard wrote about A. W. Tozer:

"A. W Tozer, unquestionably one of the greatest men who ever preached the Bible, was a man ridiculed while he lived because he was so "out of touch" with the religious establishment around him. What made him so "out of touch" with those around him was the fact that he was so "in touch" with God."

Oh, yeah, and there was another fella who was "out." His Name is Jesus, and he was so far "out" that they crucified Him.

So, if you find yourself on the "outside;" don't bother looking in. You won't like what you see.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Friday, June 10, 2011

Forcing You Will Upon God

When you force your will upon God, you are always setting yourself up for failure. What seems sweet in the beginning, is always a bitter thing in the end.

Randall Slack

Psalms 106:15, “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”

Monday, June 6, 2011

The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if she can but tempt you to cease your pilgrimage and settle down to buy and sell with her in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you, and to prevent your pressing on to glory. “It is weary work being a pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Give me at least a furlough from this constant warfare.” Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service: he will insinuate that you are doing no good; and that you want rest. He will endeavor to make you weary of suffering, he will whisper, “Curse God, and die.” Or he will attack your steadfastness: “What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as do others, and let your lamp go out as the other virgins do.” Or he will assail your doctrinal sentiments: “Why do you hold to these denominational creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks: fall in with the times.” Wear your shield, Christian, therefore, close upon your armor, and cry mightily unto God, that by his Spirit you may endure to the end.

C. H. Spurgeon (1834 – 1892)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

What do these two verses have in common?

Ephesians 5:18-19:

"...but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

Answer: The Spirit-Filled Christian is the Word-Filled Christian and the Word-Filled Christian is the Spirit-Filled Christian.

You cannot have one without the other. If you are filled with the Spirit, you will fill yourself with the Word of God; And if you fill yourself with the Word, you will be filled with the Spirit.