SIPEDO SEZ

Will Oursler in an article on graft and corruption in New York City, makes this statement: "Large scale gambling, traditionally the fountainhead of all crime, cannot be carried on without police knowledge and acquiescence."

Every place that gambling exists, crime exists.  You will find robbery, murder, blackmail, extortion, petty theft, grand theft, assault, fraud and more.

From a biblical perspective, the Apolstle Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:33 to stay away from all appearance of evil.  He repeats this in I Thessalonians 5:22

So, why do people gamble?  One simple answer sums it up for me.

GREED.

So, although the word GAMBLING does not appear in the Bible, neither does computer hacking.  Just because it isn't mentioned by name does not mean that it is okay to do.

So.  Is Gambling a SIN?

Following Jesus is not an easy task.  After all, there is much to live up to.  More than I will ever be capable of in this lifetime.

I say I want to be close to Jesus.  I say I want to be LIKE Jesus.

But think about what that means, TO BE LIKE JESUS.

Jesus was hunted as baby, even as a child.

He was spit upon later in life.

He was cursed.

He was beaten.

He was crucified.

So when someone says that they want TO BE LIKE JESUS, is it just words, or are they willing to travel the road that He did?  Those are tough words for me to say, because I know that in the grand scope of things, that is unattainable.

WIth a little more perseverence, my goal in 2009 is Keep Jesus Near In The New Year.

I believe in prayer.  I also believe that when I am out of line with what God wants for my life, or if I have unresolved conflict with my neighbor, that there is a serious problem with my prayers being answered.

Certainly, as Frank said in another blog, I don't expect my prayer to win the lotto to be answered.  But I think it is fair to say that God MAY answer a prayer of that nature if it is what is best for you.

I think of one classic thing.  If you have hate in your life, God does not hear your prayers.  I John 4:8 says that if you do not love, you do not know God.

The idea that God answers prayers is true for those who call Him Lord.

If you are outside of the will of God, and you harbor resentment and hate in your heart, you have entered the realm of Prayer Blockers.

I hear it all the time.  "I'll pray for you" or "You'll be in my prayers" or some other variation of this line.

While I don't have a problem with somebody praying for me, I think that is great, I do have a problem with people who throw that line around, and then do nothing.

If  you say your are going to pray for someone, then do it.  If you don't, then I guess you have become, once again, a liar.

There are those who would say that God does not exist and your prayers are useless.  Those who say that live deprived lives.

So, when someone has a need, whatever it may be, at least be kind enough to say a prayer for them, or for me.

I'd rather someone pray for me and not tell me, than have someone say they will and don't.  I covet the prayers of others.

So be careful the next time you say "You'll Be In My Prayers".

Job 36:26-31 God provides our food. Its not the government's job to feed us.

1Tim 6:17 (NIV) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

We are to put our hope & trust in God who provides us with everything, not to look to the government to take care of every detail of our lives.

1Tim6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

It is the command of the Lord that we are to help each other and those in need who are around us personally. When the Governent takes your money to give to others, they are interfering with this relationship that God wants us to have with eachother. It is the responsibility of the Church to take care of those who are TRULY in NEED. When the Government does it, they are interfering with God's plan, and imposing on the free exercise of religion.

1Tim 5:16 (NIV) If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

It is first the family's responsiblity to take care of their own, then the churches. When Government does it, accountability is removed from God's plan.

James 1:27 (NIV) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Matt 25:31 (NIV) "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

It is also against God's plan for people who are able to live a life where they do not earn what they consume.

2Thes 3:7 (NIV) For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

Those who are poor because they are lazy should not be rewarded and enabled by the Government taking money from the “rich” and those who work hard and diligently to give to those who are able to work, but don't want to, and support their sinful and unbelieving way of life.

Prov 10:3 (NIV) The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

When the Government does this, it teaches people to trust in it instead of trusting in God.

Hebrews 10:38 (NIV) But my righteous will live by faith in God our Heavenly Father.

If we depend on what the Government can do for us, and supply us with what we need, then we are not living by faith in God, we are living by faith in the Government. This makes us serve the Government and not God. The Government becomes our master.

According to some stats, 70% of Evangelical Christians believe that Christ is one of many ways to God.  If that is the case, then they are not Christians.  Christianity is exclusive.  Jesus Christ is the ONLY way. One cannot be a true Christian if they believe that any other path leads to God other than Jesus.

Obama is NOT a Christian, as some espouse.  Obama believes there a many paths to God. He has made this clear by his refusals to answer such a question. The true definition of a Christian includes the words of Jesus, who said “no on comes to the Father but by ME”. If one does not believe that, one cannot be, and is not a Christian.  To believe that there a many ways is Pantheism, and is contrary to Christianity.

This country is in for a very rude awakening.  Yes, Change will come, but it will not benefit this country, it will be its downfall. Here are some problems, just three of many, that contributed to this.

1. Some people call it reverse racism.  I say, “what is the difference?”  95% of Black American voters according to exit and other polls voted for Barack Obama because he is perceived as black.  That people is racism.  This is just on example.  NOTE:  I do not refer to Black Americans as African Americans, I’ve found they don’t like it.  Being PC in most cases is for the feeble minded.

2. What about the people who vote straight tickets, regardless of who is running? I know a few People who do this, and that is an exercise stupidity.  Let me capitalize that STUPIDITY.  Rational people agree that voting a straight ticket shows the ignorance of a person, regardless of the party affiliation.  People who do this are a danger to our communities and our nation.  Any argument to the contrary is based upon nothing more than arrogance and a lack of education.

3. ACORN – We know of SOME of the fraud that has taken place in voter registration.  We caught stuff like Mickey Mouse.  But how much slipped through the cracks?  How many people voted twice? Or 3 Times under other identities?

This is just part of the list. But non-the-less, the people have spoken, as jaded and misled and they are.  Barack Obama will be the next President, and the Bible says that God has placed people in authority over us, AND, that he sometimes uses the wicked to carry out His will.  This time God is using the wickedness of Barack Obama to bring judgement upon a nation that has turned from God.

Am I bitter? Absolutely not! I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that HE is able keep that which I’ve committed unto HIM against that day. In today’s day and age, Christians have chosen to conceal their faith in this country for the most part.  But Jesus said, if you are ashamed to confess me before me, I will be ashamed to confess you before my Father.

Today is a sad day for the United States.  You can decorate it with winning slogans and celebrations, but it is still a sad day. It’s okay if you disagree with me on some of these points.  But on the essentials of Christianity, I stand firm, like a tree that is planted by the rivers of water.

I close with this, from Psalm chapter 1, in my own words: “Blessed is the person who does not take counsel from those who mock God,  and who does not do the work of the unbeliever, but HIS JOY comes from meditating on law of God day and night.”

I was raised in a church that had a more Arminian theology when it comes to salvation.  In addition to that, I had a mother who acquired her theology not from others, but from reading the Bible.  She did not believe you could lose your salvation.

I have wrestled with this topic on occasion, but do not let it consume me.  I really do not believe a person can lose their salvation for one simple reason, and it's found in arguably the most popular single verse in the Bible.  John 3:16,  God loved mankind so much that gave all that he could give in the person of Jesus, His only son, and that whoever believes on Him (Jesus) will not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE.

ETERNAL LIFE.  Think about it for a moment.  What does that mean?

If it is eternal life, then that means FOREVER!

How is it then that some would teach that you can lose your salvation?

The verse does not say TEMPORARY LIFE.

There are a lot of verses that support the idea that there is eternal security in Jesus Christ.

There are some verses that might lead someone to believe they can lose or walk away from God, but I have found they are often taken out of context, or even misconstrued.

At this point, I have to reject the idea of Salvation Lost

I remember as a pre-teen, a preacher came to our church for week long series of services.  We didn't call it a revival.  Well, the preacher ended up staying about 6 weeks, and the series of meetings turned into a REVIVAL in the church, and in the community.  The church did not "plan" to have a revival, just some good preaching from an excellent speaker.

I often see churches put up signs, put up a tent, invite in a special speaker and call it a REVIVAL.  It kind of baffles me.  I look back on my pre-teen experience, and it was not planned.  How is it that some churches think they can PLAN a REVIVAL?

Doesn't REVIVAL start in the hearts of the people, and doesn't it then spread through the community?

What is your take on this?  Can you PLAN a REVIVAL?

I'm quite alive and vibrant.  Do I need a REVIVAL? Or is the term REVIVAL another misused word?

Gone are the days when a church just puts up a sign in front of their building that says "REVIVAL" and people flock to that church to hear what God might have for them.

First of all, let me preface by saying that I am not ruling out speaking in tongues, which may be the possible perception some will have.

I was born in Michigan, and my mother took us to a pentecostal church, so I grew up with speaking in tongues and just accepted it growing up. When I was old enough to understand, I began to study.  There was a difference between what I was hearing in church and what Tongues and Interpretation really are.

Today we have people in certain pentecostal circles talking about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and that the INITIAL EVIDENCE of the baptism is Speaking in other tongues.

Okay pentecostals, wake up.  IT does NOT say that ANYWHERE, nor is it implied ANYWHERE in the Bible.  In fact, speaking in tongues is way down the list on the gifts of importance.

Acts 1:8 says you will receive POWER (not tongues) after the Holy Spriti comes.  Power for what?  It's found in the same verse, to be witnesses.

It just so happens that when the 120 men in the upper room were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were filled with power to be witnesses.  There were people from other countries in Jerusalem at the time, and those in the upper room were given supernatural ability to speak the languages of the people who were in Jerusalem.  It was not jibberish.  God did not annoint the listeners to hear, it was real languages being spoken, proclaiming the gospel.  Those who were listening were the interpreters.

Today, speaking toungues has become an excercise in jibberish.  It has become a tool to edify oneself, and is often followed by an interpretation that is just as confusing.  How does one interpret jibberish anyway?

Now, I'm not talking about what you do in your private prayer time.  The Bible tells us very clearly that God understands our moanings and our groanings.  We don't have to have words to communicate with God, entirely.

Now, hear is a concept,  Paul wrote in I Corinthians 13 that the greatest of the gifts, is Love.  Without LOVE, everything else is in vain.  John the Apostle wrote that if you love NOT, you do not know God (I John 4:8).  We also know that in another place that says Perfect Love casts out ALL fear.  Love is POWERFUL.

It is my feeling, as of right now anyway, that the POWER that comes from the Holy Spirit, is LOVE, and that LOVE is the initial evidence of the baptism/indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Does speaking in tongues exist today?  I cannot rule it out.  God can do whatever He wants to do.  But what good is tongues in a church where EVERYONE is a BELIEVER?  The Bible clearly states that tongues is a SIGN TO THE UNBELIEVER.  Just as in that day when they began to speak in tongues, the tongues were for the UNBELIEVERS to hear the gospel in their own language.  That was the SIGN TO THE UNBELIEVER.

SO then, what good is tongues in a church service where everyone speaks only one language, ENGLISH?  It serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever.

There has been so much emphasis on speaking in tongues in pentecostal circles that it has rendered those denominations INEFFECTIVE.  What about all the other gifts that Paul writes about in I Corinthians 12 and 14?

I believe in the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  I desire spiritual gifts.

Unlike our friends who may have graduated from colleges like Bob Jones,  I do not believe that any of the gifts have passed away.  They use the scripture in I Corinthians 13 that Tongues will  pass way.  In the same context it says Knowledge and Wisdom will pass away.

Well, if Tongues has passed away, so has knowledge, so has wisdom.  And if all that is passed, then that means we are all idiots and the only one who knows what they are talking about is northton.

Now, with this post if I have offended any who are pentecostal, GOOD.  Now at least you're thinking.

The two contradict each other.

If you vote for a democrat, you are voting for the lack of morals that go along with it.  You are proving that you are NOT a Christian.  Only Republicans and other parties are qualified to be Christians.

It IS as simple as that.

While I was shopping today, I got a phone call from my pastor.  We hadn't had a chance to chat in while, so he was just checking in.  Then I heard a shriek come through the phone, like that of the most horrible thing in the world.  He regained his composure and told me "RAY BOLTZ IS GAY".

I was like "get out of here", he was married and had 4 kids and was at the top of the Christian charts with multiple awards for many years.  I had just seen him singing "THE ANCHOR HOLDS" .

Unlike southern gospel singer KIRK TALLY, who sees being gay as "my cross to bear", Boltz has come out, and is doing a concert at the gay church in Washington this coming Sunday.

In an article published on Sept. 12 in the Washington Blade, Boltz said that he had come out to his family 4 years earlier.

This has been a blow to many people who revere the work, and the man that has given us such great songs such as THANK YOU, THE ANCHOR HOLDS, WATCH THE LAMB, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE LAMB.

Boltz is working on a new album and resides in Fort Lauderdale.

Does this shake your faith a little?  Should churches quit using Ray's material?  Or is the message in the music able to be separated from the message of the man?

This has been circulating for many years now.

If was originally spoken on September 1, 2000 and was read into the US Congressional Record on September 20, 2000.

It is worth posting and worth circulating again and again and again.

 

This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at  Roane County High School , Kingston , Tennessee , by school Principal, Jody McLeod

"It has always been the custom at  Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country."

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an  alternate lifestyle," and if someone is offended, that's OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable! means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...

I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in  activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology."

I can use literature, videos and pr esentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment."

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.

This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.  Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.

Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical... I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.

" However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM,in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so.  As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.

They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box!

The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of  the  United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."

Somehow,  Kingston ,  Tennessee Remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion.

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Have you ever heard that?  Or have you heard someone say "I can't believe that a loving God would send someone to a Hell".

How hard is it to believe that a loving God would send unrepentant criminals to hell?

If we have jails for people who lie, steal, cheat, kill and other things, then why is it so hard to believe that God created a hell?

I've blogged that no-one is beyond Redemption.  I have also stated that there are those who are beyond restoration.  Not in the eyes of God, but in the eyes of man.

I believe that you MUST forgive EVERYONE for EVERYTHING, no matter what.  That does not mean that you let your brains fall out and let that convicted child molestor around children.

Mark Lundsford MUST forgive John Couey.  It is not an option, it is a requirement, not of man's law, but of God's.  If he refuses to forgive, then he is beyond redemption and restoration.  That is the bottom line.  However, Mark does not have to FORGET.  That would be stupid.  Will Mark forgive?  I hope so.  Will he forget?  I hope not.

In the same manner, we MUST forgive one another for anything and everything.  It does not matter what the crime is.  It does not matter what your feelings are.  If you hold resentment and unforgiveness inside, you are holding yourself prisoner.

Now it's time to hear from those who would misconstrue what I have just posted.  Good luck!

Last week, a young man named Jordan succumbed to a rare form of soft tissue sarcoma.  He was to be twenty one years old yesterday.  Jordan fought hard.  This young man loved basketball, where he played on a college team near Greenville, SC.  He was a member of a youth group at a church where I was once the youth director.  His family prayed hard, hoping for a miracle, but the miracle they wanted never happened.  They had a celebration of life service for him this past Saturday.

This past Saturday, another man named Jim succumbed at the age of 63 to a 15 month battle with another form of Cancer.  He played guitar at the church where I am currently the music director.  Weak from the disease, he played the guitar for the last time on August 17 with our church band.  Always dedicated, and up until he passed was waiting for that last minute miracle, always expressing his faith in God.

Today, I sit at my computer, not knowing what will be next for me.  I have my own health issues that cause extreme pain, and are preventing me from working full time.  This is a burden physically, and financially. I am hoping God will work wonders for me, but to date, nothing has happened, and my diagnosis still remains the same.  I hope and I pray that "miracle" will come, but nothing so far.

All three of us, Jordan, Jim and Myself have kept faith.  Two of us have succumbed.  I have not been so fortunate.

There are days when I just want to give up.  There are days when I give God the ultimatum to either heal me or take me.  He does neither. So much for giving God ultimatums.

There are days when I want to curse God.  There I days when I want to send Jesus back to the cross and re-crucify him.  Why isn't God answering the prayers of His people and healing those who follow hard after Him?

In all of this, I still cannot reverse my faith.  I know that I have to trust God.  I know that circumstances will come that will make me strong.  I know that I am a very small part of a very big picture.  Many will affect the lives of a few, and a few will affect the lives of many.  Which one am I?

What would you do?  Some of you are in similar circumstances, or know someone who is.  What keeps YOU going?  What keeps THEM going?  How do YOU and THEY keep the faith from going in reverse?

Have you ever heard of LIMBO?

In the Bible, Jesus speaks of a real place called Hell.  In fact, he spoke more of hell than he did of heaven.  He said it was a very bad place, and was just as descript as about it as heaven.

There are many Christians who do not believe in hell, but they say they believe the Bible.  So, if there is NO Hell, why does Jesus speak of such a place?

There are a couple of other places that the Catholic Church allows that are never mentioned in the Bible.  One is called Purgatory, and the other of all places is called Limbo.  Yes, Limbo.  No, it's not a dance.  It is supposedly a real place.

In Roman Catholic theology, Limbo is a hypothesis about the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being ASSIGNED to thell of the damned, also known as gehenna.  Limbo is not an official doctrine of the Catholic Church.  Some theologians from Medieval periods described the underworld of hell divided into four parts.  Hell of the damned (gehenna), purgatory, limbo of the fathers, and limbo of the infants.

Is this confusing for you?  It sure is to me.  I don't get it.  How could anyone conceive of such a notion?  Apparently it grew out of Catholicism.

Would you care to dance?